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NEWSPAPER A Community Newspaper Serving San Bernardino, Riverside & Los Angeles Counties

July 8, 2021 Thursday Edition

Volume 52 No.12 Mailing: P.O. Box 837, Victorville, CA 92393

Office: (909) 889-7677

Email: Mary @Sb-American.com

Website: www.SB-American.com

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)

California Lawmakers Approve California’s $267 Billion Budget VOICE AND VIEWPOINT – Although California lawmakers approved the budget in time for the state reopening, “And while we proudly embrace the California comeback, this last year reminds us that we need to plan for the unexpected,” said Gov. Newsom.

Bo Tefu | California Black Media

Martinez-Born NFL Rookie Joins Gov. Newsom’s Efforts Against Homelessness and Hunger POST NEWS GROUP – Harris has dedicated personal time and resources to address poverty, education, homelessness, and food insecurity. He has also collaborated with Oakland native and former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch to address similar issues through fundraising initiatives and events.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Caption: Pittsburgh Steeler rookie Najee Harris speaks at a press conference with Gov. Gavin Newsom. California Black Media photo.

California State Capitol, Sacramento, California" by Ken Lund is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 The California legislature approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $267 billion state budget for fiscal year 2021-22. It is packed with support for programs and policy initiatives intended to drive California’s economy out of the downturn caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Cash that will be pumped into the general fund accounts for the major share of the budget, with a total of $96 billion directed to K-12 education and community colleges. That amount is based on minimum funding requirements set by Proposition 98, a ballot initiative that voters approved in 1998.

Although California lawmakers approved the budget in time for the state reopening, “And while we proudly embrace the California comeback, this last year reminds us that we need to plan for the unexpected,” said Gov. Newsom.

“We must maintain a strong fiscal foundation that does not overcommit the state to long-term spending it cannot afford, which could lead to future cuts,” he said.

Gov. Newsom first proposed the budget in January this year, and added some revisions in May, including funding to address issues affecting Black and Brown communities. Although lawmakers say they aim to prioritize long-term issues such as childcare and public health, Gov. Newsom says he wants to focus on reviving the job market by supporting the tourism industry and small businesses to amend

California’s economic crisis.

Gov. Newsom announced the full reopening of the state on June 15 at Universal Studios Hollywood as nearly half of California’s population is fully vaccinated. The state also lifted COVID-19 restrictions, including social distancing, mask requirements, and county tiers in most public settings statewide.

The state continues to offer cash prizes to newly vaccinated residents as part of its “Vax for the Win” incentive program which started in June this year.

The state’s fiscal year starts, “With the largest surplus in California history, we’re using this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create an economic recovery that will leave nobody behind – with money going directly back to Californians, the nation’s largest small business relief programs, and unprecedented investments to address California’s most persistent challenges such as homelessness, climate change and equity in our education system,” said Gov. Newsom.

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), who is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, shared the governor’s optimism about the newly approved budget. He highlighted the economic inequality accelerated

by COVID-19 and its impact on low-income families in California.

Holden expressed confidence that the budget makes investments in priorities that will address the

state’s most important issues.

“This time last year, we feared the pandemic would destroy our economy and leave the state in a deep hole,” said Holden referring to the legislature’s decision.

“Even though the outlook for beating the virus is in sight, we know families continue to struggle in this pandemic,” he said.

However, since the legislature approved the budget, “we are in a much better position than we ever thought given the circumstances.

We are making robust investments for priority issues including our economic recovery, education, and homelessness while contributing at a record level to our reserves,” said Holden.

Most Democratic lawmakers gave the budget a thumbs up, but some Republicans remained hesitant about the certainty of California’s economic recovery based on the newly approved budget.

Re publica n law ma ker s claim that the state’s budget is a “placeholder budget” used by legislators to take advantage of loopholes in Califor nia’s constit ution.

California’s constitution mandates that the legislature pass the budget by midnight each year on June 15 — or lawmakers forfeit their salaries.

The day before the state’s reopening, Republican Sen. James Nielsen was vocal about his opposition to the newly approved budget in a Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee meeting.

“This is a fake budget. It’s a feel-good budget. It’s a ‘let us get paid’ budget. But, what we’re voting on is not going to be the [real] budget,” said Nielsen.

“We already know what they’re voting on today, it’s kind of a fraud on the people to make them think, ‘Oh, look at all these wonderful things we’re getting,’” said Nielsen.

The pushback from Republican lawmakers raised questions about the state’s final budget as Gov. Newsom and California legislators negotiate and modify how funds will be allocated. This process has to be completed by July 1, when the budget goes into effect.

Last week, Gov. Newsom also eliminated executive orders he implemented at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

New executive orders he signed lifted the stay-at-home order and the county tier system following the approval of the budget and the reopening of the state.

The California Department of Public Health also released a new order that removed restrictions in public spaces, including at schools and during major events.

As of June 15, people in California are no longer required to wear masks or social distance.

But state officials recommend that non-vaccinated people still protect themselves in public places to prevent infection.

The post California Lawmakers Approve California’s $267 Billion Budget appeared first on Voice and Viewpoint.

Rookie Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, who was born in Martinez and attended high school in Antioch, came home last week to join Gov. Gavin Newsom in Santa Clara as he announced his efforts to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis and a new COVID-19related rental relief program.

Harris, who was picked in the first round of the NFL draft about a month ago, is using his celebrity and resources to support low-income families experiencing homelessness and hunger through his nonprofit Da’ Bigger Picture Foundation.

At the press conference with the governor, Harris shared his personal experience with homelessness and how that has inspired him to help others in similar situations.

“Me my family, we were all once homeless, moving around the Bay Area,” said Harris at the press conference.

“San Francisco, Richmond. I lived in Pinole, Sacramento.

“We were evicted numerous times and had to stay in homeless shelters, friends’ houses, cars.

But as a family, we stuck together and made it through these tough times,” he said.

“Now I’m in a position to help out people. But a problem with no answer is just a problem,” Harris said referring to the state’s homelessness crisis.

Harris has dedicated personal time and resources to address poverty, education, homelessness, and food insecurity. He has also collaborated with Oakland native and former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch to address similar issues through fundraising initiatives and events.

The state created Project

Homekey, a Cal i for n ia Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) grant program that funded programs and institutions in cities and counties to secure shelter for unhoused people.

It was a state initiative created to expand the scope of its programmatic predecessor, Project Roomkey. That effort was a temporary housing program implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the state, it was created to comply with the state’s shelter-in-place orders, provide spaces for people affected by COVID-19 to recover and to serve as a first stop on a pathway to more permanent housing.

Through Roomkey, hotels and motels in California offered shelter for homeless people who were exposed to COVID-19 to recover and properly quarantine in an effort to minimize the strain on the healthcare system.

Although Homekey provides interim housing, the state has secured over 6,000 additional housing units and bills that project as a pathway to permanent housing for homeless people.

Newsom said that the state acknowledges that homeless people are unable to live, “a good life in an unjust society.”

“You can sit there and point fingers or abdicate responsibility, but we have agency, we can shape the future decisions,” he said.

California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.

The post Martinez-Born NFL Rookie Joins Gov. Newsom’s Efforts Against Homelessness and Hunger first appeared on Post News Group.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 2

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/ADVERTISING

Cali’s Push to Let Student Athletes Get Paid Gets Big Assists From SCOTUS, NCAA Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)represents the sports programs at over 1,260 academic institutions, 102 athletic conferences, and more than 480,000student athletes who have not been allowed, until recently, to make a dime from their athletic abilities or the marketing of their names, images or likenesses.

But last week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) unanimously ruled that the NCAA policy must fall in line with the country’s antitrust laws and that the organization does not have the authority to deny student athletes the right to receive compensation for their athleticism or fame.

“I’m excited about this ruling.

It’s long overdue and I am happy that California had a small role in moving that tide, that marker,” said Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Gardena), who, along with Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 206 or the Fair Pay to Play Act in California.

SB 206, which Gov. Newsom signed into law in 2019 – and which is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023 – paved the way for athletes in the Golden State to cash in on apparel endorsements, autograph signing, jersey licensing, social media commerce, ticket sales or other for-profit ventures.

Speaking during a Juneteenth celebration at the Secretary of State office in Sacramento, Bradford said, “It’s really what we were talking about here today. College athletics is an extension of the chattel system.

Those athletes are people of color -- African American men and women -- who have never been fully compensated.”

About a week after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, the NCAA, based on recommendations from the organization’s Division 1 Board of Directors, announced that it would lift its restrictions on student earnings and allow students to profit off of

their athleticism and fame.

That o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s decision came a day before laws lifting the NCAA ban in eight states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas – took effect July 1.

According to the NCAA, the temporary action would remain in place until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted.

After the NCAA decision, Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman and co-lead attorney for a class action suit, Keller v. Electronic Arts Inc., that helped shift the ground on the student athlete pay issue, shared his thoughts.

Berman told California Black Media, “this set of rules argues that the fate of college sports is not seriously in jeopardy if the NCAA were to get out of the business of fixing NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) prices entirely.”

“The NCAA is admitting what we’ve known all along: that consumer demand is not tied to athletes’ earnings, and for many reasons, college sports can have a future that is both fair and sustainable for athletes,” he continued.

In the Supreme Cour t case, the National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston (No. 20-512), U.S. Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered an opinion in the 9-0 unanimous ruling.

Gorsuch wrote, “Colleges and

universities across the country have leveraged sports to bring in revenue, attract attention, boost enrollment, and raise money from alumni. That profitable enterprise relies on ‘amateur’ student-athletes who compete under horizontal restraints that restrict how the schools may compensate them for their play.”

The NCAA, he continued, “issues and enforces these rules, which restrict compensation for student-athletes in various ways. These rules depress compensation for at least some student-athletes below what a competitive market would yield.”

The lead plaintiff in the case the Supreme Court decided, Alston v. NCAA, is African American Shawne Alston, a former University of West Virginia (UVW) running back. Alston played for the Mountaineers from 2009 to 2012.

Alston’s landmark ruling may have led to the biggest rewriting of NCAA rules in the organization’s 115-year history, but it was Ed O’Bannon, who first brought a legal complaint against the NCAA, over the compensation of former and current studentathletes.

O’Bannon, who won a NCAA Men’s Basketball title with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1995 filed the federal class-action lawsuit, O’Bannon v. NCAA, 12 years ago. He and 19 others

Cali’s Push to Let Student Athletes Get Paid Gets Big Assists From SCOTUS, NCAA...continued athletes sued the NCAA for violating federal antitrust laws.

National Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Oscar Robertson affixed his name to O’Bannon’s suit in 2011 when he learned that the NCAA used his image in licensing deals with trading card companies without his knowledge.

The distribution of trading cards displayed Robertson wearing his University of Cincinnati uniform, where he played for the Bearcats from 1957 to 1960. The NCAA claimed it could use his likeness in perpetuity, Yahoo!

Sports reported in January 2011.

“Today, the Supreme Court said, ‘no’ to the NCAA’s monopolistic practices,” Skinner said of the NCAA v. Alston ruling.

“For far too long, the NCAA has pocketed billions off the hard work and talent of studentathletes while limiting the support colleges can provide and denying athletes any of that wealth.”

In 2009, Sam Keller, a former starting quarterback at Arizona State University and the University of Nebraska, brought a putative class action lawsuit (along with other former college football players) against Electronic Arts (EA), the digital interactive company, alleging that its use of his likeness in the NCAA Football series of video games violated his right of publicity under California statutory and common law.

On July 31, 2013, California’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California, ruled EA was not protected by the First Amendment

free speech in portraying the likeness of a college football player. The ruling effectively ended the NCAA Football video series run of 17 years.

Although the SCOTUS and NCAA decisions affirm California’s law on student athlete pay, the U.S. Congress has not yet created a national legal standard on the issue.

Bradford said he was surprised by the decision coming from a Supreme Court bench with a conser vative majorit y.

“Yes, I was surprised the ruling was unanimous. That fact impressed me far more than anything else,” Bradford told California Black Media.

“Regardless of it being a conservative court, I think when the facts are just laid out so obvious — Nick Saban (Alabama head football coach) getting paid $9 million a year and many college athletes still hungry before they go to sleep.”

Now, Bradford and Skinner are working to move up the effective date of the legislation with another bill the duo introduced in December of 2020, SB 26.

“As an author of Fair Play To Play, SB 206, now SB 26, we’ll move up that date,” Bradford said. “Just because you have a scholarship, it doesn’t come close to covering your living expenses” he said. “(Student athletes) should be able to monetize their likeness just like any other student and any other American under the First Amendment.”

continued in next 2 columns

U.S. Department of Education Invites States and School Districts to Apply for Additional $600 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Students Experiencing Homelessness Community/ Education News To help support the needs of students experiencing homelessness, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) today is inviting states to complete the application for their share of the second disbursement of $800 million in funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021’s Homeless Children and Youth Fund (ARP-HCY). In April, the Department released the first $200 million of the $800 million in ARP-HCY funds to states. The distribution of the additional $600 million will give states and school districts access to funding before the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.

“Even before the coronavirus pandemic highlighted and exacerbated inequities in America’s education system, st udents exper iencing homelessness faced numerous challenges as they strove to learn and achieve in school each day. Amid COVID-19 and the transition to remote and hybrid learning, for so many students, these challenges intensified. As a nation, we must do everything we can to ensure that all students— including students experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity—are able to access an excellent education that opens doors to opportunity and thriving lives,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “I encourage every state to urgently use these American Rescue Plan funds to support homeless children and youth so that these students have every chance to participate in summer learning and enrichment; experience full-time, in-person instruction in their schools

in the fall; and get connected to vital services and supports that can support their success.”

The needs of students experiencing homelessness remain urgent, as many schools and districts struggle to identify and serve students who experience homelessness. The ARP-HCY funds are designed to be flexible so that states and districts can address community needs. This additional ARP-HCY funding will be used by states and school districts to identify homeless children and youth, provide wraparound services in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide assistance to enable homeless children and youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities.

“Every child deserves to have a warm place to sleep and a roof over their head every night. But for 1.5 million children across America and over 10,000 children in my home state of West Virginia, that is not the case. The COVID-19 pandemic made this heartbreaking and dire issue much worse for many of our families and children in need. Since the pandemic kept most students at home, schools have struggled to track students experiencing homelessness,” said Sen. Joe Manchin. “This second round of funding—part of the $800 million I successfully fought to include in the American Rescue Plan—will help schools identify students experiencing homelessness and provide support for these vulnerable students.

States can begin applying for the second round of funding today in order to get the funds directly to school districts before

the new school year so students experiencing homelessness can receive the support they need.”

“This past year has been so difficult for every student, parent and educator across the country— but what students experiencing homelessness have gone through is unthinkable. The first thing we told people during this pandemic was to ‘stay home.’ But so many students don’t have a safe place to call home, access to internet, devices, or critical services that students have relied on to learn during this pandemic,” said Sen. Patty Murray. “We fought hard to make sure the American Rescue Plan includes dedicated funding for students experiencing homelessness, and I’m so pleased the Department of Education is acting quickly to get these resources to our communities. The crisis of youth homelessness is especially acute for LGBTQ young people and children of color, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure students experiencing homelessness not only get enrolled in school, but also get the kind of support and stability they need so they can learn and grow in the classroom.”

Following a brief application, states will receive funds that will be awarded to school districts through formula subgrants. These funds will reach districts that may not have accessed previous federal funding designated for students experiencing homelessness.

Under the final requirements that will be published in the Federal Register, states are required to distribute funds to school continued on page 3

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 3

STATE/LOCAL/BUSINESS

Another San Bernardino County Sheriff Retires Mid-term BLACK VOICE NEWS – White men are 30 percent of the population but are 90 percent of all sheriffs in America.

By S. E. Williams | Black Voice News

Sheriff John McMahon (Image courtesy of Youtube) “Sheriff demographics are gravely unbalanced: While African Americans are confined to jail at over three times the rate of White Americans, only five percent of sheriffs are African American.

And even as the number of women in jail trends higher, fewer than three percent of sheriffs are women.” – THE REFLECTIVE DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN White men are 30 percent of the population but are 90 percent of all sheriffs in America.

The demographic imbalance in law enforcement leadership (and officer representation) is evident here in the inland region where

White sheriffs and police chiefs compared to the demographic make-up of the region—like many places in the country— is grossly out of balance.

In some instances, like the city of San Bernardino for example, it appears the city would rather operate indefinitely with a socalled “interim police chief” than risk being called out if they fail to appoint a chief more reflective of the demographics of the city.

The county of San Bernardino on the other hand, has taken a different and more circuitous route to what has historically been the same “white bread” ending.

By Charlene Crowell John McMahon, who has served as San Bernardino County Sheriff since 2012, recently announced his unexpected retirement effective July 16.

McMahon won re-election outright in the 2018 primary election in June 2018. The reason he has now set his sights on an early departure is unclear though in a video statement he advised, “It is now time for me to focus on things in my personal life that require the attention of my wife Shelly and I.” Certainly, a man who has served his community for nearly 30 years deserves to bow out at his discretion and though some may be sorry to see him go, many others believe he can not leave soon enough as he leaves a trail of wreckage for many members of the minority community in his wake.

Whether we recall how the federal government had to step in and shut down the horrendous torture and sodomizing of county jail inmates in 2014 on par with what the world witnessed at Abu Ghraib during the “tortuous” presidency of George W. Bush,

or the grotesque and questionable murder of Nathaniel Pickett in 2016 by a San Bernardino County deputy that resulted in a $33.5 million dollar settlement awarded to his family at the taxpayers expense; or what appears to be the racist arrest of a Black federal corrections officer who was allegedly detained by two San Bernardino County deputies at gunpoint while at a fast food restaurant and taken to the Victorville station despite the fact he had a badge and other identification which clearly proved who he was—McMahon’s tenure has been dangerous for many.

And then there was the 2019 settlement of a civil rights lawsuit claiming the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department failed “to provide minimally adequate medical, dental and mental health care” to inmates in the county’s jail system, and had failed “to prevent unnecessary and excessive uses of force continued on page 7

Inspected.com Partners with California West Valley Water District Elevates Judicial Branch to Aid on HVAC Issues and Interim General Manager to Permanent Permitting State/Local/Business News

Position

Davie, FL (July 6, 2021) – Inspected, a remote virtual inspection program, has announced a partnership with the California Judicial Branch to allow inspectors in Sacramento and across the state to video chat with city officials for any heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) concerns they may have, to clear permits faster, and keep residents safe.

“Through this collaboration with the state of California, Inspected is working to increase efficiencies and reduce costs while ensuring construction and renovation projects can continue moving forward,” said Anthony Perera, Founder of Inspected.com.

“The California Judicial Branch have already used Inspected’s Enterprise Program on their Judicial Council Facilities and will continue to schedule inspections on other projects in the future.”

Inspected provides new solutions that speed up the

permitting process needed to complete or continue renovations on educational institutions, as well as homes and businesses by allowing inspectors to visually approve work and close permits without having to physically visit the site. By allowing permitting inspectors to work remotely, Inspected.com keeps people safer, streamlines paperwork, and reduces delays.

Inspected offers an easy-to-use interface that removes the need for direct contact, and the technology will help cities clear permits faster and save travel expenses, while ensuring an important revenue base continues. For customers and contractors, it ensures projects can continue and removes uncertainty of when an inspector will be able to once again travel to personally approve the permit. A video demo of the new Inspected app can be viewed at www.inspected.com and demos are available upon request.

U.S. Department of Education Invites States and School Districts to Apply for Additional $600 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Students Experiencing Homelessness...continued from page 2 districts via a formula that uses the district’s allocation under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the number of identified homeless children and youth in either the 2018-19 or 2019-20 school year, whichever number is greater. With the exception of the district subgranting formula, which replaces the competitive subgrant process required by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinneyVento Act), all requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act also apply to the ARP-HCY funds.

The distribution of ARP-HCY funds is part of the Department’s broader efforts to support students and districts as they work to reengage students impacted by the pandemic, address inequities exacerbated by COVID-19, and build our education system back better than before. In addition to providing $130 billion for K-12 education in the American Rescue Plan to support the safe reopening of K-12 schools and

meet the needs of all students, the Biden-Harris Administration has: Released three volumes of the COVID-19 Handbook Held a National Safe School Reopening Summit Helped over 175 million Americans ages 12 and older get vacci nated Provided $10 billion in funding for COVID-19 testing for PreK12 educators, staff, and students Prioritized the vaccination of educators and other school staff Launched a series of Equity Summits focused on addressing inequities that existed before, but were made worse by the pandemic Released a report on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on underserved communities, including homeless youth Developed a Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clea r i ng hou se elevat i ng hundreds of best practices to support schools’ efforts to reopen safely and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students, educators, and communities.

President Biden Signs Bipartisan Bill to Curb Predatory Lending

State/Local/Business News RIALTO, CA -- The West Valley Water District (WVWD) Board of Directors confirmed its selection of Interim General Manager Shamindra “Rickey” Manbahal as the permanent general manager. Manbahal brings decades of experience as a trusted, experienced public officer to his now-permanent role as general manager.

“Mr. Manbahal has served our water district as interim general manager with distinction and we couldn't be more proud to have him on board as our permanent general manager,” said WVWD Board President Channing Hawkins. “As a public organization, Manbahal’s vision for a fiscally and environmentallysustainable West Valley Water District that can expand to meet growing consumer demand will be critical to our success.”

“I'm honored to have been selected as West Valley Water District's general manager. I believe I have proven my dedication to improving transparency, efficiency, and trust at every level of this organization and am excited to help guide this organization through its continued rebirth and growth. We’re working on a critical resource at a very critical time. Dealing with major issues such as drought and population growth over the next several years will not be an easy task, but I’m confident that we have what it takes to continue to create a model organization," said the new GM, Rickey Manbahal.

When Mr. Manbahal was hired as chief financial officer in 2019, WVWD was in a state of financial and administrative turmoil. As a part of WVWD leadership, Manbahal worked with the Board of Directors to turn around the agency and enact ten major reforms to resolve financial issues and deliver greater accountability, transparency and savings for ratepayers. These actions resulted in WVWD receiving the Special District Leadership Fou ndation Transparency

Certificate of Excellence.

"Mr. Manbahal's years of dependable public service and exceptional tenure with the water district made him the clear choice for elevation to permanent general manager," said WVWD Board Vice President Kyle Crowther. "We're proud of the work Mr. Manbahal has done for this organization and look forward to continued progress in the renewal and growth of our water district under his tenure."

Over the past several years, Manbahal’s experience and efforts were critical to the organization’s success as he implemented a purchasing card program or CAL-Card to minimize fraud, created an accounting manual of practices that manages and protects assets, developed a strict budget calendar that holds board and staff members accountable, modernized the organization’s files through a new digital records management system and more.

Even in the face of a decline in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manbahal produced a responsible fiscal year 2020-2021 budget that generated $416,000 in cost savings without raising rates for ratepayers. Most recently, Manbahal led WVWD's effort to secure a U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency loan for capital improvements worth nearly $25 million.

Prior to his tenure at WVWD, Manbahal served as director of finance, assistant financial services director and interim finance director for localities throughout California. Before these positions, Manbahal worked as an internal auditor for the County of Los Angeles.

Manbahal earned his master’s degree in public administration from California State University Northridge and a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also serves as a part-time lecturer at UCLA Extension, where he leads intensive courses in auditing, accou nting and business management.

July 1, 2021 In recent years, consumer finance protections withered through a series of harsh attacks that either outright rejected or significantly diminished financial guard rails in the marketplace. But a new consumer victory, urged by a groundswell of support from everyday people, academicians, and bicameral legislators signals an important step towards fair financial rules.

On June 30, President Joe Biden’s signature ended an ill-advised rule that favored predatory loans instead of America’s consumers.

“These are so called “rent-abank” schemes”, said President Joe Biden at the June 30 signing ceremony. “And they allow lenders to prey on veterans, seniors, and other unsuspecting borrowers tapping in the — trapping them into a cycle of debt. And the last administration let it happened, but we won’t.”

Days earlier on June 24, a bipartisan vote of 218-208 in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a key financial rule change to the President’s desk. Just a few weeks earlier the Senate had passed the same bill with a bipartisan vote. Using authority from the Congressional Review Act, the votes sought to eliminate a recently passed regulation. In this case, the goal was to nix the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) “fake lender” rule issued late in the Trump Administration.

As the nation’s seat of government, Capitol Hill is a place where an array of interests vies for both attention and influence. Leanbudgeted but principled public interest organizations can often find themselves disadvantaged by deep pocketed interests.

That’s why it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate overcoming stacked odds to forge changes that result in real life benefits for everyday people and small businesses alike.

Especially for Black America and other communities of color, solid steps toward ending billiondollar financial exploitation are particularly deserving of attention.

Historically, we have already borne the brunt of predatory greed.

“Eliminating this harmful OCC rule will prevent more people from being exposed to high-interest loans that pull borrowers down deep into debt and despair,” said Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) Director of Federal Campaigns Graciela Aponte-Diaz. “Nixing the rule will curb the spread of predatory loans that target Black, Latinx, and low-income individuals – many of whom are struggling from the economic downturn.

This action will allow states to protect their residents by enforcing their state interest rate laws.”

As reported previously in this column, OCC’s “True Lender” rule gave a green light to predatory lenders. By effectively overriding a string of state laws in almost every state enacted to prevent abusive payday, car-title, and installment loans with explosive interest rates of more than 100% took effect in late December 2020.

Payday and high-cost installment lenders paid fees to banks for use of their name and charter to dodge state interest rate laws by claiming the bank’s exemption from those laws for itself.

Consumer advocates referred to the rule change as a ‘Fake Lender’ as the real lender is the predatory non-bank lender – not a bank.

Reactions to the successful consumer challenge soon followed.

One of the first public comments came as a joint statement from two key U.S. Senators.

“Striking down the Trump ‘Rent-a-Bank’ rule will help prevent predatory lenders from ripping off consumers and charging loan-shark rates under deceptive terms”, noted Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and co-sponsor of the resolution.

“The OCC, when it allowed banks to evade state interest rate caps, betrayed hard-working families and attacked states’ ability to protect their citizens from predatory loans,” added Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the committee’s chair.

“Congress showed the people we serve that we’re on their side.”

For C a l i f o r n i a’s Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, the resolution rids the nation of financial rubbish.

“The Tr ump-era “Tr ue Lender” rule is a back-door way for nonbanks to charge tripledigit interest rates on loans at the expense of consumers in states where voters turned out to pass interest rate cap laws,” said Waters. “No wonder some call this the “fake lender” rule.”

Just how much financial harm resulted from the ill-advised rule has been documented by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), a member of a diverse coalition that advocated repeal.

According to NCLC, predatory small business lenders are using the fake lender rule to defend a 268% annual percentage rate (APR) rate on loans totaling $67,000 to a Black restaurant owner in New York, where the criminal usury rate is 25%, and secured by property in New Jersey, where the legal limit is 30%. The lender pretended that the nominal participation of a bank based in Nevada justified its astronomical rate. Nevada has no interest limits on loans.

In another example, OppLoans (also known as OppFi), an online lender offers 160% APR loans in 26 states that prohibit triple-digit rate loans. This lender has also cited the OCC’s fake lender rule to defend its loan to a disabled veteran in California, where the usury rate on the loan is 24%. OppLoans is also evading state rate cap laws supported by broad majorities of voters in Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Even in states where legislatures have enacted rate caps, the fake lender rule would have essentially negated those rate cap protections.

For consumer advocates, along with their partners in the civil rights, faith, and veterans’ communities, revoking the fake lender rule is a step towards a national loan rate cap of no more than 36%.

Yea r s ago, bipa r t isa n enactment of the Military Lending Act awarded doubledigit rate cap protections for men and women in uniform. It’s time for all of America to have the same financial protection.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 4

LIFESTYLE/SPORTS//ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION

California is betting $61 million that new highway crossings will keep wildlife safe

BY MARISSA GARCIA

Michelle Mariscal, an ecologist for the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority, walks into the Harbor Boulevard Wildlife Underpass in La Habra Heights, on June 30, 2021. "This is the wildlife's gateway to the open space on either side of this busy road," Mariscal said. "The animals to the underpass are able to live longer lives." Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters It’d be just another normal day, nearly 17 feet above Highway 101 in Agoura Hills.

A southern alligator lizard and a western toad hide from the heat in the greenery of restored native vegetation. Mountain lion cubs pounce on rocks and spring into the nearby canyons.

The sun glints on the feathers of a golden eagle soaring overhead.

This is the scene environmentalists hope will someday become reality on a massive overpass above the tenlane freeway that cuts through the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles. The project known as the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing is one step closer to happening now that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a budget that includes $7 million to help build it — and another $54.5 million for similar projects in other parts of the state.

It’s part of a larger nationwide push to build special bridges and tunnels that help animals safely cross busy roads and freeways.

The goal is two-fold: to give species at risk the space they need to find mates, and to reduce the number of car crashes that imperil both wildlife and humans.

About 7,000 vehicle crashes a year on California highways involve large wildlife, such as deer, according to 2018 data from the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis.

That’s nearly 20 crashes a day, at least. Many are likely unreported.

And they aren’t cheap — for the drivers or the government.

Between 2015 and 2018, wildlife crashes have cost more than $1 billion. The expenses include car damage, personal injuries, emergency response, traffic impacts, lost work and the clean-up.

Highways aren’t just crash sites for the deer caught in the headlights; they’re also a great divide that can threaten the future of an entire species.

That’s because highways cut

through critical habitat, making it impossible for animals from one side to breed with animals on the other. This leads to inbreeding and deformities that result from dwindling genetic diversity.

Wildlife crossings can help.

A rendering of the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing, which would help restore connectivity in the Santa Monica Mountain Range, buffering mountain lions from extinction. Photo courtesy of National Wildlife Federation/Living Habitats An artist rendering of the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing, which would help restore connectivity in the Santa Monica Mountain Range, buffering mountain lions from extinction. Photo courtesy of National Wildlife Federation/Living Habitats Utah saw a 98.5% reduction in deer mortalities when it built two animal underpasses on a stretch of highway that blocked traditional migratory routes. In Colorado, wildlife-vehicle collisions dropped by 89% after the state built two bridges to help mule deer and elk safely cross a highway. Arizona, Florida, Montana, Oregon, New Mexico, Washington and Wyoming have also built successful wildlife crossings.

But California? Despite its environmentally-aware reputation, the Golden State lags in building these crossings.

The Liberty Canyon overpass would be California’s first bridge on the state highway system designed specifically for fostering wildlife connectivity. And even with the new funding, it’s still years away from completion.

“We’re not an environmental state,” said Fraser Shilling, codirector of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis. “We don’t have environmental-based legislation that is resulting in protection of wildlife.”

Hundreds of Faith Leaders & Organizations Call On President Biden to End “Title 42” Expulsions, Welcome People Seeking Asylum With Dignity Lifestyle /Religion News Washington, DC - For months, people of faith have been calling on the Biden administration to end Title 42 expulsions, including sixty-five high-level faith leaders in a recent letter. Earlier this summer, it was reported that the administration is considering lifting the pandemic Title 42 expulsion policy for some, while continuing to enforce it for others. It is unimaginable that the administration could delay access to asylum for some of our most vulnerable migrant siblings

at a height in humanitarian need. The administration must comply with its moral and international obligations and ensure that Black, LGBTQ and other adult asylum seekers, many of whom have been turned back or expelled at ports-of-entry, as well as families and children, are welcomed with dignity.

Under a Trump-era policy, the Biden administration continues to expel thousands of people back to danger, contributing to additional continued in next 2 columns

Hundreds of Faith Leaders & Organizations Call On President Biden to End “Title 42” Expulsions, Welcome People Seeking Asylum With Dignity...continued humanitarian challenges along northern Mexico, where many faith-based organizations and NGOs have been rendering aid.

In a statement, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees appealed to the U.S. government to lift Title 42 and restore access to asylum. Five hundred people of faith and organizations sent a concerned letter to President Biden urging him to put an end to “Title 42 expulsions.” “[W]e believe in honoring the inherent dignity of all and welcoming all people.

Therefore, we urge you to do everything in your power to restore asylum protections, end the inhumane Title 42 policy, and welcome asylum seekers and unaccompanied children,” they write. “Our faith traditions call on us to love all people and stand against dehumanizing policies.

During this unprecedented public health crisis, it is

imperative that the US reject any policy that turns away asylum seekers; rather the US should ensure pathways to protection.”

The administration’s policy is putting vulnerable people in danger and making families less secure. Read the complete letter to President Biden here.

The Welcome With Dignity Campaign delivered a petition from 105 organizations calling on the Biden administration to rescind the Title 42 policy and restart asylum processing.

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm

COVID-19 Gender Equality Setbacks...continued sub-Saharan Africa, there are at least 608,000 girls at risk of child marriage, and 542,000 girls are at risk of early pregnancy.

The pandemic has emphasized how interconnected our lives are and calls for intersectional approaches to tackling gender inequality. One such response comes from Wider Church Ministries/Global Ministries church partners in southern Africa.

Since the start of the pandemic, the South Africa Synod of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa has hosted weekly Thursdays in Black online meetings to raise awareness about gender inequality and genderbased violence. The Thursdays in Black campaign, created by the World Council of Churches, is a global solidarity movement to resist attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence.

The South Africa Synod's weekly gatherings bring awareness of the heightened risk of violence against women and children during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Their meetings bring together church members, South African ambassador staff across the world, and international partners.

Black has been an essential color in my wardrobe since my childhood. In high school, my thespian friends and I wore black to distinguish ourselves from other school clicks. Today, I wear black every Thursday as a visual sign of my solidarity, joining the advocacy efforts of communities in the United States and worldwide against gender-based violence and gender inequality. Gender inequality and gender-based violence have always been pressing issues, but the need for robust advocacy is greater now than ever before.

Like women in other parts of the world, African women and girls play critical roles in responding to COVID-19. How can we honor their work and sacrifices? We have an opportunity to end genderbased violence and get back on track with narrowing the gender gap that expanded during the pandemic. So, I invite you to join me in adorning yourself in black on Thursdays and participating in this global movement.

Marco Cable is the Area Executive for Africa, Wider Church Ministries/Global Ministries.

Submission Deadline for press releases and legals MONDAYS by 5pm.

Visit our website: sb-american.com for latest news

“If Only I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time!”

By: Lou Yeboah

Lou Yeboah

Witness For Justice#1054

COVID-19 Gender Equality Setbacks Marco Cable The global pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of women and girls, especially in Africa, setting back significant processes made around the world to close gender gaps.

Across Africa, women are experiencing the highest rates of job losses. 92% of women in Africa earn a daily wage through the informal economy by selling produce, meals, or crafts.

These women are experiencing significant financial setbacks during the global pandemic due to a decline in tourism and curfew restrictions. Even where women have formal employment opportunities, patriarchal social norms and traditions in some societies dictate that a career be secondary to a woman's primary place as a housewife. This demand for women to prioritized home life over their professional lives has increased during the pandemic.

In a recent report, the Center for Global Development stated that, in 2020, women globally took on 173 additional hours of unpaid childcare compared to 59 additional hours for men during the same period. The study noted that the gap widens in low-

to middle-income countries, with women caring for children more than three times as many hours as men. In addition to the responsibility of childcare, women are also tasked with caring for the sick. With health systems stretched, many people with Covid-19 are being cared for at home, adding to women's home responsibilities and putting them at greater risk of becoming infected.

The pandemic and associated lockdowns have led to financial insecurity, inability to flee abuse, social isolation, crowded homes, and reduced support networks.

This has led to a surge in domestic violence and teenage pregnancies.

According to the United Nations' The Shadow Pandemic: Violence Against Women and Girls and COVID-1 report, approximately 243 million women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner. The United Nations reported that in 2020 about 48 million women and girls, including 4 million pregnant women, required humanitarian assistance and protection. In continued in next 2 columns

“My friends, I'll say it clear, and state my case of which I'm certain. The end is near. I face the final curtain. I've lived a life that's full. I've traveled each and every highway and more. “I DID IT MY WAY.” Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exception. I planned each charted course, each careful step along life's byway, and more, much more than this, “I DID IT MY WAY.” [My WayFrank Sinatra, Paul Ankay].

Frank Sinatra’s well-known song, “I DID IT MY WAY,” was shocking for its blatant ungodliness. Of course, what Sinatra stated plainly in that song, “I DID IT MY WAY,” is true of every person who does not submit their lives to Jesus Christ. Most people just aren’t as open as Sinatra in stating the controlling force of their lives.

Well, I want you to know that the Bible has a lot to say about “MY WAY.” [Proverbs 14: 12] states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.” God’s Word is clear: If you seek your own way, you will pay a high price in the end. You’ve got to decide which will be your theme song: “I DID IT MY WAY,” or, “I DID IT GOD’S WAY?” I admonish you, don’t be like Chorzin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum who heard the

warnings, but they didn’t obey?

They listened, but they didn’t apply what they heard. They ignored Christ’s summons. Don’t you do it. If you ignore God’s warning to repent and do it your way, then you will die without Christ and go to hell. I tell you, wisdom is the principal thing, but in all your getting, get an understanding.

Heed to God’s warning. Don’t wait until the end is near. For what is your life? It is even as a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanished away.”

Do not be confused or misled.

The choice before you today is the very same choice that was offered to the Israelites in [Deuteronomy 30]. It is simply the choice of “Your Way” or “God’s Way.” Choose consciously and intentionally, because according to the Bible, “the appointed time has grown very short” [1 Corinthians 7:29].

Christ’s return is imminent, and his timeline makes it urgent. For thus saith the Lord, “For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.” [Isaiah 48:9].

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." [Isaiah 55:8-9].

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways." [Psalm 128:1].

"But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels." [Psalm 81:11-14].

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 5

LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210006361 Date Filed: 06/16 /2021 Filing Expires On: 06/16/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): CARDENAS TRANSPORT County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 7710 3RD AVE. HESPERIA, CA 92345 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: CARDENAS TRANSPORT LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.:202116210422 Residence Street Address: 7710 3RD AVE. HESPERIA, CA 92345 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: May 18, 2021 Christepher Cardenas. Owner/Managing Member, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 1, 8, 15, 22 , 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210006083 Date Filed: 06/09/2021 Filing Expires On: 06/09/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SKYN BY CYN County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business:11875 LOYOLA CT. FONTANA, CA 92337 Name of Individual Registrant: CYNTHIA I. RHODIUS Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 11875 LOYOLA CT. FONTANA, CA 92337 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Cynthia I. Rhodius, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 17, 24, July 1, 8, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210006735 Date Filed: 06/25/2021 Filing Expires On: 06/25/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): POWER AND GLORY MARKETPLACE County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 8401 HAVEN AVE. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: LIFE TREE LEARNING LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 201825410007 Residence Street Address: 949 W. 61ST LOS ANGELES, CA 90044 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Jun 01, 2021 Nishon Watson, Treasurer/ Accountant, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 1, 8, 15, 22, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210006802 Date Filed: 06/29/2021 Filing Expires On: 06/29/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): REDLANDS BIBLE FELLOWSHIP County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1308 FARVIEW LN. REDLANDS, CA 92374 Name of Individual Registrant: DAVID BERGEY Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: DE Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 1308 FARVIEW LN. REDLANDS, CA 92374 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Oct 31, 2000 David Bergey, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 1, correction 8, 15, 22 , 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210005622 Date Filed: 05/25/2021 Filing Expires On: 05/25/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): TRUROU MANAGEMENT County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 2741 E. BLACKHORSE DR. ONTARIO, CA

91761 Name of Individual Registrant: PHILLIP ROUZAN Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: DE Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 2741 E. BLACKHORSE DR. ONTARIO, CA 91761 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Feb 01, 2021 Phillip Rouzan, Self, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 24, July 1, 8, 15 , 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210006272 Date Filed: 06/14/2021 Filing Expires On: 06/14/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): 1. PEOPLE WHO GROW 2. F. ANAYA 3. ANAYA CONSULTING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 300 S. MOUNTAIN AVE. #1013 UPLAND, CA 91786 Name of Individual Registrant: FRANCISCO J. ANAYA JR. Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 1026 BONNIE BRAE ST POMONA, CA 91767 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Francisco J. Anaya Jr., declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 1, 8, 15, 22, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2111386 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: JEFFREY ANDRE FERNANDEZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. JEFFREY ANDRE FERNANDEZ Proposed name: to: JEFFREY ANDRE CENTTY THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 6/24/21 Time 9:00 a.m. Dept.: S16 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO San Bernardino Justice Center 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Lynn M. Poncin Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 17, 24, July 1, 8, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2116646 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: BRIAN ALAN TAPPIN JR. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. BRIAN ALAN TAPPIN, JR. to Proposed name: JEH-SUN ALAN SMALL b. ALANIS CARREON to ALANA LALISA JANINA SMALL THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 7/28/21 Time 9:00 a.m. Dept.: S17 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO San Bernardino District-Civil Division 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: June 03, 2021 Lynn M. Poncin Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 24, July 1, 8, 15, 2021.

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: SHARON R. SHAW CASE NO : PROPS 2100180

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: SHARON

R. SHAW

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: CHARLOTTE ANN TREVINO in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: CHARLOTTE ANN TREVINO 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: Aug 11, 2021 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Dept: S36 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415 San Bernardino Justice Center 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 court clerk.

Petitioner: Charlotte Ann Trevino 720 Walnuthaven West Covina, CA 91790-1245 (626)960-2264

GUARD DOG STORAGE OF HESPERIA,17147 Lemon St, Hesperia, CA 92345, (760)-956-7500. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 21700 of the Business

Submission Deadline For All Legals & Classifieds is 5pm Mondays Upload legal and pay @ sb-american.com

& Professions Code, State of California, the undersigned will sell at Public Sale by Competitive Bidding On July 26th, 2021 @2:00 PM at Guard Dog Storage of Hesperia, County of San Bernardino, State of California, the goods, chattels or personal goods and property of the tenants, household goods, tools, toys etc. Celestine Clipps, Raul Dias x2, Robin Aylor, Anjelica Chavez, David Munoz, Gabrielle Shivers, James Grilley, Esther Llamas x2, Scott Robinson, Salvador Jacquez, Kim Sullivan, Derrick Butler, Erik Olson, Gary Chaney, Tyler Doud. Purchased goods are sold as is and must be removed within one day of purchase. Payment is to be with cash only and made at the time of purchase. The sale is subject to cancellation without notice in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Auctioneer:John Cardoza, License# 5860870,(209}-667-5797 Published in the San Bernardino American News 7/08, 7/15, 2021

YOUR CLASSIFIED AD GOES National Minority Health Association Awarded $11.1 million HHS Grant to Mobilize Home Health Workers in fight against COVID-19

HERE CALL TODAY!

Grant will help develop and support community-based workforce to increase vaccine confidence and reduce barriers to vaccination in underserved communities

National News OWINGS MILLS, Md., July 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Minority Health Association (NMHA) today announced that it has received an $11.1 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

National Minority Health Association The grant is part of the approximately $125 million available through the U.S. Department of Health

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and Human Services (HHS) American Rescue Plan to develop and support a community-based workforce that will serve as trusted voices in sharing information about COVID-19 vaccines, increase vaccine confidence, and address barriers to vaccination for those living in vulnerable and medically underserved communities.

The grant funding will help community-based organizations like NMHA better mobilize frontline

Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper July 8, 15, 22, 2021.

home health workers to conduct on-the-ground outreach to educate and assist individuals in receiving reliable information about vaccinations, scheduling vaccine appointments, and assisting with appointment transportation needs.

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"I am very excited to see a mobilization of home health workers since they are on the front lines

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an example of health equity at work and achieves a key mission of NMHA as we serve populations

of this pandemic," said 'The Doctors' host, Dr. Ian Smith. "We seek to amplify their trusted voice and support the home health effort to reduce hesitancy about taking the vaccine – and I am glad to help," continued Smith.

The initiative will focus on 12 key states: California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

"We are honored that HRSA saw value in selecting the National Minority Health Association for this important mission of Increasing public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and boosting vaccinations within vulnerable and underserved communities," said Burgess Harrison, Executive Director.

"Community health workers are a trusted voice within their respective neighborhoods and play a vital role in supporting this important effort to keep patients and loved ones safe. Our program is that have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes, health disparities, and other inequities."

Harrison added.

To help further support this initiative, NMHA has assembled a comprehensive network of supporting partners to help ensure a broad geographic reach and achieve the goal of getting as many people vaccinated as possible. These supporting partners bring deep expertise to support this initiative through their experience in healthcare, marketing, communications, social media, technology, video

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production and content creation. These unique skills are crucial to further activate and continually engage home care agencies, home health workers, patients, consumers and multi-generational family networks in the fight against COVID-19.

To date, these supporting industry partners include: Dr. Ian Smith, Host of "The Doctors" EagleForce Health/myVax

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Gather Voices (GV) Insignia Health Nevvon Rowan Homecare Technology Report Sage Growth Partners (SGP) "Trusted messengers play an essential role in sharing information about COVID-19 vaccines, answering questions, and ultimately convincing people to get vaccinated," said Acting HRSA Administrator Diana Espinosa. "This funding will support national, regional, and local organizations

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that will work directly with hard-hit, underserved, and high-risk communities to help bolster COVID-19 vaccination rates."

About NMHA. The National Minority Health Association, founded in 1988 by Dr. David L.

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Dalton, Chairman, and CEO, UNIVEC Conglomerate, Inc. (UNVC), achieved its initial mission of ensuring the establishment of Offices of Minority Health in all 50 states. Today the NMHA is adding to its mission and deploying new programs that utilize patient-centered, value-based care, and new ways of enhancing care to patients where they are, lowering costs, and improving outcomes for minority and underserved communities. To find out more, visit www.theNMHA. org. Become a member of the NMHA Health Equity Action Leaders network (HEAL) and join the fight for health equity. https://www.thenmha.org/donation. Help build confidence in the vaccine www.GoFundMe.com/thenmha

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 6

NATIONAL/GOVERNMENT/HEALTH NEWS

OP-ED: Insurance Giant Prioritizing Profits Over Patients NNPA NEWSWIRE — One of the most recent acts of insurance company greed happened with UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest insurance provider. Just recently, the insurance giant announced it would no longer cover patients’ nonurgent visits to the emergency room retroactively. Yes, you read that correctly. An American insurance company is no longer going to cover American patients who incorrectly self-diagnose and seek emergency treatment.

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr

Patients look to medical professions to diagnose and treat health problems; putting the burden back onto patients is unacceptable. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) In the past year, a reckoning has happened across the country.

What Black people and other communities of color have known for years, our White brothers and sisters are starting to learn. Our country is plagued with systemic racism that runs through industries across the nation. Most concerning is the deep roots it has within the American healthcare system.

It’s time that we shine a light on this and stop letting insurance companies get away with it.

Health insurance companies have a long-proven pattern of exploiting and discriminating against people of color in this country. As I wrote in an op-ed in The Hill in April 2020. “Minority and low-income Americans suffer from a significant lack of access to quality health care.

They are also more likely to not have health insurance and are often hit with surprise medical bills they cannot afford.” Now, insurance companies are at it again by prioritizing their own profits rather than the health and well-being of all Americans.

One of the most recent acts of insurance company greed happened with UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest insurance provider. Just recently, the insurance giant announced it would no longer cover patients’ nonurgent visits to the emergency room retroactively. Yes, you read that correctly. An American insurance company is no longer going to cover American patients who incorrectly self-diagnose and seek emergency treatment.

With a year of one public health crisis after another, UnitedHealthcare is creating an extra barrier to entry for patients accessing care. As pointed out by the American College of Emergency Physicians, there is a fear that “the change will cause patients to avoid using emergency rooms because they will be responsible for their hospital

bills when UnitedHealthcare rejects them.” Because many patients were already fearful of visiting the hospital during the COVID-19, there was a rise in cases of “out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and associated poor health outcomes,” as reported in Health Affairs by researchers from the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management and unsurprisingly, this rise was particularly seen in low-income neighborhoods.

As with most corporate decisions, the effects of this policy will inevitably affect our nation’s most vulnerable populations the most. In fact, according to a 2017 University of Maryland School of Medicine study. Black Americans use the emergency room more often than any other racial group.

To put t h at si m ply, UnitedHealthcare’s policy is directed at those who visit emergency rooms, and Black Americans are the most likely demographic group to visit the emergency room.

A coincidence? I doubt it.

Patients should not be expected to correctly selfdiagnose their health issue before visiting the emergency room.

Patients look to medical professions to diagnose and treat health problems; putting the burden back onto patients is unacceptable.

W hile the policy was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2021, public backlash led to UnitedHealthcare’s new stance that it should not go into effect until “the end of the national public health emergency period.”

The reality is that for the Public Health Emergency (PHE) period is set to expire on July 20. 2021, if it is not renewed. So, the delay announcement was really just for show, and may not do anything in terms of ending this policy.

UnitedHealthcare should not get away with this. We must speak out and advocate for those who do not have a platform to speak for themselves. Those with chronic conditions, from low income and minority communities deserve to seek emergency health care without fear of racial discrimination and indebting themselves or their families.

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is president and chief executive of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) based in Washington, DC.

3 Ingredients That Stop A Heart Attack County /Government/Health News

Heart attacks are scary, period.

They are scary for those who are having one and scary for those who are watching. Of course, eating right and exercise helps diminish your heart attack risk, but do you know what to do if and when one strikes?

If you think you’re having a heart

attack. For women, symptoms are often easily ignored. These can include: – Pressure, tightness and squeezing pain across the chest – Pain radiating down one or both arms or shoulders – Pain or soreness in the jaw, neck, or back – Shortness of breath – Dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating or weakness – Overwhelming fatigue – 70% of women felt fatigued in days or weeks prior to their heart attacks continued in last 2 columns

3 Ingredients That Stop A Heart Attack...continued – The feeling of impending doom – Headache, blurry vision, lightheadedness or feeling faint – Gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, nausea, and vomiting – Coughing and palpitations Here are three things you need to keep on hand to fight a heart attack.

I. Aspirin Always keep a bottle of aspirin in your bathroom medicine cabinet. If you think you’re having a heart attack, take one 325mg tablet of adult aspirin. Chew it — don’t just swallow it. It allows for the aspirin to get into your bloodstream faster and slow the heart attack down.

II. Cayenne Pepper Cayenne pepper is a powerful stimulant; it increases heart rate and carries blood to all parts of the body, balancing circulation.

Cayenne pepper has hemostatic effect, stops bleeding instantly, and helps in heart attack recovery.

If you have cayenne pepper at home, give the person having a

heart attack a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water. The patient has to be conscious for this to work.

If the person is unconscious, you can use cayenne pepper extract. Put a few drops under patient’s tongue for results. III. Cellphone Finally, after the aspirin, you’ll need to get help and go to a hospital immediately. That’s why I want you to keep your cellphone with you in the bathroom. You can purchase a cheap cellphone mount and put it on your wall. The best place to put it is on the side of a bathroom cabinet or low on the wall near your toilet.

Extra Tip: To further decrease your risk of a heart attack, you should also keep vitamin D in your medicine cabinet. Many of us are vitamin D deficient, and new research on supplements and heart disease suggests promising results from taking vitamin D to prevent heart disease. Vitamin D can help regulate blood pressure, inflammation and blood sugar.

You need to take 1000 IUs of vitamin D every morning.

October 14, 2016 by Dr. P. Gould

Redistricting Battle Heats Up - Houston Activists Fight For Fairer Maps Activists in Harris County, Texas, mobilize to make the once-everydecade redistricting process more fair to communities of color and low income neighborhoods.

by Jenny Manrique

Clockwise from top left: Nina Perales, Vice President of Litigation, Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund; Debbie Chen, Attorney, OCA-Greater Houston; Roshawn Evans, Cofounder and Organizing Director, Pure Justice; Myrtala Tristan, Lakewood Resident, Casandra Martinez, Mi Familia Vota; Miguel Rivera, Redistricting Outreach Fellow, Texas Civil Rights Project Every time Myrtala Tristan recounts her experiences during devastating Hurricane Harvey, she relives the scenes of relentless rain that turned her neighborhood’s streets into rivers, and her home into a floating furniture museum.

“They never told us that we would have to evacuate or that it was going to be so terrible,” Tristan, a resident of Houston’s Lakewood suburb for nearly 40 years, recalled at a June 30 briefing on redistricting. “I live with my husband. For five hours I was calling (emergency) 311 and they never answered. We were up all night.”

Early the next morning Tristan left her house with just her driver’s license and some money, packed in a ziploc bag. Outside, a boat was rescuing people from the fetid waters, prioritizing children and senior citizens.

“We were navigating those dirty waters all day. They didn’t give us water or food … I think this is very unfair and that the government should be helping us in a different way,” said Tristan.

Almost three years later, “we are still applying for some help.

Nothing ever came.”

Tristan joined the Northeast Action Collective, a group of advocates and neighbors that emerged in response to the lack of public investment in drainage

and flood mitigation in her community. “It is time for our voices to be heard.”

Right now, Tristan is focusing on a county-wide effort to engage communities of color and low income neighborhoods in redistricting – a process of redrawing political boundaries that determine what candidates people vote for.

“Redistricting is about drawing lines on a map to represent who is going to vote for certain elected officials,” explained Nina Perales, vice president of litigation for the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF).

“It is a very political act to create groups of voters, so it is very important to get involved.”

Neighborhoods are grouped into districts that are redrawn every 10 years based on census data.

Depending on what the electoral district is, those lines are drawn by the city council, the school district board of trustees, county commissioners, and ultimately the state chamber.

In places like Pasadena, a suburb in Harris County, these lines have effectively segregated the Latino from the Anglo population: Latinos live in the northern area that has historically received fewer services than the southern area – where Anglos live continued in last 2 columns

Redistricting Battle Heats Up - Houston Activists Fight For Fairer Maps...continued – making it more prone to floods and natural disasters.

When the Texas House of Representatives drew other lines within the northern zone that further divided the Latino vote, MALDEF filed a lawsuit and won, regrouping them in District 144 .

“The representative of that district, who was Anglo and conservative, lost his election.

And he was replaced by a progressive Latina woman in the House of Representatives,” Perales said. “Our increased political participation is strongest when the political lines that are drawn around our neighborhoods are fair.”

Lost in translation For Miguel Rivera, the Redistricting Outreach Fellow at the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), one of the challenges is that the Hispanic community is still not familiar with these processes, starting with terms such as “gerrymandering” and “redistricting” that are difficult to translate.

“I first came upon this conundrum when trying to explain to my parents, who were both born in rural Mexico, what I did for a living,” Rivera said.

“They understood the fight for voting rights which had a lot of translatable terms, but their understanding of the census and redistricting was very different based on what they knew in Mexico versus in the U.S.” Now the TCRP is doing educational campaigns for the Hispanic community to coalesce behind a specific term: redistribution.

Cassandra Martinez, who just graduated from high school and will attend Columbia University in the fall, first heard the term in census workshops organized by Mi Familia Vota.

“Hispanics don’t know the specifics behind redistricting and census counting, but the community cares about income inequality, about the schools children go to, about the

construction projects that never quite get done,” Martinez said.

“A lot of us come from immigrant households; our parents…feel disconnected from politics,” she added. “There is this whole mentality of ‘my vote doesn’t matter.’ What really helps people in my age group is connecting voting with the future of our families and communities.”

Deborah Chen, an attorney and activist with OCA-Greater Houston, relates a similar experience with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose numbers are growing faster than Latinos in Texas. She said her organization knocked on more than 221,000 doors to make sure AAPIs were counted in the census.

“You don’t have to be a citizen or registered voter to participate in redistricting,” she emphasized.

OCA uses “opportunity maps” to demonstrate how majorities and minorities in those districts receive services such as sewers, electricity, pavements, pipes, and so on.

“Everyone who got counted in neighborhoods in the greater Houston area is worth $15,700 in federal money, and districts determine how that money is spent,” Chen said. “You want to live where multiple communities are evenly balanced and they have an even chance of having representation.”

African-Americans also have suffered discrimination in how lines have been drawn mainly by Republicans in power, and for this reason organizations such as Pure Justice promote their participation in electoral map drawing.

“Everybody wants to crop the map out in a certain fashion for certain beneficiaries,” said Roshawn Evans, co-founder of this organization. “At the top of the political food chain, Republicans are on everything, but we still can make suggestive maps and draw them ourselves.”

“We want to keep together people who have the same kinds of problems, so I just want to emphasize that voting really matters,” he concluded.

Ploughshares Fund announces $1,190,000 in Grants to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons The global security foundation’s board of directors awards grants to 16 organizations working to stop nuclear threats National/Government/Health News WASHINGTON, DC – The global security foundation Ploughshares Fund announced that its board of directors awarded $1,190,000 in new grants to 16 organizations working to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons, prevent conflict in regions where nuclear weapons exist, and support efforts to promote equity and diversity in the nuclear policy field.

“Our investments will help establish a bold vision for the future of nuclear policy,” said Ploughshares Fund President Emma Belcher. “By funding the work of experts and activists, while creating additional pa r t nersh ips w it h mass movement organizations we can create a diverse coalition in support of a safer, saner nuclear policy for the United States.”

The approved grants focus on engaging and supporting the Biden administration, but also bringing public pressure on the administration when necessary.

With these new investments, the Council for a Livable World, TriValley CARES and the Women’s Action for New Directions will

support advocacy on no first use, canceling the GroundBased Strategic Defense program, reducing the Pentagon budget, and other nuclear policy priorities. A grant to Women Cross DMZ will support advocacy in Congress for ending the Korean War and pursuing diplomacy with North Korea.

“Working together with our other partners, these grants will help take advantage of critical policy opportunities with the new Biden administration,” said Director of Programs Michelle Dover.

Investments in the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation for support of Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy and Organizations in Solidarity, respectively, will help bring greater diversity to the nuclear policy field. An increased investment in the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) will support womenled peacebuilding through its Innovative Peace Fund and provide continued on page 8

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 7

The Insurrection and the Lost Cause

By Ben Jealous

Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire.com) - A violent insurrection engulfed the U.S. Capitol just six months ago. One United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died and other Capitol police are still healing. Investigators are still going through video and social media documenting the attempt to disrupt congressional affirmation of President Joe Biden’s victory.

Just six months ago. But many Republican leaders are already trying to rewrite the history of that day and what led up to it.

Some are downplaying the seriousness of the attack on Congress. They portray the invasion as a tourist outing.

Some far-right activists are trying to shift blame away from the Trump supporters who were clearly responsible for inciting and carrying out the attack.

The people spreading lies about the Capitol insurrection are the spiritual heirs to the Daughters of the Confederacy. They are the ideological descendants of those who spent decades lying to the American public about slavery and the Civil War. Promoters of pro-Confederacy propaganda known as “Lost Cause” ideology had a purpose.

They wanted people to view the defense of slavery and the

“southern way of life” as a noble cause. They wanted to create justifications for the brutally enforced segregation and subjugation of Black people during the Jim Crow era. They created and promoted in textbooks and media a false version of history.

And they used that false version of history to keep a grip on power that they did not deserve to hold.

Republicans who deny or downplay the insurrectionists’ attempt to overturn the presidential election are creating their own Lost Cause ideology. They are trying to portray Stop the Steal activists and insurrectionists as patriots pursuing a noble cause— the defense of “election integrity” and the “purity of the ballot box.”

What we have here is layer upon layer of lies.

Trump’s claim that his victory was stolen by Black and brown voters in corrupt cities was the lie that fueled insurrectionists’ rage.

It was repeated endlessly on rightwing media. It is still repeated

by Trump and his supporters to portray President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as illegitimate.

The stolen-election lie is being used to justify new voter suppression laws aimed at preventing future Democratic wins. It is a lie that Trumpists will use to mobilize white right-wing voters in 2022 and 2024.

Lies about the Jan. 6 insurrection began while it was still under way. Right-wing figures claimed without evidence that the attack was not led by Trump supporters but by unnamed leftists. Some continued in last 2 columns

COUNTY NEWS/ADVERTISING

Dispute between unethical WVWD directors leads to unpaid legal bills and ongoing litigation Gail Fry Contributor As previously reported by The San Bernardino American News, years of corruption, struggles for power, lawsuits by and settlements paid to disgruntled employees, investigations, audit by the State Controller’s Office, and disputes between directors leading to ongoing litigation, West Valley Water District (WVWD) ratepayers are plagued with struggling to pay the bill for both the litigation as well as for their life-sustaining water service.

C o nt i nu i ng Lit ig a t io n On February 19, 2019, West Valley Water District Director Dr. Clifford Young along with former WVWD employees Patricia Romero and Naisha Davis filed a whistleblower lawsuit on behalf of the district against Defendants Tafoya & Garcia, LLP., Robert N. Tafoya, Kaufman Law Firm PC., Martin Kaufman, Albright, Yee & Schmidt, APC. (AYS), Clifton Albright, and Robert Katherman and Rob Katherman Consulting alleging a conspiracy to gain lucrative contracts in exchange for kick backs and campaign contributions.

After litigation and a court ruling, West Valley Water District Director Dr. Clifford Young, former WVWD employees Patricia Romero and Naisha Davis’ whistleblower lawsuit was dismissed, and Defendants Tafoya & Garcia, LLP, Robert N. Tafoya filed their Motion for attorney fees and costs seeking payment of $50,878.40.

At a June 16, hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court, the court denied Defendants’ motion for legal fees and costs

noting the defendants “have not submitted any detailed billing records to substantiate their attorneys’ fees” and allowing defendants to refile with “evidentiary support.” To date, no hearing date has been scheduled.

In his motion Tafoya lays blame in the lap of C. Young, Romero and Davis claiming they used the whistleblower lawsuit to “chill” the investigations Tafoya was conducting into C. Young’s “illegal and unethical behavior” and to “publicly smear Tafoya Defendants and others with impunity.”

Defendant Albright, Yee & Schmidt, APC. turned the tables when on December 1, 2020, they filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging malicious prosecution, abuse of process, defamation, negligent interference with economic advantage, and intentional interference with economic advantage against C. Young, Romero, Davis, as well as their attorneys Rachel Fiset, Erin PerezColeman, Michael Zweiback, Zweiback Fiset & Coleman LLP. Three ongoing lawsuits by former employees, Davis, Romero and recently Nadia Loukeh, are now pending in San Bernardino Superior Court originating from the chaos created by the mismanagement resulting from the clashes between WVWD directors. Loukeh filed her lawsuit on June 3, naming WVWD as well as C. Young, and Romero personally alleging sex and gender discrimination, retaliation, harassment, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination.

In addition to the lawsuits filed

by Davis, Romero and Loukeh, to date the district has paid about $1.3 million in settlements to its terminated “disgruntled employees” according to WVWD press releases and February 23 meeting minutes.

Questionable Directors, Cur rent and Fo r m e r Employees, and a General Counsel under investigation The San Bernardino American News provided an opportunity for comment to every individual allegedly involved in either unethical behavior or implicated in criminality as written in this story.

WVWD Director Michael Taylor Formerly the police chief of the City of Baldwin Park, Michael Taylor joined the WVWD Board of Directors in December 2017, immediately attracted scrutiny when his priority was to nominate Baldwin Park City Attorney Robert Tafoya to serve as WVWD’s general counsel as reported by Southern California News Group report (SCNG).

Three weeks prior to this nomination, Tafoya, as Baldwin Park city attorney, recommended approval of a controversial, one-year police chief contract with Taylor, one year and two months after Taylor was fired from that same position, to Baldwin Park’s City Council. It was alleged that Tafoya helped Taylor with Taylor’s contract negotiations with Baldwin Park.

The negotiated contract for Taylor included a $20,000 annual salary increase, a $25,000 annual pension increase, a prohibition of any annual performance evaluation

and a provision protecting him from termination unless he committed a felony offense.

Taylor is attempting to expand his political horizons by now running for the Rialto City Council.

Former WVWD Assistant General Manager Ricardo Pacheco Taylor recommended the district hire Ricardo Pacheco, a former Baldwin Park councilmember, in December 2017, Pacheco was hired as WVWD’s assistant general manager. Almost two years later, Pacheco was terminated with a severance package, and by June 2020, he pled guilty to accepting $37,900 in bribes from a Baldwin Park Police officer working at the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI). In a press release, the Justice Department reported Pacheco received the bribes in exchange for his political support of the Baldwin Park Police Association’s three-year contract worth over $4.4 million. in their Second Amended Whistleblower Complaint, C. Young, Romero and Davis alleged that during WVWD work hours Pacheco conducted Baldwin Park business, ran up his district credit card with non-district entertainment expenses, and while working for WVWD patronized strip clubs.

As a member of the Baldwin Park City Council In 2019, Pacheco voted to release then Baldwin Park Police Chief Lili Hadsell. Subsequently, Hadsell filed a complaint with the Los Angeles Superior Court against Baldwin Park alleging gender discrimination, specifically claiming after Hadsell replaced

Another San Bernardino County Sheriff Retires Mid-term...continued from page 3 against inmates and impose[d] on inmates the harmful and excessive use of solitary confinement in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments…”

This was followed in November 2020 by a lawsuit against the department claiming two former deputies brutally beat an inmate unconscious at a county jail facility.

All of this human damage, pain and suffering is largely reflective of the careers of too many sheriffs who held the job before him.

Keep in mind most jail inmates are awaiting trial— innocent until proven guilty.

They sit in jail because of an unjust money bail system.

Remember this list of injustices and a host of other atrocities that occurred under McMahon’s leadership as his supporters begin singing his praises over the next couple of weeks.

All of this human damage, pain and suffering is largely reflective of the careers of too many sheriffs who held the job before him.

McMahon was appointed sheriff by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in 2012 and was subsequently elected to his first term in June 2014.

More than 99 percent of local jurisdictions across the country are served by elected sheriffs.

And, because most sheriffs are elected, there is little oversight of how they operate as exists with local police chiefs who are appointed by city councils and therefore accountable to them.

When sheriffs depart before their term expires, Boards of Supervisors in California have

options regarding how to replace them. They can either hold special elections depending on rules outlined in local municipal charters. This approach seems relatively non-controversial.

The problem in San Bernardino County however is that for the last three sheriffs, early retirement has been normalized and in each instance, the initial decision about a replacement was taken out of the hands of the voters and made by the county supervisors.

This provides a great advantage for those favored with such appointments. The appointees garner media attention, name recognition and opportunities for fundraising, all of which make them a shoe in by the time the first official election rolls around for them to earn the seat competitively at the ballot. By then of course, they have a definite advantage over any competitor.

This worked like a charm when former Sheriff Rod Hoops ran for re-election and then suddenly decided to retire mid-term and recommended McMahon to replace him. The very same strategy had worked like a charm when former Sheriff Gary Penrod retired in the middle of his term after being reelected.

He, of course, recommended Hoops to replace hi m.

What a scheme! Or is it merely a convenient series of fortunate circumstances for those involved? I think not…

Unless the public rallies for change White men may continue to ride roughshod over a county where most

residents are people of color.

As discomforting as this is for many, it is well within the clearly defined menu of options available to the Board of Supervisors.

As explained by county spokesperson David Wert, “Due to the requirements of the County Charter and State law, the only available date for a special election in this case would be June 7, 2022, which as you pointed out is also the date of the next regularly scheduled election for sheriff.

Under the charter, if the board does not call a special election or appoint someone to serve out the unexpired term within 60 days of the vacancy, the default is the special election option, again taking it to June 7, 2022.”

Wert further explained why the date ‘June 7, 2022.’ As he highlighted, “Plans for an election could not be made until July 16 at the earliest because that’s when the vacancy is expected to occur.

According to the charter and the State Elections Code, the special election would be held on the next established election date—a random date is not an option—that is no less than 130 days from the date that the election is called.

The charter also states if the date of a special election would be less than 180 days from the statewide primary election—which is also Election Day for county offices— the county must proceed with the regularly scheduled election.

As further explained by Wert, the next three established election dates are August, 31, 2021; November 2, 2021; and April 12, 2022. August 31, 2021, and

November 2, 2021. All would be less than 130 days from the date the election could be called.

In addition, April 12, 2022, is greater than 130 days from the vacancy but less than 180 days from the Statewide Primary election. This takes us to June 7, 2022, as the first possible date for a special election, which is the regularly scheduled date for the sheriff election. As you can see, the table is legally set for this to occur in perpetuity unless the charter is revised.

When it comes to replacing sheriffs in San Bernardino County, timing is truly everything.

Unless the public rallies for change White men may continue to ride roughshod over a county where most residents are people of color.

In the final analysis however, it is less about the color of the sheriff than it is about the mindset of those given the advantage of being appointed to the office.

If it is true that weak leaders breed weak leaders, I believe the same holds true for sheriffs.

Those who allow disparate and abhorrent treatment of segments of the county’s population are certain to breed replacements who are prone to do the same.

Now that we know the rules of the game, it is time for the citizens to change them.

Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.

S. E. Williams is editor of the IE Voice and Black Voice News.

The post Another San Bernardino County Sheriff Retires Mid-term appeared first on Black Voice News.

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The Insurrection and the Lost Cause...continued claim that it was all planned by Trump’s “deep state” enemies in the FBI. And now we have an added layer: the frantic campaign against “critical race theory.”

The manufactured panic about critical race theory demonstrates why right-wing funders spent billions of dollars over the past few decades building an infrastructure of political and media networks.

Think tanks, media outlets, political organizations, religiousright groups, AstroTurf operations, and Republican politicians have all swung into action, sounding alarms about the supposedly dire threat of students, soldiers, and employees learning to think critically about the racism in our country’s past and our institutions.

They are recycling the red scare propaganda used against Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists, warning of Marxist infiltration and indoctrination in schools, businesses, government agencies, and even the military.

Conservatives who until the past few months proclaimed themselves champions of free speech and academic freedom have turned on a dime and are supporting laws banning teaching or discussing racism in the classroom.

The campaign against critical race theory is designed to scare white parents and other Americans into fearing the growing presence of Black and brown people in positions of influence and power.

It is designed to inflame fears and provoke fearful people into action to “protect” themselves and their loved ones. It is designed to bury our understanding of history in an effort to control the future. Its perpetrators are playing with fire.

We cannot successfully face our future by lying about our past, ignoring the realities of the present, or outlawing the truth. Our path forward must be as a multiracial, multiethnic, religiously diverse democratic society united by a shared commitment to the principles of equality, fairness, opportunity, and justice for all.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way. Jealous has decades of experience as a leader, coalition builder, campaigner for social justice and seasoned nonprofit executive.

In 2008, he was chosen as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and he has taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Page 8

WORLD/POLITICAL NEWS/ADVERTISING

“We Have His Back”: Dem Leaders Throw Support Behind Gov. Newsom in $276 M “Republican Recall” Tanu Henry | California Black Media

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla,

Holly

Mitchell, Supervisor, Los Angeles County, Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach, and Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco).

A group of influential California Democratic leaders held a press conference July 2 to pledge their support for Gov. Gavin Newsom against what they are calling the “Republican Recall,” and to remind Californians, from their point of view, what the state will lose if that effort succeeds.

“This recall is a partisan power grab - nothing more, nothing less -- a cynical attempt by national Republicans to force an election, and to try to seize control in California,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, former California Secretary of State and California’s first Latino U.S. Senator.

Stating that the recall threatens advances California’s Democratic leadership has made, Padilla continued, “This Republican recall effort is powered by the same forces who still refuse to accept the results of the presidential election in 2020. They are pushing voter suppression efforts in statehouse after statehouse across the country.”

Other Democratic leaders participating in the press conference were Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party; Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach: Holly Mitchell, Super visor, Los Angeles County; and Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco).

“When you think about what he has been able to do around protecting the environment, education, expanding opportunity

for our low income and working families – and middle-income Californians – as well as justice for all Californians, its crystal clear to me that Gov. Newsom is the kind of leader we need at a time like this,” said Mitchell.

Last week, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announced Sept. 14 as the date for the recall election after the state verified Newsom’s opponents had collected the1,495,709 signature they needed (12 % of the total votes in the last gubernatorial election) to officially trigger the recall process.

“In just a few weeks, every Californian is going to get a ballot in the mail. And you have to fill out the ballot. Mark ‘no” and return it by September 14.

If you prefer to go in person, you can do that at your local polling place on September 14.

You can find information about that on our Secretary of State website,” said Chiu, urging Californians to support Newsom.

The effort to recall Newsom began in 2020 led by a former Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputy, Orrin Heatlie, with the support of a group called the California Patriot Coalition. They criticized the governor for high taxes, what they perceived as inaction on the drought, pro-illegal immigrant policies and other grievances.

The movement gained traction during the COVID-19 global pandemic when larger numbers of Califor n ians became resistant to the governor’s pandemic-related business closures and other restrictions.

To recall Newsom, more than 50 % of voters would have to check yes on that option, which will be the first question on the ballot. If more than 50 % of voters agree to Newsom’s recall, the candidate on the ballot (the governor will not be included as a choice) with the highest number of votes will qualify as Newsom’s replacement.

Tom Del Beccaro, a vocal continued in next 2 columns

Ploughshares Fund announces $1,190,000 in Grants to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons...continued from page 6 technical, financial, and strategic guidance while networking women peacebuilders together and connecting them to international peace processes and forums.

Ploughshares Fund awards grants to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, prevent the emergence of new nuclear states and build regional security where nuclear weapons exist. A complete list of grants is available to the public at: www.ploughshares.org.

Organizations that received grants at the June 2021 board meeting include: Atlantic Council of t h e Un it e d St a t e s C o n g r e s s i o n a l Progressive Caucus Center Council for a Livable World Inter national Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Inter national Civil Societ y Action Net work J S t r e e t J Street Education Fund Nuclear Threat Initiative Tr i -Va l l e y CA R Es Union of Concerned Scientists Vet Voice Fou nd ation

Win Without War Education Fund Wo m e n of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation Wo m e n C r o s s D M Z Wo m e n’s Action for New Directions WAND Education Fund Ploughshares Fund Board of Directors Transitions: Amy McGrath, former Marine fighter pilot and Democratic candidate for the 2020 US Senate election in Kentucky, attended her first meeting as a member of the Ploughshares Fund Board of Directors.

For me d ia i nq u i r ie s: Director of Communications & Marketing Delfin Vigil: dvigil@ ploughshares.org; (415) 259-1247.

Ploughshares Fund is a global security foundation based in San Francisco, with an office in Washington, DC. Founded in 1981, Ploughshares Fund supports initiatives to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons. It is the largest US philanthropic organization focused exclusively on nuclear weapons.

“We Have His Back”: Dem Leaders Throw Support Behind Gov. Newsom in $276 M “Republican Recall”... continued supporter of the recall and chair of RescueCalifornia.org, a political action committee galvanizing Newsom’s opponents across the state, said removing the governor from office is “every American’s business.”

Del Beccaro wrote in a Fox News op-ed last month, “California is beset with problems.

For years, California’s policies have led to crisis after crisis.

There is a perennial water crisis, a wildfire crisis, an electricity crisis, a crime problem, business and job flight from the state, homelessness and poverty.”

Expressing the opposite view, according to Chiu, what the governor has achieved in the two and a half years since he was sworn into office, is nothing short of remarkable.

“Our governor has led our state and invested in truly bold investments,” Chiu said. “He led the passage of unprecedented legislation to protect civil rights, to reform our criminal justice system; to double down on our fight against climate change; to create more housing for the unhoused than any governor in history; to expand access to health care; to make record invest ments in

education; to support immigrant communities; and truly deliver big for working families. He has launched the biggest economic recovery plan in our state’s history.”

At the press conference the high cost of holding an off-cycle special election was discussed.

The California Department of Finance estimates that the election will cost taxpayers $276 million.

Advertising and organizing on both sides of the recall effort could cost hundreds of millions of dollars more.

“I was blown away – not in a good way – when the Los Angeles Country registrar’s office told us what it would cost us locally to hold this election,” said Mitchell.

“From the operational aspects of an election at this time of year to what it is going to cost statewide.

All of us as taxpayers are going to have to pay when our dollars need to be going to the California Comeback plan to help us recover.”

In California, Democrats dominate. Of the 20.9 million registered voters in the state, an estimated 46.3 % are Democrats, about 24 % are Republican and roughly 24% consider themselves independent or having “no party continued in next 2 columns

Dispute between unethical WVWD directors leads to unpaid legal bills and ongoing litigation ...continued from page 7 Taylor as police chief, Pacheco and Taylor made sexist comments directed toward her the officers she was supervising and conducted a pattern of harassment. In March 2019, a jury awarded Hadsell a seven million-dollar judgment against the City of Baldwin Park.

After the verdict, the Los Angeles Times reported Albert Ehlers, resident of Baldwin Park and critic of Pacheco, displayed huge banners outside his Ramona Boulevard business calling Pacheco a “fraud” and a “liar.”

In turn, the City of Baldwin Park fined Ehlers more than $12,000 for failing to get a permit for the signs. Court documents show Ehlers and other Baldwin Park citizens formed the Baldwin Park Free Speech Coalition filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court where litigation continues.

At its June 17, meeting the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the FPPC fined Pacheco, Gilbert Pacheco and his committee to elect R. Pacheco for Baldwin Park City Council 2015, $6,500 for failing to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, six semi-annual campaign statements and failing to timely file three 24-hour reports.

Former WVWD Human Resources Director Deborah Martinez Hired in August 2016, For mer W V W D Hu man Resources Director Deborah Martinez promoted at Taylor’s recommendation in December 2017, was then placed on leave in December 2019, and terminated in April 2020 after WVWD confirmed Martinez was facing criminal charges for tax fraud, charges unrelated to WVWD. According to press reports, WVWD officials kept Hadsell’s criminal charges under wraps for three months until confronted by journalists in December of 2017.

WVWD General Cou n sel Rober t Tafoya In November 2020, the Los Angeles Times reported the FBI searched the downtown Los Angeles law office of WVWD

General Counsel and current Baldwin Park City Attorney Robert Tafoya, in an ongoing investigation i nto t he ad m i n ist rat ion of cannabis businesses in the City of Baldwin Park.

The FBI investigation also involved San Ber nardino County Planning Commissioner Gabriel Chavez, and Compton Councilman Isaac Galvan whose homes were searched by the FBI. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the former Baldwin Park police officer working on behalf of the FBI testified to receiving complaints from three cannabis operators alleging “questionable business practices” and $250,000 in cash bribes paid to Baldwin Park officials in brown paper bags.

Subsequent to the FBI’s search of Tafoya’s office, the City of Baldwin Park issued a press release stating it would cooperate fully in the investigation, however, had not yet been contacted by federal agents, while at the same time distancing itself from Tafoya claiming his work on behalf of the city is under a contract.

In another act of alleged impropriety, the Los Angeles Superior Court sanctioned Attorney Robert Tafoya and his client Lorena Cabrera, $60,153.56 when it found they had filed a frivolous claim for disability discrimination against Cabrera’s employer Sonora Foods, Inc. doing business as Popchips, Inc. A review of WVWD meeting agendas from December 3, 2020 through May 20, 2021, located one closed session item at its May 20 meeting to conduct a performance evaluation of its general counsel, minutes reflect “no reportable action was taken.”

The San Bernardino American News inquired of WVWD directors as to whether Tafoya’s contract with WVWD should be re-evaluated following the FBI search of his office and his sanction for filing and pursuing a frivolous lawsuit.

W VWD Director Greg Young voiced, “As much as the continued in next 2 columns

Dispute between unethical WVWD directors leads to unpaid legal bills and ongoing litigation ...continued district could benefit from new counsel, I have little faith that the present administration and board majority will ever seriously consider making a change.”

“Numerous ratepayers have asked me about why the district continues to use the general council we do even after many of these and past revelations,” Greg Young shared, concluding, “Sadly, talk is cheap and politics never change.”

WVWD Director D r.

Clifford Yo u n g Alleged whistleblower WVWD Director Dr. Clifford Young is dogged by his own allegations of unethical acts such as holding a Christmas celebration in December 2017 later admitting to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office that his request and receipt of a $1,897.43 reimbursement by WVWD ratepayers was “inappropriate.”

Former WVWD Ratepayers Association President (RPA) Don Griggs, suspicious of the expense reimbursement, filed a complaint detailing his concerns to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). The FPPC determined there was “insufficient evidence” deciding to forward RPA’s complaint to the California State Attorney General’s Office.

After receiving two complaints against C. Young concerning the reimbursement of $1,378.58 for travel expenses for a canceled 2016 business trip to Washington, DC and a $538.41 reimbursement by WVWD in 2016, for fees on his personal Linkedin account, in October 2018, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office issued its written report to WVWD’s attorney.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit determined that C. Young, without admitting any liability, admitted the reimbursements in question paid by WVWD ratepayers were inappropriate, were inadvertent and were repaid.

The allegations persisted in haunting C. Young, and when RPA pressured him in September 2018, WVWD retained law firm Milon Pluas LLP (Pluas) to investigate the allegations made in the FPPC complaint. In March 2019, Plaus substantiated the allegations and in April 2019, then WVWD General Manager Clarence Mansell decided to submit the report to the

San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit.

In response to a request for comment, Public Affairs Officer Mike Bires of the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office voiced, “Unfortunately, we are prohibited in speaking about any matters or investigations by our Public Integrity Unit.”

Bires concluded, “Should our office determine a crime has in fact been committed by any elected official and there is evidence which will support us pursuing a criminal case, we will issue a news release.”

The audit by the California State Controller’s Office the operations of WVWD during the period, July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018, a period of time when C. Young was primarily at the helm of WVWD. The State Controller’s Office found: West Valley entered into millions of dollars in financial, legal, and consulting contracts without competitive bidding, and made some large purchases with no written contract at all, failing to exercise due diligence to ensure public resources were spent in a cost-effective manner.

More than $70,000 was spent on two meetings at a golf resort outside of district boundaries, in violation of Government Code Section 54954( b).

District board members spent far above their operating budgets and reimbursable rates for travel, lodging, and meals.

SCO auditors questioned the spending of $1,897 for an election victory party for three members elected in 2017. Travel claims for $4,563 were reimbursed without documented approval or were self-approved by the claimant.

West Valley compensated board members for numerous outside meetings held without prior board approval or documented business purpose, sometimes for more than one meeting a day in violation of Water Code Section 20201.

These included lunch meetings, teleconferences, and “public meetings” at the farmer’s market.

The district overrode its own hiring policies and could not provide documentation to justify hiring decisions, promotions, or excessive pay increases.

The San Ber nardino A mer ican News will continue to follow the story.

“We Have His Back”: Dem Leaders Throw Support Behind Gov. Newsom in $276 M “Republican Recall”... continued preference,” according to 2020 numbers compiled by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Hicks said with the recall election officially happening in less than three months, he is paying close attention to the lessons of 2003 when a successful recall effort against Democratic Gov. Gray Davis led to his ousting and the election of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“Every poll shows that Democrats overwhelmingly reject this Republican recall and we as a party our prepared to put forth the effort to ensure that the 10 million California Democrats get to the polls to defeat this,” said Hicks, adding that this election has national implications for Democrats.

Hicks said low voter turnout is a concern. But he assured supporters that the California Democratic Party has the technology, strategies and infrastructure in place to successfully push back on the recall.

Garcia says he’s confident, too, that the recall will fail in September.

“Let’s not forget, Democrats didn’t want this recall in the first place. This is a state that supports the governor, and we expect to defeat the recall.”

Mitchell says the two options voters’ have couldn’t be clearer.

“What side of this do you want to be on? Do you want to be on the side of someone who stood in the gap, understood vulnerable communities, and the needs of vulnerable communities, and did all that he could to protect us?” asked Mitchell. “Or do we want to stand with the people who never stand with working families on any other issue ever?”

Mitchell says that Democrats have to work hard to inform ethnic communities across California about what is at stake for them if Newsom is recalled.

“I know where I’m going to stand, and the people I represent are clear as well,” she said.