SBCUSD Appoints New School Board Member

“Celebrating Black Excellence” at CSUSB BFSSA 10th Annual

Pioneer Breakfast

The San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Appointed Mrs. Felicia Alexander on February 7, 2023, to fill a vacancy from a field of nine local applicants. The vacancy was created when Dr. Gwendolyn DowdyRogers won her bid to serve on the San Bernardino County School Board. As a provisional appointee, Mrs. Alexander will serve on the Board until the general election in November of 2024.

“I’m here in front of you because I’m passionate about our scholars, I’m passionate about the recourses and all that we can provide them because they are our future, “Mrs. Alexander said during her opening remarks to the Board.”

Mrs. Alexander said she is interested in getting back to the pre-COVID graduation rates, making sure middle schools have resources needed for after school programs, and growing the career pathways programs. She also said she has three grandchildren in San Bernardino City Schools, so she has a vested interest in the district.

Mrs. Alexander brings to the board her experience as Sector Director, Global Supply

Chain, where, where she leads global logistics efforts for an aeronautics and defense company. Mrs. Alexander is also an adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach, teaching courses in operations management, supply chain management, and reversed logistics modules. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in organizational developmental and leadership.

Mrs. Alexander was administered the oath of office by her husband San Bernardino Seventh Ward City Council Member Damon Alexander.

First Amendment Coalition urges the San Bernardino County District Attorney to immediately drop criminal charges brought against Victorville City Council

Member Blanca Gomez

Gail Fry -Contributor was admonished by the mayor followed by a series of events leading to her arrest, removal from the meeting, incarceration, and filing of criminal charges. charges against her be dismissed immediately,” the letter from the California First Amendment Coalition demanded.

On February 21, 2023, Victorville City Council Member Blanca Gomez requested to speak during public comments as a member of the public, Gomez, addressing the council and the audience regarding a subject discussed in closed session,

Three days later, on February 24, 2023, according to a letter obtained by The San Bernardino American News, the California First Amendment Coalition (FAC) released a letter to the Victorville City Council, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, urging the district attorney to immediately drop the criminal charges.

“By copy of this letter to the San Bernardino County District Attorney, I am asking that the

“Abuse of such power threatens the fabric of democracy and open government,” Loy protested. In an interview with The San Bernardino American News, Loy charged, “That's a direct assault on freedom of speech, democracy and open government.”

“There are also serious questions whether it was lawful to arrest Council Member Gomez on the charges for which she was booked,” Loy voiced, adding that Penal Code section 403 requires that a person “willfully disturbs or breaks up” a lawful meeting.

The series of events, which ended in Gomez’ arrest on February 21, started when Gomez asked to speak, as a member of the public, during the public comment period. Gomez was at the podium when she turned to the audience and pointed to her cell phone, admonished by Mayor Debra Jones, Gomez turned to face the council pointing her finger at a council member Elizabeth Becerra while stating, “during closed session.”

Victorville Mayor Debra Jones instructed staff to mute the microphone while Becerra raised her portable device to cover

L/R Front: Joyce Smith (Social Lites), Dr. Gwendolyn DowdyRodgers, Kathryn Ervin, Twillea Evans-Carthen, Stan Futch (Westside Action Group), Kim Carter, Robie Madrigal. L/R Back: Cindy Black-Wyatt, Aaron Burgess, and Kiana Webb. Awardees Not in Photo: Prince Ogidikpe, Terrance Stone, Damon Alexander, and Kimberly Calvin.

Social Lites, Inc.

Westside Action Group

Black History Month

Celebration commenced at California State University, San Bernardino Campus with Black Faculty, Staff, and Student Association presenting scholarships to deserving students, honoring emerging leader Prince Ogidipke, presenting village awards to Kiana Webb, Dr. Gwendolyn DowdyRodgers, Kim Carter, Social Lites, Inc., Westside Action Group, Kimberly Calvin, and Terrance Stone. The Lorraine Frost Award presented to Robie Madrigal. The following Pioneer Honorees included, Aaron Burgess, Kathryn Ervin, Twillea Evans-Carthen and Cindy

Black-Wyatt. Scholarship awardees included Mustafaa Bell (Dr. Mildred Henry Scholarship), Lynn Brown-Summers (Ms. Belva Holder Memorial Scholarship), Vivian Osunde (Dr. Jean Peacock and Walter Hawkins Scholarship), Kya Ny’Ashia Necole Olive (John Overton Scholarship), Kuadwawashe Jonah Magwenz (Terrilyn Monette Memorial Scholarship), Shareen Mc Dade (Dr. Milton Clark Scholarship), Tyler Harris (Felix Family Scholarship), and a number of students received the John Futch Book Scholarship. Congratulations to all honorees!!!

CalHFA Announces More Mortgage Relief for California Families

Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Funding for the California Mortgage relief program comes from the Federal Government’s American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeowners Assistance Fund implemented in 2021, which allocated $1 billion for eligible homeowners across the country.

Tiena Johnson Hall

(Courtesy photo)

Earlier this month, the California Housing Financing Agency (CalHFA) and the Sacramento branch of NeighborWorks held a press conference at the State Capitol to announce the expansion of California's mortgage relief program.

“Over the past year, the California Mortgage Relief program has been helping Californians that are most vulnerable to overcome the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tiena Johnson Hall, Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency.

One of the major new changes to eligibility, CalHFA officials say, applies to those who own residences with up to four units. Those homeowners can now apply for assistance. Relief through the program has also extended to those with partialclaim second mortgages or loan deferrals from the beginning of 2020.

Additionally, for homeowners who have missed at least two mortgage payments or one property payment before March 1st of this year, the delinquency date for payments has been reset.

Previous beneficiaries of the program are now eligible for additional funds that could add up to $80,000 in total aid. Officials say the program is meant for those who have had trouble keeping up with housing payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Hall, the program has distributed federal grants and funds to over 10,000 California homeowners.

Not only is applying to the program free, she says, homeowners do not have to worry about paying back the relief funds.

The program is provided to homeowners through the CalHFA Homeowner Relief Corporation.

During the press conference held in the first week of Black History Month, Hall made a point to mention that those who tend to struggle with homeownership in California and the nation at large are Black.

"Black communities have been shut out of homeownership by a variety of factors including discriminatory housing practices which equates to less generational wealth," said Hall.

Homeownership is an incredibly important tool in building generational wealth, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Volma Volcy, Founder and Executive Director of the Ring of Democracy, said it is important to secure the prosperity of neighborhoods where residents are at risk for foreclosure.

"When a family is displaced, a whole community is destroyed," said Volcy.

Volcy also said that the California Mortgage Relief Program has been successful so far in providing aid for those in fear of losing their homes due to pandemic-related financial hardships.

Visit the California Mortgage Relief website to assess your eligibility and apply for the program.

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Releases New Publication on Equitable Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color

SACRAMENTO—State

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today released the “Creating Equitable Early Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color: Disrupting Disproportionate Outcomes” publication.

This report was created by the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Early Education Division and is the fifth publication in a special topic series titled Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children.

The Young Boys of Color report highlights the critical need to disrupt disproportionate discipline patterns and create strength-based and equityoriented early childhood environments that help Black and Brown boys to thrive. Educators and program leaders are provided with a helpful roadmap for improving racial equity through strengthening racial awareness, addressing implicit bias, and creating culturally responsive environments that are safe, affirming, and engaging for boys of color and their families.

“This groundbreaking report provides an honest and comprehensive look at the inequitable experiences our youngest boys of color have in early learning programs, including disproportionate rates of exclusionary discipline such as pushouts, suspensions, and expulsions,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “The report highlights the critical need to disrupt these patterns and create strength-based and equity-oriented early childhood environments that support boys of color to thrive.”

“Although the pandemic has impacted everyone, it has disproportionately affected our student groups that were already vulnerable—and who were made vulnerable due to historic and systemic inequities,” Thurmond added. “This is an urgent time for Black students, and in order to make sustainable and longterm changes, we must look to supports and actions that are backed and proven by research. We know that Black students— particularly Black boys—are one of the most vulnerable groups.”

This publication is part of broader efforts by Superintendent Thurmond to address issues of equity that include Education to End Hate Initiative grants and launching a series of town halls and webinars focusing on Black and Brown student achievement. Additional investments include professional development for

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Releases New Publication on Equitable Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color...continued educators in anti-bias grants and launching the Black Student Achievement Task Force to implement a strategy to close the gap that persists (and is widening) between students of

Get color and their white and Asian peers. For more information, visit the CDE Early Education Publications web page.

Red Cross Responds to Southern California Storms

Volunteers Support Around-the-Clock Relief Effort

REDLANDS, Calif. —

February 27, 2023 — In response to mountain-area road closures caused by winter weather, the American Red Cross of San Bernardino County has opened a shelter at Redlands East Valley High School (31000 E Colton Ave). Volunteers are available to assist residents unable to return to their mountain-area homes with emergency lodging, meals, snacks, water and more.

Trained Red Cross volunteers and staff remain on call aroundthe-clock and are ready to assist in various aspects including sheltering, feeding, and more.

HOW TO FIND A SHELTER

If someone needs to find a shelter or other help, they should follow their local media or go to redcross.org and check the shelter map. People can also find a shelter by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App, which also puts safety tips at their fingertips. The app is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps. Everyone is welcome at Red Cross shelters.

A San Bernardino County call center will also operate at 909-387-3911, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to provide information.

For safety information, please visit redcross.org/winterstorm. Please follow @SoCal_RedCross on Twitter for the latest updates. About the American Red Cross

Southern California Region

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/ SoCal or cruzrojaamericana. org, or connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube.

Public Invited To March 4 Literacy Day Festival

meant to foster a love of reading in our students and their families, which in turn can help everyone achieve more.”

SBCUSD, and especially the Literacy Task Force, hopes that local families will embrace the importance of literacy by attending the Festival, taking home one or more of the hundreds of free books that will be available, and celebrating the District’s award-winning young readers.

San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is holding a free Literacy Day Festival on Saturday, March 4. Students, families, and the local community are invited to attend and celebrate their love of and the importance of literacy.

For the past several years, the SBCUSD Literacy Task Force, which includes preschool through high school educators, administrators, department leads, specialists, and community members, has planned virtual and in-person activities and programs to support in-class literacy instruction.

“The Literacy Day Festival is our big celebration of literacy,” said Director of Elementary Instruction Amy Coker. “It’s select weekends. The closures will allow crews to safely perform paving operations on eastbound (EB) and westbound (WB) SR 210 at the on and off-ramp junctures of the San Bernardino Avenue interchange.

The directional freeway closures will take place during weekends from Friday at 10:00 p.m. to Monday at 5:00 a.m., and are expected to be scheduled for the following dates*: Friday, February 24 through

Monday, February 27 (WB)

Friday, March 3 through Monday, March 6 (WB)

Friday, March 10 through Monday, March 13 (WB)

Friday, March 24 through Monday, March 27 (EB)

Friday, April 14 through Monday, April 17 (EB)

Friday, April 21 through Monday, April 24 (EB) https://www.gosbcta.com/ project/sr-210-lane-additionbase-line-interchange/

DWR Awards $46 Million to Help Communities Statewide Improve Water Supply Reliability, Groundwater Recharge and Water Use Efficiency

Community News for potential future aquifer storage and recovery in the Oxnard Plain and Santa Paula Basins.

The porous rock/sand/pebbles surface for this ephemeral stream in the Dunnigan area of Yolo County is well suited to water’s natural drainage, facilitating ground water recharge.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced grant awards to nine projects in six counties through the Urban Community Drought Relief Grant program. The $46 million in financial assistance will provide critical support to implement drought relief projects that build long-term drought and climate resilience in communities across the State, and help advance efforts outlined in Governor Newsom’s strategy to adapt California’s water supply for a hotter and drier future.

While recent storms have improved conditions and helped fill many of the state’s reservoirs to average or above average levels, California may see a return to dry conditions in the months ahead, and much of the state continues to experience drought impacts following the three driest years on record.

Yard Transformation: In Sacramento County, the Regional Water Authority received $3.1 million to fund an indoor fixture installment program for disadvantaged communities and a climate-resilient yard transformation program. The yard transformation program will reduce outdoor water use by providing rebates to residential, commercial and institutional properties, while the indoor fixture project will directly replace inefficient indoor fixtures in 5,060 multi-family and commercial/institutional properties.

In Riverside County, the Coachella Valley Water District received $5 million to support a regional yard transformation program that will provide lawn replacement rebates throughout the Coachella Valley for residential, multi-family commercial and municipal sites, as well as a direct installation of desert-friendly landscaping to replace lawns in the City of Indian Wells.

The Literacy Day Festival is set for Saturday, March 4, 2023, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., at San Gorgonio High School, 2299 Pacific Street in San Bernardino. Light refreshments, swag, and books will be available for free to attendees while supplies last.

If you plan to attend the Literacy Day Festival and require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the SBCUSD Affirmative Action Office at (909) 381-1122 or mike. medina@sbcusd.com at least 10 days before the event.

The District is expecting big crowds at San Gorgonio High that day, so families are encouraged to arrive early.

“California is facing the realtime impacts of a changing climate, as evidenced by our state’s historic drought and recent flood emergency. Preparing for a future impacted by climate change not only means supporting new water supply efforts, but also strategies that capture excess flows during extreme wet events,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Today’s funding – with more than half invested in underrepresented communities – will help strengthen water supply reliability across the state by supporting recycled water and groundwater recharge infrastructure while promoting wise water use.”

The $46 million in financial assistance will advance projects that support:

Recycled Water: In Monterey County, the City of Soledad received $17 million for recycled water infrastructure. The project will extend the recycled water system to irrigate public schools and parks, replacing 180 acrefeet of groundwater.

Flood Risk Management/ Groundwater Recharge: The Scotts Valley Water District received $1.6 million to recharge groundwater using treated stormwater. This project will help improve water supply reliability as well as reduce peak flows and flood risk in Carbonero Creek.

Improved Water Supply

Reliability: In Ventura County, the Calleguas Municipal Water District received $4 million to construct a pipeline connection between the City of Ventura and the District’s water distribution systems. The interconnection will provide valuable infrastructure for improving water supply reliability by facilitating projects

In San Diego County, the San Diego Water Authority also received $3 million to provide direct installation of high-efficiency toilets and smart irrigation controllers to underrepresented communities. Combined, these efforts are estimated to provide 1,323 acrefeet in water savings per year and transform up to 333,420 square feet to more water efficient landscapes.

The 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief program is designed to address drought impacts in California’s communities while furthering water conservation. Of the total funding announced today, $28 million will advance drought relief projects to improve water supply reliability in underrepresented communities. A full list of the today’s awarded projects and all projects funded through DWR’s drought relief programs is available.

As part of this program, the State expedited $1.2 million in emergency funding to the City of Coalinga in November 2022 for an emergency water transfer to supply the community through the winter months. The city, located in Fresno County, had previously notified the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that it could run out of water by December without additional supplies. DWR’s emergency funding helped eliminate the financial strain on the city and provided water for the community through February 2023, when further allocations from Reclamation will be available.

The program is one of several financial assistance programs under DWR’s emerging “Go Golden” program, which is a statewide effort designed to help large organizations, water agencies and communities build long-term water conservation and continued on page 3

Riverside Sheriffs’ Association names Ramos Legislator of the Year

SACRAMENTO, CA(2/27/23)

Assemblymember James C.

Ramos (D-San Bernardino) announced today he received the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association’s 2023 State Elected Official Award from the association at the group’s annual Board of Directors Awards Banquet.

“I am honored and proud to receive this award from the men and women who place their lives on the line to protect the public. I deeply appreciate this recognition and want to thank the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association membership and its president, William Young, as well as the Riverside County Sheriff Relief Foundation for this award.”

In presenting the award, Young said of Ramos, “He has been a

FAC Honors Open Vallejo, Kaiser Health News, and The Maine Monitor with Annual Award

leader in demanding that we have the proper resources to be safe.” Young added, “He believes every neighborhood needs to be safe and free from danger.”

The association represents more than 3,500 members from the Sheriff's Department, the Coroner's office, the District Attorney's office, and the Probation Department.

Assemblymember James C. Ramos proudly represents the 45th Assembly district which includes Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature. Ramos chairs the Assembly Committees on Rules.

First Amendment Coalition urges the San Bernardino County District Attorney to immediately drop criminal charges brought against Victorville City Council Member Blanca Gomez ...continued from page 1 her face. Then Mayor Jones announced the meeting would be recessed for five minutes.

Video here- Blanca start https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=uiFCxbKNwlw

When the meeting was reconvened following the recess, Jones informed the audience that the meeting was interrupted because Gomez’s comments about closed session were in violation of the law.

As Gomez stood by and it appeared Becerra recorded, Jones advised that the City of Victorville has rules and policies and rules that everyone needs to follow when addressing the council, including Gomez and that Gomez would be allowed to continue with her comments subject to her adherence to its rules and policies.

Returning to the podium to speak, Gomez uttered a few words and realizing the mike was muted, Gomez turned to face the audience and continued speaking. Jones declared Gomez was out of order. When Gomez failed to quickly face the council, Jones announced Gomez had disrupted the meeting.

Jones then concluded that Gomez had refused to return to order as a member of the public, and explained Gomez was to be removed from the meeting.

“Deputies she is to be removed,” Jones exclaimed.

Gomez, a member of the public, walked behind the dais, retaking her position and seat as a member of the city council, and assembling her belongings. Seconds went by when Jones instructed, “Deputies remove Gomez from the meeting until she agrees to follow the rules.”

Victorville City Attorney Andre De Bortnowsky then verbally issued an opinion that Gomez, either as a member of the public or as a city council member, had definitely disrupted the meeting. Deputies were then seen approaching Gomez and arresting her, and accompanying her from the building.

Video here – Gomez arrest https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=e67nz8aqRIE

During the time deputies were removing Gomez from Victorville City Hall, Jones assured the audience, “Ms. Gomez is not being hurt in any measure.” Following Gomez’ removal from the city hall, Jones reopened the city council meeting, apologized to the audience members, explaining

The First Amendment Coalition is pleased to announce the winners of its 2022 Free Speech and Open Government Award: three journalists who strategically used public records to expose government misconduct and accountability failures. Some of this work resulted in significant government reforms.

Through more than 50 public records requests, 15,000 pages of documents, and a California Public Records Act lawsuit filed by her newsroom, Laurence Du Sault of Open Vallejo revealed years-long, systemic delays by the Vallejo Police Department investigating deaths caused by its officers. Du Sault’s analysis of police records found it took the department an average of nearly two years to review fatal officer shootings. Six officers used deadly force again while still under investigation for a prior killing. Her investigation led to the discovery of nearly 50 investigative errors across 17 police killings since 2011, including mishandling evidence and failing to interview eyewitnesses. Following the publication of her investigation, the department released a proposal to modify how it investigates shootings, and the police chief resigned.

Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta and CPPA File Letter Opposing Federal Privacy Preemption

Federal privacy law should be the “floor, not a ceiling” that this was not how their meetings were conducted, that their meetings are conducted in a professional manner.

Video here – Focus Jones https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jrDaUtIDaG0

The San Bernardino County District Attorney filed misdemeanor charges against Gomez for allegedly violating Penal Code Section 403, disturbing a public meeting, and 602.1 for allegedly for refusing to leave after intentionally interfering with lawful business being conducted by a business open to the public by obstructing or intimidating those individuals who were attempting to conduct business.

As an example of what would be considered disrupting a public meeting, where a speaker exceeds their time limit, or is overly irrelevant and unduly repetitious, to the point where it prevented the council from accomplishing its business in a reasonable manner or where the conduct interfered with the rights of other speakers. Source is Renne Public Law Group, more information can be viewed at: https://rennepubliclawgroup. com/dealing-with-disruptionsat-public-meetings-legal-andpractical-considerations/

First Amendment Coalition Legal Director David Loy determined that Council Member Gomez was within her allotted time to speak, was addressing matters within the jurisdiction of the city council, and her conduct was not ‘that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting,’ as required to provide a legal basis to arrest, and remove her from the meeting.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Locator, Blanca Gomez was arrested, taken to West Valley Detention Center where she was bailed out on $100,000 bail on Sunday, February 26.

During her incarceration, anyone attempting to locate Blanca Gomez by looking her up by her name, and date of birth, were unsuccessful. To locate Blanca Gomez, her booking number was required. The San Bernardino American News has no direct knowledge of how Gomez’ $100,000 bail was determined having not attended constitutional rights.

Fred Schulte of Kaiser Health News last year wrenched loose a trove of 90 audits conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revealing the government overpaid insurance companies participating in Medicare Advantage by approximately $650 million from 2011-2013. The audits, finally released after a threeyear Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, “check medical records to make sure patients have the diseases that health plans are being paid to treat,” or are indeed as sick as the insurance companies claim they are. Schulte found through his analysis that in many cases, claims of illness or severity of illness are not supported by documentation provided by insurers, some of whom were overbilling the government $1,000 or more per patient, per year. Schulte’s reporting also revealed the government has largely failed to recoup these funds from the companies. Schulte’s reporting has led to calls for greater accountability from CMS by members of the Senate Committee on Finance.

SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) sent a joint letter to Congress opposing preemption language in H.R. 8152, the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA). The ADPPA, introduced in the last Congressional session, sought to replace California’s landmark law with weaker protections and could compromise the ability of the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to fulfill its mandate to protect the privacy of Californians. California today calls on Congress to set the floor and not the ceiling in any federal privacy law, and to allow states to provide additional protections in response to changing technology and data privacy protection practices.

Director of the CPPA, said: “Federal privacy protections cannot come at the expense of Californians and residents of other states that have adopted innovative privacy protections. In the last year alone, California added key new children’s privacy and reproductive privacy legislation to its existing privacy laws. But if ADPPA is adopted in its current form, not only could existing privacy protections be weakened, but it could prevent California legislators, and Californians through the ballot initiative, from passing new protections to address changes in technology. We urge federal legislators to ensure that any federal privacy law allows states to continue to innovate on privacy.”

Attorney-client privilege is a bedrock right in the U.S. Constitution. Yet “Eavesdropping in Maine Jails,” a series by Samantha Hogan of The Maine Monitor, revealed that in six county jails across the state, the phone calls between individuals who are incarcerated and their attorneys were improperly recorded and sometimes shared with prosecutors and law enforcement, who listened to parts of those recordings. Hogan submitted more than 100 public records requests, brought a lawsuit to enforce access to information, and traveled throughout the state to visit county courthouses to review case files. She uncovered how nearly 1,000 of these calls were recorded, then indexed this trove of information in a publicly available database. Hogan interviewed dozens of attorneys, law enforcement officials, and defendants to support her findings further.

Following Hogan’s reporting, policy changes have or will be proposed at the Maine Attorney General’s office, the state’s criminal justice academy, the state Department of Corrections, and several county sheriff’s offices to protect defendants’

“The work of Samantha, Laurence, and Fred exemplifies some of the best public interest journalism today,” said David Snyder, Executive Director of the First Amendment Coalition. “Their dogged determination to unearth the truth, through countless interviews, publicrecords requests, and even litigation where necessary, demonstrates how a free press empowered by the law of access to public information is the lifeblood of our democracy.”

The 2022 honorees were selected by Snyder and FAC Awards Committee, composed of members of FAC's board of directors: Scott Lindlaw, Jim Newton, Dick Rogers, and Katherine Rowlands, Board President. Snyder is an advisory board member of Open Vallejo and did not participate in the final vote.

The First Amendment Coalition’s annual Free Speech and Open Government Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of free expression or the people’s right to know about their government. Each honoree will receive a $1,000 prize.

To learn more about FAC and its programs advancing government transparency, free speech, and a free press, go to firstamendmentcoalition.org.

“National data privacy laws passed by Congress should strengthen, not weaken our existing laws here in California,” said Governor Newsom. “As personal data is routinely bought and sold it is critical that consumers have the ability to consent to the sharing of this information, especially in an era where Roe v. Wade has been overturned and access to personal data can be used in legal proceedings. California has been on the leading edge when it comes to creating new digital technology, but we have also coupled these advances with stronger consumer protections. The rest of the nation should follow our lead.”

“There is no doubt that stronger federal action is needed to protect the privacy of Americans, but these actions must not preempt existing protections in place,” said California Attorney General Bonta. “California is at the forefront of privacy in response to quickly changing technology. We urge Congress not to undercut the important protections that have been established through efforts by the states. Any federal law should set the floor, not the ceiling for privacy law.”

Ashkan Soltani, Executive

The joint letter was submitted to the House Energy & Commerce Committee in advance of the Committee’s March 1 hearing, "Promoting U.S. Innovation and Individual Liberty through a National Standard for Data Privacy.” The Committee is expected to reintroduce ADPPA in the new legislative session. California continues to lead on data privacy, and to adopt laws in response to rapidly evolving technology, with the strongest and most groundbreaking data protections in the nation. Californians currently have robust protections and rights to manage and control the use of their data through the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). As Congress considers adopting ADPPA, California urges changes to the proposed law as the ADPPA in its current form would undermine the CCPA and would hamper state efforts to keep up with and adapt laws to changing technology.

The path forward to a robust data privacy law is one that sets a federal floor, not a ceiling, to allow states to continue to innovate and be nimble in protecting their residents.

In the letter, Governor Newsom, Attorney General

First Amendment Coalition urges the San Bernardino County District Attorney to immediately drop criminal charges brought against Victorville City Council Member Blanca Gomez ...continued her rights.”

Gomez’ arraignment, however, a review of the San Bernardino County Felony-MisdemeanorBail-Schedule-2023, found no information on the bail amount required for the criminal charges Gomez faced.

FAC Legal Director David Loy told The San Bernardino American New that free speech and open government require the people have the right to address their elected officials on issues within their jurisdiction, and speak within their allotted time.

“To be clear, I think this would be true whether this is a city council member or just any member of the public,” Loy confirmed.

“And I don't see any basis to have been arrested, much less prosecuted, charged with a crime, and incarcerated,” Loy concluded, testifying, “But I mean, the video speaks for itself.”

DWR Awards $46 Million to Help Communities Statewide Improve Water Supply Reliability, Groundwater Recharge and Water Use Efficiency...continued from page 2 water resilience planning. The “Go Golden” program includes projects previously funded such as the Small Community Drought Relief program, and Integrated Regional Water Management program. Interested parties can stay up to date with the latest Go Golden announcements, updates and news through DWR’s email subscription list.

With a shifting climate making swings between drought and flood more extreme, California must continue to implement new programs to manage water in our new climate reality. Californians should continue to use water wisely indoors and outdoors so that our economy, community and environment will continue to thrive.

The second phase of awards will be announced in spring 2023. For tips on how to conserve water, visit SaveOurWater.com. For information about other DWR and State of California drought response efforts and funding programs, visit drought. ca.gov.

“She never got anywhere close to the time on it,” Loy objected, declaring, “She was essentially interrupted twice and shut down because of alleged decorum violations, and I can't see that she violated any decorum rules to the house or genuinely disrupted the meeting, other than by saying things that the mayor didn't like or fair on the face the audience, which the mayor apparently didn't like.”

“But, you know, there's nothing I could see in the city's decorum rules, which prohibits that,” Loy observed explaining there was nothing that would justify removing or arresting her while she stays within her time limit, which she clearly was speaking about matters that are germane to the city's official functions, but she clearly was, you know, she was well within

Loy shared that what he saw on the video of the February 21, Victorville City Council Meeting was very troubling because it raises very significant concerns that the mayor was abusing official power to silence a critic.

“I very strongly request that the district attorney's office dropped these charges immediately,” Loy protested.

In response to The San Bernardino American New regarding law enforcement officers’ responsibility to follow the constitution, Loy explained law enforcement is subject to the same rules as other citizens, and are to follow the constitution.

Loy shared that FAC’s letter was directed to the San Bernardino County Sheriff to inform the sheriff of FAC’s opinion that the arrest was unlawful and without probable cause.

Ohio Train Derailment Becomes Focus of Chinese Misinformation

Ohio Train Derailment Becomes Focus of Chinese Misinformation

The flood of hyperbolic and histrionic messaging on Chinese social media around events in the US has left many Chinese Americans feeling frustrated and confused.

Alternative versions of this narrative have been taken up by both hawkish Chinese in China and conservative Chinese American supporters of Trump, a rare moment of convergence between these otherwise mutually contentious groups.

Still, amongst the noise and misdirection are rare moments of clarity and even insight, such as when one person openly admitted they were exaggerating reports of the derailment in order to highlight how U.S. media often reports on incidents in China. “I wrote a story about the Ohio leak incident in the American style,” the headline read. It quickly gathered more than 100,000 views, a threshold on WeChat for a post going viral.

Biden-Harris Administration Launches First CHIPS for America Funding Opportunity

As Part of Implementing the Bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, Department of Commerce Seeks Applications to Revitalize Domestic Semiconductor Industry and Bring Supply Chains Back to the U.S.

National/Political News

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology today launched the first CHIPS for America funding opportunity for manufacturing incentives to restore U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, support good-paying jobs across the semiconductor supply chain, and advance U.S. economic and national security.

China in 2018.

In mid-February, Sharon Xue received a message on WeChat from a worried cousin in China. Wear a mask and only drink bottled water, the message read.

“I thought there was another epidemic outbreak,” said Xue, who came to the U.S. to study eight years ago and now works for a nonprofit organization in New York.

But when Xue flipped through her updates, the reason for the alarming warning became clear. The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that took place 11 days before had sparked a flurry of apocalyptic headlines on the popular Chinese social media platform. “New York Is Gravely Hit” or, “Epic Tragedy in U.S. Ten Thousand Tons of Cancer Causing Substance Leaked. Animals Dead. Sky Covered by Toxic Smoke.”

“I don’t believe it. But clearly some others do,” Xue said.

The February 3 derailment in East Palestine has become a major political headache for both the Biden administration and former President Trump – who cut safety and other regulations governing the rail industry during his presidency. It has led to the die-off of surrounding wildlife and has raised serious concerns around long-term health impacts for area residents.

But China’s propaganda apparatus and the sensationchasing blog-like public accounts on WeChat known as “self-media” have painted the accident in biblical proportions, warning of devastation for all Americans and even for the future of humanity.

Barely a week after the accident, state-owned and individual accounts began churning out warnings of possible cancer outbreaks for residents as far away as New York and Canada’s Ottawa.

The chemicals on the train were not radioactive but that didn’t stop some from comparing the accident to the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union in 1986.

Given the backdrop of surging tensions between the U.S. and China – tensions that were exacerbated by the Chinese surveillance balloon saga –the flood of hyperbolic and histrionic messaging has left many Chinese living in the U.S. feeling frustrated and confused.

But this isn’t the first time that headlines from the U.S. have been warped or distorted and then thrown back at American audiences. The mis- and disinformation campaign now being waged between the two nations ratcheted up considerably following Trump’s trade war with

At the height of the Covid pandemic, WeChat and Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, were inundated with false or misleading stories about the disease. Themes included allegations that U.S. hospitals were throwing critically ill Covid patients out on the street, that riots had gotten out of control in the U.S., and that many large U.S. cities had become overrun by homeless people and drug addicts.

What’s different in this latest flare up is the timing. There is speculation among some online users that coverage of the Chinese spy balloon incident – which consumed headlines for days in early February – was meant to distract the public’s attention away from the disaster in East Palestine. For some, this line of reasoning fuels the belief that mainstream media in the U.S. is working in concert with the so-called “deep state.”

At a press conference on February 17, Chinese government spokesman Wang Wenbin essentially said as much, questioning why the U.S. “is able to see the balloon 18,000 meters above the ground, but seems to have been blind to the toxic mushroom cloud of vinyl chloride over Ohio?”

Andrew H. Chen is chief learning officer of WholeRen Education, a Pittsburgh-based educational consulting company serving Chinese international students. Chen, who lives close to the border of Pennsylvania and Ohio, said he didn’t see any sign of the aftermath of the derailment, but received several messages from friends and parents of students in China concerned for his safety.

“Chinese media always exaggerate” whenever negative news breaks in the U.S. “because they are restrained from talking about China’s own domestic incidents,” Chen said.

He added the phenomenon has led to a widening chasm between Chinese students studying in the U.S. and their parents in China. “Parents think the U.S. is a very dangerous place and call for their children to go back to China immediately after graduation. But many students know it’s not true, and they would like to work in the U.S. at least for a few years to gain some experience,” said Chen. “It gets increasingly harder for Chinese students to communicate with their parents.” That is also Xue’s frustration.

“My family members in China, it’s like they see a different U.S. from the one in front of my eyes,” Xue said. “When I correct them, they say I am brainwashed. I don’t know what to say.”

OP-ED: President Biden is Investing in America’s Underserved Communities

By Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

Atlanta has a proud legacy as the cradle of the civil rights movement. Throughout our history, Atlantans from Martin Luther King, Jr. to the trailblazers of Sweet Auburn not only helped birth the modern movement to create justice for all but had a laser focus on economic empowerment for everyone

When I ran for mayor, I made a commitment to end the tale of two cities in Atlanta. I promised to fight for an economy that grew in a balanced way, so that workers could get trained for family-sustaining jobs, small businesses could participate in our city’s growth and all of Atlanta could rise together. More plainly, I wanted to ensure that Atlantans from all backgrounds have a shot at fully participating in Atlanta’s economy.

Atlanta is one of the most diverse cities in America, so the economic mobility of all Atlantans is of extraordinary importance to me. It matters to President Joe Biden, too.

In fact, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have proven this time and again by delivering federal resources. Thanks to the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, American Rescue Plan, and executive orders signed by the president, historic investments are being made in cities like Atlanta – and everybody has a shot at participating and benefiting from these investments.

This month, Vice President Harris joined me in Atlanta to celebrate federal dollars coming to electrify Atlanta-area school buses. We’re moving away from the hazardous fumes of diesel school buses, which are disproportionately used in underserved communities, toward cleaner energy that’s better for the environment and better for our children’s health. And with these investments, we’re ensuring Atlantans in all zip codes have access to apprenticeships and good-paying job opportunities. These investments are just the beginning when it comes to ensuring all of Atlanta participates in our economy. Within days of taking office, President Biden signed an executive order which requires the federal government to live up to the Justice 40 Initiative. Justice 40 is an effort to ensure that at least 40 percent of certain federal investments go to communities that have faced a disproportionate burden of environmental harms and pollution. That means more improvements and more jobs in our communities.

Plus, thanks to the BidenHarris Administration working alongside Sen. Ossoff, Sen. Warnock and Rep. Williams, Atlanta will receive $30 million to improve safety along Pryor Street and Center Avenue through the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program. This program will

As part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, the Department of Commerce is overseeing $50 billion to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry, including $39 billion in semiconductor incentives. The first funding opportunity seeks applications for projects to construct, expand, or modernize commercial facilities for the production of leadingedge, current-generation, and mature-node semiconductors. This includes both front-end wafer fabrication and back-end packaging. The Department will also be releasing a funding opportunity for semiconductor materials and equipment facilities in the late spring, and one for research and development facilities in the fall.

“The CHIPS and Science Act presents a historic opportunity to unleash the next generation of American innovation, protect our national security, and preserve our global economic competitiveness,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “When we have finished implementing CHIPS for America, we will be the premier destination in the world where new leadingedge chip architectures can be invented in our research labs, designed for every end-use application, manufactured at scale and packaged with the most advanced technologies. Throughout our work, we are committed to protecting taxpayer dollars, strengthening America’s workforce and giving America’s businesses a platform to do what they do best: innovate, scale and compete.”

The CHIPS and Science Act is part of President Biden’s economic plan to invest in America, stimulating private sector investment, creating goodpaying jobs, making more in the continued on page 7

Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta and CPPA File Letter Opposing Federal Privacy Preemption...continued

from page 3 allow the city to hire workers from our communities to build protected bike lanes and pedestrian facilities, making the area safer and more accessible while connecting the Southside and the Southside Beltline. This is in addition to $40 million delivered to upgrade HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport and millions of American Rescue Plan funds the City has already put to work on pre-arrest diversion services, combatting homelessness, job training and so much more.

We have a lot more work to do before every family in Atlanta has the same access to economic mobility, but change is happening right now – and a lot of that progress is due in large part to the priorities of the BidenHarris Administration.

Here’s the bottom line: as mayor, my job is to show up and deliver. President Biden and Vice President Harris make that job easier – they are providing the resources to create jobs, contract with women and minority-owned firms, and make real improvements in our communities. In the cradle of the civil rights movement, we’re benefitting from allies in the White House who are laser focused on economic empowerment.

Bonta, and CPPA urge Congress to make changes to the ADPPA proposal that: Allow states to respond to changes in technology and data collection practices to allow rigorous enforcement in those areas most affecting residents, and; Ensure that the ADPPA is passed without a preemption clause in order to protect critical data privacy protections in state law and preserve California’s authority to establish and enforce those protections.

Last fall, then-United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released comments outlining her concerns with ADPPA’s limits on state privacy protections. Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta, Assembly Speaker Rendon, and members of the California Senate have also previously released letters raising concerns about ADPPA.

On July 19, 2022, Attorney General Bonta led a multistate coalition calling on Congress in its consideration of ADPPA to respect the role of states to enforce and provide for strong consumer privacy laws while advancing legislation enacting long-overdue privacy protections nationwide.

The California Privacy Protection Agency released a letter opposing H.R. 8152 last year, and in September, Agency Chairperson Jennifer Urban published an opinion piece in the San Francisco Chronicle highlighting how the ADPPA could remove existing protections from California consumers.

The California Privacy Protection Agency’s mission is to protect the consumer privacy of Californians. Established in 2020, the Agency is governed by a five-member board that consists of experts in privacy, technology, and consumer rights. The Agency has several responsibilities, such as promoting public awareness of consumers’ rights and businesses’ responsibilities under the CCPA; adopting regulations in furtherance of the CCPA; and beginning July 1, 2023, the Agency is tasked with enforcing the CCPA through administrative enforcement actions. It will share CCPA enforcement authority with the Attorney General.

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