MR_043012_web

1 :: WWW.MINORITYREPORTER.NET - WEEK OF APR 30 - MAY 6, 2012Rochester, NYVOL 5. NO. 27 APR 30 - may 6, 2012

www.MinorityReporter.netw t

From Information to Understanding


F I U

MinorityReportergF

The Role of the Black Church

2 :: WWW.MINORITYREPORTER.NET - WEEK OF APR 30 - MAY 6, 2012

Minority

Reporter

Offi ce Address:17 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 26352, Rochester, NY 14626

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

FX: 1-888-796-6292

EMAIL:[email protected]

PUBLISHERDave McCleary

[email protected]

BUSINESS MANAGERPauline McCleary

[email protected]

COPY EDITORGary McLendon

[email protected]

ART DIRECTORCatie Fiscus

[email protected]

STAFF REPORTERRodney Brown

[email protected] Hardaway

[email protected]

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Claribel Oliveras

ADVERTISINGDave McClearyLucy Smith-Fulmore

[email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHYTemple Boggs, Jr.Todd Elliott

COLUMNISTSGloria Winston Al-SaragC. Michael Tillman Rev. Michael Vaughn Vincent FelderDiane WatkinsMike DulaneyDavy Vara

Minority Reporter, Inc. is a family of publications and other media formats committed to fostering self awareness, building community and empowering people of color to reach their greatest potential. Fur-ther, Minority Reporter, Inc. seeks to present a bal-anced view of relevant issues, utilizing its resources to build bridges among diverse populations; taking them from information to understanding.

Minority Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject content submitted. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Minority Reporter does not assume responsibility concerning advertisers, their positions, practices, services or products; nor does the publication of advertisements constitute or imply endorsement.

Minority Reporter invites news and story suggestions from readers.

Deadline for all copy is Tuesday at noon.

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

In This Issue:

*NOTE: Photos on cover, clockwise from top left: Bishop T.D. Jakes, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Rev. Kirk Franklin, Rev. Marlowe Washington, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Crefl o Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long, and Rev. David Abernathy

COVER Pgs 10-11

The Role of the Black Church By Rodney Brown

READERS WRITE Pg 3

LOCAL Pg 4

- City Finance Committee Cut Delinquent Taxes- Police Union Chief at Odds with RPD Chief- Monroe County Close to Passing Cyber Bullying Law- Upstate Crackdown on Texting While Driving

STATE Pg 6

- Beyonce Named People’s Most Beautiful Woman- NY City Portrayed Online in 870,000 Images

NATIONAL Pg 12

- Senate Make it Tougher to Close Post Offi ces- Neighborhood Watch Shooter’s Website Disabled

COLUMNS: Pg 14-15

- Orchids and Onions

By Gloria Winston Al-Sarag

- Why So Happy?

By Michael Vaughn

- The Rochester School Board to Parents: Your Input is Unwelcome

By Ayesha Kreutz

Rochester, NYVOL 5. NO. 27 APR 30 - may 6, 2012


From Information to Understanding


F I U

MinorityReportergFF

Get A New PERSPECTIVE on The Issues Facing Rochester

www.MinorityReporter.net

Featuring: LaShay Harris & Rodney Brown

Covering Rochester’s

Current topics and more!

Sundays @ 7PM

Call in number 347-826-9366

Talk2Me

www.blogtalkradio.com/filmstress


How manyyouth needmentors?

Just one…the one whoneeds you.

A message from the Boomer Mentor Project of Rochester Mentors at Lifespan.

You’ve got what it takesto make a difference in

the life of a child.

Call 271-4050 or visit www.RochesterMentors.org

Rochester Area

DEPAUL

—

—

[email protected]

Send us your

Wow. I can’t believe former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson con nues to contradict himself and a empt to play with people’s memories, when we as a community know the truth... As Mayor, Bill Johnson NEVER stood up to the corrupt Rochester Police department. Shame on you Bill Johnson for speaking out on it now.~Davy V.

Great ar cle. I strongly feel that we can’t change the ac on of those that desire and are armed to kill us. BUT can we begin to educate our people on a protocol that will reduce the likelihood of harm. Such things like when coming face to face with a law -li your hands in full sight, get your knees and NEVER answer ques on without a lawyer....NEVER! I know these are “unfair” and some say “stupid”...but I see it as a means to shi the power. If you come at them with a knife, or dig for a wallet -you give them the power to say “I didn’t know I was confused” if you surrender for the start ...the power changes~Just Thinking

Hoodie: Criminal Profi ling or Racial Profi ling?(Cover Story, Apr 23, 2012: h p://www.minorityreporter.net/fullstory.php?id=969)

City Teachers Will not be judged on Performance(News story, Apr 23, 2012: h p://www.minorityreporter.net/fullstory.php?id=970)

Urbanski is a tyrant and a JOKE! All he cares about is pu ng money into his and other teachers pocket while the children in our community con nue to be dumbed down! We need JUSTICE in this city!~Mary

I sure hope the school board does their job and hold Urbanski and the teachers accountable by fi ring ineff ec ve teachers. I don’t have a problem with them giving bonuses, etc. Good teachers should be rewarded~Mark

Why We Are Honoring Min. Franklin Florence(Op-ed by Gloria Winston Al-Sarag, Apr 23, 2012: h p://www.minorityreporter.net/fullstory.php?id=978)

Bold, Courageous and Commi ed are just a few words that describe Minister Franklin Florence. He’s a wonderful model of greatness in Rochester’s community life. He opened doors and created new pathways for success for many. Thank you Minister Florence! We are all enriched by the tremendous contribu ons you’ve made. Much love, peace, health and prosperity to you and your family.~Wyoma Best

Confron ng Black Rochester’s Cultural Crisis(Op-ed by Avery Blackman, Apr 23, 2012: h p://www.minorityreporter.net/fullstory.php?id=977

This voice...the voice echoing the chorus sung by our warrior scholar ancestors will one day be remembered fondly. Perhaps when the Kneegroe, so-called “leaders” (bleeders) come to realize that they have been defi ned, par cularly by their off spring, as having focused so much on buck-dancing and pinky pping, that they were merely pawns in the game. To preside over the dismantling of one’s own community speaks volumes to the ‘soul’ of a man/woman. A willful, conscious nega on of the fact that one’s own thirst for the a ainment of an illusion of grandeur, at the expense of one’s own brother...sister...children...”community” is at best an illness if the heart...at worst it is an open declara on and perpetra on of suicide and an underhanded, nefarious nod to the con nuance of this society’s ongoing program of genocide against people of color throughout its colonies.~G. Hunt


City Finance Commi ee Cut Delinquent TaxesStaff

In a move to off set the eff ects of low interest rates and high unemployment, the city’s fi nance commi ee has introduced legisla on to cut delinquent taxes.

If passed by the full council, the proposed legisla on would lower the interest rate from 18 percent to 12 percent beginning in July.

The legisla on will also lower late tax fees on water bills.

In comments to the media Commi ee chairwoman Carolee Conklin called the legisla on a “sensible move.”

Rochester’s Mayor Tom Richards says the legisla on would make it easier for already-struggling homeowners to make payments on mortgages.

Monroe County Close to Passing Cyber Bullying LawStaff

Earlier in the week, a proposal to create a law that would criminalize the ‘act of cyber bullying’ passed the Agenda/Charter Commi ee by a 5-0 vote.

The proposed law fi led under

“Prohibi ng Cyber Bullying in Monroe County” would protect children under 18 from cyber bulling a acks.

Violators would be charged with a misdemeanor; carrying a penalty of a $1000 fi ne and/or up to one year in jail.

In comments to the media, the bill’s sponsor- Republican Carmen Gumina of Webster said, “Our goal was to go beyond a policy and actually give vic ms, their families, law enforcement and school districts a way to combat this.”

Police Union Chief at Odds with RPD ChiefStaff

In comments to the media, Rochester Police Union Mike Mazzeo shared that he has wri en a cri cal le er to Rochester Police Chief Jim Sheppard expressing his displeasure with the department’s “My Police Department App.”

The App allows people to use their smart phones to report crime ps to police. The App also allows users to comment on offi cers which Mazzeo believe could result in unfair discipline of offi cers.

To further express his displeasure Mazzeo suggested that offi cers report

ps of other city offi cials through the App.

“When crime happens, police aren’t always there to see it all. In order to catch the bad guys, some mes they need a li le help Chief Sheppard said, “For everything that we do as a police department, we need the community’s help. This is a tool to help them help us

do our job.”In addi on, the chief says it’s not just for repor ng crime; the police department also wants to know what you think about them. “We want to open opportuni es for the community to give us informa on, for them to comment on our performance, posi ve and nega ve feedback. Give us ps,” he said.

Upstate Crackdown on Tex ng While DrivingStaff

Opera on Hang Up, which runs from April 23-29, is a devised plan by State Police to catch motorists who text while driving.

During that en re week in April, Troopers will increase their focus on hand held cell phone usage by drivers while patrolling with plans to hand out fi nes totaling up to $150. In addi on violators could face mandatory court surcharges and a deduc on of three points from their driver’s license.

In reports to the media, Major Molinari of the State Police said “Electronic devices have become commonplace in our lives, but they have no place in the hands of a driver. I’ve instructed our Troopers to take a zero tolerance stance.”

Recently released data from a Na onal Highway Traffi c Safety Administra on fi nds:

Drivers talking on cell phones are four mes more likely to get into crash

which is equivalent to the behavior of drunk drivers;

You are twenty-three more mes likely to get into a crash while tex ng and

driving;

The Na onal Highway Traffi c Safety Administra on a ributed more than 3,000 deaths last year to distracted driving, calling it a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways.

Troopers plan to use unmarked

vehicles to hide their immediate iden ty in pursuit of violators. They’re called CITE (Concealed Iden ty Traffi c Enforcement) vehicles.

“The State Police are making distracted driving enforcement a priority, and we are changing our tac cs accordingly to step up enforcement, Major Molinari

said. “Every available state trooper will be on patrol during this week, watching for people using cell phones as well as other electronic devices. Speeders, impaired drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and other traffi c violators will also be cited, where appropriate.”


May 3-6, 2012155 Pinnacle RoadHenrietta NY 14467(585) 334-8730icnhm.orgFREE! 500-seats max.

14TH Anniversary & Dedication

Looking Unto Jesus

7PM | May 3-4 Apostle Frederick K.C. Price

7PM | May 5 Praise & Worship Concert

9:30AM | May 6 Pastor Roger L. Breedlove (Host)

4PM | May 6 Pastor James L. Cherry Sr.

Hebrews 12:2

Ministering to the whole man; spirit, soul and body

Doors open 45-minutes early

No childcare will be provided

Questions? Special needs?

Please contact Sister Cathy

Little at (585) 334-8730 or

[email protected]


Beyonce named People’s Most Beau ful WomanNEW YORK (AP) — People magazine has named Beyonce as the World’s Most Beau ful Woman for 2012.

The 30-year-old singer tops the magazine’s annual list of the “World’s Most Beau ful” in a special double issue. The announcement was made Wednesday.

Commen ng on her selec on, Beyonce tells People: “I feel more beau ful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given

birth. I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this Earth.”

Beyonce, who is married to rapper Jay-Z, gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, in January.

“She’s just the cutest thing,” says the Grammy winner, who sings to her daughter and claims to “love” changing diapers.

Does Blue resemble mom or dad?

“She looks like Blue,” the singer says. “She’s her own person.”

“The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy,” she adds. “The word ‘love’ means something completely diff erent now.”

Other celebri es on the list include Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Jessica Pare of “Mad Men.”

New York City Portrayed Online in 870,000 ImagesBy CRISTIAN SALAZAR and RANDY HERSCHAFT

NEW YORK (AP) — The two men were discovered dead at the bo om of an elevator sha in a 12-story Manha an building, as if dumped there, one man sprawled on top of the other.

The rare crime scene photograph from Nov. 24, 1915, is one of 870,000 images of New York City and its municipal opera ons now available to the public on the Internet for the fi rst me.

The city Department of Records offi cially announced the debut of the photo database Tuesday. A previously unpublicized link to the images has been live for about two weeks for maintenance and tes ng.

Culled from the Municipal Archives collec on of more than 2.2 million images going back to the mid-1800s, the photographs feature all manner of city oversight — from stately ports and bridges to grisly gangland killings.

The project was four years in the making, part of the department’s mission to make city records accessible to everyone, said department assistant commissioner Kenneth Cobb.

“We all knew that we had fantas c photograph collec ons that no one would even guess that we had,” Cobb said.

Taken mostly by anonymous municipal workers, some of the images have appeared in publica ons but most were accessible only by visi ng the archive offi ces in lower Manha an over the past few years.

Researchers, history buff s, fi lmmakers, genealogists and preserva onists in par cular will fi nd the digi zed collec on helpful. But anyone can search the images, share them through social media or purchase them as prints.

The gallery includes images from the largest collec on of criminal jus ce evidence in the English-speaking world, a repository that holds glass-plate photographs taken by the New York City Police Department.

It also features more than 800,000

color photographs taken with 35mm cameras of every city building in the mid-1980s to update the municipal records, and includes more than 1,300 rarely seen images taken by local photographers of the Depression-era Works Progress Administra on.

Because of technological and fi nancial constraints, the digi zed gallery does not include the city’s prized collec on of 720,000 photographs of every city building from 1939 to 1941. But the database is s ll growing, and the department plans to add more images.

Among the known contributors to the collec on was Eugene de Salignac, the offi cial photographer for the Department of Bridges/Plant & Structures from 1906 to 1934. An iconic Salignac photograph, taken Oct. 7, 1914, and now online, shows more than a half-dozen painters lounging on wires on the Brooklyn Bridge.

“A lot of other photographers who worked for the city were pre y talented but did not produce such a large body of work or a dis nct body of work,” said Michael Lorenzini, curator of photography at the Municipal

Archives and author of “New York Rises” that showcases Salignac images.

Maira Liriano, manager of the New York Public Library’s local history and genealogy division, said the tax photo collec ons are of par cular interest to researchers.

For example, she said, homeowners seeking to restore their historic houses o en go to the Municipal Archives to get images of what the buildings looked like in the 1940s or 1980s.

The same collec on is also used by people doing research for fi lm produc ons, family historians hoping to see what their ancestors’ homes looked like, and scholars trying to measure the transforma on of the metropolis over me.

One popular cache includes photos shot mostly by NYPD detec ves, nearly each one a crime mystery just begging to be solved. The black-and-white, top-down image of the two men in the elevator sha is a representa ve example.

Although it did not carry a crime

scene photo, the New York Tribune reported Nov. 25, 1915, under the headline “Finding of two bodies tells tale of the ,” that the bodies of a black elevator operator and a white engineer of a Manha an building were found “ba ered, as though from a long fall.”

The news report said the two men tried to rob a company on the fi h fl oor of expensive silks, but died in their a empt. The elevator was found with $500 worth of silk inside, stuck between the 10th and 11th fl oors.

Luc Sante, an author and a professor of wri ng and photography at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, used images from the police collec on for his 1992 book “Evidence.”

“They’re remarkable. They’re brutal. But they are also very beau ful,” he said.___

Online:

New York City Municipal Archives Gallery: h p://on.nyc.gov/IC1ze7


*OVER-THE-AIR OONLYNLY. N. NOT T AVAAVAILABLE ON CAABLEBLE OR DISH


FHJCFHJCFHJCFHJC

FHJCFHJCFHJC

FHJCFHJCFHJC

FHJCFFHJCF

FHJCFHJCFHJCFHJC

C O M M U N I T Y

R E C O G N I T I O N D I N N E R

A N D T R I B U T E T O

Minister Franklin Florence, Sr.

The Honorable Jesse Jackson, Jr.K E Y N O T E S P E A K E R

The Honorable David F. GanttH O N O R A RY C H A I R

Janet LomaxM I S T R E S S O F C E R E M O N I E S

You’re Invited!The Honorable David F. Gantt and

the Committee to Honor Minister Franklin Florence, Sr.

invite you to the

Community Recognition Dinner and Tribute to Minister Franklin Florence, Sr.

Friday, May 4, 20126 p.m.Rochester Riverside Convention Center

GOLD SPONSOR LEVEL$2000includes table for ten, full page ad*,sponsor listing,recognition from the podium

SILVER SPONSOR LEVEL$1,500includes table for ten, 1/2 page ad*,sponsor listing,recognition from the podium

BRONZE SPONSOR LEVEL$1,000includes table for ten, 1/4 page ad*,sponsor listing

$500 Table of Ten$60 Individual Tickets

No tickets will be sold at the doorPlease make checks payable to MFFRecognition Dinner

RSVP no later than April 23c/o Allen Williams29 Reynolds StreetRochester, NY 14608

Questions? Call 585-563-6215

*Ads must be received by April 13, 2012

Get the personal education you need for a lifetime of success!❚ Earn your Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assisting, not just a certificate.❚ Prepare to take the AAMA CMA Exam; program is accredited by CAAHEP on recommendationof the MAERB.

❚ Graduate in two years or less (4 semesters of full-time, consecutive study) and prepareto work in a variety of medical settings, from hospitals and doctors’ offices to clinics andnursing homes.

❚ Receive personal instruction in industry-current medical labs and valuableexperience through an internship.

❚ Day, evening and online classes available. ❚ Financial aid available for those who qualify.

THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER.CLASSES ARE FORMING NOW. CALL FOR DETAILS!

Bryant&Stratton CollegePersonal Education. Lifetime Success.®

Since 1854

w w w . b r y a n t s t r a t t o n . e d u

MEDICALASSISTING

Your future career starts here.

For more information about our graduation rates, themedian debt of students who completed the program, andother important information, please visit our website atwww.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.

facebook.com/BSCRochester

Greece Henrietta

563.3400

VeteranHelpful

Scan herewith your

smartphonefor more

information.


cityofrochester.gov/cleansweepVolunteer today! Call 311

SATURDAYS, 9 am to 1 pm

in our city!

showingIt’s about

Join us as we and our way to a better Rochester.

Edgerton Park, 41 Backus St.Genesee Valley Park, 131 Elmwood Ave.Cobbs Hill Park, Norris Dr. & Culver Rd.

NE Neighborhood Service Center, 500 Norton St.


Documented in America’s history star ng from the earliest days of slavery extending throughout the civil rights movement, the Black Church has served as the launching pad for an all out eff ort to achieve poli cal and social jus ce for millions of African descendents; living in America.

In her ar cle, ‘Upon This Rock: The Black Church, Nonviolence, and The Civil Rights Movement,’ Poli cal Scien st Allison Calhoun-Brown said “Churches have tradi onally been viewed as places of stability and strength in the African-American community. From slavery through the long racially segregated history of the United States, when African Americans were

prevented from building ins tu ons of their own and precluded from par cipa ng in the ins tu ons of mainstream America, churches developed and contained civil society for them.”

“In church, one could fi nd poli cs, arts, music, educa on, economic development, social services, civic associa ons, leadership opportuni es, and business enterprises. One could also fi nd a rich spiritual tradi on of survival and libera on,” Brown noted.

“Whether their leaders repudiated the “curse of Ham,” embraced the revolu onary religious vision of Nat Turner, or preached the more reserved doctrine that “Jesus will fi x it a er a while,” black churches have always accepted securing and guaranteeing the freedom of black people as one of their central missions.”

The black churches of the 21st Century is mostly cri cized for their lack of involvement in helping the community pe oned their governments to ensure the cons tu onal rights and civil rights of residents are protected.

A great percentage of black churches in the 21st Century have leaders that many referred to as ‘pulpit preachers,’ unlike a great percentage of ministers who in the early 1960’s into the late 1970’s marched throughout the streets of America in the midst of imminent danger.

Some religious experts say, “The moral infl uence of the church has somewhat eroded because a great majority of religious leaders of the 21st Century has chosen to intertwine the gospel with “materialism preaching.” Some ministers from the era of the civil rights movement refer to materialism preaching as ‘the name-it, claim-it gospel.”

Long gone and few in between are leaders who set the founda on of the black church such as; Bishop Richard Allen and Priest Absalom Jones.

The Role of the Black ChurchBy Rodney Brown

Staff Reporter

Minister Franklin D. Florence


Long gone and few in between are leaders who use the church to pe oned their government in demand for social jus ce such as; Rev. Mar n Luther King Jr., Rev. Fred Shu lesworth, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Rev. David Abernathy, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and most importantly Rochester’s own- Minister Franklin Delano Roosevelt Florence.

At the age of 74, Florence’s dedica on in his fi ght for social jus ce for minori es living in Rochester for many was memorialized in 2008, when Florence along with Minister Raymond Sco and Assemblyman David Gan led a protest against the Republican led Monroe County Legislature decision to elect the county’s new public defender using a closed process.

The three were arrested when they refused to accept what they described as a social injus ce because the city’s minori es- the predominant cons tuency the new public defender will be appointed to serve would not be allowed to voice their concerns and needs by way of a closed hiring process being favored by the county legislature.

Florence, a young preacher from the segregated south arrived in Rochester in 1959. At the age of 25, he was recruited to become the pastor of the Reynolds Street Church of Christ. He later established on Plymouth Avenue, the Central Church of Christ in 1974. He immediately became involved with endeavors aimed to help improve the living condi ons of blacks living in the Rochester community.

To develop and renew urban neighborhoods Minister Florence opposed The Model Ci es Program, a federally funded opera on to revive selected neighborhoods in various US ci es. The program’s ini al goals emphasized comprehensive planning, involving not just rebuilding but also rehabilita on, social service delivery, and ci zen par cipa on.

According historical papers on Florence stored at the University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries, “In 1968 Rochester had three Model Ci es projects that was opposed by FIGHT (Freedom Independence God Honor Today),” a group Florence headed from 1965-1967 and again in 1968.

In retrospect to the Model Ci es project, the papers concluded “In order to ensure meaningful ci zen par cipa on in the Model Ci es Program and equal partnership between the City of Rochester and the Model Neighborhood Council, 36 vo ng members of the council formed Rochester Northeast Development Corpora on (RNED) as an advocacy group for the council.”

RNED was incorporated August 6, 1969. RNED addressed housing issues and became involved in various educa on campaigns. Florence became its

execu ve director the following year.

In hindsight, many have come to agree that without Florence’s radical advocacy for social jus ce, the City of Rochester would not have thrived to become a manufacturing powerhouse and a leading choice for businesses to relocate which lasted throughout the late 1960’s up into the mid- 1990’s.

Florence’s strategy to ensure fair employment prac ces in the city begin with his drive to organize the community and pledged to help train unskilled blacks. In 1966 as president of FIGHT his strategy faced its biggest hurdle when the organiza on challenged Rochester’s largest employer, the Eastman Kodak Company to expand employment opportuni es for urban blacks by implemen ng a job training program with a set goal to hire 500-600 newly trained black Rochester residents.

Under the pressure of fi erce protest, Kodak in 1967 agreed to the groups demands. According to records FIGHT was successful in securing jobs for over 700 people within 8 months of their agreement with Kodak.

Florence throughout his stay in Rochester was a person the minority community felt confi dent as a leader who would ensure their concerns and needs were included in decisions that shaped the social and poli cal health of the city.

Earl Greene, director for Dispute Se lement in Wayne County, a mentee of Florence said “Mar n Luther King Jr. fought hard for racial equality in the South- Minister Florence was our valiant leader for racial equality in the North East.”

In 2011 Assemblymen David Gan , Harry Brunson and Joseph Morelle sponsored a legisla ve resolu on that honored Minister Florence for his outstanding achievements in the areas of civil rights and spiritual leadership. The resolu on was adopted on March 28, 2012.

The resolu on states:

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legisla ve Body to publicly recognize the quali es of leadership, compassion and ci zenship in the community of New York; to state the unques oned importance of the humanitarian to the progress of the State of New York and our na on, as a whole; and to make plain its commitment to the promo on of these quali es throughout our society; and

WHEREAS, A endant to such concern, and in full accord with its longstanding tradi ons, this Legisla ve Body is justly proud to honor Minister Franklin Delano Roosevelt Florence of Rochester, New York, for his outstanding achievements in the areas of civil rights and spiritual leadership; and

WHEREAS, Minister Florence came to Rochester from the segregated south as a young preacher in 1959; and

WHEREAS, Minister Florence emerged as a prominent civil rights leader and advocate for the black community; and

WHEREAS, Minister Florence was the creator and advocate for the F.I.G.H.T., organiza on which means Freedom, Integra on, God, Honor, Today and served as its president from 1965-1968; and

WHEREAS, FIGHT’s mission was to address de facto segrega on and the social problems that resulted from it and create employment opportuni es for the en re community; and

WHEREAS, Minister Florence, as president of FIGHT, helped train blacks in order to move them into the prosperous Rochester economy, to develop and renew urban neighborhoods, to create quality educa on and perhaps most importantly, to develop poli cal ac vism and community par cipa on amongst poor urban blacks; and

WHEREAS, Minister Florence, as a leader, creates opportuni es for the community to integrate Rochester businesses; he opened the door of economic prosperity to many people who had previously been denied access; and

WHEREAS, Minister Florence was involved with the Rochester an -poverty agency Ac on for a Be er Community (ABC) and The Rochester North east Development Corpora on (RNED); and

WHEREAS, Most importantly, Minister Florence, who is s ll engaged in the fi ght for civil rights, con nues to serve as senior minister of the Central Church of Christ located in Rochester, as well as an advocate for the rights of the poor; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legisla ve Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recogni on and applause of all the ci zens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legisla ve Body pause in its delibera ons to honor Minister Franklin Delano Roosevelt Florence for his dedica on and outstanding achievements in the areas of civil rights and spiritual leadership; and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolu on, suitably engrossed, be transmi ed to Minister Franklin Delano Roosevelt Florence.


Rural/Metro Medical Services is now recruiting City of Rochester residents for the 2012 Summer *EMT Academy.

Selected candidates will be sponsored by Rural/Metro.Candidate Requirements

*18yrs or older with a G.E.D. or H.S. DiplomaCity of Rochester residentValid driver’s license

We Offer:Tuition sponsorship Tutoring Books for the courseEligible for employment after successful completion

Applications are being accepted starting April 23, 2012Application Deadline is May 11, 2012

APPLY ONLINE AT www.ruralmetrorochester.comBY CLICKING ON CAREERS-NY/EMT-INTERN

ORAPPLY IN PERSON AT 811 WEST AVE

MON-FRI 8:00AM-4:00PM*Must be 18 years by June 18, 2012

The EMT Certification is a pre-requisite for the Paramedic Programwww.ruralmetrorochester.com or find us on Facebook!

For More Information Call 530-1232S C 30 1232 O O O

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRurRurrRuRuRuRurrRurRurRurRuuurRurRur ///////ll////ll/////l////lal//al/////al/al/al/MMMMM tMM ttMMMM tMeM tMeMeetetMeMeeMMeeetMetetetrororoororo MMMMMMMMMMMM dM ddddMMMMMMMMMMMM dddM dM dMMMMM ddM dMMeMM dMedMMedMeMedMMMMMMeMMedMedeedMMediiicaiiccaaicaacaacaccaicicaaica SSlll SSllll Sll Sl Slll Sl Sllllllll SSl Servervrvererverviiiiiiiicciceicececiceceecccecicececeiceicesssssssssssss iiiiisisisisis nonownownownow ecreeccccreccccreccccreccrecrec iiirruiruirruititititintintinggg

Emergency Medical TechnicianResponsive, Professional and Prepared

Neighborhood Watch Shooter’s Website DisabledORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The website that George Zimmerman set up to help raise money for his legal defense in Trayvon Mar n’s shoo ng has been disabled.

The website www.therealgeorgezimmerman was no longer func oning as of Tuesday.

It was created almost two weeks ago by Zimmerman’s family to thank his supporters and to receive dona ons from anyone who wanted to help with his legal defense.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shoo ng death of the 17-year-old Mar n in February. He has pleaded not guilty and is

claiming self-defense.

A call to Zimmerman’s a orney, Mark O’Mara, wasn’t immediately returned on Wednesday.

O’Mara has hinted that he will ask Zimmerman to be declared indigent. That would allow taxpayers to pay for his legal bills.

Any income from the website would make that process more diffi cult.

Senate: Make it Tougher to Close Post Offi cesBy HOPE YEN

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate bill aimed at saving the U.S. Postal Service would make it harder to close thousands of low-revenue post offi ces and end Saturday mail delivery, even though the struggling agency says those moves are just what’s needed to reduce its massive debt and become profi table again.

The measure takes steps to help the agency avert bankruptcy as early as this fall, through a cash infusion of $11 billion to pay off debt and reduce costs by off ering re rement incen ves to 100,000 employees. But the bill sidesteps decisions on postal closings, buying me for lawmakers who would rather avoid the wrath of voters in an elec on year.

The Senate planned to vote as early as Wednesday on a fi nal bill, a er considering amendments that could restrict the Postal Service from further cuts to fi rst-class mail delivery. Senators agreed on Tuesday to stave off the closing of rural post offi ces for a year, give communi es new avenues of appeal and prevent any closings before the November elec ons.

The fi nal bill was expected to pass the Senate but faces an uncertain future. The House has not taken up its own version, which would create a na onal commission with the power to scrap no-layoff clauses in employee contracts.

“This of course kicks the can down the road,” complained Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who unsuccessfully pushed for a commission in the Senate bill. He said the current proposal failed to address longer-term fi xes and delayed major decisions. “We’ll be on the fl oor in two years addressing this issue again, because it is not a solu on.”

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe also has cri cized the Senate bill as a short-term answer. No ng that more people every year are switching to the Internet to send le ers and pay bills, he has called the Postal Service’s business model “broken.” The agency has es mated that the Senate bill would only provide it enough liquidity to con nue opera ng for two years or three years.

The Postal Service said Wednesday it preferred legisla on “that will provide it with the speed and fl exibility to adapt to a changing marketplace for mailing and shipping products.”

At stake are more than 100,000 jobs, part of a postal cost-cu ng plan to save some $6.5 billion a year by closing up to 252 mail-processing centers and 3,700 post offi ces. The agency, $12 billion in debt, says it needs to begin closings this year. At the request of Congress, Donahoe agreed to delay closings un l May 15 to give lawmakers me to pass legisla on.

The Senate bill proposes cu ng about half the mail processing centers the Postal Services wants to close, from 252 to 125, and allowing more areas to maintain overnight fi rst-class

mail delivery for at least three more years. Beyond the one-year freeze on closing rural post offi ces, the Postal Service would face addi onal layers of approval before closing any mail facility.

The Postal Service on Tuesday circulated a smaller list of mail processing centers that probably would close under the Senate bill; many in more rural or small states would be spared. For instance, centers would survive in Connec cut, Delaware, Maine, Missouri and Vermont, whose senators were sponsors of the postal bill or pushed amendments, according to the preliminary list obtained by The Associated Press. A facility in Easton, Md., also would stay open. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., previously a empted to block the postal bill in protest of that specifi c closure.

The Postal Service would get an infusion of roughly $11 billion, which is basically a refund of overpayments made in previous years to a federal re rement fund. The money could pay down debt and fi nance buyouts to 100,000 postal employees.

The agency could make smaller annual payments into a future re ree health benefi ts account, gain fl exibility in trimming worker compensa on benefi ts and fi nd addi onal ways to raise postal revenue under a new chief innova on offi cer.

An amendment approved Tuesday would bar the Postal Service from closing post offi ces for one year if they are in areas with fewer than 50,000 people, unless there was no signifi cant community opposi on.

A er one year, the agency would have to take rural issues into special considera on. Post offi ces generally would be protected if the closest mail facility was more than 10 miles away.

“Our post offi ces are the lifeblood for towns across our state and a source of good-paying jobs in areas hard-hit by the economic downturn,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who co-sponsored the amendment. “This amendment protects rural post offi ces, with a realis c eye toward the future.”


1Books Sandwiched-In program at Central LibraryTime: 12:12 PM to 12:52 PMLoca on: Kate Gleason Auditorium, Central Library, 115 South Ave.My Song by Harry BelafonteAdmission: Free and open to the public, sea ng up to 120, wheelchair accessibleSponsor: Central Library and the Friends & Founda on of the Rochester Public Library

1Zumba - What It Is and Why You Should Do ItTime: 4:30PM-5:30 PMLoca on: Lyell Branch Library- 956 Lyell Ave.Par cipate in a fun Zumba workout (30-45 minutes). Come dressed to experience this super fun and very eff ec ve dance fi tness workout. Space is limited, so please call to register. For ages 12 and up

1Flower City Looking Good - May 1 Hor culture WorkshopTime: 6:00PM-7:00 PMLoca on: Campbell Street Community Center, 524 Campbell Street Join a free gardening talk designed to address your specifi c gardening ques ons. Subjects include gardening on a budget, growing plants from seed, planning a vegetable garden, raising herbs, and more. INFO: Michael Warren Thomas, 428-8820

1A Conversa on on Race - A Process of DiscoveryTime: 6:00PM-8:00PMLoca on: Arne Branch Library- 310 Arne Blvd. This program will raise awareness about the impact of race in our everyday lives. Building upon the YWCA’s Na onal Stand Against Racism,

with support from NCBI Rochester

2Your Car, My Life - Smart Driving for TeensTime: 5:30PM-7:30PMLoca on: Monroe Branch Library- 809 Monroe Ave.Teens ages 12-18 are invited to a end this safe driving workshop presented by the Injury Free Coali on for Kids of Rochester. Registra on is required. Please call or stop in to register. INFO: (585) 428-8202

3Annual Community Luncheon: It’s TimE to GrowTime: 11:30am - 1:30pmLoca on: Rochester Riverside Conven on CenterThe Center for Teen Empowerment invites you to its 2nd Annual Community Luncheon, a unique and powerful event to support its growth in Rochester! Register online by following the link at www.teenempowerment.org/rochester.html.Registra on deadline is April 26. Tickets - $50, Table of 10 - $400

4NCADD 2012 Annual LuncheonTime: 11:30-2:00pmLoca on: Mario’s Italian Steakhouse - 2740 Monroe Ave.“Pleasure Unwoven: An Update on the Neuroscience of Addic on”

5Rose WorkshopTime: 10:00AM-12:00 PMLoca on: Maplewood Rose Garden, Corner of Lake and Driving Park Avenues.Greater Rochester Rose Society members will provide expert advice on roses and hands-on demonstra ons. INFO: Michael Warren Thomas, 428-8820

CALENDARMay CLASSIFIEDS

Employment

Let Minority Reporter Help You Grow Your Business!

888.792.9303

LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEXT EVENTE-MAIL US TODAY

[email protected]

Affordable Living 435 State Street, Rochester

Now Accepting Waitlist Applications

RENT new 1-bedroom apartments. 100% smoke-free building. Includes energy-efficient appliances, lounges, community room,

laundry facilities, off-street parking. Rent is $572 and includes all utilities.Income and occupancy requirements apply.

Paul Wolk Commons Providence Housing Development Corp.,1136 Buffalo Rd., Rochester, NY

Or by calling (585) 328-3228 ext. 1393Professionally managed by Providence Housing Dev. Corp.

Start Your Career With ConServe!

Accounts Receivable Clerk Application Developer

Collection Manager Debt Counselors

200 Cross Keys Office Park, Fairport, 14450

ConServe is an EOE and a Drug-Free Workplace

www.conserve-arm.com Click the “ConServe Careers” tab to apply

Paid Onside Training Generous Vacation Plan 100% Paid Single Medical 100% Paid Single Vision/Dental Ethics Award Winning Company

Services

ADOPTBirth Date: December, 1994

Georganna is described as a “spiritual, creative and unique” young woman. She has a great sense of humor and an infectious smile. Georganna loves expressive dance and church activities, including singing and dancing. Other hob-bies include listening to music and talking walks. Georganna’s favorite foods are chicken and pizza and she waits for the day when she can share her meals at the dinner table of her forever family. Her favorite subjects are art and music. In the future, Georganna hopes to be a pastor or employed by a church. She hopes for a loving, support-ive forever family...and maybe even a big sister or two!

If you’re interested in learning more about Latairance, or other waiting children, visit:www.ChildrenAwaitingParents.org or c all 585-232-5110.

INDEPENDENT LIVINGDunn Tower IApartments

100 Dunn Tower DriveRochester, NY 14606

(585)429-5520

Dunn Tower IIApartments

200 Dunn Tower DriveRochester, NY 14606

(585)429-6840

www.dunntower.com

For Rent


The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

STRAIGHT…NO CHASER

Orchids and OnionsOrchids: To those in the Community who took the me to come out

and recognize the contribu ons Minister Franklin Florence, Sr. has made to this community.

Onions: To those folks complaining about the price of

a cket to the MFF Recogni on Dinner. Many of you paid $125 for the Roland Mar n Dinner honoring Assemblyman David Gan and Connie Mitchell so how exactly does a $60 cket become too much to consider? The biggest cri cism I have for my community is we fi nd the money for concerts, Gucci bags, fake hair and nails but cry when it comes to paying homage to an icon. God Bless the hypocrites.

Onions: To all of the Monday morning quarterbacks who expect people to jump through hoops for them because they did not plan or read direc ons. A deadline is a deadline. Some folks think they are so special that a deadline should be altered for them; not recognizing there is a reason for the deadline.

Orchids: To any and all in the process who selected Bolgen Vargas as the next RCSD superintendent. Not only do I feel he is qualifi ed, but felt he deserved support a er the embarrassing fi asco took place the night he and the other candidate from Texas were to meet and greet the community.

Onions: To the so-called ac vists and advocates who consistently let the public know that their egos are out of control. Their unfortunate tac cs some mes a ract a police presence to control them, and are indica ve of the behavior some of our children emulate. When the behavior we frown upon from our children comes from adults claiming they care about them, it is beyond hypocri cal. I seriously think the mental health of some so-called leaders in this community needs close examina on.

Orchids: To the Fla. prosecutor who was gutsy enough to at least have George Zimmerman arrested. I was afraid we were in for a long hot summer had not that injus ce not been corrected. The na ves were restless.

Orchids: To all the prayer warriors called upon to pray for a speedy recovery for Felix Jacobs, more than likely the most consistently ac ve parent in the City School District. His health is improving and the family appreciates the concern and support given.

Onions: On top of onions to the bicycle riders who insist on wearing dark clothing, riding dark bikes a er the sun goes down. You are seriously taking your life in your hands when you don’t recognize there are senior ci zens on the road with poor night vision as well. Introduce yourself to white clothing why don’t you?

Onions: To the sick element that seems

to con nue to create a hos le and unsafe environment for our innocent children. The number of children disappearing and kidnapped na onwide appears to be on the rise. Parents pu ng their children to bed, only to awaken to fi nd them missing is a scary situa on that far exceeds the kind of warnings we off er our young ones about talking to strangers. How do we prepare our children for intruders (known or unknown) that may enter their bedroom in the middle of the night?

Onions: To those who don’t recognize this is the me of year when that winter crust on your feet needs to be removed before you s ck your feet in sandals. And if you don’t have lo on, Vaseline always works on those heels.

Orchids: To the Rochester Black Poli cal Caucus Conference that took place Saturday, April 28. Great turnout and great topics. Let’s put in the work necessary to eff ec vely establish our own agenda for our community. I say it is me to infi ltrate and secure black leadership in the local Democra c Party. We consistently do good by them, they do li le for us.

Onions: To the challenger to Assemblyman David Gan ’s seat in the 133rd Assembly District. I have no problem with the challenge but do ques on the challenger. Is anyone going to seriously consider was ng a vote on someone who may not be able to drive back and forth to Albany because of restric ons on his driver’s license? Last me I checked folks with DWI’s can not legally drive.

Orchids: To Shawn Johnson, an 18-year-old local Golden Gloves boxer, who may soon travel to Las Vegas to compete na onally. His personal trainers are currently his father Jaleel and Derrick Gramling.

Orchids: To me for fi nally kicking a 53-year-old nico ne habit. Not an easy thing to do when harmful chemicals have manifested themselves in the body. Pray for me.

Orchids: To the re rement of Robert “Bob” Brown, business manager from Rochester Laborers Local No. 435. I am certain there are many already who miss him. It is my understanding an offi cial re rement party for him is slated for June 2012. Call the hall for addi onal info if interested. I have been told that Danny Kuntz has assumed the role of current business manager.

Onions: To all the haters, those who wake up daily trying to fi gure out how to make someone else’s life miserable because they have none.

Orchids: To Baye’ Muhammad, commissioner of Parks and Recrea on in Syracuse, and all others responsible for the success of their fi rst networking event. It is my understanding the event will occur at least four mes a year.

Orchids: To the Minority Reporter Media Group (Dave and Pauline McCleary, publishers) embarking on its fi h-year in business. Don’t get le out of the gala and celebra on being planned for September 2012.

GLORIA WINSTONAL-SARAG

----------------------------------Gloria Winston Al-Sarag is a Community Activist, Writer, Communicator, Political Activist. She is a native Roches-terian and has been involved with numerous community orgainzations in Rochester. Contact Gloria at: [email protected]

Throughout this elec on year I have tried to keep you posted on various items taking place that are per nent to African-Americans (actually all Americans).

This week however, I want to take a spur trail and talk about what is happening

as the Rochester City School Board is searching for a new superintendent of schools.

What appeared to be an open process has started to take on something that seems suspect and therefore should be monitored by the community.

It has been no secret that the current interim superintendent, Bolgen Vargas has a desire to become the full- me superintendent of the Rochester City School District. I do not fault him for that, however, the events taking place around him becoming superintendent are up for scru ny. The issue that I am referring to is the budget that Bolgen Vargas recently

released. While it is great that no one loses their job, when the fi rst person to appreciate the budget is the head of the Rochester Teachers Associa on, Adam Urbanski, one immediately realizes that it cannot be a good budget.

The budget that was released by Bolen Vargas leaves a $14 million dollar defi cit. When it was ini ally discussed I was sure that there would be all kinds of dismay at such a budget. However, instead of dismay, there was joy. Leaving me to wonder, why is everyone so happy? Why would someone be praised for leaving a $14 million defi cit in their budget? What appears to be happening is that during the search for a superintendent, the current interim superintendent is trying to do all that he can to not make any waves.

With the abysmal gradua on rate in the Rochester City School District, the last thing the district needs is someone that is trying to ensure they do not off end the teacher’s union.

Rochester has to realize the fact that the city school district is for the students. The major job is not to keep adults happy but to educate the students. And at present, the students are not being educated!

So, the next ques on is why hasn’t the school board taken Bolgen Vargas to task concerning his horrible budget? What household would receive kudos for leaving a hole in the budget? Only in government can this type of lunacy be tolerated and even praised. The Rochester community needs to demand that a budget that is balanced and meets the main objec ve of educa ng the students in the district is released.

The school board should scru nize the budget and make demands of Mr. Vargas to explain why he is so proud of this budget and how he would close this budget gap and the impending gap that is projected for next year.

It is me out for the status quo to be maintained in the city of Rochester. There are large amounts of money being manipulated, many lives impacted and the most important element, the educa ng of our students at stake.

If the people of Rochester will make noise in the mee ngs and more importantly at the ballot box, the school district will stand-up and take no ce.

Not only the school district but all poli cians will see that they can no longer do things that support them at the expense of the people they claim to serve. In my humble opinion, every member of the current school board that does not take the Bolgen Vargas budget to task needs to be replaced.

Also any member that will support the appointment of Bolgen Vargas as full- me superintendent should be replaced. Now is the me for the community to stand-up and fl ex its muscle.

I am sharing this informa on with you so that at the very least you will begin to ques on what is happening in our community. We have to be educated on what is going on and be willing to take a stand. While we may not be able to tackle every issue ourselves, we have to make our voices known so that those in elected offi ce realize that they serve us and not the other way around.

Again I ask, when a budget is submi ed that leaves a $14 million defi cit, why is everyone so happy?

Why So Happy?

-------------------------------Tell me what you think; e-mail me at [email protected]

C. MICHAEL VAUGHN

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...


The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of Minority Reporter.

The Rochester School Board to Parents: Your Input is Unwelcome

AYESHAKREUTZ

The media has it all wrong about what happened at the so-called public forum for the superintendent search, April 17, and I hope they will come ask us about what really went on.

So far, they’ve only reported the side of the school

board, and that has been very lacking, especially of the details the board doesn’t want the public to know about.

For instance, a er Bolgen Vargas was going to speak, we parents and taxpayers – who don’t approve of Vargas’ ascension to sa sfy the unions because he’s supposedly promised that he will be their yes man – were led to believe that we could ask ques ons.

Before the other superintendent candidate – the one who supposedly had a shot at the job, spoke – the board had people write down ques ons.

From that, the board chose what ques ons to ask the other gentleman – and not even randomly.

Then, they planned to ask Vargas the same ques ons that were directed to the other man.

In other words, the ques ons that we had for Vargas, who has me as interim superintendent to answer for, were not at all going to be addressed.

They took the ques ons addressed to the other gentleman, whom they have there as a token to the supposed process, and planned to ask Vargas those. This is just absurd.

At this point, the parents groups –once they’d fi gured out that the board had found a way to avoid hearing their concerns at a so-called public forum – went up and locked arms, silently and non-violently.

In a con nued eff ort to avoid having to hear from the people that pay the taxes that fund their jobs, the board called the police and then called for a recess.

The parents waited for their return, only to fi nd out that they had moved the session to another auditorium.

Upon trying to enter the second place, security guards kept the parents out.

The police on the other hand were cordial they waved, smiled, spoke when spoken to and just stood aside with not much to do as no laws were being broken.

If this is what is considered appropriate in a free society, then great.

However, if this doesn’t sound like the America we’ve grown up in, maybe the

public, including members of the media, should stop scoffi ng at and mocking the parents who actually care about the educa on that their children, who lest we forget are being deprived of a good educa on by corrupt poli cians and unions.

I fi nd it sad and disturbing that, even at a local level, some government agencies are not as representa ve as they should be. In par cular, I want to talk about the local Rochester City School Board.

I have been really involved for the last couple of years. Before that, I paid a en on and showed up at a few things to voice my concerns, but since we the taxpayers and parents are regularly ignored and scoff ed at, I just went along with my life like most of us do.

But now that I have seen how corrupt the system actually is, I cannot, in good conscience, con nue to sit back and enjoy my li le life as the world around me falls apart.

When considering the members on the Rochester City School Board, I have to wonder if any of them actually care about educa on, or if they just enjoy ge ng a paycheck for being in the pocket of the teachers union.

I know that sounds mean, and I do not want it to be. I am sure they are good people, but what are we to think as individuals and groups when they consistently disregard us?

Let’s take the superintendent search for example. For the 8 months or so that I have been personally trying to tell anyone who’d listen about how the process is corrupt, I’ve been witnessing the corrup on going on right out in the open – and the overt way in which they operate would embarrass a mob boss.

As a conserva ve member of the Rochester Parents United (RPU), I know of no other organiza ons with such a diverse poli cal spectrum represented by its members who s ll all agree on the same thing so vehemently.

Our parents agree that our kids come fi rst, and that the school board and the teachers unions are happy to use Bolgen Vargas as a tool in their a empts to further corrupt an ever-failing school system.

I would suggest if you are a Rochester City Parent you call Ernest Flagler the actual president of the RPU and fi nd out more about them. This is about our children and the rights of parents.

We at the Frederick Douglass Founda on have had a few dealings with Bolgen Vargas.

We’ve also spoken with parents who have dealt with him, and 90 percent of us agree that he is just not right for the job, even if it’s for diff erent reasons.

Now, I have listened to Vargas. I think he is

a nice guy and that his inten ons are good, but what is that saying?

As they say, “The road to hell is paved with good inten ons.” We do not dislike Vargas as a person.

We dislike the process and the arrogance of the school board, in which Vargas happily went along with.

A while back, the school board announced that they were looking for a new superintendent.

In the mean me, Vargas would be the interim superintendent and would not be considered for the permanent posi on.

Three days later, Bolgen Vargas gave the unions everything they wanted by approving a contract that was being contested for many good reasons.

With the Vargas approval in their pocket, the board magically tells us that there is an outpouring of support of Vargas for this posi on.

As a result, they took back what they fi rst promised. They re-voted to allow him to apply for the permanent posi on. How much do you want to bet that that supposed support came from the teachers who benefi ted from his corrupt approval of their contract which swindles the taxpayer and puts more money into an educa onal system that will only con nue to fail?

Keep in mind, Rochester taxpayers aren’t allowed to vote for or against the school budget. Coincidence is the explana on of a lazy mind. And only a lazy mind wouldn’t see something fi shy in that.

Then the board told us that they were going to build a coali on of people and spend $40,000 to hire a search fi rm to make sure that they fi nd the best-qualifi ed person.

Low and behold, one of the fi nalists, that they spent a year and $40,000 to fi nd, just happens to be the guy who was there all along. Oh, wait, there’s also one other guy.

Yes, that is really what they want us to believe. It’s downright insul ng. Yet, we the parents are derided and made fun of by the media, as if we the parents really had a say, right?

I mean it’s just our kids. Why should we have a say? We keep trying to tell the board to listen and they keep pushing us away.

The school board and the teachers union would love to think that we don’t see the dog and pony show for what it is, but we do.

They think that, just because many of us came out of their failed educa onal system, poor inner-city parents are too dumb to no ce the corrup on of the process.

The board and the union hand picked

Vargas because he gave them what they wanted and before that, he sat on the board for 7 years.

I suppose that is what they would think since they have failed three genera ons of students already, but we the parents have had enough.

We want be er for our kids. We no longer want to be controlled by the system that is supposed to help us. We no longer want to help the system keep us down.

And for that, they want to ignore us because acknowledging our mere existence means they might lose some of their power in that they might need to be held to account for their votes. Wouldn’t want that would they?

I have come to the conclusion that there are many parents who care and want to be involved, but they are consistently ignored and disenfranchised by the same people who claim the parents do not care.

The school board and the union cannot have it both ways.

Our frustra on comes from the fact that the board, the teachers, the administrators and the government keep saying: “We need more parental involvement, we need them to help us and to care.”

All the while, they’re saying: “Hey, do not worry about your kid’s educa on. We know best. Let the professionals handle it. We didn’t even teach you to read properly, so let us handle educa ng your kids.”

Of course those are lies, and they inevitably proceed to do nothing about the problems.

Now you have several groups of parents who have banded together, and s ll they just want to ignore us.

Did anyone ask: What would drive these parents and groups to take such dras c measures?

Did anyone wonder: What is going on that fi nally the grassroots movements are united under one cause?

To Malik Evans and the school board: Wake up and smell the defeat coming your way. We are elephants, and we forget nothing. We will keep repor ng on all of this and will be sure to remind the general public of your smug arrogance.

In the mean me, I pray that the Lord touches his heart to stop the hardening like Pharaoh’s. There is a chance for redemp on here.

But they need to stop patronizing parents and start doing the right thing. They can start by listening to those who care about our kids and their educa on. They should be applauding us and not hiding from us.


Documents

MR_043012_web