harlemworld news

A project developed in Harlem, New York which aims to get long term unemployed people into work is to start in Scotland next week. Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell made the announcement today as he visited STRIVE (Support and Training Results in Valuable Employees) in East Harlem.

For the last few days I've been hearing the story of US Secretary of State CONDI RICE and her London counter point JACK STRAW. Rumor has it that as the two were traveling criss crossing the glode. Ms. Rice offered up her sleeping accomdations to Mr. Straw. Turns out that Mr. Straw for whatever reason accepted the offer and Ms. Rice slept in the ailes of the plane (go figure)! I asked myself what would I have done if I were in the same situation, and let me tell you it would have not been the same. With all my southern upbringing and Harlem style, I could not imagine letting Ms. Rice or any woman sleep on the floor of a plane, bedroom, living room or any other room. I was not raised that way and my mother would kill me if she ever found out that I was so ungentlemanly, tacky, low some, etc. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell, heard this story and to see and hear his response. What was Condi thinking (what was Jack Straw thinking), does she have a bad back(did he give her a bad back :), maybe she was just restless in South Asia? Who knows, but it sounds like a strange offer and an equally strange acceptance. Daniel

Sometime last year I visited a new place suggested by my friend Juanita who took me to a great new soup kitchen called Soup Man's (located on Adam Powell Blvd, (between 121st Street and 122nd Streets). It's basically a Starbucks, specializing in couture soup, instead of coffee. It's a nice little place, with upscale soups, light sandwichs and fine drink at very modest prices for the hood. Well, it's April 3rd, and there is new space opening up on Adam Powell Avenue (between 123rd Street and 127th Streets). Now, the Soup Man (singular) shop opens, serving the same fare and from what I here the same price points. The other day as I took the M60 bus down Broadway and 113th Street, I passed another Soup Man spot! I'd love to be a fly on the wall to hear the two soup men talking about each others brand. Daniel

Someone sent us this article by ER Ship that ran in the March 25th, 2006 issue of New York Dailey News. I thought it was interesting and thought you might want to read it and see what you thought. I think it says alot without saying. As I write this posting, Harlem has 51% unemployment for African American men, and so the issue of jobs in Harlem is of great concern. As of this writing no oner has an idea of what to do to solve the problem. In addition, as I walkthrough Harlem visitng advertiers who frequent the magazine they are very concerned with the tough economic scenario Harlem is experiencing. Some are not having trouble and others are loosing their B. Oyamas (shirts). Longterm merchants are going out of business and others are having to move from their long term locations (Home Sweet Harlem, Grand View, the Brownstone,...). One thing is very certain, business in Harlem is not personal, it's all business...

I've been out commission for almost one week sick with the flu and trying to complete our next deadline (from hell). I can't complain, it could be alot worse then what confronts us over the next few days...