minority reporter week of september 9 - 15, 2013

7/29/2019 Minority Reporter Week of September 9 - 15, 2013

1/16

1 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15|2013

MINORITYREPORTERfrom information to understanding

www.minorityreporter.netseptember 9 - 15 2013


2/16

2 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15 |2013MinorityReporterOfe Ae:

282 Hollenbeck Street, Rochester, NY 14621

Maili Ae:P.O. Box 26352, Rochester, NY 14626

PH: 585-301-4199 Toll-free: 1-888-792-9303

FX: 1-888-796-6292

EMAIL:[email protected]

PubLIsHErDave McCleary

[email protected]

busInEss MAnAgErPauline McCleary

[email protected]

cOPy EdItOrLisa Dumas

[email protected]

Art dIrEctOrCatie Fiscus

[email protected]

EdItOrIAL stAFFLisa DumasDelani Weaver

EdItOrIAL AssIstAntClaribel Oliveras

AdvErtIsIngDave McCleary

Yahya Abdullah

[email protected]

PHOtOgrAPHyTemple Boggs, Jr.

Todd Elliott

cOLuMnIstsGloria Winston Al-Sarag

C. Michael Tillman

Rev. Michael Vaughn

Vincent Felder

Diane WatkinsMike Dulaney

Davy Vara

Ayesha Kreutz

Minority Reporter, Inc. is a family of publicationsand other media formats committed to fostering selfawareness, building community and empoweringpeople of color to reach their greatest potential. Fur-ther, Minority Reporter, Inc. seeks to present a bal-anced view of relevant issues, utilizing its resourcesto build bridges among diverse populations; takingthem from information to understanding.

Minority Reporter reserves the right to edit or rejectcontent submitted.The opinions expressed are not necessarily those ofthe publisher.

Minority Reporter does not assume responsibilityconcerning advertisers, their positions, practices,services or products; nor does the publication ofadvertisements constitute or imply endorsement.Minority Reporter invites news and storysuggestions from readers.

Deadline for all copy is Tuesday at noon.

Call 585-301-4199or email [email protected].

In This Issue:

{COVER Pg 7

Ben Jealous Leaving NAACP

{LOCAL Pg 3 - 5

Gel Salon Gets Wall Makeover

with MLK Mural Rochester School ModernizationProgram Revamps Local Schools Strong Museum HoldsFair for Kid Entrepreneurs

{fEATRE Pg 6

Judge: N-word illegal at work, evenif youre black

{TATE Pg 7

NY commission seeks lawmakerclients 3 teens charged with raping

student at NY college

{ATIOAL Pg 8 - 10

Reid introducesSyria resolution in Senate George Zimmermans wife says heis selsh Patients bill soars as health lawprogram falters

{ORL Pg 12

Obama touts worlds economicprogress at G-20

{COLM: Pg 13-15

Rochester, NY Police Chief JamesSheppards Resignation Is LongOverdue!

by davy vara

Apologizing for Being Black

by gloria winston al-sarag

How Soon We Forget!

by michael vaughn

1 www.minorityreporter.net|september9 -15| 2013

MINORITYREPORTERfrom information to understanding

www.minorityreporter.netseptember 9 -15 2013

to include your event on this calendar email us at

[email protected]

CALEAR

september

13Hispanic Heritage Month 2013 KickoffTime: 12:00pm-1:30pmLocation: City Hall Atrium, 30 ChurchStJoin Rochesters Hispanic HeritageCommittee as we kickoff anothergreat month of activities to celebrateHispanic Heritage Month.

14Family Health ForumTime: 8:30-2:00pmLocation: 149 Brooks AvenueThis Health Forum serves as a venuethat allows the Health Ministry ofGeneses Baptist Church to provideeducation on safety, health promotionand prevention, conduct healthscreenings as well as a means to

inform the community on current trendsin health care.Lunch will be provided. This eventis free and open to the public on aspace available basis! You will notwant to miss this event. We encourageyou to register today and mark yourcalendars now.For more informationand to register to attend pleasecontact Genesee Baptist Churchat (585) 436-7250 or [email protected]

16Voice of the CitizenTime: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Carter St. Community Center,500 Carter St.

1913th Annual Diversity ConferenceTime: 8:00am-4:45pmLocation: Seymour College UnionFor more information: (585) 395-5876www.brockport.edu/diversity

27Become A Rochester Police Ofcer

APPLY NOWExam date: November 16, 2013

Application deadline: September 27,2013Call: 585-428-6716www.cityofrochester.gov/police

October

5DELTA 5K FOR EDUCATION ANDHEALTHTime: 9:00am-3:00pmLocation: Lake Riley Lodge, Cobbs HillPark, Rochester, NY 14610Description: A fun-lled day to raisefunds for higher education scholarshipsand community service projects inGreater Rochester. Visit our website:http://racdeltasigmatheta.org for moreinformation. Registration fee is $20.

ADOPTBirth Date: June, 1998tikeia is described as a determined, strong-willed young lady. She dreams of owning her ownfashion empire someday, earning millions from hervery own fashion line. When not daydreaming ofher future, Tikeria enjoys watching the Jamie Foxxshow, playing Mancala or drawing. Tikeria wouldthrive in a structured, loving home that will en-courage and support her. She will do best with a forever family who will bepaent and loving while she learns to love herself again.

If youre interested in learning more about Travino orother waing children, visit:

www.childeAwaiiPae.o o all 585-232-5110.

Photograph by Lori Grith

AUTO& COLLISION

BRING YOUR AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM

AND I WILLSAVE YOU MONEY!

DONT LET THE INSURANCECOMPANY DICATATE WHERETO HAVE YOUR VEHICLEREPAIRED ...TAKE IT WHERE YOUWANT!

1343 HUDSON AVENUE | ROCH, NY

Expert Collision Repair on ALL MAKES


3/16


ron g

_ 1_ .1 . . 1 1 : :

ROC Rhythms Presents MC Ron GMusic is in me

Music is release therapy for me. Musicis my way of geng the emoons Ihave out in a posive way. If I have abad day, then I might make a happy

song. Its something that helps me getthrough my day. Music is in me.

As a teenager and well into mytwenes, Ive always loved rap music.The beats, the metaphors, the hooks,the videos; I loved it all. I would sayover the last ten years, the creavityand arstry that rap music used tohave is gone. I dont know whatsgoing on with the music industry, butit seems like record deals are handedout like Skiles to men and womenwith no real talent.

The quanty is endless, while thequality is extremely limited. When youlisten, well I would say try to listen to

rap music today, either the lyrics makeno sense, just a bunch of words thatrhyme, or it so sexually explicit that itmakes you wonder how it made it intothe stores.

I grew up on gospel my enre life butI never got into gospel rap. I didntbelieve that I could enjoy gospel rapbecause it doesnt have the style orthe swag of secular rap music. ThenI happen to come across MC Ron G.Beats like J Millz and a rap style likeHuey, Ron G wants to change the ideathat you cant live a life of fun andserve God at the same me.

MC Ron G grew up in Rochester with

his parents. He was given the nameMC Ron G in high school from one ofhis best friends and his grandmothercoined the meaning of the name,which is Magniying Christ Rons Gi.He discovered his own talent justhanging around his uncles rehearsals.

I have a huge music background, Iwas always in church, he said. Myfamily plays instruments and sings. Iwas at one of my uncle rehearsals andhe asked me if he could rap to it. Rondidnt take it seriously but got on themic and freestyle. That gave him themovaon he needed and where hefound his talent. He felt he could beheard the best through his rap.

Though Ron G grew up in church he wassll privy to secular music, especiallyrap music. He chose a dierent pathto follow when he chose gospel music.

Gospel rap was more posive. Itgave me what I needed to get throughwhatever I was going through. Ivedone worldly rap. Ive done othermusic. Ive never cursed in my rap, itwas always clean, but I have done it.Gospel rap is really what brought meto Christ. My rst gospel rap song, I gotsaved from my own song.

Ron G said growing up he loved themusic of St. Louis rapper turned actor,

Nelly and rapper Chamillionaire.

I loved their music and I also loved howthey gave back to their community.They give back to where they come

from. I always wanted to give back tothe kids of where I come from.

Ron G said he would love to work withfamed gospel arsts Kirk Franklin,Fred Hammond, Canton Jones, whois his favorite and of course othergospel rappers in the business, fromwhom all he derives his inspiraon.Hes collaborated with local musicianT-Keys, his girlfriend Kiniesha Randleand hopes to collaborate with localgospel singer, Nyerry Weaver on hisnext album.

Most of the inspiraon now comesfrom the bible. Im geng moreinto reading my bible and pulling mymessage from it. I like to use to use thestories of the bible and relate them towhat goes on today.

Ron G has been performing for overthree years in Rochester at localchurches, venues and concertsincluding the 2013 Kingdom BoundFesval and Clarissa Street Fesval.He also performed in North and SouthCarolina. He has his own record label,Vision Producons, in which is thelabels rst arst.

God has really blessed me to traveland have my own label. Of course itwould be nice to have a record dealwith a big label because theres aready-made machine behind be. ButIm working hard to get recognion.

Ron G said he will keep making hismusic regardless of the pressure toconform and make sure that Rochestergets credit where credit is due.

Rochester is home. Im gonna alwaysbe Rochester and Im gonna make abig mark here. For me, itll be easier tostay true to my music because I wantto make music that I want to listen to.When you start to make music that

everyone else wants to listen to thenyou lose your way. When you makemusic for yourself, it comes out beer.

Ron G just dropped his rst albumP.O.E meaning Power Over Everything.Hes working on a clothing line calledHERO, meaning Humble, Exemplary,Righteous and Ordained that he hopesto get into stores in the near future.But, his focus is spreading the word ofGod through his music rst.

My favorite scripture is Luke 10:19, Ihave given you authority to trample onsnakes and scorpions and to overcomeall the power of the enemy; nothingwill harm you.

I want my music to let the world knowthat no maer what the situaonor the trial, God sll has power overeverything.


4/16

4 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15 |2013LOCAL

[email protected]

ARE YOU FACING POSSIBLE

HOME?

WE CAN HELP

AT NO COST585.546.3700

Gel alon Gets all Makeover with MLK MuralBy Delani Weaver

Last week there were severalbusinesses, organizaons andresidents around the city doing theirpart to celebrate the 50th anniversaryof the 1963 March on Washingtonand the legendary I Have a Dreamspeech given by Marn Luther King Jr.

Local hair salon Gel Salon has decidedto commemorate King and his speechby having a mural of King painted onthe side of the salons building. GelSalon, located on Park Ave., is co-owned by James Carducci and his wifeMissy, and they have been in businessover ten years.

The city required that the buildingswall be painted, and Carducci decidedto take advantage of an opportunitypresented to him from one of hisstylists. Heather DeMars, the stylist,said, My brother-in-law, Joe Mora, isa huge part of Wall Therapy and askedif we would be interested in pungup a mural on our building. I was justthe middle-man who asked JamesCarducci if he would like to parcipatein something like that, and he was allabout it. As for the image of the mural,that was all the arsts idea.

Wall Therapy is a project sponsoredby Dr. Ian J. Wilson, of the Universityof Rochester, in an eort to use muralart to drive arsc expression andinspiraon.

Case Maclaim, one of the Wall Therapyarsts, was own in from Germany topaint the mural, which will cover thewall of one side of the building and berepaired as needed for one year.

Owner James Carducci said, This isa conservave area and I thought itwould great to have such a great manon our building.

In addion, DeMars said she thinks themural will be a gure for peace andunity for the community.

I would like to think that the muralwould have a great eect on the ParkAve. community, DeMars said. Thereis nothing like this anywhere in thePark Ave. area and it is nice to see ParkAve. be a part of something like WallTherapy. To me, its a sign of coexisngand peace, and just happiness andunderstanding. Its a posive thing,and I think people in the communitywill feel its posivity.

Gel Salon is a great lile salon thathas so much posivity and love for thecommunity, DeMars connued. Ourdoors are open to everyone, and allthe stylists in Gel are amazing peopleand the owner is a great, giving man.And if this mural brings anything toGel, then I hope its recognion fortheir support of the community. And Ihope people feel comfortable walkingthrough our doors even just to say hi

and get a haircut.

Carducci said, Whos gonna talksmack about Marn Luther King and

all hes done? Im excited that were

gonna have an icon on our building.Its gonna be cool.

Rochester chool Modernization Program Revamps Local choolsStudents and sta at Enrico FermiSchool 17, Helen Barre MontgomerySchool 50, and Charloe High Schoolwill be the rst to enjoy new faciliesand technology during the soon tobegin 2013-2014 school year. TheFranklin High School campus will becomplete by the end of the summer.

The Rochester Joint Schools

Construcon Board (RJSCB), theschool district and the city haverecently joined together to createthe Rochester School ModernizaonProgram. The goal of the program isto set a precedent for new standardsin educaonal facilies and invest inbusiness and job growth for the city ofRochester.

With the Modernizaon Programwe are creang community centerswith bright welcoming schools at thecenter. Our schools are becoming thefocus of the neighborhoods, said LoisGiess, chairwoman of the RJSCB. Wewant our students to feel respectedand valued as they experience the newschools.

This mul-phase, billion-dollar projectwill begin with Phase 1, which will beunder the management of GilbaneBuilding Company. Contractors,trades and specialists will be handlingrenovaons and installaons of newelectrical, plumbing and mechanicalsystems; windows, roong, securitysystems, networking and parking lots.This will take place over the next threeyears.

Renauto, execuve director of theRJSCB said, Weve made tremendousprogress in this iniave. The rstprojects that started last summer arecompleted and students are movingback into their updated schools, new

school projects are underway anddue to be completed next year, andwe connue to move forward, hitour milestones and stay on budget.Most importantly, we are modifying

buildings to meet evolving teachingand learning needs based on whateach school requires, includingtechnology integraon; new sciencelabs; expanded gymnasiums, kitchensand cafeterias; updated classrooms;and school-based health centers.

RJSCB is making sure that Rochestercompanies and workers, minories

and women included, benet asmuch as possible from this project.To date, $193 million in construconand professional services contractshas been given from RJSCB. Ninety-two percent of that has been givento Rochester companies. Addionally,minories, women, and small anddisadvantaged businesses account for28.4 percent of the project.

The Modernizaon Program reectswhat is excellent about Rochesterwith dedicated neighborhoods,commied school sta and boards,the city of Rochester, our local staterepresentaves, and local construconand architectural rms working

together with support of the buildingtrade unions to create schools for the21st Century, said Ms. Giess.


5/16

5 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15|2013PUZZLESLOCAL

Across

1. Expert5. Ciao8. All __ Jazz12. Blood-related13. Blockhead14. Uncivil15. Oce ll-in16. Bobby of the Bruins17. Eager18. Oriental21. Victory symbols in World War II24. Hanging strand28. Finale29. Hithers partner31. Florida city

32. Trot or canter34. Spoil36. Nip partner37. Underway39. Doctorate41. Linda ___, Supergirls alias42. Spice44. Together46. Postmans tote48. Indian dress51. By way of52. Strip of wood56. Ballyhoo57. To __ is human58. Mishmash59. Skirt lines60. Seize suddenly61. Kind of column

Down

1. Hoods gun2. Four stringed guitar (abbr.)3. Lip4. Pull out a dowel5. Develop well6. Turkic tent7. Protected bird8. Pass through9. Expression of aecon10. Commoon11. In___rity19. Whatever20. Bu21. Vegetarian22. In a state of chaos

23. Fool25. ___ Ste. Marie26. Master of ceremonies27. Was sweet on30. Shuteye33. Brish troops, in slang35. Pie content38. Drink with jam and bread?40. Code of life43. Accepng that..45. Eskimo dwelling47. Italian currency48. Movie theatre talk49. Yes, captain50. Dashboard abbr.53. Austrian peak54. Knot55. Construcon site container

trong Museum Holdsfair or Kid EntrepreneursBy Delani Weaver

Some people wait years into theiradulthood to start their ownbusinesses. Local kids are sayingtheres no need to wait, however, andStrongs Naonal Museum of Playhelped them promote their startups.

Strong Museum held the rstKidpreneur Fair 2013 Thursdayevening. Sixteen local children, rangingfrom ages six to 15, each set up a tablearound the main oor of the museumto showcase their businesses, sellsome of their items and give outbusiness cards.

The event was sponsored by the cityof Rochester, as well as several localbusinesses and organizaons includingHenderson Ford, WXXI Kids, radiostaon WDKX, Advantage FederalCredit Union, Mood Makers Books andmore.

Chocolate treats, bow es, jewelry,accessories, books and other itemswere sold by the kids while theymingled and networked with each

other and residents from all aroundthe city. Rae ckets were given outand aendees were given the chanceto win a bike and gi cercates toToys R Us and local bookstores. Inaddion, Bishop Gregory Parris of theChurch of Love Faith Center sponsoreda book bag giveaway for childrenaending the event.

Each kidpreneur then lined up in thetheater and introduced themselvesand their businesses to the crowd. Thehighlight of the event was the readingof childrens book Champions ofChange, by authors and kidpreneursJeremiah and Joshua West.

Jeremiah, 8, and Joshua, 6, are thesons of Olivia and Norman West ofWest Advisory Group who were alsothe hosts and coordinators of theevent.

We are so excited that so many peoplecame out tonight to support the kids,Norman West said. This is our rstkidpreneur event. Hopefully, it willbe something that we can do everyyear.


6/16

6 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15 |2013feAture

Finding resh ood at a air

price shouldnt be so difcult.

All summer long, Foodlink will be

at various locations throughout

the city o Rochester ofering

resh produce at afordable

prices.

Cash, EBT, WIC, and Debit areaccepted at all Farm Stands

and Curbside Market locations.

Spend $5 in SNAP benets and

receive an additional $2 towards

your purchase.

To nd a list o all times and

locations visit oodlinkny.org

Fresh, aordable food has arrived.Fresh, aordable food has arrived.

Judge: -word illegal at work, even i youre blackThere has always been an undercoverdebate as to whether or not black

people should use the N-word.Some blacks say its ok because itdoesnt have the same connotaonfor blacks using as it does for whitesusing it. Some feel the word has gonemainstream for blacks being that itsused in music and movies. Others feelits a derogatory word no maer whouses it or the connotaon behind it.

A federal jury has rejected a blackmanagers argument that it was aterm of love and endearment when heaimed it at black employee.

Jurors awarded $30,000 in punivedamages Tuesday aer nding lastweek that the managers four-minute

rant was hosle and discriminatory, andawarding $250,000 in compensatorydamages.

The case against Rob Carmona andthe employment agency he founded,STRIVE East Harlem, hinged on thewhat some see as a complex doublestandard surrounding the word: Its adegrading slur when uered by whitesbut can be used at mes with impunityamong blacks.

But 38-year-old Brandi Johnson toldjurors that being black didnt makeit any less hurul when Carmonarepeatedly targeted her with the slurduring a March 2012 rade about

inappropriate workplace are andunprofessional behavior.

Johnson, who taped the remarks aerher complaints about his verbal abusewere disregarded, said she ed to therestroom and cried for 45 minutes.

I was oended. I was hurt. I feltdegraded. I felt disrespected. I was

embarrassed, Johnson tesed.

The jury ordered Carmona to pay$25,000 in punive damages andSTRIVE to pay $5,000.

Outside court aer her victory,Johnson said she was very happyand rejected Carmonas claims fromthe witness stand Tuesday that theverdict made him realize he needs totake stock of how he communicateswith people he is trying to help.

I come from a dierent me,Carmona said hesitantly, wiping hiseyes repeatedly with a cloth.

So now, now youre sorry? Johnsonsaid outside court, saying she doubted

his sincerity and nong Carmona hadrefused to apologize to her in courtlast week. She said he should havebeen sorry on March 14, 2012, theday when he told me the N-word eightmes.

Her lawyer, Marjorie M. Sharpe, saidshe hoped the case sent a strongmessage to those who have tried totake the sng out of the N-word. ... Itsthe most oensive word in the Englishlanguage.

Carmona le the courthouse withoutimmediately commenng, as did alleight jurors.

In closing arguments, Sharpe hadsaid Carmonas use of the word wasintended to oend and any evidencethat defendants put forth to thecontrary is simply ridiculous.

When you use the [n-word] to anAfrican-American, no maer howmany alternave denions thatyou may try to substute with the

[n-word], that is no dierent thancalling a Hispanic by the worst possibleword you can call a Hispanic, calling ahomosexual male the worst possibleword that you can call a homosexualmale, Sharpe told jurors.

But Carmonas lawyers said the61-year-old black man of PuertoRican descent had a much dierentexperience with the word. Raised by asingle mother in a New York City publichousing project, he became addictedto heroin in his teens and broke itwith the help of drug counselorswho employed tough love and toughlanguage.

Carmona went on to earn a mastersdegree from Columbia Universitybefore co-founding STRIVE in the1980s. Now, most of STRIVEsemployees are black women, hisaorney, Diane Krebs, told jurors inher opening statement.

And Mr. Carmona is himself black, asyou yourselves can see, Krebs said.

In his tesmony, Carmona defendedhis use of the word, saying he used itwith Johnson to convey that she wastoo emoonal, wrapped up in her, atleast the negave aspects of humannature.

Then he explained that the wordhas mulple contexts in the blackand Lano communies, somemes

indicang anger, somemes love.

Carmona said he might put his armaround a longme friend in thecompany of another and say: This ismy [n-word] for 30 years.

That means my boy, I love him, orwhatever, he said.

He was asked if he meant to indicatelove when he called Johnson the word.

Yes, I did, he responded.

The controversy is a blemish on STRIVE,which has been heralded for helpingpeople with troubled backgrounds getinto the workforce. Its employmentmodel, which was described in a CBS60 Minutes piece as part bootcamp, part group therapy, claims tohave helped nearly 50,000 people ndwork since 1984.

Sharpe told jurors that STRIVEs tough-love program cannot excuse Carmonasbehavior.

Well, if calling a person a [n-word]and subjecng them to a hoslework environment is part of STRIVEstough love, then STRIVE needs to bereminded that this type of behavior isillegal and cannot be tolerated, shesaid.

Brandi Johnson, le, and her lawyer, Marjorie M. Sharpe, leave federal court in New York,Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, aer a civil jury awarded $30,000 in punive damages in addion to the

$250,000 in compensatory damages that had been awarded last week.

www.MINORITYREPORTER.net


7/16

7 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15|2013StAte

3 teens charged with raping student at Y collegeNEWBURGH, N.Y. (AP) - Authoriessay three male students have been

charged with raping a female studentinside a dormitory at a Hudson Valleycollege.

Police in the city of Newburgh tell

local media outlets that the freshmanstudent was aacked early Sunday

morning in a dorm at Mount SaintMary College.

Police say the suspects are a 17-year-old from Brooklyn and two 18-year-

olds from Hempstead and Rocky Pointon Long Island. The three freshmen

were charged with rst-degree rapeand released on $25,000 bail apieceaer being arraigned earlier this weekin Newburgh City Court.

Mount Saint Mary is a private, liberalarts college with an enrollment of

about 2,700. Its located in Newburgh,60 miles north of New York City.

Y commission seeks lawmaker clientsMICHAEL GORMLEY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New Yorks newcorrupon-ghng commission isasking all state lawmakers to providenever-before-required details abouttheir outside work - including a list of

law clients - prompng the Legislatureto lawyer up for a possible challengeto the panels authority.

The request by the Commission toInvesgate Public Corrupon comeson the heels of a sordid spring of ahalf-dozen federal indictments againstlawmakers and quesons aboutwhether lucrave outside employmentcould create conicts of interest.

According to a leer sent late lastmonth and obtained by The AssociatedPress, all lawmakers must provide datafor outside employment that paid over$20,000 in 2012, a descripon of whatwork the lawmaker performed, how

the wage or salary was determined,and - crical for the many aorneys inthe Legislature - a list of your clientsin any civil maers or in any publiclyled criminal maers.

The commissions deadline is Thursday.If lawmakers dont comply, thecommission could subpoena peopleand records.

The leer goes well beyond whatcurrent ethics laws require. The part-me lawmakers, who are paid $79,500,

are currently asked only to check o asalary range for any other employment.They arent required to idenfy clientsthat could reveal conicts of interests,something lawmakers have blocked foryears, arguing their clients ideneswere protected under aorney-client

privilege.

Recent ethics disclosures, for example,show Senate Republican leader DeanSkelos makes as much as $250,000a year in a law rm and AssemblySpeaker Sheldon Silver makes up to$450,000 in another.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo created thecommission two months ago toinvesgate corrupon in stategovernment, with power under NewYorks 1907 Moreland Act to interviewwitnesses, hold hearings and seizeevidence.

But under that law, such a commission

can only invesgate execuve branchagencies, not the Legislature.

The Assemblys Democrac majorityhired a lawyer to advise the chamber,raising the rst legal concerns aboutthe commissions authority toinvesgate the Legislature.

A leer sent to Assembly members andobtained by the AP said only execuveagencies are to be invesgated byMoreland commissions and an outsideaorney was hired to the extent the

commissions work might bring it incontact with the Legislature.

It says the Assembly will respondto legimate inquiries from thecommission while preserving properrespect for the constuonal doctrine

of separaon of powers.

The memo states the Senate willretain counsel as well. But SenateRepublican spokesman Sco Reif saidthe Senate hasnt.

Neither Reif nor Assembly majorityspokesman Michael Whyland wouldcomment on any plans to challengethe commissions authority. Thecommissions execuve director,Regina Calcaterra, didnt respond to arequest for comment.

The lawmakers concern is based inpart on a mostly overlooked provisionof Cuomos execuve order that

requires the independent commissionto refer cases to the state policesuperintendent, who is appointed byCuomo.

Ulmately, the referral decision isgoing to be made by the state police,said commission Co-ChairwomanKathleen Rice, the Nassau Countydistrict aorney who is a co-chairwoman of the commission, in arecent interview.

Richard Brodsky, a former Democrac

assemblyman who is now a seniorfellow at New York Universitysgraduate school of public service,said: There is an apparent legalinconsistency between the broadgranng of authority to someoneappointed as a deputy aorney

general, which is necessary to makethis funcon, and the aempt to makethe state police the gatekeeper, whichmakes lile sense.

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardisaid the state police role is only aprocedural issue because under lawthe aorney general cant act on theseissues without a referral from theexecuve branch.

The role for state police has concernedlawmakers since the administraonof Gov. Eliot Spitzer was hit withethics charges over its control of statepolice in the 2007 scandal known astroopergate. The Senate Republican

leader at the me, Joseph Bruno, hadaccused Spitzers aides of using statepolice for polical surveillance in thescandal invesgated by Cuomo, whowas then aorney general.

Reid introducesyria resolution in enate

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate MajorityLeader Harry Reid has formallyintroduced the resoluon givingPresident Barack Obama the authorityto use military force against Syria.

Reid led the measure on Friday duringa brief Senate session. Lawmakersreturn from their ve-week recess onMonday and will begin to debate theresoluon.

A vote to move ahead on the resoluon

is expected on Wednesday.

The Senate is deeply divided overwhether to approve military strikesin response to chemical weaponsaacks in Syria. Republicans andDemocrats have expressed opposionto the measure, which the SenateForeign Relaons Commieenarrowly approved on a 10-7 vote onWednesday.

NAtIONAL


8/16

8 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15 |2013

Jealous Leaving NAACP, PonderingGOP Growth in Black Community

NAACP Ben Jealous recently praised Va.Gov. Bob McDonnell (in background)for his posion on the restoraonof vong rights to convicted felons.PHOTO: Sandra Sellars/Richmond FreePress

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Benjamin ToddJealous, announcing his resignaonaer ve years as president of theNAACP this week, said he is leavingDec. 31 in order to spend more mewith his wife and two young children.But, he is also contemplang theleadership of another movement toreconnect Blacks and the civil rightsagenda with the Republican Party.

The reality is that, youve seen itwith my outreach to [Newt] Gingrinchand [Grover] Norquist and [Virginia]Governor Bob McDonnell on criminaljusce reform issues. The reality is thatas a people, we were most aecve inpushing our agenda when we had oneagenda that was shared between Blackmembers of both pares, Jealous saidin an exclusive interview with the TriceEdney News Wire this week. And soweve got to get back to civil rightshaving a beach head in both paresand there being a common civil rightsagenda that is shared and is held incommon by Black Democrats andBlack Republicans.

Lisng a string of elected Republicanswhere he has found common ground,Jealous says he sees signs that thismovement could be successful.

It has been very hard somemes inthese parsan mes, but we havefound allies in unlikely places, he said.Governor Deal in Georgia is helpingto downsize prisons. So is Rick Perryin Texas. Gov. Kasich in Ohio is a bigproponent of armave acon forthe business sector. Gov. McDonaldof Virginia has been proponent ofsecond chances, both in employmentand in vong. And the queson is, ifa Republican can stand for any of thisanywhere, then why cant they standfor all of this everywhere? So, I thinkits important that we get back todoing what [Congresswoman] ShirleyChisholm admonished all of us and that

is, We have no permanent friends, wehave no permanent enemies, we justhave permanent interests.

Jealous, a Rhodes Scholar who, in2007, became the youngest person toever lead the NAACP, pointed to thisagenda as one of the possible goalsof a polical acon commiee, (PAC),that he started with two friends sixyears ago in 2007 in order to help fundthen Sen. Barack Obama in his primarystages. In addion to a new teachingjob at a university, he and those friends who he idened as Steven Phillipsand Andrew Wong - will revisit thatVote Hope PAC with major quesonsin mind.

Were going to gure out whetheror not now is the me that we cansucceed in building a super PAC thatwill accelerate the breaking of statelevel glass ceilings of candidates ofcolor across the South and SouthWest, he said. Now is the me thatwe can nally create the equivalenceof Emilys List for People of Colorcandidates with a real eye towardtransformaons that we think arepossible in the South and the SouthWestbreaking glass ceilings in thosestates in the former Confederacyand on out to California, and withprogressives retaking the Southperhaps permanently.

Emilys list is a PAC founded in 1985with a goal of elecng pro-choiceDemocrac women to public oce.Jealous says the PAC he envisionswould include Republican andDemocrac candidates. In recenthistory, the Democrac Party hasbeen able to claim an overwhelmingmajority of the Black vote, consistentlymore than 90 percent in presidenalelecons. While Democrats are largelycredited with civil rights gains, Jealoussays many of the major gains of the50s and 60s came about because ofbi-parsan cooperaon because ofBlacks in both pares.

He recently expounded on his visionduring an Aug. 26 forum sponsored bythe W.K. Kellogg Foundaons AmericaHealing iniave, reecng on the50th Anniversary of the March onWashington.

We have to, as a civil rights community,really think deeply - not just about howwe build bonds amongst each other -but how we, frankly, reintroduce civilrights to the Republican Party, whichfor a hundred years was the party ofcivil rights in many ways, he told tehaudience at the Washington, D.C.-based Newseum, where the forumwas held. And I believe that if we, inthe next y years, would get a lilebit more sophiscated about how wework our polics, if we in the next yyears could be a lile bit more inspired,quite frankly by our grandparents andlessons that they understood very well.If we can get back to a place wherecivil rights is a lile bit less parsan;then we can move forward even fasterthan we think is possible.

Although he believes civil rights mustbe universal, he says Blacks will haveto iniate the movement.

I think, quite frankly, the rstcourageous step is going to have tobe with us saying that were goingto have the hope to even talk to theother side of the aisle, he told theforum audience. Because right nowwe reinforce the isolaon of our ownagenda in ways that may be expeditedin the short term, but detrimental inthe long term.

His fellow civil rights leaders, sllbasking in the aermath of the50th anniversary of the March onWashington, expressed shock at theannouncement of his resignaonSunday aernoon.

Ben Jealous has operated withintegrity and a real sense of hands-on acvism. Not only was he able torevive the NAACP and raise its budgetto higher heights, he joined us in thestreets in real civil rights acvity on theground. From the suites to the streetshe will be missed as head of the NAACPbut I am sure he will not leave us in hiscontribuon to the struggle, said theRev. Al Sharpton in a statement.

NAACP Chair Roslyn Brock praisedJealous for his successes in a telephonepress conference on Monday. She alsoissued a statement saying, Underhis leadership, the NAACP has built ahighly competent sta that will carry

our mission forward and meet the civilrights challenges of the 21st century.Our board, sta and volunteer leadersthroughout the country deeplyappreciate his sacrice, and willconnue to implement our game-changing goals for the next halfcentury that include the restoraonof Secon 4 of the Vong RightsAct, implemenng Trayvons Law,bolstering civic engagement eortsand ensuring our community isenrolled in the Aordable Care Actexchanges.

Jealous also said in the interview that heis pleased with his accomplishments.What Im most proud of is that Ileave the organizaon bigger, stronger,more powerful and more nanciallysustainable and with a clear set ofpriories for the next half century, hesaid. Yes, like every NAACP leader, Ileave here passing a baton on to thenext person to help nish a race thatwill go on for a very long me. But Ileave here knowing that we are beerprepared to nish that race than wehave been in a very long me.

He hints at his desire to exacerbate thenish of that race just from a newvenue.

Professionally, Im very clear Imgoing to go teach. Personally its veryclear I need a lot more me at home tobe Dad. Polically, Im walking in witha queson, which is can this be done?Can we create a big, robust PAC that isulmately funded from the grassrootsto help accelerate the careers oftransformave candidates of color?

Benjamin Jealous


9/16


RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

WASHINGTON (AP) - Coping withadvanced cancer, Bev Veals was in thehospital for chemo this summer whenshe got a call that her health plan wasshung down. Then, the substuteinsurance she was oered wantedher to pay up to $3,125, on top ofpremiums.

It sounds like one of those insurancehorror stories President BarackObama told to sell his health overhaulto Congress, but Veals wasnt in theclutches of a prot-driven company.Instead, shes covered by Obamas law- one of about 100,000 people withserious medical issues in a nancially

troubled government program.

Raw polical divisions over healthcare have clouded chances of a x forthe Pre-Exisng Condion InsurancePlan, leaving families like Veals andher husband Sco to juggle theconsequences. Thats not a goodomen for solving other problems thatcould surface with Obamacare.

You dont adverse one thing andthen give the customer anotherthing, said Veals, 49, who lives nearWilmington, N.C. I nally felt for therst me going through this cancerthat I had something dependable, andsomebody pulled the plug.

In a statement, the federal Healthand Human Services departmentsaid the program connues toprovide excellent coverage. But thedepartment said it was unable toprovide current enrollment numbers,which might reect the impact of belt-ghtening this summer that led NorthCarolina and 16 other states to turntheir programs over to federal ocials.

Known as PCIP, the program wasintended as a temporary lifeline forpeople denied insurance because ofmedical problems. Its supposed toprovide coverage at premiums thathealthy people would typically pay.

PCIP will end Jan. 1, when Veals andother enrollees will be able to transionto new insurance marketplaces wherethey may be able to nd lower-costplans.

Jan. 1 is also when Obamas law willforbid insurers from turning awaypeople in poor health. At the sameme, virtually all Americans will berequired to have coverage. Many whoare currently uninsured will be able toget tax credits to help pay premiums.

Part of the problem with PCIP stemsfrom a decision by the president andCongress more than three years ago tocap funding at $5 billion. Some experts

warned that might not be enough tolast through the end of 2013.

Veals is a breast cancer survivor nowbaling colorectal cancer. A runner,

she has parcipated in more than 125

fundraising races for cancer research.Her husband Sco is self-employed,a slow-moon replay operator fortelevised sporng events.

Bev Veals had been uninsured for 27months before she was able to get onthe North Carolina PCIP plan early in2011. She considers herself a strongsupporter of Obamas law.

But even with insurance, deducblesand copays for cancer care strain thebudgets of most families. And thatdoesnt count lost wages and expensesnot covered by insurance.

It starts as a hand-packed snowball

that someone starts pushing down thehill, said Veals. It gains momentumand speed, it gets bigger and bigger,and swallows everything in its path.

The more than $3,000 extra the Vealswill have to pay this year is notdiscreonary money, she explained.This is heat-the-house-in-the-wintermoney.

When her home health nurse calledher at Duke Cancer Center about thehealth plan changes, Veals was on achemotherapy pump. Her rst thoughtwas they missed a payment. Then sheremembered her premium was set forautomac payment and wondered

if their account was low. Her mindracing, she worried somebody hadhacked their nances.

Sco Veals called the North CarolinaPCIP plan and learned it was beingturned back over to the federalgovernment on July 1 because ofnancing problems. Aer moredigging, he found out their premiumswould go down somewhat in thefederal plan, to $420 a month.

But there was a catch: They hadalready met their deducble in theNorth Carolina plan, and also reachedtheir annual out-of-pocket maximumof $6,250.

With the federal plan, they wouldhave another deducble of $1,000for the rest of 2013, and a total of$3,125 in out-of-pocket costs beforereaching that plans catastrophiclimit. Deducbles and copaymentsshi some nancial responsibility topaents.

We are paying 18 months ofdeducbles and out-of-pocket costfor one years worth of coverage totwo insurance companies, said ScoVeals.

The problems with PCIP bubbled upin February, when federal ocials

unexpectedly announced anenrollment freeze. Although fewerpeople had signed up than originallyexpected, very costly cases weredraining its budget.

A few months later, federal ocialsgave states running their own PCIP

plans an ulmatum: take on somenancial risk or turn the programs backto Washington at midyear. In those 17states, Washington put in new cost-sharing requirements to help keep theprogram nancially viable through theend of the year.

If the administraon saw problemscoming, Obamas budget did notreect it. The president did not requestany new funds for PCIP.

The No. 2 House Republican didmake an aempt to pump moremoney in, but it was fraught withpolics. Majority Leader Eric Cantorof Virginia proposed to divert funds

from elsewhere in the health care law,unacceptable to Democrats. His ideaalso failed to get Republican support.

Our elected ocials, some of whomhave been impacted by cancer, must

come together to idenfy a biparsansoluon to fund this program forthe remainder of 2013, said EmilyShey, who handles federal policyand lobbying for the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society.

Veals and her husband say they arelooking forward to full implementaonof the health care law next year. Butgeng through the next few monthswill be a struggle.

We both knew there would be bumpsalong the road but we never thoughtthere would be this kind of bump, shesaid.

NAtIONAL

Patients bill soars as health law program alters

This photo taken Aug. 27, 2013 shows Bev Veals waing for her chemotherapytreatment at Duke Cancer Center in Durham, N.C. Coping with advanced cancer,Veals was in the hospital for chemo this summer when she got a call that herhealth plan was shung down. Then, the substute coverage she was oeredwanted $3,125, on top of premiums. It sounds like one of the insurance horrorstories President Barack Obama used to sell his health overhaul to Congress, butVeals wasnt in the clutches of a prot-driven company. Instead, shes coveredby Obamas law _ one of about 100,000 people with serious medical issues in anancially troubled government program. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)


10/16

10 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15 |2013NAtIONAL

George Zimmermans wie says he is selishSANFORD, Fla. (AP) - GeorgeZimmermans wife, Shellie, said she

stood by her man through everythingbut once he was acquied of murdercharges in the 2012 shoong ofteenager Trayvon Marn, he le herwith a bunch of pieces of brokenglass.

Zimmerman, who led for divorcefrom George Zimmerman on Thursday,told ABCs Good Morning Americain an interview aired Friday that herhusband is selsh.

In the interview, she said her husbandonly stayed in their house three or fournights since the trial ended in July andthat they even tried counseling butshe moved out Aug. 13.

I have a selsh husband and I thinkGeorge is all about George, she said.

Last week, Shellie Zimmermanpleaded guilty to a misdemeanorperjury charge for lying during a bailhearing following her husbands arrestaer the fatal shoong of 17-year-old Marn. She was sentenced to ayears probaon and 100 hours ofcommunity service. Her husband did

not aend the hearing in the Sanford,Fla., courtroom.

I stood by my husband througheverything, she told ABC, and I kindof feel like he le me with a bunchof pieces of broken glass that Imsupposed to now assemble and makea life.

ABC rst reported the divorce lingThursday. Email messages and phonecalls to George Zimmermans aorneyMark OMara were not immediatelyreturned. But Zimmermans brother,Robert Zimmerman, wrote on Twier:Pray 4 them.

Shellie Zimmermans felony perjurycharge came aer she lied about the

couples assets when her husbandwas seeking release from jail on alower bond. Court records show thatin the days before the June 2012bond hearing, Shellie Zimmermantransferred $74,000 - broken into eightsmaller transfers ranging from $7,500to $9,990 - from her husbands creditunion account to hers. It also showsthat $47,000 was transferred fromGeorge Zimmermans account to hissisters in the days before the hearing.

Amounts of over $10,000 would havebeen reported to the Internal Revenue

Service.

Much of the money came fromdonaons to a website that hadbeen established to pay for GeorgeZimmermans defense.

During the bond hearing, ShellieZimmerman tesed that the couplehad limited funds because she wasa full-me student and her husbandwasnt working.

Aer she pleaded guilty, she told ABCthat she lied. I can raonalize a lot ofreasons for why I was misleading, butthe truth is that I knew I was lying, shesaid.

In the interview on Friday, ShellieZimmerman said shell seek custody ofthe couples two dogs and a share ofanything he might win in a defamaonlawsuit hes led against NBC.

I have been married to a person forabout seven years and I dont think Iever really knew him at all.

She says her husband was verbally

abusive toward her and that he hasbeen making what she considersreckless decisions. She didnt specifywhat those decisions were. In myopinion, he feels more invincible

since his acquial, she added.Shellie Zimmerman said the mingseems right to begin a new life.

I have supported him for so long andneglected myself for too long, ShellieZimmerman said. And I feel like Imnally starng to feel empoweredagain.

Shellie Zimmerman


11/16

11 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15|2013COME EXPERIENCE THEGENESEE CORRIDOR

Everything you need and more...

CHURCHES

Van Hanh Buddhist Meditation Ctr 158 Genesee

Aenon Baptist Church 175 GeneseeRestoration Church of God 595 Frost Ave

Faith Temple Apostolic 141 Arnett Blvd

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church 770 GeneseeSaint Monica Church 34 Monica St

True Saints Temple 100 Brooks Ave

Genesee Baptist Church 149 Brooks AveSpreading the Good News 208 Scottsville

CITY SERVICES

Rochester Fire Department 873 GeneseeNeighborhood Service Center 923 Genesee

INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH

Wilson Foundation Academy 200 Genesee

SWAN Community Center 275 Dr.SMcCreeTeen Empowerment 392 Genesee

Boys & Girls Clubs 500 Genesee

Wilson Commencement Academy 501 GeneseeRochester Academy Charter Sch. 841 Genesee

Chabad House Jewish Student Center 955 Genesee

GROCERIES

Miami Grocery & Takeout 176 Genesee

A J Market / 191 Genesee, Inc. 191 GeneseeJohnie Grocery 313 Genesee

Sams Mini Mart 462 Genesee

Maklan Food 628 GeneseeAyham Mini Mart 760 Genesee

Soas Stop and Shop 874 Genesee

D & L Groceries 1005 GeneseeMillenium Deli 1057 Genesee

HUMAN SERVICES

Unity Health System St. Marys 89 Genesee

Outreach Community Center 447 GeneseeJordan-Woodward Health Services 480 Genesee

Sojourner House 30 Millbank St

Monica Place Apartments 837 GeneseeLifeTimes Adult Day Health Care 1400 S Plymouth

UR Employment Service Center 910 Genesee

PERSONAL SERVICES

Southwest Community Barber 197 Genesee

Flash Hair Designs 235 Genesee

Rugless Beauty & Variety 412 GeneseeK J Designz 440 Genesee

Reliable Beauty Salon 726 GeneseeOfcial Cuts Barber Shop 758 Genesee

Genesee Nails 759 Genesee

Sparkle Nails 902 GeneseeBrooks Boutique & Salon 947 Genesee

Hills Barber Shop 1009 Genesee

RESTAURANTS

This Is It Jamaican-American 211 Genesee

MoJoes Pizza & Chicken 337 GeneseeBrooks Landing Diner 904 Genesee

Subway 910 Genesee

California Rollin, Etc (open soon) 910 GeneseeBoulder at Brooks Landing 960 Genesee

Campis Restaurant 205 Scottsville

RETAIL

Levels Clothing & Footwear 26 Genesee

Family Dollar 46 GeneseeWest Main Jewelry Buy & Sell 118 Genesee

Beads & Bangles by Jaira 172 Genesee

Its Ofcial 195 Genesee

761 Accessories & Records 761 GeneseeFamily Dollar 773 Genesee

Quality Home Furnishings 844 Genesee

Bridgeway Liquors & Wines 900A GeneseeJim Dalberth Sporting Goods 925 Genesee

SE Unlimited 945 Genesee

VARIOUS SERVICES

Chase Bank 36 Genesee

Sector 4 Community Development 89 Genesee

Canopy Coin Laundry 92 GeneseeBulls Head Glass & Screen 134 Genesee

Pollocks Alternator & Starter 271 GeneseeAbout Time Magazine 283 Genesee

Just Wash Hand Car Wash 283 Genesee

Heritage Park Apartments (rentals) 300 GeneseeJoy Gallery 551 Genesee

Regency Funeral Chapel 596 Genesee

CJW Tax & Accounting 637 GeneseeBrooks Landing Laundromat 726 Genesee

Brooks Village Apartments 750 Genesee

DAlessandro House Buyers 753 GeneseeInna Ballet 757 Genesee

H&R Block Tax Service 921 Genesee

Brooks Auto Parts & Repair 973 GeneseeStaybridge Suites Hotel 1000 Genesee

Plymouth Gardens Apartments 1400 S Plymouth

Unied Taekwon-Do 202 ScottsvillePremier Sunroom Solutions 211 Scottsville

C&C Automotive 230 Scottsville


12/16


This week I wantto bring ouraenon backto the TrayvonMarn case thatwas talked aboutso much overthe last severalmonths.

The reason Iwant to bring

it back up is in reference to whatoccurred in the city of Rochester abouttwo weeks ago (as of this publishing).What occurred is that a video of anarrest was made showing an ocer hitand wrestle to the ground someonethat he was trying to arrest. By theadmission of the person that wasgeng arrested, she was pregnant.

This video-taped incident has goensome black people in Rochester up inarms against the police. It has evengoen some members of the clergyto call for the resignaon of ChiefSheppard! My synopsis of this is thatit is absurd, and I am red of havingthe same black people speak for me!Here is why.

First of all, you have African-Americanclergy members calling for theresignaon of an African-American

police chief. Why would African-Americans call for the resignaon ofan African-American because of theacons of one of his ocers? Whatwe have got to stop doing is adheringto this crab-in-the-barrel mentality.If anyone on the police force canhelp understand the plight of ouryoung African-Americans, who areoverwhelmingly connected to policeacon, it is another African-American!

Why does this case have relevance tothe Trayvon Marn case? It is becausethe reason many people were upset atthe verdict (including me) was becausewe realized that if George Zimmermanwould have obeyed his superiors andstayed in the car, Trayvon may havebeen alive today.

If the person in the video would haveobeyed the police and not resistedarrest, the subsequent acons wouldnot have happened.

What some black people, and indeedthose calling for the resignaon ofChief Sheppard, overlook is that theperson that was being arrested did notfollow the instrucons of a uniformedpolice ocer. When one chooses to bedisobedient, there are consequencesthat may arise. However, I contendthat those consequences are a result

of previous acons; meaning thatacons had to occur in order to makethose consequences manifest.

And what needs to occur now is forpeople to focus on the genesis of theevent, not just the consequences. Ifthe prosecutors would have focusedon what George Zimmerman did in hisdisobedience, maybe the outcome ofthe case would have been dierent.

Likewise, if the person that was gengarrested would have obeyed theocer, they most likely would not havebeen hit and wrestled to the ground.

We cannot not dismiss the acons ofthose involved in cases like this andsll be sure to ascribe the properresponsibility to those involved. Itbothers me that the communitywould like to lump me into the crewof African-American clergy that wouldsuggest something so absurd as callingfor the resignaon of the police chief,and not even look at the acons of theperson geng arrested.

I want it to be known that this African-American clergy member does notsupport the posion that they cameup with. While I only have passingknowledge of Chief Sheppard, I believehe is a man of integrity and wants to do

the best for the people that he serves.He is not someone that we need to getrid of; he is someone that we want tobe sure that we keep!

I trust that if there was somethingthat was done wrong by the ocerin the video (as it appears there mayhave been); it will come out. We needto exercise paence and allow theprocess to work, keeping an eye on it,but leng it work its way out.

If we can state that it was the start ofdisobedience by George Zimmermanthat led to Trayvons death; we haveto say that the disobedience of thiswoman in resisng arrest is what ledto her geng hit and wrestled to theground.

Neither Trayvons death nor thiswoman geng hit was right, but wecannot say that George Zimmermanshould be held accountable becausehe started it and give this woman apass. Aer all, she started it!

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

sOMEtHIng TO THINK ABOUT

How oon e forget!

C. MICHAEL VAGH

Theviewsexpressedonouropinionpagesarethoseoftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyrepresentthe

positionorviewpointofMinorityReporter.OPINION/eDItOrIAL

WOrLDObama touts worlds economic progress at G-20

JOSH LEDERMAN

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - Toungeconomic progress at the Group of20 summit, President Barack Obamasaid the naons economic powers nolonger face the threat of a nancialmeltdown and can turn their aenonto issues of tax evasion, job creaonand climate change.

For the rst me in three years,instead of an urgent discussion toaddress the European nancial crisis,we see a Europe that has emergedfrom recession, Obama said Fridayat a news conference wrapping up athree-day European trip that includedthe two-day G-20 meeng in St.Petersburg.

Obama was dogged at the summit byrevelaons of spying by the NaonalSecurity Agency and held privatemeengs with the presidents of Braziland Mexico to assure them that hisadministraon would work to resolve

tensions over allegaons that the NSAmonitored their communicaons.

Aer separate sessions with MexicanPresident Enrique Pena Nieto andBrazilian President Dilma Rousse,Obama said he told both leaders thathe takes the allegaons of spying ontheir communicaons seriously andsaid he promised to address theirconcerns.

What we do is similar to whatcountries around the world do withtheir intelligence services, Obamasaid. But what is true is that, youknow, we are bigger. We have greatercapabilies.

He said he wants a review ofintelligence eorts to determine thecosts and benets. Just because wecan get informaon doesnt necessarilyalways mean that we should, he said.

Both Pena Nieto and Rousse haveexpressed outrage over revelaons

that the NSA kept tabs on theircommunicaons. The spying wasreported by Brazils Globo TV, whichcited 2012 documents from NSAleaker Edward Snowden. Pena Nietosays it would constute an illegal act.Rousse responded by canceling atrip to Washington by a team of aidespreparing for her upcoming U.S. visit.

Though the civil war in Syria andObamas call for a military responseto chemical weapons use theredominated much of the conversaon,Obama said the 20 leaders also paidheed to a litany of issues such as helpingfoster growth in emerging economies,promong infrastructure and ghngcorrupon. He said the naons agreedto connue with nancial reforms andto address tax evasion and avoidancethat he says undermines budgets andshis the tax burden.

The president spoke aer the U.S.government reported that theunemployment rate had dropped to

7.3 percent, the lowest in nearly veyears. But the jobs picture remainedtepid. More Americans stoppedlooking for work and were no longercounted as unemployed and thecombined job creaon in June, Julyand August amounted to the weakestthree-month stretch of job growth ina year.

With a confrontaon brewing withCongress over raising the naonsborrowing limit, Obama warnedlawmakers that it shouldnt risk a U.S.default over paying bills weve alreadyracked up. He said he was determinedthat the world has condence in thefull faith and credit of the UnitedStates.


13/16

13 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15|2013INDEPENDENT LIVING

Dunn Tower IApartments

100 Dunn Tower Drive

Rochester, NY 14606(585)429-5520

Dunn Tower IIApartments

200 Dunn Tower Drive

Rochester, NY 14606(585)429-6840

www.dunntower.com

Let Minority Reporter Help

You Grow Your Business!

888.792.9303

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

PhotographySPECIALIZING IN:FUNDRAISING

FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHY

SPECIAL EVENTS

585.313.1725

BY TEMPLE BOGGS, JR

Help wAnteD

AIRLINE CAREERS beginhere Get FAA approvedAviaon MaintenanceTechnician training.Financial

aid for qualiedstudents Housingavailable. Jobplacement assistance.Call AIM 866-296-7093

Home Improve-

ment

HAS YOUR BUILDINGSHIFTED OR SETTLED?Contact WoodfordBrothers Inc, forstraightening,leveling, foundaonand wood frame repairsat 1-800-OLD-BARN.www.woodfordbros.

com. Notapplicable in Queenscounty

lAnD For sAle

NY STATE LANDLARGE ACREAGE FORSPORTSMEN 80 Acresw/Stream, Timber &State Land:$74,995 60 Acres w/Rusc Hunng Cabin:$79,995 51 Acres, No.

Tier Hunng, SalmonRiver Region:$59,995 Choose fromOver 100 AordableProperes! FinancingAvailable. Call 800-229-7843

www.landandcamps.com

mIscellAneous

SAWMILLS from only$4897.00- MAKE &SAVE MONEY withyour own bandmill- Cutlumber anydimension. In stockready to ship. FREEInfo/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com1 - 8 0 0 - 5 7 8 - 1 3 6 3Ext.300N

out oF stAte reAl

estAte

Discover DelawaresResort Living withoutResort pricing! MilderWinters & Low Taxes!Gated Communitywith amazingamenies; New Homesmid $40s. Brochuresavailable 1-866-629-0770 orwww.coolbranch.com

sportIng events

**GUN SHOW-ERIE COUNTYFAIRGROUNDS**5820S. Park Ave. Hamburg,NY 300 TABLES!

Saturday09/07 9AM -4PM &Sunday 09/08 9AM-3PM. Erie CountyPistol Permit Dept. inaendance.www.nfgshows.com

vAcAtIon rentAls

OCEAN CITY,MARYLAND. Bestselecon of aordablerentals. Full/ paralweeks. Call for FREEbrochure. Open daily.Holiday Real Estate.1-800-638-2102. Online

reservaons: www.holidayoc.com

wAnteD

CASH for Coins! BuyingALL Gold & Silver. AlsoStamps & Paper Money,Enre Collecons,Estates.Travel to your home.Call Marc in New York1-800-959-3419

-100% ConServe Paid Single Medical-100% ConServe Paid Family Dental-100% ConServe Paid Family Vision-Generous Vacation Plan

EOE & Drug-Free

Unbeatable Benefits:

Start Your Career With ConServe

Debt Counselor Opportunities:Work on highly collectible defaulted student loans.

Immediate FT Openings. Enjoy Uncapped Bonus, Paid

Training, Competitive Wages & Fabulous Benefits!

200 Cross Keys Office Park, Fairport, 14450

www.conserve-arm.comClick the ConServe Careers tab to apply


14/16

14 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15 |2013Theviewsexpressedonouropinionpagesarethose

oftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyrepresentthepositionorviewpointofMinorityReporter.OPINION/eDItOrIAL

The arroganceof some white

folks calling foru n w a r r a n t e da p o l o g i e sbecause wethankfully sllhave blackmen in ourc o m m u n i t yunafraid to

speak their mindsseems to be

trending these days.

Recent controversies have been white-washed with statements like, It is notwhat they said, but their poor choiceof words.

What poor choice of words? WhetherI agree or disagree with the content,I respect to the highest their right tosay whatever they said. And whatannoys me most is any pompousarse feeling they have the God-givenright to chasse anyone in public likethey are slaves on the whipping post,

something their ancestors no doubtdid to an uppity negro once upon a

me.

Like a friend of mine just shared withme (and I paraphrase), If you dontlike what I say, take a number, go sitdown and act like I really give a damn.

These requests for apology seem to bea trend. In May 2013, I wrote an openleer to Monroe County LegislatorWillie Lighoot when County ExecuveMaggie Brooks called for an apologyfrom him because he referred to thosein county government as crooks.

What? Has it not been proven thatsome of them are? So, what is hesupposed to be apologizing for, telling

the truth?

Just recently, some organizaon calledUnite demonstrated their intent todivide by calling for an apology fromAdam McFadden. Let me get thisright. Now, they asked the communitywhether we thought Adam should

apologize for using the n-word.

What a joke. Negroes please.

We have been using the n-word allof our lives and to those not in tuneand who have no clue, the n-word hasnot only been a word found insulngby some who use it a means to bederogatory, but it is also a term ofendearment in our community.

As I recently stated in a column,Adam has no need to apologize. Hiscommunity, those who are truly black,understood what he meant in his rant;which was intended as enlightenmentand educang his community.

Take a number and sit down white folks.

Your days of controlling everythingare about to be over. However, youraempt to publicly control what rollso the tongue of strong black men isduly noted.

And then there is the embaledHoward Eagle, who cant seem to

get his words right, at least in manyinstances, enough to silence his online

crics. However, whether I agreeor disagree, he has the right to saywhatever.

Whether he is right, wrong orindierent, he alone will be the one tosuer any consequences, if there areany. I do queson and take excepon,however, to the way the alleged crmede la crme organizaon, Unite, hastreated him. What is interesng ishow they allegedly formed to combatracism but have black-balled him andhis intent to bring his wisdom andexperiences to the table.

If racism is truly what you are baling,would it not make sense to have

the person you perceive as RacistNo. 1 at the table, so you can learnsomething? I just dont get it. Whenthey did not embrace him, I consideredthem fakers, and I drew a line throughthe name of the organizaon. I chalkedthem up as one of these groups whofails to walk it like they talk it.

strAIgHtNO CHASER

GLORIA ITO AL-ARAG

Apologizing or Being Black

In the wake of aviral video beingwatched aroundthe world, whichshows Rochester,N.Y. policeocer LucasKrull drivinga pregnantwoman into awooden porch

railing post,punching her in the head, and thenthrowing her on the ground; someRochester-area clergy members havecalled for Rochester Police Chief JamesSheppards resignaon.

This request led Rochesters Democratand Chronicle newspaper to run a piecetled, Its way too soon to be talkingabout Chief Sheppard resigning.

But is it really too soon?

I say absolutely not.

In fact, if you ask me, his resignaon islong overdue.

And heres why.

Since being appointed as chief in 2010,Sheppard has consistently shownthat he is unable to control his out ofcontrol police force.

One of the rst major signs of thiscame in May of 2011, when Rochesterpolice ocer Mario Masic, known asCowboy on the streets, arrestedEmily Good aer she video-recordedhim conducng the racially-proled

trac stop of an African-Americanmotorist.

But it wasnt even so much the actualincident involving Goods arrest.

It was more what Chief Sheppard didaer the incident.

With news of Goods arrest, and hervideo going viral, Sheppard wastednot one second in supporng ocerMasics acons.

He stood behind Masic, even thoughMasic arrested an innocent womanfor exercising her rst amendmentrights and, in doing so, violated theConstuon of the United States,as well as his sworn oath to not onlyserve and protect, but to uphold theConstuon.

But perhaps equally disturbing, ifnot in some ways more than Goodsarrest, is what happened just weekslater, again, under Chief Sheppardscommand.

Rochester, N.Y. police ocersdescended upon a community meengheld in Rochesters historic Corn Hillneighborhood that was in support ofEmily Good, and retaliated against themeengs aendees, myself included,by using a pink childrens school rulerto measure the distances that our carswere parked from the curb.

The ocers issued ckets to cars thatwere as lile as half an inch over theallowed legal limit.

In my opinion, these ocers werecompletely out of control, allowingtheir personal feelings and animosiesto interfere with doing their jobs, andactually violang their own Code ofEthics, specically this part:

I will never act ociously or permitpersonal feelings, prejudices,animosies or friendships to inuencemy decisions. I will enforce the lawcourteously and appropriately withoutfear or favor, malice or ill will....

And again, this occurred under ChiefSheppards command.

Or how about when Chief Sheppardfailed to bring disciplinary aconagainst Rochester police ocer RyanHartley? Hartley lied, not only on apolice report, but also in court, underoath; therefore comming perjurytwice when he said that Rochesterresident Jeramie Barideaux failed tocome to a complete stop while drivinghis vehicle on the citys northeast side.

Ocer Hartley knowingly andintenonally lied in order to pullBarideaux over, in what was anillegal stop, which was captured oncity surveillance cameras. The videofound the fact that, contrary to ocerHartleys lies, Mr. Barideaux did in factbring his vehicle to a complete stop.

And, despite a Monroe County Courtjudge nding that Rochester policeocer Ryan Hartley lied about theBarideaux trac stop, Chief Sheppardrefused to do anything.

In a separate incident, also involvingocer Hartley, Rochester Police ChiefJames Sheppard again refused to takeany disciplinary acon against him,aer a second Monroe County Courtjudge found that ocer Hartley liedwhen he said he had a warrant andentered a suspected drug dealershome. In fact, Hartley illegally brokeinto the home before the warrant hadbeen issued.

Despite this, Rochester Police ChiefJames Sheppard refused to take anyacon against Hartley, a proven liar.

Or what about Chief Sheppard rushingto judgment himself, saying thatseven Rochester, N.Y. police ocerswere jused in the execuon-styleshoong of Israel Izzy Andino, whowas shot at least 11 mes by all sevenocers?

Sheppards comment, saying that theocers were jused, as Andinosbody lay uncovered on a sidewalkfor hours at the beginning of theinvesgaon, was unprofessional, andonce again is indicave of a chief whois unt to lead.

So, is it too soon to be talking aboutRochester Police Chief James Sheppardresigning?

Are you kidding me?

Its long overdue!

Rochester, Y Police Chie James heppards Resignation Is Long Overdue!

AVY VARA


15/16

15 www.minorityreporter.net|september 9 - 15|2013Theviewsexpressedonouropinionpagesarethose

oftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyrepresentthepositionorviewpointofMinorityReporter.OPINION/eDItOrIAL

Te Turman King School is a three-year continuing education

program designed to give working ministers and clergy in theblack church creative tools and strategies or enhancing theirministry. Classes are held the frst Saturday o each month.

The Thurman King School

of Black Church Leadership

a continuation of the Alternate Education Program and the Pearl Program

Dont ask what the world needs. Askwhat makes you come alive, and godo it. Howard Turman

Pastor, poet, educator & CRCDS graduate

Register today:call (585) 340-9540 or visit www.crcds.edu

Dont delay! Classes begin September 7th!

APOLOGIZIG...from previous page

www.MINORITYREPORTER.net

Lots of that going around, or haventyou noced? The word hypocrisyalso comes to mind when I think ofthem.

Please dont sit there in the comfortof your lounge chair reading my wordsand try to act like you dont understandwhat I am saying. Some of you, I know,love to live in denial and act like realitydoes not apply to you.

I am not naive enough to believe thatevery person, white, black, green oryellow, who smiles in my face, meansme or my community any good. When

strong black men come under aack,I do pay close aenon and am notafraid to speak on it.

The fact that so many come underaack only solidies for me that theseare further aempts to parcipate ingenocide directed at my community.The trend is not just local. The trend,as far as I am concerned, became evenmore prominent ever since PresidentObama was rst elected.

Historically, where would we be as apeople if Frederick Douglass, MarcusGarvey, W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T.Washington, A. Phillip Randolph,

Dr. Marn Luther King Jr., ElijahMuhammad, Dr. Freddie Thomas, JimMcCuller, Jim Ellis, Willie Lighoot,Sam White, Malcolm X, Dr. Huey P.Newton, Ron Brown, Adam ClaytonPowell Jr., Ken Gibson, RichardHatcher, Carl Stokes, Ken Gibson,Harold Washington, John H. Johnson,Dr. Anthony Jordan, John Mitchell andothers felt the need to apologize justbecause they were black?

What if Al Sharpton, Jesse JacksonSr., Marion Barry, Cory Booker,Muhammad Ali and Minister Farrakhanwere apologec for their blackness?Where would we be in Rochester if

those sll living, like Dr. Walter Cooper,Ron Good, Minister Franklin FlorenceSr., Minister Raymond B.T. Sco, BillJohnson, Assemblyman David Gan,Charles Price, James Norman, WilliamClark, Van White, Calvin Lee, DanaMiller, and others were consistentlyasked to apologize for being black?

Think about it. No other culture isrequired to apologize when they arespeaking truth. Why us?


16/16


Turning Ideas into Action with Direct Decision-making Power

Join Mayor Thomas S. Richards to offer your ideas for projectsto improve public safety in your neighborhood.

Dates and Locations: 6 pm to 8 pm

Mon., Aug. 26: Edgerton Community Center, Stardust Ballroom, 41 Backus St.

Wed., Sept. 4: Thomas P. Ryan Community Center, 530 Webster Ave.

Thurs., Sept. 5: Danforth Community Center, 200 West Ave.

Mon., Sept. 16: Carter St. Community Center, 500 Carter St.

Questions? Call 311Outside the city call 428-5990

www.cityofrochester.gov/youdecide

of thecitizen

City of Rochester

Budgeting forPublic Safety

Your Neighborhood. YourProjects.

Become A Rochester Police Ofcer

APPLY NOW

Exam date:November 16, 2013

Application deadline:September 27, 2013

Call: 585-428-6716www.cityofrochester.gov/police

Its more thana job. Its my

career.

13th Annual

DiversityConference

Building Community through DiversityCHAMPIONING ACCESS AND EQUITY

Thursday, September 19, 2013 8 am 4:45 pmSeymour College Union

Educational Sessions

Film Discussions

Multicultural Food Tastings

Cultural Showcase

Sponsored By

The College at Brockport Diversity CommitteeBarnes & Noble Bookstore

For more information:(585) 395-5876

www.brockport.edu/diversity

Keynote SpeakerMuriel A. Howard, PhD

Pre-registration required. FREE to Brockportstudents, faculty and staff.

$20 for non-Brockport students. $40 for Brockportalumni. $50 for general public.

Pre-registration deadline is

September 17, 2013.Late registration accepted based on available space.

SUBSCRIBE TO MINORITY REPORTERFOR ONLY

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

www.minorityreporter.net/SUBSCRIBE

CALL US @585.301.4199

minority reporter week of september 9 - 15, 2013

Documents