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By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

This year’s wildfire season has already been out of the ordinary. About 3.3 million acres have burned across vast tracts of California, Oregon and Washington. The areas surrounding those places have also been affected by dangerous levels of smoke over the last few weeks. 

Although the skies in the Bay Area are no longer orange and the air quality has improved, wildfire season is not over.  Therefore, officials are advising people living close to wildfires to learn more about how air quality affects their health. 

“Anytime we have any major wildfires, we often see some very high levels of air pollution,” said Dr. Jo Kay Ghosh, the Health Effects Officer at South Coast Air Quality Management District, the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.  

She spoke to California Black Media about how unhealthy air quality affects our health. 

“Most of us have been experiencing burning eyes, or a scratchy throat, a headache, or coughing,” she said.  But for some people, these high levels of particle air pollution can cause more serious health problems such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and heart attack.” 

Some Black communities in California are already exposed to higher levels of air pollution. A number of studies have found that that dangerous amounts of contaminants continue to poison the air in African-American and lower-income areas even as they decrease in higher-income and predominantly White areas. 

Several studies have also found that wildfires are growing contributors to fine-particle pollution across the West Coast. Though the long-term health effects of exposure to fine-particle pollution and smog are well-established, there has been little research on the long-term effects of wildfire smoke, according to environmental experts.  

“We know that some communities that are living near a lot of sources of air pollution like freeways or areas where there’s a lot of industrial activity, we know that these communities are often disproportionately impacted by these types of health conditions. So whenever we have this kind of poor air quality during wildfires, we definitely recommend to take precaution because these high levels of pollution can cause some serious health problems,” Ghosh said. 

The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) measures the amount of air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500. It increases as air quality gets worse, with an AQI value over 300 representing hazardous air quality. When the AQI reaches between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, and at 151 or higher, members of the general public may experience health effects, with the risk getting higher as the AQI increases. 

Ghosh recommends that community members check their air quality frequently, as conditions can change quickly. South Coast Air Quality Management District has an air quality app available on their website in both English and Spanish. 

“When we have wildfire conditions, your air quality can change hour to hour and sometimes even within a few minutes, because the wind conditions really affect which direction the smoke is going. Some areas might see moderate air quality, and maybe in the next hour, it might go all the way up to unhealthy. So definitely check what the conditions are in your area at that time.” 

Ghosh says there are a few preventive measures all Californians affected by poor quality of air — or who live near wildfires —  can take, too, to manage their health. 

“If you’re seeing that your air quality in your area is unhealthy, try to stay indoors if your doors and windows shut. If you have an air conditioner, air purifier you can run that to help filter out particles that may have gotten indoors. But you know those units can be pretty expensive. So actually, there are some instructions available to create a temporary air purifier. If you can get a box fan and a disposable air filter, you can create a temporary air filter that you can use it in a bedroom.” 

The South Coast AQMD app is available at aqmd.gov/mobileapp.  

RIALTO, CA—- In response to the exponential population growth in communities served by the West Valley Water District, the WVWD Board of Directors approved a series of critical water infrastructure improvements for North Fontana residents in Zone 7. By installing new pressure regulation systems and conducting main line improvements, WVWD will be able to better maintain and control the steady flow of water to the area’s residents.

Board President Channing Hawkins stated, “By getting in front of tomorrow’s infrastructure challenges today, we are building a stronger foundation for our community’s future growth. From doubling our water treatment capabilities to enhancing our pipe and pressure systems, our board is actively working with our staff to provide the resources necessary to providing safe, high quality, and reliable water to our ratepayers.”

The project is located in Fontana, west of Citrus Avenue and north of Interstate 15. A new pressure regulation valve, 18 inch pipe fittings, a fire hydrant and connection points for anticipated residential developments and future WVWD projects will be installed at an approved cost of $150,000. When completed, the project will greatly contribute to maintaining reliable, controlled water pressure. Water pressure that is too low causes appliance malfunctions and customer inconvenience; too high, and water is wasted, resulting in excessive water bills. These improvements will thus ensure that water flow is strong enough for smooth living, and controlled enough for high system efficiency.

According to a report last year in the San Bernardino Sun, Fontana may soon overtake San Bernardino as the largest city in the county. Fontana’s population has grown an average of one percent per year since 2010, and grew by 8.3% between 2010 and 2018. To meet the housing and commercial needs of a growing population, developers in North Fontana believe at least 6,000 new water connections will be installed over the next two decades. 

Board Vice President Kyle Crowther stated, “In just this past month, we have approved both this project and the vast expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility. Our water infrastructure must continue to grow to meet the demands of our growing community. Rest assured that we are all working together to guarantee that our community will enjoy reliable, robust water infrastructure for decades to come.

The pressure regulation and main line improvements follow and supplement WVWD’s expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility, which will increase the facility’s treatment capacity by 16 million gallons per day by integrating advanced water treatment technologies. The expansion project will not only allow WVWD to meet unprecedented population growth and rising peak summer usage, but provide the water resources necessary for the replenishment of groundwater levels; by treating aqueduct water from Northern California to meet community needs, reductions in pumping water from the ground can allow groundwater levels to be recover from drought-induced heavier use. Combined, these projects will ensure that there is more than enough safe and sustainable water for generations to come. 

Black Caucus Writes Letters Defending State Bar Candidate  Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media  
On Sept.15, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) sent out separate letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate Pro Tem Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), voicing its concerns about the treatment of two high profile African American public servants.  In the letter obtained by California Black Media, the organization, comprised of African Americans elected to the state legislature, called out the “practices of the State Bar of California —? most recently involving Black women.”  
“Specifically, we are shocked and appalled by the mistreatment of Attorney Fredericka McGee, who had her job offer as Executive Director of the State Bar rescinded without explanation. We are also troubled that Debbie Manning recently and abruptly resigned from the State Board,” CLBC chair and Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) wrote in the letter to Atkins.   
The board of trustees offered McGee — a respected California legislative attorney licensed in the state for 30 years — the position of executive director in July.?  
Last month, the organization, which serves as an administrative arm of the State Supreme Court and is charged with protecting the public interest, reportedly withdrew the proposal without providing McGee an explanation.?  
Manning, a member of State Bar’s 13-member board — the only African American serving on the governing body — surprisingly resigned halfway through her term. She was appointed to a four-year term by the state Senate in 2018.?  
“Over the past few months, this nation has witnessed the inhumane treatment of African Americans in this country. While the focus has been on law enforcement, we are aware that systemic racism does not confine itself to one agency, but can be experienced in macro and micro aggressions,” Weber stated in the letter to Newsom.  
The executive director of the State Bar leads the senior management team responsible for various programs. The position requires the executive director to answer to the board of trustees and advance its policies. The State Bar Board of Trustees chairperson Alan Steinbrecher, responding to published reports about the McGee issue, said the governing board does not comment publicly about personnel decisions.  
“We are not in the position to respond to specifics reported in the press because the executive director’s selection process is a confidential, personnel matter,” he said. ? Weber requested an urgent meeting with Newsom to discuss the issues surrounding the State Bar and McGee’s appointment. Her letter also asked that the governor veto Assembly Bill (AB) 3362 or hold off on considering it until a meeting takes place.?  
AB 3362, a bill that would authorize the State Bar to collect fees from California attorneys and restrict its board of trustees from discussing issues about the Bar’s exams administration, is currently being reviewed by the governor.  
“The State Bar of California has a long history of inappropriate behavior. The need to hold them accountable is long overdue. While the Legislature’s role is limited, it is no less important and impactful,” Weber said in the letter to the governor.  
The mission of the CLBC is to advocate for the interests of Black Californians, remove obstacles that Black Americans face in every aspect of life, demand equity to eliminate disparities between racial groups, and increase African-American participation and representation in all levels of government.??? Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus include: The chair, Assemblymember Shirley N.Weber (D-San Diego); Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles), the group’s vice chair; Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles), secretary; Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), treasurer; Sen, Holy J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena); Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-South Bay, Los Angeles); Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D- South Los Angeles); and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). 

Over the weekend on September 19^th, local recording artist and community activist Justified Smith and his organization Fathers In Hip Hop brought a big blessing to the High Desert with their BLESSED IN THE MESS RELIEF EFFORT CAMPAIGN, by going to the Walmart Super Center/Victorville on 395 and Palmdale Rd. to bless the mess. Earlier in the week Justified and his team of supporters and contributors raised $2,000 and all of it went towards the purchase of Walmart gift cards in the amounts of $50 and $100.  

After the purchase of the gift cards, Justified along with his rap comrade Big2daboy and their teams walked through the store in search of fathers and families to bless randomly with the gift cards to go towards their purchases. Adelanto city council candidates Daniel Ramos and Roy Isaiah joined Fathers In Hip Hop on this day and helped with the distribution of the funds.  

Adelanto Mayor Gabriel Reyes & City Commissioner Daniel Ramos also joined in on the giving by making a donation of $500 to the campaign on behalf of the City Of Adelanto. They believe in what Justified and Fathers In Hip Hop are trying to accomplish with the fathers in their city.  

Justified believes that if you bless the fathers, the families will be blessed as well. Giving these gift cards to the fathers is their way of acknowledging and honoring ACTIVE FATHERS and saluting them for accepting the call of duty and being present in their children’s lives. He also believes that spending time is just as important as spending money when it comes to being a father. 

$1,200 in gift cards were distributed to fathers and their families inside of the Walmart. The following day Sunday September 20^th Justified, Daniel Ramos, and Mayor Gabriel Reyes took the remaining $800 in gift cards to the streets on the north end of Adelanto, and visited an apartment complex where they sought out and found more fathers to bless with the gift cards. The fathers that were fortunate enough to receive this unexpected blessing were overwhelmed with gratefulness and really appreciated the gift cards. While out distributing the cards they came across a team of first responders and decided to bless the Adelanto Fire Department with a Gift Card in the amount of $50 to honor of the fathers on their team, and advised them to take the blessing and use it for their Fire House.  

Justified and Fathers In Hip Hop are determined and committed to be a blessing to the fathers and families of the high desert. All the money is was raised by donations from local businesses and supporters who believe in the mission of Fathers In Hip Hop and what they’re doing with their Blessed In The Mess Relief Effort. If you want to participate in the giving, you can do so by making a donation to their cash app $fathersinhiphop. You can also connect with the Fathers In Hip Hop via email at fathersinhiphop@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) has been named one of the best online community colleges in California in a recent announcement by national college ranking website Learn.org. In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, most Inland Empire college students are continuing their educational journeys remotely from the safety of their homes. From its incredibly low cost at $46 per unit, to its extensive availability of financial aid assistance and diversity of academic programs, SBVC continues to be a top choice for higher education in the region.

In its selection of the top online community colleges, Learn.org considered data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Department of Education and evaluated quality of programs, student outcomes, cost, accessibility, and

other factors “critical to students’ academic decisions.” SBVC was ranked number 7 out of the top 25—out of a total of 116—community colleges across California. The website also ranked SBVC as having one of the highest percentages of students receiving financial aid, at 82%. In addition to providing financial aid to students, the college has distributed hundreds of laptop computers and high-speed internet hotspots to students to facilitate online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and kept its Valley 360 Resource Center (food pantry) open on campus, where students can pick up a free, pre-packaged bag of food or hygiene items every week.

SBVC offers an extensive variety of degrees and certificates fully online, such as administration of justice, anthropology, business administration, philosophy and sociology, as well as many more that are being offered virtually temporarily during Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. To learn more about online learning at SBVC, visit www.valleycollege.edu.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Friday, September 11, Community Action Partnership San Bernardino will be doing a CAPSBC Cares Meals Challenge. There are two ways that people can participate, which is through a virtual food drive and food donation.

The event will kick off at Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.capsbc.org/virtualfooddrive.

Jesse James Nichols was the fourth of seven children born to James Edward and Carrie Bell Nichols on December 9, 1958, in San Bernardino, California.  He attended California Elementary, Shandin Hills Middle School and Eisenhower High Schools. During those years, Jesse became a skilled football player and a self-taught artist.  The family attended St. John Church of God in Christ where Richard Tribble was the pastor.  After high school, Jesse attended San Bernardino Valley College for two years. He played football while there. In 1978, he enlisted in the U. S. Army. His tours included travel to many parts of the world including: England, Panama, Korea and Germany.

In July 2003, Jesse married Victoria (Vicki) Lee and the couple donated their time, skills and passion to the service of others, feeding the homeless, assisting seniors, and serving people in need throughout the community in more capacities than his page can contain. The people of San Bernardino know and love the dynamic duo, Vicki and Jesse, the King and Queen of the Black Culture Foundation, and the city mourns with Vicki and the family.  In 2003, Jesse joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in 2003 under the leadership of Dr. Robert L. Fairley. He was a member of the Drama Ministry and the New Hope Security Team. He remained an active member until God called him home on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.  The viewing will take place on Thursday, September 10th, 2 PM – 4 PM, Community Memorial Chapel, 738 East Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, California 92404.  The homegoing service will be live streamed from Community Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 11, 2020 at 11:00 AM.  Please call Community Memorial Chapel at (909) 713-2093 for the link.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Omnitrans is set to implement significant service changes on September 8, including new, realigned, and eliminated routes, a microtransit pilot project, and restoration of some service that was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re pleased to welcome our customers back with enhanced cleaning and increased frequency on our most popular routes,” said Omnitrans CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “This service change implementation maximizes system efficiency to prepare our agency for future transit needs and financial sustainability.”

In all, 27 of the agency’s 32 current routes are scheduled for changes, including resumption of 20-minute service on Omnitrans’ core network, Routes 1, 3, 4, 14, 61, 66, the elimination of seven routes and the introduction of four new routes to cover most of the impacted service areas. The new routes also will provide connections to the communities of Eastvale and the Ontario-East Metrolink station for the first time.

The agency also will introduce OmniRide microtransit service in Chino Hills and parts of Chino, which allows customers to make reservations on the OmniRide On-Demand mobile app and be picked up and delivered to specific locations in the service area on weekdays, much like Uber or Lyft service.

Detailed information on all service changes is available at www.omnitrans.org/guide-to-september-2020-service-changes/.

These service changes implement Omnitrans’ ConnectForward plan, which was introduced earlier this year at a series of 22 public meetings throughout the region. The plan was finalized following customer feedback and approved by the agency Board of Directors this summer.

Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

On Aug. 17, the “Yes On Prop 17” campaign held its Official Proposition 17 Campaign Virtual Kick-Off on Facebook Live. The event featured testimony from previously incarcerated persons on why more than 50,000 parolees in California deserve the right to vote.  
Prop 17, which passed the state legislature as ACA 6 in June, is a measure on the November ballot. If Californians vote to approve it, Prop 17 would amend the state constitution, granting any eligible person who is not currently incarcerated the right to vote.   If passed, California would join 17 states that allow parolees to vote.  Initiate Justice Co-founder and Executive Director Taina Vargas-Edmond hosted the event that featured Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento), author of ACA 6, as well as Brandon Flynn, an activist and actor on the Netflix show “13 Reasons Why.”  To start the event, Flynn and McCarty spoke about how the current global political movement calling for the dismantling of systemic racism has affected their understanding of – and advocacy around — the proposition.  “We’ve learned that this is just a remnant of some of these old Jim Crow values and racial oppression –when they want to hold back African American voters from being able to participate in the democratic process, and that’s wrong. That’s what we’re going to change,” the lawmaker said.   The program’s anchor event was a Q&A moderated by Edmond featuring “Yes On Prop 17” Fellows Betty McKay and John Windham. McKay and Windham, who are both on parole, spoke about the importance of voting for currently and previously incarcerated persons.  McKay, who is a motivational speaker and organizer with Initiate Justice, talked about the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), arguing that she has done the time for his crime and should not be punished for it after her release.   “The people who make the rules, the system, CDCR gives you a long list of things that if you do this, this, this, this and this, then you’re a productive citizen,” she said. “Well, I’ve exceeded all that. So why aren’t I voting? I’m paying taxes. So why aren’t I voting?”  Edmond also presented data from Initiate Justice’s 2019 “Democracy Needs Everyone” report, compiled from a survey of 1,085 incarcerated members of California state prisons as well as members on parole. According to the report, only 37 % of respondents said they voted before they were incarcerated, but 98 % said they would vote now if they could. Also, the top three political issues that the respondents listed as “very important” were jobs and the economy, education and healthcare.   For Windham, who was incarcerated for 30 years and now mentors youth in his community, not having experienced voting was a deterrent in urging kids to vote.   “The one thing I couldn’t really delve into with him is talking about voting. I tell them to vote, but I was shut down when they asked me, did I vote. It was the hardest thing for me to have to tell a child – that   couldn’t vote because I’m on parole. I no longer want to have to tell no child that, because that takes away their hope. They see me as hope and the only hope they see was dashed.”  When asked to respond to the arguments of Prop 17 opponents, McCarty said, “They’re saying that Betty and John still need to pay their debt to society. But when the parole board releases people from state prison, they’ve determined that you’ve served your time [and they] want to reintegrate you back into society. So, it makes no sense to say we want you to go back to your community, but we’re going to make you a second class citizen.” 
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By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

After months of protests and tough negotiations with representatives from various industries, California lawmakers have released an updated list of professions that could be exempted from AB 5, the controversial worker re-classification law that went into effect January 1.  

AB 2257, a new bill that revises some Labor Code sections affected by AB 5, will exempt artists, appraisers, insurance field representatives and youth sports coaches, allowing them to work as independent contractors. This is in addition to previous exemptions made for musicians, writers, photographers, tutors, interpreters and other industries.   

AB 2257 is backed by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who authored AB 5 and has been its primary advocate.  

“We have utilized the reasoning in Dynamex, existing case law, and all of the provisions of workers comp and the [Unemployment Insurance] code developed over the last 40 years to try to create a framework for employment in California. We are confident that legitimate [independent contractors] will be able to work as such” said Gonzalez in an August 27 tweet.  

Assemblymember Christy Smith (D-Santa Clarita), co-author of AB 2257, said, “These clarifications to AB5 create additional industry specific pathways for people to work independently and prevent abuses that hurt workers and small business.”  

Under AB 5, companies must determine whether their workers are employees according to criteria known as the “ABC” test. Workers can only be classified as independent contractors if A) Their work is free from control of the hiring entity B) They perform work that is outside the hiring entity’s usual course of business, and C) They have an independent business.  

AB 5 has been challenged by various industries since it was introduced as a bill. Truck drivers won an injunction that prevented AB 5 from being enforced for their industry on Jan. 16. Recently, a California Superior Court judge ruled that rideshare companies Uber and Lyft must classify their drivers as employees. The judge later paused the injunction after the companies threatened to stop operating in California.   

Uber and Lyft have also funded a ballot measure along with other rideshare and delivery companies that would exempt the companies from AB 5 restrictions if voters approve it in November.   If Gov. Newsom signs AB 2257 into law, it would take effect immediately.