Vol. 62 No. 45 | Thursday, November 10, 2022

Midterm Election RESULTS

of Black Candidates

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media

A wave of Black candidates in California are expected to win after this week’s General Election. Among them are three candidates leading in their races to be elected to statewide constitutional offices.

Two African American can didates running for seats in the State Legislature are expected to win and become the two newest members of the California Legislative

Black Caucus.

In Los Angeles, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA-13), who is run ning for mayor of California’s largest city, is still in a tooclose-to-call, dead-heat race with billionaire developer Rick Caruso as the ballot count continues.

Three Candidates -- Dr. Shirley Weber for Secretary of State, Tony Thurmond for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and Malia Cohen for State

Controller – are running for statewide office.

Weber and Thurmond have already been projected to win their races.

For the first time in California history, there is a chance that three Black State Constitutional Officers will be elected to serve in office at the same time.

In the legislative races, Assembly District 60 (Moreno Valley), Corey A Jackson is leading Republican Small

Business Owner Hector DiazNava. And in the Senate race for Senate District 28 (Los Angeles) to replace Sydney Kamlager, two Black can didates are running for the same seat. Lola SmallwoodCuevas (D) is in the lead over Cheryl C. Turner (D).

There are 40 State Senate seats. Twenty are being con tested in this election.

Follow the rest of the story online at www.sdvoice.info

COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST APPRAISERS WHO DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BLACK HOMEOWNERS

NCRC files HUD complaints in recent investigation

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr National Correspondent

Federal housing officials should sanc tion two appraisal firms in Baltimore over their discriminatory treatment of Black homeowners who participated in a recent “mystery shopper” inves tigation of appraisal bias, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) wrote in a pair of complaints filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Authors of the extensive report noted that “the severity and subtlety of racial

By Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media

CALIFORNIA TENANTS RISE UP,

By Janie Har Associated Press

Kim Carlson’s apartment has flooded with human feces multiple times, the plumbing never fixed in the low-income housing com plex she calls home in the San Francisco Bay Area sub urb of Antioch.

Her property manager is verbally abusive and calls her 9-year-old grandson, who has autism, a slur word, she said. Her heater was busted for a month this win ter and the dishwasher has

mold growing under it. But the final straw came in May: a $500 rent increase, bring ing the rent on the two-bed room to $1,854 a month.

Carlson and other ten ants hit with similarly high increases converged on Antioch’s City Hall for mar athon hearings, pleading for protection. In September, the City Council on a 3-2 vote approved a 3% cap on annual increases.

LINCOLN CLASS OF ‘77 REUNION

EARL B. GILLIAM 46TH ANNUAL GALA

California state and local officials are serious about tackling the state’s growing homelessness crisis head on as it continues to rise. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation related to solving this issue. Over $15.3 billion has been budgeted in housing programs aimed at curtailing California’s homeless. “State and federal resources have certainly made a dif

ference

in our communities,” said Bakersfield’s Mayor Karen K. Goh. “You know, going back to 2020 and 2021 with the Cares Act and then followed by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the dollars are making their way to our citizens.”

Goh

also pointed to Project Homekey as a

PHOTO: AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez

PHOTO: Courtesy of NNPA

PHOTO: Courtesy of CBM

TENANTS:

Carlson, who is disabled and under treatment for lymphoma cancer, starts to weep imagining what her life could be like.

“Just normality, just freedom, just being able to walk outside and breathe and not have to walk outside and wonder what is going to happen next,’’ said Carlson, 54, who lives with her daughter and two grand sons at the Delta Pines apartment complex. “You know, for the kids to feel safe. My babies don’t feel safe.’’

Despite a landmark renter protec tion law approved by California legislators in 2019, tenants across the country’s most populous state are taking to ballot boxes and city councils to demand even more safe guards. They want to crack down on tenant harassment, shoddy living conditions and unresponsive land lords that are usually faceless corpo rations.

Elected officials, for their part, appear more willing than in years past to regulate what is a private contract between landlord and tenant. In addition to Antioch, city councils in Bell Gardens, Pomona, Oxnard and Oakland all lowered maximum rent increases this year as inflation hit a 40-year high. Other city councils put the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Leah Simon-Weisberg, legal direc tor for the advocacy group Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, says local officials

can no longer pretend supply and demand works when so many fam ilies are facing homelessness. In June, 1.3 million California house holds reported being behind on rent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The situation in working-class Antioch - where more than half the population is Black or Latino - illus trates how tenuous even a win for tenants can be.

The two council members who voted in favor of rent stabilization were up for re-election Tuesday, with one of them, Tamisha TorresWalker, facing a former council member she narrowly beat two years ago. The local newspaper endorsed Joy Motts and called Torres-Walker, who was homeless as a young adult, polarizing.

Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who provided the third vote, faces sexual harass ment allegations by two women, which he denies. They are part of a progressive Black majority.

If either member loses her seat, the rent ordinance could be repealed. The two council members who voted no are both in the real estate indus try, and were not up for re-election.

[Editor’s note: At press time, official election results were not yet in.]

A once largely white suburb, Antioch has become more politically liberal as Black, Latino and low-in come residents forced out of San Francisco and Oakland moved in.

Advocates tried for years to mobilize tenants, but it took the shockingly high rent-hike notices and the expi

bias captured in our find ings suggest that it will take sweeping and aggressive action from both policymak

ration of a statewide eviction mora torium in June to get movement.

Outraged tenants jammed into council chambers describing refrig erators pieced from spare parts and washing machines that reeked of rotten eggs. They spoke of skipping meals, working multiple jobs and living in constant terror of becom ing homeless, sleeping in their car and washing their children with bot tled water.

“We saw a lot of fear, a lot of des peration,’’ said Rhea Laughlin, an organizer with First 5 Contra Costa, a county initiative that focuses on early childhood. But, she said, she also saw people summon the cour age ``to go before council, to rally, to march, to speak to the press and be exposed in a way that I think ten ants were too afraid to do before, but now really felt they had little to lose.’’

Teresa Farias, 36, said she was terri fied to speak in public but she was even more afraid that she, her hus band and their three children, ages 3 to 14, would have to leave their home. When the family received a $361 rent increase notice in May, she called the East County Regional Group, a parent advocacy organiza tion supported by First 5. They told her to start knocking on doors and talk to her neighbors.

“I really don’t know where my strength came from, to be able to speak in public, to be able to speak in front of the City Council ... to ask them to help us with this issue,’’ she said in Spanish outside her home at the Casa Blanca apartments.

ers and the industry itself to rid the appraisal market place of discrimination.”

Representatives from NRC

California’s tenant protection law limits rent increases to a maxi mum 10% a year. But many types of housing are exempt, including low-income complexes funded by government tax credits and increas ingly owned by corporations, lim ited liability companies or limited partnerships.

The tenants who flooded City Council meetings drew largely from four affordable-housing complexes, including sister properties Delta Pines and Casa Blanca, where an estimated 150 households received large rent increases in May. The properties are linked to Shaoul Levy, founder of real estate invest ment firm Levy Affiliated in Santa Monica.

The rent increases never took effect, rescinded by the landlord as the City Council moved toward approv ing rent stabilization. Levy did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Council member Michael Barbanica, who owns a real estate and prop erty management company, called the rent hikes outrageous, but said the city could have worked with the district attorney’s office to prosecute price-gouging corporate landlords.

Instead, the rent cap penalizes all local landlords, some of whom are now planning to sell, he said.

“They’re not the ones doing 30-4050% increases,” Barbanica said, “yet they were caught in the crossfire.’’

But, Carlson said, the city needs to pass even more tenant protections. The apartment complex is infested with roaches and her neighbors are

and HUD wrote that the way that homeowners, lenders, and policymakers use the term “property values” often implies that there is one organic, objective, correct definition of what someone’s home is worth.

“But that is not the case,” they concluded. “Our cul tural conception of property values obscures the fact that human beings often deter mine those values,” the inves tigators determined.

They said professional appraisers make mistakes like anyone else. However, they also carry biases, con scious or unconscious, into their workplace, and the consequences of an apprais er’s mistakes are much more severe than most people’s workday errors.

For instance, investigators said a store clerk who rings something up wrong could charge it back. Likewise, a bartender who pours the wrong beer can turn around and serve the right one. But an appraiser’s mistakes, mis judgments, or prejudices can derail generations of work to build wealth within a family.

The treatment a home owner receives while selling their home can have severe

CRISIS:

program that has helped alleviate homelessness.

“Project Homekey resources are being used to transform underutilized motels and hotels, into safe shelter, and in our communities,” said Goh.

The COVID-19 pandemic has played a significant role in the rise of homeless ness, from 150,000 in 2019 to 161,000 in 2020, accord ing to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The African American population in California has suffered dis proportionately from this

too scared to speak up, she said.

Her apartment has flooded at least seven times in the eight years she’s lived there, she said, flipping through cellphone photos of her toi let and bathtub filled with dark yel low-brown water. In October 2020, she slipped from water pouring down from the upstairs apartment and dislocated her hip.

She has never been compensated, including all the gifts lost when the apartment flooded with water on Christmas Eve 2017. Two months later, in February 2018, feces and urine bubbled from the tub and toi lets.

“We got two five-gallon buckets and a bag of plastic bags brought to us and we had to (urinate and defe cate) in those buckets for five days because the toilets were blown off the floor,’’ Carlson said.

The toilets still gurgle, indicating blockage. That’s when she shuts off the water and waits for plumbers to clear the backup.

Tenant organizer Devin Williams grew up in Antioch after his par ents moved out of San Francisco in 2003, part of a migration of Black residents leaving city centers for cheaper homes in safer suburbs. The 32-year-old is devastated that the same opportunity is not available to tenants like Carlson now.

“People have a responsibility to make sure people have habitable liv ing conditions,’’ he said. “And their lives are just being exploited because people want to make money.’’

impacts, especially if outright discrimination is involved, the investigators asserted. And an undervaluation of a home is rarely corrected. Discriminatory treatment is harmful (and should be pre vented) in any setting; in the context of home appraisals, it often comes with severe eco nomic consequences.

“There is no excuse for dis crimination anywhere in the housing market, but the long-overlooked role that biased appraisers play in undermining Black wealth is an especially insidious prob lem,” NCRC President and CEO Jesse Van Tol said in a news release.

“We are asking federal offi cials to intervene in these two instances because we believe they are representative of widespread discrimination in the appraisal industry that costs Black homeowners both time and money.

“No one should be subjected to the sort of treatment these two appraisers visited upon these two families – and reg ulators have the power to do something about it.”

Both cases arise from an investigation NCRC con ducted in Baltimore over the past year. NCRC recruited

phenomenon. The California Budget and Policy Center reports that Black peo ple are roughly 25% of the state’s homeless although they make up about 5.5 % of California’s population.

Some of the funding the state provided went to the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court — or Care Court, a program that diverts home less people with severe men tal health problems away from the criminal justice system and into mandatory treatment.

Signed into law on Sept. 14, Senate Bill 1338 (Care Court Act) by Sen. Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Sen.

interracial couples who own their own homes to act as “mystery shoppers” and dis covered differential treat ment by appraisers when the couples presented their homes with only the Black or the White partner present.

The investigation report con firmed that Black homeown ers were treated worse than their White partners in terms of customer service and val uation of their homes. In one of the complaints, NCRC and a Black homeowner detailed how an appraiser made the homeowner wait 11 weeks for a report, ignored follow-up communication, and did not explain why the information took so long.

The same appraiser, a few weeks later, timely delivered a report to a White home owner and even sent the homeowner a courtesy email in advance with an expected timeline for delivery.

The appraiser showed differ ential treatment and a lack of professionalism when inter est rates were highly volatile – meaning that the apprais er’s discriminatory conduct could have cost the Black cli ent a chance at an affordable mortgage.

Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) focuses on untreated individuals suf fering from psychotic disor ders, such as schizophrenia.

Bills Newsom signed on affordable housing include Senate Bill 561 by State Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), Assembly Bill (AB) 2233 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), and AB 2592 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento).

“This historical package will go a long way towards increasing affordable pro duction in California,” Assemblymember QuirkSilva tweeted.

Now That the ELECTION is Over…

By Dr. John E. Warren Publisher

Now that the election is over, this is a good time for reality checks.

First, we must take a close look at the mes sages sent by all voters on election day. On the Conservative Right, we find people running for and getting elected to offices at all levels who clearly stated that they are “election deniers” in terms of the election of President Joe Biden. Those same peo ple have said they will not accept current election results unless they win the offices for which they are running. Such peo ple are behind the voter suppression laws instituted around the country. Those who agree with them but not running for office have made their positions known by the re-election of such people as Governor Greg Abbott in Texas, Governor DeSantis in Florida, Senator Marco Rubio in Florida over Congresswoman Val Demings, and a number of other such elections around the country.

The Conservative Right is now the Repub lican Party. The Democratic Party, express ing concern for democracy and the rule of law, regardless of who wins, is in danger of losing our precious rights, even though they have made progress in this election, in some cases beyond what was expected.

“We The People” have demonstrated our faith in the democratic process by our record breaking turnout at the polls, with more votes to yet be counted. Now, “We The People” must actively get engaged at all levels of government because those against whom we struggled in this election will not stop because this election is over. The key is not to lose sight of our local issues while fighting to protect our national inter ests. The issues of homelessness, inflation, unemployment, gas and healthcare must remain priorities with all of us. The bottom line, we must stay engaged. This battle is ongoing.

ADVOCATING FOR THE HEART AND SOUL OF JOURNALISM

By S.E. Williams

At a time in our nation’s history when a free press is more essential to sustain ing our democracy than ever before, political forces, changing technology and antitrust laws have inadver tently conspired to weaken the nation’s fourth estate.

The dual role of the media defined by Random House as the “ explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues,” has been compromised is part as the result of a few powerful platforms like Facebook and Google consume and con trol the lion’s share of digi tal advertising and in most instances, are now the main source of news consumption for many consumers.

These industry behemoths grow while local media declines as evidenced by the more than 30,000 indus try jobs lost since 2008 according to a Pew Research Report. While at the same time, news deserts expand.

Equally as disturbing for news organizations is that even when Google, for example, links to news articles providing content selections for consumers, reports show fully 65% of users never bother to click through to the news publish ers’ websites. In other words, newsrooms that invest in

producing important jour nalism for the public to consume and make it read ily available on major digi tal platforms, as noted in a Los Angeles Times Editorial, can’t earn sufficient adver tising revenue to cover their costs.

The current media model is not necessarily condu cive to a free market econ omy as the model does not seem to fit how the internet has changed the paradigm regarding media and the press.

“As the daughter of a newspaperman, I understand firsthand the vital role that a free press plays in strengthening our democracy. But local news is facing an existential crisis in our country, with ad revenues plummeting, newspapers closing, and many rural communities becoming ‘news deserts’ without access to local reporting.”

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

This is because, as noted by Pew In 2021, about eight in ten Americans got their news from digital devices. When Americans shifted their preference for news from print, television, radio

and other news services to internet platforms, the advertising dollars followed.

Despite the success of inter net platforms and the failure of the free market to self cor rect as it relates to news and media, many– including fed eral legislators–believe the real weak spot in the evolv ing industry is not so much with the major platforms as it is with the very design of the news industry market and the laws surrounding it.

To this end, federal legisla tors are seeking to empower local media outlets by autho rizing them to come together and form a unified voice to strengthen their negotiating power with internet plat form giants to advocate for payment in exchange for the content they create.

The proposed Journalism Competition and Preservation Act will remove legal barriers currently faced by news organizations that pre vent them from negotiating collectively– especially as it relates to securing fair terms from platforms that fre quently access content with out paying for it.

As part of the legisla tion, newspaper publish ers will also have the right to demand arbitration if negotiations betweens the

‘Give Light and People will find the way’

By Marian Wright Edelman Children’s Defense Fund

Teaching all chil dren about our shared history by exposing them to books by excellent authors like Carole Boston Weatherford and others who are part of the CDF Freedom Schools curriculum, and by taking them to visit important his torical and cultural sites like the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, are ways of giving children the light they will need to be prepared to plot their own futures. But this midterm election season reminds us yet again that many adults are fighting this idea today. Once again, we can never take any office or any election for granted. Children can not vote, but they desperately need parents, teachers, and leaders who will be lanterns, not adults who seek to dim the light.

Earlier this year, members of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools team and other colleagues had the oppor tunity to attend a training session near the plantation on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where Harriet Tubman was enslaved and where she returned again and again after her own escape to lead others to freedom. The retreat’s theme was “Give Light and People Will Find the Way,” the title indom itable civil rights movement justice war rior Ella Baker used for one of her training workshops at the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee.

This message is relevant to the CDF Freedom Schools program’s work today teaching young people they can make a difference in themselves, their families, their communities, their country, and their world with hope, education, and action, and the same message could also describe some of the inspiration the team drew from Harriet Tubman’s legacy.

During the retreat, they visited the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Church Creek, Maryland and sites important in her life, includ ing the plantation where her family was enslaved and the dry goods store where she was assaulted and suffered a traumatic brain injury as a child. She was standing inside that store when an enslaved boy ran in being chased by an overseer who ordered Harriet to help grab the boy. When she stood between the boy and the white man and did not move, the overseer hurled a lead weight at her head, leaving her bloody and unconscious.

She suffered seizures, sleeping spells, and debilitating headaches the rest of her life, but also began experiencing vivid dreams about God and visions and premonitions about escaping slavery. Seeing these places and the land where she had to travel and hide reinforced how difficult her mission

news organizations and the platform leaders falls apart. The Times report noted that although some oppose the legis lation because it creates a carveout of the federal antitrust law that regulates economic com petition and coordination. The irony in this however is that a similar carve-out already exists for internet platform giants like Google, etc. See JOURNALISM page 5

was and how much courage and deter mination she needed to possess in order to survive. Now, through the National Historical Park, a state park and visi tor center, the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway, a 125-mile trail that includes water ways and safe houses she and others used as they fled towards freedom, these sites are preserved as a piece of American his tory that can teach and inspire young peo ple today.

The importance and inspiration of teach ing history was also central in the mes sage the CDF Freedom Schools team heard when acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford joined the retreat for a conversation. Her books for children and young adults often revisit key moments and people in African American history, and one of her most loved is the lyrical, beautiful Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-winning book “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom,” illustrated by Kadir Nelson. During the meeting, she asked her listen ers to consider how Black history is often taught through a lens of enslavement and oppression. She then challenged them to consider this question: “Who taught us to be free?”

She continued, “You can’t teach what you don’t know, and you don’t know what you weren’t taught.” She said as she wrote “Moses,” she was inspired by the parallels between Harriet Tubman and the bibli cal Moses, who both took it upon them selves to free themselves and their people, and she challenged CDF Freedom Schools leaders with a charge to take up that call — teaching the next generation how to be free.

These are crucial lessons. Teaching all chil dren about our shared history by exposing them to books by excellent authors, and by taking them to visit important historical and cultural sites like the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, are ways of giving children the light they will need to be prepared to plot their own futures. But this midterm election season remind[ed] us yet again that many adults are fighting this idea today. Educate yourself about the candidates seeking to represent you and make sure you are pre pared with a plan to vote. We can never take any office or any election for granted. Children cannot vote, but they desperately need parents, teachers, and leaders who will be lanterns, not adults who seek to dim the light.

Edelman is founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Gerri Warren

Dr. John E. Warren

Latanya Wes t

By Emma Fox Contributing Writer

The nonprofit organization Project New Village introduced a mobile market titled The People’s Produce in the last week of September. This new project on wheels certainly lives up to its tagline, “Bringing healthy, local produce direct to your neighborhood.” The orga nization’s goal is to make healthy

San Diego Women Inc. Hosts Harvest High Tea for College Bound Students

Voice & Viewpoint Newswire

San Diego Women Incorporated held a Scholarship Fundraising Harvest High Tea for College Bound African American Students on Saturday, October 22, at the George Stevens Senior Resource Center with more than 100 guests in atten dance. The scholarships will be presented to the students at the organization’s Spring Civic Luncheon. San Diego

Women Incorporated was founded by Mrs. Ruth Green in 1965 to honor Black Women of Distinction for outstanding community service.

The program consisted of a greeting by Traci Williams Jones, the President, followed by the history of the tea, solos, poems, a DJ, fashion show, New Orleans-style dancing, and hat sales.

Guests were attired wearing beautiful, colorful fancy Hats. The tables and chairs were dec orated with white linen table cloths, and pink chair sashes. A variety of fancy tea pots and cups were displayed on each table, with a beautiful tall tier for a variety of tea sandwiches and desserts.

The event was chaired by Dr. Shirley Lewis, and co-chaired by Pfeifer Lacy.

Project New Village’s

Mobile Farmers Market Hits the Streets

choices accessible to all and ensure local growers are paid equitably.

The People Produce truck will make its way around San Diego throughout the week.

Here’s where you can find them close to you:

Wednesdays: 11am- 1pm

Mt. Hope Community Garden 4269 Market Street San Diego 92102

Thursdays: 4pm- 6pm

Thrive Lemon Grove, VFW 2885 Lemon Grove Avenue Lemon Grove, 91945

Fridays: 3pm- 5 pm

Second Chance Youth Garden 6145 Imperial Avenue San Diego, 92114

Sundays: 11am- 1pm Mundo Garden at Machete Brewery 2325 Highland Avenue National City 91950

Project New Hope has the capac ity to serve up to nine locations a week and they are currently on the lookout for a new site. Anyone with information regarding possi ble sites or market suggestions can contact Diane directly, pnv.well ness@gmail.com

PHOTO: Courtesy of San Diego Women, Inc.

Local Leaders Urge Protection Against Virus Trio

By Katie Cadiao County of San Diego Communications Office

The County, with local and federal part ners, hosted a joint press conference Thursday, November 3 to remind San Diegans they can take charge of protecting themselves and their families against a trio of respiratory illnesses that are circulating in the com munity this season.

In addition to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the County is seeing an early spike of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases. Flu cases rose by 1,198 last week and have now hit 3,735 to date, compared to 265 cases at this time last year.

Flu cases typically do not peak until December at which time RSV begins to increase. While not an offi cially reportable disease, regional RSV cases reached 1,020 through October, compared with 407 for the same period last year.

The County is applying some of the strategies devel oped during the COVID19 pandemic to keep San Diegans safe.

“We know and have witnessed how diseases can have a disproportionate impact, especially in communities of color,” said Vice Chair Nora Vargas, County Board of Supervisors. “Our county has greatly expanded outreach and implemented innovative strategies during the COVID19 pandemic, and I’m committed to ensuring our communities have equitable access to resources such as vaccinations, treatment, and accurate information to protect their health and safety.”

Responding to these three viruses is not unique to San Diego. Many other areas around the nation are cur rently also experiencing a spike in flu and RSV cases. “Here’s the good news. We

know everything it takes to keep us safe during the tri ple threat, and we also have the tools the medicines, the know-how to address that triple threat,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Here’s the challenging news. Will everyone listen?”

County health officials are collaborating with regional medical providers to sup port their response to the recent influx in illnesses.

Get Vaccinated Vaccinations are a proven strategy for protecting com munity health and preparing for a potentially challenging flu season.

“Seeing a large number of flu cases this early in the flu sea son typically means flu activ ity is going to be sustained and possibly more severe,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County pub lic health officer. “If more viruses are circulating in the community, healthy people are at a higher risk of getting infected, so this year more than ever, it is critical to get vaccinated.”

Both the flu and COVID vaccine take two weeks to become fully effective, so people should get both shots as soon as possible.

In addition to getting vacci nated, San Diegans can also take a number of other pre ventative measures to avoid getting sick. These actions include:

• Consider a well-fit ting, good-quality mask, especially indoors or in crowded spaces;

• Wash hands thoroughly and often;

• Use hand sanitizers, if unable to wash hands;

• Stay away from sick peo ple;

JOURNALISM

Continued from page 3

If a carve-out was created for the platform provid ers then it seems only fair that creating a carve-out for news publications should be a no brainer. As they say, “What is good for the goose should certainly be good for the gander.”

The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act would benefit [so many] small publications. The loss of hundreds of small news outlets across the country has expanded the number of news deserts. More than half of the country has just one local newspaper or no

newspaper at all. As noted in a press release by Jerry Nadler, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “The consequences are bad for everyone: fewer local news providers translates to unchecked governmental corruption, corporate mis conduct, and widespread misinformation, plus a raft of other consequences for citizens, taxpayers, and our democracy.”

All of us bore witness to this during the Trump era that lead to massive disinforma tion and confusion during the peak of the epic COVID-

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;

• Clean commonly touched surfaces; and

• If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.

High-Risk Populations

The viruses currently in cir culation are hitting seniors and children particularly hard. Flu and RSV patients are currently inundating local pediatric care provid ers, with wait times at Rady Children’s Hospital exceed ing several hours the last week in October.

County schools are on the front lines of seeing the effect of the viruses on their students and staff.

Which Illness is it?

The flu and COVID-19 are both spread from per son-to-person, especially indoors and in crowded places. Symptoms for both viruses include fever, head ache, and muscle and joint pain, as well as a sore throat and coughing.

RSV is a respiratory virus that has been detected in previous cold and flu sea sons. Symptoms of RSV include cough, runny nose and fever. Treatment con sists of managing symptoms and, in severe cases, hospi talization.

Since symptoms for both the flu and COVID are sim ilar, but treatment varies, it is recommended that San Diegans who develop flulike symptoms get tested to determine the best treat ment options. This is espe cially important if you have an underlying condition that puts you at an increased risk of severe outcomes from get ting sick with a respiratory illness.

LOCAL/STATE NEWS

On November 16, the County of San Diego will transfer its cannabis licensing program for unincorporated areas from the Sheriff’s Department to the County’s Planning and Development Services (PDS). This is another step in the County’s efforts to create a safe, regulated and legal cannabis policy for the unincorporated communities.

On October 26, the Board of Supervisors passed the first reading of an ordinance to make the transfer. Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, the co-author of a policy in 2021 with Supervisor Nora Vargas to expand cannabis manufacturing, retail and culti vation in the unincorporated areas, issued the following statement:

“Shifting to code compliance teams makes

San Diego more consistent with the rest of California, and frees up our Sheriff Deputies to spend their time protecting our community and cracking down on ille gal cannabis operations,” said Supervisor Fletcher. “Today’s action is another step in our process to support a safe, regu lated and legal cannabis industry in our County.”

PDS Code Compliance will be able to:

• Process license renewals and transfers;

• Conduct background checks;

• Issue operating certificates to applicants;

• Conduct quarterly and periodic unan nounced inspections; and

• Enforcement.

The ordinances will be brought back for a second reading and official adoption on November 16, 2022, and be effective 30 days after adoption.

19 pandemic in relation to both the virus and the vac cines; and in relation to the 2020 election and subse quent insurrection.

We encourage you to sup port the work of news outlets by calling your U.S. Senator and House Representatives and encourage the passage of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. You can do so by calling (202) 224-3121.

Stephanie Williams is execu tive editor of the IE Voice and Black Voice News.

This article originally appeared on BlackVoiceNews.com.

PHOTO: SanDiegoCounty.gov

David Werbrouck

New Calculator Tackles Inequality In Missing Persons Stories

By David Bauder AP Media Writer

If you went missing, how much press would you be “worth’’?

The Columbia Journalism Review unveiled a tool on Thursday that calculates the number of sto ries your disappearance would net, based on demographics.

It sounds morbid but the exercise is designed to call attention to “miss ing white women syndrome,’’ the tendency of news organizations to pay relatively little attention to missing people who don’t fit that category.

The late journalist Gwen Ifill is credited with coining the term two decades ago. Yet in the interim, there’s been little indication that coverage decisions have evolved.

“It’s like a bolt that has been rusted in place,’’ said Jelani Cobb, dean of the Columbia Journalism School.

The media firestorm around the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito last year renewed scrutiny of the practice, with Petito’s own family imploring media to give all missing people the same attention.

Researchers at CJR and the ad agency TBWA/Chiat/Day/New York exam ined 3,600 stories about missing people done last year by U.S.-based news organizations, cross-referenc ing them with age, gender and race details from a database maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The data was used to generate a rough estimate of how much public attention a person would get based on who they are, said Kyle Pope, CJR’s editor in chief and publisher. The starkly named site AreYouPressworthy.com asks users to enter their age, gender, location and eth nicity.

As the site goes through each step, the user is informed that the disap pearance of older people and men are less likely to make the news. The tool distinguishes between stories in the local and national press, so peo ple in larger cities _ where there are more news outlets _ have a “high er chance of being reported on than people in rural areas.’’ White people are the most likely to get covered, while Black and Hispanic people have the lowest chance of coverage.

About 38% of the people who go missing in the United States are Black, more than double the percentage of Black people in the general popu lation, the Black and Missing Foundation says.

Black people accounted for 22% of the missing people in the data examined by CJR, and just 13% of the news stories. White people, who made up 47% of the missing person cases, were featured in 70% of the stories.

According to the calculator, the disappearance of a 22-year-old white woman in New York would gen erate 67 stories. If she were three years older, that number would

drop to 19. And a missing 25-yearold Black woman from New York would get eight. A 50-year-old Black man in the same city would net six.

The results page also identifies the outlets most and least likely to cover the user’s hypothetical dis appearance and calculates what percentage of Americans would hear about you. More than 92% of Americans would have heard about a 22-year-old missing white woman from Nevada, the tool says.

Why does that matter? “When a missing persons’ case is seen by more people, their chances of being found increase,’’ the site states.

There was no comparable data from when “missing white person syndrome’’ was first talked about two decades ago.

“We have to place a spotlight on the way that the media functions and the way in which we devalue _ inadvertently or not _ the lives of peo ple that we’re supposed to cover,’’ Cobb said.

Implicit bias is partly to blame, he said, along with a lack of diversity among journalists in decision-mak ing roles and hard-to-break habits.

“There’s clearly an imbalance,’’ said Angeline Hartmann, spokesperson for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “What needs to happen is the playing field should be leveled.’’

But Hartmann said there is more than just demographics at play in determining what stories get cov erage. The media also gravitates to stories where there are plenty of photos and videos available of the victim - like in Petito’s case - and a family member willing to be an oncamera spokesperson. Those things make journalists’ jobs easier.

Similarly, authorities need to take a close look at how situations are characterized, Hartmann said. Sometimes, she said, people are too simplistically characterized as runaways, and thus not included in stories about missing children.

CJR has made similar efforts to call attention to disinformation and coverage of climate control and issues surrounding guns.

Pope said he hoped their newest online tool will attract attention on social media, particularly among news consumers who might then put pressure on their local news outlets to keep the issue in mind. Each results page ends with the pictures and names of people who are currently missing and “haven’t received any press coverage at all,’’ along with an encouragement to contact authorities with any infor mation.

“It’s one of the reasons why CJR exists, because we do have the attention of the news industry and we need to use it to point out the problems,’’ Pope said. “I don’t think another kind of earnest op-ed is going to move the needle.’’

‘Do better’: Newsom Pauses $1B In Homelessness Spending

By Adam Beam and Janie Har Associated Press

California’s plans to reduce the nation’s largest homeless population aren’t good enough, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said last Thursday, prompting him to halt $1 bil lion in state spending for local gov ernments as he seeks to reset the state’s strategy ahead of his expect ed second term in office.

California’s homeless populationlikely higher than the 161,000 peo ple estimated in 2020 - is one of the state’s most pressing and pub lic problems as the high cost of liv ing has only increased the size and number of homeless encampments that dot cities throughout the state.

For decades, California’s state gov ernment has viewed homelessness as a local issue, handing cities and counties tens of billions of dollars to design and run programs aimed at getting people off the street and into permanent housing. That included a recent commitment by state lawmakers to spend $15.3 billion over the next three years.

But the state’s homeless population seemed to grow in concert with increased state spending, frustrating officials. California’s counties, 13 largest cities and groups of home less service providers were in line to receive about $1 billion in state homelessness spending, but only if they submitted plans on how they would use the money to reduce the number of unsheltered homeless people.

On November 3, Newsom declared those plans were “simply unacceptable’’ as they would collectively reduce the state’s homeless pop ulation by just 2% over the next four years. He said he would pause spending until after a meeting with local officials this month to “review the state’s collective approach to homelessness.”

“At this pace, it would take decades to significantly curb homelessness in California,’’ Newsom said in a news release. “Everyone has to do better _ cities, counties, and the state includ ed. We are all in this together.’’

Local leaders were not happy.

In San Jose - the 10th largest city in the U.S., with more than 1 million residents - Mayor Sam Liccardo said if Newsom wanted to be bold in solving the homeless crisis, he would dedicate 10% of the state’s recent historic budget surpluses to build housing and require homeless people to take permanent housing when it is offered, among other reforms.

“Let’s put down the megaphones and pick up the shovels,’’ Liccardo said.

In the state Legislature, Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk criticized Newsom for taking too long to act, while Democratic Assemblymember Jim Wood said he “whole heartedly applaud(s)’’ the move.

“The money is not going to go very far and you’re not going to make much of a dent unless you figure out a different way to do things,’’ Wood said.

A common plea echoed by mayors and advocates for the homeless was the need for dedicated funding so cities and counties can plan ahead and ramp up the number of people they expect to help.

Chione Flegal, executive director of Housing California, said $1 bil lion sounds big but it’s a “drop in the bucket relative to the incredi ble need folks are facing.’’ She said there also needs to be massive investment in public health, afford able housing stock and the social net to really solve homelessness.

Newsom is running for reelection this year and is likely to win a sec ond term as he faces a little-known Republican state senator. But Newsom’s political future, including a possible run for president, could be complicated by California’s per sistent homelessness crisis.

Twitter’s New Owner Overhauls Verification System

By Barbara Ortutay Associated Press

Twitter has announced a subscription service for $7.99 a month that includes a blue check now given only to verified accounts as new owner Elon Musk works to overhaul the platform’s verification system just ahead of U.S. midterm elections.

In an update to Apple iOS devices available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K., Twitter said users who “sign up now’’ for the new “Twitter Blue with verification’’ can receive the blue check next to their names “just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow.’’

Ahead of last Tuesday’s elections, Musk tweeted in response to a question about the risk of impostors impersonating verified profiles - such as politicians and election officials - that “Twitter will suspend the account attempting impersonation and keep the money!`

“So if scammers want to do this a million times, that’s just a whole bunch of free money,” he said.

But many fear widespread layoffs that began November 4 could gut the guardrails of content moderation and verification on the social platform that public agencies, election boards, police departments and news outlets use to keep people reliably informed.

The change will end Twitter’s current verification system, which was launched in 2009 to prevent impersonations of high-profile accounts such as celebrities and politi cians. Twitter now has about 423,000 verified accounts, many of them rank-and-file journalists from around the globe that the company verified regardless of how many followers they had.

Current verified accounts include celebrities, athletes and influencers, along with government agencies and politicians worldwide, journalists and news outlets, activists, businesses and brands, and Musk himself.

Musk tried to reassure advertisers last week, saying Twitter would not become a “free-for-all hellscape’’ because of what he calls his commitment to free speech. But concerns remain about whether a lighter touch on content moderation at Twitter will result in users send ing out more offensive tweets.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Saturday November 5 urged Musk to “ensure human rights are central to the management of Twitter.’’ In an open letter, Turk said reports that the company’s whole human rights team and much of the ethical AI team were laid off was not “an encouraging start.’’

“Like all companies, Twitter needs to understand the harms associated with its platform and take steps to address them,” Turk said. “Respect for our shared human rights should set the guardrails for the platform’s use and evolution.’’

PHOTO:

PHOTO: Mart Productions/Pexels.com

Whoopi Goldberg is the latest celebrity, along with Shonda Rhimes, to leave the social media platform, Twitter, in protest over policies enacted by its new ownership. PHOTO: VOICE & VIEWPOINT Screenshot via Twitter.com.

Biden Admin Unveils BIPOC Covid-19 Vaccine Push

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr National Correspondent

Fo llowing President Joe Biden’s announcement of additional efforts to get Americans updated COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the holidays, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) presented a multicultural media briefing that included leaders of the Black Press of America, the National Association of Hispanic Publications, and other minority press. The briefing took place on the BIPOCXChange, a metaverse solution created by the Multicultural Media & Correspondents to help Black, Indigenous, and People of Color media increase owner ship and control.

The White House noted that while COVID-19 no longer counts as the disruptive force it previously was, the virus continues to evolve. Health officials said COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory illnesses spread more quickly in the winter as people gather indoors. As the weather gets colder, Americans must take action to stay protected.

“From the beginning, we made equity the centerpiece of our approach to COVID-19, and we want people to continue to benefit from the life-saving vaccines and treatments,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said during the briefing.

He said the updated vaccine is specifically tailored to the dominant variant of COVID that’s currently circulating. During the brief ing, HHS announced a new COVID-19 Public Education campaign called “We Can Do This.”

The slogan is dedicated to increasing COVID19 vaccine uptake by building the public’s confidence in vaccines. Officials also seek to educate people about the importance of get ting vaccinated as soon as possible.

Dr. Cameron Webb, the senior advisor to the White House COVID-19 Response Team, implored the BIPOC community that “we know that we can do this.”

“We know there is a path to making sure equity is centered in the vaccination effort. And it starts with respecting and acknowl edging the people from the community really are going to be the key to our success,” Webb

insisted.

“We are excited about the progress we’ve made, but we’re more committed to the progress we will continue to make because the job is not done. And there’s still a lot at stake this fall as we move forward.”

They also hope to inform the public on how and where to get vaccinated by directing them to www.vaccines.gov. Advocates noted that health equity was a fundamental value of the COVID19 Public Education Campaign.

During the BIPOC briefing, officials announ-

ced that the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign launched new national and local TV, radio, and print ads geared at reaching Black and Latino audiences in more than 30 markets in English and Spanish.

“This work is ongoing, but it is imperative that we recognize the unique health dispar ities faced by people in minority populations and highlight the progress and importance of protecting those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said Dr. José R. Romero, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To view the campaign ads and for more information, visit wecandothis.hhs.gov.

MPOX vaccine is now available to the fol lowing groups:

• Persons living with HIV, especially persons with uncontrolled or advanced HIV dis ease.

• Persons who had skin-to-skin or intimate contact with someone with suspected or confirmed monkeypox, including those who have not yet been confirmed by Public Health.

• Gay or bisexual men, or any men or trans gender people who have sex with men or transgender people.

• Persons of any gender or sexual orientation who engage in commercial and/or transac

Eligible individuals may book an appointment at www.MyTurn.ca.gov or through their healthcare provider. The following is a list of County-coordinated vaccination sites:

• B alboa Park Golden Hill Community Clubhouse (San Diego)**

• 2464 Russ Blvd, San Diego, CA 92102

• E ast Public Health Center (El Cajon)*

• 367 N. Magnolia Ave, 92020

• North Central Public Health Center (San Diego)*

• 5055 Ruffin Rd., 92123

• North Coastal Live Well Health Center (Oceanside)*

• 1701 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92058

• North Inland Public Health Center (Escondido)*

• 649 W. Mission Ave, 92025

* Point of Dispensing (POD) County

See below for the MPOX Vaccinations Schedule for Thursday, November 10, 2022 through Saturday, November 12, 2022 or visit the MPOX Vaccinations Schedule webpage at sandiego county.gov for more information.

Friday, 11/11/2022

East

North

Saturday, 11/12/2022

Balboa

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

LIMITED ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER

(Effective June 15, 2021)

On June 15, 2021, the Blueprint for a Safer Economy will be rescinded. Persons and entities may still be subject to Cal OSHA and California Department of Public Health guidelines and standards with lim ited public health restrictions, including face coverings, school based guidance, and guidance for mega events. The California Public Health Officer has issued an order to be effective June 15, 2021, and available here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/ CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-ofthe-State-Public-Health-Officer-BeyondBlueprint.aspx. The California Public Health Officer has also issued updat ed face covering guidance effective June 15, 2021, and available here: https://www. cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings. aspx#June15guidance.

In San Diego County, persons who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who are likely to have COVID-19, will be subject to the Order of the Health Officer titled: “Isolation of All Persons with or Likely to have COVID-19,” or as subsequently amended. Persons who have a close con tact with a person who either has COVID19, or is likely to have COVID-19, will be subject to the Order of the Health Officer titled: “Quarantine of Persons Exposed to COVID-19,” or as subsequently amended. Both orders are available at: https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/ programs/phs/community_epidemiology/ dc/2019-nCoV/health-order.html.

Subsequent Health Officer Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic may be issued in San Diego County as conditions warrant.

Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code sections 101040, 120175, and 120175.5 (b), the Health Officer of the County of San Diego (Health Officer) ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:

1. Effective June 15, 2021, the Order of the Health Officer and Emergency Regulations,

dated May 6, 2021, and any other Health Officer orders related to COVID-19 shall expire, with the exception of the following:

a.“Isolation of All Persons with or Likely to have COVID-19,” dated December 24, 2020.

b.“Quarantine of Persons Exposed to COVID-19,” dated April 5, 2021.

c. Any quarantine or isolation order issued to an individual that is currently in effect.

2. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code sec tion 120175.5 (b), all governmental enti ties in the county shall continue to take necessary measures within the govern mental entity’s control to ensure compli ance with State and local laws, regula tions, and orders related to the control of COVID-19.

IT IS SO ORDERED:

Date: June 14, 2021

WILMA J. WOOTEN, M.D., M.P.H. Public Health Officer County of San Diego

EXPIRATION OF EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

As Director of Emergency Services for the County of San Diego, I am authorized to promulgate regulations for the protection of life and property pursuant to Government Code Section 8634 and San Diego County Code section 31.103. The Health Officer

Order and Emergency Regulations, dated May 6, 2021, shall expire as a regulation for the protection of life and property, on June 15, 2021.

Date: June 14, 2021

HELEN ROBBINS-MEYER

Chief Administrative Officer Director of Emergency Services County of San Diego

Emmett Till Images Have Multigenerational Impact On Artists

By Aaron Morrison AP National Writer

“Back then, I was like, `Wow, that happened so long ago. It would never happen now,’’’ says Devin Allen, recalling the first time a high school history teacher showed him the shocking photos of Emmet Till.

Yet, roughly 10 years later, Allen himself would capture searing images of protests and civil unrest in Baltimore after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a Black man who died in police custody. Allen’s reverberant black-andwhite image depicting a protester running from a line of charging police officers made the cover of Time magazine that year and is

in the Smithsonian collection.

Allen’s photographs highlighting the effects of police brutality on Baltimore’s Black community are part of the new “Impact of Images’’ campaign, inspired by the power of photo graphs like the ones of Emmett printed near ly 70 years ago in Jet magazine. The exhibit, curated by Lead With Love, is in collabora tion with the studio and production company behind the biopic “Till,’’ which goes into wide release Friday. It will open to the public Saturday at Atlanta’s ZuCot Gallery, a Blackowned gallery.

“When I became a photographer, I started understanding,’’ Allen said. “I’m nothing but a conduit, doing something that has been passed down from generation to generation. We are truthful revealers. We are storytellers. We are light bringers.’’

Another featured photographer, Noemie Tshinanga, took up photography as a young teen ager. Much of her professional work is about showing Black people when they are not in pain, grief or anguish.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, whether you’re a notable figure or someone walking down the street like, your existence is enough,’’ the Brooklyn-based photographer said. “That is the importance of showing that flip side of just us being.’’

Jay-Z Might Team with Bezos on Washington Commanders Buy

Tshinanga first saw the image of Emmett’s open casket as a teenager. Like Allen, she didn’t fully grasp its continued relevance until one of her generation’s versions was splashed across social media in 2014.

“I remember Mike Brown’s photo and just like everyone trying to figure out what was happening and just kind of processing that,’’ she said, referring to an image of the lifeless body of Michael Brown, left for hours in the middle of the street after the Black 18-yearold was fatally shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

“And so once that image was ingrained in my head, it made me understand Emmett Till’s image,’’ she said.

In the overnight hours of Aug. 28, 1955, Emmett Till was taken from his uncle’s home at gunpoint by two vengeful white men. Emmett’s alleged crime? Flirting with the wife of one of his killers.

Three days later, a fisherman on the Tallahatchie River discovered the teenager’s bloated corpse. An eye was detached, an ear was missing and his head was shot and bashed in.

“They would not be able to visualize what had happened, unless they were allowed to see the result of what had happened. They had to see what I had seen,’’ Till-Mobley said in a 2003 memoir. “The whole nation had to bear wit ness.’’

Till-Mobley handpicked Jet photographer David Jackson, a Black man who had spent much of his career documenting the horrors

of Jim Crow segregation in the South, to take the controversial images of her son’s body at a funeral home in Chicago.

The vast majority of U.S. news outlets wor ried that they would drive away readers and advertisers if they printed graphic images of the teenager’s body – but not publishers in the Black press. John H. Johnson, the late founder of Jet and Ebony, dared to show what happened to Emmett.

Reggie Cunningham, another featured “Impact of Images’’ photographer, began taking photos during the Ferguson uprising over Brown’s death. While many photos showed pain and confrontations between residents and police, his images included depictions of joy and a sense of community in the predominantly Black suburb of St. Louis.

These are the images he wants his son accus tomed to seeing as he grows up, Cunningham said: “In my work, I seek to tell these stories and spread awareness of the full expanse of Blackness, in an effort to create an affinity for our experience.’’

Brothers and ZuCot Gallery managing part ners Onaje and Omari Henderson said peo ple coming to see the exhibit won’t feel like they are “going into a repast after a funeral.’’ Instead, they said, visitors will see a show case of resiliency.

The collection – which can be viewed every Saturday and by appointment on weekdays until Nov. 13 – also includes personal photos from the Till family, stills from the “‘Till” movie, and images from Ebony and Jet.

Shilese Jones Wins U.S. Gymnastics

World All-Around Silver

By Chrös McDougall Team USA

Had things gone as planned, Shilese Jones would be in Gainesville now, preparing to start her freshman sea son with the Florida Gators gym nastics team. The past year was anything but as expected.

Her performance at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials left a sour taste in her mouth. Then, in December, her dad Sylvester passed away fol lowing a long battle with kidney disease. College could wait, Jones decided. Instead she headed back to her home state of Washington to take another shot at the Olympics. It’s off to a good start.

pionship wrapped up without an American woman on the allaround podium was the 2001 world championships.

The medal is also Jones’ second so far in Liverpool, after she helped the U.S. team win its record sixth consecutive gold medal on Nov.1.

Jones moved up to the sport’s senior level in 2018 and quickly found success, finishing fifth at that year’s national championships while win ning a team gold medal at the Pan American Games.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr National Correspondent

Hip Hop star and business mogul Jay-Z signed a deal in 2019 with the NFL that gave him authority to determine the wildly popular Super Bowl halftime show. Jay-Z could eventually have his own NFL team in the big game.

Reports surfaced a few weeks ago that the “99 Problems” artist is mulling a bid to purchase the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder. While Jay-Z isn’t comment ing on the prospect, TMZ reported that a partnership between Beyonce’s husband and Jeff Bezos “is on the table.”

The news arrived just one day after Snyder hired a major bank to investigate selling the team. Of course,

“Who wants to be a minority owner of the Washington Commanders? I’m down to pay for a stake in the team and bring ten fans along for the ride,” Griffin tweeted. “Ten fans don’t have to pay anything,” he declared.

Perhaps Jay-Z’s most significant competition would come in the form of media mogul Byron Allen, whom Bloomberg reported is working with a group of investors seeking to purchase the team. According to Bloomberg, Allen has said that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft approached him about bidding for the Broncos.

The latter was sold earlier this year to a group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton for $4.65 billion. The Bloomberg report noted that one NFL franchise owner said that the Commanders are expected to net a pur chase price of at least $5 billion, with the possibility of the price tag reaching $6 or $7 billion.

Forbes places Jay-Z’s worth at about $1.5 billion, so the mogul would appear to need a partner in the endeavor. He previously owned a stake in the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.

With Jones’ medal, the U.S. has now had a woman on the allaround podium at every world championships going back to 2003. Including the Olympics, the last time a global champi onship wrapped up without an American woman on the allaround podium was the 2001 world championships.

On Thursday, the 20-year-old Jones scored 55.399 points to claim the women’s all-around silver medal at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, England. With a complete performance in her first major championship meet, Jones finished 1.5 points behind winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, the reigning Olympic silver medalist.

Jessica Gadirova of Great Britain finished third with 55.199 points, while fellow American Jade Carey scored 54.698 to take sixth, improving two spots from her performance at last year’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

With Jones’ medal, the U.S. has now had a woman on the all-around podium at every world championships going back to 2003. Including the Olympics, the last time a global cham-

The next step in her career never came. After finishing 10th at the Olympic trials last year in St. Louis, she was left off the Olympic team and forced to con front her future.

Conversations with teammates on the post-Olympics Gold Over America Tour convinced her she had more to prove in her elite career. She also said she wanted to take another go at the Olympics, com peting in part to hon-or her father’s memory.

After previously training in Ohio, she’s now back in the Seattle area. Her enrollment at the University of Florida has been deferred to 2024.

Jones came into the world cham pionships with momentum follow ing a runner-up finish at this sum mer’s national championships and then another strong performance at a September world cup event in Paris. At these world championships, she qualified for the allaround final in second place, behind Andrade, and then contributed on three of the four events in the win ning U.S. effort in the team final.

A captivating performer, Jones began Thursday with a doubletwisting Yurchenko on vault to score 14.233, putting her third behind Andrade and Carey. She moved into second on her signature event, the uneven bars, scoring 14.366, and then delivered another strong per formance on the balance beam, highlighted by a massive standing Arabian early on, to score a solid 13.100.

Jay-Z and Bezos aren’t the only potential suitors. The team’s former quarterback Robert Griffin III has openly courted backers on social media.

Artist Brandan “BMike” Odums, right, works with artist Whitney Alix on a mural depicting Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley in Los Angeles on Oct. 22, 2022. The mural is part of a collection called “Impact of Images.” PHOTO: Carlos Solorzano / AP

PHOTO: NNPA

Shilese Jones poses for a photo during the medal ceremony following the women’s all-around final at the 2022 Gymnastics World Championships on Nov. 3, 2022 in Liverpool, England. PHOTO: TEAM USA

(L-R) Jade Carey, Shilese Jones and Jordan Chiles speak to media after winning the team gold medal at the 2022 Gymnastics World Championships on Nov. 1, 2022 in Liverpool, England.

Lincoln High’s Class of ‘77 Reunion

By Karen Christian-Williams

The Lincoln High School class of 1977 brought their SPIRIT back for their 45th high school reunion to make new mem ories using the theme, “JUST THE WAY WE ARE!!”

From 1975 to 1977, the class of ‘77 formed a unique bond that still exists 45 years later. The majority of the class of ‘77 came together through their academics and extracurricular activities where there was a place for all classmates to get involved as class officers, the ASB, yearbook staff, the Buzz Newspaper, sports teams, drill teams, letter carriers, song leaders, cheer

leaders, pep squad, band, ROTC or other school clubs. They found a place where they all fit in together.

Life was not perfect back then, but it was the school SPIRIT and classmate close ness, then and today, that still takes them to a happy place that continues to bring them back together for every reunion, remembering the carefree fun times at LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.

The class of 1977 celebrated their reunion Oct. 28th – Oct. 30th at the Sheraton La Jolla Hotel with a Friday evening Meet and Greet, Saturday evening dinner and dance, along with guest speaker and for mer teacher, Mr. Donald Mitchell, who shared encouraging words. Awards were presented to several classmates. Class President Karen Christian-Williams deliv ered a warm speech and recognized the hard-working 45th Class Reunion Core Committee. Photographs captured the spirit of Saturday evening and the Class of 1977 ended their 45th reunion with a Sunday Morning Farewell Brunch, “Just the Way They Were.”

Mike Norris

Black IPO

PHOTOS:

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Event

By Malachi Kudura Contributing Writer

November 5th, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held Light the Night San Diego 2022. This event had music, food, vendors, and free giveaways. Many of the people were celebrating family or friends who are either fighting, have survived or were honoring the memory of those who didn’t make it. Each supporter was given a lantern representing their loved one’s recovery status.

“The Night the Light SD” plaza was full of smiling families and friends, celebrating their loved one’s journey. When 10-year-old Leukemia survi vor Elijah Johnson was asked how this event made him feel he said, “It makes me feel good, it makes me feel loved.” He is celebrating two years in remission with family and friends. Many of the child survivors enjoyed playing catch football and soccer as the music played.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission, according to the lls.org web site, is to “cure leukemia, lymphoma,

Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.LLS funds lifesav ing blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordi nated care.”

Many patients and families use the many resources and services offered by LLS. The information it provides is beneficial and helpful to those dealing with these blood cancers.

As with many other diseases, these blood cancers affect African Americans at a higher mortality rate than other races. It is crucial to address social factors and systemic racism that people in inner-city communities have inherited. These issues make it diffi cult for these patients with cancer and overall health problems to get the services needed. For many years, the

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been help ing resolve these issues and many more. LLS is dedicated to the many patients and families that they serve and support. Light the Night San Diego’s celebra tion to inspire, hope, and fight, looks like it will be here for many more years come.

PHOTOS: Malachi Kudura

Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation’s 46th Annual Gala

By TJ Dunnivant Contributing Writer

The 46th annual Earl B Gilliam Foundation Scholarship and Award Gala took place last Saturday evening at the US Grant Hotel.

This year’s theme was “A PURPOSE DRIVEN PRACTICE: EMBRACING THE CALL” and the keynote speaker, Jerry Blackwell, told his fascinating experience doing exactly that.

Mr. Blackwell was the lead Special Assistant Attorney General in the successful prosecution of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Mr. Blackwell opened his speech with one of his closing lines of the trial stating, “George Floyd died, not because his heart was too big, but because Mr. Chauvin’s heart was too small.”

The audience of mostly Black attorneys and judges responded with a deep, guttural response of agree ment and satisfaction for such a persuasive closing statement. That closing argument ultimately resulted in Derek Chauvin being found guilty of second-de gree murder, third-degree murder, and second-de gree manslaughter and sentenced to over 20 years in prison.

Mr. Blackwell made it known that putting his hat in to be on the prosecuting team was a huge gam ble for his career. Blackwell proclaimed that there was a lot on the line getting involved in a trial like that, especially because he didn’t have any criminal experience as a pros ecutor. His career was mostly repre senting Fortune 500 companies in cases that did not involve the courtroom. Mr. Blackwell made it a point to charge many of the young, careerdriven attorneys in the room to remain

purposeful and driven and to embrace the call to action as they moved forward in their careers.

The evening’s events also included entertainment by the TranscenDANCE Youth Art Project and a musi cal performance of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” by Kingsley Jackson. The Mistress of Ceremonies was journalist Keristen Holmes and the invocation was by Bishop Lonie B. Lynch, Pastor of Rival Time C.O.G.I.C.

“I heard we family,” Keristen pro claimed in a “keeping it real’’ tone. The audience responded with laughter and smiles.

The 2022 Association President Maresa Talbert presented the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association Awards and the 2022 Foundation President, Isaac Jackson, presented the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation Awards. The presentation of scholar ships was from Jocelyn B. Campbell, Jordan Turner, and Christopher Chandler. And the Installation of the incoming 2023 EBGBA and EBGBF Board of Directors and Presidents were by the Honorable Judge James Simmons Jr. The new 2023 Foundation President, David Middleton, gave the closing remarks.

The evening concluded with upbeat music, excited energy, and networking chatter about all the success ful careers to come from San Diego’s Black attorney community and network.

PHOTOS: TJ Dunnivant

By Leah Goodwin

Does Adversity Make You Stronger? Not Always

By Lindsey Tanner AP Medical Writer

There’s an old saying that adversity makes you stron ger. Real life shows that’s not always true, but the adage highlights an evolving debate among scientists about resil ience.

After traumatic events and crises such as child abuse, gun violence or a pandemic, what explains why some peo ple bounce back, while others struggle to cope? Is it nature - genes and other inherent traits? Or nurture - life expe riences and social interac tions?

Decades of research suggest both play a role, but that neither seals a person’s fate. Although scientists use dif ferent definitions, resilience generally refers to the ability to handle severe stress.

“It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone,’’ according to the American Psychological Association. That effort is harder for some people, because of genetics, biology and life circumstances, evi dence suggests.

Landmark U.S. research in the mid 1990s linked adverse childhood experiences with poor mental and physical health in adulthood. It found that every additional adver

sity added to higher risks later on. Scientists have con ducted numerous studies try ing to answer why some kids are more vulnerable to those experiences than others.

California pediatrician and researcher Dr. Thomas Boyce decided to dig deeper into that question because of his own family history. He and his sister, who is two years younger, were extremely close amid sometimes tur bulent family circumstances. As they grew into adulthood, Boyce’s life seemed blessed by good luck, while his sister sank into hardship and men tal illness.

In laboratory tests, Boyce found that about 1 in 5 kids have elevated biologi cal responses to stress. He found signs of hyperactivity in their brains’ fight-or-flight response and in their stress hormones. Real-world evi dence showed kids like these have higher rates of physical and mental troubles when raised in stressful family sit uations. But evidence also shows these hyper-sensitive kids can thrive with nurtur ing, supportive parenting, Boyce says.

Ananda Amstadter, who studies traumatic stress and genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University, said her research sug gests that stress resilience

is roughly half influenced by genes and half by envi ronmental factors. But she emphasized that many genes are likely involved; there is no single “resilience gene.’’

In other studies, Duke University researchers Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi have linked variations in genes that help regulate mood with increased risks for depression or antisocial behavior in kids who experi enced child abuse or neglect.

But “genes are not destiny,” says Dr. Dennis Charney, academic affairs president at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, who has stud ied ways to overcome adver sity.

Trauma can affect the devel opment of key brain systems that regulate anxiety and fear. Psychotherapy and psychi atric medication can some times help people who’ve experienced severe trauma and hardship. And Charney said a loving family, a strong network of friends and pos itive experiences in school can help counterbalance the ill effects.

With an early childhood in Haiti marked by poverty and other trauma, 19-year-old Steeve Biondolillo seems to have beat long odds. His des perate parents sent him at age 4 to an orphanage, where

he lived for three years.

“I didn’t really understand what was happening,’’ he recalls. “I just got thrown into a big house full of other kids.’’ He remembers feeling frightened and abandoned, certain he’d live there forever.

An American couple visited the orphanage and made plans to adopt him and a younger brother. Biondolillo’s new life gave him opportuni ties he never dreamed of, but he says he was still haunted by “the baggage and trauma that I had from Haiti.’’

His adoptive parents got him involved in a local Boys & Girls club, a place where he and his brother could go after school just to be kids and have fun. Biondolillo says supportive adults there gave him space to talk about his life, so different from the other kids,’ and helped him feel welcomed and loved.

Now a college sophomore majoring in social work, he envisions a career working with the needy, helping to give back and nurture others.

It has been a journey, he says, from “scared little kid to me, proud young man with big goals and a big future.’’

How to Navigate Affordable Care Act Enrollment

By Cora Lewis and Amanda Seitz Associated Press

The vast majority of Americans will find multiple options for health insurance coverage for 2023 on HealthCare.gov after open enroll ment began Tuesday, October 31 under the Affordable Care Act. People searching for plans on the government marketplace should consider their budget, health, doc tors and a variety of other factors before picking a plan.

Most people have three or more options. According to the Biden administration, 80% of consum ers should be able to find a plan for $10 or less per month after tax credits.

Here’s a look at navigating the Affordable Care Act marketplace:

HOW DOES THE MARKETPLACE WORK?

The ACA marketplace is geared toward people who don’t have health insurance through their job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program or another source.

While most states use the fed eral marketplace at HealthCare. gov, some have set up their own. These are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont plus the District of Columbia.

Premium tax credits and other savings reducing the cost of insur ance are based on income and the number of people in your family. For example, individuals with an annual income between $13,590 and $54,360 are eligible for a sub sidy. Those who make less than that qualify for Medicaid.

You can use the HealthCare.gov calculator to determine what sav ings are available to you.

Know the deadlines for coverage in 2023: Dec. 15 for coverage that starts on Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 for cov erage that begins Feb. 1.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN CHOOSING A PLAN

Shop around, even if you’re cur rently covered under the ACA.

First, you’ll want to see what the monthly premium _ the amount you pay for coverage _ will be.

Next, check on the plan’s deduct ible _ that’s what you pay up front for health services before your insurance begins to share some of the remaining costs for the year.

Look into the plan’s copayments

or coinsurance. Those are the fees you pay every time you visit the doctor’s office or go to an urgent care clinic, for example. Plans with coinsurance can be trickier to bud get for because you pay a percent age of the service cost, instead of a set fee.

And make sure to know the outof-pocket maximum. After you hit that number, your insurance will cover 100% of costs. You’ll want to keep that number in mind if you might have big health expenses - a major surgery, childbirth or ongo ing therapy or treatment - in the upcoming year.

“Consider whether you are going to have an expensive year,” said Kelly Rector, an insurance broker and president of Missouri-based Denny and Associates Inc. “If you know you’re going to be hitting that out-of-pocket max no matter what, maybe you look at the lower premiums and higher deductible plan.’’

DOES YOUR DOCTOR PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN?

Do you want to continue seeing a favorite doctor or need a prescrip tion drug covered on your plan?

HealthCare.gov also offers search features and tools for you to check

whether your doctor or prescrip tion drugs are covered under spe cific plans.

Those are “the biggest things’’ that Rector recommends consumers check when searching the market place.

WHAT LEVEL PLAN SHOULD I CHOOSE?

All plans cover basic health ser vices, including preventive ser vices, prescription drugs, mental health services and pregnancy.

There are four levels of plans offered: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums but the highest out-of-pocket costs. Premium costs increase as you go up the medal ladder, but deductibles are lower.

The best deal for people who qual ify for extra savings is a silver plan, said Cynthia Cox, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s director for the Affordable Care Act program.

“If you’re just barely making above the poverty level, you really should be buying a silver plan, with the lowest premiums, lowest deduct ibles,’’ Cox said.

In some cases, those plans will still be nearly free and will have much lower copays and deductibles,

making for the best deal in the long run. Depending on your income, you might have to pay a monthly premium of $15 to $20, but the lower costs to the overall plan still make a better deal, Cox said.

For people in higher income brack ets, shop around before selecting a plan. Your subsidies won’t be as big - if you qualify at all - and the plans will be pricier.

If you’re young and healthy and don’t anticipate significant health care needs, the bronze plan remains a reasonable choice, according to Rector. High-deductible ``cata strophic plans’’ are also available to people under age 30.

WHAT ABOUT MY SPECIFIC SITUATION?

In each state, people known as “navigators’’ provide free consulta tions to help you choose a health insurance plan. The program is supported by public funding. You can search for local help in your state on HealthCare.gov. Agents and brokers are also available to help. They do charge fees but typi cally provide their services for free to consumers and charge the insur ance companies instead.

Steeve Biondolillo stands for a portrait in a library at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. It has been a journey, he says, from “scared little kid to me, proud young man with big goals and a big future.’’ PHOTO: Kyle Green/AP

Ethiopia Asserts Government Got ‘100%’ in Tigray Peace Deal

By Cara Anna Associated Press

Of

ficials close to peace talks aimed at ending Ethiopia’s deadly two-year war confirmed the full text of the signed accord on Thursday, but a key question remains: What led Tigray regional leaders to agree to terms that include rapid disarmament and full federal government control?

A day after the warring sides signed a “permanent cessation of hostilities” in a war that is believed to have killed hundreds of thousands of people, none of the negotiators were talking about how they arrived at it.

The complete agreement has not been made public, but the officials confirmed that a copy obtained by The Associated Press was the final document. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly.

At Wednesday’s signing, the lead negotiator for Tigray described it as containing “painful concessions.”

One of the pact’s priorities is to swiftly disarm Tigray forces of heavy weapons, and take away their “light weapons” within 30 days. Senior commanders on both sides are to meet within five days.

Ethiopian security forces will take full control of “all federal facilities, installations, and major infrastruc ture ... within the Tigray region,” and an interim regional administration will be established after dialogue between the parties, the accord says. The terrorist designation for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front party will be lifted.

If implemented, the agreement should mark an end to the devastat ing conflict in Africa’s second-most populous country. Millions of peo ple have been displaced and many left near famine under a blockade of the Tigray region of more than 5 million people. Abuses have been documented on all sides.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asserted that his government received everything it asked for in the peace talks.

“During the negotiation in South Africa, Ethiopia’s peace proposal has been accepted 100%,” and the government is ready to “open our hearts” for peace to prevail, Abiy said in a speech. He added that the issue of contested areas, seen as one of the most difficult, will be resolved only through the law of the land and negotiations.

Neither Ethiopian government nor Tigray negotiators responded to questions.

As part of the full agreement, both sides agreed not to make any uni lateral statement that would under mine it. The deal also calls for the immediate “cessation of all forms of hostile propaganda, rhetoric and hate speech.” The conflict has been marked by language that U.S. special envoy Mike Hammer, who helped with the peace talks, has described as having “a high level of toxicity.”

“The human cost of this conflict has been devastating. I urge all Ethiopians to seize this opportunity for peace,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Thursday, one of many messages from observers expressing cautious hope.

OF FAILING HEALTH AFTER SKIPPING A ‘MEGA-RALLY’

Enormous challenges lie ahead. The opaque and repressive government of neighboring Eritrea, whose forc es have fought alongside Ethiopian ones, has not commented, and it was not clear whether Eritrean forces had begun to withdraw. The agreement says Ethiopian forces will be deployed along the borders and “ensure that there will be no provo cation or incursion from either side of the border.”

Mustafa Yusuf Ali, an analyst with the Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies, said trust-build ing will be crucial. The agreement “needs to be coordinated, it needs to be systematic, and above all it needs to be sequenced so that the Tigrayans are not left to their devices after handing in all their weapons then suddenly they are attacked by the center,” he said.

The agreement sets deadlines for disarmament but little else, although it says Ethiopia’s government will “expedite the provision of humani tarian aid” and “expedite and coor dinate the restoration of essential services in the Tigray region within agreed time frames.”

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross said they had not yet resumed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Tigray, whose communication, trans portation and banking links have been largely severed since fighting began. Some basic medicines have run out.

“It’s not surprising that it may take a little bit of time to get the word out to the competent authorities in the field. We are in touch with them and trying to get that unimpeded access as soon as possible,” the spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters.

A humanitarian worker in Tigray’s second-largest town, Shire, said there had been no sounds of gun fire over the past few days but peo ple and vehicles were still blocked from moving freely. It was also quiet in the town of Axum, another humanitarian worker said. Both spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Residents of the Tigray regional capital, Mekele, nervously waited for next steps.

Thousands of Cameroonians gathered in the capital Yaounde on Nov. 6, Sunday, to celebrate the 40th anni versary of the presidency of Paul Biya.

But the 89 year old Biya was a no-show at the ‘mega-ral ly’ designed to commemo rate his many years in office. It raised long-simmering doubts about his health and ability to serve.

At the capital Yaounde’s city hall, there were giant portraits of the absent leader inscribed “An exceptional president”, while critics, wearing black, stepped up their campaigns for change in election laws that were amended to keep Biya in power forever.

Biya has not appeared in public since French President Emmanuel Macron visited in July. Decrees and photos of Biya receiving various diplo mats are regularly posted on the president’s social media accounts.

“Nov. 6 is considered a day of nation al mourning because Mr. Biya inher ited a rich, prosperous and growing country,” said critic Darling Nguevo. “And he set about unraveling every sector of life and society.”

“Corruption has made its bed in the country. So has bad gover nance. Paul Biya is old and his pub lic appearances are rare, and this is happening against the backdrop of the succession battle,” he added.

Still, any talk about who might succeed Biya, who turns 90 in February, is strictly taboo in gov

ernment circles.

‘Ministers have fallen into disgrace just for thinking about a theoret ical departure of the president,’ says Aimee Raoul Sumo Tayo, a Cameroon defense and security specialist.

The celebration of the country’s “unity” takes place as Biya faces growing challenges that range from a secessionist movement in Cameroon’s English-speaking provinces to the threat in the north posed by Islamic extrem ists aligned with the Nigeria-based Boko Haram group.

The recent visit by French President

Macron was slammed by Congolese freelancer Vava Tampa who faulted the French leader for failing to make any mention of Biya’s human rights record including the persecution of LGBTQ people.

Paris is still the bedrock for the neocolonial relationship known as Françafrique and its puppets, wrote Tampa in the UK Guardian, nam ing Alassane Ouattara, in Ivory Coast; Ali Bongo Ondimba, in Gabon; Faure Gnassingbé, in Togo; Gen Mahamat Déby, in Chad; Denis Sassou Nguesso, in Congo-Brazzaville; as well as Biya – “that France shel ters under its security and diplomatic umbrella despite their gross abuses of human rights, corruption and elec toral fraud that have impov erished their countries.”

Meanwhile, in the past two years, over 500 Cameroonian citizens have been arrested for taking part in protests, according to Amnesty International which launched a “Protect the protest” global campaign responding to the growing threat to peaceful protest across all regions of the world.

“Amnesty also seeks to stand by those who dare to stand up and make their voices heard, such as Dorgelesse Nguessan,” Amnesty commented in a report. Arrested at a peaceful pro test in September 2020, Dorgelesse was charged with ‘insurrection, rebellion, and endangering state security”. A military court found her guilty and sentenced her to five years in prison. She has appealed the ver dict but no date has been set for an appeal hearing.

WARNS OF SEA ‘SWALLOWING’ ALEXANDRIA AND OTHER HISTORIC CITIES

U.N. CLIMATE PANEL

The Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is brimming with delegates, organizers and observershere to take part in the U.N. Climate Conference, better known by its acronym “COP27” (Conference of the Parties).

This year’s conference will be an “African COP” where the positions of African countries on issues like finance for adapting to climate change or adopting renewable energy sources will be central to the talks.

The climate summit opened Sunday, Nov. 6, with an agreement to discuss compensating poor nations for mounting damage linked to global warming, placing the con troversial topic on the agenda for the first time since climate talks began decades ago.

For years, wealthy nations had rejected official discussions on what is referred to as loss and damage, the term used to describe rich nations paying out funds to help poor countries cope with the con sequences of global warming for which they bear little blame.

Last year in Glasgow, high-income nations, including the United States and the European Union blocked a proposal for a loss and damage financing body, instead supporting a three-year dialogue for funding discussions.

But pressure to address the issue has been increasing as weather calam ities mount, including this year’s

floods in Pakistan that caused eco nomic losses of more than $30 bil lion and left hundreds of thou sands homeless.

The UN weather agency says 116 million people in Africa’s coast al states and islands face rising sea-levels and by 2050 African nations will need to spend $50 bil lion every year on climate-relat ed impacts.

Nearly 200 nations will be in Sharm el-Sheikh but talks will be dom inated by the growing need to support virtually blameless poor nations where lives are already being claimed and economies dev astated.

U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to arrive later in the week.

In a worst-case scenario, according to the U.N. Climate Panel, in 2050, “the sea will rise by one meter”. Then it will swallow “a third of the ultra-fertile land of the Nile Delta and historic cities like Alexandria will be flooded”.

Every year, the city of Alexander the Great sinks by three millime ters, weakened by the Nile dams upstream that prevent silt from consolidating its soil and by offshore gas drilling.

In a best-case scenario, if the Mediterranean rises only 50 centimeters, as other Egyptian and UN studies estimate, “30% of Alexandria will be flooded, 1.5 million or more people will be displaced, 195,000 jobs will be destroyed, and losses in land and construction will reach $30 trillion.”

Lead negotiator for Ethiopia’s government, Redwan Hussein, left, shakes hands with lead Tigray negotiator Getachew Reda, as Kenya’s former president, Uhuru Kenyatta looks on, after the peace talks in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. PHOTO: Themba Hadebe/AP

Global Information Network

Flooding in Alexandria PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

LEGAL NOTICES

registered by the following:

Steve Clarke 11595 Prairie Shadow Pt. San Diego, CA 92126

Keysha Clarke 11595 Prairie Shadow Pt. San Diego, CA 92126

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

This fictitious business name will expire on November 02, 2027 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023985

Fictitious business name(s): Scruples 2 Located at: 7733 Palm Ave. #103 Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/30/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Carmen Miner 2445 Calle Serena San Diego, CA 92139 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 31, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023874

Fictitious business name(s): Caballero Outlet Located at: 5075 E. Federal Blvd. San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 10/28/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Adrian Gerardo Caballero Barajas 6063 Hughes St. San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 28, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 28, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9024028

10/24/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Hallak Brothers INC 5600 Baltimore Dr. La Mesa, CA 91942

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 28, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 28, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023533

Fictitious business name(s): Divorce Esquire Located at: 501 W. Broadway Ste. 800 San Diego, CA 92101 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/20/2022

Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Include

the

• Billing address

LEGAL

This business is hereby registered by the following: Nathaniel Deon Stewart 1335 Borrego Springs Rd. Chula Vista, CA 91915

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 07, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on November 07, 2027 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9024107

Fictitious business name(s): BACKOFFICEDESIGNS.COM Located at: 2822 Chatsworth Way Carlsbad, CA 92010 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 04/19/2017

This business is hereby registered by the following: Kymeshia Michelle Murphy 2 Corey Dr. Peabody, MA 01960

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 25, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 25, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 24, 2022

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023453

Fictitious business name(s): Daily Asian Express Located at: 3641 Avocado Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91941 County of San Diego 7370 La Mesita Place 5 La Mesa, CA 91942 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Daily Asian Express 3641 Avocado Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91941 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 24, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on October 24, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023159

Fictitious business name(s): I Want Located at: 217 Meadow Brook Dr. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego P.O. Box 741027 San Diego, CA 92174 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: Evelyn Indira Dailey P.O. Box 741027 San Diego, CA 92174 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 19, 2022

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022877

This business is conducted by: A General Partnership Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Vy D Phuong 3869 58th St. San Diego, CA 92115

Kelly Ta 3412 Streamview Place San Diego, CA 92105 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 18, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on October 18, 2027 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023050

Fictitious business name(s): Ariginal One, LLC

Millennium Hippie Tha Dread Headz

FEDERAL AID PROJECT NO. HSIP H9-11-017; ORACLE PROJECT NO. 1023426; BID No. 11919.

Sealed bids will be received at the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, at 5560 Overland Avenue, Ste. 270, San Diego, 92123, until 2:00 PM on December 1, 2022, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Contract documents including Plans, Specifications and Bid Forms are available for download on the County Buynet site: https://buynet.sdcounty.ca.go v. You must be registered at the site in order to download documents. The Contractor shall possess, at the time the contract is awarded through Contract acceptance, a California Contractor's license, Classification A, General Engineering. The cost of construction is estimated from $300,000 to $315,000. Bid security of no less than 10% required at time of bid. Successful bidder shall provide Payment and Performance Bonds for 100% of the contract amount.

Prevailing Wage rates apply. The Owner, as a matter of policy, encourages Disabled Veterans Business (DVB) participation for this project. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE): The DBE contract goal for this project is 16%. For complete bid information, go to County of San Diego Purchasing and Contracting website at https://buynet.sdcounty.ca.go

v. For questions, please contact Jose Sandoval, Senior Procurement Contracting Officer at Jose.Sandoval@sdcounty.ca. gov. 11/3, 11/10/22 CNS-3636744#

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023177

Fictitious business name(s): Pacific Home Concierge Located at: 125 N. Lafayette Ave. Ventnor, NJ 08406 County of Atlantic 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: Newbury Franklin Home Services LLC 125 N. Lafayette Ave. Ventnor, NJ 08406 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 19, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on October 19, 2027 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

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Fictitious business name(s): Get it out San Diego Hauling & Junk Removal Located at: 723 Pecos St. Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 11/03/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Daniel Gomez 723 Pecos St. Spring Valley, CA 91977 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 04, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on November 04, 2027 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

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Fictitious business name(s): Pengate Publishing. Located at: 11595 Prairie Shadow Pt. San Diego, CA 92126 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Married Couple

The first day of business was: 11/16/2017 This business is hereby

Fictitious business name(s): Sam's Concrete Located at: 4545 50th St. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/06/2021

This business is hereby registered by the following: Samuel Lopez 4545 50th St. San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 01, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on November 01, 2027 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023626

Fictitious business name(s): Impak Events & Travel Located at: 2706 Alta View Dr. San Diego, CA 92139 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/20/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Roshauna D. McGhee 2706 Alta View Dr. San Diego, CA 92139 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 25, 2022

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Fictitious business name(s): Keep'Em Cumin Located at: 2706 Alta View Dr. San Diego, CA 92139 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/20/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Roshauna D. McGhee 2706 Alta View Dr. San Diego, CA 92139

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 25, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 25, 2027 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

This business is hereby registered by the following: William C. Kellaway 2822 Chatsworth Way Carlsbad, CA 92010 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 31, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on October 31, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023815

Fictitious business name(s): Flower and Fray Located at: 6212 Valner Way San Diego, CA 92139 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 10/01/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Hello Pink Monday, LLC 6212 Valner Way San Diego, CA 92139

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 28, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 28, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023910

Fictitious business name(s): Lemon Grove Childcare

Citronica Childcare Center Located at: 3468 Citrus St. Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 02/23/2018

This business is hereby registered by the following: IKUTI LLC 1267 Willis St. Ste. 200 Redding, CA 96001

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 28, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 28, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023818

Fictitious business name(s): Lake Murray Chevron Located at: 5600 Baltimore Dr. La Mesa, CA 91942 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was:

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022242

Fictitious business name(s): Fern's Professional Notary Located at: 4150 Bonillo Dr. Apt. 141 San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 06/08/2022 This business is hereby registered by the following: Fern L. Williams 4150 Bonillo Dr. Apt. 141 San Diego, CA 92115 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 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023657

Fictitious business name(s): Blkofe Expresso Bar Located at: 9090 Gramercy Dr. Apt. 149 San Diego, CA 92123 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: Denise Hamilton 9090 Gramercy Dr. Apt. 149 San Diego, CA 92123 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 26, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 26, 2027 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023464

Fictitious business name(s): The Office Brows & Beauty

Sugar Daddy Cosmetics Located at: 1640 Camino Del Rio San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego 7757 Bloomfield Rd. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 10/10/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: The Office Brows & Beauty LLC 1640 Camino Del Rio San Diego, CA 92108 This statement was filed with

Fictitious business name(s): Love N Care In Homecare Located at: 12665 El Camino Real #3 San Diego, CA 92130 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: Linda Hayes 12665 El Camino Real #3 San Diego, CA 92130 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 24, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 24, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022382

Fictitious business name(s): Visiting Angels Located at: 7960 Silverton Ave. Suite 204 San Diego, CA 92126 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 10/04/2022 This business is hereby registered by the following: Bella Vita RMP LLC 23 Chimney Lane Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 10, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 10, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022517

Fictitious business name(s): RLT Notary and Financial Services Located at: 2657 W. Canyon Ave. #576 San Diego, CA 92123 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: Robyn L. Taylor 2657 W. Canyon Ave. #576 San Diego, CA 92123

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 11, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 11, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

Fictitious business name(s): Ready Rooter & Plumbing Located at: 692 Hillsview Rd. El Cajon, CA 92020 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 10/14/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Gilbert Palacios 692 Hillsview Rd. El Cajon, CA 92020 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 14, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 14, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022993

Fictitious business name(s): Home Learning Edu Located at: 5775 Red River Dr. San Diego, CA 92120 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 10/10/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Advanced Marketing Solutions, LLC 5775 Red River Dr. San Diego, CA 92120 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 17, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on October 17, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022853

Fictitious business name(s): Emma's Beauty Salon Located at: 5839 Market St. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 10/14/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Maria Patricia Hernandez Nava 910 S. 41 St. San Diego, CA 92113 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 14, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 14, 2027 10/27, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9023038

Fictitious business name(s): Twinkle Nails & SPA Located at: 3223 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 County of San Diego

Walk With Me Impact Walk With Me Impact Curriculum

Walk With Me Documentary

WWM Impact Located at: 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd. Ste. H1009 San Diego, CA 92110 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company The first day of business was: 01/01/2021

This business is hereby registered by the following: Ariginal One, LLC 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd. Ste. H1009 San Diego, CA 92110 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 18, 2022 This fictitious business name will expire on October 18, 2027 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022314

Fictitious business name(s): OT With Lisa V Located at: 9528 Miramar Rd. #1014 San Diego, CA 92126 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: Lisa Phuong-Linh Vu 9939 Azuaga St. Unit H205 San Diego, CA 92129

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 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021643

Fictitious business name(s): MD Consulting Services Located at: 8743 Esplanade Park Ln. San Diego, CA 92123 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/29/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Myrna Durazo 8743 Esplanade Park Ln. San Diego, CA 92123

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 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021639

Fictitious business name(s): HC Consulting Services

The County of San Diego, Owner, invites bids for PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON ON SAN MIGUEL ROAD AT SUNNYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Located at:

8743 Esplanade Park Ln.

San Diego, CA 92123

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/29/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Homero Carrillo 8743 Esplanade Park Ln. San Diego, CA 92123

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 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022091

Fictitious business name(s): Queen Kreyol Located at: 325 W. Washington St. Ste. 2259 San Diego, CA 92103 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 09/28/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Whitney Nicole Hall 1502 Attu Ave. Unit A Coronado, CA 92118

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 05, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 05, 2027 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022799

Fictitious business name(s): Khanya Crafts & Creations Located at: 1730 Euclid Ave. #1002 San Diego, CA 92105 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: Khanya Crafts & Creations 1730 Euclid Ave. #1002 San Diego, CA 92102

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021446

Fictitious business name(s): I DENT TEETH CAL INC

A1 DENTAL LAB Located at: 6314 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 08/01/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following:

I DENT TEETH CAL INC 6314 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92115

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 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022561

Fictitious business name(s):

Iconic Beauty Station Located at: 1640 Camino del Rio N. Ste. 155 San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego

212 Pardee St. San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/11/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Brandy D. McGowan 212 Pardee St. San Diego, CA 92102

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 11, 2022

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022733

Fictitious business name(s): DeAndra'Nicole

Hair Studio

Located at:

1640 Camino del Rio N. Ste. 135

San Diego, CA 92108

County of San Diego

8252 Station Village Ln. Apt. 2304 San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 10/13/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: DeAndra Nicole Eddington 8252 Station Village Ln. Apt. 2304 San Diego, CA 92108

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022362

Fictitious business name(s): Carmich Comercial Cleaning Located at: 7710 Hazard Center Dr. #E526 San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

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

This business is hereby registered by the following: Macapero Corp. 7710 Hazard Center Dr. #E526 San Diego, CA 92108 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 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9022612

Fictitious business name(s): Coach Raynette Finding Life's Purpose with Raynette Walking the floor with Raynette I Love, Love with Raynette

Life Coaching with Raynette Located at: 9233 Kenwood Dr. #28 Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 10/12/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Raynette Chanel Jordan 9233 Kenwood Dr. #28 Spring Valley, CA 91977 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on October 12, 2022

This fictitious business name will expire on October 12, 2027 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2022-9021863

Fictitious business name(s): SushYi Located at: 2700 Boston Ave. San Diego, CA 92113 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: SushYi LLC 5208 Wightman St. #7 San Diego, CA 92105

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 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

NAME CHANGE

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2022-00044555-CU-PTCTL

filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT

NAME: Janee Nacole Johnson

PROPOSED NAME: Janee Nicole Anderson

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: December 21, 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 copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee.

Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

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 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2022-00042755-CU-PTCTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

Thao Ngoc Thoung Nguyen

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Thao Ngoc Thoung Nguyen filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Thao Ngoc Thoung Nguyen

PROPOSED NAME: Mia Jane Nguyen

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: December 12, 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 copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee.

Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

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 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

SUMMONS

SMALL CLAIMS LEGAL NOTICE

State of Wisconsin Circuit Court Manitowoc County

Published Notice: Case No: 22-SC-854

Defendant: Jennifer M. Sensenbrenner 11718 Carmel Creek Rd. #101 San Diego, CA 92130

You are being sued by Fox Hills Owners Association in small claims court.

A hearing will be held at the Manitowoc County Courthouse, 1010 South 8th Street, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Room B-15, on November 22, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. or thereafter.

If you do not appear, a judgment may be given to the person suing you. A copy of the claim has been mailed to you at the address above.

Attorney John F. Mayer MGW LAW LLP 1425 Memorial Drive, Suite B Manitowoc, WI 54220

Attorney for Plaintiff Phone: (920) 683-5800

State Bar I.D. No. 1017384 11/03, 11/10, 11/17

1898

BLACK HISTORY

WILMINGTON

RACE RIOT

A politically motivated attack by whites against the city’s leading African American citizens, the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 docu ments the lengths to which white Democrats went to regain political domination of the South after Reconstruction. The violence began on Thursday, November 10 in the predominantly African American city of Wilmington, North Carolina, at that time the state’s largest metropolis. Statewide election returns

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

HOMEOWNERS:

Continued from page 2

In the second complaint, NCRC and a second Black home owner alleged that an appraiser undervalued a home presented by the homeowner, then over valued a separate house pre sented by a White homeowner. The appraiser valued the first home at $310,000 when it was shown by the Black partner in the interracial couple who owned it, while three other appraisers valued the same house at $350,000 or more. This appraiser then appraised a home shown by a White home owner and valued it $43,000

CRISIS:

Continued from page 2

Together, these bills require the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the California Department of General Services (DGS) to codify and expand the Excess Land for Affordable Housing program, a state initiative born from the governor’s first execu tive order.

“California’s housing affordabil ity crisis has been more than a half century in the making and the state is tackling this founda tional challenge with an innova tive ‘all of the above’ approach,” Newsom said. “We’ve made unprecedented investments and progress to create more housing in California over the past four years, including using stateowned land to build homes –one of my first actions in 2019.

I’m thankful to Senator Dodd, Assemblymember Quirk-Silva, and Assemblymember McCarty for their efforts in helping us fast-track our progress and bring more affordable housing statewide.”

Goh spoke about funding trans parency.

“We’re seeing new innovation in our cities with these resources going to fund new city depart ments that help ensure that the city is accountable with the dol lars they receive for address ing homelessness, and to better enable the city to show the public how they’re using these resources and the difference that

higher than any other appraiser did in the tests conducted by NCRC.

The appraiser’s pattern of bias in valuing homes in Baltimore warranted an enforcement action by NCRC and the home owner, who was the victim of discrimination.

“Creating a truly equitable environment for homeowner ship is a broad and important societal undertaking that will go far beyond the confines of the appraisal industry,” investi gators concluded.

Visit https://ncrc.org for the full report.

they are making,” said Goh.

Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego speaking about work that is being done on the local level to fight homelessness said, “Our housing commission has put out over $200 million of assis tance, helping roughly about 80,000 families at this point avoid homelessness, many of them seniors.”

Gloria states that working against this crisis sometimes “feels like you’re swimming upstream” due to the federal government raising and lower ing interest rates.

He claimed that tackling min imum wage or advocating in the state capitol or DC are ways that local governments can have control over solving homelessness.

“You know, these are never sat isfying answers because yes, there are a bunch of things at work. But we get up every day, and come here to try and make a difference on those matters,” said Gloria.

On Oct. 3, Newsom signed AB 408 authored by Assemblymember Quirk-Silva that requires local educational agen cies to have a liaison for home less youths in order to train the agencies in how to best support them.

Newsom recently announced that he will convene local lead ers in mid-November to review the state’s collective approach to homelessness and identify new strategies to better address the growing homelessness crisis.

Petitioner or Attorney: Christopher Leon Anderson on behalf of minor child

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Christopher Leon Anderson on behalf of minor child

had recently signaled a shift in power with Democrats taking over the North Carolina State Legislature. The city of Wilmington, however, remained in Republican hands, primarily because of its solid base of African American voters. On November 10, Alfred Moore Waddell, a former Confederate officer and a white supremacist, led a group of townsmen to force the ouster of Wilmington’s city offi cials.

Waddell relied on the African American-owned Wilmington Daily Record’s editorial as the catalyst for the riot. Alex Manly, the editor, had argued that “our experiences among poor white people in the country teaches us that women of that race are not any more particular in the matter of clandestine meetings with colored men than the white men with the colored women.” Manly’s public discussion of interracial sex exposed the reality of sexual exploitation of black women by white men and challenged the myth of pure-white womanhood.

John DouglasTynieka

Thomas

SUNRISE 01/28/1987

SUNSET 10/05/2022

BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

ARRANGEMENTS

Funeral services were held on 10/25/2022 at Pilgrim Progressive Church, Final arrangements were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

Tynieka Thomas was born on January 28, 1987, to Gregory and Sharon Thomas in Atlanta, GA. She was the fourth child and baby girl of six chil dren. At a young age, her great-aunt, the late Evangelist Jeanette Poole, laid the prayer of Christ on her heart and she never wavered. Tynieka loved the Lord, and from childhood to young adulthood, Tynieka was a member of Greater St. Paul Church of God in Christ. She later continued fellowship at Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church in San Diego.

Tynieka attended Black Mountain Middle School in Rancho Penasquitos and graduated from Morse High School in 2005. She later worked for Sizzlers on Imperial Ave while attending the ARC Day Program for independent learn ing. She also attended the Horizon Adult Day Program.

Tynieka enjoyed going to concerts, watching football and baseball games (especially the parades), and going to the “Teen Club.” She was the dedicat ed music critic for her brother, Emmanuel. If she wasn’t clapping or singing, it wasn’t good. She had her in-house errand boy brother Nijael, she would ask for a “dolla” to give to him to go buy her some cookies and himself a Butterfinger and he would break it in half and share with little brother TiRas. Ty would steal math books and her and her brother Dezmond would lay on the floor reviewing it and making beats on the floor while he was rapping to it. And of course, like any teenager, mom can’t dress them nor do their hair right. So big sister Tiffaney came to the rescue.

Tynieka was called home on October 5, 2022.

Jackson

SUNRISE 03/12/1925

SUNSET 10/09/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

Funeral services were held on 10/26/2022 at Memory Chapel of Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary with a burial following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Final arrange ments were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

John Douglas Jackson was born March 12, 1925, in Austin, TX to Maud Esther and John Jackson. He joined the First Baptist Church at the early age of eight.

John, “Doug,“ as he was affectionately called, graduated from Anderson High School in 1941 at 16 and enrolled in Tillotson College. However, he joined the United States Navy in 1943. John served in the Asiatic Pacific and earned the Good Conduct Medal for World War II service.

In 1946, he married Delores Mae Pendergrass, the first love of his life. Two chil dren were born to this union, daughters Anita and Esther, whom he adored. Sadly, his daughter Esther preceded him in death in 1977, and his beloved wife Delores passed in 2004. As a man of faith, he focused on working with and supporting his Bethel Baptist Church family. While worshiping at Bethel Baptist Church, John met and married the second love of his life, Thommie Rozelia Flanagan, on December 9, 2006.

During John’s 30 years of military service, he faced a turbulent phase of events. The Korean War, the Vietnam War, along with China and the Middle East disturbances. Triumphantly, as Chief Personnelman on board destroy ers and cruisers, he performed with superior quality and dedication to duty. Thus, he received several medals and awards for his service.

He will always be remembered for the impeccable way he wore his Sunday dress suits, his love of cooking, his sense of humor, his kindness, and his will ingness to help others. He was recently preceded in death by his wife Rozelia.

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, John Douglas Jackson was called home to Glory. He leaves to cherish his memory: daughter, Anita (Thomas) Chestney of Middletown, DE; nieces, Dianette (Jeffery) Ricks, Myesha (Keith) Baham, Ilori Baham, Lavern (Darrell) Smith of Antioch, CA, Wendy Freeman of Stockton, CA, Vershawn Saxton of Las Vegas, NV; nephews, Victor (Naomi) Saxton, Keith Baham Jr. of San Diego, CA; and a host of other nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

Doris

La Dell Robinson

SUNRISE 12/07/1939

SUNSET 09/30/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

The funeral service (viewing) for Doris was scheduled for 12 pm to 1 pm on October 27th, 2022 at Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary. Burial Service was sched uled for 2 pm on October 27th, 2022, at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Our Hearts and Never Forgotten

A beautiful and kindred Spirit who entered the world on December 7, 1939. Doris La Dell Robinson was a girl and sister who picked cotton. Because she picked cotton, she was determined to further her education. She was a wife and mother who became a scholar in her own right.

Doris was an independent, strong-willed, intelligent, proud, and private woman. These are some of the most difficult people to write an obituary for because they show what they want others to see when they want them to see it. Her biggest accomplishment was raising four very different children, all with their own strengths and accomplishments. She was something dif ferent to each and every one of them, all important in their own way.

Doris La Dell Robinson completed her journey on this planet on September 30, 2022. She leaves behind three brothers: Lee Watkins Long Junior, Dr. Pal Long, and John Wayne Long; one sister: Ruther Long-Pearson; two sons: Godfrey Thompson (four children), and Mitchell Lee Thomson (three children); two daughters: Mary Charles Robinson-Austin (ten children), and Claren Wayne Robinson (one child); and many great-grandchildren and family members

Robert

Joyce Jr.

SUNRISE 07/03/1928

SUNSET 10/03/2022

ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY

Funeral services were held on 10/28/2022 at Mt. Erie Baptist Church with a burial following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Final arrangements were entrusted to Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary.

Mr. Robert Joyce Jr. was born to Robert Joyce Sr. and Lela Joyce on July 3, 1928, in Galveston, TX. Robert attended Jamestown High School and joined the U.S. Army. He took basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Regiment in Japan. Robert trained to become a mili tary police officer. Afterward, he was assigned to the Honor Guard Squad. Robert was discharged and decided to return to Texas and worked at Todd Shipyard as a boiler maker.

Robert moved to San Diego, where he decided to make his home and unit ed with The Calvary Baptist Church in 1953. He worked several jobs before working at North Island Naval Air Station, where was a member of the Field Service Team for 14 years, and Supervisor for 19 years.

Robert met Elizabeth White in 1970 and they were married in 1973. He joined Mt. Erie Baptist Church under Pastor Walter G. Wells, on January 2, 2014. He sang with the men’s choir and worked with the picnic committee.

Robert was called from labor to reward on October 3, 2022. He was pre ceded in death by his parents, Robert Joyce Sr. and Lela Joyce; sister Mary Thompson; son Maurice Joyce; stepson Derrick White; and granddaughter Chelsea Joyce.

Robert leaves to cherish his memory Elizabeth Joyce, his wife of 49 years; the mother of his children Reva Bennett; sons Joseph Joyce (Lureen), Ronnie Joyce, Stevie Joyce Sr., Eric Joyce (Naomi); daughters Jackie Miller and Marlynn Robinson (Jimmie); son in Law Donald Miller; childhood best friend R.J. Coleman; grandchildren Tora, Shagirah, Kiana, Tanisha, Erica, Shauntel, Erin, Aundrea, Monica, Ashley, Theresa, Kirk Sr., Jaylen, Justin, Stevie Jr., and Lee; 19 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; his pet par rot, Bart; and many other relatives, church family and many dear friends.

Weatherspoon

SUNRISE

Derrick Weatherspoon was born to Antionette Hill and Dewayne Weatherspoon on April 22, 1989, in San Diego, CA. There, he spent his child hood and attended public school. He loved to rap and was active in com munity activities at Southcrest Community Park. He was very athletic and participated in a variety of sporting events, especially skateboarding. He was a loyal and dedicated friend who loved his family and was a compas sionate man who wore his heart on his sleeves. Derrick was a strong-minded seeker of knowledge who explored information independently.

Derrick considered Southeast San Diego his forever home and felt he belonged to his community. Derrick was a true advocate for his community and fought for the marginalized population in Southeast. He truly enjoyed sharing memories and talking about his community and friends. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Derrick departed this life and entered eternity on October 18, 2022. He was preceded in death by his mother, Antionette Hill. Left to celebrate his mem ory are his brothers: Terrell Parrish, Darrell Weatherspoon, Muhammad McCray, and Bobby Fuller; sisters Antoinette McCray and Charmaine Williams; stepfather Nathaniel Hill; and a host of family and friends.

Derrick

“ Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ”

Women Business Owners are Optimistic About the Future

Even as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, women owners and executives of small and mid-size majority-women-owned businesses have an optimistic out look about the near-term future of their businesses, according to a recent survey.

The PNC Bank survey found that women business owner (WBO) expectations for their own compa nies remain strong, with 41% feeling highly optimistic -- up from 29% in the fall of 2020 but down from 67% in the fall of 2021 -- while the share of those feeling pessimistic has held constant at just 1%.

The survey also indicated that more than eight in 10 women business owners are very confident about their future success and nearly half say it comes from their own hard work and drive. Similarly, 79% of WBOs are very satisfied with their role as a business owner or leader compared to 67% of men business owners (MBOs).

“We are seeing a new pattern of self-empowerment among women business owners that is very encour aging,” said Beth Marcello, director of PNC Women’s Business Development. “Their own hard work to survive the pandemic is the source of their con fidence and optimism today.”

The survey suggests that women have a take charge, can-do attitude. When it was difficult to find employees, 49% of WBOs versus one-third of MBOs say that they or their managers stepped in to cover open staff hours themselves. Additionally, they’re focused on growth: 81% surveyed are Woman Business Enterprisecertified, 73% market their certifica tion, and 88% say that certification has been a helpful business develop ment tool.

“For the first time, we have evidence of increased financial confidence

among women business own ers. They are two times more likely than men to say they’re consider ing a new loan or line of credit to support business growth,” said Marcello. “They are monitoring their cash posi tion and have a cash reserve, but they’re invest ing excess cash rather than stockpiling it; they are continuing to leverage the increased efficiency of the digital financial tools they migrated to during the pandemic; and they are confidently increasing pricing as the economy allows for it.”

Meeting the Challenges

While WBOs have concerns about inflation, profitability and the supply chain, they believe they’re prepared for these challenges. Although similar portions of WBOs and MBOs experi enced supply chain issues in the past year, 79% of WBOs believe they have the right amount of inventory they need to succeed.

WBOs also intend to maintain or expand on policies they initiated dur ing the pandemic, including allowing flexible work arrangements (48%), increasing compensation (38%) and implementing employee health or safety enhancements (33%). WBOs are more likely than MBOs to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility pol icies or practices, including gender pay equity (34% vs. 9%) and diversity and inclusion (29% vs. 14%). These disparities could be an indication of why fewer WBOs (30%) than MBOs (43%) are finding it harder to hire new staff compared to six months ago.

Identifying and addressing chal lenges faced by women financial decision makers is a component of PNC’s Project 257: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality, an ini tiative to help close the 257-year eco nomic gender gap. More information about these efforts as well as helpful resources for women financial deci sion makers can be found at pnc. com/women. To connect with Project 257, follow PNC on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

While the pandemic created new eco nomic challenges, many with last ing effects, women business owners largely overcame these obstacles, tak ing away lessons that have inspired their optimism and confidence today.

StatePoint

By Marla A. Matime

On October 3, the Black Developers Forum (BDF), held a cocktail reception at the Minna Gallery in San Francisco. A standing-room-only event, many of the state’s Black developers filled the room, to cel ebrate BDF’s first year as a California-based non profit advocacy organization striving to eradicate inequities in the develop ment of affordable housing. The event followed the 43rd annual Non-Profit Housing (NPH) Conference also held in San Francisco.

BDF is a network of Black affordable housing developers and industry sup porters committed to creating com munities that provide safe, healthy living environments, educational opportunities, and housing to people of the African Diaspora.

The reception was also a means for raising money to support the work and advocacy of BDF. The funds raised go to support BDF in creating workshops and trainings for Black developers and industry professionals.

Black developers need allies in posi tions of influence and decision-mak ing to receive equitable consideration for housing dollars for communities of color. The BDF Cocktail Reception provided a great opportunity to bring these critical parties together.

Keynote speaker, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, spoke about the BIPOC allocation pool, a $112 mil lion set aside for Blacks and other minority developers which was ini tiated by former Deputy Treasurer Jovan Agee and created in 2021.

This set aside addresses the needs of minority developers who lacked access to capital and relationships with the major banks to provide lines of credit and other financing prod ucts. Creating this allocation pool was a significant priority for the Black Developers Forum and Treasurer Ma.

Ma also explained that without the allocation, Black developers would not only lack equitable access to funding capital, but also be left out of the loop to build affordable hous ing that addresses a primary goal:

to reduce harmful carbon emissions. This would be accomplished through the production and logistics of delivering the materials to the development sites and use of clean energy components that would go into the final touches of building structures.

She went on to specify why these opportunities are important not just for the developers, but also for the communities that they serve. Providing affordable housing, workforce housing, and access to education and resources will help underrepresented communi ties of color by hopefully inspiring them to become homeowners, which in turn will help pull these fam ilies out of a cycle of poverty.

“Building back our sustainable communities through a lens of equity is a top priority,” said Cherene Sandidge, president of the Sandidge Urban Group, Inc and president of BDF.

Don Gilmore, executive director of the Community Housing Development Corporation and BDF’s vice president said “Black-led affordable housing devel opers have been subjected to the systemic inequities in State funding of affordable housing projects, which created barriers to us receiving the opportunity to build in our own communities.

He also noted that, “Black developers should have the same opportunities that any other developer has to build great projects that benefit the community.”

When asked about the responses from the state on equitable policies, practices and laws, Gilmore said, “We have received positive responses from all levels of our government and have been awarded for tak ing a stand and being change agents for a system of equitable policies, practices and laws. This represents forward progress.”

BDF addresses institutional issues that have pro hibited wealth-building and the continued dis enfranchisement of Black developers, Black-led organizations, and Black individuals. Further, BDF advocates for federal and state policies that have his torically discriminated against and disenfranchised Black developers and Black-led organizations. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.