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The Valley’s
Volume 36 Number 2
Serving the San Fernando Valley for Over 36 Years
Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California
Pandemic Forces Families to Thanksgivings Online By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Honey-baked ham, collard greens, baked macaroni and cheese, and candied yams. For many, particularly in the Black community, as Thanksgiving approaches, they can almost smell the aroma of the love-infused meals. Surely, they also can imagine the taste that might include a dessert featuring red velvet cake, sweet potato pie, or banana pudding. With such a short time remaining before Thanksgiving, some might already ponder watching football or, perhaps, laughing at the latest incarnation of the Macy’s Parade, or a marathon of their favorite classic television show. For most, Thanksgiving 2020 will prove a bit different than previous holidays even as there remains an increased eagerness to return to some sense of normalcy. Experts have reiterated that the science is precise: the threat and spread of COVID-19 have increased at alarming rates, with the United States remaining the top global hotspot. “It’s more important than ever to double down on personal safety and public health precautions. Wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain physical distance, and avoid crowds, particularly if you are in a high-risk group,” said Dr. Tom Kenyon, the former director of the Center for Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Kenyon, who now serves as the chief health officer at Project Hope, a nonprofit global health organization, said it’s crucial to adhere to the CDC’s best practices as cooler weather and flu season kicks into full swing. “As for Thanksgiving and gatherings, we have to keep reminding ourselves: Is this group dinner or holiday party worth risking someone’s life?” Dr. Kenyon remarked. The U.S. has recorded nearly 11 million coronavirus cases, including more than 100,000 new diagnoses each day since November 4. The death toll has exceeded
Stay Home for the Holidays Gov Tightens COVID-19 Rules Quinci LeGardye California Black Media As COVID-19 case numbers climb, California has imposed tighter restrictions and ordered a ordered a statewide mask mandate, while advising residents to stay home. Out of the 58 California counties, 41 are now at the state’s most restrictive, or purple, tier, including Alameda, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties. On Friday, the governor announced a curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in 41 counties. It will affect more than 90 % of Californians, but he stopped short of reissuing a statewide shelter-in-place order. “The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement. “It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges.” Earlier in the week, Gov. Newsom announced a stricter mandate that requires mask wearing “statewide at all times when outside of the home” by everyone over age two. The new restrictions are in response to the recent COVID-19 case surge, the “fastest increase we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic,” according to Newsom. Nationwide, COVID-19 cases hit 12 million on Nov. 21, an increase of nearly 1 million over the previous week. More than 250,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 so far. “Every age group, every racial demographic, in every part of the state we are seeing case rates increase and positivity rates increase as well. It is no longer concentrated in just a handful of counties. We are seeing community Continued on page A2
240,000, and health experts have repeatedly warned of more fatalities as officials await a vaccine. The University of Maryland Medical Center also has listed guides to a risk-free virtual Thanksgiving dinner. Center officials offered that families could set up a laptop at the dinner table and dig in as they enjoy conversation with loved ones. Families can also host video calls before or after dinner to enjoy more intimate conversations and even playing charades or trivia over Zoom or other platforms. “We are having a virtual thanksgiving. Both of my parents advised that my family and I stay home for this holiday,” noted Tiffany Hill, an African American woman who created Puzzle and Bloom. This creative toy company offers puzzles and stickers that highlight children of diverse cultures and traditions. “I was sad at first, but we are going to cook, save on gas and just stay home,” Hill added. “We have planned a Zoom or Facetime call with my parents. So, it won’t be too bad. But, I cannot remember the last time I didn’t go home for the holidays.” Pamela Washington-Turner, a co-author of Daughters of Promise Devotional, also relayed her disappointment over not being home for Thanksgiving. However, the Turner family has turned the gloomy prospect of missing in-person contact with loved ones into a special night that promises to become a highlight of 2020. “Initially, [my family] planned to travel to Detroit, Michigan, to spend time with my brother and his family for Thanksgiving. His only child is turning one, so they are also going to celebrate her first birthday,” WashingtonTurner stated. “Since the COVID numbers have begun to skyrocket out of control, we have halted our plans to drive to Detroit and have family Thanksgiving via Zoom. This Zoom call will include many descendants of my great grandparents. This will ensure that we are all safe and not risking our health for the holidays.”
“It’s more important than ever to double down on personal safety and public health precautions. Wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain physical distance, and avoid crowds, particularly if you are in a high-risk group,” said Dr. Tom Kenyon, the former director of the Center for Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
Snoop Dogg Joins SoFi With Food Giveaway
City of Inglewood’s Turkey Giveaway presented by Pepsi. About 2,500 families were given turkeys and non-perishables for a Thanksgiving meal. (Photo: @ SoFiStadium)
By Earl Heath Contributing Writer A lot of attention was at SoFi Stadium this week as HipHop artist, Songwriter, and celebrity cook Snoop Dogg was on hand to assist the City of Inglewood with its annual Turkey giveaway presented by Pepsi. “Do you want me to put it in the back, or do you want it next to you in the front seat so you can look at it,” said the wellknown Snoop Dogg. That was one of about 3,000 cars that passed through the parking lot. Each car received a Turkey donated by Don Lee Farms. They also received a bag that included can goods and dressing for a complete meal. The goods were provided by Pepsi, Frito Lay, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Snoop was helped by Mayor James T. Butts and hundreds of volunteers organizing the bags and placing them into cars. “This is not the first time the Food bank has helped us,” said Mayor Butts. “They help the community all year round.” The entire event was brought to life by The Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers who had several employees including office members and Ram Cheerleaders volunteering. “This is a big help,” said Inglewood resident Karen Rodriquez. “It’s been a struggle the past few weeks and this will help a whole lot.” Rodriquez was laid off due to COVID and has three kids to prep for the Holidays. The event was drive-through only and participants had to pre-register.
Inglewood Mayor James Butts (L) and Hip-Hop Artist Snoop Dogg (Center) during the SoFi Thanksgiving Food Giveaway. (Photo: @SoFiStadium)
Free!
Thursday, November 26, 2020
California City to Pay Teens $100,000 after Rough Arrest
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The California city of Delano has agreed to pay more than $100,000 to four teenagers to settle a lawsuit accusing police of falsely handcuffing and arresting them last year as the group walked to a school to pick up prom tickets. Under terms of the agreement announced Friday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the city of 53,000 will also require its police officers to undergo training emphasizing they are prohibited from arresting members of the public for asserting their First Amendment rights. In this case the ACLU said the teenagers exercised their right not to respond to officers’ questions as they crossed a street in the city 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Bakersfield, saying simply they were doing nothing wrong. When two of the four began filming the encounter they said an officer knocked a cellphone out of the hands of one of them. When another questioned why his friends were being hassled he said he was tackled, knocked to the ground and handcuffed along with others. The four were eventually arrested on accusations of jaywalking, a charge the city agreed to drop as part of the settlement. “Although the unlawful arrest and excessive use of force continues to impact the students, this settlement agreement allows for some closure,’’ ACLU attorney Stephanie Padilla said Friday. “It also importantly recognizes the need to train officers that members of the community have a right to record them engaged in their official duties and that this, in and of itself, does not constitute cause for detainment or arrest.’’ A police spokesman did not immediately respond to a call for comment. The four were crossing a street April 11, 2019, on their way to the Wonderful College Prep Academy to pick up their prom passes. The four, who are to be paid between $30,000 and $35,000 apiece, are Pablo Simental Jr., Edwin Ardon Jr., Isaac Ruiz and Isai Ruiz. Simental, who said he was tackled, violently knocked to the ground and handcuffed after asking why the others were being arrested, originally brought the lawsuit, accusing the officers of false arrest and excessive force. He said he was held handcuffed at a juvenile hall for several hours before he was released to his family after his mother was told he’d been jaywalking.
Upcoming ESPN Doc Examines Tiger Woods and Racial Identity A look at Tiger Woods through the prisms of race and identity will be the subject of an of an ESPN documentary debuting later this month. “Tiger Woods: America’s Son’’ will premiere on Nov. 29. The one-hour documentary explores the significance of Woods becoming the first Black golfer to win a major championship at the Masters in 1997 and how it changed perceptions of him across racial and ethnic lines. The documentary is the latest project from ESPN’s The Undefeated, which explores the intersection of sports, race and culture. TheUndefeated.com launched in May 2016 to provide reporting and analysis centered on Black athletes as well as issues outside sports. Director and producer Lauren Stowell said the original idea of the Woods documentary was to examine how his Masters victory impacted generations of past Black golfers before it morphed into a larger examination of Woods’ own history with racial identity. Stowell, a three-time Sports Emmy Award winner, also comes from a multiracial family. She said she could relate to Woods, whose father was Black and whose mother is Asian, trying to honor all sides of his family’s heritage. “I think it’s an important time right now for this to air because I think it makes us kind of question what is it that makes us uniquely American,’’ Stowell said. “We see how polarized and divided we’ve become in many ways but it’s also an opportunity right now to become unified. And maybe the complex questions that we’re raising with this documentary might start some conversations. Is there one, you know, uniquely Black experience in America?’’ Woods views about his racial identity have always been complex. He said during an interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show’’ after his Masters victory that he checked both African-American and Asian on a form at school to describe his background. He also said on that show that he described himself as “Cablinasian’’ _ a mix of Caucasian, Black, Indian and Asian. Those comments drew some backlash from Black golfers who came before Woods who thought he was trying to distance himself from the Black community. “We know race is not science, it’s self-identity. I think that both how the outside world looked at Tiger and how he looked at himself, those those two things Lauren does a tremendous job of bringing together,’’ said Kevin Merida, The Undefeated’s senior vice president and editor. “It’s not an argumentative film. If anything, I think it will open some eyes. He does have a relationship to his race, but it may not be the same kind of relationship that some people want. All of this is tackled really thoughtfully.’’ Stowell and ESPN made attempts to interview Woods for the documentary but were not successful. It does include interviews of Woods and his parents from earlier in his career as well as longtime Woods friend Mark O’Meara, former coach Butch Harmon and Lee Elder, who was the first Black player invited to compete in the Masters. Stowell said if she had interviewed Woods, she would have liked to know more about the role Woods’ mother has had on his views and his thought process in coming up with Cablinasian. She added: “I think it was a bold statement. But since then, what is important for him? How does he want to be identified?’’