Vol. 63 No. 35 | Thursday, August 31, 2023

BLACK CENSUS PROJECT QUADRUPLES PARTICIPATION

By Stacy M. Brown

The Black Futures Lab announced that it had reached a historic milestone in the Black Census Project survey, which will conclude in October 2023. The most extensive survey of Black people in the United States has gathered nearly 130,000 responses from all 50 states, four times bigger than the 2018 Black Census. “Going into another presidential campaign season, we know that Black communities are still being undercounted and under-engaged,” said Alicia Garza, Founder and Principal of Black Futures Lab, who began designing the Black Census Project after the 2016 election. “It is critical that we engage Black communities early and often. Every day, policy is made about us without us. “We launched the Black Census to transform that–we take the data from

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CONDEMNS VIVEK RAMASWAMY’S CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS

The New Color of Hate Speech

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA NEWSWIRE SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

The Congressional Black Caucus has denounced Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for his repeated racist remarks that have furthered the racial divide and exposed even more hate in America’s political landscape.

Though born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ramaswamy is the child of Indian Hindu immigrant parents, which has left many questioning his controversial statements’ true intentions and motives as he seeks an unlikely bid for the GOP nomination. Ramaswamy’s non-European

American heritage and immigrant background certainly add a layer of perplexity to his alignment with certain extremist elements within the Republican base, reminding African Americans that true allies remain hard to come by.

The candidate’s recent town hall event in Pella, Iowa, garnered significant attention for his declaration that “our diversity is not our strength.” Such a statement flies in the face of how Ramaswamy and the extreme right in his party have worked against calls for unity and inclusivity nationwide.

See RAMASWAMY page 2

the Black Census and use it to inform a Black agenda that serves as a roadmap for policymakers and politicians on how to best address the needs of Black communities.”

See CENSUS page 2

BLACK VETERANS AND INACCESSIBILITY TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Despite taking the same risk of death and costly sacrifice to their mental well-being, Black Veterans continue to suffer as mental health services are statistically less accessible for the demographic than their white counterparts.

VETERANS page 13

By Antonio Ray Harvey CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA

What teachers think and experience in the public education system is explored in a new report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS). The report, named “Listen to Your Teacher: An Analysis of Teacher Sentiment on the State of Public Education,” was authored by NAPCS’s Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Debbie Veney.

The Harris Poll, a market research and consulting firm, carried out the survey of over 1,200 public schoolteachers from both charter and district schools for the report. The NAPCS commissioned the survey to gain more insight into the teachers’ experiences, opinions and motivations for entering, staying in, or leaving the profession. The research was conducted online from May 10 to May 30, 2023.

“Next to parents, teachers are the backbone of education. It is valuable to have insight into how they feel in today’s climate and find out how we can better support their heroic work in and outside the classroom. Although we certainly have a special interest in charter schoolteachers, we care deeply about the experience of all public schoolteachers,” stated Nina Rees, President and CEO of the NAPCS.

Based on the study, 10 Los Angeles-based Green Dot Public Schools helped students increase proficiency rates in both math and English during the 2022-2023 year. Four schools exceeded their pre-pandemic proficiency rates. The U.S. Department of Education has featured Green Dot, a nonprofit organization, as a national leader in school turnarounds.

Charter schools are publicly funded independent schools established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority. They are governed under a legislative contract – a charter – with the state, school district, or another entity, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

In April 2020, the NCES and Institute of Education Sciences released a 71-page report that Black educators were 11% of the teachers in the country’s charter schools during the 2017-2018 academic year.

See SCHOOLTEACHERS page 2

Vivek Ramaswamy.

PHOTO: NNPA

PHOTO: CBM

PHOTO: NNPA

See

PHOTO: Black Veterans Project

By Sam Judy THE

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

Ramaswamy

Continued from cover

During the town hall, Ramaswamy made another alarming comparison, likening a Black congresswoman to the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Ramaswamy, who has derided former Vice President Mike Pence for not helping Donald Trump illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election, compared Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) to the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. He also compared the existence of white supremacy in the United States to that of unicorns.

“I’m sure the boogeyman white supremacist exists somewhere in America. I’ve just never met him,” Ramaswamy stated. “Never seen one, never met one in my life, right? Maybe I’ll meet a unicorn sooner. And maybe those exist, too.”

Within 24 hours, a racist white gunman shot and killed three African Americans at a Dollar General in Jacksonville, Florida. Indeed, Ramaswamy’s provocative analogy, which is deeply offensive and historically charged, raised questions about his understanding of racial dynamics and his willingness to engage in divisive rhetoric.

“[The shooter] targeted a certain group of people, and that’s Black people,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters stated in a news conference. “That’s what he said he wanted to kill. And that’s very clear. And I don’t know that the targets were spe-

SCHOOLTEACHERS

Continued from cover

Overall, Black educators make up 11% percent of the teachers in city schools but only 5.5% of the teachers in suburban schools and 3.6 percent in rural schools. The nation’s average of Black educators in the classroom is 6.3%, according to the report.

The key data from the survey indicate the following trends:

cific, but I know that any member of that race at that time was in danger. Of the Black race.”

Ramaswamy also defended comparing Pressley, who is Black, and author, Ibram Kendi to the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan. In 2019, Pressley remarked, “We don’t need any more brown faces that don’t want to be a brown voice” and “we don’t need any more Black faces that don’t want to be a Black voice.” She explained that she attempted to express a desire for leaders to use their lived experiences to inform their decisions and policies and not ignore the realities of race. However, Ramaswamy argued that Pressley was the modern version of the grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, an organization that terrorized, lynched, and killed Black Americans for decades.

“I stand by what I said to provoke an open and honest discussion in this country,” Ramaswamy said, doubling down. “Many Americans today are deeply frustrated by the new culture of anti-racism that’s really racism in new clothing, and we need to have that debate in the open.”

Commentators like Washington Post columnist Philip Bump have noted that Ramaswamy’s discourse encapsulates a distilled form of Republican race rhetoric. For example, Bump noted that when Ramaswamy announced his candidacy earlier this year, he invoked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech during the March on Washington in 1963.

“That was the speech where he said, ‘I hope my

Teachers Agree Families and Students Should Have Education Choice – About 4 out of 5 teachers agree that regardless of its politicized nature, public school choice is important for both families and teachers (79% of all public schoolteachers; 87% of charter schoolteachers and 78% of district schoolteachers).

Something Has to Change – Public school teachers cite student behavior and discipline issues (74%) as the top challenge they believe teachers currently face, followed by pay (65%.).

Taking care of families is what we do.

four children grow up in a country where they are judged not on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character,’” Ramaswamy declared his candidacy in a video. “That dream stuck with me. It meant something to me.”

In that video, and since then, Bump noted how Ramaswamy explained what that quote meant to him. “In keeping with an inordinate amount of Republican rhetoric in recent years, the candidate sees King’s words not in the broader context of his full speech or the historic moment in which it was given but as a sort of Uno-reverse for the race card: that any recognition of racial disparities is at odds with King’s vision,” Bump wrote.

Ramaswamy seems to selectively interpret King’s words, using them as a shield against acknowledging the persistent racial disparities in the nation despite evoking his legacy and his vision of a world where character rather than skin color is the determining factor. His assertion that “reverse racism is racism” echoes sentiments that have resonated within segments of the Republican Party in recent years.

The notion, a cornerstone of Trump’s appeal, positions white individuals as victims of discrimination, often sidelining the historical context of systemic racism faced by Black and Hispanic Americans. Such statements continue to raise alarm bells about the candidate’s commitment to addressing issues of racial injustice.

“Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments against

There’s Something Special About the Experience of Charter Schoolteachers – Eighty percent of charter schoolteachers say they are as or more motivated than when they initially entered the profession (vs. 34% among district teachers).

Aligning with Culture — Ninety-six percent of charter schoolteachers report feeling aligned with their current school’s culture in terms of values and beliefs about education. Only 75% of district schoolteachers feel this way.

Keep Politics Out of the Classroom – Teachers say they just want to teach (94%) and report feeling like they are caught in the crossfire of a culture war (91%).

“It amplifies a needed conversation about our educational system, how we can best support teachers, and ultimately our students.” Matthews said of the report.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley do not provoke ‘open and honest discussion’ on race in America. Rather they reveal the depths of his own dishonesty,” members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) wrote in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

CBC Chair Steven Horsford of Nevada said Ramaswamy’s words are not merely the ramblings of a deeply unserious person but count as “part of a dark and calculated attempt to obfuscate the truth about racism in America.” He asserted that most reasonable-minded Americans understand that the Ku Klux Klan was, and is today, a group that wishes to reestablish white supremacy through intimidation and violence.

“We tragically saw the consequence of that ideology a few days ago in Jacksonville, Florida,” Horsford noted. “This sort of bad faith comparison about a member of the House who frequently uses their platform to stand against hate and violence is not only an insult to the plight of Black Americans, but to all Americans of moral integrity. Vivek Ramaswamy understands that there is an appetite for racism and bigotry within the base of the extreme MAGA Republican party and he is opting to shamelessly carry the water of white supremacy for his own political gain.

“The Republican Party cannot be silent. If this does not speak to their values, leaders within the Party have an obligation to say so. This rhetoric is beyond dangerous and deserves nothing short of full condemnation.”

consistently had a higher portion of students of color compared to district schools, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).

During the 2005-2006 school year, a total of 196,851 students were enrolled in California charter schools, according to data provided by NAPCS. The movement continued each year as enrollment reached 692,783 pupils by the end of the 2020-2021 calendar year. As of the beginning of the 2022–23 school year, more than 1,300 charter schools and seven all-charter districts are operating in California, according to the California Department of Education (CDE).

San Bernardino County has 52 charter schools, 275 in Los Angeles County has 275, 124 in San Diego County, 56 in Sacramento County, 80 in Alameda County, and 16 public charter schools in San Francisco County, according to CDE.

Charter schools historically serve proportionately more students of color and more students from low-income communities than district schools. For a stretch of 16 years (2005-06 to 2020-21 school years), charter schools have

Continued from cover

The Black Census Project, launched in 2018, engages communities typically under-represented in traditional surveys and policymaking.

The Black Census Project is gathering information on the opinions and views of Black people. This includes demographics and areas such as LGB+ communities, trans communities, incarcerated Black individuals, Black immigrants, and Black people living in rural areas.

Once the Black Census closes in October, Black Futures Lab said it would use the survey to design and release the Black Agenda 2024 in early 2024. The Black Agenda 2024 is a policy roadmap that will inform legislators nationwide of the critical priorities of Black communities across America.

The tool will also help activate and involve Black voters before elections. Officials said it would encourage Black communities to participate and use their political power to inform, influence, and impact institutions and decision-makers involved with Black people.

“With the 2024 presidential elections right around the corner, and the first GOP debate kicking off tonight, we know Black votes matter; Black people do too,” said Angela Rye, Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies. “To be powerful in politics, Black people must curate, shape, and push our own political agenda—a Black agenda–and the Black Census Project equips us to do that. That is why this project is tremendously important.”

According to a news release, over 30,000 Black people nationwide participated in the first Black

Census Project in 2018. The Black Futures Lab used the results to identify pressing legislative and policy priorities, turning the survey into a national, state, and municipal policy platform to guide 2020 Presidential candidates as they devised strategies to earn the support of Black voters.

“I am really delighted to say that a lot of what we found is consistent and similar across both types of school settings,” said Veney referring to the charter schools and district schools. Garza continued, noting that “The Black Census is historic and important—there is still time for you to join us and participate so that your voice can be heard.”

In 2022 and 2023, Black Futures Lab collaborated with over 50 Black-led grassroots organizations, more than a dozen national media partners, and Black influencers. The organization said it has reached over 129,000 Black people nationwide. Most respondents (64%) are from the South; 14% are from the Midwest, 13% are from the Northeast, and 10% are from the West. Nearly half (40%) of respondents are ages 60+; a quarter are 50–59, 17% are 40–49, 12% are 30-39, 4% are 25–29, and 4% are 18–24.

Initial findings show the top three issues for Black people are:

• Low wages that are not enough to sustain a family: 39%

• Gun violence: 32%

• Schools that fail to prepare children adequately: 32%

“This is the largest survey of Black people in American history—there is nothing else that comes close,” said Michael Harriot, writer, and author of Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America. “This is a way for people to actually know what Black voters want, and what Black voters are concerned about. It also has historical significance and gives us the ability to dispel myths about Black people with real data.”

Some participants who complete the survey at BlackCensus.org will be eligible to receive a $20 gift card.

THE SADNESS OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON AUGUST 2023

to see some there who were with Dr. King 60 years ago on this very spot and it was even more rewarding to see two generations who were yet to be born stepping up and taking their place in the struggle. People like Dr. King’s granddaughter standing with her mother and father speaking both of the yet-tobe-fulfilled elements of the dream while remembering the Dreamer.

Two days later, we had a visible and visual reminder of the hate still based on the color of our skin as three Black people were murdered in a Dollar General just because of the color of their skin, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Black Muslims’ Values Can Transform Racial Wealth

By Dr. Quiana M. Shamsid-Deen ASSOC. PROF., GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY

In order to encourage economic empowerment, the Nation of Islam (NOI) put a strong emphasis on business education and financial literacy. They founded a national bank in 1973 with offices in Chicago, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City that provided financial services like small business loans and credit cards that were especially suited to their members’ requirements.

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

To appreciate how far we have come since the 1963 March on Washington, D.C. with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one should not look at any photos or news coverage showing the number of people participating in last week’s remembrance of the 1963 march and some of the actual film footage of the 250,000 plus people who came out for the 1963 march. Yes, today we have C-SPAN television, live coverage and social media streaming the event, but none of that should be a substitute for real live feet on the ground for what we shall call the Continuation March of 2023.

These comments are directed toward the masses of African Americans, particularly those who were absent from the struggle in terms of their physical presence. At the same time, there should be nothing but praise for the very organizations who joined Rev. Al Sharpton in the observance of this event and the elements of the dream, yet to be fulfilled. It was good

It was good to see that, just as in the murder of George Floyd, Blacks and Whites responded in protest by showing up and being visible against the violence out of a sense of humanity. These are positive signs toward the America that Dr. King saw, but these participants are not the ones that are a part of the ongoing problem. All over America, we see racists and bigots quoting Dr. King, out of context, as they seek to make deceptive associations with his remarks which were more about a check that America had given to Black people promising equality and fairness; a check that Dr. King said had been returned marked “insufficient funds”.

Yes, there were some great remarks made on the Mall, some of which spoke to our need for economic gains to close the gap between us and other Americans. But, let us not forget that we hold the keys to our economic and social liberation. The keys rest with the decisions we make over what we will accept collectively and how we choose to respond to the obstacles placed before us. We can focus on how we use our collective dollar power, or we can continue to squander what we have on our desires rather than our needs and expect something different from the same old actions. August 28th has come and gone, we are still here with many of the same problems. The question is what will we do today that will change our tomorrows?

Letters to the Editor

REGARDING SECOND CHANCE

Dr. Warren,

Thanks so much for sharing an intern’s perspective and truths. I am a graduate of Second Chance and when some former homies and I who didn’t finish the program read your paper, we were happy to see that someone was going to hear some things that need to be investigated.

I never knew everything that I was entitled to, but I know I didn’t get all I should have like others. There is a clear line drawn in that building on who gets all the services and who gets just a few. There was always a check distribution issue on who got them and when and what for. I just kept my head down and watched.

Rising Utility Bills

Dear Editor,

The Nation of Islam also aimed to establish member-run cooperatives and small businesses in order to foster a culture of economic self-sufficiency. They established Muhammad Speaks Music Group, their own record company, to release albums from various rap and R&B artists. In terms of economic justice and self-sufficiency, the Nation of Islam has left a significant legacy, and its teachings are still applicable today.

In order to build a sustainable business that generates jobs and supports the neighborhood economy, Black Muslim entrepreneur Khalilah Beavers opened the Halal Soulfood restaurant in New York City in 2019. She did this by drawing on Islamic principles of economic justice. Meals were donated to food banks, homeless shelters, and other charitable organizations as a result of Beavers’ dedication to social responsibility.

The development of impact Investment funds are another instance of how Black Muslims have applied these ideas.

The Black Muslim Investment Group (BMIG) is an AfricanAmerican-led investment fund that focuses on delivering financial returns while also achieving positive social and environmental impact. The BMIG has made investments in companies in a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare, education, and renewable energy. They support sustainability while also fostering economic opportunity within their community by utilizing their resources to invest in companies that share their values.

Through the concept of Zakat, an obligatory act of charity and one of Islam’s Five Pillars, Islamic principles can be used to combat the structural causes of the racial wealth gap. By requiring people to donate a portion of their wealth to the less fortunate, zakat promotes economic justice by providing a source of income for those who are in need. If properly implemented, this system can help lessen economic inequality by redistributing wealth among the various social classes. Islamic principles also place a strong emphasis on racial and class-neutral solidarity among all members of society; this idea of universal equality under God serves as a foundation for opposing systemic racism and advancing equality for all.

See MUSLIMS page 13

After a while, I bumped into an old case manager who left because he wasn’t paid enough for everything he did. He mentioned that I didn’t get everything I was supposed to get and the leadership team knew it and hid it when it was audit and review time. This former case manager said he wished he would have stood up and spoken up about the misappropriation he witnessed between the executive leadership team and the staff.

(I thank) the paper and the intern that may get the ball rolling to make every person have to pay back every penny that they didn’t spend on what they were supposed to — the young adults trying to get a Second Chance and strive (to) become good leaders.

Much Respect Voice and Viewpoint, Graduate of Program in 2022

My household expenses keep getting higher, and here comes PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E wanting to force me to pay the highest utility tax in the nation. They’re taking corporate greed to the next level, knowing full well that we are forced to use their services and they can apparently do and charge whatever they want. Why did the legislature and Gavin Newsom vote to let them do this?

This deceptive utility tax doesn’t just hurt our pocketbooks—it hurts the environment. It turns California’s long commitment to energy conservation on its head. The utility tax proposal takes away consumer incentives to conserve energy and to seek cheaper and cleaner alternatives to the grid. That makes no sense and is a giant step backward on climate justice.

I am writing to you today to put a spotlight on

this issue. The public deserves to know what is happening behind closed doors so that we can band together and stop this outrageous utility tax, that will increase bills for millions of hard-working Californians. We URGENTLY need public awareness on this issue so that the legislature can REPEAL this utility tax and stop letting utilities get away with whatever they want

Sincerely, Jessica Lazovich 92139

Resident

How to reach us

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint welcomes your opinions on issues in letters to the editor. Include your name, signature, address and a phone number we can use to verify your letter. Keep it short and mail it to:

Letters to the Editor

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint P.O. Box 120095 • San Diego, CA 92112

COMMUNITY

Em Press'em HOLDS CLIENT APPRECIATIONCelebration

By Darrel Wheeler Contributing Writer

EmPress’Em Hair Studio, a Black-owned salon local to the Lemon Grove area, celebrated their grand opening this past Saturday.

"Thank you San Diego, to our distributors, and our clients for coming out to celebrate with us,'' EMpress'em co-owner LaTasha Thomas shared.

The busy EMpress'em hair crew started Saturday's big celebration with a free allyou-can-eat BBQ feast at Ventura Cove in Mission Beach. The celebration continued

the next day with a sip-and-see drive though kick-back, hook-up, high-five, turn-on at the studio on 7779 Broadway in Lemon Grove.

"We look forward to more events and collaborations in the near future. A special thanks to Marsha Ryder, Debra Scheufler, Lorenzo Griffin, Glen Coffee, Bridget Butler, Darrel Wheeler, Bobby May, Debra Sanders(the cake lady), Tamitria Fountain, and a host of other friends and family," LaTasha shared.

"A lot went into putting this week end together but it was definite ly worth our time and expens es,'' Co-Owner Marsha Ryder shared.

GABS

NONPROFIT IS READY TO

Serve!

The GABS organization held their community grand opening welcoming at their new location on 1925 Euclid Avenue. The acronym GABS stands for “Girls Adults Boys Seniors”. Their motto: Serving many people, working together! The non-profit group continued their work in helping the less fortunate and underserved. Last Saturday they could be seen giving away free food, clothes, including free hair-cuts compliment's of GABS partnerships with local barbers. DJ Cold Cut "Da Chief Rocka" took care of the music responsibilities and proved to be an excellent choice as he filled the atmosphere with positive vibes at this very positive event.

I-5 Closures for Emergency Bridge Repair

Avoid the 5 for a Faster Drive

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

Caltrans has scheduled two major 56-hour weekend closures in September through downtown San Diego on Interstate 5 (I-5) to repair the bridge deck over State Route 163 (SR-163). Crews will close lanes to repair the bridge deck in both directions of I-5 on separate weekends.

The southbound closure will begin at Interstate 8 (I-8) on Friday, September 8 at 9 p.m. through Monday, September 11 at 5 a.m. with all traffic detoured to eastbound I-8. At least one lane of southbound I-5 will remain accessible from on-ramps south of I-8 for limited local and airport traffic. The Fifth Avenue on-ramp will be closed to limit the amount of traffic using the single lane through the construction area. Southbound I-5 through motorists are advised to take southbound Interstate 805 (I-805) before they are redirected eastbound on I-8 to avoid traffic delays through downtown.

The northbound I-5 closure will begin at State Route 15 (SR-15) on Friday September 29 at 9 p.m. through Monday, October 1 at 5 a.m. with two lanes of traffic detoured to SR-15. Remaining northbound I-5 traffic will be directed to eastbound State Route 94 (SR94) via 19th Street, northbound State Route 163 (SR-163), and one northbound I-5 lane for limited local traffic and airport traffic. Northbound I-5 will remain accessible from the eastbound State Route 75 (SR-75) connector, and 19th Street, B Street/Pershing Drive on-ramps. The freeway on-ramp at

CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY

Lifts Boil Water Advisory

By Tracy DeFore

County of San Diego Communications Office

California American Water Company (Cal-Am) reports it has lifted a boil water advisory for affected areas in South County Saturday.

The boil water advisory was put into effect Aug. 24, 2023, due to E. coli contamination in the drinking water. After extensive water testing, Cal-Am and the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW) determined Saturday afternoon, that the water is now safe to drink. Cal-Am says affected customers no longer have to boil their water or drink bottled water.

Cal-Am says the affected areas in their boil water advisory were portions of Imperial Beach, the City of Coronado south of Fiddler’s

F Street and westbound SR-94 connector to northbound I-5 will be closed to limit the amount of traffic using the single lane through the construction area.

Northbound I-5 through motorists are advised to take northbound SR-15 to avoid delays through downtown. Messaging signs will be in place to encourage alternate travel and advise of closures. SR-163 will remain open to traffic entering and exiting downtown. Construction noise and lighting are to be expected.

“This proactive emergency work will ensure the structural integrity of the I-5 bridge through downtown for years to come,” said Caltrans District Director Gustavo Dallarda. “During these two closure weekends, please avoid using I-5 through downtown and travel on alternate routes like SR-163, I-805 and SR-15.”

Caltrans crews began this emergency work in mid-August with minimal traffic impacts occurring between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October.

The maintenance work schedule is subject to change due to weather, traffic incidents, or other maintenance considerations. For real-time traffic information including traffic speed, lane, and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, and more, go to quickmap.dot.ca.gov

$500K Unclaimed Refund List Released: Is Your Name On It?

Deadline to File Claim is September 21, 2023

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Dan McAllister is reminding San Diegans to go to SDTTC.com to find out if they are owed part of $543,171 in unclaimed money before it is rolled into the County General Fund.

Each year the Treasurer-Tax Collector and other County departments have thousands of dollars that are owed to taxpayers. This usually results from warrants/checks that are undeliverable by the postal service. Refundsowed could be a result of overpaid taxes or instances in which individuals and organizations are doing business with or receiving County services.

After several years of no claim being received the funds are escheated. While the County works to return these monies to the rightful owner, some refunds remain unclaimed.

To view a list of the 1,056 unclaimed refunds, go to the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website. Alternatively, hard copies of the list are available at any one of the following TreasurerTax Collector office locations:

• MAIN OFFICE – COUNTY

ADMINISTRATION CENTER: 1600 Pacific Hwy, Room 162, San Diego, CA 92101

• CHULA VISTA BRANCH OFFICE: 590 Third Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910

• EAST COUNTY BRANCH OFFICE

(NEW): 10144 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071

• SAN MARCOS BRANCH OFFICE: 141 East Carmel Street, San Marcos, CA 92078

• KEARNY MESA BRANCH OFFICE: 9225 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123

If you are owed money, follow the instructions on the unclaimed money page of the website to file a refund claim by September 21, 2023, before the money is rolled into the county’s general fund.

You can email your claim to refunds@ sdcounty.ca.gov or call 1-877-829-4732 for more information. Anyone can sign up to receive emails when new unclaimed money lists are posted. The smallest refund amount available is $15.13, and the largest refund amount is $41,491.24.

Every year, the Treasurer-Tax Collector makes a strong effort to reunite San Diegans with money they have overpaid on taxes or fees. Current state law says countywide money that is unclaimed for three years and property tax refunds that are unclaimed for four years must be turned over to the County’s general fund.

Judge Sets Pre-Super Tuesday Trial Date for Trump Case

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In a decision that could significantly impact the 2024 race for the White House, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, overseeing the election interference case against former President Donald Trump, has scheduled the trial to commence on March 4, 2024. The date falls during the Republican presidential primaries and just one day before Super Tuesday.

to be a professional athlete.

Cove, certain customers within the City of San Diego neighborhoods of Nestor and Otay Mesa West, and portions of Southwest Chula Vista. More than 17,000 customer accounts, as many as 106,000 people, were affected by the Cal-Am boil water advisory. The cause of the contamination is still under investigation.

The County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) is working with restaurants to provide updated guidance and resources on how to resume operations now that the boil water advisory is no longer in effect.

Restaurants can also contact DEHQ at (858) 505-6900 or fhdutyeh@sdcounty.ca.gov. No food facility inspection or approval will be needed

as part of the restaurant reopening process.

The County is requesting that any businesses affected by Cal-Am’s boil water advisory to complete a voluntary Boil Water Advisory Economic Impact Survey. The information collected will be used to determine if the County should attempt to seek state and/or federal assistance. The deadline for completing the survey is Sept. 15.

For additional information regarding affected schools and guidelines for residential customers, please contact the responsible agency, California American Water, at 1-888-237-1333 or visit the California American alert page.

Chutkan considered arguments presented by both Trump’s legal team and federal prosecutors regarding the optimal trial timing. Special counsel Jack Smith proposed an earlier start in January, with jury selection beginning in December. Trump’s legal representatives countered by advocating for a postponement until April 2026, following the 2024 presidential election.

Judge Chutkan emphasized (Monday) that the trial’s scheduling must prioritize the fair and prompt administration of justice. She noted that the trial schedule wouldn’t be altered based on the professional obligations of another defendant, even if that defendant happened

Trump’s legal team argued that proceeding to trial in the upcoming year would infringe upon the former president’s rights, citing the extensive volume of discovery materials that federal prosecutors have submitted. The four-time indicted, twice impeached ex-president’s lawyer, John Lauro asserted that, “This is a request for a show trial, not a speedy trial. Mr. Trump is not above the law, but he is not below the law.”

Following Chutkan’s ruling, Lauro insisted that Trump’s defense team would not be adequately prepared to represent their client given the set trial date. Earlier, Chutkan deemed the special counsel’s proposed timeline too immediate but called Trump’s suggested timeline of 2026 unreasonable.

Meanwhile, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced that the arraignment for Trump and his co-defendants in the Georgia election case is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on September 6. Trump faces charges of felony racke -

teering and various conspiracy counts, part of a comprehensive investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the battleground state.

Trump and his co-defendants, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, will be arraigned as part of this high-stakes legal proceeding. The sweeping indictment encompasses 41 counts and involves individuals such as Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff, lawyers John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, and former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark. All defendants are charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, among other alleged offenses.

PHOTO: John Guccione www.advergroup.com/Pexels

PHOTO: Caltrans

PHOTO: San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector

PHOTO: County News Center

U.S. District of Columbia Judge Tanya Chutkan. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy Charged

Influence Peddler Held Racist Views Toward Africa

and are therefore mine”.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has had anything but a stellar record since stepping down from office more than a decade ago. The 68-year-old has already been convicted twice, once for corruption and influence-peddling involving attempts to influence a judge and another for breaking campaign spending limits during his 2012 reelection attempt.

What Africans may remember most about the one-term official are his speeches that left Africans dismayed if not horrified at his colonial views of the continent. During his first visit to Africa after winning power, Sarkozy outraged public opinion in Senegal with allusions to colonialism and the suggestion Africa had failed to embrace progress.

Speaking at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar in what became known as the Dakar Address, he said “the African peasant only knew the eternal renewal of time, marked by the endless repetition of the same gestures and the same words. In this realm of fancy ... there is neither room for human endeavor nor the idea of progress.”

“The colonizer took, used, exploited, plundered resources […]. They were wrong but some were sincere”, he continued, adding “Your heartbreak and your suffering are ours

He also invited Africa to make its own self-criticism - the present failures of the continent counterbalancing the wrongs of the colonizers. In the most controversial passage, he suggested that the obstacles to the development of the continent should be sought within an African identity.

The speech drew criticism from politicians and intellectuals across Africa who denounced it as unacceptable and based on long-discredited stereotypes. For many, it was a throwback to France’s murky colonial past.

The former leader will be tried in 2025 to hear evidence that he, along with 12 co-defendants, accepted millions of euros in cash from the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 bid for the presidency. The Paris Court of Appeals has already upheld a threeyear prison sentence against Sarkozy, but it ruled that two years would be suspended and Sarkozy would wear an electronic bracelet instead of going to jail for the remaining year. His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was also convicted in a criminal trial for corruption but received a two-year suspended sentence in 2011.

Sarkozy, who has faced a litany of legal problems since his one term in office, has denied the Libyan allegations – the most serious he faces.

Gabonese President Seeks Third 7Year Term Amidst Questions of Voting Legitimacy

As voters went to the polls in Libreville, the capital of the oilrich nation of Gabon, polling stations were already opening late. Scheduled to begin in the morning of Aug. 26, many sites had failed to open as of 2 p.m. Incumbent President Ali Bongo, 64, who succeeded his father Omar in 2009, is seeking a third term against 18 challengers, six of whom backed a joint nominee in an effort to narrow the race. If successful, Ali Bongo could extend his family’s 55-year dynasty in power.

There is no fixed deadline for the announcement of results, but opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa, a 69-year-old economics professor, and his alliance on Saturday were already questioning the legitimacy of the outcome. A last-minute change that scrapped the need for a runoff if the first round failed to produce a winner with more than 50 percent of the vote has angered the opposition.

Citing the threat of online disinformation, the Gabonese government cut the internet until further notice and imposed a night-time curfew

al abuse, animal cruelty, terrorism and other disturbing content.

from Sunday "in order to prevent any misbehavior and to preserve the security of the entire population", according to a statement read on national TV on Saturday evening. The Netblocks internet observatory confirmed that a nationwide internet shutdown was in effect across Gabon - a move that was "likely to severely limit the public's ability to communicate during the election period".

Edvin Ballack Obame, a former student leader, said he reached the polling station at 6 a.m. but was unable to vote until 12 noon.

Ossa said that if elected, he would dissolve the National Assembly, redraw the electoral map and organize a new legislative election, with a goal of forming a government committed to addressing economic inequality.

“Sixty years in power is too much.

I’m not afraid of (President Bongo),” Ossa said after casting his ballot on Saturday afternoon.

Gabon's 2.3 million people are, in per capita terms, among the richest in Africa, thanks to income from oil, manganese and timber. But virtually all of the country's finished goods and food are imported, and a

third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

According to the U.S. State Dept. report on Human Rights Practices for 2022, the Gabonese government took some steps to prosecute officials and punish those convicted of human rights abuses or engaged in corruption; however, impunity remained a problem. Significant efforts were attempted to reduce cases of security forces harassing or extorting refugees and noncitizen Africans and to address violence against women, however, societal barriers continued to hinder women from reporting cases to authorities.

The Bongo family and associates have acquired enormous wealth after decades in power, which has led to judicial investigations in France. An investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists revealed that the Bongo family used substantial resources to sustain patronage networks and fund vote-buying during elections. Nearly 40% of Gabon’s youth, aged 15-24, were out of work in 2020, according to the World Bank, a marked increase since Bongo took office.

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is facing a $1.6 billion lawsuit from content moderators in Kenya over poor working conditions, insufficient mental health support and low pay for moderators.

The content moderators told the Associated Press that their job required them to watch horrific content for eight hours a day that would overwhelm many of them while being paid 60,000 Kenyan shillings, or roughly $414 U.S. dollars a month. They accused Sama, a San Francisco subcontractor that describes itself as an ethical AI company, of doing little to ensure post-traumatic professional counseling was offered. The suit was brought by 184 moderators from several African countries. The job entailed screening user content in 12 African languages and removing any uploads deemed to breach Facebook’s community standards and terms of service.

Earlier this year, Sama, which left the content moderation business, laid them off. The lawsuit in Kenya is the first known court challenge of its kind outside the United States.

In 2020, Facebook agreed to pay $52 million to U.S. content moderators who filed a class action lawsuit after they were repeatedly exposed to beheadings, child and sexu -

Under the terms of the deal, more than 10,000 content moderators who worked for Facebook from sites in four states will each be eligible for $1,000 in cash. In addition, those diagnosed with psychological conditions related to their work as Facebook moderators can have medical treatment covered, as well as additional damages of up to $50,000 per person

The African moderators expressed despair as money and work permits run out and they wrestle with the traumatic images that haunt them.

“If you feel comfortable browsing and going through the Facebook page, it is because there’s someone like me who has been there on that screen, checking, ‘Is this okay to be here?'” Nkunzimana, a father of three from Burundi, told The Associated Press in Nairobi.

The 33-year-old said content moderation is like soldiers taking a bullet for Facebook users, with workers watching harmful content showing killing, suicide and sexual assault and making sure it is taken down. For Nkunzimana and others, the job began with a sense of pride, feeling like they were “heroes to the community,” he said.

But as the exposure to alarming content reignited past traumas for some like him who had fled political or ethnic violence back home, the moderators found little support and a culture of secrecy. They were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements. Personal items like phones were not allowed at work. Facebook and Sama have defended their employment practices in June. Meta said its contractors are officially obliged to pay their employees above industry standard rates where they operate and provide on-site support by trained practitioners. A company spokesman said Meta could not comment on the Kenya case.

In an email to the AP, Sama said the salaries offered in Kenya were four times the local minimum wage and that all employees had unlimited access to one-on-one counseling. In countries like Kenya, where there is plenty of cheap labor available, the outsourcing of such sensitive work is “a story of an exploitative industry predicated on using global economic inequity to its advantage, doing harm and then taking no responsibility because the firms can say, ‘Well, we never employed so-and-so, that was, you know, the third party,” Sarah

Roberts, an expert in content moderation at the University of California, Los Angeles, told AP.

The Employment and Labor Relations court said they have 21 days to reach a settlement and that former Kenyan chief justice, Willy Mutunga, and labor commissioner, Hellen Apiyo would co-mediate the dispute.

N. Sarkozy. PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

A. Bongo. PHOTO: Courtesy of GIN

Lisa Vives Global Information Network

Alabama Unbowed in Battling Black Voting

GOP-Dominated State Defies Federal Courts on Voting Rights

By Mark Hedin Ethnic Media Services

Fo r more than 60 years, from Selma in 1965 to Shelby County in 2013, the state of Alabama has led the way in fighting to deny Black citizens their right to vote.

The latest chapter in that battle is the Allen v. Milligan redistricting case.

In it, the state’s Republican Party-dominated legislature and governor are defying even the very conservative current Supreme Court, that in June upheld a lower court’s finding that the state’s proposed new Congressional voting districts were unfair to 27% of Alabama’s population, its Black citizens.

In fact, the new voting district map the state offered in response to that ruling seems worse.

“This map, and the Republican politicians who supported it, would make George Wallace proud,” former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told the Alabama Political Reporter. “It very arrogantly defies a very conservative United States Supreme Court decision from just two weeks ago.”

Wallace, known for his “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” speech at his 1963 inauguration as Alabama’s governor, was a four-time presidential candidate.

Defying SCOTUS

Redistricting, as the process is called, is routinely done all across the country every 10 years to reflect new data from the most recent Census – 2020’s, in this case.

The original January 2022 ruling in Alabama, by a three-judge panel of the federal District Court for Northern Alabama, ordered the state back to the drawing board to reconfigure its newly drawn maps to give Black voters a chance to choose their representatives by having a voting-age majority in at least two of Alabama’s seven Congressional districts.

But Republicans continue to hold six of Alabama’s seven seats in Congress, because when the Supreme Court agreed in February 2022 to hear an appeal of the District Court’s ruling, it nonetheless allowed the maps in question to stay in place for that year’s elections, with predictable results.

Later in the year, the Supreme Court also

blocked a challenge to new maps in 30% Black Louisiana, where only one of the six Congressional districts have a majority Black voting-age population. This year, the Court reversed itself on June 26 and will let the challenge go forward.

Meanwhile, in the maps Alabama’s legislature and governor arrived at in July, Black voters are in the majority in only one district, the 7th, as has been the case since 1992.

Those maps were presented to Alabama’s District Court on Aug. 14, in response to the High Court’s June 9 decision this year that the lower court had been correct in finding the GOP-led state legislature violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by drawing – gerrymandering – the maps in such a way as to deny citizens equal representation at the polls. The High Court gave Alabama until July 21 to revise them.

Diluting the Black vote

But the new maps, produced just before that deadline, reduce the Black majority in the only district that had one, District 7, from 55% to just over 50%.

In District 2, the percentage of Black voters increases from 30% to almost 40%, likely not enough to produce a winning margin.

The rest of that 27% of the state’s population is divided between the other five districts to comprise less than 20% in each.

Richardson Makes Comeback at World Championships

Likely erasing all doubt about her commitment and ability, Sha’Carri

Richardson exploded on the outside lane 9 and overcame an early deficit to complete one of the most amazing comebacks in sports. The flamboyant sprinter won the world championships during an electric 100meter race in Hungary on Monday, Aug. 21.

The 23-year-old blazed through 100 meters at a career-best 10.65 seconds at the 2023 World Athletic Championships. She defeat ed a field that included star Jamaican sprint ers Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, who finished second and third, respectively. The Associated Press noted that the race featured four of the eight fastest runners of all time, including Marie-Josée Ta Lou, who finished fourth.

Richardson, an underdog coming in, became the first American since Tori Bowie in 2017, to win the women’s 100-meter world cham pionship. The victory was as satisfying as any athlete could experience, as it comes two years after officials booted Richardson from

The new maps, redistricting experts say, would fail to meet the court’s requirement that they level the playing field, or even, as the court had ordered, at least come close to doing so.

At the Aug. 14 hearing to consider those new maps, one of the three judges on the District Court panel, Terry F. Moorer, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, asked if Alabama had chosen to “deliberately disregard” the court’s previous instructions. The other two judges on the panel had similar questions, the Associated Press reported. Of the past 15 relevant contests in the state, the only one a Black-voter-preferred candidate would have won using these maps, a Brennan Center for Justice analysis found, was the December 2017 Senate race in which Doug Jones defeated the Republican Roy Moore, who’d been accused of sex crimes with teenagers.

Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed off on the proposed new maps immediately.

In theory, Alabama’s Black population can reasonably be expected to send two representatives to the U.S. Congress in the state’s seven-seat delegation.

Black voters in Alabama are overwhelmingly Democrat-supporting, more than 90% united in their choices and, besides District 7, concentrated in District 2 and its neighboring districts.

But candidates who can earn that support win only about 15% of white votes, and “Black Alabamians enjoy virtually zero success in statewide elections,” the District Court noted.

Members of the legislature who chose the currently proposed maps out of many submitted for their consideration said they were lobbied by national figures including Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, and Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

The District Court has yet to issue a ruling on the new maps or indicate when it might, but with next year’s elections looming, if it rules against the state’s proposals, it may appoint a cartographer of its own choosing to have them in place in October.

A nationally known cartographer and redistricting expert, Stanford Professor Nathaniel Persily, on July 24 abruptly stepped away from the Alabama assignment he’d been given in February and has declined repeated requests from Ethnic Media Services to discuss the situation.

GILBERT CASTELLANOS CHARLES McPHERSON

PHOTO: Ethnic Media Services

2023 World Athletics Championships Day 3 Sha'Carri Richardson.

PHOTO: Erik van Leeuwen/Wikimedia Commons

How to Find Factual Health Sources

By Anissa Durham Word In Black

Health misinformation and disinformation are everywhere. Because they’re so common and pervasive, the health consequences are rarely discussed in mainstream media.

More than 70% of people have been exposed to medical or health-related misinformation, according to a GoodRx Health study. This means many people are struggling to tell the difference between factual information and false information. For this story, Word In Black interviewed physicians on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, communications experts, and those with lived experience navigating health information.

What is health misinformation and disinformation?

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information. Oftentimes, misinformation is unintentionally presented as fact. By having access to information that is simply not accurate,

Embracing Well-Being for a Balanced Life

By Miss AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle via Word In Black

In today’s fast-paced world, prioritizing our well-being is more important than ever. Well-being encompasses physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. When we care for all aspects of our well-being, we can better cope with stress, manage our emotions, and build strong relationships. We are also more likely to achieve our goals and live a fulfilling life. Some of the benefits of prioritizing well-being include:

and personal life can be difficult. When we set boundaries and make time for the things that are important to us, we reduce stress and improve our overall well-being.

Cultivating Mindfulness

people may make health decisions based on incorrect information. Disinformation is false or misleading information that is deliberately intended to mislead. When someone knows something to be untrue but shares it as fact anyways. Disinformation is an aggressive action, where people or organizations purposefully mislead others about the facts about health care or preventative health issues.

What is the danger of health misinformation and disinformation?

Black folks are disproportionately impacted by a number of health conditions and diseases. When health misinformation and disinformation are circulating, the Black community bears the brunt of misleading information. Especially when many folks already experience a level of distrust in the healthcare system. The danger of believing health misinformation and disinformation can lead to misdiagnoses, undiagnosed illnesses, or death.

Where can you find credible health sources?

If you are looking online for health information, check credible sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, John Hopkins Medicine, and the Mayo Clinic. If you are looking on social media for health information, consider who is delivering that information. If you are looking for health infor-

Improved Physical Health

When we eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep, we feel better physically and have more energy. We are also less likely to develop chronic diseases.

Enhanced Mental Clarity and Emotional Resilience

When we practice mindfulness, manage stress effectively, and seek help when needed, we improve our cognitive function and emotional well-being. We are better able to cope with challenges and bounce back from setbacks.

Positive Social Connections

Strong social bonds contribute to our overall well-being. When we have people we can rely on for support, we feel more connected and less isolated.

Personal Growth and Fulfillment

Engaging in activities that we enjoy and align with our values helps us grow and develop as individuals. We feel more fulfilled and satisfied when living in alignment with our passions.

Mindfulness is being fully present at the moment. When mindful, we are less likely to be caught up in the past or the future. We are more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations and better able to cope with stress. Prioritizing well-being is not always easy, but it is essential for living a fulfilling and balanced life. There are many things we can do to make well-being a priority, such as:

• Eat healthy foods

• Get regular exercise

• Get enough sleep

• Manage stress

• Connect with others

• Pursue your passions

• Set boundaries

• Take care of your mental health

By prioritizing well-being, we can create a truly satisfying and meaningful life. We can live with greater joy, peace, and resilience. We can face challenges confidently and optimistically, allowing us space to elevate positive energy in our world.

PHOTO: Demis Courquet-Lesaulnier/Word In Black

PHOTO: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

‘A NIGHT TO REMEMBER’ CONCERT Celebrates Talent in Southeast

By Voice and Viewpoint Staff

On the second Saturday this month at the VFW Lemon Grove from 7 PM to 11 PM, A Night to Remember Claude Bell & Friends Concert was the place to be! Featuring the talents of New Vision, Roosevelt Carter, Aaron Holland, Ronnie Foxworth, Claude Bell and more, the scene was definitely hot with live music, dancing, and plenty of camaraderie.

A Night to Remember was created to appreciate the incredible musicians and vocalists that have served Southeast San Diego for generations. “We celebrate past, present and future artists from this region for it is enriched with talent. We stand on the shoulders of these beautiful souls,” artist Claude Bell shared with The Voice and Viewpoint.

Working to improve wildfire safety 24/7.

That’s the power to help prevent wildfires.

SDG&E is committed to safety. Every single day our expert team of meteorologists, fire scientists, and advanced aerial fleet are hard at work safeguarding communities from the threat of wildfires. Wildfire season never stops, neither do our prevention efforts. Learn more about SDG&E’s wildfire prevention program at sdge.com/WildfireSafety.

WE NEED TO TALK CELEBRATES COMMUNITY BOYS & MEN

By Darrel Wheeler, Contributing Writer

The We Need to Talk Men’s Health Forum held its Boy’s and Men’s Health Celebration at the Education Culture Complex on the last Saturday of August from 9 AM to 2 PM.

The special event featured a variety of important and knowledgeable guest speakers including Cheryl Foster, Education Coordinator of the Professional Football Players Mothers Association; Dr. Jerome Robinson, Retired Cardiovascular Specialist; Lewis Thompson of the Man In The Mirror Ministry; and Gilbert Salazzar of Mens Mentorship, among other informative speakers.

An array of resource booths aligned the building ready to serve the community, namely, the San Diego Fire Department and the Southeastern Little League along with many others posted at 4343 Ocean View Blvd. Workshops, activities & resources were also made available to the Southeastern community including no-cost memory screens for brain health, job placement, and a fun zone for the kiddies.

“We are here trying to bring men and boys back together and create meaningful conversation and action, connect with other organizations and support the vendors here today,” Founder and Executive Director Terry Robinson shared. “We want to let the

men of this community know how important and valuable they are as mentors.”

To learn more about the We Need to Talk Men’s Health Forum, visit weneedtotalkmhf.org.

If you are a victim or witness to hate, racism or bullying – you can receive free support from California vs Hate. The hotline will help identify options for next steps after a hate act and make connections to community-specific resources. Anyone can report anonymously and your report will not be shared with law enforcement without your consent unless required by law.

For any questions, contact CA vs Hate at StopHate@calcivilrights.ca.gov.

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

San Diego Voice & Viewpoint recently received a grant from the state aimed at preventing hate crimes. This program, administered by the California Department of Social Services in partnership with the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA), is part of ongoing efforts in California to provide direct support for communities impacted by hate incidents and support victims.

Black Business Month FAQs

What is the largest Black-owned business in America?

RLJ Lodging Trust, one of the largest publicly owned Black businesses, reported total assets of $5,92 billion in June 2020.

What does “support Black business” mean?

When you choose to support Blackowned businesses, you’re supporting Black pride, unity, and self-determination. While that may be intimidating to some, it would mean the world to many families and communities. Black entrepreneurship is a tool for survival in a world that does not want to see you win.

What percentage of businesses are Black-owned?

Black people owned approximately 124,551 businesses, with about 28.5% (35,547) of these businesses in the health care and social assistance sector, the highest percentage of any minority group.

5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT DISPARITY IN BLACK BUSINESSES

1. Ratios Matter

A study shows that the median wealth held by White to Black families is 10:1.

2. Unemployment

Veganism: Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Are Good for Business

By Niya Harris The Burton Wire

Historically, twice as many Black people have been unemployed than White people.

3. Wage disparity affects generation as There is a greater likelihood that Black children will live in poverty as compared to White children.

4. Homeownership

Only 42% of Black families own their homes, as compared to 73% of White families.

5. School to prison trajectory African Americans are six times more likely to be incarcerated than their White counterparts.

HOW TO OBSERVE BLACK BUSINESS MONTH

Show Your Support

Use Black directories on the internet to guide you to Black-owned businesses for your daily needs or any car repair work or fine-tuning that needs doing. This can help you shop local when it comes to small businesses owned by Black people. You can also follow the hashtag trails on social media to follow Black business pages and help them gain a wider reach.

Read About Black Entrepreneurship

Support Black entrepreneurs by

hearing what they have to say firsthand. There is a ton of literature out there that has been written and read by successful Black entrepreneurs and businesspeople, so grab any one and get reading.

To help you out, we bring you some of the more popular ones, including, "The Color of Money" by Mehrsa Baradaran, "The Little Black Book of Success" by Elaine Meryl Brown, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, and "Everyday Millionaires" by Chris Hogan.

Try 'Black Food Fridays'

Look no further than #BlackFoodFridays on Instagram to be part of the super-cool movement started by Charleston, South Carolina's writer/activist/innovator — K. J. Kearney. The aim of the movement is simple; to direct peoples' attention to Black-owned restaurants all over the country. The idea is now developing into a business, with apps like ‘EatOkra’ also doing the same.

In the last 10 years, the plantbased meat industry has skyrocketed, and vegan restaurants have been popping up in mass numbers across the globe. Black-owned vegan restaurant culture is a staple in cities like Baltimore, MD, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington, DC and Oakland, CA, but plant-based meat industry and markets are global. What many people don’t know is South Africa has been an early pioneer of the meat alternative industry beginning in the 1990s.

Yeshiel Panchia discusses this factor in an article for Forbes Africa, beginning with the story of South African builder and farmer, Wally Fry, who decided that he could no longer ethically consume animals and started a plant-based company in 1991.

Fry’s decision was ‘fostered by his wife and daughters’ vegetarianism and catalyzed by the conditions he witnessed in a piggery he constructed.” Unable to find anything that “tasted, looked, and felt like meat,” he decided to invent it. His decision later developed into Fry Family Food Co., the now multi-milliondollar manufacturer of vegan meat substitutes. The dominant consumers of Fry Family Food Co. and other plant-based meat companies are not who you might expect.

Most consumers of meat alternatives are people who are simply intrigued by the idea of plant-based meat that tastes the same. In fact, vegans and vegetarians only make up 4% and 6% of global consumers of plant-based meat. As Fry says in an interview,

many alternative meat companies are taking advantage of the newness of plant-based meat by marketing their “healthy burger” to curious consumers. After getting a taste of the meat alternatives, the health and environmental motivators typically follow.

South Africa continues to lead the meat-alternative industry, as vegan/ vegetarian food options multiply throughout the country. In 2022, Burger King launched plant-based Whoppers, Royale’s and Nuggets in South Africa. One South African company, Mzansi Meat, is working to grow meat using live animal cells! Many people are recognizing the threat of climate change to the world and the significant role eating meat plays in the destructive global system. Eating meat adds to many problems including the amount of land used to raise the meat, carbon emissions from factories, animal abuse and deforestation in places like South America resulting in forest fires that further wreak havoc on wildlife and the environment. As a result, some countries and companies are increasingly relying on the meat-alternative industry for solutions and South Africa should be one of the first points of reference. For more information about this topic, read Forbes Africa. This article originally appeared in The Burton Wire.

VETERANS

Continued from cover

Institutional racism continues to persist through channels of assistance for Black Veterans as the Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged that discrimination has likely played a major role in major discrepancies in assistance. “We recognize that in the past there has been institutional discrimination that may have played a role in the adjudication of benefits,” VA press secretary Terrence Hayes told Axios News last month following an announcement that the department has taken on an initiative to address disparities.

Documents released through an open records request filed earlier this year by Black Veterans Project in Baltimore showed proof of racial discrimination in the accessibility of mental health/disability benefits offered to Veterans. Data retrieved from the fiscal year of 2023 showed that 15.52% of all Black Veterans who applied for physical or mental health benefits were denied assistance by the VA, compared to 10.6% of white Veterans.

This is consistent with reports from 2017, showing that Black Veterans seeking disability benefits for PTSD were denied 57% of the time, compared to a 43% rate of denial for white counterparts. From 2017 to 2023, white Veterans enjoyed a consistently higher grant rate than Black Veterans every year. Despite seeking and applying for services at a higher rate (43% compared to 31.7% for white Veterans),

muslims

Continued from page 3

Last but not least, Islamic banking practices like the ban on interest can act as an alternative to conventional banking systems, which have been accused of fostering racial socioeconomic inequality. Islamic banking can increase access to financial services for minorities, who frequently lack access to traditional banking services due to income inequality. Islamic banking does this by providing an ethical framework for lending money without charging interest.

It’s no longer a choice but an obligation to take the current economic state of our community

Black Veterans have received significantly less assistance than whites.

Even among those receiving services, Black Veterans often have worse outcomes, according to a study featured in Psychiatric Services, Volume 73 in 2022. Of the 2,870 Veterans treated nationally in VA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs in fiscal year 2017, Black Veterans receiving services from the VA experienced a higher rate of depression symptom recurrence 4 months after discharge compared to white Veterans. While services were proven to improve conditions across demographics, Black Veterans still experienced markedly poorer outcomes.

The effects of these institutional failures are apparent and run deep, contributing to the framework of larger social issues with devastating repercussions. According to a study by the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Black Veterans are substantially prevalent in the homeless population compared to other Veterans, comprising 39% of the total homeless veteran population despite making up only 11% of the total veteran population. Outcomes in PTSD and depression are typically worse, and likewise, Black Veterans are more likely to fall into alcoholism even with similar levels of consumption to their white counterparts, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Additionally, a study conducted by the nonprofit research group Rand Corp. showed there were

1.76 suicide attempts among Black troops for

into consideration. We need to be aware of the influence of our purchasing power and support the policies that influence the expansion of the local economy. We should not rely on the government or corporate entities to bring about change in our communities. However, we should hold them responsible and have a plan in place for how to make amends for their wrongdoing. It is our responsibility to ensure that we are championing the idea of contributing to capital reinvestment in our community in order to ensure its expansion and prosperity for coming generations.

Furthermore, rather than relying on outside sources, we must develop a financial system unique to the Black community. We should

each by a white service member. As services falter, so does the quality of life for Black Veterans compared to white former service members, resulting in higher documented rates of homelessness, alcohol use disorder, and suicide.

Texas is home to over 1.6 million Veterans, with one-fourth of all Veterans statewide residing in the DFW area. Dallas previously made the news in 2016 when on July 7, Black veteran Micah Xavier Johnson killed five officers and wounded seven others before being slain in a stand-off with police Downtown. Reflecting disillusionment, pain, and a documented resentment of a deeply flawed system exacerbated by increasing violence against Black Americans by law enforcement, the incident illustrated the result of the systemic failures of the Department of Veterans Affairs as much as it did the institutional racism present throughout American life.

As an Army Reserve Afghan War veteran, Johnson showed warning signs of potential violence prior to the calculated attack on white law enforcement. He was previously recommended for mental health counseling by a fellow soldier who accused him of sexual harassment. Stating that they were platonic friends of over four years, she recalled an event when Johnson punched out a car window during an outburst, severing an artery and requiring medical treatment. Following an inspection, Johnson was deemed a threat to others and disarmed by his commanding officer. After a period of high stress and ostracization, Johnson was mistakenly honorably discharged according to the Army and never was provided counseling. This and

also stay informed about economic inequality and use our resources to help eliminate it, in turn becoming disruptors to the current state of our economic affairs. The tenets that Black people should “Do for themselves” are the foundation of these principles. This motto encourages the development of economic self-sufficiency among Black people and serves as an inspiration for them to build their own economic ecosystem.

The racial wealth gap nonetheless persists, so Black Muslims must keep advocating for measures to address the causes of inequality in order to close the gap. Black Muslims can regain the self-assurance to take charge of their financial destinies and build a new world for themselves and future generations by relying

other details were released following his death.

Other Veterans, such as Paul, 72, a former Army sergeant living in South Dallas that served in the Vietnam War, have suffered lifelong cases of PTSD while continuing to work and seek out services from the VA. “I still have nightmares from what we did,” Paul says, explaining that insomnia brought on by PTSD has left him sleepless most nights.

“When I go in to get help, I have to stand in line behind a hundred other people. They expect you to smile and be polite. I fought for this country. I bled for this country,” Paul says. “All of my guys came back. Nobody was dead, nobody with one leg or one arm, everybody came back. And all they did was whatever I told them to.” Suffering night terrors, high anxiety, and depression, Paul recently secured compensation for false denials of repeated disability claims. “I sued their asses and won,” Paul says. “And the money’s great but look at how long it took. Forty years for me to get what I should’ve already got. I’m over 70 years old. They already robbed me.”

Almost 80 years after the GI Bill was rendered largely inaccessible for Black Veterans, the group continues to suffer due to institutional patterns of discrimination. As the demographic receives lesser treatment than white former service members, the figurative cracks in our society turn to fissures as they become more firmly integrated within our institutions. Despite the VA’s promise to right institutional wrongs, lasting effects have left the lives of Black Veterans at greater risk of debasement.

on these principles and upholding this legacy. We have the ability to affect long-lasting change both domestically and internationally because of our position as Black Americans. However, in order to achieve this, we must take decisive action to overcome systemic obstacles. If our voices are included in the global dialogue, our vision of equality can take shape; however, without first addressing injustice at home, we won’t be able to make real progress on a global scale. We’ve waited too long; it’s time for us to take control and turn survival into thriving! This article originally appeared in The Muslim Journal.

Create a Care Plan for Older Parents (Or Yourself)

By Liz Weston NERDWALLET

At some point, most older people will need help getting through the day. Someone turning 65 today has a 70% chance of eventually requiring assistance with basic living activities, such as bathing, dressing and using the toilet, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare typically doesn’t pay for such help. Making a care plan well in advance allows families to get organized, locate appropriate resources and figure out ways to pay for care before a crisis hits.

DEAL WITH DENIAL FIRST

The biggest barrier can be our own wishful thinking, says Katy Butler, author of the books “The Art of Dying Well” and “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.”

One way to cope is to plan for temporary rather than permanent disability. For example, what kind of help might you or your loved one need after a hip or knee replacement? How well is the home set up for recovery? Who would help with household tasks? Contemplating a two- or three-month disability with an eventual return to health is less daunting, but involves much of the same planning as a more lasting decline, says Butler, who lives in Mill Valley, California.

THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU'LL GET CARE

Many people want to remain in their current

homes as they age, something called “aging in place.” That typically means relying on family members for care, or using paid workers, or both. If family members will be tapped, discuss the logistics, including whether and how much they will be paid. If home health aides

will be hired, consider who will supervise the process. Costs can mount quickly. Nationally, a full-time home health aide costs an average of $5,148 a month, according to long-term care insurer Genworth.

EXPLORE WAYS TO COVER COSTS

Are there savings that can be tapped? Does the older person have long-term care insurance or can they get a reverse mortgage? Will other family members chip in? Does the older person qualify for government help, such as veterans benefits, Medicaid or state programs?

Also, consider whether the current home is “aging friendly,” McClanahan says. An occupational therapist can suggest adaptations that could allow the older person to remain in the home if they're disabled.

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Civil

37-2023-00035983CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Linglin Tian, Sheng Yuan on behalf of minor

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Linglin Tian, Sheng Yuan on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Xianqian Yuan

PROPOSED NAME:

Ryan Xianqian Yuan

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

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: October 04, 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 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

HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Sage Canyon Apartments, a 72-unit affordable apartment community in San Marcos, is closing its waitlist by September 5, 2023! This property is located near schools, grocery-anchored retail and a park, and offers 1, 2, and 3- bdr apartments with rents from $704 - $1,662 per month. The community includes balconies, all electric kitchens, wall-to-wall carpets, and on-site parking. Residential community offers a community room with kitchen, on-site laundry facilities, and children’s play areas. Pre-applications for the waitlist will be accepted until Tuesday September 5, 2023 at 5PM. To apply, visit BRIDGE Housing Website at https://bridgehousing.com/properties/ sage-canyon/ The office is located at 1020 Stephanie Court in San Marcos, CA. Office hours are Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM. For more info, call 760-798-9113. Income and other restrictions apply. Section 8 welcome. EHO.

LEGAL NOTICES

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 8/17, 8/24, 8/31, 9/07

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall Of Justice Central Division 37-2023-00032767CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Shuvonda Miller on behalf of minor

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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 8/24, 8/31, 9/07, 9/14

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall Of Justice Courthouse

37-2023-00034738

-CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

Keymuandre Pedro Clady

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

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

PRESENT NAME:

Keymuandre Pedro Clady

PROPOSED NAME:

Keymuandre Tamru Abdallah

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: September 27, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M.

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Shuvonda Miller on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Kalaiah Shane Sherelle Moore

PROPOSED NAME: Kalaiah Shane Sherelle Langford

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: September 18, 2023 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-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 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 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall Of Justice

37-2023-00032671CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

Ashley Dawn McEachernStains AKA Ashley Dawn McEachern

To All Interested Persons:

Petitioner Ashley Dawn McEachernStains AKA Ashley Dawn McEachern filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Ashley Dawn McEachernStains AKA Ashley Dawn McEachern

PROPOSED NAME:

Asher Dawn McEachernStains

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: September 18, 2023

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 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 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

SUMMONS

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HANOVER COUNTY Plaintiff ESTHER GORDON DAVIS VS Defendants ARLENE K. LEE, et als Case No.CL22003225-00

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Date 08/28/23 8/31, 9/07, 9/14, 9/21

PROBATE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Curtis

Ralph Hougland

Case Number: 37-2023-00033214-PR-PWCTL

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

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Kenneth Robert Mullenix in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Kenneth Robert Mullenix be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent's will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. 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 October 25, 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 Central Division Central Courthouse

DONYALE LUNA BORN

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 directions.

MUST

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

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-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

The object of this suit is to effect partition amongst the owners by sale or otherwise of the real property located in South Anna District, Hanover County, Virgina, now containing 2.34 acres, more or less, designated as Hanover GPIN 7748-79-8651 and being Lot 6 containing 3.34 acres shown on plat of survey recorder in Plat Book 23 page 195, less and except 1.00 acre conveyed out by deed recorded in Deed Book 174 page 589, and that portion taken by the Commonwealth for road improvements, An affidavit having been made and filed that the defendant, Charles Cosby, died May 28, 1998 and last lived at 3937 Hamilton Street, San Diego, CA 92104-2801, and the Unknown Defendants are the heirs of Charles Cosby. The names and post office address of his spouse, heirs, devisees and successors in title, if any such there be other than those named in this cause, are unknown, such parties being made defendants by the general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN.

It is ORDERED that the Unknown Defendants who are the heirs of Charles Cosby believed to be dead and the names post office address of his spouse, heirs, devisees and successors in title, if any such there be other than those named in this cause, are unknown, such parties being made defendants by general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN do appear before this Court on or before October 18, 2023 at 9: a.m. and do what is necessary to protect their interest.

It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in Voice & Viewpoint, a newspaper published in or having circulation in the City of San Diego, California.

Grayson S. Johnson, Esq VSB #12636 Johnson & Johnson Attorneys at Law

Rockville, Virginia

Before the Civil Rights Movement, Black models could be seen in Jet and Ebony, but never on the covers of white and European fashion magazines. That is until Donyale Luna, the first Black supermodel and the first Black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue

Luna, born Peggy Ann Freeman on August 31, 1946, in Detroit, Michigan, first began her modeling career in April 1965 when Harper’s Bazaar featured a line-drawing sketch of her on its cover, the first Black model to ever appear in the magazine. In March 1966, Donyale Luna became the first Black model to appear on the cover of the British edition of Vogue. Luna was also the first Black fashion icon, and her face and form inspired the first Black mannequin produced in 1967.

Discovered in her college years by Detroit photographer David McCabe, she was prompted to move to New York to become a model. There she was discovered by Andy Warhol, becoming his favorite muse making Luna one of the highest-paid models of her day. Luna was also one of surrealist artist Salvador Dali’s favorite models.

On May 17, 1979, Luna passed in her youth at 32 years old.

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.

Attorney for Petitioner: Edward B. Fischel, LL.M. 459 West 4th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401 (909) 388-0050 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

1890

NATHANIEL CLIFTON PASSES

Nathaniel Clifton, one of the first three Black players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the twentieth century, was born Clifton Nathaniel on October 13, 1922, in England, Arkansas, and raised in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1948, Clifton signed with the Harlem Globetrotters. Clifton became the third Black player to sign an NBA contract following Earl Francis Lloyd (Washington Capitols) and Charles Henry Cooper (Boston Celtics). Clifton made his New York Knicks debut on November 4, 1950, three days after Cooper. At age 34, Clifton was the oldest player in NBA history to be named a first-time All-Star. He was later inducted into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame in 1978.

Nathaniel Clifton died on August 31, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois.

Donyale Luna on the covers of Harpers Bazaar (1965) and British Vogue (1966). PHOTO: Delectant

Eagles Nest Christian Center

Search: Pastor John E. Warren San Diego

We are a non-denominational full fellowship

of Christ

This

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.

Della Louise

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Della Louise Mitchell was born on October 27, 1946 in San Diego, California to Fayola and Cleveland Mitchell. She was the fourth of nine children.

Della attended Stockton Elementary, Memorial Junior High School, and graduated from San Diego High School in 1964.

Della was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of S.M. Lockridge. She later joined Mt. Erie Baptist Church under the pastor Walter G. Wells.

Della was a trailblazer. Later in life, Della would fully embrace and pursue her purpose. She reconnected with and married her high school sweetheart, Johnny Anderson, Jr.

Della attended the Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) and received her Associate of Arts in Drug and Alcohol Counseling. She was able to mentor young people while she built her reputation as a drug and alcohol counselor in the community.

In 1997, Della founded the OG Sandbox and expanded her mentoring services, providing school supplies and resources to children in need. She held an annual picnic at Mountain View Park, where the community could experience her fostering love. Della continued mentoring and counseling drug and alcohol clients until her health began to fail. Della was a visionary, an outspoken, straight forward, and generous woman. She would take people into her home, to feed and talk with them, anything she could to help. Even during her own healthcare battles, she could be found trying to care for others. Her legacy for taking care of others will live on forever in the hearts of those she encountered.

Della’s greatest life focus was her love for her family, her desire for their unity, and love for one another. She helped raise her grandchildren and loved spending time hosting family gatherings. She was a good friend and neighbor who left an impression. She enjoyed watching movies and loved sports, especially the college games.

On August 13, 2023, Della Louise Mitchell Anderson left time and entered into eternity.

Della was preceded in death by her husband Johnny Anderson, Jr., her parents; Cleveland and Fayola Mitchell, brothers; Jack and Claude Mitchell, and three sisters; Peggy McGowan, Shirley Mitchell, and Judy Monia.

Left to treasure her memories are her daughters; Shimone Anderson and Shontay Nash, sisters; Dorothy James and Carrie Monia, brother Herman Monia, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Cassandra Lorean Webb, also known as Cassandra “Sandy” Hicks, was born in Wichita, Kansas on February 1, 1960 to Viola L. and Kelly M. Hicks.

Cassandra lived a life of love, excitement, and laughter. Sandy passed on from this life on August 8, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters; Janice M. Harrison and Kelly B. Hicks, brother David Lee, and daughter Athena Anderson.

Sandy is survived by her children; Ben Michael Hicks and wife Audra Hicks, James Williams Hicks, Johnathan O’Davis Wise, Jessica Wise-Graham and husband Michael Graham, sister Loretta Hicks, fourteen grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joyce

Mitchell

SUNRISE 06/15/1942

SUNSET 07/28/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY CALIFORNIA

CREMATION & BURIAL

Born June 15, 1942, in Vernon, Texas, Joyce Mitchell would later become a musical matriarch in her own right. In the late 1960’s, she moved to California, where she would lay down her foundation and create a legacy. Her church affiliations were; Shiloh MBC, New Bethel BC, New Corinthian BC, and a list of other churches in the community.

She attended San Diego City College, where she studied Psychology. She later decided to go into transportation and became a bus driver, where she gave 18 years of service.

As she made her home in San Diego, she would come together with her family and form a group called the Gospel Melodiettes of San Diego. They traveled near and far to spread the Gospel and share the anointed gift that God had given them.

The years to follow, with her knowledge, she would find her place in helping churches and organizations in gospel music and kingdom building. She dedicated her life to Christ, and from there he opened many doors.

In 1977, God would bless her with a child that would also follow in her footsteps and continue the family legacy. In the early 1990’s, she became a foster parent and would grow her family of 2 to a family of 8, all while being a single parent. She loved her family, and she loved people.

On July 28, 2023, she was called home to be with the Lord. With her infectious personality, she touched so many hearts and later became known as “Momma Mitchell”. She will truly be missed by all, but we know she is flying high watching over us. “Singing in the Heavenly Choir” WE LOVE YOU.

Ni-Kena

Allen

SUNRISE 01/24/1983

SUNSET 08/01/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY CALIFORNIA CREMATION & BURIAL

Ni-Kena Allen, a woman of passion, thoughtfulness, and adventure, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2023, in San Diego, California. Born on January 24, 1983, Ni-Kena's life was a testament to her adventurous spirit, her passion for exploring new experiences, and her thoughtful nature that touched the lives of those around her.

Ni-Kena was a proud alumna of Lincoln High School. Her love for aesthetics led her to pursue an Esthetician Degree, a field where she flourished and left a mark.

Her professional journey at Loews Coronado Bay Resort was a testament to her dedication, hard work, and passion. Her colleagues and customers remember her for her radiant smile, her ability to make others feel special, and her commitment to her work.

In her personal life, Ni-Kena was a woman of many interests. She had an insatiable curiosity for discovering new food places. She explored various cultures through their cuisines. She had a love for the written word, both as a reader and a writer. Her writings often reflected her thoughtful nature. Ni-Kena had a unique knack for exploring new perfumes, a hobby that often surprised and delighted those around her with her unusual and exquisite choices. Traveling was another passion that Ni-Kena pursued. She loved exploring new places, meeting new people, and immersing herself in different cultures.

Her love for music was well-known amongst her friends and family. Ni-Kena was an avid fan of hip, neo soul and R&B genres. Her collection of music was a reflection of her eclectic tastes. She was also a sports enthusiast and a fervent supporter of the Lakers basketball and Chargers football teams. Her favorite flower, the Cherry Blossom, was a symbol of her love for beauty and nature. Her life was a beautiful journey of passion, thoughtfulness, and adventure. She lived her life to the fullest, with a zest that was infectious and a spirit that was indomitable. She will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing her and being touched by her kindness and warmth. As we remember Ni-Kena, we celebrate the remarkable woman she was and the wonderful life she led. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those who were fortunate enough to know her.

Love Lives On A. Bradley

Those we love are never really lost to us we feel them in so many special ways through friends they always cared about and dreams they left behind, in beauty that they added to our days… in words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be gone… Those we love are never really lost to us

For everywhere their special love lives on.

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

Psalm 34:18

Chanelle Yvette

Dyas

SUNRISE 01/11/1968

SUNSET 08/06/2023

Chanelle Yvette Dyas was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 6, 2023. She was born on January 11, 1968. She loved so many, and many loved her in return. God loved her also, and decided that it was time to end her pain and suffering on Earth and join Him in her Heavenly home.

She was preceded in death by her mother Rozetta McCoy, her father Woodrow McCoy and her sister Mazetta “Mazie” Sinegal. Left behind to cherish her loving memory is her husband Damon Dyas, her three children; Ciara Turner, Todd McCoy, and Steven Todd, Jr., siblings; Denise Jackson, Benita Gates, and Anthony Reed (wife Rita), her three granddaughters; Skylar Todd, Saveya Todd, and Kamela Roze McCoy, The Dyas family (In Laws), and a host of nieces, nephews, and close friends.

James Olanders

Bowlin

SUNRISE 06/06/1970

SUNSET 08/04/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY CALIFORNIA

CREMATION & BURIAL

James Olanders Bowlin was born on June 6, 1970 in San Diego, CA. He was the only child born to Paula Ann Jones and Samuel Coleman, Sr. James was a fun-loving and active child. He attended grade school, secondary school, and Hoover High School in San Diego Unified School District. He graduated from Garfield High School.

James accepted Christ at an early age and enjoyed attending church and reading scripture. Anyone who met James soon realized what a talkative and intelligent man he was. He was always thinking ahead and coming up with ideas to improve his circumstances and his family’s well-being.

He worked for several years as a Blood Mobile driver, bringing hope and life-saving blood to many San Diegans in need. He later became a cross country truck driver and took great pride in covering 48 states during his career.

Brian Anthony

SUNRISE 07/16/1969

SUNSET 06/02/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY CALIFORNIA CREMATION & BURIAL

Brian Anthony Noel was born July 16, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois to Larry Noel and Diane (Scott) Hill. He attended Holy Angels Catholic School Chicago. Brian moved to California with his parents and lived in Long Beach, California for a while. He eventually moved and settled in San Diego, California.

Brian attended Sierra High School and graduated from Kearney High School. Brian was very intelligent and always did well in school academically. He loved sports and played football and baseball.

After graduation, Brian worked for the post office and later became a licensed Certified Nurses Assistant.

Michael Anthony

McCarary

SUNRISE 02/18/1961

SUNSET 08/12/2023

ARRANGEMENTS BY CALIFORNIA CREMATION & BURIAL

Michael Anthony McCarary, known for his passion, friendliness, and selflessness, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2023. Born on February 18, 1961, he was raised in the heart of his beloved city, San Diego. Michael was a proud graduate of Lincoln High School.

His diligent work ethic led him to a long-standing career at UPS, where he was respected and admired by his colleagues. Michael's dedication to his work was second to his dedication to his community. He was actively involved and always eager to lend a helping hand.

Music was a significant part of Michael's life. His love for the Funkadelics, Zapp, and all things groovy was well known amongst his friends and family. He could often be found hum ming a tune or tapping his feet to the rhythm of his favorite songs. His love for music was paralleled by his love for lowrider cars. Michael took great delight in showcasing his lowriders, often adding his unique touch to their designs.

Michael was also known for his impeccable style. He had a flair for fashion and loved getting dressed up. Whether it was a sim ple day at work or a special occasion, he was always dressed to impress. He loved to watch football, always cheering on his favor ite team, the Green Bay Packers. His enthusiasm was contagious, making every game a memorable event.

On March 4, 2022, Michael's life changed drastically after a car accident. Despite the challenges, he remained optimistic and fought bravely. His outgoing nature never waned. Instead, he used his experience to encourage and inspire others.

When God called, Michael answered with the same courage and grace that characterized his life. His departure leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him, but his memory lives on in the stories, laughter, and love he shared with us all. Michael's vibrant spirit and love for life were infectious to those fortunate enough to have known him.

Michael Anthony McCarary was more than just a man; he was a symbol of resilience, a beacon of hope, and an inspiration to all. His legacy will forever be a testament to his indomitable spirit and unwavering optimism. As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his life, cherishing the memories we shared and the lessons he taught us. To know Michael was to love him. His infectious smile, his hearty laugh, and his boundless love for life will be missed but never forgotten. As we say our final goodbyes, we remember Michael not for how he died, but for how he lived: with passion, selflessness, and an enduring love for his community. His memory will forever be a guiding light in our hearts.

In June 2013, James met the love of his life, his wife, Renee Salazar. They enjoyed spending quality time together with their boys Maliki and James Jr. (JJ) and his beloved dog, Homer. Additionally, James was an avid chess player and master at the BBQ grill. He enjoyed listening to old-school R&B music, playing cards, games, and taking an occasional trip to the local casino. James loved people, and whenever he could, he would stop and help out the homeless.

James had a special appreciation and love for his grandparents, who loved and supported him throughout his lifetime.

On Friday, August 4, 2023, James went from labor to his reward, and is now resting with our Father in Heaven.

He was preceded in death by his mother Paula Ann Jones, father Samuel Coleman, Sr., and grandmother Helen Dallas.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Renee, his children; Mac Smith, Maliki, and James Jr. (JJ), his grandfather Olanders Dallas, aunts; Brenda Akaigbe (Frankie) and Joyce Cattenhead, his brother Sam Coleman, Jr., sisters; Latrice Booker-Coleman, Sherell Coleman-Carter, and Lakisha Coleman, as well as a host of relatives and friends who will miss him but never forget him.

Brian, affectionately known as “Tony”, had two children, Octavia Marie Noel and Andre Noel. He was very kind and always the peacekeeper. He tried to mend differences and always looked at the brighter side of things. He experienced some challenges, but he worked hard to overcome them. He had many friends and was known and loved by everyone.

Tony passed away on June 2, 2023.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents Larry Noel and Diane (Scott) Hill, grandparents Elmer (Scotty) and Estelle Scott, and Amos and Virginia Noel.

He leaves behind to mourn his passing, children; Octavia Marie Noel and Andre Noel, grandchildren; Asani Hernandez, Isaac Hernandez, Alani Hernandez, and Luna A., brother Larry Noel, sisters; Angela Noel and Enid Powell, girlfriend Cathy, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, uncles, other relatives, and friends.

Memories Build a Special Bridge

Our memories build a special bridge when loved ones have to part to help us feel we’re with them still and sooth a grieving heart. Our memories span the years we shared, preserving ties that bind, They build a special bridge of love and bring us peace of mind.

Emily Matthews

To Honour You

Connie F. Kiefer Byrd

secret knowledge.

I get up every day and take a breath. And start another day without you in it.

To honour you...

I laugh and love with those who knew your smile And the way your eyes twinkled with mischief and

To honour you... I take the time to appreciate everyone I love, I know now there is no guarantee of days or hours spent in their presence.

To honour you... I listen to music you would

have liked, And sing at the top of my lungs, with the windows rolled down

To honour you...

I take chances, say what I feel, hold nothing back, Risk making a fool of myself, dance every dance.

You were my light, my heart, my gift of love, from the very highest source. So every day, I vow to make a difference, share a smile, live, laugh and love. Now I live for us both, so all I do, I do to honour you.

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