fashion, but what about at work?


National A8


ʻStudent-athletesʼ in name only Sports C4


Pittsburgh Courier Gainey challenges Preston


www.newpittsburghcourier.com NEW VOL. 103, NO. 14 Three Sections Published Weekly APRIL 4-10, 2012 $1.00


Preston: Experience makes a difference


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


In the two most recent elections where state Rep. Joseph Preston Jr., D-East Liberty, has defended his 24th legislative district seat, he has had the luxury of running against multiple opponents. This year, however, there will be no


split of the anti-incumbent votes as his Democratic Party-endorsed opponent, Ed Gainey has managed to get challengers William Anderson and Todd Elliot Koger removed from the ballot. Had Gainey received Anderson’s votes


in 2006, he would have already unseated his former boss. Gainey did not run in 2008 or 2010 and Preston defeated both Anderson and Koger handily. But Pre- ston, who has held the District 24 seat since 1983, said he isn’t taking his for- mer legislative aide lightly. “I was campaigning door to door this


last weekend,” said Preston. “And I will spend as much time here as I can away from my legislative duties in Harrisburg. But unlike my opponent, the people elected me to come here and do what legislators are supposed to do. I’m fight- ing for my constituents.” Prior to huge Republican wins in the 2010 election giving them control of the state house, Preston served on three committees and was majority chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee. He still serves as the Consumer Affairs mi- nority chair, and retains his seat on the Rule Committee. But with his party no longer setting


the agenda, getting legislation out of committees and to the floor for votes is harder. Preston says his experience can make the difference. “The biggest concern I’m hearing is about transportation cuts. I have a lot of


SEE PRESTON A3


Highmark: Health a priority for minorities


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


The Highmark Foundation recently re-


leased the results of their $100 million 5- year Healthy High Five initiative. Among the report’s many findings, announced at the August Wil- son Center for African Ameri- can Culture on March 22, was the revelation that minority parents were more concerned with health than the gen- eral population s u r v e y e d throughout the initiative. “We have this


knowledge, but we have to make it action-


YVONNE COOK SEE HEALTH A4 Pittsburgh Courier NEW


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15 of 21 homicides Black lives


Only three Black homicides in March


by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer


With only three Black homicides for the JOSEPH PRESTON ED GAINEY Gainey: Community development priority


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier StaffWriter


For several years Ed Gainey has served


as community development specialist for theCity of Pittsburgh.Nowhe hopes to use his experience in community development to bring about change for the people of the 24th legislative district. Gainey is running against incumbent


Joseph Preston for state representative of the 24thDistrict.He said he decided to run in the election because he doesn’t believe the district is being adequately served by its current representative.


“I believe the district needs new leader-


ship and new vision,” said Gainey. “We need somebody whose accessible, whose going to be on the ground to listen to the people, to be able to communicate different things going on at the state level.” Gainey said the most pressing issues in


the 24th District are redevelopment, the ability to invest in projects and public safety.Noting the correlation between poor living conditions and violence, he said the key to improving neighborhoods like the 24th District’s Lincoln Larimer, should


SEE GAINEY A3


month ofMarch, it is the lowest number of Black homicides during any month thus far—January with five and February with seven.While the lower number is to be cel- ebrated, there is still sadness that the three lives that were taken did not have to end thatway. Angela andManning Proctor did not have to lose their lives over an a r g ume n t about money. D e o n t a y Smith did not have to be killed shot while walk- ing down an East Liberty street. For several years the New Pittsburgh


Courier has been offering challenges to the members of the community and its leaders to work towards ending the senseless vio- lence. Recently, there have been numerous rallies and marches in Pittsburgh and around the country in an effort to bring justice for Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Florida teen who was killed by George Zimmerman, a White vigelante who said


SEE HOMICIDES A3 Miles settles with city, now civil trial


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


With a city council agreement


to pay $75,000 dollars to Jordan Miles for legal fees, the city of Pittsburgh insured the city’s “supervisory personnel” were released from the Federal civil lawsuit arising from his alleged beating at the hands of three city police officers during an ar- rest two years ago. The trial will now focus pri- marily on the conduct of officers


Richard Ewing, Michael Sal- dutte and David Sisak when they encountered Miles in Homewood on the night of Jan- uary 12, 2010. However, Miles’ Attorney Kerry Lewis said in addition to the claims of exces- sive force, the case will also in- clude allegations that the offi- cers filed a false affidavit sup- porting the arrest prior to a pre- liminary hearing. The civil trial before U.S. Dis-


trict Judge Gary Lancaster is scheduled to begin July 15. On


May 5, 2011, U.S. Attorney David Hickton announced he would not bring criminal civil rights charges against the offi- cers because he did not have enough evidence to win the case. That left any criminal prosecu-


tion up to Allegheny County Dis- trict Attorney Stephen A. Zap- pala’s office. So far, he has de- clined to file charges. Spokesman Mike Manko told the New Pittsburgh Courier the matter is still under review. Lewis said the evidence will


show his client was “beaten to a pulp” by the officers and that they later fabricated evidence against him. “The Miles family wants a


jury, wants this tried and wants people to hear the facts and then decide what happened here,” he said when the city agreed to the partial settlement last month. “That’s what’s im- portant to them.” Miles, then a star viola player


SEE MILES A4 Mentoring group strives to help Clairton students


by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier


Agroup ofClairtonHigh School graduates


who have gained success in their chosen professions and life have banned together to help current Clairton High School students do the same thing through the Clairton High SchoolMentorship Program. “We want to provide a positive atmo-


sphere for the kids.Ourmain goal is to get themthrough high school.We are trying to reach the unreachables,” said Terrance Fort, one of the founding members of the initiative, which currently has about 117 people. About 95 percent of those involved are graduates of Clairton High School. Professional adults in the programvolun-


teer their personal time, usually through giving presentations at Clairton High School to the junior and senior classes.The presentations focus on such topics as ca-


SEE MENTORING A4


MENTORS—Front row, from left: James Washington, Pauline Long, Toni Schley, Louise Walker, Rev. Jonathan Robinson and Stewart Schley. Back row, from left: Ted Kay, Terrance Fort and Sean Thomas.


Marian Wright Edelman says


Nation needs to protect children, not guns Forum A7


hairʼs in


Gray


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Spike Lee apologizes, pays relocation costs for Twitter blunder


National A5


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