SAN BERNARDINO, CA— With 23 valedictorians from 7 comprehensive high schools, San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) has a lot to be proud of—two valedictorians are going to Stanford University, one to Princeton University, three are headed to the University of California, Berkeley, and two to California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB).

Our valedictorians have even more to be proud of, as they have shown that with hard work and dedication, you can rise to the top, even when life throws obstacles at you.

Wendy Aguilar has a 4.91 G.P.A. and a passion for politics and leadership, as evidenced by her participation in the Global Leadership Academy club and the Young Legislators club at Arroyo Valley High (AVHS) and her decision to major in Political Science at the University of Redlands. The teacher who had the greatest impact in her life was her high school art teacher, Robyn Holt. Holt’s kindness, positivity, and belief in her students made all the difference.

San Gorgonio High School (San G) valedictorian Melody Ambriz’s 4.92 weighted G.P.A. and extracurricular activities, including National Honor Society and Calculus Club, were the ticket to being accepted to almost any college. And after being accepted to UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, University of California, Irvine, and Cal State LA, she has decided to major in psychology or social gender studies at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

With a 4.76 weighted G.P.A., Desteny Becerra Figueroa has earned her place as a Middle College High School (MCHS) valedictorian. In addition to taking both high school and college courses, as all MCHS students do, Desteny was also a member of Key Club, School Site Council, National Honor Society, Principal’s Focus Group, Peer Leaders, and the Class Committee of 2022. She plans to become a general physician or cardiothoracic surgeon.

Cardinal City Mayor and valedictorian Kimberlyn Chavez Quiroz is graduating from San Bernardino High School (SBHS) with a 4.785 weighted G.P.A. She is on her way to UC Berkeley to study psychology. She credits Arrowview Middle School science teacher Roice Bethel with teaching her “the importance of keeping a balance between fun and school.”

Indian Springs High School (ISHS) valedictorian Sarai Conde is graduating with a 4.84 G.P.A. and college acceptance letters from California Baptist University, Creighton University, Xavier University, University of California, Santa Cruz, and UC San Diego. However, she has decided to attend University of California, Riverside (UCR) to study neuroscience and neuropsychology.

Daniela De La Torre is a member of ASB (Associated Student Body), Key Club, the Class of 2022 Committee, and Peer Leaders, and maintains a 4.66 weighted G.P.A. This MCHS valedictorian plans to major in business administration at UC Berkeley with the goal of becoming a financial manager.

San G valedictorian Lilianna “Lily” Gracia is a musician at heart, so it’s no surprise that she was part of the San G Quintet and Symphonie Juenesse and the teacher who inspired her most was her high school orchestra teacher, John Brannon. When college starts in the fall, Lily will be studying music history and the music industry at either Berklee College of Music or the University of Southern California (USC).

AVHS valedictorian Frankie Grant credits her freshman English teacher Brian Mudd for much of her academic success by challenging her to develop the work ethic that would land her at the top of her class. Frankie would go on to participate in Academic Decathlon, Best Buddies, Students for Change and Calculus Club. Her goal is to attend UCLA and eventually become a clinical psychologist.

Michelle Le is graduating from AVHS with a 4.87 G.P.A. and plans to earn an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree from University of California, Irvine. Her ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist. She credits her ninth-grade biology teacher, Karen Swedlove, with sparking her love of biology.

With activities like Best Buddies, Students for Change, varsity tennis, NHS, and CSF under her belt, Cajon High School valedictorian Kalea Luna had her choice of colleges, and she decided to attend UCLA. She credits Dr. Stephen Imbriani and Cajon’s Sports Medicine Pathway with teaching her basic first aid and injury prevention and helping her build leadership and teamwork skills that have prepared her to deal with an emergency if one happens.

Cajon valedictorian Luis Luna is planning to dual enroll in New York’s Columbia University and France’s SciencesPo to study political science and eventually become a diplomat. With a 4.0 unweighted G.P.A. and extracurricular activities like Speech & Debate and Model United Nations and being the debate coach at Rodriguez Prep Academy, Luis is well on his way to accomplishing his dream.

Cajon valedictorian Eric Martinez is on his way to Stanford University to major in Anthropology and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. The founder and president of the DREAMers Club credits his high school International Baccalaureate teacher John Anderson for teaching him “how to learn, how to question my learning, how to take control of my learning, and what it truly means to be human.”

With extracurricular activities like water polo, National Honor Society (NHS)/California Scholarship Federation (CSF), and Jr. Public Relations and Communications Specialist for Tomorrow’s Talent, it’s no surprise that Cajon valedictorian Roxana Martinez will be attending Princeton. Her goal is to become an immigration lawyer.

Not only does Spencer “White Lightning” Nelson excel in academics, he is also part of the SBCUSD Teen Music Workshop and the cross country and track and field teams. Spencer credits Richardson PREP HI Middle School music teacher Peter Llamas with helping him blossom into the type of hard-working student who becomes a Cajon valedictorian. Spencer’s next stop is UC Berkeley, where he will major in biology or business.

MCHS valedictorian, School Site Council member, and peer leader Julie Nguyen said her sophomore math teacher, Steven Wright, “instilled in me an appreciation and fascination of (math), which ultimately led me to deciding to pursue a career in computer science.” Julie was accepted into UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara, but decided to attend UC San Diego.

Pacific High School valedictorian Miranda Owen excels in academics, sports, and music. She maintained a 4.69 G.P.A. while also playing on the basketball, tennis, and track and field teams, and playing in the band. This Keith Hubbs Award winner was accepted to UCLA, UCR, the University of Hawaii at M?noa, and CSUSB. She has chosen to stay local and study geology at CSUSB.

SBHS valedictorian Fernando Ramirez-Barragan was accepted to UCLA, CSUSB, Cal Poly Pomona, and UC Irvine, but he has decided to attend UCLA to become a civil engineer. He maintained an unweighted 4.0 G.P.A. while also participating in track and field, cross country, National Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society.

Stanford, Yale, Claremont McKenna, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine all wanted Alexa Roman Serrano, but this San G valedictorian has set her sights on Stanford University. Alexa has not decided on her major yet, but with her 4.87 weighted G.P.A. and her experience in Academic Decathlon, varsity tennis, Key Club, Thrive Scholars, and Speech and Debate Club, she’s ready for whatever she decides to do.

Cajon valedictorian Vivianna “Vivi” Santos wants to open her own dermatology practice in the future, and she has a plan to get there. Her time with Best Buddies, Caremates, and the Latino Student Union have prepared her to lead her own company and care for patients. Soon, she’ll be majoring in pre-biology, with a minor in business, at UC Santa Barbara. Once she earns her bachelor’s degree, Vivi will be heading to medical school to complete her education.

Sahian Solares will go from a wolverine to a coyote when she graduates as a valedictorian from MCHS with a 4.80 weighted G.P.A. and then joins the CSUSB campus to major in kinesiology. Her final goal is to become a doctor of physical therapy. Sahian said Eva Tillman, her fifth-grade teacher from Jones Elementary School, had the greatest impact on her education.

With extracurricular activities like tennis, Academic Decathlon, Club de Español, Best Buddies, AP Spanish Club, and Calculus Club, it’s no surprise that AVHS valedictorian Alexa Tapia-Plazola was accepted into colleges including the University of Redlands, UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and Claremont McKenna College. She plans to major in linguistics at Pomona College.

With her involvement in Best Buddies, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and the girls’ basketball team, it’s impressive that Cajon valedictorian Mya Verrett maintained a 4.82 weighted G.P.A. In a few months, Mya will be at UC San Diego working toward a degree in bioengineering.

San G Spartan valedictorian Emily Viramontes maintained a 4.0 unweighted G.P.A. while also participating in the National Honor Society, Key Club, the MedicaZone, track and field and cross country, and the BRAINterns Summer webinar. Emily said, “My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. (Julie) Ohrt, was the first teacher to truly encourage me to push myself to new limits, and expectations I wouldn’t have thought of reaching.” Now she is reaching for new heights as she works towards a career as a neurosurgeon.

In order to qualify for the honor of valedictorian or salutatorian, a student must be among the top 10 to 20 students with the highest grade value based on the specific courses that every student at an SBCUSD high school campus has access to for seven semesters of high school. Additionally, the student must complete all SBCUSD graduation requirements and complete the eighth and final semester at the school from which they have been selected as valedictorian or salutatorian.

Unweighted G.P.A.s are based on the standard grade-point system of four points for every A grade, three points for every B, and two points for every C grade. Weighted G.P.A.s are determined by adding a point to grades earned for Honors-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. For example, an A grade earned in a Chemistry AP class would be worth five points instead of four.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The City of San Bernardino has announced that Commerce Public Works Director Daniel Hernandez has joined San Bernardino as its new Public Works Director.
“Daniel Hernandez has a proven track record of both leading effective Public Works Departments and private sector experience getting things done efficiently and cost effectively,” said City Manager Robert Field. “This is another win for San Bernardino.”

Hernandez is an accomplished and seasoned leader with two decades of experience in the public sector, aerospace, and manufacturing industries. He has spent the past six years leading public works departments in Los Angeles County, first in Huntington Park for three years and most recently as Public Works Director in the City of Commerce. In both Commerce and Huntington Park, Hernandez modernized those departments, implementing productivity and performance measurement systems, cost controls, work order/process systems, and customer care and responsiveness programs.

In 2011, Hernandez was elected City Clerk in Montebello and served a four-year term.

The San Bernardino Public Works Director oversees the wide variety of operations and programs in the Public Works Department, including Capital Projects, Fleet, Environmental Compliance, Traffic Operations, and Maintenance and Operations. Public Works is also responsible for the maintenance of the city’s parks and community centers.

It’s an honor and privilege to serve the City of San Bernardino,” said Hernandez. “I look forward to taking on challenges, embracing the opportunities, and leading the Public Works Department in achieving the City’s goals.”

Hernandez’s start date was May 16th.

By Dr. Oliver Brooks | Special to California Black Media Partners

In 1992, the federal government enacted the 340B Drug Discount Program. It afforded community health centers (CHCs) the ability to provide pharmacy services to their patients, a service that many CHCs did not have the resources to provide otherwise.

The program protects safety-net providers, including CHCs, from escalating drug prices, allowing us to purchase drugs at a discounted rate from manufacturers and pass those discounts directly to the patient. This program is presently under threat.

That is why I support Dr. Richard Pan’s Senate Bill (SB) 939. This bill, currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health, would prohibit discriminatory actions by drug manufacturers and administrators when providing 340B drugs to health centers and the patients they serve.

It provides important consumer protections that are necessary to protect 340B savings and ensure that the savings remain with health centers and their communities, creating greater access to health care and equity for all.

The 340B Program also allows safety-net providers the ability to accrue savings that must be reinvested directly into patient care and services. Thus, the program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.

For 30 years CHCs have used those savings to provide free medications to patients experiencing homelessness, free transportation vouchers, free nutrition classes, and hire provider types (like community health workers) who are not billable within Medi-Cal.

Today, there are over 1,300 health centers in California that provide care to 7.2 million people – that’s one in every five Californians and one in three Medi-Cal patients.

Additionally, 68% of CHC patients are from BIPOC communities. CHCs are often the only source of primary and preventative care for California’s most diverse communities, including those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and agricultural workers.
Anyone who walks into our health centers today can access a variety of services from primary care to dental to behavioral health care and a variety of wraparound services, regardless of whether they have health insurance, or an ability to pay for care. A large part of why we’re able to offer those services is thanks to savings we receive from the 340B program.

In recent years the 340B program has been under assault by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug manufacturers, and others within big Pharma.

Through the expansion of the Affordable Care Act & Medi-Cal, more low-income patients can access healthcare in California, meaning more are also able to access medications, causing the 340B program to expand. Given this fact, manufacturers have put practices in place that limit patient access to 340B priced drugs while PBMs focus on trying to take 340B savings away from CHCs, and out of the local communities that need them, threatening patient access to critical medicines made available through the program.

Health centers were born out of the Civil Rights movement to ensure that all communities, particularly communities of color, would have access to high-quality care that is provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. This program has allowed covered entities, including CHCs, to contract with local pharmacies so that our patients can access low-cost medications in a convenient manner. The continual acts of greed by pharmaceutical companies and PBMs threatens equity and access that CHCs were designed to create.

Community health centers around the country are sounding the alarm over Rx drugs manufacturers’ attacks on the federal 340B program. Since 2019, 21 states have passed laws addressing PBM discrimination against 340B covered entities.

It’s time for California, the policy trendsetter, to become the next state to protect the 340B program so it can operate as intended.

That is why Dr. Richard Pan’s SB 939 is so important and why I so fervently speak in favor of this legislation.

About the Author

Dr. Brooks is Chief Medical Officer and past Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, California (CA)

ONTARIO, CA— Comic Con Revolution is returning to the Inland Empire May 21 & 22, 2022 for its 5th Anniversary convention. They are once again bringing an all-star lineup of comic talent, professional wrestlers, celebrities, toys, collectibles, and family-friendly fun to the Ontario Convention Center.

Making their inaugural appearances for our 5th anniversary are Jim Starlin, Mark Waid, Gerry Conway, Kenneth Rocafort, Sammy Guevara, Anna Jay, Tay Conti, and The New Age Outlaws, they are only the tip of the iceberg. We will be announcing guests every week from now until the show.

For year 5 they are expanding the size of the show by increasing the size of the show floor and reconfiguring our layout to create an even better experience for all attendees. This means more exhibitors, an incredible artist alley, more cosplayers, more guests and even more fun.

“We can’t believe it’s our 5th Anniversary in the Inland Empire,” said co-owner James Ross. “The community has embraced Comic Con Revolution and we want the 5th Anniversary to be an experience that attendees will never forget.”

As always, kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult, so mark your calendar for the 5th Anniversary of Comic Con Revolution This May 21st and 22nd at the Ontario Convention Center.

Guests scheduled to appear include:

Azura Cosplay, Sandy King Carpenter, Ming Chen, Chris Claremont, Dameon Clarke, Tay Conti, Gerry Conway,, Grey Delisle, Road Dogg, Neo Edmund, Christian Gosset, Girls Got Rhythm, Sammy Guevara, Billy Gunn, Gene Ha, Olivia Hack, Travis Hanson, Kyle Herbert, Anna Jay, Kids Can Cosplay, Livesay, Mike Mckone, Cassandra Lee Morris, Nerd Mafia, New Age Outlaws, Dustin Nguyen, James O’Barr, Order of Gallifrey, Eirc Palicki, Darick Robertson, Kenneth Rocafort, Saberguild Outer Rim, Science Fiction Coalition, Scuba Steph, Patrick Scullin, Beth Sotelo, Stacy Cosplays, Star Trek – The Fleet, Jim Starlin, Angi Viper, Dave Wagner, Mark Waid, Claudia Wells, Gary Whitta, with many more to be added.

Comic Con Revolution

For the latest information, and to purchase tickets visit https://www.comicconrevolution.com/ontario/

Follow them on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/ComicConRevolution

https://twitter.com/ComicConRvltn

https://www.instagram.com/comicconrevolution

Location

• Ontario Convention Center

2000 East Convention Center Way

Ontario, CA 91764

Admission

• Weekend Adult Premium $129
• Weekend Adult $45
• Weekend Teen $35
• Saturday Adult $30
• Saturday Teen $25
• Sunday Adult $25
• Sunday Teen $20
• Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult

Hours

• Saturday, May 21 – 10am (9am with advance ticket purchase) – 6pm
• Sunday, May 22 – 11am (10am with advance ticket purchase) – 5pm

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Last week, when Gov. Gavin Newsom presented the annual May revision of his budget proposal for the next fiscal year, he announced that California will establish new demographic categories when collecting data pertaining to the ethnic origin of Black state employees.

Kamilah A. Moore, the chairperson of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, said the breakdown of data is “amazing news.”

“California will become the first state in the nation to disaggregate data for its Black population by ancestry/lineage,” Moore posted on her Twitter page on May 13. “This will assist the task force in our efforts to develop comprehensive reparations proposals for descendants.”

Disaggregated data refers to the separation of compiled information into smaller units to clarify underlying trends and patterns. Newsom’s actions are similar to a bill authored by then-Assemblyman Rob Bonta.

In September 2016, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1726 into law that required the state Department of Public Health to separate demographic data it collects by ethnicity or ancestry for Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander groups.

Recently, disaggregation of Black data has been a top priority for some Black lawmakers and advocates supporting reparations for Black descendants of American slavery in California. In January, Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), introduced AB 1604, the Upward Mobility Act of 2022, legislation that will require the state to breakdown the data of state employees by ethnic origin.

The Assembly Committee on Appropriations is currently reviewing the bill.

AB 1604 promotes mobility for people of color in California’s civil services system and requires diversity on state boards and commissions. Newsom vetoed AB 105 last year, the legislative forerunner to AB 1604, which Holden also introduced.

Shortly after he was appointed chair of the Assembly Committee on Appropriations in January, Holden reintroduced the legislation as AB 1604.

Holden, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, said AB 1604 will give the Reparations Task Force more accurate data to utilize in its study and deliberations. The bill was passed by the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement on March 14.

In a written statement released in October last year, Newsom said he vetoed AB 105 because “the bill conflicts with existing constitutional requirements, labor, agreements, and current data collections efforts” but found disaggregation useful for dissecting data about California’s workforce.

As stated in his 2022-2023 May revision of the state budget, under the section titled “State Workforce Demographic Data Collection,” Newsom proposed the separation of Black employee data beginning with the state’s 2.5 million-plus employees.

The Department of Human Resources (CalHR) will work with the State Controller to establish new demographic categories for the collection of data pertaining to the ancestry or ethnic origin of African American employees.

The collection of this data, the document states, “continues CalHR’s duties to maintain statistical information necessary for the evaluation of equal employment opportunity and upward mobility within state civil service.”

In March, the nine-member Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans decided with a 5-4 vote that lineage will determine who will be eligible for reparations.

The May Revision also includes $1.5 million in funding for the Department of Justice to continue supporting the work of the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans

Supporters of disaggregation say it will serve as a key tool for the task force as it enters its second year of studying slavery and its lingering effects on African Americans.

The state’s reparations task force will recommend what compensation should be and how it should be paid by July 2023.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– On Saturday April 23rd, in honor of International Earth Day, Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted a community clean up in both Muscoy and Bloomington. With over 350 volunteers altogether in attendance at both locations, and over twenty community partners assisting, both unincorporated areas were left cleaner and healthier for those who reside there. Tons of trash from all over Muscoy and Bloomington were properly disposed, leaving parts of San Bernardino County cleaner than it previously was. The event was meant to last until the afternoon, but due to the abundance of volunteers cleaning up together, the event was completed earlier.

“This year’s community clean up event was more than a success. Seeing so many people go out of their way and volunteer to help clean up both Muscoy and Bloomington was touching. Our teamwork and community commitment to keeping our Earth safe and clean, especially the parts of town that we live brings me so much hope in what is to come for our Fifth District. This event was a huge success, and we couldn’t have done it without our community partners. I want to thank all the volunteers, our County Special Districts, Code Enforcement, California Highway Patrol, and all other partners once again for all the assistance. Let us treat every day like it is Earth Day, let us be kind to our Earth it is our only home. Looking forward to next year’s event! “-Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Primaries will be held June 7 for four positions on the California Board of Equalization, all 80 seats in the State Assembly, and 20 State Senate seats. Half of the 40 State Senate seats are subject to election every two years. The 20 even numbered districts are on ballots this year.

California Black Media (CBM) is reporting that no Black candidates are running for the Board of Equalization. Malia Cohen, current Board Chair and the first Black woman elected to the Board, is passing up a re-election bid to continue representing District 2 to run for State Controller instead.

There are five Black candidates running for two State Senate seats. Four are Democrats and one is a Republican. Three candidates are women and two are men.

Twenty-two Black candidates are on ballots for 18 State Assembly contests. Twenty candidates are Democrats and two are Republicans. Eight candidates are women and 14 are men. Nine races involve incumbents, and eight incumbents are Black. Three Black incumbents are running unopposed. Two Assembly seats are being contested by more than one Black candidate.

Although African Americans are 5.8% of California residents and 7% of the voting-eligible population, Black candidates are on ballots for 10% of the Senate races and 22.5% of the Assembly races.

State Senators represent an average of 988,455 residents and Assemblymembers represent an average of 494,227 residents. After the redistricting done following the 2020 US Census, African Americans no longer exceed 40% of the population in any district. Three Senate districts and five Assembly districts have African American populations exceeding 20%.

Black candidates running for State Senate are:

Republican Gregory Tatum is a pastor, U.S. Army veteran and avionics technician. He is running to represent Senate District 16 (Bakersfield). State Senator Melissa Hurtado who currently represents District 14 is in this race because redistricting changed her district boundaries. This district is predicted to be a tossup for the two Republican and three Democrats on the ballot.

Four Black Democratic candidates are running to represent Senate District 28 (Los Angeles). Jamaal A. Gulledge is a public servant. Kamilah Victoria Moore, chair of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations proposals for African Americans, has no ballot designation. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas is an educator and community organizer. Cheryl C. Turner is a Civil Rights Lawyer. Five candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district.

Black candidates running for State Assembly are:

Democrat Kevin McCarty is an Assemblymember representing District 7 (Sacramento). Due to redistricting, he is running to represent District 6 (Sacramento). He has four opponents. This is a solid Democratic district.

Two Black candidates are competing to represent Assembly District 10 (Elk Grove). Democrat Tecoy Porter is a pastor, educator and nonprofit director. Republican Eric M. Rigard is a retired businessman. Five candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Lori D. Wilson is listed on the ballot as a Democratic Mayor and Finance Director running to represent Assembly District 11 (Vallejo). Recently, she won a special election to represent District 11, making her the incumbent. She has one opponent. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Ida Times-Green is a School Board Trustee. She is Board President of the Sausalito-Marin City School District and is running to represent Assembly District 12 (Marin). She has three Democratic rivals. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Mia Bonta is the Assemblymember representing District 18 (Oakland). She is running for re-election unopposed. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Jennifer Esteen is a Psychiatric Registered Nurse. She is on the ballot to represent Assembly District (20) Alameda. Her opponents are two Democrats and a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Maurice Goodman is a San Mateo County Community College District Trustee. He is running to represent Assembly District 21 (San Mateo). He is running against five Democrats and a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Jon Wizard is a Councilmember and Housing Policymaker. He is running to represent Assembly District 30 (San Luis Obispo). He is running against three Democrats and a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Marlon G. Ware is a University Professor and Director. He is also a retired US Marine officer. He is running to represent Assembly District 36 (Imperial). He has two opponents. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D) currently representing the 56th Assembly District is on the ballot for this seat due to redistricting. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Chris Holden is an Assemblymember representing District 41 (Pasadena). He is running for re-election unopposed. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Jamie Swain is a truck driver and businesswomen. She is running to represent District 47 (Palm Springs). Her opponents are two Republicans and a Democrat. There is no incumbent on the ballot. This race is judged to be a tossup between the Republicans and Democrats.

Democrat Isaac G. Bryan is the Assemblymember representing District 55 (Los Angeles). He is the incumbent and has one opponent, a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Reggie Jones-Sawyer is the Assemblymember representing District 57 (Los Angeles). He is running for re-election unopposed. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Corey A Jackson is a Riverside County Board of Education member. He is running to represent Assembly District 60 (Moreno Valley). He has three opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Three Black candidates are running to represent Assembly District 61 (Inglewood). Democrat Tina Simone McKinnor is Non-Profit Director and businesswoman. Democrat Robert Pullen-Miles is Mayor, City of Lawndale. Republican James Arlandus Spencer is an Environmental Consultant. Five candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Mike Anthony Gipson is the Assemblymember for District 65 (Compton). He is running for re-election against one opponent. This is a solid Democratic district

Two Black candidates are on the ballot to represent Assembly District 69 (Long Beach). Democrat Al Austin II is a Long Beach Councilmember. Democrat Janet Denise Foster is a Healthcare Administrator. Four Democratic candidates are running for the seat. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Akilah Weber Democratic State is an Assemblymember and Doctor. She represents Assembly District 79 (La Mesa) and is running for re-election against two Republican opponents. This is a solid Democratic district.

In each contest for Senate and Assembly seats the two candidates receiving the most votes in the June 7 primary will move on to the November 8 general election.

By Lou Yeboah

I tell you; the message of the rich man should be a warning to all of us. He awoke to the fact of eternity too late. He lifted up his eyes too late. He was too busy in life to stop and look up. He was too absorbed with the Now to think of the Here-after. Could’ve, Would’ve Should’ve – But Didn’t – What Tragedy! This sad story should be a warning to each of us, not to take for granted the grace of God, as well as to realize that there are irreversible decisions in life.

If you are reading this message today and don’t know Christ as your personal Savior, do not wait till it’s too late. The weightiest application here is that one day it will be too late for repentance. As [Hebrews 9:27] says, “It is appointed for me to die once and after this comes judgment. The rich man in [Luke 16] discovered that too late. His destiny was now fixed and like in Esau’s case “there was no place for repentance.” May each of us learn from him, and from Esau, and not wait until it is too late to consider the cost of our decisions and actions.

Right now, there is still time to repent before God releases the last three trumpet judgments, referred to as “woes”. Don’t wait till it’s too late. Heed the warnings. Now is the time to set your life right. Now is the time to get your house in order. Now is the time to repent! Now is the time to put oil in your lamp. Do not be complacent. Don’t wait till it’s too late. Regrets are a killer. The rich man in his eternity of suffering is a man of regrets. He knew he was in hell, and he knew why. Don’t you do it for the Bible makes it very clear that there is a time coming when you won’t be able to be saved. These are the end times, the time of great tribulation, when God will pour out his wrath and judgment on an unbelieving world that will refuse him to the end. The Bible says God will give them up. They will curse God as they are being scorched with hailstones. They will try to hide from his wrath in vain, they will seek death, but death will flee from them. Don’t you do it. Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out [Acts 3:19].

For no one is excluded from Jesus’ demand to repent. He made this clear when a group of people came to him with news of two calamities. Innocent people had been killed by Pilate’s massacre and by the fall of the tower of Siloam [Luke 13:1-4]. Jesus took the occasion to warn even the bearers of the news: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” [Luke 13:5]. Jesus, the Son of God, is warning us of the judgment to come, and offering escape if we will repent. If you don’t repent, Jesus has one word, “Woe, unto you” [Matthew 11:21].

The Bible says our earthly lives are a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” [James 4:14]. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” [Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36]. Could’ve, Should’ve Would’ve – But Didn’t – What Tragedy!