9.18.24 NPC

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

More than 30 organizations metaphorically held hands and announced collectively that they're "stronger together," and with that in mind, they're coming together to make sure everyone who is of age to vote in the Pittsburgh region will indeed vote on November 5.

The organizations, such as the Black Political Empowerment Project, League of Women Voters, Voter Empowerment, Education & Enrichment Movement, John Lewis Transformative Justice Coalition, Just Harvest and others, said they would be having voter education "blitzes," and we're not talking about the Steelers defense here.

These organizations are headed to Homewood, to the Hill, the North Side, West End, even the Pittsburgh International Airport, as the big day, Election Day, is now less than 50 days away.

Pastor Dale B. Snyder of Bethel AME Church, in the Hill District, said the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in general, has been doing voter en-

gagement "since 1787. We started with the Free African Society."

The Free African Society was founded in Philadelphia by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Allen later started the African Methodist Church, in Philadelphia. "Our 38 churches surrounding Allegheny County all the way up to Erie have been doing phone banking (in their Get Out The Vote campaign)," Rev. Snyder said during the collective organizations' news conference, Sept. 16, in the Hill District. "If you get a call from our phone bankers, be gentile, be nice, they're just trying to make sure that you're registered, if you need voter ID or if you need a ride to the polls."

Reverend Snyder added: "There's a storm going on, don't be in your house sleeping while voting is taking place...it's a big storm raging on the ocean, and I'm encouraging you to exercise your right to vote. Don't be caught sleeping at the bottom of the boat."

The U.S. is less than 50 days away from making history by electing the first Black woman presi-

churches and in the community. We wanted to do it in the Mon Valley because Clairton and communities in the Mon Valley are forgotten about,” she said. Rev. Moore, CEO and founder of Sisters Saving Ourselves Now (SSON)/

Black Women’s Roundtable, and her committee of dedicated, community-oriented ladies came up with the idea of the Senior B.A.L.L. (Brave Amazing Living Legends) award. The event took place on Aug. 24 at the Georgetown Center in Pleasant Hills. The event was sponsored by Highmark Wholecare, Black Women’s Roundtable and Allen Place Community Center

Pastors at six area churches were asked to select two people from their congregations to be awarded. The churches were: Morning

Star Baptist Church, Clairton; Mount Olive First Baptist Church, Clairton; Kingdom COME Ministries, Clairton; Gethsemane C.O.G.I.C., Clairton; New Evangelistic Ministries, Duquesne; Payne Chapel AME, Duquesne, Bethlehem Baptist Church, McKeesport. The award recipients were: Mamie and Kevin Underwood, New Evangelistic Ministries; Thorvard R. Hardimon and Mable

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

It’s hard being a mother. Really hard. Cynthia “Muffy” Mendoza is the founder of “Brown Mamas,” which began as a group of mothers meeting, talking, discussing, uplifting each other, and since has grown to more than 7,000 Black mothers in Pittsburgh. The number is more than 10,000 Black mothers nationally. As Mendoza said on KDKA-TV’s “Talk Pittsburgh” in mid-July 2024 promoting her annual “Brown Mamas Weekend,” “the task of mothering is very difficult, and you need your people. ‘Brown Mamas Weekend’ is an oppor-

dent, Kamala Harris, or having the second person to serve as president for two non-consecutive terms, in Donald Trump. The first and only person to pull off the feat was Grover Cleveland, who was U.S. president from 1885-1889, and 18931897.

Since Pennsylvania is an important swing state in this year's election, it's being courted by the two presidential candidates harder than Barack courted Michelle.

But who will get Pennsylvania's "ring?" Pennsylvania will say "I do" to whom? Kamala or The Donald?

The collective organizations stressed that they are non-partisan, and they are not to endorse or sway people to vote for a particular candidate— only that it is important to just vote.

"Issues of climate change, the attack on women that we thought we resolved 50 years ago, in terms of what women must do, what they feel they need to do, and how they choose to raise their $1.00

tunity for you to come and find your Brown Mama People.” “Brown Mamas Weekend” was July 27-28 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. On July 27, the event was moreso focused on stories of resilience and triumph from Pittsburgh-area Black mothers, otherwise known as the “Brown Mama Monologues.” It was hosted by Pittsburgh native and actor Lamman Rucker. On July 28, it was the first “Womb, Wealth and Wellness Summit,” where people like Cassandra Cummings hosted a wealth-buildSEE

SNYDER SR. of Bethel AME Church, in the Hill District, says “don't be caught sleeping at the bottom of the boat;” urges everyone to vote on November 5. (Photo by J.L. Martello)

MUFFY MENDOZA, FOUNDER OF “BROWN MAMAS”

Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5 has passed away at 70

Jackson, a founding member of the iconic Jackson 5 and brother to music legend Michael Jackson, passed away at the age of 70 on Sunday, as revealed by a former manager. Tito, the third oldest of the Jackson siblings, played a pivotal role in the success of the Jackson 5, a group that helped shape the landscape of Motown and R&B. Alongside his brothers Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie, and Mi -

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

• SEPTEMBER 18

1850—Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850. The Compromise was essentially a vain attempt to reconcile differences between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North as to whether Midwest states would be slave or free. The law basically required Free states to help slave states capture escaped slaves.

portrayal of a Black middle-class family.

• SEPTEMBER 21

1872—John Henry Conyers becomes the first Black student at the U.S. Naval Academy. However, racism and often violent harassment forced him to leave the academy before he was able to graduate.

1905—The Atlanta Life Insurance Co. is established in Atlanta, Ga., and becomes one of the largest insurance companies in America serving a predominantly African American clientele.

Tito’s role in the Jackson 5 was crucial to the group’s early success. As a talented guitarist, Tito’s rhythm and musical foundation helped define the group’s sound, complementing

chael, Tito contributed to the group’s worldwide success, making them one of the most famous musical acts of all time. Longtime family friend and former manager Steve Manning shared with reporters that Tito died on September 15, possibly from a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. The official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Michael’s lead vocals and Jermaine’s bass. While Michael became the breakout star, Tito’s steady presence and musicianship were key factors in creating the group’s cohesive sound that led to massive

Tito often reflected on the profound impact Michael’s death had on him, revealing in a recent interview that he continued to feel Michael’s presence whenever he performed. Tito found solace in seeing Michael’s smile in the faces of his children, TJ, Taj, and Taryll Jackson. He was also a vocal advocate for preserving Michael’s legacy, stating that the world had missed out on much of Michael’s goodness, as he was not only a gifted artist but also a loving person dedicated to giving back.

In August, Tito returned to the UK, just miles from the O2 Arena where Michael was set to perform his highly anticipated This Is It residency before his untimely death. Reflecting on the world’s treatment of Michael, Tito shared his frustrations, telling The Mirror, “The world was not kind to Michael at all. His death was such a major tragedy, and I believe the world missed out on a lot of good from him.” He went on to describe Michael as more than just a musician, praising his brother’s generosity and compassionate spirit. Tito and his siblings have faced many challenges in the years following Michael’s passing, including family tensions and legal battles involving their mother, Katherine Jackson, and the executors of Michael’s estate. Despite the turmoil, Tito remained steadfast, choosing to rise above the drama. “I don’t have time to put it in my head,” he said of the family disputes. “We know ourselves and we know each other.”

Tito continued to perform with The Jacksons, keeping the family’s musical legacy alive. He maintained a close relationship with Michael’s children—Prince, Par-

“The world was not kind to Michael at all. His death was such a major tragedy, and I believe the world missed out on a lot of good from him.”

—TITO JACKSON

hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.” His contributions were often understated, but his skill as a performer helped drive the group’s commercial and artistic achievements during their rise to fame.

Even after the passing of his younger brother Michael in 2009, Tito remained deeply connected to his legacy.

1895—Booker T. Washington delivered his famous (or infamous) “Atlanta Compromise” speech in which he promotes Black economic betterment at the expense of civil and political rights. The speech endeared him to Whites opposed to the social integration of Blacks, but it angered progressive Blacks, including scholar W.E.B. DuBois, who began to portray Washington as an “Uncle Tom.”

1980—Cuban cosmonaut Arnold Tamayo becomes the first Black person to fly on a space mission. He flew on a space craft from the then-Soviet Union.

• SEPTEMBER 19

1865—Atlanta University is founded in Atlanta, Ga. It was one of many educational institutions established during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War to educate former slaves.

1931—Soul singer Brook Benton born Benjamin Franklin Peay, was born this day in Lugoff, S.C. He has more than 50 billboard chart hits as an artist including “A Rainy Night in Georgia,” “It’s Just A Matter Of Time” and “Endlessly.”

1963— Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. is founded at then Morgan State College now Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland by twelve men. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc is the last of the D9 which comprises of Historically African American Fraternities & Sororities

1981—An estimated 400,000 people from various labor and civil rights organizations rally in Washington, D.C., to protest the domestic policies of President Ronald Reagan. His policies were viewed by the demonstrating groups as anti-Black and opposed to the best interests of working-class people.

• SEPTEMBER 20

1664—Maryland enacts the nation’s first “Anti-Amalgamation Law.” It specifically outlawed marriages between Black men and White women. Soon, several other colonies followed the Maryland example. It would not be until the 1960s that U.S. Supreme Court in the famous Loving v. Virginia case declared all such laws un-Constitutional. And even though it was not being enforced, it was not until 2000 that Alabama officially became the last state to strike from the books its law banning interracial marriages.

1830—The first National Negro Convention of Free Men meets in Philadelphia, Pa. Among a wide range of items on the agenda was a resolution encouraging free Blacks to boycott the purchase of items produced by slave labor. African Methodist Episcopal Church founder Richard Allen was elected president of the convention. Despite the fact that Allen had founded the AME Church, the name of the convention also reflected an attempt by free Blacks to reduce identification with Africa. At the time, most slaves and many free Blacks tended to refer to themselves as “Africans.”

1984—Gen. Colin Powell becomes the first African American named as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the nation’s top military leader, Powell was praised by some Blacks as a role model while he was criticized for supporting what critics considered the government’s war-mongering policies. His generally positive reputation was damaged by his speaking before the United Nations and providing misinformation in 2003 in support of the Bush administration’s war in Iraq.

• SEPTEMBER 22

1863—Mary Church Terrell is born on this day in 1863. She became one of the nation’s leading activists advocating greater education for Blacks and women. She was the first Black person to sit on the Washington, D.C., school board and played a major role in desegregating that city’s restaurants.

1961—The Interstate Commerce Commission officially prohibits segregation in buses traveling in interstate commerce. It also banned segregated terminal facilities even though the ruling was largely ignored in many Southern states. But during the mid-1960s civil rights activists would frequently cite the ruling as they integrated facilities throughout the South.

• SEPTEMBER 23

1926—Legendary jazz great John Coltrane is born on this day in Hamlet, N.C. He is generally credited with reshaping modern Jazz and setting a pattern which would be followed by generations of Jazz saxophonists.

1930—Singer-performer Ray Charles is born on this day in Albany, Ga. Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining blues, R&B and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records. He also contributed to the integration of country music, R&B and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his two Modern Sounds albums. While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first Black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.

• SEPTEMBER 24

is, and Bigi “Blanket” Jackson—visiting them whenever he traveled to Los Angeles from his home in Oklahoma. Tito’s passing marks the loss of yet another key figure in the storied Jackson family, but his contributions to music, and his devotion to his family, will be remembered for years to come.

1958—A deranged woman stabs then-rapidly emerging civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. during a book signing ceremony at a Harlem, N.Y., department store. Rumors circulated that the stabbing was part of a government conspiracy against King but no evidence was ever produced to support the theory.

1984—“The Cosby Show,” starring comedian and activist Bill Cosby, debuts on NBC Television. It becomes one of the nation’s highest rated television series and was widely praised by civil rights activists because of its generally positive

1957—President Dwight Eisenhower orders federal troops into Little Rock, Ark., to prevent angry Whites from interfering with the integration of the city’s Central High School by nine Black students. The confrontation was one of the most dramatic during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. Governor Orval Faubus had vowed to go to jail to block the court ordered desegregation of the school claiming that Whites would be destroyed if they integrated with Blacks. But the confrontation settled the issue of whether states had to obey orders issued by federal courts. 1965—President Lyndon Johnson issues what is generally considered the nation’s first affirmative action order—Executive Order #11246 It required companies receiving federal construction contracts to ensure equality in the hiring of minorities. Despite a disastrous war in Vietnam that would eventually force his resignation, the Southern-born Johnson generally supported a host of legislative and executive efforts beneficial to Blacks.

TITO JACKSON arrives at the opening night of, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour,” in Los Angeles, Jan. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, File)

‘Brown Mamas Weekend’ continues its success under ‘Muffy’ 7,000 Black mothers in region part of the network

ing-through-investing seminar, and Latham Thomas spoke on womb wellness for a lifetime.

Cummings and Thomas are powerhouses in their respective fields. Cummings, a California native and resident, is behind “The Stocks and Stilettos Society,” which has more than 100,000 Black women nationally interested in investing. Thomas, a New York City resident, is the force behind “Mama Glow,” which delivers an array of offerings for women and families along the paths of fertility, pregnancy and new motherhood.

Local Black mothers were also featured throughout the new summit, such as LaKeisha Wolf, Nisha Blackwell, Latoya Hamm Wilson, and Jada Shirriel.

People like Mendoza, who formerly lived in New York, knew the dire straits that many Black women and mothers face in Pittsburgh. Mendoza started Brown Mamas in 2012, seven years before Pittsburgh’s infamous “Gender Equity Commission Report” that was released in 2019 which said, among other things, that Pittsburgh’s Black women made 54 cents for every White man’s dollar in the city, and that Pittsburgh’s Black women were five times more likely to live in poverty than the city’s

brochure—Pittsburgh’s Black maternal mortality rate is higher than Black mortality rates in 97 percent of similar cities, the Gender Equity Commission report found. Brown Mamas, throughout the year, has programs

Mamas, an opportunity for us to take a deeper look at what it means to be a Black mother in the United States,” Mendoza, who is a wife with three sons, said on KDKA-TV. “But it’s also an opportunity for us to really cele-

White men.

The report found that 18 out of every 1,000 Black women pregnancies end in a fetal death, compared to 9 out of every 1,000 White women pregnancies.

Another statistic that won’t be in a future “Reasons to stay in Pittsburgh”

that include healing circles, self-care meet-ups, networking events and helps connect mothers with therapists, doctors, homeschooling support and food banks.

“Brown Mamas Weekend is an opportunity for us to celebrate being Brown

brate each other, celebrate all the highs and lows that we experience and all the trials and triumphs we have as being moms.”

Jennifer Hudson, the R&B singer, actress and now host of her own daytime talk show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” got

wind of the work Mendoza does. In an episode that aired in December 2023, Hudson invited the Mendoza family to the show, where Hudson applauded the work of the Brown Mamas movement. Hudson then surprised the Mendoza family with an all-expenses-paid trip to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, which is about 20 minutes southeast of Uniontown, Pa.

With husband, Mack, and her three sons by her side, Muffy Mendoza told Hudson how Brown Mamas was born out of humble beginnings; how, when she and Mack came to Pittsburgh from New York City, the Mendoza family had to live in Muffy Mendoza’s best friend’s basement. After finding their own place, Muffy Mendoza eventually started Brown Mamas with six

other Black women in Muffy Mendoza’s home— just talking, supporting and uplifting each other. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I never thought in a million years I’d be here,” Muffy Mendoza, holding back tears, told Hudson, herself a mother of a son. Hudson replied: “Oh, but you made it.”

EXPLORING

WELLNESS PANEL—IT FEATURED DORIS KING, STACEY BARLOW-HILL AND TAYLER CLEMM. IT WAS HOSTED BY MUFFY

MENDOZA, FAR LEFT, DURING “BROWN MAMAS WEEKEND.” (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

MUFFY MENDOZA WITH JENNIFER HUDSON, ON “THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW” IN 2023.

Senior B.A.L.L. salutes 12 seniors from area churches

Secret to living is 'to love and trust God,' one honoree says

SENIOR B.A.L.L. FROM A1

Brooks, Bethlehem Baptist Church; Rev. Deborah Marshall and Trustee John Moore, Morning Star Baptist Church; Martha Wade and Eula Mae Williams, Mount Olive First Baptist Church; Regina Meacham-McKenzie and Bernadette Holly, Kingdom COME Ministries; Cheryl and O’Neil Cozart, Payne Chapel AME; and Herminia “Meme” and Ozzie Carattini, Gethsemane

C.O.G.I.C.

Sisters Saving Ourselves Now is a non-profit organization dedicated to actionable steps facing women of color with a specific focus on underserved Black women. The objective of the organization is to convene other like-minded organizations, other female groups, local and state officials. SSON has a signature program, Black Women’s Roundtable, a program of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, which is a national organization under the leadership of Melanie Campbell. Black Women’s Roundtable’s mission is to fight for policies that promote racial, economic and gender equality and to improve the lives of African American women and girls. Its key areas of focus are health and wellness, economic security, education and global empowerment.

Moore started Sisters Saving Ourselves Now in 2012 when she became pastor of First AME Church in Clairton.

“I saw mostly women—not only women, but single moms and they wanted to start ministries,” explained Rev. Moore. “We interviewed them and asked them what they needed. They wanted things like sustainability, self-improvement, nutrition, physical health and diabetes conversations.”

Sisters Saving Ourselves Now serves

Homewood, Duquesne and Aliquippa. “We are currently doing self-development courses in Duquesne and we are headed to Aliquippa and Homewood,” Rev. Moore told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “We are also starting a grief and trauma component because a lot of us have gone through grief. We see that more and more and we keep moving, but trauma has a memory. Some of us are stuck and we have to get away from that.”

Sisters Saving Ourselves Now is headquartered is headquartered in New Kensington and currently has a membership of between 22 and 35. Reverend Moore estimates that the organization has helped provide resources for over 500 people.

Offering a hand up to her fellow sisters is

why Pauline Callaway Long decided to join Sisters Saving Ourselves Now and help facilitate the inaugural Seniors B.A.L.L. “Seniors don’t get enough recognition. Based on the 2020 census, they dominate the U.S. We want to honor them. We want them to pass their wisdom on to the young people because they are the ones who will be doing the work,” said Long, a three-year member of SSON who handles social media for the organization. “I am about the purpose of moving myself and any other sister to the next level.”

For one evening, 12 seniors were asked to don their best outfits for an evening of dinner, dancing, raffles and awards. The mood was light and festive as the honorees enjoyed mixing and mingling with one another and applauding each other. “I am happy and blessed to be honored,” said Mount Olive First Bap -

tist Church deaconess

Eula Mae Williams.

“I thank the Lord. He is great forever. I was happy and surprised to learn that I was being honored and I’m happy God has kept me all these 91 years. The secret is to love and trust God. I thank him for keeping me day by day.”

“We do what we do for our church because we love our church, and we love God. You never work for the Lord to put yourself first, but when it happens, it’s special,” said Cheryl Jefferies Cozart, who, along with her husband of 50 years, O’Neil Cozart, were among the awardees.

Juwanna Warren became involved with Sisters Saving Ourselves Now because she heard about it through Long. Now, three years later, she is glad to be a part of such a worthy cause. She was excited to help organize the B.A.L.L.

“This was a way of giving the ladies (and gentlemen) their flowers while they are still here.

It’s a great thing to honor people who have done a lot in the community.

It’s a privilege to be a part of this organization,” Warren told the Courier.

In addition to the B.A.L.L., Sisters Saving Ourselves Now held a workshop a few days after the awards dinner, entitled, “Surviving to Thriving,” where attendees discussed how people sometimes get stuck and how they can re-learn who they are and what they are called to do.

In the first quarter of 2025, the group will be collaborating with Connie Portis and traveling to Barbados to do a pod -

cast with women there to see what the two groups have in common.

“Anyone is welcome, but we are looking to improve the economic insecurities that have us bound,” Rev. Moore said. “We are focused on the mental and physical health of Black women and their families. I’m never too busy to help a sister.”

MANY OF THE HONOREES WITH REV. JUDITH MOORE. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

WELCOMING

HONOREE HERMINIA GATEWAY-CARATTINI

HONOREE REGINA MEACHAN-MCKENZIE

HONOREE O’NEIL COZART

BROTHER OF HONOREE KEVIN J. UNDERWOOD SR.

HONOREE DEACONESS EULA MAE WILLIAMS

HONOREE MAMIE L. UNDERWOOD

HONOREE MARTHA WADE

HONOREE MABLE BROOKS

FRIENDS OF HONOREE JOHN MOORE III

HONOREE CHERYL JEFFERIES COZART WITH HUSBAND

HONOREE BERNADETTE HOLLY

HONOREE REV. DEBORAH A. BATTLE-MARSHALL

‘65 AND ALIVE’

Seniors came out to party on the North Side, hosted by Rep. Aerion Abney

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

On Thursday, Sept. 5, it was a day football fans had been waiting for—the NFL's Opening Night, the first regular season game of the year between the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens.

But for 175 Pittsburgh seniors, it was a day they'd been waiting for, too.

It was the first "Senior Fair," entitled, "65 and Alive,” an active night out held at the National Aviary on the North Side. State Representative of the 19th House District, Aerion Abney, hosted the event, and the seniors were scoring touchdowns of their own, in the form of winning Bingo, eating good food, listening to good music, dancing, and a chance to "really feel loved and appreciated," Rep. Abney told the New Pittsburgh Courier, Sept. 17. "The feedback that we got from all the participants there was very positive," Rep. Abney said. "Everybody had a great time and we're looking forward to doing it again next year."

Representative Abney said the event took eight months of planning, which included attaining sponsors like Highmark, PNC, Dollar Bank, the Pittsburgh Penguins and UPMC. Representative Abney, 36, has been in office for about two and a half years, and he said he's made a commitment to being open to his constituents as well as being

transparent. "We've brought in over $60 million since I've been in office from Harrisburg, back to the district to help with different development projects that are underway in my district, as well as different social service programs that provide opportunities for folks in the community

who are in need," Rep. Abney told the Courier. His office is located at 730 James Street, North Side, near E. Ohio Street. "We get a mix of walk-ins, a mix of phone calls, we'll get emails, but we try to be very intentional about being out in the community," Rep. Abney said. The 19th District

stretches all the way to Hazelwood, the Hill District, Downtown and the North Side.

Representative Abney said he is very proud of his record of community work and service. And the senior fair was a chance for the seniors who may never have met their state representative, to meet him in-person.

"They showed up," Rep. Abney said of the seniors.

"Even though the building only allowed us, because of capacity issues, to have 175 people, we had well over 200 people call and try to RSVP for it."

Rep. Abney added: "We will have it again next year, and there's some things that we probably want to improve on, but we got a really good showing of folks who were interested, and without even us providing transportation, people actually showed up and had a really great time."

STATE REP. AERION ABNEY ADDRESSES THE 175 SENIORS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SENIOR FAIR, “65 AND ALIVE,” SEPT. 5, ON THE NORTH SIDE.

STATE REP. AERION ABNEY, OF THE 19TH HOUSE DISTRICT, HOSTED A SENIOR FAIR AT THE NATIONAL AVIARY ON SEPT. 5.

AWAACC @ 15

Janis Burley Wilson, President/CEO of the August

African American Cultural Center, celebrates its 15th anniversary

"Fifteen years ago, on September 17, 2009, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture opened its doors to the public, embarking on a journey filled with amazing arts experiences and cultural milestones.

"Throughout the last 15 years, we have celebrated many successes and successfully navigated periods of uncertainty. In 2017, a new cultural organization sparked a renaissance, transforming the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) into one of the largest, multi-disciplinary Black performing arts centers in the country.

"We are proud of what we have built upon the foundation that others established. Our mission remains steadfast: to become a premier performing arts center, a home for arts, storytelling, and the

exchange of ideas rooted in the African American experience and the African Diaspora. We welcome all to learn, recognize, and uplift the Black experience in artful and impactful ways.

"Highlights over the past 15 years include the U.S. premiere of the Flying Girls sculpture by Nigerian artist Peju Alatise, the Black Bottom Film Festival, the virtual salon series Lit Fridays and the culinary series, A Seat at Our Table.

"Now, it is time to celebrate once more as we look forward to the next 15 years while honoring the past, celebrating the present, and envisioning the future of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center—a place where art and culture are created, presented, and ignite the imaginations of future generations."

“Now, it is time to celebrate once more as we look forward to the next 15 years while honoring the past, celebrating the present, and envisioning the future of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center—a place where art and culture are created, presented, and ignite the imaginations of future generations.”

- JANIS BURLEY WILSON

What will happen to more than 12 Pittsburgh Public Schools?

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Pittsburgh Public Schools has decided to push back the district’s consultant’s final recommendation on whether more than a dozen schools should be closed to Oct. 15, instead of Sept. 16.

“In our discussions with the PPS Administration and our consultants at ERS (Education Resource Strategies), we determined that more time is needed to analyze all of the data collected during the most recent community engagement sessions,” said Board President Gene Walker, in a statement. “Due to the expected scope of the proposal and its significant impact on our District, we want to ensure that ERS has ample time to develop and present the

best possible recommendation. The Board is committed to ensuring that all community input is considered before the final presentation and this commitment requires that we give ERS the additional time needed to finish their work.”

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) continues to be steadfast in its commitment to community engagement as it finalizes the Facilities Utilization Plan. Hundreds of parents, students, and community members have attended Regional Community Input Sessions, submitted input via the Let’s Talk platform, or completed a survey regarding the base scenario presented by ERS last month. “We are deeply grateful to everyone in our community who has elevat -

ed their voices to share their aspirations for the children of Pittsburgh,” said Superintendent Dr. Wayne N. Walters, in a statement. “ERS has much to consider in developing a final recommendation that honors this input while ensuring we create a system of equity, excellence, and efficiency across all schools.”

The major issue for school district parents is that PPS schools would no longer be grades K-8 or 6-12. Schools would be K-5 or 6-8. Also on the table is that a number of magnet schools would be phased out.

PPS is home to roughly 20,000 students, and the number has been declining over the years.

JANIS BURLEY WILSON, AWAACC PRESIDENT/CEO

PPS BOARD PRESIDENT GENE WALKER

'Don't be caught sleeping' Leaders say Black community must vote in upcoming election

VOTE FROM A1

families and to create families,” is what B-PEP

Chairman and CEO Tim Stevens said were just some of the issues voters must think long and hard about when they go to the polls to choose their candidate.

B-PEP, as per usual, is planning to have its voter empowerment signs all throughout the city.

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:

E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

"None of us standing here has seen a moment that is more important than the one coming up on November 5," Stevens said on Sept. 16. "If you want your right to vote, which some people have

attempted to deny Black and brown and young people and others...if you want to decide what presidential candidate, what senate candidate, what congressional candidate... what we ask is for people to vote their interests. We're not going to tell you who to vote for, but we're going to ask you to look at what you need in your life, your family's life, your community's life...who is going to meet our needs, aspirations and concerns. And don't let anyone tell you your vote does not count."

BARIKI HALL SHABAZZ

On September 2, 2024, Bariki Hall Shabazz, 90, transitioned peacefully at her home in Pittsburgh, PA and is now resting with the ancestors. Queen Mother Bariki, disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, was a revolutionary, teacher, singer, musician and extraordinarily beloved. Mama Bariki is survived by her four children: Dr. John R. Diggs, Jr., Khadija Tamu Diggs, Esq., Malaika E. Hall, and Dalili T. Hall; three granddaughters: Kimaya Diggs (Jacob Rosazza), Makeda Diggs, and Savita Diggs; as well as a host of family, extended family, and friends.

A celebration of the life of Sister Bariki, and acknowledgement of her warrior spirit, will be held on October 5, 2024, at the Sherwood Event Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Parking at the facility is limited and strictly enforced; consider carpooling. The family welcomes the village for visitation from 11:45 am –12:45 pm; memorial service to follow beginning at 1 pm. African attire (excluding the color white) is requested, but not required.

It is kindly suggested that instead of flowers, donations be made in Ms. Bariki’s honor to FLM-Haiti accessing flmhaiti.networkforgood.com in the “Apply My Donation” drop down menu, select “In Memory of Queen Mother Bariki Hall” or please make a notation on the memo line should you choose to mail a check.

“Grace and peace be MULTIPLIED unto you through the KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus our Lord. According as His divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue.”

TIM STEVENS

YVONNE RAINEY

LORRAINE CROSS

TIM STEVENS, WITH THE B-PEP SIGNS...

MIN. TERRI GRIFFIN

Tomlin outduels Broncos coach

Sean Payton in Steelers' 13-6 win

Team comes home to face Chargers, Sept. 22

The Pittsburgh Steelers rode into Empower Stadium at Mile High Field on Sept. 15, with smiles on their faces and guns blazing. The Steelers beat the Broncos and their genius head coach, Sean Payton, 13-6.

However folks, if you drank the Kool-Aid that the pundits made, this game was destined to end only one way and that would’ve been with the Black and Gold riding back home from the Mile High City on a threelegged horse, bruised, busted and disgusted. Wah, Wah, Wah. If the thin air didn’t bring them crashing down, then their inadequate and incompetent offense would be a glaring weakness. Last but not least, when forced with the prospect of facing the football intellect of the Broncos head coach Sean Payton, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t have a chance.

On Sept. 11, a few days prior to the showdown, senior Broncos writer Andrew Mason posted: “Just four coaches who opened the 2007 season on NFL sidelines are guiding their teams. Two clash Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High when Sean Payton and his Denver Broncos host Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. And over those years, Payton has gotten the better of the man who is one of only three people to guide the Steelers in the last half-century.”

The following excerpt is from a column written by Riley Garrett, one of

the “homers” who writes for Steeler Nation. Garrett wrote a piece titled: "Steelers Predicted To Likely Lose Against Broncos; Labeled As ‘Coaching Mismatch’ For Mike Tomlin."

will never allow anyone around them to see, hear, smell, taste or touch the truth of the game.

Mr. Garrett seems like too much of a coward to question the intellect of Mike Tomlin directly so he takes the back alley approach. Mr. Garrett quotes, "fake it till you make it."

Colin "Cowchips" Cowherd said: “I think Denver wins here, they’ve always been good at home. I think it’s a coaching mismatch. Payton’s a brilliant coach. I like the Steelers as dogs, not as favorites.”

Hmmm, now let me see, Charlie Chan say...Mike Tomlin won 175 games and lost 100, with 2 ties, and coached one team, the Steelers. Sean Payton won 161 games, lost 98, and coached the Saints and Broncos. The "Most Honorable Coach" Payton was suspended for one year, paid players to hurt the opposition, almost like a "cockfight." Charlie Chan say Mike Tomlin better, but the "yinzers" disagree. See folks, many scribes at home and abroad see themselves and the game of football through lenses made from bricks. They

In the majority of the Steelers’ games played during the 2023 season, the Steelers’ defense was rendered almost useless in the second half of games because the Steelers’ offense was useless in the first half, leaving the defense breathless and worn out in the second half by the time the "Pickett-led quarterback brigade" would come to life and begin to move the chains. When Sean Payton took over as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, he was given breathing room as he embarked on rebuilding the Saints. He was also given leeway when he made his way his way to the Mile High City to take over as the headmaster of the Denver Broncos. When Mike Tomlin was retained by Pittsburgh, he was not even remotely afforded any creature comforts by the media or the fan base to make it easier to perform his duties. From the beginning of his tenure, gripes and criticisms were piled on him, without merit. The primary criticism was that any games that he won were a result of a roster that was ready made and compiled for him by his predecessor, Bill Cowher.

During the Steelers/ Broncos game, the genius of Sean Payton wasn’t as apparent as the sparks flying from the cleats of Bo Nix, the Broncos' rookie QB, as he tried to fig-

ure out how to stay one step ahead of the Steelers' "Nasty Neckbones" defense. By the way, that Steelers defense is playing like they signed a referral contract to send patients to “Necks N’ At” chiropractors. If you want genuine testimony regarding the tenacity of the Steelers’ defense, the first witness that you should put on the witness stand is Bo Nix. He will confirm that the game plan that

Sean Payton drew up on the blackboard sorta, kinda got lost in the sauce once the game began. Steelers QB Justin Fields would have a banner performance if not for the unfortunate miscues of a young and inexperienced offensive line. If this young Steelers offensive line group remains healthy, I "garontee" that by midseason, there are going to be some Yellowstone Park-size

holes opening up for the Steelers running game. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. Denver Broncos fans, remember this...if you don’t have the "horses," you can only be a self-defined genius, in your mind and in the minds of your supporters. The Broncos may not have been “dogs" as Colin Cowherd might say, but they definitely were not thoroughbreds.

The Steelers seize control of the AFC North!

:10— Well, well, well. I told you, I told you. Here we are in Week 2 of the NFL season and our Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 after a determined effort against the Denver Broncos in Denver and 2 games ahead of the 0-2 Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. Yeah, the Cleveland Browns pulled out an 18-13 victory over the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars and are 1-1 but seriously, they’re the Browns.

:09— As usual, let’s hit the highlights first. It all starts with the defense again. Two road victories, 16 total points allowed, stellar play against the run, allowing the Broncos to tote the ball for only 64 yards and a 3.4 yards per carry average; we will take this every week and never look back. The men up front, led by Cam Heyward, have been outstanding, no slice of daylight to run anywhere. As for the linebackers, Patrick Queen was everywhere and showed why he was a Pro Bowl linebacker last season, and our bookend pass rushers, Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, both recorded sacks and tackles for loss.

:08— And let’s not forget about the secondary, two more interceptions, one for Damontae Kazee and one for Cory Trice Jr., his first career interception, stopping a Denver drive in the end zone and keeping the momentum for the Steelers. Joey Porter Jr.? Forget about it, we’re gonna need a nickname like Revis Island for the man, nobody is throwing his way. Porter’s Planet? I’m spit-balling

here, boys and girls, cut me some slack.

:07— Justin Fields was again error-free, managing the play calls as they were sent in, 13-20 for 117 yards and his first TD pass of the year to gigantic tight end Darnell Washington, catching his first career touchdown in his second year and then saluting his brother in the military. Fields did enough to earn the victory but with the ultra-conservative play-calling, the offense seems no better than last year’s offense under Matt Canada. Can we do a play-action pass on first down instead of Najee Harris running into the stacked defensive line?

I’m just saying.

:06— Sticking with Najee Harris, another hard-nosed, grind-it-out performance, 17 carries for 69 yards, a nice 4.1 yards per carry average and grit and determination on every play. Feed him the ball 25+ times and see what happens. The man is a piece of iron.

:05— Why the Steelers aren’t targeting George Pickens at least 15 times a game is a total mystery to me. He should easily be getting 100 receiving yards each game and at least 10 receptions. Did ya see the 51-yard reception down the sidelines that got called back by a Broderick Jones hold? It

was artistry like Lynn Swann used to show every game. Pickens is a singular talent and if you don’t utilize him and his extraordinary skill set, you’re just wasting him here and as soon as possible he’s going to be gone to a team that wants to throw his way as often as possible. C’mon man, throw him the damn ball, it’s 2024, not 1974.

:04— Unfortunately we have to mention Broderick Jones, he of the 3 penalties in 6 plays during the third series of the game and his immediate benching right after by Coach Mike Tomlin. Broderick’s comments after the game summed it up perfectly, he needs to get his head in the game and play better. I understand there is quite a lot of talk around town about his handling by the coaching staff and there’s something to it, but on the flip side, maybe his being moved to right tackle is simply

a case of not enough talent. The NFL is littered with top draft picks that never lived up to the supposed pedigree and maybe, just maybe, that’s the case with Jones. I hope not, his talent level seems high and I do expect him to thrive in the very near future. If the reason turns out to be mismanagement, shame on the entire coaching staff.

:03— Moving on, how bout that young man QB’ing the Pitt Panthers to a 2-0 start, QB Eli Holstein, the youngster with ice in his veins and an arm that can sling the football all over the place. Head Coach Pat Narduzzi has to be happy as can be at his QB freshman transfer and how he’s performed so far this season, putting the Panthers on his back in the come-from-behind victory over the archrival WVU Mountaineers in this latest edition of the Backyard Brawl, 38-34, on Sept. 14. With two

touchdowns in the closing minutes, Holstein showed he’s capable of even bigger and better things. It’s a down year in the ACC we’re being told so let’s hope the Panthers are able to capitalize and win the ACC and get to a January bowl game.

:02— I know everyone in town is rooting for Paul Skenes to win the Cy Young Award alongside the Rookie of the Year Award, but I believe he’s going to fall short on the Cy Young Award to Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale for two reasons. First, Sale has pitched in 28 games this season while Skenes has pitched in 20. You say so what, but with stats that are pretty similar, Sale’s ERA is 2.35 while Skenes carries a 2.10 ERA, strikeouts per 9 innings are identical, Quality Starts in line together, I think it’s basically a draw except Sales has pitched the entire season. Secondly, Sale missed most

of the last three seasons due to injury and everyone loves a good comeback story. Sale is known as a bit of a hard case to reporters and not the best teammate to have so that might work in Skenes’ favor, but I think the scales tip in Chris Sale’s fortunes this season.

:01— Remember when your Pittsburgh Pirates were in the Wild Card chase? Yeah, good times. :00— Sidney Crosby just signed a 2-year extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a team-friendly $17.4 million. Crosby is always about the team first and that’s why he has three Stanley Cup rings and is considered a Top 5 All-Time player. We have been incredibly fortunate to watch this man on the ice and the way he always carries himself with class and dignity. Damn lucky. GAME OVER.

STEELERS QUARTERBACK JUSTIN FIELDS ELUDES A DENVER DEFENDER IN THE TEAM’S WIN, SEPT. 15, 2024. (PHOTO BY KARL ROSER/PITTSBURGH STEELERS)

The real state of Black America’s wallet

by Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Algernon Austin

(Word In Black)—As the country moves rapidly toward our 2024 presidential election, Black Americans are experiencing the most positive economic conditions in generations.

Record low unemployment rates, record low poverty rates, record high-income levels, and new heights of wealth paint a picture of prosperity.

One could easily think that this data means Black people are experiencing broad prosperity. Yet, deeper investigation reveals that despite these record-breaking economic numbers, Black Americans are still mired in great economic insecurity. This ongoing economic challenge is reflected in their low opinion of the economy, widespread asset poverty, and ongoing Black/White economic inequality.

The best Black economy in generations isn’t enough when near-never-ending inequality and insecurity loom on the horizon. As the nation goes through a historic election that could have long-term ramifications on its political direction, it is clear that for Black voters, economic concerns remain front and center, even as social issues dominate the headlines.

Black Unemployment, the Racial Wealth Gap

From 1972 to 2022, the average annual Black unemployment rate was 11.6 percent. In July of 2024, it was at 6.3 percent, nearing historic lows. But those figures look different in context; in 2023, for instance, the annual Black unemployment rate was nearly 1.7 times the White rate. On average, the Black unemployment rate between 1972 and 2022 was 2.1 times that of Whites, showing that bridging the Black/White unemployment gap remains a work in

progress.

Other indicators tell us a similar story.

The annual Black prime-age employment rate is at a record high: For the first half of 2024, it has averaged 78 percent, slightly above where it stood the previous year. Black median household income is also at its highest point in a generation, growing from about $41,000 in 2011 to nearly $53,000 in 2022—a nearly 30 percent increase. That same year, median Black wealth or net worth (assets minus debts) also reached a new high of nearly $45,000, more than double the post-Great Recession low of about $17,000 seen in 2013. Despite these positive trends, the economic reality for many African Americans remains precarious. In 2023, there would have needed to be over 1.4 million more Black people working to reach the

same employment rates as White people. This joblessness cost Black America roughly $60 billion. And while Black median income has risen, it is still nearly $30,000 lower than the White median —and still even below the White median income of 1972.

The average Black median wealth of approximately $45,000 keeps a large majority of Black people distant from the $190,000 to $570,000 estimated as the wealth necessary to reach middle-class status. As noted in the 2023 report “Still A Dream,” with all of the advances made since 1960, the nation is still moving at a glacial pace in bridging Black/White economic inequality. If the country continues at the rate it has been moving since about the 1960s, it will take over 500 years to bridge Black/ White income inequality, and nearly 800

years to bridge Black/White wealth inequality.

A Bold Vision Rooted in Justice

These statistics underline a crucial point: while Black Americans are experiencing significant economic gains, these advances are insufficient to overcome the entrenched inequalities that persist. The economic progress we see today is a foundation, not a finish line. It speaks to the need for comprehensive policies that address ongoing barriers to economic security and wealth-building. Investment in quality education, access to affordable healthcare, affordable housing, job creation targeted to high-unemployment communities, and new means of government financing of asset-building opportunities like Baby Bonds are essential. These measures can help ensure that the economic gains of today translate into sustained prosperity and security for future generations. As we approach the 2024 presidential election, much has been made of the historic possibility of electing the nation’s first woman president. But let us not make this election a mere contest between individuals, but one of policies that could be a salve for the foundational wound of race and economic inequality. Addressing these issues with urgency and commitment will not only improve the economic outlook for Black Americans but also create a new foundation of great equality, creating a firm base for a more unified nation.

(Algernon Austin is the director of Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is the president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.)

Orlando-based seafood chain Red Lobster has announced the appointment of Damola Adamolekun as its new Chief Executive Officer. The 35-year-old Nigerian executive steps into the role during a critical time for the company, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May due to accumulating over $1 billion in debt. Adamolekun’s leadership is expected to guide Red Lobster through this challenging restructuring process. According to TheWill News, Red Lobster, a household name for its cheddar bay biscuits and seafood offerings, operates more than 578 restaurants across 44 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. The chain’s recent fi-

nancial troubles led to its acquisition by RL Investor Holdings LLC, a new entity formed by the U.S. private equity firm Fortress Investment Group. Following court approval of the takeover, Fortress

I recently received this inbox from a high school classmate...“Since you’re a financial advisor, can you give me some free financial advice? Excuse me, Money Coach.”

I responded with, “Laughing out loud! Financial advisor, financial planner, money coach, all the same as it relates to me. What’s your question?” She responded, “I have almost 75 thousand saved in cash. It’s in a high yield savings account. My question is, once the federal reserve cuts interest rates, should I move my money to a Money Market Account, Roth IRA, stocks, CD? Should I move it all or some of it? I have it all in a high yield savings account because I am getting around $200 in interest each month.”

I replied with, “Great job on saving money! Saving money is a plan, not a product. I need to understand why you’re saving the money before I can guide you on the best financial product to use. Predictions are that rates are going to go down 0.25 percent up until it reaches 1 percent by the new year.”

She responded, “Thanks! I’m saving just to save. I don’t have anything that I need. I just save as much as I can.” I replied, “It’s great that you are willing to save. All savings should have a mission statement attached to it.”

announced Adamolekun’s appointment, signaling a fresh start for the iconic brand.

Morgan McClure, Managing Director at Fortress, expressed confidence in Adamolekun’s ability to

Establishing a mission statement or savings goal not only tells you what investment products to consider, but it also lets you know the time horizon and how much risk you can endure. Until you figure that out, a High Yield Savings or a Money Market account is fine. Your main concern is preservation of principal, not return on investment at this point. All short-term savings goals should be parked in a savings account, High Yield Savings Account or a Money Market Account. Historically, the yield on those products hover between 0.5 percent and 2 percent, not keeping up with inflation. “I assume you have money saved/invested for retirement in addition to this?”

steer Red Lobster towards a brighter future. “We’re thrilled to have Damola on board to drive our investment plan. His energy, leadership, and experience will be key to restoring Red Lobster’s status as an icon-

ic American brand,” McClure stated. Adamolekun echoed this optimism, emphasizing his commitment to revitalizing the brand and enhancing the employee and customer experience across North America.

Before joining Red Lobster, Adamolekun was the CEO of P.F. Chang’s, a popular Asian restaurant chain. He made history as the first Black executive to lead P.F. Chang’s, where he also served as Chief Strategy Officer and was instrumental in managing several key investments. His extensive background in the restaurant industry and private equity has earned him recognition in various prestigious publications and leadership awards, solidifying his reputation as an innovative

pecially for a Black person. You’re about

51 years old, right? I need to know and understand your full story for my column to inspire others. Do you mind sharing?

I’ll keep you anonymous.”

She replied, “Yes, I have a 401(k) that roughly has about $400k. I’m behind the 8 ball on that. Should probably have over a million. Stock scares me because of the ups and downs. I probably should have put more of my check into it, but I’m very leery.”

I replied, “You’re ahead of the 8 ball, es-

Below is her story:

“Planning for retirement can be a daunting task, but my journey has been one of focus, discipline, and the desire to avoid financial stress. Growing up, I was determined not to fall into the trap of living paycheck to paycheck. While my early years may have reflected that reality, I made a conscious decision to change my trajectory. Finding Focus and Stability

“After a phase of partying and distractions, I decided to get serious about my financial future. I’ve always prioritized living below my means, which has allowed me to maintain excellent credit throughout my life. I made a strategic choice to buy a small, affordable house that I could manage even if I ever found myself in a less-than-ideal job situation. Thankfully, I have no car note and no mortgage—two

leader in the field. Adamolekun’s impressive resume also includes experience at Goldman Sachs in their Investment Banking Division and as a Private Equity Associate at TPG Capital. He has served on the boards of several major organizations, including P.F. Chang’s and the National Restaurant Association. His academic credentials are equally notable, with a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, where he was actively involved in investment and sports, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Founded by Bill Darden, Red Lobster was one of few racially integrated restaurants when it opened in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida.

significant financial burdens that many people face.

Smart Saving Strategies

“Currently, I save the majority of my income in a High Yield Savings Account, while also contributing to my 401(k). For the past six years, I’ve worked part-time, using that income as my primary source for living expenses. My motivation is clear: I want to retire comfortably, without the stress of financial insecurity.

“When I first started my current job in the health care sector, I was fortunate to have a pension plan. However, that later transitioned to a 401(k) system, which matched 6 percent of my contributions. I immediately began investing that full 6 percent, ensuring I was setting myself up for a secure future.

“With only 11 years until I reach retirement age at 62, I am more focused than ever.

Balancing Work and Play

“While I still work full-time in health care, I save the entirety of my full-time paycheck. It’s a unique approach, but I’ve found it works for me. I allocate 10 percent of my paycheck to my 401(k) and the remaining 90 percent goes into my High Yield Savings Account. I also strive to earn around $3,000 a month from my

DAMOLA ADAMOLEKUN

by Karen Juanita Carrillo and Chris Lee

An August jobs report showed the U.S. adding 142,000 jobs last month, and the national unemployment rate falling slightly to 4.2 percent as 91,000 people left the labor force. Black unemployment was reported at 6.1 percent; little changed from last month. African Americans have continued relatively high participation rates after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report also offers large previous month revisions totaling 86,000 jobs as the economy continued to grow slower over the past three months, all while the financial community awaits an important decision by the Federal Reserve on interest rates.

As the nation heads into an important national election, the mediocre jobs report will not help either side. As neutral as the report was, the 142,000 figure is still a respectable number, showing that the nation’s economy is still growing steadily — though at a slower rate. Consumers, the key driver of the economy, are continuing to spend money, even as they complain about inflation. And corporate profits remain near record levels. A recession does not appear to be close.

The AmNews was granted an exclusive interview with the Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, in the wake of the August report. She spoke about the labor numbers, Black unemployment, union jobs, non-traditional work opportunities, and apprenticeships.

Su said the Biden-Harris administration’s pro-union efforts remain essential and will positively impact employment opportunities for Black Americans.

“Unions are such a powerful force in decreasing racial and gender wage gaps,” she said. “When we see that unions do better, we also see that Black Americans do better.”

The labor secretary said the Biden-Harris administration’s economic policies have focused on workers and racial equity. One thing they’ve done is use grants like Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) to buttress targeted apprenticeship programs that are helping Black people—and Black women in particular —to be able to get good union jobs.

In the construction industry, organizations like Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) in New York and the Chicago Women in Trades have received funds to help train Black women for construction industry jobs, where workers are traditionally paid well. In the August jobs report, construction added 34,000 new employment positions.

Construction and manufacturing jobs offer great opportunities for skilled

workers

workers. But being in the position to get those jobs means not being passed over because of your skin color, ethnic background, or gender. President Biden traveled to Michigan on Sept. 6 to sign the Good Jobs Executive Order, which his administration says will ensure that when the federal government puts funds toward infrastructure projects, the companies that win those contracts will be mandated to create good union jobs with “project labor agreements (PLAs), community benefits agreements, voluntary union recognition, and neutrality with respect to union organizing.”

“We know that there’s really nothing more important we can do to make sure that the jobs that are being created are leading to widely shared opportunity and that communities that have been left behind in the past are not left behind this time,” Su insisted.

“One sign that we’re moving in the right direction—and again, we’re nowhere near done with this effort—but one sign is that there’s been a long and very persistent BlackWhite unemployment gap. That gap still exists, but it has been closing; it’s the smallest that it has ever been. Again, we’re not going to reverse the decades of inequity and frankly systemic racism in the economy overnight, but we need to do everything we can to reverse that, and that’s what a lot of our economic policies and our focus on workers and our focus on racial equity has been about.”

When asked if this was similar to ensuring the continuation of what former President Donald Trump deemed “Black jobs,” Labor Secretary Su said: “Let me be clear: We want to be sure there are no ‘Black jobs’ or ‘White jobs,’ especially because by characterizing them that way, it often reinforces the discrimination and occupational segregation that has really hurt Black communities, and also our economy overall. There’s one study done by the McKinsey Institute a few years ago that found that if we just eliminated the Black-White wealth gap in this country, it would increase the overall GDP by 4 to 6 percent by 2028. That proves something that I’ve long believed, which is that combating systemic racism—it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s good economic policy. So we want to make sure that there are no ‘Black jobs’ and ‘White jobs.’ There’s only good jobs and good jobs in all communities. That’s why the federal investments that are being made in not just construction, but also in manufacturing, and in clean energy are so important. That has helped to fuel the job growth that we’ve seen and the job reports that I announce every month.”

Harnessing the economic power of the Black community

by James S. Bridgeforth For New PIttsburgh Courier

By embracing diversity and the economic power of Black folks, we boost our economy and uphold values of justice, equality, and opportunity.

In the intricate tapestry of the American economy, one thread stands out not only for its resilience but also for its potential to drive significant economic growth and social change. That thread is the African American economy—a force that not only supports its community but also bolsters the broader economic fabric of the United States. The narrative of African American economic power is often overlooked or underestimated, overshadowed by persistent disparities and historical injustices. However, to truly grasp the impact and potential of this economic force, one must recognize its depth and breadth across various sectors— from entrepreneurship and consumer spending to workforce participation and investment.

African Americans represent a substantial consumer base in the United States, wielding immense purchasing power that influences industries ranging from fashion and entertainment to technology and healthcare. According to a report by Nielsen, Black consumers collectively have a buying power projected to reach $1.8 trillion by the end of 2024. This economic influence extends beyond mere consumption; it shapes market trends, influences product development, and drives innovation. Moreover, the entrepreneurial spirit within the African American community is a cornerstone of economic vitality. Historically, Black-owned businesses have played

a pivotal role in local economies, fostering job creation, community development, and economic empowerment.

Today, Black entrepreneurs continue to launch enterprises at a higher rate than the national average, contributing to economic diversity and resilience.

Investments in education and skills development further amplify the economic impact of African Americans. As more individuals from this community pursue higher education and specialized training, African Americans contribute to a skilled workforce that drives productivity and innovation across industries. The growing African American presence in professions such as law, medicine, academia, and technology not only enhance these fields but also advance the nation’s overall economic competitiveness. Furthermore, the economic influence of African Americans extends beyond domestic borders. In an increasingly globalized economy, cultural exports from the Black community—including music, art, fashion, and entertainment—have garnered international acclaim and economic success. These exports not only generate revenue but also promote American cultural influence worldwide, further solidifying the economic footprint of African Americans.

Despite these achievements, challenges persist. Structural barriers, systemic inequalities, and disparities in access to capital continue to hinder the full realization of African American economic potential. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from policymakers, business leaders, and the broader community to foster an inclusive economy where all

individuals can thrive.

To harness the full economic power of the African American community, strategic initiatives are essential. These include:

Promoting Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Enhancing access to capital, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities for Black entrepreneurs can foster a thriving ecosystem of businesses that drive economic growth and job creation.

Investing in Education and Skills Training: Increasing access to quality education, vocational training, and STEM programs can equip African Americans with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly evolving economy and fill critical gaps in the labor market.

Advancing Financial Inclusion and Wealth Building: Encouraging financial literacy, homeownership programs, and equitable access to banking and investment services can empower African Americans to build generational wealth and economic stability.

Fostering Inclusive Corporate Practices: Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within corporate environments can create pathways for African Americans to advance professionally, contribute to innovation, and drive corporate profitability.

Supporting Cultural and Creative Industries: Investing in Black-owned media, arts, and entertainment ventures can amplify diverse voices, celebrate cultural heritage, and stimulate economic growth through creative expression.

part-time job, which covers my living expenses.

“Life isn’t all about work, though. For fun, I enjoy traveling and make it a point to visit new places at least two or three times a year. I also love attending comedy shows and dining out with friends.

Plans for Retirement

“Looking ahead to retirement, my vision is clear: I plan to continue my travels and enjoy life without the weight of financial worries. The Power of Discipline

“The decision to save my entire full-time paycheck was not made lightly. It was a recent choice that stemmed from my ability to earn variable income through my part-time gigs. By saving my fulltime income, I can invest in my future without compromising my current lifestyle.

“I don’t have children, which certainly contributes to my ability to save aggressively. It requires discipline, but I’ve discovered that it’s a winning strategy.

“My journey to a comfortable retirement is

rooted in smart financial choices, disciplined savings, and a commitment to living below my means. By prioritizing these principles, I am not only setting myself up for a stress-free retirement, but also enjoying my life in the present. With careful planning and a clear vision, I believe that anyone can achieve financial stability and peace of mind for the years ahead.”

After learning her story, I offered up more free advice and ended our conversation with this, “Thanks for sharing! Great job! You’re a poster child for

aggressively saving money. In all of my years working in personal finance, I’ve never heard of anyone working a part-time job to cover living expenses and saving their entire paycheck from their full time job. That’s amazing! That takes commitment and discipline! If you ever need help fine tuning your saving/investment strategy in an effort to segment your

In conclusion, the economic power of the African American community is a formidable force that secures the financial outlook for the nation. Moreover, by leveraging this power through strategic investments, inclusive policies, and collective action, we can unleash untapped potential, drive sustainable economic growth, and create a more prosperous future for all Americans. As we celebrate our achievements of African Americans and honor the many contributions to the nation’s economic landscape, let us also commit to building a more equitable and inclusive society—one where every individual, regardless of race or background, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the collective prosperity of our great nation. By embracing diversity and harnessing the economic power of the African American community, we not only strengthen our economy but also uphold the principles of justice, equality, and opportunity upon which America was founded. Together, let us forge a path towards a brighter, more inclusive future where every individual has the chance to achieve the American dream.

(Dr. James Bridgeforth holds a Ph.D. from The University of Southern Mississippi; he has served as an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, the University of South Alabama, The University of Southern Mississippi and Westfield State University. Dr. Bridgeforth is the author of Race, Gender and Faculty Advancement at American Colleges and Universities (2014), Examining the Campus Culture for African American Males at Predominately White Institutions (2018), and Multicultural Leadership in Higher Education (2020).)

(Getty/Luis Alvarez)

Politicians berate bullying and ban books, so why do bullets still get a hall pass?

The fall semester for public schools across America is barely a few weeks old as students attempt to adjust to new policies limiting the use of cell phones, get back in the swing of doing homework and retiring for bed earlier so they’re well-rested for each day’s lessons.

Some children are still trying to improve their reading and mathematics skills as their scores on standardized tests declined dramatically during the recent pandemic.

Meanwhile, many politicians, particularly those who are currently on election ballots this fall and claim to be committed to improving conditions for children, have berated social media bullying which has increased in recent years.

Political leaders have also taken a stand on book banning—a topic which we still find difficult to fathom. At least not something that should be under the purview of governors or members of Congress but rather educators.

So, why can’t our elected officials put aside partisan politics and protect children, teachers and administrators from gun violence?

Why are bullets still receiving a hall pass, causing children and their parents to ponder if “today will be the day” that another angry or disturbed classmate takes aim at innocent men, women and children with weapons to which they should never have been able to gain access in the first place?

Being a student is already stressful enough without the looming threat of school shootings. And yet, because of our refusal to act, the madness has begun once again.

On Monday, Sept. 9, all schools within the Woodbury School District in South Jersey were closed because of a shooting threat that was posted to social media that named five schools on Sunday night. Three juveniles, including a 15-year-old, have already been taken into custody according to the Harrison Township Police Department.

And in Georgia, a state already mourning the death of two students and two teachers, after 14-year-old Colt Gray took a semi-automatic assault-style rifle—a gift he received from his father—to school on Wednesday, Sept. 4 and opened fire. Reports on Sept. 9 indicated that more threats of violence have been received by school officials.

Prosecutors in Georgia have not only charged Colt but also his father, Colin Gray, in efforts to hold parents responsible for their children’s actions in school shootings—reminiscent of what happened in April 2024 when the parents of Ethan Crumbley, now 17, were both convicted of involuntary manslaughter after their son orchestrated a mass shooting at Oxford High School in Southeast Michigan in 2021.

Still, we cannot expect elected leaders to do the right thing when we have perspectives like that expressed by Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, who over the weekend, in commenting on the school shooting in Georgia, said, “it’s a fact of life.”

In response, U.S. Raphael Warnock (DGa.) said, “it’s only an American fact of life . . . this only happens in America.”

Aren’t we sick and tired of being sick and tired, yet? Protecting our children and educators from gun violence is not a partisan issue—it’s simply common sense. So, what’s taking America so long to demonstrate to our children, their parents, their teachers and the world that we still have a modicum of common sense?

(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher

National Policy Alliance Conference

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—During the past week, Denise Tyler, Executive Director of the National Policy Alliance met in Washington, DC during the Congression Black Caucus.  Hon. Johnny Ford, longtime Mayor of Tuskegee, AL served as Moderator of the meeting and injected many words of wisdom. Those in the packed house, and many came with valuable information to share. Ms. Tyler did a masterful job selecting speakers.  Among its distinguished speakers were the Rev. Bernice King (daughter of Dr. Martin Luther and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Rev. Jamal Bryant (Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, members of the powerful Blacks in Government and numerous other brilliant presenters were in attendance on a variety of interests to mayors, local/county officials, heads of various organizations, as well as business owners.

Tony Wilson, Young James Brown, performed a new song he, George and Angelyn Gordon just created in honor of Vice-President Kamala Harris. Mr. Antoine Thomas led an outstanding discussion on Housing.  Hon, Darryl Barnes, Chair Emeritus of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, spoke on government resources in various areas.

Another speaker offered this advice:

“There are 3 things that always matter in what we do: Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration! No one man or woman can do everything alone in our

community, but together we can make a difference.”

Among the resolutions coming from the conference were:  1. Resolution urging the Congress to pass a bill honoring Rosa Parks with a Federal Holiday in view of the fact that she is highly worthy and there’ currently no Federal Holiday honoring a woman of any race;  2.   Resolution in support of Black Farmers, Black Contractors and playgrounds for children in our communities; 3. Resolution in support of Clean Energy and doing things such as building charging stations in our community to ensure the potential of more electric cars coming to Black communities. 4. Resolution that encourages greater home ownership as we assist people in readiness for homeownership.  5. Resolution to develop a plan and strategy to get what our community needs whatever it is.

It was noted that we currently have a lot of plans, but little action. We must remember there has to be a leader and we must coalesce around somebody. We were encouraged to create a blue-print to present to the White House with our is-

sues. It was decided that blue-print must include Affordable and Available Housing, passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the George Floyd Justice in Policing bill. We agreed to support the resolutions and bills because if we don’t drive the agenda for our communities, others sure will.

Mayor Johnny Ford said as he urged attendees to support the resolutions passed at the conference and that “All that we said means nothing if we don’t do the work.”  Attendees left the conference pledging to do the work and were urged to remember that it is time for us to stop financing the dreams of others while leaving ourselves out. What we do must be around strength, not just passion, through collaboration and coordination.

One immediate part of the work is being registered to vote and then voting for the candidates who’ve made it clear they will do their part to work for our betterment—and Pastor Jamal Bryant added that would be those who are also pledging to vote for what is beneficial to the least of God’s people. He also reminded us of our obligation to be concerned about what is going on in the Sudan, the Congo, Haiti and other places on the African Continent. Remember these subjects as we vote.  Vote early, and at the latest, vote on November 5th.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the Dick Gregory Society—a non-profit public service organization in the tradition of Dick Gregory for his work. See TheDickGregorySociety.com.)

Trump falls apart

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I rarely think of Irish poets, but I could not help thinking of William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) as I watched the 45th president unravel during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.  The Irish poet wrote: Turning and turning in the widening gyre    The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere    The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst    Are full of passionate intensity. The nation watched a man, once full of arrogance and bluster, reduce himself to a blubbering buffoon who offered unproven accusations of immigrants eating dogs and cats to a nation that craved specificity about public policy.  We watched a man who scowled and grimaced for nearly two hours while his joyful (yes, joy) opponent smiled and relaxed into her power.  We watched a man who once boldly stalked candidate Hilary Rodham Clinton onstage, nearly cower when a confident Kamala Harris strode over to him and outstretched her hand in a gesture of courtesy and gentility.  The former president was a shadow of his legendary self who could not seem to connect all of the dots and had to resort to lies—33 of them according to CNN—to cover both his ineptitude and his ignorance.

Vice President Kamal Harris handled the business of the debate from the handshake to the facts, and her preparation showed.  She irritated the 45th President numerous times, from telling him that he was “fired by 81 million people” to needling him on

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary

his much-exaggerated crowd size.  His team crowed that he didn’t need to prep as much as he did, but his lack of preparation showed, even when he tried to turn one of his zingers on her.  Although both microphones were off, she spoke over him and he gleefully said, “I’m speaking.  Sound familiar”.  Reprising her line from the VP debate with Mike Pence in 2020 might have been effective if he didn’t have to attempt to mock her with the “sound familiar”, but the fact that he added that made him seem as effete and ineffective as he is.

The two passionately mixed it up on abortion, where he lied and said that Harris favors nine-month abortions and infanticide, so out of order that one of the moderators had to fact check him.  They mixed it up on immigration.  They mixed it up on the economy.  Trump’s best line might have been “why didn’t she do it before”, a Vice President’s job is to serve the President, while a President’s job is to make policy.  As Vice President, Kamala didn’t enact a bigger child tax credit because she couldn’t.  Her job was to follow the President’s lead and help him implement his policies.  Trump’s chiding will cause some on the fence to raise questions about Harris, but for every question, the Vice President had an answer.

Mr. Trump inelegantly attempted to poke fun at President Biden by describing him as relaxing at the beach, and chiding Vice President Harris to “wake

him up at 4 p.m.”. She didn’t bite.  In contrast, he bit at all the bait she threw at him, unable to stay on message and disciplined.  But who expects discipline from a lout and a bully who has blustered his way through his presidency and his subsequent years out of office.

Much of his vitriol has centered on his contention that he won the 2020 election, a lie that spurred a mob to descend on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, an event Mr. Trump denied any involvement in.  Again, Harris was effective in reminding people that she was at the Capitol that day.

ABC moderator David Muir asked Mr. Trump if it is appropriate to weigh in on the racial identity of Vice President Harris, and Trump replied with his usual word salad. There was some truth in his confused words, though.  “I don’t care what she is.  I don’t care.  You make a big deal out of something.  I couldn’t care less.  Whatever she wants to be is okay with me,” he said.  What she wants to do is President of the United States, and I hope that’s okay with Mr. Trump because at the rate he is going, he’ll have to once again, resign himself to losing.

Trump’s debate performance indicates that he is unraveling.  He lost his train of thought on more than one occasion, he blatantly lied repeatedly, and he drilled down on unimportant issues.  Not once did he display a pleasant countenance.  Indeed, he seemed ready to explode.  Meanwhile Vice-President Harris did not seem stressed or angry, just factual.  She handled her business even as Trump fell apart.  Brava, Kamala!

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author based in Washington, DC.)

Defending democracy

By Michael A. Grant, J.D. (TriceEdneyWire.com)—It

seems that every four years, we are told that the presidential election before us is the most important one of our lifetime.  Oftentimes, the claim is hyperbole.  But to say that 2024 will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime will prove to be urgently true. This fast—approaching election will determine whether or not the United States of America will survive as a constitutional democracy.  Who we choose as the next leaders of the free world will determine in large measure whether the republic that holds the promise for a planet in turmoil will itself survive.  Keeping America strong, resilient and a force for good in the world is the responsibility of all of us.  And keeping our form of government functioning with an intact democratic system is how each of us can participate in this grand undertaking. So, yes, this election is critically important and each voter must be willing to actively participate.  It is our civic duty to vote and to do what we can to protect the integrity of the vote.  Regardless of the impediments that might be placed as obstacles, each eligible citizen has a constitutional right to vote and to have that vote counted accurately.

Below is an example of how one man, Athan L. Gibbs Sr., an African American accountant, responded to the debacle that was the Bush-Gore race of 2000.  I had the privilege of teaming up with Athan, the inventor of the TruVote Validation and Verification Voting System, as his vice president for marketing.  He, like so many others was outraged that Afri-

can-American voters were ten times more likely to not have their ballots counted in Florida.  He was incensed that those charged with overseeing the election were so inept or biased and that their vote tabulators were so prone to error.  A brilliant auditor, he devised a voting system with several levels of redundancy and with software that produced a paper trail of the vote.  His system addressed the issues of over-votes and under-votes.  He made it possible to audit the election at the precinct level.  Though not given credit for revolutionizing voting in America, that is exactly what he did.  Unfortunately, he died tragically in a car accident before he was given full credit for his invention.

I recount Athan’s contribution because he gave everything he had to ensure that the processes that we use to elect our leaders worked properly.  While each of us may not be endowed with Athan Gibbs’ inventive genius, we can each maximize our roles in protecting our sacred democracy against those who would subvert the will of the people.

The most profound reason for ensuring the survival of American democracy is that it frustrates the ignominious intentions of despots.  It acts as a restraining force against those whose malevolent intentions seek to disenfranchise voters, usurp power and abrogate the constitutionally protected rights of others.

Even with a democratic system, codified by law, America has had an inglorious past where many of its citizens were relegated to positions of societal inferiority.  But the country’s founding documents provided an expanding framework which eventually allowed suffrage for those who were

historically disenfranchised.  When the right to vote—to participate in our democracy—was granted, America inched closer and closer to the ideals espoused in her founding documents.

The country is still evolving “Toward a more perfect union” where all are guaranteed equal protection under the law.  All are invited to share in the power of governing.

However, in the aftermath of our last presidential election, we were awakened to the inescapable reality that our democracy is fragile.  January 6, 2021, reminded us that we could have been one insurrection away from a republic in danger of collapse.  When the peaceful transfer of power is threatened, the will of the people can be thwarted and democracy replaced with authoritarian (fascist) rule.

Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying: “The true price of liberty is eternal vigilance”.  Our liberty is sustained by the sacred bonds of trust that we periodically renew through our democratic rituals.  Our elections empower each of us to help perpetuate a system that protects the freedoms of all Americans.  If we fully partake in this social ritual, we increase the probability or electing leaders who will honor their sacred duty to our constitution and to the rights of all U.S. citizens.  I genuinely believe the only way to guarantee America’s uninterrupted march “Toward a more perfect union” is for all of us to take voting seriously.  For if we do, I believe the true champions of democracy in this race will prevail with a resounding victory for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. (Michael Grant is former president of the National Bankers Association.)

We need more live fact-checking

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—We are living through Donald Trump’s third consecutive run for the presidency, and nothing should surprise us during this year’s campaign. For those of us who are not Trump supporters, we should be used to the name-calling, lies, racist attacks, bullying, hypocrisy, corruption, and total incompetence displayed by the Republican nominee. I have Trump fatigue, and my personal decision to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris was already made prior to last week’s presidential debate. Before and during the debate, the contrast between Harris and Trump was crystal clear. The contrast was reinforced as Harris made a compelling and powerful case to the American people. People who said they needed to know more about the vice president were given a preview of the future versus the replay of the past. Harris is no longer in the shadow of President Joe Biden. During the debate, potential voters saw a woman poised and ready to serve as the nation’s next president and commander-in-chief. Republicans are also taking note of the relevant contrast between the candidates. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a fixture in the Republican Party’s establishment wing, made the personal decision to support Vice President Harris for the White House. Cheney was joined by Alberto Gonzales, who served as attorney general in the George W. Bush administration. Cheney and Gonzales are adding to the growing list of Republicans who see the contrast and are willing to step out publicly and take a stand. By pointing the finger at ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir, Trump supporters obliviously saw the contrast from the debate in a different light. It is true that the

David W.

moderators fact-checked Trump five times and did not correct Harris a single time. Trump was quickly corrected when promoting falsehoods on abortion, migrants, and the 2020 election. Therefore, Trump supporters are critical of the moderators for being biased against the former president. Trump also added to the bias claim. “It was three to one. It was a rigged deal, as I assumed it would be,” the former president told Fox & Friends. Any untrue comments from either candidate needed to be exposed and clarified for the benefit of potential voters. What they perceive as bias, others see as responsible and accountable journalism. In a post-debate interview, Davis acknowledged that the first presidential debate between Trump and President Biden impacted the fact-checking of Trump. Davis said she only intended to address worries that Trump’s remarks may “hang” there unchecked by Harris or the moderators, just like the June debate. “People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators,” Davis stated. The news media is vital in keeping the public informed and safe. The decision by the ABC network to live fact-check the candidates during the telecast marked a departure from recent debates and the first presidential debate hosted by CNN. During the June debate, the moderators did not correct false claims made by Trump and President Joe Biden. CNN’s Political Director, David Chalian, told The Washington Post ahead of the network’s debate in June that the stage “is not the ideal venue for a live fact-checking exercise.” The moderators’ role, he said, was “to plainly facilitate and moderate a debate….not to be a participant.” The ABC network and moderators understood the high stakes involved in allowing lies and misinformation to go unchecked with persuadable voters who could potentially accept a falsehood being true. During the debate, Trump falsely claimed Haitian migrants in Ohio were killing pets and eating them. Muir quickly corrected the claim by Trump. During debates, a slice of the electorate will always be undecided and seek reasons to vote for a particular candidate. As a result, the correction by Muir was needed. The live fact-check can make a difference in voter’s understanding of the truth and a hate-driven lie. Despite Muir’s correction, Trump’s spoken words did damage in other ways. Now, the Haitian population in Springfield, Ohio, is a political target paying an unfair price.

City officials and police have said no credible information supports the bizarre claims. Yet, Trump’s untrue statements are being perpetuated by right-wing media figures and Republican leaders. This unnecessary controversy has placed the City of Springfield at the center of the national debate on immigration while putting members of the Haitian community in danger. Bomb threats have forced the evacuation and closing of public schools and municipal buildings, along with the forced lockdowns at two area hospitals, all because of Trump’s falsehoods and his racist political strategy. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue has pleaded for the misinformation to stop. “We need those that have a national stage that have a mic, with millions and millions (of followers), we need them to understand what their words are doing to cities like Springfield, Ohio,” Rue said. “What we need is help. We don’t need this misinformation.” This is what happens when the party nominee is a cult leader. The contrast between Harris and Trump is crystal clear. Now, more people, even Republicans, are seeing it. (David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.)

Hold the Harris horses

An interviewer asked conservative talk radio host Larry Elder what advice he would give Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump before he debated Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Elder warned Trump not to underestimate her.

Elder stated that Harris became San Francisco’s district attorney and served for eight years. In the California Attorney General election, Harris emerged victorious and secured reelection. She then ran for and won election to the United States Senate. “Every time she’s been on a ballot, she’s never lost.” Elder reminded the interviewer.

Elder then noted that she ran in the Democratic presidential primary in 2020, but she dropped out early, so he doesn’t count that against her.

Elder’s points are valid, but he might be the only conservative that doesn’t brush her off based on her previous presidential run.

Harris came into the Democratic presidential primary with high expectations. In January 2019, 20,000 people attended her campaign’s launch. Her campaign centered on universal pre-k, debt-free college, tax cuts for working- and middle-class families, and Medicare for all, but her ideas were no different than the other candidates.

Harris struggled to stand out in an overcrowded primary field with her progressive policy platform, and a 2019 ACLU candidate questionnaire found she supported measures that alienated moderate Democrats. Harris backed taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries for detained migrants, pledged to end immigrant detention, and promised to reduce the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During a primary debate, candidate Joe Biden boasted that he had previously worked as a public defender and scolded Harris for pursuing a career as a prosecutor. Biden subtly implied that Harris, a person of color, was working for the system against her own people. Many progressive groups opposed her, accusing her of contributing to mass incarceration in California.

Democratic voters who evaluate candi-

J. Pharoah Doss Check It Out

dates based on personality and charisma said Harris was as uninspiring and dull as Hillary Clinton.

The Harris campaign generated one viral moment that did not amount to five minutes of fame, and Harris’ candidacy fizzled as she failed to attract supporters. Many Democratic voters had concerns about Harris’ “electability.” Harris’ poll numbers had fallen to single digits by November 2019, and she dropped out of the race the following month. According to NBC, “Her exit comes just weeks before the deadline to get off the ballot in California, a move that could spare her some embarrassment if she thought she would lose in her home state.”

Harris refused to acknowledge that she did not separate herself from the other Democratic candidates and blamed her inability to connect with Democratic primary voters on the notion that “America isn’t ready for a woman of color to be president of the United States.”

The only person who was sympathetic toward Harris’ racial grievance was Joe Biden. After Biden became the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Biden indicated that he would make history by selecting a woman as vice president. In 2020, a White Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, resulting in widespread riots. There was pressure on Biden to select a Black woman as his vice president. Harris ultimately became Biden’s running mate.

Harris’ vice presidency was a historic first for a woman of color; therefore, President Biden wanted her to be more visible and undertake more administrative tasks than her predecessors. Once again, Harris faced high expectations on the national stage, but

she fell short since she did not appear to understand the complexities of international challenges confronting the United States. By the 2022 midterm elections, Newsweek reported, “Kamala Harris’ popularity remains underwater … Once one of the Democratic Party’s biggest stars, Harris is now less popular than the president she serves.” A Leger poll revealed that 57 percent of respondents disapproved of Harris’ performance as vice president.

Following the 2024 Democratic presidential primary and caucuses, in which incumbent Joe Biden secured all of the delegates required to run for re-election as the Democratic nominee for president, as well as a poor debate performance against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Biden withdrew from the presidential race due to declining health. The Democratic Party then chose Harris to replace Biden as its presidential nominee.

Since most Democrats expected Trump to defeat Biden, the Harris substitution sparked a lot of enthusiasm for the Democrats to win the White House, and Harris— the presidential candidate—was quickly neck and neck with Trump in the polls.

Then Harris debated Trump for the first time on national television. Trump imploded as usual, and Harris never strayed from her carefully crafted but frivolous script.

The media praised Harris’ performance and declared her the debate’s winner.

The debate boosted Harris’ poll numbers, and her supporters believe she is on track to win. But Harris supporters shouldn’t be too excited about the poll numbers. In September 2016, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton led Trump in the polls by two points. Clinton led Trump by double digits in the polls following their third presidential debate in October, but she lost the election.

Clinton underestimated the degree to which Americans disliked her. The Harris campaign overestimates Americans’ hatred for Trump and fails to recognize that their candidate is no different from Clinton.

Trump and Vance continue trafficking racist lies about immigrants

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—

“These kind of anti-Black propaganda narratives that the ‘savages are coming to destroy and eat your family’ are really part of the same playbook that goes back hundreds of years. They try to create division and hate and get the political power that is up for grabs. It’s really heartbreaking and tragic.”—Erik Crew of the Haitian Bridge Alliance

It was a stunning moment, even by the standards of the MAGA era.

Outrageous, inflammatory lies about immigrants of color to incite rage among his aggrieved supporters have been Donald Trump’s stock-in-trade for nearly a decade.

But even seasoned debate watchers were taken aback Tuesday night to hear his panicked bellow,

“They’re eating the dogs! … “They’re eating the cats!”

The day before the debate, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, amplified a false smear about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating people’s pets. He has also misrepresented a tragic school bus accident as “a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant.” Trump’s unhinged rant during the debate triggered an outpouring of mocking internet memes and jokes.

But for the immigrants who bear the brunt, these vicious lies and racist stereotypes are no laughing matter.  Trump and Vance have unleashed a firestorm of racial

Marc H. Morial To Be Equal

hatred and violent threats.  Two days after the debate, bomb threats forced the evacuation of Springfield City Hall, two schools and a state motor vehicle facility.

Politicians have long sought to dehumanize and demonize minority cultures via their real or imagined culinary customs. Presidential candidate Grover Cleveland printed trading cards for his 1888 campaign that depicted Chinese immigrants eating rats.  Just this week, “pro-White nationalism,” Trump ally Laura Loomer targeted his opponent’s south Asian heritage with a social media post referencing curry.

The influx of 12,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants, most of whom are in the United States legally, has strained schools and other services in Springfield, a city of about 60,000. Racial tensions were further strained after tragic accident involving a Haitian driver last August claimed the life

of an 11-year-old boy. Vance further fanned the flames of racial hatred by mischaracterizing the accident as a murder “by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here.”  The driver, like most Haitian immigrants, holds temporary protected status and was in the United States legally. In amplifying malicious racist lies and stereotypes, Vance and Trump have aligned themselves with Nazi sympathizers, some of them armed, who waved swastika flags as they marched in Springfield last month. The hateful display evoked the fatal 2017 “Unite the Right” rally by White supremacists whom Trump referenced as “very fine people.”

The anti-immigrant “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory that motivated the Unite the Right marchers also inspired the slaughter of 11 people at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019, and 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket in 2022. The deaths of dozens of innocent people have not deterred Vance and Trump from continuing to smear immigrants with racist lies.  As Kathleen Belew, a historian of White supremacist movements, wrote on social media, “The people spreading this rhetoric either know exactly what they’re doing, or they should know. But violence follows. Every time.”

The figures who helped shape Kamala Harris

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—When Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president in 2021, she swore her oath of office on two Bibles.

One belonged to our nation’s first Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Marshall, the civil rights giant who founded the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, inspired a generation that included Harris to embrace the law as a means to advancing equality and justice. Harris chose to attend Howard University, Marshall’s alma mater.

The other Bible on which Harris was sworn in was the family Bible of Regina Shelton. Shelton was a neighbor, trusted caretaker, and mentor to Vice President Harris and her little sister Maya as children after school when her mom was working. Harris refers to Shelton as her “second mother.” It was Harris’s actual mother Shyamala Gopalan who guided and encouraged that relationship.

A civil rights activist herself, Gopalan was keenly aware that the world would see and treat her biracial daughters as Black women and of what that meant in America. She knew it was important for the girls to bond with other Black girls and women. Regina Shelton was from Louisiana, part of the migration of African Americans from Jim Crow South. Shelton shared her perspective on Black culture and identity, took the Harris girls to church, taught them to cook soul food, and inspired them with stories of important Black female leaders. She was one of the people who exemplified and passed on to both Harris girls “a responsibility to give and serve,” according to the vice president.

That responsibility to give and serve was also influenced by Vice President Harris’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Founded at Howard, AKA has been on the front lines of fights for social justice for more than a century. AKA members organized to stop

lynchings, advocate for women’s rights, staff health clinics in rural Black communities, offer job training programs, and more. AKA charted the path for other Black sororities and fraternities to become more active in the civil rights movement when it became a permanent member of the NAACP in 1939.

As AKA international president and CEO Danette Anthony Reed puts it: “Whether it’s social activism, advocacy for civil rights, building economic wealth, impacting our communities, we make a positive change.”

Vice President Harris’s dedication to service was not only inspired by her personal relationships and affiliations. Her chosen path as a lawyer was shaped by important icons who embodied a commitment to freedom, justice, and equity. Justice Marshall was one of them. Another one was Judge Thelton E. Henderson.

Before becoming a legendary judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern California District, Henderson was the first African American lawyer to serve in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. He was a field investigator, working alongside Dr. King and other movement leaders. He was famously fired for loaning Dr. King his government rental car in Alabama because Dr. King’s car had a problem with a tire and Henderson feared for King’s safety if he got stranded. From the bench, Judge Henderson understood the importance of protect-

ing human dignity for all people, and that the Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights even to those who much of our society shunned and did not accept. His judicial philosophy was shaped by wisdom, experience and an understanding of the law’s role in protecting people that naturally allowed room for empathy.

Judge Henderson defended the of prisoners who were being abused and denied adequate health care. He made the Oakland Police Department more accountable to federal monitoring over police brutality. He was the first judge in the country to recognize the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and due process rights for gay people—decades before the Supreme Court recognized same-sex couples’ right to marry. Judge Henderson is widely celebrated by conservationists for saving dolphins from drowning in tuna nets. And he wrote a decision that in effect made the San Francisco Bay Area meet federal air quality requirements.

A fierce defender of civil rights, a champion of the law’s role in protecting the vulnerable and marginalized, who understands the importance of laws and regulations that protect our environment and health. That description applies to both Thelton Henderson and Vice President Harris—and that is no coincidence.

Over our 20-year friendship, I have witnessed firsthand how the powerful lessons from these mentors continue to guide Vice President Harris in her commitment to justice and service. And I am grateful to all the influences who helped shape and instill that commitment.

(Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.)

Marshall Commentary Ben Jealous Commentary

CONDITIONS OF SALE

Effective with the August 3, 2020, Sheriff Sale of real estate and all such monthly public sales thereafter shall be conducted virtually through video conferencing technology or live streaming. ALL PARTICIPANTS OR BIDDERS MUST BE REGISTERED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE SALE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE (VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON) AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SALES OF REAL ESTATE. REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S WEBSITE: SHERIFFALLEGHENYCOUNTY.COM. The Successful bidder will pay full amount of bid in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK OR CASHIERS CHECK at time of sale, otherwise the property will be resold at the next regular Sheriffs Sale; provided, that if the sale is made on MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024 the bidder may pay ten percent of purchasing price but not less than 75.00 in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK THE DAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SALE, e.g. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 2024, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:30AM AND 2:30PM IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. Failure to pay the 10% deposit will have you banned from future Sheriff Sales. And the balance in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK, on or before TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024, at 10:00 O’CLOCK A.M. The property will be resold at the next regular Sheriff’s Sale if the balance is not paid, and in such case all money’s paid in at the original sale shall be applied to any deficiency in the price of which property is resold, and provided further that if the successful bidder is the plaintiff in the execution the bidder shall pay full amount of bid ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING MONTH, OTHERWISE WRIT WILL BE RETURNED AND MARKED “REAL ESTATE UNSOLD” and all monies advanced by plaintiff will be applied as required by COMMON PLEAS COURT RULE 3129.2 (1) (a).

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

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

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

1OCT24

DEFENDANT LUCA CAROL CASE NO. MG-24-000164

DEBT $44,486.22

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, CITY OF PITTSBURGH-20th WARD:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 2631 BELLINGHAM AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15216. DEED BOOK VOLUME 12687 PAGE 335. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0036-S-00068-000000.

2OCT24

DEFENDANT William J. Fulmer, Jr., Personal Representative of the Estate of William B. Fulmer a/k/a William B. Fulmer, Sr., Deceased, Helen J. Fulmer

$177,462.15 NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) The Law Office of Gregory Javardian, LLC

OF ATTORNEY(S) 1310 Industrial Boulevard, 1st Floor, Suite 101, Southampton, PA 18966

TELEPHONE NUMBER

DESCRIPTION

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Monroeville:

4OCT24 DEFENDANT KYLE SIX, NASTACIA SIX

NO. MG-22-001008 DEBT $168,968.25 NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) KML LAW GROUP, P.C. ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (215) 627-1322 ***************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, MU-

NICIPALITY OF PENN HILLS:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 9600 FRANKSTOWN ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15235. DEED BOOK 18718, PAGE 109. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 296-B-123

5OCT24

DEFENDANT KORY BOEHM ************ CASE NO. MG-23-000949 ********* DEBT $74,583.46

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (215) 627-1322

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, BOROUGH OF WEST VIEW:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 134 GEORGETOWN AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15229. DEED BOOK 11948, PAGE 486. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 350-P-58.

6OCT24

DEFENDANT DEBBIE A. GDOVIC CASE NO. MG-23-001013 ********* DEBT $86,765.44 *****

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (215) 627-1322

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, BOROUGH OF TURTLE CREEK:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 408 CHARLES STREET, TURTLE CREEK, PA 15145. DEED BOOK 16850, PAGE 85. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 455-L-307.

7OCT24

DEFENDANT TRIPLE DS ESTATE LLC, DARRELL E.

JOHNSON AKA DARRELL JOHNSON

CASE NO. GD-24-001920

DEBT $96,115.93 *****

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

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (215) 627-1322 ***************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION

IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 21ST WARD CITY OF PITTSBURGH: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1222 NORTH FRANKLIN STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15233. DEED BOOK 19005, PAGE 528. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 22-L-105.

8OCT24

DEFENDANT Charles McClellan & Sherri McClellan

CASE NO. MG-24-000154 ********* DEBT 101,275.22 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

Dennis M. Blackwell, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 223 4th Avenue, 9th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 391-5299

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of South Fayette, HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING HOUSE BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 632 MILLERS RUN ROAD, CUDDY, PA 15031. DEED BOOK VOLUME 19171, PAGE 371, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 325-L-36-0000-00.

9OCT24

DEFENDANT John Donatelli ************ CASE NO. GD-24-004703

DEBT 18,985.61

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Kristine M. Anthou, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Grenen & Birsic, P.C. One Gateway Center, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-7650

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Reserve: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AS 3326 SPRING GARDEN ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15212. DEED BOOK VOLUME 10762, PAGE 523, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 78-E-236.

10OCT24

DEFENDANT Richard J. Filar and Maura K. Filar, CASE NO. MG-24-000170

DEBT $347,048.06 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Kristine M. Anthou, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Grenen & Birsic, P.C. One Gateway Center, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-7650

*************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Plum: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING HOUSE KNOWN AS 1170 BALKAN DRIVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15239. DEED BOOK VOLUME 12673, PAGE 353, BLOCK & LOT NO. 1104-K-305.

11OCT24

DEFENDANT L. Joyce Evans, AKA Lois Joyce Evans; Samuel E. Evans; The United States of America

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

CASE NO. MG-18-000095

********* DEBT $866,118.59

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

Manley Deas Kochalski LLC

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) P. 0. Box 165028 Columbus, OH 43216-5028

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

614-220-5611

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Marshall Township: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 113 Burry Avenue, Bradford Woods, PA 15015. Document Number 2004-32782, Deed Book Volume 12198, Page 405. Block and Lot Number 1657-L-00002-0000-00. • 12OCT24

DEFENDANT Carrie Smallwood; Charles R. O’Bryon, Jr. CASE NO. MG-24-000354 ********* DEBT $124,458.47

18OCT24

13OCT24

DEFENDANT DAWN RADOMSKY; KENT J. RADOMSKY ************ CASE NO. MG-22-000530 ********* DEBT $157,857.70

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Carolyn Treglia, Esquire

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (844) 856-6646

SHORT DESCRIPTION In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, BOROUGH OF BALDWIN Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 5443 KEENAN DR, PITTSBURGH, PA 15236. Deed Book Volume 10461, Page 519. Block and Lot Number 0390-S-001090000-00

14OCT24

DEFENDANT CHAD A. HANLEY ************ CASE NO. MG-24-000275 ********* DEBT $161,192.06

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Carolyn Treglia, Esquire

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (844) 856-6646

SHORT DESCRIPTION In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, SOUTH PARK TOWNSHIP Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1292 ARMSTRONG DR, SOUTH PARK, PA 15129. Deed Book Volume 18000, Page 539. Block and Lot Number 1008-F-002020000-00

15OCT24

DEFENDANT DEAN J. BERGSTEDT ************ CASE NO. MG-23-000726

DEBT $271,566.64

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Jeff Calcagno, Esquire

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (844) 856-6646

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, SCOTT TOWNSHIP Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1761 BOWER HILL RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15243. Deed Book Volume 18632, Page 476. Block and Lot Number 0195-M-002000000-00

16OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S) CITY OF CLAIRTON vs DEFENDANT MIRIAM MALETTA CASE NO. GD-23-014127 ********* DEBT $14,485.52 ***** NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 724-978-0333

*************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, CITY OF CLAIRTON:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 508 SAINT CLAIR AVENUE, CLAIRTON, PA 15025. DEED BOOK 9850, PAGE 225. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 879-H-042

17OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S) EAST ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES vs DEFENDANT CENTRAL AMERICA PRESERVATION

TRUST CASE NO.GD-21-002470 DEBT $8,851.24

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642

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

and numbered as 1710

al Drive, McKeesport, PA 15131 AKA 1710 Educational Drive, White Oak, PA 15131. Document Number 2016-28803, Deed Book Volume 16534, Page 244. Block and Lot Number 0550-R OO109-0000-00.

AVENUE, SUITE 201 WESTMONT, NJ 08108

TELEPHONE NUMBER (856) 858-7080

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,

HOMESTEAD,

15120 AKA 3014 ALBERTA STREET, MUNHALL, PENNSYLVANIA 15120. DEED BOOK VOLUME 14607, PAGE 443. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0132-H-00152-0000-00.

26OCT24

LATACIA BRENTLEY

$77,012.51

L. GRAHAM, ESQUIRE

OF ATTORNEY(S) MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC 216 HADDON AVENUE, SUITE 201 WESTMONT, NJ 08108 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (856) 858-7080

27OCT24

PLAINTIFFS BRENTWOOD BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BRENTWOOD BOROUGH, vs. DEFENDANT RYAN TEMPALSKI CASE NO.GD 24-000461 ********* DEBT $16,411.77 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) JOHN T. VOGEL, TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C. 1500 ONE PPG PLACE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15222

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

412.594.3902

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, BOROUGH OF BRENTWOOD:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A RES-

IDENTIAL DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3017- 3019 GLENDALE AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15227. DEED BOOK VOLUME 15205, PAGE 5, AND DEED BOOK VOLUME 17294, PAGE 162, BLOCK AND LOT 137G-261

28OCT24

PLAINTIFFS SHALER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, vs. DEFENDANT CAROL J. CLARK ************ WRIT NO. GO 22-000971 ********* DEBT $20,471.70

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) JOHN T. VOGEL, TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C.

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C. 1500 ONE PPG PLACE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15222 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 412.594.3902 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF SHALER:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A RESI-

DENTIAL DWELLING KNOWN ANO NUMBERED AS 121 BEECH STREET, GLENSHAW, PENNSYLVANIA 15116-2619, DEED BOOK VOLUME 13932, PAGE 387, BLOCK AND LOT 356-E-154

30OCT24

DEFENDANT Harwood H. Dorman a/k/a Harwood H. Dorman, Jr.

CASE NO. MG-24 000174

DEBT $117,712.84 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

The Law Office of Gregory Javardian, LLC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 1310 Industrial Boulevard, pt Floor, Suite 101, Southampton, PA 18966 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 215-942-9690 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION ********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Plum:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 328 CENTER NEW TEXAS ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15239. DEED BOOK VOLUME 4074, PAGE 113. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER. 851-R-211.

31OCT24

DEFENDANT Joel A. Demharter, ************ CASE NO. MG-23-000286 ********* DEBT $192,311.25

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

The Law Office of Gregory Javardian, LLC **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 1310 Industrial Boulevard, pt Floor, Suite 101, Southampton, PA 18966

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 215-942-9690

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Harrison Township:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 209 ELBROOK DRIVE, NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA 15065. DEED BOOK VOLUME 17471, PAGE 502. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER. 1679-P-60.

32OCT24

DEFENDANT HATHERLEY BRITTIAN, SEAN MICKAIL AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF PENNY MICKAIL AKA PENNY L. MICKAIL, DECEASED

NO. . MG-23-000124

$60,743.88 *****

OF ATTORNEY(S) KML LAW

P.C.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA,PA 19106 ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 215) 627-1322 SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 27TH WARD CITY OF PITTSBURGH: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1423 WOODLAND AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15212. DEED BOOK 16879, PAGE 439. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 45-E-8 l. 33OCT24

DEFENDANT TERRANCE L. CASSIDY ************ CASE NO. MG-23-000203

DEBT $199,176.62

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA,PA 19106 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 215) 627-1322 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF SCOTT:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 603 LINDSAY ROAD, CARNEGIE, PA 15106. DEED BOOK 17041, PAGE 120. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 143-A-52.

34OCT24

DEFENDANT ARGELIS CANDELARIO

************ CASE NO. MG-23-001088

*********

DEBT $101,136.40

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

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET

PHILADELPHIA,PA 19106

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 215) 627-1322

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWN OF MCCANDLESS:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 8520 WITTMER ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15237. DEED BOOK 16656, PAGE 198. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 713-S-282.

36OCT24

DEFENDANT JULIAN LAMAR SPARROW, SOLELY IN HIS/HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF JOY SPARROW, DECEASED, FAYTHE L. WILEY, SOLELY IN HIS/HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF JOY SPARROW, DECEASED, JONATHAN LAMAR WILEY, SOLELY IN HIS/HER CAPACITY AS HE1R OF JOY SPARROW, DECEASED, CHARITY LYNN WILEY, SOLELY IN HIS/HER CAPACITY AS HEIR OF JOY SPARROW, DECEASED ************ CASE NO. MG-23-001135 *********

DEBT $61,647.09

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA,PA 19106

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 215) 627-1322

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, BOROUGH OF VERSAILLES:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 4605 2ND STREET, MC KEESPORT, PA 15132. DEED BOOK 16481, PAGE 74. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 555-S-272.

39OCT24

DEFENDANT MATTHEW C. WALLING and KRISTIN L.

WALLING

CASE NO. MG 24-000256

DEBT $88,386.11 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

Jeffrey R. Lalama, Esquire

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, LLP 535 Smithfield Street, Suite 1300 Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

412-456-2876

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

SHORT DESCRIPTION

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

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Plum: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1081 McALLISTER DRIVE, NEW KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA 15068, DEED BOOK VOLUME 13162, PAGE 544. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0968-F00138-0000-00

40OCT24

DEFENDANT Frank Cimino Jr.

************ CASE NO. MG-23-000590 ********* DEBT $196,298.08

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Dana Marks, Esquire

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160, Garden City, NY 11530

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (212) 471-5100

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, and Borough of Coraopolis:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELL-

ING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1302 VANCE AVENUE, CORAOPOLIS, PA 15108. DEED BOOK VOLUME 7627, PAGE 212. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER: 0342-P00185-0000-00.

41OCT24

DEFENDANT RONALD C. PALASHOFF ************ CASE NO. MG-23-000492 ********* DEBT $68,749.71

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Carolyn Treglia, Esquire

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

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (844) 856-6646

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

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 32ND WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2630 IVYGLEN ST, PITTSBURGH, PA 15227. Deed Book 7885, Page 508. Block and Lot Number 0138-F-001140000-00

42OCT24

DEFENDANT ROBERT CAVANAUGH, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF MARYLOU CAVANAUGH aka MARY LOU CAVANAUGH AND IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES CAVANAUGH, DECEASED HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF MARYLOU CAVANAUGH aka MARY LOU CAVANAUGH; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER MARYLOU CAVANAUGH aka MARY LOU CAVANAUGH, DECEASED; SHAYNA CAVANAUGH IN HER CAPACITY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JAMES CAVANAUGH, DECEASED; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF JAMES CAVANAUGH, DECEASED HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF MARYLOU CAVANAUGH aka MARY LOU CAVANAUGH, DECEASED ************ CASE NO. MG-23-000014 ********* DEBT $15,256.74 NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Jeff Calcagno, Esquire ********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Brock & Scott, PLLC 2011 RENAISSANCE BOULEVARD, SUITE 100, KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406 ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (844) 856-6646

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, CITY OF DUQUESNE - 1ST WARD Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 417 WILLIAM STREET, DUQUESNE, PA 15110-1086. Deed Book Volume 6157, Page 757. Block and Lot Number 0305-D-000950000-00

43OCT24

DEFENDANT TRAVIS BUICK CASE NO. MG-23-001119 DEBT $72,596.88

*****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Carolyn Treglia, Esquire

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

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (844) 856-6646 ***************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 16TH WARD, CITY OF PITTSBURGH Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 436 GORGAS ST, PITTSBURGH, PA 15210. Deed Book 16520, Page 344. Block and Lot Number 0032-A-003370000-00, aka 0032-A-00337

44OCT24

DEFENDANT MICHAEL JONES CASE NO. MG-22-000226 ********* DEBT $194,432.26 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Jeff Calcagno, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Brock & Scott, PLLC

45OCT24

PAGE 528. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 761-P-240.

DEED BOOK 18982, PAGE 385. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 14-L-246.

$82,493.92

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 133 GAITHER DRIVE, SUITE F MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

855-225-6906

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of West Mifflin:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 724 Laura Ave, West Mifflin, PA 15122. Deed Book Volume 8852, Page 399. Block and Lot 0238K-00178-0000-00.

DEFENDANT

50OCT24

TRACY CONTI AKA TRACY L WENGER, IN HER CAPACITY AS ADMINISTRATRIX AND HEIR OF MARY M WENGER;

L WENGER AKA KRISTIN L WENGER, IN HER CAPACITY AS EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL WENGER, DECEASED HEIR OF MARY M WENGER; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS, CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE, OR.INTEREST FROM OR UNDER MARY M WENGER; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS, CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER MICHAEL WENGER, DECEASED HEIR OF MARY M WENGER ************ CASE NO. MG-22-000816 *********

OF ATTORNEY(S)

Anschutz, Schneid, Crane &

PLLC

OF ATTORNEY(S) 133 GAITHER DRIVE, SUITE F MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER

855-225-6906 SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 2nd Ward of the Borough of Crafton: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 77 N Linwood Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Deed Book Volume 10633, Page 47. Block and Lot 0069-S-00305-0000-00.

51OCT24

DEFENDANT EDWARD P. DESABATO, JR. C/O GIOIA MANGIS, POA CASE

53OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Carnegie VS.

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Carnegie:

Having erected thereon a two story frame house being known as 522 Hulton Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. Deed Book Volume 14300, Page 276. Block & Lot No. 102-A261.

54OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Pitcairn VS.

DEFENDANT Pitcairn Ambulance Association, Inc.

CASE NO. GD 23-000628 *********

DEBT $3,597.74 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION

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

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Pitcairn:

Having erected thereon a two story frame house being known as 900 Creighton Avenue, Pitcairn, PA 15140. Deed Book Volume 13822, Page 319. Block & Lot No. 746-K-278.

55OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Woodland Hills School District VS. DEFENDANT Jose Melendez, Jr. ************ CASE NO. GD 23-014507

DEBT $5,831.10

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION ********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Turtle Creek:

Having erected thereon a two story brick house being known as 823 Maple Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA 15145. Deed Book Volume 18071, Page 595. Block & Lot No. 455-L-128.

56OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Dormont VS. DEFENDANT Edwards Realty & Associates LP ************ WRIT NO.: GD 22-003570 ********* DEBT $7,230.52

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) David L. Scherer, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Dormont:

Having erected thereon a three family, two story brick house being known as 2739 Miles Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Deed Book Volume 14981, Page 134. Block & Lot No. 62-J-272.

57OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Township of Shaler VS. DEFENDANT Marcella Gebert, with Notice to Heirs and Assigns ************ CASE NO.: G.D. 22-014177

DEBT $2,820.08 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Shaler:

Having erected thereon a one and one half story frame house being known as 1213 Maple Street, Glenshaw, PA 15116. Deed Book Volume 2308, Page 516. Block & Lot No. 356-J-48.

58OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania VS. DEFENDANT Robert J. Kennedy & Victoria DeDonato ************ CASE NO.: GD 22-014552

DEBT $32,273.13

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION

ln the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Mt. Lebanon:

Having erected thereon a two and a half story

15228.

59OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania VS. DEFENDANT Mario Silipigni

CASE NO.: GD 23-001024

DEBT $9,314.07 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Mt. Lebanon:

Having erected thereon a two story brick house being known as 232 Sleepy Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Deed Book Volume 16649, Page 48. Block & Lot No. 140-A-32.

60OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Dormont VS. DEFENDANT Edwards Realty & Associates LP

WRJTNO.: GD 22-003569 *********

DEBT $4,229.86 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

David L. Scherer, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Dormont:

Having erected thereon a two story, four family brick house being known as 28382840 West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Deed Book Volume 14947, Page 54. Block & Lot No. 62-N-227.

61OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Dormont VS. DEFENDANT

Edwards Realty & Associates LP ************ WRIT NO.: GD 22-003567 ********* DEBT $9.328.19

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S)

David L. Scherer, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

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

SHORT DESCRIPTION

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

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Dormont:

Having erected thereon a two story, four family brick house being known as 1441 Dormont Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Deed Book Volume 15244, Page 413. Block & Lot No. 98-C-325.

62OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Township of Shaler VS. DEFENDANT George L. Fong

************ CASE NO.: G.D. 22-013127 ********* DEBT $3,796.24

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S)

525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Shaler:

Having erected thereon a one story frame house being known as 500 Glen Malcolm Drive, Glenshaw, PA 15116. Deed Book Volume 9844, Page 49. Block & Lot No. 285-E-14.

63OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Pine-Richland School District VS. DEFENDANT Jerry C. Kennedy, Jr. & Tammy L. Kennedy

CASE NO.: GD 23-011713

DEBT $8,757.32 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

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

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Richland: Having erected thereon a two story frame house being known as 241 Whitehaven Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Deed Book Volume 9799, Page 334. Block & Lot No. 1666-J-7.

64OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT David Williams

CASE NO.: G.D. 21-011719

DEBT $5,502.70 ***** NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

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

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of

65OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT Shirley May Miklos, with Notice to Heirs and Assigns CASE NO.: G.D. 19-002070 ********* DEBT $5,320.20 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Elizabeth:

Being thereon vacant residential land known as Pineview Drive, Elizabeth, PA 15037. Deed Book Volume 5440, Page 65. Block & Lot No. 1904-F-232.

66OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT Susan T. Zupancic ************ CASE NO.: G.D. 22-008423 ********* DEBT $5,702.84

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Shaler: Having erected thereon a one story brick house being known as 492 Seavey Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15209. Deed Book Volume 10051, Page 210. Block & Lot No. 166-K212.

67OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT James W. Winters

CASE NO.: GD 17-008222 ********* DEBT $5,636.29 *****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire **********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Etna: Having erected thereon a one and one half story brick house being known as 55 Vilsack Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15223. Deed Book Volume 16335, Page 261. Block & Lot No. 221-M-195.

68OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT Parei Ventures, LLC

CASE NO.: G.D. 24-000953 DEBT $2,788.73

*****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587 ***************************

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Glassport:

Having erected thereon a three story commercial apartment building being known as 600 Ohio Avenue, Glassport, PA 15045. Deed Book Volume 17726, Page 318. Block& Lot No. 558-B-14.

69OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S): Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania VS. DEFENDANT Edwards Realty & Associates, LP

CASE NO.: GD 22-014530

DEBT $7,864.78

*****

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) David L. Scherer, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (412) 281-0587 *************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Mt. Lebanon: Having erected thereon a one story, three-family brick house being known as 950 Margaretta Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. Deed Book Volume 15070, Page 505. Block & Lot No. 250-E-234.

70OCT24

and

&

72OCT24

(856) 724-1888

SHORT DESCRIPTION In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Ross Township: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 105 Donmor Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Deed Book Volume15219, Page 122, Instrument Number 2013-10351, Block and Lot Number 0281-S-00144-0000-00.

73OCT24 DEFENDANT GEORGE J. MERRICK ************ CASE NO.: GD-23-000195 DEBT $363,752.86 ***** NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) CHELSEA A. NIXON, ESQUIRE ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC 216 HADDON AVENUE, SUITE 201 WESTMONT, NJ 08108 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER (856) 858-7080

SHORT DESCRIPTION ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, BOROUGH OF SEWICKLEY: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 605 MULBERRY STREET, SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA 15143. DEED BOOK VOLUME 11716, PAGE 564. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0421-B-00265-0000-00. 74OCT24

DEFENDANT LAWl CAPITAL REAL ESTATE LLC CASE NO.: GD-23-009044 ********* DEBT $298,566.18 ***** NAME OF ATTORNEY(S) RIAN W

15120 A/K/A 1042 HAYS LN, MUNHALL, PA 15120, DEED BOOK VOLUME 3923, PAGE 149, BLOCK& LOT NO. 179-P-131. 77OCT24

PLAINTIFF(S) South Allegheny School District vs DEFENDANT

JEFFREY MAZZEI; AKA JEFF E. MAZZEI; A/KIA JEFF MAZZEI

L. Cerce,

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S) Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, LLP 535 Smithfield Street, Suite 1300 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER 412-456-2876

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, City of Pittsburgh, 7th Ward:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 5804 WALNUT STREET, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15232, DEED BOOK VOLUME 11270, PAGE 6. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0085-B-00271-0000-00

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of BERT ROY LINDSTROM, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-24-05637, Scott R. Lindstrom, Executor, 123 Shafer Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of DAVID RATTAY, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-24-05638 , Christina L. Ramsey, Administrator, 1717 Hathaway Lane, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of JOSEPH ADU-MARFO, Deceased deceased of Turtle Creek, PA, Estate No.: 022405696, Gabrielle Adu-Marfo , Administrator or to Quinntarra Morant, Esq., PO Box 10946 Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of JERRY LEE SIMS, Deceased deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No.: 022405902, Katrina Barfield, Administrator or to Quinntarra Morant, Esq., PO Box 10946 Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of HERMINE P. BUNCH A/K/A HERMINE B. BUTCH, Deceased of the Township of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-05758, Thomas W. Butch, Executor or to David J. Nichols, Atty, 6 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15236

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

NOTICE

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

There will be an Investment Board/Depository Board Meeting of Allegheny County on Friday, September 27, 2024 at 1:00 pm to be held at the Allegheny County Courthouse, Conference Room 1, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh Pa 15219.

Corey O’Connor Allegheny County Controller

LEGAL AD

CITY OF PITTSBURGH:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 5208 BROWN WAY, PITTSBURGH, PA 15224, DEED BOOK VOLUME 9763, PAGE 113, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 50-L-51

PARCEL 2: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 10TH WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 116 N. EVALINE ST, PITTSBURGH, PA 15224, DEED BOOK VOLUME 13712, PAGE 422, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 50-L-282-A

PARCEL 3: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 10TH WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH:

HAVING vacant land BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS N. PACIFIC AVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15224, DEED BOOK VOLUME 13063, PAGE 482, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 50-L-56

PARCEL 4: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 10TH WARD OF THE CITY OF

NOTICE IS HEREBY given the Emsworth Zoning Hearing Board has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, September 26, 2024, 7 p.m., prevailing time, at the Emsworth Borough Building, 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15202, regarding the application from Eric Mueller for property at 368 Huntington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202, seeking a Variance to Emsworth Borough Ordinance Section 245.38C, setback relief for an outdoor kitchen.

All those interested in the above hearing should be present at the above time and place and you will have an opportunity to be heard.

CATHY JONES Borough Secretary

HACP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

The next regular HACP Board of Commissioners Meeting will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. EST. This will be a hybrid meeting (with limited in-person seating (on a first come, first serve basis) and a remote Zoom viewing option). The meeting agenda will be posted to the HACP website: www.hacp.org on Monday, September 23, 2024. Registration to attend the meeting in-person and registration to provide public comment will both open on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 11 a.m. and posted to www.hacp.org.

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.

GET RESULTS!

BOROUGH OF AVALON

2025 BUDGET WORKSHOP

MEETINGS

Notice is hereby given that the Avalon Borough Council will hold workshop meetings for the purpose of developing the 2025 Budget at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, September 24, 2024; Tuesday, October 1, 2024; Tuesday, October 8, 2024 (Budget Workshop will follow Streets and Safety Committee Meeting); Tuesday, October 22, 2023; and Thursday, November 14, 2023 (if necessary; Budget Workshop will follow Finance Committee Meeting) at the Borough Building. The proposed budget will be available on or after November 25, 2024 for public inspection in the Borough Administration Office during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 640 California Avenue, Avalon, PA, 15202 and also on the Borough website, www.boroughofavalon.org.

Council intends to adopt the 2025 Budget on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at the regular Council meeting.

Lorraine Makatura BOROUGH

MANAGER

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

P.J. Dick is the awarded contractor and is soliciting competitive bids for the Lower Hill Development: Parcel E Music Venue. Bid Group 3 includes all remaining scopes or work. Documents will be available Wednesday September 18th. Bids are due Tuesday October 15th. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 4 PM on Thursday September 19, 2024, at the Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Pre-registration is encouraged. Please visit www.pjdick.com/subcontractor -opportunities.com to register or contact BidLowerHillMusicVenue@pjdick.com to request an invitation to bid.

BID NOTICE

OFFICIAL

TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR

Sealed and separate bids will be received by the Township of Upper St. Clair, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania until 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and the BIDS will be publicly opened and read thereafter in the Township Building at the same address for the following:

TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST.CLAIR - MUNICIPAL BUILDING SITE LIGHTING & SIGNAGE WORK

Please refer to https://www.twpusc. org/business/bid_information.php for details regarding specifications and Bidding requirements.

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently issued a Request for Proposals for a Temporary Housing Program for People with Acute Mental Health Needs. Due Date: 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 31, 2024. For more details and submission information, visit: https://solicitations .alleghenycounty.us/.

Erin Dalton Director

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on October 1, 2024, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

Service & Maintenance Contracts at Various Schools, Facilities and Properties: 1. Chillers and Refrigeration Systems Service, Maintenance and Repairs 2. Concrete Maintenance 3. Extraordinary General Maintenance and Repairs 4. Extraordinary Masonry Maintenance and Repairs 5. Extraordinary Electrical Service, Maintenance and Repairs 6. Extraordinary Roofing Maintenance and Repairs 7. Fire Extinguisher and Fire Hoses Service and Maintenance 8. Gas and Oil Burners, Boilers and Furnaces Inspection, Service, and Repairs 9. Integrated Access Control, Intrusion Detection, and CCTV Surveillance Systems Service, Maintenance, Repairs, and Programming

10. Plumbing Maintenance and Repairs

11. Vertical Transportation Systems Preventative Maintenance and Service

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on September 13, 2024, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual. CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

September 16, 2024

Office of the County Controller of Allegheny County, Room 104, Court House, Pittsburgh, PA., will receive separate and closed Bids until 11:30 A.M. prevailing local time, Wednesday October 9, 2024 through the proprietary platform of the third party vendor Bonfire eProcurement Solution, and a representative of the Department of Public Works will open and read the Proposals in the Conference Room 505A, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA., 15219, at 11:30 A.M., for the following:

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS SPRING GARDEN ROAD

PHASE 1 A LATERAL SUPPORT COUNTY PROJECT NO: 2286-0003

RESERVE TOWNSHIP

As a prospective bidder please note the following general Project information regarding Pre-Bid Information, Bidding Requirements, and Contract Conditions. See the Project Manual and Drawings for detailed information, responsibilities, and instructions.

PRE-BID INFORMATION: View the Proposal, Specifications and Drawings on Bonfire eProcurement’s website https://alleghenycountydpw.bonfirehub.com/projects/150524/details. The Proposal, Specifications and Drawings may also be viewed at the Office of the Contract Manager, Room 504, County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA. Please adhere to all COVID-19 safety procedures.

BIDDING REQUIREMENTS: The County requires pre-qualification of bidders, including subcontractors, as specified in Section 102.01 of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Publication No.408, 2020 Edition, Change No. 8, Effective April 12, 2024, on this project.

Submit bid on the supplied Bid Forms in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and General and Supplementary Conditions; include the following documents with the Bid Form, PROPOSAL:

• Bid Security - certified check or surety company bond on County’s form to the order of/or running to the County of Allegheny in the amount of five (5%) percent of the Bid as evidence that you, the Bidder, will accept and carry out the conditions of the Contract in case of award. The County will accept only bonds written by Surety Companies acceptable on Federal Bonds per the current Federal Register Circular 570. Federal Register Circular 570 is available for inspection in the Contract Office, Room 504, County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

• Bidder Certification of Pre-Qualification, Classification and Work Capacity.

• List of Subcontractors

• Statement of Joint Venture Participation

• MBE and WBE Goals Attainment Certification - (ONLY NECESSARY IF YOU CAN NOT MEET THE SPECIFIED MBE AND WBE GOALS)

• Work Sheet Required Amount Performed by Contractor (Non-Federal Project)

• MBE/WBE Subcontractor and Supplier Solicitation Sheet

• MBE/WBE Subcontractor and Supplier Commitment Sheet

THE COUNTY WILL REJECT BIDS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THE

EXECUTED DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED ABOVE WITH THE BID FORM.

You may not withdraw your bid for a period of Sixty (60) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The County Manager reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding.

CONTRACT CONDITIONS: In accordance with the provisions of the “Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act” of August 15, 1961, P.L. 987, as Department of Labor and Industry, the prevailing minimum wage predetermination requirements as set forth in the Attachments apply to this Project. For questions about logging in and using the Bonfire platform, visit https://vendorsupport.gobonfire.com/hc/en-us, or call 1-800-354-8010. For questions about the project or contract, submit them on the Bonfire platform at https://alleghenycountydpw.bonfirehub.com/projects/150524/details.

Project completion is to occur by August 23, 2025

The County of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises / women business enterprises [MBE/WBE] will be afforded the full opportunity to submit bids on the grounds of race, sex, color or national origin in consideration for an award. It is a condition of the bidding process/contract that all responsive bidders/ contractors shall follow the minority business enterprises/women’s business enterprises [MBE/WBE] procedures set forth in the project manual/contract documents.

Corey O’Connor Controller County of Allegheny

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1793 SITE DEMOLITION CONTRACT II

Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1793–SITE DEMOLITION CONTRACT II shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Tuesday, October 15, 2024, and then shall be Publicly Opened and read via Microsoft Virtual Teams Meeting. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held via Microsoft Virtual Teams Meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. An Invitation will be required to access this meeting. If interested in attending the Pre-Bid Meeting contact Kathleen P. Uniatowski via email at Kathleen.uniatowski@alcosan.org. A Site Visit will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, September 27, 2024, beginning at 876 Progress Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder.

Any questions regarding the Technical Specifications of the Bidding Documents should be directed to Joseph Sparbanie, P.E., Project Engineer I, ALCOSAN, via email at joseph.sparbanie@alcosan.org

Any questions regarding the Purchase of Contract Bidding Documents should be directed to Collin Keller, ALCOSAN, via email at contract.clerks@alcosan.org.

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

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Michael Lichte P.E. Director of Regional Conveyance

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT

Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on September 30, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

BID NUMBER BID NAME

1 B24-09-88A Operators, Supervisors, Fare Collectors & Maintenace Uniforms

To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device Meeting ID: 226 156 383 742

Passcode: jcDeoe

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 806 058 138#

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 on September 12, 2024, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 217 661 511 041

Passcode: 3PKFUD

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 548 526 316#

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT 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 PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

CITY OF PITTSBURGH

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

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Separate and sealed Bid Proposals will be received electronically starting on Thursday, September 12th, 2024 for:

2024-ITQ-288 – Invitation to Qualify: Various Professional Services, Phase 3

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

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

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

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

All provisions of US Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended by US Executive Order 11375 and as supplemented in US Department of Labor Regulations (41 CFR, Part 60), and of the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the US Secretary of Labor. Contractor shall comply with all applicable standards, orders, or requirements issued of the Clean Air Act (42 USC 1857 et. seq.), Section 508 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1368), Executive Order 11738, and Environmental Protection Agency regulations (40 CFR, Part 15).

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

Procedures for compliance to these acts shall be as follows:

All specifications for construction contracts and subcontracts will contain the prevailing wage rates (as enclosed in this bid package) as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276-a to 276-C-5) and provision that overtime compensation will be paid in accordance with the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act Regulations (29 CFR, Parts 5 and 1926). The contract provisions shall require that these standards be met. Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity (Executive Order 11246): Bidder’s attention is called to the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth in 41 CFR Public Contracts and Property Management Part 60-4.3 Equal Opportunity Clauses.

Goals for minority participation: 18%

Goals for female participation: 7%

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR

ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS

AUTHORITY WIDE

IFB #300-28-24

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

ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS

AUTHORITY WIDE

IFB #300-28-24

The documents will be available no later than September 16, 2024 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 a.m. until the closing time of 10:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024, in the lobby of 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be time and date stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, 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. Brandon Havranek, Associate Director of Procurement Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2890

A pre-bid meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on September 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Please see meeting information below:

Meeting ID: 838 6572 1815

Passcode: 076050

Dial in: +1 646 931 3860 US

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation.

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

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

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Bids are hereby solicited for the COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 on the following:

SALE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT 240927

The following surplus equipment will be offered for sale to the highest bidder(s): Functional PCs & Laptops, Functional Monitors, Functional Monitors, Misc. Functional IT Equipment, Misc. Non-Functional IT Equipment, Musical Instruments – Electric Keyboards, Metal Chairs, Traction Equipment, Stools, 2002 Ford F-350 Dump Truck, Tractors, Push Mowers, Wood Chipper, Salt Spreader, Cement Mixer, and Various Lawn Equipment Items

Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Friday, September 27, 2024

For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu. Bid 1132 – SNOW PLOWING AND SALTING – ALL COLLEGE LOCATIONS

Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Friday, September 27, 2024

Any bid or proposals received after this deadline will be considered as a “late bid” and will be returned unopened to the offerer. Proposals may require Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Payment Bonds, and Surety as dictated by the specifications. No bidder may withdraw his bid or proposal for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The Community College of Allegheny County is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/Disadvantaged owned businesses. For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.

Community College of Allegheny County Purchasing Department 800 Allegheny Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15233

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR FORD FLEET VEHICLE

MAINTENANCE IFB #850-30-24

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): FORD FLEET VEHICLE MAINTENANCE IFB #850-30-24

The documents will be available no later than September 16, 2024, and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 a.m. until the closing time of 9:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024 in the lobby of 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be time and date stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, 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. Brandon Havranek, Associate Director of Procurement Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2890

A pre-bid meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on September 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting: https://hacp- org .zoom.us/j/85035870562?pwd =5Tttq84iXaJgXAtKjwa4d sEaGTBcIi.1 Meeting ID: 850 35870562 Passcode: 864539 Dial in: +1 309 205 3325 US

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation.

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

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

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR FIRE PUMP & SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TESTING, INSPECTIONS, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS IFB #300-28-24

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Fire Pump & Sprinkler Systems Testing, Inspections, Maintenance and Repairs IFB #300-28-24

The documents will be available no later than September 16, 2024, and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 a.m. until the closing time of 11:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024, in the lobby of 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be time and date stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, 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. Brandon Havranek, Associate Director of Procurement Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2890

A pre-bid meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on September 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting: https://hacp-org.zoom.us/ j/84674281093?pwd=aZ2rGzi 9oXhrclD3juNjIjQnNAn6xK.1

HOUSING

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR

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

Administration of Clean Slate E3 Out-of-School Time Programs Rebid

The documents will be available no later than September 15, 2024 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 9:00 A.M. on October 8, 2024. 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 A.M. on October 8, 2024, in the lobby of One Stop Shop at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be time and date stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor Procurement, 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:

Brandon Havranek, Associate Director of Procurement Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor, Procurement Department Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2890 412-456-5007 Fax

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on September 26, 2024, at 9:00 A.M.

Please see the meeting information below:

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 892 7102 6796 Passcode: 795711 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation.

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

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR UNDERGROUND NATURAL

GAS LINE INSPECTION, TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

IFB #300-10-24 REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified firms or individuals capable of providing the following service(s):

Underground Natural Gas Line Inspection, Testing and Certification

IFB #300-10-24 REBID

The documents will be available no later than September 16, 2024 and signed sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 AM on. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on October 22, 2024 in the lobby of 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be time and date stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, 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. Brandon Havranek, Associate Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on October 1, 2024 at 9:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 878 5278 3400 Passcode: 820622 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation.

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

HACP conducts business in accordance with

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.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

URBAN ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL is seeking positions for Special Education Teacher Student Success Advisor Co-Teacher Please send all clearances and three references to jobs@urbanacademypgh.org

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION PHYSICIAN

University of Pittsburgh Physicians seeks a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician to work in Allegheny County, PA and Butler County, PA. Evaluate and treat patients primarily in outpatient physical medicine & rehabilitation (PMR) clinics; focus on sports-related injuries, as well as general musculoskeletal pain and limitations in joint range of motion. Use ultrasound to perform guided injections of medications for pain relief and to allow the restoration of function. Medical degree (M.D., D.O.), or equivalent; must have completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; must be Board certified or Board eligible for certification in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; must have a valid unrestricted PA medical license or eligibility. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 240002HM in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE.

SYSTEMS ANALYST

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Technical Application Systems Analyst to serve as a technical applications support agent in conjunction with business customers and software analysts for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) and IT:Enterprise Software. Support of application software includes third-party offthe-shelf solutions and custom developed solutions. Along with configuration and usage support, gathers business requirements, identifies and evaluates off-theshelf solutions and develops specifications for custom development. Communicates and discusses with AIS management and documents technical project plans so that software developers can then transfer into code resulting in a working application to suit business customer’s needs. Provides day-to-day support, training and assists in the creation of documentation.

Essential Functions:

· Serves as technical agent in software configuration and set-up. Manages projects, assists with configuration and installation, initial testing prior to business user testing, documentation, training, and closure of completed tasks. Analyzes application error and message logs, and works to resolve issues. Serves to assist with code analysis to determine system functionality.

· Serve as customer support for software usage: Guide customers with functional support and assist with navigating software. Resolve help desk tickets related to application software. Provide system instruction for report generation and system functionality and also assist in the creation of documentation.

· Support data import/export/management.

Job requirements include:

· High school diploma or GED.

· Associate’s degree or two (2) years of college in computer science, information technology, or related field from an accredited school or college and three (3) years’ support experience in Peoplesoft or other ERP systems, or applications in medium to large deployments. OR

· Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information science or a technology related field from an accredited school or college with one (1) year of support experience in Peoplesoft or other ERP systems, or applications in medium to large deployments.

· Related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-foryear basis.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to quickly understand, retain and apply large amounts of new information.

· Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.

· Great organizational skills.

· Experience in monitoring and adhering to procedures and policies.

· Professional and effective communication skills with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.

· Excellent customer service and problem resolution skills.

· Exemplary attention to detail.

· Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.

· Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Office 365, including Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

· Valid PA driver’s license.

Preferred attributes:

· Prior project implementation experience.

· Prior application support experience.

· Knowledge of ERP applications (PeopleSoft), maintenance tracking or asset management systems.

· Experience with large, complex application deployments.

· Experience with software development.

· Experience with SQL script development.

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

Glenn Huetter Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 GHuetter@RidePRT.org EOE