Congratulations to Natacha Payen who will graduate from Keller School of Management on July 12 with two graduate degrees - an MBA with concentration in Hospitality Management and a masters in Human Resource Management. She is a FAMU alum and also graduated from Miami Northwestern.

The Miami Herald recently reported that Senator Barack Obama is ahead of Senator John McCain by 16 points in South Florida. That really shouldn't be a surprise because this presidential race really isn't close when it comes to capabilities of the two candidates. OK, I really shouldn't feel this way but McCain doesn't use a computer and that matters to me. You know God has to be all up in the race this year because the stars seem to be aligned with Obama's candidacy. Obama is really doing his thing and we'd all be wise to take a page or two from his play book.

The poll even shows a lead among Hispanics; that's quite an accomplishment in a heavily Hispanic and Republican community. As you may know, some Cubans are angry that Obama's campaign team includes two guys instrumental in the return of young Elián Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. Yeah, that was 8 years ago but they're still ticked off about it. I'm not mad at them for being mad either. Black folks would be a lot better off by not forgetting things so quickly but that's another post for another time. Anyhoo, Obama's lead and support by Hispanics is a testament to the call from change by traditional GOP supporters.

No matter which boxes you check for your gender and ethnicity, we're all going to either sink or swim together. Some folks are finally waking up because they're demanding that American companies stop outsourcing jobs to India and other foreign companies. We'll address that later but think about it.

Related link: Obama has a lead in South Florida, poll shows

Isaac Brown, Jr., a recent graduate of South Miami Sr. High, is featured in an article in today's Tallahassee Democrat. Brown is an incoming freshman at Florida A&M University and was highly recruited for their basketball team. While he follows in the basketball footsteps of his dad, Isaac Sr. and his grandfather, Leroy "Spike" Gibson; his mom, Valtena is a FAMU alum as was grandmother, Betty Shannon Gibson. His sister, Isha is a FAMU senior.

Congratulations, to Ike and the Brown family.

Isaac Brown keeps FAMU family tradition

South Florida Workforce Job Fair: Event is designed to connect employers with military veterans in the community and other residents. Includes representatives of Lockheed Martin, Wackenhut Security and Baptist Hospital; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Firefighters Memorial Building, 8000 NW 21st St., Miami; free. 305-437-2639.

If you are poor and need a public defender, you could be out of gas! If you live in Broward, you could be next.

From the Miami Herald:

The Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office began refusing to represent certain poor defendants Tuesday because of state budget cuts.

Public Defender Bennett Brummer said his office cannot ethically accept more cases than his attorneys have time to adequately handle. Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein has said he is considering a similar move. [Read more]

Crew                      Diaz de la Portilla

There are several interesting topics in today's Miami Herald and we'll start with School Board member Renier Diaz de la Portilla's increased efforts to oust Schools Superintendent Rudy Crew. It seems that Diaz de la Portilla plans to call several meetings to allow the community to express their opinion on the superintendent's performance.

Some board members disagree with Diaz de la Portilla's tactics and say that Crew's job is not in jeopardy. Regardless of the member's intent; it is likely that this situation will not be good for ethnic relations in this community.

If Crew is terminated 'for cause', the already cash-strapped District can avoid a $700,000 pay-out. Read the Herald article for details.

A special school board meeting will be held today to address various issues including the District's reduction-in-force (lay-offs) and reorganization for next fiscal year. It's not known if the ouster campaign will be mentioned at today's meeting but stay tuned.

City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was sworn in as president of the United States Conference of Mayors over the weekend as mayors from throughout the country gathered for four days in Miami to weigh in on domestic policy issues that impact urban America and metropolitan areas.

As the President of the Conference, Mayor Diaz will set the Conference's agenda, appoint committee and task force chairs and serve as the national spokesperson for organization. He is also the second

Hispanic mayor to become the President of the Conference and the first from Florida in more than 40 years.

It is quite interesting that the Mayor enjoys such popularity outside of Miami as his popularity has dropped locally. Anyhoo, congratulations to Mayor Diaz on this new honor.

Let's face it; it's no surprise that the bigwigs at A&E Network plan to return Dog the Bounty Hunter to its line-up in a few days. After Duane "Dog" Chapman displayed such racist disdain for black people by referring to his son's black girlfriend as a ni**er and proceeded to use the vile term with such hate several times during a recorded conversation.

The foolishness was exposed last fall and the network suspended production. I guess the shelf life of black folks anger about the situation has expired in the minds of the network brass at A&E. It seems they think all is well and black folks have forgotten. Think again.

Here's a reminder of what Duane "Dog" Chapman said. WARNING: The audio is uncensored.

Although Dog went on his expected apology tour --- think Trent Lott, Michael Richards and Don Imus; that's not enough to erase what he did. Are blacks just expected to accept every apology by a celebrity caught in the act? I don't think so. The folks at A&E should be ashamed of themselves but they're not. It's all about the dollar and Dog brings them big bucks.

The Westside Gazette's Editorial Board, along with other local community organizations and church leaders invite you to a candidates forum which will be held on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 6:00PM at Mount Hermon AME Church, 401 NW 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale.

The forum will include a panel of religious leaders and community leaders who will ask political candidates questions of importance that address our most poignant concerns. There will also be a demonstration of the new voting machines by staff from the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.

For more details or to confirm your attendance, e-mail [email protected] or phone at (954) 525-1489.