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Crime, a Curfew and the City Council
NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — “The things we have seen among our juveniles has just really alarmed all Memphians. The thing that we do know, if they’re (youths) in the house a lot of this wouldn’t be happening,” said committee chair Rhonda Logan, who sponsored the resolution. “If they were home under parental supervision, some of these things wouldn’t be happening – these violent crimes we are talking about today.”
The post Crime, a Curfew and the City Council first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

By James Coleman | New Tri-State Defender
After a year of exponential growth in youth curfew violations and after-hours crime incidents committed by youthful offenders, the Memphis City Council’s Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee adopted a resolution Tuesday (Sept. 27), asking the Memphis Police Department to curb city teens’ nocturnal outings.
The council is scheduled to vote on the resolution at its next meeting on Oct. 11.
Tuesday’s committee approval did not come without some reservations from council members, who voted for approval, even though police brass told committee members the department did not to have the manpower to strictly enforce a curfew.
Other members raised concerns about what would happen to youths caught out after curfew and concerns about selective enforcement.
“The things we have seen among our juveniles has just really alarmed all Memphians. The thing that we do know, if they’re (youths) in the house a lot of this wouldn’t be happening,” said committee chair Rhonda Logan, who sponsored the resolution.
“If they were home under parental supervision, some of these things wouldn’t be happening – these violent crimes we are talking about today.”
In addition to enforcing the Child Curfew Act of 1995, which the council approved in 1996, the resolution asks the MPD and Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration to study other cities’ formulas for addressing similar issues.
It also calls for the creation of a dedicated curfew center. Currently, youths who are picked up by police beyond curfew typically are taken home.
A plan is expected to be presented for a full council vote on Oct. 11.
“One of the big things is, when we pick up the child where do we take them if the parent is not home. Also, we do tie up quite a bit of manpower when we are transporting them back home, but that is a need to get them off the street,” said officer Alexander McGowan.
But, if a parent can’t be contacted, the curfew violators generally are held in place until they can be released from custody, further tying up resources.
Many crimes, from property crimes such as auto theft to violent crimes, also occur during the late night and morning hours. At the council’s previous meeting, police commanders told committee members that many of the vehicle-related crimes were committed by offenders 15-19 years old.
While 911 calls and reports to police dip in those hours, they steadily increase as people wake up.
To address staffing shortages, the council recently asked the state and county to buffer their force with additional officers. The MPD has about 1,900 officers, with a goal of expanding to 2,500 by the end of the year.
“You also have at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning, where they are not only violating the curfew, but there are other criminal charges. That moves it to a whole another level,” said McGowan.
The other late-night option is Shelby County Juvenile Court. This, however, is usually frowned upon unless it is accompanied by a more serious criminal violation.
“Curfew centers are in other cities, successfully, and this is something we can look at. We already have on the books that they will be taken to Juvenile Court. This (curfew center) is an option for those that may not need to go to juvenile court…,” said Logan.
A centralized resource center would likely be modeled after the Youth and Family Resource Center, which currently oversees referrals for Shelby County.
In addition to curfew violations, there is a list of 12 violations that can result in a child’s referral. The center is limited by operating hours, so if a violation occurs past a certain time of night, which they typically do, the offender remains with the police or courts.
“Having that centralized location for dropping the kids off is really important,” said McGowan. “I don’t think Juvenile Court will be able to take on 20-25 kids. On any given Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night around Beale St. venues, you could easily find 20-25 juveniles who are in violation of curfew.”
Like the rest of the nation, Memphis has seen a rise in youth crime as the pandemic wanes. After lows in 2020-21, the city has experienced a 92 percent surge in juveniles taken into custody for curfew violations.
The rush to address youth curfew violations, although nothing new, has been spurred by a wave of property crimes, carjackings and violence in Memphis. It included the recent shooting spree by Ezekiel Kelly, 19, on Sept. 7 that left three people dead and three seriously injured.
The curfew vote was prefaced by an update by Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, who delivered an assessment of the department after a year on the job.
It included discussion about creating a crime lab for MPD. Currently, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation handles rape kits. The chief also assured council members the department was caught up on outstanding kits.
Other topics covered were drag racing and the recent influx of officers on loan from the state.
“We’ve increased to about 12 (state troopers) in this area and we’ve have seen a very noticeable consistent presence. I’ve been communicating with the Tennessee Highway Patrol our appreciation…,” said Davis.
Tuesday’s committee approval did not come without some reservations from council members, who voted for approval, even though police brass told committee members the department did not to have the manpower to strictly enforce a curfew.
Other members raised concerns about what would happen to youths caught out after curfew and concerns about selective enforcement.
“The things we have seen among our juveniles has just really alarmed all Memphians. The thing that we do know, if they’re (youths) in the house a lot of this wouldn’t be happening,” said committee chair Rhonda Logan, who sponsored the resolution.
“If they were home under parental supervision, some of these things wouldn’t be happening – these violent crimes we are talking about today.”
In addition to enforcing the Child Curfew Act of 1995, which the council approved in 1996, the resolution asks the MPD and Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration to study other cities’ formulas for addressing similar issues.
It also calls for the creation of a dedicated curfew center. Currently, youths who are picked up by police beyond curfew typically are taken home.
A plan is expected to be presented for a full council vote on Oct. 11.
“One of the big things is, when we pick up the child where do we take them if the parent is not home. Also, we do tie up quite a bit of manpower when we are transporting them back home, but that is a need to get them off the street,” said officer Alexander McGowan.
But, if a parent can’t be contacted, the curfew violators generally are held in place until they can be released from custody, further tying up resources.
Many crimes, from property crimes such as auto theft to violent crimes, also occur during the late night and morning hours. At the council’s previous meeting, police commanders told committee members that many of the vehicle-related crimes were committed by offenders 15-19 years old.
While 911 calls and reports to police dip in those hours, they steadily increase as people wake up.
To address staffing shortages, the council recently asked the state and county to buffer their force with additional officers. The MPD has about 1,900 officers, with a goal of expanding to 2,500 by the end of the year.
“You also have at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning, where they are not only violating the curfew, but there are other criminal charges. That moves it to a whole another level,” said McGowan.
The other late-night option is Shelby County Juvenile Court. This, however, is usually frowned upon unless it is accompanied by a more serious criminal violation.
“Curfew centers are in other cities, successfully, and this is something we can look at. We already have on the books that they will be taken to Juvenile Court. This (curfew center) is an option for those that may not need to go to juvenile court…,” said Logan.
A centralized resource center would likely be modeled after the Youth and Family Resource Center, which currently oversees referrals for Shelby County.
In addition to curfew violations, there is a list of 12 violations that can result in a child’s referral. The center is limited by operating hours, so if a violation occurs past a certain time of night, which they typically do, the offender remains with the police or courts.
“Having that centralized location for dropping the kids off is really important,” said McGowan. “I don’t think Juvenile Court will be able to take on 20-25 kids. On any given Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night around Beale St. venues, you could easily find 20-25 juveniles who are in violation of curfew.”
Like the rest of the nation, Memphis has seen a rise in youth crime as the pandemic wanes. After lows in 2020-21, the city has experienced a 92 percent surge in juveniles taken into custody for curfew violations.
The rush to address youth curfew violations, although nothing new, has been spurred by a wave of property crimes, carjackings and violence in Memphis. It included the recent shooting spree by Ezekiel Kelly, 19, on Sept. 7 that left three people dead and three seriously injured.
The curfew vote was prefaced by an update by Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, who delivered an assessment of the department after a year on the job.
It included discussion about creating a crime lab for MPD. Currently, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation handles rape kits. The chief also assured council members the department was caught up on outstanding kits.
Other topics covered were drag racing and the recent influx of officers on loan from the state.
“We’ve increased to about 12 (state troopers) in this area and we’ve have seen a very noticeable consistent presence. I’ve been communicating with the Tennessee Highway Patrol our appreciation…,” said Davis.
This article originally appeared in the New Tri-State Defender
The post Crime, a Curfew and the City Council first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Welcome to the NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception
The post WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

The post WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Just last month, FEMA announced nearly $3 billion in climate mitigation project selections nationwide to help communities build resilience through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In total, more than 50% of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities, and in particular, 70% of BRIC projects will do the same.
The post OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

By Erik A. Hooks, FEMA Deputy Administrator
We know that disasters do not discriminate. Yet, recovery from the same event can be uneven from community to community, perpetuating pre-existing inequalities. Recognizing these disparities, FEMA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have prioritized equity when it comes to accessing federal programs and resources.
The numbers tell the story.
Just last month, FEMA announced nearly $3 billion in climate mitigation project selections nationwide to help communities build resilience through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In total, more than 50% of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities, and in particular, 70% of BRIC projects will do the same.
These selections further underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equity and reaffirm FEMA’s mission of helping people before, during and after disasters, delivering funding to the communities that need it most.
Building on this momentum and our people-first approach, FEMA recently announced the initial designation of nearly 500 census tracts, which will be eligible for increased federal support to become more resilient to natural hazards and extreme weather worsened by the climate crisis. FEMA will use “Community Disaster Resilience Zone” designations to direct and manage financial and technical assistance for resilience projects nationwide, targeting communities most at risk due to climate change. More Community Disaster Resilience Zone designations, including tribal lands and territories, are expected to be announced in the fall of 2023.
These types of investments have, and will yield a significant return on investment for communities nationwide.
For example, in my home state of North Carolina, the historic community of Princeville, founded by freed African American slaves, uses BRIC funding to move vulnerable homes and critical utilities out of flood-prone areas.
In East Harlem, BRIC dollars will provide nature-based flood control solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme rainfall events in the Clinton low-income housing community.
While we are encouraged by these investments, we know more must be done.
Not every community has the personnel, the time or the resources to apply for these federal dollars. Fortunately, FEMA offers free, Direct Technical Assistance to help under-resourced communities navigate the grant application process and get connected with critical resources. Under the leadership of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, this assistance has been a game-changer, reducing barriers and providing even more flexible, customer-focused, tailored support to communities interested in building and sustaining successful resilience programs.
In Eastwick, Philadelphia, FEMA’s dedicated support helped the city with outreach to multiple federal agencies. Together, we built a comprehensive community-led flood mitigation strategy. When applied and implemented, this will make this community more resilient to hazards like flooding, which was negatively affecting many neighborhood blocks.
In DePue, Illinois, we worked hand-in-hand with communities to improve their ability to submit high-quality funding applications for hazard mitigation projects. We are happy to share that DePue is the first Direct Technical Assistance community to be selected in the BRIC national competition. And, we know they will not be the last. Thanks to this assistance and their ambition, DePue was awarded more than $20 million to build a new wastewater treatment plant, which will reduce flooding and raw sewage back-up into the basements of homes.
In total, our agency is working with over 70 communities, including tribal nations, to increase access to funding for mitigation projects that will make communities more livable and resilient.
With extreme weather events becoming increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change, we must keep pressing forward and continue investing in ways to better protect ourselves and our neighbors. And we are encouraged that local officials are engaging with us to learn more about the benefits of the BRIC non-financial Direct Technical Assistance initiative—just last week, we saw hundreds of participants nationwide register for a recent webinar on this important topic.
We want to see even more communities take advantage of this initiative, and, ultimately, obtain grants for innovative and forward-looking resilience projects. To that end, FEMA recently published a blog with five steps to help local communities and tribal nations learn more about the benefits of this non-financial technical assistance to access federal funding. I hope your community will take action and submit a letter of interest for this exciting opportunity and increase meaningful mitigation work throughout the country.
With the pace of disasters accelerating, communities can utilize federal resources to reduce their risk and take action to save property and lives. FEMA stands ready to be a partner and collaborator with any community that is ready to implement creative mitigation strategies and help build our nation’s resilience.
The post OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities
ARIZONA INFORMANT — Prior to the Civil War, many communities in the Ohio River Valley were a part of an elaborate system that provided resources and protection for enslaved persons from Southern states on their journey to freedom. Once someone crossed the Ohio River, they traveled along unknown terrain of trails to safe houses and hiding places that would become known as the Underground Railroad.
The post Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

By Christopher J. Miller, Sr. Director of Education & Community Engagement, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Christopher J. Miller
September is International Underground Railroad Month.
This proclamation began in the State of Maryland in 2019, and now more than 11 States officially celebrate one of the most significant eras in U.S. history. With the signing of Ohio HB 340 in June 2022, Ohio became the 12th state to designate September International Underground Railroad Month.
Many history enthusiasts and scholars hope the momentum of the proclamation spreads to other states so that all our forebears of freedom are remembered.
Examining this era, you find that the Ohio River Valley is instrumental in the many narratives of freedom seekers. These stories are critical to our understanding of race relations and civic responsibilities.
Before the Civil War, many communities in the Ohio River Valley were part of an elaborate system that provided resources and protection for enslaved persons from Southern states on their journey to freedom. Once someone crossed the Ohio River, they traveled along unknown terrain of trails to safe houses and hiding places that would become known as the Underground Railroad.

Gateway to Freedom sign
The Underground Railroad was comprised of courageous people who were held to a higher law that confronted the institution of slavery with acts of civil disobedience by helping freedom seekers elude enslavers and slave hunters and help them get to Canada.
Many communities were a force for freedom along the more than 900-mile stretch of the Ohio River Valley, but I would like to focus on two significant communities.
Southern Indiana was a major part of this history. It was originally believed that there were from Posey to South Bend, Corydon to Porter, and Madison to DeKalb County, with many stops in between.
In further examination, the Underground Railroad in Indiana was a web of trails through the forests, swamps, briars, and dirt roads. The city that is often overlooked in reflecting on the history of the Underground Railroad is New Albany, Indiana.
By 1850, New Albany was the largest city in Indiana, with a population of 8,632. Free Blacks accounted for 502 of that population. Across the river, Louisville was Kentucky’s largest city, with a population of 42,829. A quarter of the 6,687 Black population were free in Louisville.

Town Clock Church (aerial view)
Louisville and New Albany would grow to become a significant region for Underground Railroad activity. People like Henson McIntosh became a prominent community member and major Underground Railroad conductor. McIntosh was one of approximately ten Underground Railroad agents in New Albany who used their wealth and influence to impact the lives of freedom seekers crossing the Ohio River.
The Carnegie Center for Art & History is an outstanding resource that continues to preserve New Albany’s role during the Underground Railroad era. Approximately 104 miles east along the Ohio River is another institution that plays a critical role in elevating the profile of the Underground Railroad on a national scope.

Inside Town Clock Church New Albany Indiana safe house
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio.
By 1850, Cincinnati would grow to be the 6th largest city in the Union, with a sizable Black population.
The Freedom Center is prominently located in the heart of a historic Black community called Little Africa. Although the community no longer exists, its legacy lives on through the Freedom Center.
As with New Albany, the community that resided along the banks of the river served an important role in the story of the Underground Railroad. Little Africa was the gateway to freedom for thousands of freedom seekers escaping slavery.
Although there were Underground Railroad networks throughout the country, Ohio had the most active network of any other state, with approximately 3,000 miles of routes used by an estimated 40,000 freedom seekers that crossed through Little Africa.
Despite the growth of enslavement leading up to the Civil War, communities such as Little Africa and New Albany reveal the realities regarding race relations and a model for the dignity of human life through their respective efforts to be kind and resilient friends for the freedom seekers.
For More Information:
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – https://freedomcenter.org/
Cincinnati Tourism – https://www.visitcincy.com/
Carnegie Center for Art & History – https://carnegiecenter.org/
Southern Indiana Tourism – https://www.gosoin.com/
The post Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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