Honor Roll of Colored Veterans, Harbinger?

Courtesy Bill Coleman, Bond and Coleman at Honor Roll meeting.

Progress on Honor Roll of Colored Vets

Actions speak louder than words and good actions have good effects. The City of Worcester, organized labor, the Department of Transportation, and the Worcester Public School have acted in a good and anti-racist manner. They and other are cooperating to ensure the restoration of the “Honor Roll of Colored Veterans”.

The Honor Roll was a monument listing of the Black veterans who were in the military during World Two. It was removed by the State during the 1950s and lost.

Other communities rightly have monuments. Recently the some in the Irish community honored the Easter Uprising by the Irish Republican Army against British rule in 1916. This was done at the Hibernian Cross found at City Hall.

The efforts to replace the Honor Roll has been led by James Bond, a commander of a Veteran of Foreign Wars post and by Bill Coleman a long time activist in the City.

In the Black community there is some anxiety whether the Honor Roll would be replaced. It was only a week or so ago that a City Councillor, Konnie Lukes, attacked Bill Coleman for bothering the City Council with his petitions. Another City Councillor, Michael T. Gaffney, has made it his misguided mission to close a Black run social agency among his other actions that some say are racist.

To be fair the project was approved unanimously, including votes by Councillors Lukes and Gaffney

Councillors Bergman has worked on the planning and supported the project. He also supported the placement of a plague honoring Worcester’s first Black City Councillor. Charles Scott.

The City of Worcester will help pay for the new Honor Roll as well as allowing it to be placed on a triangular plot near the Worcester Police Station. The land is on Belmont St.  This is sort of a disappointment as the original proposal was to put the Honor at City Hall where it could be better seen.

Students from Worcester Technical High School will donate labor and build the Honor Roll. The Central Mass. Labor Council, headed by Joseph Carlson,  will help pay for the monument and donate the materials. The Department of Transportation will also contribute to the funding.

Hopefully this will be a good sign for race relations in Worcester that have suffered several hits in recent years. The City forcing Dr. Boone out of the School Superintendency, the political retaliations against Blacklives Matter, and the intransigence regarding police accountability have left a bad taste and ill feelings in the City.

I am thankful for the efforts of Messrs. Bond and Coleman. I am thankful for the support of the City, the State, organized labor, and the students. I know that all are sincere and generous and working for a better society.

The next test for us is harder. There are real problems that have disparately bad impacts on the Black community and other communities of color or communities with low income.

The replacement of the Honor Roll is a good thing in and of itself. Is it also a harbinger of better race relations.

Misuse of the Courts by Patriots Fans

The Misuse of the Courts by Patriots Fans

A group of Patriot fans has filed a lawsuit in Boston Federal Court seeking a restoration of the Patriots first round draft pick in the 2016 draft  and the fourth round of the 2017 draft  of newly eligible rookies players. Named in the suit is the National Football League (NFL), its Commissioner Roger Goodell. Curiously the owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, was also named.

The Plaintiffs claim that they have suffered mental anguish (emotional distress) by the “fraudulent” actions of the NFL. They also claim that the Patriots have been harmed by the Goodell’s action.

Mr. Kraft allegedly did not fight hard enough against the NFL disciplinary measures.

The lawsuit was prepared by an attorney from Maine, Steve Carey.

I had a good laugh when hearing this story. I felt it was just one more thing to make life interesting.

 I was surprised that Tom Brady name did not come up in the lawsuit. He is well revered in New England, but faces suspension for Deflategate.

After some thought I changed my mind.

This lawsuit actually hurts the public interest. It clogs up an already slow justice system with a frivolous case. The plaintiffs have no standing upon which a claim can be made. They have no fiduciary interest. The emotional distress is the accepted risk for being a sport fan.

I would be surprised if the lawsuit was not dismissed immediately. I would not be surprised if Mr. Carey was sanctioned for bringing a frivolous lawsuit.

The Patriots are not well liked outside of New England. The franchise has been accused of cheating several times as the team has won several Lombardi Trophies.  It is not the first time the NFL has punished the team by removing draft picks.

The aura of cleverness and the perception of cheating actually add to the image of New Englanders as innovators and being ahead of the curve. In some cases ahead of the rules.  I am looking forward to the next bending of the rules by Coach Belichick.

There may be a reason other history that so many elite colleges are located in New England.

Of all of the more interesting football players in the NFL the Patriots seems to have had at least three. Tom Brady is a pretty face, with a trophy wife, a fountain of youth, and adoring fans. Gronk is the young man sowing his oats who does what he wants without getting into trouble. Hernandez scares me if any of what they say about him is true.

So it beginning to make sense to me that Patriot fans are not all that different from the players. We fans want to be part of this interesting team, a part of the draft, and a part of the perception of the clever New Englander.

When I first came to New England decades ago, one of the things I learn was the wisdom from an old New Englander who said “Make do, Do with less, Do with out”. The Patriot team and its fans will have to take note of his words when it comes to the 2016 and 2017 NFL draft and Tom Brady’s suspension.

One Person One Vote

The Supreme Court’s Road to Redemption

I have been following my former friend, Justice Clarence Thomas, since Justice Scalia’s death. He voted on April 4, 2016 with the “liberal” Justices without comment. I believe that the individual can be redeemed and that he is on the road to redemption.

On April 4, 2016 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that being registered to vote does not make us persons. As you know the Supreme Court has the legal right under the Constitution to determine who among us are persons. In 1860s it said that freed Black people and their children are persons. Later in the 19^th Century it said that Corporations are person.

In this instant case it ruled people not registered to vote can continue to be persons.

A person is usually a human being. However in the USA it is what the Supreme Court says we are.

The case involved a challenge to the so called One Person One Vote principle found in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  The number of persons has traditionally been determined by the U.S. Census which takes place every ten years. The states usually follow the U.S. Census when determining redistricting of state legislatures.

A right wing group, that some consider racist, in Texas challenged the constitutionality of using the U.S. Census to determine the number of persons and the One Person One Vote Principle.  This group wanted a separate census in Texas based on voter registration.

As relatively more persons are registered to vote in the rural areas of the United States than in the urban areas , the change sought by the right wing group would make the state legislatures more White and more rural.

However it had other implications as well. It would mean that children would become non persons as they could not be registered voters. It would mean permanent residents would be non persons as they could not register to vote. Anyone who could not meet the difficult voter ID laws would be a non person.

Fortunately for humanity the Supreme Court without Scalia voted down the right wing challenge and took the road away from Perdition.

The Supreme Court in a back handed manner has affirmed that like Corporations, children, immigrants,  and those of us who do not have a birth certificate or afford a government ID are still persons.

As persons we (all residents) are entitled to representation by our state legislatures.

There is a message here for Worcester and Massachusetts which hold that only citizens can vote in an election.  They should allow adult residents the right to vote.  Adult residents could be able to vote in School Committee and City Council election in Worcester, if there was a home rule petition allowing it.

The results of November 2015 elections for School Committee suggest a need for residents, not just citizens to vote in Worcester.  The School Committee is entirely White while the School District is majority Latino, Black, and Asian.

In 2016 Worcester City Manager at the urging of a City Councillor wrote a Home Rule Petition for the eviction of certain leasees.  This petition lacked substance. 

The Manager should now write another petition that allows residents of the City to vote In City elections. I hope he has the moral character to do so. 

Councillor Gaffney Plays Roulette With Public Safety

Councillor Gaffney Plays Roulette With Public Safety

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is an engineer college in Worcester Massachusetts. It is known worldwide for its engineering programs and graduates.

WPI has an urban campus with public streets. Like many cities in the USA the drivers in Worcester drive aggressively and arrogantly. Some drivers just go to fast for the small streets.

There are about one incident a week where a motorist strikes a pedestrian. Half of the incidents are hit and runs. About half of the incidents result in death of the pedestrians.

Last week a driver struck an older man on Shrewsbury St. A long time resident of Worcester said in a letter to the local newspapers that she was afraid to cross the streets of Worcester as some drivers go “ 50, 60, or 70” miles per hour.

My wife and I were almost struck by a speeding car as we enter the cross walk at the Marine Corp. League. The cross walk signal was blinking bright yellow. It seemed that the motorist sped up.

It is my opinion that when a motorist strikes a pedestrian, he should receive an automatic 500 dollar fine regardless of fault. This would help remind motorists they MUST in all cases yield to pedestrians or stop for pedestrians in some situations.

This issue of pedestrians and public safety is a serious one. People are dying . It should not be a political football. The crosswalk signal should be built as requested by WPI. These are public streets for which the City and City Council are responsible.

Is money a higher priority than public safety and our lives?  Councillor Michael T.  Gaffney like many others seems to think so. They seems to believes that pedestrians have no rights except to get out of the way of their speeding vehicle.

I was told than a firefighter was angry that I criticized the Majority Leader of the State Senate, Harriet Chandler, proposed bill to fine pedestrians.  He was especially irked by the suggestion that motorist be automatically fined for striking pedestrians.

A pedestrian when struck by a car does not harm the motorist and the pedestrian never gets up and runs away from the scene of the accident.

Councillor Gaffney has previously made statements contrary to public safety. 

At the mayoral debate he stated that when a motorist strikes a pedestrian the motorist suffers emotional anguish. He said nothing about the pedestrian pain and suffering.

So we have a situation where Councillor Gaffney will delay or not expedite a public safety issue because he wants WPI to pay for it.  WPI already makes payment to the City in lieu of taxes.

If Mr. Gaffney believes that WPI should pay more to the City then that can be negotiated. However to hold as hostage or leverage an issue of public safety such as cross walk signals makes no sense and is playing roulette with our lives.  

A reasonable person could conclude that Mr. Gaffney is using this issue to further his rumored career move to State Senate. If so, shame on him for endangering the lives of Worcester residents and the public.

A reasonable person would install the cross walk signals now and negotiate a possible increase of WPI’s payment in lieu of taxes later.

Unfortunately I do not know of many people who think Councillor Gaffney is reasonable.

Lost Colored Soldiers Honor Roll

Mr. James Bond

The Lost Colored Soldiers Honor Roll

The City Council of Worcester voted on March 29, 2016 to restore or replace the Honor Roll of Colored Soldiers from Worcester who served in World War II. The vote was 11-0.

In 1943 when the Honor Roll was erected the United States Armed forces were segregated. The so called Colored soldiers (dark skin soldiers) were organized into separate units from the White soldiers.  Latino soldiers were assigned units based on how light or dark their skins were.

Asian soldiers also were in separate units.

The Honor Roll was located in the Laurel Clayton section of Worcester which had a large Black population. The neighborhood was displaced first by the building of Interstate 290 and later by the building of Plumley Village. 

The people who lived in the Laurel Clayton neighborhood still keep in touch with each others. They used to have reunions, but these have been less often as the residents have aged.

Interstate 290 destroyed many neighborhoods in Worcester including the large Jewish neighborhood around Water St.

The restoration of the Honor Roll of Colored soldiers is important to the Black community as the soldiers not only fought for their country against Fascism, but for their race in the constant struggle to prove equality and to gain acceptance from the majority race.

Still today the Honor Roll is a symbol of this struggle for justice and equality.

Idella Hazard a Worcester resident whose family goes back to at least the Civil War said at the City Council meeting that the City has accommodated the Italian community in the Shrewsbury St. area by preserving and moving several times the statue of Christopher Columbus.

Ms. Hazard implied that not to restore the Honor Roll would be disparate treatment of Black people.

The VFW of mostly Black veterans led the process to get the Honor Roll restored. Mr. James Bond the VFW leader spoke for the group at the City Council meeting. Mr. Bond said it was an important issue for him and the Post.  Members who have long time roots in the City like Jack Toney and other were a force.

Mr. Bill Coleman

Mr. Bill Coleman played a major part as well in the publicity he gained for the restoration. The story appeared in over thirty news papers and on NPR.

The restoration will cost about 20 thousand dollars. It was suggested that it be placed at City Hall. I would like it to go next the bronze GI statute on the Franklin St. side City Hall.  Placement there would give both additional meaning.

To the Black community this is important. I know it is important to Councillor King. It might be important to one or two other Councillors.  However I think that the Honor Roll vote is just political capital for others.

Maybe the 11-0 vote is a sign of less racism from City government, maybe not.

I am happy that it is being restored and I hope that it does not face the same mechanisms as plagued the Major Taylor relief.

Dr. Cornell West

Dr. Cornell West, Too Smart

Dr. Cornell West spoke at Worcester State University on March 30, 2016. He is a difficult man to understand, but most philosophers are. He certainly stepped on everyone’s toes without any apparent concrete ax to grind.

At first Dr. West talked about love and how it will change the world. By love he means agape love or the love of human interactions and charity. He felt that this should be our primary motivation. He reminded me of a gentleman in Worcester who also says that his enemies will be swept away with this love.

Next Dr. West talked of integrity of the individual and how we should not succumb to the prostitution of ourselves for money and banality.

It was almost sermonlike.

Then toes started to get stepped on. He said many of the churches preached the gospel of prosperity or pray to God and you will get rich or free of material want.

He attacked President Obama, saying a Black President, a Black Attorney General, and a Black head of Homeland Security, and the racist cops still are not being punished.

Dr. West had a good word for Malcolm X whom he saw as an model of the redemption of the individual, a man who could change his life for the better in terms of social interactions and leadership.

The Constitution of the United took a hit. Dr. West pointed out that the Constitution made legal the exploitative nature of the political bosses of the American Revolution, codifying slavery.  His point as I understand it is those things that are legal are not always just; we should not fall into the trap of thinking legality equals Justice.

There was an irony I suppose in his analysis of Donald Trump. Dr. West sarcastically called Donald Trump “brother”. He said brother Trump was not yet a fascist.  Dr. West thought Trump to be an egotist who liked showing off how smart he is. The irony is that Dr. West seemed to be doing the same thing.

Unfortunately most of his audience was Worcester State University students who did not seem to grasp the shock values of the Dr. West’s assertions. The terms he used like “neo liberal” seemed to confuse many.

From my own experience terms used by contemporary college students like “intersectionality” go over my head as well.

Dr. West is in his sixties and a generational gap may be developing with semantics of the 1960s and 2010s. I heard some of the students leaving say that they wanted to cut through the crap and get to the message.

One of the things Dr. West does not have is a cause to fight for. He did not say he wanted to close down Guantanamo. He did not say he wanted $15 minimum wage. He did say he was for a general redistribution of power.

 When you do not have a cause,  speech becomes more philosophical or ethical.  It is like someone showing off how smart he is. 

What I learnt from Dr. Hampsch, one of my philosophy teachers at Holy Cross, is that Karl Marx changed philosophy when he said our job is to make history, not just to study it. That thought repeated itself as I listened to Dr. West.

What Would You Do With 91 Million Dollars A Year?

What Would You Do With 91 Million Dollars A Year?

The Worcester School District is being underfunded at least $91,000,000 per year. This is according to the calculations found in M. G. L. Chapter 70 and the statutes for special needs education.

The purpose of this money is to ensure that school districts with low incomes and property values receive resources similar to the richer school districts. This makes sense especially in terms of the low class sizes needed for quality education and for the intense educational effort needed by some special needs students.

However for years or decades Worcester has been shortchanged by millions of dollars. Thinking of it as a tax refund might bring clarity. The State owes you a $2000.00 refund, but only gives you $1500. This is certainly unfair and possibly unlawful.

The excuse I most hear is the money had not been proposed in the Governor’s budget. This go along to get a long mentality is objectively harmful to the children of Worcester. I understand that several legislators have raised a fuss about the Governor’s education budget. Good for them, I hope that is a work example for the Worcester.

I was surprised when a person who supports Worcester Public Schools asked me what would the School District do with the money.

The answer I had for him was fairly easy, but also incomplete.

1.     Ensure the special needs students get all of the resources that are required for them to be successful.  

2.     Reduce the student teacher ratio so that all students can get more individualized instruction.

3.     Institute additional advance placement course to ensure that the students who seeking college preparation get it.

4.     Establish a school similar to the Nativity School in the Worcester Public School for children at risk.

5.     Repair and modernize the School district buildings.

6.     Establish an exam school for science and mathematics

There does not seem to be any urgency in our delegation to the State House, the City Council, or School Committee to get this money. In fact I have heard only four people in the City talk about it and two of them are in CPPAC.  Another person is in the teachers’ union.   Rep. Mary Keefe is the fourth.

This money would not only help the students be successful, but would add to the economy of the City. It would be a net gain as more money would come in than leaves.

It would also mean scores of new jobs. Hopefully most of these jobs would be obtained by Worcester residents.

The additional money and the improvements to the Worcester School District would have the additional effect of helping to stop the drain of money to the charter schools. A new exam school in Science and Math, a middle school based on the Nativity School model, additional Advance Placement courses, and smaller class sizes should make Worcester School very attractive, attractive enough for students outside the District to apply.

The children of Worcester would benefit more when the City Council stops its pipe dream of making Boston “jealous” and when the School Committee stops selecting candidates based on popularity.

I hope this wish list comes about within my lifetime.