Los Angeles News Observer 2.17.22

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News Observer Los Angeles

Volume 37 Number 14

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Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Rams Have Super Bowl “Dream” Come True

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer It was fourth and one at the 48 when Bengals QB Joe Burrow dropped back, paused, then pump fake the ball. That was enough time for Rams all-pro Aaron Donald to grab him by his jersey and throw him around like a rag doll forcing him to throw a desperation pass that fell to the turf handing the team a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati and winning Super Bowl LVI. “I dreamed of this, it’s amazing” Donald said after the win.

“Every guy in here gave it their all.”

It was the first Super Bowl win for the Los Angeles Rams.

The last time they won they were in St. Louis under the ownership of Georgia Frontier.

This was Donald’s second trip to the big game. He and the team fell short against Tom Brady and New England in LIII. In this game the Rams had to come back for a third time after trailing in this post season. Down 20-16 with 6:13 left and after a punt Mathew Stafford began the drive from the Bengals 21-yard line. It was meticulous as the Rams had no running game. Despite that they would convert three-third downs and two fourth-down plays headed for the winning score.

One of the 4th and one was a jet sweep with Kupp carrying the ball for seven yards for the first.

After that play Stafford targeted Kupp seven times and four were complete.

The Bengals had three penalties on the other plays. On a fourth and goal from the eight, Stafford threw an incompletion but Cincy LB Logan Wilson was called for a hold.

On the following play Kupp caught a pass in the back of the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown but holding by tackle Rob Havenstein and late hit by the Bengals Vonn Bell created off setting penalties situation.

On a first and goal the there was an interference penalty on corner Eric Apple on Kupp. The Bengals were not going to let the Offensive player of the Year beat them. Two plays later Kupp beat Apple with a wicked fade move for a touchdown and the lead for good.

“Once we got in the red area it felt like it was about 60 plays for us to get that one on the fade,” said McVay. It was a grind about day for Kupp as he finished the day with nine catches for 93 yards. He also had 37 yards on the ground enough to be name game MVP. He‘s just the third wide receiver in Super Bowl history to earn the honor (Jerry Rice, Drew Pearson).

Stafford was hot early completing 9 of his first 10 passes finished the game going 26 of 40 for 283 yards with 3 TD’s and two interceptions that included going 7 of 11 for 57 yards on the final drive. It was his third straight come from behind win in the post season. When asked about the game winning play. “That comes from hours of working together early in morning. It’s such a team here, we got guys that care for each other. I love playing this game for competition. This game can teach you so much, I get to go to work with people from all walks of life.”

Before coming to L.A. the QB spent time in Detroit and not getting to the big game cause caused internal issues. “For 12 years that goal wasn’t reached and it tore me upside. I knew I couldn’t complain and I had to find away. The fact we reached that goal today is so special.”

Los Angeles Rams defensive end A’Shawn Robinson, left, pours Gatorade over Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay after the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Stafford hit Odell Beckham Jr. who snatched the ball away from Bengals DB Mike Hilton for the 17-yarder that put the Rams up 7-0. It was clear the defense had trouble covering Beckham.

But midway through the second quarter the fleet-footed receiver was open when he turned to make the catch then went down holding his left knee. He finished the game two catches for 52 yards. Later it was found to be an ACL injury.

He later connected with Kupp on a one-yard pass giving the them a 13-3 lead and missed the PAT as veteran Johnny Hekker fumbled the snap.

With the exception of two long pass plays the defense did a sound job against the Bengals. On the first play of the second half Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on a 75-yard score, Afterwards replay showed Higgins before quickly grabbing and letting go of Jalen Ramsey’s facemask causing him to fall. It was smooth sailing for the second-year man from Clemson as he coasted to the endzone giving the Bengals a 17-13 lead.

Referee Ron Torbert later told a pool reporter the crew did not see any contact that warranted pass interference on the play.”

It was a veteran crew who were consistent all day. The Rams had

two penalties for 10 yards and the Bengals 4 for 31 yards.

After rookie JaMarr Chase hauled in a 46 yards pass from Burrow setting the hem up deep in Rams territory the defense tightened and rookie Evan McPhearson kicked a 29 yard FG to put the Bengals on the board.

Von Miller MVP of 50 had two tackles both were sacks as he tied Super Bowl career record with 4.5 sacks. Durious Williams led all tacklers with eight followed by Ernest Jones and Taylor Rapp had seven each while Jones added a sack. AShawn Robinson and Lenard Floyd had a sack a piece.

The defense sacked Burrow seven times in his final 22 plays from scrimmage. At one point the Rams Defense sacked Burrow on three straight drop backs.

Veteran Eric Weddle who came out of a two-year to help in the defensive backfield had five tackles but suffered a right pectoral injury.

“Never in a million years did I think I would have this moment because my career was done,” said the 37 year-old.

“Certain things had to happen for me to be here and to finish things off the wat we did is something out of a fiction fairy-tale and you wish your name would be part of it and lucky me I’m a World Champion.

As Mandates End, State, Counties Unmask W/Caution Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the statewide indoor mask mandate for vaccinated Californians expires.

As COVID-19 cases decline, public health officials say the state is easing restrictions in an effort to return the state to prepandemic normalcy.

“Omicron has loosened its hold on California, vaccines for children under 5 are around the corner, and access to COVID-19 treatments is improving,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). “With things moving in the right direction, we are making responsible modifications to COVID-19 prevention measures, while also continuing to develop a longer-term action plan for the state.”

According to the CDPH, COVID cases are down 65% after a sudden spike late last year due to the Omicron variant.

Vaccination rates are also increasing, both at the state and national levels. As of Feb. 11, 64.3% of the US population and 73.3% of California’s eligible population have been fully vaccinated, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California state health officials.

“Unvaccinated people will still need to wear masks indoors,” tweeted Gov. Gavin Newsom last week.

However, not all California’s counties will be following Newsom’s lead.

During a press conference on Feb. 9, Santa Clara County Health Officer and Public Health Director Dr. Sara Cody announced that the county will not be lifting mandates until officials there determine case rates, vaccinations, and hospitalizations are low enough to reopen.

“Our case rates are 40% of what they were but we still have very high levels of community transmission, still higher than at any other point in the pandemic pre-omicron,” said Cody.

“The risk of being exposed to someone with COVID in our community is still high.”

The other eight Bay Area counties have announced that they will follow the state’s lead.

Los Angeles County will keep mask mandates indoors for vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike but could raise some outdoor event mask mandates as early as Wednesday, as long as hospitalization rates stay at their current level.

Los Angeles County has the highest COVID case rate in the state, followed by San Diego and Riverside counties, according to state health officials.

Both San Diego and Riverside counties plan on ending their indoor mask mandates along with the state on Tuesday.

Last week, Newsom’s administration implemented measures to make sure statewide COVID case rates continue to decline.

On Feb. 9, Newsom signed SB 113 and SB 114, extending paid COVID-19 sick leave until Sept. 30 of this year, and providing $6.1 billion in relief for California businesses, respectively.

“As California continues to lead the nation’s economic recovery, today’s action deepens our commitment to supporting the workers and businesses that have sustained us all during this unprecedented pandemic and are driving our economy,” said Newsom.

“We’re ensuring that workers have the time they need to take care of themselves and their loved ones, expanding our nationleading small business relief grant program and supporting the businesses whose innovation and entrepreneurial spirit help make California the fifth largest economy in the world,” he continued.

Many private establishments across the state may continue mask requirements in their places of business but a majority of California’s counties have announced that they will be lifting mask mandates for vaccinated people, following the lead of the state.

On Feb. 10, Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 115, authorizing a $1.9 billion COVID-19 relief package to bolster the state’s ongoing emergency response.

“California has led the nation’s fight against COVID-19 with a comprehensive

Take One!

response that has saved countless lives. As we emerge from the Omicron surge, we’re not letting our guard down,” said Newsom.

“The COVID Emergency Response Package will ensure the state has the resources to continue tackling this challenge headon, with funding to enhance our testing and vaccination efforts, support frontline workers, strengthen our health care systems and b a t t l e dangerous misinformation. I thank our legislative leaders for their continued commitment to protecting the health of our families and communities as we navigate the evolving pandemic,” the governor continued.

California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.

Archivists Study Barbershop’s Civil Rights Artifacts

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Archivists and volunteers will soon begin combing through decades of artifacts from a Tuscaloosa barbershop central to the city’s civil rights history with the goal of determining which pieces in the vast collection should be included in a future museum.

Rev. Thomas Linton died in 2020 but before his death he collected a gigantic array of historical items such as newspaper clippings or artifacts related to the civil rights fight as well as other materials such as dozens of spittoons, a collection of shaving mugs and three wooden handcrank telephones, the Tuscaloosa News reported.

Next week, archivists and volunteers from the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History and Reconciliation Foundation will start combing through the collection. The team will make an inventory and catalogue of the treasure trove.

Tim Lewis is the foundation’s co-president. He is coordinating the preservation effort and has brought in people who have experience in preservation work. Tom Wilson, who’s retired from the University of Alabama libraries and Bill Bomar, executive director of the University of Alabama museums are both part of the effort as well as Ph.D. students and other volunteers.

“We’re just starting the process of going through, to inventory what’s in the boxes,” Lewis told the newspaper, “to tag, label, take pictures, and put together a database.”

During the struggle for civil rights, the barbershop was often a gathering place for people involved in the struggle. Autherine Lucy, who became the first Black student at the University of Alabama, went to the shop to clean up after racists threw food and garbage on her. On June 9, 1964 activists protesting a segregated courthouse ducked into the shop as opponents attacked them outside.

Linton was in contact with U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to arrange hospital care and bail money for those beaten and arrested.

One of the artifacts gathered from the barbershop is the receipt from the poll tax Linton paid to vote in 1954.

Poll taxes were one of the many ways that segregationists used to try to keep Black people from voting. Linton framed his receipt and hung it on the wall.

The archival work was originally going to be done at the barbershop but after mold and a leaky roof were discovered officials decided to gather the materials and bring them to a separate location.

Deputy Who Shot Homeless Black Man Won’t Face Charges SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) _ An Orange County sheriff’s deputy won’t face criminal charges for shooting a homeless man with mental health issues who was stopped for jaywalking, according to a review released Friday.

The deputy believed that Kurt Reinhold was reaching for his partner’s gun during a Sept. 23, 2020, struggle and posed a danger to the deputies and other people nearby, according to a review by the county district attorney’s office.

The results of the investigation were contained in a letter to Sheriff Don Barnes that was publicly released Friday.

The death of the 42-year-old Reinhold, who was Black, sparked protests and a wrongful death lawsuit by Reinhold’s family.

Two deputies assigned to homeless outreach spotted Reinhold in San Clemente and tried to stop him as he walked across a street, although they disagreed at first on whether he had jaywalked, according to audio from microphones worn by the deputies.

Cellphone video from a bystander showed the deputies repeatedly telling Reinhold to stop while he denied doing anything wrong. The confrontation escalated with the agitated Reinhold repeatedly telling a deputy who put out a hand to stop him: “Stop touching me.”

Reinhold was tackled and all three men fell to the ground. During a struggle, Deputy Jonathan Israel told investigators that he felt Reinhold grabbing for his holster and believed he had drawn the gun.

On the bystander’s video, Israel was heard yelling several times: “He’s got my gun!”

Deputy Eduardo Duran then shot Reinhold twice.

Surveillance video from a nearby hotel showed Reinhold appearing to grab at Israel’s gun or holster, but his family has said he was simply flailing.

The shooting review by the district attorney’s office concluded that Reinhold hadn’t been jaywalking but prosecutors say the deputies were justified in stopping Reinhold because he had illegally crossed an intersection against a red light, the Orange County Register reported.

Reinhold’s family released a statement Friday that said the report confirms that the deputy and his partner “had no reason whatsoever to stop Mr. Reinhold,” the Register reported.

“This was a racially motivated stop aimed at harassing Mr. Reinhold, nothing more,” it said. “The deputies’ escalating tactics – including having a Taser drawn and tackling Mr. Reinhold to the ground – directly contributed to the deputies’ unlawful use of deadly force against a man who was unarmed and had not committed a crime.”

His family has said that Reinhold suffered from mental illness, sometimes had difficulty staying on his medication, moved around the state and had been in San Clemente about 30 days before he was killed, the Register reported.

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

World & Nation

CMS Administrator Makes History Among the Most Diverse White House Administration

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent A White House photo featuring dozens of African American members of the Biden-Harris administration circulated the internet during the opening days of Black History Month, and one would be hard-pressed to find anyone as proud as Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

The first Black woman to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Brooks-LaSure offered the brightest smile when mentioning the historic photo that featured Vice President Kamala Harris and a host of Black staffers who help push the administration’s work forward.

“I’m so proud and really moved,” the Philadelphia-born Brooks-LaSure asserted.

“When I got nominated, I heard from women across the country, and I didn’t realize how meaningful it would be for so many people for me to sit in this chair,” she continued.

“I have older women and younger women come up to me and say how proud they are. That really fuels me to want to use this role in a way to change people’s lives, and I feel so grateful for that opportunity.”

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) resolutely salutes and congratulates Chiquita Brooks-LaSure for her outstanding leadership at Health and Human Services (HHS) CMS. We look forward to expanding the partnership between CMS and the NNPA. Medicare and Medicaid are vital to the present and future of African Americans and other communities of color,” affirmed Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr, NNPA President and CEO. A former policy official who played a crucial role in guiding the Affordable Care Act – or Obamacare – through passage and implementation, Brooks-LaSure enjoys decades of experience working in government and the private sector.

As deputy director for policy at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, and earlier at the Department of Health & Human Services as director of coverage policy, Brooks-LaSure led the agency’s implementation of Obamacare coverage and insurance policy provisions.

She assisted the House of Representatives leaders in passing several healthcare laws, including the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, as part of the Democratic staff for the House’s Ways and Means Committee.

As administrator for CMS, Brooks-LaSure oversees programs that include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the first Black woman to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Program, and the HealthCare.gov health insurance marketplace.

“I was born in Philadelphia, raised in New Jersey, and have been living in Virginia for a big chunk of my life,” said LaSure, who’s married with a young daughter.

“I was always interested in policy from a young age,” she explained.

“When I was in graduate school, I had a friend who I took health policy and social policy, and she really got me on the healthcare policy track. I always said, ‘once you start on health, you never look back because there’s no policy area that has the ability to touch so many lives, especially in the federal government.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has upped the pressure on CMS and other agencies, but Brooks-LaSure recalled similarities to when the ACA became law.

“The ACA was born out of a difficult time,” she recalled.

“Before we passed the law, not everyone thought we should focus on health policy. We had the Great Recession, and one of

the pieces of people’s financial security was healthcare because one out of every three bankruptcies resulted from medical costs.

“So, it became imperative to pass the ACA, and I think we’re at the same moment today. The pandemic has made it more difficult in terms of wanting to do so many things with healthcare policy.”

Brooks-LaSure asserted that Americans now have a greater appreciation of why healthcare is vital and why the uninsured and those not having access to vaccines and drug treatments affect everyone.

“I think people have seen health disparities at a different level,” she stated.

“I think we now have an opportunity to address those [disparities] if we seize this moment.”

To that end, Brooks-LaSure noted the six strategic pillars by which CMS would achieve its mission and measure success: • Advance health equity by addressing the health disparities that underlie America’s health system

• Build on the Affordable Care Act and expand access to quality, affordable health coverage, and care • Engage partners and the communities CMS serve throughout the policymaking and implementation process • Drive innovation to tackle the health system challenges and promote value-based, person-centered care • Protect CMS programs’ sustainability for future generations by serving as a responsible steward of public funds • Foster a positive and inclusive workplace and workforce, and promote excellence in all aspects of CMS’s operations Brooks-LaSure said CMS has already made significant progress on those pillars, focusing efforts on improving health equity and access to coverage by working across all federal agencies.

She told NNPA Newswire that a record 14.5 million signed up for 2022 health care coverage during the enrollment period.

“Investing in financial assistance and outreach allows more people to have access to the care that they need,” Brooks-LaSure stated.

As part of Vice President Kamala Harris’s Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity, HHS, through CMS, has taken steps to improve maternal health and support the delivery of equitable, high-quality care for pregnancy and postpartum care.

CMS has proposed a “Birthing-Friendly” designation to drive perinatal health outcomes and maternal health equity improvements.

According to a release, the designation would initially identify hospitals that provide perinatal care, participate in a maternity care quality improvement collaborative, and implement recommended patient safety practices.

CMS has also encouraged states to take advantage of the American Rescue Plan’s option to provide 12 months of postpartum coverage to pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. Brooks-LaSure said history would ultimately smile upon the unprecedented diversity.

“I think that representation matters so much, and we will have changed this country because so many of us are in these roles with our diverse perspectives strengthen policymaking,” BrooksLaSure said.

“The more you have people who come from different experiences, you make stronger and better policies and making sure the next generation see they can sit in these roles.”

Mixing Up Black Women Lawmakers Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Apologizes RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has apologized after mistaking one Black legislator for another in

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a text message.

Youngkin issued the apology after Sen. Louise Lucas called attention to the mistake on Twitter. She noted that she received a text message from Youngkin congratulating her for a floor speech connected to Black History Month.

But it was another African American woman, Mamie Locke, who gave the speech, not Lucas.

On Friday, Lucas sent out a tweet with pictures of herself and Locke, saying, “Study the photos and you will get this soon!”

Lucas told The Washington Post that she initially planned to keep Youngkin's gaffe private but reconsidered after a bitter debate between Youngkin, a Republican, and Senate Democrats over their refusal to confirm former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler as the state's Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

When Lucas responded privately to Youngkin's text message earlier in the week informing him of the mistaken identity, Youngkin responded with an apology, according to the Post:

“Goodness . so sorry about the confusion,” he wrote in a text response. “I will send her a note. Thanks for the note back!”

His office issued a public apology on Friday after the mistake became public, telling news outlets: “I had the floor speeches on while doing too many things at once earlier this week. I made a mistake and I apologized to Senator Lucas.”

Black Republicans Applaud Election of Gallagher as GOP Leader Tanu Henry California Black Media Black Republicans in California are applauding the Feb. 8 election of Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) as the new Minority Leader of the 19-member Assembly Republican Caucus.

Gallagher,40, succeeds Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center), who led the caucus from 2018 until last week.

“James has always been a measured leader. He’s a good man. I know him and his family. He’s the right man for the position,” said Tamika Hamilton, a Black Republican, U.S. Air Force veteran and candidate to represent California’s sixth Congressional District (in the San Diego area) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hamilton praised Gallagher for his “common sense” approach to politics, adding that the lawmaker believes in building consensus around important issues.

“He is always willing to work with the other side. If the Democrats have a good idea, and it works for people, he will roll with it,” said Hamilton. “I believe his vision for California includes everyone – not just for the party.”

In an interview with California Black Media on Feb. 11, Gallagher said his number one goal is to improve quality of life for Californians. During his eight years serving in the Legislature, Gallagher says he has always found common ground with Democrats.

“There are a lot of places where we are just not meeting the mark. One of those is affordability. Costs continue to rise. It is harder to afford a house. Harder to afford rent. Our utility bills are going up. And a lot of that is due to policy, said Gallagher.

“We have convoluted programs for affordable housing and the result is: We don’t get enough built.”

Gallagher also criticized Gov. Newsom and the Democratic leadership in both houses of the Legislature, pointing to climate programs with burdensome costs to companies and customers; rising crime rates in some part of the state; and billions spent on solving homelessness.

“But we haven’t seen a lot of results,” he said. “We want to focus on better solutions we feel will empower people to have a better life. Some solutions are bipartisan.”

Before his election to the Assembly, Gallagher, an attorney, and rice farmer, served on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors from 2008 to 2014. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the UC Berkeley and his Juris Doctor at UC Davis.

Gallagher is married and has five children.

In the California Assembly, Democrats hold a super majority of 60 seats compared to Republicans, who only have 19 seats. There is one Independent.

Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City)

Among registered Black voters, about 73 % are Democrats while about 5 % are Republicans. About 20 % of African American voters are Independents.

There are no Black Republicans serving as State Legislators or among California’s delegations to the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

Hamilton says as Gallagher settles into his new role, he should acknowledge that the state GOP leadership has not done a good job of engaging Black Californians.

“The party has made some major missteps when it comes to the Black community,” admits Hamilton. “We have to do a better job. But what have we gotten out of the Democrats besides performance and acting? They make us think they are doing the right thing. Gavin Newsom does this beautifully. But where is the action behind it? They have controlled this state for decades without a change in sight.”

Hamilton says Democrats cannot continue to tout that California is the largest economy in the country when the middle class is “broke and struggling.”

The morning after taking office, Gallagher hit the ground running, pushing legislation to end the state of emergency in California.

“Average Californians are scratching their heads. Why are

we still under a state of emergency?” he says. “We’ve been under a continuous state of emergency for just under two years. Here’s the problem: when there is a state of emergency, the Legislature has less power and the governor has power to essentially enact rules and executive orders as he sees fit. Those are rules that are established for everyone without zero public input.”

Micah Grant, a Black Republican and Trustee on the Natomas Unified School District Board, says Gallagher is a guy “whose feet have touched the earth.”

Grant, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of California Black Media, says after the George Floyd riots when tempers were flaring and racial tensions were high, Gallagher joined a spirited community discussion in Sacramento with people of different races and backgrounds. He joined the conversation and took a lot of heat from the audience, but he left the people in the room feeling like someone from State Government had listened their concerns and was willing to address them.

“James is a serious advocate for education reform – the kinds of reforms that will help Black children in California succeed. That’s the kind of leadership we need,” said Grant.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Snoop Dogg Buys Iconic Death Row Records Label

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent In true Snoop Dogg form, holding a blunt in one hand and dancing to the thumping and soulful music blaring in the background, the iconic hip-hop superstar announced that he was “Back on Death Row.” Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, revealed that he had purchased the equally iconic label, Death Row Records.

Later, Blackstone, Inc., a private equity firm, confirmed the deal.

Snoop Dogg released his first album with Death Row Records in 1993.

Less than 30 years later, he now owns the entire company.

“I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value,” Snoop Dogg said in a statement.

“It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members.

This is an extremely meaningful moment for me.”

Death Row’s former owner Marion “Suge” Knight had created a giant in the industry with Snoop, Dr. Dre, and later Tupac Shakur turning out hits for the label.

After Shakur’s death in 1996, Death Row declined amid controversy and infighting.

Hasbro Inc. purchased the label after Death Row went into bankruptcy in 2006, and Blackstone eventually bought out Hasbro.

“Back on Death Row,” Snoop Dogg said in a post celebrating his new ownership, noting that he’s scheduled to release the album, “B.O.D.R.” on Friday, February 11.

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Snoop Dogg announced that he’s purchased the iconic Death Row Records.

New Fresh Prince Jabari Banks is Ready to Conquer ‘Bel-Air’

Will Smith and Jabari Banks.

By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) – Jabari Banks knew he was close to getting the starring role of Will in “ Bel-Air,” the dramatic take of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” but his confidence started to wane when he was asked to do one more Zoom audition with show director Morgan Cooper.

“I'm like, `I don't know what he wants to see, but I'm gonna give him everything I got,' recalled the 23-year-old in a recent interview. “I was like, `I'm gonna put everything into this audition.”'

Banks found a quiet place – a friend's closet – and logged in, only to see a very familiar face staring back at him, Will Smith.

“I didn't think it was real,” Banks said. “He's like, `I want to congratulate you. You got the part of Will in `Bel-Air.'” And then in true Smith exuberance, the superstar directed Banks to invite those with him to join the Zoom. “He was like, `Where is everybody? Go get them,' said Banks. So a lot of my friends met Will.”

And that's how Banks became the (new) prince of Bel-

Air. The series is streaming on Peacock with a new episode on Thursdays.

Cooper says searching for the actor to play the new Will was not an easy task, and that he was looking “for a unicorn.”

“Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of auditions poured in. We needed a guy who had the swagger, the charisma, but also the pure acting chops, who uses his eyes,” he said. “Jabari Banks is such a star and he shines so bright.”

The parallels between Smith and Banks seem tailor-made for Hollywood. Like Smith, Banks is from west Philadelphia. He's also a musician working on his own EP, which he says is a mix of R&B, hip-hop and alternative genres, and plans to release it later this year. He also loves fashion and “The Fresh Prince” was a trend-setting show.

Banks says he's taking this huge opportunity “one day at a time,” and cites an anecdote from Smith's autobiography, “Will,” about his father assigning him and his brother to build a wall brick by brick.

“I've been following that motto and going about my day to day like that,” he said.

“Bel-Air” was conceived by Cooper, a filmmaker in Kansas City who taught himself to shoot film on a camera bought at Best Buy. He grew up loving “The Fresh Prince” and believed the premise of the show could still work today _ but also reflect the times.

“If you remove the laugh track from the sitcom and really look at the scenario from a bird's eye view, the story really lends itself to drama. A young Black men from west Philadelphia gets into a scuffle and is forced to relocate across the country. What does that look like in modern day life? It lends itself to some really interesting dramatic moments that are rooted in very real conversations.”

Cooper famously made a trailer for this idea using local actors and uploaded it to YouTube. Not even 24 hours later, Smith's production company, Westbrook, reached out for a meeting. Two weeks later, Cooper flew to Miami to meet Smith where he was filming “Bad Boys for Life.” Things took off, and the first three episodes dropped Sunday after the Super Bowl. The show has been given a two-season order.

In “Bel-Air,” a 16-year-old high school basketball star named

Will is playing at a local court when he gets into a scuffle with a gang. The situation escalates quickly, and Will is arrested. Once he's released, his mother takes him directly to the airport to catch a flight to Los Angeles. She's sending him to stay with his aunt and uncle and their children, where it's safer. He'll enroll in school there until things calm down.

In real life, Banks found himself at a crossroads his junior year of high school. He loved basketball but low grades made him ineligible to play.

Banks' mom told him, “You have to find something to do after school,” so he joined a theater group. That's where he says he fell in love with performing.

The acting newcomer says he's looking forward to meeting more Black artists who can help him navigate showbiz.

“I'd love to work with LaKeith Stanfield. Big fan of him.

Huge fan of Denzel (Washington.). Daniel Kaluuya, I'd love to work with him and Sterling K. Brown. Damson Idris. These are all artists that I look up to.”

A4

Legal Notices Los Angeles News Observer

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 014103 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: TAURO CAPITAL ADVISORS, INC. at 444 S. Flower Street Suite 620, Los Angeles, Ca. 90071 County: Los Angeles Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): 3707143 Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): TAURO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS SERVICES, 444 S. Flower Street Suite 620, Los Angeles, Ca. 90071 The business is conducted by: a Corporation SIGNED: TAURO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS SERVICES Title: PRESIDENT If COPR or LLC, Print Name: STEPHEN STEIN The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 01/2022 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Jan

21, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: M. CARRASCO, Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Jan 21,

2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 3, 10, 17, 24, 2022

By: (No Signature) Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Jan 27, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 10, 17, 24, Mar 3, 2022

������������������������������� FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 020416 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: HEALTHCARE STAFFING HIRE (HSH) at 1058 S Citrus Ave, Los Angeles, Ca. 90019 County: Los Angeles Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): THEODORE DREW AND ASSOCIATES, LLC, 1058 S Citrus Ave, Los Angeles, Ca. 90019 The business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company SIGNED: THADDEUS DUFELMEIER, CEO The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 09/2020 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Jan 27, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Los Angeles News Observer A5

Features

Madame Secretary: Hon. Shirley N. Weber Reflects on Voting Rights, First Year in Office Tanu Henry California Black Media In December 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Weber California’s 31st Secretary of State (SOS), the state’s chief election official.

The first African American to serve in the role – and the 5th Black person to become a constitutional officer in California – Weber took office on Jan. 29, 2021.

Weber has been a central and influential figure in California politics for years. She was an Assemblymember representing the 79th District in San Diego County and chaired the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). In the Legislature, she introduced groundbreaking bills, including one of the strictest laws governing police use of deadly force in the country. It will protect Californians on “both sides of the badge,” she said, celebrating that legislation, which was supported by the California Police Chiefs Association.

Weber also introduced AB 3121, a bill that set up a committee called the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. The group is charged with examining California’s involvement in slavery – and how California should compensate the descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

As SOS, Weber is responsible for conducting elections in all 58 counties, managing the operations of the State Archives, and keeping a registry of businesses and nonprofits statewide.

“We passed legislation that gives everybody a vote by mail ballot, and we’ve seen that it works” says Weber, sharing details about a major electoral policy change she has implemented as SOS. “We have to make sure that every eligible Californian not only gets the right to vote, but that they are registered to vote and that they show up.”

On Jan. 24, California Black Media interviewed Weber at her Sacramento office.

As an Assemblymember, you introduced groundbreaking legislation. What has the transition been like, moving from actively creating policy to settling into the administrative role of Secretary of State?

It’s been interesting, to go from being a legislator where you share the responsibility of representing all Californians with 80 others in the Assembly and another 40 in the Senate.

There, I wasn’t responsible for all registered voters and the protection of those who work at the polls and those who work to register voters.

Over here, you have an administrative role, and we support legislation like the Voting Rights Act. It’s been somewhat difficult to let go of my District.

Fortunately, my daughter is the Assemblymember there now.

The U.S. Senate did not pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Why is that significant and why are voting

rights so important in America right now?

When Gov. Newsom asked me to be Secretary of State, the first thing that popped in my mind was voting rights. This wasn’t a position that I had lobbied for. We had made some tremendous changes in the Assembly and passed some groundbreaking legislation.

Speaking to a reporter last December 22nd, I said this is a critical time because our nation is in peril. And he goes, “what do you mean?” I said, “our democracy is in crisis.” He didn’t understand. When January 6 hit (the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol), people understood.

I recognize this is a difficult and unique time for people in the nation, extremely difficult for African Americans, because most of us who have parents or we ourselves have lived through this struggle for voting rights.

My family understood the power of voting. My parents came out of Arkansas where they never got a chance to vote. My dad was an adult with six kids before he actually got a chance to register to vote in California.

What can ordinary Californians who care about expanding and protecting voting rights do?

We need to pay attention. We must fight laws that make it difficult for people to vote. Even though we don’t have that legislation coming out of our Legislature, we have people putting initiatives on the ballot.

California has expanded voting rights so much that people want to limit it. There’s only one group that can’t vote in this state: those who are physically in prison. Everyone else who meets the eligibility requirements in California can vote. And that frightens some people.

Do you see that movement to counteract the expansion of voting rights here in California or from other states?

It is coming from within and without. We have to be careful of the deceptive methods used. Take the campaign against bail reform. It had been signed into law. And a group of bail bondsmen took a whole bunch of money, manipulated African Americans and put their faces on television. It confused voters and wiped out this whole effort we had been working on for five or six years.

Do you think other Secretaries of State across the country will emulate California’s efforts to expand voting rights?

We are seeing that, especially in states with Democratic leadership. But in other places, we see also them fighting the Voting Rights Act. Secretaries of State are a unique breed. Many are appointed by governors. Across the nation, people on the far Right are organizing to get candidates to run for Secretary of State, where before it was seen more as an administrative job with a few other responsibilities. Now, it is seen as a highly political job, especially

Governor Newsom swears in Secretary of State Dr. Weber. (Courtesy Photo)

given the legislation that’s coming out in some places that would empower Legislatures to overturn votes.

You’ve been in this job for a year. Do you feel like you’ve accomplished your goals?

I didn’t take this position because I needed to be a constitutional officer, or one day become Governor. The question for me was: What does the Secretary of State have to offer in these critical times? And obviously it is the defense of our democracy.

I was coming in with the idea that we are going to expand our voting base. We have done that.

We’ve also expanded the California Voter Choice Act counties Half of our counties are Voter Choice Act Counties, which gives us additional resources to go into those counties.

They are now outvoting the rest of the counties.

Statewide, 88 % of eligible Californians are registered right

now to vote. My goal is to get it to 100 %.

Is California implementing additional safeguards to make sure irregularities are minimal?

Yes, we are. We have a system that verifies votes. We test every machine in California before every election. We make it possible for people to observe the process. They can’t come and start counting themselves. But they can observe. We do all this with transparency.

How does it feel to look at that long wall of portraits of past Secretaries of State, and know that your legacy will be enshrined in California history?

I’m very grateful. When I was sworn in, somebody says you’re the first African American after some 170 years. How does that feel? I said, well – what took so long?

SO CAN YOU.

Features

A6

Los Angeles News Observer

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Exits by Black and Hispanic Teachers Pose a New Threat to Covid-Era Education

By Heidi de Marco California Healthline Lynette Henley needed one more year to receive her full pension after 40 years as a teacher, but she couldn’t convince herself it was worth the risk.

So Henley, 65, who has diabetes and congestive heart failure, retired last June as a math and history teacher at Hogan Middle School, in Vallejo, California, which serves mostly Black and Hispanic children.

“You’re in a classroom with 16 to 20 kids and a lot of my students weren’t vaccinated,” said Henley. “I just didn’t feel safe.

It wasn’t worth it to possibly die to teach.”

Henley, who is Black, is part of a nationwide surge of teachers who are leaving the profession — especially evident among members of the profession with minority backgrounds.

Amid the pandemic’s toxic brew of death, illness, and classroom disruption, these departures of seasoned teachers have created another strain for students.

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System reported a 26% increase in the number of teacher retirements in the second half of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. Of those surveyed, more than half cited challenges of teaching during the pandemic as their main reason for leaving. A national survey published by the National Education Association on Feb. 1 found that 55% of teachers planned to exit earlier than anticipated, up from 37% in August 2021. The numbers were highest among Black (62%) and Latino (59%) educators.

The issue was palpable when in-person classes resumed in Southern California in January. In some large districts, more than a quarter of schoolchildren were absent the first week back. Some of those who did return entered classrooms that had no teacher or were staffed by underqualified substitutes.

Bryan Monroy, an 11th grade physics teacher at Lennox Mathematics, Science & Technology Academy, in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles, walked into a half-empty school after winter break.

Five teachers, about a fifth of the charter school’s staff, were out, presumedly sick with covid or taking care of relatives, said Monroy, 29. And that’s on top of an underlying problem hiring and holding onto staff, he said.

“We hired some people to teach chemistry and math and for whatever reason they had to resign halfway through the year during the pandemic with no one to replace them,” he said. “The kids had to finish off their year with substitutes and teacher’s aides, and that was really hard for them.”

Covid has been harder on teachers of color because many of them return to the communities where they were raised and which have suffered the most, Monroy said. His students are nearly all Hispanic and about 75% are on free or reduced lunch, he said. As the son of Mexican immigrants, he can relate to their struggles, but “because there are so many similarities that resonate between me and my kids, the vicarious trauma is also even more real.”

Studies have shown that teachers of color improve educational outcomes for students of the same background. But Black and Hispanic teachers tend to have shorter teaching careers than their white colleagues, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, which cites a lack of support and poor working conditions as the impetus for early departures.

According to a 2019 study by the Learning Policy Institute, a nonprofit research group in Palo Alto, shortages affect 80% of California school districts, most severely those with low-income families and students of color. To make up the gap, schools have hired poorly prepared replacements, which aggravates learning difficulties, said Tara Kini, chief of staff and director of state policy for the Learning Policy Institute. Another study by her group found that minority-majority schools were four times as likely as mostly white schools to employ uncertified teachers.

Plunging standardized test scores in California last year revealed a widening learning gap between whites and Black and Latino students. A little over a third of Black and Hispanic students met or exceeded proficiency standards in English, compared with 60% of whites. In math, only about a fifth of Black and Hispanic students met or exceeded standards, compared with nearly half of white students. Relative to 2018, Hispanic students’ scores fell by 12 percentage points in English. White students’ scores fell 5 percentage points, while those of Black students remained about the same, on average. (Hispanics can be of any race or combination of races.)

Online learning has been harder for poorer children, contributing to difficulties for their teachers. In July 2020, the University of Southern California and Partnership for Los Angeles Schools surveyed more than 1,100 Los Angeles Unified School District families whose children attend historically low-income public schools and found that about 1 in 6 had no internet access at all and roughly 1 in 12 had mobile internet only. Additionally, 1 in 7 said they never had a space free of noise or distraction.

Teaching in person with the threat of covid, meanwhile, is “living in a constant state of anxiety” because a single positive test in the classroom can disrupt all teaching plans instantaneously, said Katie Caster, manager of curriculum and evaluation at Latinos for Education in Boston, a group that mentors new teachers.

Caster said teachers of color have an extra burden. “I call it the brown tax. It’s having to go above and beyond all the time, whether it’s the cultural connection, the language, being asked to translate, or connecting families with resources,” she said. “The pandemic has exacerbated the issue.”

This problem was reflected in a 2019 study by the nonprofits Teach Plus and the Education Trust, which found that teachers of color feel pressure to take on added work to help students who share their demographic backgrounds.

Monroy said the pandemic made him question his career.

“Before the pandemic, I was 100% certain that I would continue teaching and retire as a teacher,” said Monroy. “Now, feeling the dread of coming to work instead of feeling excitement,

Ask the DMV – Take Care of Your DMV Business the Safest and Fastest Way: Online Did you know that most things you need to accomplish at the DMV can be done online? The DMV is encouraging Californians to access its expanded online services portal amid the surge of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

In addition to providing more services online, the DMV has accommodated customers in many ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the DMV announced the extension of commercial driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, endorsements and special certificates expiring between March 2020 and February 2022, through February 28, 2022.

Q1: I have a commercial driver’s license that is about to expire; how can I get it renewed?

A1: Renewing a commercial driver’s license previously required a visit to a DMV office. However, the DMV is now offering most commercial driver’s license renewals online. Those who are eligible can simply renew their license at www.dmv. ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/commercial-driver-licenserenewal.

Eligible commercial drivers can upload the necessary documents, pay the required fee by credit or debit card, and then receive their new card within a few weeks. While most commercial drivers can renew their driver’s license online, some exemptions may require an appointment at a local field office.

Q2: I would prefer to visit the DMV in-person, is that an option for me?

A2: California DMV offices are still open for business. To protect the health and safety of DMV employees and customers, the DMV requires everyone in its offices to wear face coverings, keep their distance, wash hands frequently, and stay home if they are sick. Customers are also asked to limit the number of family members who accompany them to an office to those who are necessary to complete a transaction, and to be patient while waiting to be served.

Additionally, Californians can use a DMV kiosk, with

locations throughout the state that often offer extended hours.

At a kiosk they can complete their vehicle registration renewal and print tags on the spot, submit proof of insurance, receive a driver or vehicle record, and much more. Customers can also visit DMV business partners to complete selected transactions in-person. To find out more about your options, visit www.dmv. ca.gov and use the service advisor tool.

For more information or answers to questions not listed here, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov.

February is Black History Month

Benjamin Coria, the band director at San Gabriel High School, says dealing with family issues and trying to figure out a way to separate work from his home environment, while raising two kids, has been challenging.

(Heidi de Marco / California Healthline)

I have my doubts of even making it through the end of this year, let alone, like, staying until I retire.”

At L.A. County’s San Gabriel High School, where nearly three-quarters of the 1,777 students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, grades fell during the year of remote learning, said band and music teacher Benjamin Coria. “These students were occupied with pandemic-related things, like taking care of siblings, or working,” he said. “Some just didn’t engage no matter how many times you called home.”

Coria’s school is part of the Alhambra Unified School District, where absenteeism was 27% in the first week back in school, starting Jan. 3. In neighboring L.A. Unified, the absentee rate was 31% when classes resumed on Jan. 11. (By Feb. 4, L.A. Unified’s absentee rate had shrunk to 13%; Alhambra’s was down to 14%.)

The Alhambra district, whose teachers are 70% people of color, hired 286 substitutes to help fill the gaps for teachers out

sick or on leave. In many cases, district administrators are filling in. Still, the school has had to plan special no-school days to help teachers catch up.

The pandemic has also taken a toll on Coria. His father died just before the pandemic, and he lost a grandfather to covid a year later. Snarled school and work schedules have sharpened daily challenges for him, his wife, and their two children. “All these things that would normally be hard are just so much harder in this environment,” said Coria, 39, who has taught for 16 years.

But Coria, whose parents were first-generation Mexican Americans, isn’t retiring. He does his best to remain upbeat in the classroom, he said, and smiles even when he doesn’t feel like smiling.

“We set the temperature,” he said. “If we’re not in the mood, then the students aren’t going to be. Anything I can do to make the environment a little more positive, including for myself.”

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Sports

Los Angeles News Observer A7

Blue and yellow confetti falls on the field of SoFi Stadium shortly after the Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI Sunday evening in Inglewood. (Photo: @Sleepvision)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, top, catches a touchdown against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

After Super Bowl, Civil Rights Leaders Say NFL Must Tackle Stark Absence of Black Head Coaches

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent In the National Football League, where players are overwhelmingly Black, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), joined a host of other voices arguing that there needs to be more representation in the front office of people who look like the athletes that take the gridiron each Sunday.

“Even before Coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the National Football League claiming the league discriminated against Black coaches in their hiring practices, it

was pretty clear that professional football has a race issue,” Dr. Chavis wrote in an op-ed at BlackPressUSA.com.

The NFL’s halfhearted attempt nearly 20 years ago at diversity – the Rooney Rule – failed miserably.

The league enacted the measure in 2003 to mandate that any team seeking a head coach must interview at least one minority candidate. Four years ago, the league modified the rule, but coaches of color still haven’t received the same opportunities as whites.

Some argue the NFL did better before instituting the rule.

Two years prior, the league had three African American head

Aug 14, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches the game against the Chicago Bears from the sideline during the second half at Soldier Field. (Photo Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports)

coaches: Tony Dungy of the Tampa Bay Bucs, Herm Edwards of the New York Jets, and Dennis Green of the Minnesota Vikings.

At the start of 2021, the NFL still had three coaches: David Culley of the Houston Texans, Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins, and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Texans dismissed Culley at the end of the season, and Flores received his walking papers from the Dolphins.

Seven of the nine head coaching opportunities after the 2021 season went to white candidates.

Flores called the Rooney Rule a sham because teams only provided interviews to potential Black head coaches as a ruse to satisfy the league’s requirement.

“The league is rife with racism,” Flores alleged in his lawsuit.

Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that the NFL “isn’t having the success we want.”

“I find all allegations, whether they were based on racism or discrimination or the integrity of our game, all of those to me were very disturbing,” Goodell pronounced ahead of Super Bowl LVI. “They are very serious matters to us on all levels, and we need to make sure we get to the bottom of all of them.”

Goodell continued: “I think that’s the core of the message that we’ve been talking about here is, OK, we’re not having this success we want with head coaches. How do we evolve that rule, or do we have to have a new rule? Do we need to figure out some other way of being able to achieve that outcome?”

The league has reportedly met with Byron Allen, an African American businessman, to determine his interest in purchasing the Denver Broncos.

Dr. Chavis championed the potential interest of Robert F. Smith, the founder of Vista Equity Partners, who enjoys an estimated net worth of about $6.7 billion.

“Putting aside Smith’s investing acumen and ability to grow emerging businesses, his up-from-the-bootstraps story and expansive philanthropic work in the Black community would go a long way to changing the make-up of NFL ownership from its traditional purview of stodgy, old white men,” Dr. Chavis decided.

The belief remains that if more minorities buy teams – an admittedly difficult task for people of color to break into the exclusive ownership circle – opportunities for Black head coaches would become more plentiful.

In the meantime, civil rights groups argue the NFL needs to strengthen its Rooney Rule and force current owners to consider Black candidates seriously.

“However well-intentioned, the effect of the Rooney Rule has been for team decision-makers to regard interviews with candidates of color as an extraneous step, rather than an integral part of the hiring process,” said National Urban League

Robert F. Smith, the billionaire private equity firm head, should be considered as a potential owner of the Denver Broncos. (Photo: wikimedia commons)

President and CEO Marc H. Morial in a statement.

“The gravity of the situation is long past the crisis point,” Morial declared.

The Rooney Rule remains absent of intentionality, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson remarked.

“It’s not enough for the league to declare its good intentions. This is a long-standing crisis that must be confronted with diligence and rigor,” Johnson stated.

New Look Los Angeles Clippers; Same ‘ole Resiliency

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com As the NBA’s trade deadline came and gone last week, the Clippers were more active than most expected them to be.

Having already picked up Norman Powell and Forward Robert Covington from the Trailblazers, the Clippers brass decided that wasn’t enough. Just a few days later, they acquired Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye for veteran big man Serge Ibaka.

For a team playing without their best players in seven-time NBA All-Star Forward Paul George and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, this Clippers team competes night in and night out. They just beat the Warriors, who currently have the second-best record in the league at 42-16, by having six guys score double-digit in points, and though Curry scored 33 points, only two other Warriors scored 13 points on Valentine’s Day at Crypto.com Arena.

Led by tenth-year guard Reggie Jackson who finished the game against the Warriors with 19 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds said post-game about playing a team like the Warriors, “When they got it going like that, the biggest thing is you can’t allow everyone else to hurt you. The next guy had 13.

Steph was carrying the load. I think our coaches did a great job drawing up a great defensive scheme we came out and executed and were fortunate enough to get a win.”

After scoring a team-high 25 points against the Warriors, the versatile Terence Mann described to reporters what guarding All-Pro guard Steph Curry is like, “It ain’t easy. It was almost like a flashback to the other night with Luka [Doncic]. You know they’re both great players.” Apparently they are still smarting from Luka dropping 50 points on the Clippers, in the Mavericks recent win over the Clippers.

The silver lining with NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard and four-time All-Defensive player Paul George missing a combined 86 games this season, is that this young Clippers team is getting valuable developmental time on the court. As of now, it is still up in the air when either guy would be available to return to play this season. Meanwhile, this young Clippers team continues to compete on the level coach Ty Lue expects of them; having their stars return should seemingly improve their potential to win in the upcoming playoffs.

Until the return of Kawhi and Paul George, the Clippers show a unique grit, grind and want to against the league’s elite.

Although they eventually succumbed to the high-powered Phoenix Suns, who boast the league’s best record at 47-10, the night after their win over the Warriors. The Clippers hung tough, as they most often do, they finished the game with five players with double-digit points. However, paired with Booker’s gamehigh 26 points the Suns athletic Forward Mikal Bridges proved to be the difference-maker in the Suns 103-96 win.

Due to their recent transactions, the Clippers are short ball handlers, Ty Lue spoke of this post-game when he said, “They have great defenders, and that’s kind of what hurt us in the first half with our second unit. Elfrid Payton came in, picked his pressure up with T. Mann handling the ball and picking up Amir (Coffey), that kind of hurt us a bit, and that’s why Reggie (Jackson) had to play so many minutes.” The return of Kawhi or Paul George would resolve the lack of ball handlers on the floor.

“What we are doing now is setting the foundation. We are missing two top ten guys and another guy who averages 19 points a game. So, I love what we’re doing right now. The foundation with this group is amazing, and we’re missing three big-time guys.” Team “glue-guy” Nicolas Batum says summarizing their season thus far.

Batum is referring to Kawhi, George, and newcomer Norman Powell who has suffered a broken bone in his foot recently. Should the Clippers make the playoffs, Clippers fans should expect to see Powell’s return. Though the question still remains, when might the fans get to see Kawhi and/ or George return to play? What are your thoughts on these Clippers, and how do you see their season playing out? Let me know by reaching out to me on Twitter @ whatsgoodnsport or email or voiceofthefans@outlook.com.

Lastly, be sure to subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans Podcast,” which is available for you on most podcasting platforms; Apple and Google Podcasts, including Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. On our Podcast, we have passionate banter about everything NBA while addressing current NFL topics, in addition to discussing multiple issues in and around the world of sports. Thank you, as always, for spending time with me and Making Our Voice, Your Choice!

Los Angeles Clippers forward Robert Covington, right, shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Otto Porter Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A8

Local

Los Angeles News Observer

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival-Vibing in the City of Champions and Legends

Councilmember Alex Padilla, Issa Rae, Mayor James T. Butts Jr., Councilmember George Dotson and Councilmember Dionne Faulk (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer (Inglewood, CA.) The City of Inglewood, Taste of Inglewood and 102.3FM Radio Free KJLH teamed up to present the Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival, or Taste of Inglewood Experience Market Street Vibez, Pregame Extravaganza.

The festive occasion was held on Thursday, February 10, through Saturday, February 12, 2022, on Market Street, between Regent and Nutwood Street, during the Super Bowl LVI Weekend.

The festival drew thousands of local residents, and visitors from the Greater Los Angeles region as well as out of state visitors.

Everyone gathered for three-days of great food, stellar entertainment, and marketplace vending and exhibitors.

Taste of Inglewood Big Festival ranked up in the top tier of best Super Bowl LVI events. The best part is that you didn’t have to ruin your carefully crafted monthly budget to attend the festival. This was by far the hottest ticket in town for the money, can we all say FREE in unison.

The City of Inglewood won the coin toss. The elected to take the football and scored big time with foodies, music aficionados and football fans for the Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival.

Attendees strolled up and down-Market Street to peruse the offerings of 100 vendors/exhibitors, sample the mouthwatering treats from the smorgasbord of food trucks and food booths, get updated health screens, and pick up information from the community resources tables, while listening to some great music. Everyone was in attendance could agree that the Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival provided a perfect Trifecta- Food, Entertainment and Positive Vibes.

Speaking of food, Red’s Flavor Table, 254 N. Market Street, not too far from the Taste of Inglewood. Red’s Flavor Table provided catering in the hospitality area for the Main Stage.

Catering to serve the musicians, VIP’s and Sponsors is a great testament to the popularity of Red’s Flavor Table a gem on Market Street. The menu for Friday consisted of red beans and rice, mac & cheese, catfish, ribs and brisket. The menu for Saturday featured fried and baked chicken, veggies and shrimp Marilyn

Cherelle (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

pasta. Now that I made you hungry, you owe it to yourself, your family, friends and fellow co-workers to place your next order or better yet, drop in for a visit. You will not be disappointed.

The success of the Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival was due to the sponsors, MVP’s (Most Valuable Partners). Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival sponsors were City of Inglewood, California Department of Public Health, WOW Media, Verizon, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, 102.3FM Radio Free KJLH, MLK Community Healthcare, 2nd by Second CPR, Cali 93.9, Black Beauty and Wellness Foundation, California Black Women’s Health Project, Blue Shield California, Luxe Beauty and Wellness Boutique, Inglewood Family Medical Clinic Los Angeles Clippers and Intuit Dome and Republic Services.

The program got underway on a warm evening, Thursday, February 10th. DJ Luijay of 93.9 was on deck to spin tracks in between acts. Visitors from Los Angeles and out of state were impressed with “This is How We Do It” positive and uplifting vibes that permeated the three-day extravaganza. The stellar lineup featured internationally known artists who has Los Angeles as their home base.

Mariachi Uclatlán is an award-winning student group at UCLA. The members study under the tutelage of Jesus “Chuy” Guzman. Their crowd-pleasing set focused on traditional Mexican music.

Susie Hansen Latin Band turned up the heat with some Salsa, Cha, Cha, Cha and cumbia to the delight of the salseros dancing in the streets. They performed “Brujeria,” “Beyond the Sea,” “Estoy Pensando en Ti,” and “The Last Time I Saw Jeanine” with guest vocalist Valerie Peterson.

Franki J thrilled the crowd with some original tunes. Franki J’s set list featured the tunes “That Girl,” “Daddy’s Little Girl,” “Si Una Vez,” “El Rey” and concluded his set with a generous sprinkling of “Suga Suga.” Keep it going, you are sounding good as you are humming along to these songs.

The City of Inglewood Saluted Vicente Fernandez, El Número Uno, the People’s Son, The King of Mexican Song, “Chente”, legendary Mexican musician. The tribute consisted of a touching and engaging PowerPoint presentation with archival

TeaMarr (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

photos and concert footage.

Conguero Poncho Sanchez topped off the evening with a refreshing “Mint Julep” followed by a tasty, but fiery serving of Latin Jazz and Salsa, marinated in a lot of soul.

Friday, February 11th- My enjoyment of the festival began with Cherelle on the Nutwood and Market Stage. Cherelle performed “Didn’t Mean to Turn You On,” “Saturday Love,” “Everything I Missed at Home,” to name a few.

Surface followed on the same stage with “Closer Than Friends,” “The First Time,” “You Are My Everything,” and “Shower Me With Your Love.”

Howard Hewitt put on an excellent show performing “I’m For Real,” “Show Me,” “Once, Twice, Three Times,” Second Time Around,” “For The Lover in You,” “Somewhere There’s a Love,” and “A Night to Remember.”

Biscuits and Gravy dished up a set of funk and classic soul for the Old School class of students dancing in the streets.

Castella, Jon B, Switch, Chante Moore and Confunkshun performance was entertaining and outstanding as they took the crowd down memory lane.

Saturday, February 12th- The Nutwood and Market stage was on fire with the energetic and enthusiastic sets by Malik Rice, Kida The Great, Zeia and N’Sessions, Tia P, Yo Yo and Friends, Dana Dane and Dougie Fresh.

Club Nouveau opened day three with timeless hits from their extensive catalog.

Issa Rae was presented the key to the city of her native Inglewood, becoming the first person in its 114- year history to receive the honor. Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., presented Issa Rae with an Award of Recognition, who dubbed her “the Queen of Inglewood.” Mayor James T. Butts Jr. presented Issa Rae with the key to the city after a brief video.

Issa Rae stated, “I’m a little emotional, I’m trying to be a thug right now. The mayor really kind of flabbergasted me in that this is the first key in 114 years, so that’s a huge honor. I just want to thank you all so much for your support- thank you to the mayor, thank you to the City of Inglewood for making it so easy for us to film here, for helping us showcase this city that I

love so much.”

Issa Rae continued “I have to give love to my grandparents who have lived here, have live in Briarwood for a long time and who established my first point of view of Inglewood and love the city themselves; my mom and my sister who live here actively and just for being here.” I’m truly honored to receive this. I will always put on for my city: Inglewood, South L.A., Stand Up.” Issa Rae remained on stage to introduce performer TeaMarr, the first artist on her Raedio Music Label. TeaMarr gained new fans while brilliantly and superbly performing a set of original tunes “I’m That,” “Colors,” “Pipe Dreams,” “Shoo Fly,” “Stress Free,” “Show Me Love,” “Jarrrvis,” and “One Job.” Lenny Williams, former vocalist with Tower of Power was captivating during his time in the spotlight. He immediately connected with the audience on the tunes “The Love I Lost,” “I’ll Be There,” “This Time It’s Real,” “You Are Still a Young Man,’ “I Could Never Make You Unhappy.” He caused a few people to blush when he got down and dirty with the blues on “Didn’t Know that It Was Your Momma” and other double entendre banter. Lenny Williams held the crowd in the palm of his hands as he continued with “Clean Up Women” followed by a few choruses of songs by Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and The Temptations, and concluded his set with “Cause, I Love You.” The program continued with the dynamic and soulful sounds of Loose Ends. Their high-octane set featured the tunes “Stay A Little While Child,” “Gonna Make You Mine,” “Don’t You Ever,” “Real Love,” “Watching You,” “Mr. Bachelor.” They slowed the tempo down for “You Can’t Stop the Rain” while featuring the background singers in the spotlight. They revved it up again on “Hanging on a String” and “Slow Down.”

Tony Tone Toni and Original Lakeside took the party atmosphere up a notch in their respective time slot to close out the Taste of Inglewood Big Game Festival on a rousing note. This was a perfect segue to the exciting Super Bowl LVI, between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, February 13, 2022.

Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Charisse Nicholson and Rosalba Cambria (Photo by Ricky Richardson)