NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER NATIONAL MARCH 10-16, 2010 A3
Mizzou students apologize
Black D.C. native ranked
for cotton ball incident
(NNPA)—Two University riding a Missouri tiger
of Missouri students have statue and hoisting a pirate
8th on Forbes �wealthiest� list
apologized for scattering flag at the ROTC building.
cotton balls outside the Both students have been
by Brandi Forte
work to do.
Black Culture Center on suspended from school.
campus, according to the “Fitzgerald and Tucker
For New Pittsburgh Courier
“There is generational
poverty in Wards 7 and 8,”
Associated Press. apologize to each and every
WASHINGTON he said. “What I see is two
Nineteen-year-old fresh- person who was hurt and
(NNPA)—It’s hard to know cities, a city that is Black
man Sean Fitzgerald and 21- offended by their actions,”
what to expect when you and a city that is White. It
year-old senior Zachary The letter reads. “This ex-
meet a Forbes “lister.” is poor and prospering. As
Tucker were arrested March perience has caused them
Someone literally so a native and resident I
2 on suspicion of hate crimes. to deeply reflect on how
wealthy, so successful that would like to have one city
They have not been charged. their actions affect others.
we’re forced to pluck them to create more opportuni-
In a letter to campus lead- Each young man plans to
once a year from office ties and success for all resi-
ers and student groups is- meet with organizations
suites, stages and basket- dents. How can you tell
sued last week, the two and individuals to person-
ball courts and rank them residents that you don’t
apologized for their “inex- ally express their remorse
by the zeroes in their bank have money for services,
cusable judgment.” and regret for causing this
accounts. Names like but you have millions to
The statement described situation.”
Oprah and Magic and Bob give to businesses in Mary-
what they called “a series of (Special to the NNPA from the
and Sheila Johnson float to land to move to the Dis-
foolish acts” that included St. Louis American.)
the top. Now we can add trict?…We need a public
Washington native R. Don- servant whose heart is in
Police: 8 teens shot while
ahue Peebles to that list. D.C.,” he said.
Don’t expect to find Pee- D.C. Council member-At-
bles, a real estate titan Large Michael Brown, a
leaving Indiana concert
with a portfolio worth $4 friend of Peebles, agrees
billion, hiding behind de- with him on the state of
signer shades or spinning the District.
GARY, Ind. (AP)—Author-
in a tornado of security “Don is right. We need
Police say they ranged in
and Blackberry-wielding
R. DONAHUE PEEBLES
ities say eight teenage boys
public servants that have
age from 14 to 18, with
were shot while leaving a
Ivy-league assistants. If compassion and solu-
wounds in the legs, wrist,
Gary, Ind., skating rink
you don’t mind, he’ll intro- admirers. ber of the chess team. tions,” Brown said. “Don
stomach or back. King said
where they were attending
duce himself. It’s barely This book should be on Someone else was the vale- is a great leader and pub-
injuries weren’t believed to
a concert.
above freezing in the na- every aspiring businessper- dictorian. After high lic servant. He exudes ex-
be life-threatening.
Police Cpl. Gabrielle King
tion’s capital and he’s son’s bookshelf to be read school, Peebles attended perience and foresight for
King said Saturday
says “chaos broke loose”
dressed comfortably in a again and again, said Rutgers University for a the voices that are not
evening no arrests had
when a fight erupted last
deep navy, pinstriped suit Robert L. Johnson, BET year before dropping out to being represented.”
been made. A message
Friday night event at World
tailored to his slim 6-3 founder and Charlotte Bob- focus on making real estate Peebles’ political educa-
seeking comment was left
of Skates. Police say the
frame. He smiles and says cats owner. deals and building The tion started in high school,
at World of Skates.
shooting started in the
he’s use to the weather. By Born in 1960 at Freed- Peebles Corp. working on Capitol Hill as
King said the wounded
parking lot.
the way, you can call him man’s Hospital, now “One thing that playing a page and as an intern for
weren’t clear on what
The victims were taken to
Don. Last year, Forbes Howard University Hospi- chess taught me about life Rep. John Conyers of
prompted the shooting.
three area hospitals, where
Magazine named Peebles tal, Peebles grew up on 9th is how to plan ahead, Michigan and Rep. Ron
Gary is 30 miles southeast
some remained Saturday.
the “Eighth Wealthiest Street. Peebles’ parents di- thinking forward, being Dellums of California.
of Chicago.
African-American.” From vorced when he was five. strategic about my oppo- “I had a pretty grueling
his swank downtown D.C. Though his mother raised nent and how to be eight schedule, but I got to see
Ex-Detroit mayor loses
office just two blocks from him, and his grandfather steps ahead of the game,” how politics and business
Macy’s, Peebles shared his and uncles played key he said. interacted,” he said.
story of grit and determi- roles in molding him, he Peebles’ grandfather Councilman Marion
appeal over restitution
nation that propelled him adopted his father’s work worked as a doorman for Barry also mentored him
from a humble, working- ethic. Marriott Wardman Park during his 20s, and Peebles
class upbringing into the “My father and I had a Hotel for 41 years. It was was later appointed chair-
DETROIT (AP)—Former merit,” Judge Karen Fort world of self-made million- close relationship in the no small bit of irony man of D.C.’s Board of
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kil- Hood said. aires. early part of my childhood. when, in 1994, Peebles Equalization and Review,
patrick, desperate to stop a Kilpatrick pleaded guilty “I am a big believer that After my parents divorced bought and converted 900 D.C.’s real estate tax ap-
judge from forcing him to in 2008 to misconduct tied anything is possible,” he there was some distance. I F Street, N.W, into what peals board, at 23.
come up with $320,000 in to his lying under oath said. Warm hues and pho- learned the willingness to it is today: a Marriott These experiences gave
special restitution pay- about an affair with a staff tos taken with President work hard from my uncles Hotel. him a strong sense for pub-
ments, struck out last Fri- member in a whistle-blow- Obama and former Presi- and my grandfather taught Now the Peebles Corp. lic service and politics,
day with a higher court and ers’ lawsuit. He served 99 dent Bill Clinton and por- me that there were no lim- is the nation’s largest which he still cherishes.
now faces a hearing on days in jail and agreed to traits of his wife and chil- its,” Peebles said. “At the African-American real “My dedication to realiz-
whether he violated proba- give up his law license and dren cover the walls. “The same time my father al- estate development com- ing the potential of Wash-
tion. his political career and only limitations for us are ways had two jobs. He pany. The company ington remains steadfast
The Michigan Court of Ap- repay the city $1 million for those we allow society to worked for the government boasts luxury hotels and and my desire to work ag-
peals said a Wayne County settling an employment impose on us.” and as an auto mechanic. I high-rise residential and gressively to bring about
judge did not abuse his dis- lawsuit related to his mis- That is the story that got my work ethic from commercial properties in change will always be un-
cretion when he ordered Kil- deeds. Peebles wants every him.” D.C., San Francisco, Las wavering,” he said.
patrick to quickly come up He’s making monthly pay- Black boy and girl, man In 1965, he and his Vegas and Miami Beach. For now, Peebles said
with more money to reduce ments of $3,000 while living and woman in the Dis- mother moved to Naylor In the near future, he that he’ll work for change
his $1 million restitution to in the Dallas area and work- trict to know—a story of Road and Southern Av- plans to invest and build as a private citizen focus-
Detroit, a debt that’s part of ing as a salesman for infor- how to succeed against enue. Then in 1974, they more minority banks ing on family first. The
his 2008 criminal case. mation-technology company the odds. He has cap- moved again, this time to that provide loans and land developer said that
The former mayor failed to Covisint. But prosecutors tured his success princi- Connecticut Avenue and capital to minority busi- his 15-year-old son, Roy; 7-
fully pay the first special in- learned Kilpatrick and his ples in a book that bears Van Ness in upper North- nesses. year-old daughter, Chloe;
stallment—$79,011—by wife have had other money, his name: “The Peebles west. He attended Alice One factor that thrust and his wife, Katrina, keep
Feb. 19 and was charged including $240,000 in loans, Principles: Tales and Tac- Deal Junior High School, Peebles to the pinnacle of him grounded.
with violating his probation. live in a rented mansion and tics from an Entrepre- Wilson High in 10th grade wealth and success is his “My vow as a husband
Kilpatrick has said he drive fancy SUVs. neur’s Life of Winning and graduated from U.C. political savvy. And he is and my responsibilities as
can’t afford the balloon pay- In a recent court filing, Deals, Succeeding in Capitol Page School. not shy about discussing a father to support my wife
ments. Kilpatrick co-counsel Business, and creating a “I was just better than politics or getting politi- and children, supersede
His “contention that abil- Daniel Hajji said the ex- Fortune from Scratch.” average,” Peebles told the cally involved. The real es- my desires to serve in a
ity to pay is a factor in the mayor needs to live a cer- “It’s at the top of my District Chronicles, refer- tate titan said that the city public office. I don’t plan to
determination regarding tain lifestyle and can’t dine reading list,” said city of ring to his academic acu- has only experienced mod- be a candidate.
the amount of the restitu- on “burgers and beer at the Alexandria Mayor William men. Peebles liked playing erate improvements since (Special to the NNPA from the
tion payment is without local bar.” D. Euille, one of Peebles’ basketball and was a mem- 1989. There’s still a lot of District Chronicles.)
Census ad buys still under fire: Black lawmakers continue probe
by Pharoh Martin
dollar budget set under the previous ad-
For New Pittsburgh Courier
ministration.
“It appears that the African-American
WASHINGTON (NNPA)—During a re- newspapers are being told that they must
cent congressional hearing to discuss what give free space and editorials or they will
many contend is an insufficiently funded not get money,” Waters said.
Black advertising campaign of Census Bakewell stated that the GlobalHue’s de-
2010, the U.S. Census Bureau’s media- mands were later retracted.
buying agencies were blistered by a charge Hundreds of Black newspapers are sup-
that they allegedly played unfair politics posed to divide a $2.5 million advertising
with Black newspaper publishers. These budget that is supposed to reach an esti-
charges have resulted in an ongoing probe mated 40 million Black people that were un-
into why the Census allocated so little to dercounted by 2 percent in 2000, according
count African-Americans. to statistics cited during the hearing.
In a reflective interview following the “We need more money,” Bakewell said.
hearing where NNPA Chairman Danny “The Black Press of America needs at least
Bakewell testified, Congressional Black $10 million to have a consistent message in
Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee, D- 200 Black newspapers throughout Amer-
Calif., said the hearing was a positive step ica. There is no reason to cherry pick.”
toward ensuring equality in the distribu- The hearing’s final panel included heads
tion of media ad dollars, but there is still a of ethnic media organizations such as
long way to go. James Winston, executive director of the
“I don’t think it’s where we need to be,” National Association of Black Owned
Lee told NNPA in a phone interview. “One Broadcasters; Sandy Close, executive di-
of the things that we need to do is make
PHOTO BY ROY LEWIS/NNPA
rector of New America Media; and Danny
sure that the Department of Commerce ENSURING EQUITY—U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, dis- Bakewell, chairman of the National News-
and all of the agencies responsible for in-
cusses possible Census ad discrimination with NNPA Chairman Danny Bakewell.
paper Publishers Association.
suring media buys for the 2010 Census are Census Director Robert Groves defended
distributing fairly and go into the area that grilled executives of Census 2010’s media self as a leader in cultural-based market- the amounts used to purchase media ads
are hard-to-count. This is a very important buying agencies about a charge from Black ing—and the NNPA, in which the ad agency saying they were were based on statistical
issue for everyone. I think it’s extremely publishers that the agencies were unfairly allegedly demanded that Black newspapers and historic data.
important to have the fairness in the demanding that Black newspapers provide provided free editorials favorable to the 2010 “I can honestly say that the program
media buys and I think that’s what we are free content, which they called “added Census in return for an advertising buy. was set up in an objective manner
trying to achieve and I don’t think that we value” in exchange for ad dollars. According to a letter submitted to the guided by data on what audiences
are there yet.” Jeff Tarakajian, vice president of adver- hearing from GlobalHue to Bakewell, the needed given their historical behavior,”
The bottom line is that Black legislators tising agency DRAFTFCB, never directly advertising agency wrote: Groves said in response to the perceived
and publishers say that advertising bud- answered the question; only replying that “In lieu of free ad space, all papers must unfairness in media buys with ethnic
gets proposed for African-American media the “request for added value was standard.” agree to running six articles (preferably media outlets.
are insufficient to effectively reach a “hard- He couldn’t testify under oath as to how the during hiatus weeks) about the Census The Census director said that the Black
to-count” Black population. “added value” was requested but could con- 2010 as well as two editorials. If paper does media buy plan was developed by Global-
Chaired by Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., the In- firm that it was, in fact, requested. not agree to the added value stipulations, Hue. The total media buy for 2010 is $23
formation Policy, Census and National “We seek them, we encourage them but buy will be canceled immediately.” million, an increase of 35 percent over the
Archives Subcommittee, which held the we do not make the requirement that Waters tried probing the representatives 2000 Census budget amount.
congressional hearing, was moving offices somebody provide added value to literally in charge of the Census’ media buys but According to their research, their media
on the week following the hearing and was qualify for a media buy,” Tarakajian said. the congresswoman said that she believes plan for Census 2010 is estimated to effec-
unable to send updates on resolutions. A key moment during the hearing was that she was misled under oath. She called tively reach more than 95 percent of
But the intense dialogue during the hear- when Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, for an investigation to see if GlobalHue Blacks in every market in the country.
ing indicated that change might be coming. asked Bakewell about a matter involving acted discriminatory and into the utiliza- (Pharoh Martin is a special correspondent for the
Representative Maxine Waters, D-Calif., New York-based GlobalHue—which bills it- tion of the accounting of the $300 million NNPA.)
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