North Carolina's Public School Re-Segregation Crisis,
NAACP Chairman Ben Jealous' Upcoming N.C. Visit,
How Division Within Black Communities Threatens To Destroy Our Future & Foundation,
Black Christians & Muslims Working Together.
Effective Leaders Are Supposed To Lead By Example, Guide, Exhort, Educate, Encourage, Motivate & Protect NOT Force! Black Leaders R Accountable To Their Constituents/ Voters.
Love Conquers All; Love Never Fails. Let's Stop Fighting & Work Together.
Pres. Obama's "Clean Energy & Green Jobs" Initiative is taking off. So if you are an Entrepreneur put in your bids for "Clean & Green Job" contracts.
In the mean time check out all three videos below of how Newark, NJ Gov't officials, residents and Educators are learning how to embrace Clean Energy, Green Jobs and create Urban Gardens all over the city.
Urban Farming just might be the next big money maker.
Pres. Obama's "Clean & Green Jobs" Initiative is taking off. Black People need to get a piece of this pie too! So if you are a Black Entrepreneur put in your bids for "Clean & Green Job" contracts. That's whats up!
Newark Mayor Cory Booker easily won a second term Tuesday night, but with a tighter margin of victory than in 2006, and with only seven of his nine council candidates winning re-election, according to incomplete election results.
Booker received 59 percent of the vote, beating out three challengers — Clifford Minor, Yvonne Garrett Moore and Mirna L. White. Minor, a subdued former prosecutor and municipal judge, received just 35 percent of the vote.
Just before 10 p.m., Booker declared victory and addressed a packed room at the Robert Treat Hotel. While his staff has delivered positive change, he said there is much more work to be done.
"We know we have difficult days ahead, but if I want to be in the trenches with any group of people in the United States of America, I want to be in the trenches fighting with my fellow residents of the city of Newark," Booker said.
In 2006, Booker won with a clear mandate of 72 percent of the vote, won a majority of votes in all of the city’s wards and his slate of nine council candidates was elected.
Tuesday, one of Booker’s most outspoken opponents, Ras Baraka, beat South Ward Councilman Oscar James II, a member of Booker’s slate. And Booker’s candidate in the Central Ward, Councilman Charles Bell, faces a run-off election against candidate Darrin Shariff. Booker also failed to win a majority of votes in the South Ward.
Booker outspent Minor 20-to-1, yet Minor, a member of the city’s old guard, was able to marshal an already vocal anti-Booker contingent along with dissatisfaction about crime and joblessness to bring out voters against a mayor who promised major reform and a new era for the city in 2006.
Booker, the city’s 41-year-old effusive political leader, ran a largely positive campaign, avoiding many of the public forums. With $7.5 million raised, the Booker camp flooded local media markets with television commercials, and a steady stream of campaign fliers, posters and mailers, touting the city’s lower crime rate, park expansion and development of small businesses.
Minor, running a grassroots campaign, attended almost every public forum on the campaign trail, held coffee klatches, and won the support of a disaffected minority, attacking Booker as an outsider who is unengaged with city residents. He spent only $240,00 on the race.
"I am one of the people. I live here I pay taxes here. My wife lives here, my grandmother lives here, my grandchildren live here. This is my city," Minor told reporters yesterday, "I have some issues I need to resolve with the city — it really has nothing to do with Mr. Booker."
The loss of Councilman James and possible loss off Councilman Bell last night could affect Booker’s ability to govern, especially with one of his incumbent allies defeated and another facing a runoff and possible defeat. Currently, all nine council members were Booker supporters.
John Weingart, associate director at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, said the slimmer margin of victory would not have an impact on Booker’s political future. His success will depend on his performance as mayor and how much improvement he’s brought to the city by the time he runs for statewide office.
"I think that this election is really more the sort of British notion of a vote of confidence," Weingart said.
Joseph DelGrosso, the president of the Newark Teachers Union and a supporter of Minor, said historically, statewide voters have not been kind to Newark mayors.
"I don’t think Mayor Booker’s going to come out of this election having a political future," said DelGrosso.
The union donated close to $3,000 to Minor’s campaign. "I don’t think Cory Booker’s going to be the one to break that mold."
Whatever Booker’s future ambitions, as mayor he will face between $60 million and $100 million in budget deficits, a stagnant housing market, and steep unemployment.
"The priority should be jobs," said Wade McIver, 66, a South Ward resident. McIver voted for Clifford Minor saying Booker had not done enough for Newark residents. "He really doesn’t care about us."
In the Central Ward, Bill Williams, 55, stood outside of the Quitman Street School where he had cast his ballot for Booker.
"I think he does a good job," Williams said but agreed that jobs would be a top priority. "Get jobs and crime will cancel itself out."
Beatrice Greene, 70, of Newark, said she also cast her vote for Booker. She believes Booker will clean up the city’s crime and help create more jobs.
"Jobs would cut down on a lot of crime and give men something to do instead of hanging out on street corners," said Greene.
A strong focus of my administration has been creating successful prisoner re-entry programs to empower men and women returning from prison to find jobs, reconnect/raise their families and contribute to their communities.
To help eliminate barriers to employment for men and women returning home from prison, we launched ReLeSe, the Nation’s first-ever pro bono legal services firm for ex-offenders.
ReLeSe, a Legal Services program of the Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, is designed to help individuals with criminal records address civil legal matters that are barriers to successful community reintegration.
Organized through a collaboration among Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s Office, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, and other organizations, and with the support of community based organizations, local law firms, IOLTA and the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, ReLeSe matches clients with volunteer attorneys to handle issues most commonly encountered by recently incarcerated individuals but not handled by existing legal services programs.
Referrals to the program are made by community referral partner organizations that work with the re-entry population, as well as by Newark City Hall. All assistance is provided free of charge.
Who is eligible for ReLeSe?
Any low-income Newark (or Essex County) resident who has been incarcerated in jail or prison, or otherwise has a criminal record, is eligible for ReLeSe assistance.
Individuals can qualify regardless of how much time has passed since their release. ReLeSe attorneys have been trained to handle the following legal issues:
* Suspended driver’s license (including court fines and surcharges) *
Municipal court issues *
Child support issues *
Identity fraud *
Expungement
Clients facing other legal issues (e.g. bankruptcy, divorce, landlord/tenant disputes) are referred to a local legal services organization or to a ReLeSe volunteer who may be an expert in that area of law.
ReLeSe DOES NOT handle Criminal matters.
Because all services are provided by Volunteers, ReLeSe cannot guarantee that all applicants will receive services, but every effort will be made to assist eligible applicants.
Support:
ReLeSe regularly provides training in all of the above-mentioned areas of law. Mentors are available to assist with all matters. Malpractice coverage, model forms and pleadings, and exemptions from mandatory pro bono are some of the benefits provided to volunteers of ReLeSe.
College-bound Newark High School Seniors with minimum 2.5 GPA are urged to apply; recipients will be awarded corporate donations
totaling $20,000 towards tuition and other college-related expenses; Deadline to submit applications is Friday, June 4
Mayor Cory A. Booker and the Newark Municipal Council announced that effective today all Newark high school seniors are able to apply for the City of Newark’s 2010 Brick City Scholarship Fund.
Created by the Booker Administration in 2007, the Brick City Scholarship Fund is aimed at Newark youth who have demonstrated resilience in their personal lives and achieved academic success in spite of hardships and challenges.
Eight winners will be chosen to receive a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year) to help cover the cost of Tuition and other College expenses.
“I am proud to announce the beginning of this year’s Brick City Scholarship program which, since its inception, has provided much-needed financial support to Newark youth from schools throughout the City,” said Mayor Booker.
“We have a responsibility, especially amidst the current economic climate, to support our young people and provide them with the tools necessary to succeed".
I encourage all of Newark’s college-bound high school seniors to take advantage of this great opportunity.”
The Brick City Scholarship Fund is a partnership of the City of Newark, Gale Real Estate Services Company and the Praedium Group – which donated $500,000 in April 2007 to fund the scholarship program – and will operate through 2010.
This alliance of public and private sectors demonstrates the City’s dedication to leveraging existing partnerships to provide much-needed resources and services for Newark residents.
Eligible candidates are expected to have maintained a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.5 during their senior year of high school and must be slated to attend a four-year college or university in Fall 2010.
In addition to the standard scholarship application form, every applicant is required to submit two one- to two-page personal essays and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselor or school administrator.
Students must also provide school transcripts documenting their cumulative GPA from Fall of 9th grade to Fall of 12th grade, as well as their attendance record for Fall 2009.
Students from traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools in Newark are urged to apply. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, June 4, 2010, and sent to the following address:
Brick City Scholarship Fund
Attention: Nelson Rodriguez
Newark City Hall, Office of the Mayor
920 Broad Street, Room 221
Newark, NJ 01702
Scholarship finalists will be notified no later than Friday, July 2, 2010. For more information on the Brick City Scholarship Fund, please visit the City of Newark website @ www.ci.newark.nj.us
For more information on this, or any Newark municipal program or policy, contact the City of Newark’s Non-Emergency Call Center, at (973) 733-4311.
We know that Crime within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region is actually getting worse!
Now here's some positive news from Urban America:
Thanks to Bold, Outstanding Leadership and a United Community effort (all ethnic & socio-economic groups working together) Newark, NJ's Murder rate is down.
In fact Newark was completely Murder-Free (March 2010) for the first time in 44 years!
Let’s see Newark is located in the heavily Diverse yet densely populated Northeastern United States, while Charlotte rests in the South with a population of less than 1 million people and is much less Diverse.
Could it be Mayor Booker actually knows what he's doing and actually cares about ALL his Constituents not just Wealthy, Caucasian citizens?
Could it be Mayor Booker, his Chief of Police and the County D.A.'s Office all realize it takes more than just locking up all Blacks & Hispanics to help resolve a citywide Crime crisis?
Or....
Could it be due to Mayor Booker investing useful, Academic type resources into the lives of his city's Minority Youth?
For example: After School programs, College Prep programs, Mentors, Summer Camps, Summer Jobs, etc.,
Perhaps all three efforts have contributed to Newark's recent dramatic drop in Crime.
Take a hint Charlotte!
Obviously our local "Leaders" don't know what the heck they are doing or they may need to just dump their Pride and communicate more with Mayors like Corey Booker for advice on how to fix Charlotte-Mecklenburg's growing Crime problem.
Hey I’m just saying, please don't hate the messenger.
Instead of becoming offended (Charlotte's local "leaders") over the contents of this revealing post, why not channel those energies into lowering the Crime rate in a Constructive, Unified manner?
Check out the videos, articles and survey results below than reach your own conclusions about Charlotte's Crime statistics.
For the first time in more than 40 years, an entire calendar month has come and gone without a homicide in the state’s largest city.
It's been 32 days since a homicide took place in Newark, marking the first time there has been a slay-free calendar month in the city since 1966.
Police Director Garry McCarthy said he hopes to best a 43-day period from March to April of 2008, the longest span of time without a slaying in the city since 1961. Ten homicides have occurred in Newark since Jan. 1, and none have taken place in the South Ward, long believed to be Newark's most dangerous section.
The first-quarter homicide total is the same as last year's, and the second-lowest in Newark since 1941. There were only eight reported shootings in Newark in March, and aggravated assaults, robberies, carjackings and other major crime rates are all down for the first-quarter of 2010 compared to their 2009 totals.
The statistical quarter, which spans the first thirteen weeks of the year, officially ended on March 28th.
To determine our list, we used violent crime statistics from the FBI's latest uniform crime report, issued in 2008.
The violent crime category is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
We evaluated U.S. Metropolitan statistical areas--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by Federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics--with more than 500,000 residents.
Respondents to a survey organized by a Charlotte community organization disagree with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police statistics showing a dropping crime rate in the city.
About 80 percent of the approximately 500 people who participated in the survey said the crime problem in Charlotte is either unchanged or has gotten worse over the past two years.
The study was conducted in recent weeks by Neighbors For A Safer Charlotte, a grassroots organization founded in April 2008.
Their study results contrast with a steady stream of monthly crime statistics from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, showing -- for the most part -- that the crime rate has been dropping over the past 12 to 18 months. Earlier this week, CMPD statistics through March showed the overall crime rate is down 15 percent since the same time a year ago.
The survey results show that if CMPD statistics are correct, the perception among residents is that crime remains a big problem.
Respondents did not fall into the "lock-them-up-and-throw-away-the-key" category, as most of them said they support more mental health and substance abuse programs -- and said they believe only violent offenders should be put in jail.
Here are results from some of the organization's questions:
How much of a problem do you feel crime is in the Charlotte area?
75% rated it "serious" or "very serious"
In the past two years, has crime in Charlotte increased, stayed the same, or decreased?
42% said it is worse. Another 38% said it has remained the same.
Do you own a gun for protection?
31% said they owned a gun. Another 18 percent said they are considering buying one.
Which factors tend to increase the crime problem locally?
91% said gang and drug activity.
83% said the absence of a responsible parent or role model tends to increase crime activity among juveniles.
75% said lenient sentencing equals more crime.
50% said racial tensions were not likely to contribute to crime.
Not rated as significant factors were unemployment and poverty, and the lack of a police presence.
Have the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County done enough to deal with the crime problem?
79% said more needs to be done.
Are the courts too lenient or too tough?
78% said they are too lenient.
Do you plan to vote in the District Attorney race in November?
91% said they plan to vote in that contest.
What would help solve the crime problem?
96% said tougher sentencing.
88% said more programs for juveniles outside regular school hours.
85% said more mental health and substance abuse programs.
70% said only violent offenders should be incarcerated.
Sources: Charmeck.org, Forbes.com, Fox News, McClatchy Newspapers, Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte, NJ.com, Rachel Maddow Show, The Grio, USA Today, WCNC, Facebook, Youtube, Google Maps
I fully support Raises for City of Charlotte Employees NOT City Council Members.
Especially those employees earning lower salaries like our dedicated Police Officers & Street Crew workers.
Many Charlotte City employees are Minorities who work hard, long hours while often receiving little compensation.
In fact the City of Charlotte has a history of NOT wanting to pay them for O.T.
By the way aren't there several Charlotte Police Officers currently suing the City of Charlotte for warranted, Unpaid Over Time wages?
While I do give Charlotte City Council members kudos for using more Fiscally sound practices in managing their Budget than County staff, I'm also giving City Council members a thumbs down for not treating their employees fair and for hiring Murderers & Rapists.
And...
Another Thumbs down for giving City Manager Curt Walton & City Attorney Mac McCarley huge raises ($30,000+) last Fall when regular Charlotte City Employees had NOT received a Cost of Living increase in several years.
That's NOT cool!
Since many Charlotte Voters feel fleeced by this current council, I have a feeling many of you will NO longer be serving in Public Office after the next election in 2011.
You have to come harder Councilman Dulin by continuing to speak up for ALL Charlotte residents not just those who live in Charlotte's Wealthiest communities:
Dilworth, Fairview rd, Myers Park, Park rd, South Park, Queens rd., Third Ward, University
Last time I checked a lot of those people haven't seen a Property Tax Increase in 7 years, while Charlotte's Lower Income & Middle Class seem to experience a Property Tax Increase each year.
Something is definitely wrong with this picture don't you think?
In addition Charlotte's Lower Income & Middle Class seem to receive very little Protection from CMPD.
While I do admit Charlotte's Law Enforcement personnel work hard, the caveat is they are NOT working hard to keep everyone Safe, just Charlotte's Elite.
Voters all over this Nation are tired of a Divided System.
Haves vs. Have nots!
Perhaps Charlotte Leaders should visit Newark, New Jersey and Speak with highly respected, nationally known Mayor Corey Booker about his award-winning strategies.
Unlike Charlotte's scared, token Mayor Anthony Foxx(spawned from Mel Watt & Harvey Gantt), Corey Booker is a Bold, Visionary Black Mayor who's very EFFECTIVE and cares about ALL of his Constituents.
Just in case your wondering not all of Newark's residents are Low Income & Middle Class voters.
Andy I suggest You and your Arrogant, Clueless Charlotte City Council colleagues take a Hint.
We're tired and not going to take it anymore!
It's time for New Blood from the Mayor's seat on down.
After proposing a number of budget cuts, the city of Charlotte Wednesday said it will have enough money to give its employees raises for the upcoming fiscal year.
The raise pool for general employees would be 2 percent if the City Council approves the budget. Police officers and firefighters would be eligible for a 2 percent cost-of-living increase and a 2.5 percent step increase, which is usually 5 percent. The raises would cost the city $6.1 million.
The proposal to bring back raises after a one-year absence comes after the city has proposed cutting money used for police overtime, streetlight installation and after-school programs.
It comes as Mecklenburg County is cutting tens of millions from its budget, forcing layoffs of library staff and possibly laying off more than 1,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees.
Budget director Ruffin Hall defended the raises Wednesday, noting that Charlotte and other N.C. cities are in better financial shape than N.C. counties. The decision to have raises was made after the city surveyed a number of private employers that are bringing back raises as the country begins to pull out of the recession.
He said the city has to remain competitive and doesn't want to lose its employees to the private sector.
"We have to focus on delivering our services," Hall said.
At the start of the budget process, the city faced a roughly $7.7 million shortfall out of a $500 million operating budget - less than 2 percent.
Last month, City Manager Curt Walton proposed a number of cuts, such as cutting unscheduled bulky item trash pickups, which would save $225,000. Residents could still set up an appointment to have items removed.
He has proposed closing the 311 call system from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and moving those operators to the day shift, which would save $65,000. The city also might suspend installation of new streetlights for three years, which would save $235,000 in additional electricity costs.
Other proposed cuts include eliminating funding for POST - Partners in Out of School Time - which provides after-school programs for students at Quail Hollow and Albemarle middle schools. That would save $454,000 and affect 200 students, the city said.
The city has also proposed expanding the pay period for police officers from two weeks to four weeks, to give supervisors more time to give officers comp time instead of overtime. That would save roughly $1 million.
On Wednesday, Hall discussed additional cuts with the City Council.
One cut would reduce the 401(k) contribution for all city employees except police and fire from 3 percent to 2 percent. The city said it hopes to restore that reduction for fiscal year 2012. The 401(k) contribution for law enforcement officials would remain 5 percent, as mandated by state law.
The city proposed cutting or freezing 41 positions. Some of the positions include cutting 12 workers from the 311 Call Center, 11 from Solid Waste Services and eight police officers assigned to the Charlotte Area Transit System. Four positions would be cut in engineering and finance.
The city attorney's office will likely get a new attorney tasked with handling public records requests. Hall said the number and size of the requests - from the media and due to litigation - is taxing city staff.
City staff will make its final budget presentations in May. A public hearing will be May 24 and the city will make adjustments to the budget May 26. The council is scheduled to pass a budget June 7.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker kicked off his re-election campaign today, touting crime reductions, parks expansions, and new schools among the reasons to re-elect him and his slate of incumbent candidates.
"Let the work I’ve done speak for me," Booker said yesterday, sounding the same theme throughout his remarks this morning at the New Hope Baptist Church. A crowd of nearly 1,000 supporters came out for Booker as he cited a laundry list of accomplishments during his administration and that of the current city council.
"None of it would have been accomplished by the mayor alone," Booker said, adding that a "united government" was crucial to what he cited as continued progress.
Several city council members are facing tough political challenges in the May election. Their contenders include Ras Baraka, John Sharpe James, Charon Motayne, Darrin Sharif, and Richard Whitten. Booker led off in defense of incumbents Oscar James II, Charles Bell and Carlos Gonzalez, but made pitches for every member of his team.
"If you don’t vote for that ward councilman or that at-large councilman, I do not want your vote," he said.
Booker did not attack any of the challengers by name, but dismissed the major criticisms his opponents have leveled throughout the campaign. Among the most persistent are accusations that Booker has brought in "outsiders," and that he spends too much time outside of the city.
Clifford Minor, who is running to unseat the mayor, could not be reached for comment.
But in a recent forum on the South Ward race, Baraka accused the mayor of hiring non-Newark residents for well-paid city jobs. "How can you watch unemployment in the community and watch him give his friends raises and lay workers off in the city of Newark?" he said to thunderous applause.
"We have to stop this mess," Booker said about the "outsider" charge. "Everyone of God’s children is important."
Booker has repeatedly defended his travel, citing millions of dollars in philanthropic donations he has brought to Newark from figures like Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates.
"We created the state’s largest fund for the expansion of charter schools," Booker said as well as "the largest parks expansion Newark has seen in a century."
Much of the parks expansion is also credited to Essex County executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who joined North Ward Center founder Stephen Adubato Sr., state assembly members Alberto Coutinho, Grace Spencer, Cleopatra Tucker, and other state and city leaders at today's rally.
Also onstage was Booker’s mother, Carolyn Booker, who introduced her son with recollections from his youth and a mild shot at the 40-year-old mayor.
"Behind every successful child there are often two very astonished parents," she said.
Let’s see Newark is located in the heavily Diverse yet densely populated Northeastern United States, while Charlotte rests in the South with a population of less than 1 million people and is much less Diverse.
Could it be that Mayor Booker actually knows what he's doing?
For the first time in more than 40 years, an entire calendar month has come and gone without a homicide in the state’s largest city.
It's been 32 days since a homicide took place in Newark, marking the first time there has been a slay-free calendar month in the city since 1966.
Police Director Garry McCarthy said he hopes to best a 43-day period from March to April of 2008, the longest span of time without a slaying in the city since 1961. Ten homicides have occurred in Newark since Jan. 1, and none have taken place in the South Ward, long believed to be Newark's most dangerous section.
The first-quarter homicide total is the same as last year's, and the second-lowest in Newark since 1941. There were only eight reported shootings in Newark in March, and aggravated assaults, robberies, carjackings and other major crime rates are all down for the first-quarter of 2010 compared to their 2009 totals.
The statistical quarter, which spans the first thirteen weeks of the year, officially ended on March 28th.
To determine our list, we used violent crime statistics from the FBI's latest uniform crime report, issued in 2008.
The violent crime category is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
We evaluated U.S. Metropolitan statistical areas--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by Federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics--with more than 500,000 residents.
Respondents to a survey organized by a Charlotte community organization disagree with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police statistics showing a dropping crime rate in the city.
About 80 percent of the approximately 500 people who participated in the survey said the crime problem in Charlotte is either unchanged or has gotten worse over the past two years.
The study was conducted in recent weeks by Neighbors For A Safer Charlotte, a grassroots organization founded in April 2008.
Their study results contrast with a steady stream of monthly crime statistics from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, showing -- for the most part -- that the crime rate has been dropping over the past 12 to 18 months. Earlier this week, CMPD statistics through March showed the overall crime rate is down 15 percent since the same time a year ago.
The survey results show that if CMPD statistics are correct, the perception among residents is that crime remains a big problem.
Respondents did not fall into the "lock-them-up-and-throw-away-the-key" category, as most of them said they support more mental health and substance abuse programs -- and said they believe only violent offenders should be put in jail.
Here are results from some of the organization's questions:
How much of a problem do you feel crime is in the Charlotte area?
75% rated it "serious" or "very serious"
In the past two years, has crime in Charlotte increased, stayed the same, or decreased?
42% said it is worse. Another 38% said it has remained the same.
Do you own a gun for protection?
31% said they owned a gun. Another 18 percent said they are considering buying one.
Which factors tend to increase the crime problem locally?
91% said gang and drug activity.
83% said the absence of a responsible parent or role model tends to increase crime activity among juveniles.
75% said lenient sentencing equals more crime.
50% said racial tensions were not likely to contribute to crime.
Not rated as significant factors were unemployment and poverty, and the lack of a police presence.
Have the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County done enough to deal with the crime problem?
79% said more needs to be done.
Are the courts too lenient or too tough?
78% said they are too lenient.
Do you plan to vote in the District Attorney race in November?
91% said they plan to vote in that contest.
What would help solve the crime problem?
96% said tougher sentencing.
88% said more programs for juveniles outside regular school hours.
85% said more mental health and substance abuse programs.
70% said only violent offenders should be incarcerated.
The locker where Na’Jhae Parker would have put her textbooks was covered with pictures, signs, and letters to a murdered friend Wednesday. “We love Na’Jhae Faith Parker!” one read. “RIP Na’Jhae,” another said.
“Even though this is her first year here, she’s just made a ton of friends and is extremely well-liked by students and certainly by her teachers,” McClintock Principal Pam Espinosa said. She and other staff spent the day counseling students, alongside extra counselors brought in by Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
“By the time word actually got out to the kids, we had counselors here,” Espinosa said.
Police say Na’Jhae’s father 33-year-old Kenneth Chapman stabbed her to death about two weeks ago. He also suffocated her 1-year-old sister and left their bodies in an upstairs bedroom of the family’s apartment on Providence Square Drive. He had killed their mother, Nateesa Chapman, in another apartment on Via Romano Drive a day earlier.
After two weeks of hiding his crimes, he shot himself when police came to investigate early Monday morning. Two surviving children are living with family.
Espinosa said Na’Jhae’s mother and stepfather were involved in the school. They attended parent teacher conferences and took a parenting class early in the school year.
Espinosa said when Na’Jhae did not show up at school, a counselor called her home. Her stepfather said she was ill and might be absent for some time. A nurse followed up a week later.
Dr. Peter Gorman says protocol was followed correctly.
“You feel like your first job is to keep your children safe and then when something happens, you examine ‘Is there anything I could have done,’ Espinosa said. “No matter what it is you still feel a level of responsibility.” Counselors are also available at Lansdowne Elementary. The 10-year-old daughter who survived the ordeal attends Lansdowne.
Sources: Charmeck.org, Forbes.com, Fox News, McClatchy Newspapers, Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte, NJ.com, Rachel Maddow Show, USA Today, WCNC, Facebook, Youtube, Google Maps
Shown on the first video below Speaker Pelosi defends yesterday's agreed upon weak COP 15 Climate Change deal which sets NO Emission Reduction Targets, doesn't reduce Greenhouse Gases and will probably create additional Taxes thus causing our Energy bills to increase, by saying "2010 for Democrats will be all about JOBS, JOBS, JOBS and JOBS".
JOBS should have been what Democrats needed to focus on in 2009, then tackled Health Care Reform but that's another story.
Do I believe that Climate Change is real? Yes!
Am I against global efforts to stop or slow down Climate Change? No however....
Since this so-called new Climate Change Deal is Legally Non-Binding and doesn't actually reduce Emissions or Greenhouse Gases what good is it?
President Obama didn't even sign this weak agreement.
Why?
He knows its NOT sufficient!
President Obama has also heard about possible "Cap & Trade" Fraud stemming from this agreement.
As I mentioned above just more Political posturing to save Democrat seats in 2010.
Is Political Posturing the "CHANGE" Americans voted for back in 2008?
And...
Since Charlotte's New Mayor Anthony Foxx recently signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Change Agreement, this further proves most Black Politicians will do ANYTHING if they think it will procure more Federal Dollars (Stimulus Funds) of which often is wasted on junk versus anything truly effective for local Constituents.
Booker's well thought out venture is the equivalent of a Blue Collar Jobs training program which not only offers Low Income and Underemployed citizens an opportunity to learn more marketable skills to support their families but it also lowers Newark's Unemployment rate.
I applaud Mayor Booker for instead of spitting out empty "Green Jobs" rhetoric or choosing to focus ONLY on his region's Wealthy Voters (like Charlotte Politicians do), he is using Federal dollars to invest in the lives of more Needy Constituents by creating real JOBS.
After all isn't that what Pres. Obama's Stimulus Package was really supposed to do?
Democrats get a clue and take a hint from Mayor Corey Booker!
Stop all the FAKE Political Posturing, be Creative, be Bold, use Federal dollars Responsibly and Help make America a better place for ALL people, NOT just Wealthy citizens.
Kudos to you Mayor Booker and God Bless!
NOTE:
To further substantiate my commentary check out the articles below.
The United Nations Climate Change Summit ended last night without setting any emission reduction targets.
President Obama forged a non-binding agreement with his counterparts in China, India, Brazil and South Africa but it was unclear whether all 192 countries would accept the compromise text.
Mr. Obama said that a “fundamental deadlock in perspectives” had overshadowed the negotiations. He described the deal as “meaningful” but admitted that it would not be enough to prevent global warming. “We have much further to go,” he said.
Despite two years of negotiations, the key sticking points — Emissions cuts, monitoring of emissions and the legal nature of the deal — all re-emerged in the final hours
The agreement merely repeated an aspiration to keep the global temperature increase to 2C without explaining how that would be achieved. The final text also failed to mention any deadline for turning it into a binding treaty.
It was a humiliation for Gordon Brown, who has spent longer working on it than any other world leader. He admitted the conference had only taken the first step towards tackling climate change and said that he hoped that progress would be made at a conference in Germany next summer or one in Mexico at the end of the year.
The one positive outcome for developing countries was a commitment by rich countries to provide $30 billion of climate aid over the next three years and $100 billion a year from 2020.
The US announced by far the lowest pledge. It will contribute $3.6 billion between 2010 and 2012, while Japan will give $11 billion and the European Union $10.6 billion.
A deadline of February 1 is expected to be set for all countries to publish emissions targets, although there was no sign last night that any country would move beyond existing offers.
In a statement, released at 10.30pm, the White House described the agreement as meaningful.
“No country is entirely satisfied with each element but this is a meaningful and historic step forward and a foundation from which to make further progress,” it said.
It had been a day of tension, elation and snubs. US negotiators were taken aback that the Chinese leader sent his deputy to the main negotiations. Wen Jiabao, the Prime Minister, was said to have taken offence at President Obama’s speech to delegates not to agree on “empty words on a page”. World leaders began leaving the summit before anything was signed.
The Kenyan delegation expressed horror that President Chávez of Venezuela had been given the opportunity to grandstand from the podium denouncing “the Yankee empire”.
Drafts of the “Copenhagen accord” were leaked every couple of hours, each one sacrificing another commitment in the desperate scramble to achieve a compromise. And despite two years of negotiations, the key sticking points — emissions cuts, monitoring of emissions and the legal nature of the deal — all re-emerged in the final hours.
"It doesn’t even include a timeline to give it legal standing or an explicit temperature target. It’s hard to imagine our leaders will try to present this document to the world and keep a straight face."
McCrory led the mayors' committee that drafted the agreement, but faulted it for not including nuclear power among possible solutions.
Charlotte City Council instead approved an alternative climate resolution in 2007.
Foxx noted that signing the Mayors' Agreement now is largely symbolic since Charlotte is already doing much of what the document requires.
But, he added, “we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.”
The Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign has pushed Charlotte to join the 48 N.C. communities that have already signed the agreement. Josh Thomas, chair of the Central Piedmont group, called Foxx's signing a “strong statement” to protect the city and its resources.
The agreement, already adopted by more than 1,000 U.S. cities and towns, commits Charlotte to curbing emissions of greenhouse gases. The overarching goal is a 7 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012.
Charlotte's recently-completed inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, its light rail system and new sustainable-facility policy are steps in that direction, said local Sierra Club members.
Charlotte is also applying for $6.5 million in Federal Stimulus grants to pay for 18 energy-saving projects. Among them are retrofits of low-income housing and commercial buildings, the purchase of several electric vehicles for city staff and bicycle-safety improvements.
Sources: Timesonline.co.uk, NJ.com, MSNBC, Politico, Fox News, Charlotte Biz Journals, Sierra Club, McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, City of Newark, Charmeck.org, Whitehouse.gov, Recovery.gov, Google Maps
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