Adw sept7 by Atlanta Daily World

September is Baby Safety Awareness Month Powered by Real Times Media

Volume 90 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

September 7-13, 2017

On The Docket:

Dilapidation in DeKalb

September 7-13, 2017

COVER STORY

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

DeKalb Court launches initiative to clean up blight in county

By ADW Staff Atlanta’s vacant and blighted properties are costing the city between $1.6 million and $2.9 million a year in direct services, according to a report by Georgia Tech professor Dan Immergluck, with even greater effects on property values and lost property tax revenue. The analysis, “The Cost of Vacant and Blighted Properties in Atlanta: A Conservative Analysis of Service and Spillover Costs,” also estimates the impact of vacant homes on nearby property values. The report provides a “reasonable estimate” of a $153 million loss in single-family property values, with a “conservative estimate” of $55 million. These translate to a yearly decline in property tax revenue of between $985,000 and $2.7 million. Beyond the scourge on property values, blight, as a form of neglect, is a public health concern. In 2015, Buckhead speculator Rick Warren was sentenced to 30 days in jail for blighted conditions in one of Atlanta’s poorest neighborhoods. English Avenue has long suffered from neglect at the hands of absentee landlords. Warren being one of the biggest on record, had at least 20 housing code enforcement convictions to his name. The solution seems easy enough: Demolish the blighted properties with reasonable notice and then send absentee landlords the bill. It’s a solution that a group of Atlanta residents that comprise the group “Blyght” group can get behind. In 2016, they were so upset over the conditions of abandoned homes in northwest Atlanta, they sent a drone up in the air to document the dilapidation. The lobby: They want more money from the city to knock down abandoned homes, to hire code enforcement officers and to create more affordable housing in the English Avenue area and other areas. Blyght member Alan Holmes, who is also the City of Atlanta’s social media manager, is serving on the city’s code enforcement commission, which is studying ways to make improvements to neighborhoods. He says where there are homes like these, measures of safety and property values go

ADW | 2

down, and the land can be put to better use. But the way the code enforcements have been set up throughout the metro area, and with large swaths of blighted areas being owned by small companies and real estate investment firms, the solution has been elusive. In neighboring municipalities such as in DeKalb County, where blight is looked at as primarily a public health issue, Chief DeKalb Magistrate Judge Berryl A. Anderson announced the formation of a new court effort to improve the quality of life for residents of DeKalb County. In conjunction with other county officials, Anderson has created a calendar that targets abandoned, dilapidated and burned-out properties presenting a danger to the citizens of DeKalb. Under this initiative, once per month, the judges of the Magistrate’s Court Ordinance Division hear cases in which properties have been cited for multiple citations by DeKalb County Code Enforcement without corrective measures being taken by property owners. Under final orders from these judges, property owners will be required to repair or demolish these dangerous properties. The key difference with treatment of these cases now is that if the owner does not repair or demolish as required, the county will be allowed to tear down these properties at county expense. DeKalb County can then in turn collect the costs of demolition from the property owner. Supervising Ordinance Judge Hollie Manheimer, along with Judges September Guy and Matthew McCoyd, will hear these cases. These three judges were appointed by Chief Judge Anderson in May 2015 after the responsibility for ordinance violations in DeKalb County was shifted by statute to the Magistrate Court. The Ordinance Division hears cases involving code enforcement, animal control and ordinance violations, as well as the new cases that are labeled nuisance abatement cases. “We have long been plagued in DeKalb County with problems created by these troublesome properties,” Anderson said. “In the past, there was not much that could be done unless the properties’

owners could be found. This initiative allows the county to move forward with taking down these properties regardless of whether the owners respond to court orders. We can protect the rights of homeowners while making sure the neglect of their property does not undermine the quality of life in DeKalb.” Anderson notes that the ordinance judges are particularly sensitive to the rights of property owners. In each instance the judges will follow a strict procedural safeguard checklist to ensure that property rights are protected. In each instance, a notice is sent to all interested parties, including property owners, homeowners, mortgage holders and renters. The first of these calendars took place on Aug. 24. Three of the 10 cases heard resulted in orders for the demolition of those properties unless the property owner takes immediate steps to make improvements. Another three cases revealed the owners had remedied some of the cited violations; in one instance the property was so improved that the Code Enforcement Officer recommended the action be dismissed. The hearings will be held on the third Thursday of each month and the Court anticipates that as many as 25 cases will be reviewed at any of these hearings. The court approach comes in tandem with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approval of the county’s 2017 operating budget of $1.3 billion, which funds DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s top priorities of addressing the county’s water billing crisis, employment and blight. The board approved $2.6 million for Operation Clean Sweep, a year-round initiative to target blight, litter, illegal dumping and cleaning up debris in county storm drains, streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way. As part of the $2.6 million approved, the county plans to buy four street sweepers, a front loader, dump truck, trailer and other equipment. “Anyone who lives, works or who visits here should be able to walk and drive along the streets of DeKalb County free without encountering excessive litter and debris,” Thurmond said. “Residential blight did not appear overnight and will not be easily remediated, but I am convinced that a more focused, multi-departmental blight remediation strategy, in cooperation with civic groups, faith leaders and the private sector, will result in improved quality of life for us all.”

Atlanta Daily World

Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

General Manager and CEO Keith Parker will step down after nearly five years in service of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Parker will join Goodwill of North Georgia, which provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs, as president and CEO this fall. Led by MARTA Chairman Robbie Ashe, the Board will vote to approve an interim general manager in an upcoming session and will launch a national search for a permanent chief executive. “We are deeply grateful for his stewardship and proud of the many strides we made as an agency during his tenure, said Chairman Ashe. “As chief executive, Parker helped to usher in a new day for MARTA’s customer service, fiscal responsibility, and service expansion. He leaves MARTA stronger and healthier than ever before.” Separately, after a rigorous nationwide search, the Authority named veteran transit executive Arthur “Rob” Troupe — a former HNTB and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) executive — deputy general manager. Starting September 18, Troupe will report to the interim general manager, both of whom will work directly with Parker throughout his remaining tenure to ensure a seamless transition. “With three decades of progressive experience, Troupe joins an exceptional executive leadership team,” said Parker. “This is an exciting new chapter for MARTA and I am confi-

Katrice L. Mines

Senior Editor kmines@atlantatribune.com

Kamille D. Whittaker Associate Editor kwhittaker@atlantatribune.com

Juan Sifuentes

Graphic Designer jsifuentes@realtimesmedia.com

Address all correspondence to and make checks payable to Atlanta Daily World, rather than to individuals.

dent that he will play an important role in the agency’s future.” Parker joined the nation’s ninth largest transit system as its general manager and CEO in December 2012. With an annual budget of nearly $1 billion, MARTA provides more than 400,000 passenger trips a day through heavy rail, bus and paratransit services. Since taking the helm, Parker has worked with MARTA’s Board of Directors to balance the Authority’s budget, improve efficiencies, increase bus and rail service, and enhance the overall customer experience. Once on a path to insolvency, the Authority now boasts cash reserves topping $240 million.

City of Atlanta seeks proposals for innovative affordable housing design

General Manager lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

The Atlanta Daily World is not responsible for unsolicited photos, manuscripts, etc., unless return is requested with postage.

September 7-13, 2017

MARTA general manager and chief executive announces departure from nation’s ninth largest transit system

Lorraine Cochran

Atlanta Daily World is powered by Real Times Media

NEWS

By ADW Staff Do you have an idea for a multi-family affordable housing unit design? If so, the Department of City Planning in Atlanta wants to see it. Last week the Department launched the domestiCITY design competition, a program seeking innovative design ideas to promote more affordable housing options in the City of Atlanta. The competition calls for organizations to propose feasible models for designing and constructing multi-family affordable housing units. Proposals should address challenges such as increases in land and construction costs, as well as demand for affordable housing outpacing supply in heavily-populated areas. Santa Fe Villas, a four-acre 147-unit supportive housing development in Southwest Atlanta, will serve as the pilot project site for the competition. “Atlanta’s economic future is best secured by a housing market that includes quality options for all income levels. We are committed to exploring strategies that result in more affordable workforce housing in the City of Atlanta, and we

proud to launch this competition,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “DomestiCITY allows housing and design experts to join in on this mission and we look forward to implementing the best solution.” The competition will consist of two phases. In Phase I, an independent judging panel will anonymously select five winning finalist entries, as well as select an additional submission that demonstrates superb architectural development to receive the “Architectural Innovation” award. Each of the finalists will be awarded $20,000. The second phase of the competition will provide an opportunity for each winning team to expand their Phase I design proposal. The selected winning team will receive an additional cash stipend of $30,000 to further develop the project. Atlanta’s metropolitan population is expected to grow by 2.5 million residents over the next 20 years with the City of Atlanta is expected to assume a substantial portion of the growth, tripling in size from a current population of 473,000 residents. The Department of City Planning is currently developing a City Design that will ensure that Atlanta is prepared. “The City is finalizing the Atlanta City Design, which will be critical in guiding us through Atlanta’s growth and assist us in planning for the city’s future,” said. Tim Keane, commissioner of the Department of City Planning. “The domestiCITY design competition is an extension of Atlanta City Design that will examine innovative strategies for the planning, design, construction and operation of affordable and sustainable developments in increasingly urbanized areas.” The Department of City Planning is partnering with Enterprise Community Partners and Assist Inc. Community Design Center to administer the competition. The competition timeline includes: Q&A Deadline: October 23 Registration Deadline: October 30 Submission Deadline: November 14, 5 p.m. PT Winners Announced: December 13 Phase II Final Submission: January 31, 2018 Competition Exhibition: February 12 – March 26, 2018

Then too, MARTA remains the safest mode of transportation across the region and ranks second among multi-modal transit agencies nationally. During his tenure, Parker spearheaded the Authority’s reinvigorated focus on transit oriented developments while enhancing the ridership experience through our partnership with Soccer in the Streets, as well as launching Fresh MARTA Markets and Artbound — the transit system’s newly launched program aimed at aesthetically enhancing the rail system. “In the wake of the I-85 bridge collapse, the MARTA family stepped up,” Parker said. “From rail operators to customer service personnel, we could not have asked for a more capable, dedicated and passionate team of professionals.” In 2016, City of Atlanta residents overwhelmingly supported a MARTA ballot measure that will generate an estimated $2.5 billion over the next 40 years for high-capacity rail improvements, new infill rail stations, expanded bus routes and other services. In 2015, MARTA extended service into Clayton County. “MARTA’s future is bright, its leadership is strong and the Authority is devoted to delivering best-in-class multimodal transit services that connect communities, advance equity and promote prosperity across the region,” Chairman Ashe said. “What we have been able to achieve of the last four and a half years has been a collective effort reflective of the dedication of the entire MARTA family.”

DeKalb appoints first female sanitation division director Tracy Hutchinson has been appointed director of the Sanitation Division. Hutchinson is the first female director to lead Sanitation, the largest division within the county’s Public Works Department. Hutchinson joined the Sanitation Division in 2004 as assistant director of Processing and Disposal Services. Since September 2016, Hutchinson has served as interim director, and is responsible for managing the division’s day-to-day operations, which includes 641 Tracy Hutchinson employees and five operational areas. She also oversees the Seminole Road Landfill, the only county-owned landfill in the state of Georgia. The Sanitation Division services more than 178,000 households weekly, and leads the county’s environmental sustainability efforts, including the recently launched glass recycling program. Hutchinson continues to bring positive attention and awareness to the county’s sanitation efforts, vision and mission, and was recently profiled in the August issue of the American Public Works Association’s (APWA) premier monthly publication, APWA Reporter Magazine. Hutchinson is a 20-year solid waste industry veteran, and prior to joining the Sanitation Division, was the first African-American female to serve in a senior management role within the engineering department at Waste Management Inc. She was also the first female African-American president of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Georgia Chapter. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Savannah State University, serves as an APWA Public Works Leadership Fellow, and holds professional SWANA certifications in landfill operations, collection systems and recycling systems.

3 | ADW

BUSINESS

September 7-13, 2017

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Atlanta Dream parts ways with Michael Cooper

By ADW Staff

Century Black Leaders. In 2004, he wrote the Introduction for the 17th edition of Who’s Morehouse College professor and Black Who Among African Americans. Among Atlanta Historian Dr. Alton Hornsby died on his most recent works are A Short History September 1, 2017, in Atlanta. of Black Atlanta, 1847-1990, “Southerners Alton Hornsby Jr. earned a Too?: Essays on the Black South, Bachelors degree in history from 1773-1990,” for the Dictionary of Morehouse College and M.A. and Twentieth Century Black Leaders Ph.D. degree from the University (editor-in-chief and contributor), of Texas (Austin), where he held The Atlanta Urban League, 1920a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, 2000 (with Alexa B. Henderson; a Southern Education Foundawinner of the Adele Mellon Prize tion Fellowship and a University for distinguished scholarship), A Fellowship. Professor Hornsby Biographical History of African is Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Americans, and From the GrassHistory at Morehouse College. roots: Profiles of Contemporary For 25 years (between 1976 and Black Leaders (with Angela M. 2001), he edited the Journal of Hornsby), Negro History for the Association Alton Hornsby Jr. Hornsby has been president of for the Study of African Amerithe Association of Social and Becan Life and History. He has also edited “The havioral Scientists and the Southern ConPapers of John and Lugenia Burns Hope” for ference on African American Studies. He Blackwell’s Companion to African Ameri- has served on the executive council of the can History and the Dictionary of Twentieth Association of Social and Behavioral Scien-

2018 led by All-Stars Tiffany Hayes, Layshia Clarendon and Elizabeth Williams, as well as Rookie of the Year candidate Brittney Sykes.

Tax tips for those affected by natural disasters

By Steve Julal Every year, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters affect people throughout the US. The bad news is that recovery efforts after natural disasters can be costly. For instance, when hurricanes strike they not only cause wind damage but can cause widespread flooding. Many homeowners are not covered for damage due to flooding because most standard insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Fortunately, tax relief is available–but only if you meet certain conditions. For business owners and self-employed individuals who may owe estimated taxes, for example, the IRS typically delays filing deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. DEDUCTING CASUALTY LOSSES: TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS Fortunately, personal casualty losses are deductible on your tax return as long as the property is located in a federally declared disaster zone (please call the office if you are not sure). You must also meet the following four conditions: 1. The loss was caused by a sudden, unexplained, or unusual event. Natural disasters such as flooding, hur-

ADW | 4

ricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires all qualify as sudden, unexplained, or unusual events. 2. The damages were not covered by insurance. You can only claim a deduction for casualty losses that are not covered or reimbursed by your insurance company. Keep in mind that timing is important. If you submit a claim to your insurance company late in the year, then your claim might not be processed before it is time to prepare your taxes. One solution is to file for a 6-month extension on your taxes. If you have any questions about this, please call the office. 3. The dollar amount of you losses were greater than the reductions required by the IRS. To claim casualty losses on your tax forms, the IRS requires several “reductions,” the first of which is referred to as the $100 loss limit and requires taxpayers to subtract $100 from the total loss amount. Next, you need to reduce the loss amount by 10 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Here is an example: Let’s say your AGI is $35,000 and your insurance company paid for all of the losses except $5,800 that you in-

curred as a result of tornado damage. First, you would first subtract $100 and then reduce that amount by $3500. The amount you could deduct as a loss would be $2,200. 4. You must itemize. To claim a deduction for the loss, you must itemize your taxes. If you normally don’t itemize but have a large casualty loss, you can calculate your taxes both ways to figure out which method gives you the lowest tax bill. Please call if you need help figuring out which method is best for your particular circumstances. FIGURING AMOUNT OF LOSS Figure the amount of your loss using the following steps: • Determine what your adjusted basis in the property was before the casualty occurred. For property you buy, your basis is usually its cost to you. For property you acquire in some other way, such as inheriting it or getting it as a gift, you must figure your basis in another way. Please call the office for more information. • Determine the decrease in fair market value (FMV) of the property as a result of the casualty. FMV is the price at which you could sell your property to a willing buyer. The decrease in FMV is the difference between the property’s FMV immediately before and immediately after the casualty. • Subtract any insurance or other reimbursements that you received or expect to receive from the smaller of those two amounts. TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS Individuals, as well as businesses affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straightline winds, and flooding in Arkansas and Missouri with an estimated income tax payment originally due on or after April 26, 2017, and before Aug. 31, 2017, will not be subject to penalties for failure to pay estimated tax installments as long as such payments are paid on or before Aug. 31, 2017.

COMMUNITY

September 7-13, 2017

Dr. Alton Hornsby: The Black Past Remembered, Reclaimed and Mourned

By ADW Staff After four seasons with Atlanta Dream, the franchise has decided to part ways with head coach Michael Cooper. “We are grateful that Michael Cooper has been part of our franchise over the last four years,” Dream owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler said. “Michael shared a wealth of experience from his championships in the NBA and coaching two WNBA championship teams. We hope our fans will join us in thanking him for his dedication to the Atlanta Dream.” While leading the Dream Cooper recorded a 63-73 overall record, including a 12-22 mark in 2017. He directed the Dream to the WNBA Playoffs in 2014 and 2016. His 2014 squad entered the postseason as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the first-ever No. 1 seed in franchise history. “I am very proud of the young and cohesive team we’ve built and I want to thank the Atlanta fans, the Dream organization, and, most of all, our players for their dedication and hard work,” Michael Cooper said. “We’ve grown as a team and I’m confident these talented and exciting players will continue to realize their potential both as a team and individually.” The Atlanta Dream will return an exciting young roster in

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

tists, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and the Southern Historical Association. Hornsby served for 42 years on the Morehouse faculty. He was also chair of the department of history for 30 consecutive years. One of the nation’s leading scholars in African-American history and African-American studies, Hornsby also published at least 20 books during his tenure at Morehouse. While at Morehouse, he served on numerous committees, including chair of the Benjamin E. Mays Lecture Committee, as well as numerous committees in his profession. He won many prizes and awards for excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. In the spring leading up to his retirement in 2010, several dozens of his former and then-present students, colleagues, and friends gathered in Atlanta for a three-day celebration of his retirement. The events culminated with a Testimonial Brunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Airport. A repository of some of his work can be

Loss: What to say after the flood, earthquake, or disaster

Facebook.com/ADWnews Follow us @ADWnews

ADWnews.com

Natural disasters such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, or the Mississippi river flood leave a wake of devastation. They destroy people’s homes and crops, devastate lives, demolish communities, bankrupt businesses, and shatter our sense of safety. What do you say to someone dealing with an enormous loss? “People don’t know what to say to someone who is heartbroken. It’s not their fault. No one has taught them what to say. If you say the wrong thing, you can actually make matters worse,” said Aurora Winter, grief expert and founder of the Grief Coach Academy. To comfort someone who is heartbroken, start by listening. “It’s important for you to know what an enormous gift you give by simply listening. It is a relief to a heartbroken person to talk about

their loss,” said Winter, who authored “From Heartbreak to Happiness.” For example, people might share their heartbreak over losing family photographs, a treasured family heirloom, or a pet. They might share their feelings of being overwhelmed at having to return to a devastated property and begin the process of rebuilding. They might share their financial fears. “When you listen without fixing, you are being a true friend. Be patient and allow people to vent their feelings,” says Aurora, a grief expert. “Don’t argue with a person’s feelings. Don’t interrupt to ‘problem solve.’ Having a sounding board helps people discover their own answers and their own solutions.” Suggestions for some good things to say.

Do say: You’re not alone - I’m here. I’m grateful that you are alive. It’s understandable that you’re upset. That’s a normal and natural reaction to this situation. I don’t know what to say. I know things look bleak right now, but things are going to get better. This too shall pass. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. My heart goes out to you. You’re capable and competent. I know you can handle this challenge. I’ve seen you overcome other challenges. I am here for you. I appreciate our friendship and I’m glad that you are sharing with me. You can call me anytime. Would you be willing to consider that something good may be unfolding here, in spite of appearances? What could that possibly be? Imagine things go perfectly from now on. What would be an ideal outcome one year from now? What could you be enthusiastic about? What specifically can I do to support you? Don’t say: Don’t feel bad. It must have been God’s will. It’s your fault. You should have... I know how you feel. It just takes time. “Time alone does not heal. The right actions heal. Be proactive,” said Winter, who hosts events to help people recover from loss. “Healing is a process, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If I can go from heartbreak to happiness, you can, too.”

found at the BlackPast.org, an online reference guide to African American History.

Atlanta Daily World

Times Media

.com www.AtlantaDailyWorld

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 6-12, 2017

35 Volume 89 • Issue

Metro Atlanta’s darkest secret

Facebook.com/ADWnews Follow us @ADWnews

5 | ADW

September 7-13, 2017

POLITICS

Judicial panel dismisses NAACP’s claims of Gerrymandering in Georgia

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

September 7-13, 2017

Mayor Kasim Reed: Atlanta is a city of dreamers

Your child’s dreams are like stars: If he chooses them as his guides, he can reach his destiny.

By ADW Staff A three-member panel of federal judges dismissed allegations of voting-rights violations brought by the Georgia chapter of the NAACP, finding the group did not prove that a state law allowing for the redistricting of two key districts discriminates against minority voters. At the end of April, the Georgia NAACP and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights filed suit against the State of Georgia and its Secretary of State to remedy an unlawful racial gerrymander. The suit, filed in federal court in Atlanta, claims that the redrawing of lines for Georgia House of Representatives Districts 105 and 111, in 2015, was done with a racially discriminatory purpose to favor the election of White incumbents – an alleged violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “Mid-decade redistricting has become another tactic used by those who seek to suppress the rights of minority voters in the face of racial demographic change,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Lawmakers in Georgia explicitly used race to reconfigure district boundaries to guarantee the reelection of white incumbents. Such conduct is discriminatory and illustrative of the ugly racial discrimination that infects the political process in Georgia today.” The Complaint alleged that the passage of H.B. 566, in the context of the historical discrimination against African Americans in Georgia and racially polarized voting, was intended, at least in part, to reduce the number of minority voters and increase the number of White voters to reduce minority voting strength in Districts 105 and 111, and was a racial gerrymander in violation of the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. The panel disagreed with the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP’s argument that House Bill 566 reorganized state House Districts 105 and 111 with the intent to dilute minority voting strength and disadvantage African-American and other minority voters compared to white voters. Districts 105 and 111 are both located in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The three-judge panel ruled that although

ADW | 6

the NAACP sufficiently alleged the discriminatory intent of the law in its complaint, it failed to demonstrate that the law had a discriminatory effect. To prove the law’s discriminatory effect, the NAACP had to show that the group of minorities is large enough to constitute a cohesive majority within the districts. The judges ruled that it failed to do so. The panel also rejected the NAACP’s claim that HB 566 “intentionally and surgically remove[d] Democratic voters” from the districts “for the purpose of making them noncompetitive and ensuring electoral victory for their Republican incumbents.” “[The plaintiffs] have given us no metric by which we can measure discriminatory effect… They have supplied the court with no explanation or statistical analysis to support their partisan gerrymandering claim or show that it is judicially manageable,” one judge wrote. The NAACP originally filed the lawsuit for declaratory and injunctive relief in Atlanta federal court in April, alleging that proponents of HB 566 redrew Districts 105 and 11 to prevent black voters from having “an equal opportunity to elect a candidate of choice” in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. The complaint stated that HB 566 violated the voting rights of minorities by “removing precincts and census blocks that are predominantly populated by minority voters, and inserting precincts and census blocks that are predominantly populated by white voters.” The NAACP claimed that the redistricting was done specifically to protect white Republican incumbents Joyce Chandler and Bryan Strickland, both of whom narrowly won their elections in 2016 after the law took effect. Chandler defeated Donna McLeod, a black Democrat, by just 222 votes to win District 105. Strickland defeated Darryl Payton, also a black Democrat, by 964 votes to win District 111. The NAACP argued that without the redistricting, the two incumbents may have lost their elections. Representatives for the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP and Georgia Secretary of State

Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program marched through the streets of downtown Atlanta Monday. Hundreds of demonstrators walked from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s office building on Ted Turner Drive to the Atlanta City Detention Center, where some immigrants are detained, after President Trump announced his decision to rescind the program. Former President Barack Obama signed an executive order creating DACA in 2012. The policy was created after acknowledgment that students, known as “Dreamers,” had been largely raised in the United States, and was seen as a way to remove immigration enforcement attention from “low priority” individuals with good behavior. On Tuesday, Mayor Kasim Reed also spoke about his continued support of Dreamers, the 800,000 young adults born outside the United States and brought here illegally by their parents, who are now in jeopardy of deportation. Reed’s statement: “Atlanta is a city of dreamers, where people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, can bring and build their dreams. President Trump’s assault on DACA is an attack on the American dream and all who worked hard to achieve it. Eliminating DACA is a shameful abdication of moral leadership. By ending this program, the

President is breaking a promise that the federal government made to the nearly 800,000 young people in our country who stepped forward, passed background checks and have been granted permission to live and work legally in the United States. These brave young individuals asked for legal recognition as members of our society – recognition they have earned through their service to our country as well as through their cultural and economic contributions. We are all enriched through the presence of these young women and men. President Obama established DACA through an executive order because Congress had failed repeatedly to pass comprehensive immigration reform, despite widespread, bi-partisan support across the nation. These failures are unacceptable, and we cannot wait any longer. I call on Congress to pass the DREAM Act immediately, thereby making the protections afforded by DACA permanent and binding. Atlanta will not waver in our support of DACA DREAMers and their families, or our immigrant and foreign-born residents. Atlanta is proud to be a Welcoming City - one of inclusion, compassion and diversity - and we will remain so because these values are at the core of what makes our city great. It is my sincerest hope that our nation can live up to its highest ideals, starting with keeping our promise to the DREAMers.”

BORN TO BE GREAT By 2020, 65 percent of all jobs will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school. Previously, courses teaching higher-order thinking skills like critical thinking and problem solving were reserved for the economically advantaged and “gifted and talented.”

The federal government has a responsibility to invest in the success of every student. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that acquisition of those higher-order thinking skills be the standard for every student but your involvement is needed to make those requirements realities. To learn more about ESSA and how you can get involved, visit www.nnpa.org/essa. Made possible by a grant from the

7 | ADW

LIFESTYLE

September 7-13, 2017

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

This is how long $1 million will stretch in retirement By ADW Staff Mississippi is the state where your dollar will last the longest amount of time in retirement, while Hawaii is where your dollar will last the shortest, a new study found. How much money do you need to retire? How long will your retirement savings last? A study by GoBankingRates. com is offering the answer depending on where you live. Georgia came in sixth on the list of best places to stretch your retirement savings; $1 million will last a retiree here 24 years and 11 months. Georgia is also a member of the sub$12,000 club with housing costs that average just $11,600. Every other category is also cheaper than the national average, as well, but not by nearly as much. If you retire in here, you can get away with spending just $40,198 a year. Ten thousand people turn 65 in the United States every single day while the average American retirement age is 63, and the life expectancy for retirees is about 85. That means Americans should plan to spend 22 years in retirement, a span that AARP suggests preparing for with a nest egg of at least $1 million. It’s a common refrain that retirees should save at least $1 million for retirement, but how much does where they live affect their saving needs? Personal finance website GOBankin-

gRates found the average total annual expenses for people 65 and older (adding up groceries, housing, utilities, transportation and healthcare costs), then determined the state-specific yearly cost by multiplying total expenses by each state’s cost of living index.

Millennial women have yet to recover from the Great Recession A new analysis of national unemployment rates by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) found that many young women, chiefly women ages 25 to 34, are experiencing unemployment at higher rates than in 2007. Ten years since the start of the Great Recession, the analysis, which looks at young women of different age brackets by race and ethnicity, also finds that, across each age group, young Black women’s unemployment rates were higher in 2016 than White women’s unemployment rates were at their peak in 2010. For instance, in 2016, Black women aged 25-34, experienced an unemployment rate of 8.8 percent, which was higher than the peak rate experienced by White women of the same age in 2010 (7.7 percent). For younger women, the disparity is even wider. “While the overall unemployment rate for American workers is now lower than it was just prior to the Great Recession, Millennial women, especially Millennial women of color, have still not fully recovered from the recession,” said IWPR Senior Research Scientist Chandra Childers, Ph.D. “These are women who were just entering the workforce or early in their careers when the recession hit, and the ensuing high unemployment paused the development of their skills and work experience.” Unemployment rates have consistently been the highest for younger women, those aged 16-19, especially younger women of color. The unemployment rate for Black women and girls aged 16-19 increased from 25.3 percent in 2007 to 40.5 percent in 2010. By 2016, their unemployment rate had fallen to 22.8 percent, almost ten (9.6) percentage points higher than the rate for White women and girls of the same age. “Youth unemployment is a critical issue because prolonged unemployment in the years following high school or college graduation means lost wages and lost opportunities to gain work experience, develop occupational skills, and cultivate a professional network,” said IWPR President Heidi Hartmann, Ph.D. “What our analysis shows is that young women of color must be central to the discussion of how to reduce youth unemployment.”

ADW | 8

September 7-13, 2017

CLOSE-UP:

From its roots in New Orleans to its branches in cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and New York, jazz is uniquely identified by its place of origin, its stylistic transitions, and its practitioners’ continued thirst for exploration. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Sextet will pay special musical homage to those who laid the foundation for jazz, including Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, and its continued musical evolution under such musicians as Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and many more!

Top 5 States Where Your Dollar Will Last the Longest Mississippi: $1 million will last: 26 years, 4 months Arkansas: $1 million will last: 25 years, 6 months Oklahoma: $1 million will last: 25 years, 2 months Michigan: $1 million will last: 25 years Tennessee: $1 million will last: 25 years Top 5 States Where Your Dollar Will Last the Shortest Hawaii: $1 million will last: 11 years, 11 months California: $1 million will last: 16 years, 5 months Alaska: $1 million will last: 17 years, 0 months New York: $1 million will last: 17 years, 1 month Massachusetts: $1 million will last: 17 years, 4 months

ENTERTAINMENT The Jazz Tree: “From Its Roots to Its Limbs,” with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Sextet

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

See the Sextet for free September 9 from 2-2:45 p.m. at Sifly Piazza, High Museum of Art.

Jidenna, Too$hort, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and more set to perform at ONE Musicfest 2017

Photo courtesy of PRNewsfoto/GOBankingRates Additional Study Insights Hawaii’s expenses top out at $83,834 annually, while Mississippi’s are a low of $37,964. Alaska’s healthcare costs the most annually, at $8,479.

The largest expenditure discrepancy is in housing: Hawaii’s costs a whopping $15,964 more annually than the runner-up, California.

Peach Cobbler is the Best of Summer’s Bounty 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon cornstarch For the biscuit topping: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 stick cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/4 cup boiling water

By Dawn M. Richards It’s amazing to realize that we’re in the final stretch before the end of summer is upon us. I love the fall season and can’t deny that I’m eagerly anticipating a respite from the heat and humidity that overhangs this time of the year. However, there are some things about summer that I will absolutely miss long after the air-conditioned days and al fresco nights are no more. And the season’s bounty is one of them. In my (humble) opinion, one of the absolute best things about Summer is the vibrant, seasonal food that makes its mark on our culinary landscapes. Stone fruit fits squarely into that mix, and my undisputed favorites remain peaches, plums, and nectarines. Wheth-

er grilled, roasted, fresh, or transformed into other-worldly ice cream, crumbles, tarts, cobblers, jams, pies, and more, they count as little jewels of which I rarely get enough. And scrumptious, homemade peach cobbler remains a prime example of unabashed indulgence. Perfectly crisp, yet ripened, fragrant peaches make their way from the market, into my kitchen, into my oven, and finally into my mouth and tummy, for one satisfyingly good peach cobbler. It’s the best of summer’s bounty without question. Happy Eating! Peach Cobbler Ingredients: 6 large peaches, peeled and cut into thin wedges

Method: Cook peaches: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Toss peaches with sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch in a 2qt. non-reactive baking dish and bake in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes. Making topping while peaches bake: Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend in butter with fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles course meal. Stir in water until just combined. Remove peaches from oven and drop spoonful’s of topping over them. Bake in the middle of oven until topping is golden, about 25 minutes. (Topping will spread as it bakes.) Enjoy! Dawn M. Richards is the founder of the food and lifestyle brand, D.M.R. Fine Foods. With her food passion leading the way, Richards shares recipes, travel stories, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle features on dmrfinefoods.blogspot.com and other media outlets, while maintaining a career as a Fortune 500 legal executive.

By ADW Staff ONE Musicfest 2017 is headed for Atlanta’s Lakewood Amphitheatre on September 9th with a nod-worthy lineup. Now in its eighth year, the music and arts festival will feature performances from Jill Scott, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, and possibly a farewell show from Yasiin Bey (Mos Def). ONE Musicfest is the Southeast’s largest annual urban progressive music festival, featuring a diverse range of music, including classic and next generation hiphop, soulful R&B, alternative, and rock. Started in 2010, ONE Musicfest is now recognized as one of the most highly-anticipated celebrations of the arts in the

Southeast, with this year’s festival expecting an attendance of 20,000 music lovers from throughout the country. This year In 2015, Scott released her fifth studio effort Woman -- home to the Grammy-nominated single “Can’t Wait.” Reggae star Marley also released his forthcoming album Stony Hill, due on July 21, on his 39th birthday. As for Bey, this rare performance comes after last year’s passport incident where the rapper/actor was not permitted to leave South Africa until last November. In January 2016, he revealed he would be “retiring from the music recording industry.” Other acts for the one-day festival will include Sean Paul, Jidenna, Kaytranada, Too $hort, Tank and the Bangas. The kick-

off celebration will take place on Friday, Sept. 8, with sets from Thundercat, J.I.D., Ari Lennox and Noname at the Tabernacle Atlanta. Jason “J” Carter, president and founder of Sol Fusion Media Group, which produces ONE Music Fest, says in a statement, “Every year, ONE Musicfest grows and expands. We’ve built something that fans can really look forward to and we aim to create moments that inspire and invigorate attendees. Expect this year to be historic. We can’t wait to see you there.” The 2016 ONE MusicFest sold out quickly with a lineup that boasted an Outkast reunion, Killer Mike, CeeLo Green, Ice Cube and Andra Day.

Kaytranada Remixed By ADW Staff

A handful of stellar SoundCloud remixes is all it took to launch ONE Musicfest 2017 performing artist, Kaytranada, into the musical stratosphere. Louis Kevin Celestin, known by his stage name Kaytranada, is a Haitian-Canadian DJ and record producer. He’s responsible for such hits as The Internet’s “Girl” and Chance The Rapper’s “All Night.” His debut album “99%” features Anderson .Paak, Craig David and Vic Mensa. Celestin began his career under the name Kaytradamus in 2010. He released two projects as Kaytradamus before changing his name to ‘Kaytranada’ in 2012. Kaytranada has released a total of 13 projects and 41 remixes, and has toured more than 50 Canadian, American, European and Australian cities. Since the age of 14, when he first began to DJ his output has been relentless. “After he showed me the basics, from that day on I couldn’t stop making beats,” he says. Kaytranada began pumping out a beat a day for the next couple of years and self-released a series of EPs and beat tapes that quickly began to expand his reach. Official releases on HW&W and Jakarta Records spread his name like wildfire and some instant-classic remixes by the likes of Missy Elliot, Janet Jackson, TLC, Danny Brown and others have cemented his reputation and his sound.

September 2017 National Black Arts Festival: “Celebrating World Music, The Best of Atlanta” September 23 Family Day/Culture Fest at the Auburn Avenue Historic District Musical performances include African drumming, Afrobeat, Caribbean steel pan, reggae, soca and calypso and more. September 26 Film Series/Screening: The Pan African Festival of Algiers (1969) by William Klein at Emory University Campus Screening and post-screening conversation with scholars about the first Pan-African Cultural Festival, the most notable cultural event in Africa.

September 30 Gallery Series: Intersecting Disciplines: Visual Arts/Music Exhibit tour, artist talk, “pop up” musical performances at the ZuCot Gallery in historic Castleberry Hill. Panel Discussion: Social and Political Resistance and Healing - The Power of Music, at the First Congregational Church (in conjunction with the 150th Anniversary of the church).

9 | ADW

CLASSIFIEDS

September 7-13, 2017

HELP WANTED Oxford Media TV A Chicago television station will hire general manager who is responsible for sales, accounting, programming, trafficking and engineering departments. Will report to Company President. Candidate must once have been a top performing sales person and have five years management experience and degree. $185,000 salary. Apply at rjones@oxfordmedia.tv Oxford Media TV Advertising salesmen wanted for independent television station in Chicago $75,000.00 draw plus fringe benefits and bonuses. Degree and five years experience. Apply to rjones@oxfordmedia.tv.

It pays to advertise in the Atlanta Daily World.

Contact ADW sales representative at

678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

How to place a Classified Ad

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD – Pick Up Locations Auburn Avenue Library - 101 Auburn Avenue The Apex Museum - 135 Auburn Avenue Silver Barbershop - 392 Auburn Avenue Auburn Cleaners - 388 Auburn Avenue McGhee Tennis Center - 820 Beecher Street Big Daddy - 3085 Campbellton Avenue Nail Spot - 589 Cascade Road Kroger - 590 Cascade Road Stylistic Hair Salon - 590 Cascade Road Shear Barber Shop - 590 Cascade Road Cascade Nail - 590 Cascade Road Spark Unisex - 591 Cascade Road Ethnic Braid - 593 Cascade Road China Cafereria - 609 Cascade Road Cascade Grill - 1053 Cascade Road CVS - 2237 Cascade Road Big Daddy - 2284 Cascade Road Frills Hair Salon - 2290 Cascade Road Dream Wings - 2292 Cascade Road Louisana Seafood - 2298 Cascade Road Hans Express - 2345 Cascade Road J R Cricket - 2348 Cascade Road Kroger - 3425 Cascade Road Papa John’s - 3425 Cascade Road Atlanta Fulton Library - 3665 Cascade Road PUBLIX - 3695 Cascade Road Pak Mail Center - 3695 Cascade Road Tire Plus - 3735 Cascade Road Kaiser Permante - 1175 Cascade Parkway Dixie News - 13 Decatur Street Chanterelles - 646 Evans Street Baltimore Crab - 1075 Fairburn Road Trends Barber Shop - 1075 Fairburn Road LT’S - 1270 Fairburn Road Mr Abdullai - 2377 Fairburn Road Ben Hill Rec Center - 2405 Fairburn Road The Barber Shop - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy The Herb Shop - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Le Nails - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Salon Culture - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Medu Book Store 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Citgo Service Station - 2995 Headline Drive Master Beauty Supply - 3031 Headline Driver Mr Everything - 870 Martin L King Dr Key Low Cut Barber Shop - 876 Martin L King Dr The Beauty Beauty Industry - 901 Martin L King Dr Advance Tax Service - 903 Martin L King Dr Citizen Trust Bank - 965 Martin L King Dr

ONLINE: www.atlantadailyworld.com MAIL: ATLANTA DAILY WORLD 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30354

Atlanta Daily World

EMAIL: lcochran@realtimesmedia.com TELEPHONE: 678-515-2053 PAYMENT: Cash, check, or credit card DEADLINE: Every Tuesday, 12:00 pm (noon) RATES: Open Classified Advertising Rates $25.00 for four lines . Additional lines $5.50 each. A line consist of 26 characters including spaces and punctuation. All rates listed above apply to line ads. DISPLAY ADS: Contact 678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

We Accept... ADW | 10

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Call to place your classified ad

Atlanta Library - 1116 Martin L King Dr Shell Service Station - 1720 Martin L King Dr M L K Coin Laundry - 2860 Martin L King Dr African Braid - 3050 Martin L King Dr Adamville Rec Center - 3201 Martin L King Dr Adamville Library - 3424 Martin L King Dr Shummy - 3550 Martin L King Dr Linda’s Cleaners - 3565 Martin L King Dr Yasin - 3641 Martin L King Dr Washington Park - 101 Ollie Street Washington Tennis Center - 102 Ollie Street 100 Black Men of Atlanta - 241 Peachtree Street Executive Shoe Shine - 241 Peachstreet Kanley Restaurant - 75 Piedmont Road Citizen Trust Bank - 75 Piedmont Road Post Office - 576 Piedmont Road PUBLIX - 595 Piedmont Road Playmaker Barber - 270 Ponce De Leon Eats - 600 Ponce De Leon Borders - 650 Ponce De Leon Kroger - 725 Ponce De Leon Dugus - 777 Ponce De Leon PUBLIX - 1007 Ponce De Leon Merkerson’s Fish Market - 740 Ralph D Albernathy Blvd SW Scott Library - 1917 Candler Road Gutbusters - 2107 Candler Road FedUPS Express - 2376-B Candler, Road CVS - 2458 Candler Road Gene Package - 2538 Candler Road Gene Laundrymat - 2538 Candler Road Big Men Package - 2594 Candler Road Dramatic Design - 2701 Candler Road Music Media - 2701 Candler Road Amber Bristo - 3910 Flat Shoel Parkway Master Barber - 3910 Flat Shoel Parkway T Nails - 3665 Flat Shoel Parkway Kroger - 2875 N Decatur Road PUBLIX - 2155 N Decatur Road Kroger - 3108 Briar Hill Road Post Office - 3104 Briar Hill Road Up Sweep Beauty Salon - 3649 Flakes Mills Road PUBLIX - 3655 Flakes Mills Road Mo Better Restaurant - 3927 Flat Shoals Parkway Barber Shop - 3929 Flat Shoals Parkway PUBLIX - 3870 N Druid Hills Road Helen S. Mills Multi Purpose Facility - 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. SE Healthful Essance - 875 York Avenue NW Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

VIEWPOINTS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

September 7-13, 2017

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Jesse Jackson

by Julianne Malveaux

Trump, Republicans ignore lessons of Noah It is too soon to know the extent of the damage done by Hurricane Harvey. Estimates are that over a million people have been displaced. As I write this, at least 60 are feared dead — a number that will continue to climb. The governor of Texas estimated that his state will need “far in excess” of $125 billion in federal funding to help rebuild. Harvey broke the U.S. record for rainfall from a single storm. Houston, the fourth largest city in America, was hit with 50 inches of rain. But Texas is not alone. Hong Kong just got hit with the third typhoon in three weeks. South Asia suffered historic rainfall and flooding in August. Twelve hundred were killed in India and Bangladesh. Mumbai, India’s financial capital, saw its streets turn to rivers. Sierra Leone saw 500 die and thousands displaced from record mudslides in Freetown. In Nigeria, floods displaced 100,000. In Pakistan, Karachi was flooded. It will get worse. The glaciers are melting. The warmer waters are rising. Warmer waters feed stronger storms. Add to that a lack of basic infrastructure and widespread overbuilding in flood plains and the result is repeated disasters. In Genesis, the Bible teaches that God came to Noah and warned him about the coming floods. He told Noah to build an ark — sophisticated infrastructure — to ensure that man and selected animals and birds could survive. There was no nonsense about each being on his or her own. Strong swimmers went down with the weak. Rich mansions on the hill were flooded with the poor huts in the valley. It took infrastructure, planning and preparedness to survive the flood. Oddly, in this country, it is those on the right — often those who most loudly profess their religious beliefs — who choose to ignore this counsel. For years, Republicans have denied even the existence of catastrophic climate change. Donald Trump dismissed it as a “Chinese hoax.” As head of Exxon, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson knew better: Exxon scientists documented global warming over 40 years ago, but the company suppressed that information. Leading Republican billionaires, the Koch bothers — whose fortune is tied to fossil fuels — enforce the Republican ignorance about global warming. More recently, some Republicans have admitted that the world is warming, but they deny that humans have anything to do with it. Having accepted that it is happening, they argue that it is too expensive to try to stop by turning to renewable energy. They also resist investing in the infrastructure or doing the planning needed to strengthen protections against the effects of global warming. And, of course, Texas legislators led by Sen. Ted Cruz opposed federal aid to recover from massive disaster — when Sandy hit New Jersey. Now

that Harvey has hit Texas, they suddenly realize the importance of federal assistance. Across the country, people of conscience are rushing to aid the victims of Harvey. A flotilla of volunteer boats helped rescue people. Churches and humanitarians have offered aid, clothes, baby food, medicines. Doctors have rushed to provide care. Americans are at their best in responding generously in times of crisis. Yet, while Trump has offered to contribute a million dollars for humanitarian relief after Harvey, it is probably too much to expect that the Trump administration will learn anything from this disaster. Trump won’t reverse course and push to strengthen, not gut, the Paris global warming agreement. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry will continue to push for more use of oil and coal. EPA administrator Scott Pruitt will continue to roll back environmental regulation and weaken efforts to stop building on flood plains. Trump’s budgets will continue to ignore the need for real investment in rebuilding our infrastructure, making our systems more resilient, strengthening ourselves against the coming storms. Instead we will end up paying far more in lives, in destruction and in money to recover after one disaster after another. Surely, the next generation of leaders will shed the old ideological idiocies. They will learn the lesson taught by Noah. Perhaps they will demand that this country lead a global effort to address global warming and launch a national effort to rebuild our country. What Harvey and Katrina and Sandy and floods and mudslides across the world suggest, however, is that we don’t have the time to wait for a new generation of leaders possessed of common sense. In Genesis, Noah had less than a year to build the ark — and less than seven days to gather his family and various species of animals and birds and plants into the ark before the great flood. Noah put aside his normal routine and acted immediately and with urgency. We would be well advised to heed that lesson.

Public policy after hurricane Harvey Hurricane Harvey did everything people said it would do, and more. It either drowned or swallowed everything it touched in Corpus Christi, Houston, Beaumont, the gulf coast of Louisiana, and a bunch of other places. Already, estimators say that Harvey may be our nation’s costliest disaster to date, costing at least $190 billion, or about 1 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP). The damages are both individual – think of the uninsured person who lost her home, or the worker whose job has now been eliminated, and national – Houston is our nation’s fourth largest city, and an epicenter of the oil and gas industry. That man who occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue traveled to Texas with his $40 cap, available on his website. His wife, who took two suitcases for the day trip, managed to switch jackets and caps, and come out of her lizard heels and into a pair of sneakers. They let us know what was important to them – the “epic” hurricane, the size of the crowd gathered to see Trump (more likely, unemployed folks waiting for food or housing placements), and the “team”. They didn’t tell a single soul that they empathized and would work to help. No matter. People came forward without being asked, contributing food, their boats, towels, clothing, and so much more. In crises like these, we are reminded about the many ways we Americans come together, contributing to relief funds (please check them out before you send your cash), showing up to volunteer, opening up homes and more to help. What role must policy play in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey? For one thing, we must define and refine the role of government in times of disaster like this. Government clearly dropped the ball with Hurricane Katrina, and some of the lessons from that tragedy have been applied in Houston. At the same time, General Russel Honore, the hero of the Katrina debacle, said that in the twelve years since Katrina, so much more should have been done around preparation for a natural disaster. Why haven’t we done the work? Often, we’ve been penny-wise and pound-foolish, choosing to cut expenses while incurring even greater costs. And if 45 has his way, we’ll be cutting even more. The budget he submitted to Congress cuts FEMA, the National Weather Service, and other agencies essential in responding to crises like Harvey.

I never ever thought I’d say it but New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has a point. You don’t get to rail against disaster aid when it is going to someone else’s state, but demand it when your state is impacted. Texas Senator Ted Cruz was not wrong, he was dead wrong in voting against relief for those who survived Hurricane Sandy. And now, he is revealed as a craven hypocrite when he wants more for Texans than he offered to residents of New Jersey. Either we will step up in crises or we will not. And if we step up, we need to step up for everyone. Harvey did not discriminate. It swallowed the expanse of mansions, even gated ones, as well as the small apartments of uninsured working class folks. Only one in 6 of those affected by Harvey were insured because premium costs rose quickly, forcing some families to pay as much as $2000 a year, even as they earned relatively low wages. If we step up, we have to step up for everyone, not just those with sterling documentation and the right insurance. What is our nation of a nation? Do we believe that all should be protected from catastrophe? How do we implement such beliefs? And with a tone-deaf narcissist leading our nation, how do we transcend our terribly flawed leadership to adhere to our ideals? 45 has been wreaking havoc in our federal government. He has rescinded provisions that help workers, increased the possibility of police brutality with new rules about police departments getting war weapons, and shattered the dreams of immigrant young people who desperately need DACA forbearance to stay in this country. More than that, his messages about shrinking the size of government are discordant with the message about government stepping up to help people in Houston, Louisiana, and now Mississippi. In the weeks after Harvey, it is imperative for us to examine public policy toward those affected by our nation’s tragedies. Cutting the size of some government agencies decreases our ability to respond to disasters like Harvey. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Founder of Economic Education. Her latest book “Are We Better Off: Race, Obama and public policy is available via amazon.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com

Facebook.com/ADWnews

11 | ADW

September 7-13, 2017

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

Your everything.

These are the people who mean the most to you. The stories and jokes youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always known. And the foods that really bring you home. This is a chance to celebrate the gift of togethernessâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; with the people who remind you what life is all about. Your family. Your everything.

Learn how Publix can help make it a family reunion to remember. publix.com/familyreunion

ADW | 12