Lighting The Road To The Future Lenny Kravitz Releases New Book Data Zone “Let Love Rule” Page 4 “The People’s Paper” October 17 - October 23, 2020 55th Year Volume 25 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive WHAT MATTERS THIS ELECTION Page 2 Newsmaker Data Zone Early Voting Begins in A Beautiful Louisiana Mess Page 7 Page 5 Page 2 October 17 - October 23, 2020 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com What Matters This Election A NOLA PERSPECTIVE Issues surrounding voting because of COVID-19 is causing people to think about how they will vote . Efforts are going on across the country to educate citizens This election according to many people of New Orleans is the most important of their on voting during the pandemic . lifetime and plan to vote. Aviwe DuBois elevated any conversation we did not know existed in tives, liquid courage to think that you’re supposed to Data News Weekly Contributor this country, notwithstanding that this country elected devalue Black bodies, Black lives, and specifically in Barack Obama twice,” said Telley Madina, a political this census even Black women,” said Madina, a sev- About 200,000 residents in the state have requested consultant who is President of The Madina Group, and enth ward native . mail-in ballots, which is almost triple the amount in the a Senior Policy Officer for Oxfam America . The 2016 election proved how much power the 2016 presidential election . Early voting in Louisiana The racial and class tensions in the country have Electoral College has during the election . Even though starts on Friday, Oct . 16th and runs through Oct . 27th . divided voters of all groups, and many are concerned Hillary Clinton won the overall popular vote, Trump Many Louisianians are weighing both the pandemic about the divisions in the country have emboldened won the electoral vote and was declared president . and the country’s economic conditions in determining White nationalist groups during the last four years . Civic groups say part of their role in this early voting how they should vote . “I think he has illuminated the things that we know period, with weeks leading up to the election, is to edu- “You hear every four years this is the most impor- to be true and probably allowed those to give some cate citizens about how important the electoral college tant election in U .S . history . I don’t think Trump has White individuals, drunk with hysteria and impure mo- is, and that every vote counts . Cover Story, Continued on page 3. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors Art Direction & CEO/Publisher Production Edwin Buggage Pubinator.com Cover Story . 2 Commentary . 6. Edwin Buggage Editorial and Editor Aviwe Dubois Advertising Inquiries Sharonda Green Data Zone . 4 Newsmaker . 7 datanewsweeklyad Executive Assistant Eric Connerly @gmail.com June Hazeur Distribution Accounting Dionne “Diva” Character by Terrence Lee Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story October 17 - October 23, 2020 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from page 2. Former City Council “I think it’s one of Member Cynthia the most important Willard-Lewis elections in my believes that it is lifetime given the important for people circumstances that to vote this election 2020 has manifested because of a host of for us,” says Norris issues that include Henderson, the COVID-19, Voter Executive Director of Suppression, Systemic Voice of the Experience Racism, Economic and Voters Organized Opportunities for more to Educate. people in the City. Both Hal Clark, (above) Joyce Wilson, aka former host of WYLD Ms. Chill, the owner Sunday Journal and of Mr. Chill’s First WBOK’s and Former City Political analyst Class Cuts, said she Council Member Oliver Telley Madina said believes that even Thomas have their ear that this election after the election, to the street and say that is important for small businesses will people are tired of the determining how still need support if status quo and are paying the country deals they are to recover. more attention to the issues with racial tensions this election cycle and and divides, and believe more people will works to bring about be voting this election. justice. “This is a crucial time for the City and what I am hearing from ally . I am dismayed at seeing that my the listeners is that they are 214,000 people have lost their lives seeking answers to the pressing because of the policies set forth by “I think it’s one of the most im- commission on presidential de- questions that plague the City and this President . This election Crimi- portant elections in my lifetime, bates cancelled the second debate the Nation. And because of the nal Justice Reform and issues of sys- given the circumstances that 2020 between former Vice President Joe times we are in with COVID-19, tematic racism are also important . has manifested for us,” said Norris Biden and Trump that was sched- issues of racial and economic We must return to building bridges Henderson, the Executive Director uled for Oct . 15th after the presi- of understanding and decency in justice are things they want leaders of Voice of the Experience and Vot- dent decided not to participate in a our public discourse . And also, we who will not only address these ers Organized to Educate . “I think virtual debate . must look at expanding economic the general election is making sure The uncertainty of the country’s issues with rhetoric, but come up and educational opportunities for that people are safe and making leadership means that the recovery with solutions that affect people the people of our City and nation . sure that people’s right to vote is from the effects of the pandemic in a real way,” says WBOK radio One way we can work to achieve not being suppressed .” are delayed until residents know for host and former New Orleans City this is by voting .” An important part of the civic sure what is the national strategy to Council Member Oliver Thomas. Hal Clark is the former host of exercise is to help voters know combat the spread of COVID-19 . Al- WYLD FM 98 Sunday Journal, a what is at stake . Former associate though the City moved into Phase Public Affairs Show . He is also a justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth Wilson said . playwright and continues to have Bader Ginsburg, passed away on There are a host of voices in the his finger on the pulse of the people Sept . 18, 2020 . The Senate began community that include former of the City . “I believe the main issue confirmation hearings for Presi- The country is sharply divided in elected officials, radio talk show we are facing is the challenges to all dent Trump’s nominee to replace hosts and activist, who are voicing people having access to the polls . Ginsburg, Metairie native Amy issues related to access to healthcare, their views surrounding the issues There seems to be a concerted ef- Coney Barrett, on Oct . 12th . Vot- that concern them and the impor- fort by some to keep people away ers are concerned about what the COVID-19, systemic racism and tance of the election . from the polls . It is for reason shift in balance of the court could Oliver Thomas, WBOK-AM Ra- that people get all the information mean for Civil Rights Legislation what to do about it . This election dio Host says that his listeners have around voting and get out and cast and even for the Affordable Care voiced many concerns regarding their ballots .” Act, most commonly referred to is an important one to determine the elections, “Many who are call- Al Mims is a former member as Obamacare . President Trump ing in and speaking to me say they of the Louisiana Parole Board and urged the Senate to confirm his the direction of the nation . are tired of the status quo . They are is an activist that works to reduce Supreme Court nominee, in or- looking more closely at the can- crime and gun violence in New der for him to consider working didates and their platforms to see Orleans . “This president has legiti- with Democrats for a second- if they align with polices that will mized racism and division . He is a round of stimulus . 3 of reopening in early October, allocate resources to our small busi- benefit their families and communi- liar who is trying to divide us . The “I think the president of the Unit- residents said they are still hesitant nesses, so that’s our main focus,” ties .” difference in these candidates and ed States needs to exhibit and be a in returning to business and spend- said Joyce Wilson, aka Miss Chill, Cynthia Willard-Lewis is a for- the direction they want to take the person my children should be able ing as usual, particularly with many the owner of Mr . Chill’s First-Class mer member of the New Orleans country could not be clearer . We to emulate,” Madina said . “You were workers unemployed still, and busi- Cuts Barbershop . “We don’t want City Council, who is still involved in need to vote as if our life depends looking to the presidential forum in nesses only slowly returning to to be pushed to the back, we need work that improve the lives in the on it .