Nationally Recognized Firm Will Support a Better, More Efficient Work Environment for Workers and Ratepayers

RIALTO, CA— On February 20, 2020, West Valley Water District Board (WVWD) President Channing Hawkins announced at a public board meeting that the Water District selected a firm to rewrite the Human Resources: Policies and Procedures Manual, which is a critical step towards increase accountability, improving hiring procedures and ensuring the Water District maintains a healthy working environment and efficient operations for ratepayers.

President Channing Hawkins stated, “It is inexcusable that we’ve been operating on an outdated policies and procedures for the Water District. I am confident the new policies and procedures will help end dysfunction and address ongoing personnel issues that need to be corrected. With these changes, employees can expect a better organization and ratepayers can expect a better, more efficient public resource.”

Beyond written company culture, values and mission statement, the new manual will contain human resource and legal information as well as rights and obligations to employment. It will also contain organization expectations for employees and employee expectations for the company. Other items may include job descriptions, compensation, vacation time, sick days and other medical and family leave information. The new manual will help to fill knowledge gaps for employees on the correct policies and procedures needed to navigate the Water District.  

The WVWD will enter into an agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW), a nationally-recognized firm that serves many jurisdictions throughout California. WVWD’s new Interim Human Resources and Risk Manager Martin Piñon selected the firm in accordance with Water District purchasing policies and requested bids from 3 firms and received 2 proposals. Piñon selected LCW due to their extensive experience in representing public agencies in developing related policies. The WVWD hired Piñon earlier this month to address best practices and other human resource issues such as resolving personnel issues. Piñon is a seasoned human resources professional, trained as a lawyer with management-level experience

The firm is a pioneer in the training field through its Employment Relations Consortiums, which are comprised of nearly 800 cities, counties, special districts and schools as well as other public-sector agencies in the State of California. The firm provides annual training to thousands city managers, county executives, general managers, city attorneys and heads of schools. For the Water District, the firm will focus on preparing and presenting new human resources policies and procedures for the Board to consider.

Vice President Kyle Crowther stated, “Some of our policies and procedures are outdated and need to be rewritten. This is an opportune time to perform a complete review and ensure we have a solid document to stand on as we move forward with additional improvements.”

This action follows a major effort by the Board of Directors to make the Water District more transparent and accountable. Some of the most recent actions include approving a temporary hiring freeze, prohibiting the general manager from entering into professional service agreements without board approval, conducting public meetings to scrutinize all professional services contracts, appointing an interim human resources manager and creating a live stream for board meetings via social media.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) announced March 10 that it has introduced legislation to repeal proposition 209.

The bill is called ACA 5 or the California Act for Economic Prosperity.

“Since becoming law in 1996, Proposition 209 has cost women-and-minority-owned businesses $1.1 billion each year,” said Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who is chair of the CLBC.

“It has perpetuated a wage gap where women make 80 cents on every dollar made by men and has allowed discriminatory hiring and contracting processes to continue unhindered,” Weber continued.

Weber announced the bill at the California state Capitol flanked by members of the CLBC, the  California Legislative Women’s Caucus, other progressive lawmakers, as well as  supporters like Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

In 1996, after a heated public debate divided Californians who supported Proposition 209 and those who opposed it, voters passed the ballot initiative.

Also known as the California Civil Rights Initiative, Prop 209 outlawed the consideration of race and gender in hiring, awarding state contracts, college admissions, policymaking, and even in most forms of official state documentation.

The entire CLBC co-authored ACA 5. And supporters range from churches and civil rights organizations to community based organizations, labor unions and legal aid providers.

Besides Weber, other members of the CLBC are: Senators Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles) and Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles); and Assemblymembers Autumn Burke (D-South Bay, Los Angeles), Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena), Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles), and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). 

By Lou Yeboah

Why are you surprise about the disasters, famines, pestilences [Coronavirus Disease], and the increasing earthquakes? Why are you surprise? Didn’t I tell you; “Before I winked at ignorance, BUT NOW I command all men to repent.” What part of that did you not understand?  You have provoked my anger! Yes, I’ve had enough of your blatantly disregard for Me. I’m fed up and if you don’t repent, I tell you, you ain’t seen nothing yet! [Amos 7:1-9]. “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth. I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. Yes, I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth, make no mistake about it,” declares the Lord. [Zephaniah 1:2-3].

The Warnings has been issued. The Alarm has been sounded! [Hebrews 10:26-31]. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire. Listen, anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Hear what the Lord says; This I have against you, that you have left your First Love. Repent and return unto Me. If you do not, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. [Revelation 2: 4-5]. What a solemn warning. I want you to know that God did not try to reform the descendants of Cain that had no time for Him. He rejected them and ultimately destroyed them in the flood. His complaint of His people was that they failed to give Him the honor and the respect He deserved. They treated Him with contempt and no longer held Him in awe. In their eyes He was no different than they were; and because of that, they were destroyed. God says, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My respect?” [Malachi 1:6].  “I have had enough of disobedience and hard hearts. I am ready to render my verdict, sentence and punish. [Read the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel].

Listen, God has conveyed the same message over, and over, and, over again, that He is more than fit to be tied of disobedience and harden hearts and that He’s ready to render His verdict, sentence, people for their rebellious spirit and actions. Don’t take God’s grace for granted. Don’t let the Devil rob you out of the riches of the Lord because of a lack of knowledge. What is the “knowledge” that Israel lacked that led to their oft destruction? It was the fear of the Lord. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them, for the ways of the Lord is right. [Hosea 14:9].

“When I shut up the heavens that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” [2 Chronicles 7:13-14]

“But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed [a]in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will beset My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you.  ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate. And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you.” [Leviticus 26].

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. [John 16:4]

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Grounded Self Care Studio hosted its “GROUNDED” Social Experience Fundraiser on Saturday, February 29 at The Enterprise Building in Downtown San Bernardino to raise funds needed to open for business in June 2020. 

Grounded Self Care Studio will provide artistic alternatives that promote positive mental health and self-exploration in the heart of San Bernardino.  San Bernardino is often overlooked and lacks innovative resources that appeal to the members of the community and Grounded offers a proactive solution, that takes the mental health stigma into consideration, and creates a pressure free zone for healing and self-discovery.

At the GROUNDED Social Experience Fundraiser, Co-Founders Destiny Frye and Clarece Creighton featured powerful workshops and an interactive social hour that was geared towards getting grounded, refocusing, re-centering self, and connecting with others. 

Follow Grounded on Facebook and Instagram @groundedselfcare.

By Mark Hedin

In a February 12 Capitol Hill hearing that stretched more than three hours, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham updated the 2020 effort and fielded questions from the House of Representatives’ Oversight and Reform Committee.

His long-scheduled appearance coincided with the nonpartisan Government Accounting Office releasing its latest report on census preparations and what needed action according to its recommendations previously agreed upon by the Census Bureau. Overall, it said, deemed Census Bureau readiness for 2020 operations is “mixed.”

Topping the concerns at the hearing was the finding that the Census Bureau is behind on its hiring goals. About a half-million people will be needed to help get a full count, and for each position, Dillingham said, he would like to have six applicants. But 202 of the bureau’s 248 regional offices are still understaffed, with the first of five mailings targeting 95 percent of U.S. households due to be sent out in less than a month.

Dillingham said he believes concerns about the rate of hiring are premature. He expects to be fully staffed by April when the people knocking on doors to get questionnaire responses from households that haven’t responded either online or by telephone will be needed.

Citing the low unemployment rate as a challenge, he promised, “We will continue to recruit all through the census.” Besides, he said, “20 million college students are out there with student loans and needing money.”

Also of concern to committee members was the report’s description of the Census Bureau falling behind on forming partnerships with the community organizations, businesses and nonprofits that will be crucial in educating the public and maximizing survey response rates, particularly among hard-to-count populations.

Fraud and cybersecurity form the other key concern in the GAO report.

California Rep. Katie Porter entered into the hearing record a fund-raising mailing from the Republican National Committee that gives every appearance of being the census questionnaire.

Porter said the RNC sent a similar mailing in 2010, that led to legislation outlawing such misrepresentations.

Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney, of New York, called the RNC mailing “outrageous” and vowed to revisit that legislation and add enforcement mechanisms to it.

“Clearly, people are violating that,” Maloney said, looking at the mailing both Porter and California Rep. Jimmy Gomez had brought to the hearing. “The census is one of the sacred things in our Constitution.”

The adequacy of the Census Bureau’s preparations for prioritizing online responses also came up. Echoing his reassurances about the pace of hiring, Dillingham said that other targets the Census Bureau hasn’t met had been set higher than he expected would be necessary.

Although the Census Bureau decided on Feb. 7 to change the computer system it will use for online responses, Dillingham said it’s being set up to accommodate up to 600,000 users at once. But realistically, said his deputy, Al Fontenot, traffic at any one time is likely to be perhaps only a third of that.

Many committee members worried that their constituents lack adequate access to computers to ensure they’ll be counted. Dillingham and Fontenot described various plans, such as working with community libraries, but Michigan Rep. Brenda Lawrence pointed out that some libraries in her district have limited hours.

Missouri Rep. Lacy Clay noted historic census undercounts of African Americans — 718,000 people in 2010, he said — and noted the Census Bureau itself estimates that 60% plan to wait until someone visits their home before they’ll respond to the census.

Clay asked what outreach the bureau is planning, and specifically if it includes weekly newspapers and radio. Fontenot said a black advertising agency has partnered with the census’ primary advertising firm, Young & Rubicam, to help in communication efforts.

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib complained about the reversal of the Census Bureau’s decision after 2010 to add “Middle Eastern/North African” as an option for the final question on the census questionnaire, about ethnicity. If, instead, people of that ethnicity have to identify themselves as white, she said, it will affect health research, language assistance, civil rights, minority businesses’ ability to get loans and more.

Writing in an identity, “doesn’t have the same impact and you know that. You’re making us invisible. You’re erasing us,” Tlaib said.

California Rep. Harley Rouda, whose Orange County district includes “Little Saigon,” home to the country’s largest Vietnamese population, including many refugees, asked how the census will enumerate those with limited or no English language skills.

Besides the census questionnaire being printed in English and Spanish, online forms are in 12 languages and, Fontenot said, materials including instructional videos total almost 60. But, he said, the primary way the census plans to meet people’s language challenges is by hiring partnership specialists with language fluency.

“We do count on our partners for language assistance,” Dillingham said.

New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland shared an estimate that for every 1% of New Mexico’s population not counted in the census, the state loses $600 million of federal funding per decade. That’s money badly needed for “schools, health care programs, roads, so many other services,” particularly for Hispanic, Native and other communities of people of color, she said.

Unemployment is relatively high among the Spanish- and Navajo-speaking people Haaland represents, yet job applicants from her district have waited weeks to hear back from the census, she said.

“I know what it means for people to open the door and see someone who looks like them,” she said.

Dillingham said the bureau has boosted pay rates in response to unemployment and cost-of-living considerations in different communities. Fontenot cited the approval just last week of a $2 million budget for local advertising in “low-count areas.”

“If there’s more recruitment needed, we will make those efforts,” Dillingham said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— – LaToya Scott may have been a late bloomer, but once she started on her academic journey at San Bernardino Valley College, she didn’t look back and gave it her all to succeed. As a single mom, Scott was facing many stressful personal obstacles. She reached out for help at the campus CalWORKs office.

“All the ladies in the office were very supportive with helping me navigate Valley College,” she said. “They’re amazing, they’re awesome.”

Through a variety of programs, mentors, and office guidance, she landed a job and was able to get financial aid, plus keep all of her TANF allowance benefits. It helped her stay focused on the most important part of her life – taking care of her then-infant daughter.

Last spring, Scott graduated with full honors, having earned an AA in Human Services Case Management in the Public Sector, an AA in Liberal Arts Behavioral and Social Sciences, along with a certificate for Human Services Case Management.

She admits it was all a bit scary at first. She wondered if she would be the oldest person in class. She worried whether she could retain the information. She hadn’t been in a classroom in 16 years, having dropped out in her senior high school year to help care for her grandparents, who raised her. But when she was 32, both grandparents died two months apart. She knew she had to work hard and fast.

“Life became real for me. I felt like I didn’t have anything to fall back on,” she said. “I didn’t want to fail my daughter.”

Undaunted, she completed her GED in seven weeks. Soon after, she started at SBVC and began working at the San Bernardino Community College District in fiscal and business services. Through the CalWORKs department, which she describes as a lifesaver, she received all the tools she needed to move ahead, including childcare. At one point, she was chosen to head up a workshop to educate other parents at her daughter’s learning center about how they could also access educational tools and flourish.

The CalWORKs campus office was accessible, and a truly judgment-free zone, she added. It helped her realize that there was life after public assistance. She said their doors were always open and guidance there for the asking.

“[It’s like] you’re on the county, but we’re going to help you stop this generational poverty. We’re going to help you get off the system to show your child and show your family that there is life after the system,” she said.

Scott also served an 18-month internship at the award-winning nonprofit Time for Change Foundation.

Most of all, her overall experience helped her to achieve all of her personal goals for her daughter, now four years old, who attended her graduation last spring. Today, Scott is no longer on county assistance. Valley College programming gave her the confidence to move ahead through their workshops and classes. Going forward, she is also considering pursuing her bachelor’s degree. This month, she starts as an eligibility worker with the County of San Bernardino.

“I’m really excited that I did all of this,” she said. “I have a child to provide for.”

To learn more about San Bernardino Valley College, visit www.valleycollege.edu. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Need help on filing your taxes? Come out to the ‘Free Community Tax Clinic’ for the community by Community Action Partnership and the office of Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes. The clinic will be held on Friday, March 13 at the CNUSD Parent Center located at 152 East Sixth Street in Corona, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free service is available to anyone who makes a maximum of $70,000. 

Call the office of Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes to set your appointment and secure your spot (951) 371-6860, walk-ins based on availability.

RIVERSIDE, CA— “I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” is the theme for the 19th Annual Empowering Young Women Conference, a collaborative effort of the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation,  Riverside Community College District, Riverside Unified School District, Virginia Blumenthal of Blumenthal Law Offices, Chief of Police, Larry Gonzalez and the Riverside Police Association, the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, Susan Ebert, Signature Real Estate Group, Lt. Val Graham and Dr. Kathy Wright .  The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020 in the Landis Auditorium located on the Riverside City College campus at 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. 

This free conference, geared to young women ages 12 to 21 and their mothers/guardians, will feature informational workshops about women’s health and nutrition, domestic violence, human trafficking, cyber-bullying, social media issues, self-image and dress, college, careers, a defense demonstration, a fashion show, photo booths, a poetry contest, and a talent competition.

The morning keynote speaker will be Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones, Author and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (AD) at the University of California, Riverside.  Afternoon keynote speaker will be Lisanne Grey, Human Traffic Survivor and Intake Coordinator/Case Manager for Heart 2 Serve, Inc.

The afternoon career panel includes Diama Calhoun, Lead Deputy District Attorney of the Domestic Violence Unit, Riverside;  Shauna Gates, newly appointed Chief of Police at Riverside Community College District; Kendra McCrary,  Owner/Chef, Ooh La La Catering, Los Angeles;  Lee Rodriguez,  Actress/Model;  Monica Stockhausen, Owner, Nerdy Girls Rock /Professor of Business, Chaffey College; Hon. Sunshine Sykes,  Superior Court Judge, Riverside County, all notable female leaders and entrepreneurs. These dynamic and other accomplished women will share their experiences and how they reached their personal and career goals with the conference participants.

Conference Coordinator, Wanda Scruggs said, “We are very excited about this year’s conference as we have a cadre of excellent keynote and workshop speakers willing to share their knowledge and personal experiences with our young women. Participants will receive breakfast, lunch, a goodie bag, Resource Directory and information on everything from how to defend themselves to identifying human traffic perpetrators — and all at no cost, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful sponsors”.

Participants are requested to pre-register no later than Wednesday, March 4 at www.adcrfoundation.org.

By Lue Dowdy

Child actor Michael Eshaun York is What it Do! This week ya’ girl is highlighting a young rising star. I love seeing the youth moving in a positive way, especially when it comes to going after their dreams. 

From his beautiful big, wild fro’, fly gear, and cute personality, I was immediately drawn to Michael; a humble kid with a bright spirit. Tapping into the industry is no easy task but he’s doing it with a great support team.

I look forward to seeing more of Michael in the near future. Please do me a favor and checkout his biography below. Make sure to follow him on all social media networks. Until next time folks!

Michael Eshaun York was born in Colton, California in 2010 and began acting in early 2014 at the of age 3 when he accompanied Fatimah Hassan on a Luv’s Diaper Commercial portraying her stage son.

He began taking Martial Arts (Tae Kwon Do) classes in 2015 at age 4. In 2016, at age 5, he begin taking Hip Hop Dance Classes with “Young Champions Dance America”, and also acting classes with actress/acting coach, Betty A. Bridges, whose list of clients (soon to become stars) included her oldest child, Jimmy Bridges, her daughter Verda Bridges, her son Todd Bridges , Nia Long (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Love Jones), Regina King (Jerry Maguire), Lamont Bentley (Moesha), and Aaron Meeks (Soul Food).

In January of 2016 by the request of Michael’s Management Company, he was sent to a TV Studio along with three other boys to be interviewed by actress Regina King, Director of the TV show “Scandal”. After meeting with her it was decided it’s time for Michael to take acting classes. After researching who taught Regina King and other successful child actors, it was confirmed Betty A. Bridges actress and acting aoach had a high success rate in the industry with children.

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media  

After a tough battle with Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), former Vice President Joseph Biden sealed the frontrunner position in the race for the Democratic Party U.S. presidential nominee on Super Tuesday. Sanders; however, snatched a few key victories, one of which was California with 29.5 percent of the vote.

So far, Biden has picked up 390 Democratic National Convention delegates compared to Sanders’ 330.

The 2020 presidential primary election took place in California, 13 other states, and one U.S. territory (American Samoa) Tuesday March 3. Voters got the opportunity to back their favorite candidate to challenge President Donald Trump in November’s general election.

With five Democratic candidates remaining, after Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race this past Sunday and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s withdrawal Monday, Super Tuesday was a pivotal moment for presidential hopefuls.

Then, a day after the former U.S. vice president’s big win, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden, his former rival for the nomination.

Over the course of their campaigns, Democratic candidates have relied on several different demographics to help swing votes in their favor. One such demographic is African Americans, and these candidates all had strategies to secure that vote.

Some relied on targeted advertising blitzes. Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bloomberg’s camps all ran campaign advertisements touting relationships with former President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, Sanders continued to invoke his involvement in the civil rights movement and his relationship with prominent progressive personalities like recording artist Michael Santiago “Killer Mike” Render.

Biden also claimed to have been arrested in South Africa in the 1970s while attempting to meet Nelson Mandela. He has since retracted that claim following evidence to the contrary.

Before Super Tuesday, in the South Carolina primaries this past weekend, Biden led the race with Black voters, clinching 61 percent of the Black vote, according to Washington Post exit polls. Sanders trailed Biden with 15 percent of the Black vote.

On Super Tuesday, Biden secured 72 percent of the Black vote in Alabama, 71 percent in Virginia, 62 percent in North Carolina and 53 percent in Tennessee, according to USA Today.

Bloomberg has had some controversy regarding Black voters resulting from his “stop-and-frisk” policies when he was mayor of New York City and from subsequent statements he made in 2015 defending said policies.

“So one of the unintended consequences is people say, ‘Oh my God, you are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities,’” Bloomberg said in his 2015 speech. “Yes, that’s true. Why? Because we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods… Why do we do it? Because that’s where all the crime is.”

Despite this, Bloomberg secured endorsements from several prominent African-American politicians like Assemblymember  Shirley A. Weber, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Some Black members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) endorsed the former New York City mayor as well.

Several high-profile lawmakers, including U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) — as well as former presidential candidates Buttigieg and Klobuchar — have endorsed Biden.

 Former President Barack Obama also gave Biden his blessing.

Warren only won 12 delegates, placing her last on Super Tuesday behind Bloomberg, who picked up 36.