Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 August 1997 — Page 3

The Muncie Times, August 7,1997, Page 3

► NEWS IN BRIEF There are Cracks In the Liberty Bell--Don’t Ring It Again

In Philadelphia, the possibility of political infighting may thwart an excellent chance for an African American to regain city hall. In a city that is largely Democratic, the winner of the Democratic mayoral primary' is almost assured a victory in the main election. At present, there are at least three likely democratic candidates for office; district attorney Lynne Abraham (who is white). City Council President John Street (who is black) and State Representative Dwight Evans (who is also black). Of these two black possible candidates, Street would clearly be considered a front-runner. He has been a close political ally of the current mayor, Ed Rendell, throughout his two terms. Time and again, whenever Rendell had to take a potentially unfavorable position the support of John Street has made Rendell’s political life much easier. For these reasons, Rendell would be hard-pressed not to support Street. About 42% of Philadelphia voters are white; the rest [a majority] are black, Latino, and Asian. Abraham carries some baggage with notwhite voters; as a former judge, she presided over the murder convictions of 9 Latino youths in the death ofa white teen. On her watch as DA, city prosecutors where trained with video-tape that suggested that they keep blacks olfjuries. (The tape was produced by one of Abrahams’ predecessors.) Although no one has publicly said so, conventional wisdom is that if Street can avoid a battle with other blacks in the primary, he is strong enough city-wide to defeat Abraham in the primary and go on to win the general election.

In the past, party strategists in other cities [like Chicago] have failed to resolve such skirmishes before the primary. Avoiding that pitfall is likely the biggest thing standing in the way of Philadelphia having its second black mayor.

Affirmative Inaction Drives Qualified Blacks Away In this the first year where affirmative INACTION replaces affirmative action, it appears that the University of California’s Boat Hall law school won’t have any black first year students. Although 14 African American students were admitted, each one has decided to enter law school some place else. There is a tremendous change from the annual average of 25 black students that had entered the school over the last few years. Students are opting to enroll at other institutions where they feel welcome and competing universities have stepped up the pressure by recruiting top-notch black candidates. The University of Texas law school has experienced almost as drastic a retrenchment as the California school. Out of 11 black students admitted, the majority (7) have decided to go elsewhere, only two have accepted thus far. Last year, 31 students matriculated at the University of Texas law school. In the short term the trend is likely to continue. In 1997, fewer students taking the LS AT (the admissions test for law school) have requested that their scores be sent to University

of Texas and California law schools. These students have already decided they won’t even consider these schools as an option. Chicago Blacks More Likely To Get TB Chicago, IL—Blacks in Chicago are four times most likely to get TB than any other ethnic group, according to Dr. William Paul, a tuberculous (TB) control officer for the Chicago Department of Public Health. The main reason is poverty. Paul said, adding that most of the city’s current 500 cases were concentrated in areas of high impoverishment. Increased homelessness also contributed to risk factors of contracting the illness. Young adults, aged 2544 represent most of the affected by the disease. TB can be contracted by breathing air in a room of an untreated person. Paul, who made his comments during a city council hearing, urged the body to do more to teach people about how important it is to complete the six-month treatment plan for the disease, which involves taking a series of pills.

Detroit NAACP Goes To Court To Stop Court Merger Detroit, MI—The Detroit NAACP will go to court Aug. 2, to stop the merger of the city’s Recorder’s Court with the surrounding Wayne County

Circuit Court, claiming it will restrict the number of African American judges to be appointed in the area. Lawmakers in Lansing, Mich, voted to abolish the Recorder’s Court last July, thus ending special funding for Wayne County Courts. Under the new reorganization plan, the 29 Recorder’s Court judges, 22 of whom are African American, will become Circuit Court judges. However, the latter requires running for reelection in a county that is 60 percent white. NAACP President Wendell Anthony said African Americans would not tolerate a change in the rules, just as they have learned the game.

First Black Bank Celebrates 50th Anniversary Detroit, MI—The same year Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball (1947), black leaders in Detroit came together, pooled their resources and opened the Home Federal Savings Bank in Detroit, Michigan. The opening of the bank was a response to the restricted and segregated social environment that existed during the post World War II era. The bank met the needs of African Americans who could not get home mortgage loans from area conventional banks. Today, it is the only federal chartered savings bank still headquartered in the city of Detroit. After fifty years according to Bank President Helen Coleman, Home Federal Savings Bank looks forward to continuing to serve the residents of metropolitan Detroit.

Outrage Greets Cop Clearance in Teen Killing New York, NYFamily members and friends of a 16-year-old teen fatally shot by a New York policeman are outraged after the grand jury completely cleared the officer. The Rev. A. Sharpton called the verdict in the case of Kevin Cedeon “outrageous.” Kevin Cedeon was shot on the back by Officer Anthony Pellegrini, April 6. According to the Manhattan DA, the jury found that Pellegrini shot and killed Cedeno because he believed that the youngster was about to use deadly force against him. According to the DA Cedeno had been drinking when he attended a party, April 5. He said a dispute broke out just as the youngster and others were leaving. According to reports, he said, Cedeno went to a nearby apartment and returned to the scene or me dispute armed with a machete. He was shot after a confrontation with police. However, Cedeno’s family dispute the claims. His mother said she was shocked and upset at the verdict.

Investigation Demanded into Gas “Exercise” Pittsburgh, PA— Community activists in Pittsburgh are demanding that an investigation be held into an incident in which a city SWAT team, conducting a nighttime exercise, set off anti-terror see BELL page 4