The mainstream media won't report on this...

One of the top news stories of the day will not be reported on by the mainstream media...

As I jump around to all of my favorite blogs in the Afrosphere, I have come across a rally call that is growing. We as a black community are sick of the misogynistic videos, the glorification of guns and out of wedlock baby making lifestyle that BET is pushing on our youth.

Many of us have already turned our backs and don't watch BET. However, BET programming continues to affect our youth and our communities in a negative way. We are dealing with a level of lawlessness and disrespect from black youth that we never could have imagined would come to fruition.

The following comment was left on this blog by Anonymous. I pulled it out of comments and put it here - because it is an important message.

Anonymous said...
To BET Legal:

People,

Years ago, when our local cable channel tried to take BET out of their line-up, I organized a campaign that led to them reconsidering that move. Over the years, I've watched you pull every show worth watching, such as BET on Jazz, and black documentaries, replacing them with the trash and buffoonery we see today. My thought is that A: The staff is actually composed of white KKK members, bent on showing us in as bad a light as possible, or B: This station has been taken over by a staff of backward thinking, ghetto minded, uneducated, African Americans, who lack the insight, education and Will to bring quality to what should be a channel for ALL our people, and not just the thugs being currently catered to. What you've shown is that you don't value the black community at all, just the meager monies you bring in to "get paid".

To say that the the awards show was a disgrace is charitable, at best. I never thought that I would say this, but if this was the best you could offer, I can't blame the rest of America for laughing at us as a race, and thinking that we can't organize, and that we'll always settle for whatever we're given. You've brought shame to all of us, and the damage you've done both to our image, and the psyche of Black America is incomprehensible.

That being said, I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to get rid of BET. And I think that we as a people should start to take a long look at ourselves, and take back control of our culture from these no talent "Artists". And to Jamie Fox: I'm DONE with you, "Brother".

Rap music has given us nothing. It's designed for people who can barely sing, can't write, and are too lazy to play an instrument. No, a turntable is not an instrument. It's financed by white America, and our young people stupid enough to fall for the hype. It's like watching kids on the playground telling each other nasty words. We're better than that, people. All of us.

You need to shut BET down. Or you need to start respecting us as a community of intelligent, proud, African Americans.

Shame on all of you, and condolences to the Jackson family, both for their loss, and the added suffering of being associated with this so-called "tribute". I'm so very sorry.....

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Contact BET @ contactus@BET.com

Dear BET: I'm Black and I am NOT Entertained!

Although I am somewhat ashamed to admit it, I watched the BET Awards Show/Tribute to Michael Jackson last night.

It is well established that I don’t care for Eric Marlon Bishop a/k/a Jamie Foxx, however, I thought it would be good to see Usher and/or NeYo do a tribute to Michael Jackson as there are so few entertainers who can even begin to do the Michael Jackson material or moves. So I watched.

I tolerated it for the first hour, thinking it was going to pick up. It didn’t. For some sick reason, I kept watching, thinking Usher or somebody would eventually show up. Shenana (Martin Lawrence in skank drag) was there in a fake movie trailer with Wanda (Jamie Foxx in skankier drag); T-Pain was there with his big chain with curse words that every little kid can read; and Lil'Wayne was there with his pants down around his behind.

Lil'Wayne did a piece with some person named Drake, entitled "The Best I Ever Had". This is a piece about all the girls and the best sex they ever had. Problem - Lil Wayne's daughter and her pre-teen pals were on stage dancing, hugging Drake and popping their fingers to the beat. The lyrics even included the word d*ick and *igga. What!

I was letting my youngsters watch this mess?!

How could I let them dupe me? I know better! BET, Black Entertainment Television has NEVER done anything but exploit black women and serve to perpetuate stereotypes. Starting with the now filthy rich Robert “Bob" Johnson (who sold out to Viacom for millions), right up to present day with Debra L. Lee.

For upcoming blackploitation, just look at BET's lineup for this fall. Frankie and Neffie (Keyshia Cole's mama and sister), Tiny and Toya (T.I.'s and Lil'Wayne's babies' mothers). Remember the glorification of Lil Kim on her way into the penitentiary. And let us not forget how they tripped over T.I. or TIP (or whatevea that clown's name is) as he was heading to the penitentiary to start his stint -a BET mini-series entitled “Road to Redemption”. Road to Redemption ran on both BET and MTV (both owned by Viacom). T.I.'s babies’ mama showed up to except his awhaard last night, because, you know, T.I. couldn't be there.

If that was the best MJ Tribute that BET could do – they should have done nothing.

Again, we don’t watch BET in our household. For some reason I thought the MJ Tribute would be worth it. FALSE. It is past time for Debra L. Lee (or whoever is responsible for programming for this mess of a network) to go. This is the 21st Century! Barack Hussein Obama is President of the United States. BET needs to grow the hell up and get some class.

Fast forward - Peoria is testing concealed carry...

A 45-year-old Peoria man was robbed at gunpoint Saturday evening after parking his car.

The two gunmen approached the man after he parked his vehicle across the street from 2602 W. Marquette St.

When he stepped out of the vehicle, they told him to get to the ground, and one pressed a handgun to his head, he told police.

They demanded money, and the man gave them $80 from his wallet. After taking cash and his wallet, they then ran north toward an alley. No one was injured. From PJStar.

Question: Which holster could this fellow have been carrying his weapon in that would have given him a chance to defend himself against the people robbing him? Do you think these robbers would have been able to take his weapon? Had he attempted to pull his weapon, do you think he would be alive today?

Blogging While Brown 2009 - Using the Web as Agent of Social Change

CHICAGO — Billed as perhaps the largest gathering of African American bloggers and Web users since the election of Barack Obama, last weekend’s second annual Blogging While Brown conference showcased enthusiasm for the potential of social media tools to spur change, bolster entrepreneurship and give unique voices an opportunity to be heard.

One theme that ran through the two-day conference was the hope of many attendees that more members of the black community will embrace the Web in campaigns about important issues.

Gina McCauley, who writes the blog What About Our Daughters, founded Blogging While Brown last year to build the network of bloggers of color and help them stay at the forefront of the new online frontier.

“There is so much to learn about the Web because it is changing so fast,” McCauley said. “There is so much potential on the Internet that the black community can take advantage of.”

Nearly 100 bloggers came from around the country to attend Blogging While Brown. While the content of their sites ranged from black women’s beauty tips to the latest gossip on black celebrities, many expressed interest in using social media for political engagement.

The use of the popular microblogging tool Twitter to disseminate information about the ongoing protests and unrest following last week’s contested presidential election in Iran have caused many observers to wonder how the technology could impact the way African Americans handle online social movements — as well as the role it could have played in past efforts.

Led by the Web-based activist group Color of Change, the online organizing and fundraising in support of the “Jena Six” — a group of six black teenagers accused of attacking a white teenager following a number of racially-motivated events in the town of Jena, La. — is largely considered the most successful Internet campaign among African Americans. However, some Blogging While Brown attendees wondered if the civil rights movement, the Rwandan genocide and the start of violence in Darfur would have transpired differently if today’s communications tools were available and widely used at the time of those events.

“What if black bloggers protested the Bush administration after [Hurricane] Katrina, like the Iranian protesters are doing now with their government?” asked one attendee. “We can learn a lot from the Iranians.”

While there’s room for growth, the black blogosphere has made significant strides. Cheryl Contee, a social media strategist and blogger at Jack and Jill Politics, said that the online activism of the black blogosphere helped propel Obama to the Oval Office.

More and more, the impact of black blogs is being noticed by those in power. Contee and her fellow Jack & Jill blogger Baratunde Thurston were credentialed to cover the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, as well as the Inauguration Day activities earlier this year.

The popularity of the blog has made Thurston and Contee sought-after personalities. Contee recalled being invited to the G20 summit in London last March, where she mingled with world leaders and celebrities — including musician Bob Geldof, organizer of the famed benefit concert Live Aid, who said he was a fan of her work. “Our blogs are read all over the world,” Contee told attendees. “You would be amazed by who is reading you.”

There was also discussion at the conference on how the black blogosphere will hold Obama and other black politicians accountable on domestic and international issues, such as education, the war on terror, environmental justice, drug and criminal reform, and still-rising unemployment.

While a variety of concerns were debated, many suggested that the next digital battle might focus on ensuring Internet accessibility to all.

According to Megan Tady of the media reform group Free Press, only 40 percent of Americans have broadband Internet access. Statistics compiled by market research analysis firm eMarketer show that 55 percent of African Americans are online. Mobile technology is a widely used tool in this demographic, and text messaging was used by Katrina survivors after the storm.

The conference also touched on major upheaval in the world of professional journalism caused by the online explosion. Veteran journalist and blogger Monroe Anderson said he was first exposed to the Internet when he was still a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Now a contributing columnist at, the daily online magazine from the publishers of Ebony and Jet, Anderson said he is excited about to potential uses of social media by journalists.

“Journalists usually write the first draft of history, and the Internet presents more opportunities to tell stories,” he said. However, many conference attendees criticized news outlets that have been slow to embrace social media — especially the black press.

Eric Easter, chief of digital strategy for the Johnson Publishing Company, which publishes Ebony and Jet magazines and operates, received heavy criticism from some attendees for what they say are a lack of relevant topics and social media engagement on the site. Easter said the Web site is still a work-in-progress, adding that in producing both Web and print content for the two venerable publications, the changing financial landscape in the media has to be taken into consideration.

“I think there is still room for print, but the business model has changed,” he said. “Newspapers and magazines have to think of a new way to attract readers.” The project may have a long road ahead. When Contee asked the audience how many of them read the Ebony/Jet Web site, no one raised their hands. As the debate over how old media outlets can stay relevant continues, leaders of color in new media keep building their community and taking advantage of the moment — one blog post, tweet and YouTube clip at a time.

“It’s important that black bloggers work together,” Contee said. “There really is power in numbers and diversity.”

From the BayState Banner.

Plea deal in Jena 6 case

ColorOfChange.org applauds plea deal in Jena 6 case
Online civil rights group raised more than $275,000 for legal defense

Oakland, CA- The organization that led the online mobilization in support of the Jena Six today applauded news that five of the young men have pleaded no contest to greatly reduced charges--a development the group called a just resolution to the racially-charged case. Though the defendants had initially been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy, they ultimately pleaded no contest to simple battery, and will serve a sentence of just 7 days of probation.

ColorOfChange.org said Friday that the plea deal marked an acknowledgement by officials that the Louisiana justice system initially treated the then-teenage boys too harshly, privileging white students' accounts of a schoolyard fight over those of black students in the largely segregated town of Jena.

"Today's plea deal shows that the original charges in the case were unfair and vastly overblown," said James Rucker, ColorOfChange.org's executive director. "The story of the Jena 6 was an extreme example of what can happen when a justice system biased against black boys operates unchecked. But it's also an example of what can happen when hundreds of thousands of people across the country stand up to challenge unequal justice. Together, we drew the country's attention to this case and raised the money necessary to fund a strong legal defense."

ColorOfChange.org, the first national organization involved in supporting the Jena 6, was instrumental in drawing national attention to the case, working alongside local activists in Jena and black bloggers across the country to spread word of the excessive charges and the story behind them.

More than 300,000 ColorOfChange.org members signed petitions to elected officials, urging that the charges be dropped and that then-Governor Kathleen Blanco intervene. The group organized more than 10,000 of its members to march in Jena on September 20, 2007. The same day, thousands of members in over 150 cities across the country held rallies and vigils and distributed flyers about the case; they also made more than 6,000 phone calls to public officials in Louisiana.

ColorOfChange members also contributed more than $275,000 toward high-quality legal teams, which succeeded in getting a biased judge removed from the cases and ultimately achieved today's victory.

Rucker said that the collective effort--joined by bloggers, black radio personalities, and national and Louisiana-based activists--turned the tide in favor of the young men.

The sixth teenager charged, Mychal Bell, pleaded guilty to battery in juvenile court on December 3rd, 2007.

With more than half a million members, ColorOfChange.org is the largest African-American online political organization in the country.

Note Worthy: The NAACP and many other civil rights organizations were not the driving force for the Jena 6. The NAACP originally raised only $20,000, $10k of which was from David Bowie. Black bloggers and their readers, black radio personalities, activitists, and Color of Change made the difference for the Jenna 6.

Wanna make the World a better place?

The Man in the Mirror, the Michael Jackson song that filled me with the hope that mankind could and would find the good that exist in us all. He pleaded with us to do one basic thing - take a look at ourselves and do what we can to make the world - our world a better place. So profound, I feel the Church in me (if you know what I mean) every time I hear it.

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs

A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That's Why I Want You To
Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .)
Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror,
(Man In The Mirror-Oh Yeah!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time)
('Cause When You Close Your Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . .Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah
(Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .
I'm Gonna Make A Change
It's Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change . . .)

Just Lift Yourself You Know
You've Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I've Got To Make That Change,
Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To

You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get
That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To
You've Got To Move! Come
On! Come On!
You Got To . . .
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift
Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .
Come On!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know . . .
(Change . . .)
Make That Change.

Michael Jackson the King of Pop Dead at 50

Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at the hospital in a deep coma. The Michael Jackson in the picture above is the Michael Jackson I feel in love with as a girl. There was a time when the Jackson 5 were regulars in Peoria. I would sit on my porch many evenings and dream of being discovered by Michael.

Michael Jackson. What will his legacy be? What will become of his children?

Michael Joseph Jackson - one of the greatest dancers of all time has moonwalked his way on out of here. May he find the peace that has eluded him for so long.

Job opening up in HR at District #150

I have been out of town a lot lately, not posting as regularly and have been very bad at checking my e-mail. Don't ya just love Summer! Anyhow, I check e-mail today and I come across this tidbit of information: District 150 Director of Human Resource – Tom Broderick has given a two weeks notice, his last day will be July 3rd.

Is there basic information a landlord is required to give to a tenant?

Say for example, you live in one of Peoria’s older neighborhoods… Your block has several well manicured lawns, people who work during the day and neighbors who belong to the neighborhood association.

Also on this block is a property that is rented out to a different person every six months to a year. The people the property is rented out to don’t ever seem to understand the day the garbage man runs...




they don’t understand that garbage goes in garbage cans...

and they just can’t seem to grasp that you can’t park your car in the yard.


The neighbors have called the Code Enforcer, but since the property turns over so often, the lesson never seems to be learned.

Is it too much to expect a landlord to inform their tenants of the City Code as it pertains to maintaining property? If a landlord keeps renting out property to people with no common sense, is it wrong to get the name of the landlord and call him/her at home (preferably during the dinner hour) and tell them of the problem that their tenants cause in the neighborhood? What would you do?

Can the Obamas desegregate Martha's Vinyard?

From New York Magazine on the Obamas' possible summer plans:

The rumors that the Obamas will be vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard this summer have been spreading since April. Locals are famously ho-hum about these kinds of things, but even they admit that this could be an unusually crowded August on the island, with three sets of Democratic Party royalty descending at once.

The Clintons are expected to return to Edgartown, where they have often stayed at the home of Richard Friedman, a Boston real-estate developer. Caroline Kennedy will be at her mother’s former estate in Aquinnah. And while the Obamas’ plans are still unannounced, most people expect the First Family to settle on Oak Bluffs, at the northeast end of Martha’s Vineyard.

A few Vineyarders say they know whose home it’ll be. “The rumor is that it’s Wayne Budd,” says one, referring to the prominent Boston lawyer who was associate U.S. attorney general under the first President Bush. “He has a very large house with guesthouses that would be perfect for the Secret Service and his staff.” Budd has denied this, and a wealthy friend of the Obamas who claims to have been provided a photo of the chosen house says that the Oak Bluffs rumor is wrong. “The picture I received looks like it could be West Chop,” this friend says, referring to a neighborhood across the harbor. “But West Chop is totally white—so totally white that it would be a surprise.”

Even if the Obamas do choose West Chop, they’ll surely spend considerable time in Oak Bluffs, a town known for attracting most of the upper-class black professionals who stay on the island. As liberal as it is, the Vineyard is about as racially integrated as a college dining hall—blacks and whites get along fine, but they generally don’t socialize. “There’s not a lot of overlap between black and white,” says radio executive Skip Finley, who started vacationing in Oak Bluffs in 1954 and has been living there full-time for the past decade. “I don’t think anybody’s insulted by it. I’m certainly not.” It’s an arrangement that springs largely from the self-segregating impulse among black Vineyarders, who have come to the island to connect with each other. “We have people here who are black and upscale and racist,” Finley continues. “They don’t want to be around white folks, and they don’t have to.” By choosing to vacation in and around Oak Bluffs, the Obamas would be throwing a spotlight on one of the most demographically unusual towns in America.

Read more here...

T-Swizzle in the remix...

This here is just all kinds of wrong...



Apparently this is a remix of T-Swizzle's hit song 'Love Story'; she performed it with rapper T-Pain at the CMT Awards Tuesday night in Nashville.

Happy JuneTeenth!

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another, is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another, is that federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All or none of them could be true. For whatever the reason, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.

General Order Number 3
One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."

The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer to employee relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of their former 'masters' - attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom. Even with nowhere to go, many felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom. North was a logical destination and for many it represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove the some into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a heretofore non-existent status for black people in America.

Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.

Juneteenth Festivities and Food
A range of activities were provided to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today. Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self improvement. Thus often guest speakers are brought in and the elders are called upon to recount the events of the past. Prayer services were also a major part of these celebrations.

Certain foods became popular and subsequently synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations such as strawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as popular was the barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants could share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors - the newly emancipated African Americans, would have experienced during their ceremonies. Hence, the barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at Juneteenth celebrations.

Food was abundant because everyone prepared a special dish. Meats such as lamb, pork and beef which not available everyday were brought on this special occasion. A true Juneteenth celebrations left visitors well satisfied and with enough conversation to last until the next.

Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs and is often still taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make the connection to this tradition's roots. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks and rivers to adorn clothing taken from the plantations belonging to their former 'masters'.

From Juneteenth.com - read more here...

Fatherless Day Rally in Springfield

General John Parker is the Keynote Speaker at today’s Fatherless Day Rally, in Springfield. Parker is working to reform the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) when it comes up for reauthorization in 2010. The VAWA was signed into law in 1994 by then-President Bill Clinton and provides money to the states to assist in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women. Parker believes that despite its good intentions, VAWA's impact has been the break-up of families and has directly impacted him, by preventing him from seeing his son. "I'm not asking to get rid of VAWA," Parker said. "We need VAWA, but VAWA is broken."

US cities may have to be bulldozed in order to survive

Could this be in Peoria's future? If so, there are a few buildings in my neighborhood I would love to see razed:

The government looking at expanding a pioneering scheme in Flint, one of the poorest US cities, which involves razing entire districts and returning the land to nature.

Local politicians believe the city must contract by as much as 40 per cent, concentrating the dwindling population and local services into a more viable area.

The radical experiment is the brainchild of Dan Kildee, treasurer of Genesee County, which includes Flint.

Having outlined his strategy to Barack Obama during the election campaign, Mr Kildee has now been approached by the US government and a group of charities who want him to apply what he has learnt to the rest of the country.

Mr Kildee said he will concentrate on 50 cities, identified in a recent study by the Brookings Institution, an influential Washington think-tank, as potentially needing to shrink substantially to cope with their declining fortunes.

Most are former industrial cities in the "rust belt" of America's Mid-West and North East. They include Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Memphis.

In Detroit, shattered by the woes of the US car industry, there are already plans to split it into a collection of small urban centres separated from each other by countryside.

"The real question is not whether these cities shrink – we're all shrinking – but whether we let it happen in a destructive or sustainable way," said Mr Kildee. "Decline is a fact of life in Flint. Resisting it is like resisting gravity."

Karina Pallagst, director of the Shrinking Cities in a Global Perspective programme at the University of California, Berkeley, said there was "both a cultural and political taboo" about admitting decline in America.

"Places like Flint have hit rock bottom. They're at the point where it's better to start knocking a lot of buildings down," she said.

Flint, sixty miles north of Detroit, was the original home of General Motors. The car giant once employed 79,000 local people but that figure has shrunk to around 8,000.

Unemployment is now approaching 20 per cent and the total population has almost halved to 110,000.

The exodus – particularly of young people – coupled with the consequent collapse in property prices, has left street after street in sections of the city almost entirely abandoned.

[...]

The city is buying up houses in more affluent areas to offer people in neighbourhoods it wants to demolish. Nobody will be forced to move, said Mr Kildee. "Much of the land will be given back to nature. People will enjoy living near a forest or meadow," he said.

Read the entire article here...

Building in photo: Western Avenue at West Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.; Peoria, Illinois

The #1 fear of an officer encountering the public...

Pastor Harvey Burnett goes on record regarding concealed carry in a letter going out to all city pastors and local media:

Pastors,

God bless each of you. As you know we have been confronted with the conversation of "concealed carry" promoted as an experiement in Peoria by our Mayor and certain city officials.

While I am not opposed to the right to bear arms, needless to say I am opposed to the particular idea presented for a number of reasons, the least of which is the "wild west" mentality that will be created by such a legalization.

I am preparing a statement to address this issue so a voice can be on file that has tried to bring clarity to the issue and less of a kneejerk reaction to the crime and violence that we face. The facts are these:

During the Peoria Gun Exchange the police officers on the ground expressed to us in no uncertain terms that concealed weapons are the number one fear of an officer encountering the public. With that said, a concealed permit certainly places a much greater stress upon an officer in contact with the public and therefore hinders appropriate actions at the point of contact. It is not without surprise to me that Chief Settingsgaard either is oblivious to or simply overlooks that sentiment among his officers. This must be addressed, and I plan to address it.

It has been said that concealed carry will cause a criminal to think twice about a crime. I don't know what world that idea comes from. Example, my godson Mario Mcgee had for some time before his death a FOID card allowing him the ability to have own and operate a weapon and a handgun in particular. It is suspected that the people that killed him, breaking into the home was well aware that Mario could have had a weapon. There was no second thought about taking his life and IF a weapon had been used his mother would have certainly been killed also. Speculation regarding this what "wouldn't happen" is merely wishful thinking and is not in the best interest of the innoocent.

There is a despairity among who can have a handgun legally under most constructs. in Peoria county there are a disproportionate number of blacks who have felonies and can not qualify to carry a gun legally. This creates a desparity upon the backs of the citizenry and sets people with a "us against them" mentality. This is not a move that a city should make in order to bridge gaps and inequities that currently exist between communities. on this point States Attorney Kevin Lyons and I agree.

Finally, in my opinion, this will only drive and promote the lawless we observe in a more ruthless manner. This will easily promote criminals to be more blatant in their attacks and more frequent in their efforts to commit crime and violence. we have been taught that those who live by the sword, die by the sword. my question is how will the community be benefitted if everyone is dedicated to justice by the sword? It won't work!

In short I do not see a benefit from concealed carry and as a pastor I plan to stand against such. If you would like to sign onto the effort along with me please let me know right away. I would appreciate the support and prayers.

Thank you and God bless.

Pastor Harvey Burnett

Summer Free Lunch Program

From: WMBD/WYZZ TV

District 150 is taking action to keep your child from going hungry this summer. The district is once again offering free meals to all children 18 years old and under. The program starts one week from today, and offers breakfast and lunches Monday through Thursday in select school cafeterias.

The program runs through the end of July.The serving sites include Woodruff High School, 1800 NE Perry.Breakfast hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Meals will also be served at:

● Hines Primary School, 4603 N. Knoxville Ave.

● Whittier Primary School, 1619 W. Fredonia Ave.

● Woodrow Wilson Primary School, 1907 W. Forrest Hill Ave.

● Roosevelt Magnet School, 1704 W. Aiken Ave.

● Von Steuben Middle School, 801 E. Forrest Hill Ave.

● Trewyn Middle School, 1419 S. Folkers Ave.

Breakfast hours are 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.; lunch will be served 11:30a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Oh, how wonderful

There he goes again in School District business, when he is falling down in the job he was elected to do - be Mayor for Peoria - all of Peoria.

My “sore spot” in Peoria is the CRIME. I have an option on schools, I could always opt out to private, but CRIME is out of my control. Maybe it’s time for more “inner city” families who have the option to consider leaving Peoria. Is this a safe place for us to raise our children? Are they getting what they need culturally to thrive?

…In the meantime every time it rains the SEWER overflows and we have been getting a lot of rain. Let’s not talk about what is happening with RACE RELATIONS under his watch. Today I read the people at the PHA are appalled by the offensive comments that were allowed in the PJSTAR. They may as well get over it, because they are starting again today.

…Not to mention that he still needs to find a CITY MANAGER; work through a BUDGET DEFICIT, massive JOB LOSS, build a MUSEUM and a brand new HOTEL. Lest we forget the BIG AL’S DILEMMA, that has yet to be resolved. The fact that he actually has time to concern himself with the School District is amazing.

It would be wonderful if the City manifested it’s interest in schools by opening their own charter school... and BUILD IT ON THE BLOCK. That would be wonderful.

And you know it...

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has their own doll.

Big John put his life on the line

From the Washington Post:

Colleagues called Stephen T. Johns "Big John," for he was well over 6 feet tall. But mostly friends recalled the security guard's constant courtesy and friendliness. A soft-spoken, gentle giant," said Milton Talley, a former employee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where Johns was killed yesterday in the line of duty -- shot, authorities said, by an avowed white supremacist who entered the museum with a rifle.

Details of the shooting remained sketchy last night, but apparently the 39-year-old, who was armed with a .38-caliber revolver, did not have time to react when James W. von Brunn walked into the museum, according to police sources.

"Immediately upon entering the front doors of the museum, he raised the rifle and started shooting," D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said of von Brunn, 88, adding that he "was engaged by security guards, and there was an exchange of gunfire."

When the smoke cleared, von Brunn was critically wounded. The only casualty among the guards was Johns, who lived in Prince George's County. At least one bullet from a small-caliber rifle hit Johns in his upper-left torso, according to Johns's employer, the Wackenhut security company.

"Two other . . . armed security officers opened fire with their service revolvers," the company said. "The intruder was hit at once" and wounded. Johns died at George Washington University Hospital.

"There are no words to express our grief and shock over these events," the museum said in a statement, describing Johns as "an outstanding colleague who greeted us every day with a smile."

Johns, a 1988 graduate of Crosslands High School in Temple Hills, lived in an apartment in the Temple Hills area. Friends said he had a son.

Allen Burcky, another former museum employee, said last night that workers there considered each other "like family" and that Johns was "very courteous, very helpful."

Wackenhut describes itself as the U.S. government's "largest contractor for professional security services." An official with the union that represents Wackenhut employees at the museum said Johns was paid about $20 an hour.

"It's a heavy loss," said Assane Faye, the Washington district director of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America.

Like other guards at the museum, on Raoul Wallenberg Place SW near the Mall, Johns underwent training for which he received the D.C. police designation of "special police officer," which permitted him to carry a revolver on duty.

Faye said that during contract negotiations with Wackenhut two years ago, the union pressed for company-issued protective vests. Although Wackenhut seemed open to the idea, vests have not been issued, Faye said. Authorities said Johns was not wearing a protective vest.

Susan Pitcher, a Wackenhut spokeswoman, declined to comment on the shooting beyond the company's statement.

William S. Parsons, the Holocaust museum's chief of staff, praised Johns and his colleagues. "Never take your guard force or your security people for granted," Parsons said. "They did exactly what they were supposed to do."

Grief, Shock After a ‘Gentle Giant’ Loses His Life in the Line of Duty
By Christian Davenport and Paul Duggan
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, June 11, 2009

More red meat for the savages

Our City leaders are working at a record pace throwing red meat to the savages. In response citizens of Peoria are busting their bigoted asses to show how racist they are. Even those who have tried to hide it just can’t resist all of the opportunities to put others down. I hope the powers that be are satisfied with the revelry they see amongst the bigots who reside in Peoria. As long as these attitudes are coddled (and they are) it will never be “Better Here”.

Peoria Blogger threatened with a lawsuit

From Infospigot:The Chronicals via Peoria Pundit




From Peoria, Illinois—a city that will always be synonymous in our minds with Jack Brickhouse and Mudbone—we have this:


Yesterday, a private investigator representing Globe Energy—a U.K. transplant that set up shop in Peoria to make energy-efficient industrial heating systems—paid a visit to a local blogger named Billy Dennis. The local head of Globe, David Jones—described variously as "a nice man" and a "foul-mouthed individual"—got some critical attention back in March when he announced in the Peoria Journal-Star that he was less than enamored with the labor force in the Land of Lincoln: "The work ethic in this state is awful. ...r It's difficult to find good people."

The online version of the Journal-Star article drew a comment from a reader who identified himself as a former Globe employee. In essence, he described his ex- boss and other managers at the company as bigoted jerks. That comment was quoted in its entirety on a Peoria blog and thence on a citizen journalism site called the Blog Peoria Project, which Billy Dennis manages.

And here's where we get back to the private investigator.

The PI showed up at Dennis's door Saturday morning--nearly three months after article and comment were published--with a letter from an attorney. The missive demanded that Dennis remove the former employee's comment from Blog Peoria because the statements therein breached a Globe confidentiality agreement. If the offending comment was not taken down by Monday, the letter warned, the company would sue. Dennis has not posted the full contents of the threatening letter, and I won't guess under what laws or on what grounds the company believes its demand is enforceable. But in the meantime, the letter has had an effect: The blogger who originally posted the comment has removed it. It has reportedly disappeared, too, from the Peoria Journal-Star site.

Dennis's response was to re-publish the comment on his own blog, Peoria Pundit, while he considered whether to knuckle under to the company's threat. He has until tomorrow to decide, but he says he's already made up his mind: "F*** 'em." Maybe the Peoria Pundit Defense Fund is next.

Has the flashmob phenomenon hit Peoria?

Sitting at Granny's listening to her scanner, I often hear about large crowds gathering all of sudden and fights breaking out. I sometimes think that these large crowds may be flashmobs. What is a flashmob? From Wikipedia:

A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via social media or viral emails, rather than those organized by public relations firms or for a publicity stunt.

Organizing a "flash mob" basically involves e-mailing a bunch of people with instructions to show up at a certain place for a few moments, then disappear. Flashmobs are mainly used by guerrilla marketers.

If you think about it, the ability to organize flashmobs would also be effective for gang activity. Could this be what is happening in our fair City - flashmobs with "thug pants" instead of gold lame Hammer pants?

Thank you City of Peoria...

For months now (in some instances years), my neighbors and I have been crying out about blatant code violations over looked by Code Enforcement, while others are enforced with vigor.

Today if you drive East down McClure Street (towards the new Peoria Zoo) you will notice that the area is looking much nicer. The City has come in and cut grass and has started to give people notices for violations.

Thank you City of Peoria!

(By the way: Don't miss the Grand Opening for the new Zoo)

Queen of Blues, KoKo Taylor dies at 80

KoKo Taylor, the Queen of Blues died yesterday after complications from surgery she had on May 19, 2009, for gastrointestinal bleeding. Her final performance was at the Blues Music Awards, on May 7, 2009.

Taylor influenced musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Janis Joplin, Shannon Curfman, and Susan Tedeschi. In the years prior to her death, she performed over 70 concerts a year and resided just south of Chicago in Country Club Hills, Illinois.

Many may remember KoKo from Blues Brothers 2000 which was 1998 musical/comedy film and sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. The film featured Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by many musicians.

Residents of the East Bluff thank you

Thank you to the citizens who turned in the two people (Ali L. Evans and his accomplice Deangelo M. Lindsey) who are accused of murdering Anil Dhingra the owner of Gas USA. The East Bluff is a little safer tonight because you made the call - you did the right thing.

Peace be with you.

Who is better at popping out babies - Nadya or Kate?

For weeks now I have been saying that Kate is a frantic mess because Nadya is on the come up with her own show. Nadya thinks Kate is hating on her because she is threatened by the Nadya Show.

Learn to reduce confilict in your neighborhood

City of Peoria
News Release
June 2, 2009

The Community Development Division is sponsoring training for citizens who want to help reduce conflict in their neighborhoods. The training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., July 11, 2009, in Room 404, at Peoria City Hall. Participation is limited to members of registered neighborhood associations and neighborhood watch groups in Peoria. The training will be facilitated by Kenneth Mitchell, of Real Skill Builders, an organization which provides corporate training and professional speaking services nationwide.

During the training, participants will learn about types of conflict, causes of conflict, and the stages of conflict. The focus of the training, however, will be to learn conflict mediation skills. The goal of this training is to develop a team of trained citizens who will be available to mediate neighborhood disputes that arise from issues such as loud music, pet complaints, youth behavior, property concerns, and cross-cultural conflicts.

The deadline to apply is July 1, 2009. Applications are available on the City's Web site: www.ci.peoria.il.us/planningforms. Applications are also available at the Planning & Growth Management Department, Twin Towers Building, 456 Fulton Street, Suite 402. For information, call Steve Fairbanks at 494-8603, or at sfairbanks@ci.peoria.il.us.

Arrests made in East Bluff murder

PJStar reports:

PEORIA — Police have arrested two East Bluff residents for the murder of a Gas USA attendant in their neighborhood last week.

Ali L. Evans, 20, of 803 E. Arcadia Ave. was arrested at his home Friday and on a warrant for criminal sexual abuse with force in an unrelated case. On Sunday, the charges of murder and attempted armed robbery were added.

DeAngelo M. Lindsey, 17, of 812 E. McClure Ave. was arrested at home about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. He was booked at Peoria County Jail early Monday on charges of murder and attempted armed robbery.

The arrests came days after the Wednesday night killing of Anil Dhingra, 58, a Washington resident who was shot multiple times in the head and chest about the 8 p.m. closing time at the gas station, 2506 N. Prospect Road. Police are describing the incident as a botched robbery.

Chicago - seven shooting deaths in 24 hours

Okay, it is better here:

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago had seven shooting deaths in 24 hours this weekend, and police say they have no suspects in custody.

All seven victims were men in their 20s or 30s, and all were shot to death.

The shootings occurred between 6:15 a.m. Saturday and just before 6 a.m. Sunday.

One victim, 30-year-old Demond Stansbury, was shot along with two of his cousins, who survived and are in fair condition.

The shootings spanned the city, happening on the North, South and West sides.

Chicago Police spokesman Roderick Drew says investigations into the shootings are ongoing.

On Saturday, police Superintendent Jody Weis spoke at an anti-violence march and rally on the West side.