VOL 6. NO.

Dec 19 -Jan 6

1 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

Rochester, NY

MinorityReporter
From Information to Understanding

www.MinorityReporter.net

Merry Christmas
and

Foreclosures Decreasing Among Rochester Minorities

pg 10

2 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

In this Issue:
VOL 6. NO. 6 December 17 -23
1 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of december 17 - 23, 2012

Rochester, NY

MinorityReporter
From Information to Understanding

www.MinorityReporter.net

Merry Christmas
HAPPY KWANZAA
and

How many youth need mentors?

Just one the one who needs you.

Minority Reporter
Office Address:
282 Hollenbeck Street, Rochester, nY 14621 P.o. Box 26352, Rochester, nY 14626

With a caring adult mentor, a child has a shot at a better future.

Do you want to make a difference in the life of a child?

Mailing Address:

PH: 585-301-4199 toll-free: 1-888-792-9303 FX: 1-888-796-6292 EMAIL:info@minorityreporter.net

Foreclosures Decreasing Among Rochester Minorities

pg 10

PubLIsHEr

dave Mccleary davemc@minorityreporter.net Pauline Mccleary pmccleary@minorityreporter.net Gary McLendon editor@minorityreporter.net catie fiscus artdirector@minorityreporter.net Sharese Hardaway SHardaway@minorityreporter.net

busInEss MAnAgEr cOPy EdItOr

FEAturE

Pg 10

- Foreclosures Decreasing Among Rochester Minorities By Delani Weaver LOcAL Pgs 4 - 5

Call 271-4050 or visit www. RochesterMentors.org

Art dIrEctOr

stAFF rEPOrtEr

- Discovery honors Alberta Moss - Rochester band loses equiptment in trailer theft - RPD Chief announces Twitter Town Hall - Teen driver in Western NY school bus crash charged - Funding secured for new train station in Rochester stAtE Pgs 5 - 6
A message from the Boomer Mentor Project of Rochester Mentors at Lifespan.

EdItOrIAL AssIstAnt
claribel oliveras

AdvErtIsIng

dave Mccleary Lucy Smith-fulmore advertising@minorityreporter.net temple Boggs, jr. todd elliott

PHOtOgrAPHy cOLuMnIsts

- School boards: NY could lose $164M to fiscal cliff - NY Electoral College to vote for pres in Albany nAtIOnAL Pgs 7, 12

- Economists say black jobless numbers trending downward - Fed sends clearer signal on keeping rates low - In aftermath of Newton shooting, major equity firm to sell its stake in Bush Master gun maker cOLuMns: Pgs 13-15

Gloria winston al-Sarag c. Michael tillman Rev. Michael Vaughn Vincent felder diane watkins Mike dulaney davy Vara ayesha kreutz

Minority Reporter, Inc. is a family of publications and other media formats committed to fostering self awareness, building community and empowering people of color to reach their greatest potential. further, Minority Reporter, Inc. seeks to present a balanced view of relevant issues, utilizing its resources to build bridges among diverse populations; taking them from information to understanding. Minority Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject content submitted. the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Minority Reporter does not assume responsibility concerning advertisers, their positions, practices, services or products; nor does the publication of advertisements constitute or imply endorsement. Minority Reporter invites news and story suggestions from readers. deadline for all copy is tuesday at noon. call 585-301-4199 or email info@minorityreporter.net.

- Gangsters in white lab coats By Gloria Winston Al-Sarag - The government is no replacement for parents By Michael Vaughn - Nothing balanced about cuts for vulnerable Americans By Rev. Jesse Jackson - Increase Medicares eligibility age and African Americans Lose By Barry Rand, AARP

Get A New PERSPECTIVE on The Issues Facing Rochester

Mondays @ 9pm & Fridays @ 3:30pm on

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From Information to Understanding

Pauline McCleary - Host

3 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

WATCH NIGHT: THE CALL FOR UNITY, AND, COMMUNITY

By David A. Anderson The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. In the words of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, The international community has affirmed that the transatlantic slave trade was an appalling tragedy not only because of its barbarism but also because of its magnitude, organized nature and negation of the essential humanity of the victims. While the UN proclamation reminded world leaders of a terrible history, Americans can affirm the resolve of the four-plus million descendants of kidnapped Africans, who, in 1862 declared they would increase their already active engagement in the struggle to end American slavery; to reclaim their humanity. Today, 150 years later, descendants, Americans of every hue, are called upon to commemorate the December 31, 1862 Watch Night: to practice daily, the virtues that ratified that occasion as Freedom Eve; practices that were essential in preserving the Union, and, ending slavery in the United States. It is a foundation essential to reviving the unity that enabled African Americans (thus), America) to overcome slavery and other sins. This December 31, at gatherings around the nation, people will say goodbye to 2012. The Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition is instrumental in organizing several Rochester in-gatherings to underscore December 31, 2012 with recollections of that same night in 1862 when people of African descent were in unity. Whether at Zion Church (today, known as Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion) or at the hush harbors the secret meeting places at the plantations edge, prayer, and resolve were in accord: Lord, if it be thy willand we believe it isplease have Mr. Lincoln sign that Emancipation paper, that it might help us keep on steppin toward freedom. December 26-31, at each community Kwanzaa event, the principle of the day will be underscored with the importance of reclaiming the WatchNight tradition. Participants are urged to gather at the Kuumba (Creativity) celebration, December 31 at Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 549 Clarissa Street. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the center of that celebration will be a re-creation of WatchNightFreedoms Eve, that holy night of December 31, 1862, when unity was supreme. Afterwards, all will share in that traditional breaking of bread, karamu. As the dawn breaks on January 1, 2013, it hoped that all who shared in the karamu, will resolve to practice daily those principles that are so essential to maintaining community. It is to be done in the worship center, the schoolhouse, the work place, the home. Of such practice is the Day of Jubilee to be restored. Additionally, leaders of local government, including, Rochester Mayor, Thomas Richards and City Council, and, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and the Monroe County Legislature, are being asked to issue proclamations supportive of this effort as critical to positive citizen engagement. [David Anderson may be reached at 389-5140. Also, for more information, please call: Kwanzaa Hotline. 4366453] Locations for Communal Kwanzaa Celebrations: Umoja (Unity) December 26 Dr. Freddie Thomas School 2-5pm 625 Scio Street Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) December 27 Wheatley Library 2-5pm 33 Dr Samuel McCree Way Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility) December 28 Memorial Art Gallery 12 -5pm 500 University Ave. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) December 29 Rochester Museum and Science Center 3-6pm 657 East Ave Nia (Purpose) December 30 Baobab Cultural Center 3 -6pm 728 University Ave Kuumba (Creativity) December 31 Memorial AME Zion Church 6-9pm 549 Clarissa St

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4 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

LOCAL
Discovery Honors Alberta Moss
Discovery Charter School honored the late Alberta Moss this week by unveiling a plaque at the school. Those attending the ceremony included family members, friends, school staff, students and members of the board of trustees. Ms. Moss provided inspiration, energy, resolve and grassroot support to the founders of the school in the early organizing days. Ms. Moss, originally from North Carolina, moved to the Rochester area as a child. She had a passion for education and in her later years became a Family Advocate at the Rochester City School Districts Family Learning Center. Unfortunately Ms. Moss died after a long battle with cancer before the school received its charter. Shown Right: David Vigren, chair of the Board of Trustees of Discovery Charter School, and Shanti Atkinson by the plaque honoring her late mother.

Rochester band loses equipment in trailer theft

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- A rhythm and blues band that has been performing in upstate New York for nearly three decades is scrambling to replace equipment lost when someone stole their trailer. The equipment trailer belonging to the Coupe de Villes was parked in a Rochester stores parking when it was stolen earlier this month. The musicians say the trailer contained the bands sound and light systems, guitar amps and a complete set of drums. Band members say theyre getting replacement equipment in time for gigs scheduled for later this month. Theyve posted details of the stolen trailer on their bands Facebook page in the hope that someone spots it and contacts police.

RPD Chief Announces Twitter Town Hall

Beginning in January 2013, Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard says he will host a series of Twitter Town Hall sessions. The Chief plans to use social media to elicit a conversation to discuss how the community can work together with the police department to address concerns. The sessions will occur on every Tuesday in January from 3 to 4PM. The first session is scheduled on January 8 from 3 to 4PM. Other sessions are scheduled for January 15, 22, and 29th. In order to participate in these events, you must have a Twitter account and follow the Rochester Police Department Twitter feed at Rochester NY Police @RochesterNYPD. Note: You will need to Tweet your comments, suggestions, questions, and ideas and you must be sure to include the hashtag (#RPDChief). For more information contact Rochester Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt.Justin R. Collins at 585-428-7634.

Teen driver in western NY school bus crash charged

A 16-year-old driver of a car that slammed into the back of a school bus in western New York has been indicted on nine counts, including charges stemming from injuries to three friends.

ADOPT

Monroe County prosecutors tell local media outlets that John Zakhary is facing two counts of second-degree assault and one count of first-degree reckless endangerment, both felonies, and the misdemeanors third-degree assault and reckless driving. Zakhary and three other Brighton High School students in the car were hurt when he rear-ended the bus on Oct. 9

in the Rochester suburb. None of the four students on the bus or their driver was hurt. Hes also charged with traffic violations, including driving with more than one passenger under 21. The indictment was handed up Tuesday. Hell be arraigned in several days.

Birth Date: November, 1995

Martin is a friendly, caring,

funny young man. He loves to play sports, listen to music, watch TV, go to the mall, and take walks outdoors. His caseworker tells us, Martin has a great sense of humor, a charismatic personality, and is fun to be around. It takes him a while to trust people, but is very caring and loyal once you get to know him. He is also an animal lover and would like to work in a dog shelter. In 11th grade special education classes, Martin would like to have a job one day and be able to live on his own. He has a close relationship with his older sister and previous foster parent and hopes for a family who will honor these connections. Martin wants to be adopted. He would love siblings his age and would do great in a family setting. If youre interested in learning more about Joe or other waiting children, visit:

www.childrenAwaitingParents.org or call 585-232-5110.

5 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

LOCAL
Funding secured for new train station in Rochester
Elected officials in Rochester say theyve secured the government funding needed to build a new $26.5 million Amtrak station in the city. City officials, including Mayor Thomas Richards, want to begin construction on the new passenger station in the spring. When the current station in downtown Rochester was built in 1978, it was supposed to be a temporary facility. It lacks adequate accommodations for people with disabilities and hasnt been upgraded to handle the growing number of passengers who board Amtrak trains at Rochester. The new station will be designed to include a bus depot. The city has received $15 million in federal funding for the project, with the rest to be covered by state and local funds.

NY panel accepts Monroe County review of crime lab

The commission on Forensic Science has accepted Monroe Countys review of its crime lab conducted after the labs staff mistakenly returned forensic evidence to police. The review, ordered earlier this year, was prompted by the firing in June of the labs director. The firing came after a state inspector generals report recommended policy changes at the Rochester lab, where administrative errors led to evidence being returned to police agencies or destroyed in some criminal cases. State investigators determined the labs staff mistakenly determined that the statute of limitations had expired in 270 cases.

STATE
School boards: NY could lose $164M to fiscal cliff
School districts in New York state stand to lose $164 million in federal funding in the 2013-14 school year if Washington doesnt avoid the fiscal cliff by Jan. 2. An analysis by the New York State School Boards Association released Tuesday shows districts would lose an average of $243,000 earmarked largely for educational programs serving students with disabilities and students living in poverty. The associations executive director, Timothy Kremer, says the Big Five school districts have the most to lose. His groups analysis of federal grant allocations estimates New York Citys potential loss at $95 million. Buffalo could lose $4 million, Rochester, $3.4 million and Syracuse and Yonkers, $1.6 million each. The analysis is based on an estimated 8.2 percent across-the-board cut in federal progams.

NY Electoral College to vote for pres in Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The 29 members of New Yorks Electoral College are convening in Albany to officially cast their votes for President Barack Obama. The event in the Senate Chamber will be broadcast live at noon Monday on public broadcast stations across the state. Secretary of State Cesar Perales will convene the event. His office is encouraging schools to air it as a civics lesson. Under the U.S. Constitution, the president and vice president are elected indirectly by ``electors who are elected by popular vote. New Yorks 29 electors include Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. They also include Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, several New York City officials and some union leaders and Democratic party officials.

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6 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

STATE
In aftermath of Newtown shooting, major equity firm to sell its stake in Bushmaster gun maker
NEW YORK (AP) -- The private equity firm Cerberus will sell the firearms company that produced one of the weapons believed to have been used in the shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., calling it a watershed event in the national debate on gun control. Cerberus said in a statement Tuesday that it would sell its stake in the Freedom Group, which stood at 95 percent as of a 2011 regulatory filing. Freedom Group owns the Bushmaster rifle brand, as well as Remington and other gun makes. On Friday, 20 children were killed, 26 people in all, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S history. The gunman, Adam Lanza, is believed to have used a .223-caliber Bushmaster AR-15 rifle in the attack. The AR-15 is a civilian version of the militarys M-16. Versions of the AR-15 were outlawed in the U.S. under the 1994 assault weapons ban. That law expired in 2004, and Congress failed to renew it under immense pressure from the gun lobby. Cerberus, however, is distancing itself. We are investors, not statesmen or policy makers, the company said in a statement. Our role is to make investments on behalf of our clients who are comprised of the pension plans of firemen, teachers, policemen and other municipal workers and unions, endowments, and other institutions and individuals. It is not our role to take positions, or attempt to shape or influence the gun control policy debate. That is the job of our federal and state legislators. Elsewhere, Dicks Sporting Goods Inc. said in a statement that it suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of its stores. The company also removed all guns from sale and display at its store closest to Newtown. And it appeared investors as a whole were ridding themselves of shares in firearms makers this week. Shares of Sturm, Ruger & Co. dropped more than 5 percent to $41.55 in morning trading Tuesday. Shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. fell more than 9 percent to $7.86. Cerberus said Tuesday that it was deeply saddened by the shooting, and that it will hire a financial adviser to help with the process of selling its interests in Freedom Group, a major firearms manufacturer which, in addition to Bushmaster, produces Remington Arms. A representative for Freedom Group could not be immediately reached for comment. The announcement comes one day after the California State Teachers Retirement System, a large pension fund, told The Wall Street Journal that it was reviewing its $500 million investment commitment to Cerberus because of the firms stake in Freedom Group. A representative for the California State Teachers Retirement System could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday. Cerberus affiliates made an investment in Freedom Group in 2006. The New York firm said that Freedom Group does not sell weapons or ammunition directly to consumers, and that it does not believe that Freedom Group or any single company or individual can prevent senseless violence or the illegal use or procurement of firearms and ammunition. Cerberus Capital Management makes investments on behalf of clients that include the pension plans of firemen, teachers, policemen, and other municipal workers and unions, endowments and other institutions and individuals. Money made from the Freedom Group sale will be returned to its investors, Cerberus said.

7 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

NATIONAL

Economist Says Black Jobless Numbers Trending Downward

By Hazel Trice Edney Despite unresolved fiscal cliff negotiations between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, African-Americans should see signs of hope in a trend downward in the unemployment rate and an unexpected growth in jobs, says a Black economist and former member of the Obama administration. I think its something to get excited about, says Bill Spriggs, former assistant secretary for policy at the U. S. Department of Labor for four years. Spriggs, who recently returned to his former position as an economics professor at Howard University, explained in an interview, The issue is more the trend. There has been a steady trend downward. If you go back to July, if you compare last November to this November, the bigger trend is that it has been going down. The unemployment rate dropped from 8 percent to 7.7 percent last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats the lowest since 2008. It dropped from 14.3 percent for African-Americans down to 13.2 percent. Although the jobless rate for African-Americans remain in double digits and consistently twice that of Whites, Spriggs says theres good news. That is that although the Black unemployment rate has fluctuated between 13 and 14 percent all year, when comparing to last year at this time, there is a clear trend downward. Last Novembers jobless rate was 15.5 percent. This is a significant drop of 2.3 percent. Despite the downward trend, Spriggs says President Obama and Boehner must take action to refocus on jobs rather than just the fiscal cliff, which means the possibility of year-end tax hikes combined with severe spending cuts. Theyre going to have to get more serious about talking about jobs, said Spriggs, who also served for 16 years as director of the National Urban Leagues Institute for Opportunity and Equality until 2004. Spriggs. I think there needs to be a greater emphasis put by the President on at least transitioning the dialog away from austerity (deficit cutting while lowering spending) to how we are going to get jobs. The fiscal cliff is a debate about austerity. Its a misplaced debate. No one seriously wants austerity. Thats why theyre all screaming and holleringThey are afraid that the President might not blink, stare them down and force them to go off the cliff. The White House responded with excitement to the BLS report, which included an unexpected addition of 147,000 new jobs in the private sector last month. Economists had predicted less than half that many because of Hurricane Sandy. While more work remains to be done, todays employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal from the wounds inflicted by the worst downturn since the Great Depression, said a White House statement upon release of the numbers Dec. 7. It is critical that we continue the policies that are building an economy that works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007. Despite a clear trend downward for the jobless numbers, the good news is only tenuous unless more definitive action is taken, agrees at least one public policy think tank. Policy discussions now and beyond the fiscal showdown need to focus on accelerating job growth today and laying the foundation for a stronger economy built from the middle out for the long term, states the Center for American Progress in a response to the new numbers that agrees with Spriggs analysis. Heres why: If politicians do nothing to spur growth, prolonged job-market weakness will be in our future for some time. At the current three-month job-growth trend seen in todays jobs data, the U.S. economy will not recover to full employment until June 2031.

The back and forth debate and the talk of economic doom causes extra stress; especially during the holidays when peoples pocketbooks are already stretched. Spriggs says the stress is compounded when the anxiety is misdirected. Of course people who are unemployed are going into job training and even changing careers to help themselves, Spriggs says, but theyve got to also face another reality: The anger has got

to be directed at the right people, he said. What people have to be very careful about is internalizing this, Spriggs said. People are internalizing the frustration. We need to channel all of this energy to this stupid Congress and at these stupid Republicans, who are off on another tangent.

at the Memorial Art Gallery

Friday, December 28, 2012 12 - 5

Kwanzaa Family Day

Enjoy art activities, tours, storytelling, music & dance performances.

Suggested donation $5 per family.
500 University Avenue Rochester, NY 14607-1484 585-276-8900 mag.rochester.edu
Family Day Series Sponsor: Additional support provided by: Robert and Madeleine S. Heilbrunn Memorial Fund Presented in cooperation with Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition photos above by: Brandon Vick

8 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

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9 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

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10 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

FEATURE STORY
Foreclosures Decreasing Among Rochester Minorities
By Delani Weaver With the economy in a recession, the Rochester housing market appears to be faring well. The number of foreclosures in Rochester has gone down and families can enjoy their home ownership, rather than worry about how they will continue to pay for them. Since 2010, the Housing Council has opened over 2,700 cases, with the minority rate dropping every year. Minority cases have dropped from 516 to 318, a decrease of 38 percent in the last two years. I think the rate has dropped because laws have gotten stricter with how people can get mortgages, said Susan Boss, executive director of the Housing Council. Still, while minorities have seen drops in the rate of foreclosures, Rochester zip codes 14616, 14615, 14613, 14621 and 14611, areas containing mostly minority residents, have seen a high percentage of foreclosures. Because minorities unfortunately were disproportionately affected by predatory lending - especially during the height of predatory lending in the mid 2000s up until about 2009 - they were very quickly hit with delinquency rates at the forefront of the foreclosure crisis a couple years ago, explains Mary Leo, director of foreclosure

prevention for the Housing Council. Unfortunately, many minorities were targeted for these bad loans that had high interest rates or adjustable rate mortgages, or they didnt go through the normal vetting process when somebody went to apply for a mortgage.

People who had these predatory loans were at a much higher risk for going into foreclosure. That specifically addresses some of the issues that minorities in our area have been facing. Leslie Harvey, housing coordinator of the Housing Council says that the Housing Council is doing their best to decrease the amount of foreclosures in Rochester. The Housing Councils goal is to help families that are at risk of foreclosure; specifically, families that are 30 days or more behind on their mortgage. The Housing Council provides homeowners with opportunities for loan modifications. Harvey said that one home being foreclosed on can potentially lower the property value of the surrounding homes, creating a domino effect. Boss explained that the Housing Council is reaching out to the entire county; however they want to reach out more to the city residents. That seems to be our hardest area. Were having a harder time reaching out to city residents. Were starting a campaign to get the word out about our foreclosure program so people know its a free

service, theres not a charge for them, and to let them know what services we offer, said Boss. Boss added that its difficult to get people to understand that the service is not a scam or a too good to be true situation. If theyre behind on their mortgages and they need us to do any type of loan modification, we work with the lenders to do that, Boss said. We received funding to do this. Our ultimate goal is to keep as many households in their home and work with them and whatever their mortgage issues are rather than see them lose their homes. The Housing Council is but one of several non-profit organizations available to residents of Rochester who are seeking help with foreclosure prevention. There are a lot of different programs available in the community. A lot of times, households come in and they have no idea that all these other programs exist that may help them through this difficult time, Boss said. So, we also give them the information on all of the programs so, if theres anything that they qualify for, they can apply.

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cALEndAr
DECEMBER
Location: Baobab Cultural Center -728 University Ave. Kwanza Event 31 Kuumba (Creativity) Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm Location: Memorial AME Zion Church - 549 Clarissa St. Kwanza Event 31 NEW YEARS EVE SKATE AT MANHATTAN Time: 6 to 11 p.m. Location: Manhattan Square Park Free admission. $3.00 skate rental. Family skate: 6 to 8 p.m.; Adults only (over 16 years old) skate: 9 to 11 p.m. 31 NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION & FIREWORKS Time: 7 to 9:45 p.m. Location: Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main St Festivities begin inside the Rochester Riverside Convention Center with activities and entertainment for all ages and parking in Sister Cities, Court Street, South Avenue and Washington Square Garages. Refreshments will be available for purchase. The entire family will enjoy a dance party hosted by long-time local DJ, Jimmy C Music Machine and funny poses in an old-time photo booth. Kid-friendly attractions will include a giant bounce house, climbing wall, obstacle course and other inflatables. Also featured will be a magician, clowns, stilt walker and caricaturists.

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11 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

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22 SKATE WITH SANTA Time: 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. Location: Genesee Valley Park Ice Rink $2.00 youth, $2.50 college student w/ ID $5.00 for adults, $14.00 family maximum Skate rental, additional $3.00 26 Umoja (Unity) Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm Location: 700 North Street Kwanza event 27 Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm LOcatio: 33 Dr Samuel McCree Way Kwanza Event 28 Ujima (Collective Work & Responsability) Time: 12:00pm-5:00pm Location: Memorial Art Gallelry - 500 University Ave. Kwanza Event 29 Ujimaa (Cooperative Economics) Time: 3:00pm-6:00pm Location: Rochester Museum Science Center 657 East Ave. Kwanza Event 30 Nia (Purpose) Time: 3:00pm-6:00pm

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PUBLIC NOTICE:

RENOVATIONS TO SCHOOL NO. 39, AT 145 MIDLAND AVENUE, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, CASH CAPITAL 2011-12, BOND ORDINANCE: GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORK; HVAC WORK; PLUMBING WORK; ELECTRICAL WORK; ASBESTOS ABATEMENT WORK; AIR MONITORING WORK. RENOVATIONS TO SCHOOL NO. 46, AT 250 NEWCASTLE ROAD, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, BOND ORDINANCE: WINDOW REPLACEMENT WORK; AIR MONITORING WORK. Sealed bids will be received by the Purchasing Agent, Central Administrative Offices, 131 West Broad Street, Rochester, New York, 14614, to 2:30 P.M., January 8, 2013, for the project as listed above, at which time and place said bids will be publicly opened and read. Sets of contract documents and official bid forms may be examined at the Department of Educational Facilities, Rochester City School District, 835 Hudson Avenue, Bldg. #3, Rochester, New York, 14621, and may be obtained upon presentation of a one hundred dollar ($100.00) check deposit for each set, made payable to the Board of Education. Deposit will be refunded upon return of plans and specifications in good condition on or before the date set for such return by the Department. For addition information, please contact the Design Group at (585) 336-4010 or e-mail: Pamela.hodom@rcsdk12.org.

PUBLIC NOTICE:
SECTION 001113 - ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed bids will be received until 2:30 PM on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at the Rochester City School District building at 1776 North Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14621(Maynards Electric Supply) by the Rochester Joint Schools Construction Board (RJSCB or Owner), Attention: Thomas Renauto, Executive Director Tel. 585-512-3806, for the Henry Hudson School # 28 project Phase 1a (Project), at which time and place said bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Questions during the bidding period must be emailed to Thomas Renauto at: School28@ rjscb.org. The Owner will not accept or respond to questionsfrom prospective bidders received orally or by facsimile. Henry Hudson School # 28 Project for Phase 1a (Project) includes renovation and an addition to the existing school building. The Contract Documents, including the Instruction to Bidders, Form of Contract and Bid Form, may be obtained at the following websites by December 17, 2012: Dataflow/RSMP Project portal: www.goDataflow.com/RSMP Dataflow Rochester Office, 320 North Goodman, Suite 200 (Village Gate), Rochester, NY 14607 (585) 271-5730 phone (585) 271-3752 fax Rochester Builders Exchange, 180 Linden Ave., Suite 100, Rochester, NY 14625 (585) 586-5460 McGraw Hill Construction / Dodge Reports: http://dodge.construction.com Bidnet site: www.bidnet.com Complete sets of the Bid Documents may be obtained at the office of Dataflow Rochester Office, 320 North Goodman, Suite 200 (Village Gate), Rochester, NY 14607, upon payment of a deposit of $100 for each set made payable to the RJSCB. Documents can be picked up free of charge at Dataflow Rochester Office or can be shipped via UPS Ground with a separate non-refundable check of $35.00 made payable to Dataflow Rochester Office. Along with their deposit check, bidders are to provide an active email address, street address (no PO Box Numbers), phone number, fax number, and contact name. Any bidder upon returning such set in GOOD CONDITION to Dataflow Rochester Office within thirty (30) calendar days after the bid date set for the Bid opening will be refunded their deposit. No partial sets or sections of the Contract Documents will be distributed. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2012 starting at 9:00 AM at 450 Humboldt St, Rochester, NY (Project Location). It will follow with a building tour for the Henry Hudson School # 28. It is anticipated that the site visit will be completed by 12:00 PM. This will be the only opportunity that prospective bidders will have to visit the facilities. The Owner is required to comply with New York States public bidding and other laws pertaining to public works, to advertise for any and all public work contracts, and to incorporate New York prevailing wage schedules or federal Davis-Bacon wage rate schedules, as applicable, into any contracts which may involve the employment of laborers, workmen or mechanics, whether or not publicly bid. Sincerely, Lois Giess, Chair RJSCB Thomas Renauto, Executive Director RJSCB Thomas Rogr, Program Director Gilbane/Savin By order of the Rochester Joint Schools Construction Board

EVENTS:
tHE 150tH yEAr OF tHE sIgnIng OF tHE EMAncIPAtIOn PrOcLAMAtIOn
On January 1,1863 President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The people who would be the most affected by the Proclamation, the captive people of America knew that President Lincoln was considering signing that important document. So the Black people both captive and free gathered together, where ever they could to discuss hope and pray that the Emancipation Proclamation would be signed. Here in Rochester the people gathered at Old Zion Church( now Memorial AME Zion Church) to have Watch Night Service, to band together and use their great spiritual power to encourage the President to sign. It was our faith and collective prayer that persuaded President Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Jubilee Day. Please come join us on December 31, 2012 from 6-9pm at the AME Zion Church at 549 Clarissa St. and help us commemorate and celebrate in knowing freedom once again. For further information please call Delores Radney at 436-6453 Rochester Kwanza Coalition

12 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

Fed sends clearer signal on keeping rates low

WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Reserve sent its clearest signal to date Wednesday that it will keep interest rates super-low to boost the U.S. economy even after the job market has improved. The Fed says it plans to keep its key short-term interest rate near zero at least until the unemployment rate drops below 6.5 percent and inflation rises to 2.5 percent. That plan adds detail to what the Fed had said before: that it expects to keep the rate low until at least mid-2015. In a statement Wednesday after its final policy meeting of the year, the Fed also said it will keep spending $85 billion a month on bond purchases to drive down long-term borrowing costs and stimulate economic growth. The Fed will spend $45 billion a month on long-term Treasury purchases to replace a previous bond-purchase program of an equal size. And it will keep buying $40 billion a month in mortgage bonds. The Fed has become more explicit and more transparent, said Steven Wood, chief economist at Insight Economics. This should provide the markets with much more clarity around monetary policy action in the upcoming year. With its new purchases of longterm Treasurys, the Feds investment portfolio, which is nearly $3 trillion, would swell to nearly $4 trillion by the end of 2013 if its bond purchase programs remain in place. All told, the policies are intended to help an economy that the Fed says is growing only modestly with 7.7 percent unemployment in November. Stocks and bond yields rose after the Feds statement was released. The Dow Jones industrial average was little changed just before the Fed news crossed at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time and jumped 69 points shortly after. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.69 percent from 1.65 percent as investors sold ultra-safe investments and moved money into stocks. The Fed is aggressively trying to add to the economys strength, said Jim OSullivan, chief economist at High Frequency Economics. The Fed said it will continue the bond purchases until the job market improves substantially. It said it

NATIONAL

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks during a news conference in Washington. Chairman Ben Bernanke is offering a sharp defense Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, of the Federal Reserves bold policies to stimulate the weak economy, while cautioning Congress to respect its private discussions. can pursue the aggressive stimulus programs because inflation remains below its target. The statement was approved on an 11-1 vote. Jeffrey Lacker, president of Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, objected for the eighth time this year. The meeting was held against the backdrop of the looming fiscal cliff, the sharp tax increases and spending cuts that will hit the economy in January if Congress and President Barack Obama are unable to reach an agreement this month to avert them. Bernanke has said that the Feds efforts will not be able to rescue the economy if the budget negotiations fail and the country does go over the fiscal cliff. Treasurys and used the proceeds to buy the same amount in longer-term Treasurys. Twist didnt expand the Feds investment portfolio, it just reshuffled the holdings. But the Fed has run out of short-term securities to sell. So to maintain its pace of long-term Treasury purchases and to keep long-term rates low, it must spend more and increase its portfolio. The Feds portfolio totals nearly $2.9 trillion more than three times its size before the 2008 financial crisis. The Fed has launched three rounds of bond purchases since the financial crisis hit. In announcing a third program in September, the Fed said it would keep buying mortgage bonds until the job market improved substantially. Skeptics note that rates on mortgages and many other loans are already at or near all-time lows. So any further declines in rates engineered by the Fed might offer little economic benefit. Inside and outside the Fed, a debate has raged over whether the Feds actions have helped support the economy over the past four years, whether they will ignite inflation later and whether they should be extended.

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Fears of the cliff have led some U.S. companies to delay expanding, investing and hiring. Manufacturing has slumped. Consumers have cut back on spending. Unemployment remains elevated. If higher taxes and government spending cuts were to last for much of 2013, most experts say the economy would sink into another recession. The latest bond-buying program would replace an expiring program called Operation Twist. With Twist, the Fed sold $45 billion a month in short-term

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OPINION/EDITORIAL
For every c o m p l e x problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. H.L. Mencken Wrong. The proposal to raise Medicares eligibility age bArry rAnd from 65 to 67 in 2014 is wrong. Who stands to gain by this approach? Not the government. Not current and future seniors. And most definitely not older African Americans and other older minorities these groups stand to lose the most. Raising the Medicare eligibility age would actually cost much more than it would save, in dollars and in quality of life. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found the proposal would save the federal government $5.7 billion in 2014, but at the same time impose $11.4 billion more in spending on individuals, employers and state governments. Our goal must be to strengthen Medicare, not weaken it. Reducing costs for Medicare and the health care system overall are critical to making the most effective use of our resources and decreasing the economic burden to consumers, providers, insurers, the government anyone with skin in this game. And really, its not a game. Raising the Medicare eligibility age doesnt move us forward; it takes us back and weakens one of the most successful fail-safes ever created in the U.S. More than 50 million older Americans and individuals with disabilities rely on Medicare for their health security. But if implemented, raising the eligibility age to 67 would immediately restrict access to care seven million 65 and 66 year olds would lose eligibility. These would-be beneficiaries would be thrust into the higher premium world of the private insurance market, a market most would be ill-equipped to afford. Already, the majority of people 65+ live on annual fixed incomes in the range of $20,000. That amount is lower for women and even lower for minority women. According to Kaiser, about two-thirds of the 65 and 66 year olds who get private insurance would pay an average of $2,200 more each year. How much more will we ask seniors to stretch their fixed incomes? Raising the eligibility age also means the healthiest of the Medicare cohort would be taken out of the equation, leaving older, less healthy and more

13 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012 The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

Increase Medicares eligibility age and African Americans Lose

costly beneficiaries in place, which would ultimately lead to higher premiums for those remaining in Medicare. But what makes it worse for African Americans? First, the longevity factor. A key reason proponents support raising the eligibility age is increased life expectancy in the U.S. But African Americans havent experienced as dramatic an increase as other populations. Especially not African American men average life expectancy is 70 years compared to 76 years for non-Hispanic Whites. Raising the eligibility age would amount to a major benefit cut for African Americans, whod potentially have fewer years to collect benefits and therefore, lower lifetime benefits. Additionally, older African Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions, pass up care if its financially out of reach, and have less access to employer-sponsored health insurance compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Multiple factors play into these challenges, including African Americans disproportionate representation in lower-wage jobs without benefits, difficulty paying for private insurance with lower-wage incomes, and higher unemployment during harsh economic times. Raising Medicares eligibility age introduces a cruel new reality into the lives of these seniors and indeed all seniors. Unquestionably, raising Medicares eligibility age would sentence seniors to increased hardship; even destitution for those at greatest risk. This option is certainly not compassionate or caring. Looking for a quick fix to help reduce the national deficit and avoid the fiscal cliff by raising Medicares eligibility age is far from a win-win solution. Actually, its a no-win solution. In fact, its just wrong. We can do better. We have to do better. The American people are counting on it.

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14 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

OPINION/EDITORIAL
to provide alternatives for those situations. I am all for lengthening the school day; my children would tell you that I have advocated getting rid of summer vacation so more education can take place. And that is the crux of my argument and where my concern comes from relative to the statement that Superintendent Vargas made. Our school systems are not built to be babysitters and supplant the role of the parent in childrens lives. If more education is taking place, that is all good, babysitting not so much. Second, we need to prepare our children for the competitive landscape that they face instead of trying to be their parents. The RCSD does not have a good record on how well they educate our young people now, having more hours in the day will not change that. It will just enable the teachers union to get more money from the already stretched taxpayer. The questions that I would have are what actually will be done with this longer school day? What educational activities are going to undertaken? How will this longer day help to better prepare our students for the competitive marketplace that they are to face?

The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

SOMETHING TO tHInK ABOUT

The Government Is No Replacement for Parents

For all of you who take the time to parent your children, you can help me preach this message. There is a move afoot to lengthen the school day for a select group of schools across the country. c. MIcHAEL The Rochester City School vAugHn District has been afforded the privilege of being part of this pilot effort. While lengthening the school day seems like a good idea, I have some fundamental concerns with what it appears will be happening; let me tell you why. First of all, when giving a press conference the Superintendent of the RCSD, Bolgen Vargas made a statement that was concerning. He alluded to the fact that students would have a better time hanging out in school than being at home. Now I do not dispute the notion that some students have very terrible home lives but it is not the responsibility of the school system Some of what I have heard is that the longer day will be dedicated to things like music and art. While I think these programs are great and needed, I do not see us competing in an economical sense by who can play the best instrument or paint the best picture. We need to be competitive in math and science so that we can continue to lead the world in the technological innovation that keeps us an economic and military powerhouse. The extent that we have a strong economy is the extent that we will have a strong military. We only build a strong economy by having the best and brightest students in the world. The generation of young people making their way through our educational system, leaves much to be concerned about. According to Huff Post Education (http://www. huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/ us-falls-in-world-educationrankings_n_793185.html) the United States ranks 17th out of 34 countries in science and 25th out of 34 countries in mathematics. This is one article of many that point out a fact that I believe that many people believe in their gut. Our young people can out text, out tweet and out friend any of their non-American colleagues. But they struggle with the subjects that will make the most difference in the global economy that they will one day be fully immersed in. Based on the track record of the RCSD to properly educate our young people - and I do not blame the teachers but the union that ties the hands of good teachers - I do not see a longer school day doing much for improving the education of our young people. More money will be thrown at a problem that is only fixed by having parents take a front row seat in the educating of their children. Until that is worked on, not much change will happen. The government is no replacement for good parenting. Longer school days are good if more educating in the math and sciences will occur, bad if more babysitting will occur. Which one is it going to be in the RCSD? ----------------------------If you would like to contact me, please email me at mvaughn.seniorpastor@ newwineskin.org.

Nothing Balanced About Cuts for Vulnerable Americans

(TriceEdneyWire. com) The pressure is growing in the face-off over the so-called fiscal cliff in Washington. The president put his plan rEv. jEssE on the table. jAcKsOn, sr. R e p u b l i c a n Speaker John Boehner rejected it out of hand. And then . . . nothing. Republicans refused to make a counteroffer. They are apparently waiting for the president to make another offer. Obama made that mistake before and got nothing in return. He is not likely to make the same mistake again. Republicans are demanding that to get any increase in revenue to bring down deficits, Democrats have to agree to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. They have not said how much they want cut, but Senate leader Mitch McConnell suggested raising the eligibility age for Medicare by two years, and changing the cost-of-living index for Social Security so the benefits lose value over time. Republicans have also voted for a budget in the House that would turn Medicaid into a block grant to the states and dramatically cut the federal payment. These changes, we are told, are part of a balanced agreement. Why is it balanced to cut programs for the most vulnerable Americans in exchange for closing some loopholes in the tax code? (Republicans still object to raising tax rates on the rich. They might agree to more revenue, but only by going after tax deductions). We have the most extreme inequality since the Gilded Age. The richest 1 percent have as much wealth as 90 percent of Americans. Top tax rates have been coming down since Reagan. On the other hand, Social Security is the nations most successful poverty program. It puts a floor under seniors at the end of a long life of work that ensures they can live out their days with a minimum of security. Medicaid helps the poor, the disabled and most of us in the last months of life. Older workers will find it extremely expensive to get health care at 65 and 66. These are cuts that will endanger lives, not whether a rich person can afford a bigger boat or a larger beach house. This is a classic case of what we used to call ham-and-egg justice. The chicken and the sow are asked to contribute to breakfast. The hen lays an egg and keeps on moving. But the sow is forced to give up a leg. That isnt balanced, and it isnt just. Underneath these high-profile issues are real concerns that are getting too little attention. First, pay attention to what it is not on the table. More than 20 million people are still in need of full-time work. The president has asked for $50 billion for an infrastructure bank to help rebuild America. Republicans treat this as a joke when, in fact, we need a much bigger plan to rebuild this country and put people to work. If deficit reduction slows the economy, we will end up with higher unemployment and spreading misery. Second, pay attention to what the lobbies are pushing in the back rooms. For example, a group of CEOs has joined in a campaign to Fix the Debt. They say they want to reduce deficits and call for more revenue (but not higher toptax rates) and cuts in Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. But they are also lobbying in the back rooms to slip in a new tax break for multinationals that would exempt all profits reported abroad from U.S. taxes. This would be a multibillion-dollar bonanza for companies, encouraging them to move jobs or report profits abroad. It is a simple outrage that at the same time they are asking the most vulnerable seniors to share in the sacrifice, they are angling to get the biggest companies in the world another tax loophole. That isnt shared sacrifice; thats just shameless.

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15 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012

strAIgHtNO CHASER

OPINION/EDITORIAL
Its troubling that not all gangsters wear bling, drive fancy cars, ride bicycles in the middle of the street, or carry machine guns to sell their products illegally. Some gangsters and drug dealers wear white lab coats, pinstriped suits and carry brief cases. And they are protected by the law in every sense of the word. one quite prepares and how the loss of employer related benefits can impact your health, your bank account and create unnecessary stress. No one can explain to me why I should not suspect that the relationship between doctors, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies is criminal. I have recently seen some things that suggest the relationships are suspect; and created and maintained with no regard to the folks in need of health care senior citizens, in particular. Some relationships might even fall within the guidelines or possibly violate RICO Laws. There is a reason pharmaceutical companies are no longer allowed to leave samples of meds at your doctors office. Since September I recently discovered, Wegmans offers Lipitor for free. If your health insurance offers a prescription drug program as mine did then Lipitor as an example costs $15 a month with a co-pay. If health insurance is not available and you have to co-pay for your meds out of pocket then you are going to pay $155 a month for Lipitor. Does anyone but me see anything wrong with this picture? There is something very suspect of the fact that Wegmans can make a medication like Lipitor available at no cost to the public but yet we still have senior citizens paying elsewhere for this same medication. Gangsters are not going to advise their paying customers of the fact they can get a product at no charge. I dont know what deal was struck or how Danny

The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

Gangsters in White Lab Coats

Wegman and company pulled this off, but my hat is off to you along with all the orchids I can throw your way. It appears you have put your money where your mouth is and have shown many needy seniors you care. God Bless you. Some seniors did not get the memo and there are those with the knowledge that continue to charge insurance companies, failing to advise their customer of the freebie. Having waged a war against diabetes for ten years, I sometimes feel like a resident guinea pig. So far, I have managed to avoid insulin shots but recently discovered that one of my meds cost $278 a month. I am serious. If I had to pay out of pocket for all my prescriptions they would cost me about $700 a month. Tisk. Tisk. I used to wonder why some seniors ate cat food, when I worked closely with them back in the day. When I asked one bureaucrat: What happens to folks who have no insurance but need their meds, do they just die? The uncaring, stoic response I received was, No you dont just die, you go to the hospital. Now the real interesting thing about this $278 a month medication I was on, was after I raised hell with my doctor about the cost, I was taken off. Guess I didnt need it so badly after all, huh? I dont know what the expensive med was doing for my health but purchasing it surely contributed to some legitimate gangsters pocket. Go figure.
---------------------------------Gloria Winston Al-Sarag is a Community Activist, Writer, Communicator, Political Activist. She is a native Rochesterian and has been involved with numerous community orgainzations in Rochester. Contact Gloria at: JazzyG4202@aol.com

gLOrIA wInstOn AL-sArAg

Some drug dealers are considered doctors, pharmaceutical and insurance company employees. They even have the nerve to advertise on TV and encourage you to call your doctor to get a prescription written. They should be banned much like cigarette ads were. They are legally killing folks and burying them alive when they cant afford the high cost of health care. Studies and stats that helped to legitimize the existence of Obamacare will bear me out. Our America, the land of the free, has shown me recently and in no uncertain terms that we could care less about folks who have worked hard all of their lives. Just look at what recently happened to Kodak retirees who worked hard and earned the right to be taken care of in their old age. The American Dream for some senior citizens is a crock of you know what. The promise of health care benefits became a lie on one hand and on another their health benefits were being effectively dismantled. All the while Kodak executives had the nerve to begin discussing lucrative bonuses for themselves. Thats unconscionable. How sad is that? Somebody should go to jail, or at the very least get fired, for what Kodak did to it retirees under the cover of so-called bankruptcy. But who besides the retirees affected and their families even gives a damn? Just recently I added senior citizens to my personal list of endangered species. They now join distinguished species like young black males, veterans, black college grads, marriage, fathers in the home and more. Senior citizens probably should have been on the list all along but my revelations help ring true the old adage that suggests if your house aint burning why pick up a water hose. In other words it took becoming a senior citizen, being exposed to the mistreatment and uncaring attitude of bureaucrats to make me sound the alarm. To see how society fails to protect and exploits seniors is beyond appalling. Some of the negative attitudes I have recently encountered from folks paid to serve the needs of seniors is truly alarming. If I can help one senior citizen avoid being treated like they are a bother, then I will consider my job, well done. Please know upon entering retirement that no one really prepares you for the BS one has to encounter in the system as it relates to health insurance. Even though paperwork, boiler plate memos and newsletters get thrown our way, if you are lucky, no

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16 :: www.Minorityreporter.net - week of dec 19 - jan 6, 2012