Valley's News Observer 6.13.24

Jerry West Passes at 86: The Legacy of an NBA Icon

By OGNSC Staff

Jerry West, an enduring symbol of basketball excellence and the inspiration behind the NBA’s iconic logo, has passed away at the age of 85. His death marks the end of an era for a player and executive whose influence on the game transcended generations. West’s storied career began in the small town of Chelyan, West Virginia, where his prodigious talent quickly became apparent. He led East Bank High School to a state championship in 1956, before heading to West Virginia University, where he would leave an indelible mark. West’s college career was highlighted by leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA championship game in 1959, earning Most Outstanding Player honors despite the team’s loss.

Drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1960, West’s arrival coincided with the team’s move to Los Angeles, where he would become synonymous with Lakers basketball. Over 14 seasons, West’s relentless drive, precision shooting, and defensive tenacity earned him 14 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA First Team honors. Known as “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to deliver in critical moments, West’s most famous performance came in the 1969 NBA Finals, where he became the only player from a losing team to win the Finals MVP award. Despite frequent heartbreaks in the Finals, West finally tasted championship glory in 1972. After retiring as a player, West seamlessly transitioned to an executive role, where his eye for talent and strategic acumen reshaped the NBA landscape. As the Lakers’ general manager, he orchestrated the acquisitions of Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant, assembling dynasties that would capture numerous championships. West’s tenure also included a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he earned Executive of the Year honors, and later contributions to the Golden State Warriors’ success. West’s impact was not confined to the basketball court. His humility, work ethic, and dedication inspired countless athletes and fans. His silhouette, immortalized in the NBA logo, stands as a testament to his enduring legacy. Jerry West’s passing leaves a void in the basketball community, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. As players lace up their sneakers and fans fill the arenas, the spirit of “Mr. Clutch” will undoubtedly be felt, reminding everyone of the relentless pursuit of excellence he embodied. In celebrating his life, we honor a man whose contributions to the game of basketball were as profound as they were lasting. Rest in peace, Jerry West, an

icon forever etched in the annals of sports history.

The LA Clippers released this statement: “Today, the world has lost an icon and a national treasure, as beloved in the hollows of West Virginia as he was in the hills of Los Angeles and all points in between. The Clippers have lost a mentor, a confidant, and a friend. We are simultaneously devastated and honored to have witnessed the last chapter of Jerry West’s legendary career. To the end, he was a fierce competitor, a giving teammate, and a lot of fun. His passion for the game was without parallel. His wisdom, his generosity and his humor are forever sewn into the fabric of the franchise. He gave his heart to everything and everyone he touched. Our deepest condolences go out to the West

family and the entire basketball community, united under one Logo.” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer added: “This is a hard day. I am honored to call Jerry a confidant, an advisor and a friend. Connie, my wife, called him my ‘basketball dad.’ He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal and so much fun. If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive. He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty and enthusiasm. He never stopped. I spent a lot of time with him, some of the best times of my life. He always lent an ear, and he always had a quip. He always left me laughing. I will miss him.”

Sells Off His Stake in Revolt

abusive relationship that included beatings and rape. Combs settled the lawsuit with Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, a few days after it was

Pride 2024 in California:

Black LGBTQ+ People and Allies Celebrate Pride, History and Movement Heroes

On June 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation for Pride Month in California, joining others around the world commemorating the LGBTQ+ struggle for equal rights following the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. Many historians regard that event as a catalyst for the global LGBTQ+ movement.

“This month – and every month – California stands with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community as they take pride in who they are and whom they love. Pride Month is a time to remember the gift that is our remarkable diversity, making all of us stronger as we continue to pursue equality, acceptance, and freedom for all,” Newsom said in a statement.

June also marks Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating the abolition of chattel slavery, in the United States. For Black LGBTQ+ advocates, these overlapping celebrations provide a unique opportunity to highlight the principles of activism that have become key to making a space for themselves in the world.

Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and journalist, spoke to California Black Media about how Pride and Black activism have always been intertwined, noting that activist Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, started the series of protests that would eventually give rise to Pride Month.

“Pride evolved out of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. They were protests against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City,” Cannick said. “So, Pride’s roots are based in political and social action.”

Cannick highlighted a few events in California celebrating this shared history: the Cal American Chemical Society (ACS) Pride & Juneteenth Celebration Picnic, Los Angeles Black Pride and South Los Angeles Pride.

On June 15, the California section of the ACS will be holding a Pride and Juneteenth Celebration Picnic at the Don Castro Regional Recreation Area from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Picnic activities include prizes, games, food refreshments and trivia about Cal ACS, Juneteenth and Pride. The Los Angeles Black Pride event, taking place on July 4th weekend, is a three-day event featuring dancing, performances, awards and community gatherings in

various locations in LA.

For Pride his year, the California Civil Rights Department’s “California Vs Hate” campaign launched a Pride tour that will make stops at celebrations across the state to inform LGBTQ+ Californians about the resources available to them to fight hate.

“In California, we don’t just tolerate our differences, we celebrate them,” said California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish. “During Pride Month, we’re excited to march with and support communities up and down our state in the fight against hate. No matter who you love or who you are, we all deserve a chance to live our lives with joy. Through CA vs Hate and the Civil Rights Department, we want all our state’s residents to know that we’re a resource against hate and discrimination.”

Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang said it is unfortunate that LGBTQ+ people of all races continue to experience hate crimes and hate incidents as they become more frequent and widespread.

“Ensuring that LGBTQ+ Californians have the necessary resources and awareness on how to report hate safely is critical,” said Hoang. We are thankful for Governor Newsom’s leadership in ensuring that all acts of hate can be reported through CA vs Hate, regardless of whether it is a crime. We’re proud to work alongside CA vs Hate and the California Civil Rights Department to help make sure all members of the LGBTQ+ community can get the support they need when they report.”

The South LA Pride Celebration also takes place in July.

According to their website, the annual South LA Pride Celebration “exists to celebrate, uplift and empower the diverse LGBTQ+ community of South LA.” South LA Pride will take place at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex on July 13 from noon to 8:00pm.

Cannick, while not condemning the more lighthearted elements of Pride celebrations, insists that Pride should also be a time for activism.

“Pride in 2024 should be about more than dressing up, more than a rainbow flag, and more than getting drunk and partying,” Cannick said. “That connection needs to be

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had passed away due to a bear mauling or a swipe and a bite to the neck area,” Fisher said.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that it was the first record of a deadly black bear attack on a human in the state.

“It’s a big deal,” said Steve Gonzalez, a department spokesperson. “That doesn’t happen in California. Normally a bear is going to stay away from you, a bear that hasn’t been normalized to human behavior.” Investigators learned from Miller’s daughter that her mother had a constant problem with bears trying to get into her home, and that she had physically hit one.

Another bear then became a problem in Downieville and was euthanized after trying to break into a school gym, resulting in a significant decrease in bear activity, the sheriff said.

DNA tests confirmed that the first bear

Jasmyne Cannick (Courtesy Photo)

(Courtesy Photo)

Conference to Include Exciting, Powerful, Engaging Speakers, Workshops, and Gala

By Louis C Ward

Westside Gazette

Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones, both well known for being part of the Tennessee Three and being representatives in the Tennessee State Assembly, will be the keynote speaker and special guest respectively at the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida’s 41st Conference June 7 through 9, 2024 at the Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, Florida.

The Tennessee Three are Justin J. Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria Johnson, who’s white. All are Tennessee state representatives who joined a protest for gun control in front of the State House after a fatal shooting in Nashville at a private school where a shooter killed three children and three adults. Pearson and Jones were expelled for their participation. Johnson avoided expulsion. In a special election, Pearson and Jones reclaimed their legislative seats. “‘Democracy Will Not Die On Our Watch’ is our theme and DBCF have planned an informative and exciting conference with workshops that will highlight specific ways and means to protect our Democracy, re-elect President Joe Biden, elect more Democrats, and pass Amendment 4,” said DBCF President Trevor Mallory.

“Our Gala on Saturday evening with the Tennessee Three’s Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones, two young Democratic heroes, who are energetic and powerful activists is a major attraction at this year’s conference,” concluded President Mallory, who basked in reality that many will attend the Gala to see and hear the keynote speaker and specialTheguest.DBCF will host two new notable events at its 41st Conference, our Faith-Based Leadership Candidate and Black Media Strategic Mini Summit Luncheon and

Biden, Harris Invited to NNPA Convention as Black Press Celebrates 197 Years

Addresses Voter Turnout and Empowering Black Communities

By Stacy M. Brown

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) will host its annual national convention from June 19 to 22 at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. The NNPA is the trade association of the more than 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America. This year’s event, themed “Empowering Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout,” marks the Black Press’s 197th anniversary, just three years shy of its bicentennial.

The Black Press was founded in 1827, before slavery ended in America, with the publication of Freedom’s Journal in New York, published by John B. Russwurm and Samuel Cornish. The conglomerate has long championed the cause of African Americans and have been counted on for decades to rally the Black community around specific political candidates. “We wish to plead our own cause, for too long others have spoken for us,” declared Russwurm and Cornish in their inaugural issue.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

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have received formal invitations to attend the convention, and their participation is highly anticipated by the over 250 Black-owned newspaper and media company owners and their team of editors and journalists who are expected in Baltimore. With the 2024 election looming, Biden’s engagement with the Black Press is critical to his bid for re-election, underscoring the importance of the Black vote.

Reflecting on a pivotal moment from the 1992 NNPA convention in Baltimore, Bob Bogle of the Philadelphia Tribune and Sonny Messiah Jiles of the Houston Defender recalled the fallout when Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton backed out of his scheduled appearance. Black publishers were furious with Clinton’s decision. Bogle, at the time, called it “an affront to the Black Press, and it’s an affront to African Americans everywhere.”

Clinton later realized the gravity of his mistake and made amends by addressing the Black Press collectively. This historical context adds weight to the expectations placed on Biden, as Bogle and Jiles have expressed a similar resolve this year.

NNPA Chair Bobby Henry emphasized the significance of this year’s theme: “Our theme, ‘Empowering the Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout,’ is of paramount importance. This conference is a critical platform for addressing the unique challenges and opportunities for political parties to share their messages with the media that serves the population and can make or break elections.”

The convention will feature several high-profile presentations and panels, including a keynote address by Damon Todd Hewitt, President & Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, titled “What is at Stake for African Americans: the 2024 Vote.” Rev. Mark Thompson of NNPA Global will moderate the “Generation Z Voter Issues” panel, featuring current and former HBCU students.

A panel discussion on “From NNPA Intern to FullTime: How the Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected Program is Fueling the Workforce of the Future,” hosted by General Motors, and a Pfizer-sponsored breakfast on “Using AI Technology to Extend Audience Reach and Ensure Inclusive Voices” are two additional highlights. The Google News Initiative will present “News Consumer Insights” with Chrissey Towle, Google’s Director of News Partnerships.

Rahn Bailey, MD, of LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Elliott T. Boyce, Sr., retired Director of the New York State Police, and Major Neil Franklin, former Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, will be on a panel Reynolds will host to discuss “The Importance of the 2024 Black Vote and Public Policy.” NNPA Partners and sponsors Reynolds, Pfizer Rare Disease, Google News Initiative, General Motors, American Petroleum Institute, Comcast NBC Universal, Nissan, and AARP.

The NNPA Fund’s annual Merit Awards and gala will occur on Thursday, June 20. On Friday, June 21, the NNPA’s annual black-tie gala will include a tribute to Frankie Beverly. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Cabinet Secretary Michael Regan, and Maryland Governor Wesley Moore are scheduled to participate. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. highlighted the critical nature of this year’s convention. “The NNPA welcomes the upcoming opportunity to convene our 2024 annual national convention in the great city of Baltimore,” Chavis declared.

“This marks the 197th anniversary of the Black Press of America. Baltimore is one of the historic cities where the Black Press continues to triumph in transformational ways. Because democracy and freedom are on the ballot this year, we will also issue a national call to action to get out the vote across America.”

As the Black Press nears its bicentennial, the NNPA is celebrating its rich legacy and charting a course for its future impact on civic engagement and social justice.

“Strengthening voter turnout, supporting families, and enhancing the financial stability of Black businesses are essential steps toward fostering a more inclusive and equitable society,” Henry added. “This conference underscores the vital role of informing, educating, and mobilizing communities.” The NNPA has continued to call for increased advertising support from businesses and governmental agencies to ensure fair and equitable spending with Blackowned media, emphasizing the ongoing economic and social contributions of the Black Press to American society.

Black LGBTQ+ People and Allies Celebrate

panels are: Senator Shevrin Jones, Representatives Patricia Williams and Anna Eskamani,  Candidates Stanley Campbell and Rod Joseph, Founder Jasmine Burney-Clark, Black Media Owner Vernon Watson, NNPA Chairman

Bishop Stockton, Bishop Williams, Burney-Clark, Bobby R. Henry, Sr., Watson, Eskamani, Williams, Jones, Pearson, Shervin Jones, Joseph and Campbell.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Class-action Lawsuit Against NFL by ‘Sunday Ticket’ Subscribers Gets Underway

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers claiming the NFL broke antitrust laws got underway in federal court Thursday with the league's attorney telling jurors that fans have a choice when it comes to watching games and the “Sunday Ticket” package is a premium product.

"The case is about choice. This is a valuable, premium product. Think about all the choices available to fans. We want as many people as possible to watch the free broadcasts,” said Beth Wilkinson, who is representing the NFL. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2015 and has withstood numerous challenges, says the NFL broke antitrust law when it allowed DirecTV to exclusively sell the “Sunday Ticket” package of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games airing on CBS and Fox at what it says was an inflated price and restricted competition.

“NFL, Fox, CBS and DirecTV agreed to make an expensive toll road that very few people would be able to afford. Every single competitor in this scheme benefited,” Amanda Bonn, an attorney representing “Sunday Ticket” subscribers, said in her opening remarks Thursday. DirecTV was the home of “NFL Sunday Ticket” from 1994 until 2022. YouTube will be in the second season this year of a seven-year deal after agreeing to the rights in December 2022.

The class-action case covers more than 2.45 million commercial and residential subscribers from 2012 to 2022 and seeks $7.1 billion in damages. Since damages are tripled under federal rules, the NFL could be liable for up to $21 billion if it loses.

The NFL contends “Sunday Ticket” is an add-on package for the league's most-devoted and out-of-town fans, along with noting that all games for local teams are available on broadcast networks.

Steve Bornstein, a former NFL executive and the

first president of NFL Network, said during afternoon testimony that “Sunday Ticket” was always set up so that it wouldn't broadly hamper CBS and Fox's local ratings.

Contracts between DirecTV and the NFL that were entered into evidence on Thursday showed language that "it will marketed and offered in a manner consistent as a high-quality premium subscription sports offering."

“The NFL always wanted ‘Sunday Ticket’ to be an additional package. That is how it is was designed since its inception,” Bornstein said.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, a longtime member of the league's broadcast committee, are expected to testify in a trial that could last up to three weeks.

The trial could bring to light how much YouTube is paying the NFL for “Sunday Ticket” and if it is making money. There also will be documents filed that would show how much networks spend to produce an NFL game.

Bonn showed a 2020 term sheet by Fox Sports demanding the NFL ensure “Sunday Ticket” would be priced above $293.96 per season on streaming platforms in the 11-year rights deal it signed with the NFL in 2021 and that began in 2023. That was the price for the 2020 season.

When the “Sunday Ticket” contract was up for bid in 2022, ESPN wanted to offer the package on its streaming service for $70 per season along with offering a team-byteam product, according to an email shown by Bonn.

This is one of the rare occasions where the NFL has had a high-profile case go to court where league financial matters would become public without settling. In 2021, it settled with St. Louis, St. Louis County and the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority for $790 million over the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles.

The “Sunday Ticket” case attracted a large crowd of attorneys and media members to the courtroom of Judge Philip S. Gutierrez. An overflow room was eventually set up 10 minutes into opening statements.

Riveting January 6 Documentary Grips Audience with Untold Stories

TRUTH BE TOLD

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA

Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In a moving gathering of survivors and spectators, a select group of invitees congregated at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Northeast D.C. on Monday, June 3. The occasion? The unveiling of a long-awaited documentary that sheds new light on the deadly events of January 6, 2021, a day etched in the annals of American history.

The deft hands of Oscar-winning filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine drew viewers into a heart-wrenching gut-punch of a narrative as the curtains pulled back and the screen came to life. The documentary, titled “The Sixth,” not only captured the horror and chaos of that fateful day but also delved deep into the lives of those thrust into the heart of the storm, evoking a profound emotional response from the audience.

“It’s never been a mystery as to what happened… but tonight, we bring forth a narrative that transcends mere recounting,” remarked Andrea Fine, one half of the acclaimed filmmaking duo. “The Sixth” doesn’t just document the events—it humanizes them.”

The film eschewed the typical focus on the perpetrators and even the insurrection’s primary instigator, former President Donald Trump, opting instead to shine a spotlight on the untold stories of resilience and courage. Through the eyes of six individuals—a diverse ensemble that included a Black photographer named Mel D. Cole, Erica Loewe, a Democratic staffer who serves as the only caregiver to her mother who lives with Alzheimer’s, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and three Metropolitan DC police

officers—the audience gained unprecedented insight into the human drama that unfolded amidst the chaos.

Torn with emotion and right in the middle, capturing all the chaos, was Cole, thinking about a world where his toddler son might have to grow up without him because Cole doesn’t know if he’ll survive the Trump-inspired riot.

Raskin, there to help certify President Joe Biden’s election victory over Trump, is drenched with emotion, having buried his 25-year-old son a day earlier. Raskin’s son had suffered from mental health challenges and committed suicide. Making the heart pound ever more, Raskin also had to worry about his daughters, who were inside the Capitol as the attack unfolded.

Loewe, believing death was imminent and worried about who would care for her mother, was among Congressman James Clyburn’s staffers who were barricaded inside an office where rioters were just feet away.

“Every single one of our characters is serving the public in different ways,” emphasized Andrea Fine.

“And so, we love that idea of, what if you’re just coming to do your job, and you’re saddled with that, and how they came through.”

As the documentary unfolded, viewers were transported back to the Capitol grounds, where the echoes of violence still reverberated. From Raskin’s anguish, Cole’s uneasiness, and Loewe’s uncertainty to Officer Christina Laury’s harrowing experiences and the gripping personal history of then-D.C. police chief Robert Contee, “The Sixth” left no stone unturned in its quest for truth.

The fear of rioters yelling at law enforcement,

and Contee demanding more help and responding incredulously as U.S. Department of Defense officials held back sending the National Guard because they were concerned about “optics.” All the while, the rioters blast through lines of undermanned officers beating them, including policeman Daniel Hodges, mercilessly.

“Politics was inherent in the violence,” remarked Andrea Fine. “What we were trying to do is [determine] like, okay, what happened that day? Truthfully. Really. And how did it feel to go through it? How did it affect the people who just showed up to work?”

While the National Guard stood just minutes away but refusing to assist, D.C. Metropolitan Police struggled mightily to fight off the mob, with some of the rioters yelling, “Get his gun,” as they grabbed and viciously assaulted one officer.

With ladders, poles, and others flying from the crowd (Cole says he couldn’t understand how and where the rioters got their hands on such objects), officers desperately tried to defend the Capitol with pepper spray. They appeared to be the only ones who suffered harm from the aerosol.

Infuriatingly so, after DC and Capitol Police finally received assistance from state police officers in Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, Trump finally and tepidly asked his supporters to go home as the deadly event finally reaches its conclusion and at, too little, too late, the National Guard arrives

As the credits rolled and the lights came up, the audience grappled with the weight of what they had witnessed. In the words of Mel D. Cole, “For anyone from D.C., this film hits different… It’s just a different day for all of us here.”

Black Music Month Has Evolved

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Every June since the 1970s, across the United States, musicians, fans and industry professionals celebrate Black Music Month. It's an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black artists and position Black art at the center of American culture across popular music and beyond.

Black Music Month 's origins trace back to 1979. In that year, a decade after the Civil Rights era, President Jimmy Carter designated June a time to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of Black musicianship and held the first ever Black Music Month celebration on the White House lawn. That makes 2024 its 45th annual commemoration. But what inspired Black Music Month in the first place, and how has it evolved?

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH? Black Music Month was originally founded in 1979, but not by President Carter. Credit goes to Philadelphia soul pioneer Kenny Gamble of Gamble and Huff and a couple of other associates, said Naima Cochrane of the Black Music Action Coalition, an advocacy organization founded in June 2020 following a music industry blackout in response to the murder of George Floyd.

“Black Music Month was founded out of an organization called the Black Music Association,” she says. Gamble based his organization, founded in 1978, on the Country Music Association because he saw how

much power and influence they held in the country music business, Cochrane explains. He aimed to do the same with Black stakeholders in the music industry. Those included promoters, retailers, bookers, venue owners, executives, artists and household names like Rev. Jesse Jackson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.

Black Music Month, coincidentally, was brought forth by Gamble, Cleveland radio DJ Ed Wright, and media strategist Dyana Williams.

“Black Music Month was originally created to promote, protect, and perpetuate the business of Black music, not just to celebrate Black music," says Cochrane. “The tagline was originally ‘Black music is green,’ and it was meant as a way to drive retail sales to increase awareness for the artists but honestly, really to increase the business of Black music, and not just to celebrate the history of Black music."

“It’s evolved into something different over the years… The original intention has gotten lost," she says.

“The original purpose of the month was to prove that the business of Black music was profitable.” HOW IS BLACK MUSIC MONTH CELEBRATED?

Each June, Black Music Month is recognized with a presidential proclamation.

“During Black Music Month, we celebrate the Black artists and creatives whose work has so often been a tidal wave of change — not only by defining the American songbook and culture but also by capturing our greatest hopes for the future and pushing us to march forward together,” President Joe Biden's 2024 proclamation read.

"Black music is a staple of American art and a powerhouse

of our culture — that is why we must continue to open doors for the next generation of Black artists."

This year, Biden will once again celebrate Black Music Month with a Juneteenth concert featuring Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, Kirk Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Brittney Spencer, Trombone Shorty and more.

Under the Obama Administration, Black Music Month was re-named African-American Music Appreciation Month but it's since gone back to its roots.

Black Music Month "is an acknowledgement that Black music is an original American artform and has influence in almost every other American art form. But it was designed to drive the business of Black music to Black stakeholders,” Cochrane added.

In the years since its origins, Black Music Month has often been used as a salute to Black music excellence: 30 days to celebrate Black musicianship across media platforms, museums, streaming platforms, and beyond. But some fear that concentrating the observance might have limiting effects.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT BLACK MUSIC MONTH?

“I always felt conflicted: happy to see the uplifting of Black artists but disappointed that Black Music Month only benefitted superstars (and ostensibly turned the other 11 months over to white musicians),” 4AD Records label manager Nabil Ayers wrote of Black Music Month in 2021.

“Musically, the Black Music Month that I knew in the ’90s and 2000s focused on the artists who could potentially sell the most records," he continued. "But the reality is that

it costs money to make music, and financial support for artists matters now more than ever.”

Of course, there are varying opinions. In 2016, Philadelphia resident Branford Jones started They Have the Range, a popular Instagram account with one million followers, dedicated to showcasing Black singers.

“When I created it, Black music programming wasn’t really there,” he says, noting a few other performance pages that “weren’t posting everyday Black people,” and a modern-day dearth of shows like “Soul Train” or BET’s “106th and Park.”

“For They Have the Range, every month is Black Music Month,” Jones says, laughing. “But it’s important to have a Black Music Month, especially in a time where so many people are trying to erase historical context. ... We know how much Black folks have contributed to the world when it comes to music.”

He cites the Hulu series “The 1619 Project” as an influence: “One of the things they said about Black music is that it’s uncatchable. Every single decade, (Black music) has been able to shift, change, and lead the masses.” For him, Black Music Month is an opportunity for celebration that can endure all year long — and it feels especially poignant that it lands in the month that also holds Juneteenth.

“As time moves on, more brands will become involved, more people will get involved,” he says. “And so it is important to recognize it.”

The documentary, titled “The Sixth,” not only captured the horror and chaos of that fateful day but also delved deep into the lives of those thrust into the heart of the storm, evoking a profound emotional response from the audience.

Five Strategies to Grow Black Homeownership

By Antoine M. Thompson

In 1865, over 159 years ago, the U.S. eliminated or outlawed slavery in the U.S. with the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. One of the promises and pledges to freed slaves was that each would receive 40 acres and a mule. This commitment would help former slaves with building a home, raising a family and growing wealth through land ownership and entrepreneurship. While some Black Americans were able to receive land in the 1860s and 1870s, unfortunately, many former slaves nor their descendants ever received land. In fact, many Black Americans that were given land were chased off their land with force and brutality from the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other white supremacy organizations.

Still to this day the dream of land and homeownership continues to be elusive for Black Americans from slavery, post slavery, the Jim Crow Era, the Civil Rights Era to the present. Whether it was the trick bag of sharecropping, land contracts, subprime loans, eminent domain policies or outright redlining of Black neighborhoods by banks and government organizations, it should not come as a surprise that there continues to be a persistent 30-point racial gap in homeownership rates in the U.S. Racial disparities in homeownership is at the core of wealth inequality in this country,

you can’t separate the two. America is anchored in home and land ownership, always has been, always will be. In fact, for many years, only white men that owned property could vote in the U.S.

Below are several strategies to help grow Black homeownership in the U.S.: Federal Student loan forgiveness for purchasing a home.  African Americans are disproportionately impacted by student loan debt forcing many to forgo homeownership. A program that addresses this disparity and forgives student loan debt would help many Black Americans achieve their homeownership dreams.

Create down payment assistance and federal Housing programs for Black descendants of slavery. Currently there are initiatives and dedicated federal housing and mortgage lending programs and incentives for Native Americans, similar efforts should be established for Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), those that are descendants of slaves in America.

Create federal and state homeownership zone programs in communities with persistent low rates of Black homeownership especially in formerly redlined communities. Intentional efforts to invest in rehabilitation of existing homes, coupled with infill housing, funding for homebuyer education, downpayment and closing subsidies, special purpose mortgage credit programs, energy efficiency grants, and property tax incentives would have a huge impact on increasing Black homeownership.

Lower mortgage interest rates despite the current historically low rate of Black unemployment in the U.S., high mortgage interest rates are limiting the potential for increasing the growth rate of Black homeownership. According to data from  Freddie Mac, there are over 2 million mortgage/credit eligible potential Black American homebuyers in the U.S.

Increasing the number of Black Real Estate Agents, Appraisers, Loan Officers and Underwriters the housing ecosystem sorely lacks diversity. Underrepresentation in these key professions plays a major role in housing discrimination, redlining, bias in mortgage lending, and the undervaluing of properties owned by Black Americans.  It’s important to note that Juneteenth and homeownership month are in the same month. Hopefully, one day, the promise of land and home ownership will be realized equally and equitably for Black Americans.  Antoine M. Thompson is a housing policy expert, President of the Black Housing Policy Network (BHPN), Licensed Real Estate Agent with EXP Realty Group, former National Executive Director of the National Association of

The Once and Future King:

The Once and Future King:

Josh Gibson is Number One After Negro League Stats Join MLB

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA

Just a few months before Jackie Robinson would make history and break the color barrier preventing Black players from competing in Major League Baseball, Josh Gibson passed away at 35 years old. In the early 1940s he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died on January 20, 1947 of a stroke. But Josh Gibson lives in his statistical achievements which place him at the top of all baseball players of all time. The MLB announced on May 29, that it has added the statistics of over 2,300 Negro Leagues players from 1920 to 1948. The update in records now means that Josh Gibson is now Major League Baseball’s all-time career leader in batting average at .372. Gibson overtakes Ty Cobb who is at .367. Gibson also surpasses baseball legend Babe Ruth in career slugging percentage.

Gibson’s legendary career in the Negro Leagues was showcased during the many years he played for Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays. He was commonly referred to as the “Black Babe Ruth,” and hit nearly 800 home runs during his career. Gibson, who was a catcher, played in numerous EastWest All-Star Games and helped lead his teams to multiple league championships.

Gibson’s legacy has been recognized and celebrated in the years following his untimely death. In 1972, he was inducted into

the Baseball Hall of Fame. This induction helped to solidify his place in baseball history and brought renewed attention to the contributions of Negro Leagues players. Gibson’s story continues to inspire and his career is a reminder of the racial barriers in professional sports.

Pitcher Satchel Paige, whom many consider one of the best pitchers to play the game, is also a big winner on the updated stat sheet. In 1948, at the age of 42, Paige broke into MLB with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the oldest rookie in major league history. Paige’s career in the Negro Leagues spanned over two decades. He played for the Birmingham Black Barons, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Kansas City Monarchs. Paiges’ dominance on the mound was legendary and he often pitched multiple games in a single day. The incorporation of the stats of Negro Leagues players has been pushed for by many Negro Leagues historians for years. Now that the moment has arrived, the full history of professional baseball moves a bit closer to being valid.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the publisher of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and speaks on Crisis Comms on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

Antoine M. Thompson (Courtesy Photo)

Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays, 3 April 1931. (Photo: Homestead Studios / Wikimedia

Newswire Contributor

California Capitol News You Might Have Missed  Political Playback:

By Bo Tefu California Black Media

Three Black Californians Assume Top Leadership Roles at Weingart Foundation

On June 7, the Board of Directors of the Weingart Foundation, a private non-profit grantmaking organization focused on racial justice announced that it has voted to appoint Joanna S. Jackson as its new President and C.E.O. That same day, the Weingart Foundation board also voted to elect Dr. Robert K. Ross as the Foundation’s Board chair.  Ross is the former CEO of The California Endowment.

Jackson, who has been serving as interim president, is the second African American woman to assume a top leadership at the Weingart Foundation in less than two months. On May 13, the organization announced that it had named another Black woman, Crystal Crawford, as its inaugural Director of Strategic Partnerships.

“Following a competitive C.E.O. search process, the Board determined that Joanna Jackson was our clear choice to serve as the Foundation’s President and C.E.O.,” said Monica Lozano, immediate past chair of the Weingart Foundation Board, and chair of the C.E.O. search committee.

“With the support of our consultants, Koya Partners, we gathered input from board, staff, grantee partners, civic and community leaders and used this feedback to create a candidate profile that prioritized the skills, qualities, and characteristics of our next C.E.O.” continued Lozno. “We received hundreds of letters of interest and interviewed a dozen outstanding candidates. Joanna demonstrated a deep commitment to racial, social, and economic justice and has inspired our team to think and act boldly, fostering a culture that is empowering and inclusive.”

The Weingart Foundation partners with communities across Southern California to advance racial justice, according to a statement from the organization.

“Joanna Jackson fervently embodies the attributes necessary to lead The Weingart Foundation as it continues to operationalize its equity commitment, both internally and externally,’ said Dr. Ross, Board Chair of The Weingart Foundation. “Joanna is an equity-minded leader who authentically models the values of courage, dignity, innovation, trust, partnership, and racial justice.”

For the last 25 years, Jackson has worked in the nonprofit, philanthropic and public sectors, including the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The California Endowment, and the City of San Jose.

“It is an honor and privilege to continue to serve this Foundation as President & C.E.O. It is my calling to do what I can to change inequitable systems and advance justice. I see my values reflected in the mission of the Weingart Foundation and in the inspiring work of the nonprofit partners and movement leaders we work with in our pursuit of racial justice,” said Jackson.

“I am humbled and energized to continue this journey with a team of dedicated leaders, partners, and colleagues who share our vision of a more equitable Southern California for all,” the foundation’s new President and CEO continued.

Offering Drivers $400 Gift Cards, California Seeks

Alternative Source to Gas Tax Revenue

State officials are offering drivers up to $400 in gift cards as policymakers seek an alternative revenue stream to mitigate the loss in gas tax revenue due to an increase in electric vehicles.

Drivers will be allotted an amount based on the miles they drive. The state will pilot the initiative for six months starting in August this year. The program has been organized to test proposed systems that aim to replace the gas tax with a reliable source of funding. The pilot program will test two payment methods. Payment will be calculated using either a flat permile rate, or an individual rate based on a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. According to the California Department of Transportation, the state’s excise tax on fuel purchases helps to repair and maintain roads. Currently, the state imposes a tax of 58 cents a gallon for gasoline and 44 cents per gallon for diesel. The state’s gas tax funds approximately 80 percent of highway and road repairs. However, state analysts predict that the rising use of electric and hybrid cars is expected to decrease the revenue of gas tax in the upcoming years. A new ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars will also take effect in 2035, further shrinking the state’s gas tax revenue stream.

Lauren Prehoda, CalTrans’ Road Charge Program manager said that the state is testing a process to collect money that is easy for drivers, dependable for the state, and equitable for residents statewide.

“What’s happening right now as we see this growth in different types of vehicles,” said Prehoda.

“We’re seeing this increasing unfairness in what people are paying,” she said. The state has tried different tax initiatives since 2016 to find a feasible revenue stream to offset accelerating losses in gas tax revenue.

State officials say they are concerned about the impact of such initiatives on rural areas and tribal communities using private and public roads. In the latest study, the state is looking to work with 800 participants in California to participate in the program. Participants will pay a monthly mileage-based travel fee and receive credit for gas taxes or electric vehicle registration fees they paid to avoid being double taxed.

Pride Month: LGBTQ Caucus Honors Monterey’s First Black Mayor Tyller Williamson

The California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (CLGBTQ) Caucus will honor the first Black mayor of Monterey Tyller Williamson for pride month this year. Williamson is among 16 CLGBTQ Caucus 2024 Pride honorees.

“Every year, the Caucus invites honorees from around the state to attend a daylong celebration in our State Capitol. The LGBTQ Caucus recognizes these incredible people for their efforts in helping to advance representation, as well as for being an inspiration to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies,” the CLGBTQ said on its website.

In 2018, Mayor Williamson became the first Black member of the Monterey City Council and also the youngest at age 31. Rather than seek a second term in office, he campaigned for the mayor’s office. Williamson won 54.72% percent of the vote and took office in 2022 after defeating Councilmember Dan Albert Jr, a legacy public servant whose father served as mayor more than 30 yearsAsago.one of the youngest elected public servants in California, Williamson advocates for housing, water, and civic engagement in the community. He also promotes equity and diversity regardless of people’s political affiliation or status, according to his office.

“You might come from a different place or sides of an issue,” said Williamson. “But when we meet face to face, our ability to have compassion and empathy and understanding seems to come back to us a little easier.”

The mayor grew up in a military family and traveled a lot as a child. He graduated from California State University Monterey Bay in 2013. He later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Throughout his political career, Williamson has partnered with community organizations to address current and emerging issues such as housing affordability and advancing LGBTQ rights across the state.

California Supreme Court Rejects Right to Hold Separate Trial for Enhanced Gang Charges

The right to have gang enhancement charges tried independently from underlying criminal charges is inapplicable in retrospect, stated the California Supreme Court in a recent ruling that overturned an appellate court decision.

On June 3, the State Supreme Court reversed an amendment by the Sixth Appeal District that gave a convicted member of a street gang the right to have separate trials for gang allegations under Assembly Bill 333 enacted in 2022. The defendants argued the amendment aimed to reduce systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

Current state law allows the courts to enhance prison sentences for individuals who are active members of a criminal street gang. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved AB 333, the STEP Forward Act, to amend those enhancement statutes.

The bill states that the law criminalizes entire neighborhoods that are historically impacted by poverty, racial inequity, and mass incarceration. Supporters of the bill further argued that the law punished people based on their cultural identity, people they know, and where they live.

“The statute disproportionately impacts communities of color, making the statute one of the largest disparate racial impact statutes that imposes criminal punishments,” the bill stated.

Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said that the court can apply, in retrospect, amendments for criminal codes that advocate for less severe punishment. However, in this case, the amendment was applied to the trial procedure rather than the sentencing factors.

“There is no question that the legislative findings accompanying Assembly Bill 333 reflect significant concerns about gang enhancements in general, including about their usefulness in stemming crime and their disproportionate impact on people of color in particular,” Guerrero said.

Francisco Burgos is among the defendants seeking an appeal from the Supreme Court for crimes he committed during his time as a Crip gang member. Burgos argued that AB 333 allows prosecutors to extend reasonable plea offers for defendants.

Associate Justice Kelli Evans dissented from the court decision stating that having separate trials represented a crucial change in how gang cases are tried.

“This unfairness was of profound concern to the Legislature,” stated Evans.

“In clear and forceful language, the Legislature found and declared that ‘gang enhancement evidence can be unreliable and prejudicial to a jury because it is lumped into evidence of the underlying charges which further perpetuates unfair prejudice in juries and convictions of innocent people,” she stated.

Turning 40, Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Partners With Soul Country Music in National Talent Search

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) has teamed up with Soul Country Music to launch a nationwide talent search for the next Soul Country Music™ Star (SCMS).

The online search began June 4 in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas/Forth Worth and DC/Maryland.

Drawing inspiration from popular music competition shows, the country music contest will be a highlight during the BIPR finals.

“Our journey holds deep-rooted significance within the Western community, marked by resilience and growth, spanning four decades. It’s imperative that we continue to expand our reach, celebrating the invaluable contributions of Black cowboys, cowgirls, and now, Black Country Music Artists with Soul Country Music™Star,” said Valeria Howard-Cunningham, President of BPIR.

“Together with Wade & Associates Group, we honor the past, celebrate the present, and pave the way for a vibrant future,” Howard Cunningham continued.

According to contest organizers, contestants must submit a YouTube or Vimeo link to their audition video for consideration, aiming for the finals in their nearest city. Esteemed judges from the music industry, alongside local celebrity personalities, will evaluate performances to select the top ten (10), and online voters will determine the top six (6) contenders in each market, who will then compete in live events with the top two (2) advancing to perform at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo where one (1) person will win in their chosen cities. This process will lead to the advancement of one winner from each city to the final competition in Los Angeles or Nashville (TBD) in November. Exciting prizes include $10,000 cash rewards, a possible music streaming contract, and a coveted travel opportunity with the BPIR Rodeo in 2025 as a featured artist. Additional opportunities and prizes await the winners with details to be announced.

Margo Wade-LaDrew, President of Wade & Associates Group and Producer of the Soul Country Music Star Competition, affirms, “having been entrenched in the BPIR rodeo community for over 28 years and witnessing the profound influence BPIR has had in honoring Soul Country Music, it’s evident that our alignment is organic.”

“We have created a platform for Black Country Artists to exhibit their talents, champion their music, and connect with an audience deeply attuned to the essence of Soul Country Music,” she added.

For more information, visit www.soulcountrymusic. com.

California MENA Coalition Responds to Assembly Rejection of Racial Inclusion Bill

Last week, the California Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Civil Rights Coalition expressed “profound disappointment” with the California Assembly Appropriations Committee’s decision to suspend a racial inclusion bill.

The MENA Inclusion Act, Assembly Bill 2763, requires state agencies to offer distinct MENA reporting options that reflect the identities of residents with MENA heritage. The bipartisan bill co-authored by Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli and Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman aims to include categories that report demographic data for residents of MENA descent.

Currently, on official documents people of MENA descent are classified as White.

The Assembly Committee put the bill on hold due to budget concerns. But supporters of the bill argue that the decisions perpetuate the systemic erasure of the Identities, experiences, and voices of the state’s MENA community. California is home to more than 740,000 people with MENA heritage. Supporters of the bill argue that people in the Arab American community have the right to be “properly recognized.”

Musa Tariqm, policy coordinator for CAIR-SFBA said that the lack of recognition and accurate data marginalizes Arab Americans, denying them the resources and representation they deserve.

“We must push forward and advocate for policies that acknowledge and address the unique challenges faced by the MENA community,” said Tariq.

“Our fight for equity and justice is far from over, and we call on our allies to stand with us in this vital cause.”

With this decision, AB 2763 can only proceed with an urgent push from the Assembly Committee. Prominent community organizations in the MENA community cosponsored the bill including the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the group that penned the open letter.

Rep. Barbara Lee Celebrates D-Day, Caribbean American Heritage and Dr. Mary Edwards

Walker

Last week, Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-CA12) took time out to recognize the anniversary of D-Day, National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and the release of a commemorative quarter honoring Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first woman to become a United States Army surgeon and the only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Lee joined more than 40 of her colleagues on a Congressional Delegation to France led by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA-1)

“As we travel to France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we honor the brave servicemembers who risked their lives to liberate the European continent from tyranny and oppression. These brave soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy from the ground, sea, and air, changing the world forever,” said Lee.

In commemoration of Caribbean American Heritage Month, Lee released a statement on June 4.

“Black people of Caribbean descent were among the first group of immigrants who traveled to the United States in the 17th century when enslaved Africans worked on plantations. Immigrants from various Caribbean sovereign states including Jamaica, Barbados, and Antigua have contributed to American culture and society,” she said.

“Caribbean immigrants of all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds have contributed to every aspect of our society, including the arts, business, sports, politics, military, science, and other parts of American society,” added Lee.

Then on June 7, Lee celebrated the United States Mint commencing the shipment of the American Women Quarter honoring Walker.

“As the Congressional sponsor of the bill establishing the American Women Quarters program years ago, I am proud to see yet another brilliant yet underrecognized woman in American history honored. The third coin of the 2024 American Women Quarters Program will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, whose influential work has shaped many facets of American life,” said Lee. «Dr. Edwards Walker defied society’s expectations of women by bravely serving as a surgeon during the Civil War. Her courage, perseverance and dedication to democracy and equity must never be forgotten.”

California Philanthropy Leaders Disappointed in Fearless Fund Court Ruling

The United States Appeals Court June 3 ruling that halted the operation of the Fearless Fund, an organization that offers grants to businesses owned by women of color, raises concerns about the future of racial equity and civil rights in philanthropy, said Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF).

“While this decision is disappointing, for me, it is also galvanizing,” said Philpart.

“In this crucial time in our nation’s history, it is essential for those of us in philanthropy to protect our partners and progress on racial justice,” he said.

The philanthropy leader anticipated the pretrial ruling and procedural issue regarding the Fearless Fund, he said in a statement following the court ruling. The grant program, cofounded by Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons, aims to empower Black women entrepreneurs with resources and economic opportunity.

Co-founder Simone said that the court ruling sends a message that diversity should be excluded from corporate America and education.

“America is supposed to be a nation where one has the freedom to achieve, the freedom to earn, and the freedom to prosper,” said Simone.

“Yet, when we have attempted to level the playing field for underrepresented groups, our freedoms were stifled,” she said.

The judges ruled that the grant program is likely to violate provisions of Title 42 of the US code that ensures equal rights under the law and prohibits the use of race as a requirement for receiving grant awards.

Edward Blum, leader and founder of the American Alliance for Equal Rights filed the lawsuit against the venture capital firm. Last year, the Republican legal strategist spearheaded the Supreme Court case that dismantled affirmative action in college admissions. Blum used the Civil Rights Act of 1866, a law intended to uplift Black people, to go against the Fearless Fund. The Reconstruction era law was enacted to protect formerly enslaved people from economic exclusion. Blum argued that the grant program violated the civil rights law. Eleventh Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum issued a dissenting opinion that Blum’s lawsuit is similar to an athlete falling on the field to draw a foul.

“Although three of American Alliance’s members pay lip service to the idea they are ‘ready and able’ to participate in Fearless’ Contest, their declarations show, in context, that none has a genuine interest in actually entering the Contest,” Rosenbaum stated in the opinion.

Dept of Finance Is Helping Borrowers Sort Out Their Student Loan

On June 2, the California Department of Finance announced the launch of the Student Loan Empowerment Network, a program that connects student loan borrowers to various community-based organizations, offering free legal aid to help clear $148 billion in student loan debt that about 4 million borrowers in California owe. Clothilde V. Hewlett, Commissioner of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), said that the program aims to empower state residents to take control of their financial outlook through resources and education.

The program will help Californians understand their student loan debt and, in some cases, break the cycle of debt that many borrowers are facing,” said Hewlett. DFPI created the program to help student loan borrowers understand and pay off their debts. The state awarded $7.25 million in grant funding to over a dozen community-based organizations to support \student loan borrowers around the state. The organizations will offer general and specialized legal aid to help student loan borrowers clear their debts.

The state partnered with more than a dozen nonprofits including the Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA), National Consumer Law Center, and Public Counsel. According to the Education Data Initiative, 10% of state residents owe student loan debt, and more than half are under 35 years old. The average student loan debt for state residents is over $36,000, compared to the national average of more than $37,000 per borrower. State residents with any student loan debt can access resources through the program. Residents can

Joanna S. Jackson, President and CEO Weingart Foundation

Tyller Williamson, Mayor of Monterey

Veteran Louis Brown from Inglewood and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland)

California Hosts Symposium to Connect Small Businesses With Billions of Dollars in Contracts

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

Despite the state’s looming budget deficit, Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation, shared some upbeat news during the first-ever Small Business Symposium held virtually on June 5. Omishakin said the “sun is shining on us” referring to small business owners and the commitment of the state and federal governments to continue making investments in the sector to expand opportunities.

“The state budget has challenges. Nevertheless, this is still the most fruitful period of transportation investments in California and America,” the Omishakin said. “It’s time for us to take advantage of the fact that we have the policies and the funding to help small businesses in the state.”

So far, the state has received over $42 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds from the Biden Administration in almost three years, including more than $29 billion for transportation-related projects. State officials, including Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, other stakeholders, and over 400 other participants attended the three-hour webinar.

Recent transportation-focused infusions of cash into the California economy include almost $430 million from

the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and an additional $740 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 authored by retired Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose).  Omishakin explained the progress of small businesses’ participation in Caltrans state and federal contracts and how they relate to Assembly Bill (AB) 2019, a law signed in 2022 that made the procurement process more inclusive and equitable, and facilitated more funding toward small businesses.

In the fiscal year 2022-2023, over $961 million was awarded to small businesses in California. The participation goal, as mandated by AB 2019, was 25% but the state surpassed that mark by 9.4%.

According to the Governor’s office, federal contracts awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) in the state exceeded the targeted requirement as well. DBEs were awarded over $1 billion in federal contracts during the fiscal year 2022-2023, amounting to 22.3%. The required target was 22.2%    AB 2019 was co-authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) and Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). It codifies a 25% small business goal for state procurement and enhances the ability of state agencies to include small and underserved businesses in state contracting.

“In 2018-2019, when Gov. Gavin Newsom was elected, $503 million in contracts were awarded to small

businesses. The goal was 17.5% but we passed it with 17.6%,” Omishakin said. “In 2022-2023, it was the first time in the history of this program it exceeded $1 billion going to DBEs. These programs combined, state and federal, were north of $2 billion in small business and DBEs just from Caltrans.”

Omishakin continued, “Now that’s a whole lot of money and a lot of opportunities for people to continue doing work with the state.”

With the theme, “Scaling to New Heights Through Contracting Opportunities,” the symposium featured representatives from state agencies and departments discussing opportunities available for small businesses interested in working with the state.

The symposium was hosted by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (OBED), the California Government Operations Agency, and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

The event included updates from the directors and Department Executives at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), California Department of General Services (DGS), California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), and the California Department of

Technology (CDT).

“We’ve never had a gathering like this before on small business where all the top leaders in state government participated,” Omishakin said. “The entire team worked hard to get the word out.”

The leaders of the entities were also available to answer questions, provide guidance on requirements to qualify and share tips for accessing resources.

Dee Dee Myers, the Director of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (OBED), said the state has 4.1 million small businesses with a workforce of 7.1 employees.

“California is the largest, most diverse small business community in the country,” Myers said. “That’s a million more than the next state which happens to be Texas. “Ninety-nine percent of our business meet the SBA definition of small business, which means having fewer than 500 employees. Ninety-eight percent have fewer than 20 employees.”

The Chief of California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Catrina Blair provided an overview of participation for 844 certified small businesses and 29 DBEs from out of the state working on a 171-mile project that expects to build out around 800 miles with 24 stations.  Phase 1 of the future electrified high-speed rail will start its excursion from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours, surpassing speeds of 200 miles per hour. Blair said that CHSRA provides contracting goals and opportunities for small businesses, DBEs, and Disabled Veterans Enterprises.

“The High Speed Rail has many moving parts and announcements are released regularly about progress on our social media accounts (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn),” Blair said. “Additionally, reading our project update report and business plan is the best way to stay informed about our specific details and project status.” Omishakin explained that the impetus to organize the “historic” symposium with state leaders and the business community came when he was a keynote speaker at the California African American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) Second Annual State of California African American Economy Summit in Los Angeles in January.

“Attendees brought up the fact that they didn’t know where the dollars are, how much money was coming in, or where opportunities lie,” Omishakin said. “I told them, ‘You will hear back from me as a state together. Not just me but the rest of the team that works for Gov. Gavin Newsom.”

Catrina Blair, Chief of Process and Program Development, California High-Speed Rail

Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation

Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate

June

Dodgers Bats Liven Up vs Rangers

By Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer

After a weekend series win against the New York Yankees the DODGERS began a six game home stand by routing the Texas Rangers 15-2. Will Smith got things going with a three-run shot in the first, giving the Dodgers a lead they never relinquished in the opener of the three-game series.

Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Jason Heyward homered in a seven-run sixth inning.

“That’s fun. You always hear it, hitting is contagious,” Freeman said. “Once Mookie worked the walk, Shohei hits the homer, you just want to try to keep it going to start the inning again.”

“To see four homers in one inning just doesn’t happen very often, if ever,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We won a lot of at-bats, pitches.” Ohtani’s 16th homer of the season traveled 433 feet and at 114.2 mph and was his second hardest-hit shot of the season. It came off reliever Grant Anderson and scored Mookie Betts, who walked. Freeman followed with a  383 foot shot to left-center.

Hernández went deep to left-center for his team-leading 17th homer that scored Smith, who singled  .

“We’re having good at-bats and that’s why we’re producing a lot,” Hernández said. “It’s awesome when you see everybody getting hits in a game. We’re having a great time right now.”

Heyward’s 415-foot shot landed in the Rangers’ bullpen, scoring Andy Pages, who singled, making it 14-1.

The last time the Dodgers homered four times in an inning was on Sept. 29, 2021, against the San Diego Padres. Anderson allowed seven runs and six hits against no strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning when the Dodgers batted around in the sixth.

Betts had a two-out, three-run double in the fourth and Gavin Lux added a RBI single in the fifth.

The Rangers ended up using catcher Andrew Knizner in his second career pitching stint. He allowed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Miguel Vargas that scored Ohtani, who was hit by a pitch in the seventh.

“To see four homers in one inning just doesn’t happen very often, if ever,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We won a lot of at-bats, pitches.”

James Paxon (6-1) went six innings gave up two earned runs, struck out two and walked two to earn the win.

Over the weekend L. A. prevailed over the Yankees in a three-game set. In the series opener Teoscar Hernández was arguably the best player on the field. He hit three homers, and in

game one a 2-1

DODGER win he delivered a go-ahead, two-run double in the 11th inning. Hernández showed he’s at his best when the lights are bright.

Yohsinobu  Yamamoto had his best outing of the year tossing seven scoreless innings striking out  seven allowing just two hits on 106 pitches. The Japanese born threw  Yamamoto’s 19 hardestthrown pitches of season came in this game as he consistently hit 97 and 98 mph on the radar gun.

“He signed the deal he did for a reason,” Yankee star Aaron Judge stated,  “He’s a great pitcher. Besides having elite stuff, he’s got great command. I think that’s what we really noticed today. We’d get into hitter’s counts, and he still wouldn’t give in to the heart of the plate. … He just kind of kept guys off balance and kept us on the ground.”

The following day despite two homers by Aaron Judge Hernandez went “UPTOWN” twice, including a dagger grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to deflate the Yankees in an 11-3 win. He drove in six runs on the night. Freddie Freeman added a double and two RBI’s. Gavin Stone (7-2) got the win going six-innings striking out seven.

The DODGERS fell in game three 6-4 and didn’t get the sweep but Skipper Dave Roberts was pleased.

“I think both teams brought our best, and fortunately for us, we won the series,” said Roberts. “It was just a good environment all weekend. Good to show well against those guys. They’re a heckuva ball club.”

Rams leaving Cal Lutheran

By Earl Heath Contributing

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, is congratulated by Mookie Betts after hitting tworun home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers

11th, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after his two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Rangers Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo Credit: Wally Skalij)

(Photo Credit: Cameron DaSilva)

Heat Rules for California Workers Would Also Help Keep Schoolchildren Cool

By Samantha Young KFF Health News

SACRAMENTO — Proposed rules to protect California workers from extreme heat would extend to schoolchildren, requiring school districts to find ways to keep classrooms cool.

If the standards are approved this month, employers in the nation’s most populous state will have to provide relief to indoor workers in sweltering warehouses, steamy kitchens, and other dangerously hot job sites. The rules will extend to schools, where teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and other employees may work without air conditioning — like their students.

“Our working conditions are students’ learning conditions,” said Jeffery Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, which represents more than 120,000 teachers and other educational employees. “We’re seeing an unprecedented change in the environment, and we know for a fact that when it’s too hot, kids can’t learn.”

A state worker safety board is scheduled to vote on the rules June 20, and they would likely take effect this summer. The move, which marks Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest effort to respond to the growing impacts of climate change and extreme heat, would put California ahead of the federal government and much of the nation in setting heat standards.

The standards would require indoor workplaces to be cooled below 87 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present and below 82 degrees in places where workers wear protective clothing or are exposed to radiant heat, such as furnaces. Schools and other worksites that don’t have air conditioning could use fans, misters, and other methods to bring the room temperature down.

The rules allow workarounds for businesses, including the roughly 1,000 school districts in the state, if they can’t cool their workplaces sufficiently. In those cases, employers must provide workers with water, breaks, areas where they can cool down, cooling vests, or other means to keep employees from overheating.

“Heat is a deadly hazard no matter what kind of work you do,” said Laura Stock, a member of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. “If you have an indoor space that is both populated by workers and the public, or in this case by children, you would have the same risks to their health as to workers.”

Heat waves have historically struck outside of the school year, but climate change is making them longer, more frequent, and more intense. Last year was the hottest on record and schools across the U.S. closed sporadically during spring and summer, unable to keep students cool.

Scientists say this year could be even hotter. School officials in Vicksburg, Mississippi, last month ended the school year early when air conditioners had issues. And California’s first heat wave of the season is hitting while some schools are still in session, with temperatures reaching 105 in the Central Valley.

Several states, including Arizona and New Mexico, require schools to have working air conditioners, but they aren’t required to run them. Mississippi requires schools to be air-conditioned but doesn’t say to what temperature. Hawaii schools must have classrooms at a “temperature acceptable for student learning,” without specifying the temperature. And Oregon schools must try to cool classrooms, such as with fans, and provide teachers and other employees ways to cool down, including water and

The Department of Industrial Relations, which oversees the worker safety board, has not responded to queries from school officials or California Healthline. Libia Garcia worries about her 15-year-old son, who spends at least an hour each school day traveling on a hot, stuffy school bus from their home in the rural Central Valley community of Huron to his high school and back. “Once my kid arrives home, he is exhausted; he is dehydrated,” Garcia said in Spanish. “He has no energy to do homework or anything else.”

The California Federation of Teachers is pushing state lawmakers to pass a climate-resilient schools bill that would require the state to develop a master plan to upgrade school heating and air conditioning systems. Newsom last year vetoed similar legislation, citing the cost. Campaigns to cool schools in other states have yielded mixed results. Legislation in Colorado and New Hampshire failed this year while bills in New Jersey and New York were pending as of June 6. Last month, a teachers union in New York brought a portable sauna to the state Capitol to demonstrate how hot it can get inside classrooms, only a quarter of which have air conditioning, said Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers. “We have these temperature limits for animal shelters. How

rest breaks, when the heat index indoors reaches 80 degrees.

When the sun bakes the library at Bridges Academy at Melrose, a public school in East Oakland with little shade and tree cover, Christine Schooley closes the curtains and turns off the computers to cool her room. She stopped using a fan after a girl’s long hair got caught in it.

“My library is the hottest place on campus because I have 120 kids through here a day,” Schooley said. “It stays warm in here. So yeah, it makes me grouchy and irritable as well.”

A 2021 analysis by the Center for Climate Integrity suggests nearly 14,000 public schools across the U.S. that did not need air conditioning in 1970 now do, because they annually experience 32 days of temperatures more than 80 degrees — upgrades that would cost more than $40 billion. Researchers found that same comparison produces a cost of $2.4 billion to install air conditioning in 678 California schools.

It’s not clear how many California schools might need to install air conditioners or other cooling equipment to comply with the new standards because the state doesn’t track which ones already have them, said V. Kelly Turner, associate director of the Luskin Center for Innovation at

the University of California-Los Angeles. And a school district in the northern reaches of the state would not face the same challenges as a district in the desert cities of Needles or Palm Springs, said Naj Alikhan, a spokesperson for the Association of California School Administrators, which has not taken a position on the proposed rules.

An economic analysis commissioned for the board provided cost estimates for a host of industries — such as warehousing, manufacturing, and construction — but lacked an estimate for school districts, which make up one of the largest public infrastructure systems in the state and already face a steep backlog of needed upgrades. The state Department of Education hasn’t taken a position on the proposal and a spokesperson, Scott Roark, declined to comment on the potential cost to schools.

Projections of a multibillion-dollar cost to state prisons were the reason the Newsom administration refused to sign off on the indoor heat rules this year. Since then, tens of thousands of prison and jail employees — and prisoners — have been exempted.

It’s also unclear whether the regulation will apply to school buses, many of which don’t have air conditioning.

for school districts to tap federal funds.

“How we invest in our school buildings and our school grounds, it makes a difference for our students’ lives,” Roberto Rodriguez, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, said at the summit. “They are on the front line in terms of feeling those impacts.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

‘I Try to Stay Strong’: Mom Struggles to Get Diagnosis for Son’s Developmental Problems

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CASTRO VALLEY — Four-year-old Ahmeir DiazThornton couldn’t sit still in class and rarely ate his lunch. While his preschool classmates spoke in perfect sentences, Ahmeir had trouble pronouncing words. Ahmeir’s preschool teacher relayed her concerns to his mother, Kanika Thornton, who was already worried about Ahmeir’s refusal to eat anything but yogurt, Chef Boyardee spaghetti, oatmeal, and applesauce. He also sometimes hit himself and others to cope with the frustration of not being able to communicate, she said. Thornton took her son, who is on Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, which covers low-income families, to his pediatrician. Then he was evaluated by a school district official, a speech therapist, and the pediatrician — again. Along the way, Thornton consulted teachers, case managers, and social service workers.

Ten months later, she still doesn’t have an accurate diagnosis for Ahmeir.

“I felt like I failed my child, and I don’t want to feel that,” said Thornton, 30, who has been juggling Ahmeir’s behavior and appointments on top of her pregnancy and caring for her two other children.

“Some days I don’t eat because he doesn’t eat,” said Thornton from her home in Alameda County in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I don’t want to hurt my unborn child. So I try to eat some crackers and cheese and stuff, but I don’t eat a meal because he doesn’t eat a meal.”

Seeking a diagnosis for a child’s behavioral problems can be challenging for any family as they navigate complicated medical and educational systems that don’t communicate effectively with parents, let alone each other.

A common obstacle families face is landing an appointment with one of a limited number of developmental specialists. It is particularly difficult for families with Medi-Cal, whose access to

specialists is even more restricted than for patients with private insurance.

As they await their turn, they boomerang among counselors, therapists, and school officials who address isolated symptoms, often without making progress toward an overall diagnosis.

Obtaining a timely diagnosis for autism, anxiety, attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder, or other behavioral disorders is important for children and their parents, said Christina Buysse, a clinical associate professor in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Stanford University.

“Parent stress levels go down when a child is diagnosed early,” because they learn how to manage their child’s behaviors, she said.

Intervening early can also help retrain a child’s brain quickly and avoid lifelong consequences of developmental delays, said Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, president of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

“A speech and language delay at the age of 2 can put a child at risk of reading comprehension problems in the third grade,” she said.

Buysse is likely the right type of medical specialist for Ahmeir. As a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, she can often unify different symptoms into one diagnosis, and she knows what kind of therapy or medication patients need.

The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics reports that there are only 706 actively certified developmental specialists in the nation.

“There just aren’t enough of us,” Buysse said, and some developmental specialists don’t accept Medicaid patients because they believe the reimbursement rates aren’t adequate.

Thornton didn’t know her son needed to see a developmental specialist, and he had never been referred to one, despite his many medical appointments. Once she learned about this type of specialist in May, she asked his pediatrician for a referral.

Alameda Health System, which provides Ahmeir’s primary care, “does not have a developmental-behavioral pediatrician on

staff at this time,” said Porshia Mack, the system’s associate chief medical officer of ambulatory services.

“We have made efforts to hire them, but recruiting and retaining pediatric subspecialists is difficult for all health systems, and public safety-net systems in particular,” she said.

Karina Rivera, a spokesperson for the Alameda Alliance for Health, Thornton’s Medi-Cal managed care plan, provided a list of nine developmental-behavioral pediatricians she said are in the plan’s network. However, the only two in Alameda County work for Kaiser Permanente, which “is a closed system,” acknowledged Donna Carey, interim chief medical officer of the Alameda Alliance. In practice, that means “even if they have a developmental pediatrician, we don’t have access to that pediatrician,” she said.

The other seven specialists are in surrounding counties, which could pose transportation challenges for Thornton and other patients.

The Alameda Alliance for Health met state requirements for patient access to specialists in the most recent review of its network, in 2022, said Department of Health Care Services spokesperson Griselda Melgoza. The plan “was found compliant with all time or distance standards,” she said.

However, after learning from California Healthline that the plan considers Kaiser Permanente specialists part of its network, the department contacted the insurer to inquire, and will work with it “to ensure member-facing materials accurately represent their current network,” Melgoza said.

A month after starting preschool in fall 2023, Ahmeir was evaluated for speech delay through his school district. His pediatrician also began ordering tests to understand his eating habits.

But Thornton believes Ahmeir’s symptoms aren’t isolated problems that can be addressed in a piecemeal fashion. “It’s just something else. It’s his development,” she said. “I know a tantrum, but he doesn’t get tantrums. He will hit people. That’s a no-go.”

In addition to addressing medical concerns, a developmental

specialist could help parents like Thornton understand what school districts offer and how to expedite school evaluations, Spinks-Franklin said. Ahmeir faces a six- to eight-month wait for a comprehensive evaluation through his school district for additional services, Thornton said.

It’s common for parents to get confused about what a school district can and can’t do for kids with developmental disabilities, said Corina Samaniego, who works at Family Resource Navigators, an organization that helps parents like Thornton in Alameda County. For instance, Samaniego said, school districts cannot provide medical diagnoses of autism, nor the therapy to address it. Ahmeir has made significant improvement with speech therapy provided through the school district, Thornton said, and now speaks in full sentences more often. But she remains frustrated that she does not have a diagnosis that explains his persistent symptoms, especially his reluctance to eat and difficulty expressing emotions.

Thornton believes she has done everything she can to help him. She has even created elaborate food landscapes for Ahmeir with dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, mashed potato volcanoes, gravy lava, and broccoli trees — only to have him turn his head away. As of late May, she continued to seek advice from teachers and counselors while she waited for an appointment with a specialist. “I try to stay strong for my son and do

Proposed state standards to protect indoor workers from extreme heat would extend to schools. Schools and other worksites that don’t have air conditioning could use fans, misters, and other methods to bring the room temperature down. (Bill Uhrich/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

Kanika Thornton has struggled for 10 months to obtain a diagnosis for her son, Ahmeir. (Sejal Parekh for KFF Health News) (Sejal Parekh for KFF Health News)

Ahmeir Diaz-Thornton’s speech has improved with school-provided therapy. However, he is still waiting for a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnosis. (Sejal Parekh for KFF Health News)

Sejal Parekh KFF Health News