Omarosa's Final Days at White House Full of Controversy, Accusations

Week of December 25 - December 31, 2017 VVOOLL.. XCIIII NO.. 15 HappSyin cHe 1o92l5 idays! www.louisianaweekly.com 50 cents Advocates take to the street, raise their voices in support of incarcerated women By Michael Isaac Stein began her five-year sentence in a Georgia miscarried while shackled to her bed in solitary Contributing Writer federal prison for bank fraud. Early into her confinement, lying in a pool of blood. time, she tripped and fell while climbing “It’s barbaric,” says Martin. “No male will Dolfinette Martin is a prison reform aboard a bus in her ankle bracelets. Days ever understand the impact of that. And activist with an unwavering focus on later she found spots of blood. there are so many Pamelas.” women’s rights. She has the poised, steady As a nurse, she knew it could be serious and The incarceration rate for men in Louisiana voice of a grassroots organizer, but it soft - over the next 14 weeks made multiple requests is roughly 14 times larger than that for women. ens when she tells the story of Pamela Winn. for medical care. She never received the atten - Winn was six weeks pregnant when she tion she needed, and at 20 weeks pregnant she Continued on Pg. 6 Photo by Cheriss May OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN Omarosa’s final days at White House full of controversy, aSocmce suay sshae btloicokedn qusal ified Black applicants; others say that's not possible NNPA president says she may have been fighting for diversity By Hazel Trice Edney Contributing Writer This collage, published by Christianity, illustrates some of the different depictions of Jesus. Theologians say the darker hue is most accurate (TriceEdneyWire.com) — Omarosa Manigault Newman, who has resigned under duress from her public liaison job at the White House, is leaving true to form — amidst a cloud of controversy and with sparks flying. For many across the nation, the The White House has confirmed her resigna - tion effective Jan. 20. The official White House reason was that she is leaving to pursue dream of a Black Christmas brings joy “other opportunities.” By Alanté Millow Google search of either image reveals an relate. Although displaying a Black Santa “Thank you Omarosa for your service! I wish Contributing Writer array of white representations. may seem like a small, meaningless gesture you continued success,” says a Dec. 13 tweet The fact that people of European descent to some, the effect it can have on the mind - from President Donald Trump, who had hand - (TriceEdneyWire.com) — As the holiday aren’t the only ones celebrating Christmas is sets of Black children can be quite remark - picked Manigault Newman — best known for season approaches, so do the wave of being increasingly recognized and celebrat - able. Multiple studies have shown that her first name only. A personal friend of images representing St. Nicholas and the ed as an industry is growing for festive Trump’s, they have known each other 14 years Nativity scene. However, just a quick products to which Black consumers can Continued on Pg. 8 since her national television debut on his real - ity show, “The Apprentice.” But the full circumstances surrounding Omarosa’s departure remain cloudy at best amidst numerous reports that she was actually fired or forced to resign amidst cursing and a heated confrontation with Trump’s Chief of Americans want prosecutorial reform, study says Staff Gen. John Kelly. She has only conceded By Della Hasselle The poll, which is the first-ever national interviews in both English and Spanish with that there was a tense conversation with Kelly Contributing Writer survey to ask about the role of prosecutors, Americans likely to vote in November 2018. in the White House Situation Room. Since his also showed that voters are prepared to take Forty-two percent of participants identified arrival last July, Kelly had limited her access Voters across America “overwhelmingly” their positions with them to the ballot box as Republican, 41 percent as Democrat and 17 to the Oval Office, where she initially had the support prosecutorial reform, according to a next November. percent as Independent. The results showed a freedom to come and go. public opinion poll released in December by The research was conducted by David higher than usual response rate for conserva - On ABC, the only media outlet that has inter - the American Civil Liberties Union Binder Research between October 24 and viewed her since the resignation, the clearly Campaign for Smart Justice. October 30. It included 1,600 telephone Continued on Pg. 6 angry Omarosa said reports that she was fired are “a hundred percent false.” But, then she added, “But when I have a chance to tell my story — quite a story — as the only African-American woman in this White House, as a senior staff and assistant to the president, I have seen things that State AG loses bid to move Cantrell probe have made me uncomfortable, that have upset Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Ci rcuit of Appeal Judges Roland as AG Landry had proposed. “the unique circumstances sur - me, that have affected me deeply and emotional - Landry’s efforts to move his probe Belsome and Daniel Dysart The lone dissenter on the issue rounding this matter.” ly, that has affected my community and my peo - of New Orleans Mayor-elect found that Orleans Parish was 4th Circuit Court of Appeal The probe stems from allega - ple and when I can tell my story, it is a profound Latoya Cantrell’s use of a city- Criminal District Court Judge Judge Joy Cossich Lobrano. tions that emerged during the issued credit card from the juris - Laurie White acted within her Nola.com reported that Judge November mayoral runoff Continued on Pg. 10 diction of the Orleans Parish proper discretion when she Lobrano said in her dissent that between Cantrell and Desiree Criminal District Court were refused to recuse herself of any she would have reversed Judge Charbonnet when an anonymous rejected on Tuesday, Dec. 20, by a of the other Orleans Parish crim - Laurie White’s decision “out of complaint accused New Orleans state appeals court panel. inal court judges from presiding an abundance of caution” given In last week’s split ruling, 4th over the Cantrell investigation, what Lobrano characterized as Continued on Pg. 6 THE LOUISIANA WEEKLY - Page 2 YOUR MULTICULTURAL MEDIUM December 25 - December 31, 2017 Feds to probe S&WB’s spending of post-Katrina funds As bad as things have been for increases to the fees, and meeting. board members asked bined effort to repair roads and City of New Orleans by the U.S. allowance for housing and other the New Orleans Sewerage & Colorado-based CH2M Hill now how a project to repair Katrina utility lines damaged by Department of Housing and expenses. Water Board this summer with stands to collect more than $28 damage caused to the city’s Katrina, called the Joint Urban Development and FEMA. Nola.com reported that those failed turbines and local flooding million, WWL News reported. water mains in the French Infrastructure Recovery On Wednesday, the S&WB numbers would place her annual events leading to a series of fir - Much of the $500 million Quarter and Central Business Program, a $2 billion FEMA- unanimously selected a salary at $360,000, about ings and resignations among the FEMA and HUD approved for District could have stretched on funded project. California-based water and utili - $140,000 more than former agency’s top leaders, things are the S&WB after Hurricanes for four years, with 51 contract “The City will work with ty official to serve as interim S&WB Executive Director about to get more testy with last Katrina, Gustav and Isaac change orders added to increase Sewerage and Water Board to executive director of the S&WB Cedric Grant. week’s news that the Feds are remains in Washington, D.C. the cost of the repairs. ensure full compliance with any for the next five months. Marcie City and S&WB officials launching an investigation into That money was earmarked for “Change orders constitute the and all requests,” said Edwards, the 60-year-old former expressed hope that the appoint - the City of New Orleans’ spend - drainage, power and pumps. A bulk of our meetings some - Landrieu’s Senior Communica- general manager of the Los ment of Edwards, the troubled ing of federal funds earmarked little more than one-third of it times,” S&WB appointee Stacy tions Manager Craig Belden. Angeles Department of Water agency’s third executive director for the S&WB. has reportedly been spent. Horn Koch told WWL News. Belden added that audits have and Power, will reportedly be in five months, would bring a That news became public at the Some of that money was only The audit was announced by already been conducted on much paid $25,000 a month plus an measure of stability to the end of Monday’s S&WB Finance to repair broken infrastructure the project manager for the com - of the money awarded to the additional $5,000 monthly agency.◊ and Administration Committee and return it to its pre-storm con - meeting when it was revealed dition, but the Hazard Mitigation that the troubled agency will be grants allowed the S&WB to required to account for hundreds make improvements or purchase of millions of dollars it was new equipment. award for post-Katrina recovery. Instead, the S&WB has ignored New Orleans Alpha Chapter celebrate WWL News reported that the expert recommendations and put audit will be conducted by the most of the money into refurbish - U.S.

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