Happily Divorced And After

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen, Iv.

The proposed February 28^th boycott against spending is an attempt to impress corporate America with the power of the Black Dollar; to show corporate America our displeasure with their retreat from Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)! We, Black people are requested by civil rights activist and organizations to ‘spend no money’ at all on this Friday, February 28, 2025! However, understanding the difficulty of getting everyone to be able to, or truthfully, want to, participate in the boycott, the follow-up statement is a request to spend as little as necessary.  There is much to be desired relative to our (Black Folks) ability to successfully manipulate our Trillion-Dollar-Plus annual spending power!

In the past, we have successfully refused to spend with businesses where we were not allowed to work… We have been able to successfully impress corporate America with our spending power. However, somehow, we have not perfected our ability to successfully promote and market the obvious benefit of directing our spending power towards developing Black Owned Businesses (BOB)!

I agree that using our spending power to respond to disrespect and mistreatment is something we should do. I think that using our money to develop our self-respect and to assure proper treatment is also something we should do! Just as we can target who not to support financially, we have the ability, some would say responsibility, to target Black Owned Businesses (BOB) with our support!   Many of us are supporting BOB on a regular basis. However, I think you will agree that if we come together to recycle 10% of our Trillion-Dollar-Plus spending, which would amount to about 150 billion Dollars Annually, we would not only impress corporate America, but we would also impress the world, and more importantly, we would impress ourselves!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — The City of San Bernardino in partnership with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) have begun an $9.8 million project that will relieve congestion and improve traffic safety at the 210 Freeway and Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino.

Waterman Avenue is a key mobility corridor in San Bernardino, and it serves as an important access point to communities in the San Bernardino Mountains. Increased traffic volumes at the 210 Freeway exit have resulted in heavy congestion and backups for motorists.

The project will add a second left turn lane in each direction of Waterman Avenue and expand the eastbound on-ramp to the 210 freeway from one to two lanes.

“The 210 Freeway – Waterman Avenue Interchange Project represents progress and opportunity for San Bernardino,” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, who represents the City on the SBCTA Board. “By improving traffic efficiency, enhancing safety, and supporting economic development, this project is a vital step toward creating a more accessible and thriving city.”

During construction, Waterman Avenue will remain open at all times. However, there will be periodic lane closures to accommodate work on the improvements. Occasional closures will also be required on the eastbound on-ramp to the 210 Freeway, with planned detours routing drivers to Del Rosa Avenue.

The project, which started in mid-January, is expected to be completed in November 2025. $7.9 million from the voter approved Measure I and $1.9 from the City of San Bernardino are funding the $9.8 million project.

For more information, please visit https://www.gosbcta.com/project/sr-210- waterman avenue/contact  or  contact  SBCTA  at  877-55-SBCTA  or info@goSBCTA.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The City of San Bernardino is moving forward with the process to select its next city manager, starting with the appointment of former Brea City Manager William “Bill” Gallardo to the post of interim City Manager.

In a special meeting held on Friday, February 21, the Mayor and Council unanimously approved a resolution appointing Gallardo, who resides in San Bernardino, to serve in the post while they conduct a recruitment to fill the permanent position.

“Bringing Bill Gallardo on board will ensure a smooth transition while the Council and I take the next steps to find our next City Manager,” said Mayor Helen Tran.

Gallardo is expected to assume his new role next week. As a recently retired employee under the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), Gallardo must receive approval from the retirement system before working for another Cal Pers agency.

Current Acting City Manager Tanya Romo will return to the role of Deputy City Manager. when CalPERS approves Gallardo’s return to work.

“I am honored and excited to take on the role of Interim City Manager,” said Gallardo. “I will work diligently to become a valuable resource for the Mayor, City Council and staff and, just as importantly, maintain crucial relationships between City Hall, the community, and agency partners during this time of transition as we search for a permanent city manager.”

Bill Gallardo retired in December 2024 after a 35-year career with the City of Brea, including serving as City Manager since 2015. Gallardo also held the positions of Assistant City Manager/Administrative Services Director, Finance Manager,  and Revenue Manager for the Orange County city.

He holds a degree in business from Cal Poly Pomona.

The San Bernardino Mayor and City Council have also announced that they have retained the executive search firm Ralph Anderson to assist them in the recruitment process for their next City Manager.

The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation (BMCF) is proud to announce the opening of its annual scholarship application for current and former foster youth in Los Angeles. With awards ranging from $450 to $3,000, the scholarship offers financial support for higher education or vocational training.

Studies show that only 3–4% of foster youth earn a four-year college degree, and students of color face additional systemic barriers that make accessing higher education even more difficult. Dr. Cynthia Hudley, chair of the BMCF Scholarship Committee, emphasized the importance of expanding scholarship aid to help these individuals harness the transformative power of education.

“For foster youth, education is more than a degree or certificate—it’s a path to healing, empowerment, and breaking cycles of hardship,” she said. “Although foster youth often feel defined or restrained by their past, our scholarship is designed to propel them beyond those narratives.”

Named in honor of Biddy Mason, a formerly enslaved woman who became one of LAs first Black entrepreneurs and philanthropists, the BMCF is deeply committed to elevating LA’s foster care community. This scholarship upholds that mission by investing in those who have faced significant adversity so they can build lasting legacies of their own.

Applications are open now through May 16, 2025 at biddymason.com/scholarships. For more information on applying or to make a gift to the scholarship fund, contact BMCF at scholarshipinfo@biddymason.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – San Bernardino Police Department arrested 2 drivers on suspicion of DUI while conducting DUI patrols on February 15, 2025. 77 drivers were cited, and 17 were arrested for driving with no license or a suspended license. 9 were arrested for other crimes.

“We are committed to taking impaired drivers off the road,” Sergeant Siems said. “Driving under the influence is not only dangerous, but also has major consequences.”

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

San Bernardino Police Department will be holding a series of DUI enforcement patrols throughout the year to keep our roadways safe.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Inland Empire Waterkeeper, a nonprofit protecting local water quality, will guide over 50 students, alumni, faculty, and staff from CSU San Bernardino on a trash cleanup in honor of Coyote Cares Day, the university’s annual community service event. The goal of the cleanup is to remove debris and pollution from Rutland Park, Hole Lake, and the Santa Ana River Trail to restore the health of the Santa Ana River watershed. The City of Riverside will assist Waterkeeper in hosting the event.

Schedule:
9:00 – Volunteers check in at Rutland Park
9:30 – Waterkeeper staff provides environmental lesson and safety information
9:45 – Attendees are split into 3 groups and sent to 3 cleanup locations
11:30 – Weigh-in of collected trash begins
11:45 – Volunteers return to Rutland Park
12:00 – Final trash weight reveal and closing remarks

WHERE: Rutland Park – 7000 Rutland Ave, Riverside, CA 92503

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media 

Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and a coalition of California Senators have unveiled the Golden State Commitment, a sweeping legislative package designed to strengthen California’s wildfire response and improve recovery efforts.

The package addresses wildfire prevention, recovery, and insurance issues, aiming to make communities safer from future wildfires.

Following the recent firestorms in Los Angeles County, the Senate has introduced 13 bills aimed at accelerating wildfire recovery and enhancing fire resilience statewide. Key measures include speeding up residential rebuilds, providing property tax relief, protecting consumers from price gouging, and expanding insurance protections for homeowners, tenants, and small businesses. The plan also includes support for rebuilding health facilities and school districts affected by wildfires.

In addition to recovery efforts, the Golden State Commitment focuses on long-term fire prevention. Notable provisions include transitioning 3,000 CAL FIRE seasonal workers to permanent positions, establishing a community hardening insurance commission and implementing stricter fire-safety regulations for landscaping and construction in high-risk areas.

McGuire emphasized the urgency of addressing the year-round fire season.

 “These bills are essential to helping communities stabilize in the aftermath of a wildfire and ensuring California is more fire-ready and resilient for decades to come,” said McGuire.

Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) highlighted tax relief measures for fire victims, while Sen. Angelique Ashby (D- Sacramento) pushed for protections against fraudulent contractors preying on disaster victims. Other provisions focus on criminal penalties for looting and ensuring defensible space around properties.

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media 

A new report, Disrupting Disparities: Ending the Black Women Wage Gap in California, reveals that Black women, particularly single mothers, continue to face significant wage disparities, earning far less than White men in the state. At the current rate, the report highlights that California’s Black women wage gap will take 100 years to close.

The report found that in 2022 Black women earned an average of $54,000 annually, while Black single mothers earned $50,000 compared to $90,000 for White men. When factoring in total income, Black women earned $60,000, while single mothers earned $53,000, still well below their White male counterparts. This means Black women earn just $0.60 for every $1 a White man makes, with single mothers making only $0.56.

The financial impact extends beyond paychecks, affecting access to housing, childcare, and basic necessities. If paid equitably, the report states, a Black single mother in California could afford an extra year of rent or two years of childcare.

To address these disparities, the report recommends expanding pay transparency laws, increasing access to affordable childcare, investing in workforce development programs, and implementing region-specific minimum wage increases. It also calls for enhanced workplace protections, leadership development initiatives, and a statewide task force to focus on Black women’s economic equity.

Advocates argue that closing the wage gap is critical not only for Black women and their families but also for strengthening California’s economy.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

California Republican leaders are pushing back against state and local initiatives across the Golden State aimed at preventing Californians from buying or installing gas appliances in their homes.

On February 10, they asked the administration of President Donald Trump to intervene.

In a letter, the 28 Republican members of the State Assembly and State Senate urged U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Christopher Wright to evaluate the policies and stop gas appliance restrictions wherever possible.

“As executive orders issued by the new Trump/Vance administration recognize, America’s prosperity and national security depend on an affordable, reliable, and sufficient energy supply,” the letter reads. “Recent efforts to restrict natural gas use limit consumer choice and deny vulnerable communities access to an affordable and reliable energy source. Such efforts have created a difficult-to-navigate patchwork of local rules and impose costs on consumers, manufacturers, workers, and businesses, contributing to California’s affordability crisis.”

In a statement Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said energy policies initiated by Democrats are hurting family budgets and escalating the state’s cost-of-living crisis.

“Working Californians already face some of the highest electric rates in the country – they can’t afford to have out-of-touch bureaucrats ban more affordable energy sources,” Gallagher said. “If California’s leaders won’t stand up for consumers, the federal government should.”

There has been an ongoing effort to decrease the use of natural gas appliances in California in recent years to improve indoor air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California Air Resources Board approved a plan three years ago requiring homes and businesses to transition to zero-emission alternatives like electric heat pumps instead of gas-powered water and space heaters by 2023.

According to the Building Decarbonization Coalition, a group focused on eliminating fossil fuels in buildings to improve health and make communities more resilient to the climate change, 74 California jurisdictions have policies that seek to end the use of natural gas in new buildings.

However, many of these efforts are facing resistance and legal challenges from homebuilders, restaurants, and the gas industry.

The National Association of Home Builders and other housing groups and businesses filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in December against the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s ban on certain gas appliances.

The lawsuit came seven months after the city of Berkeley agreed to roll back a landmark climate rule that would have prohibited natural gas hookups in new homes. The 2019 gas ban was challenged by the California Restaurant Association and struck down in 2023 by a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In the letter, Republicans said the gas bans and all-electric mandates have a negative impact because the state’s electricity rates are 92% higher than the national average and natural gas prices are 30% higher.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-Santee) called the energy policies “government overreach” and said Californians don’t need to be dictated to regarding what appliances they can purchase.

“Electricity rates in California are the highest in the nation, and we barely have enough supply to keep the lights on,” he said. “Now, Democrats want to push consumers away from the only more affordable alternative.”

Jones, who represents most of inland San Diego County, told California Black Media (CBM) in an email that the cities of San Diego and Encinitas have passed natural gas bans. He hopes the U.S. Department of Energy will “step in where appropriate and overturn these overreaching policies.”

“The new administration has committed to recognizing that America’s prosperity and national security depend on an affordable, reliable, and sufficient energy supply,” he said. “That starts with ensuring all energy options remain available to consumers.”

Last month, in Grand Terrace, a city in San Bernardino County, over 100 residents in a senior living facility were left in the dark for nine days when Southern California Edison implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), whose district includes Grand Terrace, said the power outage made it clear that Californians need energy options.

“Families relying solely on electric heating face severe hardships. Until the state strengthens its power grid, eliminating natural gas appliances is both irresponsible and out of touch with the needs of everyday people,” she said.

Republican legislators wrote in the five-page letter that gas bans hurt economic development and that a variety of domestic energy is needed to avoid dependence on foreign energy sources and to protect against vulnerabilities.

The efforts to reduce or eliminate natural gas use have taken several forms and raise legal and political concerns, the GOP lawmakers added.

After listing some of the anti-natural gas efforts, Republicans asked the Department of Energy to legally challenge any California authority that violates the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, which establishes nationally uniform energy conservation standards for many commercial and residential appliances. They said the department should query the lawfulness of the initiatives in the wake of the California Restaurant Association’s win in Berkeley’s recent Supreme Court rulings — such as the overruling of the Chevron deference — and the Trump administration’s executive orders.

At press time, Jim Stanley, a spokesperson for Gallagher, said the California Republicans had not yet received a response from the Department of Energy.

“We’ve seen in recent years that California has enough trouble as it is keeping the lights on in the summer,” he said. “Forcing people to go all electric would be a challenge and strain the grid. Its economics and it is choice. If someone decides electric is the way to go for them, they are certainly welcome to. But we don’t want to mandate that.”

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) wants to amend the state’s penal code to increase the salaries incarcerated firefighters earn while they are actively fighting fires.

Assembly Bill (AB) 247 would require inmate firefighters who have completed training for assignment to a state or county facility to be paid an hourly rate equal to the lowest nonincarcerated firefighter in the state (around $28 per hour).

“I think every time we have a major wildfire, we call in incarcerated firefighters who step in heroically to help suppress these fires. And every time that that happens, we have a long conversation about how they’re risking their lives for subminimum pay,” Bryan told California Black Media (CBM).

“I refuse to let this moment where California and Los Angeles in particular, has experienced its largest wildfire, be another moment where we just talk about this issue,” Bryan continued.

During the wildfires that raged in Southern California last month, more than 900 incarcerated firefighters were dispatched to battle the flames. Incarcerated firefighters work on teams called ‘hand crews,’ using hand tools to clear vegetation and create firebreaks that slow the spread of wildfires. During the emergencies, it’s common for responders to work in 24-hour shifts despite the grueling conditions.

While the position is voluntary, the work can be dangerous and even deadly, says Bryan.

Despite the life-threatening conditions the incarcerated firefighters face, their pay is between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, earning an additional $1 per hour when responding to emergencies and up to $26.90 over a 24-hour shift. These wages are lower than what the lowest-level firefighters earn for only an hour of work.

Under existing law, a prisoner can reduce his or her term of imprisonment by earning a two-day credit for every one day served fighting a fire. This would not change under the new bill.

The lower wages incarcerated firefighters earn are legal due to provisions in the U.S. and California constitutions that permits involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

Last November, California voters rejected a ballot initiative, Proposition (Prop) 6, that would have amended the State Constitution to outlaw involuntary servitude in California.

“While it’s disappointing that our measure to remove slavery from California’s constitution was not approved by the voters, this setback does not end the fight,” said Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) in a statement after the election.

Wilson, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), authored the legislation that became Prop 6.

 “Together, we will continue pushing forward to ensure that our state’s constitution reflects the values of equality and freedom that all Californians deserve,” added Wilson.

Prop 6 sought to repeal language prohibiting involuntary servitude except to punish crime and replace it with language prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude absolutely.

Bryan’s AB 247, however, has more modest goals. It would increase pay only for incarcerated firefighters actively fighting wildfires, aiding in structure fires and responding to overdoses and roadside accidents. They are often put in harm’s way responding to these situations as well.

“Every single firefighter that is out there right now, I’m sure they’re proud to be there,” said former incarcerated firefighter Amika Mota in an interview with The Marshall Project. “Every single one of those people has signed away their rights to any sort of compensation if they die on the fireground. They’re putting themselves on the frontlines without really understanding the health impacts long-term.”

Bryan visited a base camp for incarcerated firefighters in Pasadena last month to spend time with some of the incarcerated firefighters and hear their stories firsthand.

“Many of them are coming home in the not-too-distant future. Being paid a dignified wage for your life-saving work, fighting these fires is actually part of helping folks succeed in their reentry back into society,” said Bryan.

A few celebrities have also recently shown their support for inmate firefighters. Kim Kardashian has been outspoken about the need for wage increases. NFL quarterback CJ Stroud and singers John Legend and Chris Brown also visited the same Pasadena base camp Bryan visited to speak with program members.

“Not supporting folks who are doing this kind of work is setting them up to continue to cycle from poverty to incarceration. They were all incredibly excited, grateful to be seen,” said Bryan.