Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 November 2000 — Page 4

The Muncie Times, November 2, 2000, page 4

NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Andre’ Scott FBI investigates Atlanta Mayor Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell has lashed out at the FBI, calling the agency’s investigation of him an “inquisition.” The popular mayor originally agreed to cooperate with investigators, after a businessman allegedly implicated him and other high-ranking officials in possible corruption. But now Campbell says he is being targeted, like other successful black figures in the past. His accuser, Herbert H. Timmerman, agreed to help law enforcement officials, after he was caught on tape offering a $5,000 bribe to a competitor to bow out of the bidding for a county contract. Campbell went on the offensive after someone leaked to the media that investigators were asking questions about a gambling trip he made to Mississippi. Black AIDS cases up in Pennsylvania African Americans represent 11 percent of Pennsylvania’s population, but they represent half of the AIDS cases reported in the state. With this in mind, health care officials in the state recently sponsored a conference to highlight the problem, at the University of Pittsburgh. Called “Breaking the Silence,” it focused on new interventions in HIV

prevention, treatment and care. Linda Frank an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the university, said the conference was intended to increase access to care within the black community. NAACP gives Springarn Award to Oprah Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey will receive the NAACP’s prestigious Spingarn Award at a New York banquet on Nov. 16. NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond said he could “not think of anyone more deserving” than Winfrey. Meanwhile, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume called Winfrey a “philanthropist and entrepreneur who enlightens, entertains and empowers.” Winfrey, is the first African American woman and only the third in television and film history to have her own production studio. The Spingarn Award was instituted in 1914 to honor African American achievement.

NAACP gives hotel industry a C minus Citing frustration at the continuing lack of access for African Americans to the higher echelons of hotel management, despite gains in other areas, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) this week issued its fourth annual report card on the nation’s

hotels, giving the industry as a whole a C- grade. The hotels, which participated in the survey by invitation, represent the largest chains in the industry, cross referenced with the hotels most often used by African American organizations and consumers for conventions and other gatherings. While there were gains in the number of African Americans finding jobs in the hotel industry, employment was not the greatest area of concern. Most hotels fell short in other areas, such as property ownership, advertising/marketing, vendor relationships and charitable giving. “I am pleased to see that many African Americans have been able to get employment, but the fact is there are still too few working as hotel general managers and there’s too little business done with minority vendors,” said NAACP President Kweisi Mfume. “We need to see some discernible change within our lifetime.” The Marriott chain was as an exception, receiving the highest grade of B++, primarily for having increased its minority franchisees from 1 to 10 over a 3 year period. The Cendant Corp. received an A in charitable giving, but got an overall B- grade, since none of its properties is owned by African Americans. Cendant controls Days Inn, Ramada and Super 8. The Hilton Hotels had an overall C— grade because of its lack of

relationships with African American advertisers and vendors. The Wyndham chain scored lowest with an overall D grade. Explanations among some hotel vendors, despite an expressed willingness to improve on their grade, included difficulty finding qualified people to fill upper management positions. Others said they were unfamiliar with minority agencies.to which to entrust their advertising and marketing accounts. The report cards—the NAACP also produces an annual legislative report card on Congress, with one of the telecommunications industry expected soonserve as an essential component of the organization’s Economic Reciprocity Initiative (E.I.). The E.I., a 69-member partnership, includes civil rights organizations, fraternities and sororities, black-owned newspapers and religious organizations. Its purpose, according to the Mfume, is to provide organizations and consumers with fundamental information on corporations and to guide consumer choices for products and services. The annual report cards give consumers information with which to measure the industry in question and also give the industry a tool with which to measure itself. “This initiative is not new. It has been its basis in the work and words of the late Adam Clayton

Powell, Don’t buy where you can’t work,”’ Mfume said. According to Mfume, African Americans spend over $400 billion on consumer goods and services annually. More than $4.6 billion goes toward travel and tourism, with disposable income for this market segment continuing to rise. “We want hotels to know people are becoming more disciplined with their dollars,” Mfume said. “You can’t just appeal to consumers to use your business, without providing meaningful and appropriate opportunities within the industry.” He said consumers would be “strongly urged to avoid spending their dollars with failing or under performing hotels or chains and reward those that are making a difference.” Black Caucus questions need for more immigrant visas Following the Oct. 3 Senate passage of legislation to increase the number of visas available for certain immigrant workers, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has questioned the national commitment to more training and education for minorities who already reside in this country, especially in high-tech jobs. Senate Bill 2045 provides that for each of the next 3 years, 195,000 immigrants will be able to