Vol. 61 No. 23 Thursday, June 10, 2021 by SD Voice & Viewpoint

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Anniversary www/facebook.com/ SDVoiceandViewpoint

PERMIT NO 585 SAN DIEGO, CA

@VoiceViewpoint

¢ 50 Plus Tax “People Without a Voice

10,31, 2021 Thursday June Vol. Vol.5761No. No.35 23 | Thursday, August 2017

www.sdvoice.info

BLACK HISTORY IS MADE EVERY DAY! THE TiBH – see page 23

SanCounty’s Diego African County’s African & African American57Communities 61 Years ServingServing San Diego & African American Communities Years

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VENNICE! – see page 6

COVID REOPENING INFO

Cannot be Heard”

BAPACSD: BUILDING B(L)ACK TOGETHER – see page 7

& COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER

pages 18 – 20

Have You Seen Them?

Less Prioritized But No Less Important

COVID-19 CASES IN SOUTHEAST

NAOMI OSAKA’S COURAGE – see page 15 4,597

7,450

7,472

7,555

6,048

3,624

ZIP CODE

92102

92105

92113

92114

92115

92139

Source: County of San Diego a/o 6/8/21

'Racial Disparities

Are a Public Health Crisis'  Health advocates appeal to Gov. Newsom

Photo credit: wikimedia.org / commons

By Bo Tefu

California Black Media

Madaya Owens

Shawn Kennedy

Kaylisha Johnson

Sincere Grimes

17-year-old from Sevierville, Tenn.

16-year-old was last seen in Rancho Cordova, Ca

13-year-old from Quincy, Ill.

13-year-old from rom Millington, Tenn.

Some health advocates are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to treat health inequity in California as a public health crisis – one that is complicated by racism.

Their appeal to the governor comes as California lawmakers propose a $115 million investment in the state’s budget for the next fiscal year to address health disparities. If approved, some of the money would fund programs administered by com-

See MISSING page 2

The Racist Past Black Educators

County Moves to Yellow Tier;

Full Reopening on June 15

of the Filibuster and Discuss Education Equity Why it Should End Now

Photo credit: County News Center

By José A. Álvarez

The first filibuster occurred in 1837 and was used infrequently until after the Civil War when minority parties employed the measure to stop civil rights efforts. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown

County of San Diego Communications Office

After registering a case rate of less than two COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for two consecutive weeks, the County moved to the Yellow Tier of the state’s reopening framework beginning Wednesday, June 9.

See DISPARITIES page 2

As of June 8, 2021, the County’s new adjusted case rate was 1.2 cases per 100,000 people after declining to a case rate of 1.7 cases last week. The Yellow Tier means there is minimal spread of COVID-19 in the region. See COUNTY page 2

NNPA Sr. Correspondent

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and a voting and ethics bill passed the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, but neither stands a chance in the evenly divided Senate.

President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan faced fierce opposition in the Senate, but ultimately a slimmed-down version passed using the reconciliation procedure.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr.

California Black Media

The California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) held their 13th annual professional development summit May 26 – 28th in San Diego. The theme for this year’s conference was, “Achieving an Equity Driven Education.” Co-hosted by the San Diego

See FILIBUSTER page 14

FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR

w/Rev. Dr. John E. Warren TUNE IN WEDNESDAY'S 7-8PM Call in your experiences at #858-251-6111

County Office of Education and Moreno Valley Unified School District, the conference was held in-person and virtually. For their safety, in-person participants were required to have been vaccinated or to have tested negative for COVID-19. According to Dr. Daryl Camp, President, CAAASA and Superintendent, San Lorenzo Unified School District, “CAAASA was one of the last organizations to host See EDUCATION page 14

SUSCRIBE TODAY! www.sdvoice.info

(619) 266-2233

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

ARTICLE CONTINUATION Missing: continued from page 1

On May 13, Madaya Owens, a 17-year-old from Sevierville, Tenn., went missing. Madaya is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 213 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about Madaya should call the Sevierville Police Department at 1-865-453-5506. Sixteen-year-old Shawn Kennedy was last seen in Rancho Cordova, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2020.

disappeared from her home in Quincy, Ill. The teenager has brown hair and brown eyes and stands 5-feet-three-inches tall. Kaylisha weighs approximately 110 pounds. If anyone has information about Kaylisha, please call the Quincy Police Department at 1-217-222-9360. The three teens represent just a tiny fraction of the more than 425,000 missing children in America – 40 percent of those who are Black. Specifically, 156,000 African American children under 18 are missing and unaccounted.

He is 5 feet 10 inches, weighs 160 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. If you have any information, call 1-800-THE-LOST.

Other than by their families, neighbors and friends, it can appear that most of these young people are forgotten — even by law enforcement officials charged with solving the ever-growing body of cold cases.

Just weeks earlier, on Oct. 7, 2020, 13-year-old Kaylisha Johnson

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) continues its

Disparities: continued from page 1

munity-based organizations. “The biggest hardship that we're facing right now is really getting the governor to support investments to community-based organizations to focus on health equity and racial justice interventions within healthcare,” said Ron Coleman, the managing director of policy for the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN). Coleman said the state needs to make new investments in public health that will remedy the social determinants that worsen health disparities in the healthcare system. The state legislature proposed a $115 million annual grant program for health equity and $200 million for local health infrastructure. Lawmakers also included $15 million for the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund. Despite the plan to increase spending on leveling the playing field in health care, a dozen community-based organizations want Gov. Newsom to do more. In addition to CPENH, other organizations include the Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL), Black Women for Wellness Action Project, California Black Health Network, California Black Women’s Health Project, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Public Health Advocates, Public Health Institute, Roots Community Health Center, and Roots of Change. The leaders of these organizations are asking the state to expand support for health programs with funds from California’s budget surplus that are targeted to addressing health disparities that impact vulnerable populations, including low-income Black and Brown families. In the May budget revisions, “There was absolutely no new investment in the budget for public health, whether it's the infrastructure, workforce, health equity racial justice, or prevention,” said Coleman. Coleman specified that the money Newsom is allotting for health equity should go to community-based organizations, particularly for racial

justice interventions in the healthcare system. “We need Governor Newsom to begin treating racism as a public health crisis and make the investments in the community that will help us reduce healthcare disparities and improve health outcomes,” said Coleman. Gov. Newsom said that the state has partnered with multiple community-based organizations for public outreach and vaccine pop-up sites. The state has also collaborated with “influencers” to implement earned and paid media strategies to counter misinformation related to COVID-19. “This has been a historic year advancing our collective goals and values. In real-time, we've been making historic investments in the budget process,” said Newsom. The state’s partnerships are important in, “advancing to address real vaccine issues in the state,” he said. The state has also expanded public messaging to local clinics in ethnic communities to encourage people to get vaccinated. “We've been significantly increasing those efforts with community-based organizations in language outreach and more pop-up sites,” said Newsom. The state also set up information sites and phone operations with people “answering those stubborn questions that people have about the safety and efficacy of our vaccine efforts,” he continued. However, health advocates are wary about the efficacy of the state’s public health messaging campaigns as a means to reduce health disparities in ethnic communities that were the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Coleman said that public health messaging is a promising start. But ethnic communities still need better access to health care. “It's great that they're utilizing trusted messengers to disseminate information, but the state should actually be making an investment to support these organizations in helping to advance the improvements of health outcomes,” said Coleman.

series on the plight of missing African American girls and boys who have disappeared. Throughout the series, which began in 2019, a common theme emerged: Black children who go missing receive far less media coverage and police priority than White children. The NNPA, which represents the hundreds of newspapers and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America, asks for the help of all to locate these lost children. Regularly shining a spotlight on the missing and providing the coverage missing individuals of color rarely receive will remain a mission of the Black Press, said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. The NNPA’s executive team includes National Chair Karen Carter Richards of the Houston Forward Times, First Vice-Chair Janis Ware of the Atlanta Voice, Second Vice Chair

Community-based organizations have been trusted messengers for the government through the pandemic. Although COVID-19 exposed health inequity, health disparities existed in ethnic communities prior to the pandemic. In a public proposal to the governor, health advocates from a dozen community-based organizations stated that receiving government funds is a once-in-alifetime opportunity that can dismantle structural racism in California’s healthcare system. Health advocates stressed that social determinants are major contributors to health disparities that widen the gap of inequality in healthcare. The advocates encouraged the state to prioritize social determinants including, food and housing security, childcare, and environmental justice, as defined by the California Department of Public Health. According to the recommendations provided by the dozen organizations, the state should implement innovative approaches to achieving health inequity. They include: 1. Partnerships between cities and community advocates to develop community participatory budgeting processes. 2. Disaggregation of data on race/ethnicity to better understand variation in health risks and outcomes. 3. Creating and cultivating racial justice training for government leaders and policy makers so that decisions and program implementation reflect community priorities and advance racial equity. The recommendations proposed by leaders of the dozen organizations, aim to secure adequate funding for initiatives led by community-based organizations, local clinics, and tribal organizations. The leaders say they plan to use the funds to implement, monitor, and evaluate programs that promote racial justice and health.

Fran Farrer of the County News in Charlotte, National Secretary Jackie Hampton of the Mississippi Link in Jackson, MS and National Treasurer Brenda Andrews of the New Journal & Guide in Norfolk, VA. Each has expressed their concern over the epidemic of missing children of color. Organizations like the Black & Missing Foundation, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the African American Juvenile Justice Project, have remained vigilant. “Our children and young adults are often adulterated and are less likely seen as victims. We see this in addressing just JUST US – Juvenile Urban Sex Trafficking in the United States – where Black, African American, and Afro Latinas are less likely seen as victims of kidnapping or missing by force or coercion,” Sherri Jefferson of

County: continued from page 1

“You did it, San Diegans. You have followed the public health guidance and got vaccinated when the vaccine became available to you,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “These actions have resulted in a significant drop in COVID-19 cases in the region. Now we need San Diegans to continue getting vaccinated so that we can get closer to herd immunity, and that includes second doses for those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.” When the tier change goes into effect, local businesses can expand operations to levels not seen in over a year, and one week before the state’s tier system disappears. Visit covid19.ca.gov/ safer-economy/ for a complete list of activities allowed under the Yellow Tier. “Vaccinations continue to be an important tool in ending the pandemic and ensuring full economic reopening,” Wooten said. When the tier system ends in California, capacity and distancing restrictions will be lifted for most businesses and activities in the state. Further guidance is expected from the California Department of Public Health prior to June 15. Vaccination or negative test requirements will continue for large-scale indoor and outdoor events through at least October 1. VACCINATION PROGRESS:

the African American Juvenile Justice Project (AAJJP) told NNPA Newswire. The most recent list of missing also includes Sincere Grimes, 13, who disappeared from Millington, Tenn., on May 17, 2021. While a complete description of Sincere is lacking, Millington Police said anyone with information should call 1-901-872-3333. Jefferson demanded that communities embrace the “each one, teach one to reach one” approach. “We cannot go it alone. Why are we missing? Our community lives in isolation with a no-snitch; no one sees or hears anything attitude,” Jefferson said. “It’s hurting our community. Our children and families are suffering. Hence, there is a big difference between a snitch and a good Samaritan.”

• Doses delivered: More than 4.21 million. • Doses administered: Nearly 3.8 million. • Received at least one shot: Over 2.07 million or 74% of San Diegans 12 and older. • Fully vaccinated: Over 1.68 million or 60.1%. • The goal: fully vaccinate 75% of San Diego County residents 12 and older or 2,101,936 people. • To date, 98.7% of the goal population has received at least one vaccine and 80.1% are fully vaccinated. • More vaccination information can be found coronavirussd.com/vaccine. STATE METRICS: • San Diego County’s statecalculated, adjusted case rate is currently 1.2 cases per 100,000 residents, placing the County in the Yellow Tier. • The testing positivity percentage is 1.1% and the County is in the Yellow Tier. • The health equity metric is 1.3%, placing the County in the Yellow Tier. • The state’s metric system will be retired June 15. COMMUNITY SETTING OUTBREAKS: • One new community outbreak was confirmed June 7 in a business setting.

• In the past seven days (June 1 through June 7), four community outbreaks were confirmed. • The community outbreaks trigger is more than seven in a 7-day period. TESTING: • 6,671 tests were reported to the County on June 7, and the percentage of new positive cases was 1.1%. • The 14-day rolling average percentage of positive cases is 0.8%. Target is less than 8.0%. • The 7-day, daily average of tests is 9,805. • Cases, Hospitalizations and ICU Admissions: • 71 COVID-19 cases were reported to the County on June 7. The region’s total is now 280,878. • 15,447 or 5.5% of all cases have required hospitalization. • 1,711 or 0.6% of all cases and 11.1% of hospitalized cases had to be admitted to an intensive care unit. DEATHS: • No new deaths were reported June 7. The region’s total is 3,764. MORE INFORMATION: The more detailed data summaries found on the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website are updated around 5 p.m. daily.

SUSCRIBE TODAY! (619) 266-2233

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY/OPINION EDITORIAL

The Republican Senate,

The Filibuster and Racism By Dr. John E. Warren Publisher, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

The American people need to realize that the real issue in the United States Senate is not the “Filibuster” but racism. Former President Obama clearly stated this in his recent interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN. The fact that U.S. Senator Joe Manchin is meeting or has met with national Civil Rights leaders as if he is interested in what they have to say, is no more than a media stunt in an attempt to soften the blow of his racist attitude concerning the filibuster. Yes. It is racist to see that you are one of the two people in the U.S. Senate attempting to re-institutionalize “Jim Crow” segregation through supporting the filibuster which would require 10 Republican votes in the Senate instead of a simple majority, which could allow passage. Everytime the American people hear the term “Filibuster”, the word “Racist” should be inserted in its place. Those members of the Senate who support the filibuster over debate and legislative consideration of the public policy issues facing this great nation, should be labeled for the racists they are. When one considers the 22 states that have already passed voter suppression laws, which eliminate hours and locations for polling places, that require voter identification cards for those with the greatest issues of getting such cards, like our Black and Latino seniors who have already been voting since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the very fact that the John Lewis “For the People Act” would render null and void the voter suppression acts now in all of 47 states, it becomes clear that the whole idea is to prevent people of color from voting so that we do not have a repeat of

the Black voter victories in Georgia that placed a Black and a Jew in the U.S. Senate. D on a l d Tr u mp has become the symbol of the Republican Party because he gives body and voice to the fears that old school whites have about the “browning” of America. The same wave of righteous indignation that swept America after the “murder” of George Floyd and that placed Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris in the Presidency, should be continued with all the same passion. “We The People” must demand the abolishment of the “filibuster” and the racism it represents. It is not a part of our Constitution. We must remain a nation of laws and not outdated racist tradition. Joe Manchin and your Democratic colleague, Kyrsten Sinema, your actions support the racist behavior of the Republican Senate and the Republican Party which is leading this national attack on blocking legislation that supports all of America and people of color in particular. Let’s not waste more precious time on the Republicans. Let’s get rid of the filibuster now by any means necessary. The future depends on it.

READ THE NEWS THAT MATTERS TO YOU IN PRINT OR ONLINE:

WWW.SDVOICE.INFO

Biden’s Eloquence About George Floyd Will

Ring Hollow If Rahm Emanuel Gets Ambassador Nomination By Norman Solomon via NNPA If Joe Biden fully meant what he said after meeting with George Floyd’s family in the Oval Office on the anniversary of his death, he won’t nominate Rahm Emanuel to be the U.S. ambassador to Japan. But recent news reports tell us that’s exactly what the president intends to do. After the meeting, Biden declared that the murder of Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer “launched a summer of protest we hadn’t seen since the Civil Rights era in the ‘60s—protests that peacefully unified people of every race and generation to collectively say enough of the senseless killings.” The words were valuable, and so was the symbolism of the president hosting loved ones of Floyd on the first anniversary of his death. But the value of the White House event will be weakened if Biden names Emanuel to one of this country’s top diplomatic posts—despite his wellearned notoriety for the cover-up of a video showing the police murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. When McDonald was shot dead by Chicago police one night in October 2014, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was facing a tough re-election fight. Fortunately, a dash

camera on a police car captured the murder on video. Unfortunately, Emanuel’s administration suppressed the video for 13 months, until after Emanuel won re-election. Imagine if—when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd by kneeling on him for 9 minutes and 29 seconds—there had been no civilian with a cell phone able to record the murder, and the only visual record of what happened was a police video. And imagine if the city of Minneapolis had suppressed that video for 13 months until a judge’s order finally forced its release.

Two weeks ago, responding to news that Biden had decided to nominate Emanuel as ambassador to Japan, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) sent out a cogent tweet: “Black Lives Matter can’t just be a slogan. It has to be reflected in our actions as a government, and as a people. Rewarding Rahm Emanuel’s cover-up of Laquan McDonald’s murder with an ambassadorship is not an act that reflects a value of or respect for Black lives.” The post of ambassador to Japan would put Emanuel in the thick of economic

For decades, Emanuel’s career has been the opposite of diplomatic as he bombastically denounced progressives and served corporate interests while enriching himself. And his record of running interference for racist police violence while mayor of Chicago underscores what a terrible mistake it would be for the Senate to confirm him as ambassador. Blocking the nomination of Rahm Emanuel to be the USA’s top envoy to Japan won’t bring back Laquan McDonald or any of the other African Americans murdered by police. But it would send a strong signal to mayors and other public officials that covering up brutal police violence is bad for career advancement. Nor man S olomon is co-founder and national coordinator of the pro-

That would be Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Chicago. When reports surfaced last November that Biden was considering Emanuel for a cabinet position, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) pointed out: “Rahm Emanuel helped cover up the murder of Laquan McDonald. Covering up a murder is disqualifying for public leadership.” Then-Congressman-elect Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) tweeted: “That he’s being considered for a cabinet position is completely outrageous and, honestly, very hurtful.”

Photo: jobebiden.com

and military policies. Japan has the world’s third-largest economy. The U.S. currently has two dozen military bases in Japan. A recklessly confrontational military approach in East Asia would get a boost if the next U.S. ambassador to Japan is Emanuel, a longtime hawk who supported the Iraq war even after many Democratic leaders turned against it.

gressive activism group R o ot s Ac t i on . org . Hi s books include “War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death.“ The post Biden’s Eloquence About George Floyd Will Ring Hollow If Rahm Emanuel Gets Ambassador Nomination. appeared first on Chicago Defender.

Closing the Digital Divide Requires

Everyone to Come to the Table By Donna Rattley Washington It took a public health crisis to reveal, more than anything, the stark reality for the millions of digitally disconnected families in our nation. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, households have relied on quality internet access to work, order groceries, see a doctor, and communicate with extended family, colleagues, and friends. And for our nation’s students, reliable home internet access was the difference between students who didn’t miss a beat and those left to use cell phones, sit in parking lots, or worse, do nothing at all. While much has been written and said about the absence of precise information on where we lack broadband infrastructure in this country, we know that

the digital divide is the widest in our low-income communities. One in three low-income families does not have broadband internet at home, and it jumps to four in ten for families earning under $25,000. This truth contrasts strikingly with higher-income households, where less than one in ten families earning $150,000 or more lack home internet access. We cannot continue to ignore the inequities in plain view. Instead, we must use this public health crisis and our shared awareness to create a lasting solution to this huge opportunity chasm. A comprehensive plan with shared costs across the cable and telecommunications industries, the government, and families, is the solution we need.

The good news is that there is already a model for it.

This model can work for all of us.

Since 2011, the largest internet service provider in the country, Comcast, has offered $10 internet service for low-income families. Comcast initially targeted low-income families with a K-12 student in their household, but expanded eligibility twelve times over the years. In 2019, Comcast expanded access to the $10 tier of service to all eligible low-income families that they serve. The rest of the industry followed suit. At the beginning of the pandemic, cable companies covering at least 80% of serviceable addresses voluntarily agreed to offer a $10 and $15 tier of service to low-income Americans and signed on to universal principles governing this service offering.

It works for the US taxpayer. The US taxpayer does not have to subsidize the industry at a rate of $50 per household when the government can take advantage of current marketplace rates and pay the industry $10 to $15per household for those with the lowest incomes.

Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@sdvoice.info

For low-income families that don’t qualify for the full subsidy, the government should pay a portion and the family can also pay a portion. We can utilize the same federal eligibility, verification, and reimbursement systems used for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. See DIVIDE page 22

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

LOCAL NEWS/COMMUNITY

Light Our Way

The San Diego County Administration Center was lit in green to celebrate graduates of every age Photos by Cori Zaragoza

THE ORIGIN OF

the San Diego Association of

2021 Celebrates 2021 Graduates

Black Social Workers One in a series of articles highlighting the venerable organization

By Cori Zaragoza Contributing Writer The Light Our Way 2021 campaign, an initiative to celebrate and uplift students who graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic, descended on downtown San Diego on June 7, 2021 to help San Diegans celebrate graduates of all ages through June 20. The virtual campaign was kicked off at the San Diego City Administration Center, which was lit up in green, the campaign’s official color. The color green was chosen as it signifies hope and new beginnings, a welcome symbol to the graduates who are leaving the darkness of the COVID19 pandemic in the past.

During a media preview, Jose Segura, a San Diego City College Freshman and member of ACT, described his experience as a senior in high school during the height of the pandemic: “My friends and I saw everything we had hoped and planned for as high school seniors disappear. Traditions we had looked forward to such as proms, parties, school assemblies, and commencement ceremonies, were cancelled. We were sad and angry. We were facing one of the most exciting moments in our lives with a feeling of disappointment and loss.”

Advocates for Change Today (ACT), a regional teen coalition that promotes substance abuse prevention and building stronger communities, teamed up with County Board Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and 5 other local organizations to launch the virtual community celebration. Supervisor Fletcher was asked by ACT to partner with this event to bring awareness and show support from the County of San Diego. San Diegans are encouraged to participate in different activities, such as sharing stories and inspiration online using the hashtags #LightOurWay2021 and #StrongerThanEver, to celebrate and acknowledge the hardships and perseverance that those who graduated in 2020 endured.

The despair he felt was met with hope once he saw his community come together to help those struggling during the pandemic. “When we saw San Diegans coming together to help and support one another through a time of fear, our focus shifted from ourselves to other students like us. At that moment, we realized we could create a movement celebrating the accomplishments of all graduates from kindergarten to graduate school, while making San Diego a stronger community. That’s how Light Our Way was born,” he said.

By SDABSW The San Diego Association of Black Social Workers was one of the many that grew out of a protest because of a failure to address the social concerns at the 95th Annual Conference of Social Welfare on May 29, 1968 in San Francisco. More than 400 Blacks walked out of the meeting and went to Glide Memorial Church where the National ABSW was developed. Among the founders of the organization, Collins Munns was one of the founders and he brought the information back to San Diego as the foundation of SDABSW.

Jose Segura speaks about his experience as a senior during the pandemic

Light Our Way 2021 takes over Downtown San Diego

The celebration is relevant and timely for every San Diegan as they re-enter a new, post-COVID world, and for graduates embarking on the next chapter of their lives.

Light Our Way flyers held inspirational messages for passer-bys

Salary $73,652 - $109,622 P.O.S.T. Incentive

Longevity Pay

The first attempts to start SDABSW began in the fall of 1969, but were delayed until September 30, 1970. Dorthy Sumner and Willie Green, both employed by Project Star, pushed for the development, especially in light of the funding programs that time. The initial group consisted of Sumner, Green, Chester Holliday,Howard Carey, Winona Gilliam and Carolyn Jacobs. Chet Holliday was chosen as the temporary chairman; NABSW criterion for membership was used, and professionals and students were invited to join the group. Plans were made to celebrate the 50th anniversary in September 2020, but Covid19 ended that.

WITH ALL INCENTIVES

Night-Shift Premium

Located just outside of San Diego, the La Mesa Police Department offers a 3/12 Work Schedule, Up to 4 Weeks Annual Leave, 96 Hours of Sick Leave Annually, 124 Hours of Paid Holiday Time Off, Cafeteria-style Benefits Plan & Insurance Package, State-funded Pension & 457B Optional Retirement Plan, Tuition Reimbursement, Computer Loan Program, and Physical Fitness Program.

Applicants Interested in Entry Level/Police Trainee or Lateral Police Officer Positions Contact pdrecruiting@cityoflamesa.us, or Call (619) 667-7556

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

STATE/NATIONAL NEWS CALIFORNIA AWARDS CEREMONY CELEBRATES THE

Best of Ethnic Journalism By Jenny Manrique

Ethnic Media Services Some 30 ethnic media journalists were honored for their coverage of the epic events of 2020 at a virtual California Ethnic Media Awards ceremony, which took place June 3.

Selected from 235 submissions from reporters working in print, digital, TV and radio (in eight languages), the winners were chosen by judges with language and cultural fluency who know the challenges of working in the sector. “Ethnic media has quickly

become an increasingly indispensable bridge for communicating with diverse populations within our state,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said at the opening ceremony. “You have worked against enormous odds to make sure our communities were informed about historic

Kristen Clarke Becomes

First Black Woman to

Lead DOJ’s Civil Rights Division By Charlene Crowell On the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, a 51-48 vote in the U.S. Senate seals Kristen Clarke’s place in history: the first woman, the first woman of color, and the first Black woman to receive Senate confirmation to head the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Civil Rights Division. The largely partisan vote included Maine’s U.S. Senator Susan Collins as the only Republican to support the historic confirmation. Since a new Administration began this January, a series of hopeful signs signal that regressive and harmful

practices will be challenged in the name of justice. Nominated on January 7 by President Biden, his remarks noted Clarke’s nomination for both its significance and opportunity. “The Civil Rights Division represents the moral center of the Department of Justice. And the heart of that fundamental American ideal that we’re all created equal and all deserve to be treated equally,” said President Biden. “I’m honored you accepted the call to return to make real the promise for all Americans.” Perhaps one of the earliest

and most poignant expressions came from John W. Marshall, the son of the nation’s first Black Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall. Penned on behalf of his family, the February 9 letter to U.S. Senate leadership drew a key historic connection. “Ms. Clarke is a pathbreaking lawyer, like my father, who built her career advancing civil rights and equal justice under the law, and breaking barriers through her leadership for people of color while making our nation better for everyone,” wrote Mr. Marshall.

news events of the year. You are key to sustaining an inclusive communications infrastructure that knits our communities together when so many forces, as you know well, threaten to drive us

Ms. Clarke’s legal career takes on even more significance when one considers this daughter of Jamaican immigrants grew up in Brooklyn New York’s public housing. In 1997, she received her Bachelor’s degree f rom Har vard University. Three years later in 2000, Clarke completed her Juris Doctor at Columbia University. Her first job as a new attorney was as a federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice, working on voting rights, hate crimes, and human trafficking cases. In 2006, she joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, then served as director of the New York’s Civil Rights Bureau. She has received the 2010 Paul Robeson Distinguished A lu m n i Aw ard f rom Columbia Law School; 2011 National Bar Association’s Top 40 Under 40; the 2012 Best Brief Award for the 2012 Supreme Court term

apart,” the governor added. The multilingual awards were sponsored by Ethnic Media S er vices and California Black Media. Each winner received $1000 in cash. Entries were submitted in nine categories: the 2020 census, the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on ethnic communities, the

economic crisis that exacerbated racial and economic fault lines in California, the rights of immigrants, and the movement for racial justice sparked by the murder of George Floyd, exceptional reporting on the impact of climate change, the 2020 elections, commentary that serves as a call to action for ethnic audiences, and community media innovation and resilience to survive the pandemic. See JOURNALISM page 22

from the National Association of At t o r n e y s General; and the New York Law Journal’s 2015 Rising Stars. “I’ve experienced what it’s like to be underprivileged, and I’ve experienced very privileged settings as well. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to use the opportunities that I have been given to help those less fortunate. We live in a nation that’s divided along lines of race and class. I have a personal sense of what life is like on both sides of that divide, and I want to figure out how we close some of those gaps and level the playing field.” At the April 14 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on her nomination,

Clarke recalled her legal career journey and the principles that guided her work. “I began my legal career traveling across the country to communities like Tensas Parish, Louisiana and Clarksdale, Mississippi,” testified Clarke. “I learned to be a lawyer’s lawyer – to focus on the rule of law and let the facts lead where they may.”

William Walker is 1st Black

Sergeant-At-Arms for

U.S. House of Representatives Voice & Viewpoint Newswire Speaker Nanc y Pelosi announced on March 26, 2021 her appointment of Major General William J. Walker as House Sergeantat-Arms, the first Black American to serve in this position. “It is my honor to appoint Distric t of C olumbia National Guard Major General William J. Walker to ser ve as the 38th Sergeant-atArms for the House of Representatives,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “The role of Sergeantat-Arms is foundational to the functioning of Congress. Since the earliest days of our Founding, the Sergeantat-Arms has been tasked with the essential responsibility of securing the People’s House and ensuring that it can continue to perform its solemn Constitutional duty: to serve the American people and advance our democracy.” “ Throughout his long, dedicated career in public service, General William Walker has proven to be a leader of great integrity and experience who will bring his steady and patriotic leadership to this vital role,” continued Speaker Pelosi. “His historic appointment as the first Black American to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms is an important step forward for this institution and our

nation. General Walker has 39 years of decorated military experience, including as current Commanding General of the DC National Guard. We are especially proud of his long-time career as a Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, where he served in roles from Special Agent to Deputy

Ad m i n i s t r at or SE S - 4 . His experience will be an important asset to the House, particularly in light of the January 6 insurrection. It is essential that we work to strengthen our institution and keep our Capitol community, and all who visit, safe.” General Walker served as the 23rd Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, responsible

for the strategic leadership, training, readiness, operational employment and performance of the Army and Air Force components of the DCNG. General Walker oversaw the 113th Wing, F-16 Fighting Falcon, which secures the skies over the Nation’s Capital, and C-40 Clipper that transports members of Congress and other dignitaries. As Chairman of the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Diversity Executive Council, General Walker improved joint force readiness by leveraging diversity and inclusion best practices to develop, and provide recommendations to National Guard senior leaders. For 30 years, General Walker simultaneously served as a National Guardsmen and Special Agent of the U.S. Drug E n f o r c e m e nt Administration (DEA). Promoted to the Senior Executive Service rank in 2003 and appointed a U.S. Intelligence Community, Senior Intelligence Officer in 2009, his final position was Deputy Assistant Administrator for Strategic Warning at DEA Headquarters. General Walker was educated at the University of Illinois, Chicago (BA), Chicago State University (MS), the National Intelligence Universit y (MS) and American University (MA).

Enjoy the ride.

MASK UP. Mask up in public indoor spaces and crowded outdoor areas where physical distancing isn't possible. Masks don’t slow us down, they keep us moving! Let's help protect each other and our communities.

Your Actions Save Lives

covid19.ca.gov

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

Vennice Mccreay

CELEBRATES HER SPECIAL DAY Photos by Darrel Wheeler

By Darrel Wheeler Contributing Writer

On the first Saturday of June, friends and relatives of Vennice Mccreay showed up and showed out at the VFW Post Building on Highland Avenue in National City. They came from near and far to celebrate Vennice’s Denim and White 53rd Big Birthday Bash. The good time event was hosted by Felicia of Janae Entertainment. “I put together this production for my homegirl Vennice. That’s my sis. I got her back and she got mine. She's been with me through thick and thin and she definitely deserved a super nice birthday celebration,”

“This was amazing so many people came out to support me I don’t usually celebrate my birthday like this.” The birthday girl said.

friend Felicia Williams shared. “We will be having parties here once a month for the grown and sexy. I can be reached on Facebook for exact dates and times,” she said. Vennice, the Gemini, was showered with money, gifts, big hugs, attention and plenty of love while celebrating her special occasion. “This was amazing. So many people came out to support me. I don’t usually celebrate my birthday like this,” the Birthday Girl said. “I’m extremely grateful to Felicia and everybody that showed up to party with me. This was awesome.”

Looking to purchase your first home? There are many firsts in a person’s life. And buying a home can mean lots of questions and uncertainty. When you’re ready to be a homeowner, count on us to provide you with the guidance and financing options for your unique needs. • Down payments as low as 3% • Flexible qualification guidelines • Competitive rates

One day you’ll reach further. One day starts here. Visit eastwestbank.com/homebuyer or call 800.562.6392. All rates, fees, products and program guidelines are subject to change or discontinue without prior notice. Other limitations and restrictions may apply. All loans are subject to East West Bank’s application, underwriting, appraisal, and credit approval. Program is available in selected counties of California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas and Washington. NMLSR ID 469761

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

Congressional Leaders and BAPAC SD Talk About

Building B(L)ACK Together

Photos by Vayunamu Bawa via Zoom

By Vayunamu Bawa Contributing Writer

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden to combat the effects of the pandemic. The San Diego Chapter of the Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC SD) held an information packed virtual forum with congressional leaders on how this legislation would specifically benefit Black families. The event was held on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021. SDGE’s Vice President of External Affairs Mitch Mitchell moderated the panel, which included Congressman Scott Peters, representing coastal and central portions of the city of San Diego and the suburbs of Poway and Coronado; Congressman Juan Vargas, representing Imperial County and the southernmost portions of San Diego County; Congresswoman Sara Jacobs who represents central and eastern portions of the city of San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, and Lemon Grove; and Congressman Mike Levin, representing most of northern coastal San Diego County and a portion of southern Orange County.

SDG&E's Mitch Mitchell moderated the event

share your knowledge and your insight is very, very important.” Congresswoman Jacobs echoed Ms. Nash on the importance of rebuilding the Black community in an equitable fashion. “In the last few years, our country has started to face up to the long history of systemic racism and racial injustice in America. Groups like BAPAC have been talking about these issues for a very long time and when we look at all that’s happened since the pandemic began, it’s inescapable that the Black community paid one of the heaviest tolls,” Jacobs said.

With a lot of resources going to families such as the stimulus checks, the American Rescue Act is legislation that “could rebuild the Black community up to the Black middle class,” BAISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 40 100 100 70 100 60 100 70 30 $130 100 40 bilPAC SD Chair, Ellen Nash, said. “This is30a moCongressman Peters spoke on the ment of history.” lion going towards reopening K-12 schools safely with reduced class sizes, buses, support Moderator Mitch Mitchell thanked the panelstaff and so on. “We learned the importance ists ‘for being informative for the communiof100schools as To real100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 70 70 30 30a child-care 100 100 60 100 100mechanism. 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 ty. So many things [are] happening at this very ly reopen this economy, we’re going to need to moment around COVID, the American Resdo something about child-care and make sure cue Act, infrastructure, and what’s coming. To it’s accessible to everyone,” he said. 3%

Congressman Vargas honed in on housing insecurity, another big problem. Only 2% of the amount of funds the city and state has received for Rental Assistance has been allocated so far. “I think a lot of people haven’t gone out to get the money because they’ve had forbearance on their rent and mortgage,” Vargas said. He encouraged those in need of assistance to go after it, because forbearance is temporary. Giving debt relief to Black farmers is a part of the bill Vargas was also passionate about. “One of the things we need to do is reparations. There’s a reason African Americans have not been able to be as wealthy as white Americans 40 100 it’s 70 40 40 40 70 40 things 70 40 40 3 10 40 70 40 70 40 40 and because they had taken from 25 them—farms, opportunities, voting, infrastructure. It’s time we do something about it and we did in this bill,” he said. 40 100

10 40 40

20 70 70

70 70 40

70 40 40

0000

3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19

All noted the digital divide in internet connectivity and learning. Peters talked about educating young people for the next economy and

having conversations about trade and technical education. On creating jobs and getting people back to work, Vargas spoke on the excess funds California is sitting on - some $95 billion dollars, he said - and the importance of those on the ground working to access it. “Whether it’s jobs or housing policy, you have an administration that is completely on board with trying to right some of the historic wrongs,” Congressman Levin said. Much more was discussed last Thursday evening. Nash raised the call for collaboration and communication to create “good trouble” and along with Mr. Mitchell, the 50 emphasized, 75 90 100 surplus of monies that we are ‘in a good fight’ to equitably receive. To view the substantive 90 minute talk, visit BAPACSD’s facebook page or at www.bapacsd.org. 50 40visit 40 75 their 66 66 100website 100 100 80 70 70 100

The best way to

pr tect your family? Vaccination.

Millions of Californians across different age groups, races and ethnicities have now been vaccinated — helping many people safely return to work, reunite with friends and family, and travel with confidence. Your decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine can help keep you and your loved ones safe, and help stop the spread in your community.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit VaccinateALL58.com or call (833) 422-4255.

LET’S GET TO IMMUNITY.

T:13"

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

LOCAL NEWS-EDUCATION Open Statements by Elected Officials Regarding Lincoln H.S. Voice & Viewpoint Newswire On May 19, 2021, Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, representing the Fourth Council District on the San Diego City Council, wrote “Regarding: An Open Letter on Lincoln High School”, addressed to San Diego Unified School District Board President, Richard Barrera. Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe is an attorney

and represents the Alta Vista, Broadway Heights, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Greater Skyline Hills, Jamacha, Lincoln Park & Knox, Lomita Village, North Bay Park Terraces, Oak Park, O’Farrell, Paradise Hills, Redwood Village, Rolando Park, South Bay Terraces, Valencia Park and Webster

communities. She is the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods. You can view the full text of MontgomerySteppe’s letter on the Voice & Viewpoint website at www.sdvoice. i nfo. T he fol low ing open statements, shared in response to

SHARON WHITEHURST-PAYNE, SDUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION V.P. DISTRICT E Board of Education

EUGENE BRUCKER EDUCATION CENTER 4100 Normal Street, Room 2231, San Diego, CA 92103-2682 Phone: (619) 725-5550 Fax: (619) 297-5624 Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne Vice President

June 3, 2021 Monica Montgomery-Steppe Councilmember, Fourth District City of San Diego 202 C Street, 10th Floor San Diego, CA 92101 (Sent via Electronic Mail) Ms. Montgomery-Steppe:

school communities.

A month ago, students from Lincoln High School were insulted, taunted and compared to convicts. That happened at an elite prep school in a wealthy suburb. Treating our students with that type of disrespect was unacceptable then, and it is unacceptable now, even though now the insults and abuse are coming from someone who is paid to represent our community. Your attack on our students and Lincoln High School is beneath the dignity of your office. You owe those students and our community an apology.

Significantly, the increase in African American student achievement has come at the same time as San Diego Unified has raised its academic standards. San Diego Unified was one of the first urban districts in the state to require students to graduate with enough credits to attend California’s outstanding public universities. College readiness for African American students has increased by 50 percent at San Diego Unified since the start of those improvements.

I will also expect an apology for your decision to repeat lies in the media that have been repeatedly shown to be untrue. You wrote, “Findings show that school leaders did not spend funding as authorized by the Lincoln School Site Council, which is required by law.” In fact, the findings showed the opposite. The law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo conducted an independent investigation which revealed no missing or misuse of funds. The report was completed on July 15, 2020. The summary pages are here. They found, “The weight of the evidence did not support that any funds that were allocated to Lincoln were spent on another SDUSD school or were misappropriated by any individual for personal financial gain.” It is shocking that you, a former practicing attorney, would send information to the media that you either know or should have known is not true. For you to double down on those untruths and allege you have knowledge of fraud and “misappropriation of funds” is inexcusable. You should also know better than to request private personnel information related to employees of the district. I find it incredibly unprofessional to demand information on the transfer of an employee. The rationale for our decisions was shared with the Lincoln community, as you would have known had you contacted the school district before launching an uninformed assault in the media. A recent study by the Learning Policy Institute found students of color in San Diego Unified schools academically outperform their peers statewide. A companion study by UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools found this success is not accidental, rather it is the result of intentional efforts to provide added counselors and other supports to high needs

Should you decide to educate yourself appropriately on Lincoln’s status, here is what you will find: 1. The current leadership under Principal Brown is outstanding. Despite the pandemic, Lincoln High School had a record number of early graduates this year. Fact: This year, a record 130 students graduated early, up from 37 students in 2020, and 59 in 2019. 2. Lincoln High School has made steady progress under the leadership of Principal Brown. The percentage of African American students prepared for college and career increased by 19.9 percent last year to 43.2 percent according to the California Department of Education College Career Indicator. (Source: https://www6.cde. c a . g ov / c a l i for n i am o d e l / ccireport?&year=2020&cd code=&scode=0114025&reporttype=sgroups) 3. Under Principal Brown, the over-disciplining of students at Lincoln has declined. Year over year suspension rates dropped from 8 percent of students to just 2.2 percent, and for African Americans, it dropped from 17 percent last year to just 2.8 percent, as a result of Principal Brown’s student-centered leadership. 4. To build on this progress, Principal Brown has mobilized the community through a series of conversations on the future direction of the school. In February of this year, Lincoln held four parent forums on college and career pathways. 5. The foundation of the plan for the future is a laser-like focus on getting new students up to grade level standards upon their arrival in 9th grade. The plan created by Principal Brown calls for a partner school leader to focus solely on those students, as well as additional counselors and support services for those students.

6. After students are prepared for their future, the upper grades at Lincoln will be transformed into a career academy with outstanding training and services provided for all students. This career pathway system will offer multiple opportunities. Link: https://drive. google.com/file/d/1yBIKWxrbWQyjjJuTEH5imBtqSKMeRf-j/view 7. San Diego Unified maintains an equity based funding model that has always benefitted the students at Lincoln with additional resources. The district doubles, sometimes triples, the funding it receives from the state for each Lincoln student, meaning Lincoln is the only high school with three vice principals and five counselors. All of the above, along with ever y statistic you have requested are available on our website and on the state’s website, which again is information you would have received had you contacted the district rather than launching your uniformed attack. Despite the nearly $2 million in taxpayer money you receive to operate your office, you were apparently unable to locate the following links: Student outcomes • Average attendance rate: https://dq.cde.ca.gov/ dataquest/DQCensus/ AttAbsByRsn.aspx?agglevel=School&cds =37683380114025&year =2018-19 • Graduation rate: https:// w w w. c a s c h o o l d a s h board.org/reports/ 37683380114025/2019#graduation-rate-card • Reading and math rates: https://caaspp-elpac.cde. ca.gov/caaspp/DashViewR eport?ps=true&lstTestYea r=2019&lstTestType=B&ls tGroup=1&lstSubGroup= 1&lstGrade=13&lstSchoo lType=A&lstCounty=37& lstDistrict=68338-000&lstSchool=0114025 Agenda for Lincoln’s future, including many current and potential partners from inside and outside the school: https:// drive.google.com/file/d/1yBIKWxrbWQyjjJuTEH5imBtqSKMeRf-j/view Specific Vision 2020 outcomes for Lincoln • Schools as neighborhood learning centers: Community schools plan • Ensure effective teaching in the classroom: District initiative and Learning Policy Institute Analysis See LETTER page 22

C oucilmenber Montgomer ySteppe’s initial statement, are published in their entirety from SDUSD Board of Education Vice President, Sharon WhitehurstPayne representing District E (which includes the LIncoln Cluster) and Councilmember Montgomery-Steppe, respectively. See page 23 for more local Education related news and commentary.

COUNCILMEMBER MONICA MONTGOMERY-STEPPE’S RESPONSE

The People’s Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe Reaction to Open Letter from Vice President of SDUSD AMID CONTINUED CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GOES ON THE ATTACK Tw o weeks ago, C ouncilmemb er Monica Montgomery Steppe penned an open letter on Lincoln High School to San Diego Unified School District asking for answers to twelve specific questions from parents, advocates, and community activists. Rather than answer these questions in a transparent and forthright manner, Board Vice President Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne has launched a one-woman smear campaign against Councilmember Montgomery Steppe including personal attacks on her integrity and dignity in governance. Councilmember Montgomery Steppe issued the following reaction: “It is becoming painfully obvious that San Diego Unified School District finds it difficult to be transparent and accountable to our community. It is disappointing that instead of getting answers to our questions, we have gotten only the wrath of SDUSD’s public relations machine in crisis response mode. “Let this shine a light for other leaders in this region on the magnitude of the crisis our students are facing. This is only a glimpse of what our parents and students have experienced for years when trying to get straight answers from SDUSD leadership. The blatant disrespect, dismissiveness, and divisiveness are palpable and unacceptable when dealing with the people you claim to serve. Yes, the Lincoln High School community does deserve an apology for the many years SDUSD has behaved this way. “Calls for transparency and accountability are not antagonistic. The community has a right to answers. As policymakers, we have a responsibility to be open, transparent, accountable, and accessible. No one is above answering to the people who put them into public office. Our business is public service. We are a people powered office. “After years of hearing community concerns, I simply elevated them. My voice joined a chorus of community voices demanding answers from SDUSD. We simply want answers. Anything other than straight answers is a red herring, and we will not be distracted by these tactics. “From day one, I have carried and amplified the community’s voices. I am standing with the students, parents, activists, education justice advocates, and community leaders continuing to call for answers. “Anyone who equates institutional accountability with not caring about the people the institution serves fundamentally misunderstands the role of public service. I look for-

ward to having this conversation at the community forum, so that we may hear firsthand from our community and see where hand-picked statistics and political talking points differ from community experience. My office will not be distracted by rhetoric and red herrings. We will fight for the people and continue to amplify their voices.” The community reacts to Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne’s Open Letter: “I appreciated Councilmember Montgomery Steppe’s open letter to San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). For far too long, the district has ignored Lincoln High School. SDUSD leadership has become very proficient at self-promotion and self-congratulation, redirecting conversations around problematic issues by creating positive narratives that are either false or misleading, by highlighting small successes of an otherwise bleak truth. That was what Dr. Whitehurst-Payne did in her open letter. She sidestepped the questions about the long term academic issues at Lincoln High by referencing the more recent implications of the pandemic and spinning a positive narrative. We must keep up the pressure. SDUSD has ignored the issues in the Lincoln Cluster for more than a decade, and without continued focus and pressure, district leaders will continue to look the other way.” A.S., educational justice activist “I am sorely disappointed by Dr. Sharon WhitehurstPayne’s vitriol-laced personal attack on the People’s Councilmember. It is shameful that while community members are working earnestly to organize a community forum in an attempt to get answers to our questions, our representative on the school board is signing her name to downright disrespectful and condescending letters instead of answering the calls for transparency. And despite us having secured commitments from other members of the school board and key administrators to participate in our community forum, Dr. WhitehurstPayne has still not returned our call. This is but one example of how our community is consistently denied access to discuss our grievances and concerns with our representative, the Vice President. If anyone owes an apology, it's Sharon.”– G. JonesWright, Executive Director, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance & long-time volunteer mock trial coach at Lincoln High School “To think that the Board President and longest serving member of the second largest school district in our Great State, would sign off on such an utterly disrespectful letter, is beyond shameful. We won't

back down. We want answers.” -P. Liburd, Lincoln High School community advocate “Last month, Councilmember Montgomery Steppe took unprecedented action to publicly call attention to how SDUSD is failing Lincoln High School. Rather than take the opportunity to work together to address the concerns of the community, School Board Member Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne chose to respond with false analogies and baseless innuendos. SDUSD’s response was not only an insult and attack on the Councilmember, it was insulting and disrespectful to all of District 4. The irony that the letter came from Dr. Whitehurst-Payne, who just two years ago blamed the district's continued failure of Black students on their parents, is telling. Rather than take responsibility, she and the school district continue to blame anyone other than themselves. We will not allow them to blame students, teachers, or community members for their failure to provide a quality education for all San Diegans. That is what they were elected to do and that is where they are failing. The only people surprised by the concerns voiced by Councilmember’s open letter were the school board members who have been ignoring those same concerns for years. The time for playing political games - with our children’s lives without public conversation or accountability - is over. We appreciate Councilmember Montgomery Steppe for her willingness to advocate for the community she was sworn to represent and the students who attend our schools. I wish Dr. Whitehurst-Payne would take this time to learn from her example. We need advocates for our students, not unapologetic mouthpieces for the district.” – K. Alexander, President and Founder, Pillars of the Community “As an elected body, it is the San Diego Unified District Board of Education’s duty to respond with respect, transparency and well-founded answers to questions raised by their constituents. Acting on behalf of her constituents, Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe posed legitimate questions to the District regarding community concerns about Lincoln High School. It was disappointing to see the District respond by engaging in a series of insulting and condescending attacks. Instead, the Board should work with other elected officials to seek solutions to well-documented issues facing Lincoln High School. Students, parents and community stakeholders in the District deserve nothing less.” N. Chávez Peterson, Executive Director, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

HEALTHY LIVING JUNE IS

Men’sMONTH! Health Express Yourself, Beautiful Black Man By Dianne Anderson War is no joke, but the battle of the war within has provided some fodder for Tyrome “Mac Rome” Thompson to get through the dark places of his past. It’s also where he’s learned to laugh in the face of adversity, and try to lighten the load for others. Thompson volunteers with a program at Loma Linda VA Hospital that helps other veterans with PTSD forget about their problems and get access to mental health resources through comedy.

tinuing African American Mental Health Coalition “Express Yourself Beautiful Black M a n” series. Thompson hosted the event last Saturday, June 5. For many years, Thompson said things were more ludicrous than laughable. At times, he survived on the streets from one moment to the next, self-medicating with alcohol until he was 43.

“A group of us provide tickets for them for comedy shows, baseball games, different outlets, and of course we do group therapy,” he said.

“I was living in my car, I was still going to work every day, which is really crazy and I was still doing comedy shows,” said the former Gulf War veteran. “I used comedy to help save myself. I used it to cope with stressors, to take up the time I used to be depressed.”

He is one of several men who joined up for the con-

“The whole Gulf War Syndrome was just starting.

A lot of us were getting sick and they didn’t know what it was. It’s been 30 years,” he said. “These days when a soldier or sailor gets out, they send them directly for mental health help.” About six years ago, he was linked to rehab in a mental health facility. “I was doing comedy even in the mental hospital. I would just tell jokes to the patients,” he said. With medication, he stabilized and moved into an apartment, and everything started to fall into place. Local therapist Jarron Clark said that comedy is one helpful tool that many people turn to deal with mental health and everyday stressors of life. Clark has nearly two decades working in mental health services,

Will We Ever Learn to Live with Germs Again? By Stacy Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent Travel has increased exponentially, and p eople increasingly are displaying more confidence that the worst of the pandemic is over. Like many, Alice Anderson had concerns about germs before COVID, and she believes there remain reasons all should still be cautious. The parent of a child with life-threatening food allergies, the founder of Mommy to Mom said she couldn’t help being concerned with how much cleaning and disinfecting has taken place everywhere she’s visited. “A lt hou g h res e archers haven’t figured out what causes food allergies yet, the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ is an interesting theory,” Anderson remarked. “It suggests that the lack of exposure to germs in a child’s environment can result in their immune system being unchallenged, which could lead to the possible development of different allergies.” Researchers now suggest that the over-disinfecting of our homes, vehicles, and other habitable spaces poses a severe health danger. “We’re starting to realize that there’s collateral damage when we get rid of good microbes, and that has major consequences for our health,” B. Brett Finlay, a professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia who was

Southern California therapist Jarron Clark said that comedy is one helpful tool that many people turn to deal with mental health and everyday stressors of life.(Photo: Precinct Reporter Group News)

including individual, family, solution-focused therapy, and grief counseling. Particularly for Black men, he feels the need to peel back the layers of stress from the constant bombardment of police abuse, dealing with hate crime, high unemployment, to name a few. “Myself and many other Black male therapists are making headway in providing increased services for Black men. We’re encouraging Black men to seek out therapy. If you’re resistant to therapy, seek out a support group to get involved in to help yourself, and improve your mental health,” he said. Whenever he can, Clark tries to tear down the stigma of mental health in the community. He has

worked for one of the largest mental health clinics in Los Angeles, and believes it’s important to infuse mental health resources into everyday conversations. “I see improvement regarding the increase and seeking of mental health therapists within the community. There are a lot of Black male therapists and we’re out here

doing the work,” he said. The messaging is coming through our Black men to share and to show that our men are beautiful, talented and gifted. It’s all of the positive images to offset all of the negative as to who Black men are. This article first appeared on Precinct Reporter Group News.

Racism hurts your baby long before they’re born.

the first author of a paper from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), told the New York Times. According to the report, “excessive hygiene practices, inappropriate antibiotic use, and lifestyle changes such as distancing may weaken those communities going forward in ways that promote sickness and imperil our immune systems. By sterilizing our bodies and spaces, they argue, we may be doing more harm than good.” A clean, sterilized environment is critical to preventing the spread of germs and infection, said Jill Lieberman of safehandles.com . “However, we need to be selective with the products we use because they often cause more harm than good,” Lieberman added. “Cleaning with chemicals needs to be avoided, yet it is still necessary to sterilize our spaces to eliminate germs,” Liberman continued. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends handwashing with soap and water

after individuals have visited a public place, coughed, or sneezed. If soap and water isn’t available, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol and regularly clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and countertops. The Cleveland Clinic also provided the following guidelines: • Find ways to cope with stress. Stress causes your body to make a hormone called cortisol. Over time, cortisol can lead to inflammation and reduce your body’s ability to fight infections. • Fuel-up smartly. A wellrounded diet with ample amounts of fiber and healthy fats helps keep inflammation at bay. • Keep moving. Regular exercise helps keep your immune system running smoothly. • Get your Zzzs. The average adult needs about seven to nine hours of sleep a night. • Avoid harmful substances. Smoking and excessive drinking can weaken your immune system.

Studies show the stressful experience of discrimination increases the risk of preterm birth in Black moms-to-be. You and your baby have the right to the best treatment health care providers have to offer. Find out what treatment you should expect for you and your baby at www.BlackLegacyNowSD.com

Tomorrow’s Black legacy deserves protecting today.

Ahliyah and Dorian, El Cajon Funded by the California Department of Public Health, Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Division

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

COMMUNITY NEWS Photos by Darrel Wheeler

The Competition Heats Up By Darrel Wheeler

sprint star, Kaliyah Verdell, is one of the serious ones, according to Mercury Track & Field club President, Priscila Ford.

There was more than enough Youth Track & Field talent on full display last Sunday at Morse High School’s John Shacklett Field. Once again, the competition was fierce on MHS’ fast track for San Diego’s fresh crop of runners, jumpers and throwers.

“Kaliyah is definitely one of our more serious athletes. She is an awesome competitor and a great kid, a straight A student and a very hard worker,” President Ford shared. “If she keeps working hard, she will definitely be one of San Diego’s future high school track stars.”

San Diego’s youngsters compete in track & field for various reasons and, of course, some are more serious about their track & field dreams than others. Mercury’s nine year old long jumper and

100 60

ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009

100

100 100 60 100 100

70 70

30 30

100 60

100

100 100 60 100 100

Mercury’s assistant coach, Kevin Shields, agrees whole-

heartedly with President Ford’s description of the team’s wonder girl. “Kaliyah is legit, she has real talent. I admire her competitiveness and her ability to focus at her young age,” Kevin shared. Kaliyah’s Mercury teammates and the rest and the best of San Diego’s young runners, jumpers and throwers can be seen for a few more Sunday’s working their track-magic as the competition heats up at the MHS speedway.

70 70

30 30

100 60

100

100 100 60 100 100

100 40

40 100

40 70 40

70 40 40

40 70 40

70 40 40

70 70

30 30

100 40

40 100

10 40 40

20 70 70

70 70 40

70 40 40

0000

3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19

T:13"

ATTENTION, CALIFORNIA:

health insurance has never been this affordable. If you are uninsured — As part of a new federal stimulus, many Californians will save more money than ever with increased financial help to lower the cost of health insurance.

If you’re paying too much for the insurance you have now — It’s likely you could get the same plan for less. 2.5 million Californians are now eligible for financial help. There’s more help for those who couldn’t afford coverage before, and more help for hundreds of thousands who’ve never been eligible.

This way to health insurance. Visit us online or call to get free, confidential enrollment assistance and to check your new, lower cost.

CoveredCA.com 800.375.8355

50 40 40

100

75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100

www.sdvoice.info •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Popular Nigerian televangelist

David Diop wins

International

T.B. Joshua dies at 57 By Sam Olukoya Associated Press Temitope Balogun Joshua, one of Africa’s most popular televangelists who was known as T.B. Joshua, has died. He was 57.

Booker Prize

by divine will,” the church said, adding that “his last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.”

The Nigerian-born pastor was founder of the mega church Synagogue Church Of All Nations, or SCOAN, which also runs the Emmanuel Television Station in Lagos.

T.B. Joshua was noted for making predictions and for his claims to cure various ailments and to make people prosper through miracles. He was, however, controversial, with critics questioning his claims and saying he profited off of people seeking hope.

The church announced his death in a statement Sunday. No cause of death was given.

More than 15,000 people from Nigeria and abroad attend SCOAN’s Sunday services.

“God has taken His servant Prophet T.B Joshua home _ as it should be

Many African presidents, senior government officials, interna-

with WWI story By Jill Lawless Associated Press Members of Synagogue Church Of All Nations, mourn following the death of the founder T.B. Joshua, outside the church in Lagos, Nigeria Sunday, June 6, 2021. Temitope Balogun Joshua, one of Africaâ€™s most popular televangelists who was known as T.B. Joshua, has died. He was 57. (AP Photo)

tional soccer players, musicians and other high-profile guests have worshipped in the church. He was popular in many African countries, and in South America where he had held many religious crusades. In September 2014, the guest house of the church collapsed, killing more than 100 people, most of them foreigners who were in

Nigeria to attend his services. While authorities say the building collapsed because of structural defects, T.B. Joshua insisted the building was blown up by a small plane that he claimed flew over it shortly before it came down. Joshua is survived by his widow and three children.

ALARM IN AFRICA:

Virus surges, vaccines grind to ‘near halt’ By Gerald Imray Associated Press

unable to even follow up with second doses for high-risk groups.”

COVID-19 vaccine shipments have ground to “a near halt” in Africa while virus cases have spiked 20% over the last two weeks, the World Health Organization said Thursday, a bleak scenario for the continent on both those critical fronts.

Moeti repeated Africa’s ongoing plea that richer countries that have reached “significant vaccination coverage” now release their remaining doses. Africa has administered vaccine doses to 31 million people out of its population of 1.3 billion. But only 7 million of those have received both doses.

South Africa alone saw a more than 60% rise in new cases last week as the country with the highest coronavirus caseload in Africa continued to face delays in its effort to roll out the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 1 million J&J doses that should have already been put to use remain on hold at a pharmaceuticals plant in South Africa because of contamination concerns at a U.S. factory. The head of the Africa CDC said he expects an update in the coming days from U.S. federal regulators on those and other doses of J&J, which he called an essential vaccine for Africa because it’s a one-dose shot and doesn’t need the ultra-cold storage facilities required by others. “The threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising,” WHO Africa director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said. “Our priority is clear. It’s crucial that we swiftly get vaccines into the arms of Africans at high risk of falling seriously ill and dying of COVID-19. “While many countries outside Africa have now vaccinated their high-priority groups and are able to even consider vaccinating their children, African countries are

Moeti’s plea came hours before President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would share some of its vaccines.

AstraZeneca showed enough efficacy against the variant first detected in South Africa — now referred to by WHO as the beta variant. Now the contamination problems at the Emergent BioSolutions plant in Baltimore earlier this year have directly impacted South Africa’s already lagging rollout. South Africa’s health department was due to receive 1.1 million J&J doses in May. Another 900,000 were then meant to be delivered at the start of June, according to the govern-

Sub-Saharan Africa has on average administered only one vaccine dose per 100 people, Moeti said, compared to a global average of 23 doses per 100 people. Some higher income countries have even reached 62 doses per 100 people, she added. The issue with contamination of Johnson & Johnson doses at a U.S. facility is a tiny part of the problem, but it’s a crucial one right now for South Africa, which has more than 1.6 million virus cases and more than 56,000 deaths, the most in Africa by far. South Africa has seen a positivity rate of around 11-12% among people tested for the virus in recent days, well above the 5% threshold that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said marks “a cause for concern.” Meanwhile, the country’s vaccine rollout has faced a number of hurdles. The country ultimately rejected the first vaccine available over concerns about whether

two-dose vaccine. Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director John Nkengasong said he was in contact earlier Thursday with J&J officials and they told him an announcement by the FDA was expected Friday or early next week. South Africa wasn’t the only country affected by the contamination in Baltimore, Nkengasong said. Also at stake is the African Union’s 220 million dose deal with Johnson & Johnson set for delivery later this year, which could eventually rise to 400 million doses total. “Our entire st rateg y is underpinned” by the J&J agreement, Nkengasong said of Africa.

On Tuesday, the F DA declined to A health worker picks syringes as seniors get vaccinated with the first dose of the Pfizer comment on coronavirus vaccine at the newly-opened mass vaccination program for the elderly at a drive-thru vaccination center in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) when it might resolve the concerns over Emergent’s factory, ment’s schedule. which included poorly trained workers and dirty walls and floors, Both batches are in South Africa and led to the immediate discardbut remain frustratingly on hold ing of 15 million J&J doses conafter the US. Food and Drug nected to the factory. Administration shut down the Emergent plant in mid-April and Johnson & Johnson said that it put a lockdown on any doses that was working with the FDA and might be linked to it across the Emergent toward resolving the world. South Africa has vaccinated situation “as soon as possible” but only 1.1 million of its 60 million didn’t comment on any specifics of people, and more than half of them the FDA investigation. have only received one dose of a

A harrowing but poetic tale of comradeship, colonialism and the horrors of war won the International Booker Prize for fiction last Wednesday. “At Night All Blood is Black” by French writer David Diop beat five other finalists to take the 50,000-pound ($70,000) prize, which is open to fiction in any language that has been translated into English. The prize money will be split between the author and his translator, Anna Moschovakis. The novel is narrated by Alfa Ndiaye, a Senegalese soldier fighting for the then-imperial power France during World War I, and charts his descent into madness on the battlefield. British author Lucy HughesHallett, who chaired the judging panel, said the “hypnotically compelling” book was both “appalling” and poetic, “entering the reader’s consciousness at a level that bypasses rationality and transcends the subject matter.” “You have to read this book and you will come away from it changed,” she said. Diop’s novel was chosen by majority decision of the five judges over contenders including Jewish-Russian family history “In Memory of Memory” by Russian writer Maria Stepanova and imaginative short-story collection “The Dangers of Smoking in Bed” by Argentina’s Mariana Enriquez. Born in France and raised in Senegal, Diop teaches 18th-century literature at the University of Pau in southern France. He is the first French author to win the prize, a counterpart to the prestigious Booker Prize for English-language fiction. Diop’s novel, which was published in French in 2018, resonates with present-day debates about racism and colonialism. Hughes-Hallett said the book didn’t win “because if speaks to the current conversation about racial politics,” but because “it spoke to us with the most power.”

In Florida, 400 singers hope tune breaks world records By Charles Runnels Fort Myers News-Press via AP News The song is called “400” for a good reason: It boasts a mind-boggling 400 singers _ all growling, screaming and doing their best to break a Guinness world record. Seven of those singers live in southwest Florida, but the sprawling death-metal track features people from across the world, including Mexico, Italy, South Africa, Canada, Bulgaria, Argentina, Russia and across the United States. Fort Myers singer Bryan Riquelme has just four words on the 37-minute song: “The thoughts of thee.” But he makes the most of them, screaming in a death-metal style he calls a “tunnel low.”

Several of his Southwest Florida friends are on the song, too, including two members of the band Nitheful. “It was a dope idea,” says Riquelme, frontman for Bradenton deathcore band Grasping at the Shadow. “I was just like, I’m down if everybody else is down!” Everybody else was down, it turns out. The finished song, “400,” was released last month on iTunes, YouTube, Bandcamp and other music sites. Now they’re just waiting to hear back from Guinness World Records to confirm they broke the world record. A Guinness spokeswoman says their review process can take three or four months. Cape Coral singer Paul Lyons says

he’s thrilled just to be part of the project, no matter what happens. “Even if Guinness doesn’t make it official, it’s still a cool thing,” says Lyons, who sings with local punk/ metal band Kindly Shut Up and grindcore act Swamp Gas. “I just thought it was a great idea.” That idea started with singer Fred Nylist of Canadian metal band Beyond Deviation. Nylist originally thought about collaborating with only 15 or 20 people, but then he and a friend broadened the scope: They wanted to beat the recordholder for the most vocal solos on one song. That song, “Melancholy,” was recorded in 2016 and featured 365 singers from Nepal, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness officials verified it in February 2018.

“I was like, that would be pretty easy to beat!” Nylist says and laughs. “Well, maybe not easy.” Nylist posted the idea on social media, and soon word spread to metal singers all over the world. Those singers started recording and sending in their vocal lines _ each just 3-10 seconds long and later stitched together by Nylist into one big song. Lyons’ contribution? It’s just one word, sung in a high-pitched scream: “Insanity.” The Cape Coral singer loves how he fits in with the other 399 voices on the song. “It blended together a lot better than a lot of people thought it would.” He also loves the overall song and what it represents.

“It’s crazy,” he says. “It’s unique, because it’s never been done before. You just kind of sit back and listen to it and hear all the different voices.” It took Nylist about a month to edit together all the vocals. “400” stitches together five or six preexisting songs along with all-new lyrics and transitional music between each section. Nylist says the result sounds better than he’d expected. “I was surprised,” he says. “When I first started putting it together, there was a hundred voices on it, and I’m like, ‘OK, this is sounding really interesting.’ And then you get to 200 voices, and you’re like, ‘OK! It’s actually really flowing well.’

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

IN MORE NEWS Some Upbeat News for Black Businesses Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media Next week, after more than a year, California is expected to lift the majority of its COVID-19 related restrictions and reopen its economy at almost-full capacity. But as the state prepares for a long-anticipated comeback, many Black business owners say black businesses face an uphill road to recovery. “(Black businesses) have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” Tara Lynn Gray, director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. told California Black Media (CBM). “Fortunately, the governor has stepped up and provided $2.5 billion dollars in relief funds to all small businesses with priority to the disadvantaged communities of color.” A number of small business advocates say there is finan-

cial help available both at the state and federal levels for most business owners. The key is to apply for the money, said Everett Sands, Chief Executive Officer of Lendistry, a leading, Bl a ck - l e d C om mu n it y Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) that is also a small business and commercial real estate lender. Sands said, “What we’ve learned about the pandemic is that most opportunities are coming a second time. If you look at the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), it came a third time. But it is important for businesses to apply.” Sands says it is not too late for businesses to get their financial footing. “As a result of the American Rescue Plan, most states received roughly a billion dollars to help these

small businesses increase their revenues” he said. ZIPPIA, an online career support company, calculated that 10,287 Blackowned businesses operate in California. Based on data compiled by the United States Census’ Annual Business Survey, California’s Black businesses employ roughly 81,530 people. Gray said restaurants, barbershops, nail salons, hair salons, hospitality, and personal grooming services have been “inexplicably hurt” due to social-distancing restrictions in the state. Those businesses, owned by many African Americans, were not deemed as essential when a shelter-in-place order was mandated. Now those are the businesses that Newsom intends to help, Gray stated. “Our governor had a tough choice to make,” Gray said.

“You close things down to make sure people are safe. Public health is a serious issue. Yes, there are consequences to our small businesses. But in the end, look at us now. We have the lowest positivity rate in the nation. Also, it looks like our economy is coming back.” While the reopening of the economy signals progress, Sands is encouraging Black businesses to pay attention to Small Business Administration programs (SBA) that include loans, a restaurant relief fund and venture capital investments. To apply for federal small business funding, Sands says, a company only has to show the sole business’s gross revenue. Applicants won’t be excluded if the proprietor has been a borrower on a defaulted student loan or has a criminal history. “For amounts less than

$150,000, most of the red tape or the bureaucratic process of a loan has been cleared away,” Sands said.

business owners, he said, and it should help the economy get stronger and financially stabilize the country.

U.S. C ongressman Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), a member of the Congressional Small Business Caucus, said more funding is expected to be distributed through the Saving Our Street Act, which would allocate loans of up to $250,000 to businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

“In this next quarter, we’re going to have a pretty good recovery,” Khanna said. “Consumer spending is at 10% growth. I think small businesses are going to come back strong. The problem is a lot of businesses that have had to close may not be able to reopen. And that’s where we have to focus: assisting with debt forgiveness and capital for those businesses that would not survive.”

Distribution of the money will be based on the racial and gender diversity of the

ARTS & CULTURE

“Your Actions Save Lives” Campaign

Bo Tefu California Black Media

More than 20 California artists partnered with the state for the “Your Actions Save Lives” campaign. The effort was created to uplift and celebrate the resilience of communities and

encourage safe practices that stop the spread of COVID19 as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to reopen the state on June 15. The 14 original art projects included in the campaign range from murals,

AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD IS A FELONY

INCLUDING BUYING INSURANCE TO COVER AN ACCIDENT AFTER IT HAPPENS DON'T CRASH, BUY, AND LIE!

interactive exhibits, and live performances from artists based in communities highly impacted by the COVID19, including Oakland, Sacramento, Stockton and San Diego.

Sacramento and a digital art display at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento.

“The arts have an opportu-

The state partnered with the Center at Sierra Health

nity to be uplifting and healing to your emotions,” said Jessica Wimbley, an African American digital artist who collaborated with the state for an advertisement on an Oak Park billboard in

“It’s been transformative to work on this project,” she added.

are tapping into their culture and creativity to share empowering messages with communities that have been hard hit by COVID-19,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation. Four female artists, including Wimbley, have used the project to tap into their respective cultures to create powerful visual artworks that empower and inform their diverse communities.

Foundation in Sacramento for the project which relies on the power of art to communicate the importance of health awareness in addition to getting vaccinated.

Sunroop Kaur, a classical artist, whose Spring mural is located in Stockton was inspired by her PunjabiSikh heritage. The interactive installation, ‘Benevolent Animals, Dangerous Anima ls,’ by Mas a ko Miki located in Oakland’s Chinatown was inspired by Japanese folklore. In San Diego, the mural ‘Stop the Spread’ by Tatiana OrtizRubio honors her Mexican heritage.

“These accomplished artists

See CAMPAIGN page 14

Mary J. Blige Inducted Into Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame Voice & Viewpoint Newswire All hail the Queen! Hip-hop royalty Mary J. Blige was inducted into the Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame, May 28, joining the lofty ranks of Black entertainment luminaries such as Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Little Richard and Smokey Robinson. “The QUEEN OF HIP HOP SOUL, the legendary @ maryjblige is now officially an #ApolloLegend!” the theater tweeted in a post on its account. Now a nine-time Grammy Award winner and an Oscar-nominated actress, Blige has come a long way from her humble beginnings in the Bronx. “None of this is possible without the fans, so thank you to all the fans,” the 50-year-old entertainer

said at the induction ceremony, where a plaque honoring her achievements was unveiled, according to the New York Daily News. Located on Harlem’s 125th Street, the 87-year-old Apollo Theater is a famed New York City cultural landmark known for discovering and celebrating Black talent. It began recognizing outstanding Black performers with its Walk of Fame in 2010. Blige, as many Black artists, had her own history at the iconic venue. “My very first time performing here at the Apollo, I was on stage singing background for Jeff Redd,” Blige recalled at the event, according to the local CBS affiliate. ‘And from there on, it was all history.”

“The QUEEN OF HIP HOP SOUL, the legendary @ maryjblige is now officially an #ApolloLegend!” the theater tweeted in a post on its account. Mary J. Blige (Photo by: defendernetwork.com)

Blige has distinguished herself with a gritty sound and raw, heartfelt delivery of songs such as “No More Drama,” “Not Gon Cry” and “Real Love.” Also an actress, she has gained two Oscar nods for her performance in “Mudbound.” “She is one of the defining voices of our generation,” Forbes added. “Miss Blige helped to redefine what R&B and hip-hop could be.” A version of this article originally appeared first on Afro.

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

BUSINESS NEWS MILLENNIAL MONEY:

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

How to Nail a

No-Spend Month By Lauren Schwahn NerdWallet If you’re looking to shed debt, boost your savings or simply manage your money better, a spending freeze can get you on track. Here’s how to embark on (and stick to) a no-spend month.

CUSTOMIZE IT A “no-sp end month” sounds strict, but there are no hard-and-fast rules. Obviously, it’s about reducing spending. But resolving to spend no money whatsoever is unrealistic. There’s no need to take it to an extreme, especially during a pandemic when many of us have already scaled back our spending.

Financial Telesis Network 7227 Broadway, Ste 404, Lemon Grove, CA 91945 619-644-1040  619-644-1015 Fax

We Also Provide:  Tax Preparation  Notary Services  Electronic Filing  OFFER IN COMPROMISES

COLOR SINGLE DISPLAY AD Size: 4.25"W x 2.5"H

$99

MONTHLY

COLOR DOUBLE DISPLAY AD Size: 4.25"W x 5.1875"H

$198 MONTHLY

Email us at ads@sdvoice.info or Call 619-266-2233

BUSINESS DIRECTORY ADS

Mae C. Tucker Enrolled Agent BS Degree - SDSU

 IRS Audits

Get Debt Free by Labor Day Sign up for a Free, Interactive Economic Justice Course before Juneteenth

Everyone has expenses they can’t go without, like groceries and electricity. You get to decide which categories are untouchable and which ones to cut. Start by defining your discretionary expenses, known as “wants.” For many of us, those include restaurant dinners, alcohol or frivolous online shopping. Leo Marte, a certified financial planner based in Huntersville, North Carolina, suggests using a budgeting app to easily identify your nonessential spending categories. Then, pick which ones to pause. Next, choose a time frame. A no-spend challenge can last a full calendar month, 30 days, four weeks or whatever period you prefer. Some people schedule a “Frugal February” because it’s the shortest month. If that still seems too long, start with a week and see how it goes.

KNOW YOUR MOTIVATION Before diving into a no-spend month, really think about what you’re trying to achieve, says Kristin Larsen, who runs the blog Believe in a Budget. Are you planning to pay down holiday debt or student loans? Do you want to start an emergency fund or save for a trip?

Reserve, at the end of 2020, whites, who make up about 60% of the population, owned 84% of household wealth in America while Blacks, who make up about 13% of the population, owned only 4%. Recent studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has had disproportionately, devastating effects on Blacks and other people of color. Voice & Viewpoint Newswire Removing the shackles of debt might be the best tribute the dfree® financial freedom movement can give to African American ancestors who were enslaved and didn’t learn of their freedom until nearly 3 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, on Juneteenth. Starting June 19, dfree is offering free, interactive online guidance on eliminating debt and jumpstarting a new life by Labor Day.

“Juneteenth is the perfect time to make this commitment, to change mindsets and to create healthy financial habits,” said dfree® Global Foundation, Inc., Founder DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. “The racial wealth gap in America is insurmountable unless Black people take difficult yet manageable steps to conquer debt and change the trajectory.” According to the Federal

Juneteenth enrollment in the dfree® Academy includes a free workbook and facetime with the financial freedom movement founder and his team. The Academy is a supportive community where participants share life lessons and tips. In addition to being free, the program looks beyond bank accounts to addressing the cultural, psychological and spiritual influences on financial wellness. Visit www.mydfree.org

“If you’re just doing a no-spend month because it’s fashionable or because you thought it was a nice idea and somebody shared it with you on social media, you’re not going to stick with it,” Marte says. Attaching a specific goal can create a stronger emotional connection and inspire you to carry on.

FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM A no-spend challenge can feel daunting if you go it alone. Telling family and friends about it _ or better yet, encouraging them to join _ gives you a “built-in accountability system,” Marte says. Your squad can provide crucial tips, reassurance or even constructive criticism when you need it. Making your journey public on social media networks or other online forums takes accountability one step further. It shines a spotlight on successes and failures, which is exactly what some people need to stay the course. “Maybe every time you make a meal at home and don’t go out to a restaurant, you post it on Instagram. And your tribe gets excited and gives you those kudos and that recognition you need to stick it out,” Marte says.

GET CREATIVE When Larsen goes through a no-spend period, she looks for no-cost resources to fill the void. She downloads free audiobooks through her library to get her entertainment fix. Instead of grabbing food to go, she uses a website that suggests recipes based on ingredients she already has in her pantry. (Try SuperCook or MyFridgeFood.) Many expenses have free alternatives. See what clever workarounds you can come up with.

BUILD IN A BUFFER FOR CHEAT DAYS Mistakes and surprises happen. Planning for them will help you avoid feeling shame or throwing in the towel. “You could decide, ‘I’m not going to eat out at any restaurants this month, but I’m going to put in the budget for a takeout night in case we have a bad day

at work and don’t want to cook,”’ Marte says. It’s also OK to set aside a little reward money in your budget for when things go well. But it’s important to set limits in advance so you don’t go overboard. “If you’re earning money or you have some money to spend, you should be able to enjoy it,” Larsen says. “But I think there’s definitely a difference between binging or splurging versus treating yourself.” Creating a “cheat day fund” rather than scheduling a specific day of the month to spend willy-nilly can curb a major setback. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to return to your regular spending habits when the month is up. If a spending freeze works well, try to keep the momentum going. I’m ready to crush it. Are you?

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

ARTICLE CONTINUATION Filibuster: continued from page 1

Reconciliation is used only in rare cases. Lawmakers cannot use it for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the voting rights and ethics measure, D.C. Statehood, and other causes near and dear to some Democrats and most African Americans. But Democrats do have a rare opportunity to get rid of the filibuster, a Senate cloture rule requiring 60 members to end debate on a topic and move to a vote. NNPA Newswire has reached out to all 50 Senate Democrats and Independents seeking their position on the filibuster. While some responded, others have held their positions close to the vest. “If we want to get things done in the Senate, then we must abolish the filibuster,” declared Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). “It is an antiquated, Jim Crow rule that overrides the majority and halts progress. It’s got to go.” Nora Keefe, a spokesperson for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), told NNPA Newswire in an email that Warren “is a long supporter of getting rid of the filibuster.” Sen. Warren tweeted that the ‘For The People Act’ includes critical parts of her bill to end corruption. “It’s a good first step for protecting voting rights and restoring trust in our government,” Sen. Warren noted. “We can’t let [Sen. Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) veto this critical bill for our democracy with the filibuster. If the Senate is going to do the things the American people expect us to do, we must abolish the filibuster.” Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) voiced support for ending the filibuster. “The Senate needs to abolish the filibuster,” Sen. Smith tweeted over the weekend. “It’s undemocratic, and we need to move this country forward.” Noting that any significant voting rights legislation would need unlikely Republican support, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) admitted she had changed course on the filibuster. “I’ve gone from a ‘maybe’ to a ‘yes,’” Klobuchar said. Sen. John Tester (D-Montana) also is reportedly leaning toward approving any attempts to end the filibuster while Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) remains a “yes.” Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona both have opposed efforts to eliminate the filibuster. However, after the marathon session to pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Sen. Machin hedged slightly in a nationally televised interview with NBC News. “I’m not going to change my mind,” he insisted. Professor Jared Carter, a Constitutional Law Expert at Vermont Law School, said it’s time to end the filibuster. He noted that the first filibuster occurred in 1837 and was used infrequently until after the Civil War when minority parties employed the measure to stop civil rights efforts. “It is a relic of reconstruction and

Jim Crow South. It was regularly used to oppress racial minorities and oppose civil rights laws,” Professor Carter wrote in an email to NNPA Newswire. “Last year, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) threatened a filibuster over an anti-lynching law,” Professor Carter noted. “It’s anti-democratic in that it gives the minority party veto power over popular legislation.” Rashad Robinson, the president of Color of Change, noted the filibuster has always stood in the way of racial progress. “Whether employed by Southern Democrats of the Jim Crow era or the Republican Party today after a major shift in the party’s stance on racial equality,” Robinson wrote in an op-ed for USA Today. “When you understand the filibuster’s racist past, it becomes clear that it has a racist present as well — and that we need to get rid of it.” His argument is as sound as any and dates well beyond Jim Crow. In 1922 the House passed a vital anti-lynching bill to combat the Ku Klux Klan’s worst violence, but it was filibustered in the Senate by southern Senate Democrats, Robinson noted. Congress tried again in 1935, but Georgia Democrat Richard Russell organized a six-day filibuster to oppose it. Russell once said he was “willing to go as far and make as great a sacrifice to preserve and ensure white supremacy in the social, economic, and political life of our state as any man who lives within her borders.” As Robinson wrote, the Senate’s grandest office building is now named in Russell’s honor, and Congress has never – to this day – passed an anti-lynching bill. Lawmakers used the filibuster attempting to stop the 1957 Civil Rights Act, and, most recently, Republicans have asserted it in attempts to thwart the DREAM Act, the Affordable Care Act, and other bills that benefit communities of color. Many have posed the question similar to David Leonhardt of the New York Times, who asked, “if forced to choose between the protection of voting rights and the protection of the filibuster, what will Democrats do?” Leonhardt characterized his position by declaring that “it’s shaping up to be the most significant question about the new Democratic Senate.” He noted that Republican legislators in states throughout the nation are on a mission to make voting more difficult because they believe that lower turnout helps the party win elections. The Supreme Court – with six Republican appointees among the nine justices – has generally allowed voter restriction laws to stand. “The filibuster hurts all of us, not just the Black community,” Robinson, of Color of Change, noted. “Anyone who needs real change or help loses out to the Republican obsession with power.” Leonhardt concluded that “there does not appear to be a compromise path on this issue. Democrats can overhaul the filibuster — and, by extension, transform the Senate, ushering in an uncertain era in which both parties would be able to pass more of the legislation they favor. Or Democrats can effectively surrender on voting rights. It’s one or the other.”

Education: continued from page 1

an in-person conference in 2020 and will be the first organization to host an in-person conference in 2021.” CAAASA welcomed about 150 in-person attendees. About 600 other participants joined the conference online. Those attending were education practitioners, including school administrators, teachers, and staff; education researchers; policymakers; and community members inspired and motivated to learn ways to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for African American and other students of color by promoting equity and social justice and improved school climates. The conference theme, “Achieving an Equity Driven Education” acknowledges the need, “to ensure the next normal will achieve an equity driven education for students,” says Camp. “While the pandemic has presented many challenges, it has also provided an opportunity to re-envision what an equity driven education may look like for underserved students.” The conference was organized around seven goals: Align strategies that promote access to excellence for boys and girls of color; Utilize Social Emotional Learning (SEL) supports to address the impact of trauma and poverty on learning and academic achievement; Use assessment data (Single Plan for Student Achievement - SPSAs) and Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP) as strategic and equity-driven tools to positively impact academic achievement; Increase meaningful family engagement and identify strategies and resources to improve graduation rates and increase college readiness and access for students of color; Provide strategies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of youth in school and the community, including issues such as violence, social justice concerns, bullying and human trafficking; Address school climate, including student discipline, suspension, expulsion, truancy and chronic absenteeism; and increase awareness about the advantages and values of early childhood education. The three-day conference was divided into morning and afternoon plenary lectures followed by seminars and workshops. There were six plenary lectures and attendees had access to their choice of fifty-five seminars and workshops that supported the conference goals.

CAMPAIGN: continued from page 12

The artists featured in the state’s “Your Actions Save Lives” campaign hope to communicate messages of unity and solidarity through art influenced by their different cultures. Four local artists celebrate their heritages and draw inspiration from their multicultural communities. Jessica Wimbley Wimbley, a renowned African American artist, uses her digital art to empower Black people to have agency in their own lives. The Oak Park Billboard, which is part of a state-sponsored advertising campaign, features Wimbley’s husband as the model. The representation of dark-skinned Black men is important when there have been many incidents of people dying in the media. The billboard reinforces, “This notion of a Black man living,” said Wimbley. Wimbley’s Masking Series was inspired by the tradition of masquerade which is celebrated in many cultures across Africa and highlights different codes that have inspired national social justice movements. On the billboard, the model is wearing

The opening plenary was titled “National Health & Educational Concerns Due to the Impact of COVID-19.” The speakers were Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment; Dr. Theopia Jackson, President, Association of Black Psychologists; and Dr. Nana Efua B. Afoh-Manin, founder of myCovidMD. They spoke about depression, anxiety, stress, isolation and the increasing number of Black students contemplating and committing suicide due to impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, among other factors. The afternoon plenary was “Black Girls Institute: Challenges & Crises Faced by Black Girls in Public Schools & Society.” Participating in an all-female panel were Cara McClellan, Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Dr. Angela Clark Louque, Professor, California State University San Bernardino; and Dr. Kimberly Hendricks-Brown, Principal On Special Assignment, Fresno Unified School District. They addressed issues related to how girls of color are bearing the brunt of policies and practices that diminish their opportunities and harm their potential. The panel was moderated by Dr. Sonjhia Lowery, Superintendent, Old Adobe Union School District. On day two, the morning plenary was “Addressing Education and Economic Empowerment for African Americans and Other Communities of Color.” Congresswoman Barbara Lee (DCA-13); Marc Morial, President and CEO National Urban League; and Dr. Michael Drake, President, University of California; spoke about the financial wealth gap and the resultant challenges to education and life in the African American and other communities of color. Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, President, California State Board of Education, spoke on the state of education in California, representing Gov. Gavin Newsom. The afternoon of day two plenary was the “Research Institute Panel Discussion: Achieving An Equity-Driven Education - Post COVID.” This is CAAASA’s annual research institute panel and it was led by Darling-Hammond and Dr. Travis Bristol, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education, Berkeley. The panel provided views on what an equity-driven education looks like once the COVID pandemic ends. Also speaking were Dr. Justin A. Coles, Assistant Professor, Fordham University; Dr. Maria E. Hyler, Director of the Learning Policy Institute’s Washington, DC Office and Ms. Kimberly Young, Ethnic Studies Teacher, Culver City High

a mask with coded patterns promoting vaccinations and several rings, one with Harriet Tubman. Sunroop Kaur South Asian artist, Kaur, aims to decolonize classical art with her intentionally using people of color as the focal point in her ‘Spring’ mural located at JMP Restaurant Supply. Stockton’s large Punjabi Sikh immigrant population is a major influence in her artwork. “This mural is a visual celebration of my community and its resilience to not only survive in a foreign land but to thrive,” said Kaur. Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio In her ‘Stop the Spread’ mural located at Bread & Salt Gallery in Chicano Park, Mexican-American visual artist Ortiz-Rubio used the image of a Latina woman to raise awareness on COVID-19 safety precautions in her community. According to national data, Latinos make up about 30 % of San Diego’s population. They were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 because a disproportionate number are essential workers or undocumented people. “This is truly a message for anyone in the world because a pandemic has affected us all. But it hasn’t affected us

School. On day three, the morning plenary session was titled “Shared Educational Inequities, Discrimination, Disparities and Commonalities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color).” This panel featured members of the BIPOC community, and it addressed common disparities that each community has faced within the educational system. Topics discussed included inequity and discrimination within the school systems. The Closing Plenary was called “Ensuring, Increasing and Providing Digital Equity in Schools, Homes and Communities.” This panel discussed ways to enhance capabilities to close the divide and ensure that African American and other students of color are able to stay connected and up-todate. The Digital Divide was brought to the spotlight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelist included Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Paul Gothold, Superintendent, San Diego County Office of Education; Toby Boyd, President, California Teacher Association; and Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, Superintendent, Moreno Valley Unified School District. The panel was moderated by Superintendent L. K. Monroe, Alameda County Office of Education. CAAASA was founded in 1993 but was called the California Association of African American Superintendents. In 2007, it was reorganized and took on its current name. When CAAASA started, there were just 13 African- American school district superintendents out of approximately 1,100 statewide. Today there are 35 district and county superintendents. CAAASA is committed to identifying and addressing the critical issues in education through public policy relative to the status and performance of African-American students in California. A complete description of the conference workshops and list of presenters can be found at https://www.caaasa. org/

equally,” said Ortiz-Rubio. Muralism was a social movement fostering systematic change in Mexico. Ortiz-Rubio said the Black Lives Movement also inspired her to challenge racism and inequality through her artwork. “The fact that it is a Latin American woman speaking to anyone, is important because usually generalized images are of a White person,” she said. Masako Miki The interactive art installation ‘Benevolent Animals, Dangerous Animals’ by Miki was inspired by the idea of a Chinatown treasure hunt in Oakland. The public art installation encourages people to explore different shops and restaurants while admiring the art. The artwork was inspired by shape-shifting animals in Japanese mythology. “I wanted to make this positive and uplifting because when things are dark and difficult, we need to have more positive images,” said Miki. In Japanese culture the tiger is a majestic, fearless animal, she says. The cultural message: “Resiliency,” Miki said. “It is our strength.” The featured art encourages people to, “respect each other and have empathy to get through this difficult time together,” said Miki.

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

SPORTS

Reggie Bush Among 1st-timers Up for College Hall of Fame

Reggie Bush, pictured here in 2019 at Fox Sports’ "Rallying Fans for the Biggest Season in Sports" panel at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. Former USC star, Bush, who had his Heisman Trophy victory in 2005 vacated for committing NCAA violations, is among the players making their first appearance on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot this year. The National Football Foundation announced on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, the players eligible for election into the Hall of Fame, and 26 of the 77 FBS players will be debuting on the ballot. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

By Ralph D. Russo AP College Football Writer

Wednesday the players and coaches eligible for election into the Hall of Fame, and 26 of the 78 FBS players will be debuting on the ballot.

Former Southern California star Reggie Bush, who had his Heisman Trophy victory in 2005 vacated for committing NCAA violations, is among the players making their first appearance on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot this year.

Hall of Fame ballots go to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. The votes are considered by the NFF’s Honors Courts, which then deliberates and selects a class of about a dozen players and two or three coaches.

The National Football Foundation announced on

College Football Hall of Famer and two-time He i s m an Trop hy winner Archie Griffin from Ohio State is the chairman of the Honors Court, which includes athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media from all over the country. Other first-timers on the ballot included quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Kellen Moore of Boise State, Penn State star linebackers LaVar Arrington and Paul Posluszny and former California running back Marshawn Lynch. Bush’s Hall of Fame case is most intriguing. Based solely on his play, he would be a slam dunk. Bush helped USC

win two national championships and won the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 2005. Bush averaged 7.3 yards per carry in his career at USC, including 8.7 yards during his Heisman-winning season. But his Heisman was later vacated after USC was hit with NCAA sanctions after it was found Bush and his family received money and gifts during his time with the Trojans from fledgling marketing agents who were hoping to represent the rising football star. The Heisman Trophy Trust asked Bush to return his trophy in 2010 and stripped him from its record books because he had compromised his NCAA eligibility while playing for USC. The NCAA imposed a 10-year ban on Bush associating publicly with USC.

That ended last year. USC joyously welcomed Bush back into the Trojans community and started making plans to honor him. When the NCAA-imposed disassociation ended, it allowed USC to nominate Bush as a Hall of Fame candidate. “That was good enough for us,” said Steve Hatchell, president and CEO of the National Football Foundation. Bush otherwise could have been eligible for the hall and appeared on the ballot as early as 2017, a year after his 11-year NFL career ended. The College Hall of Fame has shied away _ at times — from honoring players and coaches who have been attached to NCAA or other off-the-field scandals.

But there are no clear-cut guidelines. Last year, Eric Dickerson, who played at SMU in the early 1980s, was finally elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Dickerson played during the era in which cheating was rampant at SMU and the program eventually was given the so-called death penalty by the NCAA for paying players. Dickerson himself was never proved to have broken any NCAA rules. Bush might not have to wait as long as Dickerson to make the hall, but he is unlikely to make it on the first ballot. The NFF tends to steer away from having a school represented in consecutive classes, and former USC quarterback and 2002 Heisman winner Carson Palmer made it last year.

Senior Bowl, NFL to Hold Combine for

Top HBCU Prospects Voice & Viewpoint Newswire It will be held at the University of South Alabama and feature select players from four HBCU conferences — the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the M i d - E a s t e r n At h l e t i c Conference, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — and other HBCU institutions.

select the participants. The Senior Bowl will provide medical and football personnel to collect pre-draft information. The game is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2022. “Over the years, the Senior Bowl has served as a showcase for some of the top Black college football players in America, including seven of our game’s 56 future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this event will help many more HBCU players secure further attention and exposure from all 32 teams,” said Jim Nagy, the game’s executive director.

The first scheduled HBCU combine was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A n H B C U S c o ut i n g Committee, comprised of current and former league executives, will evaluate and

No HBCU players were drafted in 2021, and the only one picked in 2020 went in the seventh round. Alabama State offensive lineman Tytus Howard was a firstround pick by the Houston Texans in 2019 after participating in the Senior Bowl.

The game is better when all have the opportunity to compete.” This article first appeared on The Culture.

The inaugural HBCU combine, scheduled for Jan. 28-29 in 2022, will be similar to the NFL combine with interviews and on-field and medical evaluations.

“Throughout NFL history, HBCU athletes have exemplified a standard of excellence both on and off the field,” said Troy Vincent, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “The HBCU Combine is part of honoring that legacy and making every effort to accelerate exposure of HBCU draft prospects to all NFL clubs.

SPONSORS HAIL

Naomi Osaka’s

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT

to take paid time off work for COVID-19 related reasons.

‘Courage’ on Mental Health By Mae Anderson and Anne D’innocenzio AP

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is now available for workplaces with 26 or more employees and is just one of many leave rights for workers in California. If you or a family member are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19, supplemental paid sick leave can cover:

A few years ago, a star athlete dropping out of a major tennis tournament over mental health issues might have been seen as a sign of weakness. Today, at least for Naomi Osaka’s corporate sponsors, it is being hailed as refreshingly honest.

• Up to 80 hours of leave in addition to permanent paid sick leave

That would explain why so many of them have stuck by Osaka after the fourtime Grand Slam champion announced May 31 that she was withdrawing from the French Open because she didn’t want to appear for the requisite news conferences that caused her “huge waves of anxiety.”

• Getting tested, vaccinated or recovering from vaccine side effects

Osaka, who also acknowledged suffering “long bouts of depression,” received criticism by some who say

• Care for yourself or a family member with COVID-19

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the quarterfinals of the Miami Open on March 31, 2021. Sponsors of Osaka are sticking by her after she withdrew from the French Open citing mental health issues relating to the press conferences required for players. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, said Monday, May 31, she was withdrawing from the French Open for mental health issues. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

the media events are just “ part of the job. ” But Nike, Sweetgreen and other sponsors put out statements in support of the 23-year-old star after she revealed her struggles.

Naomi,” Nike said in a statement.” And Mastercard tweeted: “Naomi Osaka’s decision reminds us all how important it is to prioritize personal health and well-being.”

“Our thoughts are with

See COURAGE page 22

Ask your employer what rights are available to you.

Learn more at saferatwork.ca.gov

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

OBITUARIES Leslie B. Davis-Anderson

Carolyn Scott

SUNRISE

SUNSET

12/18/1941

9/7/1961

5/24/2021

5/20/2021

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

Services were held Monday, June 7, 2021 at Memory Chapel Of AndersonRagsdale Mortuary, Graveside Service was held Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at Glen Abbey Memorial Park.

Visitation was Friday, June 4, 2021 at the Memory Chapel of Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary.

LESLIE B DAVIS-ANDERSON was born December 18, 1941, during the period of World War II. She is 1 out of 12 children born to Walter and Fannie Mae Dickson-Davis. Despite her humble upbringing, she grew into a simple and free-spirited Christian woman of exemplary character with a vibrance to enjoy life. Leslie received her formal education in Blytheville, Arkansas, and San Diego, California in 1958. Leslie, having come to California in support of her elder sister Dorothy Jones whom she admired dearly; it was their inseparable relationship that guided her decision to stay in San Diego and raise a family of her own. Leslie’s natural beauty, kindness, and warm-heartedness left her gullible to romance, yet with each heartbreak, she’d pull strength from humility. Subsequently, she would find her soulmate in 1966, Bobby Anderson, and together they began their life-long union. Leslie loved children and unselfishly gave what little she had to those in need. She loved all children and enjoyed nurturing their developmental faculties. As an employee of the San Diego Unified School District, she became an assistant teacher in 1974. Leslie’s patient and benevolent spirit enabled her to answer a calling. After devoting 27 years of dedicated service to the San Diego Unified School District, she retired from her long pristine career as an educator. Leslie enjoyed her retirement by shopping and often hanging out with her grandkids, which kept her so very happy. As with all of God’s humanity, he bestows charity measured in time to fulfill the aspirations of this life’s journey before the holy spirit passes to the sanctuary. Sadly, after spending approximately two months in the intensive care unit, battling a non-COVID relating illness, painfully we announce Leslie’s passing on May 24, 2021. She is survived by her six children: James Davis, Mitchell Davis, Sheila Davis, Dwayne Gartrell, Stephanie Anderson, and Kendra Anderson. She also leaves behind four sisters, and many friends to cherish her memory, and also her legacy nested in 13 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

“

CAROLYN ANN SCOTT, born in San Diego, California on September 7, 1961, Carolyn was the second youngest of 10 children. She was outgoing and could connect with everyone she met. In high school she excelled as a track star, artist, cheerleader and graduated at the top of her class. She was very close to her family. She had a unique bond to each of her siblings - Charles Patterson, Gwendolyn Patterson, Terry Patterson, Alvin “Ricky” Tannihill, Rose Wilson, Darrell Scott and Willie “Billy” Scott. While Carolyn held various jobs over the years, the one she held the longest and retired from in 2019 was as an Administrative Assistant for the Department of the Navy. As a single mother, she had 3 children; Shay and Brittany who are twins and her youngest Mason. She took devoted care of both her parents – Willie Lee Scott Sr., and Norma Lee Scott, when they became ill. After her parents passed, she would always say that she could hear them and see them, she even spoke to them daily. There was never any doubt that they were there and helped her through her trials and tribulations. Carolyn, through heredity contracted Diabetes in her early thirties. She had a 30-year fight with this disease, a fight she fought with deep determination until her passing. Carolyn is survived by her children; her oldest son Shay Taylor, her daughter Brittany Taylor, and youngest son Mason Taylor, as well as her grandchildren Xavier and Wesley. Her sisters; Gwen Patterson, and Rose Wilson, her brothers Charles Patterson, Terry Patterson, Alvin “Ricky” Tannihill, Darrell Scott and Willie “Billy” Scott Jr., along with a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Carolyn’s mind was never lost, she always gave a piece of it to others, and everyone has been better for it.

Love Lives On

Those we love are never really lost to us — we feel them in so many special ways —

through friends they always cared about and dreams they left

holding on to the things you love,

behind, in beauty that they added to our days… in words of

”

wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be

the things you are, the things you

gone… Those we love are never really lost to us —

never want to lose.

For everywhere their special love lives on.

A. Bradley

ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY 5050 Federal Boulevard San Diego, California 92102 (619) 263-3141 www.andersonragsdalemortuary.com

“STILL FAMILY OWNED STILL THE SAME QUALITY SERVICE STILL WORTHY OF YOUR TRUST”

we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

“A Mind is a terrible thing to Waste”

Memory is a way of

†¢

Brothers and sisters,

H.W. “Skipper” Ragsdale, III Owner (In Memoriam)

Valerie Ragsdale Owner

Continuing over 130 Years of Service

Kevin Weaver General Manager

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, JUne 10, 2021

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Bishop / Pastor Adlai E. Mack, Pastor

Christians’ United in the Word of God

St. Paul United Methodist Church

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of San Diego

7965-B Broadway Street Lemon Grove, California 91945

3094 L Street San Diego, CA 92102

3085 K Street San Diego, CA 92102

619.232.5683

619.232.0510 • www.bethelamesd.com

Conference Call Worship Service: SUNDAYS 10 : 30 AM Call: 1-701-802-5400 Access Code 1720379 #

10 A.M.Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook www.facebook.com/stpaulsumcsd Rev. Dr. Eugenio Raphael

Food distribution Monday walk up noon-3 P.M., Wednesday drive up noon-3 P.M., Thursday walk up noon-3 P.M. Diaper Program Thursday Noon - 2 P.M.

All are Welcome to Join Us.

Pastor Milton Chambers, Sr. & First Lady Alice Chambers

“Come Worship With Us”

New Hope Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

New Assurance Church Ministries

Mesa View Baptist Church

2205 Harrison Avenue San Diego, CA 92113

7024 Amherst Street San Diego, CA 92115

13230 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064

619-234-5506 • Fax 619 234-8732 Email: newhopeadm@gmail.com

619.469.4916 • NABC.ORG Email: newassurancebaptistchurch@yahoo.com

858.485.6110 • www.mesaview.org Email: mvbcadmin@mesaview.org

10 A .M. Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook, Youtube, Sunday School Lesson Immediately following service. 12 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study Live Stream on Facebook, 2P.M. on Youtube

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD! ” Psalms 122:1

Rev. Dr. Obie Tentman, Jr.

9 : 30 A .M. Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook, Youtube and on bethelamesd.com

Rev. Harvey L. Vaughn, III

Pastor Rodney and Christine Robinson

10 A .M. Sunday Service Live Stream Facebook 6: 30 P.M. Wednesday Live Stream Bible Study

“A new Hope, A new Life, A new Way through Jesus Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 A change is coming”

We are using YouTube under our website of www.mesaview.org or www.YouTube.com 8 : 45 A .M. Sunday School Class - Via Zoom Call Contact Office for details 10 A .M. Sunday Service • 7 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study Visit our site for previous sermons: www.mesaview.org

Pastor Dr. Darrow Perkins Jr.

Lively Stones Missionary Baptist Church

Phillips Temple CME Church

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

605 S. 45th Street San Diego, CA 92113-1905

5333 Geneva Ave. San Diego, CA 92114

1728 S. 39th Street San Diego, CA 92113

619.263.3097 • t.obie95@yahoo.com

619.262.2505

619.262.6004 • Fax 619.262.6014 www.embcsd.com

Sunday School 9 : 00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 10 : 30 a.m. Wednesday Prayer 11: 00 a.m. - 12 : 00 noon Wednesday Bible Study 7: 00 p.m.

Sunday School 8 : 30 a.m. Morning Worship 9 : 45 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study 10 : 00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6: 00 p.m.

Pastor Jerry Webb

Sunday School 9 : 30 a.m. Sunday Worship 11: 00 a.m. Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 12 p.m. & 6 : 00 p.m.

Pastor Jared B. Moten

“A Life Changing Ministry” Romans 12:2

Bethel Baptist Church

Total Deliverance Worship Center

1819 Englewood Dr. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

1962 N. Euclid Ave. San Diego, CA 92105

138 28th Street San Diego, CA 92102

619.724.6226 • www.coyhm.org

619.266.2411 • www.bethelbc.com bethel@bethelbc.com

www.totaldeliverance.org

The Church of Yeshua Ha Mashiach Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah”

Pastor Dennis Hodge First Lady Deborah Hodges

Pastor Dr. John E. Warren

Sunday In the Know Bible Study 8 : 00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service 9 : 00 a.m. Saturday Shabbat Service 1: 00-2 : 30 p.m.

Dr. John W. Ringgold, Sr. Pastor

Sunday Morning Prayer 6 : 00 & Worship 7: 30 a.m. Sunday School 9 : 30 a.m. Morning Worship Youth & Children’s Church 11: 00 a.m. Community Prayer (Hemera) Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sat . 7: 30 a.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 7: 30 p.m. Mid Week Prayer Wednesday 12 : 00 noon and 7: 00 p.m.

Suffragan Bishop Dr. William A. Benson, Pastor & Dr. Rachelle Y. Benson, First Lady

Sunday Early Morning Worship Service 9 : 00 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m.

“It Takes Team Work to Make the Dream Work”

Eagles Nest

Christian Center

Mount Olive Baptist Church

Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church

3619 College Ave. San Diego, CA 92115

36 South 35th Street San Diego, Ca 92113

4995 A Street San Diego, CA 92102

619.266.2293 • jwarren@sdvoice.info www.facebook.com/EaglesNestCenter

619.239.0689 • mountolivebcsd.org

619.264.3369

Sunday First Worship 9 : 30 a.m. Second Worship 11: 00 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study & Prayer 7: 00 p.m. Cox Cable Channel 23 / 24

Sunday School 9 : 00 a.m. Morning Service 10 : 45 a.m. New Membership Orientation BTU 6 : 00 p.m. Wednesday Eve Prayer Service 6 : 00 p.m.

Sunday Services: Bible Study: 9 : 00 a.m. • Worship: 11: 00 a.m.

Pastor Antonio D. Johnson

Join Us via Zoom Meeting:

Real God, Real People, Real Results.

Online or Dial: 1(669) 900-6833 Meeting ID : 747 601 3471 • Passcode: 626024 _ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7476013471?pwd = O GdGbnVMZ0xORzVGaENMa203QWVNQT09 Meeting ID : 747 601 3471 • Passcode: church

YOU CAN NOW EXPERIENCE EAGLE’S NEST TEACHINGS ON YOUTUBE! Search: Pastor John E. Warren San Diego

Minister Donald R. Warner Sr.

We are a non-denominational full fellowship of believers dedicated to reach our community with the gospel and providing a place for believers to workship, learn, fellowship, serve and grow into the fullness of Christ Jesus. This ministry is to build people of Purpose, Prayer, Power, Praise and Prosperity. This mandate is being fulfilled by reaching the reality of the gospel in a simplistic fashion, and a result, learning how to apply it in everyday life.

Eagles Nest Christian Center

“We are waiting for You”

Fax: 619.303.2008 Mail : 7373 University Ave. Suite 217, La Mesa, CA 91942

Pastor Donnell and First Lady Sheila Townsend

“To Serve this present age” Matt: 28:19-20

Church of Christ

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church

580 69th Street, San Diego, CA 92114

625 Quail Street San Diego, CA 92102

619.264.1454 • warnerdt1@aol.com

619.263.4544

Sunday Bible Study 8 : 45 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 10 : 00 a.m. Sunday Bible Class 5: 00 p.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6: 00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Class 7: 00 p.m. Friday Video Bible Class 7: 00 p.m.

Sunday School 9 : 30 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11: 00 a.m. Sunday Evening Service 6: 00 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 6: 00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6: 30 p.m. Wednesday Youth Bible Study 6: 30 p.m.

Calvary Baptist Church

Pastor Rev. Julius R. Bennett

Your Congregation Church Here!

719 Cesar E. Chavez Pkwy San Diego, CA 92113 619.233.6487 • www.calvarybcsd.org calvarybaptist1889@gmail.com

Dr. Emanuel Whipple, Sr. Th.D.

Sundays Bible Discovery Hour 9 : 30 a.m. Mid Morning Worship 11: 00 a.m. Wednesday Noon Day Bible Study 12 : 00 noon Wednesday Discipleship Training 7: 00 p.m.

Don’t miss this opportunity! For only $ 99 monthly

Call Us at (619) 266-2233 or Email: ads@sdvoice.info

“A Church Where Family, Faith & Fellowship Matters”

CHURCH DIRECTORY ADS

$ 99

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS (EFFECTIVE MAY 6, 2021) Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code sections 101040, 120175, and 120175.5 (b) the Health Officer of the County of San Diego (Health Officer) ORDERS AS FOLLOWS: Effective immediately, and continuing until further notice, the following will be in effect for San Diego County (county): 1. All persons shall comply with applicable State orders, regulations, and guidance regarding COVID-19 prevention including relevant guidance when participating in those sectors listed in sections 10 and 11, below. 2. All “gatherings,” shall be in conformance with the April 15, 2021 California Department of Public Health Updated Guidance for Gatherings found at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/ Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ COVID-19/Guidance-forthePrevention-of-COVID-19Transmission-for-GatheringsNovember-2020.aspx. 3. SCHOOLS a. All public, charter, and private schools may hold classes and other school activities only under circumstances permitted by the State and in compliance with the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 20202021 School Year guidance (available at: https://www.cdph. ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/ CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Consolidated_Schools_Guidance.pdf), and as may be updated or superseded. Institutions of higher education may hold classes or other school activities only under circumstances permitted by the State and in compliance with the COVID – 19 Industry Guidance: Institutions of Higher Education and as may be updated or superseded. A written, worksite-specific COVID-19 prevention plan as stated in their applicable state guidance may be used by schools and institutions of higher education in lieu of a Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol or Safe Reopening Plan. b. All school districts, charter schools, and private schools serving grades TK – 12 inclusive, shall report the following to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) on or before the second and fourth Monday of each month, in a format designated by SDCOE: i. Number of students participating in full-time in-person learning, by school site and school district, if applicable. ii. Number of students participating in hybrid learning (a mix of in-person and distance learning) by school site and school district, if applicable. iii. Number of students participating in distance learning by school site and school district, if applicable.

iv. Number of school employees who work onsite at a school, by school site and school district, if applicable. v. The name, email, mailing address, and phone number of the person responsible for responding to complaints regarding COVID-19 prevention, by school site and school district, if applicable. SDCOE shall report this information to the County of San Diego by the end of business on the following day (Tuesday) and shall post this information on its publicly facing website. c. All school districts, charter schools, and private schools serving grades TK – 12 inclusive, as required in the most recent COVID -19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs, shall notify local health officials immediately of any positive case of COVID-19, and exposed staff and families, as relevant, while maintaining confidentiality as required by state and federal laws. 4. Child daycare and child care providers shall operate in compliance with the measures set forth in State COVID-19 Updated Guidance: Child Care Programs and Providers and shall prepare and post a Safe Reopening Plan pursuant to section 11c, below. 5. “Non-essential personnel,” as defined in section 15a below, are prohibited from entry into any hospital or long-term care facility. All essential personnel who are COVID-19 positive or show any potential signs or symptoms of COVID-19 are strictly prohibited from entry into hospitals or long-term care facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, individuals requiring medical care for COVID-19 or related conditions may be admitted to hospitals or other medical facilities if the hospital or medical facility is appropriate for treating COVID-19 and has adequate precautions in place to protect its patients, medical personnel and staff. 6. Hospitals and healthcare providers, including dentists shall: a. Take measures to preserve and prioritize resources; and, b. May authorize and perform non-emergent or elective surgeries or procedures based on their determination of clinical need and supply capacity, and where consistent with State guidance. c. Nothing in this Order shall prevent physicians and other healthcare providers from conducting routine preventive care provided it conforms to any applicable State guidance. d. Nothing in this Order shall prevent dentists or dental hygienists from conducting routine preventive care provided it conforms to any applicable State guidance.

7. Hospitals, healthcare providers, pharmacies, commercial testing laboratories, and any other setting conducting testing shall report all positive and non-positive (i.e., negative, indeterminate, and specimen unsatisfactory) test results from nucleic acid amplification tests, antibody tests, and antigen diagnostic tests for SARSCoV-2 to the Public Health Officer immediately after such results are received. 8. Face coverings shall be worn as described and required in California Department of Public Health Face Covering Guidance issued on May 3, 2021, (available at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/ Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ COVID-19/guidance-for-facecoverings.aspx). 9. All businesses not meeting the definition of essential business or State authorized sector in section 10 and 11 below are referred to in this Order as “non-essential businesses” and shall be and remain closed for the duration of this Order. All essential businesses and businesses and entities in State authorized sectors must comply with the requirements of this Order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any business may remain open if its employees and owners can provide its services from home, including by telecommuting, without direct contact with the public. 10. ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES a. “Essential business” is any business or activity (or a business/ activity that employs/utilizes workers) designated by the State Public Health Officer as “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” set forth in: https:// covid19.ca.gov/img/Essential CriticalInfrastructureWorkers. pdf) as that list may be updated from time-to-time, and referenced in Executive Order N-3320 issued by the Governor of the State of California. b. All essential businesses that allow members of the public to enter a facility must prepare and post a “Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol” on the form available at: https:// www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/ phs/Epidemiology/covid19/SOCIAL_DISTANCING_AND_ SANITATION_PROTOCOL_04022020_V1.pdf), or on a form required by another governmental entity requiring substantially similar information, for each of their facilities open to the public in the county. The Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility, and shall be easily viewable by the public and employees. A copy of the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must also be provided to each employee performing work at the facility. All essential businesses shall implement the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol and provide evidence of its implementation to any authority enforcing this Order upon demand. The Social

Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must describe all measures required in section c below. Any business that fails to prepare and successfully implement a Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol shall immediately close. c. When the State of California has issued an industry guidance, or any subsequent amendments thereto, with mandatory or suggested restrictions and/ or measures to be implemented by a particular sector of essential business, every essential business in that sector must comply with the guidance and shall include in its Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol (prepared pursuant to section b, above) all of the measures listed in the industry guidance. Any mandatory measures required by this Order must also be included in a Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol. 11. STATE AUTHORIZED SECTORS a. A “State authorized sector” is a type of business or activity that is not an essential business as defined in section 10a above, and is operating in conformance with the State of California’s Plan for Reducing COVID-19 and Adjusting Permitted Sector Activities to Keep Californians Healthy and Safe. State authorized sectors by tier assignment are identified here: https://covid19. ca.gov/safer-economy/. b. All State authorized sectors, with the exception of restaurants, bars, wineries, distilleries and breweries which do not limit services to take-out or delivery, must prepare and post a “Safe Reopening Plan” on the form available at: https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/ dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/ Epidemiology/covid19/Community_Sector_Support/BusinessesandEmployers/SafeReopeningPlanTemplate.pdf for each of their facilities in the county. Restaurants bars, wineries, distilleries and breweries which do not limit services to take-out or delivery, must prepare and post a “COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol” on the form found at https://www.sandiegocounty. gov/content/dam/sdc/deh/fhd/ food/pdf/covid19sdrestaurantoperatingprotocol_en.pdf for each restaurant in the county. c. The Safe Reopening Plan, or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol, must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility, and shall be easily viewable by the public and employees. A copy of the Safe Reopening Plan must also be provided to each employee performing work at the facility. All businesses or entities in a State authorized sector shall implement the Safe Reopening Plan, or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol, and provide evidence of its implementation to any authority enforcing this Order upon demand. The Safe

Reopening Plan, or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol, must describe all measures required in section d, below. Any business that fails to prepare and comply with its Safe Reopening Plan or COVID-19 Restaurant Operating Protocol, shall immediately close. d. When the State of California has issued an industry guidance, or any subsequent amendments thereto, with mandatory or suggested restrictions and/or measures to be implemented by a particular State authorized sector, every business or entity in that sector must comply with the guidance and shall include in its Safe Reopening Plan or Restaurant Operating Protocol (prepared pursuant to section b, above) all of the measures listed in the industry guidance. Any mandatory measures required by this Order must also be included in a Safe Reopening Plan. 12. Each essential business, and business or entity in a State authorized sector, shall take all of the following actions if an employer becomes aware that an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19: a. Promptly notify the County Department of Public Health that there is an employee that is laboratory-confirmed diagnosed with COVID-19, together with the name, date of birth, and contact information of the employee. b. Cooperate with the County Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 response team to identify and provide contact information for any persons exposed by the employee at the workplace. c. Provide notice of the exposure to any employees, and contractors (who regularly work at the workplace), who may have been exposed to COVID-19, as stated in the State’s COVID-19 Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening, available at {https://files.covid19.ca.gov/ pdf/employer-playbook-forsafe-reopening--en.pdf}. 13. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATION Indoor and Outdoor recreation should occur consistent with applicable state guidance.. 14. Persons who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who are likely to have COVID-19, shall comply with the Order of the Health Officer titled: “Isolation of All Persons with or Likely to have COVID-19”, or as subsequently amended. Persons who have a close contact with a person who either has COVID-19, or is likely to have COVID-19, shall comply with the Order of the Health Officer titled: “Quarantine of Persons Exposed to COVID-19,” or as subsequently amended. Both orders are available at: https:// www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/ community_epidemiology/

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

How long does protection from COVID-19 vaccines last? HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS (EFFECTIVE MAY 6, 2021) CONTINUATION dc/2019-nCoV/health-order.html. If a more specific isolation or quarantine order is issued to a person, that order shall be followed. 15. For purposes of this Order: a. “Non-essential personnel” are employees, contractors, or members of the public who do not perform treatment, maintenance, support, or administrative tasks deemed essential to the healthcare mission of the long-term care facility or hospital. Non-essential personnel do not include first responders, nor State, federal, or local officials, investigators, or medical personnel carrying out lawful duties. Non-essential personnel do not include visitors to hospitals and long-term care facilities who are granted entry by the facility’s director, or designee, because they are family or friends who are visiting a resident in an end of life or similar situation, are parents or guardians visiting a child who is a patient, or because of any other circumstances deemed appropriate by the facility director, or designee, and where appropriate precautions by the facility that follow federal, State, and local public health guidance regarding COVID-19 are followed. b. “Social distancing” is maintaining a six-foot separation from all persons except for household members, first responders and medical providers or employees conducting temperature screenings. 16. This Order is issued as a result of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 disease, also known as “novel coronavirus.” 17. This Order is issued based on scientific evidence regarding the most effective approaches to slow the transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically, as well as best practices as currently known and available to protect vulnerable members of the public from avoidable risk of serious illness or death resulting from exposure to COVID-19. The age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the county places it at risk for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19. Although most individuals who contract COVID-19 do not become seriously ill, persons with mild symptoms and asymptomatic persons with COVID-19 may place other vulnerable members of the public—such as older adults, and those with underlying health conditions—at significant risk. 18. The actions required by this Order are necessary to reduce the number of individuals who will be exposed to COVID-19, and will thereby slow the spread of COVID-19 in the county. By reducing the spread of COVID-19, this Order will help preserve critical and limited healthcare capacity in the county and will save lives. 19. This Order is issued in accordance with, and incorporates by reference: a) the Declaration of Local Health Emergency issued by the Health Officer on February 14, 2020; b) the Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the County Director of Emergency Services on February

14, 2020; c) the action of the County Board of Supervisors to ratify and continue both the local health emergency and local emergency on February 19, 2020; d) the Proclamation of a State of Emergency issued by the Governor of the State of California on March 4, 2020; e) Executive Order N-25-20 issued by the Governor of the State of California on March 12, 2020 which orders that “All residents are to heed any orders and guidance of state and local health officials, including but not limited to the imposition of social distancing measures, to control COVID-19”; f) Proclamation 9984 regarding COVID-19 issued by the President of the United States on March 11, 2020; g) Executive Order N-33-20 issued by the Governor of the State of California on March 19, 2020; h) the “Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Nursing Homes” issued by the CDC; i) COVID-19 guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health on including, but not limited to the Face Coverings Guidance issued on May 3, 2021; j) the State of California’s “Resilience Roadmap;” k) the State of California’s Plan for Reducing COVID-19 and Adjusting Permitted Sector Activities to Keep Californians Healthy and Safe; l) and the California Statewide Public Health Officer Order dated August 28, 2020. 20. This Order is issued to prevent circumstances often present in gatherings that may exacerbate the spread of COVID-19, such as: 1) the increased likelihood that gatherings will attract people from a broad geographic area; 2) the prolonged time period in which large numbers of people are in close proximity; 3) the difficulty in tracing exposure when large numbers of people attend a single event or are at a single location; and 4) the inability to ensure that such persons follow adequate hygienic practices. 21. This Order is issued to provide additional opportunities for recreational activities while also requiring additional protections from the spread of COVID-19 to the public who are taking advantage of these opportunities for recreational activities. And providing additional protections for employees of essential businesses or businesses or entities in State authorized sectors and their customers/ clients. 22. This Order is issued to protect the public health as businesses are allowed to reopen by requiring businesses to implement procedures necessary to ensure their employees and customers comply with social distancing, sanitation and screening practices. 23. This Order comes after the release of substantial guidance from the Health Officer, the California Department of Public Health, the CDC, and other public health officials throughout the United States and around the world. 24. The statement of facts and circumstances set forth as justification for each Guidance issued by the California Department of Health Services that is referenced in this Order

are hereby accepted and incorporated by reference into this Order. 25. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 120175.5 (b) all governmental entities in the county shall take necessary measures within the governmental entity’s control to ensure compliance with this Order and to disseminate this Order to venues or locations within the entity’s jurisdiction where gatherings may occur. 26. Violation of this Order is subject to fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety Code section 120295.) 27. To the extent necessary, this Order may be enforced by the Sheriff or chiefs of police pursuant to Government Code sections 26602 and 41601 and Health and Safety Code section 101029. 28. Once this Order takes effect it shall supersede the Order of the Health Officer and Emergency Regulations dated April 6, 2020.

IT IS SO ORDERED: Date: May 6, 2021 Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. Public Health Officer County of San Diego

EMERGENCY REGULATIONS As Director of Emergency Services for the County of San Diego, I am authorized to promulgate regulations for the protection of life and property pursuant to Government Code Section 8634 and San Diego County Code section 31.103. The following shall be in effect for the duration of the Health Officer Order issued above which is incorporated in its entirety by reference: The Health Officer Order shall be promulgated as a regulation for the protection of life and property. Any person who violates or who refuses or willfully neglects to obey this regulation is subject to fine, imprisonment, or both. (Government Code section 8665.) Date: May 6, 2021 Helen Robbins-Meyer Chief Administrative Officer Director of Emergency Services County of San Diego

THIS ORDER AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS DO NOT SUPERSEDE MORE RESTRICTIVE STATE ORDERS OR GUIDANCE. ALL PERSONS MUST REFERENCE BOTH THIS DOCUMENT AND APPLICABLE STATE ORDERS AND GUIDANCE. TO THE EXTENT THERE IS ANY INCONSISTENCY THE MORE RESTRICTIVE MEASURE APPLIES.

(AP Photo)

By Candice Choi Associated Press

Experts don’t know yet because they’re still studying vaccinated people to see when protection might wear off. How well the vaccines work against emerging variants will also determine if, when and how often additional shots might be needed. “We only have information for as long as the vaccines have been studied,” said Deborah Fuller, a vaccine researcher at the University of Washington. “We have to study the vaccinated population and start to see, at what point do people become vulnerable again to the virus?” So far, Pfizer’s ongoing trial indicates the company’s two-dose vaccine remains highly effective for at least six months, and likely longer. People who got Moderna’s vaccine also still had notable levels of virus-fighting antibodies six months after the second required shot. Antibodies also don’t tell the whole story. To fight off intruders like viruses, our immune systems also have another line of defense called B and T cells, some of which can hang around long after antibody levels dwindle. If they encounter the same virus in the future, those battle-tested cells could potentially spring into action more quickly. Even if they don’t prevent illness entirely, they could help blunt its severity. But exactly what role such “memory” cells might play with the coronavirus -- and for how long -- isn’t yet known. While the current COVID-19 vaccines will likely last for at least about a year, they probably won’t offer lifelong protection, as with measles shots, said

Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, a vaccine expert at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “It’s going to be somewhere in the middle of that very wide range,” she said. Variants are another reason we might need an additional shot. The current vaccines are designed to work against a particular spike protein on the coronavirus, said Mehul Suthar of the Emory Vaccine Center. If the virus mutates enough over time, vaccines might need to be updated to boost their effectiveness.

MORE VIRAL QUESTIONS: • What is a COVID-19 vaccine passport, and will I need one? • Are some COVID-19 vaccines more effective than others? • Can I take painkillers before or after a COVID-19 vaccine? So far, the vaccines appear protective against the notable variants that have emerged, though somewhat less so on the one first detected in South Africa. If it turns out we need another shot, a single dose could extend protection of the current shots or contain vaccination for one or more variants. The need for follow-up shots will also depend partly on the success of the vaccination push globally, and tamping down transmission of the virus and emerging variants. The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org.

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

COVID-19 UPDATES

California Plans to Reopen on June 15, 2021: What Will Change? By Cori Zaragoza Contributing Writer

As the days creep closer to June 15, 2021, many San Diegans wonder what the city will look like after Governor Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan is put in place. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), life may start looking much more like it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDPH has released new guidelines and restrictions for indoor and outdoor settings, with many restrictions being dropped completely. Previously, California oper-

ated on a color-coded tier system which determined what kind of business could operate and how many patrons they could serve, based on rates of infection in individual counties. After June 15, the tier system will be terminated completely, meaning that businesses will no longer have to worry about what tier they are in. This means restaurants, gyms, hotels, bars, hair salons, and retail shops will have no restrictions on physical distancing or capacity limitations. Additionally, according to a press release by Governor Newsom, 99% of schools will fully reopen in the fall of 2021 and 89%

Timothy Musomba, pictured here, wears a mask while viewing sculptures at the newly re-opened Getty Center amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles. Business and agricultural groups are renewing their criticism of new rules adopted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s workplace regulators. But there is little chance they can quickly change them unless Newsom steps in, which he seemed disinclined to do Friday. Critics say the rules conflict with the state’s broader lifting of masking and other pandemic precautions in less than two weeks. They mean workers will have to wear masks unless every employee in the room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. That differs from broader rules taking effect June 15 that say fully vaccinated people can skip face coverings and distancing in nearly all situations. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

of school districts in California will offer some sort of in-person learning opportunities over the summer of 2021.

Masks may still be made mandatory by some businesses and, of course, anyone can wear a mask if they want to. Fully vaccinated people will no longer be required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors, although the State has yet to make a plan on how to determine how businesses will know the vaccinated from the unvaccinated. The CDPH has stated that, for now, masks

will still be required by most indoor businesses regardless of vaccination status but this may change as time goes on. Mega events, defined as public or social engage-

The Yellow Tier:

What’s Opened Up? Everyday life will feel a lot like before COVID-19. Restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, and most everyday places (does not apply to schools, health care settings and some other public settings) will be open as normal with no capacity limits or social distancing required. Of course, anyone can wear a mask anytime they’d like, especially around children and others who are vulnerable or not yet eligible for vaccination. All Californians will continue to follow state masking guidelines as well as state and CDC travel guidelines. Expect further guidance from the California Department of Public by next week.

Mega Events Some public health measures will remain for mega events (5,000+ people indoors or 10,000+ outdoors). Think concerts, sporting events, festivals, and conventions. Mega events are high risk for spreading covid-19 - they attract more people who gather in crowds.

ICYMI

Indoor mega event attendees will be required to confirm proof of vaccination or negative covid-19 status to attend. Outdoor mega event attendees will be strongly encouraged to do so.

OPEN If all guests tested or show proof of full vaccination, maximum of 300 people.

Open with safety precautions:

What’s Next? California will keep a close eye on covid-19 vaccination and infection rates over the summer and keep these guidelines in place until at least October 1, 2021.

Gatherings Informal gatherings • Indoors discouraged. Maximum 50% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer. • Outdoors. Maximum of 100 people. Private events (meetings, receptions, conferences) • Required: purchased tickets or defined guest list; assigned seating; testing and vaccination can increase capacity. • Indoors. If all guests tested or show proof of full vaccination, maximum 150 people. • Outdoors. Maximum 100 people.

• Critical infrastructure (Essential workforce) • Non-urgent medical and dental care • Child care and pre-K • Retail, shopping centers, grocery stores

Open with additional modifications 100% masking and physical distancing required. • Restaurants: 50% capacity, no number limit. Can have live entertainment. • Hotels and lodging: Open. Fitness centers: 50% capacity. Indoor pools and spas open. • Offices: Open indoors. Remote work encouraged. • Gyms and fitness centers: Indoors at 50%, and saunas and steam rooms open.

• Places of worship: Indoors at 50% capacity. • Hair salons and barbershops • Personal care services: (includes nail salons, tattoo, piercing) • Museums, zoos, and aquariums: Indoors at full capacity. • Movie theaters: Indoors at 50% capacity no number limit. • Breweries, wineries and distilleries that serve food: Indoors open at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer. • Bars that do not serve food: Outdoors open. Indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. • Family entertainment centers: (includes bowling alleys, arcades) Indoors at 50% capacity or 75% if all guests test negative or show proof of full vaccination. • Cardrooms and satellite wagering. Indoors at 50% capacity. • Limited services: Open • Outdoor recreational facilities: Open. Sales of food, drink or alcohol allowed. Campgrounds can open.

Newsom’s “Vax for the Win” CA Governor aims to get more Quick Facts Californians vaccinated by June 15 “VAX for the Win” QUICK FACTS

Voice & Viewpoint Staff Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom put $116.5 million dollars on the line to boost California’s vaccination numbers. Newsom launched “Vax for the Win,” a new multi-faceted vaccine incentive program designed to motivate Californians to get their vaccination leading up to the state’s reopening on June 15. It’s an extra nudge to those who still need to get vaccinated against COVID-19, especially those in hard-to-reach communities, while also thanking everyone who has already been vaccinated.

What is “VAX for the Win”? • California’s $116.5M Va c c i n e Incentive Program – the Biggest in the Nation – meant to boost vaccinations and help safely reopen the economy on June 15 • It began May 27 • $16.5M in cash prizes available for all vaccinated Californians • $100M incentive cards for newly vaccinated Californians Visit www.covid19.ca.gov/ vax-for-the-win for more information

Who’s eligible?

• You live in California • You are aged 12 and older • You have received at least a first dose of your

While the inexplicable loss and hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic are still fresh, California hopes to start anew with this reopening plan and get it’s residents back to a certain state of normalcy.

WE ARE

By Voice & Viewpoint Staff

Everyday Life

ments that include either 5,000 people indoors or 10,000 people outdoors, will still be under certain restrictions to be able to operate. For indoor mega events,

attendees must either prove they have the COVID-19 vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test before entering the event. Outdoor events are not required to do the same, but it is heavily recommended that they also require the same guidelines for entrance.

COVID-19 vaccine

Got vaccinated prior to May 27th?

• You’re already entered to win cash prizes!

Check your calendar! $16.5M in Cash Prizes for All Vaccinated Californians • July 15 - 10 vaccinated Californians will each receive $1.5M in grand cash prizes • June 4 and June 11, “$50,000 Fridays” for 30 California winners $100M Incentive Cards for Newly Vaccinated Californians • $50 Virtual Prepaid Cards (prepaid or grocery card), beginning May 27, for the next 2 million vaccinated Californians • Automatic eligibility

for Californians who begin and complete their COVID-19 vaccination • Californians will receive a text message or email with an electronic prepaid card redemption code 7-10 days after their two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna, or single dose of Johnson and Johnson • Those without a mobile phone, email address or permanent address can receive a physical card by calling 1-833-993-3873, 7-10 days after receiving their final dose

• Indoor playgrounds: (bounce centers, ball pits, laser tag). Open at 50% capacity. 75% if all guests test or show full proof of vaccination. • Amusement parks: Open at 35% capacity. Indoor capacity 25%. • Outdoor live events: (including sports or entertainment). 67% capacity in assigned seating. • Indoor seated live events and performances. All venues: In-state visitors only. All tickets delivered digital, advanced purchase only. Designated eating area (no eating/drinking allowed in seats). • Venues: 0-1,500 ■ Maximum 25% or 300 people. ■ 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. • Venues: 1,501 and above ■ 10% capacity or 2000, whatever is fewer. ■ 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. SOURCE: San Diego County HHSA and CDPH

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

COVID-19 STATUS

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES

280,878

REPORTED TESTS

5,095,536

VISIT US ONLINE AT

sdvoice.info/covid-19 FOR MORE COVID-19 UPDATES AND the CDC Coronavirus Symptom Self-Checker

COVID-19 STATUS

San Diego County

HOSPITALIZED

15,447

Find your vaccination site

(mobile sites available too!) Visit the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website or the State’s MyTurn.ca.gov or call the CA COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255.

Statewide

cases per 100k: 2.0 Positivity rate: 0.8%

ICU

1,711 SOURCE: Calif. Dept. of Public Health as of 6/8/21

Status: MINIMAL cases per 100k: 1.9 Positivity rate: 1.1%

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Classified ads can be placed in person, by phone, fax, or email Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. P: 619-266-2233 F: 619-266-0533 E: ads@sdvoice.info

CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES BUSINESS FOR SALE

LEGAL NOTICES

Custom T-Shirt Printing Business for Sale

5725 Mira Flores Drive San Diego, CA 92114 California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 20, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 20, 2026 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9009986 Fictitious business name(s):

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9009018 Fictitious business name(s):

Complete Shop in Business for over 40 years Great 2 or 3 man shop Contact: Nathan Brooks (619) 661-6086 BandDEnterprises@gmail.com

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAMES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9010872 Fictitious business name(s): Lero Luxe PMU

Located at: 1730 Monroe Ave Suite A San Diego, CA 92116 County of San Diego --6482 Ambrosia Drive Apt 5205 San Diego, CA 92124 This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Valeriia Horiuk 6482 Ambrosia Drive Apt 5205 San Diego, CA 92124 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on June 01, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on June 01, 2026 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/01 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9010131 Fictitious business name(s): Cool Way Radiator & Air Conditioning

Located at: 3362 National Avenue San Diego, CA 92113 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A General Partnership The first day of business was 03/15/1989 This business is hereby registered by the following: Fidel Rodriguez Contreras 3362 National Av San Diego, CA 92113 --Caligula LeKon Williams, Sr. 706 F St. #61 Chula Vista, CA 91910 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 20, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 20, 2026 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/01 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9010769 Fictitious business name(s): Surf Mafia Athletic Apparel & Design --Central Surf San Diego

Located at: 10217 Wintercrest Dr. Apt 319 Lakeside, CA 92040 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was 5/28/2021 This business is hereby registered by the following: Constance Denise Graham 10217 Wintercrest Dr. Apt 319 Lakeside, CA 92040 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 28, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 28, 2026 6/03, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008963 Fictitious business name(s): Quality Shoe Shine

Located at: 5389 Santa Margarita St #26 San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego --PO Box 742125 San Diego, CA 92174 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was 10/07/2019

This business is hereby registered by the following: Lidia K Abraha 5389 Santa Margarita St #26 San Diego, CA 92114 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 03, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 03, 2026 6/03, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008686 Fictitious business name(s): Mel’s Paint n’ un’whine

Located at: 7684 Normal ave La Mesa, CA 91941 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was 01/01/2020 This business is hereby registered by the following: Melody McBride 7684 Normal ave La Mesa, CA 91941 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 29, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on April 29, 2026 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9009259 Fictitious business name(s): The ATW Group, LLC DBA ATW Deals

Located at: 8810 Jamacha Blvd Ste C Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was 5/7/2021 This business is hereby registered by the following: The ATW Group, LLC 8810 Jamacha Blvd Ste C Spring Valley, CA 91977 California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 07, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 07, 2026 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9009703 Fictitious business name(s): 1st rule

Located at: 4764 Regatta Ln San Diego, CA 92154 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Henry Gonzalez

4764 Regatta Ln San Diego, CA 92154 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 12, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 12, 2026 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9010116 Fictitious business name(s): LONG’S HVACR

Located at: 5725 Mira Flores Drive San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Dearcy H. Long

BossladyBling.info --BossladyBling.info $5 Jewelry Collections

Located at: 6247 Amesbury St. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was 01/01/2020 This business is hereby registered by the following: Tanya L. Murphy

6247 Amesbury St. San Diego, CA 92114 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 18, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 18, 2026 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008782 Fictitious business name(s): AMDM ENTERPRISES

Located at: 5378 Imperial Ave., #3 San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was 04/20/2017 This business is hereby registered by the following: Angelia P. Pettway-Hollin

5378 Imperial Avenue, #3 San Diego, CA 92114 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 30, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on April 30, 2026 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008903 Fictitious business name(s): Stay Polish -D Pro Cleaning

Located at: 6821 Panamint Row #2 San Diego, CA 92139 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Chree J. Wilson 6821 Panamint Row Unit 2 San Diego, CA 92139 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 01, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 01, 2026 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008548 Fictitious business name(s): K & L Transport

Located at: 772 Jamacha Rd 140 El Cajon, CA 92019 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was 11/23/2020 This business is hereby registered by the following: K & L Collaboration LLC 772 Jamacha Rd 140 El Cajon, CA 92019 California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 28, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on April 28, 2026 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10

Gresham Consortium

Located at: 7550 Harlan Place San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Carla Tucker Gresham 7550 Harlan Place San Diego, CA 92114 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 04, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 04, 2026 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008360 Fictitious business name(s): South Bay Vibes

Located at: 1735 Melrose Ave #53 Chula Vista, CA 91911 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Dwight Timothy Scott III 1735 Melrose Ave #53 Chula Vista, CA 91911 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 27, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on April 27, 2026 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9009661 Fictitious business name(s): SDMED Inc

Located at: 833 Broadway, Ste#201-H El Cajon, CA 92021 County of San Diego --494 El Monte RD El Cajon, CA 92020 This business is conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: SDMED Inc 833 Broadway, Ste#201-H El Cajon, CA 92021 California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 12, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 12, 2026 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10 -----------------------------------FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2021-9008911 Fictitious business name(s): Compass Therapeutic Solutions

Located at: 4142 Adams Ave., Ste.103-331 San Diego, CA 92116 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Molly Ferguson Moell 4828 35th St. San Diego, CA 92116 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 01, 2021 This fictitious business name will expire on May 01, 2026 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10

Subscribe online: www.sdvoice.info

LEGAL NOTICES NAME CHANGE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2021-00014597CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Lorena Denise McElhaney To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Lorena Denise McElhaney filed a petition with this court for a decree changing name as follows: PRESENT NAME: Lorena Denise McElhaney PROPOSED NAME: Lorina Denise McElhaney THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: July 13, 2021 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a remote hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future remote hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

Include the following information: • • • •

Full Name Billing address Date(s) you want the ad to appear Contact phone number

All classified ads are prepaid.

Deadline is Tuesdays by NOON to run that week. • Name Change: $85.00 (4 weeks) • Standard Classified: $3.75 a line • Summons: $130.00 (4 weeks) • Fictitious Business Name: $25.00 (4 weeks)

WE ACCEPT: LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.)

TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future remote hearing date.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a remote hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/03, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 ----------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego Central Division 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 37-2021-00021170CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Brandon Jimenez To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Brandon Jimenez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing name as follows: PRESENT NAME: Brandon Jimenez PROPOSED NAME: Brandon Taylor Ortega Aguilar THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 30, 2021 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.) The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/03, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 ----------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division 37-2021-00017166CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Maglay Vazquez Lira To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Maglay Vazquez Lira filed a petition with this court for a decree changing name as follows: PRESENT NAME: Evangeline Mabelle Barreto PROPOSED NAME: Evangeline Mabelle Vazquez Lira THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 24, 2021 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a remote hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future remote hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.) The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 ----------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2021-00022127CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Maryann Darby AKA Midan Darby AKA Meliann Burns To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Maryann Darby AKA Midan Darby AKA Meliann Burns filed a petition with this court for a decree changing name as follows: PRESENT NAME: Maryann Darby AKA Midan Darby AKA Meliann Burns PROPOSED NAME: Meliann Burns THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: July 06, 2021 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made: NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

LEGAL NOTICES

Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

Keep up with the community

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a remote hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future remote hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.) The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 5/27, 6/03, 6/10, 6/17 -----------------------------------SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 37-2021-00019136CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Yahmeiliyah Jaqueal Williams-Drummond To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Yahmeiliyah Jaqueal Williams-Drummond filed a petition with this court for a decree changing name as follows: PRESENT NAME: Yahmeiliyah Jaqueal Williams-Drummond

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a remote hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future remote hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.)

The Voice & Viewpoint

is offering its digital edition free online so you can stay informed.

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 5/20, 5/27, 6/03, 6/10

Standard Classified:

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 21, 2021 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court’s facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following Order is made:

[per line]

---

Fictitious Business Name:

$25 ---

Visit our website at

$85

sdvoice.

[4 weeks]

Name Change:

ARTICLE CONTINUATION DIVIDE: continued from page 3

It works for families. Families will get and stay connected to the internet and not be forced to stop and start service month after month as they struggle to afford even the $10 rate. These customers would be guaranteed a robust tier of internet service rather than having to take their chances with what the market may provide that month. It works for industry. As

Journalism: continued from page 5

“Thank you to all the journalists, reporters, editors, photographers and publishers who work long hours without recognition every day. You are committed to telling stories and covering underreported stories that we would otherwise never hear,” said Regina Brown Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media. In their acceptance speeches, the awardees recognized the support of their editors, publishers and families, as well as the challenges of covering ethnic communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, racist policies, and hate crimes. “Words can be deadly, or they can be life affirming. While the idle intellectual elite strive to cancel culture, we are tasked with removing the knee out of the throat of truth and

$3.75

PROPOSED NAME: Yahmeiliyah Jaqueal Drummond

www.sdvoice.info

[4 weeks]

info/ news-2

PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS...

By Phone: (619) 266-2233

Call

By Fax: (619) 266-0533

(619) 266-2233

By Email: ads@sdvoice.info

for mail-delivery

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Request for Proposals (RFP) Consulting Services for Three Separate Programs: Program 1 - Labor Compliance Consulting Services Program 2 - Enforceable Community Workforce Program Consulting Services (Optional) Program 3 - Community Benefit Agreement Program Support Consulting Services (Optional) The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking consultants’ proposals for the following services: Labor Compliance Consulting Services, Program 1; optional development of an Enforceable Community Workforce Program Consulting Services, Program 2; and optional development of a Community Benefit Agreement Program Support Consulting Services, Program 3; and guidance and assistance as required to ensure SANDAG meets or exceeds the requirements for all three programs. SANDAG intends to award three (3) Agreements (one Agreement per program) to qualified firms to meet its objective of creating a group of firms that will be used to provide services to SANDAG on an as needed basis. A copy of the RFP (SOL748944) can be accessed from the SANDAG website at www. sandag.org/contracts or by emailing zara.sadeghian@sandag.org. Proposals are due by 2 p.m. on July 9, 2021.

Comcast experienced, the industry will add millions of new customers, and reap the increased shareholder value from higher customer counts. Comcast estimates that 80% of its Internet Essentials customers were new internet customers. Because the federal government will pick up the cost for this discounted tier of service for the lowest-income households, and subsidize the cost for others, the industry will save millions of dollars in bad debt. Further, the industry will save millions in

operational costs generated by customers, especially customers with low incomes, who turn their service on and off month after month, even at the $10 rate.

reaffirming and defining journalism in our own image,” said Rose Davis of Indian Voices, awarded for her landmark essay: “The Census and the Fourth Estate,” which advocates for the participation of Native Americans in the census despite centuries of being excluded.

of climate change for Univision, recalled how in the last four years, “we all suffered from the denial of climate change, and even in moments of terror in California with these devastating fires, the former president (Donald) Trump said that science didn’t know. This prize means a lot because as human beings we have to battle with that absurd view denying climate change.”

Danny Morrison, winner in the category of English language broadcast TV for his analysis of the Black Lives Matter movement in Bakersfield said that “as an African American man in central California, I’ve always known that we have a lot of work to do regarding the inequities within our ethnicity. That is the reason why my team and I went to prisons, schools, churches, youth groups and more to speak to the underserved and the forgotten because we understand the struggle that in most cases we have lived through.” Jorge Macias, awarded for his digital coverage

The industry can afford this. Unlike video service, where the incremental cost of every new customer can generate hefty new programming costs, where there is existing infrastructure and new construction is not required, in most areas of the country the cost for a new internet customer is

Hosts for the evening were Odette AlcazarenKeeley and Pilar Marrero, both distinguished veterans of the ethnic media industry. Some 20 elected officials, community leaders, scholars and writers paid tribute to the sector in videotaped remarks. Sandip Roy, once a software engineer in Silicon Valley, now an award winning author and journalist in India, said if it weren’t for ethnic media giving him a platform, he wouldn’t be a writer today. After presenting awards

LETTER:

of LHS,” as we find the quality of the current leader to be exceptional.

contiuned from page 8 • Engage parents and community volunteers in the educational process / Facilitate communication and support: Outlined above and here.

However, if you would like to work together to solve the issues you were elected to address, please reschedule the meeting you cancelled precipitously today. We would especially like to highlight the city’s lack of progress on two issues of particular concern to our students.

Other efforts to support students • Black Youth Call To Action: Goals included in site plan • Freedom Summer: Commitments • Added Lincoln support for students’ social, emotional, and academic needs: http://transformschools.ucla. edu/case-study-san-diego-unifiedschool-district/ Finally, we will not respond to your suggestion that we hold a meeting to “potentially choose the next principal

Last year, in the middle of the pandemic, San Diego Unified distributed more than 80,000 Chromebooks to help student learning continue. We were also forced to distribute WiFi hotspots due to the city’s lack of progress in closing the digital divide, which threatens to leave the community of Southeast San Diego behind. (Link: https://www.fair5g.org/system/files/

Courage:

issue than winning or losing tennis.”

continued from page 15

“She’s one of the best players in the world — she’s very influential,” said Reilly Opelka, a 23-yearold American tennis player seeded 32nd at the French Open. “The sport needs her. She’s an icon.”

Allen Adamson, co-founder of marketing consultancy Metaforce, said that Osaka’s disclosure has made her a more authentic spokesperson — and more valuable to corporate sponsors. “Every athlete gets a sports sponsorship because they win games or perform well,” he said. “But the best ones become true brand ambassadors when they have a broader persona. The best brand ambassadors are real people. (Osaka) is talking about an issue that is relevant to many people. Mental health is a bigger

Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, moved to the United States with her family when she was 3, and now lives in Los Angeles. She has taken a leading role in protesting the deaths last year of George Floyd and other Black people who died at the hands of the police, wear-

negligible. Now, all we need is for all these players to come to the table to make it happen. With this comprehensive and sustainable shared-cost solution, internet equity is in sight. Donna Rattley Washington is a former Regional Vice President for Comcast, cable system General Manager, telecommunications law partner, and founder of the Student Internet Equity Coalition, which is advocating for a lasting solution to the digital divide.

to Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese reporters for stories on issues impacting Black and Latinx communities, AlcazarenKeeley announced a special judge’s award for cross-cultural reporting. The winner, Jeanne Ferris of News from Native California, documented how the destinies of two groups of people converged when Japanese Americans were incarcerated in World War II on reservation lands. At the closing of the ceremony, Sandy Close, executive director of Ethnic Media Services, said the coming together of reporters from so many racial and ethnic groups to celebrate not just their own but each other’s work was the real takeaway for the night. “Ethnic media are like fingers on a hand,” she said, quoting Chauncey Bailey, a veteran of Black media killed in 2007 for investigating wrongdoing in his own community. “When we work together, we’re a fist.”

san_diego_5g_built_wrong.pdf) Equally, we recently approved $30 million in funding for summer programs for our students, including a summer jobs and internship program. We are unaware of a similar commitment on the part of your office to provide significant career opportunities for the youth of our community. We look forward to your response and remain ready to meet should your schedule allow. Sincerely,

Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Ph.D Board of Education Vice President, District E

ing a mask with a different victim’s name on each match day at the 2020 U.S. Open. She was named the 2020 AP Female Athlete of the Year. According to Forbes, Osaka is the world’s highest-paid woman athlete, earning $37 million in 2020 from blue-chip sponsors such as Tag Heuer, AirBnB, and Louis Vuitton in addition to Mastercard and Nike. Nike has stood by sports stars after other controversies, including Tiger Woods, and former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Osaka joins a growing list of top-tier athletes speaking out about mental health. Olympic

swimmer Michael Phelps, NBA players Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan, and the WNBA’s A’ja Wilson have all spoken very publicly about their bouts with depression, sharing both the successes and setbacks. The four Grand Slam tournaments reacted to Osaka’s withdrawal by pledging to do more to address players’ mental health issues. “It’s absolutely a growth opportunity for the ( Wo m e n’s Te n n i s Association) and all leagues, there’s a lot of work to be done,” said Windy Dees, professor of sport administration at the University of Miami.

www.sdvoice.info

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

continued from page 8

EDUCATION COMMENTARY

Re: Exceptions and Excuses

DO NOT EQUAL High School Diplomas (Except in San Diego Unified) By Francine Maxwell President, NAACP San Diego Branch

Long-Term Closures If a student earns an “F” grade first semester and a “D” grade second semester, the student will earn a “D” grade for the year. What this means is that a student really only learned MINIMAL work in that course, passed the class and received 2 credits for a class that they only truly earned 1 credit. Although this method was used in schools many, many years ago, the district changed it so that students MUST pass both semesters in order to get credit for the class and for mastery in the class. No mastery, no passing grade. This could be understand-

able if students did not have access to the material but they did! How much federal and state money did the district receive for laptops and other essentials so that students could have access to their work? The district also paid teachers a FULL salary to ensure that students were learning the material. Where is the accountability for ALL of that money?

Use Of In-Progress Students have the opportunity to pass a class even though they have not completed the coursework to get the credit. An IP (in progress) grade will be given and the student can earn the credit in summer school. This is nothing new. The issue here is: will this student who has an IP grade on their final report card be allowed to walk in graduation? If the answer is YES, then when the principal tells the school board member: “All students have successfully completed all coursework to attain their diploma” they will be a

TODAY IN

EDUCATION

In a recent document “GRADES/EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS DURING EMERGENCY SCHO OL CLOSURES” (AR 5121.1)1 the San Diego Unified School Board proves once again the lack of their leadership and their lack of positive expectations from our students. Some examples from the document include:

• Thursday, June 10, 2021

fabrication, not the truth. Students who attend summer school are NOT allowed to walk in the graduation ceremony because they have NOT earned the credits for graduation. Once again, our school board members have diluted the credibility of the high school diploma.

Graduation Waiver Due to Emergency School Closure Although this is not new to schools, the fact that you can waive 6 credits per semester of the school closure or 4 credits for each quarter of the closure means that instead of the mandated 44 credits to graduate, a student can now graduate with 26 because schools were closed for 3 semesters. The diploma now means nothing! The mandated GPA was 2.0 but with the waiver a student can graduate with a 1.75. With all of the grade exceptions put in place, a student could easily get a 2.0 just by logging in to the computer! What does all this mean?

Board President Barrera is manipulating us again, and he and the rest of the school board members gave teachers their FULL SALARY with half the work required to teach our students. All the while the school board continues to tell the community that they are doing everything “for students.” By now, we all know that is ludicrous. The school board only cares about keeping the teachers happy by making sure they were comfortable during a very uncomfortable situation. Our students did not get the education they deserved…not even close. But does our school board care? According to this information, the school board only wants to make “exceptions” for anything and everything so their graduation stats look good. Based on all of the issues in the said document, there should not be a single student who does not graduate this year. President Barrera is sweeping failure under the rug so that he can claim SDUSD’s graduation rate is 100%!

BLACK HISTORY 1854 JAMES AUGUSTINE HEALY ORDAINED IN NOTRE DAME, PARIS

James was born in Georgia to a mixed-race slave mother and Irish immigrant father on April 6, 1830. He was the first Black American to be ordained a Roman Catholic Priest. Knowledge of his African ancestry was largely restricted to his mentors in the Church. In 1875, Pope Pius IX named James Bishop of Portland, Maine. James is credited with greatly expanding the Catholic church in Maine at a time of increased Irish immigration. He also served the Abenaki people and many parishioners of French Canadian descent. He spoke both English and French.

1893 HATTIE MCDANIEL BORN

Hattie McDaniel was an American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. The youngest of 13 children, she was born in Wichita, Kansas to formerly-enslaved parents. After working as a band vocalist in the 1910’s, Hattie McDaniel acted the role of “maid-mammy” in a series of films before becoming the first African American actress to win an Academy Award for her part in Gone with the Wind (1939). She received her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at a segregated Los Angeles ceremony, where she had to sit at a back table, away from the rest of the cast. McDaniel has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1975, and in 2006 became the first black Oscar winner honored with a U.S. postage stamp. She was also the first Black woman to sing on radio in the United States. “I loved Mammy,” McDaniel said to the white press about the character. “I think I understood her because my own grandmother worked on a plantation not unlike Tara.” While many Black people rejoiced over McDaniel’s personal victory, it was a bittersweet triumph. McDaniel died of breast cancer at age 59 on October 26, 1952.

1915

If a stranger offers you student loan forgiveness,

hang up By Anna Helhoski NerdWallet

Student loan scammers have a brand-new hook: “Biden student loan forgiveness” or “stimulus forgiveness.” Behind the pitch is the same old fraudster playbook, one that persuades federal student loan borrowers to pay for services they could get for free or to share personal account information in exchange for forgiveness. “Debt relief scams proliferate when there is a large amount of financial suffering or a lot of confusion, and we have both going on right now,” says Persis Yu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and director of its Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project. To be clear, there is no new broad-based loan forgiveness program available beyond the existing, often difficult-to-get options, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness or Borrower Defense to Repayment. There’s also no application or fee necessary to receive the federal student loan payment pause that’s been in effect since March 13, 2020, and will continue through Sept. 30, 2021.

ABOUT THAT ‘STIMULUS FORGIVENESS’ It’s safe to dismiss any outof-the-blue offer to discharge debt, consolidate loans or alter your repay-

ment plan as a scam.

scams.

“There isn’t a person or entity on the planet who can get you a better deal on your student loan or access a program that you can’t get yourself by working directly with your servicer,” says Betsy Mayotte, president and founder of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors.

But the most effective ones often mix fact and fiction, Grajales says. Tactics like using of-the-moment phrases or claiming to work for the federal government make false promises more appealing to financially vulnerable people.

In one instance, a borrower sent Mayotte the transcript of a fraudulent voicemail making an enticing offer: “It looks like your student loan has been flagged eligible for the recent stimulus forgiveness and relief legislation, however, your application needs to be completed.” The caller sounded legit (she provided a name and an agent ID number) and expressed urgency to call back on a “dedicated eligibility line.” Then the caller further emphasized time sensitivity, saying the discharge would be first come, first served. Borrowers should continue to be on guard as student loan scams proliferate, largely due to the “whacka-mole” effect: As soon as one company is shut down, another pops up in its place, says Michelle Grajales, staff attorney with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR The maxim “If it sounds too good to be true, it is” goes hand in hand with spotting

Experts say it’s critical to avoid handing over cash upfront or your Federal Student Aid identification information, or FSA ID, which allows fraudsters to act on your behalf. “What they’re doing is inserting themselves between you and your servicer,” says Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing A l l i an c e. “O f te nt i m e s they’ll change your mailing address, email address so all the servicer communication will go to these scam artists. Then when they don’t do what they’re supposed to do, you won’t know until it’s too late.” When in doubt, contact your servicer directly using a phone number on its website — not a number given to you by a third party.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN SCAMMED If you were conned, remember that you’re not the first student loan borrower who’s been victim to predatory tactics.

Hotel Robinson (now Julian Hotel), ca. 1900.

DEATH OF ALBERT ROBINSON

Photo: Element 5 Digital

Regaining control of your account is the most important first step to take if it happens, experts say. Here’s how: • Sever all ties with the scammer. • Contact your servicer to report the account breach. You may need to request a new FSA ID. • Check the contact information on your account and make sure all ongoing correspondence goes to you. • Contact your bank to stop any automatic payments to the scammer. • Freeze your credit. • Seek legal assistance for help recovering any money. • Report the scam to enforcement agencies.

HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A SCAM You can, and should, report any scam correspondence to multiple sources. Scams can be reported to and are tracked by: • Your federal student loan servicer. • T h e Fe d e r a l Tr a d e Commission. • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. • Your state attorney general’s office. • The U.S. Department of Education’s FSA Feedback Center.

Former Missouri slave Albert Robinson founded one of San Diego’s 1st Black-owned and operated businesses: The Hotel Robinson. Now known as the Julian Gold Rush Hotel, it is Southern California’s oldest continuously operating hotel. Robinson came to San Diego with his owner after gold was discovered near Coleman Creek in 1869. He worked as a cook on a local ranch and soon met and married his wife, Margaret Tull, in the early 1888’s. The pair started a restaurant and bakery on the present site of the Julian Inn and built a reputation for hospitality and superb cuisine. Construction on the Hotel began in 1897. The popular hotel was frequented by high society guests like the Scripps and became a social center in Julian. Albert operated the Hotel until his death in 1915. Margaret sold it to the Jacobs family in 1921. The Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the State of California “Point of Historical Interest.”

1940 DEATH OF MARCUS GARVEY

Marcus Moziah Garvey was born on August 17, 1887 in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. In 1916, he left his native Jamaica for America. By 1919, the charismatic Black leader had organized the influential Black nationalist movement, the Universal Neg ro Improvement Association (UNIA). The movement’s mecca was New York City’s Harlem and had over 4 million Black followers by 1921. In the years following World War I (1919–26), Garvey urged Black Americans to have pride and hope in their Black African identity along with economic self-sufficiency. In 1923, the self-proclaimed “Provisional President of Africa” was deported after being falsely indicted and convicted for fraud in his handling of funds raised to establish a Black steamship line. Though later pardoned by Pres. Calvin Coolidge, his sentence was never commuted and the UNIA never recovered. In 2016, Garvey’s son, Dr. Julius W. Garvey, advocated for a presidential pardon to clear his name. Garvey died in London, England at age 52 on June 10, 1940.

Thursday, June 10, 2021 •

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

www.sdvoice.info

AROUND TOWN

Lamplighters 9th Annual Scholarship Recipients are: • • •

La’Ren Daniel, Lincoln High, attending Hampton University Karrin Evans, Mission Bay, attending UCLA Travell Conner, attending San Diego State

Special Thank You to our anonymous donor, who continually supports our scholarship educational program in furthering local high school seniors to achieve higher education goals. COVID-19 kept the Award Luncheon Ceremony on hold, but not the determination of these high school seniors from accomplishing their desire to attend college.

More Info!

COOPER FAMILY FOUNDATION

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

COVID-19 Guidelines will be implemented near the mainstage and vendor area

In Loving Memory Of SIDNEY COOPER SR.

Face Mask Required *Temperature Checks*Capacity Guidelines Enforced

Feel free to bring your chairs and tents and relax in the park with your family! Performers Tey Sa throsanne african drum dance * Speakers * testimonies *live jazz *Live Gospel* Junk Yard Crew and more....

FREE EVENT FEATURING

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM LIVE MUSIC FAMILY FUN VENDORS

Saturday June 19th 11AM - 4pm Memorial Park

Sponsors Commission for Art and Culture City of San Diego

2975 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego, CA 92113

County of San Diego Board of Supervisors Floyd Robinson Foundation

www.cfjuneteenth.com

John G. Jones Grand Lodge New Assurance Baptist Church

COVID-19 Guidelines will be Enforced

San Diego Black Nurses Association will be providing COVID 19 vaccines (Moderna & Pfizer)

50% off

The San Diego

Voice

Viewpoint

Your event announcements Double Card: 6.375” in width 7.625” in height

$200 $99.95

Single Card: $100 6.375” in width 3.75” in height

$49.95

(619) 266-2233 or ads@sdvoice.info