5.24.23 NPC

Mother’s Day Fashion Show

Pittsburgh

Olga George named Gainey’s Press Secretary

OLGA GEORGE

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Playtime is over.

All across Pittsburgh and the country, young people are in jubilation as they finally graduated from college. But when the hugs, gifts, balloons, graduation parties and vacations cease, the recent graduates soon will realize that it’s time for the real

by Chardae Jones

For New Pittsburgh Courier Pittsburgh progressives had a night in the Primary Election on May 16.

Allegheny County saw state Rep. Sara Innamorato cinch the Democratic county executive nomination over John Weinstein, Dave Fawcett, Michael Lamb, Will Parker and others, as she won with roughly 15,000 more votes than the second-place finisher, Weinstein.

Many people assumed Weinstein would win, as he was the former county treasurer and had more financial campaign donations, but Innamorato, at just 37, proved that the person with the most money isn’t always

world to begin. That means applying for jobs, figuring out where to live, and purchasing the proper work attire.

Macy’s decided to step in on the “proper work attire” part. The company provided 40 Pittsburgh Promise students (the majority were 2023 college graduates) with $250 each to purchase jobready clothes. It all occurred on

the winner. She tapped into that same movement that saw now-Congresswoman Summer Lee get into office. Innamorato got the people involved and they believed it when she said she wants to create a county for all.

Summer Lee saw what the county could be when she ran for state repre-

May 17 at the Macy’s in Ross Park Mall.

The Pittsburgh Promise was created more than 15 years ago to invest in students in Pittsburgh Public Schools by providing scholarships for post-secondary institutions.

“We want to make sure that you are really well prepared for

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Olga George, longtime KDKA-TV assignment desk editor and producer, and longtime influential member of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, was named press secretary for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. The announcement was made, May 18.

“I’m pleased to have Olga as part of my growing communications team to provide us with more

opportunities to respond to residents,” said Mayor Gainey. “She brings a wealth of professional experience to the role, and I am certain that she will help us make Pittsburgh a city for all of us.”

George will serve as the primary media liaison and spokeswoman for Mayor Gainey. She has more than 30 years of media experience.

George was born and raised on the island of St. SEE GEORGE A6

sentative and won back in 2018. “The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” she loves to say, and says it with conviction.

That is a great way to sum up the 2023 Primary in our area. Voters

are showing up and it might not be in big numbers, but the power of the people isn’t going unnoticed. Mayor Ed Gainey explained that this shift couldn’t happen without the people. He was there to celebrate Innamorato’s win at Trace Brewing on May 16.

Upon her win, Innamorato explained her strategy was meeting people where they were, and that, she did. “Pundits are already calling Allegheny County the critical battleground for the 2024 election and what we do in these next few months to register new voters, engage new communities, and expand the electorate is critical,” she explained in a press release.

Others that cleaned up included the Allegheny County Council incumbent Bethany Hallam, who kept her seat. She

DESIGNER KIYA TOMLIN,

From sit-ins in the 1960s to uprisings in the new millennium, Harry Belafonte served as a champion of youth activism

by Jelani M. Favors

North Carolina A&T

State University

Of all the contributions for which Harry Belafonte will be remembered, perhaps none is more enduring than the celebrated entertainer’s lifelong support for youth activism. This support can be traced back to Belafonte’s early involvement in the Black student-led protests of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, but it didn’t end there.

Using his social stature and personal wealth from a career that once made him the “most highly paid Black performer in history,” Belafonte also helped establish hip-hop as a dominant cultural force in the 1980s and spoke out in support of Black uprisings against police brutality in the 2010s in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore.

As a historian who has examined Black student activism from the civil rights era to today, I see Belafonte, who passed away on April 25, 2023, as one of America’s preeminent “race men,” social justice warriors and elder statesmen for youth-led racial justice movements.

Born in Harlem in 1927, Belafonte was immersed in the politics and art of the New Negro Era, an era that gave birth to radically new interpretations of the Black aesthetic and launched new efforts toward Black liberation.

As the modern Civil Rights Movement unfolded in post-World War II America, Belafonte joined the ranks of Black entertainers who sought to use their platforms to advance the cause. But it was the direct-action phase of the movement, pioneered by Black college students throughout the South at the start of the 1960s, that elevated the movement to a more intense confrontation with Jim Crow America.

Sit-ins, Freedom Rides and jail-ins orchestrated by organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee—or SNCC—and the Congress of Racial Equality brought Belafonte deeper into the orbit of the freedom struggle. Belafonte once said he admired the young activists for the “power of their independence.”

A unifying force

One of the tensest moments for the young activists was the Freedom Rides that brought waves of young Black college students into the Deep

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

• MAY 24

1854—Anthony Burns , one of the most celebrated fugitive slaves in American history, is captured by deputy U.S. Marshals in Boston. But at the time anti-slavery feeling was running high in Boston and it was one of the cities which had vowed not to obey the Fugitive Slave Act—a federal law that required even those opposed to slavery to help slave owners capture runaway slaves. For fear that Boston residents would help Burns escape to Canada, the U.S. government sent 2,000 troops to Boston to assist in returning Burns to Virginia. Thousands lined the streets as Burns was marched to a ship on June 3 for a trip back South. However, a Black Boston church raised the money to purchase Burns and within a year of his capture, he was back in Boston a free man.

at $5,000.

• MAY 28

1936—Betty Shabazz , the widow of Black nationalist leader Malcolm X, was born on this day in Detroit, Mich. Shabazz was born Betty Jean Sanders and raised by foster parents. She attended Tuskegee Institute (now university) and became a registered nurse. In 1994, she created a national controversy when she linked Nation of Islam leader Min. Louis Farrakhan to the assassination of Malcolm X. However, she and Farrakhan reconciled in 1995 and she spoke at the historic Million Man March. She died June 23, 1997 as a result of injuries received in a house fire set by her grandson.

South to challenge the legality of segregation in interstate busing. Many of them ended up as victims of police brutality in the infamous Parchman Farm Penitentiary in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Not only did Belafonte make a generous donation to their cause, but his willingness to support the activists strengthened their admiration of him.

“Folks were just overwhelmed,” recalled civil rights organizer Kwame Ture, formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, “and I believe that marked the beginning of Bro. Belafonte’s long relationship —as adviser, benefactor, and big brother—to the young freedom-fighting organization.”

As students courageously languished in Mississippi’s sweltering prison, they converted Belafonte’s signature song into a freedom anthem. The calypso singer’s hit single “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” echoed through Southern jails as students arrested for challenging Jim Crow laws repurposed the song with new lyrics:

Hey, I took a little trip on a Greyhound bus.

Yeah! Freedom comin’ and it won’t be long.

Well, to fight segregation this we must.

Yeah, Freedom comin’ and it won’t be long.

The apex of Belafonte’s involvement with the SNCC was his facilitation of a sojourn to the West African nation of Guinea in September of 1964.

Sensing the burnout and frustration that was brewing within the organization due to its growing dissatisfaction with moderation and stall tactics from both the liberal left and conservative right, Belafonte organized and paid for a three-week sabbatical.

Eleven SNCC activists, including John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer and Stokely Carmichael, made the trip. Belafonte introduced them to Guinea’s political dignitaries, including President Sekou Toure. The trip proved critical in sharpening the SNCC’s focus on the potential for Black empowerment back in the States —a revelation that would greatly shape the coming Black Power Movement that unfolded in 1966.

It should not surprise anyone that a man who had a deep affinity for folk music and songs of the people gravitated toward hip-hop as it emerged in the 1970s and 1980s.

Belafonte saw hip-hop as a logical next step in the evolution of Black cultural expression and a vital space for Black militancy. In a 2006 interview, he declared, “When I hung out up in the South Bronx with Afrika Bambaataa and Melle Mel, and watched the dawning of the hiphop culture, it brought to

me a profound sense of a wonderful thing that was in our future.” Belafonte produced the 1984 film “Beat Street,” a celebration of hip-hop that was critical in introducing the art form to wider audiences. One of the featured artists, Melle Mel of the pioneering hip-hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, recalled that he met with Belafonte prior to penning his verse on the soundtrack’s title song, “Beat Street Breakdown. His lyrics reflected his exchange with the civil rights legend: Peoples in terror, the leaders made a error

And now they can’t even look in the mirror Cause we gotta suffer while things get rougher

And that’s the reason why we got to get tougher Belafonte intensified his backing of hip-hop in later years, whether it was encouraging Fidel Castro to carve out support for Cuban rappers in the 1990s, or through various hip-hop summits that he hosted in an effort to prod and push hiphop’s most prominent entertainers to be more outspoken on issues related to social justice.

In his twilight years, Belafonte continued to mentor youth activists.

In the aftermath of Trayvon Martin’s killing in 2013, Belafonte visited Tallahassee, Florida, to support the work of the Dream Defenders, an organization founded by former students from Florida A&M University to, among other things, draw attention to the injustice of the Stand Your Ground law that was used to justify Martin’s fatal shooting.

Belafonte’s tireless devotion to human rights perfectly dovetailed into support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the 2010s, as he continued to argue for disruption of political systems that upheld state-sanctioned violence.

Belafonte’s defiance and support for the movement was unwavering. “Radical thought at its best is supposed to make people feel uncomfortable,” Belafonte declared in 2015. “We talk about the uprisings in communities like in St. Louis and Baltimore, and it is what protests are supposed to do.”

From the 1960s until Belafonte’s passing, young people across several generations sought him out for wisdom and guidance. His enduring commitment to youth and idealism always made him easy to find.

(Jelani M. Favors, Professor of History, North Carolina A&T State University)

(This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.)

1856— The so-called Pottawatomie Massacre takes place. A force of men led by famed abolitionist John Brown attacks a pro-slavery settlement in Franklin County, Kan., leaving at least five men dead. The attack was part of a period known as “Bleeding Kansas” when pro and anti-slavery forces battled one another in a bid to determine whether Kansas would be a slave or free territory. The “Pottawatomie Massacre” was also one of the events which made the Civil War unavoidable.

1944— Legendary singer Patti LaBelle is born Patricia Louise Holte in Philadelphia, Pa.

• MAY 25

1878— World renowned dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson is born in Richmond, Va. Robinson was one of the best and best-known dancers in America up until the 1940s. He was known for his sensational footwork and speed. He once set a world record running the 75-yarddash backwards in 8.2 seconds. But his “Bojangles” style—designed to please White audiences—angered some Blacks. However, he became a wealthy man appearing in 15 motion pictures after the 1930s.

1919— Wealthy cosmetics empire owner, Madame C.J. Walker , dies on this day at her estate on Irvington-on-the-Hudson in New York. Walker is generally believed to have been the first Black millionaire in American history.

1926— Famed Jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis was born on this day in 1926.

1943—One of the largest White riots of the 1940s takes place in Mobile, Ala. The Whites were outraged because the owners of a local shipyard company had upgraded the status and pay of 12 Black workers.

• MAY 26

1799— The famous Black Russian writer Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin is born in Moscow, Russia. Pushkin was of Russian and Ethiopian parentage. He was well educated and went on to become a prolific writer. Indeed, he is generally credited with being the “Father of Russian Literature.”

1949—Pamela Suzette Grier is born in Winston-Salem, N.C. Pam Grier becomes one of the premier Black actresses and one of the top sex symbols of the 1970s, playing in a host of so-called “Black exploitation movies.” She starred in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Jackie Brown,” for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Her more recent work includes “The L Word”, “Smallville”, “Larry Crowne” and “This Is Us”.

• MAY 27

1958—Ernest Green graduates from Little Rock, Ark.’s Central High School, becoming the first Black to do so. Green was a member of the “Little Rock Nine” —the group of Black students who first integrated the high school with the aid of federal troops.

2010— The Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University releases a stunning study showing that the typical White household had accumulated 20 times as much wealth as the typical Black household . According to the study, median White family wealth stood at roughly $100,000 while median Black family wealth was estimated

2010— A book is released revealing that during the mid-1970s when much of the world was lining up to help overthrow racist White minority rule in South Africa, Israel was attempting to aid the racist regime up to the point of providing it with chemical and nuclear weapons for possible use against the country’s majority Black population. The documents were discovered by American scholar Sasha Polakow-Suransky while researching the book “The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa.” Though seldom mentioned by American media, it was an open secret during the 1970s that Israel was one of the Apartheid regime’s closest allies. Apartheid is what the minority White government called its system of racial oppression.

• MAY 29

1854— Escaped slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth delivers her famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron. Truth, born Isabella Baumfree, had been physically and sexually abused by various slave owners and their wives in New York. She sought refuge in religion. She finally escaped after her last slave owner reneged on a promise to free her. She became the leading female abolitionist of the period giving powerful speeches. She traveled widely in her anti-slavery mission telling friends “The spirit calls me and I must go.”

1865— President Andrew Johnson announces his Reconstruction program after the Civil War. However, Johnson was one of the greatest betrayers of Blacks in American history. He went back on many of the promises made to the former slaves by the recently assassinated Abraham Lincoln. Indeed, Johnson’s Reconstruction program was more favorable to the former slave owners and Confederate soldiers than it was to the ex-slaves. Johnson even opposed granting Blacks voting rights.

• MAY 30

1822— What could have been the largest and most elaborate slave rebellion in American history is betrayed by a house slave seeking favors from his White master. The rebellion was organized by Denmark Vesey and involved thousands of Blacks in the Charleston, S.C., area. Vesey was actually a free man who had purchased his freedom. He was doing a thriving business as owner of a carpentry shop. But he had secretly vowed “not to rest until all slaves are free.” The betrayal of the Vesey plot by a house slave resulted in dozens of people, including four Whites, being arrested and many of them were eventually hanged. Vesey was put to death on June 23, 1822.

1903— One of the most outstanding poets in the history of Black America, Countee Cullen , is born in Louisville, Ky., or Baltimore, Md. The exact city of his birth is still debated. However, he was raised in New York City and rose to fame in the early 1920s and became a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Cullen married, but there were persistent rumors that he was a closet homosexual resulting from his troubled childhood including being abandoned by his mother. He died in 1946 of high blood pressure and what was then called uremic poisoning or acute kidney failure.

HARRY BELAFONTE used his personal wealth to support young activists throughout his life. (Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Cecilia ColemanFinney’s

TANISHA THOMAS, TAMIRA WILSON, MAYOR OF BRADDOCK DELIA LENNON

Fashion Show

JUAN GLOVER AND WILLIAM CARMACK

VENASIA SETTLES

RACHEL RAKOVAN AND MA LAIKA

CHRISTELLE EL MAKS

TIME FOR THE REAL WORLD College grads are getting ready for life after school

whatever your next step is going to be in life,” voiced Julie Shepard, senior manager of development and events for the Promise, to the students at Macy’s.

When Shepard asked how many of the students were college graduates or will be graduating in the next few years, everyone raised their hand. “You don’t know how happy that makes us,” Shepard said.

“Through our social purpose platform, Mission Every One, Macy’s is committed to empowering youth and the leaders of tomorrow, especially when it comes to owning your style,” said Sam Di Scipio, Macy’s Inc., senior director, social impact, in a statement. “We are

thrilled to provide these deserving students with the outfits and confidence to succeed and help realize their full potential.”

As students shopped for clothes with $250 gift card in hand, they were assisted by a few celebrity stylists, Kiya Tomlin and Bill Generett. Tomlin is a wellknown fashion designer, who owns Kiya Tomlin Workshop in Etna. Her husband is Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Generett is senior vice president for civic engagement and external relations at Duquesne University. Both have achieved considerable professional and personal success in their lives, and in addition to helping the students with wardrobe, they also chimed in with some tips of how to succeed in life.

“Ask questions and let people know you have an interest (in a particular field),” Tomlin told the New Pittsburgh Courier as advice she would give young people. “For me, I was always worried about my business being perfect, yet I didn’t know how to do what it was I wanted to do. I spent so much time planning and researching but not taking actual steps, and it wasn’t until I just kind of, jumped in with no knowledge and started taking steps that people starting coming into my life that could give me hints of information that could take me to the next step.”

Tomlin was getting to know students like Nile Ross, a 2019 Pittsburgh CAPA graduate who just

graduated from Temple University on May 11 with a degree in health professions. Ross told the Courier she was “really excited,” but also “a little nervous” about what lies ahead. She’ll soon be applying for jobs that have a dual focus in social media marketing and health, maybe with Highmark Health or other health provider.

Mya Lomax also went to Pittsburgh CAPA and Temple University, graduating the same days as Ross. She earned a bachelor’s in theater with an acting concentration. It takes true persistence to make it in the field of acting, but Lomax said she’s made for it. She told the Courier her friend from CAPA, DaMya Gurley, went from making skits

on the social media platform Tik Tok to being seen by Tik Tok management itself. She played a role in the Tik Tok sketch comedy “Stapleview” and has played a role on the HBO series, “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”

Lomax’s mother, Juanita Lomax, said she stresses to her daughter to “really understand the image and character you want to present to people, and make sure that you’re displaying that in all areas of life.”

Some of the other recent college graduates helping themselves to professional attire were Donovan Schueler and Emoni Jones. Schueler, a City High graduate of 2017 and a recent Carlow University grad, wants to become a nurse. He purchased a

black suit and white dress shirt at Macy’s.

“Very excited to start working and changing lives and making a difference,” Schueler told the Courier.

As for Jones, she is currently a tutor for AmeriCorps. She earned her master’s in community psychology in 2022, a B.A. in psychology in 2021 from Point Park, and graduated from Pittsburgh Obama in 2017. She said right now she’s “playing it safe,” but knows she’s got to get out there and applying for the jobs with the hefty paychecks. “Maybe I could work at a college in academic success or student success,” she said. “I’m kind of nervous to get a big girl job, but I just gotta do it.”

OLGA GEORGE NAMED MAYOR GAINEY’S PRESS SECRETARY

Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a graduate of Point Park University where she studied Journalism and Communications. She is currently the Vice President of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, Vice President of the Western Pennsylvania Press Club, and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Historic Fairview Park and is a volunteer with the New Horizon Theater.

“I hope my addition to the mayor’s communications team has a positive impact on the community and the people I work with and serve,” George said in a statement. “I look forward to getting to work and help making Pittsburgh the safest, most welcoming city in America.”

George is the daughter of Charles (deceased) and Sylvia George of Rattan, St. Croix. She has a sister and two brothers. George currently lives in Squirrel Hill.

“On behalf of the Executive Board of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, I extend to you my deepest, most sincere

congratulations on your appointment as press secretary to the City of Pittsburgh’s first African American Mayor, Ed Gainey,” said Ronald Saunders, president of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH, in a statement provided to the Courier. “I am quite confident that Mayor Gainey will find you to be a most valuable asset and confidant as he navigates the rigors of the demanding job as Mayor of Pennsylvania’s second largest city.”

Saunders added: “You have been an outstanding role model for our young people volun -

teering in many diverse venues and giving back to your community in so many positive ways.”

Chris Moore, longtime media personality in Pittsburgh with KDKA Radio, Pittsburgh Cable News Channel and formerly with WQEDTV, worked with George as co-directors of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation’s Frank Bolden Urban Journalism Workshop. “I’m very proud of her and I’ve seen her grow over the years,” Moore told the Courier. “She deserves it, and I think she will do well.”

BILL GENERETT, WITH DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY, ASSISTED IN HELPING SOME OF THE STUDENTS PICK OUT PROFESSIONAL WARDROBE.

“She deserves it, and I think she will do well.”

DONOVAN SCHUELER

GEORGE FROM A1

OLGA GEORGE

Beloved Homewood Field to undergo construction

nority- and women-owned businesses the opportunity to succeed in markets that they historically wouldn’t,” Mayor Gainey said. “Diverse participation in this, and all city

projects, creates a Pittsburgh where everyone can thrive.”

Once contractors are in place, construction is expected to begin in Summer 2023. The football

field is being prioritized and is anticipated to be completed by Fall 2024, in time for football season. The remainder of the project is expected to be completed in Spring 2025.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and the city’s Department of Public Works hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking on May 23 to celebrate the upcoming construction at Homewood Field. The event also highlighted an approaching Pre-bid and Matching Meeting and the city’s desire to maximize Minority- and Women-owned business (MWBE) participation on the project.

“Homewood Field is a beloved and heavily used resource by the community,” said Mayor Gainey. “The redesigned and soon-to-be constructed campus will give our kids a place to learn how to swim, develop team and sportsmanship skills, and our community a place to gather.”

The project is currently out to bid. As such, the city is actively soliciting contractors and working to increase MWBE involvement. The May 23 event provided an oppor-

tunity for those interested in bidding on the project to get information and ask questions, while allowing them to meet and network with subcontractors that are interested in working with them on the project. The Pre-bid and Matching Meeting will happen on

Wednesday, May 31, at 9 a.m. It will take place at Homewood Field, 540 N. Lang Ave.

“It is vitally important to increase diversity in our business spaces and workforce, because we know it leads to greater innovation and allows mi-

For

Baptist Ministers Conference Citywide Revival

“And when the Day of PENTECOST was fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it FILLED ALL the HOUSE where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven TONGUES like of FIRE, AND IT SAT UPON EACH OF THEM. And they were ALL FILLED with the HOLY GHOST, and began to SPEAK with OTHER TONGUES, as the SPIRIT gave them UTTERANCE.”

- Acts 2:1-4

REV. WALKER SAYS: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GO TO YOUR HOUSE OF WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY. BE THERE!!! AMEN.

by Jacquelyn McDonald For New Pittsburgh Courier Mt. Ararat Baptist Church at 271 Paulson Avenue in the East End was the site of the Baptist Ministers Conference Citywide

Revival. The two-day event, led by BMC President Dr. Sheila L. Johnson-Hunt, was held on May 2 and 3, was enhanced by participants from Pittsburgh’s diverse church community and leaders.

Each night Elder Justin Hunt presented the initial Inspirational Message and was followed by Full Gospel Baptist Bishop Lisa Weah; both from Baltimore, Md. Area singers, liturgical danc-

ers and drama teams amplified each service. Also, the conference awarded three scholarships and presented recognitions to two high school athletic teams.

DR. SHEILA JOHNSON-HUNT

ELDER JUSTIN HUNT (PHOTOS BY JACQUELYN MCDONALD)

BISHOP LISA WEAH

Primary Election shows that the ‘progressive’ movement is real

defeated Joanna Doven by a little over 20,000 votes. Hallam has had a phenomenal seat on the Jail Oversight Board and she’s been so loud that people understand. She’s fighting for the minimum wage to be raised in the county and also a transparent government.

And speaking of the County Council, the District 10 race saw DeWitt Walton defeat Carlos Thomas by a mere 724 votes. They both ran great campaigns and were out in the communities and their close numbers were reflective of the tight race. Showing up was half the battle in a lot of these races.

One of the mostwatched Primary races was the Allegheny County District Attorney. After two decades in office, Stephen Zappala was defeated by Matt Dugan for the Democratic nomination. Dugan won with over 19,000 more votes in his favor. Dugan, the chief public defender in the county, shares a different opinion on how the DA’s office should be run. Dugan met community members where they were and didn’t just put up signs. He didn’t just get the voters’ support. He also got support from the ACLU.

“Like so many of the district attorney contests across the country, the race between Stephen Zappala and Matt Dugan came down to competing visions about how prosecutors choose to navigate and how they might work to reform the criminal legal system,” said Danitra Sherman, deputy advocacy and policy director at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, in a statement. “We improve public safety when we focus on prevention over punishment, and by investing in communities to tackle the root causes of crime —like poverty and lack of opportunity. Tonight (May 16), Allegheny County voters chose reform, rejecting the failed tough-on-crime policies that were a hallmark of Mr. Zappala’s more than two decades in office.”

But wait...it turns out that Zappala probably will be on the Republican ticket in November for the General Election.

It was announced on Tuesday, May 23, that Zappala received over 9,600 write-in Republican write-in votes in the Primary. He only needed 500. Thus, if he accepts the Republican Party’s nomination, he’ll face off against Dugan, again... as a Republican.

Khari Mosley can be considered a “progressive” candidate, although he’s not in the same age

bracket as the Summer Lees and Sara Innamoratos. He won the election for the Democratic nomination for Pittsburgh City Council District 9. He defeated Khadijah Harris, and he is pretty much guaranteed to win the election in November and take over officially for longtime Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess.

This progressive energy is spreading throughout the region. But how can “progressive” be defined, exactly? Congresswoman Lee told the Tribune-Review that “progressive” means “folks who are seeking to advance us. Advance racial justice, environmental justice and social justice. Not just in our world, but in our politics.”

Don’t be surprised, but come November, the government in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County will most likely continue to reflect the people who show up to the polls.

These people are not only the traditional “conservative” Democrats that Pittsburgh has been known for, but also the younger, more “progressive” thinking voters. As the years go on, it will be interesting to see if this progressive movement inspires more people to run for office to keep the momentum going.

(This perspective is by Chardae Jones, who also is the former mayor of Braddock.)

MATT DUGAN, left, defeated Stephen Zappala for the Democratic nomination for Allegheny County District Attorney. But Zappala received enough Republican write-in votes to be on the Republican ballot for November’s General Election, if he accepts the nomination. If he does, it’s Round Two between the two contenders in November.

SARA INNAMORATO speaks during her Election Night Watch Party at Trace Brewing in Bloomfield. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)

‘Chicken & Biscuits’ is joyful, humorous, family-oriented

by Genea L. Webb

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Get ready to experience a roller coaster of emotions from laughter to tears and everything in between when New Horizon Theater Inc, serves up “Chicken & Biscuits.” “It’s a piece that deals with family dynamics and the kind of journey that families take when someone that they love—especially in this because the deceased is the patriarch of the family and he was the pastor at the church that the family and the community belonged to,” said Eileen J. Morris, the director of the production. “So there’s long-term family ties with the community, ties with how this family was perceived and how people looked at them and that’s one of the beauties of this play. It deals with legacy, history and then the father passes. But he has impacted everybody in his family—he’s impacted his two daughters, he’s impacted his grandchildren because he really was sensitive to them and their needs and what they wanted to do in their life. He loved chicken and biscuits and he thought he could cook it but he really couldn’t.”

Written and produced by actor and playwright Douglas Lyons, “Chicken & Biscuits” was performed on Broadway in 2021 for four months before being cut because of COVID-19. It has been one of the most produced plays of this year in different theaters throughout the country.

It tells the story of the Jenkins family and a gathering that starts to unfurl when the father passes away and secrets are revealed at his funeral. New Horizon Theater Inc., Chairperson Joyce Meggerson-Moore hopes this play, which will run for 20 performances, will make a splash for audiences. It will run from May 25 to June 18 at the Vernell Audrey Watson Lillie Theatre on the City Theatre campus, 1300 Bingham St., South Side. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. with 3 p.m. shows on Saturday and Sunday. 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting newhorizontheater.org, at Dorsey’s Digital Imaging on Frankstown Avenue, or by calling 412-431-0773. “That’s exciting for all of us who have worked with Dr. Lillie to be performing this play in the theater that is named after her. That’s hugely exciting because she

loved Black people, she loved the theater, she loved human experiences and she was a mentor and a supporter of all of that,” Morris said.

New beginnings, love interest, a sibling rivalry and how families deal at a time when a patriarch and matriarch passes are some of the themes touched on in this 90-minute production.

“Every time we do a play, the thing Joyce and I talk about is how does it affect our community? What does the community get out of it? How can they relate to it? This time of year, we love doing some kind of musical or comedy, but it’s always something that gives food for thought that takes us on a different journey,” Morris said.

“This play is so funny because you think things are going to be one way how you plan it out...but there’s always something that upsets the apple cart and it veers another way,” Morris added. “Why? Because human beings are going to be human beings. The play deals with how families are like the auntie or uncle that thinks that they are all of that and a bag of chips. They think they’re the sexiest thing living...there’s somebody that’s reserved and they just want to follow the rules and they don’t understand why everybody else doesn’t just follow the rules; there’s always somebody who kind of turns the tide. So, the different dynamics affect everybody but they all come together because of the love. The love carries them and protects them always.”

Many of the familiar faces from other New Horizon Theater productions will be performing in “Chicken & Biscuits.” Actors in the play are: Tajionna Clinton, Rita Gregory, Sheldon Ingram, Mils “M.J.” James, Karla C. Payne, Shakira Stephens, Angelique A. Strothers, and Cole Vecchio.

The play also deals with the unpleasant subject of death. But both Morrison and Meggerson-Moore believe it will resonate with the audience.

“This is a family whose legacy and platform is ingrained in spirituality,” Morris said. “God is an important part of their life. The play has that spiritual perspective, it has a human perspective and we, the audience, get to experience all those elements and be joyful in how that affects us.”

MILS (MJ) JAMES, TAJIONNA CLINTON, SHAKIRA STEPHENS, RITA GREGORY, SHELDON INGRAM

warriors?

What happens if America can no longer pay its bills?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—For much of Black America, having adequate cash to cover monthly bills or small business overhead has historically been an ongoing challenge. But over the coming days, the nation’s coffers could also lack adequate cash and credit to cover its bills.

The debt limit is the total amount of money that the United States government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the national debt, tax refunds, and other payments, according to the Treasury Department.

On May 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned both the House and Senate, “After reviewing recent federal tax receipts, our best estimate is that we will be unable to continue to satisfy all of the government’s obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit before that time…Given the current projections, it is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible to increase or suspend the debt limit in a way that provides longer-term certainty that the government will continue to make its payments.”

Since then, every passing day shortens time for President Biden and Congressional leaders to craft a resolution. To avoid rippling global financial chaos, both the Administration and Congress must reach agreement.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy advocates tying the debt dilemma to the Administration’s budget proposal, including slashing many domestic programs and adding new work requirements to access program benefits. Alternatively, President Biden seeks a separation between the debt limit and the budget. While discussions among the White House and lawmakers have begun, at press time no solution has yet to be announced.

In the meantime, an anxious nation—its people and businesses—both face financial uncertainty.

According to U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver(Missouri), a long-time lawmaker and member of the House Financial Services Committee, “This is the first debt-ceiling situation that I felt was not going to be abated in time to protect our country. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Federal fiscal agencies like the Congressional Budget Office and Federal Reserve have clearly and repeatedly warned Congress as well of the unprecedented and looming financial chaos that would result from debt default. Nonpartisan economists have also chimed in.

Is college the only way to success?

Trade school vs. four-year college: The Pros and Cons

The question of whether a person should go to college was often posed in many Black middle-class homes. The answer was never in doubt: It was a resounding “Yes!” Going to college meant “bettering oneself,” which usually translated to obtaining a bachelor’s degree to access white-collar, knowledge-based jobs and, by extension, a better life.

This conversation tookplace while high schools were discontinuing “wood shop” and other trade programs, and “good jobs” that didn’t require a 4-year degree but paid enough for a middle-class life, like working at a car assembly line, were either being denigrated or disappearing from the U.S.

Getting a 4-year degree gradually became more expensive as tuition increased, and people took out more student loans to afford access to a middle-class life. The rap about arts and humanities degrees also became dismal, with “What can you do with that degree?” curdling into actively discouraging students from taking those courses and getting degrees that would leave them with heavy student debt. As a result, those departments are slowly closing.

Now, trade schools are being touted as a way to make decent money, while sciense technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) de -

grees are considered the degrees to pursue. “Critical race theory” and “wokeness” are the latest strawman arguments to deter students from studying literature, history, and other non-STEM subjects. While a college degree has long been considered a pathway to success, the rising cost of tuition and the uncertain job market have led many to question the value of higher education. With graduation around the corner for many Black high-school students, the question of what kind of education to pursue in this economic climate is very real.

When choosing between trade school and traditional 4-year colleg, several factors need to be considered.

PROS OF GOING TO TRADE SCHOO L:

Career-Focused Education: Trade schools offer career-focused education that prepares students for specific careers in a shorter amount of time. The curriculum is designed to teach practical skills that are needed in the workforce, which can lead to higher job placement rates.

Lower Cost: Trade school is generally less expensive than traditional four-year college. Students can save money on tuition and other expenses, and may also be able to

start earning a living more quickly.

Hands-On Training: Trade schools provide hands-on training in a specific trade, which is valuable in industries that require practical skills. Students learn by doing, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

High Demand for Trades: Many trades are in high demand, and trade school graduates are often highly sought after by employers. This can lead to good job opportunities and job security.

CONS OF GOING TO TRADE SCHOOL:

Limited Transferability: Trade school programs are highly specialized and may not be transferable to other fields or industries. This means that students may need to start over if they decide to pursue a different career path.

Limited Advancement Opportunities: Some trades may have limited opportunities for career advancement beyond entry-level positions. Students who want to advance in their careers may need to pursue additional education or training.

Physical Demands: Trades can be physically demanding, and students with physical limitations

Put your thinking cap on, Joe College

Congratulations are in order for this year’s high school graduating class. Graduation from high school is a milestone in everyone’s life. This completes your general education from Kindergarten in grade school to senior in high school. All of us who finished high school can recall the joy we experienced walking across the stage to receive our diploma. We remember the genuine friendships we developed and the teachers who taught and encouraged us. I want to encourage all those who are graduating this year to take this opportunity and enjoy it to the fullest. Have a blast at your prom, have fun at your graduation party and enjoy your final summer as a high school student. Last but not least, I want to welcome this year’s graduating class to “The Real World.” You’re about to find out this “adulting thing is both serious and expensive!”

Transition from high school to “The Real World” is one of the most exciting, yet daunting journeys you will ever take. You will get an opportunity to meet new people, learn new cultures, and get exposed to new environments. At the same time you will experience moments of being homesick and missing friends, family and loved ones. This will be a period of your life where you will see yourself grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. The decisions you make after graduating from high school

will shape the course of your life as an adult. Many students will join the armed forces, enter the job market, or go on to college. There is a certain level of discipline instilled in young adults who join the armed forces and young adults who enter the workforce. For many young adults who go on to college, this marks the first time they will be exposed to so much freedom. No parents, employers, or drill sergeants will be responsible for overseeing and disciplining them to ensure certain required assignments and duties are being fulfilled. This often leads to new college students being victim to many of the distractions that surface on college campuses such as parties, sex, drugs, and alcohol among other things. As the old saying goes, “You can lead a child to college, but you can’t make them think!”

Do you have the mental fortitude and dedication to withstand the various challenges you will face and earn your college degree? Information was, is and will always be the No. 1 selling commodity in the world. For most students, high school represents the last time they will ever receive information for FREE. In today’s society a college education is needed to get your foot in the door of most well-established companies who pay a decent wage. A college education is very expensive and should be taken

seriously. This is not the place to take certain classes because you have a friend who is taking that particular class or wander about aimlessly your first two or three years not fully understanding what it is you want to do as an adult. The price of higher education is too expensive. Higher education prices vary with community colleges averaging $4,000 per year, state sniversities averaging $13,000 per year (in-state) $25,000 per year (out-of-state), Christian

graduate from college remain stagnant. Go figure! College expenses goes beyond tuition, books, and room and board. College students are bundled down with the expense of cell phone bills, credit card bills, school supplies, and personal necessities. The cost of college alone should warrant students to self-impose the discipline and focus that will be required to obtain a college degree. Most students leave college with the burden of student loan and credit card debt.

They pay for school to get a job to pay for school: Nearly 45 million people have student loan debt with a total balance of approximately $1.7 trillion.

Whether you finish college or not, you will be responsible to pay back your various loans. Wouldn’t it make sense to have something such as a college degree to justify the expenses you accumulated in college?

they’re qualified and capable of getting the job done. Getting the qualifications and necessary skills is what’s important —not what school you graduated from.

• Only use financial aid to help pay for college—not pay for college and lifestyle! You don’t want to be paying for spring break—20 years from now!

• Student loans should never equal more than your projected first year’s salary!

• Avoid private student loan lenders. Interest rates are higher when compared to federal student loans. Secondly, private student loan lenders are not as merciful as federal student loans when life throws you a curveball.

colleges averaging $30,000 per year and private universities averaging $40,000 per year. College tuition prices continue to rise each year. What you pay in year 2 of college will be more expensive than what you paid in year 1 of college. Year 3 of college will be more expensive than what you paid in year 2 of college. Year 4 of college will be more expensive than what you paid for year 3 of college. The cost of higher education gets higher and higher every year. But starting salaries after you

Below are some college guardrails to follow. These guardrails will help you graduate from college without you and your parents going up to your “college cap” deep in debt.

• College Guardrail: Pick a college based on your affordability, not the school’s popularity. Think about it, have you ever asked your teacher, barber, hair stylist, nurse, doctor, lawyer, or accountant where they earned their degree? Probably not!! You just want to ensure

• Stay home and commute to college or go to college online. Commuting to and from school can cut college costs in half. At all costs, you want to avoid or minimize student loan debt. While many people view their college years as preparation for their future career, others are more interested in the party scene. Understand that you are responsible for you. Be sure that you learn to balance fun time with study time. Good luck to the Class of 2023 as you embark on your journey to fulfill your purpose in life.

Charlene Crowell

Has Daniel Penny turned conservatives into social justice

Q&A with Wells Fargo’s Darlene Goins

by Wells Fargo

The Financial Journey is a unique series focused on financial education and opportunities. These stories have been created through a strategic partnership between Wells Fargo and Word In Black.

WIB: Can you describe your role at Wells Fargo?

Goins: I currently serve as Executive Vice President and Head of the Banking Inclusion Initiative for Wells Fargo. Through the Banking Inclusion Initiative, my team and I get to help more people who are unbanked gain access to affordable, mainstream bank accounts, with a focus on removing barriers to financial inclusion for Black and African American, Hispanic and Native American households, which account for more than half of America’s 5.9 million unbanked households.

WIB: What would you say is the best part of the work you get to do?

Goins: The work that I get to do here at Wells Fargo is fulfilling and impactful for communities and the business. I’m able to use Wells Fargo’s size, scale, resources, and relationships to drive greater change for marginalized people in unimaginable ways. I am personally passionate about being a vessel for creating pathways to economic mobility and increasing financial inclusion.  My team and I are working to help address those structural barriers that stand in the way of communities of color from building generational wealth. Helping to break down those barriers is an important step toward financial inclusion. Driving change and making an impactful difference in the lives of underserved communities is the best part of the work I get to do every day.

WIB: What does diversity and Inclusion mean for you?

Goins: Diversity and inclusion for me means diversifying talent at all levels of the company including in executive ranks and leveraging those diverse experiences and perspectives to elevate the company to new levels. It means bringing new opportunities that positively impact diverse and underserved communities, addressing barriers to financial wealth, and developing new strategies to open pathways to economic advancement for people of color and other

marginalized individuals. It means creating a just and equitable society where everyone can be their authentic self and have a sense of belonging and opportunity.

WIB: What is one piece of career advice you can give to our readers?

Goins: As a woman of color, too often I have dealt with imposter syndrome—a sense of doubt that I was ready to take on senior roles because I mistakenly thought I lacked sufficient skills, experience, and competencies to success. In actuality, it is the systemic biases and inequalities that led to those doubts in my mind—the same systemic barriers that often led to my being the only Black woman or Black person in the room.

Know that you were built for whatever it is that God called you to do. Don’t let imposter syndrome talk you out of what you so rightfully deserve. Speak up in every room, say yes to new opportunities and embrace candor.

WIB: Having a role in banking can seem daunting at times, what do you enjoy most outside of work?

Goins: Outside of work, I most enjoy

spending time with my family and friends, traveling and experiencing different cultures, and giving back to the community through nonprofit board and local government committee service.

WIB: Describe your proudest moment to date.

Goins: My proudest moment to date has probably been seeing my 16-year old blossom into a kind, compassionate, intelligent, authentic young man, who gives me even greater hope for the future.

WIB: What would you say is the most important lesson about finances?

Goins: Think about your short-term and long-term goals—and hold yourself accountable by writing them down or using an online budgeting tool. Consider needs versus wants and avoid 1-click checkouts that are often impulse buys. And, make savings automatic so you don’t have to think about it. Put aside a portion of every paycheck into a separate savings account using direct deposit or automatic transfers.

WIB: Can you describe a pivotal moment in your career?

Goins: Earlier I mentioned “saying yes”

to new opportunities. A pivotal moment in my career came about a decade ago at FICO when I said yes to an opportunity –to develop a strategy and plan to empower consumers through greater access to FICO® Scores and education. There was a lot of consumer confusion about credit scores, with educational credit scores often giving consumers a false perception of their credit rating. In saying yes, I created FICO® Score Open Access, a consumer credit score program that earned accolades from the Obama administration. I couldn’t have imagined changing the credit score landscape so dramatically at the time, but by the time I left FICO in 2015, over 100 million consumers were empowered through regular free access to their FICO Scores and credit education through their financial institutions. Through that work, I found my true passion for empowering people, in particular marginalized individuals and communities, with tools, resources, products and services to improve their financial stability and health. After discovering my passion for economic empowerment, I had an opportunity to join Wells Fargo to lead its Hands on Banking® free financial education program and later Financial Health Philanthropy before stepping in to lead the Banking Inclusion Initiative.

WIB: What does having an “authentic voice” mean for you?

Goins: After nearly 30 years in Corporate America, I’ve learned that I can’t fit into someone else’s box. I have to be me, and that’s not only good enough, but the best I and my employer can hope for and benefit from. I bring my whole self to work every day—all of my experiences as an afro- and braid-wearing Black woman, mother, wife, community leader. And I have learned to use my voice and experiences as an instrument for change, by engaging in courageous conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion for our employees, our customers and our communities. I use my voice to drive the change that I want to see, particularly for people and communities of color. That’s what having an “authentic voice” means to me.

What happens if America can no longer pay its bills?

For example, Moody’s Analytics, a foremost provider of financial intelligence that assists businesses to reach informed decisions, recently published a related report.

“The timing could not be worse for the economy; even without the specter of a debt limit breach many CEOs and economists believe a

recession is dead ahead,” states the report. “With the Federal Reserve ramping up interest rates to quell wage and price pressures, avoiding a recession would be difficult even if nothing else went wrong… Assuming a June 8 debt limit breach that dragged on through July, the Treasury would have no choice but

FLEET VEHICLE SPECIALIST - BUS

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Fleet Vehicle Specialist – Bus to provide support and assistance with bus technical issues under the general directions of the Manager of Bus Maintenance Support for Port Authority of Allegheny County of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT).

Essential Functions:

• Works closely with Manager of Bus Maintenance Support and the Fleet Coordinator to develop bus maintenance Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and Standard Practice Bulletins (SPB’s) for implementation at the bus operating locations and the main shop.

• Directly coordinates and supervises support level maintenance for fare box and radio/head sign activities completed at the bus divisions and the main shop.

• Interacts with division managers of maintenance, Manchester, Central Storeroom and Material Control Specialist regarding parts and inventory issues needed for buses to return to revenue vehicle service.

• Creates and tracks campaign work on coaches – reports monthly on progress of all open campaigns. Posts campaign documents, PM inspection documents and technical manuals on company intranet site.

Job requirements include:

• Two-year technical degree or Associate degree in Business, Electronics or related field. Related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

• Minimum of three (3) years of maintenance experience with bus fleets and/or heavy automotive vehicles.

• Valid Driver’s License, Class C.

• Obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License, Class B with Passenger Endorsement and Air Brake Restriction removed within 90 days.

• Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows.

• Effective and professional communication skills.

• Customer-focused, well organized and results-oriented.

• This is a Safety-Sensitive position subject to all testing provisions under the Drug and Alcohol Policy, including random drug and alcohol testing. The person selected for this position may be required to be tested prior to being awarded the job.

Preferred attributes:

• BA/BS Degree in Business, Electronic Engineering or directly related field.

• Supervisory experience.

• Experience in managing maintenance of bus fleets or other fleets of heavy automotive vehicles and equipment.

• Vocational training in mechanical/electrical-electronic equipment and systems.

to eliminate a cumulative cash deficit of approximately $150 billion by slashing government spending. As these cuts work through the economy, the hit to growth would be overwhelming.”

The Bipartisan Policy center, a DC-based think tank that promotes viable public policy solutions, released its own independent analysis stating in part. “Ongoing risks include increasing costs to taxpayers, delayed

payments to individuals and businesses, and potentially catastrophic financial and economic impacts if congressional inaction to raise the debt limit causes the U.S. government to default on its debt (unprecedented in modern history).”

The list of federal benefits at risk in a debt default is as lengthy as it is painful.

A sample of the benefits at risk include:

• Up to 21 million Amer-

icans could lose their Medicaid, up to 1 million older adults could lose access to food stamps known known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. And up to 1 million poor children could lose welfare through TANF, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, according to lawmakers who wrote a May 11 letter to President Biden.

• Section 8 housing vouch-

ers that enable 2.1 million people to pay a national rental average of $347 to live in standard and affordable housing would also be at risk, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

• On June 1, $12 billion is supposed to go to military and civilian retirement payments and $12 billion towards veterans’ benefits. On June 15, another $4 billion is needed to pay military salaries, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center;

• At the end of 2022, the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

“[A]cross the nation, rents have skyrocketed, eviction filings have increased, homelessness is on the rise, and millions of America’s lowest-income renters are just one financial shock away from falling behind on rent and losing their homes,” said Diane Yentl, President and CEO of the Coalition. “It is unacceptable to cut critically needed assistance to these households.”

It should also be unacceptable for lawmakers elected to serve all of America’s people to lack the will to protect the nation.

(Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached atCharlene.crowell@responsi -

Is college the only way to success?

may find it challenging to succeed in certain trades.

PROS OF GOING

TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE:

Higher Earning Potential: Graduates of four-year colleges tend to earn higher salaries over their lifetime compared to those without a degree. This can lead to financial stability and a better quality of life.

Wide Range of Degree Programs: Traditional four-year colleges offer a wide range of degree programs allowing students to explore different fields and interests. Students can pursue careers in a variety of industries and have the flexibility to change

career paths if desired.

Transferability: College credits are generally transferable between schools and programs, which allows students to explore different areas of study and transfer to a different institution if needed.

Networking Opportunities: Traditional four-year colleges provide networking opportunities through alumni networks and social events, which can be valuable for finding job opportunities after graduation.

CONS OF GOING TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE: Higher Cost: Traditional four-year colleges are generally more expensive than trade

schools, and students may accumulate significant student loan debt.

Lengthy Time to Completion : Traditional four-year colleges require several years of full-time study, which can delay entry into the workforce and lead to a longer period of time before earning a full-time income.

Limited Hands-On Training: Traditional four-year colleges may not provide the same level of hands-on training as trade schools, which can be a disadvantage in certain industries.

Limited Job Placement Assistance: Some traditional fouryear colleges may not provide as much job

placement assistance as trade schools, which can make it more difficult for graduates to find employment in their field of study.

When making a decision between the two, it is important for students to consider their personal goals, financial situation and priorities. Students should research the job market and demand for their chosen field, as well as the curriculum and resources offered by different institutions. Ultimately, the right choice depends on each individual student’s unique circumstances and career aspirations.

DARLENE GOINS, Executive Vice President, Head of Banking Inclusion Initiative at Wells Fargo.

SUCCESS FROM B1

The miraculous power of mother energy

On Sunday, May 14, we celebrated the 115th anniversary of Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day was started to celebrate mothers, maternal bonds, motherhood, and the influence of mothers in society. In the United States it began in the early 20th century. The first celebration took place in 1908 when Anna Jarvis organized a memorial for her mother at St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia.

In spite of that auspicious start, mothers are not as valued today as they should be. The evidence of this are the reactions leveled toward them when people discuss problems in America’s Black communities. People loudly proclaim the Black community is endangered and often blame the condition on single, female-headed households. That number is said to be above 70 percent.

What that means is more than half of Black children are raised without two parents. This compromises family stability, even though some families are successful in spite of having a mate. It’s not that second husbands or wives and stepparents, etc., are ineffective; the challenge is connected with biology. In a best-case scenario two parents in the home help to stabilize and nurture a family. And when necessary, DNA is available in the quest to determine genealogy.

We all know by now that Black people have had a significant impact on developing strategies that resist oppression. This did not leave the community healed, however. In spite of oppression, the community has prospered, and a large part of the reason it does is due to the persistence of Black women, and by extension, Black mothers.  Black women have managed to provide a community backbone. The result is that the Black community can be considered somewhat “matrilineal,” if you consider that in many cases, the actual genetic line is often more known or available on the woman’s side of the family due to the absence of fathers. Regarding the foregoing, the conclusion can be drawn that family dysfunction is partially a result of absent fathers and present incompetent mothers. Women have borne the brunt of the criticism and blame.

The truth, though, of Black American community dysfunction is more than just the internal perception of weakness in families: the challenges are rooted in IMBALANCE coming from the belief that women are less important in the scheme of things. They often think they’re not “enough.” This has impacted the self-esteem of many Black women (and girls). The negative aspect of this situation is the lack of belief in self and, by extension, significant others.

New thinking is needed that will help balance things. A great deal of the origin of our community problems has to do with a philosophical imbalance between males and females, as previously mentioned. This wreaks havoc in families. It is becoming so extreme that a number of people have given up on the idea of marriage altogether and have settled for “shacking up.” Besides the lack of commitment often found in broken Black families, there are attendant broken dreams, broken spirits and broken love. This is what has to be fixed.

The parent who interfaces with children the most will usually have a disproportionate impact on their lives. In a matrilineal society, women are usually the great influencers. Black men, for example, have been endangered for years…they have endured violent attacks on their personhood, and yet they have often been psychologically saved by family matriarchs—“Big Mama” and her counterparts. Women, in this regard, provide balanced support to family units through nurturing, and this does not limit the other roles outside of homes that women might play.

Essentially, the new thinking that must precede a new age of peace and progress in Black communities can be ignited by the magical power of MOTHER ENERGY. We must change our approach to each other spreading the nurturing that often comes from mothers, and this can inspire positive emotional behaviors.

Violence hasn’t contributed to anything on Earth but mayhem; a new direction opposite the one that has dominated up to now needs to be employed.

Since mother energy (love) can help shape everyone, mothers are in a unique position to change the trajectory of world dynamics. There is one catch; mothers need the assistance of nurturing partners to help engender positive domestic outcomes. She can in turn use her renewed energy to help raise great children, influence society as a whole and save our future.

(Reprinted from The Chicago Crusader)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Back in 2015, I can distinctly remember telling myself and others that the damage of a Trump presidency would last longer than a four-year term.  I knew then I would be right, but, at the time, could not imagine just how right I would be.

Anyone who knew Trump, in fact or by reputation, should have known when he descended his golden escalator in 2015 that his presence was a fabrication of the highest order.  Later, it was revealed that his adoring crowd had been lured from NY streets, by promising each a $500.00 payment for pretending to be members of an excited fan base.  It was the first of what would become an anthology of over 20,000 lies.

Like a malignant Svengali, Trump was accompanied into office by a phalanx of acolytes with equally malignant mindsets and worldviews.  Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Stephen Miller, Michael Flynn, Bill Barr, Mike Pence, Kellyanne Conway, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders all stood at the forefront of Trump’s administration. Sadly, those he brought with him were not the only ones of his ilk.  Trump opened the soul of America’s corruption to clear view.  Those who had been attentive were not surprised.  Millions came to a gradual realization.  Millions of others didn’t care!

There are far too many Trump “wanna-bees” to call out by name, but several serve as exemplars of the dangers of a United States under the control of another Trump regime.  Three

stand out to foreshadow the worst of existence under a renewed Trump. Interactively, if I asked readers who best mimicked the “Lying Lifestyle” of Trump, few would hesitate to say, George Santos.  To both, lying comes as easily as drawing breath.  All but the most brainwashed have come to understand that their lying is primarily associated with them moving their lips.  Their veracity is not the issue.  The expectation for the acceptance of their lies and/ or that their lies, and the resulting consequences, would be ignored is the problem.  Both unreasonably expect a “get-out-of-jail-free” card or a functional “double standard” to mitigate their guilt.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, MTG, is clearly representative of the intolerance and racism of Trump.  Although both will “technically” deny the racism that motivates their actions, their actions belie any supposition of fairness or objectivity in their thought processes.  I should remind you that MTG represents an area where “Sundown Cities” were, and may still be, the rule rather than the exception.  For a clear understanding, we only have to remember Trump’s “good people on both sides” and Greene’s

“Jewish space lasers.”  Both are masters of far-right conspiracy theories and inflammatory, venomous rhetoric. The most frightening of Trump’s comparators is the new guy, Vivek Ramaswamy, billionaire businessman and longshot candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.  The label of political “Freshman” is appropriate for Ramaswamy because of his newness on the political scene.  However, his stated platform harkens back to the policies of the pre-Civil Rights movement and would, arguably, result in similar outcomes.

Ramaswamy believes that Congress should pass a constitutional amendment barring 18–25-year-olds from voting, with some exceptions.  Under his proposal, within that age range, people could only vote by serving as first responders or passing a civics test.

Those who remember the “soap bubble” or “beans-in-a-jar” voting tests will agree with the dangers and potential outcomes of such a policy.  Because Gen Z is more racially diverse than any other generation in U.S. history, restricting the voting rights of people this age would disenfranchise millions of nonwhite voters. These voters are also more likely to support LGBTQ rights.

Take the time to learn about your potential adversaries and the futures they offer you!  Make the correct choice!

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of The Dick Gregory Society and President Emerita of the National Congress of Black Women)

(NNPA Newswire)—Research from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) has found that the religious landscape of the United States has changed a lot in the last few decades.

Researchers say the United States is becoming less religious, more diverse, and politically divided, leading to significant cultural changes.

Also, churches have returned to in-person services after the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are dealing with the continuing consequences of other significant events, such as national protests for racial justice, a divisive 2020 presidential election that led to a deadly uprising at the U.S. Capitol, and renewed state legislative battles over reproductive and LGBTQ rights.

The new survey examined how religious people in the U.S. act in this uncertain culture and political climate.

PRRI analyzed religious affiliation trends, the significance of religion in Americans’ lives, and how frequently they attend spiritual events and engage in prayer.

They also looked at trends in “switching” religions, which means leaving one faith for another, and considered why Americans do this.

According to a separate survey by NORC at the University of Chicago, 50 percent of Americans expressed uncertainty about the existence of God.

That’s less than in 2008, when it was 60 percent.

PRRI said that in 2022, 27 percent of Americans said they didn’t believe in any faith, up from 19 percent in 2012 and 16 percent in 2006. According to the study, the remaining 6 percent of Americans who follow other religions have stayed the same over the past few years.

Individuals who identify as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, or from any other world religion are a part of this group.

“The past three years were a period of great trial and change for the United States. Understanding how these times affected Americans’ thoughts, beliefs, and opinions is critical to understanding social change,” René Bautista, director of the GSS and associate director of Methodology and Quantitative Social Sciences at NORC, related in a news release.

Researchers found that many Americans practice more than one religion, and nearly one in five (19 percent) consider themselves “a follower of the teachings or practices of more than one religion.”

Followers of non-Christian religions (26 percent) are the most likely to be multi-religious, followed by Hispanic

Catholics (24 percent), White mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (24 percent), and Protestants of color (16 percent).

White evangelical Protestants (18 percent) and Protestants of color (16 percent) are the least likely to follow the teachings of multiple religions.

Aside from weddings and funerals, more than 40 percent of Americans said they went to religious events “at least a few times a year” in 2022.

More than four in ten Americans said they went to religious services at least a few times a year, not including weddings and funerals.

Seven percent said they went more than once a week, 16 percent said they went once a week, seven percent went once or twice a month, and 13 percent said they went a few times a year.

Most Americans say they rarely (28 percent) or never (29 percent) go to religious services, according to the PRRI study.

In 2019 and 2013, most Americans said they attended religious services more than once a week (9 percent and 11 percent), once a week (19 percent and 20 percent), once or twice a month (both 9 percent), or a few times a year (17 percent and 16 percent).

About four in ten said they rarely went (21 percent and 22 percent) or never (24 percent and 21 percent).

“The COVID-19 pandemic is most likely a factor in these shifts,” researchers said.

& Publisher

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Picture a mountain valley somewhere in the Alleghanies, Appalachians or Blue Ridge. It’s a safe bet what you just imagined didn’t include a metal pipeline more than three feet wide running down a steep ridge or crossing a pristine stream.

People from West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and several Indigenous nations have been fighting for years to keep that image from becoming a reality by opposing the incongruously named, 303-mile-long Mountain Valley Pipeline across their states and ancestral lands. They’ve been so successful, in fact, that some in Congress want to take away their power to oppose a project that’s recorded hundreds of clean water violations alone.

It’s part of a bigger fight that goes by the mundane-sounding name “permitting reform” that’s playing out in Washington right now. While that description isn’t as stirring as “Star Wars” missile defense or “the Great Society,” the decision being made will determine how the nation can exert oversight on big projects from pipelines to manufacturing plants to minimize their damage to the planet. Some of them may go on federal lands, many of them will be financed by hundreds of billions that the federal government will invest in infrastructure and clean energy in the next decade.

It’s a fight so important that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has tied defaulting on the country’s debt to resolving it.

“This is more than just about the

Mountain Valley Pipeline,” Maury Johnson, a retired educator and farmer from West Virginia who’s a leader in the opposition, told a reporter. “This is about the Gulf Coast, North Alaska and every community that has been sacrificed for decades. We can’t continue to sacrifice communities and people.”

If we called it “protection reform,” it might easier to understand. What’s at stake is the process for protecting our air, water, and land from what may be irreparable harm. Some want to erode environmental safeguards that have been in place for more than 50 years and reduce the time allotted to determine the impact the new projects will have during their decades-long lifespan.

Some want to treat dirty fossil fuel industries in the same way we think about new clean energy businesses. The fast lane needs to be reserved for renewable energy and transmission infrastructure to distribute it. We also could call it “participation reform.” President Biden is pushing for greater consultation with communities that will be closest to new projects and transparency about their locations. Opponents want to extend exclusions that would allow plans to bypass any meaningful

public voice, particularly for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. They even want to limit the ability of communities to challenge projects in court.

Those who are most strident about permitting reform argue that the safeguards we have in place or seek to add come at too high an economic price. Faster approvals will lead to lower energy prices sooner, they claim. But the falling prices of renewable energy show otherwise.

The costs that are too high are not to determine environmental impacts and not to let those most affected have their say. We know that it’s the poor, people or color, and native peoples who live in those communities that pay the most for these projects. The Biden administration has moved to acknowledge indirect and cumulative impacts on climate and environment as well as direct ones. Under President Trump, the federal government limited the analysis to only the most blatant damage. The argument comes down to expediency versus existence. We’ve been careening toward a warmer planet with less biodiversity since the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. We’ve subsidized destructive industries by rendering people and places disposable by failing to consider them. That’s what we can no longer permit.

(Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.)

Jim Brown and social activism

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Since most players in professional basketball and football are Black, it should come as no surprise that many high-profile Black athletes have become role models to young admirers who are also Black. Athletes such as football legend Jim Brown reached the professional ranks by overcoming tremendous odds with determination, perseverance, and commitment.

Any confident and successful pro athlete can easily become an example for a child or young adult to look up to. Charles Barkley is a former NBA star whose 16-year career covered stints in Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Houston. The outspoken Barkley once declared in a Nike commercial that kids should be taught to emulate their parents, not athletes or celebrities. “Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids,” Barkley concluded.

In an essay titled, One Role Model to Another published in a 1993 issue of Sports Illustrated, Utah Jazz star Karl Malone wrote that being a role model was not Barkley’s decision to make. “We don’t choose to be role models, Malone wrote. “We are chosen. Our only choice is whether to be a good role model or a bad one. I don’t think we can accept all the glory and the money that comes with being a famous athlete and not accept the responsibility of being a role model, of knowing that kids and even some adults are watching us and looking for us to set an example.” I agree with Karl Malone’s assessment that being a role model means not always knowing when a child has chosen your example to follow, especially when that child is without parents worthy of emulation. The danger of a child looking up to the wrong individual is a risk that automatically comes with the position being in the public arena.

In the spirit of Barkley’s point, is it wrong for professional athletes to use their public platforms for social activism? Long before the infamous “shut up and dribble” kerfuffle, it has been widely believed that sports and politics should remain separate. Some see sports as a refuge to escape the mental exhaustion of politics and social conflicts. Former NBA coach Phil Jackson is well known for having won 11 championships as a player and coach.

David W. Marshall

Has Daniel Penny turned conservatives into social justice warriors?

When an accused person goes through the judicial process, we use the phrase “brought to justice.” According to this viewpoint, the fact that the accused had their day in court defines justice, not the verdict.

Social justice advocates have a different perspective. The powerless and the vulnerable should be favored in judicial decisions.

Law-and-order types on the right typically uphold the process, while their counterparts on the left are more concerned with socially just outcomes.

The death of Jordan Neely has caused some conservatives to switch roles.

On May 1st, Jordan Neely, a homeless, mentally ill 30-year-old Black man, got on a New York subway car and started acting erratic and belligerent, but Daniel Penny, a White 24-year-old ex-marine, came from behind Neely, took Neely to the ground, and kept Neely in a chokehold for several minutes.

Penny believed that by restraining Neely, he was protecting himself and the passengers from Neely’s hostile behavior, but Neely ended up dead.

The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was compression of the neck.

Police questioned Penny and then released him without charges, prompting demonstrators to take to the streets of New York to demand for social justice; in other words, they wanted a White man prosecuted for murdering a Black man.

Left-wing politicians, commentators, and influencers called Neely’s death a public lynching. They depicted Neely, a man who had been arrested 40 times for similar public disturbances in the previous decade, as a harmless

homeless man who simply begged for food and water on the subway.

According to these leftists, Neely wasn’t merely the victim of an unwarranted chokehold; he was also the victim of a society that doesn’t care about the homeless or the mentally ill. Since proponents of social justice don’t—blame the victim—or believe the victim can play a part in their own demise, Penny’s actions can’t be considered self-defense because he initiated the confrontation.

Therefore, Penny should be charged with murder.

On May 12, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Penny with second-degree manslaughter. Now, the legal process has to clear or convict Penny; either way, justice would have been served, right?

Not exactly.

Many conservatives who ordinarily uphold the process have become social justice warriors in support of Daniel Penny. These conservatives have no interest in the process and are only concerned with the “moral” end that they seek. They feel Daniel Penny is a hero who should be spared from the legal procedure because he was protecting fellow citizens from a dangerous situation.

Once, Neely shouted on the subway car, “I will kill a motherf—cker. I don’t

care. I’ll take a bullet. I’ll go to jail.”

These conservatives argue that Neely threatened the lives of every passenger on the subway car, and they had the right to defend themselves.

Fair enough, but what about the duty to retreat?

According to the website of Tilem & Associates, PC, a New York-based legal practice, “New York state law makes it explicitly clear that a person being attacked by deadly force in their home does not have a duty to retreat as long as they were not the initial aggressor.  Outside of one’s home, however, a person does have a legal duty to retreat and take reasonable steps to try and avoid using violence in self-defense. If a person has performed their duty to retreat and clearly communicated their intent to de-escalate a potentially violent situation, then using force for the sole purpose of self-defense may be a legal option.”

This raises two issues.

1) In a subway car, how far must a potential victim retreat before being able to defend themselves?

2) Did Penny express a desire to de-escalate the situation before restraining Neely?

The answers to these questions will establish whether Penny’s acts were legal or not, but in order to answer them, Penny needed to be brought to justice.

Nikki Haley, a 2024 presidential candidate, stated that the Governor of New York should immediately pardon Daniel Penny because it is the right thing to do, but nothing is more wrong than when conservatives seek outcomes that defeat the purpose of the legal process.

The many accomplices to the killing of Jordan Neely

The 77-year-old Jackson recently claimed he no longer watches the NBA due to politics. He references the slogans used in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Jackson believes the NBA has evolved since his time and has become too political for his liking. “They even had slogans on the floor and the baseline,” Jackson said. “It was trying ….to bring a certain audience to the game, and they didn’t know it was turning other people off. People want to see sports as non-political. Politics stays out of the game; it doesn’t need to be there.” In his comments, Jackson highlighted how the modern NBA attempts to support awareness of specific social issues that are not connecting with older generations. Having slogans such as “End Racism” placed on basketball courts and football fields does nothing to address the actual root causes behind the problem.

While it is desired that athletes refrain from bringing political messages into the games, some players cannot simply put on a jersey, play ball, and then go home and remain publicly silent about the injustices we face. It is not wrong if a player is compelled to speak out on social issues. It just needs to be calculated and strategic to be effective. Jim Brown was not silent when it came to separating his athletic dominance on the football field from being a relevant voice in addressing the social matters impacting the Black community. He was never hesitant to speak out publicly, as many athletes were during the 1950s and ‘60s. Brown was a social activist who often took a stand for Black citizens and other minorities whose rights were denied. Because he believed in Black empowerment, Brown became a key player with the Black Economic Union; an organization focused on creating careers for minorities by helping them get business loans to be self-sufficient. Brown was never a lone ranger, and he knew when to bring in other high-profile athletes because there is strength in numbers. He played a key role in organizing the “Cleveland Summit” in 1967, which concluded with a group of prominent players such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willie Davis, and Bobby Mitchell providing public support for Muhammad Ali, who refused to be drafted based on his religious beliefs.

On the football field, he is often ranked as one of the greatest NFL players to play the game. Off the field, his leadership and messages of motivation inspired future players and prepared them for future activism. Jim Brown passed the social activism torch to Ray Lewis and others like him. Just like Ray Lewis studied Jim Brown, Calais Campbell is a current NFL player who grew up learning Ray Lewis. To be effective, today’s athlete-activist must take advantage of their role model status by focusing on our youth and young adults’ awareness, engagement, and empowerment. Jim Brown’s politics were not radical. He believed that Black people do not achieve advancement through the politics of protest but through the politics of earning as much money as possible to build economic self-sufficiency. We lost another icon. Rest in peace, Jim Brown. (David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of

America. He

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“His mental illness screamed of profits prioritized over people … His Blackness disquieted the American ideals and sensibilities that proclaim us all equal. His existence, on that train, on that day, exposed just how poorly America cares for her people and how poorly we care for one another.”—Brittany Packnett

Cunningham

One man faces charges of criminal manslaughter, but Jordan Neely’s death had many accomplices.

Ignorance and fear of mental illness.  Implicit racial bias.  A desperately inadequate health care system. Reckless and distorted political rhetoric about violent crime.

Jordan Neely didn’t fall through the cracks. The world where he existed is nothing but cracks.

Neely’s short, tortured life ended in the 15 minutes Daniel Penny gripped him in a chokehold on a New York City subway. But as a severely mentally ill Black man in America, Neely spent most of his adult life at risk of a violent death.

Most Americans experiencing a serious physical health crisis in public can expect to end up in a hospital, receiving treatment.  An American experiencing a mental health crisis is far more likely to end up in prison —or killed at the hands of emergency responders.  Black Americans with mental illness are even more likely to face a tragic outcome.

Penny’s lawyers claim he was acting in defense of himself and his fellow passengers. Whether he truly feared for their safety or simply was irritated by Neely’s disruptive behavior is unknown.  The risk of being assaulted in the New York City transit system is

Marc H. Morial

miniscule, and the chance an assault will be committed by someone experiencing a mental health crisis even smaller.

Neely did have a history of violent behavior, but Penny could not have known that in the moment that he tackled him. Statistically, the passengers on that F train were as likely to be assaulted by any other passenger as by Neely. Fear often is irrational, however, especially when it is compounded by implicit racial bias and deliberately fanned by unprincipled politicians who distort and exaggerate the risk of crime for their own benefit.

Whether Penny was justified in restraining Neely in that moment is a fair question for debate. Less ambiguous is the question of whether he did it in a reasonable manner.  As an ex-Marine, Penny almost certainly was trained in the responsible use of a chokehold. Crushing a man’s windpipe continuously for 15 minutes—long after his body had gone limp—is neither reasonable nor responsible.

At least one passenger warned Penny, “You’re going to kill him.” And when a bystander tried to revive Neely, Penny waved him off.

The rush to demonize a Black victim of deadly violence has long been standard operating procedure in the United States.  The public learned about Neely’s lengthy arrest record before we even knew his name. The rush to glorify the White perpetrators of violence is not a surprise either. We knew that Penny was a Marine Corps veteran before we knew his name.

The celebration of vigilante killers, commonplace in the dark era of Jim Crow, is making an alarming comeback.  Penny is being hailed as a hero, as are Daniel Perry and Kyle Rittenhouse, who fatally shot Black Lives Matter protesters, and Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who threatened to do so.

Rewarding and encouraging vigilantism is a path to ruin, but it’s simpler and easier than confronting the uncomfortable questions that Neely’s tragic life and brutal death have raised about mental illness, homelessness, and violent crime. For as long as a New York City task force has kept a list of the most severely troubled homeless people, Neely has been on that list, but instead of getting the treatment he needed, he was arrested 42 times in eight years. More than 70 percent of prison inmates have a diagnosed mental illness or substance abuse disorder, a third of them seriously mentally ill.  The cost—both human and financial—is astronomical. Anyone who’s been confronted with the erratic behavior of a person experiencing a mental health crisis knows the helpless desire for someone to do something to make it stop. None of us want that “something” to be deadly violence.

“We The People” are losing control of America through the unchecked behavior of a number of elected officials at all levels of government who have bought the Big Lie that democracy failed with the election of President Biden and the fact that although he got seven million votes more than the former President, he didn’t win. Those who drank this Kool-Aid continue to use the Big Lie as the foundation for more lies, like Voter Suppression is necessary because ballot boxes are being stuffed with illegal ballots; that more guns are necessary for self protection when those espousing this theory are the very ones committing mass murders with the very automatic weapons “they” said are necessary for self protection.

As we have said before and now repeat, the solution to these problems rests in what Thomas Jefferson warned: “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Freedom.” We must not only watch, but register and vote. We can not wait until November 2024 to think about whether our vote matters. If Black Lives Matter, then Black Votes are critical and necessary. Every election

John E. Warren

is important from School Board to City Council, to State Legislatures and Governors and Members of Congress, both in the House and the Senate. The families of those murdered and injured in the TOPs Supermarket massacre in Buffalo, New York a year ago have filed multiple Wrongful Death Civil actions against social media, gun dealerships and others considered influences in shaping the mind and heart of the killer. Such creative thought must be used around the country in spite of the fact that the former President has stacked the United States Supreme Court with one third of the Justices expected to rule in favor of the supporters of the Big Lie on most if not all the issues which will come before them.

The solution to the Supreme Court

problem is to elect members of Congress that will pass the laws necessary to overrule such Court Decisions. For example, to change the ruling on Roe v. Wade, Congress must simply pass a law reinstating the right to abortion as some states have done.

We must now rally on the issues of the debt ceiling so that the Conservative Right does not allow the collapse of the government to further justify their attack on Democracy. We must insist that the issue of immigration be looked at so the much needed migrant workers for our agriculture are not caught up in the greater issue of mass immigration. We must keep our eyes on the domestic needs of this nation, such as healthcare in the midst of continued COVID, food insecurity, and homelessness at all levels.  If we can find funds for Ukraine, then we can find funds to help the very people who elected our decision makers to Congress. We must not allow another Big Lie, that America is now represented by the “few” and the callus, seeking only to help themselves at the expense of all others. This is the Continued Wake Up Call.

CONDITIONS OF SALE

Effective with the August 3, 2020 Sheriff Sale of real estate and all such monthly public sales thereafter shall be conducted virtually through video conferencing technology or live streaming. The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office shall provide for up to twenty-five persons to participate in person with physical distancing in the Gold Room, 4th Floor Allegheny County Courthouse. ALL PARTICIPANTS OR BIDDERS MUST BE REGISTERED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE SALE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE (VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON) AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SALES OF REAL ESTATE. REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S WEBSITE: SHERIFFALLEGHENYCOUNTY.COM. The Successful bidder will pay full amount of bid in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK OR CASHIERS CHECK at time of sale, otherwise the property will be resold at the next regular Sheriffs Sale; provided, that if the sale is made on MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023 the bidder may pay ten percent of purchasing price but not less than 75.00 in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK THE DAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SALE, e.g. TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:30AM AND 2:30PM IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. And the balance in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK, on or before MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2023 at 10:00 O’CLOCK A.M. The property will be resold at the next regular Sheriff’s Sale if the balance is not paid, and in such case all money’s paid in at the original sale shall be applied to any deficiency in the price of which property is resold, and provided further that if the successful bidder is the plaintiff in the execution the bidder shall pay full amount of bid ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING MONTH, OTHERWISE WRIT WILL BE RETURNED AND MARKED “REAL ESTATE UNSOLD” and all monies advanced by plaintiff will be applied as required by COMMON PLEAS COURT RULE 3129.2 (1) (a).

FORFEITED SALES WILL BE POSTED IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND LISTED ON THE SHERIFF OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY WEB SITE.

AMENDMENT OF THE CODE SECOND CLASS COUNTY NEW CHAPTER 475

THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 475, ENTITLED TAXATION IS HEREBY AMENDED THROUGH THE CREATION OF A NEW ARTICLE XII, ENTITLED, “SHERIFF SALES”, AND COMPRISED AS FOLLOWS: SUBSECTION 475-60: RECORDING OF DEEDS AND NOTIFICATION OF SHERIFFS SALES TO TAXING BODIES.

A. FOR ANY REAL PROPERTY OFFERED AT SHERIFFS SALE DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF REAL ESTATE TAXES AND PURCHASED BY A THIRD PARTY THROUGH SUCH SALE, THE SHERIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING THE DEED AND, WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF FILING OF THE SHERIFFS DEED, PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE CONVEYANCE TO THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. THE WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE THE DATE OF THE SALE, IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY SOLD BY BOTH ADDRESS AND LOT AND BLOCK NUMBER, AND THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUALS OR OTHER ENTITY THAT PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

B. AT THE TIME OF THE SALE THE SHERIFF SHALL COLLECT ALL REQUISITE FILING COSTS, REALTY TRANSFER TAXES AND FEES, NECESSARY TO PROPERLY RECORD THE DEED.

C. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF RECEIPT OF WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE SHERIFF, THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS SHALL FORWARD COPIES OF SUCH NOTICE TO ALL TAXING BODIES LEVYING REAL ESTATE TAXES ON THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MUNICIPALITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED. AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 14 OF ACT NO. 77 OF 1986, THE COST OF ALL DOCUMENTARY STAMPS FOR REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES (STATE, LOCAL, AND SCHOOL) WILL BE DEDUCTED BY THE SHERIFF FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE. Purchasers must record their deeds and pay the necessary recording fees. Pursuant to Rule 3136 P.R.C.P. NOTICE is hereby given that a schedule of distribution will be filed by the Sheriff not later than 30 days from date of sale and that distribution will be made in accordance with the schedule unless exceptions are filed thereto within 10 days thereafter. No further notice of the filing of the schedule of distribution will be given.

A Land Bank formed under 68 Pa. C.S.A. 2101 et seq. may exercise its right to bid pursuant to 68 Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d) (2) through Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d) (4) on certain properties listed for sale under the municipal claims and Tax Lien Law, 53 P.S. 7101 et seq. The Sheriff of Allegheny County will honor the terms of payment which the Land Bank has entered with any municipalities having a claim against the property. If the Land Bank tenders a bid under Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d)(3) or 2117(d)(4) the property will not be offered for sale to others and the Property will be considered sold to the Land Bank for the Upset Price as defined in P.S.7279 and no other bids will be accepted.

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT ALL SHERIFFS DEEDS TENDERED TO PURCHASERS WILL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:

“This document may not sell, convey, transfer, include, or insure the title to the coal and right of support underneath the surface land described or referred to herein and the owner or owners of such coal may have the complete legal right to remove all of such coal, and in that connection damage may result to the surface of the land, any house, building or other structure on or in such land.”

JUN 1 2023

DEFENDANT(S) ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN

HEIRS OF DOROTHY A. KANE AKA DOROTHY

ALICE KANE; ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN

BENEFICIARIES OF THE DOROTHY ALICE

KANE REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED

MAY 1, 2000; ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN

BENEFICIARIES OF THE RICHARD JOHN

KANE REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED

MAY 1, 2000,

CASE NO. MG-22-000799

DEBT$ 20,374.36

********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Michelle L. Pierro, Esq. and Aaron J. Walayat, Esq.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Tucker Arensberg, P.C., 1500 One PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA

15222

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 412-566-1212

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, EIGHTH WARD OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, HAVING ERECTED

THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 811 FRANKLIN ST, MCKEESPORT, PA 15132. DEED BOOK

VOLUME 10806, PAGE 490, PARCEL NUMBER

.0461-A-00002-0000-00:

JUN 2 2023

DEFENDANT(S) CERTIFIED AFFORDABLE

HOUSING GROUP, LLC

CASE NO. GD-21-008726

DEBT$ 56,868.38

*********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) JOHN R. K.

SOLT, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 2045 WEST-

GATE DRIVE, SUITE 404B

BETHLEHEM, PA 18017

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 610-

865-2465

**************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, BOROUGH OF WILKINSBURGH:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING, KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 2050-2052

CHALFANT STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA

MG-20-000341 ************* DEBT $407,926.39

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) KML LAW GROUP, P.C.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322 *******************************************

SHORT DESCRlPTION: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF KENNEDY: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 5006 JULIA LANE, MC KEES ROCKS, PA 15136. DEED BOOK 18321, PAGE 390. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 154-B-79.

JUN 6 2023

DEFENDANT(S) PATRICIA J. DUGAN ******************** CASE NO. MG-19-000750

DEBT $37,569.92

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

KML LAW GROUP, P.C.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322 *******************************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING

BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 309 DELAWARE AVENUE, NORTH VERSAILLES, PA 15137. DEED BOOK 10940, PAGE 536. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 458-S-368.

JUN 7 2023

DEFENDANT(S) ELIZABETH LEE

CASE NO. MG-21-000086

DEBT $156,631.82

*********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) KML LAW GROUP, P.C.

******************************* ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

***************************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, MUNICIPALITY OF PENN HILLS: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3134 LAKETON ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15235. DEED BOOK 8867, PAGE 297. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 369-J-280.

JUN 8 2023

DEFENDANT(S)

CYNTHIA M.

Public Notice

Ward of the City of Pittsburgh: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 56 BASCOM AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA 15214. DEED BOOK VOLUME 14120, PAGE 372. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 162-R-42.

JUN 11 2023

DEFENDANT(S) Ryan J. Ohm, Frank Vertullo, Mary Vertullo, Gina Vertullo and The United States of America

************** CASE NO. MG-22-000879

******** DEBT $271,027.65

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Powers Kirn, LLC

********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Eight Nesharniny Interplex, Suite 215, Trevose, PA 19053

************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

Telephone: 2 I 5-942-2090

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************* In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Plum: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 309 Seasons Cou11, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Public Notice

PARK Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2919 OVERHILL STREET, SOUTH PARK, PA 15129. Deed Book Volume 14093, Page 305. Block and Lot Number 1009-F-002170000-00

JUN 9 2023

DEFENDANT(S) Darren Mascilli and Donna Mascilli

CASE NO. MG-22-000301

DEBT $84,313.02

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Gary W. Darr, Esquire McGrath McCall, P.C.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (844)

856-6646 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 27TH WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1236 THELMA STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15212. Deed Book Volume 12339, PAGE 114 Block and Lot Number 45-E-292

JUN 13 2023

DEFENDANT(S) THOMAS A. BENNETT; MISTY D. BENNETT CASE NO. MG-18-000769

************* DEBT$ 268,645.82

********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Stephen Panik, Esquire ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Brock & Scott, PLLC ************************** 2011 RENAISSANCE BOULEVARD, SUITE 100 KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (844)

856-6646 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2123 CLAIRMONT DRIVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15241. Deed Book VOLUME 14979, PAGE 261. Block and Lot Number 0321-P-00022-0000-00

JUN 14 2023

DEFENDANT(S) TATIA CONLEY AIK/A

TATIA M. CONLEY, IN HER CAPACITY AS

HEIR OF SHARNEL CONLEY, DECEASED; MONIQUE M. CONLEY, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF SHARNEL CONLEY, DECEASED; AUTUMN M. CONLEY, IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF SHARNEL CONLEY, DECEASED; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER SHARNEL CONLEY, DECEASED

******************** CASE NO. MG-22-000593

DEBT$ 60,329.77

********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Stephen Panik,

OF ATTORNEY(S) Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire

OF ATTORNEY(S)

S. 27th Street, Ste. 210

JUN 86 2023

DEFENDANT(S) Erin Wick, Individually

91 2023

JESSICA FISCHOFF A/ KlA JESSICA R. FISCHOFF; MARLEE

DEBT $ 131,648.27

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Stephen Panik, Esquire *********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Brock & Scott, PLLC 2011 RENAISSANCE BOULEVARD,

JUN 97 2023

DEFENDANT MARK J. KRAULAND, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPHINE C. KRAULAND

************ CASE NO. GD-22-012072

********* DEBT $345,680.00

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

ADVERTISEMENT Bids are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 on the following:

RFP 3144 – Driver’s Education

On-Road Training

Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Thursday, June 1, 2023

Any bid or proposals received after this deadline will be considered as a “late bid” and will be returned unopened to the offerer. Proposals may require Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Payment Bonds, and Surety as dictated by the specifications.

Columbus, OH 43216-5028

************************ ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 614-220-5611

*******************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Penn Hills:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1017 Hamil Road, Verona, PA 15147. Document Number 2015-18096, Deed Book Volume 16022, Page 6. Block and Lot Number 0535-A00355-0000-00.

JUN 84 2023

DEFENDANT(S) Tamara Clifton, as believed Heir to the Estate of Thomas D. Orseno, Jr., AKA Thomas D. Orseno; Terri Comanici, as believed Heir to the Estate of Thomas D. Orseno, Jr., AKA Thomas D. Orseno; Thomas Orseno, III, as believed Heir to the Estate of Thomas D. Orseno, Jr., AKA Thomas D. Orseno; Tina Orseno, as believed Heir to the Estate of Thomas D. Orseno, Jr., AKA Thomas D. Orseno; Unknown Heirs, to the Estate of Thomas D. Orseno, Jr., AKA Thomas D. Orseno; Unknown Administrators, to the Estate of

JUN 89 2023 PLAINTIFF(S) EAST ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES vs DEFENDANT(S) MELINDA M. IERA ******************** CASE NO.

VALERIE WILLIAMS IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF ALPHONSO MINTER, DECEASED; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER ALPHONSO MINTER, DECEASED

CASE NO. MG-21-000190

DEBT$ 21,526.97

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Stephen Panik, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Brock & Scott, PLLC 2011 RENAISSANCE BOULEVARD, SUITE 100 KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER:

(844) 856-6646

********************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 13TH WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 532 NORTH MURTLAND STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15208. Deed Book Volume 6375, Page 902. Block and Lot Number 0125-M-003660000-00

JUN 93 2023

Wilkinsburg School District and Wilkinsburg Borough VS DEFENDANTS Shelley Y. Pridgen, Administratrix of the Estate of Horace G. Pridgen a/k/a Marvin Cullens, and the United States of America

NO.GD 22-001546

$19,451.89

OF ATTORNEY(S) Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire

OF ATTORNEY(S) 424 S.

A DWELLING

BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 8011 MARK DRIVE, VERONA, PA 15147.

DEED BOOK VOLUME 16123, PAGE 226.

BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 295-A-6.

JUN 99 2023

DEFENDANT S DAVID VAN HISE AND SHIRLEY L. VAN HISE

************ CASE NO. MG-22-000471

DEBT $167,916.07

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

NATHALIE PAUL, ESQUIRE

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC

1420 WALNUT STREET, SUITE 1501

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

(215) 790-1010

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of White Oak:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 3169 Jacks Run Road, Mckeesport, Pennsylvania 15131. Deed Book Volume 12217, Page 78, Block & Lot No. 0647- L-00045-0000-00.

JUN 100 2023

DEFENDANTS BRIAN MYERS AND CAROLE.

MYERS A/K/A CAROL MYERS

************ CASE NO. MG-22-000980

********* DEBT $33,385.37

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

NATHALIE PAUL, ESQUIRE

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC

1420 WALNUT STREET, SUITE 1501

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

(215) 790-1010

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Forward: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2284 Sunnyside Hollow Road, Monongahela, Pennsylvania 15063. Deed Book Volume 11322, Page 009, Block & Lot No. 2087-G-00382-0000-00.

and/or Personal Representatives of Gerard L. Donahue, deceased; Kimberly A. Perusso, solely as heir of Gerard L. Donahue, deceased CASE NO. MG-22-000349 DEBT $120,911.08 ***** NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Richard M. Squire & Associates, LLC ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 115 West Avenue, Suite 104, Jenkintown, PA 19046

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 886-8790 SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of

No bidder may withdraw his bid or proposal for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The Community College of Allegheny County is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/Disadvantaged owned businesses. For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT INVITATION FOR BIDS: The Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) is requesting bids from qualified contractors for:

CONTRACT: ACHA-1696 ASBESTOS & LEAD-BASED PAINT ABATEMENT at the former ST. COLMAN SCHOOL DOCUMENTS: Bid documents & specifications for consideration, will be available on/after Monday, May 22, 2022 on the Pittsburgh Builder’s Exchange, or the McGraw-Hill websites. Complete IFB Documents with Bid Package may be requested by contacting Dean Allen, Modernization Manager by email: dallen@achousing.org or by calling 412-402-2469.

FEE: No Charge for Emailed / Electronic Transfer documents.

NON-MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE SITE WALK

THRU: Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 10:00AM EST (or by appt. 412-477-2464) at the former St. Colman School, 547 Hunter Street, Turtle Creek, PA 15145 QUESTION SUBMITTAL DEADLINE: Friday, June 2, 2023, at 3:00PM EST

BIDS DUE: Friday, June 9, 2023, at 2:00 PM EST at the ACHA Central Office, 301 Chartiers Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 Section 3 Businesses, MWDBE, VOSB are encouraged to respond.

Frank Aggazio Executive Director ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is soliciting Bids for a needs assessment and annual maintenance for our SAP Success Factors Human Resources Information System. Proposers must be a licensed SAP integrator. This project shall be three-phased, with the needs assessment (phase 1), any revisions or changes (Phase 2) and annual maintenance (Phase 3). At this time, ALCOSAN is only looking for pricing on Phases 1 and 3; Phase 2 will be negotiated upon completion of Phase 1. A listing of issues currently being experienced will be released with the RFP to assist in proposal development.

Some of the departments included under this purchase include, but are not limited to:

a. HR Communication, Tracking & Reporting Functions

b. Benefits

c. Health & Wellness

d. Learning & Development

Please note: This system does not include Payroll or Financial Management Systems

This procurement is described in greater detail in the RFQ located at https://www.alcosan.org/workwith-us/planned-and-active-bids

The Authority is governed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Procurement Law and all products must comply with the requirements set forth therein.

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. Proposals must be received electronically until 2:00pm (EST), June 28, 2023 at procurement@ alcosan.org. Questions regarding this contract document should also be directed to this email address.

PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny County Airport Authority will be receiving scanned PDF proposals through Submittable, and a submission link will be sent to each registered plan holder. Submissions are to be submitted via Submittable by 1:00 p.m. prevailing local time on June 14, 2023, and bids will be opened by the Airport Authority and results will be emailed by end of business day of bid opening for the following project:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROJECT NUMBER 45E1-22 (ELECTRICAL) HANGAR SWITCHGEAR REPLACEMENT AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

A pre-bid conference will be held at 9:00 a.m., on May 26, 2023 , in Conference Room A at Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz, Pittsburgh, PA 15231.

Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, must be paid on these projects.

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

The non-refundable charge of $150.00 for the Bid Documents and the Plans, and Specifications through the bidding platform Submittable at https://acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com.

Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer 11. Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PA UCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PA UCP web site: https://paucp.dbesystem.com/

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

No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty [60] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com – ACAA Corporate – Business Opportunities or call 412-472-3677 or 412-472-3645.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for West and East Cooling Tower Refurbishment as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the Sports & Exhibition Authority 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention:

Thomas P. Ryser, Jr. E-mail: tryser@pgh-sea.com, Telephone: 412393-0200. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055. Additional information on the project can also be found of Accu-Copy’s website at https://accu-copy.com/ plan-room.

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package:

Project: David L Lawrence Convention Center

Bid Package Name: West and East Cooling Tower Refurbishment Bid Package Available: May 17, 2023 Approximate Value: $900,000

Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting: 9:00 am, Thursday, May 25, 2023 David Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Time/Date/Location for Bid: 11:00 am, Thursday, June 15, 2023

Sports & Exhibition Authority 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222

CITY OF PITTSBURGH

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

ADVERTISEMENT

Separate and sealed Bid Proposals will be received electronically starting on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 for:

2023-IFB-141 Steps & Stairs Repair/Replace/Renovate (CD)

Information on solicitations is available on the City of Pittsburgh website: http://purchasing.pittsburghpa.gov

Bid proposals are requested on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh. All bids must be submitted via the above website and all required documents must be provided or the bid proposal may be considered non-responsive.

The contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted construction contracts. The contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Attention is called to Executive Order 11246, to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, 12 U.S.C. 1701U, and to the Section 3 Clause and Regulations set forth in 24 CFR, Part 135.

The Contractor will be required to comply with the following laws, rules and regulations:

All provisions of US Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended by US Executive Order 11375 and as supplemented in US Department of Labor Regulations (41 CFR, Part 60), and of the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the US Secretary of Labor.

Contractor shall comply with all applicable standards, orders, or requirements issued of the Clean Air Act (42 USC 1857 et. seq.), Section 508 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1368), Executive Order 11738, and Environmental Protection Agency regulations (40 CFR, Part 15).

Contractor shall comply with the Davis-Bacon Act the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a to 276a-7) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR part 5)

Procedures for compliance to these acts shall be as follows:

All specifications for construction contracts and subcontracts will contain the prevailing wage rates (as enclosed in this bid package) as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276-a to 276-C-5) and provision that overtime compensation will be paid in accordance with the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act Regulations (29 CFR, Parts 5 and 1926). The contract provisions shall require that these standards be met.

Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity (Executive Order 11246):

Bidder’s attention is called to the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth in 41 CFR Public Contracts and Property Management Part 60-4.3 Equal Opportunity Clauses.

Goals for minority participation: 18%

Goals for female participation: 7%

These goals are applicable to all construction work (whether or not Federal or Federally-Assisted) performed in the “covered area.”

As used in this notice, and in the contract resulting from this solicitation, the “covered area” is Pittsburgh SMSA (Allegheny, Washington, Beaver and Westmoreland counties).

The contractor shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1988, as amended, Section 109 of the Community Development Act of 1974, with Executive Order 11625 (Minority Business Enterprise) and Executive Order 12138 (Women’s Business Enterprise).

The Proposers will be required to submit the package of certific ations included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity. Vendors submitting responses on federally funded projects must register on SAM.gov and provide proof of registration.

The City of Pittsburgh reserves the right to withhold the award of contract for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the opening of bids.

The City of Pittsburgh reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting Letters of Interest and Statements of Qualifications from Professional Companies who wish to be considered for the following:

Primary Sedimentation Tanks E-4 and E-5 Project (S-467)

ALCOSAN is seeking experienced firms to provide the Authority with Final Design Consulting Services for the Primary Sedimentation Tanks E-4 and E-5 Project. This procurement is described in greater detail in the RFQ located at https://www.alcosan.org/workwith-us/planned-and-activebids.

An informational meeting will be held June 7, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in the ALCOSAN Operations and Maintenance Building, Auditorium at 3300 Preble Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233. The information meeting is not mandatory; however, attendance is strongly encouraged. For those interested, a site visit will follow the meeting; appropriate PPE is required. Consultants should park in the prison parking lot and walk to the plant.

Eight (8) hard copies of sealed Submittals and one (1) electronic copy, on a flash drive are required to be submitted to the ALCOSAN Procurement Officer no later than 2:00 PM (EST) on June 23, 2023 Late submittals will not be considered. ALCOSAN intends to award the services to one firm to perform these services.

Allegheny County Sanitary Authority

3300 Preble Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15233

Attention: Suzanne Thomas, Procurement Officer procurement@alcosan.org

All questions shall be submitted, in writing, to Ms. Thomas.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities, disadvantaged and women’s business enterprises to submit qualification 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 Women Business Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN website at www.alcosan.org.

Kimberly Kennedy, PE Director of Engineering and Construction

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting Letters of Interest and Statements of Qualifications from Professional Companies who wish to be considered for the following:

UNDERGROUND UTILITY LOCATING SERVICES

The Allegheny County Sewer Authority (ALCOSAN) is seeking proposals, through this solicitation (RFQ), from qualified utility locating companies to provide underground utility locating services for our sewer infrastructure and provide expertise when and where required. This procurement is described in greater detail in the RFQ located at https:// www.alcosan.org/work-with-us/ planned-and-active-bids.

Electronic Statements of Qualifications shall be submitted via email to the ALCOSAN Procurement Officer no later than 2:00 PM (EST) on June 28, 2023. Late submittals will not be considered. ALCOSAN intends to award the services to one firm to perform these services.

Allegheny County Sanitary Authority 3300 Preble Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15233

Attention: Suzanne Thomas, Procurement Officer procurement@alcosan.org

All questions shall be submitted, in writing, to Ms. Thomas. ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities, disadvantaged and women’s business enterprises to submit qualification 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 Women Business Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN website at www.alcosan.org.

Michael Lichte, PE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL CONVEYANCE

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for All Purpose Tables as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Administrative Office, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Lucas Kistler- E-mail: lkistler@pittsburghcc.com, Telephone: 412-325-6179.

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: David L. Lawrence Convention Center Bid Package Name: All Purpose Tables Bid Package Available: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Inquiries Due Time/Date: 2:00 PM, Monday, June 5, 2023 Bids Due Time/Date/Location: 4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 20, 2023 David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222

ADVERTISEMENT

Edgewood Borough is accepting sealed bids through the Quest Construction Data Network (QuestCDN) at www.questcdn.com until 11:00AM June 9, 2023 for its

1) 2023 ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM and 2) BRICK AND CONCRETE ROADWAY SPOT REPAIRS. Virtual Bid Openings at 11:00AM June 9, 2023-link provided to plan holders. 1. Scope of work generally consists of 6,500 square yards of roadway milling and profiling; 2½” Superpave WMA binder course; 1½” Superpave WMA wearing course; concrete curb spot replacement; keyway milling; base repair; structure adjustments to grade; traffic control; line striping; add alternates for additional resurfacing; and all necessary appurtenances and restoration for said construction.

2. Scope of work generally consists of approximately 400 square yards of spot brick and concrete roadway repairs as directed, Alternates for additional square yardage, and all necessary appurtenances for said construction on various Borough roadways. 10% Bid Bond required with bid. Subject to Steel Products Procurement Act; Prevailing Wage Act; Public Works Employment Verification Act; Civil Rights Act (Title VI). Bidders must buy Bid Documents ($100.00) from QuestCDN: project numbers 8508631 (asphalt) and 8510750 (brick/concrete). QuestCDN questions call 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com. Direct project technical questions to LSSE. Proposals must be submitted on Borough supplied forms. Borough Council may consider bids at its regular public meeting on June 20, 2023 at 7:30 PM in council chambers at 2 Race Street, PGH PA 15218.

NOTICE At its public meeting on June 6 2023, at 7 p.m., at 10 Community Park Dr., the Baldwin Twp. Board of Commissioners will consider enacting the following Amendments to the Township’s Code of Ordinances, titled and summarized as follows: (1) An Ordinance Amending Ch. 13, Transient Retail Merchants, to Provide Rules and Regulations for Establishing and Maintaining a Resident “No Solicitation”/“Do Not Knock” List, and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof; and (2) An Ordinance Amending Ch. 7, Fire Prevention and Fire Protection, to Add a new Ch. 7, Part II, Fire Code, Adopting The “ICC 2018 International Fire Code” with such Revisions as Noted herein, Establishing Minimum Standards and Related Regulations Governing Fire Safety, Fire Protection and Fire Prevention Systems and Other Requirements with regard to the Use and Occupancy of Buildings and Premises. The proposed ordinances may be examined during normal business hours at the Township Bldg. or at the office of this newspaper.

Nina Belcastro, Township Manager

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER & GAP FINANCING PROGRAM

2023

RFP #600-17-23

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

Project-Based Voucher & Gap Financing Program 2023

RFP documents will be available on or about May 14th, 2023. Copies of RFP documents are not available for in-person pickup. Firms interested in responding may obtain a copy of the RFP documents from the Business Opportunities Section of the HACP Website, www.hacp.org. Prospective Offerors may register as a vendor on the website and download the documents free of charge. A pre-submission meeting via audio conference will be held via Zoom on May 25, 2023 at 10:00 A.M.: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/87362712940?pwd=ckVhb WdXK21GM2JIMzJhR1BqOEcxdz09

Meeting ID: 873 6271 2940 Passcode: 968428 Call-In: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

The deadline for final submission of written questions is June 1, 2023 at 10:00 A.M.

The deadline for submission of proposals is June 15, 2023 at 10:00A.M. Proposals must be sent to:

Mr. Kim Detrick –Procurement Director/ Chief Contracting Officer Procurement Department, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1116

The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners will consider adoption of the following ordinance at a public meeting to be held on the 12th day of June 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania. The complete text of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected in the Office of the Township Secretary at the aforesaid Municipal Building during normal business hours. The title and a summary of the ordinance is as follows.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE #1116

TITLE

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ESTABLISHING, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 2, SUBSECTION (B) (IV) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSTITUTION AND THE NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION LOCAL TAX ABATEMENT ACT, ACT 202 OF 1986, 72 P.S. SECTION 4754-1, ET SEQ., A REAL ESTATE TAX ABATEMENT SCHEDULED FOR NEW HOME CONSTRUCITON UPON UNIMPROVED REAL ESTATE.

SUMMARY The Ordinance provides a 2 year, 100% abatement on the assessed value of improvements in the Heritage Heights Planned Residential Development.

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 of 10:00 AM on June 15, 2023. Proposals may still be submitted electronically at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/ request/2ULihBy75xJac9zmnGus and can still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies Lobby, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION.

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.

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 134

THE WILKINS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC MEETING

The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners shall hold a public meeting on Monday, June 12, 2023 at the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Turtle Creek, PA 15145 beginning at 6:45 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comments on Proposed Ordnance Number 1116, which provides a 2-year, 100% abatement of the assessed value of improvements for the Heritage Heights Planned Residential Development. All interested persons are welcome to attend and speak publicly. A copy of the ordinance amendment will be available on the Township website https://www.wilkinstownship.com by close of business, Friday, June 9, 2023. Virtual access to the public meeting is available through Zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/89338598308

LEGAL

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY

OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR INVESTMENT ADVISOR SERVICES

RFP#150-20-23

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

The documents will be available no later than May 14, 2023, and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until: 11:00 AM on June 6, 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 11:00 AM on June 6, 2023 in the lobby of 412 Blvd of the Allies 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 412 Blvd. of the Allies 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:

Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2915

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on May 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 826 7234 1008

Passcode: 681112

+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

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.

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

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 134

E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com

Deadline/Closing/Cancellation

Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

NOTICE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Notice is hereby given to the following persons, their heirs, successors or assigns, and to all persons whatsoever, that the City of Pittsburgh, by John Miller, Assistant City Solicitor, 328 City County Building has petitioned the Court of Orders quieting title to the following tax acquired real estate, pursuant to Act No. 171, approved December 11, 1984.

GD –2023-005651 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Joseph Gordon; Hattie Gordon; Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County; Jordan Tax Service; Allegheny County Criminal Division; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 21st Ward, Pittsburgh. 1318 Warner Street. Lot 25 X 40 Adams Street. Block & Lot 22-F-143. Subject to all roads, public or private, affecting the premises. Expecting and reserving that portion of the premises lying in and along the roadbed(s); subject to public and private rights thereon. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005654 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs James Augustine; Jacquelyn Aymar; Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 21st Ward, Pittsburgh. 1119 Island Avenue. Langworthy Plan 1. Lot 23.65 x 67.125 Island Avenue. Block & Lot 45-P-73-A. All roads public and private affecting promises and the rights of others therein. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005655

CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Howard Wunderlin; Rose Emma Meredith; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 24th Ward, Pittsburgh. 1544 Rhine St.; 24, Lot 22 x avg. 118.75 Rhine St. Block & Lot 47-R-48. Easements, or claims of easements, not shown by the Public Records. Title to that part of the premises lying in the bed and right of way of all roads, driveways and alleyways is subject to public and private rights therein. Easement for access as set forth in Deed Book Volume 2110, Page 438. Subject to the proportionate part of the expense for keeping same in good order, condition and repair at all times hereafter forever.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005656

CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation; National Tax Funding

L.P.; Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 25th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brightridge Street. Lot 14.62 x 51.5 Brightridge Street. Rights or claims of parties in possession not shown by the public records.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005661

CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs James Augustine; Jacquelyn Aymar; Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

1117 Island Avenue. Sweeney Plan 62-Part 63.

21st Ward, Pittsburgh.

Lot 24.35 x 134.24 (3268 SF) Island Avenue. Block & Lot 45-P-73. All roads public and private affecting promises and the rights of others therein. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005662

CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Albenous Allen; Sonia Allen; Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County; Capital One Bank (USA) NA; Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Division; National Tax Funding L.P.; Allegheny County Criminal Division; Pennsylvania Attorney General; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 10th Ward, Pittsburgh.

0 Schenley Ave Schenley View Plan 303 Lot 20X150 Schenley Av bet Pacific Av & Columbo. Easements, or claims of easements, not shown on public records. All roads public and private affecting the premises and the rights of others therein. Easements, or claims of easements, not shown on public records. All roads public and private affecting the premises and the rights of others therein. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005665

CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Michael Herman; Anna Herman; Pennsylvania Department of Revenue; Pennsylvania Attorney General; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 32nd Ward, Pittsburgh. 1309 Bellaire Place. East Brookline Plan 2020 Lot 30 X 110 Bellaire Place. Easements, or claims of easements, not shown on public records. Subject to all matters shown on the Plan as recorded in the Recorder’s Office of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Plan Book Vol. 8, Page 265. All roads public and private affecting the premises and the rights of others therein. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

GD –2023-005667 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Christopher Cox; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. 521 Sylvania Avenue. McLain & Maple Plan 467. Lot 25 x 127.5 Sylvania Avenue. Block & Lot 14-J-194. All roads public and private affecting premises and the rights of others therein. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

WHEREUPON the Court granted a rule on the aforesaid persons, and all persons, whatsoever, to appear and show cause within thirty days from this notice why the title of the CITY OF PITTSBURGH to the aforesaid real estate should not be adjudicated and decreed valid and indefeasible as against all mortgages, ground-rents, rights, title, interest in or claims against the aforesaid real estate, and to further show cause why the sale of the said real estate should not be made free and clear of all the aforesaid claims whatsoever.

JOHN MILLER ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR CITY OF PITTSBURGH

928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Estate of GILBERT J. AUGUSTINE, deceased, of Upper St. Clair, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-23-03206 . Joseph S. Augustine, Administrator, 707 Locust Street, Apt.A, Bridgeville, PA 15017 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of RICHARD S. GOLDSTEIN, deceased, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-23-03206. Laura Leedham, Administrator, 11911 Barnee Valley Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, ATTY; BREN LOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

MICHAEL H. PATTERSON, deceased, of Penn Hills, No. 3204 of 2023. Petition to Determine Title filed by Tamara Morant, 571 Grove Rd, Verona, PA 15147, Peter B. Lewis, Counsel, Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222

ETHEL HENDERSON, deceased, of Braddock, No. 3814 of 2016. Petition to Determine Title filed by Kevin Henderson, 525 1/2 6th St, Braddock, PA 15104. Peter B. Lewis, Counsel, Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Orphans Court Division, Estate of Clifford L. Gandy, Sr., deceased, Case No. 3432 of 2023: Notice is hereby given that on May 5, 2023, a Petition was filed by Darlene Gandy, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Clifford L. Gandy, Sr., deceased, in the real estate located at 1614 Maplewood Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15221, and determine that fee simple title is in the Petitioner. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that title is in Petitioner. Irene M. Clark, Esq. 8908 Upland Ter Pittsburgh PA 15235

JOHN D. CRAWSHAW, deceased, of Carnegie, No. 6756 of 2022. Margaret L. Crawshaw, appointed Executrix by Order dated October 18, 2022. Peter B. Lewis Counsel., Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222,

Estate of ROSIE GADDIE, deceased, of Pittsburgh, No. 022303235. Aja Gaddie, appointed Administrator on April 28, 2023. Quinntarra Morant, Counsel, Morant Law Offices, 500 Regis Ave. Unit 10946, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

Estate of CLIFTON STERLING MCKENZIE, JR. deceased, of Pittsburgh, No. 022208212. Nya McKenzie, appointed Administrator on December 27, 2022. Quinntarra Morant, Counsel, Ebony Law 606 Liberty Avenue Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, PA, Orphans Court Division, Estate of DOROTHY HILL, deceased, No. 02-23-3290 Notice: Petition filed April 28, 2023 by Roderick Hill to terminate interests of heirs and devisees of Dorothy Hill in real estate at 524 Roberts St, Pittsburgh (3’d Ward), PA, 15219 (Parcel No. 2-D-17) and

ASSISTANT MANAGER – LRT SYSTEMS AND POWER

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking an Assistant Manager –LRT Systems and Power to manage the planning and scheduling of all Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) LRT Systems and Power Department work and provide technical assistance that supports the repair and maintenance of its sub-systems (substations, overhead catenary system, Signals and Communications). Also, responsible to oversee personnel supporting other internal departments, contractors and capital projects. Oversees the Power and LRT Systems Department in the absence of the Manager of LRT Systems and Power.

Essential Functions:

• Oversees activities of supervisory and maintenance personnel associated with maintaining the PRT’s substations, overhead, signals and communications -electronic systems. Provides technical assistance/instructions as required, maintains employee records for supervisors, provides constructive feedback on performance to supervisors and initiates or assists in enforcing the PRT’s policies and procedures including the performance code. Oversees the Power and LRT Systems Department in the absence of the Manager of LRT Systems and Power.

• Through others, maintains all operational structures at a high status of readiness and supplies immediate repair support under any emergency conditions.

• Coordinates and oversees the training and qualification of supervisors and hourly employees on the use of related equipment, proper maintenance and repair procedures, and ensures work safety on jobs.

Job requirements include:

• High School Diploma or GED.

• Associates Degree or Technical Degree in Electrical or Electronics, Engineering or directly related field from an accredited school. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

• Three (3) years’ work experience in any one or more of the following disciplines: electronics, electronic engineering technology, electrical or electrical engineering or communications systems.

• Minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience.

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

Preferred attributes:

• BA/BS Degree in related fields from an accredited school.

• Work experience in any of the following: railroad signaling, substations, overhead line work or high voltage. •Supervisory experience in two or more LRT System disciplines (traction power, overhead, signals or communications).

• Project Management Experience.

FICTITIOUS NAME Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Name Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitiuous name was filled with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of HAPPY GO POOCHIE with its principal office or place of business at 2448 Brandit School Rd, Wexford, PA 15090. The name and address, including street and number, if any, of all persons who are parties to the registration are Nicole Podrat, 2448 Brandt School Rd, Wexford, PA 15090

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR MANCHESTER BIDWELL CORPORATION

Organizes annual giving and donor initiatives, manages donor database, participates in the cultivation and solicitation of donors, and provides general operational or strategic support. Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of development experience required. Proficiency with MS Office applications required. Experience with Salsa or other fundraising database software preferred. Send Resume with cover letter and salary requirements to resumes@manchesterbidwell.org

EOE

Branding Brand Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has work-athome Development Manager position (w/ability to telecommute w/approp. telecommuting sys.) to be responsible for leading the dvlpmnt of mobile apps. Apply at www.brandingbrand.com.

Branding Brand Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA has work-athome Development Manager II position (w/ability to telecommute w/approp. telecommuting sys.) to be responsible for leading the dvlpment of mobile apps. Apply at www.brandingbrand.com.

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

Joe Sekely Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 JSekely@RidePRT.org

EOE