SB American News Week Ending 5/15

Vol. 50 No. 3

May 9, 2019 - May 15, 2019

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 words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress.

—Fredrick Douglass (1849)

SPECIAL REPORT: Mass Incarceration of Women and Minorities a New Crisis Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Although the number of people in prisons and jails in America has slightly declined, numbers released on Thursday, April 25, by the Bureau of Justice Statistics still show that nearly 1.5 million individuals were in prison by the end of 2017.

The statistics also note that the U.S. continues to lock up more people than any other nation.

And, despite a narrowing disparity between incarcerated black and white women, females have emerged as the new face of mass incarceration.

“I don’t think this should be much of a surprise as two of the main for-profit prison companies were founded around the same time,” said Ron Stefanski, whose website prisoninsight.com, works to hold prisons accountable for the treatment of current, former and future inmates.

“When these for-profit companies were created, they found a way to generate revenue off of inmates and this led to a huge influx of prisoners, both male and female,” Stefanski said.

In 2000, black women were incarcerated at six times the rate of white women, but in 2017, black women were imprisoned at less than double the rate of white women, according to the latest information.

The number of white women in prison has increased by more than 40 percent since 2000 while the number of black women incarcerated has fallen by nearly 50 percent.

The most recent report from the Prison Policy Initiative revealed that, looking at the big picture shows that a staggering number of women who are incarcerated are not even convicted with one quarter of the women behind bars having not yet gone to trial.

Sixty-percent of women under the control of local authorities have not been convicted of a

Photo: Courtesy The Marshall Project/PBS crime and adding to the picture of women in local jails, aside from women under local jurisdictions, state and federal agencies pay local jails to house an additional 13,000 women, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

For example, ICE and the U.S. Marshals, which have fewer dedicated facilities for their detainees, contract with local jails to hold roughly 5,000 women – so the number of women physically held in jails is even higher.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, avoiding pre-trial incarceration is uniquely challenging for women.

The number of un-convicted women stuck in jail is surely not because courts are considering women, who are generally the primary caregivers of children, to be a flight risk, according to the Prison Policy Initiative report.

The far more likely answer is that incarcerated women, who have lower incomes than incarcerated men, have an even harder time affording cash bail.

When the typical bail amounts to a full year’s income for women, it’s no wonder that women are

stuck in jail awaiting trial, the report’s author said.

Even once convicted, the system funnels women into jails: About a quarter of convicted incarcerated women are held in jails, compared to about 10 percent of all people incarcerated with a conviction.

Also, while stays in jail are generally shorter than in stays in prison, jails make it harder to stay in touch with family than prisons do.

Phone calls are more expensive, up to $1.50 per minute, and other forms of communication are more restricted – some jails don’t even allow real letters, limiting mail to postcards.

This is especially troubling given that 80 percent of women in jails are mothers, and most of them are primary caretakers of their children.

Thus children are particularly susceptible to the domino effect of burdens placed on incarcerated women, the report’s author said.

Black and American Indian women are markedly overrepresented in prisons and jails, according to the report.

Incarcerated women are 53 percent White, 29 percent Black, 14 percent Hispanic, 2.5 percent American Indian and Alaskan Native, 0.9 percent Asian, and 0.4 percent Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.

“While we are a long way away from having data on intersectional impacts of sexuality and race or ethnicity on women’s likelihood of incarceration, it is clear that Black and lesbian or bisexual women are disproportionately subject to incarceration,” Prison Policy Initiative Author Aleks Kajstura said.

Three out of four women under control of any U.S. correctional system are on probation, according to Kajstura.

Probation is often billed as an alternative to incarceration, but instead it is frequently set with unrealistic conditions that undermine its goal of keeping people from being locked up, she wrote for the Prison Policy Initiative.

For example, probation often comes with steep fees, which, like bail, women are in the worst posi(continued on page 6)

FedEx partnership aims to grow 75 black businesses

Publisher’s Corner Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News

BANKING WHILE BLACK:

Bank Calls Police On Black Mayor In His Own City Blacknews.com Nationwide (BlackNews.com) - On Monday, Mayor Richard Thomas discussed how staff at JP Morgan & Chase summoned the police on him, his staff member, and a Mount Vernon Police detective as the Mayor sought to deposit a six figure check and get access to the City's online banking records.

A Chase employee called the police on Wednesday, April 25, after Mayor Thomas was invited into a conference room and after Mayor Thomas had introduced the two people with him, including the police detective.

The response by the White Plains Police Department was resolved amicably after one of the responding officers recognized the Mount Vernon Police detective.

Mayor Thomas believes that race certainly played a role in the Chase employees calling the police. The two staffers who accompanied Mayor Thomas are black and Hispanic.

"As a Mayor and as a young, well-educated black man living during this turbulent time in society where police are being called on black people for going about everyday life, this is unacceptable," Mayor Thomas wrote in a

Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas letter to Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.

"We've seen this happen to the two black men at a Starbucks in Philadelphia. We've also seen this happen to Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum while she was campaigning. Now it happened to me."

On Monday, Mayor Thomas will visit the Office of Currency Comptroller to file a racial profiling/redlining complaint.

Mayor Thomas was at Chase's offices at 925 Westchester Avenue in White Plains to invoke existing rights as an authorized account signatory and enforce a recent court order giving him full access to all the City's financial records.

Supreme Court Justice Susan Cacace recently ordered Mount Vernon Comptroller Deborah Reynolds to stop blocking Mayor Thomas' access to the critical financial records that allow him to determine how much money the City truly has.

Child Abductor Arrested In Key West, Florida SB County News SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. Misty Robledo-Larabell and Warren Demers are the parents of Savanhi Demers. In November 2018, a California family law court awarded sole custody of Savanhi to Robledo-Larabell.

In 2019, Demers traveled from Texas to California for a scheduled custody exchange that occurred on March 22, 2019.

Demers was required to return Savanhi to California by March 29, 2019. Demers retained Savanhi in his custody until his arrest on April 30, 2019.

The District Attorney's Child Abduction Unit received information from law enforcement in Key West, Florida that indicated

Demers and Savanhi had been located there. As noted, Demers was arrested in Key West and, as a result, Savanhi was placed into the custody of Florida's Department of Children and Families (DFS).

Mr. Demers claimed to have sole custody of Savanhi based on an altered version of the November 2018 custody order.

Members of the District Attorney's Child Abduction Unit currently have Savanhi in their custody and she will be reunited with her mother.

Contact: Kimberly Fuller, Executive Secretary by phone at (909) 382-7714 or by email at kfuller@sbcda.org

Northwest Project Area Committee will meet Monday, May 13, 2019 join us

By Dena L. Owens, Special to The New Tri-State Defender Find out what is happening in the 6th ward and city.

FedEx, which spent $9.5 billion with minority suppliers across the U.S. in 2018, is seeking to expand local minority supplier contracts since Memphis is home to FedEx headquarters and the expanding FedEx Logistics operation.

“Grow or die,” says Richard Smith referring to future economic growth in Memphis.

Smith, president and CEO of FedEx Logistics and board chairman for the Greater Memphis Chamber, revealed plans to identify and support 75 black entrepreneurs wanting to grow their small businesses through a public/private partnership.

The announcement came last

Thursday (April 18) as partner executives, minority business owners, Mayor Jim Strickland and other officials gathered for a breakfast meeting.

Smith explained the rationale for the effort as concerns mount about the need for investment in underserved areas of the city.

While large-scale developments enjoy extensive tax incentives in Downtown, Midtown and East

Memphis, disadvantaged African-American communities such as New Chicago in North Memphis and others could use more capital support for small business growth. Investment in these areas can create jobs where needed and build a stronger Memphis economy, inclusively.

“Our new-found momentum can be easily derailed,” said Smith, referring to the economic momentum often touted by Strickland.

“We ‘must be intentional’ as we expand (opportunities) to more minorities and disenfranchised groups,” Smith added. “We have to do better.”

The capacity-building plan is the result of an alliance between FedEx, Regions Bank, City of Memphis and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a national driver of urban economic prosperity. ICIC began its Memphis work in 2014 with Regions Bank providing capital coaching.

In 2015, the partnership expanded to include FedEx.

This year, Memphis will participate in ICIC’s tuition-free leadership program called Inner City Capital Connection (ICCC) to prepare entrepreneurs for lasting, sustainable growth.

ICCC provides instruction to minority and women owned business enterprise (MWBE) owners with a focus on: (1) capacity training, (2) one-on-one coaching and (3) connections to capital providers.

Approved applicants must complete 40 flexible training hours in three to six months. Instruction includes a day-long opening seminar, webinars and a national conference.

To qualify for ICCC, an MWBE must have five or more employees, be two or more years operational in low-income neighborhoods across Memphis, and satisfy other criteria as required. Revenue of at least $500,000 annually is preferred. However, ICCC officials say this condition is ne(continued on page 3)

find out about: o San Bernardino Police Dept o City Development Projects o San Bernardino City Code Enforcement Police Department o And more…

Please come and bring a friend and/or neighbor!

When: Monday, May 13, 2019 Where: NEW HOPE FAMILY LIFE CENTER 1505 Highland Ave, San Bernardino Time: 6:00 pm For more information: (909) 913-0831

Our Values, Mission, & Vision Statement Our Values: Treat all people with care, respect, honor, and dignity. Tell it as it is with love, truth and integrity. Promote the interests of advertisers and sponsors along their strategic interest for the betterment of the community and beyond.

Speak truth to power.

Our Mission: To continuously improve communication between all people of the world.

Our Vision: To be the best community newspaper in our region and the nation.

Provider of: A voice for the poor, the underserved, those that are marginalized, Positive and edifying news about people, places and businesses. Keep San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties informed about global trends while retaining the consciousness of local events and processes.

Memberships and Associations: The San Bernardino American Newspaper is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association and addociated with California Black Media.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 2

May 9, 2019

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/ADVERTISING

Virginia Educator Wins 2019 National Teacher of the Year

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Photo: Rodney Robinson/Courtesy NEA Rodney Robinson, a 19-year teaching veteran who became a teacher to honor his mother and who struggled to receive an education after being denied one as a child due to segregation and poverty in rural Virginia, was named the 2019 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

Robinson, who teaches at Virgie Binford Education Center which is a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Justice Center, was commended by CCSSO for creating “a positive school culture by empowering his students – many of whom have experienced trauma –

to become civically-minded social advocates who use their skills and voices to affect physical and policy changes at their school and in their communities.”

Robinson told the National Education Association that he looks forward to helping lead a conversation about the students whom he calls “the most vulnerable in society” and how the nation can address the school-to-prisonpipeline that has pushed too many kids out of school.

“This year, I hope to be the voice for my students and all students who feel unseen, unheard,

St. Paul AME Church Calendar Event Community News Women’s Prayer,Anointing, Praise,Worship and Powerful Messages on Overcoming Life’s Challenges and Living Victoriously weekend at St. Paul AME Church on Saturday May 18, 2019 9:00 Am-12 Noon, Free admission, Refreshments will be served.

Speaker is Rev. Laurie McDonald Albert.Sunday morn-

ing worship at 10:00, will commence the weekend of events with Rev. Noella Buchanan and will honor two women members, Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry, and Mrs. Thelma Earl. The church is located at 1355 West 21st Street, San Bernardino, CA 92411 For more information ((909) 887-1718.

Southern CA NAACP Branches Propose State And National Conference Rescind Stance on Moratorium of Charter Schools

By Manny Otiko and Tanu Henry California Black Media At least three local branches of the NAACP in southern California – Riverside County, San Bernardino County and San Diego County - have broken ranks with the state chapter and the national organization, distancing themselves from the organization’s support of a moratorium on charter schools in California and across the country.

The three NAACP chapters are calling into question the official NAACP position on a charter moratorium. The branches are located in counties that are home to some of the largest populations of African Americans according to census data.

There are over 30 NAACP branches in California according to the NAACP web site.

This week, the San Bernardino chapter rushed to submit a procharter school resolution to the Baltimore national office of the NAACP ahead of a May 1 deadline. Although organizational rules prevent a local branch from building programs or campaigns around a resolution until it is approved by the national office, John Futch, who was elected president of the San Bernardino branch late last year, says he is ready to begin working on the issue.

“I support charter schools,” he said. “It is important for us to recognize the work they are doing to improve education for children in our communities. It is not looking good right now in terms of kids performing poorly and dropping out.”

In its resolution, the San Bernardino branch of the NAACP did not directly state that it had a difference of opinion with the California state chapter or national body. Instead, the branch officers pointed out their own reasons for supporting school choice in the state and pushing for “quality education for all AfricanAmerican children.”

“The academic performance of African-American students must be the sole determinant of school district decision making rather than the financial benefit that a school district derives from public school funding generated by

African-American students,” the statement read.

The resolution also pointed out that there is a “severe and persistent African-American achievement gap throughout the state of California” in both English language arts and Math. And that 8 out of 10 African-American students in California attend districtrun public schools that continue to underperform on statewide tests.

In an email obtained by CBM, Thursday evening, Alice Huffman, a member of the national board and the President of NAACP California Hawaii Conference, sent an email to the dissenting branch officers asking them to walk back their statements.

“This is to advise you all regarding your charter school counter resolution,” her email read. “The state has already taken a position of opposition and would appreciate it if you all would rescind your positions.

The difference of opinion on school choice within the ranks of the NAACP reflects a growing divide among Californians on the issue as well.

Four charter school bills – three in the Assembly and one in the Senate – are making their way through the legislative process.

The Senate Education Committee voted for last week to pass the most recent charter school bill, SB 756, which calls for a 5-year moratorium on certifying new charter schools in the state. Then, last month, the Assembly education committee cleared three other charter school bills – AB 1505, 1506 and 1507. Together, the package of bills would put a cap on the growth of the independentlyrun public schools, take away their appeal rights and empower local school boards, which are frequently unsupportive of charter schools, to approve or deny their applications for certification and renewal.

“The local branches are out of step with the state and national organization,” a spokesperson for the California Chapter of the NAACP told CBM. (continued in next 2 columns)

unappreciated and undervalued in America,” Robinson said.

In 2015, Robinson started teaching at Virgie Binford Education Center in an effort to better understand the school-to-prison pipeline.

His classroom is a collaborative partnership between himself and his students and is anchored in him providing a civic centered education that promotes socialemotional growth, Robinson said.

He uses the knowledge he has gained from his students to develop alternative programs to prevent students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline.

Published three times by Yale University, Robinson has received numerous awards for his accomplishments in and out of the classroom, most notably the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence.

He is a member of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s Education Compact Team, which includes politicians, educators, business leaders, and community leaders, and is working with city leaders and local colleges to recruit underrepresented male teachers

into the field of education.

Robinson has also worked with Pulitzer Award winning author James Foreman on developing curriculum units on race, class, and punishment as a part of the Yale Teacher’s Institute.

Robinson, who earned a Bachelor of arts in history from Virginia State University and a master’s in educational administration and supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University, has focused a great deal of his efforts on the need for mental health services in schools and singles out the stigma surrounding treatment.

As teacher of the year, CCSO officials said Robinson will have a heightened platform to advocate for the students who are being left behind by budget cuts and a system that emphasizes punitive discipline over preventative and rehabilitative measures.

“I want school counselors, I want conflict mediators, I want restorative justice, I want people to come in and actually work with the kids and not just put a kid in handcuffs whenever there is a minor disagreement,” Robinson said.

Southern CA NAACP Branches Propose State And National Conference Rescind Stance on Moratorium of Charter Schools...continued The California state chapter of the NAACP supported all four charter school bills, arguing that charter schools promote segregation and undermine the historical fight to desegregate public education in the United States.

“The California NAACP and other community-based activists have called upon education reforms to refocus on inequities rather than privatization and private control of education. They are seeking to move the discourse concretely from choice to equity,” said Julian VasquezHeilig, Education chair of the California NAACP. Christina Laster is a charter school mom and grandma – and a former district-run public school employee who now serves as Education Chair of the South Riverside branch of the NAACP. She says she also opposes the NAACP national organization’s decision to support a moratorium on charter schools.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there about charter schools,” said Laster. It is important to look at how this issue is impacting Black families based on the data. We need to move in a direction that supports Black families and what is best for Black children.”

Laster says she is ready defend her oppositional stance to the national body of her organization.

She says many of the issues she experienced with racism, feeling unsupported and unwelcome, still persist today in public high schools in Riverside County, where her children go to school.

In 2016, the national board of the NAACP voted to ratify a national moratorium on charter

schools. All 12 members of California’s Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC), at the time, wrote a letter to the NAACP asking them to reconsider that decision.

“It should be noted that California’s Charter Schools serve many African American, Latino, Pacific Islanders and low income students,” the letter stated. The CLBC letter also pointed out that African-American charter school students in California have a higher rate of acceptance (19 percent) to the University of California system than traditional public schools (11 percent).

In the state legislature as well as in communities across the state, the school choice debate seems to be shaping up as one of the biggest battles that will play out in California over the next few months. On one side, there is the California Teachers Association (CTA), one of the largest unions in the state and large civil rights organizations like the NAACP officially supporting the proposed restrictions of charter schools. On the other, there is a growing group of charter school advocates, including parents, community groups, churches and grassroots organizations like the National Action Network coming out in strong and vocal support of California families’ option to choose where they want their children to go to school.

Charter school operators and school choice advocates are concerned the set of proposals in the legislature would, eventually, lead to the complete elimination of charter schools in the state and undo all the progress they have made since California signed its charter school law in 1992.

CSU Dominguez Hills to Bestow Honorary Doctorate Degree on Olympic Gold Medalist Carmelita Jeter during 2019 Commencement Ceremony Educational News

(Carson, CA) – California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and the California State University Board of Trustees will bestow an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on 2012 Olympic gold medalist and CSUDH alumna Carmelita Jeter on May 17, at 6:30 p.m., during CSUDH’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony.

Jeter, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from CSUDH in 2006, will be recognized for her athletic achievements and continued contributions to the sport of track and field, her dedication to her community, and her success as a speaker and businesswoman. She will receive the honorary degree and give the keynote address at the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing ceremony – one of six commencement cer-

emonies taking place May 17 and 18 in the Dignity Health Sports Park Tennis Stadium, located on the CSUDH campus.

Born and raised in Southern California, Jeter started her athletic career at Torrance’s Bishop Montgomery High School as a member of the basketball team. In order to stay fit during the offseason, she tried out for the track and field team. From the moment she stepped onto the track, her incredible sprinting talent was impossible to ignore.

After graduating from Bishop Montgomery, Jeter enrolled at CSUDH where she became the most decorated female athlete in university history. She set five CSUDH records that still stand, and won six All-America awards.

During the 2012 Olympics, Jeter (continued in next 2 columns)

CSU Dominguez Hills to Bestow Honorary Doctorate Degree on Olympic Gold Medalist Carmelita Jeter during 2019 Commencement Ceremony...continued anchored the U.S. Olympic 4x100m relay team to take home gold. She became one of the few U.S. athletes to medal in both the 100m and 200m race at an Olympic Games, earning both the silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m.

Prior to her Olympic victories, Jeter earned the title “Fastest Woman Alive" for her personal time of 10.64 seconds in the 100meter dash at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in 2009. She continued to live up to that title when she won the 100m race at the IAAF Diamond League in 2010, both the 100m and 200m races in 2011, and by winning the 100m finals at the USA Outdoor Championships and the IAAF World Championship in Athletics.

U.S.A Track and Field presented Jeter with the 2011 Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award.

In addition to her success on the track, Jeter is deeply involved in community and philanthropic efforts, particularly those focused on health and fitness. She has organized community track clinics for youth and served as an ambassador for the Healthy Compton initiative, a citywide program designed to promote healthy lifestyle choices.

When her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jeter used her platform as a record-setting athlete to raise awareness, collaborating with Nike on hot pink spikes that she wore in competition. In 2015, she was named the official ambassador for Susan G. Komen’s California Circle of Promise Initiative, designed to promote breast cancer awareness among African American women.

Jeter will be one of six CSUDH alumni to serve as this year’s commencement keynote speakers, bringing words of inspiration to approximately 3,600 baccalaureate and master candidates and 36,000 friends and family.

CSUDH 2019 Commencement Speakers: Rosemary Diaz (B.S., Physics, 2000), optics engineer for Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Friday, May 17, at 9 a.m., for the

College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences.

Chiraz Zouaoui Kelly (B.S., Business Administration, 2005), president/CEO of Staffactory.

Friday, May 17, 1:30 p.m., for the College of Business Administration and Public Policy.

Carmelita Jeter (B.A., Physical Education, 2006), Olympic gold medalist and assistant coach for Track and Field at Missouri State University.

Friday, May 17 at, 6:30 p.m., for the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing.

Joseph Herrera (B.A., Labor Studies, 1999), vice president of corporate human relations for Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m., for the College of Arts and Humanities; the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences; and the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing.

Jan Vogel (M.A., Education, 1974), executive director/CEO of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board.

Saturday, May 18 at 1:30 p.m., for the College of Business Administration and Public Policy; the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences; and the College of Education.

Ted Ross, CIO for the City of Los Angeles and General Manager of the Information Technology Agency.

Saturday, May 18, 6:30 p.m., for the Graduate Ceremony, which includes graduates from all CSUDH colleges.

The Dignity Health Sports Park is located at 18400 Avalon Blvd. in Carson. Media parking is available at in parking lot 10. To RSVP, please call Paul Browning at (310) 243-2740.

The commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live at http:/ /dhtv.csudh.edu. For more information, visit www.csudh.edu/ commencement.

4TH ANNUAL BCCIE BLACK HISTORY SUPER EXPO REWIND Family, Fun, Food and Vendors FREE Saturday, May 18, 2019 12pm-7pm It's a story of struggle, perseverance, and achievement with a legacy that includes art, music, literature, architecture and lasting contributions to the world. Discover the energy and richness of the African American experience throughout the year and join the Black Chamber as we present the Black History Super Expo Celebration Rewind because everyday is black history.

This event is free to the public and will take place May 18th 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Greek Theater inside San Bernardino Valley College. Enjoy live entertainment, shop local vendors, enjoy food, a kid zone and youth workshops, a fashion show presented by local designers, artist exhibit and so much more.

Come out with the family and enjoy: Live Entertainment( Bands, Singers, Dancers) Kids Zone Youth Workshops Artist Exhibit Sculptures Murals and Painting Fashion Show Jewelry Food and Vendors @ San Bernardino Valley College Inside The Greek Theater 701 South Mount Vernon Ave. San Bernardino, CA. 92470

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News Staff Samuel Martin Sr.-Founder Clifton Harris/Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter Mary Martin-Harris/Editor Clifton B. Harris/Audio Engineering Editor Legal /Display Advertising & Sales (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 8,1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 153913 by the Superior Court, of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News, a division of Don Roberto Group, Inc. is published every Thursday by Mary Martin-Harris and Clifton Harris P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393, Telephone (909)889-7677, Emails: msbamericannews@gmail.com sbamericannews@gmail.com The San Bernardino AMERICAN News subscription rate is $58.00 per year.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN New is committed to serving its readers by presenting news, unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing strive to achieve a united community.

News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 3

May 9, 2019

WORLD GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/ADVERTISING

Changing the game: Ice Cube’s battle to buy regional sports networks By Bryan 18X Crawford and Barrington Salmon, Contributing Writers, The Final Call

In early April, with his FOX Sports contract having expired at the conclusion of the 2018 BIG3 campaign, the league inked a new deal to have games televised on the CBS network. However, armed with a highprofile group of investors with deep pockets of their own, Ice Cube has a much bigger vision. But reaching that goal won’t come without challenges, or a fight.

More and more, Black athletes and entertainers are looking to expand beyond the field of expertise that gained them fame, notoriety and riches, and leverage these positions to help them make their same mark in the world of business. There are Black people who successfully transitioned from their respective art or sport, turning themselves into well-respected businesspeople and a positive example of what entrepreneurship looks like. The life of the late rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle personifies this point.

However, Ice Cube, Nipsey’s West Coast predecessor and elder—or “O.G.”—in the rap game and one of the founding fathers of the hip-hop genre known as “gangsta rap,” has been blazing big time business trails of his own for the past two decades.

Many are familiar with O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, either from his days as a rapper in the group “N.W.A.,” or from his acting roles in popular movies such as “Boyz In The Hood,” and the “Friday,” “Barbershop,” and “Are We There Yet?” series of films. However, in 2017, Ice Cube decided to delve into previously uncharted business waters by getting involved in professional sports as one of the founders of the BIG3 professional 3-on-3 basketball league. The BIG3 features 12 teams coached by former NBA All-Stars and Hall of Famers, with rosters made up of players who have all competed professionally, either in the NBA or overseas. The BIG3 league has become one of the premier events for basketball fans during the summer, a time when there isn’t a lot of competitive professional basketball going on.

Now entering its third season, Ice Cube is looking to take the next step in not only raising the profile of his professional basketball brand, but his personal profile as a Black business mogul. In early April, with his FOX Sports contract having expired at the conclusion of the 2018 BIG3 campaign, the league inked a new deal to have games televised on the CBS network. However, armed with a high-profile group of investors with deep pockets of their own, Ice Cube has a much bigger vision. But reaching that goal won’t come without challenges, or a fight.

“The BIG3 is not part of the old boys club and that doesn’t sit well

with a company like Charter, which has been called out many times for unfair treatment of minority organizations and for consistent disregard of its own customers,” Ice Cube said in a statement regarding his investor group’s bid to purchase 21 regional sports networks (RSN).

The channels include networks in markets such as Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles.

Ice Cube and the BIG3, should they win the bid, would then have the foundation in place to build a brand new national network with original programming, sports, and other culturally relevant content.

In an April letter written by the BIG3 to the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, the company accused Charter Communications of interfering with the BIG3’s investment group—which includes Ice Cube, fellow hip-hop legends LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg, basketball Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Clyde Drexler, tennis star Serena Williams, comedian Kevin Hart, and other prominent figures in sports and entertainment—bid to purchase 21 regional sports networks currently owned by Disney, which the company acquired in its recent merger with FOX. Disney has until June to sell the RSNs if they want to avoid antitrust issues in the future.

BIG3 said that Charter threatened to drop the RSNs from the cable networks it owns should they come under new ownership.

Pre-emptively making this threat would effectively lower the current $10 billion price package.

However, what makes the move curious is that Liberty Media, Charter’s largest shareholder, is also bidding for the RSNs. Charter has been accused before by a Black man for biased practices. In 2016, Byron Allen filed a $10 billion discrimination suit against the company, accusing them of not giving networks owned by minority groups the same broadcasting opportunities as Whiteowned media companies.

“In response to our filing, Charter says they are willing to talk to ‘whomever.’ Given their consistent animosity toward diverse ownership groups with inclusive messages like ours, we say we don’t believe them. Anyone who looks at the facts won’t either.

They have done everything they can to keep us from owning these RSNs and that’s why we have

asked the FCC and the DOJ to investigate,” Ice Cube said in a statement.

In response to the letter, Charter didn’t explicitly push back against the allegations, saying, “Charter currently has an agreement to carry these networks and welcomes the opportunity to discuss a future carriage agreement for these networks with whoever ultimately owns them, including Big3. Regardless of who owns the programming, we approach all negotiations with the same singular objective of reaching carriage agreements that best meet the needs of our customers.”

The BIG3 met on April 17 with the antitrust division of the DOJ, two days after the deadline to enter bids for the RSNs. Others in the bidding include conservative media company Sinclair Broadcast Group, Major League Baseball in partnership with Liberty Media.

At Final Call press time, it was unclear if anything regarding the sale had been resolved.

Cori Harvey, an attorney who specializes in business law, economics and entrepreneurship, said the mere fact that Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Serena Williams and other athletes and entertainers have joined forces to purchase the sports channels is deeply significant. He predicts a ripple effect on Blacks and the larger Black community.

“If this succeeds, even the attempt I think, represents movement along a much-needed path,” said Ms. Harvey, a former law professor at Florida A&M University.

It shows that it takes generations to shift into this space of access and mentorship. African Americans have had to build across generations. This is also our Horatio Alger story. Hip hop and sports is often how we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.”

“This is a coming-of-age story.

This is an example of employees buying the company. It shows that many hands make light work.”

Dr. Wilmer Leon, III, agreed.

“This is incredibly, incredibly important if we’re ever going to have a chance of moving our situation forward,” he said. “We’re seeing major assets and more media assets falling into fewer and fewer hands.”

Dr. Leon, who teaches at Howard University, said it is gratifying to see this clique of celebri-

ties coalescing around a common goal. It’s important, he added, that the group appears to have the financial wherewithal to withstand whatever challenges they may face.

“They are not immune (to being derailed) but their financial wherewithal gives them a definite mechanism to withstand challenges,” said Dr. Leon, the political scientist, author, columnist and talk show host. “These resources put them at another level.

They’ll have resources to pay an attorney like Willie Gary.”

The most immediate challenge is apparently Channel Communications and Liberty Media. According to the New York Post, BIG3 accuses Charter Communications of conspiring with Liberty Media and the owner of the Atlanta Braves and was trying “to pollute the bidding process.”

Ms. Harvey said, without knowing all the details, if Charter and Liberty Media may have engaged in, these tactics, it may be simply cut throat business as usual.

“I think a part of this is learning how to function in this environment,” she said. “It may not necessarily be a race-based issue.

This may be a competitive obstacle. Some people may react viscerally to Black people seeking to jump into the bidding, but the Black celebrities are dealing with people who have had generations of exposure to this playing field. We see people battling for six inches of land, not willing to give up an inch of ground.

Business is no different.”

“This is the cost of doing business. Throwing money to thwart the opposition isn’t unusual. It’s a part of the game, a part of the business. They are creating barriers to entry for all competition.”

Dr. Leon said those entering business and other arenas should come prepared to make a difference. “The only way to change the game is that you gotta play the game,” he said. “And the only way to win the game is to play the game. It may be a White man’s game, but I’m not ready to give it to them yet.”

Ms. Harvey said she’s struck by the positive turn this development represents.

“What jumps out is this is a shining light because many of these ills in the Black community are because of the impact of the hip hop culture of consumerism and violence,” said Ms. Harvey, a former Philadelphia public defender. “This a good foil.”

Dr. Leon argued the ownership group should seek to use the venture as more than a more investment. “If your belief system is not focused on the liberation of your people, it’s a waste of time,” he said.

Ms. Harvey disagreed with Dr. Leon’s premise, while noting the importance of what the ownership group is attempting to do. “We don’t have enough archetypes,” she said. “I’m sick of the fact that the only available archetypes are the drug dealer, hip hop artists and athletes. We often don’t have enough role models at high levels. Fourteen-year-old Black boys’ role models need to be a Black man in a suit. The image of Barack Obama and his beautiful, strong, Black family is something all of us can aspire to. All we can imitate is what we see.”

CAIR-LA and the Greater Los Angeles Area Muslim Community Welcome Month of Ramadan LA County News LOS ANGELES, CA - 5/4/2019) – (LOS ANGELES, CA - 5/6/2019) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the racist and bigoted statements of John Dave Denilofs, a candidate for Riverside City Council Ward 7.

According to the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Denilofs has made statements on Facebook and YouTube calling for the execution of Muslims, people who wave a Mexican flag in the U.S. and “the people who made laws where it’s safe for Muslims.”

Denilofs has also made statements referring to “black people on the street” by the N-word and has called for President Donald

Trump to declare martial law and kill 6 million people, in a reference to the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust.

Denilofs told the Press-Enterprise he did not believe what he said but was attempting to drive traffic to his social media pages.

READ: Riverside City Council candidate acknowledges racist comments — but says he didn’t mean them https://www.pe.com/2019/05/ 06/riverside-city-council-candidate-acknowledges-racist-comments-but-says-he-didnt-meanthem-2/ In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:

“While it is not surprising, it is unfortunate to see an equal-opportunity bigot running for public office. At a time when the current trend of normalizing hate speech has emboldened bigots in their speech, as well as in their actions, the last thing Riverside needs is a bigot setting the vision and goals of the city from the City Council dais. I hope the voters will send a clear message that bigotry and intolerance have no place in Ward 7.”

CAIR California (CAIR-CA) found that there was a marked rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents in California in 2017, as detailed in the new CAIR-CA Civil Rights Report. CAIR-CA recorded an 8

percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017 compared to 2016.

Ayloush urged community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at 714776-1177 or by filing a report at http://bit.ly/2Am5yjG. CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Eugene W. Fields, 714-776-1847 or efields@cair.com

4 of the Top Black Investors Who Go Beyond Their Industries Business/Consumer News

Nationwide — Success isn’t always about how much money you have. Sometimes, investing some of that money into a business or cause you believe in is even more rewarding than keeping your wealth to yourself. These four top Black investors achieved success in their respective industries – but they didn’t stop there. They used their success to foster the growth of movements and to change the world one cause at a time.

Troy Carter As the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, a talent management and production company, Troy Carter is often seen as a driving force behind the careers of artists such as Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor, and John Legend. Carter’s success in the music industry is unparalleled, but his other investments have also proven fruitful. An early investor in niche companies such as Spotify, Lyft, Uber, Dropbox, and Warby Parker, Carter has an eye for promising ventures and a knowledge for what the public wants to see in a company.

Nelly Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. – better known as Nelly – is best known for his work as an American rap-

per, singer, and songwriter.

Though he has largely been out of the spotlight since starting a family, Nelly has continued to support efforts to end children’s hunger. The rapper endorsed DoSomething.com’s Tackle Hunger campaign and even started his own foundations, the 4Sho4Kids Foundation and JesUs-4-Jackie, to spread awareness about leukemia.

Chris Gardner Once homeless on the streets of San Francisco in the early 1980s, Chris Gardner quickly rose to success after founding his own stock brokerage firm. Although his career began in the stockbroking industry, Gardner’s true passion is motivational speaking and making philanthropic donations to foundations that aid the homeless population.

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter, or Jay-Z, began his career as a singer and songwriter during the early 1990s.

More recently, the hip-hop star has focused his efforts on investing in emerging technologies.

Over the past few years, he has invested millions of dollars into several tech start-ups, including JetSmarter, Arrive, and Julep.

Reining in High Prescription Drug Prices: What Families Need from Congress Government News

This paper from the Coalition for Fair Drug Prices outlines bold recommendations for how Congress can rein in prescription drug prices for America’s families.

Congressional committees have advanced initial measures to address prescription drug costs.

However, their work to date has not focused on the significant policy changes needed to meaningfully lower drug prices. To address the drivers of excessive prescription drug prices in the United States, the Coalition for Fair Drug Prices urges Congress to enact meaningful policies that leverage the federal government’s power to negotiate drug prices.

The Coalition for Fair Drug

Prices urges Congress to implement a system that allows the government to negotiate prices for all of America’s families, whether they get their coverage from Medicare or elsewhere. This system must have a strong backbone- an enforcement mechanism- to truly bring costs down.

Reining in High Prescription Drug Prices: What Families Need from Congress suggests possible enforcement mechanisms, some of which could be applied in concert or as stand-alone policies.

These include, in no particular order: Issuing Competitive Licenses: (continued on page 4)

FedEx partnership aims to grow 75 black businesses,,,continued from page 1 gotiable.

MWBE owners may nominate themselves or to six other MWBE owners, or be nominated through a small business developer, such as the City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity and Compliance.

Jiljuana Coleman, a certified MWBE owner and head of Jamerson Strategic Consulting in Memphis, is one of 4,000 ICCC alumni nationwide. Coleman, who once held a career in banking, decided in 2017 to open her own company assisting MWBE owners with financial strategy and training.

After only two years, Coleman is poised to move her company from serving local and national clients to pursuing global customers. She gives ICCC credit for her growth.

Memphis, a city that is more than 60 percent African American, has faced decades of stagnant economic growth with only 1 percent of local revenue going to minority owned businesses, according to a 2015 census. Currently, several public/private partnerships are working side-by-side to address the issue.

For example, FedEx, an ICIC partner, is also aligned with the 800 Initiative, a program led by the City of Memphis to grow minority business revenues by $50 million in five years. Participation in ICCC could in fact support the goals of the 800 Initiative, which is backed by a $1 million investment from FedEx and $500,000 in funding from the City.

Simultaneously, FedEx, which spent $9.5 billion with minority suppliers across the U.S. in 2018, is seeking to expand local minority supplier contracts since Memphis is home to FedEx headquarters and the expanding FedEx Logistics operation.

Pat Hopper, managing director of Sourcing and Supplier Diversity for FedEx, encourages local MWBE owners to “get prepared” to fill large-scale needs that companies like Fed-Ex might require.

ICCC can help MWBE owners move into greater levels of service in order to bid on larger, sought-after contracts.

To learn more about ICCC, visit http://icic.org/urban-businessinitiatives/inner-city-capital-connections/memphis/. Follow the prompts to apply for ICCC training or to nominate MWBE owners for the free program. The deadline for nominations is July 26.

To learn how to become a FedEx supplier, visit https:// suppliers.sourcing.fedex.com/.

Save-the-Dates …

June 27 – The “We Mean Business” Symposium and Luncheon will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The event is sponsored

by FedEx and will focus on business development in Memphis.

August 22 – The ICCC Opening Seminar for MWBE owners accepted into the program will be held at the FedEx Institute of Technology on the University of Memphis Campus (time TBD).

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 4

May 9, 2019

HEALTH/FITNESS/SENIOR NEWS

Blue Cross Encourages Vaccination Against Preventable Diseases During National Infant Immunization Week

By LA Data News

Getting children vaccinated against preventable, potentially deadly diseases like measles, mumps and whooping cough not only protects our family’s health, it protects public health.

“Vaccinating children doesn’t just protect the child getting that vaccine, it helps prevent the spread of serious and deadly illnesses in the community,” said Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vindell Washington. “There are people who have immune system-suppressing conditions that limit their ability to fight off diseases, and children who are too young to be vaccinated. But, if the people around them have been vaccinated against diseases, it develops what’s called ‘herd immunity,’ which lowers everyone’s risks of getting sick.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) holds National Infant Immunization Week as an annual observance to raise awareness of the importance and effectiveness of childhood vaccinations. This year, National Infant Immunization Week is April 27-May 4.

Dr. Washington wrote an op-ed

for The Advocate in January, outlining how small but increasing numbers of children are not getting any or all of the recommended childhood vaccines, which is leading to outbreaks of diseases that have not been common for decades.

Currently, the United States has more cases of measles, a disease that is largely preventable through childhood immunizations, than have occurred in nearly 20 years. Measles outbreaks have been reported in multiple states since the beginning of 2019.

“Vaccines are safe, effective and have been given in this country for many years with great success in protecting children against diseases that, years ago, prevented many from growing into adulthood,” Washington said.

Washington encourages parents who have questions or concerns about vaccination to speak with their children’s doctors for medical guidance and more information.

This article originally appeared in the New Orleans Data News Weekly.

Riverside County health officials launch online resource page as measles cases surge statewide, nationally Health News

In response to concerns with an increasing number of measles cases, Riverside University Health System-Public Health has created a Web-based resource page that focuses on the potentially serious illness.

The launching of the Webpage ( h t t p : / / w w w. r i v c o p h . o r g / Measles.aspx) comes as health officials address the spike in measles cases nationally and in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported the highest number of confirmed cases since 2000, when the illness was considered eradicated from the U.S. In California, state health officials have said 40 cases of measles reported in the state. This is the highest number of cases since 2014-2015, when at least 131 Cali-

fornia residents were infected.

No cases have been confirmed in Riverside County so far this year, but health officials said it is important for the residents and the medical community to be prepared in case the highly contagious illness spreads here.

“Measles can be a serious illness and we all must be ready to stop its spread,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, county public health officer. “Parents and medical professionals may have concerns or questions they want answered.

The webpage will provide important information.”

The county has not had a confirmed measles case since 2015.

Read Dr. Kaiser’s blog about measles www.rivcoph.org/ blog.aspx

Are You Less Of A Man If You Opt For Cosmetic Surgery? Health/Fitness News While the stereotype says it is women who worry most about body image, in truth men also are concerned about what they see when they gaze in the mirror.

They just aren’t always willing to admit it. So, while more men than ever before are turning to cosmetic surgery to improve what they see as defects in their appearance, plenty of others are reluctant to even acknowledge anything that could be seen as a weakness or a flaw.

“For many men, especially older men, being concerned about their appearance is not manly,” says Dr. Dennis Schimpf (www.sweetgrassplasticsurgery.com), founder of Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery and author of Finding Beauty: Think, See and Feel Beautiful.

“They are probably as insecure about their appearance as any woman might be, but they feel that they need to project confidence or be indifferent to their looks.”

Still, some men are clearly putting aside those worries. For example, the number of tummy tucks for men increased 12 percent between 2012 and 2017, according to a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Liposuction procedures for men were up 23 percent, and breastreduction surgeries were up 30 percent.

Even so, Dr. Schimpf says, men who do explore the idea of plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons often seem embarrassed.

“Sometimes a man will come in with his wife, who will talk about herself first, and then open up the conversation to what he’s considering having done, almost as if it’s an afterthought,” he says.

But slowly but surely, more men are entertaining the idea of making changes to their appearance.

Dr. Schimpf says a few reasons for that include: Changing times and attitudes.

Men who are baby boomers often worked in jobs involving physical labor. How they looked did not matter on the job. “We live in a different world today,” Dr. Schimpf says. “Men are more concerned with their appearance – their hair, their clothes, their overall look. Little by little, It’s becoming more acceptable for men to publicly talk about looks, and every day there are new products on the market for men who want to change the way they look.” (continued in next 2 columns)

Are You Less Of A Man If You Opt For Cosmetic Surgery?...continued Technological advances in plastic surgery. Today’s technology allows for less-invasive procedures, which appeal to men.

“Men are looking for procedures that deliver more subtle changes with quick recoveries because they want work done ‘under the radar’ essentially,” Dr. Schimpf says. “They don’t want others to know they’ve had something done because of what they believe people will think.”

Social media’s influence. One factor that affects both men and women is how in today’s world, everyone is constantly being photographed and those photographs often end up on Facebook, Instagram or other social media sites for all the world to see. That makes it more difficult than in the past to not care what others think, Dr. Schimpf says. “Patients tell me all the time that they didn’t realize they had a double chin until they saw themselves on their cell phone screen when they turned it on to take a selfie,” he says.

The bottom line, though, is that anyone considering plastic surgery needs to make the decision based on what’s best for them,

and not based on how other people view them, Dr. Schimpf says.

“People are going to think what they are going to think, and those who are the most critical of others often have many issues themselves,” he says. “If you try to do for yourself only what someone else thinks is reasonable, you’re not going to be happy.”

About Dennis Schimpf, MD, MBA, FACS Dr. Dennis Schimpf (www.sweetgrassplasticsurgery.com) is the author of Finding Beauty: Think, See and Feel Beautiful, and the founder of Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery, a multi-faceted practice focusing almost exclusively on cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and body. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Board of Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), as well as a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS).

Rep. Elijah Cummings Releases Report on the Soaring Prices of Diabetes Drugs in his District Health/Fitness News

Elijah Cummings courtesy photo Catonsville, MD – Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, released a Committee Staff Report on the prices of diabetes drugs for seniors and the uninsured in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. More than 30 million people in the United States, including more than one in four seniors, have diabetes. Patients with diabetes rely on prescription drugs, including insulin, to help manage their conditions.

“For people with diabetes, access to their medications is a matter of life and death. In spite of this, drug companies have repeatedly increased the price of their diabetes drugs, including insulin, over the past twenty years. Tragically, these high prices have led many individuals to ration or stop taking their medications,” said Congressman Elijah E. Cummings.

“We cannot sit back as diabetes patients are compromising their health, and even dying, due to the high price of their medications. It’s time to take action to rein in the out-of-control costs of insulin and other diabetes drugs.”

“I’m grateful to Congressman Cummings for his leadership on this issue,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

“Our seniors deserve the right to have affordable medication. We need to do all we can to ensure we are protecting their ability to live a healthy and active life.”

“I’m extremely grateful for Congressman Cummings and his work highlighting the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs,” said Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk. “It’s simply outrageous, disgusting and unacceptable that the high prices of insulin are keeping people from getting the treatment they critically need which has caused tragic deaths, more costly long-term illness, and increased the overall health care costs for the entire system. Enough is enough and we need to radically change the way diabetes drugs are priced as many other countries already have.”

“We have made enormous strides in recent years in caring for patients with diabetes,” said Sherita Golden, M.D., M.H.S., Endocrinologist and Professor of

Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. “But those advances don’t benefit patients who can’t afford their medicine. I commend Congressman Cummings for his leadership and commitment to making treatment affordable and accessible for people who need it.”

“We commend Rep. Elijah Cummings for all his terrific leadership on the prescription drug affordability issue,” said Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative.

“We in Maryland are doing our part to help in this effort with the landmark Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation which passed in the 2019 General Assembly Session. This measure would make Maryland the first state in the nation to so directly address making prescriptions drugs more affordable for our people.”

The report found that: There are approximately 42,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

In Maryland’s 7th District, the 50 most popular brand-name diabetes medications cost the Medicare program and beneficiaries nearly $21 million in 2016.

For seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Maryland’s 7th District, the cost of a widely-used insulin would be 92 percent lower at Australian prices, 88 percent lower at UK prices, and 87 percent lower at Canadian prices.”

There are 39,000 uninsured residents in Maryland’s 7th District who may bear the entire burden of their high prescription drug prices.

For a one-month supply of that brand of insulin, uninsured patients in Maryland’s 7th District pay 23 times as much as patients in Australia, 16 times as much as patients in the United Kingdom, and 14 times as much as patients in Canada.

A full copy of the report can be found here.

In January, Congressman Cummings introduced the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act, (continued in next 2 columns)

Rep. Elijah Cummings Releases Report on the Soaring Prices of Diabetes Drugs in his District...continued to allow the federal government to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D. As Chairman, Congressman Cummings launched an investigation to determine why

drug companies—including insulin makers—are increasing prices so dramatically and what they are doing with the proceeds.

This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel.

Innovative Format Is Key To Reaching And Educating African Americans About Prostate Cancer The "Daddy’s Boys" stage play, produced by PHEN, draws 1,000+ national attendees per performance.

Health News

Scene from Daddy's Boys stage play Nationwide (BlackNews.com) - The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is currently debuting its Broadway-style stage play Daddy's Boys at national churches, venues and theaters around the country to packed houses and sell-out crowds. The show focuses on the often-overlooked prostate cancer crisis in the African American community, and collaborates with award wining playwright Garrett Davis, who uses humor and music-laden dramas to bring awareness to major health issues facing minorities.

"We know that African-American men are more than twice as likely than men of all other races to die from prostate cancer," said Thomas A. Farrington, founder and president, the Prostate Health Education Network. "This innovative format has shown strong appeal to men and women entertaining and educating audiences, enabling us to reach thousands with knowledge to help save more lives," according to Farrington, an 18-year prostate cancer survivor.

Daddy's Boys uses a highly entertaining infotainment approach to tell the story about a widowed father and his sons, who are in a fractured relationship, coming together when faced with prostate cancer. The play has been running for almost a year and in that time has received outstanding reviews and feedback from soldout audiences in Atlanta, Georgia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Glendale, Maryland; Richmond, Virginia; Detroit, Michigan; Greensboro, Fayetteville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Jacksonville, FL. PHEN is touring Daddy's Boys nationally with the support of partners including Amgen, Astellas, Bayer, Genentech, Genomic Health, Janssen Oncology and Pfizer Oncology. The nonprofit works with its network of church partners to host and promote the play within their communities.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other partners, including AARP are also joining in PHEN's efforts to raise prostate cancer awareness.

The performances are free of charge to the public with tickets made available online and through PHEN community partners.

Typically the day will begin with an educational workshop and luncheon, including presentations by top prostate cancer medical leaders within each city, and end the day with the showing of

the Daddy's Boys stage play. So far, this innovative model is working.

Surveys and reviews have shown: • Over 50% of attendees have been personally affected by prostate cancer, meaning they have either had a loved one diagnosed with prostate cancer or been diagnosed themselves; • Community leaders and politicians who attend often present PHEN with proclamations or certificates vowing to change or introduce legislation in their jurisdictions to increase prostate cancer educational and outreach efforts; • The PHEN Prostate Cancer Survivor Network is growing nationally. PHEN recruits and mobilizes prostate cancer survivors, and their loved ones, nationwide to provide education and awareness outreach within their communities. This survivor network, which stretches across the country, is the foundation for much of PHEN's grassroots community efforts.

• Reviewers leave comments and post social media videos, stating feedback, such as "Oh the show was excellent! And they gave me a lot of information. I'm going to talk to my brother-in-law tonight about going to get a check-up if I have to take him myself." -Daddy's Boys Atlanta Audience Member.

"We have found an effective format that is working and we couldn't be prouder of all of our churches, sponsors, community leaders, partners, survivors and volunteers for helping to make this come together. We are increasing prostate health knowledge within African American communities on a much larger scale with the ultimate goal being a reduction in the Black prostate cancer death rate," said Farrington.

The next tour stops for Daddy's Boys includes Birmingham, Alabama on May 18th and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 8, 2019.

More information and tickets are available at https:// www.daddysboys.org Churches and other organizations that may be interested in hosting Daddy's Boys should email PHEN at rapcancer@prostatehealthed.org.

Reining in High Prescription Drug Prices: What Families Need from Congress...continued from page 3 If the manufacturer refuses to agree to a fair price, the federal government would issue licenses to other manufacturers that would allow those manufacturers to introduce generic competition for the drug.

Taxing Excessive Revenues: If the manufacturer refuses to agree to a fair price, the manufacturer would be subject to a 100 percent tax on the difference between the excessive price at which it sells the drug and the determined fair price.

Negotiating Using the Purchasing Power of all Federal Health Care Programs: If a manufacturer refuses to agree to a fair price for

a particular drug, it would lose coverage by all federal health care programs for all of its drugs for which there are sufficient alternatives from other brands or generics.

Members of the Coalition for Fair Drug Prices include Families USA, the AFL-CIO, the Center for American Progress, Community Catalyst, Doctors for America, the Medicare Rights Center, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Public Citizen, SEIU, and state-based organizations Health Access California, Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, and the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 5 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190005370 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 5/01/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 5/01/2024 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSULATORS S.C.I Business Address: 134 W. RAMONA DR. RIALTO, CA 92376 Phone Number: 909-277-1901 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: JOSE E. GARCIA VILLAFRANCA 134 W. RAMONA DR. RIALTO, CA 92376 Signature/Officer Title: Jose E. Garcia Villafranca, Owner

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 16, 23, 30, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190005096 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/24/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/24/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Limited Liability Company Fictitious Business Name(s): FLYGHT LABS Business Address: 17130 RACOON AVENUE, SUITE B ADELANTO, CA 92301 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: 220 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE #1134 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 Registrant(s)Address: LANTORGANICS, LLC 220 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 11348 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 A1#: 201811610345 State:CA Signature/Officer Title: Jeffrey Dapea, Member

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 16, 23, 30, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190005095 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/24/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/24/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Limited Liability Company Fictitious Business Name(s): FLYGHT CANNABIS Business Address: 17130 RACOON AVENUE. SUITE C ADELANTO, CA 92301 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: 220 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE #1134 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 Registrant(s)Address: RWC GROUP, LLC 220 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 11348 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 A1# 201811610345 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Jeffrey Dapea, Member

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 16, 23, 30, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190005234 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/26/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/26/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Corporation Fictitious Business Name(s): THE SWEET SPOT Business Address: 1 MILLS CIR. SPACE NO. 114 ONTARIO, CA 91764 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: 7236 N. BONADELLE AVE. FRESNO, CA 93720 Registrant(s)Address: AL-GHALEB OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, INC. 7236 N. BONADELLE AVE. FRESNO, CA 93720 A1# C3479729 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Ghaleb Jaber, President

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 16, 23, 30, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004278 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/05/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/05/2024 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): GDL SHIRTS Business Address: 15572 NAPLES LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN

May 9, 2019

LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: JORGE A. VEGA 15572 NAPLES LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 Signature/Officer Title: Jorge A. Vega, Owner

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004543 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/11/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/11/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Limited Liability Company Fictitious Business Name(s): RANCHO PHARMACY Business Address: 8237 ROCHESTER AVE., STE. 140 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: AHCS RANCHO PHARMACY, LLC 14039 SAN SEGUNDO DR. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91739 A1#: 201907910088 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Rajnis V. Jasani, Vice President

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004398 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/09/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/09/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Corporation Fictitious Business Name(s): CALIFORNIA CLEANING SERVICE Business Address: 1505 1/2 WEST 9TH STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: DFFM, INC. P.O. BOX 1153 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92402 A1#: 3748377 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Dan’l Mhana, Ceo

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20190005104 Date Filed: 4/24/2019 Filing Expires On: 4/24/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): WALLIE DAWGZ MOBILE CATERING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: Mailing Address: 13835 OCHRE LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 Name of Individual Registrant: WALTER J. ORELLANA Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 13835 OCHRE LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A Walter Orellana, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004400 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/09/2019 Began Transacting Business: N.A Filing Expires On: 4/09/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Corporation Fictitious Business Name(s): STOP 5 MARKET Business Address: 1505 WEST 9TH STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: DFFM, INC. P.O. BOX 1153 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92402 A1#:3748377 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Dan’l Mhana, Ceo

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM

THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004319 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/08/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/08/2024 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): MS AUTO SALES Business Address: 517 N. MOUNTAIN AVE. UPLAND, CA 91786 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: 1838 W. 146TH ST. APT. #C GARDENA, CA 90249 Registrant(s)Address: DAVID E. CARDENAS 517 N. MOUNTAIN AVE. UPLAND, CA 91786 Signature/Officer Title: David Cardenas

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published In The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20190004487 Date Filed: 4/10/19 Filing Expires On: 4/10/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ONT LOGISTICS & WAREHOUSING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 739 E. FRANCIS ST. ONTARIO, CA 91761 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: AFFORDABLE PLASTICS & PACKAGING, INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 45-5235967 Residence Street Address: 739 E. FRANCIS ST. ONTARIO, CA 91761 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: February 1, 2019 Rene Villalpando, President, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVDS 1902449 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ISAIAH EDWARD BARNESCISNEROS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. ISAIAH EDWARD BARNES-CISNEROS to Proposed name: ISAIAH EDWARD ABREGO THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 6/11/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: S17 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, San Bernardino District-Civil Division 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: January 24, 2019 Michael A. Sachs Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVVS 1900205 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: SAMANTHA PIZZO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a.

SAMANTHA PIZZO to Proposed name: SAMANTHA SPEAKS THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 6/12/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: V15 SUPERIOR COURT VICTORVILLE DISTRICT 14455 Civic Drive Ste. 100 Victorville, CA 92392 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: April 26, 2019 Judge Lisa Rogan Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVDS 1908546 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: EVELYN THERESA PEREDA VILLANUEVA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. EVELYN THERESA PEREDA VILLANUEVA to Proposed name: ELLA CROSS THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 5/28/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: S17 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Bernardino San Bernardino District-Civil Division 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Michael A. Sachs Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVVS 1900180 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: YUREM N. RAMIREZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a.

LERI HERNANDEZ to Proposed name: LERI FRANCISCO RAMIREZ THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 6/19/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: V15 SUPERIOR COURT VICTORVILLE DISTRICT 14455 Civic Drive Ste. 100 Victorville, CA 92392 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: April 12, 2019 Judge Lisa Rogan Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE (Probate-Decedents’ Estates) Notice Of Petition to Administer Estate Of: JOSEPH G. PARRA Case Number: PROPS 1900392 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: JOSEPH G.

PARRA A Petition for Probate has been filed by: RALPH PARRA in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN BERNARDINO The Petition for Probate requests that RALPH PARRA be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 6/25/2019 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept:: S35 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 WEST 3RD STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415-0210 If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: ARUNA P. RODRIGO 3350 Shelby Street, 345 Ontario, CA 91764 Telephone: (909)212-0320 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 16, 23, 2019.

SUMMONS SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVDS1827756 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): AMY A AMICO AKA AMY ANN MCKENZIE, YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without

your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service.

If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro.

Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 West Third St., San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): REESE LAW GROUP, Harlan M. Reese, Esq., (Bar# 118226), 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/8425850 (File No. 558407) DATE (Fecha): OCT 23 2018 Clerk (Secretario), by Karina Venegas, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served 1. as an individual defendant.

4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16/19 CNS-3245199# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

NOTICE INVITING BIDS – 2019-10 Purpose of the Procurement and Period of Performance Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) seeks a Provider to install vinyl bus wraps on seven (7) electric buses due to arrive at VVTA in May/June 2019.

The buses are 40 ft long x 102 in. wide and will require high quality vinyl full wraps. The awarded Bidder must also quote on the removal of the bus wraps at a future time.

Obtaining the IFB Document IFB documents may be obtained from VVTA, in person at 17150 Smoke Tree Street, Hesperia, CA 92345-8305 or electronically at www.vvta.org/ procurement. Documents are also available via email request to cplasting@vvta.org. Bids requested by courier or via USPS mail shall be packaged and sent only at the Bidders’ expense.

Bid Due Date and Submittal Requirements Sealed Bids must be received by 3:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Thursday, June 6, 2019. There will be a Public Opening of the Bids Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 2019.

Notice Of Sale Of Real Property At Private Sale IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

$40.00

THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO-JUSTICE CENTER In re: LUIS F. AVALOS SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST CASE No.: PROPS 1100815 NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE

TO

(PROBATE CODE §§ 10300, 10304)

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that subject to confirmation by this court, on June 12, 2019, at 8:30 A.M. in Department 36 of the San Bernardino Superior Court located at 247 W. Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415, or thereafter within the time allowed by law, Noreen T. Fontaine, as Trustee of the Luis F. Avalos Trust, will sell at private sale to the highest and best net bidder on the terms and conditions stated below all rights, title, and interest that the estate has acquired in addition to that of the decedent at the time of death, in the real property located in SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, California.

2. This real property is commonly referred to as 9320 Frankfort Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335 Assessor’s Parcel Number: 0249-122-02-0000, and is more fully described as follows: Tract 3548 Lot 103 APN No. 0249-122-020000.

3. The property will be sold subject to current taxes, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, rights, rights of way, and easements of record, with any encumbrances of record to be satisfied from the purchase price.

4. The property is to be sold on an “as is” basis, except for title.

5. The Trustee has given an exclusive listing to Prime Time Real Estate; Listing Agent, Dwayne Richardson, Tel. No. (951) 818 7508; 6. Bids or offers are invited for this property and must be in writing and can be submitted to seller’s attorney, Noreen T. Fontaine, 400 Ramona Ave., Suite 212 N. Corona, CA 92879; Tel. No. (951) 278-8290; Fax (951) 268-9454; Email: Noreen@attyfontaine.com or deliver to Noreen T. Fontaine personally, at any time after first publication of this notice and before any sale is made.

7. The property will be sold on the following terms: Terms of sale cash in lawful money of the United States on confirmation of sale and acceptable to the court on confirmation of sale, e.g., 10 percent (10%) of the amount of the bid to accompany the offer by certified check, and the balance to be paid on confirmation of sale by the court.

8. Taxes, operating and maintenance expenses, and premiums on insurance acceptable to the purchaser shall be prorated as of the date of recording of conveyance, transfer taxes, and any title insurance policy shall be at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers 9. The right is reserved to reject any bid.

10. For further information, contact Noreen T. Fontaine at 400 Ramona Avenue Suite 212 N. Corona, CA 92879; Tel. No (951) 278-8290; Fax No. (951) 268-9454 Dated: 05/07/2019 Noreen T. Fontaine Trustee/Attorney Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper May 9, 16, 23, 2019.

PUBLISH YOUR FBN CALL TODAY! (909) 889-7677 Email:

msbamericannews@gmail.com

THERE IS STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR THE PROPERTY TAX POSTPONEMENT PROGRAM San Bernardino, CA — San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector Ensen Mason reminds qualifying seniors and disabled taxpayers that there is still time to apply for the Property Tax Postponement Program for the 2018-19 tax year. The State Controller’s Office (SCO) extended the application deadline for residents affected by recent wildfires and flooding in 22 counties, including San Bernardino County, to June 1, 2019.

This loan program allows eligible homeowners to postpone the payment of their current-year property taxes on their primary residence at an interest rate of 7%. Applications are accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis, and are available here in the office and online.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Be at least 62 years of age, or blind, or have a disability; Own and occupy the home as your primary place of residence; Have a total household income of $35,500 or less; and Have at least 40% equity in the property.

For more information, please visit the SCO’s website at www.sco.ca.gov, or contact them by phone at (800) 952-5661 or by email at postponement@sco.ca.gov. You may also pick up an application at the Tax Collector’s Office at 268 W. Hospitality Lane, First Floor in San Bernardino.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 6

May 9, 2019

LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS

Bodyguards injured in attack on Afrocolombian leaders in southwest Colombia

By Adriaan Alsema May 4, 2019 Columbia Reports (Also statement by Angela Davis below)

The Leaders shortly before the attack. Image: PCN Armed men attacked Afrocolombian leaders who were preparing a pending meeting with the national government, they said Saturday. Two bodyguards were injured.

According to black rights organization PCN, armed men started shooting and threw a hand grenade while black rights leaders were meeting in a farm in Santander de Quilichao in the north of the Cauca province.

The bodyguards who had been appointed to protect some of the leaders, were able to repel the attack, but two were injured, according to PCN. Some of the leaders have been threatened by the Aguilas Negras, a far-right group that opposed the ethnic minorities in land disputes with large land owners. ELN guerrillas and rearmed FARC guerrillas are also active in the area.

Among the leaders was Francia Marquez, who won the renowned

Goldman prize in honor of her defense of the environment. All leaders were escorted out of the area uninjured.

The leaders are set to meet with the national government on Wednesday to negotiate improved living conditions for the ethnic minorities that live in the long-neglected and war torn north of Cauca.

President Ivan Duque has so far refused to meet with ethnic minorities that have been protesting for months.

Social leaders throughout Colombia, and particularly minority leaders in Cauca, have increasingly been attacked since peace was signed with the leftist guerrilla group FARC in late 2016.

The guerrillas used to control much of the area, which has become virtually lawless after the government failed to assume territorial control.

Capitol Hill hearing takes up the war between the needy and the greedy: The future of payday loan regulation

By Charlene Crowell May 2, 2019

Capitol Hill hearing takes up the war between the needy and the greedy: The future of payday loan regulation ...continued tainable profitable enterprise,” noted Rep. Pressley. “Well a lot of people are getting rich off of keeping people poor. And so how do we reform anything that’s based on that premise? The short answer is, we don’t.”

Todd McDonald, Senior Vice President and Board Director of the New Orleans-based Liberty Bank and Trust, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) spoke at the hearing from the perspective of community banks. His own firm operates in eight states through 15 branches.

He is also a board member of the National Bankers Association, the leading trade association for the nation’s Minority Depository Institutions.

“As a CDFI that serves a largely low and moderate-income consumer base that often utilizes these high-cost, small dollar loans,” testified McDonald, “Liberty often works to help our customers get out of these predatory loans and into more manageable products.”

Since 2008, Liberty Bank has offered a payday and car-title loan alternative known as Freedom Fast loans that averages just over $6,000 and comes with an average interest rate of 12.6%. Liberty provides these loans to customers with credit scores ranging from a low of 500 to higher than 700. It also reports payments to the credit bureaus so that customers can also build their credit ratings.

For the Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, senior pastor of Dallas’ Friendship West Baptist Church and a leading partner in the Faith and Credit Roundtable facilitated by the Center for Responsible Lending, predatory lending is a matter of economic justice that deserves

actions and not just hearings.

“Payday predators are a part of a hostile takeover of the economy of the unbanked and underserved. This exploitative industry targets and saturates communities that are already suffering from economic apartheid,” said Rev. Haynes to the lawmakers. “When the vulnerable are drowning in desperation the payday industry throws a ‘life preserver’ weighted with the iron of usurious interest rates.”

“We are calling for strong protections so that those who experience an emergency don’t end up drowning in debt they cannot repay,” added Rev. Haynes.” The pastor forcefully called for the CFPB to implement its “common sense rule” and for enacting legislation, like a bill introduced by Illinois’ Senator Richard Durbin, that would establish a national 36% interest rate cap while allowing states to have lower rate ceilings.

“Borrowers have described the debt trap, in their own words, as ‘a hole that you can’t get out of’, ‘soul-crushing’, and a ‘living hell’, Diane Standaert, a CRL EVP testified. “And research has shown time and time again, that these high-cost lending storefronts are disproportionately situated in Black and Latino communities, even when they have the same or higher incomes than white communities.”

The good Reverend Haynes agreed, adding, “The Bible teaches that nations will be judged by how they treat ‘the least of these’. It must not be said of this nation, “I was hungry, and you gave me a payday loan…I was given a bad hand and you gave me a bad plan.”

Amen, Reverend!

Black Women In California Say Democratic Party Takes Their Vote and Voice for Granted

By Manny Otiko and Tanu Henry California Black Media

At an April 30 Capitol Hill hearing, the multi-dimensional problems wrought by small-dollar, high-cost loans were brought to the attention of lawmakers serving on the powerful House Financial Services Committee. A witness panel representing bankers, consumers, clergy, and public policy organizations taught, recounted, reasoned and preached to lawmakers on the rippling and disastrous effects of debt-trap loans.

Each addressed the industry that reaps billion-dollar profits from the poor: payday, car-title, and other triple-digit interest small-dollar products. The average annual interest rate for payday loans in the United States is 391% although in more than 17 states, many of them home to consumers of color, the APR is even higher.

As consumers suffer financially, it’s a different story for payday lenders: $4.1 billion in fees every year in the 33 states that allow these debt traps, according to the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Similarly the annual fees generated on car-title loans was found to be $3.8 billion.

The session occurred as the current Administration seeks to permanently reverse a payday rule that was developed over five years of public hearings, research and comments that sought the input of consumers, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

Announced by the first Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director, the rule would require lenders to determine if a consumer could repay the loan, also known as the ability-to-repay standard.

With a new CFPB Director, the rule’s suspension was accompanied by an announcement of an

intent to begin rulemaking anew.

For the industry, the suspension provides yet another opportunity to take the teeth out of financial regulation. For consumers, longawaited consumer protection that would have taken effect this summer is now indefinite.

With the average borrower earning $25,000 to $30,000 a year, whatever difficulty led them to a payday loan store or web site, made their lives even worse.

For Detroit resident Ken Whittaker, the hearing was a highprofile opportunity to share his personal experience with a $700 payday loan that wound up costing him $7,000, in addition to debt collections, a court judgment, and his tax refund garnished.

“I found I could not afford to pay off the first loan without taking out another one. Then I began a cycle of debt which lasted over a year,” testified Whittaker.

“Soon I was paying $600 per month in fees and interest. I eventually closed my bank account to stop payments from being drawn out and leaving me without cash for my family’s rent, groceries and other essential bills.”

In the hearing’s most poignant moment, Whittaker appealed to the lawmakers saying, “Please support strong reform of predatory payday and car title lending for people like me. We work hard to support our families and make our finances stable, and this kind of lending only makes it harder.”

For one lawmaker, Boston’s Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Whittaker’s plea was heard loud and clear.

“Any universe with payday lending is answering the question of how to make poverty a sus(continued in next 2 columns)

Tina McKinnor former operations director of the California Democratic Party.

Black women voters across the state have begun to organize themselves to express dissatisfaction with the California Democratic Party (CDP) and some of its members for overlooking issues that are important to them and taking recent actions that do not advance their interests.

They plan to share those grievances with fellow Democrats and officials of the party at the state CPD annual convention May 29 June 2 in San Francisco. Activists have also organized a number of other events, including a rally and march on the State Capitol on June 22 to speak about some of their concerns and celebrate Black womanhood as they consolidate their political presence and power in the state.

This Wednesday, another group of African-American women Democrats, Black Woman Organized for Political Action – Political Action Committee (BWOPA-PAC), the oldest and largest Black political fundraising and advocacy organization in the state, will hold a “Legislative Learning Day” in Sacramento.

That event is designed to teach Black women to lobby their legislators on issues that are relevant to them.

“When someone takes you for granted over and over again, it’s time to seriously reevaluate the relationship,” says Elika Bernard, the executive director of the Sacramento-based non-profit Black Women United. Bernard made the statement in an editorial she shared with California Black Media.

“In the case of the California Democratic Party,” Bernard continued, “ it’s time for Black women to rethink our loyalty and com-

mitment.”

The view Bernard is expressing is not new. It articulates a widespread sense among Black women Democrats – who are becoming one of the most powerful voting blocs in the country - that the Democratic party relies on their support during elections but rarely rewards or reciprocates it.

During the last election, 94 percent of Black Women voted for Hilary Clinton. Black women are also largely credited for electing Democrat Doug Jones over his Republican rival in a special election for the US Senate last year in Alabama, one of the reddest Red states in terms of its GOP majority and tendency to consistently vote for Republicans. According to APVoteCast, a political polling service, Black women votes were responsible for the majority of the Democratic Party wins during the last national midterm elections.

“While the Democratic Party has talked a good game about making space for Black women in leadership, we’ve seen time and time again that these words ring hollow,” said Dezie WoodsJones, a Democratic party activist, former vice mayor of Oakland and state president of BWOPAPAC. Critiquing her party, Bernard cites the way some California Democrats are treating Kimberly Ellis, an African-American woman and progressive Democrat from Richmond, California. She is on the verge of becoming chair of the CDP if she wins the election at the state convention later this month.

In 2017, Ellis lost the election for chair by a thin margin to now embattled former chair Eric Baumann, who resigned last year after allegations of sexual harassment by two staffers.

Ellis has picked up key endorsements from a wide range of progressive and moderate groups, including the Silicon Valley Democratic Club and BWOPA-PAC. California US Reps. Jackie Speier (D-CA 14th District), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA (continued in next 2 columns)

Black Women In California Say Democratic Party Takes Their Vote and Voice for Granted...continued 11th District) and Ro Khanna (D CA 17th District) have all thrown their support behind her.

But when the executive board of the Democratic Party of Sacramento County (DPSC) voted to endorse Ellis at their April meeting, Bernard says, that decision was rejected and overturned by its membership.

“Immediately questions of the approval threshold were brought up and the rules changed from a simple majority to ? majority vote,” Bernard told CBM. Then, there’s the case of Tina McKinnor, another AfricanAmerican Democrat and former operations director of the CDP. Late last year, the acting chair of the CDP Alexandra GallardoRooker, who took over after Bauman resigned, fired her.

McKinnor has now filed a lawsuit against the CDP alleging discrimination because she is Black and retaliation because she helped another colleague file a sexual harassment compliant against Bauman.

In the filing papers obtained by CBM, McKinnor accuses Bauman of taking job responsibilities from her, including chairing staff meetings, fundraising and meeting with party officials and donors, because her style was “too urban.” She says the former chair of the CDP also used racial slurs like “Schwarze,” a disparaging Yiddish slang for African Americans, to describe her and Ellis. The lawsuit also claims Bauman made statements stereotyping all Black people as poor.

Another time, Bauman asked McKinnor, according to the lawsuit, to chair a meeting and sit up front “for the benefit of the Black

folks.”

Mckinnor alleges that Bauman hired her as a token after winning with a slight margin against Ellis.

The suit quotes Bauman allegedly saying he needed a “strong Black woman” on his staff to keep Ellis quiet.

As for Ellis, she remains focused on winning the election and bringing her vision to the leadership of the CDP. "Consistently on the campaign trail I hear from our longest-serving activists that they want new blood and are welcoming the new energy with open arms," she said.

"It's clear that there is no longer a place in the California Democratic Party for elitist attitudes. We're expanding the tent and adding new voices to our ranks – and we're a better party for it."

The Black women in California who support her are fired up, too, calling on party members to stand with them in their support of Ellis.

Tonya Burke, a lifelong Democrat, political consultant and former mayor pro-temp of Perris in Riverside County, said Black women in California should stop giving their money to the Democratic Party and donate directly to candidates they support. She says they should also run for political office and recruit others to do the same on the state, local and national levels.

“All we seem to keep getting from the Democratic Party are superficial luncheons, tea parties, BBQ’s fish frys and social media apologies,” she said. “If the Democratic Party was a living and breathing human being, Black women would be its brain, heart and soul.”

SPECIAL REPORT: Mass Incarceration of Women and Minorities a New Crisis...continued from page 1 tion to afford.

Failing to pay these probation fees is often a violation of probation.

Childcare duties further complicate probation requirements that often include meetings with probation officers, especially for women with no extra money to spend on babysitters or reliable transportation across town.

“All of these issues make women particularly vulnerable to being incarcerated not because they commit crimes, but because they run afoul of one of the burdensome obligations of their probation supervision,” Kajstura said.

Still, she noted in the report that the picture of women’s incarceration is far from complete, and many questions remain about mass incarceration’s unique im-

pact on women.

“Based on our analysis in this report, we know that a quarter of incarcerated women are un-convicted,” she wrote in the report.

Kajstura continued: “But is that number growing?

And how do the harms of that unnecessary incarceration intersect with women’s disproportionate caregiving to impact families?

“Beyond these big picture questions, there are a plethora of detailed data points that are not reported for women by any government agencies, such as the simple number of women incarcerated in U.S. Territories or involuntarily committed to state psychiatric hospitals because of justice system involvement.”

CSUN Celebrates Graduation with Series of Commencement Ceremonies carmen.chandler@csun.edu

A record 11,627 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree candidates are eligible to graduate from California State University, Northridge this year. Photo by Lee Choo.

In an all-time record for the university, 11,627 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree candidates are eligible to graduate from California State University, Northridge this year.

CSUN’s graduation celebration begins the evening of Saturday, May 11, with the university’s Honors Convocation, and concludes the evening of Monday, May 20, with the last of CSUN’s seven commencement ceremonies. All eight ceremonies will take place on the lawn in front of the university’s iconic Delmar T. Oviatt Library, located at the heart of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

“Commencement is always an inspiring time at the university,” said CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison.

“It is a reaffirmation of the life-changing opportunities that education provides and a celebration of the achievements of our students. It is also a time when family and friends get a chance to acknowledge and applaud all that their loved ones have accomplished to earn their degrees.

“Honors Convocation and the commencement ceremonies give CSUN the formal setting to celebrate our students before they take the next steps toward their future, and join the more than 360,000 Matador alumni who are elevating our region and beyond,” she said.

CSUN’s 2019 commencement ceremonies can be watched live online on YouTube at https:// www.youtube.com/user/ CalStateNorthridge or on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/ calstatenorthridge.

Honors Convocation begins at 6 p.m. on May 11. This year’s speaker will be CSUN alumnus Robert D. Taylor, a financial industry leader and nationally recognized advocate for economic justice.

Taylor graduated from CSUN in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering before he went on to Stanford University, where he earned (continued on page 7)

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

Page 7

May 9, 2019

LIFESTYLE NEWS/ADVERTISING/RELIGION

FILM REVIEW: The Intruder

“A Mother’s Love…!”

By: Lou Yeboah

By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic

Lou Yeboah

Michael Ealy, Meagan Good and Dennis Quaid star in Screen Gems’ THE INTRUDER.

Meagan Good and Michael Ealy star in Screen Gems’ THE INTRUDER.

(l to r) Michael Ealy, Meagan Good and Dennis Quaid in Screen Gems’ THE INTRUDER.

Michael Ealy, Dennis Quaid, Director Deon Taylor and Meagan Good on the set of Screen Gems’ THE INTRUDER.

This formulaic suspense/thriller with its toxic mix of obsession, anger and fear covers no new ground. What could happen that you haven’t seen before?

Not much. Not anything.

Scott Russell (Michael Ealy, Sleeper Celland Barbershop) is an ultra-successful marketing executive. How rich is he? He can afford to buy his wife Annie (Meagan Good, Think Like a Man) a $3.2M country home in pricey Napa Valley, a stone’s throw from San Francisco. The place, dubbed Foxglove after a poisonous flower, has countless bedrooms, is surrounded by trees and if you’re going to start a family, this is the ideal home.

The couple bargains the current owner, widower Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid, Far from Heavenand those pesky Esurance commercials), down a bit on the price. He seems happy to sell it, to them. Seemingly. Oddly, from the git-go, there is strange tension between Scott and Charlie. Male posturing. Pissing in the sand over invisible territory. Something.

The Russells settle in. They’re ready to be country folk. There’s just one nagging problem. Charlie keeps visiting them unannounced. And no amount of polite hints, or straightforward talk can convince him to stop.

Scott admonishes him: “Call or text.

paths. It doesn’t. Predictability cuts the suspense in half. That means the thriller aspects have to pick up the slack.

Yes, The Intrudersticks to a recipe, but still, the stalking is creepy. The wife’s willingness to coddle a guy who has obvious emotional problems is unlikely, but intriguing. As the previous owner from hell acts out his worst intentions, you do feel sorry for the couple and want them to prevail. Fights, stabbings, falls and chases ensue. It all leads up to the do-or-die climax.

There is something so wholesome about Meagan Good, that she reminds you of all the best teachers you’ve ever had. You wouldn’t want to see harm come her way. Michael Ealy is a little less accessible and somewhat off-putting. He does little to nothing to warm up the Scott character and make you like him. And, if you close your eyes, his voice sounds like that of Terrence Howard, who might have been a better casting choice.

Dennis Quaid chews up the scenery as the pest from hell. He has such an affable face, it’s hard to imagine him as a villain, but you must. The only other actor to get any screen time worth mentioning is Joseph Sikora (TV’s Power), who plays Mike, Scott’s pal and work colleague. A cynical person

You just don’t show up.” Uh-oh!

Several movies come to mind: Beyoncé in Obsessed(her husband’s temp secretary comes after them); Sanaa Latham in The Perfect Guy(actor Michael Ealy is demonic); Taraji P. Henson in No Good Deed(a convict terrorizes a woman and her kids). All are decent, watchable and mildly engaging for fans of the cast or the genre. But unremarkable.

Director Deon Taylor is known for 2018’s Traffik, which featured a couple (Paula Patton, Omar Epps) away for a weekend in a plush mountain home who are accosted by bikers. They’re under siege. If that premise sounds familiar it’s because it’s a favorite for suspense/thriller writers and filmmakers who prefer the obvious and don’t think out of the box.

Screenwriter David Loughery has a filmography that lacks depth: Obsessedand Lakeview Terracecome to mind. He has also won a Worst Screenplay Razzie Award for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. The Razzie might be a tad harsh, but it does indicate that he does not aim very high. If his surface-deep script had added some suspicious characters or dead-end plot twists, it might have thrown viewers off the scent and down some wrong

COMMENTARY: What a Time to Bey

By Chelle Wilson, Texas Metro News Columnist

When the trailer for ‘Homecoming,’ her Netflix documentary dropped, the first thing I heard was Dr. Maya Angelou saying: “What I really want to do is be a representative of my race.” As if Queen Bey didn’t already have my heart. (Screen Capture from ‘Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé,’ Netflix/YouTube)

I notice that it is only when my mother is working in her flowers that she is radiant, almost to the point of being invisible—except as Creator: hand and eye. She is involved in work her soul must have. Ordering the universe in the image of her personal conception of Beauty.

It is a magnificent time to be alive in this, the Beyoncé Era. Yes, she breaks records…all the records. Yes, she took command of Vogue hiring the first Black photographer to shoot a cover—ever.

Yes, the first Black woman to headline Coachella dedicated her performance to us through an epic celebration of our culture and beloved HBCUs. Yes, when choosing a partner to relaunch Ivy Park her decision is said to have been made based on corporate diversity, representation, and seats at the decision-making table. Yes, she is all of that and a bag of spicy chips, but when I look at Beyoncé, I see so much more.

She is the manifestation of generations of Black women’s hopes and dreams, the flower planted centuries ago that is finally free to bloom.

When the trailer for ‘Homecoming,’ her Netflix documentary dropped, the first thing I heard was Dr. Maya Angelou saying: “What I really want to do is be a representative of my race.”

As if Queen Bey didn’t already have my heart.

Throughout the documentary, Beyoncé gives us Toni Morrison, W.E.B. DuBois, Audre Lorde, Reginald Lewis and other intellectual, activist, representations of Black excellence,

hopefully opening up their bodies of work and inspiring future generations.

Foregoing traditional music festival imagery, Beyoncé said it was more important to bring the culture. Now, she may have foregone the flower crown, but she still led us to the ancestral garden.

In between scenes in Homecoming these words appear on the screen, “Our Mothers And Grandmothers…

Moving To Music Not Yet Written…And they waited.” These lines are from Alice Walker’s 1972 essay, “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens.” The essay describes the pain of Black women who for generations had to bury their creativity within the depths of their very souls.

The joy and freedom that arise from song, dance, poetry and other forms of artistic expression were shackled by the institution of slavery that thrived on a zombified type of human, void of spirit and soul.

In her essay, Walker describes many of our foremothers as artists “driven to a numb and bleeding madness by the springs of creativity in them for which there was no release…the strain of enduring their unused and unwanted talent drove them insane.”

So, when we see Beyoncé in the documentary trying to garner the same level of passion and excitement for the performance of her encouraging her team to perform as if they are “thankful for [their] freedom,” she was speaking through and for those Black women who existed in a time when “the free(continued in next 2 columns)

would assume the nice white friend helps counter-balance the evil white antagonist.

Music video/short film cinematographer Daniel Pearl (Ed Sheeran: “Thinking Out Loud”) gives the footage a nice glossy look with rich colors, perfect lighting and the right angles.

Costume designer Seth Chernoff dresses the couple in hip, upwardly mobile fashion. The house (production design Andrew Neskoromny, set design Ingrid Burgstaller) is perfect, as if renovated by HGTV’s Property Brothers. Can’t fault the pacing either (editor Melissa Kent). The musical score (Geoff Zanelli) blares too loudly at times, to the point of distraction. However, the film’s steamy playlist includes the bed-burner song by Tank called “When We,” which includes the repetitive line “When we f—.”

Is this contrived suspense/thriller worth $15 bucks on a Saturday night at the movies? Good question. Young adult couples might think so, others might not. Would you watch it on Netflix if you’d exhausted all other possibilities? That’s a distinct possibility.

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.comand BlackPressUSA.com.

COMMENTARY: What a Time to Bey...continued dom to paint, to sculpt, to expand the mind with action did not exist.”

Beyoncé had the freedom and luxury to take the time to nurture her body, pre and post pregnancy, but not one to idle, she began researching her ancestry. According to her Vogue interview, she discovered her roots include a slave owner that “fell in love with” and “married” an enslaved woman.

“I questioned what it meant and tried to put it into perspective,” she wrote.

How did her foremother define love?

Was it forced? Passion? Perhaps, it was simply a means to survive because deep down in her spirit she knew she had to live.

I envision Beyoncé’s ancestor to be a woman in waiting who, as Walker wrote, “moved to music not yet written.”

She moved to a silent melody that would increase in volume as her spirit flowed deep and fast like a river through generational bloodlines.

Beyoncé’s vision was clear, “I was so specific because I’d seen it. I’d heard it, and it was already written inside of me.”

I believe; however, the true Coachella choreographers were the ancestral women who waited, sitting patiently for centuries until finally, it was their time to Bey.

CSUN Celebrates Graduation with Series of Commencement Ceremonies...continued from page 6 an MBA and a law degree. He is a founding partner of the investment firm Centinela Capital Partners, LLC. Prior to that, he was a founding partner of the private equity firm Blue Capital and a partner at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Taylor is a member of the CSUN Foundation Board of Directors, and he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the university in 2016.

CSUN’s first commencement ceremony — for graduates of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science and Mathematics — will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17.

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, graduates of the Departments of Africana Studies, Criminology and Justice Studies, History, Political Science, Social Work, Sociology, and Urban Studies and Planning in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will take part in CSUN’s second commencement ceremony.

CSUN’s third commencement ceremony — for the graduates of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and the graduates of the Departments of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, Psychology and Public Administration in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences — will take place at 6 p.m. on May 18.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, the graduates of the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics will take part in CSUN’s fourth ceremony.

CSUN’s fifth ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on May 19 for the graduates of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication.

At 8 a.m. on Monday, May 20, the graduates of the College of Humanities and the Departments of Child and Adolescent Development, Communication Disorders, Environmental and Occupational Health, and Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of Health and Human Development will take part in CSUN’s sixth commencement ceremony.

During the ceremony, an honorary doctorate of humane letters will be awarded to Susan Burton, an advocate for incarcerated women and atrisk youth and founder of A New Way of Life Reentry Project in South Los Angeles.

CSUN’s seventh and final commencement ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on May 20 for the graduates of the Departments of Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Recreation and Tourism Management in the College of Health and Human Development.

For more information about CSUN’s 2019 Commencement, visit the website https://www.csun.edu/commencement.

You know, there have been many definitions of love. There have been many people who have written books about love.

There are songs about love.

There are poems about love.

There are discussions about love. But when you’ve said it all and you’ve read it all and you’ve sung it all, you just might wonder “What Love Got to Do with It,” because the things they talk about, sing about and write about really aren’t about love at all, but rather about affection, longing, goose-bumps types of emotional thrills. The love they talk about runs hot, it runs cold, and it runs lukewarm. It brings tears of joy, tears of depression, and screams of excitement and hollers of disappointment.

However, the Bible addresses a “Greater Love” that uses an entirely different term than “philo.” That term is “Agape.” A love characterized by commitment. A love, that takes captive and cleaves and unites and cherishes and defends. A love that last, that is not fickle, or uncertain, or capricious, but durable, constant, and stable.

A love, that bleeds into every fabric and fiber of our lives. A love, that is beyond comprehension. Nothing, no calling or circumstance, no adversity or advancement, no pain or promotion, no status or station, escapes the brush strokes of this type of love – A Mother’s Love – Unconditional Love, Eternal Love!

As God describes His love for us, He says in (Isaiah 66:13) look at the love a mother has for her children, her family; it is nurturing, faithful, protective, and sacrificial. “…. She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her

household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:10-29) I encourage you, if your mother is still a live; appreciate her because she is irreplaceable. If she is no longer here, a leave you with a love letter from God ……”You may not know me, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise. I am familiar with all your ways. Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. For you were made in my image. In me you live and move and have your being. For you are my offspring. I knew you even before you were conceived. I chose you when I planned creation. You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. It is my desire to lavish my love on you. Simply because you are my child and I am your father. My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. And I rejoice over you with singing. I will never stop doing good to you. You are my treasured possession. I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. And I want to show you great and marvelous things. If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. I am your greatest encourager. I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Will you be my child? I am waiting for you. Love your Father, Almighty God. Oh, May God gives us the power to comprehend what is the height and depth and length and breadth, and to know the love of Christ through our mothers which passes knowledge that we might be filled with all the fullness of Him. To the only wise God my Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

Amen!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Witness For Justice #943

Are transgender seekers safe in every Open and Affirming congregation? Not yet!

Andy Lang Executive Director, Open and Affirming Coalition At least 60% of Open and Affirming churches cannot offer “a confident and wellinformed welcome” to their transgender neighbors, according to a recent survey by the ONA Coalition.

This means that transgender and genderexpansive seekers may not be truly safe in many ONA congregations.

How could this happen? The Coalition certified the first 15 ONA churches in 1987, two years after the General Synod urged congregations to adopt ONA covenants. At that time, 32 years ago, attention was focused on equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but transgender rights were not yet on the agenda of movements for equality. Over the following decades, transgender people of faith demanded a place at the table, and the ecumenical welcoming movement—including the Coalition—responded.

This was not an easy journey.

Transphobia ran deep in the lesbian and gay community, but the persistent witness of transgender people of faith began to tip the scales. In 2003, General Synod approved a resolution with Coalition support calling on “all congregations of the United Church of Christ” to “welcome transgender people into membership, ministry, and full participation.”

Today, the Coalition will not certify a congregation’s new ONA covenant unless it includes language that explicitly welcomes transgender and gender-expansive people—usually with the words “people of any gender identity and expression.”

The Coalition emphasizes in its ONA resources and training programs that a congregation’s journey towards an ONA covenant requires a focus on gender identity, and that includes “non-binary” identi-

ties that challenge our familiar constructs of gender. The journey may be challenging, but no congregation can live fully into its ONA commitment if it hasn’t taken the time to hear the stories of their transgender and gender-expansive neighbors and members, and to learn the practical steps that will help transgender and non-binary communities feel truly welcome in our places of worship.

To be honest, we have to acknowledge that transphobia still exists in many ONA churches, and in the Coalition, too.

The Coalition pledges to make justice and safety for our transgender and nonbinary members one of its highest priorities now and in the future. That means, in part, keeping faith with our existing commitment that transgender, non-binary and other gender expressions are represented in the Coalition’s leadership, resources and training programs. Our goal is a church that is “100% ONA,” and for our 1,500 ONA congregations that means we must live fully into our ONA commitment—a commitment that will remain deeply flawed if our welcome to transgender and non-binary seekers is not “confident and well-informed.”

This is our commitment, not only because the Body of Christ is incomplete without its transgender and gender-expansive members, but because their stories of spiritual and physical courage deepens our faith as a community that seeks to find in each other the image and likeness of God. For resources, visit the Coalition’s website at www.openandaffirming.org/ transgender. Please also join our Trans 101 workshop June 20 in Milwaukee right before Synod. For more information, go to www.openandaffirming.org/national-gathering.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 8

May 9, 2019

NEWS/ AD VER TISING ADVER VERTISING

SAN BERNARDINO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 2019 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION INFORMATION Community News

Valedictorian: Nguyen

Anderson School Graduation: Wednesday, June 5, 9:30 a.m., Anderson School MU Room

Jimmy

Salutatorians: Steven Huynh, Kevin Nguyen, and Steven Nguyen

Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College Football Stadium

June 6, 6 p.m., San Gorgonio’s Phil Haley Stadium Graduates: 458*

Graduates: 261* Valedictorian: Athena Vo

Graduates: 7^ Valedictorian: Diaz Arroyo Valley High School Graduation: Wednesday, June 5, 7 p.m., San Manuel 66ers Stadium

Morgan

Inland Career Education Center (formerly San Bernardino Adult School)

Salutatorians: Paloma Alvarez and Maria Stroud

Salutatorians: Ashley Alvarado, Ryan Chung, Hanh Le, and Leonarda Medina Ruiz

Graduation: Wednesday, May 29, 11 a.m., California Theater, 562 W. 4th Street

San Andreas High School

Sierra High School

Graduation: Monday, June 3, 6 p.m., San Manuel 66ers Stadium

Graduation: Saturday, June 1, 6 p.m., San Manuel 66ers Stadium

Graduates: 320* (includes Destination Diploma graduates)

Graduates: 185*

Graduates: 576* Valedictorian: Mayoral

Yoselin

Salutatorian: Banuelos-Romo

Graduates: 200* (includes high school diploma and GED certificate graduates)

Ismael

Middle School

College

High

Cajon High School Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., Cajon High School, Jack Wilkins Cowboy Stadium Graduates: 660* Valedictorians: Zakaria Doueiri, Chloe Cooper, Rocky Rivera, Charlotte Ward, Elizabeth Ortiz, Natsumi Ruiz, and Daniel Gonzalez Salutatorian: Janay Burks

Indian School

Springs

High

Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., Indian Springs High Athletic Complex

Senior Crossing: Friday, May 17, 6 p.m., Valley College Auditorium Graduation: Wednesday, May 22, 6 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College Greek Theatre

San Bernardino School

High

Graduation: Friday, June 7, 7 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College Football Stadium Graduates: 330*

Graduates: 67* (includes 10 students who will also earn an A.A. degree) Valedictorians: Faith Lauren Falcone and Mariah Yasmin Grajeda Salutatorians: Karen Fuentes Santana, Angela Lizeth Villalbazo Garcia, Madison Virgina Morrie, Samantha Victoria Spencer, and Jennifer Duyen Tran

Valedictorians: Ivy Garcia Guevara and Johanna Soto Salutatorians: Jhunelyn Parafina and Guadalupe Lopez

San Gorgonio School

Senior Celebration: Monday, June 3, 5 p.m., San Gorgonio’s gymnasium Graduation:

^Note: Anderson serves students ages 12 to 22 with a variety of physical and intellectual challenges. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, not a high school diploma.

High

Pacific High School Graduates: 355*

Approximately 3,412 San Bernardino City Unified School District students will receive their high school diplomas or GED certification this year.

This does not include those graduating from vocational programs.

Thursday,

*Note: Graduate counts are approximate at this time. In some instances, exact counts are not available until just prior to graduation.

Offering expert Real Estate Service!

Please call me if you are looking to buy or sell.

I offer excellent customer service!

My name is Lorean Williamson. I am a real estate broker and am working as an associate-broker with Keller Williams in Riverside, CA. I have been in Real Estate since 2006 and a broker since 2010. I welcome referrals from your friends and family. I can be reached by phone @ (951) 217-5325 and by email:

lorean.williamson@kw.com