THE CASH STUFF FOR APRIL 4, 2013

CASH IN THE APPLE 4-4-13

By Cash Michaels

            DR. KING  - It was on this day, April 4, 1968, that an assassin’s bullet took the life of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

            Let us never forget the sacrifices of Dr. King, or the many others who stood with him during the turbulent 1960’s civil rights movement.

            No doubt, he was one of the most powerful and prophetic voices of our time.

            Thank you, Dr. King, for your sacrifice.

            ATTENTION GOP’ERS - With all of the extraordinary political changes going on in this state and nation by the Republicans, especially here in North Carolina, which is literally being turned upside down as you read this, I have a proposition.

            And this is purely personal. The newspaper has nothing to do with it.

            I challenge any Republican or Tea Party ELECTED official serving in the NC General Assembly now to come on my radio show, “Make It Happen” on Power 750 WAUG between now and Thursday, April 25th, and admit to my listeners that the reason why you want to stop same day registration; cut the two –week one stop/early voting period down to a week; end Sunday “Souls to the Polls” voting; and, of course, make voter photo ID the law in North Carolina, is because you don’t believe African-Americans or Latinos deserve the right to vote, and you will do anything to stop it.

            If I get just one Republican or Tea Party elected official in the NC General Assembly to come on my radio show between now and April 25^th, and freely admit that you believe that black people should not be allowed to vote in this state or nation anymore, and now that your party is in power, you will do everything you can to end that right, I will cook that Republican or Tea Party elected member of the NC General Assembly a full course dinner at my house for him/her and their spouse.

            That is an ironclad personal promise – a free home-cooked meal by me (and my family will tell ya, I CAN COOK with the best of them) for the one elected right-winger who is willing to come on my show and admit that in order for North Carolina to be the best state it can possibly be, we must do everything that we can to limit, if not stop completely, the black and Hispanic vote in this state.

            You laugh…but I’m dead serious about my end of the bargain.

            This is not my idea of clever column. I will feed you well, oh elected right-wing lawmaker, if you fess up.

            This offer is extended to Governor Pat McCrory as well, since he just closed down the Hispanic Affairs Office, and says that he doesn’t believe in treating people as “groups.”

            I’ll cook our Republican governor a good old fashioned, “group” inspired meal, him and our state’s First Lady, if he would come on to admit the same thing for the world to hear.

            Not only has McCrory closed the Hispanic Affairs Office, but he’s now also eliminated the $3.00 candidate’s checkoff donation on our state tax returns, knowing that Democrats get most of that money because there are simply more of them.

            Smart politics, you say? Yeah, I would too, if Gov. McCrory didn’t already commit to signing a voter photo ID bill the Republican legislature is going to give him into law.

            By the way, he most likely will sign that first bill I told you about, you know, the one that will eliminate same day registration, cut one stop/early voting in half, and put an end to “Souls to the Polls.”

            So that’s my personal offer as a citizen of the state.

            And why would I even dream of making such a crazy offer?

            Because I know these folks like the back of my hand, and they know that we ALL know what they are up to, but are too chicken to admit publicly.

            What the Republicans are doing, not just here in the North Carolina, but all over the nation in restricting the right of poor people of color to participate in the electoral system, is against everything we’re taught America is supposed to be about. We should be proudly throwing open the doors of opportunity for more ways to vote, not less.

            But apparently not under the Republicans, folks.

            So my offer stands. One of y’all come on my radio show and come clean about what you’re up and why, as I spelled out earlier, and I will proudly slave in my kitchen all day just to personally fix the best meal imaginable.

            Consider it a reward for, on a rare occasion, being honest.

            But don’t worry, folks, I have the funniest feeling my pots and pans aren’t moving anytime soon. I’ll keep you posted, however, if I do get a bite.

            “MAKE IT HAPPEN” THIRD ANNIVERSARY – This month, April, marks the third anniversary of my weekly talk show, “Make It Happen” on Power 750 WAUG-AM, and www.myWAUG.com.

            On Thursday, April 25^th, we’re planning to have special two-hour show, from 4 – 6 p.m., live from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh. We’ll tell you more about that as we get closer to the date, but mark that down on your calendar so that you can be there. We’ve never done the show in front of a live audience before, so we hope you’ll join us.

            And a very special thanks to the management and staff of Power 750 WAUG-AM for all of their great support from the very beginning.

            BYRON PITTS TO ABC NEWS – We’ve known for the past month that journalist Byron Pitts of CBS’ “60 Minutes” was leaving the network to work for ABC News as of April 15^th. Some of you may not know that Byron grew up here in North Carolina, and at one time actually delivered The Carolinian Newspaper in Raleigh.

            We wish him well.

            MICHAEL BAISDEN OFF THE AIR – Popular afternoon radio personality Michael Baisden is no longer on the air. Apparently Baisden and his radio syndicator couldn’t agree on a new deal to keep the national show on the air, and so they mutually agreed to end the business relationship.

            I’m sure Baisden’s fans are upset that he’s gone. They’ll miss him.

            That’s all I have to say on that subject.

            THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTERS – Apparently the right-wing hates President Barack Obama so much, they’re even willing to extend their baseless, mindless criticisms to his family, and especially his two young daughters.

            During their spring recess, Malia and Shasha took vacation time in the Bahamas and Idaho. Naturally their parents paid for the trip. But because they are also the president’s kids, the Secret Service was along to, of course, protect them.

            Well next thing you know, Tea Party Congressman Steve King and Fox News blowhard Sean Hannity are bitterly complaining about how much money taxpayers are spending so that Sasha and Malia could have a good Secret Service protected vacation.

            Newsflash to King and Hannity – the Secret Service are with the girls 24/7. They may not be physically with them in the room, but you better believe they are right outside the door. And since the daughters don’t normally mingle with the public without their father or mother, their security is nowhere near as intricate as it would be if Pres. Dad were there.

            So all these folks are trying to do is create more negative mess. They are still stunned that Obama beat them last fall, so they now take pride in attacking his two daughters.

            What a shame and disgrace.

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.

                                                    -30-

NNPA STORIES -
    http://www.nnpa.org/news/lead/blacks-don’t-have-same-views-on-same-sex-marriage-by-maya-rhodan/

SPECIAL BOX - 
CON. PRICE TO HOST RALEIGH TOWN HALL MEETING
   US Fourth District Congressman David Price will host a districtwide Town hall Meeting Monday, April 8th, 2013 at William Peace University, 15 East Peace Street in Raleigh, at Kenan Hall from 6 to 7 p.m.. The public is invited.
                                                                       -30-

NCNAACP TO GOP: “WE’LL FIGHT YOU”

By Cash Michaels

Editor

            Call it a “war council,” if you will, because according to the NC NAACP, the NC Legislative Black Caucus and others, it’s all hands on deck across the state to fight what it calls the “extreme attacks on voting rights and human dignity in many forms by the current leadership of the NC General Assembly.”

            Tuesday evening, an “emergency community assembly strategy session” was held at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, held by the NC NAACP, the HK on J People’s Assembly Coalition and others, to plot how to stop the Republican-led Legislature.

            Last week, as Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the NCNAACP predicted a month ago, Republican lawmakers in both the state House and Senate filed bills that collectively, if passed, would end same-day voter registration; cut the One Stop/early voting period down from two weeks to just one week; end Sunday “Souls to the Polls” early voting; and end straight ticket voting.

            “The legislature is trying to crucify voting rights in this state,” Rev. Barber said during a Good Friday press conference at Pullen.

            On Wednesday, in another apparent effort to suppress the youth and college vote in the state, a Republican bill in the state Senate was filed to tax the parents of in-state college students who register to vote at their schools, instead of their home addresses.

            Critics say the GOP drive to cripple base voters of the Democrat is more than apparent.

            Studies show that in North Carolina, African-American voters are overwhelmingly in favor of the early voting as it currently exists, especially “Souls to the polls,” where black churches beings vans of voters from their congregations to cast ballots.

            Over 56 percent of the 4.5 million votes cast in the November 2012 election were early votes, with Republicans comprising at least 40 percent of those, studies show.

            Indeed, blacks comprise a sizable number of early voters in the state, something some observers say Republicans want to curtail by changing the laws, and implementing voter photo ID.

            Over 30,000 North Carolinians voted on Sundays per the last two presidential elections, according to the NC Democratic Party, another Democrat advantage the GOP would like to be rid of in order to hold on to their majorities in the General Assembly, critics say.

            The GOP legislation, if passed, would also make it easier for voters to mail-in absentee ballots, something that is favored more by Republicans, who tend to be upper-income compared to black Democrats, and travel more frequently.

            Republican lawmakers say the cost of early voting has to be curtailed, plus their legislation limits possible voter fraud. Critics counter that when the state of Florida cut early voting last year, voters had to wait on long lines for over 8 hours, still costing the state money and embarrassing Florida. Gov. Rick Scott has now decided to extend early voting back to 14 days, which is what it was previously.

            NC House Rep. Edgar Starnes (R- Caldwell), the sponsor of one of the bills, says voting on Sunday isn’t something that should be allowed because it is the Sabbath. He denied that his bill targeted black Sunday voters.

            The NC Legislative Black Caucus, however, isn’t buying it. It joined the fray Tuesday, vowing to fight the GOP voting overhaul with everything it has.

            “We cannot, must not, and will not sit on the sidelines and let this happen, state Rep. Garland Pierce (D-Scotland), chair of the NCLBC, declared.

            Rep. Pierce, who is also an ordained minister, blasted Rep, Starnes’ belief that people shouldn’t be voting on Sunday.

            “I don't see anything wrong with (Sunday voting)…” Pierce said. “You can go to work on Sunday. We go shopping on Sunday. Some buy and consume alcoholic beverages on Sunday. Some complete absentee ballots and drop it in the mail on Sunday.”

            “The Bible says, if your ox is in a ditch (on the Sabbath), get him out,” Pierce added. “Our state is in a ditch.”

            The editorials in major newspapers across the state have pounced on the GOP for what they see as a purely partisan power grab.

            The News and Observer asked, “Do they not feel confident enough in what they’ve done and what they plan to do that they now think they need every advantage when it comes to the rules even if their rules might reduce participation? Don’t they think they can successfully stand for election and re-election on the merits of their ideas?”

            “Republican leaders say this is really about cutting costs, not cutting into Democratic turnout. But the political implications are obvious”, wrote The Salisbury Post.

And The Durham Herald-Sun warned, “Trying to marginalize Democratic voters with the calendar doesn’t really guarantee an edge for Republican candidates. But it certainly might galvanize Democratic response.”

The coalition of progressive groups against the GOP agenda is growing with each new bill that is filed. Progress NC, a nonprofit advocacy group, announced its opposition to the voting changes Monday at the Legislature.

On Wednesday, on another issue concerning to progressives, Republicans in the state Senate voted to repeal what was left of the 2009 NC Racial Justice Act, which prohibited racially-biased verdicts in death penalty cases.

That bill also seeks to restart capital punishment in the state, which has been on hold because of legal cases since 2006.

                                                -30-

TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS 4-4-13

WAKE INTERIM SUPT. GAINEY ACCEPTS RANDOLPH COUNTY JOB

            More personnel turnover since the firing last September of Supt. Tony Tata. The man who took his job, Interim Supt. Dr. Stephen Gainey, announced Monday that he has been hired as superintendent of Randolph County schools, effective next school year. Gainey has been with WCPSS for 20 years, starting as a teacher. Gainey is seen as having calmed the turmoil after Tata’s termination. Board Chairman Keith Sutton hailed Dr. Gainey for his leadership. Thus far, seven WCPSS employees have left the system, and unlike Dr. Gainey have gone to work for Tata, who was appointed the new secretary of the NC Dept. of Transportation.

JURY SELECTION BEGINS MONDAY IN SHANIYA DAVIS CASE

            The case of an alleged drug dealer going on trial for the First-degree rape of a child and First-degree murder of five-year-old Shaniya Davis begins in a Fayetteville courtroom Monday. Mario McNeil, the accused, was supposed to go to trial in February, but his defense attorneys asked for several delays before the judge ruled this week that the trial will begin next week. McNeil is pleading not guilty. He allegedly accepted the five-year-old girl as payment for a drug debt from her mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, in November 2009. Her trial has been delayed. McNeil allegedly raped and killed the child, then left her body in Harnett County. He faces the death penalty.

MCCRORY ANNOUNCES MEDICAID SYSTEM OVERHAUL

            North Carolina spends $13 billion in state and federal dollars to fund the state’s Medicaid program, a price tag Gov. Pat McCrory vowed Wednesday his administration will cut down. McCrory and NC Dept of Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Vos unveiled, “A Partnership for a Healthy North Carolina,” a new effort to address the health needs of poor and elderly North Carolinians holistically, McCrory said. The results, he promises, will be better health at a cheaper cost.

                                                -30-

STATE NEWS BRIEFS 4-4-13

BILL WOULD REQUIRE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

            [RALEIGH] If lawmakers in the Republican-led NC General Assembly have their way, all applicants seeking federal assistance through county social services offices will have to go through a criminal background check before they receive benefits. Currently, anyone with a pending arrest warrant or parole violation is not eligible, but rarely is that checked when they make application. If passed, the law would require it. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Dean Arp of Monroe. Arp says the integrity of the program must be upheld. Critics say what Arp is proposing could be abused by county officials, thus hurting poor people who need the assistance.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY SEEKS STATE LAW TO REMOVE LOCAL COMMISSIONER

            [WILMINGTON] Members of the New Hanover County Commission Board want to get rid of board member Commissioner Brian Berger so badly, that they are even willing to get a state law passed that would affect all elected officials, just to get him out. Berger, according to published reports, has been acting so erratically, and has repeatedly refused to resign, the board Chairman Woody White says they’ve had no choice but to ask their legislative delegation to seek having a law passed that could legally help them oust their troubled colleague. The draft of the bill would allow the removal of a county board member, a school board member or a city council member for a physical or mental disability that impedes their ability to perform their duties, or proven misconduct in office. Democrat Rep. Suzi Hamilton of New Hanover opposes the bill, saying that the state shouldn’t “interfere” with local government in this manner.

STATE TROOPER BLAMED FOR NOT SEEING BODY IN CAR

            [SMITHFIELD] A state trooper has been placed on administrative leave because he failed to see the body of Carolyn Ann Watkins in her disabled car last week before it had been towed to a lot, only to be discovered days later by Smithfield detectives. In his report about discovering Watkins car Friday, which had run off into a ditch on Swift Creek Road, Trooper Marion Williams wrote, “No driver at the scene of this collision.” Watkins family filed a missing persons report when she failed to show for work Monday morning. When detectives checked the impounded vehicle Monday, that’s when her dead body was discovered. Watkins family says she may have been still alive when the trooper checked the car three days earlier, but because he failed to see her, she died. Highway Patrol says it is conducting a full investigation into how this could happen.

                                                            -30-

WIFE OF A LEGEND - President Barack Obama greets Mrs. Rachel Robinson, widow of baseball legend Jackie robinson, before the White House screening Sunday of "42," the new movie about how Robinson broke the colorline in baseball. in the background between the president and mrs. robinson is actor Harrison Ford, who portrays Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey [White House photo by Pete Sousa]

OUTRAGE - Even though it was part of a flag exhibit in the Old Capitol Building last week, the NCNAACP and others demanded that the Confederate flag be taken down there, especially after it was learned that Gov. Pat McCrory, as this picture proves, conducted a swearing-in ceremony for the new commander of the State Highway Patrol, in front of it. The controversial flag has now been moved to the MC Museum of History. Many say that's where it should have been the whole time.

JUDGE RULES AGAINST UNC IN HOUSEKEEPER CASE

By Jordan Bailey

Special to The Carolinian Newspaper from the Daily Tar Heel

On Thursday, an administrative judge ruled in favor of a UNC housekeeper who has complained of sexual harassment and discrimination by her supervisor and department director.

After considering 125 findings of fact, Melissa Owens Lassiter wrote in her decision that the University failed to provide Maria Isabel Prudencio-Arias with a work environment free of discrimination and retaliation.

Lassiter also said the University acted arbitrarily in applying its Policy on Prohibited Harassment and Discrimination by failing to immediately respond to her harassment claims.

The decision will be sent to a State Personnel Commission that will review the ruling and make a final decision on the case.

Prudencio-Arias’ lawyer Al McSurely said his client began experiencing sexual harassment at work in 2009 with the hiring of a new supervisor.

McSurely said Prudencio-Arias successfully got this supervisor fired by using a tape recorder as evidence of harassment against her.

She then began experiencing retaliation and harassment from the department’s director, who no longer works at UNC, McSurely said.

In September 2011, a consulting firm UNC hired provided more than 45 suggestions for improving the department following claims of mistreatment of housekeepers by management.

Darius Dixon assumed the position as head of the embattled department in April 2012. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

According to Lassiter’s conclusions, Prudencio-Arias was targeted for reporting her first supervisor. She was transferred to work in the residence halls without notice, assigned more work and required to perform work that exceeded her medical restrictions.

Prudencio-Arias said she was forced to get on her hands and knees and clean the floor of a men’s bathroom — despite her complaints that it was covered in urine — wear a heavy vacuum on her back even though she suffered from back problems and clean the outside of buildings, which falls under the Grounds Department’s work.

Lassiter said Ann Penn, Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act officer at UNC, should have immediately investigated Prudencio-Arias’ claims of retaliation and harassment as soon as she was notified of its occurrence.

But Penn failed to do so in a timely manner, Lassiter wrote, violating the University’s Grievance Policy and Policy on Prohibited Harassment and Discrimination.

Penn could not be reached for comment Monday.

Prudencio-Arias said she continued to face harassment while the case developed and was ostracized by coworkers.

But Lassiter found that the University did not violate the state’s Whistleblower Act, for lack of proof that adverse action was taken against Prudencio-Arias.

McSurely said his client’s case is an illustration of the sexism and racism present at UNC.

“You cannot change institutional racism and sexism, which is what we’re dealing with here, by bringing in one new person. I don’t care if it’s Jesus,” McSurely said.

Prudencio-Arias said through a translator that it took courage to speak out.

“I found strength in God and in friends who took the form of angels in my life,” she said.

                                                            -30-

Passage Home Returns to Lincoln Park Roots


Special to The Carolinian Newspaper


A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Wednesday, April 3 celebrating the beginning of construction for the new Debnam Clinic location at 1501 Poole Road. Since 1961, the clinic has provided primary medical care for thousands of people in Southeast Raleigh. Founded by George C. Debnam, MD at its current location at 524 South Blount Street in Raleigh, the clinic’s increasing patients have finally outgrown the space.

The relocation to a larger property on Poole Road is made possible by Passage Home, a local nonprofit helping to break the cycle of poverty in Wake County, more specifically, Southeast Raleigh. The nonprofit bought the building, will lead renovations and then lease it back to the Debnam family.

“We are proud to re-connect with Lincoln Park Holiness Church, one of our founding faith partners, on this project,” said Jeanne Tedrow, co-founder and chief operating officer of Passage Home. “Returning to our Lincoln Park roots is somewhat of a homecoming; we’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity and have found one.”

The founding of Passage Home stemmed after a group of volunteers from Lincoln Park Holiness Church and The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi came together through a shared desire to alleviate poverty and homelessness in the Southeast community.

“From that day on through many projects, community faith ventures, grants and fundraisers, a strong union formed between our two churches that speaks loudly and clearly today,” explained Lincoln Park Holiness Church Reverend, Billy Ratcliff. “That union became what is now known as Passage Home, a beacon of hope in our community.”

With the support of its founders, Passage Home transitioned its focus from Lincoln Park to the South Park neighborhood shortly after being formed. The Debnam Clinic will represent the nonprofits’ return to Lincoln Park to fulfill part of a 2013 strategy to complete a neighborhood revitalization project in the neighborhood, hence, the Debnam Clinic.

“This project will use a comprehensive community development strategy to reduce poverty and homelessness,” explained Tedrow. “The services offered by the Debnam Clinic directly complement our mission as they provide quality medical care to people in the underserved communities of Southeast Raleigh and parts of Wake County.”

George Debnam’s two twin daughters Marie and Marjorie, both MD’s themselves, are carrying on their father’s vision with the clinic. They said they wanted to remain accessible to their current patients but also open up their services to a new group of potential patients.

 “My sister and I think it is extremely important to not leave the Southeast Raleigh area,” says Marie Debnam, MD. “Fortunately, Passage Home and Lincoln Park Holiness church shared our vision and commitment to serve Raleigh’s most underserved communities, and through a collaborative effort, Jeanne and Reverend Ratcliff have helped make our dream a reality.”

Reverend Ratcliff agreed. “We believe that the relocation of the Debnam Clinic, with a greater capacity to serve, will immediately improve our community because of the special needs they address. They’ll bring a new face, new blessings and professional care to our neighborhood.”

“We hope our clinic will spark further development in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and throughout the rest of the Southeast Raleigh community,” said Debnam.

Construction of the new Debnam Clinic location is expected to be completed by July 2013. Wednesday’s groundbreaking is open to the media and the community.

                                                                        -30-