Vol. 63 No. 27 | Thursday, July 06, 2023

JUSTICE JACKSON and CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS AGREE: ‘AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN COLORBLIND’

CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA POLITICAL PLAYBACK

As she watched her conservative majority colleagues on the high court issue the death knell to affirmative action on Thursday, June 29, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote another masterpiece to express her dissent.

Jackson’s disapproval could easily be summed up in a single and precise sentence: “Our country has never been colorblind.”

“The best that can be said of the majority’s perspective is that it proceeds (ostrich-like) from the hope that preventing consideration of race will end racism,” Jackson wrote in blasting the six-member majority.

“But if that is its motivation, the majority proceeds in vain. If the colleges of this country are required to ignore a thing that matters, it will

not just go away. It will take longer for racism to leave us.”

In the majority ruling, the conservative justices declared that the admissions policies of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, which consider race a factor, were unconstitutional. Students for Fair Admissions had presented two cases for consideration against Harvard and UNC, representing private and public universities. They argued that the practice violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and put white and Asian-American applicants at a disadvantage.

Harvard and UNC maintained that affirmative action should be upheld, contending that their admissions policies align with previous court decisions. They argued that considering race ensures a diverse student body. They denied any discrimination in their practices.

See COLORBLIND page 2

California “Renters Caucus” Announces Pro-Tenant Bills

On June 29, The California Legislative Renters Caucus — a group of five lawmakers who are all renters — held a press conference to announce a package of bills aimed to protect the rights of tenants in California.

Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Caucus, hosted the press conference and introduced Senate Bill (SB) 555. The bill aims cap limit security deposits to no more than one month’s rent.

FOR HOT SUMMER AHEAD

By Mark Hedin SPECIAL TO CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA PARTNERS

ANCESTRAL CONNECTIONS: POLITICAL ELITE’S TIES TO SLAVERY REVEALED

Recent research conducted by Reuters has shed light on the genealogies of America’s political elite, revealing that a significant portion of members of Congress, living presidents,

Supreme Court justices, and governors are direct descendants of ancestors who enslaved Black people. Among the 536 members of the last sitting Congress, Reuters found that at least 100 have ancestors who were slaveholders.

Furthermore, over a quarter of the Senate, or 28 members, can trace their families back to slaveholding ancestors. This spans Democratic

As the first three-digit temperatures of 2023 arrive with the start of summer and the Fourth of July, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is taking steps to ensure the safety of residents through any potential emergencies. At a June 29 press briefing hosted by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services, Cal OES and Listos California unveiled a package of safety guidelines prepared in expectation of climate extremes.

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D- Ladera Heights), Vice Chair of the Caucus, introduced AB 1248. This bill limits independent redistricting to fight gerrymandering.

Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose) introduced AB 309. The bill would set eligibility criteria for residents of social housing and establish a lottery system for selecting residents.

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) introduced AB 548, which protects renters by giving more authority to inspectors to ensure safe living conditions.

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Alf LaMont from LaMont Digital introduced a collection of “Summer of Safety” graphics providing advice on keeping people ready for and safe during potential summer emergencies: wildfires, flooding, power outages and high temperatures. These graphics are available in English, Spanish and more than a dozen other languages, and available at listoscalifornia.org.

By Joe M. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson C ALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

COLORBLIND:

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However, the Court ruled that affirmative action violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The justices stated that the universities’ policies do not conform to the limited exceptions for equal rights without regard to race, color, or nationality. The justices determined that the universities failed to provide sufficient justification for using race in admissions.

Further, they claimed that affirmative action programs do not comply with the Equal Protection Clause’s requirement that race not be used negatively or as a stereotype. The Court noted that affirmative action resulted in a lower acceptance rate for Asian American applicants at Harvard.

The Court further stated that basing admissions on race leads to stereotyping and assumes that individuals of a particular race think alike, which it said it found offensive and demeaning. The justices did acknowledge that race can still be considered if it is directly tied to an appli-

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Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) introduced SB 555 which creates a practical data-driven masterplan that outlines a plan to produce 1.2 million affordable housing units over the next 10 years.

On July 1, California Officially Recognized Juneteenth as a State Holiday

This past weekend, on July 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 1655, which declares Juneteenth an official California state holiday, took effect.

AB 1655, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, was signed into law by Gov. Newsom last September.

On June 19 of next year, California state employees can elect to take the day off work to commemorate the holiday celebrating the emancipation of formerly enslaved Black Americans.

Gov. Newsom, Legislature Agree on $310.8 Billion Budget

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature reached an agreement on a state budget totaling $310.8 billion for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It came into effect July 1.

REVEALED:

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and Republican lawmakers, including influential figures such as Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, and Tom Cotton, as well as Democrats Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, and Jeanne Shaheen.

The examination also revealed that President Joe Biden and every living former U.S. president, except Donald Trump, have direct connections to slaveholders. That list includes Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and even Barack Obama through his white mother’s lineage.

Additionally, two of the nine sitting U.S. Supreme Court justices, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, have ancestors who were involved in enslavement.

The research conducted by Reuters also delved into the gubernatorial level, revealing that in 2022, 11 out of 50 U.S. states had governors who were descendants of slaveholders. Eight governors hail from states that formed the Confederate States of America, which fought to preserve slavery. Among them, Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, and Doug Burgum of North Dakota are seeking the Republican nomination for president.

According to Reuters’ findings, at least 8% of Democrats and 28% of Republicans in the last Congress

cant’s character or unique abilities that they can contribute to the university.

Chief Justice John Roberts, in the majority opinion, emphasized that students should be evaluated based on their experiences rather than their race. He criticized universities that he said had wrongly prioritized skin color, stating that America’s constitutional history does not support such a choice.

Jackson lambasted that opinion.

“With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces, ‘colorblindness for all’ by legal fiat,” Jackson forcefully dissented.

“But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life. And having so detached itself from this country’s actual past and present experiences, the Court has now been lured into interfering with the crucial work that UNC and other institutions of higher learning are doing to solve America’s real-world problems,” Jackson asserted.

“No one benefits from ignorance. Race matters

in the lived experience of Americans, even if legal barriers are gone.”

Casting aside decades of precedent, the Court’s “anti-opportunity majority further undermines its own legitimacy by gutting race-conscious university admissions, which will benefit the wealthy and well-connected most,” the Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) offered in a joint statement.

“We know that not all students are afforded equal opportunity in our education systems, and we know that diversity on college campuses benefits the entire student body by enriching their college experiences and better preparing them to enter our workforce,” the statement continued.

“Holistic, race-conscious admissions policies allow all students, regardless of their race or ethnicity, to be able to tell the full story of who they are and participate in a thriving, multiracial democracy. Importantly, though,

this decision should not be viewed to impact race-conscious processes outside the scope of university admissions.”

President Biden, former President Barack Obama, and a host of civil rights activists also condemned the Court’s decision. Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump said the ruling “reeks of the intellectual justification of discrimination.”

“As we have recently witnessed in politics, this is a coordinated effort to undo much of the progress made to turn America into a land of equal opportunity,” Crump stated.

“The truth is, Black Americans do not have equal opportunity because our starting line is miles behind that of our white peers. It’s obvious that social inequities and systematic discrimination create a more difficult and treacherous path for Black and Brown people to achieve stability and success, blocking their ability to accumulate generational wealth and get their families to a place of financial security. Affirmative action opened doors for bright, young people that were closed to them for generations.”

Attorney General Bonta Releases 2022 Hate Crime Report: Blacks Still Most Targeted Group

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on June 27 released the 2022 Hate Crime in California Report. The document also highlighted resources to support ongoing efforts across the state to combat hate.

In California, hate crime events rose by 20.2% from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022. Reported hate crimes targeting Black people remain the most prevalent and increased 27.1% from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022, while reported anti-Asian hate crime events decreased by 43.3% from 247 in 2021 to 140 in 2022. Hate crimes involving sexual orientation bias rose by 29% from 303 in 2021 to 391 in 2022.

With Words of Encouragement and a Resolution, Assemblymember Mike Gipson Uplifts Fatherhood

The agreement includes provisions for trailer bills that support clean transportation, expanded Medi-Cal coverage, expedited judicial review, advanced mitigation by Caltrans, the conversion of San Quentin into a rehabilitation center and wildlife crossings on I-15, among other initiatives.

Gov. Gavin Newsom at the swearing-in for Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) on

had ancestral ties to slaveholders. This disparity reflects the historical strength of the Republican Party in the South, where slavery was concentrated.

South Carolina, where the Civil War began, exemplifies the familial connections between lawmakers and the nation’s history of slavery.

Every member of the state’s delegation to the last Congress has ancestral ties to slavery. Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican presidential candidate, and Rep. James Clyburn, a prominent Democrat, both have ancestors who were enslaved.

All seven white lawmakers from South Carolina in the 117th Congress are direct descendants of slaveholders, as is the state’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster.

The unveiling of these ancestral ties to slavery comes at a time when the legacy of slavery is under renewed and intense debate. The investigation by Reuters emphasizes the ongoing relationship between America and the institution of slavery, particularly among those who influence the country’s laws.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., a professor at Harvard University specializing in African and African American Research, emphasized in an NBC News interview that identifying these ancestral connections is not about assigning blame but recognizing the close link between lawmakers and slavery. Gates stated that it served as an opportunity for individuals to

June 30, 2023, at the state capitol in Sacramento. Negotiations had been delayed because of the Governor’s demands, including an infrastructure proposal that lawmakers opposed. A compromise was reached by limiting the types of projects eligible for expedited approval permits and excluding a proposed water conveyance tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

learn and for the American people to gain a deeper understanding of their shared history.

The Reuters analysis goes beyond previous documentation of ancestral ties to slavery by focusing on the most powerful officeholders of today, many of whom have taken stances on race-related policies.

The comprehensive research provides a broader and more detailed p erspective on the extent of these leaders’ connections to America’s “original sin.” It also explores the personal and significant implications for lawmakers and prominent officials as they confront the realities of their own family’s involvement in slavery.

The research focused on direct lineal descendants rather than distant cousins. The sources analyzed included Census records, tax documents, estate records, family Bibles, newspaper accounts, and birth and death certificates. To ensure accuracy, board-certified genealogists reviewed each case linking a contemporary leader to a slaveholding ancestor.

While the Reuters examination provided a valuable understanding of the ancestral ties between the political elite and slavery, it’s further acknowledged that the records available may not capture the full extent of those connections. Many records have been lost or destroyed over time, leading to the possibility of an undercount.

SUMMER:

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In recognition of Father’s Day this year, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) introduced House Resolution (HR) 36, legislation declaring June “Fatherhood WellBeing Month. Last week, at Ted Watkins Park in South Los Angeles, Gipson joined residents in his community to highlight the importance of fathers and father figures in collaboration with a South Los Angeles community initiative called Project Fatherhood.

“In California, we don’t actually see a lot of our record all-time temperatures until late in the season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdock said, citing “June gloom, no-sky July and ‘Fog-ust’ for a good portion of August.”

“Think of it more as a marathon than an individual sprint.”

And the end of 2023’s relatively cool temperatures so far, he said, will now bring increased snow melt in the Sierra. Already, the state has closed off some river stretches.

“Summers are becoming hotter and drier, and families are going to want to cool down in the water,” said Cal OES Assistant Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, “but it is very dangerous right now, we have already seen too many people that have lost their lives. So do what you can to stay indoors to stay cool!”

Cal OES is making mutual-aid arrangements between state and local fire agencies “on a huge push to train swift water rescue teams,” she said.

“So, if you do head out on the water, many local teams will be out there, but we don’t want them to do those rescues! It’s very dangerous for them and for you.”

Crofts-Pelayo cited five keys for people to focus on for summer safety:

• Get alerts: calalerts.org.

• Make a plan: “Have that conversation with your family to ensure that your little ones, your older ones, all know what they would do during an emergency. What emergency routes they would take, where to meet if separated.”

• Pack a “go bag” in case you need to leave your home very quickly: important documents, medication, food, and water, for instance.

• Similarly, make a “stay box” in case you need to stay home. “It doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive,” she said. “Think about it ahead of time and put everything together that would be necessary.”

• And finally, Crofts-Pelayo said, “help others. This is a community movement.” She suggested sharing only official resources, but doing so via familiar networking channels: phone calls, social media posts and emails.

Jacqueline Nushi, of Project Camp’s emergency preparedness center, manages pop-up camps for kids during disasters, providing support and a safe environment for families. She said a key lesson learned was the value of empowering children with knowledge and coping skills — “a great way to build mindfulness and preparedness.”

“Children are the best when it comes to learning preparedness and taking it home to their families. They’re very

Gov. Gavin Newsom at the swearing-in for Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) on June 30, 2023, at the state capitol in Sacramento.

PHOTO: Robert Maryland via CBM

African Americans in particular and people of color in general have a history of Supreme Court decisions against their interest. When the Plessy vs Ferguson decision was handed down in 1896, the Court said “separate but equal” was the rule. We survived the “Jim Crow” era that followed. When the Court said in the Dred Scott decision that, “A Black man has no rights that a White man is bound to respect,” we survived the indignity of being called everything except “Mister”. As Maya Angelo said: “And still we rise.” We have experienced the works of racist White Justices before. Today, we are better educated and equipped than we have ever been with full knowledge of options and

NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS ACTED…

alternatives. The only question is: Do we have the collective will to fight back?

Consider that while the Supreme Court has acted and has an embedded conservative majority for years to come. The Constitution does give us a way out of all the decisions handed down against our interest.

Years ago when the Court ruled against flag burning, the Congress passed a law which said while such activity was offensive to many, there existed a First Amendment right under Freedom of Speech to burn the flag if one decided to do so. Today, just as the President is proposing legislation to overcome Student Loan Forgiveness, and the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the Congress can legislate the reversal of these Supreme Court decisions. The problem is that we the people must change out those Right-leaning Conservative Members of Congress for people who support our points of view and will vote to make the desired legislative changes. We must run candidates in each of the 435 congressional districts that will commit to and support our goals and we must finance them as well as register to vote in such extreme numbers that we overcome the opposition.

We must remember that there are more people in America that share our views among young Whites

and people of color than the conservative element that appears interested in returning Donald Trump to the Presidency.

Let us not forget that all the Republicans now running against Trump appear to be afraid to speak out against him. Let us not forget that the very basis of the overwhelming support for Trump is racism. The racism is based in a fear that America is changing to whites becoming a minority rather than the majority they have always been. While this idea might be too much for some of us to think about, let ’s focus on the fact that if we register to vote, then we have a ticket in the American lottery of Democracy.

We must then use that vote for people who support our cause, no matter what their race. We can not engage in reverse racism, but rather winning for all of us who have a shared interest in the challenges before us. If the vote was important enough to try and keep it from us through Voter Suppression, then it ’ s important enough for us to fight for.

Let us remember that our fight is for the collective and not just for each of us individually.

The Struggle really does continue. Will you be a part of it?

America’s Progression toward Self-Destruction

While we may disagree on priorities for federal policies and we even have conflicting views about many issues, we are in complete agreement that the current shutdown is harmful, and the risk of default is potentially catastrophic for our fragile economy… Our three disparate sectors share a common view — no one benefits from the current shutdown, and everyone will be harmed if the government defaults. It is in the interest of our nation that Congress restore the normal functioning of our political process, fund the government immediately and quickly move to restore the impasse over the debt ceiling limit.”

The letter was signed by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumak, chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue and United Way Worldwide U.S. President Stacey Stewart.

In 2013, it would have been inconceivable for members of Congress to allow the nation to default or even come close. Ten years later, our politics have progressed toward the point of self-destruction where too many members of Congress are willing to let the nation default on its debt thereby forcing a global economic catastrophe. It makes no sense to the rational person, and it makes no sense to our allies around the world. More than half of the world’s foreign currency reserves are held in U.S. dollars, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, and many nations look to Treasury bonds to safeguard their own economies and guard against drowning in debt.

hostage taking situation, they can exploit to advance their political agenda.

Gaetz told reporters, “My conservative colleagues for the most part support Limit, Save, Grow, and they don’t feel like we should negotiate with our hostage.”

By David W. Marshall FOUNDER OF THE RECONCILED BODY

Each election cycle we get closer to a government shutdown.

In 2013, the nation experienced a 16-day federal government shutdown when the Republicans demanded the government’s spending bill include provisions which would impede or delay President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

In the midst of the 2013 shutdown, the AFL-CIO, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the United Way sent a joint letter to every member of Congress and President Barack Obama urging them to end the shutdown. They wrote, “As leaders of the business, labor and the nonprofit sector, we are writing to urge you to end the federal government shutdown immediately. Our country is navigating the most challenging economic time in a generation.

While the 2013 shutdown eventually ended, Congress has yet to permanently restore a sense of normality to its political procedures. When the next government shutdown occurred in 2018, both chambers of Congress and the White House were controlled by the same party — Republicans. The 35- day shutdown, which was the longest in U.S. history, was caused by a funding dispute over the U.S. / Mexico border wall. While government shutdowns seriously impact small businesses working with the federal government, routine government operations in addition to thousands of federal workers, it’s been proven to be an effective political weapon used by Republicans when in power.

It’s a reckless weapon that tells the American public, “I don’t care about the national consequences as long as I get what I want.”

Today, refusing to increase the debt ceiling is the latest weapon used for political gain.

“I just cannot believe they would let such a major, major disaster happen of the United States defaulting on its debt,” European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told CBS News.

“This is not possible. I cannot believe this would happen.”

As President Biden and the House Speaker came to an agreement only days before the June 5th hard deadline, our international reputation was already damaged. The mere fact that a U.S. default is being talked about is enough to unsettle markets worldwide, experts say.

Our allies have every right to question our economic leadership and our ability to defend our national security interest when listening to MAGA officials like U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz.

Leading up to the June deadline, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz confirmed how House Republicans view the debt ceiling standoff as a

The deep cuts associated with the Limit, Save, Grow Act passed in a party-line vote, ironically hurts their MAGA constituents just as much as those who would be considered constituents of liberal lawmakers or just “others.” The default crisis of 2023 is a manufactured crisis just as the government shutdowns of 2013 and 2018. Rep. Jim Jordan was among the House members pressuring Speaker McCarty to hold the line even if it means default. What is extremely disturbing is how middle and low income MAGA voters refuse to protect their own self-interests by blindly supporting Republican officials who are targeting Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs.

Those same MAGA voters will never see the benefits from tax cuts for the wealthy. 2023 was too close for comfort in regard to the debt ceiling crisis. What will happen the next time we are faced with raising the debt ceiling? Will Republicans retake their 2023 hostage, and the hostage gets destroyed?

In 2013, the AFL-CIO, Chamber of Commerce and the United Way showed that groups who are typically on opposing sides can see the risk of default and stand together. As the world is watching, America still has time to fix this.

David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization, The Reconciled Body.

By Dr. John E. Warren PUBLISHER, THE SAN DIEGO VOICE & VIEWPOINT

Search: Pastor John E. Warren San Diego

We

learn, fellowship, serve and grow into the fullness of Christ Jesus. This ministry is to build people of Purpose, Prayer, Power, Praise and Prosperity. This mandate is being fulfilled by reaching the reality of the gospel in a simplistic fashion, and a result, learning how to apply it in everyday life.

to

CULTURE & SPORTS

Essence Festival of Culture 2023 kicks off in New Orleans

By Chevel Johnson Rodrigue Associated Press

Nearly 30 years ago, creators of Essence Magazine came to New Orleans to celebrate the publication’s 25th anniversary with a salute to Black women highlighting culture, empowerment conversations with the nation’s thought leaders and, of course, music.

The Essence Music Festival has since morphed into the Essence Festival of Culture, which, in its 29th year, kicked off Thursday July 1 through July 3 across various venues in downtown New Orleans.

The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center held most of the free workshops, vendor exhibits and celebrity meet-and-greets. Blocks away, the Superdome hosted nightly ticketed performances by artists including headliners Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott and Megan Thee Stallion as the festival commemorates 50 years of hip-hop.

Hakeem Holmes, a New Orleans native and newly appointed vice president of the festival, described the festival as a “crown jewel of Black culture” that “plays a pivotal role in the amplification and celebration of the contributions of the Black community through busi -

ness, music and more.”

New Orleans has hosted every festival except for 2006 when it moved to Houston while the Superdome underwent Hurricane Katrina-related repairs. In 2020 and 2021, Essence was staged virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hill returned to the festival’s stage after a surprise cameo performance at last year’s festival with her former Fugees bandmate, Wyclef Jean. Friday night’s show commemorated the 25th anniversary of her five-time Grammy Award-winning project, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Rap icon Doug E. Fresh, to mark hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, led a night of performances by rap pioneers including Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD and KRS-One.

New Orleans’ own Juvenile had criticized organizers for not including him in the festival’s lineup, questioning how it could celebrate hip-hop in the City of New Orleans without him. Essence Ventures CEO Caroline Wanga has said there was never any intent to not include New Orleans artists on the bill.

Missy Elliott, the first female in hip-hop to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, took center stage Saturday while music mogul Jermaine Dupri curated a special segment of hip-hop’s greatest hitmakers from the South called

“The South Got Something To Say,” including performances by T.I., Ludacris, Gucci Mane, Lil Jon and Big Boi. Jill Scott, Monica, Coco Jones performed and West Coast rappers Ice Cube, Ice T, Yo-Yo, J.J. Fad and E-40 were showcased as well.

The festival’s lineup in the past has been heavily shaped by mostly R&B artists. Holmes said the 2023 look “evolves” the event’s tone.

The 2022 festival had a $327 million impact on the City of New Orleans’ economy, according to a study commissioned by Essence and generated by Dillard University. Before Essence, the city strug -

gled in the summer because of the sometimes tumultuous and always hot, hot weather. Now, the festival is a major rainmaker for the city’s summer tourism season.

Speaking ahead of a discussion organized by the Global Black Economic Forum, Vice President Kamala Harris told the crowd she was extremely disappointed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision, es sentially ending affirmative action in college admissions. She urged people to read a dissenting opinion from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and vowed the Biden-Harris administration will do everything it can to promote diversity.

Sam Pollard’s Documentary Shines Light on Negro League Legacy

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Renowned filmmaker Sam Pollard took center stage in an exclusive interview about his new film that shines a spotlight on the fabled Negro Leagues. Pollard’s latest documentary, “The League,” will make its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival before a theatrical release this July.

Based on the book “The Negro Baseball Leagues” by Bob Motley and Byron Motley, the film counts as another triumph for Pollard, whose past directorial works include the critically acclaimed “Mr. Soul!”, “Sammy Davis, Jr: I’ve Got to Be Me,” and “MLK/ FBI.” The documentary also boasts Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the executive producer responsible for the Oscar-winning “Summer of Soul.”

The film illuminates that the sport was integrated in its earliest days, albeit with Black players forming only a minority of team

members. That changed in the late 1800s, as racist white players like Pop Anson of the Chicago White Stockings, who infamously refused to take the field with Black athletes, sparked a shift. However, as Jim Crow laws engulfed the nation, Black players were banned from the game.

In 1920, Rube Foster, a trailblazing Black baseball pioneer who excelled as a pitcher, manager, and owner, founded the Negro National League. Inspired by Frederick Douglass’ words, the league adopted the motto “We Are the Ship, All Else the Sea.”

Three years later, the Eastern Colored League emerged as a competitor, culminating in the inaugural Colored World Series in 1924.

Foster, hailed as the “father of black baseball,” serves as one of the documentary’s most compelling subjects. Noteworthy for pitching seven no-hitters and inventing the screwball, Foster even taught the pitch to white player Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants, who popularized it.

Tragically, Foster met a grim fate, succumbing to the effects of a gas leak in a hotel room.

He suffered from delusions and spent several years institutionalized in an asylum before passing

away at 51 in 1930.

Although the Negro National League eventually succumbed to the economic pressures of the Great Depression, other leagues emerged, serving as a springboard for numerous Black players who would later achieve legendary status. Several of these players, including Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Satchel Paige, would eventually join Major League Baseball (MLB).

The documentary features captivating archival interviews with these players and more. The film poignantly chronicles the immense challenges faced by Black players as they traversed the country, often denied accommodation in hotels and meals in restaurants. Additionally, the Negro Leagues provided a home for many talented Latino players from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and other parts of Latin America.

Following World War II, with many Black service members having bravely fought for their country, pressure began mounting for the integration of MLB. Notably, Paul Robeson be-

came a prominent advocate for this cause. Despite years of resistance from MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who evoked comparisons to a character from “Birth of a Nation,” progress emerged. Landis died in 1944, and three years later, Branch Rickey recruited Jackie Robinson as the first Black player to join the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson’s entry opened the door for other Black players such as Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, and Jim Gilliam, all of whom had roots in the Negro leagues.

Tobe Nwigwe performs at the Essence Festival on Friday, June 30, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

PHOTO: Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Oprah Winfrey, left, and Essence President and CEO Caroline Wanga appear at the Essence Festival of Culture on Friday, June 30, 2023, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

PHOTO: Amy Harris/Invision/AP

PHOTO: NNPA

RefugeeNet Food Pantry Adopts Healthy Nutrition Standards

San Diego County from about one in four people in 2019 to nearly one in three people in 2021. In response, food distribution efforts nearly doubled in San Diego County.

The County of San Diego’s Public Health Service program, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH), partnered with RefugeeNet Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to develop and implement a healthy nutrition standards statement showcasing the pantry’s commitment to providing healthier food options, resources, and education to patrons of the pantry.

Poor nutrition is one of the main factors contributing to the development of chronic disease. Those with incomes less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are at the highest risk of food insecurity and show more racial and ethnic health disparities overall compared to wealthier populations. In San Diego County, nearly half of African-American and Hispanic/Latino populations are food insecure, compared to one quarter of the White population. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis intensified this issue, as food insecurity increased overall in

RefugeeNet is a non-profit organization that holds a weekly food distribution event for families hosted at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in North Park. REACH program staff connected with the pastor at St. Luke’s to gauge interest in implementing healthy nutrition standards at the food pantry. REACH offered assistance with nutrition resources and connections to community partners to encourage RefugeeNet food pantry staff to consider participating in a food pantry assessment and the adoption of nutrition standards.

RefugeeNet collaborated with REACH in March 2021 to complete an assessment of the quality and availability of food for pantry clients using the Healthy Pantry Assessment tool from Leah’s Pantry Nutrition Pantry Program (NPP). Using assessment and Action Plan for Pantries tools, actions were prioritized, such as adding in nutrition education materials, partnering with community programs, and adopting a Statement of Nutrition

Goals to ensure that foods provided to clients meet healthy nutritional standards. A Statement of Nutrition Goals was adopted by RefugeeNet’s Board of Directors in September 2021. The statement outlines practices, guidelines, and goals for the foods the pantry receives, purchases, and distributes. It also states the pantry’s commitment to provide healthier options to their clients to prevent chronic disease. REACH staff also shared CalFresh Healthy Living and ¡Más Fresco! More Fresh! materials to distribute to pantry clients to provide information on additional nutrition resources. Sharing nutrition resources and offering assessments, action planning, and providing examples of nutrition goals to adopt, was an effective strategy for food pantries to help families be

California Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations in Final Report

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans delivered its final report to the California Legislature two days before the July 1 deadline.

The nine-member committee submitted a 1075-page, brown-and-gold hardcover book with a comprehensive reparations plan that includes more than 115 recommendations and a survey. Published by the California Department of Justice, the report documents the harms enslaved ancestors of Black Californians experienced during chattel slavery and due to the Jim Crow laws that followed. It also details the history of discriminatory state policies in California.

Attorney Kamilah V. Moore, the task force chairperson, provided a summary of the group’s activities over the last two years leading up to the compilation of the first-in-thenation report addressing the effects of slavery.

“As you all know, this illustrious nine-member California reparations task Force has been working diligently over a course of two years, not only to study the enumerable atrocities against the African American community with special considerations for those who are descendants of persons in slavery in the United States,” Moore said.

“Obviously, we’ve been working diligently to

develop on numerous policy prescriptions to end what we consider to be lingering badges of slavery in California as well,” Moore added.

Ironically, the Task Force’s last meeting happened the day the U.S. Supreme Court prohibited the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions. A couple of task force members addressed the decision before the meeting but stayed focused on the release of the report.

Each page of the report offers an explanation of reparations, evidence of past aggressions and systemic racism, and recommendations for restitution and atonement.

The report is 40 chapters, beginning with an Introduction; followed by evidence of Enslavement; Racial Terror; Political Disenfranchisement; Housing Segregation; Separate and Unequal Education; Racism in the Environment and Infrastructure; Pathologizing the African American Family; Control Over Creative, Cultural, and Intellectual Life; Stolen Labor; and Hindered Opportunity.

“I would like to commend Governor Gavin Newsom for making this Task Force a reality, Secretary of State Shirley Weber for authoring the legislation creating this Task Force, and each and every Member of the Reparations Task Force who have worked tirelessly over the past two years,” said Assemblywoman Lori

“The findings are clear. Lawmakers must take direct and determinative action to address the vast racial inequality which exists in California today. The California Legislative Black Caucus looks forward to partnering with the Newsom administration and our colleagues in the Legislature as we look towards the coming Legislative Session.” Additionally, recommendations made by the task force include a request for a formal apology from the state and acknowledgment of discrimination against the descendants of enslaved Blacks.

“This work has been relentless, has been meticulous (and) it is unsaleable,” Oaklandbased civil rights attorney and task force member Lisa Holder said. “It has been a work of a collective. We partnered with the Department of Justice, we partnered with hundreds of scholars, and we partnered with the community. Public commenters and participants in listening sessions who poured out their hearts and souls told us some of the most devastating stories of racial discrimination. They shared their pain and made themselves vulnerable during this process.”

The task force decided on March 30, 2022, that lineage will determine who will be eligible for compensation, specifically, individuals who are Black descendants of enslaved people in the United States. If reparations become law, a proposed California American Freedmen Affairs Agency would be responsible for identifying past harms and preventing future occurrences.

The specialized office, with additional branches across the state, would facilitate claims for restitution, process claims with the state, and assist claimants in proving eligibility through a “genealogy” department.

Marcus Champion, a board member of the

healthier.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Luke’s RefugeeNet Food Pantry was serving 80 refugee families on a weekly basis. As a result of growing food insecurity during the pandemic, the pantry now serves up to 200 families each week. These families benefit from the new nutrition standards at the food pantry, which ensure that healthy food is available.

National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants Los Angeles (NAASDLA) and the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC), is a longtime reparations supporter and one of the activists who worked with Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber when she was an Assemblymember to make Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the law that established the task force, a reality.

Speaking at a CJEC gathering in North Sacramento after the final task force meeting, Champion said now is the time to persuade the legislature to make reparations law.

“For us, on the ground as grassroots (organizations), we are about to start putting the pressure on the legislators to make sure that the words are right,” Champion told California Black Media. “We’re about to make sure the community’s eligibility is right, make sure that there are cash payments, and make sure that this is not watered down and that this is real reparations.”

The 16th and final Task Force meeting was held in the First Floor Auditorium of the March Fong Eu Secretary of State Building in Sacramento on June 29. The facility was filled with an overflow of people waiting in the lobby and outside of the building. All nine members of the task force were present as well as some of the speakers who testified before the panel over the last two years. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and Weber also spoke during the three-hour event.

“The policies and laws of this nation have affected every state and many instances beyond the state. It’s important to let people know that reparation is due whether you’re in Mississippi or you’re in California,” Weber said. “Reparation is due because the harm has been done. And we need to begin to repair the harm and stop patching it up as we’ve done for many years.”

D. Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus in a statement.

right to left: Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), Dr. Cheryl Grills, Attorney Lisa Holder, Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), the Rev. Amos Brown, Attorney Kamilah Moore, Attorney Don Tamaki, San Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery-Steppe, and Dr. Jovan Scott

2023. PHOTO: Antonio Ray Harvey via CBM

“Reparation Is Due”

At 90 Civil Rights Icon James Meredith Says Religion Can Help Cut Crime

By Emily Wagster Pettus Associated

James Meredith knew he was putting his life in danger in the 1960s by pursuing what he believes was his divine mission: conquering white supremacy in the deeply, and often violently, segregated state of Mississippi.

A half-century later, the civil rights leader is still talking about his mission from God. In recent weeks, he made several appearances around his home state, urging people to obey the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule in order to reduce crime. On his 90th birthday on Sunday, Meredith said older generations should lead the way.

“Old folks not only can control itit’s their job to control it,’’ Meredith told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday after an event honoring him at the Mississippi Capitol.

Meredith is a civil rights icon who has long resisted that label because he believes it sets issues such as voting rights and equal access to education apart from other human rights.

In October 1962, federal marshals escorted Meredith as he enrolled as the first Black student at the University of Mississippi, while white people rioted on the Oxford campus. Mississippi’s governor at the time, Ross Barnett, had stirred mobs into a frenzy by declaring that Ole Miss would not be integrated under his watch.

Meredith was a 29-year-old Air Force veteran who had already taken classes at one of Mississippi’s historically Black colleges, Jackson State. NAACP attorneys represented him as he obtained a federal court order to enter the state’s flagship public university. After a argely solitary existence at Ole Miss, Meredith graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in political

science.

After graduating, Meredith set out to promote Black voter registration

and show that a Black man could walk through Mississippi without fear. In June 1966, a white man with a shotgun wounded Meredith on the second day of a march from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. With Meredith hospitalized, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael and other civil rights leaders continued the march, often followed by long lines of activists and local people.

Less than three weeks after he was shot, Meredith had recovered enough to join the final stretch of what became known as the March Against Fear. It ended at the state Capitol, where an estimated 15,000 people gathered for Mississippi’s largest civil rights rally.

This year, Meredith had planned to walk 200 miles (322 kilometers) in Mississippi to spread his anticrime message - roughly the same distance as the March Against Fear. Instead, he made a series of appearances in recent weeks, often using a rolling walker, a wheelchair or a golf cart.

On Sunday, Meredith rode in a golf cart for the final quarter-mile (0.40 kilometers) from Jackson City Hall to the Mississippi Capitol, led by a high school marching band and

accompanied by dozens of people on foot. A racially diverse group of about 200 people sought shade under magnolia and oak trees while listening to songs, speeches and a child’s poem praising Meredith.

John Meredith said Sunday that his father had a profound effect on higher education, but the March Against Fear had a greater impact on him as a son because it demonstrated the importance of elections.

“The silent gift of voting is the ability to help shape the laws under which you live. It is the beauty and the curse of America,’’ said John Meredith, the current city council president in Huntsville, Alabama. ‘’Participation in voting yields inclusion, diversity and opportunity. Failure to vote results in the loss of freedom ... and government oppression.”

At the Capitol birthday celebration, Iyanu B. Carson, a 5th grade student from Jackson, read her poem titled “90 Years of History,” saying she aspires to be like Meredith.

“You made the choice to use your voice, you were strong and made them believe you belonged,” Iyanu said. “Today we celebrate history, and Mr. Meredith, history is you!”

SAN DIEGO’S BUFFALO SOLDIERS CELEBRATE THEIR 20 th ANNIVERSARY

and to our commitment to honor the Legacy of Buffalo Soldiers.

By Trooper Rachel Hilliard PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO CHAPTER BUFFALO SOLDIERS

On 30 June 2023, hosted at the Jacobs Center, there was a celebration of the 20th Anniversary for the San Diego Chapter Buffalo Soldiers, and the theme was “Stand Tall, Stand Proud”. It is a fitting theme as we reflect on the great legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and highlight our Guest Speaker, who is the 1st African American female active-duty engineer, Brigadier General Antoinette R. Gant. She is a Commander of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ South Pacific Division. Her message delivered was a focus on encouraging, educating, developing, and remembering where we have come from and that

we can accomplish anything we set our minds to if we walk by Faith and trust the process. [Her speech focused] on opportunities in education within the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields.

The San Diego chapter was founded by Vince Lemons in 2003. Celebrat-

ing these two decades of history San Diego Chapter President Rachel Hilliard has continued to keep the spirit of those brave soldiers alive, including past Chapter members who have gone to Fiddlers’ Green. At several tables were Troopers' names’, and bios such as Trooper Ernest Collier, an original Buffalo Soldier, Trooper Robert Joyce, and Trooper Walter Earl Jones. San Diego Chapter Buffalo Soldiers remain true to their founding values

As we celebrate this monumental occasion, we are reminded that it represents an exceptional moment in our chapter’s history, and we take great pride in serving our community by our mission to maintain the standards of the Buffalo Soldiers. We do this by supporting educational events, and historical lectures within the communities.

Our event catered to over 200 Government, State, and community guests. Our community leaders and peers showed up and showed out. The chapter was recognized and presented with

plaques of Congratulations for our 20th Anniversary and that we do matter and make a difference within the community. There were displays of history and historical artifacts, Buffalo Soldier community event photos, as well as an exhibit of Private William Cathay’s (only female Buffalo Soldier) uniform with canteen, replica rifle, M1861 Springfield Rifle Musket with bayonet, US Kepi with Infantry brass hat insignia, as well as other items of that era.

I’m so proud of the commitment of the San Diego Chapter Buffalo Soldiers and for their contributions and would like chapter members to continue to “Stand Tall, Stand Proud”!

During peak wildfire season, we may have to shut off power in certain areas for public safety. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff. SDG&E partners with 2-1-1 San Diego to provide extra support to those who need it during these times. Community, health and social services — including accessible transportation — are available for those who

PHOTOS: Mike Norris

We celebrate and honor our legacy as we continue to be an example to complete the mission to “Preserve, Promote and Perpetuate the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers”.

Thank you to all who supported and celebrated with us.

New Assurance Congregation Celebrates Its 16 th Church Anniversary Sunday, June 25, 2023

By Janey Middleton SECRETARY, NEW ASSURANCE BAPTIST CHURCH

New Faith Baptist Church was established in 1991 under the pastorage of the late Reverend John H. Barnes. Later the name was changed to New Assurance Baptist Church with the late Reverend Rickey T. Laster the Senior Pastor in 2007.

The guest Speaker was Rev. Donnell Townsend of Pilgrim Progressive and Our Special Guest was Mayor Todd Gloria, Mayor of the City of San Diego; Angela Smith was our Emcee and Keira Braxton did an awesome job introducing our special Guest (Mayor Todd Gloria); and Tony Conwright read the Proclamation.

As per President pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe, ‘For and on behalf of the people of the Fourth Council District does hereby proclaim June 25, 2023, to be “New Assurance Baptist Church Day” in the Fourth District of the City of San Diego.’

As per the Senior Pastor of New Assurance Baptist Church, Rev. Jared B. Moten said, “The service was a joyous and memorable occasion.” In addition, he said, “I am thankful for President pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe 4 th District to proclaim June 25, 2023, to be “New Assurance Baptist Church Day”.”

PHOTOS: Katrina Butler

Mayor Todd Gloria and Keira Braxton

Rev. Jared B. Moten and Mayor Todd Gloria

Peter Ramsey continues to

Best Animated Film.

He shared this win with codirectors Bob Persichetti and Rodney Rothman and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Ramsey directed the animated film Rise of the Guardians in 2012, which was nominated at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, Producers Guild, and Annie Awards. However, it did not get nominated for an Oscar.

Spider-Verse was a smash hit at the box office and universally acclaimed among critics, with many calling it one of the best animated films ever made.

Amazon is facing legal action from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly engaging in deceptive practices to entice consumers into signing up for its Prime service and making it difficult for them to cancel their subscriptions. The suit marks the most aggressive action taken against the e-commerce giant by FTC Chair Lina Khan, who has been vocal in her criticism of big tech companies.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, accuses Amazon of utilizing “dark patterns,” manipulative design tactics on its website, to steer users towards subscribing to Prime. Once consumers decided to cancel, they encountered a convoluted and confusing process.

According to a statement by Khan, “Amazon tricked and trapped people into recurring subscriptions without their consent, not only frustrating users but also costing them significant money.”

The lawsuit counts as the first time the FTC has taken Amazon to court under Khan’s leadership as she seeks to intensify regulatory scrutiny over the company. Given their influence in online commerce, she has been a vocal advocate for more decisive action against big tech firms. While the FTC has been investigating Amazon’s practices for several years, observers reportedly are closely watching to see how Khan will proceed.

Although the lawsuit falls short of the extensive antitrust case that Amazon’s detractors demanded, it does reflect a more considerable effort by regulators to limit the influence of tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta (formerly Facebook).

The legal action comes after Amazon settled previous FTC cases that predate Khan’s tenure.

Last month, the company agreed to a $25 million settlement over allegations that its Alexa home assistant devices had illegally collected children’s data. The FTC also resolved another privacy case involving

Amazon’s Ring home security subsidiary. Amazon Prime has attracted subscribers for years with enticing promises of expedited shipping, access to a streaming video library, and other benefits. As of 2021, the program boasted over 200 million members, generating $35 billion in subscription revenue. However, the FTC claims that Amazon made it exceedingly challenging for customers to purchase on its platform without subscribing to Prime during checkout.

Furthermore, the agency argues that the company made it arduous for users to locate the page allowing them to cancel the service, bombarding them with offers intended to dissuade cancellation.

The lawsuit comes after years of media attention and advocacy groups highlighting the difficulties consumers face when attempting to cancel their Prime subscriptions. With the lawsuit, the FTC said it intends to send a strong message that such practices will not go unnoticed or unchallenged.

RIOTS IN FRANCE WERE FED BY RACISM, POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE LAW

Tens of thousands of police clashed with young protestors after a teenager of North African descent was shot and killed at point blank range by officers during a traffic stop.

A funeral was held for Nahel M., age 17, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre as police made more than 700 arrests nationwide. It was the worst social upheaval in France in years.

The protest ended with police firing tear gas and cars being set on fire.

The teen’s murder was caught on videos and contradicted the initial police report. The videos shared online show two police officers leaning into the driver-side window of a yellow car before the vehicle pulls away as one officer fires into the window. The videos show the car later crashed into a post nearby.

The driver died at the scene, the prosecutor’s office said. This led the prosecutor, Pascal Prache, to conclude that “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met” in the shooting.

The police officer has been placed in provisional detention, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The incident provoked the headline: ‘France faces a George Floyd moment’ - “as if we were suddenly waking up to the issue of racist police violence,” observed writer Rokhaya Diallo. “This naive comparison itself reflects a denial of the systemic racist violence that for decades has been inherent to French policing.”

Meanwhile, continued Diallo, “the number of cases of police brutality grows relentlessly every year. In France, young men perceived to be black or of North African ori -

gin are 20 times more likely to be subjected to police identity checks than the rest of the population… Why would we not feel scared of the police?

“In 1999,” continued Diallo, “our country, the supposed birthplace of human rights, was condemned by the European court of human rights for torture, following the sexual abuse by police of a young man of North African origin. Now, after the death of Nahel, a UN rights body has urged France to address “profound problems of racism and racial discrimination” within its law enforcement agencies.

More recently, in December 2022, the UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination denounced both the racist discourse of politicians and police ID checks “disproportionately targeting certain minorities”.

Despite such overwhelming findings, our president, Emmanuel Macron, still considers the use of the term “police violence” to be unacceptable… Yet I fear that the focus is being placed on an individual police officer instead of questioning entrenched attitudes and

BOTSWANA WINS MAJORITY DIAMOND PROFITS HELD BY CONGLOMERATE DE BEERS

structures within the police that are perpetuating racism. And not a single one of the damning reports and rulings has led to any meaningful reform of the police as an institution.

Worse, a law passed in 2017 has made it easier for police to shoot to kill without even having to justify it on the grounds of self-defense. Since this change in the law, the number of fatal shootings against moving vehicles has increased fivefold. Last year, 13 people were shot dead in their vehicles.

“Whatever our age, many of us French who are descended from postcolonial immigration carry within us this fear combined with rage, the result of decades of accumulated injustice.

“This year, we mark the 40th anniversary of the murder of Toumi Djaïdja, a 19-year-old from a Lyon slum, who became the victim of police violence that left him in a coma for two weeks.

This was the genesis of the March for Equality and Against Racism, the first antiracist demonstration on a national scale, in which 100,000 people took part.

U.S. REJOINS U.N. CULTURAL BODY ABANDONED DURING TRUMP PRESIDENCY

After an absence of four years, the U.N. will return to UNESCO, a global cultural and education body that contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information.

As a condition of readmission, the US will repay around $619 million

in unpaid dues, meet 22% of Unesco’s annual budget, and make contributions to programs supporting education access initiatives in Africa, Holocaust remembrance and journalists’ safety.

Beyond stepping up actions for Africa, Unesco said it would be able to increase its efforts toward gender equality, a strategic priority.

A rift with the U.S. began in 2011 when the organization voted to ad-

mit Palestine, which is not formally recognized by the US or Israel as a UN member state. The Obama administration cut Unesco contributions, sending the US into owing millions in arrears to the organization.

Five years later, in 2016, the Unesco World Heritage Committee adopted a decision ruling that Israeli actions related to archaeology, tourism and freedom of movement in the Old City of Jerusalem contravened cultural heritage laws and practices.

US and Israeli officials complained that not including the full Jewish history in any decision about Jerusalem was equivalent to a denial of Jewish history.

In 2017, the US blamed “mounting arrears at Unesco, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at Unesco” as reasons for its withdrawal.

The U.S. was accepted back after a two-day special session held at Unicef’s headquarters in Paris. Ten states voted against the US, including Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua. China, which

Diamonds may be forever but the question of who has the rights to the sparkly stones is anything but set in stone.

This was made clear when the government of Botswana won a new “agreement in principle” with De Beers, the international diamond conglomerate, after a round of tough negotiations. Under the new agreement, Botswana, the world’s second largest diamond producer, will immediately get a 30 percent share of the rough stones extracted, up from 25 percent which will rise to 50 percent within a decade.

De Beers will also pump in 1 billion pula ($75 million) towards a diamond fund which will invest in “additional value to the Botswana economy,” the company said, adding the contributions would grow 10 times over the next 10 years.

Originally the company kept all of the diamonds it mined. In 2011, De Beers took 90 percent of the rough diamonds mined, while Botswana had 10 percent. In 2020, Botswana’s share rose to 25 percent. Last year, De Beers obtained about 70 percent of its rough diamonds from Botswana.

This time, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and other government officials demanded that Botswana receive more than 25 percent of the rough stones, and that De Beers make some investment in helping to expand other areas of the diamond industry in Botswana, including cutting and polishing, jewelry making and retail sales.

In challenging De Beers to give them more, Botswana officials were pressing a broader demand of African countries to get more from the natural resources that belong to them. There is a long history of countries on the continent losing out on their resource wealth to theft, corruption and mismanagement.

had become the organization’s biggest financial backer in the absence of the US, also voted against readmittance.

“I am encouraged and grateful that Unesco members have accepted the US proposal that will allow us to continue steps toward rejoining the organization,” American secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement. Among Unesco’s accomplishments was the reconstruction of destroyed mausoleums of Timbuktu (Mali).

The 13th century mausoleums of Muslim saints had been demolished by extremists and some

Diamond mining accounts for a third of the southern African country’s GDP. The discovery of diamonds in 1967 helped Botswana to move from one of the poorest countries in Africa to a middle income country. Ironically, that same discovery contributed to vast levels of income inequality and poverty in the nation.

Though Botswana is not technically a poor nation, substantial clusters of poverty remain in its rural areas. In some rural areas, the poverty rate is as high as 46 percent and unemployment for the country is at 20 percent.

According to the World Bank, Botswana is one of the most unequal countries in the world, job creation lags, and unemployment is structurally high at 25.4% (end of 2022). Many argue that their country is being cheated: the diamonds belong to them and it’s time for De Beers to take a back seat.

“Let us do it our way,” said an employee at Jwaneng Mine, the richest open pit diamond mine in the world in an interview with a reporter. “We are learned enough now. Like those diamonds, we are processed now.”

When it first partnered with De Beers, Botswana had very little expertise in diamonds and few resources to mine them. Now, with more skills, the country is demanding that cutting and polishing - as well as jewelry-making and retail sales - happen with its borders.

“We must refuse to be enslaved,” declared President Masisi of the 54-year-old partnership with the world-leading diamond producer.

With Botswana due to hold its general election next year, Masisi said he would be willing to lose over the sensitive issue.

“I am not scared,” he said. “Yes, we are politicians and always lobby for votes, but if it means losing as a result of this issue, let it be.”

4,200 ancient manuscripts were burned or stolen.

Timbuktu was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988 for its Outstanding Universal Value as an African intellectual and spiritual capital in the 15th and 16th centuries.

An international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by Unesco in 1972 cites for protection East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America that make up our world’s heritage.

Lisa Vives Global News Network

Picture of M.Masisi. PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

Geographic Disparities Revealed in US Depression Rates

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a thorough analysis that revealed significant variations in the prevalence of diagnosed depression among adults across various states. The recently published report unveils intriguing findings, indicating that the proportion of US adults who have ever been diagnosed with depression varies considerably based on their geographical location.

According to the study, which analyzed data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2020, approximately 18.4% of US adults reported having been diagnosed with depression at some point. However, the percentage of adults reporting depression varied substantially from state to state, ranging from an estimated 12.7% in Hawaii to 27.5% in West Virginia.

Researchers from the CDC and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Tennessee noted in the report that there was a considerable geographic disparity in depression prevalence, with the highest rates observed along the Appalachian and southern Mississippi Valley regions. Medical experts said the findings shed light on the urgent need for targeted resource allocation to areas where

the prevalence of depression is most significant.

The research team utilized survey responses from nearly 400,000 adults across all 50 states and Washington, DC, focusing on answers related to previous diagnoses of depressive disorders received from healthcare professionals. The data highlighted the ten states with the highest prevalence of adults reporting a depression diagnosis: West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Vermont, Alabama, Louisiana, Washington, Missouri, and Montana. Further analysis at the county level revealed an even more comprehensive range of prevalence, with depression rates ranging from 10.7% in Alaska’s Aleutians East Borough County to 31.9% in Logan County, West Virginia.

In addition to geographical disparities, the study also found notable variations in depression prevalence based on gender and age. The overall prevalence among women was 24%, compared to 13.3% among men. Younger adults aged 18 to 24 experienced a higher prevalence rate of 21.5%, while older adults aged 65 and above had a rate of

THE U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION AND

Confront Racial Discrimination in Student Discipline

The departments release Resource Report

NNPA Newswire

14.2%. The study also highlighted higher depression rates among white adults and individuals with less than a high school education.

The most recent findings support a different Gallup report from May, which found a comparable national prevalence of depression among adults in the United States. The Gallup report indicated that approximately 18% of adults reported being depressed or receiving treatment for depression, representing a significant increase of over seven percentage points since 2015.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health cannot be overlooked, as it has undeniably contributed to the rise in clinical depression rates, health officials said.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiovascular Disease

Now, more than three years from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impacts can be seen more clearly.

For example, the rise in the number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, represents the largest single-year increase in CVD deaths since 2015 and topped the previous high recorded in 2003, according to the latest available data from the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2023 Update from the American Heart Association.

The biggest increases in CVDrelated deaths were seen among Asian, Black and Hispanic people, populations most impacted in the

early days of the pandemic and brought into focus by increasing structural and societal disparities.

“We know COVID-19 took a tremendous toll and preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show there was a substantial increase in the loss of lives from all causes since the start of the pandemic,” said Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer president. “That this likely translated to an increase in overall cardiovascular deaths, while disheartening, is not surprising. In fact, the Association predicted this trend, which is now official.

“COVID-19 has both direct and

indirect impacts on cardiovascular health. As we learned, the virus is associated with new clotting and inflammation. We also know many people who had new or existing heart disease and stroke symptoms were reluctant to seek medical care, particularly in the early days of the pandemic. This resulted in people presenting with more advanced stages of cardiovascular conditions and needing more acute or urgent treatment for what may have been manageable chronic conditions. Sadly, this appears to have cost many their lives.”

To learn more about the impacts of COVID-19 on CVD, visit Heart. org/statistics.

Family Features

In late May, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (Justice) jointly released a Resource on Confronting Racial Discrimination in Student Discipline.

The Departments recognize and appreciate school administrators, teachers, and educational staff across the nation who work to administer student discipline fairly, and to provide a safe, positive, and nondiscriminatory educational environment for all students, teachers, and other educators.

The Resource demonstrates the Departments’ ongoing commitment to the vigorous enforcement of laws that protect students from discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in student discipline.

The Resource provides examples of the Departments’ investigations of such discrimination over the last 10 years, reflecting the long-standing approach and continuity in the Departments’ enforcement practices over time and the continuing urgency of assuring nondiscrimination in student discipline in our nation’s schools.

“OCR remains committed to ensuring nondiscrimination in disciplinary practices,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon.

“I look forward to ongoing work in, and with, schools to ensure that no student experiences unlawful discrimination, including with respect to discipline.”

“Discrimination in school discipline can have devastating long-term consequences on students and their future opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

“The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division uses our federal civil rights laws to protect students from discriminatory discipline, including discrimination in suspensions and expulsions, law enforcement referrals and schoolbased arrests.

“The investigations that we describe demonstrate how students may experience discrimination based on multiple facets of their identities and reflect our

SAN DIEGO COUNTY COVID-19 STATUS

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES 990,677 HOSPITALIZED 40,605

joint commitment to fully protect all students.”

The Resource describes how the Departments resolved investigations of 14 school districts in 10 states nationwide – Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah.

These investigations, conducted under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its regulations, and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, involved concerns of discrimination in schools’ use of out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, school-based arrests, referrals to law enforcement, involuntary discipline transfers, informal removals, and other discipline against Black, Latino, and/ or Native American students. The Resource demonstrates ways school districts can take steps to proactively improve their administration of student discipline. You can find the fact sheets at t4pacenter.edu.gov.

OESE Technical Assistance Centers will host webinars on each of the “Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success” fact sheets on the dates/ times noted below and you can find registration information below. More information is available at www2.ed.gov.

Introduction to the Department’s Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates:

August 9, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for School and District Leaders

August 23, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for Schools to Enhance Relationships with Families

September 20, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for Educators and School-Based Staff

October 4, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for Student and Teacher Support Teams

October 18, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

PHOTO: Nicola Barts via Pexels

CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES

PROPOSALS

Request for Proposals (RFP): SOL1223920

Automated Passenger Counting (APC) Performance Monitoring Dashboard

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking qualified consultants to develop a live online dashboard that automates the collection and analysis of passenger ridership data and displays it in a meaningful way that can be accessed by SANDAG, the regional transit operators, local jurisdictions, and the public. A copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP No. SOL1223920) and related informational documents and forms can be accessed from the SANDAG website at www.sandag.org/ contracts or by contacting: Rory James, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 595 5341, rory.james@sandag.org.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVENthat the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Bids for the below named Public Works project. The solicitation, including plans and specifications, may be obtained from the City's website at: https://www.sandiego.gov/cip/ bidopps

Contractors intending to submit a Bid must be prequalified. Please refer to the solicitation for instructions.

Project Name Egger South

Bay Community Park

Project Number: K-23-2191-

DBB-3 Estimated Value:

$3,900,000.00

Bid Open Date: 08/08/2023, at 2:00 P.M.

License Requirement: A

It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and womenowned businesses are strongly encouraged. Contractors are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis.

Bids shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego's Electronic Biding Site PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids.com/p ortal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=

17950 Claudia C. Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting

Department

June 27, 2023

7/6/23

CNS-3713877# VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWS

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.

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

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 issue 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 the 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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking proposals from qualified firms for professional services to provide interpretation services and ASL services to help the agency execute well rounded expertise of communication to the broader San Diego region SANDAG works with, as it is required by SANDAG. A copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) and related informational documents can be accessed from BidNet at www.bidnetdirect.com or by contacting: Gabriella LeRoy, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101, gabriella.leroy@sandag.org. All other details are available on the SANDAG website https://www.sandag.org/contracts

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Invitation for Bids (IFB) Imperial Avenue Bikeway

Solicitation No.: SOL1040580 CIP 1223058 Federal Aid Project No.: ATPL-6066(137)

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking contractors to construct approximately 3.5-mile of on-street bikeway, through Southeastern San Diego, along Imperial Avenue from 17th Street to 47th Street with a connection to J Street in Downtown via 22nd Street from Imperial Avenue to L Street, L Street from 22nd Street to 20th Street, 20th Street from L Street to J Street, and J Street from 20th Street to 17th Street. Proposed features include restriping, buffered and protected bike lanes, bendouts, bus islands, curb extensions and other traffic calming measures.

Work includes, but is not limited to, controlling for water pollution; traffic control; erosion control; clearing and grubbing; curb, gutter, and sidewalk work; roadway excavation; imported borrow; asphalt work; landscaping; wayfinding signage; pavement markings and signage; street lighting; trenching and backfill for storm drain installation, a 2-inch gas line relocation; retaining wall with pedestrian-scale lighting; traffic signal modifications; roadway striping and procurement of all materials and performing all other work necessary to complete the work in accordance with the project plans and specifications. For the SWPPP, this project is a Risk Level 2.

This project is federally funded and has a DBE goal of 22%. The Engineer’s Estimate is $9,993,049.75. This project is subject to the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

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

6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

37-2023-00020739CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney:

LaKeisha Gibson on behalf of minor

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

LaKeisha Gibson on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Darnay Aniya Scott

PROPOSED NAME:

Aniya Darnay Scott

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 25, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

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 issue 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

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 the 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 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUMMONS (Citation Judicial)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (Name) AVISO AL DEMANDADO (Nombre): OLD TOWN TEQUILA FACTORY, INC., a California Corporation; WILLIAM H. MCWETHY, JR individual; BRIAN HARKINS, an individual; and DOES 1 to 10 inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (Lo esta demandado el demandante): SANDRO ORTEGA DOMINGUEZ, an individual; CANDELARIO OLMOS, an individual NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response.

SUMMONS PROBATE

You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ Selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinto.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretano de la corte que le de un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de Calitornia Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales.

AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 o más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

Case Number: 37-2022-00012575-CU-OECTL

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): San Diego Superior CourtCounty of San Diego Central Division 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

The name, address, aand telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Douglas E. Geyman, Esq. 750 B Street, Suite 2870 San Diego, CA 92101

DATE (Fecha): 04/06/2022 6/22, 6/29, 7/06, 7/13

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Damacio Sanchez

Case Number: 37-2023-00010490-PR-LACTL

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

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Monica Sanchez in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Monica Sanchez be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an

interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: on August 24, 2023, at 1:30 PM in Dept. 504 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division

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

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

You may examine the file kept by the court.

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

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

Petitioner:

Monica Sanchez 1449 Water Lily Dr. #1 Chula Vista, CA 91913 (619) 587-4395 7/06, 7/13, 7/20

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Maria Odilia Parra Case Number: 37-2023-00009961-PR-LACTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Maria Acosta; Maria Parra; Maria Odilia Acosta & Maria Odilia Parra

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Elsa Aida Velarde in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Elsa Aida Velarde be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

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

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

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

on July 19, 2023, at 1:30 PM in Dept. 502 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Probate Division

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

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

BLACK HISTORY

1931

DELLA REESE BORN

Della Reese, born Delloresse Patricia

Early on July 6, 1931 in Black Bottom in Detroit, Michigan, is best known for her work as a blues and gospel singer, minister, and actress.

Reese began singing in her church. At 13, she sang with Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group. Her big break came when she won a contest to sing at Detroit’s well-known Flame Show Bar.

She signed a recording contract with Jubilee Records in 1953, with her greatest hits coming in the 1950s and 1960s. In 2017, Reese was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

In 1968, Reese filled in for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, making her the first Black woman to host a national television variety talk show. Her many film and TV credits include Harlem Nights (1989) and Touched by an Angel (1994-2003). Della Reese died on November 19, 2017, at her home in Los Angeles, California at the age of 86.

1979

KEVIN HART BORN

Standard Classified: $3.75 [per line]

Fictitious Business Name: $25 [4 weeks]

Name Change: $85 [4 weeks]

Kevin Darnell Hart is a comedian, actor, and producer born in Philadelphia, PA on July 6, 1979, to Nancy Hart and Henry Witherspoon.

Hart first performed as a comedian at the Laff House in Philadelphia in the late 1990s. He was booed off the stage, but not discouraged. His film debut came in Paper Soldiers (2002), and he gained notoriety in other movies, such as Scary Movie, Soul Plane, and The 40-Year-Old-Virgin Hart’s first solo comedy tours began in 2009 with “I’m a Grown Little Man,” followed by “Seriously Funny” in 2010, “Laugh at My Pain” in 2011, and “Let Me Explain” in 2013. Both “Laugh at my Pain,” and “Let Me Explain” were later released as feature films.

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

SUMMER:

Continued from page 2

PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS...

By Phone: (619) 266-2233

By Fax: (619) 266-0533

By Email: ads@sdvoice.info

Remember to Check your Filing

You

resilient. It’s amazing to see them make it through what they have to make it through.”

Nushi also wanted to endorse the printed materials Listos provides, via listoscalifornia.org.

“The Listos materials, the disaster guides, are very easy to read, very, very to the point and cover the information in very simple language” she said.

CORE — Community Organized

Relief Effort — has worked globally from Ukraine, Turkey and all around the U.S. George Hernandez Mejia, CORE Director of Emergency Operations, said that in doing wildfire preparation in Siskyou County last year, it turned out that some

documentary:

Continued from page 5

Effa Manley, a formidable businesswoman, also features prominently in the documentary.

E-Mail Us AT:

or Call: (619) 266-2233

Known as the “First Lady of Negro Baseball,” she co-owned the Newark Eagles and became the only woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Manley fiercely advocated for fair compensation for Negro league teams when MLB began recruiting their players.

The integration of baseball eventually led to the decline of the Negro Leagues, which ceased operations by the late 1940s.

Through masterful use of vin-

of the greatest needs were simply for clear information on evacuation zones or where wildfires were burning.

He also agreed with Nushi’s testimony about the importance of educating children on these matters.

“It’s not if, but when, a natural disaster will happen. “Always be prepared; have a plan.” “Take pictures,” he said, “and keep your insurance agent informed of your concerns.”

Along with efforts to prepare Californians for extreme weather conditions, the state has also allocated $200 million to help communities build “resilience cooling centers.

This article is provided to you by California Black Media in collaboration with Ethnic Media Services.

tage footage, interviews, oral histories, and contributions from modern-day historians and scholars, the documentary makes a case for the enduring significance of the Negro Baseball Leagues.

Reflecting on his connection to the project, Pollard said, “I grew up in the 1960s being a huge baseball fan… But what I did not know much about… was that [Jackie] Robinson had come out of the Negro Leagues and that the Negro Leagues had been home to Black and Latino ballplayers who had to play segregated baseball during the height of the Jim Crow era.” You

“Let

Empowering the local workforce

We’ve invested nearly $100 million in workforce development. Alongside hundreds of other employers and community partners, we’re increasing the talent pipeline by helping our neighbors get the skills and experience to build careers that support families and fuel our economy.

Here in San Diego, we’re investing in our community by investing in people’s futures. I’m proud of the work we’re doing to help train and identify talent for in-demand careers by contributing to local initiatives through employer and academic partners.

Rick Bregman President, Bank of America San Diego

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/sandiego What would you like the power to do?®