Black Press, Aiming for Key African American Votes
To help bolster reelection efforts, the Biden-Harris Campaign announced a $1.5 million advertising deal with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Jasmine Harris, Director of National Black Media for Biden-Harris 2024, made the announcement during the NNPA’s 2024 Annual National Convention in Baltimore, where the weeklong event’s theme was, “Empowering the Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout.” Biden-Harris 2024 also counted among the sponsors of the week-long gathering, reflecting its strategic focus on Black media.
“In August of last year, our campaign announced the earliest and largest investment into Black media for any reelection campaign in history,” Harris declared. “This partnership with the NNPA is a continuation of those efforts and will strengthen our work in meeting Black voters where they are, to underscore the stakes of this election for Black America. President Biden and Vice President Harris are responsible for creating millions of new jobs for Black workers and record low Black unemployment. Black America has far too much to lose this election.”
The Black Press, which dates to 1827, has remained a steadfast pillar for African American voices. That mission persists today as the Black Press approaches its 200th anniversary
in 2027. “I think the campaign realizes that, by advertising with NNPA newspapers, it also serves to support the 230-plus Blackowned small business media companies which will have the effect of stimulating the local economy,” said NNPA Sales and Business Development Director Ron Burke.
The NNPA is a trade association made up of Black-owned media companies.
“The partnership between Biden-Harris 2024 and the NNPA is urgent because we must pool all of our resources to keep Donald Trump out of office,” said Fran Farrer, the NNPA’s National Secretary and Publisher of The County News in Charlotte, N.C. “Biden has helped the Black community grow, and he and the vice president are on the ground fighting for our community and all of America.”
Hiram Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media, which publishes the Michigan Chronicle, expressed concern over the tight race in Michigan but saw the partnership as a vital step. “The race is close, but we haven’t been very aggressive yet,” Jackson insisted.
“It’s great that Biden-Harris 2024 is beginning to embrace one of the Black community’s strongest institutions. The Black Press is an intergenerational tool highly trusted in the Black community.”
Jackson added that, “We are the ultimate influencer in terms of community engagement, but we need everybody to come to the table in this election.” He noted that a deeper sense of engagement than television or radio could develop by engaging the Black Press.
“To tell the story properly, you must have resources,” Jackson demanded. “The initial
advertising deal between the campaign and the Black Press is a great first step. It symbolizes that the campaign understands the significance of the Black Press, but it can’t only be a first step. There must be many more steps to increase engagement, voter registration, and excitement.”
Four years ago, the 2020 Biden campaign experienced a pivotal moment in Charleston, South Carolina. An interview with Biden hosted by NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and subsequent national news article circulated to the more than 200 Black-owned newspapers in the NNPA reached millions and significantly boosted Biden’s campaign. The event preceded a crucial endorsement from South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, propelling Biden to victory with a record turnout
Recognition Committee
Nu Omega Chapter awarded two outstanding community members the Community Service Award: The Honorable Judge Joshlyn Pulliman of Riverside County and Dr. Jamal Myrick, of University of Riverside (UCR), with the Educational Leadership Community Service Award. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter and The Inland Ivy Foundation awarded 22 students from San Bernardino and Riverside County School Districts $34,000 in scholarships to continue their educational journey. In addition to the Eta Nu Omega and the Inland Ivy Foundation scholarships, there were specialized scholarships awarded to the students: Memorial Scholarships personalized by members of Alpha Kappa
Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter in memory of their loved ones. The six memorials honored were: Lisa Blacksher, Gracie Mae Poole, Harriette Moore, Keturah McEwen, Hazel Hawkins-Russell, and Irma L. Sutton. Specialized scholarships (Honey Do) in the name of the spouses of the women of Eta Nu Omega Chapter and four HBCU scholarships were also awarded. Pictured below are the recipients of the scholarships.
The Little Sunshine Foundation recently hosted its sixth annual fundraiser at the Glendora Woman's Club. Themed Casino Royale, Little Sunshine Foundation supporters were treated to a casino themed night of friendly table games in support of a very good cause. The table games included roulette, black jack, pokers, craps and bingo. The night also included great food, refreshments, door prizes, a silent auction and live entertainment. Some of the door prizes included Los Angeles Sparks tickets, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tickets, Anaheim Ducks tickets and much more. Monique Vobecky founded the Little Sunshine Foundation when she was 14 years old. Shown above from (left to right) is Hope Keith, Boardmember Christine Keith of Elite Auto, Little Sunshine Founder Monique Vobecky and Vaugh Williams III of the Southern California Gas Company.
OP-ED: The Good News In 2024: Poor People Are the New Swing Vote
By William J. Barber, II
If you’re an ordinary American who goes to work to pay the bills or takes care of a loved one most days, it’s easy to feel down when you see the headlines about the 2024 election. Donald J. Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records to cover up hush money he paid to bury an alleged affair with a porn star during the 2016 campaign, and the Republican Party continues to think he’s their best candidate. At the same time, President Biden is struggling to hold together his Democratic base as images of devastation in Gaza continue to dominate the news. Stories of good news in politics seem few and far between.
But as a preacher, I learned a long time ago that you don’t get to the good news by looking away from problems; the good news is most often found right amid trouble. Yes, politics is a mess in 2024. But, at the same time, several popular movements of everyday people struggling for economic justice have emerged that have the potential to reshape our politics. Against the backdrop of decades of rising inequality, low-wage worker movements have made huge strides since the pandemic, insisting that living wages are a moral issue for “essential workers” and seeing the largest
increase in real wages in decades. Young people who’ve watched education and healthcare costs soar have come together to form effective coalitions for debt relief and won billions in loan forgiveness. Leveraging worker power, unions have waged effective strikes and negotiated new contracts while expanding to include new workers, especially in the South. Though they’re rarely in the headlines, these movements made up of millions of low-income workers have the potential to re-frame political debates for people who are weary of the status quo. The good news in 2024 is that poor and working people are the new swing vote in US politics.
A report from Lake Research Partners demonstrates just how powerful this untapped coalition of low-income voters could be. Looking back at the past three Presidential elections, they found that in the seven states that will likely decide the 2024 election— Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania— low-income voter participation was an average of 12 percentage points lower than that of their higher-income voters. Using past averages to project 2024 turnout, this study measured the difference between the margin
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire
William J Barber II Poor People Campaign
“A Speeding Driver Changed My Life, Now I’m on a Mission”
By Aziza King
My son’s infectious smile and positive spirit touched anyone he encountered. I’m sure every mother feels this way about their child, but Ryan Christian Davis was the real thing. Ryan was my only child and the absolute light of my life. That light was dimmed forever when I received a call every parent dreads. On April 28, 2021, the lives of Ryan and his girlfriend, Asia Boatwright, were cut short by an intoxicated driver involved in a police chase. Their car was t-boned at a speed of over 80 mph, 45 mph over the speed limit. The previous night, while watching the news, I ironically saw images of the mangled car. The story touched my heart, and I immediately said a prayer for the couple killed, not realizing I was praying for my son. I went to work the next morning still not knowing until I received a call. I soon learned Ryan was alert after the accident and was able to call for help. Asia was killed instantly. For forty-seven minutes, my son anguished in pain waiting for help. He died in transit to the hospital from
internal injuries. My son died at the age of 27, ten days before his birthday. Ryan was so talented, and full of love and ambition. After graduating from Gahr High School in Cerritos, CA, he began working with me, helping to oversee our real estate property management company. He possessed exceptional skills in the kitchen and had plans to start a catering truck and business. So many dreams that he was cheated of because of someone speeding and driving under the influence (DUI).
The individual responsible for the deaths of my son and Asia was speeding, running from the police with no consideration for the danger he presented. This person had prior convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude a pursuing peace officer and a drug offense. I was confident this would mean he would receive a sentence that reflected his repeat offenses. But I was wrong. In addition to grieving for my loss, I had to accept that the person who killed my son was able to plead no contest to one count of murder, gross vehicular
manslaughter while intoxicated and felony evading while driving recklessly. He received 26 years and will be eligible for parole in 17 years and seven months. On top of receiving a sentence that did not match the crime, this individual showed no remorse and made no statement, making no apologies and taking no accountability.
This was incredibly hard to accept. I was angry and determined to do something to help bring awareness to the alarming rise of deaths due to speeding and DUI, so I became a traffic safety advocate, working with SAFE, Streets Are for Everyone, to make streets safer for people. Through SAFE, we support loved ones and victims of traffic crimes and work to eliminate preventable injuries and death.
I am determined to keep my son’s memory alive and ensure positivity will come from this nightmare. Every year since Ryan’s death, our family and friends celebrate his birthday on May 8 with a balloon release at his gravesite. We laugh, cry, hug, reminisce and comfort each other,
honoring Ryan and the positive impact he made on our lives. I am also in the beginning stages of starting a non-profit in honor of Ryan that will be dedicated to raising awareness about the dangerous and destructive consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, encouraging people to stop and think before making a decision that could result in injuries or death.
In less than a minute, two innocent lives were lost. Through the profound loss of my only child, I continue to put my faith in God who has empowered me with purpose in my life to be an advocate for DUI, speeding and overall traffic safety. I continue to share my story because it humanizes the importance of thinking before you get behind the wheel in a way that is sometimes lost with just words. I take it one person at a time; if something I say impacts one person then my son’s death will not have been in vain.
For more information and resources on speeding, please visit http://www.gosafelyca.org/.
SBCUSD Board Of Education Honors Outstanding Individuals
April Outstanding Achievement Awards Recognize District Students, Parents and Staff
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—
In April, the Board of Education presented the Outstanding Achievement Awards to students, parents and staff of Mt. Vernon and Muscoy Elementary Schools, M.L. King Jr. Middle School and San Andreas High School. The Board recognizes Outstanding Student Award winners to honor excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts, citizenship and most improvement. The Board also presents the Outstanding Parent/ Grandparent/Volunteer Award and Outstanding Employee Award to individuals who embody the District’s dedication to student achievement and wellbeing.
Mt. Vernon Elementary School, Principal Sylvette Del Llano: Gabriel Rios is a fourth-grader and Outstanding Student. Rios shines as a beacon of academic excellence and outstanding citizenship. Beyond consistently
achieving stellar grades, Rios is also kind, helpful, and he follows the rules. Rios wants to become a surgeon. Dalilah Reyes Chiman is a sixth-grader and Outstanding Student. Dalilah stands out for her exceptional academic achievements and citizenship. She demonstrates commitment to her studies and she earns praise for her outstanding grades. Dalilah also has a kind and helpful nature. Dalilah is working towards her goal of becoming a veterinarian.
Outstanding Parent Award winner Rubi Barrios-Vallejo is a dedicated and proud mother of two children. She plays a pivotal role in her children’s academic journey while maintaining strong involvement as a parent committed to the betterment of the Mt. Vernon Elementary community.
Attendance Verifier Viviana Enciso epitomizes excellence in her role as an attendance verifier and as an out-of-class
secretary. Her exceptional work performance is characterized by her tireless work ethic and remarkable attention to detail.
Fifth-Grade Teacher Donna Kosman constantly embodies the spirit of service and leadership. Donna fosters a dynamic learning environment where students can explore their interests and develop critical skills. Her tireless efforts and commitment exemplifies her outstanding professionalism and dedication to excellence.
Muscoy Elementary School, Principal Dr. Dana Jamison: Eduardo Sandoval Soto is a third-grader and Outstanding Student. Eduardo is hardworking and dedicated to his academics. He is kind, friendly and has a loving heart. He loves to make people smile and laugh. And Eduardo loves school so much that his career goal is to be a teacher.
Daniel Vazquez is a fourthgrader and Outstanding Student.
SBCUSD Board Of Education Honors Outstanding Individuals...continued
engages families so students can thrive. Just this school year, Karen has set up more than 400 Hazel Health telemedicine visits so Muscoy students receive the medical care they need.
Fifth-Grade Teacher Laura Cortez Cuevas is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. As Muscoy’s English Language Facilitator, Laura has assisted in the reclassification of over 34 students as English Proficient. She has helped to increase fifth-grade academic scores by analyzing student data and planning with her team how to increase student achievement.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Principal Ernesto Calles:
Seventh-grader Christopher Martinez is an Outstanding Student. He is a true representation of King scholars, showing exceptional character inside and outside the classroom. He is the ASB president, where he serves and leads the entire King Middle School student body. Martinez wants to attend university after high school.
Brittanny Melchor is an eighth-grader and Outstanding Student. Melchor excels in academics, citizenship and art. She is respectful, responsible and helps to provide a safe learning environment, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, which earned her recognition at the King Middle School academic award celebration in February. Melchor is focused on her goal of attending university after graduation.
Lydia Urrutia is an Outstanding Parent. She has been a positive partner with King Middle School. School staff appreciate Urrutia’s communication with administration and parents via the School Site Council, and she can always be depended upon to provide input to support the success of King scholars.
Custodian I Sam Arenivar is an Outstanding Classified Employee. Arenivar consistently demonstrates pride in his work. His enthusiasm and passion for upholding King’s values and fostering a positive learning environment serve as an inspiration to those around him. History and Social Science Teacher Robert Almanza is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. Every Monday, he
prepares and produces studentcreated videos to support the open communication and information that is vital to students and staff. Almanza’s leadership, including serving as department chair, exemplifies his commitment to students and staff.
San Andreas High School (SAHS), Principal Dorie Stratton: Alaysha Nash is a senior and an Outstanding Student. Nash is involved in everything from the Student Leadership Advisory Council to dual enrollment in college and several extracurricular activities. She always has a smile on her face and is happy to help as needed. Nash plans to be a social worker because she loves helping people. Senior David Renteria is an Outstanding Student. He is an outstanding scholar who excels in academics and citizenship and is a standout student in the Health Pathway Program. Renteria is a quiet leader, always ready to lend a helping hand, and actively engaged in extracurricular activities and leadership roles. He will be attending a certified nursing assistant program in June and hopes to become a Physical Therapist in the future. Amber Ploehn is an Outstanding Parent, with two children attending Cajon High and one at San Andreas. Ploehn is active in the School Site Council and serves as the school’s District Advisory Council representative. She is always ready to help as needed, even bringing in lunch treats.
Bilingual Attendance Technician Cristina Topete Velazquez is an Outstanding Classified Employee. She is a very resourceful problem solver. Velazquez helps ensure that students are in class daily and connects families to important resources in the community. She has been an integral part of the San Andreas attendance team, helping to launch the Attendance Campaign.
San Andreas Teacher Rawan Fakhoury is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. Fakhoury’s tireless efforts have resulted in a rich and positive school culture where inclusivity and respect are paramount. She has transformed countless lives and empowered students to reach their full potential.
Daniel is being honored for academic excellence and citizenship. He is a shining example of a student who has grit and constantly strives for improvement. He is kind and goes out of his way to make others feel welcome. Daniel dreams about becoming a paleontologist.
Outstanding Grandparent Award winner Leticia Murrieta has displayed unwavering dedication to the education and well-being of Muscoy students. Her grandson, Daniel, was honored as an Outstanding Student Award winner. Leticia invests many hours to support Muscoy Elementary by attending meetings and family events, and she still offers to do more.
Bilingual Office Assistant/ Health Aide Karen Cordova is an Outstanding Classified Employee. She excels at providing excellent health services to students, and she
Aziza King with Son Ryan Christian Davis
San Andreas Teacher Rawan Fakhoury is honored as an Outstanding Certificated Employee by the SBCUSD Board of Education and Superintendent Mauricio Arellano at the April Board meeting. (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
Muscoy Elementary School Outstanding Grandparent Award winner Leticia Murrieta and her grandson, Outstanding Student Daniel Vazquez. (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
Thursday, June 27, 2024
From Enslavement to Freedom, Black Music Has Been a Constant Comforter and Guide
By Hazel Trice Edney
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Every Sunday, millions of AfricanAmerican people across the nation make their way to church anticipating relief from lives of financial woes, pressures at work, health concerns, family matters, race discrimination and inequities among other stressful issues of everyday life.
By the time they return home, they have usually received some form of hope. Whether from an inspiring sermon from the preacher, comforting scriptures, or glorious songs - gospel music and spirituals – songs that soothed their souls, causing them to rock with joy and clap their hands despite what they may face in the days, weeks and years ahead. If the music of the Black church is seen as medicine now – post the civil rights movement - one can only imagine the hope that it must have given to enslaved Black people who were not only owned by other human beings, but often whipped, tortured, hanged, and their loved ones sold away in a life in which they constantly faced threats of death for the slightest rebellion.
During this Black Music Month of June, millions of people across the nation are revisiting the legacy of these spirituals and celebrating their contribution to freedom.
“The Negro spirituals were so important to the enslaved African, who, as scripture would foretell, were brought into this ‘strange land’ having been asked to sing a new song. We understand that many of these enslaved Africans came to the Americas with different dialects, different languages that they spoke,” explains composer and Wayne State University music instructor Dr. Brandon Waddles in an interview with host A. J. Walker on Detroit
PBS’ American Black Journal.
“Music has always been a universal language. And coded therein, within these songs were messages; not only messages of hope, but messages that would lead these enslaved Africans to freedom.”
Dr. Waddles gave examples of some of the lyrics that were actually messages and instructions. For example, the song, “Deep River, My Home Over Jordan,” was a title that he explains: “Jordan River scripturally, of course, was referring to, in their context, the Mississippi [River]. It was their way to freedom.”
According to the National Park Service (NPS), abolitionist Harriet Tubman "sang two songs while operating her rescue missions. Both are listed in Sarah Bradford’s biography Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman: 'Go Down Moses,' and, 'Bound For the Promised Land.' Tubman said she changed the tempo of the songs to indicate whether it was safe to come out or not," states a NPS document.
Many of these songs, which started as work songs, evolved into what is now called Negro spirituals, directly connected to African culture and tradition. They were published years later and ultimately became the root of Black Gospel and Jazz, Dr. Waddles said.
Black Music Month was first officially established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 “to celebrate the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage,” according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. That first year, the month
Biden-Harris Invests $1.5M in Black Press, Aiming for Key African American Votes... continued from page 1 by Black voters.
“Black-owned media voices can shape political messaging, mobilize voters, and advocate for Black issues,” stated Bobby Henry, NNPA’s national chairman and publisher of the Westside Gazette in Florida. “We are subjected to political pressures and media scrutiny because we have the power to amplify our community’s concerns, influence public opinion, and hold leaders accountable. This role demands a deeper understanding of the political landscape, unwavering integrity, and a commitment to speaking truth to power for social justice. It comes not only with a cost that is seen immediately in respect to business; however, our future can hang in the balance of what we project.”
Robert Bogle, First Vice Chair of the NNPA Fund and publisher of the Philadelphia Tribune, said continued engagement with Black voters in swing states like Pennsylvania is mandatory. “If President Biden is truly committed not only to this race but winning, he can’t do it without the vote of the
African American community,” Bogle asserted. “Philadelphia is crucial. They will need to spend more time here and dedicate to talking to African Americans. The campaign is dedicating $1.5 million to swing states (but) there is a place called America. Swing states are critical and will make a difference, but there must be a continued commitment to changing the environment for African Americans in America. If Biden wants to win, he and his campaign must have a commitment and dedication to the African American community and what our experience in America has been.”
The campaign is being responsive to the interests of Black America through the campaign’s advertising initiatives with the NNPA, said NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. “The Black vote throughout the United States will be a key determinative factor to the outcome of the 2024 national elections. We profoundly thank the BidenHarris 2024 Campaign.”
USDA Announces Enhanced Resources to Support Businesses Interested in Procurement Opportunities
2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced resource enhancements designed to simplify and streamline access to contracting information for businesses interested in selling their products and services to USDA. These substantial updates include the addition of new and targeted contracting information on USDA.gov, along with improved functionality that makes it easier for businesses and individuals to quickly find and access procurement opportunities, and a portal for businesses to share the scope of their capabilities with USDA more easily.
"Doing business with the U.S. Department of Agriculture should be straightforward, particularly for our nation's small businesses," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. "Unfortunately, researching and identifying relevant procurement opportunities can be extremely challenging, confusing, and time-consuming. That's why the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new tools and resources that will make it easier to contract with the USDA to serve American farmers and all of us who count on the food they grow."
Spearheaded by USDA’s Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) in collaboration with the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), these improvements include: The creation of a new “Contracting with USDA” site that offers information, resources, and links for businesses that want to contract with USDA, in a helpful Q&A format. The
Opinion:
site addresses commonly asked questions such as “What does USDA typically buy?”, “What are the most common ways USDA buys what it needs?” and “How do I find current opportunities to contract with USDA?”
An updated Vendor Capability Submission Portal that allows suppliers and merchants to submit their business capabilities to USDA via a web form. Portal submissions are shared with contracting officers across the Department.
Updates to the previously deployed USDA Procurement Forecast, a tool that assist businesses and individuals with identifying procurement opportunities with USDA. Launched in June 2023, the Procurement Forecast now has a user-friendly way to search and filter procurement opportunities. Currently, the tool includes nearly 6,000 planned contract opportunities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
“USDA has a long history of contracting with a wide variety of businesses to help us deliver our mission to the American people. In addition, we have an unwavering support for businesses, large, midsize and small. We hope the deployed contracting resources will help even more businesses navigate the complex process of contracting with the federal government,” said Malcom Shorter, USDA Assistant Secretary for Administration.
In FY 2023, USDA obligated more than $11 billion in 67,000 contract activities spanning a wide variety of industries and contract types. In FY 2024, USDA estimates a comparable
continued in last 2 columns
USDA Announces Enhanced Resources to Support Businesses Interested in Procurement Opportunities...continued obligation amount and contract awards to our industry partners.
USDA purchasing extends well beyond agricultural commodities. Last fiscal year, the Department awarded contracts to nearly 12,000 businesses from a wide range of industries for $4.9 billion in food, $4.2 billion in services, $1.7 billion in Information Technology contracts, a half a billion in goods, and nearly a half billion in construction contracts.
The Department strongly supports procurement initiatives that promote equity and remove barriers to procurement opportunities. To encourage growth, USDA plans to award 57.5% or more of its contract dollars to small businesses this year, including 27.85% to small, disadvantaged businesses. USDA’s collective efforts to support small businesses garnered an A+ Rating on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s FY2023 Small Business Procurement Scorecard.
Businesses interested in contracting with USDA should visit Contracting with USDA for access to these and other resources. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the BidenHarris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. Read the E-Edition of The San Bernardino American News @ sb-american.com
was celebrated with a Black music festival on the White House Lawn. This year’s Black Music Month Proclamation by President Joseph Biden, posted on Whitehouse.gov, continues the history of celebration:
From Enslavement to Freedom, Black Music Has Been a Constant Comforter and Guide...continued languages, found ways to express themselves through music. Set to the sound of African rhythms, they captured the inhumanity, tragedy, and toll that America’s original sin took on their lives while also telling the stories of their hopes and dreams, faith and spirituality, and love and purpose.”
“Our Nation has only recognized Black Music Month for 45 years, but its legacy stretches back to our country’s earliest days. Black music began when enslaved people, who were cruelly prohibited from communicating in their native
This article/op-ed, the first in a four-part series, has been powered by AARP in celebration of Black Music Month.
Black Californians Will Not Participate in the Greening of California If the State Doesn’t Do Better
Taylor Jackson | Special to California Black Media Partners
California must act now to confront today’s Black job crisis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics last year reported that 90% of the nation’s unemployed U.S. citizens are Black Americans. And despite being less than 10% of LA’s population, Black people comprise more than a third of its unhoused residents.
Senate Bill (SB) 1340 renews hope in confronting this Black job crisis, as $180 billion in federal dollars are coming to California to fund the state’s green infrastructure projects over the next decade. The bill – authored by longtime worker rights and racial equity advocate Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) – would establish local “disadvantaged worker” demographics across California and require statefunded contractors to prioritize hiring these workers, who are primarily from underserved communities of color.
One Black construction worker who has benefited from an equitable hiring program is Patricia Allen. In 2014, Allen was an unemployed single mother living in the Crenshaw area who was hired to work on LA Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX rail
line as part of their Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that prioritized the hiring of local disadvantaged individuals. “It really felt good to see other faces like mine on the project,” said Allen, who now works as a safety supervisor for a construction company after earning her safety training certificate. “Without PLAs and other hiring programs, we’re not going to be able to get a fair chance to sit at the table.”
SB 1340 would also require state-funded contractors to regularly track and report disadvantaged workers hired on their projects to hold them accountable to meeting equitable hiring goals established by the state. The Biden Administration has intended for states to utilize these federal grant dollars to boost equitable hiring programs and other community benefits. To remain competitive in securing future federal funding, California must demonstrate that it is successfully executing equitable hiring programs. Tracking and reporting are the most effective ways to ensure
that California is keeping receipts on workers hired on development projects and ensuring that the communities they come from have benefited.
California awarded one of its first contracts from these federal dollars to a Texas-based company. Without SB 1340, Black community members are concerned about the implications: firms like this out-of-state contractor are not currently required to hire local workers from vulnerable communities, including Black men and women.
“With billions of dollars flowing from the federal government to California for green infrastructure projects, now is the time to address the need for equitable hiring and timely remediation,” said Emily Gartenberg, California Senior Policy Coordinator for Jobs to Move America. “California’s workers deserve action. With SB 1340, we can assure that an inclusive workforce will build our new green economy.”
As critical as SB 1340 is in helping to solve the state’s Black job crisis, the bill has fallen on deaf ears in the Governor’s Office. SB 1340 is yet to be funded, despite being passed by the State Senate and Assembly Labor Committee as well as strongly recommended by a sizable coalition of statewide community partners. While Gov. Newsom makes promises to support legislation that aim to make a more equitable California, Black workers need him to act now on those promises.
Although California is facing budget constraints, SB 1340 will be a low-cost bill to implement.
It’s a small investment that will pay big dividends given that it will create jobs that would take thousands of people out of poverty, ultimately saving the state money, with their taxpaying jobs reinvested back into the state.
Because of California’s long history of institutionalized racist policies, Black communities were excluded from building the state’s infrastructure during the 20th Century. SB 1340 would give Black workers an opportunity to play an important role as California transitions into a new green economy. But without this bill, Black workers will again be left out of the state’s latest reconstruction era.
“SB 1340 is essential right now because communities of color have historically been deprived of the natural resources and investments needed to build climate change in ways that improve the conditions of all workers,” said Dawn Modkins, Director of the Southern California Black Worker Hub. “This bill is not just about building roads and bridges. It’s about building communities where all people can have environmental and economic justice.”
To voice your support of SB 1340, please call or email your state legislator’s office or call the Office of the Governor at (916) 445-2841.
About the Author
Taylor Jackson is the Regional Organizer at the Southern California Black Worker Hub.
Taylor Jackson, Regional Organizer, Southern California Black Worker Hub
Abolitionist Harriet Tubman
Hazel Trice Edney
Dawn Modkins, Director, Southern California Black Worker Hub
Summertime Eye Health Tips
By Archana Dubey, MD, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare of California
Eye health is an important factor in our overall well-being.
Yet 65.3% of California children don’t regularly see an eye doctor. With many kids out of school for the summer, screen time may add up quickly and potentially contribute to health issues, making it a great time to shine a spotlight on vision health.
That can include a focus on preventing or treating nearsightedness, also known as myopia, which can affect our ability to see far-away objects clearly. Importantly, childhood onset of myopia has been linked to a greater risk of developing serious eye diseases later in life, including cataracts and glaucoma.
Unfortunately, myopia is on the rise, affecting around 42% of all Americans, up significantly over the last few decades. By 2050, it is projected that 50% of people worldwide will be nearsighted.
In an increasingly digital world, it’s more important than ever to be aware of this growing issue and how to address it. This is especially true for kids. According to an international research study, children who spend most of their time on both a smartphone and a computer may have an 80% higher risk of developing myopia.
Here are some tips to support eye health for you and your family:
Reduce excessive blue light
exposure. Research is showing the potential health implications of excessive exposure to blue light, including disrupted sleep cycles and digital eye strain.
Nearly 60% of U.S. adults report experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain with Americans spending an average of 7 hours per day interacting with screens. Make sure to spend ample time outdoors, which research has shown may reduce the risk of nearsightedness.
Watch for warning signs of myopia. Some common symptoms include far-away objects appearing blurry while close-by items are clear, squinting to see properly, eye strain and even headaches. For parents and caretakers, it’s important to remember that children may not know they have a vision problem, so pay attention to indicators like head tilting to read or watch TV, reduced performance at school or constant blinking.
Get a comprehensive eye exam and consider myopia management if needed. If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing vision issues or if you’re a frequent computer user, make sure to visit an eye doctor and get a comprehensive eye exam. These exams can detect health problems that a simple vision screening may miss. Ideally, kids should get annual comprehensive eye exams throughout their school years. While eye doctors can’t cure myopia, they can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to help you see clearly again. And if you or a family member is diagnosed with myopia, specialized treatment plans may help slow the progression.
Maintaining good eye health is an important step everyone can take to protect their overall wellbeing and may help prevent or slow the onset or progression of nearsightedness and other vision conditions.
Black Woman, Police Brutality Victim to Launch Documentary
Nationwide -- Award-winning filmmaker and activist, Brittany Chrishawn, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for her poignant and inspiring documentary, Unbroken Smile. The film delves into her personal journey through adversity after corrupt police officers broke her teeth and tried to frame her.
In May 2020, Brittany Chrishawn became a survivor of police brutality when five Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officers wrongfully attacked her, resulting in severe injuries, including broken teeth and nerve damage. Her fight for justice exposed the sexual misconduct of these police leading to the arrest of an officer and the unmasking of sexual misconduct against underaged boys.
The Kickstarter campaign for Unbroken Smile aims to raise funds for post-production costs, and backers of the campaign will receive exclusive rewards such as digital downloads and special thanks in the film credits. Highertier backers can look forward to unique experiences, including meet-and-greets, producer credits, and private screenings.
Black Woman, Police Brutality Victim to Launch Documentary...continued
Brittany Chrishawn Moore is currently appealing a charge of Resisting Without Violence related to the incident. Her petition for a belated appeal was granted in April 2023 (Online
Docket Sdca Fla Courts). Additionally, she has filed a civil lawsuit against the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the involved officers (Case No. 3:23-cv-01388), seeking accountability and compensation for her injuries.
For more information, interviews, or to get involved, please contact Brittany Chrishawn Moore at info@ unbrokensmile.com
New Ways to Understand Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Disease
Medical Science Hospital Lab Meeting: Diverse Team of Neurologists, Neuroscientists, Neurosurgeon Consult TV Screen Showing MRI Scan with Brain Images, Talk About Treatment Method, New Drugs Cure
Did you know that studying biomarkers has dramatically improved our understanding of brain changes that occur as we age, as well as those that occur in the earliest phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other types of dementia?
Medical Science Hospital
Lab Meeting: Diverse Team of Neurologists, Neuroscientists, Neurosurgeon Consult TV Screen Showing MRI Scan with Brain Images, Talk About Treatment Method, New Drugs Cure
Biomarkers are indirect indicators of an individual’s brain health that may provide evidence of a condition or disease, in a similar way to how a blood pressure reading provides insights about heart health. Increasingly, Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (JHADRC) investigators are using biomarkers to understand brain health. This is important because studies have shown that brain changes underlying AD begin years to decades before
individuals show symptoms of dementia. The ultimate goals? To find new signs identifying those with memory loss, help identify those most likely to benefit from new treatments, and, ultimately, help find a cure for AD.
JHADRC Director Dr. Marilyn Albert commented, “When we see patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, we don’t say we will wait to treat you until you get congestive heart failure. Early treatments keep heart disease patients from getting worse, and it’s possible the same may be true for those who are in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s.”
Dr. Pettigrew, also with the JHADRC, asserted that, “There is increasing evidence that early intervention is the most effective time for treatment of memory loss. Measuring the earliest brain changes with biomarkers is an important first step.”
The BIOCARD Study is one example of many JHADRC projects using biomarkers, such as non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, to obtain detailed pictures of the brain. These scans provide information about the brain’s structure and function, as well as dementia-related proteins that often accompany memory loss, such as amyloid and tau. Involving more than 400 research volunteers, some of
California 2024 Budget Agreement Includes Funding for Reparations Bill Implementation, Victim Services and More
In a move supporting vulnerable communities, the 2024 California budget agreement has earmarked $103 million in one-time funding for victims’ services programs. This allocation is designed to compensate for federal funding cuts and ensure continued support for crime victims across the state.
Grace Glaser of VALOR, a member of the California VOCA Advocacy Alliance, a statewide coalition of organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of crime, advocates, and their communities, praised this move, stating, “Gov. Newsom and the legislature have temporarily stitched [the safety net] back together with their commitment to one-time backfill funding, ensuring that for now, victims will receive support during the most traumatic and dangerous times of their lives.”
Unbroken Smile?
Why Back
The impact of Brittany Chrishawn’s story is profound. Shocking stories like these are crucial in pushing for systemic change. Without exposure to such incidents, many people remain unaware of the injustices faced by innocent individuals. This documentary aims to shed light on the harsh realities of police misconduct and educate the community on navigating an unjust justice system.
Unbroken Smile promises to be a compelling and thoughtprovoking documentary that will inspire and mobilize audiences to demand justice and reform. The Kickstarter campaign will run for 60 days, beginning June 10, 2024, and ending on August 9, 2024. Brittany Chrishawn and her team are calling on supporters of documentary film, social justice, and human resilience to back the project and help bring these important stories to the screen. For more information and to support the campaign, visit the Kickstarter page:
While grateful for the current funding, Glaser emphasized the need for ongoing financial commitment to ensure long-term stability for victims' services in California. She said, “Our coalition will be back next year, urging Gov. Newsom and the Legislature to prioritize the needs of survivors of crime on an ongoing basis.”
The budget also allocates $12 million to support the implementation of reparations legislation enacted into law this session. This funding aims to help address historical injustices and promote equity and justice for Black Californians.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) Chair, told California Black Media: "I consider the governor's allocation of $12 million for reparations resources a win. While the Legislative Black Caucus is committed to getting our legislative work on Reparations fully funded, I believe this is a positive start, especially during a challenging budget year. As I’ve always emphasized, this is a multi-year effort to implement the legislative recommendations in the report."
The 2024 CLBC Reparation Priority Bill Package includes 14 measures being considered
by the Assembly and Senate. Additionally, CLBC vice chair Sen Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) has proposed two reparations-focused bills not included in the package, also under review by the legislature. The deadline for each house to pass these bills is Aug. 31.
Bradford expressed gratitude for the allocation of $12 million in the state budget for reparations, despite the state’s current financial challenges.
“This money will start to stand up the infrastructure to pay for future reparations. We, as the California Legislative Black Caucus, made the case that the harms of slavery and racist public policies aren’t healed,” Bradford said. “This clearly states that reparations do matter and will be a priority in California going forward. This is just the beginning.”
The 2024 Budget agreement reached between Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) comes at a time when the state faces significant fiscal challenges.
In his statement announcing the agreement, Newsom highlighted the budget's role in establishing “long-term fiscal stability,” addressing both the immediate shortfall and strengthening resilience for the future. He noted the commitment to preserving programs that support millions of Californians, including “key funding for education, health care, expanded behavioral health services, and combating
homelessness.”
McGuire acknowledged that despite the difficult budget year, the situation was not as dire as initially feared. He pointed out that the budget addresses tough policy challenges by allocating resources to combat homelessness, investing in housing, and funding efforts to fight wildfires and retail theft. He also mentioned that the agreement ensures record funding for public schools, supports vulnerable communities, and addresses the climate crisis while maintaining responsible reserves.
Rivas’ statement focused on the Assembly’s efforts to protect vital public services and ensure long-term stability. He stated that the budget “prioritizes affordability and long-term stability,” securing investments to lower housing costs and sustain essential programs for vulnerable families. He emphasized the importance of balancing the budget while preserving a significant portion of the Rainy Day Fund to prepare for future challenges. “Accountability was a cornerstone of this journey, which included 72 Assembly budget hearings and hundreds of hours of public feedback,” he said.
The budget plan includes $297.9 billion in total expenditures, with $211.5 billion from the General Fund. It preserves significant reserves, with the Budget Stabilization Account projected to hold $22.2 billion at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The agreement addresses a $46.8 billion deficit through a combination of reductions,
revenue increases, and fund shifts. About $16 billion in cuts come from state operations and various programs, including a nearly 8% reduction in state operations, saving $2.17 billion, and a $1.5 billion cut through the elimination of unfilled positions. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will see a $750 million cut over three years, with an ongoing annual reduction of about $560 million, including the deactivation of 46 housing units across 13 prisons.
The budget also includes $13.6 billion in revenue/internal borrowing, $6 billion each in reserves withdrawals and fund shifts, $3.1 billion in expenditure delays and pauses, and $2.1 billion in payment deferrals. Revenue increases are achieved through suspending net operating loss deductions and increasing the Managed Care Organization tax. With an expenditure of $136 billion projected for TK-12 and a per-student allocation exceeding $24,000, the budget safeguards classroom funding with constitutional protection against any revenue fluctuations the state may experience. Higher education will also see a 5% increase in base funding for the University of California and California State University systems to support enrollment growth. The budget maintains core programs like Medi-Cal, behavioral health services, and Supplemental Security Income/ State Supplemental Payment grants. It continues investments in critical areas, allocating $1 billion for homelessness programs, $250 million in encampment grants, and preserving $250 million for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, with an additional $250 million pending Legislature concurrence. It also secures $2 billion for Last Mile projects to connect underserved communities to broadband service. Budget committee hearings and legislative votes on 19 budgetrelated bills are scheduled to be completed by June 27. June 30 is the deadline to pass all budget bills.
Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
Shutterstock: Activist in Washington D.C. October 16, 2021
Keeping
it Real:
California Governor Gavin Newsom Make a Budget Deal, Slashing $16B
Overview: California Governor Gavin Newsom and leaders of both branches of the legislature have agreed on a $300 billion budget for 2024, which aims to close the remaining $56 billion revenue gap. However, the budget includes cuts to housing programs, healthcare workforce development, government operations, and more, totaling about $16 billion. The agreement also includes a deferment of healthcare wage increases until October, or potentially until 2025, which could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars. The budget aims to set the state on a path for longterm fiscal viability.
by S.E. Williams
On June 22, CA Governor Gavin Newsom and leaders of both branches of the legislature announced an agreement on the 2024 state budget. The near $300 billion spending plan aimed at closing the remaining $56 billion revenue gap in the state budget over the next two years.
The good news is that there is a budget agreement and a plan to close the fiscal gap but there are concerns over what will be sacrificed to achieve this goal.
As one might expect, the cuts will be widespread impacting everything from housing programs to healthcare workforce development to government operations, including prisons and totalling about $16 billion.
“Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.”
Joe Biden
One element of the budget agreement already raising eyebrows is a deferment of the health care wage increases until October with the possibly of the increase being delayed until 2025. Although there was heavy opposition from labor unions, state officials claim the action could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
This decision comes as the state continues to experience a surge in demand for home care services. The surge is being driven by an aging population of Baby Boomers and their increasing preference and demand for home-based care. While this industry is weighted with a shortage of health care service workers, the budget decision may exacerbate the problem.
Home care service providers are not the only ones being impacted. There will be more that three million dollars in
How Much Worse Was the Last Heatwave Due to Climate Change? A Lot Worse
by Willy Blackmore
The heatwave that baked the Southwest and parts of Mexico and elsewhere in Central America earlier this month smashed an array of record temperatures.
In the first two weeks of June, 1,200 records for day-time highs were either broken or tied, and 1,800 nighttime highs too. The endless heat (which, really, is still ongoing) and the persistent high temperatures at night as well as during the day are both hallmarks of what we might call the new heat wave that’s becoming uncomfortably familiar in much of the United States.
No matter where heat waves strike, Black people are at an increased risk of both heatrelated illnesses and death.
And as another heat wave sends temperatures sky-high across the eastern half of the country, a new study gives us a better sense of the role fossil fuels and other human-caused emissions had in the southwestern heat.
Analysis done by World Weather Attribution, which specialized in this kind of quick-turn but not peer-reviewed research on climate events, found that the likelihood of such a heatwave was 35 times higher than it would have been in pre-industrial times due to climate change, and that the temperature was also 2.5 degrees higher as a result.
In Mexico, public health authorities said that 125 people died during the heat. North of
the border, daily record highs were recorded in a number of Texas cities, including El Paso, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, San Antonio, and Dallas, which is just over 23% Black.
In addition to comparing the chance of this heatwave occurring both in 2024 and in pre-industrial times, WWA compared today to 2000 too.
“The changes we have seen in the last 20 years, which feels like just yesterday, are so strong,” WWA climate scientist Friederike Otto told the Associated Press. “It seems sort of far away and a different world.”
Global temperature averages have increased by half a degree Celsius in the last 24 years (and 1.2 degrees over pre-industrial levels, putting the world on the way toward the 1.5 degrees and 2 degrees Celsius thresholds beyond which the worst potential outcomes of climate change lie.
But just a half degree of warming has made summer heat drastically different, as the WWA analysis shows: in the year 2000, such a heat wave had a likelihood of occurring once every 60 years; today, that’s dropped to one in every 15 years.
With the same kind of heat threatening to cook various parts of the country throughout the summer — in ways that were unimaginable a quarter century ago — it shows just how much is at risk if we continue to warm the way that we have.
budget. (source: gov.ca.gov)
previously promised funding that will also be deferred that include the expansion of food benefits to the undocumented, new subsidized child care slots and the commitment to expand broadband internet.
Progressives appear satisfied with the compromise and apparently gained some ground during the negotiations by shrinking the size of cuts to schools. For example, about $5.5 billion cuts initially proposed to school funding were delayed until some unknown time future years due to aggressive pushback from teachers’ unions, etc.
The Governor’s office and legislative officials claim the budget agreement sets the state on a path for long-term fiscal viability.
The Legislature will vote on a series of bills this week just ahead of the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
PETITION/PROBATE
an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Don M. Ross II 57382 29 Palms Hwy Yucca Valley, CA 92284 760- 999-2095
Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper July 4, 11, 18, 2024.
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNA, COUNTY OF KERN
GUARDIANSHIP OF: LUIS ALFREDO LOPEZ, ANGEL DAVID LOPEZ, MARICRUZ OROZCO RAMIREZ MINOR
NOTICE OF HEARINGGUARDIANSHIP OR CONSERVATORSHIP CASE NUMBER: BPB-23-002479 This notice is
1. NOTICE is given that: MITZY
the progression of cognitive decline in some people.
New Ways to Understand Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Disease...continued from page 4 whom have been enrolled for 25+ years, BIOCARD looks at brain changes over time to provide insight into changes that occur in aging and during the earliest phases of AD.
Another JHADRC imaging study recently measured serotonin, a chemical that regulates mood. PET scans revealed individuals with mild memory problems demonstrated lower serotonin levels in parts of the brain important for cognition; those with lower serotonin also performed worse on memory tests. These findings suggest serotonin levels may contribute to early stages of memory impairment, raising the exciting possibility that treating serotonin levels may help delay
Additional studies are also looking at biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (a fluid that surrounds the brain and spine), as these measures also provide information about a wide range of brain proteins that may be altered by age or AD.
Volunteer participants in brain biomarker studies are critical to memory and aging breakthroughs. Ongoing studies are looking for people who have no memory problems, as well as individuals experiencing mild memory changes. Join the search for a cure by calling 443-5427489, visiting Alzresearch.org, or emailing jhadrc@jhmi.edu.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has reached a deal on the 2024 state
Melinda French Gates Champions Social Progress Through Pivotal Ventures
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Melinda French Gates has been at the forefront of philanthropic innovation since founding Pivotal Ventures in 2015.
Pivotal Ventures is dedicated to advancing social progress through a strategic blend of venture capital investments, advocacy funding, and philanthropic grantmaking. In 2022, French Gates expanded her mission by launching the Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to further support philanthropic initiatives with a flexible approach to driving impact.
“When it comes to solving big, complicated problems, it helps to have a lot of tools in your toolbox,” French Gates stated in a previous interview. This philosophy underpins Pivotal Ventures’ efforts to bridge philanthropy, venture capital, and policy advocacy. The organization’s primary focus areas include:
Increasing the number of women graduating, investing, and leading in technology: Pivotal Ventures is committed to enhancing women’s roles and leadership in the tech industry, promoting innovation and diversity.
Accelerating investment in women and girls of color: By focusing on the talents and contributions of women and girls of color, Pivotal Ventures aims to magnify their transformative impact through targeted investments.
Increasing the number of women running for and holding public office: Given that more than half of the U.S. adult population is female, Pivotal Ventures advocates for greater female representation in lawmaking institutions to ensure their perspectives are included in policymaking.
Backing the creation of a modern caregiving system: The organization supports initiatives to develop a caregiving system that enables families to effectively balance work and care responsibilities.
Securing a comprehensive federal paid family and medical leave policy: Pivotal Ventures pushes for policies that benefit all working families, regardless of location or job type.
Expanding access to mental health support for young people:
Pivotal Ventures focuses on providing mental health resources for youth, particularly LGBTQ+ youth and young people of color, who are underserved by existing systems designed for adults.
In addition to her philanthropic endeavors, French Gates is an outspoken advocate in the political arena. She has openly opposed Donald Trump’s policies and declared her support for President Joe Biden’s reelection bid. “In this election, I cannot vote for a man who rolls back women’s reproductive rights and says the heinous things that he says about women. So, I absolutely am not voting for Trump, and I will vote for Biden,” she told Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.” French Gates emphasized the critical role of women voters, particularly in battleground states, in shaping the upcoming election. “It is going to come down in this election—it will come down to the women turning out in the battleground states,” she insisted. “They … women turned out in the midterm elections and said, ‘This is enough,’ and we’ve got to do it again.” A staunch reproductive rights advocate, French Gates celebrated the recent Supreme Court decision upholding access to the abortion medication mifepristone but acknowledged the ongoing battle for reproductive freedoms. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is welcome news, but the fight for reproductive rights is far from over,” she wrote on the social media platform X. French Gates’ dedication to philanthropy began with her cofounding the Gates Foundation, where she guided the world’s largest charity for over two decades. Her past and present initiatives reflect her commitment to creating a healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable future. As the author of the bestselling book “The Moment of Lift” and creator of Moment of Lift Books, she continues to share her vision for a more equal world. “For over 25 years, I’ve worked to unlock a healthier, more prosperous, more equal future,” French Gates stated.
“Today, with Pivotal, I’m as committed as ever to accelerating progress and advancing women’s power and influence around the globe.”
Public Health Applauds U.S. Surgeon General Advisory Declaring Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health commends the U.S. Surgeon General for declaring firearm violence in America a public health crisis. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States and 54% of American adults reported that they or a family member have experienced a firearm-related incident.
“Combined with the establishment last year of the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the Surgeon General’s declaration is further evidence of the administration’s
Public Health Applauds U.S. Surgeon General Advisory Declaring Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis...continued
highlighted in the Surgeon General Advisory are already being implemented in Los Angeles County to prevent deaths and injuries due to firearms. In April 2023, the Los Angeles County Department Public Health Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) released its 40-point Gun Violence Prevention Platform, which offers four key priority areas including gun safety legislation, social connections and healing services, gun violence restraining orders awareness, and maintaining safe, violence-free schools.
“Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You - Bad Boys, Bad Boys?”
extraordinary commitment to eliminating gun violence in American society,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“As always, we know that the work to protect ourselves, our families, our friends, and our colleagues from firearm violence requires strong partnerships that focus on changes in policies and practices. We look forward to working with the administration to build safer communities in Los Angeles County and across the country.”
Many of the strategies
Earlier this year, the Office of Violence Prevention launched an unprecedented effort to promote gun safety in Los Angeles County, distributing 60,000 gun safety locks – free, no questions asked. The Office of Violence Prevention is also initiating an awareness campaign to increase the utilization of Gun Violence Restraining Orders, which can be used if a loved one, dating partner, co-worker, or family member with access to a gun poses a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.
SBCUSD and Making Hope Happen Foundation to Host Jersey Retirement Ceremony for NFL Player Alexander Mattison
San Bernardino High School alumnus and NFL player Alexander Mattison (Photo provided courtesy of Alexander Mattison)
SAN BERNARDINO, CA–
The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is excited to announce a jersey retirement ceremony in honor of Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders running back who graduated from San Bernardino High School (SBHS) in 2016.
WHAT: Jersey Retirement Ceremony for SBCUSD alumnus and Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison
WHO: San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD)
SBCUSD’s San Bernardino High School (SBHS)
Making Hope Happen Foundation (MHHF)
Interview Opportunities: Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders running back Mauricio Arellano, SBCUSD Superintendent
Visual Opportunities: Alexander Mattison interacting with the community
WHEN: Thursday, June 27, 2024 6 p.m.
WHERE: San Bernardino High School Stadium
1850 North E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92405
WHY: This event will celebrate Mattison’s outstanding achievements and contributions to the community.
Mattison, a San Bernardino native and remarkable NFL player known for his generosity, has made significant contributions both on and off the field.
continued on page 8
OP-ED: The Good News In 2024: Poor People Are the New Swing Vote...continued from page 1
of victory in the last Trump/ Biden matchup and the number of eligible low-income voters who are likely not to vote. In Georgia, for example, Biden won by almost 12,000 votes in 2020. In North Carolina, he lost by 74,000. But in both states, more than a million eligible lowincome voters will likely not vote in 2024 if past trends continue. That’s a huge potential swing vote, and the proportions are similar across the seven swing states in the study. Since the 2024 Presidential race will likely be a rematch of 2020, this study used exit poll data from 2020 to ask who unlikely low-income voters would vote for if they did turn out in 2024. Of the 1.3 million likely nonvoters in Georgia, 746,000 would likely be Biden voters. Of the 1.1 million in North Carolina, some 594,000 would likely go for Biden. In short, Biden and other Democrats have a huge advantage among this demographic when they are able and willing to vote. The overwhelming takeaway of this study is that a relatively small increase in low-income voter turnout in any of these seven states would dramatically increase Biden’s chances of winning a second term in the White House. The millions of low-income people who’ve risen as leaders in movements for economic justice over the past few years have the power to decide the outcome of the 2024 election.
Celinda Lake and her research partners are consultants for the Biden campaign, and there is a focus on the potential for
By Lou K. Coleman Lou K. Coleman
You see, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote of the time of the great apostasy that is to come in the last days. Paul wrote of the coming of the lawless one and that he would come to the world according to the working of Satan with power, signs, lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception [2 Thessalonians 2:8-10]. And in [Matthews 24:24] Jesus said they will do this with the intent of deceiving people into following them. So, “Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come for You, Bad Boys, Bad Boys?”
Understand, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” [Ephesians 6:12].
I encourage you to receive Christ as your Savior. For Christ is the only way of escape. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Remember, God invited Noah and his family aboard the ark with the words, “Enter the ark” [Genesis 7:1]. That’s His invitation to you today. God has not yet closed the door of salvation. At the end of the Bible, after warning of the judgment to come, God’s final appeal is, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. [Revelation 22:17].
I do not know any language I can use to plead with you any more plainly. Turn to Christ before it’s too late! Do not be outwitted by Satan. Understand Satan seeks our ultimate destruction, which would be being thrown into the fiery pits of hell and then into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:10].
Be reconciled to God. [2 Corinthians 5:20]. The time is near!
Personal Musings of a UCC Minister on Church and Politics
Roberto Ochoa
Summer is upon us, a season often associated with outdoor barbeques, beaches, and vacation fun. This is also the start of a presidential election campaign season, where the political parties have selected their candidates to be our country’s next president and vice-president. One third of the Senate and all members of the House of Representatives are up for election or re-election.
his candidacy in 2024, but the potential power of this swing vote is much larger than one election or even one political party. Both Democrats and Republicans have ignored low-income voters for decades precisely because they are unlikely voters. But when the nonpartisan Poor People’s Campaign, which I serve as a co-chair, surveyed poor people to ask why they don’t vote, the number one reason they gave was, “No one speaks to us.”
This is why our campaign has committed to holding a Mass Poor People’s and LowWage Worker’s Assembly in Washington, DC, on June 29th. We are bringing the everyday people who’ve demanded better wages from their bosses to Washington and insist that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents make clear what they will do to address the needs of 135 million Americans who are living on the edge in the richest nation in the history of the world. And we are committing to go home to our communities and reach 15 million of the unlikely low-income voters with the message that they have power in 2024. If they show up, especially in seven key states, their votes will decide the outcome in 2024. When they do, they will be able to help shape the reconstruction of an American democracy that works for all of us.
William J. Barber, II is President of Repairers of the Breach and author of the new White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy.
In addition to those races are elections for state and local officials and proposed policies on the ballot that will affect millions of lives, some of which could be detrimental to our most vulnerable populations.
Pastoral leaders and congregations find themselves questioning how best to discern what exactly is meant by the separation of church and state. Some understand it as the church staying out of politics completely, whereas those of us who grew up in the Civil Rights movements of the twentieth century know that if it wasn’t for our churches and religious institutions that stood up for the oppressed and demanded justice for all, racial segregation, for example, may still be in place.
In my work with small town and rural UCC churches, leaders often ask me why the UCC national setting is so “political.” I try to respond thoughtfully by asking what political means for them. I like to frame the actions of the national setting of the United Church of Christ as actions of prophetic witness for the world based on scriptural examples found in the Bible, especially as modelled by Jesus.
I personally feel that Jesus was less interested in the workings of the Roman empire and more focused on how some were willing to use religion for personal gain and power to exploit and harm people in the name of God. Jesus rarely called out Roman authority. Rather it was the religious leaders of his day that he engaged with, and
it was the religious leaders that used the Roman system of justice in their attempt to silence Jesus which led to his death. Jesus teaches us that we must preach truth to power, and for pastoral leaders that usually means from the pulpit.
The rise of politicians trying to equate nationalism with Christianity is a dangerous trend that should concern us all. Being an American doesn’t mean we have to be Christian, for our Christian faith extends beyond any artificially created national borders. As pastors we need to find the courage to preach the message of Christ, even to those who may feel we shouldn’t wrestle with social and political realities in our communities and globally in the church. Jesus’ detractors didn’t like it either when Jesus taught his message of universal love and the kin-dom of God for all of creation.
In our political system, religious organizations that claim non-profit status are prohibited from endorsing candidates or ballot initiatives. However, nothing stops us from discussing and educating ourselves about a candidate’s position on important issues or on proposed measures and from prayerfully discerning how to vote for what is best for our communities.
I understand that conversations about religion and politics can be and are complicated, messy even, but so is life. The core purpose of both is to find common ground to exist together as a people. It is in that spirit that I pray as we approach this election season while celebrating with our loved ones in those backyard get togethers this summer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rev. Roberto Ochoa, M.Div. is the Minister for Ethnic Inclusion and Congregational Support for Rural and Small Churches of the Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation (Faith INFO), Love of Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ.
Melinda French Gates
Ex-Trump Officials Confirm Talk of Executions, Potential Bloodbath if He Beats Biden in November
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Having already been convicted of 34 felony charges this year, facing nearly 60 other felonies, and found responsible for sexual assault, new details have emerged about the twiceimpeached and four-times indicted former President Donald Trump’s extreme and violent rhetoric, and the retribution he will seek if elected again. Two former senior aides have revealed that Trump discussed executing Americans, including his staff, for disobedience. With Trump declaring that he’ll be a “dictator on Day 1,” the revelations provide more insight into the authoritarian wrath a second MAGA presidency would unleash on America.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, Trump’s former Communications Director, confirmed in an interview with Mediaite that Trump had explicitly talked about executing staff members who leaked stories. Griffin corroborated an account by former Attorney General Bill Barr about Trump’s alarming reactions. “Kaitlan Collins at CNN interviewed Bill Barr and asked about an anecdote I had shared about a meeting he and I were both in, in the Oval Office, where Trump straightup said a staffer who leaked a story should be executed,” Griffin said on Mediaite’s “Press Club” podcast. “And Bill Barr kind of danced around it and said, ‘I don’t recall that specific instance,’ but there were others where he talked about executing
people,” she continued. “How [do] you rationalize that that is a person fit in sound judgment to be president of the United States?”
Griffin, who resigned days before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and later demanded Trump’s resignation, also noted that Trump made such statements in front of “a dozen other” people. While not explicitly confirming the specific incident, Barr did not dispute the possibility, telling Collins in April, “I remember him being very mad. … I actually don’t remember him saying ‘executing,’ but I wouldn’t dispute it.” The accounts contribute to a disturbing pattern of behavior by Trump, who has a history of using violent rhetoric and expressing admiration for violent acts. He has praised the rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6 as “warriors” and “hostages” and warned of a “bloodbath” if he loses the 2024 election.
Trump has suggested the execution of Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley. During his 2016 campaign, he encouraged supporters to “knock the crap out” of protestors, promising to pay their legal bills.
He also infamously commented that there was “blame on both sides” after violent clashes in Charlottesville involving white nationalists and neo-Nazis and praised a Republican who attacked a reporter, saying, “Any guy that can do a body slam,
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Calif. Sec. of Transportation: State on Course to Future Without Gas-Powered Cars
As California pushes toward a zero-emissions future by 2035, petroleum use is expected to decline significantly over the next decade.
But Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin said a decline in transportation revenue is currently not an “urgent” matter. Omishakin explained how the state is projected to handle a $4 billion-plus shortfall in gas tax revenue at the “Funding the Future: California’s Transportation Transformation” seminar, held on June 18 at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento.
“I would say that we are not at a place where we’re losing gas tax funding yet,” Omishakin said to moderator Debra Kahn, California Policy Editor at Politico.
“Some people say that we are, but we’re not,” Omishakin continued. “We’re going to be
up 57.9 to 59.7 cents (after July 1). That’s going to be the gas tax but we’re not losing revenue,” he added.
According to a December 23 report by the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO), in the next 10 years, Californians could see a decline of $5 billion or 64% from the state’s gasoline excise tax, $290 million or 20% from the diesel excise tax and $420 million or 20% from the diesel sales tax.
“We estimate that these declines will be partially but not fully offset by projected increases in revenues from an existing annual registration fee levied on battery-electric and hydrogen-fueled cell vehicles ($1 billion),” the LAO report stated.
The projected revenue shrinkage is expected to affect some transportation programs that support state and local transportation projects and activities, according to LAO.
The California Department of Transportation’s highway maintenance and rehabilitation programs, subsidized by state fuel taxes, could also be affected by cuts.
LAO’s report states that the
Pres. Joe Biden applauds U.S. Supreme Court following United States v. Rahimi
By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO
The Biden-Harris administration and members of Congress applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for upholding a law that temporarily bans domestic abusers from possessing firearms.
“As a result of today’s ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades,” said President Joe Biden.
he is my type!”. At a debate, Trump refused to condemn white supremacist violence, telling the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.” Before the Capitol riot on January 6, he told his supporters, “You’ll never take back our country with weakness … If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
He has also suggested violence could erupt if court cases against him do not go his way, repeatedly expressed a desire to be a dictator, and dehumanized political opponents and migrants.
Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson James Singer released a statement condemning Trump’s rhetoric and behavior in response to these revelations. “Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies, was found liable for sexual assault, committed financial fraud, and is only out for himself,” Singer noted. “His own former senior staff, including his former vice president, believe he is too unhinged and dangerous to be our commander in chief. He openly mused about committing murder on Fifth Avenue eight years ago and, since then, has repeatedly embraced and encouraged violence to get what he wants. After losing the last election by over 7 million votes and becoming a convicted felon, Donald has only gotten worse, promising to be a dictator and encouraging violence while completely consumed by his revenge and retribution.”
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts penned the 8-1 majority opinion in the United States v. Rahimi case.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Karris are praising the conservativemajority U.S. Supreme Court for upholding legislation that temporarily bans domestic violence abusers from possessing firearms. (Unsplash / Claire Anderson)
“When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual may – consistent with the Second Amendment – be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect,” wrote Roberts.
Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling will keep “important” protections against domestic violence in place.
“This case is yet another reminder that some want to take our country back to a time when women were not treated as equal to men and were not allowed to vote—and husbands could subject their wives to physical violence without it being considered a crime,” said Harris. “The fight to protect common sense gun safety measures is not over.”
Respondent Zackey Rahimi, a domestic abuser, who was served a restraining order against his girlfriend for threatening her life with a firearm, contended that by being temporarily stripped of his weapon, his Second Amendment
possessing firearms. (Unsplash / Claire Anderson)
rights had been violated.
However, after the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari to Rahimi’s case and heard oral arguments from both parties, it ruled to keep in place limitations prohibiting temporary gun use for domestic abusers.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, (DGa.-4) stated that the majorityconservative court sometimes gets it right.
“In the span of a week, this same Court struck down a bump stock ban and upheld keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” said Johnson. “While I agree with today’s decision, we have more work to do to keep Americans safe from gun violence.”
Both Biden and Harris used the verdict to tout their efforts to curb gun violence across the nation and gun violence against women.
The Biden-Harris administration passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which has prevented the sale
of nearly 30 thousand firearms to convicted domestic abusers.
The vice president emphasized that U.S. Citizens need to vote for Biden this November or gun safety legislation could be at “risk” of being rolled back if former President Donald Trump were to be re-elected.
“Trump is a threat to our freedoms and our safety, and we must defeat him in November,” said Harris. “Trump has made clear he believes Americans should ‘get over’ gun violence, and we cannot allow him to roll back commonsense protections or appoint the next generation of Supreme Court justices.”
Following the ruling, President Biden vowed that he and Harris will remain committed to ending gun violence against women. “We will continue to call on Congress to further strengthen support and protections for survivors and to take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart,” said Biden.
SBCUSD and Making Hope Happen Foundation to Host Jersey Retirement Ceremony for NFL Player Alexander Mattison...continued from page 7
Beyond his impressive athletic achievements, Mattison founded the I AM GIFTED Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring young people to recognize and nurture their unique athletic talents.
Through his foundation, he actively supports young athletes, providing them with training opportunities, mentorship and the resources they need to succeed. Mattison’s commitment to giving back to the community highlights his dedication to making a positive impact and fostering the next generation of athletes and leaders.
Calif. Sec. of Transportation: State on Course to Future Without Gas-Powered Cars...continued
existing annual registration fee attached to battery-electric and hydrogen-fueled cell vehicles should increase revenues to $1 billion. However, the report also projects an estimated decline of $4.4 billion in annual state transportation revenues.
“I haven’t had a lot of time to look at the LAO’s projections but (it’s) possibly accurate on many fronts,” Omishakin said. “So far, we’re not at a place where we are losing revenue. That is a key thing to keep in mind.”
Hosted by Politico and presented by California Alliance For Jobs, the event explored the future of transportation infrastructure, transit, pedestrians, bike lanes, local streets, highways, bridges, overpasses, and electric vehicles.
Other participants included Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee and the California Legislative Black Caucus; Emily
Cohen, California High-Speed Rail Authority Executive Vice President of United Contracts; Michael Pimentel, Executive Director of California Transit Association; and Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Campbell).
As part of the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Omishakin said, across California there are up to 1.9 million “light-duty” EVs, 400,000 “medium-to-heavy duty” EVs (50% are public transportation buses), 105,000 charging stations, and 500,000 home chargers.
“On one side, we’re doing extremely well. The rest of the world is following our steps in leadership. Thanks to the leaders of the state, Gov. Newsom, the legislature, and key staff – we are leading the way on EVs,” Omishakin said. “We’re hitting the ball out of the park.
The ceremony will feature remarks from District officials, special guests and Alexander Mattison himself.
ON-SITE MEDIA CONTACT: MaryRone Goodwin Director of Communications and Community Relations
San Bernardino City Unified School District (909) 991-4310
About San Bernardino City Unified School District: The San Bernardino City Unified School District is California’s eighth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities. For more information about SBCUSD, visit www.sbcusd.com and follow the District @SBCityUSD on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Note: Media representatives interested in covering the event must RSVP by noon on June 26, 2024, to ensure access to media credentials and proper accommodations. Media representatives who RSVP by the deadline will have priority to interview Mattison.
Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Karris are praising the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court for upholding legislation that temporarily bans domestic violence abusers from
