Men of Southeast Raleigh Fight for Community's Legacy

 By Mildred Robertson

It was a simple event held at the John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center in Southeast Raleigh. Chavis, which has a rich legacy of service to African Americans in Southeast Raleigh, was a fitting location as brothers of "The Men of Southeast Raleigh" escorted senior mothers being honored by the Chavis Seniors in a Mother’s Day Tribute organized by Joani Craven and Sarah McNeil. The group of active seniors meets every Thursday for crafts, games, and fellowship. The men served as escorts for the three seniors recognized at the event.

Anthony Pope, coordinator of "The Men of Southeast Raleigh" says the group was pleased to be invited to participate in the event by long-time friend Joani Craven. He even recognizes Craven as the one who inspired him to organize the group. “Joani and I grew up together and have lived in the same community all our lives,” he says. It was when he retired in 2021 that she pressed him to start the organization, which began with just 3 men. By the time they held their first meeting, the enrollment had expanded to 20 men. Their current membership includes about 70 individuals most of whom are highly engaged in projects supporting Southeast Raleigh.

Members were primarily born and raised in Southeast Raleigh. “We practically grew up together, lived in the same communities, and went to the same schools,” says Anthony. So, the members are invested in the vitality of this community. His fond memories of growing up in Southeast Raleigh were the catalyst for taking on the task of maintaining his beloved community’s legacy. “As I think back to when we grew up, the community embraced us.  Everybody's parents were our parents,” says Pope.

The goal of the organization is to gather men from the community who exude courage, confidence, and class and who are committed to preserving the legacy and history of Southeast Raleigh. The group is involved in activities both social and political that affect the Southeast Raleigh community.

One of the main issues that trouble Pope is the gentrification that is swallowing up property in the area. He tells his own story of how gentrification impacted his ancestral home. His mother owned a home in Southeast Raleigh since the late 80s. When he took over the property in 2011, he gutted and refitted it, doing most of the work himself, with help from friends. Property taxes on that home at that time were approximately $450-$500 per year.   But with all the new construction in his neighborhood, even without any further renovations or improvements his home property taxes skyrocketed to $4,092.  From the time his mother purchased the home in 1986 to the present, the value of the home had soared to $538,000. That jump in valuation is based on the new construction of townhomes that have sprung up in his neighborhood priced at $1.4 million, none of which have been sold. The homes are priced outside the reach of the moderate-income homebuyers who historically populated the area. They also over-inflate the land value of long-time homeowners in the area, resulting in exorbitant property taxes.

That is the plight of Southeast Raleigh. “Our community is disappearing because people can't pay their taxes, particularly the elderly. They don’t know you can ask for a waiver,” says Pope. 

To support homeowners in the areas, the Men of Southeast Raleigh have begun to hold sessions to teach people how to appeal their property valuations. The first session, which attracted about 30 people was held on April 15 at historic Martin Street Baptist Church which sits in the heart of Southeast Raleigh. A second meeting held on April 29 attracted approximately 100 people interested in lowering their property taxes.

The group is trying to inform as many people as possible about ways to get tax relief. “These properties have land that is more valuable than the houses that sit on them. I plan to plead my case on my property taxes and want to help other people do the same,” says Pope. He says that families who have lived in Southeast Raleigh for years are being priced out of the market by exploding property taxes that put their homeownership in jeopardy. That’s why his group’s efforts aim to help save families' homes by showing them how to reduce the property tax burden.  Pope says that the more people raise the issue, the more the city will be forced to examine it.

If you want to learn more about “The Men of Southeast Raleigh,” or wish to join the group visit the website at https://www.menofsoutheastraleigh.com/ or contact Pope at popea19783@gmail.com.

William Barr's Presidential Choice: Chaos and Horror, or Liberalism

 By: Mildred Robertson

The New York Post recently reported that former Attorney General Bill Barr characterized the Trump presidency as a horror show filled with chaos.  He adds, however, that he still will support Trump over Biden in the 2024 election. He reasons that “the real threat to democracy is the progressive movement and the Biden administration.”  

This is the most illogical statement I have ever heard from someone who is supposedly learned. Barr is saying the "chaos and horror" of a Trump presidency is superior to one that has improved the country, built roads and bridges, improved unemployment, strengthened healthcare, and aided in reducing student debt.

Come on now. This is partisanship gone awry. 

While Barr openly criticizes Trump for his handling of the documents case, noting that Trump puts his ego above his presidential duties and describes January 6th as a travesty, he still rails against the liberalism that accompanies a Biden presidency. He chooses chaos and horror over liberalism.

 What!

Barr is only one of many former Trump high-ranking administration officials who criticize the twice impeached, criminally charged, civilly convicted ex-president. His former administrators characterize him as an impulsive leader who disregards advice and lacks adult sensibilities. That includes former Defense Secretary James Mattis, former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, former White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, former Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert, and the list goes on and on.

But unlike Barr, many of Trump’s former administrative officers say they cannot back him for a second term. Chief among them is former Vice President Mike Pence. During a Fox interview on March 15, 2024, Pence said he would not support Trump during the upcoming election. Pence stated that as he sought the 2024 presidential election, “I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues.” Pence said that Trump’s agenda is at odds with the conservative agenda he supports, and by which they supposedly governed during their tenure in office.

In light of the exodus of high-ranking officials from Trump’s camp, it is even more puzzling that Barr would endorse Trump in the 2024 presidential election. An article in the New Republic authored by Hafiz Rashid Barr quoted Barr as saying in June 2023, “Should we be putting someone like this forward as the leader of the country, leader of the free world?”

The answer to that question in 2023 was NO!  It is still “no” now.

We cannot let partisan polarization as exhibited by Barr and others like him destroy our democracy. It is unfathomable that a political leader could recognize the destructiveness of a candidate yet continue to support that candidate based on party loyalty.

When you balance America’s future with a choice between horrific chaos and progressive liberalism, the choice is clear. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, horrific chaos should never be the choice.

A Third-Party Vote is a Vote for Trump

 By Mildred Robertson

America is faced with a major threat during the 2024 Presidential Election. Third-party candidates may throw the country into a quagmire as they muddy political waters.  If these candidates attract enough votes in the general election their candidacies could ensure that neither major party candidate can win in the Electoral College. That would throw the election into the House of Representatives, where the Republican legislators will most assuredly elect former President Donald J. Trump.

Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. seems to be the largest threat because he has gained ballot access in Utah and is poised to qualify in six more states, including three battleground states.  It is highly unlikely that he or any third-party candidate could secure the presidency, but they could have a significant impact on the election outcome by diverting support from candidates Donald Trump (Rep.) and President Biden, (Dem.)

In early March Kennedy Jr.’s campaign announced that it collected enough signatures to put him on the ballot in Nevada. He recently qualified for the Utah ballot and the American Values super PAC supporting his candidacy also claims to have the signatures to secure his spot on the ballots in Arizona, Georgia, and South Carolina.  According to a November Siena College poll of voters in six battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), slightly more Democrats than Republicans (18% versus 16%) would back Kennedy Jr., indicating he could draw more votes from Biden than Trump.

The other two third-party candidates seeking the presidency are progressive Cornel West and Green Party’s Jill Stein. Stein is blamed for siphoning votes from Hillary Clinton in 2016 in Florida and was on the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan which led to Hillary’s ultimate defeat in the Electoral College. (Note that Clinton actually won the popular vote by 2.9 million.)

It is presumed that without Kennedy Jr., West, and Stein on the ballot, Biden could beat Trump by four points. However, these third-party candidates change that math. The Quinnipiac poll and the December Reuters/Ipsos survey found Trump’s lead over Biden widens to five when Kennedy Jr. is on the ballot. A January Harvard CAPS-Harris poll found Trump would expand his lead over Biden from six to eight points with Kennedy Jr. on the ballot.

Clearly, these polls are changing daily as more voters tune in to the election and begin to make their decisions about who they will choose to lead this nation. Currently, Biden and Trump are in a statistical dead heat. One of the two will be elected president on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

So as voters plan how they will vote and for whom, it is important to weigh the value of a third-party vote. If a candidate from neither major party appeals to you just know that making a third-party choice is still a choice for one of the two of them. It is unlikely…almost impossible for a third-party candidate to win. But it is almost certain that a third-party vote is a vote for Trump. Look back to 2016. The evidence is clear.

If you are just looking for an alternative with your third-party vote, you won’t get one. You will just get Trump.

Don’t waste your vote.

Mitch McConnell Legacy - Kissing the Ring

by Mildred Robertson

On Wednesday Mitch McConnell bowed the knee to Donald Trump by endorsing him as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the 2024 Presidential election. Though not surprising, his endorsement is disappointing as he chose to fire his final volley as the Senate Majority Leader by kissing the proverbial ring of this twice-impeached, criminally indicted former president. Trump has faced 91 charges across 4 criminal cases, two of which have found him liable for wrongdoing.

Back in February of 2023, McConnell stated that Trump was morally and practically responsible for the January 6th insurrection to stymie the peaceful transfer of power. Wednesday he nonetheless added his name to a growing list of established Republicans who have thrown their lot in with this criminally indicted would-be dictator who promises vengeance and retribution against his adversaries if he is re-elected.

Viewed Machiavellian in his leadership style, McConnell is known as a shrewd Senate Majority Leader who left his mark on key congressional legislation and reshaped the federal judiciary. The Kentucky Republican announced this week he will step down from Senate Leadership. Inexplicably in the same breath, McConnell endorsed Trump as the presumptive nominee though he was one of the few Republicans who chastised Trump following the insurrection.

Trump is at the center of at least four separate criminal cases into matters related to his business and political careers at both the state and federal levels. He has been found liable of sexual assault and defamation in the E. Jean Carroll trial, and owes a whopping $355 million, plus interest, in a New York case for lying for years about his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. He still faces racketeering charges in the election interference case in Georgia.

None of this, however, seems able to stand in the way of McConnell's rabid support of a Republican Party that has clearly lost its way. It is amazing to me that he will sacrifice his Party to this nominee who holds no clear values, Republican, conservative, or otherwise. That McConnell chooses to place party above country, one wonders how the country will remember him. 

He was a Republican warrior against all things liberal and progressive. He held Congress hostage by refusing to bring key legislative issues to a vote.  His leadership denied Barack Obama the right to select a Supreme Court Justice and stole Joe Biden's opportunity to do so. His tactics have resulted in the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the legislative attack on affirmative action. 

Many of us would never look back fondly on McConnell's tenure. However, now with this move history will likely join us in our disappointment. History will remember him as a man who wielded his power like a sword, yet when it was time to really go to battle, he simply took the knee and kissed the ring.  

Supreme Court Will Hear Trump Immunity Case

By Mildred Robertson

What is the Supreme Court Thinking!  April 22, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case to determine whether or if a president or ex-president has an absolute immunity claim when carrying out official duties. 

It is my hope that it is about the rule of law. I hope it is about justice. I hope it is about preserving American Democracy.  It is my hope that the Court will hold that Donald Trump is not above the law. 

The Court will address several issues in the case. One key question is whether Donald Trump has absolute immunity in his attempt to overthrow the legally elected Chief Executive of the United States of America. Trump is accused of federal election interference when he fomented an insurrection among his followers based on false claims of election tampering in several key states during the 2020 election. Another key question is whether Trump's actions related to the insurrection were an official act as president. By taking up this case the Court may stymie any attempt to litigate this issue before the November 2024 election.  

This is not a case that should be used to determine the bounds of presidential power. It is Trump's assertion that events associated with January 6th were part of his official duties as president. Fomenting insurrection is clearly a criminal offense, even if carried out from the Oval Office. But clearly, Trump has a lack of respect for the rule of law. He believes that as a president or ex-president, he is entitled to absolute power on all levels. As he is confronted with numerous instances of civil and criminal prosecutions against him, he continues to call for retribution against those seeking justice.  Prosecutors, judges, and witnesses all have been targeted by Trump loyalists who buy into the concept that theirs is a holy and justifiable quest to punish any who attempt to hold Trump accountable for criminal acts.

By taking up this case, the Supreme Court has raised the possibility of denying the American people the opportunity to have clarity on this issue before the 2024 Presidential election. Many Americans say they will not vote for Trump if he is found guilty in a criminal case. The effect of the Supreme Court's decision to take up this case may well give DeFacto immunity to Trump by dragging out the issue until it is too late (as late as the end of June) for Special Counsel Jack Smith to prosecute this case before the election. 

This is not a difficult case. Trump's assertion that a president must have absolute immunity during and after his presidency is absurd on its face. He is literally asking for a get-out-of-jail-free card. He has said that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it. He believes he can send in Seal Team Six to assassinate an opponent and not be held responsible. He believes he can take liberties with the bodies of women without retribution. He believes that he should be above the law. 

Not only is it easy to determine that the presidential immunity argument Trump is attempting to use is not legally sound, but the Court could also have addressed this issue by taking it up when asked by Jack Smith early on. 

It makes one wonder what the Court's intent is. 

It is my hope that they are thinking about the rule of law. I hope they will consider what is just. I hope they will preserve American democracy.  I hope that the Court will find that Donald Trump is not above the law. 

No man or woman in America is. 

 

Donald Trump's Very, Very Bad Day

 By: Mildred Robertson

Today Indicted President Donald J. Trump and his corporation were ordered to pay $345 million in damages for fraudulent business practices and have been barred from conducting business in New York for the next three years. His two sons, Donald and Eric also are barred from serving in leadership in a New York business for two years. The damages stand at approximately $437 million and counting when you include interest and the $83.3 million judgment in Trump's civil defamation case. 

Judge Arthur Engoron who issued the summary judgment says, "The frauds here leap off the page and shock the conscience."  Engoron found that the corporation borrowed more at a lower rate by falsifying financial data submitted to financial institutions. In addition, he found that Trump and his representatives were "pathological" in their refusal to admit errors in their financial statements. The judge noted their complete lack of contrition and remorse which he said bordered on pathological. Although the Trump organization repaid all the loans, Engoron says that did not justify the falsification of records, noting that, although the financial institutions in question were made whole, future institutions could possibly not fare as well.  

To make the very bad day even worse, an evidentiary hearing on a motion to dismiss Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election subversion case seems to be leaning in Willis' favor. The case was brought by Trump's co-defendants in a Georgia racketeering case involving the attempt to overturn the Georgia 2020 presidential election. They allege Willis had a conflict of interest by hiring a former lover to assist with the prosecution of the case and then profiting from his income. If successful, Willis and her entire team would be disqualified from trying Trump which could mean the end of the case. However, Trump's legal team has struggled to damage the Fulton County District Attorney's office. 

At the end of the day, things are not going well for the former president, as he grapples with 91 indictments, several successful prosecutions, and close to a half-billion dollars in judgments against him and his organization.  He's having a very, very bad day...and it is not yet midnight. 

Nikki Haley Lies About Racism in America

By Mildred Robertson

Nikki Haley says America has never been a racist country…right after she said racism is on the decline. Okay Nikki, which is it?  Is there or isn’t there racism in America?  Did America used to be racist but it’s not anymore?  Racist or not, which is it? Used to be racist, but got better?

She knows…she is the brown daughter of Indian immigrants. She knows. 

In fact, in that same interview, she said “I know I faced racism when I was growing up, but I can tell you that today is a lot better than it was then.”  So there was racism after there was no racism which she experienced firsthand as racism…right? That was a word salad if I ever heard one. Circular speaking at its best.

I don’t have to wonder whether America has ever been racist. I have experienced it for myself (as has she). My family moved from Mississippi to Missouri in the early '60s. When we traveled home in the summer, particularly around the 4th of July, you would see black people in nice cars with Northern plates pulled over by cops all up and down the road. It did not pay to be black and appear to be prosperous. Also, my mother always packed a basket of food so that we would not have to stop and eat on the road at a segregated restaurant.  That's in my lifetime.

When we moved to Missouri I attended predominately white schools. I was not overtly discriminated against in the public schools, but I was ignored. I do recall having developed a friendship in the 6^th grade with a white girl at school. We played together every recess and became fast friends. One day she invited me to come play at her house on Saturday…I only lived a couple of blocks from her. So, I showed up on Saturday and knocked on the door to ask her to come out and play. In a few minutes, she came to the door and said we couldn’t play today.  We never played at recess again. That’s in my lifetime.

I attended College at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. I wanted to take a class in radio broadcast management. The instructor of the class told me that I should not register because there were no job opportunities for a black female in the industry. I signed up for the class anyway. He actually approached me on the first day of class and asked me why I was there. Embarrassed, I picked up my books, left the class, and never returned. That was in my lifetime.

These are just a few of my own experiences with racism in America…I could go on. There are many Black Americans who could tell many more, and much more ominous tales of America’s racial animus toward our race. The victims of hanging, folks whose land was stolen from them, victims of police brutality like Sandra Bland, Elijah McClain, and George Floyd; interracial couples who were persecuted like the Lovings, victims of racial hatred like the slain members of the Mother Emmanuel AME Church, asylum-seeking migrants jailed at the border or illegally bused across the country…the list is endless.

Nimarata Randhawa (oh, I mean Nikki Haley) knows that she has been discriminated against as a non-white immigrant, not just in the past, but today. She knows America’s legacy but chooses to deny it. My mother always instructed me that it is not nice to call a person a liar, but what must you do if that person is?

This woman wants to be president of the United States but cannot speak truthfully about who and what America is. Do you want a leader who will so easily bend the truth to attain the goal of acceptance, and the position of president? Do you want a politician who will say whatever needs to be said to be successful? Do you support a person who will pardon an insurrectionist former president and offer him amnesty simply to lure his constituency?  Do you want someone in the Whitehouse whose moral compass is so weak as to bend the truth to suit her purposes? If so, Nimarata (Nikki) is your girl. But I wouldn’t support her if I were you, because she doesn’t even want you to know her real name. You see in the end, you don’t know what choice she will make for you, because Nikki Haley lies.