SB American News Week Ending 12/7

Study Reveals Crisis in New Recruit Police Training Across America

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

A comprehensive new report asserted that American authorities have traditionally trained police officers on the cheap, noting that more than 71% of agencies devote less than 5% of their total budget to recruit training.

Issued by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the report found that nearly half of the agencies responding to the survey agreed that spending on recruit training had increased over the past five years.

However, that was before police budgets faced the dual challenges of cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic and calls to “defund” the police.

The 84-page exposition noted that investments in training could be stalled or reduced at the very time they need to increase to bring about changes required in American policing.

Researchers found that in many jurisdictions, “the goal seems to be moving as many recruits as possible through academy training as fast as possible and at the lowest possible cost.”

They argued that this approach had been driven partly by the desire to quickly get more officers on the street – a challenge that became particularly acute as officer hirings declined and retirements and resignations increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic and as homicides and other violent crimes surged.

“Besides recruiting and hiring, there is perhaps no activity that is more crucial to the success of police departments and sheriffs’ offices than how they train recruits,” researchers wrote.

“Recruit training is where new officers acquire the basic knowledge and skills to do their jobs. It’s where they learn the right way to do things and have an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them, without the serious consequences of making those mistakes in the field.”

They continued: “It is where new officers acquire the foundation of technical know-how that will stay with them throughout their careers. But recruit training is about more than just technical instruction.

“Recruit training is where prospective officers are introduced to the concept of public safety and public service. The training academy is where police agencies can articulate their philosophy and vision and begin to instill their core values.

“Finally, recruit training is where agencies build and reinforce their culture through the next group of frontline employees.”

While policing has changed in many respects throughout the years, officers struggle with challenges on several fronts, including dealing with individuals in crisis.

The report contended that, far too often, police recruits are trained as warriors, not as guardians and partners intended for civil communities.

To effect change, new officers should receive new and adequate instruction sensitive to the communities they serve, researchers wrote.

“The current state of recruit training demands that we rethink – and remake – the system for how new police officers is trained,” the researchers argued.

“We need national consensus and national standards on what the training contains, how it is delivered, and by whom.

“This report may present a grim picture of the current state of recruit training, but it also puts forth a series of principles that can help guide the transformation of training to meet the challenges of policing for today and tomorrow.”

Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the PERF, said one could ascertain much about a police training academy from the moment an individual walks in the door and encounter a group of recruits.

“If the recruits immediately back up against the nearest wall, look straight ahead, and bark out in unison, ‘Good morning, ma’am!” or “Good afternoon, sir!” you pretty much know the culture and operating philosophy

of that academy,” Wexler stated.

“If, on the other hand, the recruits pause, look you in the eye, and offer a more conversational, “Good morning, sir” or “How are you today, ma’am,” that tells you something else.

“Academies have traditionally followed a paramilitary, boot camp-like model that emphasizes discipline, deportment, following orders, and a strict hierarchy where recruits are often on the lowest rung.

Wexler continued:

“Discipline and following the chain of command are certainly important and necessary aspects of police training and operations. But when those elements become so pervasive that they overshadow almost everything else, it can undermine the academy’s mission, which is to prepare new police officers to serve and protect their communities with compassion and humanity.”

Researchers concluded the report by noting that American policing needs to re-imagine and retool recruit training.

They recommended that officials rethink how academies are operated and staffed, what the recruit curriculum contains, and how the training is delivered and by whom.

They also suggested authorities rethink how to use reality-based scenario training more broadly and effectively and how recruit training integrates with field training once recruits leave the academy.

“Re-imagining policing begins with tackling how police officers are taught. This report is a blueprint for fundamentally rethinking the current way we train new police officers – for dismantling the existing model and building a new approach,” Wexler asserted.

“The goals are ambitious and far-reaching. But we hope that if police agencies can attract those who possess the ‘right stuff,’ we can provide them with the kind of training that will take us into the future guided by a new way of thinking.”

Imagine if Capitol rioters had been Black-Post 1

BAFFOUR ANKOMAH 09/02/2021 New African Magazine

Finally, Donald J. Trump has been put out to pasture. The “end of the error” came on 20 January when Joseph Robinette Biden Jnr was sworn in as the 46th US President.

But this was an inauguration like nothing else before it. In addition to the social distancing for those invited to the event and the total absence of a crowd due to Covid-19, some 21,000 national troops were deployed around the Capitol in Washington D.C. This was four times the total number of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – and could constitute the entire armed forces of many countries.

The reason for this

committed a near-sacrilege by storming the Capitol with the intention of “capturing and assassinating elected officials in the United States government”, according to US Justice Department prosecutors in a court filing.

How was this possible? Laurel Wamsley of the National Public Radio (NPR), writing on 15 January, made the important point that: “Washington DC is known for its multitude of law enforcement agencies – a fact reflected in the agencies involved in security on 6 January.

“The Metropolitan Police

Imagine if Capitol rioters had been Black... continued

Department has jurisdiction on city streets; the US Park Police on the Ellipse where Trump’s rally took place; the US Secret Service in the vicinity of the White House; and the US Capitol Police on the Capitol complex.

“How could security forces in the nation’s capital be so swiftly and completely overwhelmed by rioters who stated their plans openly on a range of social media sites? President Trump had even tweeted on 19 December: ‘Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"

Congressmen and women holed up fearing for their lives and in the end five people died. Imagine if that mob had been Black. What do you think would have happened?

But the Trump mob was White! So the law enforcement guns stayed down. Some policemen even narrated to the CNN how they pleaded for their lives when caught up by the mob in the Capitol’s alleyways and nooks, telling the rioters “we have kids, we have kids” to induce sympathy so the mob would not kill them. Just imagine the space and time the police officers would have allowed the mob if they had been Black.

The thought of it took me to Prof Kwesi Kwaa Prah’s 2019 book 'Kromantsihene –Before and After Garvey'. The book’s subtitle summarizes its contents: 'Marcus Garvey and his Contemporaries, the ‘Back to Africa’ Movement, and the Contradictions of African Nationalism Today. We shall stay with Garvey'.

“It is now 80 years since Marcus Garvey died. He had by then passed his peak politically by about 15 years. However, his impact on the thinking of many Pan-Africanistinclined minds remains active.

Many, particularly some of the contemporary militant youth, still espouse Garvey’s pronouncements with unstinting passion and fervency.

“This is hardly surprising, because the directness and trenchancy of Garvey’s message remains moving for those who must still live with the scourge of anti-Black racism.

“For as long as AfricanAmericans disproportionately fill American jails; for as long as American police continue to shoot innocent AfricanAmericans (yes, Black Lives Matter); for as long as excessively large numbers of America’s destitute and poor are African-Americans; for as long as people of African descent continue to suffer from racist attitudes in Europe, Garvey’s message will continue to speak sympathetically to people of African descent.”

In his book, Prof Prah explains that he chose the title 'Kromantsihene', which means chief of Kromantsi (also spelt as Cormantin by the British), because it is generally suggested in Jamaica that Garvey was a Kromantsi. Prof Prah goes on:

“Kromantsi is an Akan coastal village in Fantiland in Ghana. It has a prominent and impressive rocky outcrop jutting out and descending dramatically into the sea.

“In the era of the slave trade, it was for periods a significant point of departure for slaves drawn from the hinterland and further afield. Many of the slaves who ended up in Jamaica left from Kromantsi and with time, the Kromantsi memory acquired a reputation for defiance, resistance, and marronage [the running away of slaves from plantations] in the Caribbean and Americas.”

Buying a Home May Not Be as Out of Reach as You Think, Even in This Market

Here’s How You Can Achieve Homeownership

Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your lifetime. Pressure is mounting for those looking to buy right now, with home prices fluctuating and mortgage rates at their highest levels in over a decade.

While existing home sales have fallen month-over-month since the beginning of the year, prices hit a record high above $400,000 in May, according to the National Association of Realtors, as low levels of housing inventory and supply chain constraints have created an affordability squeeze for homebuyers. Mortgage rates have nearly doubled in the last six months — from 3% in 2021 to close to 6% in 2022 — making it increasingly challenging for many Americans to purchase a home, especially for those with limited income.

So, how do you know when you’re ready to buy a home?

More importantly, how much home can you afford? We sat down with Denise Richardson, community home lending advisor at Chase, to answer those questions and discuss what the current state of the market means for you and your family’s home buying dreams.

Q: What are the main factors mortgage lenders look at when evaluating an application?

Richardson:

When it comes to homeownership, your credit score and debt-to-income

Researchers concluded the report by noting that American policing needs to re-imagine and retool recruit training.

The assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters before the inauguration of Joe Biden has brought out the stark reality that, despite the rhetoric, some American lives matter more than others, says Baffour Ankomah.

unprecedented level of armed protection for the incoming President was because, as we

can all recall, two weeks to the day (i.e., on 6 January), a mob of Trump’s supporters had

Post News Group

Two Familiar Sights Returning to LAX This Holiday Season — PrePandemic Numbers of Travelers and Jehovah’s Witnesses

Two Familiar Sights Returning to LAX This Holiday Season — Pre-Pandemic Numbers of Travelers and Jehovah’s Witnesses ...continued

for Jehovah’s Witnesses in California. “The world has been through so much these past three years. We look forward to connecting with our community to share the Bible’s message of something better.”

This year around 200 Witnesses will volunteer at carts in each of the seven terminals at LAX. On the two busiest travel days of the holiday season, November 23 and 27, volunteers will be on hand from 8 am to 8 pm.

Many volunteers are even taking time off work. “Sharing the Bible’s message of the good news of God’s Kingdom and what it will do for mankind is such an important work that it’s worth taking time away from my secular job,” Gonzales said.

Witnesses say their volunteer work at LAX is truly about helping the community.

“Because our website jw.org

has content in 1070 languages, it makes it possible for virtually anyone to access material in their own language,” Michael Oshiro of Torrance said.

Lisa Barlow, a breast cancer survivor and Los Angeles area Witness said, “Being at LAX keeps me focused on helping people and not worrying so much about my own personal issues.”

“A fellow volunteer once compared our carts to first-aid kits that are readily accessible in public places should a need ever arise. I personally enjoy making the comfort and hope from the Bible ever-present and available for anyone who passes through LAX,” said Oshiro’s wife, Raena.

LAX is just one of many airports around the world where travelers will find Jehovah’s Witnesses this holiday travel season.

Black couple wins $1.2 M grant to reimagine STEM educatio...continued

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to find pathways to the future." He continues: "This support is essential in helping us continue our work to advance appreciation, acceptance, and excitement around the importance of STEM."

HEPH Foundation helps diverse students embrace STEM-related study. Students are provided access to tools and new ways of learning that enhance current educational practices. With a robust and sustainable organizational infrastructure

coupled with a comprehensive proprietary curricula and program offerings, the HEPH Foundation will use the funding to successfully implement a STEM/STEAM learning initiative for America's students starting with the Chicagoland area, delivering on national educational standards, cultivating lifelong love of learning, and building collaborations with parents and teachers to problemsolve, build trust and evolve the educational landscape to benefit every learner.

Hope Lutheran Church of Riverside donated 10% of their property sale net proceeds to Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino

As the bustle of holiday traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels, travelers shuffling through LAX with their bags and passports in tow can expect to see another sight return to LAX for the first time since March 2020:

Jehovah's Witnesses standing next to mobile carts featuring colorful literature in a variety of languages.

Industry analysts and airport officials say that passenger traffic on US airlines in 2022 could reach or exceed pre-pandemic numbers. In 2019, an estimated 3.21 million travelers passed through LAX during the twoweek Thanksgiving period, compared to the two million travelers in 2021. If estimates are correct, travelers at LAX will see a 60% increase in traffic over last year’s hustle and bustle. While a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic may not bring a smile to everyone’s face, Jehovah’s Witnesses hope their return to LAX will bring a bit of

joy to travelers who pass their mobile displays.

“After two years of the pandemic, this is the first time many people are starting to travel again. During that time, many lost loved ones, experienced illness themselves or felt isolated due to social distancing,” said Lomita resident Rudy Gonzales.

“We have an opportunity to help comfort people from the Scriptures.”

The volunteer work of Jehovah’s Witnesses at LAX began in 2015. Then, in early 2020, Jehovah’s Witnesses suspended all in-person forms of their ministry out of concern for the health and safety of the community. In September of this year, they recommenced their public preaching work.

“Returning to the iconic LAX after more than two years is an exciting moment,” said David Cohen, local spokesman

Black couple wins $1.2 M grant to reimagine STEM education

STEM-related pathways are the future of learning in and out of schools and for the workforce.

(Riverside, CA – November 29, 2022) – Hope Lutheran Church of Riverside has served the community of Riverside for the past sixty years and counting. On Tuesday, November 15, they donated 10% of the net proceeds of the sale from their property to Feeding America Riverside | San

Bernardino (FARSB), a longtime partner in our community outreach.

“Our community partners are truly a blessing to the communities they serve, and we have remained proud to be a small part of the fantastic work

Medicare Savings Programs, run by your state, can help lower your healthcare costs.

If you’re single with an income of $20,000 or less, or if you’re married with an income of $25,000 or less, you may be eligible to save with Medicare Savings Programs.

Call your state Medicaid office at 1- 800-541-5555.

Jehovah's Witnesses resume their public ministry at LAX after an unprecedented pause.

"We are excited to receive support for our mission to prepare learners for the future of work," said HEPH Foundation founder

Steven Conner.

"Our work helps children quantum leap beyond their fears of STEM (Science, continued in next 2 columns

"Our work helps children quantum leap beyond their fears of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to find pathways to the future."

Photo: Nancy Preciado

The Time is Now for Increasing Diversity in American Media Ownership

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

what we preach.

Several months ago, I cowrote an op-ed with my longterm friend and national media colleague, Jim Winston. Our commentary emphasized why "Diversifying American Media Ownership Must Become a National Priority."

Now after the results of the high turnout of communities of color and young voters in the recent Mid-Term Elections across the United States, it is time once again to reiterate the relevance and importance of ensuring an increase in the multiracial diversification of ownership of radio and TV broadcast stations as well as all other media platforms including print and social media.

The multimedia publishing and communications industry is a trillion-dollar business sector in America. Yet the disparities and inequities of ownership of media industry businesses by persons of color remains glaringly inequitable.

I know some of you would ask me why I am speaking up and out about other persons of color to own media businesses in America in addition to African American ownership of media businesses. There is, I assert, only one clear answer. If you are, as I am, for equality, equity, and believe in the oneness of all humanity, then we must practice

This is why I am publicly and forthrightly supporting the efforts and leadership of Soo Kim, founder and managing partner of Standard General. Kim is an effective and outstanding Korean American business leader, and he is on record supporting greater Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in our nation’s media ownership landscape.

As the racial demographics of our nation continue to diversity, American media must intentionally become more representative of that growth. One reason is because diversity is simply good for business. Another reason is because it is right, and it is just to include the very people on which one's business success depends.

But perhaps the ultimate reason is because the greatest issues of our day - economic inequity, health disparities and systemic racism - pure and simple - will be best impacted when addressed by a multiplicity of people of all races.

Kim has announced an application for a $8.6 billion major media merger by acquiring TEGNA, a company owning 64 television stations coast to coast. Kim turned many heads with his description of a vision of "new partnership models to get diverse viewpoints and perspectives on the air and to make sure people have the resources to do it.”

One need only to review the leadership of major media networks in America to see that there are far too few that are owned or led by people of color. This makes Soo Kim's vision and leadership timely, inclusive, and

progressive. This is the kind of media ownership that is exactly what our nation needs at this “transformational” moment.

Current TV broadcast industry ownership stats reveal a pattern that favors incumbent owners who are primarily White males –less than 2% of U.S. TV stations are owned by minorities – if the FCC and the DOJ block this deal, it would signal that the broadcast industry continues to be exclusively reserved for White male incumbent players.

I support and join with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) in her letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that commends and endorses the proposed merger between Standard General and TEGNA. Strickland stated to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, “I share your longstanding goal of expanding voices and minority ownership in this sector, and the merger would be a critical step in that direction.”

We also note with appreciation that FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, a strong advocate for equity in the communications industry, observed last year, “Majority ownership of full power TV stations significantly worsened for Asian American owners (from 9 full power TV stations in 2017 to four stations in 2019). The numbers don’t lie – we must ensure that ownership at broadcast stations better reflects the rich diversity of the communities that they serve. We still have work to do, and we have to do better.”

Congresswoman Strickland

concluded, “This is why the Standard General-TEGNA acquisition is especially important. If the transaction goes through, Soo Kim, a Korean American naturalized citizen, would be the first Asian American to own and operate a major broadcast station group. Additionally, it is my understanding that if this deal is approved, the new entity would be the largest minorityowned broadcast station group in America today. It would also be managed by a leading female broadcast executive with a history of investing in local news and in her employee base. I understand further that…at least half of the proposed board of directors will be of minority composition and a majority will be women.”

Lastly, as has been widely publicized, access to capital also continues to be a big barrier for minority broadcast owners – from getting a mortgage to being able to obtain financing to conduct business deals, like the one with TEGNA. Again, that is why the proposed Soo Kim deal will be a real game-changing move, if approved, that will overcome some of the past significant barriers that minorities have faced to get access to financing in general, but especially for the FCC-regulated broadcast and media space.

The U.S. Justice Department and the FCC should therefore move forward expeditiously to approve the merger, and to reaffirm the importance of serving the greater public

The Time is Now for Increasing Diversity in American Media Ownership...continued

and the issue of equity for all minority-owned media businesses in America. Now is the time.

they do each day,” says Carolyn Solar, CEO of FARSB. “We are so thankful that Hope Lutheran chose to reinvest in their community with a substantial donation to FARSB. Thank you for your generosity!”

A small group of Hope Lutheran members and community volunteers, led by Larry Dodson and Carol Haffter, have kept a weekly food pantry open during the last three years of the pandemic. They are serving approximately 5060 families per week. When Hope Lutheran closed in March 2022, the congregation wanted to ensure that this work would

continue. Trinity Lutheran Church of Riverside has provided that space and support to keep Hope Lutheran’s outreach in the community alive.

“Providing outreach, services, meals, and groceries to the food insecure and homeless has always been integral to Hope Lutheran’s mission,” says Kathleen Bocian, a Hope Lutheran member.

Donations are the key that keeps our mission alive; with the support of everyone in the community, we can make a positive change and help others that do not have the necessary means to afford nutritional food in their household.

Hope Lutheran Church of Riverside donated 10% of their property sale net proceeds to Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino...continued from page 2

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers

OP-ED: Refocusing America’s Pursuit of Perfection

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

In his January 20, 2022, Inaugural Address, President Joe Biden called on us to, “look ahead in our uniquely American way – restless, bold, optimistic –and set our sights on the nation we know we can be, and we must be. But many Americans were looking back to the unprecedented and tumultuous attempted insurrection of January 6th. Backward looking is not normal for a democracy – especially one like ours that is always in “pursuit of a more perfect union.” But you won’t find perfection by looking backwards. President Abraham Lincoln reportedly once said, “I walk slowly, but I never walk backwards.”

President Lincoln led this country through an earlier period of internal turmoil, when there was no certainty that America would emerge intact. I believe President Biden faces similar challenges today. In addition to the political challenge that faced our country as he took office, our country was struggling to reduce the toll of Covid-19, restore our place on the world stage, reform community policing, keep our communities safe, combat climate change, and the list goes on and on and on.

President Biden took a page from President Lincoln’s methodical approach to move us forward. Within the first six weeks of his administration, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. That law made Covid-19 vaccinations available, stabilized families, unshuttered businesses, reopened schools, and got people back to work. He followed that historic legislation with another

historic bill, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is investing $1.2 trillion in roads and bridges, clean air and water, ports and rail, electric vehicles and making high-speed internet accessible and affordability to every resident and business.

During our lively debate over the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, competing interests within our party were threatening that agenda and our continued pursuit of a more perfect union. I urged members to step outside their comfort zones and find common ground. We were able to subsequently craft the bill that President Biden signed into law.

President Biden’s poll numbers dipped dramatically as the pandemic lingered. But Democrats entered the 2022 election cycle comfortable with his approach and confident in our

agenda. We continued to focus on the future and passed muchneeded legislation: the CHIPS & Science Act to keep skilled technical and manufacturing jobs in the U.S; the PACT Act to provide health care and resources for military heroes who had been subjected to toxic burn pits and Agent Orange, and the Safer Communities Act to combat gun violence and provide more law enforcement officers in rural communities.

We also passed the Inflation Reduction Act. While it was the largest investment ever to combat climate change, it also authorized Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices and capped the cost of insulin at $35 for seniors starting January 1, 2023. President Biden and Congressional Democrats were putting the best interest of the American people over the

politics of the moment, and the voters knew it.

While our legislative wins were impressive and unprecedented, the pundits remained focused on the noise and name calling. They bought into the dire predictions that the voters would turn Democrats out in droves. I was often asked, “What would it take to get beyond the acrimony?” My answer was always the same, “a definitive election, one in which massive numbers of Americans would step outside their comfort zones.”

That is what happened on November 8th. Many Republicans and Independents who are not usually comfortable voting for Democrats did so in record numbers. The election results seem to have changed the narrative from one of looking backward to one that is forward focused.

After a better-than-expected midterm election cycle during his first term, President Lincoln responded to a Michigan Senator and frequent critic from his own party, Zachariah Chandler, by saying, “I am very glad the elections this autumn have gone favorably, and that I have not, by native depravity, or under evil influences, done anything bad enough to prevent the good result. I hope to ‘stand firm’ enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country’s cause.”

Forward momentum is the only way to overcome the pull of the past and break the ties of those wanting a return to divisive and dangerous times. I believe President Biden has proven that

OP-ED: Refocusing America’s Pursuit of Perfection...continued

he too will “stand firm enough to not go backward.”

With the House and Senate as closely divided as they are, progress will require that both sides step outside of their comfort zones and continue our

pursuit of “a more perfect union.” The extent of our commitment and success will be determined by the American people at the time – and in the places – they usually render their decisions, at the ballot boxes.

Camp Lejeune Water

Buying a Home May Not Be as Out of Reach as You Think, Even in This Market...continued from page 1

ratio are major factors in the application process.

Your credit score is set based upon how you’ve used — or not used — credit in the past. Using credit responsibly, such as paying bills on time and having a low utilization rate will result in a higher score. Higher credit scores can help you qualify for the lowest interest rates. A score at 700 or above is generally considered good.

Additionally, lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio. This is a simple equation of how much debt you have relative to how much money you make. Borrowers with a higher debtto-income ratio are considered more risky while a lower debtto-income ratio may allow you to qualify for the best rates on your home loan.

Q: What are some tips for improving your credit score?

Richardson: There are a number of things you can do to improve your credit score, starting with reviewing your credit reports to understand what might be working against you. You can also pay down your revolving credit and dispute any inaccuracies.

Additionally, there are services like Chase Credit Journey to help monitor and improve your credit score. Credit Journey monitors all your accounts and alerts you to changes in your credit report that may impact your score. You’ll get an alert any time Chase sees new activity, including charges, account

openings and credit inquiries. Chase will also notify you if there are changes in your credit usage, credit limits or balances. You don’t have to be a Chase customer to take advantage of Credit Journey.

Q: What are some factors that can affect the cost of a mortgage?

Richardson: There are several factors to consider when reviewing mortgage options including loan term, interest rate and loan type. Potential homebuyers should contact a home lending professional to understand and review the options available to them.

For example, there are two basic types of mortgage interest rates: fixed and adjustable. While adjustable rates are initially low, they can change over the course of a loan, so your mortgage payments may fluctuate. Loan term indicates how long you have to pay off the loan. Many homebuyers tend to opt for a 15-year or 30-year mortgage, though other terms are available.

A longer loan term generally means you’ll have lower monthly payments, but you’ll pay more in interest over the life of the loan.

A shorter loan term may come with higher monthly payments, but you’ll likely pay much less in interest over time.

Q: What are the costs of homeownership beyond the monthly mortgage payment?

Richardson: People often think of the down payment and

monthly mortgage — but buying and owning a home carries additional costs. Closing costs, for example, can amount to up to 3% or more of the final purchase price. Other factors that could add on to your monthly payments are property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and homeowner’s association (HOA) fees. To get an idea of what this may look like for you, use an affordability calculator.

While there is no way for a buyer to completely avoid paying these fees, there are ways to save on them. Some banks offer financial assistance for homebuyers. As an example, Chase’s Homebuyer Grant offers up to $5,000 that can be used toward a down payment or closing costs in eligible neighborhoods across the country. There may also be homeowners’ or down payment assistance offered in your city or state. Contact a home lending advisor to learn about resources you may be eligible for. For a deeper dive into this topic, our Beginner to Buyer podcast — episode three, “How Much Can I Afford?” is a great resource for prospective homebuyers to get answers to all their homebuying questions.

Learn more about the homebuying process, here. Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The post Buying a Home May Not Be as Out of Reach as You Think, Even in This Market first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

It is refreshing to see President Joe Biden finally getting the credit he deserves for what is one of the most productive starts to a presidential term in recent history. (Photo: President Joe Biden poses for a selfie with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (S.C.) before delivering remarks at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference, Friday, March 11, 2022, at the Hilton Philadelphia Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Proverbial Writing is on the

By: Lou K. Coleman-Yeboah Lou K. Coleman-Yeboah

Pay attention to World News and Events. The trap is being set right now, psychologically, socially, politically, economically, and religiously; and it is luring the world right in. The spirit of the Antichrist is already at work [1John 4:3] setting the stage for the Great End Times Deception beginning with a Global Government [Revelation 13:7], followed by a Global Religion [Revelation 13:1’5] then a Global Money System [Revelation 13:16] using International peace as the bait for the trap in which the human race will be caught to feel the full and final unleashing of God’s wrath. Be warned! Be alert!

The Bible predicts that there’s coming a world peace; but it will be a deceptive peace. It will be a false sense of security. It will be the most subtle and the most deceptive trap that’s ever been set. Open your eyes, pay attention, and take heed, “the appointed time has grown very short” [1 Corinthians 7:29].

The spirit of Antichrist is making way for the Antichrist himself to be revealed. The lawless one – the most destructive human being to ever walk on the earth. The son of perdition – the culmination of all the Satanic forces that have arisen before him. He will be given control over the 10-nations of the Old Roman Empire, which is now called the European Union, and through false treaties and war, he will become the ruler of the world during the Tribulation. This soon-coming world leader will be proud, arrogant, lawless, evil, powerful, a blasphemer, a slanderer, a destroyer, a deceiver, an impostor, a truth-hater, a liar, a persecutor, a murderer, a devilish man, a Satanist. At first, he will be exalted as a great leader; even a man of peace, but he will be revealed as Satan’s counterfeit Christ, a lying, vicious, bloodthirsty beast that will deceive the people with his sensational powers, and slaughter billions of people to prove his power. Be warned! Be Alert! The Antichrist will soon take

his position as the leader of the New World Order, and in less than three years, he will attempt to destroy the world. Open your eyes, pay attention, and take head, please, I beg you, because difficult days are coming such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. [Matthew 24:21; Daniel 7:7,24; 12:1].

Jesus warned that, "When you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place whoever reads, let him understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days! For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." [Matthew 24:1721].

You know, Jeremiah was God’s prophet to warn people, and he did it with tears. He told them about coming horror, coming divine judgment; and he even said, “You ought to know it, because there are some present signs. I mean, there’s some things happening that are precursors to the actual day of the Lord, and you ought to know about them. You ought to warn people. Already evil looks down from the north; and a great destruction is there, you can see it coming. So, blow a trumpet, warn people, it’s coming, the appointed time has grown very short. [1 Corinthians 7:29].

But in spite of that, in spite of everything that Jeremiah said about the overthrow of Judah and the overthrow of Jerusalem, despite all the precursors, despite the imminent judgment, despite the power right there visible to them, they could see it right on the brink, but they kept believing everything would be fine, everything will be fine. Why? Because false teachers came and false prophets, and they said, ‘Peace, peace.” They kept telling them peace was coming, peace was coming, and it will come, but to follow will be destruction. [Jeremiah 6:14]. I tell you; The Proverbial Writing is on the Wall. Open your eyes, pay attention, and take heed, please!

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1127

Forced by Circumstances to Come Together

Dr. Kahala Cannon

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Henry Ford

Thanksgiving is a time when many people in the United States come together to celebrate and reflect on the things, circumstances, and people in our lives that we are most grateful for. In this period of reflection, people from different walks of life also gather to share their time, talents, and resources to serve and be a blessing to each other.

Oftentimes, seasons or circumstances bring people together for a common goal. I am a champion of collaborative work, which gives us a chance to work toward achieving a positive result together. Because of this, I am fondly reminded of two dynamic women who I met during my recent visit to Luvinjelweni, Maguga, in the Hhohho region of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). These two women, Mrs. Lomthantazo Dlamini

and Mrs. Bethusile Gumedze, described themselves as two “ordinary members” of the community. They joined together to lead a community in a lifetransforming, income-generating economic empowerment project.

The culture of Eswatini is patriarchal: gender inequality at times widely prevails and women can be considered second-class citizens. In the Luvinjelweni area, the traditional structure, or patriarchal head, determines how the land is used and directly benefits from the use of the land. Women are excluded from the decision-making process, have minimal land rights, and have little means of self-sustainability. In addition, the area is still reeling from the economic impact of the global pandemic and the rise in the cost of commodities due to the war in Ukraine. Because of the economic disparities, women are disproportionately affected. Both Mrs. Dlamini and Mrs.

Forced by Circumstances to Come Together ...continued

Gumedze explained that it was not difficult to bring the group of twenty-two people from various families together for the project, because “They were forced by circumstances to come together.”

The patriarchal leaders gave the group the land for their income-generating project. The two women led the group, which was comprised of mothers and their children, and a few men, towards economic sustainability and independence. They planted pawpaw (papaya) trees, potatoes, and maize, which yielded an abundant harvest. The project benefitted the entire community by providing food security for the families, a means to generate income through the sale of produce to grocery

stores and individuals within the community, and funds to reinvest back into the project to grow their business revenue.

Currently, women like Mrs. Dlamini and Mrs. Gumedze are empowering more women to become economically independent, which in turn enables them to advocate for their rights and claim leadership positions within society. In the words of Maya Angelou, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

Kahala Cannon is the Area Executive for Africa, Division of Overseas Ministries /Global Ministries.

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Powerful militant voice Born in Jamaica on 17 August 1887, Garvey embodied the Kromantsi spirit of “defiance, resistance, and marronage”. He became famous on American soil for his fight for AfricanAmericans and Black people in general, whether they were in Africa proper or beyond Africa’s borders.

For this he was deported from America on 2 December 1927, though the charge purportedly concerned his failed Black Star Line shipping business. By then his Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), founded in Jamaica in 1914, had become renowned worldwide.

Interestingly, Garvey himself never set foot in Africa proper, where his vision was supposed to have played out. But Malcolm X observed in the 1960s that: “Each time you see another independent nation on the African continent, you know Marcus Garvey is alive.”

On the back of his newspaper, Negro World, which became a powerful militant voice of Africanist assertiveness and enabled the mass-scale sharing of political ideas among people of African descent, Garvey’s ‘Back to Africa’ movement became an exciting prospect.

Prof Prah attests that: “The economically disadvantaged and socially alienated masses of urban African-Americans found bracing and nerve-stiffening hope in Garvey’s message of return to the motherland; his idea of establishing a nation, using Liberia as a base, with himself as provisional president, resonated among the ghetto underclasses.

“By 1920, he was able to claim 4m followers. By 1923, the number had mounted to 6m. Garvey’s message triggered and bolstered nationalist outlooks and ideas.”

It was in this turbulent ambience that Garvey rose to the challenge of leading the Negro. Undaunted, he took up the cudgels. In this cause, he excelled, says Prof Prah. He deployed his tongue and talent for persuasion and used to great purpose his exceptional gift for riveting oratory.

Dramatic changes Since he died on 3 June 1940 in London, aged 52, things have moved on dramatically in America itself, and elsewhere in the world, leaving some of the crude racist mythologies and baggage of prejudices behind.

Incidentally, during Garvey’s time, he himself shared some of

the views of the doomsayers. For example, in 1923, as Prof Prah reminds his readers, Garvey suggested that “any vain assumption on the part of the Negro to imagine that he will one day become President of the Nation, Governor of the State, or Mayor of the city in the countries of White men, is like waiting on the devil and his angels to take up their residence in the Realm on High and direct there the affairs of Paradise.”

This caused Prof Prah to say: “We have had the fortune of seeing African-Americans in the US in all these positions in recent years. At the time Garvey advanced the above suppositions, Racist America was not ready. Up to today, rampant racism persists, but not with the same degree of unmitigated iniquity and institutionally unapologetic and maleficent character. Fortunately, after long and continuing painful challenges, Americans have been able, in our lifetimes, to put these specific challenges as spelt by Garvey behind them. Still more change is necessary, and there is definitely more to come.”

It is in this context that one shudders to find that there is still a huge gulf between how Black and White Americans are treated in America – one is routinely shot dead for merely and allegedly resisting arrest, the other is treated with kid gloves even when he attacks the Capitol with the intention of doing harm to the buildings and their occupants. God have mercy on our brethren who have to live in such a country.

'Kromantsihene – Before and After Garvey' by Prof Kwesi Kwaa Prah is published by Africa Century

Written by Baffour Ankomah Baffour Ankomah is New African's current Editor at Large. He has spent much of his 39 years of journalism at the magazine, having served as its Assistant Editor for 6 years, Deputy Editor for 5 years, and Editor for 15 years, retiring from active service in 2014. In 39 years of his journalism careerAfrica and his many causes have been his passion. His personal column, Baffour's Beefs, which has been running continuously in New African since 1987, is a big hit and a must-read for the magazine's worldwide readers. He is now based in Zimbabwe, where he and his wife Elizabeth run their own media consultancy and fashion house called "African Interest" which trades under the trademark "I am African".

Black Justices Bring Diverse Experiences to California Supreme Court

Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

In November, Associate Justice Kelli Evans became the third Black Associate Justice on the California Supreme Court. Black justices now make up half of the Associate Justices on the state’s High Court.

The state Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. It reviews decisions by the six state Courts of Appeal, decisions by the Public Utilities Commission, and cases that result in a death sentence.

Evans, 54, is the first openly lesbian female Justice to serve on the bench of the court. She was nominated by Gov. Gavin Newsom in August and approved this month after a unanimous vote by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

"Throughout her career, Judge Evans has been widely recognized for her intellectual curiosity, diligence, work ethic, humility, and integrity," the commission's report reads.

"From all this, the commission concluded that Judge Evans will make an outstanding Associate Justice and found her to be well qualified for the California Supreme Court," the report continues.

Evans is a graduate of Stanford University and UC Davis Law School. She is a former ACLU staff attorney, worked as a senior trial attorney in the US Dept of Justice Civil Rights Division and represented clients in civil rights litigation at the law firm Relmen & Associates. In addition, she worked in the California Attorney General’s office, for the State Bar of California, and was Newsom’s chief deputy legal affairs secretary before becoming an Alameda County Superior Court judge.

Anthony Rendon (D-Lakeside), Speaker of the California State Assembly, called Evans' approval "excellent news for California's Supreme Court" in a Tweet.

During a conversation with Newsom in a video posted by Newsom's office, Evans spoke about her 28-year career.

"I've been really privileged to have an incredibly diverse and rewarding legal career, having had the opportunity to impact people's lives for the better," Evans said.

Newsom praised Evans’ appointment by tweeting, "Judge Kelli Evans has dedicated her life to promoting equality and justice through her work. Her broad experience in law and policy will serve her well as an Associate Justice on California's

Supreme Court."

Evans is joining two Black colleagues already on the court - Associate Justice Leondra R. Kruger and Associate Justice Martin J. Jenkins.

Associate Justice Leondra R. Kruger, 46, was nominated by Gov. Jerry Brown and confirmed and sworn in on January 5, 2015.

She was the second Black woman to be appointed to the California Supreme Court.

Kruger, a native of Southern California, was born in Glendale and raised in Pasadena.

Kruger attended Harvard College before attending Yale Law School and asserts that “My approach reflects the fact that we operate in a system of precedent,” she said in a 2018 Los Angeles Times interview.

"I aim to perform my job in a way that enhances the predictability and stability of the law and public confidence and trust in the work of the courts," she continued.

From 2007 to 2013, Kruger worked in the US Department of Justice as an Assistant to the Solicitor General and as Acting Deputy Solicitor General. While there, she argued 12 cases before the United States Supreme Court representing the federal government.

In private practice, Kruger specialized in appellate and Supreme Court litigation. This year, she was on the short list to be appointed to the US Supreme Court by Pres. Joe Biden to replace Justice Stephen Breyer when he retired.

Associate Justice Martin J. Jenkins, 69, was the first openly gay California Supreme Court Justice.

Jenkins earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Santa Clara University. Before entering the University of San Francisco (USF) Law school, he played football for the Seattle Seahawks.

Justice Jenkins previously served as a trial judge on the Oakland Municipal and Alameda County Superior Courts. He was a federal district judge for the Northern District of California appointed by President William J. Clinton in 1997. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him to the California Court of Appeals. Preceding his appointment to the Supreme Court he was Senior Judicial Appointments Advisor to Newsom.

"Justice Jenkins is widely respected among lawyers and jurists, active in his Oakland community and his faith, and is a

MISSION STATEMENT

The

Imagine if Capitol rioters had been Black-Post 1...continued from page 1

“The

Wall!”

Kelli Evans, Justice Martin Jenkins and Justice Leondra Kruger

Aldon

Conversations About Cancer Screening Should Be Priority This Holiday Season – It Can Save Your Life

was prepared to factor into my life. But through my experience, I learned some tough lessons. It is important to listen to my doctor. I need to take the time to share with others, so they don’t make the same mistake. It’s necessary to go to the doctor on a timely basis. It’s okay to have scary conversations about health with loved ones. And if a doctor recommends cancer screening, get screened.

The Mind Behind California’s New Digital License Plates

Edward Henderson and Antonio Ray Harvey /California Black Media

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, California joins Georgia, Colorado, Michigan, and Arizona as states that have approved digital license plates for use statewide, after completing a four-year pilot program that evaluated a replacement for metal plates.

By David Ford, Twotime cancer survivor, Senior Government Relations Manager at Southern California Edison, and member of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Board of Directors

The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family for food, fun, and great conversations. But imagine those conversations not going as planned and the joy of being with your loved ones overshadowed by someone sharing that they have cancer. You may not have been ready to have that discussion, yet it was happening. And you may not be prepared to talk about screenings with your loved ones, but it’s necessary. As someone who has had two different cancers in my life, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting screened.

It was 2015 when I first heard those earth-shattering words, “it’s cancer.” I thought back to

a conversation with my doctor just a few months earlier when they recommended a routine colonoscopy screening. Instead of getting it done right away, I kept putting it off. My life was busy. I had a family and was in the midst of a successful career. It just wasn’t a priority for me, and all the while, I was unknowingly putting myself at risk. Then flashforward to a critical moment with my doctor. It was too late; surgery was needed to treat my cancer.

If I'd gotten my colonoscopy, a screening for colon cancer, when it was recommended, it’s possible that I could've avoided surgery, treatment, and the emotional toll I put on my family. Even though the treatments saved me, I had to learn the hard way not to take unnecessary risks with my life. So, three years later, when my doctor recommended screening for prostate cancer, I did not wait. I completed the screening

immediately, and we were able to find and treat my second cancer at an early stage. Now, I am once again cancer free and sharing my story to help others understand why they should be getting screened.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, yet the discussion of cancer screening remains taboo in our community. Now is the time to start having conversations about cancer screening and having it often. Be an example for your friends and family. It’s okay to say, “Hey, as your buddy, I want us to be together 20 years from now. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself. That includes going to the doctor and getting screened for cancer.” It may be a tough conversation to have, but you may be the one that could make a lifesaving difference.

Cancer wasn’t something I

Through my work with the American Cancer Society, I have seen that cancer doesn’t discriminate. It’s not just older people getting cancer, anyone can be at risk. This is the reason why it is so important for you to talk to a doctor about the type of health care and screening you may need. You can’t play around with your life. It’s more than just a cancer screening, it’s a way to help ensure that we will be around for our families. The longer we are around, the more opportunities we have to live our dreams and to see our loved ones achieve their goals.

As we prepare to gather for the holidays, whether it’s a large gathering or with immediate family, I encourage you to have a conversation with your loved ones about regular cancer screening. I hope that you take the steps yourself to schedule an appointment to get screened. If you need cancer screening recommendations, resources, as well as tips to start the conversation visit cancer.org/getscreened. A small discussion can make a lifesaving difference, so please don’t wait.

Reviver, a tech company founded by Black entrepreneur Neville Boston, is the creator of the world’s first digital license plate. About 10,000 California drivers bought digital plates during the pilot program.

Based Granite Bay, 24 miles east of Sacramento, Reviver expects the number of digital plate users to increase exponentially as all 40 million vehicles registered with the state are now eligible to adopt the new high-tech tags.

Thanks to Assembly Bill (AB) 984 signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, trips

to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – which many Californians would like to avoid because of the long lines and waits they expect -- might become a thing of the past.

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), Chair of the

Black Justices Bring Diverse Experiences to

California Supreme Court...continued from page 6

decent man to his core," Newsom stated when he announced Jenkins's confirmation. "As a critical member of my senior leadership team, I’ve seen firsthand that Justice Jenkins possesses brilliance and humility in equal measure. The people of California could not ask for a better jurist or kinder person to take on this important responsibility."

Jenkins was unanimously confirmed to the Supreme Court

on Nov. 10, 2020.

At his confirmation, when asked by the Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye why he wanted to serve on the Supreme Court, Jenkins said, “I felt I could do good work, that I had a voice to add to the discussion that might be absent, not better, just different and ultimately being a man of faith, I felt this was a calling and never once have I refused the call of service.”

Turn a thirsty yard into a water-wise garden

Cooler weather is the perfect time to transform your yard with colorful, drought-tolerant landscaping. In fact, water-wise plants not only help you save much needed water during extreme drought, but take your garden to a whole new level of beauty.

Attorney Ben Crump

Brings

Star-Studded TheGrio Awards Crowd to Its Feet in Dr. King-Inspired

Acceptance Speech

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

we all were listening.”

Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others, said if Black America doesn’t fight for its children’s future, they couldn’t expect anyone else to go to battle.

America.

Taped at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Allen designed the star-studded, black-tie event special to pay tribute to and amplify the history makers, change agents, and artists who define and influence the Black world.

“I created ‘theGrio Awards’ to celebrate and amplify African American excellence and the incredible champions from other

communities who truly support us,” Allen said in a release.

“As a child, strong, positive African American icons such as Berry Gordy, Jr., Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King, Jr. helped me see myself differently and changed the trajectory of my life. Celebrating and amplifying iconic individuals is something we can never do enough of, especially for our children.”

The Mind Behind California’s New Digital License Plates...continued

thought would be a five-minute meeting ended up being an hourand-a-half meeting. What I got from those meetings was the impetus for us to move forward.”

(Photo: thegrio.com)

Byron Allen’s inaugural TheGrio Awards honored comedian Dave Chappelle with the Cultural Icon Award, Allyson Felix with the Sports Icon Award, and Patti LaBelle with the Music Icon Award.

And while trailblazers like Tyler Perry and Jennifer Hudson also received honors, the recently televised awards spotlighted the work of “America’s Black Attorney General.”

Ben Crump, the renowned civil rights attorney and freedom fighter, elicited the night’s biggest applause when he accepted the newly minted Justice Icon Award.

“It was an honor to accept the Justice Icon trophy in the company of so many Black leaders in our community,” Crump remarked.

“This award represents our fight for tomorrow’s future – our children’s future,” he asserted. “We will never stop demanding equality and justice.”

Those words were just a sample of Crump’s four-minute acceptance speech that brought the crowd of dignitaries to its feet and prompted LaBelle to remark, “Ben, you sure talking truth, and

“We have to be willing to fight for our children’s future until hell freezes over, and then, we have to be ready to fight on the ice,” Crump demanded.

“We have to make sure our children believe Black lives matter, where it can’t be lip service, it has to be action.”

Crump also recalled the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Dr. King concluded that there comes a time when one must take a position that’s neither popular nor politically correct or not even safe,” Crump told the audience, who loudly cheered their affirmation.

“But that being said, there comes a time when we must take a position because their conscience tells them it is the right thing to do. I submit to you at the first annual TheGrio Awards that it is the right thing to do to stand up for our children’s future.”

Broadcast on Nov. 26, the awards celebrated excellence in film, music, comedy, television, sports, philanthropy, business, fashion, social justice, environmental justice, education, and the cultural icons and innovators whose many contributions positively impact

The Mind Behind California’s New Digital License Plates...continued from page 7

California Black Legislative Caucus for the 2023-24 legislative session, sponsored the legislation.

“I am honored and humbled to see AB 984 signed into law,” said Wilson. “AB 984 strikes a necessary balance between innovation and privacy while digitizing the only thing on our cars today that remain antiquated, license plates.”

The new digital plates will appear as wireless tablets about the same size as traditional plates on the front and back of vehicles. The digital plate will include a processing unit, wireless connectivity, and storage media all built into an electronic display.

Boston, who majored in political science and business, applied his academic training to create a compelling vision that attracted high-level investors, software and hardware engineers, and financial consultants to the concept.

It was just one meeting that discussed how to get people to have a “better customer experience” at the DMV. That discussion led to a meeting with then-Senior Vice President Avery Brown of the Automobile Club of Southern California and about a dozen officials from the California Highway Patrol.

Boston raised seed money domestically and internationally to fund the venture. He enlisted the support of technology industry veterans Nicholas Brathwaite and Michael Marx, co-founders of Celesta Capital. Celesta assists partners with “deep tech” –the technological engine the venture capitalist states “powers” the modern world.

John W. Thompson, a board member of Microsoft since 2012, is also an investor in Reviver. He is an active investor and advisor in early-stage technology companies in California's Silicon Valley.

Allen Wayne Warren, president of New Faze Development, is another Reviver investor, Boston told California Black Media.

Reviver included the California Black Chamber of Commerce, California New Car Dealers Association, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and the California Police Chiefs Association as supporters.

sometimes people are afraid to work with governments. But we took it as, ‘Hey, we’re going to partner with you (and) how can we make the experience for the customer better.’ That was always our focus, making a truly private-public partnership.”

There has been concern that the new technology could be a target for hacking and remote tracking of vehicles by employers, creditors, and the state. To quell some of these concerns, AB 984 contains language that prohibits digital license plates from being equipped with GPS or other vehicle tracking capabilities. The only exception would be for fleet and commercial vehicles. Those employees will have the ability to disable the technology during non-working hours.

Aside from a few traffic stops by police who believed the digital license plates were illegal during the pilot program, no other significant concerns were reported by drivers, according to a 2019 review by the DMV.

The bill requires the DMV to recall all devices that were equipped with GPS or other tracking technology as part of the pilot program by no later than Jan. 1, 2024.

Drivers will be able to update their titles, registrations and other vehicle records remotely. Other advantages of the technology include a flashing message if a vehicle is reported stolen or if there is an Amber Alert. The wired or battery powered plates can be purchased with monthly rates starting at $19.95 and yearly rates at $215.40 for a four-year agreement.

To avoid asking “for forgiveness later” in case the idea ran into obstacles years later, Boston said he first asked all parties what their thoughts and ideas were to avoid implementing a prototype without their input.

“Our first meeting was in 2008,” Boston said. “We met with Dennis Claire at (California) DMV about a crazy idea of a digital license plate. What I

continued in next 2 columns continued in last 2 columns

The pilot program was first approved by the DMV under provisions provided in Senate Bill (SB) 806. The program tested the operational capability and functionality of three products to determine the costeffectiveness and feasibility of statewide implementation.

The pilot program gave Reviver access to 160,000 vehicles to evaluate in the trial program.

“We were able to sell the digital plate in the pilot program,” Boston said. “It didn’t give us access to the entire state, but it gave us access to over 100,000 people. See that’s the big thing:

Other states are following suit with similar legislation. Texas recently approved digital license plates for commercial fleets of twenty-five or more vehicles.

“California now has 40 million vehicles, one-seventh of the driving population comes from California. This market is huge,” Boston said. “This is the fourth largest economy in the world, passing Germany. When you look at it from that perspective getting it down in California is a huge deal. All this was about taking something old and making it new.”

Attorney Ben Crump Brings Star-Studded TheGrio Awards Crowd to Its Feet in Dr. King-Inspired Acceptance Speech...continued

Attorney Ben Crump accepts TheGrio Justice Icon Award.