AAPP says: There is a big concern in African American communities across America that Blacks will get buried under the “Shovel-Ready” Stimulus . Many in the black community are saying, the Stimulus-snubbing Govs Don't Care About People, Black or White. Yet, even though Barack Obama has warns Mayors About Wasting Stimulus Money there remains concern, for example, the economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama will spread billions of dollars across the country to spruce up aging roads and bridges. But there's not a dime specifically dedicated to fixing leftover damage from Hurricane Katrina. And there's no outrage about it. More HERE
Enter, Cash Michaels at The Wilmington Journal who is following what is going on in North Carolina with Federal stimulus money. It would be wise that black leaders in other states follow their lead, and ask the questions and get the answers. Black leaders in N.C. seem to be doing what state and local black leaders in all states should be doing - holding the Gov. and the Barack Obama administration accountable.
Cash Michaels reports on how black leaders are asking questions of the State and Federal government, like: What is the latest on how funding from North Carolina's $6.1 billion share of the Recovery Stimulus package will be distributed for projects through the state and cities? What will the process for application for those stimulus projects be, and when will it be announced and get underway?
And how can African-Americans be assured, despite guarantees of transparency and accountability from the Obama Administration, that blacks looking for jobs and business opportunities won't get locked out?
''This plan's already saved the jobs of teachers and police officers. It's creating construction jobs to rebuild roads and bridges,'' Pres. Obama told the nation during his prime time White House press conference Tuesday night.
But is it happening yet in North Carolina, especially for African-American?
That's the pressing question black leaders across the state are asking, and wanting fast answers to, to ensure that North Carolina's African-American community is not left out of Obama's historic efforts to jumpstart a crippled economy with his $787 billion two-year American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Next week they may get answers.
Maybe.
The Carolinian/ Wilmington Journal has learned that Dempsey Benton, Gov. Beverly Perdue's Recovery and Reinvestment Office (www.NCRecovery.gov) point man to oversee North Carolina's stimulus projects effort, has agreed to sit down with the NCNAACP and other statewide leadership April 2 to examine issues surrounding how African-Americans can better access the process.
''We want to discuss issues of parity, equity, diversity, control, the need for regional summits for African-Americans and other [people of color] to come in and know exactly what's going on,'' Rev. William Barber, president of the NCNAACP told The Carolinian/ Wilmington Journal exclusively Wednesday.
''We have to know what the [stimulus] goals are, and what access is.''
The Carolinian/The Wilmington Journal has also learned that Gov. Perdue has agreed to meet with the NCNAACP and others during a ''civil rights roundtable'' on April 20th to further discuss the stimulus package impact on the black community, in addition to other social agenda issues.
''It's going to b a true civil rights roundtable, ''Rev. Barber assured, ''Not a tea and cookie kind of thing.''
And in Raleigh, an ad hoc community group led by former Raleigh City Councilman Brad Thompson and longtime community activist Ms. Margaret Rose Murray is planning a Saturday, April 4th town hall meeting at her Vital Link School at Rock Quarry Road and East Lenoir Street on the stimulus package to get answers from state and local officials. More HERE
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