The Westside Gazette

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THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE POST OFFICE 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

The Importance On

Foundation Continues Protecting Our Right To The Legacy Of The Late Vote: Reflecting On The Carlton B. Moore Voting Rights Act of 1965 PAGE 2 PAGE 6

Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Hits Home PAGE 9

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Black men show little signs of progress in 40 years

By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) –Black men are no better off than they were more than 40 years ago, due to mass incarceration and job losses suffered during the Great Recession, according to a new report by researchers at the University of Chicago. Derek Neal and Armin Rick, the co-authors of the study, found that reforms in the crimi-

nal justice system at the statelevel largely contributed to disparities in arrests and incarceration rates that ultimately stifled educational and economic progress for Black men. “The growth of incarceration rates among Black men in recent decades combined with the sharp drop in Black employment rates during the Great Recession have left most Black men in a position relative to white men that is really no better than the position they oc-

cupied only a few years after the Civil Rights Act of 1965,” the co-authors wrote. The report cites research conducted by James Smith and Finis Welch published in 1989 that showed, “the Black-white gap in completed years of schooling among males’ ages 26-35 fell from 3.9 years of schooling in 1940 to 1.4 years in 1980.” Blacks also experienced “dramatic economic and social progress” during that time period. That progress slowed for Black men during the 1990s, and in some cases, reversed course entirely. “Today, Black-white gaps in math and reading scores among youth and Black-white gaps in overall educational attainment among young adults are quite similar to the corresponding gaps observed around 1990,” stated the report which also suggested that “relative to whites, labor market outcomes among Black men are no better now and possibly worse than they were in 1970.” Neal, an economics professor, said that he was surprised that the rise in our nation’s prison population, which correlated with the fall in employment

rates for Black men, really was a policy choice and that the war on drugs was just a small part of a much bigger story. Beginning in the 1980s, in an effort to get tough on crime, states eliminated discretionary parole, established independent sentencing commissions, and crafted “Three Strikes and You’re Out” enhanced sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders. Truth-in-Sentencing (TIS) Incentive Grants Program gave states money to build prisons and indirectly encouraged state officials to adopt policies “requiring sentenced offenders to serve large portions of their sentences.” Neal said that it wasn’t one or two types of crimes that we got tougher on, it was across the board. “We started to lock people up for a really long time relative to what we had done in the past,” said Neal. The report said that changes in criminal justice policies accounted for more than 70 percent of the growth in the prison population between 1986 and 2006.

Politics, Poli-tricks and restoration There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven — Ecclesiastes 3:1(NASB) Bobby R. Henry, Sr. As a second generation publisher of a Black newspaper, I’ve seen and been a witness to how much of an emotional roller coaster ride it is in the fight for your readers; especially during the election periods. I’m mindful of most of the tricks and the games that are played to entice you with mirages of fancies of political advertising gold pots. A lot of the times these images are conjured up by the political consultants who represent the different candidates. They are manifested by scheming speculators and still some of your close business professionals seize this opportunity to invite you to a Skins game and in the end you wind up with a skinned behind. It gets so bad that whatever trust level you thought you had with your political forces, you are now left to make sense of the fertilizers or play in the dung pile. It is enough to make you sick and tired of the stuff created by these politicians, poli-trickians and the parasites that suck blood from honest people. I must admit it can be hilarious and humiliating when you get all of these phone calls purporting that “they” have arranged meetings with candidates in high places, that only want to meet with certain media people of influence. Now, you might as well tell me that you have invented an ice cream that will not melt on a red hot iron stove! (Cont'd on Page 11)

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UP-PAC hosts forum for judicial candidates Avis Proctor appointed president of Broward College’s North Campus

From l to r: Fla State Rep. Sharon Pritchett, Mavel Ruiz, Judge Fleur Lobree, Martin Zilber, Oscar Rodriguez Fonts, Veronica Diaz and Renier Diaz De La Portilla. By Derek Joy The usually sedate atmosphere surrounding judicial candidates took a unique turn at the UP-PAC (Unrepresented People’s Political Action Council) breakfast. Founded in 1987 by former Miami Dade County Commissioner Betty Ferguson, UP-Pac holds a weekly Saturday morning breakfast at Greater New Bethel Baptist Church to give

people access to information and the political process. “We don’t endorse any candidate,” Ferguson told the six candidates who appeared at the forum. “People here are members of other organizations who may endorse candidates.” Judicial candidates in Groups 58, 67 and 70 were on hand. They are: Oscar Rodriguez Fonts and Martin Zilber, Circuit Judge Fleur J. Lobree and Mavel Ruiz, along with Ve-

ronica Diaz and Renier Diaz De La Portilla, respectively. Lobree was the lone incumbent present. De La Portilla is one of the few candidates to hold political prior to running for a judicial seat. And Diaz is seeking to be the first Colombian American to win a judicial seat. Diaz questioned De La Portilla on being a former elected official now seeking a judicial seat. (Cont'd on Page 5)

Avis Proctor, Ed.D. was formally appointed president of Broward College’s North Campus, located in Coconut Creek. She has been serving as interim president since 2013. As the campus’ chief executive officer, Proctor is primarily responsibility for campus operations, including academics, student and business affairs, health sciences, learning resources, information technology and facilities.

FAMU president seeks FCC waiver to help ensure news for underserved communities

‘Power grab’ in Campaign against three Tennessee judges could have national implications By Hazel Trice Edney TriceEdneyWire.com -- An attempt to unseat three judges in an upcoming Nashville, Tenn. election is nothing less than a “raw power grab” by right wing special interests using big money to buy control of the courts, says the head of a non-partisan organization of lawyers this week. “It is a raw power grab is what it is. Their campaign against these justices is based on a series of lies, half-truths, misstatements and material omissions,” says Charles Grant,

president of the bi-partisan Nashville Bar Association (NBA), which has endorsed the retention of the judges. “It has huge implications nationally because if they can do it here, they can do it anywhere.” The situation involves three Tennessee Supreme Court Justices Cornelia A. Clark, Sharon Gail Lee and Gary R. Wade, all up for retention on the court by the vote on Aug. 7. They were originally appointed by Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen. (Cont'd on Page 3)

Pleading Our Own Cause

MANGUM

Charles Grant, president, Nashville Bar Association

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D. traveled to the Capitol this week to help seek a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for

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“It is an honor to serve the North Campus, and I am eager to continue my work with students, faculty, staff and the community to meet local needs, and contribute to the national discourse on student success at a community college,” said Proctor. “Broward College is strategically moving forward with many successful initiatives, and it is an exciting time to serve in this capacity.” Proctor joined Broward College in 2000 as a mathematics

the new Black Television News Channel, which will be housed in the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC). “Our partnership with the Black Television News Channel is an exciting opportunity to bring more diverse stories to our community,” said Mangum. “We’re seeking the help of Congress to support our start-up efforts by providing a waiver.” The FCC regulates interstate and international communication by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the commission is the United States’ primary authority for communications law, regulation and technological innovation. The FCC collects regulatory fees and processing fees. Congress authorizes its authority to impose and collect such fees. (Cont'd on Page 5)

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PROCTOR faculty member and subsequently served as associate dean of the North Campus mathematics department. There, she provided leadership for faculty to redesign curricula and develop a scalable mathematics success model. Proctor was then named associate vice president for academic affairs, where she was responsible for accelerated learning programs, K-20 articulation, curriculum services, academic policy and baccalaureate program development. Proctor strengthened the curriculum development process, and strategically partnered with academic and student affairs colleagues to expand articulation and internship opportunities. Proctor has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and academic administrator. She received her doctoral degree in higher education from Florida International University, her master’s degree in teaching mathematics from Florida Atlantic University and her bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Florida A&M University. Born in St. Croix, U.S.V.I., she and her husband are the proud parents of their son, Cosey Proctor, III. MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)


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