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Bloomberg’s Greenwood Initiative Aims to Create One Million New Black Homeowners

NNPA NEWSWIRE — According to Steve Benjamin, mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, and a spokesman for the Bloomberg Campaign, “Mike doesn’t just talk about ideas; he actually gets things done. When he was mayor of New York City, he focused not only on creating more homeowners, but also on making sure that there was more affordable housing. In his 12 years as mayor he created and retained more than 175,000 units of affordable housing. That is something he is particularly proud of.”

Published

6 years ago

February 27, 2020

Oakland Post

Bloomberg intends to make better and wider use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which are available in communities throughout the U.S.

By Christopher G. Cox, publisher and managing editor, www.realesavvy.com

One key component of Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Bloomberg’s Greenwood Initiative calls for the creation of one million new Black homeowners by providing down-payment assistance; getting millions of dollars banked and recognized by credit scoring companies; enforcing fair lending laws; reducing foreclosure evictions; and increasing the supply of affordable housing.

According to Steve Benjamin, mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, and a spokesman for the Bloomberg Campaign, “Mike doesn’t just talk about ideas; he actually gets things done. When he was mayor of New York City, he focused not only on creating more homeowners, but also on making sure that there was more affordable housing. In his 12 years as mayor he created and retained more than 175,000 units of affordable housing. That is something he is particularly proud of.”

Others components of the Greenwood Initiative, unveiled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a way to deliver “economic justice” for Black America, include creating 100,000 new Black-owned businesses; committing $70 billion in funding and technical support to revitalize 100 of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities; reinvigorating the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department; and requiring more transparency from employers in their hiring, pay, lending and procurement procedures.

Bloomberg also pledges to reduce housing segregation; require implicit bias training for police, teachers and federal contractors; and to expand and protect voting rights.

Addressing the goal of increasing Black homeownership, Benjamin discussed Bloomberg’s intention to make better and wider use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which are available in communities throughout the U.S.

“What we’ve been doing right here in Columbia,” Benjamin noted, “is using CDBG dollars as leverage working with larger banks.” He explained that these federal funds can lower the cost of a loan by boosting the down payment to 20 percent of the mortgage amount.

“Basically, coming to a bank with a proposition that we will provide down payment assistance that will equate to 20 percent of the mortgage makes the loan financing much more attractive for both the borrower and the lender,” he adds. “If you put down five percent you get one rate, if you put down 10 percent you get another rate, if you put down 20 percent, you get the primo rate.”

Benjamin points out that Columbia piloted a homeownership program 15 years ago working with six or seven banks that has grown to a mortgage loan portfolio of about $130 million dollars.

“We have loans of from $100,000 up to a quarter of a million dollars and it has been incredibly popular, not just creating affordable housing, but also creating more available workforce housing,” said Benjamin. This category of housing, he explains, makes it possible for school teachers and police officers to actually live in the communities where they work.

“It’s a wonderful way to forge a public/private partnership that benefits people every single day,” Benjamin said. Communities start dealing with a number of important social consequences when they are able to encourage officers who police a community every day to actually live in their communities, he added.

“Mike realizes that homeownership is the gateway to the middle class,” notes Benjamin. “The reality is that the entire American middle class was created in the mid-20th century by giving people mortgages to buy homes. So, we’re talking about doing those same things that were done 70 or 80 years ago, but this time focusing on Black America. Ultimately, this is really about trying to create generational wealth for Black homeowners.”

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Michael: The King of Pop’s Story Returns to the Big Screen

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making.

Published

1 day ago

November 6, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will arrive in theaters on April 24, 2026, with the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stepping into the spotlight to portray his legendary uncle.

The trailer wastes no time rekindling the aura of Jackson’s genius. Opening with a studio scene between Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones, played by Kendrick Sampson, the clip builds from a quiet, familiar rhythm to the electrifying pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Viewers catch glimpses of the singer’s childhood, flashes of “Thriller,” and the silhouette that redefined pop culture. Each frame reminds fans of why Jackson remains unmatched in artistry and influence. The cast surrounding the late pop king’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, reads like a who’s who of Black entertainment and music history. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe, while Kat Graham embodies Diana Ross. Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, a towering entertainment lawyer and longtime Jackson confidant who later became co-executor of his estate. The film’s journey to release has been as complicated as the icon it portrays. Production wrapped in 2024, but legal hurdles over depictions of past controversies forced extensive reshoots and editing delays. Even so, Fuqua’s film now appears ready to reclaim the narrative, focusing on Jackson’s creative ambition and humanity beyond tabloid noise. IndieWire reported that the film had faced “a massive legal snafu” over a disputed storyline but was retooled to center the music and legacy that defined generations.

Maven. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

“Michael” promises more than a chronological retelling. It aims to explore how a child star from Gary, Indiana, became the world’s most influential entertainer. The script, written by Oscar-nominated John Logan, traces Jackson’s early years with the Jackson 5 through the triumphs and isolation of global superstardom. With Fuqua’s cinematic eye and producer Graham King—who brought “Bohemian Rhapsody” to life—joining forces with estate executors Branca and John McClain, the film is positioned as both a tribute and a restoration of Jackson’s cultural truth. Branca’s work behind the scenes has long shaped Jackson’s posthumous success. After the singer died in 2009, Branca and McClain took control of the estate burdened by debt and turned it into a global powerhouse worth billions. Under their stewardship, Jackson’s projects have generated more than $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and landmark deals, including a $600 million joint venture with Sony earlier this year. At its heart, though, “Michael” is a story about artistry that transcends scandal. It offers a reminder that, despite the noise surrounding his life, Jackson’s music still bridges continents and generations. The trailer’s closing moments capture that spirit. As the beat of “Billie Jean” swells and Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into a spotlight, audiences are left with a familiar feeling—the awe of witnessing something timeless return home.

“Michael” opens worldwide in theaters April 24, 2026. See the official trailer here.

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Donald Trump Is the Biggest Loser

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), says, “Last night was electric, and it was unquestionably a wave.” Democrats won big in what is widely considered a repudiation of Trump’s 9 months at the White House in his second term.

In the state of Virginia, which produced the first big election night win and saw the election of the first woman governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 56% of Virginia’s residents disapprove of President Trump. In New Jersey, 55% of state residents disapprove of the president; in New York, 69% disapprove; and in California, 63% disapprove of the president. The Trump brand or his support for any candidates did nothing to benefit those he endorsed in this election. They actually lost in each race he publicly put his name behind. Trump endorsed former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the New York mayor’s race in his run as an independent. And New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who ran for governor with the presidential endorsement, also lost his prospective race.

The next question is, will the democratic momentum be sustainable? Jones further explained, “This can become a 2026 tsunami, but turning a wave into a tsunami takes energy. A lot of energy. It doesn’t just happen. The conditions are there. Now we have to work!”

Some Democrats would argue that the work is already underway. The pushback against Trump’s national redistricting efforts received a thumb in the eye from California voters. Prop 50, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s counterbalance to President Trump’s redistricting efforts, passed in California last night. Although Trump’s name was not on the ballot last night, his Republican policies were. The United States has now entered the longest government shutdown in its history. Forty-two million Americans are not getting SNAP benefits. Economists are acknowledging that the government shutdown is contributing to the rise in delinquent debt in the student loan, automotive, and credit card industries. These items are among the negatives Americans are protesting against.

Compounding Trump’s political problems is a tariff battle that’s directly impacting pocketbooks. The day after the elections, the Trump administration was arguing before the US Supreme Court in favor of the president’s tariff powers. Meanwhile, President Trump‘s poll numbers are underwater, standing at a 37% national disapproval rate

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Historic Beatdown: Democrats Sweep Virginia as Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones Make History

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia.

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By Lauren Burke

In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. The victories occurred against the backdrop of a historic win in Virginia by Spanberger that will give Virginia its first woman Governor.

Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm. Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in Virginia’s history. Jones’ win was particularly noteworthy since the last month of his campaign was consumed by the issue of private text messages from 2022 to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. Republicans ran a non-stop barrage of negative ads against Jones for a month.

Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. The Dougherty race was the number one target for House Speaker Don Scott and his campaign lieutenant, Delegate Dan Helmer. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins. When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.

+13: Speaker Scott and Del. Helmer Hit Historic Numbers in Fundraising and Power

As the evening ended, a glaring historic fact became clearer: The Virginia House of Delegates will expand to a historic number. The change means the largest Democratic House chamber in the modern era. There were several notable wins by Democrats running for the Virginia House. They include Virgil Thornton, Lilly Franklin, and Kim Pope Adams. Speaker Don Scott and his campaign chair, Dan Helmer, undertook a record fundraising effort never before seen in Virginia’s history. The moment of success for Virginia Democrats will be viewed as a positive signal for Democrats moving into the 2026 elections.