What I wish we heard in Biden’s State of the Union

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Reviews are rolling in for President Biden’s latest State of the Union address, with many of them focusing on a highlight of the evening: the moment the President got Republicans to cheer for Social Security and Medicare.

It was a neat trick. I still don’t trust the Right to protect these critically important programs—but at least their hypocrisy will be on video if they don’t.

It was a high point in a speech that covered a lot of ground, as State of the Union addresses always do. I feel for President Biden; I’ve had a similar experience on a smaller scale. As mayor of a city, I used to give a state of the city address every year. It always ended up as a laundry list, and my team and I used to wish we could just spend the whole hour on one pressing issue.

And here’s what I would wish for, if President Biden could have devoted his address to one topic. I believe there are few challenges more important today than what is happening to public education. The President talked about expanding educational opportunities, and that was very welcome. He could have spent an hour-plus talking about the attacks on education we are seeing around the country, because an attack on how kids learn is an attack on all of us.

It stuns me that one politician, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was able to bully the College Board into gutting its new AP Black History curriculum. This doesn’t just

Svante Myrick Commentary

hurt students in Florida. The AP curriculum is for students nationwide. And where does it stop? If a right-wing politician flexes enough muscle, can he get the AP to strike President Obama from the curriculum? The College Board folks already bowed to DeSantis by removing Black authors including Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michelle Alexander. They should be ashamed. Censoring books and their authors is especially disturbing to me, because it means our kids will be less educated than the rest of the world. This bankrupts kids intellectually and ultimately weakens our country. My grandmother, who was a librarian, used to say, “Don’t trust anybody who doesn’t want you to read books.” As a kid growing up in poverty, books were my lifeline, and I firmly believe books are like food: kids will starve without either.

I hope that in the future, the President will use the bully pulpit of his office to send a strong message condemning right-wing attacks on education. Florida isn’t the only state in which this is happening; in Virgin- ia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin made attacks on the freedom to learn a centerpiece of his gubernatorial campaign. He cynically rebranded them as a campaign for “parents’ rights.” But one of the first things he did in office was to set up a “hotline” for people to inform against teachers. The clear objective was to intimidate teachers and scare them away from talking about real issues, primarily related to race but also to LGBTQ+ history and discrimination.

There’s more to say about the State of the Union: that we were glad to hear the President take a more assertive tone on police violence, that we wish he had talked about voting rights. I get it: one speech can’t accomplish every objective. The President achieved an important overarching goal in making it clear that he will be focused on middle- and working-class priorities. He spent about as much time talking about price gouging that hurts average consumers as he did talking about foreign policy. That was fresh, and welcome.

And now it’s back to the daily business of governing and executing on national priorities. Fighting attacks on education, including book banning and censorship, has to be among the top issues. President Biden, great job on Tuesday night; please keep it up as you continue to use your voice and your platform to speak out.

(Svante Myrick is President of People For the American Way.)

Our challenge during Black History Month: Resistance to ignorance

by Julianne Malveaux NEWS ANALYSIS

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History sets a theme for Black History Month. This year the theme is Black Resistance. It is appropriate for a time such as this because it reflects the work we must do in a climate where there has been active retrenchment of our rights.

The 2022 elections reminded us that voter suppression efforts continue to erode our voting rights. The reduction of our voting rights is taking place as we prepare for the 2024 election. Already the far rights and their allies are attempting to steal the 2024 election by sidelining as many voters as possible. This will pressure our voting rights organization, and I know they are equal to the task.

Their work to prepare for 2024 is the epitome of Black resistance. In the academic realm, 36 states have passed laws restricting what can be taught in classrooms. These laws are specious and ignorant.

Some say teachers can’t teach “critical race theory,” although no one attempts to introduce a higher-level legal concept to K-12 students. Others vaguely say nothing can be taught to make students “feel uncomfortable” about their origins.

Enslavement was uncomfortable. Lynching was uncomfortable. Undoubtedly, Tyre

Nichols felt “uncomfortable” when beasts with badges beat him to death over a traffic stop. What many people do not know about American history is bound to make them uncomfortable. But as my grandma used to say, “ignorance is bliss.” We in academia must use our resistance to repel these malicious efforts. It is overtime for us to ensure that our collective history is reflective of reality.

Nobody wants anybody to “feel bad.” Instead, we want to take the truth and build on it. There is so much to resist that we must also resist the urge to become “too tired” to fight back. I’m ashamed to say that, years ago, I said that I was tired of marching. Wrong! We can never be too tired to march, protest, or stand up for what is right. I am profoundly grateful to the folks in Black Lives Matter who show up and show out in the face of injustice. In Los Angeles, they show up regularly to resist the anti-Blackness that riddles this city. In Washington, DC, people show up to protest land use decisions that push poor and moderate-income people out of the city. In Memphis, folks are showing up to protest the murder of Tyre Nichols. They are resisting, as we all must. Selfcare is also a form of resistance. While we can never be “too tired” to resist, the wise among us will know when it is time to take a break. A leaky vessel can’t carry anybody’s water. When we are broken, we can’t heal anyone, much less our commu- nity. When we are healthy and whole, we are effective warriors. When we are not, we must ask ourselves if we are bringing our best selves to the struggle.

Nearly 150 years ago, at the end of Reconstruction, African Americans faced resistance to our post-enslavement gains. Black Codes and Jim Crow laws were passed. Vagrancy laws were passed. Those African Americans who had attained some wealth and status, including elective office, found themselves under attack. In that context, people like Ida B. Wells began to document lynchings to ensure that we all knew about the many attacks we were facing.

This present period is reminiscent of the post-Reconstruction era when obstacles were created to prevent further progress in the face of Black gains. It is no accident that the presidency of Barack Obama was followed by retrenchment in the subsequent presidency of the Orange Man, and Vice President Harris has been attacked in both racist and sexist terms. White resistance to Black progress must be met by Black resistance to ignorance.

That is our challenge this Black History Month. Our resistance must be structural, but it must also be personal. We must make decisions about how we resist, but we must resist. “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” said Frederick Douglass. What are you demanding, and how far will you go to ensure that our collective social and economic justice demands are met?

VACANCY – MAYOR, BOROUGH OF EMSWORTH

Notice is hereby given that the position of Mayor, Emsworth Borough, is available. Emsworth resident who fulfills all of the following are qualified to apply:

1. Age eighteen (18) or older

2. Registered elector

3. Resident of Emsworth for not less than one (1) year

4. Have not been convicted of embezzlement of public monies, bribery, perjury or any infamous crime

The appointee shall be required to submit to the Borough an Affidavit of Residency and fulfill any other requirements as prescribed by law. Interested persons should deliver a letter of interest and resume to the Emsworth Borough Building, 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202 no later than 3 p.m. March 1, 2023.

Emsworth Council plans to fill the vacancy at the March 8, 2023 council meeting, 6:30 p.m., prevailing time, at the Emsworth Borough Building.

CATHY JONES Borough Secretary

HILLTOP ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Since 2007 Hilltop Alliance has worked collaboratively to preserve and create community assets across South Pittsburgh’s Hilltop (Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, Mt. Oliver Borough, Mt. Oliver City, Mt. Washington, South Side Slopes and St. Clair)

The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Hilltop Alliance, reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker responsible for the day-to-day operations, relationships with stakeholders, and management of development projects, program design, financial management, and implementation of long-term plans.

For a full detailed position announcement and instructions to be considered for this position, please go to https://www.pittsburghhilltopalliance. org/our-people and click on “Job Description” under the Executive Director heading.

GEOLOGIST II with Arcadis U.S., Inc. (Newton, PA) – Devse new approaches to prblms encntrd. Remote work avail. Reqs ed & exp. Arcadis is EO & AA employer. For full job details, all reqs & to apply online, visit: bit.ly/Arcadis155

ELECTRONICS DESIGN ENGINEER

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Arts & Sciences in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks an Electronics Design Engineer to be responsible for the conceptual design and development of complex analog and digital electronic circuits for use on projects with a focus on high energy physics. Apply at https://www.join.pitt.edu, #23000771. Please upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and salary requirements. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.

Aurora Innovation, Inc. seeks Software Engineer II in Pittsburgh, PA to develop software components for behavior planning in autonomous vehicles. Email resume to jobs@aurora.tech using ref# 00174.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP.

SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a: READING ROOM PARAEDUCATOR

Applications must be received by 4:00 PM, February 22, 2023

Complete job descriptions and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW

BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER - ALTOONA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Applications for Police Officer with the City of Altoona can be obtained from the Human Resources Department of City Hall Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. For additional information or an application, please visit www.altoonapa.gov.

Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than Noon on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Human Resources Department 1301 12th Street, Suite 400 Altoona, PA 16601

The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer

MT. LEBANON, PA POLICE OFFICER TESTING

MT. LEBANON POLICE DEPARTMENT will be conducting a physical agility and written exam for POLICE OFFICER on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Starting at $73,886 annually. Must be a U.S. citizen; 21 years of age at hire; bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university at hire; pass physical, written, oral exams plus a comprehensive background investigation.

Full test requirements, description and application may be obtained at https://mtlebanon.bamboohr. com/careers/147.

Deadline ending no later than 4:00 pm, March 16, 2023. Mt. Lebanon provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment based on competence, merit, performance, and business needs. We are committed to valuing the diversity of all individuals without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other classification protected by law. Reasonable accommodations for the needs of otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities will be made upon request to the Human Resource Office at 412-343-3625 or bcross@mtlebanon.org.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Trust Termination

TRUST TERMINATION:

Advertising Trust Termination due to the death of SISTER MARTHA T. BAIER on October 12, 2022. Claims against said Trust may be filed as follows and sent to: PNC Bank, National Association Attn: Sharon L Whitney 300 Fifth Ave, 31st Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 And/or: Trace L. Zihmer, Esquire 3244 Washington Road Suite 210 McMurray, PA 15317

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of O’TOOLE ARLENE N. A/K/A

O’TOOLE ARLENE Deceased of ROSS TOWNSHIP, NO. 00474 of 2023, Executor, Brian T. O’Toole, 117 Oesterle Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15214, or to MICHAEL J. SALDAMARCO, ESQ., STE. 100, 908 PERRY HWY. PITTSBURGH, PA 15229

Estate of PAULINE V. HOSKING, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, NO. 022207325, Wendy M. Hosking, Executrix, 850 Baldwin Street, Apt. 318, Pittsburgh, PA 15234, or to SingletonEnglish Law Offices, Suite 301, 1725 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241

Estate of PAUL JOHN PRUCNAL, Deceased of Monroeville Borough, Pennsylvania, NO. 02-23-0446, Ann Margaret Starr, Executrix or to Ryan W. Brode, Atty, 6 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of ANN SINESKY, Deceased of Scott Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, NO. 02-23-00392, Linda S. Karhu, Executor, 3074 Swallow Hill Circle, Pittsburgh, PA 15220 or to Karen S. Sinesky, Executor, 1420 McFarland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of DOLORES I. STRUBE, Deceased of South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, NO. 02-23-00389, Michele Vezzi, Executor, 1116 Mohawk Road, McDonald, PA 15057 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of TONI LYNN VESPAZIANI, Deceased of Scott Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, NO. 02-23-00394, Beth L. Bonzo, Administrator, 1149 Cardinal Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of MICHAEL E. HOLLIS, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, NO. 01921 of 2022, Anna Hollis, Executor, 4051 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Estate of LORI L. HOLLIS, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, NO. 01922 of 2022, Anna Hollis, Executor, 4051 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTHLY MEETING

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly Board Meeting on February 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Due to the COVID-19 protective guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local government, the meeting will be held remotely, with public access to be provided online. The HACP will provide a direct link to a livestream of the meeting, and instruction on how to make a public comment. Details will be made available on http://www.hacp.org, in advance of the meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the College will be held on:

March 2, 2023

4:30 PM

CCAC Allegheny CampusByers Hall 808 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE –AVALON BOROUGH SALE OF DUMP TRUCK VIA

PUBLIC AUCTION

The Council of the Borough of Avalon, at its January 17, 2023, regular Council meeting, authorized the sale of a 2008 Ford F-550 Dump Truck via public auction. The auction is scheduled to run from 8:00 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, through Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 12:00 pm. Interested parties can view the listing and bid at www.municibid.com, Auction #54388171. At the conclusion of the auction, the vehicle will be awarded to the highest bidder, provided the reserve price is met. The Borough reserves the right to withdraw any listed item from the auction at any time before the auction closes. For questions or to schedule a time to inspect the vehicle, please contact Public Works Crew Chief Dale Regrut at (412) 761-5959 or Assistant Manager Leanne McLaughlin at (412) 761-5820.

Leanne McLaughlin Assistant Borough Manager

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS

2023 PHASE 1

RFP #125-01-23

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):

Project Based Vouchers 2023 Phase 1

The documents will be available no later than February 6, 2023 and signed sealed proposals for Phase 1 will be accepted until 9:00 A.M. on March 2, 2023. 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 9:00 AM on March 2, 2023 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 HACP 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 Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to:

Mr. James Harris 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 February 16, 2023 at 9:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 839 9336 5128 Passcode: 758885 +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 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

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.

February 15, 2023

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

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

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS (1) – CDBG PROJECT

On or about Monday March 6, 2023, the City of Pittsburgh will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release Federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended to undertake a project known as Frankstown and Idlewild Demolitions for the purpose of demolition and blight removal, described below.

The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licensing, and Inspections (PLI) has received requests or complaints from residents, neighborhood groups, or council member offices regarding vacant, dilapidated dwellings. PLI conducts thorough inspections of the structures to determine the extent of damage, potential for collapse, impact to adjacent structures, and impact on the public right of way. PLI scores each structure on the integrity of the roof, walls, foundation, decorative features, exterior stairs, decks/porches/ balconies, and other façade features. This activity is the demolition of multiple single-family parcels within the City of Pittsburgh. These structures have been deemed to be a blight in the neighborhoods and are unsafe and need to be torn down: 7223 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15208; 7225 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15208; 7244 Idlewild Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208; 7246 Idlewild Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208. The project will cost an estimated $200,000.00 in FY 2020 and an estimated $100,000 in FY 2021 CDBG funds. The project will begin summer of 2023 and conclude in fall 2023. The total estimated cost of the demolitions is $300,000.00

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (2) – CDBG PROJECT

The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to City of Pittsburgh, Office of Management and Budget, 414 Grant St, City County Building Room 501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, by phone (412) 255-2211 , or by email to Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

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

All comments received by Thursday, March 2, 2023 will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to proceeding with the demolition. Comments should specify which Notice (Request for Release of Funds 1 or Finding of No Significant Impact 2) they are addressing.

Environmental Certification

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

Objections To Release Of Funds

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

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

Ed Gainey Mayor City of Pittsburgh