cny vision, week of january 3, 2013

7/30/2019 CNY Vision, Week of January 3, 2013

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1 :: www.cnyvision.com - week of JANUARY 3 - 9, 2013

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Without a Vision The People Perishvisioncny

VOL 3. NO. 45 JANUARY 3 - 9, 2013 Syracuse, NY

LOOKING BACK

AT THE MAJOR

STORIES P.6

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS P.10

FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES

P.8P.7P.4


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LocaL office:2331 South Salina StreetSyracuse, NY 13205

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contributorsKo QuayeJames Haywood RollingEarl Ofari HutchinsonBoyce Watkins

CNY Vision is a publication of Minor-ity Reporter, Inc. We are a family ofpublications and other media formatscommitted to fostering self awareness,building community and empoweringpeople of color to reach their greatestpotential. Further, CNY Vision seeksto present a balanced view of relevantissues, utilizing its resources to buildbridges among diverse populations;taking them from information to under-standing.

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i th i

cover Pg 6

-Black press stories of 2012fortell continued struggle for

justice

caLendar Pg 2LocaL Pg 4

- Syracuse to purchase newparking pay station modems- NYSDOT grant gives $388,001to city for development ofneighborhood greenwaysDr. Weeks Elementary schoolreopens

state Pg 5

- Cuomo commission seekslonger school day, year- Advocates for NY poor wantminimum wage hike

- Teachers union outraged overNYC mayors remarks

nationaL Pg 6

- Time Warner Calbe droppedCurrenTV as soon as it was soldto Al Jazeera-EPA Administrator Lisa Jacksonto step down

PoLitics Pg 8

- Obama taps Hagel forPentagon, Brennan for CIA

coLuMns: Pgs 10- 11

- Not being the worst you can bedoes not make you positive

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

-What about me? The blackwoman the backbone of apeople; but who is lifting her up?

By Danielle Frazer

- Why Obama must stand rm

on taxing the wealthy

By Ko Quaye

1:: www.cnyvision.com-weekofJANUARY3-9,2013



































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www.cnyvision.com

Without aVisionThe PeoplePerish

visioncnyVOL 3. NO. 45 JANUARY 3-9, 2013 Syracuse, NY

LOOKING BACK

AT THE MAJOR

STORIES P.6

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS P.10

FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES

P.8P.7P.4

caLendarjanuary

8Teen Book ClubTime: 4:00-5:00 p.mLocaon: Central Library, Galleriesof Syracuse, 447 S. Salina St.Also Jan. 15, 22 & 29. Teens ingrades 7-12 can discuss great

reads. . Free. 435-1900.

9Carbon/John/DivisionNeighborhood Watch GroupTime: 6:30pmLocaon: TBADescriponThe NeighborhoodWatch Groups of Syracusemeeng schedule issubject to change. www.SyracuseNeighborhoodWatch.org. For more informaon,please contact Tony Borelli at(315) 448-8762 or email [email protected].

11Toddler Dance PartyTime: 10:30-11:30 a.m.Locaon: DeWi CommunityLibrary, Shoppingtown Mall (belowfood court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E.Children ages 18 months-5yearsand caregivers can comedance with friends, play musicalinstruments andblow bubbles. Free. 446-3578.

12Farmers Market at the CNYRegional Market

Time: 7am 2pmLocao: 2100 Park St.DescriponOpen year round. Alsoopen Thursdays 10-6 from May toNovember. For more informaon:cnyrma.com.

12Animlas ABCsTime: 12:00pmLocaon: White Branch Library -763 Buernut St.A Rosamond Giord Zoo staergives a presentaonthat features live animal visitors,animal arfacts and other fun;

bestfor birth to age 5, accompanied byan adult. Free. 315-435-3519.

12Toddlers TangoTime: 11 a.m.Locaon: Central Library, Galleriesof Syracuse - 447 S.Salina StToddlers and caregivers canhave a session of fun, music andmovement. Free. 435-1900.

12Marn Luther King Day MovieTime: 2:00 p.m.Akeelah and the Beea movieLocaon: Bes Branch Library,4862 S. Salina St.

Recommended by the NAACPpresident as honoring the legacyof the civilrights visionarywill be shown.Free. 435-1940.

12Drop In for LegosTime: 3:00-8:00 p.mLocaon: Liverpool Public Library -310 Tulip St.,Children ages 5-11 canbuild withLegos provided by the library.Parents welcome. Free. 457-0310.

16BFG Neighborhood Watch GroupTime: 6:30pmLocaon: Hillside Learning Center,Salt Springs Rd & East Ave.DescriponServes Bruce-Fenway-Genesee Park Drive area. Updatedschedules are posted throughoutthe month on the NeighborhoodWatch website at www.SyracuseNeighborhoodWatch.org. For more informaon,please contact Tony Borelli at(315) 448-8762 or email [email protected].

17A Journey Through Music of the

African Diaspora: AKUMA ROOTSTime: 7:00pmLocaon: 805 East Genesee StreetAkuma Roots is a Syracuse-basedreggae group that creates upbeat,body-moving music with sociallyconscious themes. This event isFREE open to the public.

26Robocs Workshop for KidsTime: 2:00 pmLocaon: Robert P. Kinchen CentralLibrary - 447 S. Salina StFree registraon required:Children and Adults

INFO: 315-435-1900 . Discoverthe science and technology of thefuture! Make your own RobotWalker. Materials provided. Limit30, for kids 7 and up. Childrenunder 7 must be accompanied byan adult.

Like Us!facebook.com/cnyvision


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By Stefanie DeLuca

WASHINGTON-Social sciensts andpolicy makers have long understoodthe harmful eects that living in highpoverty neighborhoods can haveon children and adults. Numerousstudies underscore the links betweenneighborhood disadvantage and ahost of social problems, includinghigh school dropout, infant mortality,cognive dicules, teenagechildbearing and exposure to violence.

These studies show that familiesliving in high poverty neighborhoodsface burdens beyond their individual

resource constraints in nding jobs,staying safe and raising children. Aerfalling during the decade of the 1990s,both the number of neighborhoodsof extreme concentrated poverty andthe number of people living in suchneighborhoods rose during the pastdecade, such that 10 percent of poorpeople now live in extremely highpoverty neighborhoods.

Starng in the 1990s, the federalgovernment signicantly reshapedhousing policy to address the problemof concentrated poverty. Recognizingthat public housing projects werecreang the very environments theywere designed to eliminate, Congress

authorized the HOPE VI program in1992. This program provided funding todemolish public housing complexes, inmany cases replacing them with mixedincome communies. While these newcommunies were intended to reducepoverty concentraon by encouragingmiddle class and poor families to sharethe same neighborhood, the HOPEVI program did not give residents aright to return to the redevelopedcommunity, and failed to provide one-for-one replacement of public housingunits. This contributed to a reduconthe naons supply of public housing,and also meant that many of theoriginal tenants would not be part ofthe newly developed community.

The families who did not or could notreturn to public housing aer HOPEVI joined the millions of poor familiesalready parcipang in the Departmentof Housing and Urban DevelopmentsHousing Choice Voucher (HCV)program. HCV (formerly Secon 8)

is the largest housing program in thecountry, subsidizing over 2.2 millionhouseholds, twice the number servedby tradional public housing projects.The voucher program provides tenantswith a rent subsidy which they canuse to lease any private-market unitrenng at or lower than 40-50 percentof the metropolitan area median rent.

Because vouchers are not aachedto specic developments, the HCVprogram should theorecally work todeconcentrate poverty by allowingpoor families to move to more auentneighborhoods than they wouldotherwise be able to aord.

Yet despite this potenal, voucherholders usually struggle to move outof poor neighborhoods -on the whole,they are no more likely to relocate tolow-poverty communies than poorrenters who do not receive federalhousing assistance. There are alsosignicant racial dierences in theprogram. Minority voucher usersare even less likely than whites tomove to beer communies, and theproporon of voucher recipients insuch neighborhoods shrinks whenrecipients are mostly black andunassisted households are mostlywhite. In sum, the HCV program fallsshort of its full potenal to facilitate

moves by low-income families out ofpoor neighborhoods.

A mul-year study of family dynamicsand housing mobility that weconducted in Mobile, Alabama helpsexplain why the program doesnt workas designed.

While the story of housing andsegregaon is well known in largerrust belt cies in the Northeast andMidwest, less is known about howthese processes play out in smallercies, and cies in the South. Almost aquarter of the HCV households in theMobile area live in the highest povertyneighborhoods. Between 2009 and

2012, we talked with more than 100low income African American familiesacross Mobile about the places theyhad lived in the past, their reasonsfor moving, and their neighborhoodcharacteriscs, children, nances, andfamily dynamics.

HUD VOUCHER PROGRAM FAILS TO RELOCATEFAMILIES FROM POOR NEIGHBORHOODS

* To read this editorial in its enrety please vist our website:www.cnyvision.com


4/12


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NYSDOT Grant Gives $388,001to City for Development of Neighborhood GreenwaysSyracuse, NY - The City of Syracuse hasbeen awarded a $388,001 grant fromthe New York State Department ofTransportaon to develop greenwaysconnecng neighborhoods andschools.

This grant is a terric opportunityto help develop this program andimplement it across the City ofSyracuse, said Syracuse MayorStephanie Miner. I am excited towitness the development of theinnovave greenways and watch

our neighborhoods become moreconnected and our children kept saferon their walk to school.

This funding will be used to establish1.25 miles of neighborhoodgreenwaysa rst in the Northeast.The greenways will connect theStrathmore, Elmwood, and Southsideneighborhoods, specically connecngthree schools: Bellevue, Roberts, andDanforth. Neighborhood greenwaysare low volume residenal roads thatprovide a safe walking and biking route

that connect to parks and schools.Trac calming intervenons are put inplace to discourage cars from cungthrough on these streets, keeping thestreets for local car use, as well aswalking and biking.

Its great to see kids be able to walkand bike safely to school, said ThirdDistrict Common Councilor BobDougherty. This encourages kids toget outside and exercise. I look forwardto the compleon of this project.

Safe Routes to Schools is a federaltransportaon program to helpkeep access roads safer for childrenwalking to schools. This is the secondme SRTS funding has been oered.Syracuse was also awarded a grantthrough the previous round of funding.That money was used for pedestrianimprovements, Americans withDisabilies Act upgrades, and signalupgrades around Ed Smith, Hughes,and McKinley-Brighton Schools.

Syracuses Sykes Named BIG EAST Rookie of the WeekFollowing her breakout 20-point,10-rebound performance leadingSyracuse to a 87-48 victory vs. BoiseState, Briney Sykes was named BIGEAST Rookie of the Week on Monday.The freshman guard is the Orangesrst BIG EAST Rookie of the Weeksince now-senior Kayla Alexander wonthe honor on Dec. 7, 2009.

Sykes recorded her rst double-doublewhile seng career-highs in pointsand rebounds, while shoong 9-of-13from the eld and adding three stealsin 22 minutes of play for the Orange asit improved to 12-1 on the season andran its home non-conference winningstreak to 53 games.

She is playing really physical, playingreally aggressive and geng up and

down the oor, head coach QuennHillsman said aer Sundays win. Ithink the key for her is geng to thebasket because she is a lot to take onwhen she is geng to the basket withher athlecism.

Sykes honor is the h weekly awardfor the Orange this season. Alexanderhas been named BIG EAST Player ofthe Week twice (Nov. 19 and Dec. 10)and to the honor roll once (Nov. 26),while freshman Brianna Butler wasnamed to the honor roll on Dec. 17.

Sykes is averaging 7.8 points and 5.1rebounds per game and has startedin 12 of 13 contests for HillsmansOrange. The 2012 McDonalds All-

American has come on strong of late,averaging 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 steals, while shoong 51percent over the last four games, all

home victories for SU.

Syracuse to Purchase New Parking Pay Staon ModemsSYRACUSE, N.Y. The City of SyracuseDepartment of Public Works January4th announced the city will purchase

new modems for all 270 parking paystaons.

The modems are being purchased asa soluon to keep the current systemof parking pay staons operaonaland accepng credit cards. The newmodems will cost $250 each for a totalof $67,500.

This cost-eecve soluon will keepour pay staons funconal, accepngcredit cards and communicang with

our back oce operaons, and allowsus to connue exploring our oponsfor future upgrades to the system,said Pete OConnor, Commissioner ofthe Department of Public Works.

Ocials say the city opted to makethis purchase aer receiving bidsfrom a number of companies for

installing an enrely new system ofpay staons. The bids, each for athree year period cosng over $2

million, did not adequately meet thecitys specicaons. Earlier this year,the current provider of pay staonsannounced their third party wirelessprovider planned to change theirsystems requiring the City of Syracuseto upgrade the technology or risk losingthe ability to accept credit cards andwireless back oce communicaon

links, the city said in a statement tomedia.

Ocials say the city plans to connueinvesgang the opons goingforward, including future bids, leasing,and overall privazaon of the parkingsystem.

Dr. Weeks Elementaryschool ReopensDr. Edwin Weeks Elementary School,closed for a year and a half is reopeningaer a $29 million renovaon project.

The school, located at Hawley Avenuein Syracuse, has been shuered sinceJune 2011 and wil l reopen Wednesday.

Built in the 1970s, the school wasgued and rebuilt. There will be more

windows and classrooms will featureup-to-date smart boards.

The school is 1 of 4 that the district hasrenovated or is renovang through ajoint city-school district eort. Othersin phase one are the Instute ofTechnology high school, Fowler HighSchool and H.W. Smith school.

Briney SykesPhoto courtesy: Syracuse University


5/12


STATECuomo commission seeks longer school day, yearA commission tasked with nding waysto improve New Yorks public school

system on Wednesday recommendedlonger teaching days and academicyears, teacher competency exams,more pre-kindergarten, districtconsolidaons and the recruitment oftop high school and college graduatesas educators.

Many of the preliminaryrecommendaons by Gov. AndrewCuomos NY Educaon ReformCommission have been proposedbefore but have been blocked by policsor lack of funding, obstacles that sllremain, Cuomo acknowledged.

Other ideas are already in place tosome degree and should be expanded,commissioners said, including usingschools to address health, mentalhealth and other social needs.

The problem New York confronts, weconcluded, is how to replicate theseexamples of excellence in every schooldistrict in New York; how do we createa statewide system of public educaonthat ensures that every child will havethe opportunity to get an educaonthat will enable them to achieve theirtrue potenal? commission ChairmanRichard Parsons wrote in deliveringthe panels interim report to Cuomo.

The report was draed aer 11hearings throughout the state andtesmony from more than 300 people.

While the commissions nal reportisnt expected unl September, thegovernor might back some of the earlyproposals in his State of the Statespeech next week. He said he wantedme to study the report before sayingwhich ones.

The commission noted that Finlandrecruits the top 10 percent of collegegraduates into teaching, while the

U.S. draws from the boom third orhalf. New York, the report said, should

raise admissions requirements forthose pursing educaon careers andestablish an entry exam like thosetaken by lawyers and doctors.

Richard Iannuzzi, president of the NewYork State United Teachers union,said the commissions ndings arein line with the American Federaonof Teachers recent call for an examfor future teachers as part of amore universal approach to teacherpreparaon.

It really starts with a culture in acountry, Iannuzzi said. Finland isa great example of a culture whichplaces such value on educaon and onteaching as a profession that the bestof the best candidates want to be partof it.

Syracuse City School DistrictSuperintendent Sharon Contrerasreleased a statement in support of theiniave. In the Syracuse City SchoolDistrict we share the Commissionsvision of improving educaon forall students, she said. As a partof our 5-year strategic plan, GreatExpectaons, we are commiedto expanding Career and TechnicalEducaon (CTE) oerings, graduangstudents who are college and careerready, implemenng an approvedteacher evaluaon plan, engagingdistrict parents and families andaracng highly-eecve teachers toour classrooms.

Cuomo organized the commissionof business leaders, educators andparents in April 2012, nong that NewYork spends more money per studentthan any other state but ranks 39th inhigh school graduaon rates. About73 percent of New Yorks studentsgraduate from high school.

I think the management of thesystem can be improved. I dont thinkwere geng our moneys worth fromthe current system, Cuomo saidWednesday. I dont think we measureit. I dont think weve held peopleaccountable.

The ndings are in line with the stateBoard of Regents ongoing reformagenda and its goal of preparing everyhigh school graduate for college or

a career, Regents Chancellor MerrylTisch said.

The recommendaons also drewpraise from various advocacygroups, including the Alliance forQuality Educaon, which singledout the proposal to expand full-daypre-kindergarten programs, andMassachuses-based Time to Succeed,which backed a recommendaon toexpand the school day and year toraise student performance.

This is a huge step for New York andfor New York school kids, Luis Ubinas,president of the Ford Foundaon andco-chairman of Time to Succeed, saidin a statement.

But the New York State Associaon ofSchool Business Ocials worried thereport didnt idenfy ways districtswould pay for the expanded learninginiaves. Execuve Director MichaelBorges said other recommendaons

would come with added reporngrequirements that would increase theburden on school business ocialsat a me when the report says backoce operaons should be furtherconsolidated.___Associated Press writer MichaelGormley contributed to this report.

Advocates for NY poor want minimum wage hikeALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A raise in theminimum wage will be a major focusof the 23rd annual Peoples State ofthe State rally this week.

Mark Dunlea of the Hunger AconNetwork says hes hoping that Gov.Andrew Cuomos State of the Stateaddress on Wednesday will call for

raising the minimum wage to $10an hour. Dunlea says the Assemblysminimum wage proposal isnt enough.

The Peoples State of the State rally isscheduled for Tuesday at noon at theCapitol.

Besides raising the minimum wage, key

issues for 2013 will include increasingfunding for emergency food, endingchildhood hunger, fair taxes andcampaign nance reform.

Aer the event, the group will deliver aPeoples Litmus Test for the upcomingsession to Senate Majority LeaderDean Skelos.

Teachers union outraged over NYC mayors remarkNEW YORK (AP) -- The teachers unionis outraged over Mayor MichaelBloombergs comparison of its union

to groups like the Naonal RieAssociaon.

The American Federal of Teachers

is demanding an apology from themayor.

Bloomberg made the statement onhis weekly radio show Friday. He wastalking about stalled negoaons on anew teacher evaluaon plan.

He asserted that most teachers dontagree with their union.

Then he said: The NRA is anotherplace where the membership, if youdo the polling, doesnt agree with theleadership.

On Sunday, Bloombergs oce toldThe New York Times that the mayorwas merely reiterang his posion that

the union is a special-interest groupfocused on advancing its agenda.


6/12


Black Press Stories of 2012Foretell Connued Struggle for JusceBy Hazel Trice Edney

(TriceEdneyWire.com) Americaprepares to commemorate 50 yearssince the 1963 March on Washingtonfor Jobs and Freedom on August 28,2013. But, most stories that dominatedthe Black Press in 2012 foretold aconnued quest for racial jusce.

The killing of Trayvon Marn; thecontempt vote against AorneyGeneral Eric Holder; the Black joblessrate; the ght to maintain vongrights; the contenous re-elecon bidof President Barack Obama and therebirth of the debate on gun violencewere just a few of the headlined topicsin 2012. They reminded America thatBlack America has yet to overcome.The following is a synopsis of some ofthe top stories:

The Economy: As 2012 wound down,President Obama and leading membersof Congress negoated intensely toavoid the so-called scal cli thesimultaneous occurrence of sizabletax hikes and deep spending cuts.Regardless of the outcome, African-Americans remain in double digitunemployment rates and connueas the racial group that has sueredthe highest unemployment, lostmost wealth and experienced moreforeclosures during the economicdownturn. A group of African-American organizaonal heads,convened by Naonal Urban LeaguePresident/CEO Marc Morial, says theywill hold the President accountablefor protecng the interests of African-American, his most loyal supporters.

Gun Violence: The naon united ingrief over 20 rst-graders and seveneducators killed by mass murdererAdam Lanza, who had also killed hismother before killing himself Dec.14. The shoongs at Sandy HookElementary brought tears to PresidentBarack Obama, reigning an old debateover gun laws and mental healthcare. The discussions are escalangas Vice President Joe Biden will heada commiee to suggest possible newlegislaon. Representaves of thepowerful gun lobby, the Naonal RieAssociaon, have called for an armedguard in every school. The tragedy hasalso shed light on gun violence anddeaths of children in cies across thenaon, including in President Obamashometown of Chicago. There, at least500 homicides occurred in 2012.Of those deaths, at least 270 wereteenagers or children.

Re-elecon of President Obama:Concluding a nail biter of an eleconthat praccally spellbound the naon,President Barack Obama was re-elected in a decisive Electoral Collegevote of 332 to 206 against formerMassachuses Gov. Mi Romney on

Nov. 6. As in his historic 2008 victoryas the naons rst African-Americanpresident, Obama again won with atleast 95 percent of the Black vote.

Voter Suppression: As Americaapproached the Nov. 6 elecon,46 states introduced laws thatwould require voters to show photoidencaon, proof of cizenship ora birth cercate in order to vote.Legislators claimed the measureswould prevent voter fraud. But civilrights leaders scoed and decriedthe new laws as suppression andinmidaon taccs that could havedisenfranchised as many as ve millionAmericans. Because of the diligenceof key civil rights organizaons suchas the NAACP, the Naonal Coalionon Black Voter Parcipaon, and theLawyers Commiee for Civil RightsUnder Law, the apparent plot wasexposed and thwarted.

Rodney King Dies: The accidentaldrowning death of 47-year-old RodneyKing on June 17, 2012 shocked thenaon. King, who died in a swimmingpool at a home that he shared withhis anc, had become a symbol ofcivil rights 20 years aer Los Angelespolice viciously beat him during avideotaped trac stop March 2,1991. Naonal outrage and six daysof riong broke out when the policeocers where inially allowed to walkfree. The publicity surrounding Kingssudden death was a stark reminderof inequies that connue againstAfrican-Americans in the criminaljusce system.

Killing of Trayvon Marn: The February26 shoong death of Trayvon Marnhas become the quintessenal symbolof racial proling. A Florida judge hasset a date of June 10, 2013, for the trial

of George Zimmerman on charges ofsecond-degree murder in the shoong.The unarmed 17-year-old was killedas he walked in a gated Sanfordcommunity toward his fathers house.He was wearing a hoodie, carrying abag of skiles and a can of iced tea.Zimmerman, 29, a self-appointedneighborhood watchman has pleadednot guilty on grounds of self-defense.He claims Marn aacked him aerhe called police reporng a suspiciousyouth in the neighborhood.

Death of Whitney Houston: Itwas undoubtedly the biggestentertainment news of 2012. On theeve of the 54th Grammy Awards in LosAngeles on Feb. 11, Whitney Houston,a six-me Grammy Award winner andone of the most celebrated arsts inmusic history, was found dead. TheLos Angeles County coroners ocedetermined that she died of drowningas a result of cocaine use. But, somesll contend foul play and possiblymurder. Compounding the shock, herdeath came just before the releaseof her nal starring role in the lm,Sparkle, which opened in August.

U. S. Supreme Court UpholdsAordable Care Act: ConservaveChief Jusce John Roberts was thedeciding jusce in a 5-4 vote to upholdPresident Barack Obamas staplelegislaon, nicknamed Obamacareon June 28. Despite arguments thatU. S. cizens cannot be mandated toobtain health care, Roberts invokedthat the law is constuonal as a tax.The ruling was a major relief to theObama campaign.

Aorney General Eric Holder Foundin Contempt of Congress: The rstAfrican-American to serve as aorneygeneral, Holder was found in contempt

of Congress June 28 by a largely parsanvote of 255-67. Seventeen Democratsvoted in favor of the measure, andtwo Republicans voted against it.Holder was found in contempt inconnecon with an invesgaon intoa tacc called Fast and Furious, inwhich authories tracked weaponspurchased by gun trackers withoutimmediately intercepng them.Holder was quesoned over his refusalto turn over documents that showedhow the Jusce Department reactedto the invesgaon and the loss ofmore than 1,000 tracked weapons.Furious over the contempt vote, theCongressional Black Caucus and otherleading Democrats walked out of thevote in protest. In all, 108 Democratsincluding minority leader Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) and Civil Rights Era icon JohnLewis (D-Ga.) joined the protest.

Connued Fallout from HazingDeath of Robert Champion: Falloutconnued throughout 2012 followingthe Nov. 19, 2011 hazing death ofFlorida A&M University drum majorRobert Champion. In February, anaonal coalion of educaonal,clerical and journalisc leaders starteda movement to end hazing and othertypes of violence on historically Blackcollege campuses. In October, FAMUPresident James Ammons resignedaer Champions parents, Pam andRobert Champion Sr., led a lawsuitagainst the university. Just last week,a 32-page report was released by theFlorida Board of Governors InspectorGenerals Oce. According to theAssociated Press, it concludes thatFAMU lacked internal controls toprevent or detect hazing, cing a lack ofcommunicaon among top universityocials, the police department andthe oce responsible for discipliningstudents.

NATIONAL


7/12


Time Warner Cable DroppedCurrentTV as Soon as It Was Sold to Al JazeeraBy Dasheil Benne

Within hours of CurrentTV ociallybeing sold to Al JazeeranengAl Gore a cool $100 millionTimeWarner Cable pulled the network fromits channel lineups. Apparently, TimeWarner didnt even wait unl lastnights programming day was over toyank Current from its service, decidingto pull the plug (at least in the NewYork City market) before the end ofEliot Spitzers nightly show.

The network did not give an ocialreason for the move, but many havespeculated that its simply prejudice

against the new owners, who arebased in Doha, Qatar, and have seentheir fair share of controversy overthe years. The Middle East-focusedAl Jazeera began as an Arabic-onlynetwork, before adding a Englishlanguage version, and has beenaccused in the past of a decidedly an-American bias and even of sympathyfor terrorist organizaons. More thana decade aer the September 11aacks rst brought the network tothe aenon of most Americans, anddespite its impressive coverage of theArab Spring in 2011, those stereotypessll persist.

Most U.S. cable companies sll refuseto carry Al Jazeera English, althoughthanks to an unusual sublet dealwith another network, it is actuallyavailable on Time Warnerbut onlypart me and only in New York City.As for Current, Time Warner hadpreviously announced that its carriagecontract with Current had expiredand that it was expecng to be moreruthless about dropping networks thatget poor rangs. (Current averages apaltry 42,000 viewers a night.) Thatcould mean that Current got whatwas coming to it, or that Time Warnermerely wants to renegoate its contactwith the new owners, who do plan to

completely remake Currents formatinto Al Jazeera America.

However, when announcing the saleto his employees, Current CEO JoelHya specically noted that TimeWarner did not consent to the saleto Al Jazeera suggesng that reasonwas about more than business. All ofCurrents other providers will connueto honor their carriage deals.

In reporng on the sale, Brian Stelter ofThe New York Times wrote that formerVice President Al Gore had personallylobbied the providers to support thesale, since the carriage agreements

are what Al Jazeera was actuallybuying. Even without the blessing ofTime Warner, Gore will reportedlymake $100 million for his 20 percentstake in the company. Unfortunately,he wasnt able to get the deal donebefore December 31, meaning he will

have to pay the higher post-scal clitax rates.

Source: The Atlanc Wire

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to Step DownBy Zenitha Prince

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - LisaJackson, the rst African-Americanadministrator of the EnvironmentalProtecon Agency, is stepping downearly next year, she announced Dec.27.

Jackson, 50, a chemical engineer bytraining, did not give any reasonsfor her departure, saying only thatshe would leave President Obamas

cabinet aer his State of the Unionspeech.

I want to thank President Obama forthe honor he bestowed on me and thecondence he placed in me four yearsago this month when he announcedmy nominaon as Administrator ofthe Environmental Protecon Agency,Jackson said in a statement. I willleave the EPA condent the ship issailing in the right direcon, and readyin my own life for new challenges, mewith my family and new opportuniesto make a dierence.

In a statement President Obama calledJackson an important part of my

team and wished her the best in thefuture.

Jacksons four-year tenure has been

one of several highs and many lows.She entered the agency with hopes ofsweeping reforms to combat climatechange and other environmental ills.But much of those plans were stymiedby an oen hosle Republican Congressand fuel industry, and even the WhiteHouse itself, which abandoned itsplans for large-scale environmentalreform under the pressures of theeconomy and its re-elecon eort.

A cap-and-trade bill that would have

limited climate-altering emissionspassed the House but was abandonedaer it stalled in the Senate in 2010. Aproposed policy to change the standardof ozone polluon was withdrawn in2011 as President Obama said the tollwould be too onerous for companiesand local governments to bear in thesll tough economy.

Jackson has had some signicantvictories, however, most notably thending that carbon dioxide and othergreenhouse gases meet the criteriaof pollutants under the Clean AirAct has led to new stricter emissionsstandards for cars and light trucks. Thepolicy will double the fuel eciency of

those vehicles over the next decade,but it also opens the door for similaremissions policy reform for industries.

While Jackson has been cricizedby environmental groups forcompromising, Black environmentaland public health advocates havepraised her eorts to improve thehealth of every American.

Administrator Lisa Jackson has beenan unwavering advocate in the ghtto protect all communies froman onslaught of polluon, NAACPPresident and CEO Benjamin ToddJealous said in a statement. Her

work nalizing the Mercury and AirToxic rules and soot standards willhelp lessen the risk of heart aacks,strokes, asthma aacks, birth defects,and bronchis for families living nearcoal-red power plants. We applaudher for her dedicated leadership.We encourage President Obama tonominate a successor to AdministratorJackson that will maintain andbuild upon her legacy of courage,commitment, and inclusion.

As many African Americans and othervulnerable communies connue tobe disproporonately aected by airpolluon and other environmentalhazards, Ms. Jackson is commied

to making environmental equalityand jusce a priority, CongressionalBlack Caucus Chairman Rep. EmanuelCleaver, (D-Mo.) said in a statement.

I applaud her for her eorts andknow the Obama Administraonwill connue to build upon thefoundaon shes laid through her vastaccomplishments.

Lisa Jackson, above, the rst blackwoman to head the Environmental

Protecon Agency

NATIONAL


8/12


POLITICSObama taps Hagel for Pentagon, Brennan for CIABy JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) President BarackObama on Monday will nominateChuck Hagel as his next defensesecretary and counterterrorism adviserJohn Brennan to lead the CentralIntelligence Agency, two potenallycontroversial picks for his second-termnaonal security team.

Hagel, even before being nominated,has faced tough cricism fromcongressional lawmakers who saythe former GOP senator is an-Israeland so on Iran. And Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, withdrew fromconsideraon for the spy agencystop job in 2008 amid quesons abouthis connecon to harsh interrogaontechniques used during the George W.Bush administraon.

The White House said Obama willannounce both nominaons Mondayaernoon. Along with secretaryof state nominee Sen. John Kerry,D-Mass., Hagel and Brennan wouldplay key roles implemenng andshaping Obamas naonal securitypriories in a second term. All threemen must be conrmed by the Senate.

In nominang Hagel, Obama signaledhe is willing to take on a toughconrmaon ght. Once Hagelemerged as Obamas likely nominee,GOP lawmakers began sharplyquesoning his commitment to Israeland his willingness to take a hard linewith Iran over its disputed nuclearprogram.

Hagel, a 66-year-old moderateNebraska Republican, has cricizeddiscussion of a military strike by eitherthe U.S. or Israel against Iran. He alsoirritated some Israel backers with hisreference to the Jewish lobby inthe United States. And he has backedeorts to bring Iran to the table forfuture peace talks in Afghanistan.

White House ocials say Hagelsposions on Israel and Iran havebeen misrepresented. They cite hisSenate votes for billions in militaryassistance to Israel and his support formullateral sancons on Tehran.

Ben Rhodes, Obamas deputy naonalsecurity adviser, said Hagel will becompletely in line with the presidenton both issues.

The president has a record ofunprecedented security cooperaonwith Israel and thats going to connueno maer who the defense secretaryis, Rhodes said.

The Naonal Jewish DemocracCouncil said Monday that while ithas expressed concern in the pastabout Hagel, the group expects himto following the presidents leadin providing unrivaled support forIsrael.

President Barack Obamasunprecedented pro-Israel credenals

are unquesonable, and seng policystarts and stops with the president,the group said in a statement.

But Ma Brooks, execuve director ofthe Republican Jewish Coalion, saidHagels appointment would be a slapin the face for every American who isconcerned about the safety of Israel.

Hagel has also been cricized by someDemocrats for saying in 1998 thata nominee for an ambassador postwas openly, aggressively gay. He hassince apologized for those comments.

Hagel is the second straight Obamafavorite for a top naonal securitypost to face cricism from Capitol Hilleven before being nominated. UnitedNaons Ambassador Susan Ricewithdrew her name from consideraonfor secretary of state amid chargesfrom GOP senators that she misled thepublic in her inial accounng of theaacks on Americans at a diplomacpost in Benghazi, Libya.

Obama returned to the White Houseon Sunday aer a truncated familyholiday in Hawaii. His week will alsoinclude a visit from Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai. And theres a bruisingght with Congress over spendingand the federal decit on the horizon,just days aer Obama and Congressaverted the scal cli with a last-minute deal over the New Yearsholiday. But rounding out his naonalsecurity team in his rst project.

Both Hagel and Brennan have closerelaonships with Obama, who valuesloyalty in his inner circle. Brennan, asthe presidents top counterterrorismadviser, was deeply involved in theplanning of the 2011 raid that killedSept. 11 mastermind Osama binLaden. And he has led administraoneorts to quell the growth of terrororganizaons in Yemen and elsewherein the Middle East and North Africa.

Brennan, 57, spent a quarter-centuryat the CIA. He served as staon chief inSaudi Arabia and in a variety of posts,including deputy execuve director,during the Bush administraon.

His tenure at the agency during Bushspresidency drew cricism from liberalswhen Obama considered naming himCIA director aer the 2008 elecon.Brennan denied being involved in whatthe government called enhancedinterrogaon techniques during theBush administraon, but sll withdrewhis name from consideraon.

In a leer to Obama at the me,Brennan said he was a strongopponent of many of the policiesof the Bush administraon, suchas the pre-empve war in Iraq andcoercive interrogaon taccs, toinclude waterboarding. Many peopleconsider waterboarding and otherharsh interrogaon methods to betorture.

White House ocials say they dont

expect Brennan to face similar troublethis me around given his four years ofservice in the Obama administraon.

The issue has been removed from thedebate because the president and JohnBrennan, as his top counterterrorismadviser, brought those techniques toan end, Rhodes said.

However, Brennans nominaonwill likely put a spotlight on theadministraons controversial drone

program. Brennan was the rst Obamaadministraon ocial to publiclyacknowledge the highly secrevetargeted killing operaons.

Brennan has defended the legality ofthe overseas drone operaons and hassaid they protect American lives andprevent potenal terror aacks.

If conrmed, Brennan will succeedDavid Petraeus, who resigned inNovember aer adming to an aairwith his biographer.

Deputy CIA director Michael Morellhas been serving as the agencysacng director since Petraeus resigned

and was considered by Obama for thetop job. Rhodes said Morell will aendMondays White House event and isexpected to stay at the CIA.

Hagel would replace rering Pentagonchief Leon Panea at a me whenthe Defense Department is facingpotenally deep budget cuts. Hagelwould also be tasked with overseeingthe military drawdown in Afghanistan,where the U.S.-led war is scheduled toend in two years.

Hagel is likely to support a morerapid withdrawal of U.S. troops fromAfghanistan than some militarygenerals.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the topSenate Republican, said Sunday hewas reserving judgment on whetherto support Hagel but predicted the

former senator would face seriousquesons.

Any nominee must have a fullunderstanding of our close relaonshipwith our Israeli allies, the Iranianthreat and the importance of havinga robust military, McConnell said onABCs This Week.

The second-ranking SenateRepublican, John Cornyn of Texas,said in a statement that making Hagel

defense secretary would be the worstpossible message we could send to ourfriend Israel and the rest of our allies inthe Middle East.

Some congressional Democrats alsoshare the GOP concerns, includingMaryland Sen. Ben Cardin, who calledthe pick controversial and said Hagelneeds to clarify his comments on Iranand Israel.

There are Democrats including thissenator who have quesons that haveto be answered before I can supporthim, Cardin said in an interview withCurrent TVs Bill Press Show. Headded that the Senate will probably

conrm Hagel.

While Hagel will face opposion,Democrats privately say they do notforesee a long, protracted ght similarto what President George H.W. Bushfaced in 1989 when he selected formerSen. John Tower to serve as defensesecretary. Democrats led the charge insculing that nominaon, a rare defeatfor a new president. Quesons aboutTowers drinking and womanizing sankhis nominaon.

Mondays nominaons leave Obamawithout a woman in line for a topadministraon post, a fact that hasirked some Democrac women. The

president will soon name a newtreasury secretary, but current WhiteHouse chief of sta Jack Lew is thefront-runner for the post.

Chuck Hagel


9/12


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10/12


I recently took a visit to Power105.1 in New York City, preparingto do a short interview witha show called The BreakfastClub. This show is one of thestrongest emerging hip-hopshows in the country and fromwhat I understand, Power 105.1is arguably the leading hip-hopstaon in New York City.

While I sat in the lobby, I heardthat the new arst TrinidadJames had just stopped by the

studio to do an interview. Trinidad is an interesng

character (and I emphasize the word character),something out of a 1920s minstrel show. Justimagine Flavor Flav, mixed with Romie Rome fromthe TV show Marn, carrying a machine gun,wearing polyester pajamas. James hit single AllGold Everything is so pathecally ignant that itmakes the rapper 2Chainz look like President BarackObama.

While I sat in the lobby, the well-respected DJ Envyhappened to walk by. I dont know Envy all that welland have only interacted with him when I was onPower in the past. But I asked him a quick queson:Hey man, what do you think about Trinidad James?

Envy, being the quick-thinker that he is, instantlysaid, I think hes dope.

He then elaborated a bit: Well, think of it this way.He could be out robbing people or dealing drugs,and instead hes making music.

Envy makes a good point and I respect his point ofview. Even the worst arsts are living lives that arefar safer and more producve than they could beliving in the streets. It is dicult to deny that makingcorny, psychologically-destrucve music might notbe as bad as running up in a strangers house andblowing his brains out. Agreed..kinda. But theother interesng fact is that Id read that Trinidad

James wasnt robbing people before he startedrapping. He actually worked in a shoe store. So, ifhe wasnt busy turning our kids brains into mashedpotatoes for money, he would probably be helpingpeople t Nikes onto their feet. Hes not a realgangster, rapping about his experience in the street;hes a studio gangster, promong imagery and alifestyle that kills black men like roaches.

But heres the more subtle point that I hope Envy andothers might try to understand: Its hard to excuse amans behavior by simply poinng out worse thingsthat he could be doing. I cant imagine a man goingto court and saying, Your honor, I know I murderedthe woman, yes. But I could have raped and tortured

her before the murder and I also decided not to killher dog. So, that makes what Im doing ok, right?

The fact is that Trinidad James and arsts like himare dangerous for several reasons, which I wont gointo right now (I spoke on this extensively in my lastshort book). But we should all be skepcal aboutindustries that have become highly determined toprovide millions of dollars to promote messages thatare destrucve to the thinking of young black men.When I met with Min. Louis Farrakhan last week, healluded to various forces within the music industrywho some believe may be pushing these messagesso that their prisons can remain lled with blackmen. As a Finance Professor who knows capitalism,I can say that economic incenves have been theroot of some of the most dastardly agendas inAmerican history, so Farrakhans point is not out of

the queson.

Anyone who watches Trinidads video will see thestandard imagery of black male self-destrucon:Drugs, guns, references to s*xual promiscuity, druguse and excessive alcohol consumpon. This doesnteven menon the obsession with meaninglessmaterialism, which reminds me of how NBA starAllen Iverson is now broke aer owing hundredsof thousands of dollars that he spent on jewelry.Wealthy people invest this kind of money into realestate and businesses, but we somehow think it

makes sense to spend this much money on jewelry.

We also know about the numbers of black men whoget killed each year during some incident involvinga night club, like Dallas Cowboys player Jerry Brownand Jevon Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs (whomurdered himself and his girlfriend aer a night ofdrinking). There are also the recent murders of therappers Yung Teddy and Lil Jojo, along with countlessother homicides and incarceraons that dont makethe evening news. These deaths are just the p of theiceberg, they happen every week, and we should bedisgusted by the fact that no one is saying anythingabout it. Much of this thinking is promoted throughcommercialized hip-hop, which teaches black men

that a brother with a diamond and a machine gunis beer o than the brother with a textbook and aplan. I reject this noon enrely.

The point is to say that we should stop celebrangblack men who simply choose not to be the worstthat they can be. Instead, we should encourageour men to be the best that they can be. Thereis nothing about the existence of Trinidad Jamesthat elevates the existence of black people, thisfact is undeniable. Also, when you consider howmany millions of young boys are being persuadedto engage in acons that will banish them toprison, the morgue or the unemployment line, youunderstand why psychological control is the greatestway to convince a people to destroy themselves. Byglamorizing acons that lead to nothing but deathand destrucon, we are turning our good apples

into bad ones, and connecng our people to thelowest common denominator. This is the recipe forgenocide.

--------------------------------------------Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at SyracuseUniversity and author of the book, CommercializedHip-Hop: The Gospel of Self Destrucon.

dr. Boyce

Watkins

FROM THE Boyce BLOG

What About Me?The black woman the backbone of a people; but who is liing her up?

OPINION/EDITORIAL The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do notnecessarily represent the position or viewpoint of MRMG or CNY Vision

Not Being the Worst You

Can Be Does Not Make You Posive

What about me? How do I keepme in the forefront of my mindwith all of lifes distracons?

Once you start asking thisqueson it opens your mind tonew beginnings.

Aer I had my daughter I foundmyself lost in the sauce of li fe. Itold myself I was concentrangon being a good mother. I letgo of everything that mademe Danielle. I turned my focus

to what I believed was societys expectaon ofmotherly behavior.

Needless to say I quickly got burnt out. I started toexperience anxiety, and depression. I had to learnhow to be me again. This was not an easy task. I amsll geng back to me.

I started with taking a belly dancing class. I thenmoved on to updang my skills in Microso Excelby taking a class. Finally, I started taking annualtrips with my girlfriends to see dierent parts of thecountry.

My focus now is to be comfortable in my own skin.I occasionally go to the movies alone and enjoyspending me with me.

We are so busy trying to please everyone aroundus instead of ourselves. Ask yourself the quesonWhat about me?

We push our children toward their dreams butrefuse to live ours. What if I took that Yoga or BellyDancing class? What if I went back to school for that

degree? What about me?

Stop living life for everyone around you and startliving your best life. God created us with a purposeand plan in mind. That means you were created to

be unique not ordinary.

Write down three things you would do if it wasguaranteed that you would accomplish them. Takethe rst step to achieving them. Set your mind onaccomplishing them one item at a me. You will lighta re in yourself that no one can exnguish.

What about me?

Please visit our website for feedback or advicewww.cnyvision.com

--------------------------------------------Danielle Frazer is a graduate of SUNY Albany andLemoyne College. She holds a BA of Arts and a Mastersin Educaon. She has been published previously in

The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, TN. Daniellecurrently works at Upstate Medical University. She isa member of People AME Zion Church.

danieLLe

fraZier


11/12


Why Obama Must Stand Firm on Taxing the Wealthy

OPINION/EDITORIALThe views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do notnecessarily represent the position or viewpoint of MRMG or CNY Vision

With rights like these...

THE YEAR IN REVIEW: U.S. &GHANA RE-ELECT PRESIDENTSTWO DEMOCRACIES AT WORKEdited - GMBy Ko Quaye

Two major events took place inthe world of polics this yearthat seem to have nothing incommon at rst glance. Yet,a closer look at some of thefundamental elements reveals

a number of striking similaries.

The rst is the re-elecon of President Barack Obamain the United States. The second is the elecon ofPresident Mahama of Ghana.

So what does the presidenal elecon in the mostpowerful country in the world have to do with apresidenal elecon in an African country that mostAmericans know lile or nothing about?

A number of factors emerge as highly signicant interms of the role they played in the nal outcome ofboth elecons.

For one, both elecons featured two incumbents.President Obama sought a second term. So didPresident Mahama of Ghana. And both placedconsiderable emphasis on their record in oceduring their rst term in oce.

The signicance of both elecons comes into sharperfocus when viewed in the context of the impact theywould have on the world.

President Obama is the leader of a countryacknowledged around the globe for its adherenceto the principles of democracy that include freedomof speech, the press, recognion of human rightsand other principles that seek and promote humandignity.

That the United States is the worlds super power isbeyond queson.

Ghana, a much smaller country on the West Africancoast has developed a tradion of praccing ademocrac form of government based on theAmerican model and has succeeded in maintaininga considerable degree of polical stability in a partof the world that has seen immense changes overthe years.

The argument has also been made that Ghana isone of the most economically developed Africancountries today.

What was at stake in the Ghana elecon was notnecessarily just the selecon of another leaderfor that country. The larger queson was: Woulddemocracy prevail?

In many ways, Ghana represents democracy atwork in Africa and a record of polical stability thatappears to have been made possible by a decision tosck to a democrac form of government.

Victory did not come easy for either president.President Obama wanted the American peopleto re-elect him so he could nish the job he hadstarted. He needed more than one term to completethe dierent programs he had put in place to revivethe economy, reduce the naonal debt, and makethe country stronger.

So did President Mahama of Ghana. He soughtanother term for basically the same reasons; to nishwhat his government had began in its rst term.

They faced the same problem; an implacable foewho was ready to do anything to win. PresidentObama had Mi Romney and President Mahama ofGhana had the leader of the opposion to contendwith. His name is Nana Akuo-Addo. PresidentObama and his sta knew from the beginning that itwould be a major bale. Romney had emerged as aformidable opponent with access to huge resources.

To become the Republican Party nominee, he hadto defeat a number of presidenal hopefuls thatincluded men and women of high caliber, all of themarculang policy iniaves that aimed at convincingthe American people that they could do a beer jobthan their opponents.

The popular media characterized the race as tooclose to call, predicng it would go down the wire.And it did with nail bing suspense. On Elecon Day,sll no one had any idea what the outcome wouldbe, unl the polls closed, and the rest is history.

Not even aer the candidates had spent a recordamount of over a billion dollars did it seem to havegoen them to a point where either of them, or themedia could claim to know the results before hand.

Similarly in Ghana, the outcome was not easy topredict unl the very end. When the votes werecounted, the winner was the incumbent JohnDramani Mahama. Like President Obama, incumbent

Ghanaian president Mahama was pied against aseasoned polician who had made it perfectly clearthat he had on intenon of losing. His opponent,Nana Akuo-Addo, a name widely known in policalcircles in Africa, had been in previous presidenalcontests and had emerged as arculate, gutsy, and aserious candidate with the potenal to win.

Americans heaved a huge sigh of relief aer theelecons, not so much for the re-elecon ofpresident Obama, than for the fact that the biercampaigning had come to an end, paving the way forDemocrats and Republicans to get together and geton with the process of making laws for the countryand taking care of all other business on behalf of thepeople of the United States.

Most Ghanaians, and to a certain degree, Africans onthe connent and the world over also heaved a sighof relief that the Ghana presidenal elecons endedwith the re-elecon of John Dramani Mahama. Atleast, democracy appeared to have prevailed onceagain and Ghanas posion as one of the most stablecountries in Africa remains intact.

More importantly, it signies that democracy andfree elecons exist in Africa, making President JohnDramani Mahama a signicant player in globalpolics. His charisma has not gone unnoced. Sonow we have two charismac leaders Obama andMahama, (dont the two names rhyme somewhat),on the world stage. All we can do is wait to see whathappens.

--------------------------Ko Quaye has been a Syracuse resident for more than30 years. He is a writer, author and publisher. Overthe years, he has been involved with the publicationof several African American focused newspapers in

Syracuse.

kofi quaye

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12/12


cny vision, week of january 3, 2013

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