support the united negro college fund. terrible thing to waste. >> the right to vote allows us to vote for candidates or party and it is a significant way to have our voice heard. exactly 100 years ago, women were given the vote in california. the battle for women's suffrage was not an easy one. it took more than 70 years. a woman could run for president in new york. >> organizing this conference, basically it modeled itself on a declaration of independence for women. it marked the beginning of the women's equality movement in the united states. >> at that time, women were banned from holding property and voting in elections. >> susan b. anthony dedicated her life to reform. >> suffrage in the middle of the 19th century accomplished one goal, it was diametrically opposed to this idea. >> many feared it would be corrupted by politics. >> women in the 19th century had to convince male voters that having the vote would not change anything. that woman would still be devoted to the home, the family, that they would remain pure

support the united negro college fund. a mind is a terrible thing to waste. [roll call] >> you have a quorum. please be devised that the use of telephones, pagers, or similar sound-producing devices are verboten in this meeting. approval of the minutes of the january 17, 2012 regular meeting. the motion is adopted. any comments? all those in favor? item five, communications. there will be no closed session today. introduction of new or unfinished business by board members. >> when are we scheduled for another safety update? do we have one coming soon? can we get that on the calendar to get an update on what as a going on? >> i don't know the answer to that, i have a brief highlight to give you. but we will come back at some point soon, i think there is an outcome from the pedestrian safety task force. within a month or so, it might be a good time to report out front. >> item 7, the safety directors report. >> the afternoon acting chair person, as members of the public and staff. we are happy to be starting out as we always do the first meeting of the month wi

of the united negro college fund, the so-called uncf.hropic organization that helps more than 60,000 -- let me say that again -- 60,000 minority students each year to obtain a higher education. the united negro college fund not only manages 400 scholarship and intern ship programs which again 10,000 students but also provides operating funds for 38 historically black colleges and universities. tuition at these colleges average 30% less than tuition at similar universities. bill gray has said that he wanted to support historically black colleges and universities during a period when black students were choosing to attend a wider range of colleges. during bill's 12 years as president and c.e.o. of the united negro college fund, his success in supporting these institutions was unprecedented, and that's an understatement. bill sought innovative ways to attract new investment and increased existing funding. by the time he left the united negro college fund 12 years later, bill and his team had raised more than $1.54 billion. to put this in co

. >> she asked me to emcee for a function for the united negroes college fund and she performed this.s was at the height of whitney houston. >> reporter: simpson said he was blessed to know houston as a person who struggled valiantly to beat her personal demons. >> she was a very special down to earth woman. >> reporter: i asked simpson if there will ever be another voice like houston's. >> i believe that there is someone out there watching right now that is truly great that wants to be the next whitney houston or even sees beyond whitney houston and to say that we won't see that again is to give up hope on that person and i can't do that. >> as university grammy awards tonight here on wusa9, look for live updates -- as you watch the grammy awards tonight here on wusa9 accident look for live updates from -- wusa9, look for live updates from our chatroom. after the grammys we'll take you backstage and break down some of the major awards and big surprises. we might even talk about the best and worst dressed all tonight on 9 news now immediately after the grammy awards. >>> cold enough f

support the united negro college fund. a mind is a terrible thing to waste. impossible.ouncer: when you open a book, you can explore new lands... [bird screeches] meet new friends, and discover new adventures. there are amazing possibilities when you open your mind to reading. [roar] you can log onto he library of congress website and let the journey begin. >> good evening, ladies and gentlemen. i am the secretary to the police commission. on behalf of the commission, i would like to welcome everyone to the san francisco police department's 2011 medal of valor ceremony. please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >>> i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america into the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. thank you. please be seated. mayor lee was scheduled to attend but was not able to make it. he sent his congratulations to our medal of valor recipients. we're joined by the police commissioners and the commission president, vice-president, commissioners. also on the stage this evening we h

the united negro college fund.t's how i will remember her. >> you know, i don't want to miss this. it was something that our crew said as fox report was ending tonight. we hadn't gotten word of this, about 13, 14 seconds went by we started hearing about it. it is black history month. the month of february. known for singing our anthem in one of the most memorable ways, you remember that at one super bowl. this is particularly tough for the black community this month. >> think of so many young singers who have been inspired by her from mariah carey to christina aguilera, it is a loss for everyone. especially during black history month. looking back at her charitable work with united negro college fund. how much she did give back to the community. we learned through all of her highs that she did have serious drug problem. but i know that takes away from the impact and inspiration. >> absolutely. >> that that she providedded for the community. >> harris: sometimes we're on the internet together and talk with viewers t

i met her was before we had her come to the white house was at an event in new york city, the united negroall seated and she was seated as well and she came to every single person seated on the bench and said "hi, how are you, i'm whitney houston." i thought what a classy person to do that. that to me is who she is and was. >> we are getting word the co-founder of def jam records russell simmons "she is one of the greatest singers this world has ever heard." we are covering the story of whitney houston's death at age 48, her body was found in the beverly hilton hotel, she was in los angeles for the grammys. police went into her room at 3:23 this afternoon. the lapd say there is no obvious sign of drug use, no obvious sign of foul play. they are continuing their investigation. right now to jinah kim at our nbc station in l.a. for the latest. jinah, what you can tell us? >> we're waiting for another update by the beverly hills plr police department. they had the press conference, they were called at 3:23 this afternoon, that is pacific time. they responded within two minutes and paramedics b

. >> if she had asked me to come to new york to emcee a function for the united negro college fund, andrmed there. this is at the height of whitney houston. >> reporter: simpson says he was blessed to know houston as a person who struggled valiantly to defeat her personal demons. >> she was a very special down to earth woman. >> reporter: i asked simpson if there will ever be another voice like houston. >> i believe there's someone out there watching right now that is truly great that wants to be the next whitney houston, or even beyond whitney houston, and to say that we won't see that again is to give up hope on that persons and why do. that. >> reporter: in washington, armando trull, 9news now. >> donnie and sonny are going to be back later. elsewhere, all this week we're trying to reunite people with money and valuables that are being held in city and state coffers. it could be from old safe- deposit boxes, bank account, all sorts of places. if you see your name at the bottom of the screen under claim your cash, this means you have something coming to you. we'll be running those nam

support the united negro college fund. mind is a terrible thing to waste. >> so good morning and welcome mr. mayor, mr. council general. everybody. it's great to see such a great crowd here for what for us is an extremely important event. my name is ed reiskin. i'm the transportation director here in san francisco and very pleased to welcome you all here this morning for what we expect will be a very lively and productive couple of days here in san francisco. the san francisco m.t.a. is the agency that's charged with implementing the city's transit first policy, which is about getting people out of their cars and into more sustainable modes of transportation, such as bikes, such as walking and transit in our great muni system. as someone who myself gets around the city often by bike, and i do that by choice, but more importantly, i'm given the charge of our agency to get folks out oaf their cars. i can't tell you how exciting it is for me to think all of the brain power and enthusiasm for cycling that's in this room are go

was active in all kinds of campus service activities including meeting to raise funds for the united negroith honors earning a b.a.in economics and he and barbara proud parents of their first child, george w, set out to tex. he was going to try his hand in the oil exploration business. >> he went the day after he graduated from college. offered a job there. he needed a job. he had a wife and a baby. >> by 1949 they had a child child, robin and living in midland, texas. bush became an entrepreneur, starting an oil company. and they imersed themselves into their community, finding time to give back. he was involved in creating little league teams and traditional activities for benefiting the city and the region. >> almost bred into his dna to give the others, values led him as a young businessman to help found the first ymca in 1952. it's not something he did for political gain. >> in 1953 their third child, john ellis was born and 3-year-old robin was diagnosed with leukemia. incurable at that time. she died in 1963. the bushes donated her body to science to help other children. it didn't s

. >> in the united negro improvement association. >> that is right. our history was taken away. your ancestors history is your foundation. he gave us that, an important man. my father loved marcus garvey, so he would have books from him, j rogers, others. >> you started with costco music, but you did not like it too much? >> no, it did not swing. i had a wonderful music teacher. she would hit my hand with a ruler when i was making a mistake. i was always making mistakes. but she gave me that foundation. after three years, she told my father, forget it, your son will never play piano. i have her picture in the book. she gave me the foundation of women at the time, having dignity and class. >> but your father would not give up? >> no, he got me another teacher. he taught me the classic tradition of piano and a few popular songs. that is how i started to learn the piano. >> you are playing music, and then world war ii. >> i was drafted in the army, spent three years in the army. even before then, we had small, local bands in brooklyn. we played everything from polkas, marriages, al

at yale he was active in all kinds of campus service activities including raising funds for the united negroge fund. >> he graduated with honors earning a ba degree in economics. he and barbara now proud parents of their first child george w. set out to texas. he was going to try his hand in the oil ex poploration business. >> went the day after he graduated from college broke down the little red studebaker. he was offered a job there. he needed a job. he had a wife and a baby. by 1949 he had a second child. the bushes began making a life for themselves. he started his own oil company. they immersed themselves in their community always finding the time to give back. >> he was involved in creating little legal teams and additional activities that benefited the city and the region. >> almost bred in his dna to give to others the values that led him as a young businessman in midland, texas to help found the first ymca in 1952. not something he did for political gain. >> in 1953 their first child john ellis was born. sadly also the same year 3-year-old robin was diagnosed with leukemia an incura

she was involved in aids and pediatric aids and did benefits and the united negro college fund.when nelson mandela came to washington for the state dinner president obama hosted for him, a grand affair and everyone was so excited that he was coming here, not only as a free man but president he requested whitney houston be his state dinner entertainment speaker, performer. and i was in the back of the room. she sang "the greatest love of all" which of course is that anthem to self-love, something that this young woman never really maybe grasped enough of. >> joey, just quickly, can you give me any kind of indication, i mean, can you compare this to other early losses in hollywood? i know larry king talked about others that have died so young, judy garland one of them. does this compare to michael jackson or a judy garland? >> absolutely. i mean, this is someone who was the biggest pop star when she was in her prime. she was unbelievable. and not only as a singer, but also you know in movies. she had hit movies and so you know, this is definitely one of those cases where you know

came to know her when i was white house aide to president bush and i met her at a dinner for the united negro dinner, and she came up to everybody at the d dias, and she came right up to me, a staffer, and said, "hi, i'm whitney houston." and i thought it was amazing, because i was just an aide, and we brought her in to meet president bush, and her brother and mother, and then we did a special for "welcome home heroes" and then they hired me to work with them, and i traveled with them. >> reporter: a lot of folks probably don't know that after the famous performance of the "star spangled banner" in 1990, she became wildly pop ular with the u.s. service members in particular and spent time talking to the troops and the families as well. >> well, she did the great "star spangled banner in the super bowl, and then the welcome home heros from the norfolk naval air force base with soldiers from all branchs of of the service with her, and they loved her as somebody patriotic and beautiful and great spirit. >> before the service started today, as we watch that gold hearse carrying whitney's body awa

met her at a dinner at the united negro college fund.he came up to the table and said, hi, i'm whitney houston. i thought that was so sweet that she would take time to introduce herself. we all knew who she was. she was a superstar. but she individually introduced herself to each person and said, hi, i'm whitney houston. i knew immediately this was somebody special. >> she was one of a kind. one thing being reported is that her ex-husband, bobby brown, may be getting the cold shoulder from the family. he's denying that. do you know if there's any truth to these rumors about what their relationship is in the times that we're seeing right now? >> well, i don't know about all of that. i've certainly met him. i was there at the wedding back in 1992. and i was on tour with them. but i think right now the family is trying to deal with all the challenges that are facing them. this is a difficult time. and i know i'm grieving. i know her family, much more importantly than me, is grieving right now because they're missing her. and they're just th

she gave money, also, she was very generous towards the juvenile diabetes foundation, the united negro fund, just to have a few. >> we have a screen up there. the children's defense fund, also raised money for the new york firefighters disaster relief fund, the new york fraternal order of police. the list goes on and on. >> and speaking of the new york firefighters and police, she's the only person to have sung the national anthem and had to go to the top of the charts. and she waived those royalty rights and donated that money. re-released the song after 9/11 and donated those funds to new york firefighters and police as a part of the disaster release. >> it may seem ancient history now to some people, but speaking out against apartheid was not an easy thing to do. she did that in the face of ronald reagan and margaret thatcher's support of the south african regime, and nelson mandela never forgot her for that. >> and she did it in '88. she did it in london, in thatcher's own backyard. even before that, she refused to working with modeling agencies that had business in south africa. s

however, i can't help but think about in the month of february black history month, the united negro college fund. you have rick santorum telling people that it's snobbery to want people to aspire to go to college. again, i understand what he's trying to go after. you can be a blue collar worker and try to establish the american dream but the way he's messaging it is bad. >> ed, do you agree? >> yeah, i -- when people say i don't understand why politicians say half the things they say, this is what they are talking about. >> this is a tough one. i've got another one. this is a speech in troy, michigan. listen and we'll talk about it. >> to go across this country and talk to minority communities, not about giving them more food stamps and government dependency but creating jobs where they can participate and rise in society. >> i kind of remember hearing this from mr. newt gingrich, lenny. >> yep. >> yes, we have. and, again, i understand where they are trying to go with this. but part of the problem is this, zoraida. if you don't have -- >> wait a minute. how do you understand where

. >>> and our own soledad o'brien honored by the united negro college fund friday at its annual leadershipational legacy award for outstanding service to higher education. soledad, congratulations. >> thank you very much. and roland is killing my joy by saying, oh, that trophy looks familiar. didn't i win one of those? i'm teasing. i'm teasing. thank you, christine. >>> all right. we have some poll numbers to give you, a new national abc "washington post" poll of republicans. in that poll, mitt romney has a commanding lead, 39%, to newt gingrich's 23%. you can see how the rest of the folks come out under that. this is following newt gingrich's loss in nevada this saturday. tea party leader dick armey says that newt gingrich's time may have come and gone. listen. >> south carolina was an aberration because newt gingrich had what is likely to be in final analysis his best moment in south carolina. he had just one masterful moment where he transformed himself from perpetrator to victim, attacked the media, which as you know is always popular with our base, and just sort of took that momentary

please support the united negro college fund. because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.