cityscapes december issue

december • 2014 Voice News Publication A League of California Cities African American Caucus & Black cityscapes

Volume 1 | Issue 2

California Heartland:

Modesto in Black & White

Proposition 47

Golden (State) Opportunity 1

Booker T. Washington

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Contents

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Proposition 47

Measure may contribute to the release of thousands of state prisoners

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Publisher’s note

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Editor’s note

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Golden (State) Opportunity

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Cal MediConnect

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Volume 1 | Issue 2

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Are Medi-Cal & MediCare recipients ready for the transition?

Booker T. Washington His 1903 & 1914 visits to California

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Through the Lens

The city of Modesto seen through the Lens of Gerry “GOS” Simpson Cover image: We hear the word texture in abundance today and this scenery in the Modesto Valley appeared to be endless yards of velvet fabric... Contents page image: It was as if time had was standing still and no one was paying attention...

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GOLD

PG&E BRONZE

So Cal Edison

FRIENDS OF THE CAUCUS Kaiser Permanente

Aleshire & Wynder LLP Attorneys at Law

Sempra

Wells Fargo

Smart Cities Prevail

Comcast

Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai Public Law Group LLP

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Danielle Willis at 951.682.6070 or email at Danielle@bpcmediaworks.com 4

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publisher’snote

Voting…The California Dream

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ast Independence Day I wrote a piece about the significance of voting for the Black Voice News and this past election season I thought a lot about the subject of that essay, Ms. Precious Wesley and her poll tax receipt.

Ms. Wesley, who died in 2006 at the age of 76, was known for her activism and considered an aggressive advocate for the community’s interest. She was born and raised in a small town in Texas before finally settling in San Bernardino, California in the 1950s. And it was there in Texas where she had to pay a monetary fee to participate in the democratic process, back then, one of the ways to suppress the minority vote.

There were other methods I remembered learning about in Dr. Sandra Kamusikiri’s African-American Literature class in college, such as the “literacy” tests that asked unanswerable questions like “how many bubbles in a bar of soap?” or “how many seeds in a watermelon?” But the poll tax receipt is a tangible example of these tactics to me.

Six years before her death, Ms. Wesley allowed me to frame her coveted proof of purchase and display it in an exhibit I curated on Black Political Action. For her, the poll tax receipt was a reminder and tangible symbol of her sacrifice. She used it as an object lesson for young people so we would fully understand the significance of our sacred democratic duty. For those of you who are unaware, in some states -- including California -- in order to vote individuals had to be citizens, registered, and then pay their poll taxes by a specified date. So even though some poor Blacks had the right to vote, they didn’t have the money to participate in the process.

Ms. Wesley was not a woman of means, but she knew the power of her one vote, so

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photo by Kathy & Benoit Malphettes

Ms. Wesley was not a woman of means, but she knew the power of her one vote, so she scraped together the few dollars and paid the required price. An article the Black Voice News published announcing her death said that she never missed an opportunity to share with young people that one way to be a part of the American Dream was to be involved in the community and to vote.” she scraped together the few dollars and paid the required price. An article the Black Voice News published announcing her death said that she never missed an opportunity to share with young people that one way to be a part of the American Dream was to be involved in the community and to vote.

While we don’t have to worry about paying a tax to vote like Ms. Wesley, as Californians we must ensure that voter suppression and disenfranchisement tactics are not being implemented to reduce the vote within certain segments of our electorate. We need all our diverse communities to participate in the democratic process. To me, that is the California Dream.

Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD Publisher 5

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cityscapes A League of California Cities African American Caucus & Black Voice News Publication

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editor’snote

California’s Growing Latino Electorate is Blue, But Not Homogenous

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photo by Kathy & Benoit Malphettes

o outsiders, the name “California” often will summon up images of surfboards, laid-back attitudes, and steep bluffs that overlook crystal clear oceans that are as blue as its electorate. To insiders, some of the state’s grand appeal is true. However, the notion that California is the strong, Democratic-centric populous that people idealize is as much of an overstatement as everyone here grabbing a latte for lunch or driving a convertible in the Summer.

I recently attended a New America Media (NAM) briefing in Los Angeles where ethnic journalists from California analyzed a number of key voter issues for this past November’s elections. The briefing was moderated by NAM Executive Editor and Director Sandy Close who reminded us that if not for the minority vote, California would be a red state.

California as a Republican-leaning state is hard to imagine, but a strong reality if AfricanAmerican, Asian, and Latino voters didn’t tip the scales to the Democratic Party.

What’s more is Latinos are likely to be a boon to Democrats as the electorate continues to grow. In addition, according to Karthick Ramakrishnan, associate professor of Political Science at University of California Riverside (UCR), who attended the briefing, white voters will probably decline from being the majority voting bloc within the next two Presidential elections.

As much of a benefit to the Democratic Party as the growing Latino voting bloc may be, not all minority electorates vote in unison and sometimes their divergence on issues contrast greatly, said Ramakrishnan.

In fact, according to an August report titled “Latino Likely Voters in California” released by the Public Policy Institute of California, “Latinos tend to be Democrats, but many are politically conservative.” The section of the report goes on to note that “Latino voters

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California as a Republicanleaning state is hard to imagine, but a strong reality if AfricanAmerican, Asian, and Latino voters didn’t tip the scales to the Democratic Party.” are about as likely to identify themselves as politically liberal (34 percent) as they are to call themselves middle-of-the-road (33 percent) or conservative (33 percent).”

“With these different populations there are different reasons why these electorates are important. African-Americans, it's very clear Democratic Party identification, and very strong, very off-the-charts support for different progressive issues. If you look at death penalty, African-Americans consistently tend to be on left on issues like that. It's the valance of how their vote goes that gets them attention and their strong involvement in the Democratic Party,” said Ramakrishnan at the media briefing. “... For Latinos, it isn't as strong of a Democratic party, but among the non-white populations, they are the biggest and they're growing. It’ll be a long time before they become the biggest share where outpace whites in terms of their share of the electorate. If I had to guess, it would be beyond 2050 for that to happen,” he added.

So, although Latinos and minority voters are keeping California a blue state to the delight of Democrats – and will continue for the foreseeable future – the Latino electorate can sway on progressive voting issues, emphasizing the varying attitudes of Democrats as a whole.

Corey Arvin Contributing Editor 7

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Measure may contribute to the release of thousands of state prisoners previously convicted of minor offenses

By Corey Arvin Staff Writer espite being one of the state’s most contentious ballot measures, Proposition 47, which would alter some misdemeanor penalties, cruised to victory with 59 percent of voter approval, against a backdrop of unlikely support from a cross-section of political and social influencers. The approved measure could also free thousands of prisoners serving time for multiple minor offenses.

Proposition 47 was hailed by many AfricanAmerican and Latino community leaders who said the issue of young minorities arrested and convicted of crimes that include minor offenses, such as drug possession, has been long overlooked. Statistics have indicated that minorities are disproportionately sentenced to prison and often serve tougher penalties than white prisoners convicted of similar offenses.

Proposition 47 would redefine the penalties of certain offenses and reduce some nonviolent drug offenses to misdemeanors. The measure could also reduce penalty of some crimes such as petty theft and receiving stolen property.

The measure would also generate a fund with appropriations accrued by the state during the fiscal year, called the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund. The fund is estimated to range from $150 to $250 million per year and would be allocated to the Department of Education, the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, and the Board of State and Community Correction.

Since the measure’s introduction, Proposition 47 has garnered the backing of several allies, including several officials, political and religious organizations, and unions. Some of its steadfast supporters

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Proposition 47 is harmful to communities, no matter their political or socio-economic status.

In addition, the funding for Proposition 47 does not include allocation to law enforcement agencies which will be tasked with responding to increased crime...

We’re concerned because of public safety impact. This is a situation where thousands of felons could be released.”

- Cory Salzillo, Legislative Director, California State

Sheriff’s Association (CSSA)

include Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, the ACLU of California, and the California Teachers Association. Other notable supporters include Jay-Z, Reed Hastings, chief executive officer of Netflix, and B. Wayne Hughes Jr., an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has donated $750,000 to support the campaign.

Probably the most contentious issue surrounding the measure was the proposed review of thousands of cases of prisoners currently serving a sentence for multiple offenses, which include non-violent crimes.

These case reviews could potentially free about 10,000 prisoners, according to estimates. With future sentencing, the measure could still allow a felony sentence for minor offenses if the defendant has any previous convictions for a violent crimes, such as rape, murder and gun-related crimes.

Proponents of the measure suggest that the review of prisoner cases would shore up space in some of the state’s most notoriously overcrowded prisons. continued on page 10

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Milena Blake, a legislative advocate with Californians for Safety and Justice, who attended a New America Media (NAM) briefing in Los Angeles on state voter issues Oct. 17, said one of the benefits of the allocation of funding with proposition is dealing with substance abuse since some crime are committed by individuals supporting their drug habit.

“The treatment money is not designed to only service people who have drug convictions, it's designed to service people who need help. So, it's not about, ‘I have a conviction for drug possession, so I can be put in this drug treatment program.’ It's, ‘I have a conviction and I have a drug problem, I'm going to this program.’ It's not a direct line between a drug conviction and drug treatment, it's more holistic because we know people who commit these low-level crimes do it to support their habits and that's what we are really try to get are those people,” said Blake.

Proposition 47 was largely panned by law enforcements agencies and district attorneys throughout the state who contended that the measure would release dangerous criminals and does not safely address overpopulated prisons.

Opponents of the Proposition 47 included Shelley Zimmerman, San Diego Chief of Police Nancy O'Malley, Alameda County District Attorney Jill Ravitch, Sonoma County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner, who are among more than a two dozen city and county law agencies throughout the state who oppose the measure.

Another opponent includes U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), a dissenting Democratic leader against the measure.

In an opinion-editorial published by Los Angeles Daily News, Feinstein said “In truth, it will do anything but make our communities

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The treatment money is not designed to only service people who have drug convictions, it’s designed to service people who need help...It’s not a direct line between a drug conviction and drug treatment, it’s more holistic because we know people who commit these low-level crimes do it to support their habits and that’s what we are really try to get are those people.”

- Milena Blake, Legislative Advocate, Californians for Safety and Justice

safer.”

In the article, in part, she said “it would reclassify a wide range of crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor. This would mean shorter prison sentences for serious crimes like stealing firearms, identity theft and possessing dangerous narcotics such as cocaine and date rape drugs.”

According to Cory Salzillo, legislative director for the California State Sheriff’s Association (CSSA), Proposition 47 is harmful to communities, no matter their political or socio-economic status. In addition, the funding for Proposition 47 does not include allocation to law enforcement agencies which will be tasked with responding to increased crime, said Salzillo. CSSA is among several law associations that oppose Proposition 47.

“We're concerned because of public safety impact. This is a situation where thousands of felons could be released,” said Salzillo.

Ahead of the Nov. 4 election, support for Proposition 47 had been favorable among the public according to a June Field Poll which indicated 57 percent of Californians support the measure.

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GOLDEN (STATE) OPPORTUNITY

With a record number of members in the statehouse, how will the California Legislative Black Caucus leverage a rare moment in history?

By McKenzie Jackson & Simeon Gant California Black Media ollowing midterm elections that sent their party reeling nationwide, a key bloc of Democratic lawmakers in California saw their numbers swell with victories won by a record number of African-Americans.

With five new members — Autumn Burke, Tony Thurmond, Jim Cooper, Kevin McCarty and Mike Gipson — winning election to the Assembly on Nov. 4, membership in the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) soared to an all-time high of 11. Then with Isadore Hall’s win in the special election to fill the vacated seat of Sen. Rod Wright, the number now stands at 12.

Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, the powerful chair of the CLBC, said the larger number will mean new and valuable perspectives in the caucus, as well as better representation of the diversity that helps define the California experience.

“We are proud to add to our caucus a small business owner, local elected officials and nonprofit leaders who will no doubt shape the policies and programs that our caucus prioritizes — education, expansion of social services, job creation and many other areas,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming them in December.”

Of the CLBC’s new members, two — Cooper and McCarty — won in Sacramentoarea districts that had never before elected a black representative.

Sacramento-based political strategist Mel Assagai said Cooper and McCarty, both former city-level office holders, possess distinguished backgrounds and beat out tough competition at the polls. “Both will have an

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immediate impact on a whole range of public policy issues important to their constituents in the Greater Sacramento Area,” he said.

Cooper, who has previously served as mayor of Elk Grove and a captain in the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, was elected in the 9th District. During two terms as mayor and four on the Elk Grove City Council, Cooper helped found the city’s first-ever gang/narcotics unit, established an emergency communications center and increased the number of police officers on neighborhood patrol. He will now represent Elk Grove, Galt, Lodi and portions of Sacramento.

McCarty, a former Sacramento City Council member, will represent the 7th District — which encompasses the outer ring of the northern and eastern Sacramento suburbs. A strong advocate of early childhood education, McCarty has been working with lawmakers looking to win passage of the California Kindergarten Readiness Act. First-time officeholder Autumn Burke is, in some ways, following a path laid by her mother, Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke — 13

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who served as a state legislator, member of Congress and Los Angeles County supervisor.

The first woman ever elected in the 62nd District, Burke will represent an area that includes El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Westchester, Marina del Rey, Venice and portions of Gardena and South Los Angeles.

Burke, a businesswoman, is clear about what issues she considers the CLBC should tackle. “We should certainly address recidivism and environmental justice,” she said.

Gipson — who has been elected three times to the Carson City Council and served as district director for California Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome Horton — will represent the 64th District, which includes Carson, Compton, Wilmington, Rancho Dominguez and portions of Long Beach.

Thurmond was elected in the 15th District, which takes in portions of 12 cities that include Berkeley, Richmond, and Oakland. Having served as senior director of community and government relations for the Oakland-based Lincoln Child Center and a former member of the Richmond City Council and West Contra Costa County School Board, Thurmond is an advocate for the support of at-risk youth, community-oriented public safety and expanded education and job opportunities.

CLBC political director and Assistant Majority Floor Leader Chris Holden noted that the election results showcase California as a diverse and inclusive place with opportunities for all residents. “They show that despite demographic challenges, black candidates continue to win in all parts of the state,” he said. “It also shows that good candidates trump race.”

The new crop of caucus members join Mitchell, Holden and Assembly members

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They (election results) show that despite demographic challenges, black candidates continue to win in all parts of the state...It also shows that good candidates trump race.”

- Chris Holden, CLBC Political Director & Assistant Majority Floor Leader

Cheryl Brown, Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Dr. Shirley Weber and Sebastian RidleyThomas.

Assagai said the expanded membership in the CLBC is a demonstration of the political intelligence of black candidates and voters.

“These candidates and the voter base that supports them have a political acumen that’s vastly underestimated, if not overlooked altogether,” he said. “These candidates — all of the new members of the Legislative Black Caucus — were able to look at their voter bases, their potential supporters and opponents, and devise winning strategies based on what they bring to the electorate. It’s a brilliance that should be both appreciated and applauded.”

Clint Thompson, a medical salesperson who said he takes his right to vote very seriously, is heartened by the knowledge that African-Americans will have an amplified voice in the state legislature.

“It really shows that blacks can have positions of power too,” said the Venice resident. “It’s good to know there are some people making laws that have my same complexion.”

Opposite page: (top row, l to r) Autumn Burke, Cheryl Brown, Chris Holden, (2nd row, l to r) Jim Cooper, Holly Mitchell, Isadore Hall, (3rd row, l to r) Kevin McCarty, Mike Gipson, Reginald Jones Sawyer, (bottom row, l to r) Sebastian Ridley Thomas, Shirley Weber, Tony Thurmond

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CITY LEADERS The League of California Cities African-American Caucus is pleased to announce our partnership with Southern California Edison to offer our members full scholarships to the USC Local Leaders Program.

The USC Local Leaders Program is designed to provide elected officials with a firm substantive grounding in important policy issues. The workshop is typically taught in a series of modules over two days.

If you would like to learn more about the program, click on the following links: USC Local Leaders Program, Local Leaders Program Curriculum.

Each workshop will offer a different curriculum. After completion of the program, each participant will receive a Certificate of Participation from USC Price. The entire program is valued over $5,000; however, with support and sponsorships, the workshop will be provided at no cost!

No dates are yet available for 2015; however, all members are encouraged to apply!

Click here to apply today.

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California Heartland: Modesto in Black & White

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his story starts in 1941 in Oklahoma with a woman named Willie Holland. She had a vision and along with her family migrated to California in search of employment.

She had heard of jobs from scouts that were recruiting in the south. Many people moved west looking for work in the defense plants however, when they got there, there were no jobs, so they settled in the Ceres and Modesto areas of California.

The family purchased land at The Monterey Park Track which was the only place they could purchase. The community was an integrated society of Indian, Chicano, a few Blacks and a Portuguese family.

Today Holland’s family still owns the land in the same area and a sixth generation grandson lives on the property Cityscapes is proud to feature the photography and illustrative artwork of Gerry “GOS” Simpson, whose visual expertise effectively captures the details that make Cityscapes more than simply a literary publication.

GOS is a self-taught Visual Artist and Photographer whose work communicates positive images of his community, as well as the people, places, and captivating objects that surround him. GOS creates vibrant scenarios with the aide of his brushes and the lens of his camera.

His experience is strengthened by the years he spent as an Adjunct Professor in the Fine and Applied Arts Department at American River College. GOS’ primary focus is to always “keep it simple” so that the story in his images can be easily told.

modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 This pipe just struck me as being an intrusion upon nature...

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 The Family church is where the Family gathered to worship, pray and fellowship.

The church is also where they were able to keep up with the news of the community.

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october • 2014 december • 2014

modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 The sign of aging was apparent which said that there had been years of communication that has passed through those mailboxes. The hand printed numbers gave a down home feeling.

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 Bee Aware... The bee was the first thing that grabbed my attention however, it was how the bee hovered around the hole of the barrel that made me snap the photo.

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 The backyard scene told the story of a time that was. Everything sat as it was left.

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 I love to see rivers curve, it was the perfect contrast between the trees and the water... each commanded their own attention...

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 My road companion just pulled up into this yard after I said in conversation, I like that sign...

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december••2014 december 2014

modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 Lots of custom cars and people cruising around in works of ART on wheels...

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 I tried to imagine what it would have been like to live in this rural area back in the day. Gathering these images afforded me an opportunity to travel back in time, a time which is now...

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modestocityscape | 12 • 2014 The strawberries... In the Modesto area, you can find the best strawberries for which know... The fragrance of the fruit is so thick, you could taste them...

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Chevron’s $3 Million Contributions in Richmond City Council Race Raises Eyebrows; Donations Fail to Stymie Opponents

By Corey Arvin Staff Writer n a virtual David vs. Goliath election, candidates backed by grassroots organizations emerged as the winners in the small Bay Area city of Richmond, overcoming $3 million in campaign spending funded by Chevron to campaign committees that supported candidates the oil giant favored. The spending raised eyebrows nationwide as it outpaced the norms for city council campaign contributions compared to some of the most competitive Congressional and statewide ballot measures.

Chevron had pumped money into three campaign committees that supported council and mayoral candidates, according to Richmond Confidential. One of the candidates supported by those committees was Nat Bateman, a challenger running for mayor.

Also, at least one of those committees was also against current mayor Gayle McLaughlin, who has been a critical opponent of Chevron.

Despite Chevron’s support, City Councilman Tom Butt was elected Richmond’s next mayor, and will replace officially McLaughlin next year.

Chevron’s $3 million poured into a local election is unprecedented in the Bay Area and rare for a relatively small city with a population of approximately 107,000 residents. Chevron’s contributions averaged about $30 spent per each resident of Richmond.

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In Richmond, Chevron operates a 2,900-acre refinery that employs about 2,700 people and 850 contract workers, according to the Chevron Richmond website. In 2012, part of the refinery caught fire creating massive smoke that filled the Richmond area and reportedly sent 15,000 residents to the hospital.

In 1999, part of the refinery also had an explosion and fire. In August of last year, Chevron’s relationship with the city eroded when the City Council voted to initiate a lawsuit against Chevron, citing public safety concerns stemming from the refinery fire.

Several grassroots factions out of Richmond, mostly local residents, were fighting against Chevron and set up their own committees. One of those Political Action Committees (PAC) was Richmond Working Families, which had argued that Chevron was trying to buy their city’s upcoming election.

According to a Bay City News article, Richmond Working Families was supporting Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles, City Councilman Jael Myrick and City Planning Commissioner Eduardo Martinez for City Council and City Councilman Tom Butt for the mayor's seat.

City of Richmond Facts 48.6% Population in 2012: 106,516 (100% urban, 0% rural).

Population change since 2000: +7.4%

51.4%

Males: 51,805

Estimated median house or condo value in 2012: Richmond: $231,800 CA: $349,400

Females: 54,711

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Estimated median household income in 2012: Richmond: $51,765 CA: $58,328

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Healthcare Advocates Hope African-American Medi-Cal, Medicare Recipients Ready for Transition to Cal MediConnect

By Corey Arvin Staff Writer

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San Bernardino ike thousands of other low-income Californians, Lana Grissom wasn’t elated about the state’s new Cal MediConnect (CMC) health care program, despite its promise of smoother sailing for patients long bounced from one medical bureaucracy to another—with the best care often falling through the system’s cracks.

But, so far, Grissom is skeptical of how well the new program can serve her needs.

“I wasn't happy at all because with us, people in our situation being disabled or people needing care from caregivers, the continuity of our care is very important,” she said.

Grissom is among the almost half-million low-income elders and people with disabilities being initially enrolled in the state’s new program, and many have been confused by CMC’s complexities, leaving them uncertain of whether they will be able to remain with their current doctors and other health care providers.

A healthcare advocate and volunteer with Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC), Grissom stressed, for instance, that the transition to CMC has been a swift change that has a blanketing impact on many African-Americans, who are often struggling to manage their own healthcare needs.

Dr. Bradley Gilbert shared similar views, stressing, “It is critical to keep all newly CMCenrolled members fully informed throughout the transition process because it impacts how they get care.” But Gilbert, chief executive officer of Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), emphasized that in the existing system, people “get fragmented care with many different healthcare providers.”

California created CMC to provide coordinated care for people dually eligible for

the federal Medicare and the state’s Medi-Cal program, serving lower-income individuals.

Gilbert explained in a statement that because most CMC-eligible beneficiaries have chronic illness, the new program aims to help smooth their access to needed care.

CMC, one of about 20 coordinated-care programs states are rolling out as pilot programs under the Affordable Care Act, is being tested in eight California counties over three years. Eventually, the state plans to extend CMC to 1.1 million “dual eligibles” in all 58 counties.

Only certain health insurers are approved to participate in the program in each county.

The approximately 50,000 Cal MediConnect beneficiaries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties can choose either IEHP or Molina Healthcare.

Key new benefits they must offer include a care coordinator assigned to work with each person to ensure their access to services in both Medicare and Medi-Cal, especially such long-term services and supports as inhome care, adult day health centers, care management and nursing facility care when needed.

In addition, CMC patients will receive a new vision care benefit and have nonemergency transportation covered, such as a taxi to a doctor’s appointment, when an ambulance would not be needed.

But CMC is partly an optional program, and beneficiaries have the right to decline the program or opt out at any time even after giving it a try. Those who ignore notices from the state that they must make a decision will be automatically enrolled in one of the approved CMC health plans. However, in then, they can chose to leave the program at 31

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any time—as long as they also sign up for one of the managed care plans that Medi-Cal now requires.

The state health department is sending those eligible for CMC a series of three blue envelopes with announcements about the new program starting 90 days before the month of each person’s birth. The material explains the decisions people must, weighing such concerns as whether or not the participating insurance plans in their county include their physicians.

In cases when someone’s doctor is not in the plan, the state allows insurers like Molina and IEHP to permit that doctor to continue treating the individual, but only for a limited six or 12 months, depending on the situation.

This temporary arrangement allows the dualeligible person to try CMC out. By the end of this trial period, the doctor may agree to sign on to the health plan; the patient may decide to remain in CMC and find a new physician; or the beneficiary can opt out of CMC and stay with the doctor, as long as he or she enrolls in a Medi-Cal managed care plan.

Plans like IEHP and Molina are sending enrollment “kits” to their potential CMC members with their list of benefits and information about their participating doctors, pharmacies and the prescription drugs they cover on their “formulary” lists of medications.

Since CMC began in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties last April, AfricanAmerican participation has been limited. For instance, as of Nov. 1, approximately 1,000 of IEHP’s CMC members are African-American, about 11 percent of its total CMC membership.

Asked about how information is created and distributed to ethnic groups, IEHP’s Bradley said, “CMC is a highly regulated program.”

Partly because of past marketing abuses by insurers, state and federal authorities set strict policies for the new CMC program on what information a plan can send to beneficiaries.

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For example, they require that plans use some written material as is, limit what a plan can modify in describing its specific program, and requires that member materials be written at sixth-grade reading level so everyone can understand what the plan involves.

Despite these precautions, Grissom said that even as a healthcare advocate and educator, she found the influx of information about CMC to be a lot to dissect. That means it may be more difficult for the average person to fully comprehend, she said.

Grissom added that since becoming more involved in the CMC education and outreach effort through PASC, her initial negative feelings about the program have remained “completely the same.”

She continued, “The education we're getting is not seamless. It seems like they're rolling it out, and we have until January to get everything done . . . . If you don't have your ducks in a row, that's not going to be a good thing."

Because such choices are complex, Grissom emphasized how important it is to ensure that dual-eligible beneficiaries are able to understand precisely what areas of coverage will impact their lives and how to anticipate any changes to their co-pays or continuity of care.

The state has developed both online information (www.calduals.org) and free telephone or in-person assistance in each Cal MediConnect county—in any language—to guide beneficiaries in making the choice.

In San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, people can call the Riverside County Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 800-434-0222 or 909-256-8369.

Corey Arvin wrote this article with support from a New America Media fellowship, sponsored by The SCAN Foundation.

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A Look Back in California History

Booker T. Washington’s California Visits:

1903 and 1914

By Dr. Rudolph Lapp

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This article first appeared in The Black Voice News April 2005

n a bright New Year's Day in 1903 Booker T. Washington and his White secretary Max Thrasher arrived in Los Angeles by train from Alabama. This would be Washington's first visit to the far West where the atmosphere was nowhere near the racially charged environment of the Deep South.

It would be eleven years before he returned to California to stay at the celebrated and historic Mission Inn in Riverside. Although the two visits were each two weeks long, the 1914 southern California visit was much less intense and at a slower pace. Between the two visits, his impact had deepened. In both the Los Angeles area and in the San Francisco Bay area civic leaders gave Washington’s name to community institutions.

In the first half of the twentieth century no other African-American in California was so honored. Citizens of the all Black town of Allensworth, Tulare County, contemplated naming both a lake and a park after Washington. Unfortunately, Allensworth did not prosper and survive, but Washington’s image did. The reasons are not hard to find.

On a day in March 1914, with the Mission Inn’s Music Room filled to capacity, the speaker introducing Washington quoted multi-millionaire railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington who had called Washington “The wisest man of this age.” Huntington was not the first to speak so glowingly about him.

Many similar public statements were made about him on his 1903 visit.

When Black and White Californians first met Washington in 1903, they were looking at a man who was already quite famous. His 1895 Atlanta Georgia Exposition speech that

called for racial collaboration in building the economy of the South without altering race relations made him a national figure. He became even better known six years later, in 1901 when Theodore Roosevelt, a liberal Republican invited Washington to dinner at the White House.

The controversy started by southern newspapers over that White House dinner made front-page news all across the country.

But when Washington stepped off the train in Los Angeles, he was welcomed by a friendly crowd that included the state leadership of the teachers’ association, photographers, and autograph seekers. When the enthusiastic reception ended, he and Thrasher headed for their hotel. In those days there were no adequate Black owned hotels and the white hotels did not take African-American guests.

The fame of Washington could break through some of this but not entirely. The Hollenbeck Hotel of Los Angeles had been persuaded to give him lodging but only on condition that he eat in his room. A San Francisco newspaper treated Los Angeles with sarcasm over this incident. When Washington arrived in San Francisco a week later, he had no such problems. Northern California was a bit less racist than southern California in 1903.

Washington was at the start of a two-week whirlwind tour of California to raise funds for Tuskegee Institute. He was advised that California would be generous and when he was through making public appearances for two weeks at churches, colleges, universities, and public meeting halls, the results exceeded his expectations.

It was in Southern California that he started this tour and it involved a great variety of experiences and contacts. The public received him thunderously. When he addressed the most prominent woman’s club Mission Inn owner Frank Miller with Booker T. Washington on Mt. Rubidoux

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in Los Angeles, a local paper claimed that the audience received him with greater fervor than President McKinley received when he visited the city a few years earlier.

Freemont Older, the progressive editor of the SAN FRANCISCO BULLETIN thought that Washington’s visit to the west was important enough to deserve journalistic coverage even before he arrived in San Francisco. Older sent one of his top reporters, Grant Wallace, to cover Washington in southern California. Wallace joined the Washington entourage on the train to Ontario from Los Angeles where Washington was scheduled to speak at a Methodist Church.

On the train Wallace’s interview with Washington left the reporter profoundly impressed. In a few days San Francisco readers of the BULLETIN were reading under Wallace's byline, "Who is the greatest living American:" and Wallace answered himself saying, "Tonight I am inclined to wipe...all names off my slate and write at the very top the name of a Negro." He continued to say, “he constructs. He creates. He builds a system, a hope. Compared with him...your grasping captains of industry, your puny generals and admirals who strut and kill are a pocketful of darkness alongside the life giving sun.” These were the words that San Franciscans read days before Washington arrived in Northern California. Washington’s ride with Wallace on the way to Ontario was not without its lighter moments.

Seated behind Wallace and Washington on the train to Ontario was a colorfully dressed Mexican. When word spread through the train that the famous Booker T. Washington was in one of the cars, crowds came streaming through and surrounded the

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“

When Black and White Californians first met Washington in 1903, they were looking at a man who was already quite famous. His 1895 Atlanta Georgia Exposition speech that called for racial collaboration in building the economy of the South without altering race relations made him a national figure.”

Mexican. Wallace reported that Washington, who was plainly dressed, was extremely amused by the confusion. What the Mexican gentleman thought is anybody's guess.

By the time Washington arrived in Ontario, he found that all the stores and banks, to encourage attendance, had closed for the hours during which he was scheduled to speak. At the Methodist Church the crowds were so dense that some people placed ladders against the church so they could climb up to the church windows to hear Washington’s speech. This kind of scene repeated itself time and time again during this first trip of Washington to California.

On his return to Los Angeles from Orange Country, he had an important meeting with the leadership of the African-American community. A Black delegation met him at the train and escorted him to Simpson’s Pavilion, the setting for most important events in Los Angeles in those years. AfricanAmericans organized the meeting for their own people, but many Whites attended.

Simpson's Pavilion had a capacity of 3000 and the Los Angeles population in 1903 was about 2000; yet the place was packed.

The LOS ANGELES HERALD wrote, "White and Black sit side to side and listen to the southern orator." Speaking of the Blacks 36

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in the audience, the paper went on to say, "Few lecturers have faced a more attractive or better dressed audience." This was in sharp contrast to the image of Blacks in the racist comic strips in the daily press. At Simpson's Pavilion Washington's speech complimented the African-Americans of Los Angeles for their achievements in material matters and urged them to continue to accumulate things in a practical matter. He made much of improving matters in this world rather than saving for elaborate preparations for the next. The evening concluded with the 140 guests retiring for a banquet where there were more speeches and a collection for Tuskegee.

A few days later Washington was the guest of Robert Owens, a member of the best known and wealthiest of the Los Angeles African-American families. They were the third generation members of the coming together of the Roberts Owens and Biddy Mason families of the gold rush era. Wise investments by the ex-slave grandmother Biddy Mason had a great deal to do with the

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prosperity of the Owens-Mason family. At the time when Washington was the guest of the Owens, the Los Angeles Black population was on the verge of becoming larger than that of the Bay area.

Washington had several more speaking engagements in southern California. Each one of them was a triumph with good result for the fortunes of Tuskegee. He was soon to conclude his week in southern California and do a week in northern California where his oratorical triumphs would be repeated time and time again. And there were some subtle differences between his performances in these two parts of California. At this turn of the century period a good number of Whites from the former Confederate states had settled in southern California; Washington was intuitively sensitive to such a matter and adjusted his choice of words accordingly.

What he found in northern California was speaking opportunities organized by Congregationalists and Unitarians with the aid of some liberal Jews. Congregationalists and Unitarians were the liberals of Protestant 37

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Christianity. He spoke in northern California to huge audiences of University students at Stanford and at the University of California at Berkeley. He also spoke to the now famous Mills College in Oakland. In this environment he must have felt that he could speak more openly without the fears he might have had in Alabama where all spoken words must be certain not to offend the racist sensibilities of southerners.

In California he allowed himself to tell stories and give illustrations that implicitly called for equality with and not subordination to the white race. One of his stories to college women utilized the fame and brilliance of Frederick Douglass to suggest the great potential of all African-Americans.

To the Unitarians he said that he teaches his people that the foundation of their prosperity must be in the soil and in mechanical achievements but in the same speech he said that, "I would set no limit upon the development of the Negro in any direction."

In 1903 the LOS ANGELES DAILY HERALD, a White newspaper, wrote editorially, "His avowed purpose is not merely to introduce book learning among his race in the south but to fit his people, in all respects, for equality with the White race."

The HERALD wrote this with approval. One of the consequences of Washington’s two weeks in California was the bursting sense of pride that African-Americans felt about him as well as themselves. They saw and heard thousands of Whites, young and old, and of both sexes applauding and cheering him. In that day and age in the south Whites were heaping every form of disrespect upon Blacks and the cheering was for lynchings.

The respect and admiration that Whites in

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California gave to this eloquent Black man was intoxicating to California Blacks.

The African-American weekly PACIFIC COAST APPEAL printed on its front page an article written by Abraham Lincoln Dennis, the son of one of the venerated gold rush area Black leaders George Washington Dennis, A.L. Dennis wrote, "The direct purpose of Mr. Washington's visit to California was to raise funds for the school at Tuskegee and if he accomplished his desire in this matter, his successes along this line are not to be compared with the immeasurable benefits derived from building up of the avalanche of favorable sentiment of the people of the press in California.”

Dr. Rudolph Lapp was an expert on Blacks in California. He authored the book Blacks in Gold Mining California.

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