THE SAN BERNARDINO
AMERICAN
“A Man In Debt is So Far A Slave” -R.W. Emerson
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NEWSPAPER A Community Newspaper Serving San Bernardino, Riverside & Los Angeles Counties
January 11, 2024 Thursday Edition
Volume 54 No. 39
Mailing: P.O. Box 837, Victorville, CA 92393 Office: (909) 889-7677 Email: Mary @Sb-American.com Clifton@Sb-American.com
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Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
Malia Cohen: Despite Health, Education, Reparations and Controller $68 Billion Deficit, California Has Budget Deficit Among Top Black Caucus Enough Cash to Pay Bills Priorities for 2024 Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Asm. Lori Wilson, (D-Suisun) chair, CLBC Closing out their 2023 activities and previewing what they intend to focus on this year, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) met with Black news media outlets from different parts of the state. During the meeting, held late last month, the lawmakers shared some of their top priorities for the 2024 legislative session, which began Jan. 3. Issues members stated are their primary concerns for the next legislative session fall into several categories, including health, education, public safety, social services, homelessness, affordable housing, and economics. CLBC is planning to bring immediate attention
on creating legislation around the 100-plus recommendations the California Reparations Task Force panel presented to the Legislature in June of last year. Assemblymember Lori A. Wilson (D-Suisun City), Chair of the CLBC, said, because so many of the caucus members have been appointed committee chairs by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), she expects they will leverage their positions to meet the group’s goals over the course of the next year. “It is a pleasure to be in this space where we have a record number of members of the Black Caucus being chairs of key leadership committees as well in the area of budget,” said Wilson.
“Traditionally, what happens is when our members are serving as chairs, they also serve budget subcommittees. All members are essentially sitting on budget subcommittees for the upcoming new year,” she continued. Seven of the 12 members of the CLBC joined Wilson in attending the virtual news briefing facilitated by California Black Media (CBM). They included Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) and Assemblymembers Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley); Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood); Mike Gipson (D-Carson); Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D – Los Angeles) and Kevin McCarty
(D-Sacramento). The other four members were unable to attend the briefing due to holiday season obligations, Wilson said. During the 2024 legislative session, Jackson, who will lead Budget Subcommittee 2 on Human Services, said he expects Black Californians will see that the CLBC is “protecting” key issues that concern Black Californians. “I think it’s going to be an opportunity that other Black caucuses have never had before,” said Jackson. “So, I am looking forward to working with the speaker and Chair Wilson to get these things done.” Speaker Rivas created the new Budget Subcommittee on Human Services to focus on state funding for programs such as CalWORKs, CalFresh and In-home Supportive Services. Budget Subcommittee No. 1 previously oversaw human services funding, in combination with health. The new subcommittee Jackson is leading will engage in increased activities on social programs, in addition to interacting with residents and advocates on issues such as disability rights, low-income jobs, childcare, and aging, Rivas stated in a Dec. 5, 2023, letter. In addition to Jackson’s new role, Rivas appointed other continued on page 4
Honoring MLK: The unfinished journey towards economic freedom By Charlene Crowell (January 4, 2024) This January 15, our nation again will observe the only national holiday designated as a day of service. The Martin Luther King, Jr. federal was first observed in 1986. But it took another 17 years for all 50 states to recognize the holiday, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. While Rev. King dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom, peace, and justice for all Americans, too many economically marginalized people are reduced to fighting over scraps while others enjoy the nation’s economic bounty. In 2022, 37.9 million people – 11.5 percent of the nation – lived in poverty, according to the Census Bureau. Additionally, Black individuals made up 20.1% of the population in poverty in 2022 but only 13.5 percent of the total population. Black individuals made up 20.1% of the population in poverty in 2022 but only 13.5 percent of the total population, according to the Census Bureau. The federal minimum wage, currently at $7.25 an hour, has not increased since July 2009, according to the federal Bureau
of Labor Standards. And despite increases that take effect in many states in 2024, workers still earn only $7.25 per hour in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). On December 10, 1964, Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee presented its Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. King saying in part, “[D]iscrimination will still persist in the economic field and in social intercourse. Realistic as he is, Martin Luther King knows this.” Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, Dr. King said, “I am mindful that debilitating
and grinding poverty afflicts my people and chains them to the lowest rung of the economic ladder.” “The tortuous road which has led from Montgomery, Alabama to Oslo bears witness to this truth,” Dr. King continued. “This is a road over which millions of Negroes are travelling to find a new sense of dignity… I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up.” “This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the
future,” added Dr. King. “It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom…Today I come to Oslo as a trustee, inspired and with renewed dedication to humanity. I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally.” Dr. King would urge Americans to remain vigilant and vocal in fighting attacks against diversity, equity, and inclusion. A true tribute to Dr. King would be a renewed groundswell of advocacy that ensures our march towards full freedom refuses to go back; but instead moves forward in the same determination of his life’s work. Social equity cannot be sustained without economic parity. As a people and as a nation, let us confront these and other challenges in his memory. ### Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.
Malia Cohen speaking at Life Changing Ministries in San Bernardino May 15, 2022 Over the next few months, Californians will spend time processing the details of Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2024-2025 spending plan, which he is expected to present to the Legislature on Jan. 10 in Sacramento. However, reports of the state’s whopping $68 billion budget deficit — as projected by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) — have foreshadowed the Governor’s announcement with uncertainty. Despite anticipation of deep budget cuts, State Controller Malia M. Cohen has expressed confidence that California’s fiscal cash flow is in the position to withstand any financial challenges caused by forecasted economic downturn. “Despite reports from various sources indicating a budgetary deficit of approximately $68 billion, the state’s cash position remains strong, and, absent any unforeseen circumstances, the state has sufficient cash to pay its bills and meet its financial obligations through the end of the fiscal year,” Cohen said in a Dec. 19, 2023, letter. Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. She has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. According to the LAO, the budget shortfall increased by $53 billion when compared to the projections used in the development of the current year budget – up from $15 billion when the 2023–24 Budget was signed in June. The LAO faced challenges in providing budget estimates due the IRS delaying tax filings until Nov. 16, 2023. Regarding personal income, sales and property tax revenues, the state's primary revenues, California entered an economic downturn in 2022 that is affecting the budget. Days before July 1, the start of a new fiscal year, Newsom and legislative leaders agreed to a state budget deal in the form of a $310 billion spending plan that provided guardrails for essential
programs and mitigated what was previously a $32 billion deficit. On Dec. 15, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and Senate Budget Vice Chair Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) wrote a letter to Gov. Newsom, urging him to “act early” to address the state’s worsening fiscal condition. “This budget deficit will impact every California resident and doesn’t matter whether you’re a Republican or Democrat,” Jones stated. “That’s why we must roll up our sleeves and work together to bring spending in line with revenues.” Cohen has been monitoring the state’s financial reports and clarified California is protected by its “rainy day reserves.” She indicated that the Newsom administration has been a step ahead in anticipating any potential financial obstacles that would disrupt the state budget. “The state currently has more than $91.4 billion in available borrowable resources, due in large part to the Governor’s and Legislature’s foresight in building prudent rainyday reserves in the Budget Stabilization Account,” Cohen stated. The budget negotiations will involve new leaders of the legislature — Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and incoming Senate President Pro tempore Mike McGuire (D-Santa Rosa). Rivas added California Legislative Black Caucus members Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa and Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) to the Assembly’s budget leadership team in December. Weber will lead Subcommittee 1 on Health while Jackson will guide Subcommittee 2 on Human Services. In particular, the state has $24 billion in reserves to help address the budget problem. In addition, there are options to reduce spending on schools and continued on page 3
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COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/FINANCIAL/ADVERTISING Receives $4.99 Million in Federal Grant Funds Vernon Dental Specialty Group Ensuring All Children Receives California to Improve School Facilities in Small School Districts... continued Oral Pediatric Care In San Bernardino County advance the work of maintaining school sites and support small school districts. All of this comes as Superintendent Thurmond supports Assembly Bill 247 (Muratsuchi), a $14 billion bond measure for school construction
Community/Education News
projects anticipated to be on the ballot later this year. For more information on the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) Grant program, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website.
City of Victorville to Host Ceremony Honoring Winner of Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest Local student to be recognized for winning essay honoring civil rights leader Community News
SAN BERNARDINO, CA - The waiting room was full and so were the patient exam rooms at Vernon Dental Specialty Group. The team of highly trained pediatric dentists
and dental hygienists who specialize in the unique dental treatment of infants, adolescents, teens and adults provided their full attention to the patients. I observed there wasn't much of
a wait time, as quickly as they were checking in, they were checking out. Vernon Dental Specialty Group Dentistry has long been recognized as a premier destination for advanced specialty dental treatments, offering a comprehensive range of services designed to transform smiles and improve oral health. The Specialty Group has garnered an excellent reputation for delivering personalized, advanced solutions to their patients. At the core of the practice lies a philosophy rooted in a pediatric dentistry approach with an emphasis on precaution, to help children get the protection they need against oral health conditions that can result in long term problems and lifelong complications. "What is the most common childhood oral disease in dentistry?" I asked:
"tooth decay" The slim figure woman in pressed scrubs softly replied. The number one reason children end up in the emergency room is due to tooth infection. All children need a dental home just like a medical home. Their first visit to the dentist should be when the child gets their first tooth. Baby teeth are important. They are connected to the rest of the body. If a baby tooth is infected, the infection can travel to other parts of the body. Children should see a dentist once every six months. Vernon Dental Specialty Group mission is to provide oral pediatric care to the children that reside in San Bernardino County and has an unwavering commitment to delivering extraordinary results. They are located at:1655 N. Mt Vernon Ave, San Bernardino,CA 92411.
VICTORVILLE, Calif. — On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the City of Victorville will host a plaque unveiling ceremony to recognize the student winner of its annual Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest. The unveiling ceremony will take place Monday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. during the Commemorative Peace March Program hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Victorville City Hall, 14343 Civic Drive. During the ceremony, the student will read their winning essay and the City will dedicate a bronze plaque to memorialize the civil rights leader honored in the student’s essay. This is the ninth year the City of Victorville has hosted its Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest to celebrate those who have contributed to advancing the civil rights of all people. Fifth and
sixth grade students throughout the City of Victorville are invited to compete in the annual contest. Plaques recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Asa Philip Randolph, Frederick Douglass, Cesar Chavez, Harriet Tubman, Lucy Burns, Jackie Robinson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Frances EW Harper are currently displayed at the memorial. This year’s plaque is sponsored by Advanced Medical and Kidney Institute led by Dr. Sunil H. Patel. Notably, Dr. Patel’s son, Sohan won the City’s Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest in 2021 for his essay about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. For additional information or to become a sponsor of future Civil Rights Memorial plaques, call (760) 955-3306 or visit VictorvilleCA.gov/ civilrightsmemorial.
Mindful Beginnings: The Importance of Prioritizing Mental Health in Your New Year's Resolutions By: Rhonda L. Randall, D.O., Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare, Employer & Individual
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond California Receives $4.99 Million in Appoints Special Education Local Plan Federal Grant Funds to Improve School Area Director Dr. Rachel Heenan as New Facilities in Small School Districts Director of Special Education Division Community/ Education News
Community/ Education News S A C R A M E N TO — S t a t e Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that he has appointed Dr. Rachel Heenan as the new director of the Special Education Division at the California Department of Education (CDE). The Special Education Division provides information and resources to serve the unique needs of individuals with disabilities so that each person will meet or exceed high standards of achievement in academic and non-academic skills. Dr. Heenan will support the CDE efforts to aid schools and engage families and educators in ways that ensure the unique needs of students with disabilities are met. "Dr. Heenan's wealth of experience and dedication aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure every student meets or exceeds high standards of achievement, regardless of the challenges,” Thurmond said. “Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing our commitment to inclusive and equitable education for all, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive. I look forward to the positive impact Dr. Heenan will make as we continue our mission to provide quality education for every child in California." Dr. Heenan has worked in special education for two decades. She began her career in Massachusetts, working in the field of deafness as an instructional aide, a speech and language specialist, and a school
counselor. After relocating to California, Dr. Heenan served as a social worker for a foster family agency serving Deaf/ hard-of-hearing children and families. Along with her extensive local experience, Dr. Heenan has also served in various education leadership roles as assistant principal, early intervention service coordinator, and special education administrator. Prior to joining the CDE, Dr. Heenan was the director of special education and the Special Education Local Plan Area director for the Long Beach Unified School District, the fourth-largest district in the state. As the CDE special education director, her work will continue to focus on serving the underserved, addressing disparities in our educational system, breaking down barriers, and creating a more equitable learning environment that benefits all students. Dr. Heenan holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California in educational leadership, a master’s degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
SACRAMENTO—On Thursday, January 4, the United States Department of Education announced that the California Department of Education (CDE) is among the recipients of the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) Grant Program. Through a SASI Grant, CDE will receive $4.99 million toward improving school facilities in small school districts across California. “I am pleased that we have been able to secure this federal support for our rural districts. We know how important school facilities are in providing a safe and healthy environment for our students. We must make sure that safe, healthy, and up-to-date school facilities are available to children in every community,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “Every student should be learning in an optimal environment that supports them to be healthy, safe, engaged, and challenged.” In California, over half of all school districts are classified as small school districts, with enrollment counts fewer than 2,500 students. Small school districts face greater challenges as they work to maintain and upgrade school facilities, as they often have fewer staff devoted to facilities and maintenance and may lack the school facilities funding expertise compared to larger districts. The $4.99 million in federal SASI funds that California applied for and was awarded will be invested in the infrastructure of
small and rural districts through several programs that will aid these districts in supporting their facility needs. One is a direct technical assistance program, which will allow school facility professionals to visit districts to assess facility needs, estimate costs, identify funding options, and coordinate the development of various facility contracts that include architect, Inspector of Record, and construction, all free of charge to the district. This program can also train and support a district’s custodial/ maintenance staff, principal/ superintendent and chief business officials on the cycle of facilities maintenance and capital outlay. The SASI grant funds will allow the CDE to develop a network of facility practitioners to support small and rural districts, along with a centralized online resource in the form of a portal or web page for school facilities staff to address maintenance assessment, state and national funding sources, and contract development and management. This online resource would also include standardized forms and tools for district use, along with an on-demand library of resources including webinars and short videos. In addition, the grant will increase the capacity for districts to have access to state level expertise on facility maintenance. The CDE will fund a statewide School Facilities Maintenance Specialist. This position will serve as a liaison with county offices of education to further continued in next 2 columns
With the New Year around the corner, many are considering what will be on their list of resolutions, and mental health should be top of mind. A recent study shows that in 2023, one of the highest reported New Year’s resolutions was to improve mental health (36%), reflecting a growing recognition of mental well-being as pivotal to our overall quality of life and highlighting a collective commitment to prioritize selfcare and emotional resilience in the coming year. The state of mental health in America continues to decline,
with a mere 31% of Americans describing their mental health as “excellent” - a record low. While the collective recognition of prioritizing mental health is a step in the right direction, many people setting resolutions may not stick to them, with the majority losing their resolve as early as February. So, as we plan our resolutions for the year ahead, here are some easy ways to implement and execute your mental health resolutions in 2024: Find and establish a solid continued on page 6
Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Investigative Reporter sbamericannews@gmail.com Mary Martin-Harris Publisher mary@sb-american.com Clifton B. Harris / Audio Engineering Editor Legal /Display Advertising (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 6, 1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 15313 by the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News offers online subscriptions. Your weekly newspaper will be delivered to your email for $1.00 for a period of 6 months. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News 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.
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COUNTY/GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
Controller Malia Cohen: Despite $68 Billion Deficit, California Has Enough Cash to Pay Bills... continued from page 1
Ramos measure would count prior convictions in determining penalties for retail theft crimes if approved by legislature and then voters Lawmaker’s bill would result in changes to 2014 Proposition 47 initiative County/Government News SACRAMENTO— Prosecutors will find it easier to seek sterner penalties against retail theft suspects if a bill, AB 1772, introduced today by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) is approved by the legislature, governor and then wins voter approval. If approved, store thefts would no longer be processed as a misdemeanor with no jail time if a suspect has been convicted of two or more specified theftrelated offenses, and punishment could range from imprisonment in the county jail ranging from six months to as long as three years. Ramos said, “Shoplifting, smash-and-grab thefts, and other acts of retail theft trends are causing retailers to close their businesses and endangering customers and employees. Since the pandemic, these crimes have increased. That is not the direction California needs to go.“ He added, “The Public Policy Institute reported that the 2022 rates for commercial burglary rates had increased by almost 16 percent compared to 2019. The PPIC also reported that shoplifting in 2022 had increased by nearly 29% from the pandemic years.” Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim), a coauthor, stated, “An increase in
theft has left our businesses defenseless and Californians feeling vulnerable and uneasy. Insufficient consequences allow individuals to become brazen, recommitting theft over and over again. Today we are taking steps to protect our businesses and communities from further alienation and insecurity.” In 2014, voters approved Prop 47 by a 60% to 40% vote and categorized some nonviolent offenses as misdemeanors rather than felonies. One provision increased the threshold amount for theft misdemeanors from $450 to $950 and did not allow prior such convictions to count toward the new $950 threshold. If Ramos’s measure becomes law, it would become effective only upon voters’ consent at the next statewide election. AB 1772 does not state a new threshold for triggering the increased penalties for retail theft, only the existence of prior convictions on the suspect’s criminal record. In February 2023, the legislator requested the state auditor to review the effectiveness of Proposition 47 to determine whether it had escalated crime rates in San Bernardino and Riverside counties and if so, what categories had been affected. The auditor’s report is expected later this year.
community colleges that could address nearly $17 billion of the budget problem. Each year, LAO publishes the fiscal outlook in anticipation of the upcoming budget season. The goal of the report is to provide the Legislature its independent estimates and analysis of the state’s financial condition as lawmakers begin planning for the 20242025-budget year. In addition to the deficit, other takeaways in the report included “multiple tools available” the Legislature has to address the budget problem. Cohen is also a member of numerous public financing
authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. Cohen serves on the boards of the nation’s two largest public pension funds. “While legislators will have difficult choices to make in the new year, I am confident they will be deliberate in addressing the budget challenges before them, and I urge them to protect, to the extent possible, the health and social service programs designed to benefit those who are displaced, without shelter, or otherwise economically disadvantaged,” Cohen stated.
HIGH DESERT LIVE CONCERT EVENT!
Tracking the first winter storms of the year? So are scammers By Gema de las Heras Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
With all eyes on the severe weather moving around the country, scammers are paying attention, too. And they’re likely following the path of the storms to target the people affected. So, how do you protect yourself against weather-related scams? Weather emergencies mean big bucks for scammers and unlicensed contractors. They’ll appear right after a storm and offer to get your power back on, make essential repairs, or help with whatever you need. But if you pay them, they’ll take your money and disappear, charge you for things you don’t need, or leave before completing the work you paid them to do. To avoid scammers trying to take advantage of you after a storm: Spot utility imposter scams.
Utility imposters work yearround, but after a storm, they might call or knock on your door saying they need to repair or replace equipment. Then they’ll ask you to pay. Don’t pay them. That’s a scam. Hire only contractors who are licensed and insured. Check with your state or county government to confirm a contractor’s license. Ask the contractor for proof of insurance and a written contract. Never pay in cash. Paying by credit card offers you some protections. And only pay in full after the work is done and you’re satisfied with it. Read about other weatherrelated scams at ftc.gov/ WeatherEmergencies. Then share the information with friends and family to help them avoid losing money, too. Suspect a scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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FTC Sends More Than $1.2 Million What goes on in the shadows: FTC action against data broker sheds in Refunds to Consumers Harmed by light on unfair and deceptive sale of consumer location data Deceptive Mortgage Loan Modification By Lesley Fair Scam SCENE: A crowded city or a complaint, the company also ensure that it honored requests the use and sale of consumers’ dark street. (Cue ominous music)
Business Consumer News The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $1.2 million in refunds to consumers who lost money to Consumer Defense, a deceptive mortgage modification scheme. The FTC is sending payments to 6,261 consumers, who will receive $201.34 each. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 877-5950141 or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund. According to the FTC’s 2018 complaint, Consumer Defense operated under a number of names, including Preferred Law and American Home Loan Counselors, and deceived financially distressed homeowners by falsely promising to prevent foreclosure and make their mortgages more affordable. The defendants typically charged homeowners unlawful upfront fees in monthly installments of $650, falsely promising expert legal assistance. In many instances, consumers paid hundreds or thousands of dollars only to learn that the defendants had not obtained the promised loan modifications, and in some cases had never even contacted the lenders.
In 2019, a federal court ruled in favor of the FTC in the case, and ordered that the defendants’ assets be turned over to the FTC and liquidated to provide refunds to harmed consumers. The defendants, however, appealed the case, which was not resolved until 2022 when an appellate court upheld the ruling but sent the case back to the district court to re-enter the monetary judgment pursuant to Section 19 of the FTC Act after the U.S. Supreme Court's 2021 ruling stating that the Commission lacks authority under Section 13(b) of the FTC Act to seek monetary relief in federal court. In 2023, the district court entered a monetary judgment under Section 19 of the FTC Act for the defendants' violations of the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule. The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. T h e F e d e r a l Tr a d e Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc. gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.
ACTION: The camera focuses on the protagonist as they make their way to a location – maybe it’s a place of worship, a doctor’s office, or a reproductive health clinic. They think they’re alone, but what they don’t know is that they’re being tailed. What’s more, highly personal information regarding their whereabouts will be shared with third parties, all without their knowledge or consent. A private eye novel? A detective thriller on a streaming service? No. According to a proposed settlement announced by the FTC, it was all in a day’s work for data broker X-Mode Social, which has billed itself as the “2nd largest US location data company.” The FTC says X-Mode and its corporate successor Outlogic, LLC sold consumers’ raw location data without their informed consent and without placing effective limits on how X-Mode’s customers used the sensitive information it bought from X-Mode. Data broker X-Mode collected precise consumer geolocation data from a wide variety of sources: third-party apps with X-Mode’s software development kit (SDK) built in, its own mobile apps, and information it bought from other data brokers and aggregators. The company then compiled consumers’ location data and sold it to hundreds of clients for advertising, brand analytics, and other marketing purposes. According to the
sold it to private government contractors. The FTC says this was done without consumers’ informed consent and without disclosing all of the purposes for which consumers’ data would be used. And it’s the reality of the data broker industry that, in many cases, consumers had no idea who X-Mode is or that they were X-Mode’s “product.” How personal was the data X-Mode compiled and sold? It wasn’t an anonymous aggregation of zeroes and ones. According to the FTC, the data X-Mode sold was capable of matching an individual consumer’s mobile device with the exact locations they visited. (In fact, some companies offer services to match that data to individual consumers.) How targeted was the information? X-Mode advertised that its location data “is 70% accurate within 20 meters or less.” And how vast was the data set X-Mode collected? According to the complaint, “Through its own apps, partner apps, and other data brokers, X-Mode daily has ingested over 10 billion location data points from all over the world.” The FTC says that until May 2023, the company didn’t have policies in place to remove sensitive locations from the raw location data it sold. In addition, the company didn’t implement appropriate safeguards for how its clients used that data, putting consumers’ sensitive personal information at risk. The complaint also alleges the company failed to employ necessary technical safeguards and oversight to
by some Android users to opt out of tracking and personalized ads. The complaint describes the kinds of threats to consumers’ privacy posed by X-Mode’s conduct. For example, “[T] he location data could be used to track consumers who have visited women’s reproductive health clinics and as a result, may have had or contemplated sensitive medical procedures such as an abortion or in vitro fertilization. Using the data X-Mode has made available, it is possible for third parties to target consumers visiting such healthcare facilities and trace that mobile device to a single-family residence.” Furthermore, X-Mode has used consumers’ geolocation data to create catalogs of people with shared characteristics and has even created custom lists for clients. For example, X-Mode had a contract with a private clinical research company to provide information about consumers who had visited certain medical offices in the Columbus, Ohio area – data the company wanted for marketing purposes. The seven-count complaint charges X-Mode/Outlogic with multiple instances of unfair or deceptive conduct, in violation of the FTC Act. To settle the case, the company has agreed to make major changes to how it does business going forward. Among other things, the proposed order puts substantial limits on sharing certain sensitive location data and requires the company to develop a comprehensive sensitive location data program to prevent
sensitive location data. X-Mode/ Outlogic also must take steps to prevent clients from associating consumers with locations that provide services to LGBTQ+ individuals or with locations of public gatherings like marches or protests. In addition, the company must take effective steps to see to it that clients don’t use their location data to determine the identity or location of a specific individual’s home. And even for location data that may not reveal visits to sensitive locations, X-Mode/Outlogic must ensure consumers provide informed consent before it uses that data. Finally, X-Mode/Outlogic must delete or render non-sensitive the historical data it collected from its own apps or SDK and must tell its customers about the FTC’s requirement that such data should be deleted or rendered non-sensitive. Another noteworthy aspect of the proposed settlement: X-Mode/Outlogic must give consumers an easy way to withdraw their consent for the collection and use of their location data, to require the deletion of any location data that was previously collected, and to request the identity of any individual and business to whom their personal data has been sold or shared. Once the proposed settlement is published in the Federal Register, the FTC will accept public comments for 30 days. The FTC’s action is this case suggests three fundamental principles about the privacy of continued on page 7
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STATE/HEALTH//LIFESTYLE NEWS
Addressing Homelessness: Partnership Hospitals are abusing this drug discount between city, county brings added behavioral program. Congress must step in. health resource to Santa Monica By Guy Anthony State/Health News
Lindsey Horvath, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and Phil Brock, Mayor of the City of Santa Monica, joined LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa Wong in touring the vehicle and meeting the staff of the newly launched therapeutic transport pilot program serving the Santa Monica community.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2024) – Santa Monica first responders will now have access to a dedicated behavioral health team to better assist individuals in need of mental health care, thanks to a partnership between the city and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. The pilot program, launched today, provides a specialized therapeutic transport team that will be available five days a week to assist Santa Monica Police and Fire personnel with 911 and nonemergency calls for service that involves someone experiencing a mental health crisis. The partnership with the Department of Mental Health, or DMH, is part of Santa Monica’s push to collaborate with regional service providers for a coordinated, holistic approach to addressing homelessness. Two Santa Monica-based teams will staff the van for eight hours per day to start. The threemember therapeutic transport teams include a driver, a peer
support specialist and a clinical social worker. The first month of the program will involve team training and integration with first responders. As the team continues to embed itself in the Santa Monica community, they will accompany first responders and will ultimately have the ability, if appropriate, to independently handle calls for service. This approach will allow for more targeted and tailored responses focused on behavioral health care, while also expanding first responders’ capacity to address other emergency calls. The team will have the ability to do a psychiatric transport to an urgent mental healthcare facility or hospital, as well as impose a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization, known as a 5150 hold, for a person who is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. The team can also assist with lower-level needs for someone in crisis. The pilot program will initially continued in next 2 columns
Health, Education, Reparations and Budget Deficit Among Top Black Caucus Priorities for 2024... continued from page 1 members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) in to leadership roles in November for the 2023-2024 legislative session. Wilson is chair of the Transportation Committee; McCarty is chair of the Public Safety Committee; Weber is chair of Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health; and Gipson is chair of the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee; Bonta is chair of the Health Committee; and Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), chair of the Natural Resources Committee. McKinnor remains as the chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee from the previous Legislative session. Assemblymembers Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) are both termed out this year. Jones-Sawyer is running for a seat on the L.A. City Council and Holden is running to serve on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. In the Senate, Bradford chairs the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. He is also serving his last term in the Legislature. Wilson said all the members of the Black Caucus are “excited” and “look forward to stepping” into their roles. Jackson says he is excited to be working on issues affecting aging adults in California. According to the Stanford Center on Longevity, the number of old people in California, those over 65, will double over the next twenty years from 4.3 million in 2010 to 8.4 million in 2030. This will take place as the huge Baby Boomer cohort — the population born between 1946 and 1964 — passes age 65. “These resources are vital lifelines for many families. By separating out human services and public health committee work, the Legislature can do a
better job of focusing and also give the committee more time to offer feedback,” Speaker Rivas stated, referring to the subcommittee Jackson chairs. “Assemblymember Jackson has dedicated his career to social work, and I believe he is the best person to lead this new subcommittee,” wrote Rivas. A recurring concern for members as they discussed the issues important to them is the state’s $68 billion budget deficit that the nonpartisan Legislative Accounting Office (LAO) projected last month. “I am so grateful that our Speaker has placed me as chair (Subcommittee 1 on Health),” Weber said. “That is going to be so important not only to tackle our budget crisis right now but also making sure that as stated earlier by Assemblyman Jackson, be creative in ways in looking to see where we are putting our money that's actually working.” Maternity ward closures, educating public about reparations, retail theft, public safety, Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, improving the shortage of public employees, and divestment in oil are some of the issues CLBC members hope to address during the next 12 months. Other pressing issues for members are early education, afterschool programs, childcare for African American parents, criminal justice reform, and finding solutions to end mass incarceration in California’s jails and prisons. “As a group, this is not the last time (CLBC will meet with the Black Press). We know that the work you do is important, people laud us always for the work that we do, but you really are on the front lines of our communities,” Wilson told the Black news publishers and reporters.
Hospital chains are unfairly profiting off a program meant to help low-income patients afford their medicines. If policymakers don't reform this system soon, I worry that many of the marginalized patients I've devoted my career to protecting won't be able to access the care they need. The program, known as 340B, gives drug discounts to hospitals in underprivileged areas so that they can better serve their communities. Yet, with little oversight, the hospitals can divert the savings to their own bottom lines. In short, money intended to help marginalized communities is instead being funneled into hospital profits in ever-greater amounts. Having spent much of my career helping Black men with HIV, I find this gravely concerning. It all started three decades ago when lawmakers launched a seemingly benevolent plan: In order to help non-profit "safety net" hospitals in poor communities, 340B required pharmaceutical companies to sell them drugs at big discounts. The idea was that this would lower drug prices for lowincome patients and also help the hospitals, so that they could reinvest in facilities, equipment, and staff to serve disadvantaged patients. Unfortunately, the 1992 law failed to codify any rules about what hospitals should do with the savings, so no proof of reinvestment is required. Soon enough, even hospitals serving prosperous communities realized they could use the law's loopholes to turn 340B into a profit center. Many hospitals have multiple locations. Under current regulations, a hospital can use its facility in an underserved community to qualify for the 340B Program, take millions of dollars in drug discounts, then resell the drugs in more affluent neighborhoods.
The profit from such maneuvers can be substantial. For instance, 340B hospitals sell top oncology drugs at a median of 4.9 times their discounted price, according to a report from the Community Oncology Alliance. It's no wonder that 44% of U.S. hospitals now report that the 340B program is a substantial revenue source. Despite the program's rapid expansion, there's little evidence that it's benefiting marginalized patients. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the "financial gains for hospitals have not been associated with clear evidence of expanded care or lower mortality among low-income patients." In fact, 340B may actually increase healthcare costs for low-income patients. Because hospitals benefit from the difference between the discounted drug price and the sale price, they are incentivized to prescribe more expensive drugs, which yield higher profit margins than lower-cost generic alternatives. This appears to be happening with the PrEP drugs -- short for preexposure prophylaxis -- that prevent transmission of HIV. A report from the American Action Forum, a think tank, found that 340B likely incentivizes hospitals to prescribe more expensive brand-name PrEP over generic versions. This means some patients are paying more than they should for this lifesaving medicine. Congress needs to reform the bloated and unaccountable 340B program as soon as possible. Democrats and Republicans should be able to agree that eligibility standards must be tightened and reporting requirements improved. Hospitals must use 340B profits to help our most vulnerable patients. Guy Anthony is the president and CEO of Black, Gifted & Whole.
Addressing Homelessness: Partnership between city, county brings added behavioral health resource to Santa Monica...continued focus on the downtown area, with the goal of quickly expanding citywide. “This pilot allows us to provide a meaningful and appropriate level of response to support someone experiencing a mental health crisis,” Mayor Phil Brock said. “Mental health is a critical
community need, particularly when it comes to our efforts to address homelessness, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with our partners at DMH to strengthen and enhance supportive resources in Santa Monica.” continued on page 6
Free, Full Service Health Center Opens in Historically Neglected San Bernardino Health News San Bernardino – Today, St. John’s Community Health – a network of public health clinics serving South, Central, and East Los Angeles – announced the opening of a new full service health center in San Bernardino – which will have a major impact on the area, where around 70 percent of low income families currently don’t have access to basic health care. The new clinic, located at 500 N. Waterman Ave, is expected to serve between 30,000-40,000 patients annually once it is fully up and running. It will provide comprehensive medical care, dental care, behavioral health services, a pharmacy, space for programming, and more. St. John’s is currently doing outreach to the local community through schools, restaurants and fast food establishments, parks and recreation centers, churches, and community organizations. St. John’s will also open a second clinic in San Bernardino County, and two in Riverside County later this year. “Access to comprehensive health care is a basic human right – and we are dedicated
to helping ensure people in the Inland Empire have that right respected,” said Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John’s Community Health. “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity – including undocumented folks, unhoused people, and those on low or fixed incomes.” “We look forward to serving the community through free, affirming, culturally competent, high-quality and comprehensive health care,” said Dr. Sushant Bandarpalle, Chief Medical Officer at St. John’s Community Health. At their clinics in Los Angeles, St. John’s serves over 120,000 patients who access over 480,000 visits. They have been on the frontlines of preserving the Affordable Care Act, expanding state programs to include undocumented people, fighting COVID-19, and preventing the spread of Mpox. They currently run the largest transgender-specific healthcare program in the United States, serve those who are transitioning out of incarceration, and provide comprehensive care to unhoused people.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Laura Raya, senior resident in San Bernardino regarding her experience and call for attention Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Dear editor, As someone who has struggled with multiple health issues— I’ve suffered a stroke and live with high blood pressure as well as Hashimoto’s disease— prescription drug access and affordability are critically important to me. Our leaders in Washington need to do more to help increase access to live-saving treatments and medications while reducing the burdensome out-of-pocket costs that hurt patients like me. Congress can do that by working overtime in January to pass legislation that reforms Pharmacy Benefit Managers, (or PBMs) and the profit-driven practices and policies they use to the detriment of patient access. It is extremely disappointing that Congress couldn’t get this job done last year, especially with so many legislative options and
supporters on both sides of the aisle. California’s congressional delegation to the House should work together with their colleagues to pass PBM reform in the next few weeks, including both the Delinking Revenue from Unfair Gouging Act as well as the Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act. These bills would go a long way in increasing PBM transparency and accountability in order to help improve access and bring patients’ out-of-pocket costs down. With the 2024 elections approaching, California’s federal lawmakers should push for passage of PBM reform in January, before it’s too late and yet another issue that impacts vulnerable Californians gets lost in the legislative shuffle. We need PBM reform now, not later. Laura Raya
Call The San Bernardino AMERICAN News To Advertise Your Business In Print Or Online Call Us @ (909)889-7677 Or Click On the Website: SB-AMERICAN.COM
U.S. innovators need patent reform now By Frank Cullen Researchers at a Boston biotechnology firm just released a groundbreaking study demonstrating that their new gene editing technology can significantly reduce cholesterol levels in patients at risk of heart attack and stroke. Unfortunately, discoveries like this could have been unnecessarily delayed, thanks to a decade-old Supreme Court ruling that made it harder for companies to develop these types of life-saving treatments. The case -- Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics -- was one of several that have crushed American innovation in recent years. Along with other cases, the Myriad decision confused the question of what new technologies qualify for patent protection. Without clarity on patent eligibility, creators in cutting-edge fields are discouraged from seeking them in the first place. But without patent protection, they're vulnerable to having their inventions copied and exploited by others. This makes innovators reluctant to develop and commercialize their creations in the first place. A bipartisan legislative solution to this problem is in the works. Sens. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act. The legislation makes clear that patent protections must be available for inventions in immunotherapy and other healthcare disciplines that operate on human genes. The proposed legislation would rectify the impact of Myriad and the other errant cases from the early 2010s. In Bilski v. Kappos in 2010, the Supreme Court held that a process invented for hedging risk in commodities trading wasn't eligible to be patented -- but failed to address what sorts of newly invented processes were eligible. In Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories in 2012, the Court ruled that many diagnostic tests
and procedures were not patenteligible. In 2013, in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, the Court held that genetic sequences isolated outside the body are ineligible for patent protection -- even though these lab-assembled sequences are chemically distinct from their naturally occurring counterparts. Finally, in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International in 2014, the Court found that certain "abstract ideas" are ineligible for patents -- without providing clarity on what counts as an abstract idea. Our legal system defines what makes an invention eligible for patent protection: it must be novel, useful, and non-obvious. The law also makes clear that scientific formulas and the laws of nature are not patent-eligible. You can't patent gravity or the theory of relativity. The aftermath of court confusion has disincentivized innovation with real-world consequences. A study published in the Washington and Lee Law Review found that as a result of the 2011 Mayo decision, the diagnostics industry alone has missed out on $9.3 billion in forgone investment. The Patent Eligibility and Restoration Act would reverse such losses. Yet activists opposed to reform are pushing misinformation to scare consumers. Some claim the bill would make human genes eligible for patenting. These assertions are simply false. Indeed, the bill explicitly states that "a person may not obtain a patent for … an unmodified human gene, as that gene exists in the human body." The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act will restore the intellectual property protections at the heart of the American innovation economy. That's why we need Congress to step up as true champions for innovation and pass this critically needed legislation. Frank Cullen is executive director of the Council for Innovation Promotion. This piece originally ran in InsideSources.
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LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012758 Date Filed: 12/29/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/29/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): 1. ASSURE DENTAL FAMILY CARE & BRACES 2. ASSURE DENTAL 3. ASSURE DENTAL CARE 4. ASSURE DENTAL & BRACES 5. ASSURE DENTAL GROUP 6. ASSURE DENTAL DENTISTRY 7. ASSURE DENTAL ASSOCIATES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 961 N MILLIKEN AVE STE 103 ONTARIO, CA 91764 Mailing Address: 4411 REDONDO BEACH BLVD LAWNDALE, CA 90260 Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: S. A. SOLEIMANI DENTAL CORP State of Inc./Org./ Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 3291702 Residence Street Address: 4411 REDONDO BEACH BLVD LAWNDALE, CA 90260 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Aug 28, 2013 Soheil Soleimani DMD, 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 January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012287 Date Filed: 12/13/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/13/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): POETIC PLUMBING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1272 CLINTON CT UPLAND, CA 91786 Mailing Address: 1272 CLINTON CT UPLAND, CA 91786 Name of Individual Registrant: TYLER B CLARK Residence Street Address: 1272 CLINTON CT. UPLAND, CA 91786 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Tyler B. Clark, 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 December 21, 28, 2023, January 4, 11, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012142 Date Filed: 12/11/2023 Filing Expires On: 1211/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ZOE LEARNING CONCEPTS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1942 SOUTH E STREET. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408 Mailing Address: 7438 BEAR CREEK CT HIGHLAND, CA 92346 #of Employees: 1 Name of Individual: NORMAN D JONES Residence Street Address: 7438 BEAR CREEK CT HIGHLAND, CA 92346 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Nov 01, 2023 Norman D. Jones, 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 December 21, 28, 2023, January 4, 11, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012276 Date Filed: 12/13/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/13/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): X&E CLEANING SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 16606 SHOLIC ST VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 #of Employees: 2 Name of Individual: ESTEFANIA A TORRES Residence Street Address: 16606 SHOLIC ST VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Estefania A. Torres, 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 December 21, 28, 2023, January 4, 11, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230011935 Date Filed: 12/01/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/01/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): VALLEY VIEW SPA County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1833 MENTONE BLVD. MENTONE, CA 92359 #of Employees: 1
Name of Individual Registrant: JOSHUA A FLORES Residence Street Address: 1319 STEVENS AVE SAN GABRIEL, CA 91776 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Nov 28, 2023 Joshua A Flores, 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 December 28, 2023, January 4, 11, 18, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012511 Date Filed: 12/19/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/19/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): LAST CALL INSURANCE SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 621 E MAIN ST BARSTOW, CA 92311 Name of Individual Registrant: JULIE FUENTES Residence Street Address: 1251 W BUENA VISTA ST BARSTOW, CA 92311 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Nov 02, 2006 Julie Fuentes, 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 December 28, 2023, January 4, 11, 18, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012066 Date Filed: 12/07/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/07/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): THE INSPECTOR REALTOR County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 8206 LA SALLE PL. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 #0f Employees: 1 Name of Individual Registrant: KRAIG O GLOSTER Residence Street Address: 8206 LA SALLE PL RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Dec 07, 2023 Kraig Gloster, 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 January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 2024. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20230012823 Date Filed: 12/29/2023 Filing Expires On: 12/29/2028 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ADVANCED AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 2026 N RIVERSIDE AVE SUITE C-89 RIALTO, CA 92377 Mailing Address: 2026 N RIVERSIDE AVE SUITE C-89 RIALTO, CA 92377 #of Employees: 1 Name of Individual Registrant: ALEXANDER D MARTINEZ Residence Street Address: 2376 N RIVERSIDE AVE RIALTO, CA 92377 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Dec 28, 2023 Alexander D. Martinez, 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 January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 2024.
SUMMONS SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVSB2220781 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): BRANDY N GREEN, 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 SelfHelp 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 STREET, 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): HARLAN M. REESE, ESQ., (CA BAR NO.: 118226), REESE LAW GROUP, 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/842-5850 (File No. 568481) DATE (Fecha): OCT 24 2022 Clerk (Secretario), by SAMANTHA BECERRA, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) 12/28/23, 1/4, 1/11, 1/18/24 CNS-3767882# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: CIVBA 2400007 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ANTANEISHA BRIANA MCKINNEY filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. ANTANEISHA BRIANA MCKINNEY to Proposed name: LADI LA’ TONI LOVELY LE’DUFF 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: Feb 20, 2024 Time: 1:30 p.m. Dept.: B1 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 235 East Mountain View Barstow, CA 92311 Barstow District 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: Jan 04, 2024 James R. Baxter Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 2024.
PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
GAIL GWEN HUNEYCUTT DECEDENT CASE NO: PROVA2300318 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: GAIL GWEN
HUNEYCUTT
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MARGARET HUNEYCUTT in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: MARGARET HUNEYCUTT 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: 02/27/2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept: F1 FONTANA SUPERIOR COURT 17780 Arrow Blvd. Fontana, CA 92335 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. Petitioner: Margaret Huneycutt 17794 Sandhurst Avenue Fontana, CA 92336 (572)424-4595 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 11, 18, 25, 2024.
AMENDED NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: DELFIN
ANGEL PEREZ-RODRIGUEZ ALSO KNOWN AS DELFIN A. PEREZ DECEDENT CASE NO: PROVA2300206
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: DELFIN
ANGEL PEREZ-RODRIGUEZ ALSO KNOWN AS DELFIN A. PEREZ
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: SAMMY PEREZ in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: SAMMY PEREZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. 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: 3/11/2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept: F1 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 17780 Arrow Boulevard Fontana, CA 92335 San Bernardino-Fontana District (Probate) 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. Petitioner: Sammy Perez 2859 Campo Raso San Clemente CA 92673 (949)280-3149 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 11, 18, 25, 2024.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Page 6
WORLD/POLITICAL NEWS/LEGAL/CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Revenue for Child Day Care Services Climbed as Word In Black, groundbreaking collaborative with 10 legendary Black Estimated Child Care Options Declined in 2021...continued publishers, incorporates as public benefit company maps of child care prices and infant care, and day care:
Move comes three years after site launch, accelerated growth expected by Special to the AFRO follows: Dr. Frances Toni Draper, CEO, The AFRO American, board chair; Elinor Tatum, CEO, New York Amsterdam News, first vice chair; Patrick Washington, publisher, Dallas Weekly, second vice chair; Denise Rolark Barnes, CEO, The Washington Informer, treasurer; and Nancy Lane, secretary.
(January 9, 2024) — The longanticipated day has finally arrived for 10 of the nation’s most trusted and innovative Black publishers, who have worked hard over the past three years to grow Word In Black into a national news site focused on solutions to racial inequities in America. As of Jan. 1, Word In Black has officially incorporated as a public benefit company. After a three-year collaboration, the top ten Black publishers of Word in Black, have decided to officially incorporate as a public benefit company. Credit: Courtesy photo Word In Black is the only media startup of its kind and serves as a future model for the industry. It was incubated inside Local Media Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with Local Media Association. The incubation period allowed for significant testing and experimentation which in turn led to rapid growth. The 10 publishers and the LMF team worked hand-in-hand throughout the last three years to drive this growth. As part of this transition envisioned in the original 2020 business plan, LMF sold the assets to Word In Black, PBC, and will continue to provide support as a shareholder in the new company. What makes it so successful is combining the large and loyal audience of the 10 publishers with the new national brand, along with third-party management services that
don’t drain local resources. Almost all of the support, both commercial and philanthropic, includes all 10 publishers and the national brand, reaching a combined audience of more than 1 million. All 10 publishers have been able to add mini-beats to their newsrooms focused on health and education, along with access to content developed by the national reporting team. It’s a winning formula that has not been tested anywhere else. The public benefit corporation will be supported by the Word In Black Racial Equity Fund, a component fund of LMF. This support will ensure the great journalism funded by philanthropy continues to grow. Word In Black employs a newsroom of 10 FTEs along with contracted freelancers. The staff includes reporters and data journalists focused on health, education, finance, climate justice, religion and more. Read the 2023 Impact Report to learn more. The new corporation’s shareholders include the 10 publishers, their companies, LMF and LMA/LMF CEO Nancy Lane. All shareholders contributed to a capital raise to strengthen the infrastructure on the business side. The company will continue to be managed by LMA and LMF for at least the next three years to ensure a smooth transition and manage the growth. The shareholders elected the first board of directors, as
Mindful Beginnings: The Importance of Prioritizing Mental Health in Your New Year's Resolutions... continued from page 2 support system. A robust support system is a cornerstone of mental well-being, providing a crucial safety net during inevitable challenges. When surrounded by understanding friends, family, or mentors, individuals are better equipped to navigate stressors, share burdens, and find solace in times of need. The interconnectedness of a strong support system not only validates emotions but fosters a sense of belonging and resilience, ultimately contributing to maintaining positive mental health. Reset your mind and body. Adequate sleep is a cornerstone of mental health, pivotal in cognitive function, emotional regulation, and stress resilience. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of us sleep less than seven hours a night. Insufficient sleep has been shown to negatively impact mental health, leading to impaired cognitive function, emotional regulation, and an increased vulnerability to mental health challenges. It is recommended for adults to sleep 7 or more hours a night to keep the mind healthy. Don’t be afraid to talk to a professional. Engaging with your primary care physician or a mental health professional offers a unique and confidential space to express thoughts and emotions without judgment, fostering selfawareness and understanding. A primary care physician or trained
therapist both provide valuable insights, coping strategies, and evidence-based interventions tailored to individual needs, helping to navigate challenges and promote emotional wellbeing. Seeking professional help is a proactive step towards mental health, offering a guided journey of self-discovery and equipping individuals with the tools necessary to manage and overcome various mental health issues. Check your health insurance coverage. You may be surprised to learn that your health insurance plan offers mental health benefits which may include digital selfhelp tools, in-person and virtual visits, coaching, and employee assistance programs, allowing you to access support in a variety of ways. People with mild behavioral health needs may find digital self-help tools and virtual coaching as good places to start. If you have any questions, call the number on your insurance card for more information. Embracing a commitment to self-care and emotional resilience represents both a personal vow and a societal pledge toward fostering a healthier and more compassionate world. As we venture into the New Year, this shared commitment can help us to build a future where mental health is regarded with the importance it deserves. For more information about mental health resources, visit uhc.com.
Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO publisher and CEO, is chair of the board for Word in Black, now that it is a public benefit company. Credit: AFRO File Photo “This is a day to celebrate an important step in the evolution of Word In Black,” said Draper. “Launching a digital news site focused on racial inequities in America, in collaboration with nine other leading Black publishers, has been game changing for all of us. The transition to a public benefit corporation allows us to take Word In Black out of the pilot phase and develop it into a much larger national brand that is unapologetically Black.” In the future, the group believes there will be opportunities to include more of the nation’s leading Black publishers. “We are already working with other likeminded local Black publishers on content campaigns involving large brands,” said Draper. “We look forward to casting a wider net as opportunities arise. Publishers that want to be involved are encouraged to contact us.” “As chair of the board for Local Media Foundation, I could not be more proud of the work that has been done over the past
three years,” said Larry Lee, publisher of The Sacramento Observer, and a shareholder in Word In Black. “We have been sharing our learnings with many others in the industry which has led to the formation of several new collaborations including News Is Out, a queer media collaborative. We believe this model is scalable and important to the long term sustainability of local media.” As part of the transition, Word In Black is hiring a director of business development to cultivate sponsorships, events, reader revenue and branded content opportunities. Without the support of corporations, foundations and individuals, Word In Black would not exist. The board of directors would especially like to thank Google News Initiative, Conrad Hilton Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Comcast Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, Deloitte, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, McKinsey, Henry Luce Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Wells Fargo, AARP, Biogen, Meta Journalism Project and many others. For more information about Word In Black and the WIB Racial Equity Fund, visit: www. wordinblack.com/aboutus and www.wordinblack.com/racialequity-fund. About Word In Black Amsterdam News Publisher Elinor R. Tatum conceived what is today known as Word in Black, the acclaimed and historic collaboration of Black newspaper publishers to collectively address racial inequity in partnership with the Local Media Association, after the murder of George Floyd. Since its launch in late 2020, Word In Black’s reporting team has relentlessly confronted inequities, elevated solutions, and amplified the Black experience by collecting and sharing stories continued in next 2 columns
Estimated Revenue for Child Day Care Services Climbed as Child Care Options Declined in 2021 Written by: Adam Grundy January 9, 2024-The rising cost of child care services in the United States has created a challenge for many working parents: Should they keep paying for child care, adjust their work schedules to reduce expenses, or leave the workforce? The Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP) shows the number of child care services businesses dropped from 2020 to 2021. Government subsidies like the Credit for Child and Dependent Care are designed to assist parents with increased costs but in recent years prices continued to rise, while the number of day care providers dropped amid the pandemic. Between 2014 and 2021, estimated revenue of employer firms classified as Child Day Care Services increased all but one year – 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Service Annual Survey. Estimated Revenue by Tax Status of Employer Firms for Child Day Care Services: 20142021 The Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP) shows the number of child care services businesses dropped from 2020 to 2021. There were 77,383 U.S. employer establishments with 875,114 paid employees during the pay period of March 12, 2021
— down from 77,629 employer establishments and 1,015,242 paid employees in 2020. The Nonemployer Statistics (NES) shows that from 2019 to 2020, the number of child care services with no paid employees also went down. According to the 2020 NES, there were 517,983 U.S. nonemployer firms with a total revenue of $8.5 billion in 2020, down from 564,700 nonemployer firms with total revenue of $9.4 billion in 2019. Rising Cost of Child Care The National Database of Childcare Prices, which reports child care costs in 2,360 U.S. counties, shows that child care expenses are untenable for families throughout the country and highlights the urgent need for greater federal investments, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The database — which uses economic and demographic data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey along with data collected by the Department of Labor — is the most comprehensive public federal source of child care prices at the county level. The Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau also created interactive county-by-county continued in next 2 columns
costs as a share of family income. A brief drawing of available data across 47 states show child care prices for a single child ranged from $4,810 a year for school-age home-based care in small counties to $15,417 for infant center-based care in very large counties. When adjusted for inflation, this equals between $5,357 and $17,171 in 2022 dollars. These price ranges were equivalent to between 8% and 19.3% of median family income per child in paid care. The Economic Policy Institute ranked the top 10 states or state equivalents with the highest child care expenses for preschool,
Washington, D.C. ($24,243) Massachusetts ($20,913) California ($16,945) Minnesota ($16,087) Connecticut ($15,501) New York ($15,394) Maryland ($15,335) Colorado ($15,325) Washington ($14,554) Virginia ($14,063) Given the rising cost of child care, many parents are looking for ways to make ends meet without leaving the workforce. Data on Child Day Care Services help monitor economic trends in that industry.
Word In Black, groundbreaking collaborative with 10 legendary Black publishers, incorporates as public benefit company... continued that inform, inspire and center truth. Through this collaboration, Word In Black aims to accurately frame how the nation understands and addresses systemic issues of race, justice and equity. Collective understanding leads to collective impact. The 10 publishers that make up Word In Black are: AFRO News, The Atlanta Voice, Dallas Weekly, Houston Defender, Michigan Chronicle, New York Amsterdam News, The Sacramento Observer, The Seattle Medium, The St. Louis American and The Washington Informer. Cumulatively, these publishers have operated for more than 800 years. About Word in Black Racial Equity Fund The Word In Black Racial Equity Fund, a component fund of Local Media Foundation, supports the work of Blackowned and operated local news media by providing critical journalism resources for Word In Black, a collaborative effort of 10 of the leading Black publishers. The Fund supports journalism projects focused on solutions to racial inequities. Funding generally supports journalists who work for Word In Black, as well as journalists working for the 10 publishers. The Fund currently covers costs of 10 Word In Black journalists: an education reporter, education data journalist, health reporter, health data journalist, newsletter editor, climate justice reporter, community and audience engagement manager, finance
reporter, religion reporter and the managing editor. The 10 publishers work with the WIB team to localize the stories in their markets, as well as producing their own original reporting. About Local Media Foundation Local Media Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with Local Media Association. The LMF mission is to ensure a healthy future for local journalism, which is essential to a strong democracy, by reinventing business models for news. In line with this mission, LMF worked with 10 of the nation’s legendary Black publishers to incubate Word In Black, a digital startup unlike any other in the industry. Over a three year period the national site, as well as the 10 local publishers, experienced significant growth. The organization believes this is a model that can be duplicated in other ways and in other markets. LMF manages other national collaborations including: Oklahoma Media Center, News Is Out – Queer Media Collaborative, Solving Sacramento, LMA Covering Climate, and New York/Michigan Solutions Journalism. LMF also manages the Local News Fund, which has helped hundreds of local and national news outlets fundraise for journalism projects, along with the Knight x LMA BloomLab, Lab for Journalism funding, Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab and much more. More information at: www.localmedia.org.
Addressing Homelessness: Partnership between city, county brings added behavioral health resource to Santa Monica...continued from page 4 The Santa Monica City Council dedicated $464,000 to fund the pilot program, and the county of Los Angeles provided $1.7 million for staffing resources. The ultimate goal is to expand the program so that a county behavioral health team, led by a clinical social worker, is available in Santa Monica 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This new resource builds on council action last year that secured more funding for community mental health resources. “Santa Monica’s therapeutic transport program launching this week demonstrates the power of Measure H and Los Angeles County’s emergency declaration for homelessness — a declaration also made by the city of Santa Monica, which has long championed local investments to address homelessness,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District. “Homelessness will best be solved by scaling solutions just like this one that meet people where they are with care and support from the county’s Department of Mental Health. I’m grateful for city leaders’ resolve to partner, innovate and create lasting solutions for those in greatest need.” While addressing the homelessness crisis is a main
priority of the program, the therapeutic van is a significant step toward enhancing behavioral health support in Santa Monica across the board. The service will benefit a wide range of clients, such as a teenager considering suicide, a senior experiencing dementia or a person experiencing homelessness impacted by posttraumatic stress disorder. Staff are trained to connect individuals to supportive case management and other recoveryfocused interventions, as well as transport them to a behavioral health facility if needed. Santa Monica is the third jurisdiction in Los Angeles County to partner with the DMH to deploy a new approach to responding to mental health needs in the community, and this partnership is set to inform future efforts to deploy behavioral health resources across the county. “The Department of Mental Health is proud to collaborate with the city of Santa Monica to expand mental health services through this real-time, mobile resource aimed at meeting critical needs on the Westside,” Director Dr. Lisa Wong said. “In the months ahead, we look forward to seeing the results and the impact made by working side-by-side with our partners in the city of Santa Monica.”
Thursday, January 11, 2024
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INLAND EMPIRE/ ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION NEWS
Immersive Leadership & Personal Growth Conference Live2Lead Coming To Riverside Inland Empire News
Riverside, CA – EBD Collective, ,LLC is presenting The worldwide leadership simulcast event: LIVE2LEAD Riverside in Riverside, California on January 19, 2024, at the Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for registration. Live2Lead begins at 8:00 a.m. and concludes by 3:00 p.m. Early bird tickets are available now through January 15, 2024, for $100.00 per person (USE CODE: BOLD24). General Admission tickets $149.00, Student tickets $49.00. Group discount tickets and corporate sponsorships are available and can be purchased online at ExcellenceByDesign. us/Live2Lead2023. Developed by Maxwell Leadership, Dr. John C. Maxwell, the foremost leadership expert, and speaker, headlines the program. With him will be best-selling author and executive coach, Mr. Ryan Leak, noted designer and businesswoman, Ms. Kendra Scott, and strengths revolutionist, Mr. Marcus Buckingham. John C. Maxwell, a #1 New
York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker, has sold more than 60 million books. He has been called the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association and the world’s most influential leadership expert by Inc. magazine. His organizations— The John Maxwell Company, Maxwell Leadership, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation—have trained millions of leaders from virtually every nation. Live2Lead is designed to deliver the very best leadership content to inspire and motivate you and your team. You will also be able to connect with other influencers in your community and expand your business network with relationships that produce tangible results. It’s an event you won’t want to miss. Live2Lead is being presented by Maxwell Leadership Executive Program Leader, Desiree Foster-Collins. For additional information please reach out to Ms. Foster-Collins at 951-888-0398 email at dcollins@ excellencebydesign.us or www. excellencebydesign.us
Supervisors Throw Support behind Padilla Bill to Fix 988 Call Routing...continued be routed to call centers based on the area code of the caller’s phone number, rather than the caller’s location. This has presented a problem in Los Angeles County because it is one of the few counties that has set 9-8-8 up to be able to connect to mobile crisis response teams when callers need an in-person response. If someone calls 9-8-8 from their cell phone with an out of county area code, they will not reach the Los Angeles County call center and cannot connect to mobile crisis response teams. This past year, Supervisor Janice Hahn raised this issue with her former colleagues in Congress both in discussions in Los Angeles and meetings in Washington, D.C., seeking a legislative fix. “When someone calls 9-8-8 and needs help that we can’t provide over the phone, we need to be able to send mental health professionals to them quickly -- but that can’t happen if LA County residents with out-ofstate area codes are diverted away from our local call center,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “One of my goals when I went to Washington last spring was to get the ball rolling on solving this problem and I am grateful that on top of Congressman Cardenas’ bill in the House, we have this new bipartisan bill by Senator Padilla.” The Local 988 Response Act of 2023 (S. 3444) would require the Federal Communications Commission
Golfing for a Good Cause: Putt-ing the FUN in Fundraising Entertainment News
What goes on in the shadows: FTC action against data broker sheds light on unfair and deceptive sale of consumer location data...continued from page 3 consumers’ location data. The status quo is a “no go” when it comes to the collection and sale of consumer location information. Many companies have made a practice of suctioning up every available piece of location data and compiling mountains of highly sensitive information without consumers’ consent. What some businesses haven’t grasped – including some data brokers who operate behind the scenes and in the shadows – is that consumers’ personal information isn’t just another “raw material” for companies to exploit commercially. That’s especially true for location data. Just because your business has access to location information doesn’t mean you’re free to use it any way you choose. Contract clauses about data use are a start, but they’re not enough. According to the complaint, in some instances, X-Mode’s contracts with clients included clauses that at least facially appeared to put limits on third parties’ use of data – but words on a piece of paper
aren’t enough. When the stakes are so high, privacy-conscious companies can’t just talk the talk. They need to take steps to ensure compliance. Because the unauthorized and illegal trafficking in location data is a key concern for consumers and the FTC, it should matter to your company. Whose responsibility is it to ensure that consumers have consented to the collection and sharing of their location information? Savvy businesses assume it’s theirs. That legal obligation is a twoway street. Information about particularly sensitive locations, like where people worship or seek medical help, shouldn’t be used at all. And don’t sell other location data – and don’t buy it – without proof of informed consumer consent. Although every participant in the location data marketplace is responsible for complying with the law, the FTC’s action in this case sends a specific message to location data brokers to re-evaluate their practices for legal compliance.
Supervisors Throw Support behind Padilla Bill to Fix 988 Call Routing Inland Empire News Los Angeles, CA – Today, led by Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support a new Senate bill that would fix an ongoing problem with the way the 9-8-8 mental health and suicide crisis hotline operates. The Local 988 Response Act of 2023, which was introduced by Senator Alex Padilla in December, would require that
calls to 9-8-8 be routed to call centers based on the proximity of the caller, not the caller’s area code. Since the 9-8-8 national mental health crisis hotline launched in 2022 it has been accessed by millions of Americans in their moments of need. But the federal legislation that created 9-8-8 designed the number to continued in next 2 columns
(FCC) to promulgate regulations requiring mobile phone carriers to route 9-8-8 calls based on the proximity of the caller to the call center, not the area code. It is the companion legislation to HR 4974 which was introduced in the House by Congressman Tony Cardenas last summer. “This motion is about making sure we get the most responsive and timely help to those who are reaching out,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Operators from our local County call center should be the ones that provide assistance and connections to crisis responders as soon as possible; implementing geo routing is the right approach to make that happen. If our federal government partners authorize this change, lives will be undoubtedly saved.” Today, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a motion by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Barger to send a letter of support for S. 3444 to Senator Alex Padilla and to Senator Laphonza Butler to encourage her to co-sponsor the legislation. The board previously voted to support Congressman Cardenas’ HR 4974 in August. Los Angeles County currently has 47 psychiatric mobile response teams that operate 24/7 to respond to mental health crises, including 9-8-8 calls. 95% of calls to LA County's 9-8-8 call centers are resolved over the phone, but about 5% need an inperson response.
January 9, 2024- The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. to host its Bridging the Gap (BTG) 2.0 Topgolf Fundraising Brunch, on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 10:30a.m. This golfing for a good cause event will be held at the premiere entertainment venue of SoCal, TOPGOLF Ontario. This sports entertainment complex features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy, paired with outstanding food, climate-controlled hitting bays and great music. "Gather the whole family and come together for a wonderful cause, while enjoying good food, engaging games and a little friendly competition," said Executive Director Melanee Stovall. "This is a time where we raise awareness about seizures and epilepsy, foster an environment where champions can thrive, and honor the outstanding work and achievements of our most dedicated supporters; individuals and organizations who have made a positive impact in service to Inland Empire communities," she added. The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit public benefit corporation founded to support individuals, families and caregivers of those living with epilepsy or other seizure related disorders. Helping those, they call champions, to live a sustainable life through participation of essential supportive programs and services. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, "1 in 10 will have a seizure in their lifetime. Epilepsy affects 1 out of every 26
individuals; 3.4 million people nationwide, more than 65 million people globally, and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year." Given the significant data, it is critical to know the signs and steps in the event of an epileptic episode. The proceeds of the fundraiser will go toward the organization's social recreation and outreach program which creates a supportive and inclusive environment where champions build friendships, develop teamwork and communication skills, boost self-confidence, alleviate stress, and enhance emotional and mental health. “To ensure the success of this event, we are asking you to join us in sharing our commitment and dedication to educate and empower those of the Inland Empire communities and beyond. Your attendance will not only support a meaningful cause but will also show solidarity in our mission to make a positive impact on the community,” said Board Vice-Chair Denise Loiacano. The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. has been recognized by San Bernardino County 5th District Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., Riverside County 5th District Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, Mayor of Fontana Acquanetta Warren, Mayor of Rialto Deborah Robertson, 64th District Assemblymember Mike Gipson, 50th District Assemblymember Eloise Reyes Gomez, and 36th District Congressman Raul Ruiz; for the work they are doing to raise awareness of epilepsy and other seizure related disorders and for supporting those suffering. For tickets and sponsorship visit h t t p s : / / w w w. legacybridgesfoundation.org/ btg-2-0 or call (951)374-0933 for more information. Unable to attend? Make a contribution today at w w w. g i v e b u t t e r. c o m / LegacyBridgesFoundationDonations to support the foundation's efforts to support the epilepsy and seizure disorder community. All contributions are fully tax deductible to the extent of the law.
“They are a Stubborn and Hard-hearted People By Lou K. Coleman
Lou K. Coleman
He said to me, “Daughter of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. He said: “Daughter of man, I am sending you to rebellious people that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, daughter of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, daughter of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. And he said to me, “Daughter of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people.” So, I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. So, I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey
in my mouth. He then said to me: “Daughter of man, go now to the people of and speak my words to them. [Ezekiel chapter 2] This is what the Sovereign Lord says. The night is nearly over, and the day is almost here. [Psalms 90: 11-12]. What day? The day of trouble described in [Matthew 24:21; Mark 13 and Luke 21]. The day of trouble, described back in [Ezekiel 36, Daniel 12] and elsewhere as the “Great Tribulation.” Listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, “We will not listen.” [Jeremiah 6:17] The word of the Lord has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it. [Jeremiah 6:10]. For they have done worse than their fathers; walking everyone after the imagination of his evil heart, stiffened their neck, turned to Me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive My instruction [Jeremiah 16:12; Jeremiah 17:23; Jeremiah 32:33]. God grieves. This has been their way from their youth, that they have not obeyed My voice although I persistently sent them all My servants the prophets. They are stubborn and hard-hearted people! Jeremiah impugns God’s people for failing to listen, then records God’s message to them: “Therefore, thus says the Lord; Behold, I am bringing disaster upon you that you cannot escape. You have provoked Me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm because you have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear. [Jeremiah 11:11; Jeremiah 25:3-4]. God’s judgment came after twenty-three years of persistently speaking to stubborn and hardhearted children who refused to listen. What a tragedy!
WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1185
The Sacredness of Rest Velda Love Minister for Racial Justice
Rest is not optional. Resting one’s whole self is necessary. Closing your eyes and being still is not an elusive privilege. “Rest is as natural as breathing and waking up.” (Hersey, page 82). Rest does not always come easy for those who are living in fear, filled with anxieties, and worried about daily bread, steady paychecks, and sufficient housing. Realities persist that oftentimes keep our central nervous systems working well beyond healthy levels. I am a minister and educator doing racial justice work to dismantle prescribed notions that some people are superior and others (notably those who do not look, act, worship, or behave the same) are less than and/or inferior. This work has been a deep passion of mine for thirty-plus years—and it is exhausting. Sharing best practices with diverse communities and encouraging them to develop policies and behaviors to do no harm oftentimes feels futile. What will it take to implement and maintain practices of equity and full inclusion for all God’s people in the 21st century? When I no longer had the energy or spiritual strength to pursue the answers to this question, I was able to remove myself from the world of work and take a sabbatical rest with the blessing of my employer. I was free to unwind from “grind culture.” I restricted my own technology use. I chose not to ingest messages and voyeuristic images of the ongoing violent offenses perpetuated against my siblings domestically or globally. Turning off gadgets, stepping away from daily routines, and disengaging from political rhetoric is not an absence of caring for people. Self-care is sacred and necessary. Dr. Chanequa Walker Barnes gave me new practices for self-care from her book, Sacred Self-Care. Takeaways were:
I am a divine creation; Being created in the image and likeness of the Creator is God’s gift to us; I was reminded that I am beautifully and wonderfully created by God. Rest is especially sacred for Black bodies globally. Too many economic and power structures are built to overwork Black bodies in particular and working class, poor, and oppressed bodies generally. Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry and author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, writes, “In a society built on a slaveholding economy in which every person’s worth is determined by their productivity, prioritizing wellness is a subversive act.” Hersey’s book strives to “disrupt and push back against capitalism and white supremacy by connecting to the liberating power of rest, daydreaming, and naps as a foundation for healing and justice.” During my sabbatical, the impulse to be still and listen to my spirit outweighed habits of being busy, doing something, and working toward productivity. I made space for nothing but deep and uninterrupted rest, naps, walks, and daydreaming on my deck while sunshine bathed my body in warm fall temperatures. I was on a journey of daily practices to honor my body as sacred. “Rest is a meticulous love practice.” As my sabbatical journey moved toward completion, my inward transformation remained, with a holistic awareness of how to show up as sacred and rested. I am sauntering into spaces. As I enter, I am not in a hurry. My mood is relaxed, and I resist the powers and principalities of a hyper-capitalist system. May rest be your subversive act of self-care. May you nap regularly and often. And see your whole self as sacred because God’s gift to us is rest.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
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January 9, 2024-During this start of a new year, as you tidy up your homes, set aside your bags and boxes of gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, books, blankets, dishes, small appliances and other home goods and donate them to the Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. Clothing Donation Drive-Thru Event on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 from 11:00a.m. - 3:00p.m. on the campus of San Bernardino Valley College located at 701 S. Mount Vernon Ave. San Bernardino, Ca 92410. The event will be held at LOT#2 between Esperanza St. and Grant Ave. near Johnston St. right across from Baker's Drive-Thru. "Drive-up and we'll unload your vehicles,” said Executive Director Melanee Stovall. "During this time of year we tidy up our homes post the holiday season by removing clothing,
shoes, accessories, dishes, blankets and other homegoods. We present this tremendous opportunity to give those unwanted items a new home, all while supporting a noteworthy cause. Sort through your closets and cupboards and set aside your bags and boxes in preparation of this donation drive-thru event," she said. "Enjoy FREE snacks after collection of your load, courtesy of our friends at Adrian's World and snap a quick photo with Kid Condor, the Ontario Clippers Mascot from 12:30pm - 1:30pm!" The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. (LBF) is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit public benefit corporation founded to support individuals and families who suffer from epilepsy and other seizure related disorders. LBF's mission is to raise awareness of the disease
of epilepsy and other seizure related disorders, shine a light for those individuals and families affected, and partner with other organizations to find a cure. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, "About 1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during their lifetime, epilepsy affects 1 out of every 26 individuals; 3.4 million people nationwide, more than 65 million people globally, and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year." “This is a unique two-fold opportunity that we strongly encourage you to participate in, as it will free up space in your homes and allow you to support a local nonprofit organization doing tremendous work,” said Volunteer Director Melody Solomon. "Items we accept include: gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, books,
blankets, small appliances and other home goods. We cannot accept the following: encyclopedias, hazardous or construction materials, or weapons. Please use bags for clothes and textiles and tightly packed boxes for small household goods. All items must be in clean condition," she added. For more information or to volunteer, call (951)3740933 or email us at admin@ legacybridgesfoundation.org. To make a monetary contribution today, visit w w w. g i v e b u t t e r. c o m / LegacyBridgesFoundationDonations. Support the foundation's mission to raise awareness, shine a light and partner to find a cure. All contributions are fully taxdeductible to the extent of the law.
PHOENIX, Ariz., Jan. 9, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Thinkzilla Consulting Group today announced that ImpactAZ 2025, a statewide supplierdiversity accelerator serving black and other minority business owners, has announced the results from its inaugural cohort: * Retail owners averaged 186 new customers * 40% of cohort companies saw an increase in revenue and strategic partnerships * 22% of firms hired staff or management * Companies got $200,000 in investment * Firms secured $2M in corporate contracts Thirty-five participants selected for the accelerator completed the program, with 75% attending all technical assistance programming. "Cohort CEOs are seeing such strong results because of their absolute commitment to opening up new doors of opportunity for small and historically disadvantaged businesses,"
said Dr. Velma Trayham, who created the accelerator and whose nonprofit provides the program management. "Corporations and Government entities expect excellence in their suppliers, and these leaders are ready to deliver." A private celebration on January 16 will mark the cohort's graduation and signal the opening of applications for the second of the accelerators, which will commence on April 23, 2024. About ImpactAZ 2025: Developed in response to the State of Black Business Report, which highlighted financial gaps and opportunities for diverse business owners, ImpactAZ 2025 is a state-wide three-year series of supplier-diversity accelerators, the collective goal of which is to develop 200 startup companies, see 500 firms hire additional employees and assist 50 companies in getting corporate contracts. Using entrepreneurship as an engine, its fundamental objective is to decrease the racial wealth gap and economic insecurity among minorities. Learn more at impactaz2025. com.