http://www.nnpa.org/news/lead/the-death-of-saint-pauls-college-by-freddie-allen/
http://www.nnpa.org/news/lead/blacks-optimistic-about-finances-by-freddie-allen/
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS 6-13-13
MORAL MONDAYS GETTING
NATIONAL ATTENTION
[RALEIGH]
From a high-profile article in the New York Times this week, to MSNBC talk show
hostess Prof. Melissa Harris-Perry the week prior, the NCNAACP-led “Moral
Monday” movement has been capturing national interest, and drawing attention to
the conservative policies of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and the GOP-led NC
General Assembly. Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the NCNAACP and leader
of the Moral Monday movement, has also been a guest on MSNBC’s “All in with
Chris Hayes” and on “the Tom Joyner Morning Show.” Observers say the national
spotlight on what’s happening in North Carolina politically is important because
what was once considered a progressive state that voted for Pres. Obama in
2008, has now become a test-tube for conservative policies, and could be a
symbol for the nation if not confronted. On Wednesday, eight protesters were arrested, including local officials from Durham, Rocky Mount, Greensboro, for violating building rules after protesting commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of NAACP leader Medgar Evers.
NEW DRAFT OF HANDGUN
LAW WOULD ALLOW GUNS IN BARS AND ON PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY
[RALEIGH]
If the Senate Judiciary Committee has its way, not only would North Carolinians
no longer have to apply for a pistol permit from their local sheriff’s
department when they want to buy a handgun, but those with conceal handgun
permits would be able to into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, and onto
the campuses of public schools and universities, as long as they’re locked in
their cars. All of this is in a Senate rewrite of a state House omnibus measure
revising gun rights in North Carolina. The Senate version cleared committee
Tuesday, and was headed to the Senate floor for a vote. If passed, it would be
sent to the House for ratification.
HUNDREDS OF IBM
WORKERS LAID OFF IN NORTH CAROLINA
[RESEARCH
TRIANGLE PARK] Published reports say “hundreds” of employees with IBM in North
Carolina received layoff notices Wednesday as part of the technology company’s
massive restructuring plan. Even though the company had not issued a formal announcement
of the layoffs at press time Wednesday, a spokesman did confirm that a “resource
action” was taking place involving layoffs. IBM is estimated to have 17,000
employees in North Carolina.
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TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS 6-13-13
MARGIOTTA SAYS
MERRILL IS NEXT WAKE SUPT.
Former
Wake School Board Chairman Ron Margiotta, in an apparent move to gum up
delicate negotiations with Wake’s next schools superintendent, has told the
News and Observer that James Merrill, currently the supt. of Virginia Beach
City Schools in Va., will be the choice announced next week. Merrill was one of
three finalists interviewed two weeks ago. No one has confirmed Margiotta’s
story, but critics say it seems apparent that Republican board members John
Tedesco, with whom Margiotta was very close with, or Deborah Prickett, told the
former board chair what was going on. Margiotta may be motivated to torpedo
Merrill out of retribution, critics say, because his own choice for supt., Tony
Tata, was fired 18 months after Margiotta hired him by this Democratic board. A
formal announcement is expected next week.
RALEIGH MONSIGNOR TIM
O’CONNOR DIES AT 66
Monsignor
Tim O’Connor, who led many parishes in Raleigh’s Catholic Diocese, died June 9
of undisclosed causes. He was 66. O’Connor was known as a man of passionate
faith and great theological insight. He spent 40 years in the priesthood, much
of it in North Carolina. Services for Monsignor O’Connor will be held Friday,
10:30 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Cary.
MORE CONTROVERSIES AT
THE NC DEMOCRATIC PARTY
There
is little doubt that there are deep divisions in the NC Democratic Party
hierarchy, and they’re becoming more pronounced. Nina Szlosberg-Landis, a major
fundraiser and the first vice chair of the state party, has resigned, citing differences
with Chairman Randy Voller. In addition there are reports that Ellen
Stankiewicz, the former Finance Director for the state, has filed an EEOC complaint
against Chairman Voller after she was terminated in May. She alleges being
harassed and “physically” bullied. Add to this a vote of confidence vote
scheduled by the Democratic Executive Committee in August, and a controversy
about Voller allegedly using the party’s credit card on a personal trip to Las
Vegas recently. Voller says this is all part of the transition of things since
he took over party leadership several months ago.
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NCNAACP BLASTS “MORON
MONDAYS” LABEL FROM
GOP
By Cash Michaels
Editor
If
state Republican lawmakers are indeed “ignoring” the massive protests which
have taken over the NC Legislative building on Jones Street for the past six
Monday evenings, they’re not doing a very good job of it.
Governor
Pat McCrory was quoted at last weekend’s GOP Convention in Charlotte as
charging that many of the thousands of demonstrators who have been protesting
what they consider repressive policies from the Republican-led NC General
Assembly, were “outside agitators” from out-of-state.
A
quick check by WRAL-TV of the over 350 protesters who have been arrested thus far
and taken to the Wake County jail shows that 98 percent are indeed North
Carolina residents.
Only
eight were from beyond North Carolina.
House
Speaker Thom Tillis [R- Mecklenburg] has told reporters that he was willing to
sit down with protesters quietly to discuss their differences, but when asked
to do a few weeks ago, is seen on video walking quickly from a public area in
the Legislative Building where protest leader Rev. William Barber is calling
out to him to stop and at least say hello.
Some
say that’s a perfect example of the GOP leader “ignoring” the protesters.
Others, however, say the video shows Tillis actually “running scare,”
especially when the camera follows him all the way to his office, where he
turns and finally answers the cameraman by saying he has an important meeting
to attend, before closing the door.
But
perhaps the worst example of state GOP lawmakers “ignoring” the increased
statewide and national pressure that is being brought as a result of the
growing “Moral Monday” movement, is the controversial op-ed written a few days
ago by state Sen. Thom Goolsby [R-New Hanover].
Titled,
“Moron Monday: The Radical Left Just Doesn’t Get It,” Goolsby puts all pretense
of “ignoring” the Moral Monday movement to rest when he writes:
The circus came to the State Capitol this week,
complete with clowns, a carnival barker and a sideshow. The “Reverend” Barber
was decked out like a prelate of the Church of Rome (no insult is meant to
Catholics), complete with stole and cassock. All he was missing was a miter and
the ensemble would have been complete.
Several hundred
people – mostly white, angry, aged former hippies – appeared and screeched into
microphones, talked about solidarity and chanted diatribes. It was “liberal
theater” at its best. Just like having a honey bun and double espresso for
breakfast, the impact of it all left the participants jittery and empty in the
end.
Never short on
audacity, the Loony Left actually named their gathering “Moral Monday.” Between
the screaming, foot stomping and disjointed speeches, it appeared more like
“Moron Monday.” The gathering was supposed to influence legislators. However,
no one thought to bring out any senate or house member from either
party.
In point of fact, several
members of the NC Legislative Black Caucus not only endorsed Moral Mondays
weeks ago, but actually appeared during some of the rallies, including last
Monday when NC Congressman G. K. Butterfield [D-NC-1] also attended and spoke
to lend his support.
Later
in the piece, Sen. Goolsby, who is the sponsor of the repeal of the NC Racial
Justice Act which has now been passed by both the state Senate and House,
criticized the Moral Monday movement for not holding the Democrats accountable
when they were in control of the General Assembly.
But
the very fact that the NCNAACP has been holding massive HK on J Coalition
demonstrations for the past six years when Democrats were in power, disproves
Goolsby’s contention.
Critics
also note that Sen. Goolsby’s personal attack on Rev. Barber by putting his religious
title in quotes, as if to suggest that Barber really wasn’t a man of the cloth,
was clearly inappropriate.
For
his part, Goolsby has defended his remarks, saying that it was all meant to be
humorous. But others, including fellow New Hanover County lawmaker Rep. Susi
Hamilton, have blasted him for showing contempt, and not displaying the dignity
of his office.
NCNAACP
Pres. Rev. William Barber, the target of some of Sen. Goolsby’s jabs, was also
not pleased.
“These kind of comments, if true,
expose how the ultra-right can't defend their policies,” Rev. Barber wrote in a
statement. Truth is we did critique and challenge Democrats. But the issue
here is their (tea party - far right) policies are so extreme and immoral (some
of them would exclude Ronald Regan who was surely no liberal Republican) that
when exposed it makes them respond in a frenzy of vitriolic words because they
cannot show how their policies are added value to the good of the whole.”
“The
power of Moral Monday is that it shines a light on attitudes and actions that
might have otherwise gone on without the public knowing the effects the damage
and the attitudes of those behind the efforts to deconstruct the progress of
our state,” Rev. Barber continued. “We will pray for this Senator and others
like him, and we will continue to protest his and all others actions that immorally
seek to take and or roll back constitutional rights, civil rights, voting rights and
opportunities that seek the uplift of all people.”
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BLACKS IN NC STILL
FACE HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION
By Cash Michaels
Editor
African-Americans
in North Carolina are among those in over 20 other states who still face
various forms of housing discrimination, according to a new report from the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development and Urban Institute.
The
report, titled “Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities
2012” found that even though, unlike years ago, “Blatant acts of housing
discrimination faced by minority homeseekers continue to decline in the US,
…more subtle forms of housing denial stubbornly persist,” according to HUD
News.
“African-Americans,
Hispanics and Asians learn about fewer housing options than equally qualified
whites,” the HUD News report continued.
HUD
tested the housing markets in over twenty states, and over thirty cities.
Here
in North Carolina, the Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point housing markets
were tested to determine the level of racial housing discrimination.
Other
housing markets include New York, California, Georgia, Texas and Michigan.
Per
the HUD report, key findings determined that black renters who contacted real
estate agents about recently advertised housing units learned about 11 percent
fewer available units, and were shown roughly 4 percent fewer units than
whites.
African-American
homebuyers who went through agents about recently advertised homes for sale are
informed about 17 percent fewer available homes and are shown 18 percent fewer
units.
“Real estate agents and rental housing
providers recommend and show fewer available homes and apartments to minority
families, thereby increasing their costs and restricting their housing options,”
HUD News reports. “The study concludes this is a national, not a regional phenomenon.”
“Fewer
minorities today may be getting the door slammed in their faces, but we
continue to see evidence of housing discrimination that can limit a family’s
housing, economic and educational opportunities,” said HUD Secretary Shaun
Donovan. “It’s clear we still have work to do to end housing
discrimination once and for all.”
According
to HUD Urban Institute researcher Margery Turner, the subtle forms of
discrimination evident in this study “are very difficult for victims to detect.
To detect housing discrimination today, HUD and local fair housing
organizations need to conduct proactive testing, especially in the sales
market, where discrimination appears higher than in the rental market.”
“Among the measures of change
over the most recent decade, only discrimination for availability of the
advertised unit has declined,” the HUD report says. “Black renters today appear
less likely than a decade ago to be told that advertised units are unavailable.”
The
HUD report continues, “The
Urban Institute, which conducted the study, employed a “paired testing”
methodology in which researchers compared the treatment of white and minority
homeseekers in a nationally representative sample of 28 metropolitan areas. *
Of the more than 8,000 paired tests, two trained individuals (one white and the
other black, Hispanic, or Asian), contacted a housing provider to inquire about
a unit randomly selected from recently advertised homes and apartments.
The two testers in each pair were matched on gender, age and family composition
and assigned the same financial characteristics. With each tester
presenting as unambiguously and equally well qualified to rent or buy the
advertised unit, testers independently recorded the treatment they experienced,
including information about all the homes or apartments recommended and shown.
To
download the full report, go to http://www.huduser.org/portal/publications/fairhsg/hsg_discrimination_2012.html.
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CASH IN THE APPLE 6-13-13
By Cash Michaels
HAPPY
FATHER’S DAY - Once again one of
the proudest days of the year for me is coming up this Sunday, and that’s Father’s Day. I am the proud “Papa” to two lovely, intelligent and very
talented young ladies – Tiffany and KaLa.
Though they are twenty-years apart, both have made me very proud with their
accomplishments thus far, and the direction in which they are both going.
And
that’s what makes Father’s Day so important, in my opinion. Being there to see
the lessons of then and now bear fruit for the future. Nothing means more to me
than to cheer my children on, and watch them grow and succeed.
Nothing
puts a smile on my face more than to tease them about one day getting married
and having their own children, and watching them handle the same stuff I had to
handle with them.
Tiff
is an adult, so seeing her go forward with confidence in whatever she does
makes me proud of how hard she’s worked over the years. Has she made mistakes?
Of course. But in speaking with her, it’s clear that she’s also learned from
those mistakes, and is prepared to go eve further in life.
I
can’t wait to see what the ceiling is for this extraordinary young lady.
And
as for KaLa, who is my youngest, everyday is an exciting new chapter to spend
with this gifted child. And make no mistake, I have no interest in having my
10-year-old growup too fast. I’ve seen that happen in other people’s children,
and the result is none too pretty.
I
guess the thing I love most about being KaLa’s father is teaching her about the
“old school” and watch her grasp it. There isn’t a whole lot of originality
these days, so anytime I can show KaLa some of the REAL stars of stage, screen
and song (she loves entertainment), I do so so that she can learn from the
best.
So
there is no job I would trade for being a father. It is a scary job, because
your first instinct as a man is to love, then protect and provide. When your
children aren’t with you, you naturally worry, and pray that GOD is extending
His blessings and protection over them.
But
it is also a rewarding and fulfilling job, because the good things you share
with your children, no matter what their ages, come back in delightful and surprising
ways. Ways which warm your heart forever, and make you realize what the true
definition of manhood really is.
So
fellow fathers, this Sunday is our day. I hope you and your family have a
blessed one, and honor you for being a man who loves his children, and always
tries to do what’s right by them.
If
this is YOU cuz, then Happy Father’s Day!
NO
FUN BEING SICK - It has dawned on
me that over the years, when I’ve been seriously sick, I’ve written about it.
Don’t ask me why. Guess psychologically, writing helps me deal with it better.
I’ll have to go back over those files and reread those columns.
One
thing’s for sure, I don’t like the idea of being helpless and at the mercy (or
worse) of others. It just isn’t in my nature. Maybe one of the reasons why I’m
a mean sicky. Yeah, I admit it. When I’m not feeling well, go visit grandma in
the next state, or else.
Since
last week, I’ve been suffering with a bronchial condition that was getting a
lot worse than better, which meant I was forced (and I DO mean forced) to
finally go visit a doctor nearby this week. Afterall, I have very important
work I have to catch up on (especially this weekend), so that meant getting
better in a hurry, or go through another week of this aging fat body trying to
muster the strength to fight off something that could easily lay me out down and
out for some time.
So
after cancelling a lot of appointments (something I hate doing because I honor
my commitments), I just took it easy for a few days.
One
of the things I get to do when I’m laid up like this is watch a lot of movies
I’ve missed lately because of lack of time.
Boy,
did I do some serious catching up.
“Django
Unchained”; “The Gangster Squad”; “Jack Reacher”; “The Expendables 2”;
“Lincoln”; and “Alex Cross.”
One
thing I noticed after watching these highly touted films days in a row – movies
today sure have weak endings.
The
studios build these flicks up, and then whimp out with some weak and
implausible endings that don’t do justice to the great stories they’ve been
telling. Why is this?
Probably
the worst offender, in my opinion, was the anemic ending to “Django Unchained,”
starring Jamie Foxx. I actually
liked the movie more than I thought I would, and you knew that Django (Foxx)
would triumph in the end, but it was so simple, so unrewarding.
The
same with “Jack Reacher,” starring Tom
Cruise. Good story three-quarters through, but the last fifteen minutes of
the films felt like the writers had no idea how to bring it all to successful conclusion.
We
all knew how “Lincoln” ended, but I could help thinking that Steven Spielberg
stole a page from the classic film “King of Kings” – the story of Jesus Christ
– in the manner a speech by President Abraham Lincoln took the film out. Still,
it was a nice touch, and Daniel
Day-Lewis certainly deserved his Best Actor Oscar for the role.
So
folks in Hollywood, the next time I’m laid up sick for a few days, and decide
to rent a few movies, please, I beg you, make the endings as good as the rest
of the flick. It’s the least you can do given what you charge at the box office
these days (which is why I love my buck-twenty movie rental).
PAM’S
CD – Rarely do I plug someone’s music in this column, primarily because there’s
very little today I can recommend as being any good. But I must that WNCN-TV
newsanchor Pam Saulsby has a new CD
album out called “Welcome Home,” which is a superb collection of songs devoted
to our brave men and women serving in the military.
Indeed,
part of the proceeds from the CD will go to Fisher House at Camp Lejeune in
Fayetteville.
Fisher
House provides room and board for the families of wounded soldiers, at no
charge to those families during their medical stay.
Pam,
being a US Army brat, has a deep regard and respect for members of the
military, and wanted to give back in a special way to thank them for their
service. The title track, “Welcome Home,” is on iTunes now, and the entire
nine-song CD, which includes covers all-time classics like “Let’s Get It On”
and “Get Here” is forthcoming.
Support
this project, and thank you, Pam, for sharing your talent with us.
OPRAH’S
GIFT – Chalk television mogul Oprah
Winfrey up as the largest donor to the new National Museum of African-American History and Culture, signing a
check for $12 million this week. Winfrey, who now runs the OWN cable channel
after years on TV with her famous syndicated talk show, previously donated $1
million to the cause. Her big donation this week will got towards construction
of a theater at the museum, which will be named after her. The museum is
scheduled to be finished in 2015 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Good
going Oprah!
JUSTICE
FRYE – Starting this Sunday, UNC-TV will present a three-part series in its
“Biographical Conversations” programs featuring former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye, the first
African-American to serve in that
post. The program airs at 6 p.m. on Sunday June 16 (part 1) 23rd
,(part 2) and 30th (part 3).
This
a a great man, and this should be a great series.
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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