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www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 111 No. 50

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DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

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INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY—IT’S PAYING OFF

Hill District Federal Credit Union having banner year BLM movement, trustworthy entity reasons for 62% asset increase

by Diane I. Daniels and Rob Taylor Jr.

ing 116 new accounts opened in June. Normally, the credit union averages 15 to 20 new accounts per month.

And Witherspoon happily mentioned how the savings deposit amounts have increased 72 percent this year, from $5 to $8 million.

Overall, the Hill District Federal Credit Union’s assets have gone up 62 percent.

“I know that in any business, there are days of the week where your business might be slow, you could get a lot done during a slow day…we don’t have slow days,” Witherspoon told the Courier. “We have to stay after work to catch up on daily chores…or get in a little earlier.”

The “Black Lives Matter” movement has HILL DISTRICT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION—Assistant Manager Erica Witherspoon, CEO and Treasurer Richard Witherspoon, and capeople calling the Hill shier Renee Wilson Clark. The Hill District institution has been in business for 50 years, and this year, its savings deposits have inDistrict Federal Credit creased by more than 70 percent. (Photo by Diane I. Daniels) Union from all over the country, Witherspoon And Witherspoon said that But those aren’t the only rea- accounts, and that (trust) has said. “People asking if they can join…because we have the pandemic has many peo- sons why business has increased. been earned. This is our 50th an 85 percent African American ple depositing more money into The Hill District Federal Credit year, and our main focus has membership base, and every- their savings accounts—and not Union has a very trustworthy been the Hill District and taking thing about this institution is touching it—fearful that they reputation, Witherspoon said. care of families in the Hill Disbring their African American-owned and op- may lose their job or get sick due “Grandmothers SEE CREDIT UNION A2 to the virus. grandchildren here to open up erated.”

Courier Staff Writers

The Hill District Federal Credit Union is the only Black-owned and operated financial institution in the region.

And even through a pandemic, business is boomin’.

“We were the only bank in the area that hasn’t closed or shut the office one day in nine months

COURIER EXCLUSIVE since the beginning of this pandemic,” boasted Erica Witherspoon, the credit union’s assistant manager.

This year marks 50 years of the Hill District Federal Credit Union serving the Hill District community, and CEO and Treasurer Richard Witherspoon and his small, but tight-knit staff are seeing some of the best financial numbers they’ve seen in years.

When you mix the COVID-19 pandemic with the renewed focus on Black empowerment and racial equality, Witherspoon told the New Pittsburgh Courier exclusively that the credit union is averaging 55 new accounts per month. That includes a stagger-

Austin Davis named chair of Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

When it was announced Nov. 13 that state Rep. Austin Davis was elected chairman of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation for the 202122 legislative session, he

became the first African American to ever hold the title.

That’s all fine and dandy, but Rep. Davis said that “being first doesn’t mean anything unless there’s a second.”

Representative Davis, at just 31 years old, was elect-

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ed by his fellow Democratic House representatives seated inside Allegheny County. There are 15 members total.

He had served as secretary of the delegation leadership last term, “and I think I worked really closely with all of our members to help them achieve their priorities, not just for their districts but what they wanted to achieve in the Capitol as well,” Rep. Davis told the New Pittsburgh SEE DAVIS A3

STATE REP. AUSTIN DAVIS, who represents the Mon Valley in House District 35, now will also serve as the “face” of the Allegheny County House Democrats as chair of its delegation.

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METRO

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Hill District Federal Credit Union having banner year CREDIT UNION FROM A1

trict, so the trust factor is natural.”

Witherspoon’s been with the credit union for 32 years. “We don’t compare ourselves or compete with traditional banks,” he said.

“Our goal is to serve the underserved. We will continue to do the $500-dollar loans, the credit-builder loans and credit counseling. On the other side of the same coin, we want our people to invest in us.

We need our money to stay within our community. We need people with 800 credit scores to take out loans and not be conscientious about the interest rate, because the interest you pay helps your neighbor. The money that you borrow and pay here stays here. It helps to lift us all up.”

Currently, the credit union has 3,500 active accounts—and growing.

“The community has really stepped up to give support and encouragement to us even in these challenging times,” Witherspoon said, displaying his energetic, glass half-full attitude.

Black financial institutions nationwide You’re not going to find a Hill District Federal Credit Union just anywhere.

There is only one other financial institution in Pennsylvania that’s owned by African Americans—United Bank of Philadelphia, which began in 1992.

Thus, the Hill District Federal Credit Union, snuggly-situated at 2021 Centre Ave., is precious cargo. It’s one of roughly 40 Black-owned banks or credit unions in the U.S. Banks are for-profit businesses, while credit unions are classified as a not-forprofit entity. Credit unions are owned by its members and are generally exempt from federal taxes. Credit unions don’t have to worry about making profits for shareholders, unlike the busy-body for-profit banks, such as PNC, Citizens and Wells Fargo. Banks usually charge more fees and its interest rates tend to be higher.

The closest Black-owned credit unions to Pittsburgh besides the Hill

“Black-led banks...have been purposed with moving a people that were once considered capital to becoming capitalists. ...When we support the Black-owned lending institutions, it creates a ripple effect in underserved communities. ...We can all grow the equity we seek by reaching out to a minority-owned bank.”

ASHLEY D. BELL Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Businesss Administration

RENEE WILSON CLARK AND ERICA WITHERSPOON, behind the counter at the Hill District Federal Credit Union. (Photo by Courier photographer Diane I. Daniels) District Federal Credit Union are: Faith United Community Credit Union (Cleveland), Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union (Toledo, Ohio), Virginia State University Credit Union, and South Side Community Federal Credit Union (Chicago). The closest Black banks to Pittsburgh besides United Bank of Philadelphia are: Industrial Bank (Maryland), Harbor Bank of Maryland, First Independence Bank (suburban Detroit) and Liberty Bank and Trust (Detroit).

The largest Black-owned bank is One United Bank, which began as an Inter-

net-based bank, but since has physical locations in Los Angeles, Miami and Boston.

“Black-led banks ever since Frederick Douglass and the Freedman’s Bureau have been purposed with moving a people that were once considered capital to becoming capitalists,” wrote Ashley D. Bell in an opinion piece in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in August. Bell is Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, and Entrepreneurship Policy Advisor for the White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council. “Many of the Black-owned banks offer the same products and services as other banks with comparable rates. The difference is that when we support the Black-owned lending institutions, it creates a ripple effect in underserved communities. A new SBA loan, a car loan, a new mortgage from outside the underserved community creates the water we need to grow opportunity so this can last generations of Americans left to live in an economic desert. We can all grow the equity we seek by reaching out to a minority-owned bank.”

Taking care of the Hill District Witherspoon is proud that the Hill District Federal Credit Union provides the community more than just, say, a car loan or a savings account. Witherspoon oftentimes coun-

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sels members on certain investments they should undertake, or tried-andtrue methods to improving one’s credit score.

He’s also always alerting people to the importance of saving money. The majority of Americans don’t have enough money saved up in case of emergencies, and that’s particularly the case in the Black community. Witherspoon follows the lead of his predecessor, Mary Walker, in promoting the value of a savings.

“We always have and now we are witnessing the fruits of that labor,” Witherspoon told the Courier.

The Hill District Federal Credit Union offers savings and checking accounts, Christmas clubs, direct deposits, online banking, money orders, debit cards, gift cards, and personal and auto loans.

Witherspoon said some financial institutions think he’s “crazy” for sometimes offering used car loans at a flat 8 percent interest, even with credit scores as low as 550.

“We just don’t say, ‘well, your credit score is too low, we can’t do a car loan,’” Witherspoon said. “We might say, ‘you can’t get a car loan right now, but here’s a prescription for you to follow, and if you follow this prescription, then you’ll qualify for a car loan.’ We have different ways to help people get to the place where they need to be.”

Witherspoon envisions an even brighter future for the Hill District Fed-

eral Credit Union. He said over the next three years, the institution will become an even stronger beacon within the community. “We’re going to expand our footprint with the aspiration of starting a mortgage program and reestablish our participation in the CDFI (Community Development Financial Institutions fund) program to support and assist small businesses by having the capabilities to provide technical assistance and funding.”

The Hill District Federal Credit Union is expanding as well, Witherspoon said.

The credit union is going to expand its storefront to include the space where the Metro PCS cell phone store was next door. The extra space will be used for community meeting spaces and work areas.

That will be followed by six apartments to be constructed above the credit union.

“My budget or my goal is to raise $6.7 million; $2.7 million will be invested in this building’s rehab and $4 million for the mortgage program,” Witherspoon told the Courier.

Witherspoon said he is actively fundraising now and hopes to begin construction of the apartments by the fall of 2021.

It’s all part of the Hill District Federal Credit Union’s mission for the last 50 years, Witherspoon said, which is tending to the financial health of the Hill District community.

Richard Witherspoon, CEO and Treasurer, envisions an even brighter future for the Hill District Federal Credit Union.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

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Sylvia Wilson unanimously re-elected as PPS Board President The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Sylvia Wilson was unanimously elected Pittsburgh Public Schools Board President for a second term during a board organization meeting, Dec. 7.

Wilson was first elected to the board to represent District 1 in 2013, according to a news release.

Before joining the board, Wilson served as the Assistant to the President of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) and served as secretary of the PFT Executive Board for 30 years. Wilson previously taught elementary school throughout the Pittsburgh Public Schools for 26 years. For more than

KEVIN CARTER was re-elected as First Vice President of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board..

20 years, she was an active volunteer with community youth baseball and football organizations. The release said that Wilson has served as the board’s first vice president and chairs of the Education, Personnel and Communication & Marketing/Public Information committees. Wilson currently serves as Board Treasurer of ALCOSAN. Also at the board organization meeting, Kevin Carter was re-elected as First Vice President (third term) and Terry Kennedy as Second Vice President (third term). Superintendent of Schools Anthony Hamlet, Ed.D., was elected as Secretary of the Board.

SYLVIA WILSON

Rep. Davis named chair of A.C. House Democratic Delegation DAVIS FROM A1

Courier in an exclusive interview, Nov. 27. “I think they just naturally saw me as a leader and somebody that can pull people together in a non-confrontational way, and so they decided to elevate me to a position of greater responsibility.”

Representative Davis will become the face of all the

Democratic state representatives in Allegheny County with external stakeholders such as Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and the business community.

Representative Davis said in a release that “while I’m excited for this new opportunity, the priorities and key issues that matter most to Mon Valley residents will

always be in the forefront, and I remain committed to advancing legislation that benefits residents in the 35th Legislative District.”

Come January 2021, Rep. Davis will begin his thirdterm. He originally won the 35th District seat in a special election in 2018, making him the first African American to hold a state House District seat

in Western Pennsylvania beyond the Pittsburgh city limits.

Summer Lee soon followed, as she became the state representative for the 34th District. There are now four Black state representatives in the region, as Reps. Lee and Davis joined longtime representatives Ed Gainey and Jake Wheatley, who both have

offices within Pittsburgh.

As the new year approaches, Rep. Davis said the biggest priority for Allegheny County’s House Democrats is to help their constituents during this coronavirus pandemic. Representative Davis said he hopes to introduce new legislation in the coming months.

“I want to do a good job to make sure that there are

other African Americans that can follow in my footsteps,” Rep. Davis told the Courier about his added title as Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation chair. “I’ve blazed a lot of trails in my short career...I hope it’s just a testament that people can achieve their goals when they set their mind to it and work hard.”

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METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

St. Paul Baptist Church’s Holiday Helpings

ST. PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH, located at 6701 Penn Ave., held a Holiday Helpings event at the church on Nov. 22, providing Thanksgiving dinners to numerous families in the area.

In the photo at left, it’s Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Marco A. Tinor, and in the photo at right, it’s Chef Claudy Pierre, who’s always lending a helping hand to others. Courier photographer J.L. Martello captured the event in photos.

CHEF JOMAR DAVIS, taking food out of the oven.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

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ST. PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH HOLIDAY HELPINGS COMMITTEE—Khadon Burton-Johnson, Kyersten Johnson, Charmaine Bailey, Aaliyah Bailey, Steve Morgan. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

KATHLEEN GILBERT, a member of St. Paul Baptist Church, carries a pot of gravy during the Holiday Helpings event at the Church, 6701 Penn Ave.

HEALTH

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Take Charge Of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.

We will get through this, Pittsburgh, but WE MUST DO IT TOGETHER This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page discusses the resilience that the Pittsburgh community has shown during this year’s unforeseen circumstances. 2020 has shown us that when our community is at its lowest point we unify and support one another through sharing resources, being a listening ear and being conscious of others’ health.

According to the Allegheny County website, since the beginning of the pandemic, we have, unfortunately, lost more than 500 souls. More than 30,000 people have contracted COVID-19.

Many parts of our lives are completely different.

COVID-19 has forced us to change the way we celebrate life and the way we mourn people’s passing. Our youths are navigating entirely different education systems, with most schools in the region operating completely online. Our workplaces are different, with some of us working from home, while others report to the office

ESTHER BUSH with a fraction of the coworkers who once shared the same space. As humans, we are social people.

As the pandemic continues to affect the way we

are able to socialize, in good times and in bad, our mental health continues to be negatively affected, as well.

However, with all that being said, I continue to be heartened by the strength and shared community concern for which Pittsburgh is known.

When our neighbors are in despair, Pittsburgh residents step up and do what is right. This is the definition of resiliency, and I encourage this type of involvement and growth. We see resiliency in our homes, on social media and in our children.

With 2020 coming to an end in a few weeks, it is vital to reflect on our successes.

Many of us have lost our jobs and insurance, as well as loved ones, but we have not lost our sense of community or the ways in which we support each other. We saw the community come together in November for our annual Thanksgiving Distribution, where 900 families in the various communities were helped and supported during

the Thanksgiving season. We see the resiliency and support of our neighbors through the Urban League’s All One Pittsburgh initiative that is supporting people in our community who do not have access to vital essential items like cleaning supplies and toiletry items.

There continues to be a vast array of opportunities for you to help your fellow neighbor in this season of giving. If you can, donate money, time or in spirit. Review the other resources that are available on this page and get involved. Take charge of your health and well-being, and help your neighbor do the same. We will get through this, Pittsburgh, but WE MUST DO IT TOGETHER. Cheers to the new year. Thanks for reading this message; I am looking forward to 2021.

Take Charge, and take care; yours in the movement, ESTHER L. BUSH, PRESIDENT AND CEO URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER PITTSBURGH

Hello Baby and Pittsburgh Study want to help children thrive As 2020 closes, and we are still mired down by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time to reflect. It has been a difficult year for most of us and our families. People have been forced to find ways to bounce back from hardship, to be resilient. We have given support and asked for support from each other in order to protect ourselves and our families. Some people’s difficulties have been made worse by the pandemic. Fortunately, Allegheny County is an area with many resources that can help people and families to be resilient in these times.

“We’re very lucky in Allegheny County to have a lot of prevention, family-strengthening and community support services,” says Amy Malen,

AMY MALEN

DANIEL S. SHAW, PH.D.

assistant deputy director of the Office of Community Services in Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services (DHS). “But when we look at who’s participating in services, we’re not reaching everyone. People aren’t always aware of what services are available to them, and it can be overwhelming to navigate services.”

The Pittsburgh Study is a resource for families and a community-partnered study to find out what works to help children thrive. The study follows children in Allegheny County from birth through high school in order to find out the best ways to give children the support they need to graduate from high school on time, be healthy, and thrive. This is the largest community-partnered, intervention study to follow children over time. People who are pregnant, parents, babies, toddlers, preschoolers and children in elementary, middle and high school can participate in the study. Children can enroll at different ages.

So, how is the Pittsburgh Study a community resource? It not only informs researchers on how best to help children thrive, the study itself provides families with access to resources.

The study comprises different groups based on age—from pregnancy to adolescence. With the Early Childhood Collaborative group, families can access the Pittsburgh Study at various places that are familiar to them—birthing hospitals, WIC, family support centers and other health care providers’ offices. Families consent to be a part of a research study, and they take a screening survey. That screening is evaluated immediately, and, based on their responses, families are offered programs that fit their strengths and challenges. The programs range from establishing an online relationship with someone who can help answer questions during an infant’s first year of life to in-person programs that encourage cognitive stimulation and/or other parenting skills (promoting positive child behavior).

“The Pittsburgh Study is a formal research project, but it’s a bit unusual,” says Daniel S. Shaw, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and lead of the Early Childhood Collaborative. “We’re not trying to find out whether one intervention works better than another intervention. It’s about whether offering these evidence-based programs in nontraditional systems will help us reach more people. If we make it easy for families, will they be more likely to use these programs?”

One of the Early Childhood Collaborative’s partners is Hello Baby, a voluntary family-assistance program from Allegheny County’s DHS. Developed because people are not aware of or using all of the county’s services, Hello Baby is a way to help families find the support they need.

It also helps DHS reach more families who can benefit from support, better match families and babies to the right services and ensure that the most vulnerable families and babies have access to the best services to fit their needs.

Parents of every newborn receive information about Hello Baby in the hospital and are then offered services based on their level of need. Outside of the hospital, families can visit hellobabypgh.org, a comprehensive website with wide-ranging resources.

“These supports run the whole gamut—health of the child and parent, child care, basic needs, family support, child development, housing, drug and alcohol counseling, mental health services, etc.,” says Ms. Malen. “The program is designed to build meaningful relationships and meant to connect you to whatever your needs are as a parent.”

The Pittsburgh Study and Hello Baby are similar in that each is an entry point for increasing parents’ accessibility to the wealth of services available in Allegheny County. The Pittsburgh Study also involves taking a 30-minute survey, for which families are paid, every six months through their children’s first 36 months of life, then annually thereafter. At each point of contact, families can opt in to offered services—or they can choose not to participate in any programs and just be a part of the study. The overall goal is the same.

“We have evidence-based programs that we know can support families and make their lives better,” says Dr. Shaw. “Both Hello Baby and the Pittsburgh Study want to connect families to them. Our end goal isn’t to publish research; it’s to help children thrive.”

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

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Biden-Harris team appoints more African Americans to influential positions

TONY ALLEN, PH.D., president of Delaware State University, will serve as CEO of President-elect Joe Biden’s Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Monday, Nov. 30, was a big day for African Americans and national politics.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announced members of its initial senior leadership team who will lead their Presidential Inaugural Committee. The committee is tasked with organizing activities surrounding the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20, 2021.

Two of the members are African American; Tony Al-

ERIN WILSON len, Ph.D., who will serve as CEO, and Erin Wilson, who will serve as Deputy Executive Director.

Also on Nov. 30, the

Biden/Harris team announced the nominations of Wally Adeyemo for Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and Cecilia Rouse as Chair, Council of Economic Advisers. Both are historic nominations. If confirmed, Adeyemo would become the first African American in the position. And Rouse would become the first woman of color in the position if she’s confirmed. The Senate is tasked with confirming both nominations.

Tony Allen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Presidential Inaugural Committee Dr. Allen is the President of Delaware State University, one of the nation’s premier public Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Before being appointed president, Dr. Allen served as Executive Vice President and Provost at DSU and previously led Bank of America’s corporate reputation group. He is also the Founding President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and co-founder of Public Allies Delaware. In the ‘90s, Dr. Allen worked in then-Senator Biden’s office

as a Special Assistant and Speechwriter.

Erin Wilson, Deputy Executive Director of Presidential Inaugural Committee Wilson served as the Biden/Harris campaign’s National Political Director throughout the primary and general elections, the senior staff member responsible for relationships with hundreds of elected officials and leaders across the country. Previously,

director of the National Economic Council; the assistant secretary for international markets and development at the Treasury Department; deputy chief of staff of the Treasury Department in 2012; and chief of staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for about a year and a half beginning in 2010.

Cecilia Rouse, Chairperson, Council of Economic Advisers

CECILIA ROUSE was nominated to be chairperson, Council of Econonomic Advisers, by President-elect Joe Biden.

Wilson was a senior aide in Pa. Senator Bob Casey’s office, most recently serving as his State Director and Senior Advisor to his 2018 re-election. She is also a Hillary for America and Democratic National Committee alumna.

Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Adeyemo is a Chicago resident, and currently the president of the Obama Foundation.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, during Barack Obama’s tenure as president, he was the deputy

Rouse currently is dean of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. According to Yahoo! News, earlier this year, she spearheaded a letter signed by dozens of economists arguing for more action to stem the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

In a feature by the American Economic Association, Rouse said that one of the benefits of becoming an economist is the versatility it provides in terms of issues to be studied as well as careers. Rouse wanted young people to know

SYMONE SANDERS will become the official spokesperson for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. that economists are not only concerned with business and the stock market but also people, education, health, crime, poverty, and other such issues. Moreover, they can pursue careers in academics, the private sector, or the public sector, and can focus on research, analysis, or policy.

Symone Sanders, Official Spokesperson, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Sanders, the unabashed former national press secretary for then-Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders who then worked on the Biden

campaign, will now serve as spokesperson for Vice President-elect Harris.

The Creighton University graduate, who has spoken at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in the past, said about the announcement on Twitter: “Ready to serve describes accurately how I feel. Thank you Madam Vice President-elect for entrusting me with this charge. It has been the honor of my life to work for Joe Biden and I am elated to have the opportunity to continue that work in the PEOPLE’S HOUSE.”

WALLY ADEYEMO

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METRO

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

‘Elite’…

‘Thanks for Giving!’

It was in fact community service personified this past Thanksgiving weekend as the Elite Corvette Club of Pittsburgh joined forces with Achieving Greatness Inc. and Eat’n

the women—we have nothing. (Whew! That should buy me some protection until the next run!)

That being said, now would be a good time to give you some background

Overtime

Bill Neal Park in Penn Hills to present the first-annual “Great Turkey Giveaway” to benefit senior citizens and low-income families.

However, for my own safety and future well-being, please allow me to make one thing perfectly clear— the success of the day’s event was made possible by a major contribution and leadership of the “The Ladies of Elite.” And as usual, the case-in-light, without

information. The Elite Corvette Club of Pittsburgh is a newly-established group of men and women who own, race and showcase some of the most magnificent vehicles known to man. With that, they share a mindset to not only operate in the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County communities, but to provide a community service as well.

Thus, the partnership was established with Achieving

Greatness Inc. As many of you know, AGI, formerly known as Champion Enterprises, is now in its 46th consecutive year of providing community service programs and events. Most notably, the nationally recognized Connie Hawkins Summer Basketball League, Franco Harris AllPro Football Camp, Willie Stargell MVP Awards Banquet and the Pittsburgh City League High School FORMER EUROPEAN PRO BASKETBALL STAR and Penn Hills native Warren Wilson with Penn Hills All-Sports Hall of Fame In- Mayor Pauline Calbrese and Councilman Frank Pecora. ductions.

With the exception of the weather…rained all day… the event could not have gone any better. Turning Corners Association founder and director Sheldon Oliver, who doubles as the President of the Elite Corvette Club, set the wheels in motion by providing 150 turkeys via his own resources. Those deceased birds were joined by donations from Giant Eagle, Shop ‘n Save, Jones Turkey Farm, Highmark, UPMC, Goodrich & Geist Law Firm and most especially, with the help of KDKA personality Marty Griffin, AKA “Get Marty,” who brought superstar Richard Bazzy of Shults Ford to add the final truckload of turkeys to seal the deal (set the wheels in motion…you missed what I did there, didn’t you?)

Even record-setter and first-year starter Chase THE ELITE CORVETTE CLUB OF PITTSBURGH MEMBERS deliver the birds!

Claypool, of your Pittsburgh Steelers, would be impressed with the numbers on the day—257 turkeys, 10 whole chickens, 200 backpacks provided by Boost Mobile, 150 gift bags provided by Eat’n Park, along with 50 packs of Smiley Cookies—all given to some of the less fortunate in our community.

Special thanks goes out to Penn Hills Eat’n Park and General Manager, Raeann Allen, for providing their parking lot and facilities, State Representative Tony DeLuca, Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Penn Hills Councilman Frank Pecora and all the volunteers that helped make this Thanksgiving one for the fast lane! (see I did it again…fast lane…corvettes...alright my bad.)

THE EAT ‘N PARK IN PENN HILLS HOSTED THE EVENT—Penn Hills Councilman Frank Pecora, Elite Corvette Club President and co-sponsor Sheldon Oliver, Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Corvette legend Milton Oliver, Warren Wilson.

Steelers need to improve quickly, but it won’t be enough against Buffalo The Pittsburgh Steelers are 11-1, but that one loss just happened against an admittedly improving, yet still bad, Washington Football Team at home on “Monday Evening Football,” Dec. 7.

Over the last two weeks the Steelers haven’t played well and certainly haven’t looked like a Super Bowl contender.

That’s the understatement of the year in the NFL. They struggled against a beat-up Ravens team and then lost to a Washington team that had no business being in the same stadium.

Many folks will make excuses such as the Steelers having players on the COVID list or out due to injury and were playing on four days rest while Washington had 11.

Those are facts. They are not excuses. In fact, the loss to Washington is inexcusable for a team that was undefeated and is playing for the number one seed in the month of December. It just can’t happen.

The Steelers have now become plagued by the dropped pass, having 12 drops over the past two games, most notably by Diontae Johnson. And while the team averages 28.8 points per game on the season, good for 6th in the league, they are averaging only 18 per game over their latest 1-1 stretch.

They have been unable to run the ball and are 27th in the league in that category and have opted for the short dink-and-dunk passes and seeing Ben Roethlisberger throw the ball over 50 times a game to make up for the lack of a ground attack. It doesn’t work when that’s all you do and opposing defenses know that’s all you do.

As the Steelers prepare for their upcoming game against the Buffalo Bills this coming Sunday night, Dec. 13, they need to rethink their offensive attack. The Bills

are 24th in the NFL against the run, allowing 129 yards per game. The Steelers need to scrap the short passes that are being dropped half of the time anyway in lieu of trying to establish a running game. Whether it’s James Conner, Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland or Jaylen Sam-

Commentary

Mike Pelaia uels, someone needs to run the football effectively to control the clock as well as keep the defense honest and open up the passing attack for Roethlisberger and the plethora of wide receivers this team thankfully has.

If the Steelers can do that, they will have success down the field against the Bills’ 17th-ranked pass defense. In order for the Steelers to make things flow, they need to get Chase Claypool back in the game via the deep ball.

They need to have Roethlisberger hold the ball for a little bit longer and eliminate some of those quick throws to nowhere, and most of all, they need to run the football.

The Bills don’t play defense well but they will do enough to stifle the Steelers if they know what’s coming every down!

Defensively, the Steelers are going to need to blitz Bills quarterback Josh Allen but will need to get to him quickly. Allen is fast and nimble and in addition to his over 3,000 passing yards, he has over 300 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He’s dangerous and he needs to be the Steelers’ primary focus on defense. Without Bud Dupree, rookie linebacker Alex Highsmith is going to have to step up and do a lot more than he did against Washington, where he only had two solo tackles. The next-man-up philosophy of Mike Tomlin must carry through.

If Pittsburgh is unable to pressure Allen, he’ll be looking to his favorite target, Stefon Diggs, who leads the Bills with over 80 catches and 1,000 yards receiving. He’s dangerous and with a banged-up secondary, could cause nightmares for the seemingly-struggling Steeler team who will be licking their wounds.

In addition to the offense needing to revamp to a more controlled style led by a rushing attack that opens up the pass and the defense bull-rushing Allen, Tomlin is going to need to put points on the board when they become available to him, unlike his choices against the Washington Football Team. In my opinion, he left six points on the field and while we have no way of knowing if the field goals he didn’t elect to kick would have been good, it would have changed the complexion of the game had Tomlin attempted them.

Unfortunately, Steeler Nation, while I still think the Steelers will be contenders of some kind down the stretch, they have fallen back to the pack and I don’t believe they will beat the Buffalo Bills this Sunday night.

Final score: Buffalo 24, Pittsburgh 17.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

RELIGION

‘Sister Mary’ provides a Happy Thanksgiving for others

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020 A9

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.sbtmparishpgh.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 412 Worship Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship...........11 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

TRINITY BAXTER, 16, daughter of Save A Life Today Pittsburgh founder Mary Williams, carries boxes of plated Thanksgiving dinners to the car to be delivered to others.

SISTER MARY WILLIAMS, left, praying with all 60 members of her family via cell phone. Daughter Trinity Baxter and Alisa Ralph also pray over the food. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

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ALISA RALPH preps plates for Thanksgiving.

SISTER MARY WILLIAMS OF SAVE A LIFE TODAY PITTSBURGH, cutting homemade pies.

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

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DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

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New Pittsburgh Courier

Presidential nominees and Twitter: Descending from ideas to insults

J. Pharoah Doss B4

BUSINESS DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

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A roadmap to relieving America’s $1.7 trillion student debt 20 years of repayments leave Black borrowers still owing 95 percent

by Charlene Crowell

have been receiving federal means-tested benefits for 3 or more years; 3. Restoring limitations on collections. Federal student loans should have common-sense consumer protection standards. Guardrails should include a statute of limitations, preventing the seizure of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Social Security benefits, limitations on the amount that can be seized, and limits on how long creditors can involuntarily collect. Student loans should also be dischargeable in bankruptcy; and 4. Making repayment truly affordable and budget-conscious. All borrowers on an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan or more than 30 days delinquent at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic should be auto-enrolled in a new IDR plan, the Affordable Budget-Conscious (ABC) repayment plan, that sets monthly payments based on no more than 8 percent

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Although the year 2020 has been dominated by continuing news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic’s rising death toll that has now claimed the lives of nearly 300,000 Americans, it is not the only challenge facing the nation.

Amid rising unemployment and food insecurity, an estimated 45 million Americans struggle at the same time with the crushing weight of more than $1.7 trillion in student debt.

A disproportionate amount of this financial burden is carried

by Blacks and other borrowers of color. These racial disparities in student debt cannot be ignored: massive debts delay, if not if deny, wealth-building opportunities for Blacks and others who believe that higher education remains the bridge to a financially secure future.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting recession one of every four student loan borrowers was in either default or serious delinquency. Black student experience default at a much higher rate (37.5 percent) than their peers who are Latino (20 percent), or White (12.4 percent), according to an independent report by the Brookings Institution. Even after 20 years of loan repayments, the typical Black borrower still owes 95 percent of the original cumulative balance.

A new research report, jointly released by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), outlines the financial toll taken by this unsustainable debt and pinpoints remedies to systematically address the crisis.

In part, the report states: “Pursuit of education in America should not be such a high stakes gamble…Borrowers who took out loans to access an education should not have those debts follow them to the grave.”

Entitled, Road to Relief: Supporting Federal Student Loan Borrowers During the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond, the report encourages President-Elect Biden to keep his campaign promise to cancel significant amounts of student debt among his first executive actions taken on his first day of office, and specifically recommends: 1. Across-the-board debt cancellation. All federal student loan borrowers (including PLUS loan borrowers and those with commercially- or institutionally held loans) should have their balances reduced. This

“It is clear that in the context of existing inequalities in wealth and assets by race/ethnicity, the privatized system of higher education financing serves to further exacerbate the racial wealth gap among young people.”

THE BRANDEIS REPORT

ensures that the benefits of cancellation reach the most vulnerable borrowers and spurs economic recovery; 2. Clearing the books of bad debts. After cancellation, the federal government

should clear the books of debts currently held by borrowers that have been in repayment for longer than 15 years, debts that have been in default for 3 or more years, and debts held by borrowers who

of discretionary income above 250 percent of the poverty line.

“Taken together, these steps will ensure that all federal borrowers, accounting for over 90 percent of the outstanding student loan balances, receive substantial relief…Public investment, not reliance on loans, should once again be the foundation of how we pay for higher education,” states the report.

“The federal government must stop borrowers from continuing to drown in student debt by a system that has been inequitable and broken for decades,” continued Yu. “Abusive debt collection practices seize critical funds, such as Social Security and the Earned Income Tax Credit, and with no time limit on collection these practices can follow borrowers to the grave.”

Ashley Harrington, CRL’s Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Counsel spoke directly to the racial equity implications.

“For many, especially Black and Latino borrowers, repayment has been too onerous and too long, preventing them from SEE STUDENT DEBT B2

Living your best life on someone else’s dime is an illusion!

An illusion is something that is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted. A deceptive appearance or impression. A false idea or belief. Magicians are masters at performing tricks of illusion. However, money is the greatest magician of all. It can disappear before your eyes without you seeing or knowing, leaving you scratching your head, wondering—where or when did my money go?

There’s another illusion I’m speaking about in this article. The illusion fabricated by people to get others to believe that they themselves are wildly successful, happy, and living their best life—free of worries.

We see it paraded all over Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms.

So much so, that Facebook is often referred to as Fakebook. I’m reminded of “The Bow Wow Challenge.” This was a challenge created after early ‘90s successful rapper/actor Bow Wow, whose real name is Shad Moss, was outed for perpetrating a fraud. Bow Wow posted an image of a private jet with the caption, “Traveling to New York for a press run.” Moments later, a random person who shared the same flight on a regular passenger plane to New York, posted a picture of Bow Wow on the plane with the caption—“This guy Bow Wow is on my flight but on Instagram he posted a picture of a private jet stating he was traveling to New York.” BUSTED! Even celebrities get caught up in living an illusion.

The purpose of the Bow Wow challenge was to show how people exaggerate their lifestyle or flat out lie for the purpose of showing off on social media. Guess they do

it for the likes??

My middle son is a college student. We decided to have him commute to and from school to save money on college. Room and Board is approximately half the cost of college. He was reluctant initially. I think he was more excited about the opportunity of leaving home and being independent than he was about going to college. I had to remind him of the fact that had he earned scholarships, he’d have more options. I told him that college is very expensive. Your mom and I will pay as you go to college in an effort to minimize your need for student loans. By doing this, you’ll have more financial independence upon graduation.

That’s far greater than independence from your parents right now.

He didn’t get it. He was still upset. I had to sell him on the luxury of commuting from home. I told him that we’re not going to micromanage you. You will have more independence. As long as you do what you’re supposed to do in school and work a few days per week, you’re good to go. You’ll have full access to one of the cars. You get to have home-cooked meals every day. You don’t have to worry about laundry. You will not have a big need for money because we’ll still help you out as long as you’re in school.

He’s commuting to and from school and loving it. He says college is way better than high school because he has more freedom

and only a couple of classes each day. His grades are good. No complaints from his mom or me on that. However, based on his language I noticed something. He’s living an illusion. Clearly, they haven’t taught him the proper use of pronouns in high school or college. This dude thinks “MY SUV” is his. When conversing about “MY truck,” he’s using possessive pronouns like I, me, my and mine. When we have to move cars around in the driveway to allow another car to get in or out the garage, he says I parked my car on the street.

He’s riding around in a 2-year old SUV. No car payments. No car insurance payments.

No maintenance or repair cost. He’s posting pictures on the gram in “MY truck” flossing like he’s the man.

He’s riding around in “MY truck” with his friends chilling like he got it going on. He’s charging people to take them places in “MY truck” like it’s his—not giving me a dime from his profits. He’s a good young man. I will not completely deflate his bubble just yet. I do chin-check him from time to time. I figure since he’s a college student he needs to understand possessive pronouns and ownership. It’s not yours if you don’t own it.

Bow Wow and my son are not the only people creating this fairytale lifestyle on social media. People post things on social media like they don’t have followers on social media who are people who know them

in real life.

I’m of the age now where my family, friends, colleagues, and peers have children and grandchildren whose careers are launching and taking off. As a parent, I’ve come to observe that I’m far more emotional about the failures and successes of my children than I am of my own successes and failures. I understand when parents post images and comments on social media about their children and grandchildren thriving. It’s hard to be successful at anything. When you or someone you know is thriving in life, it’s worthy of celebration and praise. What strikes me as odd is the lifestyle upgrade changes I observe people making after their children experience success. If this lifestyle upgrade is the result of you as a parent getting a raise in your cashflow because you no longer have to support your dependent child, kudos to you.

If, however, your child is now thriving and is supporting you financially, heed this advice. You don’t want to be a burden on your child. Make sure your child has the wherewithal to support themselves and/or their family in addition to supporting you without breaking the bank. Continue to ensure that you’re creating income streams or long-term savings for yourself, because at any given moment, things can change.

Lastly, always remember, living your best life on someone else’s dime is an illusion.

Illusions are not real.

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached at 412216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com)

BUSINESS

B2 DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

First Community Mortgage names Roundtree head of community engagement The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that First Community Mortgage (FCM) has named Antonio Roundtree Vice President of Community Engagement.

“We are excited to welcome Antonio in this new role, responsible for increasing lending activities, promoting homebuyer and financial education programs, and community outreach efforts across communities we serve,” said

Keith Canter, CEO of First Community Mortgage, in a statement. “In this strategic role Antonio will help us meet the needs of historically underserved communities—by leading our efforts to provide affordable housing products, resources, tools and events that help build generational wealth, championing diversity and inclusion improvement, furthering the reach of our Multi-Cul-

tural Lending Initiative Division, and facilitating more relationships and growth of our retail division.”

Roundtree (NLMS # 93875) has worked in banking, last focusing on Rutherford C o u n t y, Nash-

ville and extending to Knoxville.

He attended Austin Peay University, majoring in Criminal Justice, and served in the U.S. Army as an Engineer.

Away from work he enjoys teachi n g ANTONIO ROUNDTREE

youth at church events, including coaching them on employment preparation. Roundtree’s hobbies include gardening, home improvement, fitness and muscle cars.

“Serving and fostering the community is one of the main pillars of First Community Mortgage’s mission, and I am proud to join the team, focusing on traditionally underserved markets,” Roundtree says.

“It’s exciting to launch

our Community Development Initiative, the primary tool toward intentional engagement, providing communities with relevant assistance, educational and financial services to generate more homeownership opportunities.”

Biden-Harris administration commits to ensure government spending with Black and minority-owned media businesses

by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courtier

(NNPA)—President-Elect Joe Biden’s administration plans to support legislation offered by District of Columbia Democratic Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton that would ensure federal agencies advertise with minority-owned businesses, including the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

“From the racial equity plan—at the direction of the President-Elect, the Director of Minority Business Development Agency will coordinate all federal offices to reduce barriers to procurement for underrepresented groups, including all types of minority-owned businesses,” a Biden transition spokesperson told Black Press USA. “This is good news for the Black Press of America in 2021,” declared Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President and CEO of the NNPA. “The incoming Biden-Harris Administration has gone on the public record to keep their commitments to ensure equitable federal advertising dollars to be spent over the next four years with Black-owned newspapers, and other minority owned media companies across the nation.”

In 2019, after reviewing a General Accounting Office audit that revealed federal agencies only spend a pittance of its

IN 2019, AFTER REVIEWING A GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AUDIT that revealed federal agencies only spend a pittance of its allotted $5 billion advertising budget with Black and minority-owned entities, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced H.R. 2576. President-elect Joe Biden’s administation plans to support Rep. Norton’s legislation. allotted $5 billion advertising budget with Black and minority-owned entities, Norton introduced H.R. 2576.

The legislation requires each of the 12 fed-

eral Appropriations Committees to adopt language mandating that all agencies include in their annual budget request to Congress the amount of money they spend to advertise with the Black Press, Hispanic Press, and women-owned publications.

Norton’s bill, which remains under consideration in the House, requires all budgetary requests include a line-item detailing what they are spending with Black and other minority-owned businesses, including media companies.

“This is important not just for the publications but because those publications reach minorities and women in a way that mainstream publications may not,” Norton said when introducing the measure.

“We did this because the federal government is the largest advertising agency in the United States and this gives it a special obligation to make sure that it is using advertising dollars fairly and to reach all people in the United States,” said Norton, who has served in the U.S. House since 1991.

The incoming Biden administration plans to see this legislation through.

“The President-elect is committed to implementing the plans that he laid out

during the campaign that focuses on building the economy back better and creating opportunities for minority-owned businesses to advance and prosper,” the transition spokesperson relayed.

“Biden’s Lift Every Voice plan largely addresses the President-elect’s plans to address building Black wealth, which means investing in Black communities.”

The president-elect’s Build Back Better Racial Economic Equity plan also relays how Biden plans to hold federal offices accountable for adequately maintaining their relationships with minority-owned businesses.

It includes increasing the funding and stature of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).

Latino and Black Americans are roughly 30 percent of the U.S. population, yet they currently own just 7.5 percent of small businesses with employees.

For almost four years, the only federal agency charged with addressing racial disparities in small business ownership has been on the Trump administration’s chopping block.

MBDA provides business consulting services and connects minority-owned businesses with capital and contracting opportunities.

“These services are critical. Instead of trying to reduce or eliminate funding for MBDA, Biden will protect the agency and call on Congress to increase its funding dramatically,” the transition spokesperson said.

The plan includes the Biden administration elevating the Director of the MBDA to the Assistant Secretary level and instruct the MBDA to coordinate all federal offices charged with reducing barriers to procurement for underrepresented groups.

With additional resources and authority, MBDA will also create new business development grants and other programs that will address the economic challenges facing Black and Brown communities, expand small business ownership, and shrink the racial wealth gap.

Additionally, Biden plans to provide MBDA with $5 billion in annual lending and investment authority “to ensure capital flows directly to minority-owned businesses and investments in critical infrastructure in Black, Latino, AAPI, and Native American communities,” the spokesperson said.

Relieving America’s student debt no student debt—whereas Black borrowers at the median still owe 95 perachieving financial security even uncent of their cumulative borrowing toder normal circumstances,” noted tal.

Harrington. “Short-term payment sus“It is clear that in the context of expension alone will not help struggling isting inequalities in wealth and assets borrowers who have lost their jobs or by race/ethnicity, the privatized system who were already in default or serious of higher education financing serves to delinquency before the public health further exacerbate the racial wealth crisis started.” gap among young people,” states the “To address our current recession and Brandeis report. “It has saddled young stimulate economic recovery, we urge borrowers of color, particularly Black President-Elect Biden to immediately borrowers, with debt that creates ecofollow these simple steps and prevent nomic insecurity for decades and limits further financial devastation for vulnew wealth-generating opportunities nerable borrowers and communities,” such as homeownership.” added Harrington. “The time to cancel Despite noble contributions and student debt and provide student borachievements, there is no doubt that rowers with significant relief is now.” as a people we continue to be financialWhile student loan debt cancellation ly short-changed. Now as we approach and the other proposed reforms would a New Year and a new White House, provide much-needed relief to borrowsystemic changes are both needed and ers, it would also bring the opportunity possible. to redirect these dollars to better parCancelling student debt and reformticipate in the nation’s economy. Starting the repayment system are vital for ing a business or transitioning from Black borrowers and communities. renters to homeowners are but two But targeted actions in other areas of examples of ways to build wealth and concern are also necessary before this financial security. and future Black Americans can secure Other major research reports have financial stability or build wealth. An also connected lengthy student debt even longer road map to relief—beyond and its restrictions to economic mostudent debt—must address other root bility and lifetime wealth-building. causes of the racial wealth gap. Access Research has established that student to affordable credit—including safe debt can prevent borrowers from buyand responsible mortgage loans- and ing homes, starting businesses, going an end to all forms of predatory lendto graduate school, and even starting ing are representative of these ‘other’ families. reforms.

For example, a 2019 research report Lifting the trillion-dollar debt of stuby Brandeis University’s Institute on dent loans is an important first step to Assets and Social Policy found that financial equality. after 20 years of student loan repay (Charlene Crowell is a Senior Fellow with ments, the median debt of White borthe Center for Responsible Lending. She can be rowing students has been reduced by reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelend94 percent—with almost half holding

STUDENT DEBT FROM B1

ing.org.)

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

B3

Obvious need for food and shelter

Guest Editorial

Take the ‘darned’ vaccine Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has made the phrase “wear the damn mask” one of the most quoted requests in 2020. And now, as both Moderna and Pfizer have recently submitted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for two vaccines which would immediately benefit frontline workers and those hospitalized, it looks like real life-saving measures remain just weeks away.

On Nov. 30, Vice President Mike Pence told governors during a conference call with the White House Coronavirus Task Force that some doses of the vaccine could begin to be distributed as early as mid-December.

But the U.S. won’t be the first nation to approve a vaccine and began administering it to the public.

Breaking news Dec. 1 confirmed that the United Kingdom has become the first country in the West to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for public use. British officials say the vaccine, developed jointly by American drug maker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech, will be distributed starting next week.

In the coming days, many predict that EUA will be approved for either Pfizer, Moderna, or both pharmaceutical companies.

At that point, the arduous task of distributing the vaccine will begin—and not a moment too soon.

Florida recently joined California and Texas as the only U.S. states or territories to record over one million cases of COVID-19. As for those who will receive the vaccine first, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially voted Tuesday to recommend that health care workers and long-term care (LTC) facility residents should be the first Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Their decision remains prudent with many hospitals facing a severe shortage of doctors and nurses because these frontline workers have contracted the virus—many even losing their lives. As for LTC facilities, the most recent available data reveals that while they make up eight percent of all coronavirus cases, their residents represent more than 40 percent of all COVID-19 deaths.

The CDC routinely publishes recommendations for adult and childhood vaccination which include immunization against influenza, tetanus-diphtheria, human papillomavirus, herpes zoster, measles-mumps-rubella and streptococcus pneumoniae. Still, many American adults remain woefully and inadequately vaccinated.

Hogan’s unforgettable phrase makes sense— we must all be vaccinated. Still, local officials will need to ensure that neither operational or systemic barriers hinder the process.

Adult vaccination noncompliance has historically occurred because of factors which include low priority, lack of information, fear or opposition to vaccines, cost and availability. We can ill-afford for these factors to keep us cowering in our homes, unable to safely return to a semblance of normal, separated from our loved ones or unable to secure gainful employment—all the while waiting for our “number” to be called.

Protect yourself and others. When the vaccine becomes available, get in line, roll up your sleeve and take the “darned” thing.

(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I remember watching late-night television ads that solicited donations for inhabitants of foreign countries trapped in misfortune and suffering the deprivation of what could only be called fundamental human necessities— adequate food and clean water. My stomach would churn, and my heart would ache every time I saw the depiction of malnourished children with distended stomachs and swarms of flies circling and landing on/in their mouths and nostrils.

Anyone who has taken Psychology 101 or who is familiar with the science of human behavior has, at least, a passing familiarity with Abraham Maslow’s theory of The Hierarchy of Needs. Although not a believer in absolutes related to human behavior, I recognize the validity of certain theoretical predictions. I only mention Maslow because at the foundation of his theory is the “common human need” for acquiring and maintaining basic physiological needs (e.g. air, water, food, and shelter). Maslow asserts this as the first step in maximizing human potential. Without these basics, it is difficult (almost impossible) to focus on anything else.

The current COVID-19 Pandemic, or more accurately the government’s inadequate response to it, reminds me of what my good friend Dick Gregory used to say about the state of our union. “When White America gets the sniffles,” he would say, “Black America suffers with Pneumonia.” Low-income families and families of color are disproportionately affected by multiple, overlapping

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary issues like lack of affordable housing, social isolation, chronic or acute health problems, high medical costs, and low wages. COVID has impacted our complete existence with, for many, immeasurable effect upon food security and shelter.

In our society, those who live through a 24-hour period without their stomachs aching from hunger are truly blessed. While Conservatives (Republicans) in the US Senate, through inaction, demonstrate their lack of concern as underserved and ignored communities of color move closer to a disaster equal to the latenight ads referred to earlier. Anyone questioning that statement only has to turn-on the television to see the miles-long lines of cars waiting at food distribution centers across the nation.

If food insecurity is not bad enough, the COVID crisis has created the additional problem of increased homelessness. Under the government’s initial CARES Act, eviction protections were instituted to provide financial protections to support tenants and landlords. These CARES provisions expired on July 25, 2020 but have been replaced by state or

local moratoria that are typically based on the type of property financing. Unfortunately, most of these moratoria expire on December 31, 2020 and open the door to mass evictions.

One must ask, what type of people would allow our nation to devolve into a Pandemic-driven wasteland and why? One answer was given as Mitch McConnell allowed the HEROES bill, approved in the House of Representatives in May, to languish on his desk for over seven months without a counteroffer. Another answer was given as I watched Mitch McConnell chuckle with glee as the plight of the needy was described in his Senate debate. It was reiterated in the McConnell Stimulus Plan that offered no relief to individual citizens. It was reinforced by reports from numerous news analysts stating that the Republican Senate rejects any additional stimulus. These rejections of the impoverished persist as massive tax relief is provided the wealthy. The bottom-line answer: THEY DON’T CARE!!!

Regrettably, it appears as politicians responsible for protecting the masses have been lulled into inaction by the belief that the poor will “suffer through it.” They have discounted the emotional and financial pain and suffering concurrent with this pandemic. I doubt that Americans of any background or race will stand idly by and watch their children suffer in hunger and without shelter.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Biden’s proposed cabinet—a kinder and gentler imperialism (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Tonight, the whole world is watching America.

And I believe at our best, America is a beacon for the globe. We will lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.”— Joe Biden, Nov. 7, 2020 In his first address to the nation as president-elect, Joe Biden told America and the world that power comes first; power is the key. He went on to say “Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses…

It’s time for our better angels to prevail…”

It is time for America’s “better angels to prevail”. But I think Biden has it backwards. He should have said, we will lead by the power of our example and if necessary, by the example of our power. Like his predecessors, he is defaulting to the Military Industrial Complex (MIC).

When you look at Biden’s cabinet announcements it takes me to former Giant’s coach Bill Parcels who said, “you are what your record says you are.” In this case, you are what your cabinet says you are. It is the people who make the policy; policy does not make itself. The history of many of these nominees reflects America’s darkest impulses not its better angels.

What was good about America “green lighting” the NATO bombing of Libya and the resulting execution of Muammar Gaddafi? This led to the destabilization of the country and the region. According to The Atlantic, “The Libya intervention marked the third time in a decade that Washington embraced regime change and then failed to plan for the consequences.” America’s better angels? I think not.

What good has come from America “green lighting” Saudi Arabia’s invasion in Yemen and the continuing logistical support for what the UN has called the worst man-made humanitarian crisis in the world? Per the UN, after nearly six years of conflict, “14.3 million people are classified as being in acute need, with around 3.2 million requiring treatment for acute malnutrition; that includes two million children under-five, and more than one million pregnant and lactating women.” If America were winning the battle of our better angles, we would stop our support of the Saudi’s and provide these starving people food, water and medicine.

Instead, America is losing the battle to the MIC, big oil and its darkest impulses. These impulses convince you that it is more important to sell weapons and take resources than provide humanitarian aid.

America’s imperialist, hegemonic and evil regime change policies did not make themselves. Again, it is the people who make the policy. Look at the record of some of Biden’s cabinet

Wilmer J. Leon III

Commentary nominees and their involvement in these atrocities.

Biden’s choice for Secretary of Defense is projected to be Michele Flournoy. She was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy during the Clinton administration. During her tenure she authored the May 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). The founding principle of this document is that the unilateral use of force is acceptable to defend any US interest the US deems important and the US is the sole arbiter of these issues. She is the proponent of permanent war or as she calls it, “full spectrum dominance.” As the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy during the Obama administration, she was instrumental in designing the horrific regime change policies that led to the invasions of Libya and Syria.

Biden’s choice for Secretary of State is Tony Blinken. He was a top advisor to then Sen. Joe Biden who was Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They played a major role in shoring up support among the Democrat-controlled Senate for Bush’s illegal invasion of Iraq.

We can also thank Avril Haines, Biden’s pick to be Director of National Intelligence for his role in the Yemen, Libya and Syria policies.

Haines also supported arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

On the domestic policy front, Biden has named Neera Tanden as his nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget. It should be troubling that a nominee for this position has advocated for cuts to social security and other vital social safety net programs. During a pandemic, an economy in recession and 30-40 million Americans facing eviction, austerity is not the appropriate response.

Tanden also has a hawkish foreign policy side. Leading up to the Libya bombing she was advocating taking Libya’s oil as repayment for the US backed bombing of the country. “If we want to continue to engage in the world, gestures like having oil rich countries partially pay us back doesn’t seem crazy to me…” This is the same mindset that Trump articulated in Syria.

In his speech, “Time to Break Silence” Dr. King warned us about austerity, “A few years ago…it seemed as if there was a real promise of hope

for the poor…through the poverty program…Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated, as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war, and I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube.” Just replace Vietnam with Afghanistan, Syria or Yemen, etc. We are still “a society gone mad on war”.

As the “Manhattan Mussolini” aka President Trump talks about withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan, what does Jeh Johnson (possible nominee for a defense position) have to say? “…in trying to strike a deal, you don’t unilaterally surrender your greatest point of leverage by unilaterally withdrawing troops before the Afghan government and the Taliban have stuck a deal…” Greatest point of leverage? We’ve been there almost 20 years and gained nothing! What leverage is he talking about?

These are just a few examples of the individuals President-elect Biden has said he will nominate for key positions in his administration. I have been very consistent in warning that Nov. 3 was especially important, but it is what Americans are willing to fight for that will matter on Nov.4 and after. For as ugly and racist as Trump’s politics are America will have to be vigilant and diligent if there is to be substantive positive change in the future. These nominees indicate to me that Biden, et al are planning to take us back to a romanticized Clinton and Obama eras whose policies sometimes did not lead to a better America.

Biden has been touting a “diverse” cabinet and administration. He is introducing prominent “firsts” of their gender or ethnicity in cabinet positions. Diversity in gender or ethnicity is not as relevant as diversity in ideology and agenda. Don’t get fooled by this identity/gender politics “diversity” veneer. Look at the records of these people. Look at the think-tanks they are tied to and how many of them have been and/or are currently being paid by Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman and the other defense contractors. Look at how many of them were involved in the Libya fiasco, the Yemen catastrophe, Rwanda, and the blunder in Syria.

Progress this is not. If the people don’t force change in policy, it will just be a nicer fascism. A warmer and fuzzier hegemony. A happier time for neoliberalism. A kinder and gentler imperialism.

(Dr. Wilmer Leon is the Producer/ Host of the nationally broadcast call-in talk radio program “Inside the Issues with Leon,” on SiriusXM Satellite radio channel 126.)

Letters to the editor for publication The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor, New Pittsburgh Courier, 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

FORUM

B4 DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

Where have Presidential nominees and Twitter: the jobs gone? Descending from ideas to insults (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Have you ever seen a pig dance a jig? I don’t mean to be rude, but the one-minute press conference that the current President called to celebrate the stock market clearing the 30,000 mark was the equivalent of a pig dancing a gig. He had been under seclusion for the three weeks since he lost the election to President-elect Joe Biden, playing more golf than President Obama ever did. If he works his frustrations out on the golf course, pity the caddy.

In any case, when the Dow Jones Industrial average cleared the 30,000 mark, the “economic recovery” President could not resist a camera turn. He also refused to reply to any questions. But what could we expect from a President who had sequestered himself for three weeks, bunkering down inside his tax-supported home, venturing to play golf with tax-supported security?

While 45 was celebrating and golfing, too many other Americans got upsetting news. Weekly, at least 700,000 are filing unemployment claims. Fewer than March, but too many to claim “economic recovery.”

The first Friday employment situation report was disappointing. The report said the rate “edged down” to 6.7 percent. That means it moved

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary only slightly and that the 245,000 jobs created fell far short of the 450,000 that economists had expected. It’ means that the so-called recovery is not recovering right now and that the news of pandemic flareups will make it worse.

As soon as the market cleared 30,000, though, folks were selling grotesque celebratory t-shirts on Amazon. They are owning the victory that gave them a 30,000 stock market and food lines snaking around city blocks. They are celebrating their jig-dancing President while ignoring the folks who are crying out for relief. Why are so many so indifferent to the human suffering resulting from job loss and the pandemic?

The 6.7 percent unemployment rate is bad enough. More than 100,000 government employees lost their jobs last month. Some of these are census workers, but some have lost jobs when their cities and states have cut back. Teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters have jobs on the line. And the Senate is fiddling while America starves. Congress has offered legislation since May, compromising along the way, but the Senate has held the line in punishing hungry and unemployed people to fulfill their political gains.

Beyond the overall unemployment rate, there are ugly realities. Nearly 3.9 million people have been unemployed for at least half a year. Many of them have lost their unemployment benefits. Fourteen million people say they are either not working or working less because of corona.

Nearly half a million have left the labor force just last month. People are suffering, and it seems as if our legislators don’t care. So there are those who are celebrating stock gains and others who have seen absolutely no gain. Some are celebrating economic success, while too many others are scrambling for their next meal.

Those who are working are facing more challenging conditions than before the pandemic. Because of a lack of funds, many cities are cutting public transportation, increasing waiting times, and crowding. The cut in transportation services is understandable, as is the reduction in other services. Where does that leave us, though, when there are fewer busses, less garbage collection, and fewer other public services.

The House of Representatives and Senate are squabbling about how much relief is needed but seem close to an agreement that will provide much-needed, and insufficient aid. President Obama told Rev. Al Sharpton, “Any recovery is going to require government to spend even more than it already has.” As it now stands, the government is more interested in making political points than in helping citizens. For some, it boils down to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). For others, it is a matter of the unemployment rate and its reverberations.

This is what we know for sure— corona is taking a tremendous toll on our society and economy every single day. Christmas is coming, and too many folks will find empty stockings. On both sides of the aisle, our legislators deserve nothing more than a lump of coal. Bah, humbug!

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author.)

Before the turn of public: the century the term J. Pharoah Doss 1). Advocating the “controversial” was distribution of conreserved for daring traceptives in public individuals that schools injected the public 2). The legalization discourse with origof drugs inal or contrarian Despite these ideas. Whenever “controversial” views a U.S. President Elders was confirmed selected such a and became the first person for an executive position, it started African American and the second woman a controversy that put two very simple to serve as the Surgeon General. Then but fundamentally different questions on in 1994, at a United Nations conference a collision course. on AIDS, Elders suggested young people 1). Are the ideas actually controversial? should be taught masturbation to prevent 2). Are the ideas too controversial for them from riskier forms of sex. Clinton’s the public?

White House Chief of Staff, Leon Panetta, In 1993, President Bill Clinton selected famously said, “There have been too many two Black women, Lani Guinier and Joyareas where the President does not agree celyn Elders, for positions in the Clinton with her views. This is just one too many.” administration. Guinier was nominated Whether it was the withdrawal of Guinifor assistant attorney general, but Clinton er’s nomination or the forced resignation withdrew her nomination, and Elders sur- of Elders, the controversies were over vived her confirmation hearing, but was ideas that have societal consequences. forced to resign a year later.

Recently, President-elect Joe Biden nomWere Guinier’s ideas controversial? inated Neera Tanden to be the Director Guinier was a tenured law professor at of the Office of Management and Budget. the University of Pennsylvania. She adTanden is the president and CEO of the vocated two ideas that came under fire: Center for American Progress, a liberal 1). Expanding Affirmative Action think-tank. The press indicated that 2). Race-conscious districting, i.e., shapTanden’s nomination would set the stage ing electoral districts to ensure a Black for a big confirmation battle. With that majority being said, one would think the president The first idea wasn’t actually controand CEO of a liberal think-tank would versial. It was just unpopular among the be opposed due to controversial ideas like opposition party. The second idea actually Guinier and Elders. was controversial and too controversial That’s not the case. for the public. Republican lawmakers The Hill reported, Senate Republicans stated Guinier believed “only Blacks could vowed to oppose Tanden because she represent Blacks” and that made her a ra- often “slammed” GOP lawmakers on cially polarizing figure. Then Democratic Twitter and referred to Senate Majority Senators recommended to Clinton that he Leader Mitch McConnell as “Moscow withdraw Guinier’s nomination because Mitch”. her interviews in the Senate weren’t goSen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) stated, Taning well and Clinton took their advice. den’s combative and insulting comments Were Elders’ ideas controversial? In about many members of the Senate, 1987, then-Governor of Arkansas, Bill mainly on our side of the aisle, creates a Clinton, appointed Elders as Director of problematic path to confirmation.

Arkansas Department of Health. After The slogan of the Washington Post is Clinton won the presidency, Elders was “democracy dies in darkness,” but darkhis first choice for Surgeon General. ness spreads when ideas disappear and Elders held ideas that were actually the social consequences of insults domicontroversial and too controversial for the nate the public discourse.

Check It Out

Black folks’ concerns about COVID-19 vaccine are not unwarranted (TriceEdneyWire. medical student in A. Peter Bailey com)— Those who beSouth Carolina in a lieve that the concerns letter to a friend in of numerous Black New Jersey. folks about the soon-toAccording to be-available COVID-19 William S. Drewry vaccine is unwarrantin his book, “The ed should check out Southampton the following observaInsurrection,” the tions and commentary body of Nat Turner about the American who was executmedical profession that are included in ed for leading an armed revolt against my book, “The Harlem Hospital Story: enslavers “was delivered to the doctors 100 Years of Struggle against Illness and who skinned it and made grease of the White Supremacy.” flesh. His skeleton was for many years Dr. W. Montague Cobb, who was a the possession of Dr. Massenberg....” medical historian and Professor of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing once wrote Anatomy at Howard University and the that concerned and aware Black people first African American to earn a PhD in were very disturbed “by repeated atanthropology, has been quoted as saying tempts to imply that African people are “Negro patients in countless numbers the source responsible for the origin of served to advance the cause of medical this new deadly virus (AIDS) and for its science through their reactions to new or spread throughout the world....Aware little tried therapeutic measures. The use Black people are knowledgeable about of the Negro patient for experimentation the long-standing Tuskegee syphilis and the development of surgical proceexperiments which were conducted for a dures and techniques rests on a tradition period of 40 years (1932-1972) on unsusthat began with the advent of chattel pecting Black men and their families....” slavery in America in 1619.”

All of the above show clearly that conIn his book, “Sins of the Fathers: A cerns of numerous Black folks about the Study of the American Slave Trade, 1441- possibility of White supremacy treatment 1807,” James Pope-Hennessey, wrote in the medical profession are not unwarthat “Once the African captives were put ranted. Therefore, we as Black folks, while ashore, the slave traders began earnestly taking advantage of advances in medical selling moribund or ‘refuse’ Africans at treatment must be on the alert for anypublic auctions to, among others, surthing that reflects experimentation. geons to be used for medical experimentation.”

Henry Irving Tragle in his book, “The Southampton Slave Revolt: A Compilation of Source Materials,” wrote “...

In the circulator of the South Carolina Medical School for that year (1831), I find this remarkable suggestion: ‘Some advantages of peculiar character are connected with this institution. No place in the United States affords so great opportunities for the questions of medical knowledge, subjects being obtained among the colored population in sufficient numbers for every purpose and proper dissection carried without offending an individual....’ The suggestion was made by a

Commentary

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Ray Curry

Commentary

All eyes are on Georgia Senate races (NNPA)—These days, like the old Ray Charles song says, I’ve got Georgia on My Mind. We should all be thinking of Georgia because come January 5, the state is positioned to make a tremendous change for the better—a change that will give President-Elect Joe Biden the opportunity for real legislation and real reform; for lasting and potent legislative buy-in to make laws once again (and it has been a while now!) in service to the people. Laws that address issues important to the working men and women of this nation: healthcare, the economy, health and safety, equal justice for all, the environment, and the right to organize. And a real plan to take COVID-19 head on with a coordinated nationwide policy to address the ill effects, including relief for both businesses and the millions of sidelined workers who are just trying to hang on.

Come January 20, 2021, we will have a new President of the United States in Joseph Biden and the first female African American Vice President Kamala Harris.

This election was a hard-fought, intense race full of division and emotion. But in the end, as a record number of voters turned out (in person and via mail), it was a fair and legal vote that now gives us a leader who has been a long-time friend of labor, and an individual who represents much needed progress for this country. I want to thank all my brothers and sisters from coast to coast for making sure our voices were heard in this election.

Now however, we must collectively stand and fight with him. Simply put, there is still much to do to ensure that the President-Elect has the ability to accomplish his restorative plan. Biden’s plan includes working together during this pandemic to find solutions, battling the current devastating economic and health care challenges, and continuing our fight for workplace rights and safety.

Accomplishing this critical work must include control of the Senate—which has been held by Republicans since 2015, and has in that time, often served as a barrier to progress rather than a forward-thinking channel for progress. And it is down in Blue Georgia (never thought I would be saying that, but Sister Stacey Abrams knew) that we have the opportunity to remove that roadblock.

What’s a runoff?

On election day, neither of Georgia’s Republican senators drew a majority vote. This moves both of their races to special rematches taking place in January. The outcome will determine control of the Senate and if we have a legislature that works together for working people— and with our President. Or it will determine that the political stalemate we have now continues; that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will keep things in the same go nowhere circle we have had for years.

A runoff election is required, under Georgia law, if candidates do not receive a majority (50 percent or more) of the vote. The Georgia runoff will occur on January 5, 2021. The results—depending on who wins—will swing the Senate majority to Democrats or leave McConnell and the Republicans in charge.

It’s the difference between do something or do nothing.

What’s at stake?

Georgia Senate Democratic candidates, Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, will go head-to-head with Republican incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in two separate runoffs. Warnock and Ossoff have been endorsed by the UAW because they are the best choice for UAW members, retirees, and their families. They are the best choice for America, and the best choice for labor.

Both candidates understand that two essential things that must happen, and must happen quickly to address the economic and health care crisis in this country: • From the very beginning, Ossoff and Warnock have taken the pandemic very seriously. Together—working with the new president and fellow Congressional members—they will work to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control to save lives and get people fully back to work.

• Warnock and Ossoff also understand that the economy isn’t working for working people. They will work to repeal tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. They will encourage bringing back our jobs from overseas.

Additionally, they will protect the Social Security and Medicare benefits we earned, defend our pensions and 401(k)s, and make it easier for workers to organize and form a union.

On the flipside, their opponents—Loeffler and Perdue —both support more than $24 billion cuts to Social Security and $500 billion cuts to Medicare. More importantly, they have both used the dire circumstances of a global pandemic to their benefit as both were caught red-handed making insider stock deals based on information about the severity of the pandemic that they kept from the public. Not exactly a move that gives you faith in their ability to serve on the behalf of the citizens they represent.

So, the good trouble that we must make this time around is going back home to the place where good fighting got it its name. This is a historic moment in our history and Georgia holds the key. If Democrats gain both Georgia seats, the 50-50 tie in the Senate will mean that Vice President-Elect Harris will cast tie-breaking votes, carrying out a pro-labor agenda.

Given the rise in COVID-19 cases, President-Elect Biden must be able to make immediate decisions and pass legislation that address the challenges we all face and make tough decisions to protect all working Americans.

Georgians, please vote!

So please, if you live in Georgia, participate in this election. If you do not live in Georgia, consider finding a way to make your own good trouble: assist through phone banking or offer assistance to organizations supporting the Warnock and Ossoff campaigns.

On January 5, the entire country is looking to Georgia to make an essential difference in the future of our nation. We are looking to voters to elect candidates that will protect retirement security, rebuild our economy and implement a national plan to respond to the pandemic. The outcome of this election will affect every single person in this nation for decades to come.

Let us send our hearts and minds south this January.

Let us get back to work for working men and women.

Let us take an old sweet song and make it America’s.

Georgia On My Mind.

New Pittsburgh Courier

CLASSIFIED

B5

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

SONNY BOY

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POWER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Founded in 1990, POWER is the region’s leader of substance use treatment for women. We are a notfor-profit organization committed to providing quality gender-responsive, trauma-informed care to women with substance use and co-occurring disorders. POWER serves 1,400 individuals each year and is growing. Currently, we are recruiting to fill the below opportunities: •Clinical Supervisor - The Clinical Supervisor provides clinical and administrative supervision to Therapists, Resource Coordinator, program interns for the Detox & Rehab Program. The Clinical Supervisor also carries a caseload and provides direct care to clients including individual, family, and group therapy.

Requirements include: LCSW or LPC licensure.; five years’ experience in substance use disorder treatment programs, with a minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory capacity.

•Lead RN - We are looking for a motivated RN to join our team to provide trauma-informed care, with an emphasis towards compassion and dignity. Duties include: assisting doctor with physicals, medication administration, and assessing clients in withdrawal management unit. RN will also collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure clients are meeting their individualized treatment goals and we are meeting their needs. This shift is 12 hours (7:00pm-7:00am) with a shift differential offered. Requirements include: valid PA RN license; supervisory experience strongly preferred.

POWER does not in engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, gender, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic code, or other factor protected by law. f you meet the ualifications and are willing to embrace POWER’s mission, vision, and values, submit your resume and cover letter to: efrohnhofer@power-recovery.com For more information & to read a full job description visit www.power-recovery.com AUBERLE-WARD HOME HEALING CHILDREN & FAMILIES Since 1952, Auberle has been dedicated to transforming the lives of children, youth & families. Auberle is a nationally recognized human service agency serving 4,000+ children & families each year.

HIRING FOR: •Case Manager – FT •Case Aide/Driver – FT/PT •Family Support Staff (Family Emergency Shelter) Duquesne site – PT •Housing Case Manager – FT •Housing Peer Counselor – FT •Housing Case Aide – PT •Maintenance Staff - FT •Youth Care Workers – McKeesport, Swissvale & Wilkinsburg sites – FT/PT If you are highly motivated, passionate about youth & interested in making a difference, visit www.auberle.org to apply. EOE SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking Substitute Teachers How to apply is available at: www.southfayette.org EOE ROCHESTER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT located in Rochester, PA. Part-time, Temporary position of an Instructional Technologies Assistant at a rate of $15 per hour up to 200 hr.

Deadline: Until the position is filled.

Anyone interested in the position should submit an application online at www.rasd.org SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking Substitute Paraeducators How to apply is available at: www.southfayette.org EOE

SECURITY ENGINEER Duolingo, Inc. has multiple openings for Security Engineers in Pittsburgh, PA to continuously improve Duolingo’s infrastructure security and maintain compliance through automation and monitoring. Duties include: Use develop cutting-edge tools to maintain confidentiality, data integrity availability across all Duolingo services & platforms; Streamline operational & development practices related to security Analyze current security posture & plan for future threats; Harden networks against attacks; Prevent data breach & IP theft; Participate in weekly on-call rotations. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related technical field.

Must have knowledge of the following: (1) Python or JavaScript; (2) C++; (3) Coq; (4) Network security, including applied cryptography; (5) Designing and implementing interfaces; (6) Algorithm design; and (7) Architecture of digital systems. Email resume to jobs@duolingo.com with Job No. SecEng2020 and title “Security Engineer” in subject line.

LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE SCHOOL NURSE (SCHOOL NURSE CERTIFICATION, PA RN LICENSE, AND CPR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) Persons interested in the position listed above, should submit their application by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 20, 2020, through the on-line application system at the following link: https://www.applitrack.com/fcasd/ onlineapp/.

EOE PSYCHOMETRICIANS Duolingo, Inc. seeks Psychometricians (mult. openings) for its Pittsburgh, PA location to be responsible for analyzing & interpreting statistical data to develop & enhance Duolingo’s proprietary language testing technology & working with researchers, engineers & designers to create cutting-edge, research-drawn language assessment models. Please apply to jobs@duolingo.com and refer Psychometrician and job number 111220 in the subject line to be considered for the role.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting Proposals from Companies who wish to be considered for the following: Underground Utility Locating Services Additional information and instructions may be obtained by visiting: https://www.alcosan.org/workwith-us/planned-and-active-bids Interested Parties shall deliver an electronic copy (pdf format) to: suzanne.thomas@alcosan.org Suzanne Thomas, Procurement Officer All questions shall be submitted, in writing, to Suzanne Thomas via email.

A Pre-Bid meeting will be held on-line via Microsoft Teams on December 16, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

(EST). All parties interested in attending the informational meeting shall send an email to Suzanne Thomas.

Once the emails are compiled, ALCOSAN will email a Microsoft Teams meeting invite. This meeting is not mandatory but all interested parties are encouraged to attend.

ALCOSAN intends to award the services to one firm to perform all of the services. All submittals must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. January 6, 2021. It is Consultant’s responsibility to ensure the documents have been received.

Late submittals will not be considered.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities, disadvantaged and women’s business enterprises to submit ualification statements or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the selected Consultant/Firm. The Party selected shall be required to utilize minority, disadvantaged, and women’s business enterprises to the fullest extent possible. The goals of the ALCOSAN’s Minority and omen Business Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN website at www.alcosan.org.

Kimberly Kennedy, PE Director, Engineering and Construction

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LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR SALARY SURVEY REBID RFP #650-33-20-REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Salary Survey The documents will be available no later than November 30, 2020 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on December 22, 2020. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 10:00 AM on December 22, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HCP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business pportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on December 10, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 969 8100 1217 Passcode: 200072 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES REBID RFP #800-34-20-REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Mobile Food Distribution for Various Public Housing Communities The documents will be available no later than November 30, 2020 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 09:00 A.M. on December 22, 2020. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 09:00 AM on December 22, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HCP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business pportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on December 10, 2020 at 09:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 924 2955 3210 Passcode: 939099 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

INVITATION FOR BIDS The URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY of Pittsburgh will receive bids from ualified contractors for the roof stabilization of the unt Armory: a commercial building located at 324 Emerson Street; in the Shadyside neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, and all work incidental thereto required to complete the unt Armory Stabilization, until 11:00 a.m. prevailing time on Wednesday, the 23rd day of December, 2020, via Public Purchase.

Contract documents will be available after 1:00pm on Monday, December 7, 2020, only on Public Purchase. Paper copies will not be available for pickup.

Contract documents will not be mailed. Bids will only be accepted through Public Purchase.

A pre-bid meeting will be held at the site on Friday, December 11, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Please email McGarry Luginski, Senior Project Engineer mluginski@ura.org to obtain additional information for this meeting.

All interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend. All meeting attendees should park at the northern end of the street near the loading dock.

A certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, negotiable U.S. Government Bonds (at par value), or a satisfactory bid bond, executed by the Bidder and an acceptable surety in a dollar amount equal to 5% of the total bid, shall be submitted. Each bid submittal must include the Bid, on-collusion Affidavit of Prime Bidder, Bid Bond, Statement of Bidders ualifications, and Certification of Minority and Women’s Participation with Exhibits.

Wages paid on this project shall not be less than the minimum wages determined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry as set forth in the contract documents.

The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements. The Contractor must assure that applicants and employees are not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, age or sexual preference, gender identity, gender expression, political and/or union affiliation.

The Urban edevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh requires that all bidders complete and submit Certification of Minority and Women’s Participation with Exhibits.

The Urban edevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informality in the bidding.

Bids may be held by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days from the date of opening of bids for the purpose of reviewing the bids prior to awarding the Contract.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 1 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on January 12, 2021, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Service & Maintenance Contracts at Various Schools, Facilities, Facilities & Properties: -Gas and Oil Burners, Boilers and Furnaces Inspection,Service, and Repairs (REBID) -Fire Extinguisher and Fire Hoses Service and Maintenance (REBID) -Concrete Maintenance (REBID) Various Schools Carbon Monoxide Detectors Phase III Mechanical and Electrical Primes Pgh. Mifflin PreK-8 Various Asphalt and Concrete Repairs General Prime Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on December 7, 2020 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 nonrefundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF PITTSBURGH Diamonte Walker Deputy Executive Director December 7, 2020

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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B6

CLASSIFIEDS/SPORTS

DECEMBER 9-15, 2020

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 20-12 Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) is requesting proposals for the performance of the following service (“Contract Services”): STATION DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN SERVICES The work under the proposed Agreement consists of providing Station Digital Communications Design Services. The required contract services consist of, but are not limited to, providing consulting design services for innovative next-generation audio/visual communications that connect with existing capabilities (e.g. Clever Service alerts) and provide interactive capabilities for safety, security, and service information. The required services will be issued on a work order basis as they are approved to proceed by Authority.

The Agreement will be for a three (3) year period with the option to extend the term of the Agreement up to two (2) additional years at the sole discretion of Authority.

A copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available on or after December 8, 2020 and can be obtained by registering at the Port Authority ebusiness website: http://ebusiness.portauthority.org and following the directions listed on the website. Please note that Proposers must register under the ebusiness categories for this RFP:

ENGINEERING

Engineering

ENGCM

Eng. Construction Management

ENGSC

Engineering – Systems/Communications

ENGPLAN

Eng. Planning/Studies

PSITS

Pro. Information Technology

PSSC

Pro. Software Consulting

CONSTE

Cons. Telecommunications

Proposers may also register in other categories for any future RFPs issued

by Port Authority. f you have specific uestions regarding this RFP, please contact Catherine Terrill at (412) 566-5188 or via email cterrill@portauthority.org.

An Information Meeting for interested parties will be held at 1:30 p.m., prevailing time, December 16, 2020 via Microsoft Teams video conference and/or conference call to answer any questions regarding this RFP. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/20-12InfoMtg To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • +1 (412) 927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 223 093 311# Electronic proposals must be both received, and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department through Authority’s Ebusiness website at or before 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, January 12, 2021, at http://ebusiness.portauthority.org. Proposals received or time stamped by a Purchasing and Materials Management Department representative through Authority’s Ebusiness website after the advertised time for the submission of proposals shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for award. Each Proposer shall be solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the requirements herein. Please note that a sealed Summary of Costs should NOT be submitted with the Proposal, but will be submitted at a later date as requested by Port Authority.

This Contract Services may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The proposal process and the performance of the requested services will be in accordance with guidelines and regulations of the FTA “Third Party Contracting Guidelines”, FTA Circular 4220.1F, as amended, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, as amended, implements positive affirmative action procedures to ensure that all Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBEs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts financed, in whole or in part, with federal funds, if any, provided under or for the proposed Agreement. In this regard, all recipients or contractors shall take all necessary and reasonable steps in accordance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, to ensure that DBEs have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontracts for, the Contract Services.

Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, also re uires that certified Diverse Businesses, (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontract for, the Contract Services. In this regard, all Proposers, and the Contractor, shall make good faith efforts, in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontracts for, the Contract Services.

Further, proposers and the Contractor shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sex, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts or subcontracts for these Contract Services Port Authority of Allegheny County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1738 FURNISH AND DELIVER CAUSTIC SODA FOR DEMINERALIZATION UNIT REGENERATION. The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is soliciting Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1738 FURNISH AND DELIVER CAUSTIC SODA FOR DEMINERALIZATION UNIT REGENERATION. Bids will be received until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, January 14, 2021 at the office of the Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. The Bids will then be publicly opened and read.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Proposals or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the successful bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority or women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible.

Documents pertaining to the submission of Bids are available at the Engineering office of the Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of $2,500.00. The Successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond in the amount of $50,000.00.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, to waive any informality in any Bid and to accept any Bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so.

Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Benjamin J. Heilman, Contract Supervisor, at (412) 734-6204 or Benjamin.Heilman@alcosan.org

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LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR VENDING SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE - RESIDENT OWNED BUSINESSES ONLY RFP #250-35-20 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request bids from ualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service(s): Vending Services Authority Wide -Resident Owned Businesses Only The documents will be available no later than December 7, 2020 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on January 5, 2021.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 10:00 AM on January 5, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HCP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-bid meeting will be held via call in; on December 17, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. Please see call in information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 948 4955 8914 Passcode: 545597 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

SEEING IS BELIEVING There’s illusions, delusions, and the cold, hard truth “Come my children, cowards without fear. Admission is free, you pay at the door. You pick your own seat, but you sit on the floor.

This is my story. One bright day in the middle of the night, two dead boys arose to fight. Backto-back they faced one another.

Drew their swords and shot one another. A deaf policeman heard the noise and came to kill the two dead boys.”

(Anonymous “folk” poem) There are contradictions and contrasts that we are forced to deal with on a daily basis. Good against evil. Hot versus cold. Dr.

novative name, but it will work in a pinch.

The new name almost promotes a semi-anonymous sentiment about the team, sort of like the semi-anonymous Pittsburgh Steelers that lost a late-afternoon, early-evening Monday game on Dec. 7 to the Washington Football Team, 23-17. For the Steelers, maybe being forced to play three games in 12 days coupled with having no valid “bye week” left them fighting unsuccessfully to mend, rejuvenate and restore tired minds, bodies and souls that for the moment may

Inside Conditions

Aubrey Bruce Jekyll against Mr. Hyde. Light against dark. The above-mentioned poem is not just a contradiction but also is illusional as well as delusional.

An illusion is generally defined as: “a false idea or belief.”

A delusion is: “an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder.”

I could go on and on, but at this point, I am reasonably certain that you get my drift. The Washington Football Team versus the Pittsburgh Football Club

have had some cold water thrown on their competitive fires and in its wake, leaving smoldering ashes.

Take the offense of the Pittsburgh (not the Steelers) Football Club. For the past several games they have narrowly escaped defeat by the hairs of their chinny, chin, chin. The Club should have lost a few more games based on their bipolar offensive and defensive effort but the “God of Schizophrenic” performances was smiling kindly down upon the Black and Gold during their past winning streak. When the won-loss record of the Pittsburgh Steelers stood at 11-0, Steelers

was a perfect example of unexpected and unexplained contradictions. Over the summer, the NFL’s Washington Redskins were prompted to rename its team because of political correctness issues and also ethnic sensitivity concerns centered around the dated term “Redskin” and its negative portrayal of the heritage and image of Native Americans.

The new name of the team, as you know, is the Washington Football Team. Not a very creative or in-

Head Coach Mike Tomlin said: “the only perfect thing about the team was their record.” I may be paraphrasing just a bit, but he also could have said that the team was 11-0 because the competition was “imperfect.” See, it wasn’t that the Steelers were so great. It was that the competition was less than. Everyone crowed about the miraculous recovery of “Big” Ben Roethlisberger from an elbow injury as well as the subsequent surgery to repair his elbow in 2019. However, Alex Smith, the QB for the Washington Football Team, beat Roethlisberger and the Steelers in spite of him requiring “17 surgeries after breaking both his tibia and fibula” in a game two years ago.

During the 2020 season the Pittsburgh Steelers have been erratic on both sides of the ball and that is not illusional or delusional, that is factual. But boys and girls, please remember this. You and I plus the postman can sit at the bar for an entire evening partaking in various alcoholic beverages, but at the end of the night, someone has to square up the bar tab with the bartender. The head games and fantasies are over.

Time to pay the piper.

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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ALEX SMITH and the Washington Football Team pulled off the upset victory over the Steelers, Dec. 7, at Heinz Field. (Photos by Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)