Washington Informer

Cholera Epidemic Envelops Coastal Slums in West Africa

DAKAR, SENEGAL — A fierce cholera epidemic is spreading through the coastal slums of West Africa, killing hundreds and sickening many more in one of the worst regional outbreaks in years, health experts said.

Cholera, transmitted through contact with contaminated feces, was made worse this year by an exceptionally heavy rainy season that flooded the sprawling shantytowns in Freetown and Conakry, the capitals of Sierra Leone and neighboring Guinea.

In both countries, about two-thirds of the population lack toilets, a potentially lethal threat in the rainy season because of the contamination of the water supply. Doctors Without Borders said there had been nearly twice as many cholera cases so far this year as there were in the same period in 2007 in Sierra Leone and Guinea, when it said the area experienced its last major outbreak.

Already, more than 13,000 people suffering from the disease's often fatal symptoms — diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration — have been admitted to hospitals in the two nations' capitals, and 250 to 300 have died, Doctors Without Borders said.

In Sierra Leone, the government declared the cholera outbreak a national emergency last week, while aid workers in Guinea said the outbreak was unlikely to have reached its peak yet. Both countries have been wracked by years of civil and political unrest, with Sierra Leone still recovering from a decade of bloody civil war that drove thousands from rural areas into the city's slums, and with Guinea emerging from a half-century of often brutal dictatorship.

Rains have already contributed to cholera deaths in the landlocked nations of Mali and Niger as well, health officials said.

Aid workers said the number of cases of the highly contagious disease continued to increase, particularly in Freetown, where most live in slums and children swim in polluted waters. Often, patients arrive at treatment centers in poor condition.

"They come barely conscious because they are severely dehydrated," said Natasha Reyes Ticzon, a cholera field coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Freetown. "We've had some deaths because they come too late."

There have been more than 11,600 cholera cases in Sierra Leone since January, at least 216 of them fatal, according to the country's health minister, Zainab Bangura. More than 1,000 new cases a week are being recorded in Freetown, health officials said.

In Guinea, there have been 80 deaths out of 2,700 cases so far.

Rushed Assumptions Made Basis of Conclusion in Death Investigation

MEMPHIS – The Rev. Jesse Jackson recently joined Cochran Firm managing partner Benjamin Irwin and the family of Chavis Carter at a press conference surrounding  unresolved matters in the death of Carter 21, who died earlier this summer while in custody of the Jonesboro, Ark., police.

Addressing a crowd of citizens and media at the Monumental Baptist Church in Memphis, Jackson called for justice.

"We appeal to the Department of Justice and the FBI to engage in a thorough investigation and leave no stone unturned until justice is realized," Rev. Jackson said. "The good news in this tragedy is that there is a credible, able law firm, the Cochran Law Firm, making the case for the Carter family. Chavis is dead and cannot speak for himself."

Carter family representatives have launched an investigation to determine how and why he died of a gunshot wound to the temple on July 28.

While police have agreed to cooperate in The Cochran Firm's investigation, many things remain behind closed doors.

Jackson called attention to missing sections of an edited police dashboard camera video from the night of the shooting released by the Jonesboro Police Department.

"While this case is surrounded in mystery, there are certain things we do know," Jackson said. "He was alive when they stopped him. Alive in police custody. They frisked him twice and found no weapon. The second time he was handcuffed. Then we get this mysterious information that he did a Houdini act somehow. He then, handcuffed with no weapon in site, used his left hand to shoot himself in the right temple. That is hard to believe. Moreover, at that point there is a gap in the (video) tape. We need not only the tape be released, but the tape they have not released. They make the position that there is no more information in the gap because of technical difficulty. This seems to be a convenient explanation but not an acceptable one."

Irwin stated that the basis for conclusions derived by the police investigation and the autopsy are unclear. Many of the questions regarding the origins of the gun and how Carter could die while in police custody after being searched twice remain unanswered.

While his concerns with the investigation are many, Irwin describes a rush to conclusions as the overarching problem.

"Too many assumptions and opinions have been adopted as facts in this case, and that can only slow down our search for the truth," Irwin said. "An investigation should never begin with a conclusion and be followed by a search for facts that support the previously stated, premature conclusion. When that happens, relevant evidence is not gathered and possible contradicting conclusions are ignored. That is exactly what is happening here. Uncovering the truth should be the top priority."

"How do police officers who did not find a gun on Chavis in two searches, and allege they did not see the shooting, determine so quickly that Chavis shot himself," Irwin continued. "Ever since that snap judgment without the benefit of evidence like gun powder residue tests, police have been too busy trying to prove their conclusion to consider any other possible scenarios. New information is not being gathered, and unsupportive evidence is ignored. We still do not know where the gun came from, how the gun ended up in the car or who shot the gun. Police say Chavis hid the gun in the car when placed in custody. Where is the evidence to prove this allegation? Just because someone says it, does not make it true."

Ultimately, how and by whom the trigger was pulled does not make a difference regarding the matter of responsibility.

"Chavis died while in police custody, a time when he should have been safe," Irwin said. "Even if some aspects of this case remain a mystery, the Jonesboro Police Department showed great negligence in not protecting him from this tragic death. This issue is important to not only the family, but to all people. Everyone needs to know that they can feel safe when taken into police custody."

According to Irwin, the family is prepared to accept whatever outcome is presented by the facts, but conclusions based upon a rush judgment and opinions with few supporting facts continue to fuel the investigation.

Dr. Calvin E. Woodland has been named interim CEO of the University of the District of Columbia Community College.

Dr. Woodland takes over leadership of the rapidly growing community college as it begins its fourth year of operation and will serve in the interim capacity until a permanent executive is named.

Woodland has served in various higher education capacities over his career, from professor through president. Most recently, he was president of Capital Community College in Hartford, Conn., where he oversaw initiatives to grow student enrollment and graduation rates. Woodland has also served as a member of the American Association of Community College's Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Commission on Academic, Student and Community Development.

"Dr. Woodland's dedication to student achievement will certainly help continue our Community College's upward track," said University of D.C. President Dr. Allen L. Sessoms. "As our whole University continues its growth, having professionals like [Dr. Woodland] on our team is a boost to our efforts."

Former UDC Community College CEO Dr. Jonathan Gueverra left in May to assume a similar position at Florida Keys Community College in Key West, Florida.

Woodland, who holds a Doctor of Psychology degree from the Southern California University for Professional Studies and a Doctor of Education from Rutgers University, expressed excitement over his new post.

"The University of D.C.'s Community College has brought an exciting dynamic to higher education in the nation's capital," said Woodland. "I am looking forward to strengthening a vital educational link for students."

Aug. 20 marked the first day back to school for students across the state of Maryland, and for the 40 sixth-graders at Seat Pleasant Elementary School, a surprise awaited them as Mayor Eugene W. Grant joined the Carl Mann Johnson Foundation, bearing school supplies, prizes and an original skateboard signed by professional kateboarder Darren Harper.

Also, in attendance to offer words of wisdom and motivational speeches to the young minds were local R&B and Hip-Hop recording artists Deangelo Redman, Garvey the Chosen One as well as Carl Mann Johnson, who graduated from Seat Pleasant Elementary School. The students, who got to spend time with the celebrities, were also provided a special pizza lunch.

Mayor Grant was on hand in the morning to meet and greet parents and students as they checked their children into for the first day of school, bringing Seat Pleasant Elementary's total student population to about 350 students for this year.

The Carl Mann Johnson Foundation has worked with Grant for the past three years attending the first day of school at Seat Pleasant Elementary and providing supplies for a good start to these children's school year.

Each year the mayor and City Council appropriate $10,000 for Seat Pleasant Elementary to provide much-needed aide to the school's already strained budget.

A Source of Pride in the Neighborhood

Fantastic article by Elton Hayes, "Inside The Gates, Barry Farm Basketball Courts are a National Treasure," August 16, 2012. I was so glad to see it in your paper; this spot has been jumping in Southeast for years. I mean, we were doing it even before all of the upgrades and national coverage. Barry Farm is a special place for a lot of people and the Goodman League has always been a source of pride for those in and around the area.

Just like The Informer, the Goodman League offers and highlights some of the positive aspects of Southeast Washington. Thanks for the article and thanks, Goodman League for another summer filled with fantastic hoop dreams.

Bobby Dean

Washington, D.C.

Pushed Out by Parking Restrictions

It was with great sadness that I read the front-page article in your August 16 issue, "St. Matthews Baptist Church Moves to Prince George's County," by Sam Collins. The city is losing an historic 100-year-old congregation because of newly imposed parking restrictions in favor of new residents in the church's neighborhood. I agree with the Rev. Washington when he says that the current administration, including the City Council, is unfriendly to the faith community, because District officials are allowing this disturbing trend in church communities across the city.

I am a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, which is in the Shaw neighborhood, and is very close to the Mount Vernon Square area, one of the hottest new development areas in town. In disbelief, we recently saw signs placed directly across the street from our church, prohibiting us from parking there at any time on any day of the week, except for 12 midnight to 7 a.m. (Is somebody trying to be funny?) We have heard that more signs are coming soon to adjacent streets, eventually squeezing us out of all parking.

Shiloh is a vibrant, dynamic congregation with many, many community outreach programs that are in operation seven days a week. We also have choir rehearsals, Bible classes, and mid-week services that are heavily attended. We recognize that parking is tight when gentrification brings new residents to a community, but surely those new residents, when checking out their potential new homes, must have noticed the churches that have been there for decades. This is the 21st century – churches are no longer Sunday-only institutions.

In D.C., the new attitude seems to be, "We're in your neighborhood now; you have to abide by our rules, even if your church was here long before we arrived."

Shame on the city officials who are condoning this attitude and looking the other way while historic congregations are forced to abandon their beloved sanctuaries.

Tanyna Saxton

Washington, D.C.

TD.C. Department of Health Interim Director Dr. Saul Levin released the following statement Aug. 22 on West Nile Virus in the District of Columbia:

"Since the beginning of the summer, the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) has identified the West Nile Virus in several mosquito samples throughout the District. Despite the positive samples, there has only been one confirmed (nonfatal) case of West Nile Virus in the District of Columbia. In an effort to reduce mosquito pools in and around homes, the residents of the District of Columbia should take proactive precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites and subsequently transmission of the West Nile Virus. Please eliminate all standing water. Pay close attention to roof gutters, flush bird baths and store pet food and water bowls inside the home. The District of Columbia Department of Health does not spray aerosol applications for mosquitoes and has not done so in the past 20 years. The Department of Health will continue to sample the District's mosquito pools throughout the summer and early fall months."

The District of Columbia does not spray aerosol applications of pesticides for several reasons including:

· The District does not have authority to apply larvicide or adulticide products on federally owned properties.

· Aerosolized pesticides can trigger asthma and aggravate respiratory conditions. To lessen the negative effects of spraying, it would be necessary to have every person remain indoors for several hours after spraying.

· The Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a West Nile Virus vector, is a day flying mosquito. Application of pesticide sprays during the evening would have limited or no effect on this species.

· Broad-spectrum insecticides will kill many insects that are unintended targets.

Proposal Memorializes 'Godfather of Go-Go' With Park, Statue, Amphitheater

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mayor Vincent Gray honored the memory of the late Go-Go music legend Chuck Brown on what would have been his 76th birthday by proclaiming August 22 "Chuck Brown Day" in the District, and unveiling plans for a living memorial to the artist, who died in May.

"Chuck Brown and his music truly epitomized what was best – and what continues to be great – about our nation's capital, and that's why it is important we make sure that generations now and in the future know of this great artist," Mayor Gray said. "That's why I'm proclaiming August 22nd 'Chuck Brown Day' and proposing that we build a memorial that will create a permanent, living salute to this hometown legend."

Earlier this year, Mayor Gray proposed legislation that would name a park in Brown's honor. Today, He announced this week that the portion of what is currently of Langdon Park bordered by 18th, 20th, Franklin and Hamlin Streets NE in Ward 5 would become Chuck Brown Memorial Park and would feature a memorial bust or statue at the park's amphitheater. The amphitheater and other park facilities would also be renovated.

"We thought a memorial focused on performance venue would be a fitting tribute to Chuck, and this park is already a place where people from all backgrounds and all ages gather to enjoy the outdoors and music," Mayor Gray said. "This will create a lasting and appropriate reminder of Chuck's legacy."