ETHNIC MEDIA SERVICES

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — California’s rich diversity of ethnic populations makes an accurate census count extremely challenging, says Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and director of AAPI Data.

“California’s diversity is the source of our strength. There’s a lot that we gain from having the kind of racial diversity. At the same time, those factors make it more

challenging to count,” said Ramakrishnan, who serves as the associate dean of the UC Riverside School of Public Policy, and professor of public policy and political science.

Ramakrishnan cited a lack of in-language resources, geographic diversity, including populations living in rural areas, and first-generation immigrants who may not understand the census process or its importance as barriers to getting an accurate count of California’s population.

Many immigrants also fear the information they share on the nine-question form may be shared with immigration enforcement authorities or the Internal Revenue Service. “It’s important to reassure them that all of the information they provide is protected by law,” and not shared with other agencies, said Ramakrishnan.

“The census is constitutionally mandated by the US Constitution to make sure that every person counts. So this includes citizens as well as non citizens regardless of their immigration status or what kind of visa that they have,” he said.

Reaching the Asian American Pacific Islander population poses some unique challenges, said the researcher, noting that a large percentage of the population of California are first generation AAPIs with limited English language proficiency.

“So it’s so important for us to make sure that we are reaching out to them in a language that they understand and that we’re using trusted messengers, people that they trust from their faith-based associations to nonprofits that serve them so that they can be reassured that this information is protected,” said Ramakrishnan.

The U.S. Census Bureau conducted a survey of Asian Americans, Blacks, Hispanics and whites two years ago.Two-thirds of Asian Americans surveyed said they were extremely to somewhat concerned that their data would be used against them.

About 43 percent of AAPIS surveyed said they would not likely fill out the Census form. Only 22 percent said they were familiar with the Census.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also made it harder to reach populations that have had a history of non-participation. “The disease and the economic fallout are hurting communities that are least likely to be counted by the census,” said Ramakrishnan, advocating for investments in health care and economic assistance for vulnerable communities.

Census data, collected every 10 years, is used to allocate federal resources and accurate representation in Congress. Businesses also use data from the decennial survey to determine where to set up shop.

As of early July, more than 46 percent of California households had filled out their Census forms, according to the California Census 2020 Campaign. San Mateo County had the highest response rate in the state, with over 72 percent of residents returning the survey, which can be mailed in or filled out online. Enumerators do go door to door to reach households who have not filled out their census forms.

The Transformative Climate Communities and Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grants will fund integrated and sustainable transit, affordable housing, and urban greening in the Eastside Community.

RIVERSIDE, CA— The California Strategic Growth Council awards $31.2 million to the City of Riverside for the Eastside Climate Collaborate project, which will fund affordable housing, sustainable transportation infrastructure, transit rail access (including bus stops and solar walkways), free bus passes, solar power installation, urban greening projects, community engagement, displacement avoidance, and various workforce development initiatives.

The grants were the result of community-based efforts to empower Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood by creating new economic opportunities and improve the health and well-being of the neighborhood residents through cross-sector collaboration and community engagement led by Riverside Community Health Foundation (RCHF) through the Eastside Healthy Eating, Active Living or HEAL Zone (EHZ) and the Chicago-Linden Project. As a part of the multi-level stakeholder engagement, RCHF’s role through the EHZ is to encourage, support, and foster the community voice in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the proposed projects in the Eastside Climate Collaborative project.

The Eastside HEAL Zone was established in 2012 with a vision of a community driven effort towards social, cultural, and physical environmental changes that would shift the community towards healthy eating and active living as a way of life. Over the years, the resident led initiative has trained over 40 residents in community advocacy through the Riverside Leadership Academy, facilitated the conversion of 4 corner stores into healthy food markets, helped improve 4 parks, initiated 2 community gardens, and facilitated nearly 30 community improvement projects, which included the clean-up of alleyways and safe paths for children to walk to school.

The grant applications had significant community input from the Residents of Eastside Active in Leadership (REAL) Group, Healthy Living Project, Eastside Faith Collaborative, Eastside Think Tank, and Lincoln Park Community Group.

“Congratulations to the residents of the of the Eastside who have been so passionate and who have been working so hard to create a healthy community in the Eastside area,” said Dr. Shené Bowie-Hussey, Vice President of Health Strategies and Chief Strategic Officer. “We are getting ready to embark on a pretty large initiative, but it’s nothing you haven’t already done before! This is just another step in creating a healthy community.”

Community engagement activities during the course of the grant will take the form of workshops, monthly meetings, community participation in large project-related events, and recruitment of organizations and networks to assist in data collection and dissemination of information and notices. Community Settlement Association, an affiliate of RCHF, will act as a liaison for Eastside residents and small business and lead activities in displacement avoidance while providing information, training, and workforce development.

Additional partners in the TCC and AHSC grant applications include the County of Riverside Economic Development Agency, University of California, Riverside Center for Environmental Research and Technology, Riverside Community Health Foundation, Riverside Unified School District, GRID Alternatives, Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation, Riverside Transit Agency, Community Settlement Association, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), WRCOG, Tree People, and Eastside community groups and community members.

“[We are] optimistic that this grant will enhance the City of Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood and will help elevate the quality of life for the residents of that community,” said Rick Bishop, Executive Director of Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG). “In light of the grant awards, it is WRCOG’s hope that this success will set the pace for jurisdictions, agencies and the private sector to pursue Public-Private Partnerships and multi-agency/jurisdictional collaborations in grant program efforts.”

The collective grant of $31.2 million is the largest amount the City of Riverside has ever been awarded and marks a new historic high.

For more information about the Eastside HEAL Zone or activities, please visit www.rchf.org/ehz. For more information on the TCC and AHSC grant programs, visit https://sgc.ca.gov/programs/tcc/ or https://sgc.ca.gov/programs/ahsc/ or visit the City’s Grant homepage at www.riversideca.gov/eastside.

By Hardy Brown | Special to California Black Media

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to serve on a major party’s presidential ticket made history last week when Joe Biden, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, announced that she would serve as his running mate.  While much of the national and local news centered around the selection of Senator Harris, California political insiders were having a different conversation. Almost immediately after Biden’s announcement, the politicos in the Golden State began formulating predictions on who Gov. Gavin Newsom would select to serve the balance of Senator Harris’s term in the U.S. Senate, which ends in January 2023.

The opportunity to see the celebrated rise of a member of another ethnic minority, whether it be the Latino community, API community, or other group, should not come at the expense of California’s Black community.

Political insiders in Sacramento report that Newsom is already being pressured by outside groups to make history by appointing a Latino to replace Harris.  With close to 40% or more of the state population being Latino, the governor will be under pressure to deliver to such a large constituency.  However, according to some capital insiders and news reports, discussions have already been had with the governor to appoint California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate, should Sen. Dianne Feinstein decide to retire before her term ends in 2024. 

Black women and men have poured decades of work, blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice into the Democratic Party, and Gov. Newsom must recognize that. Black voters are not the Democratic Party’s mules; they should not have to put the histories of other groups’ oppression on their backs and step aside so someone else can walk through the political door that Senator Harris has opened. To prevent what would be a consequential snub, the Governor should be intentional about acknowledging the important role that Black people have in California politics, and the trail that has been blazed by Kamala Harris, by choosing among California’s Black elected officials to replace her in the U.S. Senate. Fortunately, California has an impressive list for the Governor to consider:

Congressional Members

Congresswoman Barbara Lee.  Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, was an early supporter of Gov. Newsom and is beloved by her Bay Area constituency.  Though she is in her 13th term as a Congresswoman and may not want to give up the seniority she’s earned in the House, Lee would garner support from progressives and African Americans statewide, and be a force in the U.S. Senate.

Congresswoman Karen Bass.  It is likely that Governor Newsom has already added Representative Karen Bass (D-CA-37) to his shortlist of candidates to fill Senator Harris’s seat.  A 10-year veteran in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Bass, the current Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and former Speaker of the California Assembly, possesses both the leadership skills and the acumen to serve in the U.S. Senate in this historic moment.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Affectionately called “Auntie Maxine” by fans from all backgrounds and ages, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) has been a member of the U.S. Congress for almost 30 years. She is both loved and loathed for her no-nonsense, in-your-face politicking and sharp criticism of political opponents, including Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump. The eldest of the 12 Black women currently serving in Congress, Waters, 82, may not be at the top of the governor’s shortlist. Her experience, though, serving 14 years in the California Assembly before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she is the current chair of the House Financial Services Committee, certainly qualifies her.

Constitutional Officers

Superintendent Tony Thurmond.  Tony Thurmond became California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction after successfully defeating a well-funded opponent statewide.  Prior to this position, he served as a state Assemblymember, a member of the Richmond City Council and a member of the West Contra Costa County Unified School District.  Superintendent Thurmond has enjoyed national attention in the wake of COVID-19 with innovative plans to initiate distance learning and to reopen public schools.  

Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen. Board Member Malia Cohen, a native of the vote-rich Bay Area, is no stranger to Gov. Newsom and is a tested and proven viable statewide vote getter, having garnered 72 percent of the vote in her 23-county Board of Equalization District, representing over 10 million Californians. She was elected the first Black woman to Chair the BOE, which administers the $70 billion property tax system. Prior to her election to Constitutional Office, BOE Chair Cohen served two terms on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and as President of the Board. 

State Legislators

State Senator Holly Mitchell.  Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angles), who serves as the Chair of the California State Senate Budget Committee, is one of the most well respected, and powerful policy makers in California.  Senator Mitchell has developed a close working relationship with Gov. Newsom which has served the state well. They have pursued policies that align with their respective agendas on homelessness, criminal justice reform, early childhood development, etc.  

Assemblymember Shirley Weber.  Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-Sam Diego) serves as the Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.  She is one of the most effective and respected policymakers serving in the California legislature.  She passed landmark legislation establishing a new reasonable force standard in the wake of the death of Stephon Clark by Sacramento law enforcement officers.  This year she championed the Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5, which placed on the November ballot Proposition16. If voters approve, Prop 16 would overturn anti-affirmative action Proposition 209, which passed in 1996.  

Local Elected Officials

City Council Member Herb Wesson.  Los Angeles city council member Herb Wesson is former speaker of the state assembly, former president of the Los Angeles City council and is currently a candidate for Los Angeles County supervisor. He is well known around the state and is widely regarded as a persuasive and effective deal maker.  

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.  Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is one of the most effective policymakers in the state of California.  Ridley-Thomas previously served in both the California State Assembly and the California Senate, and served as the Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.  He was a strong supporter of Gavin Newsom in his race to become Governor, and Ridley-Thomas has worked closely with the governor to address homelessness in Los Angeles County and statewide. 

Mayor London Breed.  Mayor London Breed, the first African American woman to serve as Mayor of San Francisco, made a splash on the national political stage this year because of her pro-active response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Prior to serving as Mayor of San Francisco, Breed served as the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.  Breed, who was appointed to the San Francisco Fire Commission by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, enjoys a close working relationship with the governor and has the experience of running a major metropolitan city. 

When coming up with this list, I did a poll check and talked to both young and older veterans in the political space.

Chaya Crowder, an African American Political Science Professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, said, “Black women continue to be the most loyal voting block within the Democratic Party.  The Democratic Party cannot continue to rely on Black women as voters without having Black women in represented in elected office.”

Danny Bakewell, publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel and producer of the largest Black festival in California, ‘Taste of Soul,’ said, “at a time that we say Black lives matter, Black people must be considered for this and other positions.  

Gov. Newsom has been confronted with a plethora of difficult decisions in 2020, ranging from the management of COVID-19 to balancing a budget in the middle of a severe recession.  After the general election, if the Democrats win, the Governor would be charged with an equally important decision — who to choose to serve out the remaining two-and-a-half years of Senator Harris’s term. Our advice to the Governor is to be thoughtful in his deliberations and understand that his decision will speak very loudly to Black communities throughout California and the nation.

Additional officers from the San Bernardino Police Department will be out on patrol on Thursday, August 15, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Bernardino Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe when they need to run essential errands, “Safety is paramount, but especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sergeant Jeff Harvey said. “We are all in this together and want everyone to be as safe as possible when they are out. One way to do that is by not driving impaired.”

The San Bernardino Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or” operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home. Driving sober is your safest bet. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI will pay a stiff price: an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

The San Bernardino Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on Friday, August 14, 2020 from 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. making sure drivers and passengers are wearing their safety belt. Drivers and passengers who do not have a safety belt on will be stopped and ticketed. This also includes drivers who do not secure children in child safety seats.

In California, the fine for a safety belt violation is $162. The fine for not securing a child in a child safety seat is $490. In 2016, 426 people killed in crashes across the state were unrestrained.

Under California law, children under two years old who weigh under 40 pounds or are under 40 inches tall must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children under the age of eight or under 4’ 9” tall must be secured in a car or booster seat.

Meals Now Available for Pickup from 8 to 11 a.m.

San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) will continue to provide free Grab and Go Meals to students on Mondays and Wednesdays.

All SBCUSD students, regardless of family income, are eligible for free Grab and Go Meals. Both breakfast and lunch to-go meals are available for pick up Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 to 11 a.m. Distribution ends at 11 a.m. to protect families from heat-related health issues and to prevent food from spoiling in high temperatures. However, students will be provided with multiple meals at a time. Families are encouraged to refrigerate those meals to maintain food safely.

“Originally, meal distribution was scheduled to start at 9 a.m., but due to overwhelming requests by families that meal distribution start earlier, our Nutrition Services team responded quickly to add an hour and start distribution at 8 a.m.,” said Executive Director of Community Engagement Ginger Ontiveros. “We believe that parent and student input is vital to school success, and we continue to do our best to meet the needs of our families in these unpredictable and unprecedented circumstances.”

Families will be required to provide the name and school of each child for which they are picking up meals. Every student is eligible to receive five days worth of meals each week.

Grab and Go Meal distribution is at the following locations:

Cajon High School, 1200 West Hill Drive, San Bernardino

Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy, 1885 East Lynwood Drive, San Bernardino

H. Frank Dominguez Elementary School, 135 S. Allen Street, San Bernardino

Golden Valley Middle School, 3800 North Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino

Indian Springs High School, 650 North Del Rosa Drive, San Bernardino

Juanita Blakely Jones Elementary School, 700 North F Street, San Bernardino

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, 1250 Medical Center Drive, San Bernardino

Muscoy Elementary School, 2119 West Blake Street, San Bernardino

Pacific High School, 1020 Pacific Street, San Bernardino

Richardson PREP HI Middle School, 455 South K Street, San Bernardino

San Bernardino High School, 1850 North E Street, San Bernardino

San Gorgonio High School, 2299 Pacific Street, San Bernardino

Serrano Middle School, 3131 Piedmont Drive, Highland

Thompson Elementary School, 7401 Church Avenue, Highland

Vermont Elementary School, 3695 Vermont Street, San Bernardino

As of August 3, Chavez Middle School is no longer a Grab and Go Meal distribution site.

A map of Grab and Go Meal distribution sites is available on the District’s website. For more information, call (909) 381-1224.

Stacy Augustine, a husband, father and 31-year resident of Rialto, believes that moving here in 1989 was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. Not only for himself but for his children as well who have grown to become successful adults with their own families.

Regarding his City of residence, Stacy states: “I have observed many positive changes occurring throughout Rialto and as a constituent, I believe in the advancement of this great City. As a council member, I want to address the homelessness, lack of livable wage jobs, work with the Rialto Police Department to reduce crime and ensure our senior population has access to City services.”

Stacy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Atlanta. For the past 15 years, he has been the Operations Manager for a large food-manufacturing corporation located here in Rialto. He currently oversees eight (8) supervisors, eight (8) managers and over 300 employees. In total, Stacy has over 40 years of experience in food and beverage manufacturing. He also owns his own electrical contracting business and a brand new up and coming restaurant in Downtown Rialto called “Jack’s Grill and Billiards.” Stacy is no stranger to management and entrepreneurship as his ambition was sparked many years ago while managing his family-owned restaurant “Bar None Bar B Que” in Los Angeles, CA.

Stacy has played a key role in enhancing Rialto’s critical infrastructure by serving as Chairman of Rialto’s Budget Advisory Committee and as a Transportation Commissioner. He also served on the Board of the Rialto Chamber of Commerce from 2005-2010. Stacy has always been a natural born leader with the desire to serve others. With his proven leadership and business experience, Stacy will be a promising addition to the Rialto City Council. He believes that all problems are solvable with the right mindset, correct initiative and creativity. Stacy’s values, integrity and decision-making skill set will assist him as your next Rialto City Council Member!

Stacy Augustine’s campaign office is looking for volunteers and donations. For more information, visit ElectStacyAugustine.com and his social media at Facebook: Stacy Augustine Instagram: elect_stacy_augustine and Twitter: stacyaugustine12

By John Coleman, Community Photographer

Rebellion against authority has been a big feature of governance and society in America since it’s early days. Rebellion against the authority of the King of England over the control of England’s 13 colonies in North America lead to the Revolutionary War; the independence of the people and government of the United States of America; The U.S. Constitution; and the “Bill of Rights”.

But among the number of issues NOT effectively resolved by “the Revolution”,   “the Constitution”,   or “the Bill of Rights”,    was the “peculiar institution” of slavery in the U.S. as the country grew and evolved, and conflicts emerged over who had the “right” and power to decide outcomes.

The issue opened with whether the “Federal government” or the individual state (in collection with like-minded individual states) was the decision-maker. This opinion was more widely shared in the mainly agricultural sections of the country known as ‘the South’, as distinguished from the increasingly mercantile ‘North’. In many areas of the South there were many more enslaved Black people than there were Whites, who feared revolts and retribution.

To Southern officials, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was taken as a rejection and a sign that the South HAD to go its own way. Southern states withdrew ‘membership’ in the United States; established its ‘own’ Army and Navy; (almost ALL had been ‘regulars ‘ of the United States); and eventually fired another ‘shot heard around the world’. War again became THE instrument for ‘problem-solving’!

In September 1862, in the middle of America’s horrendously bloody Civil War (referred to in ‘the South’ as “the war between the states”) President Lincoln issued a Presidential Order, under his authority, during wartime, to go into effect on January 1, 1863, as an “Emancipation Proclamation”, which ordered that “ALL PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES ” WITHIN THE REBELLIOUS STATES “ARE AND HENCEFORTH SHALL BE FREE !…” Furthermore, Lincoln pointedly directed the military to fully and faithfully effect this order.

As the Civil War was going on, the Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln’s authority was disregarded by the Confederate South, which greatly depended on slavery to support its economy, and for the labor support for its Army; however, the Emancipation Proclamation helped turn the tide of the war. Every advance of the Union Army expanded the areas of freedom and great numbers of newly-freed men enlisted into the U.S. Army, & Navy. By the time the Civil War ended, almost 200,000 Black men fought for the Union AND for freedom!

Still, until the end of the war and the presence of Union troops, the Emancipation Proclamation had no liberating effect in many areas. Only after the surrender of the Confederacy and the arrival of Union General, Granger, with 2,000 Federal troops into Galveston, Texas, on June 18 and 19, 1865, did the dream of FREEDOM become real.

Riverside’s 11th Annual Juneteenth Celebration had many similarities with Southern celebrations in the years following emancipation. Inside the Stratton Center at Bordwell Park there were speakers, displays and reading material about African American inventors, educators, performers and organizations whose work benefitted society. Most people however, preferred to be outside where there was food, music, dancing, performances, and gatherings of families and friends enjoying their freedom to celebrate.  ‘Twas  a bright, sunny “Juneteenth” day.

Where are ‘we’ now?    2020,     Pandemic?     “United? States”   Governance?      Laws & “Justice”?      

Perhaps ‘we’ can check back in another 150 years.