Masks were part of the standard uniform for the military and others who attended the tour of the new alternate COVID-19 site at the former Memphis Publishing Co. building. {Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners has adopted a resolution “urging health officials to require residents and visitors to wear face coverings through Sept.1.”
The measure, a safety precaution as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, was approved Monday (May 18) with an 8-5 vote during a marathon-like, online commission meeting that began at 11 a.m. and ended at 11:36 p.m.
Earlier this month, the Memphis City Council passed a similar ordinance. The ordinance requires three readings. Members are set to vote again during the regularly scheduled council meeting today (May 19).
Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer proposed a county-side, mask-wearing measure last week that included a $50 fee for businesses that didn’t comply. On Monday she presented a revised measure, co-sponsored by Commissioner Van Turner Jr.
Sawyer said she “sifted through the noise and pulled out feedback that was constructive from people who supported and people who did not,” for the revised measure.
She changed the proposed ordinance to a resolution that urges health officials to require facial coverings, without the $50 in-compliance fee attached.
The change comes on the heels of County Attorney Marlinee C. Iverson’s opinion that commissioners didn’t have the power to require residents to wear masks. However, Iverson pointed out that the Shelby County Health Department could enforce it.
While local health officials have consistently suggested that residents wear facial coverings when out in public, they have yet to make it a requirement.
“One of the things that I continued to hear about the ordinance was that it was anti-business or anti-small business when in fact behind the ordinance now the resolution was to ensure that once we open we were able to stay open,” Sawyer said during the meeting.
After the resolution was adopted, Sawyer explained the intention around her original proposal.
“The intent behind the original ‘mask’ ordinance was to increase protections of Shelby Countians while reopening advances,” she wrote on her official page.
“Today (May 18), we entered Phase 2 of reopening and yet, there is no containment nor prevention of COVID19. The last thing anyone wants is for our county infection rate to spike and we find ourselves shutting down again…”
Phase 2 of the “Back to Business” plan comes amid rising coronavirus cases.
As of Tuesday morning, the reported case count of COVID-19 rose by 116 new cases, according to the Shelby County Health Department.
The increase in new cases pushed the total COVID-19 case count in the county to 3,877, up from 3,761 reported on Monday. Three additional fatalities from COVID-19 complications were reported on Tuesday, which brings the total dead in Shelby County to 88.
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter didn’t immediately agree to the commissioners’ request for mask requirements, but said she plans to discuss the resolution with Dr. Bruce Randolph, county health officer, in the coming days.
“This resolution will allow for a safer community all around and will be a path to the Healthy Shelby we want to see, so we can get back to business with the people’s health placed in the forefront,” Sawyer said.
The resolution also asks the county to provide masks for employees, visitors to county offices, jail detainees and Correctional Center inmates.
With Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris (left) and Mayor Jim Strickland (center with Memphis Strong mask) among those with him, Gov Bill Lee touted the partnership that resulted in turning the old Memphis Publishing Co. building into an emergency hospital site. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
Top leaders in Tennessee got a sneak peek Monday at a former Memphis newspaper building that has been transformed into a 401-bed hospital for COVID-19 patients.
Gov. Bill Lee, Shelby County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers toured The Commercial Appeal building’s transformation, made to assist local hospitals should they exceed their bed capacity because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The alternate care site has been set up with basic supplies, such as beds, chairs, tables and IV poles. More medical equipment will be provided if the site is activated to receive and treat COVID-19 patients. The facility has set aside 33 beds for patients that require a higher level of care, designated 22 nursing stations and built 30 storage rooms.
An inside look of what now is an alternate care site after its transition from the former home of Memphis Publishing Co. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)
“Our work in Shelby County represents an effective local, state, and federal partnership effort to put in place a critical need in our COVID-19 efforts,” Lee said of the transformation project.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis will provide medical direction for the care of patients if the facility is occupied.
Tennessee was reporting 301 deaths from the coronavirus Monday and more than 18,000 confirmed cases. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and be life-threatening.
CDC Capacity Fund grants from Community L.I.F.T. support on-the-ground organizations working to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and improve access to quality affordable housing and to economic opportunity.
Community L.I.F.T. (LIFT) has awarded $212,212 in CDC Capacity Fund grants to 11 community development corporations (CDCs).
This year’s recipients are Alcy Ball CDC, Crosstown CDC, The Heights CDC, Jacob’s Ladder, Midtown Memphis, Oasis of Hope, Power Center, Promise Development Corp., SCORE CDC, United Housing and Victorian Village.
The grants support on-the-ground organizations working to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and improve access to quality affordable housing and to economic opportunity. They are in keeping with Community LIFT’s conviction that “when invested in, nurtured, and operating with sufficient capacity, CDCs can deliver and support marginalized residents at this critical time when so many are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19.”
Eric Robertson, president, Community LIFT.
Eric Robertson, Community LIFT president, put the grants in context of a “real unemployment rate” that he said is projected to reach between 20 per cent and 30 percent in the coming months.
“We can expect to see even higher rates in many of Memphis’ impoverished neighborhoods,” he said. “The only way to reverse that level of devastation is through significant investments in economic and community development work that meets people where they are, being done by organizations who know their people.”
Community LIFT is a community and economic development intermediary. Its mission is to accelerate the revitalization of disinvested neighborhoods. The strategy to do that involves facilitating funding and support to produce strong CDCs, grow neighborhood businesses, and empower residents.
Cornelius Sanders
Promise CDC Executive Director Cornelius Sanders said Community LIFT has been one of Promise’s major donors over the last four years.
“It has provided Promise Development with funds that help support our work to end homelessness and provide the North Memphis community with safe, decent and affordable housing,” said Sanders.
Terry Hoff
Oasis of Hope Executive Director Terry Hoff said, “The grant partnership with Community LIFT will greatly increase our capacity to explore and launch potentially the largest holistic development in our organization’s history — including affordable housing, children’s playground, youth sports field and senior services.”
Business was flowing steadily at Kimble's Fish Market 4672 S. Third St., last Friday and that was ahead of Mondays announced shift to Phase II of the Back to Business Plan. Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Memphis and Shelby County now has shifted into Phase II of the Back to Business plan, according to the Memphis/Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force.
The Phase II announcement came at Monday’s task force briefing an is based on four criteria the COVID-19 Joint Task Force has been monitoring — the growth in new cases, health care systems capacity, public health system capacity and testing capacity.
The Shelby County Health Department will soon issue a directive with new orders and recommendations for individuals and businesses. It will be posted here: www.shelbytnhealth.com/healthdirectives.
“We said from the beginning that reopening Memphis and Shelby County would be data-driven rather than date driven,” said Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter.
During Phase II, which will be in effect for 21 days, additional businesses — such as museums, some attractions and some contact sports facilities — have the OK to open. A recommendation to move into Phase III will be based on COVID-19 numbers and trends.
Rather than 10-person, maximum gathering, 50 persons can now congregate without violating Back To Business regulations. Businesses such as nail salons, tattoo parlors and spas can open with the stipulation of operating at 50 percent capacity. In Phase I., businesses that could reopen could only operate at 25 percent.
“I am grateful for the hard work and many sacrifices of the residents of Shelby County,” said Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. “We have seen encouraging results because of a collective willingness to do all that we can to reduce the spread and embrace new skills, like social distancing.
“Although we still have a long way to go in Shelby County’s fight against COVID-19, we have made substantial progress and are therefore prepared to enter Phase 2. We all played a role in getting to this important mile marker. We all have a role to play to get to the next one.”
Mayor Jim Strickland noted that there has been close monitoring of data over the last 14 days. “Based on the opinion of our medical experts, we are ready to move to Phase ll of our Back-to Business plan allowing more Memphians back to work in a safer way.”
Shelby County Health Department Officer Bruce Randolph said continued, widespread testing is still important.
“We encourage everyone to go get tested,” Randolph said. “There has been a decline in testing, but it is important that asymptomatic people be tested to keep the Phase II. opening safe.”
For more information about the Safer at Home order or to register concerns about businesses, contact:
The Shelby County Mayor’s Action Line: 901-222-2300
The Shelby County Health Department’s COVID-19 Hotline: 833-943-1658
(This item reflects the reporting of Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)
United Way of the Mid-South Free Tax Prep begins extended season
United Way of the Mid-South’s Free Tax Prep program is continuing drive-thru drop-off tax preparation for the extended season.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the IRS extended the regular filing deadline to July 15th, 2020. Free Tax Prep’s Drive-Thru Drop-Off is open to file current year returns, prior year returns and amended returns.
“United Way’s Free Tax Prep program allows individuals and families to receive the maximum refund from their tax returns,” said Lori Spicer Robertson, United Way’s chief communications and engagement officer. “During this time of crisis, now more than ever it is imperative that United Way adapt and pivot to support our most vulnerable neighbors in securing funds and stimulus related returns.”
Drive-Thru Drop-Off service allows filers to submit their tax return documents to process their refunds without leaving their vehicles and while meeting social distancing guidelines.
Participants will still need to bring all appropriate documentation. A “Stimulus Hotline” is available to help individuals understand their eligibility, provide resources to prepare “stimulus” related returns, and to check the status of the current payment.
All services will be open Monday through Saturday until July 15, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free Tax Prep will be closed for holidays on May 23rd, May 25th, July 3rd, and July 4th. No appointment is necessary.
(For more information, call the United Way of the Mid-South Relief Call Center at 888-709-0630.)
Native Memphian to serve on Federal Aviation Administration advisory board
Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao has announced the appointment of native Memphian Pamela Williams to the board of the newly-formed Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB).
Pamela Williams (Courtesy photo)
The WIAAB, comprised of 30 board members, was established on October 3, 2019, under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. It is designed to develop strategies and recommendations that would encourage women and girls to enter the field of aviation. The WIAAB will assess education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry.
“It is such a high honor to be selected from such a qualified pool of candidates to serve in this capacity,” said Williams.
During her 32-year tenure at FedEx, Williams has held several position in Human resources and now serves as the Human Resources Director on the Board of Directors for the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP).
“Aviation is a multifaceted profession that offers great career opportunities in very diverse fields, but women, particularly women of color may feel they lack the training and access required to take advantage of these opportunities,” said Williams. “As a part of the WIAAB, I plan to focus on expanding access and awareness of opportunities in aviation to help more women of color gain entry.”
Members will be appointed to the WIAAB for the duration of its existence, which is anticipated to be a minimum of 2 years, and will meet up to two times per year to carry out its duties.
“This is a significant moment in the history of our profession and signals a long-awaited focus on the value of inclusion in our industry,” said Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison, Board of Directors Chair for OBAP. “We couldn’t be more proud of Pamela, and all of the women appointed to the Board! I’m looking forward to their progress benefiting women who will come into this profession in the future.”
Founded in 1976, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of minorities in all aviation and aerospace careers.
Houston Times Associate Editor Jeffrey L. Boney, a political analyst and international correspondent for the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com, shares his personal journey of surviving the coronavirus. (Courtesy photo via NNPA)
by Jeffrey L. Boney —
“Jeffrey, unfortunately, your test came back positive for the Coronavirus.”
Hearing those words from the doctor, March 27th, shook me to the core.
Was that a death sentence for me?
Was it a coincidence that my mom years earlier had died in the same month of March?
Was this really how my life was going to end?
The news reports I had been watching and reading reported dire results relative to those who had contracted the virus. Death tolls were rising. Governors began searching for beds and ventilators for people who were being impacted by this virus.
Honestly, I felt like the odds were stacked against me.
The journey for me started with a very slight cough. On March 17th, I started experiencing internal digestive symptoms that I initially assumed was a result of me not eating anything that day. It was a Tuesday, which meant it was Press Day at the Houston Forward Times, where I serve as the Associate Editor. Now, it wasn’t uncommon for me to skip breakfast and skip lunch in order to remain laser focused on getting the newspaper done. However, when I started feeling faint, I decided to get something to eat.
I made my way down to the Reggae Hut around 5:30 pm and ordered the oxtails, rice and peas and the vegetables, along with a beef patty and a Kola Champagne to drink. I made my way back down to my office with my plate and I ate a little bit of the rice and peas; a little of the vegetables; and barely ate one of the oxtails, before closing the container and putting the plate in the refrigerator. That was the last time I saw that plate or my office.
The next day, I not only had a continuous loss of appetite, I also had stomach pain and was experiencing heavy and unusual bouts of diarrhea. I even had an episode where I went to the bathroom and while on the way, I passed out and was disoriented. I woke up lying on the floor in a sweat, trying to figure out what happened to me. I drank lots of water, tried natural remedies and ceased all of my normal activities. None of that worked or changed my situation.
I self-quarantined and self-isolated for eight days – from Tuesday, March 17th to Wednesday, March 25th. During that time, I contacted my primary care physician, who informed me that continuing to self-quarantine was probably the best option at the time, considering the symptoms I was experiencing.
I decided to reach out to my good friend, State Representative Ron Reynolds to express my concerns about my health status, as well as get his advice on whether he thought I should go through one of the drive-thru testing sites that had recently opened. I desperately wanted to get tested, primarily for my peace of mind, but also because I was concerned for my family. They were still living in the same house as me.
I saw the news. I read the media reports online and on social media. It was clear, based on those reports, that I was not displaying the type of respiratory symptoms that the majority of COVID-19 patients were reported to have been experiencing, such as shortness of breath or having a heavy cough. There were also reports that the only way a person could be tested was if they were elderly or a first responder. I was deeply concerned.
A few days after my call with Rep. Reynolds, I received a call on my cell phone from U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on Wednesday, March 25th. She had heard I was experiencing a health challenge and asked me some questions. Congresswoman Jackson Lee then immediately informed me that she wanted me to come down to United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on Tidwell to get tested right away. I wasted no time. I asked the Congresswoman for the address and immediately got dressed to make my way to UMMC.
As I was driving to the hospital, Congresswoman Jackson Lee told me that she had already spoken to the Chief Medical Officer for United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), Dr. Joseph Varon, and that he was prepared to receive me and administer the test.
I was so relieved that I would be able to get tested and get a definitive on whether I had contracted the COVID-19 virus or not.
I arrived to UMMC and was met by Dr. Varon. He walked with me inside to the place where I was to be tested, and he immediately tried to put me at ease. I was told by Dr. Varon that my test results would take anywhere from 24-48 hours to come back, so I waited patiently and eagerly.
As anxious as I was to find out the results on the following day, I decided to give it another day.
On that Friday, March 27th, things took a drastic turn for the worse, as it relates to my health. I began to cough, and what I thought would be regular phlegm coming out, turned out to be a significant amount of bright red blood. As this continued to happen, I made the decision to call Dr. Varon and share my update. After hearing my status, Dr. Varon implored me to come to the UMMC Emergency Room (ER) immediately, which I prepared to do.
Jeffrey L. Boney with his doctor, Dr. Joseph Varon and his nurse, Jerusha Brown Harshman. (Courtesy photo via NNPA)
Before I got off the phone with him, however, he hit me with the update I was anxious to finally receive, but with some news I was definitely hoping and praying not to hear. Dr. Varon informed me that I had tested “POSITIVE” for the Coronavirus.
I was shook. My family was stunned. I am a married father of three. My family is everything.
Upon my arrival, there were two large signs that said STOP. My wife, who had followed me to the hospital, was not allowed inside. I was met by medical staff and they ushered me into a room in the ER. She stood outside awaiting word. The nursing staff immediately went to work, initially drawing blood and then taking some vitals at the order of Dr. Varon.
As events would unfold, Dr. Varon would turn out to be one of the primary angels of medicine that made the difference relative to my Coronavirus recovery efforts.
One of the first things Dr. Varon ordered his medical staff to do with me upon my arrival to the ER was to do a CT Scan. For those who may not know, a CT Scan is more detailed than a regular X-ray, and allows doctors to see inside your body by using a combination of X-rays and a computer to create images of your organs and other things inside your body.
Of course, I didn’t know why a CT Scan was being performed on me at the time, nor did I know what the end result would be. Let me just say that performing that CT Scan on me was the best thing that could have ever happened to me, because it revealed something major that was going on inside my body that couldn’t be seen by looking at me from the outside. The CT Scan revealed that my lungs showed a severe case of pneumonia, as well as other issues involving my vital organs that came as a result of the Coronavirus.
It was decided at that moment that I needed to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) right away. It was then that I realized how serious things were, and it was the moment that I knew that I was going to have to rely on my faith in God.
I called my wife to tell her I was being admitted and informed her that I was not going to be able to have any visitation throughout my time in the ICU. I was on a mental and emotional roller coaster at this point. I didn’t know how long I would be in ICU, but more importantly, whether I would make it out alive. I could not help but think about the time in 2003 when my wife and I took my mom to the ER because she was ill. It was a life-altering experience for me.
After being seen by doctors in the ER, the medical staff informed us that my mom would need to be admitted to address her serious health condition, which turned out to be worse than believed.
My wife and I decided to stay with her, but my mom kept telling us to go home, get some rest and come back the next morning. We stayed anyway. They moved her in the wee hours of the morning to a different floor. It was then that I told her that I was not be going very far, as I chose to sleep at my mother-in-law’s house because it was closer to the hospital than my house was.
As reluctant as I felt leaving my mom at that hospital, nothing compares to the phone call I received from the hospital, no more than five minutes after I laid my head down on the pillow. The nurse on duty called to inform me that my mom had stopped breathing and had slipped into a coma. I mean, right after I left.
They told me that there was a shift change and that my mom had been given a specific medication, and by the time the new nurse on duty went to check on my mom, they became aware of the situation.
I was devastated. I felt guilty. I felt as if I was there, I could’ve possibly done something. Several months later, my mother passed away and I never forgot that moment.
As I was being prepared to go to ICU myself, I was reminded of my mom’s experience, and I was instantly bombarded with memories and emotions about what she endured. I also struggled with the mental anguish of worrying about a virus that reportedly has no cure or vaccine to fight it. I knew I needed to draw on something greater than myself to get through this ordeal.
On Friday, March 27th, the journey towards fighting the Coronavirus had truly just begun.
Not only did I have a severe case of pneumonia when I entered ICU, my liver and kidneys also needed to be protected from the virus; my heart rate was through the roof; my heart condition worsened and I was headed to the point of potential heart failure; my blood pressure was high; I had a sharp pain in my right side; I continued to have heavy diarrhea episodes; and I still had a loss of appetite. Things were not looking good for me and I felt horrible. I began to wonder if I was ever going to get better.
From the very beginning, I had to rely on my faith in God, as I continued to deal with the mental anguish of being in this Coronavirus-specific ICU area, particularly knowing that there were people around with breathing issues and hearing machines go off all day and night, and as I regularly looked at the news and read reports showing the number of people dying on a daily basis as a result of the virus.
I needed a miracle.
Because I didn’t have any respiratory issues, just digestive issues, it caused the doctors to develop a treatment plan for me that was different than other patients they had been treating prior to my arrival to the hospital. Dr. Varon and Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr. oversaw my care. They created a whole Coronavirus cocktail, which included heavy doses of Vitamin C, which was specific to my treatment. Per Dr. Varon, my case taught them that they must use high dose blood thinners on every Coronavirus patient admitted to the hospital.
After several days, my symptoms began to subside, and my appetite came back in a major way. I longed for my breakfast, lunch and dinner, and couldn’t wait to eat it. Dr. Varon eventually informed me that all of my vital organs had returned to normal and that my blood work and vital signs were solid.
Finally, I felt like I was turning a corner and getting better. That was until a second CT Scan was performed, which revealed more shocking and devastating news regarding my health condition.
When the results of my second CT Scan came back, it revealed that I had been diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in my right lung. A pulmonary embolism occurs when blood clots block the flow of blood to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism can be fatal and life-threatening, which is why Dr. Varon and his team promptly took the necessary steps to address the blood clot and reduce my risk of death. I was immediately placed on blood thinner medication.
I continued to follow the instructions of the doctors until I received that wonderful news that on Sunday, April 5th, I had made significant and miraculous improvement, and subsequently was being discharged to go home to my family. I was so thrilled, yet still deeply concerned because I still didn’t know whether I was still “POSITIVE” with the Coronavirus.
I was concerned about my family and praying they would be fine. Prior to being discharged, I had another COVID-19 test done and was awaiting the results. I self-isolated once again, until I got my second test results. After several days, I got the results and tested “NEGATIVE” for the virus. Because I wanted to be completely sure before interacting with my family again, the doctors administered another COVID-19 test and those results came back “NEGATIVE” as well.
This was a long and faith-filled journey, to which I still am slated to have to deal with this blood clot in my right lung for the next six months or so. I will continue to fight and do what I am supposed to do. In the meantime, I am encouraging everyone, especially my African American brothers and sisters, to get tested. I believe everyone should be tested immediately, regardless of whether you have symptoms or not.
This is NOT a drill.
This virus is unrepentant and aggressive and can spread quickly to anyone who comes in contact with it. Listen to your local leaders and medical professionals to help stop the community spread.
I am a living witness that you can contract this virus and how it impacts you. Don’t ignore your symptoms and don’t ignore the seriousness of this virus. Don’t be selfish and just think about yourself. Think about your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, loved ones and those you don’t know. Stay safe!
Giants can be intimidating. The fight can many times be tough. Sometimes we lose. Sometimes we win. The common thread in winning versus losing is giving it all you have when you are in the midst of a fight. In the Bible, David showed us that giants can indeed fall. This was my journey, and this is my testimony.
I am forever grateful to God and to everyone who uttered a prayer, shared an encouraging word, providing any resources or sent positive energy my way.
My family and I greatly appreciate each and every one of you. God bless you, and let’s do everything in our power to defeat this horrible and vicious COVID-19 virus.
(Jeffrey L. Boney is an award-winning journalist, dynamic international speaker, experienced entrepreneur, business development strategist and founder and CEO of the Texas Business Alliance. Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @realtalkjunkies.)
In this May 2, 2020, photo, Danny, a senior member of the Hard Livings gang, helps distribute food with rival gang members in Manenberg neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa. The gangs are working together, under the direction of a preacher, to deliver bread, flour and vegetables to poor families who are struggling during South Africa's coronavirus lockdown. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
by Gerald Imray —
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Preston’s new face mask is emblazoned with the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag.
While protecting him from the coronavirus, it would normally also put him in danger in Manenberg, one of a number of violent and poor neighborhoods on the outskirts of Cape Town known as the Cape Flats. The mask’s colors identify Preston as a member of the Americans, a criminal gang usually unwelcome on the turf of the rival Hard Livings gang.
“They’d shoot me,” the 35-year-old says with what appears to be a smile, his eyes crinkling.
But today, he’s working side-by-side with other notorious gang members to deliver bread, flour and vegetables to poor families who are struggling during South Africa’s coronavirus lockdown, which has closed industries and left many in Manenberg without work.
In this May 2, 2020, photo, Danny, from left, senior member of the Hard Livings gang, Preston of the Americans gang and Santjie, senior leader of the Clever Kidz gang, sit together in the Manenberg neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa, where they are delivering food to help those struggling during the coronavirus lockdown. “We (the gangs) did decide to work together to help,” Danny said. “And we have got no problem (with each other), you see. No problem.” (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Preston stands in a courtyard with the other gang members amid an unlikely truce, bowing his head as Danny, a senior member of the Hard Livings, says a prayer. Caps are removed and tattooed arms are held behind backs.
“We (the gangs) did decide to work together to help,” Danny said. “And we have got no problem (with each other), you see. No problem.”
The project was started by Andie Steele-Smith, an Australian known as the “gang pastor.” They ride in the back of his pickup truck and trailer, leaping off to carry items to homes and soup kitchens.
Steele-Smith said that “as soon as these guys were given an opportunity to do something good, they grabbed the opportunity with both hands and are just wringing it for everything they can.”
The gangs also benefit, getting some food as well as the chance to stay relevant in tough times. They also seem to enjoy the role of modern-day Robin Hoods.
Still, these men are drug dealers and many are killers. A lot of them have tattoos that identify them as members of prison “Numbers” gangs, which experts say are far more violent.
One who doesn’t think much of their good deeds is J.P. Smith, who works in the mayor’s office of Cape Town in charge of safety and security. He says their real business is murder, extortion, trafficking in drugs and guns, protection rackets and corrupting police and judges, noting there were 900 gang-related killings in the Cape Town area last year.
“None of that goes away because the gangsters suddenly pretend to do something nice,” Smith said. “The trauma they’ve inflicted on communities for decades won’t be forgotten for a couple of loaves of bread.”
Virus continuing its global spread
For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
LOCATION
CONFIRMED CASES
RECOVERED
DEATHS
United States
1,490,195
272,265
89,636
Russia
290,678
70,209
2,722
United Kingdom
244,995
1,058
34,716
Brazil
244,052
94,122
16,201
Spain
230,698
146,446
27,563
Italy
225,435
125,176
31,908
France
179,693
61,327
28,111
Germany
176,551
155,041
7,988
Turkey
149,435
109,962
4,140
Iran
122,492
95,661
7,057
India
97,577
36,824
3,041
Peru
92,273
28,621
2,648
China
82,999
78,282
4,634
Canada
78,332
38,563
5,903
Saudi Arabia
57,345
28,748
320
——————————————————————————————————
Manenberg resident Cristal van Rensburg says two cousins were killed by gang members, with one shot 30 times in the face and chest. Her brother and other relatives also are in gangs, and she says she often sees her cousins’ killers on the street.
“In the beginning it was difficult,” she said. “It’s not a good feeling to lose someone and know that person who hurt your family is walking past you every day. You see in Manenberg, that’s part of life.”
Despite its beauty, Cape Town was ranked last year as the 11th most-dangerous city in the world. According to the Mexico City-based Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice, which compiled the list, Cape Town had 2,868 homicides in 2018, the second-most on the list behind Caracas, Venezuela.
An attempted truce has accompanied the food distribution, and Smith said police have reported a decrease in trouble in Manenberg in recent weeks.
But the grim reality is still evident.
During the food delivery, the pickup truck encounters people who say a man has been stabbed to death, and the victim is a member of a gang known as the Clever Kidz.
Santjie, a local leader of the gang who is riding on Steele-Smith’s truck, had earlier made a comment that has become suddenly relevant: “Life here is very quick. It’s very quick.”
Residents of Manenberg seem to live either in government-built housing blocks called “the courts” or in haphazard houses on unmarked streets.
The headquarters of the Americans is a multistory labyrinth with “Welcome 2 United States” scrawled on it. Across the street is more graffiti, misspelled and perhaps mistaken: “God loves Manenburg.”
The neighborhood was created by South Africa’s apartheid government in the 1960s as a dumping ground for poor non-whites who were evicted from Cape Town’s prime land. Steele-Smith describes it as “forgotten” and lacking hope.
Danny, Preston and Santjie, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition that only their first names are used because they belong to criminal gangs, say they have much in common: all have been shot and all have been to prison.
Danny is 61 and says he was behind bars for 29 years for murder and armed robbery. The other two don’t specify their crimes. Santjie, the youngest of the three at 31, has been “in and out” numerous times, he says.
All three saw joining gangs as natural — boys are recruited in their early teens or younger.
Preston says he may eventually quit his gang, but Danny warns: “If you turn your back on your gang, you’re a target.”
“A traitor,” Preston agrees.
Leaving a gang means giving up protection. A local saying goes that the only sure way out of a Cape Flats gang is death.
The Rev. Eric Hofmeyer used to be a member of the Hard Livings gang, joining when he was 9 but getting out at age 21 in the 1980s. He says he survived two stabbings by rival gangs and also escaped death when police interrupted an attempt by his own gang to kill him.
He says the food project shows that the new generation is open to change.
“I believe there is a way out for those young men,” he said.
Legacy: Community pillars to die recently include the pioneering former Memphis City Councilman and businessman Fred L. Davis (left, May 12) and the Rev. Tim Russell (March 30), an assistant pastor at Second Presybyterian Church. Also pictured is Mr. Russell's widow, Kathe Russell. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Where a few are gathered…
(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
The Mother’s Day service at St. Mark Baptist Church on Lauderdale, where the Rev. J.C. Bacchus (below photo, seated) is pastor, was heartfelt by those who chose to congregate and worship in-person, adhering to measures recommended for safety during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
So they say it’s your birthday…
(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Clift Dates, the retired founder of CDA Security and a co-fonder of the Afro-American Police Association, turned 74 on May 11 and made himself at home in his home during a safety-conscious mini-celebration that featured blues singer Sheba Potts (below).
Still at your service…
Makeda’s Cookies — co-owned by Pamela Hill and her husband, Maurice — has taken safety cautions en route to living up to its motto: “The Best Butter Cookies in the World.” (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Back to a familiar place…
Stein’s Restaurant at 2248 S. Lauderdale was open for business on Friday for the first time since the lockdown.
(Below) Longtime customers making their way back to a familiar place and good eating included Nike VP and Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman Willie Gregory (left) and Leonard Draper, known for mentoring the late Larry Finch and a former Negro League baseball player. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)
Something to ponder: ‘Old, sick and incarcerated’
by Julianne Malveaux (NNPA Newswire) —
There were 4623 incarcerated people over 65 in federal prisons during the first week of May. Until May 12, Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s one-time campaign manager, was one of them. The 71-year-old petitioned the court for release to home confinement because of his age, heart condition, and “fear of coronavirus.” Yet the federal correctional institution that housed Manafort had no coronavirus cases, and Manafort had served fewer than two years of his more than seven-year sentence. Recently developed federal guidelines suggest at-home confinement for those at risk who have served more than half of their sentence or have less than eighteen months of jail time left to serve. Manafort meets none of these criteria, but he apparently had enough high-priced lawyers to push his case aggressively.
I’m not as outraged at Manafort’s early release as I am disturbed about the other 4622 elderly inmates, most who lack the resources and access that Manafort had. READ MORE
WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized U.S. leaders overseeing the nation’s response to the coronavirus, telling college graduates in an online commencement address that the pandemic shows many officials “aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Obama spoke on “Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition,” a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. His remarks were unexpectedly political, given the venue, and touched on current events beyond the virus and its social and economic impacts.
“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said. “A lot them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Later Saturday, during a second televised commencement address for high school seniors, Obama panned “so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs” who do “what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy.”
“Which is why things are so screwed up,” he said.
Obama did not name President Donald Trump or any other federal or state officials in either of his appearances. But earlier this month, he harshly criticized Trump’s handling of the pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster” in a call with 3,000 members of his administrations obtained by Yahoo News.
The commencement remarks were the latest sign that Obama intends to play an increasingly active role in the coming election. He has generally kept a low profile in the years since he left office, even as Trump has disparaged him. Obama told supporters on the call that he would be “spending as much time as necessary and campaigning as hard as I can” for Joe Biden, who served as his vice president.
As he congratulated the college graduates Saturday and commiserated over the enormous challenges they face given the devastation and economic turmoil the virus has wrought, the former president noted the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was killed while jogging on a residential street in Georgia.
“Let’s be honest: A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country,” Obama said. “We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t submit to their questioning.”
“Injustice like this isn’t new,” Obama went on to say. “What is new is that so much of your generation has woken up to the fact that the status quo needs fixing, that the old ways of doing things don’t work.” In the face of a void in leadership, he said, it would be up to the graduates to shape the future.
“If the world’s going to get better, it’s going to be up to you,” he said.
It is a perilous time for the nation’s historically black colleges and universities, which have long struggled with less funding and smaller endowments than their predominantly white peers and are now dealing with the financial challenges of the coronavirus. Even at the better-endowed HBCUs, officials are bracing for a tough few years.
Obama’s message to high school students came at the end of an hourlong television special featuring celebrities, including LeBron James, Yara Shahidi and Ben Platt, and was less sharp-edged than his speech to the college graduates. He urged the young graduates to be unafraid despite the current challenges facing the nation and to strive to be part of a diverse community.
“Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us — sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed — and set the world on a different path,” Obama said.
Pandemic and Beyond– a free and upcoming one-hour webinar on nonprofit publicity strategies – is designed to acknowledge the global public health emergency and help nonprofits chart a course to an afterlife.
Marvin Stockwell
“We’re all trying to get the right messages to the right people, and nonprofits are facing pressures,” said Marvin Stockwell, director of media relations at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the class instructor for Pandemic and Beyond.
“I’ll cover evergreen publicity tactics people can use anytime, but I wanted to be responsive to what’s going on.”
What’s going on involves shutdown or severely-curtailed businesses and staggering out-of-work numbers. Many nonprofits find themselves in the same place as many businesses – sandwiched between concerns for their employees and customers and the very real threat of business collapse.
Momentum, a resource and professional development hub for nonprofits, typically provides in-person publicity classes that are fee-based. Due to the COVID-19 challenges non-profits face, the courses are now offered free of charge. This month, two will be offered: May 19 at 9 a.m. and at noon on May 26.
Stockwell said each session will focus on a different topic, with some issues likely discussed in both.
“I’ll keep the class lean on lecture so there’s plenty of time to answer questions and talk through current challenges people are facing,” Stockwell said. “In the week between our two sessions, the context of the pandemic will change, and being attuned to the current context is so important to communicating effectively.”
Civic groups, clubs and congregational groups can benefit from the sessions, Stockwell said.
Participants will learn to use the news media, social/digital media, grassroots marketing, effective branding and other resources. In addition to the class instruction, participants also will receive a starter media database of local journalists, as well as advice on how to approach reporters in top-tier trade media outlets.
(To sign up or for more information on these classes or other Momentum Nonprofit Partner offerings, visit momemtumnonprofitpartners.org.)
The privacy of individuals and the protection of first responders are two elements in a back-and-forth that raises the question of whether the two are mutually exclusive.
State. Rep. G.A. Hardaway
“Both privacy of individuals and protection of first responders are very important, but they are not mutually exclusive,” said State Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D-93), chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators (TBCSL). “We can do both.”
Criticism on the firestorm level surfaced Monday with a COVID-19 Joint Task Force briefing during which when Memphis Police Department Director Mike Rallings acknowledged that first responders to emergency calls have had the addresses of COVID-19 patients for weeks.
On April 6, the Tennessee Department of Health gave – via a memoranda of understanding (MOU) – the OK to share such information with law enforcement. At Monday’s COVID-19 Task Force briefing Rallings said the information is necessary.
Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings
“If first responders become exposed, that could increase exposure to our community at large,” Rallings said, noting that 31 police employees have tested positive for the coronavirus and that 269 out on quarantine are now back at work.
Hardaway said state legislators learned on April 3 via a “somewhat cryptic” email from the state health department that data listing those who tested positive for the coronavirus would be made available to law enforcement.
“In a public health crisis, you don’t suspend the U.S. Constitution, you suspend laws and rules,” said Hardaway. “This is profiling, information released without the consent of the individuals involved.”
The “intrusion” was unwarranted and not the right solution for protecting first responders,” Hardaway said.
“Black legislators care about first responders. …Some of our folk are police and EMTs and firefighters. So don’t think we don’t want to keep them safe.”
Black Caucus members have presented three alterations to the COVID-19 disclosure format to Shelby County Health Department officials, the Tennessee Department of Minority Health and Disparity Elimination, the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Office of Minority Affairs:
On a need-to-know basis;
Have 9-1-1 operators ask if anyone in the household has COVID-19 at the time an emergency call is made;
Implement a rigorous testing regimen for first responders and purchase all of the personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe.
“I am encouraged with our conversations,” Hardaway said.
At Monday’s COVID-19 Task Force briefing, Memphis Fire Department Director Gina Sweat called the COVID-19 information about those who have tested positive information “critical for protecting first responders working with a finite supply of personal protective equipment.”
Later during a telephone interview, Capt. Anthony Buckner of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department said the only information given is the address of the COVID-19 case.
“…This provides our first responders with advance notice to use extra precautions should they have to interact with someone at that address.”
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the IRS extended the regular filing deadline to July 15th, 2020. Free Tax Prep’s Drive-Thru Drop-Off is open to file current year returns, prior year returns and amended returns.
