MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE
Paper money carries many germs. While I was patronizing an ice cream shop recently, a young black woman handled money from customers, but never washed her hands when preparing the cones. At one point, she sniffled, and used her wrist to wipe her forehead. At that point, I knew I was not going to eat there, but I felt a duty to at least let my concerns be known. Hoping to ease into the issue, I privately and discreetly asked her if they had gloves for her to wear. She responded with a volley of obscenities. Then, an older black woman came to the counter and joined the young woman…in cussing me out. While leaving, the last remark I heard was, “…and you don’t have to bring your black [expletive] back here.” Trust me, I won’t. But others will, and cleanliness should be the rule. The unsanitary practices at that establishment were unsettling. The fact that I was not surprised by the response is equally troubling. It seems we have come to accept this from some black-owned businesses. Not all, but far too many, black businesses have a “take it- or-leave-it” approach to customer service, and this is nothing more than business ignorance. It has to change.
RADIO PERSONALITY DIES
Rick Seiderman, a longtime fixture in the South Florida talk radio market, passed away suddenly Monday, July 27. Seiderman reached the height of his talk show career as host of a right-wing talk program on the old Super Talk, WFTL 1400 radio station in Fort Lauderdale during the 1990s. In recent years, he was host of the Internet radio program, “On the Right Side with Rick Seiderman.” Services were held on Wednesday, July 28. His family did not release his age or any other information about his death.
ENOUGH ALREADY
Jeffrey H. Sloman is the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida. He was appointed to the post on June 6. The Southern District covers nine counties, including heavily populated and crime-infested Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Sloman is serving after former U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta resigned to take a job as dean at Florida International University’s School of Law. Acosta had been aggressively investigating and prosecuting public corruption in Palm Beach County, but his efforts in this same area in Broward and Miami-Dade counties were inadequate. Whether it is Sloman or someone else who gets the final nod as U.S. attorney here, there must be a massive crackdown on public corruption and white-collar crooks in South Florida, particularly in Broward County.
Broward County
ALLEGED SHOOTER CHARGED
Michael Brayshaw, 38, is being held on two counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer following a Monday, July 27 incident at his Pompano Beach home. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, at 2:30 a.m., deputies responded to a loud music complaint at Brayshaw’s home in the 200 block of Southeast Fourth Street. After not getting an answer at the front door, two deputies walked to the rear of the home, where they could see Brayshaw through a glass door, inside sitting on a couch. The report states that Brayshaw held up a firearm and walked toward the glass door. Deputies yelled at him to put down the gun and identified themselves as law enforcement officers, but he fired at them. The deputies returned fire, and Brayshaw went back into the house. No one was injured, and he was arrested.
INCARCERATION CRISIS
An inmate, 41-year-old Jeffrey Willis, who was arrested by Fort Lauderdale police on Wednesday, July 22 for trespassing and resisting arrest, died in a Broward Sheriff's Office-operated jail on Thursday, July 23. The cause of death has not been determined, but he was found in a cell alone and unresponsive. Six other people have died in Broward County jails since July 2008, all of which were suicides.
BROWARD POLITICS
Frantz “Jahra” McLawrence, 36, has opened a campaign account and filed to run for the Group 26 county court judicial seat. That seat is currently held by Judge Lee J. Seidman. McLawrence is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has a law firm in Fort Lauderdale and has taught law at Florida International University. The election will take place in November 2010.
Palm Beach County
ALMOST THERE
Amefika D. Geuka, the 69-year co-founder and current chairman of the board of the Joseph Littles-Nguzo Saba Charter School in West Palm Beach, is continuing his walk to the nation’s capital to bring awareness and funding to his school. This past January, the school, noted for its African-centered education initiatives, celebrated its tenth anniversary, but is facing financial difficulties. Geuka is walking more than 1,000 miles from West Palm Beach to Washington, D.C. in what the school is calling the “Trek
for African-Centered Education.” Robert Hazzard of West Palm Beach is joining him all the way and is videotaping the experience. The excursion began on July 15 and, as of this Thursday, July 30, he was in Lumberton, N.C. Keep track of Geuka’s progress at: www.jlnscs.org
ALLEGED BEATER ARRESTED AGAIN
For the third time in three months, Eddie Lee Edwards, 24, was arrested on domestic battery. On Saturday, July 25 he was charged with kidnapping and beating his girlfriend again. In this latest incident, her injuries included an arm that was left in a sling, and a lip that required stitches. He allegedly kidnapped the 24-year-old woman from a store parking lot after walking up to a car in which she was sitting, and punching her in the face. He took her back to their home, where he beat and choked her until she passed out, investigators say. She escaped after convincing him to let her use the bathroom. After each arrest, police say the woman refuses to cooperate or press charges.
Miami-Dade County
HISTORIC BIRTHDAY
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and the city of Miami celebrated the municipality’s 113th birthday on Tuesday, July 28. The event took place at the historic Lyric Theater, in the Overtown neighborhood. Miami was incorporated on July 28, 1896.
HORSE MEAT!
Authorities confirmed another horse was found butchered in South Florida. This time, it was in Hialeah on Sunday, July 26. These animals likely ended up in a pot. Police say only the choice cuts of the horse in the latest incident were taken, leading them to believe the animal was mutilated for its meat. In the last month, there have been five reported incidents of horses being mutilated in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Horse meat is a delicacy that can be sold on the black market for an average of $20 per pound.
HOMESTEAD POLITICS
They are off and running in the city of Homestead for the Oct. 6 municipal election primary and the Nov. 3 general election. So far, three of the five incumbents up for reelection have drawn challengers. Steve Bateman, a 54-year-old former councilman and vice mayor, is challenging Mayor Lynda Bell. In the city council Seat 4 contest, the Rev. Jimmie L. Williams III is seeking to unseat incumbent councilman Melvin McCormick, and resident Michael Taylor is running against incumbent councilman Tim Nelson for Seat 1.
EJones@SFLTimes.com
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