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By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

The San Bernardino Branch of the NAACP is calling on the City of San Bernardino to investigate a racial incident that occurred last week.

During the public comments section of a council meeting on Oct. 18, Amy Malone, a Black resident of San Bernardino was interrupted by racial slurs from a commenter who was viewing the meeting remotely.

The anonymous commenter told Malone to “go back to Africa” and called her the N-word. She was also called a “bitch.”

Malone was shocked by the comments and insisted that they be addressed immediately.

“You should apologize for what just happened,” said Malone to the city council members present.

The local branch of the NAACP also reacted to the incident, calling it “disgusting.”

“It is with a heavy heart that we must deal with racial insults being tossed at the Black community on 10/18/23 as they cautioned the mayor and council not to hire Mr. Charles Montoya as City Manager because of his public legal issues cause from being fired by the Mayor and Council from Avondale, Arizona,” wrote Chache Wright, NAACP San Bernardino Branch President.

“A letter signed by Mayor Kenneth N. Weise (Avondale, AZ) lists these five alleged reasons for Montoya termination. 1. Montoya did not live in Avondale as required by his employment contract. 2. Demanding funds from the city he was not entitled to according to his contract. 3. Failing  to make timely payment on a loan he had borrowed against his retirement account. 4. Receiving tuition reimbursement payments beyond what his contract allowed. 5. Refusing to repay vehicle reimbursement funds that he was paid in error,” the NAACP statement continued.

Before she was interrupted, Malone was expressing her objections to the hiring of Montoya because of past misconduct and his questionable professional past. She was one of several residents who opposed his hiring because of his checkered employment history. According to some of the protestors, Montoya also has a history of filing lawsuits against previous employers.

According to news reports, Montoya clashed with Avondale board members and raised concerns about nepotism prior to his dismissal. He was terminated for not living within the city limits. However, his attorney argues that the city unlawfully terminated him without giving him adequate time to address the problem.

Montoya said he was fired out of spite. During an appearance at the meeting, he said he had no regrets about his decision. The case is currently proceeding to federal court.

Despite these concerns, the city council approved Montoya’s hiring. Montoya has previously worked as a city manager in California and Arizona.

A statement posted on the city’s website says that the official recording of the meeting has been edited to remove the offensive language.

“The racist comments made during the October 18, 2023, City Council meeting by individuals connected remotely through Zoom were offensive and unacceptable, and the City of San Bernardino condemns what happened in no uncertain terms,” according to the statement.

“The city apologizes to anyone who heard what was said. Our community will not tolerate this type of hateful language in our public meetings, or anywhere. The city is working to identify the individuals who made the comments. The City Clerk and her staff, along with our IT department, are working with the San Bernardino Police Department on this. We have identified all the IP addresses that were in the queue at the time and are working to identify those that were involved. SBPD is investigating this as a violation of California Penal Code 403.”

The offensive comments are part of a phenomenon known as Zoom bombing, which gained prominence during the coronavirus pandemic when many groups and businesses were forced to conduct most meetings via the videoconferencing platform. When these meetings were not properly secured, unauthorized individuals could join the chat and make inappropriate comments.

The San Bernardino NAACP says it plans to file a formal request for an investigation into the hate incident and the hiring of the city manager with the city. It will also share that request with State Attorney General Rob Bonta and the U.S. Department of Justice.

“The NAACP Legal Redress Committee is currently in the process of compiling relevant information and plans to transmit this information to the appropriate authorities next week, accompanied by their official request,” Wright concluded.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— In an effort to increase the peace and decrease the violence and to restore hope in the City of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino Pastors United, will be having another Community Block Party. The purpose of the gathering is to let the community know that the church community is here for them, and to let the community know that hate will not define us, and love conquers all, “Better Together: Growing Stronger.”

On October 28, 2023, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. all roads lead to Due Season Fellowship located at 1024 N G Street, in San Bernardino, Calif. Bishop Daniel Frazier, of DSF will be the host church and will bring a short inspirational word. Local area churches: Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, His Neighborhood Church, Life Changing Ministries, Victory Outreach Church, Kingdom Culture Worship Centre, The Way World Outreach, Cruz Chacon Foundation, Young Visionaries, The Pal Center, United Way, and many others will come together to be a blessing to the community.

SBPU is expecting hundreds to be attendance, to receive Free food, free groceries, resources, job referrals.  We are asking the community to join us as we bring:  “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino, for more info call 909-534-1383 or 909-238-6891 or email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com. Thank you for showing that San Bernardino is still Strong.

By Tanu Henry and Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? |? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new legislation enhancing gun safety measures, further solidifying California’s position as a national leader in implementing controls on the use and distribution of firearms.

Joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta, lawmakers, gun safety advocates and gun wound survivors, Newsom introduced at a press conference several of the gun laws he signed. They included Senate Bill (SB) 2, authored by Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank), which reinforces the state’s public carry regulations; and SB 452, authored by Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), which mandates the use of microstamping on handgun cartridges to help trace guns used in crimes.

SB2 imposes new restrictions for obtaining a concealed-carry weapons (CCW) permit. According to Portantino’s office, the law ensures licensees are law-abiding citizens over 21 years of age; establishes an appeal process for denied CCW licenses; introduces gun handling, loading, unloading and storage training requirements; and restricts locations where people can legally carry firearms.

When the Legislature passed SB 2, Newsom stated that people are less likely to die from gunshots in California. In 2022 alone, California’s gun death rate was 43% lower than the national average, according to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC). The Giffords Law Center also ranked the state number one in the U.S. for gun safety.

“While radical judges continue to strip away our ability to keep people safe, California will keep fighting — because gun safety laws work,” Newsom said in a Sept. 26 statement.

Newsom also signed bills introduced by California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) members Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles).

AB 1406 (McCarthy) gives the California Department of Justice the authority to postpone firearm delivery if additional time is required to do background checks. AB 1089 (Gipson) adds new regulations and guidelines for the ownership and operation of computer numeric control (CNC) milling machines, commonly used to manufacture “ghost guns.” AB 574 (Jones-Sawyer), which goes into effect in March 2025, requires gun dealers making any sale of a gun – or overseeing the transfer of ownership — to confirm that both the buyer and seller “confirm possession of every firearm they own or possess.”

AB 28, which is authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) was also on the list of gun legislation Newsom approved. The law enacts a first-in-the-nation effort to raise $160 million annually on the sale of bullets by imposing an 11% excise tax on gun vendors and gun manufacturers across the state. The revenue collected will be used to improve school safety, behavioral health and gun violence intervention.

“How about a little damn accountability,” said Newsom at a press conference. “You’re selling a product, a leading product, a purveyor of death for our kids.”

Gabriel shares the Governor’s perspective. “It’s shameful that gun manufacturers are reaping record profits at the same time that gun violence has become the leading cause of death for kids in the United States,” he said.

AB 455, authored by Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and Diane Papan (D-San Mateo), keeps guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous individuals.

Two more public safety laws, Newsom signed deal with limiting ghost guns and the “relinquishment of firearms.” AB 725, authored by Quirk-Silva and Papan, updates the definition of a firearm to include ghost gun parts.

AB 732, authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra), simplifies the process for removing firearms from people who are prohibited from owning them.

The same day Newsom signed the package of gun laws, the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), a non-profit focused on advancing gun rights, announced that it filed a complaint challenging some parts of SB 2.

“SB2 restricts where persons with licenses to carry a concealed weapon may legally exercise their constitutional right to wear, carry, or transport firearms. And it does so in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen,” the complaint states.

Three groups, Orange County Gun Owners, San Diego County Gun Owners, and California Gun Rights Foundation have joined FPC in the lawsuit.

“With Gov. Newsom’s signing of SB2 today, California continues to exhibit its disdain for the rights of Californians, the U.S. Constitution, and the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision,” said Cody J. Wisniewski, FPC Action Foundation’s General Counsel and Vice President of Legal, and FPC’s counsel. “Unfortunately for California, and contrary to Governor Newsom’s misguided statements, the state does not have the power to unilaterally overrule individual rights and constitutional protections.”

Bonta disagrees. He says gun safety laws protect people.

“Addressing gun violence is critical to protecting public safety; we cannot pretend that they are distinct problems,” said Bonta. “In California, we won’t settle for inaction when it comes to saving lives.”

On Oct. 10, Newsom scored another win on gun control. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the California state law that bans guns with high-capacity, detachable magazines can remain in effect while California appeals a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals September ruling that declared that law

By Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – Chief Petty Officer Alex Tamez, a native of Barstow, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group operating out of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Tamez graduated in 2006 from Barstow High School.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Barstow.

“Growing up in Barstow, I learned to never settle,” said Tamez. “I wanted different opportunities than what my hometown had to offer. I took to heart to never settle and to go beyond the mountains and the desert to see what else is out there.”

Tamez joined the Navy 16 years ago. Today, Tamez serves as a yeoman.

“I joined the Navy so I could show my family and myself that I could actually accomplish something,” said Tamez. “Growing up, there was a cap and gown ceremony for finishing kindergarten, eighth grade and high school. I didn’t participate in any of them because I didn’t get good grades. I had to go to summer school and get my diploma that way. My parents have never seen me in a cap and gown. I joined the Navy so my parents could see me accomplish something. They’re coming to see me get pinned. My husband is going to pin the right side and my father is going to pin the left.”

Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, headquartered in Williamsburg, Virginia, is made up of more than 3,300 personnel assigned to three regiments and seven battalions across the United States. Its mission is to deliver worldwide expeditionary logistics with active and reserve personnel to provide a wide range of supply and transportation support critical for peacetime efforts, crisis response, humanitarian and combat service missions.

Serving in the Navy means Tamez is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“I feel that in the last couple of years, this nation has kind of been attacked and has been picked on and it’s super important for the Navy and military to let other countries know they can’t mess with us,” said Tamez. “If they’re going to do anything of that nature, they should expect some push back. I’m proud of my country and I’m proud to stand on that line to protect it. That’s why I joined.”

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

Tamez has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest point is being selected for chief petty officer,” said Tamez. “In my rate or job field, it’s kind of hard to make chief. It’s a blessing to make chief and it’s a blessing to make chief in my rate. There were around 600 yeoman first class who were eligible for chief and they only advanced 162. For anybody enlisted, their goal is to make chief. To be able to be a chief, you can’t get any higher than that in my opinion.”

As Tamez and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.

“Serving in the Navy really didn’t mean anything to me in the beginning other than being a chance at more opportunities outside of my hometown,” said Tamez. “I didn’t really have any pride in my service, but as I carried on I started to see what it meant and started to feel it. I’m representing the entire Navy when I wear this uniform. There’s a level of responsibility, pride and professionalism that comes when I wear this uniform. I’m a sailor even when I’m not wearing this uniform because you’re always representing the military. You have to do the right thing all the time.”

Tamez is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I want to thank Stacey Oitzman, who is currently my boss,” added Tamez. “She’s a retired chief yeoman and she literally got me to where I needed to be today. She walked me through how to be a better man and a better sailor. Without her, I wouldn’t have been selected for chief. I also want to thank my husband, Kory Fransen, for his patience and constant love. He’s been a shoulder to lean on and even though he may not have understood, that he was engaged and a great listener was all I needed.”

“I want to thank my parents for not giving up on me and always knowing that I had potential,” said Tamez. “I also want to thank my Navy brothers and sisters for always being there when I needed help and assistance.”

ONTARIO, CA—“How many of you want to come back and make pizzas?”

Executive Chef Daly Cruz knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it for himself as an enthusiastic cohort of local high school culinary arts students wrapped up a recent backstage tour of Cruz’ kitchen – while showcasing some of their own cooking skills – at the Ontario Convention Center.

Nearly 50 students from Ontario High School and Montclair High School spent the morning getting an intimate look at one of the region’s major event centers and hearing from the executive chef and others on career opportunities in the booming hospitality industry.

The tour was organized by leaders of the Convention Center, Greater Ontario California (GOCAL) and the Chaffey Joint Union High School District as part of the District’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for 21st century career opportunities.

“Partnering with businesses is a critical component of our career pathway initiatives, and we are so grateful to the Convention Center and Chef Cruz for providing invaluable insight into the opportunities that exist in the hospitality industry,” said Dr. Mathew Holton, Chaffey District Superintendent.

Michael Krouse, CEO of GOCAL and the Convention Center, said building a pipeline of future workers will further establish Greater Ontario and the Inland Empire as Southern California newest destination. According to the California Employment Development Department, the hospitality industry employs more than 180,000 people in the Inland Empire, ranking it among the Top 5 employment categories in the two-county region. Demand for chefs, cooks and food servers is expected to surge over the next decade, with a projected net increase of 47,000 jobs.

“These are good jobs that will support families, allow restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses to flourish, and enhance the quality of life of our region. Working closely with our school partners is an important step in ensuring that we can continue to grow this vital industry,” Krouse said.

The students from Ontario and Montclair seemed eager to jump at the opportunity as Cruz, one of the most distinguished chefs in the region, shared his own career journey, from working as a dishwasher to cooking at restaurants to now leading a culinary team that serves hundreds of thousands of customers across multiple locations each year. Along the way, he has earned a reputation as one of the most distinguished chefs in the region.

“I started young and, now, after 30 years in the business, I still feel like it’s my first day because I’m having so much fun,” Cruz said. “Cooking is like art. It is an expression, and I love it when I get to see how pleased our clients are with what we have prepared them.”

To drive that point home, the Executive Chef had the students try their hand at making pizzas, guiding them through the process of kneading and tossing the dough, adding just the right amount of sauce and cheese, and using a professional oven. It was a chance for the students to express their creativity – a pizza in the shape of a pumpkin, anyone? – while also getting a taste of a high-volume kitchen environment.

The experience was a success, said Eduardo Zaldivar, the Chaffey District’s Director of Career Readiness.

“Several of these students were already excited about potential careers as chefs. What they and the others experienced today made a lasting impression as they explore the opportunities ahead of them,” Zaldivar said.

As for Cruz, he sees a pipeline of eager, young chefs heading his way, sooner than later: “We’ve got jobs now that many of these kids could do on the weekends and after school.”

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? |? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The California Fire Foundation hosted its 2023 Annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony and Procession Ceremony on Oct. 14 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Sacramento.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond attended the event organized to honor 35 firefighters who died in the line of duty. Among the honorees was Ronald Yale Wiley, an African American Deputy Fire Marshal Wiley from Richmond who died on duty in 2007.

The state formally presented a U.S. flag to each of the families of those whose names are being added to the Fighter’s Memorial Wall in Capitol Park on the east side of the State Capitol.

“We’re recognizing and celebrating the life and times of people who tried to make the world a little bit gentler,” Newsom said of the fallen. “They stood tall because they bent down on one knee to help lift other people up. People that came from every conceivable walk of life, political background, and different generations. The 35, we memorialize here today — all with a singular love, and that is a love for public service.”

Nearly a thousand people attended the ceremony. The procession showcased firefighting apparatus and was marked by the presence of hundreds of active-duty firefighters from all over California, forming a “sea of blue.” Accompanying them were the Pipes and Drums of California Professional Firefighters, honor guards from dozens of fire departments, the families of fallen firefighters from across the state, and various state officials and guests.

The ceremony commenced with a bagpiper playing at the Memorial

Wall, a monument built in Sacramento in 2002 to honor the memory, sacrifice and bravery of firefighters who paid the ultimate price while keeping Californians safe. Called “Holding the Line,” the sculpture was created by artist Lawrence Noble and pays tribute to the profession’s spirit of teamwork, focus, and dedication, according to the State of California Capitol Museum.

“When they were called to duty…they came through and they gave as much as anybody is expected to give for their community, their profession, their brothers and sisters, and their state,” said Brian K. Rice, President of California Professional Firefighters. “This ceremony is a tribute to that selfless dedication, and more than that, a tribute to the families that stood behind these men.”

In 2007, Wiley, a Black firefighter honored at the ceremony, was returning to his office from a meeting in Vallejo when the city-owned vehicle he was driving crashed and burned after an accident on the Carquinez Bridge on I-80. Wiley, 47, was 16 years into the profession when the incident happened, his son Dante Wiley told California Black Media (CBM).

Dante Wiley, who is a Fire Inspector for Richmond’s Fire Department, attended the ceremony with his wife, children, uncle, and other family members. Ronald Wiley’s name is etched in stone alongside more than 1,500 California firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty since California became a state in 1850.

“This was a powerful event,” the younger Wiley said of the ceremony. “I brought my three children out here with me so that they can have a better understanding of who my father was. It’s my first time here in 16 years. I have my lovely wife to thank for that. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here.”

Dante Wiley is a second-generation firefighter, and one of 20 Blacks among 97 firefighters in Richmond. He said his uncle also spent 30 years as a firefighter in Oakland.

Nationwide, the number of Black professional and volunteer firefighters is relatively low. According to Data USA, in 2021, there were 324,149 firefighters in the United States. Of this figure, 4.38% were woman and 95.6% men. Black firefighters represented 7.4% and Hispanics made up 11.2% as compared to 82.2% of White firefighters.

California has around 35,000 firefighters, Rice said at the ceremony. While the profession is desirable and has many benefits, in many jurisdictions, the workforce does not reflect diversity of the communities they serve. During a 12-year stretch from 1993 to 2005, for example, The San Bernardino City Fire Department (SBCFD) did not hire any Black firefighters.

Now, SBCFD, one of the oldest and largest fire departments in San Bernardino County, has hired a total of 19 Black firefighters, according to Factors Affecting the Hiring of Black Firefighters, a report by James M. Fratus. The late Jimmy Jews broke the color barrier when he became San Bernardino’s first Black firefighter in 1971. He was the city’s first Black cop before transferring to SBCFD.

In the mid-2010s, the city of Los Angeles launched an investigation into allegations of nepotism, discrimination, and gender bias in its fire department. The city of Sacramento has been hit with lawsuits that allege various incidents of discrimination against Black firefighters between 2018 and 2022.

Dante Wiley says the opportunities are there for the taking. He is actively involved in recruiting efforts.

“I do believe representation matters and so does education,” Wiley said. “When I mean education, I mean outreach. I was fortunate because I saw it every day with my father and, before him, my uncle. A lot of people don’t have that exposure. One of my goals is to get out there and talk to people at high schools, junior colleges, or colleges. Is it for everybody? No. But there are different ways you can go out there and help people. For me, I just want to be a service for my community.”

Reyes’ legislative package includes legislation and strong budget bills focused on seniors, veterans, students and improving air quality in the Inland Empire.

SACRAMENTO, CA— Recently, Majority Leader Emeritus Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton) announced that Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law eight bills that she introduced this legislative session.

“The bills I authored this year were introduced with the needs of our community front and center,” said Reyes. “From supporting our small businesses, to cleaning our air and supporting local youth, veterans, and seniors, I am proud of the work we accomplished this year.”

Below is a list of all legislation authored by Reyes that has been signed into law over the last month:

• AB 126 – Invests over $2 billion to deploy zero emission vehicles, over the next decade, with money specifically dedicated to disadvantaged and low income communities;
• AB 230 – The Girl Scouts Period Equity Act ensures that menstrual products are provided free of charge in public schools serving third through fifth graders;
• AB 258 – Creates small business portal through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development;
• AB 278 – Establishes the Dream Resources Grant Program to provide support to our students with financial aid, social services, academic opportunities and immigration legal services, for which Reyes successfully obtained $10 million in state funding;
• AB 414 – The Digital Equity Bill of Rights now makes clear that it is the principle of the state to ensure digital equity for all residents of California;
• AB 1127 – The Bilingual Teacher Education Program, for equitable opportunity for bilingual education programs, is now reestablished, with Reyes having obtained $20 million in state funding for its purposes;
• AB 1309 – Protects vulnerable seniors by mandating that they be provided with information regarding their transfer or discharge from a facility; and
• AB 1474 – Prioritizes veteran housing needs in statewide housing plans.

Reyes’ 2023 statewide budget wins also included:

• The drastic reduction or elimination of family fees for child care, lowering the costs of state-subsidized care by 100s of dollars per household;
• $2.8 billion to increase child care provider pay, contingent on collective bargaining, giving providers the compensation they deserve, over two years;
• $50 million to continue providing grants to local public agencies and nonprofits working with first-time homebuyers, as well as homeowners in need of assistance to keep their residence;
• $10 million to support Promotoras de Salud (community health workers) by training and providing technical assistance to community-based organizations; and
• $16.8 million to protect children from the damaging effects of lead exposure.

By Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 51, which promotes greater diversity in California’s cannabis industry. The bill is authored by California Legislative Black Caucus vice chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood).

Specifically, SB 51 will allow the California Department of Cannabis Control to issue provisional licenses for local cannabis retail equity applicants.

A provisional license allows applicants to operate their business while completing the requirements for an annual license, and eventually become fully licensed participants in the cannabis retail market.

“For California’s legal cannabis market to succeed, it must look like California,” Bradford stated.

“Right now, it doesn’t. Time and time again, I hear from community members who are being boxed out of the industry. Equity applicants deserve an opportunity to stand up a business, obtain a license, and participate in the market.”

So far, the legal cannabis industry in California has lacked diversity. A 2017 survey conducted Marijuana Business Daily found that 81% of cannabis business owners and founders in America were White. Hispanic/Latino and Blacks made up only 10% of cannabis business founders.

While Black people make up approximately 13% of the U.S. population, they represent 1.2% to 1.7% of business owners in the cannabis industry, according to Leafly’s Jobs Report of 2021.

In 2018, Bradford introduced SB 1294, the California Cannabis Equity Act. This law facilitates the participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities in California’s legalized cannabis industry. However, the regulations for an annual license have proven to be a challenge for equity applicants, demonstrating a need for the provisional licensing program authorized by SB 51.

SB 51 will become law on Jan. 1, 2024.

“Equity applicants, who bore the brunt of California’s failed history of cannabis prohibition, are disproportionately impacted by a lack of access to capital and technical support, steep licensing fees, lengthy land-use approvals, environmental requirements, and more,” Newsom said in an Oct. 8 statement.

“While I support the author’s effort to bring temporary relief to equity applicants, this bill does not address the fundamental issues that continue to increase costs and uncertainty for those seeking to participate in the legal market,” Newsom stated.

This week, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 326 authored by Senator Susan Eggman, modernizing the Mental Health Services Act, and Assembly Bill 531 authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a $6.38 Billion bond to build new behavioral health housing and treatment settings across the state. Californians will vote on this package, collectively known as Proposition 1, on the March 2024 ballot.

“This week has been powerful and incredibly effective in moving forward efforts to tackle our state’s mental health crisis. From the signing of my Youth Mental Health Services Bill, AB 289, earlier this week, to the signing of my colleagues’ bills yesterday, we are moving on this issue as one united front and that is how meaningful change happens,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden.

These bills collectively will work to allocate resources to California’s most vulnerable constituents who are fighting to overcome mental and emotional health challenges. The expansion of these resources allows for more citizens to find the necessary care needed in order for them to live productive lives in the state of California while also helping to prevent many people from facing some of the issues that can come from untreated mental disorders, including homelessness and substance abuse.

“I want to thank Senator Eggman and Assemblymember Irwin for authoring these bills and making mental health a priority. I am with you in this fight for a happier and healthier society,” said Holden.

By Lisa D. Kelly

Jazz in the Spirit 2022 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, California was such a great success, they decided to do it again this year!  What’s all the excitement about?  What is Jazz in the Spirit 2023?  It’s a smooth jazz and gospel music outreach concert whose main goal is to unite people from diverse cultural backgrounds for a night of worship, fellowship, and fun!  Doors open at 6:00 pm, Friday, October 27, 2023, and admission is FREE!  What a great way to end the week!  You’ll want to get there early because they are expecting a packed house!

Skip Cain and Jessica Lund will lead everyone into worship with their unique gospel singing styles.  Skip, known to some as a jazz and blues soul singer and crooner, doesn’t mind doing a little preaching occasionally, as he’s singing.  Skip says, “The Church brings me joy!  Even though I started off as a front man in a teenage garage band singing at various events, I was drawn to sing for the Lord at church.  The patience of the Lord has been a blessing to me.  A lot of my inspiration comes from my beautiful 91-year-old mother who still sings at church every Sunday faithfully.  Psalm 100 says: ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…’  That’s where I am.  I love to sing praises to the Lord.”

Jessica Lund brings her soul to every gospel and country music song.  When she sings there isn’t a dry eye in the building.  Jessica says it is “such a blessing to be used by the Lord to bless others and bring them into a place of worship and reflection of who He is.  My heart is never to have my voice showcased or for me to be the center of any song.  My heart is to bring fun and an energetic spirit to the gospel collectively with others.”  There is profound purpose in serving and glorifying the Lord through song.  For Jessica, that purpose is to help others to be seen and to experience the freedom that comes through the gospel, the Good News, of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

“I started playing at Immanuel Baptist Church because of my long relationship with Bob Barrett.  He and I played together at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest for eight years before Bob Barrett became the musical Director over at Immanuel.  Soon after, about 11 years ago, Bob called me and asked if I would like to join him at Immanuel, and I have been there ever since,” says renown electric guitar player, Blake Aaron.  Even though Blake has topped the Smooth Jazz charts, has several #1 Billboard singles, and has recorded and/or performed with such musical greats as Philip Bailey, Sheila E., Bobby Womack, Carlos Santana, and many others, Blake still plays his guitar regularly at the Immanuel Baptist Church Sunday morning services.  Blake will be sharing his musical genius with you at the Jazz in the Spirit concert.  If you close your eyes for just a moment while Blake is playing, you might actually think Jimi Hendrix came back to life as a smooth jazz artist.  You are going to love hearing Blake shred his guitar.  And if you’re lucky, he just might come over to you and give you your own private performance.

Last, but not least, is Charles A. Kelly, Jr.  You may know him in the neighbor as Manager/Coach/Assistant Coach for the local Little League teams.  Or, you may have seen him and his children serving in the Worship Arts Ministry at church for many years, where Charles (who was always surrounded by keyboards) and the Praise and Worship Team opened up concerts for Christian artists, CeCe Winans, Israel Houghton, Jeremy Camp, the Katinas, Mary Mary, Salvador, Selah, and Tommy Walker.

When asked how he had learned to play multiple keyboards at a time, Charles credits much of his musical experience to the time he spent in the music studio working with Stevie Wonder and his time on the road as Musical Director touring with Sister Sledge (song: We Are Family).  So, with all that experience, why go into music ministry for the Church?  Charles says,  “I got into Christian music initially because I felt it was a healthy environment to resume my music career while helping out at the church as a volunteer.  However, as time went on, I realized that volunteering to play keyboards in the church services was bringing me into a much-needed personal relationship with Christ.  As I began to be filled with the Holy Spirit, I soon realized that God has a purpose for me playing Christian music.  It had become an integral part of my life, and it still is.

Now, after many years of playing keyboards, Charles, for the first time, has fused his love for Christ with his musical experience in his first album as a solo artist titled, You’re Not Alone.  Each song, though instrumental, tells a story about Charles’ personal relationship with either God, his wife, or even himself.  Come to the Jazz in the Spirit 2023 concert and let the gospel music and smooth jazz flavors rejuvenate your soul!  We’ll see you there!!

Concert begins at 6:30 pm

Immanuel Baptist Church

28355 Base Line Street

Highland, California 92346

(909) 425-1777