WSSN Stories

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Sixth Ward Councilman Rikke Van Johnson launched his campaign for Mayor of San Bernardino last Thursday May 16 with a kick-off meeting held on the lawn of his home.  Johnson announced that both his campaign and his vision for the city were inclusive, with the theme “Campaign for L.I.F.E.” (Leaders, Investors, Friends and Everyone).

He states his goal is to help “create, grow, and maintain economic value in the city, which will aid the community in realizing and accessing all the necessities that define quality of life.”  He laid out a vision for the city as a safe and prosperous community, offering a wide range of housing, recreation, education, cultural, and employment opportunities for all who come to live and work here.

He also said that San Bernardino residents need to continue to provide a strong sense of community for each other in these economically trying times.  He also laid out three primary areas he would focus upon as the Mayor:

     1. Public Safety to reduce crime rates with a two pronged strategy of, a) Decreasing gang violence and gang activity,; and b) Increasing Citizen Engagement in local government, realizing that a government goes bad when it’s citizens are not engaged;

2. Economic Stimulation through Job Creation, and helping to retain and maintain Local Business by helping them grow and strengthen their Consumer Base;

3. Beautification of areas of the city that have experienced neglect, thereby raising the esteem of both residents and businesses, and providing an attractive environment for consumers, potential home-buyers, and potential new businesses.

Johnson said he would also partner with area school systems to ensure an educated workforce, and would simplify the city’s system of government which he says has become “ambiguous and antiquated.”

“I truly believe that this is the frame work for a pathway to strengthening, sustaining and restoring our City to once again be that proud ‘City on the Move.’  This will be achieved by working together with vision, planning and hope,” he added. (WSSN 5/23/13)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– The San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), Adult Protective Services (APS) is creating awareness of abuse within the senior and dependent adult populations and encourages them not to be reluctant to report abuse of any type.

The awareness campaign, “It’s Not Your Fault,” aims to empower seniors to not be afraid or embarrassed to report abuse; and to let them know they deserve “Dignity, Fairness, and Respect.” DAAS and APS staff will be speaking to seniors throughout the community during the month of May, “Older Americans Month,” in an effort to help prevent and stop abuse of our elderly and frail.  Such abuse can take the form of physical, mental suffering, neglect, intimidation, isolation, abduction, sexual, and financial exploitation. Neglect and financial abuse are the most common.

Over 5 million elderly or vulnerable adults are abused and/or neglected in the U.S. each year, and many fall victim to scams and abuse often by a family member or caretaker. Some seniors are ashamed, or fear if they complain they will be institutionalized as a form of retaliation by a family member.  Many do not believe police and social agencies can really help them, or they think that no one will believe them.

The “I’s Not Your Fault” campaign lets seniors know ‘It’s Not Your Fault if someone you love, respect, and/or depend on is not acting in your best interest.’ Following the 2012 implementation of San Bernardino County’s “It’s Not Your Fault” campaign in the High Desert area, referrals for abuse increased over three times greater than in July.  The state-wide hotline to report abuse is 877-565-2020.

“Elder abuse tends to take place where the senior lives.  Most often, abuse is in the home where abusers are apt to be adult children or other family members such as grandchildren or spouses/partners of elders. “For every report of abuse of an older adult or an adult with a disability, five reports are not made,” says DAAS Director Ron Buttram.”

However, abuse can also take place in senior living facilities. The California Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse (BMFEA) operates three programs designed to hold both persons and institutions accountable for abuse of elders: 1. The Violent Crimes program investigates and prosecutes physical elder abuse committed by individual employees against patients in elder care facilities (including homicide, rape, false imprisonment, assault and battery). 2. The Facilities Enforcement Team investigates and prosecutes the actual facilities for adopting policies or promoting practices that lead to neglect and/or poor quality of care, such as: a) Failure to provide medical care for physical and mental health needs; b) Failure to attend to hygiene concerns; c) Failure to provide adequate staffing; and, d)Failure to prevent malnutrition and dehydration; and Falsification of patient charts

The Operation Guardians program helps to help protect and improve the quality of care for California’s elder and dependent adult residents in skilled nursing facilities by identifying instances of abuse or neglect via investigations that include “Surprise Inspections” that may lead to criminal or civil prosecution by the BMFEA. Actual reports of the guardians’ “Surprise Inspections” can be found online at  http://oag.ca.gov/bmfea/elder — a good way to know what home NOT to reside in.

DAAS wants seniors and dependent adults who are victims of abuse to call California’s Adult Protective Services hotline first at 1-877-565-2020.  All referrals are handled with discretion, dignity and respect. APS services are also available to persons between 18-64 years of age who are unable to protect their own interest due to a physical or mental disability.

With the “It’s Not Your Fault” campaign, the DAAS is empowering seniors, at-risk individuals, and adults with disabilities ensure they have the resources to improve or maintain choice, independence and quality of life in the least restrictive environment possible.  To report abuse, call 877-565-2020.

LOS ANGELES, CA– Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science conducts a great deal of research and engages in significant outreach to help reduce health disparities among communities of color and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Heart disease/stroke, cancer, diabetes and AIDS prevention remain among the top diseases that affect minority populations, and these communities are disproportionately affected by preventable disease, disability and even death.

Aggressive identification and implementation of new and more effective prevention and intervention strategies is needed, as heart disease and strokes are leading killers across most racial and ethnic communities in the U.S.  “We are currently exploring the role of vitamin D in the prevention of heart disease and diabetes, along with a regimen of diet and exercise. We are also exploring video game exercises as a means of heart disease prevention, especially for patients who live in communities where it may not be safe to go outdoors for exercise. High blood pressure is a large contributor to heart disease,” says Dr. David Martins, Assistant Dean for Clinical and Community Affairs at CDU.  He encourages a minimum of annual blood pressure checks and more often if not normal. “If it is elevated they should get care immediately. A tablet of aspirin a day reduces your risk of stroke and heart disease,” he added.

HIV/AIDS has a devastating impact on minorities in the U.S., with almost 71 percent of the newly diagnosed cases.  Cynthia Davis, Assistant Professor in the Medical Sciences Institute at CDU has been a trail blazer in HIV/AIDS community outreach and mobilization, and has been involved in HIV primary prevention initiatives on a national and local level since 1986, initiating the first pilot demonstration mobile HIV testing program in Los Angeles County in 1991, providing HIV testing, counseling and referral services to over 60,000 community residents.

“HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts African American women, youth, and men who have sex with men. This disease is 100% preventable, but due to denial, fear, stigma, homophobia, and lack of access to health care, it continues to ravage our community. The CDC recommends everyone aged 14 to 64 obtain an annual HIV test,” says Davis.

Professor Davis is also involved in research examining how factors such as HIV knowledge, alcohol abuse and childhood sexual abuse influence the rates of depression among HIV positive and HIV negative Latinos residing in South Los Angeles. CDU was also a health partner in the KJLH Radio’s Women’s Health Forum on Saturday, April 27.

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (www.cdrewu.edu), is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian, medical and health sciences institution in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles, and has graduated over 550 medical doctors, 2,500 postgraduate physicians, 2,000 physician assistants and hundreds of other health professionals.  It is the only dually-designated Historically Black Graduate Institution and Hispanic Serving Health Professions School in the U.S., with a mission to provide care with excellence and compassion, and transform the health of underserved communities.

By Lita Pezant, Special to the Westside Story — Linda Hudson-Smith the bestselling author of dozens of romance novels and inspirational books, died last Tuesday April 30, 2013.  Linda had struggled with lupus for many years, even serving as the national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America.

Linda Hudson-Smith was a regular guest on the “Empire Talks Back” radio show prior to leaving her home in Rialto to join her husband Rudy in League City, Texas where he worked as a weatherman. Linda’s son, Gospel and Inspirational rapper Scott Smith (A.k.a. Justified) will join host Wallace Allen on the “Empire Talks Back” this Sunday, May 5, 2013 for a special tribute to this very special lady. Justified will share music from the companion CD soundtrack to his mother’s bestseller “Ladies in Waiting,” that was written and produced by Los Souls, and performed by him and Costie Payne.

A successful marketing and public relations professional, Linda turned to writing as a way of keeping productive and positive, after being diagnosed with the disease in 2000. She not only stayed positive and productive, she thrived, writing over 30 books, starting with her first “Ice Under Fire” (Arabesque/BET Books), which garnered great reviews and honors including Best New Author by the Black Writer’s Alliance, the 2000 Gold Pen Award, two Shades of Romance Magazine awards for New Romance Author of the Year and Multicultural New Fiction Author of the Year 2001.

As she continued to write and widen her genre, her reputation grew, and she traveled to Europe with her Lupus Awareness campaign. In 2003 Linda Hudson-Smith was named Best New Christian Fiction author by Shades of Romance Magazine, and in 2004 she won the African American Literary Show Romance Award. In 2006 the anthology novel “Thicker Than Water” (Kimani Press/New Spirit) was published featuring Linda’s short story, The Devil’s Advocate, and the book ranked #7 on Essence Magazine’s Best Seller’s list.  She continued writing until very recently, with a string of both romance novels and inspirational books, including “Forsaking All Others,” “This Far By Faith,” “Honor Thy Heart”, “Indiscriminate Attraction” and “Romancing the Runway.”

Linda Hudson-Smith was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and raised in Washington, D.C. Linda’s husband brought her ashes back to California, and she requested that there be no funeral service.  Her survivors include her husband Rudy Smith, her sons Gregory Lewis Smith and Scott Smith, and her grandchildren.  She will be missed by all who loved her and benefited from her kindness and uplifting spiritualism, as well as by the many fans of her books (lindahudsonsith.com).

Linda Hudson Smith met the challenges presented to her with a special grace and insight that was highly cherished and appreciated.

By Dedrick Muhammad, Sr. — Economic recovery is evading our most struggling populations with African American and Latino unemployment still nearly twice the national average. But, with the recent anniversary of Earth Day, now is a fitting time to highlight how the emerging green sector can bridge our communities to economic opportunity.

Green jobs help improve the environment and lessen the destructive impact that we have on our planet, and are steadily on the rise.  Nearly 3 million people are employed in the green sector ranging from manufacturing and construction to research, design, planning and development.

Green jobs are located in many of our communities, and urban centers account for 64 percent of all green jobs, and are highly concentrated in the West and Southern regions of the U.S. The vast amount of opportunities in the green sector explains the popular phrase, “green jobs equals good jobs.”  Green economy workers’ wages are 13 percent higher than average median wages; and green economy workers are more likely to report greater career mobility and advancement.

For those who want the right skills to qualify for a green job, training opportunities are endless with hundreds of programs available that provide green certifications and licenses.

Budding entrepreneurs should also consider starting a green business. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of our environment. In one study, near half of the respondents wanted to see finance companies provide monetary or investment incentives to businesses that are creating new clean energy technologies or promoting innovative environmental policies and practices. The study highlights a growing trend of consumers employing more social responsibility when deciding where and how they spend their money.

So, if you never thought about securing a green job and/or starting a green business, now is the time. There are a variety of resources available to assist you in a green career, green training, or a green business.

Career One Stop (www.careeronestop.org) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, and it’s Green Careers section provides an outline of green careers in today’s changing workplaces, and offers a job database to search for green jobs nationwide.

Green Programs, Certificates, & Workforce Development Training: The Advanced Technology and Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) created a database to help you identify listings of environmental and energy technology programs in the nation’s two-year colleges, high schools, and workforce training organizations at http://ateec.org.

The Small Business Administration (sba.gov) provides numerous resources for entrepreneurs interested in starting a green business. Resources range from how to find your niche in the green economy to how to become certified and differentiate your product or service as environmentally sound.

(Dedrick Muhammad, Sr. is the Director of the NAACP Economic Department.  The complete column was originally published on BET.com)

Over 70% of California’s Small Businesses are Eligible for Health Care Tax Credits

By Herb K. Schultz and Elizabeth Echols — For years, we had a health insurance market that was broken for small businesses. With less bargaining power, small businesses paid an average of 18% more for the same health insurance plan offered to bigger businesses, and their premiums could skyrocket if a single employee got sick.

But because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), California’s small businesses and their employees are getting better choices, with new protections that limit the outrageous rate hikes small business owners faced in the past.

Beginning in 2014, California’s small business owners will have access to a new Health Insurance Marketplace, Connect for Health California—which opens for enrollment on October 1,2013. This allows them to make side-by-side comparisons to find a plan that fits their budget and is right for their businesses and employees.

Small businesses also save with new tax credits that help them cover their employees. Many small businesses with 25 or fewer employees have already received a tax credit of up to 35% of their health insurance costs. And beginning in 2014, this tax credit will go up to 50%. According to the Small Business Majority, 375,310 small businesses in California which employ 2.5 million people will be eligible for an average credit of $752 per worker.

Additionally, insurance companies must now also publicly justify every rate increase of 10% or more, leading to a sharp decline in double-digit rate hikes.  Insurers must also spend at least 80% of small employer premium dollars on employees’ actual health benefits. These limits have already resulted in over $1 billion being returned to small business owners and other consumers.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and create two-thirds of jobs. Owners and employers deserve a health insurance market with fairer prices, better choices and greater certainty.

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees – that’s 96% of small businesses – are not required to purchase insurance, but qualify for tax credits if they do. Most small businesses over 50 employees (4%) already provide insurance. So the number of businesses that will have to begin offering employee health insurance or pay a penalty is minimal.

No business owner wants to drop coverage for their employees, and health insurance is critical to attracting the kind of workers they need to succeed. By making the health insurance market work better for California’s small businesses, the law is letting them focus on what they do best: delivering great products and services, creating jobs, and growing our economy.

To receive information and sign up for updates, California small business owners can visit healthcare.gov. (Herb K. Schultz is the Regional Director of U.S. Health and Human Service and Elizabeth Echols is the Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration)