Leimert Park Jazz Festival Triumphed Return to The Village
Thousands March on for Voting Rights, D.C. Statehood
News Observer Page A2
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Los Angeles
Volume 36 Number 42
Serving Los Angeles County for Over 36 Years
Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California
Campaign Underway to Convince Rep. Karen Bass to Run for L.A. Mayor By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent While the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom has topped headlines in California politics, flying just under the radar is the effort to draft Congresswoman Karen Bass for Los Angeles mayor. “As we struggle just in the city of L.A. and just in our own communities to do that, I think she would really be a very key person to bring together the city on our issues,” said Rachel Brashier, who organized the #KarenBassforMayor online campaign by the California Black Women’s Democratic Club. The Daily News of Los Angeles reported that Bass, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has seen her name come up in behind-the-scenes discussions around the city’s mayoral race. The congresswoman’s office declined to comment. California residents have started to vote in the recall election of Newsom. Officials have set September 14 as the date for the recall election. If removed, Newsom would join Gray Davis as recent Democratic California governors recalled. Residents voted to recall Davis in 2003. But while most of the attention in the Golden State’s has focused on Newsom’s fate, a grassroots effort picks up to put Congresswoman Bass in the mayor’s office. “The online campaign is meant to further a conversation that had begun percolating behind the scenes about how politically savvy Angelenos could get involved in the local races,” Elizabeth Chou wrote for the Daily News. That conversation began coalescing around Bass in late July, according to Molly Watson, another executive board member of the Democratic club. Watson told Chou that the Democratic club and others involved in local politics had been looking at the mayoral race and gauging if they were interested in becoming more engaged. “But for some time, those conversations did not gather much momentum. Different names came up, but none seemed to pique serious interest,” Chou reported. Around the end of [July], Bass’ name bubbled up among local Democratic clubs and progressive circles. At the same time, Watson told Chou that she heard the congresswoman’s name brought up in donor conversations. Initially, there was concern about Bass giving up an important seat in Congress, but Watson said she has always understood Bass as someone who mentored others and paid attention to a succession plan. “She’s not someone who will outstay a seat,” Watson told
Bass, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has seen her name come up in behind-the-scenes discussions around the city’s mayoral race.
the Daily News. “She knows it’s important that we have people who know how to retire from different positions, and so that all started to make sense for me.” Poll researcher Paul Maslin told the Daily News that Bass led a recent survey among 800 voters. A political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, Jack Pitney added that given Bass’ political chops, she would be a “very formidable candidate” if she were to run. Bass proved her political skills in the state Assembly and is “very well respected across the political spectrum,” he told the newspaper. “Right now, she is a respected member of the majority and has considerable influence (but) if the Democrats are in the minority (should mid-term elections go poorly for the party), she will be largely a spectator,” Pitney said. “That’s not a lot of fun.”
“The basic calculation for her is: stay in the House and face the possibility of minority status, or run for mayor, and take on all the slings and arrows that come with the job,” he said. “It’s not really an easy choice.” The L.A. mayor’s job is a “tough” one, and it doesn’t come with as much authority as “a mayor would like,” Pitney noted. “Anybody who runs for mayor has to grapple with a lot of inherited problems — homelessness, being perhaps the most visible, (and) violent crime,” he said. “Basically, quality of life issues. And that’s difficult. That’s not a fun job.” But he said that Bass seems like someone who is “very toughminded. She has never been afraid of a challenge, which may be why she will decide to do it, but it would be very understandable if she didn’t.”
LA Leaders Draft Blueprint Showing What Equity Should Look Like for Black People Kassidy Henson California Black Media A few weeks ago, a coalition of Los Angeles leaders from different backgrounds released a report with a detailed blueprint for what racial equity should look like for African Americans. Although the document is focused on California’s largest city, it is packed with strategies and learnings on racial and economic justice, researchers say, that can be applied to other cities around their state and across the United States. Called the “No Going Back LA report” and titled The Road to Racial Justice Runs Through Equity: Ending Anti-Black Racism in Los Angeles, the Committee for Greater LA’s (CGLA) Black Experience Action Team says the report is a direct call to action. It is a template, they say, from which the city’s legislators as well as business, philanthropy and community leaders can collaborate on an action plan focused on issues that can improve the lives of Black Angelenos. “Intersectionality and the need for quality data across issues are two essential pieces of our analysis and vision in this report,” said Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, Dean’s Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California. “The report proposes city-wide policies that can have an impact on multiple issues facing our communities,” Alfaro continued. “We believe designing systems around the priorities of Black folks will create more equitable systems for all.” Topics covered in the report work to answer the key question: what does a Los Angeles free of anti-Black racism look like? Community leaders deliberated on this question over the
span of eight months to determine how Black equity can create the anti-racist, progressive society that they envisioned. The report determines that Black equity is based on the following principles: truth, strength, strategic disruption, and love. Alfaro explained that it is important to tell the truth, as difficult as this truth may be. In addition, she focused on the idea that all members of the community will need to come together to make the changes outlined in the report. By paying attention to what has worked in the past, what is working now, and what innovations lie ahead, the committee seeks to spotlight best practices for implementation of their roadmap over the next 25 years. Recently, the CGLA held a media briefing where key leaders discussed the intentions, findings, and goals of the report. Alfaro, who worked as the academic lead on the report, began by reviewing the report in detail. Although she led on a deep dive of the report, Alfaro explained that the information included in the study is the product of the group’s 37-member Black Experience Action Team, a 14-member academic council, 10 community members with lived experiences, and several different focus groups. The celebration and recognition of all contributors reflected the objectives of the report itself. “It was critical to us that this effort delve deeply into many of our community’s aspirations and needs. It was particularly important to ensure we attended to the vast diversity in our community,” said April Verrett, President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 2015, and chair of the Black Experience Action Team (BEAT). “Across the seven major issues we cover, you will see specific ideas that address the needs of
our LGBTQIA and gender-non-conforming family members, our immigrant family members, and our family members with intellectual and physical disabilities.” The report takes into account that one does not exist without influence of others. It reviews seven dimensions of experience through an intersectional lens. The committee outlines a comprehensive roadmap and recommendations for each of the following areas: Economics and Poverty Relief, Housing and Homelessness, Education & Youth Development, Mass Incarceration & Police Violence, Physical Health & Mental Continued on page A4
Make Sure Votes Count in Recall Edward Henderson California Black Media For African Americans, the right to vote was won by the passion, sacrifice and bravery of many who came before us. It is our responsibility to make sure we are doing everything in our power to ensure that our vote counts in every election held at the local, state or national level. Here are five tips to make sure that our voices are heard (and our votes are counted) in the upcoming gubernatorial recall election. Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote Visit VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov to confirm that are you are registered to vote in California. If you are not registered to vote, you can register online or by mail to receive a mail-in ballot until Aug. 30 at registertovote.ca.gov. You can also register the same day you vote in-person at a polling place or vote center on Tuesday, Sept.14. You can find more information on the requirements for registering to vote here. Know What is on the Ballot If you are in favor of Gov. Newsom remaining in office, vote “no” in response to the first question on the
ballot: ‘Shall Gavin Newsome be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor?’ You do not need to answer the second question on the ballot if you would like him to stay in office. If you are in favor of recalling Newsom, vote “yes” to
the first question and choose the candidate you want to replace him on the second question. Vote early For this recall vote, election day is every day leading up to Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. You may return your voteby-mail ballot at any time, including on Sept. 14 at one of your local polling stations. Return your vote-by-mail ballot properly To return your vote-by-mail ballot properly: · Drop it in the mail with pre-paid postage. · Make sure you are using a tamper free mailbox that does not appear damaged. · Make sure your signature on your ballot matches the one on your voter registration. If it doesn’t match, your county election official will contact you to resolve the issue. · You may also drop off your vote-by-mail ballot inperson at any polling place on election day. Sign up to track your ballot online To keep track of your ballot from the time it is mailed, received, and counted, sign-up at https://voterstatus.sos. ca.gov/ to receive automatic email, SMS (text), or voice call notifications about your ballot. This will keep you informed throughout the entire process.
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Thursday, September 2, 2021
Black Man Paralyzed in Police Shooting Hopes to Walk Soon
CHICAGO (AP) – A Black man who was left paralyzed from the waist down after he was shot by a white police officer in Wisconsin expects to be walking soon, an accomplishment he says is tempered by fears of it happening again. Jacob Blake Jr. was shot seven times by a Kenosha police officer in August 2020, three months after George Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota. Blake’s shooting set off days of violent protests in the city of about 100,000 people located midway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Blake tells CNN he was able to take a few steps during his son’s birthday celebration this past week, which he compared to sliding his legs through a woodchipper. Although he was “so geeked” by the moment that followed months of physical rehabilitation, he is not claiming victory. “Yeah, I’m here, and yeah I’m about to be walking, but I really don’t feel like I have survived because it could happen to me again,” Blake told the network. “I have not survived until something has changed.” Blake said he continues to relive not only his own shooting, but other gun violence in the Black community. Last month, during Fourth of July fireworks when Blake was in Chicago with family, he called 911 over what he later realized was an anxiety attack. “I’m hearing these booms (fireworks) and it’s not scaring me because I got shot, it’s scaring me because all of those people have gotten shot so every time a boom went off, I’m kind of imagining people dying,” Blake said. Blake was shot by Kenosha police Officer Rusten Sheskey after he and two other Kenosha officers tried to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant. A pocketknife fell from Blake’s pants during a scuffle. He said he picked it up before heading to a vehicle to drive away with two of his children in the back seat. He said he was prepared to surrender once he put the knife in the vehicle. Sheskey, who was not charged, told investigators that he feared for his own safety. The shooting touched off chaotic protests in the Kenosha area, during which time an Illinois man allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators and wounded another. Kyle Rittenhouse faces two charges of felony murder and one charge of attempted felony murder in the attack that left Blake “furious” and “angry.” “For the reasons they said they shot me, they had every reason to shoot him, but they didn’t,” Blake said. “Honestly if his skin color was different, and I’m not prejudiced or a racist, he probably would have been labeled a terrorist.”
Ex-sheriff Quits Watchdog Agency After KKK Photo Questions
ATLANTA (AP) – A former metro Atlanta sheriff has resigned from a state judicial watchdog agency after questions rose about a decades-old photo of him wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood. House Speaker David Ralston appointed former Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison to the state Judicial Qualifications Commission on Aug. 19. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports it asked Ralston’s office on Thursday if the speaker was aware of the photo. “Sheriff Garrison has resigned from the JQC,” Ralston spokesperson Kaleb McMichen later responded, without elaborating. “The speaker will appoint a replacement as soon as practical.” Garrison declined comment on Friday. The photo was widely noted when it surfaced in 2012. Garrison said he had no affiliation with the KKK and said he wore the costume to a Halloween party when he was in his early 20s. “I don’t deny it wasn’t stupid, looking back now, but there again I say what 21- or 22-year-old in this world hasn’t made some stupid mistakes?” Garrison told WSB-TV then. He said he and a friend wore the KKK costumes to the party as characters from the movie “Blazing Saddles.” Garrison called the publication of the photo “purely political” because it came during a Republican primary challenge. He won that race and later reelection. Garrison retired five years ago after more than 20 years as sheriff.
Alaska Airlines Passenger’s Cell Phone on Fire After Landing
SEATAC, Wash. (AP) – A passenger’s cell phone caught fire after an Alaska Airlines flight landed at the Sea-Tac International Airport Monday evening, forcing the crew to deploy evacuation slides to get everyone on board to safety. A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said a passenger’s cell phone on flight 751 from New Orleans to Seattle caught on fire, KOMO-TV reported. The aircraft crew used a battery containment bag to extinguish the fire, the spokesperson said. Hazy conditions in the aircraft cabin forced the crew to deploy evacuation slides to get the guests off the plane. A tweet from Sea-Tac Airport said the passengers were transported by bus to the terminal, some with minor injuries. There were no impacts to airport operations. There were 128 passengers and six crew members on board the flight, according to the spokesperson.