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NAACP Allegheny East demands changes in Gateway School District

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

With only 42 percent of Black students in the Gateway School District passing standardized math exams—compared to 72 percent of White students—the Sept.

5 decision by the school board to hire an equity director to help address it should have been good news.

But they only agreed to hire a part-time equity director—and since it is obviously not a part-time problem, NAACP Allegheny East President Ken Huston said he and others in the community now have “no confidence” in the district and are exploring possible legal action, and state

V. FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY

Running again V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery in race for Gergely’s House seat

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

In her last race for the 37th District state House seat, McKeesport Councilwoman V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery had to fight her way onto the Republican ballot via writein votes to run against indicted incumbent Democratic Rep. Marc Gergely. Despite garnering nearly 40 percent of the votes, she lost.

Since then, however, Gergely has been convicted of multiple felonies and is stepping down. That will necessitate a special election, and Walker-Montgomery is in the race again—and again she is an underdog.

Though not running against a corrupt, incumbent Democrat who still had all the party’s backing, this time she is running against Austin Davis, who, like her, is Black and a native of McKeesport. But he is also SEE RUNNING A4

PHILLIP WOODS

and federal intervention to address a “documented, historical pattern of improper behavior, conduct and questionable actions by the district in recent years.”

“They don’t believe there is an achievement gap issue,” said Huston at a Sept. 13 press conference announcing the chapter’s vote of no confidence in the school board.

“There is strong resistance from the school administration, period.”

During its Aug. 15 meeting, the board allocated $135,000

for a pilot equity program to address achievement issues at its Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. and Evergreen elementary schools, with a part-time director’s salary of $30,000.

But a joint committee of teachers, administrators and KEN HUSTON

SEE NAACP A4

Yusef Salaam tells his story Was member of the ‘Central Park Five’

by Merecedes J. Howze

LEON HALEY JR., MD

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Inmate 95A1113 spent 12 years in prison for a high-profile crime that he did not commit. DNA exonerated him, but the shadows of being labeled one of the “Central Park Five” still YUSEF SALAAM, left, speaks with Jasiri X during Point Park University’s Talk Back resonates with him Series event, Sept. 19. (Photo by Xavier A. Thomas) even today. His consolation prize: a civil suit monetary song, “Strange Fruit,” where know that some years later, judgement, as New York City re- he names several victims of at age 15, his life would be fused to take responsibility for his racially-motivated deaths. changed forever. Even still, He ends the brief perfor- it wasn’t until he disobeyed wrongful imprisonment.

On Sept. 19, Yusef Salaam joined mance with a declaration: his mom and entered a Pittsburgh-based 1Hood found- “I pray to God that we never NYPD precinct to declare his innocence when he realer Jasiri X to kick off Point Park name you.”

Before bringing Salaam ized, “Part of my childhood University’s Talk Back Series at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. More out to a standing ovation, was robbed.”

The Central Park Five than 100 people gathered for an Jasiri X provided a current intense discussion about race and news segment entitled, refers to the five teenag“This Week in White Su- ers—four Black, including injustice.

The evening event opened with premacy,” highlighting vio- Salaam, and one Hispana documentary showing Jasiri X’s lent acts of racism that oc- ic—who were charged with 2015 swift migration from a Mike curred in just the past seven the brutal assault and rape of a White female New York Brown benefit concert to a Mis- days.

Then Salaam took the City jogger, Trisha Meili, in souri jail cell alongside Dr. Cornel stage, and began telling his 1989. Meili, who was 28 at West.

Jasiri X ended the video presen- story as a regular, happy SEE SALAAM A5 tation with a brief excerpt from his Harlem kid. Little did he

Leon Haley Jr. named CEO of UF Health Jacksonville

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Pittsburgh native Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, has been named chief executive officer of UF Health Jacksonville. It was a unanimous vote from the organization’s board of directors, Sept. 25. The appointment comes less than a year after Dr. Haley was named dean of the University of Florida College SEE HALEY A4

Jeff Ballou speaks about press freedoms

by Brian Cook For New Pittsburgh Courier

The media’s integrity is under attack, but that just means it should remain steadfast in truth-telling.

Those are the words of National Press Club President Jeff Ballou, a Homewood native, who spoke in Pittsburgh, Sept. 23, about press freedoms and the growing number of media attacks in today’s divisive political climate.

“You have to be able to stand on your work, without fear or favor,” he told the crowd of about 60 at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania building, Downtown. He was the guest speaker at the luncheon with the theme, “Freeing the Press: Why Journalism Matters.”

Ballou is a news editor at Al Jazeera Media Network and the 110th president HOMEWOOD NATIVE JEFF BALLOU was guest speaker at a lun- of the National Press Club, a membercheon held at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania build- ship-based organization of more than ing, Sept. 23. (Photo by J.L. Martello) 3,100 journalists and communications

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“You have to be able to stand on your work, without fear or favor.”

JEFF BALLOU

professionals.

He became the first African American man to hold the position of president in the Washington, D.C.based club’s 108-year history when he was inaugurated in January.

A Penn State alumnus who resides in D.C., Ballou began his speech in Pittsburgh this past Saturday with a homecoming “thank you” to the people who helped raise him and gave

J. Pharoah Doss says

him the tools he needed to succeed in the media industry.

One of those early supporters was William Fisher, a luncheon attendee who was the principal at Taylor Allderdice High School when Ballou was enrolled.

Ballou is a 1985 graduate.

Fisher’s guidance helped mold him into who he is today, Ballou said.

When visiting Pittsburgh, Ballou usually travels to Homewood to see how it has changed. Much to his disappointment, he feels it has been left behind. He used that as an example on a larger scale of how the media should report on economically-disadvantaged areas, like Homewood, to inform the public about critical issues that affect people in urban communities.

Well-rounded, accurate coverage is more critical today than ever because “so many people are saying we are fake now,” Ballou said. “One mistake is multiplied a thou-

St. Louis—No conviction, no peace Forum B4

SEE BALLOU A4

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SEPTEMBER 7-OCTOBER 3, 2017

INTERNATIONAL

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This Week In Black History

Week of September 27-October 3 September 27 1817—Hiram R. Revels is born free in Fayetteville, N.C. Revels becomes the first Black to serve in the United States Senate shortly after the Civil War. 1876—Edward Mitchell Bannister upsets racist Whites who believe Blacks have no artistic skill by winning a bronze medal for a painting he displayed at the American Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

1950—Gwendolyn Brooks is awarded Pulitzer Prize for her book of poetry —“Annie Allen.” She was the first Black so honored. Brooks published her first poem in a children’s magazine, “American Childhood,” when she was 13 years old. By the time she was 16, she had compiled a portfolio of around 75 published poems and had her work critiqued by poet and novelist James Weldon GWENDOLYN BROOKS Johnson. At 17, she started submitting her work to “Lights and Shadows,” the poetry column of the Chicago Defender, an African-American newspaper. Her poems, many published PLAYING FOR PEACE—In this July 26, file photo, Wuilly Arteaga plays his violin during clashes against while she attended Wilson Junior College, ranged in style from Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard officers on the first day of a 48-hour general strike in protest of traditional ballads and sonnets to poems using blues rhythms in government plans to rewrite the constitution, in the Bello Campo neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela. free verse.

(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) 1950—Ralph J. Bunch is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in mediating a conflict between Palestinians and the newly established Jewish state of Israel. Arabs had gone to war arguing the Jewish state had been established on land which rightfully belonged to the Palestinians.

September 28 1785—Abolitionist and writer David Walker is born. Walker is best RALPH J. BUNCH known for his powerful anti-slavery pamphlet “David Walker’s Appeal.” The “Appeal” was injured or jailed. Some of asylum. But he said published on this same day in 1829.

by Claudia Torrens quest the images showed Arteahe doesn’t feel safe return1833—Reverend Lemuel Haynes dies at 88. He was Associated Press Writer ga, his face bloodied. ing home because of death one of the leading Black veterans of America’s war for “I play the violin for NEW YORK (AP)—A threats he*s received on independence from England. peace, for freedom,” Arteaviolinist who became the social media and by phone 1868—The Opelousas Massacre occurs. Racist ga told the Lincoln Center young face of anti-governfollowing his outspoken Whites launch a terror campaign in St. Landry Parrish, ment protests in Venezuela criticism of President Nico- crowd.

La., resulting in the deaths of at least 200 Blacks.

Arteaga first picked up may soon seek political asy- las Maduro.

1895—The National Baptist Convention is founded. lum in the United States.

“I’ll probably seek asylum the violin growing up in 1991—Jazz Trumpeter Miles Davis dies in Santa MonLEMUEL HAYNES the city of Valencia and Wuilly Arteaga became but it’s not a decision I’ve ica, Calif., of a stroke. He was 65. was a member of Venewell-known after playing made yet,” Arteaga told September 29 zuela’s world-famous El somber renditions of VenThe Associated Press at 1784—First African-American Masonic lodge is established Sistema network of youth ezuela’s national anthem the concert. “I’m nervous

by Prince Hall. Hall headed lodge number 459 and was orchestras and music while standing amid clouds and worried. I don’t know referred to as the “Worshipful Master.” He would also become schools. He dropped out afof tear gas. During one what’s going to happen a leading figure in the struggle for African-Americans rights ter two years but continued clash with security forces with my life.” during this early period in U.S. history. studying on his own. About earlier this year, he and his Dressed in a T-shirt and 1940—The first U.S. merchant ship commanded by a Black four years ago he moved violin were dragged to the hat in the red, yellow and captain—Hugh Mulzac—is launched in Wilmington, Del. ground and he was later blue colors of the Venezue- to Caracas, busking for his The ship is named the “Booker T. Washington.” thrown in jail, where he lan flag, Arteaga performed meals by playing on the 1962—President John F. Kennedy finally sends federal streets and outside stores. said he was beaten. somber renditions of the troops to force the integration of the University of Mississippi.

He arrived in New York Now free, he performed classic folk standards that 1975—The nation’s first Black-owned television station— on Sunday with little Tuesday at Lincoln Center became anthems of the WGPR—begins broadcasting in Detroit. means to support himself. in New York at an event to four-month protest moveWILLIAM ARTHUR LEWIS 1979—William Arthur Lewis, economics professor at draw attention to human ment. Projected on a screen He’s living now at a hotel Princeton University, becomes the first Black to receive a paid for by the sponsors of rights abuses in Venezuela. behind him were scenes Nobel Prize in Economics.

Tuesday’s event but says The 23-year-old said his from the protests in which 2001—Mabel Fairbanks dies at 85. She priority is to find work in more than 120 people died he’ll soon have to start was the first Black woman to be inducted into looking for work. the U.S. rather than reand hundreds more were the Figure Skating Hall of Fame. She coached Olympic greats Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner.

October 1 1841—Fannie M. Richards is born. She Aug 8. More than 14,000 Odinga had petitioned (TriceEdneyWire.com/ becomes one of the candidates ran for about the court to overturn the GIN)—To the surprise of nation’s early civil MABEL FAIRBANKS 1,900 electoral seats. result, claiming the elecmany, Kenya’s supreme rights advocates as After pulling ahead from toral system was rigged court overturned the well as a prominent educator. what was earlier described in Kenyatta’s favor. Other country’s Aug. 8 presiden1868—John Mercer Langston (1829-1897) organizes irregularities included the as a close race, President tial election, setting the the nation’s first Black law school at Howard University in Kenyatta declared he torture and murder of a stage for a rarely-seen Washington, D.C. Largely forgotten today, Langston was a would be willing to step voting rematch in Africa or top election official, the major Black political figure during his day. He was one of down if he lost and called deportation of two foreign anyplace. the nation’s first African-American lawyers, elected politiOdinga advisers, agents be- on Odinga to do the same.

In its ruling, the court cal officials and he influenced Black education throughout “Let us accept the will of ing denied entry to polling concluded the election the country. The town of Langston, Okla., is named in his the people,” he said. “I am stations, names missing “was not conducted in honor. from the register and elec- willing myself to accept accordance with the con1872—Morgan State College is the will of the people, so let tronic voter identification stitution,” rendering the founded in Maryland.

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON them too, adding “in a true devices failing. declared results “invalid, democracy, all Kenyans are The successful petition null and void.”

1937—The NAACP awards the prestigious Spingarn Medal to winners.” could unleash a flood of Within the next 60 days, Walter White for his work against lynching. The light complexBut he changed his tune incumbent president Uhu- new petitions from the ioned White had “passed for White” to gather evidence against after the court threw out thousands of candidates ru Kenyatta will face his terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. the poll results, calling rival Raila Odinga—again. who lost other races on 1960—Africa’s most populous nation-Nigeria-declares its the judges “crooks” and independence from colonial rule. reminding supporters that 1966—The militant Black Panther Party is founded in Oakhe is still the incumbent land, Calif., by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. president.

October 2 WALTER WHITE Odinga for his part is 1800—Nat Turner is born on this day in South Hampton, Va. going after the internation- The spiritually inspired Turner would organize and carry out one of the deadliest slave al election observers who revolts in American history. His rebellion led to the deaths of 57 Whites including men, endorsed the Aug. 8 poll. women and children.

Some 400 election monitors 1937—Famed attorney Johnny Cochran is born on this day in reducing disparities in cancer outfrom the African Union, in Shreveport, La. He was the lead-attorney in the 1995 murder European Union, and trial which resulted in the not guilty verdict for football legend comes for African the the United States, includO.J. Simpson. In addition to Simpson, Cochran was involved in Americans? Lising former US secretary several other high profile cases. He died on March 29, 2005 at state John Kerry, called the age of 67. ten to Pittsburgh of the vote “free, fair and 1967—Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first Black Profiles with KQV credible.” Their views were justice on the United States Supreme Court. President Lyndon widely echoed in the media.

Johnson had nominated him in part bereporter Elaine cause of his distinguished career in the Effort, when GateNAACP fighting to desegregate AmeriTHE can institutions. Marshall had been the way Medical SociJOHNNY COCHRAN NEW PITTSBURGH lead attorney in the historic Brown v.

COURIER ety’s Dr. Anita EdBoard of Education case which led to the desegregation of the PUBLISHING COMPANY nation’s schools. wards discusses 1986—The U.S. Senate imposes economic sanctions on the continued inthen White minority government in South Africa.

Publication No.: USPS 381940 the The sanctions were imposed only after the Senate overrode a crease in breast 315 East Carson Street veto of the measure by President Ronald Reagan. Reagan had cancer rates in angered Blacks and progressive Whites by favoring a policy Pittsburgh, PA 15219 he referred to as “constructive engagement” with the racist Black women and Phone: 412-481-8302 South African regime. Black majority rule was not achieved Fax: 412-481-1360 prostate cancer THURGOOD MARSHALL in South Africa until 1994.

October 3 in Black men.

The 1856—Journalist and fiery advocate for Black rights T. Thomas Fortune is born in Marianna, Jackson County, Fla. New Pittsburgh Courier He was an orator, journalist and militant civil rights advocate. is published weekly He attended school at Howard University in Washington, D.C., but later moved to New York City where he founded the New periodicals York Age newspaper. Fortune died in Philadelphia at the age of paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. 71 in 1928.

1935—The then-independent East African nation of EthioPRICE $1.00 pia is invaded by fascist Italy in an attempt to join other European nations which had used military force to establish (Payable in advance) colonies in Africa and exploit its economic resources. Blacks 6 Months.....$25 throughout the world rallied to Ethiopia’s defense, in part, because the T. THOMAS FORTUNE 1 Year....$45 nation was viewed by many as the place 2 Years...$85 on Earth where human life began. The U.S. effort was led by prominent Harlem, N.Y., minister Adam Clayton Powell Sr. 9 Month School Rate $35 1949—One of the first Black-owned radio stations in America begins broadcasting in Atlanta, Ga. The principal organizing POSTMASTER: Send force behind WERD was businessman J.B. Blayton. address changes to: 1995—Former professional football great O.J. Simpson is found not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her New Pittsburgh Courier friend Ronald Goldman. The trial had been a national sensation. The verdict angered a majority of Whites. Polls showed 315 East Carson Street that better than 80 percent of Whites surveyed felt Simpson got Pittsburgh, PA 15219 O.J. SIMPSON away with murder.

Protesting Venezuelan violinist may seek asylum in U.S.

Kenyans set for rematch on flawed polls

What progress is being made…

Elaine Effort

Pittsburgh Profiles heard on

KQV 1410 AM and at WWW.KQV.COM

Friday, September 29 at 7:30 P.M. Saturday, September 30 at 7:00 A.M.

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Waters, Morial, Sanders push Black Wealth 2020 as ‘urgent’ movement spreads

by Hazel Trice Edney For New Pittsburgh Courier

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Black Wealth 2020, a new movement aiming to change the course of Black wealth in America, is gaining swift support from national advocates of economic justice.

“The struggle for Black wealth is a legendary struggle. And so whether we’re talking about what we have attempted to do in the past or what we should be doing now, the fact of the matter is that African-Americans have not really realized their potential in this country,” says U. S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee in a recent interview about the necessity of Black Wealth 2020. “If Black people are to have a future and to move forward, we’ve got to not only build wealth by home ownership, where we can build up our equity and have money to turn around and invest in business opportunities, but we must also learn more about and be aggressive in going after franchises and getting involved with investment opportunities—all of that is extremely important.

And now is a very crucial time in the history of Black people.”

Two years ago, Waters was among the first to interact with the then fledgling group, founded by Michael Grant, president of the National Bankers Association; Jim Winston, president of the National Association of Black-owned Broadcasters; and Ron Busby, president/CEO of the U. S. Black Chambers Inc. At that time the groups worked with Waters in an attempt to assure Black economic participation in a merger between NBC Universal and Comcast.They were successful. The merger failed. But, the groups continued to meet and has since grown to about 10 heads of organizations with economic justice as core values. They convene monthly to strategize on ways to significantly strengthen Black homeownership, Black businesses and Black banks by 2020 and beyond.In addition to Waters, their goals have attracted growing attention—and respect—from other major national leaders.

“What they are talking about is aligned directly with the work that we do on the ground,” says National Urban league President/CEO Marc Morial, who, through the NUL, manages one of the nation’s largest homeowner counseling services—30-40,000 cases a year in 50 cities nationwide. NUL also has about a dozen small business entrepreneurship centers “where we’re providing coaching and counseling classes to approximately 10-12,000 small businesses,” says Morial.

Morial said he has discussed the goals of Black Wealth 2020 with the organization’s

leaders will be no and they cookie cutare in sync ter modwith the el that is goals of the right at all NUL. times for “I’ve met all people. with them There has and I’m to be local aligned initiative, w i t h local inthem,” he genuity said. “We to achieve invited our purMichael to poses,” come to our BUILDING WEALTH—New York State Sen. James Sanders (head of ta- says Sandconference. ble) hosts Black Wealth 2020 founders U.S. Black Chamber President ers.

I mean, my Ron Busby (left) and National Bankers Association President Michael “ B l a c k philosophy Grant (right) at introductory meeting in New York.

Wealth is I believe 2020 right in being supportive of everyone because now is a movement. It’s an idea whose time we’re all aligned. We’re not competing with has come. And people all over the U. S. are each other...What they are doing in their coming to this independently with varying thrust is very welcome because for a long degrees of success of course. With that, we time the Urban League has been sort of need to institutionalize. We need to figure holding up the economic empowerment out what is the best approach and how do banner in the civil rights community.” Mo- we go about this approach.” rial agrees the work of economic justice is In New York, Sanders has pulled together crucial, but he also concedes it is daunting. a group of local people who meet bi-week“It’s a very tall order because we lost so ly and envision, discuss and strategize much Black wealth in a 10-year-period. In on how they will economically impact the the period since the recession, we’ve lost South East section of Queens. The meetalmost 10 percent of our homeownership ings are private, he said, mostly so that

U.S. REP. MAXINE WATERS D-CALIF.

MARC MORIAL, PRESIDENT/CEO, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

and it’s difficult to rebuild it and renew it because Black people are also—like many Americans—suffering from income inequality, earnings suppression, and wage stagnation,” Morial said.The success of Black Wealth 2020 is contingent upon it remaining consistent, expanding and strategizing, says New York Sen. James Sanders Jr., who was so impressed by the organization’s goals that he has established what he calls a chapter of Black Wealth 2020 in South East Queens, N.Y. “We consider ourselves a chapter of this amazing movement which is led by the people in DC. Now, having said that, we do hold the right to local creativity. The local group knows its community best and there

NEW YORK STATE SEN. JAMES SANDERS

they will remain focused.

“We have created three or four different committees—housing, banking, business and a marketing committee for the timing and strategy to get our message out,” he describes. “We have not spent much time going before the wider public as we are working out some of the finer points. We’ve been in this situation for 400 years. We can wait just a little longer.”Like the D.C. model, first, they are studying and gathering information, Sanders said. Then they will decide how to go about impacting the economic lives of the people in that area of New York. He says, viewing themselves as a “test case”, realistic change will be the key evidence of success.

“In politics we do well what I call impression sessions where we announce some major victory that really isn’t and, you know, we get the accolades and people believe that something is happening...But this is too serious an issue—the issue of our survival—is far too serious for impression sessions,” Sanders said.

Simultaneously, back in D.C., the shared leadership team of Black Wealth 2020 continues to meet monthly. Attracting others with like minds, the group acts as a catalyst for economic growth.

In addition to Morial and Sanders, among those who have met with the D.C.based group are Jim Coleman, president/ CEO of Prince George’s County’s Economic Development Corp.; Robert Greene president/CEO of the National Association of Investment Companies, which represents diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds; and Andy Ingraham, President/CEO, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers.

Ingraham credits Black Wealth 2020 for supporting his efforts to connect with major African-American groups in order to encourage them to hold conferences at Black-owned hotels.

“This has been ongoing with a number of African-American and other minority-owned organizations—about creating MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) and a relationship so that they can use our hotels around the country,” he says.

“At least $90 billion represents the total market value of the multi-cultural minority travel industry. And our goal is to get more of that business—not only in our hotels—but get more cities and more entrepreneurs to focus on gaining a share of that market.”

Among the connections facilitated by Black Wealth 2020 is one between NABHOOD and Dr. Paulette Walker, who was then president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and also chair of the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s Council of Presidents, an umbrella organization for all nine Black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities.

In addition to discussing the use of Black-owned hotels, Walker also passed the information to the Greek-letter organizations and has left information on the movement for her successor.

“Having that kind of information was very helpful in terms of how we—when considering hotels, barber shops or whatever it might be—can spread the knowledge and the information base. Because sometimes we have an information void,” Walker said. “The more people are aware of the concept of Black Wealth 2020 and are aware of what can be done, the more widespread the agenda can be.”

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SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

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Homewood native Jaff Ballou given a warm welcome

JEFF BALLOU, TOM LETURGEY (Photos by J.L. Martello) BALLOU FROM A1

sand times and it takes even longer to clean it up.”

His appearance in Pittsburgh this past Saturday was sponsored by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Black Media Federation and the Online News Association Pittsburgh.

“Ballou’s visit was inspiring because it called upon journalists to hold everyone accountable and he stressed the importance of telling important stories,” said Kim Palmiero, president of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania. “We are honored that he made the trip to talk to us. He reminded us about our important role.”

Ballou’s first year at the helm of the National Press Club is running concurrently with the inaugural year of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed displeasure in the media by using tumultuous rhetoric throughout his first nine months in office.

“I have been the stan-

dard bearer for protecting the Constitution because, frankly, my official neighbor two blocks down from the club refuses to do so— at least as it comes to freedom of the press,” Ballou said at the event, Sept.

23. He pressed attendees to “keep fighting” against those who wish to silence the media.

He often speaks proudly of his Pittsburgh roots.

At Ballou’s inauguration in D.C. in January, the Steel City’s sports colors—black and yellow—were prominent as the approximately 300 people in attendance waved the Terrible Towels they had been gifted.

Ballou’s pride in his Pittsburgh roots and role as a leader of a national journalism group are motivational, said Stacey Federoff, president of the Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh.

“Jeff uses his position as National Press Club president to channel his passion for journalism and its role in our society with such expertise. And to know that a

proud Pittsburgher holds such a visible platform inspired me—and hopefully others who attended the luncheon—to work harder to uphold those journalistic

JEFF BALLOU, HAROLD HAYES ideals,” she said.

Thus far in 2017, 65 journalists in the U.S. have been attacked, arrested, stopped at a border, or subjected to equipment searches and

seizures, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a coalition of groups that advocate for an open press.

“Jeff ’s words were timely given the current media cli-

mate that we are experiencing,” said Tory N. Parrish, president of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation.

“It was a much-needed and powerful message.”

V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery says she’s in Haley Jr.

V. FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY RUNNING FROM A1

an aide to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and the Allegheny County Democratic vice chair— meaning he will likely have all the party’s backing.

When she announced her candidacy, Sept. 13, she said it was always her intention to run again in 2018—now

she will just be doing it earlier.

“Other than it being an open seat, to me it’s not that different. I’m still running against the little boys’ club and the machine that supported an indicted incumbent,” she said.

“I was in this race when it was hard. I mean, God bless

Austin for his success and the positions he’s attained, but what has he done there?

How many Black candidates has the Democratic Party endorsed since he’s been vice chair? Being in a position and doing something there are different things.”

Walker-Montgomery said the special election run is

also different in that the parties pick the candidates—there is no primary. So, while it’s unlikely, it is possible that Davis might not be the nominee, and that she might not be, either.

“We don’t have the date for the special election yet, so nothing is official. Anyone could make their case to the parties to win the endorsements,” she said.

“As for me, given the numbers I put up last time, it would make sense that I would be the Republican candidate. They have been supportive and will continue to. I’ve spoken with (Allegheny County Republican Chair) D. Raja, and with my donors and supporters—but they knew I was running again in 2018 because I said so right after last year’s election.”

With Gergely set to officially resign on or around his

sentencing date of Nov. 6, state House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-McCandless, has 10 days from that date to schedule the special election, likely in January or February. The winner would serve out the unexpired portion of Gergely’s term—meaning they would need to run again in the 2018 May primary and November general elections.

So, win or lose, Walker-Montgomery said she will be running twice next year.

“My name recognition is still high because I just ran,” she said. “My platform hasn’t changed—we still need to increase economic opportunities, loosen some of the regulations on small businesses, increase the tax base, and deal with the opiate crisis and crime to make sure people feel safe.”

She also said she didn’t think running against another Black McKeesport resident would cut into her support because the race is for the 37th District.

“This is about the 10 communities that make up the district, not just McKeesport,” she said. “But it’s not impossible that that could have been part of (the Democratic Party’s) thought process.”

Part-time equity director not enough, NAACP says

NAACP FROM A1

some board members recommended that a full-time equity director be hired to “to sustain the district’s efforts to create a culture of support and improvement.”

At that time, board member Mary Beth Cirucci said it could not find a qualified candidate among the six they interviewed from 30 applicants that wanted to do the job full-time. At the Sept. 5 meeting, the district agreed to hire West Mifflin High School Principal Phillip Woods—the only candi-

date who was amenable to doing the job part-time.

Woods said at the Sept.

5 meeting that he understands it is a sensitive issue, but said he is “100 percent committed to the lives of young adults” and asked that critics work with him to build the program and “earn the full-time position that you want.”

Huston told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview, Sept.

25, that Cirucci was not entirely correct.

“At their July meeting the

board voted 7-2 to hire a full-time diversity director, but when they came back in August, they voted instead for a part-time director,” he said. “The reason they can’t find a ‘qualified’ full-time person is that they wrote the job description in such a way that it required an applicant with a principal’s certification. It’s not needed for the position, and what principal would give that up for this post?”

As for Woods, Huston said regardless of his qualifications, Woods can’t pos-

sibly do the job—because he is already a full-time high school principal in another district. Huston said he has asked the National NAACP office to assist in exploring legal challenges that might be brought against the district and the board, as well as action by either the Pennsylvania Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Education.

“We’re exploring all our legal options,” he said. “African American students are underachieving by 35

percent compared to their White counterparts. We can’t sit idly by and let this go on—we won’t.”

Huston said the branch is also looking at the elective process to address the district’s indifference to racial equity issues.

“There are no Blacks on the Gateway School Board, and the district is more than 20 percent Black,” he said. “But five seats are coming up for election and we think we have four African Americans who will run.”

new CEO of Fla. hospital

HALEY FROM A1

of Medicine-Jacksonville, a position he will continue to hold.

Dr. Haley will officially assume his new joint role on Jan. 1, 2018.

“It hasn’t taken me long to realize what a special place UF Health Jacksonville is, and I am excited to lead the hospital and the medical school,” Dr. Haley said in a statement. “In just a short time, I’ve come to understand the special role we play in bringing the best, most compassionate care to this community, serving everyone and anyone who comes through our doors. This is an exciting time for us, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Dr. Haley was raised mostly in Point Breeze, and graduated from Shady Side Academy in 1982. He told the Courier in an exclusive interview that his parents, Ann and Leon Sr., are his personal role models, along with his grandmother, Mattie Sharpe (deceased).

Professional role models include Carolyn Carter, assistant dean at Pitt’s medical school, and Don Yealy, chair of Emergency Medicine at Pitt. Yealy “was a Fellow in Emergency Medicine that helped interest me in the field,” Dr. Haley said.

Dr. Haley completed his undergraduate degree from Brown University in Providence, and earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

He received his master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Haley completed his residency in Emergency Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

A5

Yusef Salaam: ‘Part of my childhood was robbed’

SALAAM FROM A1

the time of the assault, was raised in Upper St. Clair and graduated from Upper St. Clair high school.

The teens, who were in NYC’s Central Park but did not commit the heinous crimes, were sentenced by two different juries to 5-15 years in prison. However, in 2002, Matias Reyes, a convicted serial rapist who was already serving a life sentence, confessed to the crimes, confirmed by matching DNA evidence.

After being released from prison, the five men sued New York City in 2003 for malicious prosecution, racial discrimination and emotional distress. The city settled with the men for $41 million in 2014.

Jason Rivers, 41, of Lincoln-Lemington, says Salaam’s story was “therapeutic.”

“We all have a story to tell, and we’ve all overcome adversity. But, it’s when we tell our stories, like Brother Yusef, is when the healing happens,” Rivers said.

Rivers is one of the inaugural founders of Pittsburgh Public Schools’ mentoring program, We Promise. Through this program, Rivers constantly tells his story to the school

district’s Black male high school students on the cusp of the earning The Pittsburgh Promise.

When the floor was opened for questions from the audience, the first question asked was, “How do Black people deal with their White friends and race issues?” Jasiri X quickly responded, “I believe we are at a time where we say, ‘Which side are you on?’”

As questions poured in, one young woman asked Salaam how he deals with, “Ignorant White people.”

The questioner was one of Salaam’s ten children, Rain.

The youngest of the Salaam bunch, Rain, 13, of Mount Lebanon, was very proud to hear her father’s story. “To think, he came basically from nothing and now he’s doing all of this amazing stuff. To hear him speak and talk about his life, this is a proud daughter moment.”

YUSEF SALAAM, middle, with some members of the audience who attended the Sept. 19 event at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. (Photos by Director Ava DuVernay is Xavier A. Thomas) creating her second Netflix production, and this time she is telling the story of the Central Park Five for Netflix. Salaam said that he and the other members of the Central Park Five are all on board to contribute to this project.

ALCOSAN’s Wet Weather plan— Who’s in and for how much?

by Christian Morrow

ipalities the authority serves.

Courier Staff Writer The green infrastructure During her recent adprogram manager, condress to the African Ameri- tracted at $3.3 million, can Chamber of Commerce, is CH2M Hill Engineers ALCOSAN executive Inc., a Colorado-based director Arletta Williams environmental engineerpresented a chart showing ing firm with offices in which firms, and at what Pittsburgh. It will issue amounts, have so far been contracts related to reduccontracted in various caing pollution sources and pacities as part of the team using additional environtasked with turning the mentally-safe treatment authority’s massive $3.6 methods. Neither it nor billion, federally mandatAECOM has issued any ed Wet Weather plan into reality.

“We are going to be spending a lot of money,” she told the audience, “and these are some of the people you should be talking to. But the bulk of the contracting will be done, and the money JASIRI X, left, gave the crowd a wealth of knowledge at the Sept. 19 spent here (indicating the bottom of the flow event at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. chart that was presented).”

So far, the authority has paid ALEM Consulting LLC of Fox Chapel $680,000 to act as its Owner Representative. At the same managerial level is CDM Smith Inc., an environmental engineering, construction and consulting firm based on Pittsburgh’s North Side. It is being paid $14.5 million as the Wet Weather Program Director.

They will oversee $14.3 million in preliminary planning, contracted to Detroit, Mich.-based stormwater and wastewater construction engineers Wade Trim Inc.; the property acquisition team—yet to be contracted, and the work done by the plant program manYUSEF SALAAM, signing his book for an audience member. ager, the regional tunnel program manager, the regionalization program manager, and the green infrastructure program manager.

Of these, plant program manager ARCADIS US, contracted for $9.3 million, will be issuing Memorial Community Lecture contracts to demolish the SEPT. 28—The Hill House Association and UPMC will presexisting Operations and ent the Walter Allen Memorial Community Lecture, 2 p.m.

Maintenance building in in the 2nd oor Conference room, in the aufmann Center, the heart of ALCOSAN’s Centre Ave. r. oldie S. yrd, director of the Center North Side treatment for utreach in Al heimer’s Aging and Community ealth plant and replace it with will present Al heimer’s isease ngaging Families and one designed to hanCommunities in Response to a rowing ealth Crisis. he dle the near-tripling of lecture is free and refreshments will e provided. lease the plant’s wastewater RSV y Sept. 2 to elita erry at 4 2 2 2 2 or email treatment capacity to 600 at terrymh@upmc.edu. million gallons per day.

ARCADIS US will also be Soul Food & Live Jazz Night issuing contracts related to installing and relocatC 4 he Rivers Clu will host a Soul Food ing all utilities for the a ight event, p.m. ring your family, friends new building. This work is co workers or if you can’t make it pass it along to somescheduled to begin in the one you know will enjoy good southern cooking and dancspring. ing to work off the fa ulous meal. f you enjoy Ri s, At $8.65 million, AEFried Chicken, Catfish, Candied ams, reens, Salads COM Technical Services and many more...lots of ama ing desserts then this is Inc., a Los Angeles-based the place to e. he evening will feature live ja music multinational with three y yndsey Smith Soul istri ution along with Charles Pittsburgh offices, is the u y aniels and for your dancing pleasure ick authority’s regionalization ice. Advance reservations are re uired, 4 for memprogram manager and will ers, for non mem ers cluding Alcohol , contact issue contracts related to olanda ingate at 4 2 22 or y email olanda. transferring trunk sewer wingate clu corp.com. lines from the 82 munic-

Keepin’ Our Community

CONNECTED

contracts.

The authority, said Williams, will spend $2 billion to comply with federal mandates over the next 20 years, and another $1.6 billion beyond that.

Some of the work will entail massive projects, but, Williams said, people may not notice because they are out of sight. For instance, increasing capacity from municipalities west and south of the city will

include running additional and/or larger pipes, and tunneling under the Ohio River.

“You know that 21-foot diameter machine that dug the tunnel for the ‘T’ to the North Side? Yeah, we use that kind of stuff, too,” she said.

The regional tunnel program manager contract and the subsequent contracts for consolidation and design work have yet to be awarded.

ENTERTAINER New Pittsburgh Courier

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SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

FRH wants to make ‘positive impact’

GERALD REED of North Huntingdon wins third place with his 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray, Sept. 23. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

FRH, showcasing his new album at Boom Concepts on Penn Avenue. (Photos by J.L. Martello) He’s known as FRH. The Fly Revolutionary Hustler. And the Pittsburgh rapper recently held an album release party in the Strip District to showcase his first volume. “This is something that I’ve had the dream of doing since I was 12 or 13 years old!” FRH writes on his album cover. “To be a Fly Revolutionary Hustler is to be comfortable being yourself at all times. To know how to make a dollar. And to have the ultimate goal of having a positive impact on your community.

But it isn’t about me as an individual. This is about the millions of us in this world. This is our time. We are uniquely built for this time and place. Out with the old, in with the Fly Revolutionary Hustlers!”

The album can be found on ITUNES under “Fly Revolutionary Hustler, Vol. 1,” or via Facebook by searching, “FRH412.”

Achieving Greatness

Congrats Courier Winners!

Stevie, Jackie and Theresa were among our 5 winners for free tickets to see Wiz Khalifa this weekend at the Thrival Music Festival! For more details, go to newpittsburghcourier.com!

Car Show at Savoy

HOME IMPROVEMENT New Pittsburgh Courier

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SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Bridgeway supports real estate developments that improve quality of life for surrounding communities

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Bridgeway Capital’s Emerging Opportunities Financing program offers resources and expertise to help improve overall economic conditions in underserved areas through community development projects.

Bridgeway Chief Lending Officer, Dwayne Rankin, stated that “Bridgeway’s strategic goal is to invest $100 million into low- and moderate-income communities by 2020. Through place based community development funding we promote healthy and thriving neighborhoods.”

A number of solutions are offered through the Emerging Opportunities Financing program: • Predevelopment grants to research

market conditions, explore project feasibility and create design infrastructure •Equity investments to attract additional investments •Subordinate loans to ensure that projects continue without delay and obtain next stage financing •Predevelopment loans to residential, commercial and mixed-use development projects to fund early stage costs •Larger investments of capital by Bridgeway’s regional partners to support projects with a high potential for community impact Since the program’s launch in 2013, Bridgeway has invested more than $25 million in 55 community development

projects throughout the region that leveraged over $50 million in additional investment.

“We fund projects in communities that have experienced decades of disinvestment,” says Jeni Cooper, Community Development Loan Officer, “We feel these projects will have a catalytic impact in spurring further development in the region.”

Bridgeway Capital is a community development financial institution providing flexible, mission-driven capital to help businesses, nonprofits, and community development projects grow and succeed.

For more information, visit: http://www. bridgewaycapital.org.

DWAYNE RANKIN Bridgeway Capital Chief Lending Officer

How to lower your monthly mortgage payment (BPT)—Owning your own home comes with many advantages, including escaping rising rents and the personal and financial stability associated with homeownership.

Fortunately, millions of Americans, with less than 20 percent down, have been able to buy a home sooner thanks to mortgage insurance (MI). If you don’t put down 20 percent of the mortgage cost, you will likely be required to purchase MI, which enables low-down-payment borrowers to qualify for home financing from lenders.

While homeownership has many benefits and continues to be part of the American Dream, it is not without costs. Several surveys have found that the majority of firsttime homebuyers—more than 80 percent according to one study—put less than 20 percent down. For these borrowers, there is usually the added expense of MI, which may give some of these borrowers pause.

But there is good news: the monthly private mortgage insurance premiums do not last forever on most conventional loans. And when private MI (PMI) cancels, homeowners will have more cash in their pockets each month—money that is available for home improvements or other goals. It is important to understand, however, that not all MI is the same, and not all MI can be canceled.

There are numerous low-down-payment mortgage options available that include MI. The two most common are: (1) home

loans backed 100 percent by the government through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that include both an upfront and annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP); and (2) conventional loans, which are typically backed at least in part by private sources of capital, such as private MI. The key difference is that one form can be canceled (PMI) while the other (FHA) typically cannot be canceled.

Tricks to customize a kitchen on a budget (BPT)—Who wouldn’t want a kitchen customized to meet their specific tastes and needs?

A complete kitchen renovation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but you don’t have to spend a bundle to achieve a custom effect. A few modest investments can help make your kitchen work well and look great.

Here are ways to affordably customize your kitchen: Get creative with cabinets Completely replacing cabinets can be costly, but it’s possible to create a custom look with the cabinets you already have. Customization tricks to try: •Paint cabinets a trendy color, like dark blue. Or, paint one set of cabinets, such as those under an island, a different color.

•Remove the doors from one cupboard to create an open effect where you can display prized showpieces. Further accent the look by painting the back of the cupboard a contrasting color.

•Replace dated or dull hardware with drawer pulls and knobs that speak to your personal design tastes. For example, if you love a vintage look, replace metal hardware with glass or ceramic knobs.

Freshen up the faucet Cabinet hardware isn’t the only “jewelry” in the kitchen. The faucet can also be a design focal point that looks as good as it works. If yours is old, basic or just not to your taste, replacing the kitchen faucet with a newer model that speaks to your style can help affordably reinvent the entire room. Plus, a new faucet can provide functions and features that will make your kitchen more usable.

For example, the Tournant faucet by Kohler combines traditional design with modern industrial elements, so it works well with a variety of kitchen design themes. A three-function, pull-down spray head lets you put the water exactly where you need it, while a special BerrySoft setting is gentle enough for washing fruits and vegetables.

If a more vintage look appeals to you, Kohler has recently added a bridge model faucet to its popular Artifacts line. Reminiscent of turn-of-the-century kitchen and bar faucets, the deck-mounted bridge faucet works with either lever or six-prong handles for temperature controls, and features a dual-function sidespray. Visit www. us.kohler.com to learn more.

Enliven your lighting Good light is essential for a kitchen to function well, but it’s common for kitchens to have just one overhead light and maybe a pendant or two over a breakfast bar.

Replacing dated fixtures with newer ones that suit your personal style is easy, but what can you do if you want more light without the expense of paying someone to install additional wiring?

•Replace a standard ceiling light with track lights. They require no additional wiring and you can position lights along the track to put illumination where you want it.

•Install under-cabinet lights that can easily plug into an existing counter-level electrical outlet.

•Place a swing-arm task lamp over work areas, so you can aim light where you need it most while working. The lamp can easily plug into a wall outlet.

Accentuate accessories Accessories are the finishing touch of personalization in any room, including the kitchen. However, since the kitchen needs to be high-functioning, look for ways to accessorize that also enhance your kitchen’s ability to work for you.

•Every kitchen has small appliances that get regular use, such as toasters, food processors, blenders, etc. If your toaster sits out on the counter, why not turn it into part of the design theme by selecting an appliance in a bright color to match your decor?

•A matching set of potholders or dish towels hung from a hook beneath a cabinet or on the side of a cupboard not only puts a much-needed item close at hand, they can add decorative flare.

•Place a bright, cheerful area rug in front of the sink or prep area. The rug will not only perk up the space, it helps cushion your joints while you stand in one spot working.

•A pot rack above an island provides much-needed storage space for large pots and pans, while adding a homey touch to the kitchen.

Customizing a kitchen doesn’t have to be costly or require you to sacrifice any functionality. With a few smart updates, you can cost-effectively create the personalized kitchen of your dreams.

An FHA loan can be obtained with a down payment as low as 3.5 percent.

However, be aware that you will typically have to pay a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 1.75 percent of the total loan amount at closing or have it financed into the mortgage. In addition to your

regular monthly mortgage payments on your FHA loan, you will also pay a fixed monthly MIP fee for the life of the loan.

This means you could pay hundreds of dollars extra every month—thousands over the life of the loan—until you pay off the entirety of the loan.

If you obtain a conventional loan with PMI, you can put as little as 3 percent down. Like an FHA loan, PMI fees are generally factored into your monthly mortgage payment. However, PMI can often be canceled once you have established 20 percent equity in the home and/ or the principal balance of the mortgage is scheduled to reach 78 percent of the home’s original value. This means that the rest of your mortgage payments will not include any extra fees, so that your payments go down in time, saving you money each month. What you save in the long run can then be put toward expenses like home renovations, which can further increase your home’s value.

MI is a good thing because it bridges the divide between a low down payment and mortgage approval. But not all MI is created equal. If you want to buy a home but still save in the long run, PMI might be the right option for you. Check out lowdownpaymentfacts.org to learn more.

A8

RELIGION

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Sunday (Gospel Choir Mass) 11:00 A.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 Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com

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

Sanctuary Worship...11:00 a.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue 412-683-2669

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Honoring their life’s work and community leadership Nabhi Christian Ministries to hold 2017 NCM Awards, Oct. 6

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Leadership builds safe pathways for the healthy development of children.

That’s the theme for Nabhi Christian Ministries’ 20th NCM Awards, to be held Oct. 6 at the Rivers Club, Downtown.

The event is sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and UPMC Center for Engagement and Inclusion. This year, NCM of Lincoln/Larimer will honor four distinguished individuals, including Larry E. Davis, PhD, the Hon. Cheryl Lynn Allen, Linwood Alford, and Shad Henderson.

Dr. Davis, according to the NCM press release, is one of the country’s foremost experts on race relations. He is dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, the Donald M. Henderson Professor, and founding director of Pitt’s Center on Race and Social Problems.

“We are so pleased to honor Dr. Davis,” said Rev. Jacque Fielder, pastor of Nabhi Christian Ministries and founder of the NCM Awards. “His accomplishments at Pitt, as an author and national speaker, and in many more realms throughout his lifetime make him an ideal candidate for this award.”

The second Lifetime Achievement Award re-

cipient is the Hon. Cheryl Lynn Allen, the first African American woman elected to Pennsylvania Superior Court. A former educator in the Pittsburgh Public Schools system and former judge in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Judge Allen has helped to change the lives of many young offenders and families.

“Judge Allen’s innovative ideas included establishing Birth Parent Mentoring programs and Youth Enrichment Services, and she has an extensive and impressive volunteer track record, making her another ideal candidate for this award,” Fielder said.

The third Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Linwood Alford of Beaver County, vice president and director of Civil Rights and Economic Justice.

“Mr. Alford’s impressive early work providing safe havens for teens is augmented by his continual work to help African Americans, Latinos and other minorities combat poverty and inequitable rates of incarceration,” Fielder said. “His reach extends beyond Beaver, Lawrence and Allegheny counties to include accomplishments nationally and as an executive member of the Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO).”

The 2017 NCM Community “HERO” Leadership Award recipient is Shad Henderson, the director of Community Partnerships and Investments at Neighborhood Allies and a coordinator for Neighborhood Allies CDC and CBO partnerships.

“We are so proud of Mr. Henderson’s work as a former educator of 4-H Youth Development for the Penn State Center in Pittsburgh, where he piloted a leadership initiative for young African American males of the East End so they could become actively engaged in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of local neighborhood improvement projects,” Fielder said. “He also deserves recognition for his passionate outreach work as a former senior executive assistant to

LARRY E. DAVIS, PhD state Sen. Jim Ferlo.”

(Ticket donations are $75 per person, or $600 for a table of eight. Purchase tickets online at www.ncmawards.net or at Dorsey’s Record Shop, 412-731-6607.

Tickets are subject to a $2 service fee. Sponsorship information is available by calling Tracee at 412-661-1919, 412-983-1866 or E-mailing nabhiministry1@ gmail.com)

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

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

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

SHAD HENDERSON

LINWOOD ALFORD

✝ SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

SEPTEMBER 30—Second Baptist Church, 108 W. 12th Ave. in Homestead, invites all to celebrate their 112th Church Anniversary. On Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. is the “Gospel Extravaganza.” The event culminates on Oct. 1 at the regular Sunday service, with the theme, “Let the Light Keep Shining.” For more information, call 412461-8235.

ANTIOCH FALL REVIVAL

WEDNESDAYS IN SEPTEMBER—Antioch Baptist Church, 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley, will celebrate their Annual Fall Revival at 7 p.m. each evening. Guest speakers will be Rev. Dr. Melvin Rippy, Macedonia Baptist Church, Wheeling (Sept.

6), Rev. Roy Sims Sr., Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Bellevue (Sept. 13), Rev. Michael Peterson, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Coraopolis (Sept. 20), and Rev. John Knight, Mt. Ararat Baptist Church (Sept. 27). Guest choirs will be present each evening as well. For more information, call 412-7417688.

HON. CHERYL LYNN ALLEN

✝

Church Circuit JERUSALEM WOMEN’S DAY

OCTOBER 8—Jerusalem Baptist Church, 123 Steuben St. in the West End, invites all to celebrate Women’s Day. The 11 a.m. guest preacher will be Rev. Diane Hobson, pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Charleroi. The 3:30 p.m. guest preacher will be Rev. Katrina Organ, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Pittsburgh. The theme for the day is, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). Dinner will be served immediately after morning worship service. Rev. Theodore E. Pugh Sr. is pastor.

For more information, call 412-921-0822.

HOLY CROSS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

OCTOBER 8—Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 7507 Kelly St., Homewood, will celebrate its Family and Friends Day at 10:30 a.m. at the church. The guest speaker will be Rev. Darnell Leonard of the Sanctuary of Praise. All are welcome. For more information, call 412-242-3209.

EMMANUEL BAPTIST FALL CONCERT

OCTOBER 13—Emman-

uel Baptist Church, 245 Third Avenue, Rankin, will hold its Fall Concert featuring the Emmanuel Baptist Church Mass Choir, at 7 p.m. at the church. Please come and help Emmanuel Baptist lift up the name of Jesus in song. There will be a free will offering. Mrs. Gladys Holloway, choir director. Reverend Christopher T. Conti, MD, senior pastor.

holding a Women’s Retreat, Spiritual Formation, at 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at Bishop Connare Retreat Center, 2900 Seminary Dr., Greensburg. This retreat will help women under-

stand “What God requires of me, spiritual maintenance.” For more information, including hotel room availability and prices, call 412-824-3845 or 412-2713000.

ST. JAMES AME OCTOBERFEST

OCTOBER 14—St. James AME Church, 444 Lincoln Avenue, will hold the Women’s Usher Board No. 1’s 23rd Annual Octoberfest, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church’s Sumpter Hall. Eager shoppers will be dazzled with displays of unique pieces of art or crafts. The event will feature various locally-talented craftsmen, vendors and entrepeneurs who will creatively display their different types of art and crafts. For more information, call 412-4419706.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION WOMEN’S RETREAT

OCTOBER 27-28—Inner City Ministries and Triedstone Baptist Church are

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The Voice of Black Pittsburgh.

PEOPLE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

A9

The Sparrow Twins — united with each other, and their HBCU Bria and Brandi showed ‘faith’ in Wilberforce through university’s tough times

by Atiya Irvin-Mitchell For New Pittsburgh Courier

Historically-Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, were created to give Black Americans the chance for the higher education they’d long been denied.

While a few HBCUs had been established before or slightly after the Civil War, the exclusionary Jim Crow laws in the South only ignited the growth of many more HBCUs. Now, 53 years after the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there are over 100 active HBCUs in the United States. Some HBCUs have deep religious roots, others are single-gender institutions, but each institution comes with its own history.

For some young people, the environment of an HBCU offers a safe haven in the era of Eric Garner and President Trump. For others, the reputation of some HBCUs as affordable is a draw.

For Pittsburgh native twins Bria and Brandi Sparrow, Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio is not just a school, but a part of their family’s history. While they were growing

there around people I didn’t know because I didn’t know anyone, so I was happy that I at least had my twin.”

Simply being at the university together was not the only coincidence; the twins would also share a dorm room. “We weren’t supposed to be roommates,” Bria admitted. “At first we requested not to be. But they kind of messed up and Brandi had a room, but I didn’t and they were just like, ‘you can room with your sister’ and I’m like, ‘uh, alright’ and it just ended up working out.”

For Bria, her grandmother’s stories of Wilberforce sold her on the university. Brandi already knew Wilberforce was the place for her after attending a dance on campus prior to her first semester.

The Sparrows lived together for most their entire college career, but things weren’t always smooth sailing. At one point feeling discouraged due to so many friends transferring, Bria, as a sophomore, nearly transferred herself.

Wilberforce, which is the country’s oldest private HBCU, had fallen on hard times and needed to prove

MARISA JAMISON is one proud mother of fraternal twins Bria and Brandi. In this photo, she is shown with Brandi. up, their grandmother, Ladora Jamison, would frequently tell the twins stories of her experience and gift them with Wilberforce merchandise.

For the 23-year-olds who, at first, didn’t even attend the same high school, attending the same university was a coincidence. Although coincidental, the sisters appreciated the support having the other sibling there offered.

“I felt like more secure in a way, because I didn’t feel like so alone,” Brandi said. “Just the fact that I had her there just made me feel better about being

to the Higher Learning Commission that it could address its past problems and deserved to keep its accreditation. Losing it could have spelled the end of the institution’s 160-year run.

Bria told the New Pittsburgh Courier that students, including herself, would march, hold rallies, and stand with the university through its trials and tribulations.

“I had a friend who started out at Wilberforce and ended up transferring to Johnson C. Smith University (in Charlotte),” Bria said.

“Enrollment had dropped a lot, and people were leaving

LADORA JAMISON, a Wilberforce University graduate, with granddaughter Bria during the WU Bulldogs’ graduation ceremony in 2016.

BRIA AND BRANDI SPARROW, celebrated for their accomplishments as Wilberforce University graduates at an Aug. 27 event at the Grayson Center. (Photos by Gail Manker) because they were nervous about if they were actually going to get degrees. I had applied to Morgan State (in Baltimore) and got accepted,” Bria revealed.

“But I had faith in Wilberforce, and I knew that I didn’t want to disappoint my grandmother. What’s the point of just trying to support Black schools if we’re all going to run when there’s an issue?”

Thus, Bria stayed at “The

WU.” Brandi stayed, too.

They both felt their time at Wilberforce was well-spent.

Bria studied mass communication and journalism, and graduated in May 2016. Brandi studied political science, graduated December 2016, and walked with her classmates in the May 2017 ceremony.

Bria admitted that oftentimes, the fraternal twins—Brandi is 15 minutes older—wanted to do

things separately. “We didn’t even attend the same middle school,” Bria said. But somehow, the two sisters graduated from the same high school, Penn Hills, in 2012, the same university, Wilberforce, and in less than a week, will be working at the same place, UPMC. Both plan to attend graduate school, possibly Pitt or Carlow. And both recommend an HBCU, a place

that brings African Americans together, to current high school students.

“They’d definitely never regret it, whether they attend Wilberforce or any other HBCU. It’s definitely something where you’re going to be filled with memories,” Brandi said.

“You’ll learn so much about yourself and it brings out your roots and as an African American, you’ll learn where we came from.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report Gone but not forgotten When I saw the news on Facebook, I said, “Say it isn’t so.” After 42 years the Log Jammer will be history and will go the route of the Kangaroo, the Loop-O-Plane, Bayern Kurve and a pony track. These were some of the attractions that occupied the same site as the Log Jammer. Reportedly the Log Jammer, with its 53-foot drop chute, debuted at Kennywood in 1975. It was the park’s first million-dollar attraction.

I remember riding the Log Jammer once but I did not like the thought of getting wet at the end of the ride. I’m sure many Black women felt the same, especially if they got their hair done to go to the park. Back in the day we planned our “Kennywood outfits” and never wanted to get wet, even if you waited to ride the Log Jammer as your last ride of the day.

I have not been to Kennywood this year. I was waiting for a senior special but I did not see one.

I just wanted to walk around see what was new, go to the Potato Patch and have a corn dog. Yes, I just wanted to eat. I may make it to the Halloween event or perhaps for Christmas. I don’t like to let a year go by without going to Kennywood, so I will find a weekend to visit before the year is out.

Let’s get to something more important. Who heard the rumor that Reese’s Cups would no longer be sold in stores as of October? When I heard this I said to myself, ‘this cannot be true’ and people need to do their homework before they start spreading stories on social media.

This may have been a ploy by Hershey to get people to buy more Reese’s Cups. I went to a few websites and just as I thought, it’s not happening. Hershey told the Associated Press that the only people removing the peanut butter-filled chocolate cups from shelves are the customers. There are tens of thousands of shares about the candy going by the wayside. I can only imagine how those Reese’s Cup junkies felt.

There have been a few items that I loved that are no longer available.

One was Curry Rice with Raisins by Uncle Ben. It was delicious, I loved it.

I used to serve it with Cornish hens or lamb chops. Then my corn on the cob flavored popcorn

by Act One went poof from the shelves. It was to die for and once people tasted, it they loved it, too. But very few people knew it was for sale.

And my all-time favorite was Big John Baked Beans. There were two cans taped together, one was the beans, the other was the “fixen’s,” you added the fixen’s to the beans and it was magic. There was a recipe on the label where you added sausage and baked corn bread on top of the beans. I still have the recipe. I can take the Log Jammer leaving but don’t mess with the Reese’s Cup. (Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com)

FIRST TIMERS—Keith and Zakiyyah Edmonds with Karl and Lea Edmonds (Photos by Debbie Norrell) PLACE SETTING JUST RIGHT—Kathy Fitzgerald

Diner en Blanc Pittsburgh turns 3

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

Part of the fun of Diner en Blanc is the preparation. Guests who attend this annual white party that originated in Paris in 1988 have to bring their own table, seats, table linens, food, centerpieces and be fabulous in white. Not cream, but white.

On the evening of Sept. 8, more than 800 gathered in several locations in and around Downtown Pittsburgh and waited for directions to the secret location. Part of the mystique of Diner En Blanc is keeping the location secret until the evening of the event. As a matter of fact, guests don’t know where they are going until about 30 minutes before the dinner. This year the location was right on the field of Highmark Stadium. It was a beautiful sight to see hundreds walking into the stadium dressed in white. Once they were on the field all quickly worked to get their tables set up in time for the linen napkin wave which signals the start of dinner. You could see the difference between the novices and the veterans. Many brought over the top centerpieces to compete in the centerpiece completion, others were happy to get set up and seated.

September 8 was a beautiful crisp evening and Highmark Stadium offered a beautiful view of city during the event. The evening featured classical music during dinner, artist Kim Novak, and a DJ for dancing after dining. Hosts Krystal Vangura, Lorraine Dinatale and Trisha Daniel say there were pleased with year three and plans for year four are already in the works. Go to Pitts- GREAT GROUP EFFORT—Tamare Piersaint, Terri Williams, Eric Woods, Tamara Woods, Carmella Dearmon and Nerlange Tima burgh.dinerenblanc.com to register.

DINER EN BLANC HOSTS—Krystal Vangura, Lorraine Dinatale and Trisha Daniel

LET’S GET STARTED—Pamela Weatherspoon and Stephanie Hart

READY FOR JUDGES—Brian McFarland and Jennifer Hudson

DATE NIGHT—Darlene and Robert Powell

I’LL HAVE WHAT THEY ARE HAVING— Jennifer Onyeador and Martell Covington

A GREAT EVENING—Tamara Whiting and Aerion Abney

LIFESTYLES

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

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PITTSBURGH QUES (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

Ques host Labor Day Weekend

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

Labor Day weekend in Pittsburgh is known for the legendary party hosted by the men of the Iota Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The weekend festivities were held at various venues around the City of Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Ques kicked it off at The Spot in Penn Hills and featured the Bill Henry Band.

The next night, hundreds wore their best white

outfits and partied in the Strip District at Xtaza, and on night three, it was the Rivers Casino for the boat ride pre-party. DJ Selecta was in the Drum Bar while Kevin Howard and band were laid back in Levels.

Event chair Rahmon Hart said the proceeds from the Labor Day Weekend events support the Omega Psi Phi Community Service Initiatives and this year they were pleased to partner with Rivers Casino for a great weekend.

PARTYING IN THE DRUM BAR—Jabari Whiterspoon, Carolyn Manley, Buddy Manley and Robin Horston-Spencer

BOAT RIDE PRE-PARTY—Danielle Crosby, Joy Smith and Kathy Fitzgerald

ENJOYING SMOOTH JAZZ—Kelli Williams, Lavettte Battle and Darla Thrower

NEXT STOP, BOAT RIDE—Fred Crawford and Rahmon Hart

JUST A TOUCH OF PURPLE AND GOLD—Bashi Reid

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PEOPLE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Soul & Sea’s Gril ed Lobster Tail a show stopper

by Briana L. White For New Pittsburgh Courier

JERMAINE AND BRITTANY HOUSER, owners of Soul & Sea, 10718 Frankstown Rd. in Penn Hills, are ready to make their mark on the Pittsburgh restaurant industry. (Photos by Gail Manker)

If you’re searching for some of the best soul and seafood in the ‘Burgh, look no further than Soul & Sea on Frankstown Rd. in Penn Hills.

They offer a unique menu, featuring the best of both worlds; crab legs to ribs, wings to lobster tails…Soul & Sea does not disappoint.

Take your pick—“Soul” or “Sea”—you’re guaranteed to be satisfied.

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Bree White of “Breelicious Bites,” and I’ve been writing reviews of Pittsburgh restaurants for over two years. I’m a Pittsburgh native, and Carlow University graduate.

With all the talk surrounding it, you know I had to visit Soul & Sea restaurant on Sept. 20. Brittany and Jermaine Houser, the owners, were ready to serve up the hot dishes, and the first dish to arrive was the fried lobster tail. I must say, it was cooked to perfection. The coating was a flawless golden brown, and was served with a homemade dipping sauce, but honestly, the lobster tail was pure deliciousness all by itself. It was my first time tasting fried lobster, and it quickly became a favorite. I then moved on to the grilled tail. It was just as good, if not better, than the fried. The meat was luscious, buttery and downright finga-lickin-good!

After indulging in the luxurious lobster, I moved on to the side dishes. I ate green beans, potato salad and yams and apples.

My favorite of the three was the potato salad. Now y’all know, everybody can’t make potato salad, hence the movie, “Who Made the

ed lobster mac. I felt as though the grits were a little under-seasoned for my taste, but the jumbo grilled shrimp made up for that in a big way. The mac was loaded with fried scallops, shrimp and langoustine meat, and Soul & Sea does not skimp on the seafood.

No meal is complete without dessert, so on this warm, sunny Wednesday afternoon

Breelicious Bites

Restaurant Reviews in Penn Hills, I asked Brittany to let me try her best.

She came back with their strawberry scooter crunch cake and the Signature Royal Waffle. Honestly, both were…heavenly. The cake was moist and had a middle layer of cheesecake, which took it to another level. The Belgium waffle lived up to the name “Royal,” it was topped with strawberries, whipped cream and a signature sauce. I asked about that signature sauce, but Brittany said those magic words—“It’s a secret…I’ll never tell.”

After my feast, I chatted with Brittany about what makes Soul & Sea special, and she said: “The customer service. We want

FRIED LOBSTER TAILS (Photos by Gail Manker) Potato Salad?” ‘Cause that’s the first question we ask at all family functions…

But my fork kept coming back to this potato salad from Soul & Sea. A close sec-

everyone who comes in to feel like family.” She also said they have weekly specials, which are posted on their Instagram account, @Soulnsea412, or you can

GRILLED LOBSTER TAILS ond was the yams and apples, they were dressed in a delectable brown sugar and cinnamon sauce. I didn’t like the green beans too much.

Brittany Houser next offered up the shrimp and grits and the loaded lobster mac. Boy, they are meals within themselves, and both were enjoyable! If I had to choose between the two, it would be the load-

call them at 412-723-2780 for store hours and more information.

To recap, my favorite dish at Soul & Sea was the grilled lobster tail, and I recommend trying that, along with the fried lobster tail, loaded lobster mac and cheese, and the Signature Royal Waffle. Overall, I give the food at Soul & Sea, 4 out of 5 “Breelicious Bites.”

FRIED SCALLOPS, SHRIMP, LOBSTER

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

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JERRI DeVARD

Office Depot names Jerri DeVard chief marketing officer

by ADW Staff

READY FOR BUSINESS—BLAST Summer 2017 Cohort; Deidra Washington, C. Denise Johnson, Leeretta Payne, Shakelah Knox, Julia Clemm. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)

Hill CDC’s BLAST Program focuses on local entrepreneurs

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Office Depot Inc. announced that Clark Atlanta University alumna Jerri DeVard, a senior executive with more than 30 years of extensive marketing and leadership experience at large global brands, has joined the organization as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. She will report directly to Office Depot’s Chief Executive Officer Gerry Smith.

DeVard will lead the strategy for furthering Office Depot’s brand positioning and oversee the integration of all marketing and communications initiatives. She will be responsible for driving the growth and implementation of strategic marketing activities that build brand equity and increase market share.

“Jerri has tremendous insight and experience leading global marketing efforts for world-class consumer brands, with a proven record of delivering business results while acting as a change agent,” said Gerry Smith, chief executive officer for Office Depot, Inc. “We are excited to welcome Jerri to Office Depot as her leadership and fresh perspecSEE DeVARD B2

by Diane I. Daniels

development programming business within their com- business leadership skills to operate legally-strucfor small business owners munity and beyond. needed to operate an eth- tured businesses with revFor New Pittsburgh Courier seeking to develop deeper This year’s facilitator of ical business driven by so- enue-generating marketWhile Allegheny County professional and personal the 12-week course was cial awareness to address ing strategies to build and and City of Pittsburgh of- competencies. A business Vernard Alexander, owner the need for change within maintain a vibrant customficials pursue luring Am- and community develop- of the Minority Networking communities; to create com- er base. azon’s second corporate ment program, Milliones Exchange. “It was a plea- pelling pitching narratives The Hill CDC, Alexander, headquarters to the region, said this year’s program sure to be a part of this pro- to attract investment from Kiva Pittsburgh, Urban Inrepresentatives of the Hill was comprised of a cohort of gram,” said Alexander. “The lenders, crowd funders, and novation21, and WoodforCommunity Development participants keenly focused participants were very se- changemakers to support est National Bank recentCorporation have been fo- on: developing business rious and focused on their businesses that have the ly hosted a “Shark Tank” potential to create trans- event for the five particcusing on positioning en- leadership skills; master- mission.”

He explained that the pro- formative opportunities ipants from the BLAST trepreneurs as business ing a strong elevator pitch; leaders, providing them and effectively casting a vi- gram operated on a three- in the Hill; And to provide Summer 2017 cohort to tract fold mission: to entrepreneurs with the pitch their businesses to with the resources neces- sion that will atto develtechnical support, a panel of judges. Particisary to create opportuni- investors o p mentorship, pants were seeking funding ties and to sustain a busi- advance the the and space for a Kiva loan which enness in a transforming the growth of their n e c e s - abled the audience to lend Hill District. s a r y funds live.

“Developing our community requires a focus on deParticipants were Julia veloping the people behind Clemm, Clemm’s Notary; C. our businesses that offer Denise Johnson, Drumbeat products and services,” Communications; Shakesaid Marimba Millah Knox, Keep it Sweet by liones, President and Shakelah; Leeretta Payne, CEO of the Hill CDC. Legacy Café LLC; and “That’s why we creatDeidra Washington, I ed the Business LeadDream a World LLC. ership Academy for The winner of Social Transformation the competition, I (BLAST) so that people Dream a World LLC, can get the support they offers a series of need to thrive in our personal and profestransitioning neighborsional development hood. The vision is for us workshops, ranging to all grow together.” from self-empowerIn its second year, ment to workplace BLAST is designed to JUDGES RULE—Shawn Thomas, Danielle Darr, Nicole Manns and Mamar Gelaye decide the winner of the BLAST SEE BLAST B2 provide core business Pitch Party participants.

What you should know about the Community Reinvestment Act

by Christopher G. Cox For New Pittsburgh Courier

Since it was passed in 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has enabled thousands of low- and moderate-income families--many in minority communities--to become homeowners.

In the current political climate, however, many observers, who have played a role in monitoring how effectively the CRA is enforced, wonder whether it will continue to offer broad access to affordable mortgage financing.

James Perry, the chief executive officer of the Winston-Salem, N.C. branch of the

CHRISTOPHER G. COX

Urban League, has nearly 15 years of experience in the area of fair housing, primarily with the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, where he served for 10 years as executive director. “The CRA has been an extremely valuable tool for providing access to mortgage financing for disadvantaged individuals, particularly African Americans and Latinos,” Perry said. “Unfortunately, it appears the act might be imperiled based on the rhetoric we hear from many in the current Administration, as well as in Congress.”

Under the CRA, the federal government monitors how well banks and other lending institutions do in meeting the credit needs of the entire community, with the goal of making certain that neighborhoods which can be categorized as low- and moderate-income are not overlooked. Under provisions of the CRA, a bank’s application for new branches, relocation of existing branches, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate activities are closely evaluated.

Institutions that do not have a good record of CRA compliance can have these business activities constrained by officials with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which monitors CRA compliance.

OCC uses a four-tier ranking system to measure compliance: outstanding, satisfactory, needs to improve and substantial noncompliance.

Chris Rockey, community development market manager for the Greater Maryland

for PNC Bank, said that CRA was enacted as a direct response to “redlining,” which was an unethical practice whereby banks and other lending institutions made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for residents of poor inner-city neighborhoods to borrow money, get a mortgage, take out insurance or access other financial services.

Redlining did not take into consideration an individual’s qualifications and creditworthiness. The practice of redlining disproportionately affected Black borrowers.

“Too often, inner-city problems have been viewed in silos, rather than strategically,” Rockey said. “You can’t consider such factors as access to affordable housing, elimination of blight, high levels of commercial vacancy, safety and availability of public transportation, individually and in isolation. Effective CRA programs look at the totality of how these issues impact a community and how they can all be addressed simultaneously.”

Rockey discussed one such strategic program in Baltimore where PNC partnered with other institutions, including a competitor bank, to raise $10 million in capital to invest in a community development project. Rockey referred to working with other competitor banks on such projects to as “co-opetition.”

Both Rockey and Perry agree that the CRA has, to some extent, been unfairly blamed for the housing crisis of 2008 and the subsequent loss of billions of dollars in home equity.

“The rhetoric that the CRA was largely responsible for the housing crisis comes mostly from the ‘right,’” said Perry. “Actually the CRA requires lenders to make credit

available in disadvantaged communities at the same rate as in majority communities.”

“There is more than enough blame to go around for what caused the housing crisis,” Rockey explained. “There were many factors involved, including predatory lending, by unscrupulous banks and lending institutions and investors propping up subprime mortgages without a truthful and honest examination of what they represented.”

Perry and Rockey are also in agreement that the way CRA compliance is currently measured does not fully recognize the rapidly changing nature of the banking industry.

“The CRA predates the Internet,” Perry said, “and looks at such things as where a bank locates its retail branches and how many of those branches are in African-American and Latino communities.”

“Where a bank has branches is still relevant to its obligations under the CRA,” said Rockey. “But as banking has become increasingly mobile, with more and more banking transactions being handled on smart phones and other digital devices, we are hopeful that new measures of CRA compliance would be considered.

Perry and Rockey, although viewing the CRA from somewhat different perspectives, both support what is has accomplished for urban communities, as well as what it has the potential to continue to accomplish.

“In terms of community development the CRA is a way for a bank to do well by doing good,” Rockey said.

(Christopher G. Cox, the publisher and managing editor of realesavvy.com writes about the impact of the Community Reinvestment Act in the Black community.)

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Program focuses on Wolf Administration announces local entrepreneurs first approvals of loans for the cies, businesses, non-profcommunication and re- its, movie productions and tention, using a strength- political events in Pittsburgh and Allegheny Counbased approach.

“I discovered that many ty. Inspired by her Hill Disroadblocks for a client’s trict roots, menu items are professional success stem named after famous entifrom personal barriers that ties of the Jazz era. Legacy many organizations are not Café is also a Kiva-funded addressing,” Washington business.

Washington’s winnings said. The Hill District resident and former second were inclusive of $1,000, grade teacher touted her five free hours in critical analogy: “We are all bro- business support services ken crayons, but we all still totaling $515 in value from Tia Baker of Crown Cut serve a purpose.”

With the goal to become a mobile and electronic notary to help ensure that the vulnerable will be protected by the documents needed prior to end of life or during an e m e r g e n c y, Clemm’s focus is to provide notary AND THE WINNER IS—Deidra Washington, ownservices to er of I Dream a World, LLC, is the BLAST Summer seniors and 2017 Cohort winner. (Photo by Diane I. Daniels) to title/legal Concierge, Soleil Meade of settlement companies.

Assisting and servicing Soleil Branding Essentials, emerging grassroots en- James Hancock of Hancock trepreneurs, artists, and Accounting and Bookkeepnon-profit organizations ing Solutions and Dana with a need for greater and Richardson of Tibbot and more strategic outreach, Richardson Attorneys at Johnson is utilizing her 30- Law. Emily Keebler, the Kiva plus years of experience in journalism, media relations City of Pittsburgh lead, anand outreach to under- nounced that the funding served constituents to de- staple in the community is velop and expanded inclu- approaching $1 million in sive strategies to foster and lending. Kiva Pittsburgh is build long-term relations led by Urban innovation21, between clients and target a non-profit organization that supports the growth markets.

Keep it Sweet by Shake- of entrepreneurship within lah, known as K.I.S.S., is the innovation economy of a confectionery company the Pittsburgh region and specializing in all things connects that growth to sweet, from custom cookies underserved communities to chocolate-covered straw- and the residents that live berries. K.I.S.S. transforms in those communities.

Judges for the BLAST desserts to fit themes for a “wow” factor at her cli- pitch were Danielle Darr, ent’s events. K.I.S.S. also owner and founder of D’s Products and holds Sweet Craft classes Natural for youth and operates as also a Kiva loan recipient, a vendor throughout the Mamar Gelaye, former area. K.I.S.S. is already Ki- owner and CEO of Omnyx, Nicole Manns, founder of va-funded.

The caterer of the event, “Nikki’s Magic Wand” and Legacy Café LLC, is a busi- Shawn Thomas, entrepreness-to-business company neur lending director at serving government agen- Bridgeway Capital.

BLAST FROM B1

Office Depot names Jerri DeVard chief marketing officer DeVARD FROM B1

tive will be instrumental in driving a more integrated omnichannel marketing approach that builds brand loyalty and positions the company for growth. I look forward to partnering with Jerri in building the new Office Depot. ” Previously, DeVard was the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for The ADT Corporation, the nation’s largest security company. She led ADT’s centralized marketing across the residential, small business and health business units and was responsible for all strategic, operational and financial aspects of the company’s integrated mar-

keting programs. Prior to ADT, DeVard held various marketing leadership positions for large, well-known organizations including Nokia, Verizon and Citigroup. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Under Armour, Inc. and Cars.com.

“Office Depot has a strong foundation in place and I am eager to build on that and help propel the business forward as the company continues to focus on strategies that drive innovation and fuel growth,” said DeVard. “This is a great time to come on board and I’m thrilled to be an integral part of Office Depot’s transformation.”

Diverse Business Financing Initiative HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Wolf Administration’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) recently announced the first approvals of loans for the Diverse Business Financing Initiative, designed to empower minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, and LGBT-owned businesses to grow and thrive. This initiative is in keeping with Governor Wolf’s Executive Order 2015-11, “Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities in Commonwealth Procurement and in Pennsylvania’s Economy.”

“Diversity, inclusion and small business opportunities are essential to ensuring Pennsylvanians have jobs and our economy is thriving,” Governor Wolf said. “All economic indicators right now point more and more toward the fact that strong economic growth is tied to the success of diverse businesses and I’m especially proud to see my executive order carried out by DCED and its local partners in such a way to make diversity and inclusion a local economic initiative.”

DCED solicited proposals from its local economic development partners throughout the state to determine how best to meet the goal of supporting diverse business owners in the various geographic regions of the commonwealth. The department determined that the best approach to deliver growth capital to small diverse businesses is to administer portions of revolving loan funds to local economic development organizations, which will then dedicate those funds solely for relending to small diverse businesses that they interact with every day.

“The Diverse Business Financing Initiative is about more than just being the right thing to do,” DCED Secretary Dennis Davin said. “It’s about giving Pennsylvania the competitive edge we need in an increasingly competitive marketplace by ensuring access to crucial resources for all business owners, regardless of race, gen-

der, sexual orientation, and disabled or veteran status.”

The initiative will capitalize local revolving loan funds with funding provided by the Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (PMBDA), the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) and the Pennsylvania Community Development Bank (PCD Bank). In addition, partners will have access to accounts to initiate loans through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) to diverse businesses targeted by this initiative.

The first Diverse Business Financing Initiative investments to local development organizations for relending to local diverse businesses, made at PMBDA, PCD Bank, and PEDFA board meetings last week, were as follows:: •The Allentown Economic Development Corporation in Lehigh County, approved for a $300,000 PMBDA loan; •The Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland, approved for a $125,000 PMBDA loan and a $125,000 PEDFA loan; •The Progress Fund in Westmoreland County, approved for a $250,000 PMBDA loan and a $250,000 PCD Bank loan; •Bridgeway Capital in Allegheny County, approved for a $250,000 PCD Bank loan and a $125,000 PEDFA loan; •Community First Fund in Lancaster County, approved for a $250,000 PCD Bank loan; •FINANTA in Philadelphia County, approved for a $250,000 PCD Bank loan; •Greater Berks Development Fund in Berks County, approved for a $250,000 PCD Bank loan; •JARI Growth Fund in Cambria County, approved for a $250,000 PCD Bank loan; •MetroAction in Lackawanna County, approved for a $250,000 PCD Bank loan; and •Bucks County Economic Development Corporation, approved for $250,000 PEDFA loan.

My co-worker gets on my nerves Dear Alma, I come to you as Alma Gill humbly as I know how, because I’m really at an interesting professional intersection. I currently work at a summer camp teaching kids how to cook and my co-teacher is tawdry. We will call this person “Calvin.” So, Calvin has been cooking for a while and has a lot of life experiences that add life and joy to our program. If something goes wrong, Calvin is normally the first to help find a solution to keep the integrity of the lesson going.

My biggest issue with Calvin is that he is the “King of Change.” I feel like he’s changing things, just to be included. If we are doing an experiment and we hand the worksheets out first then go outside, Calvin will suggest we go outside first, then hand out the worksheets. It almost feels intentional. Just this week, we were making waffles and we had the students measuring the ingredients. After lunch Calvin starts pouring unmeasured ingredients in the bowl. I told him I wanted the kids to do that, so they get the chance to be included in the lesson. He said, “Oh, well we can have them do the cinnamon.”

Then he asked me if he could lead the lesson. Now, this wouldn’t normally be a problem, but he had already led the majority of lessons during this camp. He was already in my face and the students are in the classroom, so there wasn’t really a chance to resolve the issue without it turning into something else, so, I decided to take break and come back at the end of the group’s class period. With every person you meet, Calvin tries to figure out if they know someone there and it feels disingenuous. Sometimes,

Ask Alma

Calvin talks loud on his cell phone during class lessons, and comes to work with a bonnet on his head; sometimes he’ll leave a roller in his hair for part of the day. Calvin just turned 50.

What can I do or say to Calvin? He is a great person, but I’m not sure, if he’s open to constructive criticism. How do I go about telling him how I feel with love and tact?

Sincerely, Can’t Wait ‘Til Friday Dear Friday, I was working this thing out in my brain and I thought I was on the right track, until I got to this sentence: Calvin just turned 50. Hit the brakes. Hol’ up, hol’ up, this changes everything. Your story about Calvin reminds of that over-thetop character from the “Martin” sitcom: “I said, Jerome’s in the house, watch yo’ mouth! Who you talking ‘bout, an old school playa from the Himalayas?” Calvin has been doing his thing for a long, long time. Take a seat young one, watch and unlearn. This is summer camp, so you’re only in it for a minute, on your way to bigger and better things.

You say Calvin is tawdry, I say Calvin’s non-swag is none of your business. Okay, he likes to wear a roller or an earring every now and again. What if Beyoncé did it, you’d call it a trend. LOL. I have a feeling you are always slammed, glammed and got it going on— on the regular. That’s a wonderful thing, this world requires all kinds, but that’s not Calvin. Does that mean he can’t do his job? No. Does that mean he won’t ever be the boss? Yes and that’s all right with him.

Calvin sounds like he won’t be wearing any skinny jeans any time soon. I ain’t mad at him and you’ve got bigger fish to fry, you are clearly passing through. On those tough “I don’t think I can make it days,” those kids, potential foodies, chefs, restaurant entrepreneurs will remember your directions, professionalism and ability to make it look good while you’re doing it.

I commend you for that.

On those “this is too hard, I’m gonna quit days,” they’ll think about Calvin and say to themselves, if he can do it, I can do it too, face washed, teeth brushed, without a roller in their hair.

(Alma Gill’s newsroom experience spans more than 25 years, including various roles at USA Today, Newsday and The Washington Post. Email questions to: alwaysaskalma@gmail.com.

Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and Twitter @almaaskalma.)

BUSINESS CALENDAR Shale Insight 2017 Conference

SEPT. 27-28—The nation’s leading forum for public/private dialog on shale development returns to the David Lawrence Convention Center for two days of technical and public affairs insight sessions, major keynote addresses, and a dynamic exhibit hall featuring all the major shale players. For information on exhibiting, vendors attendees, visit http:// www.shaleinsight.com.

Training Event

SEPT. 29—The Duquesne Small Business Development Center presents Exit Training for your Business, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue. At this workshop, you will learn the best strategies for increasing the value of your business, saving on taxes and creative options for selling as well as negotiation skills. Topics covered include: preparing for the sale, communicating with employees and vendors, tips on paying less tax, preserving value, and more. Cost: $599. Breakfast and lunch is included. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

Breakfast Meeting

OCT. 12—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa. And the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce present a Special Breakfast Meeting with guest speaker Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, 8 a.m., Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, Downtown. The governor will discuss the role small businesses in moving Pennsylvania forward. Cost: $25 for members, $40 for non-members. RSVP by Oct. 10. For more information, call 412-392-0610.

Publicity Workshop

OCT. 13—The Duquesne Small Business Development Center presents Getting Attention: how to get publicity for your business, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue. This workshop allows you to discover the potential opportunities to get in front of your customers, many of which are free or no cost. The speaker, Janelle Aslam, owner of Start Something Solutions, will offer a wide range of tools and give clear examples of publicity for any growing business.

Cost: $49. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

Insurance Workshop

OCT 18—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa. presents Navigating the Business Insurance Landscape with Farmers Insurance, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Koppers Building Convention Center, 436 Seventh Ave., lower level conference room 4-H, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219. The seminar will give attendees insight into the insurance landscape, different types of business insurance and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Cost: $10, $20 for non-members. For more information, call 412-392-0610.

Cybersecurity Workshop

OCT. 19—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa. Presents a cyber security seminar with Omar Khawaja, VP and chief information security officer with ighmark ealth, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Koppers Building Convention Center, 436 Seventh Ave., lower level conference room 4-H, Pittsburgh. Khawaja will discuss safeguarding the ack office while staying connected in the front office and reducing risks of cyberattacks. Cost: $10, $20 for non-members. For more information, call 412-392-0610.

PowerBreakfast

OCT. 20—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa. will host its monthly PowerBreakfast meeting, 7:30 a.m. at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, Downtown. The guest speaker will be Pennsylvania Gaming Board Commissioner Richard G. Jewell, who will discuss the industry, its job creation, and how to do business with casinos. Cost: 420, $30 for non-members.

For more information call 412-392-0610.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

B3

The hatred of Obama is sickening, and it’s very deep

Guest Editorial

GOP goes for Hail Mary on another bad health care bill Senate Republicans are pursuing another lastditch effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the House would vote on a bill if it passes the Senate. Ryan called it “our best, last chance to get repeal and replace done.”

The 140-page bill is a bad for Americans seeking accessible and affordable health care.

The bill would replace much of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, with block grants to states, giving them leeway on spending the money, and would cut Medicaid. It would allow insurers to boost premiums on people with serious medical conditions and end the Obamacare mandates that most Americans buy insurance and companies offer coverage to workers.

With Democrats unanimously against the bill, Republicans commanding the Senate 52-48 would lose if just three GOP senators are opposed. In July, three attempts to pass similar measures fell short and delivered defeat to President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Several patients groups including the American Heart Association, the American College of Physicians, the Children’s Hospital Association and the March of Dimes have announced their opposition to the bill.

Democratic lawmakers, doctors, hospitals, patients’ groups and voters of all parties must once again mobilize an all-out effort to defeat the latest GOP health care bill; so that millions would not lose coverage and others will not face skimpier policies.

It would also be irresponsible for lawmakers to approve a bill without the Congressional Budget Office estimate on the impact of the bill on coverage. The CBO said it won’t have crucial estimates on the bill’s impact on coverage ready for several weeks.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was right when he said voting without the budget agency’s evaluation would be “legislative malpractice at the highest.”

The CBO’s report of past Republican repeal plans concluded they would have caused millions of Americans to lose insurance coverage.

(Reprinted from The Philadelphia Tribune.)

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The GOP is at it again. They are determined to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and President Trump is insulting Blacks again with his statements last week.

The Republicans are once again attempting to repeal and replace the ACA with a plan that has not been vetted, debated, will leave millions of people uncovered or under-covered and will cause deaths upon deaths and millions more will to have to live in pain. But the Republican Party could care less; all they are concerned with is making sure the only Black president in American history doesn’t have anything with his name on it. The hatred of Obama is sickening, and it’s very deep.

After the first attempt to get rid of the ACA failed, a group of Democrats and Republicans started to work on a compromised bill that would simply repair the weak parts of the ACA. Time and time again the Democrats and Independents and members in the media have pointed out what needs to be fixed in the ACA, yet members of the Republican Party continue to be more loyal to the party than the country. ACA needs repair, not replaced.

I get so sick of listening to people say the Democrats did the same thing. It’s not true. Obama, both when he ran for election and after he won, challenged the Republican House and Senate to come up with an alternative plan or sit down with the Democrats to draft a bipartisan bill if they didn’t like his bill. But, the Republicans refused, which led President Obama and the Democratic Party to have to do it on their own.

After the watered-down bill was finally passed, Obama and many Democrats admitted to flaws in the bill but stated that at least a health care plan was in place and it could be improved over the years. It was a start to the most important law in this country, yet the Republicans could care less. Even though anyone following politics knows that they

same way. The Black players are not voicing their concerns just for themselves, they are expressing concern for the millions of Blacks, Asians, Latinos and Whites throughout this country who are suffering from racism and neglect because of their race, gender or economic status.

Kaepernick could have kept his mouth shut, and stood for the flag, and continued to make millions, yet never offered an alternative plan or he chose to express his outrage over to work with the Dems, they now lie the series of police killings of Black about not being asked or included in men and the overall conditions for the making of the ACA. people of color. He’s not saying all, I pray to God that Sen. Lindsey he’s bi-racial himself, and was adoptGraham’s plan is voted down once ed and raised by a White family. and for all so the Republicans will It would have been nice to see 50 to have to sit down with the Demo80 percent of the Black players in the crats and make the ACA a strong NFL kneel this past Sunday (Sept. and healthy plan for all Americans 24) in response to Trump. That would regardless of income or age. have sent a strong message considerThe reason the Republicans are ing Blacks make up about 80 percent trying to push this bill through is, by of the league. the end of this month 51 votes will be Most players stood with arms enough to pass the bill; after that it locked, showing unity, while some will take 60 votes. kneeled and others did nothing. The As if the young, talented Colin Cincinnati Bengals’ response was Kaepernick isn’t under enough that players should concentrate on pressure with no job offer after not the game and not social issues. standing with hand-on-heart during The Steelers decided as a team to the National Anthem last season remain in the tunnel, not seen by the before each NFL game, now he has public, during the National Anthem, President Trump saying the NFL igniting somewhat of a firestorm should fire any player who does not here locally. Only Alejandro Villanstand and salute the flag during the ueva came out and stood for the National Anthem. Trump said this Anthem. during a speech in Alabama, Sept. 22.

There were some White players This has caused a lot of controversy with the typical “love it or leave it” with NFL and NBA teams, from peo- statements. ple who believe it is an intrusion of As for the NBA, Trump was upset the Freedom of Speech, and another because Steph Curry of the Warriors attack on Blacks’ rights to protest said he wasn’t going to attend the the discrimination in this country. annual White House reception for Heaven knows we have a long way to the NBA champions. Curry disagrees go in racial relations in this country with Trump’s policies, views and (Trump disinvited the NBA chamactions against Blacks. After Trump’s pion Golden State Warriors to the tweet, LeBron James had some choice White House). words for Trump, saying that the The first thing out of many Whites’ White House visit was a great place mouths is, “These players make to attend until Trump “showed up.”

(Ulish Carter is the former managing editor all that money, why are they comof the New Pittsburgh Courier.) plaining?” Trump probably feels the

Ulish Carter

Just Sayin’

When will this end?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—My best friend left us and moved to his heavenly home a few weeks ago.

For those who knew Dick Gregory, it’s no secret that we were best friends for a very long time. Over a year before he left us, he told me, as I am sure he told many others, that the 2016 election wasn’t going to go the way I thought it would. It was obvious to him that I, like so many others, thought that it was a piece of cake for Hillary Clinton to win a big victory. He kept saying, “No, it isn’t going to happen that way, and the result is going to bring about chaos.” Just as with most of his predictions, what he said would happen did happen. What’s worse is that we’ve experienced eight months of chaos and things don’t appear as though they will get better any time soon.

While he was with us, Mr. Gregory gave us much invaluable advice and information. In his newest and final book, Defining Moments in American History--Reading Between the Lies, he has bequeathed us his counsel and guidance for our future survival. For those who value his insight, as well as those who previously paid little attention to his advice, I recommend this book as an important tool for navigating our futures. The book is Mr. Gregory’s instruction about the need for us to be kind to each other, about the need to rid ourselves of hate and jealousy, and about serving the

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary people. Mirroring the strongest of his own character traits, he encourages us to be honest in all that we do and to have the courage to do all that we should do. He also reminds us not to take “dirty money” because, if we do, the day will come when we will have to forsake the best interests of our people to pay for what we received.

So much of the chaos predicted by Mr. Gregory has been caused by #45 and the band of crooks who work for him. What stands out is the volume of unsettling news that surfaces daily. As Special Counsel Robert Mueller tightens the legal noose around the neck of Paul Manafort, #45’s former Campaign Chairman, one wonders when/if Manafort or other members of #45’s cabal of crooks will “come clean” and relieve the nation of the incessant anxiety of having to reconcile what can reasonably be called TREASON. For those who argue the severity of the word treason, I can only refer to the record of e-mails exchanged between Manafort and one of his employees

candidly discussing arrangements to convene a private briefing regarding #45’s campaign for a Russian billionaire with close ties to Vladimir Putin. Such a briefing violated the law and opened speculation that Manafort’s position was being leveraged to establish influence in the White House.

Rather than focusing national attention on the devastation and recovery from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, #45 attempts to divert and mire our attention in the ridiculous claim that President Obama and Secretary Clinton bare the blame for the continuing nuclear threat from North Korea. Rather than affirming scientific research proving human involvement in global warming and the growing intensity and impact of major storms, #45’s administration number among the deniers.

I once read a book that spoke of a 1,000 people who made America great. The list did not include #45, but Dick Gregory’s name was there.

I will never forget his impact. He lived his life with honesty and character. He lived for the betterment of humanity and never stopped encouraging us to work to end the chaos in our lives. He fought the good fight.

He kept the faith and finished his course.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams, National president of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. www.nationalcongressbw.org 202/6786788)

The Urban League aims to advance equity in education for all students

by Marc Morial (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.”

—Horace Mann New pencils, new books, an apple for the teacher, and unlimited hope for a boundless future—it’s back to school time across the country. And whether their children are boarding a school bus on a country road or a subway heading across the city, parents are united in their hopes and aspirations for their children. And the Urban League Movement shares those dreams.

A high-quality education is a civil and human right. One of the National Urban League’s empowerment goals is that every American child is prepared for college, work and life. In 2015 when ESSA was signed into law, we worked to ensure that there were strong regulations that would provide necessary safeguards for students and families. With a different administration, we have

redoubled our efforts—supporting national and state advocacy, engagement and education reform actions throughout the Urban League Affiliate Movement and with other civil rights organizations.

ESSA is an opportunity for states to close opportunity and achievement gaps by increasing access to effective teachers and advanced coursework, closing funding gaps, supporting English learners and addressing students social and emotional needs.

Equitable implementation is key to ensuring the promise of ESSA for all children.

Our goal within the Urban League Movement is to advance equity in education. We make it plain: equity does not end at access to education, but rather it is evidenced by successful completion. For we know that students who receive a high-quality K-12 education are likely attend college, achieve professional success and become engaged members of their communities.

It’s no coincidence that the cornerstone of President Lyndon B.

Johnson’s War on Poverty was the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. He called education “the only valid passport from poverty” when he signed the Act in 1965, a year that also saw the creation of other Great Society initiatives like Head Start and Upward Bound.

In the 10 years after the creation of those programs, the poverty rate in America declined significantly. We know that a commitment to educational equity and excellence yields dramatic results. We won’t forget it, and we won’t let the decision-makers in Washington or state capitols or city halls forget it, either.

We are all familiar with the United Negro College Fund’s slogan, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

But it’s not only a waste for the individual whose potential is untapped, it’s a waste for the entire nation. As former Oklahoma governor Brad Henry said, “No other investment yields as great a return as the investment in education. An educated workforce is the foundation of every community and the future of every economy.”

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SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

FORUM

Black women and Patriotism is no defense for Democrats—the Trump’s attack on Black athletes thrill is gone John William Templeton (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Forum is always an exciting combination of a policy wonk reunion, a series of issues forums, and the ever-present parties, receptions, and celebrations. Some enjoy deriding the gathering as “nothing but a party,” but in fact it’s an opportunity for networking, information gathering, strategizing and more. This year, there were several sessions focused on issues concerning African American women and girls.

There were posters in the Washington Convention Center that lifted up some of the women who have been killed by so-called law enforcement officers, women whose names have been swallowed by the attention focused on the horrible murders of young African American men. Some of their names—Kendra James, Shelly Frey, Yvette Smith, Sandra Bland, Natasha McKenna and too many others, need to be invoked as often as we invoke the names of Michael Brown, Philando Castile, and Laquan McDonald.

The Black Women’s Roundtable has worked with Essence Magazine for the past three years to survey Black women at the Essence Music Festival and through other sources about our political concerns. This year’s survey

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary shows that the Democratic thrill is gone for many African American women. In 2016, “Black women overwhelmingly (85 percent) felt that the Democratic Party best represented their interests.” This year, that number dropped to 74 percent, a drop of 11 percent. Some will say that Democrats aren’t in such bad shape —three-quarters of African American women still think the Democratic Party represents their interests. But I don’t think the Democratic Party can afford to experience an 11 percent drop among their most loyal voters.

Republicans should not be licking their chops at the drop in Black women’s support for Democrats, since they didn’t pick up support. In the Essence survey, only 1 percent of Black women felt the Republican Party had their best interests. Instead, the percentage of women who felt that neither party represented Black women grew to 21 percent. One in five Black women simply trust neither party.

All but two percent of the women surveyed were voters. Seventy percent were active in their communities, with more than half active in their churches and in other organizations.

Most gave 45 a failing grade for his performance in office. Only 3 percent gave him either a C or a B grade—he did not receive any A grades from the Black women surveyed.

As Republicans attempt to fast track the foolishness of yet another attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act, preserving that legislation was the most important issue priority for African American women.

It was more important than equal pay, childcare, redistricting, and reproductive rights. Black women’s response reflects the adage that if you don’t have health, you don’t have anything. The next most important issues for Black women were a living wage, quality public education, the rise in hate crimes, and criminal justice reform.

One in six of the women surveyed have considered running for public office, primarily at the local level.

That’s good news—we need more committed activists “out there” and working for the people. Indeed, during a recent visit to Greenville, South Carolina, I learned that the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., had their first-ever summit to encourage Black women to run for public office.

The Democratic Party may want to take note and consider sponsoring workshops like this all over the country.

Democrats need to take a careful look at the Black Women’s Roundtable/Essence survey, and try to figure out why they are losing their most loyal supporters. They’ve spent millions trying to woo the “working class White men” who look askance at them, but little or nothing trying to work with the folks who have been loyal to them, and because of that, they are losing that loyalty. With 2018 elections fast approaching, Democrats have work to do. The Democratic thrill is fading away for too many African American women. Is the party willing to court us, or are they willing to lose us to third parties or to independent status? The 2018 elections may hang in the balance.

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

Congress should censure President Donald Trump for referring to African American players in vulgar language in a public speech. Any legislator who fails to support such a measure is giving support to bigotry.

Historians will rank his decision to go after the most untouchable person in the country—Stephen Curry—as one of the biggest political mistakes in American history, until he makes another one by continuing to antagonize every African-American athlete in the nation.

Since Juan Garrido, a Black conquistador from Spain, arrived on the Florida shore in 1508, there has been a debate in African-American circle about the relative merits of accommodation or resistance to the various forms of white racism.

The ability to choose which method in real time is a testament to the endurance of Africans in this country.

However, Trump ended that debate for all time.

The son of an experienced player, Curry had the adroitness to become a popular figure transcending racial boundaries with an attractive family. Winning two NBA championships in the past three years lifted him from obscurity with genuine personality, which has made him a darling of advertisers.

On the anniversary of the day that President Abraham Lincoln issued the provisional Emancipation Proclamation, while the Congressional Black Caucus was in the midst of its annual legislative weekend, a day after meeting with African heads of state, Trump would play the race card to attempt to help a Republican Senate candidate.

Curry, like similarly commercially successful Michael Jordan, had been considered one to avoid controversy despite constant media scrutiny.

When Trump went after him with viciousness, it meant Curry was subject to the same vitriol directed at former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

As one might expect, it opened the door

to players who now no longer had to make the calculus of remaining quiet.

In one fell swoop, the combined attack on Curry and the cursing at NFL players who protested achieved a unity not seen since the fabled meeting of Black athletes in 1966 in support of Muhammad Ali. It now makes Trump completely radioactive for any entity that is seen to support him. After Charlottesville, leading CEOs were forced to walk away. But, it could get worse.

We can count on Trump to continue to fan these flames, causing national heroes to put their full energy towards taking steps to stop his brand of hate.

Most of them did not want this battle. But warriors don’t back away from a fight.

We need to address the real meaning of patriotism. The protests of Kaepernick and others are no different than the sit-ins of the 1960s or the campus protests that spotlighted apartheid. In the 1960s, Maj. Gen. Tony Jackson, (RET, USMC), was head of the Black athletes at San Jose State. His ancestor had been the wagon train driver for Brigham Young across the desert and his mother and grandmother were still practicing Mormons. But Jackson would lead a boycott of San Jose State’s football team against Brigham Young University because of the church’s racial policies.

He would then join the Marine Corps and spend 30 years as an officer. There is no cause to say that protesting is not patriotic. In fact, it is the ultimate patriotism to stand up for the values of freedom and justice when it is not convenient.

Athletes need only look at the cases of tennis star James Blake, basketball player Thabo Sefolosha and most recently, Seattle Seahawk Michael Bennett to know that fortune and fame does not immunize them from police brutality.

Now, every Black athlete has learned that lesson.

Commentary

(John William Templeton is co-founder of National Black Business Month and author of “Come This Far

By Faith: African-Americans 1980-2020.”)

St. Louis—No conviction, no peace The famous interdefendant did not act in change between Ponself defense.”

J. Pharoah Doss tius Pilate and Christ Plus, federal prosecuends with the loudest tors rejected an NAACP silence in antiquity. request to open a new Christ, the accused, civil rights investigatells Pilate, the judge, tion because the Justice “Everyone who beDepartment already longs to truth heeds concluded there wasn’t his voice,” and Pilate, sufficient evidence to being the boldest of prosecute the matter, inquisitors, asked, “What is truth?” but the Justice Department didn’t make an That question baffled philosophers since announcement to avoid affecting the state’s the time of Socrates, and this trial was the criminal case. perfect opportunity for the “son-of-god” to Now, at some point the judge stated his set the record straight and define truth for decision wouldn’t be swayed by “partisan eternity, but Christ said absolutely nothing. interest, public clamor, or fear of criticism.”

Ever since the silence of Christ the But why did the judge make this stateessence of truth has continued to baffle ment? philosophers, and in today’s skeptical age According to the Associated Press, “Ahead any proclamation of absolute truth is scru- of the acquittal, activists had threatened tinized or dismissed. civil disobedience if the officer was not Let’s fast forward to when Michael Brown, convicted, including possible efforts to shut 18-year-old Black male, was shot and killed down highways. Barricades went up last by a White police officer and riots broke month around police headquarters, the out in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown’s mother courthouse where the trial was held, and made a television appearance, and the TV other potential protest sites, protesters interviewer asked her what will restore were marching within hours of the decipeace in Ferguson. Brown’s mother said, sion.”

“Justice.”

If this is accurate, it changes the concept Of course, this fits with the slogan: No of “No Justice, No Peace” to “No ConvicJustice, No Peace, but the TV interviewtion, No Peace.” And whether the activists er didn’t accept—justice—as an absolute realize it or not, this course of action makes principle with a general definition underthem analogous to the crowd that sought stood by the public—no—the interviewer crucifixion from Pilate because they preplayed the role of Pontius Pilate and asked determined the fate of the accused. This Brown’s mother, “What is justice to you?” is a dangerous precedent that no activist Now, Pilate sought a definition to clarify concerned about justice should set. confusion, but the TV interviewer was after Back to Michael Brown’s mother. Unlike a relative response, suggesting justice is Christ, she answered the question conthe desired outcome of the justice seeker. cerning justice. She said it’s being fair and But if that’s the case, the question becomes, making sure the officer is held accountable if the desired outcome is not met does that for his actions. Her explanation is close to mean an injustice occurred? a dictionary definition of justice, and it has For example, recently a White police nothing to do with the desired outcome of officer was acquitted of first degree murder activist. in the 2011 shooting of a 24-year-old Black The truth is, every time a police officer man that was suspected of selling drugs is investigated, suspended with or withand led the police on a high speed chase in out pay, fired immediately, charged with a St. Louis. (The details of this case aren’t degree of murder, and put on trial, they are my concern, please feel free to look them being held accountable for their actions, up yourself.) The officer requested a bench and if there is no conviction that doesn’t trial and the judge stated, “This court, in automatically mean an injustice occurred. conscience, cannot say that the state has But then again, what is truth?

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsproven every element of murder beyond burgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahdoss@blogspot. a reasonable doubt or that the state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the com)

Check It Out

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

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Commentary

Here’s why Trump can call Kaepernick an S.O.B. Just in case you thought that Trump went way off the reservation in virtually calling former San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick an SOB to loud crowd hoots at a campaign rally for Alabama Senate Republican candidate Luther Strange, he didn’t. The truth is that Trump has kept a vengeful close eye on the Kap-NFL debacle from day one. Last march at a post victory rally in Louisville, Trump virtually commanded NFL owners not to even think about bringing him back into the league. To quote, “they don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump.”

Any owner who dared to sign Kap almost certainly would get that dreaded nasty tweet, and probably a lot more Trump bombast about betrayal, and disgust, at daring to sign him. Trump has got a thing about Kap for several reasons, to him, perfectly good reasons. The first is the owners. He really didn’t have to saber rattle the owners with the threat of a “nasty tweet,” not one was going to sign him anyway. Several owners played footsie with the press about considering him for a possible spot on their team roster. But they made it crystal clear that the fans would be in wholesale revolt against their team if they signed him.

That’s another reason, the fans.

There was just enough anecdotal stuff from informal polls, surveys, angry letters from fans and hostile talk about Kap from sports radio jocks to cement the owner’s tacit decision to make him NFL unemployable.

To many, this duck for cover by the owners behind the fans, seemed ludicrous. Since when have billionaire owners and their GMs ever considered what the fans wanted in their player personnel decisions? The don’t, but Kap was totally different since there appears to be just enough antipathy and rage against him from a big swatch of the NFL fan base to make their claim of fan concern credible.

Trump is aware of the legion of fans that disdain Kap, and felt comfortable shouting to the Alabama campaign rally that the NFL owners should give him and anyone else who disrespects the flag and the national anthem a swift boot out of the NFL. The crowd ate it up, because many of them are exactly the kind of fan that the NFL owners have in mind who would rebel against Kap on an NFL team.

There’s something else. Trump understands this about the NFL. He and the majority of the 32 owners are literally on the same team politically.

They are conservative Republicans who often generously bankroll GOP presidential candidates, and with some, that included Trump. So, when Cowboy owner Jerry Jones demanded that Cowboy players must stand, presumably at rapt attention, during the playing of the national anthem, it was in keeping with Trump and the NFL’s long standing, deep rah rah of the military, the flag, and endless ritual patriotic displays before games.

Trump is holding Kap captive to the NFL’s rigid, unbending and unyielding arrogance of power, insular structure and mindset that is virtually immune from any outside influence. This was evident in every challenge to the NFL elite, be it the threat of player strikes, contract negotiations, the dust up over CTE trauma and dangers, the criticism it gets for shaking down cities and states to put taxpayers on the hook for everything from luxury boxes to new stadiums. Then there’s Washington owner Dan Snyder’s nose thumb at anyone who tells him he must drop the offensive “Redskins” moniker.

The NFL has the muscle to keep their books hush hush, demand the players play two more games, thus radically increasing the hazard, knock down every chance it gets to slash the player’s revenue take, and not guarantee any long-term health benefits to the players.

Trump hasn’t uttered a mumbling word of criticism about any of that.

And he won’t. Because he is in lockstep politically and emotionally with the NFL and the way they do business. And they are with him.

If Kap is an SOB to Trump, he’s an SOB to the owners, even if they’d never say it publicly. And since many fans aren’t shy about calling Kap that publicly, and much worse, that effectively seals the deal insuring that he’ll never play another down in the NFL. Trump will do everything he can to make sure it stays that way. His name call of Kap just punctuated that.

(Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is an associate editor of New America Media.)

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Seeking “experienced” Youth Care Workers to provide support & develop relationships with male youth in placement 12 -20 years of age. To apply: www.auberle.org . EOE

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Auberle is a nationally recognized, award winning human service organization that serves thousands of children & families each year. For more than 60 years we have helped troubled children & their families heal themselves.

Auberle’s Behavioral Health Department provides a wide range of services to children, adolescents, adults & families. Services include psychiatric, psychological, mental health & substance abuse services through Auberle’s Outpatient Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol licenses. Auberle is seeking Master’s level mental health professionals who also have experience and/ or interest in drug and alcohol counseling. To apply visit www.auberle. org. EOE

PROCESS INNOVATION ENGINEER

Matthews International Corporation seeks Process Innovation Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, PA. Responsibilities incl.: supporting cont’d implementation & dvlpmnt of Matthews Mgmt Sys. (MMS), our Corporate Continuous Improvement platform, w/emphasis on safety, quality delivery, & value; & conducting systematic safety & quality MMS audits. Master’s or foreign equiv. in Engineering Mgmt or dir. rltd field re ’d. ust know thru comp’d university-lvl crswrk, seminars, wrkshps or thru any hands-on exp.): Project Mgmt (incl. design, evaluation, control, scheduling, budgeting, planning, & monitoring); engnrng finance incl. cost enefit analyses process innovation bus. acumen; change agent; tech. solution dvlpmnt; industrial safety processes (incl. personal protective equip., hazard ID & elimination, & ergonomics); value stream mapping; 5S Workplace Org.; time studies & observations; waste elimination, line balancing; kaizen event facilitation; & comp. aided design sftwr (AutoCAD). To apply, please visit http://matw.com/corporate/ careers & search req. # 5182BR.

POLICE OFFICER HELP WANTED

The Township of Penn, Westmoreland County, 2001 Municipal Court, Harrison City, PA 15636 will have applications available for the position of fulltime olice fficer from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017 through Monday, October 16, 2017. All completed application packages must be received at the Municipal Building no later than 4:00 p.m., Monday, October ,2 , and S include a fifty dollar ($50) application fee – no exceptions. At the time of application, applicants must possess the following ualifications diploma from an accredited high school or a graduate equivalency diploma, 2) A Act 2 certified or successfully completed Act 120 training and passed the final e amination, United States citizenship, 4) physically mentally fit to perform the full duties of a olice fficer, and 5) valid motor vehicle operator’s license and eligible to legally operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of PA. Candidates must be available to take the physical agility test scheduled for 9:00 AM Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at the Allegheny County Police Academy. Candidates passing the physical agility test will be invited to participate in the written examination immediately afterwards. There will be no make-up dates available.

Applications can be downloaded from the Township website www. penntwp.org, picked up at the Municipal Building, or faxed/mailed by calling Alex Graziani at 724-7442171, x201 or emailing a request to alexgraziani@penntwp.org. The Township of Penn is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SONNY BOY

PSYCHIATRIST

Allegheny Clinic seeks Psychiatrist to work in/near Pittsburgh, PA, with adults & adolescents. Send CV/cover letter with salary requirements to: Jessica Vega, Physician Recruiter, jessica.vega@ahn.org.

FULL-TIME SCHOOL NURSE

Pittsburgh K-5 Charter School searching for highly ualified Full time School Nurse. Please submit cover letter, resume and three letters of reference with FBI, Child Abuse and Criminal Background clearances to jobs@urbanacademy pgh.org noting School Nurse in the subject bar.

SENIOR SCM SYSTEMS SUPPORT ANALYST (ORACLE)

Pensiamo, Inc. seeks Senior SCM Systems Support Analyst (Oracle) to work in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA, Warrendale, Allegheny County, PA and Cranberry Township, Butler County, PA with Master’s degree or for equiv in Comp Sci, Info Tech, Comp Eng, or Bus Admin plus 2 yrs exp in job offered or sub sim pos, or Bachelor’s degree or for equiv in Comp Sci, Info Tech, Comp Eng, or Bus Admin plus 5 yrs exp in job offered or sub sim pos. Reply by resume to Paul Fisher, fisherpa@ph.upmc.edu

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Meetings

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

MEETING

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, September 27, 2017.

The board meeting will be held at 10:30 A.M. @ 200 Ross Street, 13th Floor Wherrett Room, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

CITY OF WASHINGTON FIRE FIGHTER

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: > High School Diploma > Must Be 18 Years of Age > A United States Citizen > Must have a current, valid PA Driver’s License > Must obtain a CDL Class B within 1 (one) year of hire date > Must obtain EMT-B within 1 (one) year of hire date > Upon hiring must adhere to living restriction (7.5 miles) ADDITIONAL TESTING INFORMATION: > Civil Service Examinations, including Physical Agility > Background Investigation > Medical and Psychological Evaluation SALARY AND BENEFITS: > Base Salary $44,541.77 > Life, Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance > Paid Holidays and Vacations > Uniform Allowance > Longevity Pay PROMOTIONS: > Engineer > Captain > Chief of Fire APPLICATIONS: ay e o tained at the ffice of the City Clerk, 55 West Maiden Street, Washington, PA 15301 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday or download online at www.washingtonpa.us. > Applications must be returned to the ffice of the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 2, 2017. > Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable testing fee of $60.00 with application (payable to the City of Washington.)

The City of Washington is an equal opportunity employer ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

ATTENTION:

If you worked at Drava Engineering n/k/a Davy McKee Corp., Pittsburgh, PA, between 1970-1987, please contact Asbestos Investigator Sherry Day at (734) 878-5236 or email Sherry@SLDinvestigations.com.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY FOR COMMENT, PUBLIC REVIEW AND PUBLIC HEARING HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH 2017 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is revising the Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan.

The proposed revisions will be available for review from October 9, 2017, to November 7, 2017, at the HACP Housing Choice Voucher Department 200 Ross St. 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; the HACP Web Site www.hacp.org; and at HACP Operations Department 200 Ross Street 6th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Written comments on the proposed revisions must be addressed to the HCV Administrative Plan at the address above and must be received by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on November 7, 2017.

A public hearing to receive comments on the plan will be held on Monday, October 23, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m. at 200 Ross St., th oor oard Room.

Persons with disabilities requiring assistance or alternative formats, or wishing to submit comments in alternative formats, can contact the isa ility Compliance ffice at 412-456-5282, ext. 1; TTY 412201-5384.

Estate of BEVERLY M. GORMAN, Deceased of City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania No. 05465 of 2017. William M. Gorman, Administrator, 1208 Berkshire Avenue, Pittburgh, PA 15226 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of ARTHUR COLEMAN JR. Deceased of 125 Everglade Dr., Penn Hills, PA 15235.

No. 1946648 of 2017. Anthony Coleman, 6535 Deary Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 or to: Attorney Marvin Abrams, 816 5th Avenue, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of WILLIAM A. PHILLIPS, Deceased of Pittsburgh. No. 021705241 of 2017. Michele Boris. Adm. or to c/o Philip J. Scolieri, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., Attys. 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION

Jennifer Bauman, 5190 Hardt Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Notice is hereby given that a Certificate of rgani ation was will e filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a limited liability company formed under the Limited Liability Company Law of 1994. The name of the company is Skypunch LLC.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ACHA-1583 Dwelling Unit Painting Services

The Allegheny County Housing Authority is requesting proposals from ualified individuals firms to provide painting services as per specifications.

Request for Proposals and contract documents are on file and may e obtained, at no charge, in the Purchasing Department of the Allegheny County Housing Authority, 625 Stanwix St., 12 Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or by e-mailing Guy Phillips @ gphillips@achsng.com.

A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., in the Allegheny County Housing Authority Board Room on the 12th Floor.

Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. local time, Monday, October 30, 2017, at the Allegheny County Housing Authority.

The Allegheny County Housing Authority encourages responses from small, minority, and women owned firms, as well as firms that have not previously performed work for ACHA. The Allegheny County Housing Authority Reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or waive any informality in the proposals. No proposals shall be withdrawn for a period of at least sixty (60) days subsequent to the opening of proposals without the consent of ACHA. ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY Frank Aggazio, Executive Director

Janitorial Services at the Bedford Hope Center, the Development and Opportunities Center (DOC) and the Creative Arts Corner (Northview Heights) Resident Owned Businesses Only RFP #250-44-17 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests proposals from ualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Janitorial Services at the Bedford Hope Center, the Development and Opportunities Center (DOC) and the Creative Arts Corner (Northview Heights) Resident Owned Businesses Only RFP #250-44-17 The documents will be available no later than September 25, 2017 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 A.M., October 13, 2017 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Conference Room Pittsburgh, PA 15219 October 5, 2017 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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

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

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. 1009 – Refurbish Roofs B, G, & L – South Campus A MANDATORY pre-bid meeting and site visitation will be held onsite beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2017. The assembly point will be the campus security desk at the main entrance to South Campus, around right side of complex, 1750 Clairton Rd., West Mifflin, PA 15122.

Proposals will be received at the Purchasing Department until 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Friday, October 13, 2017.

The CCAC Purchasing Department is now publishing all bids via the CCAC website at https://www. ccac.edu/Bid-RFP_Opportuni ties.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 applica le addenda in the final su mittal 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. 1679

Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1679 - SONAR INSPECTION OF THE ALCOSAN DEEP TUNNEL SYSTEM 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, Tuesday, October 17, 2017, and then shall be publicly opened and read.

A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Authority’s Plant in the Main O&M Building Conference Room 106, on Monday October 2, 2017 at 10:00 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 o tained 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 id a Certified Check or id 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 ffice, 2nd Floor ALCOSAN O&M Building, either before or following the Pre-Bid Meeting. Questions about obtaining Bid Documents should be addressed to Ms. Angel Allen, ALCOSAN at angel.allen@alcosan.org, or by fax at (412)734-8716 or by phone at (412)732-8049.

Any questions regarding the Technical Specifications should e directed in writing and submitted to Mr. Michael Lichte, ALCOSAN at michael.lichte@alcosan.org or by fax at (412) 734-8716.

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

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Jan M. Oliver Director, Regional Conveyance

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SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT Port Authority of Allegheny County REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 17-08

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR EMERGENCY GENERATOR & FIRE PUMP MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY REPAIRS IFB# 300-43-17

Port Authority of Allegheny County is requesting proposals for the performance of the following service DRUG AND ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE PROGRAM he work under the proposed Agreement consists of providing services to support the maintenance of Authority’s rug and Alcohol Compliance rogram. he services would include, ut are not limited to rogram Support Services o ile Collection Services Collection Facilities Services edical Specialists Services a oratory Services edical Review fficer Services Su stance A use rofessional Services Safety Sensitive Contract Compliance Services and raining rogram evelopment and mplementation.

A copy of the RF will e availa le on or after Septem er 2 , 2 , and can e o tained y registering at the ort Authority e usiness we site http://ebusiness.portauthority. org and following the directions listed on the we site. lease note that roposers must register under the e usiness category of S A ro rug and Alcohol rogram for this RF . roposers may also register in other categories for any future RF s issued y ort Authority. f you have specific uestions regarding this RF , please contact Catherine errill at 4 2 .

An nformation eeting for interested parties will e held at a.m., prevailing time, cto er , 2 in the Fifth Floor oard Room of ort Authority of Allegheny County’s downtown offices, 4 Si th Avenue to answer any uestions regarding this RF . ard copy proposals must e oth delivered to, and time stamped y a representative of the urchasing and aterials anagement epartment at or efore 2 p.m., prevailing time, cto er , 2 , at the urchasing and aterials anagement Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County, 4 Si th Avenue, hird Floor, itts urgh, ennsylvania, 222 2 2 . roposals received or time stamped in the urchasing and aterials anagement epartment after the advertised time for the su mission of proposals shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligi le for award. ach roposer shall e solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the re uirements herein. his Contract Services may e funded, in part, y, and su ject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and the Commonwealth of ennsylvania. he proposal process and the performance of the re uested services will e in accordance with all applica le federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 4 a.C.S. , as may e amended, re uire that certified iverse usinesses s have the ma imum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and su contracts for these Contract Services. n this regard, all roposers shall make good faith efforts in accordance with 4 a.C.S. , to ensure that s have the ma imum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts. roposers shall also not discriminate on the asis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disa ility, national origin, se ual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts for these Contract Services.

Port Authority of Allegheny County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

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

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified Firms or ndividuals capa le of providing the following service s EMERGENCY GENERATOR & FIRE PUMP MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY REPAIRS IFB# 300-43-17 he documents will e availa le no later than Septem er , 2 and signed, sealed ids will e accepted until 10:00 a.m. on October 6, 2017 at which time they will e ime and ate Stamped at Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 2 , itts urgh, A 2 , at which time they will e opened and read aloud. arties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the usiness Opportunities page of www.HACP. org. uestions or in uiries should e 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 id meeting will e held Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Thursday, September 28, 2017 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of itts urgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women usiness enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website.

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

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh AC conducts usiness in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including ut not limited to itle V , the Fair ousing Act, Section 4 of the Reha ilitation Act of , the Americans with isa ilities Act, he A uman Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected y these statutes.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR INSPECTION, TESTING, MAINTENANCE OF FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IFB# 300-45-17

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified Firms or ndividuals capa le of providing the following service s INSPECTION, TESTING, MAINTENANCE OF FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IFB# 300-45-17 he documents will e availa le no later than Septem er , 2 and signed, sealed ids will e accepted until 11:00 a.m. on October 6, 2017 at which time they will e ime and ate Stamped at Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 2 , itts urgh, A 2 , at which time they will e opened and read aloud. arties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the usiness Opportunities page of www.HACP. org. uestions or in uiries should e 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 id meeting will e held Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Thursday, September 28, 2017 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of itts urgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness enterprises and women usiness enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website.

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

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh AC conducts usiness in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including ut not limited to itle V , the Fair ousing Act, Section 4 of the Reha ilitation Act of , the Americans with isa ilities Act, he A uman Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected y these statutes.

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SONNY BOY

Pick up your Courier at these locations…

GIANT EAGLE (16 Pittsburgh Locations) 6320 Shakespeare St., East Liberty (EAST, near BUSWAY) 4004 Monroeville Blvd., Monroeville (MONROEVILLE MALL) 230 Rodi Rd., Penn Hills (EAST inside Penn Hills Shopping Center) 9001 Frankstown Road.

(EAST, corner of Frankstown and Verona Rd.) 550 Centre Ave., Shadyside (EAST, Market District) 3812 O’Neill Blvd., McKeesport (SOUTHEAST) 1356 Hoffman Blvd., West Mifflin (NEAR KENNYWOOD) 1901 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill (EAST) 1005 Freeport Road, Waterworks Mall (NEAR FOX CHAPEL) 4250 Murray Ave., Greenfield (EAST) 254 Yost Blvd., Forest Hills/ Braddock Hills (SOUTH EAST) 1705 S. Braddock Ave., Edgewood Towne Center (EAST) 420 East Waterfront Dr., Homestead (SOUTHEAST) 2021 Wharton Ave. (SOUTH SIDE FLATS) 318 Cedar Ave., North Side (NORTH near E. OHIO ST.) Crafton/Ingram Shopping Center, 51 Walsh Road (WEST END) NORTH SIDE LOCATIONS NORTH SIDE BEER AND BEVERAGE 1304 Federal St. 7-11 1001 Western Ave. RICHEY’S BARBER SHOP 1207 N. Franklin St. NORTH SIDE VALERO 820 Pennsylvania Ave. RITE AID 802 Pennsylvania Ave. MARSHALL SHELL 1500 Spring Garden Ave. SWINKO’S MARKET 2535 Perrysville Ave. MERCY STREET EXPRESS 6 Mercy St. HARV’S EXXON 2501 Brighton Rd. QUICK SCHWARTZ 3235 Brighton Rd. HANINI MARKET 3245 Brighton Rd. SOUTH SIDE

LOCATIONS KEN’S MARKET 216 Beltzhoover Ave. Daily Mart 1125 Arlington Ave. SHOP N’ SAVE Brownsville Rd., Carrick WEST END LOCATIONS CRAFTON BEVERAGE 15 Foster Ave., Crafton/ Ingram Shopping Center SHEETZ 5400 Campbells Run Rd. SHOP N SAVE 2103 Noblestown Rd. HILL DISTRICT LOCATIONS SHOP N’ SAVE 1850 Centre Ave. WONG’S MARKET 2170 Centre Ave. ANN’S MARKET 2316 Webster Ave. A-PLUS MINI MARKET 2350 Centre Ave. UJAMMA BOUTIQUE 1901 Centre Ave. K LEROY IRVIS TOWERS 715 Mercer St. ABE’S MARKET 1860 Centre Ave. WYLIE TOBACCO 2152 Wylie Ave. POPULAR EAST END LOCATIONS GETGO 4924 Baum Blvd.

BP GAS STATION 11835 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills PUFF’S DISCOUNT TOBACCO 10991 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills SHOP N’ SAVE 3335 William Penn Hwy, near Monroeville Mall GETGO 10525 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills CVS PHARMACY 10600 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills SHELL GAS STATION 7619 Baum Blvd., Shadyside STANTON NEGLEY DRUG 804 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park UNIMART 5724 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside SHELL GAS STATION 6701 Frankstown Rd., East Hills SQUIRREL HILL NEWS 5804 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill MURRAY AVE. NEWS

2024 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill PUFF’S DISCOUNT TOBACCO 234 Yost Blvd., Braddock Hills DORSEY’S RECORDS 7614 Frankstown Ave., Homewood HOMEWOOD MARKET 7201 Frankstown Ave., Homewood SHEETZ 3457 William Penn Hwy., Monroeville WILLIAM PENN SMOKE SHOP 132 North Highland Ave., East Liberty DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS PENN AVENUE 7-11 (Sixth and Penn) Koppers Building (Ninth and Penn) NEWS-NUMBERS 136 Penn Avenue SMITHFIELD NEWS 115 Smithfield St. 7-11 SMITHFIELD 420 Smithfield St. FABER COE & GREGG 500 Grant St. FABER COE & GREGG 600 Grant St. NIELSEN’S STORES One Oxford Centre, Grant St. WOOD STREET 7-11 429 Wood St. NEWSTAND Sixth and Wood ONE STOP 300 Sixth & Wood OTHER DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS INCLUDE...

KWIK-E-MART 212 Tenth St. 7-11 643 Liberty Ave. ESTER’S SNAX Federal Building, Second Floor FABER COE & GREGG Fifth Ave. Place, First Floor EXTRA EXTRA NEWS 413 Seventh Ave. UTSAV NEWS 400 Cherry Way C&C NEWS 2 PPG Place EDDIE’S SNACKS 262 Fifth Ave. BIG DADDY 465 Forbes Ave.

SPORTS New Pittsburgh Courier

Can the Steelers rebound against the Ravens, Oct. 1?

Story B8

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SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Allderdice Dragons —

Stiff-arming the competition

Heading into the City League’s set of games Sept. 28-30, it’s the Allderdice Dragons on top of the league, with all desires to remain there. They’re 3-0 in the City League, and 3-2 overall.

Westinghouse, Perry and USO are 1-1 in conference, Brashear is 1-2, and Carrick is 0-2. Allderdice next faces DuBois Area, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Cupples Stadium, South Side.

JUSTIN MORRIS of Allderdice gives a stiff-arm to a would-be tackler. His Dragons are 3-0 in the City League as of Sept. 27. (Photos by Will McBride)

AZI HUMBER runs away from Carrick defenders in a Sept. 22 contest that Allderdice dominated.

TYRELL MINNIFIELD, ALLDERDICE

COURIER PHOTOGRAPHER WILL MCBRIDE captures Dice’s Raquan Caldwell with a nice catch over Damon Macklin of USO in a game earlier this season.

RASHAWN HARVEY is headed for paydirt in a contest against Carrick, in which Allderdice won, 34-0, Sept. 22.

JAMES JACKSON ALLEN, ALLDERDICE

I bet you Trump wouldn’t call Curry or Kaepernick a ‘S.O.B.’ to their face!

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—Game 3 of 16 on the road to “Stairway to Seven.” Back at my main spot… none–of–your–business! But here’s what you do need to know. It’s 12:30, a half hour before kickoff, and your Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they plan to do what I expected other teams to follow suit.

They’re staying inside for the national anthem to hold, and I quote, “Their own ceremony.” C’mon, man. Are you kidding me. Hiding from the problem does not fix the problem. The team…every team, needs to stand or kneel in unity. I sure hope Tomlin didn’t make the call. I hope it came from above! :09—Oh right. You already know what I know. Eli Rodgers gives up the ball on a punt and the Bears walk it in on six plays.

This is one of the reasons many people go into this game with one eye open and one eye closed. On the road, preparation, or lack thereof, turnovers, taking the other team lightly…Look, you give any team in the NFL a chance to win and they’ll take it. And the Bears did, handing your Steelers their first loss of the season. :08—Back to the flag. Look, I’m man enough to say it. I’m no revolutionary. I am not sure that I can go all in…give up everything, money, cars, house, lifestyle…I’d like to think I could, but I don’t know. So as a result, I am not going to condemn all

the NFL and NBA players family is going for the gold. for their lack thereof, but I get that, but man, talk now you can understand about a life and great talthe power that the great ent wasted.

Jim Brown brought to bear :05—End of the first half when he told Paul Brown of the Steelers/Bears game. and the Cleveland Browns Shades of Leon Lett, or to shove it, at the height even closer to home, shades of his career when he was of Dave Smith. Now, Little the greatest running back Johnny, you understand on both planets, or the inwhy you go hard 100 percredible amount of courage cent until the whistle it took for “The Greatest,” blows. Hoo-Rah! (And yet Muhammad Ali, to put the the Bears managed to get world on its heels when he three points out of it.) could “Handcuff lightning :04—I know you’ve been and throw thunder in jail!” waiting to hear this. You And lord knows every pro say you haven’t, but I know athlete on the planet owes you have so here you go.

Curt Flood a weekly payYep! It’s Movie Review BILL NEAL check. Truth be told, Coltime. The movie “It,” didn’t in Kaepernick went all in. see it, won’t see it, don’t He’s the revolutionary that there needs to need it. The movie “Mother,” every cat out be more of. there reading this knows to leave that :07—Last thing and I’ll let it go. Seven- movie alone or you’ll get a long list of stuff ty percent of all NFL players are Black. to do (just kidding, mom). “American AsThree-fourths of the NBA is Black. Imag- sassin” is the best thing going and I only ine what they could do if they all took a gave it three basketballs. Too predictable knee together. They would close shop. I’m and too many mistakes in the movie’s just sayin’!!! script. No Jason Bourne here. :06—Speaking of greatness, or not, and :03—The first annual “Great Savoy I want to be careful here because people Car Show” brought to you by Achieving died around this guy. The daughter of Greatness Inc., Chuck Sanders CharAaron Hernandez is suing the NFL for ities, the Savoy restaurant with suher daddy’s shortcomings? Clearly the permanagers Gary White, Kedron and

Overtime

special help from the United Rays Corvette Club, was a big hit. We’ll show you some photos in a future edition of the Courier. :02—You’ve heard a lot about the Pittsburgh City League Hall of Fame class for 2017. Here are your special award categories. *Honoring the Deceased—Walter Gross, Charlie Betts, Harold Pool, Eugene Massaro, Cedrick Hill and Tom Moul. *Community Service Award—Dr. Gloria Hill, The Dr. Helen Faison Education Award—Bill Hillgrove, The Eddie Jefferies Media Award—Elbert Kennedy, The Pete Dimperio Legends Award and Kevin Parker, The Maurice Lucas Courage Award. *City League Coaches Induction—Leroy Dillard, Joe Knapth, Fred Lucas, George Rieley and Michelle Megarry *And The Legends of the Game—Billy Betts, Horace Nelson, John Brewer, Felix Petrazula, Paul Champlin and Ray Hooper. See it all Saturday, Oct. 7 at the August Wilson Center. Reception at 6 p.m., showtime is 7 p.m. Only 187 tickets left.

Call AGI at 412-628-4856, Curt Hefflin at 412-613-9136 or Fred Lucas at 412-9897664. :01—I don’t know much, but I know this, I’ll bet you everything I own, and it ain’t much, if Donald Trump was in a room with Kaepernick, Stephen Curry or LeBron, he wouldn’t call them “S.O.B.” then!

He’s crazy, but he ain’t stupid. :00—GAME OVER.

B8

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2017

COURIER STEELERS CENTRAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

IT’S GONE TOO FAR

Some Steelers fans have taken to YouTube to burn their Steelers jerseys for the world to see. This comes on the heels of the Steelers’ decision as a team not to take the field in Chicago, Sept. 24, for the national anthem. Former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva was the only Steelers player to stand on the field for the anthem. Some Steelers fans are furious with the team’s decision, while other fans have applauded their decision. Where do you stand? E-mail newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com.

The Steelers have no intensity The Hunters have become Three games. Not a large sample size, I’ll admit that. But sometimes three games is enough to see an issue or two and in the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first one that I see is a lack of intensity.

Sure, they’ve won two of those three games and are tied for first place at 2-1 with the Baltimore Ravens, a team they’ll face this coming Sunday, Oct. 1. But their one loss was an absolute dud to a very poor Bears team (though the way they pounded the Steelers this past Sunday you wouldn’t know how bad they really are) and their two wins against the

Only Antonio Brown has confidence that Ben isn’t shown true heart and a just going to go for the home desire to give his all on ev- run ball 50 yards down the ery play, something he was field every few plays. If it criticized for was working not doing in even half 2016. the time, I expected great, I’d be a huge year all for that out of Ben play remainRoethlising in the berger and I repertoire; still do, but but since it it hasn’t hapcontinues MIKE PELAIA pened yet. COURIER STEELERS CENTRAL to come up Whether it’s empty on him, Todd Haley, or both, most occasions, Roethlisthe play calling has been berger needs to dial down marginal, the execution has the deep ball and get back been a bit off and the pro- to the basics that make this duction is below the stan- offense great. dard that Ben has created Some of that can’t be done without Le’Veon Bell running the ball more effectively than he has.

He did bump his yards per carry average up to 4.1 this past Sunday, Sept. 24, but only had 61 yards on 15 carries. He needs the ball more than that even WHAT’S UP WITH US?—Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and offensive and 61 coordinator Todd Haley need to find a better rhythm than their current haphazard, those 22nd-ranked offense. (Photo by Brian Cook) yards were not the typBrowns and Vikings were for himself. ical yards gained by Bell. unimpressive, at best.

Look, Ben’s played OK, He’s not getting big plays, Why haven’t the Steelers he’s far from the Steelers’ he’s not utilizing his tradecome out and played like biggest problem, but it’s mark patience as often as the team that said they his job to make better deci- he has in the past and he’s were dedicating the season sions and lead this team in not finding the holes as easto Dan Rooney? They ap- a more organized manner. ily. pear flat, uninspired and That hasn’t happened yet.

Is all of this due to the startrelatively disinterested.

Right now, I don’t have ers missing time due to hold-

outs, injuries, rest or general days off in the preseason?

I don’t believe it is. I think there is a case for some of this to be attributed to that, but three games in, that rust needs to go away. The good teams, no matter how little they have played together, find ways to beat the inferior teams, usually soundly. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, they haven’t shown they are a superior team, to date.

There is a palpable lack of intensity. That fire is missing. It may be an assumption that they are just going to roll over everybody. It may be individual agendas getting in the way. It may very well be that Mike Tomlin is not motivating this team appropriately and doesn’t have his finger truly on the pulse of his squad.

I’ll say all three of those are reasons the intensity hasn’t been there yet and it needs to be rectified now.

The Steelers travel to Baltimore this Sunday, a team who was just embarrassed in London to a Jaguars team with very low expectations. The Ravens are going to come home hungry and looking for revenge. It’s early, but first place is on the line between these two bitter rivals. I trust that Ravens coach John Harbaugh will have his team amped up for this game and I would like to believe Coach Tomlin will, too, but I don’t think I can trust it until I see it at this point.

I’m hoping the Steelers don’t leave me asking the question this Sunday that I’ve asked myself the last three: “Where’s the intensity?”

the Hunted—‘dirty birds’ await in B-more Ravens Hey “yinzers,” before Sunday’s “bear bashing” the Pittsburgh Steelers were on a roll. They were 2-0 and they were about to play the Chicago Bears before traveling this weekend to the land of “Poe” to face the Baltimore Ravens.

However, let me pose this question to all of “yinz.”

Did the Bears get the rollover memo? Apparently not. The Steelers had all of the proper hunting gear, but the Bears had the camouflage of a surprise running attack. The

AUBREY BRUCE COURIER STEELERS CENTRAL Bears did not have to get fancy or schmancy. The Bears just ran “buck wild” en route to defeating the Steelers, 23-17, in overtime, Sept. 24. During the final game-winning drive

by Chicago, the Pittsburgh defense looked hapless and hopeless. “The Bears ran, east, west, north and south and along the way they stopped to bust the Steelers in the mouth.” Many of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ so-called “weapons” remained locked in the gun case for what, to be used on another day? Isn’t there far more to the offense of the Black and Gold than Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger? What good are weapons when a few are favored, though they’re all vital to success? No one can accuse the Steelers of choking. Pittsburgh was choked by the asphyxiating running game of the relentless Bears. The Bears’ passing game was anemic but their running game was deadly. I say deadly because there were times that the running backs of “Chi-town” looked as they were running over corpses dressed in Steelers uniforms. There were other instances that Pittsburgh defenders were flying around in the Bears backfield like ghosts “grasping at straws.” Pittsburgh’s special teams were like “Special Ed.” An attempted field goal by Steelers placekicker Chris Boswell was blocked at the end of the first half. The hustle of

recently-acquired Steelers TE Vance McDonald was evident as he chased down a swaggering, cocky and showboating Bears special teamer Marcus Cooper for almost the entire length of the field, stripping him at the one yard line and sending the ball fluttering into the Steelers’ end zone, where Steelers punter Jordan Berry had the wherewithal to swipe the ball out the end zone, forcing the Bears attempt to score from the one-half yard line (they failed because of a false start penalty). Chicago ended the half with a field goal instead of a touchdown which would be the difference that would ultimately send the game into extra innings, oops, wrong sport, I meant overtime.

The problems are only now beginning for the Black and Gold. The Steelers are now faced with going into Baltimore this Sunday, Oct. 1, to face an angry and rabid B-more Ravens squad who were just dismantled by the Jacksonville Jaguars, 44-7, “across the pond,” and the beaks of the “dirty birds” are dripping with blood anticipating their matchup versus the Steelers, with or without “weapons.”

The Steelers should have moseyed into M&T Bank Stadium ready to place the albatross of second place in the volcanic AFC North division around the necks of the Ravens; now Pittsburgh has to go in battling for first place in the division. Speaking of the AFC North, the Bengals gave the Packers all they could handle before losing, 2724. Bye, bye, Marvin Lewis.

The Browns are also much improved despite losing, 31-28, to the Colts at Indy.

CBS analyst Tony Romo pointed out that Bengals QB Andy Dalton was getting rid of the ball in less than 3 seconds. Hmmm...is there a quarterback for the Steelers that more often than not holds the football as if he remains the top client for the Fred Biletnikoff stick-um company?

The Steelers had better be ready, the trap has been set for the remainder of the season. Will the Pittsburgh Steelers be the hunters, or the hunted? By the way, I went back on my promise.

Even though I picked Pittsburgh to win, I said that I wasn’t going to say, “I told you so.”