Local

Local City Measure
NO on Measure S in San Bernardino, would not raise taxes so the Mayor can pay for sexual harassment lawsuits and give tax dollars to employees who work for the city but do not live in the city. Currently, only 10% of the employees working for the city are Black and only 5% are working in the police department. Only 8% of the sworn police officers live in the city and the city has never hired a Black as chief of police in 115 years. Blacks makeup 13.8% of the city population and pay taxes.

PROPOSITIONS
NO on Prop 14 taxpayers will be on the hook for $5.5 billion in bonds aimed at reviving the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), a program created in 2004 to boost stem cell research.

NO on Prop 15 would leave California’s Prop13 tax rules intact which is a benefit to older Black homeowners.

YES on Prop 16 would be a giant step to help undo the results of long-standing institutionalized race and gender discrimination that have been key to economic and social inequality. This would put California back in step with Federal Laws governing Equal Opportunity in Employment and Access into Educational Institution of Higher Learning.

YES on Prop 17 would make it legal for people to vote while on parole for a felony conviction.

YES on Prop 18 would make it legal for people who will turn 18 in time for the general election to vote, even while still 17, in that year’s primary.

NO on Prop 19 currently, a parent or grandparent can bestow their low tax rate while passing on a rental home or vacation property. That feature would be eliminated under Prop. 19.

NO on Prop 20 is being bankrolled by the state’s prison guards union and they are trying to keep the prisons full to protect their jobs. Plus it will be unjust to Blacks and Hispanic people by adding stiffer penalties for those who violate the terms of their parole three times and require DNA samples be taken from people convicted of misdemeanors.

NO on Prop 21 some say it could make a dent in homelessness a problem that is a crisis in our community. However, rent control does not work, as some have found out.

YES on Prop 22 is about Independent thinking people who use their cars and cell phones to work when they want to depending on their personal life situation. A yes vote also will provide new benefits such as healthcare and minimum wages. Plus we have a lot of Black people who love working for themselves.

NO on Prop 23 would mean at least one physician would have to be on-site at an operating dialysis clinic and add more expense to those who need the service.

NO on Prop 24 would expand and add to California’s two-year-old law on consumer data privacy and create another layer to an already confusing system.

NO on Prop 25 is a risk assessment system that would replace cash bail and is biased because it uses a computer program that is inflexible to human special needs in this special time of need. Plus it will put Black-owned Bail Bond people out of business.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA— With the support and recognition of, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Inc., California Senator Connie Leyva and Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes recently approved the Resolutions SCR-97 and ACH-94 declaring October 3 as Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day in the State of California. The day encourages all Californians to learn about this rare and aggressive type of breast cancer and to support all people who are impacted.

Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc. is an organization educating and advocating on behalf of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), Triple negative (IBC) and Metastatic patients. It was founded in 2011 by IBC fighter Joshlyn Earls.

The impact of the Resolutions passing is monumental for this quick spreading disease, which affects both women and men. It is often diagnosed in women of younger ages and is often dismissed by doctors because they are too young to have breast cancer, not IBC.

As of October 2020, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc., remains the only 501C3 in the state educating, advocating, and promoting on behalf of this lethal form of sub-breast cancer.

This fast growing, incredibly aggressive breast cancer gives the breast a swollen, inflamed appearance, (hence the name inflammatory) and appears as an infection. If you are diagnosed with it, you’re automatically at stage 3b or higher. This breast cancer, unlike other breast cancers, does not feel like a lump. It is hard to detect on mammograms, so many doctors don’t catch it until it’s too late.

According to Dr. Massiom Cristofanilli of Northwestern University, there are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 new cases of IBC diagnosed annually. This is the very reason why Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc., has chosen to be a symbol of strength for not only Black women and men in the Inland Empire, but for everyone fighting this deadly disease that often leads to a lonely journey while undergoing treatment.

Aside from Fighting 4 the Tatas essential services to patients, its advocacy and fundraising, the Black-led organization is monumental not only to the greater community, but to Black women and women of color as a whole; especially due to the implicit bias’ Blacks face in healthcare.

“As a Black woman undergoing treatment for IBC, it was a little degrading due to the lack of information and lack of my Doctors willingness to answer my questions,” Earls said.

She continues, “My experience consisted of not being given the same healthcare opportunities of my white counterparts. When it came to certain tests that my counterparts received, such as the MUGA Test (multi-gated blood-pool imaging), it was not given to me, but was given to them! I found out after my chemo.”

Earls found out from an associate that she should have been provided the MUGA test, which is given to determine whether or not a patient’s body can tolerate the chemo. After the fact, when she went to the doctors, she asked, “Well, do you want a MUGA test?” Joshlyn agreed and found out that she had an enlarged heart. Luckily, she lived.

Although COVID-19 has presented unprecedented times, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer, Inc. remains resilient ahead of its Bling for the Tatas fundraising event on its Facebook Live which will be on Saturday, October 3 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can follow them on Facebook here.

During the event, community members can assist the organization in raising funds to continue offering IBC, TTN and Metastatic patients counseling services, advocacy on behalf of the patients, educational classes, health and beauty items, emergency utility funding and more.

“When I was diagnosed in 2011 with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, I was given two and a half years to live…it’s such a lonely journey because no one understands,” Earl explains.

She continues, “I remember at one point placing an ad in a number of newspapers just to connect to another person who has undergone treatment for IBC. It’s so important for our organization to raise funds for this disease because our support services provide a space for patients to connect, understand, and receive accurate information regarding this deadly disease.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.fighting4thetatas.org.

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About Fighting 4 the Tatas, INC.

Fighting 4 The Tatas is a grassroots, nonprofit 501C3 organization. The organization consists of cancer survivors, family members and supporters; it understands and address the difficulties that newly diagnosed patients encounter as they struggle with their treatment. Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc., was founded in 2011 during the personal journey of founder Joshlyn Earls. Her journey began with a visit to a chiropractor as a new patient. A digital scan was performed where its image caused concern to the chiropractor. He called Earls to inform her that she needed to see an internist immediately. After two different mammograms, ultrasound, and a needle biopsy, she was diagnosed with High Grade Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (Clinical diagnosis inflammatory breast cancer).

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized 36 California schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“Congratulations to this year’s National Blue-Ribbon School awardees,” said Secretary DeVos. “It’s a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students’ needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives.”

The coveted National Blue-Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 38th year, the National Blue-Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years. 

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores, and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools – These are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13. While we regret not having the opportunity to celebrate in person, given the current situation regarding COVID-19, we will celebrate the 317 public and 50 non-public school honorees in the ways that we are able, and they will each receive their plaques and flags via mail.

Photographs and brief descriptions of all 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at https://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

The following California schools were recognized:

City, School Name, District San Diego, Adobe Bluffs Elementary School, Poway Unified School District
Los Angeles, Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School, Alliance for College Ready Public School District
Alameda, Amelia Earhart School, Alameda Unified School District
Alta Loma, Carleton P. Lightfoot Elementary School, Etiwanda School District
Long Beach, Charles Kettering Elementary School, Long Beach Unified School District
Rancho Cucamonga, Coyote Canyon Elementary School, Central Elementary School District
Fountain Valley, Ethan B. Allen Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Belmont, Fox Elementary School, Belmont-Redwood Shores School District
Danville, Green Valley Elementary School, San Ramon Valley U.S.D.
San Ramon, Hidden Hills Elementary School, San Ramon Valley U.S.D.
Bermuda Dunes, James Monroe Elementary School, Desert Sands Unified School District
San Marino, K. L. Carver Elementary School, San Marino Unified School District
Fullerton, Laguna Road Elementary School, Fullerton Elementary School District
Hesperia, LaVerne Elementary Prep. Academy, LaVerne Elementary Prep. Academy
South Pasadena, Marengo Elementary School, South Pasadena Unified School District
Costa Mesa, Mariners Christian School, Santa Ana Unified School District
Thousand Oaks, Meadows Arts & Technology Ele. Sch., Ventura County Office of Education
Santa Barbara, Montecito Union Elementary School, Montecito Union Elementary S.D.
San Diego, Monterey Ridge Elementary School, Poway Unified School District
Monterey Park, Monterey Vista Elementary School, Garvey Elementary School District
La Crescenta, Mountain Avenue Elementary School, Glendale Unified School District
San Diego, Park Village Elementary School, Poway Unified School District
Temecula, Pauba Valley Elementary School, Temecula Valley U.S.D.
Sacramento, Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary School, Sacramento City U.S.D.
Tustin, Red Hill Lutheran School, Pacific Southwest District – LCMS
Rancho Cordova, Riverview STEM Elementary School, Folsom-Cordova U.S.D.
Felton, San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School, San Lorenzo Valley U.S.D.
San Diego, Silver Gate Elementary School, San Diego Unified School District
Solana Beach, Solana Vista Elementary School, Solana Beach School District
Long Beach, Tincher Preparatory School, Long Beach Unified School District
Irvine, Vista Verde Elementary School, Irvine Unified School District
Downey, Ward (E. W.) Elementary School, Downey Unified School District
Thousand Oaks, Weathersfield Elementary School, Conejo Valley Unified School District
Inglewood, Wilder’s Prep. Academy Charter Middle, Inglewood Unified School District
Los Gatos, Yavneh Day School, Los Gatos School District
San Francisco, Yick Wo Elementary School, San Francisco Unified School District

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Starting in the month of October, First 5 San Bernardino will hold its annual literacy campaign tour bringing awareness to the importance of reading with and to your child. Every year, these events are held for preschoolers throughout the County of San Bernardino. In partnership with CHAN Community Health Action Network, CCRC Child Care Resource Center, El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center, LISTOS California For All, San Bernardino County Library, and Victory Outreach Church, First 5 San Bernardino will conduct four literacy drive-thru events taking place in the cities of Barstow, Fontana, San Bernardino, and Victorville.  Due to the pandemic, First 5 San Bernardino redesigned the format of events for safety.

Preschoolers will receive a bag containing three different book titles, and a healthy snack, along with other resources. One of the goals of First 5 San Bernardino is to help build home-based libraries and to ensure that all children have library books available to them.

The events are free and open to the public but registration is strongly suggested as only 500 bags will be handed out at each site. For more information please visit the First 5 San Bernardino website at www,first5sanbernardino.org or call 909.386.7706.

5 FIRST 5 TIPS on building home-based libraries:

• 1.    Choose the right spot. Create a special space where books are kept and read. Make sure the lighting is good and seating is comfortable.
• 2.    Put books within reach. Use low, sturdy shelves so your child can safely select the books on her own.
• 3.    Be Thrifty – look for deals. Books can be expensive. Checkout your local library as they may have a free book day.
• 4.   Let them guide you! Pay attention to what types of books your child is interested in. Take turns on selecting.
• 5.    Collect! Stack up on books from your local yard sales, dollar store, book swapping with others, or asking for books as an alternative gift idea.

Michael Lorenz, a 22-year veteran of the Ontario Police Department who moved up the ranks from patrol officer to deputy chief, has been unanimously confirmed as the City’s new police chief, effective immediately.

Chief Lorenz, who joined the department in 1998 after graduating from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department academy, has worked a variety of assignments during his tenure, including narcotics, gang violence suppression, field training and SWAT.

His promotion was ratified Tuesday night by the City Council.

“With his experience, leadership skills and knowledge of our community, Mike Lorenz is an ideal choice to lead our Police Department into the future. We are fortunate, once again, to be able to promote from within our organization and maintain the consistency that has made OPD a model for local law enforcement,” said Mayor Paul Leon.

Lorenz replaces Derek Williams, who had previously announced his retirement as police chief after 29 years with the department. Like Lorenz, Williams had served as deputy chief before his appointment to the position of Chief in 2018.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Ontario family—we truly achieved excellence through teamwork. I have no doubt that Chief Lorenz will carry on, and even improve, the high standards of service at the Ontario Police Department,” said retiring Chief Derek Williams.

“I appreciate Chief Williams’ years of service to our city and look forward to working with Chief Lorenz in continuing OPD’s long legacy of exceptional policing and service to the community,” said Ontario City Manager Scott Ochoa.

Lorenz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from California Coast University. Prior to attending the police academy, he served four years in the United States Air Force.

At OPD, he has held leadership positions in patrol operations, East Area command, SWAT/crisis negotiations, COPS/MET, and the gang suppression and K9 units. He also served as captain in the field operations unit.

“Throughout my career, I’ve benefitted from the extraordinary examples set by my predecessors, and it’s an honor to be able to build on the great work they’ve done on behalf of the City, our residents and businesses,” Lorenz said.

Sacramento-The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) is dismayed by the decision of the Kentucky grand jury’s decision to limit indictments in the Breonna Taylor case to former officer Brett Hankison on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.  Two other officers involved in Taylor’s death escaped prosecution. As Hankinson’s charges stem from his firing into neighboring apartments, this indictment neither acknowledges nor vindicates Breonna Taylor’s death and reflects a legal system that shields officers from real accountability.

The CLBC stands with the family of Breonna Taylor and our brothers and sisters who are in pain now. We encourage transforming our anger and pain into electoral energy and intentional activism for genuine reform. Breonna’s sister, Juniyah Palmer, called on us to “Speak. Protest. But do not resort to violence. We demand change. We demand reform. But we do not need for our community to get hurt, we need for our community to get justice.”

The CLBC will continue its own work on police reform.  We had some success in recent years, but there is still work to do and it will not be easy. Let’s resolve together to make California safer for everyone.

POMONA, CA— Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today released a Congressional report prepared by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties outlining key ways a full Census count is vital for Inland Empire residents.

Data collected by the Census is used to determine how much funding the district receives for critical services like education, medical care, foster care, roads, public transit, and job programs.  Census data also helps local governments enhance public safety and prepare for emergencies.

Inland Empire households can fill out their Census forms right now—in the comfort of their own homes—by going online at https://2020census.gov/, calling 844-330-2020, or filling out the forms they received in the mail.  The 2020 Census has only 12 questions and does not ask about citizenship.

“This new report makes one thing clear – Inland Empire residents benefit tremendously from a full census count, and it’s entirely within our power to do so,” Rep. Torres said. “Even a 1 percent undercount will mean we lose nearly $500,000 in federal school funding for low income students, and nearly $200,000 in federal funding for job training and career counseling. As we face a public health crisis and global economic downturn, it is crucial for our community to secure the funding we are entitled to for critical services like education, medical care, and job programs.  These dollars maintain our quality of life in the Inland Empire, so do your part – make sure you’re counted!”

Click here to read the full report.

Former LAPD Dispatcher Condemns Violence, Urges Justice Reforms in Seeking Peace

POMONA, CA—- Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to news that two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies were ambushed by a gunman on Saturday while sitting in their squad car in Compton, California. Both deputies, one male and one female, remain in critical condition after undergoing multiple surgeries. The assailant remains at large, and anyone with information about his identity or whereabouts should contact the police immediately to help bring him to justice.

Congresswoman Torres released the following statement:

“I categorically condemn this act of horrific violence. The perpetrator on that chilling video must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and brought to swift justice.

“As someone who dispatched LAPD officers for nearly 18 years, and who experienced the horrors of a lawless society as a child growing up in Guatemala, this is personal to me. I know how vital the heroes that were attacked last weekend are, because I’ve met the people they protect. Anyone demanding an end to the police, or declaring this violence somehow justified because of other violence, has never heard the calls that I have. Answer the phone when a store clerk is held at gunpoint, or as a child is senselessly murdered on the other end of the line, and then come talk to me about defunding the police. The fact is those calls take place every single day, and two of the people who suit up to protect the public were gunned down on Saturday.

“This attack did not take place in a vacuum though – the moment of reckoning law enforcement is in right now is long-overdue and well-justified. As a woman of color in a country besieged by overt and systemic racism, the anguish fueling tensions on our streets is as real to me as it is to any other minority living in America today. Law enforcement must ensure that nobody is unfairly targeted, persecuted, and yes, murdered, by unchecked police aggression. That has not happened for black Americans and it has not happened for brown Americans.

“The oath to serve one’s community is sacred, and we honor those who live by it when we refuse to tolerate those who break it. These officers did nothing to deserve what happened to them on Saturday, but as they struggle to recover, the eyes of history are now upon us as our region struggles to respond.

“The burden is on law enforcement to earn the public’s trust, but whether or not they are allowed to earn that trust is up to each and every American. In that sense, we all have a role to play in making this a safe and tolerant country. We will sink or swim together, whether we realize it or not. I pray we realize it, act upon it, and become the agents of change our society desperately needs.”

Congresswoman Torres spent nearly 18 years working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department, and has maintained long and productive relationships with law enforcement officials throughout her time in public service. That history has not stopped Torres from being an outspoken critic of police brutality, and used her experiences as a dispatcher to improve police reform legislation following the high-profile murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Rep. Torres also leads an ongoing effort in Congress to force the Department of Justice to update and make public a 2006 FBI intelligence assessment entitled, “White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement.”

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.

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.