Happily Divorced And After

SAN BERNARDINO, CA —Rep. Pete Aguilar joined local seniors to highlight the passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower the price of prescription drugs and cap out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. He wasjoined by representatives of the AARP California, SEIU Local 2015 and the California Alliance for Retired Americans.

“After decades of fighting, Congress finally passed a bill to lower the costs of prescription drugs for millions of seniors across the country,” Rep. Aguilar said.

In addition to cutting the costs of prescription drugs, the Inflation Reduction Act will invest $369 billion in clean energy tax credits to address the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030. The Inflation Reduction Act also contributes $300 billion towards paying down the national debt, which economists say will help cool inflation.

The bill is fully paid for by closing tax loopholes, increasing tax compliance for the wealthiest individuals, implementing an excise tax on stock buybacks, and creating a 15 percent corporate minimum tax. The Inflation Reduction Act creates no new taxes on families making less than $400,000 per year or any small businesses.

President Biden is expected to sign the Inflation Reduction Act into law this week.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

A new report by California’s Legislative Analysist Office (LAO) offers recommendations for the state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) to improve their functionality and timeliness of their Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program. The UI program provides temporary wage replacement to unemployed workers to help alleviate their economic challenges and bolster the state economy during downturns.

The increased volume of unemployment claims (both valid and fraudulent) and challenges out of work people faced caused by the pandemic highlighted the need to rebalance the program. Lengthy review processes and holds on valid claims caused hardship for workers and their families, hindered the state’s economic recovery, and spurred frustration among unemployed Californians with their government.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, EDD delayed payments to nearly 5 million workers and improperly denied payments to an estimated 1 million people.

Chas Alamo, LAO’s Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst, the report’s author links the UI program’s issues to its basic design which hasn’t changed much since the 1930’s.

UI benefits are funded by employers. Over time, this has created a relationship with the EDD that employees don’t have. While an employee may apply for benefits once or twice during their entire career, employers have become the EDD’s primary customer because they’re interacting with them on a consistent basis.

“There’s no ongoing relationship between workers and EDD in the same way that there is with business and EDD,” said Alamo. “We think this partnership or orientation towards the business community has sort of encouraged the state and the department to prioritize policies that would tend to favor minimizing business costs and eliminating fraud rather than prioritizing getting benefits to workers.”

The LAO’s report features 12 targeted changes for the EDD to make to improve their operations and relationships with employees seeking benefits. The changes acknowledged unemployment workers experience in 3 key areas:

Improper Claim Denials Were Numerous

More than half of the UI claims the EDD denies are overturned on appeal. Overturned denials cause lengthy delays for workers who appeal and raise concern that the state denies many eligible workers. Likely between $500 million and $1 billion in UI payments annually go unpaid each year due to improper denials.

Claim Delays Need to be Reduced

More than half of UI claims were delayed during the peak of the pandemic, for many workers by several months. Between 15% and 20% of workers who apply for UI during normal economic times experience delays.

The UI Application Needs to be Simplified

The state’s UI application and ongoing requirements are difficult to understand and unnecessarily lengthy. Answers to many of the questions asked of employees are already on file in the EDD.

Many of IU’s problem areas were magnified during the pandemic. An estimated $20 billion has been lost to fraudulent California claims, according to EDD estimates. All but $1.3 billion of that total involved claims from federally-funded COVID relief programs, which ended last year. The response to this has made it even more difficult for valid claims to be processed.

“During the pandemic the state was under incredible pressure to cut down on fraud so the department ramped up some of its already high levels of fraud detection efforts. They took several steps that measurably and meaningfully reduced fraud in the federal program. And they should be commended for those steps. But they also took steps that really slowed down the process for otherwise eligible workers and led to these delays.”

In response to the report, the EDD released a statement where they acknowledged changes needed to be made.

“EDD appreciates and will carefully review the LAO’s ideas for further simplifying processes and speeding up the delivery of services to Californians. Many of these ideas, such as limiting improper claim denials and minimizing delays, have been incorporated into EDD actions over the past year. As part of California’s commitment to improving EDD’s customer service, the recently-enacted state budget includes $136 million for EDDnext, a major effort to modernize EDD and further improve the customer experience … We agree with the LAO that “EDD must balance the need to prevent fraud … with the priority to deliver payments in a timely and easy manner.”

While Alamo concedes that some of the reported changes the EDD plans to make will help, he also believes that a large number of the recommendations made in the report go beyond the steps the department has proposed to take.

“The pressure really is on now to begin those efforts so that some of these improvements are in place the next time millions of workers turn to EDD for UI benefits during the next downturn. And if historical precedent tells us anything that’s going to be within 10 years. The clock starts ticking and there really is not a lot of time that the state or the legislature can wait before undertaking some of these improvements,” Alamo said.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The National Black Farmers Association is worried that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will roll back debt relief provided Black, indigenous, and other farmers of color in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

When President Joe Biden signs the law, which just passed both houses of Congress, approximately 15,000 farmers of color across the country — including over 400 in California — will be affected, according to the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA).

Of the 70,000 farms in California, less than 1% are Black-owned or managed, while more than 90% are White-owned or managed. In 2012, California had 722 Black farmers according to an agriculture census report released that year. By 2017, the number had decreased to 429. Nationally, 45,508 Black farmers (1.3% of all farmers) were counted in the 2017 agriculture census, making up 0.5% of the country’s farmlands.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan which included $4 billion to help Black and other “socially disadvantaged” farmers  will be replaced with a plan that makes relief funds available to all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) farmers suffering hardships.

“I’m very, very disappointed in this legislative action,” John Wesley Boyd, Jr., NBFA’s founder and president, said in an Aug. 9 statement. “I’m prepared to fight for debt relief for Black, Native American, and other farmers of color all the way to the Supreme Court. I’m not going to stop fighting this.”

The NBFA is a non-profit organization representing African American farmers and their families. It serves tens of thousands of members nationwide. NBFA’s education and advocacy efforts are focused on civil rights, land retention, access to public and private loans, education and agricultural training, and rural economic development for Black and other small farmers.

The American Rescue Plan debt relief program was expected to pay off USDA loans held by 15,000 Black, Native American, Alaskan Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic and Latino farmers, Kara Brewer-Boyd, NBFA’s Program and Event Coordinator, told California Black Media in a telephone interview on Aug. 12.

“Socially disadvantaged Black, Native Americans, and people of color were automatically approved for 120% debt relief. They were to be paid in full,” said Kara Brewer-Boyd. “Now they won’t get that money at all. It’s horrible. Those farmers were already identified and sent letters that their debt had been paid. These farmers are in a bad situation. Congress put them in a worse situation by telling them ‘You’re gonna get it.’ Now they are telling them ‘You’re not going to get it.’”

Objections raised by non-Black farmers to the debt relief the federal government pledged to Black farmers has put the program in limbo.

Those opponents have filed a dozen lawsuits against the American Rescue Plan Act, including one class action case. The courts are currently hearing the cases.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the USDA is authorized to provide $3.1 billion to distressed borrowers. Another fund has been established to supply farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who faced discrimination before 2021 with a package of $2.2 billion.

“What they replaced (the American Rescue Plan Act 2021) with is Section 22006 that now states that any farmer can apply to see if they are economically distressed, get their loans written down, or have them restructured,” Brewer-Boyd said. “Now, can you tell me that’s not a big difference? You took $4 billion in debt relief at $120%, put it in a fund of $3 billion, taking $1 billion away, and you opened it up to every farmer.”

Brewer-Boyd said Black farmers from California were approved under the original debt relief program.

“Discrimination at USDA against Black farmers was rampant and severe. Section 1005 Loan Repayment program was a necessary step towards fixing those harms. To acknowledge and correct racism is not unconstitutional or racist,” James Wesley Boyd, Jr., stated.

Last year, Lawrence Lucus, who founded the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees, told the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans that racism is prevalent in agriculture, and it is the primary reason why there are just a little over 400 Black farmers in California.

“I’m sorry to say that it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better under the times we are faced with,” Lucus said. “You have White farmers, who own most of the land and get all the benefits from the land, they are the ones now bringing court cases around the country. They are saying that it’s discriminatory to have debt-relief for Black farmers.”

High school students — Would you like to get involved in the community, but don’t know where to start? Looking to improve your college application? Considering joining our First District Youth Advisory Council!

Members of the Youth Advisory Council will work directly with me and my staff on issues that directly impact the youth of San Bernardino County. Members will attend regular monthly meetings and get involved in local volunteer and community service activities. They may also have the opportunity to present to the County Board of Supervisors.

Each month we explore a different topic with an engaging guest speaker. Subjects have included teen mental health, crime and education. All First District high school students are invited to apply, providing they can attend the monthly in-person meetings at our Apple Valley office. Teachers are encouraged to spread the word to their students.

For more information, please contact Samuel Shoup at 760-995-8100 or email Samuel.Shoup@bos.sbcounty.gov.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), in partnership with California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), provided a week-long suicide prevention training for university students.

“We can reduce the number of students impacted by mental health challenges when we provide support, resources and the necessary tools needed to ensure the well-being of all our students,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “I am incredibly proud of our community, education and government partners for their dedication to supporting the overall social emotional health of our students.”

During the week of August 8, CSUSB students experienced in-depth training on suicide prevention, leadership skills development and knowledge about mental health challenges.

“I think the biggest talking point here is to be there for somebody,” said CSUSB graduate student Ulises Velasco. “If you notice somebody looking down, you can be that one person that gets them out of their bad day or bad moment or those suicidal thoughts by giving them an ear and by lending them a shoulder to cry on. Everybody is capable of being that support buddy for somebody.”

Students were equipped with the fundamental knowledge and tools necessary to provide support to their peers in times of crisis. They will continue year-round learning with quarterly check-ins to provide updates, program shakeouts and booster training.

At the completion of the week-long training, students gained the ability to recognize early signs and symptoms of someone in crisis and were able to connect individuals to appropriate resources and available supports.

“I am really proud to be part of this group…and I want to actually help people that are in need of help,” said CSUSB student Elizabeth Bagley. “Trainings like this brings hope to people.”

Students who are exploring career paths in the mental health and public service sectors had the opportunity to learn about workforce development.

SBCSS developed this peer support training with the help of two CSUSB psychology professors to address mental health and peer support in our communities.

This training is partly funded through SBCSS, and the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, Inland Empire Health Plan, Molina Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino County Library invites residents to the library for a Library Luau. Enjoy a variety of fun-filled crafts, a balloon artist, face painter, a special character visit, and more.

This event is another opportunity to celebrate and support the Countywide Vision’s literacy campaign, Vision2Read. Visitors should bring their library cards, as every 15 items checked out during the event earns visitors a lei and an opportunity drawing ticket for a chance to win awesome prizes. All activities are free and open to all ages.

The San Bernardino County Library Luau Events will take place in the following locations:

• 6 and 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Running Springs Branch Library at 2677 Whispering Pines in Running Springs.
• 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. The Newton T. Bass Library at 14901 Dale Evans Parkway in Apple Valley.
• 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Lewis Library & Technology Center at 8437 Sierra Avenue in Fontana.
• 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. The Sam J. Racadio Library & Environmental Learning Center at 7863 Central Avenue in Highland.
• 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. The James S. Thalman Library at 14020 City Center Drive in Chino Hills.
• 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Hesperia Branch Library at 9650 7^th Avenue in Hesperia.
• 27 from 42:30 to 4 p.m. The Lake Arrowhead Branch Library at 27235 Highway 189 in Blue Jay.

Special Luau Themed Paint Night Programs will take place in the following locations:

• 2 and 9 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The Running Springs Branch Library at 2677 Whispering Pines in Running Springs.
• 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Rialto Branch Library at 251 West 1^st Street in Rialto.
• 27 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The Yucca Valley Branch Library at 57271 29 Palms Highway in Yucca Valley.

The San Bernardino County Library System is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serves a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County library system strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs, and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

The library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision by contributing to educational, cultural, and historical development of our County community.

For more information on the San Bernardino County library system, please visit http://www.sbclib.org/ or call (909) 387-2220.

San Bernardino County’s 2022 Family and Community Engagement Summit will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. September 21^st to 24th at Cal State San Bernardino.

This free event, which provides parental support for their children’s college and career readiness, includes Continental breakfast and lunch. Past events have included numerous guest speakers and educational resources.

Register here