Vol. 62 No. 41 | Thursday, October 13, 2022

RACIAL

Requires States’ Action

By Aaron Morrison Associated Press

By pardoning Americans with fed eral convictions for marijuana pos session, President Joe Biden said he aimed to partially redress decades of anti-drug laws that dispropor tionately harmed Black and Latino communities.

While Biden’s executive action will benefit thousands of people by mak ing it easier for them to find hous ing, get a job or apply to college,

A Black Mother’s Fight with School Racism

By Jerrisha Johnson

A Letter from Ms. Jerrisha Johnson, as shared with The Voice & Viewpoint

My name is Jerrisha Johnson and I’m a Black mom who’s fed up with the racism and injustices of the K-12 Public School System. My child was attending Red Hawk Elementary in Temecula, Ca when she was called the “N” word in her second grade class. She was embarrassed and deeply hurt. I tried meeting with school officials to redress the usage of hate speech and bullying against my child but found out

they weren’t interested in solv ing the problems of racism in their school. Their response was devoid of any concern or empa thy as they gave the common response that actions pertaining to other students must be kept confidential. Appalled at the lack of any appropriate response, I further sought redress from the school district’s officials. I asked for a resolution to deal with the problem and keep my child safe. This did not happen and I was sent around in circles like a ham ster on a wheel.

The

Is

By Manny Otiko California Black Media

Athletes at a northern California high school are the latest group of students to be punished for a racially-insensitive prank.

Football players at River Valley High School in Yuba City were seen in a video acting out a “slave

auction” involving their Black teammates. In the video, which was posted to Twitter, the African American students are seen stripped to their underwear and paraded into the locker room where their teammates are yelling and jeering at them.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr National Correspondent

The bar is set high: 10 million more Black voters.

the goal as the Transformative Justice

the Hip Hop Caucus, and others

the

a bus tour

(TJC), the National Newspaper

Association (NNPA), Rainbow

Oakland

AP/Haven Daley

President Joe Biden’s Oct. 6 announcement to pardon thousands convicted of “simple possession” under federal law is one step toward reversing disproportionate sentencings for millions more people of color

PHOTO

Johnson’s

Courtesy

Jerrisha Johnson

A letter describing a mother’s pain

Coalition Kicks off 25-city “Votercade” to register Black voters

PHOTOS: www.tjcoalition.org

PHOTO: CBM

ARTICLE

PARDONS:

it does nothing to help the hun dreds of thousands of mostly Black and Hispanic Americans still burdened by state convictions for marijuana-related offenses, not to mention the millions more with other drug offenses on their records.

Advocates for overhauling the nation’s drug laws are hopeful that Biden’s pardons lead state law makers to pardon and expunge minor drug offenses from people’s records. After all, they say, dozens of states have already decriminal ized cannabis and legalized it for a multibillion-dollar recreational and medicinal use industry that is predominantly white-owned.

“We know that this is really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people who are suffering the effects of (past) marijuana prohi bition,’’ said Maritza Perez, director of federal affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, a nonprofit organization

FIGHT:

The situation grew worse when I asked to file a formal complaint with the school’s resource officer. All I wanted them to do was their jobs but they refused to act!

My child continued to say that the student who racially bullied her was making her feel uncom fortable. I rationalized the solu tion, I told myself, since the school year just started, I could ask for a classroom change, so that’s what I did. The school responded to that request and offered to remove my child from the class where she’d been verbally assaulted. This didn’t seem right or fair, they refused to solve the problem but were will ing to remove my child who was the victim from the class. I agreed because her safety was more important. Shortly afterwards, dur ing a back to school event, I was escorted through the school cam pus by a Temecula Valley School official when I didn’t request an escort. I asked why it was necessary for me to be escorted, I was told that it was for my protection. In hindsight and after learning more information, I realized they used this occasion as an opportunity to

VOTERS:

“The buses are rolling … Minneapolis is the first stop,” declared Barbara Arnwine, the president and founder of the TJC, an organi zation known for its contributions to critical justice issues.

“We believe voting is a celebra tion,” Arnwine continued during a lively news conference at the Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The conference included remarks by Attorney Daryl Jones, NNPA President, and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Rainbow Push Coalition Executive Director Bishop Tavis Grant, Black Voters Matter Co-Founder Cliff Albright, African American Policy Forum Executive Director Kimberlé Crenshaw, National Organization

AUCTION:

This prank cost the football team its season because the players fea tured in the video have been barred from participating in games. The football team now doesn’t have enough players to field a team. African-American students make up a small fraction of the student body at River Valley High School, which is predominantly Hispanic.

According to school data, there are only 31 African-American students at the school out of an enrollment of 1,801. There are 760 Hispanic/

pushing for decriminalization and safe drug use policies.

As many law enforcement officials like to point out, the majority of people who serve long sentences for marijuana-related offenses were convicted of more serious charges than possession, such as a weapons count or the intent to sell or traffic the drug on a larger scale. Such fac tors are typically how a case moves into federal territory versus state prosecution.

Still, reform advocates counter that many of them aren’t violent drug kingpins.

A 2021 Associated Press review of federal and state incarceration data showed that between 1975 and 2019, the U.S. prison popula tion jumped from 240,593 to 1.43 million people. Of them, about 1 in 5 were incarcerated with a drug offense listed as their most serious crime.

The passage of stiffer penalties for crack cocaine, marijuana and other

surveil me, not to keep me safe.

During my children’s time in the Temecula Valley School District, they were called slaves, whores, and a janitor verbally assaulted and harrased my oldest daughter. My children were in utter distress because of the consecutive days they experienced racial bullying, slander, libel, harassment, and def amation of their character. I con tinued to seek redress, and notified the district of my concerns about my daughter’s mental and phys ical safety and health. I asked the school if they could make contact with the other children and ask it to stop. As days passed and noth ing was done, I became highly concerned about my children’s well-being and mental health as these incidents were starting to impact our entire family.

We all became emotionally van quished. As any parent would, I kept advocating and once again tried to secure an intervention from the school to resolve these troubling issues my children faced. I suggested that the school involve a social worker so that my chil dren would have a source of help and support while at school. The district took that as an opportu

of Concerned Black Men CEO Dr. Karen McRae, Virginia K. Solomón of the League of Women Voters, and Hip Hop Caucus Executive Director Attorney Tanya Clay House.

“We want people to celebrate when they vote,” Arnwine insisted. “We call it a celebration for every time we do a votercade. We have a Celebration Village.”

Arnwine said in one city; the mayor informed the coalition that voter turnout doubled after the votercade visited.

“We went to another area in the poorest zip code in Milwaukee –one of the poorest in the nation,” Arnwine continued. “They had such a small polling site and didn’t expect anyone to turn out. But, when we finished, they had more

Latino students enrolled.

Yuba City Unified School District Superintendent Doreen Osumi said the video reflected poorly on the school district.

“Re-enacting a slave sale as a prank tells us that we have a great deal of work to do with our students so they can distinguish between intent and impact,” said Osumi in a press statement.

“They may have thought this skit was funny, but it is not; it is unac ceptable and requires us to look honestly and deeply at issues of

drugs in the 1990s helped to triple the Black and Hispanic incarcer ation rates by the year 2000. The white incarceration rate only dou bled.

And despite state legalization or decriminalization of possession up to certain amounts, local law enforcement agencies continue to make more arrests for drug pos session, including marijuana, than any other criminal offense, accord ing to FBI crime data.

The president’s pardon of more than 6,500 Americans with federal marijuana possession convictions, as well as thousands more with convictions in the majority-Black city of Washington, captures only a sliver of those with records nation wide. That’s likely why he has called on state governors to take similar steps for people with state marijuana possession convictions.

“While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted and con

nity to further disenfranchise my family and instead of appropriately handling the issues, they used their time and resources to send a refer ral to Child Protective Services CPS. I found this offensive and hypocritical, we were the victims of racial hate and the system was being used against us. CPS went to the schools and questioned my children, further exasperating and humiliating them. Their line of questioning sought to portray me as the perpetrator of a crime. One of them being “is your mother on drugs, and does she hit you”.

Nobody took the time to know us, nor did they care. Instead they unjustly utilized public resources to oppress and demean us. Because of my advocacy, I was banned from doing things everyday parents do with their school-aged children. I was prohibited from normal drop offs and pick ups and even served papers in front of the school and other families while picking up my children.

Ultimately, I chose to remove my kids from their school. I under stood clearly they had no desire to keep my children safe. I also knew they’d keep retaliating against us.

people vote in that one day after the votercade than typically dur ing the entire early voting season.”

Chavis, who has pushed the hash tag #10millionmoreblackvoters, reminded everyone that the mid terms were just a few weeks ago [in Minneapolis]. With photos of the late Georgia Democratic Rep. John Lewis blanketing the Press Club for the news conference, Chavis called the coalition’s mission good trou ble.

“We are going to all the major states, places where we know we can make a difference,” Chavis declared. “This tour is designed to make sure we awaken a lot of the sleeping giants in our community.”

He continued:

“We believe that we can get 10

systemic racism,” she said.

These kinds of incidents happen regularly. Earlier in the month, Amador High School, also in northern California, had to can cel its football season after school authorities found several players were involved in a Snapchat thread called “Kill the Blacks.”

A similar event happened back in 1997 when a Torrance teacher tried to enact a slave auction. Student Natalie Jackson complained to her mother, who took the issue up with school administrators and the press.

victed at disproportionate rates,’’ Biden said Thursday, October 6.

“Just as no one should be in a fed eral prison solely due to the posses sion of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either.”

With the president’s unambiguous acknowledgement of racial ineq uity in marijuana enforcement, drug law reform advocates and those with convictions now see an opening to push for far more rem edies to the harms of the war on drugs.

Enacting a law that clears a per son’s federal drug record, similar to what has been offered in nearly two dozen states where marijuana has been decriminalized or legal ized recreationally, would make the conviction invisible to compa nies and landlords doing criminal background checks, said Weldon Angelos, whose 2003 federal case for selling $300 worth of marijuana to a confidential informant in Utah got him sentenced to 55 years in

Due to the time it took to locate another school and await transfer, they consequently missed three weeks of their education. Things got so distressing that one of my children started wetting the bed again while in second grade. This was especially troubling because she had potty trained herself at 1 ½ years old. The trauma, injury, and harm caused by Temecula Valley School District has never been rectified, no apologies were given. There’s a lurking pain that overshadows our lives daily but I am still pursuing justice.

These things should never hap pen to our children. They defi nitely shouldn’t be permitted and fostered in public school envi ronments. We have sought a legal remedy through litigation but that process is lengthy and the suffering is hard. We’ve spent four years try ing to battle this in court, only to discover another system of cumu lative disadvantage and white priv ilege thrives there too. Now we’re currently in the appeals process.

While these events took place 4 years ago, the impact of them is very real and persists to date. My children have had to recognize the hateful tenets of so called “white

million more Black voters. That’s a large number, but we believe that number could make a differ ence. Democracy is on the ballot

on November 8. Racial justice is on the ballot on November 8. Climate justice is on the ballot, environ mental justice is on the ballot, eco nomic justice, and equity is on the ballot, and preventing far rightwing groups from banning votes is on the ballot.”

Arnwine added that the 25-city Arc of Voter Justice Tour is designed to ensure everyone understands that citizens’ right to vote is their voice.

During the votercade, partici pants will register to vote and check their voting eligibility while enjoying good food, music, games, and banned books as the coalition seeks to transform voting and the voting experience.

Jackson said she went public with a video because she wanted to inspire change.

“Some say that I am overreacting, but they didn’t have this experi ence,” Jackson told the Los Angeles Times. “I don’t want to go back to my U.S. history class, but I am going back. I am going to do my work and everything that I am sup posed to do, be strong and face the music. Maybe my action will break some barriers.”

“Mock slave auctions and other racist actions on the sports field have been occurring with an

prison. Even with the federal par don, Weldon’s record is still visible, he said.

Some advocates believe the coun try should consider clearing more than just marijuana records.

Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in 2012, although medical use had already been legal in several states. According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, 37 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories now permit the medical use of cannabis. Nineteen states, D.C. and two territories have legal ized its recreational use.

And during next month’s mid term elections, voters in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota will decide whether to permit recreational adult use of cannabis. That is rea son enough for every state to look into mass-pardons and expunge ments, civil rights leaders say.

supremacist” culture and ideolo gies at very young ages. This evil, dark, deep, hate rooted, monster of racism is pernicious and upheld by our institutions of learning, civil courts, child protective ser vices, and other systems where they shouldn’t be! It teaches our children that they are not worthy of safety. But I refuse to let that be the final message they receive from all of this.

My family has experienced injustice. Our character has been assassinated for advocating, how ever what should be known about us is that we’ve contributed much good into society. Both of my daughters have always been excep tional students, proving this in the outcomes they’ve produced within programs offering academic rigor. I don’t attribute them being straight A students nor any of their achievements to their school expe riences. Their accomplishments are a reflection of my parenting and pushing them to overcome chal lenges is a great feat. They partic ipate in a range of activities from dance and piano to color guard. They also work within our family’s nonprofit. This is what I want peo ple to know about my children.

“A great democracy does not make it harder to vote than it is to get an assault weapon,” Bishop Grant demanded.

“What is so dangerous about Black and Brown people who vote? What’s so dangerous about stand ing in line with a bottle of water or food or showing up early to vote?”

The Bishop said the danger is that “it shifts the power scale, and the have-nots have an opportunity to have their fair share.”

“A right is not something some one gives you. It’s something that someone cannot take away from you. That’s what this is about. It’s about restoring the right and the dignity of the voter. If your vote didn’t matter, suppression wouldn’t try to suffocate it. We need 10 mil lion more voters.”

alarming and increased frequency in schools throughout California,” said Rick L. Callender, president of the California/Hawaii NAACP.

“The CA/HI NAACP will be push ing the State to collect data state wide so that we can understand the prevalence of how often the activities are occurring in schools throughout California.”

Callender called on California high schools to ensure the safety of Black students and continue educating all students about the importance of Black history.

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY/OPINION

On the Latest LA City Hall Scandal

Democrats, It’s Time to Meet The Moment

By Jasmyne A. Cannick

Los Angeles has seen its fair share of political scandals over the decades, but the leaked audio of Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Kevin de León, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera mak ing disparaging and racist remarks about Black peo ple, their colleagues, and conspiring to commit voter suppression takes the cake.

In one single instance, the worst fears of Blacks in Los Angeles were confirmed in graphic detail--the top Democratic political and labor leaders of the city are anti-Black and are actively conspiring to disman tle what is left of the Black community in Los Angeles.

Famed author and poet Maya Angelou once said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

From referring to a white councilmember’s Black son as an “accessory” and describing him as a mon key in Spanish to wanting to physically beat that same lit tle boy, colluding to replace one Black councilmember with another who can be depended on to vote in favor of Latinos, conspiring to commit Black voter suppres sion, even seemingly writ ing off Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón because “He’s with the Blacks”--no one should ever be confused about where Black people stand with Martinez, Cedillo, de Leon, and Herrera.

Now that their plotting and planning and blatant racism have been exposed, usher in the carefully crafted public apologies.

At the risk of never work ing at city hall or in pol itics again, I am going to speak the truth about this situation. There are some instances where apologies just won’t cut it, and this is one of them.

This is not a situation where thoughts-and-prayer-like statements mean a damn thing. The only statement that needs to be crafted is a resignation statement.

Let’s be clear, had the leaked audio been of a group of Black leaders or Republicans saying racist and derogatory comments towards any other

race or group of people and it would have been a  “Do not pass Go and do not col lect $200” type of situation that would have resulted in the immediate calls for res ignations of all involved.

This situation deserves the same treatment, and any thing less says that it’s open season on Blacks and that there are no real long lasting consequences.

The deafening silence from alleged allies of the Black community on this situa tion, including the Democratic Party, is just as bad as the strongly worded state ments that say everything except for the Martinez and Co. to resign.

There is no sitting on fence or tap dancing around the elephant in the room.

Either you support racists or you don’t, and from where I am sitting, the Los Angeles County and California Democratic Parties, along with dozens and dozens of political leaders, seem to be siding with the racists, which makes them all hyp ocrites.

This is not a situation where folks get off the hook by apologizing, followed by meeting with leaders in the Black community, and we’re back to holding hands and singing kumbayah. Any socalled Black leader that isn’t calling for the resignation of these four people is aiding and abetting in the oppres sion and suppression of their own people, most likely for personal gain.

Fact.  All four of the people involved in the leaked audio get paid from money that comes from all Angelenos-not just Latinos. Nury Martinez offering to resign as council president leaves her paycheck and posi tion as a councilmember in place. And in the case of top labor leader Ron Herrera, he actually conspired to use the dues from the paychecks of hardworking Black folks against them to dilute their power in the 10th council district.

It is because of years of behind-the-scenes antiBlack politicking by people who share the same views as Martinez, Cedillo, de Leon, and Herrera that Black peo ple have been pushed out of the city to the point that there is no real Black polit

ical power in the city of Los Angeles. Because of the high cost of living and years of the very same tactics discussed in that audio, Black people make up less than 9 percent of the city’s population.  Any power that we think we have in Los Angeles almost always requires the buy-in and sup port of allies.  We have a 15-member city council with three Black members, of which one’s credibility has been called into question given the comments heard in the audio about why she was appointed to the posi tion.

For those of us who love this city and fight every day just to be able to afford to live here, this hurts deep down. The release of the audio is an in-your-face reminder that many of the powers that be don’t care about us or want us here and are actively working against us--sadly, in some ways, with the help of other Blacks.

The audio also validates why the only zip code in the city that has seen an increase in its Black population is the one that encompasses Skid Row--an area of Los Angeles that Kevin de Leon represents. We know how he feels about Black people. It explains why Black people make up most of the home less and cannot access city services in the ways others can. It explains why so many of the councilmembers don’t have any Black people on their staffs. Why Black con sultants aren’t hired by labor unions in the way that other races are?  Why there is a lack of Black leadership at the executive level in many of the labor unions in Los Angeles. The audio explains a lot.

Given the revelations exposed, every vote that was ever cast by Martinez, Cedillo, and de Leon that had anything to do with Black people needs to be re-examined.  Department heads, starting with the chief of police, need to be inter viewed on the record to see if members of the city council

Black Women Holding Trump Accountable

By Ben Jealous

Former President Donald Trump has spent a lifetime getting away with things. Rich and willing to use an army of lawyers to defend his abuses and bully peo ple he has wronged into submission, Trump is a prime example of the inequities in our justice system.

But that could all be changing, thanks to two courageous Black women who are not intim idated by his insults and public bullying.

One of them is New York Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James. She has been leading an investigation into a “staggering” amount of financial fraud she charges that Trump has committed over the years.

After trying everything he could to avoid it, Trump appeared in her office in August to answer questions. But the only ques tion he answered was about his name. For every other question—more than 400 other times—he invoked his right under the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating himself.

In September, after interviewing dozens of people and reviewing millions of pages of documents, James’s office filed a lawsuit against Trump and his three adult children who have been in business with him— Ivanka, Don Jr., and Eric. The suit asks them to forfeit $250 million in ill-gotten gains and seeks to prevent them from doing business in New York for the immediate future. She told a reporter that the lawsuit shows how Trump repeatedly lied about the value of his properties “to unjustly enrich himself and to cheat the system, thereby cheating all of us.” Trump responded in his typical fashion. He called James a “racist.” He called her investi gation “the greatest witch hunt in the history of the country.”

Now, anyone who has followed Trump’s interactions with Black women who call him on his…stuff…knows that this is part of a pattern with Black women who see through him and aren’t afraid to speak truth.

Trump’s disgusting record of insulting and smearing activists like Stacey Abrams, public officials like Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Maxine Waters and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser—and journalists like April Ryan, Abby Phillips, and Yamiche Alcindor—was recently reviewed by Kaly Holloway for The Daily Beast, which said that James’s lawsuit “is bringing the ex-pres ident’s racism and sexism back into the spot light.”

gave them directives to tar get, ignore, not hire, arrest, deny, not rent to, not con tract with, not buy from Black people.

Add to all of that, the federal government needs to step in and investigate the city’s redistricting process, now.

James is not the only fearless Black woman seeking to hold Trump accountable. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is conducting a criminal inves tigation of Team Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election in Georgia.

Remember that phone call a few days before the attack on the Capitol? Trump was des perately trying to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden. Trump, his chief of staff Mark Meadows, and a bunch of Trump attorneys got on the phone with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Trump demanded that Raffensperger “find” him enough votes to flip the election to him.

Unethical? Definitely. Illegal? Very likely. It’s against the law in Georgia to solicit elec tion fraud. And that phone call was just part of the Trump team’s efforts, which included the creation of a fake set of pro-Trump elec tors. Trump’s efforts in Georgia included false charges of election fraud against two Black women election workers. When Trump and his allies repeated those smears, the women’s lives were disrupted by threats and harassment. According to news reports, Willis’s investigation could lead to a multi -defendant racketeering case.

Trump, predictably, has called the Georgia investigation a “witch hunt.” But Willis has taken on murderers and drug gangs, and she is not afraid of Trump or his insults.

Trump’s record in business and politics sug gests that the truth means nothing to him. He acts as if he believes the law does not apply to him. He acts as if his wealth and power and lawyers will continue to let him get away with anything.

It is important that we as Americans affirm the principle that no person—even the coun try’s most powerful person—is above the law.

There is good news on that front. There are multiple investigations into Trump’s wrong doing. I am grateful for the work being done by Tish James and Fani Willis, by the House select committee investigating Jan. 6, by staff at the U.S. Department of Justice, and by journalists who are willing to dig for the truth.

Truth is the first step toward accountability, accountability that in Trump’s case is long overdue.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and Professor of the Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

If known racists are allowed to stay on the city council after being exposed, then we, Black people, deserve everything we get moving forward.

Democrats love to talk about meeting the moment.  What are they waiting for?

A political strategist, Jasmyne Cannick is a former Special Assistant to previous Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, a delegate in the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, and a proud member of The Blacks.

Saluting Black Sub-Contractors Helping to Build the New Live Well Center

By Yvette Porter-Moore

This is the Second in a series of arti cles highlighting the various subcon tractors working on the County of San Diego Southeastern Live Well Center project scheduled for com pletion by the Summer of 2023.

The County of San Diego plays a critical role in the well-being of its residents by expanding access to health and community ser vices. The new Southeastern Live Well Center (SELWC) located on the corner of Market Street and Euclid Avenue, at the foot of Emerald Hills will be an (allin-one) stop location for needed community services. This stateof-the-art facility will be known as a gem within Southeastern San Diego, bringing employment and career opportunities into the area, beginning with the various sub contracting opportunities that were made available for certified firms, including Small Business

Businesses (VBE) Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) and Local Businesses during its con struction.

Vic Ross Masonry, Inc. is a Blackowned local business with over 50 years of experience provid ing masonry services to clients throughout Southern California. The firm has a project port folio that includes the former Qualcomm Stadium expansion, San Diego International Airport, the Nokia Product Center, San Diego Police Department Station on 25th & Imperial, Petco Ball Park, and the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego. Notable local work includes Malcolm X Library, The Black Contractors Association on Imperial Avenue, Elementary Institute of Science, Lincoln High School, and Gompers Academy.

Vic Ross Masonry is dedicated to excellence and providing qual ity masonry work to its clients in Southern California.

As the masonry contractor for the SELWC project, Vic Ross

with blocks located in the parking structure.

Ardell V. Ross, president and owner of Vic Ross Masonry, and known to most as “Vic Ross,” first got his start in construction as a bricklayer. On his first project, he was sent to work inside a tinroofed building, where tempera tures would reach as high as 140 degrees as he labored.

“Most people would have been discouraged going through a sit uation like that,” says Ross, who credits his exceptional work ethic to his father, who was a laborer, and his mother, who worked hard outside of the home while raising her family and still finding time to serve her community.

“I was raised to work hard, and that is all I know,” Ross said. At the age of 84, Ross still works hard every day and does not intend to retire anytime soon.

Ross also appreciates the project’s focus on providing business oppor tunity to local and small businesses and the impact it can have on ensuring that the local workforce and business community mirror’s the county’s demographics.

Remo Washington, foreman at Vic Ross Masonry, agrees. “This proj ect is an opportunity for people that look like me, that will have job and career opportunities and will be able to work in the community where they live,” said Washington.

Vic Ross Masonry, Inc. is located at 3451 Pickwick Street, San Diego, CA 92102.

Ardell V. Ross, president and owner of Vic Ross Masonry

Remo Washington, foreman at Vic Ross Masonry

Vote-by-Mail Ballots on the Way to All Registered California Voters

voting now

As of Monday, October 10, all active registered California voters are being sent a voteby-mail ballot with a prepaid, firstclass postage return envelope for the November 8, 2022, General Election.

“We’re urging all Californians to vote early this year. You don’t have to wait until Election Day because voting-by-mail makes it easy as soon as you get your ballots,” said Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. “Every person who votes early will help keep lines shorter and reduce wait times at in-person vot ing locations on Election Day.”

The vote-by-mail ballot voting period began as soon as vote-by-mail ballots were in the mail. In-person early voting is also now available at every county election office. One or more voting locations in many counties will be open prior to Election Day. Voters can find a nearby drop box or early voting location at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.

Voters should update their status if they have moved their residence or have changed their name or party affiliation. If you’re not sure of your registration status, visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Status tool at: VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov.

Tips for Returning Your Ballot

Voters have multiple safe, secure, and reliable options for returning their ballot.

Mail:

• Every vote-by-mail ballot comes with a first-class prepaid postage return envelope.

• Before returning your ballot, you must remember to sign and date the return envelope provided with your vote-by-mail ballot.

• Ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before November 8, 2022, Election Day and received by county elections officials no later than 7 days after the election.

Drop Boxes:

at County Elections Offices

• All counties offer secure drop boxes to return vote-by-mail bal lots. You can drop off your ballot at any polling place, vote center, or your county elections office, through Election Day. Find drop box locations at caearlyvoting. sos.ca.gov

In-Person:

• Voting locations will offer voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance. Find in-per son voting locations at caearly voting.sos.ca.gov

Language Preference

• If you would like to update your language preference for election materials, please go to votersta tus.sos.ca.gov.

Voter Information Guide

• The state Voter Information Guide can help you make decisions about the candidates and issues on the statewide ballot for the November 8, 2022, General Election. In addition to information about how to cast your ballot, this guide includes statewide candidate statements, information about state propositions, and your rights as a California voter.

Vote-by-Mail Ballot Tracking

• The Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tracking tool is avail

able statewide. All California voters can now sign-up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive automated notifications about their vote-by-mail ballot by email, text (SMS), or voice call.

Vote-by-Mail Security:

• Vendors who print ballots for California elections must be cer tified by the Secretary of State.

• All ballots have specific paper types and watermarks.

• Every vote-by-mail ballot return envelope has a unique bar code that elections officials scan.

• Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded by the USPS.

• Every vote-by-mail return enve lope must be signed by the voter. A voter’s signature on the voteby-mail ballot return envelope is compared against the voter’s registration record. If a signature is missing or does not match the registration record, elections offi cials will reach out to the voter. If the voter does not respond and provide a missing/corrected sig nature, the ballot will not count.

• California county elections offi cials check each and every voteby-mail ballot that is cast to see if the voter has already cast a ballot elsewhere.

See Voice & Viewpoint’s handy Voter’s Guide and Polling / Drop Box Location pull out on pages 18 and 19.

Debuts New Secure, Stand-alone Ballot Drop Boxes

How do I return my ballot to an official ballot drop box?

The National Action Network’s Statement on The LA City Hall Scandal

Christina Laster MBA Los Angeles NAN Education Director Western Regional Education

The National Action Network is out raged by the demonstration of cor ruption and racism from top lead ers of the City of Los Angeles. Nury Martinez, Kevin DeLeon, and Gil Cedillo must resign immediately. But their resignation must be the begin ning not the end of this conversation about racism permeating the highest levels of LA City Government.

Using a Black child as the focal point of a racial attack by elected repre sentatives poses more than simply a moral dilemma. It sets the tone by which discriminatory policies and practices can permeate the highest levels of LA City goverment policymaking.

We demand accountability and an investigation to determine any spe cific violations of legal or constitu tional rights.

We also demand accountability and an investigation into all potential policy decisions impacting Black residents of LA that may have been influenced by the racism of these elected leaders. We demand an immediate and full legal investigation into the following items:

• The legality and constitutionality of the redistricting process which was overseen by Ms. Martinez.

• The potential for a Brown Act violation related to the backroom collusion by these public offi cials.

• Any and all other potential legal violations by these public offi cials, especially those rooted in racism toward Black children

and families.

Equally important, we demand an investigation into policy decisions that may have been technically legal but were rooted in racism, includ ing:

• Policies restricting access of Black children and families to emergency city services during the height of the Covid pandemic.

• Policies formulated at the expense of Black children, like Mr. Bonin’s child whom Ms. Martinez demonstrated such disdain for.

• Supporting the closure of LAUSD schools for over a year during the pandemic, indelibly harming an entire generation of Black chil dren, despite Ms. Martinez, Mr. DeLeon, and Mr. Cedillo all voting in favor of a council resolution last year that acknowledged this systemic harm and supported the establishment of a “civil right to a high quality public education” for all children.

The National Action Network demands swift justice. The resigna tion of these racist public officials is necessary but far from sufficient. We must not only remove racist leaders but also eliminate racist policies. We demand justice for Black children and families in their representative government. We demand justice in the distribution of city services. And we demand educa tional justice and call upon the city of Los Angeles immediately imple ment the board resolution support ed by Ms. Martinez and her col leagues to establish quality public education as a civil right for the children of Los Angeles, especially Black children who were demeaned by Ms. Martinez and was harmed the most by the school closures.

Registered voters who received their ballot for the Nov. 8 Statewide General Election can begin returning them as of Monday at one of the Registrar’s new official standalone drop boxes.

Voters who choose to return their ballot at one of the Registrar’s official ballot drop box locations will see newly designed, secure, stand-alone boxes.

What do the Registrar’s official bal lot drop boxes look like?

The Registrar’s official ballot drop boxes are red, white, and blue and feature the Registrar’s logo along with the County seal. All boxes are labeled “Official Ballot Drop Box” and constructed from high grade, heavy gauge stainless steel.

Each ballot drop box is designed to prevent physical damage and unauthorized access to mail ballots. The boxes feature double-lock ing access doors, anti-pry door jambs, and other anti-theft construction measures. The Registrar’s ballot retrieval team is responsi ble for collecting ballots inside the box.

Mark your ballot in the comfort of your home, seal your completed ballot inside your return envelope, date and sign your name on the return envelope, and return it in the mail or to one of the Registrar’s 141 official ballot drop box locations (visit www. sdvote.com) around the county. Your signa ture is required for your vote to count.

Select drop boxes will be located outside and available 24-hours a day up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. All the rest are located inside and access to those is avail able during the individual facility’s hours of operation.

Voters should check each location’s hours of operation before heading out to return their ballot. Find the closest one to you by visit ing the Registrar’s online locator tool.

On Election Day, Nov. 8, all of the Registrar’s official ballot drop box locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you prefer voting in-person, you can vote at any vote center in the county.

• Starting Saturday, Oct. 29, 39 vote centers

will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then starting Saturday, Nov. 5, over 200 vote cen ters will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• All vote center loca tions will be open again on Election Day, Nov. 8, when voting hours change to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can find an official ballot drop box or vote center near you inside your voter information pamphlet, or you can look it up online at sdvote.com. Learn more about voting in the Nov. General Election at sdvote. com, call (858) 565-5800 or toll free at (800) 696-0136.

See Voice & Viewpoint’s handy local Polling/ Drop Box Location pull out on pages 18 and 19.

Free Mammograms and Breast Exams at theCommunity Health Resource Fair

By TJ Dunnivant

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Community

and Resource Fair at Jackie Robinson

free

cancer screenings. The resource fair is being held in the parking lot of the Jackie Robinson YMCA every first Wednesday of the month, where members of the surrounding communities can go and get their blood pres sure, sugar level checks and other health care concerns addressed.

past week Flu and Covid vaccines were on offer, as well as a mobile pet vet for free furry friends check-ups.

To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, organizers of the monthly health fest made sure resources like the Mobile Mammography coach and the Many Shades of Pink organiza tion were onsite to ensure com munity members had access to important breast exams, early detection screenings, mammo gram equipment, and educational information on how to conduct self-examinations routinely.

“If you know better, you do bet ter,” said Many Shades of Pink Founder, Wendy Shurelds. “After surviving breast cancer, I started this foundation so that women

of color could have more access to early detection measures.”

Dr. Suzanne Affalo is the main organizer of the event and she said, “We’ve been having this health fair for about 6 years now. This has been our most successful site so far.”

Dr. Afflalo was all smiles, with joyous energy as if she were watching miracles unfold before her eyes. “Our data shows that these services are going mostly to Black and brown communities,” she proudly exclaimed. “18% of the people we serve are African

American and 70% are Hispanic.”

After a while, a presenter took to the microphone to reiterate the higher survival rate statistics found through early detection and routine screenings. The speaker was encouraging participants to take advantage of the additional resources accessible to them that day.

The ‘Walk to End Lupus Now’ At Waterfront Park

By Malachi Kudura

Saturday, October 8th, 2022, was the Walk to End Lupus Now, presented by the Lupus Foundation of America. This event was to support and honor those who are living with Lupus and those who have passed away. The crowd of supporters wearing purple shirts filled Harbor Park, across from the Star of India. Music was provided by DJ Justkeybo along with a special guest performance by youth dance group Royal Push.

Event volunteer Kisha Campbell stated, “I’ve been battling Lupus for 29 years and though I can’t do the walk today, I’m here to show solidar ity and support.” All in attendance had loved ones they were there to represent and support.

When Tito Mays from Dr. Broner’s Magic Soaps was asked why he was at

the event he said, “I’m here for fam ily and friends who had battled with Lupus.”

According to the LUMINA (Lupus in Minority Populations: Nature vs. Nurture) study, “African American lupus patients are more likely to have organ system involvement, more active disease, and lower lev els of social support compared with White lupus patients.” Studies found that women from racial and ethnic minority groups tend to develop lupus at a younger age, experience more serious complications, and have higher mortality rates. The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have a form of Lupus, according to the website lupus.org.

“We’re dedicated to getting the com

munity the support and educational resources needed to live with Lupus”, said Wendy Rodgers, Director of Care & Support at the Lupus Foundation of America. Roger’s had Lupus for 24 years and after hearing her journey one can understand why this walk is so vital.

According to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (bcpp. org), breast cancer has the high est mortality rate of any cancer in women between the ages of 20 and 59. African American women have a 31% breast can cer mortality rate – the highest of any U.S .racial or ethnic group.

To access your free breast exam visit Many Shades of Pink at mymsop.org.

Dr. Shirley J. Lewis Celebrates Her Birthday

Voice & Viewpoint Newswire

Dr. Shirley J. Lewis, “A Class Act” culmi nates eighty five years of experience with an impressive celebration and welcomed 110 family and friends. The elegantly beauti ful affair was held in the White and Royal Blue adorned Anchors Atlantic Room in San Diego on August 20, 2022.

The quadragenarian and her guests enjoyed a delightfully planned celebration that included a social hour, Prayers and Testimonies, extremely talented entertain ment of Musicians, a singer, and a dancer who moved the guest to embrace the com memoration and joined the event with great enthusiasm. Several close friends assisted in the planning of this ceremonial event.

Guests were welcomed at 5:00 p.m. After “Let’s get this party started”, Mistresses of Ceremony Iris Anderson and Gina Jackson introduced each of the talented entertain ers. Disc Jockey John Phillips delighted the guests the entire night with his Oldies and Goldies. In this parade of gifts on the pro gram was Pastor Delores Korokous, a gos pel Medley (Delores Fisher), The “Goodness Of God” Testimonies (Connie Smith, Ann McPherson, Iris Robeson, Iris Anderson and Dr. Shirley J. Lewis), “God Is” (Armond Washington) and guests joined in to sing. Itr was a high point of the night.

A sumptuous plated dinner of Steak, or Glazed Salmon Filet or a Vegetarian meal was served at each table. To tempt the sweet est tooth, chocolate or Vanilla Cupcakes were served.

Later, a talent extravaganza was presented. Kevin Green with his mouth organ, Loren Chatman-Hunter recited a pow erful poem, “Class Act”, about Dr.Lewis (whom she met 1996) of Charlotte Allen’s choreogra phy set to Claire De Lune, and a poem, “Midway”, recited by Dr. Lewis. It was a celebration of hope.

Francine De Witt-Haynes sang ”On The Sunny Side Of The Street” and all joined in. Line Dancing by Patricia Murray’s Team showed off their fantas tic moves. Great music enticed guests to the dance floor to dance

the night away.

Guests included DeMarlon and Lucy (Daughter) from Irondale,Al; Cameron Hill (grandson) Ramona,CA; Tina Moore and Daughters; Rosemary Pope (FDSRC): Donald and Mary Jackson;; Dr. Josie Pete and Cheryl (ASU, Dr. Debbie Flint (USC); Donald and Jeanette Lander; Brenda AllenBrown; Phillip Harris; Vikki Henton; Dorothy Robinson; Josephine Russ; Game Club; Delta Sigma Theta Sorors; Alpha Kappa Alphas; NCNW members; Omegas; Lambda Kappa Mu members and many oth ers.

It was a marvelous Birthday Celebration. Thanks to all who helped plan it and those who came to celebrate it.

us on campus! There’s fun for the whole family to enjoy. Catch a game. Explore UC San Diego. Enjoy a live concert at the Triton Tailgate, then lace up your running shoes for the Triton 5K. Experience it all during

week!

Photos: Courtesy of Dr. Shirley Lewis

PHOTOS: Malachi Kudura

Tips for Finding a Medicare Plan That Works for You

Feeling overwhelmed by your Medicare options? There’s a good reason for that. With more than 3,000 Medicare Advantage plans, over 700 Part D Prescription Plans available and an array of carri ers offering Medicare Supplement plans, there’s a lot to consider.

“Whether this is your first time enrolling in Medicare or you’ve been through the process before, it’s easy to get confused by the big picture, not to mention all the details,” says Ryan Kocher, Medicare growth officer at Cigna.

This Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), Kocher is demystify ing the enrollment process by shar ing the same tips he offers to his own friends and family members:

1. Don’t wait. Understanding Medi-care can protect your health and finances in the years to come. If you are transitioning from a commercial plan, work with an expert with your com pany’s insurance plan to avoid gaps in coverage as well as late penalties.

2. Nail down the basics. There are many different plan types. Here’s a breakdown:

■ Original Medicare, offered through the U.S. government, includes all providers who agree to participate in the pro gram.

■ Medicare Supplement plans are plans offered by many private insurers that comple ment Original Medicare. For

an additional premium, these plans cover costs such as copays and coinsurance not covered by Original Medicare. There are a number of stan dardized options available.

■ Standalone Prescription Drug Plans, offered by private insur ers for a monthly premium, provide drug coverage not covered by Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement.

■ Medicare Advantage (MA) plans cover everything cov ered by Original Medicare, and most also include dental, vision and hearing benefits. They often include prescrip tion drug coverage, and other extras like over-the-counter drugs, transportation to doc tor’s visits and pharmacies,

and fitness plans. MA plans are often available at no extra cost.

3. Review your plan annually. During the AEP (October 15-December 7), it’s important to review your current Medicare plan, even if you like it. This is because plan details are subject to change every year. Review the Annual Notice of Changes, which is mailed to you by your insurer each September. This document spells out plan changes for the upcoming year.

4. Compare all the costs. Be sure to factor in all the associated costs of a given plan, not just the monthly premium. Out-ofpocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles, should also be considered. Additionally, note

the prices and rules around the prescription drugs you take.

5. Check network requirements. Before signing up for a partic ular plan, check to make sure that your favorite health care providers are in its network. While you may be able to go out of network for care, be prepared to pay more if you do.

6. Ask questions. Don’t settle on a plan until you understand it. If you have questions, reach out to your broker, insurer, physician and even those friends and fam ily members who have Medicare for help.

7. U se your plan. Now that you have a plan, make the most of its benefits. Schedule all the screenings, vaccines and other preventive health measures recommended by your doc tor. Early intervention can help detect conditions early when they can be more effectively treated.

For more information about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov, Cigna’s website at www.cignamedicare.com or the state health insurance assis tance program in your area.

“Don’t be daunted by the Medicare enrollment process. Being a careful shopper can ensure you find a plan that accommodates your wallet and your well-being,” says Kocher.

(StatePoint)

EDUCATION

Three Howard Students Selected as U.S. Fulbright Honorees

Voice & Viewpoint Newswire

Howard University recently announced that three Howard University students have received presti gious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards and other research grants for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program, offering opportuni ties for students and young professionals to under take international graduate studies, enhance their research and explore teaching in more than 140 countries worldwide. Recipients are selected based on academic and professional achievement as well as their record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

got the app?

Racheal Ayankunbi (B.S. ’22) graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in biology and double minors in chemistry and classical civilization. A Maryland native, Ayankubi will be based at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Greece, studying the role of epigenetic regulators in the development of bladder cancer. Additionally, as a classical civiliza tion minor, Ayankunbi hopes to be fully immersed in the contemporary and classical culture of Greece.

Carl Romer (B.S. ’22) graduated with a degree in economics and minored in philosophy. Romer will study at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom, where he’ll work towards an MSc in economics and philosophy.

Ashleigh Brown-Grier, an Alabama native, is a Ph.D. candidate in the higher education leadership and policy studies program at Howard University. Brown-Grier will spend nine months in South Africa as a Fulbright Student study ing Black institutions of higher learning in South Africa and examining the apartheid era inequities and their exacerba tion during COVID-19. This is Brown-Grier’s second Fulbright grant award.

3MoneyQuestions to Consider Before Retiring

By Kate Ashford NerdWallet

Medicare and other topics - like travel and long-term care - can affect your retirement finances.

Here are some questions to ask a certified financial advisor - or consider carefully on your own - as retirement approaches:

1. WHAT RETIREMENT DECISIONS DO I NEED TO THINK ABOUT?

Your life in retirement may not continue as it has in the past. Do you plan to travel? Do you intend to move to a different state or downsize? How often will you want to buy a new vehicle?

“Most people just think, ‘I need a certain amount of money to live on,’’’ says Daniel Lash, a CFP in Vienna, Virginia.

“What about all the things that come along with living? All the things you want to do?’’

Mapping your retirement plans can help you pinpoint when and how you’ll need cash.

“Do you have an idea of where you’re going to move, and what does real estate look like in that general area?’’ Lash says. “They’ve thought about retir ing, not ‘What am I going to do when I retire?’’’

2. CAN I AFFORD TO SELF-INSURE FOR LONG-TERM CARE?

A person turning 65 now has about a 70% chance of needing some kind of long-term care, and costs are steep. It’s crucial to consider potential costs and whether you have the savings to manage them. If you don’t, you’ll need to run your num bers on potential insurance products.

3. DO I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE SOME FUN?

A successful retirement isn’t always about the tangibles. For many, it’s a time to real ize dreams of travel and other experiences, but spending too frugally can get in the way.

“Often clients are overly con servative for fear of running out of money, but in the process they shortchange the retire ment experience,’’ says Kevin Lum, a CFP in Los Angeles. “By the time they realize their abundance, they’re too old to spend it.’’

Talk to a trusted adviser about your big-ticket wishes and whether you have enough money to splash out a little before you settle into quieter spending.

PHOTO: (c) Prostock-Studio / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Valencia Park Hornets Try to Sting Their Way Back to Greatness

Resurrecting a community youth football association

By Darrel Wheeler Contributing Writer

As the youth football world turns, the Valencia Park Hornets are under major reconstruction trying to revive Hornet Nation and bring them back to promi nence. The Hornets have only two teams this year: an 11-andunder and 12-and-under team. As a result of their lack of num bers, they haven’t produced many victories.

Field equipment operator Dwayne Harvey had this to say about VP’s current situations, “I think we will be ok. It takes some time to get to where we want to be, but I do believe we can do it. Getting the board members and the coaches to be of the same mind set and have the same agenda for the kids, that will change things a lot, and I can see that happen ing. We have enough kids in our community to have the num bers we need, but they leave to go play for other associations and that’s a problem we have to address.”

He continued: “Collectively, as a community we can defi nitely bring about some positive changes and keep our kids here. We want to build a structure around teaching the game, how to play and not sacrifice integ rity and sportsmanship just to win games. Don’t get me wrong,

we want to win but not by any means necessary.”

The Hornets are not totally without some talented and ded icated players. Antonio Brown, Steven Moore Jr, Luke Wallace, Ty’jean Wayne, Gionne Torres, Jaydon Turman, Julian Ju-Ju Smith, Blue Johnson, Obadiah Groenendal, Pablo Tovar, Danial Lomeli, and Anthony Lopez are some of the Hornets players that like to flash their skills on the field.

“If we could win more games, I think people will want to come and play here,” said Hornet Baller Ty’Jean Wayne. “I came here because I wanted to play for VP and be a leader and when I go to High School. I want to play for Lincoln,” he said.

It is a very hard challenge try ing to resurrect a youth foot ball association in this era of Q-Bowl chasers, all-star travel teams, and lack of neighbor hood commitment.

However some people love a good challenge and the VP administrators seem ready for the challenges ahead. Are the powers that be at VP ready to handle the changing times and responsibilities? Only time will tell.

Good luck, Go Hornets!!

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

Michelle Obama: “Don’t Take Anything For Granted’

former

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 will be a big deal. On that day, the U.S. will hold its midterm elec tions, where all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be decided. Thirty-nine state and territorial gubernatorial elections and other crucial state and local elections will be contested.

As the first election to follow the 2020 census-related redistricting, a lot is at stake. Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, is playing her part to encourage the nation to get out and register to vote and, then to, all importantly, vote

Here’s an excerpt of what Mrs. Obama had to say September 19, 2022 to voter registration volunteers at a recent National Voter Registration Week kick-off rally ahead of National Voter Registration Day, an annual event held September 20th to help hard to reach Americans get regis tered to vote:

recent

Everyone knows we are just 50 days away from the mid term elections. This fall vot ers are going to cast ballots to decide who represents us. And the interesting thing is that it’s going to cover all the bases. Folks who are repre senting us in Washington, in the State House, in City Hall, on our school boards, you name it.

These midterm elections are important. Everything from health care, to education to climate change, to how your communities are policed to the judges who determine the justice that we get, all those things are on the ballot.

But here’s the thing. Not everybody gets it. The reasons are varied and justifiable. Folks are tired. Some folks don’t trust government. Others don’t really buy into this idea of a shared democracy. A lot of folks feel let down or they feel unseen by this pro cess.

For too many reasons, espe cially when it comes to peo

ple of color, young people… folks stay home on election day.

A vote can change not only who’s in the governor’s man sion, but how many potholes we have to dodge on our way to work, the lessons that our kid’s textbooks teach them at school. You guys know that every single vote matters.

I want you to think about six

during National Voter Registration Week

there is no telling the kind of impact we can have on this election. That’s how Barack Obama became president. Don’t take anything for granted.

We have to continue to think that way. That’s how we fight back against the folks who are cutting back our right to vote. It’s as simple as that. That’s how we silence the folks who want us to believe that our votes don’t matter. They want us to stay at home. By instilling an urgency in everyone we know about this election, we combat all of that. All of it.

votes. I want you to call your friends. Text them. Whatever you do, and tell them that voting is no joke.

I want you to think about the feelings you’ve had the morning after the last few elections because, let me tell you, I’m gonna be honest with you, the last few elec tions haven’t felt complete ly felt fun to me when I’ve looked at some of the out comes. And I know that feel ing of just, “Where are we? What is going on?” I want you to think about whether you felt good or if you were left wondering if you did enough.

people in our orbits that we overlook. Friends and fami ly. Neighbors. You don’t even have to get to the people you don’t know. You don’t have to talk to anybody who dis agrees with you. All you have to do is talk to the folks in your orbit and make sure that they are registered and ready to vote.

If we do that, if we think about every election like that

I don’t care what laws have been passed or what have you. All we have to do is get folks who are eligible and able to vote, [to] register. That’s all we have to do.

The margin of victory, the margin of losing our right to a good criminal justice sys tem, our right to decide what we do with our bodies, you know, all of that is decided in these races by handfuls of

I want to feel like, “I have done everything in my power to let people know what is at stake so I can just sleep at night.” I’m asking you to ask yourself that question and I want you to spend the next 50 days doing everything you can to wake up on November 9th proud of the work that you did to get your entire community registered and ready to vote this year.

on

Jackson

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, California Black Media writer McKenzie Jackson takes a look at the lives and accomplish ments of some Californians of Hispanic heritage.

28-year-old accountant, Dayane Mendoza, a graduate of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District, says more Latino representation is needed on school boards and in govern ment.

“More Latino leaders are needed to step up and guide younger generations because there are so many people of Mexican and other Latin American descents in California” said Solis.

She hopes Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, shines a light on that.

“The Latino community is made up of hard workers, who are willing to thrive and help others in need,” Solis told California Black Media (CBM).

“We have a strong presence in the state.”

Hispanic Heritage Month places that work ethic front and center.

The monthlong national recogni tion is held annually to celebrate the diverse cultures, contributions, and extensive histories of the U.S. Latino community, the second largest racial

or ethnic group in the country.

Assemblymember Mia Bontá (DOakland), who is a Black Latina (or Afro Latina) said to CBM, “We are still living in a time and place where we need to make sure we elevate the experiences of Latinos. Having a month dedicated to tell ing their stories, focusing on their legacies and the everyday heroes who make a difference is very import ant.”

According to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Latinos are the largest ethnic group in the state. They are about 39.4% of the state’s population.

The largest concentration of people of Hispanic Heritage in California lives in Imperial County (79.6%), which is adjacent to San Diego County along the southern border

of California. One in every four Hispanic Americans call California home.

Mexican Americans account for the largest number of people of Hispanic origin in California (30.7%) followed by Hispanics originating from the Caribbean (0.8%) and people of Central American descent (3.0%).

Throughout California’s 170-year history Latinos have contributed to every aspect of life including agri culture, construction, entetainment, health care, hospitality, sports, and politics. People of Hispanic Heritage have been reportedly living in California since the 1600s.

California has been home to a num ber of national heroes of Hispanic heritage including labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta,

Accomplishments

cofounders of the organization that became the United Farmworkers Union; former and current United States Poet Laureates Juan Felipe Herrera and Ada Limón; and American civil rights activist Sylvia Mendez to name a few.

The economic impact Latinos have on the state and nation was cele brated at the L’ATTITUDE confer ence from Sept. 22-25 in San Diego. The event allowed Latino profes sionals to network and share ideas. It attracted business and political leaders and celebrities like former President Barack Obama and Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan.

Alex Padilla, who became California’s first Latino U.S. Senator when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him to replace Vice President Kamala Harris, appeared at L’ATTITUDE for a conversation titled “Public Policy Imperatives for the 21st Century America.” Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, introduced the Senate bill, “The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929” to expand a pathway to permanency for millions of longterm U.S. residents three days after the event.

According to PPIC, one-fourth of the undocumented immigrants in the United States (between 2.35 and 2.6 million people) live in California.

The Senate bill Sen. Padilla intro duced would allow an immigrant to qualify for lawful permanent resi

dent status if they have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least seven years and are of good moral charac ter. It provides a pathway to a green card for up to eight million people.

The undocumented individuals covered in Padilla’s bill, after becoming citizens, could potentially contribute about $83 billion to the U.S. economy annually and about $27 billion in taxes according to FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization advocating for immi gration reform.

“This could have a profound impact on millions of immigrants, some who have been living, working, and contributing to the United States for decades, by allowing them to live freely without the fear of an uncertain future,” he said.

Solis urges Californians to recog nize how their lives are impacted by their Latino peers.

“I think it’s beautiful that it is being celebrated -- our diversity, our cul tures,” she said. “I find it innova tive, but at the same time I would like everyone to question what they are celebrating. Are they going to take the time to learn about Latino cultures? Are they going to make an effort?”

This publication/project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama at the Obama’s official White House portrait unveiling ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

PHOTO: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

LOVE SUPREME AT THE MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL

From Friday’s opening night featuring Cuban piano great Chucho Valdés until the last note was sung by exquisite vocalist Gregory Porter, love was the connecting theme at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival. In its second in-per son iteration since COVID changed our lives, the 3-day weekend in September was just the tonic needed to remind us of the healing powers of music. It began with Cuban pianist extraor dinaire Chucho Valdés and the Yoruband Orchestra’s dazzling composition “La Creación,” exploring the story of creation according to the Afro-Cuban Santería religion. Lighting up the Jimmy Lyons Arena next was British acid jazz band Incognito. “Bits and pieces in each of us appear in all of us,” sang Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick. Vocalist Maysa’s deep contralto in the bitter sweet ballad “Deep Waters” caressed a medley of love lyrics from Chaka Khan, Whitney, and Stevie Wonder.

In its 65th year, MJF presents not only jazz leg ends but also packs its stages with fresh new faces. The Cookers septet, featur ing jazz icons Cecil McBee, Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, Billy Harper, Billy Hart and George Cables, electrified the Garden Stage, with classic elegance and forward-leaning hard bop.

& ELECTRIC & HELP FOR YOU DURING AN OUTAGE

A MoodSwing Reunion fea turing Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Brian Blade and Christian McBride, reprised their 1993 collaboration. Complementing the energy of these powerful jazz lions was “Let It Happen,” a trio of sisters from the Netherlands, astonishing with their spec tacular moves and choreog raphy. San Diego was well represented with School of Creative/Performing Arts saxophonist Nick Caldwell

onstage with the prestigious Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

This year’s inaugural Gospel Concert, held on the Garden Stage, featured choirs from Texas Southern University and Morgan State University. Students lifted their voices in praise while an apprecia tive crowd seeped in the gos pel spirit. Alaska Airlines, an MJF partner, surprised the students by flying choir members from these two noted HBCUs with the air line covering the costs, fur thering MJF’s stated goals of increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in their ranks.

Some of the popular indoor venues were not available, and hopefully will return as health restrictions lift.

The Patio Bar was a popu lar hub for wine tasting in a friendly atmosphere, where pianist/composer Christian Sands taped his Welcome to the Sands Box in con versation with saxophon ist Lakecia Benjamin. Here, patrons happily soaked in the sounds, sipping selec tions from the black-owned McBride Sisters Wine Company.

Other highlights: Charleston-based quintet Ranky Tanky, spread the love with traditional Gullah music, originating from descen dants of slaves from the sea islands off the Carolinas.

For the uninitiated, Ranky Tanky is Gullah for “get funky,” and this they did, with the added bonus of songstress Lisa Fischer, who, adorned in big red hat and even bigger voice, offered a soulful, seering arrangement of “This Land is Your Land.”

Ravi Coltrane on Sunday shared his incredible musi cal journey, honoring

his parents John and Alice Coltrane. The saxophon ist, who has forged his own musical identity, paid trib ute to the Coltrane legacy as well as legendary Pharoah Sanders, who passed away only days before the Festival, with stunning arrangements of “A Love Supreme” and “The Creator Has A Master Plan.” Brandee Younger on harp, channeling Alice, accompanied with grace.

Gregory Porter closed Sunday night with sub lime elegance. Tuxedo-clad, wearing his signature black cap, Porter radiated love, his voice warm and rich. Porter, who attended SDSU, con sidered a career in football until a shoulder injury side lined his athletic goals. He spoke lovingly of his mother, a minister, when he sang

“Take Me to the Alley,” who, he said, always reminded him to reach for the afflicted ones. The impact of his encore “No Love Dying,” was heightened as patrons waved their phone lights, illuminat ing the Arena, singing with him, “There will be no love that’s dying here,” offering a fitting conclusion to a week end of love.

UCSD grad Michael Montagne, who has attended MJF for 31 years, shared favorite memories including meeting jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Gerald Wilson.

“I miss mingling in venues like Dizzy’s and the Night Club,” the straight-ahead jazz fan says. “It’s changed but you love it anyway. You come and you look for famil iar faces. It’s like family.”

Dede Bridgewater

Chucho Valdes

Deborah Bond, Incognito

George Cables, The Cookers

Gerald Clayton Leading Next Generation Jazz Orchestra

Gregory Porter, Tivon Pennicott

Let It Happen, Sisters from Netherlands

More on Biden-Harris Black and Minority-owned Small Businesses Initiatives

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr. National Correspondent

V

ice President Kamala Harris at Freedman’s Bank Forum last week said the adminis tration recognizes the continued difficulty that Black-owned busi nesses have in finding funding. She acknowledged that they routinely are the first to suffer during an economic downturn.

The SBA & the MDBA

Among a slate of new actions by the BidenHarris administration, the vice presi dent announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) would propose a rule this fall to expand its lender base by lifting the moratorium on new Small Business Lending Companies.

The action would allow new lenders to apply for a license to offer SBA-backed 7(a) small business loans.

Also, the Minority Business Development Agency (MDBA) will issue a $100 million notice of funding opportunity to provide technical assistance grants for entrepreneurship technical assistance providers to help businesses owned by socially and economically disadvan taged individuals launch, scale, and connect with growth capital.

Harris said to facilitate greater availability of small-balance mortgages, and HUD would issue requests to solicit

specific and actionable feedback on the barriers that prevent the origina tion of these mortgages and recom mendations for increasing the volume of small-mortgage loans in federal pro grams.

Economic prosperity

The White House said these and a host of other new policy steps follow two recent announcements by the administration of billions of dollars in investments for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs).The actions aim to deliver capital and resources to underserved small businesses and the community lenders who serve them, Harris stated.

“Small businesses are the engines of our economy and the path to economic pros perity for countless Americans in under served communities,” the vice president asserted.

“Community lenders – including CDFIs,

MDIs, and others – are vital to unlocking the full economic poten tial of these communities, turning previously sidelined talent into a source of economic growth and shared prosperity for all.”

Leveling the playing field

Earlier, Janet Yellen, the U.S. Department of Treasury secretary, said the White House sought to use the Freedman’s Bank Forum to shine a spotlight on how the administration’s pandemic relief efforts supported Black – and minority-owned businesses.

The forum, launched in 2015, seeks to develop strategies to help stamp out and overcome systemic racism in the finan cial industry.

“Unfortunately, for too long, the small business ecosystem in underserved communities has struggled to keep up with better-funded businesses and entrepre neurs in more prosperous communities,” Harris stated.

“Entrepreneurs of color regularly report being turned away by traditional finan cial institutions for loans at higher rates than their white counterparts. And the community lenders committed to filling that gap similarly report that shortfalls in capital and technical capacity limit their ability to invest in the communi ties that need them the most.”

Visit whitehouse.gov/briefing room to view a White House Fact Sheet on the Biden-Harris initiatives to help Blackowned and minority businesses.

Largest Black-Controlled Colombian Cannabis Producer Announces Latest Investment

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

One World Products, Inc. has announced that it has filed its S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the recently announced common stock purchase agreement and registration rights agreement with an institutional investor for up to $10 million worth of shares issuable over 36 months.

The shares are based upon the current market price of the stock at the time.

Upon filing the S-1, the institutional investor has made its second fixed-price followon equity investment of $150,000, which is also subject to Rule 144 and a 6month holding period.

Both fixed-price equity investments were priced at $0.15 per share.

One World Products Inc. (OWP) is Colombia’s largest Black-controlled, fully licensed hemp and cannabis pro ducer.

Basketball legend Isiah Thomas serves as chairman and CEO of the company.

“We are delighted that our newest institutional investor clearly values the vision and tremendous growth poten

tial that we see for OWP,” Thomas stated in a news release.

“Their second equity invest ment provides additional cap ital that will be used to con tinue to scale our operations in Colombia, enhance indus trial sales of hemp products to customers and expand our carbon credits program.”

Thomas continued:

“Of tremendous importance to us has been the faith and enthusiasm this institutional investor has demonstrated, evidenced by their $300,000 investment that is priced approximately 50% higher than our recent share price.

“Even more supportive long term, they are allowing us control over the timing and amounts of future equity cap ital, which enables us to take advantage of sudden increases in our stock price.

“Furthermore, one of our original investors in OWP has increased his investment, enabling us to restructure our debt with much more favor able terms. I would also like to highlight that I am person ally investing an additional $500,000 at $0.15 per share in $100,000 increments over the next five months.

“As an ascendant international hemp and cannabis com

pany focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, we believe that these latest rounds of investment and refinancing position us well to elevate the Company to the next level.”

A more detailed description of the Agreements was outlined in One World Products’ Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC.

Venus Williams, Spike Lee set for Black Entrepreneurs Day

Venus Williams, Spike Lee, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shaquille O’Neal and Killer Mike are among those set to participate in a celebra tion of African American business success and opportunity.

Black Entrepreneurs Day, founded and organized by “Shark Tank’’ panelist and FUBU chief executive Daymond John, will be held Oct. 27 at New York City’s Apollo Theater and streamed live on Johnson’s Facebook page and BlackEntrepreneursDay.com.

In a statement, John said his goal for the third annual gathering remains to “inspire, educate, learn from and celebrate those that are hustling, pushing forward, pursuing their dreams and, in many cases, thriving.’’

Beginning at 7 p.m. EDT, the night will include John’s one-onone discussions with celebrity and business guests; panels on topics including building generational wealth and elevating cand access, and a “pitch competition’’ for nascent entrepre neurs. Rapper Big Sean will close the Chase-presented event with a live performance.

Black business owners and entrepreneurs had a chance to apply for $25,000 grants from the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant program created by John. More than $500,000 in grants has been given, according to organizers.

“Black Entrepreneurs Day provides an invaluable resource to a community that is historically overlooked when it comes to resources and funding. It is truly economic inclusion for us, by us,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement.

John, one of the original stars of ABC’s “Shark Tank,’’ founded the global lifestyle brand FUBU and is a motivational speaker and author.

(From left) Venus Williams, Shaquille O’Neal and Tracee Ellis Ross are among those set to participate in Black Entrepreneurs Day, founded and organized by “Shark Tank” panelist and FUBU chief executive Daymond John on Oct. 27 at New York City’s Apollo Theater and streamed live on social media. PHOTO: AP Photo

“IS THE U.S. LEADING THE WAR ON TIGRAY?”

Th e disastrous war in the Horn of Africa is being guided secretly by the U.S., according to briefings reported by the World Peace Foundation (WPF), a philanthropic foundation for research into peace processes affiliated with Massachusetts-based Fletcher School of Law.

The year-long conflict in Ethiopia pitting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and its allies against the Ethiopian government has caused thousands, perhaps tens of thou sands, of battlefield casualties.

In the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the conflict, 5.2 million people in Ethiopia’s north have faced hunger and lacked basic supplies for a year as the government sought to strangle the Tigray region.

In a commentary titled “How the International Community is Betraying Tigray - and its Principles”, the

thinking of key international figures regarding the war against Tigray led by the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the State of Eritrea is detailed.

With the African Union unable to take effective action to end one of the bloodiest wars in the world today, Western officials began holding meetings secretly in Djibouti and in the Seychelles, writes Alex de Waal, executive secretary of the WPF.

Two top officials attended the lat est meeting, arriving in a U.S. Air Force aircraft operating on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae, a former chief of the Ethiopian military, now a strategist for the Tigrayans, told The New York Times in a phone interview that “the fighting is intense and the casualties are immense.”

On Sept. 20, U.S. Special Envoy Mike Hammer held a press briefing and took questions from journalists.

His performance left much to desire, opined De Waal. There were no condolences to Ethiopians, especially Tigrayans, for their bereavements, losses and fears. He failed to con vey the gravity of the war in which the survival of the Tigrayan people is in question and the future of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa will be decided.

Ethiopia could revert to normal, Hammer hinted, including its stra tegic partnership with the U.S., if the Ethiopian government were given the right encouragement to do the right thing.

He took the Tigrayans for granted, protested de Waal, assuming they would be ready to surrender in the negotiating room what they have refused to concede on the battlefield.

Most of all, the U.S. envoy’s speech raised questions about who is set ting policy towards Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa and what is the strategy beyond trying to manage the crisis and hoping for the best.

A REVOLUTION FOR PROSPERITY

A recently organized party led by a millionaire diamond magnate looks set to win Lesotho’s parliamentary election, having secured enough for a simple majority, according to preliminary results from the elec tion commission.

By Sunday afternoon, results from the Oct. 7 vote were in for 49 out of a total of 80 constituencies. The Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party, formed by Sam Matekane in March, had secured 41 seats, the minimum required to reach a simple majority.

The current ruling party All Basotho Convention (ABC), which has run the country of 2.14 million people since 2017, was faring badly with no seats won so far, the tally showed.

Wealthy Lesotho businessman Sam Matekane and his brand-new Revolution for Prosperity party is on track to defy predictions that no single party would win a clear majority and that Lesotho would be saddled with yet another unstable coalition.

The Democratic Congress (DC), the main opposition party and member of the coalition government, is running a distant second to the RFP in the race, having secured some six seats.

Under the outgoing All Basotho Convention, the southern African coun-

try was marred by political upheav al, stalled reforms and widespread exasperation of people over political wrangling, corruption and policy paralysis.

Matekane has promised to usher in a new era of governance and pros perity in the country by exploiting its natural resources and its com mercial competitiveness, drawing from its founder’s experience in running businesses.

In the October 7 poll, security, corruption and jobs were the three main issues highlighted by politicians in the seventh ballot since the rein statement of democracy in 1993. But whether this makes any differ ence to the mountain kingdom’s

economic trajectory is question able, Dr. Greg Miles, head of The Brenthurst Foundation, wrote in the South African Daily Maverick. “Politics is supposed to be the means to provide a policy and governance platform for growth and develop ment,” he wrote, adding “Not so in Lesotho, as in much of southern Africa. Rather it’s been about the redistribution of wealth to parties indistinguishable by their policies, if not their promises, and defined by their personalities.

“Elections have become a competition between personalities and their promises. Party manifestos are routinely a laundry list of unfunded (and apparently unfundable) proj ects, with subsequent governments

GMOs THAT PROMOTE POVERTY AND DEPENDENCY GAIN FOOTHOLD IN KENYA

Kenya has officially entered into the cultivation and use of Genetically Modified Organisms - known as GMOsthat have been banned in 26 countries.

This month, Kenyan author ities announced plans to lift the country’s ban on genetically modified crops, in part to deal with a record drought that is causing hunger across the Horn of Africa. The move is opposed by those con cerned about potentially harmful effects on health, the environment and small farms.

Supporters maintain that lifting the ban will improve food security.

The decision by the Cabinet, chaired by President William Ruto at State House, was made in accordance with the recommendation of the Task Force to Review Matters Relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety. The meeting was con vened to consider the progress made in the response to the ongoing drought in the country.

Speaking earlier this week, Kenyan President William Ruto said lift ing the ban on GMOs is part of the government’s response to the drought ravaging the country.

But critics counter that some GM crops can have negative impact on non-target organisms and on soil and water ecosystems. For example, the expansion of GM herbicide-tol erant corn and soy which are joined with herbicides, destroyed much of the habitat of the monarch butter fly in North America.

Kenya prohibited cultivation of genetically modified crops and the importing of food crops and ani mal feeds produced through bio technology innovation since 2012.

The government’s move paves the way for the importation of GMO products, which the government says will help boost food security.

GMOs have their defenders - mostly seed and chemical companies who claim that genetically engineered crops are good for the environment by reducing pesticide use and increasing crop yields.

However, research indicates that GM crop technology can result in a net increase in herbicide use and can foster the growth of herbicide resistant weeds. In addition, there is concern that the use of GM crops may negatively impact the agricul ture ecosystem.

Countries that ban GMOs include Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Madagascar, Turkey, among others

Also gaining a foothold in Africa is Bayer Malawi, whose presence in Malawi originates from the late 1950s when the company was mainly known for its pharmaceutical products such as aspirin, and as a distributor for Farmer’s Organi-

apparently wholly incapable of delivery.

“This explains why there were 65 political parties contesting the Oct. 7 election, and why the civil ser vice wage bill, at 20% of GDP, is unbearably large, or why at a more mundane level, its overinflated 38 min isters are entitled to two cars, a 4X4 and an upmarket German luxury sedan.

Currently, “one third of Lesotho’s 2.1 million citizens live in poverty. A breakdown in governance – the rule of law – alongside low growth and high inequality lends itself to vio lence. Lesotho’s murder rate is 44 per 100,000, compared to South Africa’s already insufferably high 33/100,000.

zation and Shell Chemicals.

“Today Bayer Malawi Ltd provides a full agricultural production service package to enable farmers to acquire not only high-quality seed but also quality crop protection solutions to combat plant diseases, insect pests and weeds.” (from the Bayer website)

Last August, agricultural students at the University of Ghana held a teachin to urge youth to support the adoption of GMO technology to help improve farm productivity and ensure food security. They held a debate competition but with few students willing to argue against GMO seeds, the pro-GMO seeds group was the hands-down winner.

Meanwhile, in an article titled: “Twelve reasons for Africa to reject GMO crops,” Kenyan born Zachary Makanya writing for the newsletter GRAIN pointed out a growing list of organizations, networks and lobby groups with close ties to the GM industry, working to promote GM agriculture on the continent.

While seed and chemical companies like Monsanto claim that genet ically engineered crops would be good for the environment by reducing pesticide use and increasing crop yields, the past 20 years have shown that they do nothing of the sort, Makanya said. Not only have GMO crops not improved yields, they have vastly increased the use of glyphosate, the active ingredi ent in Monsanto’s Roundup herbi cide and “probably carcinogenic to humans, according to the World Health Organization.

Moreover, most GMOs have not been engineered to improve yields or make food healthier, but to be herbicide resistant. Corn, soybeans and other crops have been genetically engi neered to withstand blasts of glypho sate. It kills all the weeds in the field, but the GMO crops survive.

At least12 African countries are carrying out research on GM crops, including Egypt, Uganda, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Cameroon, and a long list of GM crops are in the pipeline for introduction in var ious African countries.

Finally, a group of African environmentalists, in an article titled “GMOs promote poverty and dependency in Africa” they pointed out in Grain magazine: “The obsession in pro moting GM crops in Africa diverts attention and resources away from a plurality of genuine and localized solutions and flies in the face of the recommendations of independent science.”

“Lesotho has never had to develop its own development path replete with hard choices and ownership of its destiny. There has always been a soft, diplomatically-directed option: donor funding especially during the apartheid years,

“The RFP will likely be at the helm of the new government, led by a man with obvious business successes and interests. A national prosperity agenda will require turning politics from simply being economics by other means to driving a national devel opment plan aimed at growth rather than redistribution. If it doesn’t change the act of politics in Lesotho, the RFP can only become anoth er casualty of its ongoing political drama.”

Protest against GMOs in Ghana. PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

Lesotho voters supporting Matekane. PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

Alean

McMorris

SUNRISE 08/16/1927

SUNSET 09/04/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

Funeral services were held on 09/21/2022 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with a burial fol lowing at Greenwood Cemetery. Final arrangements were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

On August 16, 1927, Alean Harris was born to parents Richard Harris Sr. and Maple Harris in Wildsville Louisiana. Years later the Harris’s welcomed four more children: Marie Cashsaw, (formally, Harris), deceased; Richard Jr. Harris, deceased; Eddie Lee Harris; and Irma Jean Williams. In the 1930s the Harris fam ily moved to Turtle Lake, Louisiana before relocating to Frogmore, an unincor porated community in Concordia Parish, Louisiana; where her mother Maple Harris was laid to rest. In 1943, Alean accepted Christ through baptism. The following year the Harris’ moved to Ferriday, Louisiana.

On July 3, 1948, Alean joined the institution of matrimony with Lenfield Sr. McMorris. This holy union bore several children: Lenfield McMorris Jr., deceased; Larry Bernard McMorris, deceased; Gary Jerome McMorris; and Jean Renice Wells. Lenfield Sr. and Alean amicably decided to divorce. Alean McMorris moved to San Diego, California. Alean joined Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She was an active congregation member. She served on the senior missionary board and administering the gospel as a Sunday school teacher. Alean became a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). Employed with the San Diego Naval Hospital until she retired. Alean obtained a Bachelor’s in Child Development from San Diego City College. She later became a preschool teacher with the Neighborhood Housing Association Head Start Program. Alean, is affectionately referred to as Iron Maiden or Dugga by those closest to her.

On October 20, 2019, Alean H. McMorris suffered a stroke. She was cared for by her daughter Jean and granddaughters Renece McMorris, Little Flower Jackson, and Charmaine McMorris. She enjoyed visits from her great-grand children and liked being informed of the current happenings in their lives.

On September 3, 2022, Alean H. McMorris was called home. She is survived by her children Garry Jerome McMorris and Jean Wells; siblings Eddie Lee (Gloria) Harris and Irma Jean Williams; grandchildren Cornelius Dixon, Leslie Carter (formally, McMorris), Little Flower Jackson, Charmaine McMorris, and Renece McMorris; great-grandchildren Rosaria Sylvers (little Dugga), Amanda Jackson, Emmanuel Jackson, Charmaine Martin, Chanell Martin, Zedrick Martin Jr., LaSean Robinson, LeAnne Robinson, and Stanley Jacob.

Deandrea Shantelle William Larry

Huie

SUNRISE 10/07/1992

SUNSET 09/14/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

Funeral services were held at Memory Chapel of Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary, with a burial following at Cypress View Mausoleum. Final arrangements were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

Deandrea S. Huie was born on October 7, 1992 to Burchell and Doreen Huie in San Diego, California. God called her home to rest in eternal peace on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

The light and center of her family Deandrea spent her early years in San Diego, California with her parents and three brothers Christopher, Burchell and Terrance.

By her early teens the family moved to Victorville, California where Deandrea lived out her remaining years. She went to Spirit of Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, as a member she enjoyed services regularly.

As a child Deandrea attended Bradach Elementary School and then went on to attend Silverado High School. A beloved student and athlete she participat ed in track, field and cheerleading.

Deandrea went on to graduate from Serrano High School in Phelan CA. Thereafter she pursued a college degree at Victor Valley College completing her studies in medical billing and coding. Valiantly this was all accomplished while battling her own numerous medical illnesses.

“Haddie” & “DeDe” as she was known to her grandmother “Big Mama” and loved ones was a strong fighter. Despite medical setbacks she lived life to the fullest. This included camping with her family, attending concerts, and riding dune buggies in the desert.

Sharp with her wit, DeDe especially loved spending time shooting guns with her father especially when as she said “he was purchasing the bullets as they aren’t cheap.”

A kind soul known for her infectious smile and compassionate spirit DeDe will be forever missed.

Deandrea is survived by her parents, Doreen and Burchell Huie, her brothers Chrisopher (Ashlyn), Burchell Jr. and Terrance. Grandmother Pansy, many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. DeDe will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

Herbert Sims

SUNRISE 10/08/1934

SUNSET 09/12/2022

Baker

SUNRISE 07/29/1931

SUNSET 09/12/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

A memorial mass was held 10/06/2022 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church with a Military Ceremony being held on 10/12/2022 at Miramar National Cemetery. Final arrange ment were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

William Larry Baker (Larry) William Larry Baker (Larry), the fourth of thir teen children, was born on July 29, 1931 to the late William Frederick Baker and Earmmie Bright in Ridgeland, SC. He made his transition into eternal rest on Monday. September 12, 2022, at the Twain Residential Home in San Diego, California. Larry or “Brother” as he was fondly called by family, was preceded in death by eight of his siblings: Everett, Harry, Benjamin, Charles, Helen, Jessie, Lucille and Eva.

Larry attended the public schools of Jasper County in Ridgeland. Upon grad uating high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He attained the rank of Electricians Mate and was, honorably discharged in 1954 at Naval Base San Diego.

In September, 1957, Larry and Charlene Thompson, who preceded him in death in 2018, were joined in holy matrimony. They were blessed with two beautiful children: a daughter, Tara Rachelle, and a son, Andre Laurent “Larry” Boulanger, who preceded them in death in 2013. He and Charlene traveled with their family all over the USA, visiting national parks, camping, and discov ering the natural beauty of our country.

Larry was employed at Miramar Naval Air Station for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Rita’s Catholic Church and enjoyed using his skills as a volunteer around the parish for many years until his health declined. He was well known for his willingness to help family, neighbors and friends.

Larry grew a variety of flowers, vegetables, and fruits. He was known for shar ing exquisite wines and brandy he created from his many fruit trees and vines. He loved jazz music and would visit jazz clubs when he traveled. Larry enjoyed the outdoors, especially camping, fishing, and sailing. Larry took many trips with family and friends on his boat and RV.

Larry leaves to cherish his memories a loving daughter, Tara Rachelle Baker of San Diego; a brother, Samuel Baker (SC); three sisters. Mildred Laurel (GA), Edna Baker (VA), and Irma Baker (NC); a sister-in-law, Janie Baker (SC): a broth er-in law, Alvin Vinson (ND); many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family mem bers and friends.

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

Funeral services were held on 10/04/2022 at Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church, with a burial following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Final arrangements were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

Mr. Herbert Sims Sr., born October 08, 1934, in St Louis, Missouri, he was an only child. His mother Lizzie Lee Ellis and Wally llis (Stepfather) moved them to Greenwood Mississippi.

That’s where he met the love of his life, the one God chose for his soulmate, Mrs. Annie B. Sims. They were married in Greenwood MS on Christmas Day 1953, (68 yrs.). Herbert Sr. and his lovely wife Annie moved to San Diego, CA, with their first-born Herbert Sims Jr. (wife Cookie). Once in San Diego they had two more Sons, Michael Sims Sr., and Pastor. Thomas Lee Sims (wife Ethel). Their only Daughter Shanetta Sims LaZarus (husband Brian Sr.). Their Goddaughter Alice Rollins.

His Grandchildren Michael Jr., Marque, Shevonte (John), Nicolette, Kiawna (Cory), Shetashia (Quentin), Brittani, Chevaye, Brian II (Jasmine), Herbert III, Xzavier, Kenyon, Nicholas and LaNiece. Twenty-three Great Grandchildren and six Great Great Grandchildren.

Herbert Sr. worked and retired from The City of Chula Vista. He was a member of Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church for over three decades. He was truly a brother of the church; he helped in feeding the homeless and with Vocational Bible School and wherever the Lord needed him. Mr. Herbert Sims Sr was a quiet man he said little words but when he did speak you would definitely listen, he was a man with lots of knowl edge and wisdom. Him and Annie joined a motorhome club called “The Cruisers”.

He loved being outside keeping his yard well-manicured and being in his garage. Where he did all his crafts and building things but when he would finish whatever he had made he would paint it brown. He was so “COOL” and him and his lady could definitely dress, they received Best Dress couple of the church.

Our Daddy, Grandfather and Friend was a Hero to us and Superman to the Grand kids. We’re going to miss him very much. Our parents used to say these couple of words to each other and it meant so much to them, so here’s to you Daddy & Big Daddy. “ME TOO!”

is a way of

the things you love, the things

are, the things

Davis

SUNRISE 07/14/1958

SUNSET 09/23/2022

Gregory was the second child born to Nathaniel & Marilyn Davis in San Diego, CA. An avid music lover and former highly-decorat ed athlete, he was well-known within the community for his unique talents, his love of sharing those talents, and infectious sense of humor.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preferred Cremation & Burial. Memorial will be Friday, October 14, 2022 from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the VFW 1401 Highland Ave, National City, CA.

Dwayne

Nellie Ruth Michael

Bryant

SUNRISE 03/03/1934

SUNSET 09/10/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED

CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Nellie Ruth Bryant was born March 3, 1934, in Homer, LA, and grew up in Camden, AK. She was the fourth child born to Christell and Hosie Willis. At an early age Nellie accepted Christ into her life. She began this journey at Hadley Church of God in Christ in Camden. She continued her devotion to Christ at Greater Jackson Memorial Church of God in Christ in San Diego.

Nellie graduated valedictorian from Lincoln High School in Camden. She relo cated to San Diego, CA, 1953. After moving to San Diego, she met and fell in love with Herman Bryant. In 1957, they were united in holy matrimony until his death in 2000. From this union five children were born.

Nellie always had a passion for clothing. She began her career as a presser at the Naval Training Center San Diego. She later opened a small dry clean ers and ran this business for several years. Nellie spent more than 40 years in this career until she retired in 1993. She also had a love for food and made sure that anyone she encountered was fed. Nellie had an immeasurable love for children, inspiring her to open “The Family Daycare” for her family by adding an addition onto her home.

On September 10, 2022, Nellie was called to her eternal rest. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years Herman Bryant; her parents, 12 brothers and sisters, and one great-grandchild.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Deniece Bryant and Dennis Bryant both of San Diego, CA; Windy Hunter of Terry, MS; Dale Bryant III (Stephanie) of San Diego, CA, and Shiree Bryant-McClendon of Gilbert, AZ; fourteen grand children, sixteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren; three sisters: Willie Lou Harris of Sacramento, CA, Charlean McKinny and Mearl Willis both of San Diego, CA; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other fam ily members and friends.

Jacobs

SUNRISE 05/11/1949

SUNSET 09/22/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Bro. Michael Jacobs was born May 11, 1949, to the late Jasper Lee Jacobs and Jeanette Jacobs of Baltimore, Maryland. Michael received his formal education in Baltimore, Maryland.

Michael did various jobs working for the city, a moving company and also home improvement.Michael met the love of his life Shirley and married August 13, 1982, in Baltimore, Maryland. To this union were five children: Cheryl, Donna, Shantay, Larry and Gary. Michael and his family moved to San Diego, CA in August 1986. Michael brought himself a truck and started his own landscaping and home improvement with his sons, Larry and Gary. He worked all over San Diego and other areas. Michael and his family were members for 11 yrs. Michael and his family joined Ambassadors For Christ Missionary Baptist Church in August 2001 under the leadership of Pastor Jimmy L. Fuller and First Lady Glen Dean Fuller. Michael sang in the Men’s choir.

Michael received a plaque on January 30, 2005 for appreciation for the Church Beautification. Michael loved going to church. He loved spending time with family, receiving calls from family and friends. He loved watching his western and judge Judy. We will remember Michael for his love for God, family, friends, his willingness to help people, man of a few words, his loving, caring heart, his loud music playing in his car and a very sharp dresser.

Bro. Michael Jacobs was called home to be with the Lord on September 22, 2022. He leaves to cherish his loving memories: His wife of 40 years Shirley Ann Jacobs, five daughters: Roselle (Joseph), Cheryl (Felton), Donna, Shantay (David) and Chadira. Five sons: Larry (Tracy), Gregory, Stanley (Sekenna), Toney (Alicia), Michael (Carma). One sister: Syrena (Harvey). Three brothers: Tyrone, Gregory, Anthony. 31 grandchildren, one aunt: Beudah Russell. Longtime friend of 62 years Thomas Lane and a host of relatives, church family and friends. Bro Michael Jacobs was preceded in death by his parents Jasper and Jeanette, two brothers: Calvin and Melvin, one grandson: Lil David and his son: Gary Jacobs.

Marshelle Davis

SUNRISE 11/19/1985

SUNSET 08/18/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Dwayne Anthony Davis was the third child of Wendy Smith-Davis on Tuesday, November 19, 1985, at UCSD Hospital in San Diego, California.

Dwayne accepted Christ into his life at a young age and was baptized at Community Missionary Baptist Church.

Dwayne, was nicknamed Buddha as a young child, because of his chunky cheeks. He was intrigued with automobiles of all makes and models and also loved music and writing poems.

Dwayne leaves behind daughters Mariah Angelique Davis and Izabel Davis; son Dwayne Anthony Davis Jr.; parents Lewis and Wendy Davis; siblings Patricia, Lewis Davis ,Jr., and Laurenda Davis, also a host of other relatives and friends.

Psalm 34:18

Tucker-Taylor

SUNRISE 09/27/1960

SUNSET 09/22/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Marshelle’s early journey began September 27, 1960, in San Diego, CA to Horace and Gloria Tucker. That was the day her mother and big sister welcomed another beautiful daughter into the family. They named her Marshelle. Marshelle obtained her formal education at St. Rita’s Catholic School where she received her first Holy Communion and, in the San Diego Unified School District, she attended Johnson Elementary and graduated from Morse High School in 1978. Marshelle accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at St. Paul United Methodist Church. In 1978 Marshelle welcomed her only son Michael into the world. She was nurturing not only to her son, but to other chil dren as well. She supported him through his many activities whether it was football, baseball, or on short fishing trips. Marshelle, postsecondary, attended Bay Vista Beauty School in the 80’s. She was interested in anything dealing with the beauty industry. Later she earned a certificate in the nursing field. She spent much of her career as a Home Health Care Worker.

Marshelle was a loving and devoted partner and wife to Jessie Wayne Taylor “Dewayne” for 23 years. Both free spirits, they loved hanging out at various outdoor venues. Marshelle was a quiet and sweet person who made many friends. In her pastime, Marshelle enjoyed Old School R&B Music, nature, and crossword puzzles. What people didn’t know about Marshelle was that she was a prolific writer who loved journaling.

In the later years, Marshelle and her husband moved to Phoenix, AZ. Even though her health started failing her at an early age, she never complained. As her health worsen, she decided to move back to San Diego. September 22, 2022, was a gloomy day for those who knew and loved Marshelle. That was the day God opened His arms real wide to welcome His loving child home.

Marshelle was preceded in death by her father Horace Tucker, Jr. She leaves to cherish her wonderful memories: moth er Gloria Tucker; husband Jessie Wayne Taylor; son Michael Yancy Jr, (Dawn); grandchildren Michael, Mekhi, Moselle and Mariah Yancy; sister Sheila Tucker-Burnett; brother Horace Tucker (Diana); nephew Marcelis Tucker; great-nephew Marcelis Tucker, Jr.; great-niece Nia Tucker; godsister Kim Groves-Ward; special friend “family”, and confidant extraordi naire Terry Huffman; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who will mourn her passing, yet celebrate her life.

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 behind, in beauty that they added to our days… in words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be gone… Those we love are never really lost to us For everywhere their special love lives on.

T he Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

CHURCH

Baptist Church

Phillips Temple

Church

Baptist Church

Mesa View Baptist Church

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

Total

Worship Center

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of San Diego

Voting Guide for

ALEX PADILLA DEMOCRATIC

United States Senate Candidate

TERM

Serves as one of the two Senators who represent California’s interests in the United States Congress.

Proposes and votes on new national laws.

Votes on confirming federal judges, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and many high-level presidential appointments to civilian and military positions.

Will serve the remainder of the current term ending on January 3, 2023.

ALEX PADILLA DEMOCRATIC

United States Senate Candidate

of the

Governor Candidate

TERM

Senators

represent California’s interests in the United States Congress.

and

national

Votes on confirming federal judges, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and many high-level presidential

to civilian and military

serve the remainder of the

term ending on January 3, 2023.

MALIA M. COHEN

Controller Candidate

ROB BONTA DEMOCRATIC

Attorney General Candidate

Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate

Lieutenant Governor Candidate

Secretary of State Candidate

• As the state’s chief elections officer, oversees statewide elections and provides public access to campaign and lobbying financial information.

member of the State Lands Commission, and the Ocean Protection Council; and sits on the boards of the California university systems.

• Maintains certain business filings, authenticates trademarks, regulates notaries public, and enables secured creditors to protect their financial interests.

• Preserves California’s history by acquiring, safeguarding, and sharing the state’s historical treasures.

Tips for California’s Military and Overseas Voters

Dates to remember:

CAN VOTE BY MAIL

IN PERSON:

TONY K. THURMOND (NONPARTISAN OFFICE)

SCOTT PETERS DEMOCRATIC

SARA JACOBS DEMOCRATIC

Representative 50tH District U.S. Representative 51st District

JUAN VARGAS DEMOCRATIC U.S. Representative 52ND District

FIONA

RICARDO LARA

MIKE SCHAEFER

MARQUETTA

SHANA

ELENI

SHIRLEY N. WEBER DEMOCRATIC

COVID-19 can affect any one, and the disease can cause symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. We know that certain things can make people more likely to get very sick with COVID-19. We a lso know that certain settings and activities can make you more likely to get infected

Understanding Risk & Covid-19

with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Understanding Your Risk Helps You Make Decisions. Understanding the risk of COVID-19 for yourself and those around you can help you make informed decisions to keep you safe and healthy. If you have risk fac tors, have a COVID-19 plan

in place in case you get sick, and discuss that plan with your healthcare provider and those close to you. Learn what extra precautions you can take to protect yourself and others in settings that make you more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.

Understanding Exposure Risks : Learning about how

COVID-19 spreads and the factors that can increase or decrease that risk can help you make informed choices.

The questions below are written in past tense to help you assess the likelihood that you were infected when you were around a person with COVID-19. If multiple factors below indicate higher

transmission risk, you should follow the steps for what to do if you are exposed. Visit www.cdc.gov, type “Isolation and Exposure Calculator” into the search bar on their homepage and follow the steps.

You can also ask yourself the same questions, but about future interactions with oth

Factors that lower or increase risk of transmission

Length of time: How long were you with the infected person?

Longer exposure time increases the risk of trans mission (for example, con tact longer than 15 min utes is more likely to result in transmission than two minutes of contact).

Shorter Exposure Time

Longer

Lower Risk

Symptoms: Did the infected person

Being around people who are symptomatic increases the risk of transmission.

Risk

Ventilation and filtration: How well-ventilated was

More outdoor air can decrease the risk of trans mission. Being outside would be lower exposure risk than being indoors, even with good ventila tion and filtration; both of those options would be lower risk than being indoors with poor ven tilation or filtration. See the Interactive Home Ventilation Tool.

Lower Risk

Poorly

USC’S Center for Health Journalism’s “The Coronavirus Files” recently reported that in a Center for Health Journalism webinar last week, the NIH’s Dr. Anthony Fauci said he wouldn’t be surprised if the coming months bring a new coronavirus variant that’s capable of evading our current immune responses.

It might be an entirely new lineage worthy of its own Greek letter, London-based virologist Tom Peacock told Andrew Joseph at STAT, the online medical journal.

Or the evolving omicron lineage could con tinue to cause new waves.

There are a number of omicron variants per

colating around the globe, Ewan Callaway reports at research journal, Nature, but it’s difficult to say which, if any, could unseat the omicron BA.5 strain currently dominating the U.S. BQ.1, a descendant of BA.5, is ris ing in some parts of Europe. Descendants of BA.2 — BA.2.75.2 and BA.2.3.20 — are simmering in Asia. (“The names are getting ridicu lous,” Peacock said.)

These variants are all accumulating similar changes to the coronavirus’s spike, allowing them to evade existing immunity from previ ous infections and vaccines.

“I’m fairly confident that at least one of these variants or a combination of them will lead to a new infection wave,” Tom Wenseleers, an evolutionary biologist in Belgium, told Nature. Which one may not matter much, he added, because they all behave similarly.

ers, to help you decide what prevention actions to take. If multiple factors below indi cate higher transmission risk, you should consider adding more prevention actions, like wearing masks or respirators or increasing space and distance

Cough or heavy breathing: Was the infected person coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily?

Elevated

Activities like coughing, singing, shouting, or breath ing heavily due to exertion increase the risk of transmis sion.

Less

Moderate

Lower Risk

Masks: Were you or the infected person or both wearing a respirator (for example, N95) or high-quality mask?

If one person was wearing a mask, the risk of transmis sion is decreased, and if both people were wearing masks, the risk is substantially decreased. Risk is also lower if the mask or respirator is a type that offers greater pro tection.

Yes, both masked

Only one masked Neither masked

Lower Risk

Distance: How close was the infected person to you?

Being closer to some one who is infected with COVID-19 increases the risk of transmission. Crowded settings can raise your likelihood of being close to someone with COVID-19.

Distant

Moderately close

Very close or touching

Lower Risk

name(s) above

San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

A General Partnership

The first day of business was: 09/26/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Shanina Noles 5576 San Onofre Terrace San Diego, CA 92114

Alaysha Blecher 5576 San Onofre Terrace San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 26, 2022

San Diego, CA 92101

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 21, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 21, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9019930

This fictitious business name will expire on September 21, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020853

1473 Melrose Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91911

County of San Diego

3875 Main St. Apt. 301 Chula Vista, CA 91911 County of San Diego

09/14/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Reginald Ernest Williams Jr. 1305 Cuyamaca Ave. Spring Valley, CA 91977

the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 03, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

2022-9022316

Fictitious business name(s):

Get Your Life Together Located at: 7541 Skyline Dr. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

An Individual First day of business was: 10/06/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Malanda Lewis 7541 Skyline Dr. San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 07, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 07, 2027 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/03

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

2022-9020541

Fictitious business name(s): Kiana Landscape Located at: 2285 El Prado Ave. Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first business day was: 09/14/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Sigifredo Lopez 2285 El Prado Ave. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 14, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 14, 2027 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/03

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022363

Fictitious business name(s): Upper Room Ministry Located at: 5009 Cervantes Ave. San Diego, CA 92113 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/01/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jeffrey Roy Gary 5009 Cervantes Ave. San Diego, CA 92113

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 07, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 07, 2027 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/03

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021864

Fictitious business name(s): Dignity With Serenity LLC Located at: 647 Stork St. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Dignity With Serenity

647 Stork St.

San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with

This fictitious business name will expire on October 03, 2027 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/03

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021781

Fictitious business name(s): La Presa Photobooth Located at: 352 La Presa Ave. Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/30/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Manuel David Mendez Jr. 352 La Presa Ave. Spring Valley, CA 91977

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 30, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 30, 2027 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020919

Fictitious business name(s): A Child's Place FCC

Located at: 3414 Polk Ave. San Diego, CA 92104 County of San Diego 1155 Hanford Ct. Chula Vista, CA 91913 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 07/01/1987

This business is hereby registered by the following: Stephanie Owensbrown 1155 Hanford Ct. Chula Vista, CA 91913

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 20, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 20, 2027 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021839

Fictitious business name(s): Harmony House SD LLC Located at: 4012 Marine View Ave. San Diego, CA 92113 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 07/21/2021

This business is hereby registered by the following: Harmony House SD LLC 4012 Marine View Ave. San Diego, CA 92113 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 03, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 03, 2027 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021311

Fictitious business name(s): No Keys Needed Home Sweet Home ILF

San

This fictitious business name will expire on September 26, 2027 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021607

Fictitious business name(s): Paradise Exoticz

Located at: 6292 Potomac St. 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: Markus Turner 6292 Potomac St. San Diego, CA 92139

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 29, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 29, 2027 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021435

Fictitious business name(s): Executive Barber PRO Located at: 1281 Ninth Ave. Suite 128 San Diego, CA 92101 County of San Diego 695 Magnolia Ave. Apt. E Carlsbad, CA 92008 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/27/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Derrick D Winters

695 Magnolia Ave. Apt. E Carlsbad, CA 92008

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 27, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 27, 2027 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021309

Fictitious business name(s): TSJordan Foundation Located at: 4860 Logan Ave. Apt. 201 San Diego, CA 92113 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/26/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Myeshia Shannell Stewart 4860 Logan Ave. Apt. 201 San Diego, CA 92113

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 26, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 26, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021035

Fictitious business name(s): Brew Wave Coffee Located at: 4967 Newport Ave. Suite 1 San Diego, CA 92107 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 07/01/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Crest Capital Management

Fictitious business name(s): Clothes Depot Unlimited Located at: 6853 Imperial Ave. Unit B San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

2039 El Prado Ave. Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

An Individual

The first day of business was: 07/01/2010

This business is hereby registered by the following: Florence Dolores Blackwell 2039 El Prado Ave. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 06, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 06, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021015

Fictitious business name(s): Marfelia Family Daycare

Located at: 3214 Marlborough Ave. San Diego, CA 92105 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: Marfelia Alvarado Maldonado 3214 Marlborough Ave. San Diego, CA 92105

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 21, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 21, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9019792

Fictitious business name(s): iExploreGlobally

Travelyaway Located at: 1920 Paradise St. 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: Algeredia Roberson 1920 Paradise St. San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 02, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 02, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

2022-9021112

Fictitious business name(s): Aztec Thrift Store

Located at: 6210 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 08/29/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Erick Maurice West Sr. 3265 Ocean View Blvd. Unit 4 San Diego, CA 92113

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 21, 2022

Fictitious business name(s): Glide Luxury Car Service Located at: 9090 La Jolla Shores Lane La Jolla, CA 92037 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Hope For Parents, LLC 9090 La Jolla Shores Lane La Jolla, CA 92037

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 19, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on September 19, 2027 9/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020910

Fictitious business name(s): Modern Concrete Designs Construction Located at: 2432 Central Ave. Spring Valley, CA 91977 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: Cesar Guillen Villa 2432 Central Ave. Spring Valley, CA 91977 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 20, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 20, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020629

Fictitious business name(s): Ritani Solutions Located at: 10808 Everly Way San Diego, CA 92129 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: Komala Rani. Mullapudi

10808 Everly Way San Diego, CA 92129

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 15, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on September 15, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020409

Fictitious business name(s): dust BEE gone Located at: 3365 Afton Rd. San Diego, CA 92123 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/13/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jennifer Parsons 3365 Afton Rd. San Diego, CA 92123

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 13, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 13, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

2022-9019897

Fictitious business name(s):

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 12/11/2021

This business is hereby registered by the following: The Lash Palace San Diego LLC

1473 Melrose Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91911

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 06, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 06, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020832

Fictitious business name(s): 4 Corners Office Services Located at: 7656 Normal Ave. Frnt. La Mesa, CA 91941 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: Patricia Meleine Rodarte 7656 Normal Ave. Frnt. La Mesa, CA 91941

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 17, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 17, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020833

Fictitious business name(s): A&C Construction Located at: 230 54th St. Unit 4 San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 03/01/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Abner Brenes 230 54th St. Unit 4 San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 17, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 17, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020869

Fictitious business name(s): Mediterraneo Italian Bistro Bar and Grill

Barkade Located at: 1347 Tavern Rd. Alpine, CA 91901 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 01/10/2013

This business is hereby registered by the following: Silvherc INC 1347 Tavern Rd. Alpine, CA 91901

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 19, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 19, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020646

Fictitious business name(s): M.L. Legacy Productions Located at: 1305 Cuyamaca Ave. Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was:

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 15, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 15, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020649

Fictitious business name(s): Angela's Beauty Palace - Hair & SPA Located at: 6765 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company

Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Angela's Beauty Palace - Hair and SPA 6765 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 15, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 15, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020747

Fictitious business name(s): Ramberto's Taco Shop

Ramberto's Mexican Food Located at: 1039 Sweetwater Rd. Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 03/16/2000

This business is hereby registered by the following: Quiroz Family & Associates INC. 1039 Sweetwater Rd. Spring Valley, CA 91977

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 16, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 16, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9019928

Fictitious business name(s): THATSIRIUSBARBER LLC

SouthEast Fades Hair and ART Studio Located at: 1669 Euclid Ave. San Diego, CA 92105 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 10/07/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: THATSIRIUSBARBER LLC 1669 Euclid Ave. San Diego, CA 92105

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 06, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 06, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9020537

Fictitious business name(s): San Diego Therapeutic Massage and Healing Located at: 6940 Alvarado Rd. San Diego, CA 92120 County of San Diego

1222 Woodrow Ave. 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

This business is hereby registered by the following: Kimberly Reyes 6940 Alvarado Rd. San Diego, CA 92120

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on September 14, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on September 14, 2027 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME 2022-9020648

Fictitious business name(s) to be abandoned: Blessed Hands Beauty & SPA Lounge Located at: 6765 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The Fictitious business name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on: 11/18/2019 and assigned File no. 2019-9027750

The fictitious business name is being abandoned by: Alba Kouma Mawulawoe Atsouvi 2408 Eastridge Loop Chula Vista, CA 91915

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County September 15, 2022 9/22, 9/29, 10/06, 10/13

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division 37-2022-00037378-CU-PTCTL Petitioner or Attorney: Wissam Faisal Naji & Savana Sami

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Wissam Faisal Naji & Savana Sami filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. PRESENT NAME: Wissam Faisal Naji

PROPOSED NAME: Sam Harris

b. PRESENT NAME: Laith Faisal Naji PROPOSED NAME: Laith Harris

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: November 2, 2022 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61

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 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 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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 09/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

County of San Diego

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division 37-2022-00037367-CU-PT-

CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Mariam Wissam Faisal

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Mariam Wissam Faisal filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Mariam Wissam Faisal

PROPOSED NAME: Mariam Harris

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: November 2, 2022 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61

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 hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future 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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 09/29, 10/06, 10/13, 10/20

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Civil Division 37-2022-00036953-CU-PTCTL Petitioner or Attorney: Lily Ivana Mendoza

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Lily Ivana Mendoza filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Lily Ivana Mendoza

PROPOSED NAME: Lily Ivana Ives

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: October 31, 2022 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

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 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

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 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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 09/22, 09/29, 10/06, 10/13

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Celia Buenrostro Case Number: 37-2022-00037089-PR-LACTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Celia Buenrostro

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Sally Bishop Darlene Rodriguez in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Sally Bishop Darlene Rodriguez be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

on December 13, 2022 at 11:00 AM in Department 504 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Probate Division

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court.

If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250.

A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: Sally Bishop Darlene Rodriguez 528 Fifield St. Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 534 4213 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

1898

JUDGE EDITH SPURLOCK SAMPSON IS BORN

Attorney and judge Edith Spurlock Sampson, the first African-American to be appointed to the United Nations, was born on Oct. 13, 1898, in Pittsburgh.

In 1950, President Harry Truman appointed Sampson an alternate delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations, making her the first African-American woman to serve as represen tative to the U.N. In her capacity as representative, she worked on issues of land reform, reparation of prisoners and repatriation of Greek children.

Sampson was born into tough economic times in a family of eight children. Despite leaving school at age 14 to work in a fish market to help support her struggling family, Sampson eventually finished high school and attended the New York School of Social Work. Sampson later attended the John Marshall Law School, earning her J.D., and then attended Loyola University School of Law where she earned her Master of Laws degree.

1914

GARRETT A. MORGAN PATENTS THE GAS MASK

Inventor, entrepreneur, and publisher Garrett A. Morgan Sr. patented the gas mask that would be used by soldiers during World War I. Many of the world’s most famous inventors only produced one major invention that garnered recognition and cemented their prominent sta tus. Morgan received patents for a three-position traffic signal and a safety hood that was designed to aid breathing in smoke-filled areas. He gained national attention when he utilized his mask to rescue men trapped during a tunnel explosion in 1916.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Request for Proposals (RFP): SOL962177 On-Call Mobility Technology & Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Services

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking qualified consultants for mobility technology and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) services on an “on-call, as needed” basis to support the implementation of the Next Operating System (Next OS) and other Intelligent Transportation Solutions that enhance mobility and safety. Projects will range from strategic plans and roadmaps to achieve the vision of regional technology deployments as described in the 2021 Regional Plan, to systems engineering in preparation for pilot or localized system design and implementation. A copy of the Request for Proposals (SOL962177) can be accessed from the SANDAG website at www.sandag.org/contracts.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Request

The

Garrett Augustus Morgan was born in 1875 or 1877 in Paris, Kentucky to farmers and former slaves, Sydney and Elizabeth Morgan. In 1907, Morgan established his first business, a sewing machine sales and repair shop. In 1913, he formed the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Cream Company that sold a line of hair care products. During the same period, Morgan was working on other proj ects, including a breathing device that would protect firefighters against smoke inhalation. In 1914, he received a patent for the Morgan Safety Hood and formed the National Safety Device Company, generating interest in his invention through demonstrations at public safety exhibitions. During the next decade, Morgan continued to invent while publishing the Cleveland Call, a weekly African American newspaper he established in 1916, which became the Cleveland Call and Post in 1929 and is still in publication today. Morgan died on July 27, 1963. Garrett Morgan was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. His papers are in the archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio.

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On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, voting hours change to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A list of Ballot Drop Box and Vote Center locations are available at sdvote.com