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BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 "THE ROANOKE SCLC RADIO SHOW" THURSDAYS 4 P.M. - 5 P.M. WTOY RADIO, 1480 A.M. YOUR HOST JEFF ARTIS, PRESIDENT THE ROANOKE SCLC
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/27/07
* Hillary is right. Hillary Clinton is coming under criticism for saying a terrorist attack in America between now and Election Day will help the Republicans no matter what. Well, she was telling the truth. Leave her alone on this one.
* I hope you got to read the comments of Virginia Sen. John Warner concerning Iraq and the Iraq War. Warner says if the government of Iraq isn't going to hold up their end of the bargain, it's time to start bringing our military boys home. I couldn't agree more.
* In the 2008 Presidential Election, Hillary will be the easiest Democrat to beat. Republicans aren't too worried about Hillary. Republicans are more worried about John Edwards and Barack Obama. Don't forget that Republicans have been using Hillary's name to raise money to support Republican causes for over 10 years. Republicans think Hillary is the devil. When Republicans put Hillary's name on a fund raising letter, money starts pouring into Republican coffers. For the past 10 years Hillary's been the best fundraiser Republicans have.
* You CAN change bad legislation passed by state governments. The Virginia Legislature will be meeting soon to revamp Virginia's "abusive driver fees" legislation. Why? There was such an outcry over these laws that members of the Virginia Legislature have cried uncle. Plus, it's an election year for the majority of the Virginia Legislature. Upset voters vote for challengers, not incumbents. And some say elected officials do what they want to do regardless of what the people want. This only happens when people act like sheep and don't participate in the electoral process.
* Congratulations to Roanoke, Va.'s Hurt Park Elementary School, James Madison Middle School and Garden City Elementary School. These schools have met federal benchmarks established by "No Child Left Behind," President Bush's education program. Last year, these schools came up short meeting these benchmarks.
Overall, the Roanoke, Va. Public School System did not meet the benchmarks established by "No Child Left Behind." A total of 14 Roanoke public schools did not make the NCLB benchmarks. Oh, because of budget cuts, Hurt Park Elementary School is one of the schools targeted for closure by the Roanoke, Va. Public School System.
* Before you go gaga over Roanoke, Va. Public Schools not making NCLB benchmarks, let me say this. NCLB is flawed legislation. I am not a fan of NCLB. Yes, the Roanoke, Va. Public School System has some problems. However, in spite of these problems, a child can still get an outstanding education in the Roanoke, Va. Public School System. Parents who have children in the Roanoke Public School System just have to make sure their child takes full advantage of all the Roanoke, Va. Public School System has to offer. Some parents will have to fight for their children like there's no tomorrow.
* From the "Father of the Year" files. Mike Vick's "father" rolled over on his son last week. As Vick awaits sentencing on dog fighting charges, Vick's "father" says Vick has been been involved in dog fighting since 2001 when Vick held dog fights in the family garage. "Dad" claims he told Vick to stop. "Dad" also said he told Vick to put the property where Vick's dog fighting enterprise took place in someone else's name to avoid prosecution if Vick and his boys got busted. What a good role model.
Vick's "father" then admitted that he asked Vick for $1 million to live on. Vick's "father" then reduced that amount to $700,000. Vick refused his "Dad's" request. Vick's "Old Man" hasn't worked since 2003 and has been to drug rehab. Vick pays his "Old Man's" rent, gives him money and paid for his "Dad's" rehab. Did I mention that for most of Vick's life, Vick's "father" was nowhere to be found? With a "father" like Vick's, who need enemies?
* Did you see that cockeyed story Roanoke, Va.'s Newschannel 10 ran on the controversy involving Mike Vick and his "father"? The story had the type of journalistic slant that underscores why so many in the Black community don't care for the media. Newschannel 10 reported that Vick's "father" told his son that dog fighting was wrong and he shouldn't be involved with it. Newschannel 10 neglected to report on the relationship, or lack there of, between Vick and his "father." The station also neglected to report that Vick's "father" was not around when he was growing up, at times helped Vick set up dog fights at the family home, tried to extort money from Vick and is only coming forward about Vick's activities as payback for Vick not giving him more money.
Newschannel 10's slant on the story was Vick's "Old Man" was looking out for his son like good fathers do. Wick simple didn't listen to him. Listening to the story, and what wasn't reported in the story, you'd think Vick's "father" was a Cliff Huxtable type. That's bad journalism.
But, I better be careful. The last time I was critical of Roanoke's Newschannel 10, their news director called me and told me I was a, "race baiter." That's cool. I told him what I thought of him, as well. And I don't give interviews to Newschannel 10. Enough said.
* More silliness from the Vick case. Dog fighting is not cultural. Dog fighting is not a Black thing. Dog fighting is wrong. Race does not give anyone the right to be a knucklehead or the right to engage in or to justify criminal behavior.
* I've just finished reading the "Summary of Facts" concerning Mike Vick's plea deal. I'm gonna tell you right now. Don't be surprised if Mike Vick is banned from the NFL for life. In the document, Vick says he didn't bet or profit from betting on his dog fights. Vick says he let his boys profit from all of the gambling proceeds. However, the document shows Vick admitting to knowing betting was taking place and shows Vick's Bad Newz Kennels was part of an ongoing gambling enterprise. Gambling or being associated with gambling is a big no-no in the NFL and in pro sports in general.
In addition, Vick has agreed to tell the Feds about everything he knows about dog fighting and who is involved. Right now, returning to the NFL is the least of Vick's problems. I fear for Vick's safety.
BREAK TIME.
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5.
HAVE A NICE LABOR DAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/24/07
SPORTS TIME BOYS AND GIRLS
* There is nothing wrong with some of the comments made by the NAACP earlier this week in regard to Mike Vick. Vick should be allowed to play pro football again.
* Forget not having won the most majors in golf or the most golf tournaments. Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time.
* I've changed my mind. USC and LSU are the two best teams in college football. However, USC and West Virginia will play for the BCS Championship. LSU's SEC Conference football schedule is a killer.
* Va. Tech will lose two college football games this year.
* My boys from Notre Dame will lose at least 3 college football games this year. But, next year, look out.
* Yeah, I know my O's of Baltimore lost 30-3 Wednesday night. I watched the game. But, under Dave Trembly, the O's have finally turned the corner. If not for their Interleague record, 6-12, and their record against the AL West, 10-20, the O's would be in the Wild Card race. The O's are 27-20 against the AL East. If the O's had any relief pitchers, they'd have the best record in the AL East. I've lost count on the number of times the Red Sox have come back to beat the O's in the 8'th and 9'th inning.
* I like the Ravens and the Bears in the Super Bowl. The Redskins will win their division. Sorry Cowboy fans. No, I'm not.
* The USA Basketball team? Who cares. The U.S. has the world's best players. The U.S. should kick the crap out of everyone we play.
* NEXTEL Cup drivers winning in NASCAR's BUSH series? Big deal. NEXTEL Cup drivers should win BUSH races. To me, it's like A-Rod leaving the Yankees to play for a AAA baseball team and people making a big deal because he's an All-Star. Get real.
* I hate to say this because I can't stand them, but, the Yankees will make the baseball playoffs.
SEE YOU MONDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/22/07
* I have to be honest. I'm not feeling too secure seeing Karl Rove leave the White House. Rove was the only one in that building who had any idea about what the Bush Administration was doing.
* Should Don Imus be allowed to work in radio again? Yes. Let's move on.
* Parents, just do your job! Julie Aigner-Clark created the "Baby Einstein" child video series. A recent University of Washington study says baby videos may hinder an infants vocabulary development. Parents are upset. Who are parents upset with? Julie Aigner-Clark. Aigner-Clark has had her home vandalized and has received angry e-mails from parents who think Aigner-Clark snookered them about her "Baby Einstein" series. According to Aigner-Clark, her videos weren't designed to make kids smarter, they were designed to make kids happier.
Let me tell you something. If you are a parent and you are depending on baby videos to make your child smarter, you need help. You are not doing your job as a parent. Making your child smarter is the job of a parent. Quit your crying. Leave Aigner-Clark alone. And START SPENDING QUALITY TIME INTERACTING WITH YOUR KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!
* Did you see David Letterman last night? Letterman's Top 10 List was, "10 Reasons Why Mike Vick Did It." It was a very, very funny comedy bit.
* At this time, I do not consider the Mike Vick controversy a racial issue. However, if Vick is sentenced to more than 2 years in prison for what he did, prosecuted by the Virginia courts for what he did and then banned from the NFL, I'd have to change my mind. Why? If Joe the Plummer pleaded guilty to the same exact charges as Vick, Joe the Plummer would get about 2 years in prison, would not be prosecuted by the Virginia courts and would be able to return to his work after getting out of prison.
* I keep hearing how the Black community has turned the Vick controversy into a racial issue. Give me a break. I've read the message boards. I've listened to talk radio and sports talk radio. All I have to say is there are some, let me stress some, very racist White folks out there. All that's missing in the Vick discussion is for some of these sick folks in the White community to come clean and say, "I just hate those niggers with money!" Just keeping it real.
And can we stop this ignorant talk that dog fighting is a part of Black culture so it should be condoned? Dog fighting has been around forever.
Funny. The last I heard cock fighting was legal in Virginia. If the law on cock fighting has been changed, it's only been changed in the past two months. Where's PETA?
* I hope you got a chance to read Roanoke Times columnist, Shanna Flowers' column on the death of her father. Outstanding reading. To read her column, please click on the following link.
* You can beat City Hall, Part One. Look at Valerie Garner. You go Home Girl. The City of Roanoke Va. was going to destroy the Countryside Golf Course. Valerie and the good people of the Countryside Neighborhood Alliance stepped in and said, "No." The golf course is safe for now. And please send Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris some flowers. Harris got his feelings hurt during the Countryside controversy. To read more on this story, please click on one of the following links from The Roanoke Times and the Countryside Neighborhood Alliance.
* You can beat City Hall, Part Two. Look at Aubrey Hicks. You go Home Boy. If you remember, Hicks is a working class man who simply wanted to put a new roof on his home. Hicks wanted to put a roof on his house that he could afford. The City of Roanoke, Va., backed by the city's Architectural Review Board and Old Southwest Inc. said, "No." These folks then threatened to put Hicks in jail if he continued to work on his roof.
Hey, all the guy wanted to do was to put a new roof on his house! You'd think that the City of Roanoke, Va., the city's Architectural Review Board and Old Southwest Inc. would have better things to be concerned with, namely dealing with the drug dealing, pimps and prostitutes making money in the area where Hicks lives, conditions in which Hicks was also working to stop.
But, no! The two-year-old, thumb sucking, legal beagles who were giving Hicks grief thought it was better to go after Hicks and his roof than to go after the drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes in Hicks' neighborhood. Maybe those folks were getting a cut. I don't know.
I do know this. Those two-year-old, thumb sucking, legal beagles don't want working class people like Hicks living in that neighborhood. They want Hicks' property. They want to turn Hicks' neighborhood into Yuppie Heaven. To do this, those two-year-old, thumb sucking, legal beagles first need to get rid of the working class people living in Hicks' neighborhood, beginning with Hicks himself.
Thank goodness, Hicks won his 10-month-old battle in court. To read more on this story please click on the following link. Let me give you fair warning. Please take your anti-goofy pills first. The comments in this article made by Kara Smith, of Old Southwest Inc., Don Harwood, of the Roanoke Architect Review Board and Assistant City Attorney Steve Talevi are quite interesting. Hey folks, IT'S A ROOF! O.K.!
* As a NASCAR fan, I was hoping that Dale Jr. would be able to drive a Number 8 car next year. It just won't be the same.
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/20/07
* Now that the Mike Vick controversy appears to be settled, what's next?
* Vick made a mistake by not being the first to plead in this case. By pleading guilty and then offering an apology for his misdeeds, Vick would have been in a better position to control the spin on his case instead of having others define Vick as a monster.
* When Vick becomes a free man, he should be allowed to play pro football again. Through his time in jail, Vick will have paid his debt to society. Justice will have been served.
* We also can't ignore that Vick will continue to pay his debt to society through the loss of income for the rest of his life. When the time comes for Vick to on to glory, it's possible that Vick will have lost over $100-$150 million in total earnings when all is said and done. Again, the Vick case should be about justice, not revenge.
* There should be no talk of removing Vick from the history of Va. Tech football or removing Vick from the history of Va. Tech University. Virginia Tech University has a building named after a man who was a member of the KKK. Vick's crimes pale in comparison to the crimes committed by America's most dastardly terrorist organization.
* Virginia Tech football owes a debt to Mike Vick. Va. Tech was a good college football program before Mike Vick. The Va. Tech football program became an annual contender for college football's National Championship and college football's top 10 after Mike Vick. Va. Tech football is what it is because of Mike Vick.
* Plus, Vick's crimes are not a reflection on Va. Tech University in any way, shape or form. When people think Mike Vick, they think of pro football. They think of the Atlanta Falcons. They think another pro athlete who let money go to his head. If you ask the average person what college Mike Vick went to, the majority of the people would get the answer to that question wrong. I bet some people would even say Mike Vick went to the University of Virginia instead of saying Vick went to Va. Tech University.
* On the other hand, I don't blame the Atlanta Falcons for whatever they do concerning the history of Mike Vick with the team. The Falcons were Vick's employer. The Falcons will always be linked to Mike Vick. The Falcons will pay a huge price because of Vick's criminal activities both in revenue and in the standings for the next several years. To say Vick let the Falcons down is a huge understatement. Because of this, the Falcons have every right to do what they want in regard to Vick's history with the team.
* Hopefully, young athletes will, as the old folks say, wake up and smell the coffee. I don't have a problem with someone trying to "keep it real." I don't have a problem with someone trying to take care of their "boys." But, when "keepin' it real" and taking care of their "boys" leads to self destruction, to me that's just dumb.
* When life gives you a winning lottery ticket, and you tear that winning lottery ticket into pieces, you are a fool. That's what Vick did. Vick tore up his winning lottery ticket. With talent comes responsibility. Part of that responsibility is to try to do the right thing. If you fail to do the right thing and you lose everything, you only have yourself to blame. Maybe now, young athletes will understand that no matter how talented you are, your talent will only take you so far. Let's hope so anyway.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/17/07
* I've taken some hits for not publicly supporting "Citizens Handcuffed for Justice," a Roanoke, Va. group whose goal is to rid the Roanoke, Va. of police brutality.
* I support the goal of the organization. However, I have a problem with the group's leadership, namely Judy Ferguson.
* I was willing to let sleeping dogs lie, until I learned that my name keeps coming up by members of "Citizens Handcuffed for Justice" as an, "Uncle Tom leader of a wannabe civil rights organization who only wants to take people's money and does nothing for the community." Anyone who has been reading "THE ARTIS BLOG" for the past several years knows, Homey don't play that.
* I don't get upset at being called an "Uncle Tom." You know what they say about sticks and stones. Plus, I know that's there's a certain element in the Black community that will resort to calling someone an "Uncle Tom" whenever that person tries to do things the correct way instead of the emotional way.
* I also know that when it comes to the Roanoke Police Dept., I'm Public Enemy Number 1. No one, and I mean no one, has done more to keep the men in blue honest as much as I have. And no one, and I mean no one, has had to deal with the thug element of the RPD as much as I have.
* My response to being called an "Uncle Tom" when it comes to the RPD is this. Where were you when I was investigating the Poindexter pepper spray case, when a man in handcuffs died in police custody? Where you when I called for the resignation of Joe Gaskins in 1999? Where were you when I said that while the majority of the RPD are good hardworking people, there is a thug element on the RPD that needs to be addressed? Where were you when I asked the U.S. Justice Dept. to come to Roanoke to investigate the RPD in 1999 and 2001? Where were you when I accused the RPD of fraud when they closed the police substation on Lafayette Blvd.? Where were you when I accused the police of not doing their job in Northwest and Southeast Roanoke, from not responding to calls, to failing to write proper police reports, to telling criminals who called the police on them?
* Where were you when I was trying to address police corruption during the Fred Pledge scandal? Where you when I was calling for a change in police review board policies? Where you when I addressed the issue of people arrested for public intoxication being beaten up in the Roanoke City Jail by law enforcement personnel? Where were you during the Workman case, when a married, White off-duty DEA agent killed a Black man for talking to a White woman the DEA agent wanted to sleep with? Where were you in 2000 when I finally got Roanoke City Government to enforce laws on the books that were passed in 1975, yes, 1975, by the Virginia General Assembly, laws that are designed to keep our neighborhoods safer? Where were you when we were trying to run the drug dealers off of the corners of Lafayette Blvd. from 1999-2004, drug dealers that had ties to rogue members of the RPD?
* Yeah, it's nice to talk now. But, where were you when things got rough? I didn't see you. Neither did anyone else.
* I don't rush out and support an organization whose leader has lied and accused me of a number of things decency prevents me from printing on the pages of "THE ARTIS BLOG." (Members of the Roanoke SCLC can verify those those Judy Ferguson triple x rated e-mails.) I also don't support an organization who has a leader who likes to harass senior citizens, business owners, political candidates and office holders and harass a Roanoke judge.
* People can call me what they want. But, I know and others know the truth. When in comes to police brutality, police misconduct and the RPD, I don't go off half-steppin.'
SEE YOU MONDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/15/07
* There's been quite a bit of discussion about police brutality in Roanoke, Va. and what civil rights organizations are failing to do to protect the community from being brutalized by the Roanoke Police Department.
* People have come to me many times through the years concerning brutality charges against the RPD. Most of the time, the people who came to me with police brutality complaints were satisfied with the outcome. Other people who were unhappy with the way I wanted to handle their complaints later told me after the fact that they wished they would have listened to me, that they regretted not getting out of the way and letting me do my thing. There have been times when a case of police brutality hasn't been resolved to my satisfaction. But, even in those cases, the person who came to me with the complaint was happy with the way I did things. Plus, given the amount of police harassment and intimidation I get when I'm involved in a police brutality case, I must be doing something right.
* I had good teachers when it comes to handling police brutality cases. I learned early on that in cases such as this, you can picket, protest and have all of the meetings you want to have. You can have all of the press conferences you want to have. The simple fact is when it comes to proving police brutality, it's not what you know, it's what you can prove.
And sometimes, that isn't even enough. After all, those boys in L.A. got off for what they did to Rodney King. I saw the tape. You saw the tape. We all saw the tape. Still, those boys were found innocent in state court. Yes, there was a conviction. Those boys were convicted in federal court.
* Police brutality in Roanoke, Va. is very difficult to prove. First, the system has been set up to support the side of the police in these situations. Second, Roanoke Police Chief Joe Gaskins has at least two awards from two different Presidents of the Roanoke NAACP and several other awards from organizations in Roanoke's Black community. These awards carry a lot of weight. The rational goes, "Black organizations and the NAACP would not give a police chief an award if there was a problem with police brutality in Roanoke, Va." Third, some confuse police brutality with the police following established police procedure.
Fourth, the claim of police brutality simply isn't supported by the evidence presented. If someone comes to me saying they were beat up by the police, the first thing I ask for is a hospital report. Why? Because when I go to the police with a complaint about a policeman beating someone up, the first thing the police are going to ask me is, "If so and so got beat up by one of our policemen, where's the hospital report?"
* If you come to me about a case of police brutality, I'm going to ask a couple of questions. 1) What happened and what did you do after the incident? 2) Do you know the name of the offending officer or know the badge number of the offending officer?
* 3) Do you have a copy of the police report of the incident? 4) Was an official complaint filed against the offending officer? 5) Are there any emergency room reports of any injuries suffered in the incident? 6) Are there any pictures of any injuries suffered at the hands of the offending officer? 7) Are receiving any treatment for any injury you suffered by the offending officer?
* 8) Is there any video of the incident? 9) What witnesses are willing to come forward to support your claim? 10) How will your version of what happened differ from what the officer is going to say happened? 11) How do want this situation resolved? 12) Are you willing to be in this for the long haul? 13) Who else have you talked to about the incident? 14) Do you have a lawyer?
* I also ask a person about their background, if they have any kind of police record other than a traffic ticket. In theory, a criminal record isn't supposed to have anything to do with any complaint filed by the police. In reality, a criminal record casts doubt on the credibility of the person filing the police brutality complaint and the witnesses supporting the police brutality complaint. That's just the way it is in the real world.
* After getting the answer to these questions, I tell the person one other thing. Don't say anything to anyone about this case unless you check with me first, including your family and friends. Too many police brutality cases are messed up by people talking too much, especially when people start talking about how much money they are going to get when they sue the police department for what they did.
* Fighting police brutality is no play thing. Fighting police brutality is chess, not checkers. You can't go off half cocked. You can't go off into left field. Credibility of all who are involved is paramount. Why? If you mess up just one police brutality investigation, you mess up all future police brutality investigations in locality area for the next several years.
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/13/07
* Mitt Romney won, some say bought, Saturday's Iowa Straw Poll. Big deal. Romney will not win the 2008 Republican nomination for President. The good thing about Saturday's results in Iowa is the Republican field of Presidential nominees will now be reduced by one third. Now, if only the Democrats will take note.
* A United States Justice Dept. report says that while Blacks make up 13% of the population in the U.S., 1/2 of all murder victims between 2001 and 2005 were Black. The majority of Black murder victims are between 17-years-old and 29-years-old.
* According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 9 out of 10 Black murder victims were killed by other Black people. Three out of four Black murder victims were killed with a gun. Blacks are more likely than Whites, Hispanics and Asians to be victims of violent crime.
* Given these facts, its amazing that Black people still get on me for being such an outspoken critic of gangs and gang violence. Black self-genocide is simply unacceptable.
* Guess what? The troop surge in Iraq may actually be working. Do you think that after all of this time President Bush may have finally done something right?
* Well, you made it. But, what about the health of your baby? Antoria Gillon went to try out for "American Idol." Gillon was 9 months pregnant. After waiting in line in the Texas sun at Texas Stadium for several hours, Gillon went into labor. She refused to go to the hospital until after her "American Idol" audition was over. Gillon auditioned for the show and made it to the next round. Maybe it's just me, but, what was this woman thinking? The health of a baby is more important that getting on "American Idol."
* Who didn't see this coming? The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the most corrupt government agency in Roanoke, Va., says that former director, Ellis Henry, must repay $30,000 for non-allowable expenses that took place during his 10 months on the job.
If you remember, Henry was hired to lead the Housing Authority in May, 2006. Henry tried to clean up the agency. He also blew the whistle on Housing Authority practices. As a result, the Housing Authority had to repay $2 million to HUD due to conflicts of interests and other shady practices. HUD reduced the repayment to $1.3 million. Henry left the Housing Authority in April, 2007 citing conflicts.
Gilbert Butler, Housing Authority Board of Commissioner member says in the 8/12/07 edition of The Roanoke Times newspaper, "What he (Henry) has done from a position of special trust is truly disgraceful."
* I had to chuckle at Butler's remarks. Historically speaking, the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority is as crooked as a West Virginia road. Personally, I have more confidence in Jesse James working as a bank guard than the Housing Authority ever doing right by the people it is supposed to serve in Roanoke, Va. Given what I know about the Housing Authority and how the Housing Authority operates, I have more faith that my pet fish will learn how to speak Spanish than I have in any claims the Housing Authority has against Ellis Henry, a man whose only crime was to try to clean up the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
As far as I can see, the claims against Ellis Henry are nothing more than racist payback by a corrupt Roanoke, Va. agency still upset that it can no longer exploit the poor and use government money to help their bank accounts and their friends the way they have in the past.
To read the Housing Authority's hit job on Henry Ellis, please click on the following link.
* Special Agent Mark Campbell of the Virginia State Police had this to say to Roanoke, Va.'s Channel 10 News last week about gangs in Virginia.
"Right now, the state of Virginia is about where L.A. was 10 years ago. In Virginia, we are just now realizing that we're starting to see this gang activity and instead of waiting and dealing with the denial, we're gonna go ahead now and put proactive issues and initiatives in place."
Campbell says he knows kids are being recruited to gangs as young as 12-years-old. In Lynchburg, Va., there is a gang member that is 8-years-old. Calling Roanoke, Va. Police Chief Joe Gaskins!
* Coming Wednesday. Judy Ferguson, thug life posing as community leader.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/10/08
* AN UPDATE: Arrests have been made in the Newark, N.J. executions that left three college students dead and another college student seriously wounded. I wrote about these cruel assassinations in the 8/8/07 "ARTIS BLOG" posted below. Jose Carranza and a 15-year-old teenager have been arrested for committing this horrible crime.
Though some say this crime isn't gang related, from what I can see, this crime is gang related. I also wouldn't be surprised if this crime wasn't part of the ethnic cleansing murders Latino gang bangers are committing nationwide against law-abiding Black people in an effort to run these law-abiding Black people out of Black neighborhoods that Latino gang bangers want to move into and control. As I've written about in other ARTIS BLOGS, Latino gang bangers in California have declared war on Black people, both in California prisons and on the street. Let's hope these Latino on Black ethnic cleansing murders haven't spread to the East Coast. I think they have.
* The Roanoke SCLC is taking nominations for the "DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE AWARD" to be awarded at the SCLC's annual DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BANQUET on January 18, 2008. For more information about the award and the banquet, please visit "THE ROANOKE SCLC" page on jeffartis.com.
* The banquet will also debut the first annual "DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD" to be awarded to individuals and businesses who work to preserve the values of Dr. King. This year, the award will be presented to WalMart, Pepsi, Pepperidge Farms, Frito Lay and George Weston Bakeries for their outstanding contributions to JUNETEENTH UNITY DAY held earlier this summer. These companies worked closely with me as President of the Roanoke SCLC in making JUNETEENTH UNITY DAY a huge success. For more information on this award, please visit the "ROANOKE SCLC PAGE" on jeffartis.com.
* Planning is still going on concerning "THE ROANOKE SCLC RADIO SHOW" on WTOY RADIO, 1480 AM here in Roanoke, Va. I will be the host. The show will debut later this month. I guarantee the show will be interesting, very interesting.
* I'd like to publicly invite all local elected officials and all state elected officials to appear on "THE SCLC RADIO SHOW" on which I'll be the host. This is an open invitation. I can be contacted at (540)243-0166.
* I'd especially like to publicly invite all local and state officials who are up for re-election in November, 2007 and May, 2008, to appear on "THE SCLC RADIO SHOW." This is also an open invitation. Again, I can be contacted at (540)243-0166.
* All local and state officials will receive a written invitation to appear on "THE SCLC RADIO SHOW" when the day and time for the show are finalized.
* Congratulations to the good folks of the COUNTRYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE and their President Valerie Garner, a nominee for the DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE AWARD. Yes, you can fight city hall if you stand up, be counted and hold public officials accountable for their actions.
* The Roanoke, Va. Police Dept. won't tell you this, but, yes, there is a gang conflict going on between the SE Bloods and the SW Crips. The Roanoke, Va. Police are powerless to stop it. I'm sure arrests will be made shortly. However, the bad blood between these gangs will not end with arrests.
* The Roanoke, Va. Police Dept. won't tell you this, either. Gangs in the city are sizing up the threat MS13 and the Gangster Disciples are going to have on their gang activities. There's talk of new gang alliances in order to deal with the MS13 and Gangster Disiples situation. It's a new day in Roanoke, Va. concerning gangs and the way they operate in the Roanoke Valley. Things just got 10 times more dangerous.
SEE YOU MONDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/8/07
* Please pray for the miners and the families of the miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah.
* Please watch Saturday night's upcoming episode of "America's Most Wanted" to learn more about this horrible case. Three college students in Newark, N.J. were assassinated and another college student were shot execution style by common street thugs. Natasha Aeriel, 19, Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20, and Iofeme Hightower, 20, were led to an elementary school playground by common street thugs who were probably gang members. At the school playground, the four were forced to kneel down against a wall with their hands behind their backs. All four college students were shot in the back of the head. Only Natasha Aeriel survived the attack. Please pray for Natasha to survive this horrific attack. Please pray for the families of Aeriel, Harvey and Hightower. Please pray that the thugs responsible for these executions are brought to justice.
* Just how bad is gang violence in Newark, N.J.? Gang initiations there include shooting and/or killing someone. The mayor of Newark walks around with 2 bodyguards. Why? Gang members have openly threatened to kill him.
* Barring any sudden developments, it's over. Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic Party nominee for President in 2008. Barack Obama will not be her running mate.
* Can we just stop talking nonsense? The Republican Party will come out swinging in November, 2008. Republicans will be united and ready to go regardless of who the 2008 Republican Party nominee for President is. Why? Hillary Clinton. Republicans can't stand her. Republicans will unite against her. Republicans will vote on Election Day just to defeat her. All of this talk about Republicans maybe not voting on Election Day in 2008 is just plain nonsense.
* I'll tell you this, too. Unless there is a new record set for new registered voters followed by a record voter turnout on Election Day in 2008, the Republican Party candidate will win the White House.
* No, I am not making this up. Yesterday, a young lady from Roanoke, Va. went to join the Air Force. The young lady, 19, is a sophomore in college, with a 2.85 GPA She wants to make a career in the military. Her grandfather served in Viet Nam. Her aunt served in Bosnia. Her uncle is currently serving his second tour of Iraq. She is in excellent health. She has never been in any kind of trouble. She has spent the past year researching her options for when she joined the military.
The Air Force told her she couldn't join. The young lady has an angel tattoo on the back of her neck that pays tribute to her brother who died a four years ago. Her brother was 23 when he died. The tattoo isn't offensive. The tattoo has a religious theme. However, the tattoo can be seen above the young girl's collar. Because of this, she is disqualified from serving in the Air Force. The religious tattoo may also disqualify her from serving in other branches of the military, as well.
And all this time I thought the military was looking for educated young people who wanted to serve their country and help in this country's war effort. I guess I was wrong.
* Last night I read a report about a growing problem in the U.S. military. Gang members are joining the military, learning military tactics and taking this knowledge back to their neighborhoods to train other gang members on how to gang bang using those military tactics. You know the military is in trouble when the military will take a gang member while refusing to take a qualified, educated person who wants to make the military a career because of a tattoo.
* Well, the world didn't come to an end. The planets didn't stop spinning. The sun rose this morning. Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's home run record to become baseball's all-time home run king.
* Funny thing, though. There wouldn't be any controversy over Barry Bonds breaking Aaron's home run record if the greatest home run hitter of all-time, Josh Gibson, would have been allowed to play major league baseball. Gibson was barred from playing major league baseball because he was Black. Gibson hit over 800 home runs, some say many more, during his career in the Negro Leagues. Gibson was so good he is the only man ever to hit a home run out of Yankee Stadium.
If the "Barry Bonds Took Steroids," crew wants to be outraged at something; if the anti-Barry Bonds crowd wants to talk about "the fairness, purity and integrity of the game,"; if the "Barry Bonds Is A Cheater," group wants to be upset with something; let them be upset over the fact that the greatest home run hitter ever seen, Josh Gibson, never got a chance to claim his rightful crown as the greatest home run hitter of all-time. Barry Bonds, 756 and counting. Josh Gibson, 800.
SEE YOU FRIDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
WTOY'S STONE SOUL PICNIC
WTOY'S STONE SOUL PICNIC
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/6/07
* There are two things I can't do anymore. I can no longer dunk a basketball after taking off from the foul line. And, I can no longer go outside for any period of time when the temperature gets above 85 degrees. That's what a bad heart will get you. I had planned to post the pictures I took at WTOY Radio's "STONE SOUL PICNIC" on jeffartis.com. I didn't make it to the picnic. I had my camera ready. I had my batteries charged. I had a new video card. My body told me, "Not today, Homey!"
So here's what I'd like to do. A number of people were at the "STONE SOUL PICNIC" taking pictures. If you e-mail those pictures to me at jeff@jeffartis.com, I'll be more than happy to create a "STONE SOUL PICNIC" page on jeffartis.com.
* I'd like to thank Valerie Garner for sending me the two pictures posted above. Also from Valerie Garner are two videos; one from the "STONE SOUL PICNIC" and another from the "PEACH FESTIVAL" which supports the Northwest Child Development Center. To view these videos, please click on the following link. http://savecountryside.blogspot.com.
* I ask that you support Ms. Garner in her efforts to save the Countryside Golf Course. On this issue, Roanoke City Council is making a huge mistake. But, when it comes to Roanoke City Council and how it deals with Northwest Roanoke, Va., what else is new? I support Ms. Garner and the Countryside Neighborhood Alliance 100 percent.
* I just don't understand Roanoke City Council's thinking when it comes to the Countryside Golf Course. If you upgrade the course to make it tournament ready, build a community athletic/recreation center on the site and supplement the property with greenways, you can have a top notch money making facility that will bring much needed revenue to the city of Roanoke, Va.
* But, Roanoke City Council wants to sell (some say giveaway) the property to a developer to build an upscale housing project. Never mind that one housing project in the same area went bust. Only Roanoke City Council would think of throwing their support behind a developer to build an upscale housing project after the house building boom is over. We will see.
* Well, TOWFC (The Onzlee Ware Fan Club) is at it again. Geez, will these folks ever stop trying to make the Comedy Central Network? The following memo went out last week to those who rent office space from Crystal Towers, L.L.C., a part of Total Action Against Poverty.
We appreciate you helping the downtown/city businesses promote special activities by displaying their advertisement or posters; however, since our building is owned by TAP, a non profit organization, we ask that no political signs of any kind be displayed.
If you have any questions, please call me at 344-5151.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Dick Robers
* Translation: Onzlee Ware is afraid of his opponent, Mac McCadden, in the upcoming November election for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Roanoke, Va. The offending renters put "McCadden For Delegate" campaign signs in their windows instead of "Ware For Delegate" campaign signs.
* And all this time I thought we lived in America. I've got a good idea. Give Mr. Robers a call and remind him of this very fact. The area code for that phone number is 540.
* TOWFC is really going to be upset at who will be the co-host of the new Roanoke SCLC Radio Show on WTOY Radio. Geez. I wonder who that will be?
* The SCLC Radio Show will begin in a few weeks.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/3/07
* Please say a prayer for all of the families who were affected by that terrible bridge collapse on Interstate 35W in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
* COMING MONDAY. Don't forget to log onto jeffartis.com to see pictures of WTOY RADIO'S "STONE SOUL PICNIC."
* Roanoke, Va.'s U.S. Attorney John Brownlee was one of the attorneys scheduled to be fired by the U.S. Justice Dept. in the ongoing U.S. Attorney scandal. I have to ask, "What were the guys in Washington thinking?" John Brownlee is a good man who does a good job as U.S. Attorney here in Roanoke, Va. Firing Brownlee not only would have been a mistake, firing Brownlee would have been just plain dumb. But, that's the Bush Administration. The Bush Administration would rather have an incompetent political lackey working for them than someone who is going to do the job they are paid to do.
* Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama wants to talk to world leaders if he is elected President. Big deal. Dialogue between America and the governments of other countries, even our enemies, is good and is much needed if the problems of the world are going to be addressed properly. Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan didn't have a problem talking to our enemies.
* If they do this to their own, what do you think they will do to the general public or people they don't like? Ann McDermott, the first female member of an undercover gang unit in Chicago, was awarded $150,00 in damages in a harassment lawsuit. It appears the men members of the undercover gang unit didn't want McDermott in the unit. In an attempt to make McDermott's life miserable, hard-core pornography was left in McDermott's mailbox every day for six months. McDermott complained to the Internal Affairs Department of the Chicago Police Dept. However, the Internal Affairs Dept. dismissed McDermott's complaints. The Chicago Police Dept. was also ordered to pay $500,000 to McDermott's lawyers for legal fees.
* Much has been made about dangerous roads in the state of Virginia. Let me tell you something. It's not Virginia's roads that are dangerous. It's the people who are driving on Virginia's roads that are dangerous. Simply put, there are too many people driving on Virginia's roads and highways who don't know how to drive safely, who don't care if they drive safely and who don't want to drive safely. I see it every day.
* Speaking of which, Virginia's new abusive drivers fees, where abusive drivers are heavily fined for their bad driving, have been deemed unconstitutional by an Henrico County, Virginia court. However, the court's decision only applies to Henrico County. While I feel these new fees should apply to all drivers who drive in Virginia, not just Virginia residents, I'm too worried about these new fees. The way I see it, if you don't drive dangerously on Virginia's roads and highways, you won't have to worry about Virginia's new abusive drivers fees.
* So you think Mike Vick is cruel? Did you know that in Virginia it is perfectly legal to transport your dog to and from a location in the trunk of your car? No, I'm not making this up.
* I'm taking a wait and see attitude toward the hiring of Rita Bishop as the new superintendent for the Roanoke, Va. Public School System. Some people apparently have forgotten the mess left by former Roanoke, Va. Public School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Harris. Bishop played a major role in the Harris administration. Still, I hope Bishop is successful. I hope the Roanoke, Va. Public School System does not see a return to the ways of Dr. Harris. We will see. I will be watching.
* It's official. The street gangs MS13 and the Gangster Disciples now have chapters in Roanoke Va. It remains to be seen what the Roanoke, Va. Police Dept. will do about this situation.
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
CHECK IT OUT! THE STONE SOUL PICNIC, AUGUST 4, 2007 12 NOON UNTIL 10 P.M., WASHINGTON PARK, ROANOKE, VA. A FAMILY FUN DAY AND FELLOWSHIP
THE ARTIS BLOG
8/1/07
* I guess I'm just different from other people. I have never believed that a person cannot control their own destiny.
* Maybe I feel that way because I can't remember a time during my 50 years that someone didn't tell me I'd be a failure for trying to do something I wasn't supposed to do.
* I was told I couldn't do well in school. I was told I wasn't smart enough to get into James Madison University. I was told I wasn't smart enough to graduate from JMU with a double major. People laughed when I told them I would one day be a teacher. People said I was nuts for running for political office.
* I was told I was wasting my time trying to get an appropriate landmark in Roanoke, Va. named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They told me the Roanoke SCLC was a joke and I was wasting my time with the organization. They told my JUNETEENTH UNITY DAY would never happen. They laughed when I started my newsletter which eventually became jeffartis.com.
* Marriage, fatherhood, sports, studying music; you name it, I've been told I couldn't do it. After badly losing my very first race in organized track and field, I got the ultimate insult from some of my critics, "You're so slow, even the White boys can beat you."
* I was supposed to be a statistic. I was born in the "Colored Section" of the Winchester Memorial Hospital in 1957 to a single Mother. In fact, according to my birth certificate, I'm not Black or African-American, I'm "Colored." I don't remember meeting my father, who was a numbers runner who worked for the gangster Biggie Smalls in Baltimore, Md., until I was 6, about 1963. I saw him again a hand full of times over the next 25 some years.
* My father once gave me $25.00. When it came to my father, more often than not, I spent more time waiting for him to follow through on his many promises than I actually spent with him. He never followed through on any of his promises. However, we did make peace before he died starting with finding out I had two sisters I didn't know about when I was 25. To be honest, my father was a likeable guy. As a father, it was a different story.
* I'm not going to say I grew up poor. Some people say I did. Some people say I didn't. I do remember a teacher telling me in the tenth grade that I did pretty good in school for someone growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. Actually, I didn't have a choice. My Mother would kill me for bringing home bad grades. Because of that fear, it didn't matter when Black kids around Winchester would get on me for trying to be White because I made decent grades in school. Being called an Uncle Tom was far better than getting killed because I messed up in school.
Funny thing. Those same "Black brothers" who called me an Uncle Tom because I didn't mess up in school forgot their "blackness" when they wanted me to hook them up with some of the White girls I went to school with. I'd say that I grew up lower middle class. Still, I know first hand about poverty, food stamps, government cheese, government milk, credit at the corner store and a host of other things. I also have to admit I saw some things coming up that no kid should have to see.
* Through it all, both in good times and in bad, my Mother pounded three things into me. 1) Never make excuses. 2) I can do anything I wanted to do if I was willing to work hard enough to do it. 3) Don't be a victim.
* My Mom is a great lady. Everything I am today, I owe to her. In this age of self-victimization, I wish more people had a Mother like I had. You can do anything you want to do if you are willing to work hard enough to do it. It's really not that hard to do if you don't feel sorry for yourself.
