THE SAN BERNARDINO
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AMERICAN
“A Man In Debt is So Far A Slave” -Emerson
NEWSPAPER A Community Newspaper Serving San Bernardino, Riverside & Los Angeles Counties
June 03, 2021 Thursday Edition
Volume 52 No. 7 Mailing: P.O. Box 837, Victorville, CA 92393
Office: (909) 889-7677
Email: Mary @Sb-American.com
Website: www.SB-American.com
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
Senate Confirms Chiquita Brooks-LaSure — First Black Woman to Lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia The United States Senate has conf ir med Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The 55 to 44 vote makes Brooks-LaSure the first Black woman to lead CMS in its nearly six-decade history. The agency oversees Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). “During my career, I’ve seen how communities of color too often experience worse health outcomes, which we’ve seen so acutely during this pandemic,” Brooks-LaSure told the Senate. “Last year in April, my own hometown, a predominately Black community where my parents still live, experienced higher rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths compared to much of the surrounding communities. I look forward to working with each of you to expand access to quality care for all communities.” The confirmation continues a campaign pledge of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to put together a cabinet that reflects America’s diversity.
A Georgetown and Princeton University graduate, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure had served as managing director at Manatt Health, where she focused on helping clients understand the implications of regulatory and legislative policies across private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. President Biden also has repeatedly stated a desire to appoint and hire qualified African Americans for various positions. Earlier this week, Attorney Kristen Clarke won confirmation to lead the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division, making her the first Black woman to hold the post.
Also, Karine Jean-Pierre, the principal deputy press secretary for the White House, became just the second Black woman in history – and the first openly gay individual – to lead an official White House briefing. The previous administration’s cabinet was dominated by White
males, while White women held the press secretary positions. Republican lawmakers loyal to the previous administration have continued to oppose President Biden’s nominations – particularly nominees who are Black women. They’ve often used coded, race-baiting, language like “too
South Coast AQMD Issues Ozone Advisory Due to Heat Wave Valid Monday May 31, 2021 through Friday June 04, 2021
This advisory is in effect through Friday. South Coast AQMD will issue an update if additional information becomes available. State/ County News High temperatures are expected to persist over the next several days throughout the South Coast Air Basin and the Coachella Valley, increasing the likelihood of poor air quality in many areas. Levels of ground-level ozone (smog) – the predominant summertime pollutant – are likely to reach the Unhealthy or higher Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in the Santa Clarita Valley, the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Gabriel Valley, the Inland Empire and the San Bernardino Mountains. The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting high temperatures over southern California that will last through this week. This is due to an upper air high pressure ridge located over northern California and a low pressure system over Baja California. Temperatures will be
highest in deserts and inland areas and are predicted to last through Friday, when cooling will begin into the weekend and next week. Elevated temperatures, which enhance ozone formation rates, coupled with predicted light winds may cause unusually high and persistent levels of ozone pollution. When air quality is Unhealthy and reaches an air quality index (AQI) range of 151 to 200, everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and residents with higher sensitivity to air pollution may experience more serious effects. When air quality is Very Unhealthy with an AQI range of 201 to 300, everyone in the region may experience more serious health effects. Ozone air pollution can cause respiratory health problems, including trouble breathing,
asthma attacks, and lung damage. Research also indicates that ozone exposure can increase the risk of premature death. Children, older adults, and people with asthma or COPD may be more sensitive to the health effects of ozone. Areas of direct impacts and poor air quality may include portions of: Los Angeles County: West San Gabriel Valley (Area 8), East San Gabriel Valley (Area 9), PomonaWalnut Valley (Area 10), Santa Clarita Valley (Area 13), San Gabriel Mountains (Area 15) Orange County: Northern Orange County (Area 16) Riverside County: CoronaNorco (Area 22), Metropolitan Riverside County (Area 23), Perris Valley (Area 24), Lake Elsinore (Area 25), Temecula Valley (Area
26), Anza Valley (Area 27), Hemet-San Jacinto Valley (Area 28), San Gorgonio Pass (Area 29), Coachella Valley (Area 30), East Riverside County (Area 31) San Bernardino County: Northwest San Bernardino Valley (Area 32), Southwest San Bernardino Valley (Area 33), Central San Bernardino Valley (Area 34), East San Bernardino Valley (Area 35), West San Bernardino Mountains (Area 36), Central San Bernardino Mountains (Area 37), East San Bernardino Mountains (Area 38) South Coast AQMD Advisory updates can be found at the following link: www.aqmd.gov/advisory To subscribe to air quality alerts, advisories and forecasts by email, go to www.AirAlerts.org To view current air quality continued in next 2 columns
radical,” express their opposition to the Black women nominees. A Georgetown and Princeton University graduate, BrooksLaSure had served as managing director at Manatt Health, where she focused on helping clients understand the implications of regulatory and legislative
policies across private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. She also served for four years in the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she worked as director of coverage policy in the Office of Health Reform. Later, Brooks-LaSure served as deputy center and policy director for the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. W h ile at t he Healt h Department, Brooks-Lasure led efforts to implement the Affordable Care Act. “We cong rat ulate Ms. Brooks-LaSure on her historic confirmation,” Chip Kahn, president, and CEO of the Federation of A mer ican Hospitals, said in a statement. “While the fight against COVID is not over, as the pandemic winds down, we need to move forward on the broader health care agenda, and I am confident our new Administrator is exceptionally equipped to provide the leadership that is crucial for CMS at this time and beyond.”
South Coast AQMD Issues Ozone Advisory Due to Heat Wave...continued conditions by region in an interactive map, see http://www. aqmd.gov/aqimap For real-time air quality information, maps, notifications and health alerts in your area, download our award-winning South Coast AQMD app at: www. aqmd.gov/mobileapp Hourly air quality forecasts are available at http://www.aqmd.gov/ forecast. Check the hourly air quality forecast and the "Cleanest Time of Day" to help plan outdoor activities when the air quality is better. For a map of South Coast AQMD Forecast Areas, see http:// www.aqmd.gov/ForecastAreas. What To Do When Air Pollution Reaches Unhealthful Levels: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: Air Quality Index (AQI) is 101 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to air pollution. People with heart or lung disease, older
adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Unhealthy: AQI is 151 - 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Very Unhealthy: AQI is 201 - 300. Everyone may experience more serious health effects. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. South Coast AQMD is the air pollution control agency for major portions of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.