Bottom Line

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

This week we relive the agony generated by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!  Many proclamations and declarations will be made about how far we have come or about the progress that has or has not been made. Much of the comparison will speak to the anticipated conduct of white people, especially the white people and institutions that have historically and traditionally impeded our progress.

This is to encourage that we, Black people and non-Blacks of conscious, involve ourselves in supporting two institutions that Dr. King suggested are paramount and critical to our development. He said that we should all get a life insurance policy from a Black Owned Insurance Company and that our churches should be depositing Sunday tithes and offerings into Black owned and operated banks and or credit unions!

I submit that when we decide to put our money in institutions that are focused on developing our communities, it will matter less about the anticipated/expected/desired conduct of people and institutions that we know are preying upon us as well as praying against us!

For information about supporting Black owned and operated Insurance and banking institutions, feel free to call and leave me a message at (909) 384-8131. I will return your call with specific information!

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Who is coming to help your neighborhood after the earthquake, fire, flood, or mudslide?  Trained ‘first responders’ will start where they stand!  If there are trained ‘first responders’ in your neighborhood during or immediately after a disaster, your neighborhood will be in better hands than those neighborhoods that do not!               

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are trained to put out small fires, assess buildings, and help with first aid to family, friends and neighbors, as well as provide leadership during a time of crisis. During a disaster, CERT members often become regarded as heroes and superheroes to those people that need immediate help!

The City of Rialto Fire Department is hosting its final scheduled 2017 CERT training session, covering 20 hours over three days on October 27, 28 and November 4. The classes are FREE and all materials are provided! You too can train to become a ‘super hero’! I highly recommend the classes to everyone who has the time available. The Friday, October 27, class is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the other classes, October 28 and November 4, are on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes are held at Rialto Fire Station 203, 1550 Ayala Dr.  The classes are sponsored by the Rialto Fire department and the Advanced CERT Volunteers.

Register for the classes on line at rialtocert@gmail.com leaving your contact information or by calling the Rialto CERT hotline at (909) 421-4964.

We do not look forward to having a disaster, but that does not mean one will not occur!  In California, we can be sure it is coming, but not when. We need to be prepared at home, in the car and at work! We all need to store extra water, food, blankets, flashlights, a first aid kit, fire starter, etc. Our choice is either to prepare, or, depend on being near a super hero when surprised by disaster!

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

As we are mesmerized by the video visuals of the tragedy in Texas, we are also driven to tears of pride as we witness the heroic response from plain folk volunteers.  The expected first responders are needed and extremely appreciated; however, the truth is that the real first responders are often potential victims that were prepared for an unexpected emergency. The clean water and plastic bags for personal waste go a long way when strangers are herded to a safe-from-danger-spot that has room, but no accommodations for a large gathering of people. Shelters are temporary spaces, such as churches, schools and stadiums that are seldom, if ever, able to accommodate at any level of comfort.

We have seen the Texas tragedy cause people to open their homes to strangers! That is a great storyline that will probably soon be countered by stories exemplifying the other side of human nature.  There will be examples of real looting, not just the “emergency borrowing” that some did survive. There will be stories about folks who were ridiculed by people who could have helped. 

The rain is moving out of Texas into neighboring states where it will eventually normalize. Texans and the nation will feel the ripple effect of the human toll of death and property loss for years! Recovery from the coming health issues will be countered by “economic opportunity”. There will be growth and development, but the memories of pain will remain throughout the lives of some.

I pray that this evidence of unexpected devastation will cause more people to realize the importance of each other! There may come a time of tragedy when the people that you disagree with will be the same people that you will be depending on for help.

We do not have to agree with each other about how we got here, but we do need to respect the fact that we are here together!  Friends do not have to agree, they should only be friendly!

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Some believe that we are defined not by the tragedies of life, but how we respond to them.  Tragedy is most often rendered quickly; however, its echo is multi-level and infinite to those directly and indirectly affected.  The response to tragedy is variable. It can range from numbness to heroic!

The beauty of living in San Bernardino Valley, ‘Beneath The Arrowhead’, is often challenged by the ugliness of tragedy… Steel Mill and Air Base Closing killing 20,000 jobs and uprooting families… fires destroying homes and businesses… City bankruptcy, terrorism and most recently, the school shooting!

The shooting at North Park Elementary School leaves a teacher and one of her students dead, another student wounded and a classroom of students traumatized for life based on what they directly witnessed.

The joy of the parents, who found that their children were not the shooting victims, was immediately replaced with pain, empathy and sympathy for the victims and their families.

The response from police agencies was only matched by the quick reaction of religious and community leaders, who quickly descended on the scene of the shooting, and dispersed with parents to CSUSB, and with students to Cajon High School where they were reunited with their parents.

The best medical and social resources for physical and mental recovery are available in the Inland Empire. The prospects for a family recovering from untimely and tragic death are very slim and we pray that it occurs. Our prospects of preventing or avoiding future tragedies, is even slimmer! Tragedy is going to occur. We must be prepared for it.

Our natural response is to sooth the pain, as best we can… I am suggesting that we improve our level of “best we can” to help in an emergency. Tragedies and emergencies are predictably unpredictable! We are all potential “first responders”! More critically, we are all subject to needing a “first responder”! I need for you to know how to help me just as you need me to know how to help you!

I am proposing that we, the residents, business owners, and visitors to the City of San Bernardino, take the leadership position in emergency preparedness! Our access to life in one of the most beautiful places on the planet demands that we meet the challenge to stay here! If not for the regular unexpected catastrophe, surely for the expected!  We know that we shall have an earthquake and that it will be inconvenient and unpredictable, but it will not be unexpected… So we should not be unprepared.

Becoming a certified emergency response team member is a highly-trained status that we all should aspire, but for practical reasons, cannot. But, becoming certified in CPR is attainable, and is one of the most important tools of a first responder.

I propose that we organize ourselves to reject the nation’s exposure to our tragedy as the symbol and image of our being… That we organize ourselves to demonstrate our resilience and determination to define and achieve the All-American Lifestyle that represents the beauty of “Living Beneath the Arrowhead” in beautiful San Bernardino Valley.

Our proposed campaign to learn CPR, though symbolic, is a very practical asset. CPR has value at home, work and play, in private and public places. Our campaign describes our passion and compassion for each other, as well as our arrogant love of life beneath the Arrowhead.

Will you join our campaign to learn and teach CPR?

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

What do you think about owning a Credit Union? Will you please take the time to respond to the short survey on page three and submit as requested…

Here is what I think…

Credit Unions are owned by their members. Credit Unions are designed to reward their members as opposed to paying dividends to investors. Credit Unions provide regular/normal/customary/traditional banking services for individual, as well as business members. Credit Unions are conveniently accessible via brick and mortar sites, as well as via the internet. 

There are some special services that should be available in our Credit Union; for instance, our churches should be able to access loans. Our small businesses should be able to access loans. Individuals should be able to access auto and home loans. Obviously, checking and savings accounts must be part of the package. All this must be conveniently available at reasonable rates! 

The Credit Union should have Directors that are known members of our community. The Credit Union should run as lean and efficient as possible so that the emphasis is on customer service. Employees and contractors for the Credit Union should be members of our community.

A mission of the Credit Union should be to serve the members and community as an economic support and development resource.

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Greetings and Merry Christmas! As we enter this season of holidays and goodwill, I encourage you to remember the importance and impact of where you spend and invest your money. Please, all of you, regardless of your race ethnicity or political persuasion, help balance America’s economic opportunity by supporting Black Owned Businesses (BOB) whenever possible. There are jobs that follow your spending and being that the Black unemployment rates are the highest, spending with BOB creates potential employment opportunities that otherwise do not exist for some Black males. There are several Directories of Black Owned businesses on the web. Google, “Black Owned Business Directory” and you will find a variety of directories.

As we ask your participation in supporting the economic wellness of America via supporting BOB, we will make it easier for you by highlighting businesses in the Inland Empire.

This week we are highlighting a familiar face and place. Most of us can find the time and appetite to patronize McDonalds. Yes you can support BOB by eating at certain McDonalds restaurants! The following list of McDonalds restaurants is owned and managed by Webb Family Enterprises.

Reginald Webb, the founder and patriarch of Webb family Enterprises will be my guest on this Sunday’s “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) radio show. Listen to the program at 10: 00 AM via 1050 AM in San Bernardino/Loma Linda, 102.3 FM in Riverside/Moreno Valley and 106.5 FM in Redlands/Yucaipa.

The program streams live video via www.kcaaradio.com

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace Allen IV

Today, and every new day presents an opportunity to choose to attempt to go forward or to quit or possibly do something in between. The President Elect, Donald Trump, said things that some will find encouraging. He will rebuild the inner city and African American Community, build bridges and highways and create jobs, and he has not at this writing, mentioned building a wall!

However, many people are disappointed and possibly afraid of the Trump Presidency. I suggest that depending on government action is risky business even when you feel good about who is elected. Life is surely stressful if you feel disrespected by them. I suggest that the election of Donald Trump can and must become a good thing, and to assure our community’s success, we must play our “Trump” card!

Economic issues confronting our community require that concerned and talented community members visualize and effect plans that acknowledge our resources. Demonstrating respect for our resources and potential is a big but very achievable step. Consider that our churches deposit a estimated $500,000,000 per Monday. That deposit is not being levered. Additionally, our trillion dollar annual buying- power is promptly diluted by our propensity to immediately spend it outside of our community. Correcting that bad habit will change things very quickly. Circulating money is how a community grows itself. There can be safety and security in numbers. A community that successfully utilizes its member resources will find that others outside their community will respect that accomplishment and want to work with them also. Whether the President Elect is somehow able to do something for us or not, controlling our resources can be more beneficial than any government program.    

That a group of people can spend a trillion dollars a year and not be economically viable is a demonstration of inappropriate behavior. The fact is, behavior is something that can be corrected. In the ‘games of life’ we know that doing the unexpected, the unusual, can lead to triumph. Our community will find economic triumph by doing the unexpected, the unusual. Focusing on levering our resources and ‘vesting our money in developing our community’ is indeed, an unexpected change and definitely appropriate behavior!

In this game of economics, changing from a random, suicidal spending attitude to a focused buying/spending strategy is in effect, “playing our Trump card”!

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen

San Bernardino L & M; Charter Change… FOR… City Clerk Treasurer, City Attorney not elected   AGAINST want to vote for those positions   Measure O, Repeals S B Ban on sales N;   & P; Regulates growing and sales of MJ…

51… School Bonds, K-12 & Community College Facilities…   YES!

52… Medi-Cal Hospital Fee…       YES! BENEFITS Total Healthcare in Ca…

53… Revenue Bonds Statewide Voter Approval     YES! Though investor money develops, resident use is the ultimate payback to investors! Work done in phases is more transparent and efficient, especially when done with public money!

54… Legislature, Legislative Proceedings… YES! Requires 72 hour internet before legislation can be voted on… Video and record all Legislative meetings.

55… Tax Extension…   YES! Taxes people earning $250,000 per year to aid Education & Healthcare… (We should all look forward to qualifying to pay this tax)

56… Cigarette Tax … NO!  This 2-dollar tax is a misguided attempt to stop poor people from smoking… It is targeting poor and mentally challenged people who would probably stop smoking if they had a job with a living wage… Jobs and mental services would probably be a better means of producing the next wave of Tobacco Use Reduction… And a tax on luxury items would probably raise more money than the cigarette tax! (Possibly)

57… Criminal Sentences…   YES!     Court assignments for juveniles will be made by Juvenile Court Judges… Parole for non-violent convictions! Will not release prisoners convicted of violent crimes as defined by the California Penal Code! See page 143 of your large California Official Voter Guide

58… English Proficiency Multilingual Education… YES!     Allows parents/schools to locally determine the bilingual teaching methodology…

59… Corporations, Political Spending …   YES!   Gives California an Official Billboard stating opposition to “Citizens United”! It speaks against creating a “Corporate Humanity” class as super political contributors.

60… Adult Films, Condoms… Requires Condom use during filming… NO!   This provides no additional protection for workers and creates right to sue for uninvolved entities…

61… State Prescription Purchasing, Pricing standards… YES!   Do not worry about Big Pharmacy raising the price on the VA and thus on everyone else! The VA contract is for all 50 states! Big Pharmacy cannot raise prices in California ONLY!

62… Death Penalty Repealed… YES! Saves Money, Eliminates executing the innocent and coddling the guilty!

63… Firearms, Ammunition Sales…   NO!   How much is too much ammunition? Too expensive to enforce and is potential result worth it? One can make his own ammunition as well as build his/her own firearm… How it that going to be regulated

64… Marijuana Legalization… NO!   This Prop is too complicated… possession of one ounce is all ready legal for adults. Need a bill to decriminalize… Legalization is an economic opportunity that needs transparent regulations that allow for equal access to the industry.

65… Carryout Bags Charges (Directs funds)   NO!   Plastic bag companies need your vote to keep selling bags…

66… Death Penalty… Mend It Don’t End It…   NO!   Lawyers are the main beneficiaries of a “yes”!

67… Ban on Single Use Plastic bag Sales… NO!    Let your city decide!

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

If you have seen any of the TV commercials or print ads regarding the Propositions, you are probably as confused as they apparently want you to be. Leading up to a forum, members of San Bernardino’s North-West PAC will join me on the “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) radio program as my guests to discuss and clarify the 17 Propositions that are on the California State Ballot. We discussed 51 thru 56 last Sunday… That program can be seen at this link   www.ustream.tv/recorded/92095530  

We will discuss Propositions 57 thru 62 this Sunday Morning on the “ETB” radio broadcast. We will review props 63 thru 67 the following Sunday, October 23^rd. The NWPAC is hosting a forum on Saturday October 29^th to review all 17 propositions as well as the measures on the San Bernardino City ballot. I will provide actual recommendations on the Sunday October 30^th ETB program. Those recommendations will also be published in the November 3rd edition of WssNews.

ETB is broadcast on KCAA 1050-AM Radio each Sunday Morning at 10:00 with live stream video via www.kcaaradio.com and can be heard directly on your phone by dialing 832-909-1050.

The North-West PAC is presenting the forum to discuss the Propositions and San Bernardino Measures on Saturday October 29^th at 2050 North Mt Vernon Ave. Refreshments will be served at the forum which begins at 9am.

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

What can we do to get people who disagree to actually talk to each other? We must find common ground! My grandfather said, “It takes two fools to argue without seeking a solution.” My problem…When I ‘catch you in a lie’, I am left to wonder ‘how may did I miss?’

My Drug Counselor friends have suspiciously questioned the Trump Nose-sniffle that was so distractingly obvious during the opening portion of the debate, suggesting that while Hillary fortified herself with study, Trump was putting something in his nose to prepare himself for debate!

Both of the candidates apparently think my friends and I are more concerned about where they think Obama was born than what happens to the 25% of Blacks that desperately need jobs. Hillary and Donald spent too much time trying to make Black Folk be mad and scared, instead of describing plans that are encouraging and inspirational. Neither candidate spoke with passion about improving urban conditions with business development and job creation that can improve urban children’s prospects. Young people with bright futures do not seek out gang membership!

My final inspiration from the debate was to remember that while we know “a change is gonna’ come”, that the best way for us to speed the change is to ‘read to our children’ and ‘support and spend with Black Owned Businesses’ when possible. “Walk together children, and don’t you get weary”!

I would love to talk with someone who disagrees. Please call me at (909) 384-8131!