12 - SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014 - THE CAROLI NA TIMES
Civil Rights Leaders Submit
Agenda to President
Minimum Wage Jump Good
(Continued From Front) ;
* “The criminal justice reforms highlighted in the 2lst>Century
Agenda for Jobs and Freedom have long been a concern to the civil
and human rights community.'" said Wade Henderson; president and
st E O of the Leadership Conference on Civil;,and Human Rights.
“Our community has raised these issues repeatedly and.loudly; and
we've refused to be ignored. What we're seeing now - after mans
years of activism - is a harmonic convergence of economic; political
and moral interests coming together to increase momentuih in sup
port of common sense reforms to make our criminal ju^ ice system
more fair, humane, and just." ; . |
Morial called for the black communit} to discussA^mment.
praise, criticize, add to the “21 Century Agenda" in meaningful wa\s.
“We are; firmly convinced the president will fight Tor-jobs, train
ing. minimum wage and voting fights as w;ell as explore the other
areas of,concern." said Sharpton “We are determined to build this
country and make it work for everyone equally and fairly.";
No Carolina Comeback’ Just
a Carolina Setback 9 foe too
many jobless workers
(Continued From Front) ,
Without unemployment insurance dollars circulating in the econ
omy and without the state's labor force grow ing as the population
grows. North Carolina is losing economic activity at a critical time.
Clearly, there is nothing to celebrate in the harm that the unem
ployment insurance changes have caused for jobless workers and
their families. The reality for too .many North Carolinians is that
w hat little job creation is happening isn't enough to meet their desire
to work and to give the state s economy the boost it so desperate!}
needs, -
Sadly. Cuts to unemploy ment insurance are just magnifying t^y
miser}.
Alexandra Sirota is the Director of the Sorth A arolina liud^et
and Tax ('enter.
For Low-Income Blacks
Mt. Level Missionary Baptist
Mt Ley el Missionaiy Baptist Church will have our annual Women's
Day Celebration on Sunda}. March 16. 20.14. The theme is “God s
Word: Healing Women's Brokenness through the Generations", (iur
biblical reference is Jeremiah 18:4 and .Psalms 34.. Hie speaker
for 7:55am worship sery ice is Rev. Chalice Over} and 10:45am is
Key. Hazel A. Wilson. Pastor of Mount Pelier Presbyterian Church.
Row land NC.
On Saturday. March 15. 2014 at 10:30am there will be a panel
discussion on ’Helping Women Heal from their Brokenness". Lunch
will be seryed. These eycnts are free and;,open to the public. Mt.
Level is located at 316 Hebron Rd. Durham: NC (919 j-| 7^-3893.
www.mtlcyclmbc.org Dr. William C. Turner. Jr.. Pastor. Come
celebrate w ith us and bring a friend ’ '
Student Overdose Awareness Events
to be Held March 2014
On Tuesday. March 4th and Wednesday.March 5th. the
Sorth Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCI IRC) will
he holding Student Oxerdose Awareness Day events on
college campuses across the state. Students, faculty, of-
licers, counselors, and advocates xx ill gather to learn more
abqut oxerdose prevention and receive naloxone rescue
kits free of charge from NCIIRC. a grassroots public
health non-profit.
In an effort to reduce drug oy erdose fatalities in [North
Carolina, the state legislature passed Senate Bill 20
(SB20) call the "Oil Good Samaritan Access to Nalox
one” bill. SB20 protects witnesses and x ictims of ox er
dose from prosecution for small amounts of most drugs
and paraphernalia that may be found as a result of seeking
help for an oxerdose. I he immunity also applies io under-
age drinkers who seek help for alcohol poisoning. SB20
also allows for a standing order distribution, meaning
that medical practitioners can grant permission to agen
cies like NCI IRC to dispense naloxone xx ithout a medical
provider present. Student Oxerdose Awareness pay will
draxx attention to the overdose epidemic, prov ide links to
community resources for those considering recox cry. and
empower collegiate communities to saxe lixes.
By Freddie Allen
NNPA Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016 would lift nearly 1 million, lows
workers out of poverty, according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Although a majority kt flow-wage workers are white, people of color would be disproportionately affected 1
increase in the minimum wage. Blacks w ork in low -wage jobs at higher rates than whites, according to federal si
tics. Blacks account for 11 percent of the w orkforce, but 16 percent of workers that would see their wages inert;
"When you look at the CBO report, part of w hat stands out is that the CBO conlirms that many millions of wo,
w ith low or modest incomes would get significant income gains.” said Robert Greenstein, president of the Cent
Budget and Policy Priorities. aGgEven after factoring in theCBO's estimates on the employment effects, there an
very substantial income gains for the bottom and the middle of the population and these income gains are achi
for virtually no budgetary) cost.”
Even though the CBO predicted that 500.000 low-wage workers might lose their jobs. 16.5 million workers w
directly benefit limn seeing an increase in the minimum wage. Economists estimate that another 8 to 10 million«
ers would see thejr wages increase as a result oifa "spillover effect.”
Eamilies living below the poverty line will get a $5 billion bump in their income, about 20 percent of the estiij
$31 billion. Roughly a third would go to families making,three times above the poverty line.
According to the Census Bureau: more thaiT 27 percent of blacks live in poverty compared to less than 10 pa
of whites. Nearly40 percent of black children live in poverty.
According to the CBO report, raising the minimum wage would affect low-wage workers in two ways.
"Most of them would receive higher pay that would increase their family’s income, and some of those fam
would see their income rise above the federal poverty threshold.” stated the report.
I he CBO report continued: "But some jobs for low-wage workers would probably be eliminated, the incor
most workers w ho beeahie jobless would fall substantially , and the share of low-wage workers who were enipli
would probably fall slightly.”
Although the CBO report suggested that up to a million jobs could be lost, if the minimum wage were raisi
$10.10 per hour, many economists agree that the elTect of w age increase would be minimal.
"In a rev iew ol over 60 studies that look for statistical linkages between minimum-wage increases and job Io
economist John Schmitt reports that the most accurately measured results cluster around zero: some studies find
raising the minimum wage has a small negative effect on employ ment, a smaller number find that it has a small;
live effect, and most find no significant effect.” stated a report by the Center for Budget and Public Priorities.
In January, the Economic Policy Institute advocated for increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 in a letli
President Obama and Congress. More than 600 economists, including seven Nobel Prize winners signed the 1
according to EPI.
Keeping his promise louse his pen or phone in a year of action to help American families, last week Presi
()bama signed an executive' order to raise the minimum wage of federal contract workers.
-In-a policy brief detail i ng President ( )bama's executiveyorder raising the minimurn wage for federal contract*
ers. White 1 louseoflicialseited a study that show cd w hen Mary land passed a similar law for slate contract empta
competition betw een companies increased, drix ing a higher quality of service.
Contrary to common stereoty pes most low-income workers are not teenagers working for extra pocket chanj
clothes and fast food on the weekends. .
According to a report by the Centeif for Economic and Policy Research, titled "Loxv-wage Workers Are Oida
Belter Educated than lit er.” them erage age, ofjow-workers is about 35 and only about 12 percent were teenagi
2011. A majority (60 percent) of loxx -xx age xxorkers are 25-64 years old. More than 30 percent of low -wage wot
have some college education and roughly 10 percent have a four-y ear college degree.
I he CBt) alsoTbundhhat employ ment prospects for high school dropouts and blacks in their 20s would be la
unaffected by changes Mi llie minimum wage.
Lawrence Katz, an economist at Ilarxard 1 nixersity. said that raising the minimum wage would haxe signili
benefits for low-skill workers, especially Africa .Americans.
"()ur best estimates suggest essentially no impact on employ ment and a large improvement in wages for disat
iaged workers," Said Katz.
Katz added:’Tilx erafk if’s a substantial w in lor minority workers."
Black Institute Urges CBC to
Speak Out on Immigration Refori
By ion.x B.s; - .. ..
Special to the NNPA 1 from the
New \ork ( arib News ' . .
As immigration reform remains stalled dn-Caj'Mtoi I liil. New York's Black Backers of reform may ha
Washington next month to push their case.
Ted up w ith Capitol Kill's stalling on immigration reform, advocates for change in the nation’s laws
take theip case to the public anti inHuential groups iti W ashington next month to jolt lawmakers into acti
Anti the pressure max ' be applied to members of the Congressional Black Caucus w ho some New Vol
complain are remaining "remarkably silent" on the immigration issue as the comprehensive reform met
remains sty mied by Republican majority in the chamber.
"We want to do ajx.ery big forum in Washington Jo highlight this very issue of inaction on immigrate
I louse members," said Bertha I ewis. loundcr anti chief executive of the Black Institute in New York.
if you or someone you know is al risk of experienc-
ing, or witnessing a drug overdose, call N( HRC t )xer
dose Prevention Coordinator at (610) 420-1230 to; reseri e
an overddse rescue kit. If you would like more informal-
want to tip it in W ashingion I).( . tow ards the end of March. We arc going back to the nation’s capital. W
joining w ith other lolks anti organizations to highlight how .African-American and other black votersll
about this struggle. Republicans w ho hax e districts xx ith more than 15 per cent black registrations are a
to have a very hard time. We haxe lo lake il to the xoling booth."
lion about free, in-house overdose pret entionTraining or
are interested in volunteering with NCIIRC, please visit
www,nchrca>re. w ‘ ; 1
WHAT: Student Overdose Awareness Event ,
W HEN: March 4ih-5th. 2014
LOCATIONS: , I
I he Black Institute which has become a major immigration advocate in Nexx York, focusing attend#
the needs of black immigrants. be they from Jamaica, Haiti. Guy ana. Trinidad and Tobago and the rest til
Caribbean or from AI rica. I .atin America and cLsew here.
lor her part, lew is remains perplexed by the! 1 liiilure of the Republican leadership to brine the reform
to a xote and by what appears to be an apparent lukewarm response by some Democrats to the stalling lit
of the t it )P majority.
North Carolina State University
Brickyard (University Plaza). North Campus
10:00am — 12:00pm
Tuesday . March 4"' f i
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
10:00am - 2:00pm
Wednesday. March 5*
Warrep Wilson College
By Gladfelter Dining Half
10:00am-12:00pm "
Tuesday. March 4"'
Notice to Creditors
Call Today!
THE CAROLINA TIMES
919-682-2913
"Delay ol immigration of reform is just silly.” I ewis charged. "People have been waiting for yean
reform to become the law of the kind. Io make them wait more is an insult, l ather you do it or y ou J
I his w hole situation- hits a racist element to it and there is not ev en a debate. We know that economical!'
country needs reform and yet they (House) keep delaying il. Ifyou can’t pass' it this year they will never
it. W e should just face.up to il that they arc in fact not passing it because of race.
"I think the Congressional Black Caucus has got to become far more vocal on immigration reform am
come far more engaged and v isible on this issue." I ew is added. "The Caucus should make it an issuei
2014 election which is why we are try ing lo do every thing that we can as the Black Institute to say tot
A pters not to support the folks w ho refuse lo do any tiling about immigration. We have just got lo take
that level because we haxe nothing to lose.
"I don’t know why the'Caucus isn’t more active on immigration reform, ll may be that the 1 louse Dr
cratic leadership has something to do vx ith that." I exx is xxent on. "I just don’t know. May be they don 1
anything lo lose to gel into the debate. I hey must call it as they see il but for people lo just throw up
hands and say ’oh well Vve can’t gel it done this y ear’ is unacceptable. We have to light back."
She said that'pro-immigration relorm supporters were turning lo the streets in and out ol’W ungM
New York to get something done, "lasting, doing ev ery thing, engaging in demonstrations. We don’t ser
body lighting lor this. It is really disheartening. It also makes y ou mad to know that nobody is going WI
for y ou.” 2
On Monday, anti-deportation demonstrators, including undocumented immigrants were arrested o#*
ofthc White I louse in Washington as they protested against President Barack Obama’s policies whicM
resulted in almost two million people being kicked out of the country in the past few y ears, more th®
other president.
I he activists were demanding that the Administration suspend deportations while expanding the
deportation policy called "I )e I erred Action for Childhood Arrivals."