SB American News Week Ending 10/23

VP Kamala Harris Unveils Extensive Agenda for Black Men, Promises Wealth-Building and Opportunity as Election Nears

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Harris’s detailed plan appears to offer Black men a vision of leadership, opportunity, and economic empowerment, which she argues is essential for the future of Black communities. She believes investing in education, health, and wealth-building would help address systemic inequities and build a path to prosperity for Black men nationwide.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an extensive agenda designed to dismantle systemic barriers and foster new opportunities for Black men across America. The agenda, announced on October 14, spotlights wealth-building, health equity, criminal justice reform, and expanded education and job training access. Her plan follows recent controversial remarks by former President Barack Obama, who addressed concerns about voter turnout among Black men and stressed the importance of participating in the election.

Obama’s comments in Pittsburgh were roundly criticized as scapegoating Black men, though he emphasized the high stakes of the 2024 election, noting that some African American males might hesitate to vote. He suggested that part of the reluctance could stem from discomfort with the idea of a woman president. Harris’s plan aims to address the specific needs of Black men, with initiatives focused on financial empowerment, healthcare, and education.

Forgivable Loans and Wealth Creation

Harris’s economic plan centers on wealth-building and supporting Black entrepreneurship. Her administration would provide one million forgivable loans, each up to $20,000, to help Black men and others who have faced significant barriers to starting a business. By partnering with community banks and missiondriven lenders, Harris aims to make capital accessible to Black entrepreneurs looking to launch or expand businesses in fields ranging from technology to landscaping and beyond.

Additionally, Harris has proposed a significant expansion of the Small Business Startup Tax Deduction, increasing it from $5,000 to $50,000, which would allow Black entrepreneurs to offset startup costs. She also plans to boost access to venture capital, low-interest loans, and incubators specifically for Blackowned businesses. Recognizing that Black entrepreneurs are frequently denied credit, Harris’s plan includes reforms to expand affordable banking services and

crack down on hidden fees that inhibit wealth accumulation in Black communities.

Pathways to High-Demand Jobs and Expanded Education Access

Harris’s agenda promotes education, training, and mentorship programs to equip Black men with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand fields. Her plan emphasizes registered apprenticeships and credentialing programs, which would provide hands-on training for jobs in sectors like cybersecurity, renewable energy, and healthcare. She also seeks to eliminate unnecessary college degree requirements for 500,000 federal jobs, making these roles more accessible to Black men who may not have pursued higher education.

To increase the representation of Black male teachers—a crucial role model for young Black students—Harris said she plans to invest in teacher training programs through the Department of Education. By collaborating with HBCUs and MSIs, the Democratic presidential nominee hopes to build a pipeline for Black male educators, addressing the severe underrepresentation in this profession, where only 1% of teachers are Black men. Research has shown that Black students benefit academically and socially when they have Black

male teachers, yet structural barriers have prevented many from entering the field. Harris also supports the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to attract and retain Black male teachers, ensuring they have a pathway to long-term careers in education.

Financial Protections in the Digital Economy

Harris’s plan includes protections for Black men who invest in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, acknowledging that over 20% of Black Americans have owned these assets. Among her goals is establishing a regulatory framework to safeguard digital investments, ensuring that Black men are protected as they participate in the burgeoning digital economy. The framework would set standards to protect investors from fraud and provide educational resources on digital asset management.

Health Equity and Addressing Medical Debt

Health equity remains a cornerstone of Harris’s agenda. She has introduced a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black men, which would address high rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, prostate cancer, and sickle cell disease. Harris proposes capping insulin

costs at $35 per month and limiting out-of-pocket expenses on prescription drugs to $2,000 annually. Additionally, she said she would expand funding for sickle cell research and build a national database to improve prevention and treatment.

To tackle the burden of medical debt, which disproportionately affects Black men, Harris proposes removing medical debt from credit reports and working with states to relieve outstanding medical debt. The effort would help Black men access better credit, opening doors for homeownership and business financing.

Criminal Justice Reform and Economic Opportunities in Legal Cannabis

The vice president also has committed to legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level, which she argues will reduce incarceration rates for Black men and create economic opportunities in the emerging cannabis industry. By working with Congress to ensure the safe cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana, Harris would remove longstanding barriers that have disproportionately impacted Black men. Her plan would establish pathways for Black men to access licenses and jobs in the legal cannabis sector, providing a chance to

build wealth in a market that has historically excluded them.

Affordable Housing, Homeownership, and Financial Literacy

Harris further proposes building three million affordable housing units during her first term to address the housing crisis.

She would offer up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, aiming to triple the number of new Black homeowners annually by the end of her term. The initiative would specifically target those who have been unable to buy homes due to a lack of generational wealth, which disproportionately affects Black families.

Still, another facet of her plan would tackle racial bias in home appraisals, a pervasive issue that often results in undervalued properties in majority-Black neighborhoods. Her proposal would mandate training and accountability measures for appraisers to ensure that Black homeowners receive fair property valuations, helping to close the racial wealth gap.

Community Events and Outreach

As part of her outreach to Black men, the Harris-Walz campaign is launching several community-centered events. The “Black Men Huddle Up”

initiative will feature NFL and NCAA watch parties in battleground states, where Black men can discuss the upcoming election and its implications for their communities. In addition, the campaign will host a series of Economic Freedom Talks, with notable Black entrepreneurs discussing strategies for business growth and financial independence. Harris’s team is ramping up its Shop Talk series, Brother to Brother canvass events, and launching new testimonial ads to reach Black voters in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.

In Stark Contrast to Trump’s Agenda

Harris’s proposals directly counter Donald Trump’s Project 2025, which she argues would dismantle progress for Black communities. Trump’s plan includes:

Reinstating stop-and-frisk practices.

Cutting funding for urban education.

Eliminating critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which many Black families rely on.

Harris’s agenda seeks to offer Black men a comprehensive path to economic stability and success, positioning her as the candidate dedicated to addressing their unique challenges.

Harris’s detailed plan appears to offer Black men a vision of leadership, opportunity, and economic empowerment, which she argues is essential for the future of Black communities. She believes investing in education, health, and wealthbuilding would help address systemic inequities and build a path to prosperity for Black men nationwide.

“Donald Trump could care less about equipping hardworking Americans with the tools needed to get ahead,” campaign cochair Cedric Richmond stated. “While Vice President Harris is promising to equip Black men with the tools needed to pursue our dreams and aspirations, Donald Trump is promising Black men in America a national nightmare.”

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. Photo: @kamalaharris on Instagram.

How Head Start Shaped My Life

NNPA NEWSWIRE — My Head Start classroom was a warm environment that affirmed me as a learner. That affirmation has influenced my journey from Head Start to public media president.

By BlackPress of America

Head Start alumnus Duchesne Drew is senior vice president of American Public Media Group and president of Minnesota Public Radio. Duchesne’s career has been punctuated with several accolades: In 2021, he was inducted into the Hall of Achievement at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism; he received the 2022 Spurgeon Award for Outstanding Community Leaders; and in 2022, he was named to The Root 100, an annual list of the most influential Black Americans in the fields of arts, community, business, entertainment, media, and politics. He shared how Head Start played a role in his life.

I’m incredibly proud to lead

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). I’m energized by expanding the circle of people who depend on our news, information, and music programming. Our ‘going deeper’ approach helps the public to bridge gaps and form connections through meaningful community engagement and listening experiences. My professional and learning journeys started with Head Start. I remember attending the Head Start program on Pitkin Avenue in East New York, a section of Brooklyn. I have vivid memories of my mother walking me there. My Head Start classroom was a warm environment that affirmed me as a learner. That affirmation has influenced my journey from Head Start to public media president.

After Head Start, I attended Public School #159 for the first grade, and near the end of that school year, my mother and I moved to Freeport, New York, on Long Island. My mom always seemed to be a step ahead, and to ensure I didn’t experience learning loss; she bought the firstgrade reading and math books from the school before we moved

California Students Make Progress in Key Academic Areas, But Challenges Remain

On Oct. 10, the California Department of Education released its 2023-24 statewide assessment results showing promising but gradual progress within some key academic areas. The report highlights improvements, especially among Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, while overall scores remain below prepandemic levels. Overall, the percentage of students statewide meeting or exceeding standards in English language arts (ELA) was 47%, up from 46.7% last year. Those reaching proficiency in mathematics were at 35.5%, from 34.6%. Science scores rose from 30.2% to 30.7%. Black/ African American students showed the most improvement in third-grade math, with scores increasing by 0.9 percentage points. Socioeconomically disadvantaged students also saw notable gains, with a 1.5% increase in ELA and a 2.1% gain in math.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond praised the efforts of California’s schools and students, saying, “I commend California’s students and educators for their hard work and continued growth in academic achievement across the state. We know the high potential of all California’s students, and we still have a ways to go to ensure that every child is supported to build strong academic skills and access a bright future.”

Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the State Board of Education, emphasized

the importance of continued investment in student success.

“Today’s results suggest that California’s public schools are making encouraging gains in all of the key subject areas, and these gains are largest for our most vulnerable groups of students,” she said.

Despite the progress, overall student performance remains a concern. Vernon M. Billy, CEO of the California School Boards Association, stressed the need for more rapid and widespread improvement. “Despite incremental improvement of less than half a percentage point in English Language Arts (ELA) and less than one percentage point in Mathematics, overall student performance remains below prepandemic levels — which were already unacceptable,” Billy said.

He also expressed concern over the sustainability of improvements as COVID-19 relief funds expire in 2025, which provided critical support for interventions like tutoring and expanded learning programs. "It’s high time the state’s investment and focus match our rhetoric, so California schools can prepare all students, regardless of background, for success in college, career, and civic life,” Billy concluded. Maintaining momentum beyond the pandemic will require continued investment and innovation to close the persistent achievement gaps affecting California’s most vulnerable students.

and the second-grade books. I spent the rest of the school year and summer completing the lessons in those books. When I began second grade in my new school, those same books were the texts for the year, meaning I was well ahead! I was a top performer for the remainder of my primary and secondary school years. I graduated from Freeport High School in the top 10% of my class and was accepted into three Ivy League schools. I decided to attend Columbia University to take advantage of being in New York City and remain close to home. While there, I volunteered with and worked for Upward Bound, one of the federal TRiO programs. TRiO programs identify and support high school students from historically marginalized communities as they progress through school and prepare for college. As part of my time with Upward Bound, I saw firsthand the difference that the wraparound approach makes in the lives of students and their families. When I reminisce about the program’s impact on our students, I also

think of Head Start and how it offers wraparound services to children and families to provide the support they need while on the journey to self-sufficiency.

After completing my undergraduate studies, I worked at Columbia University as a development officer for Upward Bound and its sister program, Talent Search, for a few years, successfully securing program funding. I then earned a master’s degree at Northwestern University, focusing on journalism. While I was in graduate school, I got an internship with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, one of the nation’s largest newspapers. From that internship, I landed a permanent reporting role and ultimately rose to managing editor of operations with oversight for the copy and design desks, IT, recruitment, training, and more. This experience was an excellent foundation for my future path.

After a five-year stint as a vice president of a local foundation, I was hired to lead MPR in early 2020, and I’ve been here ever since.

I’m incredibly proud to be a part of MPR. I’m energized by expanding the circle of people who depend on our news, information, and music programming. Our ‘going deeper’ approach helps the public to bridge gaps and form connections through meaningful community engagement and listening experiences.

When I look for the common thread throughout my life’s journey, it’s been a collection of intentional investments in my potential that have shaped me into who I am today. Head Start is one of those investments.

Mikki Cichocki Talks About School Board Achievements On Inland Empire Alive

Cichocki points out that today’s children need the opportunity to be children, play, and make friends. “It’s important to teach our students that relationships matter,” Cichocki says. They need the skills to build strong relationships with colleagues, peers, and adults.”

Mikki Cichocki, a candidate for the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board, discusses her background and accomplishments on the school board in an interview with host David Brady on Inland Empire Alive. Watch the interview at: https://youtu.be/4vAfc7EbLTU?si=0i1MUajJftWgM_CY. SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.— Mikki Cichocki, board member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, discusses her long tenure with San Bernardino schools, her family’s long legacy of teaching, and her priorities for students and campuses. Watch the interview at: https://youtu. be/4vAfc7EbLTU?si=x2BwQy64pfDKt6m

“All San Bernardino education community members, including parents, must have their voices heard. Decisions about funding and setting priorities need to be aired and discussed openly to reach a consensus on actions to take,” Cichocki said.

Cichocki’s interest in education can be traced back to her parents, both teachers in

San Bernardino. She grew up in the area and attended public schools until the 10th grade at San Bernardino High School, where her mother taught, which caused some awkward moments! She graduated from Aquinas High School.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Cal Poly Pomona. After working for Xerox for three years, she attempted to return to Cal Poly but couldn’t get all the classes she wanted. She was working as a teacher’s aide and signed up to be a substitute teacher. “After one day in the classroom, I was hooked,” she told IE Live host David Brady.

During her career with the district, she taught elementary

Mikki Cichocki Talks About School Board Achievements On Inland Empire Alive...continued and middle school classes at several San Bernardino schools and loved it. Cichocki transitioned from teaching to working in Youth Services because she saw it “...as the way to continue helping students by having the resources they need for success.”

Asked what challenges today’s students face that her generation never had to deal with, Cichocki immediately said social media. “It never turns off. Kids today are under constant pressure. It’s addictive and easy to hide behind. It leads to bullying and other problems. Kids feel they need to grow up faster.”

Cichocki points out that today’s children need the opportunity to be children, play, and make friends. “It’s important to teach our students that relationships matter,” Cichocki says. They need the skills to build strong

relationships with colleagues, peers, and adults.”

Two years ago, she retired from the district’s Positive Youth Development department, where she led efforts to work with at-risk students, helping them develop positive attitudes and keeping them from becoming involved with law enforcement and subsequently stigmatized. She also serves on the California Association of Youth Courts board and previously served as Secretary-Treasurer of the California Teachers Association. In that position, she built coalitions with educational programs and resources. Learn more about the district, schools, and initiatives at https:// www.sbcusd.com. For more information on Mikki Cichocki, visit https://www.facebook.com/ Mikki4SBCUSD.

On Your November Ballot: Prop 35 Would Make an Existing Tax on Managed Health Care Plans Permanent

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Prop 35 would make the state pay doctors more money for treating patients who are covered by Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal program Medicaid, and fund other health care services, including community clinics, hospitals, ERs, family planning, and mental health providers.

Managed care organizations contract with the state to provide these health benefits. The state taxes these organizations to help pay for the Medi-Cal program. This measure would require the state to use a portion of that tax money to increase how much Medi-Cal pays doctors.

While Medi-Cal coverage has expanded significantly over the past 10 years, payments to doctors and other providers have not kept pace. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, California’s reimbursement rate is in the bottom third nationally.

Because of this, many providers won’t treat Medi-Cal patients.

Supporters of the proposition argue that tax revenue from the Managed Care Organization Tax (which historically has offset fund spending on MediCal) should be spent for new

investments in Medi-Cal rather than the general fund to ensure providers are properly compensated for the expanded services they’re expected to cover. Over the next four years, this tax is projected to generate upwards of $35 billion.

California Black Media spoke with Francisco Silva, CEO of the California Primary Care Association, who has been an avid supporter of Prop 35.

“It's a generational opportunity to make timely access to care reality in California. We've done a wonderful job of expanding coverage, expanding benefits, and we're still having challenges in the state to make sure people can see a physician, a nurse, timely to care in the emergency room and it's because the lack of stable funding. So, it's an opportunity to secure access for funding for health care the way it was meant to be.”

More than 15 million Californians are enrolled in MediCal, representing more than one third of the state’s population. However, the lack of funding for medical professionals creates a lack in service that can have devastating impacts on patients who need care immediately.

“In some areas of the state, wait times to get a mammogram for instance is six months a year. That's the difference between life and death for many people,” Silva noted. “Prop 35 would allocate billions of dollars to expand access for specialists, it would fund the workforce and

Duchesne Drew

Photo Credit by Jacob Wackerhause

Antonio Ray Harvey, Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Thursday, October 17,

35 Years After Loma Prieta, California Readies Communities for Next Big Earthquake

With the next big earthquake overdue, new state initiatives are giving Californians unprecedented ways to protect themselves.

By Selen Ozturk

With the next big earthquake overdue, new state initiatives are giving Californians unprecedented ways to protect themselves.

With the 35th anniversary of the devastating Loma Prieta Earthquake upcoming this October 17, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is rolling out measures including a first-in-the-nation earthquake early warning system, a Great ShakeOut preparedness drill, multilingual education and an earthquake detection app.

Loma Prieta was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the Greater San Francisco Bay Area in 1989, killing 63 people, injuring 3,757 and wreaking an estimated $5.6 to $6 billion in damages — equal to $13.8 to $14.7 billion today.

Within the next 30 years, there’s a 72% chance that a similar earthquake measuring 6.7 will hit the Bay Area; 51% chance of an earthquake measuring 7; and 20% chance of an earthquake measuring 7.5, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.

For the Los Angeles region, estimates are 60% for an earthquake measuring 6.7; 46% for an earthquake measuring 7; and 31% for an earthquake measuring 7.5.

“However, earthquakes remain unpredictable. It really is hard, despite all our scientific advances, to reputably predict earthquakes and the billions in damage they can cause,” said Amy Palmer, deputy director of crisis communications for Cal OES.

“You may have lived through

or seen some of the horrifying images of freeways and homes collapsing 35 years ago … We never want to take for granted that Californians know what to do when the shaking starts,” she added. “As we’re facing more — and varied — disasters in California, the bright spot is that it’s never been easier to get life-saving information through events like the Great ShakeOut.”

The Great ShakeOut

This year’s Great ShakeOut, an annual international earthquake preparedness drill, will happen throughout California at 10:17 a.m. on Thursday, October 17, the 35th anniversary of Loma Prieta.

Over 9.6 million people have already registered statewide, and over 52 million worldwide.

“That’s nearly 10 million souls practicing to save their lives, and we’re expecting to surpass our largest-ever count with a few more million this next week,” said José Lara, CalOES Seismic Hazards Branch manager.

Those in San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacrameento may also prepare for earthquakes one-on-one through CalOES on-site tours held at UC San Diego on October 14; youth reentry nonprofit Homeboy Industries on October 15; and CSU Sacramento on October 16.

“We’re focusing on schools and youth areas because we find that in high-risk, vulnerable communities who need these preparedness messages most, whenever we’re able to reach the children, parents often get prepared as well,” said Lara.

Each tour stop will feature a 7.0 magnitude earthquake simulator “that we won’t allow anybody to stand up in, because it does such a realistic job that we truly feel that there would be an injury,” he continued.

“Whenever people who have never experienced a very strong shake steep out of the simulator, they ask: ‘What’s the best thing I could do to prepare today?’”

‘Drop, cover and hold’

When the big shake comes, Cal OES recommends dropping to the floor, taking cover from falling or flying objects and holding on to something steady.

“In footage of an earthquake, there’s often a moment where people freeze and don’t know the right thing to do, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to combat,” said Lara. “The best thing to do is drop, cover and hold on.”

The 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake of 1994, for instance, killed 57 people and injured over 8,700 in the Los Angeles area, with damages estimated between $13 and $50 billion.

Yet, 55% of human injuries were caused by falling furniture or objects, while only 1% were caused by building damage.

“It’s no longer the guidance that we ask you to stand beneath a doorway or leave the building as soon as possible. Most injuries come from that,” Lara explained.

“That guidance comes from decades ago, before most of our buildings were designed to ‘Life Safety Codes,’ which mean that the building will let you survive

with minimal injuries.”

Resources for the future

“Unlike other weather-driven scenarios, earthquakes aren’t predictable, but technology is giving us unprecedented opportunities to be ready,” said Sonya Harris, senior advisor of Cal OES disaster preparedness campaign Listos California.

Among this new technology is the California Earthquake Early Warning System, the first of its kind in the nation, launched in 2019 and since improved to send alerts up to 30 seconds before an earthquake occurs.

So far, Californians have received millions of alerts, largely through the MyShake app — which is free, available in the state’s top six languages and offers preparedness tips alongside alerts.

For privacy or battery protection, users can opt to share their zip code rather than their location, which the app never saves.

More earthquake preparedness resources are available in 14 languages through Listos California.

“We also encourage everyone to enable emergency and local awareness alerts in their phone settings — but our future is one where no one has to download an app at all to receive an alert, one where earthquake early warning systems will be where fire alerts and automatic sprinklers now are in buildings,” said Lara.

“There will come a time when, if you’re working in a factory and an earthquake occurs, the assembly line will automatically turn off, the turbines on our dams will immediately shut down and we can cut off traffic through a bridge before the shaking arrives,” he continued.

“There’s often a myth that it takes more time or money than we thought to be prepared — but all these resources are free and take moments to connect to,” added Harris. “We’re honoring those we’ve lost to earthquakes, and how far we’ve come to have these seconds that will save lives.”

Asm. Mike Gipson: Calif. Ports Need Dedicated Funding From State Budget

Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, said the state must provide seaports permanent funding for them to run optimally and remain competitive.

“We have yet to see dedicated, ongoing, consistent money allocated to our ports from our state budget,” said Gipson during a news conference held at the State Capitol. In August, Gipson released an interim report that features California ports’ crucial role in the state and national economy.

The 52-page “Chair’s Interim Report” includes an observation of the most critical issues facing

the goods movement sector and lays out a blueprint to keep the state’s 11 ports competitive in a complicated and constantly shifting environment.

Gipson stressed that foremost among priorities is the need for the state to continue investing in docking places for cargo ships.

“We are still happy to make sure these ports are not left behind and not neglected,” Gipson said at the news conference. “We still see today that our ports are fighting to have allocations from our federal partners and federal dollars. This report elevates that we need our fair share,” he added.

Over the past year, the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement toured the state’s 11

public ports and hosted numerous hearings on the state of the ports.

Gipson was first appointed chair by former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).

When Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) replaced Rendon as speaker, he asked Gipson to continue as Chair.

“The final tour stop for the Select Committee was the port of San Diego last spring.

The tour highlighted the port’s efforts in green and sustainable operations,” Gipson told California Black Media (CBM). The tour gave select committee members a breakdown of all of the possibilities the port has to create for economic vitality and growth.

“It’s important that California

Asm. Mike Gipson: Calif. Ports Need Dedicated Funding From State Budget....continued

investments” as well as maintaining “regional and national economic benefits.”

According to the report, the states’ ports drive trade and tourism, supporting millions of good-paying jobs; they are the cleanest in the nation and, by many measures, in the world; and the ports play a key role in local, regional and national emergency readiness.

In addition, the Chair’s report provides details that the market share of California ports has consistently declined since 2006, federal funds obtained by Californian ports are disproportionately low, and environmental challenges of decarbonization, reducing localized air pollution impacts, and maintaining clean water are negatively impacting California ports.

“It’s been made painfully clear that we need to do everything possible to elevate ports in the state of California,” Gipson told CBM. “I for one believe that the pandemic underscored why ports are essential to California.”

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom invested $27 million in 10 innovative projects at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, and Hueneme, “the busiest ports in the nation,” Gipson said during the news conference.

The projects include a range of solutions including maximization of cargo routing, distribution of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, emissions reduction measures, trucking appointment systems, and the development of new data systems for cargo.

Representatives from The California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) praised the governor for allocating funds for projects that advance the ports’ objectives to improve the state’s supply chain.

CAPA consists of 11 major deepwater port authorities across our state. Since 1940, CAPA’s mission has been educating state and federal policymakers on port operations.

“These critical funds will

establish more coordination across the supply chain at a time when the global economy is counting on California Ports,” said CAPA President Kristine Zortman.

In May, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced a $112 million federal investment in that the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (San Pedro Ports) will receive more than $112 million through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program for critical construction upgrades, operations and maintenance activities.

“The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach move 40 percent of the nation’s container imports, transporting the goods that power our economy,” said Padilla. The report outlines the importance of ports up and down the state, Gipson said. They all serve a function whether they are located on the coast or inland. The Port of San Pedro encompasses the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. About 30% of imports filter through these main ports alone, Gipson said.

The Port of Humboldt Bay, 225 miles north of San Francisco, is in the process of building the largest “Wind Farm” on the West Coast, Gipson shared.

Gipson says he learned that the Port of Oakland uploads and discharges more than 99% of the containerized goods moving through Northern California. Oakland’s cargo capacity was the ninth busiest container port in the country based on the 2023 calendar year. The inland ports cities of West Sacramento and Stockton have “unique” harbor facilities that relieve congestions and facilitate distribution to inland destinations in the Sacramento and Central Valley regions, Gipson told CBM at the State Capitol.

“Each and every port in California plays a vital role and contributes to our supply chain. Not one port in California is more important than the next,” Gipson said. “Each and every port is essential to moving forward and essential to making sure California is the 5th largest economy in the world.”

Study Confirms California’s $20/Hour Fast Food Wage Raises Pay Without Job Losses

Antonio Ray Harvey, Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Tanu Henry | California Black Media

A new study from Harvard Kennedy School and the University of California, San Francisco, says that California’s $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers has led to significant pay increases without causing reductions in jobs, work hours, or benefits. The findings, based on data collected since the wage law took effect in April 2024, show that fast food workers across the state experienced hourly wage increases of at least $2.50, with the number of workers earning less than $20 per hour dropping by 60 percentage points.

policymakers support efficient, modern, and sustainable maritime operations while we reduce emissions to improve environmental and public health in our communities,” stated Frank Urtasun, chairman of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

One of the most significant findings and policy recommendations summarized in the report is the need to understand the standard operations of the ports.

The report states that a “failure to maintain competitiveness” could result in an “inability to afford climate and modernization

“We find no evidence that wage increases had unintended consequences on staffing, scheduling, or wage theft,” the study reports. The researchers found that work hours were stable on a week-to-week basis, and there was no reduction in employee benefits, such as health insurance or paid time off. Instead, the fast-food industry added 11,000 jobs between April and July 2024, bringing the total number of fast-food jobs in the state to 750,500 -- the highest level on record.

The study contradicts claims from the fast-food industry, which had expressed concerns that the wage increase would mean layoffs, a cut in service hours, and an increase in menu prices. However, the study found no significant changes in employment levels, work schedules, or benefits. According to the report some challenges, like underemployment and unpredictable scheduling, remain but existed prior to the wage hike. Gov. Gavin Newsom has previously voiced strong support for the wage increase, saying, “We’re ensuring that workers in fast food -- the backbone of many families -- can actually afford to live in the communities where they work.”

The study’s findings align with earlier research from UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, which showed no significant reduction in employment and only a modest increase in menu prices.

The study’s results highlight that California’s approach to raising the minimum wage has delivered higher pay for workers without the negative effects some had predicted, providing economic stability for thousands of fast-food workers across the state.

Assembly Bill 1228, authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), not only raised the minimum wage to $20 per hour but also established the Fast-Food Council to oversee wages, working conditions, and health and safety standards for fast food workers. During the signing of AB 1228, Holden stated, “We did not just raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour for fast food workers. We helped a father or mother feed their children, we helped a student put gas in their car, and helped a grandparent get their grandchild a birthday gift”

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Graph illustrating the flow of goods from ports to consumers.Courtesy of the Public Policy Institute of California.

Meeting the Demand: The Essential Role of Current and Future Health Professionals

United Health Foundation Diversity in Health Care Scholarship Applications Due October 31,

2024

By Anne Yau Senior Vice President, Social Responsibility, UnitedHealth Group and President, United Health Foundation

Experience shows that when patients receive care from health providers who speak their language or understand their cultural needs, they are more responsive and engaged. This can lead to better health outcomes, as patients feel safe and trust their health care providers.

A young man, deeply connected to his Native American heritage from a young age, spent part of his childhood on a reservation. There, he accessed medical care through the Indian Health Service and witnessed the positive impact of culturally relevant care firsthand. After completing his undergraduate degree, he became an orthopedic scribe at a clinic near a Navajo reservation and is now pursuing a medical degree.

A young woman, inspired by her mother’s journey from Haiti to America in 1992 and her dedication to caring for her grandfather with prostate cancer, decided to pursue a career in health care. Now studying to become a registered nurse, she is determined to advance her career by focusing on maternal and infant health, areas where significant health disparities persist.

Both are advancing their clinical careers with support from the United Health Foundation’s

Diversity in Health Care Scholarship program. Motivated by the desire to serve patients with similar backgrounds, they are committed to supporting their communities by providing culturally responsive care.

Since the program launched in 2022, the United Health Foundation has provided scholarships to nearly 2,000 health professionals and students from diverse backgrounds. This initiative is part of their commitment to making the health care system work better for everyone. Through the Diversity in Health Care Scholarship program, the United Health Foundation aims to support 10,000 current and future clinicians by 2033.

The scholarship is available to historically underrepresented health professionals, helping them advance their clinical degrees or credentials. Scholars come from various clinical fields, including nursing, mental health, physical therapy, dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine.

The United Health Foundation’s Diversity in Health Care Scholarship program offers scholarships to current and aspiring health professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds who aim to make a difference in health care. Committed to expanding a diverse health care workforce, the United Health Foundation provides scholarships to support the professionals.

If you or someone you know is a health care professional looking to further advance their clinical degree or credentials, encourage them to apply for a $3,200 scholarship by visiting https://scholarshipamerica.org/ unitedhealthfoundation/

The Hidden Toll of Abortion Bans on Vulnerable Populations

By Sylvia Ghazarian

The surge of abortion bans sweeping the United States has ignited fierce debates about the rights of pregnant people and bodily autonomy. However, one critical dimension often overlooked is the devastating impacts on survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV), as well as the alarming rise in suicide rates among young individuals. Moreover, these effects are not uniformly distributed since BIPOC communities bear a disproportionate burden.

For survivors of IPV, the ability to access abortion is not merely a matter of choice but of survival. Domestic violence often involves reproductive coercion, where abusers manipulate contraception or force pregnancy to entrap their partners further. Access to abortion can be a crucial means for these individuals to regain control over their lives and break free from abusive relationships. Without the option to terminate unwanted pregnancies, survivors are often forced to remain tethered to their abusers, exacerbating their risk of continued violence and psychological trauma.

Studies have shown that women who experience IPV are more likely to have unintended pregnancies, and those who carry these pregnancies to term face increased risks of continued abuse. Abortion bans not only strip away a fundamental right but also effectively condemn many to continued abuse and suffering.

Compounding this issue is

Thursday, October 17, 2024

The

Hidden Toll of Abortion Bans on Vulnerable Populations...continued

can induce severe anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness.

A study by JAMA Psychiatry found that the suicide rate among women of reproductive age increased in states with restrictive abortion laws compared to those without. The correlation between restrictive reproductive laws and mental health crises cannot be ignored. The inability to access abortion services exacerbates feelings of entrapment and despair, pushing some to the tragic brink of suicide.

The impact of these bans is not felt equally across all demographics. Black and Hispanic women face significant barriers to healthcare, including reproductive services, due to factors like lower income, lack of insurance, limited access to clinics and systemic racism within the healthcare system. Data from the Guttmacher Institute reveal that Black women are more than three times as likely as white women to experience unintended pregnancies, and Hispanic women more than twice as likely.

Moreover, Black and Hispanic women are statistically more

likely to experience IPV, and restrictive abortion laws compound their vulnerabilities.

Culturally competent care for survivors of IPV and sexual assault is also critically lacking as many law enforcement officers and healthcare providers are not adequately trained to recognize or respond to the unique needs of survivors, particularly those from minority communities. Gaps in care further marginalize survivors, making it harder for them to receive the support and services they desperately need.

The need for a nuanced understanding of the impacts of abortion bans is urgent. These laws do not exist in a vacuum; they intersect with issues of domestic violence, mental health, and racial inequality.

Policymakers must recognize that abortion bans are a public health crisis. Ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services is critical to protecting the well-being and autonomy of all people. It is imperative that we continue to advocate for policies that uphold reproductive rights and provide comprehensive support for those affected by these draconian measures.

Go o sb-american.com to read the latest stories or to upload legal publications

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State Continues Proactive Testing for Human Cases of Bird Flu; Reports 6 Confirmed and 5 Possible Cases

New possible cases identified over three-day stretch following direct contact with infected dairy cows in Central Valley

State/Health News

the pervasive disbelief faced by those who report domestic violence, IPV, or sexual assault. Survivors often find themselves subjected to intense scrutiny and skepticism, further traumatizing them. High-profile cases like those of Harvey Weinstein, E. Jean Carroll, O.J. Simpson, and Sean “Diddy” Combs highlight how survivors are often discredited and harassed throughout legal processes -- just imagine what it is like for those cases that are not high profile. What is common in all cases is a societal bias that frequently questions the credibility of survivors rather than holding perpetrators accountable.

WRRAP funds over 21% of cases of IPV and these cases are increasing and tragically becoming more common: “I just had a child and was in a very toxic abusive relationship… I had no access to make money, no access to work or leave the house, no cell phone access, or car access, no friends, no nothing. He was mentally abusive and when things started to get worse, and he tried to get physical we immediately called the police and left and then found out I was pregnant again.”

The psychological toll of forced pregnancies and the stress of navigating restrictive abortion laws contribute significantly to the rising suicide rates among young individuals. The prospect of being forced to carry an unintended pregnancy to term

What You Need to Know: CDPH continues to work with federal, state and local partners to monitor and respond to human cases of bird flu in the state. The risk to the general public remains low, although individuals who interact with infected animals are at higher risk of getting bird flu.

SACRAMENTO – As California continues to proactively test symptomatic individuals for bird flu, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that new possible positive human bird flu cases have been identified in the Central Valley since last Friday. To date, the state has identified six confirmed and five possible human cases. The individuals had direct contact with infected dairy cattle at nine different farms.

The five possible human cases are pending confirmatory testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to shipping delays late last week, and today’s federal holiday, the possible (or presumptive positive) specimens are expected to arrive at the CDC early this week.

Given the amount of exposure to infected cows, evidence

continues to suggest only animalto-human spread of the virus in California. Additionally, based on CDC’s genomic sequencing of three California bird flu cases, there is no evidence to suggest an increased ability for the virus to infect or spread between people and no known reduced susceptibility to antiviral medications.

All individuals with confirmed or possible cases of bird flu have experienced mild symptoms, including eye redness or discharge (conjunctivitis), and have been treated according to CDC guidance. None of the individuals have been hospitalized.

While the risk to the general public remains low, additional human cases of bird flu are expected to be identified and confirmed in California among individuals who have regular contact with infected dairy cattle. CDPH continues to work closely with local health jurisdictions to identify, track, test, confirm, and treat possible and confirmed human cases of bird flu.

More information on CDPH’s response can be found at CDPH’s Bird Flu website and in recent CDPH news releases.

No Sacrifice Zones

Tracy Howe

A sacrifice zone is a geographic area that has been permanently impaired by state-sanctioned environmental devastation and/ or organized abandonment.

Sacrifice zones exist across Mother Earth already. Some examples include mountaintop removal and open pit mines— open wounds that won’t heal— industrial farming poisoning the water in her veins and all life that depends on water, exploitative mining killing the children sent to pull lithium and other minerals from her bones in Congo, and mostly Black and Brown communities suffering lead poisoning and cancer in the abandoned industrial zones of the United States from Flint, Michigan to St. James Parish, Louisiana.

Sacrifice zones are considered the necessary collateral of colonization and capitalismdriven technological advances. It is ecocide. It is genocide. And the sacrifice zones are growing in number as colonization and capitalism drive scarcity and militarization and it all collides in our lifetime with climate collapse. Where I live in southern Arizona, entire mountains, watersheds, sacred land of the Apache people at Oak Flat, and critical migratory passageways for endangered birds and panthers alike, will be utterly and completely destroyed for copper and lithium so the same companies that drove the oil boom can now profit on the green energy boom and we don’t have to imagine different, more life-giving ways of being.

We will continue to fight for justice and change, and to heal our relationships with one another and the land, but sacrifice zones are already a growing reality and they are anti-Christ. Perhaps you do not live in an area threatened by numerous mining projects like I do in southern Arizona, but organized abandonment also looks like disaster zones that go unserved because the state

“Distractions,

invests billions in militarization and defunds critical infrastructure and emergency services.

As disciples of Jesus we are called to care for living and dying relationships, offering our prayerful, pastoral and transformative presence through every season, struggle, and celebration. We are called to build community and life in places under imminent threat of becoming, or in the process of becoming, or the already existing, so-called sacrifice zones.

Psalm 9:9 God is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

What is a stronghold amidst the oppression and trouble of our time? I believe it is people who refuse to abandon one another, who lean into responsibility and solidarity (radical dependence), and do not flee the trouble. It is the Apache Stronghold coalition of people praying and defending land, water, and air. It is Palestinians, suffering genocide in Gaza, refusing to let their stories go unheard or to stop caring for one another though they are cut off and abandoned by the world. It is mutual aid groups giving people the means to survive in the aftermath of a hurricane, or the war zones of Sudan. Love is presence. The opposite is abandonment and apathy. We are called, everywhere and always, to love, to be fully present, in prayer and with care, finding abundance in collectivity. That is our sacred intention and attention. In doing so, we find what we all seek and need, belonging and beauty, in spirit, in community, in the world, despite the imminent threats that oppose life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rev. Tracy Howe is the Team Leader and Minister for Faith Education, Innovation and Formation for the United Church of Christ.

Distractions, Distractions!”

By Lou K. Coleman

Jesus said to them, don’t you understand this parable? The deception of distractions?

[Mark 4:1–8; Mark 4: 13-17; Mark 4:21–25; Mark 4:26–32]. All that you are seeing and are hearings are distractions from the real reality. Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise [Ephesians 5:15-16].

Remember what the Weeping Prophet Jeremiah said in the Old Testament [Jeremiah 9:6]… “You live in the midst of deception.”

So be like, Nehemiah and see through their ploy [Nehemiah 6:3]. Let no one deceive you [Matthew 24:4] because distraction from reality will lead you to Hell.

Understand how the devil wages war. First, he will turn your attention from God through distractions, and second, he will make you doubt through deception. Know that distractions and subtleties are one of the major tools that Satan uses to get as many souls that he can. Satan is a master deceiver. He deceived one third of the angels to follow him. He deceived Eve. He deceived Judas and many others. I tell you, we must choose to focus on following the Lord, no matter the distraction.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear [Mark 4:23]. We have a supernatural enemy

whose aim is to use distractions and deceptiveness to make us blind, stupid, and miserable — forever. The Bible calls him “the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world . . . the accuser” [Revelation 12:9–10], “the ruler of this world” [John 12:31], and “the god of this age” [2 Corinthians 4:4]. He is our “adversary who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” [1 Peter 5:8] and yet, in the most appalling and unwitting bondage, the whole world willingly “follows the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” [Ephesians 2:2]. At his most successful, his subjects march obliviously to destruction and take as many with them as they can. Distractions – deceiving, divisive, and deadly!

I admonish you, do not believe everything you see or hear. While we ought not be cynical, we ought to be sober and seek to verify what we see and hear with God’s revealed truth. Do not be deceived.

Life moves very fast. We have only a short time before it’s over. Let us not get caught in the distractions. Be alert and discerning because the Time is Near! God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside [Psalms 53: 2-3].

Jesus Weep!

Distractions - Deceiving, Divisive, and Deadly.

Lou K. Coleman

Anne Yau

submitting a bid, each vendor agrees to bear all of its own costs, fees, expenses, and losses, of any and all kind, should the District cancel the projects.

Firms responding to this Request for Proposal must possess a valid and current E-Rate Service Provider Identification Number (“SPIN”)

Other factors may include total cost/value to district, past performance, ability to start services within specific time frame, ability to provide services to all schools, single vendor to provide all services within a category, vendor qualifications/certifications. All prices and quotations must be typed or written in ink. Proposals written

or all proposals and to accept or reject any items thereon.

COACHELLA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Randy Marroquin

Director, Purchasing

Contact: https://cloud.astihosted.com/CVUSD/dbm/Vendor/Ven_ Default.asp

IMPORTANT DATES:

Published: October 17, 2024 and October 24, 2024

RFI deadline: October 29, 2024 Submittal: December 4, 2024 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper October 17, 24, 2024. Attorney for Petitioner: Don M. Ross II 57382 29 Palms Hwy Yucca Valley, CA 92284 760- 999-2095 Published in The

waiving

costs! (Additional

or estate, or both of: CLARENCE L. VALDEZ A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by PAMELA ANDERSON in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: PAMELA ANDERSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 10/21/2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept: F-2 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 17780 Arrow Boulevard Fontana CA 92335 Fontana District Probate IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the

Interior Department, State of California Break Ground on Salton Sea Rehabilitation Effort Project made possible through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior, the California Natural Resource Agency and other stakeholders today broke ground on the latest phase of the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project funded in part through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

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E G A L / C L A S S I F I E D S G O H E R E

The groundbreaking took place on the shores of the Salton Sea, California’s largest inland lake where the Bureau of Reclamation is investing $250 million through the Inflation Reduction Act over 5 years. The investment began in 2023 to expedite implementation of the state’s 10-year plan for dust suppression and aquatic restoration efforts while enabling urgent water conservation. This ongoing investment compliments an investment of more than $500 million in state funding.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history and provides muchneeded resources to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and the effects of climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act includes an overall $550 million for domestic water supply projects and $4 billion for water conservation and management efforts in the Colorado River Basin and other areas experiencing similar levels of long-term drought. To date, Reclamation has announced 208 drought mitigation projects and 15 domestic water supply projects, totaling $2 billion.

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to making western communities more resilient to the impacts of drought and climate change,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. “With transformational investments from the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, we are collaborating with our partners to strengthen the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System to support families, farmers and Tribes long into the future.”

“It was less than two years ago that we signed a memorandum of understanding for the Salton Sea, and here we are today breaking ground on phase two of the Species Conservation Habitat Project, on the heels of signing the largest water conservation agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “We’re grateful to our partners in the State of California, the Imperial Irrigation District Board, and farmers and growers in the Imperial and Coachella Valley for leading the way for the Sea and the Colorado River Basin.”

Reclamation provided $72 million in fiscal year 2023 to implement projects at the Salton Sea, support capacity for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe, and for the expansion of the Species Conservation Habitat Project, which will provide aquatic habitat for wildlife and dust suppression benefits to protect the local community.

Water users in California committed to conserve 400,000 acre-feet of water annually starting in 2023. Last month, following signing of the Imperial Irrigation District’s system conservation agreement, Reclamation provided an additional $170 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding to the state of California to continue conservation efforts and expansion of the Species Conservation Habitat Project.

To learn more about how Reclamation is supporting the project, visit www. usbr.gov/inflation-reduction-act.

Assemblymember Holden’s Bill Establishing Tyler’s Law in California’s Higher Education Institutions Gets Signed Into Law

Government News

Sacramento, CA – Earlier this month, Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation, Assembly Bill 2193, Tyler’s Law, was signed into law by the Governor. Tyler’s Law will allow for civil action to be brought against an educational institution for an instance of hazing in which an educational institution had direct involvement or should have known of the dangerous hazing practices of an affiliated organization.

“There are endless fatal hazing cases that have happened all across the country spanning decades back,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “No part of participating in the college experience should be deadly and I am glad that we as a state are on the verge of establishing some protections for these students.”

The family of Tyler Hilliard knows all too well the tragedy that can occur from lack of hazing accountability in higher education institutions. A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Tyler’s parents alleges that on September 18, 2018, Tyler, a young man and student at UC Riverside, died while participating in a fraternity hazing incident by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Tyler was 20 years old when he passed away and did not live to see his junior year. His family has been outspoken about the necessity of further oversight and importance of AB 2193.

“Hazing is a prowling culture undermining the values of the community and stifling the voices of those eager to trust. Our son Tyler had the spirit of giving, loving, and an overall sense of pride. Tyler’s Law seeks to put an end to hazing and hold educational institutions and fraternities accountable. STOP the hazing!” - Myeasha Kimble & William Hilliard, Parents of Tyler Hilliard

There have been an influx of dangerous hazing practices within extracurricular groups and campus organizations, and a lackluster effort on the part of many institutions to address it in a preventative manner. As a result, The Indiana United Press recorded that there has been at least one hazing-related death a year between 1961 and 2017. Hazing can include anything from forced alcohol consumption, to physical abuse, public humiliation, and an assortment of other activities that can lead to severe long-term trauma and, too often, death.

“Colleges and universities are in the best position to prevent or intervene to stop hazing on their campuses, and must be held responsible when they fail to take action to protect students from harm,” said Christa Ramey, Consumer Attorneys of California Board Member. “Governor Newsom’s signature on AB 2193 will support the victims of harmful hazing practices in their fight to hold institutions accountable in court.”

Hazing is a detrimental practice that California has characteristically taken seriously through legislation. Assembly Bill 2193 keeps us on that path by holding the educational institutions who promote participation in and benefit from these organizations responsible for the consequences that they may bring to students. This responsibility will hopefully incentivize institutions to bolster their oversight and preventative measures as they pertain to hazing in an effort to save students’ lives.

“As kids in California step into adulthood and seek higher education let’s ensure they are doing so with the support of the state, their families, and the institution where they seek higher learning, knowing that they will come back home in one piece,” said Holden.

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Indigenous Communities Continue to Lead in Some of Our Most Crucial Environmental Fights

By Ben Jealous

Contamination from lead, arsenic, and the other toxins in Tar Creek in northeastern Oklahoma stole the potential of many children of the Quapaw Nation. As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish and the anger. As a lifelong activist for civil and human rights and the environment, I deeply admire the resilience of the Quapaw and the many Indigenous communities with similar stories.

The Tar Creek Superfund site is the first such site to have its clean-up efforts led by an Indigenous tribe. It sits in what was once the Tri-State Mining District, which supplied the lead and zinc for more than 75 percent of the American bullets and shells used in World Wars I and II. Although all mining had been abandoned by the early 1970s, hundreds of mines and boreholes were left open. When water filled the holes, it brought toxic heavy metals to the surface. That contaminated the creek, killed wildlife, and sickened the people who had once known the creek as

a source of water and a gathering place. In 1979, the creek turned bright orange from the iron in the acid mine water reaching the surface. It was a major sign of the environmental damage that had been done and continued to persist.

The mining operations also left heaps of waste known as “chat,” containing lead and other toxic heavy metals. More than 16 tons of chat were left behind for every ton of ore extracted. Before people in the area were aware of the dangers posed by this chat, children would ride their bikes over the chat piles. It even made its way into their sandboxes.

As late as the 1990s, testing by the Indian Health Service showed high blood lead levels in 35 percent of Native American children in the area. One study showed area school children had 11 times the state average for elevated blood lead levels.

Rebecca Jim, who is Cherokee, came to work at the local school system in the Tar Creek area in 1978, the year before the creek turned orange. She recounts, “One of my students had been fishing the day before it happened. The next day all the fish were dead. It was a shock to see it ruined.”

Jim was moved to action by the learning disabilities and other impacts of lead poisoning she witnessed. Her advocacy was key in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designating Tar Creek a Superfund site in 1983. Thirty years later, the Quapaw Nation itself would seize the reins in partnering with the EPA to remediate the site.

The efforts overseen by the

New Drug Pricing Policy Could Raise Costs for Millions

By Ken Thorpe

Healthcare costs are one of Americans' top concerns as we head into election season.

President Joe Biden has worked hard to address this issue -- and has delivered for America's most vulnerable. His historic Inflation Reduction Act caps insulin costs, limits out-ofpocket drug spending to $2,000 annually, and allows seniors to spread their pharmacy bills evenly throughout the year. Collectively, these reforms are a major step forward for healthcare affordability.

The IRA also directs Medicare to negotiate the price of certain medicines for the first time ever. Unfortunately, for some seniors living with chronic diseases, this particular reform may actually lead to higher out-of-pocket costs. According to a new study from Milliman, Medicare price negotiations could unintentionally raise pharmacy costs for millions of beneficiaries by reducing the amount of drug spending that can be counted toward the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap.

It's troubling that among Americans over 64, a full 25% struggle to afford their medicines, according to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. A separate analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services put the number of Medicare patients struggling with pharmacy costs at more than three million in 2019.

Consider the experience of a Medicare patient who takes a $1,000-per-month brandname drug to manage her chronic illness. Let's assume the patient pays a flat $10 fee -- or copay -- each time she fills her prescription, rather than the more common "coinsurance" requirement of 25% of the medicine's list price. In this case, the patient's monthly copay of $10 is much lower than the $250 per month she'd otherwise have to pay if her health plan used

Quapaw have removed over 7 million tons of mine waste and remediated more than 600 acres of land. That is according to Summer King with the Quapaw Nation Environmental Office.

King said, “When the site was slated for remediation, the Quapaw Nation requested to conduct the work. Because of the cultural and historical importance to the Nation, they knew their own people were the best for the job.”

Tar Creek is but one example of Indigenous-led efforts to clean up, stop, or prevent environmental disasters in Oklahoma alone. The Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations are leading opposition to a $3.1 billion hydropower project on Kiamichi River that would siphon billions of gallons of water from a sacred waterway. And local Indigenous activists like Okcate Evita Smith McCommas of the Mvskoke Creek Nation, who chairs the Green County Group of the Sierra Club’s Oklahoma Chapter, are leading the fight to clean up the Arkansas River, which runs through Tulsa.

Cheyenne Skye Branscum, long active with the Sierra Club’s Oklahoma Chapter, now serves as the national organization’s Treasurer and is the first tribal citizen on its board of directors.

A Citizen Potawatomi Nation member, Branscum holds a deep responsibility to protect our water systems.

“For my people, the Creator entrusted the Kewk, women, to speak for and protect the Water. Protecting the Water is my sacred duty. The struggles over these waters are not relics of the past. They are the very real battles

we are still fighting today. And while our lands and waters are threatened, we remain resilient, because the future of these rivers is the future of our people."

Indigenous leaders in these fights hold a mirror up to our country and make us confront the nation’s mistreatment of this land’s Native peoples. These communities are powerful messengers in challenging the fossil fuel industry and all the industries that thrive on the destruction of our natural world. In many ways, they are our nation’s conscience.

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s fight against the aging Line 5 pipeline in the Great Lakes region. The Nez Perce, Lummi, Yurok, and other Tribes’ fight to restore the salmon populations that are so critical to their own way of life as well as orcas and entire ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. The Gwich’in people’s fight to protect pristine Arctic wilderness from destructive fossil fuel extraction.

The Standing Rock, Cheyenne River Lakota, and Rosebud Sioux’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Those are just a few examples from across the country.

As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day this week and Native American Heritage Month in November, let us join America’s Indigenous communities in making the protection of waters, lands, and wildlife our sacred duty.

Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

New Drug Pricing Policy Could Raise Costs for Millions... continued

On Your November Ballot: Prop 35 Would Make an Existing Tax on Managed Health Care Plans Permanent... continued from page 2

loan repayment programs so we can get physicians, dentists, and nurses to communities that are underserved,”

No official campaign to oppose Prop 35 has been organized and no argument against the measure has been submitted to the Secretary of State’s office. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom has said publicly that he opposes the proposition, arguing that funding from the Managed Care Organization Tax is pivotal for other needs within the California Budget.

“This initiative hamstrings our ability to have the kind of flexibility that’s required at the moment we’re living in,” said Newsom during a press

conference in Sacramento. “I haven’t come out publicly against it. But I’m implying a point of view. Perhaps you can read between those many, many lines.”

A “yes” vote supports permanently authorizing a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, which is set to expire in 2026, and requiring revenues to be used for increased Medi-Cal programs.

A “no” vote opposes permanently authorizing a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, thereby allowing it to expire in 2026.

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Achieves CARF Reaccreditation with New Brain Injury Specialty Program Certifications ...continued

brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other neurological condition. Recognizing that returning home after a disabling injury can be challenging, the TLC offers a range of services, including 24hour residential rehabilitation, day treatment, and advanced day treatment. These programs provide a structured therapeutic environment where individuals can focus on maximizing their recovery potential through individualized and group therapies.

"Casa Colina's reaccreditation by CARF, coupled with the new Brain Injury Specialty Program

certifications, reinforces our position as a leader in the field of rehabilitation. It is a testament to the tireless dedication of our entire team," said Kelly Linden, President and CEO of Casa Colina. “We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to providing exceptional, patientcentered rehabilitation services that empower individuals to achieve their fullest potential. We remain steadfast in our mission to provide compassionate, innovative care that helps individuals reclaim their lives and thrive in their communities."

Buys T.D.s and Buys/Lends on Partial Interests

coinsurance.

Crucially, even though the patient only pays $10 per month, Medicare will still "credit" $250 toward the annual $2,000 outof-pocket spending limit every time she fills her prescription. That's a good thing: The faster she reaches the $2,000 limit, the less of her own money she'll have to spend. In this case, the patient could hit the out-of-pocket limit after paying less than $100 of her own money. After that, she'll be able to fill her prescriptions at zero cost.

Now imagine the same patient's brand-name medication, which technically costs $1,000 per month, is assigned a much lower "negotiated" price under the IRA. For the sake of argument, let's assume the new price is $200. In that event, the value of 25% coinsurance "credit" will fall to just $50, meaning the patient would have to keep paying her copay all year long, and wouldn't even come close to reaching the $2,000 out-of-pocket spending limit.

As the Milliman report shows, scenarios like these will be very common under the new IRA price-setting scheme. The authors estimate that roughly 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries will see their out-of-pocket drug costs go up. Granted, another 1.2 million will see their drug prices go down. But that's no consolation for the former group. Moreover, those who see their costs increase will be the ones with the lowest incomes to begin with, who disproportionately come from marginalized communities. In fact, the Milliman study found that Black and Asian Americans will see the highest average increases in their drug costs as a result of the pricing reforms. No doubt, lawmakers intended to help rather than

harm chronically ill seniors in passing the IRA. But in an area as complex as Medicare, policy details make an enormous difference. The new study suggests that the IRA's price setting provision may end up doing more harm than good. Policymakers must do all they can to ensure that doesn't happen.

Kenneth E. Thorpe, PhD, is chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. He is also chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. This piece originally ran in Medical Economics.

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Achieves CARF Reaccreditation with New Brain Injury Specialty Program Certifications

POMONA, Calif., October 15, 2024 – Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare proudly announces the reaccreditation for its inpatient rehabilitation unit and the Casa Colina Transitional Living Center by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for a three-year period, extending through September 30, 2027. This achievement is further distinguished by the addition of new certifications for Brain Injury Specialty Programs focusing on patients with neurologic conditions, underscoring the organization's commitment to providing exceptional, specialized rehabilitation services.

For providers of medical rehabilitation, CARF accreditation is considered a gold standard for services and signifies that Casa Colina has met rigorous international benchmarks for quality, demonstrating its ability to deliver effective, evidencebased rehabilitation services that promote positive outcomes for patients.

A CARF certified Brain Injury Specialty Program provides comprehensive services to meet the unique needs of individuals with acquired brain injury. These services address

medical, physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and vocational needs, fostering an integrated system of care to optimize recovery and inclusion. The program empowers individuals with brain injuries to maximize their potential and enhance their quality of life.

Casa Colina Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit earned its first CARF accreditation in 2021, solidifying its position as a premier provider of acute rehabilitation services. The hospital is widely respected for its expertise in treating complex conditions such as stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. A dedicated team of physiatrists leads the care, collaborating with physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists, neuropsychologists, registered nurses, and more. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that patients receive a continuum of individualized care designed to maximize their recovery and help them achieve their highest level of independence.

Casa Colina's Transitional Living Center (TLC) has been CARF accredited since 1974, providing specialized support for individuals transitioning back to their lives after a traumatic

International Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Includes

Among Its Honorees

By Fred Outten

(Washington, DC, October 11, 2024) – On November 9, 2024, NASA’s legendary mathematician, Katherine Johnson, will be honored (posthumously) by the San Diego Air & Space Museum International Air & Space Hall of Fame in the Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight. Other honorees include, Bell, Blake Scholl, International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), Stephen Altemus, Laurans “Larry” Mendelson, Salvatore T. “Tory” Bruno, and the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Since 1963, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame has honored the world’s most significant pilots, crew members, visionaries, inventors, aerospace engineers, business leaders, preservationists, designers, and space explorers. Katherine Johnson was nominated for the International Air & Space Hall of Fame by The Last Episode: Veterans For Social Justice (VFSJ), a music group of African American U.S. Army Veterans who dedicated a special music tribute (now officially released) to Katherine Johnson and the Human Computer Women titled, “Has Anybody Seen Katherine Johnson.” VFSJ’s goal is to ensure that never again will the story about their historic contributions to America’s space program be a hidden story. It took five years for Katherine Johnson and the “Hidden Figures” computer women of NASA to finally receive their long overdue Congressional

Katherine Johnson

Gold Medals authorized back in 2019 by the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. The gold medals presentation ceremony was held on September 18, 2024, in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The lost story of NASA’s African American women human computers was finally brought to light thanks to the landmark book, Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly, and subsequent movie by the same name. Known as Woman of the 20th Century, Katherine Johnson’s unprecedented mathematical calculations of orbital mechanics, calculating trajectories, at NASA were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S.crewed spaceflights, including for the Apollo missions. Her contributions to the space program were extremely instrumental to its success (including her mathematical brilliance against electronic computers) and led to ultimately helping the U.S. win the Space Race against the Soviet Union (now Russia) – from Alan Shepard’s historic first flight, to John Glenn’s orbits in 1962, to the calculation of the trajectory for the historic first successful crewed 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing and subsequent Apollo missions, to the Space Shuttle program and to the Earth Resources Satellite. Even after her passing on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101, Katherine Johnson’s work is still used to further the success of space exploration to this day! The Katherine Johnson and Hidden Figures story is hidden no more – first the book, then the movie, and now, finally the music – “Has Anybody Seen Katherine Johnson” – to forever capture their rightful place in history!

Ben Jealous