Los Angeles News Observer 6.5.25

Los AngelesNews Observer

‘We’re Not Going Back’ Black Churches Confront Target

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National

Correspondent On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant led a national prayer protest targeting Target’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Dozens of churches joined in what Bryant called a “spiritual act of uprising,” staging nine-minute and 40-second demonstrations outside Target stores in honor of the time Floyd was pinned to the ground by police. “Five years ago, the CEO of Target said George Floyd could have been one of his employees and, with no pressure, made a pledge of $2 billion,” Bryant said during the protest in Conyers, Georgia. “To see mega-companies now walk away from diversity, equity, and inclusion is a stark contrast from where we were five years ago.” Laretta Wright, a protester at the demonstration, urged accountability. “If you’ve made a promise or a commitment to the people, that’s all we ask—that you follow through,” Wright demanded. “Don’t fall back and tell us to go back because we ain’t going back. We’re going forward.” Bryant said 67 churches participated in the May 25 protests, organized as part of the ongoing Target Boycott. The movement began as the Target Fast and gained national momentum as the company pulled back on its DEI pledges. Target had promised to support Black-owned brands and increase Black representation within its workforce following Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, where the retailer is headquartered. Target has said the changes were part of a planned three-year cycle. Programs to increase representation and partnerships with Black businesses were quietly phased out, sparking outrage. CEO Brian Cornell met with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton in April, who later called the conversation “constructive and candid.”

By ANDREW DALTON Associated Press

But Bryant and other leaders say the rollback, paired with the silence toward Black-owned media, speaks volumes. In a joint column, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and NNPA Chair Bobby R. Henry Sr. said they sent a formal letter to Cornell in October 2024 requesting investment in Black-owned newspapers. The letter received no response. “Silence, in the face of truth, is complicity,” they wrote. “Let us be clear: we will not shop where we are disrespected. Our dollars will not finance our own marginalization.”

Target reported a 2.8% drop in first-quarter sales to $23.8 billion and lowered its full-year

forecast. Adjusted earnings fell nearly 36% to $1.30 per share, down from $2.03 last year. The company cited a challenging economic environment and announced internal leadership changes and a new acceleration office. “Black Press USA is in complete solidarity with Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, New Missionary Baptist Church, and the millions of Black church members across the nation who continue to be active and to engage in nonviolent protests against Target,” Chavis said. “Sunday was a glorious day that the Lord has made.”

True Unemployment Rate Soars Past 24% — Black Workers Hit Hardest

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com

Senior National Correspondent

Despite federal reports suggesting a stable labor market, new data from the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP) reveals a far grimmer reality for American workers—particularly Black and Hispanic Americans. The institute’s April report on the True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) shows a functional unemployment rate of 24.3%, compared to the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figure of 4.2%. The numbers mark the third consecutive month that functional unemployment has surpassed 24%, according to LISEP, which defines functional unemployment as the combined total of those without jobs, those unable to secure full-time employment, and those earning poverty-level wages—less than $20,000 per year adjusted for inflation. “We are facing a job market where nearly one in four workers are functionally unemployed, and current trends show little sign of improvement,” said LISEP Chair Gene Ludwig. “The harsh reality is that far too many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet.” Racial and gender disparities remain wide. Black workers saw a 1.4 percentage point increase in their TRU to 26.7%, while White workers experienced a slight decrease to 23%. The rate for Hispanic workers climbed to 28.2%, maintaining the highest among reported groups. A persistent gender gap also emerged in the data: functional unemployment for men rose to 20%, while women—though showing a slight improvement— still face a significantly higher rate at 28.6%. Beyond labor force disparities, BLS statistics further indicate a disproportionate impact on Black Americans. The unemployment rate for Black men remains at 6.3%, more than double that of White men. Meanwhile, since September, approximately 181,000 Black women have dropped out of the labor force entirely, even as participation rates among women of other racial groups have increased. The origins of this exodus stretch back to 2020 when millions of

working mothers—particularly women of color— left the workforce amid the collapse of childcare infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have yet to return due to ongoing issues with affordability and accessibility.

LISEP’s white paper, “Measuring Better,” outlines significant flaws in headline economic indicators such as GDP and BLS unemployment rates, labeling them misleading and outdated. Instead, LISEP advocates for measures that reflect the lived economic realities of most Americans—particularly those in working- and middle-class communities that have long been left behind by policy and prosperity. According to the paper, the methodology behind TRU includes only those working full-time and earning above poverty wages as “employed.” It excludes part-time workers who would prefer full-time employment and those earning less than $20,000 per year. This approach, LISEP argues, provides policymakers with a more accurate understanding of economic well-being and informs better decision-making for resource allocation. “The public would be well served by a commitment from economic policymakers to adopt a stable course of action, based on real-world metrics, that better serves the interests of working Americans,” Ludwig said.

Trump Got Checked on Tariffs

By Stacy M. Brown

BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

Despite federal reports suggesting a stable labor market, new data from the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP) reveals a far grimmer reality for American workers—particularly Black and Hispanic Americans. The institute’s April report on the True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) shows a functional unemployment rate of 24.3%, compared to the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figure of 4.2%. The numbers mark the third consecutive month that functional unemployment has surpassed 24%, according to LISEP, which defines functional unemployment as the combined total of those without jobs, those unable to secure full-time employment, and those earning poverty-level wages—less than $20,000 per year adjusted for inflation. “We are facing a job market where nearly one in four workers are functionally unemployed, and current trends show little sign of improvement,” said LISEP Chair Gene Ludwig. “The harsh reality is that far too many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet.” Racial and gender disparities remain wide. Black workers saw a 1.4 percentage point increase in their TRU to 26.7%, while White workers experienced a slight decrease to 23%. The rate for Hispanic workers climbed to 28.2%, maintaining the highest among reported groups. A persistent gender gap also emerged in the data: functional unemployment for men rose to 20%, while women—though showing a slight improvement— still face a significantly higher rate at 28.6%. Beyond labor force disparities, BLS statistics further indicate a disproportionate impact on Black Americans. The unemployment rate for Black men remains at 6.3%, more than double that of White men. Meanwhile, since September, approximately 181,000 Black women have dropped out of the labor force entirely, even as participation rates among women of other racial groups have increased. The origins of this exodus stretch back to 2020 when millions of working mothers—particularly women of color— left the workforce amid the collapse of childcare infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have yet to return due to ongoing issues with

affordability and accessibility.

LISEP’s white paper, “Measuring Better,” outlines significant flaws in headline economic indicators such as GDP and BLS unemployment rates, labeling them misleading and outdated. Instead, LISEP advocates for measures that reflect the lived economic realities of most Americans—particularly those in working- and middle-class communities that have long been left behind by policy and prosperity. According to the paper, the methodology behind TRU includes only those working full-time and earning above poverty

wages as “employed.” It excludes part-time workers who would prefer full-time employment and those earning less than $20,000 per year. This approach, LISEP argues, provides policymakers with a more accurate understanding of economic well-being and informs better decision-making for resource allocation. “The public would be well served by a commitment from economic policymakers to adopt a stable course of action, based on real-world metrics, that better serves the interests of working Americans,” Ludwig said.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors said Friday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson.

Four former housekeepers of the singersongwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was “actively investigating criminal allegations” against Robinson. Robinson’s attorney Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are “pleased” that the district attorney “confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago.”

“One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations,” Frost said. “Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here.”

Frost previously called the housekeepers’ allegations “vile” and “false.”

The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ.

On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were “fabricated in an extortionate scheme.”

A statement Friday from the housekeepers’ lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasized that there were no charges in the 2015 case “due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.”

They said “this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice.” Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.”

The housekeepers are seeking at least $50 million in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names.

They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times.

They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace.

The Robinsons’ defamation lawsuit says the women “stayed with the Robinsons year after year,” vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and “even a car.”

The court filing says that despite the couple’s generosity, the women “secretly harbored resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons’ wealth.”

Target store in a sunny day in Plattsburgh in New York State on October 17/2024

(Photo by Arturo Rosenow)

Smokey Robinson

Volume 40 Number 37 Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Wednesday, June 5, 2025

Court Fight Begins Over Trump’s Destruction of AmeriCorps

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

The Trump administration is preparing to terminate AmeriCorps, eliminating $400 million in grants and cutting off critical services for tens of thousands, while continuing to advance policies that benefit Donald Trump, his family, and wealthy allies at the expense of low-income Americans. Final layoffs of AmeriCorps staff will take effect on June 24. Under orders from Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, the administration is dismantling the country’s only federal agency for national service and volunteerism—without public input or congressional authorization. The decision ends funding for 1,031 organizations and displaces more than 32,000 AmeriCorps members and senior volunteers. The move is part of a broader campaign to punish the poor. Since returning to office, Trump has aggressively pushed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance while pursuing massive tax breaks for the rich. Now, the administration is erasing programs that served veterans, students, the elderly, and communities devastated by natural disasters.

“These actions are heartless, cruel, and unlawful,” said Joel Berg of Hunger Free America, one of many groups impacted. “AmeriCorps isn’t wasteful spending—it’s a lifeline.” A coalition of nonprofits and service organizations from across the country has filed a federal lawsuit in

Maryland, accusing the Trump administration of violating federal law by gutting AmeriCorps without legal authority or due process. Plaintiffs include Elev8 Baltimore, Red Cloud Indian School, the AmeriCorps Employees Union, and over a dozen others. The lawsuit states that the cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act and federal budget law. On April 15, AmeriCorps participants were abruptly told to cease work and return home. Four regional National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) campuses were closed, and the entire corps disbanded. Most agency staff were placed on immediate administrative leave, and 85% were issued layoff notices effective June 24. Programs supporting Native American education in South Dakota, school tutoring in Baltimore, housing counseling in North Carolina, and civic engagement in Maine have all been defunded. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (DPa.), an AmeriCorps alum, called the shutdown a betrayal. “AmeriCorps costs pennies to the dollar and delivers enormous value. This decision will hurt communities that can least afford it.” The lawsuit demands a halt to the shutdown and calls on the courts to block what plaintiffs describe as an “unprecedented and unlawful dismantling” of a vital public institution. “Congress created AmeriCorps to serve the vulnerable,” the suit reads. “This administration has chosen to destroy it instead.”

Harvard Reaches Historic Settlement Over Earliest Known Photographs of Enslaved Americans

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com

Senior National Correspondent

Harvard University will relinquish ownership of the earliest known photographs of enslaved people as part of a historic legal settlement announced Wednesday by nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The agreement resolves a 2019 lawsuit filed by Tamara Lanier, the great-great-great-granddaughter of an enslaved man known as “Papa Renty,” whose image, along with that of his daughter Delia and five others, was

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captured in 1850 to support racist scientific theories promoted by a Harvard professor. The 19thcentury daguerreotypes, long held by Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, were commissioned by Swiss-born biologist Louis Agassiz, a Harvard professor who used the images in a campaign to promote polygenism—the debunked and deeply racist theory that different races have separate origins and that Africans and African Americans are inferior to whites. The photographs were taken in South Carolina, where Renty and Delia were stripped and posed under duress.

“This is a day of reckoning 175 years in the making,” said Josh Koskoff, co-counsel on the case. “This is not just an unlikely personal victory for the Lanier family; it is also a win for the importance of truth and the power of history at a time when both values are under unprecedented assault.” As part of the settlement, Harvard has agreed to fully relinquish the images to Lanier, who is advocating for their permanent display at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina—the same state where the pictures were initially taken. A confidential financial agreement was also reached. “Since Black Americans were first brought to this country in chains, our pain and trauma have been exploited for capitalistic gain,” said Lanier. “Harvard played a role in the darkest chapter in American history. This is a small step in the right direction towards fully acknowledging that history and working to rectify it.”

The lawsuit accused Harvard of wrongfully seizing and profiting from the images, charging licensing fees for their use in books and promotional

Trump’s Personal Fortune Surges as Critics Point to Historic Monetization of Presidency

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

More than any president in modern history, Donald Trump has turned the White House into a source of personal wealth, with a scale of profiteering that experts say eclipses previous administrations— and with little political consequence. “I’ve been watching and writing about corruption for 50 years, and my head is still spinning,” said Michael Johnston, professor emeritus at Colgate University and author of several books on corruption. Investigations by multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, Bloomberg News, PBS, and Open Secrets, reveal that since returning to power, Trump and his family have significantly expanded their business empire, using the presidency as leverage to capitalize on a level of influence and impunity that has redrawn the boundaries of acceptable conduct in Washington. From cryptocurrency schemes and high-dollar memberships to foreign gifts and real estate ventures, the Trump family has raked in hundreds of millions. Since his reelection, Trump has reportedly doubled his net worth. The Trump name has driven more than $10 billion in real estate transactions and generated over $500 million from a single cryptocurrency venture. His newly formed $TRUMP coin was launched just before taking office in January, with access to private investor dinners sold based on personal investment—not campaign contributions.

Bloomberg News reported that Trump’s ventures now span financial services, gun sales, and drone part manufacturing. His family members have secured corporate appointments, including at least seven executive roles for Donald Trump Jr. The brazenness has raised alarm among longtime observers. “By conventional Washington standards, the still-young Trump administration is a candidate for the most brazen use of government office in American history,” wrote Peter Baker of the New York Times, citing the potential to eclipse even Watergate and the Teapot Dome scandal. One of the more glaring examples occurred recently when Jeff

Volunteer, friends and portrait of people in park for recycle program, earth day or social responsibility. Environment, climate change and NGO with group in nature for non profit, cleaning or charity (Photo by Jacob Wackerhausen)

President Donald Trump

Key moments from the third week of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Some of Sean “Diddy” Combs ’ ex-employees took a central role in the third week of his sex trafficking trial, including personal assistants who testified that the hip-hop mogul was capricious, controlling and violent.

The week began with Capricorn Clark, a personal assistant who was later a global brand director for Combs’ company. She recalled witnessing Combs beating his longtime girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and said he raged about wanting to kill rapper and romantic rival Kid Cudi.

It ended with another ex-assistant, testifying under the pseudonym “Mia,” who alleges Combs raped her during a torturous eight-year tenure working for the rap star. She is the second of three women expected to testify that he sexually assaulted them. Combs has pleaded not guilty.

The trial resumes Monday in federal court in Manhattan.

Here are key moments from Week 3:

Ex-Combs aide says fear stopped her from calling police

Former employees of Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment described repeatedly witnessing him beat Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, but said they didn’t report the abuse to law enforcement because they feared Combs would harm them.

Clark testified that the day she started as Combs’ personal assistant in 2004, he threatened he would kill her if her previous work for rival rappers interfered with her work for him.

Then, she testified, she watched in shock as Combs viciously assaulted Cassie, his on-again, offagain girlfriend for more than a decade, in 2011 after learning she was dating Cudi. Clark said her “heart was breaking from seeing her get hit like that,” and neither she nor Combs’ bodyguard intervened.

She said she called Cassie’s mother and told her: “Please help her. I can’t call the police, but you can.”

Weeks later, Clark said, she reported what happened to Cassie to the president of Bad Boy Records.

She also testified about her own run-ins with Combs, telling jurors that he kidnapped her at gunpoint and took her to Cudi’s house as he fumed that he was going to kill the rapper. Cudi testified that he believed Cassie and Combs had broken up.

He said his relationship with Cassie only lasted a few weeks.

Clark said she stayed in Combs’ SUV while he broke into the home. She said she was fired weeks later for what she contends was a trumped-up reason.

Cassie delivers her third child after testifying for four days

One of the week’s biggest developments came outside the courtroom. Cassie, 38, delivered her third child less than two weeks after testifying for four days as the prosecution’s prize witness.

The news of her son’s birth Tuesday reached the jury the next day when Cassie’s longtime stylist, Deonte Nash, testified that he was still close to Cassie and had sent her well wishes after the birth.

Cassie, known for the platinum-selling 2006 hit single “Me & U,” married personal trainer Alex Fine in September 2019 — about a year after breaking up with Combs for good. Their first daughter, Frankie Stone Fine, was born in 2019. They welcomed a second daughter, Sunny Cinco Fine, in 2021.

Attacks on Kid Cudi’s property put law enforcement on the stand

Jurors heard from a Los Angeles police officer who responded to the December 2011 break-in at Cudi’s home and an arson investigator who spoke about his efforts to solve the firebombing of Cudi’s Porsche 911 weeks later.

Officer Chris Ignacio said he found Christmas gifts, some opened, with luxury watches and purses. Cudi has testified that his dog was traumatized after being locked in a bathroom by intruders.

Ignacio said he saw a car with tinted windows registered to Bad Boy outside the house but didn’t approach it because he had no proof a crime had occurred.

Prosecutors are trying to prove that Combs was behind the break-in and the subsequent firebombing, which involved a Molotov cocktail dropped through a hole sliced in the convertible’s fabric roof.

Lance Jimenez, a Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator, said the explosive was made from a 40-ounce Olde English 800 malt liquor bottle and a silky designer handkerchief.

“I personally felt it was targeted,” he said of the Jan. 9, 2012, attack.

A stylist delivers answers from the witness stand like nobody else

Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash was a witness like no other, adding flair and humor within seconds of taking the stand on Wednesday. Asked if he wanted to testify, he declared: “Absolutely not!”

Nash said he knew Combs as “Puff” and Cassie as “Cass.” He said he responded to a Craigslist ad and started working at Bad Boy Entertainment as an intern and then a stylist from 2008 to 2018.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey put a picture of Nash in front of him and asked, “Is it a glamour shot of you?”

“Yes. I look amazing,” Nash responded, drawing laughs.

Asked what he had heard Combs call Cassie over the years, Nash answered “Um, Baby Girl, CC, Cass” and then listed a number of slurs against women. Asked how often Combs used one particular slur, Nash said: “Um, quite a bit. That was his fave.”

Nash later testified that Cassie had confided in him that she didn’t always want to go along with

Combs’ demands that she have sex with other men during his drug-fueled “freak-off” marathons.

A second woman testifies she was raped by Combs

Mia testified that Combs sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions: forcibly kissing her and putting his hand up her dress at his 40th birthday party, forcing her to perform oral sex as they packed for a trip, and raping her after he climbed into her bed at his Los Angeles home.

Mia said she thought her sexual abuse was sporadic enough that each time it occurred, she thought it would never happen again. She said she put on a brave face and continued to work for Combs, in part because she felt shame, blamed herself and feared what would happen if she reported him to authorities.

Cassie testified previously that Combs raped her after she broke up with him in 2018.

Mia said she witnessed Combs physically attacking Cassie “all the time” at his houses, her apartments, hotels, events and while traveling. She said Combs also turned his wrath on her, throwing her into a swimming pool, dumping a bucket of ice on her and hurling a bowl of spaghetti in her direction.

As prosecution’s case shrinks, defense’s may expand Prosecutors insisted all week that they are ahead of schedule in presenting their case and said they could be done calling witnesses by mid-June.

But Combs lawyer Marc Agnifilo said the defense’s presentation might take longer than expected — particularly after prosecutors revealed they were making “fairly substantial changes” to their plan.

“It may be that because of witnesses the government is not calling, we might have more on the defense case,” he said.

As a result, he added, the trial might run to the start of July.

From Kitchen Karaoke to Cruise Stages, Maysa Leak Keeps Creating Black Music

By Stacy M. Brown

Grammy-nominated singer Maysa Leak, one of the most distinctive and dynamic voices in soul and jazz, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known during Black Music Appreciation Month for a candid and joyful conversation that traced her journey from Baltimore stages to global acclaim. Still radiating the same warmth that’s made her a fan favorite for more than three decades, Maysa shared what the month means to her, her recent

1 hits on Traxsource: “I Don’t Mind” and “Down with Me.” She released the record under her independent label, Blue Velvet Soul Records, which she founded in 2018. “It’s a big deal for me to hit number one without a major machine behind me,” she said. “I’m the only machine I have—well, God is the greatest machine of all. But here on Earth, I’m doing this on my own.”

That independent spirit has carried Maysa through a storied career that began with background vocals for Stevie Wonder’s “Wonderlove” shortly after graduating from Morgan State University in 1991. A phone audition with Incognito’s Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick led to her breakout as lead vocalist on hits like “Don’t You Worry’ Bout a Thing.” Maysa’s debut solo album “Maysa” arrived in 1995 and turns 30 this August. She’s preparing to mark that milestone—and many others—with a major celebration in 2026, dubbed her “35-60-10” tour: 35 years in music, turning 60 years old, and ten years of her fan-favorite “Kitchen Karaoke Sundays” livestream series. “I want to take it to another level,” she said. “Big stage, big background, and a tribute album to Phyllis Hyman. Her family gave me their blessing, and I want to do it with an orchestra. It’s going to be beautiful.” Maysa credited Melba Moore’s performance in the Broadway musical, “Purlie,” as the moment she knew she wanted to sing. Chaka Khan, she said, helped shape her approach to jazz, soul, and funk. As for her current playlist? It features music by bassist Byron Miller, vocalist Kimberly Brewer, and Incognito’s live album recorded in Tokyo. “I still pinch myself to this day that I was a part of that band,” she said. Fans can catch Maysa on a six-city tour this summer, including a two-week cruise engagement. But no matter the venue, her gratitude never fades. “Every time someone spends their money to come hear me sing, I don’t take that for granted,” she said. “It’s a gift every single time.” Asked what message she hopes people take from Black Music Appreciation Month; Maysa was direct: “Hold on to it. Don’t let anybody erase it,” she stated. “You can’t change history. We brought a lot to this whole world musically. We have to preserve it and hand it down to our children and grandchildren.”

Rapper P. Diddy arrives at the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 3, 2018. (Danny Moloshok/Reuters, FILE)

CA vs Hate Teams Up With San Francisco Giants and Oakland Roots

Edward Henderson California Black

Media

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is partnering with the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Roots to take a stand against hate and discrimination.

Established by the department’s California vs Hate program, the collaboration aims to inform more Californians about resources the CRD provides to combat hate across the state. The campaign is also designed to promote racial tolerance and crosscultural understanding among Californians of different backgrounds.

“Sports have the power to unite people across all backgrounds,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish. “By teaming up with the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Roots, we are underscoring our commitment to building a more inclusive California where everyone can feel safe and thrive. Engaging fans in conversations about what we can all do to combat hate allows us to make our communities stronger, safer, and more welcoming for all.”

The Giants are San Francisco’s Major League Baseball (MLB) team and the Roots are Oakland’s men’s soccer team that competes in the United Soccer League (USL).

California vs Hate is the state’s first-ever multilingual statewide hotline and online portal that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. By engaging sports fans, the collaboration underscores the idea that we can play on different teams but come together as Californians -- rooted in respect, commonalities, and community pride.

This summer, California vs Hate will be present at select heritage and community celebration games at Oracle Park and the Oakland Coliseum, providing fans with resources on how to report hate acts and support victims. Attendees can stop

by the California vs Hate table before and during select games to learn how to join the fight against hate in their communities. Fans can also enjoy a photo booth experience and spin a wheel to win promotional items. The teams will also showcase

Francisco Giants. “Baseball has long been a unifying force in our country, and we are excited to leverage a number of our heritage nights as an opportunity to spread awareness and ensure that all fans feel safe and welcome at Oracle Park and beyond.”

graphics and information throughout the venues about how to get in touch with the California vs Hate initiative.

“The Giants are honored to collaborate with California vs Hate to reinforce the values of inclusivity and respect for all,” said Tess Oliphant, Director of Community Relations at the San

A recent survey conducted by the CRD in partnership with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research interviewed more than 20,000 households on health and hate related questions. The results showed an estimated 2.6 million Californians directly experienced at least one act of hate over the course of a year between 2022 and

2023. When broken down by race, the groups that most frequently experienced hate were Black (16%), Native American (13%), and Asian (9%).

“Through our work with CHIS, we’re also helping to show the impact of hate,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish. “These estimates make it clear that people across our state continue to experience hate and discrimination well beyond what is reported to law enforcement. It takes all of us working together to live up to our values of respect and compassion for every Californian.”

With reported hate crimes rising sharply across the country in recent years, California has continued to lead on counteracting it by investing in innovative programs focused on the problem.

“Oakland Roots SC believe in the power of sport as a force for social good,” said Nelda Kerr, Director of Community Engagement for the Oakland Roots. “We are proud to partner with California vs Hate because we all need to work together to combat hate in our community. We hope our matches can be a space to promote unity and dialogue with our fans and increase awareness of the CA vs Hate hotline as a powerful resource.”

* How To Report A Hate Crime: CA vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time. Hate acts can be reported in 15 different languages through the online portal and in over 200 languages when calling the hotline. For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911. For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.

Axe the Tax: Cali’s Marijuana Store Owners Say New Increase Will Break Them

California are backing a bill making its way through the State Legislature. Authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Assembly Bill (AB) 564 seeks to suspend a pending tax increase on cannabis from 15% to 19%, which is scheduled to take effect on July 1.

“If we continue to pile on more taxes and fees onto our struggling small cannabis businesses, California’s cannabis culture is under serious threat of extinction,” Haney said in a press release. “Instead, we should be looking at how we can support this industry which has barely been given a chance to survive after legalization. If we want to support our cannabis industry that drives millions of visitors to California every year, adding more costs makes absolutely no sense.”

Across California, illicit cannabis sales account for an estimated 60 percent of the state’s overall marijuana market, putting legal operators at a clear disadvantage and giving other states an opportunity take the lead in a market that is expected to grow to $76 billion in annual revenue nationwide by 2030.

Black cannabis store owners account for about 4% of all store owners, according to Cannaclusive, an L.A. based marketing and advocacy group that represents the interests of minority marijuana store

owners.

In Los Angeles, for example, the United Cannabis Business Association recently polled 245 retailers and found that 70% of them said they were at risk of going out of business.

Overall, conditions have become so difficult in California that the number of inactive and surrendered pot licenses in the state recently surpassed the number of active ones. The demographic most disproportionately impacted by the red tape and high taxes surrounding the cannabis industry are Black business owners.

In 2017, Los Angeles politicians painted an optimistic picture of a social equity program aimed at creating opportunities for disadvantaged business owners in the cannabis space (race-based programs are illegal under California law). Local governments across the state have launched social equity programs, and the state’s Department of Cannabis Control has awarded nearly $100 million to local governments with social equity programs to help get cannabis business owners fully permitted. The city of Los Angeles was awarded $22.3 million, more than any other local government. However, even this state funding has become a local controversy.

Several Black business owners were present at the latest L.A. Cannabis Regulation Commission meeting to voice their concerns.

“I’m actually fighting back the tears because I actually believed in this program,” said Osajefu

Oyadeye, a licensed business owner from Los Angeles, said at the meeting.

“I wanted this industry to thrive in this city where I’ve been a resident all my life. If the social equity program isn’t reparations for the war that was fought against me and those like me in my community, then what is it?” Oyadeye continued.

Asia Allen has been in business four years and while her dispensary makes $120,000 a month, after taxes, fees and payroll she is only left with a $2,000 profit. This is before purchasing product to stock the dispensary, she said.

“I’m so busy trying to keep up with taxes, and payroll and rent, and pay my people, I can’t survive like this. We can’t survive like this. We need your help,” Allen told the council.

As cannabis business owners California seek policy support from Sacramento to find a way forward, opposition to Haney’s bill continues to gather.

Organizations like Youth Forward, Child Action Inc. and Indigenous Justice say suspending the tax would break promises made to the Californians they represent who were ensured by policymakers that a portion of the money raised from the sale of marijuana would be invested into health and social programs.

Even Getting it Right from the Start -- an organization that bills itself as being devoted to developing “optimal cannabis policy -- opposes AB

564. That group argues that eliminating the tax would favor the cannabis industry over the needs of children.

“California’s cannabis taxes are far lower than states like Washington and fund critical services for kids, the environment, and public safety,” said Dr. Lynn Silver, a pediatrician and senior advisor at Getting it Right from the Start, in a press release. “Proposition 64 promised to invest in healthier communities. With a significant budget deficit and federal funding for children and environmental programs dwindling, now is the time to protect, not slash, these critical investments.”

Last week, AB 564 was ordered to a third reading in the Assembly Appropriations Committee after committee members voted 13-0 to approve it with amendments. On May 5, the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee voted 6-0 to advance the bill with one member counted as a no-vote. Oyadeye says the state and local governments benefit by supporting struggling marijuana dispensary business owners.

“You’re

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

By Stacy M. Brown

“This

and

time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said. Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around

immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live singleissue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.” The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that

Edward Henderson California Black Media Licensed marijuana store owners across

tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not

Diverse group of teenage girls holding hands in unity and holding up protest signs during a women’s rights march (Photo by Nicky Lloyd)

Black Don’t Crack: Building Our Bench, Owning Our Power, Investing in Our Strength

By Edward Henderson California Black Media

Last week, California Black Media (CBM) provided an update on four bills in the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) 2025 Road to Repair package.

The 16 bills in the Black Caucus’s 2025 “Road to Repair” package focus on “repairing the generational harms caused by the cruel treatment of African American slaves in the United States and decades of systemic deprivation and injustice inflicted upon Black Californians,” said the CLBC in a release.

This week, CBM examines four more bills in the package -- each offering ways for Black Californians to receive restitution for past injustices -- from housing assistance and reclamation of loss property to fairer pay and the establishment of a state agency charged with determining eligibility for reparations.

Here are summaries of these bills, information about their authors, and updates on how far each one has advanced in the legislative process.

Assembly Bill (AB) 57

AB 57, introduced by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), would require that at least 10% of the monies in the state’s home purchase assistance fund be made available to applicants who meet the requirements for a loan under the home purchase assistance program and are descendants of formerly enslaved people.

“California has long been a leader in addressing historical inequities and AB 57 builds on that legacy by acknowledging and addressing the systemic barriers that have prevented descendants of enslaved people from achieving equitable access to homeownership,” said McKinnor in a release. “Homeownership is a cornerstone of wealth building, and this bill is an important step toward ensuring that this historically marginalized community has opportunities to close the wealth gap and achieve economic stability.”

Existing law requires budget allocation for

the Home Purchase Assistance Program, which assists low- and moderate-income homebuyers in purchasing owner-occupied homes.

On March 26, the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee held a hearing on AB 57 and approved it with an 8-0 vote.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee is currently reviewing the legislation.

Assembly Bill (AB) 62

AB 62, also introduced by McKinnor, would require the Office of Legal Affairs, to review, investigate, and make certain determinations regarding applications from people who claim they are the dispossessed owner of property seized from them because of racially motivated eminent domain. The bill would define “racially motivated eminent domain” to mean when the state acquires private property for public use and does not provide just compensation to the owner due in whole, or in part, to the owner’s race.

“For decades, racially motivated use of eminent domain uprooted communities of color, stripping families of their homes, businesses, and opportunities for generational wealth,” said McKinnor. “AB 62 acknowledges these injustices and works to provide pathways for redress, whether through the return of property or equitable compensation.”

If it is decided that a person should get their property back or be paid for it, the bill would require the Office of Legal Affairs to confirm that they have the right to either get their original property back, receive a different public property of the same value, or be paid money as compensation.

AB 62 is currently under review in the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill (SB) 464

SB 464, introduced by Sen. Lola SmallwoodCuevas (D-Los Angeles), aims to strengthen the existing civil rights laws in California concerning employer pay data reporting. The bill mandates that private employers with 100 or more employees submit annual pay data reports to the Civil Rights Department. These reports must include

detailed demographic information -- including race, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation -pertaining to their workforce distribution and compensation across different job categories. Furthermore, beginning in 2027, public employers will also be required to comply with these reporting requirements.

“While the state has done significant work and made targeted investments to create greater upward mobility, our progress must be measured,” said Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. “Simply put, we don’t know what we don’t track. SB 464 expands upon existing pay data reporting requirements establishing greater transparency and accountability in these reports to ensure that we have adequate tracking and reporting mechanisms to guide policymaking and enhance existing programs.”

The amendments proposed by SB 464 are intended to enhance transparency in pay practices and address potential discrimination in compensation based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. By extending these requirements to public employers, the bill seeks to ensure that public sector pay equity aligns with practices in the private sector.

The Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Rules is currently reviewing SB 464. A hearing is expected to be held on April 23.

Senate Bill (SB) 518

SB 518, introduced by Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery to address and remedy the lasting harms of slavery and the Jim Crow laws suffered by Black Californians.

“For generations, California upheld discriminatory policies and practices that denied Black residents access to land, wealth, education, and economic opportunity,” said Weber Pierson.

“From exclusionary housing practices to barriers in employment and healthcare, these policies created deep racial disparities that persist today.”

Building on the findings and recommendations of the California Reparations Task Force, SB 518

would establish a state agency to verify lineage of eligible Black Californians and facilitate access to reparative justice programs. By ensuring that descendants of enslaved people receive recognition and targeted benefits in housing, education, and economic opportunity, this bill aims to take a step toward dismantling institutional barriers and advancing justice for African Americans. SB 518 is under review in the Senate Judiciary Committee. A hearing is expected to be held on April 22.

RFK Jr. Says Healthy Pregnant Women

Don’t Need Covid

Boosters. What the Science Says.

By Jackie Fortiér

You’re pregnant, healthy, and hearing mixed messages: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is not a scientist or doctor, says you don’t need the covid vaccine, but experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Protection still put you in a high-risk group of people who ought to receive boosters. The science is on the side of the shots.

Pregnant women who contracted covid-19 were more likely to become severely ill and to be hospitalized than non-pregnant women of the same age and demographics, especially early in the covid pandemic.

A meta-analysis of 435 studies found that pregnant and recently pregnant women who were infected with the virus that causes covid were more likely to end up in intensive care units, be on invasive ventilation, and die than women who weren’t pregnant but had a similar health profile. This was before covid vaccines were available.

Neil Silverman, a professor of clinical obstetrics

and gynecology and the director of the Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said he still sees more bad outcomes in pregnant patients who have covid. The risk of severe covid fluctuated as new variants arose and vaccinations became available, Silverman said, but the threat is still meaningful.

“No matter what the politics say, the science is the science, and we know that, objectively, pregnant patients are at substantially increased risk of having complications,” Silverman said.

A request for comment regarding the scientific literature that supports covid vaccination for pregnant women sent to HHS’ public affairs office elicited an unsigned email unrelated to the question.

The office did not respond when asked for an onthe-record comment.

Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist before joining the Trump administration, announced May 27 that covid vaccines would be removed from the CDC’s immunization schedule for healthy pregnant women and healthy children. His announcement,

made in a video posted on the social media platform X, blindsided CDC officials and circumvented the agency’s established, scientific processes for adding and removing shots from its recommended schedules, The Washington Post reported.

There’s still much unknown about how covid affects a pregnant person. The physiological relationship between covid infections and mothers and fetuses at different stages of a pregnancy is complex, said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan.

The increased risk to pregnant patients comes in part because pregnancy changes the immune system, Rasmussen said.

“There is natural immune suppression so that the mother’s body doesn’t attack the developing fetus,” Rasmussen said. “While the mother does still have a functioning immune system, it’s not functioning at full capacity.”

Pregnant patients are more likely to get sick and have a harder time fighting off any infection as a result.

In addition to changing how the immune system works, being pregnant also makes women five times as likely to have blood clots. That risk is increased if they contract covid, said Sallie Permar, chair of pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine.

The virus that causes covid can affect the vascular endothelium — specialized cells that line blood vessels and help with blood flow, Rasmussen said. In a healthy person, the endothelium helps prevent blood clots by producing chemicals that tweak the vascular system to keep it running. In a person infected with the covid virus, the balance is thrown off and the production of those molecules is disrupted, which research shows can lead to blood clots or other blood disorders.

Permar said that those clots can be especially dangerous to both pregnant women and fetuses. Inflammation and blood clots in the placenta could be connected to an increased risk of stillbirth, especially from certain covid variants, according to studies published in major medical journals as well as by the CDC.

When the placenta is inflamed, it’s harder for blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to get to the developing baby, said Mary Prahl, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine.

“If anything is interrupting those functions — inflammation or clotting or differences in how the blood is flowing — that’s really going to affect how the placenta is working and being able to allow the fetus to grow and develop appropriately,” she said.

It makes sense that we see the effects of covid in the placenta, Silverman said. “The placenta is nothing more than a hyper-specialized collection of blood vessels, so it is like a magnetic target for the virus.” Blood vessels in the placenta are smaller and may clot more easily than in the mother’s circulatory system, he said.

Permar said recent data suggests that pregnant women sick with covid still have a higher risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage, even with existing immunity from previous infection or vaccination. Covid, she said, can still land women in the hospital with pregnancy complications.

Prahl said the connection between stillbirth

and covid may be changing given the immunity many people have developed from vaccination or prior infection. It’s an area in which she’d like to see more research.

There’s already strong evidence that both mRNA-based and non-mRNA covid vaccines are safe for pregnant women.

Prahl co-authored a small, early study that found no adverse outcomes and showed antibody protection persisted for both the mother and the baby after birth. “What we learned very quickly is that pregnant individuals want answers and many of them want to be involved in research,” she said. Later studies, including one published in the journal Nature Medicine showing that getting a booster in pregnancy cut newborn hospitalizations in the first four months of life, backed up her team’s findings.

Prahl expects more evidence will be available soon to support the benefits of mothers receiving a covid booster during pregnancy.

“I can say, kind of behind the scenes, I’m seeing a lot of this preliminary data,” she said. She blames the delay in part on the Biden administration’s scaling back of federal efforts to track covid. “A lot of the surveillance of these data were pulled back,” she said. The Trump administration is further cutting money used to track covid.

But because the vaccines give a pregnant woman’s immune system a boost by increasing neutralizing antibodies, virologist Rasmussen is confident that getting one while pregnant makes it less likely a pregnant woman will end up in the hospital if she gets covid.

“It will protect the pregnant person from more severe disease,” she said.

Getting a covid vaccine while pregnant also helps protect newborns after birth. Pregnant women who get vaccinated pass that protection to their young babies, who can’t get their own shots until they are at least 6 months old.

According to data released by the CDC in 2024, nearly 90% of babies who had to be hospitalized with covid had mothers who didn’t get the vaccine while they were pregnant. As recently as April 2024, research showed that babies too young to be vaccinated had the highest covid hospitalization rate of any age group except people 75 and older. The Trump administration’s decision to remove the covid vaccine from the list of shots it recommends for pregnant women means insurance companies might no longer cover it. Pregnant women who want to get it anyway may have to pay hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket.

“I don’t want to be that doctor who just says, ‘Well, it’s really important. You have to vaccinate yourself and your kids no matter what, even if you have to pay for it out-of-pocket,’ because everyone has their own priorities and budgetary concerns, especially in the current economic climate,” Silverman said. “I can’t tell a family that the vaccine is more important than feeding their kids.”

But he and his colleagues will keep advising pregnant women to try to get the shots anyway.

“Newborns will be completely naive to covid exposure,” he said.

“Vaccinating pregnant women to protect their newborns is still a valid reason to continue this effort.”

Kellie Todd Griffin

California Capitol News You Might Have Missed Political Playback

By Bo Tefu California Black Media

New Wealth

Report: Black Californians Behind in Retirement Savings, Homeownership Rates

A new report reveals that Black Californians are falling behind in key measures of wealth, including retirement savings and homeownership, raising concerns about long-term economic security and opportunity.

The report, based on U.S. Census data, shows that the typical California household has a net worth of $288,000, which is significantly higher than the national median of $180,000. However, wealth in the state is unequally distributed across racial and ethnic lines. Wealth includes everything a household owns, like a home or retirement account, minus debts such as credit cards or student loans.

“Latino and Black/Other households disproportionately have low wealth, as do those with lower levels of educational attainment,” the report stated. Despite homeownership being a common path to building wealth in America, Black households with similar income, age, and education levels to their White counterparts still lag behind.

The report also shows that the most common assets among California households are checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, home equity, and vehicle equity. Even though many Black households do own these assets, they do not have enough set aside for emergencies, putting them at risk as they age. Across ethnic and racial groups, older households are more likely to hold assets and less likely to have debts, especially unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills.

However, Black and Latino households are also more likely to carry student loan debt than Whites and Asians.

“Three in four households owe some money on unsecured debts,” the report stated, which can make it harder to save or invest.

U.S. DOJ Launches Investigation to Protect Girl Athletes in California

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into California’s handling of girls’ sports, citing possible violations of Title IX due to a state law that allows students born male to compete on female teams.

On May 28, the DOJ announced that it sent legal notices to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, the Jurupa Unified School District, and the California Interscholastic Federation. The agency will examine whether state and local education and athletic authorities are discriminating based on sex, which would violate federal civil rights law.

The case centers on California’s AB 1266, a state law passed in 2013, that permits students to join sports teams and use facilities that align with their gender identity. A federal lawsuit filed by female athletes argues that this law harms girls by allowing biologically male students to outcompete them in sports and share private spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California added, “My office and the rest of the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect girls’ sports and stop anyone -- public officials included -- from violating women’s civil rights.”

The lawsuit, Save Girls’ Sports v. Thurmond, was filed on behalf of two high school athletes, T.S. and K.S., from Martin Luther King High School in Riverside. T.S., a junior and team captain, was removed from the girls’ varsity cross-country team to make room for a biologically male athlete who did not meet eligibility requirements. T.S. lost her spot at a major meet and missed chances for college recruitment.

The lawsuit also claims school officials violated students’ free speech rights by banning shirts that protested the team change.

The DOJ says the case is part of a national effort to uphold Title IX and ensure fairness for female athletes.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto Gives Colleagues Thumbs Up for Backing His Home Inheritance Bill

Inheriting your family home and worried about immediate taxes? You may no longer have to.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) announced last week that eleven of his bills have passed the California State Senate and are now headed to the Assembly for consideration. The bills, which aim to improve veterans’ benefits, public safety, tax policy, and local government support, received strong bipartisan backing.

One bill that will impact families is Senate Bill (SB) 284. The legislation clarifies property tax law when siblings inherit a family home. It allows eligible family members to consolidate ownership within one year of inheritance without triggering a property tax reassessment, provided the transfer and the transferee’s residence meet specific criteria.

According to Seyarto, SB 284 seeks to protect families from undue tax burdens while preserving valuable assets.

“I’m proud to see these common-sense, solutions-oriented bills advance with strong bipartisan support,” said Seyarto. “I’m grateful to my dedicated team for their hard work and to my Senate colleagues for their partnership. I’m ready to continue working with the Assembly to deliver meaningful results for our 32nd District and the State of California.”

The other bills he lauded are:

• SB 56, which ensures that disability payments for disabled veterans are not counted when deciding if they qualify for a property tax exclusion.

• SB 67, which protects Cal Grant access for children of active-duty military, even if they finish high school in another state.

• SB 70, which raises the contract limit for small businesses run by disabled veterans and adjusts it for inflation.

• SB 74, which creates the Infrastructure Gap Fund to help cities and counties complete projects like fire stations, schools, and roads.

• SB 76, which stops new car owners from being forced to pay registration debts left by the previous owner.

• SB 87, which extends tax breaks for fundraising efforts by all-volunteer fire departments.

• SB 233, which requires earlier talks between the state and local governments about housing needs.

• SB 255, which makes counties notify homeowners when deeds or other legal property documents are recorded.

• SB 385, which updates education requirements and timelines for peace officers.

New Black Equity Collective Survey Reveals Economic Might of California’s Black-Led Nonprofits

A new report by the Black Equity Collective (BEC), in partnership with Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), highlights the powerful role Blackled nonprofits play in California’s economy and communities. The report, California Black-led Organizations: Strengthening California’s Economy and Communities, draws from a survey of 217 Black-led organizations across the state.

The findings show Black-led nonprofits employ more than 4,000 people and paid over $335 million in salaries during 2023. These organizations also contributed $22 million in payroll taxes, making them key economic drivers.

“Black-led nonprofits are not only providing essential services in areas such as health, safety, and social justice. They are also creating community wealth and economic resilience,” said Kaci Patterson, founder of Black Equity Collective. “This report makes it clear: BLOs are valuable contributors to California’s economy and deserve equitable investment and support.”

Despite their impact, 80% of these nonprofits report staff shortages, limiting their ability to meet community needs. The organizations focus on critical issues like health services, violence prevention, community safety, policy change, and racial justice.

Annie Chang, Vice President of Community Engagement at Nonprofit Finance Fund, emphasized the importance of the report’s data. “We hope this data will drive deeper collaboration and investment that centers equity, trust, and accountability,” she said.

BEC is calling on funders, policymakers, and stakeholders to recognize the value of Black-led nonprofits and to invest in their growth through fair and lasting funding practices.

“Funders hold an important role in sustaining and supporting the impactful work of our organizations,” Patterson added, “and amplifying the economic impact they can have on their communities as job creators and service providers.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has officially declared May 2025 as Foster Care Month in California, honoring the more than 35,000 foster children across the state and recognizing the dedication of thousands of foster families who provide care and support.

“All children deserve a safe, loving, and permanent home,” the proclamation states. It highlights the serious challenges foster youth face, including separation from family, frequent moves, and the effects of trauma, the Governor said in a statement on May 30. These challenges often lead to struggles with education, housing, and mental health later in life. Children of color and LGBTQ youth, who are overrepresented in the system, face added hardship.

To help address these issues, California is expanding efforts to support families and prevent children from entering the foster system. When foster care is needed, the state has taken steps to ensure that policy prioritizes home-based care over group homes to give children stable, nurturing environments. About half of foster youth are reunited with their families, and about a quarter are adopted. However, some age out of the system without permanent placement, the Governor’s office reports.

Additionally, to support those aging out of the system, California launched two pilot programs in 2023 that provide guaranteed income, helping young adults meet basic needs and avoid poverty. The state is also working to build pathways to careers and higher education. Foster youth can now receive up to $1,500 in child savings accounts through the CalKIDS program, and the Middle Class Scholarship which covers tuition and fees for those attending UC and CSU schools. Community colleges, CSUs, and UCs also offer programs that help foster youth adjust to college life and adulthood.

Newsom thanked current foster families and encouraged more Californians to open their homes. “It takes a village to raise a child, and California is proud to play its part in doing so,” he said.

“He Sure Fought Like Hell for Us”: Californians Gather to Honor Trailblazer Nate Holden

California

LOS ANGELES — Long before Martin Luther King Jr. Day was a national holiday, before California women could secure a home loan on their own, and long before South Los Angeles began to rise from the ashes of the 1992 unrest, Nathaniel “Nate”

a memorial, the service became a living testimony to a man whose legislative work and personal mentorship have shaped daily lives of people across the state -- from civil rights protections and cultural revitalization to grassroots activism.

Holden’s own words framed the spirit of the day. In a television interview years ago, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, he replied simply: “He sure fought like hell for us.”

Holden’s trailblazing career included service in the California State Senate and the Los Angeles City Council, where he championed bold causes that are now embedded in the fabric of California life.

He authored the bill establishing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a California state holiday -- years before the federal government followed suit. He also passed the Holden Act, which prohibited financial institutions from requiring a male co-signer for women seeking credit, a quiet but powerful stride toward economic equity.

But as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reminded mourners, Holden’s impact wasn’t limited to policy.

“He used public office not just for politics -- but for the people,” Bass said. “He fought for

things younger generations might find surprising today: ensuring women could get mortgages in their own names, fighting housing discrimination. Nate Holden was always ahead of his time -- and unafraid to lead.”

Bass also recalled his relentless mentorship.

“He would call me up, often unprompted, to tell me exactly what I needed to do next. That was Nate Holden -- always watching, always guiding, always fighting for justice,” she said.

Holden’s son, former Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represented a district that included Pasadena, spoke about his father’s lifelong, handson approach to service.

“When you brought a problem to him, it became his problem,” the younger Holden said. “And even at 95, he was still writing letters to the President. He couldn’t help it -- service was who he was.”

He shared how Holden’s public life was matched by personal conviction: a World War II Army veteran, an aerospace engineer who contributed to America’s early space program, and a mentor to countless leaders.

“He lived a life of purpose and intentionality,” the younger Holden continued. “He planted seeds in good soil -- and his legacy is in the generations that follow.”

Holden’s grandson, also named Nate Holden, reflected on the persistence that defined his grandfather’s life.

“At 16, he was determined to fight for freedom overseas — at a time when he didn’t enjoy full freedoms at home,” his grandson said. “That spirit -- to stand up for what’s right -- stayed with him for life.”

Holden’s commitment to the arts and culture also took center stage at the memorial.

Veteran actor Glynn Turman recalled Holden’s leadership in the fight to save the historic Ebony Showcase Theater in Los Angeles, later renamed the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center -- a beacon for Black artists and cultural pride.

“He knew that art could transform communities,” Turman said. “From rebuilding Crenshaw after the riots to championing the performing arts, Nate was our ‘everything man.’”

For many, Holden was more than an elected official -- he was an essential voice in shaping their careers.

L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn described him as a personal mentor, often affectionately calling him “Uncle Nate.”

“He taught me: Don’t just show up -- speak up, do your homework, make things happen,” Hahn said.

She fondly remembered late-night phone calls from Holden, who would advise -- or sometimes command -- her on political strategy.

“He never stopped caring, or calling,” Hahn laughed. “Even when I redistricted out of his neighborhood, he would still call to make sure I was taking care of the people there.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) offered some of the day’s most personal reflections, calling Holden an uncompromising truth-teller.

“Whether people liked it or not, Nate Holden would stand at that podium and tell the truth,” Waters said. “That’s what made him a legend. He never backed down from a fight.”

She also recalled Holden’s unmatched persistence, noting his multiple runs for office before achieving success — a reminder of his unshakable belief in the causes he fought for. His imprint is seen not only in California’s legal code, or in the performing arts center that bears his name, but in some of the everyday freedoms Californians now enjoy.

“He fought like hell for us,” Chris Holden reminded those gathered. “And now, it’s on us to carry that legacy forward.”

Holden is survived by his children -- Chris, Reginald, and Melissa Holden -- along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“My dad was committed to public service like no one I’ve ever known. Even at 95, he was still writing letters to the President, telling him what needed to be done,” the younger Holden added. “He believed, as scripture teaches, that when you plant seeds in good soil, they will bear fruit. My father made sure his seeds were planted in good soil -- and today, we see the impact of his life all around us.”

As The Month Closed Out, Gov. Newsom Proclaimed May Foster Care Month

Soloist performing “The Lord’s Prayer” at the Nate Holden Memorial Service, May 29, 2025. Photo by Regina B. Wilson, California Black Media

Regina B. Wilson, Joe W. Bowers and Tanu Henry

Black Media

Bruins Battle to the End at Women’s

College World Series

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer

The UCLA Bruins showcased their trademark grit and resilience at the Women’s College World Series (WCWS), but ultimately came up just short. A walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Tennessee to a dramatic 5-4 win, ending UCLA’s championship bid in the tournament’s elimination bracket.

Laura Mealer’s bases-loaded single to right sealed the victory for the Volunteers (47-16), who advanced to the semifinals. The loss closed out a strong season for the Bruins, who finished 55-13 and appeared in their 150th WCWS game—a record of longevity and excellence.

Late-Inning Drama UCLA rallied in the ninth inning with backto-back singles from Savannah Pola and Jordan Woolery. Megan Grant was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Alexis Ramirez grounded out to first, leaving three runners stranded.

Sofia Mujica both

while

finished with four hits in a standout performance.

early in

Bruins head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez praised her squad’s fight.

“Just a great battle to the end,” she said. “I could not be more proud. Just the ability to fight, the ability to come back, down to the last pitch... that’s UCLA softball. When your back is against the wall, you rise to the occasion and create amazing memories.”

A Controversial Blast

Two innings earlier, Megan Grant gave the Bruins new life with a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning. Her 251-foot blast off Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens tied the game at 4-4—at least temporarily.

The play was challenged by Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly, who argued Grant hadn’t properly touched home plate or had been assisted by a teammate. However, after a 15-minute delay,

Rams, Hollywood Park, and Google Launch Tech Lab for Inglewood Youth

Code Next Inglewood brings AI and coding education to the heart of the community

By Earl Heath Observer Contributing Writer

Code Next Inglewood—a new technology and artificial intelligence (AI) education lab—officially opened its doors last week, offering local students access to hands-on tech training, mentorship, and career inspiration. The initiative is powered by Hollywood Park with support from Google and marks a significant investment in the future of Inglewood’s youth.

The launch event welcomed more than 100 students, community leaders, and guests to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the new lab, located at the Shops at Hollywood Park. Leaders in Tech and Community Come Together

The celebration was hosted by Los Angeles Rams legend and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Andrew Whitworth. Speakers included Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Travis Sampson, SVP and Chief Technology Officer of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park; Angela Courtin, Vice President of Marketing at YouTube and Google’s local office leader; and Dr. Jim Morris, County Administrator of Inglewood Unified School District.

A First for Southern California

This is the first Code Next Lab to open in Southern California. The program is free and tailored to high school students from local neighborhoods, providing access to cutting-edge tools and training. The lab features instruction in JavaScript, user experience (UX) design, and more, with a special focus on gaming and media production.

“We are honored to host the first Code Next Lab in Southern California right here at Hollywood Park,” said Sampson. “This lab reflects our commitment to community and innovation across all we do at SoFi Stadium—from global events

to groundbreaking experiences like COSM and Cinepolis. Code Next will help develop the next generation of creators and changemakers.”

Investing in Inglewood’s Future

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts emphasized the lab’s impact as a model for public-private partnership.

“This is what meaningful community investment looks like—education, access, and a commitment to our youth,” said Butts. “The Code Next Lab at Hollywood Park will help cultivate a pipeline of local talent for the growing tech industry. More jobs, more opportunity, and a more vibrant economy—it’s a win for our city.”

Courtin added that the partnership speaks to Google’s long-standing belief in youth empowerment through technology.

“We believe in the power of technology to unlock new opportunities,” she said. “We’re proud to help provide students with the skills to become the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.”

A Launching Pad for Local Talent Whitworth, who has championed youth development throughout his career, shared his personal connection to the project.

“Growing up, I never could’ve imagined a space like this in my own neighborhood,” said Whitworth. “Code Next Inglewood is more than a lab—it’s a launching pad. It’s about showing our kids that they belong in the tech world, that their voices matter, and their futures are limitless.”

Open House Welcomes Community

The day concluded with an open house, allowing families and students to tour the lab, try out interactive learning stations, and meet mentors and program partners. The space is designed not only for instruction, but also for collaboration, creativity, and empowerment.

officials ruled the play non-reviewable under Appendix G. The protest was denied, and the game continued into extra innings.

“Going into that at-bat, I just wanted to stay aggressive,” said Grant. “After the swing, I did blackout—indeed.”

The home run was Grant’s 26th of the season, breaking the Big Ten single-season record. Together, she and Woolery hit 49 homers in 2024.

“Oh, my gosh. I’m really sad we didn’t get to 50,” Woolery joked. “But Meg is awesome. She makes it easy for me to be great.”

Clutch Moments in Oklahoma City

In their WCWS opener, Jessica Clements, a graduate transfer from Cal Poly, delivered another highlight. Her two-out, two-run homer after midnight lifted the Bruins to a walk-off win over Oregon in her first WCWS appearance.

“This has been my dream for as long as I can remember,” said Clements. “I was just trying to take it one pitch at a time... and I got the payoff. I feel

on top of the world.” Clements’ blast was the Bruins’ second walkoff of the postseason, following Woolery’s tworun homer that beat South Carolina in the Super Regionals. It was UCLA’s first walk-off at the WCWS since Rachel Garcia’s legendary 2019 shot against Washington.

Pitcher Kaitlyn Terry earned her 20th win and 11th complete game of the season in that outing, allowing just one earned run and striking out six.

Season Ends in Heartbreaker

UCLA’s final WCWS game came against Texas Tech, who defeated the Bruins 3-1 and advanced to the championship series against Texas. Freshman Kanyana Bragg provided UCLA’s only run with a solo homer—her 10th of the season. Despite the loss, there’s little doubt about the program’s future. With a deep, talented roster and a tradition of excellence, the Bruins are poised to remain a national powerhouse in 2025.

DodgersDramaLate-InningDeliver to Beat Mets

earned runs while striking out two before turning things over to the bullpen.

“I need to put it all together,” said Kershaw. “I’ll retire several batters in a row and then not be good.

pitching 4.2 innings. He gave up six hits and three

Ramirez and

homered

the game,

Woolery

Images (credit Will Navarro / Hollywood Park) and b-roll (credit Nicolas Wendl / Hollywood Park) Images from the Code Next Lab grand opening

by Brian Rothmuller/Icon

Arts in the Park: Celebration of Dance, Art, and Wellness!

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer

(Los Angeles, CA) It never ceases to amaze me at the variety of cultural events that are held in Leimert Park throughout the year.

I recently attended Arts in the Park: Celebration of Dance, Art, and Wellness! The event was held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, 1-5 pm, People’s Street Plaza in Leimert Park.

The program Invertigo Dance Theatre presents Dancing Through Parkinson’s (DTP) a versatile program that builds hope, community, and well-

have an encouraging saying in their classes “There are no mistakes-only solos!”

The program got underway with a Libation ceremony performed by S.H.I.N.E Mawusi. They blessed the grounds and honored our ancestors.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of age-friendly, accessible movement classes, live performances, mental health resources, and community activities throughout the day. Brain Games with Ryan Glatt of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Ping Pong with Ping Pong for Good, Boxing with Rock Steady Boxing and Care Partners Resources with

and

being through the joy of dance. Grounded in the belief that creativity knows no age, this event embraces our elders and invites all-whether living with Parkinson’s neurological conditions, or mobility challenges. This was a day of joy, healing, and community through dance!

The group holds classes that are designed specifically to aid people living with Parkinson’s and

Parkinson’s Care Los Angeles (PCLA), WalkGood, InnovAge, CALMSHA, and TakeActionLA.

Jessica Evans and Chavia Blankenship led the crowd in an engaging, fun session of low, to moderate exercise and dance routines, followed by a freestyle dance performance by all participants.

The program continued with a captivating and mesmerizing performance by Ocandeniye Dance

other Neurodegenerative, mobility, and age-related conditions through a unique sequence of different forms of movement, music, and storytelling. They

Stengal.      Ocandeniye Dance Company is based on all Cuban styles such as salsa, Cuban Reggaeton (dancehall), Mambo, Cabaret, Cha, Cha, Cha, Conga, Cuban Rumba, and Afro-Cuban dances. The dance company also includes other Latin and Caribbean genres such as Samba, Ballroom, and Afro-Peruvian. The group performance work is divided into three choreographies each inspired by an Afro-Cuban dance genre derived from Congo traditions. The first part relates to Palo Congo. The dancers move with strength, and the percussive movements represent the inflow invited spirits that help clarify one’s spiritual path, unburned the soul, and dispel negative energies. The second part is drawn from Makuta, where the joyful movements celebrate life offering closure to the charged ritual process. Bantu Origins – Afro-Cuban Dance Palo Congo or Mayombe is a dance & religion that black slaves used to free themselves from curses, and negative energies, and to convoke the spirit of their ancestors. Its origin is Bantu and it works with the natural forces that come from rivers, oceans, winds, lagoons, lakes, and plants. Some of the props used in this dance are skirts, sticks, and others. Makuta is a secular expression used to celebrate life. It is also a social dance of Congo origin. In Cuba, Makuta refers to a festive gathering, or a type of ritual staff, which is used at certain moments in Palo ceremonies to strike the ground in a rhythmic accompaniment to a song or dance. The final piece performed is

culture combined with healing, empowerment, and inspiration. SHINE aspires to pass on wisdom to those interested in West African culture.      This wonderful engaging program concluded Chris Powe Music. Chris Powe Music performed an entertaining set of jazz standards and tracks from his debut CD to the delight of music aficionados. Los Angeles native, Chris Powe, is an exciting new voice on the alto saxophone. His passion for music began at an early age. He honed his skills in high school, took private lessons under the tutelage of esteemed multi-instrumentalist Scott Mayo, and attended the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center, which is in the heart of Los Angeles’ Black creative community, Leimert Park.

His passion for music allowed him to pursue his bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music where he studied Music Business/Management. He studied under esteemed professors such as Tia Fuller and Gregory Groover. While in college, he played

called ‘Gaga.’ Gaga is a Franco-Haitian dance and music that became one of the many Afro-Cuban dances. Its origin is Vudu and it has a competitive character. LaRoye and her dancers led the guests in some basic Afro-Cuban dance steps.

S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi returned for another full set of high-octane, pulsating, West African Drumming and Dances. S.H.I.N.E. MAWASI (in the hands of God), was formed & established by Rene Fisher-Mims with an intent & purpose to spread the knowledge of West African Drum culture to women in the community. With a vision of healing, empowering, caring, and inspiring women to play the instruments of our African descent, S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi wishes to pass on the wisdom to those who desire to gain awareness of this culture through teaching, and performing in different areas. Performances for concerts, black history programs, churches, shows, and private parties are many tools used by SHINE in an effort to show the wonderful joy of women drummers and musicians. These sisters come with fire, and endless energy, singing and dancing with power from on High.

SHINE Mawusi Women’s African Drum Circle is a group of women from Southern California led by Rene Fisher-Mims who formed the group to spread the knowledge of West African drum

multiple shows in Boston, New York City, and the greater New England region.

Powe has returned home to Los Angeles and has gigged extensively. He has held residencies under his name and has played at multiple venues across the city. As an artist/bandleader, Powe recently made his debut with his EP The Search, which is now available on all streaming platforms!      Wah Gwaan Jamaican Kitchen, on the northwest corner of Crenshaw Blvd., and Vernon Blvd., served up a delicious lunch of Jamaican cuisine: chicken beef or vegan patties, oxtails, rice, and jerk chicken.      Arts in the Park 2025 were presented by Dancing Through Parkinson’s (DTP in partnership with KAOS Network, and We Love Leimert. Sponsored by CultivArte.      Pacific Neuroscience Institute      Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles (PCLA)      WalkGoodLA

Rock Steady Boxing      Ping Pong for Good      Sharon Krischer, Twitchy Woman      Feel free to reach out, connect, and engage with the above-mentioned groups/organizations for additional information. They can be reached on Social Media and Social Media handles.

Ocandeniye Dance Company, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Chris Powe Music, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Leroy Jones, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Jessica Evans

Chavia Blankenship, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Company led by LaRoye Aña, accompanied by dancers Teresa and Ysaye with percussionists Gustavo Cayro (vocals), Joseph Costello and Paul