Bakersfield News Observer 10.4.23

News Observer

Gov. Newsom Names Gay Black Woman to Succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Antonio Ray Harvey

California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that his choice to succeed U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who passed away on Sept. 29, is Laphonza Butler, a labor leader and the president of EMILY’s List – the country’s most extensive resource for women in politics.

“As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault. Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.,” said Newsom in a statement released Oct. 1.

Butler will make history as California’s first openly LGBTQ+ U.S Senator and the first Black lesbian to openly serve in the U.S. Congress. She will join 47 other Democrats and three independents who caucus with the Democrats in the Senate for the remainder of Feinstein’s term, which ends in December 2024.

“An advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the best of California, and she’ll represent us proudly in the United States Senate,” Newsom stated.

Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), says he is proud of Newsom’s choice.

“As a proud member of @CABlackCaucus and Assemblymember for #AD65, I am extremely proud that @GavinNewsom stood by his commitment as he always has,” Gipson wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “And I appreciate him for standing by his word and providing a great successor amidst the passing of the honorable Senator Feinstein,”

“I am always excited when a Black Woman is elevated. Laphonza Butler will represent California well and will bring a perspective to the US Senate that is desperately needed as a Black, LGBTQ+, mother, organizer, and labor leader,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, founding convener of the California Black Women’s Collective.

“My goal is to lift up the voices and needs of Black Women throughout state,” continued Todd Griffin. “That’s what we did three years ago when we created Keep the Seat and what we did in this case. We will keep pushing for what we believe is right regardless of the outcomes.”

Butler, recognized as a Democratic Strategist and a labor leader, served for seven years as President of SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW). The union she led represents over 325,000 nursing home and home- care workers across California.

Newsom, who has the constitutional responsibility to appoint a replacement, promised he would select a Black woman if Feinstein chose to step down before her term ended in 2024. He made that statement in 2021 after he chose Alex Padilla to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Kamala Harris when she resigned to become vice president. Black women groups had been urging him to appoint a Black woman to succeed Harris. Until Butler is seated, the U.S. Senate has no Black women members even though Black women are the most influential – and most loyal – voting group within the Democratic party. More than 90 % of Black women

Grant Program for Black Women Entrepreneurs Blocked by Court

NEW YORK (AP) –– A grant program for businesses run by Black women was temporarily blocked by a federal appeals court in a case epitomizing the escalating battle over corporate diversity policies.

The 2-1 decision by the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily prevents the Fearless Fund from running the Strivers Grant Contest, which awards $20,000 to businesses that are at least 51% owned by Black women, among other requirements.

voted for Joe Biden in the last presidential election. Before Newsom’s announcement that he had been chosen her to succeed Feinstein, Butler expressed her condolences on X. She wrote, “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Sen.@DianneFeinstein. Not only was she a titan in the Senate, but a legendary figure for women in politics and around the country. Her legacy and achievements will not be forgotten. My prayers are with her family. She will be deeply missed.”

Since Feinstein’s passing was announced, pressure had been mounting on Newsom to quickly appoint an interim Senator in her place.  Three well known candidates running to succeed her in the 2024 election are Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA-28) and Rep. Katie Porter (D – CA-45). Lee, the only Black woman contending for Feinstein’s seat, congratulated Butler in a post on X. “I wish Laphonza well and look forward to working closely with her to deliver for the people of the Golden State,” she wrote.

On Oct.1, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) wrote a letter to Newsom urging him to appoint Lee. “She is the only person with the courage, the vision, and the record to eradicate poverty, face down the fossil fuel industry, defend our democracy, and tirelessly advance the progressive agenda,” CBC Chairman Steven Horsford (D-Nevada), stated in the letter to Newsom. “For these reasons, we strongly urge you to appoint Congresswoman Barbara Lee to the United States Senate.”

Newsom had expressed that his appointee would not participate in the 2024 election out of respect for the candidates already running. However, this stance has changed. Now the decision to run in the 2024 election lies with Butler. The deadline for candidates to file for the office is Dec. 8. Butler, a native of Magnolia, Mississippi, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Jackson State University, an HBCU located in Mississippi.

“I’m honored to accept Gov. Gavin Newsom’s nomination to be U.S. Senator for a state I have made my home and honored by his trust in me to serve the people of California and this great nation,”, Butler posted on X.

Nelson Mandela’s Granddaughter Dies from Cancer

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

According to a family spokesperson, Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of South Africa’s inaugural democratically elected President and global icon Nelson Mandela, succumbed to cancer at the age of 43.

Recently, the younger Mandela has garnered recognition for her candid accounts of her battle with cancer, offering a poignant insight into her treatment journey. She was equally forthright about her history of drug addiction, shedding light on issues many faces in silence.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation expressed deep reverence for her work, stating that she inspired cancer awareness and played a pivotal role in dismantling the stigma associated with the disease.

Mandela was a champion for cancer awareness, bravely shared her struggles with depression, and disclosed that she had endured childhood sexual abuse. Additionally, she proved at the forefront of the cause of improved road safety after a tragic car accident claimed the life of her 13-yearold daughter in 2010. Tragically, she also lost a prematurely born son. Mandela leaves behind four children.

Hailing from the lineage of Nelson Mandela’s second wife, Winnie, Mandela penned her remarkable journey in

her autobiography,  When Hope Whispers. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, she initially went into remission, only to face a recurrence of the illness. Last year, she revealed the disheartening news of cancer’s presence in her liver and lungs, subsequently spreading to other vital organs. Though she received outpatient care, Mandela checked into a hospital over a week ago.

In a poignant Instagram post from August 2022, she reflected, “What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around I may not get to live my life as a survivor? How do I tell them everything will be OK when it’s not? I’m dying... I don’t want to die.” During an interview with Kaya FM in April, Mandela shared, “I’m learning to be okay with my eventuality.” Her unvarnished revelations garnered her a substantial following on social media platforms, where heartfelt tributes continue to pour in.

“Utterly tragic loss of a human being in her grandfather’s footsteps. A decent, honest human being in a dishonest, hypocritical world,” lamented one individual on social media. Another wrote on Instagram beneath the Mandela family’s announcement, “You were one of the bravest people I know, and you inspired many people on your life’s journey of hope.”

Claudine Gay Assumes Historic Role as

Harvard University’s First Black President

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Harvard University now has its first Black president, Claudine Gay, who already has made her mark in the institution’s history. Gay also stands as only the second woman to helm the university since its founding in 1640 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

During her inaugural address, Gay articulated her vision for the Ivy League institution, acknowledging the weight and honor of this groundbreaking appointment. (Photo Credit: Washington Informer)

During her inaugural address, Gay articulated her vision for the Ivy League institution, acknowledging the weight and honor of this groundbreaking appointment. “I stand before you today humbled by the prospect of leading Harvard,” remarked Gay amidst a rainy inauguration ceremony last Friday. “Emboldened by the trust you have placed in me and energized by your own commitment to this singular institution and to the common cause of higher education.” The new president went on to emphasize Harvard’s historical role as an agent of change, stating, “The courage of this University — our resolve, against all odds — to question the world as it is and imagine and make a better one: It is what Harvard was made to do,” she

exclaimed.

Harvard Corporation, the university’s main governing body, chose Gay after an extensive search process. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who attended Harvard, praised Gay’s presidency in a speech. She called it a “truly historic” moment and expressed her admiration and support. Gay earned her Ph.D. in government from Harvard in 1998 and joined the faculty in 2006. She previously held the distinguished position of Edgerley Family Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and is recognized as an expert in political behavior. She also serves as the founding chair of the Inequality in America Initiative which was launched in 2017 to examine social and economic inequalities.

Outgoing president Lawrence Bacow characterized her as “a person of bedrock integrity,” according to CNN. Bacow also expressed confidence in Gay’s “moral compass,” which he said remains essential for guiding the prestigious university. He praised the search committee for choosing Gay and predicted a bright future under her leadership.

In a statement Sunday, the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund said it would comply with the order but remained confident of ultimately prevailing in the lawsuit. The case was brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group run by conservative activist Edward Blum, who argues that the fund violates a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in contracts. “We strongly disagree with the decision and remain resolute in our mission and commitment to address the unacceptable disparities that exist for Black women and other women of color in the venture capital space,” the Fearless Fund said.

The order, issued Saturday, reversed a ruling Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash which denied the American Alliance`s request to halt the program. The majority on the three-judge panel wrote that the Fearless Fund`s program`s is “racially exclusionary” and that Blum`s group is likely to prevail.

“The members of the American Alliance for Equal Rights are gratified that the 11th Circuit has recognized the likelihood that the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest is illegal,” Blum said in a statement. “We look forward to the final resolution of this lawsuit.”

In his dissent, Judge Charles R. Wilson said it was a “perversion of Congressional intent” to use the 1866 act against the Fearless Fund`s program, given that the Reconstruction-era law was intended to protect Black people from economic exclusion. Wilson said the lawsuit was unlikely to succeed.

The case has become a test case as the battle over racial considerations shifts to the workplace following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions.

The grant contest is among several programs run by the Fearless Fund, which was established to bridge the gap in funding access for Black female entrepreneurs, who receive less than 1% of venture capital funding. To be eligible for the grants, a business must be at least 51% owned by a Black woman, among otherInqualifications. its majority opinion, the appellate panel disagreed, writing that the First Amendment “does not give the defendants the right to exclude persons from a contractual regime based on their race.”

Nooses Found at Construction Site Lead to Lawsuit Against Amazon

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) –– Five Black and Hispanic electricians who felt threatened when several nooses were found at an Amazon warehouse construction site in Connecticut have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the company and two contractors, accusing them of inaction, retaliation and racial discrimination.

The state chapter of the NAACP had called for hate crime charges, but no one was ever arrested.

“Plaintiffs were terrified to be in the crosshairs of an FBI investigation,” says the lawsuit, which was filed Sept. 21 in U.S. District Court. “As men of color from poor and working-class backgrounds, they all had tenuous relationships with law enforcement. Here, they had vocally complained as witnesses to hateful criminal conduct in their workplace and yet they were now being treated as perpetrators.”

Seattle-based Amazon, Wayne J. Griffin Electric and RC Andersen are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The electricians worked for Wayne J. Griffin Electric, based in Holliston, Massachusetts, while RC Andersen, based in Fairfield, New Jersey, was the construction manager for the distribution center project.Phone and email messages seeking comment were left Thursday for Amazon, the two contractors, the companies` lawyers and the FBI.

The lawsuit alleges violations of federal and state laws, including racial discrimination and creating a hostile work environment. It seeks an undisclosed amount of money for damages.

“One of the primary points of the case is obviously that no people of color should have to work in an environment where even one noose is hung,” said Stephen Fitzgerald, a New Haven lawyer for the electricians. “A noose is the most hateful symbol of racism in this country.”

The plaintiffs were among about 50 Griffin electricians working at the site, along with iron workers from Texas, who were displaying confederate flags. Some of the nooses were hung up, while others were found on the floor, the lawsuit states.

After the first two nooses were found in late April 2021, Amazon and the contractors did not do anything to prevent further incidents, such as instituting security patrols, the lawsuit alleges.

The electricians installed security cameras at the site, but the cameras were never turned on and were pointed away from areas inside the building were nooses might be hung, the suit claims.

While law enforcement authorities investigated, Griffin officials made comments to the plaintiffs accusing them of leaving the nooses in efforts to be transferred to other jobs that paid a higher rate, the suit alleges.

The electricians also allege that FBI officials first talked to Griffin managers. The way an FBI agent later questioned the plaintiffs suggested he believed the electricians were the perpetrators, the suit says.

The lawsuit says Amazon, Griffin and RC Andersen failed to take adequate steps to stop the noose incidents. It alleges the companies were aware of the problem of nooses at Amazon work sites as early as 2017, when a noose was found at an Amazon distribution center in Bloomfield, Connecticut, also near Hartford. Another noose was found at an Amazon construction site in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, in March 2022, the lawsuit says.

Laphonza Butler (Courtesy Photo)

Zoleda Mandela in 2015 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

House Republicans Target Title I Education Grants in Controversial Spending Cuts

The proposed cuts are far from uniform, with some government programs set to face more severe reductions than others. Surprisingly, several bills championed by House Republicans would result in increased spending rather than the anticipated reductions.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Senior National Correspondent

House Republicans are set to decide the fate of Title I education grants, a federal program providing critical support for low-income students nationwide. The proposed cuts, amounting to nearly 80 percent, have raised concerns about the future of educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.

The vote, which hinges on a procedural motion to advance spending bills, represents a final play to appease hardline Republicans and demonstrate the party’s commitment to enacting sweeping, year-long spending reductions. However, experts caution that this move will do little to avert an impending government shutdown scheduled for Sunday. An in-depth analysis by Bobby Kogan and Jean Ross of the Center for American Progress, a leading liberal think tank, reveals that Republicans had proposed 12 bills that would slash nondefense discretionary spending by an alarming $58 billion beyond the previously agreed amount between President Biden and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in May when they brokered a deal to raise the debt limit. Notably, the analysis excludes Department of Veterans Affairs medical care spending. The proposed cuts are far from uniform, with some government programs set to face more severe reductions than others. Surprisingly, several bills championed by House Republicans would result in increased spending rather than the anticipated reductions.

Of particular concern is the analysis showing that a quarter of all projected savings from the House Republicans’ bills hinge on an unprecedented 80 percent reduction in funding for Title I education grants, a cornerstone of

support for low-income schools, potentially saving $14.7 billion.

Even the recommendations made by the Center for Renewing America, a think tank run by Russ Vought, the former director of the White House budget, are less drastic than the proposed cuts to Title I education grants. Title I is instrumental in providing essential financial assistance to local educational agencies striving to meet state content and performance standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics. The impact of such cuts would be felt nationwide. For example, District of Columbia Public Schools (DPS) have 88 Title 1 schools and campuses, which means each possess a poverty rate of at least 35%.

According to DPS, Title I schools allocate 1% of the Title funding for parent and family engagement activities that strengthen the collaborative relationship between the school and the families.

“Title I funding helps fill in the gaps that have existed in all our systems for generations, especially in our public schools,” Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, told reporters. “It is unconscionable that House Republicans would try to strip away desperately needed funds from our most vulnerable, most marginalized students.”

Title I is instrumental in providing essential financial assistance to local educational agencies striving to meet state content and performance standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics.

Government Shutdown Averted With Little Time to Spare as Biden Signs Funding Before Midnight

By Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking And Stephen Groves

WASHINGTON (AP) — The threat of a federal government shutdown suddenly lifted late Saturday as President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open with little time to spare after Congress rushed to approve the bipartisan deal.

The package drops aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of GOP lawmakers, but increases federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, meeting Biden’s full request. The bill funds government until Nov. 17.

After chaotic days of turmoil in the House, Speaker Kevin McCarthy abruptly abandoned demands for steep spending cuts from his right flank and instead relied on Democrats to pass the bill, at risk to his own job. The Senate followed with final passage closing a whirlwind day at the Capitol.

“This is good news for the American people,” Biden said in a statement.

He also said the United States “cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted” and expected McCarthy “will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment.”

It’s been a sudden head-spinning turn of events in Congress ahead of the midnight funding deadline after grueling days in the House pushed the government to the brink of a disruptive federal shutdown.

The outcome ends, for now, the threat of a shutdown, but the reprieve may be short-lived. Congress will again need to fund the government in coming weeks risking a crisis as views are hardening, particularly among the rightflank lawmakers whose demands were ultimately swept aside this time in favor of a more bipartisan approach.

“We’re going to do our job,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said before the House vote. “We’re going to be adults in the room. And we’re going to keep government open.”

If no deal was in place before Sunday, federal workers would have faced furloughs, more than 2 million activeduty and reserve military troops would have had to work without pay and programs and services that Americans rely on from coast to coast would have begun to face shutdown disruptions.

“It has been a day full of twists and turns, but the American people can breathe a sigh of relief: There will be no government shutdown,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The package funds government at current 2023 levels until mid-November, and also extends other provisions, including for the Federal Aviation Administration. The package was approved by the House 335-91, with most Republicans and almost all Democrats supporting. Senate passage came by an 88-9 vote.

But the loss of Ukraine aid was devastating for lawmakers of both parties vowing to support President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his recent Washington visit. The Senate bill included $6 billion for Ukraine, and both chambers came to a standstill Saturday as lawmakers assessed their options.

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“The American people deserve better,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, warning in a lengthy floor speech that “extreme” Republicans were risking a shutdown.

For the House package to be approved, McCarthy was forced to rely on Democrats because the speaker’s hardright flank has said it will oppose any short-term funding measure, denying him the votes needed from his slim majority. It’s a move that is sure to intensify calls for his ouster.

After leaving the conservative holdouts behind, McCarthy is almost certain to be facing a motion to try to remove him from office, though it is not at all certain there would be enough votes to topple the speaker. Most Republicans voted for the package Saturday while 90 opposed.

“If somebody wants to remove me because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try,” McCarthy said of the threat to oust him. “But I think this country is too important.”

The White House was tracking the developments on Capitol Hill and aides were briefing the president, who was spending the weekend in Washington.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has championed Ukraine aid despite resistance from his own ranks, is expected to keep pursuing U.S. support for Kyiv in the fight against Russia.

“I have agreed to keep fighting for more economic and security aid for Ukraine,” McConnell, R-Ky., said before the vote.

Late at night, the Senate stalled when Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., held up the vote, seeking assurances Ukraine funds would be reconsidered.

“I know important moments are like this, for the United States, to lead the rest of the world,” Bennet said, noting his mother was born in Poland in 1938 and survived the Holocaust. “We can’t fail.”

The House’s quick pivot comes after the collapse Friday of McCarthy’s earlier plan to pass a Republican-only bill with steep spending cuts up to 30% to most government agencies and strict border provisions that the White House and Democrats rejected as too extreme. A faction of 21 hard-right Republican holdouts opposed it.

“Our options are slipping away every minute,” said one senior Republican, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida.

The federal government had been heading straight into a shutdown that posed grave uncertainty for federal workers in states all across America and the people who depend on them — from troops to border control agents to office workers, scientists and others.

Families that rely on Head Start for children, food benefits and countless other programs large and small were confronting potential interruptions or outright closures. At the airports, Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers had been expected to work without pay, but travelers could have faced delays in updating their U.S. passports or other travel documents.

The White House has brushed aside McCarthy’s overtures to meet with Biden after the speaker walked away from the debt deal they brokered earlier this year that set budget levels.

Catering to his hard-right flank, McCarthy had made multiple concessions including returning to the spending limits the conservatives demanded back in January as part of the deal-making to help him become the House speaker. But it was not enough as the conservatives insisted the House follow regular rules, and debate and approve each of the 12 separate spending bills needed to fund the government agencies, typically a months-long process. In the Senate, all the no votes against the package came from Republicans.

McCarthy’s chief Republican critic, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, has warned he will file a motion calling a vote to oust the speaker.

Some of the Republican holdouts, including Gaetz, are allies of former President Donald Trump, who is Biden’s chief rival in the 2024 race. Trump has been encouraging the Republicans to fight hard for their priorities and even to “shut it down.”

At an early closed-door meeting at the Capitol, several House Republicans, particularly those facing tough reelections next year, urged their colleagues to find a way to prevent a shutdown.

“All of us have a responsibility to lead and to govern,” said Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York.

The lone House Democrat to vote against the package, Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said, “Protecting Ukraine is in our national interest.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., gives two thumbs up as the Senate votes to approve a 45-day funding bill to keep federal agencies open, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

This image from U.S. Senate video shows the vote total, 88-9, on a temporary funding bill in the Senate at the U.S Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The threat of a federal shutdown ended late Saturday, hours before a midnight deadline, as Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open and sent the measure to President Joe Biden to sign. (Senate Television via AP)

Twenty-Seven Years Later: Suspect Arrested in Murder of Tupac Shakur

Duane Keith Davis is a member of the California-based gang known as The South Side Compton Crips and was a childhood friend of N.W.A. member Eazy-E. During the early ‘90s, Davis built a friendly relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs. Rumors that someone would be charged in Shakur’s death have swirled for years with no arrests made.

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor

Twenty-seven years after the death of one of the most noted rappers in history of the genre, a man has been arrested for the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.

As the years have gone by some suspects have come into the news while others have passed away. On September 29, 2023, a man named Duane Keith Davis was arrested in Las Vegas and charged in connection with the murder of Shakur.

The rapper and actor was killed on September 13, 1996 in Las Vegas, at the age of 25, after being shot four times. He died less than a week later at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Since then, Shakur’s death has lingered on as a mystery that has never been brought to a conclusion.

Davis is a member of the California-based gang known as The South Side Compton Crips and was a childhood friend of N.W.A. member Eazy-E. During the early ‘90s, Davis built a friendly relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs. Rumors that someone would be charged in Shakur’s death have swirled for years with no arrests made.

Tupac’s life was short but marked by artistic achievement in music and acting. His family moved to Baltimore and he attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he studied acting, poetry, jazz, and ballet. In the late 1980s, Tupac moved to California, where he joined the hip-hop group Digital Underground as a backup dancer and rapper. He gained recognition for his skills and charisma on stage.

In addition to his storied music career, Shakur pursued acting and appeared in films such as “Juice” (1992), “Poetic

Justice” (1993), “Above the Rim” (1994), and “Gridlock’d” (1997). He received praise for his acting talent.

Tupac Shakur was born in East Harlem to Afeni Shakur, a former Black

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Fentanyl is being used to make counterfeit pills and is being laced into other illicit drugs. Make sure your teens know the facts.

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ADMINISTER ESTATE OF APRIL RAINELLE SWISSHELM

CASE NUMBER:

BPB-23-003052

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of APRIL RAINELLE SWISSHELM

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JULIE R. FINOCCHIARO in the Superior Court of California, County of KERN

2100 College Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93305

Branch: Juvenile Justice

Center THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JULIE R. FINOCCHIARO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as

follows:

Date: October 20, 2023

Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: J-1

Room: Address of court: same as noted above

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legaI authority may affect your rights as creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner:

leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro.

Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es):

KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1773 Hwy 58 Mojave, CA 93501

The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es):

Legal Notices

fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

la corte

and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del

can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form.

If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de

locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin

Rest in Power: California Black Leaders Pay Tribute to Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Antonio Ray Harvey

California Black Media Condolences and tributes poured in from California’s Black community after the passing of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Lawmakers, business leaders, and political service organizations expressed their condolences and sympathy to family, friends, and staff of U.S. Sen. Feinstein, 90, who died of natural causes in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28.

On Friday, in a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, “In Senator Feinstein’s honor, I am directing the flags flying at all City facilities to be lowered to half-staff.”

“I am saddened by the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein, one of our nation’s great leaders and someone I was blessed to call a colleague and friend,” added Bass. “Senator Feinstein was a trailblazer on whose shoulders I, and women in elected office all across America, will always stand. She worked harder than anyone I knew on Capitol Hill, and she will be remembered as one of the most effective and impactful Senators in American history.”

Feinstein made history as the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from California. She served over three decades in the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress and was the oldest lawmaker on Capitol Hill.

“California lost a trailblazer and a giant today,” wrote Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “Senator Feinstein broke glass ceilings for women in politics and fought fearlessly for safer communities free of gun violence. My deepest condolences go out to her family and loved ones.”

Feinstein built a reputation as an independent voice, working hard to find practical solutions to issues confronting California and the nation. She was the first woman to chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a position she held for six years beginning in 2009.

In 2017, Sen. Feinstein became the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee – the first woman to assume that role – where she helped shape policy on criminal law, national security, immigration, civil rights and the courts. She held that position until 2021.

“We have fond memories to cherish of the work accomplished together on behalf of our most vulnerable and underserved communities. The Senator is truly a trailblazer,” stated Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) founding member and state President Dezie Woods-Jones.

BWOPA’s mission is to empower and educate African American women about politics encourage involvement, and address issues affecting the African American community.

Over 50 years ago, BWOPA charter members Hon. Ella Hill Hutch and Hon. Doris Ward collaborated extensively with Feinstein on a range of social issues during her time on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and as San Francisco Mayor. Woods-Jones recalls Sen. Feinstein hosted BWOPA’s first annual board retreat.

“May her profound legacy of supporting women’s rights and leadership continue to be front and center. Thank you for your years of service Senator,” shared WoodsJones.” May her profound legacy of supporting women’s rights and leadership continue to be front and center.”

Feinstein was instrumental in helping another Black political organization grow and become a force to be reckoned with in California politics, the Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC). The group is dedicated to amplifying the economic, social, and political influence of the Black community in California.

According to BAPAC Sacramento Regional Director

Rory Kaufman, BAPAC’s growth and influence were bolstered by the support of former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, former two-time Gov. Jerry Brown, and

Feinstein. The organization was founded by Percy Pinkney, an outspoken champion for solutions to challenges facing Black Californians, who also served as a senior state field representative for Feinstein.

“The bottom line is that Dianne Feinstein helped keep BAPAC alive because she had Percy Pinkney on her staff,” Kaufman said. “If history serves me correctly, it was either Brown or Feinstein that sent Pinkney to Indiana where he discovered an organization similar to BAPAC and brought it back here (to the West Coast) to start the organization.”

The California Black Women’s Collective (CBWC) also issued a statement on the passing of Feinstein. CBWC serves as a resource for lawmakers, elected officials, business leaders, and advocacy organizations.

“We are all saddened by the passing of Senator Diane Feinstein, who paved the way for women to serve their communities in California and nationally,” states Kellie Todd Griffin, founding convener of CBWC. “It is imperative that we all take a moment to honor her contributions that positioned California as a beacon for others to follow.”

Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) ,called Feinstein an “icon for her service and leadership.”

“Senator Dianne Feinstein dedicated her life to public service. As the longest-serving woman in the U.S. Senate, she was a trailblazer who served our state with strength, vision, and compassion,” said Bradford. “Her career was forged through the tragedy of gun violence which fueled her unwavering resolve to pass groundbreaking gun control. A true giant has left us.”

A Ban on Book Bans: California Is Second State in Nation to Pass Law

curriculum.”

Before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1078, legislation prohibiting book bans in California, he told Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Riverside), who authored the bill, “I appreciate you and your leadership.”

“Remarkable,” continued the Governor. “We’re living in a country right now in this banning binge, in this cultural purge that we’re experiencing, all throughout America, and now increasingly here in the State of California, where we have school districts, large and small, banning books, banning free speech, criminalizing librarians and teachers.”

Newsom said codifying AB 1078 into law shows that California isn’t just “pushing back rhetorically” against what he describes as a “banning binge” happening across America.

AB 1078 also makes it illegal to censor instruction material and it mandates schools to provide access to textbooks that educate students about diverse cultures and people, according to Jackson, who was with the Governor when he signed the bill, Newsom said Illinois passed a similar bill that takes effect in January. California is the second state in the nation to make it illegal to ban books or restrict learning material that includes information about the LGBTQ+ community, or specific races or ethnic groups. However, AB 1078 takes effect immediately because the Legislature passed it with an urgency clause.

On Sept, .7, AB 1078 passed in both the Assembly (61 to 17) and the Senate (31 to 9).

“We’re taking a firm stand against book banning in California’s schools, ensuring that our students have access to a broad range of educational materials that accurately represent the rich cultural and racial diversity of our society,” said Jackson, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, that day.

AB 1078 requires school boards across the state to receive approval from the state Board of Education before stripping any instructional materials or books from classrooms and school libraries or “ceasing to teach any

AB 1078 now extends to cover school libraries, prohibiting any censorship or removal of books, instructional materials, or curriculum resources that state law requires be reflected in instructional materials.

The bill’s passage in both legislative houses demonstrates California’s commitment to preserving academic freedom, fostering diverse perspectives, and discouraging the practice of book banning, Jackson observed in an Aug. 21 statement.

Jackson introduced the bill after Temecula Valley Unified School District attracted attention when most of its schools barred a state-approved history textbook that features renowned politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Milk was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone on Nov. 27, 1978, 11 months after he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

On Aug. 14, parent groups opposing AB 1078 voiced their opinions about Jackson Bill and AB 5, the “Safe and Supportive Schools Program” at a rally held on the southeast lawn of the state capitol.

“This is not about your rights as a parent. There is no such thing as a parental right,” said Nicolette Vochelle from Southern California and a member of BLEXIT, a conservative community organization co-founded by Candace Owens. Vochelle was one of the speakers that participated in the rally.

“This is about our decisions as parents to raise our children as best as we possibly can and to choose the village and environment that they are raised in,” said Vochelle, expressing her opposition to AB 1078 and AB 5.  AB 5, which Newsom signed into law on Sept. 23, requires the State Department of Education to finalize the development of an online training delivery platform and an online training curriculum to advance LGBTQ “cultural competency” training for teachers.

According to BLEXIT’s website, the organization promotes economic independence, individual freedom, strengthening the nuclear family, and fostering a deeper

appreciation for patriotism in Black American culture.

Vochelle told California Black Media that “Gov, Newsom, (Attorney General) Rob Bonta, and (Superintendent of Public Instruction) Tony Thurmond have zero rights to our children and it is beyond time that we remind them of that fact. We don’t give them another inch or second of our time to strip our children’s innocence. They will not be victims and they will not be confused. They will be protected.”

Jackson disagrees with Vochelle and other opponents of the legislation.

The lawmaker, who is openly gay, said AB 1078 will

keep the path open to understanding, trust, equality, and knowledge in the classrooms. He believes that the bill will build a strong bond between schools and parents.

“California is the true freedom state: a place where families -- not political fanatics -- have the freedom to decide what’s right for them. With the passage of this legislation that bans book bans and ensures all students have textbooks, our state’s Family Agenda is now even stronger. All students deserve the freedom to read and learn about the truth, the world, and themselves,” Newsom said after the Legislature approved AB 1078.

Eleven 2023 Education Bills Submitted to Gov. for Approval

Aldon Thomas Stiles

California Black Media

After the State Legislature’s Sept. 14 deadline to pass bills introduced this year, eleven education bills found their way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature.

The bills, sponsored and co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, fall into three categories: promoting inclusivity in the schools, building the teacher pipeline, and ensuring the well-being and success of California’s students.

“This is an important step in building a brighter future for all of California’s students,” Thurmond said. “I applaud the efforts of our legislators, and everyone involved who worked on these important pieces of legislation.”

The bills in the inclusivity category, all signed by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 23, focused primarily on the protection and rights of LGBTQ+ students.

“A small group of extremists has sought to divide communities by advancing policies to ban books related to civil rights for communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community, to force school districts to ‘out’ LGBTQ+ students, and to restrict inclusive curriculum,” Thurmond said.

Authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica), Assembly Bill (AB 5) requires staff training for schools with students from the seventh to the twelfth grade to better support LGBTQ+ students.

Senate Bill (SB) 760, authored by Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), requires California’s K–12 schools to ensure that students have access to all-gender restrooms.

SB 857, authored by Sen. John Laird (D-Monterey), creates a task force to assess the needs of LGBTQ+ students and provide policy to meet those needs.

“California is proud to have some of the most robust laws in the nation when it comes to protecting and supporting our LGBTQ+ community, and we’re committed to the ongoing work to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all Californians,’ Newsom stated in a press release. “These measures will help protect vulnerable youth, promote acceptance, and create more supportive environments in our schools and communities.”

The following bills have been enrolled and presented to the Governor for his consideration.

Bills aimed at enhancing and expanding employment opportunities for teachers are the following:

SB 765, authored by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Glendale) provides a way to expedite the process for members of the California State Teacher’s Retirement System (CalSTRS) looking to return to the field of education.

SB 765 would also raise the income cap from 50 percent to 70 percent.

AB 1127, authored by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), would reestablish the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program, which provides language learning opportunities for teachers and school staff to produce more bilingual and multilingual educators.

“At the heart of the work of our schools is caring for the safety, well-being, and success of our students,” Thurmond

said. “Providing resources and support to ensure the health and safety of our teachers, school staff, and students is paramount to achieving successful student outcomes.”

Bills sent to Newsom for his signature concerned with the success and well-being of the state’s students are the following:

AB 483, authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), is designed to increase student engagement with school-based health and mental health services by reforming elements of the Department of Health Care Service’s auditing process of claims made by schools.

SB 88, introduced by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Oakland), requires drivers and vehicles involved in student transportation, with compensation by a local educational agency, to meet certain safety requirements.

Another bill introduced by Skinner, SB 274, would ban schools from suspending students between the sixth and the twelfth grade for behaviors that fall under the disruption or defiance category.

SB 348, also authored by Skinner, would provide students with enough time to finish their meals during lunchtime.

It would also require the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California School Nutrition Association to create guidelines to regulate sodium and sugar in these meals.

Authored by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Campbell), SB 10 would widen the scope of California’s efforts to provide education about fentanyl-related overdose prevention in schools.

Lastly, SB 502, authored by Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Redondo Beach) would allow the state to access federal funds to provide vision services for California students categorized as low-income.

The funds needed for these potential additions to California laws are covered by the 2023–24 education budget which totals $108.3 billion.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

California Black Media Political Playback: News You Might Have Missed

Antonio Ray Harvey, Tanu Henry and Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media State Supt. Of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

Declares Candidacy for Governor of California

On Sept. 26, California Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tony Thurmond released a video announcing that he is running for governor in 2026.

In the video, Thurmond, 55, said his candidacy is “about people.”

“California has had a lot of governors,” Thurmond states in the introduction of his announcement. “My story is nothing like theirs.”

“I didn’t come from money, power or influence,” he continued. “Mom emigrated from Panama and became a classroom teacher, but died when I was six years old. My dad served the nation but left us after the Vietnam war.”

Raised by his mother’s cousin, Thurmond, who represented Richmond in the State Legislature from 2014 to 2018, shared the many lessons he learned from his childhood -- about the value of hard work, pushing through adverse circumstances and focusing on success.

Also in the race for governor are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounilakis and former California state Controller Betty Yee.

Secretary of State Weber, Atty. Gen. Bonta Warn Huntington Beach: Voting Proposal Would Violate State Law

On Oct. 5, 2023, the Huntington Beach City Council will decide whether it will approve a plan to put a proposal before voters in March 2024 asking them whether the city should require voter identification during the city municipal polls.

However, on Sept. 28, Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber wrote a letter to Huntington Beach warning the city’s leaders that the proposal is in violation of California Elections Code section 18543.

“The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy,” said Bonta.

“State elections law are in place to ensure the fundamental right to vote without imposing unnecessary obstacles that can reduce voter participation or disproportionately burden low-income voters, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, or people with disabilities,” the Attorney General continued. “If the city moves forward and places it on the ballot, we stand ready to take appropriate action to ensure that voters’ rights are protected.”

Weber said California “cannot turn back the clock on voting rights.”

“Voter ID requirements at the polls have historically been used to turn eligible voters away from exercising the franchise, especially low-income voters and voters of color,” said Weber. “Not only is the action unlawful, it is also unnecessary because California already has guardrails in place for establishing both eligibility of each voter and for confirming their identity when returning their ballot.”

The letter points out that voter eligibility functions are the duty of the Secretary of State and the County Registrar.

WGA Strike: Hollywood Writers Return to Work

After Reaching Deal with Studios

The Writers Guild of America West (WGA) and SAGAFTRA unions have reached a tentative agreement to end a historic and highly publicized strike that shut Hollywood down and lasted nearly five months.

“I am grateful that the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a fair agreement and I’m hopeful that the same can happen soon with the Screen Actors Guild,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Now, we must focus on getting the entertainment industry, and all the small businesses that depend on it, back on their feet and stronger than ever before.”

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television

Producers (AMPTP) – the organization that represents the studios – approved a potential new deal on Sept. 24 that allows 11,500 writers to return to work beginning

Sept. 27 while the ratification process takes place. The new agreement will run until 2026.

The unions were protesting for higher wages and protections from studios using artificial intelligence in the creative process.

In the end, negotiations included streaming compensations and set a minimum number for writing staffs. Staff writers reportedly received a 5% increase in weekly pay, while story editors and executive editors saw a 3.5 to 4% increase in their compensation.

“What we have won in this contract – most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd – is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days,” the WGA stated in and email to members.

Annual Celebration of Allensworth, Historic Tulare County Black Township, Is Oct. 14

On Oct. 14, visitors will make the annual trek to Allensworth, a historic township in Tulare County founded by Blacks, to celebrate a little-known piece of California history, and the spirit of self-reliance and determination that marked its establishment.

In 1974, the California Department of Parks and Recreation purchased the land where Allensworth was located and created a state park called Allensworth State

Historic Park.

“Allensworth holds a unique place in our state’s history,” writes a press release about the event. “The annual Rededication event is a time to reflect on this legacy, celebrate the accomplishments of its founders, and inspire future generations to recognize and cherish this rich history.”

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of the rededication, Amtrak San Joaquins is offering fares at 50% off for visitors traveling to Allensworth. There will also be a shuttle at the station to take guests to the park. Get train schedule and tickets here.

Unions Come Out Strong in Support of Asm.

Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Michelle Chambers

Last week, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and former Compton city councilmember Michelle Chambers received key endorsements from powerful California unions in their respective candidacies for elected office.

Teamsters Joint Council 42, which represents 250,000 members in 23 local branches across Southern California, Southern Nevada, Guam, Saipan and Hawaii, endorsed Jones-Sawyer his run for L.A. City Council.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFLCIO is supporting Chambers, who is a former AFSCME member and the former external affairs manager for California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Chambers is running to represent Senate District 35, currently being

represented by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), who terms out next year.

Jones-Sawyer, who is termed out from his Assembly seat, has received the support of more than 20 unions and professional organizations in his bid to represent Council District 10 in California’s largest city.

“Teamsters Joint Council 42 is proud to support Reggie Jones-Sawyer for Los Angeles City Council because as a state lawmaker, he has been a champion on behalf of our members and all of California’s working families,” said Teamsters 42 President Hector Delgado in a statement.\

“Throughout his decades-long career in public service, Reggie has fought tirelessly for better conditions, wages, and benefits for working families time and time again, while demonstrating a profound commitment to social and economic justice,” Delgado continued.

Yvonne Wheeler of the LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO said she looks forward to partnering with Chambers when she is a lawmaker in Sacramento.

“On behalf of over three hundred affiliated union and labor organizations representing more than 800,000 members, I am excited to announce that the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has endorsed Michelle Chambers for State Senate, said Wheeler. Michelle proved her support for workers as an elected official, and as a former union member she understands the issues facing California.

Tony Thurmond State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Members of WGA walk with pickets on strike outside the Culver Studio, Tuesday May 2, 2023 in Culver City, California.(Shutterstock)

Michelle Chambers

Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles)

Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day Shines Light on Injustice

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA

Newswire Senior National Correspondent

October 2, 2023, marks the Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about the pervasive issue of wrongful convictions and its profound impact on innocent individuals and their families.

Founded by the Innocence Network, a collective of organizations dedicated to offering pro-bono legal and investigative services for those seeking exoneration, Wrongful Conviction Day aims to rectify the root causes of these miscarriages of justice while also providing support to the exonerated as they reintegrate into society.

Since its inception in 1989, over 3,320 wrongful convictions have been unearthed nationwide, resulting in a staggering cumulative loss of 29,500 years for those unjustly incarcerated. Today, it remains impossible to ascertain the exact number of innocent individuals still languishing behind bars. However, experts estimate that between 2% and 5% of the nearly 2 million incarcerated in the US are victims of wrongful convictions, indicating that

anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 people are presently suffering this grave injustice.

Recent studies show a 70% increase in wrongful convictions in five years. Analysis of those cases showed race is a significant influence in wrongful convictions.

Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States 2022 examined 3,200 innocent people exonerated in the U.S. from 1989. They concluded that Black Americans are seven times more likely than white Americans to be wrongfully convicted of severe crimes. This applies to all significant crimes except white-collar crime.

White homicide victims are roughly twice as likely to be wrongfully convicted. Black people are eight times more likely to be wrongfully convicted for sexual assault than white people. White victims are much more likely to be wrongfully convicted than Black victims.

Drug offenses show the most significant racial differences. African Americans are 19 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of drug crimes. Wrongfully convicted Black persons serve harsher sentences than innocent white people in all crime categories.

Organizers at The Innocence Network noted that this Wrongful Conviction Day is a rallying call to educate and disseminate knowledge about this pressing issue. The Innocence Network, a loose coalition of independent

innocence organizations, has remained at the forefront of the battle, working tirelessly to combat wrongful convictions globally and advocate for systemic reform in the criminal legal system.

While most Network members focus on providing legal representation for the wrongfully convicted, a select few are exclusively dedicated to aiding and assisting those exonerated, helping them transition back into society.

As the Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day unfolds, the Network said they are urging individuals worldwide to join the cause, advocating for justice, and supporting the fight against wrongful convictions, ultimately striving to ensure that every person receives the fair and just treatment they deserve under the law.

“The number of innocent Americans in prison or jail is disturbing,” NBA coaching legend Doc Rivers, an advocate of the Innocent Project, stated. “Our system fails too many of us, and any person who has been wrongfully convicted deserves justice.”

Electrocution, Jailing Political Enemies, and Indictments:

The Rantings of a Madman, President, or Both?

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Former President Donald Trump found himself at the center of a whirlwind of legal and political controversies as he appeared in a New York courtroom on Monday, Oct. 2, for a civil trial. Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, brought the case, and the presiding judge has already found him guilty of extensive fraud involving the hundreds of millions of dollars in overvaluation of his wealth and business properties.

James seeks to prevent Trump from doing business in New York, and she wants the judge to slam the demagogue with crippling fines totaling as much as $250 million. The twice-impeached former president, already four criminal indictments, and a staggering 91 felony counts. Earlier this year, a separate civil jury found him responsible for sexually assaulting a writer. Further adding to his legal woes, the civil case in New York.

“While it may be one thing to exaggerate for Forbes magazine… you cannot do it while conducting business in the state of New York,” asserted Kevin Wallace of the New York Attorneys General’s office. “Year after year, loan after loan, the defendants misrepresented Mr. Trump’s net worth to maintain those favorable interest rates,” Wallace argued. The attorney general’s office said Trump inflated his net worth by as much as $3.6 billion in three separate years between 2011 and 2021. They contend he did so to

get favorable loan and insurance rates, and to try and prove he was something he wasn’t.

Meanwhile, Trump’s recent behavior has also raised eyebrows in a stunning turn of events. Over just 48 hours, he made headlines for expressing controversial views, including stating his desire for police to shoot anyone stealing from a store, ranting about reverse racism against white Americans, imprisoning his political adversaries, and even musing about jailing President Joe Biden. Trump has also stated that the outgoing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chaiman Mark Milley should be executed. Furthermore, he continued his long-standing and contentious obsession with former President Obama.

What’s more, the controversy surrounding Trump deepened with the release of a tell-all book by Michael Lewis titled “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.”

The book alleges that Trump demanded a jaw-dropping $5 billion from failed FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried as a payoff for not entering the 2020 presidential election. Despite initially considering not running for reelection, Trump eventually did run and lost to Biden before later cheering on a mob of supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to keep Trump in power.

An excerpt from Lewis’s book revealed that BankmanFried was contemplating giving $15 million to $30 million to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell to defeat more

“Trumpier” candidates in Senate races. However, the shocking revelation came when Bankman-Fried explored the possibility of paying Trump himself not to run, with sources suggesting Trump’s price tag for withdrawal was a staggering $5 billion.

Trump’s erratic behavior continued at a campaign rally in Iowa, where he made bizarre remarks about his preferred method of demise. During the speech in Ottumwa, Trump discussed electric boat batteries and recounted a conversation with a boat manufacturer in South Carolina. He stated, “If I’m sitting down and that boat is going down, and I’m on top of a battery and the water starts flooding in, I’m getting concerned, but then I look 10 yards to my left, and there’s a shark over there, so I have a choice of electrocution and a shark; you know what I’m going to take? Electrocution. I will take electrocution every single time; do we agree?”

In addition to these remarks, Trump criticized various sustainable energy technologies and vowed to reverse the Joe Biden White House’s mandate for electric vehicles. Ron Filipkowski, a Florida criminal defense attorney, told The Guardian that he witnessed Trump “slurring his words” when he started “riffing about how he would rather be electrocuted to death than be eaten by a shark.”

New California Law Stiffens Penalties for Trafficking Children for Sex

Antonio Ray Harvey California BlackMedia

Senate Bill (SB) 14 --legislation that makes trafficking of a minor for purposes of a commercial sex act a serious felony -- is now the law in California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Sept. 25 accompanied by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, State Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), who authored the bill, State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced), as well as survivors and advocates.

SB 14 classifies human trafficking a serious felony, subjecting it to the state’s “Three Strikes” law, which imposes harsher penalties and sentencing enhancements for individuals convicted of the offense.

“Human trafficking is a sick crime. With this new law, California is going further to protect kids. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Grove, Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), and Pro Tem (Sen. Toni) Atkins (D-San Diego) in spearheading this bipartisan effort to make our communities and children safer,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom at the signing ceremony.

According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency, “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide.”

Advocates of SB 14 believe it will be a deterrent for the men and women who exploit children using the internet or force them into labor in red-light districts in major California cities such as the 5.7-mile stretch on Figueroa Boulevard in Los Angeles, Capp Street in San Francisco, International Way in Oakland, Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento, Dalbergia Street in San Diego, and Wilson Way in Stockton.

“We got some stats and numbers from Figueroa from people that work in that area to rescue women and children,” Grove said at the State Capitol on Sept. 13. “They made comments that this bill disproportionately affects people of color…and it does. (SB 14) gives women and children an opportunity to be rescued and the perpetrator to be prisoned for many years.

The United States operates a national hotline, which serves as a platform for individuals to report suspected trafficking or seek assistance. According to data gathered from the hotline in 2015 through 2021, the number of people trafficking victims nationwide rose from 12,000 in 2015 to more than 22,200 in 2019 and then fell to 16,700 in 2021.

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), reports that from 2015 to 2021, the share of human trafficking cases involving sex trafficking increased from 87% to 89% in California, and from 85% to 88% nationally.  Statewide and nationally, sex trafficking is most common in pornography, massage parlors, and hotels. Among those trafficked for their labor, about one in five works in private homes, according to PPIC’s data.

SB 14 was hotly debated as it made its way through the legislative process this past summer. Some members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), including Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee were the targets of threats and racial slurs for not initially supporting the bill.

Jones-Sawyer and other CLBC members on the Public Safety Committee -- Majority Leader Assemblymember

Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) and Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) – argued that that trafficking was already a crime under California law punishable by 15 years to life in prison. They argued that SB 14 was ineffective as a deterrent to the crime, and that it would perpetuate the poverty-to-prison pipeline. Jones-Sawyer, who later voted to pass SB 14, said he was never against the bill, only parts of its language, which he deemed unacceptable because he felt it would cause more harm to trafficking victims rather than aid them.

A conviction under SB 14, including previous felonies, would increase prison sentences to 25 years to life. The trafficking of minors currently carries a prison term up to 12 years, or 15 years to life.

“We definitely thought there were a lot of merits to the bill, including how do we make sure these individuals are charged with serious felonies? We wanted to make sure that actually happens,” Jones-Sawyer told California Black Media. “It’s really about making sure that this doesn’t harm victims of human trafficking.”

SB 14, which passed the Assembly and Senate unanimously, is a bipartisan measure co-authored by 64 members of the Legislature. The legislation is supported by over a hundred local, national and international organizations, including a coalition of human trafficking survivors and advocates.

Since 2019, California has taken a comprehensive approach to fight human trafficking. The state has invested a total of $280.1 million to dismantle trafficking networks and support victims and survivors, according to the

Newsom administration.

The state has provided substantial funding to expand support programs for human trafficking survivors and Family Justice Centers — creating a one-stop facility for victims and their families to access various services — and allocated $25 million for the prevention, intervention, and services for minor victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Newsom has signed several laws aimed at strengthening legal safeguards for victims of trafficking, including measures for vacating convictions and for considering trauma in determining sentences.

“The trafficking of young women and girls is a heinous crime with far too many victims,” Siebel-Newsom stated. “I’ve seen the pain survivors carry for a lifetime and having recently visited the infamous Figueroa sex trafficking corridor, I’ve witnessed the devastating impacts of these crimes — not just on girls and young women — but on entire communities when trafficking persists.”

By Janell Gore South Kern Sol

to 11:00 a.m. at 520 S. Washington Street.

“I find it inspirational as I watch the CAPK Food Bank transform into the Wonderful Community Food Center, a symbol of hope and compassion for our community,” said Jeremy Tobias, CEO of CAPK.

According to a press release, the transformation of the CAPK Food Bank was due to donations from the Wonderful Company and other donors. Through the partnership, they plan to be a beacon of hope amid food insecurity.

“This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of The Wonderful Company and our esteemed partners,”

Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) talks to the media at the State Capitol on Sept. 13, 2023, after SB 14 passed in the Assembly and Senate. (CBM

photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)