The Task: Build Excelsior's Future with a Nod to History
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Panthers safety TRE BOSTON looks to rekindle the spirit of Thieves Avenue TheThe CharlotteCharlotteTHE VOICE Post PostOF THE BLACK COMMUNITY SINCE 1906 WEEK OF AUGUST 27, 2020 VOLUME 46, NUMBER 51 WWW.THECHARLOTTEPOST.COM $1.50 Price of census undercount feared By Nadia Ramalgan NORTH CAROLINA NEWS NETWORK The Census Bureau is wrapping up field operations a month earlier than previously planned and critics say the move could have se- rious long-term consequences for North Carolina public schools. The census count determines how much federal education money the state receives, and Deb- orah Weinstein, executive director of the Coalition on Human Needs, noted that North Carolina schools need even more cash for building upgrades, additional staff and Per- sonal Protective Equipment to help keep children and teachers safe in the pandemic. TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST She said for every child who isn’t Charlotte architect Darrel Williams, founder of Neighboring Concepts, is consulting Excelsior Club owner Darius Anderson on a path forward for the counted, the state loses $1,700 a historic building in west Charlotte as well as development of a boutique hotel on the site. “I think the Excelsior Club is an opportunity to take and pro- year. “The loss of revenues means mote that culture and history that we have lost so much of,” Williams said. that there could be 79,000 teachers and other education staff laid off by the end of 2022 if they don't get more help,” said Weinstein. The task: Build Excelsior’s A bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent a letter calling for a four- month extension of the census deadline, but President Donald Trump has said he wants the data future with a nod to history to go to Congress by Dec. 31. The lawmakers said they want to ex- tend that timeframe to April 30. Charlotte architect Darrel Williams takes on challenge of saving iconoic property North Carolina's current count is By Herbert L. White Williams, a consultant to the property’s Said Williams, founder of Neighboring slightly below the national average [email protected] new owner, Sonoma, California-based Concepts, one of the Southeast’s largest of 62%, and more than 2 in 5 res- Black Charlotte built the Excelsior Club, Kenwood Investments CEO Darius An- Black-owned architecture firms: “I guess idents haven't responded yet. and it’ll have a major role in its revital- derson. Since buying the property in there’s probably not too much history Lindy Studds, a member of the ization. January, Anderson has put out a call to left in Charlotte, and then when you 2020 Census Community Partner- The club, which was the hub of enter- action for a “dream team” of Black pro- think about African American history, ship and Engagement Program, tainment and political life for the African fessionals to revitalize the site. In noting it’s probably even worse. I think the Ex- said responding online or by American community for nearly 80 that while the nation’s attention is fo- celsior Club is an opportunity to take phone means the Census Bureau years, sits abandoned on Beatties Ford cused on removing racist monuments, and promote that culture and history can tally households faster. Road, surrounded by fencing, slowly Black cultural and historic sites – espe- that we have lost so much of.” “The less we have to go out to crumbling since it closed in 2016. The cially those in danger of disappearing Standing the test of time those houses, the better for every- disrepair is so pronounced the site was through neglect, decay or demolition – It’s Williams’ job to create a future for one,” Studds said. “And so that’s placed on the list of most endangered are worth preserving. the Excelsior, which opened in 1944 as a why, since that is starting the sec- historic places by the National Trust for “We must do more than preserve and nightclub that attracted Black profes- ond week in August, we’re encour- Historic Preservation. protect them,” Anderson said last sionals and politicians as members. He’s aging everyone to respond today, Bringing the Excelsior back with a new month. “We need to restore them to their familiar with working on historic links to all without having to need a census purpose in addition to a planned bou- places of prominence. That’s what we in- Black Charlotte as part of the team that taker. We refer to that as ‘avoiding tique hotel, is Charlotte architect Darrel tend to do with the Excelsior Club.” Please see BUILD | 2A the knock.’” While it’s easy for many house- Please see PRICE | 2A Post Foundation Leave policy postpones annual takes on added banquet weekend importance for By Elllison Clary FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST NC businesses OFFICE OF U.S. REP. ALMA ADAMS The Charlotte Post Foundation has postponed its U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (left) voted for H.R. 8015, the Delivering for Amer- By Nadia Ramalgan annual Post Best banquet and associated golf tour- ica Act, which pumps $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service to maintain NORTH CAROLINA NEWS NETWORK nament until April 2021 because of continued un- operations and services throughout the coronavirus pandemic and the RALEIGH – One North Carolina-based non- certainty related to COVID-19 health precautions. Nov. 3 election. Adams, who represents Charlotte, was the first lawmaker profit has created a program to help small The tentative date for the banquet is to call for the removal of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. businesses incorporate family-friendly April 17. The golf competition is April workplace practices in their reopening 16. plans. For more than two decades the foun- House bill provides full In the era of COVID-19, employers are dation has held its banquet in Sep- grappling with maintaining productivity tember or October. This year’s while they figure out how to support celebration was scheduled for Oct. 10, Postal Service funding workers struggling to find childcare or fac- with the golf tournament a day earlier. ing illness in families. The “Family Forward Johnson “We are taking the prudent path for By Herbert L. White the Postal Service, the NC Rapid Response team” can connect em- health concerns,” said Gerald Johnson, [email protected] amount recommended by ployers to Human Resources experts who publisher of The Charlotte Post and president of The The House of Representa- the bipartisan USPS Board of can guide them through policies that could Charlotte Post Foundation. “It appears likely that re- tives has passed a bill to fully Governors, which is made up work for their business - at no cost. strictions on the size and location of large gatherings fund the U.S. Postal Service of President Donald Trump’s Lisa Finaldi, community engagement will be in place in October, making it impossible to through the COVID-19 pan- appointees. leader with the NC Early Childhood Founda- accommodate our banquet crowd, which usually demic. Passage of the Delivering tion, said as the coronavirus continues to numbers more than 400 people. Further, holding a H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act comes after upend work, school and life, employers virtual celebration probably would be untenable. for America Act, requires the weeks of advocacy from Rep. have major questions to consider. “It would be unfair to this year’s honorees to try to Postal Service to return oper- Alma Adams (D-N.C.) to keep “What are the benefits that will matter for forge a makeshift event,” he added. “They deserve ations and levels of service USPS fully funded and re- a business who is trying to reopen strategi- much better and we believe that by spring we can that were in place on Jan. 1 move Postmaster General cally, is concerned about their employees’ put on the high-quality banquet we’re known for.” throughout the coronavirus Louis DeJoy, a Trump ap- ability to return to work, and return to work The foundation banquet recognizes a Luminary, crisis and requires all elec- pointee. more fully?” Finaldi said. someone outstanding in efforts for equality and in- tion mail to be treated as first “The Postal Service is es- Prior to the COVID crisis, fewer than half clusion. This year’s Luminary is Bishop Claude Alex- class. The bill, which passed sential to the fabric of our of workers in the hospitality and food-ser- ander of The Park Church. The Educator of the Year 257-150 with 26 Republicans communities, providing vice industries had any paid sick leave, and is Dr. Curtis Carroll, a recently retired veteran prin- voted yes with Democrats, North Carolina families and Please see POST | 2A would pump $25 billion into Please see HOUSE BILL |2A Please see LEAVE | 2A INSIDE Digital edition: Please STAY IN TOUCH Sports 5A Snapchat: thecharpost www.thecharlottepostnewspaper.com Recycle Life 1B Twitter: @thecharpost A&E 5B To subscribe: (704) 376-0496 or online Facebook: The Charlotte Post Classified 4B http://tcppc.com/Subscribe Instagram: @thecharlottepost #PaperThursday 2A NEWS | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 27, 2020 Post banquet postponed Build Excelsior future Continued from page 1A all the honorees their time remedial tutoring is for cipal in Charlotte-Mecklen- in the spotlight, albeit next students farthest behind burg Schools. year, Johnson said. All grade level in reading pro- with a nod to history Further, the two top Afri- sponsors already com- ficiency. can American high school mitted to this year’s ban- Also funded by banquet Continued from page 1A look at Mosaic Village, you can see the seniors in academics are quet will automatically be resources is Black Lives refurbished the Second Ward High porticos, the symmetry and the ele- celebrated with scholar- included in the spring Matter Charlotte, which School gym in the old Brooklyn neigh- ments going up in different colors and ships to the college of their event, he added.