Local

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media 

The California Association of Black School Educators (CABSE) will hold its fourth annual conference in a virtual setting this year. 

Scheduled for Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13, the statewide conference will be centered on the theme “Blueprint for Educational Equity.”

Organizers say attendees can look forward to workshops that highlight the newest innovations in learning and cutting?edge educational interventions that lead to academic success, particularly for Black students. 

“Despite the challenges posed by COVID?19, this year’s conference will continue to build on CABSE’s strong legacy of shining the spotlight to expose inequities faced by students of color in this country,” said Micah Ali, the Conference’s chairperson. “I am confident that our speakers and workshop programming will offer an illuminating view of the challenges faced by Black and Brown students.” 

“I look forward to the thoughtful, productive and collaborative solutions that will undoubtedly be advanced during this convening,” Ali continued. 

Confirmed speakers include Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dr. Shaun Harper, Founder and Executive Director of the University of Southern California’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education. 

Dr. Thomas Parham, President, California State University Dominguez Hills, is also scheduled to speak during the virtual meeting. 

Compton Unified School District (USD), Riverside County Office of Education (COE), San Diego USD, Ed Trust West, Corona Norco USD and Fresno COE, among others, will all participate in scheduled workshops. 

Each workshop will address a “Blueprint” theme: Applying a Holistic Cradle?to?Career Lens to Education; Embracing Technology as the Great Equity Equalizer; and Challenging Inherent Bias and Promoting Positive Campus Climates. 

“Our Blueprint for Educational Equity is envisioned as a living document that crowdsources the best and brightest ideas in the educational space,” said CASBE President Gary Hardie, Jr. “We look forward to seeing how these issues will be elevated and the kind of solutions that will be proposed.” 

Even with a thoughtful blueprint to help Black students succeed, CASBE faces an uphill climb. The organization is holding its annual conference at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a blow to public school education in California and across the country. Public education policy experts warn that distance learning will likely increase the disturbing achievement gap that already exists between Black students and that of their peers of other ethnic groups. 

In California, nearly 68 percent of all African American perform below their grade level in English and language arts. In math, about 80 percent of Black students do not meet the state’s proficiency mark. 

CASBE is a nonpartisan organization consisting of elected and appointed school officials, administrators, and instructors from across California who are committed to advancing equity for Black students. CABSE members represent governmental agencies, charter schools, and charter school organizations, traditional public schools, and community colleges. 

The organization says its mission is to expand the PK?14 educational opportunities available to all students in California, with an emphasis on underrepresented and under?served Black students. 

Find more information about the conference and register online at www.cabse.org.

By Charles Ellison via b | e note

The 2020 American Election Eve Poll, a 15,000-sample sized election eve poll that will provide the most accurate information about the 2020 vote choices and motivations of Latino, African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Native American voters, released its first collection of select national findings. 

Sifting through that data, some interesting findings to highlight. 

First: Race and the 2016 Vote

Before we get into these 2020 findings, it’s useful to look at the 2016 exit polls in terms of the racial demographics, particularly those broke down by gender and age.

Now back to 2020 … 

The Black Vote

This is the total Black Vote …

Black Men Vote … 

Black Women Vote …

And young, Gen Z/Millennial Black voters showing the second largest cut of Black voters going for Trump compared to other cross tabs … 

Along with Black Independents showing a rather significant shift towards Trump … 

The White Vote 

This is the total White vote … 

This is White men … 

And here we see that, at least according to this poll, White women in 2020 are nearly voting the exact same way they did in 2016 … 

Interestingly enough, slightly more White voters age 60+ voted for Biden … 

… Than White GenZ and Millennial White voters … 

COVID-19 infections seemed to make little difference to White voters who experienced it … 

 Biden won slightly more White independents, however … 

The Latino Vote … 

Here is the total Latino Vote – four percentage points more for the Democrat than in 2016 … 

There is a slightly larger share of Latino men voting for the Democrat than Trump, but still significantly more Latino men voting for Trump than Black men … 

Significantly more Latino women voting for Biden than Trump – more Latino women for the Democrat in 2020 than 2016 … 

Older Latino voters, however, showing the most inclination to support Biden than any other group within the Latino voting bloc … 

Low-income/working class Latinos show the strongest support for Trump among all income groups …

And huge differences in Biden vs. Trump support among Mexicans …

            Puerto Ricans … 

            And Cubans … 

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media 

The first round of economic impact payments funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, has been opened to a new group of Americans. 

Incarcerated individuals can now apply to receive their stimulus payments of up to $1200. 

According to a June report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the IRS initially sent nearly 85,000 payments, totaling about $100 million, to incarcerated individuals. After the report raised concerns about the payments, the IRS decided that payments to incarcerated people were not allowed under the CARES Act and ordered that the payments sent should be returned. 

Then a class-action lawsuit was filed. Lawyers argued that denying the payments solely based on an individual’s incarcerated status was against the law. The language of the CARES Act does not explicitly say that incarcerated individuals cannot receive payments. 

On Sept. 24, Judge Phyllis Hamilton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the Treasury Department and the IRS to reverse the decision. The previously rescinded stimulus payments now have to be returned to the incarcerated individuals. 

On Oct. 14, Hamilton also ordered the IRS to extend the deadline for incarcerated individuals covered by the lawsuit to file paperwork to receive the money to Nov. 4. People covered by the lawsuit who did not file a 2018 or 2019 tax return will have to submit a postmarked simplified Form 1040 paper return by Nov. 4 to receive the stimulus payment. 

The IRS also extended the online deadline to register for a stimulus payment for people who don’t typically file a tax return to Nov. 21. 

According to the IRS website, the government is working on an appeal to the decision. “The government has filed an appeal and request to stay the preliminary injunction. Any updates regarding the appeal will be posted on this webpage,” the IRS states. 

Under the CARES Act, stimulus payments must be made by Dec. 31. People will still have an opportunity to get the stimulus funds next year, but they won’t receive the money until they file their 2020 tax return. 

Information on how to help an incarcerated person file for a stimulus payment is available at caresactprisoncase.org. The website includes directions on where to mail the simplified return, as well as a sample Form 1040 with instructions on where to add the incarcerated individual’s personal corrections number to ensure payment is sent to the right place.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The senior population is growing in San Bernardino County and now, more than ever, identifying and solving issues they face is important to ensuring a respectable quality of life for them. Due to seniors being most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, Assemblymember Eloise Reyes coordinated an effort to provide seniors with resources they need. Committed to this task, Assemblymember Reyes held her 4th Annual Senior Advocacy Week from October 5th to the 9th; visiting 12 senior facilities.

Partnering on the Senior Advocacy Week was UNITEEE, The Holy Land Church, California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Autism Society, and IEHP. Through this collaboration over 1200 seniors were provided with Person Protective Equipment (PPE) including facemasks, N95 masks, hand sanitizer, face shields, and brochures with local and state resources for seniors. A senior from one of our visits stated, “the items were very nice and came in so handy especially the hand sanitizers and the box of 50 individual masks.”

The mission of Senior Advocacy Week is to listen to the issues that are impacting seniors. For too long seniors have been without a voice in Sacramento and the Inland Empire. With over 200,000 seniors in San Bernardino County, they cannot be ignored any longer. Since being elected in 2016, Assemblymember Reyes has given seniors a voice to share policies that impact their quality of life, including income, lack of public transportation, unnecessary fees, lack of community spaces, and affordable housing. 

Senior Advocacy Week concluded with the Seniors Scam Stopper Town Hall with the California Department of Insurance (CDI) and the Department of Aging and Adult Services, where seniors were informed on how to protect themselves and their loved ones from scams. During the Seniors Scam Stopper Townhall, Peter Meza, a CDI expert stated that, “about 70 percent of the wealth in the U.S. is within the senior citizen community which makes them a big target for scams involving unsuitable life insurance policies and annuities.” He further stated that, “there was an 85-year-old senior who was put into a life insurance plan that was not going to pay out for 20 years, so they would not begin to collect till they are 105 years old.” Stacey Hernández from the San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services stressed the importance of not responding to unrecognized phone calls, text messages, and emails. She additionally advised that, “if you happen to be speaking with someone who seems legitimate and they insist on payment for the service they offer to be in the form of gift cards, money transfer, or cryptocurrency, then it is most likely a scam.”

“I believe senior advocacy week has become something that our seniors look forward to each year. Our office knows that San Bernardino communities have different issues that have to be addressed, which why it is so important that we continue to talk to our seniors and ask them what they need. With that information we can continue to offer the services our seniors need and remain responsive to the other issues they may face,” said Assemblymember Reyes. 

Senior Advocacy Week allows Assemblymember Reyes to gain insight into the issues that are impacting seniors in the Inland Empire and to find public policy solutions to address them. Call our office at (909) 381-3238 for further details.

Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Patrons of the San Bernardino Public Library are now able to pick up books placed on hold at Rowe Branch, 108 E. Marshall Blvd. Book pick up continues at the lobby of Feldheym Central Library at 555 W. Sixth St. Books may be picked up Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Patrons may place books on hold via the online catalog at SBPL’s website at www.sbpl.org or by calling 381-8201 Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reference Librarians will also be available via phone during those hours to answer patrons’ reference questions. Rowe staff can be reached directly at 883-3411 during its service hours Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Mary Nichols, an influential California attorney known and respected in environmental policy circles across the United States, is finding herself at the center of racial storm brewing at home.  

Black employees say racism is widespread at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the organization Nichols chairs.  

In September, African American employees hit CARB with a 13-page letter alleging that they have been experiencing racism – widespread, routine and systemic, they point out – at the air-pollution and climate agency.? 

The “Concerned Black Employees at CARB (CBE CARB),” the Black group that submitted the letter, says its members have been the target of cynical comments at the organization and that they have been excluded from promotions, and have had to face other atrocities because of the color of their skin. 

The letter details discriminatory hiring practices, incidents of intimidation, low representation of Black employees, and a general lack of support. CARB, the letter alleges, has a total of 1627 employees and only 73 of them are Black. Only one African American has held an executive position with the organization.

“You will find a compilation of Black stories about our experiences at CARB along with messages we received from those experiences,” CBE CARB stated in the introduction of the document. Although these stories are first person accounts of experiences, we believe that most of them apply (or have applied) to all Black employees at some point and time at CARB.” 

The state of California charges CARB with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. Founded in 1967, the Sacramento-based organization also sets air quality standards, oversee automakers’ emissions compliance, conducts research on air pollution, measures reductions of air pollutants and promotes public health, among other functions.  

In July, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), who is African American, called out Nichols online after she posted a message that drew parallels between the lack of clean air the death of George Floyd.

“How dare you use a dying man’s plea for help as a way to discuss your agenda. Have you no shame?” Cooper reacted to Nichols’ tweet.  

Floyd died when a Minneapolis police officer pinned his knee on the unarmed Black man’s neck for nearly nine minutes in late May. The shocking incident caught on video a bystander caught was shared millions of time, sparking anti-Black racism protests across the globe.  

On June 1, Nichols posted, “‘I can’t breathe’ speaks to police violence, but it also applies to the struggle for clean air. Environmental racism is just one form of racism. It’s all toxic. Government needs to clean it up in word and deed.” 

Nichols later issued an apology via Twitter, stating “I apologize for speaking at the wrong time about the wrong topic. Racism comes in many forms and I believe we must fight every instance of it in our society.” 

Nichols has served on the CARB Board under Gov. Jerry Brown (1975–82 and 2010–18), Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (2007–2010), and Gov. Gavin Newsom (2019–present).? 

She also served as California’s Secretary for Natural Resources (1999–2003), appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. Her term under Newsom ends Dec. 31. There is speculation in Sacramento political circles that Nichols, 75, could be in line for a job as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency should Joe Biden win the presidency. 

Published reports say CARB’s Executive Director Richard Corey forwarded CBE CARB’s letter to the air CARB’s staff about a week after he obtained it. The 13-page document is dated Sept. 4. 

CARB’s board, which the governor appoints and the Senate confirms, consists of 14 voting members with two lawmakers in non-voting roles. The board does not have any Asian American or African American members.  

“There is no doubt the letter eloquently describes a history of poor treatment, lost potential, and deep-seated pain,” Corey wrote in a memo to his staff, according to Politico. “But, when I consider the courage it took to write and submit the letter, I have a sense of optimism as I know that change begins with the ability to openly acknowledge and discuss issues.” 

CBE CARB also stated that its only intent is to “shine a light on areas where CARB can improve” and asked the air pollution and climate agency to move forward and be “part of the solution.”? 

“Our intent in sharing this Letter and Action Plan is not to shame or belittle CARB, or to assign blame. We enjoy the work we do at CARB and want to do all we can to improve CARB for the future, and our future careers with the agency,” CBE CARB stated in conclusion of the letter.??

Two young sibling entrepreneurs had a master plan and stuck to it. Billy Wright II and his sister, Bree Wright recently opened Plenty of Fish Seafood, their first restaurant in a chain of seafood eateries, in Lancaster, CA, the heart of the Antelope Valley’s high desert! The astute young visionaries are promising a winning combination of good customer service, fresh food and a squeaky-clean environment that they hope will keep customers coming back for more. The millennial duo was determined not to let the challenges and constrictions of the coronavirus undermine their hopes, plans and dreams and have so far succeeded. 

LANCASTER, CA— The dry and arid Antelope Valley region, located right outside of bustling Los Angeles, is not a locale that makes one think of mouthwatering seafood meals. Add the current pandemic to the equation, and the odds seem even more unbeatable. However, two young sibling entrepreneurs had a master plan and stuck to it. Billy Wright II and his sister, Bree Wright recently opened Plenty of Fish Seafood, their first restaurant in a chain of seafood eateries, in Lancaster, CA, the heart of the valley’s high desert! The astute young visionaries are promising a winning combination of good customer service, fresh food and a squeaky-clean environment that they hope will keep customers coming back for more. The millennial duo was determined not to let the challenges and constrictions of the coronavirus undermine their hopes, plans and dreams and have so far succeeded.  

Billy, 24 and Bree, 25, both attended Palmdale High School in the Antelope Valley and share a strong commitment to the region. They reside outside of the area now but wanted to return and create a Black business to serve their former community. Plenty of Fish Seafood will be a licensing and franchise operation, with the Lancaster/Palmdale location serving as home base. The restaurant will feature an outside dining area per current Covid compliance and will focus heavily on takeout and delivery servicing.  

Plenty of Fish Seafood is designed to operate beyond the typical “you buy we fry” establishments, and will present a wide variety of comfort cuisine, including enticing seafood, both fried and grilled, along with delicious seafood-based salads. In an effort to support the economy with domestic based employment, all the seafood will be nationally sourced and not imported. A host of delectable signature side dishes will also grace the menu, including collard greens, potato salad, mouthwatering red beans and rice and an assortment of homemade desserts. The brother and sister team believe that what sets their diner apart from all the rest, however, is their signature batter, a secret recipe mixture handed down from both of their grandmothers, one from Oklahoma and the other from Louisiana!

“Our dad is my biggest inspiration in this venture. I had been working closely with him in a restaurant chain he was involved in, and I made great suggestions that were successfully implemented. Finally, one day he told me that my ideas were too good to be giving away and I should put my money where my mouth was and come up with my own concept and do things my way! I heeded his advice, got my sister on board and went to work on conceptualizing Plenty of Fish Seafood,” explains Billy.  

“Our dad eventually left the operation he was working with and came to work with us. So, Plenty of Fish Seafood is a family infused business, all the way from the food to the day to day operations,” adds Bree. “With so much craziness going on in the world, we feel blessed to have had so much love and support around us during these trying times. Things often seemed bleak, but our Dad remained a stronghold with his wisdom and guidance.”  

Billy and Bree have their eyes set on the bigger picture. Once Plenty of Fish Seafood in Lancaster is self-sustaining, they will begin licensing other locations throughout targeted cities across the country. For now, they are busy with duties that include managerial tasks to overseeing marketing and advertising for the flagship shop.  

“This is a great time for millennial entrepreneurs,” adds Billy Wright II. “We were already planning beyond the traditional brick and mortar restaurant even before Covid. My sister and I were already thinking about how far technology will go in the quick service industry. Right now, Plenty of Fish Seafood will be utilizing all the local delivery services, but I believe delivery drones and self-driving cars are the wave of our future and food servicing will be at the forefront of this change.”  

“In addition, health and wellness is an even more essential concern now,” cites Bree. “So, we will eventually offer CBD infused dishes for its healing components.”  

As the High Desert’s ultimate destination for down home inspired, scrumptious seafood dining, Plenty of Fish Seafood represents a positive ray of hope for the community during these pandemic times!  

Plenty of Fish Seafood is located at 43937 15th Street West Lancaster, CA 93534. Go fishing and follow them on Facebook at @Plenty of Fish Seafood and on Instagram at @PlentyofFishSeafood. Order your plate online at (661) 471-9620.

Nurse and activist Cori Bush garnered a commanding 84 percent of the vote in Missouri’s 1st District to become the state’s first Black woman representative in the United States Congress.

“This is definitely a night to remember,” Bush told supporters during her acceptance speech. “This has been a historic day from the beginning to the end.”

To quote the New York Post: Bush had the backing of the Justice Democrats — who helped propel Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to her first upset victory over 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley.

In her August Democratic primary, Bush had her own upset victory, defeating longtime incumbent, Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay.

Bush got involved with the Black Lives Mattermovement in 2014, when Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson.

She joined the protests that erupted in the wake of the shooting and soon began leading the protests in her Missouri district.

Bush has remained engaged in protest work ever since, getting heavily involved in the recent protests surrounding the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

To read more: https://www.vox.com/2020/11/4/21538719/cori-bush-ritchie-torres-jamaal-bowman-election-results

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, November 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County in collaboration with Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy and San Bernardino Valley College will be hosting their annual turkey giveaway at San Bernardino Valley College located at 701 South Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino. 

Due to COVID, there are some restrictions. The restrictions include: Must pre-register online to attend; must be a resident of San Bernardino County; and one vehicle per household may participate. Please register at: https://annualturkey.eventbrite.com. Entrance begins at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue at Esperanza Street. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— A number of residents have asked what County leaders are doing to persuade Gov. Gavin Newsom and other State officials to offer more flexibility on COVID-related restrictions and allow more businesses to reopen. Make no mistake, the County has been hard at work on a daily basis throughout the pandemic trying to influence leaders in Sacramento.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman says he and other County officials and staff are in contact with federal, State and local officials on a daily basis. Much of this effort focuses on requesting alterations in State guidelines and securing additional pandemic-related resources for the county.

These efforts have delivered some notable results. Specifically, we have worked with the State to resume business activities serving communities in Purple Tier counties such as ours. Some of these specific businesses and activities we have fought to open include:

• Personal care services
• Campgrounds and outdoor recreation (with modifications)
• Hotels and lodging (with modifications)
• Libraries, retailers and shopping malls (25% capacity)
• Youth sports
• Allowing for in-person worship in churches and places of worship with restrictions. 

We have also secured commitments from the State for additional testing and critical financial resources, as well as:

• Waivers that have allowed 100 schools in the county to open for in-person instruction
• More than $13 million to help provide temporary and permanent housing for the county’s homeless residents
• More than $50 million in federal CARES Act funding for a variety of services associated with combating COVID-19
• Almost $40 million to help backfill revenue losses associated with the pandemic

Our efforts to relax state mandates

While the County’s efforts have resulted in the State’s providing of additional resources, Chairman Hagman says convincing the governor to relax many of the State’s pandemic-related mandates has been a much harder sell.

Specifically, San Bernardino County has pushed hard for the state to recognize our county’s unique characteristics (primarily our immense geography), that would allow less populated rural areas to be treated differently than densely populated urban areas.

“We not only are the largest county in the lower 48 states, but we also have remote communities that have experienced literally zero infections,” Chairman Hagman said. “So we’ve been asking the State to allow us to adjust requirements based on things like population and infection rates. We’ve also emphasized a variety of practical challenges — such as requiring churches in desert communities to hold worship services outdoors when temperatures approach and exceed 100 degrees.”

He believes Governor Newsom is concerned about setting precedents for counties that don’t share San Bernardino’s unique conditions, but will nevertheless demand similar accommodations. Still, Chairman Hagman emphasizes that the County has no intention of easing up on its efforts.

“We have been very vocal in advocating a relaxation of many of the rules associated with reopening businesses, and have been particularly aggressive in seeking accommodations for churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship,” he said. “We’ve seen some success in that area, but are continuing to press our efforts.”

Ignoring the State not a viable option

Though some residents have argued that the county should either simply ignore the State’s directives or take a much more aggressive approach in demanding accommodations, Chairman Hagman said the county’s more cooperative tone has yielded better results — and that defying the State presents a number of unacceptable risks.

“In most of our communications, we have emphasized our willingness to work with the state for the benefit of county residents and others throughout California,” he said. “I am convinced that our cooperative attitude and tone has brought more benefits to San Bernardino County, and that a belligerent attitude would likely backfire.”