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By Tanu Henry and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he granted clemency to 52 people: 37 pardons and 18 commutations.

One of the people the Governor is requesting a full pardon for is  Earlonne Woods, who was formerly incarcerated at San Quentin and is one of the creators of the popular, award-winning podcast Ear Hustle, which chronicles prison life.

Woods, a Los Angeles native who now lives in Oakland, recently signed a deal to work with Morgan Freeman on a documentary series.

Because Woods has been convicted of two or more felonies, his pardon will have to be approved by the State Supreme Court.

“The California Constitution gives the Governor the authority to grant executive clemency in the form of a pardon, commutation, or reprieve, the statement from the Governor’s office reads.

“The Governor regards clemency as an important part of the criminal justice system that can incentivize accountability and rehabilitation, increase public safety by removing counterproductive barriers to successful reentry, correct unjust results in the legal system, and address the health needs of incarcerated people with high medical risks.

Woods, an outspoken advocate for repealing California’s Three Strikes law, spent 21 years in prison, for attempted robbery.

Newsom also granted a posthumous pardon to civil rights activist William Burwell, whose life and advocacy became the impetus for establishing Cal State Northridge’s Africana Studies Department. In 1969, Burwell was arrested and convicted of misdemeanor trespass and failure to disperse during a racial justice protest on campus.

By Tanu Henry and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

To mark César Chávez Day on March 31, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who is the son of farmworkers, partnered with Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) to honor the legacy of labor leader Cesar Chavez.

“César Chávez is an inspiration, said Soria in short video the two lawmakers posted on X.

“His leadership and advocacy created opportunities for generations of farmworkers – the men and women who feed our entire nation and the entire world. He worked tirelessly alongside Dolores Huerta and others, added Soria. Today, we remember César Chávez’s many lessons and we reiterate our commitment to fight for protections and the right of every worker.”

Ahead of a Los Angeles event organized Sunday by presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy to celebrate the Mexican American labor activist and civil rights leader, Chávez family issued a statement opposing the use of his image in political campaigning.

“When we saw Bobby Kennedy begin to use images of my father, and then when we heard about this event in L.A., it really prompted us to stand up and to make sure that people understood that the Chavez family does not support his campaign,” wrote the labor icon’s son, Paul Chávez.

Andres Chavez, Paul’s son, also registered his outrage with the Kennedy campaign.

“We’ve never seen anybody go as far as using that image for political gain,” said of Kennedy’s campaign event invitation.

The leadership of the National Chavez Center in Keene has announed that they tend to endorse President Biden.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is holding a recruitment fair on Saturday, April 6 at Indian Springs High School. This event presents an excellent opportunity for educators and professionals seeking employment opportunities within California’s eighth-largest school district.

There will be interview opportunities with Mauricio Arellano, SBCUSD Superintendent; Dr. Marcus Funchess, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources; and Ms. Dion Clark, Director of Human Resources, Certificated. There will be visual opportunities, which include information booths showcasing career opportunities across various SBCUSD departments and schools; and on-site interviews and résumé submissions for interested candidates.

Educators from diverse backgrounds are invited to explore rewarding career opportunities with SBCUSD and join our team of dedicated individuals committed to making a positive impact on the lives of students in San Bernardino and Highland.

The job fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Indian Springs High School is located at 650 North Del Rosa Drive in San Bernardino, California.

Delia Jimenez Cioc was appointed as the first female Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Jimenez Cioc offers a deep understanding of agricultural practices, environmental protection, consumer protection, and weights and measures regulations to her new role after nearly two decades within Riverside County’s Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

Jimenez Cioc began her journey with the Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office in 2004 after graduating from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Biology. Over the years, she has showcased exemplary dedication and leadership in various capacities within the department.

“We are pleased to welcome Delia as the new Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures,” expressed Board Chair Chuck Washington, Third District. “With a true passion for agriculture and public service, we look forward to working closely with her to support and innovate the county’s agricultural sector.”

Throughout her tenure, Jimenez Cioc has held pivotal roles, including Supervising Agricultural and Standards Investigator, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, and most recently, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer. In these positions, she has overseen critical aspects of departmental operations, including managing substantial budgets, supervising personnel, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jimenez Cioc holds a Master of Public Administration from California Baptist University, further enhancing her ability to serve the community effectively.

“As the new Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Riverside County, I remain committed to promoting and protecting our agriculture, the environment, and the residents of our beautiful and diverse county while upholding equity in the marketplace,” said Jimenez Cioc.

Jimenez Cioc’s passion for agriculture dates back to her childhood, where she was surrounded by fields of wheat, corn, grapevines, and sunflowers. This early connection to farming instilled in her a profound appreciation for the industry, which she continues to nurture through her personal and professional endeavors. Outside of work, she enjoys cultivating fruits and vegetables in her backyard and exploring different cuisines and cultures during her travels.

In her new role, Jimenez Cioc assumes leadership of more than 50 employees tasked with upholding the functions of Riverside County’s Agricultural Commissioner’s Office in service to the community. This appointment follows the retirement of the former Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Ruben Arroyo.

YUCAIPA, CA— Crafton Hills College (CHC) proudly announces Damian G. Garcia as the 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient. This accolade, presented each year by the CHC Foundation, recognizes a former student who exemplifies the dynamic and positive qualities the Crafton experience can produce.

Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Garcia’s upbringing influenced his work ethic and drive early on. Despite facing challenges and being among the few Hispanic people in his community and academic career, Garcia remained committed to pursuing higher education and professional success. He was the first of his family to attend college.

“My parents, particularly my father, instilled the values of hard work, determination and perseverance,” said Garcia. “My family influenced me to always strive for success, no matter what hardships interfered with my path.”

Garcia’s higher education journey began at CHC, where he laid the foundation for his academic pursuits while balancing his personal and professional life.

“Persistence, dedication and patience are character traits I developed during my academic path,” shared Garcia. “Especially at Crafton Hills College, where I had to balance my married life, my professional career, and my academics. I believe my education and experience at Crafton helped me improve my academic skills, ultimately giving me the confidence to further my education.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Riverside, Garcia attained a Master of Business Administration at the University of Redlands, followed by a law degree from the University of La Verne.

Garcia’s commitment to justice and diversity inspired him to become an attorney and eventually serve as a judge. Recognizing the lack of diversity in the judiciary, he pursued a legal career with a vision to effect positive change in his community.

“I have a passion for the law and justice. I believe I offered a unique and effective balance of passion to serve, passion for the law and passion for justice,” said Garcia. “I believe the diversity of the judiciary should reflect the diversity of the population they serve.”

Beyond his professional achievements, Garcia remains committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation.

He has spoken to groups of at-risk and underrepresented high school and middle school students in the Redlands Unified School District and Perris Union High School District about success and his journey to become an attorney. He has also mentored students at the University of Redlands and the University of La Verne College of Law.

“I intend to continue to motivate and inspire the youth in my community,” Garcia expressed. “Our children have been under significant stress and anxiety because of recent societal events, including the pandemic. The mental health of society, and particularly our youth, needs significant attention to ensure a healthy and productive future.”

Garcia will be honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award at the CHC Foundation Fundraiser/Gala on Thursday, April 18.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, Rep. Pete Aguilar hosted a celebration event for the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being signed into law and lowering the cost of health care for millions of Americans.

This year, nearly two million Californians enrolled through the ACA open marketplace, including close to 20,000 in the region that Rep. Aguilar represents.

“In the last 14 years, we’ve witnessed the Affordable Care Act change millions of lives by lowering the cost of health care and connecting a record-breaking number of Americans to health insurance coverage,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’m proud to have fought to defend the benefits of the ACA and will continue working to make comprehensive health care more accessible for our community to improve the health outcomes of the Inland Empire.”

“The Affordable Care Act has provided an opportunity to expand coverage to residents who did not have access to health care services,” said Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor. “Furthermore, the ACA provided the opportunity to provide preventive services that would not have been available before. Had these preventative services not been included as covered benefits, insurance companies could have burdened residents with the cost, thus creating a barrier to preventative health care services.”

“As we commemorate the anniversary of the ACA, we express our gratitude for the opportunity to extend quality health care to a greater number of individuals,” said Susie White, Chief Operating Officer at Inland Empire Health Plan. “Through our commitment to both Medi-Cal and our collaborative efforts with Covered California, we are honored to play a vital role in enhancing access to comprehensive care for this community and beyond.”

Photos from the event can be found here.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1887 by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, into law. AB 1887 extends the application deadline for state financial aid programs, including the Cal Grant and Middle-Class Scholarship, from April 2 to May 2. The new law is a response to the ongoing implementation issues with the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which has left many California students unable to apply for financial aid and wreaked havoc on the enrollment timeline for colleges and universities.

“Making the path to fulfilling our students’ dreams of achieving higher education more affordable and accessible is among the highest duties of our state government, and Assembly Bill 1887 being signed into law is a way to honor that duty,” said Assemblymember Cervantes. “This new law will give California students more time to complete the FAFSA and gain access to the financial resources they need to begin their college careers in earnest.”

In late 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was intended to streamline the FAFSA and make it more accessible for working families. This included reducing the number of questions asked of student applicants from more than 100 questions to less than 40.

However, the implementation of FAFSA reforms has not been easy. Delays in necessary technological upgrades and reduced staffing levels helped contribute to the new FAFSA being made available several months late in 2023. One significant problem is that students with parents who are undocumented have experienced an error message because their parents lack a Social Security number. This has rendered these students unable to complete the FAFSA. Nationwide, FAFSA submissions are down nearly 33 percent compared to the previous academic year.

Assembly Bill 1887 extends the application deadline for state financial aid programs from April 2 to May 2. The new law also allows the federal government to have more time to solve the ongoing implementation issues with the new FAFSA, including the barrier blocking students with parents who are undocumented from completing their applications. It will also provide our colleges and universities with more time to make admissions decisions, provide financial aid award offers, and finalize their enrollment decisions.

“I am grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature—especially Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire—for working with me to move Assembly Bill 1887 rapidly through the legislative process so we can give California students more time to apply for financial aid,” said Assemblymember Cervantes. “I also want to thank Governor Newsom for moving quickly to sign the bill into law so our students can get immediate relief.”

Because Assembly Bill 1887 includes an urgency clause, it goes into effect immediately after being signed into law by the Governor. You can find more information about AB 1887 here.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Omnitrans is pleased to welcome Dietter Aragon as the agency’s new Director of Operations.

As leader of the agency’s largest department, Aragon will oversee day-to-day service, operations, and training.

“Dietter’s unique combination of public/private sector transit and technology experience will be invaluable to Omnitrans initiatives, from West Valley Connector rapid transit to communications system upgrades,” said CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers.

“Omnitrans is an agency at the forefront of innovative mobility solutions that will enhance connections across our region, and I look forward to leading the Operations team to ensure the highest quality transit experience for our employees and customers,” said Aragon.

Aragon began his transit career in 2001 as a coach operator, and since then has advanced through several leadership roles in quality assurance, transit planning, and operations oversight spanning three transit agencies in Southern California, including Foothill Transit, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, and Torrance Transit before overseeing transit/paratransit technology solutions in the private sector. He is a graduate of Brandman University and serves as a Board Member of Latinos in Transit, embodying his commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity within the transportation industry.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The City of San Bernardino has announced that an agreement has been reached to settle a $100 million lawsuit stemming from a 2022 officer involved shooting, filed by the estate of Rob Marquise Adams. The settlement amount was $4 million.

“San Bernardino agreed to the settlement recognizing the costs and attorneys’ fees to take a federal civil rights case to trial, as well as the risks associated with a civil jury, given the current climate in the courts,” said attorney Steven Rothans, who represented the city on the case.

In addition to the city and the estate of Rob Marquise Adams, the agreement includes the two police officers involved.

Both the City and representatives of the estate of Rob Adams had been in mediation with retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Dan Buckley. The settlement was reached on February 17, 2024.

The trial was scheduled to begin in June. The $4 million total includes all payments to the plaintiffs and fees to their attorneys, Ben Crump, and Brad Gage, as well as additional costs, expert witnesses, etc.

The case was a result of a fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on July 16, 2022.

Two officers from the San Bernardino Police Department drove into an alleyway near the 400 block of Highland Avenue in the City of San Bernardino to obtain information that could potentially lead to a search warrant on a location known for illegal gambling activity.

The officers had learned that a subject known as “JuJu”, who was a convicted felon and had recently been released from custody, was working as a security guard for the gambling establishment.

As the two officers proceeded in their unmarked police unit into the alley, a male African American (later identified as Rob Marquise Adams) who matched the description of the individual that officers had received information about lifted his t-shirt revealing a firearm to the officers. The officers quickly exited their unmarked vehicle in uniforms, identified themselves as police officers, and commanded the male subject to “freeze”.

The individual did not freeze, but with a firearm in his right hand began to run from the officers in between two parked vehicles. Believing that the subject was trying to find cover and ambush the officers, one of the officers fired six rounds at the suspect as the suspect began to turn to look back over his left shoulder. A firearm was recovered at the scene and subsequently tested positive for the subject’s DNA.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— As part of the national Vietnam Veterans Commemoration, Rep. Pete Aguilar hosted a commemoration ceremony for Inland Empire Vietnam War veterans.

In advance of the National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, Rep. Aguilar presented Vietnam Veterans with the Vietnam Veterans Lapel Pin provided by the Department of Defense.

“The veterans honored at this event, and the thousands of Inland Empire veterans who served in Vietnam, have made extraordinary sacrifices for our country,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’m glad to have hosted this commemoration ceremony to recognize their patriotism and dedication, and I will continue to fight on behalf of the veterans in our community to ensure they have access to the benefits they’ve earned.”

“We appreciate Congressman Aguilar coming out to VFW Post 6476 in Colton to recognize our Vietnam Veterans. Ceremonies like this one reassure our Vietnam Veterans that their service to the nation is not forgotten,” said Bernie Moyeda, Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6476, Colton, CA, and Vietnam Veteran.

Last year, Rep. Aguilar’s bill, the Wounded Warrior Access Act, was signed into law. This bill streamlines veterans’ benefits claims process, so veterans can access their benefits more easily and in a timely manner.

Photos from the event can be found here.