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Years
Vol. 66 No. 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026
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Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 66 Years
INSIDE
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:
STATES SET THE RULES AS NEW LAWS
TAKE EFFECT NATIONWIDE IN 2026
OG SANDBOX TOY GIVEAWAY SEE PAGES 6-7
DR. CARROLL’S TOY DISTRIBUTION SEE PAGES 6-7
IMAGE: NNPA
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA NEWSWIRE SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
costs, consumer privacy, and the use of artificial intelligence. The measures differ sharply by state, but together they point to a growing reality: in the absence of sweeping federal action, states are setting the rules that govern everyday life.
BLACK AMERICA’S CULTURAL GIANTS LOST IN 2025 WHO’S WATCHING THE WATCHERS? As 2026 approaches, states across the country are preparing to activate a wide range of new laws that will shape paychecks, housing conditions, health care
See NEW LAWS page 2
Continued FLOCK surveillance use approved by City Council on December 9th
IMAGE: NNPA
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA NEWSWIRE SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT The losses came steadily in 2025, not as a single rupture but as a quiet procession. Voices that once filled sanctuaries, arenas, studios, television screens, and living rooms went still. The year closed with Black America taking inventory not only of who died, but of what each life carried into the culture and what now remains behind. See LOST page 2
By Tihut Tamrat VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF WRITER Since the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology (TRUST) Ordinance was unanimously approved by San Diego City Council on August 2, 2022, surveillance tools such as Smart Streetlights have been subject to public Labor unions and community organizers at a press conference at the Civic Center plaza on oversight, transparency December 4, 2025. PHOTO: Tihut Tamrat requirements, and community input. As we remained deeply controversial, particularly reported in our previous coverage ALPR in Black and Brown communities already experiencing overpolicing. technology embedded in those streetlights, to capture images of vehicle license plates and track an individual’s whereabouts, has See FLOCK page 5
SAN DIEGO PROCLAIMS DECEMBER 26
AS ALWIN BENJAMIN HOLMAN DAY
By Voice & Viewpoint Staff
In honor of Alwin Benjamin Holman’s 100th birthday, the City of San Diego officially declared December 26 as Alwin Benjamin Holman Day. Alwin Benjamin Homan, center, receiving city's delcaration. IMAGE: Screengrab from @cityofsandiego Instagram post, December 26, 2025
Holman was the first Black San Diego firefighter to serve in a station other than Station
19 in the historically Black Southcrest neighborhood, instead joining an all-white San Diego fire station in 1951, breaking the SDFD color barrier. Holman served with the SDFD for 32 years, eventually becoming one of the first Black Battalion Fire Chiefs in California and the city’s first Black Deputy fire chief. See HOLMAN page 2
POLITICAL PLAYBACK: CALIFORNIA CAPITOL NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED By Bo Tefu CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA
Your Vote Could Help Decide New AI Rules for California California voters could soon decide on new rules governing artificial intelligence (AI) products, particularly those used by children. A new initiative called the Child Safety Requirements for Artificial Intelligence aims to regulate AI tools like chatbots and prohibit student use of personal smartphones in schools to
California Capitol. PHOTO: CBM
protect kids from potentially harmful technologies. See PLAYBACK page 2
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Thursday, january 8, 2026 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
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ARTICLE CONTINUATION NEW LAWS Continued from cover
California enters the new year with one of the most expansive sets of changes. The state minimum wage will rise to $16.90 an hour on January 1, increasing salary thresholds for exempt employees and affecting millions of workers. California will also cap insulin co-pays at $35 per month for many state-regulated health plans and begin rolling out CalRx branded insulin at lower list prices. New housing standards will require landlords to provide working stoves and refrigerators in rental units, while an expanded plastic bag ban closes loopholes that allowed thicker so-called reusable bags. California’s laws also reach into public safety and technology. A ban on most non-medical cat declawing takes effect, along with new requirements for law enforcement officers to display clearer identification and limits on face coverings. The state is also phasing in artificial intelligence transparency and child safety rules, part of a broader effort to regulate emerging technology in employment, government, and consumer facing platforms.
LOST Continued from cover
From gospel and soul to film, television, activism, and sport, the deaths cut across generations. Some were expected after long lives. Others arrived with shocking speed. Together, they formed a ledger of Black excellence that shaped the country even when the country did not always return the favor. Among the first major losses was Sam Moore, one half of the legendary duo Sam and Dave, whose gospel-rooted soul helped define an era. Moore died January 10 at 89, closing a chapter on a voice that powered songs still stitched into American music history.
In the District of Columbia, the changes are structural and immediate. Automatic expungement of qualifying criminal records will take effect without requiring individuals to file petitions, clearing certain cases within 90 days. The District will also revise how courts handle emergency rental assistance applications, giving judges discretion rather than requiring eviction pauses while applications are pending. Changes to Medicaid eligibility will move some low-income adults into a city administered Basic Health Plan that maintains medical coverage but excludes certain services previously covered, including adult dental and vision care. Michigan’s 2026 laws place a strong focus on wages and worker protections. The state minimum wage will increase to $13.73 an hour, one of the largest single year jumps in the country. Changes to tipped wage rules will narrow the gap between tipped and non-tipped workers, while expanded paid sick leave requirements and tighter enforcement standards are expected to affect employers across retail, hospitality, and health care. Pennsylvania’s new laws concentrate on civil rights, health access, and public safety. The state’s CROWN Act will ban discrimination based on hair texture, type, or style in employment, for decades, died days earlier at 81. Roy Ayers, the vibraphonist behind “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” followed, leaving behind a catalog that bridged jazz, funk, and hip-hop sampling culture. The deaths were not confined to music. George Foreman, heavyweight champion, minister, and businessman, died in March at 76. His life traced an arc from Olympic gold to redemption, faith, and entrepreneurship. Voletta Wallace, the mother and steward of The Notorious B.I.G.’s legacy, died at 72, having spent decades protecting her son’s memory while navigating the machinery of fame that followed his death.
Days later, Atlanta lost DJ Unk, whose club anthems “Walk It Out” and “2 Step” became cultural shorthand for an entire moment in Southern hip hop. He was 43.
Spring brought another wave. Angie Stone died at 63 following a vehicle crash. Her voice carried the weight of lived experience, anchoring neosoul with honesty rather than polish. D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! died at 64, leaving behind a sound that defined Oakland R&B and a generation of Black romance songs that never apologized for vulnerability.
February brought a deeper reckoning. Roberta Flack died at 88, her voice measured, deliberate, and intimate in a way that reshaped R&B and pop. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly” did not demand attention. They commanded it by restraint. Gwen McCrae, whose disco-infused soul powered dance floors
By summer, the losses extended further into television and cultural memory. Ananda Lewis, the MTV VJ whose presence offered intelligence and warmth during the network’s most influential era, died at 52. Walter Scott, co-founder of The Whispers, died at 81, closing the book on one of the most consistent vocal groups in R&B history.
PLAYBACK
light on growing dissatisfaction with the nation’s political climate. President Donald Trump's approval rating is low, with only 25% of adults and 29% of likely voters approving of his performance. In contrast, 72% of voters express disapproval of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the majority oppose National Guard deployments for law enforcement in California cities.
Continued from cover
The measure, led by Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer, seeks to set up a risk framework for AI products and restrict those deemed unsafe for children. If supporters can gather the required 546,651 valid signatures by June 2026, the proposal could appear on the 2026 ballot. A report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that enforcing the regulations could cost the state tens of millions of dollars annually, though some costs may be offset by fees from the industry. However, the initiative faces opposition from tech giants like OpenAI, which has launched a countermeasure. The company argues that restricting AI could hinder technological growth and job creation in California. The ongoing debate over AI regulations follows a recent effort by State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), whose bill on AI safety was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October.
New Survey: The Economy Is Top Issue for California Voters A Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey released last week shows that California voters are increasingly focused on economic concerns as the state's primary issue heading into the 2026 election season. With inflation, rising housing costs, and national economic uncertainty weighing heavily on residents, the survey highlights that the economy is on the minds of Californians more than any other issue. According to the survey, 73% of likely voters in California expect “bad times financially” in the next year, signaling deep economic pessimism across party lines. Housing affordability remains a major strain for many residents, particularly in regions like Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. Two-thirds of Californians (65%) report that housing costs are a significant problem, with renters bearing the brunt. In addition to economic issues, the survey sheds
The survey also reveals that voters are already paying close attention to the 2026 gubernatorial election, with Democratic candidate Katie Porter currently leading. However, significant voter dissatisfaction with the current pool of candidates hints at a potential shift in California's political landscape as the state prepares for an election that could alter the course of its economic policies. READ THE FULL ARTICLE ONLINE AT WWW.SDVOICE.INFO
HOLMAN Continued from cover
Born in Alton, Illinois in 1925, Holman joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 and was stationed in San Diego the next year. After working briefly for the U.S. Postal Service following World War II, Holman decided to pursue a career as a firefighter. Despite every Black firefighter in San Diego having been segregated and being placed at Station 19 off of Oceanview, “One day the Chief pulled me aside and told me they wanted me to train at Station 14 on 32nd and Lincoln. The Chief told me that I was going to be his Jackie Robsinon of the Fire Department and that I would be one of the first Black Firemen to serve outside of Station 19,” Holman told the Voice & Viewpoint in 2024. Having retired in 1983, the declaration not only commemorates Holman’s landmark birthday but also cements his legacy as a trailblazer whose courage and service helped reshape the San Diego Fire Department and the city he served. Read the full profile on Alwin Benjamin Holman from 2024 online at www.sdvoice.info.
housing, and education. Insurance plans will be required to cover supplemental breast cancer screenings without cost sharing for patients at average or higher risk. Other measures eliminate waiting periods for filing missing person reports and authorize park rangers and conservation officers to wear body cameras. New York will raise minimum wages in several regions, including New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, while strengthening protections for delivery workers through pay transparency rules and standardized gratuity disclosures for certain online orders. The state is also revising paid sick leave requirements and reducing penalties for street vendors. Illinois continues to expand worker and family protections. Employers will be required to pay regular wages during pumping breaks for nursing employees and provide job protected leave for parents with infants in neonatal intensive care units. Public schools must allow attendance regardless of actual or perceived immigration status, while new laws restrict discriminatory use of artificial intelligence in employment decisions. Texas is moving aggressively into artificial intelligence governance. The Texas Responsible Artificial Later in the year came deaths that carried historical weight beyond entertainment. Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest National Park Service ranger, died at 104. She spent her final decades correcting the historical record, insisting that Black women’s labor and sacrifice during World War II be acknowledged by the country that benefited from it. Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, died at 111, taking with her a living link to one of the nation’s most suppressed atrocities. Actors who once defined Black television also left. Danielle Spencer, remembered as Dee on “What’s Happening,” died at 60 after a long battle with cancer. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, forever associated with Theo Huxtable yet far more expansive in his career, died at 54. He spent his later years directing, recording spoken word, and openly addressing mental health in Black communities. Music losses continued into the fall. Don Bryant, the Memphis soul songwriter behind “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” died at 83, leaving behind a body of work that centered Black love without spectacle. Jimmy Cliff, the reggae pioneer whose voice carried protest and hope across borders, died at 81, closing a career that introduced global audiences to Jamaican music and political conscience.
Intelligence Governance Act will prohibit certain discriminatory and manipulative uses of AI, establish an advisory council, and set transparency standards for some government deployments. Consumer data protection laws are also expanding across multiple states. Indiana and Kentucky will activate comprehensive privacy statutes granting residents the right to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain data processing. Elsewhere, Florida will create a public animal cruelty offenders registry and impose new disclosure rules on pet insurance providers. Georgia’s pesticide limited liability law will restrict certain claims when products comply with federal labeling standards. Oregon and Washington are revising unemployment benefit rules tied to labor strikes, with Washington expanding eligibility for striking workers. Taken together, the laws taking effect in 2026 show states asserting control over wages, housing, health care, privacy, and technology. For residents in California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the changes will arrive through shifts in paychecks, court records, rental units, insurance plans, and digital platforms as the calendar turns. The year ended with the death of Richard Smallwood at 77, one of gospel music’s most influential composers. His songs, including “Total Praise,” were not merely performed but lived, sung in churches during moments of grief, gratitude, and survival. Other deaths documented in 2025 included Sly Stone, Michael Sumler, Kevin Arkadie, Carl Carlton, Phil Upchurch, Elden Campbell, Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown), Rodney Rogers, Garry “Jellybean” Johnson, Kenny Easley, Micheal Ray Richardson, Lenny Wilkens, Marshawn Kneeland, Young Bleed, Posta Boy, Mtulazaji Davis, known as P.E.A.C.E., D’Angelo, Ike Turner Jr., Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Arthur Jones, Joshua Allen, Lawrence Moten, Assata Shakur, and Vivian Ayers Allen. What unites these lives is not celebrity but consequence. Each shaped how Black people saw themselves and how the nation heard Black voices. Some fought for recognition. Others created space where none existed. All left evidence. As Betty Reid Soskin once said as she contemplated history, “What gets remembered depends on who is in the room doing the remembering.”
Federal Lawsuit Says Trump Axed Over $60M in Community School Funds
The money would’ve gone to help kids and families in rural and low-income areas, according to the lawsuit By Alvin Buyinza
WORD IN BLACK A Chicago nonprofit organization and an influential teachers’ union have sued the Trump administration, accusing it of illegally cutting off over $60 million in wraparound services for community schools, a move that blocks students from rural and low-income communities from receiving academic, emotional, and social supports, according to a lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 29 by the American Federation of Teachers and the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, a nonprofit organization in southwestern Chicago, says that the Department of Education abruptly and unlawfully ended funding for 19 different grants from the Full-Service Community Schools program. The funds, which expired on Dec. 31, 2025, would’ve provided social, health, nutrition, and mental health support for K-12 students and families in low-income and rural areas. The plaintiffs claim that this move has voided funds that would have helped support students and their families. The Trump administration did not reply to Word In Black’s request for comment.
Schools, Advocates Say Grant Cuts Harm Kids Badly Both BPNC and the AFT will “suffer immense harm” from the Trump administration’s decision, according to the lawsuit. BPNC, which provides wraparound services at eight Chicago public schools, relies on $500,000 in federal funding. The organization uses the money to pay its staff and operating expenses.
“We hope and pray that these necessary grant funds are restored, and we can continue to provide the needed services so that all students and families in our community can achieve their goals and thrive,” says Patrick Brosnan, Executive Director of Brighton Park Neighborhood Council in a press release. The AFT, which has 1.8 million members, represents teachers working in school districts nationwide that run programs funded by multi-year Full-Service Community School grants, according to the lawsuit. The federal government has been providing multi-year grants based on a school’s performance for decades. But the lawsuit accuses the Trump administration and Education Secretary Linda McMahon of breaking this tradition and replacing it with new policy preferences that were never adopted lawfully. In a press release, AFT President Randi Weingarten declared that the Department of Education “is not Linda McMahon’s personal plaything where she gets to decide what legally mandated functions stay or go or whether spending is allocated or not—and yet she repeatedly acts like it.” says in a press release. “For a secretary who claims she’s concerned about achievement and attendance, why terminate a program that boosts both?” Weingarten said. “And for [an education] secretary who is crisscrossing the country talking about civics, why not simply follow the law and allocate the community school grants to the districts that have been counting on them?”
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The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint • Thursday, JANUARY 8, 2026
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EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY/OPINION
TRUMP’S DISTRACTIONS FROM THE REAL ISSUES By Dr. John E. Warren
agents for Minnesota (with its Democratic Governor), and cuts to Child Care dollars in Democratic states.
SAN DIEGO VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSPAPER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NNPA
P
rior to the invasion of Venezuela, the top media issues were the expiration of funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Epstein papers being withheld from the Congress, and the harm and possible deaths of Americans because of the reversal of policies on vaccines. Once again, Trump used the oldest page in the playbook: Have a national crisis, i.e., the invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its President and First Lady; the transporting of them to the United States where they were indicted and charged with drug trafficking, and the announcement by President Trump that America would take over control and governing of Venezuela. These plays successfully replaced all discussions that were on the table before Saturday night’s invasion.
We, the American people, must redirect conversations and priorities to the domestic issues of food, shelter, healthcare and survival. Here in California, we have a new Congressional District to which we need to elect Democrats so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and put an end to the Republican do-nothing attitude against Trump's trampling on the Constitution. Let's keep our eyes on our issues and not be distracted by global plans. We must survive and live beyond Donald Trump, and fight his immigration tactics wherever possible. Meanwhile, we have issues of ongoing police brutality right here in San Diego. There are no apologies or statements from the police chief. He should be reminded that silence gives consent. How many more large settlements of civil cases against the police do we really need?
Once again, the only domestic policy related items coming from the White House are: (1) more ICE
IF VIOLENT CRIME IS TRULY A NATIONAL PRIORITY, WHY ISN’T GUN VIOLENCE? By Renée Hall
PRESIDENT OF NOBLE Another American community is grieving today. This time it is Stockton, Calif., where families woke up to the kind of news no parent, no neighbor, and no city should ever have to endure. Sirens at night. Candles by morning. Another headline. Another vigil. And a community asking the same heartbreaking question we all keep asking. As a former police chief of Dallas, Texas, and now as president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), I have stood in the aftermath of shootings too many times. On sidewalks still stained with tragedy and in living rooms where grief was so
heavy it muted the sound of words. I have seen children who can differentiate fireworks from gunshots before they can spell their own names. I have also sat in policy rooms where national leaders declare that reducing violent crime is a top priority. And yet, gun violence is now the leading cause of death for American children and teens. It kills more officers in the line of duty than any other means. It devastates families in big cities, small towns, rural communities, and suburbs alike. And yet, the crisis continues to sit at the bottom of America’s political to-do list. We cannot continue saying we care about violent crime while ignoring the very weapon responsible for taking American lives faster than any other means of interpersonal violence. We cannot keep speaking boldly in front of cameras and shrinking behind politics when it is time to act. And we cannot keep asking communities to
show resilience while refusing to show action. To make meaningful progress, we need national courage—matched by national commitment. That requires several urgent steps: • Federal leadership that strengthens, not weakens, our ability to keep communities safe. • Policy rooted in public safety, not partisanship. NOBLE strongly recommends that, in addition to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Congress, the law enforcement profession, and communities across this nation work to secure the passage of bipartisan legislation that will at minimum: • Mandate universal background checks • Ban assault weapons
• Ban high-capacity magazines • Mandate safe gun storage Gun violence is not a big-city problem. It is not a partisan problem. It is not a coastal problem. It is an American problem—one this country must finally decide is worth solving. If we fail to act, Stockton will not be the last community to mourn. It will simply be the latest. As leaders, we are called to protect, not perform. As a woman of faith, I am reminded that “faith without works is dead.” NOBLE stands ready to lead, ready to partner, and ready to push for solutions grounded in justice, accountability, and shared humanity. What we need now is for our national leadership to match that resolve.
Fewer White Men in College Keeps MAGA in Power By Rann Miller
EDUCATOR The Trump Administration’s rollback of DEI policies has an unintended consequence: white men, the Trump Administration’s core demographic, are being excluded from college admissions. And that could be playing into the hands of white conservative elites who depend on white men and their grievances to stay in power.
End of Benefits for White Men The prospect of fewer white men attending school is part of a larger trend. Since 2018, enrollment among white students has dropped by 19% across all sectors: public, private, two-year, four-year, selective, and non-selective. Since the Supreme Court banned race as a consideration for college admissions, enrollment among college freshmen who self-reported as white dropped to 31% in 2025 from 40% in 2023. However, the Trump Administration — bolstered by a 2023 Supreme Court decision banning race as a factor in college admissions — issued an executive order along similar lines. Under the order, colleges and universities that receive federal funding are prohibited from considering gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, or political views in admissions or hiring.
That means the admissions office’s balancing act, which seeks diversity but actually benefits white men, will come to a halt.
number of white men who attend college feeds the conspiracy among them that the country — and perhaps the world — is against them, and
Addition through Subtraction
that white men are being intentionally left behind. See MAGA page 11
CORRECTION FOR 1/1/26 ISSUE
Consider Trump’s electoral base. According to a CNN exit poll from the 2024 election, Trump won 60% of the white male vote, and 69% of white men without college degrees — his most supportive demographic. In 2020, Trump received 70% of the vote from white men without a college degree. In 2016, it was 71%.
In our Obituary Special, “Some of Those We Love & Lost in 2025”, photos for Yvonne Ann Carey and Lela Virginia Davis were incorrect. Please see the correct photos here, and we sincerely apologize for the error.
In all three elections, white male voters represented a third of the total electorate. For perspective, voters of color represent slightly less than a third. Securing voters for the Trump Administration is more than just splintering voters of color from the Democratic candidate. It is also keeping white men ignorant so that they can be appealed to with racism, sexism, and capitalism wrapped in a neat package of toxic masculinity. White men without college degrees love Trump, and MAGA conservatives believe colleges are bastions of liberal brainwashing. In reality, though, higher education writ large is designed to cultivate critical thinking skills in a racially and ideologically diverse setting. Besides reducing opportunities for exposure to new people and different ideas, reducing the
Lela Virginia Davis
Yvonne Ann Carey
SUNRISE SUNSET
SUNRISE SUNSET
8/23/1929
3/1/1938
8/5/2025
Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@sdvoice.info
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Thursday, January 8, 2026 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
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CHURCH DIRECTORY Bethel Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church
3085 K Street San Diego, CA 92102
1962 Euclid Ave. San Diego, CA 92105
719 Cesar E. Chavez Pkwy San Diego, CA 92113
619.232.0510 • www.bethelamesd.com
619.266.2411 • www.bethelbc.com bethel@bethelbc.com
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10:00 A.M. Sunday Service In Person, Live Stream on Facebook, Youtube and on bethelamesd.com
Dr. John W. Ringgold, Sr. Pastor
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Rev. Dennis R. Anderson D. Min., Pastor
3025 Fir Street San Diego, CA 92102
6020 Akins Ave. San Diego, CA 92114
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Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. (Ghanaian) Sunday School 9:30 a.m.. Grace Gathering Bible Study Wednesdays 4:00 pm
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Sunday Bible Study 8:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday Bible Class 5:00 p.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Class 7:00 p.m. Friday Video Bible Class 7:00 p.m
Lead Pastor Dr. Kerry Allison
McGill School of Success: Academy (Public Charter & Head Start)
2025 Theme: BOLD FAITH, BOUNDLESS LOVE
Pastor Robert Pope
Vision Statement: A diverse family united by faith in the Gospel, motivated by love for God and others to Exalt, Evangelize, Edify, Equip and Encourage.
Lively Stones Missionary Baptist Church
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Mesa View Baptist Church
605 S. 45th Street San Diego, CA 92113-1905
625 Quail Street San Diego, CA 92102
13230 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064
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Sunday School 9 :00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Prayer 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Sunday School 9 :30 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study & Prayer Meeting 12:00 noon & 6:00 p.m.
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Pastor Melvin A. Watts
Pastor Dr. Darrow Perkins Jr.
We are using YouTube under our website of www.mesaview.org or www.YouTube.com 8:45 A.M. Sunday School Class - Via Zoom Call Contact Office for detail 10 A.M. Sunday Service • 7 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study Visit our site for previous sermons: www.mesaview.org
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church SD
New Assurance Baptist Church
New Creation Church of San Diego
3045 Greely Avenue San Diego, CA 92113
7024 Amherst Street San Diego, CA 92115
3115 Altadena Ave. San Diego, CA 92105
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Rev. Jared B. Moten, Senior Pastor
Sunday School: 9:30 a.m.- In person & Live Stream Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m.- In person & Live Stream Wednesday Night Bible Study & Prayer: 6:30 p.m.- In person & Live Stream
Pastor Brent & Lady Daviava Murphy
“A new Hope, A new Life, A new Way through Jesus Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 A change is coming”
New Hope Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Phillips Temple CME Church
Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church
2205 Harrison Avenue San Diego, CA 92113
5333 Geneva Ave. San Diego, CA 92114
4995 A Street San Diego, CA 92102
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Sunday Breakfast @ 8:00 AM Church Service 9:00 AM In-Person and on, Live Stream Facebook.com/PTCSanDiego & YouTube - Zoom Go to ptcmesd@gmail.com Sunday School @ 10:30 Wednesday Bible Study @ 6:00 PM In-Person and On Zoom ID: 81144203904 P: 867104
Sunday School 9 :00 a.m. Morning Service 10:45 a.m. New Membership Orientation BTU 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Eve Prayer Service 6:00 p.m.
10 A.M. Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook, Youtube, Sunday School Lesson Immediately following service. 12 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study Live Stream on Facebook, 2P.M. on Youtube
Pastor Nyla Barker
Pastor Donnell and First Lady Sheila Townsend
“To Serve this present age” Matt: 28:19-20
St. Paul's United Methodist Church of San Diego
Total Deliverance Worship Center
Eagles Nest Christian Center
3094 L Street San Diego, CA 92102
138 28th Street San Diego, CA 92102
3619 College Ave. San Diego, CA 92115
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True Light Apostolic Church 5400 Division Street San Diego, CA 92114 619.262.6924
Pastor Asa A. McClendon
“A Church Where Family, Faith & Fellowship Matters”
580 69th Street, San Diego, CA 92114
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Psalms 122:1
Rev. Dr. Eugenio D. Raphael
Sundays Bible Discovery Hour 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Mid Morning Worship 10:15 a.m. Wednesday Noon Day Bible Study 12:00 noon Wednesday Discipleship Training 7:00 p.m.
Encanto Southern Baptist Church
“Evangelizing, Equipping, Exalting and Excellence in Service”
Pastor Milton Chambers, Sr. & First Lady Alice Chambers
Sr. Pastor Dr. Kevin E. Stafford First Lady Margina Stafford
Christ United Presbyterian Church
Church of Christ
Minister Donald R. Warner Sr.
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The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint • Thursday, January 8, 2026
IN MEMORIAM
OBITUARIES
Honoring the Life of Betty Reid Soskin
Nation’s Oldest Park Ranger and Witness to Port Chicago Exoneration By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
B
etty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest former active National Park Service ranger and a lifelong witness to and advocate for Black history, died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2025, at her home in Richmond, California. She was 104. Surrounded by family and friends, Soskin closed a life that spanned more than a century of American history -- one she helped document, challenge, and reinterpret for future generations.
Born in 1921, Soskin’s life was defined by public service, cultural preservation, and civil rights advocacy. During World War II, she worked as a clerk for the segregated Boilermakers Union A-36 in a Richmond shipyard, where she witnessed firsthand the racial discrimination faced by Black workers. She briefly worked for the U.S. Air Force but quit after discovering she had been hired under the mistaken assumption Betty Reid Soskin, left, attended the 80th commemoration of the Port that she was White.
Chicago disaster near Concord on July 20, 2024. Soskin and her husband were hosting a party in Berkeley on July 17, 1944, when an ammunition explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine killed 320 sailors, 202 of whom were African American. About eight Black sailors left the Soskins’ home to return to the naval base. She never saw them again. PHOTO: Antonio Ray Harvey/CBM
Soskin was also a primary witness to one of the most devastating and consequential tragedies in U.S. military history — the Port Chicago disaster. On July 17, 1944, a massive ammunition explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine killed 320 men, most of whom were Black sailors. Soskin, then 22, was working as a clerk in a segregated union hall in nearby Richmond. Reflecting the racial policies of the U.S. military at the time, enlisted Black sailors Betty Reid Soskin. PHOTO: Courtesy of the National Park Service/CBM were almost exclusively assigned to the dangerous, labor-intensive task “Betty’s legacy will inspire future genof loading munitions onto ships, while erations to share stories and recogall commissioned officers and Marine nize the influence individuals can guards were White. That day, Soskin have on how history is understood,” and her husband were hosting a party said K. Lynn Berry, superintendent at their Berkeley home. Black memof the Rosie the Riveter/World War II bers of the Navy were in attendance Home Front National Historical Park but had to return to the Port Chicago in Richmond. base later that evening. She never saw Soskin retired in 2022 at age 100, them again. making her the oldest active ranger in In total, about 320 people were killed United States history. She began her in the explosion, including 202 Black tenure with the National Park Service sailors. Four hundred others were at age 85 at the Rosie the Riveter/World injured. War II Home Front National Historical Park, a site honoring the estimated 18 Following the disaster, 256 Black sailmillion women and workers who supors refused to return to work under ported the U.S. World War II effort.
the same unsafe conditions. While 206 eventually resumed their duties, the remaining men stood firm. They were convicted of mutiny and became known as the Port Chicago 50. On June 20, 2024, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Concord — now part of the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) operated by the U.S. Army — Soskin, then 102, witnessed a moment eight decades in the making. Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro spoke at the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Port Chicago disaster, announcing the full exoneration of 256 Black sailors convicted of mutiny and related charges. Among her many contributions to Black California — particularly in the East Bay — Soskin lived to see justice acknowledged for the sailors whose lives were shattered by the Port Chicago explosion. READ THE FULL ARTICLE ONLINE AT WWW.SDVOICE.INFO
ARTICLE CONTINUATION FLOCK:
Continued from cover
After nearly six hours of public testimony and council debate, on December 9, 2025, the City Council voted 5 to 3 to approve the continued use of all 54 surveillance technologies deployed by the San Diego Police Department. The vote came despite the forced disclosure of a data breach between December 29, 2023, and January 17, 2024, during which ALPR data was accessed nearly 13,000 times by outside agencies without authorization, of which only 1,146 personnel are currently authorized to access the ALPR system, according to a March 25, 2025 memorandum. The only conditions added to the approval were staff-proposed modifications to the surveillance use policy, including a requirement that (1) any contractor or subcontractor notify the City of San Diego within 24 hours of being served with an out-of-state or federal warrant seeking ALPR data, and a (2) change in audit frequency from quarterly to weekly. Under California Senate Bill 34 (SB 34), passed during the 2015-2016 legislative session, law enforcement agencies, including the SDPD, are prohibited from sharing ALPR data with private entities, out-of-state law enforcement agencies, or federal agencies. In October 2025, the Attorney General's Office sued El Cajon for allegedly violating SB 34 by repeatedly sharing ALPR data with federal and out-of-state agencies. Despite outreach from the Attorney General, the El Cajon Police Department and the City of El Cajon refused to cease unlawful ALPR data sharing with out-of-state agencies. The SDPD has released their 2024 Annual Surveillance report and in it includes descriptions of ALPR technology, locations ALPR technology is deployed in, and data breach detection or unauthorized access use, among others.
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The report, however, failed to disclose the known data breach between December 29, 2023, and January 17, 2024, asserting that “there were no data breaches or unauthorized access” related to ALPR technology. The report also acknowledged that ALPR data had been shared with federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Secret Service, among many local and state police departments, on multiple occasions, but maintains that “this data was shared for criminal investigations unrelated to immigration.”
tic spy agency.”
But what the report did disclose is costs associated with the technology, including an initial payment of $3,512,500 for installation and one year of service for 500 Smart Streetlights, a $6,800 relocation fee in June 2024, and a $1,449,602.08 authorization for 2025 contract obligations, totaling to $4,968,902.08, detracting almost $5 million away from the City’s budget for essential services like funding for libraries, SD Access 4 All programs, community equity funds, among others.
“There was a lot of finagling of language by the SDPD to make it seem like somehow this [the breach] didn’t happen,” Yusufi said. “It’s one thing to do something and say that they are going to hold themselves accountable and it’s another thing to just go deny it in public, especially when it’s already out for the public to see.”
At a December 4, 2025, press conference hosted by the TRUST SD Coalition, labor and community leaders warned that ALPR technology is increasingly used as part of a national surveillance pipeline. Bridgette Browning, President of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, cited an Associated Press investigation revealing that U.S. Border Patrol uses ALPR data nationwide to track so-called patterns of life. “This is a mass surveillance pipeline,” Browning said. “A digital drag net that puts immigrant families directly in harm's way by using predictive intelligence systems that work like a domes-
SDPD Chief Scott Wahl addressed the previously undisclosed data breach only after being questioned by Councilmember Henry Foster III. Wahl characterized the incident as a brief mistake. “It was an honest miss,” Wahl said. “There was nothing nefarious there.” That explanation was met with skepticism from community advocates. Homayra Yusufi, Senior Policy Analyst with the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), attended the meeting and responded to SDPD testimony.
More than 60 organizations and labor unions united under the TRUST SD Coalition to oppose the continued use of ALPR technology. Hundreds of residents filled City Council chambers on December 9, many attending for the first time. With a majority in opposition and just a few in favor of the continued use of ALPR technology the majority of the room were hoping for a different outcome. One that would dismantle the 2024 contract between Ubicquia Inc. and Flock safety with the SDPD. As the City prepares its 2025 Annual Surveillance Report, community members and advocates say the debate over ALPR technology is far from settled, and the question remains who is truly being protected, and who is being watched.
Joann Cooper SUNRISE
08/24/1938
SUNSET
12/31/2025 Joann Cooper was born on August 24, 1938, in Delhi, Louisiana, to Joe Bradley and Betsy Lott. She was the oldest of six children, a role she embraced throughout her life with strength, responsibility, and love. Around 1946, Joann moved to Stockton, California, with her mother and siblings, where she would grow into a bright young woman devoted to learning, family, and faith. She attended Edison High School and later continued her education at the College of the Pacific. On December 24, 1956, in Stockton, Joann met the love of her life, Alonzo Cooper, Sr. Their meeting marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership rooted in faith and service. They were married on April 6, 1957, and soon thereafter made their home in San Diego, California, where they would build a family and a legacy of ministry and community service. Joann and Alonzo were blessed with two sons, Alonzo Cooper, Jr. and Kerry Vaughn Cooper, who were the pride and joy of her life. She was also a devoted grandmother to her two granddaughters, Marissa Nate Cooper and Alexis Nicole Cooper, whom she loved deeply and supported faithfully. Joann dedicated over thirty years of professional service as a Special Education Counselor with the San Diego City School District, where she was known for her compassion, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to children and families with special needs. In 1990, Joann and Alonzo founded and organized the Good Samaritan Outreach Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which began its humble operations on Bates Street in San Diego. Through this ministry, Joann worked tirelessly to serve those in need, offering hope, dignity, and practical assistance to the community. After five years of successful leadership with Good Samaritan, Joann entered a new season of service. In 1995, when Alonzo Cooper, Sr. became Senior Pastor of the University Avenue Baptist Church, Joann faithfully served for the next twenty-one years as First Lady, standing beside her husband with grace, humility, and unwavering faith. She was a source of encouragement, wisdom, and spiritual strength to the congregation and community. Joann remained steadfast in her devotion to the Lord Christ Jesus, faithfully serving at University Avenue Baptist Church and Mt. Sinai Baptist Church up to the date of her calling home on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Joann Cooper will be remembered for her deep faith, servant’s heart, quiet strength, and enduring love for her family and community. Her life was a testimony of service, compassion, and devotion, and her legacy will continue to live on in all who were blessed to know her. Cards, letters, and flowers may be lovingly sent to Miramar Memorial Services, 8380 Miramar Mall, Suite #105, San Diego, CA 92121. In loving accordance with Joann’s wishes, the family will hold a private service.
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Thursday, january 8, 2026 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
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OG SANDBOX and Cheers to By Darrel Wheeler
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
O
n the last weekend before Christmas, the OG Sandbox non-profit worked their usual generosity for the community that they love and support. They could be seen at Neal Petties Park on Ocean View Blvd, hosting their annual community goodwill to kids toy giveaway.
“We just want to add a little joy and a gift or two to add to what they already have,” said OG Sandbox President, Aaron Gibson. A long line of first-come-first-served recipients waited patiently, some more patient than others, staring at the tables full of presents. The excited youngsters were also treated to hot dogs and snacks
DR. CARROLL’S CHRISTMA By Voice & Viewpoint Staff
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ars piled two lanes deep on Market Street, winding their way towards the back lot at the Jacob’s Center Market Creek this past
Christmas Eve, where local families received holiday support at Dr. Carroll’s Christmas Eve Toy Distribution. Scores of local volunteers, from the Lincoln High Football team and Cheer Squad to the Haitian Bridge Alliance, braved the wind and light rain to share their time and holiday Christmas spirit as all passed out toys just ahead of the Christmas holiday. Due to the forecasted rain, the event was a drive-thru this year.
THE SUPPORT YOU NEED. WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST.
edd.ca.gov
From unemployment benefits to disability and Paid Family Leave, when you turn to the EDD, we have a program to support you. Direct deposit is now available.
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The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint • Thursday, JANUARY 8, 2026
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TOY GIVEAWAY A New Year to go along with their Barbie dolls and GI Joes.
Joy to the World and a Happy New Year!
PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler
“Did you see the smiles and the appreciation from the kids and their parents? That’s what makes this worth all the planning and all the logistics and issues that come with putting an event like this together,” shared President Gibson.
The staff and volunteers for the OG Sandbox would like to thank all their donors and supporters for all their big hearts, making this year a success.
“It’s a way to give back to the community. We love them,” said volunteer Patricia Rabago of The Science Fiction Coalition, who comes out every year to support via Light Of the City, one of the sponsors of last Wednesday’s event. Bernadette Curtis, Head Cheer Coach at Lincoln High School, had this to say, “We’re
here to show the girls that we need to help, especially during the holiday season. There are people that need the assistance.” The cheer squad certainly brought the Christmas Spirit, helping set up and singing early-morning cheers to families and volunteers who arrived early along the distribution line.
was simple: when neighbors show up for neighbors, San Diego’s holiday spirit shines—rain, wind, and all.
As the last cars rolled through, the message
Life with health insurance hits different. We are Covered California. A state agency created to ensure health equity by helping Californians find affordable, high-quality health coverage. These health plans aren’t just for when you and your family members are sick, they all include free preventive care as well. 4 out of 5 people who enroll will also qualify for financial help. Take advantage today. Open Enrollment is on through January 31.
CoveredCA.com
800-300-1506
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Thursday, January 8, 2026 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
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IN MORE NEWS - LOCAL Hourly Minimum Wage in San Parking Passes for Balboa Park Diego Will Increase to $17.75 Now Available Effective Jan. 1, 2026 By Voice & Viewpoint Newswire
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s part of an ongoing effort to provide a livable wage for workers, the City of San Diego’s minimum wage is set to increase in the new year. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, employees who perform at least two hours of work in one or more calendar weeks of the year within the city’s geographic boundaries will receive a minimum wage increase from $17.25 to $17.75 an hour. The change is in accordance with the City’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, approved by voters in 2016. The City’s minimum wage is higher than California’s, which will increase to $16.90 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026. The minimum wage in San Diego has increased annually since 2019, with each increase corresponding to the prior year’s increase in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price
Index. The Minimum Wage Ordinance applies to all industries and businesses, with no exceptions. Tips and gratuities do not count toward the minimum wage. In accordance with the ordinance, employees will also continue to earn sick leave, either through accrual or the “front load” method. Earned sick leave can be used for all of the reasons described in the ordinance, including but not limited to time for one's own medical care or for the medical care of a family member. Employers may limit an employee’s use of earned sick leave to 40 hours in a benefit year. Updated notices for posting at the workplace are available on the City’s Minimum Wage Program webpage. Every employer must post these notices in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site. Contact the City’s Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement Minimum Wage Program at SDMinWage@sandiego.gov or 619-2355912 for any questions or to file a complaint.
Ring in the New Year with A Winter Reading Challenge
SDPL’s Reading Challenge Returns, With Prizes! By Voice & Viewpoint Newswire This January, the Winter Reading Challenge returns to the San Diego Public Library (SDPL) with prizes, learning and entertainment for all. The theme of the challenge, “Every Picture Tells a Story,” invites participants to explore the hidden worlds that live within art by bringing creative ideas to life.
By Voice & Viewpoint Newswire Parking passes for Balboa Park are now available for advance purchase through a new online portal launched Jan. 2, 2026. City of San Diego residents can receive discounted rates by verifying residency through the portal, a process that may take up to two business days. Paid parking began Jan. 5 in park parking lots and at meters along park roads. Options include daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual passes, with one virtual pass required per vehicle and verification done by license plate. Free parking remains available for up to three hours at Inspiration Point. Below are the rates going into effect on Jan. 5, 2026: • Level 1 lots – Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, Bea Evenson, Palisades and South Carousel ■ Non-resident rate: $16 per day PHOTO: City of San Diego and $10 for up to 4 hours ■ Resident rate: $8 per day and $5 tags given to pass holders, and passes will be for up to 4 hours verified via license plate information. • Level 2 lots – Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point and Marston Point Parking Pass Verified City Non-resident ■ Non-resident rate: $10 per day Type Resident Rate Rate ■ Resident rate: $5 per day Monthly Pass $30 $40 • Level 3 lot – Lower Inspiration Point Quarterly Pass $60 $120 ■ Non-resident rate: $10 per day with the first 3 hours free Annual Pass $150 $300 ■ Resident rate: $5 per day with the first 3 hours free Free parking remains available for disabled permit holders, and free tram service now For those wishing to obtain passes, they are operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with ADAavailable for purchase via the portal, https:// accessible vehicles and expanded shuttle sandiego.thepermitportal.com/, for both options for park staff and volunteers. City residents and non-residents. One pass is needed per vehicle. The passes will be virFor information about the San Diego Zoo tual – there will be no physical placards or parking lots, visit the Zoo’s parking website. season to enrich their lives and continue learning.”
“Opening a book is the best way to keep sharp during the winter break,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “But this year’s Winter Reading Challenge offers much more than that. With artthemed events and programs for all ages, everyone can use the Child painting at SDPL. PHOTO: Courtesy of SDPL
The program runs from Jan. 1 through Jan. 31 and is open to all San Diegans. Participants earn prizes — including entry passes to the Museum of Us and Mingei International Museum, free Wingstop coupons and more — by completing a combination of five books, five hours of reading and five “Every Picture Tells a Story” activities. Participants can also earn up to five digital raffle tickets for an opportunity
to win movie tickets and art kits in a grand prize drawing. Activities can be found on the Winter Reading webpage and prizes will be available for pickup from Jan. 6 to Feb. 10, while supplies last. Register online and view a list of recommended books and activities by visiting sandiego.gov/WinterReading. Registration is also available in-person at any SDPL location, and participants can visit the SDPL calendar online to find more events, including storytimes and book discussions near them.
IN MORE NEWS - HEALTH Worried About Health Insurance Costs? There May Be Cheaper Options But with trade-offs
school. They can look a lot like traditional coverage, with deductibles, copayments, and participating networks of hospitals and doctors. Still, they are not ACA-compliant plans and are not available on the official ACA marketplaces.
By Julie Appleby KFF Health News For the millions of Americans who buy Affordable Care Act insurance, there’s still time left to enroll for 2026. But premium increases and the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies have led to larger-than-expected costs.
They are often less expensive than ACA plans. But they cover less. For example, unlike ACA plans, they can impose annual and lifetime caps on benefits. The vast majority do not cover maternity care. Some might not cover prescription drugs.
Concerned shoppers, wondering if there’s anything they can do, are consulting insurance brokers or talking to representatives at ACA marketplace call centers. “We’re hearing from people with complex medical conditions who don’t think they can survive if they don’t have access to medical care,” said Audrey Morse Gasteier, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector, that state’s insurance marketplace. And some are considering going outside the ACA to find more affordable options. But that requires caution. Congress looks increasingly unlikely to extend the enhanced subsidies before the year’s end. Late Wednesday, the House passed a package of measures favored by conservatives that does not address the subsidies and is largely viewed as dead on arrival in the Senate. Earlier Wednesday, however, four
PHOTO: Freepik
GOP moderates joined with Democrats to sign a discharge petition to force a vote — likely in January — on a three-year extension. The Senate and President Donald Trump would also have to approve the measure, but if extended the subsidies could be applied retroactively. Meanwhile, the deadline for choosing a health plan is quickly approaching. The official end of open enrollment is set for Jan. 15 for coverage starting Feb. 1. In most states, it’s already too late to enroll for coverage starting Jan. 1.
Here are five considerations in the decision-making process:
1. Short-Term Plans: ‘You Have To Be Healthy’ Some ACA shoppers might find themselves considering shortterm insurance plans sold outside the government-run marketplaces — or steered toward the plans by insurance brokers. Be wary. Short-term plans are just that: insurance originally designed as temporary coverage for situations like changing jobs or attending
Short-term plans require applicants to complete a medical questionnaire, and insurers can exclude coverage or cancel a policy retroactively for those with preexisting medical conditions. Also, depending on the terms of the particular plan, a person who develops a medical condition during the coverage period might not be accepted for renewal. In addition, short-term plans are not required to cover care on the ACA’s checklist of essential benefits, such as preventive care, hospitalization, or emergency services. The shortcomings of the plans, which critics say are sometimes marketed in misleading ways, have led Democrats to label them “junk insurance.” The Trump administration argues they’re suitable for some people and has sought to make them more widely available.
“We recommend it when it makes sense,” said Joshua Brooker, a Pennsylvania insurance broker. “But if you’re going to enroll in short-term coverage, you need to know which boxes are unchecked.” “They’re not for everyone. You have to be healthy,” said Ronnell Nolan, the president and CEO of Health Agents of America, a trade group. And they’re available in only 36 states, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Some states, such as California, prohibit them. Others set tight restrictions.
2. Beware of Coverage That’s Not Comprehensive There are other types of health coverage offered by sales brokers or other organizations. One kind, called an indemnity plan, is meant to supplement a traditional health insurance plan by paying toward deductibles or copayments. Those plans do not have to follow ACA coverage rules, either. Generally, they pay a fixed dollar amount — say a few hundred dollars a day — toward a hospital stay or a smaller amount for a doctor’s office visit. Typically those payments fall short of the full costs and the policyholder pays the rest. See INSURANCE, Page 11
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BUSINESS NEWS The Great Timing Debate: Should I Claim Social Security Early or Late?
R
etirees become eligible to claim Social Security benefits at age 62, but the timing of when you claim can drastically impact your benefit amount. Still, when to claim will be entirely dependent on your unique situation. As you approach retirement, it’s important to understand the impact that timing has on your benefits. “The timing of when you elect to receive your Social Security benefits warrants thoughtful consideration,” said Rich Guerrini, head of PNC Wealth Management. “This decision can significantly influence not only the total benefits you receive, but also the trajectory of your investment income, your tax obligations, and even your healthcare premiums.”
How Your Benefit is Calculated Your benefits are based on your top 35 years of earnings, adjusted to account for changes in wages from the year they were earned. The Social Security Administration then applies a formula to those figures to arrive at your specific benefit amount at full retirement age (FRA), also referred to as your primary insurance amount (PIA). There are three options for when to claim
your benefits: claim early, claim at your FRA, or claim at age 70. Each comes with its own benefits and risks.
Claim at age 62 You can begin claiming your benefits as early as age 62, but your benefits will be permanently reduced. Still, there are instances when claiming early makes sense: • You’re in poor health – The benefit of receiving Social Security early may be worth it, particularly if you’re unsure if you’ll live beyond your break-even point; • You’re maximizing benefits with a spouse – Timing your claim to Social Security with your spouse can help you maximize a longterm benefit, while fulfilling cash flow needs in the present; • You no longer want to work – The lifestyle benefits of not working may outweigh a larger future financial benefit from Social Security; or • You want to preserve assets with growth potential – Claiming Social Security early may preserve investment or savings accounts.
Claim at your full retirement age The primary benefit of waiting until your FRA is that you are then entitled to 100% of your benefits, without possibility of reductions over time. Your FRA for purposes of Social Security is based on the year you were born. For those born between 1943-1954, their FRA is 66. For those born between 1955-1959, there FRA is 66 + 2 months for every year after 1954 until 1960. For those born 1960 and later, their FRA is 67.
Delay your claim to age 70 You can delay claiming your benefits until the maximum age 70, with the primary advantage of increasing your benefits for the remainder of your life. Delaying a Social Security claim may make sense if: • You have other forms of income – You may realize tax benefits from pulling from sources such as retirement accounts or savings;
vor benefits – When you delay claiming your Social Security, your spouse may be entitled to a larger spousal benefit and/or survivor’s benefit as well. Further, cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA) begin giving your potential benefit a boost at age 62 – and that boost will continue to compound every year you delay making your claim.
Tax and Other Impacts Generally, your Social Security income will be tax dependent on your “combined income,” which factors in gross income, nontaxable interest earned, and half of your Social Security income. Potential effects on healthcare premiums should also be factored in. Additional insights can be found by visiting www.pnc.com.
• You’re still working – Working beyond your FRA may allow you to meet lifestyle expenses while increasing your future benefit; or
While the question of when to claim Social Security benefits will be unique to your individual financial situation, it’s a decision that warrants careful consideration – and potentially even a professional opinion.
• You’re concerned about spousal or survi-
Statepoint
INTERNATIONAL NEWS Africa Cup Moves to 4-Year Cycle as African Soccer Gets Overhaul With New Nations League consistent issue. This year’s tournament was pushed back from a planned summer start so it wouldn’t clash with FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup.
By Ciarán Fahey Associated Press African soccer is moving the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle from 2028 and launching a new African Nations League in 2029.
“What’s going to happen now is you’ll have the equivalent of an AFCON every year,” Motsepe said. “You’ll have the best African players in the world participating and playing in African football at the highest level in the continent every year.”
Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, announced the changes Saturday during his press conference ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup hosted by Morocco. Motsepe said the 2027 Africa Cup to be staged in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will go ahead as planned and the following edition scheduled for 2029 will be moved forward to 2028. The next Africa Cup after that will be in 2032. This allows the first African Nations League to take place in 2029. Motsepe said it would involve each of the continent’s 54 members, divided into four geographical zones, with games in September and October before the finals in November.
Final of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons, CC-By 2.0
“There’s going to be a competition every year where the best African players who play in Europe and worldwide will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said. He was unable to say when the 2028 Africa Cup could take place. Scheduling of Africa’s premier national competition has been a
Motsepe, who was flanked by FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström for the announcement, said CAF was “in discussions with all our stakeholders and taking into account the global fixtures.” Grafström called it a “historic decision” and said
Epstein Pressure Mounts As Trump Turns to Nigeria Strikes By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent Trump claimed the United States carried out “powerful and deadly” strikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, accusing them of “slaughtering” Christians. The announcement arrived as Trump faced renewed scrutiny over Epstein records that include photographs, internal Justice Department emails, and flight data that raise questions about the administration’s handling of disclosures mandated by Congress. The Pentagon released video showing at least one projectile launched from a U.S. warship, though officials did not specify the precise target. U.S. Africa Command later said the strikes were conducted “in coordination with Nigerian authorities” in Sokoto State. Defense Secretary People stand behind crime scene tape at the site of a U.S. airstrike in Northwest, Jabo, Nigeria, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its coopera- PHOTO: Tunde Omolehin/AP tion, even as Trump publicly criticized Nigerian ing a Trump photograph from the records. leaders. Nigerian officials rejected the religious framing. Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the strike was a joint operation against terrorists and “has nothing to do with a particular religion.” Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated that position in a Christmas Eve post, writing that Nigeria remains committed to protecting Christians, Muslims, and all citizens and opposing religious persecution.
Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said the administration failed to comply with the law governing the release. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the disclosure incomplete and misleading, pointing to pages entirely blacked out. Rep. Ro Khanna, who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said the release failed both the spirit and letter of the law, while Rep. Thomas Massie said it “grossly fails to comply.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with roughly 240 million people, has faced years of violence from extremist groups, criminal gangs, and insurgents that have killed people across religious lines. Just days before Trump’s statement, a blast at a mosque in northeastern Nigeria killed five people and injured dozens.
The documents do not place former President Barack Obama in the Epstein files and contain no evidence tying him to Epstein. They also do not reveal wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton appears in social photographs, though reporting notes no indication of misconduct and Clinton has denied any.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom mocked the Justice Department’s release with a video highlighting extensive redactions and past footage of Trump with Epstein. The clip included a headline noting the DOJ’s defense of remov-
By contrast, the release includes material that places Trump in closer proximity to Epstein than the administration has publicly acknowledged, including a photograph of Epstein See NIGERIA, Page 11
FIFA would coordinate with CAF. “I want to stay in touch in order to coordinate as much as possible the dates, like we did for this edition as well,” Grafström said. “It took a bit of time but in the end the compromise was found, which was accepted by everyone.” Switching the Africa Cup from every two years to a four-year cycle takes it in line with UEFA’s European Championship, the next of which will also be in 2028. “Historically the AFCON was the prime focus where we could get resources to fund African football,” Motsepe said. “In terms of this new dispensation, we will be getting resources every year.” Having no Africa Cup in 2029 also means it won’t clash with the next Club World Cup.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
10
Thursday, January 8, 2026 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
www.sdvoice.info Classified ads can be placed in person, by phone, fax, or email Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. P:619-266-2233 F:619-266-0533 E:ads@sdvoice.info
Include the following information: • Full Name • Billing address • Date(s) you want the ad to appear • Contact phone number
All classified ads are prepaid.
CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES
Deadline is Tuesdays by NOON to run that week. • Name Change:$85.00 (4 weeks) • Standard Classified: $3.75 a line • Summons: $130.00 (4 weeks) • Fictitious Business Name: $25.00 (4 weeks)
WE ACCEPT:
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
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EXONBIO LLC seeks a Product Marketing Mgr in Carlsbad, CA. Req Master’s in Mktg, Business and Science, or rel + 3 yrs exp as Mktg Research Analyst, including 3 yrs exp in product mktg within biotech/pharma/life sci. industry. Little domestic travel. Mail resumes to 5950 Priestly Dr., Ste. 101, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023864 Fictitious business name(s): Precision Pavers and Greens 5482 Adobe Falls Rd #10 San Diego, CA 92120 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Married Couple Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Weston James Buckner 5482 Adobe Falls Rd #10 San Diego, CA 92120 --Caitlin Michelle Buckner 5482 Adobe Falls Rd #10 San Diego, CA 92120 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 22, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 22, 2030 01/01, 01/08, 01/15, 01/22 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9022830 Fictitious business name(s): Straight Up Sober Living 6460 Montezuma Rd San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 08/04/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Straight Up Sober Living LLC 6460 Montezuma Rd San Diego, CA 92115 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 04, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 04, 2030 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26, 01/15/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023531 Fictitious business name(s): The Advocate SLP 333 N Melrose Dr. Unit E Vista, CA 92083 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 07/16/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Ashford Speech Therapy and Advocacy P.C. 333 N Melrose Dr. Unit E Vista, CA 92083 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 16, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 16, 2030 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26, 01/15/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023545 Fictitious business name(s): Jaye's Livescan 3403 E. Plaza Blvd. #J National City, CA 91950 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: Johnny Lytle 3403 E. Plaza Blvd. #J National City, CA 91950 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 16, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 16, 2030 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26, 01/15/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023469 Fictitious business name(s): Insite Health Systems 2287 Dunlop St. #12 San Diego, CA 92111 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 12/15/2023 This business is hereby registered by the following: On Track Holdings LLC 2287 Dunlop St. #12 San Diego, CA 92111 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 15, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 15, 2030 12/18, 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9022366 Fictitious business name(s): The Regulation Place Occupational Therapy 1241 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 County of San Diego --8536 Via Mallorca, Unit C La Jolla, CA 92037 This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 11/22/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: The Regulation Place Occupational Therapy PC 8536 Via Mallorca Unit C La Jolla, CA 92037 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 25, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on November 25, 2030 12/18, 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9021394 Fictitious business name(s): East County Basketball 10027 Anja Pl. Lakeside, CA 92040 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Married Couple The first day of business was: 11/12/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Victoria Kluver 10027 Anja Pl. Lakeside, CA 92040 --Seth Kluver 10027 Anja Pl. Lakeside, CA 92040 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 12, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on November 12, 2030 12/18, 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9022602 Fictitious business name(s): 619 Fly & Dive --Fishing With Beans --Q & Beans Adventures 4091 Newton Ave. San Diego, CA 92113 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: Rachelle Marie Ivy 4091 Newton Ave. San Diego, CA 92113 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 01, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 01, 2030 12/18, 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023068 Fictitious business name(s): JC Janitorial 128 Hensley St San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego This business is conducted by:
An Individual The first day of business was: 11/07/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Jesus Cruz Jaimes 128 Hensley St San Diego, CA 92102 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 09, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 09, 2030 12/18, 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26
be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Request for Proposals (RFP) Security Guard Services Solicitation No.: SOL1474714 The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking consultants for armed/unarmed security guard services for all SANDAG locations on a regular and/or asneeded basis. There is no DBE goal for this project. The deadline for electronic Proposal submittal is January 30, 2026 by 4:00 PMPST/PDT unless otherwise stated in an addendum. A copy of the solicitation documents and any communications or addenda can be accessed via www.bidnetdirect.com/sandag.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Request for Proposals (RFP) Design, Fabrication, and Installation of Boardroom Dais Solicitation No.: SOL1514712 The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking consultants for the design, fabrication, and installation of a dais table for the SANDAG boardroom. There is no DBE goal for this project. The Optional Site Walk will be held in person at 1011 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101. on January 15, 2026 from 10:00AM to 11:00AM PST/PDT. The deadline for electronic bid submittal is February 6, 2026 by 4:00PM PST/PDT unless otherwise stated in an addendum. A copy of the solicitation documents and any communications or addenda can be accessed via www.bidnetdirect.com/sandag.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Request for Proposals On-Call General Right of Way Consultant Services Solicitation No.: SOL1483462 CIP 1223085 The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking consultants for General on Call Right of Way services for assessment, appraisal, acquisition, and management. The Optional Pre-proposal Meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on 1/7/2026, from 11am to 12pm PST/PDT. The deadline for Proposal submittal is 1/29/2025 by 5pm PST/PDT unless otherwise stated in an addendum. A copy of the solicitation documents and any communications or addenda can be accessed via www.bidnetdirect.com/sandag.
LEGAL NOTICES
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9024369 Fictitious business name(s): Dust to Shine Pro Clean 7629 Normal Ave #10 La Mesa, CA 91941 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 12/31/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Al-Mudufar Al-Ahmad 7629 Normal Ave #10 La Mesa, CA 91941 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 31, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 31, 2030 01/08, 01/15, 01/22, 01/29 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9024140 Fictitious business name(s): Unthinkable Inc 2307 Fenton Pkwy Ste 107 San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego --2307 Fenton Pkwy Ste 107 POB 767 San Diego, CA 92108 This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 04/27/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: D'Shango Powell 2307 Fenton Pkwy Ste 107 POB 767 San Diego, CA 92108 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 26, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 26, 2030 01/08, 01/15, 01/22, 01/29 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2026-900084 Fictitious business name(s): Ivy Nails 4221 University Ave San Diego, CA 92105 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
The first day of business was: 01/05/2026 This business is hereby registered by the following: Minh Hai Nguyen 4221 University Ave San Diego, CA 92105 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 05, 2026 This fictitious business name will expire on January 05, 2031 01/08, 01/15, 01/22, 01/29 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9024205 Fictitious business name(s): Gonzalo Y Gonzalo --Coffee Culture 2548 Congress Street San Diego, CA 92110 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: Khong Coffee Corporation 2548 Congress Street San Diego, CA 92110 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 29, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 29, 2030 01/08, 01/15, 01/22, 01/29 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023899 Fictitious business name(s): Bonilla Tax & Accounting 330 Oxford St Unit 100 Chula Vista, CA 91910 County of San Diego --230 Glover Ave Suite K Chula Vista, CA 91910 This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 12/22/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: CVN Business Services 230 Glover Ave Suite K Chula Vista, CA 91910 State of Incorporation/ Organization
California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 22, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 22, 2030 01/01, 01/08, 01/15, 01/22 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023898 Fictitious business name(s): Chula Vista Notary & Tax Services 230 Glover Ave Suite K Chula Vista, CA 91910 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 12/01/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: CVN Business Services 230 Glover Ave Suite K Chula Vista, CA 91910 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 22, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 22, 2030 01/01, 01/08, 01/15, 01/22 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9023624 Fictitious business name(s): Serve N Savor 5813 Chaumont Dr San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 11/20/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Georgia Boi LLC 5813 Chaumont Dr San Diego, CA 92114 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 17, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on December 17, 2030 01/01, 01/08, 01/15, 01/22 --------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME CHANGE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Branch
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.
Case Number 25CU068205C
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.
Petitioner or Attorney: Jennifer Marie Caliger Murcia AKA Jennifer Marie Caliger Caliger AKA Jennifer Marie Caliger
If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Jennifer Marie Caliger Murcia AKA Jennifer Marie Caliger Caliger AKA Jennifer Marie Caliger filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
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.
a. PRESENT NAME: Jennifer Marie Caliger Murcia AKA Jennifer Marie Caliger Caliger AKA Jennifer Marie Caliger PROPOSED NAME: Jennifer Marie Cali Caliger 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: February 9, 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). 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
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 01/08, 01/15, 01/22, 01/29 --------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Case Number 25CU068924C Petitioner or Attorney: Jennifer Elaine Reneau To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Jennifer Elaine Reneau filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. PRESENT NAME: Jennifer Elaine Reneau PROPOSED NAME: Jennipher Elaine Williams 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: February 11, 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.
LEGAL NOTICES 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 (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. 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 01/08, 01/15, 01/22, 01/29 --------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse Case Number 25CU066867C Petitioner or Attorney: Aster Solomon Anteneh on behalf of minor To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Aster Solomon Anteneh on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. PRESENT NAME: Betty Tadesse Andualem PROPOSED NAME: Bethlehem Tadesse Andualem THE COURT ORDERS that
www.sdvoice.info LEGAL NOTICES
The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint • Thursday, January 8, 2026 LEGAL NOTICES
all persons interested in this Megan Marie Cook AKA matter appear before this Megan M. Cook court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, To All Interested Persons: why the petition for change of Petitioner name should not be granted. Megan Marie Cook AKA Any person objecting to the Megan M. Cook name changes described filed a petition with this court above must file a written for a decree changing names objection that includes the as follows: reasons for the objection at least two court days before a. PRESENT NAME: the matter is scheduled to be Megan Marie Cook AKA heard and must appear at Megan M. Cook the hearing to show cause PROPOSED NAME: why the petition should not Clementine Marie Cook be granted. If no written [first][middle][last] objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition THE COURT ORDERS that without a hearing. all persons interested in this matter appear before this NOTICE OF HEARING court at the hearing indicated Date: February 3, 2026 below to show cause, if any, Time: 8:30 A.M. why the petition for change of Dept. C-61 name should not be granted. (To appear remotely, check Any person objecting to the in advance of the hearing for name changes described information about how to do above must file a written so on the court's website. To objection that includes the find your court's website go to reasons for the objection at www.courts.ca.gov/find-myleast two court days before court.htm) the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at NO HEARING WILL the hearing to show cause OCCUR ON THE DATE why the petition should not SPECIFIED IN THE be granted. If no written ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition The court will review the without a hearing. documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to NOTICE OF HEARING Show Cause for Change of Date: January 27, 2026 Name (JC Form #NC-120). Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 If all requirements for a name change have been met (To appear remotely, check as of the date specified, and in advance of the hearing for no timely written objection information about how to do has been received (required so on the court's website. To at least two court days find your court's website go to before the date specified), the www.courts.ca.gov/find-myPetition for Change of court.htm) Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without NO HEARING WILL a hearing. One copy of OCCUR ON THE DATE the Order Granting the SPECIFIED IN THE Petition will be mailed to the ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. petitioner. The court will review the To change a name on a legal documents filed as of the date document, including a birth specified on the Order to certificate, social security Show Cause for Change of card, driver license, passport, Name (JC Form #NC-120). and other identification, If all requirements for a a certified copy of Decree name change have been met Changing Name (JC Form as of the date specified, and #NC-130) or Decree no timely written objection Changing Name and Order has been received (required Recognizing Change of at least two court days Gender and for Issuance before the date specified), the of New Birth Certificate Petition for Change of (JC Form #NC-230) may Name (JC Form #NC-100) be required. Contact the will be granted without agency(ies) who issue the a hearing. One copy of legal document that needs to the Order Granting the be changed, to determine if a Petition will be mailed to the certified copy is required. petitioner. A certified copy of Decree To change a name on a legal Changing Name (JC Form document, including a birth #NC-130) or Decree certificate, social security Changing Name and Order card, driver license, passport, Recognizing Change of and other identification, Gender and for Issuance a certified copy of Decree of New Birth Certificate Changing Name (JC Form (JC Form #NC-230) may #NC-130) or Decree be obtained from the Changing Name and Order Civil Business Office for Recognizing Change of a fee. Petitioners who are Gender and for Issuance seeking a change of name of New Birth Certificate under the Safe at Home (JC Form #NC-230) may program may contact the be required. Contact the assigned department for the agency(ies) who issue the information on obtaining legal document that needs to certified copies. be changed, to determine if a If all the requirements have certified copy is required. not been met as of the date A certified copy of Decree specified, the court will mail Changing Name (JC Form the petitioner a written order #NC-130) or Decree with further directions. Changing Name and Order If a timely objection is Recognizing Change of filed, the court will set a Gender and for Issuance hearing date and contact the of New Birth Certificate parties by mail with further (JC Form #NC-230) may directions. be obtained from the Civil Business Office for A RESPONDENT a fee. Petitioners who are OBJECTING TO THE seeking a change of name NAME CHANGE MUST under the Safe at Home FILE A WRITTEN program may contact the OBJECTION AT LEAST assigned department for the TWO COURT DAYS information on obtaining (excluding weekends and certified copies. holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do If all the requirements have not come to court on the not been met as of the date specified date. The court will specified, the court will mail notify the parties by mail of the petitioner a written order a future hearing date. with further directions. 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 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26, 01/15/26 --------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse Case Number 25CU064955C Petitioner or Attorney:
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. 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 non-
LEGAL NOTICES signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court. The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 12/18, 12/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26
Standard Classified: $3.75 [per line]
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Fictitious Business Name: $25 [4 weeks]
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Name Change:
$85 [4 weeks]
ARTICLE CONTINUATION insurance: Continued from page 8
They generally also require consumers to fill out medical forms stating any preexisting conditions. Another type, a faith-based sharing plan, pools money from members to cover their medical bills. The plans are not required to keep any specific amount of financial reserves and members are not guaranteed that the plans will pay their health expenses, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that supports health care research and improvements to the health system. Sharing plans expanded beyond faith communities after the ACA was adopted. Like short-term plans, they cost less than ACA plans but also don’t have to follow ACA rules. They are not considered insurance, and some have been accused of fraud by state regulators. “Yes, it is cheaper, and yes, it does work for some people,” Nolan said. “But you need to understand what that plan does. It would be my last resort.”
3. Consider a ‘Bronze’ or ‘Catastrophic’ Plan, But Be Aware of Deductibles For those wanting to stay with ACA plans, the lowest premiums are generally in the categories labeled “catastrophic” or “bronze.”
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS...
Jessica Altman, executive director of California’s ACA exchange, said her state has noticed an uptick in enrollments in bronze-level plans. They have lower premiums but high annual deductibles — the amount a customer must spend before most coverage kicks in. Deductibles for bronze plans average nearly $7,500 nationally, according to KFF.
By Fax: (619) 266-0533
Another option, new for 2026, is expanded eligibility for catastrophic plans, which used to be limited to people younger than age 30. As the name suggests, they’re intended for people who want health insurance just in case they suffer a catastrophic health condition, such as cancer or injuries from a car accident, and the plans can have deductibles as high as the ACA’s annual limit on out-of-pocket spending — $10,600 for an individual or $21,200 for a family.
By Email: ads@sdvoice. info
But now people losing subsidies because of the expiration of the enhanced tax credits can also qualify for the plans. However, they may not be available in every region.
By Phone: (619) 266-2233
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11
Lauren Jenkins, a broker in Oklahoma, said some of her clients earning less than $25,000 this year had qualified for very low-cost or free plans with the enhanced subsidies. Next year, though, their costs may rise to $100 or more per month for a “silver”-level plan, a step up from bronze. So she is showing them bronze plans to bring down the monthly cost. “But they might have a $6,000, $7,000, or $10,000 deductible they now have to pay,” Jenkins said. “For people only making $25,000 a year, that would be detrimental.”
Both bronze and catastrophic plans are eligible to be linked with health savings accounts, which can be used to save money tax-free for medical expenses. They are more popular with higher-income households.
4. Another Plan May Have Lower Premiums It can pay to shop around. Some people may be able to find a lower premium by shifting to a different plan, even one offered by the same insurer. There are also different levels of coverage, from bronze to “platinum,” where premiums also vary. Brooker said that in some locations “gold”-level plans are less expensive than silver, even though that seems counterintuitive. Also, some people who run their own businesses but have only one employee might qualify for a group plan rather than an individual policy. Sometimes those can be less expensive. Not every state allows this, Nolan said. But, for example, Nolan said, she has a client whose only employee is his wife, so she’s going to see whether they can get a group plan at lower rates. “That might work out for them,” she said. ACA rates for small group plans (fewer than 50 employees) vary regionally and are not always less expensive than individual coverage, Brooker said. “It’s pretty all over the board as to where the rates are better,” he said.
5. Other Rules of the Road Insurance experts encourage people not to wait until the last minute to at least take preliminary steps. Shoppers can go onto the official federal or state marketplace website and fill out or update an application with required income and other information necessary to determine what the 2026 plan year holds for them. For instance, even without congressional intervention, subsidies will not go away entirely. They will be smaller, though, and there is an upper income limit — a cutoff for households earning more than four times the poverty level, which comes to $62,600 for an individual and $84,600 for a couple for 2026. When shopping, consumers should make sure they land on an official ACA website, because there are look-alikes that may not offer ACA-compliant plans. Healthcare.gov is the official federal site. From there, people can find websites serving the 20 states, along with the District of Columbia, that run their own ACA exchanges. The government sites can also direct consumers to licensed brokers and other counselors who can help with an application. And a reminder: Consumers also need to pay their first month’s premium for coverage to take effect.
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holding a novelty check bearing Trump’s signature and internal emails referencing Trump’s travel on Epstein’s jet. The Justice Department has offered no explanation for why those materials were released while others remain obscured.
including mass deportations and federal workforce cuts that heavily impacted Black women. Commentators have noted the administration’s willingness to portray itself as a defender of Christianity and Western identity while stoking grievance politics at home.
Critics argue the timing of the Nigeria strikes fits a long-established pattern. For decades, Trump has faced allegations of racial discrimination, from the 1973 Justice Department lawsuit over housing practices to his 1989 newspaper ads calling for the death penalty during the Central Park Five case, a stance he revived during the 2024 presidential debate.
As Nigeria faces new travel restrictions and renewed placement on U.S. religious freedom watchlists, Nigerian leaders continue to reject Trump’s depiction of their country. Tinubu said earlier this fall that labeling Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality.”
In recent months, Trump has attacked diversity initiatives, defended Confederate symbols, and advanced policies that disproportionately affected Black communities,
“I stand committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence,” Tinubu wrote.
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Conservative elites can then manipulate those men into voting against their interests, helping secure political power for white people in a society that is becoming more diverse. From the racial bribe to the Southern Strategy, conservative power brokers have always put up ideological barriers between white workers and their political and economic interests, helping white elites maintain political and economic power over everyone. By “inadvertently” restricting college for white men, conservatives are working their sustainability plan as constructed. Eventually, Trump will be gone, but the desire to strip power from the people and undermine a multiracial/multicultural democracy will continue without him. Other MAGA standard bearers will emerge, promoting the same racist rhetoric and public policies that hurt everyone. Perhaps anti-DEI hysteria won’t backfire, but the actual policies that eliminate it will, starting with the drop in white men attending college. Maybe white men will
see that it’s not immigrants from the global south, or Black Americans, or women that keep them down, but the power structure that has consistently asked for their trust, only to betray them. Maybe, just maybe, this could signal a shift in political thinking amongst this group. Sadly, it feels like hope rather than possibility. But hope is a radical mindset. It is action-oriented, courageous, and the fuel behind efforts to change the world. Indeed, others, like Trump and his acolytes, have a different kind of hope. But it is possible to see this irony and consider what it would mean for white men — and white people in general — to recognize the real enemy. Still, it can take a lot to reverse the benefit of the doubt white men have received for generations. Unfortunately for Black and brown folk, there’s not enough of that to go around. Unfortunately for white men, there aren’t enough college acceptance letters to go around. Rann Miller is an educator, opinion columnist and author or Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids.
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Thursday, January 8, 2026 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
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