8.25.21 NPC

America’s best weekly

Ashley Comans announces campaign for likely open state House seat Page A2

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 112 No. 34 Two Sections

thenewpittsburghcourier Published Weekly $1.00

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

A LITTLE LAUGHTER IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC

‘Rock Comedy Show’ highlights Pittsburgh’s Black comics ‘Comedy is therapy,’ comics say

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

A once-in-a-century coronavirus pandemic has killed 630,000 people nationwide, including 28,000 in Pennsylvania and more than 2,000 in Allegheny County.

Many businesses in Downtown Pittsburgh and elsewhere have closed for good, leaving people without jobs.

And the debate over mask-wearing has become so politicized that parents in school districts are throwing proverbial chairs at school board members over it.

Is there any reason to smile these days?

Of course there is, say Pittsburgh’s Black comics, who are trying their hardest to make you fall out your seat in laughter during these trying times.

Fourteen local comics will be featured in the latest season of “The Rock Comedy Show,” a one-hour, seven-episode series that airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. beginning Aug. 25.

It can be viewed online and on social media, by searching The Rock Comedy Show, and at rockcomedyshow.com.

“A lot of comics like to say, the best way to cleanse a soul is through laughter; it’s not just through tears,”

said Leon Rockymore, creator of The Rock Comedy Show, which had its first season from January to March of this year.

Rockymore, a Pittsburgh native who grew up on the South Side and graduated from Carrick High School in 1999, started his own company, Roxamore, LLC, in 2006. In addition to his company broadcasting local high school sports, producing films and live-streaming graduations and weddings, Roxamore also streams funeral services live for those who are unable to attend due to COVID restrictions.

“While I’m at these funerals doing ministry work, I’m learning the reason why the person died. I started seeing that a lot of these caskets were for suicide,” Rockymore told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview, Aug. 23.

Rockymore’s findings weren’t unique to the Pittsburgh Black community. Across the nation, there has been an increase in suicides by African Americans during the pandemic. Specifically, a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., found that suicides among Black Maryland residents had doubled in the first three months of the pandemic

LEON ROCKYMORE, second from right, created “The Rock Comedy Show” to give mostly-local Black comics a chance to showcase their skills and brighten people’s days in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show is online-only due to COVID. Also pictured are Pittsburgh comics One Eye, Samantha Bentley and Izzy 4 Real, a 2014 West Mifflin Area High School graduate. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.) (March to May 2020) as opposed to the average number of Black suicides during that time in 20172019. From March 5 to May 7 in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Black suicides averaged 11.3. But in the same period in 2020, the number ballooned to 22. The 22 suicides in that time frame in 2020 were vastly higher than the 12 in that span in 2019, 14 in 2018 and 8 in 2017.

The same study revealed that among the White community in Maryland, suicides went down during

BRADDOCK SHINES

LILLIAN CANNON, a Penn Hills resident, is one of the featured comics on The Rock Comedy Show.

the first three months of the pandemic, from 72 in 2019 (pre-pandemic) to 43 in 2020. Paul Nestadt, M.D., the Johns Hopkins professor who directed the study, said that it was possible White residents found greater social supports during the first pandemic peak than Black residents, or had a deeper economic cushion to ride out the shutdown.

Suicide hit very close to home for Rockymore; he had a friend in the Pittsburgh area who committed suicide in July. His wife’s

brother, also committed suicide.

Other funerals that Rockymore would live-stream were people who died specifically from complications due to COVID-19.

But family members of the deceased would discuss how hard it would be to move forward. “They can’t cope, they can’t grieve, they can’t heal,” Rockymore told the Courier. “So we wanted to try to provide an option to help people heal.”

Thus, the virtual comedy SEE COMEDY SHOW A4

If elected, Gainey promises a transparent administration Democratic nominee for mayor itching at the chance to lead Pittsburgh

by Charlie Wolfson PublicSource

CARL SMITH JR. AND TINA DOOSE, Braddock Borough Councilwoman, were among the many who celebrated Braddock Community Day 2021, on Friday, Aug. 13. See more photos on Pages A6-7.

(Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

To subscribe, call 412-481-8302 ext. 136

It’s been three months since state Rep. Ed Gainey won the Democratic primary for mayor of Pittsburgh, defeating two-term incumbent Bill Peduto. With more than two months until the general election and more than four months until the next mayor will take office, Rep. Gainey is in a strange position. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the November election but can’t start a transition.

His campaign has mostly been quiet through the summer, except for

occasional written statements and unannounced appearances at community events. PublicSource interviewed Rep. Gainey on Monday, Aug. 16, and asked him how he views several key issues facing the city, including the use of relief funds, municipal consolidation and COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

UPMC

Representative Gainey made UPMC, the dominant healthcare and hospital provider and the region’s largest employer, a main character of his campaign. He ran on the promise that he would

try to make the nonprofit with revenues in the billions pay “their fair share” in taxes, after a decade during which two mayors ultimately failed to do so. He also says he wants UPMC hospital employees to be able to unionize.

Representative Gainey did not detail to PublicSource how he would accomplish that as mayor.

He acknowledged and congratulated Leslie Davis, who recently took over as CEO of UPMC. “With new leadership comes new direction,” Rep. Gainey said. “I’m SEE GAINEY A5

A2

METRO

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Ashley Comans says it’s her time

Former Wilkinsburg School Board member announces campaign for likely open state House seat

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Ed Gainey seemingly is everywhere—community events, Harrisburg, churches, rallies, barber shops, being a husband and father to his family...

But even he can’t be the mayor of Pittsburgh and a state Representative at the same time.

Thus, if Rep. Gainey wins the November mayoral election, of which he’s heavily favored over Tony Moreno and Will Parker, there will be a special election to see who will fill the remainder of Rep. Gainey’s term, which ends in a little over a year.

Ashley Comans wants to be that person.

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively that Comans, 33, a for-

mer Wilkinsburg School Board member, will run for the likely open state House District 24 seat that Rep. Gainey currently holds. The district is home to some 60,000 residents, the majority of whom are Black. Comans is the first person to publicly announce that she’s campaigning for the seat.

If Rep. Gainey loses the mayoral election, he would remain in his House District position, and there would be no special election needed. But Comans doesn’t see that happening. That’s why she told the Courier she’s making her announcement public now.

“President Obama, at his last speech that he gave in Chicago (in January 2017), he said, ‘if you don’t like what’s happening, get a clipboard and go in your

community and get signatures.’ And that just resonated with me,” Comans told the Courier about her desire to get into politics.

Soon after, she was elected to the Wilkinsburg School Board, where she served for two years. She then worked with the Alliance for Police Accountability as a program manager, and now works with Healthy Start Inc., in the marketing and outreach department. But the 2005 Woodland Hills High School graduate has worked in a multitude of fields across the region—at Highmark, in the medicare advantage department; as a drug screener for the Allegheny County Health Department; at WPXI-TV doing production, voice captioning and writing; and at Three Rivers Youth

COURIER EXCLUSIVE as a case manager.

“It’s been interesting for me to be able to tap into different spaces within our community that needs advocacy,” Comans told the Courier. “Whether it’s our young people, Black moms and their babies and the care that they’re receiving; but then I can also get into the nonprofit spaces that I serve on boards for and the work that’s happening there.”

Those boards include Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, where she was just named vice chair; Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP); and UNITE, a local grassroots organization started by state

Rep. Summer Lee (34th House District) “that has been pivotal in the election of a lot of the progressive candidates that we’ve seen from the county to state level,” Comans said.

Comans also has served as project coordinator for APOST (Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time) and worked with the Hill Youth Partnership for Enrichment. Both organizations strive to empower youth in the time that follows school, which oftentimes can be filled with negativity if the proper after-school programs aren’t offered to the youth.

Comans, a 2009 Clarion University graduate, said that it’s her time to take all of the experiences she’s had, all of the people she’s met, and translate that into effecting change at

the state level in Harrisburg. “The biggest thing that (being on Wilkinsburg School Board) taught me was that, especially on a local level, people are not aware of the power that their voices can have in these rooms. But it’s the lack of engagement that happens between these governing bodies and the communities” which causes people not to recognize the power of their voice.

Comans said she’s all about being a member of government that opens the line of communication between her and the community far and wide. “Some people might get annoyed, but you’re either going to get inspired or tired of me, because I’m always going to talk about the importance of engaging the community.”

Steelers’ O-Line is the key to the season As we all know, the second-to-last preseason game is the dress rehearsal for the regular season. As I observed the Steelers’ 26-20 preseason victory over the Detroit Lions on Aug. 21, I came away with a few key takeaways: · Ben Roethlisberger’s arm looks healthier two years removed from elbow surgery. · Pat Freiermuth has come

THE NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY

Publication No.: USPS 381940 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-481-8302 Fax: 412-481-1360 The New Pittsburgh Courier is published weekly Periodicals paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. PRICE $1.00 (Payable in advance) 6 Months—$25 1 Year—$45 2 Years—$85 9-Month School Rate $35

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

a long way since the start of camp · Alex Highsmith is going to be the next breakout star player on the Steelers Defense and have a deeper pass-rush rotation · Kevin Ballage is the Steelers’ second-best running back · The key to the Steelers success is the offensive line Roethlisberger played in three series on Aug. 21, going 8-of-10 for 137 yards and two passing touchdowns. Roethlisberger had

Commentary

Brandon Walker a livelier arm than any point last season and is looked up to speed in new offensive coordinator Matt

assisting with his development while also looking to contribute in the Steelers’ pass-rushing rotation.

One person that has stepped up his game throughout camp and preseason is Kevin Ballage.

Ballage had seven carries for 30 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards. Ballage is a power back that runs between the tackles and finishes his runs with physicality and has a similar skillset as rookie standout Najee Harris. I believe that Ballage is going to play

going from left to right of Chukwuma Okorafor, Kevin Dotson, Kendrick Green, Trai Turner, and Zach Banner gave up zero sacks on 28 dropbacks to Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph.

However, the Steelers only averaged 2.9 yards per carry on Saturday. This is the lineup that the coaches envisioned at the beginning of camp and was the first time they were all available for a game, so it will take time to congeal into a solid unit that can open holes in the running game. Simply

Canada’s system. Both of Ben’s touchdown passes went to Freiermuth, the rookie second-round draft pick (tight end) out of Penn State. When I visited Steelers camp a couple of weeks ago, Freiermuth was getting put to work in one-onone drills with Highsmith.

On Saturday, Aug. 21, I saw more physicality with his in-line blocking and was a very viable red-zone threat for Roethlisberger. He displayed the ability to get past safeties and linebackers.

Most importantly he shows the ability to make twisting catches and knowing where he needs to be when Roethlisberger goes off-script.

The Steelers looked dominant on defense and the one player that jumped out to me this preseason is Highsmith. Highsmith, all camp, has been unblock- STEELERS FANS WERE OUT IN FULL FORCE for the Aug. 21 home able at times and had two contest against the Detroit Lions, a 26-20 Steelers win. (Photo by quarterback pressures on Courier photographer Brian Cook Sr.) Saturday night. If I were to give out a comparison, I would compare him to La- a major role in establishing put, the offensive line will marr Woodley. Both players a running game because he be the difference between needed a year in the sys- can break tackles and com- the Steelers defending their tem to develop, but broke pensate for an inconsistent AFC North crown and them out in year two and became offensive line. struggling for a wild card Pro-Bowlers. He is also As for the offensive line, spot. learning under veteran pass they played a solid game rusher Melvin Ingram and on Saturday night. The unit

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

A3

METRO

A4 AUGUST 25-31, 2021

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

A LITTLE LAUGHTER IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC

‘Rock Comedy Show’ highlights Pittsburgh’s Black comics ‘Comedy is therapy,’ comics say COMEDY SHOW FROM A1

show idea was born.

“A good remedy to battle mental depression is through laughter,” Rockymore, a 2004 graduate of Penn State University, said. “It’s not the only factor, but it’s a great asset to help when people want to smile again, to let some things go.”

“Comedy is healing. It’s my mechanism for everything,” voiced longtime Pittsburgh comic “One Eye,” who grew up in

Homewood and is featured on the upcoming season of The Rock Comedy Show.

“I laugh my way through a lot. Anything that hurts, anything that makes me happy, it’s material.”

One Eye now mentors younger Pittsburgh comics trying to get into the game. But he remembers the comics that dominated the scene in town when he got started in 2002, people like David “The Frog” Bey and Ty Mack. One Eye used to “rip” and “roast” on everybody who’d come

into Notorious Styles barber shop in Wilkinsburg in 2002, and soon was invited to an open mic night at the former Too Sweet lounge in Homewood. In the coming weeks, he found himself doing a set at Clarion University.

“I fell in love with it (comedy) right then,” he told the Courier. “Laughter is one of the many art forms... like singing, poetry...just to get it out and express it,” helps people to better cope with things they’re dealing with, he said.

LEON ROCKYMORE AND HIS WIFE, SHAQUANNA ROCKYMORE, co-owners of Roxamore, LLC. The Rock Comedy Show is part of the Rockymore’s company, which also specializes in films, sports, and live-streaming. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)

MEOSHE JENKINS AND JEMAINE THOMAS enjoy the jokes during a special advance screening of the first episode of season 2 of The Rock Comedy Show, at Rocks Landing in McKees Rocks, Aug. 23.

Samantha Bentley told the Courier that “comedy is therapy. I talk about issues with my family, I talk about the fact that I just found out who my real father is. I’ve suffered through depression, and to throw on a movie or get around my comedian friends, I can laugh through almost anything.”

Bentley was raised in Garfield and has been doing comedy for more than 10 years. She got her start on “Off Da Grill,” a show created by Howie D. Mac that aired on PCTV-21.

She’s been named “best comic” in Pittsburgh twice,

in 2019 and 2020. As a person who had an abusive background growing up, she said, Bentley told the Courier that she used laughing back then and now “as a coping mechanism. It works.”

Speaking with a licensed professional who deals with a person’s problems, mental state/health, etc. is always strongly encouraged for people going through crisis situations.

But Rockymore said that the comedy show is just his way, through his talents with video production, etc., to give people an outlet to put smiles on their faces in

the face of a pandemic that wants to only cause grief.

After seeing incremental success with season 1, he’s determined to reach more people for season 2.

“Some of the episodes on season 1 had a couple thousand views,” Rockymore told the Courier, “which means people are actually taking a liking to laughing again.”

(Editor’s Note: Those who are in need of crisis intervention in Allegheny County can call UPMC’s Resolve line at 1-888-796-8826. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.)

PITTSBURGH COMIC SAMANTHA BENTLEY— “Comedy is therapy. I talk about issues with my family, I talk about the fact that I just found out who my real father is. I’ve suffered through depression, and to throw on a movie or get around my comedian friends, I can laugh through almost anything.”

PITTSBURGH COMIC “ONE EYE”— “Comedy is healing. It’s my mechanism for everything.”

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

AUGUST 25-31, 2021 A5

ED GAINEY ITCHING AT THE CHANCE TO LEAD PITTSBURGH GAINEY FROM A1

looking forward to having a conversation with her first, to find out how we can get that done.”

Representative Gainey’s aspirations are not new for the city. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (served 2006-2014) took the city into a lawsuit against UPMC to try to take away its tax-exempt status.

Peduto tried a different approach, using the OnePGH program to spur voluntary community investments from large local nonprofits including UPMC. When asked why Pittsburgh should expect him to achieve a different outcome than the two most recent mayors, Rep. Gainey said: “Why should people believe?

I can’t answer that. But I’m going to give the best effort I can, and we’re going to do what’s necessary to make that happen. But to answer more directly, I would hope that (UPMC) would want that relationship. I would hope that they see that this is something that is beneficial to the city.”

Wilkinsburg consolidation

and

Representative Gainey found himself in a unique political situation this summer when a Wilkinsburg group announced an effort to merge the borough into the city. Representative Gainey is the state representative for Wilkinsburg and part of the city but could soon resign to serve as Pittsburgh’s mayor.

As the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC) campaigned for the merger and the Wilkinsburg Borough Council came out fiercely against it, Rep. Gainey mostly stayed quiet. He said that Wilkinsburg residents should make the decision for themselves, and that if they opt to join Pittsburgh, he would welcome that as mayor.

The WCDC announced a plan in June to get the issue on the ballot in November but later pulled their petition and said they would delay the process temporarily.

Representative Gainey said feelings were split in the community.

“It depends on who you talk to,” Rep. Gainey said of what he’s heard from his Wilkinsburg constituents on the matter. “A lot of people have a lot of history in Wilkinsburg, and they want it to remain its own borough … I don’t want to politicize that. I think that’s something that they are going to have to ask themselves.

“There should definitely be a serious conversation before anything else happens.”

City Controller Michael Lamb said in June that municipal consolidation is “a conversation that we, as a region, need to have all the time.” Allegheny County is one of the most fragmented in the country with more than 130 municipalities.

Representative Gainey said there needs to be conversation going forward, but he has not studied the matter closely yet.

Vaccines

Representative Gainey said on Aug.16 that “everyone should get vaccinated” against COVID-19. He said he would be interested in looking into vaccine rules recently enacted by New York City, which require anyone patronizing an indoor restaurant, bar or gym to show proof of vaccination.

(Under state law, the city government cannot make this decision directly, but the county could.)

“I want you to be vaccinated if you go in a restaurant, absolutely,” he said.

“If what’s going on in New York is helping move society forward, absolutely that’s something that we’ll look at.”

He addressed vaccine hesitancy in the Black community, acknowledging the painful history of doctors

and researchers mistreating Black Americans as a source of mistrust.

“I understand, particularly in the African American community, where they’re saying, ‘We’ve heard it all before’ and ‘Look what happened to us,’ and I get it. I do. But when you have the scientists and everybody, all races getting it, I think it speaks volumes to the importance of being vaccinated.

“I understand the past, and I have tremendous respect for it. And even in that, I got vaccinated.”

Preparing mayor

to

be

Representative Gainey insists he’s “laser focused” on the November election, not taking victory over Republican candidate Tony Moreno for granted. But in a city that has elected Democratic mayors since the 1930s and where President Joe Biden collected about 80 percent of the vote in 2020, Rep. Gainey is more than just a candidate. He is the presumptive next mayor, barring a historic electoral aberration.

“We’re beginning to jot things down,” Rep. Gainey said. “We don’t want to act like because we won a primary that anything is guaranteed to us.”

A key facet of any new administration is its relationship with City Council.

The 2021 primary was a rare political rupture for the all-Democratic Pittsburgh government: Eight of nine council members endorsed incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto and now are faced with governing alongside a new mayor who they tried to keep out of office.

Representative Gainey said he has been meeting with council members and has told them he wants to put the primary campaign behind them.

“Everybody had to do what they had to do,” Rep. Gainey said. “I’m not focused on who supported me back then and who didn’t, for whatever reason … My meeting with them was to let them know that I understand, but I would love to have their support going forward.”

Council members have sounded open to working with Rep. Gainey, and Council President Theresa KailSmith congratulated him on his primary win in a council meeting in May. In an early test of their relationship, council ignored Rep. Gainey’s call to slow down the process of appropriating federal COVID relief money, choosing instead to quickly pass Peduto’s spending plan despite fierce opposition at public hearings.

Representative Gainey told PublicSource in May that he would not weigh in on the process and that he would respect the remainder of Peduto’s term as mayor. He appeared to change course when outcry from activists grew in July as council considered a spending plan that the mayor’s office released before receiving public comment. He issued a brief public statement calling for council to delay their vote and receive more public input. His message echoed that of his only endorser on council, Councilwoman Deb Gross, who had already called for a delay and was eventually the only member to vote against the spending plan.

Representative Gainey said on Aug. 16 that he spoke out only regarding the process of the plan and did not expect the Peduto administration to give him any input on its substance.

“I still stayed away from it,” Rep. Gainey said. “What I did was I felt like there needed to be more transparency. A lot of groups still had questions. I believe that if you want to bring a city together, that transparency has to be there.”

Council members have said they are looking forward to working with Rep.

Gainey if he is elected and that the next mayor will have the opportunity to propose amendments to Peduto’s COVID relief spending plan.

When asked how he would like to amend the plan if elected, Rep. Gainey said his team is still in “beginning stages” of considering the matter but there has to be “a piece that speaks directly to the spike in violence.”

Pittsburgh had a 55 percent increase in homicides during the first half of 2021 compared to the first half of 2020, police said in June.

Transparency

A lack of transparency was among the most common public complaints about the current administration’s federal relief allocation plan.

A city task force was announced in April but made no announcements and held no hearings. A complete,

STATE REP. ED GAINEY, the Democratic nominee for mayor of Pittsburgh. His main challenger is Tony Moreno, who is running as a Republican in the November general election. four-year spending plan was sent from the mayor’s office to City Council in July, and more than 80 residents spoke at two public hearings, most saying they felt the public was shut out of the process. Gross said she op-

posed the plan because council was not in a position to know what residents’ needs were without more time to get feedback.

Gainey said on Aug.16 that he would try to boost city government transparency by

having more neighborhood meetings. “You always want to get buy-in,” Rep. Gainey said. “You’re never going to get 100 percent of the people on your side, but you want to show people that I’m out there listening to you.”

A6

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Braddock Community Day 2021

JIM PHILLIPS AND MARY CAREY, standing next to the newly-erected sign honoring Clara E. Davis, at Braddock Community Day 2021, held Aug. 13. Davis, who passed away at age 75 last year, was an immovable force in the betterment of Braddock. “She helped everybody; was very involved in the community. A lifelong resident, just a nice woman,” Phillips said. Carey added that Davis played a major role in the planning of the Braddock Civic Plaza, where the Community Day was held. Also pictured are state Rep. Summer Lee, Marcella Lee-Wilson, Cameron Thomas and Shae Lee. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

A7

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

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 Now offering in-person services, with limited capacity and required pre-registration through the website, and virtual services!!

Worship Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Summer worship.......10:00 a.m.

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

BRADDOCK COMMUNITY DAY 2021 ATTENDEES—Nanelle Florence, Kitty Berry-Walker, Tonya Blackwell, Donnell Blackwell.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

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

DEBORAH BROWN, TERI GILMORE, MARY CAREY

“This know also, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

- 2 Timothy 3:1-5 REV. WALKER SAYS: It appears that this list covers the state of world NOW! (Rev. A. Marie Walker is servant pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Wilmerding.)

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to:

TIFFANY NELSON AND SHANNA COCHRAN, stylists at Salon SC, a new shop in Braddock. Cochran is the owner of the salon. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219

BRANDON S. WALDEN BRANDON S. WALDEN Age 37, of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Devoted husband of Sharhonda Brandon-Walden; loving father of Chloe Love Brandon-Walden, Mashonie Marie Walden, and Brandon Marlo Walden; son of Stephanie L. Walden, Keith Walden and Jerome Moore; brother of Keionna (Jonathan) Drake, Tiffany (Kenneth) Lewis, and the late Keith L. “Mar” Walden, Jr.; grandson of Barbara Fitzgerald, Beverly Walden, and Mary Lee Taylor; also survived by a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends. A graveside service was held Monday, Aug. 23, at 2:30 at the Homewood Cemetery, 1599 S. Dallas Ave., Pgh., PA 15217.

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

A8 AUGUST 25-31, 2021

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

New Pittsburgh Courier

U.S. soldiers: Warriors and ...humanitarians?

J. Pharoah Doss B4

BUSINESS

Classifieds

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

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

B

Do businesses have the right to mandate vaccines?

by Sherri Kolade The Michigan Chronicle

In July, Beaumont Hospital (like some other large Detroit and metro Detroit businesses) mandated vaccines to all employees, volunteers and providers who practice or work at a Beaumont facility.

As COVID-19 still surges along with the growth of the Delta variant, businesses, hospitals, universities, companies and other entities are beginning to mandate that employees be vaccinated. As a consequence, many employees are finding themselves having to make some tough choices if they are not ready to roll up their sleeves and take the shot.

Recent news headlines have shown that places like Wayne State University, Trinity Health and Henry Ford Health System (HFHS), just to name a few, are among the Michigan-based companies mandating vaccines, while also allowing for medical or religious exemptions.

Just this past July, HFHS President and CEO Wright L. Lassiter III communicated to HFHS patients, members, customers, and others about mandating the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the hospital system. On July 17, the ire from some employees who were against the enforced jab was on display as they protested near Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The protest drew hundreds of individuals who were seen with signs that said, “No jab = no job,” with others saying that they were heroes last year and now they are “villains,” according to the article.

Lassiter wrote in his letter that the start of the pandemic last year has

confirmed what was already known.

“We are stronger together. As a community, we have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in unique and countless ways. Although the positivity rate and the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to decline, we have lived this fight long enough to know that new variants continue to emerge, and surges can happen anytime, anywhere,” he wrote.

The hospital entity administered its first COVID-19 vaccination last December, and they have “consistently advocated for vaccination” as the optimal way to protect the hospital community and “prevent the spread of this devastating virus.”

Not everyone agrees — many have protested the COVID-19 mandate.

“We are not anti-vax.

We are not unvaccinated out here. There are people who got the COVID vaccine. We are all out here because we do not believe the vaccine should be mandated,” said a protestor quoted in the article, who was not a health care worker but a representative.

HFHS was the first known hospital system in the state to enforce that all of its 33,000 employees, students, volunteers, and contractors be get vaccinated by no later than September 10 — even remote-working employees are required, too.

Some medical and religious exemptions could be considered, but only for individuals who had severe allergic reactions to the first dose or to the ingredients in the vaccines, according to the article.

The story added that 70 percent of employees have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“As a healthcare leader and trusted voice in our SEE VACCINES B2

Your company’s pro-BLM PR statements better match the receipts

by Chris Mueller Think Rubix

One year ago, after the brutal murder of George Floyd, the summer of 2020 gave us a great White awakening to the truth of systemic racism, and the big pledge to address it. For a moment, it seemed like every company had tapped their PR agents to compose pro-BLM solidarity statements and pledged big bags of money towards racial equity. The arc of American history appeared to be bending towards justice.

But then, months later, we checked the receipts and discovered that those racial equity donations were never delivered. So, what happened? The same thing that usually happens. Corporations cosplay as movement allies and then go back to being unprincipled capitalists after white attention moves on.

The Receipts Don’t Lie, Even If Executives Do Currently, there’s no system for measuring how corporations are following through on their racial equity promises. Most of the data publicly available only comes from the corporations themselves, and as we saw in the corporate hypocrisy surrounding Georgia’s voter suppression bill earlier this year, we know that companies will put out a nice statement and then turn around and fund the oppressive politicians creating the problem in the first place. So, it makes sense that companies want to keep their equity progress – or more accurately, lack thereof – close to their chests. Still, the data that is available paints a grim picture.

An analysis by the consulting firm Creative Investment Research finds that while 232 American companies pledged $55 billion last summer, out of their collective $746 billion in 2019 net income, only a measly $250 million has actually been spent. Not only does this fall flat in comparison to those grand promises these companies have made,

but there’s virtually no data available for where that money even went.

Clearly, corporations thought they could make sweeping promises, ride out the storm, and then quietly back down when it became no longer politically popular. Public support for Black Lives Matter dropped to 48 percent this year, down from 61 percent last

COMMENTARY

CHRIS MUELLER

May. That trend is even more pronounced for White Americans. Forty-nine percent oppose BLM compared to 37 percent who support it, down from the peak of 43 percent last year.

This pattern of CEOs waxing poetic about their deep commitment to justice in public just to sit pretty on their piles of cash behind closed doors repeats across countless corporations.

For example: Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, penned a stirring message to his employees last summer announcing their pledge to equity and inclusion, and the company committed to investing $30 billion over the next 5 years in racial equity programs. So far, they’ve delivered just $40 million on that promise.

What makes these financial pledges even worse is that the vast majority of them are investments into inter-

mediaries like venture capital funds and banks in the form of loans or strings-attached grants – things that ultimately serve the interests of the company making the “donation” by requiring a return on investment. That’s not advancing racial equity. That’s a paternalistic PR move.

All of this matters because we have all the money and solutions we need to achieve racial equity in this country – what we lack is the will. White capitalists can edit human genes, fly to space while Earth burns, and “reimagine” money as crypto and blockchains, but somehow can’t imagine, let alone fund, a better world for Black people.

It’s time for these corporations to realize that they can’t buy the public’s good will with bogus ads and empty symbolism if they repeatedly fail to deliver equity for all.

Follow Through, Because We’re Going to Keep Following the Money Following through on your commitment isn’t abstract. Publicize that equity audit report. Rid your organization of supremacist culture. Execute your DEI strategies and tactics.

Hire Black consultants and vendors.

Increase promotions, representation, wages, benefits, opportunities, well-being and decision-making power of your Black staff members. Stop donating to political action committees, candidates, officials and parties who advance policies that discriminate and disenfranchise.

If you’re living the story you’re telling in your pro-BLM PR statements, these action steps are easy.

Remember. Black folks built this country for free. Following through on your pledged commitment to racial equity isn’t an act of benevolence. It’s the bare minimum you can do to repair the damage wrought by America’s original and ongoing sin of structural racism and refund the spoils you inherited from it. Cut the check.

Uncle Sam keeping a third of income? Debt-free and now on deathbed? Damon Carr answers your questions “Hello Damon, I heard that the first three hours of an eight-hour workday goes to pay federal, state and local taxes. The remaining five hour goes to the worker. What’s your take on that?” ~ C.J. Damon says: This one time I saw self-proclaimed pimp Bishop Magic Don Juan on TV. It hit me! Uncle Sam is a pimp. Think about it. They both wear top hats and loud colored suits. They both get their money off the hard work of others. Don’t come up short! For, both will pimp-smack you with fees, penalties and a bad reputation.

Three hours of an eight-hour workday is 37.5 percent. We operate within a progressive tax system. There’s no flat tax rate for federal taxes, which is the largest of all income taxes. Example. The first, say, $14,000 earned is taxed at, say, 10 percent. The next $25,000 is taxed at 12 percent, etc. The highest tax rate tops out at 37 percent. That’s for income over $500,000. Safe to say very few people are getting 37 percent of their money taxed.

It’s a false narrative. However, one should consider tax favored and tax advantage investments to keep Uncle Pimp...I mean Sam out of your pockets.

“Hello Damon, what’s up with bitcoins?

Is it a good investment or is it too late?” ~ Shane Damon says: Is it a legitimate asset class that you can invest in? Yes! Is it a good investment? Well, that depends on if you buy, hold, and then sell at a profit.

Beware! Bitcoins are not for the faint of heart.

It’s very volatile. Meaning it just went

up or down 900 percent as I type this message. I liken it to bungee jumping.

Some people love the wild ride. Some people throw up and NEVER bungee jump again. Do you catch my drift?

If you want to play in that space, limit your overall exposure to no more than 5 or 10 percent of the money you have to invest. If you got $10,000 to invest, don’t invest no more than $500 to $1,000. Invest the other $9,000 in a more diversified and more stable investment vehicle like a Total Market Index fund. Its average rate of return has hovered around 10 percent in the last 100 years.

“Hello Damon, balance is important.

A friend was told she has stage 4 cancer. She’s debt-free and will be dead in a year, after sacrificing all she loved to do for 3.5 years! She doesn’t have 3.5 years in front of her now. So while I agree we should strive to be debt-free, we need to start out life with this mindset so we do not get into our 50s living an austere life.” ~ Fern Damon says: People come up with a ton of things to justify you only live once, fear of missing out and why you should carry debt.

I’m sincerely sorry to hear of your friend and her fight with cancer. Her singular story in and of itself doesn’t rule out one fact —debt is hazardous to

your wealth. Many of us will live a long life not being able to fully live because of being buried in debt. Your friend made being debt-free a priority because she wasn’t living to die. She had goals.

Given her low expenses, she probably has more disposable income to assist with the mounting expenses of caring for herself as the medical team work to prolong her life.

Given the fact that she doesn’t have a mountain of bills hanging over her head, that’s one less stress to worry about. No eviction or cut off notice worries on top of everything else.

Lastly, if she’s in the midst of her last days, she may have the positive cash-flow and resources by having no debt to give to family, people, and causes that she believes in.

Nothing puts a smile on your face like knowing you made a positive contribution to someone that had a positive impact on their life. She will be paying it forward, thus leaving a legacy and memories that will live on forever.

“Hello Damon, any advice on making student loans disappear? Aside from them I only have $2000 of debt.” ~ Janet Damon says: Unfortunately, There’s no magic wand. Fortunately, the fact you only have $2,000 in other debt suggests that you’re extremely frugal and live below your means. Rhetorical question.

Are you sure $2,000 is the only debt you have? I ask because there are certain loans for whatever reason people don’t classify as debt.

I’m going to take you at face value and say you only have $2,000 in other debt. If that is the case, that tells me you have decent wiggle room, or a nice gap between your income and expenses.

Therein lies the solution!

I appreciate everyone coming to me with your questions. Before I go, let me talk about a question I get a lot, which is not surprising...How do you make debt disappear?

Here’s the answer: Making maximum payments as opposed to minimum payments! As an example, say you have an “extra” $500...you can put that on top of your minimum payment on, say, a $2,000 debt. Bam, that’s paid off in about 3 months or less.

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

BUSINESS

B2 AUGUST 25-31, 2021

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Do businesses have the right to mandate vaccines?

VACCINES FROM B1

communities, we know you depend on us to create a safe, healthy environment and we want to honor that promise to you,” Lassiter said in the letter. “We acknowledge the magnitude of this decision and we did not make it lightly. We are not the first organization to do this, and we will not be the last. We have never been more committed than we are today to our mission to improve the lives of those we serve throughout our communities.”

Nationally, vaccine mandates are becoming a thing – even with recent pushes in New York to normalize carrying a vaccination card around to prove vaccination status.

A new initiative, “Key to NYC” was unveiled in mid-August allowing entrance to indoor entertainment venues, restaurants, gyms and the like to only the vaccinated.

The Associated Press also recently reported that CNN fired three employees in August for reportedly “coming to work unvaccinated” and

violating company policy.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker informed staff in a memo, according to the article: “Let me be clear — we have a zero-tolerance policy on this.”

The Associated Press reported that over a third of news staff members have come back to in-person work, and proof of vaccination has been on the honor system, which could change soon.

According to Medic City News, as the pandemic lingers, many American employees are not interested still in getting the shot. Do

they have a point? What if their employers mandate the vaccine? The publication said that employers looking to mandate the vaccine are concerned about the health of their employees, clients and also potential business being halted due to the virus. Some employers are at a hypothetical standstill and wonder if they could require their employees to be vaccinated as a basis of their employment.

“Likely due to a concern with the legality, morality, or both of such a requirement,

many employers may not be ready to implement vaccine mandates,” according to the article, which added that according to a recent benchmarking survey, 87.9 percent of employers do not plan on requiring workers to be vaccinated. Also, just over seven percent of employers surveyed do intend (or are planning to intend) a vaccine mandate. “It is anticipated that this percentage may increase once the COVID-19 vaccines obtain full FDA approval.”

The article added that

courts and state legislatures are looking to “define the legality of COVID-19 vaccine mandates” and employers should consider taking steps to protect themselves against any possible litigation.

Back at home, in July, the University of Michigan (U of M) announced that all students, faculty and staff on all three campuses must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and must submit their vaccination information before the start of the fall term, by August 30.

“Widespread vaccination is the primary and most effective tool that will bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control and it is the key to a vibrant and engaging academic year,” officials wrote in a U of M email.

The vaccine requirement also applies to those working or learning remotely; the university is providing limited exemptions for medical and religious reasons.

Alan Hunt Sr., a mechanical engineer at U of M’s Ann Arbor campus, told the Michigan Chronicle that he does not want to receive the

COVID-19 vaccine yet and is unsure of what will happen to him professionally.

“I think it is an individual right to get vaccinated or not,” he said, adding that everyone is saying to ”trust the science,” but he is leery of some things regarding that.

“It has not been approved by the FDA,” he said of the vaccines.

Hunt, 55, said he has not taken a flu shot either.

“I’m not anti-vaccine,” he said, adding that he would take a vaccine for a disease like measles or mumps, but it is hard to take a vaccine against a virus that could easily mutate and render the vaccine ineffective.

He added that he is concerned with the mounting vaccine mandates at companies.

“It should not be mandated that I take some medicine,” he said, adding that at some point he might consider taking it. “I can see where at some point [I] have to be vaccinated to get on a plane … go in hospitals. … I still want my right to choose, that is all.”

Census data shows a multiracial, urban and older U.S.

by Mark Hedin (TriceEdneyWire.com) —The United States population is more racially diverse than ever and increasingly urban, according to new data collected in the 2020 Census. But overall population growth in the country has slowed, newly released Census Bureau data show.

The Census Bureau released, on Aug. 12, the first trove of narrowly focused information gathered in the 2020 Census. It will immediately be put to use in the redistricting process whereby states and local political jurisdictions redraw political boundaries to create districts of equal populations for upcoming elections.

The information will also be used in countless other ways over the next decade, for instance, to decide

where new schools or hospitals are needed, or roads, or where it might profit a business to set up shop.

“The U.S. population is much more multiracial and more racially and ethnically diverse than what we measured in the past,” said Nicholas Jones, Census Bureau director and senior advisor of race and ethnic research and outreach.

Of the 331,449,281 people enumerated in the 10-question census form last year, 204.3 million identified themselves or other household members as White.

There were another 31.1 million identified as mixedrace— White and something else – and 2.7 million described as mixed race in a combination that did not include White.

The 204.3 million ‘White alone’ population is 8.6% less than it was the last time everyone was count-

ed, in 2010.

The census questionnaire data on ethnicity parsed the population into the following racial categories: White, Asian, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Some Other Race. There was a separate question asking if the responding household members were Hispanic or Latino.

Once those questions were answered, respondents could further describe themselves by tribe or other origins within those six initial categories.

Being Hispanic or Latino is a matter of ethnicity, according to the census, not race. Sixty-two million people in North America identified as being of Hispanic or Latino origin, a 23 percent increase, and then chose a racial identification in a separate question.

That growth was greater than any other population’s except Asians, up 36%, to 24.6 million, including those with mixedrace identifications.

Black Americans, including mixed-race, now num-

ber 46.9 million, according to the Census Bureau, American Indian or Native Alaskans are 9.7 million, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1.6 million.

Those choosing “some other race” alone or in combination were 15.1 percent nationwide, led by New Mexico at 32 percent, California at 31.6 percent, and Texas at 28.3 percent.

Nationwide, 10.2 percent claimed “two or more races,” led by Hawaii, with more than 25 percent so identifying, followed by New Mexico at 19.9 percent.

There are 22.7 million more people in the United States now than there were when the last decennial census was taken, in 2010, enumerators found. But that population growth of 22.7 million is the smallest gain in the once-every-10years count since 1990, and the smallest gain percentagewise since 1930.

Most of that growth occurred in already-populous counties, the Census Bureau reports. If a county had less than 50,000 residents, it lost population. Counties of 50,000

to 99,999 people gained an average of 4.1 percent more; counties of more than 100,000 people grew by 9.1 percent.

The top 10 most-populous cities remained unchanged, with New York at the top of the list, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas and San Jose.

The only change was that now-5th place Phoenix and 6th-place Philadelphia changed places. All of them grew larger, as did metro areas in general (8.7 percent), while the more rural areas declined by 2.8 percent.

Census Bureau statisticians compiled a “diversity index” that measured the likelihood that two randomly chosen people would be of different ethnicities.

Overall, in the United States, that likelihood is 61.1 percent, up from 54.9 percent in 2010. In Texas, Nevada, California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii and the District of Columbia, the percentage exceeded 65 percent.

The likelihood that two

people chosen at random would be of different ethnicities was lowest in Maine (18.5 percent), Vermont and West Virginia (20.2 percent each), and New Hampshire (23.6 percent).

The U.S. population is aging. Of respondents, 77.9 percent are 18 or older (258.3 million), a 10.1 percent increase from 2010.

The 73.1 million who aren’t yet 18, represents a 1.4 percent decrease from 2010’s statistics.

The Census Bureau in April released the stateby-state population counts that determine which states gain or lose seats in the House of Representatives.

In non-pandemic times, census data has typically been released a year after “Census Day” – April 1 last year – but, “as we all know, the delivery has been delayed,” said James Whitehorne, chief of the census’ redistricting and voting rights data office.

(Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Ethnic Media Services)

Getty Images partners with UNCF to create HBCU scholarship NEW YORK—Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, and UNCF (United Negro College Fund), have announced the creation of the UNCF-Getty Images Scholarship for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The program will provide scholarships to students attending HBCUs across the United States and will be funded by revenue created by the inaugural Getty Images Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs, that aims to support the digitization of the invaluable visual history of HBCUs. For more information or

to apply to the Getty Images Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs, go to: https:// grants.gettyimages.com/ hbcu-grant.

“We thank Getty Images for its partnership and investment in our students’ futures. The Getty Images Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs exemplifies Getty Images’ commitment to support HBCUs and to give a visual life to previously untold stories,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF. “There is a wealth of unseen imagery within the archives of HBCUs that have rarely been seen, and these grants from Getty Images

will be an essential part of the on-going documentation and preservation of Black history.”

Recently launched in partnership and with financial support with the Getty Family and Stand Together, a philanthropic community tackling some of the biggest challenges of our times, the Getty Images Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs Program commits $500,000 towards the digitization of HBCU photographic archives.

The Grant will support the digitization of up to 100,000 archival photos for two HBCU Grant recipients. HBCUs will retain

all copyright, and original photos will be returned to the HBCUs after scanning, along with the newly digitized photos. Getty Images will represent the digitized photos, making this content available for educational and non-commercial uses, providing a new revenue source for the HBCU Grant recipients.

Applications to the Getty Images Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs will be accepted through Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Guest Editorial

Tackling Taliban terror We are all connected. For some reason, people don’t seem to understand this. After 20 years of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has kept his promise about withdrawing from that beleaguered nation. The evacuation of all embassy personnel is now complete, and others are attempting to flee Kabul while they still have the opportunity. Biden’s goal is to get Americans out and to also protect those individuals who have helped the U.S. Admittedly, Biden inherited a deal cut by his predecessors, and it is believed that Afghanistan’s security forces may not be able to protect the civilians. The Pentagon is sending an additional 1,000 troops to Kabul to help evacuate more people.

Actually, this is a big mess and has been for a long time. This skirmish started as a reaction to what happened regarding 9-11, wherein the U.S. sought what it said were the perpetrators of that debacle in Afghanistan. Al-Qaida is no longer a threat, and Osama bin Laden has been killed, so the only engagement the U.S. would have if it remained would be interactions with the Taliban, which would be a losing proposition.

Some Americans harbor the opinion that Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is a botched attempt.

This may be true, but there is no easy way out of this mess. We had no viable political partners in Kabul, and the battle is said to be unwinnable because a counterinsurgency will have to generate its own will in order to win. Over the course of 20 years and trillions of dollars, the U.S. has no partners there and our involvement is futile.

The United States served honorably and valiantly in Afghanistan for those years, but the decision to pull out is inevitable due to the need to end a “forever war.” The White House has faced significant backlash as GOP leaders criticize the current actions. It’s ironic because the initial engagement happened under the GOP administrations. Biden was left with a series of bad options and has decided not to carry this losing situation further.

One of the huge problems is the collateral damage that stands to be endured by Afghani women and girls. The thinking is that they will be in dire straits, especially in the Kabul region, with the pull-out. At press time, the Taliban is advancing and will soon have full control over the region. So far it appears that this will represent a lot of misery to a lot of people, especially to women and girls, who fear being thrown back into the dark ages of oppression by the Taliban.

The Taliban holds all of the cards at this time and this has resulted in a tricky and dangerous situation.

President Biden is doing whatever he can to get as many people out as he can without too much damage.

Long term, the only leverage the U.S. has in dealing with the Taliban, according to some pundits, is said to be money. It is also thought that the Taliban would seek to have a better profile in the eyes of the world, but the thinking of others is that they don’t really care about being perceived as international pariahs.

Basically, President Biden is doing the most prudent thing by pulling out of an area that we had no business being in, in the first place, according to some pundits. As said previously, there is no easy way out.

The biggest danger and loss will be endured by the women who appear helpless in the face of Taliban rule. It’s possible that the direction the country takes could be influenced by them, however, because they have the most to lose. As the saying goes, “It’s hard to keep ‘em down on the farm once they’ve seen gay Paree.” Hopefully, that taste of freedom will serve as a liberating mindset for them that could fuel a freedom movement, though it will certainly not happen without a struggle.

In the meantime, it would be prudent if the Biden administration could figure out a way to help offset the damage that has left its imprint in Afghanistan.

We can’t just leave the women and girls at the mercy of a formidable oppressive force. A lot of people have lost their lives due to our involvement in that 20-year war, and it stands to reason that we don’t want to see a continuation of that situation.

Perhaps a U.S. task force can be created stateside that can work to identify an exit strategy from that troubled region that could address some of the challenges faced by Afghani women and girls. Of course, this would be no easy task, but it warrants an attempt.

(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)

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

B3

Black women matter, too So far this year, 23 Black women were killed in our city, Indianapolis.

Twenty-three.

Many of them died by gun violence.

As so often happens with Black women, we’re invisible.

Black men get the bulk of our attention when it comes to violence, specifically gun violence, as they make up the bulk of victims and perpetrators. So, it makes sense that we have a blind spot. Black women are in that blind spot.

The precarious life of Black women is often overlooked or ignored. To overlook or ignore, though, implies a purposeful action. I don’t even think Black women are considered important enough to even think about. We just don’t matter.

Oh, we give lip service to the importance of Black women. Sure, we’re called queens, but we’re also called bitches, hoes, thots, hood rats and other disparaging names. Why is it I could only quickly think of just one positive word but a plethora of pejorative ones? And queen is only reserved for those who act a certain way, i.e., respectable to a man’s standard. Queens matter. Queens are valuable, but if you do anything unbecoming of a queen — whatever that is — you have no worth.

We think we have to trade one gender for another as we both can’t have value at the same time. Blockbuster movies of the ‘90s focused on the perilous life of Black boys and young men. Who can forget Charles Dutton’s pinnacle line in “Menace to Society”? “Being a Black man in America isn’t easy. The hunt is

Oseye Boyd

Commentary on, and you’re the prey.” Dutton should’ve won an Oscar off that line alone. He delivered it with so much force and it resonated so deeply. Around that time there was a definitive movement to focus on how important Black fathers are to Black boys. Focusing on the role of Black fathers in the lives of Black girls on a large scale came much later.

I established I’m a womanist early on when I began writing this column. I go hard for Black women.

Our lives are just as valuable as Black men’s. Now, some Black men will take that to mean I’m anti-Black men just as some white people will take my stance against white supremacy to mean I’m anti-white.

I’m not against Black men, but I am against misogyny and sexism. So, if you, a Black man, happen to be a misogynist or sexist, then I have a fundamental difference with you just as I do a racist.

So, if you’re thinking 23 Black women killed out of 150 isn’t that many, we have a fundamental difference. While the number may not be as high as the number of deaths of Black men, it’s a significant number of women who senselessly lost their lives.

Unfortunately, it seems domestic

violence or intimate partner violence plays a role in the deaths of women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports Black women have the highest rate of homicide and 55% are related to domestic violence. We’re also more likely to be killed by a firearm. That means a Black woman could likely die at the hands of someone who professed to love her.

I really want that to sink in. Black women are being killed by people who tell them “I love you” or at the very least are supposed to like them — not random strangers, not enemies. People Black women trust. That’s a key difference when it comes to violence between men.

Men often have beef that spirals out of control. There’s no trust. Violence isn’t the way to resolve conflict, but it’s not a surprise when two people dislike each other and it occurs.

However, no one expects to be killed by a loved one. It’s the antithesis to love.

Instead of policing Black women’s bodies how about we police the behavior of those who harm them?

How about we do a better job at valuing Black women — regardless of their queen status — and protect them? That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have agency or can’t defend herself, but it means when we see harm done to Black women — regardless of who the perpetrator is — we stand up for her.

Let’s go just as hard for Black women as we do for Black men.

(Oseye Boyd is editor of the Indianapolis Recorder.)

Message from COVID to Black America: A rising tide doesn’t lift all boats (TriceEdneyWire.com)—For the first time in six months, we’re seeing a return to 100,000 new COVID cases each day! Dr. Anthony Fauci says the trajectory is moving towards 200,000/ day; levels we saw before there were COVID vaccines. Things are not going in the right direction...by any means.

Clearly, this frightening, upward trend is fueled by several things: the number of unvaccinated people; the increasing, unwillingness of people to comply with wearing face masks; total “pandemic fatigue”; and the rise of variants - most notably the powerful Delta variant; which has shattered the original estimates for 60 percent of all Americans to be fully vaccinated against the original virus strain in order to reach herd immunity. And as long as people keep getting infected, we will keep getting new variants.

The Delta spread has moved the needle for us to reach herd immunity to well over 80 percent and approaching 90 percent. There are currently, still, over 100-million unvaccinated people in this country. We’ve only just reach 50 percent of the population being fully vaccinated. It is embarrassing since only 2 percent of the people on the entire continent of Africa has received at least one dose.

Meanwhile, richer countries in the West, including the US, are beginning to give 3rd doses (boosters) instead of ensuring that everyone on the planet get access to vaccines.

In over 400 years, our experiences with the United States healthcare and medical system don’t allow Black Americans the luxury of ignoring our lived experiences. We see HIV/AIDS, after 40 years, remain an epidemic in Black America, yet it is a chronic condition for White America - while the same public health officials who have helmed the ship question Black skepticism and hesitancy.

We couldn’t get tested; couldn’t work from home; we weren’t ethically prioritized to receive the vaccines; and are now left totally confused on how to protect our young children. There are specific aspects of how this pandemic negatively impacts Black communities in unique ways. We need to know what those aspects are and get as much information as possible.

Throughout our history in this hemisphere, Blacks have had to find their way out of the maze of ups and downs that have been a part of this country’s medical history. This pandemic is no different.

As soon as the FDA officially approves the vaccines, currently being used under Emergency Use Authorization, we can expect state and local authorities to make it possible for our children to be in classrooms and schools, surrounded by unmasked, unvaccinated adults, while they sit vulnerable without the benefit of an available vaccine for young children.

This phase of the pandemic has raised the stakes to their highest, in terms of our children’s health and safety.

There is no doubt that the “official” messaging on children, school, and vaccines is confusing, in addition to being conflicting at times. The Amer-

Glenn Ellis

Commentary ican Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends in-person learning and urges all who are eligible to be vaccinated to protect against COVID-19.

CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

Yet, across this country, we see state and local guidelines making it possible for unmasked, unvaccinated young children to attend schools where teachers and staff are likely to also be unvaccinated and unmasked. On top of it all, “back-to-school” is not going to be walk in the park academically! According to the New York Times, over one million students from the poorest communities didn’t enroll in kindergarten last year. Over 340,000 of them were 5-year-old children. Imagine tens of thousands of 6-year-olds beginning first grade (under COIVD conditions) having totally missed out on the traditional kindergarten experience.

Just one year ago, child COVID-19 cases made up only around 3 percent of the U.S. total; COVID infections in children now account for more than a fifth of new coronavirus cases! States with large outbreaks are seeing rising case numbers among children as well as adults. As it reaches into our communities, how does the Delta strain affect children, and how can we help them safely navigate their days?

Lastly, Blacks should be particularly concerned about “Long Haulers” and chronic conditions. Little to no attention is devoted in public health messaging on how this aftereffect of COVID infection in some result in a

myriad of systemic health problems.

With a significant segment of the Black population living with chronic conditions, long before the pandemic, how well-prepared is the primary care network to handle this new burden to an already overtaxed system? Who’s paying attention to this accident waiting to happen?

It has become apparent, after what the pandemic has shown us, that there are two different systems addressing the health of Americans and the well-being of communities.

There is the one system that protects the needs and interests of some; while the other system subjects the rest of the population to, basically, fend for themselves. Most harmful to the Black population throughout the course of the COVID pandemic, has been the absence of information that speaks, directly, to their needs and interests. The narrative of information being disseminated from public health official; politicians; and the media is shaped on the assumption that, “a rising tide lifts all boats”. This would be true if all the boats were seaworthy before the tide went down. But we know that Blacks, in this country, have some of, if not the worst health outcomes in every category - long before the pandemic.

Going into the pandemic, we were disproportionately vulnerable and at higher risk. The country’s efforts and resources are directed at “promoting the common good”. Regrettably, that obviously doesn’t, and has never included us. At the very least, these eye-opening “realities” should give Blacks enough pause to stop and think about the information, and the understanding that is needed to make good, informed decisions about surviving this pandemic. Don’t ever forget that information is the best medicine.

(Glenn Ellis, MPH is a Visiting Scholar at The National Bioethics Center at Tuskegee University and 2018 and 2020 Harvard Medical School Bioethics Fellow. For more good health information visit: www.glennellis.com or @glennhealth)

B4 AUGUST 25-31, 2021

FORUM

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Should we stay or U.S. soldiers: Warriors and...humanitarians? should we go?

J. Pharoah Doss What do you do when you have a major decision to make and all your options are bad? You endeavor to pick the least bad one and hope that you’re right.

When it comes to making decisions about Afghanistan, any course of action is bound to have serious consequences regarding our foreign policy, and even our domestic security.

Before I go further, let me state unequivocally that I don’t have all the answers when it comes to Afghanistan.

Perhaps I don’t have any. I also recognize that I am sitting in the comfort of my office, pontificating, with absolutely nothing at stake. With that established, I will offer some thoughts regarding President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from that nation — and the manner in which he did so.

First, I don’t know whether leaving is the right decision — for us or for the people of Afghanistan. On the one hand, our military clearly is a stabilizing force (no pun intended). There is perhaps no better evidence of that than the heartbreaking humanitarian catastrophe that immediately ensued after our irresponsibly executed withdrawal. Further, the swift collapse of Afghanistan’s civilian and military leadership guarantees that the country will return to the medieval-type rule of the Taliban.

On the other hand, most Americans have lost the appetite to continue what could, in a literal sense, become an endless war. We have spent billions of dollars fighting combatants and engaging in what we euphemistically refer to as “nation-building.” Understandably, there is a strong impulse to cut our losses.

The ultimate question, of course, is whether our blood and treasure were worth the effort. The answer truly de-

Larry Smith

Commentary pends on who one asks. There should be no argument against the fact that the U.S. has met the original two goals that we set for invading Afghanistan: “disrupting” (i.e., killing) the people who committed the 9/11 attacks and preventing another such attack on American soil.

Regarding the former, we have killed thousands of fighters and leaders, of whom Osama Bin Laden was the most important (at least symbolically). Regarding the latter, fewer than 200 Americans have been killed in terrorist attacks in America during the last 20 years. (New York City alone has foiled 50 such plots.) However, our hasty exit likely will lead to Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for terrorist organizations.

If our leaving results in another horrific attack on America, will those who agree with the withdrawal change their minds? If it doesn’t, will those who opposed the withdrawal change theirs? In either case, those concerns place U.S. interests at the center of the debate.

However, we have a moral obligation to consider the interests of the 39 million people who call Afghanistan home. At a minimum, we must do everything within our power to resettle the Afghans who risked their lives to help our military and civilian workers. Anything less would be a complete moral failure on our part.

Importantly, the situation in Afghanistan is a microcosm of the internal crisis that Islam faces. Just as the West is struggling to determine whether liberal democracy will endure, the Islamic world is in a battle between modernity and those who are willing to die (or kill) to resist it. The simple truth is that Islamists kill more followers of Islam than they do any other group of people.

Only Muslims can solve that problem.

When it comes to Afghanistan, I see three potential ways to address the challenge going forward. One is for Muslim countries to create a multi-national force to challenge the Taliban.

That simply is not going to happen. Another possibility is a popular uprising of millions of patriotic Afghans against the Taliban. Given that Afghanistan is not so much a unified country as it is a confederacy of tribes and warlords, I strongly doubt that will happen. Third, the rest of the world could completely isolate the Taliban. While this option could have the best chance of occurring, Pakistan, Russia, and China are already doing business with them. (The Chinese even received an official delegation of the Taliban.)

Even as the Taliban sustained incredible losses on the battlefield, they were fond of telling their adversaries: “You have the watches, but we have the time.” In short, the greatest military cannot defeat the deepest ideology. Will America have to return to this fight?

Time will tell.

(Larry Smith is a community leader. Contact him at larry@leaf-llc.com.)

Last month, President Biden announced the “drawdown of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan” will be complete by Aug. 31. The commander-in-chief was asked if a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan was inevitable. Biden dismissed the concern by emphasizing the military advantage. Biden said the Afghan government had 300,000 well-equipped troops and an air force against 75,000 Taliban fighters.

On Aug. 15, headlines across the world stated: Afghanistan’s government collapsed as the Taliban overran the capital city. The next day, President Biden was forced to address the nation about the chaos in Afghanistan. Biden told the American people the following facts.

1). The United States entered Afghanistan after 9/11/2001 to make sure al Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a base to stage terror attacks against the United States. The mission was not nation building, counterinsurgency, or creating a centralized democracy. U.S. forces dismantled al Qaeda in Afghanistan and killed Osama bin Laden. That was a decade ago.

Today, the terrorist threat has metastasized well beyond Afghanistan, and these modern threats warrant the attention and resources of the United States.

2). The only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been – to prevent terrorist attacks on the American homeland. The United States conducts effective counterterrorism missions against terrorist groups in multiple countries where we don’t have a permanent military presence. The United States can do the same for Afghanistan.

Following President Biden’s address, H.R. McMaster, former national security advisor in the Trump administration, called the

Check It Out chaos in Afghanistan a foreign policy disaster and advocated for a permanent military presence in Afghanistan for the following reasons.

1). Afghanistan is a modern frontier between barbarism and civilization. U.S. troops were enabling the Afghans to take the fight to the enemies of civilization. It’s not an endless war, it’s an endless jihad the terrorists are waging against all of humanity.

2). The U.S. presence in Afghanistan was preserving the freedom the Afghans gained since U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in 2001, and the U.S. military presence kept the post-Taliban government from faltering.

McMasters reinforced his points by stating, U.S. soldiers are warriors, but U.S. soldiers are also humanitarians.

Here lies the confusion; are U.S. soldiers also humanitarians?

The conflation McMasters made is the underlining error of the 21st century. The notion that the U.S. military has a dual role – defending the national interest and achieving high-minded humanitarian goals – inverted the priorities of the Bush and Obama administrations. (Joe Biden was in opposition to how foreign policy was being conducted then.) The underlining

error made the United States appear inept as military strategists and inconsistent as humanitarians.

Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign focused on the ineptness of American foreign policy. Stephen M. Walt wrote in his book, The Hell of Good Intentions, “Trump’s ‘America First’ rhetoric took dead aim at the grand strategy that had guided the foreign policies of the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations. Instead of viewing the United States as the ‘indispensable nation’ responsible for policing the globe, spreading democracy, and upholding a rules-based, liberal order, Trump was calling – however incoherently – for a foreign policy he claimed would make Americans stronger and richer at home and less committed, constrained, and bogged down abroad.”

However, Walt wrote, “The foreign policy revolution (Trump) promised back in 2016 remains unrealized.”

The one detail in President Biden’s national address that H.R. McMaster ignored.

President Trump negotiated an agreement with the Taliban. Biden told the American people the choice he had to make was either to follow through on that agreement and withdraw U.S. forces or escalate the conflict into a third decade.

Regardless of the chaos in Afghanistan due to the American withdrawal and the inevitable consequences, President Biden remembered the dictum of General MacArthur – war’s very object is victory, not prolonged indecision, and after decades President Biden decided U.S. soldiers were not humanitarians.

President Biden’s decision might not have ended “endless wars,” but it ended an underlining error in foreign policy.

March on Washington, Aug. 28: NUL, Sharpton, MLK III to demand free and fair access to the ballot (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“We are tired.

We are tired of being beaten by policemen.

We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and over again. And then you holler, “Be patient.” How long can we be patient? We want our freedom, and we want it now.” – John Lewis, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963 At the time of the 1963 March on Washington, where 23-year-old John Lewis was the youngest speaker, fewer than 20 percent of the Black citizens of his home state of Alabama were registered to vote.

County registration offices were open as seldom as two days a month, usually during the workday. The rare White employer who gave a Black employee time off to register risked economic retaliation from the local White Citizens Council.

Those who managed to make it to stand in the long, slow-moving registration lines faced harassment, intimidation, and the possibility of arrest on false charges. The information entered on the application form would be shared with the Citizens Council and Ku Klux Klan.

Under the “voucher system,” applicants needed a registered voter to swear under penalty of perjury that the applicant met the qualifications to vote. In some counties, the few registered Black voters were permitted to vouch for only two or three applicants per year. Other counties had not a single registered Black voter who could vouch for applicants.

A Black citizen who successfully completed the application and the arduous and nonsensical literacy test, still could be rejected arbitrarily by the all-White Board of Registrars.

So it was throughout the South, until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed these

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal racist tactics, and Black voter participation steadily grew until the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Act in 2013.

Shelby v. Holder, the Court’s worst decision in a civil rights case since 1896’s Plessy v.

Ferguson ushered in the era of Jim Crow, cleared the way for an onslaught of racially-motivated voter suppression laws that threaten to return the nation to those dark days.

That is why, on August 28—58 years to the day after the historic March on Washington, I’m proud to be joining Martin Luther King II, the Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders to help to lead Americans on another march to demand federal voting rights protection.

Marches will take place August 28 in five flagship cities—Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.—as well as in towns and cities across America where individuals and organizations launch and host them.

Shelby v. Holder may have opened the floodgates for racially-motivated voter suppression laws -- within 24 hours of the ruling, Texas announced a strict photo ID law, and Mississippi and Alabama began enforcing laws that previously had been struck down.

These laws limit or outright ban the voting methods that led to high turnout: ballot

drop boxes and mail-in voting, early voting days and hours, even criminalizing the distribution of water to voters waiting in the long, slow-moving lines that recall the days of John Lewis’ youth.

Most of these laws would have been struck down under the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act that Shelby v. Holder eliminated. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives earlier this week, reinstates that provision.

The For the People Act, which passed the House in March and remains stalled in the Senate, creates a standard of federal voting rights, such as modernizing voter registration processes, as well as ending gerrymandering and enforcing campaign finance laws.

Speaking at the 1963 March, National Urban League Executive Director Whitney M. Young, Jr., said, “How serious our national leaders are will be measured not by words but by the speed and sincerity with which they pass necessary legislation with which they admit to the tragic injustice that has been done our country and its Negro citizens by historic discrimination and rejection.”

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act are the “necessary legislation” of which he spoke, and on August 28, we will march to demand them.

Find out more at marchonforvotingrights. org.

As John Lewis urged in 1963, “Get in and stay in the streets of every city, every village and hamlet of this nation until true freedom comes, until the revolution of 1776 is complete.”

How did we get here?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—So much negative goes on each day. We don’t recover from one thing before we are faced with another. A few days ago in Washington, DC, many of us got up, and went through our morning routine without incident. Before we had breakfast or that first cup of coffee, the breaking news came across the television that we had yet another crisis. Somebody had chosen the area near the Library of Congress and the Cannon House Office Building where I once worked, to park and make a bomb threat. Naturally, this set off a massive police presence, yet another disruption of staff trying to get their work done, and finally an evacuation of the buildings. Capitol Hill police were called out once again, and they have not yet recovered from the trauma of January 6th, but here we go again.

At the same time, people all over are trying to manage life with the coronavirus still growing when we not long ago thought we were conquering it. Many are still struggling with the loss of family and friends. Now, we’re busy trying to get students back in school safely while some governors are defying logic and working against the efforts of school districts to create a safe environment for students and teachers by requiring the wearing of masks. We are finding that hypocrites like Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who’ve put up every roadblock possible, have contract-

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary ed the virus; but they can afford the best of treatment while they are okay with talking people out of getting the vaccination so needed to prevent others from getting the virus or at least softening the blow if they do get it.

As we try to rescue our democracy from the damage done by many Republicans, too many are spending their time harassing President Joe Biden who is trying to get our nation out of Afghanistan. This is a time when our President and our military need our support, but too many people are on television acting like they know how to do this job better.

We’ve had White supremacy all of our lives, but instead of equality, things in that area are getting worse. This time, the problems are not found only in the South. The problem is nationwide!

People feel perfectly okay expressing the meanest, most hateful behaviors ever seen. Yes, we’ve always had meanness, but Trump and his followers definitely gave people permission to openly be

their worst selves.

I went to the grocery store recently. I purchased bathroom tissue, paper towels and a bag of salad greens. Imagine my surprise when the bill was $52.00!

Add to all of the above, and you’ll find voter suppression as we’ve not seen since we, Black people, fought for and gained the right to vote. In Fulton County, Georgia where everything went well and was audited with no glitches, Republicans are trying to take away the right of people in Fulton County to manage their own election!

Recently I was in Birmingham, Alabama and I witnessed the desecration of a monument to a civil rights giant, Bishop Calvin Woods, while learning about a law in the state that protects confederate statues--but not civil rights monuments. Something is definitely wrong!

Don’t forget the tragedy in Haiti from the earthquake where many of us would like to help, but we can’t seem to get our own nation straight. If we ever needed God’s intervention, we need it now because too many in our nation have lost their way. We need a miracle right now to set us on the right path where honesty, sincerity and caring about others mean something.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women, as well as a new author of “Dick Gregory: Wake Up and Stay Woke.”)

New Pittsburgh Courier

CLASSIFIED

B5

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

NETWORK ENGINEER II FHLBank Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) to be resp. for admin. & supporting the Bank’s computer network, phone systems, & security adminstrtn. Specific job duties include: troubleshooting for problems to resolve network failures incl. providing administrative support for data network & eval. new technologies for use in network; mntng all network related dcmntn., policy, & network diagrams; admin. & managing all routers, switches, & network eqpmnt; cnfgrng & patching network eqpmnt; assisting w/designing, architecting, planning, & building data & voice networks; working w/vendors to manage, support, & enhance the data & voice networks; applying VoIP Techngs archtctr, dplmnt, & support; eval., engnrng, & recommending security enhncmnts; understng network security concepts, incl.: 802.1x, network access control-lists, firewall adminstrtn, & micro-segmentation practices; managing & mntng wireless networks that supports secured access; implmntng routing protocols across wide-area & local networks. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Telecommunications or a related field, together with 5 years of previous progressively responsible work experience in the position offered or related or a Master’s degree in one of the same discipline & 1 year of previous work experience in the position offered or related admin. network routers & switches. Must know (through academic training or work experience) network addressing & network protocols; network performance monitoring & troubleshooting network issues; working vendors troubleshooting wide-area networking & internet service provider issues; troubleshooting technical issues & follow through to resolution. If interested, please send cover letter & resume with salary requirements & references to: Human Resources Department, FHLBank Pittsburgh, 601 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-4455.

PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY BROADCASTING OPEN POSITIONS Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting is hiring for several open positions!

Marketing, Engineering, Fundraising and more! Get details at www. pittsburghcommunitybroadcasting. org.

MULTI IT RELATED POSITIONS (National Placement out of Allegheny County, PA). Able to travel/relo to different client sites as needed. Degree & exp may be in Com s or ng g related field.

Foreign educ equiv or any suit combo of educ, training or exp acceptable. All positions salaried at $80,142 req min of BS & 5Yrs exp or MS & 1Yr exp. Will analyze, design, devlp, test administer customize & implement IT related applications follows: Senior Software Developer (WebApps): Must have skills in Angular, CSS, Javascript, JQuery, UI Architecture, NodeJS, REST API, Azure B2C, Web Sockets & Typescript. Ref# WEB–0121 IMP. Senior Software Developer (RPG): Must have skills IBM AS400; SQL; CLLE; RPG/IV; RPG/ILEC. Ref# RPG–0121 IMP. All positions FT/ Perm 9-5, 40 hrs/wk. Use Ref# to apply, send resumes to Impact Consulting Solutions Inc., 200 Cedar Ridge Drive, Suite 212, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 or jdavoren@impactcsi.com.

Impact Consulting is EOE Employer M/F/V/D. DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PITTSBURGH OFFICE The Director of Human Resources manages all human resources (HR) functions and guides organizational culture in order to support the practices of a high-performing organization.

Key responsibilities include recruitment, onboarding, professional development, compensation and benefits, payroll, and legal/policy compliance. The HR Director will establish partnerships with organization leaders to create and maintain a respectful, diverse, and energetic workplace culture.

They serve as key advisor to managers on employee relations matters including legal and policy compliance. Our highest priority is a high-performing employee team achieving our goals with integrity and respect for all, especially co-workers.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in business practices, human resources, customer service, or related subject matter with at least 10 years of experience in a variety of human resources disciplines with a solid understanding of legal and regulatory requirements require; Advanced degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience) and PHR (Professional Human Resource) or SPHR (Senior Professional Human Resource) certification preferred.

Visit our website at https://uwswpa.org/careers/ to view job description and apply for this position. Submissions will only be accepted electronically.

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, serving Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Armstrong counties.

CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

SONNY BOY

9 1 8

FACILITY SUPPORT SUPERVISOR at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/.

Preferred application date is before September 3 and preferred start date is October 1.

SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a HIGH SCHOOL BAND PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline 4:00 PM August 27, 2021 EOE CUSTODIAN 10-MONTH - $16.00/hour - Motivated, able to work independently/ group, and dedicated to health/safety; 2nd or 3rd shift; exp preferred. Health, vision, & dental benefits; retirement plan. Submit application via online application system at: https://www.applitrack.com/ fcasd/onlineapp/.

EOE APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER - ALTOONA POLICE DEPARTMENT Applications for Police Officer with the City of Altoona can be obtained from the Human Resources Department of City Hall Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30.

For additional information and application requirements, please visit the “Employment Opportunities” Quick Link on the City’s website at www.altoonapa.gov.

Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than Noon on Friday, September 10, 2021.

Human Resources Department 1301 12th Street, Suite 301 Altoona, PA 16601 The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH’S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s regular scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting previously scheduled for Thursday, September 23, 2021 has been changed to Wednesday, September 15, 2021 via teleconferencing at 10:30 a.m LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of ALINE ELLEN SOUKUP, Deceased of Castle Shannon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-05823,Judy Stevenson, Administrator, 1017 Woodridge Drive Canonsburg, PA 15317 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

NOTICE

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court Division.

Estate of THOMASENA B. SEALS, deceased, Case No. 02-97-00142. Notice is hereby given that on August 4, 2021, a petition was filed

by Shirley A. Seals to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Thomasena B. Seals, deceased, in the real estate located at 1519 Brighton Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (Parcel 23-J-2) and to determine that fee simple title is in Shirley A. Seals. If no objections to the Petition are filed within thirty (30) days, Shirley A. Seals will seek an Order of Court adjudging that Decedent’s title to said real estate lies in her.

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

3 5 6

0 2 4

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY LETTERS-OF-INTEREST FOR PROFESSIONAL ON-CALL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES August 19, 2021 Letters-of-Interest (LOI) with current Form SF330, for professional on-call environmental services, will be received through the platform Submittable at www.acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com. The Letter of Interest (LOI) must be uploaded to Submittable by 12:00 PM (Noon) on September 17, 2021 (late submissions will not be accepted), for the following: Professional On-Call Environmental Services: The Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) will typically utilize a professional environmental firm on the projects listed below at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Allegheny County Airport (AGC) which requires environmental services. Specific responsibilities will include all aspects of sampling, analysis, data collection, technical report preparation, permitting, inspecting, and environmental auditing. Environmental firms will be required to provide the following including, but not limited to, an understanding of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) rules and regulations.

1.Air Quality Permitting, Reporting, and Compliance 2.Hazard and Residual Waste Reporting and Recordkeeping 3.Integrated Contingency Planning and Spill Response Planning 4.Phase I and II Site Assessments 5.Storage Tank Compliance 6.Stormwater Planning 7.Sustainability 8.Waterways and Wetlands If interested in providing any of the aforementioned services, environmental firms are required to submit a LOI, identify which of the eight categories they are interested in, and current Form SF330. The ACAA encourages responses from small, minority, and women owned firms, as well as firms that have not previously worked for the ACAA. The ACAA will use Form SF330 to evaluate and prequalify firms to be part of a highly qualified short-list, which will then be requested to submit comprehensive proposals. Comprehensive proposals will include the following at a minimum: Project understanding; project experience; project team identification; organization chart and resumes; approach to major tasks such as scope and schedule management; techniques for cost control; and identification of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Firms with description and quantity of work they will perform to meet or exceed FAA and ACAA DBE requirements, which is currently 14%. Note: Do not include company brochures and limit the LOI to no more than three typewritten pages (8.5” x 11”, 11 pt. font) in addition to Standard Form 330. A link to obtain SF330 can be found by going to the following website: Standard Form (SF330) https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/32994 Submissions will be received in PDF format as one om lete file only through the platform Submittable at www.acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com.

Do NOT mail, email, or deliver hard copies as they will be considered rejected and will be returned to the respondent unopened. Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer 11. Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

Submissions should be made to: Mr. Kevin A. Gurchak Director, Environmental & Workplace Safety Allegheny County Airport Authority Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz.

PO Box 12370 Pittsburgh, PA 15231-0370 Questions should be directed to Mr. Kevin A. Gurchak at 412-472-3575 or email to gur ha fly ittsburgh. om Final on-call environmental services selections (following short-listing, proposal evaluation, and interviews) will be based on, but not limited to, the following criteria: Staff qualifications; experience and local office bench strength; demonstrated interest in the projects; organization, clarity, cohesiveness, quality and completeness of both the written proposal and oral presentation; sensitivity to ACAA requirements; indicated ability to manage projects, produce required results, meeting project schedule and controlling costs; demonstrated knowledge of EPA, PADEP, ACHD, and ACAA applicable standards and requirements; monitoring DBE goals, mentoring DBE firms, impacts to airport operations and other areas of environmental services.

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

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

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 a.m. on September 21, 2021 and will be read at 11:15 a.m., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information for the Bid Opening), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

1

Bid Number B210869A

Bid Name Snow Removal Services - Park & Ride Lots

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

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 a.m. on August 31, 2021. Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority ithin five business days of the s heduled bid o ening.

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

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

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

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

LORNE SHEROD, PLAINTIFF, V. JOHN C. EMRY, DEFENDANT, CIVIL DIVISION AR-21-632 IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA TO: JOHN C. EMRY NOTICE A Complaint in Civil Action has been filed against you at Docket No. AR-21-632 in the Department of Court Records of the Court of Common P l e a s f o r A l l e g h e n y C o u n t y, Pennsylvania, concerning a motor vehicle accident you were involved in at the intersection of Allequippa Street and Darragh/Dunseith Street on February 19, 2019.

If you wish to defend, you must enter a written appearance personally or by attorney and file your defenses or objections in writing with the court.

You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you without further notice for the relief requested by the plaintiff.

You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. I F YO U CANNO T AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO E L I G I B L E P E R S O N S AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE. LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 436 Seventh Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 261-5555 LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

INVITATION TO BID On behalf of the Hill Community Development Corporation (Hill CDC), A. Martini & Co will be accepting bids for the Historic New Granada Building. Bid packages include selective demolition. Bid documents may be obtained at the offices of A. Martini & Co, 320 Grant Street, Verona, PA 15147 or by calling 412-828-5500 starting on Wednesday August 18, 2021. A pre-bid is scheduled for Thursday August 26, 2021 at 10:00 AM onsite. Bids will be accepted until 1:00 PM on Wednesday September 8, 2021 at the offices of A. Martini & Co or emailed to Dave Brenneman, dlb@amartinigc.com. Please note the project will be partially funded

by RACP, all program guidelines must be followed and maintained throughout the duration of the project which includes, but is not limited to prevailing wage rate, Pennsylvania Steel Products Procurement Act, insurance and bonds. All bidders are to comply with the minimum project goal of 35% MBE and 15% WBE. Bidders who are able to exceed the minimum MBE and WBE goals will be viewed favorably.

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

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

B6

CLASSIFIEDS

AUGUST 25-31, 2021

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS August 25, 2021 City of Pittsburgh-Office of Management and Budget 414 Grant Street Suite 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2211 This notice shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about September 13, 2021, the City of Pittsburgh will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release Federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended for two (2) real estate projects.

CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDED, SUBJECT TO 58.5 PROJECT The first development, Sheptytsky Arms Apartments, is a renovation of an existing apartment building to include forty-nine (49) affordable housing units. Forty (40) units will be made affordable to tenants at or below 30% AMI, seven (7) units will be affordable at or below 50% AMI, and two (2) units will be affordable at or below 60% AMI. The location of the building is 3505 Mexico St. in the City of Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood.

The developer of the project is Sheptytsky Arms Apartments LP. The funding sources include $3,942,000 of a PHFA first mortgage loan, $500,000 of 2020 Housing Opportunity Funds, $250,000 of 2020 CDBG funds, $2,731,852 in 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity, and $1,266,200 from a combination of the deferred developer fee, income during construction, seller note, seller note interest, and transferred reserves. The total estimated cost of the development is $8,690,052.

ASSESSED PROJECT The second development, CLT at the Fire Site, is a new construction project

by City of Bridges Community Land Trust (CBCLT) in the Polish Hill neighborhood. The development will include four (4) single-family housing units affordable to buyers at or below 80% AMI. All the units will be part of the community land trust stewarded by CBCLT, who will maintain a 99-ground lease on the properties. The funding sources include $200,000 of a first mortgage loan from First Commonwealth Bank, $750,000 of Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) funds, $80,000 from the Hill Foundation, and $60,000 of PHARE funds, a UPIF loan in the amount of $340,411 and a For Sale Development Program (FSDP) grant in the amount of $400,000. The $400,000 FSDP will be funded with Housing Opportunity Funds in the amount $200,000 and HOME 2018 in the amount of $2,228, HOME 2019 in the amount of $99,938 and HOME 2020 in the amount of $97,834. The total estimated cost of the development is $1,831,611.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at 414 Grant Street, Suite 501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and may be examined or copied weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to: Whitney Finnstrom City of Pittsburgh, 414 Grant Street, Suite 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 255-2211 All comments received by September 13, 2021 will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

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

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsburgh; (b) the City of Pittsburgh has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required

by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.

Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Division The Moorhead Federal Building 1000 Liberty Ave.-10th floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

William Peduto Mayor City of Pittsburgh NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for Steam Room Repairs as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to Ryan Buries: Email: rburies@pittsburghcc.com, Telephone: 412-325-6167. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055. Additional information on the project can also be found on AccuCopy’s website at https://accu-copy.com/plan-room Project: Bid Package Name: Bid Package Available: Approximate Value:

David L Lawrence Convention Center Steam Room Repairs August 19, 2021 $200,000

Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting:

Time/Date/Location for Bid:

9:30am, Monday, August 23, 2021 David Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222 2:00 PM, Thursday, September 2, 2021 David Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SONNY BOY

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PURCHASE, INSTALLATION, CONNECTION, AND CONFIGURATION, OF ALL CAMERAS AND EQUIPMENT AT 8 SITES RFP #350-27-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Purchase, Installation, Connection, and Configuration, of all Cameras and Equipment at 8 Sites The documents will be available no later than August 23, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 AM on September 14, 2021. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 10:00 AM on September 14, 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on September 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 921 3466 1838 Passcode: 510639 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website.

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

ALLIES & ROSS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR American Land Title Association (ALTA) Survey for the Manchester Redevelopment ARMDC RFP #2021-36 The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation (ARMDC) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): American Land Title Association (ALTA) Survey The documents will be available no later than August 16, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 a.m., September 9, 2021 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Responses may be hand-delivered or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the address below.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre-submission meeting via audio conference will be held via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95928759299? pwd=Ny9zU2JscVlaZDZoNjFOT HNja0dMZz09 Meeting ID: 959 2875 9299 Passcode: 231790 August 26, 2021 11:00 A.M. The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation strongly encourage certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

ARMDC has revised their website.

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

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS 2021 PHASE III RFP #125-10-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Project Based Vouchers 2021 Phase III The documents will be available no later than June 30, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals for Phase III will be accepted until 9:00 A.M. on September 28, 2021. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on September 28, 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Proposals may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

Questions or 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-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on September 9, 2021 at 09:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 936 0035 5168 Passcode: 868150 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website.

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

Caster D. Binion, President & CEO Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation ARMDC & HACP conduct business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

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.

America’s Best Weekly

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO! NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! COURIER CLASSIFIEDS

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

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

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!