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NAACP calls for Blacks to avoid travel to Florida and Governor DeSantis for mistreating Blacks and restricting diversity and equity, DeSantis....The NAACP says that Florida has become openly hostile toward Blacks

Kathy, on 22 May 2023

WASHINGTON – The NAACP Board of Directors on Sunday issued a formal travel advisory for the state of Florida in direct response to Gov. Ron DeSantis' aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools. DeSantis is scheduled to announce his 2024 bid for president this week on Twitter, becoming former president Donald Trump's to rival for the Republican nomination.

The formal travel notice states the following:

"Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color."

NAACP officials said Sunday that Blacks and other marginalized groups will not be written out of history books in Florida and denied inclusion in any shape of form by policy makers, self-serving and anti-Black politicians like DeSantis, and other stakeholders without a fight.

"Let me be clear - failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all," said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. "Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We're not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation."

The travel advisory was initially proposed to the Board of Directors by NAACP's Florida State Conference. NAACP's collective consideration of this advisory is a result from unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from the Governor and his legislative body.

"Once again, hate-inspired state leaders have chosen to put politics over people. Governor Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida have engaged in a blatant war against principles of diversity and inclusion and rejected our shared identities to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority," said NAACP Board of Directors Chairman Leon Russell. "We will not not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding. The NAACP proudly fights against the malicious attacks in Florida, against Black Americans. I encourage my fellow Floridians to join in this fight to protect ourselves and our democracy."

Following Gov. DeSantis' so-called leadership in driving the state to reject students' access to AP African American studies course in March, the NAACP distributed 10,000 books to 25 predominantly Black communities across the state in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers's Reading Opens the World program. The majority of the books donated were titles banned under the state's increasingly restrictive laws. The NAACP continues to encourage local branches and youth councils to start community libraries to ensure access to representative literature.

The NAACP encourages Florida residents to join this effort to defeat the regressive policies of this Governor and this state legislature. Interested residents and supporters can visit www.naacp.org for additional information and updates.

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About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Its legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 18:32

National Treasure wins the Preakness and denies Derby winner Mage a possible Triple Crown

Kathy, on 20 May 2023

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.

BALTIMORE, Maryland-National Treasure edged Blazing Stevens, who came in second, and Derby winner Mage, who placed third, to win the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

The win gives veteran jockey John Velazquez another victory, as well as trainer Bob Baffert, who now has won at the Preakness a historical eight times. Had Mage won the Preakness and subsequently the Belmont Stakes next month in New York, the second and third legs of the Triple Crown, the colt would have won the Triple Crown, which is now out of reach due to Saturday's third place finish.

Baffert had just finished completing a suspension for a failed drug test by his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, and another horse he trained died before this year's Preakness. But he was elated Saturday.

“This business is twists and turns and ups and downs,” Baffert told NBC News after the race. “We had a horrible race [when Havnameltdown broke down]. I was totally wiped out after that horse got hurt."

National Treasure paid $7.80 to win. A $1 xacta paid out $15.90, the trifecta $24.20, and the superfecta, $72.40.

Pictured above after winning the 2023 Kentucky Derby race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky two weeks ago, Mage was the favorite for the Preakness with better odds than the 15-1 odds he had for the Derby. In fact, Mage entered the Preakness with odds of 8-5 in comparison to 4-1 for National Treasure and odds of 6-1 for Blazing Stevens.

Preakness Stakes payouts to the horse winners on Saturday in Baltimore were $900,000, which National Treasure won as the first place winner, $300,000 for Blazing Stevens, and $165,000 that went to Mage for finishing third. Fourth and fifth place finishers earned $90,000 and $45,000, respectively.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 18:48

Ohio Senator Nickie Antonio condemns state Senate's passage of higher education bill that precludes union strikes and college diversity programs

Kathy, on 17 May 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood), a Lakewood Democrat whose 23rd state legislative district includes 14 of Cleveland's 17 wards, issued a statement after the Ohio Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 83, the highly controversial "Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act."

"This bill is an egregious overreach by the Republican majority to micromanage Ohio's colleges and universities," said Antonio. "It is a bill that could silence Ohio's best and brightest. How are we as a state supposed to claim to educate future generations to the fullest without the discussion and understanding of all views and perspectives?

She branded the bill, Senate Bill 83, a Republicans effort to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion from Ohio's institutions of higher learning

The measure passed the Senate 21-10 with all Democrats and three Republicans voting no. S.B. 83 now goes to the House for consideration, where its companion legislation, House Bill 151, received its second hearing today.

Among a litany of changes to Ohio's higher education laws, S.B. 83 would prohibit all higher education employees from striking and ban institutions from having mandated diversity, equity and inclusion programs. It also would bar colleges and universities from endorsing or opposing as an institution any controversial beliefs, policies, specified concepts or specified ideologies.

More than 300 Ohioans and organizations, including the American Association of University Professors Ohio Conference and Ohio Education Association, submitted testimony in opposition to S.B. 83 while it was receiving hearings in the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee.

"Institutions of higher education are tasked with preparing our students for the workforce and to compete in a global economy," said Antonio. "It is our institutions that should be allowed to decide whether to require diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as part of their program. However, this bill will have a chilling effect on future students from having an ability to interact with other cultures or perspectives. Republicans devised this bill out of a seemingly desperate fear of a 'woke agenda.' But they should be afraid of the far more frightening impacts the bill will have by imposing it on nonconsenting students, faculty and institutions. Instead of advancing critical thinking, this bill stifles academic freedom."

Critics also argue that S B. 83 is an unnecessary infringement upon the principles of free speech and academic freedom that will discourage prospective students from attending colleges and universities in Ohio and professors from seeking employment at these institutions.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 18:55

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb proposes paid parental leave policy to expand city's benefits offerings....Councilman Slife comments....Full-time employees will be eligible for up to 500 hours of 100% paid leave during new child life events

Kathy, on 15 May 2023

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb is proposing a new paid parental leave policy that will benefit employees who experience a new child life event, the city announced in a press release on Monday.

The proposed policy, a proposed city ordinance, has been submitted to city council and will be presented at council meeting Monday evening. If approved, the policy will be available to all full-time, non-union city of Cleveland employees, and to union employees as negotiations continue with the city's collective bargaining agreement units.

"I'm excited to present this new proposal coming out of Mother's Day weekend. We want to set the standard in employee engagement by showing that we not only are listening, but taking significant steps forward by implementing what they are seeking," said Mayor Bibb. "We hope other organizations in our region, both public and private sector, will follow our lead to support our workforce the best we can so that Cleveland can become an even better place to live, work, and raise a family."

Full-time city employees, both hourly and salary, who have completed 30 days of continuous service will be eligible to receive the benefit. No other prerequisites will be required. Under this new paid time off policy, employees will be eligible for up to 500 hours leave and will be paid at 100% of their base pay. The comprehensive policy will be offered to new parents in birthing, adoption, and guardianship situations.

The policy will be offered to both biological parents in birthing situations, as well as those who have legally become a parent – via adoption or guardianship – of a new child who resides in the same household. Eligible employees will be entitled to 12 weeks (480 hours) of 100% paid leave following the new child life event. They will also be entitled up to an additional 20 hours of 100% paid leave prior to the new child life event – to attend prenatal and related medical appointments or to attend required meetings during the adoption and guardianship processes.

Eligible employees will be able to use the paid parental leave intermittently, allowing flexibility to use the time off to best meet their individual needs and situations. Employees who experience stillbirth or miscarriage will be eligible for 3 weeks of 100% paid leave.

Studies have shown similar policies have various long-term organizational benefits such as reduced turnover costs, improved employee morale, increased worker productivity, and more success in recruiting. The paid leave will be additional time off that won't affect other balances, such as sick or vacation time, that employees have already earned. They will also continue to accrue time and maintain their benefits while on leave.

"We believe this new policy will serve as both an attraction and retention tool – to help recruit new employees and keep our current ones," added Mayor Bibb. "We'll continue to look for innovative ways to expand our benefits package towards being a more inclusive employer of choice."

"Paid parental leave is the next step in demonstrating the importance of our people - here at the City of Cleveland," stated Councilman Charles Slife. "The city is one of the largest employers in the county, and providing our workers with this benefit will improve morale, efficiency, and productivity - and help us to attract and retain top-level talent. Families are the foundation of our city and our society."

Last Updated on Monday, 15 May 2023 23:17

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown, Democratic Women's Caucus discuss U.S. Department of Labor report on women's wages and life earnings as impacted by family care-giving

Kathy, on 14 May 2023

WASHINGTON, DC– Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) (pictured), a Warrensville Hts Democrat whose 11th congressional district includes Cleveland and several of its eastern suburbs of Cuyahoga County, and federal lawmakers of the Democratic Women's Caucus (DMC) joined a press call with officials of the U.S. Department of Labor to discuss the release of a report by the department’s Women’s Bureau on how caring for family has long-term impacts on a woman’s lifetime earnings.

Last Updated on Monday, 15 May 2023 02:27 Read more...

City of Cleveland's speed tables program reduces speeds in neighborhoods, report says.....Mayor Justin Bibb comments

Kathy, on 12 May 2023

CLEVELAND, Ohio- The City of Cleveland on Thursday released the results of the speed table pilot program that was initiated last summer. Speed tables are midblock traffic calming devices that raise the entire wheelbase of a vehicle to reduce its traffic speed. They are longer than speed humps and flat-topped, with a height of 3–3.5 inches and a length of 22 feet. Across Cleveland's ten pilot locations, average speeds were 7.8 miles per hour slower after speed table installation, and over 77 percent of respondents to the resident survey indicated support for more speed tables across the city, the report says.

“We continue to hear from residents who are concerned about speeding in their neighborhoods and we take these concerns very seriously,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb, who took office in January of 2022 and is the city's fourth Black mayor. “I am encouraged by the results of the speed table pilot, and we will continue to curtail this dangerous behavior through physical traffic calming and data-driven solutions to create safer streets.”

The program is an effort to slow traffic on primarily residential roads with documented speeding issues in alignment with the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate serious injuries and deaths from crashes on Cleveland roads through clear and measurable strategies.

The city announced the speed table pilot in June of 2022, installed the initial speed tables in the fall, and released a survey in February 2023 to capture resident opinions and experiences. In addition to resident comments, pre- and post-speed data were collected on pilot and pilot-adjacent streets to determine the effectiveness of the pilot.

In the most recent round of proposals for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources, Mayor Bibb requested $3 million as part of the ‘Back to Basics’ fund to support additional speed table installations and other multimodal and safety improvements. The ‘Back to Basics’ proposal is currently under review by Cleveland City Council.

“As we move into the next phase of this work, we are continually taking in resident reports of issues and concerns and collecting traffic data to inform our response,” said Cleveland’s Senior Strategist for Transit and Mobility Calley Mersmann. “This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We are aligning feedback and data with proven methods to slow traffic and improve safety street by street across our neighborhoods.”

To read the full speed table pilot evaluation report and for further information on the City’s neighborhood traffic calming efforts, visit www.clevelandohio.gov/TrafficCalming.

Last Updated on Monday, 15 May 2023 00:10

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NAACP calls for Blacks to avoid travel to Florida and Governor DeSantis for mistreating Blacks and restricting diversity and equity, DeSantis....The NAACP says that Florida has become openly hostile toward Blacks

National Treasure wins the Preakness and denies Derby winner Mage a possible Triple Crown

Ohio Senator Nickie Antonio condemns state Senate's passage of higher education bill that precludes union strikes and college diversity programs

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb proposes paid parental leave policy to expand city's benefits offerings....Councilman Slife comments....Full-time employees will be eligible for up to 500 hours of 100% paid leave during new child life events

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown, Democratic Women's Caucus discuss U.S. Department of Labor report on women's wages and life earnings as impacted by family care-giving

City of Cleveland's speed tables program reduces speeds in neighborhoods, report says.....Mayor Justin Bibb comments

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