Bottom Line

Mommie Helen

BOTTOMLINE… Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen

Publisher’s Commentary   By Wallace J. Allen

Less than fourteen percent of San Bernardino’s eligible voters bothered to vote in the past November elections. Elections that selected five City Council Members who will make the major policy decisions to lead the city out of bankruptcy!

Sixth Ward voters get a chance for a ‘do over’! They will get a second opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice. There is a special run-off election scheduled for Tuesday February 2. The special election will decide the occupant of the 6^th Ward Seat.  In the November’ general election, only 3 of every 20 people registered to vote in San Bernardino’s 6^th ward, did so.

Is it correct to assume that the other seventeen people who didn’t vote don’t really care who is “in charge” in City Hall? Or maybe they just trust the judgment of the three who decided to vote.

Anyone that holds elected position for a constituency that votes at a less than fifteen percent rate knows the people they represent “don’t really give a hoot”! How the elected official responds to that fact is a demonstration of their integrity… But we have to admit, it is probably difficult to drive a hard negotiation for your constituency when the elected official that is being negotiated with knows that the people that you are representing, “don’t really give a hoot”!

A Sixth Ward Candidates Forum & Debate is scheduled for 6 PM Monday January 11. Sixth Ward voters can see, hear and question the two wonderful women who are candidates for the right to represent the Sixth Ward.  The Forum is at the Ingrahm Community center, 2050 N. Mt Vernon Avenue.

If you are eligible to be a voter, you should care about the condition of your streets and street lights, about garbage and blight, about fire protection and police services, about parks and activities for children and senior citizens. You should care about business and job development! The list goes on and so does government that probably doesn’t serve you, but it appears that 17 out of 20 of you “don’t really give a hoot”! There is too much at stake to not vote!

“You will probably lose more by not voting than you gain by voting. It is kind of like treading water, you don’t get far doing it, but you can lose everything if you don’t! “- Wha-Lee.

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

The Chicago Police Department covered up a brutal police shooting. They destroyed and hide video evidence of one of their officers shooting and killing a Black Teenage boy. The officer then continued to riddle the apparently dead body with additional bullets… A total of sixteen bullets!

The officer said he was threatened by the boy… There were at least three other police officers witnessing the shooting… They were on duty, so some will argue, they were really participating.  Their “incident reports” regarding the shooting obviously supported the “boy was threatening” story!

The Chicago Police Department convinced the victim’s family to promise to keep silent about the shooting by quickly offering 5-million dollars in ‘hush mouth” money! One question is, did the Chicago Police Department tell the family how the killing really took place and that there was a video of the entire sixteen shot shooting?  If not, it looks like another lie that the Chicago Police Department is caught in.

A stubborn journalist sued the Chicago Police Department in a “freedom of information” action and was awarded the power to force the release of the video.

The video shows the teenager walking away from the policeman who started shooting the “threatening” boy while he was at least two car lengths away from the officer… The officer shot sixteen times and each bullet ended its journey with body wrenching impact on the dying, and for some of the bullets, the dead body of the teenaged Black Boy.

The Chicago Police Department’s response to being caught in this morass of lies has to this point been to, after a year, finally charge the shooter with murder. However, that arrest occurred only hours before court ordered public viewing of the incriminating video.  Days of community protest and national outrage have initiated the Mayor’s firing of the Police Chief and his request that the citizens of Chicago trust his good intentions.  That would suggest that the mayor had not seen the video and that he was not party to the cover up… Would you drink that Kool-Aid?

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Most of our Armed Services personnel are probably used to hearing the “Thank you for your service” part of this headline, especially during the days just before Veterans Day.  As we consider the poor condition of the country’s infrastructure, our streets, bridges, highways and dams, we can be sure that every natural disaster has the potential to turn tragic. We also know that the structure of family and community is constantly challenged and evolving under the influence of low and no wage, corruption and if not lawlessness. We can certainly agree that we have biased law enforcement.

All of the above are reasons to add the “We still need you” phrase of this article’s headline when we encounter a veteran.  Their training and love for America has been proven by their initial service.  They have put their lives on the line for an ideal… freedom and fairness is what they fight for.  Many come home from the fight, wounded either physically or emotionally, which translates to, ’unfinished business’.  They need to be included and valued for the rest of their lives.  Their knowledge and proven commitment make them very valuable assets as emergency responders, youth counselors, and public safety coordinators.

Combat veterans should not be allowed to become police officers, because the gun on their hip is the military problem solver. Our police need to depend on the gun as a last resort.  Our combat veterans should never have to worry about healthcare, income, housing or educational opportunity for the rest of their lives.  Yes, I think they become ‘entitled’ to these things as a result of risking their lives for our country, and you and me!

Requesting that they serve as responder volunteers, community organizers, and public safety coordinators as the continuum of their service is reasonable and a great public benefit! However, if they choose not to make themselves available for additional service, they should still receive their entitlement!

There are many veterans providing public service in the form discussed… They are doing their job! There are still many veterans who are jobless, homeless and or alone… Veterans who are waiting for medical care, or a friend to step up! That true statement suggests that we, the ones that the veterans risked their lives for, are not doing our job.

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen                                                                                                                       

When I first heard the news that processed foods, meats in particular, were potentially cancer causing, I focused on the concept of ‘potential’. I took that and other cancer warnings as information for ‘someone else’.  My ‘blessed’ life would surely not include cancer! However I learned that God’s love would include giving me a reason to demonstrate my faith and good sense.  Prostate Cancer corrected my attitude. It makes me realize how easy it is to resist good advice. Eating food for fuel and exercising regularly is good advice!

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported something that reinforces advice that many Black people ignored because of whom they heard first give the advice. The leader of the USA Based Nation Of Islam… The Honorable Elijah Muhammad in the early 1950’s, told Black People and anyone else that wanted to listen, that eating pork was not healthy….Many Blacks, to show their disregard for The Minister’s separatist philosophy, bragged about cooking and eating pork that they said “taste so good it would change the Minister’s mind”. The Minister’s message of “Eat To Live” was lost on many who did not want to do anything that would appear to be in harmony with that group of Blacks who’s leader kept saying things like “Do For Self”… another piece of good advice.

According to various internet sites, WHO’s research arm found that all processed meats, including sausages, ham, and hot dogs, are carcinogens. The report says that 50 grams a day—about two slices of bacon—raises the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%, per the BBC.

This news from WHO is the last reminder that I will need…  I have two grandsons that love loving bacon! Refusing them is not one of my natural talents. However, making adjustments is. For instance in the past when we would take them to breakfast, Mrs. Allen cooked turkey bacon at home and took it with us, so they could have the ‘healthy’ bacon. Well according to WHO, turkey bacon is processed and therefore as much a carcinogen as red meats.

You may be one of the many people to whom Mrs. Allen and I have preached the virtues of turkey bacon. Well, here is some new advice… Unless you are making your own bacon from turkey you cook, stop feeding it to the kids!

Since an adjustment is necessary…For their future, we will choose to take our grandchildren out for dinner, where bacon is not on the menu. We advise you to do the same!

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Plain clothes officers should be limited to making observations, and not be allowed to make arrest, unless accompanying a uniformed officer. Citizens should be able to know when a real police officer is ‘giving orders’.  A plain clothes officer should not expect carte blanch conduct rights against the general public. Plain clothes and or undercover police are performing surveillance and are in fact, disguised as ‘regular’ citizens.  Since it is legal for regular citizens to have guns and other self protection devices, police officers who are disguised as regular citizens should have a protocol that protects the officer and the general public from the ‘natural and legal’ response of a citizen who thinks he/she is being unjustly attacked, and thus justified in attempting to defend self. That citizen should not be charged with resisting an officer if he had no way of knowing that his attacker is a police officer.  The respect and deference owed to a police officer can only be provided to someone that is known to be such. Too many citizens have died as a result of encounters with police who though are off-duty and out of uniform, have exercised police actions with an attitude of authority despite being disguised as regular citizens.

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Due to last minute complications at the 777 Allen Street venue, the WssNews presentation of “World Class Jazz at 777” scheduled for this Saturday, August 15, featuring the legendary Barbara Morrison has been cancelled.  The venue, the 777 Community Warehouse, recently held a “Save the Warehouse” fundraiser. Apparently under financial pressure, the site manager, Willie Walker, demanded a last minute upfront fee from WssNews in addition to the original income sharing agreement. The fee demand was a deal breaker because paying it would have guaranteed a financial loss for WssNews. We have supported and continue to support 777, and we hope that they can continue operating. We are disappointed that our desire to present a world class show is sidetracked. We are sorry to disappoint the jazz lovers who were looking forward to a world class show.

WssNews will continue the quest to bring “World Class Jazz” to the IE! We thank and apologize to those of you who have purchased advanced tickets to the Barbara Morrison show. We appreciate your support; however, we are in the act of returning your money to you!  If you have not received your refund by the time this is published please call WssNews at (909) 384-8131. If you have any suggestions about bringing “World Class Jazz” to the IE, write me at walleniv@yahoo.com.

Meanwhile you can still hear Mr. Anthony Garcia play spontaneous jazz every Sunday morning on my “Empire Talks Back” radio show. Anthony, while performing the duty of “Mood Master”, plays his bass guitar throughout the talk show. ETB airs at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings on KCAA 1050-AM radio and streams live video via www.kcaaradio.com.

Anyone and Everyone Carrying Deadly Weapons In The Name Of Public Safety Should Be Videoed While Working…

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

The general police response to Black Folk in America is and has been corrupt. The truth of that statement is based on the common “feelings” of parents and guardians of Black boys as we acknowledge the need to tell our boys “how to act” when confronted by the police. We instruct our sons to not just “be” cooperative but to “act” docile, childlike and very cooperative, to give the police no “additional” reasons to mistreat them.  Statistics prove the corrupted attitude which police generally express when dealing with Black folk and Black males in specific. The disproportionate number of Blacks in the penal system is any thinking person’s evidence.  However knowing that Blacks are a target does not get disturbing to some until they realize that the police were just “practicing” on Blacks… That their callous treatment of Blacks might be just a tune-up for how they will also treat Brown people and as demonstrated recently by San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies, white people too.

It is a common theory among “thinking” people that Fire is ok in the Black Community, unless the smoke starts to disturb the White community…drugs symbolically represent that fire. For instance some have been heard to say, “Marijuana arrests are ok as long as the bulk of the people arrested are Black, but rather than arrest all of the whites that use it, they make it legal”!

So what happens when the first white man is recorded while receiving the “Black Beat-down” from San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies? Two things of real importance subsequently occurred that allows white people to maintain confidence in their Sheriff Deputies’ service attitude. Only twelve days after the incident was broadcast across the nation, the County Board of Supervisors made an unsolicited award of $650,000 to the white victim. That settlement offer, if accepted by the victim will also protect the officers involved, because their corrupt conduct at the scene will not have to be dissected and explained in a very public trial. The Board Of Supervisors’ response can have the (intended?) effect of keeping the smoky threat from irritating the eyes of some white people, but the alarm has sounded.

I think that each day and with each police action more people agree that all peace officers should be recorded while they work. What do you think?

BOTTOMLINE… Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors ordered the Sheriff’s Department to create a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of using Body Cameras. The recent NBC video of County Sheriff’s Deputies’ violent capture of a “since-released-with-no-charges-filed-against-him” suspect prompts the BOS concern.

Deputies, and all police should wear body cameras. The concern regarding the effect of police wearing body cameras is a mystery to me. Police serving the city of Rialto have been celebrated across America for their effective crime and violence reducing Body Camera Policy.

The Guardian Newspaper published a statement back in November 2013 regarding the Rialto Body Camera Policy entitled, “The College of Policing”, which recently announced plans for large-scale trials of body-worn video in England and Wales, saying Rialto’s experiment showed big drops in the use of force and in public complaints against officers.”

The New York Daily News published a story in August of 2013, written by Nancy Dillion that quoted the Rialto Police Chief regarding the effectiveness of using Body Cameras.

Rialto Police Chief Tony Farrar said he had worried the cameras would have a chilling effect, but found that wasn’t the case:

“The thinking was that some officers wearing cameras might try to hide and not really do their job. We found the opposite,” Farrar said. “We actually had 3,000 more officer-citizen contacts during the year (of the experiment).”

At the same time, formal complaints against his officers plunged 88 percent during the year, he said. And officer “use of force” incidents dropped by 59 percent.

“When you put a camera on a police officer or anyone, the natural human reaction is that you behave a little more professional. You follow the rules a little more,” he said. “On the other side, if a citizen knows the officer has a camera, that person acts and behaves a little bit more professional, too.”

He said the program cost about $150,000 for the initial 54 cameras, the batteries and the software — all supplied by Taser and Evidence.com.

The local proof of positive results coming from the police use of Body Cameras is in! There is little need for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department to continue dragging feet regarding Body Cameras. They need to simply call Rialto for advice and consultation!

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Crispus Attucks

Black History Month is an acknowledgment of the fact that “Black Lives Matter”! The history of the planet and its people is peppered with accomplishments of adventure, creativity and tenacity by men and women of color.  The need to provide special attention to the importance of Black people in the development of the planet and Western Civilization is based on the institutional justification of Black enslavement. The Western Civilization economic needs justified a policy of Colonization that time has lived to determine as racist and exploitive. America’s greatness is tainted by our history of slavery and denial of reparations for the enslaved and their children’s, children’s, children.  The first official blood spilled for America’s freedom was that of Crispus Attucks, a Black man. Despite the hate constantly heaped upon Blacks in America, supported by the laws and policy of America’s institutions, Black people have served, contributed and earned the right to be respected and honored as a golden thread in America’s fabric.

Black History Month is a time that the institutions of America need to step up and acknowledge the equality gap. The elected officials, especially those who are in place because of Black elective support, as the representatives of the institutions that still get it wrong, should use BHM as a time to address the Black Community and express concern for the inequality that still exists. They need to attend events and place advertisements in the programs that are advocating for equal access and opportunity for the least served.  Though we applaud the accomplishments of Alexander Dumas, we cannot forget that Blacks are statistical victims in America’s education system.  Our elected officials are in charge of the schools that fail our children and the society that could benefit from another great Black scholar. They are in charge of our cities and counties where public safety and other government jobs are issued to the family members and friends of the “all ready employed good ole boys”.   There are still many individuals who have racist tendencies, but it is the institutions that have the power of policy that causes havoc to race relations in America.

Black History Month is the time that allows for image correction. The Black image is in need of an upgrade from both, the inside and outside… Black folk cannot afford to have “a season of pride”.  We should regard pride as a lifestyle not an occasion.  A lifestyle of pride requires us to realize that what we do today will be what our children’s children will regard as their history.  We will want them to know that we held our elected officials to a standard of service and respect that earned our votes.  The need for remembering Black people’s historical contributions will continue as long as our elected officials continue to allow and promote policies such as “war on drugs” and “three strikes”. Those policies are racist and they develop the statistics that make Blacks appear to be a social problem as opposed to the benevolent contributors that history proves.

Register to vote and vote! Take your children to a City Council, a School Board or County Board of Supervisors meeting, and explain how the officials get there and how they are replaced by election or recall.  Who you and I voted for and where you and I spent our money will become important personal history that has social implications for our children.  Let us get it right!