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Pittsburgh Courier www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Vol. 108 No. 3
Two Sections
Published Weekly
JANUARY 18-24, 2017
URA moves on housing projects
Mother of murdered 3-year-old sentenced
ADRIONNA WILLIAMS
Adrienne Williams, who was convicted in August of suffocating her 3-year-old daughter, Adrionna, and dumping her body in a Swissvale ravine on June 14, 2015, has been sentenced to 20-40 years behind bars. Prosecutors said Williams, 27, was overwhelmed with being a single parent. Authorities offered to give Williams a sentence of 1530 years in prison if she agreed to plead guilty, but she chose instead
to go to trial. Prosecutors had sought a first-degree conviction, but the jury returned a third-degree verdict because they could not agree on premeditation. Despite maintaining her innocence at the sentencing, Common Pleas Judge Anthony Mariani gave her the maximum sentence allowed. The victim’s grandmother, who stood in the courtroom holding the 3-year-old’s funeral urn,
$1.00
by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer
ADRIENNE WILLIAMS said, “That’s what she deserved.” “This is Adrionna,” she said. “This is her, this is what I have left.”
Residents call for Penn Plaza seizure
by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer
Fresh off the heels of their successful plea for the Pittsburgh Planning Board to reject the proposed redevelopment plan for the former Penn Plaza Apartments site, a coalition of affordable housing advocates celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by calling for the city to seize the property through eminent domain. “We sit on the site of a monstrous injustice where hundreds of individuals, families, our seniors, our veterans and our disable have been displaced--all for the simple chasing of a dollar,” said Randall Taylor, past Pittsburgh school board director and former Penn Plaza renter. “If this property could be eminent domained, then we could come together as a community and create CALLING FOR SEIZURE—Former Penn Plaza resident Randall Taylor, joins housing activists in calling for the City to wonderful decent affordable seize the property by eminent domain and build new affordable housing. housing in which individuals and families can grow along with this country to fight this,” he said. ect shall be considered ‘development’ that new Pittsburgh.” “Halt Gentrification through the em- does not serve the interests of the impactCarl Redwood, chair of the Hill Consen- powerment, stabilization and restoration ed population, nor should any people-dissus Group, said gentrification is an issue of traditional Black neighborhoods. Black placing or otherwise disruptive project be across the county. people have the right to develop, plan and SEE DISTRICT A4 “People have come together across the preserve our own communities. No proj-
At its first meeting of the new year, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh board approved an exclusive negotiation contract with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh that will allow for the transfer of 29 additional properties for the fourth and final phase of its Addison Terrace redevelopment. Unlike the first three phases, which replaced housing units on and near the original Hill District site, a lack of available land—and a similar level of need for development—led to the final scattered-site phase being built in Homewood. The bulk of properties to be transferred, at $1 plus costs, are in the 7000 block of Hamilton Avenue, five are in the 7000 block of Susquehanna Street and one is at 7010 Formosa Way. SEE URA A4
District puts closed schools, properties on the block by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer
Looking for a quaint little 56,000 square-foot building on three acres on Pittsburgh’s North Side? It could be yours for a minimum bid of $142,500. That’s the minimum reserve price for the former Mann Elementary School on Shetland Avenue, just one of nine closed schools and 13 vacant land parcels for which the Pittsburgh Public School District is now accepting purchase proposals. Fourth River Development, which has sold 13 of the district’s properties, including Schenley, Gladstone and Columbus since 2012, is again acting as the agent for the sales and issued a Request for SEE DISTRICT A4
CGCS report supports Hamlet curriculum updates
(PITTSBURGH)—Council of The Great City Schools Executive Director Michael Casserly presented findings and recommendations in a report sought out by Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent. Anthony Hamlet, EdD.
The CGCS’ report seeks to clarify and enhance understanding of why past reform efforts have done little to boost student outcomes. The report will help guide key initiatives under way as the district—with extensive community and
stakeholder input – creates its five-year strategic plan. The CGCS is the nation’s only national organization composed of 70 large urban school districts formed to assist educational leaders in improving student achievement.
“This has been the most objective and comprehensive look at the Pittsburgh Public School system in my 40-year history with CGCS,” said Casserly. “I applaud Dr. Hamlet for his direction in ensuring that instead of pointing fingers,
the District finds the answers to the hard questions about what organizational barriers are hindering the district’s ability to produce better results. By utilizing this report, the district will better understand how to move forward productive-
ly in order to improve outcomes for all students.” The analysis included feedback from 24 senior urban school executives, representing eight major city school districts, who SEE CGCS A5
Pitt names Kinloch School of Education dean
VALERIE KINLOCH
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UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—Valerie Kinloch has been named the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. Currently serving as a professor of literacy studies and the associate dean of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, Kinloch will begin her deanship on July 1. “I am delighted that Valerie has agreed to serve as the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education,” said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “I have great confidence that her leadership will continue to advance our outstanding School of Education’s mission and directly impact how future generations teach and learn.”
Ulish Carter asks
“Valerie is committed to guiding the School of Education to new levels of excellence in its preparation of educational professionals and scholars, and her vision for the School of Education is well matched with our long-term aspirations for the University of Pittsburgh,” said Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson. “Her background and experience make her uniquely suited to working with faculty, staff, and students to align teaching, research, and service with the broader goals and missions of a major research institution.” Kinloch’s research focuses on the literacy, language, culture and community engagement of youth and adults, both inside and outside of schools. Her academic en-
Did King make a difference? Opinion B3
SEE PITT A4