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Gov. Says No More Tax on Diapers and Tampons, Period California Black Media Staff
Could it get anymore California? Probably not. At the governor’s unveiling Thursday of his sweeping $213 billion revised budget for the 2019 – 2020 fiscal year - and at an event Tuesday leading up to it – a few things we know about the Golden State’s reputation came to life – the social progressivism, optimism about the future, and even Tinseltown’s cinematic flair. Yes, it got a little Hollywood upstate in Sacramento Tuesday. A stage decorated with props – jumbo boxes of pampers and tampons - helped Gov. Gavin Newsom tell the story of his plan to eliminate sales taxes on diapers and other menstrual products over the next two years; the policy would be subject to renewal by the legislature after that. Estimated at a $35-million-a-year loss in revenue for the state and close to an additional $20 million for local governments annually, the proposal is part of the governor’s “parents agenda” for women, children and families built into the first budget proposal of his four-year tenure. If the legislature approves, the tax exemption will include other feminine hygiene products like sanitary napkins, menstrual sponges and
The San Diego Monitor and menstrual cups. Flanked on stage by six members of the California Women’s Legislative Caucus at the State Capitol, the governor sounded confident. “We can afford it and it is the right thing to do,” Gov. Newsom said. “There’s a deep agenda here and I hope you’re hearing it. An agenda of affordability, an agenda on the cost crisis and an agenda to support parents.” In the spirit of the event, the press release the Governor’s office sent to the media used the gender-neutral title “first partner” to refer to his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom who joined him on stage with the women’s caucus. “Nothing is more important than our children’s futures,” Siebel Newsom said. “We are fighting for a future where our daughters will be valued equally to our sons, a California where every single child, no matter the ZIP Code or the family that they’re born into will have the best possible start in life.” The governor, who referred to himself as a “feminist,” is making budget proposals longfought for by women activists across the state and in the legislature. Some included in the budget are a $1,000 in earned income tax credit for families with children under 6 years old; a $134 million expansion of child care programs partially funded by tax revenue from legalized marijuana; an infusion of $54 million into the state’s continued on page 7
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The San Diego Monitor
Ok what about BVR?
WHO IS BLACK VEGANS ROCK
Black Vegans Rock was founded by Aph Ko after she wrote the first list that spotlighted 100 Black Vegans for Striving with Systems back in June 2015. She decided to research and compile a list of influential Black vegans who were doing incredible work to dismantle the stereotype that veganism was a “white person’s” thing. After releasing the list, she received emails from Black vegans all over the world who wanted to be featured on the list as well. Some people told her that they had a vegan organization and they wanted to get it in front of other Black vegans. Since Aph didn’t want to add on to the 100 Black Vegans list, she decided to create a platform devoted to spotlighting incredible Black vegans every day.
Aph Ko/FOUNDER Aph Ko is the co-author of a new book (published through Lantern Books) titled Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters. She has a B.A. in Women's and Gender Studies, and an M.A. in Communication and Cultural/Media Studies. Aph is an indie digital media producer, and she served as the Associate Producer for the documentary film Always in Season. Pax Ahimsa Gethen manages the BVR Instagram page. Pax is a queer black trans vegan activist, blogger, and photographer. Pax is agender and goes by the gender-neutral pronouns they/them/their.
Aph received grants from A Well-Fed World as well as The Pollination Project to help get the project off the ground.
THEIR MISSION Black Vegans Rock is a digital space that seeks to spotlight everyday Black vegans who are looking to get their work, art, music, restaurant, book or other projects in front of other vegans. We seek to specifically cater to Black vegans considering we are regularly excluded or erased from mainstream spaces that deal with animal rights, food justice, feminism, and anti-racism. CONTUNE ON PAGE 5
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The San Diego Monitor
BARRY
Putting a spotlight on HBO’s Barry! By Jre Best
I think it's fair to say that HBO might be one of the most influential forces and television ever. Their commitment to long-form high production values storytelling has changed the entire industry; without shows like the Sopranos or The Wire, you wouldn't get things like Breaking Bad or the slew of original programming on all your favorite streaming networks. Currently, HBO is airing the 8th season of GoT (Game of Thrones) which is currently ruling the pop culture discourse. But while the network's headlining program is going on I figured I'd take the time to put a spotlight on a show that’s second season is also airing on HBO right now, that some might not be aware of. That is the heartbreaking comedy-drama, Barry. Barry follows the titular character, played by Bill Hader, a veteran who's been working the contract killer life since his exit from the marines. Barry’s feeling unfulfilled by his life as a contract killer but he does it anyway, mainly because he doesn't know what else he would do and his uncle Monroe Fuches, played by Stephen Root, encourages it. On a routine hit and through some shenanigans Barry ends up on the stage of an acting class working with the guy he's been hired to kill. It's at that moment Barry realizes his true passion in life is acting and the rest of the show sees him trying to escape his wife as a killer to pursue his dreams. Read More on www.sdmonitornews.com
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The San Diego Monitor
VEGAN: We aim to bring the Black vegan community together by focusing on our diversity, rather than our differences. While we might all be vegan for different reasons, and while we might each be at different phases in our activist/vegan journey, we aim to highlight just how powerful we can be when we unify and celebrate our brilliance. The goal of the website is to feature YOU. So, if you have something that you want to share with other vegans out there, send your information to blackvegansrock@gmail.com. With Jyoti Parmar, Antoinette Perez, Jaclyn Boyes and Angela Trinidad.
BLOG FEATURES
Medicare for All vs Obamacare Forever By Angela de Joseph
As the executive director for one of the first community organizations certified as an enrollment entity for Covered CA, our state brand for the ACA aka “Obamacare� insurance marketplace, I was on the front lines from day one of the roll out. I managed a team of 14 certified enrollment counselors (CECs) and we enrolled over a thousand families in affordable health insurance plans and Medi-Cal, our version of Medicaid. It was rewarding to help people obtain access to healthcare services and in fact, save lives. But, the administration and implementation was a house of horrors. The computer system stalled and crashed daily. We could not get through to the help center after being on hold for hours. The website, paperwork and procedures were confusing. Our CECs were working around the clock and through the holiday season to compensate for the system failures and meet the enrollment deadlines which kept extending. The good news is that we survived the rocky start up and Covered CA is working very well now. We are fortunate to live in California where the extra resources and commitment to make it work overcame the early difficulties. The Covered CA website application process has been simplified, there are adequate trained phone operators on the helpline and our hospitals and clinics are staffed and able to process enrollments for patients on a daily basis. In 2018, Covered CA had an increase in enrollments despite the current federal administration cutting the ACA advertising budgets, shortening the enrollment period and the constant threat to dismantle the ACA causing uncertainty in the insurance market. READ MORE WWW.SDMONITORNEWS.COM
Kevin Black:
I went vegan for ethics. The idea of eating another sentient being never sat well with me. Ariel Calhoun: I chose veganism for a variety of reasons. One being love, enlightenment, and mastery. READ MORE WWW.SDMONITORNEWS.COM
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The San Diego Monitor
NOW ON
Editor-In-Chief Cheryl Morrow wants you to share in this discussion on Black Exceptionalism & Immigration. Please comment, sharing your thoughts and this video. Thus, broadening this important conversation. To hear the full SDMN values the discourse and contributions of insightful Black thinkers. Embodying our motto "it's not about the
news, it's about information" or as one engaged reader put it "if you're not informed, news doesn't matter" this audio series intends to provoke progressive thought on cooperative economics, political will & power rooted in logical analysis from an Afro ethos.
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The San Diego Monitor
Gov. Newsom’s No Tax children’s public assistance program, CalWORKS, to be administered by counties; and an extension of paid family leave from six to eight weeks. Even with the hundreds of billions of dollars in spending the governor has budgeted for the next year, California is still in great financial shape. The country’s most populous state, and the 5th largest economy in the world, has stockpiled some $21 billion in its budget surplus. Yet Newsom is doing some budget resiliency planning for hard times ahead. He said a recession that could amount to as much as a $70 million drop in revenue is inevitable. So he is taking steps to shore up the state’s reserves with a $16.5 billion investment in the state’s “rainy day” fund and another $400 million deposit into an education reserve fund. A number of proposals could directly impact Black Californians, particularly those living in hard-to-count census tracts around the Bay Area, Los Angeles and the Inland Valley where there are larger numbers of African Americans, higher concentrations of poverty, and rapid gentrification that is making most of those areas unaffordable for long-time residents. There is a loan repayments deal amounting to $90 million for teachers in science, math and special education and
another $120 million for medical professionals who work in areas of the state with critical needs. The governor is also proposing $40 million for public colleges and universities to help students who are homeless students. To help renters facing eviction, there is a line item for $20 million. When the budget comes before the legislature, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D- Los Angeles), who is African-American, is expected to push for $100 million for youth programs designed to deter children under 18 from getting involved in crimes that could get them arrested or sent to prison. The governor’s budget also slates $150 million more in community grants geared towards helping the homeless with housing and other services. The proposed budget also lives up to the perception that California is a maverick when it comes to progressive public policy. There is a provision in it to extend state medical insurance to undocumented immigrants under 26 who qualify. Not everyone is applauding the hefty tax cuts the governor wants for California. “Piecemeal carve-outs in the state’s already convoluted tax scheme are irresponsible, not to mention an inefficient way to help people who are struggling to get by,” the Los Angeles Times board wrote in an editorial. Read More www.sdmonitornews.com
