?Volume 8, No. 25 Sunday, May 10, 2009 Price $1.00

In their twilight, porters honored for dawning of civil rights era

Joann Loviglio PHILADELPHIA ? They worked long hours doing often menial labor for meager pay on America?s railroads and paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement in the process. Now, the unsung men known as Pullman porters are getting overdue recognition for their historical legacy. On Saturday, in conjunction with National Train Day, a handful of surviving Pullman porters in their 80s and 90s are being onored during a ceremony at hiladelphia?s historic 30th treet Station. Similar gatherings ave been held in Oakland, hicago and Washington. ?The stories and the history we ave shows the job these gentleen did and their dedication to op-notch service, was just ncredible,? said Darlene bubakar, Amtrak?s national dvertising director. ?We wanted o recognize them for that and Pullman ? Page 3A

New focus on parking, traffic rules

City trying to ease gridlock on streets

Eric Mayes Tribune Staff Writer A parking and traffic enforcement crackdown is coming Monday as city officials roll out a new initiative aimed at easing congestion in Center City. Police officers will monitor 12 key intersections in enter City. There will be more aggressive parking nforcement and towing of double-parked vehicles or ehicles parked in loading zones. Police will monitor intersections, watching for otorists who block the box or run red lights. Parking uthorities, with tow trucks, will patrol several streets ? particularly Chestnut and Walnut streets ? to tow double parked vehicles. Loading zones will be expanded to get delivery trucks off the streets and cars parked illegally will be ticketed and towed. ?Come Monday, people will get ticketed for blocking the box. We will be moving cars that are doubleparked by tow truck. We will be freeing up the loading zones for the delivery vehicles,? said Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler, as she announced the new measures Friday afternoon at City Hall. ?The police presence makes all the difference.? For motorists caught up in the new operation, the price tag could be steep. The fine for running a red light is $76. Towing fees start at $150 and blocking the box costs at least $120. The program also includes provisions for better bicycle, scooter and motorcycle parking and adjusting parking meter rates to ensure space availability. And, in the coming weeks, the parking authority will expand the number of loading zones to reduce double parking by commercial vehicles. ?We?ve worked across agencies, with Center City businesses and delivery companies to identify suitable parking for delivery vehicles that will keep traffic moving and allow business to be conducted,? said the authority?s executive director, Vince Fenerty.

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Commentary Food Comics Sports Across America

Pulling their weight

4-A 1-B 3-B 1-C 3-C Caribbean Classifieds Obituaries Leisure Religion The Philadelphia Tribune 4-C 5-C 6-C 1-D 5-D Retired train porter Troy Walker, 90, relaxes aboard the Coast Starlight on Feb. 9, en route to Oakland, Calif. He is expected to be among a handful of men to be honored at 30th Street Station on Saturday morning. NEWS

Phillies continue to play well

Defeat NL East nemesis Atlanta, 1C Stephanie Guerilus Tribune Staff Writer The Rev. Daly Barnes Jr. tendered his letter of resignation at Zion Baptist Church after seven years of service to the church. Sources in the congregation alleged he resigned because of ?inappropriate behavior? but no official reason was provided. ?There was nothing formal like that presented,? Ron Harper, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said. He further stated that Barnes was not pressured to resign. ?He didn?t state. ? He didn?t say why he resigned,? Harper said. Harper elaborated that a search committee had not yet been organized but that it was the ?prerogative? of the Deacons Board to find a replacement for Barnes. ?He was one of the best people with the word that you could find,? Harper said. Barnes accepted the call to be Zion?s 10th pastor in July 2002. According to the church?s official Web site, he extended outreach initiative to university students, street evangelism and enhanced the music ministry. He is also noted for the creation of the Fountain of Faith Ministries, which includes two weekly radio broadcasts and two telecasts on local television stations. Zion ? Page 5C Robert Hightower Tribune Staff Writer Tempers flared at a meeting on Thursday between officials representing the President?s House commemoration and local minority contractors trying to get a piece of the work scheduled to take place on the 6th and Market streets site later this month. The meeting, held at Community College of Philadelphia, was supposed to bolster minority inclusion when construction begins. However, many of the contractors, all of whom were African- American, engaged in a shouting match predicated on their disapproval of construction firm D.J. Keating Co., owned by Daniel Keating III, who is white, being awarded the building contract ? AP PHOTO/CONTRA COSTA TIMES,KARL MONDON and their feelings on not having a fair chance at obtaining the contract. The SkillsBank Builder Association owner, who requested that he be called Shaka, said he thought the meeting would have a different outcome. ?I excepted economic contractual opportunities to come out this meeting. But when I got here, I saw something else,? NEWS

Iconic Black magazines in jeopardy

Ebony, Jet in midst of financial crisis. 3A RELIGION

Church of Christ, Scientist honored

Flock led by Bible, not by a pastor. 5D

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Economy receding still, but slower

Jobless, retail data improving, but full recovery far off

Jeannine Aversa WASHINGTON ? Evidence is piling up that the worst part of the recession has ended. But that doesn?t mean the pain is over. A better-than-expected unemployment report Friday ? job losses declined to the lowest level in six months ? capped a week of encouraging news, including firmer home sales, a revival in consumer spending and fresh optimism about the biggest U.S. banks. The economy remains vulnerable to further shocks, and 13.7 million people are unemployed. The jobless rate rose to 8.9 percent in the new report and still seems head- Economy ? Page 4B

Pastor at Zion Baptist resigns

Members of Zion Baptist Church file through the entrance to the church for a Thursday evening meeting, which led to the Rev. Daly Barnes Jr.?s resignation. ? ABDUL R. SULAYMAN/TRIBUNE CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Heated debate on President?s House work

Shaka said. Shaka went on to say he wanted to be included in the project for cultural reasons. ?Just like you don?t have Jews building Muslim masques or you don?t have Muslims building Jewish synagogues, we?re not going to have white folks come in here and build monuments to ATAC ? Page 5C COMING TUESDAY Tribune?s Primary Election Guide

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