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
whom they suppress.
—Fredrick Douglass (1849)Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Emergencies, such as natural disasters, are potentially dangerous. Be sure you’re prepared to keep yourself and your family safe.
Unfortunately, statistics show that not everyone is as prepared as they could be.
According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) research, despite 80 percent of respondents to the 2019 National Household survey saying they had gathered enough supplies to last three or more days, only 48 percent said they had an emergency action plan. Planning ahead is critical. Hurricane season is upon us, and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that those living in coastal areas prepare now.
Include these essential items in your family’s emergency plan:
Write emergency numbers on paper. Place these numbers near the phones in your home or on the refrigerator. In addition, program the numbers into your cell phone.
Prepare an emergency supply kit. It’s hard to know what you may need in an emergency, so having an emergency supply kit is essential. There may not be time to gather the supplies you need once disaster strikes. In your emergency supply kit, include the
following items:
Food and water. Include three days’ worth of nonperishable food items that are easy to store and prepare and water (1 gallon per day for each person and pet in the home).
If you are able and your pharmacy plan allows, try to have at least a two-week supply of all prescription medications for every individual in your home. If that is not possible, refill your medications regularly and keep them in a place that is easily accessible.
Power sources. You’ll need flashlights, lanterns, extra batteries, and external power
sources that can be charged in advance of a hurricane. Important documents. Medical documents, wills, passports, and personal identification should be kept together and easily accessible.
Locate the nearest shelter and plan your evacuation route. Be prepared to evacuate if and when instructed by local officials. Have a plan in place for pets, such as identifying ahead of time shelters, pet-friendly hotels, or relatives/friends who live outside the evacuation area.
The post Prepare Now Before Disaster Strikes appeared first on Forward
They argue the decision is likely to widen existing inequities in higher education and that proponents of Affirmative Action need to find new ways to ensure diversity.
By Peter WhiteThe Supreme Court’s decision in late June overturning 45 years of precedent that allowed for the consideration of race in college admissions is a big setback for all communities of color.
That is the consensus among advocates of Affirmative Action who say the ruling will widen already glaring inequalities.
“As we’ve seen with this term’s decisions on Affirmative Action and student debt relief, the Supreme Court is more interested in making higher education attainable for primarily the wealthy and well-connected,” says Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA).
The most immediate effect will be decreased minority student enrollment at the University of North Carolina and Harvard, the two universities involved in the ruling, unless both schools figure out other ways to diversify their student body.
Chu, who also chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, told reporters at an EMS press briefing last week she was “deeply distressed” by the high court’s ruling.
“Our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities are not a monolith. AANHPI students
from low-income, firstgeneration, immigrant, refugee, or Indigenous communities are already systematically denied equal opportunity in education,” she noted, adding they will encounter even more hurdles to acceptance at higher education institutions as a result of the decision.
Representative Judy Chu, of California’s 28th Congressional District and Chair Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, says Asians Americans were unfairly used to divide communities of color on the issue of Affirmative Action.
The suits, brought by the group Students for Fair Admissions – led by veteran conservative activist Howard Blum – claimed the universities’ admissions policies discriminated against Asian applicants. Notably, no students testified on behalf of Blum’s group in either suit.
Jin Hee Lee, a veteran civil rights attorney with the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), called the
ruling “a devastating opinion” that struck a blow to years of efforts to advance equal opportunity in a society that has tremendous inequalities.
“Very disappointing,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), noting that despite the plaintiff’s claims, a majority (69%) of Asian Americans support Affirmative Action.
That narrative needs to be corrected, according to Yang, who acknowledged that while consideration of race in college admissions is now no longer legal, the effort to ensure diversity in higher education will continue. “This is not the end of the fight,” he said.
The Affirmative Action ruling continues the court’s lurch rightward, coming as it does on the heels of several controversial decisions, most notably the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year and more recently the ending of President Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness
After being sworn in as Speaker of the California Assembly last week, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) appointed two members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) to key leadership positions.
Rivas announced that Assemblymembers Isaac Bryan (D- Ladera Heights) and Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) will be part of a team of eight Democratic lawmakers who will lead the proceedings of the 80-member body for the 202325 legislative term.
“The historic diversity of our Caucus speaks to the remarkable lived experiences across our great state. Our Leadership team also reflects this diversity so that we can uplift all residents. I look forward to the work ahead of us,” Rivas tweeted on July 3.
Bryan, a vocal supporter of Rivas who backed the Speaker’s candidacy, was appointed Majority Leader. Wilson was named Majority Whip.
As the highest-ranking officer of the Assembly, Rivas has the authority to appoint Assemblymembers to leadership positions at the beginning of each two-year legislative session. The Speaker or his designee presides over the floor sessions.
Other Assemblymembers
Rivas appointed to leadership roles are: Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) as speaker pro tempore; Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) as Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore; Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) as assistant Majority Leader; Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) as assistant Majority Whip; Josh Lowenthal, (D-Long Beach) also as Assistant Majority Whip; and Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica) as Democratic Caucus Chair.
As Majority Leader, Bryan is responsible for expediting Assembly Floor proceedings using parliamentary procedures such as motions and points of order. He is also expected to foster harmony among the membership.
Bryan, 31, represents the 55th Assembly District, which consists of Baldwin Hills, the Crenshaw district, Culver City,
Ladera Heights, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms, Pico-Robertson, Beverly Grove, Mid-Wilshire, and parts of South Los Angeles. He assumed office on May 28, 2021, after winning a special election to succeed U.S. Congresswomen Sydney Kamlager (D-CA-37) who had been elected to the State Senate.
After he was sworn in as Majority Leader, Bryan expressed his intention to address issues facing Californians who are undergoing hardships.
“There are a lot of people in California who are still hurting and there's a lot of work we can do to alleviate that,” Bryan said. “It first starts with us coming together, building a different kind of culture in the body with all the new members who are here.”
While speaking on the floor of the Assembly last week, Bryan thanked Rivas for his “trust,” and his colleagues and constituents for their support.
“Change isn’t about a person, me included,” Bryan said. “We all have the power to make a difference in the lives of others. Let’s use that power.”
As Majority Whip, Wilson is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for bills on the Assembly Floor. Wilson’s appointment marks the first time that Black women have held the position of Majority Whip in both houses of the Legislature at the same time. Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), a CLBC member, is the Senate’s Majority Whip.
Wilson, 48, who assumed office April 6, 2022, after winning a special election, represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes Solano County and parts of Contra Costa County, and the cities of Antioch and Oakley.
Wilson previously served as Assistant Majority Whip under the leadership of former Speaker Tony Rendon (D-Lakewood), who Rivas succeeded.
“Thank you @ CASpeakerRivas for the honor of continuing to serve on the leadership team for the second consecutive year. I look forward to our continued partnership as we serve all Californians,” Wilson shared on Twitter.
There’s Still Time to Enroll Your Children for the 2023–2024 School Year
Community /Education News
borrowers at least $1,000 per year, and stop runaway interest that leaves borrowers owing more than their initial loan.”
Jones Elementary School, 700 North F Street in San Bernardino. Students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through high school are eligible to enroll at the Fair. Families can also enroll their children online.
In addition to completing online enrollment, parents and guardians will need several documents to enroll their child in school:
Families who have not yet enrolled their child to attend a San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) elementary, middle, or high school will have a convenient Saturday option to sign up before school starts. SBCUSD will host Enrollment Fairs at Jones Elementary School on Saturday, July 15 and Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
“We know many families work during the week, so we’re offering Saturday enrollment to make the process easy and accessible for everyone,” said Linda Bardere, SBCUSD’s Interim Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer. “Our schools have so much to offer families and students, including free breakfast and lunch and free after-school programs that provide students a safe place to learn and play on school days.”
SBCUSD’s Saturday, July 15 Enrollment Fair will be held at
Child’s birth verification (i.e. birth certificate, hospital certificate, baptismal certificate, passport)
Child’s immunization record
Parent/guardian photo identification
Address verification (i.e. utility bill dated within 60 days, lease/ rental agreement, or affidavit from landlord) Court documents (if applicable)
Children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2023, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the 2023–2024 school year.
Transitional kindergarten (TK) is available for students who will turn 5 years old from September 2, 2023, to April 2, 2024.
SBCUSD families may visit the online School Site Locator to determine their child’s home school. For more information about determining your child’s home school or how to enroll, contact Enrollment and Placement Services at (909) 889-7576 or enrollmentcenter@ sbcusd.k12.ca.us.
Education Department says alternative SAVE Plan set to begin this July
By Charlene CrowellOn June 30, a long-awaited and consequential Supreme Court decision denied forgiveness that would have erased $430 billion of federal student loan balances for 20 million borrowers and lowered the median amount owed by another 23 million borrowers from $29,400 to $13,600. Instead, the nation’s highest court yielded to six states – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina – that had challenged the plan’s legality. The decision also revealed stark differences within the court that will likely affect future decisions.
In his opinion for the 6-3 majority, Chief Justice John Roberts, referring to Education
Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote:
“The Secretary asserts that the HEROES Act grants him the authority to cancel $430 billion of student loan principal. It does not… The question here is not whether something should be done; it is who has the authority to do it.”
In a stark dissenting opinion, Associate Justice Elena Kagen rebuked her colleagues and signaled future problematic decisions with the currently constituted court.
“After today,” continued Justice Kagen, “no one will have to go back 50 years for the classic case of the Court manipulating standing doctrine, rather than obeying the edict to stay in its lane… Thus, the Court once again substitutes itself for Congress and the Executive Branch—and the hundreds of millions of people they represent—in making this Nation’s most important, as well as most contested, policy decisions.”
Reactions by consumer advocates and civil rights organizations were as swift as they were serious.
“The Supreme Court’s
Borrowers who enroll in the SAVE plan and pay what they owe will no longer see their loans grow due to unpaid interest. An estimated 70 percent of borrowers who already were on income-driven-repayment (IDR) before the payment pause are expected to see their payments on undergraduate loans cut in half, compared to other IDR plans. This will ensure that borrowers will not see their balance grow as long as they keep up with their required payments.
SAVE also provides adjustments for borrowers with varying family status and incomes. For example, single borrowers earning less than $15 an hour or $32,805 annually will not have to make any payments. Borrowers with a family of four can earn up to $67,500 and owe no payments. Married borrowers who file their taxes separately will no longer be required to include their spouse’s income in their payment calculation for SAVE. These borrowers also will have their spouse excluded from their family size when calculating IDR payments, simplifying the choice of repayment plan for borrowers. And borrowers earning above these annual amounts would save more than $1,000 a year on their payments compared to other IDR plans.
When the plan is fully implemented next July, additional benefits will begin and include:
Borrowers who have undergraduate and graduate
loans will pay a weighted average of between 5-10 percent of their income based upon the original principal balances of their loans. For example, a single undergraduate borrower making $50,000 a year would see payments fall an additional $72 a month, bringing their total reduction on the SAVE plan to $163 a month;
Borrowers whose original principal balance was $12,000 or less will receive forgiveness after 120 payments, the equivalent of 10 repayment years. An additional 12 payments will be added for each additional $1,000 borrowed above that level, up to a maximum of 20 or 25 years; and
Borrowers in default will gain access to the existing incomebased repayment (IBR) plan, allowing them to access lower payments and progress toward forgiveness while they work to exit default. However, borrowers in default who provide income information that shows they would have had a $0 payment at the time of default will be automatically moved to good standing, allowing them to access the SAVE plan.
Full details of the SAVE plan are available at: https:// www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/ reg/hearulemaking/2021/ idrfactsheetfinal.pdf An old adage teaches us that where there’s a will, there’s also a way. Here’s hoping this alternative loan forgiveness program will relieve the nation of its unsustainable debt.
Community/Education News
Community/Education News
decision to strike down the President’s program is a clear disregard for what millions of Americans need -- especially Black Americans,” stated Derrick Johnson, CEO of the NAACP. “America has so easily forgiven greedy corporations for their debts – why would they refuse to provide the same grace and investment in our own students?”
“There is no time to wait–the Administration must act fast to deliver promised relief to worried borrowers and prevent the federal government from sending bills Americans cannot afford to pay in September,” stated Abby Shafroth, Co-Director of Advocacy with the National Consumer Law Center.
Concurring with these and other advocates, Jaylon Herbin, Director of Federal Campaigns at the Center for Responsible Lending added, “We urge President Biden to explore all his options, including using his executive and statutory authority, to provide student loan debt relief to the millions of Americans who will face increased financial insecurity when payments restart.”
In response to the Supreme Court’s June 30 rejection of student loan forgiveness, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced a threepronged effort to mitigate student loan debt beginning this summer and before July 1, 2024 when new borrower regulations will take full effect.
“[T]he Department finalized our new income driven repayment plan, Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE), which will be the most affordable repayment plan in history,” stated Secretary Cardona. “It will cut monthly payments to zero dollars for millions of lowincome borrowers, save all other
The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is proud to announce the appointment of seven exceptional student leaders to serve as student school board members for the upcoming academic year. These students will play advisory roles and bring the important student perspective to the SBCUSD Board of Education, ensuring that the voices and interests of their fellow 47,000 students are heard and valued.
On July 11, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. at the Dr. Margaret Hill Community Room at the Board of Education Building, these newly appointed student school Board members will be officially sworn in during a special ceremony. Seven students will officially serve as student Board members. Two have been selected as alternates and will be called up to serve if one of the seven cannot.
This event marks an exciting milestone for these outstanding students and represents Superintendent Mauricio Arellano’s commitment to fostering student engagement and leadership in San Bernardino and Highland.
“Our students have a very important voice,” Arellano said. “Our Board of Education is committed to bringing students to the table so they can help shape the future of our school district and have a say in decisions that impact them.”
The following students have been selected as the newest additions to the San Bernardino City Unified School District's Board of Education: Ana-Victoria Chavez , San Bernardino High School Camillia El-Zatmah, San Gorgonio High School Antonio Hernandez Nunez, Arroyo Valley High School Tatiana Ochoa, Cajon High School Jimena Preciado, San Gorgonio
High School Daisy Rojo, Middle College High School
Angenette Rosenbloom, Pacific High School
Crystal Scott, Cajon High School Silvana Vazquez, San Gorgonio High School
These exceptional student leaders, who will serve oneyear terms, are members of the Superintendent’s Leadership Advisory Council and have demonstrated exceptional dedication, academic achievements, and strong leadership qualities throughout their educational journey. They have been actively involved in various school activities, clubs, and organizations, and have shown a genuine commitment to serving their fellow students and advocating for positive change within the District and the community. Several of the new student Board members are active with the grassroots Inland Congregations United for Change.
The student school Board members will work closely with the Board of Education, attending meetings, providing valuable input on District policies, and representing the student body. Their unique perspectives and insights will help shape decisions and initiatives that directly impact the educational experiences of their peers, said SBCUSD Trustee Mikki Cichocki, who has led the effort to bring the valuable student voice to the governing board.
“We extend our warmest congratulations to the incoming student school board members,” Cichocki said. “Their selection is a testament to their exceptional abilities and commitment to serving our school community. We look forward to seeing them evolve as leaders and witnessing the positive impact these committed students will undoubtedly make.”
Cajon Cowgirls' Golf Athlete (September 2018) (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD) is required.
The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), in partnership with UCR School of Medicine and Well-One Health, is pleased to announce its commitment to student well-being by providing free sports physicals as part of its back-to-school preparation.
SBCUSD recognizes the importance of ensuring that every student athlete has access to sports physicals and aims to support students in their academic journey with this initiative. Families can book an appointment at https://tinyurl. com/SBFCphysicals. No insurance or legal documentation
Who: San Bernardino City Unified School District
What: Free sports physicals for student athletes
When: Saturday, August 5, 2023, 8 to 11 a.m.
Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1407 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino
Why: All SBCUSD middle and high school students trying out for a school sport must have a sports physical within the last year.
Community/Education News
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond celebrated the recent signing of the 2023–24 state budget bill and today's signing of the associated trailer bills, noting the degree to which new and continued funding reflects the priorities he has championed for public education since taking office. Despite budget tightening due to economic uncertainty, the 2023–24 education budget totals $108.3 billion in Proposition 98 General Fund monies, including a cost-of-living adjustment of 8.22 percent for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and additional programs funded outside of LCFF.
“This budget reflects California’s ongoing commitment to excellence in public education. With targeted investments in pandemic recovery as well as support for our highneeds and socioeconomically disadvantaged students through the expansion of equitable opportunities, California stands apart in our commitment to creating safe, inclusive, excellent learning environments,” said Thurmond. “When we invest in all our children, we are building a better tomorrow. What students learn in our classrooms today will be a critical driver of our state’s economic rebound and future success.”
Thurmond has been a champion for numerous educational reforms that are reflected in the new budget. In the areas of early education and literacy, the budget includes $762 million to expand access to Universal Transitional Kindergarten. It provides an additional $250 million to augment the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program, which builds on an initial $250 million appropriated last year and supports the development of school literacy programs and interventions to help pupils in need of targeted support. The budget also includes $1 million to create a Literacy Roadmap to help educators apply the state’s curriculum framework
to classroom instruction, navigate the resources and professional development opportunities available to implement effective literacy instruction, and improve literacy outcomes for all pupils with a focus on equity.
There is also a new, significant Equity Multiplier included in the budget that will provide an ongoing $300 million annually for school sites with a high percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged pupils and with high non-stability rates. This funding supports evidencebased services and supports to improve student outcomes. This concept originated as an idea in Thurmond’s Black Student Achievement Task Force and with legislation he sponsored, Assembly Bill (AB) 2774 (Weber).
As part of his work to promote equity and excellence for all students, Thurmond championed several other key pieces of legislation that have been folded into the new state budget. Specifically:
Thurmond fought to increase the stipend to $40,000 for the teacher residency program. This is a tremendous win for education and is a direct result of Senate Bill (SB) 765 (Portantino), which was sponsored by Thurmond.
Thurmond was an early supporter of SB 691 (Portantino), a mandate for local educational agencies (LEAs) to assess young pupils for risk of reading difficulties such as dyslexia. LEAs will be required to screen children in kindergarten or grades one or two starting in 2025–26. This work is supported by a $1 million allocation for a panel of experts to select approved screening tools. The screening mandate grew from this bill and, under Thurmond’s leadership, the CDE convened parties including the UCSF Dyslexia Center to strengthen the bill further so the final language and funding could
(SACRAMENTO) — Today
Governor Gavin Newsom
Signed AB 102, a bill that enacts a portion of the 2023-24 state budget. This legislation included over $10 million in local funding secured by Assembly Majority Leader Emeritus Eloise Gómez Reyes.
This funding included:
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond’s Legislative Priorities Reflected in State Budget...continued from page 2
be included in the budget.
Joseph Thomas was surprised to receive a notice from his homeowner’s association (HOA) this spring letting him know that there would be an increase in insurance premiums for him and other condominium owners at The Met in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
The letter stated the increase was due to instability in California’s property insurance market. This left Thomas feeling perplexed.
“They said the premium was going up because it was hard to get insurance in California now, and a lot of companies are leaving,” he recalled. “I started googling because I didn’t believe it. I thought they were robbing us of our money, but I googled it. It is a thing.”
The premium increase of $1,000 over eight months is the first time Thomas has experienced an increase in insurance costs in the 12 years he has owned his one-bedroom condo, which sits off the 101 freeway about 25 miles north of
Downtown Los Angeles.
“My HOA looked at like 200 insurance agencies,” Thomas noted. “The situation is just whack.”
Thomas is not alone in realizing that California’s property insurance market is on shaky ground. Giant insurance companies are refusing to offer or renew coverage for homes and residential complexes across the state due to the looming threat of wildfires, natural disasters, inflation, and other factors and, as they claim, their ability to get adequate rates to pay for these increased costs.
Since 2020, the state has experienced eight disaster events resulting in overall claims ranging from $20 billion to $50 billion. This has caused an increase in pressure from insurance companies to tighten California’s consumer-friendly policies that have held down rates for years.
State Farm General Insurance Co., California’s largest property
· $3.2 million towards constructing the City of Rancho Cucamonga’s 9/11 Memorial Park,
· $2 million to complete the construction of the Museum of Redlands,
· $3 million for the City of Fontana’s downtown plan for cultural and commercial development, and
· $2 million to refurbish San Bernardino County’s Crisis Residential Treatment Facility in
Fontana, allowing the County to continue providing high-quality mental health services.
“I am glad that, even during one of California’s most challenging budgets of the last decade, we were able to bring back key funding for communities in the 50th Assembly District,” said Reyes. “I am proud that we are continuing our legacy of ensuring that the Inland Empire receives its fair share of state resources, and I want to thank Governor Newsom and my legislative colleagues for helping to make this possible.”
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes, the Majority Leader Emeritus of the California State Assembly, is available for interviews in Spanish and English. She represents Assembly District 50, which includes all or parts of the cities of Colton, Fontana, Loma Linda, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino, as well as unincorporated Bloomington.
Representatives from the Federal Trade Commission and community leaders spoke during a briefing with ethnic media in Tampa, Florida on the rise in text scams targeting minority communities.
A few days ago, Christian Amador received a text message on his smartphone. It wasn’t from someone he knew. He thought he just received a missent text message.
“It was lovely meeting you. I enjoyed our dinner together, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you,” said the text, pointing him to a web link.
He found the tone endearing, so he clicked on the web link. It immediately asked him to provide more personal information.
“At that point,” Amador said, “it became clear to me that it was a scammer.”
Text scams, known as smishing, have been on the rise across the United States. Scammers send different versions of a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal financial information.
Another version of a text scam involves a USPS package delivery that has an unfamiliar web link, requiring the recipient to immediately respond.
“Text message scams, in 2022,
cost people more than $330 million,” Monica Vaca, deputy director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said at a recent briefing with ethnic media and community leaders in Tampa, Florida.
Text message scams have escalated rapidly. Back in 2019, the financial losses from text scams were about $66 million, Vaca added. They jumped to roughly $165 million in 2021.
Since many people don’t report when they get scammed, FTC officials said the losses could be much higher.
“It’s a trick. They might pretend to be a package delivery company. We saw this explode with the pandemic when we were all ordering packages from Amazon,” said Vaca. “They’re after your credit card number. They want financial account information so that they can start charging your credit card.”
Getting scammed can be both financially and emotionally devastating. Victims are often too embarrassed or ashamed to reach out for help.
Psychologists say that while victims of other kinds of crime may have similar reactions, fraud adds a few layers of negative thoughts about themselves. Are they not smart? Is there something wrong with their ability to judge and weigh in on what’s right or wrong?
Many people think scams mostly affect older adults or those who have lesser technological knowledge and skills, but reports to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel tell a different story: anyone can be scammed.
Natalaya Rice, an attorney at FTC’s southeast region, said that whether you have a PhD, or you’re a lawyer or a doctor, you could be scammed—and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about reaching out to family members and reporting it to authorities.
Rice adds that scams affect every age group and demographic, though differently.
“I am a former prosecutor. I am very used to dealing with fraud issues. I’m very sophisticated. I knew what to do about it. And I got scammed,” said Chih Pin
The $20 million to expand the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program, AB 1127 (Reyes), was sponsored by Thurmond and remains a key part of Thurmond’s literacy and teacher recruitment and retention work.
AB 555 (Carrillo), the removal of barriers to serving three-yearolds in California State Preschool Programs, was supported by Thurmond and demonstrates a historic opportunity to serve families that need it most during the expansion of Universal PreKindergarten.
While the overall budget news for California schools is positive, the new budget does include a $1.6 billion reduction to the $7.9 billion Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant that was in place for county offices of education, school districts, and charter schools for learning recovery initiatives to be used through 2028. Additionally, there is a reduction of $200 million from the $3.6 billion initially
allocated to the Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant. Both proposals were established in the 2022–23 Budget Act.
Other notable aspects of the 2023–24 state education budget that remain critical to State Superintendent Thurmond’s priorities include:
Fully funding the cost of California’s Universal Meals Program with an appropriation of $110 million in the 2022–23 budget year and a $154 million increase in the 2023–24 budget year.
Addressing opioid overdoses in middle and high schools and providing LEAs access to resources from the State Opioid Settlement. This includes $3.5 million annually to allow LEAs to purchase opioid antagonists such as Naloxone.
Providing $4 billion in ongoing Proposition 98 funding for the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program for afterschool and summer options for all students.
Lu, president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay.
He recalled that before he and his family left Tampa for vacation, he tried to confirm their plane tickets, making sure that everything with their booking was fine.
“This was essentially within the 48 hour window before the flight, so I was definitely feeling the pressure to make sure that everything would go fine with our summer vacation plans,” Lou said. “Unfortunately, when my family reached out to the airline, we actually got a fraudulent number, and through that fraudulent number gave our reservation information.”
Then the person on the other line told them that because there were some delays with their flight, they would owe an additional $800.
“Being entirely new to this particular airline, we’re like, ‘Well, that’s never happened to us before, but we’re leaving in two days. We need to make sure we get our reservations completed. So here’s your $800,’” he said.
Lou, however, went back to the credit card company later on and mentioned that he had never heard of being charged extra for a flight. That was the time he learned that he had been scammed.
Vaca of the FTC said that community leaders and partners play a vital role to combat these scams because they could affect anyone.
“We need to go out into communities and try to spread the word, share what it is we know. Do not trust those text messages. Do not click on that link,” she said. “Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc. gov. And remember, whenever you’re feeling in a little bit of a panic that something is wrong, take a moment, take a breath and talk to somebody about it.”
“We take seriously our responsibility to manage risk. We recognize the Governor’s administration, legislators, and the California Department of Insurance (CDI) for their wildfire loss mitigation efforts,” the company said in a press release. “We pledge to work constructively with the CDI and policymakers to help build market capacity in California. However, it’s necessary to take these actions now to improve the company’s financial strength. We will continue to evaluate our approach based on changing market conditions.”
Allstate, California’s fourthlargest property insurer, made a similar decision last fall.
“The cost to insure new home customers in California is far higher than the price they would pay for policies due to wildfires, higher costs for repairing homes, and higher reinsurance premiums,” a spokesperson for the company told the San Francisco Chronicle in June.
California Rental Housing Association (CalRHA) Executive Director Russell Lowery said insurance premium costs have jumped up millions of dollars for property owners in his group.
“With insurers leaving the market that means our members don’t get as competitive of a quote,” he noted. Lowery said rising insurance prices hit renters’ pockets also.
“Extraordinary increases,” he noted. “The pressure on property owners to pay that cost in the form of higher rent is very real.”
Lowery did not give an exact figure for the increase in insurance costs faced by rental housing owners. However, he mentioned that a survey of the group’s over 24,000 members revealed that insurance costs are their primary concern.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, which represents the industry, the average annual home insurance
premium in California is $1,300, an increase of 16% from 2019.
The California Department of Insurance reports that 115 insurance companies are still providing residential policies in California.
Residential Insurance Prices Increase as Insurers Slow Business in California...continued insurer, announced in May it would stop taking applications for all business and personal lines of property and casualty insurance because of “historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market.”
There is also California’s FAIR Plan Association, created to help state homeowners who can’t find insurance in the regular marketplace obtain minimal coverage at high rates. Its enrollment has increased 70% between 2019 to 2022 to 272,846 homes.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has taken steps to make insurance more affordable for Californians. They include expanding FAIR Plan coverage options and requiring insurance companies to acknowledge and reward wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by property owners. The commissioner is also in ongoing discussions with insurers to address their rate increase requests.
“Commissioner Lara is committed to continue to look at how we could give insurance companies more tools to better manage risk given the continued threat of climate change so we can maintain competition and ensure stability in the insurance marketplace while protecting consumers,” his office said in a statement.
In a letter to Lara, CalRHA President Earle Vaughan said the state’s housing crisis worsens annually.
“And our members take our commitment to provide safe, well-maintained housing for more than 675,000 Californians seriously. However, with rising operating costs, like home insurance, we’re taking a heavy hit,” Vaughan said. “We urge Commissioner Lara to support state and local funding for wildfire mitigation, ensure the FAIR plan has adequate reserves and reinsurance to cover losses, and speed up the adjudication of insurance rate filings.”
Lowery said the insurance cost increase is a huge issue.
“It makes it harder and harder for mom-and-pop property owners to provide the housing that everyone agrees is so desperately needed,” he stated.
president.
According to Reuters’ findings, at least 8 percent of Democrats and 28 percent of Republicans in the last Congress had ancestral ties to slaveholders. This disparity reflects the historical strength of the Republican Party in the South, where slavery was concentrated.
South Carolina, where the Civil War began, exemplifies the familial connections between lawmakers and the nation’s history of slavery.
DNA directly links slave owners of the past to lawmakers of the present, who shape the country today via their roles in the U.S. Congress. Credit Shutterstock
Recent research conducted by Reuters has shed light on the genealogies of America’s political elite, revealing that a significant portion of members of Congress, living presidents, Supreme Court justices and governors are direct descendants of ancestors who enslaved Black people.
Among the 536 members of the last sitting Congress, Reuters found that at least 100 have ancestors who were slaveholders.
Furthermore, over a quarter of the Senate, or 28 members, can trace their families back to slaveholding ancestors. This spans Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including influential figures such as Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton, as well as Democrats Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, and Jeanne Shaheen.
The examination also revealed that President Joe Biden and every living former
U.S. president, except Donald Trump, have direct connections to slaveholders.
That list includes Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and even Barack Obama through his white mother’s lineage.
Additionally, two of the nine sitting U.S. Supreme Court justices, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, have ancestors who were involved in enslavement.
The research conducted by Reuters also delved into the gubernatorial level, revealing that in 2022, 11 out of 50 U.S. states had governors who were descendants of slaveholders.
Eight governors hail from states that formed the Confederate States of America, which fought to preserve slavery.
Among them, Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, and Doug Burgum of North Dakota are seeking the Republican nomination for
Credit: Shutterstock
Last November, Maryland voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum to legalize cannabis use by adults. Those votes triggered new rules and legal processes that will affect use and possession of the drug, recreational sales and the ability to expunge criminal charges. Perhaps lost in the excitement of these major changes is the significant impact that expungement will have on those who have been harmed by the criminal justice system and the collateral consequences of living with a record.
Recreational use of cannabis became legal in Maryland on July 1, 2023 – meaning adults 21 years of age and older can possess up to 1.5 ounces of the substance and grow up to two cannabis plants on their own property. There still will be civil penalties for possessing more than the legal limit with possible criminal penalties for possessing more than 2.5 ounces. Additionally, medical cannabis dispensaries, which have operated in Maryland since 2017, have the option to convert their licenses for recreational sale. Medical cannabis regulations will stay in place. Those purchasing cannabis without a medical card will be subject to a 9 percent sales tax.
In addition to these changes, Maryland has enacted several reforms to the expungement
Every member of the state’s delegation to the last Congress has ancestral ties to slavery.
Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican presidential candidate, and Rep. James Clyburn, a prominent Democrat, both have ancestors who were enslaved.
All seven White lawmakers from South Carolina in the 117th Congress are direct descendants of slaveholders, as is the state’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster. The unveiling of these ancestral ties to slavery comes at a time when the legacy of slavery is under renewed and intense debate.
The investigation by Reuters emphasizes the ongoing relationship between America and the institution of slavery, particularly among those who influence the country’s laws.
Henry Louis Gates Jr., a professor at Harvard University specializing in African and African American Research, emphasized in an NBC News interview that identifying these ancestral connections is not about assigning blame but recognizing the close link between lawmakers and slavery.
Gates stated that it served as
an opportunity for individuals to learn and for the American people to gain a deeper understanding of their shared history.
The Reuters analysis goes beyond previous documentation of ancestral ties to slavery by focusing on the most powerful officeholders of today, many of whom have taken stances on race-related policies.
The comprehensive research provides a broader and more detailed perspective on the extent of these leaders’ connections to America’s “original sin.”
It also explores the personal and significant implications for lawmakers and prominent officials as they confront the realities of their own family’s involvement in slavery.
The research focused on direct lineal descendants rather than distant cousins.
The sources analyzed included Census records, tax documents, estate records, family Bibles, newspaper accounts, and birth and death certificates.
To ensure accuracy, boardcertified genealogists reviewed each case linking a contemporary leader to a slaveholding ancestor.
While the Reuters examination provided a valuable understanding of the ancestral ties between the political elite and slavery, it’s further acknowledged that the records available may not capture the full extent of those connections.
Many records have been lost or destroyed over time, leading to the possibility of an undercount.
This was originally published by the NNPA Newswire / New York Amsterdam News.
New cannabis expungement rules address systemic injustice...continued
are not eligible for expungement. And a conviction for cannabis possession will not be counted as part of a “unit.”
Stay cool. Close shades, windows and blinds. Set air conditioners between 75 and 80 degrees. If air-conditioning isn’t available, find a local cooling center or other air-conditioned public space (libraries, shopping malls, community centers, etc.).
Try to stay indoors and wear loose, light-colored, lightweight clothing. While spending time in the water is refreshing on hot summer days, many California rivers are running faster, while lakes are deeper and colder than they’ve been in recent years. This makes them more dangerous than normal, even for strong swimmers.
Stay hydrated. Drink at least 2 cups of water every hour even if you're not feeling thirsty. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.
Look after each other. Check in on friends and family, especially elderly relatives or neighbors. Call 911 if there are signs of high fever (103°F or higher) or in case of other emergencies.
Scientists project that all of California will be impacted in the years and decades to come by higher average temperatures and more frequent and life-threatening heat waves, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable communities. Californians can learn more about these heat projections and what they mean for their community by using the California Heat Assessment Tool. Californians can find their community’s heat risk level by using the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk Prototype or by following local weather forecasts. Californians can find their local cooling centers here.
Heat Ready CA is a public awareness and outreach campaign led by the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC), a newly established office that manages the state’s highest priority public engagement efforts. Through integrated outreach, advertising, social media and influencer engagement, the campaign is meeting people where they are through a culturally responsive approach. Heat Ready CA is engaging trusted messengers including multiethnic community-based organizations, ethnic media, meteorologists and other partners statewide.
More than 100 community based organizations form the trusted messenger network that will be doing outreach in every California county in over 30 languages. Through doorto-door canvassing, phone banking, community activations and other outreach efforts, these organizations will help California’s most vulnerable communities better prepare for extreme heat.
The campaign’s website is available in English at HeatReadyCA.com, in Spanish at CuidateDelCalorCA.com, and soon in 10 Asian languages. The website offers tips and resources for Californians, including people most vulnerable to heat-related health concerns, such as older adults, people with disabilities and chronic conditions, pregnant people, young children, urban residents, and those without easy access to air conditioning or natural shade, among others. Visit HeatReadyCA.com or CuidateDelCalorCA.com for more tips and resources.
process for prior cannabis convictions. These reforms include several small technical changes that collectively will streamline the expungement of cannabis records that previously had not been eligible for expungement.
The first change is that a criminal conviction for possession of cannabis will be immediately eligible for expungement without the previous four-year waiting period provided the defendant successfully completed their sentence. Convictions for possession “with intent to distribute” will be eligible three years after completion of the sentence, down from the previous wait time of 15 years (note that “possession” and “possession with intent to distribute” are considered separate crimes under Maryland’s controlled substances law). Finally, cases in which possession was the only charge in the case are to be automatically expunged by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services within one year (by July 1, 2024) and also must be removed from the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Another new cannabis law will change a technical provision called the “unit rule,” which prevents the expungement of a criminal case if at least one of the charges on the case is not eligible. In other words, if a case involves multiple charges and some of them would be eligible for expungement and others would not, all the charges become ineligible as a “unit.” However, that rule will change for charges of cannabis possession. Now, those charges can be expunged from a case even if there are other charges involved in the case that
Marijuana legalization provides an important corrective to the decades-long War on Drugs – a set of criminal justice policies that has yielded disproportionate rates of arrest and incarceration in Black and brown communities.
In 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union found that despite comparable usage rates, Black people were 3.64 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession. Getting saddled with a criminal record further hurts struggling people’s chances at
continued on page 7
SACRAMENTO – As California experiences more frequent and severe heat waves driven by the climate crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today launched Heat Ready CA (HeatReadyCA.com), one of the nation’s first statewide multi-ethnic awareness and education campaigns designed to keep Californians safe during extreme heat.
The two-year $20 million campaign focuses on heatsensitive groups at highest risk, including those 65 years of age or older, workers, and individuals with chronic illness, disabilities or who are pregnant.
The campaign is part of the Governor’s Extreme Heat Action Plan, which is backed by more than $400 million, to guide the state’s response to heatwaves, ensuring California is reaching vulnerable communities, protecting frontline workers and helping communities stand up cooling centers.
“The impacts of climate change have never been more clear –the hots continue to get hotter in our state and across the West putting millions of Californians at risk,” said Governor Newsom. “California is launching Heat Ready CA as another tool in the state’s arsenal to protect people from extreme heat. We’re asking everyone to stay alert to changing weather and take the necessary steps to keep themselves and
their families safer from deadly heatwaves.”
Today’s launch comes as much of California and the southwestern U.S. are expected to experience extreme heat that the National Weather Service has said will “rival some of the worst heat waves this area has ever seen.” California is expected to move into Phase II of its Extreme Temperature Response Plan today, which calls for increased coordination among state agencies and local partners. Excessive heat watches and warnings are in effect across the southern half of the state, with additional watches, warnings, and advisories possible farther north, including the San Joaquin Valley. The hottest temperatures are currently forecast for Wednesday through Sunday.
“Heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as well as respiratory problems, are among the potentially dangerous effects of extreme heat,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “But as with earthquakes, floods or other natural weather events, Californians can better protect themselves and others with a few simple tips.”
Californians are encouraged to follow these tips to stay safe during extreme heat events:
from page 1 program and tighter limits on the federal government’s authority to police water pollution.
SCOTUS also ruled in favor of a web designer who argued her faith prevents her from serving LGBTQ+ clients, which critics say could open the floodgates to wider discrimination in public spaces.
Widening inequality
Francisca Fajana, Director of Racial Justice Strategy at LatinoJustice, explains why a race-blind approach to college admissions is not rooted in racial justice and cannot lead to more equitable outcomes.
“Ignoring race will not equalize a society that is deeply unequal,” said Francisca Fajana, Director of Racial Justice Strategy at the civil rights group Latino Justice. “This court disregards the reality that race and class are intersected.”
Fajana noted that elite colleges are the pathway to greater opportunity and now fewer minority students will see them. Only 21% of Latinos hold Bachelors’ degrees compared to 44% of their non-Hispanic counterparts. Just 15.4% of Native Americans graduated from college in 2021 compared to the national rate of 33%.
Chavis Jones is with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He echoed Yang’s call to keep fighting for educational opportunities. He says the Supreme Court found Harvard’s admission policies violated the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause but that’s not the end of the story.
“It makes it far more difficult to enact lawful policies and could further undermine opportunities and fairness in our education. But only if we let it,” Jones says.
Quoting Jesse Jackson, Jones said you can make race irrelevant in law but that doesn’t make it so in life. Affirmative Action was a means to an end; it’s not the only
way to increase diversity and end race-based discrimination in college admissions.
“Rather than succumbing to fear, now is the time for bold action… to do what institutions of higher learning have always done best. And that is to innovate,” he said.
Natural allies
Jones noted that civil rights groups and universities are natural allies and that they should work together to create equal opportunity in higher education for minority students.
“Colleges may continue to pursue diversity through other lawful means,” Jones says. Universities can continue to embed diversity goals in their admissions and may aim to achieve them through permissible race conscious and race neutral means, he says.
For example, the court’s ruling did not consider diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives like support for student affinity groups. “These programs remain lawful,” Jones says, and colleges should not prevent applicants from discussing their experiences and identity. “Nor does it prevent colleges and universities from inquiring about them,” he says.
In the meantime, even as the court’s conservative majority continues to push the narrative of a race-neutral society, speakers stressed that the reality is far different.
“The data sort of belies the fact that race doesn’t matter,” says Fajana. “It doesn’t matter what socioeconomic indicator you’re looking at, whether it’s housing, employment, or the criminal legal system. It doesn’t really matter what data you focus on, race matters.”
She continued, “There are racial disparities and until and unless we address all those racial disparities, race will continue to matter. Race does matter.”
World /Political News
shortages.”
Emergency shelter beds provide a critical transition from street homelessness into housing. It is also a preventive tool to avoid street homelessness for individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time. During their stay, individuals are provided with essential items and services, including case management and assistance with resolving their homelessness.
Today, the Board of Supervisors approved $7.6 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support emergency shelter projects in Riverside County. These dollars will support the development of eight new housing projects located across all five supervisorial districts. The county’s Homeless Action Plan, a five-year timeline that identifies areas to address homelessness, set a goal to increase the number of shelter beds across the region by 25 percent. With the development of these projects alone, the
county will supersede this goal by creating a total of 241 new emergency shelter beds, which is a 28 percent increase in emergency shelter beds in Riverside County. “We need to create as many opportunities as possible to address the needs of families who are experiencing homelessness in our county,” says Second District Supervisor Karen Spiegel, and member of the Homeless Continuum of Care Board of Governance. “This investment is building our system’s capacity so individuals in crisis are not turned away because of space
Heidi Marshall, the Deputy Director of the County of Riverside department of Housing and Workforce Solutions, emphasizes the need for this investment. “Housing is a critical tool we need for our unhoused residents here in Riverside County. Each of these projects will expand our existing infrastructure and support individuals who are struggling with a housing crisis.” For more information about the projects or to learn more about the coordination of homeless services in Riverside County, please contact Tanya Torno at ttorno@rivco.org or at (951) 955-7728.
World /Political News
Summer is in full swing, and with that, temperatures across the country are reaching alarmingly high levels.
It’s hard to beat the heat even with easy access to air conditioning, icy drinks and refreshing swimming pools. And it can be just as hard for dogs and cats on these sweltering days.
To help pet owners keep their pets cool despite the rising temperatures, Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters by 2025, is offering the below tips:
· Exercise dogs during the cooler morning or evening hours, not in the intense afternoon heat. Keep pets indoors during the hottest parts of the day. Quick walks and bathroom breaks are fine in extreme heat but try to keep pets in the shade. Be aware of the temperature of the sidewalk, asphalt, sand, or even packed dirt as these can cause burns to your pet’s paw pads if they are too hot.
· If pets do spend time outside during the day, ensure that they
have access to shade at all hours of the day.
o Dogs on tethers are especially vulnerable because they could become tangled out of reach of shade or water.
· Provide pets with fresh, cool water at all times as most dogs won’t drink hot water no matter how thirsty they are.
· Dogs who are older or overweight, have a thick coat or a pushed-in nose are especially at risk of overheating.
· Dogs with bald patches or minimal coats may need sunscreen. Consult a veterinarian.
· Never leave your pet in a parked car when the outside temperature is above 70 degrees.
o Many studies show that the temperature inside a car on a 70 -degree day can rise to 89 degrees in ten minutes, and to 104 degrees in as little as a half hour.
o Dogs and cats can’t sweat like humans, so they pant to lower
their body temperature. If they’re inside a car, recycling hot air, panting gives no relief, and heat stroke can occur quickly.
“Heat stroke can occur when an animal’s temperature rises to a critical level,” says Dr. Erin Katribe, Medical Director, Best Friends Animal Society.
“Normal body temperatures for dogs and cats range from 100 to 102.5 degrees. When a dog’s temperature rises to 108 degrees, or to 106 degrees for a cat, they can suffer irreparable organ damage, or worse.”
According to Dr. Katribe, signs of heat stroke include heavy panting that does not resolve as the pet rests, increasing distress, a tongue color that is dark red to almost purple, weakness or collapse, hyper-salivation, vomiting and labored breathing.
If you suspect a dog or cat is suffering from heat stroke move him to a cooler environment immediately and apply cool water to the abdomen, ears, and footpads. Once they are stable, bring them to a veterinary clinic as quickly as possible. Katribe warns, things may be happening internally that are not obvious from the outside.
World /Political News
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
— California is on its way to boosting job creation and ushering in a clean construction boom, thanks to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s freshly signed plan to accelerate development and maximize $180 billion in infrastructure investments over the next decade.
Business and community leaders united by the nonpartisan New California Coalition (NCC) celebrated Monday following Newsom’s signing of his infrastructure streamlining bills in Sacramento. Swift and thoughtful execution of Newsom’s plan will help California meet ambitious climate goals, repair and replace aging infrastructure, create an estimated 400,000 good-paying jobs and expedite environmental planning.
The package includes a “shot clock” that limits the duration of lawsuits filed under the oftabused California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) targeting water, transportation, clean energy and other vital infrastructure projects. It mirrors
a solution the New California Coalition included in its 10-Point Plan for Housing Affordability following months of statewide polling. Permitting and record keeping reforms in Newsom’s package will also accelerate construction of new homes amid the state’s housing shortage emergency.
“Today is a happy day for the New California Coalition because passage of Governor Newsom’s infrastructure package ensures a brighter tomorrow for everyday Californians worried about access to safe drinking water, affordable clean energy, quality roads and good jobs.
Let’s get to work building big things faster now!” said Tracy Hernandez, NCC Co-Leader and Founding CEO of the Los Angeles County Business Federation “BizFed.”
“We thank Governor Newsom for his bold leadership in getting this historic infrastructure package across the finish line. We’re particularly excited to partner with the Newsom
administration on creating semiconductor manufacturing jobs. This package will supercharge California’s ability to secure federal funding unlocked by the CHIPS and Science Act,” said Jim Wunderman, NCC CoLeader and President/CEO of the Bay Area Council.
Hernandez and Wunderman led multiplatform advocacy efforts to trumpet the broad business community’s support of Newsom’s infrastructure package ahead of last week’s final votes in the California State Legislature and Monday’s signing ceremony in Sacramento. NCC rallied its statewide network of partners to testify at every informational in June hearing concerning the proposal; mobilized nearly 90 statewide business groups to sign a support letter delivered to all 120 state legislators; and secured a series of media placements as part of its public awareness campaign amplifying the urgent need for water, transportation, energy and other infrastructure upgrades.
AFFIDAVIT OF OWNERSHIP SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): Gary C. Swanberg, Jr., an individual; Michele L. Barajas, an individual; Zenaida Johnson, an individual and DOES 1 to 20 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Ivan Munoz. an individual, and Tria Munoz, an individual NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements.
You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.
The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es):
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West 3rd Street San Bernardino, CA 92415 CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVSB 2212137
The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): JUN S. LEE, ESQ., 4804 Laurel Canyon Avenue #1200 Valley Village, CA 91607 (213)500-5427 DATE (Fecha):
“Affidavit of Ownership of Certificate of Title & Registered Securities” in my presence, or he appears to be of sound mind and under no duress or undue pressure and/or influence.
BY: ______________________ PRINT NAME: ______________ _____________________ DATE: BY: ______________________ PRINT NAME: ______________ _____________________ DATE: CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT On this date the men and/ or women named above, in their stated capacity, personally appeared before me and acknowledged that this instrument attached hereto was signed as a free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purpose stated therein.
DATE:_______________ BY: ______________, Notary Public SEAL My Commission Expires:____________________ Recording as Deed of Trust
Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper June 29, July 6, 13, 2023.
By Forward Times Staff
COPD is a collection of lung diseases that often includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoking is associated with a higher risk of developing COPD.
The illness causes mucus production and airway narrowing, which may make breathing very difficult. Some of the signs and symptoms are:
persistent cough
wheezing
fatigue
shortness of breath
and grasses, are also included in the Weather Channel’s Allergy Tracker.
To lessen the severity of your allergy symptoms, consider scheduling outside activities on days when pollen and mold levels are lower.
Stay Inside When the air quality outside is bad, remaining indoors is safer. If the Air Quality Index is above 100, patients with COPD may have severe respiratory distress.
What do you wish you would have known before becoming a caregiver to your loved one?
You are a surrogate decision maker; simply defined, you are a proxy, substitute, stand-in, representative, back-up, and a necessary ambassador…. kneedeep in the role.
What are you chasing to understand?
What medical equipment are you wishing you had “NOW”?
Who are your support systems; and what conversations should have occurred earlier?
These are real questions in need of real answers. The role of caregiving takes on many forms and is impactful globally. Families are unique, but care is universal. I have mentioned many times that there are stages that one travels in the caregiving space. The complexity is often underestimated by those who have not experienced the challenges, stress, and strain. The overall outcome is the health, safety, and well-being of our loved ones, and the mental health of you!
We should expect the family to take an active role in caring. If each of us would think back and recall our childhood, we would see our family and support systems doing their part to help those requiring care.
Have you heard the term, once an adult, twice a child?
It means, we were warned at birth, that we will need care as we live, breathe, and age. We came into the world needing care and we will need care in our wonder years, as the end of life is sure to come.
On the journey of caregiving…. taking care of you is required in the process. Caregiving is diverse, and the timing of becoming a caregiver is different for everyone, and the care encounters are different as well. Because of this, do not forget to acknowledge your need for a break. Don’t end up in a pile of tears and frustration. There are many signs as a caregiver saying, “I need a break!”
Do not ignore the signs that may or may not be obvious, like, irritability, feeling alone, anxiety, sleeplessness, sadness, and even anger.
As your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, I am encouraging you to exhale and breathe. Caregiver life is hard work, but a wonderful life when you think about giving to someone unable to do for themselves.
Giving yourself to others is a selfless act that will always be valued and appreciated by those who know and understand the journey. Be safe! Be well!
The post CaregiversSurrogates of Love appeared first on Forward Times.
New cannabis expungement rules address systemic injustice...continued from page 4
finding secure employment and housing.
The collateral consequences of living with a criminal record, which include lack of employment and housing opportunities and the social stigma of being labeled a criminal, make up what many call a “street sentence” – the pervasive byproducts of the criminal justice system that continue to follow a person who already has paid their debt to society by completing their court-ordered sentence. Expanded access to expungement is a necessary part of addressing the racist War on Drugs policies that have devastated many families. Legalization without expungement would be only a half-baked measure and our legislators were correct to
include expungement in the new cannabis regulations.
Criminal record expungement is an opportunity for a person to move on from their past actions and seek stability. When it comes to cannabis usage, which has gained public acceptance and state-level legalization, minor criminal charges should not hold a person back from their goals.
This year’s cannabis legalization and corresponding expungement changes provide a chance to evaluate the wrongs in our criminal justice system and to continue striving for access to justice for all.
Chris Sweeney is an attorney and workforce development manager at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. He can be reached at csweeney@mvlslaw. org.
feeling winded after activities that weren’t difficult in the past coughing up mucus
Why Do I Have Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies affect millions of individuals yearly, making their eyes and noses wet and itchy.
When your body’s immune system responds to allergens in the air like dust, mold and animal dander, you may experience symptoms like:
Congestion
Sneezing
Itchy eyes, nose and throat
Runny nose and eyes
Post nasal drip (drainage in the throat)
Fatigue
Coughing
Certain cells in your body, including histamine-producing ones, are triggered into action by your immune system. These chemicals cause allergic reactions.
Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease seem to be more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses. Naturally, if you have COPD, you already have respiratory difficulties.
How Can I Avoid Serious Complications?
To minimize the risk of an allergic reaction, it’s better to steer clear of anything that can trigger one. There are allergens in the air, food, and even water, but if you know what makes you sensitive, you have a leg up. Now is the time to take action to Home limit exposure to the allergens that are making your symptoms worse. Keep reading for advice on minimizing exposure to allergens that might exacerbate your COPD.
Know Before You Go
Before venturing out, check the local pollen forecast. Pollen and mold count updates for your location may be found on several weather sites, including AccuWeather.
Pollen counts from certain plants, such as trees, weeds,
AirNow is a useful tool for Americans to gauge local air pollution levels and is a musthave if you reside in the United States. Put on a mask to protect yourself from the harmful effects of exposure to the outdoor environment.
Treat Your Symptoms
If you suffer from allergy symptoms like watery eyes or a runny nose, see your physician about allergy medication. You might try taking an antihistamine that you can get without a prescription.
Breathing problems caused by allergies may be alleviated by using antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec). In addition to oral steroids, nasal steroids, decongestants, and inhalers may be necessary to reduce airway inflammation.
your gold shall be able to deliver you in the day of My wrath; for the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of My jealousy: for I, the Lord shall make even a speedy riddance of all you that dwell in the land. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Therefore, take ye heed, watch and pray for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Be sober, be on guard, keep awake! [Mark 13:28-37].
God has promised that the storm is coming. [John 3:36, Romans 2:5, the whole book of Revelation]. Hasten your escape from the windy storm and tempest before it is too late [Psalms 55:8] knowing that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness. [2 Peter 3:9]. For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [1 Thessalonians 5:3].
Why should you die? Heed the warnings and obey the call. Don’t sit idly by and be caught unaware and unprepared. You’ve Been Warned! Repent before it’s too late!
WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1159
Sarah Lund
Many individuals experience discomfort due to seasonal allergies. The severity of COPD is increased by the presence of any other ailment that makes breathing harder.
Research conducted in 2012 at the Johns Hopkins Allergy
and Asthma Center found that the respiratory symptoms of persons with COPD and seasonal allergies, such as coughing and wheezing, were worse by combining the two conditions.
COPD
By Lou K. ColemanAllergy-Proof
Do everything you can to prevent allergens from entering your home. There are a few things you can do at home, and they are as follows:
Put in a quality filtering system for your AC.
If pollen or pollution levels are high, it’s best to stay inside.
Installing a cabin air filter may prevent allergies from entering your automobile. Dust and vacuum often to remove mold spores and pollen that may have found their way inside.
Talk To Your Doctor
Discuss your seasonal allergy problems and their impact on your COPD with your doctor. A few of the possibilities they could provide are:
Trying out some over-thecounter allergy medicine
Increased inhaler use during allergy season
Finding out what allergens are bothering you by having an allergy test done
Immunotherapy (allergy injections) may be used to lessen the impact of allergies
The sirens are sounding, blaring, warning that catastrophic impact is about to take place. Wake up! Because there is a storm on the horizon, that will come suddenly, and unexpectedly. This is a storm that cannot be compared to any storm of nature in its power and intensity. This storm will be the greatest storm to every hit mankind since Creation. This storm, the approaching storm of the wrath of God will bring judgment upon the heart of every man and woman remaining in the earth and none will escape its power. I ask you; can you
Thirty-three years ago on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This historic civil rights law protects the rights of people with disabilities and helps break down barriers to increase inclusion and accessibility. Disability justice is part of the United Church of Christ’s mission to build a just world for all.
Born with Cerebral Palsy, Virginia Kreyer experienced a call from God to ministry and answered that call. She graduated from Union Theological Seminary and was ordained by the American Baptist Church, but their local churches would not call her to be a pastor. Then in 1967, Virginia joined Garden City UCC in New York and found a home in the UCC. She began organizing a committee concerned with issues around disability and the church. Working together, they brought a resolution to the New York Conference and then took it to the General Synod. The founding of the UCC Disabilities Ministries was inspired by this resolution from the 11th General Synod in 1977.
This was a transformative moment for both Virginia and the UCC. Soon after, she joined the national staff supporting local churches to become accessible and welcoming for people with disabilities. In 2007, Virginia was honored by the Antoinette Brown Society and her legacy is memorialized through the Virginia Kreyer Endowed Scholarship Fund for persons with disabilities called to authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ.
employers to provide reasonable accommodation and adjustments to the job or work environment that enable the person to perform their job.
Although religious organizations are exempt from complying with the ADA, in 1995 the UCC adopted a resolution calling upon the UCC to be Accessible to All (A2A). This resolution called for the church at all levels to be morally bound by the spirit of the ADA. In addition, “Accessible to All” was added to the vision statement of the United Church of Christ.
As we reflect on the UCC’s commitment to disability justice, what does it look like for the church to make reasonable accommodations for its authorized ministers? How can congregations support pastors and institutions support chaplains with physical and mental health disabilities? As we navigate the continuing impacts of the pandemic, including the increase in people living with disabilities, what does this mean for us as a church?
As the UCC, we choose love even when the law says we don’t have to. Loving our neighbors with disabilities is not part of the ADA, but it is part of the FCA, “following Christ’s actions.” Jesus acted with love, especially towards people experiencing oppression and discrimination.
hear what I hear? The sirens are blaring, that catastrophic impact is about to take place. Please don’t wait until the storm falls on you. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, for He is the only source of refuge from this coming storm. As [Zephaniah 1:14-18] tells us, "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly… a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. A day when I, the Lord, will bring distress upon you, that you shall walk like blind men, because you have sinned against Me: your blood shall be poured out as dust, and your flesh as the dung. For neither your silver nor continued in next 2 columns
Virginia wrote, “Cannot we, persons with disabilities, nondisabilities, people of color, and persons from different cultures, compare our lives to a patchwork quilt? Each one of us is a unique human being. No two of us are exactly alike. For instance, no two people have the same fingerprints. And we all have abilities and disabilities. Some people’s disabilities are very visible, while other people have invisible disabilities that we may never know about unless we are told. These may be mental, emotional, or physical. Each one of us has strengths of one form or another that we need to put to use for our own fulfillment, for the good of others, and to the glory of God.”
The Rev. Dr. Harold Wilke, UCC minister and disability activist, was present when President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. One of the areas included in the ADA is for
Love expands inclusion. Love widens the welcome. Love makes the table bigger. Love opens the doors wider. Love is a ramp into the heart of the divine. Love is an elevator to the highest realms of the holy. Love embodies all minds and bodies. Love rolls down like justice. Love celebrates disabilities as part of the body of Christ.
At the 34th General Synod, the UCC Disabilities Ministries announced its newest scholarship fund: The Fannie Lou Hamer Scholarship Fund for Disabled Theologians of Color supports disabled theologians of color in reaching their educational goals and engaging in theological work. By supporting these theologians, this scholarship will enrich the church through increased awareness of the intersections of race and disability in theology. This is good news to celebrate on this 33rd anniversary of the ADA. May the church reclaim our calling to share the love of God, the compassion of Christ, and the inclusivity of the Spirit with all bodies and minds in our beloved community.
Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund is the Minister of Disabilities and Mental Health Justice for the United Church of Christ.
State/National News
As the summer season hits the Inland Empire and residents head out on vacation, thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses will return to the Toyota Arena in Ontario after a three-year pandemic pause for their annual convention series. The theme for the 2023 series is “Exercise Patience”!
This year, the Toyota Arena in Ontario will host four of the three-day events, beginning July 7-9. To prepare for the conventions, volunteers will complete a major facility cleanup on July 6.
Prior to 2020, summers in Ontario were marked by Jehovah’s Witnesses filling hotels and restaurants as they attended their conventions at the Toyota Arena. In 2020, the Witnesses canceled their in-person events throughout the world and held their convention programs as virtual events in more than 500 languages.
“After three years, it’s a good feeling to be back in Ontario.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have a long history in the community that goes back generations,” said Derek Adams, local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Witnesses have had a significant presence in the Inland
Empire for over 100 years. It houses two of their largest indoor venues in the United States, the Norco and Mira Loma assembly halls. And in 2017, the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library in San Bernardino hosted an exhibit commemorating 100 years of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Inland Empire.
Nearly 20,000 people visited the library during its six-week installation. On display were historical documents, images, videos and discourses about the construction of the various facilities Jehovah’s Witnesses have built throughout the area.
“The library exhibit was a highlight for our family, and we have always looked forward to the annual conventions,” said Adams. “This year, I am especially looking forward to seeing how patience can improve my life and my relationships.”
Some 6,000 conventions will be held worldwide as part of the 2023 “Exercise Patience”! Convention series. In the United States alone, more than 700 conventions will be held in 144 host cities. From Friday through Sunday, six convention sessions will explore the quality of patience, highlighting its
modern-day relevance through Scriptural examples. A live baptism will be performed following the Saturday morning session and a prerecorded drama will be featured in two parts during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions.
“The virtual conventions were amazing, but attending in person will allow my entire family to experience patience in action and find ways to use that patience in our communities. That’s aside from enjoying the wonderful dining in the area,” said Adams.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world for more than 100 years. After resuming smaller in-person meetings and their public ministry during 2022, the summer of 2023 marks the first time they will gather at much larger regional events around the world since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken. For more information on the program or to find other convention locations and dates, please go to jw.org and navigate to the “About Us” tab
New this year: Bilingual summer meals finder is accessible via WhatsApp to help reach more immigrant and Latino families in the U.S.
State/National News
WASHINGTON – All kids deserve a great summer, but for millions of children who rely on school meals, summer can be the hungriest time of year. No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger, is launching an awareness campaign to help families find free meals for their kids and teens this summer. Parents, grandparents and caregivers can simply text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 or visit NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp to find sites serving free meals in their neighborhood. This year, No Kid Hungry is expanding this resource for more families to access this information via WhatsApp, a popular messaging app used by immigrant and Latino families. To help raise awareness about this critical effort, Chef, Author, Restaurateur and TV
Personality, Lorena Garcia, is teaming up with No Kid Hungry once again this year alongside
Legendary Artist and Entertainer
Patti LaBelle, Singer, Actress, TV Producer and Entrepreneur Kelly Rowland, Actor and Comedian
Eugenio Derbez, TV Host and Actress Alejandra Espinoza, Chef, Author and Restaurateur
Kwame Onwuachi, Actress, TV Host and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and more.
During the school year, free and reduced-price school meals are a lifeline, ensuring that children have reliable access to nutrition. However, when school is out for the summer, many of these meals disappear, putting a bigger financial burden on families who are struggling with already-tight and shrinking budgets. According to a recent
No Kid Hungry poll, parents are having a harder time affording groceries to feed their children and are living an unexpected expense away from hunger due to the rise in cost for food and other necessities like utilities, gas and rent.
Free summer meals programs, run by local schools and community groups, are available and open to any kid or teenager who needs a healthy meal, but the program has historically only reached a fraction of the kids that need it. This year, kids are facing a brighter summer.
After years of advocacy by No Kid Hungry and others, Congress took action to help more kids get the food they need this summer and beyond. As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Congress granted greater flexibility for rural communities to offer noncongregate meal options, like meal delivery or pick-up services. Additional details HERE. The bill also establishes a permanent nationwide program called Summer EBT, which provides families with a benefit to buy food in the summer, which will be implemented in 2024.
No Kid Hungry will be supporting the roll-out and implementation of the noncongregate meal options in rural areas by offering technical assistance, funding, sharing best practices and raising awareness. With many communities having greater flexibility in how they can feed kids this year, it is critical to reach as many as possible who may have not been able to access the program before. This is why Chef Lorena Garcia,
Patti LaBelle, Kelly Rowland and more are stepping up to spread the word and ensure kids and teens don’t miss out on the nutrition they need this summer. They will do actions such as record public service announcements highlighting No Kid Hungry’s summer meals finder resources, amplify on social media and more.
According to Lorena Garcia, chef, author, restaurateur and TV personality, “The summer meals program is a lifeline for so many families when school is out, but one of the biggest barriers is simply awareness. I’m thrilled to team up with No Kid Hungry once again and help reach even more families this year with bilingual resources and through WhatsApp, which is a way to reach immigrant and Latino families where they are.”
“Our nation’s children deserve a happy, healthy summer and that starts with being fed and nourished, " says Legendary
Artist and Entertainer, Patti LaBelle. “It’s up to all of us to ensure all kids have the fuel they need to follow their dreams and that parents, grandparents and caregivers have access to this essential program. One hungry child is one too many.”
“I may be an entertainer and actress but my most important role in life is being a mom,” said Kelly Rowland, singer, actress, TV producer and entrepreneur. “As a parent, I’m proud to join No Kid Hungry and help make sure families across America know that free summer meals are there to help when school’s out.”
To find free summer meals for youth 18 and under, families can text 'FOOD' or 'COMIDA' to 304-304 or visit NoKidHungry. org/Help or NoKidHungry. org/WhatsApp. Media and the general public can also access the campaign’s social media toolkit to help amplify the message now through Aug. 12.
State/National News
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — July
11, 2023 - With predictions of the hottest summer on record, ARS/Rescue Rooter, the nation's largest provider of residential heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and plumbing services, released a list of the 25 most energy-efficient cities and regions in America based on HVAC systems.
The list is based on the installation of energy-efficient residential cooling and heating systems through the ARS/Rescue Rooter network of service areas in the United States.
"Adopting energy-efficient cooling and heating equipment helps our customers save on energy costs that come with owning a home," said Scott Boose, CEO ARS/Rescue Rooter. "By embracing energyefficient cooling and heating equipment, we can significantly reduce our energy consumption, and help our customers save money."
The top five cities and regions in America that have adopted energy-efficient equipment are Riverside, Calif., and the surrounding Inland Empire; San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Seattle, Wash.; and Alexandria, Va.
The top 25 energy efficient cities and regions in America are:
Riverside, Calif.
San Antonio, Texas
Cincinnati, Ohio
Seattle, Wash.
Alexandria, Va.
Houston, Texas
Orange County, Calif.
Kansas City, Mo.
Tampa, Fla.
Columbus, Ohio
Chicago, Ill.
Laurel, Md.
Austin, Texas
Memphis, Tenn.
Monmouth County, N.J.
Boston, Mass.
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Atlanta, Ga.
San Francisco, Calif.
Orlando, Fla.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Richmond, Va.
Las Vegas, Nev.
Detroit, Mich.
Vero Beach, Fla.
Energy efficiency is measured in two different ways. The efficiency of an air conditioning unit is typically measured using a metric called Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER.
The efficiency of a furnace is typically measured using a metric called Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE.
In both cases, a higher rating indicates a more efficient unit.
ARS/Rescue Rooter ranked the cities and regions by those with the highest mix of high efficiency units (higher end SEER/AFUE values) relative to the total units installed in that market. The analysis looked at the installation of furnaces with an AFUE rating of 80 or greater and air conditioning units with a SEER rating of 14 or greater in markets where more than 200 air conditioning and heating units were sold during 2022.
The Inflation Reduction Act that was signed in August 2022 provides tax incentives for eligible homeowners to make energy efficient improvements. Homeowners can receive an annual tax credit of up to $3,200 per year for heat pumps, other qualifying HVAC systems and water heaters, and certain other efficiency improvement projects, such as improving insulation.
ARS/Rescue Rooter can help homeowners navigate the incentives created by the new law.
"One of the main purposes of the Inflation Reduction Act is to incentivize making energy efficient improvements to the home," Boose said. "The tax incentives are available immediately, and these benefits combined with seasonal discounts make this the ideal time to contact your local ARS/ Rescue Rooter professional for a comfort assessment."
Based in Memphis, Tenn., privately-owned ARS/ Rescue Rooter is one of the nation's largest providers of air conditioning, heating, electrical, energy-efficient, and plumbing services. Providing exceptional service, the ARS® Network serves both residential and light commercial customers by offering heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation, and ventilation services. Each location has a knowledgeable team of trained specialists who undergo rigorous training and background checks. Further, ARS/Rescue Rooter has longstanding strategic partnerships with industryleading suppliers and retailers to efficiently service consumers. For more information and a complete list of our locations nationwide, visit ars.com.