SB American News Week Ending 12/21

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is Sworn-in, Focuses on Homelessness

Operations Center, where my first act as mayor will be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness. My emergency declaration will recognize the severity of our crisis and break new ground to maximize our ability to urgently move people inside and do so for good. It will create the structure necessary for us to have a true, unified and citywide strategy to set us on the path to solve homelessness,” Bass announced.

significant strain on our health care system if people don’t take the proper precautions.

“Our immune system has not been revved up. The vaccine rates are lower. We are a prime sitting target for other respiratory illnesses as we relax our guard down and begin to have contact with other people,” said Bruce Hirsch, an attending physician in infectious diseases at Northwell Health.

Medical centers across America are reporting higher rates of hospitalizations, and nursing homes are pushing boosters for residents.

As for RSV, the ones at greatest risk are children 6 months and younger who haven’t built up strong immune systems yet. An RSV vaccine is reported to become available by this time next year.

BREAKING NEWS: Brittney Griner Freed!

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In her first act in office, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will declare a state of emergency against homelessness in an announcement at Los Angeles’ Emergency Operations Center.

The new Mayor asserts that the move “will allow her to take aggressive executive actions to confront the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. The declaration will recognize the severity of Los Angeles’ crisis and break new ground to maximize the ability to urgently move people inside.”

On November 16, 2021, during an interview on Black Press USA’s daily morning show Let It Be Known, Bass spoke on homelessness saying it was “a humanitarian crisis,” and added that there were “40,000 people in the city unhoused, many living in tents all around the city.”

Clearly Mayor Bass is moving quickly to make homelessness a top priority during her first weeks in power.

On Dec. 11, Bass, 69, was sworn-in as Los Angeles’ 43rd Mayor at a historic ceremony by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Her predecessor, Mayor Eric Garcetti, looked on at City Hall with thousands of others taking in the history of the moment. Karen Bass earned more votes than any candidate in the history of Los Angeles.’ Her election was also the most expensive ever, as Bass defeated Rick Caruso, who spent $100 million on his campaign.

Bass served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022 for California’s 33rd congressional district and was Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She was also a member of the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010 and spent her final years there as Speaker of the California House.

Bass acknowledged California’s first female Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis in the audience and Los Angeles’ all-female County Board of Supervisors.

“I believe that times of inflection require reflection – I believe, it’s time for Angelenos to remind ourselves where we come from and who we are. My father fled Jim Crow Texas during the

great African American migration after World War 2. He worked for the postal service as a letter carrier. It was a union job, and his paycheck supported my brothers and me and allowed my mother to choose to be a homemaker. When I think about the dreams of working people today, I reflect on the fact that my mother and father were able to buy a home in Los Angeles for their family of six with one paycheck,” Bass said in her inaugural speech.

She then commented on the high cost of housing in Los Angeles.

“Tragically, our city has earned the shameful crown as being home to some of the most crowded neighborhoods in the nation—Pico Union, South L.A., East L.A., the East Valley. We know our mission –we must build housing in every neighborhood,” Mayor Bass said.

The new Mayor then focused on homelessness — a huge problem in Los Angeles and across the U.S.

“I will start my first day as mayor at our city’s Emergency

“If we are going to bring Angelenos inside and move our city in a new direction, we must have a single strategy to unite our city and county and engage the state, the federal government, the private sector and every other stakeholder. And so I call on our City Council, and our City Attorney and City Controller, to continue the work we started during the transition on a unified and urgent strategy to solve homelessness. I call on the County of Los Angeles, with its authority over health, including mental health and substance abuse, to lock arms with me — and we have already started these discussions,” the new Mayor told the crowd.

In a city of many challenges, Bass’ four-year term will no doubt be eventful. But her long political resume and experience as a community activist and establishment actor in local, state and federal government will no doubt be beneficial as she navigates policy over the next four years in office.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

CDC urges masking return as ‘tripledemic’ surges

Rates of the flu, RSV and COVID-19 have doctors concerned

After 294 days in Russian custody, including the past several weeks in a dreaded and dangerous penal colony, WNBA star Brittney Griner is free.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Griner’s wife at the White House, where they spoke with the basketball player on the telephone.

“She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She is on her way home,” Biden declared.

The Biden administration secured Griner’s release after agreeing to a one-for-one prisoner swap that saw the president commute the 25-year sentence of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

“It’s a good morning,” the president exclaimed at a news conference where Vice President Kamala Harris and Griner’s wife, Cherelle, stood close.

“After months of being unjustly detained and held under intolerable circumstances, she’s coming home,” Biden asserted.

By

(NewsNation) — Concerns are growing nationwide for rapidly increasing cases of what health officials have deemed a tripledemic: the flu, RSV and COVID-19, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is once again urging the public to wear face masks indoors.

According to the agency’s Dec. 8 report, 13.7 percent of Americans now live in communities now rated “high” COVID-19 Community Levels, up from 4.9 percent of the population last week. An additional 38.1 percent of Americans are in “medium” areas and 48.2 percent are in

“low” areas.

A number of major cities are now mulling a return to masking measures.

Can I test for the flu or RSV at home?

In California, more than 10 counties, including Los Angeles, Maricopa, Nassau and San Bernardino, are now in the “high” tier.

Los Angeles County health officials are again strongly recommending that everyone wears masks indoors.

Over the past week, Los Angeles hospitals saw an average of 1,245 COVID-positive patients every day — that’s a nearly 20

percent jump over the previous seven days.

“When you put on your mask for these few weeks during this surge, it is about the people of LA County. it is about every individual, every visitor, our health care workers, essential workers and other people who serve. in addition to vaccination, it is one of the easiest things everyone can do right now,” Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County director of public health, wrote in a press release.

In New York, a health advisory notice was sent out alerting hospitals, local health departments, emergency rooms

and labs to prepare for rapidly rising cases of respiratory illness.

The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island are in orange, meaning high-risk levels, while Manhattan is in yellow, the medium-risk level, according to the latest CDC data.

On Dec. 9, state officials urged schools to return to indoor masking to curb the spread of respiratory illnesses.

As the Christmas and New Year’s holidays approach, when families are expected to gather across the country, health officials fear that could put a

The White House said it would continue efforts to bring home retired U.S. military officer Paul Whelan, who remains in Russian custody.

Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly four years, and, recently, his family said they hadn’t heard from him.

They were told he was transferred to a hospital, but the family doubted that explanation.

The deal to release Griner was consummated a week ago in the United Arab Emirates.

Joe Biden and Cherelle Griner speak on the phone with Brittney Griner after her release by Russia, as Vice-President Kamala Harris and the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, look on. Photograph: White House/

The president said his administration “never stopped pushing for her release.”

“It took painstaking and intense negotiations for her release,” Biden stated.

He thanked the UAE for helping to facilitate Griner’s release and noted that’s where her plane landed after finally leaving Russia.

Biden noted that the past few months had been “hell” for Griner and her family.

He said she’s in good spirits and relieved.

“She lost months of her life,” Biden stated.

He said she deserves space, privacy, and time to heal in a not-so-subtle appeal to media members.

Biden added that Griner wrote

Alex Caprariello, Taylor Delandro and Nexstar

CDC urges masking return as tripledemic surges...

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

On Dec. 11, Bass, 69, was sworn-in as Los Angeles’ 43rd Mayor at a historic ceremony by Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo: @karenbassla/Instagram)

Reuters Joe Biden and Cherelle Griner speak on the phone with Brittney Griner after her release by Russia, as Vice-President Kamala Harris and the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, look on. Photograph: White House/Reuters Biden said Griner’s expected home within 24 hours.

Joe Biden and Cherelle Griner speak on the phone with Brittney Griner after her release by Russia, as Vice-President Kamala Harris and the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, look on. Photograph: White House/Reuters

A program once hailed as a successful school safety program by the federal government CleanSWEEP, became a tool to discriminate against mostly Black students within the Victor Valley Union High School District

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI, “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Gail Fry Contributor

According to documents obtained by San Bernardino American News, on August 12, 2014, the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights opened a compliance review of the Victor Valley Union High School District examining whether the district, through its CleanSWEEP Program and disciplinary practices, discriminated against minority students by disciplining them more frequently and harshly in violation of federal law.

After investigating, the United States (US) Department of Education (ED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) identified a pattern of unequal disciplinary actions at Victor Valley Union High School District (VVUHSD) across all discipline types, schools, and

grade levels causing greater harms – including significant lost learning time – on a majority of Black students compared to White students.

For instance, during the 201819 school year (SY), Latino students accounted for 65.2% of the student population, had 54.3% of all discipline referrals, while White students at 8% of the student population, had 5.9% of all referrals for discipline.

Black students represented 20.8% of the student population, yet represented 37.1% of all referrals, almost double their student population.

OCR determined Latino students experienced some discrimination finding it was not significant compared to Black continued in next 2 columns

school safety program by the federal government CleanSWEEP, became a tool to discriminate against mostly Black students within the Victor Valley Union High School District ...continued students, instances found are included.

On August 16, VVUHSD voluntarily reached a resolution

with ED agreeing to principles for a safe and nondiscriminatory school environment and to

SBCUSD Students Provide Music And More To Brighten The Holiday Season

Students from across San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) will be singing, dancing, acting, and playing festive music leading up to the winter holidays. The public is invited to attend, and most performances are free. All adults will be required to show valid photo ID when visiting a school campus during school hours.

Chavez Band and Orchestra Concert

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 7, 6 p.m.

Location: Chavez Middle School, 6650 N. Magnolia Avenue, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Curtis Band & Orchestra Winter Concert Date & Time: Wednesday, December 7, 6 p.m.

Location: Curtis Middle School, 1050 N. Del Rosa Drive, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Golden Valley Band and Orchestra Concert Date & Time: Wednesday, December 7, 4:30 p.m.

Location: Golden Valley Middle School, 3800 N. Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Rodriguez PREP Band and Orchestra Concert Date & Time: Wednesday, December 7, 5:30 p.m.

Location: Rodriguez PREP Academy, 1985 Guthrie Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Arrowview Winter Concert Date & Time: Thursday, December 8, 5 p.m.

Location: Arrowview Middle School, 2299 N. G Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Arroyo Valley Winter Choir Concert

Date & Time: Thursday, December 8, 7 p.m.

Location: Arroyo Valley High School, 1881 W. Base Line Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Chavez Winter Holiday Recital Date & Time: Thursday, December 8

Location: Chavez Middle School, 6650 N. Magnolia Avenue, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Parkside Advanced Orchestra and Returning Orchestra Concert Date & Time: Thursday, December 8, 3 p.m. Location: Parkside Elementary

Students Provide Music And More To Brighten The Holiday Season...continued

School, 3775 N. Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Arroyo Valley Band Winter Concert Date & Time: Friday, December 9, 6 p.m.

Location: Arroyo Valley High School, 1881 W. Base Line Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

King Band Concert Date & Time: Friday, December 9, 6 p.m.

Location: Arroyo Valley High School, 1881 W. Base Line Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

North Park Band, Orchestra & Choir Concert Date & Time: Friday, December 9, 2 p.m.

Location: North Park Elementary School, 5378 North H Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

San Gorgonio Winter Band Concert Date & Time: Friday, December 9

Location: San Gorgonio High School, 2299 Pacific Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Paakuma’ Winter Concert Date & Time: Saturday, December 10, 6 p.m. Location: Paakuma’ K–12 School, 17825 Sycamore Creek Loop Parkway, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Jones Winter Concert Date & Time: Monday, December 12, 1:45 p.m.

Location: Jones Elementary School, 700 North F Street, San Bernardino

Cost: Free Jones Winter Concert (Repeat performance) Date & Time: Tuesday, December 13, 9:30 a.m.

Location: Jones Elementary School, 700 North F Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Brown Winter Songs

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 14, 9 a.m.

Location: Brown Elementary School, 2525 North G Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Emmerton Band Choir, and Orchestra Winter Performance Date & Time: Wednesday, December 14, 2 p.m.

Location: Emmerton Elementary School, 1888 Arden Avenue, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Newmark Winter Showcase Date & Time: Wednesday, December 14, 9:30 a.m.

Location: Newmark Elementary School, 4121 North 3rd Avenue, San Bernardino Cost: Free

Oehl Choir Date & Time: Wednesday, December 14, 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Location: Bonnie Oehl Elementary School, 2525 Palm Avenue, Highland Cost: Free

Pacific Winter Family Festival Date & Time: Thursday, December 15, 3:30–6 p.m.

Location: Pacific High School, 1020 Pacific Street, San Bernardino Cost: Free for the concert and outdoor activities; nominal fee for optional snacks and drinks

SBCUSD

Walgreens Launches Free Paxlovid Delivery Services with DoorDash and Uber

By BlackPressUSA

Convenience ensures greater COVID-19 treatment access to all Americans this winter

DEERFIELD, Ill., December 8, 2022 – Today, in partnership with DoorDash and Uber, Walgreens announced free delivery of Paxlovid, a COVID-19 oral antiviral therapy, directly to the doorsteps of those who need it.

With more than 8,000 Walgreens locations offering same day delivery services, available to anyone who lives within 15 miles of participating Walgreens locations, the majority of Americans have access to this program, about 92% of the population.

This initiative is aimed at increasing access to COVID-19 treatment, with a focus on reaching those in socially vulnerable or medically underserved areas at a time when COVID-19 cases are beginning to rise again across the United States. According to Walgreens COVID-19 Index data, overall positivity rates reached 36 percent this week. This steady rise in cases reinforces the

critical need for access to lifesaving treatments.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health disparities and emphasized the need to address long-standing barriers, including access to treatments,” said Anita Patel, PharmD, vice president, pharmacy services development, Walgreens. “Our pharmacy teams will continue to play a trusted and essential role in helping to keep people protected from COVID-19, including getting people vaccinated, tested and treated as safely, equitably and effectively as possible.”

Eligible patients must have a Paxlovid prescription from a healthcare provider. After the pharmacy has filled the prescription and before it gets picked up, individuals can go online to select Same Day Delivery by visiting Walgreens. com/PrescriptionDelivery, the Walgreens app or by calling their store.

This initiative is the latest offering in an ongoing

collaboration between Walgreens, DoorDash and Uber to increase accessibility of life-saving treatments to medically underserved and underrepresented areas, following the companies’ response to the White House COVID-19 call to action to ensure a safe and healthy winter.

To use Same Day Rx Delivery, you must be opted into Prescription Status Alerts. It will appear as an option if order is before that store’s cutoff time for the day. Certain health plans do not cover, or participate in, Same Day Rx Delivery. Check with your health plan for further details. Excludes California.

Same Day Prescription Delivery is available on eligible prescriptions only. Most prescription orders are available to be delivered to the patient’s home same day. Orders must be received by 4 p.m. to be eligible for Same Day Rx Delivery. Please note that while most prescriptions are expected to be delivered same day, some deliveries may not be eligible for delivery due to prescription type, delivery address, holidays, weather, or other delivery constraints.

Age-restricted items are not eligible for delivery. Other exclusions may apply. For details, visit our Help Center.

BREAKING NEWS: Brittney Griner Freed!...continued from page 1 him in July, not asking for special treatment.

“She said, please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees,” Biden said.

“We have not forgotten about Brittney and Paul Whelan.”

Biden emphasized that the onefor-one swap wasn’t America’s choice.

He said he wished to bring Whelan and any other wrongly detained American home.

“We have not yet secured Paul’s release. But we have not given up, and we will never give up,” Biden insisted.

“We’ll keep negotiating for Paul’s release in good faith. I urge Russia to do the same. My administration has brought home dozens of wrongly detained Americans and many who were detained before I took office,” Biden continued.

“Reunited Americans with their loved ones remain a priority. We will continue to work to bring home every American who endures such injustice.”

Cherelle Griner called Brittney’s plight one of the darkest moments of her life.

and could be a step toward peace. Releasing prisoners and prisoner swaps as opposed to more bombing and killing is good news,” Jackson stated.

Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green said he was delighted at the timing of Griner’s release.

“There’s no place like home for the holidays,” Green tweeted.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King tweeted, “Thank you to President Biden and all those who worked so hard to secure her freedom.”

And fellow Democratic Texas Rep. Colin Allred called Griner’s release a relief.

“Brittney Griner is coming home. This is a huge relief for Brittney and her family after months of uncertainty,” Allred said.

“I commend President Biden, Secretary [Antony] Blinken, the State Department, and all those who made this happen. We remain committed to getting every American detained abroad back home.”

The Black Press of America also saluted the Biden administration’s efforts in bringing Griner home.

Jan. 6

House

Select Committee to Recommend Criminal Charges to DOJ

it’s believed that the committee will push for the unprecedented prosecution of a former president.

“Over the last nine months, you all have been privy to one of the darkest moments of my life. I’m overwhelmed with emotion but sincere gratitude to President Biden and his administration,” Cherelle Griner stated.

The January 6 House Select Committee has decided to make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice.

Based upon the mountain of damning testimony and evidence compiled against Donald Trump,

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) told reporters that the committee had not narrowed down all those who they may recommend for prosecution.

He hinted that some of the witnesses committed perjury when they were called to testify.

Check back for details on this breaking story.

“Today, my family is whole. As you are aware, there are so many families who are not whole. BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home, including Paul, who remains in our hearts.”

As expected, civil rights activists, many in the sports world, and politicians applauded Griner’s release.

“This is long overdue,” Rev. Jesse Jackson declared. “This is a cause for global celebration

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) profoundly welcomes the release of Brittney Griner from a Russian prison,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. stated.

The NNPA is the trade association of more than 230 African-American-owned newspapers and media companies in the United States.

“Brittney Griner was a political prisoner,” continued Chavis, the leader of the famed Wilmington 10, also political prisoners.

“Thanks to the effective leadership of President Joe Biden, our beloved sister is now free,” Chavis declared.

This initiative is the latest offering in an ongoing collaboration between Walgreens, DoorDash and Uber to increase accessibility of life-saving treatments to medically underserved and underrepresented areas, following the companies’ response to the White House COVID-19 call to action to ensure a safe and healthy winter.

Walgreens Launches Free Paxlovid Delivery Services with DoorDash and Uber...continued

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent@

December 12, 2022 -- Many hallmarks of the holiday season, including Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and festive meals, present potential fire hazards that contribute to an annual increase in U.S. home fires at this time of year.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for home fires.

“December is a leading month for home fires, in large part because many of the activities we engage in during the holiday season reflect leading causes of home fires year-round,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Plus, as colder temperatures impact much of the country, use of heating equipment increases significantly.”

Fortunately, Carli notes, the majority of winter fires can be prevented with a little added awareness and planning.

“By knowing where potential fire hazards exist and taking some basic safety precautions to prevent them, people can enjoy a festive, fire-free holiday season,” said Carli.

The NFPA Winter Holidays page offers a wide variety of tips and resources to reduce the risk of fires, while the latest NFPA statistics underscore the

increased risk of fire during the holiday season and beyond:

Christmas Trees

An estimated average of 160 home fires involving Christmas trees caused two civilian deaths, 11 civilian injuries, and $12 million in direct property damage per year between 2016 and 2020.

Some type of electrical distribution or lighting equipment, including decorative lights, was involved in more than two of five (44 percent) of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires (19 percent) were started by decorative lights.

The majority (74 percent) of Christmas tree fires occur in December and January.

Decorations

An estimated average of 790 home fires that began when decorations (other than Christmas trees) caught fire caused an average of one civilian death, 26 civilian injuries and $13 million in direct property damage per year between 2015 and 2019.

One in five home decoration fires occurred in December.

Year-round, 35 percent of home decoration fires began with candles; in December, the number jumped to 45 percent.

In more than two of every five fires (44 percent) involving decorations, the decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle, cooking or heating equipment.

Candles

A program once hailed as a successful school safety program by the federal government CleanSWEEP, became a tool to discriminate against mostly Black students within the Victor Valley Union High School District ...continued from page 2 implement actions required by the resolution agreement.

San Bernardino County Sheriff CleanSWEEP Program

OCR found VVUHSD implemented a juvenile citation program operated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department known as CleanSWEEP (Success with Education/Enforcement Partnership).

CleanSWEEP is the only juvenile citation program in the country empowering school administrators to write citations for students who break the law on campus according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Under the CleanSWEEP program, school administrators issued citations to students, aged ten through seventeen, for incidents involving loitering, tobacco, littering, keeping lost property, petty theft, graffiti, alcohol, and marijuana.

These citations (infractions) required students to appear in court where a judge can impose a variety of punishments.

On August 31, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus suspended the CleanSWEEP Program, a program implemented in about 100 school campuses county-wide, due to an investigation by the California DOJ according to a press release.

Discrimination found in CleanSWEEP program

VVUHSD informed OCR it used CleanSWEEP at four schools: Adelanto, Hook, Silverado, but not at Cobalt Institute of Math and Science (CIMS) and University Preparatory, attended by mostly White students.

VVUHSD employees

confirmed their belief it’s use of CleanSWEEP discriminated against Black students in SY 2018-19, based on direct knowledge of VVUHSD’s discipline data and CleanSWEEP. OCR found VVUHSD were 3.4 times more likely to issue citations to Black students than White students.

OCR found district leadership expressed concerns in a memo about CleanSWEEP’s effect on students explaining communities impacted by the program “are already facing debilitating levels of poverty,” citing the harm of issuing citations to students describing CleanSWEEP’s actions as “unconscionable” recommending VVUHSD discontinue the program.

OCR found particularly noteworthy the overrepresentation of Black students in CleanSWEEP citations.

Student Expulsions During SY 2018-19, 73 students were expelled, including 39 Black students (53.4%), at a rate of 2.57 times their percentage of enrollment (20.8%). VVUHSD’s records indicate at least five Black students, expelled previously, were placed on pre-expulsion contracts.

An administrator explained pre-expulsion contracts were not in VVUHSD’s written Disciplinary Policy, where VVUHSD required students facing discipline to sign a preexpulsion contract, agreeing future misbehavior could lead to expulsion without due process.

OCR found Black students received pre-expulsion contracts, violating state law and VVUHSD policies, at a rate 3.7 times

greater than White students.

An administrator reported before SY 2019-20, VVUHSD expelled students for infractions where an administrator would simply check the box that findings were made after a hearing, despite having no hearing, in violation of Education Code.

Disenrollment to Improve Graduation Rates

OCR cited VVUHSD’s disciplinary records, and a VVUHSD employee reporting to improve the school’s graduation rates, at the end of each school year, an assistant principal counseled Black and Latino students with discipline, attendance, and/or academic problems encouraging them to leave the school, and enroll in alternative programs.

Another administrator told OCR some schools disenrolled students who were 18 years and older involved in a discipline incident, labeling them as truants who could not be found. Allegations corroborated by OCR.

Student Suspensions

OCR found Black students accounted for 40.8% while White students accounted for 6.7% of all students suspended. Overall, Black students were 2.3 times more likely than White students to be suspended one or more times.

For incidents of fighting during SY 2018-19, 62 Black students received an average suspension of 2.6 days, compared to 9 White students averaging 2.3 days.

OCR identified two district schools suspended Black students by mischaracterizing their defiant or disruptive behavior as intentionally

engaging in harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils.

One suspension involved a Black student who refused to hand over his phone to a teacher or administrator, and where Black student left campus before school, returning during second period.

First-Time Referrals

The data showed VVUHSD was more likely to impose harsher discipline on Black students for first-time referrals of subjective infractions than White students for the same types of infractions.

Black students accounted for 42.9% of all referrals resulting in exclusionary discipline or other severe consequences, double their percentage (20.8%) of student population.

Of all Black students in VVUHSD who received a firsttime referral, 14.6% received a severe consequence compared to only 9.4% of White students.

Home Custody

OCR found Adelanto had a practice of placing some students on “home custody.” Four incidents of “home custody” in VVUHSD’s records described the consequence “in lieu of suspension,” and two of the 13 incidents were also listed as suspensions in VVUHSD’s data.

“Home Custody,” not referenced in VVUHSD’s Disciplinary Policy, was the consequence for 13 students in SY 2018-19, 5 were Black (39%), and 8 Latino students (62%).

Inappropriate Behavior OCR identified other harsher treatment for Black students

NFPA urges added caution this holiday season, as Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for U.S. home fires

Amoré The Songstress wins Female R&B artist of the year at the 2022 Inland Empire Choice Awards

Despite rising overdose rates among Black and Indigenous communities, and in regions with limited harm reduction resources, only two OPCs publicly operate in the United States.

I have had the opportunity to visit both of these OPCs in New York City on numerous occasions, and each time I am brought to tears. Full body, stop and catch my breath tears.

everyone who visits and uses the OPCs to see, and that is that people who use drugs are people, made in the image and likeness of God, loved and cherished. That the lives of people who use drugs are not only worth saving but are worth investing in.

San Bernardino, CASinger Songwriter Amoré The Songstress strikes again with her second Female R&B Artist of the Year award. Previously she won in 2010 and now in 2022 she has claimed the award for a second time. Amoré thanked fans and the awards committee for voting for her as she was escorted by her youngest son Jaron Hill.

Amoré released “Summertyme Don’t Stop” in November of 2021 and the music video currently sits at over 120k views. Amoré has been performing non stop on stages all over southern California and also recently

By: Lou K. Coleman-Yeboah

joined Skip Marley while he toured in Detroit Michigan.

Amoré has been teasing fans with snippets and footage of her debut album she has been working on titled “Finally” and her album is one of the most anticipated albums for R&B fans across the globe. 2023 is looking like the year we will hear the long awaited debut album from the two time Female R&B Artist of the Year.

For more information and for all things Amoré, follow her on Instagram @Amorethesongstress or visit her website, www.

Amorethesongstress.com

I am awestruck that the OPCs have been utilized by community members 45,773 times since opening in late 2021. I marvel at the compassionate care offered, including hot showers, clean clothes, acupuncture/ massage, meditation, medical care, medication for opioid use disorder (OUD), mental health counseling, access to drug treatment and housing, and more. I am ecstatic that there have been 603 overdose interventions and zero fatalities at these programs. These are not the reasons that the OPCs bring me to tears.

I am brought to tears by the mirrors on the walls in the OPCs. Specifically, the mirrors in the safer use booths where people can use their drugs under the watchful eye of staff trained in safer injection, safer smoking, and overdose response. The mirrors allow staff to see each participant from the center of the room should anyone experience a medical issue and need help. Because staff members can observe the first signs of an overdose, they can respond quickly and efficiently, protecting life, increasing safety, and decreasing discomfort.

When I first looked in the mirrors at the OPC, I saw reflections of earlier selves. The face of someone struggling to survive PTSD, who used drugs to medicate the terror and despair. The face of a queer person divorced from her siblings at a pastor’s recommendation, ashamed and isolated. The face of a brilliant artist struggling to express her way out from under this shame and stigma.

In the mirrors at the OPC, I could also see people as they moved behind me, my need to forever look over my shoulder quieted. I noticed my beautiful brown eyes, radiant with all they have seen and held. I beheld images of all the others in the space, talking, laughing, and touching, remembering the many faces of God which had surrounded me with grace and hope when I needed care. I reflected on the ways I had been taught to look at myself differently, by noticing the way others looked at me, with worth and dignity.

I learned to see love and to recognize my own belovedness by first being seen.

provided - before the throne of grace and pray for grace in time of need; in other words before we fall. Blow the Shofar!

Something is about to happen. Alert the people of impending danger. Cry out like a mother who has lost her child. Blow the Shofar! Chaos and crisis are breeding grounds for revolution, the rise of despotic leaders, and totalitarian governments.

The Great Reset: Think about COVID-19, the lockdowns, the economic crashes, the mandatory mask wearing, the race riots, ANTIFA, ID2020, Bill Gates, the Document of Human Fraternity, Chrislam, ponder for a moment on all of it. When you have wrapped your head around all those things, now wrap your head around this. Everything we have been experiencing, it is all part of the Great Reset, and it is all driving towards the same outcome. That is, the resetting of the entire world to prepare us for the arrival of Antichrist. That’s how close we are to seeing him step out of the shadows and onto the world stage. Everything that has been happening in the world over the last two years are different arms of the same beast, and The Beast, who is on his way right now, and will be the crown jewel in the ungodly crown of evil. Blow the Shofar!

We are not living in ordinary times. We are nearing the end of an age—the end of a civilization. As Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke in the midst of the Great Depression: “This generation… has a rendezvous with destiny.” Our entire life is about to change. Events will unfold soon to destroy the way of life as we have known it. We must take the means of escape God has

For “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear.” [Genesis 6:3]. Pray and ask God to speak to your heart as I speak to your mind because our world is rapidly approaching the time prophesied in the Bible where it will be joined together as one. The recent development of centrally controlled digital currencies and the growing overreach of governments into people’s personal lives is part of the veiled scheme. Blow the Shofar!

Listen, God gave us [Revelation 13] to sharpen our minds, and spiritual senses, warning us before the curtains of deception are pulled fully closed. So be warned. Stay alert! We are in the end time already and the stage is set for all the things that were written about the last days to happen.

When he receives this power, the devil will demand a oneworld government be formed. Lucifer will set himself up as King of kings and Lord of lords and no one can stop him. He will demand everyone who refuses to worship him be put to death. To make his dominion complete, the devil will abolish and outlaw the religions and governments of the world. There will be one faith, one Lord, and one baptism. At this time, the 144,000 will announce an inflammatory third message to counter this global development. Awake from your slumber! Massive deception and danger is lurking around the corner. Blow the Shofar!

The agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. The torture was so great that, during those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

[Revelation 9:5-6].

Overdose Prevention Centers Save Lives

Erica Poellot

This week, the US Department of Justice is expected to rule on litigation against Safehouse, which seeks to establish overdose

prevention centers (OPCs) in Philadelphia, a city deeply wounded by the overdose crisis.

These are not the reasons that the mirrors in the OPCs bring me to tears.

The mirrors bring me to tears, not for what the staff can see, but for what they enable me to see, and what I hope they enable

It is my prayer that every person who visits and uses the OPCs has this experience of being seen, of being seen for their humanity and worth. That all people who use drugs have access to life saving, life changing OPCs, and to see themselves mirrored in love!

Lend your voice and tell the DOJ that people who use drugs deserve access to OPCs.

NFPA urges added caution this holiday season, as Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for U.S. home fires...continued from page 4

An estimated average of 7,400 home fires (2 percent) started by candles caused an average of 90 civilian deaths (three percent), 670 civilian injuries (6 percent), and $291 million (4 percent) in direct property damage per year between 2015 and 2019.

Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.

In three of every five candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could catch fire.

Christmas is the peak day for candle fires with roughly 2.5 times the daily average; Christmas Eve ranked second.

Falling asleep was a factor in 10 percent of the home candle fires and 12 percent of the associated deaths.

Cooking Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires (49 percent) and home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

Fires caused by heating equipment, the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires yearround, peak during the winter months, when temperatures drop and more people use heating equipment to keep their homes warm. Put a Freeze on Winter Fires, an annual NFPA campaign with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), works to educate the public about ways to stay safe during the colder months, offering tip sheets and other resources to help reduce the risk of heating fires and other winter hazards.

For more releases and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

school safety program by the federal government CleanSWEEP, became a tool to discriminate against mostly Black students within the Victor Valley Union High School District ...continued from page 4 who engaged in “inappropriate behavior,” “defiance” or “disruption” and were removed from instruction, which contrasted with numerous examples of White students not removed for similar offenses.

OCR found Black students (27.1%) were almost twice as likely as White students (15.1%) to receive a suspension or a behavior contract after a second referral for inappropriate behavior.

For instance, a ninth-grade Black student continued eating a bag of chips in class after the teacher asked him to stop, the student put the chips away, then took them out again, dumping them into his mouth, after the teacher told him to go to the office. He received a one-day class suspension, compared to two white students who received counseling.

Dress code violations

An administrator described to OCR a teacher referring a Black student for sexual harassment for not wearing a belt and wearing saggy pants. Sexual harassment, is a Level 3 or 4 infraction under VVUHSD Disciplinary Policy, a student can be suspended.

OCR identified a Black student suspended for one day for wearing his pants low, while a White student received five days lunch detention for the same, plus his second discipline referral, using an obscenity, and leaving, refusing to return to the administrative office.

Tardiness/Truancy policy

California law says students who are truant, or tardy, should be subject to alternative discipline other than suspension/expulsion and lists specific infractions for which suspension/expulsion is permitted.

In violation of California law, VVUHSD’s Disciplinary Policy allowed suspensions for repeated tardiness, cutting class, and excessive absences/truancy.

An administrator recalled a Black student with a disability referred to the School Attendance Review Board for being tardy reportedly due to medications that he took, making it difficult to arrive on time at school.

OCR found VVUHSD used suspensions/OCIs to address students who were late or missed instruction at least 692 times in SY 2018-19, disproportionately harming Black students. In some cases, these schools repeatedly mischaracterized tardy/truant behavior as harassment or threats, and suspended students.

OCR requested any evidence VVUHSD had these removals were effective in addressing tardiness/truancy. VVUHSD was unable to provide such evidence.

Use of Pepper-Spray

With respect to campus security, an administrator believed security officers used force and pepper spray disproportionately with Black students compared to other students.

The administrator stated the

school’s principal acknowledged that they used pepper spray too often. OCR learned VVUHSD does not track the use of pepper spray.

OCR Investigation Findings In its investigation, OCR interviewed 17 VVUHSD school administrators and approximately 30 school employees about their knowledge of VVUHSD’s discipline policies, practices, and data.

OCR applied legal standards to the facts finding VVUHSD engaged in discriminatory treatment of Black students in its administration of discipline, in violation of Title VI and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a) and 100.3(b) (1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (vi).

OCR found VVUHSD was aware of the disproportionate/ harmful impact of its disciplinary practices on Black students over multiple years, finding these harms foreseeable.

Underlying causes of discriminatory practices

Through their interviews, OCR explored why VVUHSD’s discipline rates were higher for Black students. After interviewing district employees, OCR concluded the responses from these and other school employees reflected racialized generalizations and negative stereotypes about the behavior of Black students.

For example, one principal explained Black students are disciplined more because they are “loud” and it is their “culture.”

Another administrator reported to OCR that school administrators had less “patience” with Black students when disciplining them. Resolution

To address the violations OCR found, to remedy the harms to affected Black students, and ensure non-discrimination in student discipline, VVUHSD entered into a resolution agreement, committing to implementing 13 actions including, examining/correcting the cause of the discrimination in its student discipline, retaining an expert director and consultant in nondiscriminatory discipline practices, establish a stakeholder equity committee to oversee the implementation of the agreement, revise its discipline policies/procedures, ensure accurate/complete student discipline record-keeping and reporting, regularly analyze discipline data to identify/address discrimination, inform/train staff on prohibited discipline practices and new policies/ procedures, conduct student/ parent information on student discipline policies, publicly report discipline data, revise policies/procedures/training, and Memoranda of Understanding with law enforcement agencies, conduct school climate surveys to measure fairness/safety in VVUHSD, and provide restorative education to students victimized by discriminatory policies/practices.

MISSION STATEMENT

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.

Lou K. Coleman-Yeboah

“Blow the Shofar!”

OP-ED: Proposed Journalism Competition Preservation Act Negative Impact on Small Minority-Owned Newspapers

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr

In September, lawmakers in Washington rushed through major legislation that would reward massive, legacy media corporations at the expense of smaller community-focused and minority-owned newspapers. While the Journalism Competition Preservation Act (JCPA) is meant to protect publications like those in the National Newspaper Publishers Association, it would ultimately threaten our ability to inform our communities, line the pockets of massive media conglomerates and hedge funds, and lead to the proliferation of harmful misinformation. Good intentions sometimes have negative and counterproductive consequences.

The goal to foster quality, local journalism and journalist jobs is well-intentioned. Local news outlets provide Americans with important information about the political, economic and cultural issues that matter to them. The news industry has reached an inflection point, and much work is still needed to secure a bright and sustainable future for minority-owned publications.

Newspaper employment has fallen by 70% in the past 15 years, and 20% of America’s counties are at risk of becoming news deserts. The top 25 media

while a number of conglomerates are scoped into the bill, true independent or small newspapers are explicitly excluded from the legislation because the bill says that an eligible publisher must earn more than $100,000 per year.

chains now own a third of all U.S. newspapers. Thousands of newspapers have been acquired by hedge funds and private equity firms like Alden Global Capital or by media behemoths like Gannett, Lee Enterprises and McClatchy. For these media companies, a local newspaper is an asset for profit – not a valuable source of local information.

Big media chains acquire newspapers, lay off journalists and staff, drive down wages and shutter publications forever – as they spend millions on executive salaries and stock buybacks.

Now, these same media companies and hedge funds are a step closer to receiving huge payouts – without any accountability or transparency to direct funds to local journalism and journalists. The JCPA would require tech platforms to carry and pay any eligible news

publisher for “access” to content. While this may, again, seem well intentioned at first look, upon deeper inspection the law defines “access” so broadly it will require payment for simply crawling a website or sharing a link. Similarly, while a number of conglomerates are scoped into the bill, true independent or small newspapers are explicitly excluded from the legislation because the bill says that an eligible publisher must earn more than $100,000 per year.

Many African American and other BIPOC news outlets are independently owned. Furthermore, these news outlets have developed and grown their audiences because mainstream media publications excluded the perspectives of minority voices. The Black Press built our own news outlets to support our own voices. As a result, this legislation

Water saving actions that make a big difference

Regardless of the season, California is still experiencing an extreme drought. Here are a few simple tips to help you save water.

would only further reinforce harmful racial exclusion trends, rather than actually help smaller local publications like those in the NNPA.

Similarly, recent amendments to the bill requiring nondiscrimination would require platforms to carry and pay for hate speech and objectionable content that could be harmful to BIPOC communities. If passed, the JCPA would boost misinformation and extremist content. News publications from either side of the aisle that support extremist views will not only receive money, but tech platforms will be required to carry them on their services. This will make it even harder for platforms to moderate harmful and false content. We know that communities like ours will suffer most.

Congress and the Senate should reject the current draft of the JCPA and go back to the drawing board on real solutions for America’s local news problems – solutions that benefit all Americans, instead of just giving handouts to the biggest media corporations in the nation.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) based in Washington, DC representing the interests of the Black Press of America since 1940.

Grand Marshalls Announced for San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza January 16th

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. Grand Marshals for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza are James Ramos, California State Assemblymember; Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District; Helen Tran, San Bernardino City Mayor-Elect; and our new African American Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino Darren L Goodman.

The parade celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We are honored to have these illustrious leaders of our community be the Grand Marshalls for the MLK DAY Parade and Extravaganza,” said Rich Wallace, president of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce.

The MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza will be held January 16th on San Bernardino’s Westside along Baseline Street, from Mt Vernon Ave. to California St.

“Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, a First 5 children’s zone, fun and entertainment at the parade and at the Extravaganza at Ann Shirelles Park, between California Street and North Pennsylvania Ave.,

between West Baseline Street and West 15th Street,” said Lue Dowdy, Parade Chair.

Dowdy added, "We are still accepting applications for entertainers, vendors, food vendors, classic and custom cars and motorcycles."

The event starts at 11:00 am at the Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline, with the Parade starting at 1:00 pm and continuing west on Baseline, ending at Anne Shirelles Park on California Street.

Participating organizations for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include: The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story newspaper, Empire Talks Back and the Black Health Coalition.

For more information or to sign up to be in the MLK Day Parade go to BlackChamberofCommerce. org and follow the link for information and registration or call (888) 466-7408.

Covid Treatments Readily Available, But Access Disparities Still Huge

By Sunita Sohrabji

“Test and treat, and you can beat COVID!”

As Californians brace for a winter surge of COVID infections, that’s the message of Dr. Rita Nguyen, speaking at an online news conference on behalf of the California Department of Public Health’s COVID 19 Treatments Task Force.

Her message was echoed by four frontline medical practitioners serving some of the most vulnerable populations in the state.

“We are in the winter surge,” said Dr. Nguyen, who directs the Population Health Division of CDPH. “We are already seeing increases in hospitalization rates for COVID. Rates are increasing and we expect to see even more as we head through December.”

But there is a unique opportunity to address the crisis head-on, Nguyen emphasized. “This is the first winter surge of a three-year pandemic where we actually have treatments that are highly effective, readily available, and free to anyone over the age of 12.”

The challenge, Nguyen noted, is that most people aren’t accessing the treatments.

Paxlovid, or its alternative Molnupiravir, are antivirals and they are free to everyone, even those who lack health insurance or are undocumented. Remdesivir, which is given via infusions, is not free: costs vary with the level of insurance coverage. All three treatments are time sensitive. Paxlovid or Molnupiravir, must be started within the first five days after symptoms start; remdesivir must be started within seven days.

Timely treatment can prevent the severity of the infection by 50% to 88%. Even among those who are vaccinated, it decreases risk of long-term COVID, by 45% to 50%. Paxlovid treatment in 2022 alone averted an estimated 16,000 – 48,000 severe

But while

The digital divide Dr. Daniel Turner-Lloveras, executive director of the Latino Coalition for Health Equity, believes lack of internet access and digital skills may be the biggest obstacle.

He cited the case of his mother who recently tested positive for COVID-19. She had phoned her clinic to try to get a doctor but had been waiting all day for a return phone call. Turner Lloveras also called his mother’s clinic, but was forced to leave a voice mail which was not returned.

“As a physician, I am very aware of the benefits of getting early treatment with Paxlovid,” he said. When he sent a message to the clinic’s online patient portal, he got a call back within an hour. “It made me realize that almost every social determinant of health now is enveloped by the need to have internet access and the ability to navigate the World Wide Web.”

More than 35% of Latino workers have no digital skills, and 20% have just limited digital skills, Turner-Lloveras added, noting that digital inclusion now impacts most factors in modern society, including the ability to get a job and support a family.

Dr. Oliver Brooks, chief medical officer of the Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, concurred with TurnerLloveras. He noted that 1 out of 5 Black households have no internet access, limiting their ability to access healthcare in a timely manner. He stressed the importance of testing as soon as any symptom appears: runny nose, cough, gastric distress, fever, and other conditions.

The Black community has much lower rates of treatment, not because it wasn’t accessible, but because it isn’t offered to them, said Brooks. “Treatment doesn’t work if you don’t take it or get offered it. So as a person you need to advocate, you need to know about treatments and then say, ‘I tested positive. Do I take this pill? Do I take something?’”

According to new data from the CDPH shared by Dr. Nguyen, 37% of White patients who presented with COVID symptoms received treatment, while only 20% of Black people got access to care.

Treatment for older adults, rural communities

One of the most vulnerable

NNPA

“JCPA Is A Blank Check for Large Corporate Media, but Leaves Small Minority-Owned News Out in the Cold”

hospitalizations in California, and an estimated 10,000 deaths, according to Nguyen.

treatment supplies are plentiful, access challenges remain huge.

“Without digital literacy and digital skills, you’re offering gas to a family that has no car. Telehealth is a valuable resource but cannot be used without those skills.”

Sen. Warnock’s Victory Is a Win for Georgia and America

By Ben Jealous

If you haven’t watched Sen. Raphael Warnock’s speech on the night of his reelection in Georgia on December 6, stop everything you’re doing, and watch it now. Then tell your kids to watch it. And your neighbors.

What you’ll see is 20 minutes that will leave you with a deep feeling of inspiration and gratitude, and a question: why was this so hard? How is it that Warnock was so clearly the best candidate and had to prove it four times, in the last two years?

Let’s take the question first.

The surprise victories by Sen. Warnock and Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2021 were triumphs over systemic racism and a vicious misinformation and disinformation campaign by far-right forces. Immediately

after they won, Georgia became ground zero for a state voter suppression effort that included harsh crackdowns on early and mail-in voting. The runoff system that Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker were forced into was itself a relic of 1960s white supremacy. It was created by a Georgia segregationist who hoped it would stop Black candidates from winning in a crowded field where white votes were split.

Meanwhile, Walker’s entire campaign was a far-right ploy to split Black votes while giving white Republicans plausible deniability about their party’s racism. Most Black voters saw right through it. But the GOP mustered enormous political

firepower and financial resources for their scheme. That made the race close when it never should have been close.

It made Sen. Warnock’s road, which was always going to be hard, even harder.

On the night of his reelection, Sen. Warnock addressed all of this with his usual dignity. He gave the credit to Georgians for electing the state’s first Black and first Jewish senators at a time when the Far Right was trying to divide the country. He took on the conservative pundits claiming his victory was proof that there was no voter suppression in Georgia. Just because Georgia voters endured long lines in the rain doesn’t mean there is no suppression, he said. It means Georgians refused to have their voices silenced.

The rest of his address showed that Georgia has reelected a senator who values social justice and still believes it can be achieved through representative democracy. Democracy, he said, is the political enactment of a spiritual idea: that each of us carries within us a divine spark. It is a political system that is rooted in the belief that each of us has value, that if we have value we have a voice, and that our voice is our vote. I’m paraphrasing here, and words on the page don’t do justice to Sen. Warnock’s oratory skills. Again, I hope you’ll watch the speech.

Hearing these words at a time when democracy is doubted and under attack is a restorative experience. Hearing Sen. Warnock pledge to work in a bipartisan spirit on behalf of all Americans feels like coming

home, to an America where public servants used to believe that was possible. Hearing him say that he will fight for criminal justice reform because he believes we can have both justice and safety struck a personal chord with me. I believe that too, in my bones. My organization, People For the American Way, has dedicated itself to advancing that goal. There are so many solutions we can and should explore that will save lives.

This moment shows us something else, too, which is that a way forward to a better America now runs through the Deep South. Stacey Abrams’s visionary work to organize voters made Georgia a swing state, and others can follow. Almost a decade ago, I worked on a study that showed that registering just 30 percent of unregistered voters of color could change the political landscape in heavily Black southern states. There are still plenty of challenges, but we’re seeing that prediction come true.

I will close with one other phrase of Sen. Warnock’s from his reelection speech, one that I think serves us well in all the work we do for social justice. This is America, he said, where we “always have a path to make our country greater.” I know there are times when those paths seem impossible, and optimism seems more like naivete. We need more Raphael Warnocks in the world to tell us there is always a way. Right now, I’m deeply grateful that the one we do have will spend six more years in the U.S. Senate.

Submission Deadline is Mondays

Covid Treatments Readily Available, But Access Disparities Still Huge...continued from page 7

populations are adults who are 65 years and older and account for nearly 90% of COVID deaths.

Dr. Wynnelena Canio, who specializes in geriatric medicine at Kaiser Permanente in Petaluma, Ca., and is an advisor with the California Department of Aging, noted that “as people age, we accumulate chronic conditions that cause us to have decreased reserves with which to compensate or recover from stressors such as infection.

“A lot of older adults become more frail, losing more muscle mass and becoming more dependent on others after hospitalization. That in turn leads to more disability and possible institutionalization.”

Early treatment of any conditions in older adults has proven to have better outcomes, Canio emphasized. That includes especially getting the new updated boosters, which only 12% of Americans overall have received.

Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains, a family physician from Kern County in California’s Central Valley, who was just elected to the California State Assembly, spoke about the challenges in accessing health care for rural residents.

Bains, who grew up in the

county, said when she was a child, a pediatrician could usually be seen within a day. Today, it can take two to three months.

The pandemic brought accelerated rates of retirement for doctors and skyrocketing unemployment rates. As people lost their jobs, they also lost health insurance coverage, Bains noted. Language barriers added to the access challenges. Many resources were not available in Spanish or Punjabi, two commonly spoken languages in Kern County. Added to this, issues like poor air quality and resulting lung disease led to high levels of hospitalization and deaths in her region.

“The lens needs to be focused here. The surge is real, it’s happening and it’s at the detriment of areas like rural California.”

Access issues notwithstanding, all five physicians agreed that getting tested and treated early is the message underserved communities need to hear.

“Don’t wait till the illness gets worse,” said Nguyen. “If you start feeling a runny nose, cough, or generally not like yourself, act fast and take a COVID test. If you test positive, seek treatment right away.”