SB American News Week Ending 5/29

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California Moves Closer to Formal Apology for Slavery After Unanimous Assembly Vote

California is moving towards officially apologizing for the horrors African Americans endured during chattel slavery after the State Assembly voted unanimously to approve Assembly Bill (AB) 3089 on May 16.

Authored by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), the “California Apology Act for the Perpetration of Gross Human Rights Violations” sailed through the Assembly with a 64-0 floor vote.

AB 3089 is one of 14 reparations bills supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) this legislative session.

“Not only is the apology letter important, but it’s also what we do after it becomes law,” JonesSawyer said of AB 3089 after the legislation passed.

“It’s whether or not we go ahead and fulfill the dream of what my ancestors wanted, which is fully to make us part of the American dream. And most importantly, get rid of the river of racism that has been running through our communities for so many decades and centuries.”

Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), and Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) – all members of the CLBC -- spoke on the Assembly floor before the historic vote.

Former Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) spoke in support of the legislation.

“This is a statement of our

values, this is a statement of who we are and what we think at this moment and that’s why it is so important to all of us,” Rendon said of the legislation.

Current Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas shared his thoughts about the historical bill. Rivas invoked the words of Dr. Martin Luther King from a letter he wrote commending the sacrifice and success of Cesar Chavez after he staged a 300-mile walk from Delano to the State Capitol in 1966.

“As we know that it is undeniable that our systems of government have been complicit in the oppression of African Americans,” Rivas said. “Our courts, our schools (and) even this Legislature, California history is tarnished by the subjugation of Black people.”

AB 3089 mandates California to recognize and accept responsibility for “all of the harms and atrocities committed by the state, its representatives thereof, and entities under its jurisdiction who promoted, facilitated, enforced, and permitted the institution of chattel slavery,” as stated in the bill’s language. It also addresses the enduring legacy of “ongoing badges and incidents from which the systemic structures of discrimination.”

AB 3089 would require a plaque memorializing the apology and “publicly and conspicuously installed and maintained” in the confines of State Capitol.

“AB 3089 recognizes the harm that slavery had and continues to have on Black Californians

and takes the important step of acknowledging and formally apologizing for the state’s role in harming the descendants of enslaved people slavery,” McKinnor said.

On the Senate side, three of Sen. Steven Bradford’s reparations bills were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week and are expected to get a full vote on the Senate floor.

SB 1403 (formerly SB 490) passed with a 5-2 vote. It would create a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency. The agency would oversee the administration of reparations as determined by the Legislature and Governor.

“This bill was a recommendation of the California Reparations Task Force, which I spent two years of my life being a part of,” Bradford said.

“It’s one of the most essential of the (task force) report’s 115 recommendations.”

Another bill, SB 1050 –Reparations: Restitution for Property Taking – was approved with a 5-2 vote. It establishes a process for the state to review and investigate public complaints from individuals who claim their property was taken without just compensation or as an outcome of racially motivated eminent domain procedure. SB 1050 establishes a process for providing compensation to the rightful owner of the property.

SB 1331 received a 5-2 vote as well. Titled “Fund for Reparations,” the bill creates a

specific fund for Reparations and Restorative Justice in the state treasury for the purpose of funding compensation to eligible Black Californians. The bill would authorize the fund to receive moneys from any other federal, state, or local grant, or from any private donation or grant.

Two other Bradford bills, SB 1013 and SB 1007, died in committee.

SB 1013 proposed the creation of a program designed to make grants available to individuals who currently live in formerly redlined neighborhoods in the state and are descendants of a person enslaved in the United States. SB 1007 calls for providing grants to descendants of enslaved persons to own a home.

SB 1050 was the only reparations bill Bradford authored that was included as part of the CLBC’s 2024 Reparations Priority Bill Package. According to the CLBC, the bills in the package are the first step of a multi-year effort to implement the legislative recommendations in the California Reparation Task Force report.

“This is sacred work,” CLBC member Sen. Lola SmallwoodCuevas (D-Ladera Heights) said of the Black caucus’s efforts. “I see reparations as a way of repairing the foundation which makes us stronger and lifts all of us in the process. I’m grateful to be in the Legislature at this time when we are positioning our state for a different and brighter future for the next generation.”

The Gamma Omega Chapter of San Bernardino, CA Who’s Motto Is: “Not For Ourselves, But For Others” Make A Difference in the Community

By Soror Beverly Haynes

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-Eta

Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated founded in 1942, the vision of eleven courageous and farsighted professional women, was organized to promote higher scholastic standards, personal growth, career awareness and provide opportunities for community service. The Gamma Omega Chapter of San Bernardino, California is doing just that. The Gamma Omega Chapter rendered service to the Developmentally Disabled Community (IDD), and gives scholarships to worthy high school graduates bound for college and great futures. Our moto: “Not For Ourselves, But For Others.” Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated expanded and gained new ground by chartering the Gamma Omega Chapter in 1983. Enthusiastic, dedicated business women sought to make a difference in their community, and represented Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated in a manner worthy of our eleven founders. In September 2023, the Chapter participated In a Loveland Food Distribution Day where several people in the community were serviced. This was Chaired by Soror Shirley Birt who was awarded the Volunteer of the year by Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. In October 2023, the Gamma Omega Chapter participated in vendor activities at Fontana, California’s “Let’s Move On The Trail”, where they setup a canopy with a table and banner, and passed out Flyers for Good Health Wins (GHW), and masks to the public. In October, we also took part in a

walk for Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness at Sampson Park in Rialto, California and on Halloween candy was distributed for children at several churches by Soror Dollene Magby and Shad Bobby Magby. In November 2023, food vouchers were given for Thanksgiving Day. In December of 2023, the Chapter celebrated the Candlelight Vesper Service and a Christmas Social, where a gift exchange and good food was enjoyed. We continue to seek new service opportunities in 2024-2025 to better service our community.

Gamma Omega Members are committed to strengthening its membership by providing an environment that is both welcoming and industrious for women to work and serve Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Gamma Omega seeks ladies who are achievers and driven to succeed in order to assist in compounding our success. Come join us on our journey by accepting our moto; “Not For Ourselves, But For Others.”

The Gamma Omega Chapter of San Bernardino, California Bill Addressing Cyberbullying, School Fight Pages Advances to Senate Floor for Vote Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Screenshot of Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer on the floor of the California State Assembly asking member of the Assembly to support AB 3089.

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Black Entrepreneur Who Repeated The 9th Grade Twice With A 1.3 GPA Just Earned His PH.D.

Nationwide -- 37-year-old Ron Lewis, Jr. was once a twotime high school freshman with a 1.3 grade point average, but now he holds three college degrees. In June 2024, he will be awarded his Doctorate in Business Administration degree from the International University of Leadership during their official Spring Commencement Ceremony in Morocco, Africa. The program is a Top 20 DBA program that focuses on leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also now a successful entrepreneur, real estate agent, and motivational speaker. Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, Ron struggled throughout high school like many African American students. Fortunately, he was never placed in Special Ed, but he had to repeat the ninth grade nonetheless. But the lowest point for Ron was at age 22 when during two semesters at Florida Community College (now Florida State College at Jacksonville), he earned straight F’s — eight in all. He became so discouraged that he dropped out of college, shut down his thriving promotional products printing company, and joined the U.S.

Army. In the Army, Ron began following motivational speaker Eric Thomas and motivational speaker and former Ohio State Representative Les Brown, and Ron himself became a “motivational conference junkie.” Frequenting motivational conferences, he surrounded himself with others who were just as determined to stay motivated. He began reading books like The Secret to Success: When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breathe by Eric Thomas, and that’s when things began to shift. “That was the first book I ever read from front to back, and I was 27 years old,” Ron says. “Thomas wrote, ‘If you can look up, you can get up,’ and something in me shifted. When I learned it took Thomas twelve years to earn a four-year degree, I could relate to that. I also realized a Bachelor’s degree is still a degree. The amount of time it takes to earn a degree doesn’t matter.”

With that in mind and now as an Army veteran, Ron returned to college. This time, he enrolled at the University

EdTrust, AASA, NAMI to Host Discussion on Students’ Social, Emotional, and Academic Development with Panel of Black Female Superintendents

WASHINGTON – To mark the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision and Mental Health Awareness Month, EdTrust and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will host a panel of outstanding Black female superintendents discussing how they meet their students’ social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD) needs. “Superintendents of Color Leading with Excellence” will uplift the progress that Black female superintendents have made, explore the challenges and opportunities in creating safe and nurturing school environments amid today’s growing anti-DEI environment, and uplift strategies that support equity and student mental health in their districts.

The event will be held at EdTrust’s national headquarters in Washington, DC, Thursday, May 23rd from 6-7:30p.m. ET and will be available via livestream at edtrust.org/ NurtureStudents.

Panelists and guest speakers include:

Dr. Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools

Dr. LaTanya D. McDade, superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia

Dr. Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Topeka, Kansas Public Schools

Dr. Tahira Dupree-Chase, superintendent of Westbury Union Free School District, New York

Karen Pittman, founding partner, Knowledge to Power Catalysts

Trey Baker, author & Rising Voices mentor, special advisor to the Obama Foundation & MBK

Dawn Brown, director of Cross-Cultural Innovation & Engagement, NAMI There is limited space for in-person attendees. To attend in person, please RSVP to Carolyn Phenicie, and to view the livestream, register here. : edtrust.org.

California’s 2024 Enrollment Data Reflects Doubled Growth for Earliest Learners as Overall Decline Slows

SACRAMENTO—On

Thursday, May 16, the California Department of Education (CDE) released annual enrollment data for the 2023–24 school year, which showed a continued, though slowing, decrease in overall enrollment.

Significant bright spots include a doubling of enrollment

of Phoenix and tapped into the subject matter he was passionate about–Business classes, creating a marketing strategy, a business plan, branding, and other creative aspects of Business Management.

Concentrating on the coursework that he enjoyed allowed him to thrive, and nine years after starting his collegiate career at Florida Community College, Ron became the first person in his family to earn a college degree. He then applied to the University of Phoenix’s MBA program on academic probation. He says, “I had four classes to prove I belonged at the MBA level.”

By the time the four courses were complete, Ron had something he had never had in his life: a 3.0 GPA. Now fully dedicated, he became a motivational speaker in his community. Ron says, “If you focus on yourself, you don’t mind losing. When I focused on my community, my goals became bigger than just me. That made me determined to complete the journey.”

Today, Ron speaks to students all over the country – including a recent assembly of over 1,000 students at the community college where he once earned eight straight F’s. “I show up and approach the conversation with full transparency, and I share how I learned to hold myself accountable. I may be the doctoral candidate walking across the stage in June, but failure is a huge part of my success story. When I explain that, it helps students recognize that they have the same potential, no matter their background, and even those struggling right now

can relate.”

“Some of these students need tutoring to help them connect with the material sooner or a stronger support network at school or at home,” he says. I aim to help them understand that they have the power to turn this all around if they just keep trying. I am a living, breathing example of that.”

Now, as a Doctoral candidate, Ron is a Dean’s List student and a Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society member maintaining an academic standing only a few points shy of a perfect grade point average. He has also successfully defended his dissertation entitled “How Learning Entrepreneurship at an Early Age Could Possibly Reduce Poverty and Homelessness.”

With so much focused conversation around learning gaps, facts, and stats surrounding underperforming Black youth and the school-to-prison pipeline, Dr. Ron empowers students and gives them something else to think about — considering advanced degree programs for themselves. He comments, “Failing is not losing! Failure is actually a part of success. It’s a process. You only lose when you quit.”

Dr. Ron Lewis, Jr. is available for speaking engagements, encouraging middle schools, high schools, colleges, church congregations, and audiences at community-based organizations. Be sure to follow him on LinkedIn and Instagram

For business opportunities, press inquiries, and media interviews, contact call (904) 701-8265 or send an email to ronlewisjr@yahoo.com

California’s 2024 Enrollment Data Reflects Doubled Growth for Earliest Learners as Overall Decline Slows ...continued

PreKindergarten (UPK) Planning and Implementation Grants; a statewide communications campaign to raise awareness of free, public early learning programs; and state-level support of UPK expansion across California’s 1,000 school districts through coaching and technical assistance of UPK coordinators across the state.

Some local trends are positive despite the slight statewide decrease in overall enrollment.

Inyo County shows the largest increase in student enrollment, with 6.4% growth from the year prior.

Enrollment figures for charter schools and private schools do not show a corresponding increase when compared to the continued decrease in traditional public school enrollment. This suggests that continually suppressed enrollment numbers more likely reflect family disengagement than school competition, underscoring the urgency of embedding family engagement resources and strategies across California’s public school systems.

This successful engagement of TK students and families may offer important lessons for enrollment challenges that persist across the state, especially as the demographics of TK enrollment appear representative of California’s families overall.

“I am very grateful to see this exciting outlook for our earliest learners,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

in transitional kindergarten (TK) over the last two years, from 75,465 in 2021–22 to 151,491 in 2023–24.

This historic growth in TK reflects significant investment in early learning, including $500 million in Universal

“We know how important it is for support for every child to read by third grade, and a critical part of that effort is to make sure that our youngest students are supported to have healthy development in their early years. This success is what can happen for our students when we effectively engage our families.”

As California continues to

Bill Addressing Cyberbullying, School Fight Pages Advances to Senate Floor for Vote... continued from page 1

process for removing and blocking cyberbullying material and providing transparency to survivors and parents, we aim to create a safer online environment for all.”

Senators Brian Jones (R-San Diego) and Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) abstained from voting. California Legislative Vice Chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) was one of five Democrats who voted for the bill. It now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote.

SB 1504 is designed to make social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and others “respond compassionately and predictably” to reports of cyberbullying or they must explain why the content is “aligned with their platform’s policies,” Sen. Stern said at a May 14 news conference in front of the State Capitol.

Another child safety focused bill, SB 1444 -- titled the “Parents Choose Protection Act of 2024” -- died in committee on May 16 “due to fiscal implications,” Stern stated. This bill would have required companies to issue alerts to parents about potentially harmful content.

Two fathers, Samuel P. Chapman and Chris Didier, who lost their young sons to Snapchat drug dealers came to the Capitol to support the child safety bills.

“Social media has become a super-highway of illegal and nefarious activity that is bringing harm to our youth,” Didier said. “It is time for new legislation to bring needed and appropriate safeguards to protect our communities.”

According to Stern’s office, 56% of teens have reported being cyberbullied, and that youth are likely to struggle with depression and substance abuse due to online intimidation.

climb back from pandemic-era disruptions of school enrollment, family engagement remains a key area of focus for state and local educators, especially to support improved enrollment and attendance. The success of the UPK initiative suggests a strongly optimistic outlook about the return on investment of educational programs that focus on family engagement.

Thurmond has championed a whole child, whole family approach to transforming public schools since taking office as California’s 28th State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2019. Thurmond’s strategic initiatives that focus on family engagement include community schools, which create strategic partnerships between schools and local service providers to integrate family engagement services and student wellness services directly on school campuses.

Last week, CDE announced $1.3 billion in support for the continued expansion of the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) in 1,000 schools across the state.

CCSPP has become the largest single investment in community schools anywhere in the nation.

Both community schools and UPK are critical components of Thurmond’s Transforming California Schools Initiative.

For more information on community schools, please see the California Community Schools web page. For more information on UPK and TK, please see Universal PreKindergarten FAQs and Transitional Kindergarten FAQs on the CDE website. TK is a core component of the UPK program.

It enrolls students in the first year of a two-year kindergarten program, using a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate.

If passed, SB 1504 would “authorize any person,” including, “a parent or legal guardian of a minor,” who bring forth a report of cyberbullying to the “social media platform, a city attorney, a district attorney, or a county counsel to bring an action to enforce the act.” Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh (R-Yucaipa), the first Republican Latina to serve in the Senate, is the co-author of SB 1504. “I’m happy to co-author SB 1504 to help safeguard our youth and empower families to pursue legal action against platforms that fail to remove cyberbullying content, providing much-needed recourse in the face of online harassment,” Ochoa-Bogh said at the May 14 news conference. Stern said the legislation will help combat the growing popularity of “fight pages” created by adolescents and uploaded to social media platforms.

Those fight pages feature videos of elementary, middle school and high school youth physically fighting in bathrooms, classrooms, lunchrooms, playgrounds and other places. In many cases, campus violence happens in unsupervised spaces and in the presence of adults.

The popularity of the videos caught the attention of Stern. He shared the story about a teen from a local high school in his area who was paralyzed after three of his peers approached him “out of the blue” while he was walking down a street, Stern said. The aggressors were members of a “knockout club.”

“It was three kids. One with a camera and one got their phone on,” Stern said. “They cold clocked him. Not just knocked him out but paralyzed him and put him in a life of trauma that he can never recover from.”

Black or Hispanic teens are more likely than their White counterparts to be targets of cyberbullying, according to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Black teens are about twice as likely as Hispanic or White teens to express that their race or ethnicity made them a target of online mistreatment, according to a 2002 survey by the Pew Research Center.

Cyberbullying has been associated with suicide or the newly termed “cyberbullicide,” according to a February 2023 report by the Journal of the Academy Psychiatry and the Law (JAPL).

The phenomena of cyberbullying and teen suicide are becoming more common.

Data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the JAPL report states that 14% of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6% percent of teens have made suicide attempts.

Stern said the fight pages are “proliferating everywhere.”

Earlier this year, a report stated that 14 schools within the Fresno Unified School District were identified as having social media pages promoting school fights. The social media accounts were not administered by the schools, but the fight pages did display schools’ logos, and mascots and urged other students to contribute videos of fights for viewership.

“Incidentally, there are also pages around sexual content of students rating people using artificial intelligence to generate nude images. (SB 1504) covers all bad behaviors,” Stern said. “That kind of bullying, we nip it in the bud before it starts. When those fight pages emerge, anyone observing it can report it to that platform. They would have to respond to it within a matter of days and actually in a matter of hours.”

Dr. Ron Lewis, Jr.

Women of Color Will Vote With Their Pocketbooks This November

By Sunita Sohrabji

Abortion access and care also rank at the top among priorities for women of color. Surprisingly, immigration reform is not a front-burner issue.

The perception of a floundering economy will loom large as women of color — a large and reliable, but often overlooked, voting bloc — head to the polls this November.

Approximately 57% of Latinx women, 55% of AAPI women, and 49% of Black women think things have gotten worse in the country over the past year, according to a new poll released last week. And they feel their concerns are unaddressed by politicians and those vying for office.

The poll is the first of its kind.

“There’s no other data set out there like this. No one brings these unheard voices to the table,” said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, at an Ethnic Media Services news briefing May 10. Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. (all videos created by Nina Mohan)

The poll was released by Intersections Of Our Lives, a collaboration between NAPAWF; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. Veteran pollster Celinda Lake, and Roshni Nedungadi, partner at HIT Strategies — sampled 850 black women registered voters, 850 Latina women registered voters, and 850 Asian American Pacific

Islander registered voters from March 14 to April 2. Entire poll results can be viewed here: https://intersectionsofourlives. org

Roshni Nedungadi, partner at HIT Strategies.

Rising costs and the overall trajectory of the economy is one of the leading issues for women of color. 35% of Latina women, 33% of AAPI women, and 29% of black women said that the high costs of goods and services was one of their most important issues. Included in this category were sub-issues like affordable health care, fair housing, closing the pay gap, and job creation. 92% of Black women, 89% of AAPI women, and 88% of Latino women prioritize the creation of good-paying jobs, according to poll data.

Veteran pollster Celinda Lake. More than 75% of women of color prioritize abortion access and care. And 93% of Black women, 84% of AAPI women, and 79% of Latina women said racism has gone on too long and political leaders must advance racial equity policies that are long overdue.

“Women of color represent an enormous potential vote. But we are at a crossroads. They are not going to vote for people unless they see change, see their values represented, and they see people talking about policies that affect their daily lives,” said Lake. Candidates must engage with this critical voting bloc and

not take them for granted, said Nedungadi, adding that women of color feel frustrated at being overlooked. “These women are really looking for communication and for reassurance that elected officials are thinking about their agendas and advocating for them,” she said.

Choimorrow, along with Dr. Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; and Lupe Rodriguez, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, broke down poll data by ethnicity.

79% of Black women voters feel that systemic racism has gone for too long, said Moss, adding that Black voters want leaders to create and fight for systems of racial justice which are long overdue.

Dr. Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

Black maternal and reproductive health is equally important for this group of voters, said Moss. 91% of Black women believe it’s important for Congress to address the high rates of maternal death among women of color, she said. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for White women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Black women are some of the most committed voters; 9 out of 10 women of color have said that voting is very important. We know our votes matter, but we also are pushing back and saying, ‘you know, the onus is not on us to just turn out all the time. Don’t take us for granted. The onus is on you to demonstrate that you understand what we need and to speak to our needs,’” said Moss. Partisan politics are not necessarily what drives Latina voters, said Rodriguez. “They are moved by candidates and folks in power who speak to the issues that matter to them, who seek to address everyday issues that they are facing on things like immigration and family separation.”

Lupe Rodriguez, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice Healthcare access is a huge concern for Latino voters, said Rodriguez, noting that the community continues to have the lowest rates of insurance and regular healthcare coverage in the US.

In 2022, 18% of Hispanics were uninsured, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

For AAPI women, top-tier priorities are reforming the criminal justice system, passing gun violence prevention laws, and paid family medical leave, said Choimorrow. She noted that AAPI women are largely motivated to vote, but feel disillusioned by the idea that their vote will effectuate change.

There is a misconception that AAPI women are anti-abortion, she said, noting that abortion rights are a top priority for Indian American women. More than 75% of Chinese American women support abortion access. Seven in 10 Vietnamese and Korean women and 6 out of 10 Filipina women are pro choice, said Choimorrow, adding that, as a Korean American, she was surprised by the results for her community, which traditionally tends to be conservative on this issue.

“I am telling every Korean I know. The more of us that are out there talking about it and changing the narrative, the more our community feels like they can participate and really change the trajectory of this country and how we think,” she said.

Sen. Steve Bradford: “The Time is Right” to Run for Lieutenant Gov.

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

California State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), 64, says the “time is right” and he is “up to the challenge” of becoming the next Lieutenant Governor of California. Bradford, who serves as the Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), announced his bid for the second highest office in the state on April 22. The election will be held in 2026.

“I think it’s time we need someone in that office who is committed to doing the work.

It’s not a glamorous job. It’s an in-the-weeds job but it’s a job that impacts us every day,” Bradford told California Black Media (CBM).

“I want to do the work that is in front of me,” said Bradford, who has served in the Legislature for

15 years as an Assemblymember and State Senator and will be term out at the end of this year.

“That’s what my career has been about: doing the work of the position I’ve been elected to do.”

In the Legislature, Bradford represents Senate District 35. It is home to nearly one million residents, and it includes the communities of Inglewood, Compton, Gardena, Torrance, Carson, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Hawthorne, and Lawndale in Los Angeles County.

Under California’s Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor serves as Acting Governor whenever the Governor is absent from the state, and automatically becomes Governor if a vacancy occurs. The Lieutenant Governor is the President of the California Senate and votes in case of a tie. Currently, Eleni Kounalakis is the current Lieutenant Governor. However, her term in office is set to expire in 2026 due to term limits.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma has also declared her candidacy for the Lieutenant Governor’s office and has launched her campaign.

Bradford told CBM that he intends to visit every corner of the state to make the case that he

is the person for the job.

“I have two years to touch all 58 counties. It’s not going to be an easy task, but I am up for it,” Bradford said. “We have to let the people know what I’ve done and what I plan to do as Lt. Governor. I am excited about the opportunity.”

Bradford said he is following in the footsteps of Mervyn M. Dymally, his mentor. Dymally was a trailblazing federal and state elected official representing Southern California. In 1974, Dymally made history by becoming California’s first Black Lieutenant Governor.

A member of the Democratic party and the CLBC, Dymally served in the U.S. House of Representatives and both houses of the State Legislature. He passed away in October 2021 at

the age of 86.

“More importantly, that’s why I am running,” Bradford said of Dymally. “I want the challenge and I want to pay homage to the individual who got me involved in politics — that’s the state’s first and only African American Lt. Governor, Mervyn Dymally,” Bradford said.

Over the years, Bradford has championed legislation aimed at addressing racial disparities and advocated for justice in housing and property rights, police reform, as well as making the case for reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 796 authored by Bradford. It authorized the County of Los

continued on page 6

Omnitrans’ Official App, Transit, Upgraded with Microtransit Fare Option

Business News

(San Bernardino, CA)

Omnitrans has upgraded fare payment options on its official app, Transit, to provide a one-stop digital location for community members to plan and pay for their trips on all of the agency’s service platforms.

This upgrade includes fare payment options for the agency’s OmniRide microtransit service. OmniRide serves the communities of Chino/Chino Hills, Upland, and Bloomington, offering reservations and virtual pickup and drop off locations similar to Uber and Lyft.

“We are pleased to offer OmniRide payment on the Transit app and give our customers the convenience of fare payment, trip planning and tracking all in the palm of their hands,” said Omnitrans CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “The app furthers our commitment to enhance the customer experience and provide innovative mobility

solutions in our community.” When booking an OmniRide trip, the app guides you to the closest “virtual stop” for pick- up, typically a nearby intersection. An OmniRide vehicle will arrive within 15 minutes for pick-up and proceed to another virtual stop, which will be another location close to your requested drop-off point. All fares ($4 full fare, $1 veterans/disabled/ senior/Medicare) come with a day pass for Omnitrans fixed route services, providing access to the entire Omnitrans network of services for one low cost. The Transit app also provides service information and payment options for Omnitrans standard fixed route, sbX rapid transit, and OmniAccess paratransit for people with disabilities. For more information on OmniRide and how to use the Transit app, click here. For information on all Omnitrans services, visit omnitrans.org.

Padilla, Aguilar Provisions to Boost Minority- and Women-Owned

Businesses Included in FAA Reauthorization

Government/Business/Financial News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Key provisions from U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) bill, which he co-led with Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), to support minority- and womenowned businesses were signed into law by President Joe Biden. The provisions from the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act, which were incorporated into the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, will create a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in the FAA. The DBE program will address ongoing and past discrimination in the transportation industry and aims to level the playing field for minority- and women-owned businesses who are competing for federal contracts in airportrelated businesses.

“Minority- and women-owned small businesses hold enormous potential to bolster our economy, but they have historically faced increased barriers to success,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bill will provide critical resources to help women and minority entrepreneurs effectively compete for federal contracts. This legislation, along with the unprecedented investment in American infrastructure from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help build prosperity in communities that have too often been left behind.”

“Small businesses play a key role in bolstering local economies in the Inland Empire and across the country, and it’s critical that woman- and minority-owned small businesses have the resources they need to flourish,” said Representative Aguilar.

“The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program at the Federal Highway Administration is making a significant impact on local small businesses, and I look forward to seeing more minorityand woman-owned businesses succeed in the aviation industry once adopted by the FAA.”

“Now that it has become law, our legislation to empower historically disadvantaged women and minority-owned businesses in the aviation industry will make positive change for communities nationwide. Small businesses are the foundation of a strong economy across all industries, and everyone deserves a fair shot at success. I look forward to seeing how this new policy

boosts the air industry and helps under-represented communities thrive,” said Representative Gomez.

“Small business growth is often limited for minority-owned businesses because of the unique barriers these entrepreneurs face when seeking contract and procurement opportunities,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. “Small Business Majority is pleased to see concerted efforts to support disadvantaged business enterprises included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization for 2024. We applaud Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Pete Aguilar for their important work in securing the provisions that will help bridge opportunity gaps for minority contractors through the FAA. This important step will work toward leveling the playing field for underserved small firms because it will prioritize the businesses that need the most support, making it easier for under-resourced small businesses to navigate the sometimes complex procurement system.”

“AFA Action was thrilled to partner with Senator Padilla, Rep. Aguilar, and Rep. Gomez to develop this critically important policy. America’s small- and medium-sized businesses and their workers make up our nation’s backbone, and we’re grateful to each of these essential Congressional partners for leading the charge to get this provision across the finish line,” said Ross van Dongen, Director of Infrastructure & Intergovernmental Affairs, Accelerator for America Action. This new law will help accomplish President Biden’s goal of increasing the share of federal contracts going to small, disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent by 2025. This would represent billions more dollars for small businesses and help close the racial wealth gap. For the past two Congresses, Senator Padilla has introduced the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act to increase the annual funding cap for the Federal Highway Administration’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Program and establish Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Programs at the FAA and the Federal Transit Administration.

(Canva image)

Senator Steve Bradford

With Medi-Cal Update, More Californians Can Tap Into Behavioral

Health Care

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

As the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) continues to transform Medi-Cal, the state is expanding coverage to include behavioral health needs, like mental health care and substance use disorder services.

Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, provides coverage for one in three — or 15 million — Californians. About 40% of California youth is also covered by the program.

Paula Wilhelm, Interim Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Services at DHCS recently spoke at a digital press conference hosted by Ethnic Media Services to discuss some of the expanded services.

“As a department, we know that mental health is just as important as physical health, and all of our health outcomes are intertwined. DHCS has been working hard to partner with our medical managed care plans and

care providers to transform the way behavioral health services are delivered to Medi-Cal members.”

Some expanded services include prevention and wellness, screening and assessment, outpatient and community-based treatment, and group/family therapy. More intensive services are covered as well: crisis care, residential treatment, inpatient, mental health, and substance use medication.

Individuals dealing with postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress due to school or work, drug or alcohol addiction can also receive services.

“We want to improve the quality of care that we offer in Medi-Cal and create a more person-centered delivery system,” said Wilhelm. “Our overarching goal is to make it easier for Medi-Cal members to access behavioral healthcare and

all the services they need to live healthier lives.” Recent changes to the Behavioral Health Services Act, which voters approved as Proposition 1 in March, will reform behavioral healthcare funding and prioritize care for people with serious conditions. The new law also focuses on adding diversity to the behavioral healthcare workforce to promote equity. Culturally responsive services and a workforce that reflects the diverse communities served under the plan will be prioritized. Wilhelm also mentioned the state’s “No Wrong Door Approach” to mental health care in her briefing. This initiative focuses on behavioral health payment reform that aligns payment models that reward quality. This allows more providers to get into the MediCare system and increases the diversity of providers to make patients feel seen.

Medi-Cal is also expanding services for children and youth in California. Gov. Newsom’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative is a $4 billion investment into strengthening existing mental health services.

Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for DHCS also spoke at the digital conference. She focused on the expansion of services to meet the growing mental health needs of youth.

“Half of all lifetime cases of diagnosable mental illnesses emerge for our young people by the age of 14 and 75% of

diagnosable mental illnesses begin by the age of 24. Focusing on children and youth from ages 0-25 is critically important to ensure that we are providing preventative services and intervening early when symptoms of mental health/ substance abuse conditions begin to emerge as our young people are developing.”

In California, almost 300,000 youth are coping with major depression and 66% of those young people do not get treatment access in the way they should.

To combat this, the act focuses on strengthening the network of support for youth through county offices of education, and school districts throughout the state to increase care at school settings.

Funding will bring more school counselors, psychologists, wellbeing and mindfulness programs, social and emotional learning, and support.

Community-based services known to benefit and achieve better outcomes for young people of color will also be prioritized.

Two free mental health apps have been created to increase mental health access for youth and their parents in California despite their coverage status.

The BrightLife Kids App (0-12), and Soluna App (1325) provide free mental health support.

If you or a loved one could benefit from Medi-Cal’s services, you can access the DHS 24-hour access line to get connected to care.

17 Signs of Abuser You May Have Missed (Man or Woman)

You may not have seen it, but the video of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs beating his then ex-girlfriend Cassie, has been unearthed and has sent shockwaves through the community. The sheer violence of the video has started conversations about what an abuser looks like, can he or she change, and what signs from an abuser you may have missed. Here are signs from both men and women abusers you should keep an eye out for.

9 Signs of an Abusive Man

1. Controlling Behavior

Controlling behavior typically presents as wanting to control how a person spends their time and can include:

Constantly questioning where a person has been and who they were with.

Making all the decisions.

Controlling the finances.

Checking the call history, messages, emails, and internet history of a person.

Telling a person how to dress, who they can talk with, and where they can go.

2. Jealousy and possessiveness

A person displaying abusive behavior may be excessively jealous and possessive. Some examples can include:

Wanting to be with their partner all the time

Frequently calling or dropping by unexpectedly

Accusing a person of flirting with others or having affairs

Not allowing a person to go out, to work, or school in case they meet someone else

Being jealous of a person spending time with friends or family

3. Quick Involvement

A person may come on very strong and want to escalate the relationship quickly. They may want to live together or propose a few months into the relationship, and express feelings of intense love very quickly. This may be an early sign of abusive behavior.

4. Unrealistic expectations

Having constant unrealistic expectations of a person can be an early sign of abusive behavior. A person may expect their partner to be perfect, behave a certain way, and meet their every need.

5. Hypersensitivity

A person displaying abusive behavior may be extra sensitive and unpredictable. They may see everything as a personal attack and blow things out of proportion.

6. Blaming others

A person may not take responsibility for their own behaviors. They may constantly accuse other people of doing something wrong or upsetting them when they are the ones actually displaying the behavior.

7. Rigid gender roles

If a person rigidly conforms to gender roles, it may be a sign of abusive behavior. They may believe that males are superior to females and expect a person to do everything for them without question.

8. Breaking or striking objects

A person may break precious possessions, strike objects close to a person, or throw things to intimidate, threaten, or punish them.

9. Aggressive behavior during arguments

Behaving aggressively during disagreements can be a sign of abusive behavior, such as:

pushing or shoving threatening violence

stopping a person from leaving a room

restraining a person or holding them against a wall

8 Signs of an Abusive Woman

1. Verbal and emotional abuse

This can include a woman

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear editor,

As a professional caregiver at FirstLight Home Care, I know how important it is for seniors and medically vulnerable patients to be able to access the prescription medications, therapies, and treatments they need. Unfortunately, that access is being eroded by the arcane, profit-driven polices of insurers and their Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—and lawmakers in Congress seem unable, or unwilling, to address the issue.

PBMs focus on boosting profits by restricting and delaying access to critical care for patients—if not denying it altogether. These groups will even go so far as to withhold vital prescription drug rebates from patients rather than passing those savings down to allow patients to reduce their burdensome out-of-pocket expenses.

Over the years, I’ve cared for dozens of patients struggling with diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, including my aunt, who has been living with the latter for over a decade now. It isn’t right or fair that PBMs should be able to restrict and undermine their access to care or force them to pay more for the medications they need just to continue raking in the profits. It’s time for lawmakers to hold PBMs more accountable for the harmful practices they use to control access to prescription drugs while forcing costs and out-of-pocket expenses. Congress must pass PBM reform this year to help protect and keep drug prices low for seniors and patients here in California and across the country.

Lynette Graham

The Kids Are Home from School: 4 Tips to Address Youth Mental Health

By Dr. Donald Tavakoli, national medical director for behavioral health, UnitedHealthcare

who slews insults, put-downs, and name-calling. The abusive wife may also use manipulation and guilt to control her partner.

2. Physical violence

This can include hitting, pushing, or throwing objects at their partner.

3. Controlling behavior

The abusive wife or girlfriend may try to control every aspect of her partner’s life, including who they can see, where they can go, and what they can do.

4. Isolation

The abusive girlfriend or wife may isolate her partner from friends and family, making it difficult for them to seek support or leave the relationship.

5. Jealousy and possessiveness

The abusive woman may constantly accuse their partner of cheating or being interested in others.

6. Blaming and gaslighting

The abusive wife may shift the blame onto their partner for their own actions or manipulate them into questioning their own reality.

7. Threats and intimidation

This can include threats of violence, harm to themselves or others, or threats to take away children or financial support.

8. Constant criticism

The abusive wife may criticize and belittle their partner’s appearance, abilities, and decisions.

As high school and college students finish their spring terms and prepare for summer, it’s a critical time to check their mental health and consider how to engage in conversations about it.

This is especially important for college students, as the 2nd Annual Student Behavioral Health Report reveals a significant jump in self-reported mental or behavioral health concerns among college students as compared to high schoolers.

The report found college students self-report a near-50% increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation compared to high school students. For example, high school students reported that during the past year, they or a classmate or friend experienced anxiety/stress (35%), depression (20%) or suicidal thoughts (9%). Among college students, those selfreported experiences increased to 55% for anxiety, 41% for depression and 13% for suicidal thoughts.

Importantly, the report found many parents may not be aware of this change. For example, while 41% of college students self-reported they, a roommate or a friend have experienced depression in the past year, only 18% of parents reported their college student experienced this. In contrast, parents of high schoolers reported perceptions more closely aligned with high school students’ self-reported experiences: 20% of students reported depression, while 15% of parents reported their high schooler experienced this issue.

In honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, here are four tips to help proactively address mental health concerns among young people: Look for warning signs. As students wind down or return from school for the summer, take stock of their mood and be on the lookout for any warning signs

of mental or behavioral health concerns. These can include constant feelings of sadness, hopelessness, withdrawal from friends and family, inability to concentrate, excessive worries, changes in sleep or eating habits, extreme mood fluctuations, or problems with alcohol or drug use.

Have conversations early and often. The Student Behavioral Health Report revealed the more frequently a child's mental health comes up in conversation, the more likely the child may be to interpret their parents’ tone and behavior in a positive light – and to take action to access care. If you’re unsure how to approach the conversation, UnitedHealthcare offers conversation starter cards to help parents talk to their kids about mental well-being and spark conversations that move past one-word answers. For instance, ask your student, “What can I do to support you better?” or “What are you most worried about right now?”.

Talk to your primary care physician. It’s important to raise mental or behavioral health concerns to a health care professional – just as you would if it were a physical illness. For many, primary care physicians are the first line of contact and will be able to help assess symptoms and provide guidance on next steps.

Get familiar with your resources. There may be various resources available in your community or through your health plan, including assistance with finding a quality mental health care provider, understanding what’s covered and virtual care or coaching options. Also, many colleges and universities offer on-campus support services, 24/7 crisis support, virtual care, and access to self-care apps and wellness resources. Some student health plans offer students unlimited free virtual mental health visits. By considering these tips, parents and adults can play a key role in improving mental health challenges experienced by many young people. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 24-hour, confidential support.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

(Shutterstock)

OP-ED: Our Role in Perpetuating the Downfall of Democracy: A Call

to Action

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The continuation of democracy depends on us and rests squarely on our shoulders. It is a collective endeavor, requiring the participation and dedication of every citizen who is willing not to fall for the bovine excretions. We must refuse complacency and apathy, recognizing that the fight for democracy is ongoing and requires our persistent concern.

Bobby

A Message from NNPA’s Chairman of the Board

We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Everyone will get what they should. They will be paid for whatever they did—good or bad—when they lived in this earthly body. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ERV)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr., Publisher of the Westside Gazette Newspaper

As citizens of a democracy, our role in shaping its course cannot be overstated. Whether we cast our vote for President Joe Biden and the strides he has made for inclusion or Donald Trump for all that he has done and is

doing to discredit this country as a democracy as a whole, our actions affect what happens in our country’s history. We better believe that our responsibility for our rights extends way beyond the ballot box; it includes the

Calif. Anti-Sex Trafficking Advocates Discuss Competing Bills, Strategies

OAKLAND POST — “It is time to send a thorough message that if you seek to buy a child for sex, you will pay the highest criminal penalties in this state,” said the Rev. Shane Harris, a San Diego-based activist, former foster youth and founder of the Peoples Association of Justice Advocates, (PAJA), a national civil rights organization and policy think tank. Harris, who was speaking at a rally at the State Capitol earlier this month, was speaking in support of Senate Bill 1414, authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (D-Bakersfield), which calls for people who buy sex from minors to be punished with a felony. The punishment includes a two-year prison sentence and a $25,000 fine.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media | The Oakland Post

Advocates from across California are challenging state officials and community leaders to support legislation that provides resources and services for survivors and victims of human trafficking, as well as assistance as they transition back into civil society.

Some of those advocates are also calling for more effective state policy to curtail trafficking, a crime that has an outsized impact on Black children, particularly girls.

According to the FBI, a report covering a two-year period found Black children accounted for 57% of all juvenile arrests for prostitution. In addition, 40% of sex trafficking victims were Black and 60% of those victims had been enrolled in the foster care system.

“It is time to hold the perpetrators who take advantage of our children accountable,” said the Rev. Shane Harris, a San Diego-based activist, former foster youth and founder of the Peoples Association of Justice Advocates, (PAJA), a national civil rights organization and policy think tank.

“It is time to send a thorough message that if you seek to buy a child for sex, you will pay the highest criminal penalties in this state,” added Harris who was speaking at a rally at the State Capitol earlier this

values we uphold, the causes we champion, and the ideals we strive and will fight for.

No one man, woman or other should stand in the way of our freedom for equal rights and our will to be FREE-come hell or high water!

The actions of those who lead speak volumes about the direction in which we are headed.

Whether we stand for women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), affirmative action, or combatting white supremacy, our choices shape the landscape of freedom, equality, and justice for all.

Supporting candidates who champion values essential for equity, it is not enough. We have to hold leaders accountable, demanding transparency, integrity, and loyalty to the principles upon which our democracy stands. We cannot afford to be passive observers, content with merely casting our votes and hoping for the best. We must actively engage in our communities, standing up for the voices least heard, demanding

change, and standing up against injustice wherever it may intrude.

The continuation of democracy depends on us and rests squarely on our shoulders. It is a collective endeavor, requiring the participation and dedication of every citizen who is willing not to fall for the bovine excretions. We must refuse complacency and apathy, recognizing that the fight for democracy is ongoing and requires our persistent concern.

Now is not the time for us to be divided or allow our lack of concern to see our democratic systems crumble right before our eyes.

We have to know who is in the “foxhole” with us before we can conquer the foes who are attempting to destroy us by keeping us apart.

It is a time for unity and action. Regardless of our political affiliations, we must come together in defense of our shared values and the principles that define us as a nation. Only then can we ensure that freedom, equality, and justice are not just lofty ideals, but tangible realities for all Americans.

Calif. Anti-Sex Trafficking Advocates Discuss Competing Bills, Strategies...continued

Author and educator Dr. Stephany Powell shared statistics and information revealing that African American women and girls are the most trafficked nationwide.

Powell, who serves as the senior advisor on law enforcement and policy at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said that national data indicates that sex trade survivors are disproportionately women of color. She stated that male survivors often go unnoticed because boys rarely report trafficked crimes.

Powell said that decriminalizing prostitution in California could increase

U.S. Rep.

Ayanna

human trafficking. She argued that Senate Bill 357, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), which was signed into law in 2022 and legalized loitering for prostitution, caused a surge in street-level prostitution.

Panelist and psychologist Dr. Gloria Morrow shared opposing views on decriminalizing prostitution. She said that decriminalizing prostitution could help survivors gain access to state resources and support.

Despite opposing views, Powell and Morrow agree that the Black community needs resources and educational programs to address human trafficking.

Pressley Calls on Biden-Harris Administration to Halt Deportations to Haiti

By Ashlee Banks | Special to the AFRO

month. Harris was speaking in support of Senate Bill 1414, authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (D-Bakersfield), which calls for people who buy sex from minors to be punished with a felony. The punishment includes a two-year prison sentence and a $25,000 fine.

Harris said the PAJA is the only civil rights organization in the state that supports SB 1414. Harris urged other Black-led groups who favor anti-trafficking legislation more focused on criminal justice reforms (as opposed to stiffer penalties), to “join the movement.”

Many of those civil rights groups fear that SB 1414 could lead to the incarceration of more Black youth.

Those sentiments were echoed in a panel discussion organized by Black women advocates on April 26 to examine the cause and effects of human trafficking in California’s Black communities.

The virtual event was hosted by the Forgotten Children, Inc, a faith-based nonprofit that advocates for survivors and victims of human trafficking through anti-trafficking campaigns and initiatives.

Panelists shared the psychological impact of sexual exploitation on youth and children in the long term.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told the AFRO the administration needs to stop deporting Haitians who are seeking refuge in the U.S.

Congressional Black Caucus members are putting pressure on the Biden-Harris administration to grant protections to Haitians fleeing to the U.S. amid the unrest in the Caribbean nation.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told the AFRO the administration needs to stop deporting Haitians who are seeking refuge in the U.S.

“To deport anyone to Haiti right now is nothing short of a death sentence. The headlines may have faded, but this humanitarian crisis continues to worsen with every day,” said Pressley. “We’re not waning in our advocacy and in this fight –we’re going to keep fighting and holding everyone accountable to keep their word on behalf of the people of Haiti.”

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., also weighed in.

“To deport people back to Haiti is a cause and kiss of

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley Calls on Biden-Harris Administration to Halt Deportations to Haiti ...continued minister, came into power and held the position for three years.

Gang members believed Henry was abusing his authority and demanded he step down.

BlackPressUSA.com - 47

Million Americans. 1 Voice.

Last month, Henry resigned, and Haiti’s transitional council named Fritz Bélizaire as the country’s new prime minister in hopes of quelling the violence in the nation.

U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., told the AFRO

“Haiti deserves a democratic transition led by its own civil society. This right to selfgovernment is inherent to every nation. It means that the Haitian people — not external forces — should decide the concepts of consent and sovereignty that guide their future.”

Clarke added, “The United States can help repay a debt to Haiti by fostering a democratic transition that allows its people to freely determine their path.”

Sen. Steve Bradford: “The Time is Right” to Run for Lieutenant Gov....continued from page 3

Angeles to return the beachfront property known as Bruce’s Beach to the family of the African American couple Willa and Charles Bruce, who purchased the Manhattan Beach site in 1912. However, the property was confiscated in the late 1920s through eminent domain.

Newsom also signed Bradford’s SB 2 into law. Also known as the Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act of 2021, SB 2 was designed to increase law enforcement’s accountability that corrodes public respect and enforcement officers who commit serious misconduct and illegally violate a person’s civil rights.

SB 2 created a statewide decertification system to withdraw the certification of a peace officer in California following the conviction of serious crimes or termination from employment due to misconduct.

Bradford served two years on the first-in-the-nation Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.

Bradford and eight other members of the task force analyzed the institution of slavery and its continuous effects on the

Black Americans.

Another bill Bradford authored, SB 1403 (formerly SB 490), proposes the establishment of a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency (CAFAA). The agency, a direct recommendation of the reparations task force, would be responsible for setting up the infrastructure required to manage reparations activities as directed by the Legislature and Governor.

On May 16, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 5-2 to approve the SB 1403. It now moves to the Senate Floor for a consideration.

“Our state is experiencing a significant economic downturn. People across California are struggling. Housing costs are out of reach, homelessness is at crisis levels, the global threat of climate change, underfunded schools, and debt-inducing higher education costs,” Bradford said in an April 15 statement announcing his candidacy for lieutenant governor. “While California has led the nation on enacting smart, forward-thinking policies, the reality is that we must do more to solve our many challenges.”

death,” she said in a statement.

“There is nothing in Haiti but suffering, so we have to say to the president of the United States, ‘stop the deportation.’”

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, D-Fla. said in a statement obtained by the AFRO that “in the face of the crisis in Haiti, our moral compass and international duty compel us to step forward, not just to alleviate the immediate suffering of the Haitian people, but to address the systemic problems forcing Haitians to flee their homeland.”

In recent months, Haiti has seen an uptick in violence due to armed gangs targeting the nation’s police stations, airports and the country’s largest port, which has resulted in food insecurity.

Members have stressed that many Haitians are on the verge of starvation and it is essential that the Biden-Harris administration intervene.

The violence in the Caribbean nation comes as gang members have grown frustrated with the postponement of presidential elections following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. After Moïse’s death, Ariel Henry, who recently stepped down as Haiti’s prime

R. Henry, Sr., Publisher of the Westside Gazette Newspaper and Chairman of the Board of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

INLAND EMPIRE/HIGH DESERT/ ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION NEWS

How President Biden and the Democrats Can Lose 2024

By Dr. John E. Warren Publisher, The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

While the mainstream news media is fixated on the Trial of Donald Trump and his soaring poll numbers in spite of his legal problems, someone needs to have a conversation with President Biden about how he got in office and why he is losing the Black vote in particular, when he and the Democratic Party appear to think they have done enough for Black folks.

The Democratic Party appears to have forgotten that all states are “battleground states” if you are losing where you should be winning. Wake up call: the Black Vote is not concerned with a speech at Morehouse, or a meeting with the “Divine Nine”, which does not represent rank and file voters in the Black communities.

The Democratic Party continues to “Cherry Pick’ the Black communities of this nation and the Black Press along with them. Well guess where the Black Press is located, in the Black communities. There is an assumption that Black people will vote for Joe Biden because they did the last time. Well, Black people have not forgotten that he did not deliver on the George Floyd Act or the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Neither did he put the same energy into seeking

Caltrans and California State Parks Encourage Community Action to Preserve the Outdoors During Memorial Day Weekend...continued

RUHS Program Inspires Future Medical Leaders

Immersive experience helps middle school students explore healthcare careers.

passage of these two pieces of legislation as he did in trying to find ways, through Executive Orders, to bring relief in the face of the Supreme Court's overturn and women through the Black Press. Remember, they don’t have to vote. All they have to do is stay home and Trump wins. I think now - and not in September or October - is the time for a media campaign with the Black Press. Without such a campaign, there is no need to go to the Democratic National Convention. The absence of a Black media campaign is the exclusion of the Black Vote.

coolers. Leaving these items on the beach or park or ‘near’ a trash bin can be considered illegal dumping. Please haul back broken items and dispose of them properly at a local garbage site. Secure your load. Whether you

during the trip. Taking special care to keep items both small and large with you during transit will help keep our roads safe and clean.

To join the statewide movement to keep California

Black Americans who have lived through less than equality, with all sorts of disparities, will survive under a Donald Trump no matter what he does.

Question: Will it be Biden or Trump? It's up to you, Mr. President, and not your advisors who have failed you so far.

Caltrans and California State Parks

Encourage Community Action to Preserve the Outdoors During Memorial Day Weekend

SACRAMENTO – As Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer approaches, many Californians attracted to warmer weather and outdoor activities with friends and family are planning trips to the outdoors. With such beautiful and unique places to visit such as Emerald Bay and Humbolt Redwoods State Parks, Folsom Lake and Silverwood Lake State Recreation Areas, Will Rogers State Historic Park, Cardiff State Beach and other areas, Caltrans, Clean California, and California State Parks are reminding Californians of their impact to public lands and encouraging individuals to do their part to keep their public lands clean to protect the natural ecosystems.

During this summer season, we are aiming to increase awareness of the leave no trace principle by encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to consider the impacts they leave behind and empowering individuals to take action. Simple steps such as packing out all trash when camping, picnicking or hiking will undoubtedly help keep state parks and beaches better than how you found them.

“Whether you’re headed to community barbecues, on a camping trip or opting to spend time at the local beaches, lakes and rivers, it’s important to understand the impact of trash on our communities,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.

“Just one piece of litter ruins the experience. We urge Californians to take conscious action to properly dispose of waste and commit to keeping trash out of our parks altogether.”

MORENO VALLEY, CA –

Time travel doesn’t yet exist, but middle school students are peering into their futures as part of a collaborative program between Riverside University Health System - Medical Center (RUHSMC) and Landmark Middle School in Moreno Valley that gives insight on what it’s like to work in the medical field.

Each month, RUHS doctors bring medical science to life for more than 50 seventh and eighth graders in teacher Carly Blask’s anatomy and physiology class through hands-on learning and experiments in epidemiology, the musculoskeletal system and more.

The program – Fostering Healthcare Education and Research Network – Middle School, or F(h) ERN-M, was created by pediatric residents Dr. Marcus Lowe and Dr. Jazmin Fernandez in September 2023.

“Thus, Saith the Lord!”

On a recent field trip to RUHSMC, the students listened to inside stories from doctors in various fields, as well as a respiratory therapist and nursing coordinator before touring the morgue, a lab, Pediatrics and the Emergency Department.

“We want to give these middle schoolers a variety of opportunities to engage in healthcare,” said RUHS Pediatric Primary Care Track Director Dr. Gabrielle Pina, who oversees the program.

“We want them to know there are many potential roles in this field in addition to being doctors or nurses. Maybe they’ll be a respiratory therapist, or maybe they’re incredibly creative and can be a graphic artist, or even someone who helps fundraise to help keep the doors open.”

By Lou K. Coleman Lou K. Coleman

Daughter of man, speak to your people and say to them:

allowed him to prophecy and forewarn the people of his day for 120 years. Did they listen? No. Tragedy!

Before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven, God allowed Abraham to intercede for the people there. Did they listen? No. Tragedy!

Here are a few simple tips to help keep public spaces and communities free from litter and debris, such as:

Pack it in, pack it out. Leave no trace behind by bringing a trash bag, especially if visiting a remote area. Put food waste, napkins, single-use food wrappers, and other waste in the bags until it can be properly disposed of. For human waste, the use of waste alleviation (WAG) gel bags or other portable toilet options is recommended. WAG bags can be safely disposed of in regular trash.

Choose reusable over singleuse items. Reusable containers keep harmful toxins out of our water and community recreation areas and are more economical in the long run. If you do use cans or plastic bottles, be sure to properly recycle them to help mitigate their impact. Pick up small, littered items to make a big impact. Keep an eye out for bottle caps, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and other small items and be sure to properly dispose of them.

Properly dispose of broken large items, such as pop-up canopies, beach chairs, and

“This Memorial Day weekend, we welcome all Californians to discover the diverse and extraordinary landscapes California has to offer, from the beaches to lakes to mountains and deserts,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “We want all who visit to create memorable experiences that last a lifetime and to build stewards that will help us protect the state’s open spaces for future generations to enjoy.”

When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their daughters and make her their watchman, and she sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood. Well not on my watch. Sounding the alarm! How Foolish to Ignore God’s Warnings!

A loving God who loves us so much that he warns us of upcoming impending judgment and doom, and what do you do, you ignore His warnings. Woe unto you! How foolish it is to ignore God’s warning. Ignoring God’s warnings ALWAYS breeds tragedy. Learn from past history and do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord. [Zechariah 1:4]. How foolish to ignore God’s warnings. Learn from the Past!

Before God destroyed the world the first time with a flood of water, He raised up Noah, a man of righteousness, and

God used His prophets to forewarn the children of Israel that, if they did not change their ways, they would be led away captive by the Babylonians for a period of seventy years. Did they listen? No. Tragedy!

Listen, God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? [Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18].

God’s warnings always precede His judgment. But those who want to self- destruct don’t repent. Instead of repenting and sparing themselves the negative repercussions, they continue on their wrong journey and ruin their lives. Come back to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. [1 Corinthians 15:34].

A Vision of ChaosI looked at the earth, and it was formless and void, at the heavens, and there was no light there. I looked at the mountains; they were quaking, and all the hills moved back and forth. I looked, and no people were there. All the birds of the sky had gone. I looked, and the fruitful land had become a desert. All its towns were broken down because of the Lord, because of his burning anger. For this is what the Lord says: “The entire land will be devastated, but I won’t completely destroy it. Because of this, the land will mourn, and the heavens above will be dark. Because I have spoken and decided, I won’t turn back from doing it. [Jeremiah 4].

Ignoring God’s Warning ALWAYS Breed Tragedy!

“I started doing more research when I got home, and I realized I wanted to pursue a career in ultrasound,” she said. In the classroom, students have learned how to cast and splint broken bones, watched a doctor demonstrate a cardiac ultrasound and became certified in stopping a life-threatening bleeding injury.

“They showed us with different stations how we save someone’s life by stopping a wound from bleeding, how to apply bandages and how to save someone when they’re choking,” said Sebastian Garcia, 14. “We’ve had a lot of time to put that to work, taking what we’ve learned and teaching it to other students as well as staff.”

Blask said she’s enjoyed seeing the light bulb moment that’s visible on a student’s face when they hear a doctor talk about an element of their job and the student realizes they could do the same thing. When speakers talk about themselves and how they got into the medical field, it only serves to inspire the students even more, she said.

“The medical field is a pretty high reaching goal,” Blask said. “It’s a difficult field to work in and to get into so having people come speak to them and tell them their stories and their backgrounds and how they got there, it shows them it is possible. It’s not just a dream. And it really gets them started on the right foot.”

Both Blask and Pina say they are excited to continue with the program and hope to expand the opportunity to other middle schools in the area.

For more information on Riverside University Health System, visit www.ruhealth.org.

Student Janelle Bailey, 14, said the tour not only helped her realize what she wouldn’t want to do, but also what she liked. She felt a deep connection to a segment focused on babies.

On Just Sharing

Sarosh Koshy

Saint Paul led the first-ever organized effort in Christian history to share resources among the sibling churches. As we know, there was a lot of tension leading up to this mobilization of resources and sharing that Paul organized. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) arrived at an accord to allow gentile Christians to participate and to consider them as full members of the Christian community without any demand that they adopt or adhere to Jewish customs and markings. The only demand put forth by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem—James, Peter, and John—was, as Paul recorded it in Galatians chapter 2 verse 10, that “They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.”

Saint Paul followed up this imperative at the Jerusalem Council to remember the poor by writing about it in his first epistle to the church in Corinth. In First Corinthians chapter 16, verses 1 through 4, Paul outlines how to go about collecting resources and how they could then be handed over to the church in Jerusalem.

In his second epistle to the Corinthians, Paul returns to this theme yet again, articulating an elaborate set of instructions and describing the meaning of this effort in resource mobilization.

Let us read just the three verses from this extensive chapter-length discourse on resource mobilization in Second Corinthians, chapter 8, verses 13 through 15:

For I do not mean that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be equality. As it is written,

What is instructive to us who strive to be in partnership with sister churches all over the world is that in all his writings around this theme of resource sharing, Saint Paul never frames it as charity, or appeals to the goodness of hearts, or of the necessary goodwill that Christians should have. Paul rather considers it as a primary responsibility that Christians have in Christ and regards it as a quintessential mark of being the church anywhere in the world. This added emphasis on equality in resources that Saint Paul talks about in Second Corinthians might make him one of the first people in the whole world to thematize the realization of equality through resource sharing. This insistence on always remembering the poor, the focus on equality around resources, and the concern for those in need gives us enough guidance about the mode and demeanor with which resources ought to be mobilized and on how to accompany our sister churches with whom such resources are being shared.

Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians and the Galatians dispel the notion of center and periphery in the Christian way of life. With this theme of resource sharing, Paul in effect decenters the supposed center of Christianity, which could be viewed as Rome at that time, where the first disciples and the first Christian community were situated, and peripheries like Corinth and Galatia, where new churches were arising. Paul’s concern for Christian siblings who are poor is an everlasting model and guide for us as we strive to continually become Christian along with our brothers and sisters across the world.

“The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”

Inland Empire News

Inland Empire News

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1204

Dr. John E. Warren

Partners Against Violence Fighting Back Against VOCA Cuts to Support Survivors of Crime

Inland Empire – Partners Against Violence (PAV), a leading organization dedicated to supporting survivors of violence, is issuing an urgent call to action in response to the devastating cuts to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. These cuts, if not addressed, will have catastrophic consequences for our organization and, most importantly, for survivors of violence across California.

Amidst our efforts to secure funding for crime victim services, Governor Newsom has released his May Revised budget details, revealing an unfortunate absence of allocation for such crucial support. This omission is deeply disappointing, but it only reinforces the urgency of our advocacy efforts.

The recent cut to federal funding for victim services is a direct threat to the critical support systems that survivors rely on for safety, healing, and justice. As an organization that works tirelessly to provide vital services to survivors of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault, we are deeply alarmed by the potential impact of these cuts.

"Let me be clear,” said Michelle Cates, Executive Director of Partners Against Violence. “Partners Against Violence’s services and those of the 400 victims' service providers throughout the state of California are essential and life-saving."

Of particular concern is the effect these cuts will have on underserved areas, such as the high desert region of California. In these communities, access to support services is already limited, and any reduction in funding will only exacerbate the challenges faced by survivors seeking help and resources. It is imperative that Governor

Newsom and other lawmakers recognize the urgency of this situation and take immediate action to address the funding shortfall by including up to $200 million in this year’s budget to support survivors of crime. The responsibility lies squarely in their hands to ensure that survivors have access to the crucial services they need to rebuild their lives.

We urge all those who support our organization and stand in solidarity with survivors to join us in reaching out to Governor Newsom and other state leaders to insist that they provide the necessary funding to keep our lights on and our services available. These services are not optional—they are essential, lifesaving resources for survivors of violence.

Now is the time for action. Together, we can make our voices heard and ensure that survivors across California receive the support and justice they deserve. For media inquiries or further information, please contact Michelle Cates at (909) 885-8884 or michelle.c@partnersav.org.

About Partners Against Violence

Partners Against Violence provides support for Survivors of sexual assault and violent crimes. All of our services are available at no cost to Survivors, their significant others, and family members. We are partners committed to building healthy relationships, families, communities, and generations that are free from violence.

Visit www. partnersagainstviolence. org to learn more and follow them on social media (@ partnersagainstviolence).

California’s Indigenous People Fight Histories of Hate

By Selen Ozturk

Centuries-long violence against Native Californians persists today, most glaringly with an epidemic of suicide and missing and murdered community members.

Pennie Opal Plant and Kanyon Sayers-Roods protest the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women at the 2018 Women's March San Francisco. At a recent forum, state and tribal leaders shared how American Indians still face a legacy of violence in California, and how they’re fighting it. (Credit: Pax Ahimsa Gethen / CC-BY-SA-4.0)

Centuries-long violence against Native Californians persists today, most glaringly with an epidemic of suicide and missing and murdered community members.

At a Saturday, May 11 forum held by the California Commission on the State of Hate and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, state and tribal leaders shared how American Indians still face a legacy of hate in California, and how they’re fighting it.

Resiliency against a history of hate

California — which has the country’s largest American Indian population, with over 160 tribes — also ranks fifth among all states for the country’s most cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

“The majority of us still live with the need for basic infrastructure, fair policing, and having domestic violence cases and restraining orders followed through by the state and federal government,” said San Manuel tribal member and state Assemblymember James Ramos (D-45). The battle to correct this is being fought in the legislature, in the form of recent measures like AB 338, replacing a statue near the state Capitol, which was torn down by protestors in

2020, with a statue of Miwok leader William Franklin, Sr; AB 2022, removing the derogatory term “squaw” from the over 100 place names statewide that still use it; and AB 1938, renaming UC Hastings in San Francisco to UC Law San Francisco, due to Hastings’ involvement in the killing of American Indians.

“You can’t just start from a point in time today and move forward without addressing what happened in the past,” said Ramos. “Some will say that’s not affecting us now, but in Fresno County last March, three city supervisors put an initiative on the ballot to retain the derogatory S-term. We successfully defeated it … but as California’s people, we still have to go that extra mile in the year 2024.”

A crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people

“The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples, particularly women and girls, is heavily saturated with this issue of hate crimes,” said Morning Star Gali, member of the Pit River Tribe and the Executive Director of Indigenous Justice.

In the U.S., 85% of American Indian women report experiencing violence including sexual assault, domestic violence and rape, while 97% of these assaults are perpetrated by nonAmerican Indian people.

American Indian women are three times more likely to be murdered than their white counterparts, and face murder rates over 10 times the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“The numbers are undoubtedly much higher because accurate data simply does not exist,” said Gali. “In the U.S., Indigenous women face complex jurisdictional requirements simply because of their status as Indigenous. Often, it’s up to the federal government to exercise prosecutorial discretion, which they decline at alarming rates,” over 90% for these crimes at the federal level.

American Indians comprise 1.1% of the U.S. population and 2.2% of the U.S. population of women. However, homicide is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian girls and women aged 10 to 24, and the fifth-leading cause of death for Native women aged 25 to 34.

In 2016 there were 5,712 reports of missing native women and girls according to the National Crime Information Center, but the U.S. Department of Justice only logged 116 of those cases in its missing persons database.

“To address these causes, we’re awarding micro grants through a first-of-its-kind guaranteed income pilot project in the city and county of San Francisco,” said Gali. “Through Indigenous Justice, we’re awarding 10 survivors of violence with $1,000 a month for the next year … because when people are resourced well, they’re able to make better decisions within their lives.”

The Truth and Healing Council

“California is turning 175 next year. Our people have been here since time immemorial … yet we’re a footnote,” said Christina Snider, tribal affairs secretary to Governor Newsom and a member of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo

OP-ED: Will EPA’s New Regulations Enhance Sustainable Development?

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

By responding to the African American community’s concerns about proposed regulatory and administrative policies, the BidenHarris Administration has proven to be a responsive champion of minority voices and interests.

Take, for example, the administration’s recent reversal of its proposal to ban menthol cigarettes, which are disproportionately used by Black and Hispanic adult smokers, following concerns about unjust racial profiling and targeting. Through the Affordable Connectivity Program, the BidenHarris Administration connected over 5 million Black households to affordable, high-speed Internet, bridging the digital divide for millions of African American families nationwide.

As the Biden-Harris 2024 presidential campaign continues to gain momentum among African Americans and other communities of color, I encourage the campaign to remain responsive to the issues and needs of those communities that will provide a solid base for the Democratic Party in the 2024 national elections. Recent national polls continue to indicate that the Biden-Harris campaign still has some work to do to match the Democratic voter turnout that was achieved in 2016 and 2020, so responding to these concerns can pay significant dividends in this respect.

One area where Biden-Harris can energize African American voter turnout is addressing their frustration over the rising cost of living, which is often driven by higher energy prices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this kind of economic pain has fallen more on Black Americans than White Americans.

Indians. “We have the largest population of Native people in the state, much because of relocation policies,” said Snider. “Our two largest populations, Navajo and Cherokee, are not from California.”

To understand and remediate this history of violence and displacement from the Native perspective, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to create the California Truth and Healing Council in June 2019.

The council has been conducting monthly in-person meetings statewide to gather testimony from tribes as to their needs and histories, for a report to be issued in 2025, said Loretta Miranda, deputy tribal affairs secretary and special counsel to Governor Newsom.

“Although we’re hopeful this won’t just end up on the shelf, we realize not everyone is going to pick up and read a report,” she continued. “We want to make this Native narrative as interactive as possible. To that end, we’re working on a documentary project with Emmy Awardwinning film director, Jacob Kornbluth. He comes to all of our quarterly meetings, and we now have a sizzle reel.”

The purpose of the documentary, the report and the council “is to educate the dominant culture on the native story of California,” Miranda added. “California’s very complicated; we’re the most diverse population of native peoples — if we can do it, anyone can. We hope to serve as a roadmap for other Native communities.”

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

I applaud my dear friend and colleague, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, who has been a strong advocate for environmental justice and equality for all

Council. President Bill Clinton established the President’s Council on Sustainable Development in 1993. The successful purpose of that council was to bring together leaders of environmental and climate justice with the leaders of energy, commerce, and others in corporate America, including leaders from the coal and gas industries, to jointly explore ways to strengthen America’s economy and protect the environment and climate at the same time.

Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown chaired the President’s Council on Sustainable Development. I was very pleased to represent the interests of the Environmental Justice Movement as an active member of the council. We discovered that the interests of corporate America and the energy sector were not mutually exclusive to the interests of environmental and climate justice. In other words, a strong economy can and should contribute to sustaining environmental and climate matters — and environmentalists and climate change advocates can and should also work to ensure the growth and sustainability of the national economy.

I am convinced that President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Administrator Regan reestablishing the President’s Council on Sustainable Development — which will work

Americans, particularly minority communities.

In a recent speech at my Alma mater, Howard University, one of the nation’s most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Administrator Regan announced that the EPA would like to eventually shut down existing coal plants and ban new natural gas plants unless they implement carbon capture technologies that are now emerging in the energy sector.

In his remarks, Administrator Regan argued that the mandates are necessary to protect “communities of color” from hazards at coal and natural gas power plants that do not employ carbon capture goals and objectives. Unquestionably, I know where the administration’s heart is on this issue.

However, those proposals could possibly make electricity more expensive and, at times, less reliable, disproportionately hurting minority consumers. Moreover, many new natural gas plants targeted by the EPA provide reliable critical backup energy sources. That said, Administrator Regan presents some valid points, and the administration can, without question, find a solution to this issue that pleases all its voter bases.

That process can begin by creating a Biden-Harris Sustainable Development

directly with the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, prominent urban mayors, elected officials, energy industry leaders, and with the advocates of climate change and the leaders of the Environmental Justice Movement — will allow them to find a way to implement an all-of-the-above energy approach that works for everyone. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), where I serve as the president and CEO, welcomes the opportunity to participate in such an ongoing effort and council.

More clean energy initiatives are needed, and proposing them should remain a priority for the administration. That said, the new EPA policy rule on existing coal and natural gas plants should be made to protect the environment and climate while enhancing the economy. The administration needs to ensure that new, wellintentioned mandates will not have the unintended consequences of making electricity more expensive, especially for underserved communities.

I am confident that the energyimpacting proposals now under review by EPA Administrator Regan and the Biden-Harris Administration will consider the issues I am raising with the ultimate goal of sustainability for the environment, climate, and the economy.