Vol. 63 No. 25 | Thursday, June 22, 2023

By Joe Bowers and

Under Fed Ruling, Gig Workers Could Find It Easier to Unionize

On June 13, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) broadened the requirements for independent contractor classification. This ruling could open the door for new workers to organize, form unions and go on strike against

their employers. Under existing labor law, only workers with employee status are allowed to unionize.

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Americans celebrated Juneteenth Monday, June 19, 2023, marking the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free.

For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in

U.S. history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts.

The U.S. government was slow to embrace the occasion — it was only in 2021 that President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to set aside Juneteenth, or June 19th, as a federal holiday.

The Justice Department on Friday issued a scathing assessment of Minneapolis police, alleging that racial discrimination and excessive force went unchecked before George Floyd’s killing because of inadequate oversight and an unwieldy process for investigating complaints.

The probe began in April 2021, a day after former officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was

By Heather Hollingsworth AP By Stacy M. Brown

New York City grand jurors handed down an indictment last Wednesday, charging Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran, with second-degree manslaughter in the death of fellow subway rider Jordan Neely.

The incident last month has become a contentious issue, stirring discussions on mental health, crime, and race. Penny and Neely were riding an F train in Manhattan when Neely allegedly began engaging in what witness Juan Alberto described as “somewhat aggressive speech.” Neely reportedly expressed being hungry, thirsty, and indifferent toward the consequences of his actions. A bystander cap-

convicted of murder and manslaughter in the May 25, 2020, killing of Floyd, a Black man. Floyd, who was in handcuffs, repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe before going limp as Chauvin knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes. The killing was recorded by a bystander and sparked months of mass protests as part of a broader national reckoning over racial injustice.

See FLOYD page 2

tured part of the confrontation on video, which showed Penny restraining Neely in a chokehold on the train’s floor for several minutes.

First responders reached Neely at the Broadway-Lafayette Street/Bleecker Street Station, where he was unconscious. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at a hospital.

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

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Here are six takeaways from the report: WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION?

The focus of the probe was to examine whether there has been a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing in the Minneapolis Police Department. It examined the use of force by officers, including during protests, and whether the department engages in discriminatory practices. It also looked at the handling of misconduct allegations, treatment of people with behavioral health issues and systems of accountability.

WHAT WERE THE KEY FINDINGS?

Investigators found numerous examples of excessive force, unlawful discrimination and First Amendment violations. They reviewed 19 police shootings and determined that officers sometimes fired without first determining whether there was an immediate threat of harm to the officers or others.

In 2017, for example, an officer fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond, an unarmed white Australian-born woman who “spooked” him when she approached his squad car, according to the report. She had called 911 to report a possible rape behind her house. The city paid $20 million to settle with her family.

In another case, officers shot a suspect after he started stabbing himself in the neck in a police station interview room.

Officers also used neck restraints like the one Chauvin used on Floyd 198 times between Jan. 1, 2016, and Aug. 16, 2022, including 44 instances that didn’t require an arrest. Some officers continued to use neck restraints even after they were banned in the wake of Floyd’s killing, the report said.

At protests, it found, people were sometimes shot with rubber bullets when they were committing no crime or were dispersing. According to the report, one journalist was hit by a rubber bul-

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Gig economy workers such as Uber/Lift and DoorDash drivers as well as app-based healthcare workers would benefit from the ruling. About 16% of Americans have earned income in the gig economy according to a 2021 study.

“Applying this clear standard will ensure that workers who seek to organize or exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act are not improperly excluded from its protections,” NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran said in a statement.

Back in March, justices in the California court of appeals ruled that Proposition 22 (a ballot measure from 2020 that allowed Lyft, Uber and other gig economy platforms to classify their workers as independent contractors rather than employees) was constitutional. This proved troublesome for gig economy workers

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And just as many people learn what Juneteenth is all about, the holiday’s traditions are facing new pressures — political rhetoric condemning efforts to teach Americans about the nation's racial history, companies using the holiday as a marketing event, people partying without understanding why.

Here is a look at the origins of Juneteenth, how it became a federal holiday and more about its history.

HOW DID JUNETEENTH START?

The celebrations began with enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in 1863, it could not be enforced in many places in the South until the Civil War ended in 1865. Even then, some white people who had profited from their unpaid labor were reluctant to share the news.

Laura Smalley, freed from a plantation near Bellville, Texas, remembered in a 1941 interview that the man she referred to as “old master” came home from fighting in the Civil War and didn’t tell the people he enslaved what had happened.

let and lost her eye, while another was shoved to the pavement while filming and pepper-sprayed in the face. One protester was shoved so hard that she fell backward, hit the pavement and lay unconscious for three minutes.

WHAT DID INVESTIGATORS FIND ABOUT RACIAL BIAS IN POLICING?

The report documented rampant racism and racial profiling in the department, with Black drivers more than six times more likely to be stopped than white ones.

The racism also extended to arrests.

When one Black teen was held at gunpoint for allegedly stealing a $5 burrito, the teen asked the plainclothes officer if he was indeed police. “Really?” the officer responded, according to a video recording. “How many white people in the city of Minneapolis have you run up against with a gun?”

In another case, a woman reported that an officer said to her that the Black Lives Matter

because they would not be eligible for certain benefits traditional employees receive such as health care and other insurance options.

Advocates Say Trailer Bill Language Will Weaken California’s Police Decertification Law

Last week, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action held a press conference to speak out against new trailer bill language that could be passed along with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget.

Their fear is the new language could counteract Senate Bill (SB) 2, a bill Newsom signed into law in 2021 that details harsh penalties for serious police misconduct including revoking their certifications. This would prevent officers from being employed by another department in California.

“Old master didn’t tell, you know, they was free,” Smalley said. “I think now they say they worked them, six months after that. Six months. And turn them loose on the 19th of June. That’ s why, you know, we celebrate that day.”

News that the war had ended and they were free finally reached Galveston when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in the Gulf Coast city on June 19, 1865, more than two months after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia.

Granger delivered General Order No. 3, which said: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”

The now-free people in Galveston started celebrating Juneteenth the next year, an observance that has continued and spread around the world. Events include concerts, parades and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.

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movement was a “terrorist” organization. “We are going to make sure you and all of the Black Lives supporters are wiped off the face of the Earth,” she recalled him saying. Her complaint against the officer was closed by the department with a finding of “no merit.”

HOW DID THE DEPARTMENT TREAT THE MENTALLY ILL?

Mental health crises often were made worse when police responded, investigators found.

In 2017, for instance, officers encountered an unarmed man in the midst of what neighbors described as a mental health episode. He initially paced around his yard, yelling. After complying with orders to sit on his front steps, an officer fired his taser without warning.

In another case, a mother called 911 to report that her adult daughter, a Black woman with bipolar disorder, was attempting to hurt herself by lying in the road. By the time officers got there, the woman was calmly walking through a park. The officers nevertheless grabbed her,

“What is happening here is that the administration is moving forward endorsing a policy in the dark that actually puts records of police officer misconduct in the dark,” said Carmen-Nicole Cox, Director of Government Affairs for ACLU California Action. “We cannot use a secret policy to remove police transparency.”

The press conference took place on the heels of a scandal within the Antioch Police Department involving 45 officers who were part of a text thread that included racist, misogynistic and homophobic messages.

Under SB 2, the certifications of officers involved in the thread could be revoked. However, the trailer bill language could keep instances like this out of the public eye.

“In various communications discovered, these officers wrote in great detail how they have assaulted, beaten, lied and falsified testimonials and evidence to incarcerate Black and Brown

DEBATE:

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The incident sparked outrage against Penny and sympathy for the ex-Marine. The city’s medical examiner ruled Neely’s cause of death as “compression of the neck (chokehold),” classifying it as a homicide.

According to his family, Neely, who often performed as Michael Jackson, had a history of struggling with mental health. They revealed that he had faced challenges since his mother was murdered in 2007.

In a videotaped statement, Penny, who is white, asserted that he acted to protect himself and fellow passengers during the confrontation with Neely. He denied that race motivated his actions.

“I didn’t see a Black man threatening passengers. I saw a man threatening passengers,” he insisted.

The incident has evoked memories of the 1984 shooting of four Black teenagers on a

and she began yelling and pulled away. The woman was then put in a neck restraint as her mother pleaded, “Don’t choke her like that!”

HOW DID OFFICERS GET AWAY WITH MISCONDUCT?

Investigations into police misconduct took months and sometimes years, according to the report. And those conducting the inquiries frequently failed to view video corroborating public complaints.

Supervisors also were quick to back their subordinates. In one case, an officer tased a man eight times without pausing even as the man protested that he was doing “exactly” what he was told. The supervisor found no policy violations and told the man after the fact that if he hadn’t been resisting, “they wouldn’t have had to strike you.”

The report also highlighted the case of John Pope, who was just 14 when Chauvin struck him in the head with a flashlight multiple times and pinned him to a wall by his throat. He then knelt on the Black teen, as his mother pleaded, “Please do not kill my son.” Chauvin, the report found, kept his knee on the teen’s neck or back for over 15 minutes.

But due to poor supervision and a failed internal investigation, commanders did not learn what had happened to Pope until three years later, after Chauvin killed Floyd, the report said. The city ultimately agreed to settle a lawsuit in the case for $7.5 million.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

The report noted that the department has made some improvements, such as banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, training officers on the duty to intervene and sending mental health workers to some incidents. But it said there is still work to be done.

As a result of the investigation, the city and the police department agreed to a deal known as a federal consent decree, which will require reforms to be overseen by an independent monitor and approved by a federal judge. That arrangement is similar to previous interventions in cities such as Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri.

residents,” said Tamisha Torres-Walker, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Antioch.

Former LA Councilmember Mike Bonin Joins Growing Number of California Leaders Who Have Endorsed U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee’s Run for U.S. Senate

On June 13, former Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin — recognized as a leading progressive voice in California politics — endorsed the candidacy of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) for U.S. Senate.

“Barbara Lee has always been first in line to take on the most important battles that face us. She was one of the first legislators to fight for survivors of domestic violence, to prioritize the fight against poverty, and to sign onto Medicare for All and a Green New Deal,” said Bonin.

New York City subway by Bernhard Goetz, a white man who believed he was being mugged. Goetz, referred to as “The Subway Vigilante,” was acquitted of attempted murder and assault but was convicted on a weapons charge, resulting in an eight-month prison sentence.

Penny and Neely’s case has reignited debates surrounding mental health, crime, and race in New York City. It serves as a reminder of the complex issues facing the city’s public transportation system and the challenges in ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers.

Demonstrators gather outside Cup Foods to celebrate the murder conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, April 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. PHOTO: John Minchillo/AP

Daniel Penny (center) in New York May 12, 2023.

PHOTO: Jeenah Moon via AP

POST JUNETEENTH ACTION REQUIRED

the acknowledgement of the Emancipation Declaration signed by President Lincoln.

First, the Emancipation Declaration was not to free all slaves, only those in the Confederate States at war with the Union. Second, when the document was signed by Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was signed by President Lincoln on January 31, 1863, 30 days after the Emancipation Proclamation. We know this took two and a half years to reach the people of Galveston, Texas. The 13th Amendment was signed, as ratified by the states, on December 6, 1865. This document included all enslaved people in the United States while making permanent law the language of the Emancipation Proclamation.

not with a commitment to any party or individual, but to our own interest as we determine what that interest is on each issue before us. If it's homelessness and the unsheltered, then who can we help and how?

Simply think of what we would want if we were in their place. If it's an opportunity to replace a right wing radical seeking to suppress our right to vote by removing boxes for ballot pickups, or advocating for voter identification cards for the elderly or banning books from public libraries, then we should be involved. If money was being given out for voter participation, we would find a way to get it.

By Dr. John E. Warren

It was great to celebrate Juneteenth as the first National Black Holiday, other than Dr. King’s birthday. It was also great to have the rest of the country catch up with the celebration so many of us have honored and acknowledged for so many years. But there are some very important lessons to go with

Now that we have been armed with the details, and we have had the celebrations commemorating these two great events, what do we, as individual beneficiaries of these great achievements, what do we do to safeguard these rights?

It is suggested that each of us find a way to get involved. We can do this by talking with our neighbors about the importance of all of us realizing that we are in this together. We can do this by registering to vote,

Doctors Agree Nothing Benign About the Chokehold

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Within weeks after the George Floyd slaying in May 2020 the San Diego Police Department banned the use of the chokehold. Several prominent medical experts consulted reaffirmed that the chokehold was a lethal technique that could cause injury or death.

In the decades after Alfred Lyons in 1976 sought an injunction to bar the LAPD from using it, doctors and medical practitioners, criminologists, and scientists had frequently assessed the medical hazard of the technique.

There was no surprise that there was sharp division and debate over not only whether chokeholds wreak the physical damage claimed, but whether they could be used even with proper training to minimize injury. There was more debate over the attempt to make distinctions between the types of chokeholds used. Some experts argue that there are different types of neck restraints in which breathing, and blood flow are not cut off or impaired. They supposedly did not cause major neck and throat injuries. The term "neck restraint" encompassed two types of compressions: strangleholds, which block blood flow to the brain through two pressure points on the neck, and chokeholds, which bar airflow through the windpipe.

However, while there is much hair-splitting on whether with the right training and a benign grip, no injury or harm will result, there is no debate that a carotid chokehold that cuts off breath by applying force to the throat or windpipe can maim or kill.

The Justice Department and the American Academy of Neurology in 2021 conducted a rigorous study of the medical hazards of the carotid restraint. They were emphatic. The choke grip is "inherently dangerous." They added that the hold that results in loss of oxygen or blood flow could cause permanent injury to the brain, including stroke, cognitive disability, or death. A lack of training using the grip could increase the likelihood of death.

The Academy flatly called on law enforcement to classify "neck restraints, at a minimum, as a form of deadly force." It added, "There is no amount of training or method of application of neck restraints that can mitigate the risk of death or permanent profound neurologic damage with this maneuver."

In other words, the tactic should be banned totally. The Acade-

my, significantly, did not try to find any gray area in the use of the chokehold. It did not soften the danger of the hold. For the Academy, no amount of expert training or applying a benign grip could avoid the risk of injury.

A team of Boston neurologists came to the same conclusion. In December 2020, they published their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers pointed out that the brain requires fifteen to twenty percent of the blood in circulation to properly function, and this blood predominately travels through the two carotid arteries""both of which are blocked during strangleholds. This interruption can cause multiple medical malfunctions, including seizures, strokes, arrhythmias, and vascular damage.

The most important finding in the studies of the effect of a chokehold was that a person could die from it in a matter of moments. In fact, it could be seconds, four seconds to be exact. That was the case with Garner. It took barely one minute for the hold to trigger his death. In the case of Floyd, the eight minutes and forty-six seconds he was choked was an incredible one hundred times longer than what is necessary to make a victim lose consciousness.

The detailed studies conducted by medical personnel on the damage caused by chokeholds were conclusive enough for President Biden. On the second anniversary of the chokehold slaying of Floyd, in May 2022, he signed an executive order banning the chokehold by federal law enforcement. The only exception [in which] it could be used was when an officer's life was in mortal danger.

Biden made clear the chokehold was one of the major causes of the chronic rancor between police and minority communities, "Police cannot fulfill their role to keep communities safe without public trust and confidence in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Yet, there are places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken. To heal as a nation, we must acknowledge that fatal encounters with law enforcement have disproportionately involved Black and Brown people."

Biden's action on the chokehold was a case where political officials took heed of the advice from doctors, scientists, and medical experts about a lethal police technique that caused injury and death. They certainly got it right about a deadly tactic that maims and kills. The majority of those were Black and Hispanic men. This was a good step forward. But as many police reform advocates were quick to note, only a step.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst

How about using that same initiative to safeguard our collective rights and not just the things we care about collectively as individuals? Those persons whose shoulders we stand on, all were concerned about “us” as the Black collective. Can we afford to do any less over 150 years into the freedom so many made possible with such great sacrifices? We say “No”.

Get involved beyond the celebration of Juneteenth. That was yesterday. What will you do for today and tomorrow?

It Should Be Easy for Black Teens to Take College Classes

By Maya Pottiger WORD IN BLACK

Earning college credit in high school is done through dual enrollment — and Black students have less opportunity to do it.

A college degree is both increasingly valued and difficult to achieve in the United States. And with the Supreme Court potentially overturning affirmative action later this year, higher education could be even more unattainable for Black and Brown students nationwide.

But there is a solution that students can take advantage of while still enrolled in high school: dual enrollment classes. These classes allow high school students to take select college courses for college credit — in some cases, students can earn the college credit equivalent of an associate’s degree at the same time they receive their high school diploma.

These Opportunities Aren’t Reaching Black Students

The problem with dual enrollment — and it providing students with a way to pad out their academic resumes — is that it isn’t reaching Black and Brown students.

A 2020 report from The Aspen Institute and Teachers College at Columbia University found that, on average, about 12% of white students participate in dual enrollment programs, compared to only 8% of Hispanic students and 7% of Black students. The report’s authors wrote that “dual enrollment can also exacerbate disadvantages when it is not designed with equity as a primary goal.”

The Community College Research Center, an independent research organization at Teachers College, has a project underway that will create a framework “of how to design your dual enrollment system between high schools and colleges to make sure that it is really made accessible to Black students, Latino students, Indigenous students, others who have been systematically excluded,” says Sara Allan, director of Early Learning and Pathways at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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PUBLISHER, THE SAN DIEGO VOICE & VIEWPOINT

/ COMMUNITY

By Amara N. Beaty

and Viewpoint Staff Writer

t was a historic day at the George L Stevens Senior Resource Center this Monday where community members joined together to witness the signing of the official ordinance proclaiming June 19th “Juneteenth Day” in the City of San Diego. Well over 100 members of the 4th District community gathered in the Charles L. Lewis III Assembly Room in celebration of the Black national day of Freedom and Independence —

Ordinance Signed at George Stevens Senior Center

Juneteenth.

The day’s events began with a presentation of colors from the Buffalo Soldiers covered by an invocation and the words of the Black National Anthem. The day’s highlight was the historic signing of the official Juneteenth Day proclamation ordinance. Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe along with five other members of the City Council offered their signature on center stage, making the ordinance official.

While Juneteenth has become a national holiday, it still takes legislative action to make it a paid holiday in the City of San Diego. The six council members pres-

ent and signing the document with the Mayor included the City Council President and Vice President Pro Tem of the City Council legislators.

The celebratory event, sponsored by the Old Globe Theatre, AARP, and The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint included a concert, health demonstrations, traditional soul food, and fellowship.

A spine-chilling performance by the illustrious Carmelia “Toot” Bell and encouraging words from community matriarch and ancestral storyteller Alyce Smith Cooper also adorned the Senior Center stage along with other performances throughout the day’s events.

A Celebration for DR. WILLIAM TAYARI HOWARD

By Darrel Wheeler Contributing Writer

Tayari Howard, the award-winning broadcasting legend, was celebrated and honored for his excellence in broadcast journalism and community leadership.

Last Saturday on the patio of Bowlegged BBQ’s tasty establishment, family and friends of the famous smooth jazz DJ host, educator and entrepreneur let the compliments fly as they took turns on the microphone sharing their admiration and appreciation in song and speech for Dr. Tayari Howard.

“My family and I grew up listening to Tayari. [He] is a very important part of this community, he is the definition of iconic,” Bowlegged’s co-owner Carlos Stans shared.

“We gladly open our door to him anytime he wants to celebrate here. He is the man.”

Others also shared similar compliments about the man of the hour and his 50 plus years of outstanding accomplishments.

“I have to thank my daughter, Summer. Brian Goodin and his significant work as an archi vist and Black historian. You, Darrel, for the work that you do. Mr. Parisi, Carlos and his fam ily, and everybody that helped put this together,” Dr. Howard shared on the microphone.

“We still have a lot of work to do as a community. We keep get ting pushed around, but we are going to keep pushing back.”

Voice

PHOTOS: Amara N. Beaty

Alyce Smith Cooper

(left to right) Joe LaCava, Stephen Whitburn, Jennifer Campbell, Monica Montgomery Steppe, Todd Gloria, Sean Elo-Rivera, and Raul Campillo posing with the Juneteenth Day ordinance

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

Dr. William Tayari Howard

County Joins New Youth Suicide Reporting and Crisis Response Program

By Gig Conaughton County News Center

Hoping to find new ways to keep young people from attempting suicide, the County is poised to take part in a $4.1 million state youth suicide-focused pilot program.

The program, County Health and Human Services Agency officials said Tuesday, could develop new prevention responses—like systems to continue contact and follow up care when youth experiencing thoughts of suicide, doing selfharm, or attempting suicide end up in hospital emergency rooms.

Other actions could include expanding school-based suicide prevention programs like support, resources and mental health screenings for students and families; and increasing outreach, training and

suicide risk screenings in rural communities, complementing the array of existing efforts the County is doing around suicide prevention.

Supervisors Tuesday approved accepting the tentative $4.1 million from California Department of Public Health to “develop and test models for rapid reporting and comprehensive crisis response at the local level related to youth suicide and suicide attempts” for people under the age of 25. The state could approve the funding in its final budget deliberations.

County health officials said Tuesday that the agency has and continues to create ongoing suicide prevention programs and efforts, and that local suicide rates have trended down. However, they said the county’s rates are still higher than state averages and that suicide remained an urgent, growing prob-

lem that needs addressing. Officials said the numbers of suicides between the ages of 15 and 19 increased 29% between 2017 and 2021, and that suicide remains a leading cause of death for San Diegans.

Programs the County has developed that could be used as bases in the pilot program include the “It’s Up to Us” multi-media campaign. The program aims to increase public awareness and understanding of suicide and the issues surrounding it. The County’s Mobile Crisis Response Teams send mental health experts to respond to people suffering a mental health crisis where they are to connect them to care. In addition, the County’s 24/7 Access and Crisis line — (888) 724-7240 — gives people a way to talk directly with a clinician to help them around the clock. That help was supplemented last year

New $848M Mental Health Services Plan Approved

By Gig Conaughton County News Center

County supervisors approved a new three-year, $848 million Mental Health Services Act plan Tuesday that will increase spending for programs to help children, youth, families, adults and older adults who suffer serious mental illness or crises.

Some of those existing services include help with mental health services, housing and “wraparound” care that helps children by treating them within their own homes, schools and families. It also includes mobile crisis response teams that send mental health experts rather than law enforcement when appropriate to respond to someone in crisis. And it covers walk-in crisis stabilization units that give people who are experiencing mental-health episodes a safe, calm place to get around-the-clock help rather than being taken to jails or emergency rooms.

Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas praised the plan and said its funding source was critical. Funding comes from California’s Mental Health Services Act, Proposition 163, the 1% tax on state incomes over $1 million that voters approved in 2004 to expand and improve behavioral health help.

“It’s a vital funding source for Behavioral Health Services, repre -

senting its biggest funding source,” Vargas said. “And so it’s going to be critical in providing vital treatments, prevention, innovation, and innovative behavioral health services for individuals experiencing serious mental health issues.”

The new three-year plan will spend $274.8 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year, the County’s largest sum ever and 20% more than 2022-23. That spending would increase to $286.6 million in fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26.

County officials said the Mental Health Services Act funding was essential to mental health treatment statewide. But they said it can be volatile and could decrease in future years during a slowing economy.

The County plan was created with ongoing community input from focus groups, listening sessions, interviews and community events with the help of UC San Diego Health.

HHSA officials said most of the $275 million in the 2023-24 year would fund the agency’s existing behavioral health programs. However, they said there would be increases to boost a number of programs. Some of those included:

$12 million increase for the County’s Assertive Community Treatment services that use a “whatev -

er it takes” approach to help people with serious mental illnesses who are experiencing homelessness.

$4.6 million to boost Mobile Crisis Response and Psychiatric Emergency Response teams and the Vista County Crisis Stabilization Unit.

$600,000 to support the Crisis Action Community Connection program. The program helps youth who have suffered recent psychiatric episodes by offering intensive mental health support and community resources. It also provides recuperative care for transition-age youth who need connections to services and housing.

$7.4 million to boost public awareness and public messaging about suicide prevention, including adding a component of the “It’s Up to Us” campaign to focus on young people. The campaign helps San Diegans talk openly about mental health, recognize its challenges, find local resources and seek support to inspire good health, reduce mental health stigma and prevent suicide.

$700,000 to invest in school-based suicide prevention and early mental-health intervention.

For more information about the County’s behavioral health program go to the Health and Human Services Agency’s behavioral health web page.

New White House Effort Zooms in on California

By Lila Brown

On May 18, the Biden-Harris administration announced the launch of ALL INside, an initiative

designed to address home lessness across the country. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and its 19 participating federal member agencies will partner with state and local

governments in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix Metro, Seattle, and California to implement the program.

Ambassador Susan Rice, the White House director of domestic policy, unveiled the program alongside Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, the chair of USICH; and USICH Executive Director Jeff Olivet. Rice praised the efforts of Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass along with California’s Secretary of Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, Lourdes Castro Ramírez, for being on the front lines of ending unsheltered homelessness.

The partnership aims to reduce homelessness 25% by 2025.

“President Biden firmly believes that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to live, and from Day One, the BidenHarris administration has taken unprecedented actions to lower housing costs, increase housing

with the local introduction of the national 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in a suicidal, mental health and/or substance use crisis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Another County effort includes the

San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council, which, among other efforts, coordinates mental health trainings and takes the lead in producing the annual Report to the Community that reports on suicide resources and data.

More information about the County’s behavioral health services can be found on its website.

Skate Park Named For Tyre Nichols

Officials dedicated a California skate park Sunday in honor of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who spent much of his youth in the state and was killed last January in what prosecutors said was a fatal beating by police in Tennessee during a traffic stop.

An avid skateboarder, Nichols spent much time as a youth at the park on the outskirts of Sacramento. City officials and others held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated skate park now named for Nichols.

Nichols moved to Memphis, Tennessee, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic and lived there with his mother and stepfather. He enjoyed photography - especially taking photos of landscapes and sunsets.

“Photography helps me look at the world in a more creative way. It expresses me in ways I cannot write down for people,” Nichols wrote on his website showcasing his photos.

stability, and address homelessness,” said Rice, pointing out that many residents facing homelessness include military veterans and youth who have aged out of the foster care system.

“This first-of-its-kind partnership with our Administration will help strengthen and accelerate local efforts in these sites, and communities across America, to ensure every unsheltered person has access to the housing they need,” she added.

Several of the ALL INside communities have already received federal resources, with Los Angeles receiving $60 million and other areas in

On the night of Jan. 7, Memphis police pulled over Nichols on his way home from taking pictures of the sky. Just a few minutes from home, he was brutally attacked by several police officers, according to a lawsuit Nichols’ family filed against Memphis police. Nichols died three days later at a hospital. Five Memphis officers were fired and have been charged with murder and other offenses in the death. The officers, who are all Black, each face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

The death of Nichols, a 29-yearold father and FedEx worker, has raised fresh questions about police violence against unarmed Black men.

In video footage of the beating, Nichols is heard saying he just wanted to go home, family lawyers have said. He was less than 100 yards (90 meters) from his mother’s house.

California receiving $36 million. Leaders from each of the cities receiving funding were recognized for their clear vision, commitment, alignment of value and effectiveness in tackling the challenges of homelessness by providing holistic solutions.

The federal funding for Los Angeles and other cities in the state comes nearly two months after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $1 billion in homelessness funding for California cities and the launch of a new state program that will build small homes for formerly unhoused people.

See EFFORT page 16

PHOTO: County News Center

ARTS & CULTURE

The Murray-Haley Family Reunion African American Heritage Tour

The highly anticipated and long awaited Murray-Haley Family Reunion has finally been planned for July 20th – July 23, 2023 in the Memphis, Henning and Ripley Tennessee areas! The planning of this event was initially discussed with the late William (Bill) Alexander Haley, Sr. in 2011 and was planned for the summer of 2013. He said it was time to have another family reunion because the last significant get-together was held when his father, Alexander (Alex) Murray Palmer Haley, was alive back in July of 1982.

Family members spanning across the United States have assembled a family reunion planning committee and are ready for this momentous occasion this summer! This will be one of the most significant Murray-Haley family reunions of the last four decades.

The itinerary was strategically planned to cover a wide array of activities focusing on the heritage of the Murray-Haley family and other historical sites in the area. We’re planning on visiting the following places:

• A lex Haley Museum & Interpretive Center (Henning, TN)

• Bethlehem Cemetery (Henning, TN)

• West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center & Tina Turner Museum (Brownsville, TN)

• Family Reunion Picnic at Ripley City Park (Ripley, TN)

• Full Gospel Tabernacle Church

– Reverend Al Green’s Church (Memphis, TN)

Alex Haley’s boyhood home, now The Alex Haley Museum, is where the 1977 Pulitzer Prize-winning author lived with his grandparents (1921-1929). On the front porch, young Haley would listen to his relatives tell family stories.

During long summer evenings, young Alex would sit engrossed at

the tales of his ancestors, who were brought to America as slaves. This is where he learned about Kunta Kinte, Queen and Chicken George. His imagination was stirred, and he never forgot what he heard. When Alex grew up, he used those stories to author the book we all know as “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” (1976). This book is what sparked the interest in people wanting to find their own family history around the world.

In 1977, the television adaptation titled “Roots” led to a cultural sensation in the United States, racking up over 40 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and 8 wins. It became one of the most watched TV mini series of all time.

The award winning series was followed up with “Roots: The Next Generation” (1979) and “Roots: The Gift” (1988), which was a Christmas movie special. ”Alex Haley’s Queen” (1993) was another mini series based on Alex's family (his paternal grandmother). In 2016, the History channel created “Roots,” a remake of the original 1977 mini series with the same name.

Alex passed away on February 10th, 1992, but his legacy lives on. The Alex Haley Museum and Interpretive Center features a plethora of family memorabilia, artifacts, and more.

Top Prosecutor in George Floyd Trial Writes Book Recounting Case

By Steve Karnowski ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minnesota prosecutors were so worried a judge would move the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin out of the city where he killed George Floyd that

they conducted a mock trial in a deep red rural county to test their strategy, Attorney General Keith Ellison reveals in a new book.

It worked. Ellison was pleasantly surprised that even the mock jurors in Stearns County of central Minne-

sota would have convicted Chauvin and three co-defendants of manslaughter, and almost all would have convicted them on the top charge of second-degree murder. Two simulated juries in Hennepin County, where the case ultimately stayed, came back guilty on all counts.

“Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence,” released on May 23, 2023, an imprint of the Hachette Book Group, two days ahead of the third anniversary of Floyd's death on May 25, 2020. Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on the Black man's neck for 9 1/2 minutes. A bystander video captured Floyd’s fading cries of “I can't breathe.”

“Our themes resonated,” Ellison wrote. “Several juries believed that the officers had a duty — moral or legal — to render aid to George Floyd. None were too concerned about the drugs. Even the Stearns County jury thought Floyd’s drug history was irrelevant.”

It is not clear if Chauvin’s defense team also conducted a mock trial. His attorney, Eric Nelson, did not return a call seeking comment.

Ellison said he wrote the memoir because he wanted to provide a guide for other prosecutors and share the lessons his team learned about the difficulty of convicting police officers.

The importance of getting jury selection right was one of the key lessons, Ellison recounts, but so was the value of getting testimony from witnesses who spoke up as Chauvin kept a dying Floyd pinned to the pavement outside a corner store, and, critically, got out their cameras. So was finding medical experts who could make it clear to the jury that Floyd would not have died but for Chauvin's actions.

“Many jurors have often associated Black victims with danger and criminality. Over the expanse of American history, juries have been part of the repeating pattern across the country of acquitting officers who shoot unarmed people, often Black men,” Ellison wrote. “ The sheer numbers of officers who have been acquitted after killing unarmed citizens is impressive.”

Ellison became a national figure in 2006 when he became the first Muslim and the first Black Min-

If there are any family and friends interested in sharing and participating in this momentous occasion, please contact The MurrayHaley Reunion Team/Committee at murrayhaleyreunion@gmail.com

nesotan elected to Congress. The Democrat became the state's attorney general in 2019. Criminal prosecutions in Minnesota usually fall to county attorneys. But amid the turmoil and racial tensions that followed Floyd's killing, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz asked Ellison to take the lead.

Ellison recounts in his book how he used his personal connections to assemble a high-powered, diverse team of volunteer and staff attorneys to try the case.

In the end, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who Ellison praises in the book, kept the trial in Minneapolis, though he tried Chauvin separately from the other three defendants. Ultimately, all four officers were convicted or pleaded guilty to state and federal charges.

Despite extensive pretrial publicity, the court was able to seat a jury for Chauvin, though it took three weeks. Ellison wrote that it was the most diverse jury he had ever impaneled — six Blacks and six whites. He credits Steve Schleicher, a former federal prosecutor in private practice, and jury consultant Christina Marinakis.

PHOTO: Steve Karnowski

Alex Haley's boyhood home in Henning, TN (2022). PHOTO: Courtesy of Brandon Murray (Bran Media)

Murray-Haley Family at Bethlehem Cemetery (Henning, TN - 2022)

Murray-Haley Family Outside of Alex Haley's Boyhood Home (Henning, TN - 2022 )

Murray-Haley Family at The Alex Haley Interpretive Center (Henning, TN - 2022)

UN Calls On Middle East and Europe To Raise Humanitarian Funds For Sudan Crisis

By Jack Jeffery Associated Press

The United Nations called on countries in the Middle East and Europe on Monday to ramp up aid efforts in Sudan to address the deepening humanitarian crisis.

opening of a U.N.-sponsored meeting co-hosted by Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the African Union in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Guterres said the organization’s emergency aid program launched after the war broke out on April 15 has received less than 17% of the required $3 billion in aid.

As the meeting progressed, numerous state representatives pledged further contributions. Qatar’s foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said that the Gulf kingdom would be giving $50 million to the program.

ther $22 million into the program.

It remained unclear if Saudi Arabia and Egypt, two of the conflict’s key mediators, would provide further financial contributions to the humanitarian initiative.

Around 24.7 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, are in need of humanitarian assistance, the U.N. says. More than 2.2 million people have fled their homes to safer areas elsewhere in Sudan or crossed into neighboring countries, according to the latest U.N. figures.

South African Plan to End War is Non-Starter

By Lisa Vives Global Information Network

Sudan has been rocked by fighting for more than two months as the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces battle for control of the country. Sudan’s Health Ministry said Saturday that more than 3,000 have been killed in the conflict, which has decimated the country’s fragile infrastructure and sparked ethnic violence in the western Darfur region.

“The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented,” U.N. SecretaryGeneral António Guterres said at the

Katja Keul, minister of state at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, said that Berlin would pledge 200 million euros (nearly $219 million) of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and the region.

Speaking by a web link, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power said that Washington would be donating an additional $171 million in aid to Sudan.

The U.N.’s top humanitarian official, Martin Griffiths, said that the United Nations would inject a fur-

On Sunday morning, the country’s warring forces began a three-day cease-fire, brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. It’s the ninth truce since the conflict began, although most have foundered.

The conflict has turned the capital, Khartoum, and other urban areas into battlefields. The paramilitary force, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has occupied people’s houses and other civilian properties, according to residents and activists. The army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, has staged repeated airstrikes in densely populated civilian areas.

The province of West Darfur has experienced some of the worst violence. with tens of thousands of residents fleeing to neighboring Chad. The Rapid Support Forces and affiliated Arab militias have repeatedly attacked the province’s capital, Genena, targeting the nonArab Masalit community, rights groups say.

The province’s former governor, Khamis Abdalla Abkar, a Masalit, was abducted and killed last week after he appeared in a televised interview and accused the Arab militias and the paramilitary force of attacking Genena. The U.N. and Sudan’s military blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the killing. It has denied that.

Last week, Griffiths described the situation in West Darfur as a “humanitarian calamity.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, among a group of seven African leaders meeting on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, presented an African plan to end the ruinous war between Russia and the Ukraine.

The delegation from South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Zambia and Uganda was scheduled to meet with the Ukrainian leader on Friday and the Russian leader on Saturday. Among their proposals was: that both leaders must listen to one another; that there must be a de-escalation of conflict on both sides; and, of major interest to Africans, that the movement of grains across the Black Sea must be opened up to remove blockages so that commodities can reach markets.

African Union Chair and president of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, said Africa’s history had taught its leaders to always find a peaceful solution to war. But, addressing President Putin, “we are not going to teach you any new lessons because your country has gone through many painful events in the past.”

The African proposals failed to dent the hardened positions of the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Nor did they impress citizens at home.

South Africans writing to the local Daily Maverick news outlet were incensed that the President’s securi-

ty detail of 120 had failed to obtain proper paperwork for 12 containers of arms on board the plane that President Ramaphosa, accompanied by 30 journalists, would be carrying with him to the meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Kyiv. As a consequence, Poland refused to allow South African security police to accompany the president. “Almost nothing was in place, almost nothing worked,” said reporter Pieter du Toit, one of the journalists who, along with the presidential protection unit, was held at the airport for more than 20 hours.

Among the undeclared and unauthorized weapons were “long-range sniper rifles and weapons normally used in serious conflict,” according to the South African Sunday Times quoting “highly placed South African Government insiders.”

When Boris Johnson visited Kyiv, he did so reportedly with six people, Rishi Sunak with 10. Hakainde Hichilema’s delegation reportedly comprised less than a tenth of the South African delegation.

Meanwhile, just as Ramaphosa was visiting the Ukraine, Russia shot off hypersonic and cruise missiles narrowly missing the high-ranking delegation of African leaders there to discuss peace options. Reuters reported seeing the African heads of state fleeing to a nearby hotel to use its air-raid shelter.

“Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

Eco Protesters Occupy Bank Invested in ‘Dirty Energy’ Projects

By Lisa Vives Global Information Network

Hundreds of climate activists occupied South Africa’s Standard Bank Group this week as it considers new investments into fossil fuels – also known as “dirty energy projects.”

“We want Standard Bank to stop putting their investment into fossil fuels and to invest in renewable energy for the mass population –where it’s needed,” said climate activist Malik Dasoo, whose civic organization Extinction Rebellion organized the protest.

According to the protestors, Standard Bank is engaged in “ecocide” - siding with fossil fuel developers for its own profit while ignoring the impacts on local African communities whose lands and natural resources were being despoiled in the process.

Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by as sets, operating in 20 African countries and 5 global finan-

cial centers. It was holding its annual general meeting at the bank’s headquarters in Johannesburg early Monday when the protesters occupied the building’s lobby for about 40 minutes before being forcibly removed by police.

Among those evicted from the bank’s headquarters was former Amnesty International secretary-general and currently human rights and climate activist, Kumi Naidoo.

“The climate change crisis is with us now,” he said. “Lives are being lost, but not those of the wealthiest, but those of the most vulnerable people who have contributed least to the tragedy of climate change.”

The action focused on two investments, either already made or under consideration by the bank, namely the development of a crude oil pipeline in East Africa stretching 900 miles from Uganda to Tanzania, known as EACOP, and the development of gas fields in north -

ern Mozambique.

If given the go-ahead after human rights and environmental impact assessments, EACOP will be the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline, but it will not service local energy demand as the oil it carries will be exported out of the continent, according to the Stop EACOP campaign.

In an interview with the Democracy Now news program, Naidoo commented: “Standard Bank, like many other banks around the

world, now recognize that we are in a climate emergency, recognize that they must change, but their actions appear to be contradictory when it comes to an increase in fossil fuel investments.

“In particular, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project will see about 100,000 Tanzanians and Ugandans displaced. We’ve already seen the signs of human rights violations. Of course, as always, they will promise that there’s going to be massive numbers of jobs. We know most of the

jobs are transient. Most of the early jobs, in fact, at the higher-paid level will be people from outside of community.

“The bottom line, though, is that this East African Crude Oil Pipeline is a carbon bomb. The amount of carbon that this would put into the atmosphere will be catastrophic. That would be the equivalent of 9 million cars, for example, on the road.

“In addition to that, Standard Bank is also supporting the Cabo Delgado gas projects in Mozambique. And here in South Africa, in KwaZuluNatal, they have been supporting Tendele Coal, a project that has seen activists being killed and so on.

“What we are saying to Standard Bank and to other banks, you need to recognize that you are now legitimate targets of protests. We have to follow the money and shut the flow of capital at source. While this might have been aimed specifically at Standard Bank, it is also a call and an encouragement to activists all over

the world: Let’s follow the money, and let’s shut the flow of capital to dirty energy and start redirecting it to clean energy.”

Responding to the protests, Standard Bank said it was a “potential lender” to the EACOP project, and like others was relying on “independent environmental and social” due diligence assessments.

Once completed, the bank said it will “make a decision”.

In a related development, the London-based Standard Chartered has announced that it will not finance the EACOP project. The decision, which follows mounting pressure from the StopEACOP campaign, is particularly significant as the bank had previously confirmed that it was undertaking due diligence on financing the $5 billion project.

In response to public pressure, the London-based bank has clarified to Bloomberg that it is not involved in the project’s financing.

PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

VIEWPOINT STAFF

prizes including cash, a bicycle, and more! The event marked the conclusion of their COVID-19 out reach campaign.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Encanto Southern Baptist Church

Com m u n ity Outreach Fai r Encanto Southern Baptist Church Hosts

THE COOPER FAMILY FOUNDATION PRESENTSHealing the Community

By Darrel Wheeler

On June 17th, two days ahead of the official Big Day, a huge crowd of supporters could be seen celebrating the past, the future, and the importance of Juneteenth experience at 2975 Ocean View Blvd's Memorial Park for the Cooper Family Foundation’s annual Juneteenth celebration. “Healing The Community, Know The Past, Shape The Future” was the rallying cry for this

The Juneteenth 619 Day Celebration

By Malachi Kudura VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF

Saturday June 17, 2023, Oli-Tay and Friends hosted their 4th Annual Juneteenth/619 Day Celebration at Liberty Station Park. The event was full

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year’s jam packed event.

Attendees of Southeast San Diego's biggest Juneteenth party could enjoy food, a car show, kid zones, local entertainers, vendors featuring Black-owned brands, the awe-inspiring History Wall and much more.

The legendary R&B funk band The Bar-Kays, known for their hit songs Hit and Run, Anticipa-

of Black vendors, games, music, and numerous Black-owned food trucks.

This event not only celebrated Juneteenth, but it also celebrated Black San Diego’s history and culture. Many of the people that attended set up their own BBQ pits, enjoying their barbecuing and the beautiful sunshine. Many of the attendees dressed in African apparel adorned in bright and beautiful colors.

“Juneteenth not only represents freedom, it also represents Black family, Black unity and Black community,” said Charles Johnson, an attendee at the event. He continued, “It’s important for my kids to see me spend my dollar with Black businesses and to see Black businesses being supported by people that look like us.”

It was a perfect sunny day for this celebration. There were kids throwing footballs around playing catch and elders playing dominoes and cards on the card tables. There were food trucks with foods from Ethiopian dishes to soul food from Louisiana. The celebratory day was, unfortunately, marred later that evening by

a reported isolated dispute and shooting that left one person deceased and another injured. The unfortunate occurrence reminds us of the importance of celebrating and uplifting community on Juneteenth and every day.

PHOTOS: Darrell Wheeler

PHOTOS: Malachi Kudura

Community Festival

tion, Holy Ghost, and Too Hot to Stop rocked the crowd with their high-powered performance. Saxophone specialist, Erissa, also delivered an outstanding performance on the busy main stage.

"I think all the performers did a great job," civil rights supporter and recording artist Jamie Ray shared. "This whole event is off the chain. This was my first time coming here but God willing I'll

be here next time. This is a beautiful and inspiring celebration."

The main stage was also used for informational speeches, award presentations to deserving community leaders, and words and actions toward community healing by local dignitaries.

Black representation was definitely at its finest last Saturday at the park.

BLACK BIZ FLEA MARKET JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION at WORLDBEAT CULTURAL CENTER

By Malachi Kudura VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF

Sunday, June 18, 2023, Black Biz Flea Market hosted its Juneteenth Celebration at the Worldbeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. The celebration had music, performers, giveaways, food vendors and plenty of Black businesses to shop with. There was poetry performed by Stormiee Weather and musical performances by Mayowa, Bobby Suave, Aijo and Brandon Wave.

The San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) is one of California’s largest noncredit colleges, serving 40,000 students annually.

Juneteenth is celebrated to commemorate the freedom of Black slaves in the United States. This holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

“I’ve been a creative ever since I can remember. I’m inspired by being able to express myself and explore different ways I can represent my people in my community,” said Kyanna, a creator and owner of Ki Ki’s Creation.

“It was very important for me to bring my

family to this celebration.

What better way to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth at the same time? We can’t celebrate Juneteenth and not celebrate the Black family,” said an attendee there with his family.

“It is always a blessing to celebrate Black history and culture. With every opportunity, we must dance, sing, eat and celebrate our ancestor’s journey to freedom. Let’s start celebrating Black history, culture, community, and Black people every day,” stated Makeda Makosa, founder of Worldbeat Center.

SDCCE is focused on serving refugees, immigrants, and underserved populations who need workforce training. Many students begin their career journey at SDCCE and then prepares them for immediate employment or can transition to San Diego City, Mesa or Miramar colleges.

80+ certificates in 9 career technical education pathways

Automotive

Business and Accounting

Child Development

Clothing and Textiles

Digital Media

Healthcare

Hospitality and Culinary Arts

Information Technology

Skilled and Technical Trades

PHOTOS: Malachi Kudura

Changing the Color of What You Eat

By Valecia Weeks

Have you ever just stopped and taken a close look at the variety of colors the different fruits are that we should be consuming on a daily basis? Have you ever thought of how these colorful, strangely shaped, consumable objects can benefit our bodies? Well, when it comes to those multi-colored foods, we are what we eat.

Not only does an apple a day keep the doctor away; but when we consume a variety of fruits on a daily basis, we get a great source of vitamins and antioxidants that all our bodies need to fight off disease. Each and every fruit is unique in that each one contains different vitamins and minerals; so, when it comes to consumption of your favorite fruit, change it up every now and then because each fruit contains different vitamins and minerals; therefore, making vari-

ety your spice of life. Below is a list of commonly consumed fruits and how they can benefit your body.

Apples: If you are looking to build muscle and get those sculpted arms for the summer, try adding apples to your diet on a regular basis. Eating the peel with the apple will help build muscle. Not only do apples help with your outer appearance, they will also give you that daily dose of fiber that you need to help regulate your digestive system.

Bananas: Bananas contain a healthy dose of potassium, which can keep your heart in a healthier state. They can also help in the prevention of bone degeneration. Bananas help regenerate your bones, organs, and cells. Unbeknown to some, Vitamin C is also found in bananas and helps reduce the negative effects of aging. Is there a diva around who wouldn’t want a natural antiaging agent?

Grapes: These little sweet round fruits contain potassium, phosphorus, and iron, which a woman’s

body can definitely benefit from. Grapes also improve nitric oxide levels in the bloodstream to help prevent blood clots.

Oranges: One of the main benefits of oranges is the high amounts of Vitamin C they contain. Oranges protect your heart and keep inflammation of the body away. Eating an orange a day will help lower the risk of heart disease. The natural oil in oranges helps keep your skin looking young and fresh. Now, this is something that all we divas can benefit from.

Pineapples: This fruit is a high energy density food that contains more calories than other fruits. Pineapples are great to add to your diet if you’re trying to lose weight. So, good bye to all the weight loss powders. The fiber they contain provides a feeling of fullness so you’ll eat less.

Strawberries: Nutrition and enjoyment go hand in hand eating strawberries. This fruit promotes healthy teeth and gums. This would be a

great fruit to add on a regular basis if you are suffering from any type of gum disease. Strawberries also help heal wounds. They contain a vitamin called folic acid which helps with tissue growth and cell functions.

Watermelon: Surprisingly, this fruit contains high amounts of protein which provides long term energy for your body. Also, the water found in watermelon will keep you hydrated. So if drinking an ample

amount of water daily is your challenge, then watermelon is the fruit for you.

There are a wide variety of fruits for you to choose from. All contain healthy benefits for your body inside and out. Eating fruit in the first part of your day will help cleanse your body. Add different fruits to your diet to help your body get all the vitamins and minerals it needs.

June 23 Check Presentation Ceremony To Celebrate $1.4M Grant Supporting Former Foster Youth

Programs supporting former foster youth trying to stay on their feet as they transition to adulthood are receiving a significant boost thanks to a $1.4 million grant to the San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) and nonprofit Promises2Kids that will be celebrated during a June 23 check presentation.

The $1.4 million was directed to SDCCE and Promises2Kids through California State Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), who will be a featured speaker at the June 23 check presentation that is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the SDCCE’s Educational Cultural Complex, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., in the Southeast San Diego community of Mountain View.

The grant will help Promises2Kids’ Guardian Scholars program and SDCCE’s Gateway to College and Career in building a seamless system of support for former foster youth seeking education and careers. Guardian Scholars provides wrap-around services that include individualized case management, one-on-one and group mentoring, and financial assistance to help youth on their journey to independence. SDCCE’s Gateway to College and Career offers paid internships, connections to industry, assistance in securing a high school diploma or equivalency,

and a college and career readiness course aimed at helping youth find viable pathways to a productive future.

“The San Diego College of Continuing Education has a nearly 110-year history of providing our most vulnerable populations with the kind of services, support, and instruction that is so critical in creating pathways to a good paying career,” said SDCCE President Tina M. King, Ed.D. “We are deeply appreciative of the efforts from Senator pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins in strengthening the Gateway program and supporting our partnership with Promises2Kids.”

Plans call for 30 youth being served in the first year of the two-year grant and 60 being served in year two.

“Transition-aged youth who have been in the foster system often face an uphill battle in achieving their full potential,” Senator Atkins said. “That’s why I was pleased to secure $1.4 million dollars, allocated by the California Student Aid Commission, for the partnership between Promises2Kids Guardian Scholars and the SDCCE’s Gateway to College and Career. These programs provide vital services to help students succeed academically and prepare for successful and meaningful careers.”

Added Promises2Kids CEO Tonya Torosian:

“Promises2Kids is honored to have Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins’ leadership in the education of our foster youth. Her efforts have made this unique partnership possible. Promises2Kids mentorship and case management paired with SDCEE educational support services will ensure that these youth will earn their degrees, something that only 8% of foster youth achieve.”

The state award complements a recent $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Community Project Funding at the recommendation of Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) for the Gateway program. The need cannot be overstated. Promises2Kids estimates there are more than 1,500 young adults who were in the foster care system living in San Diego County, and national data shows alarmingly high unemployment rates among transition-age foster youth. Studies show approximately 25% of former foster youth experience homelessness within four years of being emancipated from the foster care system. A USC study found that 36% of former foster youth resorted to couch-surfing to keep a roof over their head.

The SDCCE’s Gateway to College and Career is modeled after a national Gateway to College network. Based at the SDCCE’s Educational Cultural Complex, it is equipped with classrooms, a computer lab, pantry, even diapers for the children of young parents. “We’re family, and that’s what family does,” said Stephanie Lewis, the SDCCE’s Dean of Career and College Transitions.

Frida Martinez is a Gateway alumna who will be speaking at the June 23 news conference. She came to the Gateway program for help in finding work. Now she’s employed as an administrative assistant with the SDCCE Apprenticeship Readiness Program.

“The Gateway program made me realize that there are people out there who cared about what I was going through and cared about my future,” she said. “It was nice to see that I didn’t have to do this by myself.”

By Mike Stobbe Associated Press

The next round of COVID-19 vaccines will target one of the latest versions of the coronavirus, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday, June 19.

FDA’s decision came one day after an agency panel of outside advisers supported the recipe change.The agency told vaccine

makers to provide protection against just one omicron strain, known as XBB.1.5.

Friday’s shots include the original coronavirus and an earlier version of omicron. They do still help prevent severe disease and death even as XBB variants have taken over. But protection gradually wanes over time and was short-lived against milder infection even before the virus, inevitably, evolved again.

The three U.S. companies that make COVID-19 shots said this week they had geared up to make the formula change, in anticipation of making many millions of doses available for the fall. One company, Pfizer, said it could have at least some doses ready as early as next month.

PHOTO: Courtesy of WI

PHOTO: Courtesy of SDCCE

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on June 9, 2023

This fictitious business name will expire on June 9, 2028 6/22, 6/29, 7/06, 7/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9012654

Fictitious business name(s):

My Heart Says Hello Therapy Located at: 4201 Cleveland Ave. Apt. 5 San Diego, CA 92103 County of San Diego PO BOX 33023 San Diego. CA 92163-2023 County of San Diego

The

This business is conducted by:

An Individual

1515 47th St. San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego

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

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Joseph Michael Yorty

1729 Picket Fence Dr. Chula Vista, CA 91915

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 4, 2023

This fictitious business name will expire on May 4, 2028 6/01, 6/08, 6/15, 6/22

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2023-9010645 Fictitious business name(s): Outta Here Located at: 1330 Market St. #402 San Diego, CA 92101 County of San Diego PO Box 153522 San Diego, CA 92195 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 10/18/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Outta Here

1330 Market St. #402 San Diego, CA 92101

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 15, 2023

This fictitious business name will expire on May 15, 2028 6/01, 6/08, 6/15, 6/22

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice

37-2023-00024491CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Alan W. Cheung Esq. 185615

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Qian Yu Zhang filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Qian Yu Zhang

PROPOSED NAME: Roxanne Qianyu Zhang

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: July 31, 2023

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

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

Hailey Lynn James

To All Interested Persons:

Petitioner

Hailey Lynn James filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Hailey Lynn James

PROPOSED NAME:

Hailey Lynn Joren

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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division Hall of Justice 37-2023-00024116CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney:

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: July 26, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the

legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

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

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division Hall of Justice

37-2023-00024106CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

Taylor Mackay Sorenson

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Taylor Mackay Sorenson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Taylor Mackay Sorenson

PROPOSED NAME:

Taylor Mackay Joren

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: July 26, 2023

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

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

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

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

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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Civil 37-2023-00022512CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Cinthia Sanchez on behalf of minors

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Cinthia Sanchez on behalf of minors filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. PRESENT NAME: Julian Santiago Cisneros

PROPOSED NAME: Julian Santiago Sanchez

b. PRESENT NAME: Nolen Castiel Cisneros

PROPOSED

NAME: Nolan Castiel Sanchez 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: July 13, 2023 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)

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 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse

37-2023-00024039CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Lazaro Parreira Neto

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Lazaro Parreira Neto filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Lazaro Parreira Neto

PROPOSED NAME: Lazaro Neto 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Changing Name and Order

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

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (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 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 37-2023-00020739CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

LaKeisha Gibson on behalf of minor

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner LaKeisha Gibson on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Darnay Aniya Scott

PROPOSED NAME: Aniya Darnay Scott 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: July 25, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 (To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

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

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

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

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order

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

A certified copy of Decree

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

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2023-00022993CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Ezequiel Barraza aka Ezequiel Barraza Ceballos

Ezequiel Barraza

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: July 18, 2023 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 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 6/08, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Lisa C. Clincy on behalf of minor children filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. PRESENT NAME: Cedell Demaria Williams Jr. PROPOSED NAME: Cedell Lamar Cook

b. PRESENT NAME: Michelle Annette Williams

PROPOSED

NAME: Michelle Annette Cook

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: August 9, 2023

Time: 8:45 A.M. Dept. 503

(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)

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/08, 6/15, 6/22, 6/25

SUMMONS

SUMMONS (Citation Judicial)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (Name) AVISO AL DEMANDADO (Nombre): OLD TOWN TEQUILA FACTORY, INC., a California Corporation; WILLIAM H. MCWETHY, JR individual; BRIAN HARKINS, an individual; and DOES 1 to 10 inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (Lo esta demandado el demandante): SANDRO ORTEGA DOMINGUEZ, an individual; CANDELARIO OLMOS, an individual

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response.

You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ Selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinto.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretano de la corte que le de un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de Calitornia Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 o más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

Case Number: 37-2022-00012575-CU-OECTL

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): San Diego Superior CourtCounty of San Diego Central Division 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

The name, address, aand telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Douglas E. Geyman, Esq. 750 B Street, Suite 2870 San Diego, CA 92101

DATE (Fecha): 04/06/2022 6/22, 6/29, 7/06, 7/13

CIVIL HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDER AFTER HEARING Superior Court of California, Hall of Justice Courthouse County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Case Number: 37-2023-00010542-CU-HRCTL

Protected Person: Filipe Santos Brito Your Lawyer (if you have one for this case): In Pro Per Your address: 6150 Acorn St. San Diego, CA 92115

PRESENT NAME: Ezequiel Barraza aka Ezequiel Barraza Ceballos

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

will review

named in 1., the following family or household members of that person are protected by the orders indicated below:

Brenda Angelica Figueroa

Aguilar

Gender: F

Age: 29

Lives with you: Yes

How are they related to you: Partner

Expiration Date: This Order, except for any award of lawyer's fees, expires at midnight on 06/14/2026

Other Orders:

The court grants alternative service of order on restrained person; petitioner is to give notice by publication for one consecutive week, serve via certified mail, and is to email respondent and respondent's mother with order.

Mandatory Entry of Order

Into CARPOS Through CLETS:

This Order must be entered into the California Restraining and Protective Order System (CARPOS) through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS)

The clerk will transmit this Order and its proof-of-service form to a law enforcement agency to be entered into CARPOS.

Service of Order on Restrained Person:

The person in 2 did not attend the hearing.

Proof of service of form CH110, Temporary Restraining Order, was presented to the court. The judge's orders in this form are the same as in form CH-110 except for the expiration date. The person in 2 must be served with this Order. Service may be by mail.

No Fee to Serve (Notify)

Restrained Person:

The sheriff or marshal will serve this Order without charge because: The Order is based on unlawful violence, a credible threat of violence, or stalking.

Warning and Notice to the Restrained Person in 2:

You Cannot Have Firearms (Guns), Firearm Parts, or Ammunition unless item 8e is checked, you cannot own, have, possess, buy or try to buy, receive or try to receive, or otherwise get any prohibited items listed in item 8b on page 3 while this Order is in effect. If you do, you can go to jail and pay a $1,000 fine. You must sell to or store with a licensed gun dealer, or turn in to a law enforcement agency, any firearms (guns) and firearm parts that you have or control as stated in item 8 above. The court will require you to prove that you did so.

Enforcing the Restraining Order:

This Order is enforceable by any law enforcement agency that has received the Order, is shown a copy of the Order, or has verified its existence on the California Restraining and Protective Order System (CARPOS). If the law enforcement agency has not received proof of service on the restrained person, and the restrained person was not present at the court hearing, the agency must advise the restrained person of the terms of the Order and then must enforce it. Violations of this Order are subject to criminal penalties.

Start Date and End Date of Orders:

This Order starts on the date next to the judge's signature on page 4 and ends on the expiration date in item 4 on page 1.

Arrest Required If Order Is

Violated:

If an officer has probable cause to believe that the restrained person had notice of the order and has disobeyed it, the officer must arrest the restrained person. (Pen. Code, §§ 836(c)(1), 13701(b).) A violation of the order may be a violation of Penal Code section 166 or 273.6. Agencies are encouraged to enter violation messages into CARPOS.

Notice/Proof of Service:

The law enforcement agency must first determine if the restrained person had notice of the order. Consider the restrained person "served" (given notice) if (Pen. Code, § 836(c)(2)):

b. The restrained person was at the restraining order hearing or was informed of the order by an officer.

An officer can obtain information about the contents of the order and proof of service in CARPOS.

If proof of service on the restrained person cannot be verified and the restrained person was not present at the court hearing, the agency must advise the restrained person of the terms of the order and then enforce it.

If the Protected Person Contacts the Restrained Person:

Even if the protected person invites or consents to contact with the restrained person, this Order remains in effect and must be enforced. The protected person cannot be arrested for inviting or consenting to contact with the restrained person. The orders can be changed only by another court order. (Pen. Code, § 13710(b).)

Conflicting Orders-Priorities for Enforcement:

If more than one restraining order has been issued protecting the protected person from the restrained person, the orders must be enforced in the following priority (see Pen. Code, § 136.2 and Fam. Code, §§ 6383(h)(2), 6405(b)):

1. Emergency Protective Order (EPO): If one of the orders is an Emergency Protective Order (form EPO-001), provisions (e.g., stay-away order) that are more restrictive than in the other restraining/protective orders must be enforced. Provisions of another order that do not conflict with the EPO must be enforced.

2. No-Contact Order: If a restraining/protective order includes a no-contact order, the no-contact order must be enforced. Item 6a(2) is an example of a no-contact order.

3. Criminal Protective Order (CPO): If none of the orders include an EPO or a nocontact order, the most recent CPO must be enforced. (Fam. Code, §§ 6383(h)(2) and 6405(b).) Additionally, a CPO issued in a criminal case involving charges of domestic violence, Penal Code sections 261, 261.5, or former 262, or charges requiring sex offender registration must be enforced over any civil court order. (Pen. Code, § 136.2(e) (2).) All provisions in the civil court order that do not conflict with the CPO must be enforced.

4. Civil Restraining Orders: If there is more than one civil restraining order (e.g., domestic violence, juvenile, elder abuse, civil harassment), then the order that was issued last must be enforced. Provisions that do not conflict with the most recent civil restraining order must be enforced.

Date filed: June 15, 2023

Date run: 6/22

PROBATE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Maria Odilia Parra

Case Number: 37-2023-00009961-PR-LACTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Maria Acosta; Maria Parra; Maria Odilia Acosta & Maria Odilia Parra

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Elsa Aida Velarde in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Elsa Aida Velarde be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed

action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

on July 19, 2023, at 1:30 PM in Dept. 502 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Probate Division

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court.

If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250.

A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner:

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Henrietta Steele

Case Number: 372023-00016685-PR-LACTL

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

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Travone Steele in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Travone Steele be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

on June 27, 2023, at 10:30 AM in Dept. 504 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court.

If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE form is available from the court clerk.

juneteenth:

Continued from page 2

WHAT DOES 'JUNETEENTH' MEAN?

It’s a blend of the words June and nineteenth. The holiday has also been called Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, second Independence Day and Emancipation Day.

It began with church picnics and speeches, and spread as Black Texans moved elsewhere.

Most U.S. states now hold celebrations honoring Juneteenth as a holiday or a day of recognition, like Flag Day. Juneteenth is a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington, and hundreds of companies give workers the day off.

Lee was one of the people standing next to Biden when he signed Juneteenth into law.

HOW HAVE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

The national reckoning over race ignited by the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police helped set the stage for Juneteenth to become the first new federal holiday since 1983, when Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 co-sponsors, a show of bipartisan support as lawmakers struggled to overcome divisions that are still simmering three years later.

Now there is a movement to use the holiday

COLLEGE:

Continued from page 3

This includes a variety of steps “that can help make students from different backgrounds feel like this is for them, and see themselves in the program,” Allan says. The framework will also help sort out “hidden barriers to some groups of students being able to succeed in dual enrollment.”

In terms of spreading the word about dual enrollment, the responsibility for doing that falls on all levels: the partner colleges, school administrators, counselors, faculty, and even the students and parents. But this also assumes that majority-Black schools have these resources at all, let alone equal access.

Like so many other parts of our society, our children of color do not have equitable access to these courses. It widens the achievement gap.

And dual enrollment is growing in popularity: student enrollment increased by 11% between spring 2021 and spring 2023, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Across the country, about

Continued from page 5

After Newsom rejected plans from California cities to address homelessness last November, mayors of the state’s largest cities have now agreed to reducing homelessness by 25% by 2025 in each of their jurisdictions.

With an estimated unsheltered homeless population of 115,000, California is home to nearly half of the people living on the streets, in parks or in other public spaces without perma -

as an opportunity for activism and education, with community service projects aimed at addressing racial disparities and educational panels on topics such health care inequities and the need for parks and green spaces.

Like most holidays, Juneteenth has also seen its fair share of commercialism. Retailers, museums and other venues have capitalized on it by selling Juneteenth-themed T-shirts, party ware and ice cream. Some of the marketing has misfired, provoking a social media backlash.

Supporters of the holiday have also worked to make sure Juneteenth celebrators don’ t forget why the day exists.

“ In 1776 the country was freed from the British, but the people were not all free, ” Dee Evans, national director of communications of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, said in 2019. “June 19, 1865, was actually when the people and the entire country was actually free.”

There ’ s also sentiment to use the day to remember the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the United States — especially in these racially and politically charged days. Said Para LaNell Agboga, museum site coordinator at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center in Austin, Texas: “Our freedoms are fragile, and it doesn't take much for things to go backward.”

88% of high schools offer dual enrollment opportunities, and about 34% of students are enrolled, according to a blog post from the U.S. Department of Education.

Expert Advice For Pursuing Dual Enrollmen t

The biggest piece of advice to parents [from Dr. Fedrick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers] is to stay involved. Know and understand what your child wants to do, and work through this educational process with them as a joint effort.

Part of your family’s research should be calculating the cost of these classes — both in terms of supplies and any registration fees, but also transportation to get to the classroom. A good place to start researching is through Upward Bound [says Dr. Brett Grant, postdoctoral fellow with The Black Education Research Collective at Teacher’s College].

Or, reach out directly to local community colleges to learn about their dual enrollment process for high school students. And make sure to follow up if dual enrollment isn’t offered.

nent addresses in the United States.

Proponents of the All INside program say California state authorities working in tandem with cities such as Los Angeles proves that a “whole-of-government, all-hands-on-deck” approach will assist communities to directly reach residents.

Rice said Bass prioritized homelessness even before her first day in office, recognizing Los Angeles’ first woman mayor commitment to the stubborn crisis that continues to plague California’s largest city.

Dancer Prescylia Mae, of Houston, performs during a dedication ceremony for the massive mural "Absolute Equality" in downtown Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 2021. Communities all over the country will be observing Juneteenth. PHOTO: Stuart Villanueva/The Galveston County Daily News/AP

Eagles Nest Christian Center

Search: Pastor John E. Warren San Diego

We are a non-denominational full fellowship

learn,

serve and grow into

of Christ Jesus. This ministry is to build people of Purpose, Prayer, Power, Praise and Prosperity. This mandate is being fulfilled by reaching the reality of the gospel in a simplistic fashion, and a result, learning how to apply it in everyday life.

Daryle Wayne Kay Francis

Grigsby

SUNRISE 03/13/1960

SUNSET 04/21/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Daryle Wayne Grigsby was on March 13, 1960 to Lena Mae Grigsby and Osie Lee Grigsby Sr. in Oakland, CA. Daryle’s momma called him “Daryle Wayne,” but his family cut it short and called him “Wayne.”

Raised in a military family, he was taught that family was most important and it was all they had. The second of five children, Wayne was a faithful companion to his oldest sibling, but his bodyguard was his younger sister, Jackie. The family settled in San Diego for good during the summer of 1969.

Daryle was not always motivated in life until he had a reason to be, and that reason was his daughter, D’Shanae Elonte Caprece Vann-Grigsby. His love for her was like none other. There was truly no mountain high enough that he wouldn’t climb for her. She was the beginning of a divine evolution. He surmounted all the odds and moved with that motivation to become a teacher of arithmetic and mathematics to middle school kids who had learning challenges. This was his mission and act of service for 23 years at Bell Middle School here in San Diego. Personal education was a pursuit that he had committed himself to until the very end.

On April 21, 2023 our beloved Daryle Wayne Grigsby took his final breath here on this earth and ascended into the afterlife. He is survived by his family and friends who will miss him dearly.

Morris

SUNRISE 07/17/1954

SUNSET 05/24/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Kay Francis Morris was born to Francis and Will Tom Morris on July 17, 1954, in Amarillo, Texas. Kay relocated to California in the late 1950s where she would go on to lay her roots and enjoy life.

She was preceded in death by her parents Francis and Will Tom Morris; her sister Cecelia Jean Oliver; and her brothers Charles Howard and Tommy Earl Morris. She passed away on May 24, 2023.

Left to cherish her loving memories are, her only child Nicole Williams of San Diego, CA; three grandsons: Eliot Williams, Jayvon Baily, and Timothy Coaxum, all of San Diego, CA; four great-grandchildren; three nieces: LaShanda Jones of Dallas, TX, Mia Morris of San Diego, CA, and Pamela Morris of San Diego, CA; her nephew Anthony Wines of San Diego, CA; a special great-nephew Douglass Crenshaw Jr. of Bennettsville, SC; a lifelong friend Ronald King; a best friend Pauline Cochran; along with a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives, and friends.

May Time Soften Your Pain

Self-Care: Three Ways to Process Grief

By Mental Health First Aid USA

Wh en someone we love dies, experiencing feelings of sadness, anger, confusion, regret, guilt and sometimes even relief, is common and natural. The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum adds that bereavement grief, which occurs with the death of a loved one, can have some of the same symptoms as major depression, like intense sadness and withdrawal from daily activities. We all experience loss, and learning how to process that loss is a vital component to fostering resilience and overcoming adversity. According to the American Psychological Association, most people can recover from loss on their own over time with the help of social supports and healthy habits, and feelings of sadness typically become less intense as time passes. However, the grieving process is unique to everyone, and while some may prefer to process grief individually, others benefit from family support or professional

help. It’s important to respect individual needs. Here are a few ways to help yourself or a loved one process grief.

Individually

The stress of a major loss can deplete your energy and emotional reserves quickly. While it may be tempting to suppress negative feelings, according to Help Guide (helpguide.org), you have to acknowledge the pain in order to heal. In fact, avoiding feelings of sadness can prolong the grieving process and lead to other challenges like depression, anxiety or substance use. One way to do this may be to partake in a private mourning ritual, which unlike public rituals such as memorial services, are personal and speak only to you.

Self-care is also crucial to the grieving process, especially if you prefer to be alone. Consider these self-care ideas to get started:

• Stick to a daily routine.

• Exercise regularly.

• Eat well.

• R estrict or avoid alcohol.

• Practice mindfulness meditation.

• Try to maintain the hobbies and activities that bring you joy.

• E xpress your feelings (e.g., talk about them with a loved one, write them down in a journal, or volunteer for a cause related to your loss).

Mayo Clinic also recommends planning ahead for special dates. Holidays, anniversaries and special occasions can be painful reminders of your loved one. Find new ways to celebrate, positively reminisce or acknowledge your loved one that provide you comfort and hope.

With the support of others

The MHFA curriculum tells us that strong relationships and social networks support recovery. To process grief with the help of others, consider these outlets:

• Join a support group. Knowing that you are not alone in a struggle and that other people have felt the same way can make a tremendous difference in your healing journey.

• Tap into your faith community. Religious and spiritual practices can serve as important protective factors. If you follow faithbased practices or traditions, you may find comfort in times of loss by reaching out to a spiritual leader for guidance.

• Socialize. Try to stay connected with people you enjoy being around, as they can offer valuable support. Often, people want

to help but don’t know how, so don’t be afraid to tell them what you need and never underestimate the power of laughing with a close friend or loved one.

When grieving someone who died by suicide, be mindful and respectful with your language and encourage those around you to do the same. Use this chart from MHFA for guidance.

PHOTO: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/11/three-ways-to-process-grief

New Director Leads Office of Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards

By County News Center

The County has named a new director for the County’s Office of Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards. Branden Butler took over his new position on June 2.

Butler joined the County in February 2022 as the first deputy director of the new Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement. There, he deployed an online resource hub to serve as the central location for education and

analysis of worker issues and helped businesses increase their understanding of employment law requirements.

Now Butler is taking charge of the other wing of the County Office of Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards – the Office of Ethics & Compliance (OEC).

OEC is responsible for upholding and supporting ethical behavior and practices through the County’s Code of Ethics – providing training and awareness and investigating complaints on unlawful discrimination, fraud, waste and abuse.

“I am excited to see the synergy he will build by having the Office of Ethics and Compliance under his wing,” said Assistant County Administrative Officer Michael Vu. “I know Branden will not only hold to the values of integrity and ethics as part of our culture but expand on these tenets as core to who we espouse to be as a County

“I am honored to accept this new position,” said Butler. “As director, I hope to move the office forward while continuing to maintain its mission fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of eth -

ics and compliance.”

Prior to joining the County, Butler worked as the first assistant deputy director of Outreach and Education for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, now known as the California Civil Rights Department (CRD).

He implemented the first civil rights education and outreach program in the department’s 62-year history and launched its first civil rights marketing campaign. Butler co-created a Sexual Harassment Prevention Training taken by over 1 million employees and supervisors and played an instrumental role in the State’s response to the COVID19 eviction and homelessness crisis.

Earlier in his career, Butler was the senior attorney at the Fair Housing Center of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc., President of the San Diego Regional Alliance for Fair Housing and a housing advocate for persons with disabilities.

Butler graduated cum laude from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and magna cum laude from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Biden Nominates General CQ Brown As Chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Senior National Correspondent

On Thursday, May 25, President Joe Biden announced his selection for the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., an exceptional fighter pilot with extensive knowledge of China, was chosen for this significant role, making history.

If Brown wins confirmation, it will make African Americans the majority in the Pentagon’s top military and civilian roles.

“General Brown is a warrior, descended from a proud line of warriors,” Biden declared, noting that Brown’s father, U.S. Army Colonel, C.Q. Brown, served in Vietnam. His grandfather, Army Master Sgt. Robert E. Brown, Jr., led a segregated unit in World War II.

“And command pilot General Brown brings to this role more than 3,000 hours of flying experience, including 130 combat hours,” Biden stated.

“He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how to keep your cool when things get hard, like when your F-16 was on fire.

The current Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, the first Black Pentagon chief, has been serving since the start of the administration. Previously, Army Gen. Colin Powell was the only African American to serve as Joint Chiefs chairman. Once the Senate approves, Brown will replace Army Gen. Mark Milley, whose term concludes in October.

President Biden formally introduced Brown as his pick during a Rose Garden event on that Thursday afternoon. President Biden’s choice of Brown stems from his exceptional track record of modernizing the U.S. aircraft fleet and nuclear arsenal. Additionally, Brown’s extensive experience in shaping U.S. defenses to counter China’s emergence played a signifi-

cant role in the decision.

Brown has been deeply involved in efforts to equip Ukraine with billions of dollars in U.S. weaponry to help fend off Russia’s invasion. Throughout his career, Brown has commanded at every level in the Air Force and in joint commands across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He was pivotal in leading the U.S. air campaign against the Islamic State militant group. As a career F-16 fighter pilot with over 3,000 flight hours and comprehensive command experience, he has broken barriers and achieved several firsts.

For instance, he became the military’s first Black Pacific Air Forces commander, spearheading the nation’s air strategy to counter China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific region. Three years ago, Brown made history as the first Black Air Force chief of staff, becoming the highest-ranking African American to lead any military branch. His extensive expertise and focus on modernizing U.S. airpower for 21st-century warfare have positioned him as the frontrunner for replacing Gen. Milley as the Pentagon focuses on deterring potential conflicts with Beijing. However, Brown’s confirmation may face delays due to Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s objections. Sen. Tuberville has been blocking military nominations due to his concerns over the Pentagon’s policy on reproductive health care, particularly regarding travel funds and support for troops and

dependents seeking such care in states where it is currently illegal.

As the highest-ranking officer in the country, the Joint Chiefs chairman serves as the principal military advisor to the president, defense secretary, and National Security Council. Although the chairman does not command troops or hold a formal position in the chain of command, they play a crucial role in major military decisions, policy-making, and advising on significant combat operations.

The chairman leads meetings with the joint chiefs of the different armed services.

During his tenure as Air Force chief, Brown has advocated for modernizing U.S. nuclear capabilities, including developing the nex -

t-generation stealth bomber. Officials contend that Brown was key in retiring outdated warplanes and allocating funding to advance unmanned systems. Additionally, he has supported the establishment and growth of the U.S. Space Force, which received initial resources and capabilities from the Air Force. If confirmed, the White House said Brown’s historic appointment would mark a significant milestone in the leadership of the U.S. military.

Gannett Sues Google, Alleging Advertising Monopoly

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Senior National Correspondent

Gannett, the leading newspaper publisher in the United States, has taken legal action against Google, accusing the tech giant of monopolizing the digital advertising market.

The USA Today publisher and more than 200 local publications filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, June 20 in a federal court in New York.

The company is seeking unspecified damages, claiming that Google and its parent company, Alphabet, exert control over publishers’ buying and selling of online ads. In court documents, Gannett asserts that this control has significantly reduced revenue for publishers and Google’s ad-tech competitors while allowing Google to enjoy excessive monopoly profits. According to eMarketer, Google holds about 25% of the digital advertising market in the United States, while Meta, Amazon, and TikTok account for another third. News publishers and other websites make up the remaining 40%. Although Big Tech’s

market share is gradually declining, Google remains the dominant player by a wide margin. Consequently, publishers often depend on Google’s advertising technology to sustain their operations, with Gannett claiming that Google controls 90% of the ad market for publishers.

Michael Reed, Chairman and CEO of Gannett, expressed his concern over Google’s dominant position in the online advertising industry, stating that it has come “at the expense of publishers, readers, and everyone else.”

In response to the lawsuit, Dan Taylor, Google’s Vice President of Global Ads, disputed the claims made by Gannett, asserting that they were unfounded. Taylor pointed

out that publishers have multiple options for using advertising technology to monetize their content, including Google Ad Manager, which Gannett utilizes along with numerous other competing ad services.

Gannett’s legal action against Google comes amidst an increasing number of antitrust complaints faced by Google in the United States and the European Union concerning its advertising business, which remains its primary source of income. European Union officials recently called for the breakup of Google’s advertising business, citing “inherent conflicts of interest” resulting from the company’s involvement in various aspects of the digital advertising supply chain, which pose a threat to competition.

Photo credit: NNPA Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr.

1772

JAMES SOMMERSETT RELEASED IN LONDON

James Sommersett was the subject of a landmark legal case in Great Britain, which was the first major step in imposing limits on Trans-Atlantic African slavery. In 1771, Sommersett fled his American owner, Charles Stewart, while both were living in London, England. Sommersett was originally purchased in Virginia and had been bought to Britain by Stewart from Boston, Massachusetts in 1769. He fled two years later and was apprehended on the Ann and Mary, a ship bound for Jamaica.

At issue was whether a slave, even if owned in British Colonial America was by dint of residing in Britain still to be legally regarded as chattel or should be considered free. Francis Hargrave argued that by being on the soil of Great Britain, Sommersett could not remain enslaved. On June 22, 1772, Lord Mansfield decided in Somerset v. Stewart that Sommersett was to be released since no English law sanctioned slavery in Great Britain.

2020

WILLIAM

William Durrell “Bubba” Wallace, born October 8, 1993, in Mobile, Alabama, is only the second person of African descent to win a NASCAR race but he is best known for his 2020 successful campaign to have the Confederate flag officially banned from NASCAR events. Wallace called for NASCAR to ban the confederate flag after the killing of George Floyd, which NASCAR did on June 10, 2020. The next day, a noose was found in his garage stall and assumed to be a racist reaction targeted at him. In an unexpected, emotional show of respect and solidarity with NASCAR’s only full-time black driver, on June 22, 2020, at the Talladega Speedway, fellow drivers and crewmen marched behind his racer down pit road.

August 19, 2023

DURRELL

“BUBBA” WALLACE PROTESTS AT NASCAR