La 01 25 18 4c

Mary J. Blige Becomes a Double Oscar Nominee

Actress Viola Davis speaks at a Women’s March

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Los Angeles

Volume 33 Number 13

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Push Back on Money Bail

Chicago businessman and philanthropist Dr. Willie Wilson (at podium) gives remarks during a press conference about Rep. Danny Davis’ “Bail Fairness Act of 2018” on Capitol Hill as Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) looks on. (Freddie Allen/AMG/ NNPA)

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor During a recent press conference on Capitol Hill, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) said that at any given time there are roughly 500,000 people sitting in local jails waiting for their day in court.

“These are people who have been charged with a crime, but are not convicted,” said Davis. “Many of the people waiting in jail are forced to wait simply, because they cannot afford to post bail.”

On January 18, Davis introduced the Bail Fairness Act of 2018 to alleviate some of the burdens associated with the cash bail system.

The Chicago congressman was joined on Capitol Hill

by Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) and Chicago businessman and philanthropist Dr. Willie Wilson. The four of them were flanked by two large posters; one poster read: “Taxpayers Spend $17 billion on Pre-trial Detentions”; the other poster simply said, “Bail Fail” in large letters. Wilson said that he has paid the bails of non-violent Cook County Corrections inmates who were too poor to bail themselves out.

Davis’ legislation would require states to release individuals charged with a non-violent misdemeanor on non-monetary conditions prior to their court date.

Civil rights groups and lawmakers are increasingly putting pressure on businesses operating in the cash bail system and becoming more vocal about problems in the industry.

As more cities begin to do away with the cash bail practice, some federal legislators are taking notice. Senators Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have voiced similar concerns regarding the problems of money Continued on page A2

Defense Claims McKnight Killing Self-Defense BUT DA Says Not So

By KEVIN McGILL Associated Press GRETNA, La. (AP) _ The man who killed former NFL player Joe McKnight was terrified and fired in self-defense as the athlete spewed obscenities and threats following a traffic confrontation in December 2016, a defense attorney told a jury Friday.

Lawyer Matthew Goetz added that the arrest of Ronald Gasser, 56, came days after the shooting amid political pressures. Goetz alluded to racial unrest that year in American cities, including the St. Louis area and Baton Rouge.

Gasser is white; McKnight was black.

Goetz delivered his opening statement to the jury in Gasser’s second-degree murder trial after Seth Shute, an assistant District Attorney in Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish, acknowledged that Gasser was initially freed after the shooting. But Shute said Gasser was arrested after investigators talked to numerous witnesses and assembled physical evidence contradicting Gasser’s claim that McKnight, 28, had tried to lunge into his car through a passenger window after both vehicles stopped at a busy intersection.

Jury selection began Tuesday, and opening statements were delayed because unusually frigid winter weather in south Louisiana prompted a two-day closure of the parish courthouse in the New Orleans suburb of Gretna.

Shute said jurors will hear from dozens of witnesses.

Some will testify about what Shute called a “mobile shouting match’’ that began on a bridge spanning the Mississippi River in New Orleans and continued into neighboring Jefferson Parish, Shute said. Others will talk about hearing the pop-pop-pop of three gunshots, seeing McKnight fall and watching as Gasser exited his car with his handgun still smoking.

Jurors also will hear a police officer recount Gasser’s first words at the shooting scene: “He cut me off and got out on me.’’

McKnight drove his gray SUV aggressively that afternoon, Shute acknowledged. There was a small amount of marijuana in his system and a “therapeutic dose level’’ of Oxycodone in his system, he added, having noted that McKnight was training in hopes of returning to the NFL after an injury cut his pro career short.

But he said there was no gunpowder residue on McKnight, indicating he was not shot at the close range Gasser had indicated. And an examination of the wounds indicat-

5

ed that McKnight’s hands were resting on the window of Gasser’s car, with no sign that he had aggressively moved to get inside.

“His version of events does not match the physical evidence,’’ Shute said.

“They’re going to say, `His hands were here, his hands were there,’’’ Goetz countered. “Ronnie believed he (McKnight) was coming after him.’’

McKnight was considered the No. 1 running back recruit in the country when he came out of John Curtis Christian School in Louisiana in 2006. He signed with the University of Southern California, where he ran for 2,213 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 66 passes for 542 yards and two scores in three seasons.

In the NFL, he played three seasons for the New York Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent a season in the Canadian Football League, playing two games for the Edmonton Eskimos and three for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

He was shot Dec. 1, 2016. Gasser never left the shoot-

ing scene and was initially freed after more than eight hours of questioning _ which Shute said jurors will see.

Gasser’s release sparked protests at the time, and some said race played a role in his release. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand, who has since retired, angrily denied that race played any role in the case. He recounted a painstaking investigation that included more than 160 interviews.

Arrested on a charge of manslaughter four days after the shooting, Gasser was indicted by a grand jury on the second-degree murder charge in February. If convicted as charged he would be sentenced to life in prison.

The trial is expected to last well into next week with state District Judge Ellen Kovach presiding.

The case echoes another New Orleans-area road-rage shooting from 2016. Former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith was gunned down in that April incident. The shooter was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years.

Tax Time FIVE TIPS (NAPSI)—Taxes are inevitable, but there are many smart ways to save time and money throughout the process. Marsha Barnes, a certified financial social worker, financial educator and certified credit report reviewer, helps identify five important tips to consider: 1. Get organized. Gather all the documents you’ll need ahead of time, including W-2s, 1099s, mortgage interest statements, charitable contributions, and paperwork relating to any stocks, funds or properties you bought or sold in 2017. Get out last year’s returns, which can serve as a guide. Schedule an appointment with a tax professional or compare the do-it-yourself software you’ll need to complete your tax returns on your own. You can also find checklists online, such as the one at GreenDot.com/taxfast.

2. Find out which tax breaks apply to you. Has your living or work situation changed? The number of people

you support? Did you get married or have children? Even if nothing has changed in your life, you may have missed credits in the past that you’re entitled to. For example, according to the IRS, one out of every five eligible workers fails to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you find out you qualify for the EITC this year and didn’t claim it in the past, you can even file amended returns for 2014, 2015 or 2016 taxes. Make sure you take advantage of the deductions that apply to you. The IRS provides a wealth of this type of information online at irs.gov.

3. Use direct deposit. For the fastest and most secure delivery of your tax refund, ditch the paper check. Opt to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account. Don’t have a bank account or don’t want to use your primary bank account?

Continued on page A4

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Kentucky Assistant Police Chief Fired for Racist Messages LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Court documents have revealed what ended the 25-year law enforcement career of an assistant police chief in the Louisville suburb of Prospect, Kentucky.

Media outlets report that acting Chief Todd Shaw sent what a prosecutor calls “highly disturbing racist and threatening Facebook messages’’ to a Louisville police recruit who had sought his advice. Among other things, Shaw advised the recruit to shoot black kids caught smoking marijuana, and then sexually assault their parents.

Shaw’s lawyer, Michael Burns, says he was just “playing’’ with these and other messages, and that that he “treated all people fairly’’ as a law enforcement officer.

Shaw resigned in November after his boss presented him with the messages.

A judge ordered the evidence released last week.

National Inventors Hall of Fame

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jan. 17, 2018 -- Since the founding of the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF), more than 500 visionary men and women, who conceived, patented, and advanced the greatest technological achievements of our nation, have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Historical innovators like Thomas Jennings and Garrett Morgan paved the way beyond science and technology by becoming advocates for African-Americans. Today, pioneers like Victor B. Lawrence continue to advance technologies and racial and economic inequalities.

Thomas Jennings, Dry Scouring (First African-American U.S. Patent) Thomas Jennings invented a process he called “dry scouring,” becoming the first African-American to be granted a U.S. patent in 1821. His dry-scouring process was a predecessor to today’s dry-cleaning methods. His success as a businessman and patent holder helped him become a leader for civil rights in New York City. When Jennings died, Frederick Douglass wrote about his death. He noted the importance of the patent Jennings received and that the patent recognized him as a “citizen of the United States,” a designation at the time that shocked many.

Garrett Morgan, Gas Mask & Three-way Traffic Signal Garrett Morgan was a self-educated black man who produced a series of successful inventions in the beginning of the 20th century. His first well-known invention was the safety hood – a forerunner of the gas mask. In 1923, he patented one of his best-known inventions, the three-way traffic signal. Morgan went on to sell his patent to General Electric, which developed the electric version of the product. Morgan became an advocate for racial equality, establishing the first black fraternities in the country at Cleveland’s Western Reserve University.

Victor B. Lawrence, Signal Processing in Telecommunications Victor Lawrence improved transmission for the modern Internet with his invention of signal processing in telecommunications. His invention has stimulated the growth of the global Internet and advanced data encoding, modem technology, silicon ship design, ATM switching and protocols, DSL and digital video. As a key player in Internet technology, Lawrence advocates bringing Internet access to the world’s poorest countries. He spearheaded efforts to lay high-capacity fiber-optic cable along the west coast of Africa.

Man Attacks Wife with Machete for Refusing Sex

OUACHITA PARISH, La. (AP) _ A Louisiana man is accused of attacking his wife with a machete after she refused sex.

An Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office affidavit says 53-year-old Phillip Smith was arrested Friday and charged with one count of domestic abuse aggravated assault child endangerment.

The report quotes Smith’s wife as saying they were arguing about sex while she was driving. She says he then pulled out the machete and started swinging, but he didn’t hit her. She also says the couple’s children were in the back seat.

She pulled over and started honking her horn with hopes that someone would help.

The report quotes Smith as saying he tried to take his wife’s phone to stop her from calling authorities.

It also quotes Smith as saying he only intended to scare his wife.

Doughnut-Eating Champ Charged with Stealing

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) _ A North Carolina man who made headlines when he was caught for break-ins after winning a doughnut-eating contest has been arrested again. And this time he’s accused of stealing from a doughnut shop.

The Virginian-Pilot newspaper reports 27-year-old Bradley Hardison of Elizabeth City was charged Thursday with stealing from a Dunkin’ Donuts in November.

An Elizabeth City Police Department statement says he’s charged with felonies including breaking and entering and larceny. It wasn’t clear if he helped himself to any doughnuts.

A phone listing for Hardison rang disconnected.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that in 2014, Hardison won a doughnut-eating contest put on by Elizabeth City police while he was wanted on suspicion of several breakins. Investigators said they arrested Hardison after his win prompted further scrutiny, and he was convicted, according to the paper.

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World & Nation LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Chicago Public Schools Working to Close Achievement Gap

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Students in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system are learning faster than just about any other school district in the nation, according to new research.

Research provided by Stanford Professor Sean Reardon shows that students in the Windy City have gained six years of learning in just five years.

Reardon based his analysis on 300 million elementary school test scores covering more than 11,000 school districts.

“I don’t think CPS is doing anything extraordinary or special for parent engagement, but it may be worth pointing out that we’re suddenly leading the nation in student growth and our kids of color are outperforming comparable kids of color across the state,” said Marilyn Rhames, the founder of the nonprofit Teachers Who Pray and a veteran teacher in Chicago.

Still, Rhames, author of the upcoming book, “The Master Teacher: 12 Spiritual Lessons that can Transform Schools and Revolutionize Public Education,” cautioned that there’s another side to the success story that shouldn’t be overlooked.

“There’s a huge race-based disparity of performance on the SAT, which all 11th graders in the state of Illinois has to take,” Rhames said. “Some CPS high schools did the worst in the state. So, how effective is our growth, if it’s not

Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the report a testament to the hard work, progress and success of Chicago’s remarkable students, teachers, principals and families. In this photo, Emanuel speaks during the White House Summit on Working Families Chicago Regional Forum at the Ralph Metcalfe Building in Chicago, Ill., April 2014. (Andrew A. Nelles/U.S. Department of Labor)

translating into better preparation for college?”

But, it’s not just about test scores, student attendance is up, Chicago high schools are offering more rigorous courses and high school graduation and college enrollment rates continue to rise, said Elaine Allensworth of the Chicago Consortium on School Research.

The consortium has provided a descriptive examination of two- and four-year college enrollment patterns among CPS graduates over the last 10 years.

They found that CPS graduates’ immediate college enrollment rates increased over the last decade, with 63 percent of 2015 graduates enrolling in either a two- or fouryear college immediately after high school, compared to 50 percent of graduates in 2006.

In 2015, CPS graduates’ rate of enrollment in fouryear colleges was equal to the national rate at 44 percent, and higher than some urban districts, including New York and Los Angeles, which were 38 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

In June 2017, WBEZ in Chicago reported that even as CPS—the state’s largest school district—reeled from an ongoing budget crisis, an academic turnaround has occurred.

For decades, the district reportedly shouldered a reputation of being perennially challenged by poverty and chronically low-performing schools.

In 1987, the U.S. Secretary of Education declared CPS the worst in the nation.

“That’s not Chicago anymore,” said Paul Zavitkovsky, a researcher with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Urban Education Leadership.

Research has also revealed that Chicago students, on average, repeatedly outperform their peers outside the city.

Reardon, a leading expert on education equality in the United States, presented an analysis in November that revealed Chicago’s students learn and grow at a faster rate than 96 percent of school districts in the country—including wealthy districts.

Reardon’s findings also noted that, among the 100 largest school districts in the country, Chicago has the highest growth rate between third and eighth grade; and each successive CPS class is outperforming the class that came before and improving at a rate far above the national average, according to Reardon’s report.

“This report is a testament to the hard work, progress and success of Chicago’s remarkable students, teachers, principals and families,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “CPS students make Chicago proud every day. They not only lead in the classroom, they lead the country in academic growth, and their achievements are earning national recognition and respect.”

Kate Phillippo, an associate professor of cultural and educational policy studies at the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago, said she’s excited to see increased learning growth in CPS. “It’s important to note what Chicago accomplished specifically. For example, its third grade test scores are still below the national average, but its growth is unusually high,” Phillippo said.

While there’s no one secret to success, initiatives at the school level have clearly promoted growth, she said.

“I think the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has the potential to support student achievement, giving districts greater flexibility about how they approach curriculum, and what learning supports they provide to their students,” Phillippo said. “ESSA’s provision for less standardized testing will also free educators up from a sense of pressure to prepare students for high-stakes tests. Finally, it is critical that ESSA has kept in place protections for economically disadvantaged students; that’s one of the hallmarks of ESSA.” Learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act at nnpa.org/essa.

New Bill Pushes Back on Money Bail Continued from page A1

bail in the Senate. In September 2017, Harris joined with Republican Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act. The bill would overhaul America’s bail system just as Rep. Davis’ legislation hopes to do.

A May 2017 report by Color of Change and the ACLU entitled, “Selling Off Our Freedom: How Insurance Corporations Have Taken Over Our Bail System,” outlined the for-profit incentives behind the bail system in America.

The report revealed that there are fewer than 10 companies involved in the administration of over $14 billion in bonds posted by for-profit bail each year. The bail industry collects approximately $2 billion in profit, annually.

“The result of bail corporations’ control is that millions of people are no longer free: people stuck in jail and families stuck in debt to create profit for these corporations,” the report read. The study also pointed out that, “the national median for bail for a felony arrest is now $10,000, while the Federal Reserve has found that nearly half of Americans would be unable to pay for an unexpected expense of $400.”

The United States remains number one in the world in the rate of incarceration, with over two million people behind bars, in large part, because poor people are unable to pay their way out of incarceration. The money bail system disproportionately impacts the poor. There are currently over 43 million Americans living under the poverty line; nearly 30 percent of African Americans live in poverty.

“The original purpose of bail was to serve as an incentive to return to court when a person is arrested, released, and their case proceeds. However, the current money bail system has little to do with this original intent…people with money can almost always buy their way to freedom, regardless of the charges against them,” wrote ACLU Deputy National Political Director Udi Ofer on December 11, 2017.

Rep. Davis has continued to focus on justice reform issues during his 20 years in Congress. Davis’ “Second Chance Act” was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007. The legislation assisted formerly incarcerated individuals to successfully re-enter society.

In November 2016, after his 15-year-old grandson was murdered in Chicago, Rep. Davis pushed for more funding for neighborhoods struggling with poverty. His focus was on the “10-20-30” policy proposed by South Carolina Rep. Jim Clayburn. The “10-20-30” plan would focus cash on 10 percent of all government funding to be allocated to ar-

eas where 20 percent of the residents have lived in poverty for over 30 years.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist, political analyst and contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com. She can be reached by email at LBurke007@gmail.com and on Twitter at @LVBurke.

Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) recently held a press conference to introduce the “Bail Fairness Act of 2018” on Capitol Hill.

(Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

Research has also revealed that Chicago students, on average, repeatedly outperform their peers outside the city. (Creative Commons/Pixabay)

State of the Union

PROTEST

CBC members plan to protest the president’s State of the Union address. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor During a lengthy, members-only meeting on Capitol Hill on January 19, members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) discussed various options to protest the current President of the United States. Their protest plans centered around the annual State of the Union address.

President Donald Trump’s second State of the Union address is scheduled for January 30.

The meeting the CBC held to talk over State of the Union protest plans occurred only hours after 66 members of the House voted to act on impeaching the President.

That effort was led once again by Black Caucus member Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). Rep. Green’s second impeachment try failed 355-66. Three Democrats voted “present.”

Weeks after Donald Trump reportedly called Haiti, El Salvador and the continent of Africa “shithole countries” during a meeting on immigration with members of Congress in the Oval Office, many members have had it.

CBC members who attended the discussion confirmed that several options of protesting President Trump were discussed including walking out, wearing African themed garb and even not showing up to the State of the Union at all. The more vocal members included Reps.

Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.).

During an interview with Buzzfeed on January 17, days before the meeting, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-La.) mentioned the CBC might hold its own State of the Union.

“We will…discuss how we want to respond to the president’s State of the Union. We could go, we could go and walk out, we could go and hold up fists...or we could not go, or we could hold our own ‘State of the Union,’” Richmond said.

A few Black Caucus members have already stated that they will not attend the president’s State of the Union address. They include Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.).

Some CBC members are concerned about Congress’ largest caucus not being unified in protest, whatever form the protest may take. Other members wanted to make sure serious issues are highlighted and expressed concerns about the protest taking attention away from serious policy discussion. But in the age of former reality TV star turned President Donald Trump, others say that the best response is to fight fire with fire.

With protests in the air and in the streets around the first anniversary of the start of the Trump presidency, the timing of any protest the CBC may undertake on the night of the State of the Union is likely to receive serious media attention.

Regarding Rep. Green’s impeachment attempts, which House leadership is in opposition of, Green pointed out that Trump, “has by his statements brought the high office of president of the United States in contempt, ridicule, disgrace and disrepute; has sown discord among the people of the United States; has demonstrated that he is unfit to be president; and has betrayed his trust as president of the United States to the manifest injury of the people of the United States and has committed a high misdemeanor in office.”

Rep. Green’s form of protest was a legislative one. On the night of the State of the Union, we are likely to see a more theatrical display.

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Features

Thursday, January 25, 2018

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A3

Calvin Johnson Walter Camp-Under-Armour Honor

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer “Raven in New Haven” that a statement used to describe the Walter Camp Football Foundations annual Weekend of special event.

Former NFL great Calvin Johnson was honored as Man of the Year at the 51st annual Awards dinner in New Haven Connecticut. Since retirement Johnson has focused on his foundation and family. He share a few moments with me before the event got started.

“The purpose of the foundation is to give back and help others” said Johnson. “A lot of people have helped me along the way.” Johnson is accompanied by his wife Bridget and was hawked by autograph seekers and many just wanting to shake his hand. He accommodated all he could throughout the evening.

Since 2008 the CJJF has awarded scholarships and book awards to 36 young student athletes. In 2017 the helped needy families in Detroit and Atlanta take on hunger. He has help young expecting mothers who are pregnant. he has created a leadership conference and developed a mentor program. He also has given a Pancreatic Research Scholarship to students at Morehouse School of Medicine.

“The goal is to change the mind set of youth from struggle to survival, from poor self –esteem to excitement of life, from dependent thinking to goal setting self-sufficiency, and from hopelessness to empowerment,” added Johnson. He is assisted at the foundation by his mother Dr. Arica Johnson While at Georgia Tech Johnson accumulated many honors including All-Atlantic Coast conference 2004,05 and 06. he was ACC player of the Year in 2006 and Fourtime ACC Rookie of the Week. He won the Biletnikoff

Award (the nation’s best receiver) in 2006. He was also named Walter Camp All-American.

While at Georgia Tech Johnson was a management major and during the summer of 2006 he chose to build solar latrines in Bolivia to improve sanitation in the country instead of working on a condo project here. He always wanted to help the less fortunate.

On getting back to the game as a coach, Johnson was clear “Coaching just takes to much time. When I was a player I got to the build pretty early and coaches were already there. They leave after the players. As far as spending time with family, that’s what I look forward to doing.”

The All- American team is America’s oldest fist started

by Walter Cam p in 1890 and the foundation founded in 1967 some 51 years ago.

“Coaching just takes up too much time,” Johnson said. “I got to the building pretty early when I was playing and coaches were already there and they leave after the players. As far as spending time with family, that’s what I was looking forward to.

“As far as football goes, I still love it. I still love being around the sport. I do some consulting around the league.”

Baker Mayfield was WC Player of the year after leading the Oklahoma Sooners to a play-off birth at the Rose Bowl. He let his feeling be know on attending the WCFF dinner.

“There was no hesitation to go”said Mayfield. I had Bob Stoops and past guys from Oklahoma tell me its the best banquet you could possibly go to so for me it was a no brainer. Its an honor not just being around the greats of the past but the young guys coming up.”

“I see what Walter Camp was all about. It’s because of him the game is played the way it is today. He created the forward pass and formations. He was about community and family and everyone here has made me feel that way.”

Calvin Johnson and wife Bridget share a moment at Walter Camp dinner in New Haven Connecticut (Earl Heath Photo)

NBA All Star Starters

By Cam Buford- Sponsored by COAST FITNESS Contributing Sports Writer The NBA All-Star starters were announced last week.

Though the reserves won’t be announced for another few days, the new All-Star format allows us to debate and discuss the potential starting squads for this year’s All-Star game extravaganza. This new format allows for the top vote-getters would then select their team from those players voted into the All-Star game.

As NBA fans might have expected... LeBron James and Stephon Curry have lead the NBA in All-Star voting.

As team captains they have the opportunity to select their team from the 8 other players that have been named AllStar starters. Below is the list of All Star starters; Eastern Conference Players LeBron James- Giannis Antetokounmpo- Joel Embid- Kyrie Irving- DeMara DeRozan-

Call Me

Western Conference Players Stephen Curry- James Harden- Kevin Durant- Anthony Davis- DeMarcus Cousins-

G- Golden State Warriors G- Houston Rockets F- Golden State Warriors F- New Orleans Pelicans C- New Orleans Pelicans

Though we all would love to see the Players Draft, as of now, the draft will not be televised, to the dismay many NBA fans near and far. It would be very interested to see who the players would actually pick. I am rather surprised that the NBA is passing on in opportunity to show and air the dramatics of this situation.

As with the previous voting format the players and F- Cleveland Cavaliers media votes make up 25% of the voting, while the fan F- Milwaukee Bucks voting accounts for 50%. The reserves will be selected by C- Philadelphia 76ers theHead Coaches in the league. Which will have been announced by the time this article prints.

G- Boston Celtics Russell Westbrook, Draymond Green, Damian LilG- Toronto Raptors lard, Lou Williams, LaMarcus Aldrige, Jimmy Butler, Karl Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell are among the Western Conference players which should be named as Email Me All-Star reserves.

Kristaps Porzingis, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker, John Wall, Victor Oladipo, Andre Drummond, and John Wall are among the Eastern Conference players which should be named to as All-Star reserves.

We will preview the NBA All Star game once the teams are identified. Though I would like to know your thoughts on the NBA’s All Star selection process... Please let me know What’s Good by sharing your feedback in the comment section below at whatsgoodinsports.com.

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Championship Weekend in the NFL

By Cam Buford- Sponsored by COAST FITNESS Contributing Sports Writer This past weekend the NFL’s final four teams competed for their respective Conference Championships, which leads to the Super Bowl spectacle in a couple weeks. As surprising as it may have been, the NFC had 2 back up quarterbacks competing for their spot to represent the NFC in the upcoming Superbowl. The AFC championship matchup pitted a multi-time champion against an inexperienced, aggressive team for their opportunity to represent the AFC in the Superbowl.

Case Keenum lead the Minnesota Vikings into the NFC Championship game versus Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings came into this game with the leagues top rated defense and they were playing for an opportunity to be the first team to play the Superbowl in their home stadium. Unfortunately for them and the Vikings fans around the NFL, the league’s top-rated defense did not show up to play as Nick Foles threw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns including 38 unanswered points. Keenum and the Vikings appeared to be shell-shocked once the Eagles returned his initial interception for their first

Touchdown.

The Eagles has displayed a well-balanced offense throughout the season even after their MVP caliber QB, Carson Wentz, went down to injury. Their game plan versus the Vikings vaunted defense was to take it right to them, and that they did. Their ability to score points, like they did last week, along with their ability to play solid defense makes them a formidable NFC representative in the Superbowl.

The AFC Championship game was much more competitive for most of the game. The upstart Jacksonville Jaguars came into this game with their hard nose defense and tough running game, where as the New England Patriots brought arguably the best coach and quarterback in the game. This made for an interesting match up for many football fans.

As the Jacksonville Jaguars took an early lead in this game, there were a couple stages in this game where I felt the Jaguars didn’t take fill advantage of the opportunity in from of them. The Jaguars got the ball back with 55 seconds and 2 time outs left before halftime... Inexplicably, they elected to take a knee and let the clock run out; shying away from trying to get more points on the board against the defending champions.

Additionally, early in the fourth quarter with a 10 point lead, the Jaguars did not assert themselves as the toughest, most dominant squad, by utilizing their power running game which had become a staple of their offense throughout the season. Twice they had the chance to run the ball, take time off the clock and remove any chance of surrendering the lead they fought hard to get. Instead, in back to back possessions they went 3 & Out which gave the Patriots their opportunity to complete another one of their historic comebacks.

With their recent AFC Championship, The New England Patriots has made it to their 10th Superbowl. While the Philadelphia Eagles will be enjoying their 3rd Superbowl appearance. This Eagles vs. Patriots match-up will actually be a rematch of Superbowl XXXIX, which saw the Patriots win that game to capture their 3rd Superbowl Championship in a 4 years.

More Superbowl analysis will in the coming weeks.

Though I would like to know your thoughts on the NFL’s Championship weekend... Please let me know What’s Good by sharing your feedback in the comment section below at whatsgoodinsports.com. Let me know what’s good...

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Photo: 2nd District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Chief Probation Officer Terri L. McDonald, 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn, 3rd District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, 1st District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, DPO II Catherine Brennan and her husband, Mike Brennan, Chief Deputy Probation Officer Reaver Bingham, 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

Supervisors Honors Deputy Probation Officer

Actress Viola Davis speaks at a Women’s March against sexual violence and the policies of the Trump Presidency.

From Sacramento to LA, Women’s March Protests Trump Policies

By SANDY COHEN Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Hundreds of thousands of women's marchers amassed at parks and city halls throughout California on Saturday to condemn sexual harassment, violence against women and the presidency of Donald Trump.

Speakers, including Hollywood stars, urged women to vote in the midterm elections that Democrats hope will let them regain control of the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

Speakers and marchers condemned GOP-backed Trump administration policies that they consider threaten the rights of women, immigrants and gays.

“Women together can stop this slide to the bottom,'' actress Alfre Woodard told a crowd at Los Angeles City Hall. “The 2018 midterms start now, today, at this spot in this moment. You have the power in your hands to change history.''

Actress Scarlett Johansson said women have been “conditioned'' to need approval from men and referenced the Time's Up movement against sexual harassment, saying: “For me, moving forward means time's up on the female condition.''

Mayor Eric Garcetti estimated 500,000 people were at the rally _ one of many being held on the anniversary of Trump's inauguration.

Marchers, many in bright pink cat-eared “pussy'' hats, held signs attacking Trump.

Diane Omari, who came to the march with 30 other men and women, held a sign reading “Trumpster for the Dumpster.''\ “I'm sick to my stomach every day, and I find myself working on not being angry, because there's only so much we can do.

So to me, this is one of the ways I can let the world know that I resist,'' said Joan Durham of Los Angeles, who described herself

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proudly recognized Los Angeles County Deputy Probation Officer II (DPO II) Catherine Brennan as the 2017 Award of Excellence recipient from the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) during its meeting on Tuesday, January 23.

The CPOC Award of Excellence is presented to a probation employee making significant contributions that have had statewide or far-reaching impact on the field of probation. These nominees can come from one of the 19,000 sworn, non-sworn or management ranks of Probation Departments across the state. Nominations are made by, or on behalf of individual Chief Probation Officers.

One recipient is chosen from nominees throughout the state.

“Deputy Probation Officer II Catherine Brennan exemplifies a model of excellence for Probation Officers statewide,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who arranged the Board’s recognition of Brennan. “Probation Officer Brennan and her team have been positively impacting the lives of veterans, transitional age youth, victims of human trafficking, those with mental illnesses, and our chronically homeless population by identifying modern approaches to reducing recidivism and promoting alternative sentencing frameworks. Probation Officer Brennan’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I congratulate her and the entire Los Angeles County Probation Department on this well-deserved honor.”

Probation Officer Brennan serves in the Community Collaborative Court (CCC) program within the Probation Department’s Adult Services Court Officer Team (ASCOT) since 2015. The CCC program utilizes alternative sentencing, such as Drug Court, Veteran’s Court, or Second-Chance Women’s Re-entry Court for criminal offenses. These courts are community service-based alternatives to traditional incarceration which has proven to

as an activist since the 1960s.\ Sixteen-year-old Caley Medina said she wanted to spread her activism beyond her high school campus, so she came to the march with her mom and brother.\ “This is my first women's march and I'm honestly so glad that I came,'' she said. “I think our generation is a little pessimistic because we don't go out and vote in large numbers and we aren't as politically active as we should be, so we really try to tell people that our opinions are worth it and it's really important that we go out and speak our minds.''\ Other peaceful demonstrations drew large crowds from the state Capitol in Sacramento to cities in the San Francisco Bay Area and south to San Diego.

In San Francisco, where 100,000 people were expected, acting Mayor London Breed greeted marchers.

“We will not silently sit back as the Fed Gov continues to push an agenda that stigmatizes women's rights, LGBTQ communities and immigrants,'' she tweeted.

At the Oakland rally, one group of women came dressed in red robes and headdresses like those worn by the captive women in the TV series “The Handmaid's Tale,'' KQED-TV reported.

In Santa Ana, south of Los Angeles, demonstrators danced to songs by Cyndi Lauper and Beyonce and chanted: “When we fight we win!'' the Orange County Register reported.

“I'm worried for the future of our country,'' said Lorraine Gayer of Huntington Beach. She held a sign with a picture of the Statue of Liberty that read: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled Norwegians'' _ a jab at President Trump's reportedly crude remarks suggesting the U.S. could use fewer immigrants from Africa and Haiti and more from Norway.

“You can get your tax refund even faster when you use direct deposit,” advises financial expert. (NAPA courtesy Photo)

Five Tips for Saving Money Time on Taxes Continued from page A1

Get the Los Angeles News Observer Online at

ognsc.com News Observer Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

The Bakersfield News Observer is also available online at ognsc.com

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Volume 44 Number 19

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King’s Lasting Impact on Equity in Education

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King at a rally in Chicago’s Grant Park, in 1966.

Oprah’s Barn Raiser Speech What president?

A year after politics — and the newly elected occupant of the White House — dominated the conversation and tone of the Golden Globes, there was barely a mention of such things at Sunday’s ceremony. This year, it was all gender politics, and of course the #MeToo movement that has engulfed Hollywood and spread into the culture at large with astonishing speed. From the sea of glittering black gowns worn in solidarity on the usually multi-colored red carpet, to sly references to unequal pay and recognition for women, to Frances McDormand’s salute to “a tectonic shift” in the Hollywood power structure, it was a night for reckoning — crowned by Oprah Winfrey’s barn-raiser of a speech proclaiming “Their time is UP!” Some key moments: SERIOUS CARPET TALK: Usually, red carpet interviews focus on the provenance of designer gowns and jewelry. This year, there was talk of working conditions for farmers and janitors, and demands for equal pay across society. Several actresses, including Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and Emma Watson, brought social activists with them , to focus on real-life solutions to gritty problems far from Hollywood.

“We feel emboldened in this particular moment,” Streep said, “to stand together in a thick black line dividing then from now.”

LAURA DERN’S NORTH STAR: It was a night of unusually powerful speeches, whether long or short, that touched eloquently on the #MeToo moment. One came from Laura Dern, who won supporting actress for “Big Little Lies,” a TV series that, aptly, depicts not only sexual abuse, but a group of women who only fully discover their power when they unite. Using her character to describe a past culture in which people were afraid to speak out, Dern urged Hollywood to support and employ survivors brave enough to come forward. And she went further: “May we teach our children,” she said, “that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star.”

A SLY NOD TO A GLARING OMISSION: One of the most glaring snubs in this year’s movie nominations came in the best director category, where Greta Gerwig was passed over for her much-loved “Lady Bird.”

Natalie Portman, presenting the director prize, was not about to let that go unnoticed. “And here are the all MALE

Continued on page A6

reduce recidivism. Brennan’s work with probationers who are veterans, homeless, mentally-ill, substance abusers, and victims of human trafficking have garnered praise throughout the Los AngelesSuperior Courts.

In the CCC program, a collaborative team approach with various agencies is used to identify the proposed level of care and treatment placement necessary to assist the probationer with appropriate services. Brennan, who has been with the Los Angeles County Probation Department since 1989, acts as a liaison between county and municipal agencies and the Probation Department for her clients, frequently visiting them in LosAngeles and surrounding counties. Her concern is for the benefit of her clients, and credits the frequent collaboration with colleagues across the social services spectrum as an essential element in making her work effective.

“There are so many people who work alongside with me who share in this recognition,” said Brennan. “Probation has offered many challenges and opportunities that I am thankful for and I am so proud and grateful to do the work that I do.”

Los Angeles County Deputy Probation Officer II Martha Aguirre, Senior Director Dalila Alcantara, Senior Detention Services Officer Ruth Tyson, Los Angeles County Probation Commissioner Don Meredith and Board of Supervisors Third District Justice Deputy Sherry Gold were also recognized by CPOC, receiving a Distinguished Service Certificate for their meritorious service.

The Chief Probation Officers of California is leadership association composed of Probation Department Chiefs from all 58 California counties with a shared identity as law enforcement leaders who are committed to a research-based approach to public safety that promotes positive behavior change. CPOC’s goal is to prevent crime and delinquency, reduce recidivism, restore victims and promote healthy families and communities.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s influence on the Civil Rights Movement is indisputable, but his fight for equity in education remains a mystery to some.

That fight began with his own education.

“He clearly had an advanced, refined educational foundation from Booker T. Washington High School, Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University,” said Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “His education in his speeches and sermons and writings were apparent and he wanted us all to have that type of education.”

King completed high school at 15, college at 19, seminary school at 22 and earned a doctorate at 26.

“Dr. King laid down the case for affordable education for all Americans, including Polish children—from the ghetto and the barrios, to the Appalachian mountains and the reservations—he was a proponent for education for all and he believed that strong minds break strong chains and once you learn your lesson well, the oppressor could not unlearn you.”

Rev. Al Sharpton, the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), said that NAN works with Education for a Better America to partner with school districts, universities, community colleges, churches, and community organizations around the country to conduct educational programming for students and parents.

“The mission of the organization has been to build bridges between policymakers and the classrooms by supporting innovations in education and creating a dialogue between policymakers, community leaders, educators, parents, and students,” Sharpton said. “We’re promoting student health, financial literacy, and college readiness in our communities, just like Dr. King did.”

King was a figure to look up to in both civil rights and academia, Sharpton told the NNPA Newswire.

“Then, when you look at his values, he always saw education, especially in the Black community, as a tool to uplift and inspire to action,” Sharpton said. “It’s definiteContinued on page A2

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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Mississippi Judge; Racial Bias Suit Against Coroner Can Proceed

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) _ Six black-owned funeral homes can proceed toward trial with their lawsuit alleging that a Mississippi Gulf Coast coroner discriminates in favor of white-owned competitors, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on Friday ruled mostly for the plaintiffs, although he dismissed some of the claims against Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove. Ten of the original 13 legal grounds for the lawsuit remain alive.

The dispute revolves around cases where Harrison County pays for a body to be picked up, stored, autopsied or buried, usually at Hargrove's direction.

Starrett wrote that the plaintiffs produced enough evidence that Hargrove treated black-owned funeral homes differently from white-owned funeral homes for the case to proceed. One black funeral home owner has testified that Hargrove once told her that ``white bodies go to the white funeral homes and black bodies go to the black funeral home.''

The plaintiffs told Starrett there's plenty of evidence that Hargrove discriminated against them when directing who would get county-controlled business. ``Defendants have all but completely excluded plaintiffs from receiving mortuary business in their control,'' lawyer Steven Art wrote in November, urging Starrett to let the case go forward. ``Plaintiffs repeatedly have observed the coroner exercise his authority based on race; the coroner has said that his decisions are influenced by race; and thousands of the coroner's own files_produced by the coroner himself and extensively analyzed by plaintiffs and their experts_reveal racial discrimination.''

Hargrove and a lawyer for Harrison County deny discrimination, saying they follow the wishes of the deceased and their families. They say black-owned funeral homes have limited refrigeration facilities, and that a pathologist whom Hargrove didn't control had done all autopsies in the past at white-owned funeral homes. ``The limited exceptions occur when an autopsy is required or when a family member cannot be promptly located necessitating refrigeration of the body,'' lawyer Daniel Seawell wrote in October. ``Hargrove has no control over the sites where autopsies were performed and no control over a funeral home's decision to provide proper refrigeration with sufficient capacity.''

Child Living in Storage Container Dies in Fire BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) _ California authorThis image released by NBC shows Oprah Winfrey accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)

ities say a young child has died in a fire inside a storage unit where a family of five had been living.

Kern County officials say firefighters responding near Bakersfield early Wednesday found the storage unit engulfed in flames.

KABC-TV reports a child 4 or 5 years old died.

Three other family members were hospitalized with unknown injuries.

“A smart choice is to get your tax refunds deposited onto a prepaid debit card, such as a Green Dot Prepaid Visa card or a Walmart MoneyCard,” says Barnes. “These prepaid debit cards are convenient tools to manage everyday finances and direct deposit is free, secure, eliminates the need to pay for check cashing services, and the money arrives faster than a paper check. Green Dot prepaid cards are FDIC-insured bank account alternatives that you can use everywhere MasterCard or Visa debit are accepted and your money is protected if your card gets lost or stolen.”

These cards can be ordered online at GreenDot.com/ taxfast or found at a nearby retailer such as Walmart, Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar or Kmart.

4. File early and electronically. E-filing is the easiest and fastest way to file your taxes, and you’ll get your refund faster than if you file a paper return, especially if combined with direct deposit. Tax Day 2018 is April 17th this year,

two days later than normal, but don’t try to take advantage of that. Filing early will not only help you get your refund faster, it may also help you avoid tax-related identity theft since you will already have filed using your own Social Security Number before someone else tried to.

5. Look for tax season sales and promotions. “Both the full-service tax prep companies and the DIY websites are competing for your business, so shop around to find the best deal for what you need,” suggests Barnes. “You may even be able to win money when you file your taxes.”

Enter to win the Green Dot Tax-Time Giveaway with 4,000 prizes totaling over $75,000. You’ll earn five entries when you direct deposit your federal tax refund to your Green Dot card. Just visit GreenDotTAXTIME.com to enter and for official rules.

“And since you were smart and filed early, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the tax day freebies that companies promote while others rush to beat the April 17th deadline,” adds Barnes.

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FILE - In a Sunday Oct. 30, 2016, file photo, Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) leaves the field after an NFL Football game against Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium in London. The NFL has established a player-owner committee focusing on social and racial justice initiatives. The league also said Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, it is beginning a “Let’s Listen Together” campaign that includes digital content and commercials highlighting player-led work on equality issues. That platform will include social media support and letters from players and owners. Owners on the committee are Arizona’s Michael Bidwill, Atlanta’s Arthur Blank, Jacksonville’s Shahid Khan, Cleveland’s Jimmy Haslam and Miami’s Stephen Ross. Current players Josh McCown, Josh Norman, and Kelvin Beachum, Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams and former player Anquan Boldin are on the committee.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

NFL establishes Owner-Player Committee on Social Justice NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has established a player-owner committee focusing on social and racial justice initiatives.

The league also said Tuesday it is beginning a “Let’s Listen Together” campaign that includes digital content and commercials highlighting player-led work on equality issues. That platform will include social media support and letters from players and owners.

Owners on the committee are Arizona’s Michael Bidwill, Atlanta’s Arthur Blank, Jacksonville’s Shahid Khan, Cleveland’s Jimmy Haslam and Miami’s Stephen Ross.

Current players Josh McCown, Josh Norman, and Kelvin Beachum, Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams and former player Anquan Boldin are on the committee.

This season many players took knees during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice, drawing rebukes from President Donald Trump.

Boldin says the initiative should be “celebrated” because the NFL is the “first professional league or entity that has taken the concerns of its players and put resources behind it.”

This image released by Netflix shows Mary J. Blige in a scene from “Mudbound.” Blige was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 4. (Netflix via AP)

Mary J. Blige Thrilled at Becoming a Double Oscar Nominee LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mary J. Blige is still getting used to the idea of being a double Oscar nominee.

The nine-time Grammy winner was nominated for two Academy Awards on Tuesday: Supporting actress and original song for “Mudbound.”

Blige said she spent the morning “yelling and screaming and about to cry.” The 47-year-old called the nominations beautiful.

“This is a new one, the actress nominee, and this is beautiful. This is really special,” she said. “So is the song because it’s something that I love to do. I love to sing. And that’s something I’ve been doing for a very long time that’s special to me, and the Oscars have recognized it. So it’s all special.”

Directed and co-written by Dee Rees, who was nominated Tuesday for adapted screenplay, “Mudbound” is a story about two families set in the Jim Crow South. Blige plays Florence Jackson, a sharecropper’s wife who becomes an unlikely friend and ally to the landowner’s wife, played

by Carey Mulligan.

Blige said playing Florence added a new dimension to her life, even after production wrapped.

“I take Florence with me, and I take all the experiences and emotion with me,” Blige said. “But I don’t mind because Florence is a beautiful, powerful, confident woman, and she gave me a lot of confidence and strength in my struggles in my trials that I was dealing with the time.”

The character, Blige said, is like a song.

“She’s just inspiring a whole other side of me,” Blige said. “A deeper me; a deeper confidence where I don’t have to depend on so many things, things that the world uses or says that makes you beautiful. Florence is a stripped-down, beautiful woman, and that’s a song in itself.”

Blige’s original song for the film, “Mighty River,” written with Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson, plays over the closing credits.

“Mudbound” also made history with its nomination for cinematographer Rachel Morrison, the first woman ever recognized in that category.

Blige said working with Rees and Morrison on the film “made my life easy.” “(Dee) gave me new life with Florence and she gave me courage to play this character,” the singer said. “And Rachel was just amazing. Seeing these women every day on set, it was so refreshing and such a treat and just beautiful.”

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This combination photo shows Mary J. Blige, from left, Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson, who were nominated for an Oscar award for original song for “Mighty River,” from the film “Mudbound.” (AP Photo)

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‘Jumanji’ Tops Box Office for Third Week in a Row

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) - “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’’ outdid another weekend’s worth of newcomers to top the North American box office for the third straight weekend, making the surprise hit the fifth-highest grossing film of all time for Sony Pictures.

“Jumanji’’ sold $20 million in tickets, according to studio estimates Sunday, bringing its five-

week domestic total to $317 million. Landing in second is Warner Bros.’ war drama “12 Strong,’’ starring Chris Hemsworth. It grossed $16.5 million in its debut weekend.

The heist thriller “Den of Thieves’’ slots in at third place with an opening weekend of $15.3 million. The STXfilms release stars Gerard Butler and Curtis “50 Cent’’ Jackson.

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LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Creek, Rye and Skirball Wildfires

Reducing Felonies Means Releasing Thousands of Inmates from Prison

By Bishop Noel Jones Pastor, City of Refuge According to California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) data, thousands of prisoners were released early into local communities as a result of the California Public Safety Realignment Act (AB 109) and related state laws including Propositions 47 and 57, which reduced various felonies to misdemeanors, decreased prosecutions of parole violations, and shifted 35,000 inmates to local county jails.

This caused significant overcrowding in the local jails, which were not equipped to handle the rehabilitation, medical, and mental health care of long-term inmates, forcing an early release of approximately 162,000 prisoners back into the community in 2013, 96,000 in 2014 after the passage of Proposition 47, and 72,000 in 2016 after the passage of Proposition 57.

Also, in Los Angeles County, which houses a quarter of California’s jail population, male inmates are often released after serving as little as 10% of their sentences and female prisoners after 5%, and individuals arrested for parole violations are in many cases are released and never prosecuted. These efforts were projected to save California $1.5 billion by 2015-16. However, as a result of insufficient rehabilitation, medical and mental health treatment, and reentry efforts many of the prisoners released early recommit crimes and return to prison - and the state budget, number of prisoners, and incidents of crime and homelessness continued to grow.

According to FBI and U.S. Department of Justice data, Los Angeles saw double-digit percentage increases in violent crimes, and California’s overall violent crime rate increased by 3.7%, according to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report. In June 2013, a few months after Dustin James Kinnear, 26, was released from prison and placed on community supervision under the realignment initiative, he stabbed to death a 23-year-old woman on the Hollywood Walk of Fame because she refused to give him a dollar. Ka Pasasouk shot and killed four people in Los Angeles County in December 2012 while on community supervision under the Realignment Act. Further, during the realignment period, Los Angeles also saw an increase of 18,000 homeless individuals, according to Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority data.

According to a comprehensive study for the county chief executive officer’s homeless initiative, Los Angeles County spends close to $1 billion a year caring for and managing its homeless population. Equally concerning, the cost of incarcerating an adult in California has risen to $75,560 - and Los Angeles County spends more than $233,000 a year incarcerating a youth, according to a county audit. By comparison, the $233,000 would be more than enough to provide a non-incarcerated youth with private tutoring, food, housing, and health care - and upon graduation from high school, adequate funds to provide tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other related expenses for one year’s attendance at California State University,

Dominguez Hills. Lastly, unemployment among people of color also increased during the realignment period.

These laws were passed in response to the finding of the United States Supreme Court that California had violated inmates’ Eighth Amendment constitutional rights, which protected them from cruel and unusual punishment, and the court ordered California to decrease the population of its state prison system. In addition, the court determined that overcrowding was the cause of inmates’ inadequate medical and mental health care.

Alternative Solutions California’s prison system is a captive labor force of 118,000 men and women who are currently forced to work in prison operations or for public/private entities, in most cases for less than $1.00 an hour. The state could enact a social inclusion policy that pays inmates a minimum wage and requires qualified inmates to vote. Financially, California could issue tax-exempt state bonds and other tax incentives to fund the training, education, and healing of inmates so that when or if they are released, they can become productive, taxpaying citizens. This would also provide a way to offset the negative impact of the loss from Federal itemized state and local tax deductions in excess of $10,000. Also, whether you agree or disagree with the now legal status of recreational use of marijuana in California, why not release all the prisoners incarcerated for past convictions on marijuana possession charges and provide them with mandatory jobs, paid for by the up to 35-45% state and local taxes on marijuana? They could also appoint more prison advocates to the Board of State and Community Corrections. This is not to say that the Proposition 47 grants, in effect through 2020, are not appreciated; but it’s just not enough, especially without corresponding public policy change and the billions the state will save as a result.

Proving this approach works, seventeen foundations and trusts, including the Rockefeller Foundation, invested $6.6 million through the Peterborough Social Impact Bond (SIB) to provide rehabilitation services for criminals released after serving their time at Peterborough Prison in the United Kingdom (UK). This effort not only produced a 3% return on the SIB investment, it decreased crime and its staggering associated costs, and reduced new convictions by an average of 9%. According to Robert Wilson, former Minister for Civil Society for the UK, due to the economic, social, and human returns on the Peterborough SIB investment, these types of investments could hit $1.3 billion by 2020.

The Legislative Latino and Black Caucuses should establish a legislative committee to study the social, economic, health, employment and criminal impacts of the Prison Realignment Act policies and devise new public policy that will systemically, institutionally, and financially respond to the finding of the U.S. Supreme Court, and reduce recidivism instead of shifting the problem from the state to the county to the community.

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” - Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)

Wildfire Victims Can Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance LOS ANGELES (Tue., Jan. 23, 2018) – State and Federal Disaster Assistance Programs are now available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for eligible homeowners, renters and business owners in Los Angeles County who suffered damages or losses due to the December 2017 Creek, Rye and Skirball wildfires.

“A recent amendment to President Trump’s major disaster declaration of January 2, 2018, made at the request of California’s Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., means that residents in our County and neighboring counties can now access individual disaster assistance from FEMA,” stated Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Sheila Kuehl. “We encourage anyone who sustained wildfire damages due to the recent Los Angeles County area wildfires to register for assistance immediately.”

Individuals can register for disaster relief by either visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week. During the registration process, applicants should be ready to provide the following information: Social Security number of one household member, address of the damaged primary residence, description of the damage, information about insurance coverage, a current telephone number, an address where they can receive e-mails, and a bank account with routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

“Our region pulled together to protect people and property during the Creek and Skirball fires. We are grateful that no lives were lost, and want to be certain that the road to recovery is as clear as possible for households and businesses that suffered losses,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Partnerships with Federal, State, and County emergency management organizations are helping us make sure that financial assistance gets to the right places

— so that Angelenos affected by the wildfires can get relief as quickly as possible.”

Disaster assistance can include State and FEMA grants, and low-interest loans from SBA. FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) Grants are designated for homeowners and renters who sustained uninsured damage or underinsured losses to their primary homes, vehicles and personal property. These grants may help pay for temporary housing (including rental or lodging expenses), emergency home repairs, personal property losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.

IA grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for any Federal, State or County benefits, such as Social Security, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.

SBA disaster loans are available to businesses and private non-profit organizations to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster. Businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.

Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Interest rates can be as low as 3.385 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private non-profit organizations and 1.75 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial circumstance.

SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

More information about SBA disaster loans can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800659-2955.

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