CASH COMMENTARY FOR DEC. 12TH, 2024

 

                                                                  CASH MICHAELS

                                    HEY JUDGE GRIFFIN. CUT THE CRAP!

                                                 by Cash Michaels

You know, the NC Democratic Party (NCDP) doesn’t exactly have a great reputation for standing four-square when it comes to a fight. I mean, every time you look, it seems like those master schemers over at the NC Republican Party (NCGOP) always have the NC Dems’ number. 

When it comes to redistricting, provided Republicans can find a judge that agrees with them, they rock. Elections? (Class, please refer in your text to the earlier chapter, “JUDGES WHO ALLOWED THE NC GOP TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER FOR YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO REDRAWING VOTING DISTRICTS TO MAINTAIN A MAJORITY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOREVER AND EVER.”

My point is the source of Republican legislative power since 2011 has been its ability to find judges, both state and federal, who agree with their slimy schemes, and sign off on them. Admittedly not every judge has done this, but enough have to help maintain the GOP majorities in the state House and Senate, and allow Phil Berger to sleep easier at night when it comes to judicial decisions.

But hey, all of a sudden, NC Dems have come alive, especially after coming off of a 2024 election that was better results-wise than most other states.

One of the bright spots of the 2024 election was the race between Democratic NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs, and Republican state Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin for Justice Riggs’ high court seat.

Justice Riggs is one of only two Democrats on the state Supreme Court, so holding onto her seat is important to Democrats to say the least. 

In an extremely close race, Justice Riggs was re-elected by slim margin, and after a recount, her winning numbers held.

Griffin demanded and got a second partial recount, with the results even better for Justice Riggs. The poor woman is running out of paper to print victory speeches on. But it’s clear that Griffin had no plans to abide by what even a second recount revealed.

        To top everything, the conservative judge and NC GOP were challenging 60,000 ballots out of the 5.5 million that were cast, seeking to have them thrown out, based on some obscure legal premise that no longer applies because the state Board of Elections ruled against it accordingly earlier this year, backed up by several federal judges.

And get this…The News and Observer of Raleigh reported that Griffin and the NC GOP were targeting Black voters in particular who supported Justice Riggs. All of a sudden, that high and mighty judicial veneer has a terrible kick to the respectability groin. Never put it past a conservative Republican to play the race card when desperation measures are called for.

Well last Friday the NCDP filed a federal lawsuit “…seeking to invalidate Republicans’ challenge of over 60,000 ballots cast in the state Supreme Court election.”

“No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab — but this is no surprise from the party of insurrectionists,” NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton said in a press release. “We are prepared to take on Republicans. They can’t stop the results of an election just because they don’t like the fact that we won.”  

Here-here! As they used to say on the block I grew up on in Brooklyn, “Don’t start none, won’t be none” This B.S. about depriving 60,000 North Carolinians their votes, or even 60, just because some right-wing Republican judge wants to ham-glam with the high-rent Republican majority on the state Supreme Court is everything it looks like - desperation of the highest order.

Judge Griffin apparently thinks that just because he’s a member of the Grand Old Party, he’s entitled to win every election he runs in. Sounds like another well-known Republican we can’t stand whose name rhymes with chump. Except in our case, we have supposedly an esteemed member of the judicial branch, someone who lives by the Canons of prescribed good judicial behavior, acting like a two-bit insurrectionist.

Well the Democrat-led state Elections Board wasn’t going for it when they heard the case last Wednesday. Said SBOE Chairman Alan Hirsh, "The idea that someone could have been registered to vote, came to vote — and then had their vote discarded — is anathema to the democratic system and simply cannot be tolerated," he said. "And so therefore I'm going to vote to deny the protest."

Give it up Judge Griffin. Yeah, cut the crap! This shameful ploy to steal an election you can’t believe you lost has gotten beyond embarrassing. Where’s the honor, Your Honor? Does winning mean that much?

Or does losing crater your obvious shallow ego to such an extent you can’t even walk the streets of Raleigh?

And let’s say this 60,000 vote elimination ploy works later down the line with your disreputable buddies at the state Supreme Court, who apparently have the last word if necessary. Is that how you want to be remembered in the pages of North Carolina history?

If so, let’s start with this page. Judge Jefferson Griffin, you should be ashamed of yourself for trying to steal an election from a fellow member of the judiciary. Clearly you represent the new standard of jurisprudence we’re all waiting on with the new administration in Washington.

Gee, how proud we are!

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THE CASH STUFF FOR DEC. 12, 2024

ST. AUG U DENIED

ACCREDITATION

BUT CAN APPEAL

IN FEBRUARY

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

The board of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted Tuesday to remove embattled HBCU St. Augustine’s University (SAU) in Raleigh from its membership.

The SACSCOC board voted to do so during its annual meeting this week in Austin, Texas. 

Though its accreditation has been denied, SAU can still hold on to its status while it appeals the decision, thus allowing December 2024 and May 2025 students to graduate. That appeal must be heard in February 2025, or the school loses accreditation permanently. An appeals committee will hear SAU’s appeal, and if necessary, an arbitration panel.

In order for SAU to practically remain in business, it must maintain its accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting agency like SACSCOC, according to the U.S. Dept. of Education. Maintaining that accreditation entitles the school to participate in various federal student aid programs.

In SAU’s case, at issue was the school’s problem with financial management. Over the years, SAU has reportedly run up a sizable debt with vendors, federal taxes owed, and pending lawsuits.

The school recently reduced its student enrollment to just 200 students, and took out a $7 million loan to help pay off some of its debt, but the high 24% interest rate and terms outraged SAU supporters.

But then SAU announced a 99-year land-lease agreement that could yield at least $70 million towards it’s debts.

        "SACSCOC could only consider information SAU presented as of November 18, 2024. Saint Augustine's University has made significant progress even since that date, including finalizing the $70 Million deal with 50 plus 1 Sports. The SACSCOC Board could not consider that information on Saturday during our hearing. Still, we look forward to providing that evidence during our February appeals hearing, along with other information that will definitively resolve all the remaining areas of concern," said Dr. Marcus Burgess, president of Saint Augustine's University. "While this may seem like a disappointing decision, we view this as an encouraging outcome that acknowledges our progress, and we are excited about the opportunity the Appeal affords us. This opportunity to prove that SAU is now a stronger and more financially healthy institution will bring confidence to our stakeholders and partners, ensuring them that SAU remains a cornerstone of opportunity and innovation for our students and the Raleigh community."

SAU also completed its overdue financial audits for FY22, FY23 and FY24, and trimmed $17 million from its operating budget. 

It would appear that none of that moved the needle with SACSCOC, however, so SAU must now spend the next several weeks building its appeals case in order to stay in business.

Meanwhile, the NC attorney general’s office is investigating the SAU Board of Trustees, based on a dismissed lawsuit alleging financial improprieties filed against it by the SAU Coalition.

It was December 2022 when SACSCOC placed SAU on probation because it failed to comply with financial requirements necessary to maintain accreditation. In February 2024, the SACSCOC Board denied SAU’s appeal and stripped the school its accreditation, only to rescind that order in July.

Now SAU stands on the brink again, and has until Feb. 2025 to redeem itself, in order be recognized as a fully accredited institution.

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                                                        SEN. SYDNEY BATCH (D-WAKE)

                                                              SEN. DAN BLUE (D-WAKE)

BLUE STEPS DOWN

AS SENATE DEMOCRATIC

LEADER; BATCH SUCCEEDS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

There has been a significant changing of the guard in the North Carolina Senate, as Senator Sydney Batch, a two-term state senator from Apex, has replaced veteran state Senator Dan Blue, as Senate Democratic Caucus and minority leader for the 2025 legislative session.

Blue, 75, a state senator from Wake County, has served as Democratic Caucus leader since 2014, but is best known and regarded as the first and only Black North Carolina speaker of the House in the state’s history. Sen. Blue is also credited with leading the fight for North Carolina to have a state paid holiday honoring the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He has served Wake County in the state Senate since 2009. Prior to that, Blue served in the state House from 1981 to 2003 ( two terms as speaker in 1991 and 1995) and again from 2006 to 2009.

The Democratic Caucus had announced on the evening of December 2nd that Leader Blue did not want to serve another term as leader, but published reports from Axios Raleigh stated that in fact, Blue had failed to round up enough votes to continue to serve in that capacity.

Blue issue a statement, saying that he was “excited to pass the torch into the capable hands of Senator Batch.” “Her vision for the future of the Senate Democratic Caucus builds upon the work we started and will ensure the end of the Republican supermajority and to a new Democratic Senate majority which will improve the lives of all North Carolinians,” Blue added. 

Sen. Batch, who served as deputy minority leader, thanked Leader Blue for his service, and said in a statement that North Carolinians are counting on Democrats “to protect their rights, expand opportunity, and fight for policies that prioritize people over politics.” “Our Caucus remains focused on creating a North Carolina where every resident can build the life they want for their families and themselves, and we are ready to work to get North Carolina back on the right track.”

Sen. Batch, 45, is an attorney and a social worker. She was first elected to the NC House District 37 in 2018. She lost re-election in 2020, but was appointed to replace Democrat San Searcy, who had won Senate District 17, but resigned to take a position in the private sector. Sen Batch won a full two-year state Senate term in 2022, and again in November.

As the new Senate minority leader, Sen. Batch will be leading 20 Democrats against a 50 Republican supermajority.

In the state House, the Democratic minority reelected Rep. Robert Reives (Chatham, Randolph) to another two-year term. Reives has served as House Democratic leader since 2021.

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CASH COMMENTARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024

                                                                    CASH MICHAELS

                                 JOE DID NOTHING WRONG

                                             By Cash Michaels

You are absolutely kidding yourself if you expect me to set my hair on fire - what little of it I have left - over President Joe Biden issuing a pardon to his troubled son Hunter, despite numerous public declarations that he would not do so.

First of all, and to his credit, I don’t believe Biden ever intended to do so. Hunter Biden was a drug addict, and a convicted felon, so he was not morally entitled to a pardon of his crimes, though legally he was. Everyone understood that, and realized that Hunter’s sad, sad tale of life was something the president would have to bear, along with the tragic loss of his first wife, young daughter, and his son, Beau, who died of brain cancer after serving his country in uniform.

Hunter Biden is the black sheep of the family. Never met a woman he wouldn’t hit on, or an ounce of cocaine he wasn’t drawn to. Even messed with the widow of his deceased brother.

No, I have no love lost for Hunter Biden, and probably never will.

So when his father announced that he would not be pardoning Hunter after he was convicted in a court of law for his crimes, I for one, said “that’s the way the cookie crumbles when you can’t get your life together.”

But then things changed.

It became evident that the Republicans in Congress wanted to make Hunter Biden more of a convicted criminal than what he was. Holding hearings after hearings, with lots of hot air accusations, but precious little evidence of the financial corruption allegations they were trying desperately to make stick in an effort to prove that there was a “Biden crime family,” and Hunter, along with his daddy, were the key crime figures in charge.

Gee, what I don’t get is how those congressional investigators spent millions in tax dollars, all to find absolutely nothing on Hunter or Pres. Joe, meanwhile the Biden family German Shepherd is attacking and biting people left and right, but never charged with anything.

You’d think the Republicans could have put together a strong case against Fido Biden. Even thrown in some corruption charges involving a foreign energy company or something.

But the other thing that changed …was us. 

No more did our nation, especially right before, and certainly right after the election, covet the rule of law we were all brought up on.

We allowed a convicted criminal-in-chief (I will call him that until the day I die) to just play games with our criminal justice system, and use our court system to feather his own nest.

He berated upstanding judges and prosecutors for just doing their jobs, and proclaimed himself above and beyond the very law that the rest of us are expected to follow to the letter.

So when he won the election (and let me say right here that unlike my conservative and Republican brethren, I hold to the longstanding tradition that when an election is called, I abide by the results, no matter what I may feel about it), I felt myself agreeing with others that there really is no law in this country worth respecting anymore, because look at who the majority of us have elected.

And now, weeks after the fact, look at who he is proposing to serve in his presidential Cabinet and administration - a bunch behind-backwards cartoon characters, some of whom have been accused of child molestation, sexual assault, criminal convictions, alcoholic or Russian associations.

I mean, what does the rule of law even mean any more? Especially when the new commander-in-chief has no intention of upholding any of the fine American principles and values that made this country great.

To me, knowing that the rule of law means absolutely nothing after January 20, 2025, while I have no intention of violating that principle in anyway that I can think of, I can’t blame President Biden for having a change of heart and mind, and deciding to protect his son and family from further political prosecution.

This time, from prosecution that will have the power of the presidency behind it, given who Trump is proposing to make the new U.S. attorney general and FBI director.

There will indeed be a political enemies list, and Joe Biden knows he and his son will be prominent on it.

So let’s stop fooling ourselves.

Joe Biden knows it’s about to get plenty tough in the land that we love. 

But hey, elections have consequences.

The majority of us decided to elect a certified criminal to lead our nation for the next four years, all because we didn’t care enough about his multiple criminal convictions or moral failings. We didn’t believe any of that stuff was true or mattered.

All we cared about was the price of eggs and whether transsexual inmates were getting taxpayer funded operations.

        Makes no sense!

Hell, in the face of all of that, I don’t blame President Biden for using the power he still has to save his son, so he can rest in peace for the balance of his days.

All of those so-called Democratic “moralists” need to get a grip. In the America that was, all of you had a point. But you allowed that America - the one of decency and honesty and strong Christian principles - to slip through your fingers just because democracy isn’t as important as are our own self -interests.

I am ashamed of this country after this election, and don’t blame anyone deciding to do what’s best to protect their own family.

Hell, everybody else is! 

Joe did nothing wrong. And I pray that he will go down in history as one of the most compassionate presidents ever.

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THE CASH STUFF FOR DEC. 5, 2024

 “RAISE THE AGE” LAW

PUTS TEENS ON NOTICE

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

As of Sunday, December 1st, young people ages 16 to 17 years of age face stiffer criminal penalties in the state of North Carolina, thanks to the new “Raise Your Age” law.

Those teenagers who commit serious felonies will immediately be charged as adults under the new law. It is a tool to help local police departments combat serious teenage crime that has lately been on the rise, including assaults, armed robberies, and shootings.

When the teen suspects appear in courts, they will immediately be treated and charged as adult suspects, law enforcement officials say.

The new law passed by veto override last week.

"I remain concerned that this new law would keep some children from getting treatment they need while making communities less safe." Gov. Cooper wrote when he vetoed the measure.

Supporters counter that juvenile justice cases are mounting for area prosecutors to the point where putting many of these cases immediately in the adult criminal justice system cuts red tape and makes sense, thus easing their case loads.

House bill 834 formally states, “AN ACT TO MODIFY THE DEFINITION OF DELINQUENT JUVENILE, TO MODIFY THE TRANSFER PROCESS FOR INDICTED JUVENILE CASES, TO CREATE A NEW PROCESS TO REMOVE A CASE TO JUVENILE COURT, TO MAKE CHANGES TO SCHOOL USE OF INFORMATION, TO MAKE SECURE CUSTODY HEARING CHANGES, TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS, TO MAKE CHANGES TO CERTAIN DISPOSITIONAL ALTERNATIVES, AND TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR AN ADULT TO SOLICIT A MINOR TO COMMIT A CRIME AND TO MODIFY THE NUMBER OF DAYS FOR REQUEST FOR REVIEW BY A PROSECUTOR. 

The law defines juvenile delinquent as a. Any juvenile who, while less than 16 years of age but at least 10 years of age, commits a crime or infraction under State law or under an ordinance of local government, including violation of the motor vehicle laws, or who commits indirect contempt by a juvenile as defined in G.S. 5A-31. 

And… a. Any juvenile who, while less than 18 years of age but at least 16 years of age, commits a crime or an infraction under State law or under an ordinance of local government, excluding the offenses in sub-sub-subdivisions 1. and 2. of this sub-subdivision, or who commits indirect contempt by a juvenile as defined in G.S. 5A-31. Offenses excluded from the definition of delinquent juvenile when committed while less than 18 years of age but at least 16 years of age include the following: 

1. All violations of the motor vehicle laws under Chapter 20 of the General Statutes.
        2. Any offense punishable as a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult, together with any offense based on the same act or transaction or on a series of acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a single scheme or plan of that offense, and any greater or lesser included offense of that offense.
          a. Any juvenile who, while less than 10 years of age but at least 8 years of age, commits a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, or G felony under State law.
          b. Any juvenile who, while less than 10 years of age but at least 8 years of age, commits a crime or an infraction under State law or under an ordinance of local government, including violation of the motor vehicle laws, and has been previously adjudicated delinquent." 

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COULD LAND LEASE DEAL

WITH FLA. SPORTS GROUP

SAVE ST. AUGUSTINES U?

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Just when supporters of St. Augustine’s University (SAU) were reeling from reports of a $7 million loan deal with a reportedly outrageous interest rate that could cost the historically Black institution much of its property, comes word of a lease agreement that could be the salvation SAU needs to satisfy its debts.

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, SAU announced that it would lease some of the property it owns to 50 Plus 1 Sports, a Florida-based mixed use and sports venue development company, “to tackle its financial challenges head-on.” 

50 Plus 1 Sports is a two-year old South Florida company that reportedly requires at least half “minority and women participation” in its financed projects.

SAU signed a letter of intent with the company on November 17th.

According to audit documents from the St. Augustine's University Real Estate Foundation, SAU will lease “certain real estate” to 50 Plus 1 Sports for 99 years, and split revenue from any joint projects. There’s a 65% - 35% arrangement for the first 15 years of the lease  with 50 Plus 1 Sports taking a lion’s share of the revenues.

The land-lease deal is expected to raise $70 million for SAU, with 50 Plus 1 Sports paying SAU $60 million in just a few weeks, and then an additional $10 million by June 2025

“This agreement marks a pivotal moment for SAU as we embrace a bold vision for future growth,” SAU Board of Trustees Chairman Brian Boulware said in a news release. “We are excited to collaborate with 50 Plus 1 Sports, a proactive and dynamic partner, and it’s team of global investment partners, to deliver long-lasting benefits to our students, faculty, and the amazing Raleigh community.”

Boulware’s statement continued, “Together, we’re building a future that solidifies SAU’s role as a cornerstone of this city.”

The company expressed confidence in the SAU deal as well.

“We are absolutely thrilled to come to Raleigh and partner with Saint Augustine’s University, local developers, and community leaders in this incredible city,” said 50 Plus 1 Sports President and CEO Monti Valrie. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to creating projects that resonate with the community, enhance local opportunities, and establish meaningful relationships within the business ecosystem.”

There is still much not known about the SAU-50 Plus 1 Sports land-lease deal, and how it can specifically help SAU out of its mounting vendor debts, federal government tax liens, and lawsuits from former employees.

The school has already made drastic cuts to its staff, and reduced its student enrollment to just 200 students from a once healthy over 1500.

The $7 million loan from a venture capital group in Durham was supposed to help alleviate some of the financial burden, until school supporters took a closer look at the terms.

Secured last May, the loan reportedly required SAU to pay a 24% interest rate and 2% loan management fee, in addition to a $75,000 “due diligence and documentation fee.”

As collateral, SAU had to put up its main Raleigh campus, and at least 40 other pieces of property on more than 11 acres around the SAU campus. If the school defaults on the loan, which comes due on June 30, 2025, those properties are forfeited to Gothic Ventures, the loan company.

SAU reportedly has the right to extend the maturity date of the loan until December 31, 2025, and can secure up to $30 million in total.

How the new 50 plus I Sports lease agreement now affects the Gothic Ventures loan, remains to be seen.

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