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By Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

On Sunday, December 12, Karen Bass was sworn in as Los Angeles’ first Black woman and second Black mayor.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has a home in Los Angeles, conducted the swearing-in of the new mayor. Though originally planned to be conducted at Los Angeles City Hall, rain moved the ceremony to the Microsoft Theater in downtown.

The ceremony was highlighted by several live performances by well-known celebrities, including 25-time Grammy award winner Stevie Wonder and the first National Youth Poet Laureate and Los Angeles native Amanda Gorman.

In her inaugural address, the former congresswoman set the tone for new office.

“Tomorrow morning, I will start my first day as mayor at our city’s Emergency Operations Center, where my first act as mayor will be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness,” Bass said.  “My emergency declaration will recognize the severity of our crisis and break new ground to maximize our ability to urgently move people inside and do so for good. And it will create the structure necessary for us to have a true, unified, and citywide strategy to set us on the path to solve homelessness.”

Homelessness was one of the major issues debated during the election. Bass and real estate developer Rick Caruso sparred over strategies of how to get people into housing in a city where, according the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, residents spend 38% of their income on housing, compared to the national average of 34.3%.

“We know our mission – we must build housing in every neighborhood and the very best way for this to happen is by neighbors working together and deciding where housing should be built. We cannot continue to overcrowd neighborhoods that are already overcrowded. This is my call to you, L.A. – to welcome housing in every neighborhood.”

Bass made the point to elected leaders in attendance as well as Angelenos that she would be calling on them to work with her to contend with the homelessness crisis.

“Vice President Harris, Governor Newsom — my colleagues in Congress here today — look for me on your caller ID. If we come together and focus on solutions rather than jurisdiction, on linking arms rather than pointing fingers – if we just focus on bringing people inside, comprehensively addressing their needs, and moving them to permanent housing with a way to pay their bills — we will save lives and save our city – that is my mission as your mayor.”

Bass also spoke about her ambitions about addressing public health, the violent crime surge, the economy and the environment.

“Right now, there is a role for everyone,” Bass proclaimed. “If you are a Hollywood creative, I call on you to help me inspire people to help our city. If you are a tech entrepreneur, I call on you to help me make City Hall run smarter, faster and with more accountability. If you are retired, I call you to share your wisdom with our youth. If you are a community organizer, let’s organize our neighborhoods together. And finally, I call on you to come work for the city. Did you know L.A. City has hundreds of vacancies in the very departments that respond to community needs? If you want a good paying union job — you should literally come work for the City of L.A. I call on the people of our city to not just dream of the L.A. we want, but to participate in making the dream come true.”

Bass thanked and acknowledged the many national and local officials present. She also spotlighted women breaking barriers in government, including Vice-President Harris, California’s first female Lt. Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, the first female California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and the all-female Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors – Hilda L. Solis, Holly Mitchell, Lindsey Horvath, Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger.

“We are all going to make so much history together in a state that has enshrined in our constitution a woman’s right to decide what happens to her body.”

Bass acknowledged outgoing Mayor Eric Garcetti for his 21 years of service to the city. Garcetti sat in the front row next to Gov. Gavin Newsom and California’s First Partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra will return to the California Theatre on December 17, 2022, for “Cirque de la Noel,” a holiday concert featuring the internationally acclaimed Cirque de la Symphonie performing group.

Shared Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther, “We decided to bring Cirque de la Symphonie back this season due to extraordinary popular demand,” adding “We cannot be more grateful to our exceedingly generous presenting sponsors, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.”

The Symphony’s artistic leader has recently been the recipient of significant notoriety for his role as conductor of the scores of several 2022 box office smashes, including the top-grossing movie in the world, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the new Disney+ fantasy-adventure series Willow, and the Holiday Action-comedy Violent Night, and epic war drama Devotion, all of which opened this past weekend.

Cirque de la Symphonie will add an additional level of festive artistry through awe
inspiring performances by their renowned aerialists, jugglers, hula hoop and cyr wheel
experts and quick-change artists all choreographed to a variety of music mindfully spanning the holiday orchestral repertoire. Established by ballet and circus veteran Alexander Streltsov in 1998 for a special PBS production with the Cincinnati Pops, Cirque, troupe members originate from across the globe.

“We are so pleased to once again collaborate with Cirque as they brought such joy to everyone in attendance when they last performed with us in February of 2020,” said Symphony Executive Director Dr. Anne Viricel, adding, “I am certain this festive concert will inspire many happy family memories.”

The evening’s offerings will include traditional American holiday fare like Leroy
Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival” (1950) and “Sleigh Ride” (1948), and Leon Jessell’s
“Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” (1933), to new arrangements of old favorites like
Carmen Dragon’s 2012 reimagining of “Deck the Halls,” to contemporary compositions
like Jeff Tyzik’s 1994 Chanukah Suite.

Beloved cinematic scores will also find their way into this celebratory evening, including
John Williams’ “Flight to Neverland” from Hook, Alan Silvestri’s “The Suite from Polar
Express,” and Howard Blake’s “Walking in the Air” from the 1982 animated film, The
Snowman based on Raymond Briggs’ 1978 children’s book of the same name.
Classical masterpieces including “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Trepak” (Russian Dance)
from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker will be performed, along with “Dance of the
Buffoons” from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden and Georges Bizet’s
L”Arlesienne Suite No.2 from Alphonse Daudet’s drama of the same name.

“Along with our Summer Patriotic and our Movies with the Maestro Series, SBSO fans can expect an Annual Christmas Festival each year replete with all your holiday favorites and a few classical staples alongside them,” added Parnther. In keeping with the festive theme, audience members are encouraged to attend dressed in their favorite holiday attire.

“Everyone loves this magical season,” said Symphony Board President and former City
of San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles. “On December 17th, no matter what this past
year has brought us, we can forget our troubles for a while and gather together as a
community in the spirit of the holidays.”

Ticket Availability

Single tickets for all SBSO concerts are available online at
www.sanbernardinosymphony.org or by calling the box office at (909) 381-5388. Box
Office hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are $30 – $100 with
students and active military always just $15. The availability of tickets cannot be
guaranteed on concert night.

The California Theatre is located at 562 W. Fourth Street in downtown San Bernardino.
Free, lighted parking is available directly across from the venue.

Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis narrates the Candlelight Ceremony and Processional at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California on December 3, 2022. Rich in holiday splendor, this spectacular live performance was created in 1958 by Walt Disney to show his gratitude to community leaders and friends. This retelling of the first Christmas features a grand choir composed of Disney Cast Members and guest community choirs, a symphony orchestra, fanfare trumpeters, and a performance by a celebrity narrator. The event is open to invited guests only.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Grand Marshals for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza are James Ramos, California State Assemblymember; Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District; Helen Tran, San Bernardino City Mayor-Elect; and our new African American Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino Darren L Goodman.

The parade celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We are honored to have these illustrious leaders of our community be the Grand Marshalls for the MLK DAY Parade and Extravaganza,” said Rich Wallace, president of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce.

The MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza will be held January 16th on San Bernardino’s Westside along Baseline Street, from Mt Vernon Ave. to California St.

“Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, a First 5 children’s zone, fun, and entertainment at the parade and at the Extravaganza at Ann Shirelles Park, between California Street and North Pennsylvania Ave., between West Baseline Street and West 15th Street,” said Lue Dowdy, Parade Chair.

Dowdy added, “We are still accepting applications for entertainers, vendors, food vendors, classic and custom cars, and motorcycles.”

The event starts at 11 a.m. at the Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline, with the Parade starting at 1 p.m. and continuing west on Baseline, ending at Anne Shirelles Park on California Street.

Participating organizations for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story newspaper, Empire Talks Back and the Black Health Coalition.

For more information or to sign up to be in the MLK Day Parade go to BlackChamberofCommerce.org and follow the link for information and registration or call (888) 466-7408.

By Manny Otiko

Former San Bernardino police officer Sherri Adams was recently honored for being the first African American woman on the force. She was honored by the San Bernardino Police Historical Society, which presented her with a plaque. The plaque now hangs in the police department headquarters below a plaque honoring Johnnie Epps, the city’s first Black officer.

Adams, a graduate of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Academy, joined the police department in 1985. She was highly recruited because of her youthful appearance, which enabled her to work undercover in narcotics in San Bernardino schools, much like in the movie “21 Jump Street.”

“Being the first African American woman at the department was a significant accomplishment,” said Assistant Police Chief Francisco Hernandez during the ceremony that honored Adams.

Adams admitted that being the first African American woman on the force was a tough job. And she had to work hard to prove herself. She recalls she fought hard to be as tough as the men on the force and once fainted when she was on bike duty.

During her years on the force, Adams received several citations, was nominated for Office of Year, and worked in various departments of the police force.

She retired in 2001 and now works with at-risk youth for the county. She’s a mother of three and is married to a retired police officer.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Every year Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) strives to brighten the holiday season for thousands of low-income families throughout San Bernardino County, and this year was no exception. CAPSBC purchased over 4,100 turkeys, 2,000 holiday food boxes, and 15,000 hams to distribute to families in need of food with the total value exceeding $453,000.

To meet the demand for food assistance from families struggling to put food on their tables, CAPSBC hosted two large scale Annual Turkey Giveaway events in San Bernardino and Joshua Tree. The San Bernardino event was held on November 19th in the CAPSBC parking lot where approximately 1,000 low-income families received turkeys and holiday food boxes. The Joshua Tree event was held on November 21st at the Joshua Tree Community Center where 500 families received turkeys and holiday food boxes. Additionally, CAPSBC provided turkeys and holiday food boxes to the following organizations to support their community distribution events: (view site locations online).

“In the richest country in the world, we believe that no one should go without a meal. As a result, CAPSBC has partnered with over 250 organizations throughout San Bernardino County to distribute food. This holiday season, CAPSBC’s Food Bank Program will distribute over $500,000 worth of food,” stated Patricia Nickols-Butler, CAPSBC President and CEO. “Last year, our agency’s Food Bank Program distributed over 16 million pounds of food. The work that we do in this community could not be done without the partnerships that we hold dear to our heart. We are proud to serve our communities and the positive impact we have each year in our fight against hunger. We are grateful that so many families will enjoy a special meal with their loved ones and wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!”

CAPSBC has been serving the communities for over 57 years, and it is the largest provider of food throughout San Bernardino County.

ATLANTA, GA— On Saturday, November 19, the film premiere of Manifested Bliss was held at the Atlanta Marquis Marriot, Tower Two, in Downtown Atlanta. The evening was a red carpet event that consisted of press interviews, a cocktail hour where popcorn, drinks, and sweets were served all followed by the screening of the film and a question and answer session led by Bonman’s fellow Clark Atlanta University alumni, the Marvelous Marissa. The next step of the film will be to distribute it to film festivals, host more screenings, and then shop it to different platforms. This will be done after a few minor adjustments are made to the film. There will also be a trilogy series follow up to the film.

For more information and to stay updated on the film, please join the mailing list at www.theawakenedlounge.com.

By Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

Around 48,000 academic workers at all 10 University of California (UC) campuses went on strike November 14, shutting down classrooms and research laboratories in the largest employee walkout at any academic institution in history.

The Post-Doctoral scholars, teaching assistants’ and associate instructors, graduate student researchers, and academic researchers are represented by the United Auto Workers union in contract negotiations with the UC system.

Bargaining between the disputing parties has been ongoing for months, and while UC officials recently called for a third-party mediator to address remaining issues, they are continuing to negotiate without one.

“When I was working in the lab, I worked 50-60 hours per week, and the salary was so low that every month I really had to think about if I would make it through the month,” said Neil Sweeny, President of UAW 5810, which is representing the striking UC employees. “I have two small children and my partner was a full-time student. We lived in campus family housing, and we went to the campus foodbank every month to make sure that we had food.  This was while my research was bringing in millions of dollars in research funding for the University.”

The workers are demanding better pay and benefits, including wage increases tied to housing costs. Housing costs in California are among the highest in the country, especially in the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas

Aside from UC campuses located in the state’s biggest cities, many of the research university system’s campuses are in parts of the state that have relatively high costs living, like Berkeley, San Diego and the Westside of Los Angeles.

“UC’s pay falls below all their self-identified peer institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, Yale and even public schools like the University of Michigan where living costs are far less” the union said in a press release on Thursday.

The UC maintains that “On average, UC rents systemwide are 20-25% below market rates, with some campuses providing even deeper discounts. UC has offered wage increases for all UAW members which would further help them meet their housing needs.”

The aggrieved employees paint a different picture.

“Being a TA pays for tuition but there is no way I can support myself in this city with what they pay,” said Victor E., a PhD. student and Teachers Assistant on strike at UCLA. “With teaching, my own coursework, and my research, there isn’t really any time to pick up another job. This has resulted in me taking out loans just to live and eat here. This shouldn’t be the case. With the amount of work the university gets out of its graduate students, postdocs, and others, a living wage is a small ask… A number one ranked public university should be doing no less and certainly much, much more.”

Another priority for the workers is transportation costs. The cost of gasoline has gone up around the world and according to a statewide survey conducted by The Public Policy Institute of California, an independent and non-partisan research firm, 43% of Californians including half of lower income residents worry every day about the high cost of gasoline and the increasing unaffordability of various modes of transportation.

The union wants UC to cover regional transit passes, and additional subsidies and incentives for taking public transit or bikes to work.

Recently, UC has offered to pay campus fees to extend “existing student-funded transit discounts,” to UAW members.

Although agreements have yet to be announced, on Thursday the UAW reported that “parties made progress on issues related to Parking and Transit, Appointment Notification, and Paid Time Off.”

There continues to be a large gap between the salary asks and the UC proposals. On Friday, a UAW statement said, “UC made another economic proposal to Academic Researchers containing 4.5% raises that do not match the rate of inflation.”

However, they did report progress in some other areas. “We have reached agreement on a few issues – such as health benefits improvements for Postdocs – which, while important, are not the major ones dividing the parties.”

As final examinations approach for students in the UC system, so does uncertainty. “UAW remains ready to meet for round-the-clock negotiations, but UC has not agreed to schedule sessions for the weekend,” a UAW release said. “Workers will be back on the strike lines Monday Morning.”

Students, faculty and elected officials are showing support for the strikers. Some professors are cancelling classes, and some students are electing to walk out. California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon tweeted “Academic workers are essential to the success of all of our @UofCalifornia campuses. The UC must continue to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement with the @UAW.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce brings back The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza in celebration of Dr. King’s birthday on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 11 a.m. The Parade starts at Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline and continues west on Baseline ending at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park.

“Everyone is invited to attend the parade and & Extravaganza in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his legacy of freedom. Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, First 5 children’s zone, custom and classic cars, motorcycles, fun and entertainment at the parade and after at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park,” said event Chair Lou Dowdy.

Set up and staging for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza begins at 11:00 am at Graciano Gomez Elementary School in San Bernardino and the parade starts at 1:00 PM. The celebration at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park continues until 8:00 PM.

Collaborators for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include: The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue ProductionsCommunity Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story Newspaper, Empire Talks Back and Black Health Coalition.

For more information or to sign up to be in the MLK Day Parade go to BlackChamberofCommerce.org follow the link for information and registration or call (888) 466-7408.

By Gail Fry | Westside Story News Contributor

As Gail Fry, Contributor to The West Side Story, waited at Gram’s Mission BBQ to meet with its owner, Benita Bratton, a new customer was overheard sharing with a friend of how she was digging into the mac & cheese exclaiming, “it was so good.”

The new customer was not wrong as Fry placed her own order for beef BBQ ribs and a healthy side of fresh grilled vegetables, which was exceptionally delicious, despite the temptation to try the mac & cheese, or the fried green tomatoes.

Benita Bratton, the owner, explained that in 1987 her dad, Robert Bratton, was the founder of the Gram’s Mission BBQ restaurant, which for ten years was located directly across the street from the Mission Inn Hotel.

Robert Bratton found an opportunity, an abandoned restaurant building in a prime location.  The name, Gram’s Mission BBQ, was to tie in the Mission Inn Hotel directly across the street, under renovation at the time of the restaurant’s opening day.

Photo of Robert Bratton

Benita Bratton recalled the struggles her father went through when his restaurant became a political hot potato and a struggle to exist ensued when the owner of the Mission Inn Hotel attempted to influence elected officials of the City of Riverside that he wanted something “classier” than Gram’s Mission BBQ, where meat was grilled outside in a big barrel.

In response Benita Bratton remembered, “The community banded together, and rallied in a petition to fight against the City of Riverside and its effort to close my dad’s restaurant.”  Press-Enterprise humorist columnist Dan Bernsteinregularly covered her father’s battle with the city, she recalled.

Robert Bratton persevered with the community’s support and help that came from all cultures and races when they realized what the City of Riverside was doing to Gram’s Mission BBQ wasn’t right, as Benita Bratton remembered.

Eventually, Robert Bratton sued the City of Riverside which led the city to award him with a settlement and paid for his restaurant’s relocation to where they are today at 3527 Main Street in Riverside where the restaurant was equipped with an indoor smoker.

At the time, according to Benita Bratton, the area was an older dilapidated area of town with sidewalks in disrepair, the Convention Center, a Sheraton and a Holiday Inn, and abandoned businesses.  However, Benita recalled, her father fought back through hustling. until where Gram’s Mission BBQ is today, 25 years later, basically in the sweetest spot in Riverside.

Photo of Gram’s Mission BBQ

Benita Bratton shared that she was there with her dad in 1987, when the restaurant opened, as she had restaurant experience from working at a restaurant in Las Vegas.  But when they did not see eye to eye she left and worked for AT&T for many years.

Robert Bratton is a great businessman, a great community leader, people liked him like to be around him.  “My dad knew how to make a business happen, how to hustle,” Benita Bratton credited, by then he had remarried, and had a new wife who liked to cook.

Benita Bratton shared she found herself becoming increasingly unhappy with her job at the phone company, and kept going to church and praying asking the Lord for guidance on what she should do, and the answer that kept coming was to help her dad at the restaurant.

AT&T was outsourcing jobs to other states and foreign countries, she had thoughts of retiring, there was an opportunity for a buyout, Benita Bratton explained she finally let go and surrendered to what the Lord wanted for her life returning to help her dad at the restaurant, however, their views still differed on its direction.

Benita Bratton explained she wanted a smaller menu, their foods to be really fresh, grilled every day, offering collard greens with turkey, not pork, to increase quality and service, add music, and desserts.  Benita Bratton told West Side Storyshe took ownership of the business in 2012.  A link to Gram’s Mission BBQ: https://gramsmissionbbq.com/

Photo of Benita Bratton

Benita Bratton shared she continues to go to her dad for guidance, that he is a visionary always looking at the big picture, reminding her the restaurant is about community, giving back, nourishing families, providing food, giving people jobs, sponsoring youth sports teams, scholarships for college, and looking out for each other.

Benita Bratton explained she started offering the grilled vegetables when her father suffered a stroke and needed to change his eating habits, she grew a vegetable garden, which increased her dad’s appreciation of vegetables.

“I love what I do, it’s hard work,” Benita Bratton acknowledged, that she wouldn’t have it any other way, observing, “Cooking brings people together, to the table, most people they want to eat with somebody, they don’t want to eat alone.”

Our weekly coverage of local news in San Bernardino County is supported by the  Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program supported by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support minority-owned-and-operated community newspapers in California.