America’s best weekly Community mourns passing of Apostle Claudette Dennis See Page A8
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
thenewpittsburghcourier Published Weekly $1.00
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 114 No. 11 Two Sections
MARCH 15-21, 2023
COUNCILMAN REV. RICKY BURGESS NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION After 15 years, the reverend quiet as a church mouse as to why by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
If anyone knows how to make something known, it’s Pittsburgh City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess. Unabashed about calling press conferences, or speaking at the pulpit, the 15-year councilman never shies away from the microphone. However, as the New Pittsburgh Courier has confirmed that Rev. Burgess will not be running for re-election for City Council District 9 after all these years, the reverend, surprisingly, is quiet as a church mouse as to the reasons why. Data from the Allegheny County Elections Office shows two candidates on the ballot for District 9, which includes East Liberty, North Point Breeze, Homewood, Larimer, Garfield, Friendship, East Hills and Lincoln-Lemington, and neither candidate spells “Burgess.” Instead, the candidates on the ballot for the May 16 Primary
Election are Khari Mosley and Khadijah Harris. The Courier attempted to interview Rev. Burgess for this story, but calls were not returned. As with most politicians, Rev. Burgess has his share of supporters and detractors. However, facts are facts, and for the past 15 years, and with just as many challengers, Rev. Burgess has held onto his City Council position. You may recall back in 2007, when Rev. Burgess, the pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Homewood and a tenured CCAC professor, was the leading candidate for District 9, replacing Twanda Carlisle. He defeated challengers such as William Anderson, Ora Lee Carroll, Judith Ginyard, and Randall Taylor. “I believe that we deserve a future filled with hope, hope with better jobs in our community, safer streets for our neighborhoods and a brighter future for our children,” Rev. Burgess said during SEE BURGESS A6
LONGTIME CITY COUNCILMAN REV. RICKY BURGESS WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION FOR HIS DISTRICT 9 SEAT.
ADOPTING THE CEIR ‘PLAYBOOK’
Steelers, Pirates, Penguins commit to increasing employment for African Americans
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PIRATES, PENGUINS AND STEELERS—COMMITTED TO THE CEIR’S “PLAYBOOK.” (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
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Just because you can’t hit like Willie Stargell, tackle like “Mean” Joe Greene, or skate like Mario Lemieux, doesn’t mean you can’t be part of
Pittsburgh’s professional sports teams. There are hundreds upon hundreds of people who work for the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins— and collectively, the teams have committed to adopting a “playbook” that will
increase employment for African Americans in their organizations. Tim Stevens, the driving force behind the Black Political Empowerment Project, created the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable event
12 years ago after a 2010 report showed that Pittsburgh was 40th in the nation on indicators of racial and economic parity for African Americans, particularly Black children. SEE PLAYBOOK A9