Statement from Andrew Gillum on entering rehab

Former Tallahassee mayor and current CNN commentator Andrew Gillum released the following statement about entering rehab to treat his alcoholism after being found drunk and incoherent in a hotel room.

“After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time,”

“This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person. I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future. I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years.”

Erica Gilmore will be Nashville’s first African American trustee

In a landslide win, former Councilwoman Erica Gilmore has been elected Nashville’s newest trustee, defeating incumbent Parker Toler, who was appointed in June 2019 to replace the late Charlie Cardwell.

The Office of the Trustee is a Constitutional office that was established as a tax collection agency for each county in the state of Tennessee. The Trustee in Davidson County collects Real Property, Personalty and Public Utility Taxes. This office also administers the State of Tennessee Tax Relief Program,Tax Deferral Program, Tax Freeze Program, collects and processes Delinquent Taxes, Central Business Improvement District Taxes, Gulch Central Business Improvement District Taxes and Vegetation Liens.

“Thank you for your vote Metro Nashville for electing the first African American Trustee! We appreciate everyone, staff and volunteers because this would not be possible without you. I look forward to serving Metro Nashville,” said Gilmore.

The former Councilwoman received over 78% of the vote in the Democratic Primary, and with no Republicans running, she is assured the win in November.

[SOURCE: PRIDE PUBLISHING GROUP]

NY Assemblyman Charles Barron test positive for Covid-19

New York State Assemblyman Charles Barron has tested positive for novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Brooklyn-based lawmaker has been in his district since early March and has not been up to Albany during that time.

Gov. Cuomo has announced that The governor added that “out of an abundance of caution,” the state capitol will be closed starting Sunday, and that All legislators and staff that have come in contact with the Assemblyman will be tested to ensure the safety of everyone

Barron released the following statement on Facebook:

Official Statement From Assemblymember Charles Barron.

Today I have learned that I have been tested positive for COVID-19. Inez and I are in high fighting spirits as usual. We want to thank everyone for all their prayers and expressions of love. I am going to beat this virus just as I have won so many other victories, especially with the love of my life, my wife Inez, cheering me on. We will be coming back stronger than ever, so stay ready for the revolution.

Forward Ever

Zion Williamson to cover arena workers salary for 30 days

Zion Williamson will cover the salary of arena employees who will be unable to work while the NBA season is indefinitely suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

Williamson posted the following message on Instagram.

The people of New Orleans have been incredibly welcoming and supportive since I was Drafted by the Pels last June, and some of the most special people I have met are those who work at Smoothie King Center. These are the folks who make our games possible, creating the perfect environment for our fans and everyone involved in the organization. Unfortunately, many of them are still recovering from long term challenges created by Katrina, and now face the economic impact of the postponement of games because of the virus. My mother has always set an example for me about being respectful for others and being grateful for what we have, and so today I am pledging to cover the salaries for all of those Smoothie King Center workers for the next 30 days. This is a small way for me to express my support and appreciation for these wonderful people who have been so great to me and my teammates and hopefully we can all join together to relieve some of the stress and hardship caused by this national health crisis. This is an incredibly resilient city full of some of the most resilient people, but sometimes providing a little extra assistance can make things a little easier for the community.

NMAAHC To Close March 14

The following is a statement from the National Museum of African American History and Culture:

As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the National Museum of African American History and Culture will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14.

We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all our visitors, employees, and volunteers. We are in close communication with local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a re-opening date at this time.

We will provide updates on a week-to-week basis via our website. Follow @NMAAHC on Twitter for updates about the museum's operating status. In the meantime, we invite you to visit NMAAHC.si.edu to explore our virtual exhibitions, online collections and educational resources.