Black-Owned Newspaper, Call & Post, Runs Editorial Cartoon Portraying Lawmaker Nina Turner as "Aunt Jemima"

Black-owned newspaper Call & Post, based in Cleveland, OH, has done the unthinkable. The weekly newpaper printed an editorial cartoon caricature of black lawmaker, Sen. Nina Turner, as the black Aunt Jemima figure used to advertise a breakfast product line. Personally, I find the character offensive because of its use during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a racist stereotype. The cartoon has rankled some people in Cleveland, as it should.

The paper criticized Turner, a Cleveland Democrat, for supporting last month's successful ballot issue to overhaul county government. Some blacks fear the changes will reduce minority political power. The concern is a legitimate one, but do we always have to make it racial?

Of course, Call & Post associate publisher and editor Connie Harper says the caricature isn't hurtful. Really? Had that been published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the New York Times or even the NY Post, it would have drawn the ire of blacks nationwide. This is disgraceful. We can agree to disagree without getting in the muck.

Joaquin Rivera, School Counselor, Robbed by Three Homeless Drug Addicts While Dying In Emergency Room

Joaquin Rivera, 63, a school counselor suffering an apparent heart attack died at Philadelphia's Atria Health's Frankford Campus after waiting nearly 80 minutes for help and he was robbed by Richard Alten and two other homeless drug addicts who stole his watch. Rivera died before seeing a triage nurse at the medical center. His tragic end was captured on security video tape, much like Esmin Green, who died on the floor of Kings County Hospital in June, 2008, while hospital staff ignored her. Rivera, a musician and activist in the city's Latino community, had spent more than 30 years working as a bilingual counselor at an inner-city high school.

Rivera had walked to the Northeast Philadelphia hospital late Saturday from his home a few blocks away after pain started shooting down his right side. He registered at 10:45 p.m. and took a seat, chatting for about 20 minutes with two men and a woman nearby. Based on witness accounts, police believe Rivera passed out about an hour later. Security video then shows one of the men steal his watch and briefly pass it to the other.

The second suspect is then seen by doctors, and a security guard arrives to ask his sleeping companions to leave. A witness first reports that Rivera may be dead. At 12:04 a.m., he is pronounced dead. Aria Health offered condolences to the family Tuesday but otherwise declined comment, citing patient confidentiality and the pending criminal case.

A preliminary ruling suggests Rivera died of hypertension. He is survived by his wife and three children. Rivera also leaves behind a rich musical legacy that includes local radio and TV appearances in which he shared the music he learned as a boy in the mountains of Cayey, Puerto Rico. He also inspired countless Olney High School students to attend college. Source:  Philly.com

This is a disgrace and to think many in the Republican Party feel that the healthcare system in this country is second to none is unconscionable. There is no reason why this man should have waited so long to see a triage nurse that he expired and was robbed by three dirtbags. I have to wonder what constitutes top priority in this emergency room. I always thought chest pains, gun shot wounds and babies were basically seen quickly.



Photo credit: Joaquin Rivera, Gerald S. Williams, Philly.com staff photographer

Sandra Ramirez & Jesus Valenti, Arrested After Newborn Baby Found Dead in Dumpster

Jesus Valenti, 26, and Sandra Ramirez, 29, have done the unthinkable -- abandonment of the body of their dead baby. They were arrested after the newborn was found under a pile of trash in a dumpster in northeast Atlanta early Monday morning. Sandra Ramirez went to South Fulton Medical Center Sunday night complaining that she was not feeling well. The hospital staff determined that she had recently given birth. So, this baby meant nothing to this couple. Even if the baby was stillborn, you don't discard the remains as though it was trash. 

Ramirez eventually told the police that the baby was stillborn and she buried it at the San Lucia Apartments, in a dumpster. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office is awaiting lab results to ascertain if the baby was stillborn.

Georgia has a safe haven law that allows mothers to leave a baby, up to seven days old, with an employee of any medical facility including any hospital, institutional infirmary, health center or birthing center in Georgia without penalty.

Photo credit:  Jesus Valenti & Sandra Ramirez, WSB-TV

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Convicted of Embezzling Gift Cards Intended for the City's Poor

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has been found guilty on a single charge of taking gift cards intended for the city's poor. She was acquitted of a felony theft charge. She should be kicked out of office for her conviction. Jurors deliberated more than six days after hearing that Dixon was accused of using or keeping $630 worth of gift cards. She allegedly solicited most of the cards from Patrick Turner, a wealthy developer, and then bought electronics at Best Buy, clothes at Old Navy and other items at Target. For $630 Sheila Dixon has thrown her political career away. What a shame! I am sure her attorneys will file appeals, but the damage has already been done.

Dixon was convicted on one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and acquitted her on two counts of felony theft and one count of misconduct in office. Jurors failed to reach a verdict on another count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. Source: Baltimore Sun

Miss Dixon has been under the cloud of the City Hall corruption probe for nearly four years, since she was City Council president. She was indicted in January.  She became Baltimore's first African-American woman mayor when she succeeded O'Malley in January 2007 after he was elected governor. She easily won a four-year term in November 2007. She remains very popular in Baltimore and it will be interesting to see how her conviction and sentencing will play out. Dixon, a divorced mother, is widely known for chic attire and a quick temper. During a 1991 debate at City Hall on redistricting, she reportedly caused a stir when she took off one of her shoes, held it up and told white City Council members: "Now the shoe is on the other foot." Gee, Mayor Dixon, how does the shoe feel now that's it's on the other foot?

Jaimee Grubbs Enters the Tiger Woods Scandal, Tells Us Weekly She Had 31-Month Affair with Woods

Well, the skankfest continues. Another woman has come out of the woodwork claiming she has had a 31-month affair with golfer extraordinaire Tiger Woods. This is fast becoming a public relations nightmare. First, what is wrong with these women who just can't say no to engaging in adulterous relationships? Second, if these allegations are true, then Tiger Woods has just found himself in the middle of another scandal. The woman, Jaimee Grubbs, 24, has told Us Weekly that she has voicemails and text messages to corroborate her story. Why come forward now Jaimee? Are you jealous that Rachel Uchitel is in the spotlight? According to Radaronline, several women have come forward to say they have had relationships with Tiger Woods. Sorry, but all these women who knowingly sleep with married men are skanks and should run from the spotlight instead of to it.

Jaimee Grubbs, Tiger Woods Alleged Skank No. 2 (TMZ)

Grubbs, a Los Angeles cocktail waitress, told Us Weekly she began having an affair with Woods, 33, in April 2007. She said they went on to have 20 sexual encounters. So, I am guessing at no time did it ever cross her mind that she was good for nothing more than a romp in the sack and would never be elevated to nothing other than a jump-off. Also, did it ever occur to Tiger Woods, if true, that his wife would find out about this, in the worst way possible. There goes his reputation as a clean-cut guy and a devoted family man. Well, this woman claims she has  photos, as well as more than 300 racy texts from Woods.  Elin Nordegren should be swinging more than a golf club at her husband. One can make the argument that Tiger Woods has learned from the best in the cheating world -- Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Shaquille Oneal and Alex Rodriguez. He has also not learned anything about disgraced former mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick's text message debacle.

What a way to end the year! Jaimee Grubbs will be cashing in on this drama, while Tiger Woods and his wife will be going through some rough times in their relationship. If this Jaimee Grubbs cared anything for Tiger Woods, she would not run to the media. I guess she hasn't learned from Monica Lewinsky and the fact that she has been ostracized for revealing her brief affair with former President Bill Clinton. So much for being decent, but alas, that ended when she knowingly had a sexual relationship with a married man. The last time I checked having a sexual relationship with a married man isn't a badge of honor. It's not the ultimate prize.

Disbarred Attorney Scott Rothstein, 47, Arrested by FBI on Racketeering Charges, Accused in a $1 Billion Investment Scam

Another one bites the dust. Scott Rothstein, a flashy Fort Lauderdale attorney, has surrendered to FBI agents this morning, on a federal racketeering charge. Authorities have said he ran a $1 billion investment scam while acting like a philanthropic tycoon. Rothstein, 47, had fled to Morocco in late October but returned in early November. He is set to appear at 11 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Rosenbaum to face the RICO conspiracy charge at the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. He was processed by the U.S. Marshals around 8:30 a.m. in Fort Lauderdale. The irony here is that he befriended high-profile figures from Gov. Charlie Crist and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Dan Marino. He has been accused of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from his investors. With the wealth and philanthropy he was able to forge well-oiled connections with the "right" people in Broward County's society scene and business community to lure the wealthy and other patrons to invest with him.

While under federal watch in November, Rothstein cooperated with prosecutors and provided them with details of his Ponzi scheme, involving the sale of fabricated legal settlements to wealthy investors. FBI and IRS agents also raided his Fort Lauderdale law office and seized his waterfront home and other assets. Stuart Rosenfeldt, co-owner of Rothstein's law firm, said Tuesday morning he was relieved to hear that his former law partner and friend had been arrested.

Here's how authorities say Rothstein's scheme worked: Investors would make an upfront payment at a discount to a plaintiff in a lawsuit who was expecting a series of settlement payments from the defendant over months or years. The investors would later receive the full settlement amount at a hefty profit.

In a 2008 prospectus for investors -- who were required to put up a minimum of $1 million each -- Levin said Rothstein was offering a slice of a ``largely untapped market'' in settlements in multimillion-dollar employment and sexual harassment lawsuits. Their value, Levin said, was in their secrecy, suggesting a defendant would pay a premium for a plaintiff's silence. Source: Miami Herald

His date with Lady Justice is far from over with his surrender. The U.S. attorney's office will convene a grand jury to consider criminal charges against Rothstein's alleged co-conspirators, which could include former employees of his now-defunct firm. Prosecutors are using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to charge Rothstein and possibly others. The conspiracy law was passed by Congress to battle the Mafia and others involved in criminal enterprises. Rothstein has been disbarred. He is accused of mail, wire and bank fraud, along with money laundering. He faces at least 20 years in prison and forfeiture of tens of millions of dollars in illegal profits if convicted. I guess the question I have is, who helped Scott Rothstein to flee the country and try to cover his tracks? Gov. Crist must be kicking himself in the pants to have rubbed shoulders with this criminal.

BREAKING -- Maurice Clemmons Fatally Shot by Police After Massive Manhunt for Killing of Four Washington Police Officers

URGENT: According to King 5, a sheriff's spokesman says Seattle police have fatally shot suspect in officer shooting. Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says Maurice Clemmons was shot early Tuesday in a Seattle neighborhood. Authorities suspected Clemmons of gunning down four police officers at a coffee shop Sunday morning in Lakewood, a suburb about 35 miles south of Seattle.