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Black voters uninspired by Doug Jones

Democratic Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones (L) greets supporters while campaigning at an outdoor festival in Grove Hill, Alabama, U.S. on November 4, 2017. Picture taken on November 4, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Kittrell

Days before Alabama’s special Senate election, Democrat Doug Jones is within striking distance of winning a seat his party hasn’t won in 25 years. But he desperately needs black voters to turn out for him, and he may not have done enough to inspire them.

“Certainly, the clearest path for Jones is to get the African-American share,” said Zac McCrary, a Democratic pollster at Anzalone Liszt Grove Research in Montgomery, Alabama. “It’s deceptively simple arithmetic to see how he gets there.”

Black residents in Alabama overwhelmingly vote Democratic. They make up about 27 percent of the state’s population; white residents make up roughly 69 percent. For Jones to win, he needs black voters to account for at least 25 percent of the electorate on Tuesday. He’d then need to win support from 36 percent of white voters to hit 51 percent of the total vote.

In statewide races since 2008, the black share of Alabama’s electorate has hovered at about 25 percent. If Jones can bump that up to 26 or 27 percent, he’ll need even less of the white vote. The white electorate is a tougher slog for Jones given how Republican the state is, said McCrary, and it gets incrementally harder with each percentage point. In other words, Jones’ best chance at winning is boosting the black share of the electorate by a percentage point or two, rather than trying to increase his share of white votes.

One or two extra percentage points? That doesn’t sound like much. But in reality, it means Jones needs black voters to turn out at levels similar to when they turned out for Barack Obama’s historic presidential win in 2008, when they comprised 28 percent of Alabama’s electorate. And Doug Jones, a 63-year-old white guy who’s never run for office, is no Barack Obama.

Jones’ task doesn’t sound so easy. But this race has been anything but normal, and McCrary, who has been in Alabama politics for more than 15 years, said he thinks Jones can pull off a “historic type of upset” given the crazy confluence of factors in this election.

Those factors include the fact that Jones’ opponent, Republican Roy Moore, is plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls decades ago. Beyond that, Moore, a former state judge twice removed from the bench, has historically been a weak candidate. He lost two bids for governor, and in 2012, when Mitt Romney trounced Obama in Alabama in the presidential election, Moore won just 51 percent of the vote for his court seat.

Meanwhile, Jones, a former U.S. attorney best known for sending Ku Klux Klan members to jail, is running a campaign focused on kitchen table issues and his opposition to Moore’s racist record. His campaign is flush with money, and this race is playing out in the context of a strong political climate for Democrats, who have over-performed in virtually every election since Donald Trump became president.

Even polling suggests the race is a toss-up. Jones is slightly trailing Moore, but in an oddly timed special election in the national spotlight, turnout is hard to predict.

So… what has Jones done for black voters lately? 

None of this matters much for Jones if black voters don’t flood the polls. HuffPost spent last week walking the streets of Birmingham ― a city where Jones is campaigning heavily ― asking a dozen or so black residents if they plan to vote and what they think of Jones. The overwhelming response was yes to voting and mild enthusiasm for the Democratic nominee.

“Absolutely,” said Sy Belyeu, 48, when asked if she was supporting Jones. “So many of us did not vote last year because we just knew [Hillary Clinton] was going to win. I don’t want that to happen again.”

Belyeu, a real estate agent and graduate student at the University of Alabama, said she thinks black voters are more focused on the election than the media has depicted. She said everyone she talks to is planning to vote, though it’s not because they love Jones. They’re horrified at the prospect of Moore winning.

“We just don’t look good in the news, you know what I’m saying? It looks like Hicksville,” she said. “There’s a lot of racism, a lot of homophobia. We don’t want to be characterized like that any longer. So there’s definitely a push to get out to vote.”

Sy Belyeu of Birmingham says she’s voting for Doug Jones for Senate because she’s tired of Alabama being characterized by its racism and homophobia.

Courtney Smith and Isaiah Burton, both African-American college students tied up with finals, said they’ve been too busy to pay attention to the election. But both said they’ll probably vote because of pressure from their parents and friends.

“My mom is going to make me go vote. She watches CNN every day. All day,” Smith, 19, said with an eye roll. “She is a forceful person. She’s going to tell me to vote for Doug Jones.”

Roger Herod, 67, said he’s not really following the Senate race, but is planning to vote for Jones because he’s a Democrat. He’s not particularly moved by either candidate, though.

“When you ask a black person about a choice between two white guys, it’s always, well, which one of them are the least of a shyster?” said Herod, a retired merchant seaman. “That’s just the way black people view white politicians. We’re not as dumb as we look. We know you guys are full of it.”

Several people told HuffPost they still don’t know much about Jones aside from his oft-touted 2002 prosecution of the KKK members behind the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963 that killed four black girls and fueled the civil rights movement. Even as they said they plan to vote for Jones, they expressed frustration that that’s all they seem to hear from the Democrat.

“He makes a big play of, ‘I defended the civil rights.’ OK, that’s all well and good,” said Herod. “But I don’t hear anything else from you until it’s time for an election?”

Get used to Jones talking about civil rights.

Jones clearly wants to keep the focus on civil rights through election day. On Friday, Jones’ campaign denounced Moore for saying the last time America was great was during slavery. His campaign also sent out emails this week highlighting Moore’s “questionable remarks and actions on civil rights,” including his effort to keep segregation language in the state’s constitution and his refusal to include a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. next to a Ten Commandments monument in a state judicial building.
Outside pro-Jones groups are piling on too, running ads on Facebook highlighting Moore’s ties to white supremacists.

When you ask a black person about a choice between two white guys, it’s always, well, which one of them are the least of a shyster?”Roger Herod, 67

Jones could alienate black voters if he’s not careful. His campaign circulated a mailer this week that shows a black man with a skeptical look on his face, and the caption, “Think if a black man went after high school girls anyone would try to make him a senator?”

The mailer was a jab at Moore, but it landed with a thud among some in the black community.

“Someone, probably a white man, thought that the image would resonate with black people and motivate them to get out the vote,” fumed Michael Harriot of The Root, an African-American culture website. “It’s as if black people were considering voting for the child molester until some brilliant strategist posited, ‘What if he were black, though?’”

Asked Friday about those criticisms, Jones said only, “That mailer kind of speaks for itself.”

Black residents are also hindered by the state’s record of voter suppression. Alabama does not permit early voting, which has been a key factor for other states in boosting black turnout, and it doesn’t have same-day registration or no-fault absentee voting.

As election day nears, Jones’ campaign has been stepping up its phone calls, radio and cable TV spots, digital ads and direct mail pieces targeting the state’s black community. He has also been sending surrogates into 12 Alabama counties with high concentrations of African-Americans.

Given that Jones has raised more than $10 million since Oct. 1, compared to Moore’s $2 million, he can afford to reach out to hundreds of thousands of black Alabamans who haven’t been active in recent elections.

“Those voters are all going to be touched multiple times, not only to remind them of the election, but of what Jones will do as a senator,” said Giles Perkins, the chairman of Jones’ campaign. “We’re not making choices on mail or calls. We’re doing all of it.”

Jones is also bringing in star power. Influential black national leaders like Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) will be in Alabama this weekend to help with Jones’ final push. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) will also campaign with Jones in Birmingham.

Booker was already taking shots at Moore on Friday.

For all of Jones’ efforts, the reality is that this is still Alabama, a deeply conservative state that hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1992. And that guy, current Sen. Richard Shelby, has since become a Republican.

But some of Jones’ supporters say that although they usually don’t hold out hope for a Democrat to win, this time, something feels different.

“I’m a pessimist. But I think Jones wins very narrowly,” said Joseph De Sciose, 64, a professional photographer in Birmingham.

He said he’s not basing his prediction on polls or news articles, and he’s not particularly engaged with Jones’ campaign. He’s noticed something more organic happening around town that has caught him by surprise and given him hope that Democrats have an edge.

“There are just so, so many more yards signs for Jones than I’ve ever seen,” said Sciose. “More than I saw even when Obama was running.”

 

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What to know about the hate group targeting Texas

Texas colleges, including the University of Houston, have been targets for white supremacists this past year.

In September, UH student Michael Leone spotted racist fliers from Vanguard America around campus. Leone took down the fliers and told Chron.comthat he’s “not going to let U of H, one of the most diverse campuses in America, get a reputation as a safe space for Nazis and fascists to come and recruit people.”

The fliers were linked to Vanguard America, which the Anti-Defamation League identifies as a white supremacist group.

Members of the group’s subset, Texas Vanguard, were recently on Southern Methodist University, giving Nazi salutes and hanging up racist propaganda. Police are still searching for the suspects on the grounds that they hung unauthorized signs and defaced university property.

Read more at www.Chron.com to learn more about Texas Vanguard and Vanguard America.

Model discusses life looking like Beyonce

While it’s quite the glamorous and wealthy life, it can’t be easy being Beyoncé. We saw that this week when the star attempted to go to Target with her mother and daughter and found that going incognito was not so easy.

But if being Beyoncé is as complex as it seems, imagine the struggle it must be to look like and be mistaken for the star.

Detroit native Brittany Williams, who goes by SurB on Instagram, does bear a striking resemblance to the singer (she actually gives us both Beyoncé and Ciara vibes). She said in an interview with The Daily Mail that she deals with screaming fans all of the time.

“I get approached all the time; whether it be on planes, at the airport or while attending events,” she said. “I’ve also been chased, had pictures taken of me without my consent and pranks done without me knowing. A group of women once chased me and my friend to our car and began singing ‘Single Ladies,’ beating my friend’s car with the heels of their shoes until we rolled down the window and took a picture with them. Most people are generally friendly though and just want a picture, they often say I look like a younger version of Beyoncé.”

The attention used to bother Williams (her age wasn’t shared), who started getting compared to Beyoncé during the star’s Destiny’s Child days. But she’s learned to roll with it, and actually values the things that she says she has in common with Queen Bey.

“We both have southern roots,” she said. “My parents and her parents look like they could be related. She sings, dances, writes and I am gifted in the same ways; we’re both strong dominant women, fearless, and God fearing.”

“We’re simply blessed to have a woman with such grace, humility, loyalty, talent and worth ethic to exist in our time,” Williams added. “She’s the example of what men should seek, and girls should become.”

Former NBA player Chris Bosh’s mother targeted in drug raid

during their game at the Barclays Center on January 26, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

The DeSoto police department has raided a home owned by former basketball player Chris Bosh on Friday.

His mother, Freida Bosh, was the target of the drug raid.

According to authorities, the investigation began on November 10 when a car that was leaving the home was stopped by police. In the car, they found baggies of cocaine and marijuana as well as several empty baggies containing some sort of drug residue.

One week later they began surveillance on the Bosh home and this continued for several weeks during which police witnessed people coming and going from the home.

The DeSoto Police Department got information from multiple sources that there was significant vehicle traffic coming and going from the address at 902 St. Georges Place. These sources also claimed to have seen “hand to hand” drug deals going on outside the home. 

On November 28 and December 5 officers were sent in undercover to take trash bags from in front of the home. They took these bags back to the police station and there found more traces of drug residue on the garbage.

The investigation found that the sources and their information was credible and that was enough to secure a no-knock warrant which was then executed.

Police then seized a large amount of drug paraphernalia that is generally used in drug trafficking but no arrests were made at the time.

The investigation is ongoing and police sources say that Chris Bosh is not a suspect in their investigation.

More Texans may be left without health insurance after end of open enrollment

Open enrollment for health care under former President Barack Obama’s health care law ends Dec. 15, and while current Texas enrollment numbers are up from this time last year, new restrictions under the Trump administration may mean more uninsured Texans.

Under the Affordable Care Act, individuals who are not insured through an employer can buy plans through the federal government during the open enrollment period. In 2016, that period ran from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 — but this year, it’s been cut in half to end Friday, Dec. 15.

While several states opted to extend the enrollment period, Texas, which runs its services through the federal healthcare.gov webpage, did not.

Texas has seen 437,919 enrollees for the 2018 plan year as of Dec. 2, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — a 38.8 percent increase in enrollment when compared to this time last year. But that’s not much of a comfort to organizations trying to get more people enrolled.

“We only have half as much time to enroll people,” said Melissa McChesney, an outreach coordinator at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. “So we would have to be doing significantly better than we are right now in order to avoid a dip enrollment numbers overall.”

“There is concern that we will see fewer Texans enroll in the marketplace, and that’s primarily because of the shortened enrollment period, and that does mean we are likely to see a higher number of uninsured Texans for 2018,” McChesney added.

Last year, a total of 1.2 million Texans bought insurance during the enrollment period, about one-sixth of whom were automatically enrolled after not changing their coverage from the previous year, McChesney said.

Karen Pollitz,a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health care nonprofit, said in previous years, enrollment has surged just before Dec. 15.

“Most people last year, in all the states, signed up by Dec. 15 even though open enrollment went all the way until the end of January because if you want coverage to begin on Jan. 1, that was the deadline,” Pollitz said.

However, shortening the window to enroll is not the only cut made by the Trump administration affecting Texans trying to buy health insurance.

The administration cut the budget for outreach and advertising by 90 percent and slashed funding to the navigator program, in which someone walks potential buyers through the process, by 60 percent. Supporters of the Affordable Care Act said these cuts have led to a decrease in awareness about the enrollment period.

Drew White, a health care policy expert at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, said these restrictions were the administration’s attempts to roll back aspects of the law within their power.

“We don’t believe there is a whole lot they can do,” While said referring to the president’s executive powers. “Congress is going to have to be one to repeal the statues when it comes to the regulations or to roll back the Medicaid expansion, that’s just going to be out of their purview.”

“Congress should have made good on its promise and repealed Obamacare this year as they have been promising for seven, eight years prior to that,” White said. “It’s just unfortunate because consumers are going to see their premiums and deductibles go up with fewer and fewer options as long as federal insurance regulations remain in statute.”

While it hasn’t been heavily publicized, Pollitz said there will be a special enrollment period through the end of December for people who are living in or have moved out of hurricane-affected areas. People wishing to enroll during this period will have to do so over the phone, she added.

“I think everybody, CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services], the navigators, the other people who help folks sign up really, really want the message to be, ‘Sign up by Dec. 15. That is the best way to do it,’” Pollitz said. “Some people will need more time, or miss it, and will have this opportunity.”

In Congress, Republicans are promising to pass a new tax code by Christmas, and the current U.S. Senate plan includes a repeal of the portion of the ACA that requires all individuals to have health insurance.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan congressional analysis organization, estimates that if the individual mandate is repealed, 13 million Americans will lose their health insurance in the next 10 years and that plans will have higher premiums as younger, healthier individuals opt to go without coverage.

McChesney said even if it’s repealed, the individual mandate would still be in effect until 2019.

“It’s important that people understand, who are considering purchasing ACA insurance right now, that they are still subject to the mandate and could potentially face a tax penalty if they go uninsured in 2018,” she said.

 

 

Johnson Publishing building acquired for $10 Million

Earlier this year it was revealed that the iconic Johnson Publishing Company headquarters in Chicago would be recognized as a landmark. Now that the structure has been granted landmark status by the city, the building has been sold for $10 million, the Chicago Crusader reported.

The 46-year-old building—which once housed the offices for notable Black publications like Ebony and Jet—was acquired by 3L Real Estate, the news outlet said.

The developer plans to invest $20 million into transforming the building into a luxury residential complex. It will feature 150 apartments and have amenities that include a fitness center, laundry room, and an underground parking garage that Johnson Publishing Company founder John H. Johnson built. Rents start at $1,200 and go up to $2,700. Joseph Slezak, the founder of 3L Real Estate, said he plans to preserve some parts of the structure, including the Ebony and Jet signs on the building’s façade.

The reconstruction project is slated to begin in 2018 and is expected to be completed the following year. Slezak said the building will be “a great fit for the neighborhood.” He also noted that his firm often seeks to acquire “unique” structures.

Ownership of the Johnson Publishing Company building has been passed around throughout the years. Seven years ago, Linda Johnson Rice sold the building to Columbia College, which wanted to transform it into a library. In 2016, however, Columbia College resold the structure.

In February, when there was buzz about the building becoming a landmark, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel referred to it as a “decades-long epicenter of Black history and culture” and “part of the legacy of the city of Chicago.”

 
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