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PITTSBURGH BRANCH NAACP Stewart says organization is ‘working hard,’ despite the naysayers Page A6

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JULY 1-7, 2020

West End community to benefit, thanks to a ‘vision’

THE RIBBON-CUTTING— Members of the Porter family, along with Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith and Mayor Bill Peduto, unveil what will be the new Jasmine Nyree Campus, on Landis Street in Sheraden. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)

Former Steeler Joey Porter, wife Christy make huge investment in Sheraden Buildings will house Jasmine Nyree Campus, computer lab, library and more

by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

A popular Bible scripture in the book of Proverbs reads: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

“Vision” is defined in the

dictionary as the act of power anticipating that which will or may come to be.

Nineteen years ago, Christy Houston Porter had a need that turned into a vision.

While preparing to obtain

her master’s degree, Porter had a difficult time finding a school for her autistic nonverbal daughter, Jasmine Nyree. “There were very little options and those I found were not equipped to accommodate my daughter’s needs,” she said.

Her vision was to provide a quality daycare center for children with special needs in her hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. In 2003, the Jasmine Nyree Day Center came into fruition. Today, the center continues to provide services for youth be-

tween ages 3 and 12 who are clinically diagnosed as having a developmental disability, as well as families of children and young adults with disabilities.

How does this translate into the Pittsburgh area?

Well, the “Porter” name is pretty famous around these

parts. Joey Porter is the good-hearted-but-toughplaying former linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Christy Houston Porter is his wife of over 20 years.

Today, they live in the Wexford area, and their daughter, Jasmine Nyree, had been attending a facility in

the Sewickley area.

As Jasmine Nyree had turned adult age a few years ago, the Porters were unable to find the type of programming for their adult daughter that met their standards in this area.

SEE VISION A2

IT’S NOT OVER

Coronavirus still hitting Blacks in county at alarming rates

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Allegheny County is about 82 percent White.

But of the total coronavirus cases in the county as of June 28, 61 percent are White. That’s 21 percentage points below the total

White population.

Allegheny County is about 14 percent Black.

But of the total coronavirus cases in the county as of June 28, 24 percent are Black. That’s 10 percentage points above the total Black population.

If that doesn’t tell you

that coronavirus is still disproportionately affecting Pittsburgh’s Black community, then wipe your eyes again.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald SEE CORONAVIRUS A2

ONE STEP FURTHER

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TEAMWORK—Husband-andwife team Joey and Christy Porter share their vision with Mayor Bill Peduto and City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith for Sheraden, one of the city’s 90 neighborhoods.

IN ADDITION TO NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS, Chef Claudy Pierre, shown above, and others provided home-cooked meals to members of the Pittsburgh community on June 18. The event was titled “Third Meal,” with contributing partners Pittsburgh Gateways, Pittsburgh Green Innovators, the Energy Innovation Center, Super Bakery and Eminent Hospitality Solutions. Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., were also involved. (Photo by Gail Manker)

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IT’S NOT OVER

Coronavirus still hitting Blacks in Allegheny County at alarming rates CORONAVIRUS FROM A1

and County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen noticed the huge jump in coronavirus cases in the past week in the county, and decided to ban all alcohol sales for in-house consumption at bars and restaurants, an order that began on June 30 at 5 p.m.

That order, in effect, will stop all the partying on the South Side, North Shore, and other millenial hot spots. It’s the younger people who have been testing positive for the virus, county officials said.

But oftentimes, it’s not the young people who are dying from the virus, but the older family members that they may come across. Most times, the young people could pass the virus to the older people unknowingly.

The county officials also said a face covering is required when entering any business, including dine-in restaurants, unless a person is eating. The officials

stressed to restaurants to make sure social distancing is being practiced.

It’s unclear how long the ban on on-site alcohol consumption at bars and restaurants in Allegheny County will last. As one would expect, most bar and restaurant owners aren’t happy about the news, which broke on Sunday afternoon, June 28.

A deeper look into the coronavirus data provided by Allegheny County shows that African Americans account for 31 percent of all hospitalizations, 17 percent more than the population percentage for African Americans.

And of the 186 people who have died in the county from coronavirus as of June 28, 35 (or 19 percent) were Black.

Two deaths are listed as unknown.

When the death of George Floyd occurred on May 25 in Minneapolis, the U.S. shifted its focus to championing equity and equality for African Americans, through protests,

demonstrations, and online petitions and campaigns.

Mix that with most of the U.S. easing its restrictions for its constituents, similar to how Allegheny County moved from the “yellow” phase to the “green phase” in June, and the country is seeing an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases.

Officials at the local and state level are urging residents to wear a face covering while in public at all times, stay at least six feet from the next person, and not to congregate with large numbers of groups. Handwashing should be a multiple-timesper-day occurrence.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that Blacks have a coronavirus case rate five times that of Whites nationally. The CDC’s data also revealed that, although the U.S. is just 13 percent African American, Blacks comprised 23 percent of all coronavirus cases nationally.

AFRICAN AMERICANS AND CORONAVIRUS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY

As of June 29, 2020

Blacks account for 627 of the 2,651 cases (24 percent) of coronavirus cases of which the race is known. In 240 additional cases, the race is unknown.

From those cases, Blacks account for 120 of the 386 hospitalizations (31 percent) of which the race is known.

In 7 additional hospitalizations, the race is unknown.

Blacks account for 35 of the 186 deaths (19 percent) due to coronavirus of which the race is known. In 2 additional deaths, the race is unknown.

West End community to benefit, thanks to a ‘vision’ Former Steeler Joey Porter, wife Christy make huge investment in Sheraden VISION FROM A1

Jasmine Nyree turned 21 on June 14, but equally as important is that the Porters decided to have history repeat itself—they’re creating a new facility, here in Pittsburgh, just like they did in their hometown of Bakersfield.

The four-year search for a complex that would suffice ended when the Porters purchased the Holy Innocents Church Campus in Sheraden, on Landis Street.

It consists of four buildings, which, at one time, was the pillar of the Sheraden community. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with dignitaries like Mayor Bill Peduto, was held on June 1.

“Realizing that, we recognized we did not need all the buildings for special needs programming, so I thought it was best to revitalize the entire campus and bring it back to life to include services the people of the community needed that were obsolete or non-existing,” Christy Houston Porter said.

The campus includes the church, which is not part of the project, but owned by the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

The Jasmine Nyree Campus is going to be inside what is now known as the Patricia Jean Administration Building, named after Christy Houston Porter’s mother, who died in 2015.

The 180,000-square foot campus will consist of a multi-service facility and community center. “I am humbly honored that God has entrusted me to continue the legacy work here of the Holy Innocents Church.

These grounds are holy, and we will continue the mission and vision God gave to Father Daniel O’Shea 112 years ago,” Christy Houston Porter said during the ceremony.

Christy Houston Porter acknowledged that nothing would have been possible without the support of Joey Porter, their other three children and nephew, and other family members and friends. Christy Houston Porter credited Pittsburgh Public School Board Member Veronica Edwards, neighborhood residents such as Andrew and Desiree Lee, Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith and Mayor Peduto as significant supporters.

“It’s a beautiful thing that is happening here today in Sheraden,” Mayor Peduto said. “Let it be an example for the other 89 neighborhoods to follow. There are so many things that are right about this.”

Referencing the civil unrest occurring in the nation and the city, Mayor Peduto said that with Sheraden being a mixed-race community, the vision of the center is enhancing the community and causing both races to come together. It’s helping the young adults’ transition process and providing them opportunities to live a full life in a way that makes them part of the neighborhood and allows the neighborhood to use one of its most beautiful, historic assets.

In addition to the Jasmine Nyree Campus, the vision for the entire center is to consist of a hair salon, a Pre-K school, a bakery, coffee shop, a cafeteria for people in the community to have affordable, homestyle-cooked meals, a basketball court, computer lab and library. “We are also going to provide an alcohol and drug treatment program, GED programming, and are working with the city to put in an employment center and we will have a movie theatre for

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senior citizens,” Christy Houston Porter said.

Porter also said there would be a learning center for young people projected to provide after-school and summer programming to more than 600 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

“The test scores in this area are low. With our expertise of working with families and children, we are looking to partner with Langley School and the Pittsburgh Public School System in hopes to be of assistance,” Christy Houston Porter said. “We are also looking to be a feeding facility to provide free meals to the students.” Already on Saturdays, they are provid-

ing lunches to children and families, which, she said, equates to over 300 free meals.

With lessons learned from the setbacks occurring due to the coronavirus pandemic, the final phase of the project, a 40-unit apartment building for low-income seniors, disabled veterans and special needs adults is expected to open in 2022. The project is a partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.

Christy Houston Porter also announced that she was appointed to the Sheraden Housing Advisory Committee. “It is an honor,” she said, pointing out that within the four

months since they purchased the property and have been developing the center, home property values in the community have increased by 5,000 percent.

Councilwoman KailSmith considered the development as amazing. “It means so much to our community,” she said.

The councilwoman presented the Porters with a proclamation welcoming the Jasmine Nyree Campus into Sheraden and for planning to provide such beneficial services.

“I thank you for your vision,” Councilwoman KailSmith said, “and welcome to the community.”

AKAs hold ZOOM-BA Dance Party online Goal to improve mental, physical health Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter in Pittsburgh informed the New Pittsburgh Courier that the coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop them from recently hosting a ZOOM-BA Dance Party on Zoom, May 16.

The guest instructor was LaShauna “Sha” Harper.

During these unprecedented times, the Women’s Healthcare and Wellness committee wanted to continue their plans for a heart healthy event and moved to a virtual platform. The event raised awareness about chronic diseases and conditions that impact African American women such as heart disease. Social media was used to advertise the event and attracted 102 registered participants locally and from other states. Through this event, the AKAs encouraged the community to increase their heart rate, shift their energy and boost their mood by de-stressing and improving their overall mental and physical health.

The ZOOM-BA Dance Party lasted 45 minutes.

ZOOM-BA movements were planned so that all age levels could participate.

Prizes were dished out, too. One lucky participant won a self-care basket that was complete

LASHAUNA “SHA” HARPER with Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, skin care products, a candle, facemasks, and a daily inspiration boxed set. This was a free event, the AKAs told the Courier, but donations were accepted. Three hundred twenty-five dollars

was raised.

All proceeds went towards medical professionals on the frontlines in Pennsylvania and New York City. The virtual event was coordinated by Chalese Floyd and Te’ona Williams.

TE’ONA WILLIAMS

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NASA names headquarters after ‘Hidden Figure’ Mary W. Jackson NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Wednesday, June 24, the agency’s headquarters building in Washington, D.C., would be named after Mary W. Jackson, the first African American female engineer at NASA. Jackson started her NASA career in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Jackson, a mathematician and aerospace engineer, went on to lead programs influencing the hiring and promotion of women in NASA’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. In 2019, she was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

“Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology,” said Bridenstine. “Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building. It appropriately sits on ‘Hidden Figures Way,’ a reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA’s history who contributed to this agency’s success. Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have made NASA’s successful history of exploration possible.”

The work of the West Area Computing Unit

caught widespread national attention in the 2016 Margot Lee Shetterly book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.” The book was made into a popular movie that same year and Jackson’s character was played by award-winning actress Janelle Monáe.

In 2019, after a bipartisan bill by Sens. Ted Cruz, Ed Markey, John Thune, and Bill Nelson made its way through Congress, the portion of E Street SW in front of NASA Headquarters was renamed Hidden Figures Way. “We are honored that NASA continues to celebrate the legacy of our mother and grandmother Mary W. Jackson,” said, Carolyn Lewis, Mary’s daughter. “She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother, and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA, but throughout this nation.”

Jackson was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia. After graduating high school, she graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942 with a dual degree in math and physical sciences, and initially accepted a job as a math teacher in Calvert County, Maryland. She would work as a bookkeeper, marry Levi Jackson and start a family, and work a job as a U.S. Army secretary before her aerospace career would take off.

In 1951, Jackson was recruited by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which in 1958 was succeeded by NASA. She started as a research mathematician who became

known as one of the human computers at Langley.

She worked under fellow “Hidden Figure” Dorothy Vaughan in the segregated West Area Computing Unit.

After two years in the computing pool, Jackson received an offer to work in the 4-foot by 4-foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, a 60,000 horsepower wind tunnel capable of blasting models with winds approaching twice the speed of sound. There, she received hands-on experience conducting experiments.

Her supervisor eventually suggested she enter a training program that would allow Jackson to earn a promotion from mathematician to engineer. Because the classes were held at then-segregated Hampton High School, Jackson needed special permission to join her white peers in the classroom.

Jackson completed the courses, earned the promotion, and in 1958 became NASA’s first Black female engineer. For nearly two decades during her engineering career, she authored or co-authored research numerous reports, most focused on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes. In 1979, she joined Langley’s Federal Women’s Program, where she worked hard to address the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists. Mary retired from Langley in 1985.

In 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act that posthumously awarded the honor to Jackson, who passed away in 2005, and

MARY WINSTON JACKSON (1921–2005) successfully overcame the barriers of segregation and gender bias to become a professional aerospace engineer and leader in ensuring equal opportunities for future generations. (Credits: NASA)

her “Hidden Figures” colleagues Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden.

In 2017, then 99-year-old Katherine Johnson was there to personally dedicate a new state-of-the-art computer research facility the bears her name at Langley. Johnson, another original member of the West Area Computing Unit, also was honored as a trailblazer and given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. In addition, Johnson was part of the group honored with the

Congressional Gold Medal, and NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, also bears Johnson’s name.

“NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to push the frontiers of the aerospace industry. The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation. Over the years NASA has worked to honor the work of these Hidden

Figures in various ways, including naming facilities, renaming streets and celebrating their legacy,” added Bridenstine. “We know there are many other people of color and diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our success, which is why we’re continuing the conversations started about a year ago with the agency’s Unity Campaign. NASA is dedicated to advancing diversity, and we will continue to take steps to do so.”

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HOUSE OF MANNA’S 10th Annual Prayer for Peace March was held in Homewood, June 13. Courier photographer J.L. Martello captured the photos of the event that called for an end to violence in Homewood and other Black neighborhoods in the area.

House of Manna’s 10th Annual Prayer for Peace March

The theme: ACCOUNTABILITY AND

HEALING

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Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

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

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

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

Curious about Quakerism?

House of Manna’s 10th Annual Prayer for Peace March

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Pittsburgh NAACP ‘working hard’ despite the naysayers, president says

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Contrary to what he called the “naysayers,” Pittsburgh NAACP President Richard A. Stewart Jr. said the local NAACP and its members are “working hard”—working hard to promote non-violence in Black communities, working hard to let residents know that coronavirus is still a huge problem, and working hard to fight on behalf of local Blacks when they experience discrimination.

“Whether you might see them (NAACP members) out in the streets, in the community, they’re working. Either from home or some office, they’re working. On the phone, every day, they’re working,” Stewart said. “And it’s disheartening when you hear people say, ‘NAACP is not doing what they’re supposed to do.’ We’re working, and this is not a paid position, this is all volunteer work, because we love it. So we keep coming here every day.”

The June 12 press conference in the Hill District was wide-ranging.

On crime, Stewart said he is tired of White officers killing Blacks, and Blacks killing Blacks.

“We’re done dying,” he said, echoing the national NAACP campaign that’s being adopted by many local branches across the country.

On health, the NAACP is very well aware that coronavirus is dispropor-

account for 19 percent in the county.

On civil rights, Billy Joe Jordan, the third vice-president of the local NAACP, took the microphone. He leads the committee in charge of connecting local Black residents with attorneys to help with possible discrimination cases that residents may have against, say, an employer.

“We have gotten jobs back (for people) because we’re a nationally known organization,” Jordan said at the news conference. He said the local NAACP assisted roughly 100 people in 2019 with certain cases.

“That does not get out, it’s never in the news, you never hear about it, but a lot of people (have gotten) help here,” Jordan said.

When reporters at the news conference began asking questions to NAACP members, the primary topic was the first topic the NAACP ad- RICHARD A. STEWART JR., the Pittsburgh NAACP president, speaks at a press conference, June 12. (Photos by Courier photographer dressed—crime.

J.L. Martello) “Some of these parents are scared of their kids, I’m sorry to say, to talk to them, or address it,” Stewart said. “I did that with my kids at an early age. And they knew I didn’t tolerate it (crime), because I worked in law enforcement.”

Stewart encouraged neighbors to “talk to these kids, show love, you gotta tell them you care. And when you catch them doing something, address it.

Don’t just keep going. Address it.”

“It’s disheartening when you hear people say, ‘NAACP is not doing what they’re supposed to do.’ We’re working, and this is not a paid position, this is all volunteer work, because we love it. So we keep coming here every day.”

RICHARD A. STEWART JR. PITTSBURGH NAACP PRESIDENT

FELICIA ALEXANDER leads the health committee for the Pittsburgh NAACP. tionately affecting Allegheny County’s Black community. The organization wants more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for front-facing workers, and more information shared from officials about COVID-19 that is “culturally sensitive.”

Allegheny County officials have stopped all on-site alcohol consumption for bars and restaurants in the county, following an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases over the past week. On June 28, the county reported 96 new cases, the highest one-day total ever. That was followed by 83 new cases on Monday, June 29. Blacks in Allegheny County, as of June 29, account for 24 percent of all coronavirus cases, 10 percentage points higher than the Black population of the county. When it comes to hospitalizations, Blacks account for 31 percent, and in the deaths category, Blacks

BILLY JOE JORDAN is third vice-president for the Pittsburgh NAACP.

Did you miss the Courier’s special edition, “Celebrating The Graduates,” June 24?

See the more than 300 local Class of 2020 graduates on our website, newpittsburghcourier.com

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Eight ways your family can cure cabin fever (BPT)—It’s not always easy to be at home with kids day after day, but with a little creativity, you can beat cabin fever.

Whether you’re in your own backyard or venturing out, there are plenty of things you can do to have fun together. Make sure to choose activities that are age-appropriate and that follow your current local guidelines for social distancing.

Here are just a few things to try.

Get out in nature Visit nearby parks or scenic areas for fresh air and exercise. Choose locations that aren’t crowded, so social distancing isn’t difficult. Bring toys for the kids, like balls, kites, hula hoops, scooters or bikes.

Play tourist Pretend your car is a tour bus. Let Mom or Dad play tour guide first, modeling what to say (serious and/or funny). Drive by picturesque or unusual locations and make up the “tour” as you go along. Then let your kids take a turn narrating the “sights” as you drive.

Plan a celebratory parade Have a friend or family member with

a birthday, anniversary or graduation to celebrate? Plan a drive-by parade with a few other family groups in cars, complete with signs, streamers and balloons.

Honk, wave and sing as you slowly pass their home.

Enjoy a treat with the family Take a tour to find the best shake, burger or kids meal toy.

For example, Sonic Wacky Pack Kids Meals come with a fun toy for kids.

Through Aug. 2, kids age 3 and older will receive a collectible Hot Wheels Monster Truck exclusively at Sonic with their meal. Check out SonicWackyPack. com for free, downloadable activity packs that include coloring sheets, puzzles and games to entertain the kids while stuck at home.

Contactless ordering and payment are easy using the Sonic app: Just create and pay for your order in the app, drive to your nearby Sonic, and check in when you arrive via the app. A Sonic Carhop brings out your meal when it’s ready.

Make washing the car an event

If there’s a touchless car wash nearby, young children will have a blast being in the car during the washing process. Turn up their favorite songs while you sit back and watch the suds and water do their work. Or you could involve the kids in washing the family car in your driveway.

Go on a scavenger hunt Whether you’re walking or driving through the neighborhood, play “I Spy” or hunt for specific items—like a red car, a blue house, a large dog—or search for signs, rainbows or teddy bears in neighbors’ windows (a trend sweeping the nation while people are staying home).

Make the most of your own yard You’d be amazed how much kids can appreciate their own yard, with just a little help.

• Create an obstacle course using large cardboard boxes, hula hoops, cones or other items from your garage.

• Make bubbles with 1 part dish soap to 3 parts water, adding a little sugar (1-2 teaspoons). Stir the mixture gently.

Use pipe cleaners or cut out the bottom

of plastic water bottles to create wands.

• Use sidewalk chalk to draw hopscotch and other games, plus pictures and hopeful messages for neighbors walking by.

• Find veggies or flowers your kids want to grow and involve them in gardening projects.

• Dig through your garage for neglected toys and games. When did your kids last play badminton or croquet? Or make your own games, like jump rope, cornhole or horseshoes, using household items.

Search online for tips on crafting homemade games.

Take a trip down memory lane Scour your memory and ask grandparents about outdoor games from when you (or they) were children. Have grandparents explain how to play their games via phone or FaceTime. Then, video kids playing the games for the whole family to share!

Spending time together, outside or in, creates special memories your kids will treasure as they grow up—making all your efforts worthwhile.

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Property is Power Why it is important for Blacks to own land

Without more help, Black-owned businesses might not survive the pandemic (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Black communities in the United States not only represent a disproportionate share of casualties from coronavirus, but they have also been deeply affected by the economic impact of the disease.

Longstanding racial discrimination in economic and housing policy has increased their risk for exposure to the virus, as well as the resulting financial crisis.

The economic effects of the pandemic on Black communities can be explained by several factors. Almost half of Blackowned businesses are in industries —such as administrative and support services, health care and social assistance and retail—that are bearing the brunt of this pandemic. These industries not only pose a health risk because of the interaction between workers and customers, but they are also especially vulnerable to lower consumer demand due to social distancing measures.

Over 90 percent of small businesses in majority Black communities hold cash reserves of fewer than 14 days, so they are more likely to run out of operating funds when customers stay at home.

And the most recently available Federal Reserve data shows that Black business owners are denied loans at twice the rate of white owners, so they are more likely to have trouble finding capital to survive the pandemic.

In the face of large-scale shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 crisis, there is a clear need for policies to support small business. But the spending programs passed by Congress thus far have ignored the challenges of capital access facing Black-owned firms.

During the first round of funding provided for small businesses, borrowers seeking Paycheck Protection Program loans were required to work with banks already participating in the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) primary loan program, thereby excluding firms that worked with smaller community banks. Moreover, Congress allocated just $10 million to the Minority

Business Development Agency. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, these conditions may have prevented 95 percent of Black-owned businesses from receiving loans.

The second round of small business funding assistance specifically set aside $60 billion for community banks and credit unions that are tradition-

EUGENE CORNELIUS ally a key source of capital for minority-owned firms. However, the measure did not stipulate that minority-owned businesses would have priority access to those funds.

Addressing these short-term lending gaps is crucial to ensuring that Blackowned businesses will stay in business long enough to survive the pandemic.

But we must also plan for a long-term recovery that emphasizes inclusion.

This will require us to remove historic inequities through targeted support for Black-owned businesses and Black workers.

We can begin by taking three key steps: • First, federal and state governments should enact robust credit enhancement programs for minority borrowers.

These programs provide incentives for banks to lend to businesses in low- and middle-income areas, allowing more firms to remain open and refrain from laying off workers. In states with existing loan programs that provide credit

enhancement, treasury officials should make loans more flexible, easier to access and increase loan guarantees.

In others, where credit enhancement programs do not yet exist, treasury officials should create loss reserve funds and collateral support mechanisms, as well as a marketplace to pair pre-qualified lenders with borrowers in need of working capital. State governments can also authorize one-to-one matches for philanthropic funding to expand the pool of available capital.

• Second, credit enhancement programs should also be used to support place-based investment, with a priority on housing and infrastructure in low-income areas. For example, officials can increase loan guarantees to support construction of housing for individuals earning from 80 percent to 200 percent of the local average median income, or offer special collateral guarantees for minority-owned businesses with revenues under $5 million to invest in longterm assets.

• Third, place-based investments should emphasize environmental quality in low-income and minority communities through special support for projects with higher air and water quality standards—including the remediation of outdated water infrastructure. Using federal and state loan guarantees to fund these investments will simultaneously support improvements to the health of minority populations and reduce their vulnerability to future health crises.

As we look beyond the pandemic, these steps are crucial for ensuring the American dream is within reach of minorities across the country. By addressing fundamental inequities in our economic system, we can begin to pave a new avenue toward a more prosperous future.

(Eugene Cornelius Jr. is senior director for the Milken Institute Center for Regional Economics. He previously served as a senior official in the U.S. Small Business Administration. This commentary first appeared on CNN.com.)

To be frank with you, I course of America. have been struggling with Now is the time for you to what to write and how to take charge of your finances. proceed during this very One way you can do that is difficult time in society. In to own you own. Property the midst of the COVID-19 is Power. Now it’s more impandemic and the racial dis- portant than ever to secure course many of us have been your future and the future of living through our entire your family. It’s a great way lives and on the other hand, to establish your legacy. many people have denied an According to The Nationissue even existed … either al Association of Realtors, way change is a coming and “the ownership rate for it is about time. non-Hispanic white AmerAs we live through this tu- icans has been consistently moultuous time, one thing above 71 percent from 2016 I know for certo 2019.” Howtain is JUSever, during TICE is what that same is needed to time frame the have equality. h o m e o w n e rWhich is what ship rate for this is really all African Amerabout. Justice. icans is 41 I lived through percent and Rodney King for Hispanic in 1992. Some Americans has of you may reheld above 45 member. The percent and for killing of black Asian Amerand brown peoicans it has ple is systematbeen above 53 ic racism and percent. As we ANTHONY O. KELLUM has gone on far can see there too long. Over are many dis400 years to be parities. exact. It’s time for everyone However, there are many to get involved. advantages to home propWe are living in a terrible erty ownership; such as reality. Let’s not forget all of ownership provides benefits the lawlessness and violence for not only individuals but that has taken the lives of so for communities at-large as many unarmed men and well. With ownership comes women of color by the police. wealth building, families This is America’s problem; are provided with greater it is not just the problem of control over living environblack and brown people! ments, creates incentives Like many of you, I am an- for households to better gry. I have four kids … two maintain their homes and sons whom I worry about there is also a benefit for immensely every single children growing up in a day since the day they were home owned by their family. born. I sit back and I think, In addition, homeownership what can we do and how can also benefits neighborhoods we change the atrocities be- because owners have a fistowed on the African Amer- nancial stake in the quality ican families … besides the of the local community. obvious of teaching all of So you see, owning you my kids about humanity. I own is the way to go. You ponder on what can we do to can make a difference in the empower ourselves? trajectory of your life and I have come to a few con- your family. Sure it will take clusions, that may put us in some sacrifices but it is aba better standing and that is solutely worth it. to stop overspending, spend Love and Peace! your money wisely and As in the words of Marvin spend your money with peo- Gaye: ple who respect and value “There’s Far too Many of you as a human being As we You Dying… continue to push forward in We’ve Got to Find A Way!” (Anthony O. Kellum, Speaker, these unprecedented times in American history let’s Author, TV Host and President of stay focused and change the Kellum Mortgage.)

Nine things you can do with money As adolescents we often hear our parents say “money doesn’t grow on trees”. As parents we echo the same words to our children.

That’s truly the only money advice we receive from our parents. It’s the only money advice we give to our children. We generally hear those words in response to being asked countless times—can I have some money.

Money doesn’t grow on trees is a short sarcastic way of saying, “I don’t have any more money to give you. There’s a finite amount of money within my control. I can’t pick money from a tree like we pick apples from the tree.”

In this article, I’ll delve into how money is created and what are some things that we can do with money. Before, I dive into that.

I’d like to share a couple of memes that I recently shared on Facebook detailing what you CANNOT do with money.

What money can buy: A bed but not sleep. A clock but not time. A book but not knowledge. A position but not respect. Medicine but not health. Amusements but not happiness. Acquaintance but not friendship.

Obedience but not faithfulness. A house but not a home.

Things money can’t buy: Manners, morals, respect, character, common sense, trust, patience, class, integrity, love.

Those two memes force you to reflect and conclude that money and of itself cannot purchase the things that we value the most.

Money is simply a tool to facilitate things we need, want, and desire. Below are things we can do with money.

Work: It’s true. Money doesn’t grow on trees. How is money created? Work creates money. Money is earned. You work, you reap an income. Your income is what allows you to get money and buy all the things you want to buy and do all the things that you want to

do. It allows you to purchase the things you need, want and desire. Your income is your most powerful wealth building tool. The Bible says, “You don’t work, you don’t eat.” Over time, your goal should be to transition from “earned income” to passive and portfolio income.

Spend: When we exchange our hardearned dollars for something we value, we’re saying that we value that something more than we value the money we’re exchanging for that something. Very few of us have a problem with spending money. I read about non-spenders. I have yet to meet any of them personally. Controlling one’s spending is a learned behavior that we all have to develop in order to get ahead financially. Most of us love to spend money. Spending money allows us to purchase the things we need, want and desire. It allows us to have fun.

Waste: When we buy things we don’t need, oftentimes with money we don’t have, we’re in effect wasting money. Consider all the stuff and clutter you have piled up somewhere in your home, garage, or storage unit. Stuff, you haven’t seen, worn, or used in years. Stuff you forgot you had. Just think all that stuff and clutter used to be money. A good rule of thumb to use before we go out and purchase things on a whim is to give yourself a 24-48 hour cooling off period. You want to buy because you have buying fever. If after 24-48 hours, after the buyer fever cools off, only then do you buy. Doing this, will allow you to see now before it turns into clutter—that it might be something that you can do without.

Pay Bills: This is my definition of “adulting”. Only when we’re responsible to pay bills do we begin to understand that money doesn’t grow on trees. It’s a part of life. Key here is not to get overextended. You have to act responsibly and only take on bills and expenses that you can reasonably afford. In other words, you have to “act your wage”.

Save: Saving is defined as money you’re setting aside now to accumulate and use later. If you’re stashing money away to be used within the next 5-years, you’re saving money.

It’s imperative that we develop a saver’s mentality. It’s ok to pay bills, spend money, have fun— but not at the expense of not saving money. With so many things tugging at our money, we have to make savings a priority in order to save. You make it a priority by giving it a mission. Your mission can be whatever you decide. For example, you’re saving for emergencies, vacation, furniture, car, house.

You name it. By giving it a mission you’re able to give it a dollar amount needed to save and a time frame needed to accumulate.

Invest: Investing is akin to saving but with a longer time horizon and greater amount to accumulate. When you’re investing money, your mindset should be, you’re not going to access or spend down this money within the next 5 or more years. Investing is generally reserved for saving for college, retirement, paying for a house with cash, and wealth building. In order to transition from earned income to passive and portfolio income, strategic long-term investing has to be a part of your overall Financial Planning process.

Give: Giving is more than likely a part of your life. Outside of reasonable, faith-based giving—it’s important to know that every gift is a sacrifice. When you give, you lose the opportunity to do for yourself. Therefore, it’s important that you have a solid foundation built—debt free, emergency fund, actively saving for children’s college and retirement before you go willy-nilly with giving. It’s also important for you to ensure that when you give, you’re giving a hand-up not a hand-out.

Pay Taxes: It’s been said there’s only two certainties in life. Death and Taxes. If I were to ask, what’s your single largest expense, most would say their house. Taxes are the single largest expense we pay. Look at the year to date tax withholding on your paystub. That’s just federal, state and local taxes. Then there’s sales tax on practically everything we purchase and property taxes to name a few. You have to use legal ways to keep Uncle Sam out of your pockets. Tax favored, Tax Advantage and Tax Free retirement and college savings account comes to mind.

Borrower: Cost of goods and services has been drastically inflated because of loans.

Instead of asking “how much it cost”, we’ve been trained to ask, “how much it cost per month?” When you borrow money, you steal from your future self. We’ve been taught by institutions who lend us money to use credit wisely. These are the same institutions who earn more on the interest we pay to them than they earn on their investments in the stock market. Borrowing creates debt. Debt is an enemy to wealth building. I encourage you to use credit only when absolutely necessary.

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached at www. damonmoneycoach.com)

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JULY 1-7, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

PHARAH PHITTED is a singer and rapper making a name for herself in Pittsburgh.

MANIFESTING GREATNESS Pharah Phitted, a Penn Hills High School graduate, has her mind set on becoming ‘the next big thing’ in the music world

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

In a world filled with haters, it seems like people will press the “thumbs down” button on, say, a YouTube video, for reasons even they can’t explain.

But for Pittsburgh hiphop artist Pharah Phitted, as of June 25, on her last two official music video singles that she uploaded to her YouTube page, “Pick & Choose” and “Call 4 U,” she’s making even the haters press “thumbs up.”

Those two videos had a combined 386 “thumbs ups,” and only 7 “thumbs downs” — in other words, 98 percent of those who voted approved of Pharah’s music.

“What separates me is my innovation and focus,” Pharah, a 2011 graduate of Penn Hills High School, told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview. “I am uncharted territory. I sing and rap, and I mean I really SANG. I also have such a

unique sound that can’t be found anywhere but with me. It’s my niche.”

In “Call 4 U,” Pharah shows off her singing skills for the entire track. She told the Courier she’s been singing since she was 4. “I knew from a young child that I wanted to do music,” she said. “I would sing Deborah Cox and Whitney Houston like you wouldn’t believe! The rap side came a little later in my career, once I started writing poems and it turned into rhymes that turned into songs. It was a nice transition.”

Meanwhile, in her latest video, “Pick & Choose,” Pharah shows off her rapping skills: “I’m too fresh like Listerine, I’m her drug antihistamine, it’s about what you say, don’t matta what you mean, we ain’t come here to play, we came to get paid, that’s yo gift to me, I pop up or pull up on scene…”

For Pharah Phitted, whose real name is Taylor Street, music is more than a hobby or a pas-

sion—it’s her calling.

After graduating from Penn Hills High School, she attended Seton Hill

music than the medicine, and left the university to further pursue her music career. She has

of Hazelwood and Allderdice High School, is an internationally-known hip-hop artist—but he,

It’s free to support.”

In addition to performing locally in Pittsburgh, such as a headliner in

PHARAH PHITTED

University for pre-med, but was more into the

“I have a game plan that, once executed, will lead me right to where I want to be. I just have to understand the journey and prepare for the roller coaster ride. But I am the next big thing. I am the new wave of music. I truly believe that.”

PHARAH PHITTED

PHARAH PHITTED

maintained a position in the medical field, while, for example, she dropped a track in 2019 to bring awareness to police brutality against African Americans. She posted the track, called “Melanin,” on May 16, six weeks after former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld was found not guilty on all charges in the shooting death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose II. “Whenever you get pulled over better pull out your camera, ‘cause a broken tail light could be your last night, livin’ bad decisions let these cops off regardless of who witness,” Pharah, 27, raps on the track.

Wiz Khalifa, the pride

along with the late Mac Miller, is the exception to the rule when it comes to Pittsburgh hip-hop artists making an imprint on a national level.

It’s not because there isn’t talent in Pittsburgh—there’s plenty—but Pharah tells the Courier that the major record labels are checking first to see if your own city (Pittsburgh) is supporting you.

“It is very hard (to get national recognition) because it is so hard to get love from our own city,” Pharah said. “…It’s just hard to do here because everyone is in competition with each other, when in reality, we are all unique and have our own way of doing things.

2018 for the Pittsburgh Pride Festival, Pharah has networked some 3,000 miles away at the BET Experience in Los Angeles, Calif. Oftentimes, that’s the hustle it takes to get that big break, to become that household name, known to all across the U.S. and beyond.

Pharah believes she’ll get there.

“I have a game plan that, once executed, will lead me right to where I want to be,” she told the Courier. “I just have to understand the journey and prepare for the roller coaster ride. But I am the next big thing. I am the new wave of music. I truly believe that.”

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 1-7, 2020 B3

What have we become?

Guest Editorial

Time for real change in Black America It is time to face facts: the relationship between Black people and the United States of America is at a crossroads. The past couple of months have revealed a festering wound in race relations that needs more than a band aid solution; real change must happen.

Juneteenth was recently celebrated. This is the date on June 19, 1865, that the last slaves discovered they had been freed, even though the Emancipation happened two years earlier in 1863. Actually, this is not even correct; according to recent research and personal testimony, some African Americans were slaves as late as the 1960s. This is unbelievable, but true!

Considering the foregoing, the number and depth of atrocities endured by Black people in America has been astounding. These include the wholesale slaughter of Black people by the police who, even with people watching, are continuing to kill innocent and unarmed Blacks. Lately, an even more ominous turn of events is unfolding wherein five Black men have been found hanging from trees. These deaths, so far, have been attributed to suicides! This is highly unlikely and has all of the earmarks of lynching! We know that we can’t get truth from some authorities regarding these incidents; lying has been a strategy of White supremacists as evidenced by the number of policemen and others who have yet to suffer adequately for murdering Blacks. For example, with Breonna Taylor, an African American EMT who was murdered in her bed when police broke into the wrong home and killed her, the police turned in an empty report leaving out important details and saying she was unharmed!

The foregoing goes a long way to explain why it is difficult for Black people to trust anything that comes from White America. As a result of recent demonstrations, a number of concessions seem to be forthcoming that portend real change. For example, Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben have come under pressure with corporations threatening to remove them from their products. In fact, all around, people seem to be waking up and finding the stench of racism everywhere. Yet, even though this is the case, many Black people are not at all satisfied, and are urging for more substantive reforms other than what some think are just cosmetic adjustments.

If we are to experience real change, there is one other important issue in America that must be addressed. While the country has been reeling from the murder of Black people by the police, others are lamenting the numerous murders that are the result of Black-on-Black crime. Recently in one Black community, numerous people were killed over the course of a weekend with a child the age of three as one victim. The challenge surrounding this is that a cadre of Blacks has emerged who are actively shaming and chastising those individuals who dare to point out problems of Black-on-Black crime. In fact, a number of people are actually saying that Black-on-Black crime does not exist!!! And those who are not in denial of its existence say that we shouldn’t take our attention away from the problems that the community faces elsewhere. It is as though these people think that we cannot walk and chew gum; that we cannot and should not multi-task. The truth, though, is that we will have to do BOTH. In nature, if there is change in one thing, the other will be impacted as well. The problems in the Black community will continue to render the community ineffective if we don’t address those inside as well as outside the community.

Regarding this last issue, there is a wrinkle; because of distrust, some people are concerned that some of these “Black-on-Black” murders are actually being committed by White men who are masquerading as Blacks! Essentially, this might be possible; but it’s also true that there are Blacks killing other Blacks.

So, the bottom line is this: it is time for real change to happen regarding Blacks in America. We have more allies than at any time in the past who are advocating for our rights. It will be important that we engage with these allies and refrain from alienating them if we are to expect success. And finally, we must have an agenda to present that will let people know what we want in order to redress the myriad wrongs that Black people have faced. The most important of these should include REPARATIONS; the time is NOW to seriously push for this change!

(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

Founded 1910

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

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

( T r i c e E d n e y Wi r e. c o m ) — We r e we ever better? There was a time when many Black people had hope and had reason to believe America had made progress on civil and human rights. I remember Dick Gregory frequently saying to me, “Don’t you know when a man like Donald Trump and his people put on MAGA hats and talk about making America great again, they’re acting like America once was great.” I look around me and see a few Black and Brown people that have been treated fairly and have become successful; but for every one of them, there’re many others who no matter how hard they work, there’s no justice.

That’s why there’s no peace now.

After seeing the countless number of murders from the time Black people were enslaved, through Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, we’ve seen racism directed toward Black, Brown and Native people. We’ve seen hatred from the highest level of those who are charged with promoting success, justice, peace for the least of God’s children. The promise of America never trickles down to so many of us.

When Barack Obama was elected, hope was in the air and many of us began to believe America was changing. We thought change had finally come to America. The word hope became the word of the day. Barack served 8 flawless years. People all over the world

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary loved him; many even loved Michelle more and that was okay because as a team they made us proud. Even with Mitch McConnell and his crew vowing to do everything they could to make him fail, through sheer grit, hope and determination, Barack succeeded in many things.

Then came the election of 2016.

The Republican Party tried to disassemble everything Barack had done. They promised to dismantle “ObamaCare”—the health plan so many Americans have testified to it as their saving grace. They promised to bring to us a better plan. Now, in nearly four years, we’ve seen no plan to replace the Affordable Health Care plan.

They’ve tried hard to dismantle DACA. The police have killed more Black people than criminals have in the past few years. Yet, Trump and his MAGA people have done more damage to America’s image than any known president before him.

His ego is so delicate that as he tries to wipe away everything President Obama did for the peo-

ple. He’s wrecking all the progress we thought we had made. To add insult to injury, he is doing all he can do to erase any successes, any opportunities Black, Brown and Native people had begun to enjoy.

Just four months ago, we saw the brutal murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. Two months ago, it was Breonna Taylor in Kentucky killed in a no-knock raid that turned out to be a mistake. George Floyd died from a knee on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. Rayshard Brooks died in Atlanta from a shot in the back for having a bit too much to drink that had put him to sleep in his own car. There’s Carlos Ingram Lopez in Tucson who died after telling the police he could not breathe while they were holding him down. 18-year-old student, Andres Guardo, was killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff ’s deputy while in custody. There’ve been murders of Native Americans. As a matter of fact, longtime police brutality in their community drove many Native Americans to join those protesting the murders of George Floyd and others.

What have we become in this country when life means nothing to those charged with guarding and protecting us from the socalled criminal element? All of us must stand up for police reform NOW!

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

‘Plan A: Don’t go in a crowd. Plan B: If you do, make sure you wear a mask.’

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Look at the guidelines. The leaders, the governors, the mayors, the local leaders at the county level—look at the guidelines. Many of the governors and the mayors are doing well, but it’s the people that are out there that are not listening because, as you said, they’re pent up. Please restrain that. If you follow the guidelines and do it slowly and discreetly and do it very carefully, we’ll get through this.”—Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health Weeks ago, as some governors began to lift stay-at-home orders against federal guidelines, the National Urban League urged people to stay home. In a joint statement with other civil rights organizations, we said the governors’ actions showed “reckless disregard for the health and life of Black residents.”

Now, sadly, a surge in coronavirus infections has confirmed our worst fears. The United States set a record this week for the most infections confirmed in one day: 36,880. That brings the number of confirmed infections to more than 2.4 million.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that only about one in every 10 COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has been identified.

That means more than 20 million people in the U.S. may have been

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal infected.

Officially, more than 122,400 Americans have died from COVID-19 in just over four months. That is more Americans than died in all of World War I, or the Vietnam and Korean wars combined. It’s more Americans than died in the first wave of the deadly flu of 1918. And most experts agree the true death toll is much higher than the official count.

Contrary to the claims of the Trump administration, increased testing does not explain the surge in reported infections. The number of people testing positive is rising much faster than the number of people being tested. 20 states currently have a positivity rate above 5 percent. The World Health Organization recommends rates of positivity should remain below 5 percent for 14 days before states consider reopening.

Arizona reported that 21.15 percent of tests are coming back positive. Florida’s positivity rate

is 12.22 percent.

There’s little question that the surge is related to the rush to reopen the nation’s economy without proper safety measures in place Earlier outbreaks were linked to nursing homes, prisons, and meat packing plants—places where people had little choice but to be present. The current surge is linked to crowded bars, casinos, and churches—where there is little need for anyone to be present.

It has always been a dangerous fiction that our choice is between saving the economy or saving lives. The stock market tumbled in response to the surge in infections, and states are being forced to shut down businesses again.

Our choice is between rebuilding the economy safely or risking thousands of lives and throwing the country into an even worse economic crisis.

Interestingly, at the same time infections are rising due to voluntary large gatherings, a study concluded that the demonstrations against police brutality did not lead to a spike in infections as many had feared. That is partly because a significant percentage of the demonstrators have worn masks.

As the nation’s leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress this week: “Plan A: Don’t go in a crowd. Plan B: If you do, make sure you wear a mask.”

Why did it take so long to get police violence on the agenda?

by Mike Jones America is obviously having a Man in the Mirror moment on the issue of race as the result of the police murder of George Floyd. In the ensuing three weeks we have seen multiethnic, multiracial mass protests against the system of American policing. These protests have not only touched every corner of America but have also gone global.

While White America is having this moment of introspection, the Black community is long-overdue for a film session to review how we’ve politically performed for the last 30-40 years. We have a pressing strategic political challenge: what adjustments do we need to make to our game at this moment?

Professional athletes regularly have to develop two sets of things simultaneously: their physical conditioning and skills and their understanding of the game and how they’re playing it. They understand their game by studying film of their play and then make adjustments based upon what they learn.

The film session we need is to review the performance of African American elected officials. The public policy that affects our lives is a function of local, state and federal government. The people who create and execute those policies are elected and appointed government officials. These are players in the political arena where policy is made.

A major premise of the Civil Rights Movement was if Black Americans could guarantee their right to vote, they

could elect representatives (players) who could advance policies that would improve their quality of life. What was the impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act? In 1970 there were approximately 1469 elected officials in America; in 2010 the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies estimated there were approximately 10,500. In Congress we’ve gone from 10 Black representatives and no senators to 52 representatives and three senators. You could argue we’ve done even better in large urban areas where the majority of African Americans live. It’s almost impossible to name a major American city that has elected no African-American mayors, and no major city lacks a critical political mass of African-American council members.

Over the last 30 years, we have not suffered from a lack of numerical representation. So why haven’t we made the progress in the public policy arena that everyone Black thought would happen if we got chance to vote and elected people who looked like us?

Atlanta elected its first Black mayor, the legendary Maynard Jackson, in 1973 and hasn’t had a White mayor since, and it’s had a majority of African Americans on its city council for decades. Atlanta’s reputation for economic inclusion for Black folks has reached mythic proportions. If there is any place in America where the problems of the Black community that have a public policy solution could be implemented it

should be Atlanta.

Then why is it that just now—in midJune 2020 after three weeks of nationwide demonstrations and the latest Atlanta Police killing of Rayshard Brooks —Mayor Keesha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order that begins to restrain the use of unjustifiable deadly force against the Black community by the Atlanta Police Department?

There are currently 52 African American members of the U.S. House of Representatives (there were 10 in 1969); they represent 22 percent of the Democratic Caucus. This means no Democratic priority can pass in the House without their unanimous support. The House will pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. Democrats, with African American members of Congress out front, will take a victory lap. But they should answer why it has taken this long and these circumstances to get police reform on the Democratic agenda.

Players look at game film to play better. Coaches look at game film to evaluate player performance. While there are often mediating circumstances when a team fails to meet expectations, usually it’s because your players need to get better or you need to get better players.

As it relates to the African American political class, it’s past time for the Black community to look at the political game film the way coaches do. And the tape don’t lie.

(Reprinted from the St. Louis American)

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SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Multi IT Related Postns w/ National Placement out of Allegheny County, PA. Must be able to relo to multi unanticipated sites when req’d. Min of a Bach’s degree w/ 5 yrs of exp or in the alternate a Master’s w/ 1 yr of IT rel’d exp. All degrees must be in either Comp, Info Systms, Eng’g or IT rel’d field. Any suit com o of edu, training or exp is acceptable. See below for req’d skills for each job: Software Developers: Salary $103,314/yr.

(HCM): Must’ve SAP skills in HCM & ECC. Ref# HCM–0519-GLX (HADOOP): Must’ve skills in Hadoop; Hive; Spark & HDFS. Ref# HAD– 0519-GLX (SALESFORCE): Must’ve skills in Salesforce; Siebel; OBIEE; SoapUI; MSSQL & Oracle. Ref# SFC–0519-GLX (HCM BUSINESS): May also have a Degree in Bus as well as above listed degrees. Must’ve SAP skills in HCM & ECC. Ref# HCB–0519-GLX (DATASTAGE): May also a have Degree Bus or Mngmnt as well as above listed degrees. Must’ve skills in DataStage; SQL; Unix & DB2. Ref# DAT–0120-GLX (JAVA/ORACLE): May also a have Degree Bus or Mngmnt as well as above listed degrees. Must’ve skills in Java; Oracle; XML; PL/SQL; & SQL. Ref# JAO–0120-GLX (JAVA): May also a have Degree Bus or Mngmnt as well as above listed degrees. Must’ve skills in Java; J2EE; Oracle; XML & PL/SQL. Ref# JAV– 0120-GLX Database Administrator: Salary $92,768/yr.

(SQL): May also have a Degree in Bus as well as above listed degrees.

Must’ve skills in SQL Server; SSIS/ SSRS; VMWare; ERWIN. Ref# DBA– 0519-GLX All post’ns are FT, perm 9-5, 40 hrs/wk.

Use Ref# & send resume to HR, Galax-Esystems Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant St, Ste 4300, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or E-mail hr@galaxesystems. com. Galax-Esystems Corporation is an EOE M/F/V/D.

Software Support Analyst Port Authority is seeking a Software Support Analyst to support day-today software application and operational management for software.

Primary support will be for the Work Order and Asset Management System(s), with cross-support for other related applications also included.

Works with Authority and vendor personnel to identify any technology related issues with the software application and then follows through until conclusion. Provides training support, and assistance in the design of user documentation.

Essential Functions: •Serve as technical analyst of software: Analyze application error and message logs, and work to resolve issues. Manage database storage and application software for periodic version updates and upgrades.

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Job requirements include: •Two year technical school/Associate Degree in Computer Science, Information Science or technology related field from an accredited school with five years relevant experience in web-based software application using SQL or •BS Degree in Computer Science, Information Science or a technology related field from an accredited school or related field with three years relevant experience in webbased software applications using SQL. •Related experience may be substituted for the education on a yearfor-year basis.

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•Professional and effective communication skills.

•Exemplary attention to detail.

A ility to e exi le and adapt to change.

•Valid PA driver’s license.

Preferred attributes: •Prior implementation project experience.

•Good understanding of a web based EAM or ERP application.

•Experience with large, complex deployments of an EAM or ERP application.

•Knowledgeable in Crystal Reports.

FULL-TIME VISITOR SERVICES MANAGER. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is seeking a full-time visitor services manager. Please send resumes with salary requirement to hrvs@pittsburghzoo.org. The job description will be posted in a reply. EOE CITY OF WASHINGTON FULL-TIME FIRE FIGHTERS GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: •High School Diploma •Must be 18 years of age •United States Citizen •Must have a current, valid PA Driver’s License •Must obtain a CDL Class B License within (one) year of hire date •Must obtain EMT-B within (one) year of hire date •Upon hiring must adhere to the living restriction (10 air mile radius from Washington County Courthouse) ADDITIONAL TESTING INFORMATION: •Civil Service Examinations, including Physical Agility •Background Investigation •Medical and Psychological Evaluation SALARY AND BENEFITS: •Base Salary $47,840.62 •Life, Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance •Paid Holidays and Vacations •Uniform Allowance •Longevity Pay APPLICATIONS: •May be obtained from the City Clerk at 55 West Maiden Street Washington, PA 15301, between 9 AM and 4:00 PM •Applications must be returned to the ffice of the ity lerk no later than 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 10, 2020.

Academic Chair-School of Design, V.P. Student Affairs/Enrollment Mgt., Maintenance Tech/HVAC/Electrical & Housekeeping Positions Pittsburgh Technical College is seeking ualified applicants for the following positions: •Academic Chair – School of Design Master’s degree in related discipline •V.P. Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Master’s degree required, doctorate preferred •Maintenance Tech – HVAC/ Electrical – Full-time Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (8 hour work shift) ust e niversal A ertified •Housekeeper – Full-time - Day Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (8 hour work shift) years prior office institutional cleaning experience •Housekeeper – Part-time – Evening Between the hours of 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (4 hour work shift) rior office institutional cleaning experience preferred Must pass criminal background check.

Immediate opening at our North Fayette campus near Robinson Towne Center. Apply to www.ptcollege.edu (Employment with PTC) or www.workforptcollege.com .

EOE M/F

We offer a comprehensive compensation and enefits package. nterested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Danielle Jacobson Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 DJacobson@portauthority.org EOE INTAKE COUNSELOR NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania, a non profit housing counseling agency helping our neighbors achieve their homeownership goals, seeks an Intake Counselor with strong interpersonal and customer-service skills. The Intake Counselor will provide strategic support to our customer ow and management system. Responsibilities include answering phone and email inquiries, managing the customer intake process and counselors’ schedules, and providing data entry and billing support. This is a full-time, salaried position with enefits. or details and how to apply, visit: https://jobs.nonprofittalent.com/ job/intake-counselor/.

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

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM PLAN JUNE 22, 2020 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is requesting to add additional guidance to the Homeownership Program Plan, listed as an attachment to the Moving To Work (MTW) Annual Plan, requiring participants to reduce the amount borrowed from the 1st mortgage lender in order to achieve an affordable Homeownership Expense ayment as defined y the HACP, and to utilize the full amount of additional, deferred payment mortgages, prior to applying HACP assistance to the transaction, if applicable.

In addition, the HACP is requesting to add the guidance advising that participants must utilize a licensed professional to assist with their purchase including, but not limited to, drafting sales contracts and to change the soft second mortgage from a forgivable mortgage to a Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) for households that may be eligible to receive more than $52,000 subsidy to achieve an affordable Homeownership Expense Payment. The HACP’s second deferred payment mortgage will be forgiven at a rate of 10% each year up to $52,000. For participants, whose deferred mortgage loan amounts exceed $52,000, the term will be for 99 years and a share of the home’s appreciation is due upon resale for the portion of the loan that is in excess of $52,000.

Finally, the HACP is requesting to add a subordination policy statement to the Homeownership Plan, and to add a statement clarifying the clause that “buyer is not responsible for repairs” that is required on the sales contract.

DATES AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW: June 22 – July 22, 2020 Proposed changes can be reviewed on the HACP website at www.hacp.org; or, copies of the proposed changes can be requested via mail or email by contacting: DeAnna.Vaughn@hacp.org The HACP will hold a meeting to receive public comments via Zoom on July 22, 2020, from 12 to 1 p.m., and from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The HACP will gather all comments and review them at the close of the comment period. All written comments will be retained by the HACP and shall be available for inspection upon request.

All requests should be made to Deanna.Vaughn@hacp.org PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION: AUGUST 1, 2020 If you have specific questions regarding the proposed changes to the Homeownership Program Plan, please contact DeAnna Vaughn at 412-643-2808 or DeAnna.Vaughn@hacp.org If you are a person with a disability and need assistance, please contact the HACP Disability Compliance ffice at .

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR SEWER AND CATCH BASIN MAINTENANCE AUTHORITY WIDE IFB #300-18-20 REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request ids from ualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service(s): SEWER AND CATCH BASIN MAINTENANCE AUTHORITY WIDE IFB #300-18-20 REBID The documents will be available no later than June 29, 2020 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:30 A.M. on July 21, 2020.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 10:30 AM on July 21, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the 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 inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-bid meeting will be held via call in; on July 9, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. Please see call in information below: Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

Estate of SABRINA DAVENPORT, Deceased of New Kensington, PA 15068 No.022001925 of 2020,Holly Davenport Adm., 106 Cable Dr. New Kensington, PA 15068 to Allegheny Law Group, LLC. Attys. 816 5th Ave Ste 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of RUTH S. GABELHART a/k/a RUTH ELIZABETH GABELHART, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania No.02-20-02781, Scott W. Gabelhart, Executor, 1064 Elizabeth Drive, McMurray, PA 15317 or to Robin L. Rarie, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of SZLEC PATRICIA ANN a/k/a SZELC PATRICIA A, Deceased of Shalet Township No.02556 of 2020, Brian J. Szelc, Executor, 246 Corey Dr., Gibsonia, PA 15044 or to Micheal J. Saldamarco, ESQ., Attys; STE. 100, 908 Perry Hwy. Pittsburgh, PA 15229

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq. Attorneys, Ste. 100, 908 Perry Hwy, Pittsburgh, PA 15229; Notice is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the epartment of tate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a business corporation which has been incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporation Law of 1988. The name of the corporation is Enspra Corp.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR PLUMBING REPAIR SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE REBID IFB #300-02-20 REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request ids from ualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service(s): PLUMBING REPAIR SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE REBID IFB #300-02-20 REBID The documents will be available no later than June 29, 2020 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on July 21, 2020.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 10:00 AM on July 21, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the 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-bid meeting will be held via call in; on July 9, 2020 at 9:00 A.M. Please see call in information below: Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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

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.

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Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR FIRE AND SECURITY ALARM MONITORING AUTHORITY WIDE IFB #300-17-20 REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request ids from ualified irms or ndividuals capa le of providing the following service s FIRE AND SECURITY ALARM MONITORING AUTHORITY WIDE IFB #300-17-20 REBID he documents will e availa le no later than June 29, 2020 and signed, sealed ids will e accepted until 11:00 A.M. on July 21, 2020.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 11:00 AM on July 21, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the 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. arties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre id meeting will e held via call in; on July 9, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. Please see call in information elow Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women usiness enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR DRIVERS TRAINING FOR RESIDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IFB #550-10-20 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request ids from ualified irms or ndividuals capa le of providing the following service s DRIVERS TRAINING FOR RESIDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IFB #550-10-20 he documents will e availa le no later than June 29, 2020 and signed, sealed ids will e accepted until 11:30 A.M. on July 21, 2020.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 11:30 AM on July 21, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Sealed bids may 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. arties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business pportunities page of www. A . org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre id meeting will e held via call in; on July 9, 2020 at 12:00 P.M. Please see call in information elow Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women usiness enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting etters of nterest and tatements of ualifications from rofessional ompanies who wish to e considered for the following Tunnel Program Management Services (S-475) nterested arties shall su mit an electronic copy (pdf format) emailed to suzanne.thomas@alcosan.org Attn:Suzanne Thomas, rocurement fficer All questions should be submitted, in writing, to u anne homas An informational meeting will be held on-line via Microsoft Teams on July 15,2020 at 2:30 p.m. (EST) All parties interested in attending the informational meeting shall send an email to Suzanne Thomas. Once the emails are complied. ALCOSAN will email a Microsoft Teams meeting invite. This meeting is not mandatory but all interested parties are encouraged to attend.

A A intends to award the services to one firm to perform all of the services. all su mittals must e received no later 2:00 p.m. August 14, 2020. t is onsultant s responsiility to ensure the documents have een received. ate su mittals will not be considered. Additional information and instructions may be obtained by visiting https://www.alcosan.org/ work-with-us/planned-and-activebids ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated y minorities, disadvantaged and women s usiness enterprises to su mit ualification statements or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the selected onsultant irm. he Party selected shall be required to utili e minority, disadvantaged, and women s usiness enterprises to the fullest extent possible. The goals of ALCOSAN s inority and Women Business Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN we site at www. alcosan.org Kimberly Kennedy, PE Director, Engineering and Construction

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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.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO.1731 The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is soliciting CONTRACT No.1731-FURNISH AND DELIVER SULFURIC ACID. Bids will be received until 11:00A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at the office of the Authority, re le Avenue, itts urgh, A . he Bids will then e pu licly opened and read.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated y minorities and women to su mit bids on Authority Proposals or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the successful bidders.

Successful Bidders are to use minority or women s usinesses to the fullest extent possible.

Documents pertaining to the submission of Bids are availa le at the ngineering office of the Authority, re le Avenue, itts urgh, A . Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the i a ertifie hec or i Bond in the amount of $1,000.00.

The Successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond in the amount of $20,000.00.

Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Benjamin J. Heilman, Contract Supervisor at or Benjamin.Heilman@alcosan.org. he Authority reserves the right to re ect 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 J. Heilman Contract Supervisor

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LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) DEPARTMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RFP#400-12-20 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or ndividuals capa le of providing the following service s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Departmental Technical Assistance RFP #400-12-20 he documents will e availa le no later than June 15, 2020 and signed, sealed proposals will e accepted until 10:00 A.M. on July 9, 2020 at which time they will e Time and Date Stamped at 100 oss treet nd loor, uite , Pittsburgh, PA 15219. arties 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 su mission meeting will e held via call in on June 25, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. Please see call in information elow Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women usiness enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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

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

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com

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

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

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140

Support the publication that is ALWAYS focused on Pittsburgh’s African American community.

Subscribe to the Courier today by calling 412-481-8302, ext. 140

E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO.1732 The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is soliciting CONTRACT No.1732-FURNISH AND DELIVER SODIUM BISULFITE. Bids will be received until 11:00AM., Prevailing Time, Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at the office of the Authority, re le Avenue, itts urgh, A . he Bids will then e pu licly opened and read.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated y minorities and women to su mit ids on Authority Proposals or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the successful bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority or women s usinesses to the fullest extent possible. he Authority reserves the right to re ect 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.

Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a ertifie hec or i on in the amount of $1,000.00. The Successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond in the amount of $50,000.00.

Documents pertaining to the submission of Bids are availa le at the ngineering ffice of the Authority, re le Avenue, itts urgh, A . Any uestions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Benjamin J. Heilman at or Benjamin.

Heilman@alcosan.org ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Benjamin J. Heilman Contract Supervisor

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

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B5

B6 JULY 1-7, 2020

Black people suffer disproportionately from dementia crisis

by Dr. Lucille Ridgill (NNPA)—Alzheimer’s disease (the most common type of dementia) is the 6th leading cause of death among White people, but the 4th leading cause of death for Black people like me. The Black population age 65+ is projected to more than double in size in the next 10 years, which means dementia diagnoses in our community also could more than double in number. Dementia is called a “silent epidemic” among Black people because many of us refuse to acknowledge or discuss this horrific disease. As a physician who has a close family member who was recently diagnosed with dementia, I feel the great loss of the ever-decreasing communication with my loved one and that is very painful.

Its increasing toll is also due to untreated or inadequately treated hypertension and diabetes causing vascular dementia.

This occurrence is due to the progressive destruction of the vascular supply. The disease progresses slowly so that family members and physicians are shocked when it becomes apparent.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s at this time, but you can check your glucose and blood pressure regularly and take anti-hypertensive and diabetes medications as prescribed to delay or prevent vascular dementia. It is important to make sure family members understand their susceptibility and take action as necessary. Failure to do so can lead to delayed medical care and caregiver burnout of family members.

That’s why it is important for Black people to use “Alzheimer’s And Brain Awareness Month” as inspiration to remedy this situation.

One major reason Black people suffer disproportionately from Alzheimer’s is we are underrepresented in dementia research, in part because many of us are unwilling to donate our brains to research or participate in brain studies due to distrust of the medical system. The good news is that this problem is dissipating as more physicians and health care workers of color enter the healthcare system.

Another reason is Black people suffer disproportionately from diseases linked to a higher risk of dementia, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. It is no coincidence that two-thirds of my Medicare patients (67 percent) suffer from vascular and Alzheimer’s disease, 71 percent have diabetes and 75 percent have high blood pressure.

The Black community must demand that lawmakers significantly increase financial resources to reduce dementia among people of color, but we also must take personal responsibility for improving our eating habits and lifestyle to reduce our susceptibility to it. If fresh fruits and vegetables are not available where you live, you can buy them at the increasingly available farmers market or grow them in your own garden, increasing your exercise activity, while providing you with good, healthy food.

However, since dementia is incurable, we also must do advance planning for the care we would want in case we get dementia, so we don’t have to suffer needlessly by involuntarily receiving treatments we don’t want to artificially extend our life during the last, most debilitating stages of dementia. For example, when we have lost everything that matters to us: the memory of loved ones, of our life, our identity, and the ability to speak.

In fact, people with dementia may endure implanted defibrillators, mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, and other invasive interventions—all given with the intention to extend life—but often at a cost of diminished quality of life and prolonged suffering.

Even seemingly simple treatments like chest x-rays, urine samples (which often require bladder catheterizations), blood draws, and hospital transfers may become uncomfortable and invasive for cognitive impairment.

The healthcare needs of people with dementia at the end of life are unique and require special consideration. It is also important to discuss important life challenges caused by dementia of any sort earlier in the disease process so you can address important end-of-life care decisions and family business. Request an appointment with your physician and attorney.

In addition, a national profit organization, Compassion & Choices, has created a Dementia Values & Priorities Tool to facilitate this care planning process. This free, fully customizable tool walks you through 15 common symptoms of dementia and helps you to identify if and when your goal for care may change from “do everything possible” to “allow for my natural death.”

Creating a dementia-specific advance care plan relieves the burden from loved ones and/or the healthcare proxy to make difficult decisions when you can no longer speak for yourself. A complementary tool, the Dementia Decoder allows you or a healthcare proxy to indicate the current status of your dementia diagnosis, specify what you or your healthcare proxy hope to learn and accomplish from an upcoming clinical appointment and customize that experience from a list of helpful questions.

Take it from a physician of color repeatedly heartbroken from watching many patients suffer needlessly from dementia: it is infinitely better to plan for your care for dementia and not get it than it is to not plan for your care for dementia and get it.

(Dr. Lucille Ridgill is an internist and primary care provider for adults in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.)

FORUM

From George Wallace to Bubba Wallace When George Wallace, a “Black Lives Matter” car J. Pharoah Doss the new governor of Alain another. bama, stood at a podium to Wallace’s mother give his inaugural address, couldn’t believe it. the date was January 14, She humorously told 1963. It was nine years The New York Times, “I after the U.S. Supreme said, ‘Wait a minute! Is Court declared segregation this my son? The one who in public schools unconstidoesn’t care about anytutional. It was one year thing but getting in the after President John F. Kennedy used car and driving?’ I’m tripping that he’s federal force to integrate the Universigone from being a race car driver to a ty of Mississippi, making James Merdaggone activist. Who does that? Not edith their first Black student. During Bubba.”

George Wallace’s inaugural address, he Wallace told The Times that for years, announced Alabama would not subhe focused solely on racing and didn’t mit to federal intervention. Then he try to “disturb the culture of a sport said the infamous phrase, “I draw the whose fan base is predominately White line in the dust and toss the gauntlet and conservative.” Wallace also said, before the feet of tyranny and I say, “I never saw color and never thought I segregation now, segregation tomorrow, was treated differently because I was and segregation forever.”

Black.”

Wallace’s speech was a battle cry.

He explained when he was 13 he was In 1963, Medgar Evers, an NAACP called a racial slur by a driver’s parent field secretary, was murdered by a and a race official. Wallace’s mother White supremacist in Mississippi, the told him those were ignorant people KKK bombed a Black church killand he was in a White man’s sport and ing four little girls in Alabama, and not everything was going to be easy.

President Kennedy was assassinated.

As Wallace gained notoriety as the Three years later, after the passage of latest sports figure to become an the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 anti-racist activist, a noose, a symbol Voting Rights Act, Meredith decided of lynching, was found in Wallace’s gato lead a “march against fear” through rage stall. Wallace’s mother told him, the state of Mississippi to encourage “They are just trying to scare you.” At Blacks to register to vote. Two days the next race, all the other drivers and into the march, Meredith was shot and their crewmen walked with Wallace wounded by a White supremacist. But as he pushed his car into position on the shooting didn’t stop the march. The the track. All the other drivers and major civil rights organizations picked crewmembers stood with Wallace as up Meredith’s mantle and continued the national anthem played. It was a the “march against fear” into the heart show of solidarity. It was their march of Mississippi. against fear.

Now, in 2020, 26-year-old Bubba Except there was nothing to fear.

Wallace, NASCAR’s only Black driver, Wallace wasn’t a target of any hate was inspired by the Black Lives Matter crime. According to the FBI probe, the protests following the police killing of “noose” was nothing but the garage George Floyd. Wallace insisted that door pull rope, and had been there NASCAR ban the confederate flag from since last year. its events to demonstrate its commitWhen the “noose” was first discovment to fighting racism. NASCAR ered, Wallace, who actually never complied and stated the confederate saw the noose firsthand, said it was a flag “runs contrary to our commitment painful reminder of how much further to providing an inclusive environwe have to go as a society. ment.”

But the whole situation actually Wallace then wore an “I can’t revealed how far society has come from breathe” T-shirt to one race and drove the times of George Wallace.

Check It Out

College football amid a pandemic is not worth the risk to young men’s lives (TriceEdneyWire.com)— Trumpsters thought twice Jesse Jackson Sr. How many lives of young about gathering in a closed men and women should arena to listen to hours be sacrificed for enterof speeches in a crowd tainment—and for billions parading without masks. in profit? That question Who will be responsible for can’t be ducked as the the athletes whose lives NCAA allows colleges to will be at risk so fans can begin “voluntary” football be entertained, and the practices, and other college teams universities can profit? College presibegin to practice. Colleges are desperdents now make big salaries, but they ate to open the full football season, a should feel a greater responsibility to source of millions in profits for colleges the young men and women who attend and universities. Donald Trump, who their schools. pretends that COVID-19 is behind us, College coaches make millions at bigwants a return to normal, with statime programs, but they should protect diums filled with fans cheering their the players that play for them. The heroes.

NCAA should reconsider its decision to Players are eager to compete and open practices now that the virus has to display their skills. Only problem spread so quickly. In the end, sadly, it is that the coronavirus doesn’t care is likely that the players themselves about profits or presidents, or about will have to be the adults in the room. fans or coaches. It doesn’t follow polls, At UCLA, 30 players petitioned the doesn’t care who wins the presidential university for additional protections, election, and has no party. It is deadly seeking a Third-Party Health Official and it’s still here, even spiking in more to review all safety measures and prothan 20 states. And now, it’s hitting tocols to ensure the greatest protection football players hard. Thirty Louisiana possible. They wanted guarantees that State players are in quarantine, either players would not lose their scholartesting positive for the virus or from ships or face retaliation if they chose being in contact with those who tested not to return to the campus for the positive. Twenty-three Clemson footseason this fall. They argued, sensibly, ball players have tested positive since that they could not trust university or workouts started on June 1. athletic department officials who had Thirteen at Texas, 14 at Kansas interests other than their lives and State, and more at Alabama, Mississip- health at stake. pi, Southern Florida, Auburn, OklaWith demonstrations in support of homa State and others. Houston and the Black Lives movement continuKansas State have suspended voluning, it is time for players to speak tary workouts after a raft of positive out. Oklahoma State’s football coach, tests. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United Mike Gundy, found that out when States’ leading infectious disease he wore a sweatshirt from OAN, the expert, warns that football might not virulent right-wing cable network that be possible now: ”Unless players are has consistently mocked Black Lives essentially in a bubble—insulated from Matter demonstrations. His Heisman the community and they are tested Award candidate, running back Chunearly every day—it would be very ba Hubbard, called him out, leading hard to see how football is able to be to Gundy’s abject apology for what he played this fall.” For Donald Trump, claimed was an ignorant mistake. Now this is unacceptable. players need to speak out about their He wants to pretend that the panown health and safety. College football demic has been conquered and wants is a wonderful spectator sport, but it is praise for the self-proclaimed “phenom- not worth the lives of young American enal job” that he has done, even though men. the U.S. has suffered more victims The same is true for other college than any other nation in the world. He sports. If college officials, college sought to kickstart his re-election cam- coaches and the NCAA are not prepaign with a rally in an enclosed arena pared to act responsibly, the athletes in Tulsa, Oklahoma, site of one of the themselves must take the lead. Their worst racial massacres in our history parents should support them. Thirty in 1921. players testing positive in “voluntary” Yet, after boasting that a million peopractices is 30 too many. It is time to ple had sought tickets for the 19,000give greater weight to the pandemic seat arena, he spoke before an arena experts than to the panicked administhat was only one-third full. Even the trators.

Commentary

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Ray Curry

Commentary 8 minutes and 46 seconds: May we never witness this again (NNPA)—Over the past weeks across the nation, united demonstrations have made the message clear: People have had enough of the ongoing struggle for equality and equity, of the battle against systemic injustice, and the fear of being a person of color in America.

The catalyst for the latest demonstrations was the senseless and tragic death of George Floyd on May 25 at the hands of four police officers in Minneapolis, Minn. Floyd’s death, those horrific eight minutes and 46 seconds as this American was begging for his life on an American street, was one of the most violent events witnessed through global media outlets.

Like all tipping points, this was nothing new. It was just too much. The weight of this horror became too heavy for our nation to bear.

Over years … decades ... generations … The situation is simply all too familiar. Black, brown and white, we cannot pick it up anymore and just carry on. I believe we are all too tired and we are all too weary of this. Too much pain, too much loss and too much grief.

IT MUST STOP. NOW. So, how do we proceed from here to heal this nation and finally institute meaningful change to make tragedies like George Floyd’s death a thing of the past?

Here is my answer. WE VOTE. What is necessary to make the real systemic change needed in this country is to not only to make our voices heard in peaceful demonstration but to make our voices heard at the polls as well. One will not work without the other.

We must unite and come together to elect leaders who are committed to reform, committed to real change and committed to the wellbeing of all of us.

Now, as we know, voting has roadblocks, too. The COVID-19 pandemic has truly called into question why should we stand in long lines at the polls, running the risk of spreading the virus? The good news is, we don’t need to take those risks. We have a system for absentee and mail-in voting, and we know it works.

A new look at voting In our current environment, mail-in voting should be a viable and easy-toaccess alternative to standing in long lines and exposing one another to the virus. The good news is, in more and more states like Michigan, Texas, Arizona and Virginia, it is easier than ever to vote absentee.

And contrary to the claims of opponents of mail-in voting who say it is not secure or does not work, there is no data to support this. Voter fraud—and especially fraudulent use of absentee ballots—is very rare. According to an article in The Hill “Over the past 20 years, about 250 million votes have been cast by a mail ballot nationally. The Heritage Foundation maintains an online database of election fraud cases in the United States and reports that there have been just over 1,200 cases of vote fraud of all forms, resulting in 1,100 criminal convictions, over the past 20 years. Of these, 204 involved the fraudulent use of absentee ballots.”

Considering that in the last midterm election 120 million voters turned out — in one election not 20 — that’s a miniscule percentage.

Let’s reach our goal So, we have two things on our plate right now: Ensuring that Americans, ALL AMERICANS, have the ability to vote and vote safely. And then making sure we do vote.

Choosing elected representatives, at the local, state and national level is imperative to combatting the injustices people of color face every day in this nation. We must support legislators who will work for us in enacting laws and policies that keep everyone safe from the type of actions that took the life of George Floyd, and so many others.

The Justice in Policing Act of 2020, currently being considered, would ban chokeholds, establish a national database to track police misconduct and prohibit certain no-knock warrants, among other initiatives. The bill, which has 230 co-sponsors as of this writing, contains several provisions that would make it easier to hold officers accountable for misconduct in civil and criminal court and includes law enforcement training provisions. To get measures like this one passed, we need the right people in elected office. That is the only way we will see real, systematic change.

As Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said during a recent Capitol Hill news conference, “Never again should the world be subjected to witnessing what we saw on the streets in Minneapolis: the slow murder of an individual by a uniformed police officer.”

To ensure this happens we must choose leadership that represents all of us. This November we can collectively get our arms under this awful burden and lift as one, lift as we say, in SOLIDARITY, to throw this terrible obstruction into the ditch where it forever belongs.