Vol. 64 No 22 Thursday, May 30, 2024

By Emily Kim Jenkins CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The room was buzzing with hushed conversation as attendees filed in. The Voice & Viewpoint’s yellow banners declared “California is for everyone” in bold print surrounding a podium where publisher Dr. John Warren sat, preparing to moderate.

On May 23 at the Southeastern Live Well Center, representatives of law enforcement agencies and community based organizations (CBOs) gathered to discuss how LEAs are handling reported acts of hate. The theme of the event was Law

Enforcement: Identifying Victims of Hate and Finding Healing Solutions. The conversation also continued discussions from April’s Town Hall.

Jurisdictions from top down were covered, with representatives from federal agencies such as the FBI, the District Attorney’s office and the local San Diego Police Department present. Community representatives from groups such as Little Saigon San Diego and the Haitian Bridge Alliance also were also present.

See TOWN HALL page 2

By Macy Meinhardt and Emily Kim Jenkins

Biscuits Grits and Politics is back with a bang this summer! Bright and early Tuesday morning, community members gathered at the George L. Stevens Center to enjoy a Voice & Viewpoint signaturediscussions on critical issues in the community over coffee, fellowship, and of course, savory biscuits, grits, and catfish.

The panel-led discussion featured the County’s Director of Behavioral Health, Luke Bergmann; Co-Founder of Urban Restoration Counseling Center, Janel King; and CEO of the Nile Sisters Development Initiative, Elizabeth Lou.

“Very few people understand that there is a connection between behavioral and mental health issues, and the element of hate that is presented to the various groups that we look at,” said Publisher Dr. John E. Warren on the significance of the event.

Reported hate crimes in the City, for instance, went up by 74% in 2023, according to the latest report by the San Diego Police Department. Most of these crimes targeted individuals’ ethnicity. Input from these community leaders therefore underscore the urgent need to address and implement mental health services curated for communities that are often victims of hate crimes.

See HEALTH page 2

First-generation chinese family donated $5 MIL to the Center this past March

By Emily Kim Jenkins CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Gus Thompson was born into slavery sometime in the early 1860s. The city of Coronado was founded shortly thereafter, in 1880. Two years after that, in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was ratified, the only immigration law ever enacted to explicitly exclude a certain nationality. In 2024, San Diego State University’s Black Resource Center received the largest donation in the center’s history in the names of Gus and Emma Thompson.

See DONATION page 2

PHOTO: Rochelle Porter/Voice & Viewpoint

Gus Thompson, pictured above commandeering a stagecoach in the mid-1880s, was born into slavery and built a name for himself by using his resources to support others in need.

PHOTO: Miriam Mathews Collection

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

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Dr. Warren opened the night by highlighting some of the work that the Voice & Viewpoint has done to raise awareness of the challenges of inequity across the county, as the Town Hall coincided with the publication of the sixth annual Minority Health special issue. One of these challenges, naturally, is combating hate. The conversation kicked off with thorough introductions from the LEAs present. FBI representatives Garrett Frank and Arnesha Bahn shared how reports are handled through their offices, then SDPD officer Lieutenant Jason Weeden shared more on the state of hate affairs in San Diego, including the stunning statistic of 73 new cases of reported hate crimes year over year.

Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr of the San Diego District Attorney’s office emphasized the importance of identifying motivation to hold perpetrators accountable.

“We all know if you rob a bank, you’re motivated by, potentially, money,” Schorr said. “But when you’ve got a hate crime [or incident]… you want to look at the actions of the individual and all the other circumstances.”

Both Schorr and Frank mentioned the importance of documenting and reporting hate incidents so that, if a perpetrator does commit a

HEALTH

crime, there is a trail to bolster the motivation.

“Don’t feel like just if you didn’t report right away, that’s your last opportunity,” Schorr added. “Don’t think you need to decide whether or not it is a hate crime or a hate incident. If it’s anywhere close, if you’re thinking

this might be a hate crime or hate incident, that’s enough! … You should be reporting and we want to hear and document it.”

When Elizabeth Lou, Executive Director of the Nile Sisters Development Initiative, began to speak, the room was completely still. A ref-

ugee herself, she spoke about the difficulties that English language learners and those from other cultures face in identifying hate.

“It is so very sophisticated. The way they say it is so very sophisticated,” Lou said. “Sometimes… you will not even know that a person hates you.”

She used the examples of passive aggressive speech and microaggressions, which require an understanding of American culture and an advanced understanding of English to understand their insincerity.

“The great thing about the San Diego area is that we [federal, state and local agencies] work very well together,” Frank said. “The main thing is just report [acts of hate] because we will figure out a way.”

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/.

Kicking off the discussion, Bergmann spoke out about the need to destigmatize mental health care and merge this dialogue within the context of public healthcare overall. Posing the question, how can we make behavioral health care feel normal, something that is commonly talked about?

“Behavioral Healthcare is this thing that sits somewhere else [away from regular healthcare] It’s this strange thing. It’s got all this funky language that always seems to be changing,” said Bergmann.

However, Bergmann noted the way that mental health is stigmatized relates to the way minority communities have historically been stigmatized, which has laid the foundation for a profound disconnect.

In order to lessen the stigma, this has since created a demand for culturally representative mental health care providers that are based in the community to do this type of work. With high demand however, comes the need for more support from entities like the County to keep smaller CBO’s alive and running.

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These seemingly disconnected events are each deeply tied to the heartwarming story that led brothers Ron and Lloyd Dong, Jr. to make a $5 million donation to the center.

After slavery was abolished, Thompson moved to Coronado, where he began to work for Elisha S. Babcock, a founder of the Hotel del Coronado and prominent businessman of the area. He and his wife, Emma, were two of the first permanent residents of Coronado in the early 1880s, right around the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The act, signed by former President (and outspoken abolitionist) Chester Arthur, prohibited any Chinese immigrant laborers from entering the country. Through a treaty with China, the United States had previously allowed Chinese immigrants to enter the country as laborers building railroads, but they could not become citizens, according to Elizabeth McPhail for the San Diego History Journal. As anti-Chinese and anti-immigrant rhetoric was increasing nationwide, it also increased in San Diego. Access to the San Diego Bay meant a rise in Chinese presence in the fishing industry, and direct access to the border meant a higher law enforcement presence (and subsequently more arrests) after the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

For Chinese immigrants still in the country at the time, like the Dong brothers’ parents, this heightened tension created strife in their personal lives. Few people in the country were likely to sell or rent their homes to anyone of Chinese descent. The Thompsons had moved to San Diego and, upon learning of the young family in need of a place to live, rented their Coronado home to Lloyd Sr. and Margaret Dong.

King’s work with Urban Restoration Counseling Center for instance, highlights this critical need. Founded in 2018 by King and Shanelle Johnson, the center began by providing no-cost mental health services to 50 minority patients in need. In 2023, their services took a massive increase, providing aid to over 400 individuals.

“We were inundated with Black and brown referrals and the two of us just couldn’t handle it anymore,” King said. She added that addressing intergenerational trauma is a crucial part of what they do in order to address hate.

“We understand that hate has been ingrained into the Black and brown communities bones… The things that [victims of hate] are told about themselves are often believed or they start to internalize it,” King said.

“So a huge part of what we do, when working with our clients, is to try to help them figure out who they are moving forward with the things that have happened to them in their lives [so they are] still able to live a happy and healthy life.”

Thompson had created a name for himself and used his resources to help others regularly. He built a livery stable with a boardinghouse for Black people in need of a place to sleep. When he died, Emma sold the house to the Dong family, giving them a rare and significant gift.

“Given what I know of my great-grandparents through my grandmother, I don’t think that it was something that they thought a whole lot about,” Bollinger Kemp III, the Thompsons’ great-grandson told the New York Times. “It was just the right thing to do.”

Earlier this year, the brothers Ron and Lloyd Dong Jr. visited their childhood home with their spouses, Janice and Girina, in Coronado for a final time. After moving to other cities and the passing of their other two siblings, it was time to sell the house on C Street.

“When you look at all the things that Gus Thompson did, he did a lot of things for a lot of other people, things that they might otherwise could never have done themselves,” Ron Dong said. “We wanted to do something to repay him, to give back.”

So, upon the sale of the house and the apartment next to it (formerly Thompson’s livery stable, which the Dongs later converted), the Dongs decided to donate $5 million from the home’s sale to SDSU’s Black Resource Center. Originally, the family considered donating it in the form of scholarships, but in her research, she found that underrepresented student communities often need support outside of just financial aid, so she decided to give it to the Black Resource Center instead.

In order to continue to support the work that King, and others do, Bergmann shared that the County Board of Supervisors has allocated $10 million aimed to ultimately connect CBO’s with public insurance in order to support a diverse workforce needed to make behavioral healthcare more accessible and representative.

Providing behavioral health services to the immigrant community is also a complex challenge that was shared at the event. Originally from South Sudan, President and CEO of the Nile Sisters Development Initiative shared the challenges in navigating behavioral health while also learning the complex systems in America.

“When it comes to mental health, we the refugees, immigrants and underserved communities… face [difficulties] more than other people who may be born and raised here,” Lou said.

The initiative established a Behavioral and Mental Wellness Department in 2016, offering low-cost counseling services for individuals and couples seeking therapeutic treatments or diagnoses. In addition to the medical treat-

ments, the initiative also provides training for those looking to become healthcare professionals. The services began out of a need for multilingual support designed with refugees and immigrants in mind.

From a refugee support center, to a full-time counselor, to a county health official, the panel at Biscuits, Grits and Politics was reflective of an optimistic future for minority health, despite a fractured present. Their vastly different backgrounds but similar vision for the improvement of community mental health demonstrated an inspiring path forward.

“There’s no way on this planet any of us can thrive if we don’t care about ourselves, if we have no self esteem,” King said. “A huge part of [addressing] hate is rebuilding that confidence in who they are, and giving them and their families the confidence to be able to step back into the world and say, ‘Even though this horrible thing has happened to me, I’m worth it.’”

Dr. Tonika Green, a professor at SDSU and associate vice president of Campus Community Affairs, works with the Black Resource Center frequently.

““This is bigger than what we imagined, this helps us think bigger, impact more lives, and witness dreams come true right before our eyes. The Dong Family will change lives with this gift,” Green said in a statement. ”It’s the gift that never stops giving.”

and

Both tragic

triumphant, Asian American immigration in the United States is a struggle not often taught in school curriculums. May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To learn more about the Asian American struggle in San Diego, you can attend one of the San Diego City Library’s events, visit the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, or explore the San Diego History Journal online.

Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr answers a question from Dr. Jerome Robinson. Schorr joined a panel of other law enforcement agency representatives to offer transparency into how hate crimes are handled and what resources they offer. PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/Voice & Viewpoint

From left to right: Janice Dong, Ron Dong, Lloyd Dong Jr. and Girina Dong. PHOTO: Courtesy of San Diego State University

By David Marshall

People enthusiastically embrace the Statue of Liberty as an iconic symbol of America. Unfortunately, many of the same individuals will refuse to hold the symbol’s deep meaning of compassion, humanity, and inclusion.

The U.S. has always maintained a deep anti-immigration sentiment. We want the benefits of the immigrant’s cheap labor, but white supremacy doesn’t always allow the immigrant worker to be accepted as a true American or even as a person with basic human rights.

Chinese immigrants struggled with this double standard during the 1860s. They were able to escape the famine and political turmoil within their homeland to settle on the West Coast of the U.S. After arrival, many were recruited to build the transcontinental railroad system since American laborers showed an unwillingness to do the work. Chinese laborers were eager to work on the multistate transportation project and did it for lower wages.

HEALTH CARE AS A CIVIL RIGHT AMERICA’S ANTI-IMMIGRANT PAST NEVER DIED

Overall, the issue of wage reduction and the competition for jobs became a sticking point between anti Chinese groups and labor unions on one side pitted against the Chinese workers on the other.

The increasing hostility and resentment white people developed toward the Chinese ultimately resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which became the first immigration policy based on race. The law banned skilled and unskilled Chinese workers from entering the United States for 10 years.

It was renewed for an additional 10 years and later extended indefinitely.

With the flow of cheap Chinese labor slowing to a halt, American labor recruiters turned their attention to the Japanese. The Japanese eventually faced the same fate as the Chinese.

Throughout different eras, the degree of hostility and resentment toward immigrants would often fluctuate. At times, it became aggressive and intense. During other periods, the level died down almost unnoticed. Former President Obama remarked that racial advancement doesn’t proceed in a straightforward-moving line.

Instead, moments of progress give way to regressions.

Today, the U.S. Border Patrol and several states have found themselves overwhelmed by the thousands of migrants coming from Mexico every day. As the U.S. is amid a major immigration crisis,

Donald Trump has given the American voters a lot to think about.

During a speech at a recent campaign rally in New Hampshire, it was not the first time the Republican frontrunner echoed rhetoric from Adolf Hitler.

“When they let — I think the real number is 15, 16 million people into our country — when they do that, we got a lot of work to do. They’re poisoning the blood of our country,” he said of immigrants coming into the United States. “That’s what they’ve done. They’ve poisoned mental institutions and prisons all over the world — not just in South America, not just the three or four countries that we think about, but all over the world. They’re coming into our country, from Africa, from Asia — all over the world. They’re pouring into our country.” Hitler often referenced the words “poison and blood” as he wrote about the Jews in his book Mein Kampf.

In 1988, former President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which formally apologized for the internment of Japanese Americans. Later, in 2011, after 129 years, the U.S. Senate apologized for the Chinese Exclusion Act. While advancements have been made in the past by rescinding previous discriminatory laws, Donald Trump fully understands what he is doing by following the Mein Kampf playbook and stoking fear and hatred toward foreigners.

David Marshall is founder of the faith-based organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body

Letter to the Editor

Bringing Democracy Back to Government

In Real Estate, the saying is that it is all about “location, location, location”. Conversely, in American Politics it is all about “money, money, money”.

Almost every issue before us today, whether it be Global Warming, Healthcare, better government representation, student loans, Social Security & medicare, or government debts, they all have a common link They are all decided by politicians who constituency and financial backers are almost exclusively lobbyist and special interest with very deep pockets. In other words, we are represented by a select few. If We the People wish to reclaim our government, this, above all else, needs to change.

Politicians spend upwards of one third of their time raising money on election campaigns. This means dialing for dollars, reaching out to people and organizations who can help fund their campaigns. Who are these people and what do they want in return? Obviously, those that have the most money to give (big organizations) will get the most attention. Again, obviously, they want legislation introduced, passed, or opposed based on their interests. If the playing field is equal or at least somewhat, then there would be nothing wrong with this. However, the way it is set up is nothing less than “legalized corruption”. Just as in an illegal corruption case, it is not illegal. Politicians have set it up that it is perfectly acceptable that a few rich organizations can influence them. And boy, do they ever. Of course, this influence peddling is open to anyone but you better have millions and millions of dollars to “contribute” or you will not get the time of day.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Democracy or making decisions based on what is right or wrong. Sadly, for the time being, our Supreme Court has ruled that this “legalized corruption” is considered constitutional as in their opinion not allowing this feeding frenzy by the few would be an infraction of “free speech”. We in America have been through times before where there was one reality one day but then became another reality the next. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement showed us that the reality of prejudice and discrimination of his days need not have to endure. It was a long struggle but it did eventually

change, and so, it must be with this “legal corruption”. Currently, this influence peddling affects virtually every facet of our daily lives. For instance, the Pack family in California lost two of their children to an opioid addicted driver in 2003. Following some investigation, the learned that the addict was able to obtain 60 pills from one doctor, then a week later 60 pills from another doctor and so on. There was no database in place at the time for these doctors to know that they were helping an addict to get more pills. The Pack family fought to get a database established where doctors could check so addicts could no longer obtain these pills from multiple doctors. A simple case, very straightforward, not to mention a case of saving a lot of lives. A bill that for all intents and purposes should have been passed, but it did not. Why not? Because the special interests, in this case mainly the California Medical Association (CMA) said no. Now why would they say no, and how could one association stand in the way of doing the right thing? You guessed it…money!

The reality of today can change. It is up to us.

Thank you,

Ronald V. Whitaker Christiana, PA

Read the full article at www.sdvoice.info.

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 email or mail it to: Letters to the Editor

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint P.O. Box 120095 • San Diego, CA 92112 news@sdvoice.info

By Sandra C. Melvin

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhumane.”

Addressing disparities in health and health care is important not only from an equity standpoint but also for improving the nation’s overall health and economic prosperity. People of color and other underserved groups experience higher rates of illness and death across a wide range of health conditions, limiting the overall health of the nation.

The lack of equitable health care access, delivery, and coverage, combined with racialized poverty, segregation, environmental degradation and discrimination, harm people of color and drive poorer health outcomes, which are exacerbated in prison settings. Furthermore, the systems that perpetuate inequity in health care delivery and health outcomes have also largely relegated mental health and substance use treatment to the criminal legal system, destabilizing communities and further fueling mass incarceration.

People of color are disproportionately punished for using drugs instead of being referred to treatment. Although Black and white people use drugs at similar rates, this trend is also seen in the rates at which Black mothers are reported to child protective services at the time of delivery, due to substance use, compared to their white counterparts.

Health equity is the presence of opportunity for each person to be as healthy as possible regardless of their identity or circumstances.

Several factors within and beyond the health care system drive disparities in health and healthcare. Though health care is essential to health, studies show that health outcomes are driven by multiple factors, including underlying genetics, health behaviors, social and environmental factors and access to health care. While there is currently no consensus in the research on the magnitude of the relative contributions of each of these factors to health, studies suggest that health behaviors and social and economic factors, often referred to as social determinants of health, are the primary drivers of health outcomes and that social and economic factors shape individuals’ health behaviors.

Moreover, racism negatively affects mental and physical health both directly and by creating inequities across the social determinants of health.

Everyone has a right to good health and well-being. Individual health does not exist in a vacuum. It is tied to the community conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. For people of color, geography, income and race are longstanding predictors of health outcomes. These health outcomes are influenced by fragmented public and private health systems and a lack of access to resources across the lifespan.

The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health works with other community partners and stakeholders to achieve health equity by building systems that eliminate discriminatory barriers to health, disrupt harmful stereotypes, promote health equity, support people who may be experiencing difficult circumstances, and advocate for policies to address systemic barriers that result in health disparities in minority, underserved and under-resourced communities.

As we observe Black History Month, let us pause and reflect on the tireless work of our ancestors and elders. Remember what they stood for and what they refused to allow. We stand on their shoulders and continue the fight to remove the barriers to access to health care that prevent people of color from improving their health outcomes and enjoying the quality of life that is the right of all people born in this country.

Health is a civil right, and everyone is entitled to the highest standard of care regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

George

SUNRISE 03/23/1926 SUNSET 04/24/2024

George Payne, a cherished father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 98, on April 24, 2024. Born on March 23, 1926, George’s journey began in Natchez, Mississippi, and took him to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, before he became a long-standing resident of San Diego for over 50 years.

A veteran of the Navy, George served his country with honor for many years, even receiving recognition for crossing the equator—a testament to his adventurous spirit. After retiring from 37 years of military service, he continued to serve at the Navy Island Amphibious base, dedicating several years to Civil Service duties.

George’s love for life was evident in his varied interests. A connoisseur of BBQ and Mexican cuisine, he found joy in the simple pleasure of a good meal. His laughter was often sparked by the comedy of Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, and his soul swayed to the rhythms of Reggae and the melodies of Janet Jackson. Sundays were reserved for the thrill of kung fu movies and the tranquility of tending to his garden.

His passion for photography led him to invest in extra lenses, capturing the world through his unique perspective. His love for the arts was matched by his love for people, often engaging in conversations with those he met, leaving a lasting impression with his warmth and humor.

George’s legacy is carried on by his loving family. He was preceded in death by his former wives; Margaret Banks and Emma Shearer, and is survived by Marlene Lukacs.

His memory will be cherished by his children; Rita Presbery, the late Cynthia Denise Payne, Shawnte’ Payne, and Danielle Payne, as well as his adored grandchildren; Cameron, Mordeke’, Lamont, Warren, Naisha, Leondra, Michael, Bobby, Nia, Maya, Te’shaun, and Dai’Vion.

Throughout his life, George held various positions at North Island, Barona Casino, Morse Highschool, and SeaWorld, touching lives and making friends wherever he went. His presence will be deeply missed, but his spirit will continue to inspire all who knew him.

A celebration of George’s life will be held on June 6th & June 7th, 2024, at Greenwood Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Ave San Diego, CA 92113. George’s family welcomes all to share memories and stories of his remarkable life. Rest in peace, George. Your legacy will live on in the hearts of many.

Robinell H. Robert Lee

Dupree

SUNRISE 04/16/1941

SUNSET 04/30/2024

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Robinell H. Dupree (a.k.a. Robbye), departed her loving family on April 30, 2024. She was 83 years old.

Robinell was born on April 16, 1941, to Robert and Asalee Hickman. She was raised in Fort Worth, TX, by her mother Asalee. At around 13 years of age, a young, fearless Robbye excitedly boarded a Greyhound bus. She traveled from Texas to California, by herself, to join her mother who had moved there a short time before.

It was in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 16, that Robbye met a charming and handsome 17-year-old Raymond Dupree. The two met in church on a warm Sunday morning. Sitting behind her, he noticed her fan was bent and ineffective. He leaned forward and handed her his fan. And the rest is history. Ray and Robbye married 3 years later, in 1960, and spent 50 years of their lives together. During those 50 years, Raymond joined the Navy and he and Robbye moved several times. They eventually settled in San Diego, CA, where they raised 4 children with unconditional love and devotion.

Robbye was a civil servant with the Department of Defense for many years. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed bowling, playing cards, cruising, dancing, and dining with friends and family. She also loved ice cream! She loved ice cream almost as much as she loved spending time with her children. Robbye was a social butterfly and enjoyed just about anything that would get her out and about and having fun with friends. Robbye was an only child. It was perhaps for that reason that she desired social connection. Through the years, that desire prodded her to join several organizations such as the Young Moderns, Jaycee Wives, and the Order of the Eastern Stars.

In 1976, Raymond answered his call to the ministry, and to Robbye’s surprise, she became a minister’s wife. She served as First Lady to Pastor Raymond Dupree Sr. at Christ Fellowship Church until his health forced him to step aside. Ray and Robbye joined Encanto Southern Baptist Church in 2001. Robbye participated in many church activities including Bible studies and the Drama Skit Team.

Robinell is survived by her children; Djuana Dupree Bullock, Raymond Dupree Jr., Rhonda Dupree Willis, and Renee Dupree, daughter-in-law Romelia Dupree, and sons-in-law Ben Bullock and Eric Willis. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren; Dale Bryant, Raymond Dupree III, Christina Willis, Nicole Willis, Robinell Dupree, and granddaughter-in-law Ruth Bryant.

TODAY IN

BLACK HISTORY

AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER, GALE SAYERS IS BORN

Gale Sayers born May 30, 1943, in Kansas, was an American football player. Sayers grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was a star running back and record-setting long jumper in high school.

Sayers was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1965, and in his first season he amassed 2,272 combined rushing, receiving, and kick-return yards, as well as 22 touchdowns, a record for a rookie. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1965, becoming the youngest football player to be elected to the Football Hall of Fame.

A series of significant knee injuries forced Sayers to retire at age 29 before the 1972 NFL season. Sayers co-wrote two autobiographies, one of which Brian’s Song was adapted, a film telling the story of Brian Piccolo, a white running back, clashes with and befriends fellow Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers.

CLIFTON R. WHARTON ISSUED COMMEMORATIVE STAMP

Clifton R. Wharton, one of the first African-Americans to hold a professional position in the U.S. State Department, born in 1899 in Baltimore, Maryland. Described as a “scholastic marvel,” skipped college and was accepted to Boston University Law School where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Law in 1920 and Master’s degree in Law in 1923. He later worked as a law clerk in the State Department’s legal section. His 40-year career with the State Department spanned an era of profound change in U.S. foreign policy and in the bureaucracy which managed that policy. He also worked closely with President Eisenhower as a U.S. Foreign diplomat, and John F. Kennedy as a representative of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and a delegate to the United Nations.

Clifford Wharton, Sr., died at 90 on April 23, 1990 in Arizona. On May 30, 2006, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp depicting Wharton in its Distinguished American Diplomats commemorative series.

07/26/1966 SUNSET 04/22/2024

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

On July 26, 1966, in San Diego, CA, Robert Lee Adams began his life journey. Born to Estelle May Harrington and raised by Clarence Lee Harrington (Pops), Robert was known to his friends and associates as Young Rob or The Young One and was called Bobby by his Family. Rob was the 6th of 8 children; Billy, Terry, Betty, Diane, Hicks, Rome, and Kaeisha.

Robert attended Logan Elementary, Memorial Junior High, and San Diego High School. A hard and dedicated worker, he would say, “When you have a lot of work to do, don’t take breaks or you’ll be here all day.” Young Rob worked at the car wash for many years, where he could always be found if you needed a hand. Later on, he found employment as a laborer for Ecco. Young Rob was a generous and giving person, always willing to share what he had, whether that be a few dollars, a spot on the couch, or some good advice. Another thing he would do is give it to you real. Don’t ask him if you did not want to hear the truth. Rob was always a sharp dresser, preferring Stacy Adams over Chuck Taylor’s, Baggies over Dickies, and the finger waves over the jerry curls. Let’s not forget the Godfathers. It’ll be 79 degrees out and he would pop up in a suit and tie.

In his leisure time, Rob was an avid sports fan who would spend the afternoon surfing the different games. Always repping Dago, but he would never bet on them Chargers. He wasn’t the social butterfly, but you could always count on him to make an appearance with Baby Hiccs in tow. They were as close as two brothers could be. They might argue and fuss with each other because you know, Rob knows everything and is always right, but let someone else try it. We’re especially sorry for your loss Baby Hiccs.

On April 22, 2024, we lost a real one, The Young One.

Now we all must accept this and move on, just like we know he would want us to do, like we should do. We can go out and enjoy our time here, and know he’ll be waiting along with all our families and friends that went ahead of us. Pops, Rome, Keba, Kenyon, and Alex, you all got your hands full now.

As for all of us he left behind; Moma (Stella Harrington), Billy Boy, Terry, Betty, Diane, Baby Hiccs, Kaeisha, and Richard, all those nieces and nephews, and a huge clan of friends, associates, and homies (that have been a family of its own), we all will miss and remember you. See you later, gone!!!

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

LOCAL NEWS

ARE YOU OWED MONEY BY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO?

More than $818,000 ready to be claimed

Businesses and individuals who are owed money by the City of San Diego, listen up!

According to the City’s Unclaimed Monies Report, over $818,000 is currently being held by the City and can be returned to more than 600 individuals and businesses.

The report includes checks the City has already tried to send to the addresses on record. However, if a check is returned due to address issues or if the check is not cashed within six months, it's considered unclaimed money.

“As stewards of public funds, it’s our responsibility to ensure that every dollar is accounted for and returned to its rightful owner,” said Roma Nichols, Disbursements Manager with the Department of Finance.

“We want to make sure that businesses and individuals are aware of any unclaimed funds owed to them so that they can be promptly reunited with their money. We encourage everyone to take a moment to search for their name or business name to see if they are owed money. It’s a simple process that can make a significant difference.”

The report is updated quarterly and is available to the public free of charge. Click here to see if your name or business name is on the list, check amounts range from $1 to $222,332.

Last year, the City returned approximately $377,576 to 83 recipients listed on the Unclaimed Monies Report, representing only 45% of the total unclaimed money returned. The average claim was $2,659. Recipients are reminded that they typically have about one year from when the check was issued to claim their funds. For checks issued before April 1, 2024, the deadline for claims is Monday, June 17, 2024. After this date, any unclaimed funds will be transferred to the City of San Diego’s General Fund on Monday, July 1, 2024. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to visit the portal to find and claim their money. Once a claim is verified, a check will be issued within three to four weeks. For more information, visit sandiego.gov/finance/unclaimed.

To submit a claim, print and complete the Unclaimed Monies Form and mail it to: City of San Diego, Department of Finance Unclaimed Monies Claim Processing 202 C St. – Mail Station 7A San Diego, CA 92101. For questions, reach out to DoF@sandiego.gov or call 619-236-6310

FLOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM FOR DISPLACED RESIDENTS

Introduced by San Diego Housing Commission

For the 2,000 individuals displaced from the January 2024 floods in San Diego, the San Diego Housing Commission announced Wednesday, May 22, a new flood recovery program for displaced residents.

“Nobody should end up homeless or displaced from their community as the result of a natural disaster. We have a moral obligation as a City and as a community to do what we can to help those forced out of their homes by the January flood disaster,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera.

Funding for the program will come from the County, thanks to the approval from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors who approved to support the transition of displaced San Diegans back into sustainable, stable housing.

The following is a brief summary of the program, announced through a press release. Components of the program are contingent on the final funding amount the County of San Diego provides:

Strategies to Accomplish the Goals:

1. Prevent permanent displacement and preserve community bonds by partnering with community groups to restore the homes of flood victims whose homes were made uninhabitable by the January 22 flood disaster

2. Provide direct financial assistance to families displaced by floods and who are not able to receive Federal assistance

3. Partner with San Diego housing providers to secure housing for flood survivors who are unable to move back to their damaged homes or are seeking a different home

“Hundreds of City of San Diego families whose lives were upended by the floods are still in the County of San Diego’s Emergency Temporary Lodging Program as they continue on their path to recovery. Many of these families have extremely low income and are facing significant challenges. Through the Flood Recovery Program for Displaced Residents, we want to provide the support and assistance they need as well as housing stability and hope for a return to normalcy going forward,” SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones said.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PASS RESOLUTION CALLING STATE FARM A BAD NEIGHBOR FOR SAN DIEGANS

& VIEWPOINT

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors today called State Farm and other insurance providers who pull insurance coverage a “bad neighbor” with a resolution they passed 5-0.

What the Resolution Proposes to Do:

1. Oppose State Farm and other large insurance companies’ decision to abandon homeowners, renters, and small business owners and instead work together with the State Insurance Commissioner in modernizing the insurance marketplace to ensure long-term availability, affordability, and sustainability of coverage

County Expands Pilot Shallow Rental Subsidy Program for Older Adults

The County is expanding a pilot shallow rental subsidy program for older adults to support an additional 160 older adults at risk of homelessness.

The County of San Diego Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities’ program will provide at-risk San Diego County residents over 55-years-old with a $500 monthly rental subsidy for 18 months. The money will go directly to participants’ landlords.

What You Need to Know:

• Applications can be submitted starting May 22.

• Participants will be selected at random.

• Those selected will join 222 households.

Eligibility Requirements for Shallow Rental Subsidy Program:

2. Calls for State Insurance Commissioner Commissioner Lara to ensure transparency and accountability in the rate-setting process, so that homeowners are getting a fair deal and protected from paying exorbitant rates.

On March 20, 2024, State Farm announced that it would be dropping coverage for existing policyholders, leaving 72,000 homeowners and rental property owners scrambling to find alternatives.

Neighborhoods Affected Include:

Rancho Santa Fe, Vista, Lakeside, El Cajon, Encinitas, Normal Heights, Tierrasanta, Jamul, Ramona, and Carmel Valley.

• Be a San Diego resident 55 years or older at risk of homelessness.

• Have a household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income.

• Be severely rent burdened, paying more than 50% of your income toward housing costs.

• Have a lease or rental agreement in your name and a landlord willing to participate in the program.

• Not be receiving funds from another rental subsidy program.

• Sign consent forms to participate in the program and an evaluation. For further information, email full name and contact information to AHHSseniorprogram@ equitablesolutions.com or call (619) 780-3684.

Summertime Brings SUN

Bucks

New this summer, California SUN Bucks, also called Summer-EBT, begins next month and will provide an additional $40 per month in food benefits to eligible children to purchase groceries during the summer months of June, July, and August.

What You Need to Know:

• SUN Bucks work just like CalFresh and can be used at most grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and other authorized retailers.

• Available to children who receive free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form, or get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal.

• Children who are attending Head Start, ex-

periencing homelessness, living in foster care or part of a migrant family will be automatically enrolled.

• There is no need to apply.

SUN Bucks cards will be mailed directly to eligible households with a one-time lump sum of $120 dollars per child. Children who receive SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs.

If your child doesn’t meet one of the requirements for automatic enrollment, they may still be eligible. To check, ask your child’s school for a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form. When you return the form to the school, they will evaluate it and determine if your children are eligible for SUN Bucks.

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

VOICE

NEWSWIRE

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

PHOTO: Wikiphotos

Damaged homes on Beta St. from January 2024 floods. PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt

PHOTO: Freepik

PHOTO: Pexels

PHOTO: Pexels

Big-Cuts GRAND RE-OPENING & RIBBON CUTTING Ceremony

By Darrel Wheeler

Contributing Writer

a ppy hair cuts are here again at Big-Cuts Barber Salon on 1736 Euclid Ave.

After a devastating fire that destroyed their previous location in December of ‘22, friends and patrons were invited to celebrate the new location with a Re-Grand Opening on May 25th.

Talented owners Reverend Marc Ritchie and Christopher Seaford saw to it that their Grand Re-Opening would be like their shop, a first class experience.

The special occasion featured some good food and plenty of it, with speeches and announcements of encouragement by 4th District Councilmember Henry Foster and Pastor Dr. John Ringgold of Bethel Baptist Church.

The owners and some of their advocates also took their turns on the Microphone expressing their support for the Barbershop that cares beyond a designer-cut.

"I've been dealing with Big-Cuts for about five years now," said supporter and customer Charlton "best-official" Lynch. "There is a lot of wisdom in this Barbershop, coming here is more than getting a haircut. It's a place to keep up with the latest news, talk about politics, sports, or whatever both national and local,” he continued.

No subject is off limits, especially concerning Southeastern San Diego, but it's not all serious, you can get your laugh on because they got jokes.

“And I like their charitable contribution to the community, I've seen them go to Schools and give kids free haircuts," said Lynch.

May 25th was proclaimed Big-Cuts Grand Re-Opening Day by the City of San Diego.

"After our tragedy we had to remain unshakable and steadfast, we showed patience and much prayer and this is where we ended up today, with the help of the community and family. Thank you for your support, amen,” shared Co-Owner Rev Marc Ritchie.

Blue Heart Foundation's 9th Annual Signing Day

By Darrel Wheeler CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Blue Heart Foundation held their 9th Annual Signing Day Ceremony on May 25th at the Hidden Gem Banquet Hall in La Mesa to honor and reward five deserving high school seniors.

The five achievers were recognized for their commitment to excellence, including a Congressional Recognition Certificate presented by a member of Congress. They were also rewarded with a scholarship check to help with their future college tuition.

Family and friends filled the room with applause

or

It was a job well done and mission accomplished for the Blue Heart Foundation as they continue to serve the community with their unique brand of mentoring, leadership, and achievement recognitions.

FI RST-TIM E H OM E BU YER SEM I

AT THE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY CENTER

By Tihut Tamrat

On Saturday May 25th, Realty Masters & Associates and LendiHome partnered with the Ethiopian Community Center to host their first ever First-Time Home Buyer Seminar, offering translation services in Amharic and continental breakfast for attendees. In attendance were Aster Keleta, Former Program Development Director at Village Coalition and Current Director of Mag Children House, and Anne Hoiberg, Chair of Nile Sisters Development Initiative, among members of the Ethiopian Community and Zoom participants interested in buying their first home. The hosts, Yolanda

Mortgage Loan Officer, went more in depth on first-time home buying giving listeners a guide to various loan program options. Cordova mentioned three requirements the bank will ask for when inquiring about loans. Legal status, financial ability, and credit history. “We have programs that can accommodate every type of income scenario, but the less you show the bank the higher the down payment will be and the higher the interest rate,” emphasizes Cordova. “Having good credit is having good self control. It means you don’t

Cordova and Tamrat Seyoum, presented a myriad of information for the Ethiopian Community to try to curb the misrepresentation of immigrants and minorities in the housing system here in San Diego.

Tamrat Seyoum, Real Estate Agent for Realty Masters & Associates, begins the event by providing five useful products that are beneficial for a successful life including information about the pre-approval loan process, living trusts, real estate buying and selling processes, index life insurance(presented by Eyerusalem Kassahun on zoom), and legal shield programs, inspiring listeners into homeownership.

“You can do your own research first and decide to buy a home, you have to have that desire. You have to save money for the downpayment and have your credit improved. Having a personal budget set up, will help in getting you your first home,” urged Tamrat Seyoum.

Yolanda Cordova, Branch Manager &

owe more than 10% of what they loaned you.”

Lots of questions were raised about the sustainability of homebuying, thoughts were shared, and questions were answered through

and cheers for Mateo Cook, Mark Rachal, Jeffery Guyler, LaDaryan Lambert, and Jasyn Webb as they revealed their college

career choice.

testimonies of current homebuyers at the event. A raffle for a Keurig was also drawn in which Abebe Lankebo, Board Member of the Ethiopian Community representing Seyoum Degefa, Board President, won!

Rebecca Torres, daughter of Yolanda Cordova, presenting Keurig to raffle winner Abebe Lankebo.

(L to R) Aster Keleta and interested home-buyer attendees congratulating Lankebo on his raffle win.

Yolanda Cordova answering questions regarding loan process.

Loan Guide with Amharic translations.

Tamrat Seyoum kicking off the event with five products that will make homeownership successful.

Expanding Opportunities for Boys & Men of Color

By Malachi Kudura CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Friday May 23, 2024, California Funders for Boys & Men of Color held its network meeting at the Southeastern Live Well Center. Its objectives are to deepen relationships among a multi-sector network of leaders committed to the health and well-being of San Diego County’s boys and men of color, and to inform participants of the Life Course Framework and data-driven solutions to implement and fund.

California Funders for Boys and Men of Color uses the Life Course Framework, developed by Arnold Chandler, the founder of Forward for Change Consulting, to guide their work and investments. Arnold Chandler was the keynote speaker, and explained how this framework effectively organizes a variety of complex factors that shape the outcomes we care about for boys of color, and how the issues they face intersect.

Arnold Chandler told the attendees, “Between the ages of 12-18 (adolescence) it’s important for boys of color to improve middle school grades to reduce course failures and ultimately increase high school graduation.

Boys of color who drop out of high school have a 90% lifetime risk of imprisonment by age 30.” According to his research, it drops to 21% if they get a high school diploma or GED and it drops as low as 7% if they complete college.

“It is vital that boys and men of color have access to opportunities, resources, and investment and that we build a world that is safe and supportive for them to navigate these uncertain times. Building resilience means creating solutions for lasting change, not just temporary,” said Chet P. Hewitt.

It is very important we find the problems and solutions regarding giving our black and brown boys a better chance at a successful and

prosperous life. Due to the environment, lack of economics, and lack of education, the pipeline to prison is a real issue. The California Funders for Boys and Men of Color brings together CEOs from the state’s leading philanthropic institutions to shape a better future for boys and men of color. This network and Life Course Framework is crucial to ensure Black and Brown boys and men have the tools needed to be successful in life.

When you get a Flex Alert, reduce your power use to help ease the grid and avoid statewide outages. The more people that save their energy for later, the more likely we keep the lights on.

COMMUNITY

Grandparents Connection 20th Gala Celebration

By Darrel Wheeler CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On the 19th of May the Grandparents Connection held their 20th Annual Gala Celebration with a Harlem Nights twist.

Guests at the special event were treated to an exciting evening of winning, dining, singing, and dancing in the Wachena ballroom inside

The impressive roster of entertain ers included jazz harpist Mariea Antoninette, a Temptations tribute by the Five Tempting Men, Supremes Legacy Singers, saxophonist John Serrano, and more. The event was hosted by recording artist, Floyd Smith. Awards were also a big part of the evening’s ceremony.

Grandparents Connection(GPC) CEOs Clifford and Shearl Lambert,

were able to show their appreciation by recognizing their contributors and unyielding supporters to the GPC's mission. Community leaders were also acknowledged for their sacrifices and excellence in leadership. Because

Aging in California

Your Connection to Resources

California’s Aging Services

Offer Valuable Resources for Older Adults

Everyone can use some help from time to time. If you’re 60 or older, you may find that your needs are specific to your time in life. California’s aging services network offers a variety of programs, services, and supports for older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers. For example, you may prefer to age in place, staying in your own home and community. Two programs can make this easier: One offers help with home repairs, transportation, and extra in-home care; the other can arrange health and social care programs, including day centers with activities like arts and exercise. These can help you remain independent and less likely to need a care facility.

Food and Health

Many Californians enjoy home-delivered meals, and many gather for group meals at senior centers, community centers, and other dining venues. If you have limited income, you might get fresh produce, herbs, and honey at participating farmers markets, as well as regular food benefits through the CalFresh Expansion program.

Are you confused by all the health insurance options? Volunteers with a special counseling program can guide you and your family through the many choices in Medicare and long-term care insurance.

Care

If you care for an older adult or someone with disabilities, you can find support in two programs that offer temporary in-home relief to caregivers, one-on-one and group counseling, and help with paperwork. There’s also help for families to develop action plans for people with dementia and referrals to ease caregiver stress.

Have you run into consumer fraud, elder abuse, or age discrimination? Legal Services can help with these issues, including questions about Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, health insurance, pensions, and conservatorships.

Jobs

More older Californians these days are looking for jobs. If you’re looking for work, you might qualify for free training in a variety of industries. You may even be placed in a job with a participating employer.

All these services — and many more — are coordinated locally through Area Agencies on Aging. Find yours by calling the California Aging and Adult Information Line at 800-5102020. You can also visit aging.ca.gov to learn more.

of the talent on the stage, and the dressed up attendees, the event resembled Showtime at the Apollo and an Ebony fashion show.

Attendee and supporter Shane Harris had this to say about the important work by the GPC: “I was glad to stop by the Grandparents Connection event Sunday night to recognize the work of Ms. Shearl Lambert and the

Grandparents Connection for the work they do across San Diego County. This organization’s work across our region has been vitally important as more children are faced with potentially being put into the foster care system.”

Live Well Symposium and Resource Fair

By Darrel Wheeler CONTRIBUTING WRITER

From 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM last Saturday the Southeastern Live Well Center hosted their Annual Symposium and Resource Fair. The day contained information sharing, award presentations, fact-finding, health awareness, and some neighborhood fellowshipping.

Committee Coordinators Barbara Jimenez, Crystal Skerven, and Janet Barragan were in the building representing HSEC.

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Other Relative Caregivers (GRG) Symposium got the morning started with open talk and an awards presentation by County Supervisor 4th District’s Monica Montgomery-Steppe.

Award recipients Shearl and Clifford Lambert of the CEO’s Grandparents Connection Organization are the true rockstars of San Diego’s grandparenting experience. They can now add to their already full trophy case, after receiving multiple certificates of appreciation for their tireless work and their organizational skills. The event also included symposiums on suicide prevention, opioid overdose prevention response training, probate guardianship for minors, and more. The building was active with valuable informative and lively conversations. Free breakfast and lunch was also provided for all event attendees.

The Live Well Center’s parking lot was transformed into a resource fair full of valuable information booths such as, SDCCU, St. Paul’s PACE, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Berry Good Food Foundation, Minding Your Mind, and I Am My Brother’s Keeper. Those were just some of the many organizations that sent representatives to the special event. The event was sponsored by the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services, Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Committees.

PHOTOS:

Darrel Wheeler

PHOTOS:

Darrel Wheeler

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Biden Honors Kenya With State Visit

East African Nation prepares to send police to Haiti

By Aamer Madhani Associated Press

Pr esident Joe Biden welcomed Kenyan

President William Ruto to the White House for a three-day state visit on May 22, as the East African nation prepares to deploy forces to Haiti as part of U.N.-led effort to try to calm a spiraling security crisis in the Caribbean country.

Some 1,000 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti, part of a multilateral security support mission that aims to help quell gang violence. Other countries expected to back up Kenyan forces include the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh. The United States for years has partnered with Kenya on counterterrorism efforts in Africa, including battling the extremist group al-Shabab. Kenya has participated in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and an international maritime task force launched by the Biden administration in December in response to Houthi attacks against vessels operating in the Red Sea.

Ruto’s decision send police forces to Haiti was

welcomed by a top Biden administration official as an “unprecedented undertaking” and a show of global leadership by Kenya.

Kenya is the first African nation since 2008 to be honored by the U.S. with a state visit.

The state visit opened when the two leaders took part in a White House meeting with CEOs in the afternoon that focused on strengthening ties between the American and Kenyan tech sectors. Executives from Teneo, Alphabet, and Semiconductor Technologies Limited are among those that attended, acording to the White House.

The U.S. and Kenya are marking their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. White House officials said the leaders’ agenda included trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health and security.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the two countries announced “substantial commitments” to elevate Kenya’s technological sector. Kenya hosted Google and Microsoft offices and positioned itself as the technology hub of East Africa, known as the Silicon Savannah.

The Long Arm of the Law Catches Up to Gambian Abuser

By Lisa Vives Global Information Network

A former minister of the West African nation of The Gambia has been found guilty of multiple crimes against humanity during the brutal regime of President Yahya Jammeh.

The verdict came from the top court of Switzerland whose law recognizes universal jurisdiction over certain serious international crimes no matter where they were committed and regardless of the nationality of the suspects or victims.

The sentencing was monumental for Gambian victims and a major achievement for the European nation to hold accountable those responsible for grave crimes committed in any country.

Swiss investigators traveled to The Gambia and interviewed dozens of victims and witnesses for the trial, which began in January this year. After human rights organizations presented evidence of atrocities committed against the President’s political opponents, Minister Ousman Sonko was arrested.

Sonko fled to Switzerland in 2016, shortly before Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was forced out of power after refusing to admit he had lost elections.His government was accused of numerous rights abuses.

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at the U.S.-based Humans Rights Watch, called Sonko’s conviction “a landmark moment for Gambian victims of brutal crimes under Yahya Jammeh’s rule… The verdict should catalyze justice efforts in Gambia and further bolster Swiss prosecutors to con-

Biden gathered dozens of African leaders in Washington in December 2022 to make the case that the United States under his watch was “all in” on Africa’s future and laid out billions in promised government funding and private investment on the continent in health, infrastructure, business and technology. The Democrat also promised to visit sub-Saharan Africa in 2023.

Ruto is looking to use the visit to bolster his standing on the world stage and he believes sending Kenyan police to Haiti will go a long way toward that broader goal, said Macharia Munene, a professor of international relations at the United States International University-Africa.

tinue to pursue international atrocity cases.”

Philip Grant, head of the organization that filed the complaint leading to Sonko's arrest, said the case sends a "resounding message against impunity".

"Minister-level perpetrators are now within reach of justice," the director of Trial International said.

In sentencing Minister Sonko, the court declared: “In its judgement of May 15, we find Ousman Sonko guilty of multiple counts of intentional homicide, multiple counts of torture and false imprisonment, each as a crime against humanity.” Sonko was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for atrocious killings, torture and rape over a period of 16 years.

Other countries are now bringing cases against former members of Jammeh's regime.

In October, Germany handed a life sentence to Bai Lowe,a one-time member of a death squad known as “the Junglers” for crimes against humanity. And in September this year, a court in Colorado will try an alleged former member of the same group.

Reed Brody, an American human rights lawyer who attended the trial, said Sonko's conviction was a pivotal step toward justice for Jammeh's victims. "The long arm of the law is catching up with Yahya Jammeh's accomplices all around the world, and hopefully will soon catch up with Jammeh himself," he said.

Ruto has said that with the mission to Haiti, Kenya’s aim is to “formulate actionable strategies that will lead to long-term solutions” in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation. Haiti has endured poverty, political instability and natural disasters for decades. The U.S. has agreed to provide the U.N.-backed mission direct financial assistance along with training, logistical and material support.

But Ruto’s plan to involve Kenyan police in a crisis thousands of miles away has also been met with some opposition in Nairobi, including legal challenges aimed at blocking the deployment of police forces and long-standing concerns over alleged abuses by police.

South African Prez Backs National Health Plan for All

By Lisa Vives

Information Network

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has thrown his support to a controversial new law that would provide universal health care free of charge for all. It could lead to the biggest shake-up in the health sector since the end of the racist system of apartheid 30 years ago.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has strenuously opposed the president’s plan, calling it the "death warrant" of health care in South Africa. They say the plan could be hugely expensive and fuel corruption.

Most South Africans are not currently covered by any health insurance. Under the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, a state fund would cover the medical costs of all South Africans.

Unlike the British state-funded National Health Service, South Africans would not be free to take out medical insurance to receive any extra treatment they want from private doctors.

The government has not specified the treatments that NHI-accredited private hospitals and GPs will have to provide, but says it will include

“The NHI will make health care in the country more affordable.”

–Cyril Ramaphosa

emergency services, mental health services, palliative care and rehabilitation services.

Currently, the country's poorest people have access to free treatment at 3,888 public clinics, community health centers and hospitals, but these facilities are often plagued by broken equipment and shortages of medicine and beds.

Ramaphosa calls the NHI an "important instrument to tackle poverty".

"The rising cost of health care makes families poorer,” he explained.

“By contrast, health care provided through the NHI frees up resources in poor families for other essential needs. The NHI will make health care in the country more affordable.”

The timing of the health plan proposal is seen as an attempt to boost the chances of the governing African National Congress (ANC) in the

May 29 election at a time when opinion polls suggest the party could lose its outright majority for the first time in 30 years. “We are going to end the apartheid that remains in health care, where you have the best healthcare for the rich and poor healthcare for the poor,” Ramaphosa said at a rally last month.

John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance said the plan would lead to "enormous tax increases" with the money "deposited into a central fund controlled by one almighty ANC cadre".

The government has not spelled out how much people will have to contribute or how much will be required to fund NHI.

Meanwhile, nearly 28 million South African registered voters have the chance to elect representatives to the national and provincial parliaments on May 29.

After the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, the Economic Freedom Fighters is the third largest party in parliament. Mr. Malema's supporters enjoy the combative rheto -

ric, and he remains an inspirational orator whose sharp focus on the rights of poor black South Africans has earned him their love.

He is especially popular among the youth - a demographic coveted by politicians who are keenly aware that South Africa's median age is 28. M.r Malema has also generated a buzz when touring other African countries, such as Ghana, Liberia and Kenya.

Prof PLO Lumumba, chair of the Pan-African Institute that hosted Mr. Malema in Kenya last year told the BBC last year: "Malema represents a younger generation of Africans who are now beginning to articulate Pan-African issues in a manner that appeals to critical masses."

The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party could make a strong showing in Jacob Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal.

In a separate case, Mr Zuma was reinstated as an MK candidate after the electoral commission had said he was not eligible because of a prison sentence that he had received for contempt of court. In a brief manifesto the MK party pledges to transform South Africa, including an aim to create five million jobs.

(L to R) Kenya First Lady Rachel Ruto, Kenya President William Ruto, United States President Joe Biden, and United States First Lady Jill Biden in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. PHOTO: Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

PHOTO: GIN

PHOTO: GIN

Global

Getting Healthier Starts With Your Feet

Good foot and ankle health is critical for good overall health, so no matter what your wellness goals are, be sure to start from the ground up.

“Feet and ankle issues can be signs of overarching health problems like diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease, so paying attention to them is vital for early diagnosis and treatment,” says Michael Coyer, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “Additionally, many common health fitness and weight loss goals are difficult to achieve if you’re experiencing foot and heel pain, making it important to fix these issues first.”

Get a jumpstart on your healthier lifestyle and wellness goals with these foot health facts from ACFAS:

“I want to lose weight”: Obesity aggravates foot problems, like heel pain and flat feet, making it hard to exercise. And, without exercise, obesity worsens, potentially increasing the progression of serious health threats. Break the cycle by seeking evaluation and treatment for chronic, activity-limiting foot and ankle problems. Once cleared to begin exercise, don’t do too much too soon. Follow a gradual routine of low-impact exercise until your body adjusts to the stress of regular physical activity.

“I want to build strong bones”: Osteoporosis is a bone-thinning disease affecting more than 28 million Americans, and your feet can present clues that there’s a problem. Early symptoms can include increased pain with walking accompanied by redness and swelling on the top of the foot, as well as unexplained foot fractures. Don’t ignore foot pain. Visit your foot and ankle surgeon who can detect osteoporosis through a bone densitometry test. Once you have a diagnosis

HEALTHY LIVING EDUCATION

What

Do

By Kristen J. Amundson

you can take steps to prevent stress fractures, such as wearing shoes that provide support and cushioning, and using custom orthotics.

“I want to age gracefully”: Taking good care of feet and ankles can improve balance, coordination and stability to reduce a senior’s risk of a life-altering fall. Examine your feet regularly. At the sign of bumps, lumps or other changes, or if you’re experiencing pain, make an appointment with your foot and ankle surgeon. Maintain foot strength and mobility with simple stretching exercises. Your foot and ankle surgeon can recommend appropriate exercises and discuss options for insoles and special footwear for additional protection.

“I want to feel my best”: Having persistently cold feet is not just uncomfortable, it could be a sign of a medical condition that causes poor blood flow in the legs or feet, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon and heart disease. It could also be an indication of hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency or an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus. If your feet are persistently cold follow up on it with your foot and ankle surgeon to determine if there’s a greater issue to be addressed.

“I want to manage my diabetes better”: Foot care is fundamental to diabetes management. Visit your foot and ankle surgeon for guidelines on diabetic foot care to help prevent problems like ulcers, cracked heels and bone infection that can lead to serious complications, including amputation.

For more information on foot care or to find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the patient education website of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Statepoint

Kindergarten

Former Virginia State Delegate

Helping You Get The Most out of Your Prescription Drug Benefits

The health care system can feel uncoordinated and costly. One in 10 U.S. adults ration medication because they can’t afford their prescriptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, the more a patient must pay at the counter, the more likely they are to abandon their treatment. Other Americans simply lack convenient access to primary care providers and pharmacies, and go undertreated as a result.

Pharmacy services companies exist to fill these gaps in care. Because these companies sit in the middle of the health care delivery system, they have the unique ability to spot and solve problems across the supply chain to drive affordability and deliver improved clinical outcomes.

Before filling your next prescription, check out these insights:

• C heck your coverage: At a time of rising drug costs and access barriers, some pharmacy services companies are helping people take their medications as prescribed.

A prescription drug doesn’t work if it’s priced out of reach. Reducing out-of-pocket costs is the single best thing to improve health.

• T ools to stay adherent: Half of all treatments fail because people don’t take medication as prescribed and nearly one-quarter of hospitalizations are due to medication non-adherence, according to the American Hospital Association. Further, chronic conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease have been on the rise for more than two decades – today, 60% of U.S. adults have at least one chronic condition. One of the biggest – and costliest – challenges with managing the rise of chronic condi -

t ions is ensuring patients get on and stay on the medicines they need.

By taking medications as directed and working with their pharmacist, patients stay healthier longer and spend less on health care, requiring fewer emergency room visits, hospitalizations and medical tests.

• U nderstand your pharmacy benefits: Prescription drug coverage is the most frequently utilized benefit that employers and health plans offer. On average, a pharmacy benefit is used approximately 11 times a year. Unfortunately, pharmacy care benefits, like all healthcare benefits, can be confusing. That’s why pharmacy services companies are taking steps to give patients greater clarity.

• P harmacy access: Pharmacists often fill care gaps in their communities, particularly where there are shortages of physicians, such as in rural areas. One in five Americans live in rural areas, yet less than 10% of physicians practice in these communities. This means longer wait times to get an appointment and more difficulty accessing pharmacies.

A new effort called the IndependentRx Initiative, is working to expand pharmacy care services to widely include such care as smoking cessation support, behavioral health screenings, biometric screenings, routine vaccinations and the administration of life-saving naloxone.

Ensuring equitable access to affordable, quality pharmacy care and health services will not only improve health, but it will also help individuals, families and communities thrive.

Statepoint

Teachers Mean By “Ready for School?”

At this time of year, many preschool parents are worrying about whether their child will be ready for kindergarten. What are the things their child should learn? Do they need to make alphabet flash cards? Invest in worksheets so kids can practice math. I talked with kindergarten teachers to find out what they think kids need to know to be kindergarten-ready.

You may be surprised: Readiness for school, teachers say, does not mean that your child will have mastered all the kindergarten skills on Day One. Instead, it means that your child will take pleasure in learning how to do things on their own.

One kindergarten teacher said to me, “I can teach kids their ABCs. I can’t teach them to get along with others and to understand that they aren’t going to get their own way all the time in school.” If you always do things for your child, and always tell them what to do, they will not be able to make their own decisions and learn how to be independent. One good rule of thumb for parents of toddlers: whenever possible, avoid doing things for your child that they can do on their own.

Kindergarteners are expected to take responsibility for their belongings. They put their lunch box in the right place. They

hang up their coat. During the day, they use the restroom and wash their hands by themselves. In the cafeteria, children must put the straw in their juice box or open the milk carton. They must get the foil on top of the applesauce.Teach your child how to do those things before the first day of school.

Let your toddler eat (and accept that mealtime will be messy and s-l-o-w, at least at first). Let young children choose what they want to wear—and relax if they choose to wear the polka-dot shirt with the checked pants. Encourage them to use the crayons they want to use in their coloring book and do not be surprised if you see a purple horse or a red elephant.

Follow the rule that teachers use when they are teaching a new skill: First, I do.

Then we do.

Then you do.

Whether it’s shoe tying or making a sandwich, start by showing your child what to do. Then practice the same skill together, working side by side. Finally, let your child do it alone, first while you watch and then independently.

Kristen J. Amundson is a former teacher, school board chair, state legislator, and CEO of a national education organization.

PHOTO: Freepik

PHOTO: Pexels

Nielsen : Growing Demand for Investments in Diverse Media Content to Engage Black America

By Black Press

Among U.S. audiences, Black consumers spend over 81 hours per week with media — 31.8% more than the general population, according to the latest Nielsen’s Diverse Intelligence Series report, “The global Black audience: Shaping the future of media.” With record-setting engagement and influence, what Black audiences expect from media—and how they access it—is changing. In the quest for representative content, 73% of Black American audiences pay for three or more streaming services. Black audiences also feel that they could be better represented in the advertising targeted towards them. In the United States alone, 67% of Black audiences agree that they wish they saw more representation of their identity group while watching TV. The demand is also high in other countries, based on Nielsen’s research. The issue of representation also extends to advertising, as 35% of Black Americans believe brands portray Black people the same way. 66% of Black consumers are willing to cut ties with brands that devalue their community. Nielsen’s report underscores the value and importance of building trust with Black audiences— not only because of their buying power, which is expected to top $2 trillion in the U.S. by 2026 —but also because Black-created and Black-inclusive content has become more influential than ever.

“Brands and programmers trying to connect with Black America have their work cut out for them to push beyond ‘urban’ and repre -

What motivates entrepreneurs to become self-employed? How do they measure success? What’s their cutoff for profitability and self-reflection on status? A new survey examining these very questions provides important insights to small business owners and those looking to start their entrepreneurial journey.

“The Tipping Point: Making the Jump to Self-Made” report from global small business platform Xero surveyed 1,200 small business owners nationwide and, among respondents, 58% gave themselves five years or less to make it or break it – with newer businesses giving themselves an even shorter timespan on average.

Here are some of the survey’s key findings, along with tips for surviving your first five years of small business ownership:

1

Define what success looks like: When they made the move to branch out on their own, 48% of small business owners defined suc-

sent the spectrum of African American traditions as well as emerging nuance from the expanding Black immigrant and Black first-generation perspectives,” said Charlene Polite Corley, Vice President, Diverse Insights & Partnerships, Nielsen. “When considering any kind of engagement with Black audiences, it’s key to remember that Black culture is vast and expansive, and the global exchange of influence needs to be taken into account.”

The report, covering Black audiences in the U.S., Brazil, Nigeria, U.K. and South Africa, examines the untapped power and influence

cess as achieving profitability, and 34% defined it as making more money than they were previously. Fast forward to the present with their businesses up and running and 28% of business owners cite creating a legacy as their success measure. Having tangible and intangible benchmarks of achievement can help you stay focused.

2 K now your “why”: According to the survey, one of the strongest motivators for starting a small business is the belief that it provides greater flexibility and control when you’re your own boss (45%). Passion/purpose in work (28%) and financial reasons (15%) were also strong motivators. Running a business can be tremendously satisfying when you understand what your “tipping point” was for taking a leap of faith and venturing out on your own.

3

B e flexible: Twenty-nine percent of small business owners say the pandemic has increased their

Black people have on the media landscape.

With the African and Caribbean-born Black population growth increasing in the United States (about one in five Black Americans are immigrants or children of Black immigrants), Black experiences with media are becoming more globalized, setting the stage for brands and programmers looking to engage with this diverse audience in a rapidly expanding media landscape.

Black people are engaging more than ever with media content from creators across the Black Diaspora, pointing to the increasing influence of the African continent on Black

culture and media habits across the globe. On average, 57% of respondents across general audiences in the United States, Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom agree. More than half of first-generation Black Americans say they’re following a Black creator based outside of the U.S., and seven out of 10 Black respondents from the U.K. said they followed Black creators from other countries.

Other key findings in the report include:

Black audiences are changing how they consume news and information.

• Black Millennials rely heavily on social media for access to news content — naming social media, YouTube and cable TV as top news sources in Nielsen’s study.

• Black Millennials were more likely among all Black people and among Millennials overall to feel that local TV news isn’t a reliable information source, pointing to a need to differentiate the value of local journalism and maintain trust.

Black audiences are quickly embracing cablefree content viewing.

• A s of September 2023, broadband-only (BBO) TV homes, which access TV content through an internet connection, had grown to account for nearly 44% of Black U.S. TV households — up from less than 13% back in 2019.

• W hile 3.2% of total TV usage is with free, ad-supported television (FAST) services like Tubi, Pluto TV and Roku Channel combined, Black viewers spend nearly 4% of their total TV time with Tubi alone.

desire to run a business, particularly among younger business owners (43% of Gen Z vs. 18% of Boomers) and women (34% of women vs. 24% of men). But what do those businesses that thrived in the COVID-

19 era have in common?

4

B e realistic: While most business owners say they started their business for increased flexibility and control, being the boss

doesn’t equate to less stress. In fact, that’s the biggest misconception about starting a business (47%). Another top misconception is that starting a business will be more fun than working for someone else (25%). Understanding the realities of entrepreneurship can help you avoid surprises, and ensure comfort in the role as it changes.

5 L ean on digital tools: When you’re a small business owner, it can often seem like there are never enough hours in the day. Using software that streamlines the nitty-gritty can free your time so it’s better spent on the big picture. For example, the cloud-based accounting software platform Xero gives small business owners and their advisors access to real-time financial data on any device. Its 2.45 million subscribers are leveraging its array of tools that simplify tasks like paying bills, payroll, claiming expenses and sending invoices. Statepoint

CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9011113

Fictitious business name(s):

TCP Media Located at:

3985 Wabaska Dr. #16

San Diego, CA 92107

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

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

This business is hereby registered by the following: Thomas Plunkett

3985 Wabaska Dr. #16 San Diego, CA 92107

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 24, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 24, 2029 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9011017

Fictitious business name(s): Lemon Grove Thai Food Located at: 7975 Broadway Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

A Married Couple

The first day of business was: 05/10/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Cidora Yun 739 Baylor Ave. Bonita, CA 91902

Sambo Mao

739 Baylor Ave. Bonita, CA 91902

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 23, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 23, 2029 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010985

Fictitious business name(s): Alterations Pretty Woman --Pretty Woman Located at: 8233 Station Village Ln. Unit 2101 San Diego, CA 92108 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Mercedes Niner 8233 Station Village Ln. Unit 2101 San Diego, CA 92108

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 22, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 22, 2029 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010147

Fictitious business name(s): Citrine Consulting Located at: 8174 Rose Quartz Cir San Diego, CA 92126-1055 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 04/01/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jennifer K Cho 8174 Rose Quartz Cir San Diego, CA 92126-1055 State of Incorporation/ Organization: CA This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 10, 2024 This fictitious business name will expire on May 10, 2029 5/30, 6/6, 6/13,

Fictitious business name(s): Brain Body Regulation Located at: 6766 Brooklyn Ave. San Diego, CA 92114

County of San Diego

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

This business is hereby registered by the following: Uzoma Wellness LLC 6766 Brooklyn Ave. San Diego, CA 92114 State of Incorporation/ Organization:

CA

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 17, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 17, 2029 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010884

Fictitious business name(s): Young Women Conference San Diego

YWCSD Located at: 1245 Elkelton Blvd Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego

P.O. Box 153843 San Diego, CA 92195

This business is conducted by:

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

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Rachael A Russell

P.O. Box 153843 San Diego, CA 92195

CBNC In-Action P.O. Box 153843 San Diego, CA 92195

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 22, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 22, 2029 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010377

Fictitious business name(s): Legends Real Estate Located at: 1420 Kettner Blvd. Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92101 County of San Diego

260 Palladio Parkway Suite 1005 Folsom, CA 95630

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: John F. Pope 1420 Kettner Blvd. Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92101 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 14, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 14, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010749

Fictitious business name(s): Power Legal Docs & Notary Services Located at: 709 Sunningdale Drive Oceanside, CA 92057 County of San Diego

4225 Oceanside Blvd. STE. # PMB120 Oceanside, CA 92056 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Chimere Trumone Williams 4225 Oceanside Blvd.

STE.- # PMB120 Oceanside, CA 92056

This statement was filed with

the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 20, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 20, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010538

Fictitious business name(s): Fuller Homes LLC

A Fuller House Located at: 2879 Jamacha Rd. #1026 El Cajon, CA 92019 This business is conducted by:

A Limited Liability Company

Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Fuller Homes LLC 2879 Jamacha Rd. #1026 El Cajon, CA 92019

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 16, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 16, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010536

Fictitious business name(s): Aspire Visitation Services

Aspire Visitation Center Located at: 2879 Jamacha Rd. #1026 El Cajon, CA 92019

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

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

This business is hereby registered by the following: Keyauna Shinae Foster 2879 Jamacha Rd. #1026 El Cajon, CA 92019

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 16, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 16, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9009212

Fictitious business name(s): Sayaka Tea Located at: 6353 El Cajon Blvd. STE 134 San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Tina Sakasegawa 6353 El Cajon Blvd. STE 134 San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 29, 2024 This fictitious business name will expire on April 29, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010216

Fictitious business name(s): Starlight Liberation Therapy Located at: 3424 47th St. San Diego, CA 92105 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Andina Aste-Nieto 3424 47th St. San Diego, CA 92105

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 13, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 13, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

2024-9010442

Fictitious business name(s): Bright Care Home Located at: 6334 Varney Dr. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 02/28/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Bright Care Residential LLC 4113 Mandarin Terrace San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 15, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 15, 2029 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9010014

Fictitious business name(s): MAC Services Located at: 4189 Rolando Blvd. STE #C San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego 6226 Romo St. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 04/01/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Mouhamed Chahin 6226 Romo St. San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 09, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 09, 2029 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2024-9009733

Fictitious business name(s): Urban Beginnings Real Estate

Up Mo Paradigm

Consulting Located at: 1820 Beta St National City, CA 91950 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 04/01/2021

This business is hereby registered by the following: Quincey And Associates Global LLC 1820 Beta St National City, CA 91950 State of Incorporation/ Organization: California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 06, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 06, 2029 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9009805

Fictitious business name(s): Sebek Products & Services LLC Located at: 264 Elvado Way San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

A Limited Liability Company

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

This business is hereby registered by the following: Sebek Products & Services LLC 264 Elvado Way San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 07, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 07, 2029 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

2024-9007619

Fictitious business name(s): Deebone Productions Located at: 2675 Balboa Vista Dr. San Diego, CA 92105 County of San Diego PO Box 152286 San Diego, CA 92195-2286 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 01/01/2004

This business is hereby registered by the following: Donna Jean Brooks PO Box 152286 San Diego, CA 92195-2286

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 08, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on April 08, 2029 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9009072

Fictitious business name(s): Peaceful Pathways

Therapy Located at: 6977 Navajo Road #1010 San Diego, CA 92119

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jacqueline Michelle Hazel 6977 Navajo Road #1010 San Diego, CA 92119

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 26, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on April 26, 2029 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9008444

Fictitious business name(s): The White Flower Bridal Boutique

The White Flower Located at: 2121 5th Ave. STE 100 San Diego, CA 92101

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 09/25/2019

This business is hereby registered by the following: TWF Bridal 2121 5th Ave. STE 100 San Diego, CA 92101 County of San Diego

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 18, 2024 This fictitious business name will expire on April 18, 2029

5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9009672

Fictitious business name(s): Sushi Kuchi PB Located at: 4475 Mission Blvd #C San Diego, CA 92109 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 10/24/2016 This business is hereby registered by the following: YSE Group INC 4475 Mission Blvd #C San Diego,

FICTITIOUS

The

of

was: 10/19/2017 This business is hereby registered by the following: Bbodagu Corp 4637 Convoy St. STE 104 San Diego, CA 92111 State of Incorporation/ Organization: California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May

Fictitious

Fictitious

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 01, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on May 01, 2029 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9007542

Fictitious business name(s): Video-RX Located at:

715 North Rios Avenue Solana Beach, CA 92075-1249 County of San Diego This business is conducted by:

A Limited Liability Company

The first day of business was: 02/19/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Talktoaster 715 North Rios Avenue Solana Beach, CA 92075

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 08, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on April 08, 2029 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9008691

Fictitious business name(s): H Hersh77-Holdings Co.

Fictitious business name(s): Auto Selection Located at: 3964 Willowside Lane #B Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Enhanced Apperance LLC

3964 Willowside Lane #B Spring Valley, CA 91977

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on March 28, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on March 28, 2029 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9009165

Fictitious business name(s): Herm & Herm Grilling Located at: 945 Alvin Street San Diego, CA 92114

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: Co-Partners

The first day of business was: 04/01/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Herman Collins 945 Alvin Street San Diego, CA 92114

Hermon James Brooks 5849 Tooley Street San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on April 29, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on April 29, 2029 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME 2024-9009495

Fictitious business name(s) to be abandoned:

Hispanic Legal Immigration Service

Located at:

3855 Avocado Bl. Ste 120 La Mesa, CA 91941

County of San Diego

9939 Jacoby Rd. Spring Valley, CA 91977

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by:

An Individual

The Fictitious business name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on: 03/09/2021 and assigned File no. 2021-9004185

The fictitious business name is being abandoned by: Laura Ocampo 9939 Jacoby Rd Spring Valley, CA 91977

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County May 02, 2024 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30

NAME CHANGE

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 37-2024-00023059CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Kevin Kristopher Kimbrew

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Kevin Kristopher Kimbrew filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Kevin Kristopher Kimbrew

PROPOSED NAME: Kalev Kelil Kasher

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 02, 2024 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 the petitioner a written order with further directions.

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

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division Hall of Justice 37-2024-00022688CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Jessica Alvidrez Marble

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Jessica Alvidrez Marble filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Jessica Alvidrez Marble

PROPOSED NAME: Jessica Ann Alvidrez

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 03, 2024 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 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 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Civil Division

37-2024-00013182CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Deborah Hosein

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Deborah Hosein filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Deborah Hosein

PROPOSED NAME: Deborah Mary Claret Hosein

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

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 17, 2024

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 the petitioner a written order with further directions.

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

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF

Aurora Totanes Saini Case Number: 24PE001001C

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Aurora Totanes Saini Aka Aurora Lamsis Totanes Aka Aurora Totanes SainiNichols

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Weygan Lamsis Totanes in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Weygan L Totanes 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 codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: on June 26 2024, 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 Probate

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

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

You may examine the file kept by the court.

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

Petitioner:

Weygan L Totanes 1810 E Alvarado St. Fallbrook, CA 92028 (760)-626-9865 5/30, 6/6, 6/13

Jael Martin:

San Diego’s Most Underrated Basketball Player

By Michael West Contributing Writer

Joel Martin will graduate from Carlsbad High School next month, then begin his new chapter in basketball as a Loyola Marymount Power Forward. This third most talented player in San Diego County signed his National Letter of Intent with the Lions on April 17th.

Although he is not considered highly on the national basketball radar, the skilled forward is well known in the San Diego area. Known as a prolific shot blocker, Martin was San Diego Section’s third best in blocking shots his senior year. But that is not the only skill that led him to land at Loyola Marymount. Head Coach Lorenzo Romar likes Martin’s versatility-which he demonstrated time and again in Carlsbad’s title run this year.

Most of the major recruiting services did not list Martin his senior year, but he still drew offers from the likes of Arizona State, Pepperdine, UNLV and UC San Diego. Martin originally committed to Pepperdine, but followed Head Coach Romar to LMU, when Pepperdine parted ways with the well-known former basketball player turned coach.

The lanky 6 foot 9, 190 pound forward has been considered one of the most underrated players on the West Coach for quite some time. He averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots his junior year in high school. His stats fell his Senior year, but his versatility and leadership increased as a Senior.

Most players see an uptick statistically their final year of high school, but Martin made a difference his senior year-being an instrumental cog on a talented Lancer squad. He averaged 13.7 points per game, 7 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.3 assists, but that doesn’t tell the entire story of his senior season.

All five of the Lancer’s starters were pivotal throughout the season, which culminated in the 30-4 Lancers remaining the top seed in the San Diego Section as the season moved into the playoffs. The ensemble’s unity and cohesiveness paid off as Carlsbad took home the San Diego Section Division Open Title, defeated the Montgomery Aztecs 56-47. Martin scored 8 points in the game-including a thunderous dunk in the 4th quarter that sealed the victory.

Martin is mostly known for his rebounding, shot blocking and defensive skills. His ability to average double figures on offense is what makes him a valuable prospect as he enters Division I basketball at Loyola Marymount. Below are a few links of some notable plays this past season.

https://x.com/i/status/ 17536571529-40744849

https://x.com/i/status/ 1741312941260230911

https://x.com/i/status/ 1664653508174581770

Congrats to Joel Martin, and best of luck. Sources: X.com; Maxpreps.com; On3.com; Pepperdinewaves.com

AbAndonment

PHOTO: Jael Martin via X

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