August 01, 2019 

By Stacy M. Brown 

NNPA Newswire Correspondent 

 

Beginning later this year when federal agencies submit proposed budgets to one or more of the 12 Appropriations Committees, those requests now must include a line item detailing what they are spending with minority-owned businesses, which include black-, women- and other minority-owned media outlets.

 

D.C. Democratic Congress­woman Eleanor Holmes Norton told NNPA Newswire on July 26, that each of the 12 federal Appropriations Committees have adopted language from her Government Advertising Equity Accountability Act [HR 2576], which mandates all agencies include in their annual budget request to Congress the amount of money they spend to advertise in minority-owned media outlets.

 

She said today’s developments mean that her measure doesn’t require further action. “This is exactly what we wanted. This is it, we got it,” Norton said.

 

“We got all 12 of the Appropriations Committees to include the language and, in October, when the bills take effect, it will be the law and these agencies will have to comply,” she said.

 

Norton asked for an update on a 2007 GAO report that found, of the $4.3 billion available for advertising contracts, five agencies: the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, spent only five percent with minority-owned businesses. 

 

A subsequent 2018 report revealed that, of the approximately $5 billion government agencies spent on advertising contracts, just $50 million went to minority-owned businesses and even considerably less to minority-owned newspaper and media companies owned by African Americans.

 

“This is important not just for the publications but because those publications reach minorities and women in a way that mainstream publications may not,” Norton said.

 

“We did this because the federal government is the largest advertiser in the United States and this gives it a special obligation to make sure that it is using advertising dollars fairly and to reach all people in the United States,” said Norton, who has served in the U.S. House since 1991.

 

At the request of officials from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (Black Press of America) and the National Asso­ciation of Hispanic Publications, Norton ordered a Government Accountability Office (GAO) examination on the spending on advertising contracts with minority-owned businesses.

 

Norton began a fight to change that.

 

She gathered support from other members of Congress and then, in May 2019, she crafted H.R. 2576 and continued to work behind the scenes to find more immediate solutions.

 

During budget hearings on Capitol Hill, Norton spearheaded a bipartisan effort for the 12 Appropriations Committees to place the language in their spending bills.

 

President Trump also urged Republicans to pass the budget bills – though, he had not specifically addressed Norton’s measure.

 

By Thursday, 11 of the 12 committees had agreed to include the language with the Department of the Interior being the lone holdout. However, that changed on July 26, when she secured the commitment of the Department of the Interior.

 

Despite her diligent work, Norton credited minority-owned media with the success of the legislation.

 

“I didn’t just come up with this out of the blue, I credit Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. [president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association], the Black Press of America, and the National Association of Hispanic Publications because they came to see me about this a couple of years ago,” Norton said.

 

“They came to Congress to seek redress and I met with them, and then, having heard about what looked like a discrepancy, I needed to see if I could document that. So, I asked for the GAO report,” she said.

 

Although the legislation does not mandate federal agencies to spend specific dollar amounts with minority-owned media companies, Norton said she believes publishers and owners of those publications ultimately will be pleased.

 

“Of course, I think they will start advertising because this is a big encouragement to do so,” Norton said. “These are federal agencies under the jurisdiction of the appropriations committees, and they have to come before these committees each year to get their money. When they report back on how many dollars they spent with minority-owned and women-owned publications, they will understand that they will have to do just that and whatever they’ve done before they’ll have to strive to do even better,” Norton said.

 

“Once again the Black Press of America salutes the effective leadership of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton,” said Chavis. “Her diligence and commitment to diversity, inclusion and economic equity with respect to the Black Press and other minority-owned media across the United States is noteworthy and much appreciated”

July 25, 2019 

By Tanu Henry 

California Black Media 

 

“My cellulitis has become so chronic, if I get scratched, cut, pinched or burned, I’ll have to be admitted to the hospital,” says Angela Agbasi, 64, a Cancer survivor and Los Angeles single mom who drives Lyft and Uber about 30 hours a week to supplement her Social Security income.

 

“I have four kids – three in college and one in high school. If things change, and I have to become an employee, I won’t be hirable. I won’t be able to take care of my children,” says Agbasi, adding that driving on her own time allows her to make it to her frequent doctor appointments and work in a low-risk, low-stress environment that works well for her health condition.

 

 

On Monday, July 8, Agbasi joined other members of the “I’m Independent Coalition” for a press conference at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. At the event, a panel of advocates, community leaders and drivers called on lawmakers to fix the California Supreme Court’s Dynamex decision and amend AB 5, a bill the full Senate is expected to hear and vote on in September. Nearly 500 on-demand delivery drivers from across the state also rallied at the State Capitol July16 asking state legislators to fix the pending bill and protect their flexibility. 

 

On July 11, the Senate Labor committee voted to pass the legislation. It is now headed to the Appropriations committee for review. 

 

If passed, the legislation also referred to as the “Dynamex Bill” or the “Employee Misclassification bill,” would make it tougher for companies in California to enter into working agreements with freelancers or independent contractors. 

 

Supporters of AB 5, introduced by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), say the legislation closes loopholes employers use too often to underpay workers and deny them of benefits like health insurance, minimum wage, paid parental leave, etc., that state law requires for full-time employees.

 

“Big businesses shouldn't be able to pass their costs on to taxpayers while depriving workers of the labor law protections they are rightfully entitled to,” said Gonzalez in May when the Assembly voted 59-15 in favor of AB 5.   

 

But for many African American ride-share and on-demand delivery drivers who enjoy the freedom of working for themselves and the benefits of setting their own hours, the California Supreme Court ruling known as Dynamex that created the restrictive ABC Test - and AB 5 that codifies the decision - not only threatens their livelihood but also throws a wrench into their ability to control how much money they make.  

 

“A striking 97 percent of African-American drivers in California say being able to maintain a flexible schedule is important to them,” says Pastor William Smart, President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California. Smart, who is based in Los Angeles, says joining the effort to oppose AB 5 gives him a chance to be the voice of thousands of people in his community who depend on driving apps for a living. 

 

He says, for many African Americans drivers who live paycheck-to-paycheck, being able to drive when and where they want provides a safety net for those times when surprise expenses pop up that could cause “drastic financial setbacks.” 

 

In California, tens of thousands of people make their living or generate additional income by driving for Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Grubhub or other on-demand platforms. Only 7 percent of them would prefer to become full-time employees of those companies, according to the “I’m Independent Coalition.” Eighty-seven percent of those drivers say they are satisfied with their jobs and 65 percent need the flexibility of setting their own work hours because they have other obligations with fixed schedules like school.

 

“I have done the corporate thing. I have been in the office,” says Shataya Wilson, who clocks about 40 hours a week driving for Lyft. Wilson, who moved to Los Angeles from Oregon to pursue her goal of becoming a music producer, says even though she drives full-time, the flexibility of choosing when she works allows her to still chase her dreams while being assured of a steady stream of income.

 

In 2018, the California Supreme Court instructed businesses in the state to apply an “ABC” test to determine whether a worker is a freelancer or employee. For a worker to be classified as a freelancer, employers would have to prove that the person is (A) not under the contracting company’s control, (B) is doing work that is not central to the company’s business, and (C) has an independent business providing a service. If freelancers or contractors don’t meet those requirements, companies would have to employ them and provide all the pay and benefits required under California labor laws. 

 

Gonzalez says AB 5 writes into law that California Supreme Court decision and provides specific guidelines for employers to follow. 

 

But instead of creating a uniform policy for all workers in California, the “I’m Independent Coalition” is urging Gonzalez and other lawmakers to consider what they are calling a “modern approach” to work in the state. They are advocating for clarifications in the law that allow independent workers who overwhelmingly want to stay independent to remain so. 

 

The app-based drivers are pushing for a legislative solution that allows workers to stay independent while creating a system to expand benefits; provide an opportunity for contractors to organize as an drivers' association; and supporting legislation that calls for more transparency on how much companies earn for passenger rides or food and goods deliveries - and how much they, in turn, pay drivers for the those services. 

 

In its current form, AB 5, which was first introduced in December 2018, makes exceptions for certain classes of professionals. They include barbers who rent booths, hairstylists, real estate agents, dentists, doctors, lawyers, architects, accountants, insurance agents, direct sellers, human resource officers and some marketers. 

 

“It is encouraging to see that lawmakers are not using a sledgehammer to fix AB 5,” says John Warren, Publisher of the San Diego Voice and Viewpoint. “The problem of unprotected workers in California must be removed with a scalpel that does not destroy the things that are working for  people and our economy.”

 

Warren says the law would “devastate” his business if he has to offer full-time positions to all the freelancers he works with to deliver the part-time yet “mission-critical” services they provide. Therefore, he is joining app-based drivers to urge lawmakers to create exceptions in the law for them, and small newspaper publishers like him, too, who are struggling to keep their lights on because of dwindling revenue from advertising. 

 

“We are in the business of providing news that is vital to our readers’ lives. They depend on us for it, and we depend on freelance editors, writers, technicians and drivers to make sure that information reaches them,” says Warren. “Many of our freelancers are entrepreneurs, their own bosses, and the majority of them can’t work full-time jobs because of other responsibilities like school, young children and other clients. Others live far away and can’t afford to pay rent to be within commuting distance of the cities and towns where their clients are located.” 

 

Although a majority of African-American ride-share drivers, are opposed to being reclassified as employees if AB 5 passes, a small yet vocal number of other Lyft and Uber drivers across the state support the bill.  On June 10, when Gonzalez hosted a rally at the Capitol in support of her proposal, protesting members of the “I’m Independent Coalition found themselves face-to face with hundreds of ride-share drivers and union workers who were also there to show their support for the legislation and lobby legislators to pass it. Many of them contend that ride-share companies are worth billions of dollars now and some like Uber, for example, have even begun to invest in new technologies like self-driving cars, while many of their drivers work long hours and still can’t make ends meet. 

 

“CEOs and COOs are making $45 million a year. They went public, it’s a billion-dollar corporation, and their drivers, as we hear, are sleeping in their cars,” Gonazalez said at the rally.

 

Ideally, Agbasi says, she would like to see legislators make a compromise that provides protections for  the drivers who want the security and benefits of employment and still makes provisions for contractors like her who cherish the autonomy ride-share drivers currently have. 

 

“I really, really love my job the way it is,” says Agbasi. “All I want is to be able to pursue happiness and take care of my family and have some fun while I’m doing that.”

July 18, 2019 

By Stacy M. Brown 

NNPA Newswire Correspondent 

 

The next wave of technological evolution has arrived in the form of 5G, a new generation of mobile networks where at least four major telephone carriers in America – AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint – have put forth plans to introduce this year.

 

Reportedly, AT&T has even started trials with 5G mobile hotspots in 12 cities.

 

“The first generation was all about being able to just talk on the phone where ever you were,” said Candice Brackeen, the co-founder and executive director of Hillman Accelerator, which supports women and minority led tech ­companies in Cincinnati to provide them with access to education, seed funding, mentorship, and networks.

 

“And then we had 2G that allowed us to use a little bit of text messaging. Then, 3G was faster, we had the smartphone and suddenly everybody had it in their hand,” Brackeen said.

 

“Then, we had 4G and now, the fifth generation is super-fast and responding in real time and we now have the ability to have devices speaking to each other,” she said.

 

The technological advances are transformative and can significantly change what it means to be connected, Brackeen said.

 

She noted that it can transform communities and also reshape the digital economy.

 

Experts said when compared to 4G, 5G means far faster downloads, significantly reduced response times, and a massive impact on how everyone lives, works, and plays.

 

“So, the internet is now going to work the way we all want it to work in a mobile version,” Brackeen said.

 

“That’s kind of where we’re going. The ability for your car to really understand what’s happening as we all aspire to have self-driving cars … those cars now will be able to interact with those around them and make real decisions,” she said.

 

The importance of providing African Americans and others with information on 5G was underscored in June when Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes hosted a news forum without any grant or funding.

 

Rolark Barnes said the said she held the forum because “this issue is important” and residents across the city, especially in the predominately African American communities that lie east of the Anacostia River, ­needed the information.

 

The early reviews for 5G include CNET’s description:

 

“On its surface, 5G is about astounding speeds and almost zero latency – the lag time between when your phone pings the network and when it responds. But on a global scale, it represents political dominance and economic might.”

 

Earlier this year, Samsung’s first 5G smartphone in the U.S. became available exclusively on Verizon for a limited time.

 

According to a news release, Verizon revealed the names of 20 cities that join Chicago and Minneapolis where customers will get access to its 5G Ultra-Wideband network this year, with more to come throughout 2019.

 

Those cities, which include Washington, D.C.; Charlotte; Boston; Atlanta; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis; Phoenix; Providence, Rhode Island; San Diego; and Salt Lake City; are the world’s first to get Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband mobility service.

 

The bottom line is that everyone should be excited about 5G, Brackeen said.

 

“I’ve got children. And for me, when the internet is slow, sometimes I don’t have happy children in the house when the internet is slow – we’re not learning, homework doesn’t get done,” Brackeen said.

 

“So we can all be excited about reliability. And I know that I just upgraded my house within the last 60 days to 5G. And, you know, the video games work faster. My streaming services work faster. And I’m not having any downtime,” Brackeen said.

 

“I can work from home versus working from my office where there is fiber. And so the reliability is what I think is what we should all be excited about. I think that’s what we should be most excited about is the reliability,” she said.

 

To celebrate the transformative new technology, officials have launched “Faces of 5G” with the hopes of educating the public on the innovations already taken place today and the possibilities of tomorrow.