NNPA STORIES -
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NC BLACK CAUCUS CONCERNS - Members of the NC Legislative Black Caucus meet with the press after visiting Gov. McCrory's Office with a list of concerns [Photo courtesy Shawna Williams]
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TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS 5-16-13
DURHAM SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS BALK AT SINGLE SEX SCHOOL
Just
as there was controversy in Wake County two years ago over it, the Durham Board
of Education is now also divided over establishing two year-round single-sex
schools for at-risk children, grades 6-12. School Supt. Eric Becoats is pushing
the idea, which, if approved, would enter the system in partnership with the
Maureen joy Charter School. The schools would open next year, and cost $12
million to establish. Some members were concerned about the value of separating
boys from girls, while others countered that now is the time to try it.
SENATE BILL CEDING
WAKE SCHOOL PROPERTY TO COUNTY ADVANCES
A
state Senate bill that would allow the Wake County Commission Board to take
ownership and control of all Wake Board of Education school buildings and
properties passed the Senate Education Committee Wednesday, and headed to the
Senate floor, where, at presstime, it was expected to pass. Wake School Board
Chairman Keith Sutton has called the bill a ‘power play’ by the Republican Wake
Commissioners. Nine other counties would be affected if the measure passes.
NCDOT SAYS THREE
LANES WILL REMAIN OPEN DURING I-40/440 BELTLINE WORK
NC
DOT Secretary Anthony Tata says in order to ensure that traffic moves as
smoothly as possible during the rebuilding of 11.5 miles of the I-40/440
Beltline over the next three years, at least three lanes will remain open for
commuters. Tata says DOT also plans to spend $12 million on vanpools and
express buses from Johnson County and Southern Wake County, to downtown
Raleigh, in order to shave 30,000 cars off the road a day from the estimated
110,000 drivers who use the Beltline currently.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS 5-16-13
HISTORIC EMANCIPATION
DOCUMENT NOW ON DISPLAY IN RALEIGH
[RALEIGH]
From now until June 16th, the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation,
the seven-page 1862 document President Abraham Lincoln issued to justify the
freeing of slaves, will be on public display at the NC Museum of History. The
display, part of the new “Freedom Coming, Freedom for All” exhibit, is the
original handwritten letter from Lincoln to the Confederate states warning them
to put down their arms and free their slaves in 100 days, or prepare for
further attacks. When the South refused, Lincoln then issued the Emancipation
Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. The museum exhibit is free and open to the
public.
BLACK MECKLENBURG
COMMISSIONER “SURE DID” CALL COLLEAGUE A RACIST
[CHARLOTTE]
She never said the word, but Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma Leake, an
African-American, replied “I sure did” when a white board colleague asked her,
“You called me a racist?” during a heated county commission meeting this week.
The issue in contention was the recent firing of County Manager Harry Jones.
Members of the board’s Democratic majority began attacking each other. Com.
Leake had voted to fire Jones. Commissioner Dumont Clarke, who is white,
supported Jones. At one point, Leake, clearly angry with some of what Clarke
was saying, replied, “You go back to the old time when white men sat in rooms
and made decisions for poor people.” That’s when Clarke asked if he was being
called a racist, and Leake confirmed.
SMOKING IN PARKS,
BEACHES COULD MAKE A RETURN
[RALEIGH]
If a state Senate Committee has its way, those smoking restrictions at beaches
and in public parks may be a thing of the past. Republican Senate lawmakers,
saying that people should have the right to smoke outdoors where they choose,
passed a measure this week in committee forbidding local municipalities from
passing ordinances that restrict outdoor smoking beyond what is allowed under
state law. State law, however, does not restrict outdoor smoking. The measure
was expected to clear the Senate, and be sent to the House.
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NC BLACK CAUCUS TO
GOVERNOR: WAKE UP
By Cash Michaels
Editor
Members
of the NC Legislative Black Caucus, frustrated by the avalanche of what some
say are “regressive” policies being passed by the GOP-led NC General Assembly,
paid an unscheduled visit last week to the offices of the one Republican they
hoped would listen to “reason and common ground” – Gov. Pat McCrory.
He
wasn’t there, but that didn’t stop the NCLBC from making it clear that if the
moderate governor is truly leading North Carolina for the benefit of all of its
citizens, then McCrory is going to have to challenge his Republican colleagues
in the legislature when their conservative policies have gone too far.
Meanwhile,
in the third week of their “Moral Mondays” demonstrations, over 200 protestors
and NCNAACP supporters again descended on the NC Legislative Building on Jones
Street Monday evening.
This
time forty-nine were arrested and taken to jail when they engaged in
non-violent civil disobedience. That number significantly grew from the 30 and
17 protestors arrested the two previous weeks respectively.
Rev.
William Barber, president of the NCNAACP and leader of the protests, announced
Wednesday that the peaceful, though defiant demonstrations will continue next
Monday evening at the Legislative Building.
Rep.
Garland Pierce [D-Hoke], chairman of the NCLBC, has publicly supported the
NCNAACP’s peaceful protests, proclaiming that the NCLBC will also not be silent
regarding new Republican policies that cut unemployment, limit Medicaid funding
and raise taxes on the working poor.
Last
week’s uninvited visit to the Governor’s Office was the NCLBC’s way, Rep.
Pierce said, to stake out their own ground in the battle.
“The
North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus seeks to find reason and common ground
from this General Assembly and the Governor in the midst of the current rising
tide of unrest from voices of 3.6 million North Carolinians,” Rep. Pierce said
in a statement.
An
aide to the governor met Chairman Pierce and several NCLBC members in McCrory’s
absence as members of the media looked on. Pierce and company didn’t come empty-handed. They left a
detailed list of concerns for the governor to review for when they, in fact,
are able to schedule a meeting.
Titled,
“How will this Legislative Session Affect Your Family?: Awful and Dangerous,”
the NCLBC missive to the governor lists a number of Republican-sponsored
measures – some McCrory has already signed into law – that the NCLBC says will
hurt not just poor people of color, but all working class North Carolinians.
That
NCLBC list for the governor included, “ Creating Barriers to Work and
Unemployment [Benefits]”; “Preventing Access to Health Care”; “Reducing
Investments to Our Children’s Future (eliminating 30,000 children from the
state pre-kindergarten program, removing limits of class sizes and cutting
funding for teacher assistants)”; “Making it Harder to Vote (photo voter ID,
shortening early voting, eliminating saem-day registration and Sunday “Souls to
the Polls”)’; and “Shifting the Tax Burden to Working Families (lowering the
corporate and personal income tax while expanding sales taxes for the working
class).”
“Our
agenda is clear!,” Rep. Pierce said. “These are the major issues that adversely
impact our constituents and we seek a way forward to report back to the voters
that our collective interests are being met. Leadership owes all North Carolina
citizens answers.”
CASH IN THE APPLE
5-16-13
By Cash Michaels
MALCOLM SHABAZZ
– Three years ago, I was introduced to Malcolm
Lateef Shabazz, then 25, the grandson of Malcolm X, during his trip to Raleigh. Immediately, I sensed an
intensity in this young man, and also to a certain extent, a very heavy burden.
Several years ago, at the very
young age of 12, Malcolm, an admittedly troubled youth, set fire to his
grandmother’s apartment. Looking for him in the blaze, she sustained serious
burns, and weeks later, died from her injuries.
Malcolm’s grandmother was Dr. Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm
X.
In the intervening years, the
teenager found himself in more trouble, and incarcerated. It was a long road
for him to partially put his history behind him.
I met young Malcolm during a period
of his rebuilding his life, and a day after meeting him in person, I
interviewed him by phone.
This was a very serious young black
man, a black nationalist and devout Muslim with a politically dynamic mind. He
traveled the nation and the world, speaking to other young people about leading
a life of purpose. Malcolm seemed to be preparing himself for leadership in the
same vain and spirit of his legendary grandfather. Indeed, young Malcolm
cherished the legend of Malcolm X, and modeled himself after his famous
granddad, though quickly admitting that he could never take his place ion
history.
“My grandfather, to me, was the
epitome of a true revolutionary,” Malcolm told me.
He also spoke lovingly about his
grandmother, Dr. Shabazz, acknowledging how much she loved and cared for him.
“My grandmother was royalty,” he
told me, noting how hard she worked as a human rights leader, and a college
professor.
My interview by phone with Malcolm
Shabazz was one of the most difficult I’ve ever conducted with any famous
figure, because I wanted him to address his feelings about that tragic incident
in his life that so shocked and saddened the world. He made it clear that he
set the fire to gain attention, not to hurt anyone, and certainly not to hurt
his grandmother.
As a child, young Malcolm, who had
been passed around from relative to relative while his mother, Quibilah, dealt with legal problems, just
wanted to live with her again, and was trying to cause something that would
make his grandmother send him back.
During our phone interview, Malcolm
passionately shared his feelings about the incident.
Shortly afterwards, we lost our
connection, and I never heard from Malcolm Shabazz again.
Since then I’ve followed reports
about his comings and goings with great interest. Recently there were reports
about his wanting to attend a conference in Iran, but had been detained by the
FBI for some unknown reason.
But I looked forward to hearing
from Malcolm again, to see how he had further grown and matured. To see how he
was progressing towards being the leader that he wanted to be.
And then last week came the
extraordinary news – Malcolm Shabazz, 28, grandson of Malcolm X, was murdered
in Mexico.
Since then there has been nothing
but confusion about exactly what happened. First reports were that he had been
shot and thrown off a roof. Then reports had him drinking in a bar with
friends, only to be accosted, beaten and left for dead on the streets before
being taken to a hospital, where he died.
At presstime, two men had been
charged with homicide by Mexican authorities, and Malcolm’s body was in the
process of being sent back to the United States so that his family could claim
it.
So all I feel now is an incredible
sadness that this young man’s life was cut so short. Whatever his path, and
whatever his problems, Malcolm Shabazz didn’t deserve to die.
But at least he is at peace now.
And perhaps in death, he is now able to be back with his grandmother, and is
able to meet his grandfather, his hero, for the first time.
The life of Malcolm Shabazz was a
tragic one. He needed more time to fix it.
Much more.
You can hear part of the interview
I did with Malcolm on this afternoon’s (Thursday) “Make It Happen” on Power 750
WAUG-AM, and www.myWAUG.com
“FREE ANGELA” – Last week I attended
the Raleigh one-night showing of the acclaimed documentary, “Free Angela and
All Political Prisoners,” an extraordinary film by Shola Lynch.
I urge you to see it. Angela Davis was a major black educator
and activist of the 1970’s who was the target of political recrimination
because of her membership in the Communist Party. Davis became a fugitive after
guns that she purchased were used in a deadly 1970 Marin County, California courthouse
shootout. Davis was tried and found not guilty of conspiracy and murder, and
has remained a figure of black nationalism ever since.
For those who grew up during the
time of Angela Davis, this documentary does a superb job of recounting the
historic events with excellent, insightful interviews, archival news clips, and
great storytelling. For young people today seeing this film and learning about
this dynamic black woman, this film is a treasure trove.
Kudos must go to actor Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who served as
producers for the film.
Kudos must also be extended to Angelica Simmons and Carleen Brack Jameson for bringing the
one-night only engagement to Raleigh last week via Tugg.com, a unique online
service that allows anyone to book a movie at a theater in their community.
“Free Angela” is being seen in
major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, but North Carolina
is not considered a major movie market (which is weird given how many colleges
and universities we have here). So the only way for you to see this film in
this state is either attend one of the booked Tugg.com screenings in or near
your area, or go to www.tugg.com,
and book a theater yourself.
I urge folks in Wilmington to go to
that website to book a date. It could be a good fundraiser for a worthy community
group to host.
And as for Raleigh, Ms. Simmons and
Ms. Brack Jameson are bringing “Free Angela” back to Raleigh on Monday, June 10th.
Go to http://www.tugg.com/events/4027 for more
information.
This is a must-see film.
INTERESTING – Isn’t it interesting
how all of these major controversies are ganging up on President Obama at the same time – Benghazi, the IRS probe of the
Tea Party, and now the US Justice Dept. getting phone records of Associated
Press personnel? And if you’ve seen pictures or video of the president lately,
all of this, including the constant battles with Congress over the sequester
cuts, seems to be wearing him down.
He does not look like a happy
camper.
Let’s pray for him, folks, because
Lord knows, with the crazy, bloodthirsty people he’s dealing with who hate his
guts, the president could use every prayer he can get.
Rest easy, Mr. President, and keep
your cool. They only want to destroy you.
But GOD won’t let that happen.
Make sure you tune in every
Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. for my talk radio show, ''Make It Happen'' on
Power 750 WAUG-AM, or online at www.myWAUG.com.
And read more about my thoughts and opinions exclusively at my blog, ‘The Cash
Roc” (http://thecashroc.blogspot.com/2011/01/cash-roc-begins.html).
I promise it will be interesting.
Cash in the Apple - honored as the Best Column Writing
of 2006 by the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Columnist Cash
Michaels was also honored by the NNPA for Best Feature Story Journalist of
2009, and was the recipient of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP’s President’s Award for
Media Excellence in Sept. 2011.
Until next week, keep a smile on your face, GOD in your
heart, and The Carolinian in your life. Bye, bye.
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OP-ED FROM STELLA ADAMS
Has
America Abandoned Homeownership?
By Stella J. Adams
Private-equity firms, hedge funds and other Wall
Street investors are seeking to develop a Real Estate Owned (REO) – to- Rent
Securitization Market with the blessing of the FED and FHFA. A year ago, the Federal Reserve Board issued a policy
statement on rental of REO owned by the banks they supervise and allowed the
banks to rent REO properties without requiring them to demonstrate continuous
efforts to market the properties. Last fall, FHFA initiated a “pilot” REO bulk sale
program in urban markets across the nation. This munificence by the federal
regulators will change the course of America’s future and signals the
abandonment of homeownership as a pathway to prosperity.
Single-family rental properties have attracted more than $10
billion from Equity Firms, Hedge Funds, REITs and Institutional investors and
according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. , this market may attract a total of $2.8
trillion in capital investments in the not so distant future.[1]
The government’s encouragement of this
new housing market is fraught with potential societal and economic risks to the
long-term health of our neighborhoods and our nation.
As a fair housing
professional, I am concerned that this allows the Wall Street predators to once
again prey upon urban and inner-ring suburban communities across the
country. These new investors in
the rental housing market may not be aware that they are covered under Section
805 of the Federal Fair Housing Act and its implementing regulations[2].
As a homeowner, I am concerned that there may
be homes on my block or in my community that are owned by Wall Street firms,
who have shown no accountability for maintaining the properties they have
acquired. A judge recently denied Deutsche Bank AG's bid to dismiss a
lawsuit by the city of Los Angeles accusing it of letting hundreds of
foreclosed properties fall into disrepair and illegally evicting low-income
tenants.[3]
According to a 2011 civil enforcement action filed by the City of Los Angeles
Deutsche Bank and its subsidiaries held title to more than 2,000 properties in
Los Angeles.
According
to news reports private equity behemoth Blackstone has acquired over 25,000
properties across the country including 1400 in Atlanta and with a $2.1 billion
dollar line of credit from Deutsche Bank, is preparing to greatly expand its
holdings.
This
is bad news for our communities; homeowners bring stability to neighborhoods
and are more engaged in local civic affairs. Homeownership and locally based landlords contribute to the
social cohesion of our communities with shared values, commitment to the common
good and bound by desire for economic prosperity for all.
The
nomination of Representative Mel Watt (D-NC12) to lead FHFA is an opportunity
for positive systemic change. In a
properly regulated housing market, homeownership does not pose a risk to
households or investors. I hope
that this nomination signals a recommitment by this administration to
homeownership. I believe strongly that the effective enforcement of existing laws
and regulations coupled with the underwriting of safe, sustainable and
affordable loans is a leveraged path to financial stability, and the social
mobility that is the essence of the American Dream.
Stella J. Adams is a Housing
Policy expert and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Community
Reinvestment Coalition in Washington, DC
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