Washington Informer

President Barack Obama said on Wednesday in nominating Congressman Mel Watt (D-N.C.) to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, that selecting him is one of the best things he could do.

Watt, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has more than 20 years on the House Financial Services and Judiciary committee, would replace acting director, Edward DeMarco, according to a White House official.

"[Mel's] represented the people of North Carolina for 20 years –- every one of them as a member of the committee that oversees housing policy," said Obama. "And in that capacity, Mel has led efforts to rein in unscrupulous mortgage lenders. He's helped protect consumers from the kind of reckless risk-taking that led to the financial crisis in the first place. And he's fought to give more Americans in low-income neighborhoods access to affordable housing."

In the past, Watt has accused white Americans of racism.

He said in October 2005 during a hearing held in Washington, D.C., by the National Commission on the Voting Rights Act, that there would be a substantial majority of white voters who would say that under no circumstances, would they vote for an African-American candidate.

He added that such voters "need to be factored out of the equation because "I've got no use for them in the democratic process."

Red carpet "Premiere Night" for the new Giant grocery store, located at 300 H St. in Northeast, will be held on May 2. The highly-anticipated celebration for the 41,000-square –foot, LEED-certified building will feature special activities including live entertainment, gifts, food sampling, and more.

The H Street store, which will create more than 100 jobs, and be open 24 hours a day, is the second Giant in Northeast. It is also one of two new stores scheduled to open this year in the District, with a third store scheduled to open in 2014.

Customers attending "Premiere Night" will meet their new store team and take a tour of the facility before the public opening at 6 a.m. Friday, May 3. Local dignitaries – including D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton -- and community members will join in a 6 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony and Giant will make a donation to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.

CROWNSVILLE, MD -- The state of Maryland will receive approximately $11 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through HUD's Section 811

Project Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (PRA Demo).

The PRA Demo program provides rental assistance to extremely low-income persons with disabilities, many of whom are transitioning out of institutional settings

or are at high risk of homelessness.

"In Maryland, we believe in the dignity of every individual and that there is no such thing as a spare American," said Gov. Martin O'Malley.

"Working together with our local, state and federal partners, we've set out to build a strong, multi-faceted approach to combat homelessness in our state and protect the needs of our most vulnerable Marylanders. Thanks to the support of President Obama and our partners at HUD, Maryland now has additional resources to provide rental assistance to our neighbors withdisabilities."

Jane C.W. Vincent, regional administrator of HUD's Mid-Atlantic region, said her office is pleased to support the Department of Housing and Community Development's efforts to offer solutions for persons who might otherwise be homeless or institutionalized.

"Through the combined efforts of federal and state agencies, real progress is being made in preventing and ending homelessness" she said.

The $10.97 million received from HUD will provide five years of rental assistance for 150 units that will serve non-elderly persons with disabilities with incomes at or below 30 percent Area Median Income who receive Medicaid services.

"The Department of Housing and Community Development strives to expand affordable housing opportunities for all Marylanders," said Skinner. "This federal funding will provide critical rental assistance to some of our most at-risk citizens, giving them a safe and stable home and the support services needed to live independently."

Catherine A. Raggio, secretary, Maryland Department of Disabilities, added that Maryland's application for PRA Demo Program funds was a successful collaboration among state and local agencies across the affordable housing and disability services system.

Said Raggio:"The lack of affordable housing is one of the most critical issues facing individuals with disabilities today and these efforts will ensure that many Marylanders with disabilities will be able to live safely and independently in their communities."

President Barack Obama has nominated Anthony Foxx, mayor of Charlotte, NC, to replace outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Foxx, who was elected mayor of Charlotte in 2009 and re-elected in 2011, has continued to serve as deputy general counsel for DesignLine Corp., a Charlotte-based bus company. Prior to announcing earlier this month, his plans to step down to spend more time with his family, there had been rumors that Foxx, 42, would be tapped to replace LaHood.

"When Anthony became mayor in 2009, Charlotte, like the rest of the country, was going through a bruising economic crisis. But the city's managed to turn things around. The economy is growing. There are more jobs, more opportunity," Obama said this week in remarks delivered from the East Room of the White House. "And if you ask Anthony how that happened, he'll tell you that one of the reasons is that Charlotte made one of the largest investments in transportation in the city's history."

Obama faced criticism early in his second term for a lack of diversity among his nominees, and Foxx the first black nominee among the president's newly-appointed Cabinet members.

Foxx's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

(Posted by Dorothy Rowley)

David Catania, who chairs the D.C. Council's Education Committee, wants answers from Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson regarding a significant dip in the number of students attending summer school this year, and plans to make the 5-week session available only to students who need a little boost in reading.

The school system is reportedly targeting students who are lagging behind in their reading, rather than those who are reading below grade level.

While there has been a cut in funding for the summer school program, reports state that council member Catania -- who noted a $1.6 billion surplus in city coffers -- believes it's not too late for money to be earmarked in Mayor Vincent Gray's Fiscal Year 2014 budget.

"The notion that we don't have the money to give kids the kind of remedial assistance they need, so they can be on grade level to success, just strikes me as wrong," Catania said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Henderson is scheduled to testify at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2 during a schools budget hearing that's being held by Catania.

(Posted by Dorothy Rowley)

Civil rights leader Maxine Smith of Memphis, Tenn., has died. She was 83. Her passing was confirmed Friday by Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, who made the announcement via his Facebook page.

Smith, who reportedly suffered chronic heart problems, was the retired executive secretary of the Memphis branch of the NAACP and a former city school board member. Overall, she was a pivotal force in almost every important aspect of the civil rights era.

"Today we mourn the passing of civil rights icon, Maxine Smith," Wharton wrote on Facebook. "With her death, Memphis has lost a legendary leader for human rights and one of the brightest stars in the great expanse of our city's history."

Rep. Johnnie Turner said there was no one like Smith.

"She was an amazing woman with an ability to interact with all kinds of people, a brilliant strategist. ... Above all, she was my friend," said Turner, a former executive director of the local NAACP chapter.

Smith – who earned her master's degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, was born in Memphis during the Depression and when segregation flourished. But as a result, she sought to change the racial status quo.

Alvin L. Crawley, who has oversight over Maryland's second largest school system, offered his resignation effective June 3.

Crawley, who assumed the post in August 2012 after William R. Hite left to take over the superintendent's job in the Philadelphia public schools system, said in an April 25 statement that he's leaving the 123,000- student system with mixed emotions .

"[I] appreciate the support of our Board, staff, parents, students, and members of the community," Crawley said. "I am very proud of the accomplishments we have achieved during my tenure."

The Board of Education, which accepted the resignation, responded that:

"We are saddened by Dr. Crawley's decision to leave early; however, due to the passage of the recent legislation changing the governance structure of our school system, we fully understand. We regretfully accept Dr. Crawley's resignation and express our gratitude and appreciation for his consistent dedication to student achievement."

Although the next superintendent will be chosen by County Executive Rushern Baker, that appointee won't report to Baker, but rather to the school board.