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Whitney Houston’s Soul and Voice Live,Transcending Media Frenzy Around her Untimely Death

Bernice Elizabeth Green
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22

“… you haven’t heard anything till hear her voice; she’s about to take the industry by storm.”

Dionne Warwick said these glowing remarks during an interview conducted for a CBS Television Network special taping in Canada, winter 1983. Here I was freezing in Quebec, a senior publicity executive for CBS Television Network (and the network’s first Black news & entertainment publicist). I had traveled the world promoting some of America’s most famous television stars and shows.
Yet, Ms. Warwick’s statement on the “voice” fascinated me. Within a year, Ms. Warwick’s first cousin Whitney Houston’s flawless voice shook the world, shattered records and remained for weeks at the top of the pop charts. It was timeless and real and, over her lifetime, sold 200,000,000 albums. The world embraced her.
The Newark native was born into a musical family that includes Ms. Warwick and Whitney’s mother, the incredibly sterling Cissy Houston, and the great Drinkard singers. Aretha Franklin is her godmother.
Even with the preponderance of music pedigree, some media, in the wake of her tragic force, a portrait of a woman who reached the top of the mountain, faltered and fell. It is not complete. Her fans and her family, and certainly the
members of the New Hope Baptist Church, where she honed her skill, know something different about Whitney: a constant note in the key of her life. Something we heard.
In 1990, I finally met the Voice. I was directing the publicity for the CBS Special on the 1990 Songwriters Hall of Fame. Charged with making sure Ms. Houston got back to the stage in time for her performance, I found myself
at the end of a grouping of Whitney’s entourage. We followed her to the dressing room, then the bathroom at quick pace – like those birds that form patterns in the sky.
I fell back with her mother, Cissy Houston, and mentioned that there was a stage worker who wanted to meet her daughter. After the stage performance, Whitney Houston and her flock swept past the crowd of backstage stargazers, intent to exit the theatre. After all, it was over, past, done.
Her mother caught up with her: “Whitney, you forgot to shake …” The quintessential diva stopped, majestically turned around. “Where …” Her arm shot out like a laser, parting the crowd. She Graced her way to the stage assistant. A
handshake melted into an embrace. And then as an afterthought, she turned in my direction to say, “Thank you.”
Sometime later, while directing the publicity for CBS’ Grammy Awards, I got a call from TV Guide magazine. Whitney Houston was to be one of the publication’s first non-television celebrities to grace the cover. The caller explained the magazine was 15 minutes from deadline; Whitney’s on the cover; no quotes from her in the story. Could we be of help?
I reached a soul that spoke to the Voice. And the Voice listened.

Kings County Politics (KCP)

Editor, Our Time Press
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8

Paging Annette Robinson
Kings County Democratic boss Vito Lopez this week dispelled rumors floating around for several weeks that Assemblywoman Annette Robinson is retiring at the end of this term.

“I saw her and asked her about it, and she said, ‘Vito, I’m not leaving and I’m running,” said Lopez, the longtime Assemblyman representing neighboring Bushwick.

Lopez also chastised the rumors that she is retiring, as first broken in this column, saying someone should have asked Robinson.
For the record, KCP has been calling Robinson’s office for the past three weeks and the lawmaker alleged to be representing Bedford-Stuyvesant has yet to return a call to the local press.

Additionally, the most recently posted state news on her website is a two-month old press release regarding a $1 million state allocation for a Foreclosure Prevention Services program.

In any event, if what Lopez says is true, it will put a big dent into plans for a possible open primary with new community leaders.
Towns shows the money
The re-elect Congressman Ed Towns’ campaign committee raised $233,472 in the last three months dispelling any lingering rumors that the 76-year-old veteran lawmaker, who’s in great physical shape, is going out on his stool in the upcoming June 26th Congressional primary.

Towns faces Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, who has $235,962 in his campaign war chest and City Councilman Charles Barron, who has $15,860.
Meanwhile Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez confirmed he’s backing Jeffries contingent on if these are indeed the three candidates and the soon-to-be redrawn congressional district lines remain roughly the same.

This comes as no surprise to KCP as Lopez has long feuded with Towns.
The congressional race also opens Jeffries current 57th Assembly District seat, and both Democratic District Leaders Olanike (Ola) Alabi and Walter Mosley III are vying for it.
A close source to Lopez said the Democratic boss will endorse one of the two district leaders, and most likely it will be Jeffries protégé Mosley.

Race to replace Reyna
Although it’s still nearly two years away the race to replace term-limited City Councilwoman Diana Reyna is already heating up between three insiders.

This includes Reyna’s chief of staff Antonio Reynoso, Borough President Marty Markowitz’s former legal counsel Jason Otaño and Vito Lopez protégé Maritza Davila, who’s also the female district leader.
Reynoso was born and raised in the district, going to the local schools and working for local business. Otano’s a lifelong Brooklynite, whose father was one of the city’s first Latino firefighters. Both have solid political experience.

Davila couldn’t be reached, but Lopez indicated she’ll probably be ready when the race kicks in gear.

At Wit's End: Keep Kelly but NYPD needs more accountability and communication

Stephen Witt
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6

There’s an old saying to “not change horses or police commissioners midstream”.
So perhaps NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly should finish out with the Bloomberg Administration and become more accountable to the people he serves.

The NYPD has been on a horrible streak with community relations and it’s resulted in a growing mistrust of cops.
Stop-and-frisk has always been an issue because it targets youth in communities of color and results in numerous small marijuana arrests, but it wasn’t until the West Indian Day Labor Day Parade when the cops started really “wilding”.

It started with cops detaining and handcuffing City Councilman Jumaane Williams and an aide to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and then several were caught on video grinding it out with attendees at the parade. As an encore, there was the infamous Facebook posting, in which many alleged cops commented in a derogatory manner about the community they cover.

Most recently, the NYPD admitted it showed an alleged Islamophobic video to new recruits and veteran cops in which Kelly took part. Rather than man-up about doing the video, Kelly’s spokesperson, Paul Browne, appeared to cover it up. In either case, the video smacked of profiling and targeting Muslims.

Also, most recently, cops were caught on video beating a youth in the Bronx and then just last week, cops fatally shot 18-year-old Ramarley Graham, also in the Bronx. The officers reportedly cornered Graham in his bathroom and one of them fired one fatal round at close range at his chest. Graham was unarmed and no weapons were found in his home– only a small bag of marijuana was found in his toilet.

In the wake of the last incident, Williams and others have repeated his call for better communications between cops and the communities they cover.

“I recognize that police officers perform a highly difficult job and must make split-second decisions, but far too many of those decisions are resulting in a person of more color being shot and the officer saying, ‘I thought he had a gun.’ It has reached the point that any time you hear that someone unarmed has been shot by the NYPD, you can bet the bank they are black or brown,” said Williams.

“Countless communications have been sent to both the mayor and the commissioner from city leaders asking for a meeting to discuss the police accountability movement, including the 27 members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus,” he added.

Locally, two Bedford-Stuyvesant precinct’s routinely refuse reporters access to public blotter items, and the 81st Precinct, which has been under investigation, has not released key crime statistics for the past 11 years.

Credit is due Kelly for his long length of service as commissioner under former Mayor David Dinkins and Bloomberg. Crime remains down to historic lows and local residents and officials appreciate the police and feel a heartfelt sadness anytime an officer is killed or shot in the line of duty.

But it’s time Kelly suck it up a little and go back to the basics of community policing.
This starts with more up-front honesty and agreeing to more police accountability.

Restoration Plaza Says Nonprofit Started by Sonny Carson has To Leave Committee To Honor Black Heroes Vows To Fight Eviction

Stephen Witt
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3

Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Restoration Plaza – established during the height of the Civil Rights movement with the help of Bobby Kennedy – is removing one of its original activist tenants.

The Committee to Honor Black Heroes (CHBH), which was established by the late Korean War veteran and Civil Rights activist Sonny Carson, who was also a charter member involved in the Restoration’s founding, was served with eviction papers on Jan. 30.

According to court papers, Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC) is booting the non-profit because their lease expired on Jan. 14, 2012, and they are exercising their right to not renew it.

“The premises sought to be recovered is not subject to Rent Control or the Rent Stabilization Law of 1969, as amended, because the premises are a commercial space,” their court papers state.

But CHBH Chief Executive Officer Ali Lamont maintains Restoration Plaza is kicking them out because of the organization’s strong grassroots outreach to those struggling under economic hardship in the community.

“They want us out of the building because we want to help people stop foreclosures, and we do job referrals, and help veterans and we don’t charge anybody,” said Lamont.

Among this advocacy help is for to a growing number of frightened low-income tenants living in properties run by Shinda Management, whose portfolio includes one BSRC property, the 267-unit Vernon Houses, at 721 Willoughby Street.

BSRC Spokesperson Dyrnest Sinckler responded that the current eviction proceedings are the culmination of a long running dispute that has not been amicably resolved.

“Eviction proceedings have been commenced because CHBH has failed to pay rent and comply with basic safety and security regulations typical for an office complex like Restoration Plaza,” said Sinckler.
“Despite repeated requests and warnings, CHBH allows its office to be used for residential and other purposes that are unsafe, in violation of the law, inconsiderate of neighboring tenants, and inconsistent with regulations and protocols of an office complex,” he added.

Sinckler said over the last several years, several of BSRC’s affiliates sold housing developments to a partnership which included an affiliate of Shinda Management.

“Neither BSRC nor its affiliates own the properties managed by Shinda where CHBH’s efforts are allegedly focused,” he said.

“In any event, many of the tenants of Restoration Plaza are nonprofit organizations which offer free or low cost services to area residents and none of them have jeopardized their tenancy by disregarding their obligations as tenants as CHBH has done,” Sinckler added.

Beverly Johnson is New Executive Director of The Magnolia Tree Earth Center of Bedford-Stuyvesant

Editor, Our Time Press
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0

The Board of Directors of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center of Bedford Stuyvesant, Inc. (MTEC) — recognized as a pioneer for more than 40 years in creating green programs for residents of Brooklyn and beyond, has namedMs. Beverly Johnson, a former dean at Polytechnic Institute of NYU, as Magnolia Tree’s new Executive Director.
“The Board is very excited to have Ms. Johnson accept our invitation to take Magnolia Tree to the next level,” announced Board Chair David Mark Greaves. “She brings an impressive background, range of skills, knowledge, insights, energy and national and international contacts to this position. Much in keeping with the spirit ofMagnolia Tree’s founder, Ms. Johnson will tackle challenges as they come, turn them into triumphs for thecommunity, and position Magnolia Tree squarely in the forefront as a leader in Brooklyn’s green movements.”

Ms. Johnson stated, “The Center’s goal is to be urban America’s leader in creating community awareness of ecology, horticulture and environmental justice that fosters urban beautification, earth stewardship and community sustainability. With the template already established, I am ready to do the work that needs to be done.”

Magnolia Tree Earth Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The three brownstones that house the center at 677-679 Lafayette Ave., in Brooklyn, are officially landmarked, and the Magnolia Grandiflora, planted in the front yard of 679 in the 1880’s, is now designated New York City’s only living landmark.

Community activist Hattie Carthan, a Bedford Stuyvesant resident, established the Magnolia Tree Earth Center after she prevented the great tree from being destroyed by Model Cities wrecking crews some 50 years ago. As a result of Ms. Carthan’s efforts, the brown-stones also were preserved so that the tree, itself, could maintain stability; an ecology center for the community created; and the City’s first “Green Movement” established. Over the course of the years that followed, she aggressively enlisted community groups, schools, politicians, other activists, and neighbors in her green crusade, which has culminated in one of the most widely known community based organizations.

“Ms. Carthan challenged the powers that be, on the one hand; and enlisted their support on the other,” said Ms. Johnson. “In the process, she developed an umbrella organization that planted 1,500 new trees in Bedford-Stuyvesant; as well as transforming rubbish-filled vacant lots into lavish gardens, in desolate, debris laden areas of Brooklyn. I am proud to plant new seeds for Magnolia Tree.”

In addition to housing the MTEC headquarters, Magnolia Tree Center is home to several community organizations, includingBrooklyn/Queens Land Trust, Green Guerillas, and DBG Media/Our Time Press, to mention a few. In addition, MTEC is located a block from the Hattie Carthan Community Gardens two Farmers Markets; and across the street from the Herbert Von King Park — all comprising the largest green cultural oasis in Bedford Stuyvesant.

Nancy Wolf, long time board member stated, “ Our concepts for the Tree Corps, Landscape Training, Bio-Med Program, GreenEnterprise, Garden Restoration Programs, and the Africare Tree Planting Project, were all ahead of their time. Our programs always have stressed community service, values and skills development as they encourage and inspire, and they are replicated throughout New York City and other cities nationwide.”

“We’re ecstatic about the possibilities Ms. Johnson brings to Magnolia and the work, begun so many years ago, on which she will continue to build,” stated Ms. Marcia Goldman, former president, and previous board chair of the Center.

Ms. Johnson is an accomplished executive, who has delivered mission-critical results; has solid experience in managing all levels of multiple projects, including budgeting and administration. With nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, fund raising,marketing, event planning, recruitment and outreach, as well handling multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, she brings agreat deal of value to the table. She has a passion for maintaining interpersonal relationships, and an astute business sense, all positiveassets in the management of a non-profit agency that has set its goals on becoming the premiere eco-action community basedorganization in New York.

She has spent a considerable amount of time mentoring new students, helping them identify linkages in the real world with their own skills and abilities; and has reached across to provide even greater access internationally, via her travels to Japan, China, Thailand,Malaysia, and other areas meeting with and recruiting students from various cultures and belief systems.

On Thursday, February 9, 2012 (5:00pm-9:00pm), Ms. Johnson and the Board will roll out their overall vision for Magnolia’s future and immediate plans for Winter-Spring green programs leading up to annual awards gala and fundraising drive in June – when the tree itself is in full and Ms. Johnson’s appointment formally celebrated.

“In addition to the return of Magnolia’s Central Brooklyn Project Green initiative for the fifth year during 2012 April Earth Month,” says Mr. Greaves, “Ms. Johnson will announce the resurrection of Ms. Carthan’s ‘Tree Corps’ program and other innovative projects designed to advance knowledge of the ecological sciences, while encouraging youth from all over the city to become involved in green movements and the art of community service.”

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