Local

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Last week, I wrote a commentary marking 10 years since the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) Board of Education lost control of Inglewood schools. I requested that it not be printed when I was informed that Dr. Erika Torres had announced she was stepping down from her position as IUSD County Administrator because she had a recurrence of breast cancer.

The commentary was very critical of Torres’ administration so under the circumstances I decided to rewrite it removing the focus from her. I wish her well as she concentrates on her health and her family’s wellbeing

On Oct. 3, 2012, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tom Torlakson met with the IUSD School Board and told them that he was assuming all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board. At the same time, he introduced Kent Taylor as his State Administrator that would be acting as both the governing board and superintendent.

Senate Bill (SB) 533 authored by Sen. Rod Wright (D-Inglewood) and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 14, 2012, approved an emergency appropriation of up to $55 million for IUSD to avoid fiscal insolvency.

The School Board asked Wright to write a bill requesting pre-approval for a state loan in case they needed it to cover a cash flow shortfall projected to occur in March 2013.

Wright said to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, “Mr. Chair, this bill does not require that they take the money. Inglewood will spend the next few months attempting to work out their financial issues. We need this bill in place today to provide the authorization for up to $55 million. If they don’t need it, they don’t have to take it. If they need less than that, they can take less.”

Two days before Brown signed SB 533, the Board approved a resolution cutting teacher salaries and benefits up to 15 %, which would allow IUSD to avoid borrowing any state money.

But SB 533 gave Torlakson immediate authority over Inglewood schools as a condition of state receivership. That was not what the Board asked for or expected in Wright’s bill.

Torlakson wasted no time exercising that authority at the urging of the California Teachers Association acting on complaints from Inglewood Teacher Association President Peter Somberg and CTA Inglewood representative Jeff Good who were upset by the Board resolution and proponents of the state taking over IUSD.

The IUSD School Board never asked the state for money authorized in SB 533.

The first thing Taylor did was rescind the Board resolution cutting teacher salaries. He borrowed $19 Million from the state without financial necessity and the loan he initiated put IUSD into receivership.

Torlakson appointed six administrators (two were interim administrators) over six years and borrowed $29 Million without financial justification from the state’s General Fund.

Dr. Don Brann was Torlakson’s least effective appointee. He failed to balance the budget, failed to maintain school facilities, and failed to secure millions of dollars in state and federal grants that Inglewood qualified for before it went into receivership.

Community advocates outraged over Brann’s ineffectiveness convinced the Legislature to spend about $300,000 to audit IUSD. The audit findings persuaded Torlakson to appoint experienced and accomplished administrators.

He terminated Brann’s employment and replaced him with Dr. Vincent Matthews who had been superintendent at Oakland Unified and San Jose Unified School District.

Matthews balanced IUSD’s budget and repaired confidence in the school district damaged by Brann. He resigned from IUSD when offered the opportunity to lead the San Francisco Unified School District.

Following Matthews, Torlakson appointed Dr. Thelma Meléndez. She had been Pomona Unified superintendent, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education (Obama administration), Santa Ana Unified superintendent, Mayor Garcetti’s chief education adviser and a senior administrator at Los Angeles Unified School District.

Meléndez engaged the IUSD community in developing a strategic plan for Inglewood students. She invited the community to meet at the “Fabulous” Inglewood Forum to express their thoughts and ideas so they would be included in the plan. She used bond money that was not being utilized to repair and upgrade the schools.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1840 enacted in 2018 to provide financial relief to IUSD and Oakland Unified School District also transferred responsibility for managing IUSD from the SPI to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) and L.A. County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo.

Duardo selected Deputy Superintendent Torres to lead LACOE staff assigned to work withMeléndez. To Duardo’s credit, she provided support staff that Torlakson didn’t when he was in charge.

After a few months of working with Duardo and Torres, Meléndez surprised the community when she announced plans to retire before her contract expired.

Torres was selected to be Inglewood’s seventh administrator under receivership after a number of candidates were interviewed.

Torres’ appointment was a tremendous drop off from the administrative experience Melendez brought to IUSD. At the time, it appeared that Duardo hadn’t learn from the mistakes Torlakson made with his early appointments.

Torres had never led a school district or even been a school principal or teacher.

Unlike Torlakson who visited Inglewood several times, Duardo ignored advice to introduce herself and Torres to the community. Their failure to connect has contributed to community mistrust of actions taken by county administration.

A few weeks ago, trying to pacify the IUSD community’s frustration and anger with a number of their bad decisions, Duardo and Torres conducted their first ever town hall meeting. Missing from their presentation was a list of accomplishments made during their four years of running IUSD schools.

It is clear that ten years of state intervention is not a guarantee that a school district in receivership will be better managed. While Los Angeles County school districts operating under local control like Los Angeles Unified, Culver City Unified, and Compton Unified have advanced academically and improved their facilities, similar progress at IUSD has been stunted under state and county administrative malpractice.

Of seven administrators appointed under receivership only two had resumes showing the level of experience needed to be effective IUSD administrators. Duardo’s appointee was not one of them.

The Inglewood Board of Education has served patiently in an advisory role for 10 years. That’s longer than any school district with a state loan.

As the search for Torres’ replacement begins, Duardo should assign the IUSD Board responsibility for recommending the next County Administrator from the list of vetted candidates. Otherwise, the Board when it regains local control will likely select a new Superintendent.

My next commentary will provide a guideline on what the IUSD community should do to regain local control.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Social Lites Inc.  a 5013c is proud to present “one of our own” Inland Empire’s newest rising star “Myles Prower Davis” during a Live Musical Concert on Sunday, Dec. 4th at his home church, the beautiful Life Changing Ministries in San Bernardino.

Davis is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and entertainer based in Los Angeles was born and raised in the Inland Empire. At the age of 7 he received his early Classical and Jazz musical training through the Redlands Unified School District as well as through the University of Redlands, School of Music.

Throughout his early years he began performing for various clubs, social events and organizations in the I.E. including several youth symphonies across the So. Calif. Area. At age 11, he had his Symphony Debut with the Bellflower Symphony Association with Maestro Joseph R. Taylor.

He graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with his degree in Composition and Clarinet performance although his true love was Classic Jazz. Upon graduating, his jazz became prominent as he was a featured performer with the Disneyland Resort, including the Disneyland band and Pixarmonic Orchestra and was performing with a multitude of So Calif. Jazz and Big Bands.

Myles has composed half time field shows for area High Schools as well as he has arrangement credits which include music for SeaWorld San Diego, the Fresh Rhythm Band and LALA Brass. He composed original music for the “HBO Perry Mason series” and has performed in Washington D.C., Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and in Toyko, Japan. You can find Myles traveling to different So Calif. venues every weekend and he just appeared on “The Late Late Show with James Cordon” which featured Cedrick the Entertainer. He is scheduled to perform at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas for The Great Gatsby Party this weekend.

Currently he is employed with the Audiomachine company in LA, which creates music for major movie trailers and national commercials where he has had numerous additional releases.

During this 1^st Time Ever Social Lites sponsored Concert, Myles will perform his Original Compositions, Classical, Christian and Jazz music to delight every attendee. Tickets sales are happening now with General Admission $35.00, VIP $40.00 and Children 6 to 12 yrs old is $10.00.

Proceeds will go toward the Social Lites Scholarship Fund where we have awarded approx. 2.5 million dollars over the past 55+ years to college bound underserved youth in our area. Please call Marlene Davis at (909) 709-5502 or Sheri Lewis (909) 320-0799 for more information. This is a concert you will NOT want to miss!

By Jasmine Cannick

Los Angeles has seen its fair share of political scandals over the decades, but the leaked audio of Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Kevin de León, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera making disparaging and racist remarks about Black people, their colleagues, and conspiring to commit voter suppression takes the cake.

In one single instance, the worst fears of Blacks in Los Angeles were confirmed in graphic detail–the top Democratic political and labor leaders of the city are anti-Black and are actively conspiring to dismantle what is left of the Black community in Los Angeles.

Famed author and poet Maya Angelou once said, “When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time.”

From referring to a white councilmember’s Black son as an “accessory” and describing him as a monkey in Spanish to wanting to physically beat that same little boy, colluding to replace one Black councilmember with another who can be depended on to vote in favor of Latinos, conspiring to commit Black voter suppression, even seemingly writing off Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón because “He’s with the Blacks”–no one should ever be confused about where Black people stand with Martinez, Cedillo, de Leon, and Herrera.

Now that their plotting and planning and blatant racism have been exposed, usher in the carefully crafted public apologies

Miss me.

At the risk of never working at city hall or in politics again, I am going to speak the truth about this situation.

There are some instances where apologies just won’t cut it, and this is one of them.

The only acceptable resolution to this scandal is for the immediate resignation from public office of all four people involved. Period.

This is not a situation where thoughts-and-prayer-like statements mean a damn thing.

The only statement that needs to be crafted is a resignation statement, and as a seasoned political strategist, I’ll write it for them for free.

Let’s be clear, had the leaked audio been of a group of Black leaders or Republicans saying racist and derogatory comments towards any other race or group of people and it would have been a  “Do not pass Go and do not collect $200” type of situation that would have resulted in the immediate calls for resignations of all involved.

This situation deserves the same treatment, and anything less says that it’s open season on Blacks and that there are no real long lasting consequences.

The deafening silence from alleged allies of the Black community on this situation, including the Democratic Party, is just as bad as the strongly worded statements that say everything except for the Martinez and Co. to resign.

This is a s–t or get off the pot moment.  There is no sitting on fence or tap dancing around the elephant in the room.

Either you support racists or you don’t, and from where I am sitting, the Los Angeles County and California Democratic Parties, along with dozens and dozens of political leaders, seem to be siding with the racists, which makes them all hypocrites.

This is not a situation where folks get off the hook by apologizing, followed by meeting with leaders in the Black community, and we’re back to holding hands and singing kumbayah.

Any so-called Black leader that isn’t calling for the resignation of these four people is aiding and abetting in the oppression and suppression of their own people, most likely for personal gain.

Fact.  All four of the people involved in the leaked audio get paid from money that comes from all Angelenos–not just Latinos. Nury Martinez offering to resign as council president leaves her paycheck and position as a councilmember in place. And in the case of top labor leader Ron Herrera, he actually conspired to use the dues from the paychecks of hardworking Black folks against them to dilute their power in the 10th council district.

It is because of years of behind-the-scenes anti-Black politicking by people who share the same views as Martinez, Cedillo, de Leon, and Herrera that Black people have been pushed out of the city to the point that there is no real Black political power in the city of Los Angeles. Because of the high cost of living and years of the very same tactics discussed in that audio, Black people make up less than 9 percent of the city’s population.  Any power that we think we have in Los Angeles almost always requires the buy-in and support of allies.  We have a 15-member city council with three Black members, of which one’s credibility has been called into question given the comments heard in the audio about why she was appointed to the position.

For those of us who love this city and fight every day just to be able to afford to live here, this hurts deep down. The release of the audio is an in-your-face reminder that many of the powers that be don’t care about us or want us here and are actively working against us–sadly, in some ways, with the help of other Blacks.

The audio also validates why the only zip code in the city that has seen an increase in its Black population is the one that encompasses Skid Row–an area of Los Angeles that Kevin de Leon represents. We know how he feels about Black people. It explains why Black people make up most of the homeless and cannot access city services in the ways others can. It explains why so many of the councilmembers don’t have any Black people on their staffs. Why Black consultants aren’t hired by labor unions in the way that other races are?  Why there is a lack of Black leadership at the executive level in many of the labor unions in Los Angeles. The audio explains a lot.

When the top leadership of the city council calls a Black boy a monkey, says she wants to beat him, and accuses a colleague of being with “the Blacks,” what more do you need to know?  I told you what Maya Angelou said.

Given the revelations exposed, every vote that was ever cast by Martinez, Cedillo, and de Leon that had anything to do with Black people needs to be re-examined.  Department heads, starting with the chief of police, need to be interviewed on the record to see if members of the city council gave them directives to target, ignore, not hire, arrest, deny, not rent to, not contract with, not buy from Black people.

Pandora’s Box has been opened.

Add to all of that, the federal government needs to step in and investigate the city’s redistricting process, now.

If known racists are allowed to stay on the city council after being exposed, then we, Black people, deserve everything we get moving forward.

Democrats love to talk about meeting the moment.  What are they waiting for?

A political strategist, Jasmyne Cannick is a former Special Assistant to previous Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, a delegate in the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, and a proud member of The Blacks.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra will return to the California Theatre on October 29, 2022, for “Movies with the Maestro” featuring cinema scores including John Williams’ iconic music from E.T., Jurrasic Park, and Star Wars, the Alfred Hitchcock film scores of Bernard Herrmann, and scores from Kris Bowers, John Powell, Pinar Toprak, Maurice Jarre, Ennio Morricone, and more.

Shared Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther, “Starting this year, the San Bernardino Symphony will perform an annual film music concert, and this year we’ll play some of my personal favorites. It’s also important to note that 2022 marks several important cinematic milestones. We have the 20th anniversary of Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones, the 40 Anniversary of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the 60th Anniversary of Lawrence of Arabia, and the 90th birthday of America’s foremost living composer, John Williams.  Principal Guest Conductor Lesley Leighton and I look forward to exploring the music from all of these landmark compositions.”

In keeping with the movie theme, audience members are encouraged to attend dressed as their favorite actors.

“Every year at the ‘Movies with the Maestro’ concert, we will do a Star Wars portion, and we want to see the entire hall filled with lightsabers. It’s going to grow into a wonderful regional tradition as we do this year year,” added Parnther.

Renowned violinist Roberto Cani will be the featured artist for this concert, performing the hauntingly poignant theme music of Shindler’s List.

A native of Milan, Cani studied at the Milan Conservatory of Music, the Gnessin Institute of Music in Moscow, and the University of Southern California. In addition to his role as Concertmaster of the LA Opera, he has been guest concertmaster for the London Philharmonic and the La Scala Philharmonic. He has performed as a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic, the Orchestra of La Sacla in Milan, RAI Symphony (Italy), Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano, Orchestra Cantelli, the Belgrade Orchestra, the Zagreb Orchestra, and the Missouri Chamber Orchestra.

“Everyone loves the feeling when you’re at the movies with people all around you and the lights go down and the magic happens,” said Symphony Board President and former City of San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles. “On October 29^th, that feeling is what I expect we will all be experiencing at this concert.”

Ticket Availability

Single tickets for all SBSO concerts are available online at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org or by calling the box office at (909) 381-5388. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are $30 – $100 with students and active military always just $15. The availability of tickets cannot be guaranteed on concert night.

The California Theatre is located at 562 W. Fourth Street in downtown San Bernardino. Free, lighted parking is available directly across from the venue.

By Gail Fry | Contributor, WSS News

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK— The West Side Story attended the October 7, debate between Mayoral Candidates Jim Penman and Helen Tran sponsored by the Northwest Project Area Committee held at the Sixteenth Street Seventh Day Adventist Church where attendees heard two different visions for the future of the City of San Bernardino.

Candidate Helen Tran

Candidate Helen Tran (Tran) who, according to the Tran campaign website, worked for the City of San Bernardino as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Human Resources and after ten years was elevated to Director of Human Resources.

While Helen Tran was Human Resources Director for the City of San Bernardino in early 2019, three female employees filed complaints against the city’s mayor John Valdivia claiming inappropriate conduct according to a webpage for law firm Pelayes, & Yu, APC.

The law firm alleged on March 14, 2019, Human Resources Director Helen Tran issued a memorandum to Mayor Valdivia warning him about having employee Mirna Cisneros work out of class by repeatedly assigning her to work various after-hours events, which were not within the scope of her work duties.

Shortly after, Helen Tran left her position at the City of San Bernardino, and accepted a position as Director, Human Resources & Risk Management at West Covina according to Voter’s Edge website.

Based on the Tran campaign website, in 2006, Tran earned her Bachelor’s degree in American Studies with a minor in Education from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Candidate Jim Penman

After graduating law school, Jim Penman became an attorney in private practice in the City of San Bernardino.  In 1987, he was elected with 70% of the vote as City Attorney for the City of San Bernardino after being named “the Best Lawyer in the Inland Empire,” and held that office for 26 years.

Until he was recalled by 60.66% of the voters in 2013, according to records at the San Bernardino County Register of Voters.  At the time, John Husing, an economist and political strategist was quoted saying, “From the day he was elected city attorney, he fought with every mayor to try to run the city from his office.” Mozingo, J. (12/30/2015) Did hard-nosed ex-city attorney clean up or cause San Bernardino’s problems? Los Angeles Times

At that time, former Mayor Judith Valles shared, “Anyone who came as mayor, he didn’t trust. He didn’t trust me. Everyone was suspect.” Mozingo, J. (12/30/2015) Did hard-nosed ex-city attorney clean up or cause San Bernardino’s problems? Los Angeles Times

Jim Penman obtained his Bachelor of Arts, California State University, San Bernardino, June 1969, followed by receiving a Juris Doctorate from Western State University, College of Law, in December 1979, according to the Jim Penman campaign website.

Out, “He was the major disrupting influence who brought the city to its knees. He’s made it impossible to get anything done….,” John Husing, an economist and political strategist who writes the Inland Empire Quarterly Economic Report.  Mozingo, J. (12/30/2015) Did hard-nosed ex-city attorney clean up or cause San Bernardino’s problems? Los Angeles Times

The Debate

Tran cited her knowledge of what the city has gone through and the complexity of city government after working for the city for 14 years.  Tran explained she would engage with council members to effectively address many issues facing the city such as homelessness, public safety, to repair streets, improve infrastructure, redevelop downtown, and provide affordable housing.

Penman cited his dedication to the City of San Bernardino and that he thought he was done with politics after being voted out of office.  Penman explained the only people he was mean to were slumlords, and developers who were trying to get a free ride from the city.  Penman revealed his plan to take two vacant buildings, convert them into homeless housing, and provide mental health, anti-addiction services, and job training.

As to what Tran’s first item to accomplish in her first year would be, Tran spoke of creating relationships with council, the administration, and with the community, everyone that needs to be at the table to move the city forward.  Tran spoke of being an ally to those at the table, working collaboratively, and then working together to deliver services effectively and efficiently while holding the city manager and administration accountable.

While Penman explained he won’t waste his time building relationships with people he already has a relationship with, explaining when you have a mayor in training, they have to spend the first year establishing relationships with the council, referring to his opponent.  As to what his first item to accomplish in his first year as mayor would be Penman said he would hire more police officers and that citizens should not have to wait hours or days to have an officer to respond when they call 911.

In response to issues of homelessness and mental health, Penman explained the city needed to provide the homeless housing before they could legally enforce its ordinance prohibiting outdoor camping.  “We are going to treat them with respect, kindness and decency, we are going to get them housing,” Penman voiced explaining numerous studies show less than 40% want to be off the streets.  Penman offered, “We are going rehire retired law enforcement officers to move them, and move them, again, and again, until they either decide to go to the housing or go to another city.”

Tran criticized Penman’s plan to rehire retired law enforcement officers to address homelessness, explaining it would jeopardize their pension per CalPers Regulations, claiming Penman made empty promises to gain support.  Tran countered that Penman had never been mayor and should stop saying she is a mayor in training.  On homelessness, Tran explained, “There are so many ways of dealing with it, it’s complex, there is not a one size fit all on homelessness.”   Tran reasoned you can’t work alone as the mayor, you have to work collaboratively with the county, with council to create a policy, a plan of action, and adopt it before you can access government funds.

On the question of affordable housing, Penman questioned Tran’s plan.  “How are you going to work with them?” Penman asked, adding, “Who has the money, the federal government has the money, the state has some.”  As the former director of human resources, my opponent should know it doesn’t affect the pension of retired police officers to be hired as investigators.  We are going to get affordable housing.  We will get it like mayors have always gotten it.  I don’t need to wait around to start working with council members to do these things.

Tran acknowledged, “Affordable housing is a huge crisis, not just in our city, but throughout the state and the state is already implementing a mechanism for us to really push and build affordable housing quickly.”  Tran continued, “Mr. Penman talked about abandoned buildings and turning them into housing for the homeless, we should turn that into affordable housing.  We need to create a pathway to homeownership for renters.  You have to work with your partners, that is with your state legislators, and that is the county, that is with our organizations out in the community.

With the power of the mayor having been reduced by the council, Jim Penman explained why he still wants to run for the office of mayor.  “I have been out of office for nine years and I have watched the city go down, down, down,” Penman observed explaining when he left office people opined it couldn’t get any worse, and some thought half their problems would leave when he left.  The city is worse, Penman opined voicing that he has a passion for San Bernardino, his children and grandchildren live in San Bernardino and would be remiss if he didn’t take action to help the city.

“I am raising my three children, with my husband who I met at Sierra High, and we are living in San Bernardino, raising our children, investing our time and our life within the city,” Helen Tran voiced.  “I am sorry Mr. Penman, 26 years of failed leadership, adversarial relationships, having seen directors and leaders leave this city because they got fed up,” Tran declared adding, “That is why I am running.”  Tran concluded, “I look forward to moving this city forward, not backward, new leadership, new energy, that is much needed because we have a huge list of things to do, we have to get things done immediately.”

As to the biggest obstacle she found at city hall, Tran recognized there was a lack of leadership.  “If you can’t lead effectively, everything else falls apart,” Tran explained adding, “You have to make sure that you are working as an ally, not as an adversary.”  Tran apologizing opined, “And I’m sorry, my opponent has been an adversary for 26 years as a former city attorney.”  Tran promised to lead with humility, work together with council, set aside differences, represent all of the citizens and to be an effective leader for the city moving it forward get to the bottom of it to tackle a laundry list of issues facing the city.  Tran said there is a solution to every problem.

“The biggest obstacle when I was city attorney, was corruption, and that’s the biggest obstacle today, corruption that’s what needs to be addressed,” Penman explained saying that was why he was adversarial.  “And sadly, my opponent is getting into the same thing, a memo went out from her campaign last week, saying that women in city hall had accused me of sexual harassment that was a big lie.”  Penman declared that he was investigated, and cleared of any wrong doing by the California State Bar, holding up documents to support his statements.  Penman warned that a candidate that would lie during a campaign would use those same tactics in office.

Tran countered, “I am going to stand up for these women, who were faced with harassment and I am going to stand up for them, because you did them wrong all these women.”

“I just heard my opponent say that she is going to stand up for women,” Penman voiced, asking, “She is going to stand up for them the way she stood up for the women that complained to her office about Mayor John Valvidia?”  Penman opined that Tran abandoned the women and ran to West Covina.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, California Black Media writer McKenzie Jackson takes a look at the lives and accomplishments of some people of Hispanic heritage in California.

Dayane Mendoza Solis considered throwing her hat in the ring for a trustee seat on the Sonoma Valley Unified School District’s board in the upcoming November election.

The 28-year-old accountant, a graduate of the Wine Country’s public school system, says more Latino representation is needed on school boards and in government, more broadly.

In the end, Solis decided not to run. Instead, she chose to focus on her budding career as an accountant. Still, Solis said, she would like to see more Latinos in prominent positions across the Golden State.

“People were so happy to know that I, a Latina, was ready to step into a leadership role,” said Solis, an admirer of New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “More Latino leaders are needed to step up and guide younger generations because there are so many people of Mexican and other Latin American descents in California.”

Solis hopes Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, shines a light on that.

“The Latino community is made up of hard workers, who are willing to thrive and help others in need,” Solis told California Black Media (CBM). “We have a strong presence in the state.”

Hispanic Heritage Month places that work ethic front and center. The monthlong national recognition is held annually to celebrate the diverse cultures, contributions, and extensive histories of the U.S. Latino community, the second largest racial or ethnic group in the country

Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) says the occasion is an opportunity to acknowledge and uplift the voices and experiences of Latinos in America.

 “We are still living in a time and place where we need to make sure we elevate the experiences of Latinos,” Bonta who is a Black Latina (or Afro Latina) said to CBM. “Having a month dedicated to telling their stories, focusing on their legacies and the everyday heroes who make a difference is very important.”

According to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Latinos are largest ethnic group in the state. They are about 39.4% of the state’s population or about 15.7 million people. Non-Hispanic Whites are 34.7% and African Americans are 5.4% of the population.

The largest concentration of people of Hispanic Heritage in California lives in Imperial County (79.6%), which is adjacent to San Diego County along the southern border of California. Latinos make up 48% of Los Angeles County’s population and over 50% of the population in San Bernardino and Fresno counties. One in every four Hispanic American call California home.

Among Latinos in California, Mexican Americans account for the largest number of people of Hispanic origin in the state (30.7%) followed by Hispanics originating from the Caribbean (0.8%) and people of Central American descent (3.0%).

Throughout California’s 170-year history Latinos have contributed to every aspect of life including agriculture, construction, entertainment, health care, hospitality, sports, and politics. In fact, people of Hispanic Heritage have been living in California since the 1600s, according to some reports.

California has been home to a number of national heroes of Hispanic heritage including labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta, cofounders of the organization that became the United Farmworkers Union; former and current United States Poet Laureates Juan Felipe Herrera (2015-2017) and Ada Limón; and American civil rights activist Sylvia Mendez.

The economic impact Latinos have on the state and nation was celebrated at the L’ATTITUDE conference from Sept. 22-25 in San Diego. The event allowed Latino professionals to network and share ideas. It attracted business and political leaders and celebrities like former President Barack Obama and Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan.

Obama said, “Success of the country economically is going to depend on how well the Latino community does and other quote unquote minority groups because they’re growing in importance and in strength.”

Alex Padilla, who became California’s first Latino U.S. Senator when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him to replace Vice President Kamala Harris, appeared at L’ATTITUDE for a conversation titled “Public Policy Imperatives for the 21st Century America.” Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, introduced the Senate bill, “The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929” to expand a pathway to permanency for millions of long-term U.S. residents three days after the event.

According to PPIC, one-fourth of the undocumented immigrants in the United States (between 2.35 and 2.6 million people) live in California.

The Senate bill Sen. Padilla introduced would allow an immigrant to qualify for lawful permanent resident status if they have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least seven years before filing an application for lawful permanent resident status and are of good moral character. It provides a pathway to a green card for up to eight million people.

The undocumented individuals covered in Padilla’s bill after they become citizens, potentially would contribute about $83 billion to the U.S. economy annually and about $27 billion in taxes according to FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization advocating for immigration reform.

According to Padilla, America’s outdated immigration system is holding back the economy and hurting an unnumberable number of individuals.

“This could have a profound impact on millions of immigrants, some who have been living, working, and contributing to the United States for decades, by allowing them to live freely without the fear of an uncertain future,” he said.

One immigrant the Padilla bill could help in the future is Yenny Soto, a 31-year-old immigrant from Venezuela. Soto crossed the Arizona border last December. She spoke with CBM about her odyssey from Panama to the U.S.

Soto’s journey included multiple plane and bus rides before she and nine other Latin Americans entered the U.S. The band walked through crop fields and barren lands until they met with a group of around 50 other migrants fleeing unstable countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.  Seeking asylum, they called law enforcement and were all arrested.

Soto was held in the custody for over a week and after being assigned a court date for her asylum plea, she landed in New York City where she has been working as a waitress and bartender in clubs and restaurants.

“I knew I had to come and work a lot since I had been told the American Dream was to work and work,” said Soto, who jokes about becoming U.S. president one day.

Ninety-nine percent of Hispanic immigrants in California come from Latin America, with 77% coming from Mexico.

Solis, whose family immigrated legally from Mexico, said immigrants need help getting acclimated to America.

“Families are moving to find a better life,” she said. “Mexico, in particular, has a lot of violence.”

However, Bonta said it is a misconception that immigration concerns are exclusively about Latinos. She said California’s Latino community is not monolithic.

“There is very diverse Latino community — from Central and South America, the Caribbean and people that have been in California for generations,” said Bonta. “Latinos have an incredible history of contributing to the economy of the state.”

Solis hopes all Californians can enjoy Latino culture.

“I think it’s beautiful that it is being celebrated — our diversity, our cultures,” she said. “I find it innovative, but at the same time I would like everyone to question what they are celebrating. Are they going to take the time to learn about Latino cultures? Are they going to make an effort?”

“This publication/project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, September 24, Michael Torres was crowned Mr. Cardinal City and Anne Martinez was crowned Miss Cardinal City during the combined pageant held at Sturges Center for the Fine Arts.

The Mr. and Miss Cardinal City pageant is the brainchild of Bilingual School Outreach Worker Jaime Rios, who wanted to bring positive attention to both San Bernardino High School (SBHS) and the entire San Bernardino community. He also wanted to build confidence and inspire positive values in the young men and women of SBHS, home of the Cardinals, which is why the focus of the entire process is on academics, social skills, and community service.

“Every one of the contestants, no matter how they placed, proved they are fit to represent Cardinal City and have demonstrated they are role models for the students and adults in our community,” Rios said. “These students dedicated more than 40 hours to practicing for the pageant and 25 hours of community service in addition to their schoolwork, after-school clubs, sports, music, and a host of other activities.

Other big winners were Jamie Lusung, who was crowned Teen International Beauty 2022–2023, and Raven Solar, who was crowned Miss International Beauty 2022–2023. Both will be part of Miss Cardinal City’s court. Jasmine Toolan was awarded a full scholarship, excluding the cost of equipment, to attend the JA School of Hairdressing in Corona to pursue her dream of becoming a cosmetologist or aesthetician. Karina Roldan was awarded a $3,000 scholarship from Dr. Sam Nguyen’s SAM Foundation and also earned recognition for being the contestant with the highest GPA at 4.89.

Rounding out the Miss Cardinal City Court are first runner-up Rachelle Hutto and second runner-up Anitzia Garcia. The Mr. Cardinal City Court includes first runner-up Freddy Martias and second runner-up Anthony Arias.

Other award winners included Mr. Photogenic Freddy Matias, Miss Photogenic Anne Martinez, People’s Choice Award winners Michael Torres and Jamie Lusung, and Director’s Award winners Jasmine Toolan and Rachelle Hutto.

Mr. and Miss Cardinal City and their Courts will represent Cardinal City, which is an official chartered city that encompasses the SBHS campus and all of its current students and staff, at various in-person and virtual functions.

Miss International Beauty and Teen International Beauty are owned by Ms. America Pageant Inc. and are registered federal trademarks. Both titles focus on using the exhilaration of pageantry to teach women and girls important life skills, encourage involvement in community service, and use their Crown for a Purpose, while shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Louise Madlin founded Miss International Beauty in 1970, and Susan Irvine founded the Teen International Pageant in 2020. The titles are donated to the Miss Cardinal Pageant to give more students the ability to be out and serve in their community. Miss International Beauty and Teen International Beauty are eligible for scholarships based on meeting required appearances and volunteer work during their reign.

Mr. and Miss Cardinal City are eligible for college scholarships when they graduate from SBHS. To donate to the Cardinal Scholarship fund, contact Communications/Community Relations secretary Susan Zavala at (909) 381-1250.

Check out the release of “Waking Up to my Purpose” Memoirs by Kim Cartert his week on the Jennifer Hudson Show on Thursday, October 6.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

On Sept. 29, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill (AB) 2296 authored by Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer.

The bill proposed extending the term for the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans by an additional year until July 1, 2024.

“I am returning Assembly Bill 2296 without my signature,” Newsom said in a written statement. “At the request of the author of the original legislation that created this task force, I am vetoing this bill.”

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber authored AB 3121 the legislation establishing the task force in 2020 – while serving in the Assembly. The task force was formed to study slavery and its lingering effects on African Americans with a “special consideration” for descendants of persons enslaved in the United States.

Jones-Sawyer is a member of the Task Force.

As written, AB 2296 would “remove the specified term of office for appointees and, instead, subject the appointees to removal at the pleasure of their appointing authority.”

That action would authorize the Task Force, by majority vote, to elect officers and create advisory bodies and subcommittees to accomplish its duties.

Currently, Los Angeles attorney Kamilah Moore is the task force chair and civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown of San Francisco serves as vice chair.

The Task Force consists of nine members. Five of them are appointed by the Governor, two members are appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate, and another two are appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

The Assembly passed AB 2296 with a 59-13 majority vote. In the Senate, it passed 32-6 at the end of August. It was sent to the Governor on Sept. 9 for his signature.

Jones-Sawyer avoided making any public comment about AB 2296 since introducing the bill in the Assembly on Feb. 16, 2022.

At a two-day meeting in Los Angeles on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 at the California Science Center and the Wallis Annenberg Building in Exposition Park, Jones-Sawyer made a public statement about the bill.

“The Task Force report will be completed on time as richly envisioned by Dr. Shirley Weber. It will not be delayed and will be done (July 1, 2023) whether the governor signs my bill or not,” Sawyer said. However, he avoided commenting on the removal of members mentioned in the bill.

Many speakers during public comment at the first day of the meeting voiced concerns about extending the Reparations Task Force sunset date for an additional year.

Jones-Sawyer said his intention to extend the task force was to allow members to lobby the Assembly and Senate legislators who may not be in favor of the recommendations or “dollar amount.”

“That is the purpose why I wanted this group to stay together, not to hold up part of the report, but to keep this group together so they can lobby our colleagues and other individuals who may not be in line or in lockstep with what we want to do. And there are several of them who are not in line with what we want to do,” Sawyer said.

The members of the Coalition of a Just and Equity California (CJEC) and other advocate groups for reparations conducted a month-long continuous social media campaign on all platforms and made pleas to the public to call the governor’s office urging Newsom to veto AB 2296.

“The Governor made the right decision. As Reparations advocates, our job is to make sure the Reparations development process is open, transparent, led by the descendant community, and free from political influence,” said Chris Lodgson, a member of CJEC. “We are thankful to Governor Newsom and Secretary Weber for agreeing with us, as well as everyone who reached out to the Governor or encouraged people to reach out to the Governor to help achieve this victory. AB 2296 was a bad bill and deserved to be vetoed.”

The San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Coalition offered its support against the bill when it was asked by Rev. Brown and Weber to “reach out” to all the participants in the “Teach-In on Reparations: for African Americans in California and San Francisco.”

Brown and Weber were guest speakers at the teach-in held in San Francisco on Sept. 18 at the Congregation Sherith Israel. The Unity Coalition is a grassroots organization, made up of people of faith and/or social activists, committed to the causes of racial, social, and economic justice and to dismantling systemic racism at the local, regional and national levels.

“Please immediately contact Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and ask him to veto the Jones-Sawyer legislation — AB 2296 — that would extend the term of the (California) State Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans and open up the opportunity to remove and replace members,” the coalition said in a statement to the teach-in participants. “The work of the Task Force is on track and on schedule, and we need to stay the course. The Task Force has not asked for an extension.”

On June 1, the Task Force submitted its interim report to the California Legislature. The interim report covers the ongoing and compounding harms experienced by African Americans as a result of slavery and its lingering effects on American society today.

A final report will be issued before July 1, 2023.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office released a statement last week announcing that Senate Bill (SB) 457 was among a slew of bills sent back to the Legislature without his signature.

SB 457 proposed a $1000 tax credit to California households with zero registered vehicles.

“Addressing climate change is one of our state ‘s highest priorities. We have made historic investments in programs to reduce emissions and improve public transportation. I support approaches to incentivize a transition from vehicles to more sustainable transportation, however the estimated cost to implement this bill is nearly one billion dollars per year and is not accounted for in the budget,” Newsom said in a statement.

Often, when the Governor vetoes a bill it’s because its financial viability is questionable.

Supporters of SB 457 say the legislation was written to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. With around 28 million vehicles on the road in California, the bill’s author, Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank), saw a need to incentivize change.

Transportation accounts for 41% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other sector of society, according to the California Air Resources Board. The state offers tax rebates of up to $7,000 for purchases of electric vehicles or plug in hybrids.

This bill would have required the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide necessary taxpayer and vehicle information to the Franchise Tax Board for administration of the credit. Built into the legislation was an income limitation of $40,000 for single filers and $60,000 for joint filers.

“We are disappointed to see Newsom veto SB 457, Streets for All’s bill with Senator Portantino to create a $1000 refundable tax credit for low income, car-free families,” said Bubba Fish, legislative advocate for Streets for All. “Newsom argued that the rebate was not fiscally responsible just months after proposing to spend hundreds of millions to pay families for each car they own and suspend the diesel gas tax. The state also rewards EV buyers up to $9500, but gives nothing to families who don’t drive at all. Families that don’t contribute to traffic, traffic violence, or pollution. Where is their rebate? Until the Governor replaces automobile subsidies with real support for alternative modes, his aggressive rhetoric on fighting climate change rings hollow.”

A fiscal analysis initially estimated the bill would cost $900 million in its first year of implementation and $950 million in the second year.

However, updated scrutiny from the Franchise Tax Board shared with Streets For All shows that the first year of implementation would cost $16 million, followed by $900 million in the second year and $950 million in the third year. While it is unclear if these updated numbers would have made a difference in Newsom’s decision, Fish remains hopeful in the future a similar bill will pass.

“We are especially grateful for our coalition of supporters, Senator Portantino, and his staff for all their hard work on this bill,” Fish said. Despite the Governor’s bewildering decision, we are proud of this bill for the conversation it sparked about how to invest in a greener, safer future while centering those who need the most support. We won’t give up on that.”