OP/ED
Ernest H. Pitt Publisher/Co-Founder
o f "J *E elaine Pitt Business Manager
o g/ea/vt f T. Kevin Walker Managing Editor
Common Core, White Power
Parents have been advised to expect their kids to bring home lower End-of-Course
(EOC) and End-of-Grade (EOG) scores when they are released around Thanksgiving.
Lower proficiency scores are expected statewide as a result of the implementation of
Common Core for English and math and the N.C. Essential Standards in all other sub
jects. By all accounts, the new standards are higher, so, as Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County Schools Superintendent Dr. Beverly Emory, states, students have not learned less
over the last year, the bar has just been upped a notch or two.
So is that a good thing? Many Tea Partiers say no, and the ranks of Common Core
naysayers have swelled beyond conservative Republicans.
Common Core was developed by the National Association of Governors as a way to
create uniformity in education standards
across the nation while also raising the
standard of learning to make American
students more competitive with their
counterparts around the world.
Common Core has been adopted by 45
states, including N.C., whose Board of
Education signed on in 2010.
Big government-despising
Republicans, loud mouth Glenn Beck
among them, have called Common Core
nothing short of a nationalized educa
tion system and, of course, have
accused tne uoama white House or trying to nationalize the nation s schools.
After the kinks are ironed out and teachers and students adapt, Common Core could
turn out to be a good thing. But will it make it that far? N.C. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has
become a vocal opponent of the standard and wants it reviewed by the newly-appointed
Republican members of the State Board of Education.
Regardless of how you feel about Common Core, it can't be a good idea to keep mov
ing the goal post for students. Let's not make them political pawns. Common Core is a
path they just set down. Let's hold the detours until we have a firmer grasp.
Cory Booker is now one of just two African Americans in the US. Senate. The
Democrat and former Newark mayor was selected by the people of New Jersey last week
during a special election held to fill the seat of the late Frank Lautenberg. The last African
American to win a U.S. Senate election is now in the White House. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott
(R- S.C.) was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley earlier this year to finish the term of Jim
DeMint and won't face voters until November 2014.
Of the 98 other U.S. Senators, only three are people of color - Asian American Mazie
Hirono (D-HI) and Hispanic Americans Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Tx).
So much is made about the nation's first black president that it is easy to forget that
there is still a great dearth of minority decision makers on Capitol Hill. Governor's man
sions lack black and brown inhabitants as well. Massachusetts' Deval Patrick is the only
black governor. Nevada's Brian Sandoval and New Mexico's Susana Martinez are
Hispanic, and South Carolina's Haley and Louisiana's Bobby Jindal are Indian American.
All of the minority governors, save Patrick, are Republicans.
The election of President Obama was said to be a game-changer, but the game is stub
bom. The browning of America is happening everywhere we look - our schools, neigh
borhoods and even on our television screens. But where it really matters - in boardrooms
and legislative halls (the true bastions of American power) - the .good of boys are holding
firm.
I Support Rep. Watt
lb the Editor:
For over 20 years. Congressman Mel Wan
has been a true champion for middle class
families. When President Obama nominat
ed him to be the first confirmed Director of
the Federal Housing Finance Agency
(FHFA), I was encouraged that middle class
families across the country would have a
proven advocate leading FHFA.
I was deeply disappointed last week
when Senate Republicans blocked
Congressman Wan 's nomination to serve as
Director of the FHFA. I was proud to join
my North Carolina colleague. Senator
Richard Burr, in introducing Congressman
Wan at his confirmation hearing earlier this
year, and I was pleased that the Senate
Banking Committee approved his nomina
tion.
The bipartisan support for Congressman
Wan horn the North Carolina delegation is
a testament to Congressman Wan's ability
to work across the aisle and shows that
Congressman Wan deserves an up or down
vote.
Congressman Wan's background, skills
and track record of bipartisanship make him
an immensely qualified nominee who. if
confirmed, would confront the challenges
that face our recovering housing market and
strengthen the backbone of our current
housing finance system.
As a member of the House Financial
Services and Judiciary Committees,
Congressman Wan has been a steadfast
advocate for affordable housing in North
Carolina and across the country.
Congressman Wad's nomination is sup
ported by over SO community and advocacy
organizations, by industry groups such as
the National Association of Realtors and the
National Association of Home Builders,
and by respected business leaders like for
mer Bank of America Chairman and CEO
Hugh McColl.
Congressman Wad's strong record of
working with industry leaders, consumer
advocates. Democrats and Republicans
proves that he can deliver results for middle
class families in North Carolina and across
the country.
We need Congressman Watt at the
Federal Housing Finance Agency. I know
he will work successfully with Congress to
strengthen the backbone of our housing sys
tem. He deserves an up or down vote, and I
will continue to advocate for his confirma
tion to this critical post.
US. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.)
Medicare Help Available
lb the Editor:
The next month marks a crucial period
for Americans who have recently or are
about to turn 65. Prom Oct. 15 through Dec.
7, the Medicare Open Enrollment (also
called the Annual Election Period) is held
This is the only time in 2013 that those 65
and older may make changes to their health
and prescription drug coverage plans. And
with the hundreds of insurers offering cover
age. it is imperative that seniors choose the
plan that best suits their needs.
To make matters even more complicated,
the nation's healthcare system is in a state of
transition due to the Affordable Care Act, and
there is much misinformation circulating
about it. For starters. Medicare's Open
Enrollment is not part of the Affordable Care
Act's new Health Insurance Marketplace,
and people with Medicare do not need to do
anything with Marketplace plans.
"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act.
Medicare remains strong with more benefits,
better choices and lower costs to beneficiar
ies," said Marilyn Tavenner, administrator at
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services. "Seniors and people with disabili
ties have the opportunity to find and compare
the best plan for them. Coverage options and
costs can change each year, and everyone
should evaluate their current coverage and
choices. If people with Medicare are satisfied
with their current coverage and feel it will
meet their needs for 2014, they do not need
to do anything."
If, however, one is a first-time enrollee,
feels that his or her coverage is inadequate or
that his or her needs have changed, where
does one turn? How does one navigate
through the maze of plans in order to find the
one tailored to their specific needs?
One option has been provided by the
Winston-Salem Urban League, which has
launched a campaign called "The 10,000
Seniors Challenge." During the open enroll
ment period, the goal is to reach 10,000 area
seniors and provide them with help in choos
ing which plan best fits their situation.
Toward that end, they have partnered with
Senior Advisors Group, which has a proven
track record of asset protection and financial
advice tailored for seniors and retirees. The
Senior Challenge has been endorsed by the
32-member Ministers Conference of
Winston-Salem and Vicinty.
To request a consultation with a licensed
agent or for further information, please call
1-800-828-3792 or email senioradvisors
group@gmail.com. There is no obligation
and all information is free.
Ogi Overman,
Winston-Salem Urban League
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Photos by Lay Is Garim
DD Adams (seated, second from right) celebrates her victory with her supporters.
Council
from page A1
percent of the vote,
respectively.
The only newcomer to
the Council is Jeff
Macintosh, who over
came his Republican con
tender, Lida Hayes
Calvert in the race for the
Northwest Ward with 58
percent of the vote.
Macintosh, a realtor for
Leonard Ryden Burr said
the good news was still
sinking in as he took a
much needed break from
the campaign alongside
family members and sup
porters at Bull's Tavern
Tuesday night. The father
of two said he believes
his decades of service to
the community prior to
the campaign were what
tipped the scales in his
favor in the end.
' I think it just speaks
to how long I've worked.
I've lived in the ward for
30 years and I've been
engaged for 30 years,"
said Macintosh, who will
succeed fellow Dem
Wanda Merschel on the
Council. "Lida is a strong
candidate. She worked
very hard, so that's what I
attribute it to."
The Council remains
heavily Democratic. Its
only Republican member
- West Ward representa
tive Robert Clark - faced
no opposition Tuesday.
East Ward representative
Derwin Montgomery also
had no General Election
challenger.
With decades of pub
lic service under her belt.
Mayor Pro Tempore
Vivian Burke is the most
seasoned member of the
Council, but longevity is
common among the
group; Mayor Allen
Joines and Besse have
both served for more than
a decade. Burke was
elected for her 10th con
secutive term on Tuesday.
"When you talk about
the years somebody
served, if they are good
years, they pass and they
pass fast." she told sup
porters at her celebratory
gathering at the Ramada
Inn (formerly Sundance
Plaza) Tuesday night."...
I have reached across
generations. There are
some people 1 have stood
with as children and I
worked with their par
ents, and now they are the
adults."
Despite her storied
career, Burke says she
never takes an election
for granted. She checked
frequently with her
smart phone-wielding
supporters on Election
Night to gauge turnout.
In the end. she command
ed a comfortable lead
with more than 75 per
cent of the vote, despite
being the only incumbent
on the Council who faced
opposition from both a
Republican and an unaf
filiated candidate (Keith
King). Though she has
been roundly criticized
by some for not passing
the torch to a younger
candidate, "age is just a
number," Burke said. She
thanked her supporters
and constituents for giv
ing her another term.
"1 stand here because
of you and most of all
because God had this
wonderful plan for me,"
she declared. "I am so
grateful to each one of
you... You're in my heart
and I carry you in my
heart all of the time. I
love Winston-Salem, and
that means that I love the
people of Winston-Salem
and I'm grateful to the
people of the Northeast
Ward for having confi
dence in me."
Whoops of excite
ment and cheers of accla
mation went up as the
official results rolled in at
the Election Watch Night
Party at North Ward
Council Member Denise
"DD" Adams' home on
Marlowe Avenue. A visi
bly moved Adams made
her way around the room,
embracing family mem
bers and friends who
came out to support her
Adams, who had to miss
months of meetings earli
er in the year because of
health concerns, said the
challenges she has faced
made her success even
sweeter.
"It humbles me," she
said of her first reelection
victory. "It has been a
very challenging year for
me and a lot of people I
saw today, they prayed
for me and I thanked
them for that as well as
for their votes ... If it had
not been for my family
and friends who came to
my support. I could not
have done it."
The Southeast Ward's
James Taylor Jr. made
several stops on Tuesday
evening, taking time out
to share the celebratory
moment with colleagues
from across the city.
"It feels good being
approved by the people
you've represented," said
Taylor, who has led the
ward since 2009. "I'm
happy to be reelected but
there's more work to be
done ... I'm excited to be
back in, but the excite
ment will be short lived.
Tomorrow, it's time to get
back to work."
Jeff Macintosh celebrates his victory with his wife,
Susan and their son Collin.
PUBLIC MEETING
Reynolds Park Road Bridge Replacements
The City of Winston-Salem Public Engineering Division will hold a drop-in
information session to update residents and answer questions about plans
to replace two bridges on Reynolds Park Road between Peachtree Street
and Martin Luther King Jr."Drive.
Date: Tuesday, Nov 12, 2013
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: W.R. Anderson Jr. Recreation Center,
2450 Reynolds Park Road, Winston-Salem
A map showing the proposed project will be available. City representatives
will be available to discuss the proposed replacement plan and answer
questions about the project, including detours and timetables. A
For additional information contact: III!
Alan Temple, City of Winston-Salem Engineering Division
P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102 Hinsjiinsau m
phone: 336-747-6844, fax: 336-727-2361, email: alant@cityofws.org.
Bridges To Be Replaced In 2015
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