Happily Divorced And After

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

The first African American to serve in the role – and the 5th  Black person to become a constitutional officer in California – Weber took office on Jan. 29, 2021.

Weber has been a central and influential figure in California politics for years. She was an Assemblymember representing the 79th District in San Diego County and chaired the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). In the Legislature, she introduced groundbreaking bills, including one of the strictest laws governing police use of deadly force in the country. It will protect Californians on “both sides of the badge,” she said, celebrating that legislation, which was supported by the California Police Chiefs Association.

Weber also introduced AB 3121, a bill that set up a committee called the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. The group is charged with examining California’s involvement in slavery – and how California should compensate the descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

As SOS, Weber is responsible for conducting elections in all 58 counties, managing the operations of the State Archives, and keeping a registry of businesses and nonprofits statewide.

“We passed legislation that gives everybody a vote by mail ballot, and we’ve seen that it works” says Weber, sharing details about a major electoral policy change she has implemented as SOS. “We have to make sure that every eligible Californian not only gets the right to vote, but that they are registered to vote and that they show up.”

On Jan. 24, California Black Media interviewed Weber at her Sacramento office.

As an Assemblymember, you introduced groundbreaking legislation. What has the transition been like, moving from actively creating policy to settling into the administrative role of Secretary of State?

It’s been interesting, to go from being a legislator where you share the responsibility of representing all Californians with 80 others in the Assembly and another 40 in the Senate.

There, I wasn’t responsible for all registered voters and the protection of those who work at the polls and those who work to register voters.

Over here, you have an administrative role, and we support legislation like the Voting Rights Act.

It’s been somewhat difficult to let go of my District. Fortunately, my daughter is the Assemblymember there now.

The U.S. Senate did not pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Why is that significant and why are voting rights so important in America right now?

When Gov. Newsom asked me to be Secretary of State, the first thing that popped in my mind was voting rights. This wasn’t a position that I had lobbied for. We had made some tremendous changes in the Assembly and passed some groundbreaking legislation.

Speaking to a reporter last December 22^nd, I said this is a critical time because our nation is in peril. And he goes, “what do you mean?” I said, “our democracy is in crisis.” He didn’t understand. When January 6 hit (the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol), people understood.

I recognize this is a difficult and unique time for people in the nation, extremely difficult for African Americans, because most of us who have parents or we ourselves have lived through this struggle for voting rights.

My family understood the power of voting. My parents came out of Arkansas where they never got a chance to vote. My dad was an adult with six kids before he actually got a chance to register to vote in California.

What can ordinary Californians who care about expanding and protecting voting rights do?

We need to pay attention. We must fight laws that make it difficult for people to vote. Even though we don’t have that legislation coming out of our Legislature, we have people putting initiatives on the ballot.

California has expanded voting rights so much that people want to limit it. There’s only one group that can’t vote in this state: those who are physically in prison. Everyone else who meets the eligibility requirements in California can vote. And that frightens some people.

Do you see that movement to counteract the expansion of voting rights here in California or from other states?

It is coming from within and without. We have to be careful of the deceptive methods used. Take the campaign against bail reform. It had been signed into law. And a group of bail bondsmen took a whole bunch of money, manipulated African Americans and put their faces on television. It confused voters and wiped out this whole effort we had been working on for five or six years.

Do you think other Secretaries of State across the country will emulate California’s efforts to expand voting rights?

We are seeing that, especially in states with Democratic leadership. But in other places, we see also them fighting the Voting Rights Act.

Secretaries of State are a unique breed. Many are appointed by governors. Across the nation, people on the far Right are organizing to get candidates to run for Secretary of State, where before it was seen more as an administrative job with a few other responsibilities. Now, it is seen as a highly political job, especially given the legislation that’s coming out in some places that would empower Legislatures to overturn votes.

You’ve been in this job for a year. Do you feel like you’ve accomplished your goals?

I didn’t take this position because I needed to be a constitutional officer, or one day become Governor. The question for me was: What does the Secretary of State have to offer in these critical times? And obviously it is the defense of our democracy. I was coming in with the idea that we are going to expand our voting base. We have done that.

We’ve also expanded the California Voter Choice Act counties Half of our counties are Voter Choice Act Counties, which gives us additional resources to go into those counties. They are now outvoting the rest of the counties.

Statewide, 88 % of eligible Californians are registered right now to vote. My goal is to get it to 100 %.

Is California implementing additional safeguards to make sure irregularities are minimal?

Yes, we are. We have a system that verifies votes. We test every machine in California before every election. We make it possible for people to observe the process. They can’t come and start counting themselves. But they can observe. We do all this with transparency.

How does it feel to look at that long wall of portraits of past Secretaries of State, and know that your legacy will be enshrined in California history?

I’m very grateful. When I was sworn in, somebody says you’re the first African American after some 170 years. How does that feel? I said, well – what took so long?

In this ever-changing world of chaos, where normalcy is replaced with life threatening anxieties, music soothes the savage beast. Mental stability is frail having weathered two years of the unknown. This is a time when spiritual guidance can strengthen confidence and one’s well-being. Musical healing fueled with passion and heart can mediate fear into strength.

Kristine Alicia is the angel in the choir reaching out to calm our worried minds. The strength of her lyrics is delivered in a powerful commanding voice that not only soothes the soul but assures a light at the end of the road. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica she proudly comes from the support and encouragement of a well-versed musical family including her brothers and sister. Her father is a pastor and musician who taught her classical piano. It is no wonder Kristine rises above the crowd with spiritual energy; divine, powerful and healing.

Kristine moved to the U.S. at age 13 and later received a master’s degree in Music Business. She began performing as a backup singer in the gospel arena. In 2007, she launched her first album “Get Ready” produced by Nigel Lewis. This album pushed her into the forefront of the Gospel community where she received Artist of the Year and Female Reggae Vocal Performance at the Martin Awards.  It was Kristine’s growing interest in love and social justice that linked her in 2017 with Rory “Stone Love” Gilligan, producer of her second album “Songs from Zion.” The album charted on iTunes Top 10 and Billboard’s Top 15 and received multiple accolades by a cross section of reggae media. Kristine has shared the stage at live events featuring Third World, Tarrus Riley, Papa San, Etana, Nadine Sutherland, Warrior King and Freddie McGregor. She crossed the globe performing from West to East including the Groove Party in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015.

Kristine has been through ups and downs. It was the passing of her husband in 2020 that resulted in a dramatic single entitled “Black Diamond,” a call to action for survivors, victims and those suffering in silence. The message is personal, yet reflects the trauma of a post pandemic world. In November 2021, Kristine released a plea for ‘people to find their voice and sing again’ with a single entitled “Gold” on the Raging Storm Riddim produced by Christopher Hurst.

Her new release “HOLD STRONG” remains true to her intuitive understanding of psychological stress experienced by those in fear and disillusionment. Her outstanding lyrics and delivery are  tied together by the psychosocial impact of life’s never ending struggles. “HOLD STRONG” will be released February 18, 2022 to be followed by an EP later in the year. Get ready to experience  musical medicine that will guide us to feel whole again.

“My hope is that ‘Hold Strong’ becomes a melody that lifts up the ‘strong one’ we sometimes forget, who needs our strength and reminds our people of the innate resilience that pushes us through trying times.” ~ KRISTINE ALICIA

In the latest NTA BLOG, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins explains how qualified former foster youth and qualified homeless youth may now be eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The changes are a provision of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and are only in effect for tax year 2001. The National Foster Youth Institute notes that many children who were in foster care instantly become homeless when they turn 18 and “age out” of the foster care system.

“When foster youth ‘age out’ of the system, they are legally emancipated and are no longer eligible to receive state assistance with housing, food, and medical care under the foster care system,” says Collins.

The NTA has recommended in her 2022 Purple Book of legislative recommendation that Congress permanently expand the age eligibility for EITC to qualified former foster youth or qualified homeless youth that are 18 years old.

Additionally, the NTA warns about potential issues qualified youth may face when claiming the credit, such as a former foster parent claiming the EITC or other tax benefits and cautions about filing paper returns.

Read the full NTA Blog for more important details.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service invites you to share this vital tax information with your audience.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

As the 2022 tax season kicks off, the IRS is reaching out to the public, encouraging people to file their taxes online and early. This was the main takeaway from a recent news briefing featuring IRS officers that Ethnic Media Services organized.

During the virtual meeting, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and Ken Corbin, Wage and Investment Division Commissioner and Chief Taxpayer Experience Officer at the IRS, stressed the importance of filing via the internet and making sure all information submitted is accurate. That way, they said, taxpayers can avoid delays and seamlessly receive their returns into their bank accounts by direct deposit.

“It is our intent that filing is as smooth and easy as possible. We want to make certain that consumers are getting all the credits and refunds they are eligible to receive,” said Rettig.

“Paper returns have an inherent delay in processing,” Rettig emphasized.

During the presentation, Rettig and Corbin shared several updates and pointers they said everyone filing taxes this year should know. Here are seven important ones:

The Tax Deadline Filing Deadline This Year Is April 18

Unlike the last two years of the pandemic when the IRS moved the tax filing deadline to July (2020) and May (2021), this year’s deadline to file your taxes is April 18. That is much closer to the April 15 date we all know and have become accustomed to over the years.

You Can File Your Taxes Online for Free

The IRS is providing the option for you to file your taxes online at no coast via the IRS Free File Program. The IRS also provides a service to taxpayers called Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program (VITA). The program allows taxpayers to get in-person tax filing assistance from certified tax professionals in their community for free. This year, due to the pandemic, some of the VITA professionals are offering virtual tax preparation sessions.

For customer support, Rettig is also discouraging taxpayers from contacting the agency via telephone. He said they should use the website instead. The IRS gets about 1 million calls a day and it only employs about 15,000 people to service the phone lines. The service is mainly for people who don’t have access to broadband or the internet, the Commissioner said.

Mistakes Could Delay Your Return

Corbin said it is important for people to be accurate when filing their taxes. Inaccurate filings mean the IRS has to schedule an employee to contact the filer, which will cause a delay.

“We urge taxpayers to take care, particularly for those who received a third economic impact payment or an Advanced Child Tax Credits in 2021,” he said. “Taxpayers should ensure the amounts they receive are entered correctly on the tax return.”

“This slows down the return process,” Rettig added, explaining that the automated system pushes filings with incorrect figures. “Last year we had 10 million returns that didn’t match.”

To get ahead of the problem this year, the IRS issued letters to taxpayers indicating the total amount received in 2021 by filers that were eligible for Advanced Child Tax Credits. Taxpayers can also create an account at IRS.Gov to verify the amount they received.  

Rettig said the IRS still owes people who received the Advanced Child Tax Credits between July and December 2021, but they have to make sure all the information they include in their tax returns is correct. “Know that was only half, of the advance tax credit they should receive,” he said. “To receive the other half, they must file a tax return with us.”

More Married Couples and Singles Qualify for Earn Income Credit

This year, Corbin says more families qualify for Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), which is federal tax relief for filers with low to moderate annual incomes.

“Workers with qualifying dependents may be eligible for EITC if their earned income was less than $57,414,” he said. “The maximum EITC for those with no dependents is $1,502. That’s up from over $500 in 2020.”

The annual income requirement to qualify for EITC for taxpayers without dependents is $21,430 for single filers, and $27,380 for those filing joint returns.

“In the past, EITC for those with no dependents was only available to people ages 25 to 64,” he added.

You also don’t need to be under the age of 65 any longer to qualify for EITC without a qualifying dependent, and individuals and families who received investment income up to $10,000 may also qualify.

Homeless and Former Foster Youth Qualify for EITC

Homeless and former foster youth who are at least 18 years old also quality for EITC this year. The minimum age is 19 for most taxpayers and 18 for former foster youth and youth experiencing homelessness.

Beware of Scams

Corbin says tax filers should beware of scams.

“The IRS will not call you by phone without a notice in advance. Don’t accept a text, a call, especially if they ask for bank info or to pay with a gift card. That is a scam,” he said. “Those are the things we are seeing this season.”

The IRS Is Hiring

Rettig said the IRS, which is still processing a backlog of about 6 million tax returns from the last two years, is currently hiring. “We want to be reflective of the people we proudly serve,” the Commissioner said, touting the agency’s commitment to diversity. He said the IRS wants to employ people, including those who speak more than one language, who are able to communicate with taxpayers from all backgrounds. For more information, visit USAJobs.Gov.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Council approved the second phase of a four phase, 53-street plan to repave and resurface streets and repair sidewalks throughout San Bernardino. The most recent contract, approved on February 2, was awarded to All American Asphalt in the amount of $4.7 million. It will encompass segments of nine streets in the city. Work on this phase, which will also include ADA accessible ramps, drainage, sidewalk installation, signage, and curb/gutter improvements, will begin later this month and should be completed by June 2022.

“Improving the conditions of our streets has been one of the top priorities of our residents,” said City Manager Robert Field. “Our Mayor and City Council have responded with a program encompassing 53 streets in a very short period of time.”

Streets that will be improved in this phase are:

• King Street: between K Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue (Ward 1)
• Highland Avenue: between 210/215 interchange and Lincoln (Ward 2)
• K Street: between Mill Street and Hillcrest Avenue (Ward 3)
• Pumalo Street: Arden Avenue to Sterling Avenue (Ward 4)
• Churchill Street: between Belmont Avenue and Olive Avenue (Ward 5)
• Baseline Street: between Medical Center and Mt. Vernon Avenue (Ward 6)
• 28th Street: between Golden Avenue to end Flood Control (Ward 7)
• Parkdale Avenue: between Mt. View Avenue to Sierra Way (Wards 4 & 7)
• Mill Street: between Allen Street to G Street (Wards 1 & 3)

Bids are currently being sought for phase three, which will encompass fourteen additional streets, with a subsequent bid solicitation for twenty-three streets to follow shortly after. In December, a contract was awarded to Onyx Paving Company for work on seven streets across town. Work on that phase began in January and should be completed June 2022.

The streets identified for rehabilitation work were prioritized through a March 2020 pavement management analysis completed by the Public Works Department, which used scientific methods to rate the condition of all public streets in San Bernardino

In 2021, the City of San Bernardino Public Works Department improved and rehabilitated over 3.8 million square feet of roadway, 37,000 square feet of curb, gutter, and sidewalk, and 119 ADA accessible ramps throughout the city.

Visual Interpretations of African American Homesteaders in the Mojave Desert

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino County Museum is pleased to present a new exhibit, Contradictions – Bringing the Past Forward by artist Barbara Gothard, from Feb. 8 through Apr. 10, 2022. The exhibit is a research- based multimedia Arts and Humanities project consisting of mixed media installation works and interprets the plight of early 20th century African American homesteaders in the Mojave Desert. The series focuses on the Homesteaders’ stories and the contradictions of Gothard’s own desert-lived experience.

While searching for information on a different topic, Gothard discovered a Daily Bulletin article by journalist Joe Blackstock, by chance also a county museum volunteer, about African American Homesteaders which included an ad from the 1910 Los Angeles Herald. In response to this 1910 newspaper ad specifically recruiting “colored” homesteaders, 23 families became western settlers in far eastern San Bernardino County. This article became the impetus for Gothard’s project, Contradictions – Bringing the Past Forward.

During her artist residency at BoxoPROJECTS in November, Gothard continued to develop her innovative concept of creating twenty-three digital paintings on her iPad and printing them on raw linen canvas. Each artwork interprets a story of one of these African American homesteaders and is the basis for her programs for the community, contrasting their plight in the context of her own lived experience as an African American female artist living in the desert. The project works through a framework of change and continuity, diversity, cause and effect, interconnectedness, community, identity, and belonging in the context of social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental factors prevalent in the early 20th century in the United States. Contradictions – Bringing the Past Forward project explores themes of hope, disillusionment, and strong family bonds based on archival research and interviews.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department has partnered with Alinea Medical Imaging to offer free mammogram screenings to eligible residents on February 12 and 25. The screenings will be available for women 40 years or older, have low household income, or no insurance.

Alinea Medical Imaging’s mobile unit will be at Lytle Creek Park, located at 380 South K Street, on Saturday, February 12, and at the Fifth Street Senior Center, located at 780 East 21st Street on Friday, February 25. Both screening events will occur from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Appointments are encouraged by calling (877) 4AN-EXAM or by going to www.alineamed.com.

“Free mammograms are another example of San Bernardino collaborating with partners to provide important health screening opportunities for our residents,” said Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director Lydie Gutfeld. “We are excited to work with Alinea Medical and will continue to look for additional health screening collaborations in the future.”

Having a mammogram reduces the risk of cancer and more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they are at high risk. The procedure is safe, fast, and the discomfort is minimal for most women.

The City of San Bernardino is home to thirty-three parks that span approximately five hundred acres of open space and developed land. The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department oversees year-round activities and programs for youth, adults, and seniors at these parks as well at San Bernardino’s eight community centers and senior centers.

FONTANA, CA—- On Saturday, February 26, 2022, the City of Fontana and the Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana will be hosting the 54^th Annual San Bernardino County Black History Parade and Expo. The parade line up will be on Summit Avenue and Citrus to Sierra Lakes Parkway starting at 8:30 a.m. This year’s theme is, “STEM”. For more information, please visit www.blackawarenessparade.webs.com.

By Lou Yeboah

Understand that nothing – no calling or circumstance, no adversity or advancement, no pain or promotion, no status or station – escapes the brush strokes of My love for you. My love bleeds into every fabric and fiber of your being. There is nowhere you can escape My love. My love for you is unconditional, unending, and unmistakable. You see, before your first conscious thought, before even your first breath on Earth, I already loved you! [Jeremiah 1:5], says the Lord. Until death do us part! Nothing can escape the brush strokes of My love for you! I will never leave you. I will never abandon you.” [Hebrews 13:5].

I tell you; Paul was right. “Nothing can separate us from the love of God. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God …” [Romans 8: 35, 37-39]. “

I want you to pause this morning, afternoon, evening, night, whatever time of day it may be where you are and consider the overwhelming love of God. [Romans 5:8]. A love that was mocked, beaten, spat upon and had a crown of thorns twisted into His skull as He was beaten beyond recognition all because He loved you and me. I can imagine Angels watching in a state of shock when they saw how their great and glorious Master, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Hosts, was humiliated and taunted by demons and sinners. The powers of the universe shuddered and trembled when Jesus died. Even Satan couldn’t believe his own obscured eyes when he saw how this Mighty Son of God, who was so full of the Amazing Power of God, could be killed so easily. He could hardly believe it. This same Jesus cast out thousands of his demons, and healed tens of thousands of people who had been overcome by the devil… And now… He was defenseless, powerless, a willing lamb… Why? Because “No Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]. Jesus wasn’t forced to die. He wasn’t overpowered, outnumbered, or tricked into it. He chose the Cross because of the love He has for you and me.

So, if you are searching for love this Valentine’s, then look no further – “God is waiting for you, with open arms. Ready to receive you, forgive you, embrace you. And it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, it doesn’t matter what you’ve experienced, it doesn’t matter what you have thought about yourself or what other people may have said about you – God loves you unconditional. His love is not like human love which can be fickle and fragile. “His Love is stronger than death,” says the Song of Solomon.

He loves you so much that he has engraved your name on the palm of His hand. [Isaiah 49:16]. He loves you so much that He knows how many hairs are on your head. [Matthew 10:30]. He loves you so much that He saves your tears in a bottle. [Psalms 56:8]. He loves you with an everlasting love. [Jeremiah 31:3]. For there is no greater love than the love the Father has for us. To send His one and only Son to sacrifice His life on our behalf is the greatest love story of all time. [John 3:16].

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power… to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ. — [Ephesians 3:17-18]. But if you ever doubt that you are loved, read the love letters He’s written you. They’re in the Bible. The history of His love, the depth of His commitment, your worth – how much he values you and cherishes you, the lengths He went to in order to have a relationship with you. It’s all there. Just for you. Maybe this Valentine’s Day, it’s time you discovered your greatest love.

Happy Valentine’s Day in Advance!