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Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Wins Assembly Approval for Bill to Increase CalWORKs Benefits for Veterans

Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown

Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) is proud to announce that her bill, AB 1094, passed out of the Assembly with a bipartisan vote of 77 to 0. AB 1094 will expand the definition of disability-based unearned income to include veteran’s disability compensation and help California’s veterans get the assistance they need to care for their families.

 “There is no reason that a veteran’s benefits should be treated differently than other federal assistance.  Returning veterans are having a difficult time readjusting to life and it is our responsibility to help them in their transition,” said Assemblymember Brown.

California veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now receiving both CalWORKs and other governmental benefits. Current law provides that $225 in disability-based unearned income is disregarded when computing the individual’s CalWORKs benefits. Unfortunately, veterans’ disability compensation is not currently eligible for the disregard due to an oversight in previous legislation. As a result, veterans enrolled in the CalWORKs program receive, on average, $200 less than other disabled recipients. AB 1094 would correct this oversight and allow veteran families to collect their full benefits.

 “California is home to the largest veteran population in the country. The majority of veteran’s benefits are dispersed by the federal government. However, a massive backlog in claims have delayed many California veterans from receiving their benefits. This bill will help ease the financial burdens of veteran families in California. As a member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, I look forward to continuing to find solutions that will help the service members in our state access the benefits they deserve,” concluded Assemblymember Brown.

The bill now moves to the Senate.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, the southwest parts of San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/

Equal Pay Act Anniversary Renews Push for Law’s Promise

June 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the federal legislation that required employers to give women and men equal pay for equal work. Newsflash: It’s not working. This golden anniversary is more call for action than cause for celebration because women are still waiting for the Equal Pay Act’s promise to come true.

 But don’t think we’re waiting patiently—or silently. And don’t think you are immune from this pernicious problem. The gender pay gap exists for women in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

 It exists regardless of whether states have pay equity laws in place that supplement the Equal Pay Act, although several states do not have any specific pay equity law whatsoever. Unbelievably, Wisconsin actually just repealed its equal pay law.

 And the pay gap exists in states where governors are doing excellent work on equal pay: Gov. Peter Shumlin in Vermont recently signed stronger equal pay legislation into law, and Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and Gov. Mark Dayton of Minnesota issued Equal Pay Day proclamations this year.

 But until the pay gap goes the way of the dodo bird, every state has more to do. That means your governor owes women and families an Equal Pay Act anniversary “present.” And the American Association of University Women has the perfect idea for a gift.

 President Barack Obama recently ordered federal agencies to develop plans to address pay discrepancies among employees in the federal workforce, including evaluating policies for setting starting salaries and looking at how to promote greater transparency in starting salaries. Your governor could—and should—order state agencies to evaluate and take action on their pay practices as well.

 Your governor should do this because equal pay is everyone’s business. Families and communities are economically stronger when there is fair pay. Every day women nationwide work just as hard only to receive less. On average, women make 77 cents to a man’s dollar, and that number is much worse for moms and women of color. The gender pay gap starts right after college and compounds over a woman’s career. Even after accounting for all the factors that affect earnings, AAUW found that women just one year out of college are still paid almost 7 percent less than their male counterparts are paid. That’s nearly a year’s worth of groceries and 1,400 tall Starbucks coffees. Plus, women vote—and we deserve serious action on the issues we care about.

 Statistics tell us that every action available needs to be taken, and the Obama administration has provided a step that governors can take immediately. I’ll leave it up to you as to how you ask your governor for your “present” —Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, letter. But no matter how you decide to do it, I’ll guarantee you one thing. Unlike the Equal Pay Act, the technology you’ll use—even if it’s just a pen and paper—was updated in the last 50 years.

 Technology has changed. The workforce has changed. But the federal legislation designed to ensure women are paid equally to men hasn’t changed—and it isn’t working.

 Someday, women will celebrate the Equal Pay Act anniversary. But we’ll do so when we get what we were promised: equal pay for equal work.

—————-

Lisa Maatz is the vice president of government relations at the American Association of University Women.

American Forum 6/2013

ABA ADDS INLAND EMPIRE INVADERS TO ITS SO CAL DIVISION

Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it has added the Inland Empire Invaders to its Southern California Division. Located in Riverside but serving the entire Inland Empire, “I have no doubt that this will be one of the best organizations in the entire ABA,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO. “In Christy Lancaster, the owner, we have an exceptional person. Her passion for youth, community and business is evident in everything she does…she is truly a woman with huge vision.”
Ms. Lancaster was appointed the President of the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce in 2010 and currently remains in her position. She is known for spearheading the largest “True Collaboration” between African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Business Women and has maintained a strong advocate for small business throughout California with here Pro-Business vs Pro-Race approach. She has been recognized by several organizations for her accomplishments and community support that stretches some 27 cities and beyond including agencies such as the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, California State Assembly, Riverside Community College, Rising Star Business Academy, the Riverside Black Chamber of Commerce and the Lationo Coalition.
Founder of the Future CEO Program, a 12 week program to assist high school and college students understand the fundamentals of being a CEO, Ms. Christy is the CEO of a major Southern California property management company. She supports notable causes as the Cancer Society, JDRF, Arthritis Foundation and the American Heart Association and also wrote the Steps to Success program designed to help youth and adults looking to start their own business.
In a press conference Sunday Owner, Christy Lancaster was quoted saying: “We are going to provide IE with exciting basketball at affordable prices and we will be able to create jobs for the Inland Empire as well as do some wonderful things for the community. Having a Pro Team here in Region will also benefit our business community tremendously. This should be a great experience.” For more information, contact Christy Lancaster at ieinvaders@gmail.com or call 720 446 8233 or visit www.abalive.com. The IE Invaders website will be announced shortly.
Thanks.
Joe Newman
ABA CEO

Our Love Hate Relationship With Plastic Bags

bagsBag, Bags, Bags, Californians have an obsession with plastic bags and many cities have made their way to mandate how each city will deal with how we will reuse, dispose and deal with plastic bags. Seventy cites have already adopted regulations around  single use plastic bags, and 40 more cities are considering how they will regulate   single use plastic bags, so doesn’t it make since to standardize how we deal with this issue statewide?  Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) seems to have found a good solution in SB 405 that will make environmentalist and the business community happy. Protecting our environment while bringing uniformity statewide to this issue is a win-win and only makes since that California moves in this direction.

Pacific High Students and School Make Gains

Vanessa_Marin_Valedictorian

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— 543 students will graduate from Pacific High School this week, led by valedictorian Vanessa Marin, joining many of her classmates as the first in their families to both graduate from high school and go on to attend college or university.

Vanessa was accepted by several schools in the University of California system, but chose Cal State San Bernardino when offered a President’s Academic Excellence Scholarship (established under former CSUSB President Dr. Albert Karnig). Pacific High School graduates have done very well this year, receiving 44 of the 200 Valley-Bound Scholarships issued in 2013 – the most from any one high school in the Inland Empire. That is commendable achievement that reflects the measurable gains that Pacific has made over the last three years in the state of California’s Academic Performance Index (API).

_High_Principal_Mr_Acosta

_High_Principal_Mr_Acosta

Tex Acosta, the principal at Pacific High has taken a personal approach: on campus with students and encouraging parent participation, and as part of the school district’s Strategic Planning efforts. School Improvement grant funding benefited the school by providing teachers greater access to professional learning opportunities focused on improving student academic achievement.  And in 2012, Pacific High was recertified as a National Demonstration School for the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, a status is achieved by fewer than 100 schools nation-wide, and making it a model for strengthening other AVID schools.

During these same three years, student referrals and suspensions have dropped 66 percent at the high school!

Certainly, more work needs to take place at Pacific and across the San Bernardino City Unified School District to boost students’ chances of success after graduation, in college and in the workplace, and to continue the journey toward excellence.  They deserve support and praise from their community.

When Pacific’s Class of 2013 marches across the stage at Bailey Bowl to receive their diplomas, they will not only represent their personal achievements, but also the achievement of their parents, their teachers, and their administrators. Go Pirates!! (WSSN 5/17/13)

Review: Cheryl Brown Community Business Summit

Edward Kingcade

Edward Kingcade

T

he summit in which featured Mrs. Cheryl Brown one of the city’s assembly members, was a great experience and provided a lot of knowledge about the city’s current status and where hopefully it will be in the near future.  Mrs. Brown didn’t speak much but she did get up for a couple of 2-3 minute speeches which were more inspirational than anything.  She also handed out an award to Dr. John Husing who was also in attendance.  Dr. Husing spoke for the majority of the time accompanied by an projector screen in which it had slides of different graphs and photos pertaining to the topic he was currently speaking about.  He touch on several topics about the city and its current condition, and where it stack up against other cities.  Dr. Husing stated that currently the city is one of the lowest scoring when it comes to adults who have graduated high school and went on to obtain a master’s/bachelors degree at 18 out of 100 adults who have done so.  Where the average for most cities is 42-43 out of 100 adults who have done so.  Which ultimately leads to them either being more of a successful adult , or less of an successful adult which has an ricochet effect to their family and children in most cases.  In all for adults he was saying we must make sure we further educate ourselves to ensure an better chance at success as individuals.  He also touched on the difficulties for the small businesses in our area and how it is difficult for most to become successful due to the current financial status of our city.  Stating that most of our local businesses are in competition with competitors that they can’t compete against due to the fact they are big companies with more power and money.  Saying the big companies come in and take over small businesses and consume most of the business real estate in our area and they are coming from different states and cities not locally which takes the money out of our city. Stating that small business can’t go to the next level because of most people’s falling financial status in our city, which ultimately plays a part in companies success.  He also touched on the fact that there is a rise in medical cost for the city which also carries a burden for the city.  Stating that there is a significant rise in medical expenses for the latino community due to their rising population.  Saying that now hospitals will have to become more educated about the latino community when it comes to medical research in the field.  Which ultimately cost more money.  The solution they had to counter act the problems was to try to make sure everyone is properly and highly educated so they can achieve personal success by having the proper knowledge to do so.  Assure that all local business had the proper information and resources to provide great service in their field and provide many more jobs also.  To allow more businesses to open up and become a success instead of open and close within the same year.  To have more business that are local be locally owned and operated. To have more business networking with one another in hopes of generating more income and more projects that provides more jobs and provides better living to the people of our city.  Of course this will take time and must be done one step at a time but as long as we all work together and stay on the same track it can be done in due time.

San Bernardino’s Isabel Cholbi Returns to Washington for National Spelling Bee

Isabel Cholbi

Isabel Cholbi

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Seventh grader Isabel Cholbi, the two-time San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Collaborative Spelling Bee winner will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 28 to 30. As the winner of the San Bernardino spelling bee, the Chavez Middle School student won a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This will be Isabel’s second time competing in the national event.

The competition begins on May 28 with the Preliminaries Test for all 281 competitors.  The test includes spelling words and vocabulary questions. Competitors who misspell a word in round two or three of the preliminaries, on May 29, are eliminated. A maximum of 50 competitors will qualify for the semifinals. The preliminaries will be broadcast on ESPN3 on Wednesday, May 29 at 8 a.m. and at 1:15 p.m. EDT (5 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Pacific Time). The semifinals will air on ESPN2 on Thursday, May 30 at 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. Pacific Time). The finals air on ESPN on Thursday, May 30 at 8 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. Pacific Time).

Every competitor will receive Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged and, courtesy of Jay Sugarman, a 2013 United States Mint Proof Set, plus and Award Certificate. The SBCUSD Collaborative Spelling Bee is affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, giving Cholbi access to official study guides and materials.

Isabel is not only an accomplished speller, she also builds websites and is learning computer programming languages; she has also competed in the regional science fair every year since 2010; placing fourth in 2013. The talented Isabel is also a musician and plays the xylophone, glockenspiel and vibraphone.

We will be tuning in on ESPN next week to cheer Isabel on.  We hope the community will join in and show support for one of the many special young people coming up in the Inland Empire, and in San Bernardino particularly! (WSSN-5/17/13)

Cal State San Bernardino Alumni Gabrielle Mays Wins Michigan’s Top News Broadcaster Award

Gabrielle Mays

Gabrielle Mays

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Gabrielle Mays graduated from California State University San Bernardino in 2011 with a communications degree, and she has already been honored as the recipient of the 2012 Broadcasting Award of Excellence for news reporting by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB).

Mays, who grew up in Redlands, works as a news reporter for WLUC-TV 6 in Houghton, Michigan.. The station’s website highlights her work at Cal State San Bernardino where she gained most of her experience as the producer for the campus news station segment ‘Local Matters.’ Mays entered the MAB’s news reporter category with three feature stories she produced in the Houghton/Hancock region. “What makes this award so special is that all of the stories I entered were about the people in this area,” said Mays.

“It’s particularly impressive that Gabrielle graduated from CSUSB in 2011,” said Michael Salvador, chair of the university’s communications studies department. “To win this award in her first year speaks to Gabrielle’s talent and the quality of her professional preparation here at CSUSB.”

Her entries consisted of a story about a young girl with brittle bone disease who wanted an outdoor wheelchair to aid her in getting through the snow; a group called the Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly who assisted senior citizens in their everyday lives; and a fire that broke out in a senior living complex.

“People in the community trusted me enough to tell their story; and to win an award based on how amazing, kind and generous the Houghton/Hancock community truly is; makes me smile,” said Mays.

The award, which she received this March, now sits in the front office of the Houghton news station among the station’s other awards. “I came into this job not being the best on-camera personality, but I learned that if you want to be a reporter, you have to get good at telling the stories of the people that watch you every single night,” Mays added. (WSSN-5/17/13)

Councilman Rikke Van Johnson to Run for Mayor of the City of San Bernardino

RVJ_Announces_Campaign_for_Mayor

Sixth Ward Councilman Rikke Van Johnson is shown here announcing his candidacy for Mayor of the city of San Bernardino to friends, neighbors, supporters and concerned community members. Petitions were also circulated after the gathering.. (Photo courtesy Sharon Johnson)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Sixth Ward Councilman Rikke Van Johnson launched his campaign for Mayor of San Bernardino last Thursday May 16 with a kick-off meeting held on the lawn of his home.  Johnson announced that both his campaign and his vision for the city were inclusive, with the theme “Campaign for L.I.F.E.” (Leaders, Investors, Friends and Everyone).

He states his goal is to help “create, grow, and maintain economic value in the city, which will aid the community in realizing and accessing all the necessities that define quality of life.”  He laid out a vision for the city as a safe and prosperous community, offering a wide range of housing, recreation, education, cultural, and employment opportunities for all who come to live and work here.

He also said that San Bernardino residents need to continue to provide a strong sense of community for each other in these economically trying times.  He also laid out three primary areas he would focus upon as the Mayor:

     1. Public Safety to reduce crime rates with a two pronged strategy of, a) Decreasing gang violence and gang activity,; and b) Increasing Citizen Engagement in local government, realizing that a government goes bad when it’s citizens are not engaged;

2. Economic Stimulation through Job Creation, and helping to retain and maintain Local Business by helping them grow and strengthen their Consumer Base;

3. Beautification of areas of the city that have experienced neglect, thereby raising the esteem of both residents and businesses, and providing an attractive environment for consumers, potential home-buyers, and potential new businesses.

Johnson said he would also partner with area school systems to ensure an educated workforce, and would simplify the city’s system of government which he says has become “ambiguous and antiquated.”

“I truly believe that this is the frame work for a pathway to strengthening, sustaining and restoring our City to once again be that proud ‘City on the Move.’  This will be achieved by working together with vision, planning and hope,” he added. (WSSN 5/23/13)

Community Action Partnership Hosts 2013 Gala to Honor Those Who Have Improved Communities Through Service

Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Sr.

Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Sr.

Cynthia Robinson

Mayor Patrick J. Morris
Mayor Patrick J. Morris

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– The Board of Directors of Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) will host their 2013 Gala Fundraiser and Awards Banquet this Friday, May 17, 2013 at 6 p.m. at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.  The theme of this year’s gala is “Helping Families, Improving Communities” reflecting CAPSBC’s mission of is working with communities by advocating for, supporting, and empowering low-income residents to achieve self-sufficiency.

CAPSBC joinsover 1,100 Community Action Agencies nationwide in celebrating May as National Community Action Month by highlighting accomplishments and successes of the Community Action Network through a series of activities designed to benefit the community and encourage citizens to learn more about Community Action programs and services.  Patricia Nickols serves as the Executive Director of CAPSBC.

CAPSBC Board Chairman Dr. Joshua Beckley stated, “We are proud to present the 2013 Community Action Legacy Awards to an outstanding group of individuals and agencies who have generously served others, thereby improving our communities. Their great humanitarian and charitable acts are exemplary, and we are honored to have this opportunity to publicly recognize and thank them.” The Community Action Legacy Awardees for 2013 are Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Sr. : Honorable Mayor Patrick J. Morris Jamie Varner and Cynthia Robinson.

The keynote speaker for the gala will be educator Erin Gruwell, the inspiration for the movie, “Freedom Writers.” After the banquet there will dancing until midnight featuring an outstanding line-up of musical talent, including bass guitar player Nathan “Nate” Watts, who led Stevie Wonder’s band for 12 years; Sheldon Reynolds, former lead guitarist and vocalist for the legendary Earth, Wind and Fire; drummer Stanley Randolph; musician and songwriter Charles Kelly; as well as many local singers and musicians in what will be an evening of great sounds for dancing, listening and fun.

The Venny H. Newman Humanitarian Award will go to Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Sr., Superintendent of Rialto Unified School District for his over 30 years of service in public education, and his dedication to serving students, parents, teachers and the community.  The Community Partner Award goes to Kaiser Permanente’s Fontana and Ontario Medical Centers for demonstrating commitment to improving the health of the community by providing over $80,000 to assist CAPSBC’s distribution of fresh produce, and startup funding for the San Bernardino Food Policy Council.

The Honorable Mayor Patrick J. Morris of the City of San Bernardino will receive the Legislative Advocate Award for his distinguished record of public service, professionalism, leadership, and his demonstrated passion and commitment to improving the lives of city residents by fighting crime, supporting youth programs, encouraging economic revitalization, and improving transportations systems, while guiding the city through very difficult times.

The Volunteer Award will go to Jamie Varner, Vice President of the Wells Fargo Inland Empire Volunteer Chapter, who has supported the CAPSBC Food Bank by organizing food drives and working with Wells Fargo employees to pack food. The award has been re-introduced as the Dorothy L. Grant ‘Helping People Changing Lives’ Volunteer Award in honor and memory of the longtime CAPSBC Board Member and advocate for the poor, who recently passed on April 13, 2013.

The Spirit of Hope Achievement Award goes to Cynthia Robinson, a CAPSBC Asset Development Program graduate, who achieved her asset development goal of purchasing her first home through very difficult personal circumstances – the death of her husband, loss of her mother, and her acceptance of guardianship for a 4 year old cousin.  Cynthia is a role model for others in achieving success through adversity with the spirit of hope and dignity.

For more information about CAPSBC services and programs, call 909-723-1500, Email to info@capsbc.org, or go online to www.capsbc.org.