VALLEY'S 9.3.20 4C

News Observer The Valley’s

Volume 35 Number 42

Serving the San Fernando Valley for Over 35 Years

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Thursday, September 3, 2020

IN MEMORIAM: Chadwick Boseman

In addition to acting and producing, Boseman was also an activist and philanthropist supporting social justice initiatives like Michelle Obama’s #WhenWeAllVote and celebrating fellow Bison Kamala Harris’ history making selection as the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee for the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, which was his last Twitter post before his death. (Photo: Chadwick Boseman speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Black Panther”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. / George Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons)

By Nsenga Burton, Ph.D. NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor The world is reeling from the loss of iconic actor Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday, August 28, after losing a private battle to colon cancer. Boseman died at home surrounded by his family.

A statement released by his family said Boseman was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016 and the disease progressed to stage 4. Boseman endured countless surgeries and treatments as he continued to make films from Marshall (directed by Reginald Hudlin), Da 5 Bloods (directed by Spike Lee) and August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (directed by George C. Wolfe and produced

by Denzel Washington).

Washington and Boseman were first introduced when Washington paid for Boseman and several other Howard University students to continue their theater studies by taking a theater course in Oxford.

The Howard University-educated thespian was the star of Marvel’s Black Panther franchise, bringing to life one of the most important and revered superheroes in American film history.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther was the first superhero movie to be nominated for a best picture Oscar and one of the highest-grossing films of all time, bringing in over $1billion.

Black Panther became more than a movie, morphing into a celebration of Black culture, art, history, achievement and intellect in addition to highlighting the Black cultural presence and influence in comic book culture.

Boseman was no stranger to playing iconic characters, bursting onto the big screen in 2013’s 42 as baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in major league baseball. Boseman went on to star as Soul legend James Brown in 2014’s Get On Up and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall in 2017. Boseman brought a quiet dignity and powerful presence to these characters, with performances reflective of the weight they hold in world culture.

Prior to breaking into film, Boseman lived in New Continued on page A2

Yellow

Orange

Red

Purple

Color-Coded System Will Guide California Reopening Quinci LeGardye California Black Media On Aug. 28, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new framework for re-opening businesses in California counties shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state will move away from the previous “watch list” system and use a new four-tiered classification system to determine which counties can open.

At the Aug. 28 press conference, Gov. Newsom said, “We wanted to make adjustments based upon the input we received from county health officers, input we received from experts, our own experience here in the state of California, to adjust the frameworks from the old monitoring list to a more dynamic list that we hope is not only more dynamic, but is much more simple to understand. Stringent, though, nonetheless in terms of its application but statewide in terms of its consequence.”

The tiers are color-coded: yellow for minimal COVID-19 spread, orange for moderate spread, red for substantial spread, and purple for widespread COVID-19 transmission. Nearly all businesses in yellow counties are allowed to reopen indoor operations, as long as face-covering and physical distancing requirements are followed. In purple counties, nearly all businesses have to

close or severely limit indoor operations.

According to the state COVID website, as of Aug. 30, the majority of counties in the state are widespread or purple.

Within the new system, the color of the county is determined by the number of new daily coronavirus cases and the testing positivity rate. Counties that are considered widespread or purple have more than 7 daily new cases per 100,000 residents or a higher than 8% positivity rate among those tested.

Most business in widespread counties are allowed to remain open as long as they are outdoor only, including restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and places of worship.

Bars and schools must remain closed, and non-essential offices must operate remotely.

Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, released a statement responding to the state’s new COVID-19 reopening framework.

“Unfortunately, [Gov. Newsom] has also sent a long term signal to the business community that they will likely not be able to operate at a sustainable level until spring 2021 at the earliest. As the rest of the country begins on a path to economic recovery, we are gravely concerned that California will see a wave of permanent job loss, especially

since the Legislature has not passed any policies that will help businesses adapt to this ‘new normal,’” the statement read.

According to the state website, COVID-19 data is reviewed weekly with tiers updated on Tuesdays. To move to a less restrictive tier, the county has to meet that tier’s requirements for two consecutive weeks. If a county’s new daily cases or testing positivity rate increases for two consecutive weeks, it will move to a more restrictive tier.

(Courtesy photo / State of California)

Last-Minute Deal for Renters Before Evictions Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media The clock was ticking as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers circled up to cut a deal to save the state from the wave of evictions they expect would happen when the state’s moratorium on evictions ends this week.

This past weekend, Gov. Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) reached agreement on Assembly Bill (AB) 3088.

AB 3088 bill would enact the COVID-19 “Small Landlord and Homeowner Relief Act of 2020 (called the “Homeowner Act” for short).

It would prevent mass evictions of California tenants who have not been able to pay their rents since March due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The agreement protects California renters with COVID-related economic hardship by eliminating the possibility of eviction from March 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021, so long as the tenant makes certain declarations and partial payments going forward. Tenants are still responsible for repaying unpaid rent eventually, but it can never be the basis of an eviction,” Newsom said in a written statement.

AB 3088 is co-authored by Assemblymembers David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) along with Senators Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas).

The governor said the agreement also protects small property owners from foreclosures by expanding the Homeowner Bill of Rights to cover adjustments like some mortgage forbearances on all properties from single-family

homes up to four units owned by small landlords.

Over 2.8 million Californians were unemployed in June and about 1 million renter households in the state have experienced a job loss as a result of the economic impacts of COVID-19, according to the Terner Center for Housing Innovation (TCHI).

According to TenantsTogether.org, more than 16 million people in California are renters, and 64% of California’s estimated 2.3 million African American population are people who pay to occupy housing they do not own, whether it’s an apartment or house.

Gov. Newsom first issued an executive order on March 27 banning the enforcement of evictions for renters affected

by COVID-19, and then extended that moratorium in early July until this week’s deadline. It prohibited landlords from removing tenants for non-payment of rent and halted evictions by law enforcement or courts. Proceedings to remove people who owe back rent are scheduled to resume Sept. 2.

Responding to thousands of comments from tenants who fear homelessness to small landlords who face losing their livelihoods or fear bankruptcy, the Judicial Council and California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye provided more time for the governor and the legislature to develop and enact policy that would give affected Californians a lifeline. Their intervention could prevent the state’s homelessness crisis from getting even worse and save the real estate investment business from crashing.

Toyin Dawodu, a property owner in Southern California, says his livelihood is being threatened by a renter who has “become a nuisance.”

The occupant in Dawodu’s four-bedroom home in Riverside County’s Cathedral City has not paid rent since November 2019, he told California Black Media (CBM).

But Dawodu says he has been making mortgage payments and home association fees, totaling north of $2,500 each month, for nearly a year now.

The renter was already living in the home when he purchased the property, according to Dawodu. After becoming the owner, he says he gave the person a legal 60day notice to vacate the home on Jan. 25 of this year. But then the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in the United States about a month later. Since the governor signed the

Free!

moratorium on evictions, Dawodu said he has still met his mortgage obligations, but he has not been able to evict the tenant.

Dawodu says any state legislation or federal order that protects renters has to include relief for landlords as well, arguing that people who rent houses help to strengthen local economies and ease the shortage of affordable housing in the state.

He told CBM the governor’s current executive order lumps all delinquent tenants into the same category with people who cannot afford to pay their rents due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Dawodu says he understands the dilemmas the coronavirus has caused and the disadvantaged people it affects. But his life and the well-being of this family have been altered, too. He doesn’t get funds to cover his expenses, he said.

“From my point of view, if the government wants to help people who cannot afford rent or are affected by COVID-19, commission immediately the reimbursement of landlords for the exact amount, and then they can pay the note for the tenant,” Dawodu said. “But right now, they are trying to create a law where the landlord is being asked to pay the note for years until the tenant can pay the landlord back, which is grossly unfair.”

The new bill, AB 3088, is a renegotiation of an older bill, AB 1436, which was viewed as an option for tenants to bypass paying rent payments without valid proof of being affected by COVID-19. AB 1436 would have also allowed renters to withhold payments until 2022, the California Apartment Association (CAA) asserted.

The CAA is the nation’s largest statewide trade group representing owners, investors, developers, managers, and suppliers of rental homes and apartment communities.

CAA worked with lawmakers to draw up AB 3088.

“We applaud the Legislature and governor for advancing legislation with protections for tenants truly harmed by COVID while ensuring that owners can evict nuisance tenants and residents who can afford to pay rent but choose to game the system instead,” said Tom Bannon, Chief Executive Officer of the CAA. “We will continue to work on proposals to help housing providers recoup lost rent in the near term. More must be done to help our mom-and-pop landlords.”

CA Considers Reparations for Slavery

By DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California lawmakers are setting up a task force to study and make recommendations for reparations to African Americans, particularly the descendants of slaves, as the nation struggles again with civil rights and unrest following the latest shooting of a Black man by police.

The state Senate supported creating the ninemember commission on a bipartisan 33-3 vote Saturday. The measure returns to the Assembly for a final vote before lawmakers adjourn for the year on Monday, though Assembly members overwhelmingly already approved an earlier version of the bill.

“Let’s be clear: Chattel slavery, both in California and across our nation, birthed a legacy of racial harm and inequity that continues to impact the conditions of Black life in California,’’ said Democratic Sen. Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles.

She cited disproportionate homelessness, unemployment, involvement in the criminal justice system, lower academic performance and higher health risks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Although California before the Civil War was officially a free state, Mitchell listed legal and judicial steps state officials took at the time to support slavery in Southern states while repressing Blacks.

The legislation would require the task force to conduct a detailed study of the impact of slavery in California and recommend to the Legislature by July 2023 the form of compensation that should be awarded, how it should be awarded, and who should be should be eligible for compensation.

The panel, which would start meeting no later than June 2021, could also recommend other forms of rehabilitation or redress.

In the last two years, Texas, New York, and Vermont have considered similar legislation, according to a legislative analysis. It said reparations could take the form of cash, housing assistance, lower tuition, forgiving student loans, job training or community investments, for instance.

Sen. Steven Bradford, a Democrat from Gardena who supported the bill, said he only wished it was more than a study.

He noted that Friday marked the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington and The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream’’ speech.

“If the 40 acres and a mule that was promised to free slaves were delivered to the descendants of those slaves today, we would all be billionaires,’’ Bradford said. “I hear far too many people say, `Well, I didn’t own slaves, that was so long ago.’ Well, you inherit wealth _ you can inherit the debt that you owe to African-Americans.”

Rep. Waters Applauds Decision

by Six NBA Teams to Boycott Playoff Games Following the Shooting of Jacob Blake LOS ANGELES – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), issued a statement today applauding the players of six NBA teams for deciding to sit out yesterday’s three playoff games following the shooting of Jacob Blake, the Kenosha Wisconsin father who was shot seven times in the back in front of his children by a Kenosha police officer.

“I commend the players of the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trailblazers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets for expressing their outrage, frustration and disgust at the violence which continues to be perpetrated by the police upon unarmed African Americans. These incidents, fueled by white supremacy and racism, have been happening for generations, only to be swept under the rug. It is only through the spotlight being shone upon them by high profile public figures, the tireless work of civil rights advocates, Black elected officials and the increased presence of cell phone video that our country is finally realizing how commonplace it is for Black people to fall victim to police violence.

“I am especially proud of individuals such as former NBA athlete, now sports analyst, Marques Johnson and Los Angeles Clippers coach “Doc” Rivers who have decided that “enough is enough” and are willing to show America how painful this injustice has been for its Black citizens by expressing their honest emotions of anguish and frustration. I also commend the players of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury for joining this boycott and not playing their games last night. The women athletes of the WNBA have long inspired us by their willingness to stand up to injustice day in and day out. I am hopeful that despite the great challenges we face, 2020 can be a watershed moment for America to finally and truly come to grips with its deeply rooted personal and institutional racism.

“Without shame, Mitch McConnell has buried the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in his legislative graveyard while Black families bury their loved ones who should still be with us. Instead of banning no-knock warrants and chokeholds that could have prevented the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and many others, Republicans would rather conduct studies and request data. To them I say: the data is the blood on the street. We don’t need data to validate what we experience. We need action and we need it now.”

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World & Nation THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Biden Campaign Launching National “Shop Talk” Series to Engage Black Men

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden has echoed the sentiments of many who are sickened by the repeated shootings by police of unarmed African Americans.

This week, Biden heaped praise on the Milwaukee Bucks and other National Basketball Association teams who are on the verge of canceling the rest of the season to stand against the violence.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, Biden’s campaigned announced it would launch a national “Shop Talk” series – a weekly roundtable to engage Black men. The inaugural segment takes place at 7 p.m. EST tonight.

It features Biden Campaign Co-Chair Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), actor Terrence J, hip-hop icon Jermaine Dupri, AllHipHop.com CEO Chuck Creekmur, and attorney Bakari Sellers.

Gaulien “Gee” Smith, a Wisconsin small business owner, will host the event, and guests will participate in a roundtable focused on issues impacting Black men around the nation.

During the discussion, participants will have an opportunity to hear from Wisconsin residents about the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, and the impact it has had on their communities, said Kamau Marshall, the director of Strategic Communications for the Biden campaign.

“We always strive for authenticity when engaging our key constituency groups by meeting people where they are and facilitating spaces for empowering and forwardlooking discussions,” Marshall told NNPA Newswire.

He added that “Shop Talk” counts among the new Biden-Harris coalition programs created for Black men, and led by Director of African American Engagement Trey Baker.

“To have that space is an example of how our campaign is bringing like minds together to stand up for the issues they care about the most,” Marshall continued.

“By selecting a state to anchor the conversation each week, we’re confident that these gatherings will energize

more Black men to support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – the candidates that will undoubtedly champion their safety, economic prosperity and physical and mental well-being.”

Following the police shooting of Blake, whose three small sons were inside the vehicle in which cops opened

Scan over this photo using your “Observer Interactive” App to RSVP. (Courtesy Photo)

fire, Biden expressed his dismay while also cautioning that violence wasn’t the answer.

“Once again, a Black man – Jacob Blake – was shot by the police. In front of his children,” Biden stressed. “It makes me sick. Is this the country we want to be? Needless violence won’t heal us. We need to end the violence – and peacefully come together to demand justice.”

The Milwaukee Bucks, whose home arena is about 40 miles from Kenosha, decided not to take the court for a playoff game on Wednesday. The team said it’s not a boycott, but a stand against unarmed African Americans’ repeated shootings by law enforcement officers.

The NBA and WNBA decided to cancel games, while some Major League Baseball teams also chose not to play on Wednesday. Both the NBA and WNBA reportedly are on the verge of canceling the rest of their season to show unity with protesters and stand against the epidemic of police shootings of unarmed African Americans.

“This moment demands moral leadership. And these players answered by standing up, speaking out, and using their platform for good. Now is not the time for silence,” Biden said. The Democrat has also called for an immediate, full and transparent investigation.

“The officers must be held accountable,” Biden demanded. “These shots pierce the soul of our nation. Jill and I pray for Jacob’s recovery and for his children.”

Biden continued: “Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism. It is the urgent task before us. We must fight to honor the ideals laid in the original American promise, which we are yet to attain: That all men and women are created equal, but more importantly, that they must be treated equally.”

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COVID-19 is 3rd Leading Cause of Death Among Blacks

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent America’s economic situation has substantially deteriorated since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, and families across race and ethnicity feel the pain, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution, which notes that the coronavirus now stands as the third leading cause

of death among African Americans.

“If I told you on January 1 that a new virus that we did not even know about would, in August, be the third leading cause of death for Black Americans, our hair should have been set on fire and we would have an extensive public policy response to this unprecedented pandemic,” noted Trevon Logan, professor of economics at the Ohio State

Families across race and ethnicity are feeling the pain, but African Americans are generally in an even weaker position to absorb this economic adversity. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

University.

Logan co-authored the report titled, “The Hamilton Project, Racial Economic Inequality Amid the COVID-19 Crisis,” with Bradley L. Hardy of the American University in Northwest, Washington D.C. “In 2020, more Black Americans will die of COVID-19 than will succumb to diabetes, strokes, accidents, or pneumonia. In fact, COVID-19 is currently the third leading cause of death for African Americans,” Logan and Hardy concluded.

Among the reasons for the disparity is that African Americans are more than twice as likely as the average worker to be employed in the healthcare support service industry, which has been decimated by COVID-19 in assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

African Americans are also significantly overrepresented in the personal care and service and food preparation industries, which are disproportionately essential worker industries, the authors discovered.

“Black Americans also comprise more than a quarter of the meatpacking industry’s frontline workforce, which has seen several outbreaks of COVID-19. Among those out of the labor force, the outbreak of the virus among the incarcerated has a disproportionate racial impact as well, given the overrepresentation of African Americans in the prison population,” Logan and Hardy wrote.

Additionally, on average, African Americans share their living quarters with more people. While only 48 percent of white households have three or more members, more than 58 percent of Black households do, the authors noted, citing a 2013 Pew Research Center study.

“This increases the scope for exposure to COVID-19 in living quarters for Black households. For nearly all of the health conditions that increase the likelihood of serious COVID-19 complications, African Americans have higher rates of prevalence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Logan and Hardy said.

For example, African Americans are more likely to have cancer, be obese, have diabetes, and have kidney disease relative to white Americans. African Americans also

26 Missing Children Recovered in U.S. Marshal Operation

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent In 2018, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) launched a series on the plight of missing children of color – focusing primarily on missing Black girls. The series, which continues with regular updates, included the development of partnerships with several organizations that focus on educating the public about missing children across the U.S. According to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit’s “Operation Not Forgotten” resulted in the rescue of 26 children in Georgia, the safe location of 13 children and the arrest of nine criminal associates.

The U.S. Marshals Service did not identify the rescued children, but because of their action, the children are safe, and their families are relieved.

“These were some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area, based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions,” officials noted in the news release.

The operation was completed in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals’ Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, along with Georgia state and local agencies.

Not Forgotten The U.S. Marshals Service did not identify the rescued children, but because of their action, the children are safe, and their families are relieved. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

Investigators filed 26 arrest warrants and additional

charges for allegations including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, registered sex offender violations, drugs and weapons possession and custodial interference.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is fully committed to assisting federal, state, and local agencies with locating and recovering endangered missing children, in addition to their primary fugitive apprehension mission,” Donald Washington, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, stated in the release.

“The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you.”

In 2019, the USMS helped locate 295 missing children after requests for assistance from law enforcement and contributed to the recovery of a missing child in 75 percent of cases received. The news released noted that, of the missing children recovered, 66 percent were recovered within seven days of the USMS assisting with the case.

“When we track down fugitives, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting the bad guy behind bars. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child,” Darby Kirby, Chief of the Missing Child Unit, added in the news release.

“It’s hard to put into words what we feel when we rescue a missing child, but I can tell you that this operation has impacted every single one of us out here. We are working to protect them and get them the help they need.”

IN MEMORIAM: Chadwick Boseman Continued from page A1

York, teaching at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture while cutting his teeth on small roles on shows like Law & Order, Third Watch, ER and Lie to Me, eventually landing recurring roles on Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown.

It was Boseman’s turn as Jackie Robinson that cemented his film star status and his performance as T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther, that catapulted him to superstardom. Black Panther grew beyond the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Boseman, who hails from Anderson South Carolina, gave moviegoers a king who was stoic, powerful and captivating as he led warriors with love, intellect and strategy as they fought to maintain control of their powerful, technologically superior nation, ripe for poaching by outsiders.

Much like the Gullah culture of his home state, Boseman was able to effortlessly blend African and American culture to help create a fantastical world on screen that was inspirational and recognizable. Boseman

led an all-star cast including Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Sterling Brown, Winston Duke and Academy awardwinning actors Lupita Nyong’o and Forrest Whitaker, holding his own and fortifying his status as a Hollywood superstar.

Boseman, who also appeared as T’Challa/Black Panther in Avengers Infinity War and Avengers: End Game, starred in and produced the films 21 Bridges, Marshall and Message from the King, which he served as Executive Producer. At the time of his death, Boseman was in preproduction as producer on Yasuke, a film about the world’s first Black Samurai in which Boseman was slated to star.

In addition to acting and producing, Boseman was also an activist and philanthropist supporting social justice initiatives like Michelle Obama’s #WhenWeAllVote and celebrating fellow Bison Kamala Harris’ history making selection as the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee for the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, which was his last

Twitter post before his death.

In 2018, the wonderkind performer delivered a powerful commencement speech at Howard University encouraging students to rise above traumatic experiences and applauding their campus activism. Boseman, who was mentored by fellow Howard University alum Phylicia Rashad and helped financially by Denzel Washington as a student donated $100,000 to #Change4Change, which supports HBCUs in November 2019.

The private public figure spent time visiting children suffering from cancer at St. Jude’s Research Center. In April 2020, the actor donated $4.2 million worth of PPE equipment to hospitals serving Black communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The youngest of four, Boseman is survived by his parents Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, siblings Kevin, Dionne and Derrick and wife Taylor Simone Ledward.

Boseman was 43.

have higher rates of lung disease than White Americans, which is particularly pertinent for respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.

Death rates among African Americans due to diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity are all higher than among White Americans, according to the CDC. The authors summarized the report by noting that America’s economic situation has substantially deteriorated since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the gross domestic product fell at an annualized rate of 32.9 percent from April to the end of June 2020. It’s the most significant decline on record.

Families across race and ethnicity are feeling the pain, but African Americans are generally in an even weaker position to absorb this economic adversity, the authors said.

Further, Black families face a range of economic risks without the buffer from stable employment, adequate earnings, or sufficient savings and wealth accumulation.

“Amid substantial economic and policy uncertainty, there is the potential for this crisis to have negative, longterm economic and educational consequences. COVID-19 has exposed and further highlighted existing racial inequality across economic and health status,” the authors wrote.

They continued: “As a result, these preexisting factors have left many Black families at greater risk to bear the consequences of this historic economic crisis. Inadequate, additional federal economic relief, such as legislation that does not provide enough unemployment assistance and supplements to the safety net, potentially threatens Black families’ economic security.

“Ultimately, robust, reliable fiscal policy responses to the crisis will help to reduce the negative impacts of the pandemic on families. If the economic and public health crisis continues at its current pace, many American families will require such assistance, including a disproportionate share of Black families.”

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Features Family Announces Private Funeral Service for Hon. Gwen Moore Thursday, September 3, 2020

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A3

Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media A private homegoing celebration for the Hon. Gwen Moore is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Angelus Funeral Home in Los Angeles, her family has announced.

Immediately following the funeral service, the internment, open to the public, will take place at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood. Moore, 79, who passed away on Aug. 19, served as a California lawmaker from 1978 to 1994.

“Assemblymember Moore was an icon of the legislature,” said Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles).

“She was a powerful advocate, dedicated public servant, and exceptional leader. Knowing her was an honor.”

Moore’s colleagues praise her for introducing and rallying support for a number of groundbreaking California laws that made an impact way beyond the borders of the state. Some of them inspired similar legislation across the country. Moore was responsible for writing over 400 bills that were signed into law while she was a member of the California legislature.

One initiative she spearheaded that stands out -- particularly among Black and other minority business owners -- is General Order 156, commonly called “G-O 156.” It was enacted by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 1988. The rule requires state utilities to extend outreach efforts to diverse businesses, providing them contracting opportunities.

By standing up that state supplier diversity program and requiring its enforcement, Moore ensured that utility outlets across the state kept track of how many contracts they awarded to companies owned by people of color, women, and servicedisabled veterans. Black-owned businesses were finally able to secure lucrative state contracts.

Every fall after that, the outlets have had to report their contracting information to the CPUC in writing, and in person before the full commission.

Carolyn Veal-Hunter, now a top lobbyist in the state who has worked as a governmental affairs consultant for many Fortune 500 companies, shared her thoughts about working with Moore professionally and personally.

“I had the opportunity to work with Gwen Moore as a principal consultant to the utilities and commerce committee during the implementation of GO 156,” said Veal-Hunter.

“Gwen trained me to be one of the best consultants in the building at that time and trusted me to help implement her vision. Ms. Moore is responsible for countless number of women and minority employees who climbed the ranks within the utilities as well as several in the lobbying and consulting world.”

Moore’s advocacy led to the lifting of financial burdens and the opening of doors for African Americans in many arenas across the state. She focused her efforts on bills related to parental and family leave, adoption, private club discrimination, public utilities, telecommunications, and transportation.

She gained national prominence in 1983 for authoring the Moore Universal Telephone Service Act, also known as the Moore Act. The bill requires the state’s Public Utilities Commission to provide low-income households with access to affordable telephone service.

“Among her many accomplishments, she was a professor, an expert on policy issues, including utilities and telecommunications, and the founder of her own company,” U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) said of Moore after her passing. “Her work made California a better place and helped countless people.”

During the virtual “2020 Salute to Black Women Empowerment Summit,” hosted by the Black Business Association on Aug. 26, the group shared a video of Moore

offering some advice while reminiscing about her experiences in the California legislature.

“In moving your agenda, you had to have a certain amount of power. And when leadership begins to develop, you develop your expertise and people will respect you for what you know.

Knowledge can give you the control that you need. That’s how you make a difference. Learn your issues. Become known as someone who’s knowledgeable,” Moore said.

On Aug. 20, after learning about Moore’s passing, Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D - Los Angeles) referred to Moore as a “powerhouse” on Twitter.

“She opened the door for the next generation of Black female politicians in CA, including myself. This is an immeasurable loss.

I’m filled with sorrow,” tweeted Mitchell, who chairs the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.

Moore’s rise to political fame started with humble beginnings in Los Angeles. Born Oct. 28, 1940, she graduated from California State University Los Angeles, and then received a teaching certificate from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Later, Moore served as a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer, an administrator with the federally funded Manpower and Development Training Program, and director of public affairs for the Los Angeles Community Action Agency, according to the California State Archives.

In 1975, Moore started her political career after being elected to the board of the Los Angeles Community College District.

In 1978, she successfully ran for the California Assembly in the 49th district (it later became the 47th district after redistricting), representing parts of southwest Los Angeles.

“When I received the news of the Honorable Gwen Moore’s passing, I was devastated,” said Karen Camper, President of the National Association of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women. “She was also a woman who modeled what it means to be a Black woman dedicated to public service. Gwen Moore, along with the other phenomenal founders of NOBEL Women, had the foresight and vision to know the importance of creating spaces for our leadership. I will always remember her enthusiasm and her willingness to serve.”

In the legislature, Moore was a passionate advocate for family and children. She introduced eight major bills that extended unpaid family and parental leave for California workers up to four months.

In 1994, Moore resigned from the California State Assembly to run for Secretary of State. Although she didn’t win that race, Moore began to pursue other opportunities outside of elected office that influenced state policy and impacted the lives of people.

Moore founded a Los Angeles-based legislative consulting company called GeM Communications Group.

She counseled numerous clients regarding public utilities and telecommunications issues. In that role, Moore also helped to develop and implement public affairs and legislative strategies as well as community outreach programs.

Sen. Steven Bradford (D - Gardena) tweeted that Moore was a “guiding star” after the Senate adjourned on Aug. 24. Bradford, who represents the 35th Senate District, was the chairperson for the Assembly Utilities and Commerce committee, a seat Moore once held as a lawmaker.

“She was a friend and mentor. I appreciate all she shared with me as an elected official and chair of U&C,” the Senator said, expressing gratitude to Moore for blazing a political path for him and others.

Legal Notices More Professionals Could Remain

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER 20CMCP00099 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT OFFICE 200 W COMPTON BLVD. COMPTON, CA 90220 PETITION OF: IDRIS JOHN MENDOZA BY AND THROUGH MOTHER, OSIRIS LEONELA BAIDE MENDOZA TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: IDRIS JOHN MENDOZA BY AND THROUGH MOTHER, OSIRIS LEONELA BAIDE MENDOZA for a decree changing names as follows: Present name IDRIS JOHN MENDOZA Filed a petition with this court Proposed name IDRIS JONATHAN MENDOZA THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Oct 20, 2020 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept: A Room: 904 The address of the court is: Same as noted above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER Date: Aug 11, 2020 MAURICE A. LEITEA JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT RICHARD MARQUEZ DEPUTY IDRIS JOHN MENDOZA BY AND THROUGH MOTHER, OSIRIS LEONELA BAIDE MENDOZA 1275 E. 126th St. Los Angeles, Ca. 90059 Phone: (323) 972-9829 E-Mail: LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Aug 20, 27, Sept 3, 10, 2020

Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES ST THE END IOF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Aug 6, 2025 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Aug 20, 27, Sept 3, 10, 2020

������������������������������� FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2020119694 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: MAMA DEE’S FYE POPCORN at 901 Irolo St. Apt 103, Los Angeles, Ca. 90006 Mailing Address: Same County: LA REGISTERED OWNERS(S): SHANARA SANDERS, 901 Irolo St. Apt 103, Los Angeles, Ca. 90006 The business is conducted by: an Individual SIGNED: SHANARA SANDERS, Owner The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 01/2020 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Aug 6, 2020 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: (No Name),

�������������������������������

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER 20NWCP00204 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES NORWALK SUPERIOR COURT 12720 Norwalk Blvd., Rm. 10 Norwalk, Ca. 90650 PETITION OF: ALONDRA GISELLE OROZCO AND ANGEL ISRAEL TOMEZ ESQUIVEL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ALONDRA GISELLE OROZCO AND ANGEL ISRAEL TOMEZ ESQUIVEL for a decree changing names as follows: Present name JOSEPH OROZCO TOMEZ Filed a petition with this court Proposed name JOSEPH OROZCO TOMEZ THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Oct 19, 2020 Time: 10:30 a.m.

Dept: C Room: The address of the court is: Same as noted above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER Date: Aug 21, 2020 (Not legiable signature) JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT SHERRI R. CARTER DEPUTY ALONDRA GISELLE OROZCO AND ANGEL ISRAEL TOMEZ ESQUIVEL 138 E 59th St. Loong Beach, Ca. 90805 Phone: (562) 513-9287 E-Mail: alondraorozco@gmail.com LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Aug 27, Sept 3, 10, 17, 2020

Contractors Under New AB 5 Exemptions Quinci LeGardye California Black Media After months of protests and tough negotiations with representatives from various industries, California lawmakers have released an updated list of professions that could be exempted from AB 5, the controversial worker re-classification law that went into effect Jan 1.

AB 2257, a new bill that revises some Labor Code sections affected by AB 5, will exempt artists, appraisers, insurance field representatives and youth sports coaches, allowing them to work as independent contractors. This is in addition to previous exemptions made for musicians, writers, photographers, tutors, interpreters and other industries.

AB 2257 is backed by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who authored AB 5 and has been its primary advocate.

“We have utilized the reasoning in Dynamex, existing case law, and all of the provisions of workers comp and the [Unemployment Insurance] code developed over the last 40 years to try to create a framework for employment in California. We are confident that legitimate [independent contractors] will be able to work as such” said Gonzalez in a Aug. 27 tweet.

Assemblymember Christy Smith (D-Santa Clarita), co-author of AB 2257, said, “These clarifications to AB5 create additional industry specific pathways for people to work independently and prevent abuses that hurt workers and small business.”

Under AB 5, companies must determine whether their workers are employees according to criteria known as the “ABC” test. Workers can only be classified as independent contractors if A) Their work is free from control of the hiring entity B) They perform work that is outside the Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) speaks at a rally after her measure to limit when companies hiring entity’s usual course of business, and C) They have can label workers as independent contractors was approved by a Senate committee July 10.(Rich Pedroncelli an independent business. / Associated Press) AB 5 has been challenged by various industries since it was introduced as a bill. Truck drivers won an injunction classify their drivers as employees. The judge later paused exempt the companies from AB 5 restrictions if voters that prevented AB 5 from being enforced for their industry the injunction after the companies threatened to stop approve it in November.

If Gov. Newsom signs AB 2257 into law, it would take on Jan. 16. Recently, a California Superior Court judge operating in California.

Uber and Lyft have also funded a ballot measure along effect immediately. ruled that rideshare companies Uber and Lyft must with other rideshare and delivery companies that would

Legendary Coach Big John Thompson Passes

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer John Thompson Jr. passed away this week at the age of 78.

He was a disciplinary basketball coach that got the best out of all his players and molded them into men. He was the first black coach to win a National title.

Thompson coached at Georgetown from 1972 to 1999 and led the Hoyas to the 1984 NCAA championship with Patrick Ewing. He compiled an all-time record of 596–239 and reached three Final Fours in his 27 seasons as a coach.

Thomson played collegiately at Providence College then went on to play for the Boston Celtics backing up Hall of Famer Bill Russell. He played on NBA title teams in 1965 and 1966.

He took over the head coaching job at Georgetown in 1971.

While there he coached future Hall of Famers including Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Allen Iverson. His players not only excelled on but also off the court. He had a 97 percent graduation rate among his players.

Current Providence College coach Ed Cooley released a statement: “Thompson was a pioneer whose impact extended far beyond basketball. His message was always real and authentic, as his passion was helping people to be better… as a mentor he taught me about fit and loyalty and I will always be grateful for the doors he opened up for so many black coaches. My heart is heavy today it was an honor to have known him.”

At 6-10 he towered over players, coaches, and officials and at times he used it to his advantage. During one game an official ejected a Georgetown player. Thompson was irate screaming and yelling at the official he then called time out. After the timeout was over the payer that was ejected was back on the floor and finished the game.

He was known as a stern coach and always had his players prepared. ”When you played against his team you had to be ready for high intensity,’ said PJ Carlesimo a former rival head coach from Seaton Hall.

In the early eighties he along with Dave Gavitt (Providence College), Mike Tranghese, and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) helped

form The Big East conference.

It was THE Conference in America to watch basketball.

BIG EAST Mondays drew millions of viewers on ESPN. It was the only game in town. They got the best players from all over the country. It was fast pace physical basketball they played in Big arenas. Places like Madison Square Garden in New York, The Spectrum in Philadelphia, The Capitol Center in Washington

D.C., and The Carrier Dome Syracuse.

In 1985 three of the final four teams in the NCAA tourney were from the BIG EAST- Villanova, Georgetown, St Johns were joined by Memphis. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of fame in 2006.

Thompson retired from coaching during the 1998–1999 season. His son, John Thompson III, went on to win 278 games as a head coach from 2004 to 2017.

A4

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Entertainment

Thursday, September 3, 2020

The California Towns where Blacks Feared Sundown Quinci LeGardye California Black Media In the Aug. 16 premiere of the HBO show “Lovecraft Country,” created by Misha Green and based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff, the main characters drive past a sign that reads “[N-word]s, don’t let the sun set on you here.

Understand?” Towns that banned African Americans in the mid-20th century would, either formally or informally, put up intimidating signs like that at the town limits to remind Blacks passing through that they were not welcome.

These places, known commonly as “sundown towns,” existed across the nation. Many of them were here in California, too.

The memory of sundown towns re-entered our collective cultural conscience recently as incidents of police brutality have pushed people to speak out against racism. The book “Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism,” written by sociologist James W. Loewen, was originally published in 2005. In the preface of the re-printed 2018 edition, Loewen noted that while sundown towns are on the decline, some former sundown towns have shifted from overt to systemic racism through policies such as “Driving While Black policing.” He cites the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., as an example.

There is widespread misconception that sundown towns were mostly concentrated in the Deep South and Midwest, as depicted in Lovecraft Country’s first episode of the series, which was set along the highway route from Chicago to Massachusetts.

But similar numbers of sundown towns existed in the West as well, including in California up until the mid-20th century. The national sundown town database on Loewen’s website lists 112 possible sundown towns in California. These towns are categorized on the website as either possible, probable, or surely, as it is difficult to categorize “sundown towns” because of varying degrees of explicitness in their approaches to discouraging African American and other non-White visitors.

California cities classified as “surely” sundown towns on Loewen’s website include Brea, Chico, Culver City, El Segundo, Fresno, Glendale, Hawthorne, La Jolla, Palmdale, San Marino and Taft. Cities that are now majority Black and Brown, including Compton and Inglewood in Southern California, previously barred Black residents. The list also includes some entire counties as surely sundown in the past.

Evidence listed on Loewen’s website includes census records and anecdotes submitted by citizens or discovered through research. The anecdotes listed include alleged cross burnings and other threats towards Black homeowners, and alleged expulsions of entire ethnic groups. Though many sundown towns have strong oral histories, with residents and locals confirming their existence, sundown ordinances were usually not part of a city’s records.

Loewen wrote, “I read at least 300 local histories -- some of them elaborate coffee table books -- about towns whose sundown histories I had confirmed via detailed oral histories, but only about 1 percent of these mentioned their town’s racial policies. In conversation, however, the authors of these commemorative histories were often more forthcoming, showing that they knew about the policy but

(Courtesy from HBO publicity shot.)

didn’t care to disclose it in print.”

In her book Wandering in Strange Lands, author Morgan Jerkins spoke with a woman named Rachelle, who shared her memories of sundown towns in Los Angeles County. “I can remember when a black person had better not go to Glendale or Culver City and be there after five o’clock.”

In addition to African Americans, other ethnic groups were also excluded from cities. In 1885, about 320 Chinese Americans were expelled from Eureka, Calif., after a Chinese man accidentally shot a city councilman. According to an article in the North Coast Journal, multiple towns around Eureka followed suit, and Chinese Americans were expelled from an estimated 40 communities in Northern

California in 1885 and 1886.

According to the Chapter 14 of Loewen’s book, “Sundown Towns Today,” California has integrated its communities more than other states with historic sundown towns, with many cities eliminating discriminatory laws and removing warning signs.

In 2017, the National League of Cities (NLC) announced a collaboration with the Center for Social Inclusion to help local government officials advance racial equity in their cities. The mission of NLC’s Race Equity and Leadership Initiative is to “strengthen the knowledge and capacity of local elected officials to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial tensions and build more equitable communities,” according to their website.

However, racial animosity still exists as shown by the multiple Black Lives Matter protests that have occurred in the state since May. In a time of civil unrest and calls for revolution, history is revealing and asserting itself.

“Sundown towns have never gone away,” wrote Jerkins in a recent article. “As long as Black people have stories of what has happened to them or others for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and as long as White people terrorize Black people who move into their neighborhoods, or create laws to restrict them from living there in the first place, sundown towns will always be a part of the fabric of American culture.”

Oprah & Ava: OWN Spotlight:

Culture Connection & August 28th

The special features Oprah Winfrey as she speaks separately with both acclaimed director Ava DuVernay and Rev. Al Sharpton regarding the historical context of August 28th and the significance of the upcoming election, along with a special presentation of DuVernay’s short film “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People.”

By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor LOS ANGELES – Continuing conversations surrounding issues impacting Black lives, “OWN Spotlight: Culture Connection & August 28th, Ava DuVernay & Rev. Sharpton,” which originally aired Friday, August 28 at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET/PT on OWN, will stream for free on the Watch OWN app and the OWN Facebook and Youtube pages.

The special features Oprah Winfrey as she speaks separately with both acclaimed director Ava DuVernay and Rev. Al Sharpton regarding the historical context of August 28th and the significance of the upcoming election, along with a special presentation of DuVernay’s short film “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People.”

During the special, Winfrey speaks with DuVernay about the work she is doing in support of social justice, how she uses history to inform her activism, and how imperative it is for everyone to vote in the upcoming election. Winfrey later discusses with Rev. Al Sharpton the connection of the ‘Get Off Our Necks’ Commitment March which took place on the same day as the historic March on Washington 57 years ago. Rev. Sharpton shares ways that everyone can show their support in this moment, reiterating his intention for the march is not about numbers but long-term impact.

The interviews bookend DuVernay’s scripted shortfilm entitled “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People,” starring Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Regina King, David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, André Holland, Michael Ealy and Glynn Turman.

DuVernay uses a robust combination of both documentary and narrative techniques to transport viewers through six stunning historical moments that all actually occurred on the same day – August 28th - in various years.

Written, produced and directed by DuVernay, “August 28” traverses a century of black progress, protest, passion and

perseverance of African American people.

The project gives historical perspective within the creative framework of one date that has had a profound effect on America including: the passing of The Slavery Abolition Act on August 28, 1833, the lynching of Emmett Till on August 28, 1955, the first radio airplay from Motown Records on August 28, 1961 with The Marvelettes “Please Mr Postman,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech during the massive March on Washington on August 28, 1963, Hurricane Katrina making its tragic landfall on August 28, 2005 and thenSenator Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for the presidency on August 28, 2008.

The film was lensed by cinematographer Malik Sayeed and edited by Oscar nominee Spencer Averick. Ten-time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello composed the score. Paul Garnes produced, with co-producers Tilane Jones and Tammy Garnes.

This special is part of OWN’s overall OWN YOUR VOTE initiative, a bipartisan registration and get-outthe-vote campaign partnering with national and local grassroots and voting rights organizations to provide tools and resources that will empower Black women to vote this November. Black women powerfully influence election outcomes, and OWN YOUR VOTE supports this group of voters to show up to the polls and help friends, family, and their community to do the same. Winfrey recently shared that OWN will grant November 3rd as a company holiday to ensure all employees have the time to vote and volunteer. “I challenge other companies to do the same because this might be the most important election of our lives,” Winfrey said in her social post.

“OWN Spotlight: Culture Connection & August 28th, Ava DuVernay & Rev. Sharpton” is produced

by OWN. The executive producers are Oprah Winfrey and Tara Montgomery.

Sports

Thursday, September 3, 2020

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A5

Dodgers Win During Turbulent Week

Mookie Betts leads the Dodgers in several offensive categories. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer It’s halfway through the shortened MLB season and the LA Dodgers have had another good week. However the week was highlighted by the all-sports protest due to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Mookie Betts is the lone African-American on the Dodger roster. He decided he could not play under the circumstances and his teammates joined him.

“As a white player on this team how can we show support,” stated Clayton Kershaw. “What is something we can do to help our Black brothers on the team? Once Mookie said he wasn’t going to play we felt the best thing to do to support them was not playing.”

The protest started with the Milwaukee Bucks then spread through out sports. The NBA, WNBA, MLS and some NFL teams shut down.

The Dodgers were scheduled to play the Giants at Oracle Park, but the game was postponed and rescheduled to a doubleheader the following day. Betts was willing to sit out again but according to manager Dave Roberts he spoke with other players around the league and they felt it better to play and use the platform instead of sitting out.

In game one Betts let his presence be known from the beginning. He walked and scored the games first run. Later in the sixth inning he collected his 1,000th career hit. Austin Barnes had a two-run double.

AJ Pollack hit a two-run homer to cap the scoring for the visitors in a 7-0 win. Kershaw (4-1) needed just 86 pitches with four strikeouts, four hits and no walks tossing six shutout innings.

When the Dodgers score four or more runs Kershaw has a 121-1 record his era is 1.86. Josh Sborz pitched the seventh…In game two the bullpen handled the pitching as Caleb Ferguson, Victor Gonzales and Brusdar Grateral held the Giants hitless until the fifth. In all seven pitchers combined for two-hit shut-out. On Jackie Robinson weekend which was suppose to take place April

15th all major league players wore the number 42. This is the 75th anniversary Robinson broke baseballs color barrier.

The Dodgers took two of three from the Rangers in Texas. In a 6-2 game one loss in Corey Seager and Justin Turner had back to back RBI hits as the dodgers went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Shin Soo Choo and Nick Solak knocked in two runs each for the home team. Dustin May pitched well again he has not given up more than two runs in any start this season. He went six innings striking out three.

GAME TWO: Max Muncy Cody Bellinger hit their 9th a two run homer of the season. Muncy had four RBI’s to lead the Men in Blue to a 7-2 victory. Betts walked three times. Black Trenin (3-1) got the win in relief while Kenley Jansen (9) got the save.

GAME THREE: The Dodgers scored often with at least one run in the first four innings Betts, Corey Seager and Gavin Lux led an 11-hit attack with 2 hits apiece. Seager, Will Smith and Cody Bellinger all hit homeruns in a 7-2 Dodger win. The three help set a MLB team record for the most homers in a month August (57) by a team. Scott Alexander (2-0) got the win.

DODGER NOTES: The Dodgers have won their last 8 of 10 games and 26-10 (at press time) to have the best record in baseball. Earlier this week they traded Pitcher Ross Stripling to the Blue Jays for three player to be named later… Mookie Betts contract extension is paying off as he leads the team in Runs (27), Homers (11), RBI (26) stolen bases (6). Corey Seager leads the team in batting with a.311 Avg. Pitchers Rookie right-handed pitchers Tony Gonsolin and Dustin may are 5 and 6 in Rookie Power Ratings. Gonsolin has pitched 17 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts. May has a 2.83 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 35 innings.

ADD MLB: The Players Alliance-a group of more than 100 African-American past and present MLB players. They announced active players will donate the game salaries from Jackie Robinson Day games to the organization. The proceed will go to their “efforts to fight racial inequality and aid black families and communities deeply effected in the wake of recent events.”

Dodgers Rookie Dustin May is 6th in the MLB Rookie Power Ranking. He has a 2.83 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 35 innings. He has yet to give up more than 2 runs in a start. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)

Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers Shares His Influence on NBA Players in the Orlando Bubble

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers addressed the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the current Republican National Convention during a media briefing. CNN’s Jim Sciutto speaks with ESPN host LZ Granderson about the emotional moment.(Photo: CNN)

CHARGERS WEEKLY CHAPTER

3

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com To close out their second full week of Training Camp, Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn thought it would be a good idea to get the team familiar with their new digs, at SoFi stadium in Inglewood. Having been there previously he felt it would be a good thing if the players and staff figured a route to the stadium, found the stadium parking lot, and see their new locker room before them taking the field for the first time for a live game week 2 for the season.

In wake of the Milwaukee Bucks leading a boycott of their NBA playoff game in the Orlando bubble, in response to the shooting of another unarmed Black man by the Kenosha, Wisconsin police department. Multiple professional sports teams decided to protest/boycott games of their own in tribute to Jacob Blake and the suffering he and his family has been through. After a long, heartfelt team meeting, the Chargers decided to forego their scheduled inner squad scrimmage.

Once they decided not to practice on August 27th Coach Lynn spoke to the local media.

Lynn: We got accomplished, what I wanted to accomplish!

Guys came parked in their parking spots. Got to see the locker room, go out and walk the field. But we decided to have a team meeting in the locker room, and after that team meeting, I felt this was the time to practice Buford: What about the action items they plan on implementing here in the immediate future?

Lynn: We’ve been working on these plans for a long time, we’ve been working with foundations now, to do certain things in the community; Just to help level the playing for certain people in the black and brown community. But today, we just need to talk and get some things off al chest, before we can move forward. We do have plans of action that our own will help us with In much more pressing news, on this past Tuesday, the Chargers have lost their All-Pro Safety Derwin James for an indefinite amount of time. As James’ got up slowly after making a tackle during practice then he walked gingerly to the medical tent for further evaluation. The Chargers did put out a statement Monday on Twitter confirming that it was a right knee injury that James’ suffered.

After Coach Lynn made a statement about James’ injury, he shied away from discussing that topic, though a couple of reporters pressed the issue on the injuries the team has faced over the past couple days and here’s how those interactions went; Reporter: I also wanted to ask about Justin Jackson, Trai

Turner, Darius Jennings; they all got looked at by the medical team during the scrimmage…?

Lynn: That’s training camp. A lot of people get looked at, hell I got looked at a couple of days ago by the medical people.

They are no more bumps and bruises than anyone else.

Reporter: A week ago you mentioned that you guys weren’t inquiring about Earl Thomas, has that changed, he’s obviously a guy who knows your defensive system pretty well.

Lynn: We got a lot of guys here in this camp that know our system really well. Since you guys are consistently telling me how stacked we are in the secondary; why the hell would we look anywhere else?

Buford: You talked about helping the players get registered to vote last week are you aware of the percentage of players registered to vote on the team currently?

Lynn: I am not aware of the percentage of players who are registered to vote, but I’m pretty sure when that time comes just about all of them will be. That’s been something they pushed, that’s been something they want. Some of the players have come to me and said should we open up the stadium, so the public could come and vote. These guys are getting creative with ideas of how they want to get involved a make a difference.

Buford: Looking at the scrimmage from yesterday (Sunday, August 30th), would you talk to us about Joshua Kelley and where he is?” You mentioned a couple of weeks ago that ‘his head was swimming.’ Does he look any better, he looked good to me, what about for you?

Lynn: Some guys, when the lights go on, they show up and Josh is one of those guys. I didn’t like how he mishandled the quarterback exchange down in the red zone and put the ball on the ground. Other than that, I thought Josh had a solid practice yesterday.

When challenged by the media this past week Coach showed a comedic side that I hadn’t seen previously. As serious as the Derwin James injury appears to be, I hope for his team’s sake that he’s able to keep the guys loose and playing at a high level.

If not, their season could be over even before it actually begins; simply put that’s just what James means to the squad.

Each week you can expect to receive additional installments of Chargers Weekly, so be on the lookout for the next chapter of this periodical. Also, feel free to make your suggestions on what you would like to see discussed in future weeks. Send all suggestions to info@whatsgoodinsports.com or tweet us at @ whatsgoodnsport. I look forward to hearing from each of you Los Angeles Chargers fans in the coming weeks.

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com Last week was a monumental week for the NBA. The Jacob Blake shooting incident, where he was shot 7 times in the back by Kenosha, Wisconsin Police Department has reverberated across the professional sports landscape. This situation prompted the Milwaukee Bucks to boycott their NBA Playoff Game 5 against the Orlando Magic. This incident also caught the attention of their peers in the NBA, WNBA, MLB, and the NFL. While the NBA has been combating COVID-19 in their return to play on Orlando, they also wanted to bring attention to the social injustices, police brutality, and racial discrimination.

Not only did the NBA paint Blacks Lives Matter on each of the floors in the NBA bubble, but they also partnered with the players to print various messages on the back of their uniforms. However, the players didn’t feel this was enough using the recent shooting in Milwaukee.

A few short months ago, the murder of George Floyd raised some eyebrows in the Black Community. Then this recent shooting of Jacob Blake tugged on the heartstrings of the country.

Doc Rivers, Head Coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, was one of those deeply touched by this incident and expressed his pain in his Game 5 Post-Game press conference after their win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Doc’s impassioned press conference touched most of those who listened as he stated, “As far as the other situation, it’s just so sad. What stands out to me is just watching the republican convention, viewing this fear. All you hear is Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear. We’re the ones getting killed. We’re the ones getting shot. We’re the ones that we’re denied to live in certain communities. We’ve been hung. We’ve been shot. All you do is keep hearing about fear [tearing up].”

“It’s amazing why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back. It’s really so sad. Like, I should just be a coach. I’m so often reminded of my color. It’s just really sad.

We got to do better. But we got to demand better. It’s funny, we protest. They send riot guards. They send people in riot outfits.

They go up to Michigan with guns. They’re spitting on cops.

Nothing happens. The training has to change in the police force.

The unions have to be taken down in the police force. My dad was a cop. I believe in good cops. We’re not trying to defund the police and take all their money away. We’re trying to get them to protect us, just like they protect everybody else.”

“How dare the republicans talk about fear? We’re the ones that need to be scared. We’re the ones having to talk to every black child. What white father has to give his son the talk about being careful if you get pulled over? It’s just ridiculous. It just keeps going. There are no charges. Breonna Taylor, no charges, nothing.

All we’re asking is [for] you live up to the Constitution. That’s all we’re asking for everybody, for everyone.”

Once the Bucks boycotted their game against the Orlando Magic, all games in Orlando were subsequently postponed. Many players have spoken about the challenges the bubble has presented in addition to not allowing them to be in their respective markets protesting with their community. The players were ultimately able to unite with the NBAPA President Michelle Roberts along with select Coaches and Team Governors to agree on some specific actions item on request of the players.

Doc Rivers had this message on change for the players, “Just because something hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Like I’ve always said -- don’t give in to something that hasn’t happened. Keep pushing, keep working.” As the players collectively challenged their league Governors, these are the negotiated actions items that the NBA players were able to agree upon before they returned to play; 1) The immediate establishment of a social justice coalition with representatives from the players, coaches, and owners. The coalition will focus on “a broad range of issues” including police and criminal justice reform.

2) Every arena that is owned and operated by the team will work with local election officials to convert the facility into a polling place for the upcoming 2020 election. If the deadline to do that has passed, the team will work with officials to find a different use for the building to support the 2020 election.

3) Advertising spots during each playoff game will be dedicated to increasing civic engagement and access to voting.

Later Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers spoke on the benefit of how the NBA players are managing in the Bubble and what a couple of days off meant, “the key to this thing is that I think we all needed to take a breath. We needed a moment to breathe. It’s not lost on me that George Floyd didn’t get that moment. But we did. And we took it. And the players took it, and they got to refocus on the things that they wanted to focus on outside of their jobs.” Rivers continued to say about his team in the NBA Bubble, “we have to really monitor that better, and I’m the first to say I knew it was hard, but I didn’t see the impact. We have to do better there.”

Having experienced and veteran minds to lean on is a tremendous benefit to the leadership of the NBA. This no doubt leads to their incredible partnership between players and governors which is unrivaled in team sports. Kindly share your thoughts on this NBA partnership and the bubble they’ve created to compete their season amidst the pandemic and social unrest?

By reaching out to me on Twitter @whatsgoodnsport or forward your thoughts to info@whatsgoodinsports.com.

Rams Watching Health Heading to Opener

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer It’s been a long training camp this year especially without the chance for preseason games. Teams don’t get a live chance to get into game mode. The Rams open the season in the new SoFi Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys on September 13th with a 5:20 kick-off.

Head coach Sean McVay addressed the media this week and there was a lot said about injuries. Cooper Kupp had soreness in his lower leg and took x-rays as a precaution. The results came back negative.

“We’re going to monitor him, but he’s feeling good,” said McVay. “There was something that was going on prior to that and we were being extra cautious.”

Kupp will be ready come game day and if not Van Jefferson would step in. He has looked good in camp. The second-round pick was impressive in the opening scrimmage August 22nd at SoFi Stadium. He caught passes from Jarred Goff and backup John Wolford.

Veteran Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein returned after dealing with a knee injury from late 2019. He spent a lot of the off season working out at teammate Andrew Whitworth’s home gym. It helped him stay on schedule with his rehab, also gave him a steady place to go since most gyms were closed due to COVID-19.

“It definitely feels good to be back out there,” said Havenstein. “Coming back off an injury is not the easiest thing.”

Running back Darrell Henderson is still out with recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the first scrimmage in August.

He has been part of a group of backs that include Malcom Brown and Cam Akers. “I certainly wouldn’t rule him out” said McVay. “Were expecting him to be a big part of our running back rotation this year.”

After showing solid signs early in camp Taylor Rapp is back after being out with a knee injury. “It’s a shame because just when you felt like he was doing such a great job and really getting a grasp on some of our newer things we were doing he had a setback,” McVay stated.

Newcomers Terry Burgess and Jordan Fuller have filled in well. Fuller who was the 199th pick in this years draft has shown great promise. While Rapp was out he stepped right in with the number one defense, he’s learned the terminology and the

Rams rookie Jordan Fuller has been impressive in training camp. (Photo Courtesy: LA RAMS)

system quickly. He communicates well and has created multiple takeaways.

Havenstein a six-year veteran did like what he saw of SoFi stadium.

“This is a World Class Stadium and it feels good to be a part of this thing”

A6

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Chairwoman Maxine Waters Sounds Alarm on Coming Wave of Evictions

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who is the Chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, is sounding the alarm on what she says will be an eviction crisis in the U.S. after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the U.S. in the middle of March, has resulted in over 177,000 deaths and counting. It has also resulted in state and local governments mandating that people stay home and not go to work. As a result of those directives, businesses remained closed for three months with states currently still attempting to re-open in stages.

Some cities are estimating that thousands will face eviction and/or foreclosure as local governments re-open, unfreezing moratoriums on rents and mortgages and enabling landlord and tenant disputes for non-payment of rent to move forward.

Though some Governors have put in place or extended eviction moratoriums others have not, exacerbating outcomes for the millions of Americans facing unemployment.

The U.S. is currently experiencing record days of both new positive coronavirus tests and spikes in cases in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California. As a result, Texas, Florida and California have either delayed planned re-openings or made modifications to their planned staged rollouts.

According to the most recent reporting from the U.S. Department of Labor, the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 10.2 percent for the week ending August 8, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 8 was 14,844,000, a decrease of 636,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 6,000 from 15,486,000 to 15,480,000. The 4-week moving average was 15,841,250, a decrease of 326,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 1,500 from 16,169,500 to 16,168,000.

But the resulting economic shutdown has led to over 40 million people filing for unemployment — over 20 percent of the U.S. labor force. On June 29, nearly 60 days ago, Rep. Waters introduced H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections

The resulting economic shutdown has led to over 40 million people filing for unemployment — over 20 percent of the U.S. labor force. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

and Relief Act of 2020. However, typical of the state of play with a U.S. House run by Democrats and a U.S. Senate run by

Republicans, Waters’ legislation remains stalled by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Speaking on the House floor, Waters said, “this bill includes several provisions that were included in the Heroes Act and independently led by a number of Members of the Financial Services Committee. Some people hearing about this bill won’t understand what we are trying to do in this bill today. As I said, this was part of the Heroes Act that passed this House, but we have been waiting on the Senate to take up the Heroes Act. They are not taking it up, they don’t seem to care, they don’t seem to understand that there are people out there who are going to be evicted, and so we have pulled it out of the Heroes Act and we are taking it up independently so that we can send a message to the Senate that we want this measure heard and so we have a number of Members who participated in putting this legislation together and who had independent bills to do so.”

“We can’t wait any longer we got to move. The CARES Act was an important step towards providing relief, but more help is needed. We knew, for example, that an eviction moratorium without the provision of rental assistance would only delay disastrous outcomes as families would have to pay, more than they could afford, a lump sum of three to four months of unpaid rent at the expiration of the moratorium,” said Waters.

The Washington Post reports that despite President Trump’s repeated claims that his administration and executive order would protect people from losing their homes, evictions have continued across the country. “It risks doing more harm than good by giving people a false impression that Trump is doing something to prevent evictions,” said National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Diane Yentel about the president’s executive order.

A push led by Democrats is expected for a second stimulus is underway with bi-partsan agreement to assist small businesses in particular.

Representatives Lacy Clay, Denny Heck, David Scott, Chuy Garcia, Cindy Axne, Nydia Velazquez, Ayanna Pressley, Katie Porter, and Al Green.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @ LVBurke

Get Ahead of the Game: Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson Tells Californians to

“Be Ready for Emergencies” Tanu Henry California Black Media Through all the chaos of the COVID-19 crisis, Wendy Raquel Robinson says she has managed to hold it all together. The actress, known for her roles in several films and television shows, says she has several reasons to be grateful, too.

Among them is the return of “The Game.” On Aug. 15, Netflix began streaming the popular comedy-drama, which debuted in 2006 and aired on the CW until 2009.

In 2011, BET began developing and airing the show until its series finale in 2015. Robinson played Tasha Mack in the series, the confident, funny and straight-shooting mother of the show’s star Malik Wright, who actor Hosea

(Photo Credit: Listal.com)

Chancez played.

“I’m thankful for so much -- so much to appreciate even in the midst of this pandemic,” she told California Black Media.

Robinson, who lives in Southern California, says she understands how unexpected events can upend your entire life. In 2007, she lost everything in a tragic fire that engulfed her Pasadena home and burned it to the ground.

“I get home. I’m met by the Red Cross, fire trucks.

It was a power outage. After the power came back, it sent an electric surge to my house and two other houses. That ignited the fire that burned our houses,” she remembers that painful experience.

Even more distressing than the destruction, Robinson says, was what she had to go through during the aftermath.

A swarm of insensitive adjusters showed up at the scene of the disaster, scrambling to put in bids to help her with her insurance claim. She had to call the police.

The city of Pasadena also did not take responsibility for the fire and, although it took her three years to rebuild, she was only insured for one year. Also, Robinson says she only received an insurance payment that equaled one third of the value of the property she lost.

“It destroyed so many things I cherished. It uprooted my entire life. I lost my dog and I lost her car. Photos.

Archival items from my career. Some of those things you cannot replace,” she said.

Robinson says that’s why having a plan for when disaster strikes is always a good way to protect yourself and your family.

“We have to make sure all of us — and everyone we love — are prepared for emergencies,” she said.

That’s why Robinson has lent her image, voice and likeness to a statewide emergency preparedness awareness campaign called Listos, which means ready in Spanish.

“Emergency preparedness is not government’s responsibility alone. Solutions can’t be top-down – they have to come from the bottom up,” said Gov. Newsom Aug. 20 when he announced the state’s $50 million investment in the campaign.

“We need more focus on building resiliency within California’s most vulnerable communities for the destructive and deadly wildfires ahead,” the governor continued. “We’re empowering non-profit organizations and emergency responders to work together to prepare for emergencies because California is at its best when we look out for each other.”

An ad featuring Robinson has been published in African American-owned newspapers across the state

and she has recorded public service announcements for radio stations serving Black listeners in the Los Angeles area, where the largest number of African Americans in California live.

Robinson’s voice and likeness will also appear in an animated video that will be published on internet and social media platforms targeting African Americans around the state.

“It can be devastating,” said Robinson who has won NAACP Image Awards 11 times for her acting roles.

Robinson, who was born in Los Angeles and earned her bachelor’s degree at Howard University in Washington, D.C., has taken on several television and film roles. One of her most well-known characters is Regina “Piggy” Brier, the principal of the fictional Booker T. Washington High School on the WB sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show.”

“Now, I realize that taking steps to prepare for a disaster, natural or otherwise, that might happen to you -- and, yes, it does traumatize you -- is not only smart. It is necessary.”

Listos provides 5 steps to help Californians prepare for emergencies. They are: make a plan; pack a go-bag with things you need; build a “stay box” for when you can’t leave; and help friends and neighbors get ready.”

Besides the media public awareness campaign, some community-based organizations will lead efforts to reach out to African Americans centered in three disaster-prone areas of the state where Californians with some of the lowest average household incomes live: Alameda, San Francisco and San Bernardino counties. The community-based partner organizations are: Building Resilient Communities (San Bernardino County); Community Health Action Network (San Bernardino County); the French American Church for the New Covenant (Alameda County); Ivoire Alliance (Alameda County); and Mother Brown’s Kitchen (San Francisco).

Last week, Gov. Newsom also announced the appointment of Karen Baker, 57, as his Senior Advisor for Disaster Volunteering and Preparedness at the Office of Emergency Services. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger first appointed her to become the country’s first Secretary of Service and Volunteering in 2008.

“We know that people who are socially isolated or live in poverty, have language barriers, or other access or functional needs challenges, need to be the top priority for preparedness campaigns,” Baker said. “Taking care of each other, showing courage when it matters most, is what we do in California.”

Menthols, Swisher Sweets and Other Flavored Cigarettes are Now Illegal in California Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 793 into law on Aug. 28. The legislation is one of the country’s strongest restrictions on flavored tobacco.

The bill makes it a crime for any retailer or individual to sell a flavored tobacco product or any tobacco product flavor enhancer in the state. Violation will be punishable by a fine of $250 for each infraction. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2021.

“I have been expressive in terms of my absolute condemnation of this tobacco industry that continues to find ways to target our youth,” Newsom said before signing the bill. “And it will be a point of deep pride and personal privilege — as a father of four and as someone who’s had many, many family members die at the hands of the tobacco industry — to sign that bill. I can’t be more explicit. I can’t wait until it becomes law in the state of California.”

SB 793 breaks “Big Tobacco’s death grip,” on longtime users hooked on nicotine, said Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), who is the author of the bill. He said that the addition of fruit and other alluring flavors to the products are tactics tobacco manufacturers are

using to entice a new generation of smokers — the youth.

“The action by Gov. Newsom and by the California Legislature this week is a huge win for our kids and the health of our communities,” Hill said in a written statement. “SB 793 will save lives.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 7 out of 10 African American youth between ages 12 and 17 who smoke prefer menthol cigarettes. In addition, African American adults have the highest percentage of menthol cigarette use compared to other racial and ethnic groups, the CDC says.

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), agrees with proponents of the bill and condemns notions that menthol-flavored cigarettes are strictly associated with the Black community.

“I too rise in support of SB 793. I am insulted that the tobacco industry would make an effort to have us believe that mentholated cigarettes are a part of Black culture,” she said. “Someone wants to save us and our children and finally focus on African Americans.”

Some individuals and organizations opposed to the bill say they are concerned about the bill’s narrow

focus. While menthol cigarettes are included in the ban, shisha tobacco -- used in hookah water pipes, premium tobacco, and loose-leaf tobacco -- is exempted.

The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) say the bill is discriminatory because merchants will continue to sell some other adult tobacco products that are not popular among African Americans and other minorities.

In addition, other opponents of SB 793 say the new law could possibly start a new wave of illegal activities, such as the underground sales of the banned products out of “backpacks or the trunk of a car,” said representatives of Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternative Association (CASAA).

“While activists are claiming victory, California residents already know that the foundation of an informal nicotine market is already in place,” CASAA said in a written statement after Newsom signed the bill. “It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that young people, those whom this legislation is supposed to protect, will now have more access to products intended for people who smoke.”