Was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. an Uncle Tom?

What do we call ourselves?

Was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr an Uncle Tom? This name calling is such a quagmire among African-Americans and a line in the sand for racialists. While attending college, some professors and even some students appeared to delight in challenging my self-identity by reminding me that other African-Americans called themselves the very same name that I found offensive when they the racialist uttered the N-word protected by the 1st amendment in the academic setting.

On another occasion, my self-identity on my patient’s chart brought on another uninvited, surprised but expected racialist’s explanation as to his choice of name calling of African-American. When visiting this doctor, he explained to me that he preferred the term Black and how much he hated the term African-American. The good doctor may have prefer the term Black that I believe erases the racial connotation to not only color but economical status. The naming of human beings whose ancestors experienced the inhumane bondage continues even to this day. By naming another human being other, whether it be slave, the N word , Mulatto, zambo, sambo, quadroon, octoroon,and even Uncle Tom. Naming of African-Americans was to deny them human qualities and human benefits. The labels erased who the individual really was and left the individual to take on the attributes of what it meant to be so named.

I am who I say I am, and my preference is the term African-American which elevate the conversation back to the historical robbing of Africans from Africa and the stripping of their African identity.

The United States’ history was America’s denial of human qualities among a group of human beings with the African bloodline. The name calling continues in order to erase who the individual really was, and the individual began to internalize the new name, to take on the attributes of the non-existence culture of identity determined only by those who created the new name.

If there is a negative quality to the name, all individuals so named will take on the stigma that comes with the name. We as African-Americans, have internalized the name-calling and uses the same devalued labeling as dehumanize others who we feel are less worthy among us.


Once labeled the internalizing of their station in life would began. If there was a negative quality to the name placed on African-Americans, all individuals so named would take on the stigma that came with the name. Even African-Americans,themselves, practice name-calling to devalue others considered not representative of African-Americans. This name labeling is one way African-Americans redefine the negative as a way of self-identity, but it blinds many to the historical meaning of the old labels.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suggested that we forget about the labels and define each person. This would be difficult because one would be limited to only information based on each individual..the character of the person.

to be continued..

Peyton Manning hail mary's another win

Indiana Colts Peyton Manning studying stills? Stills of what? Manning has two interceptions, two overthrown passes. But guess what, the Colts are up 9-0 in the half. Sad to say, Kansas, #10 Green, quarterback, must be in love with Manning, because he can't even throw a first down.

Love Dungy, but I am not a Manning fan, but this is not good football, and I am not a football fan!

I was hoping for a upset, and I am calling it quits for the second half, and unless Manning quits on the field..the Colts will win this one. Ty Law just made his second interception for Kansas against Manning, and you still want to say it's the defense. The End.

Going into the new millennium, do we want an ordinance that discriminates against a certain segment of our community (mostly single women and children) and condemning minor issues (porch couches or in need of repair bicycle parts) as public nuisance?

Do we want an ordinance with such obvious unequal distribution of power, that it punishes residential property owners with hefty fines, while exempting the apartment community from interior inspections. This ordinance will remove decent affordable housing from a community that is already lacking such housing for hard-working mothers (check the waiting list of Project Renew), which is both unfair to the neighborhoods and owners.

Is this the best that we can do as a community? I think not, especially not with the fine minds that we have sitting around the City Council table, representing all the city and not just a few policy-makers. Do the right thing, and recognize the ordinance's purpose for what it is, regulatory taking of property by the city and not an ordinance to remove blight. Just say no.

Indiana's David Letterman talks to Wesley Autrey, New York's hero

Wesley Autrey appeared on the David Letterman's late night talk show. TAutrey,also received the bronze medallion for civil achievement and Donald Trump awarded cash to Autrey for his heroic deed. Autrey joined other greats in receiving the medallion,"[p]ast recipients of the Bronze Medallion have included Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and Willie Mays. The last honoree was Housing Authority employee Felix Vasquez, who caught a baby thrown from a burning building in 2005", according to VERENA DOBNIK oAssociated Press Writer.

Law School in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Accredited Law School??? I keep hearing this stupid comment, somethings are best left unsaid." Does this apply here. ILB. has an article about another University which pondered the idea and so does FWOB.

But, I quess it would attract some more young folks to discover the dumbest city, that is according to the Men's Health Journal..my home sweet home. speaking of brain drain, here's a good idea from Indiana Senator Rogers in his introduced bill to the Senate, to help offset the price of attending law school. Hat tip to ILB

Repayment of student loans. Provides that an individual who: (1) obtained student loans to pay for postsecondary education from an institution located in Indiana; and (2) resides and works in Indiana after graduating from a postsecondary institution; may enter into an agreement with the state student
assistance commission to have the commission assume the repayment of 25% of the principal and interest due on the student loan each year the individual resides and works in Indiana. Limits the repayment program to those students who
graduate after June 30, 2007.

Hat tip to Masson.

Judge ban cellphones-can you hear me, now?

Stueben Circuit Court Judge Allen N. Wheat and Superior Judge William Fee will request a cellphone ban as reported by Kara Lopp of the Journal-Gazette.

"Circuit Court Judge Allen Wheat and Superior Judge William Fee will enact the policy and have asked county commissioners to pass an ordinance similar to the one that bans weapons, including pocket knives, from the Courthouse."


Those with cellphone entering the court may face charges of contempt may face jail time or fines. But more than likely the phones will be confiscated and returned to the voters. WoW, can you believe that, may be confiscate and return the cellphones back to the voters. Make sense to me.

Hat Tip to ILB

Sidenote: Judge Wheat is the special judge in the Shine divorce case. The divorce file has been sealed.

Bring our troops home

it a recent vigil, one of the leader uttered that it may take women to end the war. He may be right. On January 27-29 in Washington, D.C. there will be a rally in front of the White House. Codepink, Women for peace is calling for others to join them in their march on Washington.

"Join CODEPINK and many others in a national march on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, January 27, to call on Congress to take immediate action to bring the troops home."

Tentative Schedule (keep checking back to Codepink website for more details!):

Thurs, Jan
27: 6-9pm Local volunteer meeting. Live in the DC area? In town early? Come make props and learn how to be a team leader for the weekend.

Fri, Jan 26:
6-9 pm Gather our Energy. Join us for a CODEPINK meet and greet and workshops to prepare for tomorrow.

Sat, Jan 27: 10:30 am Women Say Pull Out! Converge
with other amazing women to march to the United for Peace and Justice rally together.

Sat, Jan 27: 9:30 pm Finish off the day with a festive
CODEPINK dance party in the evening.

Sun, Jan 28: 9:00 am Walk in Their
Shoes. Join us to create a massive and powerful Walk in Their Shoes installation.

Sun, Jan 28: In the afternoon there will be teach-ins,
networking and strategy sessions organized by a variety of organizations. Join us for a CODEPINK-led Forum on activism and organizing.

Sun, Jan 28:
CODEPINK Tea Party! After a long day of learning and scheming, relax and chat with the other amazing activists you've met.

Mon, Jan 29: Educate Congress Day. Lobby your Congressperson with United for Peace and Justice AND
join us for a CODEPINK action.

Tues, Jan 30: We Will Not Be Silent (nor will
we leave). Stay one more day for one last CODEPINK action in DC to demonstrate we won't stop til THE TROOPS COME HOME.


Fort Wayne Activists will be taking a bus to the rally.

Condi Rice

Well Ms. Rice,

Lately, it appears that you have been a little distracted. Of course, I don't know why, but I going to say this, it could be, you, having to finally accept that George Bush, Jr is the real deal. Junior does not care about African-Americans ! And that has not made you a happy camper. Listen, Dubya no longer needs you. Georgie Boy has find a new love, and its Nancy Pelosi. Look at her. Now ask yourself what does she have that you don't? Hello, she has an elected position. Pelosi, Speaker of the House is going to be Bush's new best friend. We all know Ms. Rice, you've had his back, but it's time to go. Leave the man and leave him now. Laura's husband is just not worth staying. Condi, you did your best. Now do like Colin (Powell) and get the h--- out. Go, write tell all books,run for president, get rich like his real friends, just don't stay.

It's Income Tax Time

I have worked on preparing tax returns since the age of 13. Once again, thanks to my grandfather and those entrepreneurial skills. Through the years I have learned that many folks are scared to death of the I.R.S. in not preparing their tax return. Or they fail to read the information provided by the I.R.S. that apply to their specific situation. Below I have posted from the I.R.S. some new updates that may have an impact on filing paper form or e-filing, such as how you can now deposit your money in three accounts, claim long distance telephone excise federal tax, and for those who are eligible to use a shorter form.

Tax Tips

For the first time, taxpayers can split their refunds among up to three accounts held by up to three different U.S.financial institutions, such as banks, mutual funds, brokerage firms or credit unions. To split their direct-deposit refundsamong two or three different accounts or financial institutions, taxpayers should complete the new Form 8888, Direct Deposit of Refund to More Than One Account. Taxpayers can also continue to use the direct deposit line on the Forms1040 to electronically send their refunds to one account.

For people who don’t need to file a regular tax return, the IRS has developed a special, shorter form to allow them to request the telephone refund. Copies of the Form 1040EZ-T will be available on IRS.gov, over the phone and at a variety of other locations. The IRS encourages people who qualify for the 1040EZ-T to file electronically through the Free File program, which will be available for free beginning later this month. More than 10 million taxpayers who aren’t normally required to file a tax return may be able to use this new form. Taxpayers can either request the standard amount on this form or attach a Form 8913 to request actual amounts.

Individual taxpayers will be able to request a refund if they paid the federal excise tax on long-distance or bundled service. The government stopped collecting the federal excise tax on long-distance service in August and announced plans to provide refunds of these taxes billed after Feb. 28, 2003, and before Aug. 1, 2006. More than 146 million individual taxpayers are expected to request the refund.

Check with a tax preparer if you need more information.

Wayne Township Trustee-Richard Stevenson

Rick Stevenson
Well it appears that the City of Fort Wayne can rally around helping some more families living in filth. That is if they are really concerned about such issues, after earlier learning about some children living in similiar conditions.

According to a report on Fort Wayne.Com, the newly elected Wayne township trustee was quite taken aback about the deplorable living condition for three families and staff. Richard Stevenson, found the families living in squalor-like conditions at an apartment complex in which the township was paying rent. In the words of a friend, "ain't that sad." But my response is, that's probable just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.

Bummer-Indiana Photo I.D. Law Stands

With a 2-1 opinion Indiana will require a photo I.D. to vote. It will take me a minute to read the 15 page opinion of Crawford, William v. Rokita, Todd.

The United State Court of Appeals of the Seventh Circuit found standing in the suit. Judge Richard Posner's ruling suggests that folks without a photo I.D.. would probably not vote anyways. Especially, since, having a photo I.D. is almost a mandate in order to move about the world.

Even though it is exceedingly difficult to maneuver in today’s America without a photo ID (try flying, or even entering a tall building such as the courthouse in which we sit, without one; see United States v. Smith, 426 F.3d 567 (2d Cir. 2005)), and as a consequence the vast majority of adults have such
identification, the Indiana law will deter some people from voting.

And more than likely those folks on the low end of the pole of survival, economically poor, would vote Democratic. That is if these same folks managed to or are motivated to even show up at the polls to vote.

No doubt most people who don’t have photo ID are low on the economic ladder and thus, if they do vote, are more likely to vote for Democratic than Republican candidates.

Exit polls in the recent midterm elections show a strong negative correlation between income and voting Democratic, with the percentage voting Democratic rising from 45 percent for voters with an income of at least $200,000 to 67 percent for voters having an income below $15,000. “Exit Polls", http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/US/H/00/epolls.0.html; see also Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Class and Party in American Politics 114 (2000) (tab. 5.7). Thus the new law injures the Democratic Party by compelling the party to devote resources to getting to the polls those of its supporters who would otherwise be discouraged by the new law from bothering to vote. See Havens Realty Corp v. Coleman, 455 U.S. 363, 378 (1982); Smith v. Boyle, 144 F.3d 1060, 1061- 63 (7th Cir. 1998).

Having say that the evidence was not enough to motivate the Judge to find a single plaintiff who would vote or not vote based on the new law among those who stood before the district court.

There is not a single plaintiff who intends not to vote because of
the new law—that is, who would vote were it not for the law. There are plaintiffs who have photo IDs and so are not affected by the law at all and plaintiffs who have no photo IDs but have not said they would vote if they did and so who also are, as far as we can tell, unaffected by the law. There thus are no plaintiffs whom the law will deter from voting.

Nor did the Judge believe the new I.D. photo law would reduce the voters roll any more than the National Voter Registration Act law that required the purging of the voters rolls.

The plaintiffs point out that the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg-6(a)(4), requires all states to purge their registration rolls of ineligible voters. See also the Help American Vote Act, 42 U.S.C. § 15301, particularly § 15483(a)(4)(B). The purge has not yet been completed in Indiana. One thing that is slowing it down is that removing a name from the voter registration roll requires notice to a registered voter whose address appears from postal records to have changed, and only if a voter fails to respond to the notice and fails to vote in two successive federal elections can the state remove him from the rolls. 42 U.S.C. §§ U.S.C. §1973gg-6(c), (d). And when the purge is completed, it is likely to eliminate many more eligible voters than the new Indiana law will do, cf. Jeffrey A. Blomberg, “Note: Protecting the Right Not to Vote From Voter Purge Statutes,” 64 Fordham L. Rev. 1015, 1016-17(1995), yet provide only a short-term solution, since as soon as the purge is complete the inflation of the registration rolls will recommence.

The fact that the law requiring the purging is not being followed in a timely fashion did not appear to have swayed the Judge in considering the State of Indiana's ability to follow the Election laws as negligible.

Judge Terrence Evan, expressed an understanding that more and more voters are optioning out of participating in the political process.

Let’s not beat around the bush:
The Indiana voter photo ID law is a not-too thinly-veiled attempt to discourage election-day turnout by certain folks believed to skew Democratic. We should subject this law to strict scrutiny—or at least, in the wake of Burdick v. Takushi, 504 U.S. 428 (1992), something akin to “strict scrutiny light”—and strike it down as an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote.

Judge Evan even suggested shopping malls as a creative way to get out the vote. And even suggested that the voter fraud is just a veiled attempt at keeping certain voters away from the poll.

The fig leaf of respectability providing the motive behind this law is that it is necessary to prevent voter fraud—a person showing up at the polls pretending to be someone else. But where is the evidence of that kind of voter fraud in this record? Voting fraud is a crime (punishable by up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 in Indiana) and, at oral argument, the defenders of this law candidly acknowledged that no one—in the history of Indiana—had ever been
charged with violating that law. Nationwide, a preliminary report to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission has found little evidence of the type of polling-place fraud that photo ID laws seek to stop. If that’s the case, where is the justification for this law? Is it wise to use a sledgehammer to hit
either a real or imaginary fly on a glass coffee table? I think not.

At the end of the day, reviewing the new law fail to rise to the level of strict scrutiny leaving it up to the reason provided by the State.

Hat tip to ILB

Dear Honorable Phil Giaquinta:

Dear Attorney General Steven Carter:

Can you tell me when the below signer of the letter will be resigning from his job as Manager of the City Utilities as he holds a position with your I mean our general assembly? Isn't this undue influence on the voters?

How can he manager my doggone utilities in this city while he is hanging out with MMM? Somewhere I'm a thinking there is a conflict of interest. Can you help me out on this one?




Hat Tip: FWOB

The Democrat who is Running for Mayor

I don't know. And even more surprising is to read on the Democratic Weblog about a hat tip to Rush. Rush Limbaugh ! And a debate on who will run against Nelson Peters and the viability of Matt Kelty for Mayor, both Republican candidates!!!

Somebody scream. Where do you go to read about the Democrats if the Dem is not writing about its own party??!! Just thinking out loud.


Gabcast! Fort Wayne African-American Independent Woman #16 - Interview with James Clingman

Taxes,Taxes, Income Taxes!!!!

Tax Tips

Those w-2 forms should be coming to your mailbox soon. For those who have not received their w-2's but are curious about their refund, be careful in using your last paycheck stub at certain tax preparers because you may get locked into their services only. This will prevent you from shopping around for a lower charging service. Remember it's your money.

If you are a noncustodial parent, you may be able to claim a child as your dependent, if that child does not live with you. You must attach to your return a written declaration your right to claim the dependent. For all you computer savvy e-filer you can attach form 8453 or 8332.




Need more information remember to check with a tax preparer.

A New York's Hero has a name-Wesley Autrey

The subway train is indifference as it races down it tracks. Folks hop on and off as they rush to their destination. No cries of "hold that door". If you should arrive a second late and the train is on time..the doors closes and the train speeds to its next destination.

No exchanges of "How you doing" or "Excuse me, is that seat taken?"

Yesterday, New Yorker saw a man rush to save a life beating the train indifference.


According to news report on the Early Show, Wesley Autrey saw a young man,Cameron Hollopeter, 19, go into a seizure. The Hollopeter falls down onto the track. Hollopeter bearings and awareness of their surrounding were probably alittle off kilter, especially after suffering a seizure. As was apparent when the young man ended up on the subway tracks, as explained by Autrey.

Autrey stated that earlier he tried to help the young man who went into a seizure while on the platform. The young man was still in a seizure disoriented state as he stumbled onto the track with arms and legs moving. Autrey laid on top of the man and locked his arms around the man to protect the man's arms and legs.


Autrey does not see himself as a hero, but his actions spoke louder than any words as he reassured his two daughter left standing on the platform, Daddy's alright. Yep, at that moment daddy was alright.

There's a Woman in the House

There is a woman in the house..Nancy Pelosi that is.

The measure of a real rich man

A Billionaire Divorce -- And Not a Lawyer in Sight
By ROBERT FRANK, The Wall Street Journal..fair is fair in a matter of hours when divorcing."We have always tried to live our lives with dignity and respect," Tim says. "We wanted to do the same in divorce."

Public Servant/ Or Welfare- you be the judge

COMMUNITY SERVICE
When you have free time-just give a little or you are just among the walking dead..talk is cheap R.I.P.

AARP VITA/TCE Program in Fort Wayne, Indiana
AARP VITA/TCE Program in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Mayor’s Initiative Tax Program
Maple Grove Community Center Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
Volunteer Income Tax Assistant for Low Income Clients in Virginia
Volunteer Income Tax Assistant for Low Income Clients in Indiana (2)
Volunteer for Indianapolis Law School fundraiser AIDSWalk/ 1st place winner
Community Cable Television Program Producer
Board Member of Indiana Purdue Communicator Newspaper
Volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocate,
Cooper Teen Center,
Pontiac Urban League,
AmeriCorp,
Wayne Township 21st Century Scholars
Served on Panel Discussion with Malveaux, Julianne
Served on Panel Discussion with Returning Adult Students
Participated in Women Studies Discussion on Race


Business Writing
Board Member of Indiana Purdue Communicator Newspapers
Business Law
Client Counseling Competition
Commercial Law
Mediation Course
Sales Law Course
Administrative Law
Nonprofit Law Course
Business Plan Course

Edited Indiana Public Defender Criminal Law Book
That's just a little somethin'..somethin'

New Year – New Strategy

Blackonomics
By: James Clingman

New Year – New Strategy

For those of us who were blessed to see it, another year has arrived and brings with it another opportunity to start afresh with new ways to move our people closer to economic empowerment. The New Year brings a clean slate, so to speak, since we like to make resolutions and promises regarding things we would like to change. So what will we write on our 2007 slate? What will be our agenda this year? What strategy will we employ to empower our people? Will we stay on the endless circular path that has led to where we are today? Will we follow a new path? Will we adopt a new strategy?

Whatever we decide to commit ourselves to will certainly not be new; everything we need to do in 2007 has already been done by our ancestors who lived and survived in this country for centuries, under the worst treatment human beings could suffer. But 2007 will be new, and it’s always good to look at our commitments in a new light, with a new resolve, and out of a renewed strength. Are you ready?

Here we go. Don’t fall for the same old tired rhetoric we hear everyday from self-appointed “leaders” who do what James Brown described as “talkin’ loud and sayin’ nothing.” Don’t continue following folks that are only sending you deeper into the woods of poverty, while they relax in the lush fields of prosperity.

Don’t get hood-winked by pandering politicians and pontificating preachers who are only interested in what they can get for themselves, and how they can use you to get another pair of “gators,” a Bentley, a mansion, or elected to public office. Don’t be lulled to sleep by intellectual banter that makes you feel good but never tells you how to do good, or do well, for that matter.

Don’t succumb to celebrity claptrap, which only excites the Paparazzi rather than enlightens our people. Don’t get down in the muck with entertainers who strut their stuff by denigrating themselves and their own people. And please don’t subscribe to the same old “okey-doke” that has literally and figuratively programmed our people to such a degree that some of us are still waiting to be rescued by people who really care very little about us. Please stop the nonsensical behavior in 2007, and let’s get down to the business of taking better care of ourselves.

What must we do? First, raise the level of your Black consciousness by reading, by studying, by listening, and by associating with brothers and sisters who are serious about doing the work of liberation and unashamed to proclaim their Blackness. Connect with other individuals and collectively establish economic initiatives that benefit Black people; trust me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that; other groups do it all the time.

Be prepared to make the small individual sacrifices required to move the masses of Black people forward, both locally and nationally – and then let’s move on to internationally. Always define yourself, and do not accept definitions like “minority” and “person of color.” Terms like those really lose something in translation, namely, us.

Stand up against injustice and wrongdoing, no matter who the perpetrator is, white, Black, or any other color. Follow through on your commitments to one another and the commitments to yourself. Get fired up, but stay fired up long enough to get the work done. Teach your children how to navigate through this world; that’s right, you teach them. If you don’t know what to teach them, get some help for yourself, and then teach them.

Take better care of yourself. Find something physical that you can do and keep doing it for the rest of your life. Yes, it will hurt sometimes, but it’s worth it. I ride a bicycle, and I plan to ride as long as I am physically able to pedal and hold the handlebars. Besides that, I love it. Anyone out there want to race? Try not to eat so much of whatever you are eating. Just eat less of everything and get up and do something to burn some calories.

Do kind things for those less fortunate than you. It doesn’t always have to be money. It could be an encouraging word, a hug without words, some baked cookies, a small gift just because, or a few hours spent with a child who may not have a father or a mother. You don’t need a program to do this; you just need yourself.

Seek out new Black leadership, authentic leadership, or be a leader yourself. There are young folks all across this country waiting to step up to the task of leadership, many of who are leading right now. Find them, especially you old soldiers out there; you can’t hang on forever, you know. Teach the young and pass the baton to them, not to someone on the other team.

Start viable businesses, grow those businesses, and create jobs for our people. Build economic enclaves throughout this country, like our relatives did two hundred years ago. Identify industries where we have the competitive advantage because of our consumerism, and build vertically integrated businesses within those industries. James Brown also said, “Let’s get together and get some land; raise our food like the man. Save our money like the mob; put up a factory and own the jobs.”

Boycott prisons! Stay out of the cells and get into sales, the legal kind. And finally, do all of these things under the Bring Back Black mantra, because the time is long overdue for us to take our rightful place in this country, politically, socially, educationally, and most of all economically. Have a wonderfully blessed year in 2007.

12/30/06 www.blackonomics.com

The Veil of Secrecy-The Steve Shine Divorce

The public right to know and Steve Shine's need to be protected from embarrassment has swung in favor of the Teflon attorney. According to Fort Wayne.Com, "a special judge has sealed the divorce filings of Allen County Republican Party Chairman Steve Shine."

But what I found to be more interesting read was what I found on Indiana Law Blog. On ILB there is an article about a judge deciding the public right to know weighted more in favor of the public than hiding salacious information contained in the documents. The reason cited by the judge, "the openness of court files must be maintained, so that the public ... can be assured that there is no favoritism shown to the rich and the powerful." There is an article also about the docket sheets.

However, a judge decided to keep sealed a divorce record because of the financial records of other folks. In other words the disclosure of the financial information of others was the controlling reason, the divorce record "contained trade secrets and confidential financial information, which are specifically excepted from the public access provisions of the Public Records Act." Under section 4(a), trade secrets See footnote and confidential financial information are mandatory exceptions. Public records containing mandatory exceptions, such as trade secrets and confidential financial information, “may not be disclosed by a public agency, unless access to the records is specifically required by a state or federal statute or is ordered by a Court under the rules of discovery.” I.C. § 5-14-3-4(a)(4), (5).

A decision to seal all or part of a public record must be based on findings of fact and conclusions of law, showing that the remedial benefits to be gained by effectuating the public policy of the state declared in section 1 of this chapter are outweighed by proof by a preponderance of the evidence by the person seeking the sealing of the record that:

(1) a public interest will be secured by sealing the record;
(2) dissemination of the information contained in the record will create a serious and imminent danger to that public interest;
(3) any prejudicial effect created by dissemination of the information cannot be avoided by any reasonable method other than sealing the record;
(4) there is a substantial probability that sealing the record will be effective in protecting the public interest against the perceived danger; and
(5) it is reasonably necessary for the record to remain sealed for a period of time.

Hmmm, check, check, oh it must be for the 3rd reason that the judge decided to seal the record, prejudicial effect. But how did the file fall under any of the
5-14-3-4(a) exceptions and there is a whole laundry list.

But, what about my first amendment rights to know something, or just to read the docket sheets?

I'm still reading.

Safety-Cellphones-Snitches-Safety?

Give me a break. I used to work for the Allen County Public Defender's Office and had access to a list of the confidential informers. Can we say "big joke". People it is the undercover police officers who have the real power, not confidential informers. When was the last time you were arrested by a confidential informer?

Confidential informers are not worried about being caught, but more about keeping their own behinds from doing time in prison. So they will lie and set up innocence folks to remain in the community to cause more harm to its community. It's a lifestyle..no different from pimps looking for innocence girls. Come on folks, tell me again, what is it you working with? The blurb coming from the television called news!!! A confidential informer is a snitch only when he or she turns in their partner in crime rather than an innocence bystander. Are you having a light bulb moment, yet?

Second, scheduling for the courtroom are between 9-3:30 generally. You will find the processing of criminals quick. These judges don't have time for them, the judges have to know the law, and where do you find the law in books, in cases, and from some brainy attorney who appears in their court with some new law the judge was caught sleeping on.. come on people stay with me. Furthermore, few cases go to trial because it would cost the attorneys too much of their time overlapping and eating away at their private practice income.

Third, part of the funnel of the criminal justice system, to reduce the court load burden and makes the judges time on a the bench a piece of cake, is the mechanism of plea bargain. Let me repeat, the judges do not want to see these folks in their courts, it takes up too much of the judges time. Many defendants without or with little money are appointed a lawyer. Many of these appointed attorneys have way too many clients including their private clients to adequately represent these defendants. Often times, not all the times, these defendants will not see their attorney until they appear in court. The next piece of correspondence they will receive from their attorney will be an opportunity to "cop a plea".

Fourth, the jury must exit and enter the same doors as witnesses and spectators. Did you notice how I lumped them all together in one sentence. Surely, you did not think the jury was on the same level as the judges. You need to get out more. Many folks do not want to be even a part of the jury pool because they know they are not taken seriously. But here's a big one, it is a crime to threaten or intimidate a witness or juror. The last thing you want to do is have a juror report acts of intimidation. Give me a break. Juveniles are protected by private hearings. So what is all the noise? It's just some folks who have a lot of time on their hands. Just visit the courthouse anytime, roll the dice and see how many time you will find all the courtrooms with a judge sitting on the bench. It is not going to happen. Safety, sounds more like a George Bush mentality, tell them any lie to keep them in fear so that we can continue to do what we do.

Fifth, attorneys get business by folks knowing who they are, so when did they begin requesting privacy unless they are doing drugs with their clients,beating their wives, or stealing money from their client's trust funds. Oh yeah it happens. Usual, it is the clients who are giving the attorneys grief, telling the attorneys how they want to be represented in court with a dream team and the client does not have a pot to pee in.

Sometimes the client need to be proactive, because the attorney does not have a clue.

For a person who has studied the criminal justice system and criminal law, can you tell me again why cellphones without cameras are being banned from the courtroom?

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations around Town

MLK Club, Inc.--January 15, 2007--11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Commemorate the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Day Celebration
Grand Wayne Convention Center Downtown

IPFW Hosts Community Martin Luther King Celebration

(Fort Wayne, Dec. 28, 2006) -- Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) will host a community-wide 2007 Martin Luther King celebration Jan. 13 titled “Keeping the Dream Alive: Black, White, and Beyond.” The free celebration is from 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the Walb Student Union.

University of Saint Francis--January 15-19, 2007

Acting on the Dream with the University of Saint Francis
The University of Saint Francis community will unite both on and off campus through a variety of efforts. Won’t you join to make this holiday “a day ON,” and not “a day OFF”?

Fort Wayne, Indiana-Lincoln MuseumJanuary 15, 2007 1:00 p.m.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 15 • 1 p.m.
Author Rodney David Deal presents, Courage Creates Change: In honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Remembering the Year 1865. Museum open free of charge, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in remembrance of Dr. King. In honor of the this special day, The Lincoln Museum will display the two most memorable documents from the Lincoln era: a copy of he resolution for the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, signed by Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves and a Lincoln-signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. Both documents are a part of The Lincoln Museum’s collection.

Mr. Deal has a B.A. and M.A. education in sociology from Wayne State University. He taught Introduction to Sociology at Wayne County Community College District Mr. Deal is the founder of F.O.R. 1865™, the creator of Flag of Remembrance 1865™, and the author of The Flag of Remembrance 1865™: In Commemoration of the Thirteenth Amendment. Mr. Deal is an author, educator, historian, artist, and sociologist.


Thursday, January 11, 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Ivy Tech Community College
MLK Celebration – Keynote Speaker, Hana Stith, Curator, African/African American Historical Museum.

Sunday, January 14, 4:00 p.m. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1331 Gay Street
We Are the Dream: A Martin Luther King Commemoration. The Heartland Chamber Chorale will be joined by hundreds of community singers to show that Martin Luther King's dream is possible when we form one voice - in song - for change. There is no charge to attend.

Sunday, January 14, 7:00 p.m. Plymouth Congregational Church. 501 W Berry Street.
22nd Annual MLK Service of Repentence and Reconciliation, sermon by Rev. Dr. Michael Murphy, Pastor and Founder of St. Stephen’s Community Church of Lansing, MI and served as Michigan State House of Representatives. This program is sponsored by Associated Churches & Inter-Denominational Ministerial Alliance
Call 423-9424 or 422-3528 for more info

Book
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
by Helen Frost

Questions answered for the new year

This blog is always seeking writers.

Want to see your event on this blog?

Great pictures.

Want copies of photos or permission to copy or the name of the photographers: email dowdells@comcast.net

Another lost life of a young man

$10.88, I would be told after calling in my order. There are few places that still deliver on the southside. Tasty Pizza is one of those places. I would call in my order. One of the young guy, who made deliveries, I debated constitutional law. (I always tip !!!) After one delivery I gave him my favorite constitutional law book. In your heart of heart you indistinctly know these young folks, working in these types of businesses, are risking their lives. Generally working alone, and not knowing your customer..not because it's on the southside. Just simply the nature of the business makes it risky.

How sad that some one would take this young man life. How sad that he joins the rank of Damian Wheeler, Curtis White, Jr. where the killer is still on the street. How sad that a quiet demand for quick apprehension for those who would point a gun at the head of a young person, pull the trigger and end these young folks' lives. And all we can say is, let's hope for swift justice. Oh no, required quick justice to restore order on our streets is the right demand.

Cellphone ban in the court buildings

Today, would give new meaning to the saying, "quiet in the courtroom". Individuals entering the courthouse would have to do so absence their electronic recording devices. A new electronic device ban has been enacted and that include the always handy cellphone.

Some heard about the cellphone ban on the 5:00 a.m. news. Some received telephone calls from a member family or friend. But others did not know or did not care, showed up with their cellphones. Read the posted signs and entered the building with their cellphones anyways. Hoping they could at least park their cellphones in the security area.

They were told they would have to take their cellphones out of the building. Some took their cellphones to their car. Some reluctantly passed it to a friend not having to go to court. One stated he was going to take his to his probation officer down the street. Others called someone to come pick up their cellphone.

After overcoming the cellphone ban they joined others who stood inside or went outside to smoke cigarettes, they had one more surprise. The court business had been delayed under 9:30 a.m. instead of the normal 8:30 a.m. This would give the guy hooked up to his Ipod just enough time to take his favorite tunes back to his car.

The 38th President that pardon Nixon

The 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford, funeral service will be held today at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Ford took office in August, 1974.

Funeral services were held in the cathedral for former presidents Eisenhower in 1969 and Reagan in 2004, and ex-President Wilson is buried there.

Ford will be laid to rest in Grand Rapid, Michigan.

A Republican President who understood the country was being torn apart by the Vietnam war...unlike today unyielding republican President George Bush, Jr. with our troops in Iraq.

Former Secretary of the State, Henry Kissinger called Ford an humanitarian. in restoring dignity to the office of the United State presidency. "In his understated way he did his duty as a leader, not as a performer playing to the gallery," Kissinger said. "Gerald Ford had the virtues of small town America."

In 1976 Jimmy Carter defeated the accidental president with nearly 90% of the African-Americans votes.

3000th U.S. Troops Casualty Candlelight Vigil

Herb Summers, Dave Lambert(Fort Wayne Peace Action)



Terry Anderson(Peace and Justice Commission of Associated Churches of Allen County)

Darlene and Paul Smith
A commemoration and candlelight ceremony was held in memory of the troops who have died in the Iraq War on New Year's Day. Fort Wayne, Indiana and other cities all across the country marked this sad day at approximately the same time.

The vigil was held at the Pavilion at the north end of Calhoun St. in downtown Fort Wayne (Headwaters Park West)from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Go to www.fwagitator.org for more complete information.

Remember also Iraqi casualty count as well (near 60,000 civilians).

Endorsers:
American Friends Service Committee; Iraq Veterans Against the War; Theater for Ideas; Fort Wayne Peace Action;Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren; Friends of the Third World; Plymouth Congregational Church; Veterans for Peace; Military Families Speak Out; Peace & Justice Commission of Associated Churches of Allen County; Gold Star Families for Peace; United for Peace & Justice.

2007 Polar Bear Plunge

can you see them?

we are ready for anything

aye !



Charge!

Fort Wayne Indiana New Year's Celebration

New Year-New Strategy-Blackonomics

Blackonomics
By: James Clingman

New Year – New Strategy

For those of us who were blessed to see it, another year has arrived and brings with it another opportunity to start afresh with new ways to move our people closer to economic empowerment. The New Year brings a clean slate, so to speak, since we like to make resolutions and promises regarding things we would like to change. So what will we write on our 2007 slate? What will be our agenda this year? What strategy will we employ to empower our people? Will we stay on the endless circular path that has led to where we are today? Will we follow a new path? Will we adopt a new strategy?

Whatever we decide to commit ourselves to will certainly not be new; everything we need to do in 2007 has already been done by our ancestors who lived and survived in this country for centuries, under the worst treatment human beings could suffer. But 2007 will be new, and it’s always good to look at our commitments in a new light, with a new resolve, and out of a renewed strength. Are you ready?

Here we go. Don’t fall for the same old tired rhetoric we hear everyday from self-appointed “leaders” who do what James Brown described as “talkin’ loud and sayin’ nothing.” Don’t continue following folks that are only sending you deeper into the woods of poverty, while they relax in the lush fields of prosperity.

Don’t get hood-winked by pandering politicians and pontificating preachers who are only interested in what they can get for themselves, and how they can use you to get another pair of “gators,” a Bentley, a mansion, or elected to public office. Don’t be lulled to sleep by intellectual banter that makes you feel good but never tells you how to do good, or do well, for that matter.

Don’t succumb to celebrity claptrap, which only excites the Paparazzi rather than enlightens our people. Don’t get down in the muck with entertainers who strut their stuff by denigrating themselves and their own people. And please don’t subscribe to the same old “okey-doke” that has literally and figuratively programmed our people to such a degree that some of us are still waiting to be rescued by people who really care very little about us. Please stop the nonsensical behavior in 2007, and let’s get down to the business of taking better care of ourselves.

What must we do? First, raise the level of your Black consciousness by reading, by studying, by listening, and by associating with brothers and sisters who are serious about doing the work of liberation and unashamed to proclaim their Blackness. Connect with other individuals and collectively establish economic initiatives that benefit Black people; trust me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that; other groups do it all the time.

Be prepared to make the small individual sacrifices required to move the masses of Black people forward, both locally and nationally – and then let’s move on to internationally. Always define yourself, and do not accept definitions like “minority” and “person of color.” Terms like those really lose something in translation, namely, us.

Stand up against injustice and wrongdoing, no matter who the perpetrator is, white, Black, or any other color. Follow through on your commitments to one another and the commitments to yourself. Get fired up, but stay fired up long enough to get the work done. Teach your children how to navigate through this world; that’s right, you teach them. If you don’t know what to teach them, get some help for yourself, and then teach them.

Take better care of yourself. Find something physical that you can do and keep doing it for the rest of your life. Yes, it will hurt sometimes, but it’s worth it. I ride a bicycle, and I plan to ride as long as I am physically able to pedal and hold the handlebars. Besides that, I love it. Anyone out there want to race? Try not to eat so much of whatever you are eating. Just eat less of everything and get up and do something to burn some calories.

Do kind things for those less fortunate than you. It doesn’t always have to be money. It could be an encouraging word, a hug without words, some baked cookies, a small gift just because, or a few hours spent with a child who may not have a father or a mother. You don’t need a program to do this; you just need yourself.

Seek out new Black leadership, authentic leadership, or be a leader yourself. There are young folks all across this country waiting to step up to the task of leadership, many of who are leading right now. Find them, especially you old soldiers out there; you can’t hang on forever, you know. Teach the young and pass the baton to them, not to someone on the other team.

Start viable businesses, grow those businesses, and create jobs for our people. Build economic enclaves throughout this country, like our relatives did two hundred years ago. Identify industries where we have the competitive advantage because of our consumerism, and build vertically integrated businesses within those industries. James Brown also said, “Let’s get together and get some land; raise our food like the man. Save our money like the mob; put up a factory and own the jobs.”

Boycott prisons! Stay out of the cells and get into sales, the legal kind. And finally, do all of these things under the Bring Back Black mantra, because the time is long overdue for us to take our rightful place in this country, politically, socially, educationally, and most of all economically. Have a wonderfully blessed year in 2007.

12/30/06 www.blackonomics.com

Happy New Year from Time SQ

Survival Instinct

The City of Fort Wayne is going into business with Hardball Capital, a group based in Atlanta, to build condominiums in downtown Fort Wayne. The owners of the Fort Wayne Wizards, a minor league baseball team, will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the city as developers. The Fort Wayne Wizards was sold to a group headed by Chris Schoen, a real estate developer, attorney Jason Freier and 10 other investors in February, 2006, according to Atlanta Business Chronicle. According to Atlanta Business Chronicle, Barry Real Estate Companies, Inc. was founded in 1996 and Barry Real Estate Companies, "[a]ll told, the company has about 18 projects in various stages of development -- the most in the history of the firm.

Other notable projects by Barry Real Estate include:

The Crown at Symphony Place in Nashville, Tenn. The 34-story, 600,000-square-foot office tower designed by Jon Pickard will be next to the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Delivery date is the first quarter of 2009.
Prospect Park in Alpharetta. Barry Real Estate will develop about 1 million square feet of office space on 22.5 acres of the 100-acre mixed-use Prospect Park. Delivery date is 2008.
Alpharetta Town Center in Alpharetta. The company will build a new City Hall on 9 acres as part of a mixed-use redevelopment of downtown that will include 81,000 square feet of retail, 157 condos and 48,000 square feet of office space. Delivery date is December 2008.
Overton Park in Atlanta's Cobb/Galleria submarket, which will include a 160-room hotel and 60 condominium units at the second phase of Overton Park, a 34-acre, mixed-use community at Cumberland Boulevard and Interstate 75. Madison Retail LLC will develop 55,000 square feet of retail at the site. Delivery date is December 2008."

Next year, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, "On the residential side, Barry Real Estate and Post Properties Inc. (NYSE: PPS) are teaming up to build Post at Allen Plaza, which will include 330 apartments, 150 condos and a 200-room suite hotel across from the new World of Coke. Construction will begin in the first half of next year. That project, along with condominium developer Novare Group Inc.'s TWELVE Centennial Park hotel and condo project, and the residences in the W, will bring the district to as many as 3,000 homes."

This was after years of quietly assembling the requisite land, according to the article.

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, there is a vast amount of land bordering Jefferson Boulevard, Harrison, Brackenridge and Ewing streets that the city will provide in the deal. According to the News-Sentinel, "Phase 1, which will include a hotel, 8,000-seat minor-league stadium, 1,000-space parking garage, park, 30,000 square feet of street-level shops and 60 condos, will be located on about 30 acres bounded by Jefferson Boulevard to the north, Ewing Street to the west, Harrison Street to the east and Brackenridge Street to the south. Agreements are already in place to acquire the necessary property, Becker said, although Bill’s Palace restaurant at 1202 S. Harrison St. has not agreed to sell and will remain."

The public will contribute about 50% of the dollars, according to the city's website. "Project costs for the initial phase, including land and infrastructure, would be around $125 million. Approximately 50% of the total project cost would come from public sources. The remaining 50% would be privately financed. When all phases of the project are completed, it’s expected that the overall costs would be 60% private and 40% public."

The website states these public funds won't come from property taxes. So my questions is if not from property taxes than wherefore from thine willet spring forth thee public funds come from? From the sky?

At the same time a local developer decides to forgo turning the downtown holiday inn into condominiums. Bill Bean cites the cost of buying and overhauling the building would be just too much for a leasing project. I suspect the three millions in tax credits to renovate the holiday will shift to the new project under the memorandum of understanding. And the brownfield development program funds that was to clean up and build housing in the Creighton-Hanna will more than likely shift toward the downtown area.

We did hear that somehow over 800 gallons of oils recently went undetected under the brand new spanking Allen County Library. The Library, just so happen to have sold some land to the city. 'head shaking' I enclose this here because I thought brownfield funds were for environment cleaning area.so what's up?

Oh and the city will borrow $45 million with a bond to contribute to the revitalization of downtown. What about all that TIF money for the area where is it going? I still trying to figure out the name of the new stadium..Richard Stadium?!



Click here to see an artist rendition of the Harrison SQ.

Habari gani-Imani/Kwanzaa/reflection

Faith-To believe with our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

The #1 story of 2006-- the faith of the world in our leaders and the righteousness and victory in each and every one of our struggles.

I did say this about the colts at the beginning of the season,"My feeling is that Indianapolis is nursing Manning individual passing record instead of a team that will win the Superbowl."



Personal reflections:

my youngest granddaughter singing karaoke with granny

I was able to drive down the highway without road rage and cussing out drivers.

I enjoy eating yogurt..of course it's the kind with added flavor (sweetness added).

I better understand Ben Franklin saying about doing the same thing over and over again.

Prediction as I hear sounds of early new year's eve gun shots


I will be more organized.

I will walk twice a day.

I will write more.

I will have more patient with people.

I will simply do better.

The Fort Wayne Sheriff Department will implement drug testing

The downtown stadium will be a bust

The Fort Wayne-Allen County consolidation will fail

The renaissance pointe housing program will not materialize

Mitch Harper will take over the Allen County Republican headquarters

My steps are not ordered by man

But my steps will be more ordered

Hillary Clinton will not run for president

2007 will be better for AWB-R.I.P...because you know you're among the living dead