WSSN Stories

After Blackouts, No One’s Feeling Empowered – Not Frustrated Customers, Nor State Officials – Nor Cash-Strapped Utilities

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

In third world countries – let’s take Nigeria and Haiti as examples – electricity blackouts are routine.

Power outages sometimes last for more than a week in Haiti, where only about 25 percent of the Caribbean nation’s 10.9 million people are connected to the power grid.

And in Nigeria, a country more than 200 million people call home, power companies provide electricity to only 45 percent of households. Losing power about once a day in the West African nation is the norm.

But in the United States, 100 percent of households have access to electricity. More than 95 percent of power outages are weather-related – and they only last, on average, between 4 to 7 hours, according to the United States Department of Energy.

That’s one reason, the recent massive, pre-planned Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) blackout two weeks ago in California, the wealthiest state in the nation, was not only upsetting to most people, but also hard to accept and widely criticized.

 “For years, PG&E has done a poor job on maintenance and tree clearing, and they’re still not even close to where they need to be,” said Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), whose district was impacted by the blackout. “That fact, along with breakdowns in communication, are unacceptable. Sadly, poor performance by PG&E is par for the course, so it’s not surprising.”

The company is the largest electricity and natural gas power provider in the state serving some 16 million people from Santa Barbara and Kern counties in the South, up north to the Oregon state line, and east to the Nevada and Arizona borders.  

The P&G power outage, which lasted from Oct. 9 through Oct. 12, has been linked to three deaths. It affected more than 700,000 Californians in 35 counties and cost residents, businesses and the public sector over $2 billion dollars.

The blackout, the seventh scheduled one this year, impacted 39 hospitals, too.

PG&E resorted to cutting power, company spokespeople and executives explain, in designated areas of the state. Because the National Weather Service predicted heavy winds, high temperatures and dry air, the company feared those conditions would lead to disastrous wildfires if power lines – many of them supported by aging, worn-out transmission towers – were downed. They could spark, setting the dry vegetation ablaze, which could result in deaths and the destruction of property.

Last week, Gov. Newsom called the power outage “unacceptable.”

“Californians should not pay the price for decades of PG&E’s greed and neglect,” said Governor Newsom last week, slamming the investor-owned utility. “We will continue to hold PG&E accountable to make radical changes – prioritizing the safety of Californians and modernizing its equipment.”

Even as the utility company, one of the largest in the country, faces sharp criticism from state officials, it is defending its decision to cut power as a safety measure. PG&E also cautions that it may have to schedule rolling blackouts for the next 10 years while it updates equipment.

In a hearing before the California Utilities Commission (CUP) Friday, PG&E CEO Bill Johnson, along with nine other company executives, admitted the company’s shortcomings  during the blackout and apologized for them. They also assured state officials that PG&E is taking measures – including updating its equipment, using technology to limit the target area of future blackouts and trimming trees near transmission towers –  to minimize outages and prevent wildfires.

“We recognize the hardship that the recent public safety power shutoff event caused for millions of people and want to continue working with all key shareholders to lessen this burden going forward,” Johnson wrote in a letter to the PUC. “At the same time, we ask our customers, their families, and our local and state leaders to keep in mind that statistic that matters most: there were no catastrophic wildfires.”

PG&E is currently facing a number of uphill battles in California.

The utility provider is taking steps to emerge from bankruptcy after facing more than $30 billion in liabilities for wildfires (far more than its total revenue in 2017, which was $17.4 billion). The worst was last year’s Camp Fire, the deadliest in the state’s history, which resulted in the deaths of 86 people, gutted more than 18,000 buildings and ravaged more than 150,000 acres of land, including the town of Paradise in Butte County.

Under California’s Inverse Condemnation rule, utility providers like PG&E are held fully liable for wildfires or other public or personal damage their equipment may cause whether that company acts negligently or not. And if a power company tries to share the burden of its liability with customers through rate increases, it must prove under California Public Utilities Code 463 that it did not incur those costs because of an “unreasonable error” in its planning, construction or operation.  

Then, two weeks ago, a California judge ruled that PG&E will no longer have exclusive control over its bankruptcy process, a decision that caused the price of its shares to tank by about 32 percent. In January, when it filed bankruptcy, stocks dropped by about 52 percent.

Since the blackout began, Gov. Newsom, state officials and customers have continued to express frustration with how much the blackout has cost customers. In fact, the governor is urging the company to pay each of its residential customers $100 and each small business $250 through automatic credits or rebates.

Critics are also blasting the utility company for the way it handled not only the disruption of service but also its customer service response and public relations activity related to the blackout.

At Friday’s hearing, Marybel Batjer, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, echoed the governor’s irritation.

“You guys failed on so many levels on pretty simple stuff,” Batjer said, pointing out that the company’s website, which many of its customers were relying on for information pertaining to the blackouts, crashed.

“What we saw play out by PG&E last week cannot be repeated,” she said. “The loss of power endangers lives.”

Many PG&E customers who lost power say the lack of updates from the company was appalling, and they are now worried that blackouts could be more frequent in the state.

“I’m not happy with PG&E at all,” Santa Cruz County resident Satya Orion told local KSBW TV News. “We did not get notified after the first warning. What if someone has a medical device that needs to keep running?”


Let’s Keep California Teen Drivers Safe Behind the Wheel

National Teen Driver Safety Week is Oct. 20-26

This week, October 20-26 is National Teen Driver Safety Week and it is a great time for California teenagers and parents to talk to one another about how teenagers can travel safely on the roads, streets and highways. Parents are encouraged to talk to their teenagers about the importance of good safety habits when operating a vehicle. Self-reported surveys show that teens whose parents set firm rules for driving typically engage in less risky driving behaviors and are involved in fewer crashes.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is reminding all young motorists to focus on the road to help increase safety for everyone.

The greatest dangers for teen drivers are alcohol consumption, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and driving with passengers in the vehicle.Throughout the week (Oct. 20-26), the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) offers tips to parents and caregivers on how to talk to teens about the consequences of making dangerous and illegal choices behind the wheel.

According to OTS

  • The number of California teen motor vehicle fatalities (age 16-19) increased 2.7 percent from 219 in 2015 to 225 in 2016.
  • The number of California teen driver fatalities (age 16-19) increased 12.3 percent from 98 in 2015 to 110 in 2016.

“All of us can play a role in helping to bring these tragic numbers down by encouraging teens to practice safe driving habits and really focus on the road,” says ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith. “ABC Agents are doing their part by conducting compliance checks at ABC licensed establishments throughout California in the effort to reduce youth access to alcohol.”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens 15 to 18 years old in the United States. In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver (15 to 18 years old) and an estimated 93,000 teen drivers injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Parents can help protect their teen drivers by talking with them about these risks.

To help reduce the risks for teen drivers follow these basic rules:

  1. Impaired Driving: All teens are too young to legally buy, possess, or consume alcohol. However, nationally in 2017, 15 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their system. 
  2. Seat Belt Safety: Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest ways for teens to stay safe in a vehicle. Yet too many teens aren’t buckling up. In fact, there were 539 passengers killed in passenger vehicles driven by teen drivers, and more than half (60 percent) of those passengers who died were NOT buckled up at the time of the fatal crash.
  3. Distracted Driving: Cell phone use while driving is more than just illegal, but also risky — it can be deadly. Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.
  4. Speed Limits: Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, especially for teens. In 2017, more than one-quarter (27 percent) of all teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.
  5. Passengers: The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behavior triples when traveling with multiple passengers.

Whether it’s impaired driving, not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving distracted or with friends in the car, it’s important for parents to let their teen know that driving is not a right, but a privilege. It can be taken away when they don’t follow the rules. For more information about National Teen Driver Safety Week and to learn safe driving tips to share with your teens, visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving.

The mission of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to the people of the State through licensing, education, and enforcement.

ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency

Time for Change Foundation Joins My Black Counts Black HUB to Launch State-Wide 2020 Census Initiative

On Friday, October 18, the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub “The Black Hub” launched the My Black Counts campaign, an outreach, education, and communications initiative to target Black hard-to-count communities in preparation for the 2020 state census and redistricting process. Time for Change Foundation is participating in the Black Hub to lift up the voices of those we serve and make sure our communities are represented in the upcoming census. Together, we encourage greater participation among Black, Latinx and immigrant populations in six key regions throughout the state, dispel myths and help ease fears about the 2020 census process.

My Black Counts is an educational awareness and persuasion campaign designed to help explain how government officials use census data to allocate federal funding for the state of California. The Black Hub is a growing alliance of 30 grassroots community-based organizations that includes a coalition of groups such as Alliance San Diego, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Community Coalition (CoCo), Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), LA Community Action Network (LACAN), Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), andTime for Change Foundation.

Time for Change Foundation has been on the frontlines, since our inception in 2002, to lead advocacy and civic engagement activities that address the disenfranchisement of black and brown communities. For far too long our communities have been underrepresented and underserved which is why TFCF makes it a point to engage our base. They support women of color during the process of re-entering their communities and reuniting with their children after incarceration.

“If we don’t get an accurate count of the Black population, we will be misrepresented in our political representation,” stated Sereeta Reid, Policy Advocate at Time for Change. “It is critically important for our communities to be counted so that we receive adequate funding for our areas.”

Since 1980, Black and immigrant populations have had below-average participation in the census. More than 1 million residents in California live in non-traditional homes, lack access to the internet or have been formerly incarcerated, which My Black Counts categorizes as hard-to-count communities. The My Black Counts campaign wants to make a point that Black is not a monolith, and all representations of the Black count matter, especially during the 2020 Census survey.

For more information about the campaign, please visit www.myBlackCounts.org or visit our social media pages at Facebook.com/myBlackcounts and Twitter and Instagram @myBlackCounts.

New State Law Restricts Payday, Other “Debt Trap” Loans

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media 

On October 10, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 539. The legislation puts restrictions on predatory lending practices in California he says “creates debt traps for families already struggling financially.”

Critics say lenders who offer these high-interest loans target disadvantaged people, large numbers of them Black and Brown consumers living in some of the most underserved census tracts in the state. These are Californians who are typically denied traditional bank loans because of poor credit or lack of collateral. However, the high interest rates on these loans can be crippling. 

According to documents provided to California Black Media, a LoanMe Inc. loan for around $5,000 would require a payback of $42,000 over seven years at a 115 percent annual percentage rate! Tacking interest rates on loans as high as 200 percent sometimes,  in addition to hidden fees, predatory lenders, critics tell us, typically structure their loans in ways that force people who sign up for them to constantly re-borrow money to pay off the mounting debts they already owe. 

“Many Californians living paycheck to paycheck are exploited by predatory lending practices each year,” said Newsom.  “Defaulting on high-cost, high-interest rate installment loans push families further into poverty instead of pulling them out. These families deserve better, and this industry must be held to account.”

The new legislation restricts the amount of interest that can be levied on loans ranging from $2,500-10,000 to 36 percent, plus the federal funds rate. 

“Gov. Newsom’s signature on AB 539 sends a strong message that California will not allow lenders to thrive on high-cost loans that often leave consumers worse off than when they started,” said Assemblymember Monique Lim?n (D-Santa Barbara,) co-author of the bill. “I am grateful to the broad coalition of community groups, faith leaders, local governments, and responsible lenders who supported this historic achievement and helped us achieve strong bipartisan support of this legislation.”

Limon has been campaigning for the passage of AB 539 for more than two years now. She is also a champion for financial education that informs consumers about the dangers of high-interest loans. 

Assemblymember Timothy Grayson (D-Concord), a co-author of the bill, says the governor signing the bill signals the end of the worst kinds of abusive loans in the state.

“Californians deserve real access to capital, not exploitative loans that trap them in perpetual payments and compounding debt,” said Grayson. “We must do more to protect financially vulnerable, hardworking families from predatory lenders who profit off their devastation.”

Figures from the California Department of Business Oversight (CBO) reveal that in 2016 the total dollar amount for payday loans in the state was $3.14 billion. The CBO also stated that seniors now represent the largest group taking out payday loans and more than 400,000 consumers in the state took out 10 payday loans in 2016. A third of those high-cost loans ended up in default. 

Not everyone is cheering the passage of AB 539. Those opponents say the bill is restrictive and undermines the values of free-market capitalism. 

The California-Hawaii chapter of the NAACP  opposed the bill, arguing that it limits options for poor African Americans who need to borrow money in emergencies.

“We are deeply concerned about the impact AB 539 will have on small businesses and consumers. As proposed, AB 539 will limit lenders’ ability to provide a variety of short-term credit options to borrowers in need.” said the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in an interview with California Globe. 

“Give Me a Little Bit of This, and A Little Bit of That!”

By Lou Yeboah

Naw Boo Boo! It’s either this or that! You can’t have both! You got to choose one or the other! You see Jesus said, “I wish you were either Hot or Cold, but because you are Lukewarm, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth.” Talking ’bout you’ll take a little bit of this, and a little bit of that!”

I tell you, this is an indicative of the attitude of many so-called-Christians. They want the blessings of Christ, but yet they want to be able to indulge in all the worldly pleasures too. Naw, Boo, Boo! You got to choose. God uses the term adultery for a reason. We cannot participate in communion one day, then flirt with idolatry the next. Jesus said in [Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13], “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. “A little bit of this, and a little bit of that!” You can’t have the best of both worlds. You got to choose! It’s either this or that!  “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eight person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.” [2 Peter 2:4-6].  Do you see what the Lord is telling us here. It is a warning that we should not follow in their footsteps by practicing the same sins. ‘A little bit of this and a little bit of that!”

How long will you be caught between two opinions, two lifestyles, two beliefs, two directions, two mindsets, two masters, two desires. “If it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day Whom ye will serve…” [Joshua 24:15]. Because it’s all or nothing! You can’t be 50% Christian and 50% worldly. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus stated: “He that is not with Me is against Me” [Matthew 12:30]. Not only is indecision a dangerous thing. It is repugnant to God mouth. [James 4:4] says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  “What shall [you] say then? Shall [you] continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid… [Romans 6:1-2].

Listen, throughout the Bible we find that God holds up choices to people – life or death, righteousness or sin, justice or deceit – and He does not force us to live the good life. It is a choice. It is your choice. I tell you, what was true of Moses day is true of today. You have got to choose! What way will you live: Godly or Worldly? Time to decide.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…..” [Deuteronomy 30:19]

CBCF Mourns the Loss of Legislative Giant, Former Board Member, and Champion for the City of Baltimore, The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings

WASHINGTON- CBCF President & CEO David A. Hinson issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Cummings:

“The CBCF Board of Directors, Corporate Advisory Council and staff collectively mourn the loss of House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair and Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. He passed away this morning. 

“Since 1996, Congressman Cummings has represented Maryland’s 7th District as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining Congress, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 16 years and became the first African American in Maryland to be named Speaker Pro Tem.

“Rep. Cummings was a true champion for justice and dedicated his life to empower the citizens in his district, and people across the United States and the globe. His life’s work literally fulfilled CBCF’s mission to develop leaders, inform policy, and educate the public.

“The congressman previously served on CBCF’s board of directors and was an avid supporter of the Foundation’s many initiatives. This summer, he charged CBCF Congressional interns to ‘make a difference’ and ‘save this [our] democracy’. Earlier this year, he generously allowed CBCF staff to interview him for the AVOICE Heritage ‘Who I Am’ video.  

“In the fall of 2018, he and his wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings — founder of CBCF’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research — participated in the launch and celebration of the inaugural Journal of the Center for Policy Analysis and Research

CBCF will dearly miss this influential and pioneering lawmaker who helped transform his district and facilitated fundamental change. As a member of Congress with a full schedule, he made time to support CBCF and showed up when it mattered and where it counted. His eyes were ALWAYS on the prize and we will be forever grateful for his inspiring words and the countless treasures he has gifted us over the years. 

“We join others across the nation in extending our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and constituents. May he rest in power.”

Photo Recap: Face Forward’s 10th Annual Gala “Highland To The Hills” Red Carpet Arrivals

Global Entertainer and former honoree La Toya Jackson hosted this year’s Face Forward Gala that took place at The Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills with a special performance by recording artist CeeLo Green.

CeeLo Green

This annual gala raises funds that directly support patient treatment and recoveries, airfare, accommodations, and all necessary medical expenses for survivors of domestic violence. Founder of Face Forward and domestic violence survivor, Deborah Alessi along with her Co-founder and husband, Dr. David Alessi M.D., Beverly Hills renowned facial reconstructive surgeon, have provided millions of dollars in donating surgical and counseling services to nearly 80 patients from 10 different countries around the globe, some requiring up to ten or more surgeries each, over multiple years of treatment.

Last years Beacon of Hope winner Caitlyn Jenner was present to pass her award forward and present to this year’s winner.

Celebrities present included Actor John Savage, Actress Christina DeRosa, Australian actress/model Nicky Whelan, and many others. For more information about Face Forward, visit http://www.faceforwardla.org/.

Cristina De Rosa



Haitian-American Writer, Entrepreneur Provides Healing and Purpose in the Release of First Book, I Am Healed

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOS ANGELES, CA— Many times life can become intensely unpredictable and somewhat trying. With that being said, people are sometimes bound to lose their sense of purpose and identity, and in turn they become broken and feel stagnant on their journey to fulfilling their dreams. Haitian-American writer and entrepreneur, Britney D. Laborde, is giving people a sense of hope, purpose and healing with the release of her book, “I Am Healed”.

I Am Healed’ was created to give people a sense of hope for their future, strength to keep going and the willingness to fight for their destiny,” Laborde explains. “I want my readers to know that everything you were brought to; you were built to grow through.”

Throughout the pages of the book, Britney incorporates her personal journey as a living testimony that you can find healing, restoration and power from within if you only believe, have a positive mind, and trust that all things are working together for your good.

“I Am Healed” is scheduled for release on Amazon on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. To stay updated on the release of the book and events, follow I Am Healed Movement on Instagram @iamhealedmovement.

Stephon Clark’s Brother, Sacramento Police Chief Sit Side-By-Side on Panel in D.C.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

“I jumped on the mayor’s desk, I had a few bizarre interviews on CNN, I did a lot of cussing out of our officers,” said Stevante Clark, a Sacramento-based rapper-turned-activist. He was talking about experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after police officers shot his brother, Stephon Clark, eight times, killing him in the backyard of their grandparents’ home in March 2018.

“I did a lot, but that’s not who I am,” Clark continued. “Those are situations that happened because of the death of my brother who I was close to, and I didn’t know how to respond. I didn’t have the resources. My mental health was affected by my brothers death.”

Clark was speaking during a panel discussion titled “Bridging the Gap: Creating Policy for Sustainability in Underrepresented Communities,” held September 12, during the 2019 Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference. The Black caucus held its annual conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, from September 11-15.

Organized by the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce (SBCC), the panel discussion drew guests from all over the country. They came to see officials, leaders and activists from California participate in a lively and thoughtful discussion about African-American life and well-being in Sacramento. The panelists dove into various ways public safety, mental health and public policy all rub against each other and impact the lives of Blacks in California’s capital city.

Even though Sacramento is fairly diverse and there are African Americans residing in different areas of the city, the majority of Blacks live in neighborhoods on the city’s south side.

“I’m Proud to have been a part of the early discussions about how we can share what’s going on in Sacramento – the challenges and successes we’ve had over the years – with our congressional leadership,” said Larry Lee, president and publisher of the Sacramento Observer, the capital city’s largest African-American newspaper. The 50-year-old publication is also the oldest Black newspaper in Sacramento.

The SBCC put on the event, says its president, Azizza Davis Goines, to effect change in the city’s most under-served communities.

“We know what we need. And we are discovering that we know how to convene the resources committed to working with us,” she said.

Lee, who is also the former board chair of the SBCC, joined other Sacramento leaders for the discussion, including Daniel Hahn, the city’s first African-American police chief who is a native and grew up in one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods. Hahn took over the police department in August 2017, only seven months before officers on his squad killed Clark.

“There’s a reason we sat them next to each other,” Lee said, half-joking but explaining that the SBCC deliberately put Clark and Hahn side-by-side on the panel. Their seating easily symbolized the steps Sacramento is taking to build trust and break down the barriers that exist between police officers and residents of the city, particularly in neighborhoods that are predominantly poor and minority.

William Jahmal Miller, director, Corporate Reputation and Thought Leadership at Blue Shield of California and Jamilia B. Land, a human rights activist and children’s mental health advocate, were the two other panelists.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former mayor of Baltimore, moderated the panel discussion. She stressed the importance of leaders and investors finding out what people need instead of imposing solutions on them, even when they mean well.

“It frustrated me when I was in public office. It seemed the people with the resources to do a lot of things hadn’t had one conversation with the community,” she said. “They just had big ideas. I welcome investment in our communities, but I always encourage people to make it about the people you serve – and not about yourself.”

For Miller, creating sustainability in Sacramento’s communities of color requires a shift in thinking from managing problems “downstream” to preventing them “upstream.”

“Sustainable communities that are built to last are socially strong, economically strong, geographically strong, politically strong and engaged, and their amenities are conducive to healthy living,” he said. “Community trauma results in structural inequities such as violence, such as failing schools.”

In many ways, Sacramento is ahead of the nation when it comes to innovative policing that focuses less on force and punishment and more on intervention and building relationships with communities. Since Hahn took the helm of the police department, he has taken a number of steps when it comes to recruiting, training, policy and equipment to make his officers less biased and the department more accountable. The Sacramento police department has now increased the use of less lethal Bean Bag rounds and PepperBall launchers as well as Tasers and body cams for all officers.

Every cop in the city now has to take implicit bias training at UC Berkeley, and a program called “Walk in My Shoes” pairs officers with members of the community who spend time on duty with cops. There are also community service programs, neighborhood “Peace Walks” and other relationship-building and recruitment programs in the city’s African-American neighborhoods.

Clark, for instance, attended a class Hahn introduced called the Transformational Police Model. In it, police officers and community members sit in a room together, learn the course material and exchange perspectives.

Several companies in Sacramento have stepped up to support the prevention work Hahn and the SBCC is doing, including Blue Shield of California and SMUD, the city’s main power company. The community-owned, not-for-profit utility also sponsored the panel discussion.

“We are excited to be a partner of the Black chamber,” said Jose Bodipo-Memba, Director of Sustainable Communities at SMUD. “We don’t want one-time hits. We are trying to find ways communities can thrive overall. We’re focusing on social well-being, health and environment.”

In Sacramento County, where Sacramento is the largest city and county seat, the African-American population is about 14 percent (a little over 68,000 people). Blacks in the county have the highest unemployment rate of all races at 15.9 percent and a poverty rate of 26.5 percent, according to “The State of Blacks in California,” a report commissioned by California Black Media. Only 21 percent of African-American adults have bachelors degrees.

All the panelists praised the progress Sacramento is making but acknowledged that more work needs to be done.“As African Americans, we have to take responsibility for ourselves,” said Land, who stresses that, for her, racism is a mental health disease that impacts everyone and stacks up systemic odds against minorities. “While we, often times, want to challenge others to be transparent and to be accountable, we often times fall short of doing that ourselves.”


Photo Recap: John Ross III Celebrity Charity Basketball Game

This year’s John Ross III Celebrity Charity Basketball Game returned to Long Beach City College Hall Of Champions gym with some of the best athletes, celebrities, and rappers taking the court. John Ross, a Jordan High School Alumni, went on to the University of Washington in 2013 to become one of the best receivers their college has ever seen. Drafted 9th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017, John has gone to play in the NFL for two seasons now but has not forgotten his home. 

This is Ross first time hosting his first-ever Charity Celebrity Basketball game. A change of pace from last year as he hosted a celebrity flag football game. The game was created to help support his foundation the John Ross Foundation. The foundation looks to give back to underprivileged youth in both Long Beach and Cincinnati. For more info about John Ross Foundation, visit http://jross3foundation.com/