By: VICTORIA HORSFORD

OBAMA CARES 2012 

President Barack Obama scored big last week with the US Supreme Court decision to uphold major parts of the Affordable Care Act, which is disparagingly referenced by GOP as Obamacare, stating that it was constitutional.  Justice John Roberts voted with the liberal wing of the court in a 5-4 decision and the GOP is still convulsing.  What happened is summarized best in John Heilimann’s 7/9  NY Magazine piece.” WIN-WIN-WIN: John Roberts saved the Court, Obama got his policy, and the GOP got its issue. Americans want the GOP to get down to real issues like the economy and jobs, not more rhetoric about how to scuttle President Obama’s historic health care initiative.

After a meeting with Mitt Romney last week, Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul of Fox News, among others, concluded that his is doubtful is Romney has what it takes to beat President Barack Obama in November.  And Murdoch is an avowed enemy of the Obama White House.

Yes, Obama Cares about this wonderful republic, the United States Of America.  He has no equal this year with the vision to make the US a more perfect union.

HARLEM :   Congressman Charles Rangel’s margin of victory in the 6/ 26 NYS Primary has narrowed. At press time, Rangel was ahead by 802 votes with at least 2000 votes uncounted. These numbers reveal that  56% of the people who voted in the 13^th Congressional district voted for one of Rangel’s four opponents, including NYS Senator Andriano Espaillat, his closest rival. Espaillat said. “We cannot have a Florida type situation in NYS,” referring to the contentious 2000 Gore/Bush Presidential race. Espaillat is suing the NYC Board of Elections, wants the US Justice Department to investigate so-called election irregularities in Northern Manhattan, predominantly Latino districts, and wants another election to resolved his concerns. By July 5, all Primary votes should have been tallied and official winner will be announced.

CULTURE STUFF

Harlem’s Hue-Man Bookstore on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, 124/125 Street will close on July 31, after a successful 10-year run as one of the city’s most popular independent bookstores and a coveted destination for  book launches. Hue-Man owner Marva Allen says. “There is no way to re-imagine the bookstore of the future in our current space….We are contemplating an amazing bookstore of the future.” Allen says that books can be purchased from HUE-MAN online after 7/31.  Meanwhile, note that HUE-MAN will launch a new event with Miami Heat cager Dwayne Wade.  The Hue-Man internet database is huge and updates will be forthcoming. It is not too late to add your name to its internet list.

Macy’s SVP Ed Goldberg hosted a Caribbean American Heritage Month party and celebration of the 30^th Anniversary of New York  Carib News at Macy’s Herald Square penthouse suite.  Carib News founders/publishers Faye and Karl Rodney were buoyant as they met a greeted the motley group of guests who included  former NYS Governor David Paterson; Jamaican Consul General to NY Herman LeMont;  Barbados Consul General to NY Lennox Price;  NYS Assemblyman Nick Perry; Dr. Joy Wellington MD; Writer Joy Elliott, Dennis Rahim Watson; and fine artist Escoffery, who has been commissioned to execute a piece dedicated to Jamaica’s 50^th Independence Anniversary. The chatter all evening centered on anniversaries, both the Carib News’ 30^th and Jamaica’s 50^th.   Macy’s managers Iasha Rivers and Ty Stone-Adams were affable co-hosts, excited about the reception and the Macy’s 4^th of July fireworks.

The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC)  celebrates its 40^th Anniversary, one of New York’s oldest and most prestigious African American theater companies which showcased the talents of most of so many distinguished thespians, directors, playwrights like Samuel Jackson, Denzel Washington, Barbara Montgomery, Glynn Thurmond,  Robert Hooks, Samm-Art Williams, just to reference a few.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

A 22 year-old Nigerian student Emmanuel Ohuabunwa, a neuroscience major recently graduated with record-breaking 3.98 GPA, at Johns Hopskin University. He enters Yale Medical School in September.

Rest In Peace: New Yorker Earl Andrews died on July 2. The former  NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) co-chair. A congenital Republican, Andrews was the  GOP candidate for Manhattan Borough President in the late 80s.  Andrews was a Morehouse alum, a Wall Street executive for decades  until he joined NYC government as a commissioner since 1994. He retired in 2011.

SUMMER PLEASURES

Projectart’s Passport to the Arts has begun. Kids from Upper Manhattan have started on a summer artistic journey, a mix of culture trips to museums such as the Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum, Museum of Modern Arts and of arts workships in African Mask making, textile design, Pointilism and much more. Projectart is located at 72 Hamilton Terrace and the summer program term is July 2 to August 10. For more info, call 800 270.2403 or visit projectart.org.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture honors the  late renaissance man Gordon Parks with a new exhibit GORDON PARKS; 100 Moments, which includes his masterworks photography which chronicles Black Urban America.

A management consultant, Victoria Horsford is also a NY based journalist and pop culture historian…..victoriahorsford@yahoo.com