Bakersfield News Observer 8.9.23

Lizzo Says She`s Not the Villain After Her Former Dancers Claim

Employee Unions Are Demanding Pay Increases Wage War

San Francisco, CA - June 29, 2023: SEIU local 1000, representing the largest group of CA State employees, demanding a living wage, better benefits and improved work life conditions. (Sheila Fitzgerald photo contributor)

2 Killed, 3 Hurt After Boat Catches Fire in Bay South of Los Angeles

Edward Henderson California Black Media

Four California government employee unions are demanding salary increases from the California Department of Human resources (CalHR) and the State Legislature to keep up with the high cost of living in California. When compared to their peers in the private sector, the employees say, there is a significant disparity in salaries.

Representatives of the unions say they are frustrated with stalled negotiations with the state over disparities in pay. Last week, one of the Unions, the American Physicians and Dentists, authorized a strike.

The other three unions are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 – California’s largest labor union; the California Correctional Peace Officers; and the California Association of Professional Scientists.

In June, the SEIU employees initially demanded a 30% wage increase in their next three-year contract. The legislature countered with an offer of a 2% annual increase over three years. That offer – which union members view as a move to low-ball them -- sparked a demonstration at the State Capitol in June that has been followed by an ongoing stalemate between the parties.

“It’s moving slowly,” said Local 1000’s Vice President of Bargaining Irene Greene. “We’re severely disappointed in the state’s movement to get this contract negotiated with bargaining team members.”

According to the bargaining update, the state also rejected the union’s request for paid time off to observe Juneteenth.

Local 1000 represents approximately 100,000 workers in jobs as diverse as prison librarians, janitorial staff and educators at California’s schools for the deaf and blind.

In response to the state’s 2% initial offer, the Union lowered its wage request to a 26% raise.

Greene believes the union’s 26% compromise is reasonable, considering the high cost of living in California.

“We have a large number of members that are unable to maintain a living wage in the state of California. They

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Social Interventions to End Mass Incarceration Improve Public Safety

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Senior National Correspondent

As the United States commemorates 50 years of mass incarceration, researchers and experts call for a comprehensive reimagining of the public safety infrastructure to prevent another 50 years of this troubling trend.

The Sentencing Project, a leading criminal justice reform organization, has released a groundbreaking report titled “Ending Mass Incarceration: Safety Beyond Sentencing,” outlining five social interventions that can pave the way to a safer, fairer, and more equitable future for America’s communities.

The report sheds light on the startling statistics, revealing that the U.S. prison population has expanded by

a staggering 500% since 1973.

However, it also highlights some positive developments, with the prison population declining by 25% since its peak in 2009.

Twenty-one states have taken steps to partially or fully close correctional facilities since 2000, signaling a trend of prison repurposing for community and commercial use. Despite those changes, the current pace of deincarceration, averaging 2.3% annually since 2009, indicates that it would take until 2098 to return to the prison population of 1972.

The report emphasizes the need for social interventions and legislative reforms.

Liz Komar, Sentencing Reform Counsel at The Sentencing Project, and co-author of the report, stressed

the importance of reimagining public safety infrastructure.

“Policymakers can create safer, fairer, and more equitable communities by combining social interventions that address some of the root causes of crime with legislative reforms that reduce the harm of the criminal legal system,” Komar insisted.

Further, the report noted that deep racial and ethnic disparities exist throughout the criminal legal system, from the point of arrest to post-incarceration experiences that include restrictions on voting and employment.

“Black, Latinx, and Indigenous residents experience cumulative disadvantage at every stage of the criminal legal system because they are more likely to be arrested, convicted, and receive more punitive criminal sanctions

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Conservative Group Files Lawsuit Against Venture Capital Fund That Offers Help to Black Women-Owned Businesses

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

With the white sheets removed, the hoods now off, and the dog whistles as overt as they were during Jim Crow and the struggle for civil rights in the mid-20th century, a conservative group that spearheaded the Supreme Court’s overturning of affirmative action now has set its sights on Black women.

Edward Blum, a conservative activist, founded the American Alliance for Equal Rights nonprofit, which has filed a lawsuit against Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture capital fund.

The lawsuit alleges that Fearless Fund “is engaging in unlawful racial discrimination by restricting eligibility for its grant competition to only Black women entrepreneurs.”

The legal action cited the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and was filed in federal Court in Atlanta.

Fearless Fund, established in 2019 by prominent Black women, including Cosby Show actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, entrepreneur Arian Simone, and corporate executive Ayana Parsons, aims to support and empower Black women who own small businesses.

Notable investors in the fund include Bank of America, Costco Wholesale, General Mills, Mastercard, and JPMorgan Chase.

The lawsuit reportedly marks Blum’s first legal challenge since his organization’s victory in the Supreme Court in June.

The Court rejected affirmative action in collegiate admissions, ruling against race-conscious student admissions policies used by institutions like Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

Blum’s group had argued that such policies unfairly discriminated against white and Asian American applicants.

Edward Blum, a conservative activist, founded the American Alliance for Equal Rights nonprofit, which has filed a lawsuit against Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture capital fund.

Blum’s lawsuit focuses on Fearless Fund’s “Fearless Strivers Grant Contest,” which provides $20,000 in grants, digital tools, and mentorship opportunities to Black women business owners.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights claims that white and Asian American members of their organization have been excluded from the grant program solely based on race. Fearless Fund has yet to respond to the allegations.

In an interview with Reuters, Blum stated that the lawsuit is just the beginning of his efforts to challenge race-

based policies used by private corporations through the American Alliance for Equal Rights. He said he aims to build upon the success of the cases against Harvard and UNC, filed by his organization, Students for Fair Admissions, which led to the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in June.

“The common theme of these organizations is to challenge in the courts the use of racial classifications and preferences in our nation’s policies,” Blum said, as reported by Reuters.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) –– Two women were killed and another woman and two men were hospitalized with burns after a weekend fire on a pleasure boat in Long Beach, California, authorities said.

The blaze was reported around 5:15 p.m. Saturday on a 35-foot (11-meter) motorboat near a fuel dock in Alamitos Bay, the Long Beach Fire Department said. Video from the scene showed firefighters spraying water on the flames that engulfed the rear of the vessel, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported. The fire sent up a black plume of smoke that could be seen and smelled from throughout the marina area that is about 30 miles (48 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.

All of those killed and injured were in their 60s, Fire Capt. Jake Heflin told the newspaper. Their identities were not immediately released. The cause of the fire was under investigation Sunday. The wreckage of the boat was towed to an isolation dock to prevent environmental damage from leaking fuel, Heflin said.

CA Authorities Capture Suspects in Break-ins at Lake Tahoe Homes: a Mama Bear & Three Cubs

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) ––California authorities have captured four suspects in multiple break-ins at homes around South Lake Tahoe: a mama bear and three of her cubs.

DNA has confirmed the large female black bear and her three little accomplices were responsible for at least 21 instances of property damage since 2022, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement.

The mother bear and her babies were “safely immobilized” on Friday, the statement said. The adult female, known to researchers as 64F, will likely be taken to a sprawling wildlife sanctuary near Springfield, Colorado.

Her cubs could end up at a rehabilitation facility in Sonoma County, California, “in hopes they can discontinue the negative behaviors they learned from the sow and can be returned to the wild,” the statement said.

64F, who was outfitted with a tracking device earlier this year, is one of three adult bears identified last year as being responsible for 150 incident reports, including property damage, in the lake region straddling Northern California and Nevada.

Originally it was believed that a single, large black bear the public nicknamed “Hank the Tank” had been breaking into homes. Eventually, Fish and Wildlife announced that it was actually three separate bears responsible for the mayhem.

Court Throws Out Conviction After Judge Says Black Man `Looks Like a Criminal to Me`

DETROIT (AP) __ An appeals court on Thursday overturned the drug conviction of a Black man, saying his rights were violated by a Detroit federal judge who was upset over delays in the case and declared: “This guy looks like a criminal to me.”

“Such remarks are wholly incompatible with the fair administration of justice,” the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy III, who is white, apologized nearly two years later when the case against Leron Liggins finally was ready for trial. He explained that he was mad at the time “and I regret it.”

Nonetheless, the appeals court said Murphy should have removed himself as Liggins` attorney had requested. The court threw out a heroin distribution conviction and 10-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial with a different judge.

Allowing the conviction to stand “would substantially undermine the public’s confidence in the judicial process,” 6th Circuit Judge Eric Clay said in a 3-0 opinion.

Prosecutors said the remark was a reference to Liggins` alleged conduct, not his appearance. But the appeals court said a “reasonable observer” could interpret it differently.

Murphy said he lost his composure in 2020 after Liggins repeatedly had switched between wanting to plead guilty and choosing a trial and also failed to get along with his second lawyer. He ended up with four.

“I’m tired of this case. I’m tired of this defendant. I’m tired of getting the runaround. This has been going on since February 6, 2018,” Murphy said in court.

``This guy looks like a criminal to me. This is what criminals do,” Murphy said. ``This isn’t what innocent people who want a fair trial do. He’s indicted in Kentucky. He’s indicted here. He`s alleged to be dealing heroin, which addicts, hurts and kills people, and he’s playing games with the court.``

At trial in 2021, Murphy, a judge for 15 years, apologized and said he could be fair to Liggins.

“I lost my head,” he said.

Vice President Harris Supports Historically Underserved Entrepreneurs

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent

In a visit to local small businesses in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Aug. 4, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled plans to provide grants to non-profit and communitybased organizations as part of the $125 million Capital Readiness Program (CRP).

The program seeks to bolster historically underserved entrepreneurs’ access to capital, aligning with one of the critical pillars of what the White House has dubbed the Bidenomics economic plan.

The CRP, funded through the American Rescue Plan, represents the largest-ever direct federal investment in small business incubators and accelerators.

Run by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the program expanded and was made permanent by the president’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It counts as the most significant project in the 50-year history of the MBDA.

During the announcement at Sycamore & Oak in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast, D.C., Harris revealed 43 organizations selected as winners of the CRP awards.

These organizations, comprising non-profits, community-based entities, private sector firms, and institutions of higher education, will form partnerships to assist underserved entrepreneurs seeking resources, tools, and support to start or expand businesses in high-growth, high-wage industries like healthcare, climate-resilient technology, infrastructure, and more.

According to recent reports, the United States has experienced a record number of new business applications, totaling 12.6 million under the Biden-Harris Administration.

“This surge demonstrates the confidence entrepreneurs have in the efficacy of Bidenomics,” a senior White House official stated on Friday.

The awardees include the Arizona Hispanic Chamber

in Bidenomics -Fueled Small Business Boom

of Commerce Foundation, which will use the $3 million grant to enhance business accelerator and incubator programs for underserved entrepreneurs in Arizona, Nevada, and California.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bridgeway Capital will receive $2 million to support at least 340 minorityowned and rural entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, scaling up business education programs for revenue-generating growth opportunities.

The Urban League of Greater Atlanta will utilize $3 million to provide incubator and accelerator services to historically underserved entrepreneurs in high-growth industries.

The Northern Great Lakes Initiative in Michigan will receive $3 million to streamline support for entrepreneurs, focusing on West Michigan, from conceptualizing an idea to business incubation and capital for growth.

The Biden-Harris Administration also announced

the first approvals of awards for up to $58 million to 12 states as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance Grant Program.

The SSBCI TA Grant Program, totaling approximately $200 million, aims to give small businesses access to historic support included in the American Rescue Plan, with an unprecedented nearly $10 billion from the Treasury Department.

“Investing in small businesses is at the core of President Biden and Vice President Harris’s strategy to grow the economy from the bottom up,” a senior White House official said.

The White House noted that recent announcements through the Capital Readiness Program and the SSBCI TA Grant Program demonstrate the administration’s commitment to ensuring all communities benefit from the ongoing small business boom.

These initiatives supplement additional actions taken under Bidenomics, such as delivering historic support to minority-supporting community financial institutions, making programs that boost lending to underserved communities permanent, expanding lending licenses, forming the Interagency Community Investment Committee (ICIC), and streamlining and simplifying small business lending.

Officials said the administration is leveraging federal spending to support small businesses and level the playing field for innovative small businesses.

That includes using federal contracting dollars to support small and disadvantaged businesses, ensuring CHIPS Act funding supports small businesses, creating contracting opportunities in clean energy and energy efficiency, and cutting energy costs for small businesses.

“Through these comprehensive efforts, the BidenHarris Administration seeks to create a thriving environment for small businesses, support underserved entrepreneurs, and foster economic growth from the ground up,” the White House official stated.

Trump Arraigned at Historic Federal Courthouse in Washington

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Former President Donald Trump, as expected, was arraigned on Thursday, Aug. 3, at the historic E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C.

The ex-president, whom a civil jury in New York found guilty of sexual assault, is facing serious felony charges related to his allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The charging document, a 45-page record, accuses Trump and six others of conspiring to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden following Trump’s 2020 election loss.

The indictment alleges that Trump deliberately spread false allegations of widespread voter fraud to create a climate of distrust and anger and undermine public trust in the election process.

Upon his arrival at the courthouse, the twiceimpeached and three-times-indicted former president was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and processed before Chief Federal District Judge John Sirica.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The ex-president’s case is far from the only notable process at the famous courthouse.

It has hosted the Watergate trials and the Iran-Contra affair, where officials from Ronald Reagan’s administration were found guilty of secretly and illegally selling missiles and other arms to free some Americans held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon.

Funds from the arms deal also supported the armed conflict in Nicaragua.

Recently, and perhaps more notable for Trump, hundreds of his supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, have been brought to justice inside the Prettyman Federal Courthouse.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Trump didn’t refrain from continuing his efforts to rally his base.

The Trump campaign posted a picture of the former president inside a courtroom with the caption, “In reality, they’re not after me; they’re after you,” implying that his prosecution is an attack on his supporters.

Trump traveled by private plane from New Jersey to the courthouse near that sits near the U.S. Capitol. His travel attracted massive media attention while the U.S. Secret Service was forced to put increased security measures in place.

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, who in June brought a case against Trump in Florida for allegedly mishandling classified documents, was present during the arraignment.

Attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche joined Trump during the proceedings.

“It is a crime to try to influence a juror,” Magistrate

Judge Moxila Upadhyaya warned Trump, and admonished him not to violate his release conditions.

“You may be held pending trial in this case,” she asserted, before asking him, “Do you understand these warnings and consequences, sir?” Trump simply nodded yes.

Social Interventions to End Mass Incarceration Improve Public Safety

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than white individuals,” the authors wrote.

“Black adults are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly five times the rate of whites,” they continued, noting that, in 2019, Black youth were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile justice system as were their white peers.

The report offers five key recommendations for policymakers and community members to create a safer society without relying on mass incarceration:

1- Implement community-based safety solutions: Violence interruption programs and changes to the built environment, such as adding green spaces and improving street lighting, can decrease violence without resorting to incarceration.

2- Transform crisis response: Investing in trained community-based responders with expertise in public health approaches can reduce police shootings, improve safety, and decrease incarceration during crises, including mental health emergencies.

3- Reduce unnecessary justice involvement: Decriminalizing certain non-public safety offenses and implementing diversion programs can limit police contact and court involvement, ultimately improving safety and reducing unnecessary incarceration.

4- End the drug war: Shifting away from criminalizing drug use and focusing on public health solutions, such as harm reduction services and supervised consumption sites, can improve public health and safety.

5- Strengthen opportunities for youth: Providing summer employment opportunities and training youth in effective decision-making skills can prevent their involvement in the criminal legal system.

Nicole D. Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy with The Sentencing Project and co-author of the report, underlines the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of these interventions.

“Research shows these interventions are more effective at reducing crime and improving public safety, more costeffective, and more equitable than punitive responses that rely on over policing and mass incarceration,” Porter stated. Researchers asserted that the report serves as a beacon of hope and an urgent call to action for policymakers, community leaders, and citizens alike.

They insist that embracing these social interventions and legislative reforms allows the United States to forge a safer, more equitable future free from the burden of mass incarceration.

“At every stage of the criminal legal system, and before harm ever arises, there are promising ways that communities can protect public safety and take steps toward ending mass incarceration,” The Sentencing Project researchers concluded.

“State legislatures and the federal government should invest in these interventions and incentivize their adoption. Communities have already begun building the necessary interventions to reduce America’s reliance on prisons.

The Sentencing Project, a leading criminal justice reform organization, has released a groundbreaking report titled “Ending Mass Incarceration: Safety Beyond Sentencing,” outlining five social interventions that can pave the way to a safer, fairer, and more equitable future for America’s communities.

“Social interventions that address the root causes of crime and legislative reforms that reduce the harm of the criminal legal system can move the U.S. toward a safer, fairer, and more equitable future.”

Unions Are Demanding Pay Increases

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Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) introduced a bill Assembly Bill (AB) 1677 that would commission the UC Berkeley Labor Center to assess the salary structure of scientists employed by the state.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing the bill. Another study commissioned by Local 1000 and conducted by the UC Berkeley Labor Center released in March found that many Local 1000 members, particularly women, Black and Latino employees were struggling financially. The study also found that nearly 70% of the union’s members did not earn enough to support themselves and at least one child.

While the majority of Local 1000’s contracts will remain in effect until a new agreement is reached, members

enrolled in CalPERS health insurance plans lost their monthly $260 health care stipend on June 30.

Some consider this as an additional reduction in pay that workers must endure. Local 1000 proposed a new monthly payment of $320 to cover those losses, but the state rejected that request, according to the bargaining update. Instead, the state countered with a three-tiered stipend — $30, $70 or $140 — depending on the employee’s chosen health plan.

Despite the complications and setbacks during current negotiations, Greene remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached that will benefit the workers she represents.   “I’m still optimistic. I still believe in my state, I believe in this negotiation process, and I still have hope that the state is going to live up to their end and that they’re going to be there for those who work for them,” she said. “My hope is still there. I believe we are going to get this done.”

What to Know Ahead of Tory Lanez`s Sentencing in Megan Thee Stallion`s Shooting

By MARIA SHERMAN

AP Music Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) –– Three years have passed since hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion was shot multiple times by rapper Tory Lanez in Los Angeles following a pool party at the home of Kylie Jenner.

On Monday, Lanez is scheduled to be sentenced, following his December conviction on three felony charges. Here`s what you need to know about the case so far.

Who are the key figures in the case?

On what charges was Tory Lanez convicted?

A Los Angeles jury found Lanez guilty of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

What sentence does Tory Lanez face?

Prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison sentence and Lanez faces deportation to his native Canada.

How long did it take for Tory Lanez to be charged in the shooting? "I suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me," Megan wrote on Instagram on July 15, 2020. "I'm incredibly grateful to be alive and that I'm expected to make a full recovery."

At the time, police announced that officers responded to gunfire around 4:30 a.m. three days earlier, in the Hollywood Hills. They said a woman had been treated for a foot injury. Lanez was publicly identified and arrested on a concealed weapons charge, but not initially charged in the shooting.

Nearly two weeks later, Megan revealed in an Instagram Live video that she had been shot in both feet and had to get surgery. She named Lanez as the shooter in another Instagram Live video that September: "Yes ... Tory shot me. You shot me and you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs lying," Megan said, adding, "I didn't tell the police nothing because I didn't want us to get in no more trouble."

How did Tory Lanez respond to the allegations and subsequent charges? The day after Megan named him as the shooter, Lanez released his "Daystar" album with a track featuring lyrics that appeared to be aimed at Megan: "How the f--- you get shot in your foot / don't hit no bones

or tendons."

Once arrested, he posted bail at $190,000 and was ordered to surrender all weapons and not contact Megan. He pleaded not guilty in November 2020 but violated the protective order after appearing with rapper DaBaby during a Rolling Loud Miami festival set in July 2021, moments after Megan got off stage. His bail was increased to $250,000.

In April 2022, he was briefly jailed for sending tweets that appeared to target her, increasing his bail to $350,000. And in October 2022, Lanez was placed on house arrest until the case went to trial after allegedly attacking another musician, August Alsina, at a concert, violating his bail. What did the testimony at trial reveal?

In December 2022, Megan testified in front of Lanez, stating that she left the party at Jenner's house in an SUV with Lanez, his bodyguard, and her friend and assistant Kelsey Harris. She said she had an intimate relationship with Lanez, to the chagrin of Harris, who had a "crush" on the rapper. Harris and Megan got into an argument, which escalated and eventually led to Lanez and Megan disparaging each other's careers. Megan exited the vehicle, she said, at which point Lanez began shooting at her feet and yelled, "Dance b-----!"

Lanez's defense attorney George Mgdesyan said in his opening statement that there was no way Megan would have been able to identify the shooter because they were behind her. Harris testified that Lanez did not shoot

Megan, but prosecutors presented an audio recording in which Harris was heard saying, "He was shooting the gun." After the incident, Harris texted Megan's manager, "Help. Tory shot meg. 911." On the stand, Harris said she "wasn't truthful" in the recording.

Prosecutor Alexander Bott argued that Megan had no reason to lie about domestic violence and subject herself to online vitriol. Mgdesyan argued that Harris was the shooter and Lanez had attempted to stop the altercation. He contended Megan was lying because the idea that Lanez shot her was less damaging to her public image than the idea that her friend would have shot her during an argument over a man. Why has Megan Thee Stallion received online hate? Since the shooting, Megan has been the target of widespread misinformation and vitriol spread through social media and inflamed with each development. A lot of the abuse, experts say, can be attributed to misogynoir –– a particular type of misogyny experienced by Black women.

Some of the hate was exacerbated by industry peers: Rappers Drake and 21 Savage targeted Megan by name in lyrics attempting to discredit her allegations. 50 Cent posted memes mocking her, likening the rapper to actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted in 2021 for lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack.

Others have come to her defense __ #MeToo founder Tarana Burke and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters have also spoken out about violence against Black women and were among the signers of an open letter supporting Megan. The star herself wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling for the protection of Black women.

What has Tory Lanez done since his conviction?

As soon as Lanez`s conviction was read in court last December, he was taken into custody. In the courtroom, Lanez`s father denounced the "wicked system" that led to his conviction. Sentencing was delayed as Lanez's attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that evidence was wrongly admitted. That request was denied in May 2023. Such motions immediately following a conviction are common and rarely succeed.

Lizzo Says She`s Not the Villain After Her Former Dancers Claim Sex Harassment

LOS ANGELES (AP) –– Lizzo said Thursday that she`s "not the villain" that three of her former backup dancers falsely accuse her of being in a sexual harassment lawsuit.

The civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court claims Lizzo pressured the dancers to engage with nude performers at a club in Amsterdam and shamed one of them for her weight gain before firing her.

"I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days," Lizzo said in a statement posted on social media. "I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not."

Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez made numerous allegations including sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination,

assault and false imprisonment. They accuse the Grammy winner and her production company of creating a hostile work environment.

The legal complaint seeks unspecified damages from Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. , and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the performer's dance team.

"These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized," Lizzo said in the statement.

"Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed."

She said the "sensationalized stories" were coming from former employees "who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."

The court filing claims that after performing a concert in Amsterdam, Lizzo and her crew attended a sexually themed show at a club in the city's notorious Red Light District where "Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers" and led a chant pressuring Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women performing at the club.

"Finally, the chorus became overwhelming, and a mortified Ms. Davis acquiesced in an attempt to bring an end to the chants," the complaint states. "Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed."

Lizzo, who routinely champions body positivity, is also accused of calling out Davis for her weight gain after accusing the dancer of not being committed to her role.

Davis was fired in May for recording a meeting during which Lizzo had given out notes to dancers about their

performances, according to the complaint.

"Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it's never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team," Lizzo said. "I'm hurt but I will not let the good work I've done in the world be overshadowed by this."

Quigley, who served as a judge on the singer's reality show "Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls," is accused in the lawsuit of pushing her Christian beliefs onto dancers. The court filing claims Quigley referred to Davis as a "nonbeliever" and told co-workers that "No job and no one will stop me from talking about the Lord."

Earlier this year, Lizzo won the Grammy for record of the year for her hit single "About Damn Time." A global tour supporting her fourth studio album, 2022's "Special," wrapped up last month.

Whitney Houston`s Estate Announces

Second Annual Legacy of Love Gala

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) –– This year Whitney Houston would have turned 60, and a special celebration to raise money for a good cause is being planned for her birthday.

Houston`s estate, Sony and Primary Wave Music will host the 2nd annual Whitney Houston Legacy of Love on Aug. 9, which will benefit the late singer`s foundation aimed at helping young people.

Houston's close friends BeBe Winans and Kim Burrell will perform at the gala at Atlanta`s St. Regis Hotel, as will Whitney's brother, Gary, who toured with her for three decades.

"When I turned 50, Whitney gave me two celebrations __ one in Ireland and one in London. I always tell everyone now that one of them was for her," says Pat Houston, Whitney Houston's sister-in-law and the executor of her estate. Houston died in February 2012 at age 48. "This year is Whitney at 60 –– we're all looking forward to being a part of the power of love in that room."

Houston found the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children in 1989 with the goal of empowering youth, providing resources to unhoused children, giving out college scholarships, and raising funds for charities like the Children's Defense Fund and St. Jude Children's Research.

A charity auction will raise money for the foundation,

which is now called the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.

"We`re going to auction off a beautiful lavender dress Dolly Parton wore when she sang 'I Will Always Love You' at Country Music Television`s '100 Greatest Love Songs of Country Music' special in 2004," says Pat Houston.

"This dress is particularly special because it`s lavender, and lavender is Whitney`s favorite color."

The song, originally written by Parton, was recorded by Houston and became one of her great, everlasting hits.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it diamond early last year, which means the track has sold and streamed 10 million equivalent units in the

United States. It became her first diamond single, and made Houston the third woman to ever achieve diamondstatus with both a single and an album, following Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift. Clive Davis will serve as honorary chairman. Recording Academy President Harvey Mason jr. is scheduled to attend. Also expected are Gamma's Larry Jackson and Whitney Houston's musical director Rickey Minor. "I always tell people, Whitney is the star," Pat Houston said. "Everybody in that room is royalty, but she`s loyalty –– and she`s still showing that."

Legal Notices

California DOJ, Legislators Warn of Growing Danger of ‘Ghost Guns’

Manny Otiko

California Black Media

A new report released by the California Department of Justice warns of the danger of ghost guns (weapons assembled at home that have no serial numbers.) The weapons cannot be traced, making them a go-to for criminals who want to operate under the radar of law enforcement.

Over the past few years, the use of ghost guns has surged as people have been able to make them by producing gun parts with 3-D printers.

According to the California Department of Justice report, from 2020-21, the use of ghost guns jumped by about 10,000, from 13,000 to 23,000 incidents. However, the use of ghost guns recently decreased to about 21,000 incidents per year.

Since 2016, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) has been a vocal opponent of ghost guns, pointing to the many threats they pose. Gipson said many Americans are unaware of the danger of ghost guns. This year, he authored Assembly Bill 1089, which bans the sale, purchase and possession of ghost gun technology.

The bill is currently under review in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“Irresponsible companies have continued to sell machines that are explicitly designed as ghost gun manufacturing machines while deceptively claiming that these machines do not have the ‘primary’ purpose of manufacturing firearms,” according to a factsheet from Gipson’s office.

Existing law in California prohibits persons or corporations from manufacturing or assembling firearms that are not imprinted with a valid state or federal serial number.

“These companies fail to inform buyers that it is now unlawful in California to use these machines to produce firearms without a firearm manufacturer’s license.

Additionally, while California law currently prohibits unlicensed manufacturers from using a 3-D printer to produce firearms, state law does not regulate the sale of

3-D printers that are designed or marketed as ghost gun manufacturing 3-D printers,” according to Gipson’s office’s factsheet.

Outraged Oakland Residents Want First Black Woman D.A. to Resign

gun violence arising from both registered and unregistered firearms.

In many cases, people who can’t get legal guns, because they don’t want to go through background checks, turn to ghost guns. And they are often used for nefarious purposes. Black and brown people are the main victims, according to Gipson.

“This is a health issue,” he said.

Ghost guns have been used in several California mass shootings. In 2022, David Mora, a father-of-three was banned from possessing a gun because of his criminal record. He later went on a gun rampage in Sacramento County, shooting his three children and a social worker. The gun was created with a 3-D printer.

According to Gipson, statistics show that one of the most dangerous times for shootings is between Friday and Monday.

He also stated that legislation on ghost guns was needed because technology is moving faster than the law.

“Technology has advanced faster than policies and bills,” he said.

Gipson isn’t the only legislator who has taken action on ghost guns.

Senate Bill (SB)1327, authored by Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-San Fernando Valley,) and approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom, allows Californians to sue people who manufacture, transport and distribute ghost guns for up to $10,000.

“Our message to the criminals spreading illegal weapons in California is simple: you have no safe harbor here in the Golden State,” Newsom said in a speech at Santa Monica College, the site of a 2014 mass shooting that killed six people.

“As the U.S. Supreme Court expands the right to own guns, California continues to add new ways to restrict them. California will use every tool at its disposal to save lives, especially in the face of an increasingly extreme Supreme Court,” said Newsom in a press statement.

Gipson represents the 65th Assembly district that covers cities such as Willowbrook, Compton, Long Beach and parts of Los Angeles. His district has been plagued with

Five Back-to-School Tips for Extreme Heat Keep Kids Cool and Safer in Hot Weather

Sacramento, Calif. – Back to school is near and as families gather essentials for the new year, heat preparedness must remain top of mind. Ensuring the safety of our children during extreme heat events is critical to their well-being and educational success. It is crucial that we all—parents, caregivers, and educators—work together to accomplish this task.

Children are one of the groups at greatest risk of heat illness, including kids with disabilities or those with chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes, so it is important to take extra precautions to protect them during extreme heat. California’s Heat Ready CA campaign encourages California residents to be proactive in safeguarding children from the effects of rising temperatures and raises awareness about the dangers of extreme heat, especially within heat-vulnerable communities like our Black and African American communities.

Screenshot from a public safety town hall on July 27 where Alamenda D.A. Pamala Price and the police chief met with frustrated community members who expressed their frustrations over the rash of crimes in Oakland.

Antonio Ray Harvey| California Black Media

Fed-up residents and concerned political advocacy groups in Oakland -- including the city’s local branch of the NAACP -- are outraged over a tide of rising crime that overtaken the East Bay’s largest city.

“Oakland residents are sick and tired of our intolerable public safety crisis that overwhelmingly impacts minority communities. Murders, shootings, violent armed robberies, home invasions, car break-ins, sideshows, and highway,” Oakland NAACP president Cynthia Adams and Acts Full Gospel Church’s Bishop Bob Jackson wrote in an open letter to Oakland residents.

In the letter dated July 27, Adams and Jackson blame Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price for “failed leadership.”

Price made history in 2022 when she became the first Black woman elected D.A. of Alameda County. A graduate of Yale and the Berkeley School of Law, Price is a strong advocate for criminal justice reforms and is known for her progressive stances on policing and sentencing. Oaklanders have also criticized her office for not pursuing harsher sentences in high profile crime cases, including the shocking murder of Jasper Wu, a 2-year-old who was killed by a stray bullet in a shootout on Interstate 880 in Oakland.

“There is nothing compassionate or progressive about allowing criminal behavior to fester and rob Oakland residents of their basic rights to public safety,” Adams and Jackson stated in the letter. “We need our elected leaders to take responsible action to ensure public safety. The best way to start is to declare that we are in a public safety emergency.”

In February, Oaklanders launched a Change.org petition to recall Price. As of Aug. 4, 24,504 people had signed it. Two weeks, ago a spokesperson from Price responded toAdams’ and Jackson’s letter.

“We are disappointed that a great African American pastor and a great African American organization would take a false narrative on such an important matter. We would expect more from Bishop Bob Jackson and the Oakland Chapter of the NAACP,” said Price’s representative.

According to the Oakland Police Department, homicides are up 80% compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic) numbers. There have also been sharp spikes in assaults (40%) and robberies (20%).

When you compare crime rates this year to last year, violent Crime has increased by 15%; burglaries re up nearly

40% and vehicle theft is up by more than 50%.

The Oakland branch of the NAACP also points that Blacks have been victimized most by the surge in crimes.

“African Americans are disproportionately hit the hardest by crime in East Oakland and other parts of the city. But residents from all parts of the city report that they do not feel safe. Everyone is in danger,” the letter explained.

Women have been beaten and robbed by youths; Asian Americans have been assaulted in Chinatown; physical aggression has been used against street vendors; and cameras have been stolen from news crews working in the field; and utility crews are now required to have private security, the letter asserts.

Last week, after a request from Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Gov. Gavin Newsom agreed to send the California Highway Patrol and automatic license plate readers to assist local law enforcement in their fight against crime.

“I am committed to working with community partners and across agencies to ensure we are doing everything we can to both prevent violence and hold people accountable for carrying out crime in our city,” Thao said in a statement.

On Aug. 3, Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who represents District 6, one of the areas in the city most affected by the crime spike thanked Thao and the governor.

“I applaud @MayorShengThao for working with @ CAgovernor to get Automatic License Plate Readers. I am committed to #TechforSafety in Oakland,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On July 27, Price and the Oakland police held a public safety meeting at Montclair Presbyterian Church. Frustrated residents at the meeting complained about the violence, brazen robberies in broad daylight, assaults on the elderly, and the low prosecution and conviction rates of people who commit crimes.

“As lawyers we have to follow the law,” Price told people in the audience who questioned her about criminals receiving lenient sentences.

“The commission in 2017 issued a report that was a commission set up by Gov. (Gavin) Newsom to look for the first time in decades at our sentencing structure. They recommend that we stop using enhancements the way that we have done consistently,” Price continued.

But Adams and Jackson insist that authorities should declare “a state of emergency” in Oakland.

“We need our elected leaders to take responsible action to ensure public safety,” they wrote.

“As a doctor and mother, I understand how vital it is that we prioritize our children’s safety during extreme heat. Their bodies are more sensitive to high temperatures, and simple steps can make a big difference in preventing heatrelated issues,” said Dr. Sharon K. Okonkwo-Holmes, a family practice physician with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, and an instructor at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena. “Heat Ready CA offers simple yet essential tips and resources for parents and caregivers to create a safer environment for children as they head back to school, allowing them to focus on learning and play without worry.”

Heat Ready CA is demonstrating its dedication to promoting community health and safety by sharing five tips for parents and guardians to implement and help protect children during extreme heat as they return to school. Apply Sunscreen and Drink Water: Shield children’s skin from harmful UV rays and prevent heat rashes and sunburns by applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Encourage children to stay hydrated, and not wait until they’re thirsty. Kids should avoid consuming beverages with caffeine or high amounts of sugar to prevent becoming further dehydrated.

Dress for the Heat: Keep kids cool and comfy by dressing them in light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting, and breathable clothes. Children do not sweat like adults do, reducing their ability to cool down on their own. Teachers and yard duties should help by paying special attention to their face and body language.

Limit Outdoor Activities: Consider talking to your child’s teacher about minimizing outdoor activities and encourage kids to play indoors or in shaded areas during

extreme heat, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Children will need frequent breaks to rest and cool off throughout the day.

Educate Kids on Heat Safety: Teach children how to spot symptoms of heat illness and encourage them to seek help if they or their friends experience heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or dizziness.

Plan Errands with Children in Mind: Never leave children alone in a parked car—even for a quick errand! Temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees in 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open or when temperatures feel milder outside.

As we gear up for the new school year, let’s confidently handle hot weather and shield our children from the worst effects of extreme heat by remembering and applying these tips. We can create a nurturing and protective environment for our youth by proactively educating them about the dangers of extreme heat and teaching them how to stay safer. For more information about heat safety for vulnerable populations and resources, or to create an extreme heat plan, go to HeatReadyCA.com.

“Everyone Is in Danger”

Dr. Sharon Okonkwo-Holmes

Black Women Weigh Emerging Risks of ‘Creamy Crack’ Hair Straighteners

By Ronnie Cohen KFF Health News

Deanna Denham Hughes was stunned when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year. She was only 32. She had no family history of cancer, and tests found no genetic link. Hughes wondered why she, an otherwise healthy Black mother of two, would develop a malignancy known as a “silent killer.”

After emergency surgery to remove the mass, along with her ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and appendix, Hughes said, she saw an Instagram post in which a woman with uterine cancer linked her condition to chemical hair straighteners.

“I almost fell over,” she said from her home in Smyrna, Georgia.

When Hughes was about 4, her mother began applying a chemical straightener, or relaxer, to her hair every six to eight weeks. “It burned, and it smelled awful,” Hughes recalled. “But it was just part of our routine to ‘deal with my hair.’”

The routine continued until she went to college and met other Black women who wore their hair naturally. Soon, Hughes quit relaxers.

Social and economic pressures have long compelled Black girls and women to straighten their hair to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. But chemical straighteners are stinky and costly and sometimes cause painful scalp burns. Mounting evidence now shows they could be a health hazard.

Relaxers can contain carcinogens, like formaldehydereleasing agents, phthalates, and other endocrinedisrupting compounds, according to National Institutes of Health studies. The compounds can mimic the body’s hormones and have been linked to breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers, studies show.

African American women’s often frequent and lifelong application of chemical relaxers to their hair and scalp might explain why hormone-related cancers kill disproportionately more Black than white women, say researchers and cancer doctors.

“What’s in these products is harmful,” said Tamarra James-Todd, an epidemiology professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who has studied straightening products for the past 20 years.

She believes manufacturers, policymakers, and physicians should warn consumers that relaxers might cause cancer and other health problems.

But regulators have been slow to act, physicians have been reluctant to take up the cause, and racism continues to dictate fashion standards that make it tough for women to quit relaxers, products so addictive they’re known as “creamy crack.”

Michelle Obama straightened her hair when Barack served as president because she believed Americans were “not ready” to see her in braids, the former first lady said after leaving the White House. The U.S. military still prohibited popular Black hairstyles like dreadlocks and twists while the nation’s first Black president was in office.

California in 2019 became the first of nearly two dozen states to ban race-based hair discrimination. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed similar legislation, known as the CROWN Act, for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. But the bill failed in the Senate.

The need for legislation underscores the challenges Black girls and women face at school and in the workplace.

“You have to pick your struggles,” said Atlanta-based surgical oncologist Ryland Gore. She informs her breast

cancer patients about the increased cancer risk from relaxers. Despite her knowledge, however, Gore continues to use chemical straighteners on her own hair, as she has since she was about 7 years old.

“Your hair tells a story,” she said.

In conversations with patients, Gore sometimes also talks about how African American women once wove messages into their braids about the route to take on the Underground Railroad as they sought freedom from slavery.

“It’s just a deep discussion,” one that touches on culture, history, and research into current hairstyling practices, she said. “The data is out there. So patients should be warned, and then they can make a decision.”

The first hint of a connection between hair products and health issues surfaced in the 1990s. Doctors began seeing signs of sexual maturation in Black babies and young girls who developed breasts and pubic hair after using shampoo containing estrogen or placental extract. When the girls stopped using the shampoo, the hair and breast development receded, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics in 1998.

Since then, James-Todd and other researchers have linked chemicals in hair products to a variety of health issues more prevalent among Black women — from early puberty to preterm birth, obesity, and diabetes.

In recent years, researchers have focused on a possible connection between ingredients in chemical relaxers and hormone-related cancers, like the one Hughes developed, which tend to be more aggressive and deadly in Black women. A 2017 study found white women who used chemical relaxers were nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those who did not use them. Because the vast majority of the Black study participants used relaxers, researchers could not effectively test the association in Black women,

said lead author Adana Llanos, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Researchers did test it in 2020.

The so-called Sister Study, a landmark National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences investigation into the causes of breast cancer and related diseases, followed 50,000 U.S. women whose sisters had been diagnosed with breast cancer and who were cancer-free when they enrolled. Regardless of race, women who reported using relaxers in the prior year were 18% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Those who used relaxers at least every five to eight weeks had a 31% higher breast cancer risk.

Nearly 75% of the Black sisters used relaxers in the prior year, compared with only 3% of the non-Hispanic white sisters. Three-quarters of Black women also selfreported using the straighteners as adolescents, and frequent use of chemical straighteners during adolescence raised the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, a 2021 NIH-funded study in the International Journal of Cancer found.

Another 2021 analysis of the Sister Study data showed sisters who self-reported that they frequently used relaxers or pressing products doubled their ovarian cancer risk. In 2022, another study found frequent use more than doubled uterine cancer risk. After researchers discovered the link with uterine cancer, some called for policy changes and other measures to reduce exposure to chemical relaxers.

“It is time to intervene,” Llanos and her colleagues wrote in a Journal of the National Cancer Institute editorial accompanying the uterine cancer analysis. While acknowledging the need for more research, they issued a “call for action.”

No one can say that using permanent hair straighteners will give you cancer, Llanos said in an interview. “That’s not how cancer works,” she said, noting that some smokers

never develop lung cancer, despite tobacco use being a known risk factor.

The body of research linking hair straighteners and cancer is more limited, said Llanos, who quit using chemical relaxers 15 years ago. But, she asked rhetorically, “Do we need to do the research for 50 more years to know that chemical relaxers are harmful?”

Charlotte Gamble, a gynecological oncologist whose Washington, D.C., practice includes Black women with uterine and ovarian cancer, said she and her colleagues see the uterine cancer study findings as worthy of further exploration — but not yet worthy of discussion with patients.

“The jury’s out for me personally,” she said. “There’s so much more data that’s needed.”

Meanwhile, James-Todd and other researchers believe they have built a solid body of evidence.

“There are enough things we do know to begin taking action, developing interventions, providing useful information to clinicians and patients and the general public,” said Traci Bethea, an assistant professor in the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Research at Georgetown University.

Responsibility for regulating personal-care products, including chemical hair straighteners and hair dyes — which also have been linked to hormone-related cancers — lies with the Food and Drug Administration. But the FDA does not subject personal-care products to the same approval process it uses for food and drugs. The FDA restricts only 11 categories of chemicals used in cosmetics, while concerns about health effects have prompted the European Union to restrict the use of at least 2,400 substances.

In March, Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) asked the FDA to investigate the potential health threat posed by chemical relaxers. An FDA representative said the agency would look into it.

Natural hairstyles are enjoying a resurgence among Black girls and women, but many continue to rely on the creamy crack, said Dede Teteh, an assistant professor of public health at Chapman University.

She had her first straightening perm at 8 and has struggled to withdraw from relaxers as an adult, said Teteh, who now wears locs. Not long ago, she considered chemically straightening her hair for an academic job interview because she didn’t want her hair to “be a hindrance” when she appeared before white professors.

Teteh led “The Cost of Beauty,” a hair-health research project published in 2017. She and her team interviewed 91 Black women in Southern California. Some became “combative” at the idea of quitting relaxers and claimed “everything can cause cancer.”

Their reactions speak to the challenges Black women face in America, Teteh said.

“It’s not that people do not want to hear the information related to their health,” she said. “But they want people to share the information in a way that it’s really empathetic to the plight of being Black here in the United States.”

Kara Nelson of KFF Health News contributed to this report.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Covered California to Cut Patient Costs After Democrats Win Funding From Newsom

By Angela Hart KFF Health News

SACRAMENTO — Weeks after Democratic lawmakers forced Gov. Gavin Newsom to make good on a four-year-old pledge to use tax penalty proceeds from fining the uninsured to increase health insurance subsidies for low- and middle-income Californians, Covered California officials announced they will funnel that money into reducing out-of-pocket spending for many enrollees struggling with the cost of care.

The state’s health insurance exchange will zero out some patients’ hospital deductibles, up to $5,400; lower the copay of primary care visits from $50 to $35; and reduce the cost for generic drugs from $19 to $15. Some enrollees will also see their annual out-of-pocket spending capped at $6,100, down from $7,500.

Covered California CEO Jessica Altman argues these are tangible reductions — savings on deductibles and copays on top of subsidies to lower monthly premiums — that will affect hundreds of thousands of people and entice them to use their coverage.

“Deductibles uniquely detract people from seeking care, so that’s a significant focus,” Altman told California Healthline. “California is really grappling with affordability and thinking about, ‘What does affordability really mean?’

Many people simply do not have $5,000 sitting in their bank account in case they need it for health care.”

Additional reductions in patients’ out-of-pocket costs — on top of existing federal health insurance subsidies to reduce monthly premiums — will take effect in January for people renewing or purchasing coverage during Covered California’s next enrollment period, which begins in the fall. The state could go further in helping reduce patients’ costs in subsequent years with future budget increases, Altman said.

Still, those savings may be offset by higher costs elsewhere. Covered California announced July 25 that inflation and other factors are driving up annual premium rates on participating health plans by an average of nearly 10% next year, the largest average increase since 2018.

California started fining those without health coverage in the tax year 2020, establishing its own “individual mandate.” In that first year, the state raised $403 million in penalty revenue, according to the state Franchise Tax Board. It has continued to levy fines, paid for largely by low- or middle-income earners, the very people the new subsidies are intended to help.

Legislative leaders had pushed Newsom, a fellow Democrat, to funnel the tax revenue into lowering health care costs for low- and middle-income people purchasing coverage via Covered California — many of whom reported skipping or delaying care due to high out-of-pocket costs.

The governor for years resisted pleas to put penalty money into Covered California subsidies, arguing that the state couldn’t afford it and needed the money given

looming economic downturns and the potential loss of federal premium subsidies — which could be threatened

California.

The boost in funding, which represents the state’s

providers get paid to see Medicaid patients.

Originally required by the federal Affordable Care Act, the so-called individual mandate to hold health coverage or pay a tax penalty was gutted by Republicans in 2017, eliminating the fine nationally. Newsom reinstated it for California when he took office in 2019 — a key component of his ambitious health care platform.

California is one of at least five states, along with Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia that have their own health coverage mandate, though not all levy a tax penalty for remaining uninsured. Among them, California is most aggressively trying to lower health care costs and achieve universal coverage, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF.

“Even though they may disagree on the big picture of health care reform and single-payer, California Democrats have managed to come together and unify around these incremental steps to improve the current system,” Levitt said. “Step by step, they have put in place the pieces to get as close to universal coverage as they possibly can.”

Democratic leaders in the state have faced political blowback for not using the penalty revenue for health care, details first reported by California Healthline, even though Newsom and other Democrats vowed to spend the money to make health care more affordable in Covered California.

Advocates say the deal represents a win for low- and middle-income people.

“We’re excited that this money is protected for health care, and ultimately is set aside for future affordability assistance,” said Diana Douglas, chief lobbyist with the consumer advocacy group Health Access California.

by a change in federal leadership.

But under ongoing pressure, Newsom relented in June and agreed to begin spending some of the money to boost state subsidies. According to the state Department of Finance, California is expected to plow $83 million next year and $165 million annually in subsequent years to expand financial assistance — roughly half the revenue it raises annually — into reducing Covered California patients’ costs. The remainder of the money will be set aside in a special health care fund that could be tapped later.

The budget deal also allows the Newsom administration to borrow up to $600 million in penalty revenue for the state general fund, which it must pay back. Penalty revenues are projected to bring in $362 million this year with an additional $366 million projected next year, according to Finance Department spokesperson H.D. Palmer.

Covered California board members approved the new plan design last week. They say the cost-sharing subsidies will lower out-of-pocket spending for nearly 700,000 people out of roughly 1.6 million enrolled in Covered

most significant effort to slash patients’ costs in Covered California, will largely benefit lower-income Californians who earn below 250% of the federal poverty level, which is $33,975 for an individual and $69,375 for a family of four for 2023, according to the exchange.

“Bringing down deductibles goes a long way to help middle-class California families struggling with increasing costs of living,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, who rallied fellow Democrats to block a plan by Newsom and his administration to keep the revenue for the state general fund, which can be used for any purpose. Atkins added, “We will continue our work to lower the costs even more in the years to come.”

Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards defended the governor’s health care record, saying Newsom is committed to ensuring Californians can access health care.

In addition to boosting assistance in Covered California, Richards said, the governor has expanded public health insurance coverage to immigrants lacking legal status and is increasing how much doctors, hospitals, and other

Advocates want the state to tap those health care dollars to get more people covered, such as lowering health care costs for immigrants living in the state without legal permission.

A bill this year by Assembly member Joaquin Arambula, a Fresno Democrat, would require Covered California to establish a separate health insurance marketplace so that immigrants who lack legal status and earn too much to qualify for Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, can purchase comprehensive coverage that is nearly identical to plans sold on Covered California. Currently, immigrants without legal residency are not allowed on the exchange. Other states, such as Washington and Colorado, have set up similar online marketplaces.

“We’re working hard to create a system that has equal benefits and affordability assistance for everyone,” Arambula said.

(Smith Collection / Gado via Getty Images)

California Black Media Political Playback: News You Might Have Missed

Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson California Black Media

In Memoriam: Charles Ogletree, Celebrated Harvard Law Professor, Native Californian, Civil Rights Champion and Mentor to the Obamas

Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a renowned Harvard Law professor who was born in California’s Central Valley, passed away at his home in Odenton, Md., Aug. 4, after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Ogletree, who was 70, rose from a humble and impoverished childhood in Merced where his parents worked as seasonal farm laborers. Affectionately known as “Tree”, he picked cotton, almonds and peaches as a kid.

The Merced County courthouse was renamed after him in February in recognition of his contributions to law, education and civil rights.

A member of the A.M.E. Church, Ogletree attended Stanford University, where he immersed himself in political activism, leading the Black Student Union and editing a Black student newspaper. Graduating from Stanford with an M.A. and B.A. (with distinction) in Political Science, he later earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

After finishing law school, Ogletree become a celebrated public defender in Washington DC and an attorney representing high-profile clients such as John A.

enslaved people.

Beyond his legal work, Ogletree was an accomplished author and legal commentator writing extensively on capital punishment, life without parole, and police conduct in minority communities. Charles J. Ogletree Jr. is survived by his wife, Pamela Barnes, two children, Charles J. Ogletree III and Rashida Ogletree-George, as well as siblings, grandchildren, and countless grateful students and admirers.

Doctors Sue California Medical Board to Halt Implicit Bias Training

thinking my peers can’t uphold that oath without constant racial reeducation.”

Report Details Injustices Some Renters in Alameda

Face

Tenants’ rights advocates believe that renters in some of Alameda County’s unincorporated areas need housing protections. Those places include the area formerly known as “Eden Township” where Hayward and San Leandro are currently located.

a debate challenge from Gov. Gavin Newsom. These two politicians have been diametrically opposed on various issues ranging from immigration reform to COVID-19.

During an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, DeSantis accepted the debate challenge saying “absolutely, I’m game. Let’s get it done. Just tell me when and where. We’ll do it.”

Newsom proposed holding the debate on Nov. 8 or 10 in Nevada, Georgia or North Carolina. The debate would be broadcast live during a 90-minute segment on Fox News and would not have a live audience.

It would be moderated by Hannity and each governor will have 90 seconds to answer alternating questions. Each participant will also be allowed up to four minutes for opening remarks and two minutes for closing remarks.

Outcome of Lawsuit Against Critical Race Theory Ban Will Have Broad Implications in California

The Temecula Valley Unified School District is facing litigation over its ban of critical race theory.

The suit contends that the board’s ban violates the California Constitution’s guarantee of a “fundamental right” to an education that protects students from racial discrimination. It also claims the ban violates state laws mandating learning standards that include discussions about racism, inequality and how past events are relevant in the present day.

Critical race theory is an examination of how racial inequality and racism are systematically imbedded in United States’ institutions. The suit was filed on behalf of Temecula students, parents, teachers and the local teacher’s union by the public-interest law firm Public Council and the law firm Ballard Spahr.

Students and teachers from the district have expressed their concern how the lack of open discourse concerning race and systematic racism could stifle learning and growth. If the suit overturns the ban, a domino effect could occur as attorneys in other states are exploring similar litigation. Thirty-six states have restricted education on racism, bias, or the contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to U.S. history.

Gotti, Tupac Shakur, and Anita Hill during her sexual harassment accusation against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

As a Harvard Law School professor, Ogletree brought a clinical focus to the institution, emphasizing legal theory while also increasing the faculty’s diversity. He mentored numerous students, including Barack and Michelle Obama.

Obama posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend Charles Ogletree. He was an advocate for social justice, an incredible professor, and a mentor to many – including us. Our thoughts are with his wife Pamela, his entire family, and everyone who knew and loved this remarkable man.”

As an advocate for justice, Ogletree was involved in numerous groundbreaking cases and initiatives that centered on race, class, and criminal justice. He founded Harvard’s Criminal Justice Institute, which provides legal representation for underprivileged clients in the Boston area. Additionally, he established the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice, named after the civil rights lawyer who taught Thurgood Marshall. Ogletree’s commitment to racial equality and addressing historical injustices was evident in his tireless quest for justice and financial redress for the survivors of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre and the descendants of

A group of doctors have filed a lawsuit against the Medical Board of California to halt a state requirement that mandates physicians study how implicit biases, including racial preconceptions, affect how they treat patients.

Assembly Bill (AB) 241, a law passed in 2019, requires medical professionals to study implicit bias as part of the 50 hours of continuing education required every two years for licenses.

The law states that “evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in health care are remarkably consistent,” noting that Black women are “three to four times more likely than White women” to die from pregnancy-related causes. Black patients “often are prescribed less pain medication than White patients who present the same complaints.”

Black patients with heart symptoms are referred for advanced cardiovascular procedures less often than white patients with the same symptoms.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Dr. Marilyn Singleton, a Black anesthesiologist, Dr. Azadeh Khatibi, an ophthalmologist, and a Virginia nonprofit called Do No Harm. “I reject the unscientific accusation that people are defined by their race, not by their individual beliefs and choices,” Dr. Singleton wrote in a Washington Post opinion.

“When we all took our oath to ‘first, do no harm’ we meant it, and we live it. I can’t imagine spending my entire career

A new report released by My Eden Voice, a coalition of East Bay housing organizations in collaboration with other advocates, sheds light on injustices renters in Alameda County’s urban unincorporated areas face daily.\

It includes four key findings:

Renters face widespread and severe habitability issues, threatening the health of families. Rents in the Eden Area are rising, leaving long-term residents in fear of losing their homes. When faced with verbal harassment, many tenants self-evict. And families living in single-family homes are left out of protections from state regulations.

The report also lists recommendations to alleviate these issues. A proactive rental inspection program, local just cause protections, increasing legal aid funding to reduce wait times, a rental registry to enforce tenant protections, establishing a rent board to enforce existing law, and enacting a strong local rent stabilization policy.

According to the report, Eden communities have an 18% poverty rate and over 61% of people in the urban unincorporated areas are Black, Indigenous, or people of color.

“We are aware that the conditions in the unincorporated area have been a great concern to the community,” Alameda County’s housing director Michelle Starratt told the East Bay Times. “These are exactly the concerns we’ve heard.”

Gov. Newsom and Gov. DeSantis to Faceoff in Televised Debate

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to

(Shutterstock Photo)

CA Gov. Gavin Newsom (r) and Flordia Gov. Ron DeSantis (l)

Charles J. Ogletree Jr

4.65% Of All Bakersfield Jobs Are in the Construction Industry, Below U.S. Average

The Great Recession left a lasting impact on the American economy, especially in the housing market. The subprime mortgage crisis, which ravaged the housing industry from 2007 to 2010, resulted in the widespread devaluation of residential homes and discouraged builders from investing in new housing construction. As a consequence, the number of new housing construction starts plummeted, and the repercussions of the recession continue to be felt in the construction industry to this day.Despite these challenges, construction workers remain a crucial component of the American workforce, driving economic growth through their work in essential sectors. Their efforts serve as a foundation for initiatives such as expanding the supply of residential housing and investing in competitive American manufacturing. By building the houses, buildings, and infrastructure necessary to achieve these goals, construction workers contribute significantly to the country’s economic development.Even though more than 10 years have passed since the Great Recession, the share of employment in the construction sector is still below pre-recession levels. Construction jobs took a nosedive in the wake of the housing market crash in 2008, but did not feel the full effects until January 2011 when the share of total employment reached a 30-year low of only 4.15%.Since then, however, employment in construction has grown. Prior to the brief spike during the COVID-19 pandemic—when many construction professionals were

considered essential workers and most other workers faced mass unemployment—the share of total employment in

the construction industry rose steadily. But with the onset of widespread inflation and other economic challenges, the share of construction employment has remained flat, and as of June 2023, it sits at 5.09%.Not only do these trends impact the laborers and trades workers commonly associated with the construction industry, but also the diverse range of professionals that support, manage, and employ those workers. While laborers and specialty contractors

do account for most construction industry jobs, other common roles include general managers (3.3% of total construction industry employment), office clerks (3.2%), construction managers (3.2%), project managers (2.3%), secretaries and assistants (1.7%), and bookkeepers (1.7%). Employment in construction is also unevenly distributed across the country. States in the Mountain West—like Utah (8.00%), Wyoming (7.88%), Idaho (7.86%), Montana (7.68%), and Nevada (7.15%)—are the most reliant on construction industry jobs, with employment in the construction industry all above 7% of total. This trend also holds true at the metropolitan level: the Mountain West is home to four large metros that rank within the top 10 for the largest concentration of construction industry workers.Some point to the combination of the region’s business-friendly tax and regulatory environment with the renewed effort to reshore critical industries as a key driver of manufacturing-related construction in the area. However, it’s important to recognize that the region’s rapid population growth has played a significant role in the proliferation of construction firms and related job opportunities. The increasing number of residents has fueled demand for new housing and infrastructure projects, thus driving the high concentration of construction activity in the Mountain West.The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To determine the locations with the most construction industry jobs,

researchers at Construction Coverage, a website that provides construction insurance guides, calculated the percentage of total employment in the construction sector in Q4 2022, the latest data available. In the event of a tie, the location with the greater total number of construction industry employees was ranked higher.The analysis found that 4.65% of jobs in the Bakersfield metro area are in the construction industry, 0.6 percentage points lower than the national concentration. Here is a summary of the data for the Bakersfield, CA metro area:Percentage of employment in construction: 4.65%

Construction employment concentration (compared to average): -0.6 pp

Total number of construction employees: 16,182

Year-over-year change in construction employment: +3.2% For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

Percentage of employment in construction: 5.24%

Construction employment concentration (compared to average): N/A

Total number of construction employees: 7,990,517

Year-over-year change in construction employment: +3.0%

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see Cities With the Most Construction Industry Jobs on Construction Coverage.

Q&A: Traco Matthews Is Appointed to California’s Racial Equity Commission

By Janell Gore

Kern Sol

South

Governor Gavin Newsom announced his appointments to the first Racial Equity Commission for the State. Among his appointments is Bakersfield’s local, Traco Matthews. Matthews is the Chief Health Equity Officer at Kern Health System, a pastor, and a community advocate.

“At this moment of national reckoning on racial justice, I’m proud to appoint these diverse leaders to advise our ongoing work to ensure that all our communities have a fair shot at achieving the California dream,” said Newsom in the press release.

According to the release, the plan of the commission is to advance racial equity, address structural racism and provide assistance to governments.

Kern Sol News spoke with Matthews about his position on the commission and what it means to him.

1 What does being a part of this racial equity commission mean to you, and can you discuss the importance of having central valley representation on this

I’ll give two responses. It is, to me personally, just incredibly meaningful and significant and important. And part of the reason is because just the establishment of a Racial Equity Commission, I think it may possibly represent the first time, not just in Californian history, but in American history, that those two words, race, and equity, have been formally recognized and acknowledged by a government, state government, or federal government. So, just to know that the state of California, before we’ve gotten any outcomes or done any research or any work in this space, they set aside money, dollars. To me, that’s a testament to them putting their money where where Governor Newsom’s mouth has been for the last few years… and that’s often the first step toward sustainable change…I think of the struggles that my great-grandfather went through fighting in World War I, but then coming back and living the rest of his life in a nation that did not pursue equity and really a false sense of equality.I think of my grandfather, who fought World War II and won freedom for many people across the pond

years and was part of the first civil rights movement and, throughout that process, experienced many macro and microaggressions. No one ever talked about equity. No one ever said anything. A lot of times, even really about equality. We had to fight for both.

Now, for the Central Valley, I think there’s a whole additional slice and angle because I think in a state where we are really just a minority in terms of population, often the resources that are shared are prioritized for areas that have more people, not for us. We don’t get first dibs on most of the different things and resources that the state is handing out. That’s really kind of a double hit for minorities in the Central Valley. Whether it’s black folks, whether it’s immigrants, farm workers, Latinx folks, or people in the LGBTQ+ community. No one really thinks about us. So, you end up kind of being this double minority just by virtue of our region. In addition to, sometimes your race or your sexual orientation, gender identity, or whatever else might make you kind of less privileged and not have as much power… So, the fact that they would look at the south part of the Central Valley is unique, significant, and meaningful to me.

• Now, for the Central Valley, I think there’s a whole additional slice and angle because I think in a state where we are really just a minority in terms of population, often the resources that are shared are prioritized for areas that have more people, not for us. We don’t get first dibs on most of the different things and resources that the state is handing out. That’s really kind of a double hit for minorities in the Central Valley. Whether it’s black folks, whether it’s immigrants, farm workers, Latinx folks, or people in the LGBTQ+ community. No one really thinks about us. So, you end up kind of being this double minority just by virtue of our region. In addition to, sometimes your race or your sexual orientation, gender identity, or whatever else might make you kind of less privileged and not have as much power… So, the fact that they would look at the south part of the Central Valley is unique, significant, and meaningful to me.

2 If you had a magic wand with three wishes to directly impact racial equity in the central valley–what would they be?

• So the first one, of course, is it’s part of my job, so it would be health care if I could tomorrow fix all of the racial inequities and disparate outcomes for minorities in Kern, the entire Central Valley, or the state. My God, I sure would. I would certainly do that right away. I certainly believe that a lot of the work that we will do will be in that space. So, I’m honored that I get to work in that space every single day, at least for residents in Kern County who need help the most.

• The next one, I would say, is education. I worked at the county Office of Education for some years because that was my passion. I want to see those gaps [racial inequities] closed. Here in Kern County and in Bakersfield, but across the state. Dr. Barlow, who was a good friend of mine, one of the things that she did in 2019, and I was very pleased with it; she launched the Equity Symposium. It was actually kind of seen as bold and brazen and innovative at the time just because of where we happened to live… She would always say your zip code should not be a factor in the quality of education that you get and, ultimately, your educational outcomes. I believe in that 100%. But we know that because of different resourcing and different levels of funding, that is the reality today. So, for too many impoverished kids who are struggling with food insecurity or lots of other social drivers of health issues and challenges, they just don’t have the same opportunities as students who live in other places.

• The final one, which for me is a lifelong goal, comes to economics, social economics. The one singular thing that I see across all sectors, so you know really if you look at it, it is poor people that struggle with social determinants of health on and can’t get well on whether they’re Black, Hispanic, farmworker, whatever, they’re just poor, and that’s the issue. When it comes to education,

they’re poor, and they go to poor schools, under-resourced schools. It’s not their fault that the funding formulas and the way that everything works. Nobody says I want to grow up in a poor household or in a poor family. As you move into the workplace, I’ve seen it as well. Wealth begets wealth. There are many entrepreneurial opportunities and economic opportunities that Black folks, Hispanic folks, and poor folks just don’t have the opportunity to take advantage of or leverage just because they’re poor. So to me, if I could find a way to equalize through equity in socioeconomic outcomes and in wealth, that would be a glorious day in my book.

3 Many businesses in recent years have adopted a DEI board. However, those boards are not always put to use. Ideally, what is the role of a DEI board, and how can businesses keep the integrity of those boards?  I think the role of a DEI board or equity commission or whatever is first really to bring awareness to the fact that despite best intentions, often despite best efforts, there are still huge disparities. You know, not everyone is doing okay; some people are really, really struggling. The assumption is that when those disparities are brought to light, then everyone, because they do care about all the folks in their place of work or all of the people in their community, in their city, in the ward, it should drive action. To say oh my goodness, these people don’t have food; how is this possible? How do we get them food? How do we get them healthcare? How do we get them education? How do we make sure that they are able to leverage the economic opportunities that are so abundant here in this region or in this workplace? We make good money; let’s make sure everyone gets part of that good money. So, that’s what the role should be is an awareness that drives and triggers heart change in organizations. And sometimes policy change because sometimes that awareness also brings to light, oh my God, our laws are doing this to us. So maybe we need to change some of the laws, maybe we need to change some of the regulations so that they are more equitable and ultimately bring about stronger equality.

• The second piece is, in my opinion, the reason that often they’re not super effective is because a lot of times there’s not really a whole lot of accountability. You can see that because often you know there’s not really a high level of prioritization, and you can tell the level of prioritization from almost any organization or any entity by how well it’s resourced. So what you think is important that’s what you pay for. So, if folks aren’t paying for DEI fidelity and integrity, then chances are it’s not a super high priority. Therefore, it’s one of the first things to fall by the wayside when things get scrunched, when things get tight, when other priorities come crashing like they always do; conflicting priorities, DEI usually ends up not being the one that rises to the top.

4 While California and the central valley are very diverse, racism and discrimination are still very prevalent in many people’s everyday lives. While working with this commission and as a community, what do you think it would take for people not to have to worry about these issues as much, especially in the workplace?  • I think it will take a different organizational culture for most organizations, corporate companies, non-profit organizations, and government entities. A lot of folks take a lot of action, and they like to give themselves kudos because they have a DEI charter, or they have a DEI program, or they might even have a DEI officer. The analogy that I used (when speaking at events) I said that’s not good enough anymore; it has never been. What is good enough is, do your people feel it? Freedom is only freedom when it’s realized, and DEI is only effective when people feel a stronger sense of belonging. When Black and Brown folks in the Central Valley who have for generations experienced racism or marginalization or just invisibility, they haven’t been seen. It’s going to take the courage of organizational leaders and elected officials and everybody else to come out sometimes and just say ‘We see you and we want you to feel a sense of belonging’.

5 What does racial equity look like to you?

• Racial equity looks like belonging across every sector of society, for every resident, for every individual, for every person. Some people call it the American Dream, and some people call it a house, a good job, or middle-class income. The word that I have used for the last seven years for myself is just inheritance. That means wherever I go, I feel that people actually want me to belong, want me to be successful, and are doing that from a place of choice, not because the state forced them to. They actually love me, they care about me, and that’s what that inheritance looks like to me. I think that systems can do it just like individuals can do it. I think that the state can say to every Black person who lives here today or has ever lived here, ‘we do love you, we see the pain that you’ve gone through, and we’re going to make it right. We care’… To me, that’s what racial equity looks like. It means every person has the opportunity to achieve that inheritance in the great state of California.

Assemblymembers, Hearing Witness, Report N-Word-Laced Death Threats

Antonio Ray Harvey California BlackMedia

Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), along with other Democratic lawmakers and April Grayson -- a witness who last month testified against a sex trafficking bill proposing stiffer penalties for repeat offenders – have disclosed receiving death threats laced with the n-word and other racial slurs.

Jones and Grayson, who are both Black, said the threats and insults came by emails, telephone and social media.

“The number of death threats, people who threated to rape members of the Assembly and their families, the number of times people were called the ‘N-word,’ and staff members who may be with the LGBTQ community, were called the ‘F-word,’” are just a sample of what Jones-Sawyer told California Black Media (CBM) he was hearing. “They were calling like crazy. That’s not a place for public discourse. You can disagree but you don’t have to be disagreeable.”

The hate-filled messages came after Jones-Sawyer, chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee and other Democratic committee members were criticized for not supporting Senate Bill 14 authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). The legislation proposes adding the sex trafficking of minors to the list of “serious” crimes under California’s Three Strikes law. A conviction, including previous felonies, would increase prison sentences to 25 years to life. The trafficking of minors currently carries a prison term for up to 12 years, or 15 years to life.

On June 11, the Democratic majority on the Public Safety committee unanimously abstained from voting on the bill. The committee’s two Republican members voted for it. The bill’s failure to advance from the committee drew national attention and sharp condemnation from

conservative groups. “After passing the Senate with a unanimous, bipartisan vote, I had hoped Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, led by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, would agree to make sex trafficking of a minor a serious felony. I am profoundly disappointed that committee Democrats couldn’t bring themselves to support the bill, with their stubborn and misguided objection to any penalty increase regardless of how heinous the crime,” Grove said in a statement after the committee vote. “Human trafficking of children is a growing tragedy that disproportionately targets minority girls, and California is a hotbed because of our lenient penalties.”

Two days after SB 14 failed in the Public Safety committee, it passed with a 6-0 vote. California Legislative Black Caucus members Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) and Majority Leader Assemblyman Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) abstained from voting.

In a statement sent to CBM, Grove who has been the main champion of SB 14, addressed the threats and said such attacks against lawmakers should be taken seriously.

“It can be a felony offense to threaten public officials in California. I urge any legislative member who has received a threat to contact the Capitol police immediately so that an investigation can take place and those making threats can be held responsible for their abhorrent actions,” Grove wrote.

California Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), a strong supporter of SB 14, also condemned the death threats and hate messages and expressed his concerns about the attacks leveled at his colleagues from across the aisle.

“We need to get to a place where we can have a difference of opinion without the threat of violence…on any level,” Gallagher posted on X – formerly known as

Twitter.

Jones has stated that he is committed to ending sex trafficking in California, but he wants to improve Grove’s bill so that it does not just result in more incarceration, considering that some of the offenders are victims themselves.

In the Legislature, Jones-Sawyer has also been a vocal supporter of shifting the focus of California’s criminal justice system from incarceration to rehabilitation. In California, Blacks make up under 6% of the state’s population but account for nearly 30% of prison inmates, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

Grayson is one of those victim-offenders who was trafficked as a child but ended up spending 17 years behind bars. Born in Los Angeles, Grayson said she grew up in 22 different foster homes, going through one abusive experience after another.

Now, she is the statewide coordinator for the Young Women’s Freedom Center, Sister Warrior’s Freedom Coalition, a coalition of formerly and currently incarcerated women.

Since her release from prison in 2015, Grayson has been politically active. She worked on California Assembly Bill (AB) 124, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021. The bill creates a channel for survivors of human trafficking to request a reduced prison sentence.

“(Grayson) broke my heart. She told us about being trafficked and then she became a trafficker. When she got caught, they put her in jail,” Jones Sawyer said. “Nobody ever gave her any counseling or found her a safe place where she could go. They didn’t have that 20 years ago. She was not only victimized by the trafficker, but she was criminalized by our criminal justice system.”

When the state legislature reconvenes on Aug. 14, the Assembly Appropriations Committee could hold a hearing

on SB 14 as early as Aug. 16. Jones-Sawyer says he hopes members of that committee can examine the legislation without attracting the attacks he and other members of the Public Safety committee had to endure.

Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) is pictured here at a California Reparations Task Force Meeting on June 29. Jones-Sawyer and other members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee received death threats for not supporting Senate Bill 14 on July 11. The bill was reconsidered and passed out of the committee on July 13. SB 14 would include sex trafficking of a minor among crimes defined as serious under California’s Three Strikes law. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey. June 29, 2023.

April Grayson, who said she was sex trafficked and became a trafficker herself before doing 17 years in prison, opposes SB 14. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey. June 6, 2021.

Sen. Shannon Grove.( R-Bakersfield)