http://nnpa.org/chevy-chase-bank-to-pay-minority-borrowers-2-85-million-by-freddie-allen/
STATE WON’T HELP WIC
FAMILIES HURT BY
SHUTDOWN
By Cash Michaels
Editor
Poor
pregnant women, infants and young children in North Carolina, in desperate need
of food and nutrition, are now officially out of luck because Gov. McCrory’s
administration has ordered state agencies not supplement state funding to
temporarily keep the WIC program going until the federal shutdown ends.
According
to published reports, the state Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS),
which runs the federally-funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, infants and Children (WIC), has announced that it has suspended
providing benefits to the 264,000 enrolled needy participants in the state
because of the federal government shutdown.
“Some
of our most vulnerable citizens, pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and
young children will be affected by the interruption of WIC services due the
shutdown, “ DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos said in a statement.
When
WIC is up and functioning in North Carolina, it is budgeted $205 million
annually. WIC recipients in North Carolina spend upwards of $16 million
annually on food and other nutritional purchases.
But
with funding now shutdown from Washington until the fiscal crisis is over, DHHS
and other state agencies are prohibited by Gov. McCrory’s budget chief, Art
Pope, from supplementing any state dollars for any halted federal programs,
meaning no state aid to help WIC recipients in the meantime.
That
means no new food vouchers will be issued to poor families beyond what has already
been issued to eighty percent of the state’s enrollees for October.
As
the shutdown continues, WIC families are being encouraged to signup for food
stamps, go to local food pantries, or seek help from county social services
offices. Those recipients are also encouraged to use their October vouchers if
they have them, and to keep their nutrition and health appointments.
The
WIC crisis is yet another chapter in the continuing dysfunction, many critics
say, at DHHS. Earlier this week, Secretary Wos was grilled during a daylong
legislative hearing into the multitude of controversies that have befallen
state government’s largest agency.
Wos
faced withering questioning about why a Medicaid claims payment system to
reimburse hospitals and other medical facilities has failed; why needy families
on food stamps have not received them in a timely fashion; and why former
McCrory campaign workers were being overpaid for state positions they weren’t
qualified for.
That,
in addition to personal service contracts that paid hundreds of thousands of
dollars to certain people close to Sec. Wos and the governor for limited work
that state administrators could easily handle.
Wos
response to all of the allegations was that despite the setbacks, DHHS was
running more efficiently than ever before.
Lawmakers
on both sides of the political aisle said, however, that they saw little
evidence of such.
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WERE THE WAKE ELECTIONS
A BACKLASH AGAINST
GOP?
By Cash Michaels
An analysis
Could
the Democrat-positive results from Tuesday’s election in Wake County signal
that voters have had it with conservative Republicans?
From
the mayor’s race in Raleigh, where two GOP’ers lost to unaffiliated incumbent
Mayor Nancy McFarlane, to the Wake County School Board races, where with the
exception of moderate Republican incumbent Bill Fletcher, every conservative
Republican who ran, including incumbent Deborah Prickett, lost, Wake County
voters sent a message loud and clear.
They
want a return to reasonable, moderate government.
Given
the high toxicity of politics not only in the state, but in the nation, and
poll after poll blaming conservative Republican politicians for it, Tuesday’s
dramatic results in favor of moderate Democrats was telling. Voters are tired
of the incessant bickering and posturing, and have certainly had their fill of
the arrogance, many say, that has been prominently on display not only at the
Republican-led state Legislature on Jones Street, but also in our nation’s
capital in Washington, D.C. amid a troubling government shutdown.
More
importantly, Tuesday’s election results in Wake County, where only 15 percent
of the registered electorate bothered to cast a ballot at all, portend bad
tidings for the Republican Party come 2014, and possibly 2016.
Perhaps
the greatest indicator of such was the overwhelming support for the $810
million Wake school construction bond Tuesday, which passed by a healthy 57 percent
of the vote.
Despite
dire and vehement warnings from the conservative Wake County Taxpayers
Association and the Wake County Republican Party that the Democrat-led Wake School
Board would waste the money; that the construction of 16 new schools and
renovation of 80 current schools wasn’t needed; that official student growth projections
were wildly inflated; and that everyone’s property tax bill would go up to
cover the cost of the bond, the majority of Wake voters dismissed those claims,
and decided it was worth the investment in the future of Wake County schools.
That
translated into confidence in the current Democrat-led Wake School Board, led
by Chairman Keith Sutton, who promised that in tandem with the GOP-led Wake
County Commission Board, every dollar would be prudently spent to ensure the
best education possible for Wake County students.
That
voter confidence extended to electing more Democrats to the Wake School Board to
further enhance the majority, even though the races were nonpartisan.
In
District 1, incumbent Tom Benton, a Democrat and retired school principal,
handily defeated Republican Party endorsed attorney Don McIntyre. In
District 2, Monika Johnson-Hostler, a Democrat, defeated another Wake
GOP-backed candidate Matt Scruggs, for a seat currently held by outgoing Tea
Party incumbent John Tedesco. Johnson-Hostler, an African-American, is the
executive director for the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
In
District 7, Republican incumbent Deborah Prickett, a state education
consultant, lost to Democrat Zora Felton, a retired teacher. Prickett is the
last of the four Republicans who took over the majority of the Wake School
Board in 2009. The resulting controversy from their ending the system’s student
diversity policy resulted in Democrats reclaiming the board majority in 2011.
And
in District 9, the Wake County Republican Party refused to endorse incumbent GOP
school board member Bill Fletcher, a moderate, because of his support for the
student diversity policy, and instead endorsed conservative businesswoman Nancy
Caggia. Caggia lost.
When
the new board is sworn-in in December, Democrats will have a 7-2 majority, with
one moderate Republican and one unaffiliated member to round things out.
In
Raleigh, though she’s unaffiliated, there’s no doubt that incumbent Mayor Nancy
McFarlane is a progressive, and voters apparently had no problem with that as
they overwhelmingly re-elected her to a second term Tuesday.
Raleigh
voters rejected the mayoral bids of two Republicans – newcomer Robert Louis
Weltzin, who was endorsed by the Wake Republican Party, and Venita Peyton, a
black Republican who has now failed three times in her quest for Raleigh mayor.
Raleigh
voters also backed the $75 million transportation bond referendum against the
warnings of area conservatives, 70 to 30 percent. Various road improvement
projects can now go forward.
On
the Raleigh City Council, District C Councilman Eugene Weeks once again
withstood mild opposition from two candidates to win a third term. At-large
incumbents Russ Stephenson and Mary-Ann Baldwin also easily won re-election.
The
only upset in council elections was in District A, where incumbent Randy
Stagner was defeated by newcomer Wayne Maiorano. Stagner was generally seen as
trying to micro-manage city government from behind the scenes.
Incumbent
Republican Councilman John Odom of District B defeated two challengers for
re-election.
Depending
on how the winds blow, Tuesday’s election results might be a strong predictor
for the 2014 elections, when seats on the Republican-led Wake County
commissioners will be up for grabs. It will also be interesting to see how a
new Wake School Board district map, which the NC General Assembly recently passed
to give more of an advantage to Republicans, will play out next year.
If
Wake voters become even more disenchanted with Republican-inspired government
shutdowns nationally, and controversial policies locally by GOP state lawmakers,
then local Democrats may find themselves back in the driver’s seat leading up
to 2016, and the governor’s race.
-30-
CASH IN THE APPLE
10-10-13
By Cash Michaels
SO
FAR, ONLY TWO - We are well into the third week of the new television broadcast
season, and so far, only two new TV shows have definitely caught my fancy.
On
Fox, “Sleepy Hollow,” which is filmed in Wilmington, starring Tom Mison and Nicole Beharie, is a modern-day take on the old Washington Irving story about a 200
year-old supernatural force that comes to life in 2013.
Thus
far the limited series (fewer episodes, no reruns) has held firm with an
audience of at least 9 million viewers per week, thanks to spooky episodes that
give both Beharie and Mison a lot to work with. The plots have been strong, the
special effects decent, and the acting enough to satisfy. True, the show takes
a page from the old “X-Files” TV show, but it works.
What’s
also impressive is that for a weekly action-adventure, it has two black actors
prominently featured – Beharie as Lt. Abbie Mills, and actor Orlando Jones as her captain. Mind you,
both roles could have easily gone to white actors, but the producers, who are
white (Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci
of the newly revamped “Star Trek” film franchise), decided to go with the best
performers for the roles, and they’re making it work.
If
anything, “Sleepy Hollow” is exactly what folks have been crying out loud for
for years – a good story with roles that are not racial defined, depending only
on what skills each actor brings to the role.
Gee,
maybe that electing-Barack-Obama-to-the-presidency
thing had a positive impact after all.
The second new TV series that
offers great promise is Robin Williams’
“The Crazy Ones” on CBS, Thursday nights.
Produced
by David E. Kelley, who brought us
“The Practice”, “Boston Public” and “Boston Legal”, ‘The Crazy Ones” is the
perfect vehicle to bring Robin Williams back to network television 30 years
after his now classic sitcom, “Mork and Mindy.”
Here
Williams portrays an advertising executive whose creativity and eccentric ways
drives everyone crazy.
Thus
far the series is averaging over 10 million viewers a week, folks tuning in to
see what Williams will do next. As long as he stays inventive, I think the show
will be on for a while.
Other
than those two, the new TV season has been a disappointment. “Marvel’s Agents
of S.H.I.E.L.D” is really nothing more that silly slock, geared mostly to the
teen audience. And many of the other new series are BS we’ve all seen before.
ABC
has already canceled a show about lottery winners called “Lucky 7” after just
two episodes. OUCH! That 10 p.m. Tuesday night slot will be filled with reruns
of the popular series “Scandal”. I am certain, given the poor crop of shows out
there now, that there are more to follow.
And
on the topic of “Scandal,” starring Kerry
Washington, I’ll give the show credit, it’s season premiere last week came
out of the box swinging, causing much talk, I’m sure, in many a beauty shop.
NAACP
DEAL WITH TV ONE - The NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest
civil rights organization and home of the prestigious NAACP Image Awards, has
partnered with the TV One network in a new multi-media five year agreement.
Under the five-year contract, TV One becomes the television home
for the association’s awards show, beginning with the live airing of the “45th
NAACP Image Awards” in February 2014. The multimedia partnership was
jointly announced this week by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman
Roslyn M. Brock and TV One Chairman and CEO / President of Radio One Alfred Liggins.
“Our
new multi-faceted long-term partnership with TV One will bring expanded
visibility and awareness of the NAACP and its important programs, such as the
NAACP Image Awards,” said NAACP’s Brock. “TV One offers the resources and
capabilities to reach audiences in today’s broad media universe, therefore
advancing the message of promoting and protecting human and civil rights.”
The NAACP Image Awards is the nation’s premier event celebrating
the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music,
literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social
justice through creative endeavors.
TV One will air live broadcasts of the Image Awards and red
carpet arrivals in 2014. In addition, the network will provide promotional
support on TV One, Radio One and Reach Media, Interactive One, and via a
multi-platform marketing campaign. In addition, to elevate the historic organization’s
initiatives, there will be dedicated coverage on News One Now, TV One’s
new daily news and information program.
“We
are truly honored to be partnering with the NAACP and becoming the new home for
the Image Awards,” said Liggins of TV One. “Today’s announcement is a game
changer for TV One and our loyal viewers across the country. As we prepare to
celebrate the 10th anniversary of TV One’s 2004 launch, I can think of no
greater opportunity to thank this audience than by providing them with access
to the preeminent awards show that showcases the incredible achievements of
Black Americans and by creating an ongoing opportunity for dialogue around
social justice issues on TV One.”
There are many well-deserving actors, authors, directors,
writers, performing artists, as well as television, motion picture, recording,
and literary projects that are recognized during the NAACP Image Awards.
Submissions are now being accepted until Friday, November 15, 2013 –
information is available at www.naacpimageawards.net
Nominations
for the “45th NAACP Image Awards” will be announced next January.
WASHINGTON
CRISIS – The current standoff between Congress and the White House, and more
specifically House Speaker John Boehner
and President Barack Obama, is what
cable news networks were made for. We’re already two weeks into a federal
government shutdown, and the country is headed towards a larger debt ceiling
crisis – all because the Tea Party wing of the Republican majority in Congress
refuses to support a “CR” (continuing resolution) to properly fund the
government for the next two weeks so that it can pay its bills.
Needless
to say both sides of the argument are getting an abundance of facetime on Fox
News, MSNBC and CNN, all in the effort to convince the American people that
their side is correct in the dispute.
Personally,
it’s clear to me that the Tea Party is holding the Republican Party hostage,
and thus, the GOP is holding the nation hostage by already shutting down the
government, and threatening on allowing the nation to default on its debt,
something that responsible officials assure us will be catastrophic to not only
the nation’s economy, but the global economy.
Cable
TV loves this stuff because it helps to fill-in the voracious need for tension-filled
24/7 programming.
But
after all of this turmoil is over, in what condition is the country left in?
Will we feel like a United States of America, or just a place that is doomed to
constant war with one another, based on race, politics, and the thirst for
power?
The
old saying is, “Elections have consequences.”
Well,
as we now see, not voting in elections clearly has consequences as well,
because in the end, you get the government you may or may not have wanted.
This
may turn out to be very sad for all of us.
I
pray not!
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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TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS
10-10-13
RALEIGH CHOOSES
CHARLOTTE’S RUFFIN HALL AS NEW CITY MANAGER
Charlotte’s
current assistant city manager has now been hired as Raleigh’s new city
manager. Ruffin Hall was introduced last week to Raleigh residents as the
successor to manager J. Russell Allen, who was terminated in June. Hall, 43, is
a Fayetteville native who has spent the past 18 years working in Wilmington,
Chapel Hill, Durham, and in Charlotte since 2001. Hall’s expertise is in city
finance and transit. He will be paid $215,000 annually, plus expenses. Hall is
expected to begin on November 18th.
STATE SUPREME COURT
TO REVIEW RACIAL JUSTICE ACT DECISIONS
Three
convicted murderers who had their death sentences commuted to life sentences
under the now defunct Racial Justice Act last December, will now have those
decisions reviewed by the NC Supreme Court. The state Attorney General’s Office
petitioned the high court to review the cases after Cumberland County Superior
Court Judge Gregory Weeks ruled last year that race was a factor in the death
sentences of Christina Walters, Tilmon Golphin and Quintel Augustine. Augustine
killed a Fayetteville police officer in 2001; Golphin and his younger brother murdered
a state trooper and Cumberland sheriff’s deputy in 1997; and Walters was
convicted of gang murders in 1998.
FORTY –SIX UNC
STUDENTS WHO TOOK BOGUS COURSES WON’T GRADUATE
Unless
they take free makeup classes, forty-six UNC –Chapel Hill students who enrolled
in bogus classes in the African and Afro-American Studies Dept. may not
graduate, school officials say. Thus far, only one student has signed up for
the makeups. In all, 384 students took the false courses between 1997 and 2009
at UNC. Athletes made up the lion’s share of students enrolled during that
period. Alumni will not be required to come back for the makeups since their
academic transcripts were sealed after they graduated.
-30-
STATE NEWS BRIEFS
10-10-13
RALEIGH POLICE SPIED
ON MORAL MONDAY MOVEMENT
[RALEIGH] An undercover Raleigh Police officer attended Moral Monday meetings at Davie Street Presbyterian Church last May to gather intelligence on the movement, according to Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown. State Capital Police Chief Jeff Weaver, in testimony Monday during the first of hundreds of trials of Moral Monday protestors which began in
Wake County District Court last week, testified that based on the RPD spying,
his department was able to develop enough intelligence to identify so-called
“anarchists…against government” that officers would keep their eyes on in
subsequent demonstrations. NCNAACP Pres. Rev. William Barber, convener of the Moral Monday movement, said there was no reason for police to spy, since all of their meetings were open to the press and public.
AFTER SAYING SHE WILL,
REP. ELMERS SAYS NOW SHE WON’T ACCEPT PAYCHECK DURING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
[WASH.
D.C.] Stung by severe criticism after telling a local TV station that “I need
my paycheck” when asked if she will forego her salary during the federal
government shutdown, Republican Second District Congresswoman Renee’ Elmers did
a 180 degrees two days later, saying that she will now forego her $174,000
salary until the government reopens. The Dunn congresswoman outraged many with
her earlier remarks after she sided with her colleagues in shutting down the
federal government, thus furloughing over 800,000 federal employees. Last
Saturday, Elmers joined the unanimous vote in the House to pay those workers
for lost time once the government reopens.
OBAMACARE LIMPS INTO
NORTH CAROLINA
[CHARLOTTE]
Thanks to Gov. Pat McCrory and the Republican-led General Assembly refusing to
setup state exchanges, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known
“Obamacare,” went into effect Oct. 1st, North Carolinians didn’t get
much of a deal on their healthcare insurances as other states were getting. The
state insurance commissioner was legally prohibited from helping residents who
needed assistance, instead referring them to the federal government, which is
running the exchange in North Carolina. Unlike other states where at least
eight companies are vying for business, thus driving the cost of healthcare
down, North Carolina only has two companies, and one of them only covers 39
counties, thus keeping the cost of health insurance here high. And to add
insult to injury, the ACA website was dysfunctional during the initial signup
days.
-30-
