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By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—— The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has become embroiled in a scandal that is symptomatic of the political problems facing this country. Over the weekend it was revealed that Michael Selyem, a gang prosecutor, made hateful comments about former first lady Michelle Obama and Rep. Maxine Waters.

“Being a loud-mouthed c#nt in the ghetto you would think someone would have shot this bitch by now …” said Selyem, in a post referring to Waters.

He also posted a picture of Michelle Obama holding an altered sign that read “Trump touched my penis.”

Waters has engaged in a verbal battle with President Donald Trump. She said she is determined to see him impeached. Trump has responded by referring to Waters as “a low-IQ individual.”

Waters has also come under fire from her own party for saying that Trump administration officials should be confronted in public for working with a president she sees as a criminal. But Waters was backed by the Congressional Black Caucus and a Twitter hashtag #standwithmaxine, created by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP)/ Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR.)

However, pushback against Trump administration officials is already happening. White House staffers Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Senior Advisor Stephen Miller have both been confronted in public. Sanders was asked to leave the Red Hen restaurant in Virginia. Miller was cursed at by a Washington, D.C. bartender while picking up an order of sushi.)

However, Selyem’s comments about Michelle Obama are curious. The Obama family has been out of the White House for two years. But when President Barack Obama was head of the government, there was a lot of hate directed at him and his wife from right-wing sources. One of the slurs claimed Michelle Obama was born a man and transitioned to a woman. (Selyem is a Trump supporter.)

But there’s another problem with Selyem’s comments. Apart from being unprofessional, they may also call into question his objectivity in the courtroom. Selyem is a gang prosecutor and he mainly went after Latino gangs. But his social media posts show him making racist comments. One of his posts read “Mexican word of the day: Hide.”

Selyem’s comments have been criticized by African-American political activist Najee Ali, a Los Angeles-based community activist. Ali held a press conference in San Bernardino on Monday.

“Selyem’s public comments are hateful and could be interpreted as a call to violence against Congressmember Waters. Law enforcement personnel and officers of the court system should not incite violence,” said Ali. “How can a public prosecutor, who publicly espouses such views be trusted to impartially administer justice.”

Terrence Stone, a gang intervention expert who works in San Bernardino, said that these kinds of comments make it difficult for young people to trust the legal system.

“I’m appalled and it’s disgusting,” he said. “These are people who are in charge of giving us a fair trial.”

According to a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County DA’s office, Selyem’s comments have been under investigation since late June. And he has been placed on leave until the investigation is finished.

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson takes the matter even more seriously. He called for Selyem to be charged with a federal crime.

“In this volatile climate such a threat poses a grave danger to Waters. The shooting of an Arizona congresswoman and the recent physical confrontations with government officials in public places underscore that grave threat,” said Hutchinson. “The law is clear on public threats to federal officials, it is a crime. The U.S. attorney must take action against Selyem for his violation of federal law in calling for the attack on Waters.”

Photo Credit: Robert A. Whitehead/CSUSB

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Cal State San Bernardino said goodbye on to its first Coyotes Rising cohort after the students’ visit to the university from June 24 to June 26. The summer overnight stay program is for high achieving African American students. One of its goals is to increase the number of underrepresented students at CSUSB through effective collaboration with on-campus and off-campus constituencies.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA —- RIVERSIDE–Registration for the 20th annual Susan G. Komen Inland Empire Race for the Cure is under way at a reduced price of $25, but the discount ends July 13 and is the only one that will be offered.

The race is set for Sunday, October 14 at Town Square Park in Murrieta, marking the second year the Susan G. Komen Inland Empire affiliate will hold its race at that location. In recognition of the affiliate’s interest in establishing a long-term relationship with the City of Murrieta, the City Council voted this month to classify the race as a “signature event” and provide in-kind services.

The Council agreed to waive up to $5,000 in city permit fees, traffic and police assistance, set-up signage, marketing assistance and cleaning and trash pick-up as part of its partnership with Susan G. Komen Inland Empire.

“Not only is the City of Murrieta proud to host the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure for a second year, but we’re stepping up our support by making this a signature event,” said Mayor Jonathan Ingram. “Our City Council is committed to helping Susan G. Komen reach its goals, and I look forward to walking alongside many survivors on October 14.”

Sign ups for race registrants and teams are under way online at www.komenie.org, where donors also can make contributions. Registrants can call 951-676-7465 for help signing up. Last year’s event in the Murrieta Town Square drew about 3,000 attendees, included elected officials, breast cancer survivors and runners and walkers from across Southern California. The event raised nearly $320,000, and the goal this year is $500,000.

The affiliate keeps 75 percent of its net income in the community to help serve people in Riverside and San Bernardino counties; 25 percent goes toward the national Komen Grants Program, which funds breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

In Riverside and San Bernardino counties more than 2,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.

Follow the Susan G. Komen Inland Empire affiliate on Facebook Susan G. Komen Inland Empire and or Twitter.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- VICTORVILLE, CA— Marine Corps veteran Quintin Sherard has been living on the streets of Victorville since 2015, the same year that the County of San Bernardino’s Board of Supervisors approved a strategy to reduce its population of homelessness veterans.

The Board then supported the formation of the Homeless Veteran Community Planning Group (HVCPG) – a group of local agencies that pooled skills and resources to find permanent homes and provide supportive services for 401 homeless military veterans identified by the Department of Veterans Affairs as living in the county. Five months later, each of the identified veterans had homes. Yet others, beyond those 401 veterans still needed help.

With an effective network and system in place, the HVCPG continued to prioritize homeless veterans. As a result, Mr. Quintin Sherard is now the 1000th homeless veteran to receive a permanent housing in San Bernardino County.

“Today we celebrate a milestone that exemplifies the success we can achieve through partnerships with a collective and committed focus to house our county’s homeless population,” said San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, who also chairs the county’s Interagency Council on Homelessness.

“I applaud our county’s leadership and Knowledge Education for Your Success (KEYS), U.S. Vets, and LightHouse Social Service Centers who have helped to create a proven network that has now housed our 1,000th homeless Veteran into permanent supportive housing. Thank you for bringing our honored warriors to a place they now call home.”

Mr. Sherard first enrolled in the U.S. VETS Supportive Services for Veterans Families program in 2017, yet while the network was trying to find him housing, he secured a job as a truck driver and fell off the radar. When his employment abruptly ended and Mr. Sherard again found himself sleeping on the streets he reconnected with U.S. VETS and is now being housed through the Permanent Supportive Housing Program.

“The County of San Bernardino in partnership with the community made a promise three years ago to prioritize homeless veterans for housing. As Mr. Sherard moves into his new home today as the 1000th veteran housed by this initiative, he represents the continuing fulfillment of that commitment,” said Philip Mangano, former federal homelessness czar now working with the County’s CEO Office to implement the veterans initiative.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On June 27, 2018 Governor Brown signed the 2018-2019 California State Budget that included $1,705,000 be allocated to the city of Rialto for vital service equipment and disability access improvements at their facilities. Assemblymember Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino) successfully advocated for the funds to be allocated for the city of Rialto, during the budget negotiation process.

“With these funds the city of Rialto can update their emergency equipment and bring their city facilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Furthermore, these funds will ensure the city of Rialto has adequate emergency equipment in the event of a large-scale emergency.”

The city of Rialto will receive:

Rialto Mayor, Deborah Robertson, reacted to the line item in the California State budget, “The allocation identified in the Governor’s budget will greatly assist with our emergency management program and upgrades to our traffic management system and ultimate data center.  Rialto appreciates the working relations with our State Representative Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes and looks forward to deployment of the funds.”

Darren Goodman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— UPLAND, CA— A 27-year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Captain of the Chino Hills Police Department has been selected as Upland’s new police chief following an extensive search.

Darren Goodman, 52, is a strong advocate of community policing, and using data, technology and community partnerships to address crime and quality of life issues.

“Chief Goodman is a nationally respected, results-oriented law enforcement professional. We’re thrilled to have him lead Upland’s outstanding police force, and further establish our community as a hallmark of fair, humane and effective policing,” said Mayor Debbie Stone.

Goodman will take command on July 16.

“I feel very fortunate to be here, and as the new chief coming in, I’m looking forward to getting to know our officers and the community,” Goodman said. “Law enforcement, and how safe people feel in their community, is critical to the success of a city. I also know we can’t do it alone. Business, economic development, education – we’re all in this together.”

Goodman began his law enforcement career in 1991 as a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy. He has worked in a variety of assignments, including corrections, patrol, narcotics, emergency operations, regional gang enforcement, fugitive apprehension and SWAT. In 2013, he assumed command of the Sheriff’s Regional Training Center.

In Chino Hills, Goodman led efforts to reduce gaps between police-specific services and other service providers dedicated to public safety, such as public works, code enforcement, mental health services, and homeless advocates.

Goodman holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California (USC) and has completed his doctoral studies at USC’s Rossier School of Education. In 2015, he graduated Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security; a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Public Safety Leadership Program; and an adjunct-professor at California State University San Bernardino.

Goodman lives in Riverside, California, with his wife Shana, who is a Doctor of Nursing Practice. The couple have four children.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— MORENO VALLEY, CA— Knee-length white coats, a trusted symbol of healing and science, were presented to new resident physicians on Thursday, June 28, as they embarked upon their years-long journey of medical residency training at Riverside University Health System.

Wearing bright white coats, the 30 resident physicians heard from physician leaders who emphasized that the field of medicine is not a trade but a calling, one whose members are held to the highest standards of trust and professionalism.

“You have answered the calling,” Dr. Roger Garrison, associate program director of Graduate Medical Education 125-year-old public teaching hospital in Moreno Valley. “With that white coat comes great responsibility.”

Chief residents from each program offered heartfelt words of advice, urging the new cohorts to lean on one other and take care of one another throughout their journey. Dr. Kellie Morris, chief resident of the Anesthesiology program said no matter what field they had chosen, the newly minted doctors would undoubtedly face death and sickness.

“These experiences may be trying for your soul, but what I challenge each of you to remember is what else you will see—health, happiness, trust and life,” Morris said, sparking laughter by also urging them to “eat when you can, sleep when you can…and pee when you can.”

The new resident physicians are entering five different residency programs at the Moreno Valley-based teaching hospital, which annually sponsors a total of 116 resident physicians in Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery. The programs vary in duration from three to seven years.

Annually, about 1,000 medical students and physician residents train at RUHS Medical Center through academic and graduate medical education affiliations with the schools of medicine at University of California Riverside, Loma Linda University and Western University.

New Riverside University Health System neurosurgery medical residents are flanked by program directors and, on the far right, Chuck Washington, chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—RIVERSIDE, CA— The California Red Tails/Black Pilots of America hosted an Open House at the Riverside Municipal Airport on Saturday, June 23. The purpose of the open house was to refresh community awareness of the role and continuing involvement of Black pilots in the history of aviation in America.  

The event offered special guests and the community-at-large the opportunity to increase awareness of a range of aviation career fields, experience, education, training requirements and opportunities to network with private and commercial pilots, air traffic controllers and aviation mechanics.

Special guest of honor, Tuskegee Airman, Harlan Q Leonard, Lt Col., was present and consented to requests of persons honored to be photographed with him.

Omnitrans Director of Human Resources Suzanne Pfeiffer

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Suzanne Pfeiffer has joined Omnitrans as Director of Human Resources, bringing over 30 years of human resources experience in both the private and public sectors.  She fills a vacancy created by Marjorie Ewing, who is retiring after 19 years at Omnitrans.

Pfeiffer most recently served as Chief Human Resources Officer at C-TRAN, the public transit agency in Vancouver, Washington.  At Omnitrans, she will oversee a department of 11 employees and is responsible for the agency’s personnel policies, recruitment and training, benefits administration, labor relations and Workers’ Compensation management.

“I’m really excited to be here and look forward to continuing my career in transit at Omnitrans,” said Pfeiffer.

Prior to working in the transit industry, Pfeiffer held HR positions at Foothill-DeAnza Community College District, Antioch Unified School District, Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, and Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund, Inc.

Pfeiffer attained an MBA with an emphasis in HR from Columbia Southern University.  She earned a BA in Business Administration and Management with an emphasis in Personnel Administration from California State University – East Bay.  Her professional certifications include PHR (Professional in Human Resources), SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional) and CBP (Certified Benefits Professional).

Pfeiffer is also an adjunct professor for the College of Online and Continuing Education at Southern New Hampshire University teaching Human Resource and Organizational Development courses.

Pastor Owens

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA —- Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15, mark the First Pastor’s Anniversary Celebration for Dr. Michael Andrew Owens and Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church located at 1575 West 17th Street in San Bernardino.

Festivities commence Saturday, July 14 at 4 p.m., with a Musical and Ministries Tribute featuring the “Rays of Hope Combined Choirs” and Christian Arts Performances by youth in the areas of Mime and Liturgical Dance. On, Sunday, July 15, worship services with special guest ministers are scheduled for 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., culminating with a dinner and service at 4 p.m. in which Dr. J.W. Hardwick, President of the Western Baptist State Convention, will be the Keynote Speaker.

Dr. Owens’ tenure as the 29^th Pastor of this leading church in the City of San Bernardino, has been spirit-filled and energetic. New Hope Missionary Baptist Church is a civic minded, community-oriented, African American congregation with a historic legacy. Our ministry theme for 2018 is “Our Gifts for God’s Glory.” (1 Peter 4:10, 11). The entire community is invited to share in this celebration.

Dignitaries from around the country, state, and local officials will be on hand to participate and offer congratulatory remarks to our new Pastor for his leadership of this esteemed church.

“To God Be the Glory for the Things He Has Done” demonstrated by the early growth of the church under the ministry of Dr. Michael Andrew Owens.

If you would like more information, please contact the church office at (909) 887-2526 or email info@newhopembc.org.