Minority Reporter Week of January 6 - 12, 2014

8/13/2019 Minority Reporter Week of January 6 - 12, 2014

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MinorityReporter

LOCALWinning Projects forVoice of the Citizen Budgeting for Public Safety Vote

840 votes were cast by local residentsand business owners over the pasttwo weeks as part of the Voice of theCizen Budgeng for Public Safetyiniave. This iniave gave thecommunity the chance to vote on whatthey feel their specic neighborhoodneeds.

The Southwest quadrant winner wasthe Jobs for Life career and communityeducaon program which will providejob referrals and mentors for 30 adultsand tutoring for 60 youth in science,technology, engineering and math. Theproject also includes seminars on block

club leadership, civic engagement,nancial literacy and home buying

as well as a youth disaster recoveryworkshop that teaches skills in disasterpreparaon.

The winning project in the Southeastquadrant includes civic engagementopportunies like trac calmingdiscussions and implementaons,neighborhood enhancementprojects such as mini-Clean Sweeps,gardens, landscaping and communitycollaboraon events such movienights, health fairs and holidaycelebraons.

The Northwest quadrant winner was

entled Crime Prevenon throughEnvironmental Design. The items to be

funded in this project include taccsto encourage pedestrian trac anddiscourage loitering, street drug salesand gambling. These would be highvisibility pedestrian crossing signs,increased brightness of street lighngin select areas, outdoor caf seangfor rotang use among the quadrantsrestaurants, stores and delis, sidewalkplanngs and hanging baskets andvacant storefront art.

The Northeast quadrant winner wasthe GIS Scholars Program. The VOCfunding will allow the program to add5 to 10 more students to take part in

aer-school training in the operaonof Geographic Informaon Systems

(GIS) technology. The students willcreate a mapping project designedto assist with crime prevenon inselected areas. They will collect dataand idenfy crime rates through themapping technology, create mapsto plot variables surrounding crimesuch as property ownership, poverty,proximity to services and others. Theywill publish and share their results.

Mayor Thomas S. Richards dedicatedup to $200,000-up to $50,000 per cityquadrant-to be spent on projects thatwere wholly created and developedby cizens. The winning projects

are scheduled to proceed to theimplementaon phase in January.

State of Rochester BookLet ReleasedThe State of Rochester, whichprovides a snapshot of the status ofthe citys nancial, infrastructure,budget, public projects, public safetyand more has been released. Thereport summarizes Rochestersgeneral census informaon, economiccondions, housing units, City budgetand nances, City investments, Bureauof Housing Development program

outcomes and itemizes the Citysproject pipeline. There is also dataon the Citys workforce, fesvals andevents and also a crime status report.

Although we sll face many challenges,we have much to be proud of, saidMayor Richards in the bookletspreface leer. We have seen our realproperty values connue to increase...

we aened our populaon declineand seen record public and privateinvestment in our neighborhoodsand Downtown...People have faith inRochester and...we need to connueto build on that investment.

The data in the report is sourced andwill give the community a factual,unbiased look at the state of Rochester.

The booklet will be available at Citybranch libraries, NeighborhoodService Centers and as a downloadablele on the Citys website at www.cityofrochester.gov/sor.

Democrats Say Yes to MCC Downtown Campus ContractsDemocrats in the Monroe CountyLegislature voted in favor of twocontracts for the MCC downtowncampus during a meeng of theRecreaon and Educaon Commiee.The legislaon proposed by the CountyExecuve would authorize contractswith LaBella Associates for designservices and DiMarco ConstructorsLLC to provide design phase andconstrucon phase construconmanagement services.

This caucus is pleased to supportthese two contracts so the work atMCC can nally begin, DemocracLeader Carrie Andrews (D-Rochester)said. The noon that the MCCproject is being held up is a completemisrepresentaon of reality. Thetruth is we have $24 million availablefor the project from the 2012Capital Budget and only $7 million inproposed contracts, leaving a balanceof $17 million to be spent on future

contracts.

The contracts total almost $7 millionand are the rst steps towardsdesigning and construcng the newdowntown campus. Funding forthe contracts is contained in capitalfund 1665, which according to page415 of the 2014 County Budget has$24 million available to pay for thedowntown campus.

Republicans should be embarrassedfor trying to use this project and

MCCs students as pawns in their

eort to connue allowing the CountyExecuve to invesgate her ownacons. They need to reevaluatetheir course of acon. As we vote infavor of these contracts tonight, wewould hope that they will considerthe value in compromise and workingtogether to protect taxpayers andrestore the communitys faith in theirrepresentaves, Andrews added.


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Midtown Tower Site Renamed The Tower at MidtownMidtown Tower will now be called

The Tower at Midtown aer the Citytransferred the tle to Midtown Tower,LLC, a partnership of BuckinghamProperes and Morgan Management.

The redevelopment of the Tower atMidtown is truly transformave forDowntown and the enre region, saidMayor Thomas Richards. Prior to theMidtown Rising project, the MidtownPlaza and Midtown Tower had beenvacant for all intents and purposes. Thiswill breathe new life into our CenterCity, bringing with it new residents andcommercial development.

The $59 million redevelopmentproject, now known as The Tower at

Midtown, will create a central pointof commercial and retail, oce andresidenal acvity and is one of thecenterpieces of the Midtown Risingredevelopment project. It will create29 new permanent jobs, retain 316permanent jobs and create 200construcon jobs. The project willget underway in spring 2014 and iscomprised of 179 residenal rentalunits and approximately 160,000square feet of commercial space onthe rst three to ve oors of the

Tower and the former Plaza area.

Our redevelopment of The Towerat Midtown is one of the mostexcing opportunies that has everbeen presented to BuckinghamProperes. It represents over a yearof very hard work by City ocials,engineers, architects, and our privatedevelopment group, said BuckinghamProperes CEO Larry Glazer. Theopportunity to transform an enreneighborhood and raise it to newheights does not occur very oen. Weare pleased and honored to be part ofthis opportunity. We are most gratefulto the City of Rochester and the stawe have worked with to make thisidea a reality. Two years from now, it

will be hard to remember the skeletalremains that exist today.

Buckingham Properes owns andmanages more than 50 properescomprising over 9 million square feetand has a successful history of re-development and adapve re-use ofexisng properes.

Morgan Management, based inRochester, has extensive experiencein the ownership and management of

high quality, residenal communies,

owning and operang a residenaland commercial real estate poroliosince 1976.

We are excited about the revitalizaonof the Tower at Midtown for what itrepresents for Downtown Rochester,said owner Robert Morgan. We feelthat this will be a major improvementin redeveloping a part of the city thatwas once thriving and will becomethriving again, with a live-work-playlifestyle.

Midtown Plaza consisted ofapproximately 1.4 million square feetof vacant oce and retail buildingscovering 8.6 acres. The Midtown Rising

project involves the demolion of mostof the Midtown buildings, the adapvereuse of the former Seneca Building asthe new Windstream oce project, theadapve reuse of the former MidtownTower, the inclusion of new streets andopen space and the creaon of fouraddional development parcels.

The total investment in the MidtownRising project, including acquision,relocaon, demolion, infrastructureimprovements, rehabilitaon of

the Midtown Parking Garage, the

redevelopment of the Windstreamoces building and the redevelopmentof the Midtown Tower - is more than$184 million.

New York State is providing a total of$5.2 million in funding for The Towerat Midtown, $1.2 million through theUpstate Regional Blueprint Programand $4 million through the 2012 FingerLakes Regional Economic DevelopmentCouncil process.

The City approved $8.7 million infunding for the project and workedwith the developer to secure approvalfor $18.6 million in incenves andproperty tax abatements through

the County of Monroe IndustrialDevelopment Agency.

The former Midtown Plaza was therst downtown indoor mall in theUnited States in 1962 with storeslike McCurdys, Wegmans, hotel,upscale restaurant and the famousClock of Naons. The plaza closedpermanently July 29, 2008.

Lovely Warren Sworn-in as Rochester MayorLovely A. Warren was sworn-in asRochesters Mayor early Wednesdaymorning in a private ceremony atthe University of Rochester MedicalCenter beside her grandfather androle model, Cecil McClary, Sr.

Today, I begin one of the mostimportant journeys of my life withobvious sadness tempered by

profound feelings of blessed gratudeand humility, Mayor Warren said. Itis a biersweet occasion, to say theleast. But I am also thankful that as Ilook ahead to the challenges beforemy administraon and me, I have beengiven this reminder that God is indeedvery, very good. I believe this is mygrandfathers nal lesson.

Mr. McClary, who helped raise MayorWarren and played a formave rolein her decision to enter a life of publicservice, suered a stroke Christmas Eveand is in palliave care. The ceremonywas held at 12:01 a.m. in Mr. McClaryshospital room. Mr. McClary held theBible on which Mayor Warren restedher hand while Rochester City CourtJudge Stephen T. Miller administeredthe oath of oce.

Warren said it was vitally importantthat her grandfather be with her at therst moments of her Mayoral term.She thanked her many supporters whoprayed that he could parcipate in theinauguraon. She also thanked theURMC sta for the excellent care they

have provided her grandfather.

A public inauguraon ceremony isscheduled for noon Saturday, Jan. 4 atthe Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main St.Doors will open at 11 a.m. and seangwill be available on a rst-come, rst-

served basis. All are welcome.

Warren is Rochesters h electedmayor, Rochesters rst female mayor,the rst African American femalemayor and the youngest to take theposion.

Lovely Warren and her grandfatherCecil McClary, Sr.


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5 www.minorityreporter.net|JANUARY 6 - 12|2014LOCAL

Mayor Lovely A. Warren Presidesat Swearing-in Ceremony for Fire Chief, Interim Police Chief

Beginning her term with a focus onpublic safety, Mayor Lovely A. Warrenpresided at the Swearing-in Ceremonytoday for Fire Chief John P. Schreiberand Interim Police Chief to MichaelCiminelli.

Public safety is the most importantfuncon of government, and I amcondent that Chief Schreiber andInterim Chief Ciminelli will lead theirDepartments in a manner that earns

the respect and trust of the people ofRochester, said Mayor Warren.

Chief Schreiber has more than 30years experience in the re serviceincluding 25 in the Rochester FireDepartment. He most recently servedas the Rochester Fire Marshal.

Interim Chief Ciminelli has morethan 35 years experience in lawenforcement, including 17 with the

Rochester Police Department. Hemost recently served as Deputy Chiefof Administraon.

At the request of the chiefs, the inialswearing-in ceremony was conductedwith a small audience of friends andfamily in City Hall. Rochester City CourtJudge Teresa Johnson administeredthe oath of oce.

I want to take this opportunity to

thank these two men and all themen and women of the RochesterFire and Police Departments fortheir commitment to protecng ourcizens and visitors, Warren said.I also want to thank the families ofour police ocers and reghters forthe sacrices they endure to supportloved ones in such challenging jobs.

New City Management Team Tours NeighborhoodsMayor Lovely A. Warren organized abus tour of city neighborhoods for the

members of her Senior ManagementTeam.

Our work is not limited to whathappens in City Hall, said MayorWarren. Rochesters neighborhoodsare where our customers live, workand play and that is where we mustdeliver our services. First and foremostin their day-to-day acvies, I want Citysta to maintain a strong conneconand desire to help the people andneighborhoods of our city.

The sta visited the following areas,receiving presentaons from:

* Brooks Landing, LaShay Harris of the

19th Ward Community Associaon* College Town, Peter Robinson of theUniversity of Rochester* City Gate, Anthony J. Costello* St. Joseph House, Ed Doherty and

Jennifer Leonard of the RochesterArea Community Foundaon

* David F. Gan Community Center,Gladys Burgos of Ibero AmericanAcon League* House of Mercy, Sister Grace Miller* Genesee Brewery, Rich Lozyniak,North American Brewing* Lyell Avenue and Mt. ReadBoulevard, Roger Brandt of theJOSANA Neighborhood* Port of Rochester, Mark Gregor, CityManager of Port Development* High Falls Area, Lewis Stess of theGardenAerial Project* Rochester Transit Center, DanieleColl-Gonzalez, of Rochester GeneseeRegional Transit Authority* Midtown Plaza-Sibley Building Area,Ken Glazer of Buckingham Properes

The following City sta parcipated inthe tour:

* Charles Benincasa, Director of

Finance* Lisa Bobo, Director of Informaon

Technology* T. Andrew Brown, CorporaonCounsel* Chrisne Christopher, Director ofCommunicaons* Michael Ciminelli, Interim PoliceChief* Jeremy Cooney, Chief of Sta* Tassie Demps, Director of HumanResourc Management* Reggie Hill of the Mayors Oce* Norman Jones, Commissioner ofEnvironmental Services* Marisol Lopez, Commissioner ofRecreaon and Youth Services* John Merklinger, Director ofEmergency Communicaons* Tracey Miller of the Mayors Oce

* Leonard Redon, Deputy Mayor* John Schreiber, Fire Chief* Delmonize Smith, Commissionerof Neighborhood and BusinessDevelopment

* Patricia Uaro, Library Director* Christopher Wagner, Director of

Management and Budget* Allen Williams, Director of SpecialProjects* Spencer Ash, Director DevelopmentServices* Rosiland Brooks, Director ofAccounng* Kim Jones, City Treasurer* Eric Rose, Assistant Commissioner ofRecreaon* James McIntosh, City Engineer* Mitchell Rowe, Director of Planningand Zoning* Donald Starver, Deputy Director ofCommunicaons* Suzanne Warren, Assistant Directorof Management and Budget* Michael Wood, Deputy Police Chief

of Operaons

Mayor-elect Lovely Warren decidedto set the record straight about herhusbands past only hours beforebeing sworn in as Rochesters rstBlack, female Mayor.

Today I was asked about a maerinvolving my husband, Tim Granison,more than 15 years ago, Warrensaid. In 1997, at the age of 17, Timwas involved in a situaon insgatedby other youth that resulted in anencounter with the criminal juscesystem. Because of his age and thenature of the alleged oense, he wasadjudicated a youthful oender.

Granison was involved in armedrobbery of The Source jewelry story inGreece on West Ridge Road in Marchof 1997, aer which he received 5years probaon. Warren said thele is sealed and he does not have acriminal record.

Tim learned a great deal from the

experience, and is now a lovinghusband, father and contribungmember of our community. Whathappened with Tim is illustrave ofwhat happens to too many youngpeople in our community whoare growing up in very dicultcircumstances and get caught up inthings that they should not.

Warren said her husbands situaon islike so many other teenagers growingup in the city and their past shouldnot brand them as a deviant or a non-upstanding person for the rest of theirlives.

Tim's story, a story that isunfortunately common among manyof Rochester's young people showsus why it is very important for us toreach out to our youth, help themget a good educaon and into theworkforce. Lots of young people makemistakes, the important thing is thatas a community, we don't give up on

them and help them nd a beer path,just as Tim did.

Our message to our youth is thatyou don't have to end up where youstart. We are proof posive that you

can make changes. You can nd abeer way, Warren said. We arevery thankful that Tim was able to takethis experience and use it turn his lifearound in a posive direcon.

Lovely Warren Speaks Out on Husbands Past

Lovely Warren and husband, Tim Granison


6/16


COMMUNITY EVENTSLocal family celebrates christmas

with the homeless

LOCAL

NATIONAL

NEW YORK (AP) - James Avery, thebulky character actor who laid downthe law at home and on the job as the

Honorable Philip Banks in The FreshPrince of Bel-Air, has died.

Averys publicist, Cynthia Snyder, toldThe Associated Press that Avery diedTuesday in Glendale, Calif., following

complicaons from open heartsurgery. He was 68, Snyder said.

Avery, who stood more than 6 feettall, played the family patriarch anda wealthy aorney and judge on the

popular TV comedy that launched theacng career of Will Smith as Bankstroublemaking nephew.

The sitcom, which aired on NBC from1990 to 1996, was set in the Banks

mansion, where Smiths character wassent from Philadelphia when thingsgot tough in his own neighborhood.

James Avery of Fresh Prince fame dead at 68

Contd on next page

Olivia Bradley-Westpictured back center

By Delani Weaver

Over 100 homeless men, womenand children were given an earlyChristmas party at the Central Libraryof Rochester and Monroe County.Several volunteers and sponsors fromall around the city did their part tomake sure that the homeless broughtin Christmas with a smile from thesmall idea of a local family who lives togive, ocials stated.

Olivia Bradley-West, her husbandNorman West and her children threw

a Christmas party for the homeless inthe Kate Gleason Auditorium of thelibrary. Bradley-West said she got theidea from a smell in the library.

I had a meeng at the central libraryfor the boys book and on the way tothe conference room, I inquired aboutthe smell, Bradley-West said. Itsmelled like campre. I asked a lady ifthere was a replace somewhere, andshe said no. She said one of the thingsthat contributes to that smell is that

there are homeless people that liveunderneath the building. They residein the library during the day and atnight they go underneath the buildingand make campres, and the smellcirculates through the venlaonsystem.

West said, inially, she never intendedto throw a party for the homeless.She and her family planned on makingbags and giving them to the homelessinstead.

We had been in the process of making

Be a Blessing Bags, which were bagsthat were lled with toiletries for thehomeless. But we werent sure whichhomeless people to give them to.So we decided with the lady at themeeng that we would have the partythere, and then it turned into this hugething, Bradley-West said.

Hot food and drinks were preparedfor the people and families in need.Bingo, raes and other games wereplayed for prizes that included gi

baskets lled with food and snacks,sweatshirts, socks, hats, scarves,cosmecs for the women, and gloves.

Children were given brand new toys,books, and games from Santa Claus aswell as a book reading from Bradley-Wests two sons Jeremiah and JoshuaWest, who are authors of the childrensbook Champions of Change, Live toGive.

I feel bad for them. Nobody shouldbe homeless, and we want to makechanges in the community, Jeremiah,

8, said.I feel very blessed with everythingthat I have, and I think that they needhelp more than I do, said Joshua, 6.

The party was sponsored by TriedstoneMissionary Bapst Church, Churchof Love, Tops Friendly Markets,Homewood Suites and several others.

I think this is something we wantdo every year, Bradley-West said. I

havent bought one Christmas presentfor my family; Ive been so focusedon this event. I think we should getthe focus o ourselves, and get itonto someone who is really in needbecause this is going to be a coldwinter. Imagine living outside. Its justmaking it harder for those people.

Her husband, Norman West said, Inaddion to that we want to try andconnect them with resources aerthis event. So, throughout the year,they have places they can go to havea hot meal. So, were pung together

lile laminated cards that will havewhere to get hot meals from Mondaythrough Sunday, and on the other sidewill be shelters.

If Jesus is gloried, and these peoplehave hope, Im happy, Bradley-Westsaid.

The West family said they thank allsponsors and volunteers.


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7 www.minorityreporter.net|JANUARY 6 - 12|2014NATIONAL

When you text a driver, you

take their eyes off the road

for as long as it takes to drive

the length of a football field

at 55 mph; F.Y.I. thats

SECONDS*

Visit URthatDistracting.orgto see how you can help end distracted driving.

*SOURCE: DISTRACTION.GOV

PUZZLES

SUDOKUby Myles Mellor and Susan FlanaganEach Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has

been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares.

To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must

contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in

three grades: easy, medium and difcult. Level: Medium

Fans came to know the imposing Banks

as Uncle Phil.Avery liked to say that the way to be anactor was to act, and he had a busy anddiverse career before, during and aerFresh Prince. His TV credits includedGreys Anatomy, NYPD Blue andDallas, and among his many lmswere Fletch, Nighlyers and 8Million Ways to Die. His voice alonebrought him many jobs, notably asShredder in the animated TV seriesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

According to Snyder, he will be seen inthe lm Wish I Was Here, directed byZach Bra and scheduled to premierelater this month at the Sundance

fesval.Avery grew up in Atlanc City, N.J.,and served in the Navy in Vietnam inthe late 1960s. Aer returning to thestates, he seled in California andstudied drama and literature at theUniversity of California at San Diego.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, andstepson Kevin Waters.

James Avery...FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

James Avery


8/16


COVER

A

By Delani Weaver

Almost every seat in the AuditoriumTheatre was lled with Rochesterresidents, community leaders andelected ocials as Lovely Warrenwas welcomed as the new Mayorof Rochester. The inauguraon forthe rst African-American femaleto be elected Mayor of Rochesterwas an emoonal event with severalaendees either laughing or in tearsthroughout the event.

The inauguraon began with aslideshow of pictures of dierentevents and appearance throughoutWarrens campaign. Following theslideshow, the Master of Ceremonies,Ron Thomas thanked outgoing MayorThomas Richards for his work as mayorand his support of Mayor Warrenaer his announcement to end hiscampaign.

Several students from the RochesterCity School District parcipated in theevent, including the naonal anthemwhich was sang by School of the Arts

student Timothy Mitchum, childrenfrom The Montessori Academy ledthe Pledge of Allegiance, a danceperformance by the Borinquen DanceTheatre, a tribute to Warren from herhigh schools step team The WilsonPearls and a dance by School of the Artsstudent Hajah Fisher accompanied bymusic from Timothy Mitchum.

It is a great day for Mayor LovelyWarren, said New York StateDemocrac Senator Chuck Schumer.Lovely Warren, no one put a silverspoon in your mouth. You got here theold fashioned way. You earned it.

The rst woman and African-Americanto be elected onto the Monroe CountyBoard of Supervisors ConstanceMitchell said, She needs us to becomea community of family, looking out foreach other and looking out for her.Today I pass the torch to Lovely. I wishher well, I wish her success and I praythat God leads her down a successfulpath. Seeing Barack Obama become

the rst Black President, seeing BillJohnson become our rst mayor ofcolor, seeing you (Warren) becomeour rst female mayor. What a blessingthats been.

Sco Fearing, acng Execuve Directorof the Gay Alliance of the GeneseeValley said, We look forward toworking with Mayor Warren to createa Rochester that focuses on livabilityLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenderpeople are part of all idenes.

New York State Assemblyman DavidGan, who Warren previously workedfor and refers to as a father said, Thereare those who are saying, shes justgonna be a David Gan clone. Believeme, those are people who dont knowLovely WarrenI did not get her to runfor mayor. She did it on her own.

Mayor Warren was presented withthe family bible by Mary McClary-Hill and took the Oath of Oce withJudge Teresa Johnson in place of Cecil

McClary, Sr.

In a srring speech that le manyin tears, Mayor Warren gave thanksto the community of Rochester, herfamily, friends and volunteers whohave supported her throughout hercampaign and shared her plans forthe city of Rochester. She dedicatedher speech to her grandfather CecilMcClary, Sr., who passed last weekaer witnessing Warren being swornin as Mayor of Rochester from hishospital bed.

I am truly and deeply honored thatyou are her to share this special daywith me, Warren said. On March 22,2013 I stood a few miles from here andsaid that together, we have the powerto make history. Rochester, you did it.We did itI know this isnt going to beeasy, but I am going to ght for changesand outcomes with the erceness of aparent defending their child, becauseI am.

Lovely Warren New York State Assemblyman David Gan Borinquen Dance Theatre, Inc.


9/16

9 www.minorityreporter.net|JANUARY 6 - 12|2014COVER

Lovely Warren and husband Timothy Granison New York State Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer Constance Mitchell

Lovely Warren Borinquen Dance Theatre, Inc. Lovely Warren

Lovely Warren and her leadership team


10/16


WASHINGTON (AP) - The GED test, for

decades the brand name for the highschool equivalency exam, is about toundergo some changes.

On Thursday, an upgraded GED examand two new compeng equivalencytests oered in several states willusher in a new era in adult educaontesng.

The GED (General EducaonalDevelopment) exam was created in1942 to help World War II veteranswho dropped out of high school usecollege benets oered under the GIBill. This will be its rst face-li in morethan a decade.

The revamped test is intended to bemore rigorous and beer alignedwith the skills needed for college andtodays workplaces. The new test willonly be oered on a computer, and itwill cost more. What consumers payfor the test varies widely and dependson state assistance and other factors.

Even before its launch, ocials in manystates have balked at the cost increaseand at doing away with paper-and-pencil tesng. At least nine states -New York, New Hampshire, Missouri,Iowa, Montana, Indiana, Louisiana,Maine and West Virginia - severed eswith the GED test and adopted one ofthe two new tests that are entering

the market. Three others - Wyoming,New Jersey and Nevada - will oer allthree. Tennessee will oer the GEDtest and one other, and other statesare expected to decide what to do inthe coming months.

That will leave test takers, adulteducators and states grappling withnew quesons: How do you bestprepare students for the tests? Whichis best, by price and quality? How willthe tests be accepted by the military,employers and colleges?

The advent of new tests has sentthousands of test takers rushing tocomplete secons of the old test they

had le incomplete. Once the upgrade

happens, the old scores of paral

passers will no longer be accepted.

Angst is the good word to describethis me in adult educaon, said LennoxMcLendon, execuve director of theNaonal Adult Educaon ProfessionalDevelopment Consorum.

Marty Finsterbusch, president ofValueUSA, a resource organizaon foradult learners, said he fears there willbe a lot of unintended consequencesand hes worried about adult learnersgeng caught up in the crunch ofthis. For example, he said, he wonderswhat will happen to someone whoparally passes a test in one state,then moves to another state that

doesnt oer that type of exam.

The system will work itself outeventually, but how many people aregoing to get hurt in the meanme?Finsterbusch said.

More than 700,000 people took theGED test in 2012. The average testtaker is about 26, and many peopleseeking a high school equivalencydiploma are poor. Naonally, about40 million American adults lack a highschool educaon.

The GED test has been owned bythe nonprot American Council onEducaon since its incepon.

Molly Corbe Broad, president ofACE, said that when it became cleara new test was needed she wantedit to include materials that wouldhelp test takers beer prepare forthe exam and get linked to resourcesthat would help them plan. To do thatACE enlisted a partner, the for-protcompany Pearson Vue Tesng. Thenew test can make results availablequickly and collect data that will helpteachers beer understand how theirstudents did on the exam, so teachingcan be adjusted.

The changes to the GED test openedthe door for states to begin looking

for alternaves, and two vendors

responded.

One was Educaonal Tesng Service,a nonprot that also administersthe Graduate Record Examinaon. Itdeveloped a high school equivalencyexam called the High SchoolEquivalency Test, or HiSET.

The other was CTB/McGraw-Hill, a for-prot company that is helping statesdevelop assessments of Common Corestandards, which put an emphasis oncrical thinking and spell out whatreading and math skills students shouldhave at each level. It developed a highschool equivalency test called the TestAssessing Secondary Compleon, orTASC.

Both say they oer a quality test at alower price. They also allow their teststo be taken without a computer and areopen to accepng the scores of GEDtest takers who have parally passedthe old test that recently expired, aslong as their state approves.

Amy Riker, naonal execuve directorfor HiSET, acknowledged that bothnew vendors have a lot of work todo to educate people about the new

exams.

Broad, from ACE, said she likes theidea of compeon and said it willkeep everybody on their toes.

In Lowell, Mass., Ben Morrison isa GED test instructor at the UnitedTeen Equality Center, which workswith former gang members andothers doing on-the-job training andGED test preparaon. Morrison saidthat whatever is ahead, his centerwill adjust its program because theequivalency diploma is crical for thejob prospects and self-condence ofthe youth it works with.

We know that having that credenalwill make our young people moreemployable, Morrison said, soregardless of what test it is that theyneed to pass to get that credenal,I can look at it and pull it apart andgure out how to get them through.___

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SCLC Wins Historic Victory In School Name Change from KKK Leader

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The SouthernChrisan Leadership Conference(SCLC) has assisted in scoring a majorvictory against the relics of racismin Jacksonville, Florida as the DuvalCounty School Board last week voted7 0 to change the name of Nathan B.Forrest High School.

The School was named aer Forrest,the rst Grand Wizard of the KuKlux Klan, in 1959 when the UnitedDaughters of the Confederacysuccessfully lobbied the city ofJacksonville to rename the school inresponse to the U.S. Supreme CourtsBrown v. Board of Educaon decisionwhich outlawed segregaon in schools

and public accommodaons.

According to community acvistsin Jacksonville, there have beennumerous aempts to change thename of the school over the lasty year, but those aempts wereunsuccessful. This me aroundorganizers argued that the name ofthe school was an embarrassment tothe city.

Because of the many failed aemptsthere werent very many people whowere condent that it would happen,said Opio Sokoni the local SCLCPresident in Jacksonville. We got itdone because the city saw that the

acvists were unied and took highquality acons to educate the publicabout who this man was.

It was very hard for those wanng tokeep the name to overcome Forrests

record of atrocies, added Sokoni.

According to Sokoni, Nathan B. Forrestamassed his fortunes in the lateeighteen hundreds buying, selling andenslaving human beings in Tennessee.He also employed slave catchers thatwould capture enslaved human beingswho were seeking freedom. Duringthe U.S. Civil War, he is best knownfor being responsible for the worstmassacre during that conict. He wasreported as giving the orders to killover three hundred surrendering,Black Union soldiers, women andchildren at Fort Pillow. Soldiers whowrote about the aair said that theriver ran red for over 200 yards from

the blood of the slaughtered.

Last month, the Duval County SchoolBoard voted to go through the processto see whether the name wouldbe changed. That process includedsurveys given to the students, alumniand the surrounding community.There were also several forums wherethe community could voice theiropinion on the issue. Both sides werein aendance and made impassionedarguments for their sides.

The SCLC led an acon that pulledtogether a coalion of organizaonswhich included the JacksonvilleProgressive Coalion, Change.org, the

New Jim Crow Movement, the NAACPand the Florida New Majority- as wellas a few individuals. One of thoseindividuals was Omotayo Richmondwho placed a peon on Change.orgwhich gained close to two hundred

thousand signatures from around thecountry.___

Sokoni claims that organizers wereable to ulize technology and an oldCivil Rights strategy to help p thescales in their favor.

Just like the 1960s Birminghammovement, we took children out of

school, went to the major streetsnear the school, and while buses ofstudents passed by we held up signsadversing our posion, said Sokoni.We caught the morning and eveningtrac which also included parents

going to work. We then wrote leersto board members and used socialmedia to create the buzz among thestudents and throughout the city.

The tally from the surveys showedthat two thirds of the students votedin support of the name change. Thenext step is for the school to vote ona new name and mascot The schoolcurrently goes by the Rebels and

incorporates the Confederate ag aspart of its mascot.

This was for the children, said Sokoni.Now they can li their heads up highand show their diplomas with pride.

We want to know what YOU think!Email us at: [email protected] LET YOUR VOICE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!


13/16


By Hazel Trice Edney

(TriceEdneyWire.com) He describedit as a dagger. That was the wordused by a Transportaon SecurityAdministraon (TSA) supervisor atReagan Naonal Airport Dec. 6 todescribe a six-inch metal leer openerwith a razor sharp p at the end of athree-inch blade.

This could be used as a dagger,Supervisor Joshua Hunt told thisreporter aer he was summonedby TSA Ocer Venus Washington.Washington had discovered the knife-like instrument inside a large leatherpurse as it moved through the x-raymachine at the U. S. Airways terminal.

The agents were doing their jobs toprotect airline pilots, other employeesand passengers. They gave thisreporter a choice to either trash it,check it, or FedEx it to herself. Shechose the laer.

The TSA ocers were unaware thatthe U. S. Secret Service had apparentlygiven the same leer opener the greenlight to be distributed by the thousandsin a ballroom where President BarackObama alongside First Lady MicheleObama shook hundreds of hands,separated from the crowd only by arope.

That night was Sept. 21 at the 43rdAnnual Congressional Black CaucusFoundaons Annual Phoenix AwardsDinner, where the President waskeynote speaker. The leer openers,which were incased in black cardboardboxes alongside matching ink pensand placed in each chair, were gis tothe more than 3,000 dinner guests.

The security was so ght for peoplegoing into the gala that the SecretService even conscated umbrellas.Yet, as the President and First Ladystrode from the stage to the oor andworked the rope line aer the speech,hundreds of people leaving the eventwith the dagger-like instruments in

their possession pressed to shake theirhands and take photos. The coupleinteracted with individuals in thecrowd for at least six minutes.

President Obama has spoken at nearlyevery CBCF Phoenix Awards Dinnersince he was elected. The friendly, non-threatening audience receives himwarmly at the event which showcasesthe 43-member Congressional BlackCaucus and its honorees.

But, hate experts and those familiarwith assassinaon plots indicate noevent should be taken for granted.Thats because ambush - a commonstrategy for deadly aacks on elected

ocials remains a constant threat.

When asked for comment, Mark Potok,a spokesman for the Southern PovertyLaw Center (SPLC), among the naons

leading trackers of hate crimes, simply

pointed to all the failed plans toassassinate Obama. They included anOct. 2008 plot foiled by the Bureauof Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms andExplosives, which arrested two racistskinheads in Tennessee, who hadtaken several steps toward a ploedkilling spree of 88 African-Americans,culminang with Obama, who wasthen only the Democrac nominee forpresident.

SPLC reports the number of hate groupsleaped to an all-me high of 1,007 in2012, coinciding with the presence ofa Black President in the White House.That - in part - is why President Obamahas been protected by a larger Secret

Service security force than any otherPresident. The force has done its jobsuccessfully, which is why the looseleer openers seemed rather odd.

Secret Service spokesman EdwinM. Donovan said risks can only beminimized, not totally omied.

Were unable to remove all riskswhen our protectees go somewhere -any of our protectees - the President,the Vice President or anybody elsewe protect, Donovan explained in aninterview with the Trice Edney NewsWire, Sept. 23, the Monday followingthe dinner.

Donovan, who was not at the dinnerthat night but said he has workedpresidenal security in the past, soughtto detail why the leer openers wereallowed to be so close to the Presidentand Mrs. Obama.

I would say presumably these werepurchased well in advance of thedinner. So, when our advance agentsget there seng up security, theyhave to make a decision based onwhat the commiee tells us. The hostcommiee would say, Hey weregiving these out as gis. So, you lookand you say Oh my goodness, youregoing to give these out to everybodythats aending? he said. The

decision had to be made, Are we goingto ask them not to give them out unlaer the President leaves or are wegoing to ask them to give them out aspeople depart? Or are we going to justlet them give them out the way theywant to? So the decision was made togive it out the way you want to.

CBCF spokeswoman Shrita D. Sterlin-Hernandez declined comment on theCBCFs interacons with the SecretService on the maer of the leeropeners. She wrote in an email, I amnot comfortable making comments onbehalf of the Secret Services securityprotocols. Please direct all of yourquesons about the security of the

President to the Secret Service.

Donovan said as long as the Presidentand First Lady were accompanied byaenve Secret Service agents as

they shook hands with the crowd, any

danger was minimized.

Thats their job to look for anythingunusual; to look for anybody thatsacng in a way thats not appropriateor certainly if someone has taken thisout of the box and is brandishing it,he said.

He compared the leer opener todinner ware.

They go into a room to visit people,we dont remove the furniturealthough someone could pick up achair presumably and try to strikethem, he said. At that table therewere knives and forks on the table,

there were glasses on the table.Someone could certainly break a glassand cause a problem for us as well.

The presence of the razor pped leeropener so close to the President wasinially brought to this reportersaenon by a photographer whoobserved what appeared to beextremely high security surroundingthe event except when it came tothe leer openers. The photographerasked to remain anonymous. But thatobservaon gave rise to this TriceEdney News Wire invesgaon intohow many high security areas thatleer opener could enter undetected.

Incased in the same black gi boxinside a purse, the leer opener wasnot agged as it went through thex-ray machine and bag search at theSecret Service headquarters wherethe interview with Agent Donovantook place Sept. 23.

On Nov. 6, it went undetected throughan x-ray machine and bag search atthe U. S. Capitol. Yet, aerwards, whenasked whether a leer opener wouldbe allowed inside the Capitol building,U. S. Capitol Police spokesman ShennellAntrobus responded in a Nov. 7 e-mail,Visitors are strictly prohibited fromcarrying any pointed object, such asleer openers, kning needles, etc.,

into the Capitol and Capitol VisitorCenter, at all mes.

Then, on Nov. 20, the leer openerwas not agged as it went through aSecret Service x-ray machine and bag

search at the White House. That day, it

was taken into an East Room ceremonywhere President Obama bestowed 16Presidenal Medals of Freedom.

It was nally agged Dec. 6 at theairport security gate, where OcerWashington took no chances. I sawsomething in here that looked likea leer opener, but it looked rathersharp, she said, removing the pursefrom the x-ray belt and beginning tosearch.

Despite the sharpness of the leeropener, it apparently did not violateairport security. The list of ProhibitedItems on TSA.gov doesnt evenmenon leer openers. Washington

gave a one-sentence explanaon as towhy it was not allowed on the plane.Its to our discreon, Maam, shesaid.

As the Secret Service successfullyhandles hundreds of events a yearduring which the President and/orFirst Lady conduct rope line greengs,the loose leer openers indicate allloopholes are not closed.

A lot of what happens in manyinstances is determined by what thePresident wants to do, said U. S. Rep.Bennie Thompson, ranking Democratand former chair of the HomelandSecurity Commiee. For example, he

noted that President Clinton wouldunexpectedly go to a McDonalds orgreet people who have gone throughno security. So, I think those aresome of the risks associated with it,Thompson said.

Stressing how Secret Service agentsput their lives on the line every dayto protect the president, Thompsonconcluded, Im condent that theSecret Service does a good job. I knowthat when I chaired the Commiee,the President had more threats onhis life than any other Presidentbefore him. So we were able to, evenbefore he became President, we gothim a security detail there early; and

obviously theyve done a good job. But,even with that, there are sll potenalvulnerabilites that a president or anyother person with a detail just has toface.

ADOPTBirth Date: May, 1999State: Florida

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NATIONALAirline Pilots May Get Better Security Than President Obama


14/16


OPINION/EDITORIALThe views expressed on our opinion pages are thoseof the author and do not necessarily represent theposition or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

C. MICHAEL VAUGHN

SOMETHING TO tHInKABOUT

True Intolerance

The only peoplewho are notproud of theaccomplishmentsof our mayor-electLovely Warren,Esq. are peoplewho have nevermet her, peoplewho are color

blind, or peoplewho are just haters

who hate for the sake of hang.

In fact, anyone who knows Lovelyknows she is not only capable of singin the execuve chair at City Hall, sheis more than worthy and deserving.

And, when I take a moment to examinewhere she came from, I also take theme to consider that, come Jan. 1, sheis going to be sworn in as Rochestersrst female mayor who happens to beblack.

I have to admit, I do nd myselfscking my chest out and grinning like

I did something. But, although I didntdo anything special, just being part ofsuch a historical journey does make meproud to know her. And anyone who

has walked with Lovely or supportedher over the years is no doubt smilingas much as I am.

Recently, when she called to tell me shehad been invited to the White Houseto meet with the president, BarackObama, I literally screamed with joy.Of course she swore me to secrecy,and that was one of the hardest things

I have ever had to do because, as ajournalist, it was extremely dicultnot to tell the world and write about it.

When I was asked to be a part of themayor-elects hand-picked inauguralcommiee, I felt honored as well.

Jeremy Cooney and Lydia Boddie-Rice are inaugural commiee co-chairs who are working closely withChris Christopher, the mayor-electscommunicaons director and mediaperson.

It is always nice to know that somepeople respect what you bring to thetable. Personally, I think I mastered

event planning decades ago (strokingself).

In addion, my dues to date include

having worked closely with playwrightJerry Capers. So, in essence, I havecontributed to the framework ofthe public program. I have also beenasked by Mary McClary-Hill, themayor-elects aunt, to assist her in theplanning of the private ceremony.

The family has been charged with theoverall planning of this event, and that

is a good thing, because the gamespeople want to play in this communityare unreal.

And, for those who do not know, theevents planned for the inaugural beginwith a private ceremony January 1,2014, followed by a public swearing-in to take place Saturday, January 4,2014, at 12 p.m. in the AuditoriumTheater.

The public is invited, welcome andencouraged to aend this event.And, the good news is that you canbring as many friends as you like tothe public ceremony on Jan. 4. Lovelywill be delivering her major inaugural

address, and I know people will notwant to miss it. The inauguraonceremony will also be broadcast liveon YNN and City12 news.

On Sunday Jan. 5, the public is alsoinvited to aend the CommunityInterfaith Worship Service at 2 p.m. inthe Sacred Heart Cathedral on FlowerCity Park. Please invite others to aendthis event as well.

Special thanks to Bishop GregoryParris and Rev. Marvin McMickle for

coordinang faith leaders from acrossthe community to oer words ofencouragement and blessings to ournew mayor, and the people of our city.

Finally, the aforemenoned bringsme to the point of why this piece wasnecessary for me to write.

Working with Lovelys Aunt Mary onthe private program has revealedsome things to me that I consider tobe aws in this community. And theyare things that I just cant help wringabout.

The level of ignorance, insensivity,and egoism in this community has

come to light, and needs to beaddressed. We have many intelligentpeople in this community, and thereare many I oen try to give credit to.

What does private mean to you?

strAIgHtNO CHASER

GLORIA WINSTON AL-SARAG

For my lastcolumn of2013, I havedecided to diveinto a topic thathas just comeup within thelast two weeks.It is regardings t a t e m e n t smade by thestar of thereality show

Duck Dynasty.

I have never seen the show, and mostlikely never will. However, I am going

to come to the defense of the manwho is at the center of the controversy,and make the case that what he andall Chrisans who believe in the bibleface is true intolerance.

In our society, everything is ok to sayand do unless you are a Chrisan whotruly believes what the bible says. If youare a Chrisan who wants to commitadultery, pracce homosexuality orsupport aboron, you are good to go,and t right into the society that callsitself tolerant.

However, if you believe the bible, anddo your best to follow what the wordof God says, you are more persecuted

than even those who have taken livesthrough terrorist acts.

I believe that an endangered species inAmerica is the bible-believing Chrisan.Those who believe homosexuality is asin that will cause someone to end upin hell, right next to the adulterer, andthose killing innocent babies, unlessthey repent.

It is not that homosexuality has beensingled out; it is just the subject ofwhat got Mr. Robertson into trouble.

God loves the homosexual, He lovesthe adulterer and He loves the

aboronists.

However, He hates the sin ofhomosexuality, the sin of adultery andthe sin of aboron.

For a society that tries to say it istolerant of peoples views, the truthis that this only holds true to thosewho hold views consistent withliberals. This naon has been foundedupon Chrisan principles, and thoseprinciples are being eroded in thename of tolerance while the very coreof what made our naon great is beingdismissed.

Those who read the comments of

Mr. Robertson closely would see that1) the views he expressed were hispersonal views, 2) they were done ata me when he was not workingfor the network where the realityshow airs, and, 3) he did not demeanhomosexuals, he just pointed out whatthe bible says.

It is a sad day in our naon whenthe personal views a man shareson his own me are enough to gethim dismissed from his job. That isthe height of intolerance. What if apraccing homosexual working fora Chrisan organizaon providedcomments for a magazine on his own

me, and that Chrisan organizaonput him on suspension for his views?

There would be protests, the mediawould completely denigrate thatChrisan organizaon, and PresidentObama might even go on television tosay something about it. The reaconwould not be the same.

Therefore, it leaves one to concludethat, we live in a naon which hasbecome (or is trying to become) onethat is tolerant of every viewpoint,except Chrisanity. As Chrisans,were going to have to be very vocalabout our beliefs before the verygospel we preach, and the free speech

we have as a right to speak it, is takenaway!

We must not put our heads in thesand; there is a well-coordinated planbeing formulated to silence Chrisans.We have to remain vigilant, or we willwake up one day and all bible-believingChrisans will nd themselves likeMr. Robertson, dismissed because hedared to not only believe the word ofGod, but also to speak it!

As I said in the beginning, I have neverseen Duck Dynasty, but I have heardthe comments of Mr. Robertson, and Istand with him as a Chrisan who will

not be silenced in the face of a falsetolerance purported by our society.

We must stand up when an injusce isdone, and what is being done to thisman is just the beginning. If we allowit to occur, only God knows what thetolerant society will not toleratefrom Chrisans!

--------------------If you would like to contact me, pleaseemail me at [email protected]


15/16


(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Facing therising sun of ournew day begun,let us march onll victory is won.James WeldonJohnson

As the sun setsover a tumultuous2013 and risesover the promiseof a brighter new

year, we have put together a list of thetop 10 events that have parcularlyaected African Americans andcommunies of color over the past 12months. Presented in no parcularorder, this list is a mix of triumphs andtragedies that mark the progress wevemade, highlight the problems that sllplague us, and point the way forwardin 2014. There is no doubt that all ofour lives were touched in some way bythese headline events of the past year.

1. Vong Rights/Voter Suppression:Despite an unprecedented outbreakof voter suppression eorts acrossthe naon and the Supreme Courtsappalling ruling in June that Secon4 of the Vong Rights Act wasunconstuonal, African Americansare going to the polls in record numbers.In fact, Black voters were decisivein ensuring the second inauguraonof Barack Obama on January 20th.African American voter turnout inthe presidenal elecon surpassedwhite voter turnout for the rst mein history. As voter suppression eortsgrow more intense, African Americansmust connue the ght where itmaers most - at the polls.

2. George Zimmerman Acquial:African Americans and people ofgoodwill throughout the naon werestunned by the July 13 not-guilty verdictin the trial of George Zimmerman,the man who shot and killed TrayvonMarn, an unarmed 17-year-old highschool student on February 26, 2012.The killing of Trayvon Marn remindedus of the persistent gap in racial

atudes in America and generatednew calls for an end to racial proling.

3. March on Washington Anniversary:2013 marked the 50th anniversaryof the 1963 March on Washingtonand Marn Luther King, Jrs historicI Have a Dream speech. On August24th, the Naonal Urban Leaguejoined thousands of cizens in a returnpilgrimage to the Lincoln Memorialand the new King Memorial tocommemorate that historic momentin a march for Economic Power andJusce - and to call for a connuaonof the work that remains undone.

4. Aordable Care Act: While start-up problems have plagued the roll-out, the new law expands access toaordable health care to more than30 million people, including 6.8 millionAfrican Americans who make up thelargest share of the uninsured. Thisisnt about polics. Its about people.

5. Stop-and-Frisk/Shop-and-Frisk: OnAugust 12th, a New York District CourtJudge ruled that the New York Citypolice departments stop-and-friskprogram, which disproporonatelytargets African Americans and Lanos,was unconstuonal. An appealscourt subsequently overturned thatruling. Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio haspledged to make changes in the policy- which is pracced in communiesacross the country - and has appointeda new police commissioner. AfricanAmerican shoppers in stores acrossthe country have also been unfairlyproled. The New York State AorneyGeneral has launched an invesgaoninto security pracces at a few retailersaer at least four customers claimedthey were unfairly targeted for policeacon while shopping in the stores.The Naonal Urban League, NaonalAcon Network and other civil rightsorganizaons were instrumental inworking with several naonal retailerson the release of a Customers Bill ofRights aimed at protecng customersfrom proling pracces. We willconnue to work with the retailerson recommendaons towards high

standard, best-in-industry storesecurity protocols and culturalsensivity eorts that can be adoptedby retailers across the country.

6. Government Shutdown/Eects ofSequestraon: The across-the-boardsequestraon budget cuts that wentinto eect this year slashed fundingfor Head Start, youth job training,long-term unemployment benetsand other crical human service andsafety net programs. With the naonshighest unemployment rate at 12.5percent, these cuts fell especially hardon African Americans, who sll havedouble-digit unemployment. The 17-day Government Shutdown in Octoberalso had an out-sized impact on AfricanAmericans who make up a large shareof the Federal workforce. Thankfully,Congress has taken necessary stepsto avoid a repeat in January 2014.However, while governing by crisishas ended for now and there isparal relief from sequestraon cuts,a major aw of the budget deal is itsfailure to include a crucial extension offederal jobless aid where more than1.3 million workers will immediatelylose unemployment benets - a vitalsource of income that covers basicfamily needs.

7. African American LeadersConvening (AALC)/Release of the 21stCentury Agenda for Jobs and Freedom:On August 23, 2013 at the NaonalUrban Leagues Redeem the DreamSummit during the 50th AnniversaryMarch on Washington celebraon,naonal civil rights leaders joinedtogether - for the rst me - for anhistoric release of a policy agendaaddressing ve urgent domesc goalsfor the naon - the 21st CenturyAgenda for Jobs and Freedom. Itcovers crical areas including jobs andthe economy, healthcare, educaon,vong rights and criminal juscesystem reform. The document wasthe result of months of joint meengsconvened by me, along with Rev. AlSharpton/Naonal Acon Network;Benjamin Jealous/NAACP; andMelanie Campbell/Naonal Coalion

on Black Civic Parcipaon with nearly60 of Americas leading civil rights,social jusce, business and communityleaders.

8. Rise of Economic Inequality: Whilethe richest one-percent have seen theirincomes rise astronomically over thepast 20 years, millions of middle classand low-wage workers are falling intopoverty and struggling to make endsmeet. This phenomenon worsened inthe wake of the recession - and has onlywidened through the recovery. Thisgrowing inequality is not only unjust;it is unstainable for our economy. Thisyear, Pope Francis, President Obamaand a growing number of economistssounded the alarm.

9. The Death of Nelson Mandela:On December 5th, the world lostone of the greatest champions forfreedom, jusce and peace ever towalk this Earth. Aer 27 years ofpolical imprisonment as a leader inthe ght against apartheid, Mandelawas released from prison in 1990. In1994, he became South Africas rstdemocracally elected president. Hisleadership was marked by his constantreliance on forgiveness, reconciliaonand unity in the building of a newSouth Africa. His life and legacy willforever inspire the world.

10. Banner Year for Black Films: Thisyear was a notable one for Black lmsranging from the true event-inspiredstories of the The Butler, 12 Yearsa Slave, Mandela: Long Walk toFreedom, and Fruitvale Staonto the highly ancipated Best ManHoliday and holiday classic BlackNavity.

From the Naonal Urban Leaguefamily to yours - we wish you a blessedholiday and a Happy New Year. In thewords of Oprah Winfrey, Cheers to aNew Year and another chance for us toget it right.

---------------------Marc Morial is President/CEO of theNaonal Urban League.

Top 10 News Events of 2013

MOnIquE W.

MOrrIs

OPINION/EDITORIALThe views expressed on our opinion pages are thoseof the author and do not necessarily represent theposition or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

However, some have lost their minds,and are failing to respect the wordprivate. So, I just want to ask thecommunity collecvely, what doesprivate mean to you?

I truly cant believe the people whoare trying to manipulate, bribe, bullyand coerce their way into being part of

the Jan. 1 swearing-in.

I think the commiee has done ayeomans job in announcing and

making it clear that, on Jan. 1, themayor-elect wants to be sworn in withonly her immediate family and a fewothers present.

What is it that some people arentgeng? The Jan. 1 ceremony is privateand may not even last 20 minutes, butthe jockeying for posion and beangup on people is uncalled for, and so

surprising.

The people who are the worstperpetrators are the ones who did

absolutely nothing but sit on thesidelines during her campaign. And, tome, it is appalling for grown people toact like some folks are acng.

But, all I can do is write about it, andhope that my words fall on ears thatare listening.

So, let me repeat: the Jan. 1 event is

private. If you did not get an invite, orare not family, then that means youare not expected to be there.

What need would there be for a publiccelebraon if everyone dened privateas meaning they are going to go andbe there anyway because they feel justthat important?

I hope this informaon will be receivedin the spirit it has been wrien. Privatemeans private, not yall come. IJS

What does private mean to you?...FROM PREVIOUS PAGE


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Minority Reporter Week of January 6 - 12, 2014

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Transcript of Minority Reporter Week of January 6 - 12, 2014