After the dismal participation by minorities on the Heinz Field, PNC Park and Convention Center projects 10 years ago, it’s a familiar song by now. African-Americans make up about 3 percent of those employed on the Consol Energy Arena  development project. Of that number, 1 percent live in the Hill District. Women also make up about 1 percent.

JOBS VS. CONTRACTS— Clarence Curry of the SEA, left, and Ken Nesbit from the First Source Referral Center, note that employing local residents on arena construction has been difficult despite 23 percent participation by MBEs.

These numbers came out during a Jan. 14 meeting to inform Hill District residents on the arena project. This low employment figure comes despite contractor inclusion being at or near targeted goals.

More than half of all new cars purchased today are sold under a lease agreement. Why? Americans have a love affair with cars. We like them big, fast, shiny and luxurious with all the bells and whistles—TV monitors, 12-disc CD changer, moon roof, heated seats, navigational system. We want it all. Problem! Cars with all the bells and whistles come with a healthy price tag. Even with repayment terms on new cars ranging from five to eight years, the monthly payment on new cars has proven to be a burden on the average American family’s budget. Solution! In an attempt to continue to sell cars at double-digit profits to a growing economy of people living on the brink of financial ruin, the auto industry is pushing leases.

The National Association of Women Business Owners, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter and the Veterans Business Outreach Center, hosted a Small Business Funding Opportunity Workshop and forum last week introducing the audience to the Community Express Loan Program. Sue Malone and Congressman Joe Sestak, were on hand to discuss the status of small business funding.

TIME AFTER—Me’chele Humpries-Hayes of Centre of Attraction, left, and Tamara Charles of Our Little Ones Daycare Center, meet with Congressman Joe Sestak, Richard Portis and Sue Malone after the forum.

My wife and I decided to downsize our housing arrangement and move to something easier to manage. Sounds simple doesn’t it? However, after living in the same house for 30 years and raising two children, we have accumulated a “lot of stuff.” You name it and we probably had it squirreled away in some corner or drawer. We’ve looked at boxes and boxes of photographs, old homework, birthday cards, broken tools, old TVs and clothes that we will never fit into again. There are memories everywhere and we had to make many tough decisions about what to keep, give away or to toss in the trash.