By Victoria Horsford

Last week’s  GOP Convention in Tampa gets high marks for its lies, fictions and racism.  It was embarrassing to watch the politicos, Paul Ryan,  Condi Rice, Mitt Romney  downplay  President Obama’s achievements and  how he rescued the nation from the economic precipice, a situation created  by the Bush presidency.  President Obama, whose first term boasts the most aggressive domestic agenda since WWII.    His administration facilitated America’s economic recovery;  subsidized/saved US banks;  revived the automotive industry;  inaugurated a  stimulus package;  and  the enactment of  the Affordable Health Care law, a sweeping health plan which accesses care to millions.  He also  ended the Iraq War, which has depleted our treasury and human resources.  He did this with an obstructionist Congress! The American stock market is robust..  True, the  jobs numbers are not stellar; but in 2009, America was facing a recession/depression.  Moreover,  Obama supports Medicare, Social Security and other safety nets programs in service to the total populace. They would be destroyed per GOP platform.

Looking beyond this week’s  Democratic Convention in Charlotte, what  Obama needs for victory, is  $$$,  a few super Pacs, and more enthusiasm among the Democratic base: labor, African Americans, women, Latinos, college students.  And, yes, independents.   And everyone has to vote on 11/6,   not only for Obama but for Congress, and state houses.  We are feeling the effect of the 2010 Tea Party changes has  devastated local economies.

The 9/2 NY Times  story, THE OTHER POWER IN THE WEST WING, about  Valerie Jarrett , special adviser to the President Obama is a must read for all students of power and politics.

NY, NY

Brooklyn, Assemblyman  Vito Lopez,  who was censured, stripped of his chairmanship as chair of the housing committee by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver,,resigned as the Boro Democratic Party chief.  It is rumored that Assemblyman  Karim Camara is on the short list of Dem Boro leader  Lopez replacements.    What are the political consequences  for Speaker Silver who is  on the hot seat as the facilitator of the  secret payment of  $100,000  to silence  Lopez’s sexually harassed staffers?

Fashion Week news: Lifestylist cum fashionista  Harriette Cole launches her crochet ready to wear line, 108 Stitches,  during the Fashion Week Night Out on September 6. ….b.michael’ds debut s his  line AMERICAN RED,  at Macy’s Herald Square at 34 Street Manhattan on “Fashion Night Out” on September 6 at 6 pm, on the 4^th Floor.

HARLEM

JOB OP: The Abyssinian Development Corporation has job vacancies, Director of Real Estate, Accounting; Director Resource Development; Project Management, Real Estate; Grants Writers Resources Development.. Write to Human Resources, Abyssinian Development Corp, 4 West 125 Street, NY,NY 10027 or  visit adcorp.org.

BUSINESS LIFE:   Three  new businesses  dot the Central Harlem landscape.  The  Harlem Haberdashery, an upscale women and men’s boutique,  located at 245 Lenox Avenue, between 122/123 Street,  which caters to  BUPPIES and  GenXers, rtw and couture.  A new brick and mortar space, the Harlem Haberdashery principals  have  been  fashion stylists/ designers/ retailers  more than  20  years. www.harlemhaberdashery.com.

Alyah Horsford Sidberry’s Cove Lounge is the perfect rx for night owls.  Already a  Food Network  broadcast segment,  the Cove Lounge, which opened  on 5/31,  is  located at 325 Lenox Avenue, 126/127 Streets,  and  is open  from Wednesday to Saturday, with DJ.  It is a favored destination by Buppies,  GenXers  and Millennials.   Bar food menu includes, mac and cheese with lobster,  buffalo wings and crab meat and grits among culinary fare. The Cove Lounge is available for private parties from Sunday through Tuesday.  Visit www. Coveloungenyc.com  665-3455

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Forbes Magazine 2012 lists,  the World’s Most Powerful  100  Women and The 20 Most Powerful Black Women.  The following made both lists: First Lady Michelle Obama; Oprah Winfrey;  Beyonce;  Ursula Burns,  Xerox CEO;  Rosalind Brewer, Pres./CEO Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart;  Helene Gayle, CARE, USA President/CEO;  Etherine Cousin, UN World Food Program, Executive Director; Joyce Banda,  Malawi President;  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria Minister of Finance; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,  Liberia President;  and Lisa Livizzo-Mourey ,  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President/CEO.

 Rest In Peace:    Chris Lighty,  44, manager of HIPHOP aristocrats such as  50 Cent, Puff Daddy, Ja Rule and Mariah Carey, died recently in NY  by suicide. Like the people whom he manages, Lighty’s life was a rags to riches narrative.

Actor Michael Clarke Duncan,  54,  an  “Green Mile” Oscar nominee, died in a Los Angeles hospital on 9/3.  He has been hospitalized since 7/13 when he suffered a heart attack. He was engaged to  Rev.  Omarisa Manigault , of  TV’s APPRENTICE.  

CULTURE/SEPTEMBER

Do not forget to visit the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Exhibit - President Abraham Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and the final copy - from 9/21 to 9/24.  January 1, 2013 is the 150^th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

A management consultant, Victoria Horsford is a NY journalist and pop culture historian, reachable at victoriahorsford@yahoo.com