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Bengals defeat Eagles in preseason game

Volume 9, No. 40 Sunday, August 22, 2010 Price $1.00

Greene denies all allegations

Media coverage has 'tarnished' his reputation

In this file photo, Philadelphia Housing Authority Director Carl Greene poses for a photograph in Philadelphia. - AP PHOTO/MATT ROURKE, FILE Larry Miller Tribune Staff Writer Carl Greene, the embattled executive director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority broke his silence Friday morning to answer quesions regarding the recent allegaions of sexual harassment, specuation surrounding the foreclosure f his luxury condo at Naval Square, and to defend his record of accomplishment at the city's housing gency. Since last week Greene has been facing a rising tide of questions surrounding a sexual harassment suit filed by Elizabeth Helm, a former architect with PHA and media inquiries about the impending foreclosure on his home by Wells Fargo Bank. Greene kept a low profile for several days, not even taking phone calls by members of the PHA board, which only served to increase public speculation as to what was really going on. Greene said he retreated to his $615,000 city townhouse after news LEISURE SPORTS LEISURE Jazz great Abbey Lincoln remembered Singer, composer leaves great legacy. 1B broke last week about his bank foreclosing on his mortgage. He stopped going to work and didn't take calls from worried friends before eventually releasing a statement saying he'd take a leave of absence. On Friday morning Greene spoke to the Philadelphia Tribune and categorically denied any wrongdoing on his part, past and present. He also defended his record at PHA, which under his directorship has removed much of the blight in the city by demolishing crime ridden McNabb relishes role as Redskins QB Said he remains an Eagle forever in his heart. 6B housing projects and replaced them with new, modern homes for low income families. "Of course I don't agree with the allegations that I engaged in any sexual misconduct," Greene said. "Now I don't know what proof or evidence the attorneys who are handling the complaint that was filed by Ms. Helm (have) and their strategy has been a sort of scorched earth policy of 'let's run him out of town.'"

Nearly 6 in 10 oppose Afghanistan war

In this file photo, U.S. soldiers patrol through the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan. A majority of Americans see no end in sight in Afghanistan, and nearly six in 10 oppose the nine-year-old war. Glen Johnson LAWRENCE, Mass. - A majority of Americans see no end in sight in Afghanistan, and nearly six in 10 oppose the nine-year-old war as President Barack Obama sends tens of thousands more troops to the fight, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. With just over 10 weeks before nationwide elections that could define the remainder of Obama's first term, only 38 percent say they support his expanded war effort in Afghanistan, a drop from 46 percent in March. Just 19 percent expect the situation to improve during the next year, while 29 percent think it will get worse. Some 49 percent think it will remain the same. The numbers could be ominous for the president and his Democratic Party, already feeling the heat for high unemployment, a slow economic recovery and a $1.3 trillion federal deficit. Strong dissent, 58 percent oppose the war, could depress Democratic turnout when the party desperately needs to energize its supporters for midterm congressional elections.

Myriad opinions surround ground zero debate

Eric Mayes Tribune Staff Writer American Muslims are divided ver the proposed mosque near round zero - for some, the plans have provided a teachable moment, for others, it has needlessly provoked a torrent of anti-Muslim rhetoric. Mikal Shabazz of Philadelphia said the controversy could be used s an opportunity to draw people to is faith. "There are political opportunists ho are trying to take advantage of

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Phillies top Nats, Halliday wins 16th

Leisure Caribbean Sports Classifieds Obituaries 1-4B 5B 6-7B 8B 12B - AP PHOTO/MUSADEQ SADEQ, FILE the situation, who are trying to paint a picture of more than a billion people based on a few criminals," said Shabazz, an imam who leads a congregation in northwest Philadelphia. "People don't really know Muslims. They think Muslims are anti-American but we're just as American as anybody else." Shabazz served in the Army Reserve in Iraq and proudly recounted a history of family military service extending back to World War I. The issue was essentially a constitutional one, he said: "Freedom

Poll finds little optimism in nine-year-old conflict

of worship is the foundation upon which we stand." "It's our constitutional right to have a mosque or house of worship in any space," agreed Rugiatu Conteh, outreach and communications director of the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). However, that has been overshadowed by an outcry about the plans from opponents who contend that the building of a mosque so close to the site of the World Trade Muslims - Page 5A Greene - Page 4A Wars - Page 5A Director Spike Lee revisits Katrina New HBO documentary looks at 5th anniversary. 4B

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School district makes strides

Eric Mayes Tribune Staff Writer Philadelphia schools made their largest gains in Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a federal education measurement, since the implementation of No Child Left Behind in 2001. Statistics released Friday showed that 59 percent of the district's schools made AYP in the 2009-2010 school year. That represented a 33 percent increase over last year. "What we did in Philadelphia was extraordinary," said Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. "I want all the naysayers out there to watch Philadelphia. They are going to write books about us." Exclusive interview with Brian McKnight In all, 158 of the district's 267 schools made AYP. The results were based on PSSA standardized test scores, which, according to Ackerman were better than they had been for 20 years. Ackerman made the announcement at the end of a weeklong education seminar held by the district in preparation for the new school year. Gov. Ed Rendell, School Reform Commission chairman Robert L. Archie and a representative of Mayor Michael Nutter, who all lauded the district for its progress, joined her for the good news. Rendell put the numbers in perspective. AYP - Page 12A Robert Archie, Chairman SRC, left, with Arlene Ackerman, School Superintendent listen to Gov. Edward Rendell as he congratulated teachers and principals Friday. Philadelphia schools made their greatest AYP gains ever. - ABDUL R. SULAYMAN/TRIBUNE CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Teaching lacks Black males

Dwight Ott Tribune Correspondent If it is racism, it's racism that W. Wilson Goode Sr. said he would like to see more of. Goode, former Philadelphia mayor and currently director of the Amachi program, was talking about U.S. Education Commissioner Arne Duncan's push to get more Black males to teach in the face of their rising dropout rates and plummeting test scores. Goode, through Amachi, a mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents, indicated that he was particularly sensitive to the plight of Black males, both inmates and their offspring. He agreed with Duncan's approach of recruiting the Black males to utilize in educational systems to get young African- American males to stand and deliver. Backers of the program said it might not only help reduce dropout rates and raise test scores, but possibly reduce gang violence, prison populations and fatherless homes. Like Duncan, Goode agree that the lack of Black men in the public-school classrooms was a "seri- Education - Page 12A Matt Sky, left, and an unidentified man demonstrate in front of a proposed Islamic center, including a mosque, two blocks from the World Trade Center site, Friday in New York. - AP PHOTO/MARY ALTAFFER The Philadelphia Tribune, a reflection of you. The Philadelphia Tribune

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