Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 May 2000 — Page 2

PAGE A2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, MAY 26,2000

WASHERS Continued from A1 working at a lot on 38th Street. Despite possession of all “IPD requirements”: his driver license, operating license and documentation giving permission to work on the lot from its owners, he was forced to stop washing cars. According to the city’s License and Permits Department, it isn’t necessary to have a operating license to run a mobile wash in Indianapolis, but you do have to have a retail merchants certificate. “I’ve invested more than $3,500 into this business. It’s legit,” said Covington, who left his job as a crane operator to run his mobile wash full time. “This is messing me up. I made $200 dollars a day. I have a house, a wife and three kids to support. The guys who really do

it to survive shouldn’t be harassed and need to be left alone.” There are up to 15 young Black males running mobile washes. Washers may spend thousands of dollars for equipment such as water tanks, cleansing solutions, jet pumps, generators and hoses to build a mobile system and install it into a truck or van. They are designed for a single person operation and can wash up to 14 vehicles before a refill is needed. Some Concerned Clergy members were disturbed with Covington’s accounts saying that the officers were overreaching their authority and intended to investigate the incident. One of them was Covington’s father. Rev. Michael Covington Sr. “Police are nit picking and especially targeting Black entrepreneurs who have been given permission to run a business by

the state of Indiana,” said the minister at Bethesda Community Church, who attends the Concerned Clergy meetings. “It’s entrapment.” Mobile washers aren’t the first Black entrepreneurs to be targeted by IPD. During the summer of 1998, the Nation of Islam found itself in a similar situation as police tried to put an end to the NOI selling their goods along 38th Street. “There’s a conspiracy to stop the rise of the Black man and woman,” said local Minister Damon Muhammad, in a Recorder interview in 1998. “This whole attack is not on the Nation, it’s on Black people.” After numerous confrontations, the two sides came to an agreement. Members of the NOI are still vending on 38th Street. According to IPD spokesman, Sgt.

Matthew Steward, the primary issue in both cases is public safety. Officers are concerned mobile car washes are impeding traffic on 38th from Fall Creek going east to Sherman Drive, as customers often line up in the right-of-way of traffic. IPD also questions some of the owners intentions as several shootings have occurred as well as vandalism and drug trafficking. “If somebody is engaged in a legitimate business, we don’t have a problem with that,” said Steward. “The only issue that we would then have is how can we do that without causing problems with public safety.” There haven’t been any arrests or mobile wash confiscations resulting from the abatement. Steward said IPD officials are currently working on meeting with mobile

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wash owners willing to find a solution so they effectively run their business without causing traffic problems. He also stated that officers are attempting to identify washers who are using the business to cover up or participate in criminal activity, but insisted IPD isn’t targeting Blacks. “It’s not our intention to stop any legitimate commerce. We encourage it,” Steward said. “I don’t know where white mobile car washes are setting up in the city or county, but in IPD’s area they happen to be African-American vendors setting up,” he said. “It’s African Americans that are utilizing the business, but also African Americans complaining about driving to and from their houses bringing concerns to IPD,” he said.

FAIR Continued from At sored by a collaborative partnership of churches, community orga; nizations, educational institutions, elected officials, faith-based organizations, governmental agencies, health agencies, job training entities, private sector corporations, and schools. “It was truly a successful collaborative event. Next year we hope to further build upon participants as well as attendees,” says Aquaila Barnes, IBE Hoosier Healthwise Project Coordinator and Kickin’ it at the Fair Committee Member. “I’m not sure what the best part of the day was. I mean it was pretty chilly out here today, but with all the good bar-b-cue and things for my kids to do and see the weather didn’t matter much. For me I liked most of all that I got the opportunity to sign my kids up for Hoosier Healthwise and that wasn’t what I necessarily expected to get out of today”, says Amina Wallis, a mother of three who attended the days event.

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Ms. Aisha Sabur-Jarvis and Ms. Goldie Scales invite women between the ages of 16-24 years old to consider a unique opportunity to receive free vocational and GBD preparation skills training. You will have your choice of vocational occupations. You may also elect to receive your training in a residential or non-residential setting. Whatever your preference is you will be provided books, supplies, a professional clothing allowance, breakfast, lunch, childcare referral assistance (for non-residential program), medical, dental, and vision care and a nominal bi-weekly pay. Upon completion of training you will be provided an opportunity to obtain advanced training opportunities, attend college, or to begin a job search. Job Corps is a wonderful and rewarding way to advance economically and educationally. High School graduates and students who have not passed the ISTEP tests are also welcome to apply. Call Ms. Sabur-Jarvis at 684-2217 or Ms. Goldie Scales at 684-7646 to discuss eligibility and enrollment.

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