SB American News Week Ending 5/10

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)

Silicon Valley Lawmaker Says, ‘Missing Middle’ Can’t Afford Housing

By Sonya Herrera San Jose Spotlight

Pamela Price: The Path to the District Attorney’s Office is No Crystal Stair, Part I

By Tanya Dennis

One Silicon Valley lawmaker wants the state to get into the housing market to assist residents in the “missing middle” — comprising those who earn too much to qualify for low-income housing but who don’t earn enough to afford a market-rate home.

To help these residents, Assemblymember Alex Lee introduced Assembly Bill 309 earlier this year.

If approved, AB 309 would enable California to build and lease homes to residents of various income levels, Lee said. The buildings would be mixedincome, which proponents said would improve economic mobility for residents of lower incomes. Tenants also would have a say in how their buildings are managed and operated.

“To embrace housing as a human right, we must think of it as a universal good,” Lee said during a Wednesday affordable housing panel discussion hosted by California YIMBY, a statewide housing advocacy group. “No more means-testing, no more nitpicking, no more saying one

person is more deserving than the other … Everyone deserves housing, and we should embrace that.”

Because the state would develop the buildings, it could lease each home without needing to make a profit, lowering costs to renters, Lee said. He represents North San Jose and Milpitas in Santa Clara County, as well as Fremont and Newark in Alameda County.

“Social housing, as we embrace it, is about making sure people don’t lose their housing because their income level changes, down or up,” Lee said.

In Santa Clara County, a two-person household earning between $106,000 to $161,000 per year qualifies as median- to moderate-income, according to last year’s affordable housing income limits — and therefore would not be eligible for housing targeted at lower incomes.

Lee said California’s intention of targeting affordable homes to the state’s neediest residents is laudable. However, it has the unintended consequence of discouraging tenants from

increasing their incomes.

“You start creating ceilings on people,” Lee said. “You want more people to earn more money, to save more money … but you don’t want them to lose their housing.”

Between 2014 and February of this year, San Jose issued 21,898 residential building permits, 5,519 of which were for affordable housing. With the issuing of these permits, San Jose met 115% of its market-rate goal for this time period, as specified in California’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation. But the city has only met 26% of its goal for affordable housing, according to a memo issued by the housing department last month.

The average rent for a onebedroom apartment in San Jose is $2,585, according to Zumper, an online marketplace for apartment rentals. San Jose is one of the most expensive places to live in the nation, and people looking to leave the region or the state is picking up steam.

Past polls and annual city surveys have shown a growing

discontent with housing costs in San Jose, while the wealth gap and other inequities grow. Experts say the region could be at a tipping point.

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, who represents Richmond and Berkeley, spoke on the panel with Lee and said the housing shortage is every city’s responsibility — and it’s the state’s responsibility to hold cities to account.

“‘No’ is not an option anymore,” Wick said. “If we have to do state laws that make it easier to build affordable housing … then that’s the reality of where we’re at.” AB 309 is headed to the state Legislature’s housing and community development committee, though a hearing for the bill has not been scheduled, according to the state assembly’s website.

The post Silicon Valley Lawmaker Says, ‘Missing Middle’ Can’t Afford Housing first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

Despite Protests, No FCC Movement on Vote for Standard GeneralTEGNA Deal

By Barrington M. Salmon

protestors were not shy about their desire and intentions.

“I came to support the deal because it would be good for us. (A vote) is of great and historic significance. It is an opportunity to shatter the glass ceiling,” said The Rev. Kirsten John Foy, president and founder of Arc of Justice, a New Yorkbased civil rights organization.

“We have few minority owners at the top. We are locked out and a number of barriers are placed in front of us. We need adequate and appropriate representation of women and people of color...

If we’re at the table, we can influence the narrative, not one imposed on us that’s not true to us.”

Foy was one of more than

When civil rights attorney Pamela Price decided to run for Alameda County District Attorney, her life was already the personification of poet Langston Hughes’ famous poem “Mother to Son” that notes that “Life Ain’t No Crystal Stair.”

Price comes from the type of community she ran for office to serve. She was once on the other side of the law and is an example of how people can change when given the opportunity.

Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Price states she was traumatized, then radicalized with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. at age 11. Raised in group homes and foster care homes, Price describes her childhood as traumatic.

“Raised in group homes and foster care, at age 13 I was in a juvenile justice facility. I walked away from foster care at age 16 to my own accountability, living all over the place,” she recalled. “I rented a truck, went back to my three foster homes, collected the little I possessed, and checked into a ‘fleabag’ hotel that I could pay for by the week. Despite the adversity, I not only survived, I thrived. “

Price attributes her ability to thrive to foster moms who “kept their hands on her,” stressing the importance of education as the only true path to liberation.

Managing to graduate from high school, Price got accepted to Yale College on a full scholarship. That scholarship, according to Price, was the game changer. She majored in political science and American studies, and after graduating from Law School, became a civil rights attorney.

office in total disarray.

According to Price, there were employees with no supervisor, a myriad of unfilled positions despite money set aside, people on payroll making substantial amounts of money who were not working.

And that was just the start, she said. “The computer system was antiquated; no method of communication existed between offices in the nine locations; no human resource for 450 employees and no operational plans or processes in place.”

Standards of accountability were lacking and “absolutely no working oversight.”

The most serious issue she faced, she said, were employees traumatized by fellow members suicides and heart attacks. They were in deep need of mental support.

“The culture in that office was toxic and addressing their trauma was my first priority. I’m happy to report that 90% of the staff stayed.”

After addressing the health and wellness of her employees, the victim witness advocates were next. Price noted that “The DA’s office was understaffed across the entire spectrum despite O’Malley having the funds: she didn’t manage this organization at all.”

Knowing that people voted for her to get the DA’s office in order, Price says the last three months restructuring the office has been formidable but cites a 25% improvement.

Despite best intents, her efforts were thwarted after she placed people on leave, and they became disgruntled and started attacking her office.

100 protestors who lined the sidewalk in front of the FCC in downtown Washington. He and other supporters argue that allowing Standard General and TEGNA to become one entity could be a game changer in terms of minority ownership in America’s current white, maledominated media environment.

Foy emphasized Kim’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity to a reporter and said so in a letter of support he drafted on behalf of his organization last year in which he expressed confidence in the deal and Soo Kim, Standard General’s CEO.

“Our confidence in Standard

In 2017, while working with the Contra Costa County Racial Justice Coalition on a number of racial issues around police misconduct, they were successful in getting Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson to resign in disgrace and admit to felonies, which open the door for a new D.A..

People asked Price to run for D.A. in Contra Costa County, but she refused because she lived in Alameda County. When she declined, a young man responded, “Alameda is just as bad.” Upon investigation, Price realized he was right, and no one had challenged Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley in four years.

In June of 2017, Price began her campaign for D.A. in Alameda County, but she lost in 2018.

Still determines, then ran again in 2022 and won.

Walking into the office on January 3, Price describes an

Taking on the culture of the organization, Price hired 35 people to fill vacancies, created a management structure, and addressed dramatic overpayments to some the people who have since have been placed in their correct positions.

Responsible for nine locations, the systemic failure in communications makes Price’s vision of transforming the DA’s office a formidable task, but one she says she’s up to.

“It will take wisdom, patience, grace, courage, compassion, and a sense of purpose with a real commitment to serve the people of Alameda County. I was put in this season for a reason, and I’ve been preparing all my life for this.”

Next Week: Part 2 – A New Vision of Justice.

The post Pamela Price: The Path to the District Attorney’s Office is No Crystal Stair, Part I first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Honored with Educator of the Year Award by Loyola Marymount University

Thurmond Recognized for Leading Efforts to Transform California Schools

LOS ANGELES—State

Superintendent of Public

Instruction Tony Thurmond was honored Sunday, April 30 with the Educator of the Year Award by Loyola Marymount University (LMU) School of Education. The award recognized Superintendent Thurmond’s substantial contributions to the field of education; his advocacy for greater equity in opportunities for future generations; and his significant, lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of all learners.

Superintendent Thurmond has made transforming California schools his priority. His vision and leadership secured 10,000 mental health counselors for schools and billions in dollars for wraparound services to support the whole child through community schools.

Superintendent Thurmond is leading an effort to ensure reading by third grade for all students by 2026, and he has established the first statewide teacher recruitment effort with a Public Service Announcement and a one-stop information and referral system to help connect teacher candidates to scholarships, credentialing programs, and employers with current vacancies. He is also leading a statewide effort to provide a graduation requirement in personal finance for students.

Throughout his tenure, Superintendent Thurmond has fought for all students. He has launched initiatives to close opportunity gaps for African American and Latino students, English learners, students with disabilities, foster and homeless youth, and students from lowincome backgrounds. He is leading an effort to provide universal preschool for every four-year-old as well as providing universal meals—free meals to every student regardless of their ability to pay.

The LMU School of

Education’s Educator of the Year Award is an accolade that has been given annually since 1996. The award is given to individuals who have made transformative contributions to the field of education while advocating tirelessly for more equitable opportunities for future generations. Superintendent Thurmond joined a prestigious list of past recipients of the Educator of the Year Award, including Father Greg Boyle, S.J.; Dr. Carl Cohn; former California State Board of Education President Michael Kirst; Roy Romer; Patricia Gandara; Ana Ponce; and Maureen Kindel.

Superintendent Thurmond speaking at the podium at LMU ceremony.

Superintendent Thurmond provided the keynote address at the event, which also honored numerous LMU graduates with awards in undergraduate and graduate fields of education.

LMU is a top-ranked national university by U.S. News and World Report, which places LMU among the top five Jesuit universities in the country and in the top six private universities in California. Founded in 1911, LMU is a Catholic, Jesuit, and Marymount university with more than 6,500 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students.

LMU offers 55 undergraduate majors and 58 minor programs, along with 46 master’s degree programs, three doctorate programs, and 14 credential/ authorization programs. LMU’s intercollegiate athletics teams compete in the West Coast Conference with 20 Division I and varsity sports. LMU School of Education is a top 10 education school in California that offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, credentials, and certificates in more than 20 areas of study.

How Superintendent Mauricio Arellano Spent His First Week in SBCUSD

his first meeting with more than 250 District principals, administrators, and managers this week, Arellano vowed to spend the first 120 days of his tenure immersed in everything SBCUSD to get a feel for the District’s unique strengths and challenges, an effort he referred to as “relearning SBCUSD with humility and an open heart and mind.”

New Superintendent Mauricio Arellano spent his first week at the helm of the San Bernardino City Unified School District reacquainting himself with schools across two cities, where he visited numerous classrooms and spoke with students, teachers, and administrators after arriving at a rousing homecoming.

Arellano also relished meeting families and reconnecting with longtime colleagues. In

In an inspiring speech to his management team, Arellano mentioned his belief in the Zulu tribe greeting ‘Sawubona,’ meaning I see you, I hear you. He urged principals and managers to lead with grace, empathy, and humility while using researchbased strategies.

Superintendent Arellano brings with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to educational excellence that will serve SBCUSD well in the years to come. He has more than 30 years of experience

How Superintendent Mauricio Arellano Spent His First Week in SBCUSD...continued in public education, serving in a variety of roles including teacher, principal, and district administrator. Most recently, he served as the superintendent of the Redlands Unified School District. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong relationships with students, families, and staff, and creating a culture of collaboration and innovation, all of which are part of his plan in SBCUSD.

“We are confident that he has the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills necessary to take our District to the next level, and that’s exactly why the Board of Education hired Superintendent Arellano,” Board President Dr. Scott Wyatt said. “To have a superintendent who was educated in our schools is truly unique and one of Mauricio’s greatest assets.”

California’s next housing crackdown could force cities to plan more homeless shelters

BY MARISA KENDALL

Black-Owned Student Athlete Preparatory Academy Launches LAbased Pilot Program For Summer 2023

“Dual Threat Prep’s inaugural program will equip student-athletes with the skills necessary to make an impact outside of the game,” said Dual Threat Prep Founder and Executive Director Kristina T. Wilson, Esq.

Muhammad, who declined to provide his last name, warms his hands at a fire next to his tent in Sacramento. Feb. 24, 2022.

by

Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

All over California, cities are falling far short when it comes to providing enough shelter for their homeless communities.

More than 69,000 homeless residents live in Los Angeles County, for instance, but that county has just over 21,000 beds in shelters and temporary housing programs.

It’s a similar story in Sacramento County, which counted nearly 9,300 unhoused residents in its last census, but has just over 3,000 shelter and temporary housing beds.

Those massive gaps – which ensure thousands of people remain homeless – are visible in cities throughout California. But despite constant reassurances from Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers that getting people off the street is a top priority, there’s no state requirement for cities and counties to make sure they have enough shelters or housing for homeless residents.

A bill working its way through the Legislature could change that, and potentially lead to sanctions against local governments that fail to plan for the needs of homeless Californians.

Senate Bill 7 would — for the first time — require cities and counties to plan enough beds for everyone living without a place to call home. It would go beyond just temporary shelter, also including permanent housing placements.

Its author, Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, called it a “transformational idea” that could help move the needle on homelessness where other attempts have failed.

“Everything we’re doing currently, it will result in homelessness growing,” Blakespear said in an interview. “It will not result in homelessness going down.”

California cities’ housing goals

Currently, the state makes sure every city and county plans for new housing through a process known as the regional housing

(Black PR Wire) LOS

ANGELES – Dual Threat Preparatory Academy, a Blackowned and operated educational program for student-athletes, is excited to announce the launch of its first summer program, the Blue Chip Academy, set to begin in July 2023.

Dual Threat is an educational program focused on providing student-athletes with the proper tools to excel in their sport of choice and outside of sports as academic and civically engaged young leaders. This educational program will support studentathletes starting in the 6th grade. Each educational program will be based on topics that are applicable to the athlete’s age and sport. The program will cover topics such as Social Justice and Civic Engagement, Financial Literacy, Personal Health, and much more.

Dual Threat’s Founder and Executive Director

Kristina T. Wilson, Esq.

talent and physical skills to be successful in sports, especially as athletes inevitably face some type of adversity inside or outside of sports. We’re excited to welcome 12 6th-grade and 7th grade student-athletes into our program this summer as we launch this curriculum to provide safe and substantive learning for students over the summer” Applications to join the program will be available June 1, 2023 at https://dualthreatprep.org/

Photo

needs allocation. In all, the state requires cities and counties to plan for 2.5 million new homes over the next eight years — about 25% of which must be affordable for very low-income occupants.

But this method doesn’t require cities and counties to plan any housing that is specifically for homeless residents.

If the bill passes, local officials would have to include homeless housing in their plans. How much is yet to be determined, but it would be based on each city’s point-in-time census count of its homeless population. Ideally, Blakespear said, the plans would require a unit for every single person counted.

The idea comes at a time when the state is forcing local governments to take more responsibility for providing housing.

Newsom’s administration sued the Orange County coastal enclave of Huntington Beach earlier this year for failing to adopt a housing plan. And cities that flout state housing law also are subject to the “builder’s remedy,” which allows developers to bypass local zoning laws for certain projects.

Blakespear’s bill has gained some early support from housing activists, and recently passed out of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee by a 6-2 vote. While some local leaders are sure to chafe under yet another stateimposed housing requirement, several big-city mayors are tentatively supportive.

Learn more about legislators mentioned in this story

“The final details in the bill matter,” Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said in an emailed statement, “but any bill that moves the state and cities closer to making housing and services for the homeless a mandatory obligation for government is a step in the right direction.”

Data collected by Sacramento

“Dual Threat Prep’s inaugural program will equip studentathletes with the skills necessary to make an impact outside of the game. Far too often, studentathletes are left to grapple with some of life’s most serious obstacles and transitions without the necessary support,” said Dual Threat’s Founder and Executive Director Kristina T. Wilson, Esq. She continues “It takes more than

About Dual Threat Preparatory Academy Dual Threat Preparatory Academy is an educational program that provides student-athletes with the proper foundation to excel in their respective sports while developing them into contributing members of society outside of athletics. By teaching student-athletes the "game" within the game, Dual Threat will instill the knowledge necessary to navigate life as a student-athlete on the high school, college, and professional levels. To learn more about Dual Threat Preparatory Academy, visit dualthreatprep.org

Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival May 20th

WRIGHTWOOD, CA - April

19, 2023 - The Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival is coming up soon, and as if the musicians, poets, and food vendors weren't enough, over 30 talented artists are getting ready to display and sell their original works.From glassblown pieces to handmade jewelry to acrylic paintings to textile art to handcrafted goats milk soaps, there is truly something for every art lover to enjoy. Many of the artists will be selling their unique pieces, giving visitors the opportunity to own one-of-a-kind offerings.

Husband and wife team David and Kazumi Svenson will be presenting a series of blown glass. Kazumi Svenson has been a glass blower and a neon artist for the past 30 years, and has taught furnace glass blowing at “Hot Glass Studio” in Tokyo, Japan where she first began her glass career. David Svenson has taught neon and wood sculpture at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Alaska Indian Arts, Haines, AK, and the Pilchuck Glass School. Through their art, Kazumi and David explore the human relationship with the natural environment that surrounds us.

Amber Calderilla, a.k.a CraftyMantis, is a fiber and textile artisan born and raised in the Inland Empire. Her current artistic style is an evolution of the traditional works of making functional and decorative pieces, like blankets and clothing, that the women of her family have made for generations. Her work has been seen in galleries and artisan events throughout Southern California. She creates

freeform crochet fiber art, such as functional crocheted pouches, necklaces, and bottle slings rendered to look like fruits and vegetables, among other pieces.

Jenny Gagnon was a firstgrade teacher for many years. During the last few years of her career, she discovered a passion for gourd art. Reflecting on her process, she explains, "I start by selecting a gourd that has the shape that corresponds to the original design I want to implement...I use a mini jigsaw with a foot pedal to neatly cut the gourd open. I want the interior to be a special space. After cleaning the interior with sanding balls, I have learned through trial and error to use modeling paste to create a smooth interior. I finish by painting the exterior, and putting a couple of clear coats so that the gourd can be handled and preserved."

These talented creators are only a few of the many artists visitors will have the chance to meet at the Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival this spring. The festival draws thousands of visitors each year to its showcase of regional art, food, wine, and music, as well as scenic beauty in a quiet mountain setting. Come experience the creativity and talent of Wrightwood’s unique arts community.

For more information on the Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival, please contact: Tim Green Festival Communications tgreen@wrightwoodarts.com

For more information, visit: www.wrightwoodarts.com/ festival/

Reparations Task Force to Recommend “Genealogy Branch” to Prove Eligibility

Antonio Ray Harvey| California Black Media

The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans is recommending that the State Legislature fund a governmental department dedicated to assisting reparations applicants prove their ancestry to enslaved people in the United States.

The task force’s proposal to establish a “genealogy branch” within the proposed California American Freedmen Affairs Agency (CAFAA) will be included in the task force’s final report, which is scheduled to be submitted to the Legislature by the end of June 2023. The branch would provide access to expert genealogical research to confirm reparations eligibility for an estimated 2.5 million Black Americans in California who are likely to seek restitution.

“The legislation that created the California Reparations Task Force requires the body to recommend reparations proposals that provide special consideration for descendants of slaves,” task force chairperson Kamilah V. Moore told California Black Media on April 10. “Thus, eligibility for Californians should they qualify for reparations through the proposed California American Freedmen Affairs Agency is of utmost importance. The agency will be positioned to provide perpetual special consideration to this unique and special group, through direct reparatory justice services and oversight of existing agencies.”

The task force will recommend that the CAFAA be

headquartered in Sacramento and have satellite offices all around the state. California is in line to become the first state in the United States to provide Black Americans reparations, or restitution for slavery and other state-sanctioned discrimination or exclusion.

As the determining factor for compensation, the task force narrowly decided in March 2022 that lineage, not race, will determine who will be eligible for reparations to align with Proposition 209, state law prohibiting the consideration of race in public policy decisions or determinations.

During that March 2022 meeting, the task force listened to the perspectives of 11 genealogy experts who offered insights on qualification for reparations before voting 5-4 in favor of eligibility.

(SDUSMP), a society that works to preserve the memory and history of slavery.

The 10-year-old organization, McDowell said, has successfully helped its members trace their lineage through a mix of research and analysis of the U.S Census, birth and death certificates, and state laws that tracked the enslaved.

“My purpose here is to tell the (task force) that it is absolutely possible to trace one’s lineage to individuals who were enslaved in the United States,” McDowell said. “For the vast majority of African Americans, it is relatively easy.”

Dr. Hollis Gentry, a genealogy specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Library, shared personal experiences of tracing her ancestry to slavery. She used the Freedmen's Bureau Records, national archives, and records from Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Gentry suggested that an agency should be established to manage the eligibility process. It should be connected to state archives and offices of vital records to facilitate access to records that would assist reparations applicants.

Other genealogists who testified pointed to the lack of access to historical records and the difficulties created when enslaved families were separated after members were sold, traded, and auctioned.

Kellie Farrish, a genealogist with over 15 years of experience in Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis and lineage tracing using DNA, provided instructions for how one might want to do genealogy research to locate “enslaved ancestors using the completely free Familysearch. com website.”

Farrish, the lead genealogist for the non-profit Reparation Generation, noted three criteria for determining potential reparations applicants’ lineage: ancestors born in the Deep South states prior to 1865, ancestors living in the U.S. prior to the 1900s, and ancestors living in the Deep South states prior to the Great Migration of the 1940s.

“First, we must define what it means to be African American. For the sake of this discussion, African Americans are those involuntarily brough to the United States for the purpose of being enslaved,” Farrish told the task force. “Using genealogy to prove descendancy from this group would involve tracing one’s lineage back to either a person enslaved in this system or a time when there was little to no presence of legal voluntary immigration from African or Caribbean countries.”

In August 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 189, legislation that would facilitate processing lineagebased reparations claims using state data. SB 189 authorizes the State Controller’s Office and the Department of Human Resources to disaggregate Black employee demographic data in an effort to identify who has immigrant origins and who descends from enslaved people in the United States.

SB 189 was authored by the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC)

continued on page 8

Vincent Chin Institute Launched by AsAm Lawmakers, Organizers at US Capitol

By Julia Tong

The institute will help to preserve the memory of Vincent Chin, who was killed 40 years ago at a time of severe anti-Asian hate, and comes as hate crimes targeting Asian Americans is once again on the rise.

but will also advance solidarity to fight bigotry and empower underserved communities around the country.”

History repeating

Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)

Credit: Les Talusan

Vincent Chin Institute Launched by AsAm Lawmakers, Organizers at US Capitol...continued opposing anti-China rhetoric in Congress. Yet, she claims, she is consistently met with ignorance from other legislators on his story.

“Each time we take on this fight… I talk about what happened to Vincent Chin. Some members of Congress are shocked because they never even heard of story,” said Chu.

“Which is why we need the Vincent Chin Institute and why we need the second edition of The Vincent Chin legacy guide. It will be phenomenal in helping all communities learn about Vincent’s story and the consequences of xenophobic rhetoric.”

The Vincent Chin Legacy Guide seeks to rectify this issue by providing an educational overview of Vincent’s life and death, in context of the antiAsian discrimination prevalent in the US. The 64-page guide is available for free download online in 7 different languages (Arabic, Bengali, Simplified and Traditional Mandarin, English, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese). It is primarily intended for K-12 educators, students, and adults.

David Inoue, the Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), recalled that Chin’s death left a major impact on him as he grew up in the Midwest. He hopes the Legacy Guide will help educate future generations on Chin’s story.

“Through the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide, children like my own, not much older than I was when Chin was killed, can learn about the racism and scapegoating that led to Chin’s murder and how this flashpoint in our country’s history has changed our Asian American community for the better,” he said.

Fighting anti-Asian hate

The Vincent Chin Institute aims to fight anti-Asian hate

today by continuing the legacy Chin left behind. Chin’s death launched a major pan-Asian civil rights movement, sparking widespread solidarity in the fight against anti-Asian hate.

Today, the Institute’s initiatives include creating a national network of veteran community leaders fighting antiAsian hate and Sinophobia, and educating about the history of Asian American discrimination, solidarity, and activism through partnerships with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC), American Citizens for Justice, and other organizations. Finally, it aims to center Asian American communities that are underserved, have unmet needs, or lack existing advocacy structures.

These initiatives are important to build the strong nationwide communities and networks that were critical in the wake of Chin’s death, says journalist and author Helen Zia.

Zia played a central role in mobilizing the Asian American community in response to Chin’s death. Today, she continues her advocacy work, writing the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide, and serving as a central organizer for the Vincent Chin institute.

Zia says that Chin’s legacy can be an inspiring reminder of the unity that is capable of combatting anti-Asian hate.

“The lessons of solidarity that came out of the Vincent Chin civil rights movement showed how people of diverse Asian ethnicities, together with other people of color and people of conscience, could come together for justice and against hate towards any people,” she said during the launch of the Institute.

“Today we honor the legacy of Vincent Chin to launch the Institute in his name as we carry on the important work of ending hate and protecting our beloved communities.”

California tribes, lawmakers host weeklong historic commemoration of missing or murdered Native Americans May 1 to May 5

Call to action around National Missing or Murdered Indigenous People Day (May 5), as two Calif. tribes under emergency declarations

County/Government News

SACRAMENTO—As the national day to commemorate Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MIIP) on May 5 nears, the California Native American Legislative Caucus will mark the first week in May with a round of activities highlighting disproportionate cases of violence against Native Americans. California has two tribes that have declared a state of emergency because of violence against their tribal members.

disloyal to the US by Texas Rep. Lance Gooden.

These effects, though aimed at Chinese Americans, inevitably affect all Asian Americans. Chin, for instance, was killed in an era of anti-Japanese sentiment — despite being Chinese himself.

emergency declarations on this issue, as well as Ramos, other lawmakers, advocates, and members of the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs. (Livestreamed on Ramos’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ events/1312871316103331/ and YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/ M-VxCzR2COo?feature=share)

Agenda attached to email

On April 26th, AAPI Congressman, educators, and organizers gathered in front of the US Capitol to launch the Vincent Chin Institute, a network of veteran AAPI organizers fighting against a rise in antiAsian hate.

The launch also coincided with the release of the second edition of the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide, co-written by Helen Zia, which provides further education about the history of anti-Asian discrimination and racism in the United States.

The Legacy Guide and Institute are both named in honor of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was killed in

a widely publicized hate crime in 1982. Over 40 years later, however, his story remains starkly relevant— especially in an era of sharp anti-Asian racism and Sinophobia.

“The murder of Vincent Chin and the rhetoric that inspired it has been on many of our minds as we continue to see near daily attacks on Asian Americans,” said Rep. Judy Chu, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

“The launch of the Vincent Chin Institute and release of the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide will not only educate Americans about this dark moment in our nation’s history,

Chin’s murder by two Detroit auto workers, which sent shockwaves through the country, occurred during an era of severe anti-Asian racism. At the time, the economic rivalry between the US and Japan triggered targeted hate against Asian Americans, and was a direct cause of Chin’s death.

At the launch, speakers drew parallels between the circumstances of Chin’s death and the anti-Asian racism today that puts all Asian Americans at risk. They highlighted how Chinese Americans are scapegoated for the COVID-19 pandemic; face proposed discriminatory legislation, such as alien land laws and Trump’s China Initiative; and are routinely suspected of spying for China.

Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to congress, was also recently accused of being

“The antagonistic rhetoric around US-Japan competition that surrounded Vincent’s death is a reminder that words have consequences for innocent bystanders,” said Rep. Grace Meng.

“I fear such rhetoric today, if left unaddressed, will cause more harm to our community. We must and we can do better.”

Preserving Chin’s legacy

Given these circumstances, speakers contended that learning from the circumstances of Chin’s death is critical to prevent the same hate from threatening AAPI lives. Yet Chin’s story remains underdiscussed: It is rarely taught in schools, and the historical context surrounding it is often missing.

Chu, for instance, frequently references Chin’s death when

Round Valley Indian Tribes declared a State of Emergency in April, after two members were founded murdered, the latest victims in Northern California of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People. The tribal action was preceded In December of 2021 by the Yurok Tribe, in Humboldt County. The Yurok Tribe action followed seven women reported being approached by possible traffickers and the still unsolved case of Emmilee Risling, reported missing in October 2021. The Yurok Tribe has been at the forefront in confronting the crisis and called for a summit of California Tribes and others held last year to address the issue. Summit participants called for implementation of a public notification alert when Native Americans go missing—the 2022 “Feather Alert” law (similar to the AMBER Alert) authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino).

MMIP WEEK OF CAPITOL ACTIVITIES

Tuesday, May 2—8:30 to 9:15 a.m. news briefing in State Capitol Room 317on the vital issues spotlighted this week. Attending will be tribal chairpersons, including two who have issued

Tuesday, May 2 through Friday, May 5—Capitol Dome illuminated in red for first time ever to commemorate Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.

Tuesday, May 2, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon—Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs informational hearing on MIIP entitled, “Not Invisible: California’s Work to Combat the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.” State Capitol, Room 126. Among those participating are Ramos, select committee chair; tribal leaders; law enforcement representatives; and advocates. (Televised at: https:// www.assembly.ca.gov/schedulespublications/todays-events )

Wednesday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m.— Candlelight vigil and program, state Capitol west steps. Anticipate 800 to 1,000 people. Tribal leaders, lawmakers, advocates, Native American cultural performances. (Livestreamed on Ramos’ Facebook page, https://www. facebook.com/AsmJamesRamos )

Thursday, May 4 at 9 a.m.— Assembly Floor Session. Assemblymember Ramos will open the session with a Native song and prayer memorializing MIIP. Vote also set on ACR 25, designating May as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Month.

One of the experts, Dr. Evelyn McDowell, an Associate Professor and Accounting Department Chair at Rider University in New Jersey, is a member and president of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage

Rev. Tony Pierce CEO of Oakland's Black Wall Street Project, addresses the California Reparations Task Force in Sacramento, Calif., on March 29, 2023. The task force will ask lawmakers to institute a geneology branch to certify individuals' ancestral claims for reparations. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

Evelyn McDowell

Kellie Farrish

Hollywood writers to go on strike Tuesday after negotiations fail

by: Josh DuBose, Sandra Mitchell, Carlos Saucedo

Posted: May 1, 2023 / 05:33 PM PDT

Updated: May 1, 2023 / 09:43 PM PDT

The Lookout: Six Bills Call for More Responsible Policing, Safer Streets...continued notified of the reason t and would have an opportunity to defend themselves.

Cory Salzillo, Legislative Director of the California State Sheriff's Association, opposes AB 1090, claiming it undermines the electoral process.

“This is not good government,” said Salzillo. “This is disenfranchising voters.”

Explaining why the bill is needed, Jones-Sawyer said, “the bill provides counties with a meaningful tool to remove a sheriff for serious violations of the public trust.”

AB 1090 is currently under consideration in the Assembly Local Government Committee.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) authored AB 1643. This bill would prohibit minors -- ages 12 to 17 years old -- from participating in a program of supervision unless the minor has committed an offense in which the restitution owed exceeds $5,000.”

Proponents of AB 1643 clarified that this bill would allow minors to be eligible for diversion programs, and judges and probation departments will still have discretion.

also require law enforcement agencies to have written FRT policies and maintain records of its use, which would be reported to the California State Auditor.

AB 642 is not Ting's first attempt to restrict FRT. The lawmaker’s AB 1215 in 2019 temporarily banned the use of FRT in body cameras for three years. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expressed their opposition to AB 642 because the civil rights advocacy organization believes it does not go far enough.

"If it is intended to stop the civil rights disaster that is admittedly face recognition surveillance, it unfortunately backfires," said ACLU California Action Director of Government Affairs Carmen-Nicole Cox. "The recently authored amendments do not adequately protect against freedom from unreasonable government surveillance, wrongful seizure, or dissuade its misuse."

Commentary: Cinco de Mayo - A Celebration of Latinx Revindication in the U.S.

Anna Lee Mraz | Special to California Black Media Partners

Hollywood writers are now set to strike Tuesday as talks between the Writer’s Guild of America the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers concluded Monday without an agreement. This will be the first WGA strike in more than 10 years with more than 11,000 television and film writers expected to walk off the job.

“You’re going to see picket signs going up in front of studios, in front of various other offices, as well as you’re going to start seeing a number of shows shut down instantly,” Deadline

Hollywood Senior Editor

Dominic Patten told KTLA.

WGA and AMPTP have been in talks for more than a month, with writers pushing for better base pay and an increase in residual money, saying that half of all writers are currently earning scale – the bare minimum of their contract. They also want higher contributions to their pension plan and health fund.

Television and film executives, on the other hand, say they are still recovering from pandemic losses and have put a lot of money into streaming content.

“The decision (to strike) was

made following six weeks of negotiating with Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Warner Brothers, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony under the umbrella of the AMPTP,” the WGA said in a statement. Though our Negotiating Committee began this process intent on making a fair deal, the studios’ responses have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing.”

WGA’s negotiating committee unanimously rejected the AMPTP’s final offer and recommended to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council that a strike order be issued, the statement continued.

“The studios who have been making billions and billions and billions, they say they can’t do it.

‘We’re cutting jobs, we’re cutting content,’ but of course, a lot of that is to please Wall Street and their stock. These are still very profitable companies,” Patten said.

Viewing audiences will see an almost instant impact with latenight shows in reruns starting Tuesday. If it drags on, scripted shows will be affected, and next season’s network shows could be delayed or canceled.

The Lookout: Six Bills Call for More Responsible Policing, Safer Streets

Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Watching your tax dollars, elected officials and legislation that affects you.

owners would need to confirm possession of all their registered weapons when purchasing a new gun.

Jones-Sawyer maintains “many firearms are not reported missing or stolen until they have been used in a crime."

Daniel Reid, western regional director of the National Rifle Association (NRA), has voiced his organization's opposition to AB 574.

This bill is part of California's broader effort to reform its criminal justice system by prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment.

Supporters of this bill say one of its goals is to avoid the trauma and stigma associated with youth who go through the criminal justice system.

Last week, the Assembly Appropriations Committee postponed a hearing on the bill.

AB 642, introduced by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), would limit the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by law enforcement in felony arrests and prevent individuals from being stopped based on FRT information. The bill would

Another bill Ting introduced, AB 645, authorizes a fiveyear pilot program that would temporarily legalize speed enforcement cameras in six California cities: Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach and San Francisco.

“My city of San Francisco is committed to reducing traffic fatalities to zero,” Ting said in a press release. “More than 70% of our city’s fatalities occur on just 12% of our streets.”

The pedestrian advocacy group Walk San Francisco has been a vocal supporter of AB 645 while other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union have strongly opposed it, citing its encroachment on privacy rights.

The Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection voted to approve AB 645 and has referred it to the Appropriations

continued on page 7

The fifth of May, Cinco de Mayo, is a holiday that celebrates the Battle of Puebla, which took place in 1862 near the Mexican city of Puebla. On this day, the Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated the French in their attempt to take over the country.

While this date is not widely celebrated in Mexico, except for perhaps in Puebla itself, it has become a popular holiday in the United States.

It’s a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s independence. In fact, Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated on September 16th.

In 1867, five years after the Mexican army’s victory over the French forces at Puebla, the triumph was first celebrated in the United States, in Texas where General Zaragoza was born. Later in 1930, the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles held an official celebration that helped establish the identity of the Mexican and Latin American community in the United States.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo gained popularity in the United States due to the efforts of the Chicano movement. This movement fought for the civil and human rights of Mexican

Americans and played an important role in structuring the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo became a way for the Mexican American community to assert their identity and say “We, Mexicans, are here. This is us. We speak Spanish and this is how we celebrate.”

In 1980, as the Chicano movement was gaining momentum, U.S. beer companies began to market Cinco de Mayo through advertising campaigns that encouraged the community to celebrate their identity by consuming their products.

Subsequently, other companies followed suit giving a twist to the meaning of the celebration and redefining it as a celebration of Mexican culture in the United States. As a result, while Cinco de Mayo is now widely celebrated, many people who participate in the festivities are unaware of its origins.

Cinco de Mayo has evolved to become not only a celebration of Mexican culture but also a symbol of the struggle and unity of all oppressed migrant and Latino communities.

This date is typically celebrated with large festivities that feature continued on page 6

Despite Protests, No FCC Movement on Vote for Standard General-TEGNA Deal...continued from page 1

General and Tegna is founded not in future promise but on past record and a corporate culture that reflects the American ideals of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” the letter said. “It is founded on Soo Kim’s personal and professional commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and his vision to enlarge the footprint of people of color in broadcast media.”

No community has a greater interest in the diversification of America’s broadcast media than African Americans, Foy added.

“We have long sought and fought for expanded access to ownership, administration, operational, programmatic opportunities within the television broadcast industry,” he said. [Kim’s] new company will operationalize a robust and rigorous vision of inclusion and industrial scale access for Communities of Color, writ large, but specifically to the Black community which through long suffering and moral fortitude has long sought and fought for.”

concerns and opposition in a guest column in Broadcasting and Cable. FCC scrutiny, he said, is necessary to safeguard local news coverage in an era when TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers, are being snapped up by hedge funds and other news outlets are being shuttered at an alarming rate.

“We have already seen the detrimental effects that Wall Street control of local journalism produces — news deserts for local communities created by consolidation and even increases in government costs as a result of the lack of scrutiny over local deals,” Braico said. “Now, Wall Street funds like Apollo Global Management have turned their attention to broadcast TV, and it is crucial to determine if the Standard General-Tegna megamerger will serve the public interest, and not reduce coverage of local issues, impose viewpoints that are out of step with the community, or put jobs in local newsrooms at risk.”

American-owned or controlled stations from 4 to 65.

Outside the Federal Communications Commission building, Korean and AfricanAmerican protestors wearing black T-shirts with white lettering saying, “HOLD A VOTE,” stood resolutely in the cool morning. Charles Yoon walked down the line shaking each demonstrators’ hand while bowing deeply.

“Soo Kim has been a leader in the Korean community for a long time. He is an expert in diversity. This expansion is very important for the community at large,” said Yoon, president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York. “I came to support the deal because it would be very important to increase diversity.”

Yoon, an attorney who traveled with protestors on a bus from New York, said he understood that the proposed merger has not been voted on and that its fate is in the hands of an administrative judge.

as the chair, has the prerogative to bring the issue to a vote, and even though at least two commissioners desire a vote, whether that happens is out of their hands. Meanwhile, the FCC has come under intense criticism for seeming to be going against its declared support for diversity. Carr, for his part, said he’s concerned about the delay because of the message it sends.

“I believe the application deserves a straight up-and-down vote. Diversity is important. The FCC should remove any impediments,” said Carr, the senior Republican on the FCC who once served as the agency’s general counsel.

“It’s been a year-long process. Local news is sputtering by the moment.”

With that reality, Carr said, the FCC needs to create incentives and inducements, adding that this deal – if approved – would represent “a really break-glass moment.”

The California Legislature is currently considering several bills related to gun safety, criminal justice, and police accountability.

Several of these bills have already been approved by the Assembly Safety Committee and are now under review by other legislative committees. If passed, they could affect policing in your community, juvenile arrests and rights, tickets for traffic violations, and state policy around gun ownership.

Public Safety Committee

Chair Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) authored Assembly Bill (AB) 574. Under the proposed bill, gun

"We feel like the bill lacks clarity," said Reid. "If the firearm can't go without a 'yes' answer you have a Fifth Amendment issue. It violates your right against self-incrimination.

People can't be compelled to incriminate themselves if they are in violation of this law."

The Assembly Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing AB 574. A hearing date has not yet been set.

Jones-Sawyer has also introduced AB 1090. It would allow a board of supervisors to remove an elected sheriff with a four-fifths vote.

The bill states that sheriffs facing removal would be

But there is substantial and significant opposition from critics ranging from other media entities and unions such as the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET)-CWA and The NewsGuild-CWA which filed a petition to dismiss or deny the deal with the FCC last year. Union officials contend that an “unprecedented array of sequenced transactions and swaps” — are actually an attempt to “game the Commission’s ownership and retransmission consent rules in ways that contravene the Commission’s public interest standard,” according to a June 22, 2022, Broadcasting and Cable story.

Charlie Braico, head of NABET-CWA, presented his

More than 80 percent of Americans say they find local news coverage on television and radio to be most trustworthy, Braico added.

“We must not violate that trust by ceding control of local news to a handful of hedge funds,” he asserted.

In February last year, Tegna, which owns 64 television stations in 51 US markets, agreed to be acquired by Standard General for $8.6 billion, including debt. Supporters point to the potential benefits including a 300 percent increase of minority-owned or controlled commercial fullpower television stations; expansion of the number of minority-owned commercial full-power television stations in the US from 24 to 85; and a surge in the number of Asian-

“I hope we show the FCC how much we care,” he said.

Inside the meeting, four FCC commissioners – closely watched by almost a dozen protestors – went through a five-item agenda. At the end of the hearing, in a Q&A with the media, Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworchel tried to explain why the Standard General-TEGNA question had not yet been put to a vote.

She said the transaction is currently the subject of litigation and is before an administrative law judge and therefore she’s prohibited from talking about it. But Rosenworchel did say that she firmly believes “that diversity of the media needs to reflect the diversity of this country.”

When asked, Commissioner Brendan Carr said Rosenworchel,

“Hundreds of local newspapers have shut down over the last few years alone. This trend is part of a broader decline in the investments necessary to sustain the journalists and reporters that are vital to communities across the country,” he said in a Feb 24, 2023, joint statement with Commissioner Nathan Simington after the public review. “Many of the nation’s local TV stations are trying to step up and expand their news gathering operations. At this moment, the FCC should be working to encourage more of the investment necessary for these local broadcasters to innovate and thrive. It does the opposite today. After a protracted, nearly yearlong review, the commission should be providing the parties with a decision on the merits –not an uncertain future.”

Every Child has the Right to Learn to Read

By Kymyona Burk and Sylvie Légère

Every Child has the Right to Learn to Read...continued

Sylvie Légère Kymyona Burk

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - As a parent, do you think your child is reading at grade level?

The Learning Heroes' National Parent Survey, conducted annually since 2016, consistently found that many parents tend to overestimate their child's academic performance, including their reading levels.

According to Be A Learning

Hero’s Hidden in Plain Sight survey findings, 92% of parents believe their child is at or above grade level, while 44% of teachers believe that students will be prepared for grade-level work. Meanwhile, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data, also called the National Report Card, showed that 65% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading.

Those are the facts. According to a report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out or fail to graduate from high school. Reading and reading comprehension is the first and most crucial building block in a

foundation of success. The ability to read and comprehend connects our youth to more opportunities and new worlds. Imagine a world where every child is equipped with the essential skills to read, learn, and thrive throughout their educational journey. Picture a world where every student is assessed for reading proficiency and struggling readers are promptly identified and set on a path to success. This is especially important because, as the Yale Center for Dyslexia states, dyslexia impacts 20% of the population and accounts for 80-90% of all learning disabilities. It is the most common of all neurocognitive disorders, but it is hard to diagnose early. Picture a world where schools provide targeted, evidence-based interventions tailored to each student's unique needs. Imagine young learners receiving extra instructional time, personalized tutoring, or engaging in small group activities that foster growth and confidence.

And what if parents became

continued in next 2 columns

California’s next housing crackdown could force cities to plan more homeless shelters...continued

from page 2

County’s homeless services agencies shows the county has 3,080 beds in its year-round shelters and transitional housing programs — 6,198 fewer than its estimated total number of unhoused residents.

Los Angeles County has 21,100 placements in its temporary housing, safe parking and motel programs, according to a county dashboard — not enough to accommodate even a third of its unhoused population.

Advocates want more money for homeless housing

At a recent hearing, some bill critics wondered where the money would come from to build all this extra housing.

“The funding’s going to be incredibly critical,” said Jason Rhine, assistant director of legislative affairs for the League of California Cities. “If we do not have the money, we will not be able to house individuals.”

The league hasn’t officially opposed the bill, but says it has concerns.

Blakespear wants to pair her bill with a new state fund, which would help cities, counties and nonprofits build housing for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. But it remains to be seen how much — if any — money the Legislature allocates, as the state faces a budget deficit of at least $22.5 billion this year.

Some aspects of the legislation are still up for negotiation. It’s unclear what type of homeless housing cities and counties could use to fulfill the new requirements. Blakespear envisions it would include both permanent and temporary — meaning apartments, but also shelters, RV sites, single-roomoccupancy hotels, and more.

It’s also unclear exactly what each city and county would be on the hook for under the new bill, and what the penalties would be for noncompliance. The state’s current process requires cities to plan for housing, including zoning for it and removing roadblocks from its construction, but doesn’t require them to get it built.

partners in their child's education, staying informed about their real progress, and learning strategies to support their budding readers at home? What if parentteacher conferences were about discussing their child's growth and collaborating on intervention strategies? Could we imagine a world where there is a "Third Grade Gate" which serves as a checkpoint, ensuring that students can demonstrate reading proficiency on a state assessment

before advancing to fourth grade?

Shouldn’t we expect that teachers be champions of reading, armed with training in the science of reading and evidence-based literacy instruction methods such as phonics, empowering them to make a lasting impact on their students' lives?

As these conversations unfold, it’s natural for educators, parents and policymakers to wonder whether their state has a high-

continued on page 7

Commentary: Cinco de Mayo - A Celebration of Latinx Revindication in the U.S...continued from page 4

Mexican music, traditions, art, food, and beverages.

Rubén Ábrica, mayor of East Palo Alto, pointed out in an interview with Peninsula 360 Press that during the celebrations of Cinco de Mayo “people of Mexican descent celebrate their contributions to the American society and join Latino communities affirming their culture, history, and aspirations for justice and equity for the Latinx community and for the people of the United States and around the world.”

Ábrica acknowledged that the celebration of Cinco de Mayo in East Palo Alto retains its historical significance by inspiring the community to stand up for their rights and fight “against racist oppression and inequality. These issues have caused suffering for many people, particularly those who are people of color and other vulnerable groups.

The Cinco de Mayo holiday provides an opportunity to explore themes of freedom, culture, and identity. By

challenging stereotypes and rejecting one-dimensional representations of Mexican culture: tropes like Sombreros, Burros, and Huaraches.

Undoubtedly, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo has deeper roots than being a celebration where Mexican music is played, it must be more than an excuse to drink Tequila or Mezcal (but who needs one, right?), or a marketing strategy for beer companies, and where typical food is consumed.

There is more than one good reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year. Acknowledging the value and importance of Mexican Heritage and learning about the rich history of Mexican people in the United States is a worthy endeavor.

Karina Alvarado from Peninsula 360 Press provided information for this article.

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

24th, 2023, that the "Doomsday Clock" has been moved up to 90 seconds before midnight -- the closest humanity has ever been to Armageddon. Before 2020, the closest the hand was set to midnight was two minutes. The Doomsday Clock serves as a warning, according to man, of how close the world is to selfannihilation caused by human activity. Midnight is considered the end of all human life.”

Rachel Bronson, the president of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, who unveiled this year’s Doomsday Clock set at 100 seconds to midnight, said “It is the first time the measurement was released in seconds, indicating that the “current environment is profoundly unstable and URGENT ACTION and IMMEDIATE engagement is required by all.”

Also, in the press conference for this year’s Doomsday Clock, former California Governor Jerry Brown likened the scientists’ warning to “VOICES OF THE PROPHETS OF DOOM.” He said that “speaking of danger and destruction is never very easy—if you speak the truth, people will not want to listen, because it’s too awful.” He went on to say that the prophets of old, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, were ignored as well. And as well all know, the warnings of the Old Testament prophets were not just for their time. They also apply to our time [Isaiah 30:8; Daniel 12:9; Habakkuk 2:2-3].

Listen, everything is aligning

closely with many prophesied signs of the end times found in the Bible. So how should you respond?. The Bible urges to have a sense of urgency. It describes the suddenness of endtime catastrophes.

The enemy nations will come “from the end of the earth; surely they shall come with speed, swiftly” [Isaiah 5:26], causing great destruction [Jeremiah 4:20; 6:26]. Setting them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts [Malachi 4:1–3, 5].

So, whatcha gonna do? For this is the day of redemption. This is the day of opportunity. This is the day to bear the fruit of repentance. This is the day to be saved from destruction. Whatcha gonna do?

“When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. [Jeremiah 7:27].

And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they call, I will not listen, says the LORD of Hosts. [Zechariah 7:13].

The people missed the opportunity to be saved from both earthly and eternal destruction. [Luke 19:41-44]. Tragedy!

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1149

Reproductive Rights ARE Human Rights

Sherry Warren and Katie Adams

Much of the housing cities plan for during that state-mandated process never gets constructed. And low-income housing fares the worst. In the last eight-year planning cycle, just 20% of the very-low-income units needed statewide were permitted.

The California Building Industry Association opposes Blakespear’s bill, worrying money to fund it would come from raising taxes and fees paid by homebuilders. Furthermore, existing law already requires cities and counties to assess their need for emergency shelter, said Cornelious Burke, the association’s vice president of legislative affairs.

Blakespear said she has no intention of using construction fees to cover the cost of her bill. And she disagreed the state’s existing shelter-assessment requirement renders her bill unnecessary.

“Those are just words,” she said. “That is not an actual obligation to provide anything for people who are unhoused.”

Ray Bramson of Destination: Home, a nonprofit that helps spearhead the homelessness response in Santa Clara County, said the bill could help get more homeless housing built. But it depends on how the details of the bill shake out, he said. For one thing, the bill should focus on permanent housing that comes with supportive services like mental health care – not on temporary shelter, Bramson said.

And, the bill must come with funding.

“If not,” he said, “then it’s just another goal that we’re going to struggle to meet collectively.”

California lawmakers want to know why billions in spending isn’t reducing homelessness

California lawmakers want to know why billions in spending isn’t reducing homelessness

At the direction of a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, the state auditor will complete a detailed audit of spending on California homelessness programs. The number of unhoused has grown, even as spending has increased.

By Lou K. Coleman

Lou K. Coleman

Wake up! Watchmen’s are sending out the warnings and blowing shofars. America is in trouble. What we’re seeing in America is the death of morality. What we’re seeing in America is the death of biblical standards. Morality and biblical commitment are fading in our nation and fading before our very eyes and God is not pleased. America is caught in the doomsday cycle. We are a dying nation in a world of dying nations and dying people.

And in [Isaiah chapter 5], it is showing us what to expect, giving us a truest picture, a divine insight to understand what’s going on in our country, a model of glorious beginnings and disastrous endings, a model of apostasy, a model of decline, a model of starting with the glorious truth of God and ending up in the judgment of God. Wake up! Being oblivious of the obvious will cause you to lose your life.

In [1 Corinthians chapter 10], the apostle Paul said that the Old Testament was written to give us examples. There was a people given everything by God to assure a glorious future. But they, too, followed the same cycle and ended up in tragic judgment.

I tell you, this nation is in the throes of its death. We’re going down, and it’s not political and economic; and it’s not partisan; it’s the rise of sin – defiant sin and the disregard for God’s Word that is taking us down. Wake up!

For He says in [Proverbs 1:2431] "Because I called and you

refused, I stretched out My hand and no one paid attention and you neglected all My counsel and did not want my reproof, I will even laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your dread comes. When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you, you will call on Me, but I will not answer, you will seek Me diligently, but you shall not find Me because you hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. You shall eat of the fruit of you own way and be satiated with your own desires."

Listen, there is always an outpouring, and it is called mercy before trouble comes. I believe and I’m trembling as I’m saying this that we’re entering in a season where God is asking us to take this time seriously because time is running out. Don’t wait until its too late because the sirens are getting louder and louder. Doomsday is around the corner and Christ is soon to return. The situation in the world has become so unstable that catastrophe could happen at any moment.

It’s “Two Minutes Till Midnight” [1 Peter 4:7-11]. Repent and give your life to Jesus NOW! Don’t wait until it’s too late! The Bible urges us to have a sense of urgency, and it describes the suddenness of endtime catastrophes. prophecies that warn of how quickly disaster can [and will] come in the end times. Read it for yourself [Isaiah 5:26; Jeremiah 4:20; 6:26; Isaiah 30:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:3]. And as [Matthew 24:22] reveals, without divine intervention, a coming time of war and destruction would destroy all human life. What are your waiting for? Give your life to Christ today! Because not only are we warned from the Word of God, but “Scientists even revealed on Tuesday, January

We wish it were not true, but these are not unprecedented times; the right to bodily autonomy is a continual struggle and we’re seeing those rights being chipped away, sometimes bit by bit and sometimes with a sledgehammer. The Dobbs decision which obviated Roe v Wade ushered us back fifty years in abortion access and makes it so people who can get pregnant are unable to make their own choices about their healthcare and future. Reducing people to mere wombs and vessels, rather than fully being seen as people, strips all of us of our collective humanity. The chaos being sowed by legislators who are intent on banning abortion access is intentional and intertwined with the many other limits being placed on the rights of individuals to have authority over their own lives.

Siblings in Christ, Seekers of Justice statements affirm the importance of ensuring access to the full range of reproductive health care regardless of race, religion, or economic status, believing that basic human autonomy is a human right bestowed by God. We see over the course of the last several months story after painful story of the sad, incomprehensible situations many folks have found themselves in because of restrictive conditions that pregnant individuals and medical professionals are facing. These stories include withheld cancer treatments, people facing medical crises denied life-saving care, and legislators pushing for those who get an abortion to be incarcerated. Additionally, more people are simply being forced to have children by a well-funded legislative push to control reproductive power. Americans are finding their right to live a full life of their own agency undermined and devalued by legislators.

The majority of abortions in the U.S. take place using abortion bills. The protocol of a Self-Medicated Abortion (SMA) using Mifepristone and Misoprostol has been approved by the FDA and used for decades as a safe option to end intrauterine pregnancy. Now, access to medicated abortion is under increased scrutiny with Wyoming being the first state to pass legislation to explicitly ban abortion pills. A Texas judge recently suspended the FDA approval of mifepristone, putting access to abortion medication at risk nationally and challenging the authority of the FDA in other approvals. While another judge stayed that decision, this attack on the use of evidence-based, approved, essential healthcare is further disempowering individuals and expanding the overreach of legislators over the bodies and personal agency of people across the nation.

The United Church of Christ’s General Synod has spoken clearly through resolutions in support of all pregnant people being able to make the decisions that fit their values, circumstances, and needs - including abortion. These

Even though the Supreme Court responded to an emergency request by the Justice Department and has kept access to mifepristone in states where abortion is legal, this decision is not final or necessarily permanent; the litigation continues. Through all of that, we will continue to provide support and witness to all of God’s beloved children, and work with other communities of faith that support compassionate, complete, and accurately presented reproductive healthcare access. Our image of the divine calls us to be bearers of complete and nonjudgmental information about the decision to have children, not have children, raise those children in safe environments, and for all people to control their own bodies and futures.

Sherry Warren is the Minister for Women’s and Gender Justice for the United Church of Christ.

Katie Adams is the Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues for the United Church of Christ.

“I Tell You, Oblivious of the Obvious Will Cause You to Lose Your Life!”...continued

“I Tell You, Oblivious of the Obvious Will Cause You to Lose Your Life!”

Walgreens Eases Anxiety for Senior Shoppers with Monthly Seniors Day

By BlackPressUSA

Your Taxes Raised $83.1 Billion for the State Last Fiscal Year; Schools Received $44.6 Billion

McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check Study is a quantitative survey of 1,048 adults 55 and older conducted February 17 – 18, 2023 using an online data collection methodology.

Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check finds Seniors are Less Socially Active Now than Before the Pandemic and Seeking Confidence in Socializing

DEERFIELD, Ill. —Walgreens

unveils The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check[1], a quantitative study commissioned by the healthcare retailer, which surveyed over 1,000 senior adults 55 and older in the U.S. about their feelings on socializing after the pandemic. As society moves past the impacts of this pandemic, the reality for many of the nation’s 41+ million seniors is that they still feel concerned about getting sick[2].

The survey reveals that an estimated 17 million (42%) of seniors agreed they are less socially active now than they were before the pandemic. Additionally, an estimated 8.2 million (20%) of seniors feel lonelier now than before the pandemic.

The research also reveals that seniors are missing activities they enjoyed pre-pandemic due to COVID-19 exposure anxiety, which is still prevalent in the senior community:

60% are worried about seeing friends regularly and attending family gatherings

36% miss going on vacation

28% miss going shopping or running errands

19% miss being connected to their local community

15% miss the independence of doing things for themselves, like shopping

This feeling of concern around socialization increases for the Black senior community 55 and older with nearly 4 in 10 (39%) of these seniors reporting feeling socially isolated, 13 percentage points higher than the total population of 55 and older. In addition, over 4 in 10 (43%) seniors in the Black community reported they are limiting what they do and where they go in fear of catching COVID-19 –16 percentage points higher than the total population of 55 and older.

Inspiring Senior Confidence with Shopping Experiences, Savings and Support

When seniors think about their confidence in socializing, The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check found 70% of seniors are more confident socializing when the people they are around are vaccinated against COVID-19 and other viruses like flu, shingles and pneumonia.

To help create inclusive communities and unlock the joy of aging, Walgreens Seniors Day fosters an accessible, safe and supported environment. Patients 55 and older and their caregivers can save 20% off eligible regularpriced merchandise on the first Tuesday of every month or online all week with code SENIOR20 at checkout (Sunday-Saturday of that week).

At checkout, Seniors should let a Walgreens team member know they are shopping with the Seniors Day discount for the savings to apply to their purchase. Those with Medicare Advantage over-the-counter benefits are encouraged to ask team members how to take advantage of their benefit while in store.

Our pharmacy teams are trained to support the senior population through pharmacy services including, Save A Trip Refill,[3] 90-day prescription fills[4] and refill reminders[5] which are designed to make medication management easier, keeping them healthy and avoid hospitalization.

With the Majority of Seniors Feeling More Confident in a Society with Immunizations and Testing, Building a Healthy Post-Pandemic World Where Everyone Feels Included is a Shared Responsibility

No cost at-home COVID-19 tests are available with most insurance plans through May 11, 2023[6]. Limits apply to the number of tests covered per person per month. Walgreens brand at-home COVID-19 tests provide an affordable option and are available with a deeper discount on Senior Day. Walgreens pharmacy team

members are available to help customers use their pharmacy benefits to get over-the-counter test kits through their insurance.

“As a trusted healthcare destination, we’re giving customers another testing option to stay ahead of COVID-19 with our Walgreens brand at-home COVID-19 test, broadening our assortment in stores and online,” said Luke Rauch, Walgreens chief merchandising officer and senior vice president. “In addition to tests, we offer an assortment of Walgreens brand products that offer a great everyday value and are designed to meet our consumers’ needs.”

To help further protect this senior community more at risk from, and concerned about, COVID-19, shingles and pneumonia, Walgreens pharmacy team members are available during Seniors Days and every day to make getting vaccinated simple. This includes the recently approved additional bivalent (updated) COVID-19 dose for those ages 65+ and certain immunocompromised individuals. Customers can schedule a vaccine appointment online, via the myWalgreens app or by calling (800)-WALGREENS, available in both Spanish and English.

Unlocking the Joy of Aging with Essential Products & Doorstep Delivery

With more than 85,000 healthcare service providers, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurse practitioners, Walgreens offers customers with more complex health needs easy access to the medications, treatments and products they need to keep safe and well. This includes products from walkers and hearing aids along with our Walgreens brand line of vitamins with a range of products likeCalcium, Iron and Vitamin C. As a trusted name in health and wellness, Walgreens brand health and wellness products are Walgreens pharmacist recommended and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Making it even easier for seniors to get the products they want and need, Walgreens now offers 24-Hour delivery. Available around the clock, seven days a week from 600+ participating stores across the country, customers can get lastminute needs like groceries, over-the-counter medications, personal care items, household necessities and more. If a customer wants to swing by Walgreens, 30-minute pickup makes it easy to shop their local store via Walgreens.com or the myWalgreens app and have items ready for pickup in-store or curbside in as little as 30 minutes.

To find out more about the work Walgreens is doing to support our senior communities visit Walgeens.com.

About The Study

The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check Study is a quantitative survey of 1,048 adults 55 and older conducted February 17 – 18, 2023 using an online data collection methodology. The survey was fielded by Dynata, a global survey vendor, and was commissioned by Walgreens.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (http://www. walgreens.com) is included in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare segments of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities. WBA’s purpose is to create more joyful lives through better health. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walgreens is proud to be a neighborhood health destination serving nearly 10 million customers each day. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in the U.S. healthcare system by providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services, including those that drive equitable access to care for the nation’s medically underserved populations. To best meet the needs of customers and patients, Walgreens offers a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms supported by the latest technology to deliver highquality products and services in communities nationwide.

[1]All statistics unless otherwise stated are from the Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check Study.

[2]US Census, 2020: Total number of adults over 55. Source: https://www.census.gov/ programs-surveys/decennialcensus/decade/2020/2020census-main.html

[3] Restrictions apply.

[4] Restrictions apply.

[5] Data rates may apply.

[6] Applies to most fullyinsured and self-insured group and individual coverage, until the end of the public health emergency. Covers up to eight (8) rapid antigen test per month. COVID-19 home test kit returns will not be accepted.

RUHS Hosts Free Mental Health Awareness Fairs in Celebration of Mental Health Month

World/Health News

Palm Desert, Menifee, and Riverside, CA - Riverside University Health System (RUHS) - Behavioral Health invites community members to attend a free, family-friendly mental health awareness fair being held at various locations throughout Riverside County in celebration of Mental Health Month.

The events will take place at three different locations on three different dates, including the Palm Desert Civic Center Park on Wednesday, May 3, from noon to 5 p.m., Central Park in Menifee on Thursday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Fairmount Park in Riverside on Thursday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Guests enjoyed music at last year's Mental Health Awareness Fair

Guests

and advocates will also be in attendance to share information and provide resources.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in five adults

Schools across the Golden State received a windfall of $44.6 billion in local property tax revenue, according to the 2021-22 California Board of Equalization’s (BOE) Annual Report released late last month.

The funds collected from property owners for the 202122 fiscal year, which ended at last June, was an increase of 3.8% from the previous fiscal year. Overall, local property tax revenues increased 4% or $3.2 billion to $83.1 billion total. In addition to schools, the funds were funneled to the coffers of local governments throughout California.

BOE Chairman Antonio Vazquez said in an April 18 statement that property taxes are a steady and reliable revenue stream for government services and schools that Californians depend on daily.

“The BOE’s critical role protects these dollars through its oversight of property tax assessments and that they are done fairly, uniformly, and consistently,” he said.

The board released a 26-page report weeks after California Democratic lawmakers proposed Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 11 to abolish

the board and reassign its duties to other state tax agencies effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The is responsible for overseeing property tax collection in all 58 California’s counties. It also makes more than 13 million tax assessments every year.

The report, released yearly to provide information on revenue collected by the fivemember tax body and detail its accomplishments, made no mention of the amendment.

In addition to Vazquez, who represents the BOE’s Third District, other members are: State Controller Malia M. Cohen; Ted Gaines (First District); Sally J. Lieber (Second District); and Mike Schaefer, Vice Chair (Fourth District). Yvette M. Stowers, who was appointed by the Board, serves as Executive Director.

Cohen, the first African American woman to chair the BOE, was voted State Controller last November. She took office in January this year.

This year’s report found that the total net statewide countyassessed property value increased by 7% to $7.6 trillion in fiscal year 2021-22, up $500 billion continued on page 8

The Lookout: Six Bills Call for More Responsible Policing, Safer Streets...continued from page 4 Committee for consideration.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to place AB 1260, authored by Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin), “on call.” The “on call” designation means that the legislation is subject to change, but it has not been rejected.

AB 1260 would require parole departments to determine an inmate’s minimum eligible parole date based on their sentence and any credits earned or expected to be earned during incarceration.

Credits refer to points awarded for good conduct or behavior. The bill would also require parole departments to notify the district attorney when an inmate is being released based on credits earned or revoked and the county to which the inmate is returning.

Patterson stated his bill would provide more standardization and oversight for sentence lengths based on the credit system.

“How can we be sure that an inmate is serving the proper length of time – and this includes possibly serving too much time – without any thirdparty verification whatsoever?” questioned Patterson.

A representative of the advocacy group Initiate Justice says that AB 1260 is "not necessary," because there already exists an online victim notification system.

But proponents of the bill argue that the current system places the burden on relatives and next of kin to keep checking online to see if the release date has changed.

Every Child has the Right to Learn to Read...

continued from page 6

quality literacy law in place. With its interactive 50-state overview and explanation of common challenges, ExcelinEd’s Early Literacy Matters dashboard shows which states are leading the pack.

in the United States experiences mental illness in a given year, and at RUHS, the importance of mental health awareness is emphasized.

"At RUHS, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, and we are proud to support Mental Health Month by hosting these events," said Dr. Matthew Chang, Director of RUHS-Behavioral Health. "By bringing together our county partners, local organizations, and advocates, we can raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues," Dr. Chang said.

For more information about the mental health awareness fairs, visit www.ruhealth.org or call Mindy McFarland at 951358-3586.

For example, based on legislation enacted in Florida in the early 2000s, the Mississippi Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA) is a bold and transformative state law designed to make this vision a reality. Passed in 2013 and refined over the years, the LBPA targets kindergarten through third grade, a critical period in a child's academic development. It's a time when learning to read evolves into reading to learn. By ensuring students are reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade, the LBPA aims to prevent the potential struggles and setbacks that can plague those who don't master this essential skill.

While some critics argue that

retention policies may have negative psychological and social effects, the LBPA's emphasis on early identification, intervention, and parent involvement reshaped the educational landscape in Mississippi. Between 2017 and 2019 Mississippi was the only state that saw statewide reading improvement.

Let's envision a brighter future where every child has the opportunity to become a confident and proficient reader, unlocking a world of endless possibilities. For that, it requires us to demand that our state representatives make reading a priority and pass laws that follow the Mississippi model.

Don’t you think that reading is a right of every child in this country?

Kymyona Burk is Senior Policy Fellow for ExcelinEd and Sylvie Légère is co-founder of The Policy Circle.

OP-ED: The Obesity Crisis Is Not a Hopeless Fight for Black America

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Your Taxes Raised $83.1 Billion for the State Last Fiscal Year; Schools Received $44.6 Billion...

continued from page 7 from the previous year.

The assessed property value has increased annually for the past 10 years from $4.6 trillion in 2013. For example, it was $5.8 trillion in 2017, $6.9 trillion in 2020, and $7.2 trillion in 2021.

Schools receive a lion’s share of property tax revenues. The 2020-21 fiscal year, $38.5 billion went to counties ($11.7 billion), cities ($10.4 billion), and special districts ($16.3 billion).

Local governments also received $2.2 billion from stateassessed property tax revenues.

Within the next seven years, researchers anticipate that half of American adults will live with obesity.

Whether we accept it or not, obesity continues to be a complex, chronic disease that kills thousands of Black Americans every year. Indeed, nearly half of Black Americans live with obesity, so we cannot afford to ignore this national emergency any longer.

The public discourse around weight loss that has taken over recent headlines has entirely missed the mark. Our mainstream media, social media, and content providers are all either dissecting whether a movie star used weight loss medication or analyzing whether these medications are safe to take, even though they’re FDA approved. The fact of the matter is that we are squandering a critical moment to focus on the deadly disease of obesity, and missing the opportunity to save thousands of lives, particularly Black lives. Within the next seven years, researchers anticipate that half of American adults will live with obesity. This is a personal health burden and a public health crisis, and we should talk about it as

such.

Turning the narrative around on this disease, and on Black wellness overall, is critical to stemming obesity’s growth. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade association of more than 250 Black-owned community newspapers and media companies from across the United States, has consistently been the voice of the Black community since its founding 83 years ago.

I serve as the organization’s President and CEO and right now, we’re calling on our members to elevate the conversation on the obesity crisis to one that clarifies the facts, shares reliable resources, and advocates for impactful changes for the benefit of our community’s health and longevity. We can address obesity in a way that gives hope, because this is not a hopeless fight.

To start, it’s vital that we correct the misinformation. Too often, people don’t know that obesity is a chronic disease and a long-term illness, with multiple

Last May, the board set the values of 339 state-assessed properties — mainly public utilities and railroads — at $133.9 billion, an increase of $10.8 billion from the previous year. This property tax revenue together with the countyassessed property tax monies will give local municipalities $85.3 billion in property tax funds.

The report also informs Californians of the Taxpayers Rights Advocate (TRA) Office, which is independent of the BOE.

The TRA Office receives contacts from taxpayers and others who are either seeking assistance with a problem or a disagreement they have in the assessment and collection of property taxes or a concern with a program administered by our agency,” the report reads. “Generally, the TRA Office assists taxpayers who have been unable to resolve a matter through normal channels and seek confirmation that they were treated fairly under the law.”

The BOE report found that the state government will receive $3.3 billion in revenue from the Alcoholic Beverage Tax Program, Tax on Insurers Program and Private Railroad

Car Tax. The Alcoholic Beverage Tax Program garnered $429 million. The program is a per-gallon excise tax collected on the sale, distribution, or importation of alcoholic beverages to the state. The monies from this tax are placed into the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund and are withdrawn to be used by the state’s general funds or to pay refunds under the program.

The Tax on Insurers Program, administered by the board, State Controller’s Office, and California Department of Insurance, generated $2.9 billion for the state. Insurance companies conducting business in California are subject to as many as three taxes — a tax on gross premiums, a retaliatory tax, and the ocean marine tax.

The Private Railroad Car Tax, an in-lieu property tax on railroad cars owned by non-railroad companies and operated upon California railroads, generated $9.8 million in funds. The report also revealed that bills that became effective in the last two years impacted programs run by the Board of Equalization. Assembly Bill 137, for example, extended the assessment appeals decision deadline for qualified applications whose two-year deadline was between March 4, 2020, and March 31, 2021 to December 31, 2021. One bill, AB 1203, expanded the type of work experience an individual must have to be eligible to serve on an assessment appeals board in Los Angeles County to include professional experience in fields such as real estate.

Senate Bill (SB) 825

Your Taxes Raised $83.1 Billion for the State Last Fiscal Year; Schools Received $44.6 Billion...continued extended the welfare exemption from property tax for land conservancies and trusts from lien date 2022 to lien date 2027.

The legislation also extended the sunset gate for intercounty pipeline right-of-way assessments from 2020-21 to 2025-26.

In a letter at the beginning of the budget report, Board of Equalization Executive Director

Yvette Stowers said the board is focused on its mission of tax administration to support California governments.

“We are proud to serve this great State of California and will continue to do our part to provide essential revenues for the state and local governments,” Stowers wrote.

continued from page 3 and Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). CJEC is a statewide coalition of organizations, associations and community members united for Reparations for Black U.S Slavery Descendants.

SB 189 “feels like a generational step forward for our people, for the state, and for the country,” Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC) lead organizer Chris Lodgson

said after Newsom signed the bill. “We are a specific group of people, and we need and deserve to be recognized as such, for reparations and for everything else we are owed.”

The task force will hold its next meeting May 6 in Oakland at Lisser Hall, which is located at 500 MacArthur Boulevard, Mills College at Northeastern University. It will begin at 9 a.m. PT.

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OP-ED: The Obesity Crisis Is Not a Hopeless Fight for Black America...continued

contributing factors outside of a person’s control: environmental circumstances, inherently racist healthcare programs, poverty, and genetics. In cities across the country, like Washington, D.C., where nearly half the population is Black, food deserts and food swamps have become the norm in Black communities. This makes it nearly impossible for many Black residents to eat well even if they wanted to. That is to say, many people cannot access one of the key tools for combating obesity — a healthy diet — because of factors outside of their control.

It’s also important to note that obesity is a complex disease that may require more than diet and exercise. Our understanding of the disease has changed drastically over the years thanks to scientific research and advances. Where diet and exercise are not enough, some people may need the extra support of anti-obesity medications to fight the disease. Just as

many of us take medications to manage hypertension, diabetes, or cholesterol — conditions you may have inherited — medications for chronic weight management may be needed as well.

Further, combating severe obesity may even require bariatric surgery. Chronic diseases are treated with a range of treatment options, and obesity is no different.

To be clear, the perception that people who live with obesity just need to take better care of themselves is false and dangerous, as it prevents thousands from receiving or seeking the care they need. Societal weight biases strain the mental health of people living by obesity, prevent people from living their healthiest lives, and contribute to our country’s stagnant healthcare policies that exacerbate obesity’s disproportionate impact on Black communities.

From less access to quality

healthcare, to the exclusion of anti-obesity medications from Medicare, and most Medicaid and general insurance coverage, our healthcare systems underprioritizes the well-being of Black Americans. And we’ve learned from history that until we make our voices heard, this crisis will continue to be brushed aside.

Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an expert on obesity, noted that we have been living through three pandemics: COVID-19, racism, and obesity. We must prioritize combating the obesity pandemic with the same energy we use to combat COVID-19 and racial injustice. Our lives depend on it.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr is President and CEO of the NNPA, Executive Producer/Host of The Chavis Chronicles on PBS TV stations throughout the United States, entrepreneur, global business and civil rights, and can be reached at dr.bchavis@ nnpa.org