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‘One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show’ Play begins May 27. Story, Page A6.

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 113 No. 21 Two Sections

MAY 25-31, 2022

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DEMOCRATS IN THE 12TH DISTRICT HAVE SPOKEN

SUMMER LEE REIGNS SUPREME Overcomes ferocious attack ad campaign, defeats Steve Irwin; One step closer to U.S. Congress

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

In the weeks leading up to the May 17 Primary Election in Pennsylvania, Summer Lee was on TV in Pittsburgh more than Dr. Phil, Attorney Edgar Snyder, and WTAE-TV’s Andrew Stockey—combined.

Now that’s saying something.

But it wasn’t Representative Lee’s choice. A “Super PAC (Political Action Committee)” and others committed millions of dollars in ads attacking her. The ads depicted Rep. Lee as a person unfit to be a Congresswoman, a person who despises her own Democratic Party, a person who is “anti-Israel.”

It was an all-out onslaught that reached the local radio airwaves, too, as KDKA Radio listeners can

attest.

But on Election Night, as the votes trickled in, it became apparent just after midnight that, in Rep. Lee’s words, “the power of the people is always greater than the people in power.”

Representative Lee was leading fellow Democrat Steve Irwin by less than 600 votes, less than 0.5 percent of the total vote, but the remaining votes left to count were from precincts in Allegheny County, where Rep. Lee was dominating Irwin.

“We believe that every vote counts,” Mayor Ed Gainey, a longtime supporter of Rep. Lee, said on stage at Rep. Lee’s Election Night Watch Party at Emerald City PGH, Downtown. “But we know the SEE LEE A4

STATE REP. SUMMER LEE, at her election watch party, May 17, at Emerald City PGH, Downtown PIttsburgh. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)

A BIG DEAL FOR PITTSBURGH’S BLACK BUSINESSES

Comcast offering 100 small businesses in Allegheny County $10,000 each Black-owned businesses encouraged to apply

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Starting June 1, Blackowned businesses in Allegheny County will be chomping at the bit to get a piece of the $1 million being awarded in totality by the Comcast RISE Investment Fund.

Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” was formed to give small businesses owned by people of color, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, the grants needed to not just survive, but thrive. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide. Thus, the $1 million award is open to small businesses owned

by women and people of color, including African Americans. One hundred small businesses will be chosen in Allegheny County, each receiving $10,000.

“When we launched Comcast RISE, we knew a profound need existed in many of the communities we serve,” said Toni Murphy, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Keystone Region. Murphy is also a former New Pittsburgh Courier “Women of Excellence” honoree. “We now have seen firsthand how the program’s marketing and technology resources benefit the business owners who are working hard to rise above 2020, as well as their neighbors who share their commercial corridors, and their suppliers and customers up and down their resource chains. (The) announce-

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PITTSBURGH COUNCILMAN REV. RICKY BURGESS

ment takes Comcast’s commitment to the Pittsburgh community to yet another level.”

“Resources like those announced from Comcast will ensure that 100 businesses that exist today will not only continue to exist tomorrow but also have the runway to thrive,” said Pittsburgh City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess, in a statement. “Pittsburgh is going to keep doing everything we can to support small businesses and emerge stronger, and the partnership and generosity of Comcast in supporting community needs is to be commended.”

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that the number of Blackowned businesses with employees increased more than 30 percent from 2002 to 2017. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, it crushed Black businesses to the tune of 40 percent of them shutting down between February and April 2020.

Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020

by a White police officer which was broadcasted to the world online, companies across the U.S. began to question whether they had been doing enough to hire African Americans, promote African Americans, and support African American-owned businesses.

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund began in April 2021, initially providing $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit. In September 2021, $6 million in grants were awarded to businesses in Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Washington, D.C. Now, it’s Allegheny County’s turn.

“As we continue to move towards some sense of normalcy following the pandemic, we know that there are ongoing challenges for small business owners. This investment

by Comcast in our small SEE RISE A3

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NATIONAL

MAY 25-31, 2022

All-Black New Orleans graduating class earns $9.2 million in scholarships with 100 percent acceptance rate

This Week In Black History

A Courier Staple • MAY 25

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

New Orleans’ St. Augustine High School, which accomplished many firsts for African Americans during the 1950s and 1960s, again enjoyed a historical moment for its 2022 graduating class.

The entire graduating class at the all-boys college preparatory school received acceptance to college, earning more than $9.2 million in scholarship offers.

As noted on the Black excellence blog, Because of Them We Can, one of the mothers of a St. Augustine graduate, Twitter user @ Kay_Jeaux, took to the social media platform to share a clip of the class of 2022 as they celebrated graduation in cap and gown alongside a second line band.

Captioned under the clip

were a few receipts for the graduating class.

“It’s late, but I don’t care.

The world deserves to see this Black boy joy. Congratulations to THE St. Augustine High School class of 2022. 100% college acceptance. $9.2M in scholarships.

Straight out of the 7th ward of New Orleans,” Jeaux tweeted.

The blog pointed out that the post sparked widespread praise for the graduating class, having been viewed already more than 300,000 times.

According to the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, the Seventh Ward, where St. Augustine High School sits, was once considered the quintessential Creole neighborhood in New Orleans.

“Many educated and accomplished people of color lived here before the Civil

War and throughout the time when Jim Crow laws were in effect,” data center officials reported.

After desegregation, the city built the I-10 interstate right over the Claiborne neutral ground, destroying the 7th Ward’s prosperous business district in the process, the officials added.

“Take note, America,” Twitter user Kim M. Carpenter declared.

“Here is what happens when a community comes together and loves their children.”

Added Hannah White, another Twitter user: “This just made my whole day! Those young men battled hard to do so very well and now they can celebrate. #NewOrleans celebrates you! Congrats to the Class of 2022.”

Birmingham school under fire after worksheet compares Barack Obama to monkeys

by Cherranda Smith Black Information Network

A private school in metro Detroit is facing backlash after it assigned a worksheet that compared former President Barack Obama to monkeys.

Earlier this month, a high school biology class at The Roeper School in Birmingham was asked to identify “endangered” primate species. The former president’s photo was among the photos of primates listed on the assignment, which was entitled “An Introduction to Primates.”

Roeper is the nation’s oldest K-12 school for gifted children, according to FOX 2 News in Detroit. The outlet obtained a photo of the assignment from someone in

the school’s community who was flabbergasted by the racist assignment. According to the local news station, the worksheet came from a teacher.

“We are aware of the lesson taught and continue to review the incident,” a spokesperson for the school said in a statement Tuesday (May 17). “We are not providing additional information out of

respect for the privacy of our community members.”

FOX 2 News also obtained a letter sent to parents that attempted to explain the worksheet. The school claimed the assignment was taken from “a highly regarded university” website before being assigned to the high schoolers.

“On behalf of Roeper’s School Leadership, I would like to acknowledge the disturbing racial offense contained in this worksheet and sincerely regret its use and the harm it has caused,” the letter reads in part. According to the letter, the teacher took responsibility for the assignment and admitted to not properly vetting its source –– which remains unnamed.

Students impacted by the worksheet are being offered counseling services and the school has vowed additional racial bias training for the classroom.

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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 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.

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.

• MAY 31

1870—Congress passes the first Enforcement Act providing stiff punishment for both private citizens and public officials who conspired to deprive the recently freed slaves of either their civil rights or their right to vote. The Act was in response to the old plantation aristocracy and the defeated rebel soldiers who were taking control of Southern governments and enacting “Black Codes” aimed at the suppression of Black freedoms and voting rights. The Act was also in response to the growing power of White terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.

1921—The infamous and bloody Tulsa (Oklahoma) Riots begin. Whites go on a violent rampage lasting several days. When the rioting was over, an estimated 21 Whites and 60 Blacks were dead. In addition, as many as 15,000 Blacks were left homeless as hundreds of homes and businesses were burned to the ground. The area bearing the brunt of the destruction was known as the “Black Wall Street” because of its large number of African American owned businesses. As recently as 2007, Detroit Congressman John Conyers was working on legislation designed to give the few remaining Black survivors of the rioting additional time to sue in order to recover some of their loses. The rioting was reportedly sparked by a false claim from a White female elevator operator of being assaulted by a Black man. But White jealousy of Black success in the Tulsa area may have also played a major role.

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

HISTORY

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MAY 25-31, 2022

A3

AFRICAN AMERICANS WIN BIG ON PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT

IT’S TRULY AERION ABNEY’S TIME. The North Side resident doubled the vote total of challenger Rev. Glenn Grayson Sr. and won the DemLA’TASHA MAYES SAID SHE WOULD DO IT, AND SHE DID. Her sup- ocratic nomination for the 19th state House district, formerly occupied porters brought her over the finish line first and she won the Demo- by Jake Wheatley. cratic nomination for the 24th state House district, formerly occupied

by Mayor Ed Gainey. She defeated Martell Covington and Randall Taylor, among others.

Comcast offering 100 small businesses in Allegheny County $10,000 each RISE FROM A1

businesses supports their efforts, providing inclusive opportunities to further grow their companies with valuable and practical support and access to capital that may not readily be available,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, in a statement. “We are fortunate to have corporations like Comcast who join our commitment to providing

inclusive opportunities and thank them for their continued investment in our community.”

A listing of many of the Black businesses in Pittsburgh can be found online at cocoapreneur.com, run

by Khamil Bailey, and the Instagram page BlackOwnedPGH, run by Kyley C. To apply for the Comcast RISE grant, visit www. comcastrise.com.

AUSTIN DAVIS SEEMS TO SHINE WHEREVER HE GOES. He easily won the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Pa. Now he’ll pair with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro for the 1-2 punch for Gov./Lt. Gov.

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METRO

MAY 25-31, 2022

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SUMMER LEE REIGNS SUPREME

MAYOR ED GAINEY, REP. SUMMER LEE, AT THE SUMMER LEE ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY, MAY 17 (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)

LEE FROM A1

votes that’s left are ours.”

That turned out to be true. Though it took a few days, the Associated Press finally called the race for the Democratic nomination for the 12th U.S. Congressional District for Summer Lee. She’s now poised to make history as the first Black

Congresswoman from Pennsylvania elected to U.S. Congress, if she defeats rookie Republican challenger Mike Doyle in November. Democrats are expected to take the seat.

“I believe in Summer Lee,” Mayor Gainey proclaimed. “We got a Congresswoman tonight. We know we have one who

will fight for each and every one of you. We know we have one that is a leader, that stood up in the face of adversity of $3 million (in attack ads) and proclaimed, ‘I have three million people as an army to come out here and show you the power of the people.’”

“I want to congratulate Summer Lee for winning

the Democratic nomination for Congress in PA12,” wrote Irwin on Friday, May 20, exactly two hours after the AP had called the race for Rep. Lee at 6:14 p.m. “She ran a formidable campaign, one that reflected her determination to make progress for people and give a voice to the voiceless. She will be an outstanding member of Congress and an inspirational leader for our region.”

For all intents and purposes, Rep. Lee and her team, along with those in attendance at her party, proclaimed her the winner on Election Night.

“Some people said we shouldn’t be here, even though we absolutely should be here,” Rep. Lee, who technically is still the representative for the 34th House District (representing parts of the Mon Valley), said on stage. “We started this five years ago when we decided that we could, here in Western Pennsylvania, build a movement that centers each and every one of us. That we could get rid of the politics of old that says Black people and brown people and women and progressives....don’t belong here.

These are our seats, and all we had to do is go and take them.”

Currently, there are three Black U.S. Senators (Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Raphael G. Warnock, D-G.A.) and 58 Black members of the U.S. House of Represen-

tatives, which includes Dwight Evans, a Democrat from Pennsylvania.

There are 100 total Senators and 435 total members of the U.S. House, equaling 535. Each state has its own Senators and House members that don’t vote on legislation on Capitol Hill, in D.C. A lot of the numbers of African Americans in the U.S. House could change following the November General Election, but Rep. Lee stands a nearlock to become a member of the U.S. Congress.

“We had people who joined our movement from all over the country because they knew that we were out here in Western Pennsylvania fighting for the future of this whole country,” Rep. Lee said. “Fighting for the future of this party.”

The race was so closely watched across the nation that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders came to the region a week before the election to endorse and support Rep. Lee. The more progressive-leaning U.S. House members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vehemently supported the 34-year-old Black woman from North Braddock, too.

“They knew that if we won here in Western Pennsylvania, then ‘they’ would never be able to say that we can’t win on the battle for poor and working-class people,” Rep. Lee shouted. “That we can’t win on clean air and clean water. That we

can’t win on Medicare for everybody. That we can’t win on a quality education for every single child. That Black women can’t win.

“We showed ‘them’ throughout that when we build coalitions, when we build a multi-racial, multi-generational movement, of people of all religions, all genders, all races, all ages; when we come together, we can’t be stopped.”

After her speech, Rep. Lee told the New Pittsburgh Courier that she “never watched the TV,” when asked about all of the attack ads.

“You can throw money at anybody all day, but when you have the people, you cannot stop that, you can’t just throw that aside,” Rep. Lee told the Courier. “What we saw today is that the people’s movement prevailed, the people’s movement is strong....it’s a message to our party, to our region, to our nation that poor and working-class people are ready for change.

We’re ready to be represented, we’re ready to push our government and our institutions to be more reflective.

We’re ready to fight back against all of those interests that don’t serve us.

We rose to the occasion.”

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MAY 25-31, 2022

A5

‘Ace’ Pippens provides the steady leadership in Yellow Jackets’ national championship victory ABA team based in Allentown given parade in Downtown Pittsburgh

by Thomas Leturgey For New Pittsburgh Courier

Assistant Coach Clyde Manns told Averill “Ace” Pippens, owner and head coach of Pittsburgh’s Steel City Yellow Jackets, that he would “get out of that wheelchair” when the team won its first American Basketball Association (ABA) championship.

At the conclusion of last month’s emotional championship win over Stockton, California’s “Team Trouble,” Manns raced over to his friend of 20 years and pulled him up for a poignant, tear-charged hug.

Pippens, who was shot five times in 1994 in St. Clair Village by the ex-boyfriend of a girl Pippens was with, has been in a wheelchair ever since. But that hasn’t stopped him from inspiring teams of aspiring hoop stars.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets have played in a variety of locations around town since its inception in 2014. The team—part of a “new” ABA that features fast-paced, high-scoring action with one-of-a-kind “3D” baskets that can register four-points on one shot from beyond the three-point line, began 22 years ago.

The Yellow Jackets have been playing at “A Giving Heart Community Center,” the former Bishop Leonard Gymnasium in Allentown on the South Side, for four seasons.

For all eight seasons of the Yellow Jackets, Antonio “Tone” Reddic Sr. and Gilmore Cummings have led the squad. More recently, the co-captains wondered about their professional basketball “legacies.” With a renewed vigor, they played extraordinarily all season.

Early individual records away from Pittsburgh are sketchy, but Pippens said that Reddic—who was the Yellow Jackets’ All-Star representative this year– has scored “over 2,500 points” in his tenure and Cummings is “at about 2,000.”

Both sharpshooters, Cummings is a three-point specialist at guard, and Reddic, a hybrid guard/forward with a nose for where the ball is at all times, were indispensable to the team’s success.

Pippens said this year’s team had been designed with one goal: to defeat the Jacksonville Giants.

Florida’s export went into the Top 8 tournament as the five-time defending

champions and seven-time overall ABA champions.

The Yellow Jackets succumbed to the Giants in last season’s tournament and although Pittsburgh’s team didn’t take the loss personally, they used that game as incentive.

The Yellow Jackets ran an impressive, undefeated streak for most of this season. Primarily playing Saturdays and Sundays, the team frequently hosted “doubleheaders” that saw Pippens’ team play hard Saturday night and then turn around for a matinee on Sunday.

When asked about Pippens, ABA President Joe Newman simply said, “He’s quite a guy.”

On the court, Reddic and Cummings were joined by Brandon Franklin, Claude Scott Jr., Jason Arrington Sr. and Justin Hamilton.

The team lost its first game of the season in Baltimore when the 6’9” center, Hamilton, left the team for work reasons. He returned for the playoffs, struggled early, but then practiced free throws 90 minutes before the championship game to strengthen his game.

Late in the schedule, former standout and starter Kenny Holmes returned to the club. Holmes, who plays basketball anywhere he can, was playing for an ABA squad in Newfoundland, Canada, when COVID-19 struck hard in January. He and others were forced to stay north of the border until details were ironed out.

Two weeks later, the ABA season there shuddered.

Holmes immediately looked to Cummings and Reddic for guidance. They wanted their “Agent Zero” (the number he’s worn on his jersey since high school) back. His first time out, Holmes scored 42 off the bench for the Steel City Yellow Jackets.

With Hamilton (temporarily) out of the mix, Pippens signed center Brandon Burnett, a 6’10” veteran, who, like Holmes, has played in Spain and other countries. Burnett helped spell forwards Arrington, Scott and Reddic.

Reddic’s strong rebounding game meant he frequently got knocked to the floor and each time it took him longer to get up.

Others played key roles for the Yellow Jackets, including the fiery twins Tim and James Jackson, whose excitable play contributed greatly throughout the season. James Jackson rebounded from a late-sea-

ACE PIPPENS CELEBRATES WITH HIS YELLOW JACKETS...

son ankle injury to play hard in the finals. Fellow talented guard Brandon Franklin also injured an ankle around the same time as Jackson, but he wasn’t able to contribute in a post-regular-season charity game or the final tournament. Leandre Evans, Etholion Vennie and fan-favorite Steven Vorum were among others who all helped the Yellow Jackets get to and win the championship.

Once the Yellow Jackets won the ABA regional championship in Pittsburgh, the No. 2-ranked Yellow Jackets were in line to face No. 7 Las Vegas.

They defeated Las Vegas in a heated and controversial affair that saw Pippens and Assistant Coach Mike Mott get more animated by the grueling minute. The final score was 139-133.

The very next day was the team’s anticipated showdown with arch-nemesis, the No. 3 Giants.

For many observers, this was the biggest game of the Final 8, and the Yellow Jackets were victorious, 127-122. The presumed champions, the dynasty, was defeated and the Yellow Jackets were elated.

But there was still one game left.

The finals were set and the Yellow Jackets were set to play “Team Trouble,” on April 23. Pittsburgh was better prepared early on, but saw an early 20-point lead evaporate.

In the final moments of the contest, held in Baltimore, Team Trouble lived up to its name by taking the lead. Timely shots by Claude Scott Jr. and two 3-pointers by Brandon Johnson pulled Pittsburgh back out in front. When the final buzzer rang out, Pippens’ team was on top,

WITH ACE PIPPENS HOLDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY, the Steel City Yellow Jackets are national champions.

123-118, and he was embraced by Manns. Holmes was named MVP. The City of Pittsburgh held a championship parade and proclamation for the Steel City Yellow Jackets on Thursday, May 19.

Mayor Ed Gainey was on hand, celebrating the first sports championship celebration for him as mayor.

Celebrating front-andcenter was “Ace” Pippens, riding through the streets of Pittsburgh, the city that’s “King of the ABA” in 2022. For Pippens, the Oliver High School graduate who was a star quadruple-threat athlete in football, basketball, baseball and track, he hopes this is the first of many celebrations to come for the Steel City Yellow Jackets.

THE PARADE FOR THE YELLOW JACKETS, DOWNTOWN

RELIGION/METRO

A6 MAY 25-31, 2022

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 11 AM Rev. Thomas J. Burke- Pastor Rev. C. Matthew HawkinsParochial Vicar Rev. David H. TaylorSenior Parochial Vicar.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

In the Black community, ‘One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show’ Latest offering from New Horizon Theater opens Friday, May 27

www.sbtmparishpgh.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800

Worship in person or Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship..........8:45am Sanctuary Worship.......11:00 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7:00 p.m.

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Is there a difference between working-class and middle-class African Americans? Or, better yet, the “blue collar” and the “bougie?”

What happens when you put “love” in the mix?

It’s a dynamic that director Eileen Morris is going to tackle in “One Monkey Don’t Stop No

is not necessarily in the family dynamic.”

Pittsburghers might be able to relate. The “Sugar Top” was always known as the part of the Hill District where Black professionals resided.

Organizations like Jack and Jill of America and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Links come to mind when speaking of African Americans in at least the middle class, of-

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier. com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT!

EILEEN MORRIS, director of “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” for New Horizon Theater. Morris is also the artistic director for The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Tex., one of the largest African American theaters in the world.

Show,” playing at the Carnegie Library of Homewood beginning Friday, May 27 through June 12. It plays Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at Dorsey’s in Homewood (Frankstown Avenue), www.brownpapertickets. com or by calling 412431-0773. The play is the final part of non-profit organization New Horizon Theater’s 30th season.

“It’s all about love and the different stages of love,” Morris told the New Pittsburgh Courier, May 20. “And how this family comes together to find love in various ways.

The son, Felix, falls in love with someone who

ten the upper-middle.

Morris told the Courier the play will bring in African Americans of all “classes.” It’s a funny depiction of the two “worlds” and how they interchange.

“Life doesn’t stop, you just keep going,” Morris said, referencing the play’s title. “Love makes the world go ‘round, it’s a beautiful thing, but it also has its comedic (side) and sadness and all of that. These people coming from different walks of life, falling in love and coming together.”

“Our audience enjoys comedies,” added Joyce Meggerson-Moore, Ph.D., chairperson of the New Horizon Theater Board of Directors, a position

vania, but also to encourshe’s had for roughly by Don Evans.

In December 2021, the age growth within those 25 years. Dr. Meggerorgani- organizations and colson-Moore has been in- philanthropic volved with New Hori- zation The Heinz En- laboration among them,” zon Theater since “Day dowments (in collabo- Heinz Endowments for1,” when Elva Branson founded New Horizon Theater in 1992.

“It was Elva’s idea to come up with plays that would showcase community talent and plays,” Dr. Meggerson-Moore said. “I was one of the original members who helped to craft it and keep it moving.”

When people converge at the Carnegie Library of Homewood for this play, they’ll see familiar faces. The actors are based in the Pittsburgh region. Dr. Meggerson-Moore told the Courier, May 20, that showcasing local talent is paramount to New Horizon.

“Sometimes there are no other places for them to get showcased at the time, so the community gives them a great start,” she said. “Even if JOYCE MEGGERSON-MOORE, PH.D., chairperson of the Board of Directhey move up and move tors for New Horizon Theater. out of the area, they’ve always (received) a great start in the community.” ration with the POISE mer President Grant The Carnegie Library Foundation) awarded Oliphant said, in a stateof Homewood’s auditori- $5.4 million in grants to ment. “We are grateful um will be transformed “Cultural Treasures” in to be able to invest like into a “set,” and Dr. Meg- Pittsburgh. New Hori- this in the future of local gerson-Moore said that zon Theater was select- Black cultural organizasometimes, people don’t ed as a “Cultural Trea- tions and the amazing realize all of the work it sure,” and was awarded contributions they will takes to make a venue $250,000.

Pittsburgh continue making to our “play-friendly.”

Playwrights Theatre region.”

“We have to make all Company, led by another “We’re a presence in of these spaces the- African American, Mark the community and we’re ater-friendly, the design, Clayton Southers, was happy about that, too,” the lights, so it will be also awarded $250,000.

Dr. Meggerson-Moore a professional perfor“Pittsburgh’s Cultural told the Courier, “bemance,” she said. “We Treasures is a wonder- cause that’s what we’re make sure that the ac- ful opportunity not only here for—to try and tors are comfortable in to support and celebrate make sure that we’re their ‘dressing rooms.’ cultural organizations offering something the We’ve had more than 400 that offer so much to community can be proud people as crew members southwestern Pennsyl- about.” to serve with New Horizon Theater (over the years).”

New Horizon’s 30th Anniversary Season began last fall with “Kings of Harlem,” written and directed by Layon Gray, “de Moor” (also written and directed by Gray), “The Green Book” (written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey), an annual fundraiser featuring the R&B group The Manhattans (with Gerald Alston), and now, “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show,” originally written

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REV. WALKER SAYS: Spending Time with our Creator GOD in prayer, meditation on the Word, reading the WORD and fellowshipping with the Saints in Worship. Our God is Omnipresent; He is everywhere.

SPORTS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MAY 25-31, 2022

A7

‘Unfair’ market value

Pitt WR leaves program, causing quite a stir with ‘Yinzers In July 1892, a dispute between Carnegie Steel and the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers exploded into violence at a steel plant in Homestead.

It was one of the deadliest labor-management conflicts in the nation’s history because 12 people were killed when workers were striking for workplace rights.

From the beginning of the industrial revolution, Pittsburghers have shed blood, sweat, tears and more blood—fighting to earn a decent wage under decent conditions. However, it appeared that as long as the fight was for the common “Joe” working jobs that at times seemed as if the employment opportunity was located in the pit of hell, then the cry was always Bob Marley-esque screaming, “Get up, stand up, stand up for your right. Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight.”

I am one scribe that for the life of me, can’t figure out how the fervor and passion by one group of people for one platform of workers’ rights can morph into a venomous and emotionless discourse when it comes to honoring and respecting the lives and profession of another group of workers.

Remember during the Puritan era, if a man or a woman was found to have committed adultery, they were forced to wear a scarlet “A” stitched across their chest; then the Pittsburgh athletic fanatics of 2022 should be forced to wear double scar-

let double “HH” across their chest. The “HH” stands for hypocrites and haters. These members of the “A” club had to exhibit the result of their transgressions by sporting a big, fat “A.” The members of the “HH” club can hide their venom and bile-laced sputum under fake Internet “communication” accounts.

Take college and professional football as a prime example. The University of Pittsburgh men’s football squad rarely sells out home football games (except) for marquee matchups. However, the “HH club” will trash a player if that individual decides to enter the transfer portal to attend a more visible university. The “holistic hypocrites’” and haters should have their lips covered with super glue so they can’t discuss football with anyone and be hogtied so they can’t write about it.

As long as these young collegiate athletes make no money or have no power they are no competition for Joe or Josephine, the poor working stiffs that have to KO the clock everyday to pay the rent and put gas in the car. When Josephine and Joe barely make a living wage but college athletes

make nada, zilch, nothing for their services, those economic circumstances allow Joe and Josephine to appear to be superior. The volcano of anger of the “HH” club only erupts after a young athlete is rewarded for his collegiate labor by signing a lucrative professional contract.

Now the complaints of the malcontents jump the line to the forefront. They begin with: “Athletes make too much money, they are spoiled and they are compensated far too much just to throw, catch and run with a football.”

However, when business owners balk at paying some workers, a $15 minimum wage because out of 8 hours they take an hour for lunch, 2 15-minute snack breaks, 2 bathroom breaks and 2 “no one can find where they are breaks,” well can you see where I’m going?

The following question was posted on wired.com: “How fast do football players collide?” The answer was the following: “In the NFL, the average speed of a head-tohead impact—the velocity of both heads combined, is 20 mph with the struck player’s head decelerating 14 miles per hour.”

Imagine this; you are a cashier checking out a customer and unbeknownst to you, an out-of-control youngster is charging you from behind with a shopping cart on a collision course with the back of your knees. Do you still think that $15 an hour is adequate payment

PITT RECEIVER JORDAN ADDISON, right, is a Panther no more. The nation’s leading receiver last season decided to transfer to the University of Southern California for the upcoming season. Some reports suggested he left for a “Name, Image and Likeness” financial deal that college athletes can now receive from marketing and promotions opportunities. Colleges are still not allowed to pay athletes directly.

Addison is pictured with former Pitt receiver and future NFL Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald. for what you do? Get ready to put on your “HH” outfit. Talking about money?

Ask Ryan Shazier, Michael Irvin, Daunte Culpepper, Reggie Brown, Darryl Stingley, Sterling Sharpe, Steve Young, Rich Gannon, Terrell Davis, Gale Sayers, Chris Spielman, Mack Strong, Bo Jackson, Joe Theisman, Mike Utley, Kevin Everett.

All of their careers were ended prematurely by horrific and career-ending injuries.

The sportstar.com posted the following story about former Buffalo Bills standout, Kevin Everett. “Everett’s story is both devastat-

ing and remarkable. With a promising NFL career ahead of him, Everett suffered a severe spinal injury Week 1 of the 2007 season while trying to tackle a Broncos’ return man. His condition was deemed ‘life-threatening.’ Slowly, he was able to regain control of his limbs and after months of intense rehab, walked under his own power. Several surgeries later, Everett has had this to say about his injury. ‘I’m glad people still remember me. I wish they could remember me for making touchdowns and making big plays for the Bills, but they still remem-

ber me as a person and what I went through in my life.

So I very much appreciate that and I love every fan out there that supports me.’”

For all the haters, hypocrites and armchair quarterbacks residing in the ultra-fantasy Mister Rogers’ world of pretending as if they are rich, jet-setting gamblers playing around on DraftKings, please remember this: Players get paid swell because they take risks that many people are too afraid to take. None of us has the privilege to dictate the terms of another man’s value.

Smith, Carter, Payne usher in 2022 Connie Hawkins League HOF inductions, May 28 :10—The nationally and internationally recognized Connie Hawkins Pro-Am/ NCAA Summer Basketball League will present the 2022 Hall of Fame Class on Saturday, May 28, at noon at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville. The event is coupled with the 48th Annual Willie “Pops” Stargell MVP Awards recognizing those members of the community that represent the “We Are Fam-i-lee” credo as was established by the late, great Willie Stargell. :09—Connie Hawkins Inductees - Charles Smith (who will not be attending due to prior commitments but has accepted his induction) - Philadelphia 76ers, Ron Carter - LA Lakers, Ulice Payne - Detroit Pistons, Shawn Hawkins, Drew Bey, Jim Crawford, Jeff Singleton, Gil Cummings, Myron Hudson, Brice Flenory, Len “Houn” Johnson, Adam Kinsel, Bruce McClain, Andre Jones, Bill Boyce, Odell Miller, Edwin Peoples, Tim Walker and Lenny Pruitt. :08—Willie Stargell Inductees - Brice Flenory, James Watts, Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Chief Scott Schubert, Amirah Gibbons, Jerry Chippinelli, Guy Junker, Joy Bey, Monica Malik, Ulice Payne and Manny Sanguillen. :07—Once again, and as my partner and baseball purist Kevin Cameron says, we’ve been sold a large pot of fool’s gold, we’ve been hoodwinked, we’ve been bamboozled! Sorry, my bad, I slipped into Malcolm #1 - As you veteran baseball people know, pitching wins games. #2 - You also know that we get it and then give it away... and generally on Fridays when it’s pay day (huh).

That’s right, the intent is to get them to tease you for a moment with a live arm and then cash in or should I say cash out (huh). Don’t worry, this will be crystal clear to you tonight around midnight. :06—Coach Saban told the truth and truth be told if you want your Pitt and Duquesne men’s basketball teams to be as great as Gon-

zaga, Duke, North Carolina, UCLA and Michigan State... you have to do what they do to be great. What you say?

You know what, don’t feign naivete, yes you do! C’mon man, you know you know!!!

Alright, text me, I’ll welcome you to the real world of college athletics. Until then stop complaining, wake up and drink the Kool-Aid. :05—On a national level For all you Tom Brady ring finger-kissers, you want to proclaim him the Greatest of All-Time (GOAT), do it without the three Super Bowls

and somehow get Damian Lillard on board and it’s “Showtime” in LA again! I am just sayin’! —FYI—the HBO Lakers show, not all it’s cracked-up to be. I am just sayin’! :02—All together now— you have not watched 5

minutes of the new and still boring USFL, United States Football League. Feel better now? :01—Here’s the one you just can’t let go. It’s kind of like when you see J-Lo, Halle Berry, Selena Gomez or Scarlett Johansson and

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TO EXPORT CAMERA FOOTAGE RFP#350-12-22 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Professional Service to Export Camera Footage

they stole, just ask Troy Polamalu, a man as honest as the day is long about stolen championship games...and those are the ones we know about. I’ll take Terry Bradshaw all day, everyday —4 legitimate rings—2 Super Bowl MVPs—called his own plays—a cannon for an arm —and tough as ‘steel’!!! Now shut up about it. :04—OK, OK, OK...(Joe Pesci in “Lethal Weapon 2”)—(Do try and keep up) you want me to believe that Nikola Jokic is not only the NBA MVP last year but this year, too? No! He. Is. Not. More. Valuable. Than.

Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Ja Morant, Kevin Durant or Jayson Tatum. I don’t know what’s up with that whole thing but it’s something... I am just sayin’. :03—The record will tell I graduated in my class, not the top of my class. But even I can figure this out.

Hey Lakers! Bring Phil Jackson out of retirement, you know you want to, put “Magic” back at the conversation table, take LeBron away from the conversation, bring James Harden to the Best Coast to get his ring

The documents will be available no later than May 16, 2022 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until: 11:00 AM on June 7, 2022. 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 7, 2022 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on May 26, 2022 at 11:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 872 9873 5031 Passcode: 031091 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

you keep saying to yourself, “Why not me?” You and I both know that Colin Kaepernick is better than any backup QB in the NFL

and two-thirds of the starters. Text me, I can take it.

412-628-4856. :00—GAME OVER.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

ALLIES & ROSS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR HOME ENERGY RATING SYSTEM (HERS) RATER FOR THE MANCHESTER REDEVELOPMENT ARMDC RFP #2022-36-REBID The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation (ARMDC) hereby requests proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Professional Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater Services The documents will be available no later than May 16, 2022 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 a.m., June 9, 2022 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Responses may be hand-delivered or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the address below.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick Procurement Director/Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre-submission meeting via audio conference will be held via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88425346796?pwd=SDc2L3N wUEROdW0rVER1TVp2QzR2Zz09 Meeting ID: 884 2534 6796 Passcode: 131303 May 26, 2022 10:00 a.m.

The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation strongly encourage certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

ARMDC 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, President & CEO Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation ARMDC & HACP conduct 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.

A8 MAY 25-31, 2022

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

The systemic neglect of Black victims J. Pharoah Doss Page B4

MAY 25-31, 2022

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Classifieds

Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing B5-6

B

Costly auto repairs driving consumers into a financial ditch

by Charlene Crowell For New Pittsburgh Courier

New research reveals how costly car repairs are now ballooning into a new form of predatory lending.

And just like other forms of financial exploitation, consumers are feeling duped and deceived about related costs and the length of time it takes to pay off these bills.

Authored by Stop the Debt Trap, a multi-member consumer coalition, the report shares how national auto repair brands

well is essential to their daily economic life and to managing a family.”

Transportation Alliance Bank (TAB), one of a few rogue banks that lend their charters to help unscrupulous businesses evade state consumer lending laws, is the research report’s focus.

The report details how TAB operates with its financial partner, EasyPay Finance, a subsidiary of Duvera Billing Services.

Even in states that do not allow triple-digit interest rates, this financial alli-

Why the habit of saving is key to becoming financially healthier Staff Writer like AAMCO, Big O Tires, Grease Monkey, JiffyLube, Meineke, Midas and Precision Tune Auto Care, are steering people to a predatory lender that engages in a variety of questionable practices and charges up to 189 percent interest—even in states where triple-digit interest is illegal.

“A car repair can be a devastating expense, and financially fragile families don’t need predatory lenders amplifying the damage,” said Elyse Hicks, Consumer Policy Counsel at Americans for Financial Reform, a member organization with Stop the Debt Trap. “For most people, having a car that runs

ance is making high-cost loans through stores nationwide, including auto mechanics and furniture.

In other states, EasyPay extends credit directly in its own name, often as a retail installment sale.

EasyPay Finance’s website acknowledges its lending through TAB Bank in multiple states, many of which also have significant consumers of color: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, SEE FINANCIAL DITCH B2

Savings is a foundational piece to financial health since research has found that unexpected expenses, like car repairs, can become a hardship when people don’t have access to emergency savings funds.

“When it comes to saving, the most important thing to do is to simply to start. Whether it’s a $1 a day or a few every month, it is important to have a plan. Talking to someone with experience can help see things from a different perspective. One of my favorite conversations to have with customers is to know what they are saving for and helping them figure out how to get there,” said JPMorgan Chase’s Detroit Community Manager, Gail Taylor.

Here’s how you can build your own savings plan: Start Small. Starting with small goals will begin to lay the foundation for bigger ones even if building a safety net with just a dollar a day.

Once you build the habit, a dollar a day can turn into more as you begin to take notice of your spending habits and identify opportunities to minimize expenses and reallocate them towards your savings. Here is a free online calculator that can help you estimate your savings over time.

Remember that saving is personal: it depends on your own needs and financial situation.

Keep it Simple. When it comes to creating a budget, it’s ok to keep it simple. Dedicate a notebook or a section in your notes app to write down your monthly expenses and what is coming in vs. what’s going out.

A great way to get started is using tools like a budget worksheet, which has built-in calculations to help you track your spending and could help you find ways to save.

Set a Goal. What are you saving for? It could be a new phone, a car, a home. Whatever it is, focusing on a goal can help you stay motivated to build a plan to get there, like setting

up recurring savings, or considering changes to your day-to-day spending.

Get Tools to Help You. Choosing an FDIC-insured bank account can offer you financial safety, easy access to your funds, and helps you avoid check-cashing fees which can add up.

Many accounts offer mobile banking and automated tools to support your savings goals. Splitting your direct deposit and setting up automated transfers are some ways to save without having to think about it.

Look for Guidance. Engaging in conversations about money is a good way to get feedback, advice, and suggestions on your approach to savings.

No matter your goal, seeking advice can help you build skills, create a plan that can be adjusted along the way, and get help and support to achieve it. A great way to start a conversation is by reviewing your budget and savings goals with an expert.

Chase offers free resources to help kickstart your financial health journey at chase.com/financialgoals.

Financial guardrails to prevent you from falling off-course A guardrail is a rail that prevents people from falling off or being hit by something. Its primary purpose is to reduce the risk of a serious accident.

When my children were younger I used to take them bowling. Without fail they would throw gutterballs. A gutterball is a non scoring ball that enters the gutter before reaching the pins. When you throw a gutterball, the ball falls off course before striking a pin. In order to prevent them from throwing gutterballs, they’d use bumpers. The bumpers are rails placed on both sides of the bowling lanes.

It prevents your ball from falling into the gutter, thus increasing your chances of hitting the pins. Using bumpers, even if the ball hits a guardrail, it will put the ball back on course, allowing them to hit one or more of the targeted pins.

As adults, the pins in the game of bowling represent financial goals. The decisions we make in regards to spending our money represents the ball being thrown.

By implementing the financial guardrails, it will help us hit as many of our financial goals as possible.

Below are some Financial Guardrails to prevent your money, your goals and your dreams from falling into the gutter: Live below your means with a purpose: The cost of daily life is expensive.

It feels like it costs $100 just to go outside. Living below your means requires discipline, sacrifice, denying yourself, and delayed gratification. None of this is fun. It’s also counterculture. We live in a culture that spends everything they earn then borrow to the max to spend more.

Your purpose to save for your financial goals has to be more important than your desire to spend willy nilly.

Free yourself first: The margin between your income and your expenses is your most powerful wealth building tool.

You cannot have your entire paycheck tied up making payments on lifestyle, expenses and debt and expect to get ahead financially. No margin between your in-

come and expenses means no breathing room. With no margin you’ll suffocate financially. You cannot pay yourself first, if you don’t first create some wiggle room in your budget. I recommend that you have a minimum of 10 percent of your gross monthly income FREE to assist you in accomplishing your financial goals. The more margin you have, the faster you can accomplish your goals. Imagine having a 50 percent margin or one whole paycheck to yourself. Life would be grand, wouldn’t it?

Use credit when only absolutely necessary! Too often we justify borrowing without thought and sound reasoning.

People are financing everything from gasoline, pets, sweaters, groceries, vacations, and of course, college, cars, and houses.

Practically everything you purchase today, you’re presented with a flexible payment option which is credit, loans, debt —regardless of interest rate. They equate to monthly payments that wreak havoc on your budget, income, and the margin between your income and expenses you need to be free to get ahead financially.

You have to start thinking in terms of: How do I pay 100 percent cash? How do I minimize the loan needed? How do I shorten the time required to repay the debt in full?

Expand your means: If you want to have more, spend more, save more without changing your lifestyle—you have to earn more. What’s key here is as your income increases, don’t allow your lifestyle, expenses, and debt to increase lockstep with your income. You want to expand both your means and your margin. Increasing your means comes in many forms including job promotion, overtime, side hustle, side business, new business,

passive income, royalty income, and residual income. Income security not job security is the new financial stability.

Seek ways to create multiple streams of income. Doing so not only increases your income but expands your income sources.

College: You can send a kid to college but you can’t make him or her think. It’s time to put your thinking on Joe College.

The cost of higher education seems to get higher and higher every year. But starting salaries after you graduate from college remains stagnant.

You can’t control the cost of college but you can control how much debt you go into in your effort to obtain your degree. Debt free degree is the optimal way to go by way of scholarships, grants, work study programs, employer tuition reimbursement programs, etc. At all cost, you want to avoid or minimize student loan debt. I’m reminded of a meme that pictured this 100-year old man celebrating because he’s accomplished a milestone in his life. He wasn’t celebrating his 100th birthday. He was celebrating making his last student loan payment. If you must take out student loans, do not allow the total amount of student loan debt accumulated during your college years to exceed your anticipated first year’s salary after graduation. How do you know that number? Do some research—aspiring Mr. or Ms. College Student before you sign the loan.

Cars: Payment on all automobiles should never exceed more than 15 percent of Net Pay. Total value of all cars owned should never exceed 50 percent of annual salary. Never take on a car payment with payment terms longer than three-years. Do not purchase a car by way of car leases. Car leases = Forever Pay-

ments. If you’re not wise when it comes to purchasing cars, SUV’s, trucks, boats, or any other vehicle with a motor, you’ll learn the hard way that automobiles can drive you broke.

Credit Cards: As my mother used to tell me, “don’t play with plastic! Plastic can smother you!” You’d think most people think that paying double digit interest rates is hazardous to your wealth.

Apparently not. Americans have a love affair with credit cards. Everyone you meet will say, I pay my balance off in full every month. Vision me side-eyeing as you read my next words. Sure you do! Let’s assume you do pay your balance off in full every month. Here’s a rhetorical question, why carry a balance every month that needs to be paid? In an effort to encourage you not to get buried in credit card debt, here are some guardrails. Stay away from department store credit cards. The interest rate on those cards are in the mid-20 percent range. Never carry more than two credit cards with a $2,000 credit limit each. Never allow the credit card balance to be more than 30 percent of the limit.

Therefore, you’ll never have a balance higher than $600 on either card at any given time.

Housing: Payment on rent or mortgage should never exceed more than 30 percent of Net Pay. In this case, particularly if you’re paying rent, less is more.

Less than 30 percent of your take home pay going to housing equals more money in your pocket to spend on other goals and responsibilities. When it comes to purchasing a home, the purchase price should not exceed 3x your annual income.

You want to consider 15-year fixed rate mortgages—never take on a term greater than 20-years. 30-year terms are the most commonly held mortgage hence the meaning of the origin of the word mortgage “Death Pledge.”

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached We 412-216-1013 or visit his website at www.damonmoneycoach.com)

BUSINESS

B2 MAY 25-31, 2022

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

As college acceptances arrive, here’s how you ask for more financial aid

by Shar-day Campbell For New Pittsburgh Courier

THE CHALLENGES THAT BLACK BUSINESSES are facing is a national concern from the east coast to the west coast, and from the north to the south. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

Black businesses leaders undervalued in America (NNPA NEWSWIRE)—When is the began demanding that the city pay a last time that you read a national backlog of unpaid bills that totaled news story in the so-called main- $35 million. stream media about a successful “The sequence of events says it all: Black business in America that has de Blasio used CORE to deflect from achieved unprecedented excellence his own failures addressing homeand profit in today’s marketplace? I lessness in New York City,” Wendy know it has been a long time.

Weingart, CORE Vice President/GenOn the other hand, when was the eral Counsel, told the news outlet last time that you read or heard in Inside Sources. “The failure to pay the media about allegations of cor- nonprofits that continued to operate ruption, financial failure and exces- during the worst of the pandemic is sive greed by the owners of some indefensible. Simply put, the de Blasio administration took advantage of Black businesses?

In my opinion it, has been an all too CORE through administrative delays frequent and reoccurring false nar- and did not pay CORE for several rative that continues to be cast in programs it operated at the behest of the media to undermine and devalue the city for over a year.”

As a result, many Black leaders are Black business leaders across the naspeaking out on tion. behalf of CORE Late last year, and urging the I called atten- Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. city’s new mayor, tion to a barEric Adams, to rage of unfair correct this inattacks being justice. leveled in the In a recent Op media against Ed in Black EnCORE Services terprise, the Group, Inc., a renowned freeBlack-run nonprofit that has for years provided dom-fighting Attorney Benjamin food, shelter, and other services to Crump argued that Mr. Brown and New York City’s growing homeless his organization have been singled population. I was particularly offend- out for attack despite the essential ed that the attacks appeared to be role the nonprofit has played in helpwaged through anonymous leaks by ing legions of homeless individuals city bureaucrats in the previous may- in a city with a notoriously overburoral administration who seemed bent dened social service system.

“Jack Brown’s plight is yet anothon destroying the nonprofit organization and its founder, Jack Brown, a er sad example of the impediments Black Americans still face when we successful Black businessman.

Now, seven months later, the case strive for excellence,” he said. “Mr. has moved to court, where CORE has Brown is being pilloried for his combegun to fight back—and where city mitment to caring for the homeless officials cannot hide behind a veil of New Yorkers, a group which unforanonymity. In a series of legal fil- tunately includes a disproportionate ings, CORE has presented evidence number of Black and Brown peothat appears to rebut the allegations ple. CORE came every time DHS

by NYC’s Department of Homeless called. But sadly, as Congresswoman Services (DHS) against CORE and Chisholm once said, ‘Racism is so uniits leaders, while raising questions versal in this country, so widespread, about the city’s motives under the and deep-seated, that it is invisible previous mayor, Bill de Blasio, ac- because it is so normal.”

Now that there is a new administracording to published reports.

Central to the city’s case, for exam- tion in New York City, I believe that ple, are claims that CORE officials the Honorable Mayor Eric Adams concocted a scheme to enrich them- will have the opportunity to rectify selves by hiring several for-profit the situation with Jack Brown and companies that CORE itself owned CORE. The city’s homeless deserve to provide food, security, and main- to receive the best care possible as tenance at CORE-run shelters. An the city rebounds from the negative outside observer without the benefit impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. of all the facts might be tempted to Mayor Adams has already expressed conclude that CORE was engaged in a priority in ensuring the future some kind of self-dealing. But upon sustainability of local and citywide further examination, this hardly businesses that are owned by African seems to be the case. Far from it, in Americans and other people of color.

Yet, what Jack Brown, as a Black fact.

As CORE has reportedly noted in business leader, was facing and court documents and elsewhere, the continues to face in New York City for-profit companies—wholly owned is not isolated to that one city. The subsidiaries of the non-profit—are challenges that Black businesses are part of a model of integrated ser- facing is a national concern from the vices that CORE established to run east coast to the west coast, and from its shelters efficiently—and without the north to the south. There appears the uncertainty its leaders say they to be a systematic attempt throughregularly faced from outside vendors out the country to undervalue the that all too often provided inferior strategic importance of supporting services or threatened to cut off ser- Black businesses. This is apparent vices because the city was slow to re- at the municipal, county, state, and regional levels in nearly every state. imburse CORE for its expenses.

More than that, according to doc- The eventual fate of businessmen uments filed with the court, CORE like Jack Brown III will be the future told DHS about the formation of the fate of our advance and progress in for-profit companies even before the America.

The vital key to advancing the companies began providing services at CORE’s DHS-funded shelters. economic status of African AmeriIn other words, CORE operated the can communities and families is the for-profit companies for years with support and the promotion of the success of Black-founded, managed, the city’s knowledge and consent.

But none of this explains why city and owned businesses. We will not officials have targeted CORE for stand silent about this matter. Our this kind of attack, particularly af- businesses deserved to be respectter years of consistently providing ed, engaged, and empowered. No one support to the city’s neediest resi- should attempt to devalue what is dents, a disproportionate number of invaluable to the future of our comwhom are Black and Latino. Yet to munities. It is time to vote. It is time hear CORE tell it, city officials began to speak out. It is time to support our raising questions about the organiza- Black businessmen and women—estion under the previous mayor, Bill pecially those devoted to serving the de Blasio, only after CORE officials underserved.

Commentary

(Black PR Wire)—It’s the time of year when students will begin receiving college admissions decisions and financial aid packages.

Whether this will be a student’s first time in college or they are navigating the enrollment processes as a current or returning student, the availability of financial aid will likely be a leading consideration for enrollment.

Since the 2022 – 2023 financial aid award will be based on 2020 tax returns, students’ household income could look totally different now. But what options do students have when their financial aid award may not reflect their current situation?

SHAR-DAY CAMPBELL Many students and families may not know they can appeal for more financial aid. The four tips below will help you take the necessary steps to secure all eligible financial aid.

1. Why Should You Submit a Financial Aid Appeal?

Submitting a financial aid appeal is an extra step in the financial aid process—but it’s worth asking and advocating for what you need to be successful in school. Without sharing that your situation has changed since submitting a financial aid application, there is no way for the school to know.

Did you know that by federal law, there are certain reasons you can request a change to your financial aid package through what’s called a “professional judgment” or “special circumstances” appeal? Simply put, it’s your right to request more aid. Reasons to appeal your financial aid award include but are not limited to job loss, loss of a loved one, medical expenses, childcare, or other financial setbacks.

2. Where to Start When Asking for More Financial Aid? A financial aid appeal or request is available to qualifying students at all types of institutions (Graduate, 4-year, 2-year, and

trade) offering federal financial aid. It may take the financial aid office some time to evaluate your request, so you should ask about the appeal options as soon as possible.

After you decide which school you will attend, your best first step is to review your school’s website to determine if they have a Special Circumstances or Professional Judgment form to start the appeals process.

If the school does not have an online form, there is a free tool, SwiftStudent, that offers downloadable templates for students to request adjustments to their financial aid award. Downloading a financial aid appeal template can be done in a matter of minutes because students simply complete a form, and their responses generate an appeal letter they can use to let their school know their situation. The question prompts on the form also guide students through what supporting documentation they may need to submit with their appeal.

3. What Do You Need to Request More Financial Aid? Whether you are submitting your school’s online form or an appeal letter, you will be required to include supporting documentation with your appeal. Supporting documents can include bills; signed letters from caregivers, medical or service providers’ costs; court documents; termination letters; unemployment benefits; final pay stubs or out-of-pocket repair costs after a natural disaster.

Ultimately, it’s up to your financial aid office to determine what documents are required.

The goal of these documents is to confirm the change in your financial situation.

Be sure to not submit original documents, as the financial aid office will need to retain documentation for their records.

4. What’s Next After You Submit a Financial Aid Appeal?

Additional Documentation: Your financial aid office may need additional documents or information to make a decision.

Follow Up: Make sure to check your official school email address every day so that you don’t miss a response from your financial aid You can also reach out to your financial aid office to check on the status of your request. SwiftStudent has a worksheet to help you keep track of your communication and conversations with the financial aid office.

Appeal Decision: While there is no guarantee that your school will adjust your financial package, federal law allows financial aid officers to use “professional judgment” to update the information used to calculate a student’s financial aid offer. If your request is approved, the financial aid office will share how much more aid you can expect to receive, if If you are offered a loan, it’s important to consider the type of loan and how the amount will help you reach your educational goals. If your request is denied, it doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Ask your financial aid office why the request was denied and what other community or institutional resources are available.

(Shar-day Campbell is a Fellow at the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation (SHSF) and an award-winning higher education communications expert, who creates content strategies to engage students and close their knowledge gaps.)

Costly auto repairs driving consumers into financial ditch FINANCIAL DITCH FROM B1

, Tennessee, and Texas. In these and other states, EasyPay may be operating under either the state’s lending statute or its retail installment loans act.

As a result, hundreds of complaints from across the nation have been filed with the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and Ripoff Reports.

In one of the most egregious consumer complaints in the report, a consumer maintained that a $1,500 repair bill exploded into a debt in excess of $7,000 and now appears as a past due item on a credit report: “Duvera Financial has been reporting my account as past due monthly although this account is in the collection phase. I have complained previously about predatory lending practices such as excessive calls and being harassed about a debt that I did not agree to. The interest rate and continuous fees were not explained to me properly and I feel that this lender should not be in business.

The bill of $1500.00 has ballooned to over $7000.00. In this climate, those fees are ridiculous. In addition, the account is being reported as open and past due which

is incorrect. Please remove this account from my credit report.”

Another CFPB complaint came from a Chicago military service member who already has remitted a total of $2,300 through 23 payments on a $1,500 loan. Even so, he still owes $1,300, due to its 151 percent interest.

Other consumer complaints identified additional auto repair finance issues: • Credit Applications taken over the telephone, or required to be completed on smartphones, with no written copies for consumers; • Deceptive promises of full interest rebates if paid in 90 days, with numerous obstacles that prevent consumers from avoiding interest or knowing their pay-off balance; • Unauthorized electronic debits that were different from the agreed payment, or continued after a payment plan was fulfilled; and • Rude and unhelpful customer service and/or administrative errors that lead to missed payments, fees, and loss of the interest-free option.

In conjunction with the release of the Stop the Debt Trap report, the National Consumer Law Center issued an alert summarizing

the growing issue and offering consumers specific advice to protect themselves: 1. Avoid any loan charging more than 36 percent annual percentage rate (APR).

2. Alternatively, consider using a credit card. Credit cards provide protection if you have a problem with a purchase, and a low-rate loan obtained may be better than an interest-free offer from the auto repair shop that never materializes.

3. Always check the terms of a loan before you sign or click, especially the interest rate, APR and any details of a promotional offer.

4. Always get a copy of any agreement signed. Make sure it is consistent with your understanding.

“Auto repair shops should stop driving their customers into a financial ditch,” said Rochelle Sparko, Director of North Carolina Policy at the Center for Responsible Lending, a member of the Stop the Debt Trap coalition. “The FDIC should stop TAB Bank, and other banks they supervise, from sponsoring this exploitative scheme,” she concluded.

(Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MAY 25-31, 2022

B3

‘It’s only a draft!’

Guest Editorial

More thoughts about abortion People are reeling about revelations of a “leak” of a draft anti-abortion opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. This took a lot of people by surprise, but observers note that the Supreme Court has been in the process of morphing into a position to roll back Roe vs Wade for years. The current revelations, therefore, have been anticipated by those who knew what was on the horizon.

This revelation has ignited a wave of protests all around the country. Roe vs Wade was passed in 1973 and some people had grown complacent, possibly thinking that the law would remain in force forever. Various polls have revealed that the majority of Americans favor Roe vs Wade and do not want to see it rolled back. The discovery of the draft opinion, however, has served as a wake up call.

The issue of abortion has traditionally been broken down into two camps: pro-life and pro-choice. Pro-life people are against ending pregnancies. Some of these people are so extreme that they oppose abortions even in the case of rape, incest, or endangerment to the life of the mother. Pro-Choice people insist on the right to choose whether or not to carry a child.

It is time that we take a new look at this issue, because we have been looking at it in a skewed manner. First, we have to understand that women who are pro-choice are not “pro-murder” (of fetuses). Their stance is that they want to have control over their own bodies. Actually, it’s ludicrous that in a society in this day and age women don’t have this control.

We’re missing something else that is important; men and women bear equal responsibility for bringing a child into the world. Because the world is negatively skewed, however, women bear a disproportionate responsibility for the entire act of conceiving a child. Legislation targets them. This must change. Any punitive anti-abortion laws that are created should address both women and men!

Something else must be said: if we consider the prenatal epoch, a life begins as soon as the sperm fertilizes the egg. After that, the embryo-cum-fetus spends between 7 to 9 months inside of a woman’s body before it makes its debut at “birth.” There are cultures that consider this point, and the age of a person takes into account the period spent alive in the womb before birth. Abortion, therefore, can be seen as the termination of a life, and some would call this murder, which is not a desirable outcome to most people. So, it would be feasible for us to figure out how to address the issue of unexpected or unwanted pregnancies without the option of abortion.

Men tend to control the world, and the passage of laws regulating a woman’s body is an extension of men, in particular, White patriarchal men, controlling women’s bodies. Because of these power dynamics, the change is going to have to involve men as advocates and participants; they are the untapped resource that can make a difference.

These are some of the suggested strategies that have been discussed in this regard: when women are sanctioned for unwanted pregnancies, sanction the men as well because they were partners in the event. This can include fines levied on them. If a woman can be imprisoned when she seeks an abortion, imprison the man as well. In other words, whatever happens to the women should happen to their partners. Finally, if a man is known to impregnate multiple women and those women seek abortions, the men should be fined and/or required to get mandatory vasectomies.

Ultimately, however, we go down a slippery slope if we allow government to have this kind of power. Better solutions might include ramped-up education on personal responsibility. The truth of the matter is that sex is often spontaneous and unplanned, and there are economic consequences, which women disproportionately bear.

Finding a way to identify positive economic incentives that would encourage personal responsibility would be a desired tactic. In the meanwhile, men should NOT be in the business of regulating what happens in a woman’s body, and hopefully, women will step up to the plate and make better decisions regarding their own behavior. This would include going to the polls to vote for their own interests. Women should take back their power. Period. A Luta Continua.

(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

Founded 1910

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

Rob Taylor Jr.

Ashley Johnson

Office Manager

Managing Editor

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John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

TriceEdneyWire.com—The nation is rightly aroused about the leaked, ‘draft’ Roe v. Wade decision written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and endorsed by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. This decision heralds the reversal of protections Roe has offered for almost fifty years. I am infuriated!

What infuriates me more is the feckless, feeble, and lame justification given this decision and the words used in its defense since exposure. Those of us who are incensed by this decision are insulted further with the assertion that this decision is “only a draft!”

Those who try to spin an excuse for this decision perceive us to be sufficiently ignorant to accept this decision as an innocuous, ‘harmless’ determination that, ultimately, will have limited impact on the social fabric of the nation.

It is justifiable reasoning that allows critics to believe that Alito’s decision opens doors to other decisions restrictive to other rights. Alito telegraphed it in his decision when he wrote: “The Constitution makes no reference to abortion.” He otherwise suggests that a reversal of Roe would not impact on other ‘privacy-based’ rights, but asserts the limitation of any rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution or those “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition.” Since Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary all acknowledged Roe as stare decisis—law set in precedence—in their respective confirmation hearings, any claims of respecting laws not specifically addressed in the Constitution or deeply rooted in history and tradition are suspect. If past actions and attitudes proffer future conduct, the future reversal of other rights appears predictable.

Using a so-called strict interpretation of the Constitution as the basis for his decision, Alito places any legal determination that is not specifically expressed therein in the crosshairs of this Supreme Court. At some time in the future, can we expect the elimination of Marriage Equality? Will interracial marriage be made illegal with the reversal of the Loving Decision?

Can we look forward to a reversal of the Brown v. Board of Education decision? How far back on the historical continuum of social justice are these five justices willing to return us.

I have learned and always believed the Constitution to be a living document that reflected the will and purpose of ‘the majority.’ Although not deeply rooted in the history or tradi-

tion of this nation, the social participation and interaction of African Americans and other groups classified as OTHERS results from an awakening to evolving moral and social imperatives that require the modification of laws and mores.

This conservative court has demonstrated a willingness to remove any impediment to their emotional comfort and that of the minority of the population they represent. It is that same minority which refuses to acknowledge the ugly truth of this nation’s history and oppressive nature of its current existence. They are the same minority which speaks of Christian values yet is willing to react violently against the demonstration of Christian compassion.

The lines have been drawn. We must resist. It’s time to revisit and reflect on the words of Lutheran Pastor Martin Martin Niemöller’s rebuke of an oppressive Adolf Hitler: First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. is a minister, a UN Peace Ambassador, President of the Dick Gregory Society.)

Racist ‘replacement’ rhetoric is deadly and Republicans must stop using it (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The young man who murdered 10 people in Buffalo, New York on May 14, was out to kill Black people. He chose a grocery store because he wanted to leave the local Black community in fear of going about their daily lives.

These evil actions were motivated by a racist ideology known as the Great Replacement Theory. That should cause some serious reflection among Republicans who are trying to build power with their own versions of racist “replacement” rhetoric.

Replacement rhetoric is meant to tap into a very old fear: that the survival and dominance of White Americans is threatened by others—whether by the freedom and empowerment of Black people or immigration by people of color.

Frederick Douglass, one of the great Americans of all time, denounced that ideology shortly after the end of the Civil War. Douglass was born into slavery.

He became a great anti-slavery speaker and organizer. He gave a series of important anti-slavery speeches in Buffalo, near where he lived in Rochester, and where a statue of him in his home town has been repeatedly vandalized.

In 1869, this Black Republican gave a speech called “Our Composite Nation.”

He promoted a vision of a country that welcomed and was strengthened by diversity. And he denounced fears that were being stirred up against Chinese immigrants. He said that the idea that “the Caucasian race may

Ben Jealous

Commentary not be able to hold their own” against immigrants “does not seem entitled to much respect.”

Truth.

Replacement ideology is still not worthy of respect. It is toxic. And it promotes violence.

The man arrested for the killings in Buffalo reportedly claimed that he picked up his anti-Semitic and racist beliefs from some of the unsavory corners of the internet. He decided to kill Black people in Buffalo. Others who were twisted by the same racist ideas chose to kill Latinos in El Paso, Jews in Pittsburgh, Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Unfortunately, millions of Americans are hearing variations of the replacement rhetoric from irresponsible politicians and cable TV personalities. They falsely claim that Democrats want “open borders” so they can replace American voters with what Tucker Carlson called “more obedient voters from the Third World.”

Carlson has used that kind of rhetoric more than 400 times on his highly rated show. And this year at least half a dozen Republican Senate candidates have been running on the idea.

It seems that the Republican Party,

the party of Abraham Lincoln, is acting more like the old Democratic Party did after the Civil War. It is becoming a party defined by its willingness to use the ideology of violent White supremacists to try to stir up voters and win elections.

This is playing with fire. And if it continues, we will all get burned, again and again.

There is a more honorable path for the Republican Party. I believe national Republicans should go to Buffalo.

They should reflect on the killings that were motivated by racist ideas. They should reflect on the legacy of Frederick Douglass. And they should consider the life of a more recent Republican, the late Jack Kemp.

Kemp had been a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. Then he became a Republican congressman representing western New York. And he ran for president as both a Republican and a card-carrying member of the NAACP. “I can’t help but care about the rights of the people I used to shower with,” Kemp said.

We urgently need more of our national leaders to embrace Douglass’s broad vision of a strong and diverse America, and Jack Kemp’s recognition of our shared humanity. And we need more people, both politicians and regular folks, to have the courage to consistently call out bigotry when we hear it and to hold accountable those who spread it.

(Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and Professor of the Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.)

Racial violence, hate crimes, and ‘us’

by Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

The recent slaughter of Black people at the TOPS Grocery Store in Buffalo, New York carries a number of messages for those who are paying attention, even in our grief.

First, we see another young White male, convinced that it’s okay to arm himself and seek out people of color to kill for no reason other than who they are. We saw this at Mother Emanuel Church in South Carolina where a young white male entered a Black Church and killed nine people in a Bible study. We saw a White male in Texas drive several hours to a Walmart Store and target and kill Mexican shoppers for no reason other than their ethnicity. We saw a young White in San Diego County go to a Jewish Synagogue with the intent of killing many, and killing one worshiper. We have seen another church in Texas, at a different time, have 27 worshipers killed on a Sunday morning, without race or ethnicity being a factor. They were all White. We also saw that the very next day, this past Sunday, 6 people were shot while at church in Laguna Woods, California with one fatality. We are told there have been more than 200 mass shootings so far this year. Hate Crimes are on the rise.

Now, the real question is: “What do we do about it?”

The answer depends on who you are,

not where you live. There are no safe places left. If you are Black, one of the first things you notice is that White mass shooters appear to be taken alive, even with guns in their hands. While Black men seem to get shot for the slightest police encounter such as an air freshener hanging from a rearview mirror or a simple traffic stop. The White teenager in Michigan who shot and killed classmates was taken alive.

The killer of the worshipers at Mother Emanuel Church in South Carolina was taken to a McDonald’s during his extradition back to South Carolina because he was hungry. The Buffalo shooter had been to the store the day before and a Black man bought him a soda because he was thirsty. His response to that person: ‘Will you be here tomorrow?’

We saw White Supremacists rally support around Rittenhouse after he killed two people during the Minnesota protest and we saw the judge manipulate the jury so that he was acquitted.

Now, what is the point of all this? A reminder so that you will begin to think seriously about the Racial Violence, Hate Crimes, and how this affects each of us, as well as our options.

Second, let us realize that there is a connection between whether or not we vote and the attention, funding, and respect we receive as members of the national community. We can’t stop those who are elected to office or hold the public trust with badges and uniforms

from being racist, but we can stop them from gaining and holding office and we can vote them out of office. But we have to care enough to focus on the long-term outcome which will remove such people if we vote and let it be known that we will be voters from now on.

Third, we must come to grips with the fact that we are targets at all times, whether shopping, praying, or just going about our daily lives. This does not mean we live in fear, but in awareness for ourselves and those around us. We must discuss, develop and teach “active shooter plans”; start observing those who are observing us and consider arming our households, not carrying weapons so as to fuel the violence and efforts on the part of some to start a race war. We must rethink how and where we spend our money. We don’t have to accept “redlining” and targeted zip codes when we can question and avoid doing business with those who use such tactics against us, even if we have to be inconvenienced in our spending.

The political primary season is upon us and those who are against us are stacking the ballots and preparing for what they hope will be a political future that gives them more power. This week’s key primary is in Pennsylvania and on June 7, 2022, it will be California’s turn. “Us” can make a difference now and change the national mood which is encouraging racial violence and hate crimes.

Where are you on this?

B4

FORUM

MAY 25-31, 2022 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Compassion cannot be a ‘political strategy’ with no relevant action (TriceEdneyWire.com)—A public crisis has a way of revealing the best and the worst sides of people when it comes to helping others. A prime example is the Flint water crisis. In 2014, an ill-fated decision to switch the city’s water source for cost savings resulted in high lead levels in Flint’s drinking water. Soon after, residents of this majority-Black city, where 40 percent of its residents live in poverty, complained about water quality. For more than a year, those concerns went unaddressed, leaving the children in Flint to suffer the lifelong effects of lead poisoning. According to the World Health Organization, high blood lead levels are especially harmful to children and pregnant women and can cause “learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and mental retardation.” Who could hear the story of Flint with its series of governance, infrastructure, health, and political failures and not have compassion for children whose lives are forever altered by leadlaced water?

When we speak of compassion, it literally means “to suffer together.” It is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. It is compassion that prompted people and organizations nationwide to donate bottles of

David W. Marshall

Commentary water to residents of Flint. Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and PepsiCo committed to donating up to 6.5 million water bottles to schoolchildren. Officials at Walmart said the water crisis had become personal. “Those affected include our own associates, customers, and their families,” said Beth Harris, store manager at a Flint Walmart. “Our associates are proud to be part of the effort to help our friends and neighbors.” There were business, community, and faith leaders who fully understood the moral implications, and therefore they answered the call to action. “Access to safe water is a basic human right, said “Tony West, executive vice president of government affairs at PepsiCo, in a statement, adding that the donations “will allow Flint school children and their parents to focus on their education rather than where they can find clean water.”

Compassion is an unconditional moral response reflected by our actions; it is not based on the recipients’ political ideology. Compassion is not meant to be used as part of a manipulation strategy developed to score political points. Unfortunately, political motivation was the catalyst for Sen. Ted Cruz’s “compassion” during his presidential campaign in 2016. With the city of Flint being a Democratic stronghold, the Cruz campaign saw fit to limit their response to the water crisis to only organizations whose ideology aligned with their own. Politics were a driving motivation. Crisis pregnancy centers are anti-abortion organizations aimed at persuading women to keep their pregnancies. The Cruz campaign worked with the anti-abortion group Flint Right to Life rather than local schools or an ideologically unaffiliated organization such as the Red Cross to distribute aid only to crisis pregnancy centers that supported their way of thinking.

Republican lawmakers are now being told to portray themselves as the “compassionate consensus-builder” on abortion policy after the Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked. Regarding abortion, genuine compassion for life is not tied to one political issue while ignoring others, which are also critical to protecting human life. Lawmakers are fully aware that the topic of abortion is a highly charged hot-button issue that will generate a great deal of voter passion along with voter turnout in their favor. To say you are the “compassionate consensus-builder” on abortion policy is just lip service to the idea of true compassion. Compassion is not a communication strategy, nor is it something to be used as an “us against them” weapon without substantive actions and policies to back up the messaging.

Former President George W. Bush also tried to make the compassionate label work with Republicans. When he first ran for president, part of Bush’s campaign strategy was based on the term “compassionate conservatism.” At the time, it was a strategy for “raiding liberalism’s political turf and stealing Democratic voters.” It encouraged Republicans to present themselves as allies of the poor and minorities. Rather than embrace racial resentment, compassionate conservatism pushed for Republicans to rebrand themselves as the party of racial solidarity. Bush welcomed immigrants and courted minority voters. He went as far as to accuse congressional Republicans of trying to “balance the budget on the backs of the poor.” Under his banner of compassionate conservatism, Bush stated, “As a nation that values immigration and depends on immigration, we should have immigration laws that work and makes us proud.” He outlined a plan to revamp the nation’s immigration system and allow some eight million illegal immigrants to obtain legal status as temporary workers. But at the end of the day, Bush’s real agenda was massive tax cuts for the rich [and today, the tide has turned on embracing immigration, highlighted by the calls to build walls and deny infants baby formula]. They resulted in America’s poverty rate rising even before the Great Recession hit. The GOP base never fully embraced the idea of compassionate conservatism during the Bush presidency, and the Tea Party clearly rejected it after Barack Obama’s election. Even when it hides behind the false label of “compassion,” we have witnessed how the politics of power, greed and obstruction have no desire to “suffer together” or relieve the suffering of others.

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

The systemic neglect of Black victims Critics of Black Lives Matter pointed out that the number of Blacks killed

by White police officers accounted for less than 1 percent of the 7,000 Blacks killed annually. Then, the critics accused BLM of not condemning “Black-on-Black crime” with the same zeal they condemned police brutality.

Black opinion writers jumped to BLM’s defense.

They argued the term “Black-on-Black crime” was a racist myth created by White people to stereotype Black neighborhoods and keep Blacks incarcerated at disproportional rates. According to FBI data, Black people are murdered by other Black people 90 percent of the time, but 83 percent of White people were killed by other Whites.

The data proved murderers normally murder people of the same racial makeup.

Since Whites killed Whites all the time and no term “White-on-White crime” was ever invented to describe these killings, the Black opinion writers concluded there should be no term called “Black-on-Black crime” to describe the same criminal behavior. This is a valid point if White people invented the term “Black-on-Black crime”.

But they didn’t.

The earliest use of the phrase “Blackon-Black crime” can be found in the Black newspaper, The Chicago Daily Defender.

During the 1968 riots, there was a huge disparity in police response to crimes.

The report revealed that when stabbings, muggings, and rapes were “Black-onBlack”, these crimes were canceled out in the minds of White precinct commanders, but the police investigated these crimes when the victims were White. In this context, “Black-on-Black crime” pointed

J. Pharoah Doss

Check It Out to the systemic neglect of Black victims.

With that said, the previous argument has a fundamental flaw.

By demonstrating Black criminals killed Blacks at around the same rate White criminals killed Whites, the Black opinion writers reversed the focus of “Black-on-Black crime” from the victims to the criminals.

This reversal ended up making racial disparities in the criminal justice system a top priority in order to make America more “equitable” for Black Americans.

Meanwhile, from the victim’s perspective of “Black-on-Black crime”, the disparity is far worse. Blacks are 13 percent of the U.S. population, but over half of all homicide victims are Black. In 2019 there were 14,414 total gun homicides in the United States, 7,590 Black males were murder victims along with 1,000 Black females, 2,261 murder victims were White males, and 1,955 murder victims were Hispanic males. That year, Blacks were over 60 percent of homicide victims.

Does this data reveal a racist myth, or does it reveal the neglect of Black victims?

This brings us to the White supremacist shooting in Buffalo that left 10 Black people dead. New York is one of several states that have abolished the death penalty. Once convicted, the White supremacist will receive a life sentence without

the possibility of parole.

The death penalty has lost support over the decades.

The latest Pew Research Center data revealed that 60 percent of U.S. adults still favored the death penalty for people convicted of murder. That is a 15-percent drop since the turn of the century.

Is this gradual decline in support of capital punishment a sign of progress and moral maturity? Maybe. Most Americans, even supporters of capital punishment, are concerned with how it is administered and worry that innocent lives could be lost in the imperfect process. But public opinion didn’t influence the states that abolished the death penalty.

It was a matter of cost.

Time magazine reported that across the country, state governments are wrestling with tight budgets. Aging populations mean a rising demand for health care and retirement benefits. When more is spent to meet those commitments, less money is available. The death-penalty system is so slow, inconsistent, and inefficient that it costs far more than the life-without-parole alternative. Legislators understood the need to cut costs, but some wanted to restrict the death penalty to extreme cases like the murder of law enforcement officers, child rape and murder, and acts of terrorism.

Historically, what determined whether one received a death sentence was the race of the victim. The majority of people on death row were convicted of murdering a White person. Today, the majority of murder victims are Black, just as they were in the Buffalo White supremacist shooting, but the death penalty has been ruled out because it’s too costly.

Is that a sign of moral maturity or a sign of neglect of Black victims?

If White supremacy is poison, ethnic studies is the antidote (TriceEdneyWire.com)—President Joe Biden was uncharacteristically, but appropriately, angry and firm when he described White supremacy as “poison.”

He spoke from Buffalo days after a putrid young White man, Peyton Gendron, shot thirteen people, killing ten. All but two of those he shot were Black, and all of those massacred were Black.

This young man carefully planned his massacre. He went to the Tops grocery store at least three times, choosing its location because it was in a zip code that was more than 75 percent Black. He planned more killings but eventually surrendered to White police officers who “begged” him to do so. If a Black man had shot up a store full of White people, he would not have been able to walk out of there. Instead of bargaining with him, someone would have shot him in the legs or the head.

Gendron’s parents bear some responsibility for his heinous act. His father, Paul Gendron, admitted to purchasing a gun for him. After Peyton was evaluated for mental health issues, his father allowed him to keep the weapon. Pitbull Attorney Ben Crump ought to be filing a lawsuit against dad Gendron, the FBI, and others who enabled this lunatic to kill 10 Black people, too many of them Black women community stalwarts who were over 60 when they were massacred.

I don’t know much about Peyton Gendron, but I know he never took an ethnic studies class. Instead, he was simmering in his ignorance, trolling the Internet for warped “replacement” theories. Had he lived in California, where an ethnic studies class is a graduation requirement for community college students and those attending the twenty-three universities in the California State system, he might have been exposed to replacement realities. Native American or American Indi-

Julianne Malveaux

News Analysis an people occupied this land that is now the United States. They were “replaced”

by White barbarians who stole their land, killed them, isolated them in reservations, took their children, attempted to indoctrinate them in boarding schools, and more.

If young Gendron had gone to a factually accurate page on the Internet, he might have learned that Black folks were the majority in many Southern states until the early twentieth century. According to blackpast.org, an historically accurate website, “enslaved people and their descendants had become the majority” of South Carolina’s population by 1708. It remained so until 1920, except for a brief time between 1790 and 1820. Racism and brutal treatment allowed White folks to replace them. In particular, attacks on Black male voters repelled Black folks from a state where we built its economic foundation. According to black past.org, the 1876 Hamburg Massacre ended a period of Black political participation when Black elected officials were forcibly removed from their posts.”

Replacement theory? Who was replacing who?

Gendron never had the benefit of Ethnic Studies classes. He never ingested the antidote to the poison he embodies. In his 1905 Niagra Movement speech, WEB DuBois said, “Either the United States

will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. “ Looks like ignorance is winning. The conservative columnist Max Boot wrote that “the Buffalo shooter’s views are mainstream on the right. These are the folks who not only have not been exposed to Ethnic Studies but who actively resist learning about the truth. The Tucker Carlsons of the world revel in their ability to incite ignorance, encourage domestic terrorists, and indulge in hateful views.

The FBI has always viewed Black activism as a threat to our national security, targeting Black activists from Marcus Garvey to Malcolm X to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the Black Panther Party with surveillance and Cointelpro sabotage. In the wake of the 2020 protests that took it to the streets, the socalled intelligence agency coined the term “Black identity extremists” and monitored, among others, Black Lives Matter activists. Did they ever target, monitor, or investigate White supremacist extremists? Payton Gundron might not have been allowed to purchase the guns that killed 10 Black people if they had.

While President Biden forcefully described White supremacy as poison and said that “hate will not prevail,” he only talked in general terms about the antidote. This massacre provides President Biden with an opportunity to embrace Ethnic Studies and encourage it as an antidote to hate. Perhaps he might propose legislation similar to California’s that would promote Ethnic Studies and require it in federally funded colleges and universities. It’s time for our nation, drenched in racist poison, to consider the antidote.

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

Celebration and disappointment The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the oldest appellate court in the United States, is celebrating its 300th Anniversary. While we all should be proud of our court’s place in American history, we cannot be proud that in 300 years, only three (3) people of color (Justices Robert N.C. Nix, who became Chief Justice; Justice Juanita Kidd Stout; and Justice Cynthia Ackron Baldwin) have served on the court and only Justice N.C. Nix served by election to the court. Both Black women who have served were appointed to the court, Justice Stout

by Governor Bob Casey and Justice Baldwin by Governor Ed Rendell. What a dismal record!

Courts should reflect the diverse population that they serve. Not only have there been only three Blacks, there have been no Asians, Hispanics or Native Americans. Unfortunately, the more political the courts become, the less diverse they become. This issue was recognized by our Founding Fathers. In Federalist Paper Number 78, Alexander Hamilton wrote this after determining that the judiciary is the weakest o f the three branches of government because it con-

Justice Cynthia Ackron Baldwin (ret.)

Commentary trols neither “the sword or the purse”: “… that it can never attack with success either of the other two [the legislative or the Executive], and that all possible care is requisite to enable it to defend itself against their attacks. It equally proves, that though individual oppression may now and then proceed from the courts of justice, the general liberty of the people can never be endangered from that quarter; I mean so long as the judiciary remains truly distinct from both the legislature and the Executive. For I agree, that ‘there is no liberty, if the power of judging be not separated from the legislative and the executive powers.’” [Bold added.]

The members of the judiciary are elected at all levels in Pennsylvania so

we do have a voice on who serves in the judiciary. As we can see with the current hullabaloo over whether Roe v. Wade will be overturned by the United States Supreme Court, it does matter who sits on the bench, whether in state or Federal courts and it does matter what power is exerted over the members of the judiciary by the legislative and executive branches. The people who strive to be members of the judiciary must not only know the law, but remember they are not placed on the bench to advocate or adjudicate their own beliefs or the beliefs of the political party to which they may belong, but to assure that the law has been applied to the facts at hand as guided by the Constitution and precedent ensuring all Americans equal justice under the law. As someone once said, the U.S Supreme Court is both the guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. That is also true of our state Supreme Court. Let us be diligent in examining the people whom we place on our courts. Happy Anniversary, Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

(The Honorable Cynthia A. Baldwin (ret. PA Supreme Court))

New Pittsburgh Courier

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www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

DIRECTOR OF IT Housing Authority of the City of Pittsb u rg h has 1 o p e n i n g fo r Director of IT in Pittsburgh, PA. Duties: Provide leadership, direction & vision in application & mangmnt of info. technology to support priorities & operations of Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (“HACP”); Develop & maintain IT policies & procedures to ensure HACP objectives are met; Work w/Exec. team, client department mgrs.. & staff & IT staff to assess & respond to HACP’s IT needs; Manage work of IT staff including; Supervise approx.. 5 subordinates; Research emerging technologies to determine if installing increases HACP’s efficiency & effectiveness Perform additional duties as needed. Reqs.: Bachelor’s degree or foreign equiv. in Comp. Science, Info. Technology, Management Info.

Systems, Engineering or related field. 10 yrs progressively resp. exp. in management info. systems, including 3 years of exp. in management/supervision.

Must have knowledge of the following: (1) Windows; (2) SQL; (3) LINUX; (4) PHP or JAVA; (5) Networks; (6) Servers; (7) Hardware & Software.

Please mail or email resumes to: Marian Y. Woods, Chief Human Resources Officer, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, 200 Ross Street, 1st Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or marian.woods@hacp.org.

Please include Job Number: DirIT2022

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking the FOLLOWING SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM POSITIONS: K-2 TEACHER ASSISTANT K-2 TEACHER 3-5 TEACHER Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM May 31, 2022

SOFTWARE ENGINEER MACHINE LEARNING AND MOTION PLANNING POSITION Aurora Innovation, Inc seeks a Software Engineer - Machine Learning and Motion Planning in Pittsburgh, PA to develop motion planning algorithms for comfortable and safe trajectories for a self-driving vehicle. E-mail resumes to Mary Ellen Mahoney at memahoney@aurora.tech and include REF#00265 PRODUCT SPECIALIST (MULTIPLE OPENINGS) Caliber Infosolutions Inc. seeks Product Specialist (Multiple Openings) in Pittsburgh, PA to analyze scientific data processing needs of pharma/biotech clients & implant comp sys solutions that manage lab info & reduce risk of non-compliance. Send resumes to: careers@caliberuniversal.com.

VENTURE OUTDOORS AGAIN (VOA) COORDINATOR: Do you love the outdoors and planning group activities? Join the Venture Outdoors team as our new VOA Coordinator! You will work to develop and facilitate outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, kayaking, birding, chair yoga and more for community members ages 50 and over across the region. Work with partners to improve Venture Outdoors programs.

Check out the full job description at https://ventureoutdoors.applytojob.com /apply/ Y 7ai c9K4t O/Ve n tu r e Outdoors-Again-Coordinator? source=Our%20Career%20 Page%20Widget SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 3, 2022 BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FT POLICE OFFICER The Town Council of the Borough of Bellevue has directed the Civil Service Commission to establish a hiring list for the position of Fulltime Police Officer.

Applications will be available beginning Monday, May 23, 2022 at 9:00 am in the Borough’s Administrative Offices at 537 Bayne Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202. Completed applications, along with a $50 certified check or money order made payable to the “Borough of Bellevue”, must be returned to the Borough Administrative offices no later than 4:30 pm Friday, June 24, 2022.

Qualified applicants will be notified by mail of the time and location of the written examination.

Questions may be directed to the Borough’s Administrative offices, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, by calling 412-766-6164. EOE Cindy L. Bahn, JD, MBA Director of Administrative Services

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SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER -LIFE SKILLS, AUTISTIC, AND LEARNING SUPPORT Position available at the start of the 2022-2023 school year Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 1, 2022 SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking: CLASSROOM PARAEDUCATOR PERSONAL CARE PARAEDUCATOR Complete job descriptions and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 3, 2022 SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking an INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER -LIFE SKILLS, AUTISTIC, AND LEARNING SUPPORT Position available at the start of the 2022-2023 school year Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 2, 2022 SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a HEAD VARSITY GIRLS TENNIS COACH Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 7, 2022 SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a HIGH SCHOOL ART TEACHER Position available at the start of the 2022-2023 school year Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 8, 2022 RENTAL SERVICE Furnished Apartments

FURNISHED ROOM with all amenities conveniently located in the Hill District JAMES (412) 924-8678.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

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1 9 2

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

INVITATION FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that drawings, specifications and proposal forms for furnishing all labor and materials for the construction services of the following project: POWER Campus Headquarters – Additions and Alterations SOTA Construction Services is inviting interested subcontractors to submit proposals for the “POWER Campus Headquarters – Additions and Alterations” construction project. The project is located at 7436 McClure Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. The project contains the following scopes of work: ASBESTOS ABATEMENT DEMOLITION CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE MASONRY STRUCTURAL & MISCELLANOUS STEEL ROUGH CARPENTRY MEMBRANE ROOFING SYSTEMS DOORS, FRAMES, AND HARDWARE WINDOWS AND STOREFRONT SYSTEMS DRYWALL, ACOUSTICAL CEILINGS, & INSULATIONRESILANT FLOORING & CERAMIC TILE PAINTING & SPECIALTY COATINGS SIGNAGE – INTERIER & EXTERIOR TOILET PARTITIONS & TOILET ACCESSORIES WINDOW TREATMENTS MANUFACTURED CASEWORK & TOPS HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR FIRE SUPRESSION SYSTEM PLUMBING SYSTEM HVAC SYSTEM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SITE WORK / SITE UTILITIES / SITE EXCAVATION FENCING & ENCLOSURES LANDSCAPING Compliance with PA Prevailing Wage Rates and PA RACP Key Compliance Guidelines are required.

The drawings will be available through SOTA Construction on Tuesday May 24th, 2022.

A pre-bid will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday June 2nd, 2022, at the project construction site located at POWER Campus Headquarters – Additions and Alterations - 7436 McClure Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218.

The pre-bid is not mandatory, but all sub-contractors are urged to attend.

The project bid date is Tuesday June 14th, 2022 @ 1:00 PM All bids are to be delivered by hand or mailed to: Sota Construction at 80 Union Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15202. All bids to be submitted on the required bid forms along with your company’s typical proposal/quote format and contained in a sealed envelope. No email or fax bids will be accepted. Drawings can be obtained by contacting SOTA Constructions Services. Please send all inquiries to Chris Michaels at cmichaels@sotaconstruction.com PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Hard copy responses must be both delivered to, and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before 11:00am, prevailing time, June 13, 2022, at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527. Responses received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of responses shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for award. Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the requirements herein.

Paper Proposal – Documents are available for the following items at Port Authority’s Main Offices 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15222-2527

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Bid Number

Bid Name

Pre Qual 22-05-49A

Pre Qualification for Natural Gas

2 Pre Qual 22-05-50A Pre Qualification for Electricity

Estate of ANTOINE SONNY MCCLAIN (deceased) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, No. 022106395 of 2021, Layla McClain Extr., 5359 Broad Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Estate of NANNIE M. CURRINGTON, AKA NANNIE CURRINGTON, deceased, of Pittsburgh, No. 3064 of 2022. James T. Sanders, Executor, 426 Darrell Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire Scolieri Law Group, P.C . 1 2 0 7 F if t h Av e n u e , Suite 200 ., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 Estate of LURRAY D. BLATCHFORD, Deceased of Clairton, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

No. 02-22-02873, Janine A. Cain, Executor, 61 Universal Street, Bridgeville, PA 15017 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of STEWART, JR. EDGAR DICK AKA STEWART, JR. E. DICK , Deceased of McCandless Township No. 02824 of 2022, Richard A. Stewart, Executor, 223 Greenwood Drive, Wexford, PA 15090, or to Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Attys. STE. 100, 908 Perry Hwy. Pittsburgh, PA 15229

LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION OF TESTAMENTARY

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of MILDRED NASH, deceased, of 201 Grant Ave., Apt. 411, Sewickley, Allegheny County, PA, No. 02-22-02843 have been granted to Germaine Gooden, 359 Wylie Ave., Clairton, PA 15025, who requests that all persons having claims against the Estate of this Decedent make known the same in writing to her or her attorney, Thomas E. Paandaleon, Esq. 6824 Thomas Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, and all persons indebted to this Decedent make payment to the same.

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No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

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

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

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

Further, proposers and the Contractor shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sex, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts or subcontracts for these Contract Services All awards made in excess of $100,000 shall require a performance bond of 50% of the contract value. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1766 FURNISH & DELIVER SULFURIC ACID Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1766–Furnish & Deliver Sulfuric Acid shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, June 9, 2022 and then shall be publicly opened and read.

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

Documents pertaining to the submission of Bids are available at the Engineering office of the Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of $1,000.00. The Successful Bidder shall be r equir ed t o f ur nish a Performance Bond in the amount of $20,000.00. Contract documents must be obtained directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder.

Any questions regarding the Technical Specifications should be directed to Benjamin J. Heilman, Contract Supervisor, ALCOSAN, via email at benjamin.heilman@alcosan.org Any questions regarding obtaining the Contract Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email at contract. clerks@alcosan.org.

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

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Benjamin Heilman Contract Supervisor MASSARO CONSTRUCTION BIDDING PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Interiors Bid Package on 6/22/22 at 1:00 PM. Please contact C Bolla (412-963-2800 x204) to obtain bid documents.

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION BID Massaro Construction bidding the Pittsburgh International Airport Customs and Border Protection Bid Package on 6/1/22 at 1:00 PM. Contact C Bolla (412-963-2800 x204) to obtain bid documents.

OFFICIAL BID NOTICE TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR Sealed and separate bids will be received by the Township of Upper St. Clair, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania until 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 14, 2022, and the BIDS will be publicly opened and read thereafter in the Lower Level Training Room in the Township Building at the same address for the following: MORTON COMPLEX PERIMETER TRAIL PHASE II – B PART 2 Please refer to https://www.twpusc. org/business/bid_information.php, for details regarding specifications and Bidding requirements.

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

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MAY 25-31, 2022 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

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LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 22-06 Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) is requesting proposals for the performance of the following service: ARMORED CAR AND CASH MANAGEMENT SERVICES The Authority is requesting proposals for the services of a Contractor to collect, count and deposit currency and coin from fareboxes located at four bus garages and one rail center; and to collect, count and deposit currency and coin from Authority’s service center, as well as to replenish consumables at approximately 72 ticket vending machines (TVMs), which will be installed across Authority’s light rail, busways and other transit system locations (Contract Services). The Agreement will be for a three year period with the option to extend the Agreement up to an additional two years at the sole discretion of Authority.

A copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available on or after May 19, 2022 and can be obtained by registering at the Port Authority ebusiness website: http://ebusiness.portauthority.org and following the directions listed on the website. Please note that Proposers must register under the ebusiness category of GSREV – Revenue Collection/Armored Car for this RFP. Proposers may also register in other categories for any future RFPs issued by Port Authority. If you have specific questions regarding this RFP, pl e as e c ont ac t F re d B u c k n e r a t (4 1 2 ) 5 6 6 -5 467 or via em ail FBuckner@PortAuthority.org.

An Information Meeting for interested parties will be held at 9:30 a.m., prevailing time, June 9, 2022 via Microsoft Teams video conference and/or conference call to answer any questions regarding this RFP. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3Mfn2ir To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245, United States, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 575 968 449# Electronic proposals must be both received, and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department through Authority’s Ebusiness website at or before 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, June 24, 2022, at http://ebusiness.portauthority.org. Proposals received or time stamped by a Purchasing and Materials Management Department representative through Authority’s Ebusiness website after the advertised time for the submission of proposals shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for award. Each Proposer shall be solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the requirements herein.

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

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

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

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

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on June 21, 2022 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527) as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) Bid Number

Bid Name

B220422

Electric Switch Machines

B220434R

Crossarm Insulator Assemblies

LEGAL ADVERTISING

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LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on June 3, 2022 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527) as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

Bid Number

Bid Name

1

B22-01-03AR

Janitorial Supplies - General

2

B21-11-83ARR

Used Antifreeze Removal Services

3

B22-02-15AR

Asbestos Free Brake Block Assemblies

4

B22-05-37A

VMware Support Renewal

5

B22-05-38A

Avaya Support Advantage

6

B22-05-40

Barracuda Spam Filter and Message Archive Renewal

7

B22-05-41

Wiper Arm Assemblies

8

B22-05-42

Elevator and Escalator Maintenance & Service

9

B22-05-43

LRV Split Disc Brake Rotors

10

B22-03-28AR

Refrigerants

To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/38pAxNl To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 489 894 743# No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 am May 18, 2022, as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference.

To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3Ln3tnT To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 576 579 745# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3Pw0Dzn

To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3yLJNX8 To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 885 719 226# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

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Black Pittsburgh.

Electrical Support Authority Wide IFB#300-11-22 The documents will be available no later than May 23, 2022 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 am on June 14, 2022 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on June 14, 2022 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on June 2, 2022 at 9:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/83813290702?pwd=Q0EzcG FyVUdVQmhvZnBUZm92Yjd zUT09 Meeting ID: 838 1329 0702 Passcode: 34987 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP has revised their website.

As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 314 737 746# No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 am June 9, 2022, as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR ELECTRICAL SUPPORT AUTHORITY WIDE IFB# 300-11-22 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):

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

315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail:

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To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128