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

Gov. Gavin Newsom says his administration is emphasizing combating drug addiction and mental illness as part of the state’s multi-year plan to solve California’s homelessness crisis – the worst in the country.

Newsom says focusing on those health needs of unhoused people is a component of his ongoing “Comeback Plan,” an effort launched last year to help the state recover from the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

“This past year, California has been able to move 58,000 individuals off our streets and into the housing and treatment they desperately needed,” said Newsom, adding that it will require a multi-pronged approach to end homelessness because the housing, medical and social needs of unhoused people vary.

When Newsom presented his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2022-23 on Jan. 10, he asked the Legislature to approve $12 billion to support his housing strategy. About $3 billion of that amount would be spent on behavioral health housing, creating 44,0000 new housing units and treatment opportunities for people who are mentally ill. Another $2 billion would go to local governments in the form of flexible aid for housing programs, he said.

 “The California Blueprint will double down on those efforts, focusing on clearing encampments, while also setting the groundwork for long-term systemic change with significant investments in mental health and substance abuse treatment to get vulnerable people off the streets.”

Black Californians are disproportionately homeless. Of the estimated 160,000 unhoused people in the state, more than 40 % are African American.

Newsom said, in addition to several other measures like securing housing for students and veterans, his administration is currently considering a plan to move the state toward conservatorship for people who are mentally ill. He did not give details about the program, but he said there is a possibility the state will begin entrusting the care of mentally ill people to individuals or institutions in the near future.

In 1967, when Ronald Reagan was governor of California, the State deinstitutionalized mentally ill patients after the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPSA) was passed and signed into law. California was one of the first states to deinstitutionalize mentally ill patients.

The number of mental patients occupying mental hospitals in California reached its highest point at 37,500 in 1959 when former Gov. Jerry Brown’s father, Edmund G. Brown, was governor. It dropped to 22,000 patients eight years later, according to a report by Chauvet Public Relations titled, “The History of Homelessness and Why We Can Do Better.”

Supporters of LPSA believed the law would provide protections for mental health patients and eliminate “the inappropriate, indefinite, and involuntary commitment of persons (to mental institutions) with mental health disorders,” the language of the bill reads.

LSPA critics say it inappropriately empowered mentally ill people to make important health care decisions for themselves when many of them had neither the will nor ability to do so.

When Reagan became president in 1980, he used the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) to repeal President Jimmy Carter’s Mental Health Systems Act, which funded federal mental health programs.

The OBRA gave mental patients the authority to make decisions about their treatment, including the options to seek care outside of a mental institution, get treatment at state-run clinics or the freedom to administer their own medication.

Last fall, the Newsom administration publicly let it be known that it is was leading the charge to provide solutions in the areas of low-income housing, mental health, and the state’s enduring homelessness problem.

In October, Gov. Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill (AB) 36, authored by Sen. Sydney Kamlager’s (D-Los Angeles) when she was an Assemblymember. The bill would have provided people experiencing homelessness access to health and social services outside the walls of a traditional medical clinic, including mobile clinics and shelter-based and other transitional housing-based health care.

According to Kamlager, AB 36 would have been the first law of its kind in the nation offering unhoused people Medi-Cal benefits without them having to share the cost.

Newsom’s letter explaining the veto says that the unhoused can already receive similar service through California’s Presumptive Eligibility program, which offers Medi-Cal and timely health care.

The bill was endorsed by 70 organizations and leaders across the state, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. In L.A. County, where over 66,000 people are homeless, African Americans make up 34% of that number although the total Black population is nearly 8%.

People of color in California experience some of the highest rates of homelessness in the nation. For example, nationally, 55 Black people experience homelessness out of every 10,000. In California, that number is 194 out of every 10,000.

Pacific Research Institute (PRI) a San-Francisco-based research think tank released a report in April 2021 that specified decreases of homelessness in major metropolitan areas such as New York City and Seattle.

The report, “No Way to End California’s Homelessness Crisis,” says that “Clearly, California is doing something wrong” in terms of finding solutions.  Although the state makes up 12% (nearly 40 million residents) of the U.S. population, 27% of all homeless persons live in California, stated Kerry Jackson and Wayne Winegarden, the report’s authors.

According to Jackson and Winegarden, mental illness is one of the driving forces behind the California’s chronic homelessness problem.

But all hope is not lost, the researchers say.

“A new approach is needed. To cut through the state bureaucracy, California should rely on private efforts to minimize homelessness. Private organizations are typically better equipped than the government to make real differences in the lives of the homeless because they tailor programs to meet the specific needs of individual homeless and can adapt where the government cannot.”

Having health care coverage and getting COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are critical to protecting your health and the health of your family and community.

Covered California is urging those who do not have health insurance to sign up for affordable, brand-name health plans by its Jan. 31 open-enrollment deadline to have their coverage start Feb. 1.

This open-enrollment deadline comes as the COVID-19 Omicron variant continues to surge across California and is still disproportionately impacting African Americans and other people of color. With the cost of an emergency room visit averaging $8,000 and COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU care at $127,000 — if you don’t have health insurance — it underscores the importance of having health coverage to avoid medical debt.

Covered California estimates that there are more than 1 million Californians who currently don’t have health insurance and are eligible for more financial help than ever before through Covered California or Medi-Cal to enroll in brand-name health plans. Right now, two out of every three Covered California enrollees can get comprehensive health coverage for $10 or less per month.

Marva Neal said she has truly benefitted from having an affordable, quality health plan through Covered California health. Neal lives in Los Angeles and immigrates from Belize to California more than 40 years ago but didn’t have health insurance until early last year, when she got enrolled into a Covered California plan with Molina Health.

“It’s been nothing but easy going since I’ve gotten a health plan,” said Neal.

Neal works as an aide at a Los Angeles senior day care center and is paying $49 per month for her health coverage. Shortly after getting coverage last year, she spotted a lump on her neck and scheduled an appointment with a physician.

“The doctor said that I had a tumor growing on my neck, and 10 days later I had surgery,” Neil said. “Luckily the tumor was benign, and I didn’t have any problems. Everything went so smooth.”

Signing up for a Covered California or Medi-Cal health plan for 2022 can not only help you avoid high medical bills, but it can also prevent you from having to pay costly penalties at tax time. Consumers who can afford health care coverage but choose to go without could pay a hefty penalty when they file their state taxes next year, which could be as much as $800 for an individual and $2,400 for a family of four. This penalty is administered by California’s Franchise Tax Board

Those interested in learning more about their health coverage options through Covered California and Medi-Cal can:

• Visit CoveredCA.com.
• Get free and confidential assistance, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.
• Have a certified enroller call themand help them for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The Board of Education of the San Bernardino City Unified School District voted on Tuesday, January 25 to fill a vacancy on the governing body through a temporary appointment, foregoing a costly special election.

Those vying for the provisional seat can begin applying today, January 26 and must be 18 years of age or older, live within the District’s attendance boundaries, be registered to vote in San Bernardino County, and submit a completed application by the February 2 deadline. The Board plans to conduct candidate interviews on February 8 and announce its selection on February 15. The appointed Board of Education member will fill a seat vacated with the December 2021 passing of community icon and longtime SBCUSD administrator and trustee Dr. Margaret Hill.

Candidate applications will be available on the District’s website, www.sbcusd.com/applyforboe, beginning today, Wednesday, January 26, and close Wednesday, February 2, 2022.

The appointed trustee will serve from February 15, 2022, through mid December 2022. Candidates interested in being elected to serve the remainder of the term, which ends December 2024, would need to run for the permanent seat through the formal elections process and be elected by voters.

The seven-member Board of Education provides direction for operating the District through actions taken at its meetings. Board members develop the policies by which the educational programs and other business of the District are carried out. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

By Lou Yeboah

There ain’t no other way to put it. Hear what Jesus says in [Mark 9:43-48]; If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell…. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire where worms do not die, and the fire is not quenched.

I admonish you, detour off the road to Hell. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, not for you. How will you escape if you ignore God’s salvation? How will you escape His wrath? [John 3:36]; His condemnation? [John 3:18]; His word of banishment? [Matthew 26:41]. You will not! Detour off the road to Hell which the Bible describes as a terrifying and horrible place. “Eternal Fire” [Matthew 25:41], “Unquenchable Fire” [Matthew 3:12; Mark 9:44-49], “Shame and Everlasting Contempt” [Daniel 12:2], “Everlasting Destruction” [2 Thessalonians 1:9]. A “Lake of Burning Sulfur” [Revelation 20:10] where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Sinking into Hell, hopeless and without excuse!

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Revelation 20:12-20].

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…” [Revelation 14:11].

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Marcus Lopez, Ontario, California, conducts maintenance on life rings in the pilot house aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) during routine operations. Charleston, part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, is on a rotational deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan M. Breeden)

By Lue Dowdy, Lue Productions

Just because we’re in a pandemic, that doesn’t mean you can’t show off your skills. LUE Productions community umbrella services is looking for talented youth for its summer youth talent showcase scheduled to take place Saturday, July 30 in the beautiful City of San Bernardino.

This is a $500 competition so please let a talented youth know about this upcoming opportunity. All participants must be 19 and under to compete.  LUE Productions community umbrella services is a non-profit organization servicing the Inland Empire and beyond. Our goal for this event is to provide a platform for the talented, while bringing forth quality entertainment for the community to enjoy.

Registration forms can be located at http://www.lueproductions.org.The following talent performers in the following categories are encouraged to apply: singing, dancing, poetry, spoken word, bands, and musicians.  Groups are welcome.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA. –– Dameron Communications’ launches new sports marketing division with Willie Dee Ellison II Sports Marketing Expert. He has more than 30 years of media and public relations experience in journalism and sports marketing.

Ellison covers major sports and entertainment in the Southern California Region and has since the 1980s.  This includes interviews, articles, photography and public relations with the Lakers, Rams, Raiders, Dodgers and Angels.

Dameron Communications’ new sports marketing division includes marketing of sporting events, sports businesses, individual athletes, stadiums and facilities where sporting activities take place; Public Bodies, Federations, Leagues and Series, with the purpose of promoting, growing, and developing individual disciplines and championships; and equipment for practicing sports disciplines.

“We are honored to have Willie join the Dameron Communications team of diverse, talented Communications professionals.  His knowledge and skill in sports marketing will help local school districts, colleges, universities and professional sports teams grow and prosper,” said agency founder Carl M. Dameron.

The Dameron Communications team and I have developed effective strategies to keep people interested and involved despite the issues that COVID has created in sports and sports involvement,” said Ellison. “I am excited to be a part of the Dameron Communications team,” added Ellison.

Ellison has covered the NFC Championship for the NFL, and The Western Conference Finals for

the NBA, NCAA programs including USC and UCLA, NCAA Basketball Tournaments and several Rose Bowl Games including the National Championship.

The Southern California native has garnered many awards and achievements since his days at California State University, San Bernardino.  Ellison is married with three adult children and seven grandchildren.

About Dameron Communications

Dameron Communications’ is a diverse team of communications professionals delivering inspired advertising: public relations, community relations and government relations. Agency work has won awards and client accolades for more than 30 years.  Uniquely, we blend unsurpassed relationships with proven advertising and public relations methods to deliver winning and measurable results.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

In keeping with its commitment to ending health inequities, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) released the first phase of a three-part study documenting how race and racism shape the health care experiences of Black Californians.

The report, “In Their Own Words: Black Californians on Racism and Health Care,” was written by health services researcher Dr. Linda Cummings. The study synthesizes hour-long interviews with 100 Black Californians conducted from June to August 2021.

According to Katherine Haynes, a senior program officer serving on CHCF’s People-Centered Care team, “The project is to understand the interactions between racism, health and healthcare. (The first phase) is in-depth interviews that are really designed to gain a deep understanding of Black Californians’ perception of racism in this state’s healthcare system and its impact on them.”

CHCF’s main objective is to advance meaningful, measurable improvements in the way the health care delivery system provides care to the people of California, specifically individuals who are financially challenged and whose needs are not well served in the healthcare system.

EVITARUS, a Black-owned Los Angeles-based public opinion research firm, is conducting the three-phase

Study for CHCF. The firm has extensive experience polling California’s diverse constituencies and maintains long-standing relationships with Black-led community organizations and media.

“Dr. Linda Cummings wrote the report and we did the research. We designed the study, performed the data collection as well as the data analysis that supported Dr. Cummings and her findings,” according to Shakari Byerly, EVITARUS Managing Partner. “It was a thorough recruitment process and screening and screening of those that indicated an interest in participation. The participants also received an honorarium (of $125) for their participation.”

Findings from the first phase cautioned that just having a Black physician did not automatically result in better care. Negative experiences with Black physicians and other health providers of color can be an obstacle to health care, too.

“It is the subtle, the microaggressions that happen within

the health care field. So, I am resistant to get help unless I feel comfortable with the person who may or may not look like me,” a 33-year-old Black woman from the San Francisco Bay Area stated. “But I also have been discriminated against a lot from Black physicians as well.”

Cummings wrote that more than half of the respondents said that, at some time in their lives, they had been unhoused, without a stable place to live, or stayed with a family member or friend because they did not have a place of their own.

Notably, the study highlighted that the participants took their health care seriously.

“The respondents really spoke about how they were taking action to pursue health, advocating for themselves, in the health care system and taking steps to protect themselves from harm in the health care system,” said Haynes.

Nearly all the respondents (93%) had some form of health insurance. The majority were covered through employer-sponsored plans at 40% or Medi-Cal at 26%, the study reports.

The mix of participants also reflected the ethnic diversity of Black Californians. The majority of respondents identified as Black or African American (83%), Black and multiracial (6%), African (5%), Afro-Caribbean (4%), Afro-Latino (1%), and Black-Native American (1%), Byerly said.

“Everyone identified as Black, but we recognize that people come from different backgrounds,” Byerly said.  “It supports our research design to make sure that we show a full range of our community in California.”

Byerly also shared that 62% of the participants said they have experienced “some type of discrimination” based on their background while getting healthcare for themselves. About 59% said they were treated unfairly while getting healthcare for a family member, she added.

Phase II of the Listening to Black Californians study examines “structural issues” in the health care system gleaned from focus group discussions with Black Californians and key health care stakeholders,” Haynes said.

The third and final phase of the study will be a statewide survey of Black California residents. It will be crafted to evaluate the extent to which the Phase I and Phase II findings are represented in the general Black Californian population.

“The second phase with 18 focus groups, was completed right before the winter holidays. The third phase, we hope, will have over 3,000 Black-Californian participants,” Hayes said. “The final report is expected in the summer of 2022.”

Read the full report.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Since August 1 of last year, Omnitrans has offered kindergarten to 12th graders in the San Bernardino Valley free rides to school through its Free Fares for School pilot program. To date, the program has provided more than 250,000 free rides for students. Last week, the agency’s Board of Directors approved an extension of the program through May 31.

“The success of the Free Fares for School pilot program has shown that this initiative is welcomed and needed in our region,” said CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “We are pleased to extend the program to promote equity and build the next generation of transit ridership.”

The Free Fares for School program allows community members 18 and under to get to school, work, and play with reliable and safe transportation on Omnitrans’ 29 routes. Omnitrans provides service to schools in San Bernardino County, work, shopping, extracurricular activities, and anywhere else students need to travel. Their student ID is their pass to freedom onboard!

In keeping with current CDC guidelines, Omnitrans continues to practice enhanced cleaning measures to keep everyone safe. Masks also are required onboard buses and at transit centers.

To learn more about Free Fares for School, visit omnitrans.org/buy-a-pass/free-fares-for- school/ and for more information on Omnitrans routes and services, please visit www.omnitrans.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre appointed Claudia Lopez for a full term on the San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization as a representative of the Fifth Supervisorial District.

The oath of office was administered to Lopez by County Superintendent Alejandre on Jan. 11. Her term is through 2025.

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 County Committee’s newest member, Lopez, is a resident of Colton who works within the hotel industry. She stated she has been working with young people for a good 20 years and thought this would be a great opportunity to grow more and contribute to education.

The Fifth Supervisorial District includes cities of Colton, Fontana, Rialto, and San Bernardino and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington, El Rancho Verde, Glen Helen, Arrowhead Farms, Muscoy, Little Third and Rosena Ranch.

The San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization maintains a webpage athttps://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.