Vol 65 No 49. Thursday, December 4, 2025 by SD Voice & Viewpoint

TRUMP’S BIG UGLY BILL STRIPS

NURSING OF PROFESSIONAL STATUS

Black Women across the nation brace for devastating consequences

By Stacy M. Brown

The Trump administration has declared that nursing is not a professional degree, striking directly

at the heart of America’s healthcare workforce and landing hardest on Black women, who make up nearly 13 percent of the national healthcare labor force and almost 10 percent of registered nurses. The administration frames the move as

a technical adjustment to loan classifications. For Black women and the communities that rely on them, the consequences are far more severe.

See NURSING page 2

ACA DEADLINE NEARS AS 20 MILLION BRACE FOR HIGHER HEALTH COSTS

By Stacy M. Brown

The Affordable Care Act subsidies that help more than 20 million people pay for health insurance are set to expire at the end of the month. Congress is running out of time to prevent steep premium hikes across the country, and families who rely on marketplace coverage face growing uncertainty while political leaders argue over what to do next.

See ACA page 2

2025 IN REVIEW: SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AREVA MARTIN

Areva Martin is an award-winning civil rights attorney, talk show host, commentator, author, and keynote

speaker who offers commentary on politics, women’s rights, children’s rights, disability rights and civil rights.

STUDENTS LEAD FOURTH ANNUAL RUBY BRIDGES WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

Gage Elementary, Pershing Middle, and Patrick Henry High joined forces to celebrate inclusion

Hundreds of students, families, and community members from Gage Elementary, Pershing Middle, and Patrick Henry High School came together on Friday, November 14, for

the fourth annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day—a student-driven event celebrating courage, inclusion, and the ongoing pursuit of equity in education.

See RUBY page 7

She is President and CEO of the Special Needs Network, which she founded to advance disability rights and support individuals across the autism spectrum, inspired in part by her experience as the parent of a child with autism.

The Harvard Law School graduate also has her own firm in Beverly Hills, Martin & Martin LLP. In 2024, the firm secured a $27 million reparations settlement for Black and Brown residents in Palm Springs. That case now serves as a model and precedent for reparations efforts for descendants of slavery across California and around the United States.

See MARTIN page 2

A SALUTE TO OUR AFRICAN NATIONS

Tanzania’s Path to Independence: December 9, 1961

By Voice & Viewpoint Staff

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This article continues our salute to the independence anniversary of African nations. This acknowledges our respect and appreciation of our brothers and sisters among us as we work together to build better lives.

Tanzania’s journey to nationhood began on the mainland with Tanganyika, a territory under British administration after World War I. By the mid-20th century, anti-colonial sentiment was rising across Africa, and Tanganyika emerged as a key site of organized nationalist activism. At the forefront was Julius Nyerere, a charismatic teacher and political thinker who founded the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954. TANU quickly became the leading force demanding majority rule and self-determination.

Through sustained political organizing, diplomatic pressure, and mass mobilization, Tanganyika secured internal self-gov-

ernment in 1960. On December 9, 1961, it achieved full independence from the United Kingdom, with Nyerere as its first prime minister. A year later, Tanganyika became a republic, and Nyerere was elected its first president. The new nation prioritized unity across its many ethnic groups, and Nyerere promoted Swahili as a unifying national language.

Tanzania Flag. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 65 Years

PHOTO: Cate Cook, Parent Volunteer

PHOTO: BlackPressUSA

PHOTO: NNPA

By Edward Henderson

CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA

PHOTO: Courtesy of CBM

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

NURSING

Continued from cover

“This is a gut punch for nursing,” Patricia Pittman of George Washington University stated. “Education from ADN to BSN and beyond is the single best way to retain nurses, especially in underserved communities.”

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistants, and other frontline health professions have been stripped of professional degree status. Students in these fields can borrow only $20,500 per year with a total cap of $100,000. Students in law, dentistry, medicine, and other protected fields can borrow up to $50,000 per year and $200,000 total.

ACA

Continued from cover

President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals on whether he will support a short-term extension. “Somebody said I want to extend it for two years. I do not want to extend it for two years. I would rather not extend them at all,” said Trump in an exchange with reporters on Air Force One. He added that “some kind of an extension may be necessary to get something else done because the unaffordable care act has been a disaster. It is a disaster,” he said during the weeklong scramble that followed the shutdown agreement.

Inside Congress, Republicans are split. Some want new income limits and other restrictions on the subsidies. Others are pushing broader overhauls built around individual health spending accounts and different benefit structures. Negotiations were jolted when word leaked that the White House had considered a temporary extension framework, only for the plan to be shelved after conservative backlash.

Moderate Republicans say any serious proposal must have the president’s backing. The president has got to sign whatever we do, otherwise it is a legislative exercise,” said

Nursing students report tuition and clinical training costs that far exceed the new caps, leaving many unable to continue their education.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing issued a direct warning. “Excluding nursing disregards the rigorous education, licensure, and direct patient care that define our profession,” the organization stated. “This decision threatens the healthcare of patients in communities across the country.”

The nation already faces a shortage of hundreds of thousands of nurses. Graduate degrees are required for advanced practice roles. Without meaningful access to federal loans, fewer students will enter or complete these programs. Black women, who rely on student loans at far

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who is working on a bipartisan plan that mirrors elements of the shelved White House framework.

Democrats argue that the public is on their side. They point to KFF polling that showed 78 percent of Americans support extending the ACA tax credits, including 59 percent of Republicans. They also note that an estimated 22 million marketplace enrollees currently receive subsidies to lower their monthly premiums.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said Senate Democrats will force a vote before the end of the year under a deal struck to reopen the government. “That vote will happen. And whether it will pass is in the hands of Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Klobuchar stated in a televised interview.

The House is a tougher road. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has declined to commit to any vote on extending the subsidies and has criticized the current credits. He called the ACA tax credit structure a “boondoggle,” said Johnson earlier this month.

Democrats warn that failure to act will put real money on the line for families and may reshape next year’s midterm campaigns. Sen.

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint is looking for photojournalists, as independent contractors, for paid assignments.

higher rates than white students, now face a barrier to financial mobility and advancement in the nursing profession.

Research shows that Black nurses often serve in underserved rural and urban communities. Studies of Black nurse practitioners describe persistent racism, heavy workloads, and limited institutional support. Participants in one national qualitative study described taking additional time to address inequities and care for patients facing social and economic barriers while contending with organizational barriers and burnout.

Kim Brundidge, a doctoral nursing student and practicing nurse, described the consequences for the next generation of providers. “If students are

Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said internal polling has already made the stakes clear for Republicans. “The pollsters have obviously told them that they are going to get their clocks cleaned if they do not fix the health care mess they created,” he remarked. “They may hate the ACA and Barack Obama so much they are willing to lose an election.”

The Senate is expected to vote in early December, honoring a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, who promised Democrats a floor vote to end the 43-day shutdown. That agreement gave the Democratic caucus the right to bring forward an ACA-related bill this month.

The House remains the major roadblock. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has refused to guarantee a vote on any extension and has criticized the ACA tax credits. Johnson referred to the subsidies as a “boondoggle,” said Johnson during the recent funding fight.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, is trying to force the issue. Jeffries filed a discharge petition to bring a three-year extension bill to the floor and has warned colleagues that time is short.

MARTIN

Martin spoke with California Black Media about her successes and frustrations in 2025 along with her hopes for 2026.

Looking back at 2025, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why?

In my nonprofit work, just recently, we led the charge in working with state agencies to create a new Medicaid benefit that will have implications for millions of individuals across the state of California.

Prior to this new benefit being created, if you were a foster care child in the state of California and you had behavioral health care needs, it was close to impossible for you to get behavioral health treatment because the agencies that provide that treatment were not able to register with Medicaid and become certified Medicaid providers.

So, my nonprofit, Special Needs Network, worked closely with several state agencies on raising awareness about this massive gap, this void. Then, we worked with them to become certified Medicaid providers so that those children who needed behavioral health treatment now have access to it.

How did your leadership, efforts and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians in 2025?

My work in the media and my work as a civil rights lawyer and philanthropy has raised awareness about important challenges — like reparations, for example, a huge issue for Black Californians.

not able to afford advanced education, the quality and number of nurses entering the workforce will decline,” she said.

Local and national nursing groups are preparing challenges to the reclassification. Leaders across the field warn that the bill undermines the country’s ability to meet basic healthcare needs.

“In many communities across the country, advanced practice registered nurses ensure access to essential and high-quality care that would otherwise be unavailable,” Jennifer Mensik Kennedy of the American Nurses Association said. “Limiting nurses’ access to graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care.”

“There are just 13 legislative days left before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire,” wrote Jeffries in a letter to House members. “We only need a handful of Republicans to join us in order to save the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans,” said Jeffries.

Some Republicans in swing districts have backed shorter extensions or bipartisan compromise bills with new eligibility limits. One of the key negotiators is Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who has been working with Democrats on a plan that mirrors elements of a leaked White House framework. “The president has got to sign whatever we do, otherwise it is a legislative exercise,” said Fitzpatrick.

So, it’s a little frustrating because what do you say to those people? We’ve talked to them until we’re blue in the face. We’ve shown them the data. We’ve shown them the receipts. And sometimes even when we do all of that, they still resort to the talking points. They resort to the lies and the rhetoric in the right-wing media echo chambers. That can be very frustrating.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

I think seeing how deflated a lot of us on the Democratic side were, particularly Black women, after the election. I worked really hard on the presidential election. The dismantling of DEI, the attacks on civil rights statutes, the attacks on Black museums, and Black cultural institutions has been just really devastating. I think looking at how devastating some of these actions of this administration have been has really just motivated me to lift my voice, to stay in the fight.

What is one lesson you learned in 2025 that will inform your decision-making next year?

I think the biggest lesson is appreciating that there are people who you may work with, people who you may respect, but have very different opinions about where this country is, the direction of the country, where the city is, the city of Los Angeles, where the state of California is and recognizing the need to not write those people off.

To really be thoughtful and reflective about how you can still communicate with, do business with, and collaborate with these people.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians faced in 2025? Hostility.

• Professional writing experience required.

• Newspaper experience is desired.

The historic win in Palm Springs is a model for the rest of the state. I’ve worked with some elected officials — including members of the California Legislative Black Caucus — to try to push through some of the reparations bills that came out of the statewide reparations study.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

One immediate project that we’re working on together is in the special needs network space, we are expanding. We have six offices now and we're expanding into San Diego. QUALIFICATIONS:

We might be the answer, if you’ve experienced recent job loss. Email latanya@sdvoice.info

Looking at people who really believe that somehow a Trump administration was going to make their lives better. So. having to sit on our hands, and bite our tongues, not wanting to say to people, “I told you so,” but feeling like, “I really told you so.”

I have two daughters who graduated from law school this year and last year, and one has already been admitted to the California Bar. One is literally taking the California Bar as we speak. I’m working on some intergenerational projects with them.

STATES MUST LEARN THE LESSONS OF THE GREAT RECESSION

The GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is going to cause major pain in statehouses. Lawmakers need to prepare now.

By Amber Wallin EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE REVENUE ALLIANCE

As states across America brace for economic turbulence, it’s tempting to look back to the Great Recession, when states also faced significant revenue shortfalls, for a playbook: cut budgets first, wait for federal relief, then (maybe) restore spending later.

But the coming storm tied to the GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” demands a new plan — one that leans into the lessons we learned from states that tried that. Here are a few.

Lesson No. 1: New revenue — not cuts — must set the debate.

The Great Recession began in 2008 and lasted for years.

According to the Brookings Institution, state and local government revenues were down $100 billion from 2007 to 2009. Instead of acting boldly to protect crucial programs, many state legislators began playing fiscal defense by implementing

cuts to education, laying off workers, shrinking or delaying capital projects, and forgoing aid to community needs.

States that implemented this austerity experienced greater private-sector job losses — and economic recovery lagged significantly behind states that expanded spending during the Great Recession. The reason is straightforward: state budget cuts can create real hardship and losses for people, such as teacher layoffs, reductions in unemployment benefits, and health insurance losses, especially during a recession and a prolonged economic recovery.

This time, states have to make revenue the first agenda item — not where and how much to cut.

Lesson No. 2: Don’t be fooled by tax cut sales pitches.

To make the effects of the Great Recession much worse, states gave in to a tried-and-untrue idea from the past: cutting taxes. A few states, including Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin, enacted deep cuts to their individual income taxes. But the promised economic benefits failed to materialize. Jobs and income growth in four of those five states lagged the national average by mid-decade.

Lesson No. 3: Voters know there are better choices.

State fiscal forecasters had already flagged a softening in revenue growth heading into 2025. The “Big Beautiful Bill’” could make that significantly worse by drastically cutting Medicaid and shifting responsibility for federal food assistance to the states. While many state governments got away with a “cuts first” approach in the early days of the Great Recession, that strategy will not hold politically today. The public will demand investment in health, education, climate resilience, and equity.

Lesson No. 4: Take in the options, act before the crash.

Unfortunately, Florida, Idaho, and Nebraska lawmakers continue to chase tax cuts and to under-fund core services like education. The good news, especially for legislators, is that there’s no shortage of smart ideas to raise revenue and protect communities. A few states — like California, Colorado, and Maine — have already started to act. State lawmakers should consider best practices like taxing wealth or ensuring corporations pay their fair share to achieve the tax justice that the public demands. The time to prepare a forward-looking, balanced revenue path is now — before the crash.

HOW RACIAL GERRYMANDERING IS HOLLOWING OUT THE BLACK ELECTORATE

By Jaidyn McKinnie

CENTER RESEARCH

American democracy is entering a dangerous stage of decline. While coverage focuses largely on the most recognizable signs of democratic backsliding, such as attacks on free speech and the use of state force against peaceful protesters, a quieter crisis is reshaping the foundation of representation itself.

The second Trump administration is advancing a national policy infrastructure aimed at reshaping the democratic system from within, not by suppressing votes directly, but by manipulating the structures that determine who gets represented at all. Across the country, redistricting battles are being used to minimize the influence of Black voters and weaken the power and electability of Black legislators who represent them. These maps fracture diverse districts, erase majority-Black constituencies, and recast racial gerrymandering as a partisan strategy.

Gerrymandering is the process of drawing legislative maps to favor one group over another. Partisan gerrymandering exists in both parties, but the distinction between partisan and racial gerrymandering is crucial. The latter targets voters based on race, undermining equal protection and silencing political voices that have historically been excluded. Today, partisan gerrymandering often serves as a facade for racial redistricting, allowing maps that weaken Black and brown representation while appearing procedurally neutral.

Congress is actively working on groundbreaking legislation that would provide much needed regulatory clarity. The Digital Assets Market Structure legislation being developed by the U.S. Senate Agriculture and Banking committees can be better positioned to foster economic growth, promote financial education, and support guard rails for the early and vibrant segments of Americans who actively leverage digital assets.

In Washington, debates over crypto are too often conflated with tensions with Wall Street incumbents, entrenched regulatory turf wars, and the race for global competitiveness. As a result, a critical voice is often absent from deliberations: small financial institutions that have long been the backbone of underserved

These efforts to reshape representation operate through coordinated pressure on state and federal institutions. Republicancontrolled legislatures in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Florida have advanced or are seeking to advance maps that fracture diverse districts and erase Black-performing seats to manufacture partisan strongholds.

This September, Governor Kehoe of Missouri approved new maps that work to unseat Representative Emanuel Cleaver, one of the state’s two Black congressmembers. His district, once a Black stronghold centered in Kansas City, is being divided among three predominantly white districts, reducing the concentration of Black voters and weakening their collective influence. Similar redistricting patterns in Florida and Texas, where the districts of Representatives Al Lawson, Marc Veasey, and Al Green were dismantled, follow the same logic.

These efforts reveal a shift from engaging voters to reshaping the systems that define their representation.

Now, all eyes are on California, where the passage of Proposition 50 has become the first major test of how far states can go in countering gerrymandered maps. While Black-centered organizations such as the NAACP have invested heavily in the measure, its potential impact on Black voting power remains uncertain, though analysts suggest it may strengthen Latino representation.

Still, its outcome will shape national discourse on representation and determine whether state-level reforms can meaningfully alter the balance of power.

While some states experiment with expanding representation, the federal landscape is moving in the opposite direction by dismantling DEI programs, eliminating race-conscious hiring, and purging staff in agencies that oversee civil rights enforcement. These measures reflect a broader effort to weaken the institutions that sustain equitable representation and to undermine the legitimacy of a multiracial democracy.

Despite this, the Congressional Black Caucus is the largest it has ever been, reflecting decades of organizing and civic engagement that expanded voting access. But this progress is increasingly fragile.

Voting power determines not just who wins elections, but whose communities receive investment, whose schools are funded, and whose voices are heard in policy debates that shape everyday life. When Black voters are packed into a few districts or split among many, their concerted voting strength is diluted, muting the political voice that has driven social and economic advancement for generations.

The threat facing the United States is not only that democracy could fail, but that it could survive in form while dying in function.

CONGRESS SHOULD NOT LEAVE SMALL COMMUNITY AND MINORITY BANKS OUT

The Time Is Now

By Kevin Harris and Cleve Mesidor

rural and urban neighborhoods. As Congress considers legislation governing digital assets, it has an opportunity to take a simple transformative, bipartisan step to ensure they are not once again left behind and left out. Lawmakers should include a federal study examining how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) can safely and compliantly offer digital asset products. The time for this level of regulatory clarity is now!

Ensuring Access To The Future of Digital Finance

This is not a niche concern. It is a matter of financial inclusion, U.S. competitiveness, and necessity for a market structure framework that

fuels innovation across rural and mainstream America.

Whether policymakers embrace or resist them, digital assets—from tokenized deposits to stablecoins to blockchain-based payment rails— are increasingly shaping the financial landscape.

Large institutions and fintechs are already experimenting with tokenization, on-chain identity solutions, and blockchain-enabled lending. As these technologies become part of mainstream financial transactions, millions of Americans could be locked out if their local community institutions are not part of policy considerations.

CDFIs and MDIs serve precisely the communities most vulnerable to being excluded from transformative financial shifts. If legislation ignores their needs and capacities, we risk repeating a familiar pattern: innovation benefiting the well-resourced first, leaving everyone else to catch up later—if at all.

Including a federal study is not a radical act. It does not endorse any particular digital asset product, mandate their adoption, or loosen regulatory standards. Instead, it offers something essential: clarity!

While banks are receiving regulatory guidance regarding decentralized finance, this clarity does not extend to this unique subset of the financial system.

Data show that CDFIs support more than 1,400 smaller lenders operating in rural and urban areas that aren’t adequately served by larger banks. Of the roughly 5,900 headquarters and branches of these community lenders, 60 percent [1]are in Republican congressional districts and 55 percent are in states with two Republican senators.

See BANKS page 11

The result is a democracy that technically counts every vote, but ensures that some count for less.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Carolyn Jean Joseph Leon

Lambert

SUNRISE 07/13/1960

SUNSET 11/03/2025

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL Service was held November 20, 2025 at Word of Life Worship Center.

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Carolyn Jean Lambert was born July 13, 1960, in San Diego, CA, to the parents of Clifford and Ola Mae Lambert. She was the ninth of the twelve children born to that union. She attended Stocken Elementary, Granger Jr High, and Sweetwater High School. Carolyn met the love of her life Kenneth “Truman” Dillard Sr. in 1979. They later married in 1982.

She worked for San Diego Convalescent home for 7 years and worked as security for the San Diego School District. Her love for music never went unnoticed. You can walk into her home at any time and hear love stones and the blue notes.

On Monday November 3, 2025, the bright spirit of Carolyn Jean Lambert graduated to a land that is free from sickness and pain.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Clifford Sr. and Ola Mae Lambert, sisters; Betty Bennett and Jacqueline Lambert, and brothers; Richard Lambert and Allex Lambert.

Carolyn leaves to celebrate her memory her beloved husband Truman, four boys; Kenneth Earl Dillard, Jr. and daughter in law Kareen, Dominic Robert Dillard, Deshawn Dillard, and Davonne “puddy” Dillard, grandkids; DaVonne Jr., Syn’Cere and King, and siblings; Shirley Porter, Clifford Lambert, Jr. (Sheryl), Regina (JoAnn) Russell, Brenda Smith, Donald Lambert (Debra), Doumas Lambert (Joyce), and Melinda Lambert.

“ Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ”

Leakes, Jr.

SUNRISE 05/28/1962

SUNSET 11/17/2025

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Service was held November 24, 2025 at Preferred Cremation and Burial.

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God sent His angels down to call our beloved Joseph Leon Leakes, Jr. to his heavenly home on November 17, 2025.

Joseph was born on May 28, 1962, to the late Jean Nuckols and Joseph Leakes, Sr. On April 28, 1985, he married Lisa Dohm. Of this union, they were blessed with 2 children. Years later, the marriage dissolved.

He attended school at Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego, CA, where as an athlete. He had the opportunity to play on a championship football team. Joseph also ran track. He placed in the San Diego Hall of Fame for track in the high hurdles. In 1983, Joseph had a life-altering injury that rendered him blind. He never complained or let his disability stop his resilience and determination to be his own man. He was very independent; cooked and cleaned for himself. He inspired others around him in the schools and the community. The lectures that Joseph gave as a guest speaker at his former high school taught kids that no matter how bad your situation may seem, you can still rise above if you choose. Prior to his blindness, and even after, Joseph had a love and passion for cars. If anyone had an issue, he would say, “Pop The Hood”. Joseph was a God-fearing man; he loved the Lord. He wasn’t scared of much else, except one thing. His biggest fear was that he never wanted to forget what the face of his sisters looked like. They had a special bond. Joseph’s strong faith and commitment to personal growth was very courageous. He frequently shared valuable insights on self-improvement.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; Jean Nuckols and Joseph Leakes, Sr., and one sister, Marilyn Leakes.

Left to cherish all the fond memories are his children; Vanessa Boston (Randy) and Marilyn Leakes II of AZ, Joseph Adair Leakes of GA, and Raelena Leakes of CA, siblings; Vickie Parker and Janice Hempfield (Phil) of VA, Joseph Leakes II of CA, and Tina Glover of TX, grandchildren; Tyson, Tayvian, Trevin Khloe, Kellen, Maximus, Scarlett, Sanea, Alanna, Leonidas, Aria, Jamari, Cayden, Cassidy, Camora, Camdyn, and Sasha, special nieces and nephew; Lakisha, ShaNiqua, and Kenneth, and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and a very special, long-time friend and confidant, Coach Phil Factor.

May Time Soften Your Pain

In times of darkness, love sees… In times of silence, love hears... In times of doubt, love hopes… In times of sorrow, love heals... And in all times, love remembers. May time soften the pain Until all that remains Is the warmth of the memories And the love.

Love Lives On A. Bradley

Those we love are never really lost to us we feel them in so many special ways through friends they always cared about and dreams they left behind, in beauty that they added to our days… in words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be gone… Those we love are never really lost to us For everywhere their special love lives on.

The center will be a first-of-a-kind for presidential libraries, serving as a community hub on Chicago’s South Side.

By Shernay Williams Word in

The Obama Foundation is giving the public a virtual preview of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, a 19-acre, community-rooted campus slated to open on Chicago’s South Side in spring 2026.

Located in the Jackson Park neighborhood, the space will feature a wide range of facilities and green space, including a fruit and vegetable garden, a podcast studio, a Chicago Public Library branch, and an open field — called the Great Lawn — for outdoor movies and

sledding.

A New Kind of Presidential Library

Unlike other presidential libraries, the Obama Presidential Center will be managed by the private Obama Foundation — not the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The NARA will, however, house and loan the former president’s fully digitized records to the center for exhibits.

In a virtual information session in early October, Obama Foundation leaders shared visual renderings and mockups detailing what to expect at the center, which broke

ground in 2021.

Many of the center’s facilities will be named after prominent individuals who foundation leaders say helped shape President and Mrs. Obama’s lives. They include the John Lewis Plaza — a public space that will host outdoor performances, markets, and fairs — and the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium, which honors the Chicago teen killed by gun violence in 2013 shortly after performing with her majorette squad at President Obama’s second inauguration.

One of the center’s most unique features is the museum building

design. Signifying the power of collective action, it is shaped as if four hands are coming together. The building’s exterior features words from President Obama’s speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Inside, visitors will find a mix of permanent and rotating exhibits highlighting major events and policies from the Obama presidency.

The space will also serve as headquarters for several of the Obama Foundation’s leadership and scholarship programs.

Chicago residents gave feedback on the building’s construction, requesting more green space, underground parking, and accessibility via public transit.

PHOTO: The Obama Foundation

Black

Spreading Love and Gratitude at the

By Darrel Wheeler

Saturday, November 22nd, the busy Joe and IV Jacobs Center parking lot was filled with important community resource booths, Thanksgiving joy, receivers and givers.

Organizers and supporters, including Community Wraparound, San Ysidro Health, Chase, Live Well San Diego, Learn 4life, The Chicano Federation, It Takes a Village, and San Diego County Probation, were some of the community advocates who made their presence known at the big Spread Love and Gratitude Turkey Giveaway and Resource Fair.

“I think this is a well-organized event. I personally enjoyed it. They could have had more turkeys because they ran out kinda fast, but there were so many people here, this is a very beneficial event for the community,” Kanika Swafford of Paving Great Futures shared.

In addition to the free turkeys, the big crowd of participants was also given bags of food. Local dignitaries also showed up in support of the special turkey giveaway extravaganza. Thanks to the generosity of donors, some community families will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with a little more than what they had.

Students Lead Fourth Annual RUBY BRIDGES WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

Hundreds of students, families, and community members from Gage Elementary, Pershing Middle, and Patrick Henry High School came together on Friday, November 14, for the fourth annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day—a student-driven event celebrating courage, inclusion, and the ongoing pursuit of equity in education.

At approximately 7:20 a.m., students dressed in purple shirts and carrying lunchboxes began a symbolic walk to school in honor of Ruby Bridges, who, at just six years old, became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960.

The walk brought together 400 attendees and students across grade levels to promote unity and celebrate diversity through student-led reflection, art, and conversation.

This collaborative event is part of a broader effort by San Diego Unified to empower students to take an active role in building inclusive school environments and strengthening community connections. Schools across San Diego Unified, including Hamilton and Ibarra Elementary, joined the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day to honor her courage and legacy of inclusion.

PHOTOS: Cate Cook, Parent

Gage Elementary, Pershing Middle, and Patrick Henry High joined forces to celebrate inclusion

By Voice & Viewpoint Staff

Dozens of community members gathered early on Saturday November 22, outside the 47th Street Church of God, forming a line that wrapped around the block as the giveaway kicked off. The event brought together families, seniors, and neighbors from across the area, all sharing in the spirit of gratitude and community support. Volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure everyone left with a turkey and a smile, marking another year of heartfelt giving.

New Parking Pass Rates Established

for Balboa Park

Monthly, quarterly and annual parking passes approved; paid parking set to begin Jan. 5, 2026

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

On Nov. 18, the San Diego City Council approved a new fee structure for all Balboa Park parking lots and in-park roads. Monthly, quarterly, and annual passes will be available to City of San Diego residents at discounted rates, while non-residents will pay higher fees. Without a pass, parking will cost $2.50 per hour on park roads and $5–$16 per day in lots. Paid parking is set to begin Jan. 5, 2026. Residents seeking discounted passes must register their license plate through an online portal now in development.

The rates for the parking passes will be as follows:

City of San Diego residents

• Monthly, $30; Quarterly, $60; Annual, $150

Non-residents

• M onthly, $40; Quarterly, $120; Annual, $300

Level 1 lots: Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, Bea Evenson, Palisades, South Carousel

• R esident rate: $8 per day and $5 for up to 4 hours

• Non-resident rate: $16 per day and $10 for up to 4 hours

Level 2 lots: Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point, Marston Point

• R esident rate: $5 per day

• Non-resident rate: $10 per day

Level 3 lot: Lower Inspiration Point

• Resident rate: $5 per day with the first 3 hours free

• Non-resident rate: $10 per day with the first 3 hours free

Meter rates on in-park roads will be $2.50 per hour with a maximum of $10 per day.

Hourly and daily parking will be enforced 8a.m.- 8p.m.

Parking will remain free for registered staff and volunteers while on duty, and all visitors can park free for the first three hours at Lower Inspiration Point. Individuals with valid ADA placards can park for free in designated spaces and on park roads. New meters and kiosks are being installed along Sixth Avenue, Park Boulevard, and within Balboa Park, with fees activated once installed. Revenue collected inside the park must be reinvested in Balboa Park operations and maintenance, while funds from adjacent streets must support mobility and traffic-safety improvements. The free Inspiration Point tram will continue service, and new special-event parking fees were also approved based on event type, duration, and space needs.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Initiates Three New Members

To Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter of San Diego

By Duane Johnson

The San Diego Alphas just got 3 degrees colder!

On Saturday, November 8th, the “Ice Cold Brothers” of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. initiated three new members through the Zeta Sigma Lambda (ZSL) Chapter of San Diego. Over the last year, these men were vetted through a rigorous process to ensure they met the high standards of an Alpha man. Brother Dr. Robert Walker, ZSL Dean of Membership, christened the Fall 2025 line with the name Keepers of Ma’at. In ancient Egypt, the Ma’at was a set of principles that embodied truth, justice, and balance. As “keepers,” they collectively uphold the cosmic order through fire, law and military strength.

The Keepers of Ma’at are:

• Brother Charles Peoples is a Petty Officer 1st Class in the United States Navy. A Philadelphia native, he is a graduate of North Carolina A&T with a degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design.

• Brother Byron Donovan is an attorney. A native of San Diego, he obtained his degree in Political Science from the esteemed Morehouse College.

• Brother Robert Logan is the Fire Chief of

the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. He is the 3rd African American to hold this position in the department’s 134-year history. A native of Southeast San Diego, he obtained a degree in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University. The public will have the opportunity to greet the new initiates at the upcoming Alpha Phi Alpha Holiday Scholarship Ball on Saturday, December 13th at the Del Mar Hilton. Tickets are on sale at www.sandiegoalphas/scholarship.

Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens: Free Health Coverage for a Strong Start

Every child deserves a strong, healthy start in life. However, across California, too many children—Black families included—miss out on basic preventive care like regular checkups, dental visits, pharmacy, and mental health screenings. Medi-Cal supports children’s health and gives parents, caregivers, and children and teens clear steps to use these benefits today—helping families stay ahead of health issues and build lifelong wellness.

Medi-Cal is more than health insurance. It’s a pathway to care that respects your story, your values, and your community. Black families in California deserve access to culturally centered care that understands and uplifts their unique health needs:

• Providers who listen and reflect their lived experiences.

• Mental health support that respects cultural identity.

• Whole-family care, from newborns to elders.

• Help in your preferred language, with dignity and respect.

Your health is powerful. Your culture is a strength. Medi-Cal is here to support both.

Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens is California’s fullscope health coverage for all children (0-19), regardless of immigration status. The program guarantees comprehensive preventive and medically necessary care at no cost to families.

“Medi-Cal helps families keep their children healthy. From baby check-ups to teen sport physicals and mental health care, kids can get the care they need for free, so every child has the chance to grow up strong,” said Dr. Karen Mark, Medical Director for the California Department of Health Care Services.

What Medi-Cal Covers

• Medi-Cal provides free preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services whenever a doctor determines they are medically necessary, without cost limits. Covered care includes:

• P hysicals and regular check-ups starting at birth.

• Dental care with fluoride varnish and twice-yearly dental visits beginning at age 1.

• Vision care, including exams and eyeglasses.

• Mental health care, such as counseling, therapy, crisis services, and substance use disorder treatment.

• S pecialty and hospital care, home health nursing, medical equipment, and prescriptions.

• S exual and reproductive health services for teens, including family planning, birth control, and sexually transmitted disease prevention, testing, and treatment.

Mental Health and Whole-Family Care

Medi-Cal also offers many new services through the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, such as Community Supports, which help address health-related social needs outside of the doctor’s offices and other traditional health care settings. Community Supports include healthy meals to manage nutrition-sensitive conditions, support for parents and caregivers, and housing transition and navigation services for those who need them.These services are available through your Medi-Cal health plan.

Why Regular Check-Ups Matter

Regular visits for children and teen visits help catch and prevent health issues early. Healthcare providers review family history, track growth and development, and discuss topics like nutrition, sleep, mental health, and more.

Parents and caregivers can schedule a visit anytime, without waiting for the next routine appointment, and can request extra appointments if a child or teen shows new symptoms or risk factors.

Medi-Cal supports children and teens’ mental and emotional well-being with counseling, therapy, and medication. Services are available through a primary care doctor, a managed care plan, or a county mental health plan, without delay. Additionally, new parents on Medi-Cal receive care at the same time as their children, which helps strengthen family relationships and address emotional challenges early.

Easy Steps to Get and Use Benefits

1 Apply if not enrolled. Families can apply online at BenefitsCal.com, by calling Covered California at 1-800-300-1506, or through the county human services office. In San Diego County call 1-866-262-9881. Immigration status does not affect a child’s eligibility.

2 S chedule a check-up. Call your child’s managed care plan (the number is on the ID card and at www.dhcs.ca.gov/mmchpd) or the Medi-Cal Member Help Line at 1-800541-5555 (TDD 1-800-430-7077).

3 Request Community Supports. Ask for meal assistance , language help, or other

services and support when making an appointment.

4 K eep contact information current. Respond promptly to any Medi-Cal eligibility renewal letters to avoid gaps in coverage.

5 G et dental care. Use the dental plan number on your ID card or visit www. SmileCalifornia.org to find a dentist or use the navigator tool.

6 Know your rights. If care is denied, you have the right to appeal or request a State Hearing. Free legal help is available through the Health Consumer Alliance at 1-888-8043536.

A Call to Action for Black Families

Black children in California experience higher rates of asthma, obesity, and certain mental health challenges, yet they often receive fewer preventive services. Medi-Cal’s child and family strategy focuses on closing these gaps with strong pediatric care, mental health support, and culturally responsive outreach.

By using Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens, parents and caregivers can ensure their children receive every benefit they deserve at no cost.

Take the Next Step Today

Make your child’s health a priority. Apply for Medi-Cal if you haven’t already, schedule a check-up, and use your benefits Learn more at www.dhcs.ca.gov/kidsandteens, BenefitsCal.com, or by calling 1-800-5415555.

Medi-Cal is here to help every child thrive. With a full range of no-cost services, it gives Black families and all parents and caregivers the support their children need to grow up healthy and strong. Don’t wait. Take action today to protect your child’s health.

San Diego Alphas Group Photo. PHOTO: PhotosByIsaac

Standing (L-R): ZSL President Johnnie Welborne, ZSL Dean of Membership Dr. Robert Walker. Seated (L-R):

PHOTO: CBM

Don’t Let Predatory Debt Traps Rob The Holiday Season’s Joy

By Charlene Crowell Senior Fellow at Center for Responsible Lending

Th e holidays are coming, and many financially strapped families are considering how to responsibly manage their use of credit while still enjoying seasonal gatherings, presents, feasts and toasts of glad tidings for all. The yuletide season is also a time to especially avoid predatory lenders that offer workers quick access to cash via loans with triple-digit interest rates and hidden fees that can wreck their finances for months.

The convenience of mobile phones and personal computers removes the need to visit storefront lenders to access easy cash. Two fast-growing loan products, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), and Earned Wage Access (EWA) have emerged as new business models that deceive consumers into debt.

“App-based payday lenders have co-opted the language of financial inclusion in an effort to disguise the ancient grift of exploiting underpaid workers with usurious loans,” said Monica Burks, policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). “These companies promote a legal fiction that their loans are not loans, pretend the standard measurement for interest rates doesn’t reflect their loans’ costs, and push borrowers to pay fees deceptively called ‘tips.’”

In a new policy brief, Nickel and Dimed: How Payday Loan Apps Drain Workers’ Pay and How to Stop Them , CRL shows that these lenders’ business models are designed to drive repeat borrowing and extract high fees.

EWA often lures underpaid workers into high-cost, small dollar loans that are repaid from forthcoming paychecks. The danger in this direct debit is that it reduces the money a borrower has available to repay the loan and manage other household bills. BNPL

loans let purchasers of a variety of goods and services break payments into smaller installments usually paid over a few weeks.

CRL’s research also found that:

• B orrowing escalates over time, with monthly loan use doubling in the first year from two loans per month on average in month one, to four by month 12.

• O verdrafts on consumers’ checking accounts increased 56 percent on average after use of an advance product, demonstrating how these products directly exacerbate financial instability rather than alleviate it.

• A high incidence of “loan stacking,” where multiple payday app lenders extend advances against the same paycheck. Over time, most borrowers are in debt to multiple lenders during their first year of tracked use, creating a built-in monthly financial shortfall that worsens – not improves financial stability. This cycle of increased borrowing exacerbates the monthly financial shortfall that drives users into their first payday app loan.

In 2025, at least 20 states proposed legislation to address EWA’s growth and consumer concerns, according to the National Conference of State Legislators, including but not limited to: Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Washington.

Similarly, BNPL plans also lead to debilitating, long-term debt that enable cash-strapped consumers to access monies without a hard credit inquiry. Unlike the now-extinct retailer layaway plans that offered installment payments with no interest charges, these installment loans are offered through a lender that in turn gains access to checking accounts or debit cards to make installment payments. Exact loan terms and conditions vary among lenders, leaving consumers to be directly responsible for the fine print terms that often go unread.

INTERNATIONAL

Since its emergence during the COVID-19 pandemic, BNPL’s still-growing popularity is tied to its promise of zero-interest, and multiple – often four - installment purchase payments that typically range from $50-$1,000. Payments, directly deducted from bank accounts, debit cards, or credit cards, are typically due every two weeks, roughly half the billing length for most consumer payments like rent, utilities, or credit cards.

As a result, BNPL consumers tend to encounter rippling negative financial effects like repeated insufficient funds, overdraft fees, other late fees, or savings withdrawals. These lenders are largely non-depository institutions with no standard form for consumer redress and scant consumer protection in the face of the easy and built-in temptation to incur multiple BNPL loans.

Advocates called for strong consumer protection when the State of New York’s Dep-

UN Food Agency Projects Northern Nigeria To Experience Hunger

Unprecedented level in 2026

By Ope Adetayo Associated Press

A spike in attacks by militants across northern Nigeria is “driving hunger to levels never seen before” and is expected to result in the worst levels of food insecurity in Africa next year, according to a World Food Program report released Tuesday [November 25].

The food agency of the United Nations projected 35 million people are likely to experience severe hunger in Nigeria by 2026, the highest on the continent and the largest since the agency began recording data in Nigeria.

“Without confirmed funding, millions will be left without support in 2026...”

–World Food Program

The WFP also predicted that at least 15,000 people in Borno state, the epicenter of Nigeria’s security crisis, will experience catastrophic hunger including famine-like conditions next year and will be classified as Phase 5. That’s the highest classification of food insecurity, similar to what has been seen in some parts of Gaza and Sudan.

“Northern Nigeria is experiencing the most severe hunger crisis in a decade,

with rural farming communities the hardest hit,” the WFP said in a statement.

Widespread attacks by various armed groups have deterred farmers from using their land, officials said.

In October, al-Qaida-affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin took responsibility for its first attack in Nigeria, making the group the latest entrant in a pool of armed groups launching attacks in the country.

More than 300 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped from a school in Niger state on Nov. 21, only four days after 25 schoolchildren were abducted 170 kilometers (106 miles) away in neighboring Kebbi state. Nigeria also has been hard hit by a

massive scaling down of U.N. food assistance following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to gut the United States Agency for International Development.

The USAID cut ceased funding to the WFP, which said it will run out of resources for emergency food and nutrition assistance in December.

Nigeria is one of the few other countries in the region where the cut has deepened the food crisis. In July, the agency suspended food assistance across West and Central Africa.

“Without confirmed funding, millions will be left without support in 2026, fueling instability and deepening a crisis that the world cannot afford to ignore,” the agency said.

artment of Financial Services solicited comments on BNPL earlier this year.

“Strong rules are especially important in light of the facts that subprime and deep subprime consumers take out most BNPL loans and that BNPL credit is disproportionately used by Black and Hispanic consumers, who already face disadvantages in the credit marketplace,” advised the National Consumer Law Center. “BNPL lenders tout “interest-free” loans, implying that the loans are free.”

“It is the responsibility of public officials to stop predatory loan apps from breaking the law and from nickel and diming workers,” said Yasmin Farahi, deputy director of state policy at CRL. “To protect consumers, states should enforce – or, where needed, adopt – strong interest rate caps for all payday loans, no matter how companies sell them.”

PHOTO: CRL Image

CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES

This fictitious business name will expire on November 17, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021366

Sang Dao Express

3425 Hancock Street #6 San Diego, CA 92110

County of San Diego

5421 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA 92115

This business is conducted by:

An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/23/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Phidprakay Bobbie Deary 5421 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 27, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on October 27, 2030 11/27, 12/04, 12/11, 12/18

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021859

Fictitious business name(s): Sofias Ranch 11 Double K Rd Valley Center, CA 92082

County of San Diego

809 Marjorie Dr San Diego, CA 92114

This business is conducted by:

An Individual

The first day of business was: 11/18/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Marianna Lopez 809 Marjorie Dr San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 18, 2025

on November 19, 2030

12/04, 12/11, 12/18, 12/25

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021805

Fictitious business name(s): Snaxican 2135 D Ave National City, CA 91950 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 11/17/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Iltze Flores 2135 D Ave National City, CA 91950

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 17,

This fictitious business name will expire on November 18, 2030 11/27, 12/04, 12/11, 12/18

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021899

Fictitious business name(s): Korarift 1480 Broadway #2427 San Diego, CA 92101 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Korarift LLC 2108 N St, Ste C Sacramento, CA 95816 State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 18, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 18, 2030 11/27, 12/04, 12/11, 12/18

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021734

Fictitious business name(s): E.M.A Handyman 15941 Lyons Valley Rd Jamul, CA 91935 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 11/17/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Ernie S Yorba 15941 Lyons Valley Rd Jamul, CA 91935

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 17, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 17, 2030 11/27, 12/04, 12/11, 12/18

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021740

Fictitious business name(s):

West Coast Recon Works

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 11/17/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jan Paul Shawishian 2236 Crandall Dr. San Diego, CA 92111

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 17, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 17, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021013

Fictitious business name(s): Foxxy Phat Brown Cleaning Service 7732 Shore Wood Dr San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 11/04/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Latrica L Brown Brown 7732 Shore Wood Dr San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 04, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 04, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021774

Fictitious business name(s): Joiful Creations 619 2140 Central Ave Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Joi Mychelle Jenkins 2140 Central Ave Spring Valley, CA 91977

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 17, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 17, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9020167

Fictitious business name(s): Advance Auto Wholesale 2275 Rolling Ridge Rd. Chula Vista, CA 91914 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/22/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Rogelio Casillas 2275 Rolling Ridge Rd. Chula Vista, CA 91914

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 22, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on October 22, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021759

Fictitious business name(s): Streamline Auto Care

6811 Alvarado Rd Unit 14 San Diego, CA 92120 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Mohamed Elabbassi 6811 Alvarado Rd Unit 14 San Diego, CA 92120

Fictitious business name(s): Dela Connect Group 404 Camino Del Rio S Ste 210 San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Delagroup Management Inc 404 Camino Del Rio S Ste 210 San Diego, CA 92108 State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 10, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 10, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021193

Fictitious business name(s): Ingrid's Paradise Of Incense 1668 Glencoe Dr. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 06/01/2016

This business is hereby registered by the following: Ingrid G. Garcia 1668 Glencoe Dr. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 06, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 06, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021370

Fictitious business name(s): Always A Traveler

Black Branches

8761 Lake Murray Blvd #4 San Diego, CA 92119

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/17/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Raychelle Lee 8761 Lake Murray Blvd #4 San Diego, CA 92119

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 10, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 10, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021477

Fictitious business name(s): Dreacutz

5483 Adobe Falls Rd San Diego, CA 92120

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 10/18/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Dreacutz LLC 5483 Adobe Falls Rd #16 San Diego, CA 92120

State of Incorporation/ Organization

California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 13, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 13, 2030 11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021266

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 08/30/2023

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jeanette Elizabeth Simmonds 3053 Marlborough Ave San Diego, CA 92105

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 07, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 07, 2030 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021283

Fictitious business name(s): Sound Reinforcement West 359 Bowie St. San Diego, CA 92114

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 01/01/2018

This business is hereby registered by the following: Andrew Paul Tait 359 Bowie St. San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 07, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 07, 2030 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021107

Fictitious business name(s): Tran's Adult Residential Facility, Inc. 5902 Flipper Drive San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 11/01/2010

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Tran's Ault Residential Facility, Inc. 5902 Flipper Drive San Diego, CA 92114

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 05, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on November 05, 2030 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9019808

Fictitious business name(s): Green Air Mechanical 701 49th St San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Alan Perez 701 49th St San Diego, CA 92102

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 16, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on October 16, 2030 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9020745

Fictitious business name(s): MVMNT Studio

MVMNT After Dark

Fit Life with Pam 5702 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego

1111 6th Ave Ste 550 PMB 171522 San Diego, CA 92101-5211

This

conducted by:

San Diego, CA 92101-5211

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 30, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on October 30, 2030 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Hall of Justice Courthouse

Case Number 25CU063825C

Petitioner or Attorney: Halima Jama Ahmed

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Halima Jama Ahmed filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a.PRESENT NAME: Halima Jama Ahmed

PROPOSED NAME: Saadia Jama Ahmed [first][middle][last]

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter 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 that includes the reasons for the 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: January 01, 2026

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

West Coast Car Recon 2236 Crandall Dr. San Diego, CA 92111 County of San Diego

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 17, 2025

Fictitious business name(s): Jesimmonds Consulting 3053 Marlborough Ave San Diego, CA 92105

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not

of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 12/04, 12/11, 12/18, 12/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division, Hall of Justice Case Number 25CU061033C

Petitioner or Attorney: Sagara N. Vidanage/Ishani H. Vidanage on behalf of minor

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Sagara N. Vidanage/Ishani H. Vidanage filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a.PRESENT NAME: Theshini Chelsea Vidanage

PROPOSED NAME: Chelsea Theshini Vidanage

b.PRESENT NAME: Jashini Kaitlyn Vidanage

PROPOSED NAME: Kaitlyn Jashini Vidanage

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: December 29, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date

name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the 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: January 08, 2026

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL

OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

The address of the court is:

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

11/20, 11/27, 12/04, 12/11

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Hall of Justice Courthouse Case Number

25CU061024C

Petitioner or Attorney:

Thi Chin Huynh; Quan Sang Nguyen on behalf of minor

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Thi Chin Huynh; Quan Sang

Nguyen on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Huynh Thy Nguyen

PROPOSED NAME: Hari Nguyen

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter 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.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: December 29, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 W Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Central Division, Hall of Justice

Case Number 25CU057178C

Petitioner or Attorney: Landera Lee Riley

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Landera Lee Riley filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Landera Lee Riley

PROPOSED NAME: Elanderas Louiseive Riley

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter 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.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: December 29, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN

OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS

(excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

The address of the court is:

330 W Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Hall of Justice Courthouse

Case Number 25CU060415C

Petitioner or Attorney:

Nyi'Be Dawn VenableNajee'ullah AKA Nyibe

Dawn Venable Najee Ullah AKA Nyibe Dawn Venable AKA Nyibe Dawn VenableNajeeullah

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Nyi'Be Dawn VenableNajee'ullah AKA Nyibe

Dawn Venable Najee Ullah AKA Nyibe Dawn Venable AKA Nyibe Dawn VenableNajeeullah filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Nyi'Be Dawn VenableNajee'ullah AKA Nyibe

Dawn Venable Najee Ullah AKA Nyibe Dawn Venable AKA Nyibe Dawn VenableNajeeullah

PROPOSED NAME: Jai Monae Venable [first] [middle] [last]

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: January 05, 2026 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name

under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN

OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

The address of the court is:

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/04

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse

Case Number

25CU059685C

Petitioner or Attorney: Leeann Williamson AKA Leeann W Katz

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Leeann Williamson AKA Leean W Katz filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Leeann Williamson AKA Leeann W Katz

PROPOSED NAME: Leeann Williamson

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: December 30, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may

Open Enrollment 101:

Open Enrollment gives Americans a limited window to review, renew, or change their health insurance plans. Comparing premiums, deductibles, and networks early can save you money and prevent surprise medical bills.

Open Enrollment season is here, offering millions of Americans the opportunity to review or change their health insurance coverage for the upcoming year. It’s one time each year when you can enroll in, switch, or update your health insurance plan without a qualifying life event. For most people, it runs from November 1 through January 15, though employer deadlines may differ. Missing this window means waiting another year unless you experience a major life change.

For W-2 Employees

Your HR department will provide updated plan information. Be sure to review:

• Premium changes (your monthly cost)

• D eductibles and co-pays

• Prescription coverage updates

• Provider network changes Plan Types Explained

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

Offers the most flexibility. No referrals needed. You can see doctors in or out of network, though out-of-network costs more. PPOs typically have higher premiums.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

Lower cost but more structured. Requires a primary care doctor and referrals for specialists. Coverage is usually in-network only.

HDHP (High-Deductible Health Plan)

Lower premiums, higher deductibles. Works with a Health Savings Account (HSA) for tax-free medical savings. Best for those who want low monthly costs and rarely need care.

Don’t ignore supplemental benefits like dental, vision, disability, and life insurance — small costs that offer big protection.

For Freelancers & 1099 Workers

Marketplace plans on HealthCare.gov let you compare costs and benefits. Many qualify for premium tax credits . All marketplace plans cover essential health benefits, including preventive care and mental health. HDHP options allow you to open an HSA. Some professional organizations also offer discounted group plans.

For Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners

Small businesses can use the SHOP Marketplace for group insurance and may qualify for tax credits. Another option, the Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA), reimburses employees for individual plans instead of offering a group policy.

Key Deadlines

• Nov. 1, 2025: Enrollment begins

• Dec. 15, 2025: Deadline for Jan. 1 coverage

be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

• Jan. 15, 2026: Enrollment ends

Take time to choose wisely — your health, finances, and peace of mind depend on it.

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Federal Study of CDFIs & MDIs Whose Time Has Come

A well-designed federal study would explore important questions. This could include examining how digital asset services could responsibly expand financial access in underserved communities; the regulatory and technical barriers that prevent CDFIs and MDIs from piloting or adopting these tools; ways digital assets lower costs for remittances, small-dollar lending and community development financing.

Including this federal study in Senate digital assets market structure legislation will serve to ensure they won’t be left navigating this new terrain alone or disadvantaged relative to larger, better-resourced competitors.

Economic Equity Cannot Wait Any Longer Congress has an opportunity to take a bipartisan, low-cost step toward ensuring that the next generation of financial innovation is inclusive from the start. A study supporting CDFIs and MDIs in the digital asset space is not just good policy—it is smart policymaking. It acknowledges that responsible innovation and increasing access are not competing goals but mutually reinforcing ones.

PHOTO: Freepik