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Vol. 108 No. 23

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JUNE 7-13, 2017

PWSA halts water line replacement after lead levels rise

The State of Black Pittsburgh is…?

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28 of 40 homicides Black lives

The majority of victims were African American

Rev. Welch warned PWSA about risks

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Sometimes, it pays to listen to people who have practical experience in a given field—even when they are political opponents.

During his mayoral campaign against Mayor Bill Peduto, Rev. John We l c h — w h o in earlier life had earned an environmental engineering degree—warned that the city’s plan to reduce unsafe lead REV. JOHN levels in the WELCH water supply was flawed and could make the problem worse.

On June 2, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced it was halting its partial line replacement project after it had found even higher lead levels in residential tests done after it had replaced the public supply lines that connect to the property owners’ supply lines.

“The PWSA has followed requirements to replace lead lines, but the matter is threatening to become dangerous to our residents,” Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said in an accompanying press announcement. “We need to halt this replacement program until we have an understanding with the PADEP (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) on how to properly

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT—Urban League CEO Esther Bush talks with WQED’s Chris Moore about the State of Black Pittsburgh, June 1. (Photos by Brian Cook)

Urban League CEO says Pittsburgh’s workforce ‘has to be more diverse’

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Lisa Washington of KDKA-TV. The State of Black Pittsburgh is based on reports established by local and national Urban Leagues to assess the problems and pitfalls facing the African American community, Moore said during the live broadcast.

“Equity is a primary issue and concern...we still have so many needs, so many issues,” said Es-

ther Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. “Here in Pittsburgh, some new things are happening,” such as new job opportunities for millenials. “We must find more people to join the workforce. The workforce has to be more diverse in order to fill these jobs that are

Just what is the State of Black Pittsburgh?

Outstanding? Terrible? Somewhere in between?

It seems everyone has a different answer to the question.

But on June 1, more than 150 SEE URBAN LEAGUE A3 Black professionals, community leaders, elected officials, and concerned citizens descended on WQED-TV’s Fred Rogers studio in hopes of concocting the best possible answer.

Now in its second year, the State of Black Pittsburgh hour-long community forum was hosted by Chris Moore, YOUNG AND TALENTED—Web developer Kelauni Cook, author Brian Burley and YMCA Regional Dialong with rector Marisa Williams speak with Chris Moore.

May saw more than twice as many killings in Allegheny County as April, but unlike April and many previous months, in four of May’s homicides arrests have already been made. However, as has been the case since the New Pittsburgh Courier began this tally years ago, the majority of victims were again African

Americans: 6 of 10, bringing the total number of Black victims for this year to 28 of 40.

MAY 1—Bhim Rai, a 26-yearold Asian, was found stabbed to death in his Carrick apartment.

His live-in girlfriend, 23-year-old Urmila Gurung, was arrested and charged with the homicide later that day. She awaits trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

MAY 3—Juwan Jordan, an 18-year-old Black male, was found by police at the intersection of Allendale and Adon Streets in Sheraden with a fatal bullet wound to the head.

SEE HOMICIDES A7

Port Authority Rapid Transit proposal would Pittsburgh aims to recruit more Blacks for jobs eliminate some

by Christian Morrow East End routes SEE PWSA B12

actually ask people in the community if they’ve considered taking a position with the city. One of those is a WAMO radio event over at Stage AE (June 18) —we’ll have our fire, police and EMS people there.”

Manuel said when people first think of working for the city, they automatically think of police and fire jobs.

“That’s okay, we want them to do that—but that’s not it,” she said. “There are 19 different departments in city government, including Public Works, IT, Citiparks, Finance, Law, and where I am, Personnel—good-paying jobs with benefits.”

Also, with respect to public safety jobs, she said the city is now engaged in year-round recruiting.

“We have continual testing—every month. Because we’re now graduating two classes a year,” she said.

Another aspect of recruiting that should not go unnoticed, she said, is Mayor Bill Peduto’s executive order requiring the adoption of a “Rooney Rule” for city government.

“In April, he told the personnel department—meaning me—to begin enforcing the Rooney Rule for all managerial positions,”

Courier Staff Writer

When the next class of Pittsburgh police officer recruits graduates July 7, it will include one Black female and five Black males. That’s six African Americans out of 29 total recruits, or 20 percent. Though it’s better than some of the all-White classes that have graduated in recent years, it’s not good enough for Janet Manuel, who, as the city’s deputy director of personnel and civil service, is tasked with increasing the number of minority applicants and hires in all city departments.

Manuel, a U.S. Army artillery vet originally from Oklahoma, told the New Pittsburgh Courier exclusively that one thing she’s doing is taking the city’s recruiting efforts to new locations—places that have a more diverse pool of applicants to begin with, and others where jobs are less available and she can sell the city’s attributes.

“Pittsburgh’s Black population is what, 25 percent? That’s not very high,” she said. “We’re looking in Cleveland, Erie, Johnstown and even Butler County. We’re also taking part in more community day events—rather than just doing public safety recruiting— because it gives us a chance to JANET MANUEL is leading the City of Pittsburgh in recruiting more minorities.

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SEE RECRUIT A3

Ulish Carter says

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

About six years ago when the Port Authority of Allegheny County determined that extending light rail service from Downtown Pittsburgh to Oakland via a route along Centre Avenue through the Hill District was prohibitively expensive, it proposed deploying a Bus Rapid Transit system as the next best alternative. The BRT system would deploy special buses, in dedicated lanes, making fewer stops—just like a rail system.

Last week, the authority announced its choice for the system’s route. Called “Core+2,” it would not use Centre Avenue. It would bypass the Hill District, SEE PORT AUTHORITY A3

Investing in our community—KeyBank keeps to its Promise Opinion B8

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NATIONAL

Stacey Abrams launches campaign for Georgia governor

by Kathleen Foody Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA (AP)—Stacey Abrams launched her campaign for Georgia governor on Saturday, a widely expected step for the first woman to lead a party in the state’s legislature.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Abrams said her pitch to voters is creating a state where residents can thrive rather than simply survive. She’s making a clear effort to reach voters outside her metro Atlanta base by kicking off her campaign in the south Georgia city of Albany on Saturday.

“I think whatever challenges there are, we should imagine ourselves to be capable of employing every single Georgian,” Abrams told the AP this week. “We should imagine ourselves capable of eliminating generational poverty. We should imagine ourselves capable of prosperity, where we are not talking simply about a living wage —we’re talking about wealth.”

Abrams has been the top Democrat in the Georgia House since 2010—the first woman and the first African American to hold the post. She would make history again if voters choose her as term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal’s successor: She would be the first African American woman to become a governor in the U.S. However, victory is far from certain in a state where Democrats have struggled to close a persistent gap. Not even the path to her party’s nomination is certain. State Rep. Stacey Evans already has launched a campaign that could splinter Georgia Democrats.

Progressive groups have criticized Abrams for standing with Deal and Republican legislative leaders in 2011 when they cut back the HOPE scholarship program when the state-run lottery’s revenues failed to keep up with demand.

However, Abrams says the compromise let Democrats negotiate fewer cuts to the state’s prekindergarten program which is also lottery funded.

Evans, who represents the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna, frequently touts the HOPE program that allowed her to become the first college graduate in her family and has telegraphed a run focused on that issue.

Abrams, a Yale-educated attorney who also writes romance novels under the pen name “Selena Montgomery,” has represented portions of metro Atlanta since 2007.

The Mississippi native formed a web of national connections since founding a

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This Week In Black History

Week of June 7-June 13 June 7 1868—This is generally recognized as the day Marie Laveau retired (or was forced out) as the most powerful Voo Doo priestess in the world. The New Orleans native had become powerful and wealthy catering to the superstitious beliefs of both Blacks and Whites throughout the South. The daughter of a slave and a French plantation owner, Laveau was raised as a Catholic but became intrigued by stories of the city’s first Voo Doo priestess Sanite De De and by 1830 had built her own Voo Doo religious empire. She was replaced by one of her daughters but she would live until 1881 dying at the age of 98.

GWENDOLYN BROOKS 1917—One of the greatest poets of the 20th century Gwendolyn Brooks is born in Topeka, Kan. Pushed by her mother and father, Brooks began writing poetry at a young age and was even introduced to some of the best known Black poets and writers of the Harlem Renaissance while still a child. She won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1950 for a collection entitled “Annie Allen.” She died on Dec. 3, 2000.

1930—Under pressure from early civil rights activists, the New York Times begins using the word “Negro” as the official desCAMPAIGN KICKOFF—State Rep. Stacey Abrams ignation for African Americans. It also agreed to capitalize the “N.” said her pitch to voters is creating a state where The decision by the Times gradually led to “Negro” becoming the residents can thrive rather than simply survive. (J. official designation for Blacks nationwide and it would remain so Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) until it was dethroned by “Black” in the 1960s. Positively, the rights advocates were attempting to build greater respect for African nonprofit in 2014 that focuses on registerAmericans but negatively, the selection of “Negro” also reflected a ing minorities to vote that is expected to desire not to be referred to as “Blacks.” boost her fundraising base. Georgia, like 1953—Educator and activist Mary Church Terrell wins a legal other southern states, has rapidly become MARY CHURCH battle to end segregation in Washington, D.C., restaurants. more diverse but not all Democrats agree TERRELL June 8 they can win statewide by focusing on 1886—Homer A. Plessy, a light-complexioned Black man, refuses to leave the newly registered voters and de-emphasiz“White” section of a New Orleans railroad car and move to the “colored” section. His ing suburban or rural white voters.

Rosa Parks type refusal sets in motion a legal case, which eventually reached the UnitAbrams said this week that a winning ed States Supreme Court. In its May 1896 ruling, the Court decided against Plessy and campaign will require a broad “coalition” thus confirmed the segregationist doctrine of “separate but equal.” The ruling also had but maintained that registering new votthe effect of treating anyone with any “Black blood” as Black. The court never actually ers is also a critical task. ruled on Plessy’s claim that he was 7/8 White and only 1/8 Black and thus should not “I plan to bring it home and close the be treated as “colored” under the laws of that day. gap completely by not deciding that you 1968—James Earl Ray, the man convicted of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther can only do one or the other,” she said.

King Jr., is captured at an airport in London using a false Canadian passport. Ray “You’ve got to walk and chew gum at the would spend the rest of his life trying to withdraw his guilty plea charging that his exact same time.” brother and a mysterious man he met in Montreal, Canada, named Raoul were actualAbrams said she’ll highlight her ability to compromise with GOP lawmakers who ly involved in the killing of King. He claimed he “did not personally shoot Dr. King” but control Georgia’s legislature and all state- suggested he knew beforehand about the conspiracy to assassinate him. Ray died in prison in April 1998. wide offices and a willingness to work 1982—One of the greatest athletes to ever play the game of with anyone. But she also became a top baseball, Satchell Paige, dies in Kansas City, Mo. Paige had surrogate for Hillary Clinton in Georgia played in the old Negro Baseball Leagues and went unrecoglast year and leads a campaign dubbed “Georgia Resists” promoting House Demo- nized by Major League Baseball and the general public for decades. He was finally voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in crats’ agenda.

1971. `There is no conflict between cooperatJune 9 ing where you can and competing where 1948—Oliver W. Hill becomes the first African American electyou should,” she said. “Resistance to the ed to the Richmond, Va., city council. He is best known for his Trump administration is resistance to work as a civil rights attorney helping bring down the segregasexism, to racism, to xenophobia ... to the tionist doctrine of “separate but equal.” Hill was born in 1907. destruction of our planet.”

SATCHEL PAIGE 1989—One of the “founding fathers” of the Congressional Black Democrats hope an anti-Trump message Caucus, Michigan Rep. John Conyers issues the first call for a Congressional investicould help statewide candidates in 2018, pointing to the groundswell of support for gation into paying African Americans reparations for the enslavement of their ancesthe party’s candidate in a June 20 special tors.

June 10 congressional election. Former congressio1760—Several sources list this at the birthday of Richard Allen—founder of the Afnal staffer Jon Ossoff is locked in a tight rican Methodist Episcopal Church. Other sources give his birth date as Feb. 14, 1760. race with Georgia’s former Republican Regardless, the AME church was the first African-American organized and incorporatSecretary of State Karen Handel in the ed church in America. Allen, Absalom Jones and a group of free Blacks in Philadelphia 6th District contest despite the Atlanta founded the church in 1794. Allen and his group were initially members of the city’s suburbs’ conservative leanings. predominantly White St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. But when several Blacks were ejected from the church for attempting to pray alongside Whites, Allen led a walkout, which resulted in the forming of the AME church.

1898—Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar, is born on this day in Wichita, Kan. She won her Academy Award in 1940 for Best Supporting Actress for the role of Mammy in the classic film “Gone With The Wind.” Once criticized for playing stereotypical and sometimes demeaning “Black roles,” she responded, “I’d rather play a maid than be one.” McDaniel died in 1952.

1941—The “Black Moses,” Marcus Garvey dies in London, England. Starting around 1916, Garvey built his United Negro Improvement Association into the largest mass organization of Blacks in history, with the slogan “Up You Mighty Race.”

The UNIA owned businesses ranging from bakeries to shipping companies. Garvey preached Black pride and self-reliance, while steering away from the more integrationist thrust of most prominent Black leaders of his day. He was eventually jailed on what are now viewed as trumped up mail fraud charges. Presidential intervention got Garvey freed. But in exchange for his early release from prison, the Jamaican native had to agree to leave the United States and not return. Separated from his U.S. base, Garvey was never able to rebuild the UNIA. June 11 1963—President John F. Kennedy declares during a nationwide radio and television address that segregation was “morally wrong” and told the U.S. Congress it was “time to act” (pass legislation) to end all segregation of the races. That statement and similar ones endeared Kennedy to millions of African-Americans. However, a few months after making the declaration, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. But most of his legislative ideas would be implemented by his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson.

1963—Displaying the tenacity of the segregationist mentality dominant in the South in the 1960s, Alabama Gov. George Wallace, with the aid of state troopers, stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama to block two Black students from integrating the school. But when the Deputy U.S. Attorney General returned later in the day with a force of National Guardsmen, Wallace stepped aside and Vivian Malone and James Hood were allowed to register.

June 12 1840—The world’s first anti-slavery convention took place in London, England.

The aim of the gathering was to unite abolitionists worldwide. However, the effectiveness of the convention was harmed by a decision to exclude female delegates.

1886—The Georgia Supreme Court upholds the will of former slave owner David Dickson who had left over THE $300,000 to a child he fathered by raping a 12-year-old NEW PITTSBURGH Black girl. The ruling made Amanda America Eubanks COURIER the wealthiest Black person in America. She would later marry one of her White first cousins.

PUBLISHING COMPANY 1963—Medgar Evers, Mississippi field secretary for Publication No.: USPS 381940 the NAACP, was assassinated in front of his home by White supremacist Byron de la Beckwith. All-White 315 East Carson Street juries twice refused to find De la Beckwith guilty alPittsburgh, PA 15219 though the evidence was overwhelming. Finally, in 1995, Beckwith was convicted of killing the civil rights activist.

Phone: 412-481-8302 Beckwith died in prison in 2001.

Fax: 412-481-1360 1967—The United States Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that Virginia’s law banning interraThe cial marriages was unconstitutional. The decision was a New Pittsburgh Courier death blow to similar laws throughout the South. However, Alabama did not officially remove its “anti-miscegenais published weekly tion” law from the books until 2000.

June 13 periodicals 1967—President Lyndon B. Johnson nominates former paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. NAACP Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall to be the PRICE $1.00 first Black justice on the United States Supreme Court.

He said of his decision, it “was the right thing to do, the (Payable in advance) right time to do it.” Marshall had been a towering figure in the legal battles against segregation including lead 6 Months.....$25 counsel in the historic Brown v. Board of Education case. The Senate would confirm the nomination Aug. 30.

1 Year....$45 1966—Although there is some debate as to who first 2 Years...$85 coined and used the phrase, this is generally recognized as the day in 1966 that Student Non-Violent Coordinat9 Month School Rate $35 ing Committee President Stokely Carmichael began to the term “Black Power” as a demand for POSTMASTER: Send popularize greater African American control over their political and address changes to: economic destiny in America.

1987—Dr. Mae Jemison is selected by NASA as the New Pittsburgh Courier first Black woman to begin training as a space shuttle astronaut. Jemison actually become the first Afri315 East Carson Street can-American woman to travel in space on Sept. 12, 1992 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

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Port Authority’s BRT system proposed What is the State of Black Pittsburgh?

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with buses running in dedicated lanes from Downtown outbound via Forbes Avenue and inbound to Downtown via Fifth Avenue. Currently, 14 existing bus routes use Forbes and Fifth avenues in Oakland.

The proposed BRT system requires each BRT bus leaving Downtown to make stops in Oakland. Then, some BRT buses would break off into different routes, labeled branches by the authority—one extending toward Highland Park, one toward Squirrel Hill, and one toward East Liberty, Homewood and Wilkinsburg via the East Busway’s Oakland entrance.

But wouldn’t that just add to congestion, voiding the “rapid” part of the BRT plan?

No, said authority Senior Analyst Amy Silbermann.

She told the Courier exclusively that the other buses in Oakland—the 61’s, 71’s, and 12 others on routes numbered from 28 to 93— would no longer go Downtown Pittsburgh.

“The 61’s, 71’s, for example, would terminate (inbound) at a queueing area in Oakland and loop back out on Forbes,” she told the Courier. “Only the BRT buses would go Downtown. And it would not add buses to (Oakland and the branches) because the BRT replaces three routes: The P3; the 71B Highland park, and the 61D Squirrel Hill.”

The “core” route, between Downtown and the Cathedral of Learning, would also see stops only at Chatham, Pride, Dinwiddie, Jumonville, Halket, and Central Oakland (Atwood).

“In the core, all the ‘local’ stops would be eliminated, and beyond that, where the buses are back in twoway traffic, stops would be spread out to the quarter-mile distance we plan for all routes,” said Silbermann. “Currently we have too many stops.”

In the regular traffic beyond the core, with no dedicated lanes, Silbermann said “smart” traffic signals would allow buses to pull out first at intersections— like left turn signals do— this, and the reduced number of stops, would prevent bunching.

Naturally, she said, riders heading directly to East Liberty, Homewood or Wilkinsburg from Downtown would just use the East Busway, as usual. But with this proposal, residents in those communities who want to go to Oakland can do so directly without having to ride all the way Downtown, and then catch another bus heading outbound to Oakland.

It is with the inbound bus traffic, however, where more questions arise. Currently, the “71” buses use a counter-flow lane on Fifth Avenue heading outbound.

That lane would become a bike lane.

All inbound buses would

use the far-right “inbound lane”—meaning there would be one less lane for regular traffic. Silbermann said the authority’s modeling analysis shows the change will have little effect, because drivers avoid that lane already because of the existing bus traffic.

A bigger question involves the fare system. A rider coming into town from, say, McKeesport, just rides the 61C to Downtown. With the new system in place, that bus will no longer go Downtown; it would end in Oakland. That rider would have to transfer to a BRT bus from Oakland to Downtown, meaning...an extra fare?

“The fare policy for transfers hasn’t been worked out yet,” authority spokesman Adam Brandolph told the Courier. “Will there be one?

Is it free? How will it work?

And are there changes to other routes that could bring people a direct route into town? All of that still has to be ironed out.”

The estimated cost— which includes new buses, stations and infrastructure improvements primarily in Uptown—is $233 million.

Brandolph and Silbermann said residents will be able to give feedback on the plan at public forums that will be scheduled for late June or early July, after which the authority will submit a final version to state and federal funding agencies.

City of Pittsburgh recruiting more minorities RECRUIT FROM A1

tions,” said Manuel. “So that means for every opening, we have to interview at least one external and one internal diverse candidate for any position that requires supervising other employees.”

Manuel admitted that

could mean Asians, Hispanics, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and veterans.

When asked about veterans always appearing at the top of candidate lists for the city’s civil service positions because they get bonus points, Manuel

smiled with the assurance of someone who could lob a 2,000-pound shell onto your desk from two miles away.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask to give veterans a preference considering all they’ve done,” she said. “Do you?”

URBAN LEAGUE FROM A1

coming.”

During the program, Bush said places like the “mayor’s office is reaching out more” in recruiting African Americans for jobs. “I’m not saying it’s enough, I’m saying we’re inching in the right direction. That’s why the leadership piece is also critical, because we must advocate to make these things happen.”

Other guests on the program, like Carl Redwood of the Hill District Consensus Group, said the State of Black Pittsburgh continues to spiral downward. “The policy of the city of Pittsburgh has been to force displacement of Black people from the city to the suburbs.

From 1980 to 2010, we lost 20,000 Black people. That same time period, we gained 35,000 Black people in the suburbs around Pittsburgh.”

Redwood said from 2010 to 2015, Pittsburgh lost 5,000 more Black people. “We’re losing three Black people every day from the city of Pittsburgh, and that’s due to a policy and a practice that’s been implemented by the city, the banks, the developers and the gentrifiers, because they can make money from the areas they used to redline...now they’re coming back and taking those areas and flipping them to make profit for a small number of folks.”

“We have over 30,000 alumni from people who have gone through our programs, graduated college, and unfortunately we see most of those students leaving the Pittsburgh area,” said Marcia M. Stur-

divant, president and CEO of NEED. “It’s because they believe there aren’t any opportunities here, that they’ve tried to find employment here, can’t find employment, or if they have had employment here, that they haven’t been treated well. And they feel that there’s more opportunity for them elsewhere, particularly the South.”

Following Dr. Sturdivant’s comments, James E. Taylor, chairman of diversity and inclusion for UPMC, said that 20-25 percent of the company’s 18,000 new hires over the past year have been “people of color, largely have been Black or African American.”

Dr. Taylor continued, “A part of the role that I have is reminding folks throughout this community and certainly within the organization that because you hire diversity does not mean that you lessen quality.

“Through having a diverse workforce,” Dr. Taylor said, UPMC “becomes better problem solvers, we become better decision makers, we become better at providing high-quality care to our diverse patient population.”

Improving the State of Black Pittsburgh, one would assume, starts with African Americans obtaining well-paying jobs in the region. But Dr. Sturdivant said, “Unfortunately our young people are finding more opportunities elsewhere. Clearly, employers have to be open to looking inside (and asking), ‘Why don’t we have a diverse staff?’ Because the answer

is very simple...hire people.

There are people out there of diverse backgrounds, very qualified, but there’s something internal within your hiring practices,” she said.

Jerome Jackson, executive director of Operation Better Block, said during the broadcast that his organization takes young men off the streets and places them into positions of rehabilitating old homes in the neighborhood. This helps the young men gain skills to “become carpenters, plumbers, electricians,” Jackson said.

But it doesn’t stop there. A few of those young African American men were placed in local labor unions, and are finding paid work.

Bush, who closed the broadcast, said employers must hire more African Americans right out of college, and “not wait until you get three to five years of experience to hire them. You have to reach out to the Black kids, and let them know that you’re interested in keeping them as well, and that there’s equal opportunity and equity here for them.”

The State of Black Pittsburgh...the debate of its level of vibrancy continues.

But for Bush, “I feel very hopeful,” she said.

“We have to focus on leadership, and economic self-reliance. The new leadership is partnership. We have to partner around what it is we want to do in our communities as advocates. Don’t just talk about it, be about it. We have to talk to our employer about diversifying the workplace. We have to speak up, be bold, be leaders.”

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28 of 40 homicides Black lives…the majority of victims were African American HOMICIDES FROM A1

Another shooting earlier that night left bullet holes in cars, and a dozen shell casings littering the street.

Pittsburgh police did not say if they believe there is a connection. The investigation is ongoing.

MAY 6—Anthony Nicassio, a 69-year-old White male, was stabbed to death by his 27-year-old Daughter in his Plum home. According to police, Nicassio and his wife had been trying to convince their distraught daughter to go to Forbes Regional Hospital, when she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him. She was arrested at the scene.

MAY 15—Angela Ceccarelli, and 80-year-old White female, was found in her McCandless Township home fatally shot in the head along with her 83-year-old husband Julius, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The deaths have been ruled a murder-suicide.

MAY 18—Robert Ford III, a 34-year-old Black male, was discovered by police in a bedroom of an East Hills home with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. The investigation is ongoing.

MAY 18—Vallen Davies-Mack, a 17-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in a public park playground in Swissvale some five hours after neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots around 2 a.m. Allegheny County Police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation is ongoing.

MAY 21—Dahrique Smith, a 25-year-old Black male, was found on a South Side sidewalk after a passer-by told police of shots inside the Rowdy Buck saloon on East Carson Street. He was transported to UPMC Mercy where he dies about 40 minutes later. Pittsburgh police have released video from in-

side the bar of people they would like identified. It can be viewed here: http://apps. pittsburghpa.gov/dps/Rowdy_Buck.mp4. Anyone with information can call anonymously at 412-323-7800.

MAY 22—Richard Williams, a 35-year-old White male, was fatally shot in his car on Kelly Street in Homewood during an apparent drug deal. Police have charged 26-year-old Lavasha Johnson with homicide and tampering with evidence, and are searching for a male suspect, seen on surveillance footage, bailing out of the car immediately after the shooting apparently holding a gun.

MAY 23—Kala Thomas, a 25-year-old Black female and single mother of two sets of twins, was found dumped over a hillside in Garfield after being shot in the head. Police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation is ongoing.

MAY 28—Antonio Wallace, a 31-year-old Black male, was found by police in the 1800 block of Wesley Street in McKeesport having suffered multiple fatal gun shots to the torso. Police have not ¥et identified a suspect. The investigation is ongoing.

April Homicides (4) APRIL 6—Elijah Paris, a 21-yearold Black male was shot multiple times in the 200 block of Shady Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. Police have not said why Paris, originally from Washington state and living in Beechview, was in Shadyside. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

APRIL 20—Raffel Green, a 49-year-old Black male, was found by police with a fatal gunshot wound to the neck, in a car outside building number 39 in the Crawford Village public housing community in McKeesport. Police say neither Green, nor his companion, Jessica Taylor, who was also killed, lived in the complex.

No arrest has been made. The investigation is ongoing.

APRIL 20—Jessica Taylor, a 32-year-old White female, was found by police with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in a car outside building num-

ber 39 in the Crawford Village public housing community in McKeesport.

Police say neither Taylor, nor her companion, Raffel Green, who was also killed, lived in the complex. No arrest has been made. The investigation is ongoing. i i C ffi , a 14-year-old Black male, was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest inside a home on Ridge Avenue in McKeesport after police said a 19-year-old he showed it to tried to get him to put it down, then tried to take it from him.

Chaffin had reportedly brought the gun to the house. Allegheny County Police said they have identified everyone involved and given all the information to the District Attorney’s office No charges have been filed March Homicides (7) MARCH 6—Bhim Rai, a 26-yearold Asian male, was found by police dead in his apartment on Brownsville Avenue in Carrick after they received a call of a stabbing during a bar fight Police have not named a suspect.

The investigation continues.

MARCH 7—Anthony Bailey, a 27-year-old Black male from Penn Hills was found dead in a Pitcairn apartment from gunshot wounds received in what county police said was an apparent robbery. Witnesses said they saw two Black males—one with a distinct limp fleeing the area No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

MARCH 7—Sarah Villarreal, a 34-year-old White female, was fatally shot by Daniel Connelly, a 43-year-old White Male who then shot himself, in an apartment they shared in the 100 block of Watson Drive in Turtle Creek.

Police have called it a murder-suicide.

Villarreal’s 4-year-old daughter was in the home at the time but was unharmed.

MARCH 12—Christopher Dancy, a 46-year-old Black male from Ambridge, was killed after 47-yearold Joseph Goldsmith, also Black, came to his former girlfriend’s home and shot both her and Dancy twice before shooting himself in the head.

The 37-year-old female, who police did not identify, survived her injuries.

Her 9-year-old son, who hid in the basement, was unharmed.

MARCH 18—Michael Leonard, a 33-year-old Black male, was fatally shot while sitting in his car with his girlfriend in the 1000 block of Blackadore Street after an earlier argument with a man inside the New Brotherhood Motorcycle Club in Homewood. He had apparently been followed from the club, but police have not named a suspect. The investigation is ongoing.

MARCH 19—Sean Lyons, a

20-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in the neck and chest following an argument, again, inside the New Brotherhood Motorcycle Club at the intersection of Kelly Street and Brushton Avenue in Homewood.

Despite a bar full of patrons, police have no suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

MARCH 28—Deven Holloway, a 16-year-old Black male, was fatally shot multiple times outside Linton Middle School in Penn Hills. A 22-yearold male from Plum, who claimed he shot Holloway in self-defense, was questioned and released by police.

His name will only be released if he is charged. The investigation is ongoing.

February Homicides (9) FEB. 1—Andrew McGee, a 28-year-old White male, was found fatally shot in a home in Versailles. John Robert Sethman, 29, was arrested in Ohio within hours and extradited to face homicide charges. He is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

FEB. 6—Robert Detorre III, an 18-year-old White male, and Anthony Hoots, a 19-year-old Black male, were killed in a shootout at an apartment complex on Smokeywood Drive, in Swissvale, that also sent two others to local hospitals. Charges have not yet been filed The investigation continues.

FEB. 8–Savon Martin, a 23-yearold Black male, was found on the porch of a house on Inglenook Place, in Homewood, by police responding to a ShotSpotter alert. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head torso and extremities and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have released no information on possible suspects. The investigation continues.

FEB. 17—Ronald Peless, a 51-year-old White male, was discovered bound in a blanket with an electrical cord in the basement of his McKees Rocks apartment building after relatives had asked police to do a welfare check. He had been stabbed multiple times. Three people; Jeffrey Tyniac, 51, Sheila Wagner, 45, and Robert Davies, 60, have been charged in connection with the killing.

FEB. 19–Derrick Brown, a 16-year-old Black male from Arnold, Westmoreland County, was found by police in the courtyard of the Northview Heights public housing community on Pittsburgh’s North Side. He had been fatally shot in the head. No arrests have been made. The investigation continues.

FEB. 21–Jihad Cromer, a 17-yearold Black male, was shot in the head in the bedroom of a residence on Robb Avenue in McKees Rocks. Wil-

liam Huston, 19, of the West End, has been charged in the case. He is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

FEB. 24–Ramadhan Mohamed, a 31-year-old Black male, died at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital from injuries sustained in a beating and robbery three days earlier—which included blows to his head from a hammer. Mohamed, a Somali immigrant cab driver was found about 5 a.m., Feb. 21, facedown and unresponsive on Climax Street in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood. Police said King Edwards and Hosea Moore, both 20, from Beltzhoover, called the cab with the intent of robbing the driver. Christen Glenn, 18, and Daniel Russell, 1 , who had fled the area, were both arrested on Feb. 26 in Youngstown, Ohio. All four are in the Allegheny County Jail.

FEB. 25—Dominick Brown-Hill, a 26-year-old Black male, who had been missing since 2012, was identified from skeletal remains discovered in a small, wooded area behind the 900 block of Washington Street in McKeesport. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. Police have yet to name a suspect in the shooting.

FEB. 26—Raghib Dolphin, a 24-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood was found fatally shot outside Zangaroos bar on Brighton Road. According to police, Dolphin and two others were denied entry because it was after “last call.” After returning to their car, Dolphin got out to talk to someone he knew Shots were fired and he returned to the car with multiple wounds to his chest and abdomen. They drove him to Allegheny General Hospital, when he later died. No arrests have been made.

The investigation continues.

January Homicides (9) JAN. 3—Gregory McLeod, a 28-year-old Black male and father of three, became Allegheny County’s first homicide victim of 2 1 when he was shot multiple times near the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and Neuman Way, in Homewood, just after 5 a.m. No arrests have been made. The investigation continues.

Anyone with information is urged to call Pittsburgh’s Violent Crime Unit at 412-323-7800.

JAN. 4—Chaz Robinson, a 35-year-old Black male, was fatally shot near the intersection of Lasalle and Broadway Avenues in Dormont after allegedly stealing a bag of marijuana and running off during a drug deal. He was found in his back yard on Espy Street the next morning.

Timothy Bevan, 23, of Mount Oliver, has been charged with the shooting.

JAN. 11—Jesi Jefferson, a 21-year-old Black male, was discov-

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ered fatally shot by Garbage men on their morning rounds in the 1300 Block of Hilty Alley in McKeesport. Allegheny County Lt. Andrew Schurman said he believes the victim was shot the night before. Anyone with information is asked to call county homicide at 412-473-1300.

JAN. 14–India Stewart, a 29-yearold Black female, of Pitcairn, was found dead by police in a garage near Yew Way and Maple Alley in Braddock. She had been shot in the neck, according to the Allegheny County edical aminer’s Office er uncle, 48-year-old Kalvin Stewart, is charged with homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and arson in relation to the killing.

JAN. 14—Ahmad Foreman, an 18-year-old Black male, was found by police lying along the street in the 500 block of Fannel Street in Garfield. He had been shot multiple times. Police have not released information about a suspect. The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh’s Violent Crime Unit at 412323-7800.

JAN. 22–Christopher Tompkins, a 57-year-old Black male, was fatally shot by police responding to a home invasion call. When they arrived, Thompkins was coming down the stairs firing in their direction They fired back, killing him Police suspect he was actually firing to scare off Juan Brian Jeter-Clark who had allegedly broken in before the officers arrived. Jeter-Clerk has been charged with criminal trespass.

JAN. 25–Alfred Diggs, a 21-yearold Black male, died of multiple gunshot wounds at Allegheny General after being transported by paramedics from the shooting scene in Pittsburgh’s Westwood neighborhood. Police have not yet identified a suspect Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh’s Violent Crime Unit at 412-323-7800.

JAN. 25—John Miller, a 40-yearold White male from Franklin County, was found on a set of city steps in the 1000 block of Vinial Street in Spring Garden. He had been shot multiple times. Police are reviewing surveillance footage but have not named a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call city homicide at 412323-7161 JAN. 27–Kyle Stauber, an 18-yearold White male, was fatally shot following a home invasion robbery in Avalon.

Stauber reportedly chased one attacker off with a baseball bat before one of the robbers shot him. County police have charged John Pignanelli, 25, Greg Scholze and Kayla Naper, both 19, in the case.

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HEALTH

JUNE 7-13, 2017

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Take charge of your health today. Be informed. Be involved.

Reproductive Justice This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on reproductive justice. Vianca Masucci, health advocate, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, exchanged ideas on this topic.

VM: Hello, Ms. Bush. I’m excited about this month’s topic on reproductive justice. I feel that this is the type of topic that this page has been designed to explore.

When folks think about the term “reproductive rights,” they usually think only about abortion. But abortion is just one issue within reproductive rights. Reproductive rights include getting basic sex education, making your own decisions about family planning, having access to meaningful health care and being able to parent your children in a safe environment. They also tie into issues like intimate partner violence and how abuse can get in the way of how you control your own reproductive destiny.

True reproductive justice is having the right, the autonomy and the resources to make healthy decisions throughout the entire family planning process. Unfortunately, not everyone has the freedom to make these

control options, people don’t have the option of lowering their risk of pregnancy with birth control. They are left with only two options—to not have sex or risk pregnancy. That’s not justice or freedom. Also, the decisions about this part of their health. issue of chronic stress from intimate partner EB: Yes, I’m happy that we are covering violence (IPV) aging the cells in our bodies this issue because it’s a very deep topic. ties into reproductive justice, as cited by You say “freedom,” and I’d like to pause on Drs. Humphreys and Constantino elsethat for a second. By law, we all have the where on the page. IPV can include sexual freedom to make decisions about our own violence and reproductive coercion or bodies. By law, people have the right to control. If you’re someone who experiences choose if, when and with whom they want stress because of these kinds of IPV, their or don’t want to have children. However, research shows that that stress can damsometimes this “freedom” is limited by what age DNA and cause people to age faster. you have access to, what you can afford ESTHER BUSH EB: All of these issues are vital to reproand/or what expectations your community ductive justice. As a community, we need to care for me and my child,” “Am I healthy has of you. But, Vianca, I would be remiss focus on protecting everyone’s reproductive enough to carry a child,” “Can I afford to to mention the rights and the freedom have a child right now,” etc. It’s actually very rights. Because when we protect our reprowithout also talking about responsibility. ductive rights, our community is healthier. complicated. There are many factors that Bringing another person into the world is affect or limit that decision-making process. When people can thoughtfully and deliberprobably the most important responsibility ately choose to have babies when they’re On top of that, these decisions are very a human being can undertake. Such an ready, children are more likely to be born intimate and personal They’re influenced important decision must be approached by feelings, culture and social expectations; and raised in stable and healthy homes. thoughtfully and realistically.

Babies raised in stable homes are more VM: Thank you for clarifying, Ms. Bush. To sometimes these decisions are influenced likely to become healthy adults contributing unpack that a bit, I think it’s important to un- more by these things than logic. to an increasingly healthy community.

EB: Exactly. I think individuals lose freederstand that the decision to have children VM: What a great way to put it! Thank you dom to make decisions when they don’t is not as straightforward as answering the yes-or-no questions like, “Do I want to have have access to all the resources they need so much for sharing your perspective, Ms. Bush. I’ll be back next month to chat about to make the decisions that are best for a child?” There are hundreds of decisions July’s topic, which is health and incarcerathem. that go into that—like “Does my partner tion.

VM: I agree. Without access to birth want a child,” “Will I have access to health

Reproductive health: The importance of a woman’s right to choose The reproductive decisions women make in their lifetimes are very intimate and personal. Decisions about contraception or whether or not to have children can be complicated. Yet those decisions can greatly affect women, their families and ways of life.

Researchers are working to better understand reproductive decision-making and how to best support women in their reproductive rights.

Reproductive rights involve a whole spectrum of issues. They include the decision to have children, to family planning and contraception, abortion and assisted reproduction (help from a specialist to become pregnant), just to name a few. Reproductive rights are a part of human rights, says Sonya Borrero, MD, associate professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and director, Pitt’s Center for Women’s Health Research and Innovation.

“We need comprehensive health care to ensure those human rights,” she says. “All individuals have the right to decide if, when and with whom they would like to have children.”

Part of Dr. Borrero’s research has been focused on understanding some of the influences that might shape or complicate pregnancy decision-making, especially when the decisions do not conform to social norms.

These influences can include relationship and family dynamics, financial status and many other factors. As a part of her research, Dr. Borrero started collecting stories from women in Pittsburgh about their reproductive decision-making. She realized that pregnancy is not always a yes-or-no decision for some people.

The decision can be very complicated.

She says, “As a health care provider, we often have these ideas about how people ‘should’ be reproducing—for example, you should be in a stable finan-

(Debra Sweet/Flickr/CC BY 2.0) cial situation, you should not be a teenager, etc. From a public health perspective, situations like economic instability or pregnancy in teens are associated with poorer outcomes. But these ‘shoulds’ aren’t necessarily a part of how men and women are evaluating reproduction in their own lives. For some folks, having a child even in the midst of job instability may also feel like the right time. As health care providers, our job is to inform women about all their options and any risks and help ensure that they are able to make decisions that line up with their values and priorities. We want to meet women where they are and then work with them to get where they want to be.”

Dr. Borrero and colleagues have developed a set of questions they think all women of reproductive age should be asked by their health care providers. The questions were designed to support women and their choices in nonjudgmental, patient-centered ways. The PATH (Pregnancy Attitudes, Timing, and How important is pregnancy prevention) set of questions are: 1 Do you think you would like to have children some-

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

Sonya Borrero, MD day?

2. If so, have you thought about when that might be?

3. How important is it to you to avoid pregnancy until the time you think you want to have children?

By discussing women’s thoughts about reproduction, health care providers can align their reproductive counseling with any concerns or goals women may have.

One particular focus of Dr. Borrero’s is on women’s decision-making about sterilization (getting one’s “tubes tied”), a permanent method of birth control. Dr. Borrero is developing a patient-cen-

tered and patient-directed decision-support tool for women on Medicaid who are making decisions about sterilization. The United States has a history of forced sterilization. In the 1 s the Department of Health and Human Services created regulations around sterilization for women on Medicaid. These regulations were meant to protect against people being uninformed or forced to undergo the procedure. The heart of these regulations is a 3 -day waiting period for federally funded sterilization procedures. The majority of these procedures are done after childbirth. The waiting period has become a barrier for women wanting sterilization. Sometimes women deliver before the 3 -day waiting period is up or sign the consent too late in their pregnancy.

Sometimes women forget to bring the consent form with them while in the hospital to deliver.

“Because these women have to comply with a waiting period,” says Dr. Borrero, “they aren’t able to exercise the same level of reproductive freedom as women who have private insurance and don’t have to

wait. The hope is that the tool provides accurate and unbiased information that helps ensure that women are making informed decisions about sterilization that line up with their goals and values. This tool could potentially replace the waiting period and honor the spirit of the regulations (which was to protect women) without creating unnecessary barriers.

Access to reproductive health services is another part of the rights spectrum.

Women who are looking for medical help in becoming pregnant can be limited by the cost of assisted reproduction. Inequities also exist for women are simply looking for access to reproductive health care.

And one of the largest reproductive health care providers in the country, Planned Parenthood, is at risk of being defunded.

“There’s data showing

that there are health consequences to defunding Planned Parenthood,” says Dr. Borrero. “Planned Parenthood provides essential health services that no other health care system at this time can replicate. We learned that from Texas.

Texas essentially excluded Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program in the past couple of years. We’ve seen how that has been harmful to women’s health.

We’ve seen a drop in the number of women using effective birth control, not continuously using it and a rise in unintended pregnancies Federally qualified health centers are struggling to meet the primary care needs of patient. They cannot also train health care providers in full, high-quality reproductive services.”

Ensuring access to the entire reproductive rights spectrum is more than an issue of women’s health.

Intimate Partner Violence Could Make Us Old: The Link between Violence, Abuse and Trauma with Growing Older

by Rose E. Constantino, PhD, JD, RN and Janice Humphreys, PhD, RN As we get older, we may look in the mirror and see our face gain a line or two. Some parts of our body lose their firmness These are physical and observable signs of aging. However, deep inside our bodies, in our cells, Rose E. there is another process of aging that Constantino, can be measured. This is the length of PhD, JD, RN telomeres. Telomeres are protective components of our DNA that stabilize the ends of our chromosomes and control cellular aging.

Telomeres become shorter as we grow older.

Researchers are finding that aging may not be the only reason why telomeres become short. Other factors like chronic stress, trauma and experiences of violence or abuse could shorten telomere length. These also contribute to developing chronic conditions. Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) have a source of chronic stress. These people could be aging faster than women who do not experience IPV. To understand this better, an exploratory study was done to examine the length of telomeres in DNA. There were two groups—women who had experienced chronic stress related to IPV and women who had not experienced the chronic stress of violence at any time in their lives. Dr. Janice Humphreys and other researchers found telomere length was significantly shorter in 1 women who e perienced P compared with the 41 women who had not experienced violence. Also, how long women experienced IPV and having children were associated with telomere length after controlling for age and body mass index.

These results show us that it is important to take action to stop IPV before it becomes a source of chronic stress in our communities, homes, schools and workplaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IPV affects millions of Americans each year.

Nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men e perience physical, emotional or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

IPV affects people of all races and ethnicities. Research is needed to explore further if other chronic illnesses go along with telomeres’ shortening process in women experiencing IPV. For more information about this study, contact Dr. Rose Constantino at rco100@pitt.edu.

(Rose E. Constantino, PhD, JD, RN, is associate professor of health and community systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, and Janice Humphreys, PhD, RN, is professor and associate dean for academic affairs, Duke School of Nursing. )

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JUNE 7-13, 2017

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PEOPLE

JUNE 7-13, 2017

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Still Rippin’ the Runway

ERIKA JOHNSON was one of many models who ripped the runway at Classic Events! fifth annual Ladies Who Network event, May 20 at the Hosanna House. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

CHERYL EL-WALKER

RALPH P. WATSON

BRENDA TATE

SHARON BRIGGS

SUSANNE PEARSON RIPPIN’ THE CLASSIC EVENTS! CATWALK RUNWAY

The New Pittsburgh Courier caught up with Ralph P. Watson of Classic Events!, who told us about the fifth annual Ladies Who Network, held May 20 at the Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg. This year, the event spotlighted the women who were part of the Pittsburgh Professional Black Models Association. A “Runway Reunion,” of sorts, of some 24 women who showed they “still got it goin’ on.”

“It was a more powerful event that I could imagine,

just bringing those women together,” Watson told the Courier. “So many of the ladies who were participants, they’ve walked the runways of Milan and Paris, in addition to having done print ads, commentating, radio, and television.”

Watson said the Association began in the 1960s in Pittsburgh after department stores such as Kaufmann’s, Gimbels and Horne’s “would not utilize the skills and talents of African American women. It was started with

12 women, and they honed their skills and talents right here in Pittsburgh, and went on to the world stage.”

Each year, Watson’s Classic Events! holds a Ladies Who Network event, with different focuses each year. Watson said over 200 people attended the May 20 event. “Uplifting,” Watson called the event. “It was an empowering event for the young women that were also there that are taking the baton of style and fashion.”

PEOPLE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

State of Black Pittsburgh June 1 – WQED-TV – Photos by Brian Cook

RYAN SCOTT, SABRINA SAUNDERS MOSBY

JALEAH ROBINSON, LISA COVINGTON, CANDICE ROBINSON

RICARDO J. WILLIAMS, KENNETH BROWN

ADIA EFFIONG, MONIQUE GREEN

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Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report What’s cooking How many people are surprised that I love to cook? I always believed if you like to eat you should like to cook. I have a great collection of cookbooks and I recently added a new one to my collection.

“Sweetie Pie’s Cookbook” Soulful Southern Recipes, From my Family to Yours

by Miss Robbie.

Maybe you have watched the reality show “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s.” On several episodes of the show they showed Miss Robbie going back and forth to the publisher while working on the book. It was nice to see her business evolve from one restaurant to many restaurants, and to see her products like the sweet tea hit the store shelves. Miss Robbie’s book is full of down home recipes and I’m sure a lot of you have these recipes committed to memory, but if you don’t this is a great book to pick up. When I bought my book, I bought two and gave one to my sister for a gift.

I am always looking for a good side dish. I like the Sweetie Pie’s version of Roasted Winter Vegetables with Maple Glaze on page 104. Sweet potato, turnips and rutabaga, oh my! Very good. The book is colorful and unique as there are some family stories in it as well. It was a good purchase. I placed it right next to my book, “Recipes for the Good Life”

by Patti LaBelle. Patti focuses on living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of your body. Have you seen Patti lately? She looks great and is over 70 years old. What I love about her book is she gives you a list of what should be in the perfect pantry. She gives you a list of spices, canned goods, freezer items and refrigerator items. In the front of the book there is a list of some of Patti’s products, like her Jalapeno Relish, her hot sauce and seasonings. Go ‘head, Patti. If only we could get your cobbler on the shelf year-round.

I didn’t realize how great these books are until I started writing this column. I found the Patti LaBelle book on sale at my favorite deep discounter, Gabe’s. I can’t tell you about my cookbooks without mentioning my favorite TV chef, G. Garvin. He has those fine lips like LL Cool J. Remember the show, “Turn Up the Heat With G. Garvin?” I love to see a man cooking in the kitchen. Garvin talks about presentation and setting the tone with music. He says music has the power to move you emotionally and he even suggests a playlist. This is another well done book with great information and handsome pictures. He begins the book with some basic recipes like garlic mashed potatoes, parmesan cheddar cheese grits, saffron sun-dried tomato risotto and jasmine rice. He says every cook needs a few tried and true side dish recipes that will back up lots of different entrees with satisfying flavors everyone knows and loves.

Try his farfalle with ricotta, fresh spinach, sautéed chicken and plum tomatoes. This is in the chapter “All Things Pasta.”

And that’s what’s cooking.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.

WELCOME TO SAVOY—Gary White and Richard Washington

SOPHISTICATED LADY

HANDSOME COUPLE—Gregg and Sunny Lovelace

Third Annual ‘Do The Derby’

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

The first Saturday in May has been Kentucky Derby Day for a very long time. Thousands attend the famous horse race in Kentucky and enjoy the Derby Day traditions.

The ladies wear large flamboyant hats and the men don their best straw fedoras. The Mint Julep is the traditional Derby Day drink and has been served on Derby Day for over a century.

On May 6, at the Savoy Restaurant, Gary White hosted the Third Annual “Do The Derby” day party. Guests enjoyed a light meal, a complementary Mint Julep, the jazzy sounds of Kenny Blake and the chance to enjoy the Kentucky Derby on the big screen with friends. The Savoy Derby Day patrons donned their Derby Day attire and enjoyed a great day for a good cause.

A portion of the proceeds benefited Macedonia FACE (Family Community Enrichment Center). Macedonia FACE is a faithbased non-profit community outreach of Macedonia Church in the Hill District. As an organization, Macedonia FACE is committed to living out its mission by supporting families in the community.

LOVING THE TRADITION—Brittny McGraw, Tamara Whiting, Crystal McCormick (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

DERBY DAY READY

FABULOUS HATS

DERBY DAY IN PITTSBURGH—Arleen McWilliams and Terra Mitchell

THE LADY IN RED—Nicole Webster

HAVING A GREAT DERBY DAY

BEAUTIFUL LADIES

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Lifetime stumbles Music to the Hill District’s ears in tackling Michael ‘Once a Cop: Jackson biopic Two Worlds, Cover To Cover

by Merecedes J. Howze

One Man’

For New Pittsburgh Courier

by Terri Schlichenmeyer For New Pittsburgh Courier

You’ve changed your mind.

That’s allowed, you know.

You can go in a different direction, pick something else, try another thing, have do-overs, or have two. Pencils come with erasers, few things are forever, and in “Once a Cop” by Cory Pegues, change may be good.

Born the second-youngest THE TONY CAMPBELL EXPERIENCE provided the soundtrack for an evening of Jazz at the Carnegie Library, Hill District Branch, May 19. with four “much older” sis- (Photos by Gail Manker) ters, Cory Pegues grew up in a middle-class, mostly-Black neighborhood in Queens, New York. Though his father was largely absent, Pegues basked in the affection of an extended family and he was secure, until his mother began moving her children from home to more-run-down home.

At age 13, Pegues knew they were poor; he “was going around with holes in my shoes…” when he was taken under the wing of an

TONY CAMPBELL

Merecedes on…

PITTSBURGHERS ENJOYING THE JAZZ

older boy who was well-regarded in the neighborhood, and who taught Pegues to peddle “loosies.”

“Selling weed was easy,” Pegues says.

The next step was even easier: he sold crack and joined a larger group of dealers, some “serious players” who made crazy money but thought little of killing someone for small reason.

It didn’t take long for Peg- EVENING OF JAZZ—From left: Jan McCray, Marsha Clay, Anna Spotwood and Leslie Chambers ues to know that he “needed an exit plan, and I needed to move on it fast.”

For him, the army “was perfect,” so he contacted a recruiter. Three weeks after he left for basic training, his old dealing grounds were raided.

The army, however, was a means to an end: Pegues knew that what he really wanted was to work for the NYPD. He tested, was approved, left the military, and tested again. He was a father twice over by that time, and he was determined to be a cop, though many departments then oozed with racism.

Still, Pegues persevered.

He took on the worst assignments, so he could study for higher positions.

He climbed in the ranks, paying his dues and finding mentors to help him be the best policeman he could, to HILL DISTRICT JAZZ—From left: Kisu Holden, Theresa Turner and Belinda Davis “protect and serve” the people in various precincts.

He made history, until the day he spoke “against the wrong people.”

“Once a Cop” seems like two books that were accidentally glued together in the same cover. One good, one meh.

In the beginning, you’ve got author Corey Pegues’ story of life in poverty and crime, which is wild, violent, and almost movie-like. That ultimately segues into Pegues as policeman, and is filled with names, numbers, and an undercurrent of anger.

It’s perhaps because of the rage in the latter half that the book’s first half is more readable and, though filled with harshness and profanity, more accessible. (“Once a Cop: The Street, The Law, Two Worlds, One Man” by Corey Pegues, c.2016, Atria, $16, 320 pages.)

Lifetime has done it again.

The network has managed to create another biographical picture about a deceased musician, and this time, it’s Michael Jackson.

“Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland,” which premiered on Memorial Day, is based on a book written by two bodyguards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard, who protected Jackson and his family up until his 2009 death.

Social media, especially Black Twitter, did not waste any time to crucify the film. They were relentless with the insults and memes about the inaccurate portrayal of the King of Pop. Some of the claims the Internet made were precise, but the movie was not that bad. Navi, the actor who portrayed Jackson, did a lot better than Flex Alexander

MR. STEVENS AND THELMA SMALLS

Movies as MJ in “Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story” (2004).

I actually learned a lot.

If MJ’s bodyguards were truthful, then that means Jackson was battling some heavy demons. Poor spending habits seemed to be a constant topic in the movie.

In one scene, he is buying almost $40,000 worth of toys for Christmas and his credit card gets declined. The pop star is forced to use his lawyer’s credit card to complete his purchase.

The film also showed his deep appreciation and love for his children. He tried to protect them from the public eye and he went above and beyond to provide them with a loving home.

Jackson “searching for Neverland” was another major issue he was dealing with in the aftermath of leaving his famous theme park ranch. While his children longed to go back, Jackson wrestled not only with the financial upkeep of the land, but the bad vibes it permeated after a child molestation trial.

I do agree with Black Twitter on one thing. If anyone has the gall to do a biopic on Prince, please let BET handle any movie production, casting, and distribution. They seemed to have favor in telling the story of Black musicians.

Clearly, no one’s safe on this recent biopic trend. I hope Lifetime doesn’t do Prince like they did Mike.

What Lifetime should have done was pick up where “The Jacksons: An American Dream” (1992) left off, depicting Jackson’s life from 1990 until his death. He deserved that much. “Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland” was not enough.

Just over an hour and a half was not enough time to properly convey the rest of his story.

If you missed the movie, an encore presentation of it is available via On Demand and at mylifetime.com.

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Church Circuit

JUNE 7-13, 2017

‘Having boldness to enter by a new and Living Way’

Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141

WEDNESDAYS IN JUNE—Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 2001 Wylie Avenue, Hill District, presents “I Believe in Miracles,” a four-part sermon series preached by pastor Vincent K. Campbell.

The event occurs each Wednesday evening in June from 7 to 8 p.m. at the church. A free community meal will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Get plugged in each Wednesday in June for an hour of prayer. For more information, call 412-281-6583.

JUNE 7-9—Antioch Baptist Church, 332 Elizabeth Street, Sewickley, will hold their annual Vacation Bible School, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each evening. The theme this year is “The Plan of Salvation.” In addition to the bible lesson, there will arts and crafts, games and dinner each evening. There is no cost and all are welcome. Reverend Travis C. Coon is pastor. For more information, call 412741-7688.

NEW LIFE CONFERENCE

Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & 12:00 P.M. Sunday (Gospel Choir Mass) 12:00 P.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH 22 Sampsonia Street, Northside Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-231-2554 FAX 412-231-6395 Rev. Lacy F. Richardson, Ph.D., Pastor Church School.................................9:30 A.M. Worship Service.................8:00 & 10:45 A.M. Bible Study/ Prayer Wednesday...................6:30/7:30 P.M. www.metropolitanbaptistchurch.com metropolitanbaptist2224@gmail.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church H. MALCOLM NEWTON, keynote speaker, with Senior Pastors Myra Bell and Christopher Bell. (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

by Debbie Norrell Courier Lifestyles Editor

Living Way Christian Fellowship celebrated 15 years on June 4 with an Anniversary Service and Banquet at the Monroeville Doubletree Hotel. Christopher and Myra Bell received Honorary Doctorates in Public Service from the Denver Institute of Urban Studies.

Dr. H. Malcolm Newton,

President of Denver Institute of Urban Studies, conferred the degrees on the Senior Pastors and spoke to the beautifully-dressed crowd on kingdom expectancy. Newton said the church has lost its main focus and many of today’s youth think the church is no longer relevant. Living Way Christian Fellowship is located at 8610 Bricelyn St.

JUNE 7-11—The International New Life 9 Family Conference will be held at the Lord’s Church, 2517 Haymaker Rd., Monroeville. Nightly services will be held at 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. services on June 9, 10 and 11. Free registration includes attendance to morning sessions and evening services. Registration is mandatory. To register or for more information, visit www.tlcnewlife.org.

Journey Worship........8:45 a.m.

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

New Destiny CME Church 1018 Bidwell St. Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-231-7882 Rev. Kornelus Neal, pastor The Rt. Rev. Marvin Thomas Sr., presiding bishop Sunday School....................................9 A.M. Morning Worship Service............11:00 A.M.

SPECIAL GUEST—The Honorable Carla Moore, retired judge, Ohio Court of Appeals.

JUDY HINES from Overcomes International Network, Savannah, Ga. with Pastor Christopher Bell.

ASSOCIATE PASTORS—Beverly Smith and Alyce Pettaway of Living Way Christian Fellowship.

NEW ZION WOMEN’S/ MEN’S DAY

JUNE 10-11—New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1434 Juniata St., cordially invites all to the Women’s/ Men’s Day, at the church.

On June 10 from noon to 2 p.m., there will be a luncheon. Donation, $10. Reverend Evangelist Marlene Ford of New Beginnings Church of God of Prophecy is guest. On June 11 at 11 a.m., Rev. Beverly Berry of New Zion will bring the Word, and at 3 p.m., Rev. Katrina Organ of Beulah Baptist Church will be the speaker. For more information, call 412-322-3838.

To have your church included in the Praise & Worship section, contact Ashley Johnson at 412-481-8302 ext. 128 for rates.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

SENIOR PASTORS MYRA AND CHRISTOPHER BELL

H. MALCOLM NEWTON

AUTHOR CHAT

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier, 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com

WESTERN DISTRICT SUMMIT

JUNE 9-10—Mulberry Community Church, 601 Wallace Ave., Wilkinsburg, is hosting the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Western District Summit.

June 9 will feature an Intercessory Prayer at 6:30 p.m., followed by worship service. June 10 will feature classes beginning at 9 a.m. Service begins at 11 a.m. with Bishop Jesse Gavin of Greater Calvary (Erie) presiding. Registration for the June 10 classes is $10 for adults, $5 youth.

For more information, call 412-583-0308.

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

ANTIOCH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

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for

“Learning to live to love life: Through Tee’s eyes”

by Thaw Washington Wednesday, August 2, 2017 from 3-4 p.m. at Penn Hills Library 1037 Stotler Road, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15235

Told by John Wilborn, editorial consultant, this book is a collection of testimonies to the leadership and inspiration of Thaw Washington, a.k.a.

“Coach Tee,” as recounted by the former students and athletes whose lives he’s touched.

DIANE EDWELL and Pastor James Edwell of New Life Family Worship Center.

For more information, call John Wilborn at 412-371-0029

We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to:

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

or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

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JUNE 7-13, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Understanding taxes and summer jobs Is your teenager planning to get a job this summer? About one-third of children between 16 and 19 work during their summer break, according to the Pew Research Center. But what do they need to know about the financial side of life in the workforce? The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) gets teen workers and their parents up to speed on taxes and summer employment.

Plan for taxes Students may hear a lot about taxes at the dinner table or in the news, but a summer job will likely be their first experience in actually paying taxes. As a result, they may be surprised when they receive their first paycheck and find that it’s not quite as much as they expected. If they have big dreams for using or saving the money they earn, it’s important that they know how much money they’ll actually take home and how much will be withheld each week so that their plans remain on course.

Get the information you need Employers generally ask every worker--including temporary summer help-to fill out a federal Form W-4 and a state Form W-4 (if applicable), which gathers information about them and is used to calculate the amount of federal and state income taxes that should be withheld from every paycheck. Even if the employee doesn’t earn enough to owe federal and state income taxes, employers typically must withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes. An employee’s first paycheck, which should detail how much is being withheld for various taxes, will provide a great deal of information and make it easier to budget for the rest of the summer.

Tips are taxable too If a teenager’s summer job includes tips, they should be sure to keep a daily record of all cash tips received and report their total cash tip income of $20 or more in any month to their employer. The tips they earn during the year must be reported on their tax return, as well.

Expect taxes even if self-employed Self-employed entrepreneurs who spend the summer doing things like running a landscaping business, selling products online, or doing tech consulting may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments based on their earnings. They should be sure to keep thorough records and receipts so that they can track their income and estimate their quarterly tax bill, as well as qualify for deductions that might lower their total taxable income and the taxes they owe.

Know whether to file or not If a teenager can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, they generally don’t have to file a return if his or her total income for the year was less than $6,350 (this excludes those who were self-employed since they would have to file Social Security taxes due). That may be more than many summer workers make, but there may be some situations in which filing a return is a good idea. One clear situation is if taxes were withheld from the summer employee’s pay and he or she is now due a tax refund. If a dependent files his or her own return, they don’t claim a personal exemption for themselves. Instead, SEE TAXES B2

A CARING STAFF – Candace Chapman, coordinator of Families Outside, and Gwen Porter, loan coordinator for the Ways to Work Program, plan next month’s schedule for transportation to the state’s 22 correctional facilities. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)

Families One connects loved ones to those incarcerated

by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

On a foggy Sunday morning before Memorial Day, a mix of mostly women and children board a bus traveling about 60 miles to Laurel Highlands, visiting Somerset and Laurel Highlands State Correctional institutions to see an incarcerated loved one.

On any given day, people travel between 60 to 250 miles to one of the 22 different Pennsylvania state correctional facilities.

“I do it because I care for and love my uncle,” explained Monet Miller, a recent graduate of Point Park University. “I wanted to share my good news with him.”

Miller and her mother have been traveling there most of her 33 years of life – to see Miller’s aunt.

For nearly 30 years, Families Outside has been providing transportation services to state correctional institutions and assisting family members to develop the coping skills necessary to deal with the pain of having a loved one in the correctional system. Families Outside is part of Family Services of Western Pennsylvania.

“Our goal is to help families stay together even when they are apart,” said Candace Chapman, coordinator of the program. “Our belief is that family members, especially children, need continued contact with their parents…even if they are incarcerated. When parents go to prison, children and families hurt.”

In addition to transportation and prison staff liaison services, families and individuals have access to other therapeutic services provided by Family Services including counseling to assist them to cope with the stress of a loved one’s incarceration.

With many of the state correctional facilities located in rural areas, Families Outside provides low cost to-and-from transportation services to most of the state

institutions. “A lot of the family members taking advantage of our program are senior citizens and mothers with children who don’t have transportation,” said Gwen Porter, loan officer of the Ways to Work Program and supervisor of Transportation Resource Services. “People also utilize the service because it is more cost-effective.”

Affiliated with the Families Outside program during her 15 years with Family Resources, Porter said throughout the years the ridership has grown because of the increased number of facilities. “Ridership normally increases during summer months,” she said. Porter and Chapman estimate that average monthly ridership

is 150 to 160 people. Families Outside is the only prison transportation service provided in the area.

The Department of Corrections oversees 25 state correctional institutions, one motivational boot camp, 14 community correction centers, and nearly 40 contract facilities. It houses nearly 50,000 inmates, has a budget of $2.5 billion and has approximately15,000 employees.

Some trips are monthly and others are every other month, occurring most days during the week. Short trips for adults 18 to 64 costs $25 and senior citizens 65 and older are charged $12.50. Long trips for adults 18 to 64 costs $35 and for senior citizens, $17.50. The charge for children 5 to 17 is $15 and infants ride free.

Buses depart across from the Allegheny County Courthouse—One Mellon Bank Center (rear) at Fifth Avenue and Ross Street. Chapman said first-time riders must participate in an orientation which explains the rules, and what to expect during a visit. Identification is needed and registration is requested for all family members for each trip. Payments are accepted in person, by mail and online.

“Families Outside also assists families in making contact with their loved ones’ counselors, medical personnel or administrators,” said Chapman.

The mission of Family Services, 6401 Penn Avenue, is to empower people to reach their full potential. In addition to providing services for family members of incarcerated people, the organization offers a wide variety of programs, services and activities for children, families and adults. Services include licensed mental health and substance abuse programs, volunteer-based supports for older adults, FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY—Monet Miller, 33, residential services for persons with deand her mother board a bus to travel to Laurel velopmental and mental health disabiliHighlands State Correctional Institution to visit SEE FAMILIES B2 their loved one.

Iconic EBONY Magazine moving to Los Angeles

by Erick Johnson For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—Los Angeles has lured another Black icon away from the Windy City.

The company that now owns EBONY and Jet magazines, recently announced that the editorial teams for both publications will relocate to Tinsel Town.

The move marks another loss for Chicago, which was once a magnet for Blackowned media.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Oprah Winfrey shutdown production at her Harpo Studios, for good, in December 2015.

“Production is migrating to the West Coast, four years behind Winfrey, who left town to start her own cable network, OWN, in 2011,” the Tribune reported.

Television personality Steve Harvey announced last year that he was leaving Chicago to start a new show in Los Angeles.

Motown, the iconic, record label that was once a staple of Detroit’s music scene, bolted for the West Coast decades ago.

Now, EBONY and Jet join that western migration, leaving many in the Black community scratching their heads.

It’s the latest chapter for two, storied publications that, for years, have struggled to find their way in the ever-evolving world of new media.

The founder of the Johnson Publishing Company, John H. Johnson, died in

2005. His wife, Eunice, died in 2010. Their daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, sold EBONY and Jet in 2016 to CVG Group, a Houston private equity firm. Jet ended its print-run in June 2014 and is now only available in digital form.

What many had hoped to be a new chapter for EBONY and Jet is now fading. The latest disappointment came May 5, when the CVG Group announced that EBONY is laying off about 10 of 35 employees, in-

cluding Editor-In-Chief Kyra Kyles. Tracey Ferguson, the digital editor of Jet, will be responsible for both magazines. EBONY has 1.2 million subscribers.

Most of the laid-off employees were from the Chicago-area, according to “Crain’s Chicago Business.” Johnson Publishing’s CEO Desiree Rogers resigned and is expected to spend more time as head of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism bureau.

“I have appreciated my time with the company and am proud of the work we have done here, guiding the sale of legendary assets and strengthening ‘Fashion Fair’ with a new team,” Rogers said in the statement. “Now, is the perfect time to pursue other interests.”

Johnson Rice will now be CEO and chairman of Johnson Publishing Company, which PRIME REAL ESTATE—The CVG Group announced that EBONY’s editorial de- owns the Fashion partment is relocating to Los Angeles. Affectionately known as the “EBONY/ Fair cosmetics line Jet building,” the former headquarters of the Johnson Publishing Company is that is celebrating now prime real estate in Chicago. (Erick Johnson/Chicago Crusader) its 45th anniver-

sary this year. Johnson Rice is the CEO of the CVG Group’s Ebony Media Group, which runs EBONY. While EBONY will relocate to Los Angeles, Johnson Rice will maintain an office in Chicago and remain CEO of EBONY. Since selling their headquarters in 2010, Johnson Publishing has operated out of the Borg-Warner building at 200 S. Michigan Avenue.

The Crusader was unable to reach Johnson Rice for comment, but in a May 7 article published on TargetMarketNews.com, she denied reports that EBONY was leaving Chicago.

“In an effort to streamline our business and to get it where it needs to be, we decided we would consolidate and have Tracey Ferguson, who is the Editor-In-Chief of Jet, also be the EIC of EBONY and handle all of the digital [needs] on both sites,” said Johnson Rice, during an interview with Target Market News. Johnson Rice said that there will also be editorial staff in New York and Chicago.

Johnson Rice continued: “We will still have a big presence in Chicago, because our sales and marketing team is there, our production is in Chicago. So, I want to be real clear on that--we’re not leaving Chicago.”

But some people aren’t buying it.

On May 8, Crain’s Chicago Business ran the story, “As Johnson Publishing deSEE EBONY B2

BUSINESS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS CALENDAR Invention Showcase

JUNE 13 to 15—INPEX, the country’s largest inventor showcase, returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with an opening night party and a rooftop Beer Garden networking event at Sienna Mercato, Downtown.

Both are open to exhibitors and business attendees. For the complete schedule and to register, visit www.inpex.com.

Legal Basics Seminar

JUNE 14—The Chatham Women’s Business Center, in collaboration with Urban Innovation21 and attorneys from Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP present a free Legal Basics seminar. The session will cover the legal topics of business formation and legal structures, overview of business contracts and terms, and business insurance.

Registration is required. For more information contact Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412365-1153, or aschlicht@ chatham.edu.

Accessing Capital Workshop

JUNE 14—The African American Chamber of Commerce will present a seminar on Accessing Capital, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the 9th floor Board Room at its offices in the oppers Building, 436 Seventh Avenue, Downtown. The discussion will be led by Neal Shipley, CEO of Capital Foundry, and his team. Topics to be discussed include working capital management, non-dilutive capital, and other nontraditional capital options.

If you are a small business owner who has been unable to obtain traditional bank financing this workshop is for you. Cost: members: $10.00, non-members: $20.00, and includes Box Lunch. RSVP by: June 12, 2017 412-392-0610 or information@aaccwpa.com.

Corporate Equity & Inclusion Roundtable

JUNE 19—The Black Political Empowerment Project will sponsor this workshop, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Duquesne University Power Center Ballroom, 1105 Forbes Avenue, Uptown.

The event will feature presentations, panel discussions and progress reports on increasing the number of minorities and women in the “C-Suites” of Pittsburgh’s corporations. For registration and additional information, visit http://ceiroundtable.weebly.com.

SBA Certification Workshop

JUNE 21—The U.S. Small Business Administration will host a free HUBZone & Women-Owned certification program workshop, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 411 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1450, Pittsburgh.

The hands-on workshop with the SBA’s team of specialists will review program requirements and the application process in this monthly, face-to-face session.

For more information visit https www sba gov offices district/pa/pittsburgh.

Training Event

JUNE 22—The Duquesne University Small Business Center will host First Step: Business Start-up Essentials, 1:30-4:30 p.m. in Rockwell Hall, rm. 108, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown.

Topics covered include: Business Structure and Formation; Fictitious Name Registration; Employee Issues; Insurance Government; Procurement; Environmental Concerns; Financing Options; Taxation, and Major Components of the Business Plan. Cost: $25. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

PowerBreakfast

JUNE 23—The African American Chamber of Commerce welcomes Dollar Bank President James McQuade as this month’s PowerBreakfast Speaker, 7:30 a.m. at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, 301 Grant Street, Downtown Pittsburgh. For more information, call 412-392-0610.

JUNE 7-13, 2017

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Rivers Club names Courier editor and publisher Rod Doss as board chair PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The Rivers Club, a first-class private business, dining and athletic club for Pittsburgh’s business leaders, recently named Rod Doss as board chair as well as the addition of other new members to its Board of Governors. Members were approved by their colleagues based on their club involvement and their efforts to engage current and potential Rivers Club members. The current board is also increasing its effort to involve young and emerging leaders in the club governance.

Rod Doss is the editor and publisher of the New Pittsburgh Courier. Doss w i l l oversee the board in his n e w role as ROD DOSS chair. A Rivers Club member since 1996, Doss has served as a board member for more than 10 years.

The Rivers Club board is comprised of 24 members who come from a variety of professions within the local business community. Two of the new board members also serve on the Young Ex-

ecutive Council, a smaller group of professionals under the age of 40 that assist the club with programming and events that are conducive to enhancing and developing networking opportunities for the younger membership base.

New members of the 2017 Board of Governors: Diana Bellini is vice president and Latin America relationship manager at BNY Mellon. She was recently nominated for Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Award and has been an active club member for over 2 years. She is also a member of the community relations committee.

Lori Beretta works for Shorenstein Realty Services as the general manager of One Oxford Centre.

Beretta has over 20 years of experience working in real estate, and served on the 2015 board of directors for Building Owners and Managers Association Pittsburgh. Beretta is an active club member.

Jason Bertocchi works as a Senior Consultant, Health & Benefits Practice for Willis Towers Watson.

He serves on the Rivers Club young executive council and is involved with the Best Buddies organization.

He recently started a chapter in Rome, Italy.

Heather Bonomi works

as an agency recruiter director for MassMutual Pittsburgh and has been an active Rivers Club young executive council member.

She has been a Member for over 3 years and also serves on the Membership Ambassador Committee at the Club.

Greg Boyd is vice president at KeyBank Real Estate Capital. In addition to his position as a board member, Boyd serves as chair of the membership ambassador committee, which works with the Membership Director to welcome new members to the club.

Kacey Kelly works in Internet technology at Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney PC. An active club member, Kacey is a former 40 Under 40 Award nominee.

Robert Powell is the CEO of Invictus Leadership Group and CEO Executive Coach Chairman with Vistage Worldwide. Powell’s honors include being named one of Black MBA magazine’s Top 50 Under 50 and Who’s Who Among African-Americans.

Albert Veverka practices law as a public defender.

Before being named to the board, Veverka served for two years as a member of the young executive council.

Marlin Woods is the founder and CEO of BenefitsPlus. He has been a Riv-

ers Club member for about a year and is on the community relations committee.

The individuals who make up the Rivers Club board serve as ambassadors both

inside and outside the club.

The new members were welcomed in December at the Rivers Club holiday party, and began their terms in January.

Families One connects

FAMILIES FROM B1

ties, financial counseling, vocational and psychosocial rehabilitation, student assistance programs, and transitional youth programs.

“Our services are designed to assist individuals in living the most productive lives possible to the benefit of the communities in which they live,” Porter said.

The agency’s services are developed in accordance

with national service organizations, the Alliance for Children and Families, the United Way, the University of Pittsburgh and the Child Welfare League of America and are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children. Certification by the Council on Accreditation means that Family Services meets the highest national standards for professional performance in human services.

Taxes and summer jobs TAXES FROM B1

the person claiming them as a dependent will claim their personal exemption.

Look for your W-2 By the end of January following the summer when the student worked, he or she will receive a Form W-2 from the employer. This form includes important information that they’ll use in filing a tax return.

Your local CPA can help

A summer job is a great way to build up savings for college or other goals and to gain experience in the workforce. If your family has questions about taxes or any other financial topic, be sure to turn to your local CPA. He or she can address all your important financial concerns. To find a CPA in your area or for more financial tips, visit www.picpa. org/moneyandlife.

Iconic EBONY Magazine moving to Los Angeles EBONY FROM B1

clines, Chicago loses a link to its past.”

Over the years, to save EBONY, Johnson Rice sold its landmark headquarters, shuttered the print edition of Jet magazine and then sold EBONY and Jet to the CVG Group, a small private firm with little or no experience in media or magazine publishing. All along, Johnson Publishing trumpeted these moves as a step forward, but to many professionals and former EBONY employees, they were all mistakes and disturbing signs of an empire in decline.

Now, there are concerns

that the latest move to relocate EBONY some 2,000 miles away from its birthplace will deliver the final blow to the publication that, for decades, was one of the few magazines that told the story of Black life and culture.

These stories were told from EBONY’s headquarters in Chicago, where its founder, John H. Johnson and other Black trailblazers, established Chicago as America’s Black media mecca with their rags-toriches success stories.

While it’s the nation’s second largest city, Los Angeles has only 381,000 Black residents to Chica-

go’s 889,540, according to more iconic businesses,” said the latest U.S. Census fig- Elliott “We still have many ures. And while other cities more left to be created.” with large Black popula(Erick Johnson writes for tions--Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and New York--are much closer, Los Angeles is a city that does not have the rich Black history of Chicago and other cities impacted by the Great Migration.

Despite attempts to reinvent EBONY, the magazine has continued to struggle.

The magazine’s print subscribers complained about receiving issues months late, a problem Johnson Rice attributed to changing printers. Recently, EBONY’s freelance writers took to social media, venting their frustrations of not being paid for work that was published months ago.

CVG Group officials said that the rushed purchase of the magazines contributed to a backlog in payments to freelancers.

For now, Black Chicago is bemoaning the loss of a treasured homegrown icon that helped cement the city as the Black media capital. For a company that remained in Chicago for more than 70 years, EBONY’s latest move is painful to many Blacks. Some took to Facebook and other social media, to express their disappointment.

“It’s such a big deal for Chicago,” said Lavon Nicole Pettis.

Arlene Jones was more blunt.

“Linda Johnson Rice has been a complete failure [for] EBONY/Jet, since she took over,” said Jones.

Chicagoan Fabian Elliott said that the move was sad to see, but it was a reminder that businesses come and go.

“It is a reminder that we have to keep innovating as a community and creating

Elaine Effort

The Chicago Crusader, a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.)

Pittsburgh Profiles with KQV’s Elaine Effort sponsored in part by the New Pittsburgh Courier

Pittsburgh Profiles with Elaine Effort heard exclusively on Pittsburgh’s all-news radio station for 30 years

KQV 1410 AM and at WWW.KQV.COM

Friday, June 9 at 7:30 P.M. Saturday, June 10 at 7:00 A.M. Sunday, June 11 at 5:00 P.M.

CLASSIFIED New Pittsburgh Courier

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The New Pittsburgh Courier is looking for a display advertising sales representative. Experience in media sales or related area preferred but will train the right individual. This full-time staff position offers salary + commission with full benefits after days, paid vacation after 6 months. Must be a self-starter with leadership skills, reliable transportation, and strong computer, written and verbal communication skills. All resumes will be considered. Must be able to work under deadlines, do comprehensive sales-related research and make sales presentations. Send resumes to jobs@ newpittsburghcourier.com.

WPXI-TV FULL TIME ASSIGNMENT EDITOR

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HUMAN RESOURCES & IT ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

The Allegheny County Airport Authority has a position opening for Administrative Coordinator supporting the uman Resources and IT Departments at Pittsburgh International Airport. Complete information about this positions are available at ttp www. pitts r . co c reers c e p o e t EOE / M / F / D / V

IT PROJECT MANAGER (Multiple Openings)

SDLC anagement, nc reater Pittsburgh, PA area) is currently seeking IT Project Managers to be responsible for carrying out & overseeing all tasks related to the business analysis process, business process re-eng’g, implementation of talent management, building of pro ect schedules, managing pro ects’ scope & communicating project status & set expectations w/ clients Specific ob duties incl i) lead clients critical business & technology pro ects ii) monitor pro ect tasks timelines, resource plans risks associated w/ project completion using project management software tools such as MS Project; iii) applying Si Sigma, P P, Rational P BO tools, as well as R P, C Agile methodologies to oversee IT development projects for the Company’s clients iv) directing technical & business teams within the SDLC process iv) interacting w/ technical resources for problem resolution purposes; v) performing analysis, problem solving, communication, documentation critical thinking vi) managing project work for self & others. ust hold BA degree 3 am to 5 pm, 4 hrs wk Submit resume by mail to Terri Nicholls, Senior Human Resources Specialist, SDLC Management, Inc., One PPG Place, Suite 3200, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 & reference “IT Project Manager”.

TRANSPLANTATION INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN

niversity of Pittsburgh Physicians seeks a Transplantation Infectious Disease Physician to work in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County), PA Responsible for the management of infectious complications in immunocompromised hosts. Conduct independent research in topics such as opportunistic bacterial, fungal and viral infections, bench-to-bedside approach to multi-drug resistant organisms, pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials, and collaborative multi-center intervention studies.

Treat patients with end stage organ disease referred for transplant and to treat patients undergoing organ transplantation surgery who often develop life-threatening infections or organ rejection following surgery to improve their survival outcomes.

Participate in antibiotic stewardship program and take a leadership position in spearheading research, policy and protocol preparation in collaboration with transplant teams.

Teach and mentor residents and fellows rotating in the transplant Infectious Diseases. Maintain daily multidisciplinary interaction with other research personnel, pharmacologists, and microbiologists is expected. Must have a Medical degree or foreign equivalent Completion of a fellowship in Transplantation Surgery nfectious Diseases, including an additional year of specific SOT Solid Organ Transplantation) training in nfectious Disease ust be Board Certified in Infectious Disease; and must have a valid PA medical license or eligibility for licensure. Apply by following these steps visit http careers upmc com and enter 1 in the “Search eyword ob D” field and click o O

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To manage housing projects and teach construction skills to youth 5 yrs e perience in the construction industry and classroom teaching capabilities Salary Range 4 , to 5 , Send resumes to marciacrews4@ gmail.com or mail to rfie d Jubilee Assoc. Inc., 5323 Penn Ave., Pgh., PA 15224

TV RESEARCH ANALYST

WP -T is seeking to fill a fulltime position for a detail oriented individual to provide relevant research data, analysis and marketing support to its local and national advertising teams Requirements include advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint and cel, good math and writing skills, knowledge of digital resources and strong organizational skills. Experience working in media marketing, market research or sales support is preferred ualified candidates should send resumes to Rose ppich via email at reppich@wpxi.com or by mail to 4145 Evergreen Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15214. No phone calls please.

WP is an qual Opportunity mployer.

DIGITAL SPECIALIST:

The Digital Specialist will be the subject matter expert representing all WPXI Digital products. The Digital Specialist is responsible for growing digital revenue from existing clients and increasing revenues from high potential prospects generated from collaborative efforts with their Account Executive teammates. Their primary responsibility will be to achieve stated revenue goals by identifying client needs and applying WPXI’s portfolio of digital solutions to meet or exceed their needs. This individual will be an e perienced field sales representative with outstanding digital knowledge. The candidate should possess good communication skills oral and written) as well as the ability to e ceed specific activity metrics and revenue goals.

Primary method of customer contact will be on site sales calls combined with phone and e-mail contact ualified candidates should send resumes to Cedric Thomas at cthomas@wpxi.com or by mail to 4145 Evergreen Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15214. No phone calls please.

WP is an qual Opportunity mployer.

SALES ASSOCIATE:

The Sales Associate role is to support the sales department in all areas relating to performance of their required and requested duties This is an outstanding opportunity to work in the multi-media industry. We are looking for an outgoing self-starter, to assist our sales team at WP Our ideal candidate will be able to hit the ground running, take charge of their position and provide excellent support to our staff of sales professionals.

We are looking for someone who has the ability to work effectively with all the departments at our television station and be fle ible in an ever changing environment.

This position has the potential to interact with internal departments such as Digital, New Business and Production. You will be asked to communicate with agencies and clients. The ideal candidate has great attention to detail, knows how to build successful relationships; can take direction as well as work independently. Prior sales assistant e perience is a plus ualified candidates should send resumes to Cedric Thomas at cthomas@ wpxi.com or by mail to 4145 Evergreen Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15214.

No phone calls please. WPXI is an qual Opportunity mployer

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & MEMBERSHIP

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is seeking a Director of Development embership This e citing, newly created position will support Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s PAC) e pansion of individual giving, corporate sponsorship, and new foundation resources to support the region’s arts and culture community. We’re looking for a candidate with a variety of fundraising, writing, research and presentation skills to e pand corporate sponsorship, grow individual giving membership, and research grant opportunities, among other duties For a full ob description including salary, requirements, and application process, please visit http:// www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/ dev-mem-job

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

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LEGAL ADVERTISING

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CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PA CDBG, HOME, HESG, AND HOPWA PROGRAMS FY 2016 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (C.A.P.E.R.)

Estate of CARL MINER, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania No 2-1 - 5 , Shauna Lynn cPherson, ecutor, 1 eadville St , Pittsburgh, PA 15214 or to Clayton S orrow, Attorney, orrow Artim, P C , 3 4 Ross Street, th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 Estate of ELAINE O. LEES, Deceased of cCandless, Pennsylvania, No 2-1 - 233 , Andrew W urcak, ecutor, 531 Orchard Road, Pittsburgh, PA 1523 or to Timothy F Burke, r , squire, ckert Seamans Cherin ellott, LLC, S Steel Tower rant Sreet, 44th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 Estate of THERESA M. KYLE, Deceased of 3 2 Louisa Street, Pittsburgh, PA 1522 No 2-1 - 2 4, Charles F yle, r , 223 Butternut Drive, cDonald, PA 15 5 ecutor or to American Wills states, Lloyd A Welling, squire, 21 Wharton Street, Suite 3 2, Birmingham Towers, Pittsburgh, PA 152 3 Estate of ELIZA MAHAN, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No 2-1 - 2524 Sharon R ones, 2 A ehead Court, Randallstown, D 21133, Co- tr , Sylvia ahan, 3 ucunda Street, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 , Co- tr , or to Sheila Ford, 41 Stanton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 152 Estate of JEAN E. HESSE, Deceased of t Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No 2-1 - 3 2, Paul D esse, Administrator, state of ean esse, 154 ent Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 or to TODD A F LLR, Atty BR NLO F LL R, LLC, 4 1 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15 1 Estate of ROBERT D. MCKINLEY, SR., Deceased of onroeville, Pennsylvania No 2-1 - 25 3, Robert D c inley r , ecutor 451 Whitestown Road, armony, PA 1 3 or to Todd T ordan, squire, ckert Seamans Cherin ellott, LLC, S Steel Tower, rant Street, 44th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 Estate of MR. FREDRICK R. CORNELL, deceased of 125 Pine Acre Lane, oon Township, PA 151 state No 2-1 -314 r Steven Cornell, 152 Brighton Drive, Sweickley, PA 15143, ecutor, c o a C Feldman, Attorney At Law, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 151

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

LEGAL NOTICE e e Co t Department of Human Services re e c o i Public Hearing

The Advisory Council of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging AAA) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, une 13, 2 1 at 1 a m to solicit public comment on the annual Budget Prospectus. It will be held in the Frick Conference Room of the offices of the AAA, Birmingham Towers, Second Floor, 21 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 152 3 All persons wishing to give testimony may pre-register by calling 41235 -1323 for an assigned 5-minute time slot. Speakers may also register the day of the hearing and provide testimony, time permitting The hearing is an opportunity for County residents, especially older adults, caregivers, aging partners and other interested parties to ask questions and offer comments on aging services in general. All oral or written comments will be recorded in the official proceedings of the hearing.

The week before the public hearing, the annual Budget prospectus will be posted on the DHS website at www. e e co t . s d s plansbudgets.aspx To request a copy, call 412-35 -1323 or contact Molly Eggleston by email at molly. eggleston@alleghenycounty.us Written testimony will be accepted at or after the hearing. All testimony must be received no later than Tuesday, une 2 , 2 1 either by email to the above contact, or mailed to the Allegheny County Department of uman Services, Area Agency on Aging, 21 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 152 3 The Department of Human Services makes reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with disabilities Please call 412-35 -1323 by une , 2 1 if special accommodations are needed.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

Notice is hereby given that the City of Pittsburgh intends to submit the F 2 1 Consolidated Annual Performance and valuation Report C A P R ) to the S Department of ousing and rban Development on or before une 2 , 2 1 In accordance with Title I of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1 , as amended, the City of Pittsburgh has prepared its Fiscal ear 2 1 Consolidated Annual Performance and valuation Report C A P R ) for its Community Development Block rant CDB ), the O nvestment Partnership O ), the mergency Solutions rant S ), and the ousing Opportunities for Persons with A DS OPWA) Programs This report describes the level of housing assistance and other community development activities through grants from various Federal funding programs during Fiscal ear 2 1 April 1, 2 1 through arch 31, 2 1 ) Copies of the F 2 1 C A P R for the City of Pittsburgh are available for public inspection at the City of Pittsburgh website at http pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/community-development cdbg) and at the following locations beginning Friday, une , 2 1 through Friday, une 23, 2 1 Department of City Planning 2 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 rban Redevelopment Authority 2 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 All interested persons are encouraged to review the F 2 1 CAP R Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Michael Petrucci, Assistant Planning Director for Community Development, Department of City Planning, 2 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 Written comments on the C A P R will be considered up to and including une 23, 2 1 Mr. Michael Petrucci, Assistant Planning Director for Co it e e op e t

PROPOSED DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) GOAL METHODOLOGY FOR PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) FUNDED CONTRACTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2018-2020

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation PennDOT) is hereby providing notice of its proposed F WA DB ethodology for Federal Fiscal ears 2 1 -2 2 The proposed methodology used in determination of the goals is available for inspection during normal business hours at e s i ep rt e t of Transportation re of pport it ort treet t oor Harrisburg, PA 17120-0041 Phone (717)787-5891 or (800) 468-4201 The document can also be viewed online at http://www.padbegoals. org/ The document will be available for inspection for thirty 3 ) days from the date of this notice PennDOT will accept written comments on the methodology during this period. All comments, questions, or suggestions regarding this notice may be directed in writing to s eyla vans, Acting DB Section Chief, at the above listed address.

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

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

The c eesport ousing Authority A) will receive sealed Bids for the construction of c eesport ousing Authority FAS Apartments in the PA 5-4 community of the Crawford Village Community.

Sealed Bids shall be hand delivered to the c eesport ousing Authority, 2 1 Brownlee Street, c eesport, PA 15132 ATTN r Stephen Bucklew. Bids will be received until 1 A on 2 2 1 Prevailing time shall be according to the MHA’s time clock. Bids received after this time shall not be accepted. Bids shall be publicly opened and read aloud thereafter.

The Project will be bid in multiple Prime Contracts. The Bids must be sealed and marked separately as follows c eesport ousing Authority Crawford illage FAS Apartments Attention Stephen L Bucklew ecutive Director eneral Contractor- 1 Plumbing Contractor- 2 AC Contractor- 3 lectrical Contractor- 4 Bids shall be on a lump-sum basis.

Segregated Bids will not be accepted. Interested respondents shall be informed that The c eesport Housing Authority has entered into a labor agreement with the Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council The successful bidder must agree to the terms of this agreement. A copy of the agreement is available as part of the Construction Documents, or may be viewed at the offices of the A or Can ian ohnston Associates, LLC Attention is called to all respondents that all applicable qual mployment Opportunity requirements for federally assisted contracts must be complied with.

This includes strict compliance with ecutive Order 1124 , as amended establishing a goal of for female employment and 5 minority employment) Nondiscrimination ecutive Order 11 25, inority Business nterprises ecutive Order 1213 , Women Business nterprise Section 3 of the ousing and rban Development Act of 1 Civil Rights Act of 1 4 and inority Business Participation. Notice is hereby given that, because this is a Section 3 pro ect, the successful bidder must, to the greatest e tent feasible, use pro ect-area businesses located in or owned in substantial part by, local residents, and to direct newly created employment/subcontracting opportunities to Section 3 residents Any qualified Section 3 business may make written request to the MHA or to the Design Professional to obtain a list of all potential bidders in order to facilitate their ability to make their services known to these potential bidders.

Bid Documents are being distributed, with twenty-four hour prior notice, by F L aus Company, 21 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, by phone 412)231or fa 412)231Plans are also available at www flhausplanroom com. No documents will be distributed until payment has been received in full by F L aus Company Contact F L aus for the price of the Bid Documents Free e amination of said documents is available at the office of Can ian ohnston Associates LLC, The ousing Authority Offices, Pittsburgh Builders Exchange and Dodge Data & Analytics. A mandatory pre-bid conference has been scheduled une 21, 2 1 at 1 A at the ousing Authority Offices The Owner and Architect will be available to answer questions and make clarifications Arrangements to visit the site can be made by calling en Filotei at 412) 3- 42 e t 321 A certified check or bank draft, payable to c eesport ousing Authority, or a satisfactory bid bond e ecuted by the acceptable sureties, in an amount equal to ten percent 1 ) of the bids, shall be submitted with each bid The c eesport Housing Authority reserves the right to re ect any or all bids, for any reason. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of days subsequent to the opening of the bids.

Stephen Bucklew, ecutive Director – MHA Direct inquiries to Antonio Canian, Pro ect Architect Can ian ohnston Associates, LLC

CLASSIFIEDS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

LEGAL ADVERTISING

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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT/CHILLED WATER PLANT OPERATOR AT THE DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER AND NORTH SHORE RIVERFRONT PARK WATER STEPS OPERATOR

Sealed bids will be received in the Office Of The Chief Operations Officer, Room 251, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time JUNE 13, 2017 and will be opened at the same hour for the purchase of the following equipment.

CALCULATORS General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Service Center, 1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: http://www. pghboe.net/pps/site/default.asp Click on Bid Opportunities under Quick Links.

The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.

Leon Webb Purchasing Agent We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Room 251, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on July 11, 2017, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for the following: Pittsburgh Obama 6-12 Cooling Tower Replacement Mechanical Prime Project Manual and Drawings are available for purchase on June 6, 2017 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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sealed bid proposals are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 (412.237.3020) on the following items: Bid Proposal No. 999 – Aruba Maintenance Renewal Bid Proposal No. 1000 – Cisco Maintenance Renewal Proposals will be received at the Purchasing Department until 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Thursday, June 15, 2017.

The CCAC Purchasing Department is now publishing all bids via the CCAC website at https://www.ccac. edu/Bid-RFP_Opportunities.aspx It will be each vendor’s responsibility to monitor the bid activity within the given website (“Bid and RFP Opportunities”) and ensure compliance with all applicable bid documents inclusive of any issued addenda.

Failure to incorporate any applicable addenda in the final submittal may result in the rejection of your bid.

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.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1670

Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1670, VERONA PUMP STATION PIPING REPLACEMENT shall be received at the office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 a.m., Prevailing Time, Thursday, June 29,2017, and then shall be publicly opened and read. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Authority’s Plant in the O&M Building Conference Room 106, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m., Prevailing Time. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory.

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 office of the Authority. A non- refundable fee of $100 (no cash will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents. 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.

Bidders are encouraged to obtain a copy of the Bid Documents, if they have not already done so, from the Clerk’s Office, 2nd Floor ALCOSAN O&M Building, either before or following the Pre-Bid Meeting.

Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed in writing to Mr. Michael Lichte, P.E., ALCOSAN at Michael.licltte@ alcosan.org.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive arty 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 Jan M. Oliver Director, Regional Conveyance COURIER CLASSIFIEDS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County will receive proposals for Wastewater Treatment Plant/Chilled Water Plant Operator at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and North Shore Riverfront Park Water Steps Operator Services as identified below. The Request for Proposals may be obtained after the date identified below from Taylor Blice- E-mail: tblice@pgh-sea.com.

Project: Wastewater Treatment Plant/Chilled Water Plant and Water Steps Operator RFP Available: May 31, 2017 Date/Location for Proposals: 2:00 PM, Friday, July 7, 2017, Sports & Exhibition Authority, Attn: Taylor Blice, 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Contract No. ACHA-1580, Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy Administrative Plan (ACOP/AP) Services

The Allegheny County Housing Authority is requesting proposals from qualified firms to provide a review of its current ACOP/AP services.

Request for Proposals and Contract Documents are on file and may be obtained at no charge from the Allegheny County Housing Authority, 625 Stanwix Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, or by contacting Guy Phillips, Purchasing Manager at gphillips@achsng.com.

A pre-proposal conference (Not Mandatory) will be held in the Authority’s Boardroom on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Proposal submittals are due no later than 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 27, 2017at the Allegheny County Housing Authority.

The Authority encourages responses from §3 business concerns, small firms, minority firms and firms that have not previously performed work for the ACHA. The Allegheny County Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any and all submissions.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY Frank Aggazio, Executive Director

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR BATH TUB REFINISHING AT VARIOUS HACP LOCATIONS IFB# 300-29-17

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): BATH TUB REFINISHING AT VARIOUS HACP LOCATIONS IFB# 300-29-17 The documents will be available no later than May 30, 2017 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. on June 16, 2017 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud.

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: Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Thursday, June 8, 2017 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

JUNE 7-13, 2017

SONNY BOY

LEGAL ADVERTISING

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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

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FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

PUBLICATION DATE: June 5, 2017 1. The Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh (“Authority”) shall accept sealed bids for the performance of the work described below (the “Work”) at its office at 232 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222, until 11:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, June 27, 2017.

2. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The Project entails repair and preventive maintenance of the Forbes-Semple Parking Garage. Repairs include full and partial depth floor slab repairs to the roof deck level, post-tension cable repairs, waterproofing membrane application and select structural steel framing repairs.

3. The Instructions to Bidders, including the Form of Bid, Form of Agreement, General Conditions, Plans and Specifications, may be obtained after 3:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Authority’s office at 232 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222. Copies of the Plans and Specifications will be available for a non-refundable amount of $50.00.

Payments are to be made payable to the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh via check or money order only.

4. A Mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at the Authority’s office at 232 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 at 10:00 a.m. local time on Monday, June 12, 2017. The purpose of the pre-bid conference is to provide additional detail regarding the Work. The information provided at the pre-bid conference will be essential in preparing a bid to perform the Work. Persons or entities that intend to submit bids to perform the Work are required to send to the pre-bid conference at least one representative who will understand the information presented at the pre-bid conference in a manner that allows such information to be incorporated in the preparation of the bid to perform the Work. It is expected that the representative who attends the pre-bid conference will be experienced in construction matters and employed by the bidder in a supervisory capacity. Pre-bid attendance is mandatory.

5. Sealed bids received prior to the deadline will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, June 27, 2017.

6. Each bid submitted must be accompanied by a bid guaranty of ten percent (10%) of the proposed bid in the form of a bid bond, certified cashier’s or treasurer’s check payable to the Authority.

7. The Authority reserves the right to in its sole discretion, (i) change, at any time prior to the bid deadline at 11:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 the Contract Documents; (ii) waive any defect, irregularities, or informality in any or all submitted bids; and (iii) reject any or all submitted bids.

David G. Onorato Executive Director

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

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

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on June 21, 2017 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 152222527), for the following: Electronic Proposal Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) B170322A Bagged Rock Salt B170329A Refrigerants B170429A Cleaning of Oil & Water Separators 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 each of the above items at 10:00am on May 31, 2017 in Port Authority’s Public Meeting Room (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA). Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within 48 hours of the scheduled bid opening.

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

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

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

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for Exhibit Hall Concrete Repair (trade package) as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The design engineer is Barber & Hoffman, Inc. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to SMG, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Linda Mihalic: lmihalic@pittsburgh cc.com; 412-325-6167. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055 or http://www. accu-copy.com/accucopy/plan room2.cfm.

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: David L. Lawrence Convention Center Bid Package Name: Exhibit Hall Concrete Repairs Bid Package Available: June 6, 2017 Approximate Value: $315,000 Time/Date for Pre-Bid Meeting: 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2017 Time/Date for Bid: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2017 Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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

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

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

They picked up their copy!

DANNAE ALLEN AND RON NEWTON, PENN HILLS

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.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

B7

BRANDON WHITE OF PITTSBURGH

CANDICE BERRY OF HOMEWOOD

B8

OPINION

JUNE 7-13, 2017

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Investing in our community— KeyBank keeps to its Promise

Guest Editorial

Still no justice for the family of Tamir Rice On Nov. 22, 2014, Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy, was shot to death by a police officer while playing with a toy gun at a playground in Cleveland. Rice’s family is still waiting for justice.

From the beginning and until as recently as this week, Tamir’s death in Ohio has been a sequence of tragic events in which no one has been held properly accountable.

Tamir was playing with a pellet gun when a man waiting for a bus called 911 to report that a “guy” was pointing a gun. He told a Cleveland police dispatcher that the guy could be a juvenile and the gun might be a “fake,” information that wasn’t conveyed to the officers.

Timothy Loehmann, a rookie Cleveland police officer, shot Tamir as he played.

Tamir’s death was among a string of killings that fueled protest against U.S. law enforcement use of deadly force, particular against African Americans.

In 2015, a Cuyahoga County grand jury declined to charge Loehmann or Frank Garmback, a second officer who was driving the police cruiser.

On Tuesday, Loehmann was fired after an internal investigation found he provided inaccurate information on his application to join the city’s police force.

Garmback will be suspended for 10 days for improper tactics and receive additional tactical training. He was suspended for driving too close to Tamir seconds before the boy was killed.

Three years after his tragic shooting, the family of Tamir Rice is still waiting for justice.

The police officers were disciplined but not because of their role in Tamir’s death.

The officers’ union said it was challenging the discipline, adding further insult to Tamir’s memory.

Tamir’s mother, Samaria, is right when she said both officers should have been fired.

“He should never have been a police officer,” she said about Loehmann.

She said Cleveland city agencies suffered from systematic problems and that they hope a U.S. Department of Justice investigation will lead to federal civil rights charges.

“Shame on the city of Cleveland for taking so long to deal with the situation,” said Samaria Rice. “We still need accountability.”

Cleveland police have taken some steps to curb the use of deadly force and overhaul their hiring process.

The department has also disciplined two other officers for not doing a thorough background check on Loehmann before he was hired. Williams said the department now makes sure to read through all applicants’ files and employment history.

The 911 operator who took the call about Tamir was suspended for failing to tell the radio dispatcher that the caller had said Tamir could be a juvenile and the gun might be fake.

It should not have taken the death of a 12-year-old before police enacted these policies.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

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

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

A few months ago, Bruce Murphy, executive vice president of KeyBank, visited the New Pittsburgh Courier in an editorial board meeting, and stated that his bank had committed $6 billion to community development all over the country including Pittsburgh. A story in the Courier demonstrated that he wasn’t just talking the talk.

A check for $1 million was written out to Pittsburgh Promise for graduating Pittsburgh Public School seniors in need of money for community colleges, trade schools, or four-year universities.

Unlike the $500 or $1000 scholarships some noted organizations give for one or two semesters that may cover books, the Promise gives up to $2,500 per semester, per year, depending on the need of the student as long as that student carries a passing grade-point average at the school they entered.

The Pittsburgh Promise is the greatest thing to happen to the students in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

It’s great to see banks such as KeyBank along with other businesses in Pittsburgh supporting this effort.

This is an effort that needs to be duplicated in every city across the U.S. This doesn’t just help Blacks—it helps all poor, low-income, and middle-income families throughout the city, Black and White. Education is our community’s greatest need, but without money the greatest students can’t attend college.

“When making an investment of this size, you want to make sure it’s managed well,” KeyBank executive vice president Margot Copeland said to Courier reporter Christian Morrow. “It’s not enough to get students

Ulish Carter

Just Sayin’ into college, we have to graduate them. The completion aspect is very important to us, and we’re pleased with the results the Promise has shown.”

She went on to say that they are thinking about starting a Promise in Cleveland.

This is what I’ve been preaching for years, that it’s vital to not just get students into colleges or trade schools; we must prepare them for the jobs which are available because all the training in the world doesn’t help in a field that is saturated. This leads to students graduating, but can’t find a job, which leads to their having to accept jobs in other fields or take a low-paying job outside of their field.

But it all comes down to…where is the money?

National News—Following President TrumpGate Almost every week the President has fired someone from his staff mostly because of their links with Russia. Now his son-in-law, Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner, is in the hot seat for setting up a secret meeting with a Russian official in the White House and not revealing it to Intelligence. The President was overseas during this and just came home over the weekend, which means all this week will be taken up

by this and once again no word on the economy.

Many people are calling for impeachment, especially the Democrats, but surprisingly the Republicans are not talking. But they were the “Do Nothing Congress” during President Obama’s eight years and they are the “Do Nothing Congress” under President Trump so far.

The Democrats had better be careful about what they ask for. Will this country, especially Black people, be any better off with Vice President Mike Pence as the new President?

Absolutely not. Probably the “Do Nothing Congress” would get some things done, but nothing that would benefit the poor, low, moderate or middle-income communities.

Oh, and before I could complete this column, he selfishly pulled America out of the Paris Peace Accord, and all that Peace Accord did was officially end the Vietnam War. Sports News—Pens, Cavs Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins as they made it to their second straight Stanley Cup finals. They have a very solid chance to repeat as they face the Nashville Predators for the Cup after beating the Ottawa Senators for the Eastern Conference title in a very exciting series.

I pick the Penguins 4 games to 2. As of this column (June 6), the series is tied at 2.

In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers are facing the Golden State Warriors. Even though the Warriors are favorites again, I pick the Cavaliers 4 games to 2. But so far, not so good for Cleveland. As of this column (June 6), they are down 2-0.

(Ulish Carter is the former managing editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier.)

President Trump’s cruel war on children (NNPA)—Our nation’s budget should reflect our nation’s professed values, but President Trump’s 2018 Federal Budget, “A New Foundation for America’s Greatness,” radically does the opposite. This immoral budget declares war on America’s children, our most vulnerable group, and the foundation of our nation’s current and future economic, military and leadership security. It cruelly dismantles and shreds America’s safety net laboriously woven over the past half century to help and give hope to the 14.5 million children struggling today in a sea of poverty, hunger, sickness, mis-education, homelessness and disabilities. It slashes trillions of dollars from health care, nutrition and other critical programs that give poor babies and children a decent foundation in life to assure trillions of dollars in tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and powerful corporations who do not deserve massive doses of government support.

The cruel Trump budget invests more in our military—already the most costly in the world—but denies vulnerable children and youths the income, health care, food, housing and education supports they need to become strong future soldiers to defend our country. Seventy-one percent of our 17-24 year olds are now ineligible for military service, because of health and education deficits.

President Trump invests in fighting those he sees as outside enemies through weapons and walls and turns his back on the internal enemies that threaten the basic domestic needs of our people—health care, housing, education and jobs that pay living wages. The Congress and the people of the United States must reject President Trump’s 2018 Budget and the mean-spirited values it reflects.

The President’s 2018 Budget: •Slashes $610 billion over 10 years from Medicaid which nearly 37 million children rely on for a healthy start in life and which pays for nearly half of all births and ensures coverage for 40 percent of our children with special health care needs. The budget also assumes passage of the more than $800 billion additional cuts in Medicaid included in the American Health Care Act for a total Medicaid massacre of more than $1.4 trillion over 10 years.

•Rips $5.7 billion from CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), which covers nearly 9 million children in working families ineligible for Medicaid.

•Snatches food out of the mouths and stomachs of hungry children by slicing $193 billion over ten years from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which some still call food stamps. SNAP feeds nearly 46 million people including nearly 20 million children. This cut is an unprecedented 25 percent reduction in a core safety net program that in 2014 lifted 4.7 million people, including 2.1 million children, out of poverty.

•Chops $22 billion over 10 years from TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program) in-

Marian Wright Edelman

Child Watch cluding $6 billion that eliminates the TANF Contingency Fund which helps support some of our neediest families. Slashes programs to assist families with housing and end homelessness by $7.4 billion, a 15 percent cut for 2018 including $2.3 billion from Housing Choice Vouchers, which would leave more than 250,000 low income households without them; $1.8 billion—nearly 29 percent— from public housing already in desperate need of repair and expansion; and $133 million—5.6 percent—from homeless assistance grants.

•Whacks $72 billion over ten years from the Supplemental Security Income Program, which more than 8 million children and adults with the most severe disabilities depend on to keep going. Despite the President’s

This draconian budget slashes over $3 trillion dollars in the next decade and tramples America’s values and is anti-child, anti-poor, and anti-low-income working people. It erodes the security of our nation’s future. promise not to cut Social Security, his budget cuts $48 billion from Social Security Disability Insurance, which assists, among others, grandparents and other relatives raising children because their parents cannot care for them.

•Slashes job training programs by $1.1 billion, or 40 percent, over ten years for youths, adults and dislocated workers. It denigrates the concept of public service jobs by eliminating the Corporation for National and Community Service, and with it AmeriCorps, Vista and Senior Corps.

•Cuts federal education funding

$9.2 billion in 2018 alone at a time when a majority of children in all racial and economic groups cannot read or compute at grade level. It slashes $143 billion over 10 years from student loans by eliminating the loan program that encourages graduates to take public service jobs and restricts other programs that subsidize college education for first generation college students and others from low-income families.

•Shears $54 billion in 2018 ($1.6 trillion over 10 years) in non-defense discretionary programs which include a broad range of health, early childhood, education, child welfare and juvenile justice programs as well as environmental protection, foreign assistance, medical and scientific research and other federal government programs. The Trump budget would reduce spending for these important programs 2 percent a year for the next ten years.

•Zeroes out funding for the Legal Services Corporation to deny the poor their only option to defend themselves against injustice.

•Eliminates core programs that offer extra assistance to low-income children, families and communities including the Social Service Block Grant ($1.4 billion in 2018 alone, $16.3 billion over 10 years); the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to ward off heat in the summer and cold in winter months ($3.4 billion); the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME, and Community Development Block Grant, Indian Community Development Block Grant, and Choice Neighborhood programs ($4.1 billion).

At the same time, President Trump’s 2018 Budget includes an estimated $5 trillion tax package for the wealthiest individuals and corporations who neither need nor deserve massive government support and dramatically increases spending on defense and border security.

This draconian budget slashes over $3 trillion dollars in the next decade and tramples America’s values and is anti-child, anti-poor, and anti-low-income working people. It erodes the security of our nation’s future.

The Trump budget would not pass the test of any great faith or standard of fairness. It must be rejected resoundingly by the Congress and the American people.

(Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.)

Letters to the editor for publication The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Civil rights under siege (TriceEdneyWire.com)—When he was running for President, 45 asked African Americans what we had to lose by electing him. Embracing the most dystopian view of the African American community, he attacked our schools, our streets, crime rates, and unemployment and suggested that we were so far down that electing him could only improve things.

Curiously, he never talked about racism when he talked about the status of African Americans. He never spoke of hate crimes, police killings, or racist symbols like Confederate flags and Confederate statues. He never denounced some of his most racist supporters, including Klucker David Duke and alt-right leader Richard Spencer. He just asked what Black folks had to lose by electing him!

We’ve been learning what we have to lose in these nearly five months of 45’s “leadership.” He cynically used HBCU Presidents in a photo op, while cutting education funds that help HBCUs. He has been silent or slow in denouncing racist incidents that have occurred on his watch, including the lynching of Second Lt. Richard Collins III, and the murder of heroes Ricky John Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, who stood up to the rabid racist Jeremy Joseph Christian, who was harassing two young women on a train in Portland (it took him three days to respond tepidly to that incident). As of this writing,

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary two days after a noose was hung in the Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture, he has not uttered a syllable of condemnation. These issues don’t appear to be important to him.

Are we surprised, then, that the budget he has submitted to Congress, would eviscerate civil rights protections in literally every area of our lives. Already, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has moved back toward draconian jail sentences for minor crimes, reviewed consent decrees with police departments, looking to loosen them, and suggested that the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department can be smaller. The budget reflects that so clearly that Venita Gupta, who led the Civil Rights Division under President Obama and now leads the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, says she sees this budget as a “setback” for civil rights.

The new budget calls for folding the Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, although the two agencies do distinctly different work. EEOC investigates civil rights complaints, while OFCCP audits contracts to ensure that employees have equal opportunity in terms of both promotions and pay. The proposed budget cuts OFCCP by 16 percent and eliminates 130 full time employees. When the other 470 employees are absorbed into the EEOC, that agency will not get an increased budget despite its expanded mission.

Both agencies have been important in ensuring that civil rights violations are rectified. In 2010, EEOC had more than 20 active cases that involved nooses. Even as nooses continue to be hung as symbols of intimidation and hate, such as the noose hung at the African American Museum (the second hung at a Smithsonian museum in a week), the agency charged with investigating these complaints would have fewer resources to do so.

Similarly OFCCP has won money settlements for thousands of employees, and changed employment requirements when those requirements have a discriminatory impact. Women employees at Home Depot were among those receiving monetary settlements because of OFCCP investigations.

At the Department of Education (surprise, surprise), a woman who opposes affirmative action leads the Office of Civil Rights. That office will be cut significantly, limiting its ability to investigate discrimination complaints in school systems. At the Environmental Protection Agency, efforts to look at environmental justice have been eliminated.

From the noose hung at the African American Museum to the defacing of LeBron James’ home with a racial slur, there is continuing evidence of the persistence of racism in our nation. This racism is emboldened by a national leadership that is silent despite its manifestations. We cannot be surprised. Our 45th President, after all, once said he did not trust African Americans to work on his accounting. He probably would have failed any OFCCP audit, and certainly attracted several housing discrimination lawsuits decades ago.

The President who has been accused of discrimination has the power to ensure that his capitalist cronies face fewer accusations by weakening civil rights enforcement. What did African Americans lose when 45 was elected? Among other things, we (and others) lost civil rights protections!

(Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Founder of Economic Education.)

FORUM

This is why HBCU leaders must engage Democrats and Republicans ( N N PA ) — A s ty affiliation. the president Johnny C. Taylor Jr. When the meand CEO of dia released the Thurgood photos of our Marshall Colmeeting at the lege Fund, I’m White House spending a good with President amount of time Trump, some deworking to build rided it as just a strategic, gov“photo-op.” Tell ernment alliancthat to the ades that extend beyond our traditional ministrators who were wondering how Democratic support. If you’re won- they’d possibly fill the gap in funding dering why, all you need to do is look should their already strained budgets at a map of where America’s Histori- face sudden, drastic cuts. cally Black Colleges and Universities We’re simply not able to pick and are located choose whom we engage with.

The fact of the matter is that a maWorking with the White House, jority of TMCF’s 47 member-schools through open communication and are clustered in southern and mid- lots of effort, HBCU leaders and I western states completely controlled were able to deliver flat funding for

by Republicans. By that, I mean HBCUs in the upcoming fiscal year states where the governor, both U.S. budget. Flat funding is a big win, senators, both chambers of the leg- considering President Trump proislature and most of the U.S. House posed a 13.9 percent overall funding members are Republican. decrease in federal education dollars The next largest group of our mem- this year. ber-schools occupies states that are But that’s not the end of it. With so under at least a majority of GOP many capital needs, we must ensure control. Only a small number of our Washington doesn’t cut the vital capmember-schools--three to be exact- ital financing program that provides -are in states and the District of about $20 million a year to support Columbia that are completely con- more than $280 million in capital fitrolled by Democrats. nancing for our schools.

If those statistics don’t jump out at The need to work across the aisle you, maybe these facts will. Many of extends beyond just elected officials. our institutions of higher learning In January, TMCF announced a are in desperate need of not just op- $25.6 million gift from the Charles erating dollars, but serious capital Koch Foundation and Koch Indusinfusions to the tune of hundreds of tries. This generous gift was a direct millions of dollars. result of proactive outreach I initiatEarlier this year, for instance, ed with Mr. Koch, a man often assoGrambling State University Pres- ciated with support of conservative ident Rick Gallot announced that and libertarian causes. What I found his school will need to abandon the by having a dialogue with him is campus library—an unprecedented that we share a deep concern about decision for a university seeking to the impact of over-incarceration and expand its national imprint in re- lack of educational opportunities search and training for its students. that disproportionately impact fragGallot’s announcement came almost ile communities. Together in Januexactly one year after Louisiana’s ary, we launched a new, HBCU-based state auditor reported nearly $111 research institution, known as the million in deferred maintenance at Center for Advancing Opportunity, another Louisiana public HBCU that is studying barriers to opportucampus, Southern University in Ba- nity in those communities. ton Rouge.

In reaching across the aisle, we The people who currently hold the should never forsake our historic alpurse strings—both nationally and liances. But for the sake of the young on a state level—are, in most cases, people our HBCUs seek to educate, Republicans. Yet, some will still sug- we must also realize the need to gest that we not even talk to those grow new and different alliances. elected leaders, because of their par-

Commentary

Taking the Mayor of New Orleans slavery speech a step further Ida B. their fifth grade Wells-Barnett J. Pharoah Doss daughter who told a story in Robert E. Lee the preface of was and why he her autobiogstands atop the city. Can you do raphy about a it? Can you look young Black into that young girl that asked girl’s eyes and Wells-Barnett convince her that to inform her Robert E. Lee is about the anti-lynching movement Wells-Barnett there to encourage her? Do you think she will feel inspired and hopeful by started in 1892.

The young girl explained she was in that story?

The answer’s no. Wells-Barnett, a discussion about the heroine Joan of Arc and was asked if she knew a wom- who was born in slavery, wrote her an with the same strength of character. autobiography so the next generaThe young girl named Ida B. Wells-Bar- tion would understand that they innett, but the discussion leader asked herited a legacy of liberty and not a the young girl why Wells-Barnett de- second class past.

After the Mayor’s speech a Black served the distinction.

The young girl admitted to Wells-Bar- woman from New Orleans wrote nett, “I couldn’t tell them why I thought in Teen Vogue, “I felt relieved...My so. I heard you mentioned so often by hometown would no longer, either that name, so I gave it. I was dreadfully consciously or subconsciously, revere embarrassed…Please tell me what you the people who represent enslavedid so the next time…I can give an in- ment...I felt relieved knowing that someday when I have children, they telligent answer.”

This encounter in 1928 inspired will not have these signs of post-Civil Wells-Barnett to write her autobiog- War oppression looming over them.”

Now let’s take this a step further. raphy. Wells-Barnett stated the Black youth had Frederick Douglass’ ac- Will her children loom under the count of slavery, but they didn’t have premise advanced by 21st century an account of the Reconstruction peri- advocates of reparations for slavery?

Economics aside, there’s a psychood after the Civil War. She described that period as the time of the KKK, logical premise attached to this arballot-box stuffing, and the wholesale gument that is counterproductive for murder of Blacks who tried to exercise generations born in the 21st century.

Remember, the U.S. Supreme Court their newfound rights.

Wells-Barnett said the gallant fight struck down segregation laws in the and bravery of Blacks to maintain south because a Black psychologist their newborn rights in the South, produced evidence that segregation with little protection from the gov- created an inferiority complex inside ernment which gave them these of Black children.

But 21st century reparations advorights and no previous training in citizenship or politics, is a story cates promote the permanency of the which would fire the race pride of all lingering effects of slavery to collect our young people if it had only been punitive damages. Their evidence is written down. The history of this en- pseudo-scientific theories like post tire period which reflected glory on traumatic slave syndrome and tales the race should be known. Yet most of psychological conditioning from a of it is buried in oblivion and only slave master named Willie Lynch. the southern White man’s misrepre- This narrative rejects the inherisentations are in public libraries and tance of Wells-Barnett, the hardships of freedom, and misrepresents college textbooks.

Recently the Mayor of New Orle- the most rapidly successful race of ans echoed a similar sentiment in a people to ever come out of bondage.

The mayor was asked could he exspeech explaining why it was necessary for the city to remove its confed- plain the statue of Robert E. Lee to erate monuments. The Mayor stated a Black child. Robert E. Lee is gone. the Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, The question now is when a Black and P.G.T. Beauregard statues were child inquires about the psychological not erected to honor these men…but premise behind reparations for slavto rewrite history, to hide the truth, ery will the child receive an intelligent which the Confederacy was on the answer or would the child be dreadfully embarrassed by the explanation. wrong side of humanity.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to Then the Mayor said a friend asked him to imagine an African American the New Pittsburgh Courier. He blogs at mother or father trying to explain to jpharoahdoss@blogslpot.com)

Commentary

JUNE 7-13, 2017

B9

A. Peter Bailey

Commentary

Another April 4 has quietly come and gone (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Another April 4th has rather quietly come and gone. It’s way past time for those who considered themselves as supporters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to cease demeaning his tremendous legacy by basically reducing him to “I Have A Dream.”

Anyone who reads Dr. King’s last book “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” published less than a year before he was assassinated knows that Dr. King was much, much more than a dreamer.

No one knew this better than J. Edgar Hoover and his partners in the FBI. Their position is graphically illustrated in a memo written by then FBI Assistant Director, William E. Sullivan who was a close colleague of J. Edgar for some 30 years.

Dated Jan. 8, 1964, the memo, originally published in The Nation magazine, June 17, 1975, went as follows: “We know that Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King (deletion, deletion) represents a very real security problem in this country. In addition to (deletion), Dr. King, as we know, for some time now has been (deletion). Apart from the security factor, he is a disgrace to the Negro people of this country because of his (deletion) while at the same time purporting to be a minister of the gospel. Obviously he has the capacity to deceive people very successfully. This was made evident most recently by his being selected

by Time magazine as the Man of the Year.

Further we know that he has been able to cleverly deceive both very important Protestant and Catholic organizations, securing thereby support from them which gives him added stature. It should be very clear to all of us that Martin Luther King must, at some propitious point in the future, be revealed to the people of this country and to his Negro followers as being what he actually is—a fraud, demagogue and moral scoundrel. When the true facts concerning his activities are presented, such should be enough, if handled properly, to take him off his pedestal and to reduce him completely in influence so that he will no longer be a security problem and no longer will be deceiving and misleading the Negro people.

When this is done and it can be and will be done, obviously much confusion will reign, particularly among the Negro people. There will be embarrassment, frustration, confusion, and resentment. Because of this and the emotional reaction that will set in, it is not unlikely that movements like the Nation of Islam could benefit greatly. Further, other ridiculous developments similar to the Old Father Divine and Daddy Grace organizations may appear.

The Negroes will be left without a national leader of sufficiently compelling personality to steer them in the proper direction. This is what could happen, but need not happen if this right kind of national Negro leader could at this time be gradually developed so as to overshadow Dr. King and be in the position to assume the role of leadership of the Negro people when King has been completely discredited.

For some months I have been thinking about this matter. One day I had an opportunity to explore this from a philosophical and sociological standpoint with (deletion) whom I have known for some years.

As I previously reported, (deletion) is a very able fellow , (deletion) and one on whom I can rely. I asked (deletion) to give the matter some attention and if he knew any Negro of outstanding intelligence and ability to let me know and we would have a discussion. (Deletion) has submitted to me the name of the above captain person.

Enclosed with this memorandum is an outline of (deletion) biography which is truly remarkable for a man so young, having been born (deletion) 1932.

On scanning this biography, it will be seen that (deletion) does have all the qualifications of national leadership. I won’t go into all his accomplishments and qualifications in this memorandum for it will only take a minute or two to scan the enclosed biography.

On first blush I know it can be said it is not the concern of the Bureau what happens to the Negroes when Martin Luther King has been discredited. This can be said, but I think it is a very short-sighted view.

It is our concern if large numbers of them go into the Nation of Islam and other extremist groups with which we are concerned as an investigative agency. It is our concern if the Communist Party would be able to capitalize on this confusion. Further, from a positive and constructive standpoint it would be of a great advantage to have leading the Negro people a truly brilliant, honorable, and loyal Negro who...could steer the 20 million Negroes away from communism. I think in a very sound sense this necessarily must be of great interest to us. It would be most helpful to have a man like (deletion) leading the Negroes to whom we could go, if necessary, and rely upon in sensitive matters over which this bureau has jurisdiction.

I want to make it clear at once that I don’t propose that the FBI in any way become involved openly as the sponsor of a Negro leader to overshadow Martin Luther King. As far as I am concerned, this is not an issue at all. But I do propose that I be given permission to explore further this entire matter with (deletion) and any other person known to both (deletion) and myself who could be helpful. If this thing can be set up properly without the Bureau in any way becoming directly involved, I think it would be not only a great help to the FBI but would be a fine thing for the country at large. While I am not specifying at the moment, there are various ways in which the FBI could give this entire matter the proper direction and development. There are highly placed contacts of the FBI who might be very helpful to further such a step. These can be discussed in detail later when I have probed more fully into the possibilities.”

J. Edgar responded to the memo by accepting Sullivan’s proposal and added, “I am glad that light has finally, though dismally delayed, come to the domestic Int. Dir. I struggled for months to get over the fact that Communists were taking over the racial movement but our experts here couldn’t or wouldn’t see it.”

This document should be read every year on April 4th to remind everyone of why Dr. King was assassinated.

B10

SPORTS

JUNE 7-13, 2017

What’s said quietly in the dark… will be shouted out loud in the light!

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—If you missed it… you missed it. But I’m here to tell ya, the 43rd Annual Willie Stargell Pittsburgh MVP Awards was Fan-Tas-Tic and continues to prove that we are, in fact, Fam-I-Lee. With a cross section of honorees from corporate execs to everyday people making a difference each day, to sports officials to legendary basketball players. Thanks everyone for coming out and selling out the capacity, standing-room-only crowd. Pops would be proud! :09—You know I was told at a young age, “What’s said quietly in the dark will be shouted out loud in the light.” So for the never-been-nowhere…never inducted or never awarded…always wanting something-for-nothing hoodrat that couldn’t wait for the sun to come up to complain about something…Let me tell ya this, I don’t know who you are, but I know what ya said and I know who told me ya said it. First, there were no complaints other than yours; Second, we had so much food, we had to give it away as people were leaving; Third, you’ll spend $20 a pop at Hook & Fish for some undersized wings and fries, but you can’t spend $50 at a five-star restaurant that, by the way, is Blackowned; Fourth, if you had to choose between coming to the event and “keeping your cable on,” you should have stayed home! Fifth, I’m “43 years strong” with this.

You are that whisper in the dark and guess what,

Overtime

BILL NEAL every time we do this, the good people keep coming.

We win. You lose…mic drop. I’m out!!!!! :08—Oh, my bad! Back to some sports stuff. You had to know the Pens would lose in Nashville this past Saturday, June 3. Too much energy. Too much desperation. And too much “Ju-Ju” to fight against. I’m writing this column before the June 5 game, so I’m predicting we take that game (four) in catfish land, then we close it out at home, Thursday June 8! Take it to the bank! :07—Your Pittsburgh Steelers go to camp July 15. It’s Stairway To Seven time. You can take that to the bank too… but go to a different bank. Spread your money around, nephew. :06—Nope, you can’t take anything Pittsburgh Pirates to the bank. Look, I luv them, luv the park, not a better place to watch a game, but no pitchin’… no peace, no pitchin’… no peace! (Now that was clever and you know it.) :05—Hey Braddock Roy, how you doing man?

Argue this. Here are the greatest male athletes of all time…No. 1, Muhammad Ali. No. 2, Wilt Chamberlain. No. 3, Jim Thorpe. No. 4, Jim Brown. No. 5, Michael Jordan. No. 6, Joe Greene. No. 7, Michael Phelps. No. 8, Usain Bolt. No. 9, Hank Aaron. No. 10, Roger Federer. What say you, Pittsburgh? Text me your list at 412-628-4856 and win something. (I don’t know what you’ll win, but… you’ll get something!) :04—Waiting for this huh? Too – Much – Fire – Power – In – Golden – State!!! Warriors win in 6 games. As of this column, they already won the first two games of the series in Oakland. The series moves to Cleveland on June 7. :03—By the way people, Martavis Bryant didn’t shoot Kennedy. He got caught doing weed. I, in no way, condone it, but come on. He’ll be fine.

Lesson learned! (Yo Martavis, don’t you make me look stupid.) :02—Here’s your movie review. You know you like it. Yes you do. Yes you do. Oh shut up. Yes you do! Baywatch, T&A. That’s it. That’s it. Go if you have nothing better to do. Wonder Woman.

She’s hot, no doubt about that. Good, but not great.

Weak storyline. I give the movie “Two basketballs.”

Did I mention, she’s hot? :01—I’ll leave you with this. If you don’t sub-

scribe to the New Pittsburgh Courier for your only Black news…you just gotta be ashamed – of yourself, junior. Call Brenda at 412-481-8302, ext. 134 for your subscription!

~ GAME OVER ~

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Fair-weather fans, the coast is clearing for the Pirates As of June 5, the ued!

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates’ David were dead last in the Freese had to comNL Central Division, ment that it was, “such along with the Cincina weird situation.” nati Reds.

The Pirates ended up Hark hark, don’t let scoring a run after the that situation fool fiasco on a Freese RBI you for one moment. single.

Ya know why? Well, That being said, the in the bloodthirsty, Pirates remain in a cutthroat NL Central, great position to be in the current position of first place by the Allany of the combatants Star break. As I stated can transition from in a previous column, princes to paupers in they have remained the twinkling of an competitive in what is eye. arguably “baseball’s For example, as of toughest division.” The AUBREY BRUCE June 5, the New York annual crunch in the Mets were mired in NL Central is again fourth place in the NL East, a full 11 just that. games behind the division-leading Pittsburgh is just four games from Washington Nationals. But when being in the “first chair”—how ‘bout you mosey on over to the NL Centhem apples? tral, the Pirates were in last place, All I have heard this past month is but are only four games back of the moaning and groaning from Pirates Brewers. fans about how inept the Pirates Go figure. have been. In a few cases, I have On June 2, the Bucs, armed with been part of the feeding frenzy as their sometimes schizophrenic well. offense, sailed into Gotham City However, I am going to pose this with the “Jolly Roger” flying high. question to you. Can’t you smell As a result, the Mets walked the change in the air? The Pirates’ plank, dropping two out of three to young superstar pitcher, Jamesthe squad from the Steel City. For on Taillon, appears to be on the the Mets to lose wasn’t as big of verge of a miraculous comeback an issue; but as to how they lost… after a testicular cancer scare whew. sidelined him for around a month.

The Mets were outscored, 25-12, Outfielder Starling Marte will and except for their June 3 effort (a return to the team after the All-Star 4-2 Mets win), the Pirates offense break after serving a suspension appears to have awakened. for testing positive for a perforThe June 4 game took a weird and mance-enhancing substance. fortunate turn for the Bucs in the And Andrew McCutchen is hitseventh inning after manager Clint ting very well at the No. 6 spot in Hurdle challenged a double play call the lineup. As Parliament Funk—after the Mets had returned to the adelic might have sung 40 years dugout, and after “God Bless Ameriago, the Pittsburgh Pirates are ca” was sung during the seventh-in“standing on the verge of getting ning stretch. it on.”

While the thousands at Citi Field Are you onboard, or are you a thought it was the bottom of the fair-weather fan who, at the first seventh upcoming, it turns out sign of clouds on the horizon, is runHurdle won his challenge—Mets ning for the nearest lifeboat? second baseman Neil Walker (Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@ indeed did not have his foot on the newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583bag while turning the double play, 6741.) and the top of the seventh contin-

Inside Conditions

Attention all PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS! The New Pittsburgh Courier is having a special “2017: Celebrating the Graduates” edition on Wednesday, June 28.

And we want to feature your high school or college graduate in our June 28 special edition!

There’s not too much time left! Here’s what to do right now: 1. Call Rob Taylor at the Courier to reserve a spot for your graduate in our June 28 edition. Call 412-481-8302, ext. 135, or E-mail rtaylor@newpittsburghcourier.com 2. Pick out the best picture you have of your graduate! Senior picture, Facebook picture, or a picture from graduation day!

3. E-mail, regular mail, or bring in that picture to the Courier. E-mail it to rtaylor@ newpittsburghcourier.com, or send to 315 East Carson St., Pittsburgh PA 15219 4. Write a 3-5 sentence paragraph with your message to the graduate. Include graduate’s full name, school name, and degree received (college). This paragraph will be under your graduate’s photo in the paper.

5. Cost: $25 per graduate photo. Includes a free 6-month subscription to the Courier! Be sure to give an address for us to send the free subscription.

6. Hurry! Space is limited to 100 graduate photos. We don’t have too much space left! Call Rob right now to reserve your graduate’s spot. Call 412-481-8302, ext.

135!

Alanys McEnheimer 7. All photos, written material and payments must be received by 5 p.m. Friday Steel Valley High School Alanys was a member of the Steel Valley Varsity June 16!

Marching Band for four years, in the chorus for three years, Students Against Destructive Decisions for three years, Future Is Mine for two years and a member of the Spanish Club. She attends Rodman Street Missionary Baptist and has served on the Jr. Usher Board for five years.

Alanys had a GPA of 3.2 overall. She will be attending the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall and plans to major in Nursing.

Congratulations to your 2017 graduate!

From all of us at the New Pittsburgh Courier.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JUNE 7-13, 2017

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PEOPLE

JUNE 7-13, 2017

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Awww, we knew you loved us! Downtown YWCA representin’

ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVES DAN ONORATO, RICH FITZGERALD AND JIM RODDEY

The New Pittsburgh Courier is more than just a newspaper.

It’s The Voice of Pittsburgh’s African American Community.

We work hard to keep

you informed about issues affecting our community. But we also show off the fun side of our community, spotlighting the movers and shakers, covering numerous

events, and highlighting all the positive things and people in Black Pittsburgh.

Pick up your copy each week at these popular Giant Eagle locations…

YWCA EMPLOYEES BRITTANY GOLDSMITH OF THE WEST END, ALEXIS YOUNGER OF MCKEES ROCKS, AND AYAN MICHIE OF THE EAST END

Giant Eagle Frankstown Ave., East Hills Giant Eagle South Side, 20th St. Giant Eagle Shadyside Giant Eagle East Liberty Giant Eagle Penn Hills Giant Eagle Edgewood Towne Center

Giant Eagle Homestead/Waterfront Giant Eagle Crafton/Ingram West End Giant Eagle North Side Cedar Ave. Giant Eagle McKeesport Giant Eagle Monroeville GETGOs Baum Blvd, Wilkinsburg, Penn Hills

PWSA halts water line replacement PWSA FROM A1

and safely address this problem.”

Welch had urged installing point-of-entry (POE) filter systems at all affected buildings. While expensive, they would cost roughly a quarter of the $400 million needed to complete the partial line replacement program the city approved after meeting with the state DEP. “During my mayoral campaign, I consistently challenged PWSA’s strategy regarding partial replacement of the service lines.

However, my position was not taken seriously by the Peduto Administration nor PWSA. Now, they realize the risks of the partial replacement strategy,” Welch said in a June 5 statement, addressed to the Courier.

“The EPA-approved solution suggested during my candidacy was to install POE units in PWSA customer homes at an expense far less than the cost of replacing the service lines.

This would have protected the homeowners from elevated lead levels once line replacements occurred.

This administration instead chose to offer free water pitchers, which is an ineffective and negligent strategy.”

As the New Pittsburgh Courier previously reported, under a consent decree reached with the DEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the authority agreed to replace seven percent of its lead service lines per year. In March, it contracted with two firms,

Frank J. Zottola Construction of Butler and Independent Enterprises of Oakdale, to replace 1,500 lead service lines by the end of June for nearly $4 million.

The work began May 3, and since then, the firms completed work at 81 locations. Of those, 49 had publicly-owned lead service lines which required replacement.

After the work, homeowners at eight of those locations submitted water samples for additional testing--four of them showed lead levels exceeding the EPA’s allowable limit.

The EPA and the Centers for Disease Control both warned that partial replacement could allow lead to leech from existing pipes and into the water supply.

Peduto said in his statement that the city knows what the problems are.

“We are looking to work with every partner to fix them,” he said. “We have to solve them safely, however,” Peduto said in his statement.

Welch said in his statement he was pleased to see the city take action.

“Halting the project is late in the making, but commended nonetheless,” he said. “I would urge PWSA and the Peduto administration to once again consider installing POE units in the homes ahead of service line replacements to make sure safe drinking water continues to be delivered in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.” Welch added, “This is no time for shortcuts.”