Dollar General Now Open in Hesperia

HESPERIA, CA — Dollar General is excited to announce its store at 8149 I Ave in Hesperia is now open!

DG stores are proud to provide area residents with an affordable and convenient store location to purchase household essentials including food, cleaning supplies, paper products, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, baby items and more through its mission of Serving Others. In addition to the national and private branded products customers trust Dollar General to carry, the new Hesperia location includes the Company’s new stylish, on-trend home décor and an expanded party preparation selection. Normal hours of operation may be found through the Dollar General app.

“At Dollar General, we believe the addition of each new store provides positive economic growth for the communities we proudly serve, and the addition of our new Hesperia store highlights our commitment to deliver a pleasant shopping experience that includes great prices on quality products in a convenient location,” said Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. “We look forward to welcoming customers to our new store and hope they will enjoy shopping at our new location.”

To commemorate the opening of DG’s new Hesperia location, Dollar General plans to donate 100 new books to a nearby elementary school to benefit students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. In partnership with the Kellogg Company, the donation will be part of a planned donation of more than 60,000 books in fiscal 2022 across the country to celebrate new DG store openings.

Furthermore, DG strives to be a good neighbor and is committed to the communities it proudly calls home, evidenced by unwavering support of literacy and education initiatives through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The addition of the Hesperia store opens the opportunity for schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store to apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $203 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 14.8 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education. For more information about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and its grant programs, visit www.dgliteracy.com.

Dollar General plans to create new jobs in the Hesperia community as the store is expected to employ approximately six to 10 people, depending on the individual needs of the store. The Company provides employees with competitive wages, world-class and award-winning training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility and Dollar General’s Employee Assistance Foundation, as well as health insurance coverage options, 401K savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance to eligible employees. Interested candidates can review and apply for available positions here.


For additional information, photographs or items to supplement a story, please visit the DG Newsroom by clicking here or contact the Media Relations Department at 1-877-944-DGPR (3477) or via email at dgpr@dg.com. Updated stock footage and logos are also available on Dollar General’s newsroom.

About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 80 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day.® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at everyday low prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Dollar General operated 18,130 stores in 46 states as of January 28, 2022. In addition to high-quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.

In a Major Win for Black Health, FDA Publishes Proposed Rule Banning Menthol Flavored Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars

WASHINGTON, DC – After more than a decade of inaction and a citizen’s petition lawsuit brought by the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) and our partners Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the American Medical Association, and the National Medical Association, the FDA is finally moving a proposed national ban on menthol flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars.

While the proposed ban wouldn’t take effect for at least two years, this move is a major win for Black health in America.

For decades, Big Tobacco has used menthol flavored tobacco products and flavored cigars to target African Americans. 85% of all African American smokers smoke menthol cigarettes compared to 29% of White smokers. Menthol cigarettes increase addiction and make it harder to quit.

“We are working towards a day where no Black people in America die from preventable deaths due to tobacco,” explained AATCLC Co-Chair Carol McGruder. “This critical move in the rule-making process by the FDA helps make that day a reality.”

In order to ensure loopholes do not exist to allow Big Tobacco to continue to hook Black Americans with these products, we urge the FDA to expand their rule to ban menthol, not just as a characterizing flavor, but as an ingredient altogether.

Formed in 2008 and based in Califonria, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council is one of our country’s leading public health education and advocacy organization taking on Big Tobacco to save Black lives. The AATCLC works at the intersection of social injustice and public health policy. Working with health jurisdictions, elected officials, community-based organizations, tobacco researchers, activists, and the media, the AATCLC is leading the fight to end the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products.

Learn more at www.savingblacklives.org.

Healthy Heritage to Host a Night Filled with Laughs at the Ontario Improv in Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month

ONTARIO, CA—- To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Healthy Heritage is set to host “Laughing for the Health of It”, a Comedy Show and Mental Health Resource Fair located at the Ontario Improv on Sunday, May 15th, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to all guests 18 years or older.

This special night is one you won’t want to miss! Not only with there be a one-hour hilarious and clean comedy show; guests will have the opportunity to network with the community, enjoy delicious food and drinks, talk to mental health professionals, and gather resources from over 20 participating vendors who are passionate about helping Healthy Heritage end the stigma of mental health in the community.

Be prepared to laugh out loud with these hilarious comedians – Donna Maine, Gayla Johnson, Lamont Bonman, and Richard Weiss! Maine is an LA based comedian whose comedic sets revolve around relatable topics on middle-aged dating and the comical ironies of parenthood. Johnson is a veteran comedian who’s appeared in several ABC hit tv shows including Scandal, Bones, and Grey’s Anatomy to name a few. Bonman is an award-winning comedian who has appeared on shows like BET’s Comic View. Weiss is a long-time recovered addict who has toured the country performing at major comedy venues along with doing “recovery comedy” at 12-step conventions nationwide.

Tickets are selling out fast! Purchase yours online or at the box office theater for only $25! Come crackup, don’t melt down!

Healthy Heritage thanks their sponsors who helped make this event possible for our community: California Department of Public Health, Community Mental Health Equity Project, Riverside University Health System of Behavioral Health, California Reducing Disparities Project, African American Family Wellness Advisory Group and the Broken Crayons Still Color Project.

 

California ’22 Primary Election: Black Candidates Running for US House of Representatives

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Election offices have begun sending out vote-by-mail ballots for the June 7, 2022, California Primary. Statewide, voters will discover that Black candidates for United States House of Representative seats are over-represented on their ballots.

California Black Media (CBM) is reporting that 18 Black candidates are running for 14 US House seats. Eleven are registered as Democrats and seven are running as Republicans. Nine are women and nine are men.

Although African Americans are 5.8% of California residents, Black candidates are on ballots for 26.9% of the US House seats.

California’s delegation to the US House of Representative will have 52 members in the next Congress. While it is the still the largest delegation, one seat was lost due to a decline in population count from the 2020 US census. Congressional district population following the 2020 census is about 761,169 people.

A consequence of losing a US House seat is that district boundaries have been redrawn by the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) and many district numbers have been reassigned. For example, Rep. Barbara Lee, one of the three Black members of the California delegation, currently represents House District 13 and is running to represent District 12. However, the district numbers for the other Black representatives, Maxine Waters (District 43), who is running for re-election, and Karen Bass (District 37), who has decided to run for mayor of Los Angeles have not changed.

The Black candidates running for Congress are:

Democrat Kermit Jones is a Navy veteran and an internal medicine doctor who has a law degree. He is running to represent District 3 (Yuba). He is running against three opponents. This district leans Republican. No current member of Congress is on the ballot for this race.

Republican Jimih L. Jones is a parts advisor for a car dealership. He is running to represent District 4 (Napa). He has five opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Mike Thompson (D) is running in this race.

Republican Tamika Hamilton, a former Air Force Sergeant, is running to represent District 6 (Fair Oaks).  She has six opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Ami Bera (D) is running in this race.

Two Black candidates are in the competition to represent District 12 (Oakland). Democrat Barbara Lee is a current member of Congress representing District 13 (Oakland). Democrat Eric Wilson is a Nonprofit Organization Employee. Five candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district.

Republican Brian E. Hawkins is a Councilmember and Pastor. He is running to represent District 25 (Riverside). He has four opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Raul Ruiz (D) is running in this race.

Democrat Quaye Quartey is a US Naval Academy graduate, veteran, and entrepreneur. He is running to represent District 27 (Santa Clarita). He has five opponents. This district is predicted to be a toss-up for Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Mike Garcia (R) is running in this race.

Republican Ronda Kennedy is a Civil Rights Attorney. She is running to represent District 30 (Burbank). She has eight opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Adam Schiff (D) is running in this race.

Democrat Aarika Samone Rhodes is a teacher. She is running to represent District 32 (Sherman Oaks). She has six opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Brad Sherman (D) is running in this race.

Republican Joe E. Collins III is a Retired Navy Sailor. He is running to represent District 36 (Torrance). He has seven opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D) is running in this race.

Three Black candidates are running to represent District 37 (Los Angeles). Democrat Jan C. Perry is a Community Investment Executive and former LA City Councilmember. Democrat Sydney Kamlager is a California State Senator. Democrat Daniel W. Lee is Mayor of Culver City.  Seven candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Karen Bass (D) currently represents this district.

Republican Aja Smith is a small business owner. She is running to represent District 39 (Moreno Valley). She has six opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Rep. Mark Takano (D) is running in this race.

Democrat William Moses Summerville is a Pastor and hospice chaplain. He is running to represent District 42 (Long Beach). He has seven opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. No current member of Congress is on the ballot for this race.

Two Black candidates are on the ballot to represent District 43 (Los Angeles). Democrat Maxine Waters is a member of Congress representing this district. Republican Allison Pratt is a youth advocate and mother. Four candidates are running for the seat. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Morris Falls Griffin is a maintenance technician. He is running to represent District 44 (San Pedro). He has two opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D), a current Member of Congress, is running in this race.

In the June 7 primary election, the two candidates receiving the most votes – regardless of party preference – move on to the November 8 general election. If a candidate receives a majority of the vote (at least 50% plus 1) a general election still must be held.

The Black candidates winning the general election will serve in the 118th Congress and be sworn in next January.

DELTA SIGMA THETA Sorority Chapter to Honor Community Leaders Dr. Regina Patton Stell and Dina Walker

RIVERSIDE, CA – The San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated will honor two outstanding community leaders during its annual Culmination program this month.

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, Dr. Regina Patton Stell, President of the Riverside NAACP, will receive the 2022 Waudieur Rucker-Hughes Social Action Advocate Award; and Rialto Unified Board of Education Member Dina Walker will receive the 2022 Dorothy Inghram Social Action Advocate Award.

“We are excited to honor these two dynamic women,” said San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter President Erica Shorts. “Both Dr. Patton Stell and Ms. Walker are strong, steadfast advocates for our youth and underserved members of our Inland Empire communities. The fact that they are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a testament to the ideals of our sisterhood, which is founded on social action and service.”

About the Honorees
Dr. Regina Patton Stell is a longtime educator and champion for social justice in the Riverside community. She started her career as a special education teacher and then served as a principal. She later became a director in the Riverside County Office of Education and was appointed the first Black assistant superintendent of her school district. Dr. Patton Stell’s passion drives her commitment to improve the lives of others and fuels her active engagement in Delta, in which she’s been a member for over 50 years, and the NAACP, in which she has served for over a decade.

Dr. Patton Stell currently serves as President of the NAACP Riverside Chapter. Under her leadership, the Riverside Chapter continually produces programming and events to raise community awareness about mental and physical health impacts, improve Black academic achievement, and encourage civic participation in local, state, and federal government elections and legislative decisions. She was recently elected to serve as the Democratic Party Delegate for District 58.

Dina Walker has been a member of the Rialto Unified Board of Education since 2014, serving over 25,000 students. Her elected position complements Ms. Walker’s over 20 years of experience working with educational, government, and community organizations. As President and CEO of BLU Educational Foundation, a nonprofit she founded in 2001, Ms. Walker leads a team that provides educational and human services programming to youth, adults, and organizations to build healthy, productive communities throughout the Inland Empire.

Motivated by data that validates the disparities that affect underserved communities and the success stories she hears along the way, she fiercely advocates for education justice on behalf of our most marginalized students. Through BLU’s Institute for Civic Engagement, Ms. Walker and her team are creating a leadership pipeline to help those who have historically lacked representation. The Institute is teaching a new generation how to be change-makers.
Our Memorial Recognitions

In 2021 the San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter gave its first Social Action Advocate Award in Waudieur “Woodie” Rucker-Hughes’ name to honor the legacy of an icon who dedicated her life to seeking social justice, equality, and education for all. Her selfless commitment and tireless advocacy still impact individuals locally and nationally. On February 25, 2022, following the passing of his bill H.R. 5983, U.S. Representative Mark Takano joined the community in celebrating the renaming of the City of Riverside post office on 4150 Chicago Avenue after Woodie Rucker-Hughes.

The Dorothy Inghram Social Action Advocate Award recognizes the legacy of another trailblazer who shattered glass ceilings for black educators in 1942 when she became the first Black teacher in San Bernardino County. Later she became the first Black principal and then the first Black school district superintendent in California. Ms. Inghram was also a charter member of the San Bernardino- Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter, which started in 1959.

The San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter’s Culmination program will be virtual via Zoom on Saturday, May 14, 2022, starting at 10:00 AM. The event is free, but you must register in advance. Click here to register.

Graduation Spotlight: LeiLani Carter

Submitted by Sheila Stone

Leilani LaStarr (aka “the star”) Carter was born from a place of miracles and strength! A newborn who fought her way into this life as she punched her way out of her mother’s womb and into this world.  With pure ambition, by the age of right (8), she earned second place in the balance beam event at the Las Vegas Gymnastics Regionals Meet competition.

Though Leilani is active and carries an adventurous spirit, she also thrives in the area of academics.  During the pandemic she continued to strive, exercising her independence, and sustaining a 3.5 G.P.A. while schooling from home.  Now at 11-years of age, Leilani has become a 4-time Principal Honor Roll recipient with earning over seven outstanding achievement awards in the fields of Math, English, and Citizenship.

In addition to being a “student of the month” three times in her elementary journey, she was also a 2021 nominated Class President candidate of her 5th grade class.  As her energy and gifts continue to light up the world around her, we are excited to see what the future holds for this bright star.  A young girl who exudes “Black Girl Magic” with a beautiful heart and a royal spirit, she will indeed be a blessing to many.

Miss Carter will graduate on May 25, 2022, and she will be headed to high school.

If you want to recognize a graduate, send an email to mail@westsidestorynewspaper.com.

Letter to the Editor: Warning about surprise fees when booking vacation trips

By Amy Davis and Andrea Slaydon

There are just weeks left in school and summer is almost here. If you’re thinking about a vacation, listen up!

Before you book anything, you might want to watch out for some hidden fees that might catch you by surprise. Vrbo, Airbnb, even Travelocity, and Expedia are now listing homes and properties for rent.

But one Mont Belvieu woman wants to warn people about what happened to her when she booked a trip for her family.

“We pitched in. We all kind of had a budget to get a huge house,” said Dayna Hickman.

It’s a summertime tradition for Dayna Hickman and her extended family to all meet up at one location to enjoy a vacation. This year, Hickman used Vrbo to book a home in the Beavers Bend area of Oklahoma.

“So, I booked it, I pressed the book. And then immediately I got an email,” Hickman explains. “The email had a whole list of different fees from what I paid on Vrbo.”

On Vrbo, the charges showed what she expected, the nightly fee plus a Vrbo fee of $581. But then her email and credit card showed an additional unexpected charge from the host of more than $1,200.

“I was absolutely shocked and Vrbo when you check, push the checkout button, it doesn’t say this is a quote, it may change. It doesn’t say you may have added fees immediately,” said Hickman.

Vrbo blames the host and the host blames Vrbo for not updating their fees.

But a consumer attorney tells KPRC 2 that Vrbo could be in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act for “failing to disclose information at the time of the transaction” to induce the consumer to make a purchase that they wouldn’t have made if they had the info.

What you should know before using a third-party booking site for travel

Travel advisor Heather Keller with Perfect Landing Travel helps people plan travel experiences for other people (She puts together specific vacation packages at no charge to the customer). Keller explains that fees you were not expecting are just one of the snags you can hit booking through any third-party website.

Is it really refundable?

Keller said when it comes to using third-party sites on your own, make sure you know what the word “refundable” means.

“If it is refundable, a lot of times it’s in the form of a credit that can only be used through that website,” said Keller.

What you book may not be what you get.

“There’s no vetting, other than a technical verified address, but it’s not really a verified address, it’s verified that that address does, in fact, exist. They’re not going and looking at the pictures that are submitted and is it what that address actually is,” Keller explained.

Watch out for a sudden cancelation.

“The owner has the ability to cancel the reservation. And when they realized that rates are skyrocketing, and availability is limited, but maybe you made your reservation either a little bit lower rate. They canceled the reservation so that they can then rebook it at a higher rate for a new, new guest,” Keller said.

Back to Hickman, even though she booked a “non-refundable trip,” Vrbo did refund her money because of the confusion. And, she got the $1,200 back from the cabin booking by disputing the charge with her credit card company.

If you think any third-party booking site is in violation of the Texas Deceptive Practices Act, send a letter and let them know you plan to take them to small claims court for the violations. That will usually do the trick to getting your refund.

A good rule of thumb to protect yourself if this happens to you is to take screenshots each step of the way when you book through a third-party site. That way, if you have to contest a charge you can show exactly what you agreed to when you clicked “book.”

Vrbo statement regarding fee confusion

Vrbo did send us this statement saying they are working with the Oklahoma cabin owners, in this case, to make sure the fee pricing is accurate on both ends. They also explained the fees:

“Hosts set their own fees, which are charges beyond their average nightly rate and are used to compensate vacation rental owners and property managers for additional services or amenities.”

When asked about the surprise fees, Vrbo said:

“We know price transparency is important to travelers, so when a guest searches for a stay with specific dates – it includes the total cost, so there are no surprises before they book. To see the total prices, guests can click “View details” before completing a booking to see the total cost breakdown. Under “host fees” guests can see exactly what the host is charging additional fees for. When searching for a place to stay, guests can also use the total price search filter, which displays the total cost and includes all fees but excludes taxes.”

Vrbo also sent this guidance for hosts:

“Hosts are ultimately responsible for setting their own fees, but we advise and educate them on best practices because we know it is a better experience for the guest and could result in more bookings for the host. We encourage hosts to keep separate fees to a minimum or to consolidate those fees into their base rate. Fees aren’t a requirement either, so there are hosts who don’t charge any fees.”


Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.

 

Civil Rights Attorney Seeks Retribution For Shooting Victim Left Paralyzed By Police Officer 


By Percy Lovell Crawford

Some of the stories that come across the desk of civil rights attorney Jarrett Adams can be both heartbreaking and infuriating. However, he understands the task at hand and is fully committed to seeking justice for those who have been wronged.

This focus comes from firsthand experience. An innocent man convicted of a crime he did not commit, Adams had to learn the law to free himself. He subsequently got his juris doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Adams’ track record since then speaks for itself. He is currently working on three high-profile cases, all of which appear to involve either rogue cops or inadequate police training. Helping his clients obtain compensation and special damages in each case is his top priority.

Case in point: Raheem Bryant was shot in the back and left paralyzed by a Newark, New Jersey police officer after joyriding in a stolen car. Adams spoke to Zenger to explain why Officer Xavier Pimentel’s response didn’t fit the crime. Adams also takes us behind the scenes on two other cases he recently signed on to represent victims of questionable treatment.

Zenger: You recently took on the case of Raheem Bryant who was shot and paralyzed by a Newark police officer. What are the key factors that led to you accepting the case?

Adams: You really gotta evaluate the client and the case. And it goes in that order, because you could have a good case and a bad client, and it can not go well. I take it from that perspective first. When I get a case and I start to read everything, I start to [learn about] the atmosphere of Newark. Stealing cars is like skateboarding down in Louisiana. Stealing cars is like playing off the wall on the south side of Chicago.

That’s just what they do. There is no explanation. It’s the stolen car, joyriding capital of the world. You have a situation with a kid in his early 20s: he sees a lady at a gas station, and he sees the keys in the car; he jumps in the car and takes a joyride in it.

She is mad and upset. She tells an officer, “I just got carjacked.” When you hear carjacked, you’re thinking guns and all that. He wasn’t armed. He was on this joyride, police were…in pursuit and an officer who was technically on but off duty — because in the city of Newark, whenever there is construction work being done, they have to have an officer there to direct traffic.

Little did they know that they were going to have a cowboy that day on that assignment who was listening to his radio. Guess he became bored sitting there. He joins in on the chase unwarranted and unqualified. He gets out of his vehicle, races down the block. He’s the only one [who] deploys and fires his weapon, Percy. He pulls his gun, he fires a shot and he hits the kid in the back. The kid is instantly paralyzed, he loses control of the car and it crashes into an auto-mechanic’s shop.

Raheem Bryant, who was shot and paralyzed by a Newark police officer, is seeking the help of famed civil rights attorney Jarrett Adams. (Jarrett Adams/Zenger)

I tell you all of this in the way of [a] story, but the DOJ [Department of Justice] did an investigation 4 years prior, and they came out with these results and findings, and they entered into a consent decree where officers would no longer fire at fleeing suspects, no matter if the suspects are armed or not. They aren’t in danger. He wasn’t in danger. The kid was driving away from the officer. The officer got mad and fired a shot that paralyzed him.

We looked at his record. The officer didn’t have [the training] that’s necessary, and he had been in an incident before where he pulled his gun out unwarranted. We got a situation where this kid is paralyzed, and I don’t have to tell you that [state-run] physical therapy places that take care of people that don’t have active limbs — I don’t have to tell you what type of care they give. I didn’t want to send you the pictures, but I have some pictures if you want to see them. He’s developing bed sores that are so humungous, I’m just waiting for a call any day now that he’s fighting for his life from an infection.

Zenger: What do you say to someone that asks why reward someone committing a criminal act?

Adams: Stealing a piece of candy is a criminal act. That’s breaking the law. Does that person deserve to be shot in the back and paralyzed for a non-violent criminal act, and they weren’t armed? In law, we can only deal with the facts and the facts surrounding that law.

Zenger: Do you feel like this was a rogue cop situation, a lack of training or combination of the two?

Adams: It’s a combination of both. What I would say specifically with him [is] there were signs that he was a cowboy that needed to be disciplined and trained, and he wasn’t. What happens when you don’t tell your child they are doing something wrong? They are prone to do it again. That’s why this is on the city. The thing that’s frustrating me is they are out here talking a good game about how much they’ve changed and how good they are now. But you got this boy sitting here, in his 20s with a son, and he can’t do anything, and they are up here trying to dismiss the case on a technicality.

Now every process is slow. We survived the motion to dismiss. The court said there is too much evidence to dismiss; move forward. Now I’m trying to get them to do what’s right. In this case, I’m afraid for him. It’s getting dire.

Zenger: In your opinion, what is proper compensation or retribution for Raheem and his family?

Adams: There has to be a creative structured settlement for him. I’m afraid to put a dollar amount on it until we have a serious conversation about what it would take [in exchange] for the life of a young man, who will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He’s in his 20s, so if the life expectancy is 60-65 years old — [and] he’s got a kid — so you’re talking about him being taken care of for at least 40 years. Being taken care of means the proper bed, the proper nurse care facility, the proper disability ramps and things like that. And then you have to factor in his son. Something fair and equitable to that. But the problem is they haven’t [provided] a number or [made an] effort to settle this. They are fighting every step of the way to keep certain evidence away from us.

Zenger: This is not the only case you are working on. Can you tell us about some of the other ones?

Adams: Yes, there is a young lady named Chasity Congious. She was pregnant by someone — they don’t know who because due to her mental illness, she would sometimes walk around the neighborhood undressed. Bruh, we got a lot of sickos out here, man. She ends up pregnant. She’s about six months pregnant. When she’s not on her medication, she [will] spazz out and do things, mostly self-harm. Her parents called and said, “Look, she’s not taking her medication. She’s being difficult to deal with. She’s fighting, kicking and biting while we’re trying to get her to the hospital, so she can get on her medication.” Sure enough, this officer comes, and where he probably would have found sympathy if her name was Amanda, he could find none because her name was Chasity.

Instead of taking her to the hospital and getting her on medication and getting her to a facility knowing that she was pregnant, he decides to arrest her. He arrested her like they do so many black kids, and increasingly, black girls. She goes to the county jail. She is not seen by any proper authorities or a court to evaluate her according to the Sandra Bland Act. Here it is: after the Sandra Bland Act, how could this happen? Sandra Bland with her mental illness in jail, and then here it is — you let this girl sit in jail. She goes on a visit with the doctors. The doctors tell you, “She’s about to give birth. She’s not going to be able to communicate with you guys what a contraction is. You gotta pay attention to her.”

She has been in jail for a couple of months now. What do they do, Percy? They put her in a segregation room, that’s what they do. One day, they walk past and notice blood all over the bed sheets and on the floor. They come in. They find the baby [lying] in her jail uniform with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. [It] hadn’t been breathing for four or five minutes. Chasity [lay] there, busted open as a woman from giving birth — she had never given birth before. You know what their response was? “Well, she didn’t tell anybody. We don’t know why she didn’t get up and knock on the door. We pass and do checks all the time; we didn’t see this.” That’s not what you do when someone warned you [that she] has a mental illness and wouldn’t be able to tell you.

To add to the madness, she asked to go to the funeral. They told her no and [said] they were going to charge her with the death of the baby for not telling them that she was giving birth. Thankfully, after enough media coverage, they dismissed the charges, and she was released from jail on all charges. So [are] you telling me that that baby shouldn’t be alive because she shouldn’t have been in there that long [or] even arrested in the first place? These explanations aren’t good enough anymore. The medical personnel told you that this young girl would not be able to communicate that she was in labor…. I think that that deserves a higher burden to be met than to place somebody [in] segregation.

Civil rights attorney Jarrett Adams is currently working on three cases of injustice involving inadequate police departments. (Jarrett Adams/Zenger) 

Zenger: You also have another case down in my area of New Orleans, correct?

Adams: Yes! They beat the hell out of this man. When I tell you this story — this is only some stuff that a white person could get away with. Two off-duty officers were in a bar. They [got] so hammered that the bartender stopped serving them drinks. She’s serving them shots of water so that they [can] get out of there.

My client, Jorge Gomez, he’s a retired vet who moved to the New Orleans community to care for his mom. His mom had gotten old, was battling dementia, and was falling and things like that. English is not his first language. So he’s finishing up a drink [at] the bar. The bartender knows him because he goes in the bar all the time. When his mom winds down for the evening, he will go there and have a drink. I know you will understand this, being from there: it’s not just vets; people in the community wear army fatigues. He just so happens [to] have on an army fatigue jacket, but it was real. Dude was a gunner in Iraq. He was the real deal. That’s an important part [of] the story, the fact that he was in the military.

These two knuckleheads — they ask him, basically, “What you doing false flagging us?” He said, “What? I don’t understand what you’re saying.” And they were like, “You’re not a damn marine.” They started asking him questions about the service to see if he’s been in service or not. He’s just ignoring them. They snatch the beret off of his head and start a fight. They beat the dude up.

You [can] see the pictures online of how bad they beat him up. He gets in the vehicle, and he’s disoriented. He’s driving…away [to] get home; they’re walking down the block he’s driving down. They see him, they get in front of the car, order him to stop, he gets out, they beat the hell out of him and place him under arrest. They [call] in, and when they [call] in the police, they [give] a special code. When they gave the special code, [police] responded saying, “Officer in need.” They didn’t know that the officer wasn’t in need — the officer just beat the hell out of somebody.

What they found out was — everything that I’m telling you is true — so they were criminally charged, and [the police department] fired these guys. They got the nerve to be telling me and my client, “You’re good; we fired them.” What do you mean we’re good? This [dude’s] back is messed up. He can’t even move his mom around like he used to. It’s disgusting. These officers didn’t even get house arrest. They got nothing. They just lost their job. Percy, let me or you…[whoop] on somebody like that. Those are the three cases I’m currently [working] on.

Going back to your initial question — how do I take these cases? I take them [based on] the client and…the case facts. You can have the right case and the wrong client; you can have the right client and the wrong case. All three of these cases are disgusting and heartbreaking.

Edited by Siân Speakman and Matthew B. Hall

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Barclays Awards $20,000 to Riverside Small Business Through ‘Small Business Big Wins’ Promotion

Superfit Hero placed third out of ten finalists in a nationwide vote

RIVERSIDE, CA — – Barclays US Consumer Bank today announced Superfit Hero as the third-place winner of its “Small Business Big Wins” promotion and the recipient of a $20,000 prize. The Riverside, California, designer of size-inclusive athleticwear was one of nine other finalists in a nationwide vote to determine which United States-based small business would receive a much-needed financial boost.

In addition to this $20,000 prize, Barclays awarded $40,000 to Nordic-Knot of Reston, Virginia, for second place and $60,000 to Ashland Birth Center of Ashland, Wisconsin, for first place.
Superfit Hero creates quality plus-sized clothing for athletes that also offers complete coverage, moisture wicking technology and a range of compression options.

Through essays and photos, more than 4,750 small businesses from across the country shared their compelling stories of resilience in a landscape forever changed by COVID-19 and how they met the unique demands of 2021 through the “Small Business Big Wins” promotion presented by Barclays. The top 10 were selected and showcased online at BarclaysSmallBizBigWins.com for a public voting period that took place April 13-22.

“Throughout this pandemic, the small business community has been forced to pivot and adapt during unprecedented times,” said Nancy Parnella, Director of US Business Cards at Barclays. “At Barclays, we know that small businesses are the economic engine of their local communities, and we are honored to share their stories of perseverance and provide them with financial support to help them continue to thrive.”

The contest was sponsored by Barclays’ Business Card team, which has long supported business owners of all sizes with its broad range of cards that offer business owners rewards for dollars spent on their business needs.

“This was such a great experience for our team to get to connect with our community over the course of this contest,” said Micki Krimmel, owner of Superfit Hero. “This money will go a long way for us as we produce our new athleisure line for this holiday season.”

In addition, Barclays awarded 50 participants of the contest $2,000 each through a random drawing and $5,000 for each of the remaining finalists in the top 10 totaling $255,000 in support of 60 small businesses across the country.

The full list of finalists includes:
• Ashland Birth Center – Ashland, Wisconsin ($60,000): A parental guidance and support service provider that offers a wide range of midwife services throughout the pregnancy, newborn and postpartum stages of childbirth.
• Nordic-Knot – Reston, Virginia ($40,000): A traditional Scandinavian pretzel baker that uses a traditional “Nordic” dough to create pretzels that are all-natural, fresh-baked and handmade and works with breweries to create pretzels that match their signature beers with specialty grains.
• Superfit Hero – Riverside, California ($20,000): A size-inclusive athleticwear company that delivers quality plus-sized clothing for athletes that also offers complete coverage, moisture wicking technology and a range of compression options.
• Advanced & Innovative Multifunctional Materials LLC (AIMM) – Dayton, Ohio ($5,000): A materials science company and lab focused on water purification and self-disinfecting N95 masks that also works on developing unique materials with antimicrobial properties.
• BoCa Flavor – Baltimore, Maryland ($5,000): A manufacturer of Caribbean-infused seasoning that takes a modern approach to traditional Caribbean seasoning, fusing staple ingredients from the islands to bring an everyday blend to liven up the kitchen.
• Flagstaff Doulas – Flagstaff, Arizona ($5,000): A health care and social support provider that specializes in providing guidance and assistance to new parents, helping them through the questions and decisions that many face before, during and after birth with their new child.
• Nudi Wear – Kaneohe, Hawaii ($5,000): An activewear apparel maker developed with the sustainability of our oceans in mind that also shares a percentage of its profits with organizations who preserve our seas.
• Secret Blessings – Robbinsville, North Carolina ($5,000): A custom inspirational accessories shop that develops blankets, backpacks, pouches and more with inspirational words or encouraging phrases sewn into the fabric.
• Sock It to ‘Em Sock Campaign – Highlands Ranch, Colorado ($5,000): A charitable organization that collects socks that they then donate to homeless shelters in need in the Denver metropolitan area.
• Stitchwitch Alterations – Santa Barbara, California ($5,000): A seamstress and designer that handles a wide range of sewing projects from alterations to suits and dress adjustments as well as interior décor items like pillows, duvets, dust covers and more.

For more information about the finalists, visit BarclaysSmallBizBigWins.com. For more information on Barclays’ business card offerings, visit BarclaysUS.com/Business.

County Committee Approves Election Changes for Four School Districts

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization approved changes to the method in which school board members are elected for Bear Valley Unified, Fontana Unified, Mountain View and Rialto Unified school districts during a series of meetings held on April 13.

“I commend these districts for being proactive and engaging the community for input,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “This level of consistency, dedication and transparency is what makes these districts great.”

Public hearings were held prior to the County Committee’s approval of the district plans for all four districts to transition from an “at-large” to a “by-trustee area” election method. The districts requested County Committee approval in time for the next election in November 2022.

An at-large method allows registered voters of the entire jurisdiction to elect candidates to the governing board.

In a by-trustee area system of election, candidates for the Board must reside within a specific geographic subarea of the district called “trustee area,” and candidates are elected only by the voters of that trustee area.

According to Dennis Mobley, interim acting secretary to the committee, the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA) continues to allow an “at-large” method of election, although it can be challenged as unfair depending on community circumstances. By-trustee area electoral systems are not vulnerable to challenge under the CVRA, which prompted the districts to make the change.
The 11-member committee addresses school district organizational issues including possible changes to the number of district trustees, trustee area boundaries, school district boundary changes and unifications.

The San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization maintains a webpage at https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/index.php/business-services/business-advisory-services/county-committee
For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.