By Lou Yeboah

You better know that you know. And if you didn’t know, now you know. He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ [Isaiah 6:9]. So I will choose their punishments and will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight. [Isaiah 66:4]. Therefore, I say again, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp-stand out of its place. [Revelation 2:5]. Take the gift – “Second Chance,” and use it wisely. Repent! For there are serious consequences that would result if My instructions are ignored and My laws are violated [see Deuteronomy 28].

Listen, God is patient, but God is just. In His mercy, He provides us time to repent. In His grace, He allows tragedy to be a warning about judgment rather than executing wrath on us. Make no mistake; it is mercy for us to be warned in this way. But, God will not be patient forever. For those who ignore His kind warnings, like the people in Noah’s day, they likewise will perish also. Don’t you wait until its too late! “For NOW is the acceptable time, for NOW is day of Salvation” [2 Corinthians 6:2].

As Joshua challenged the people to choose who they would serve! The same choice stands before you today! Forsake the foolish, and live, and go in the way of understanding. For as [Hebrews 10:26; Isaiah 58: 1], says, “If you deliberately keep on sinning after you have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire…”

Do not receive the grace of God in vain. Do not ignore, neglect or cast aside God’s offer of mercy. Respond to it now, as it is offered to you. It is a mercy call. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction…”[Matthew 7: 13-14].

“As I live! declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die?” [Ezekiel 33:11].

• Nearly 1.6 million Californians have renewed their coverage or enrolled for the first time for 2021 coverage, setting a new enrollment record in the midst of the worst COVID-19 spike since the beginning of the pandemic.
• The record enrollment total is 200,000 higher than the same time period last year, with significant portions of low-income consumers and communities of color, which are among the groups hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• With a dramatic increase in post-holiday COVID-19 cases, Covered California and other state health leaders continue to encourage people to take precautions: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance, stay home when you can, and get covered with a quality health insurance plan.
• Covered California’s open-enrollment period runs through Jan. 31, and of the 2.7 million Californians who are uninsured, an estimated 1.2 million are eligible for financial help from Covered California or through Medi-Cal.

SACRAMENTO, CA — Covered California announced on Tuesday that it has begun the New Year with a record number of people who have signed up for coverage amid a severe spike in COVID-19 cases across the state. A record 1.6 million Californians had either renewed their coverage or selected a plan during open enrollment for health insurance coverage starting Jan. 1, 2021. The total represents an increase of almost 200,000 (14 percent) over the same time period last year.

“With the pandemic continuing to surge across the state, now is not the time to be uninsured,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We are in the

midst of a post-holiday surge, and we want to encourage anyone who needs health care coverage to check out their options and sign up so they can get covered in 2021.”

More than 2.7 million Californians have been infected by the virus, and the death total is expected to surpass 30,000 today.

“While collectively we are all hands are on deck to distribute vaccines across the state, we cannot let our guard down during this rise in cases and hospitalizations because the ability to transmit the virus from one person to another is so high right now,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the California Health and Human Services secretary and chair of the Covered California Board of Directors. “We all need to do our part to defeat this pandemic, and that means wearing a mask, staying home and getting covered with a quality health insurance plan.”

Right now, of the 2.7 million Californians who are uninsured, an estimated 1.2 million are eligible for financial help through Covered California, or they qualify for low-cost or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal. The largest portion of these uninsured who are eligible for help are in Southern California, with an estimated 718,000 people eligible for financial help in the Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange and San Diego metro areas (see Figure 1: Where California’s Uninsured Who Are Eligible for Financial Help Live).

Figure 1:  Where California’s Uninsured Who Are Eligible for Financial Help Live

“Most of the people who are uninsured who can get help do not know they are eligible for financial assistance, or they have not checked recently to see how affordable quality coverage can be,” Lee said. “No one should wait to sign up. Enroll now and tell your family and friends so we can make sure everyone possible has health insurance during this pandemic.”

The most recent data shows that 1.4 million people, or nearly 90 percent of Covered California’s enrollees, are receiving some level of financial help that lowers the cost of their monthly premium by an average of nearly 80 percent.

Of those receiving financial help, almost half — over 640,000 — are benefiting from the state subsidy program launched in 2020 to make coverage more affordable, including 44,500 middle-income consumers who were previously ineligible for assistance because they exceeded the federal income requirements.

Record Plan Selections

The record number of consumers signing up for a plan comes after Covered California opened a special-enrollment period throughout the spring and summer and signed up hundreds of thousands of people who either did not have health insurance or lost their coverage due to the pandemic and recession. With this outreach, the total of those going into 2021 with coverage purchased during special enrollment in 2020 and those newly signing up during the current open-enrollment period totaled 541,000 — the largest figure for new sign-ups since the end of a preceding open-enrollment period in Covered California’s history (see Figure 2. Plan Selections for Coverage Years 2016 to 2021).

Figure 2. Plan Selections for Coverage Years 2016 to 2021

^[1] “Special Enrollment” is a subset of the renewal population. For example, of the 1.4 million renewing consumers for 2021, 376,000 had newly signed up during the special-enrollment period during 2020.

While the number of plan selections — both overall and in the combined special enrollment and open-enrollment periods — is at a historic high, the new enrollment seen during the current open-enrollment period is down from the all-time high Covered California saw during this time last year. The biggest likely contributor to that change is that fact that many of those, who in prior years would have signed up during open enrollment, got coverage earlier during the special-enrollment period.

“When the pandemic began to hit California hard in the spring, Covered California opened its doors to every eligible consumer because it was the right thing to do,” Lee said. “This is a year like no other, but we are seeing Covered California meet the needs of those hardest hit by the COVID pandemic — including communities of color and lower-income Californians.”

Over the past six years, Covered California has seen a steady increase in the diversity of its new consumers who sign up during special and open enrollment. The data shows that nearly two-thirds (66 percent) are from communities of color, which represents an increase from 60 percent in 2015 (see Figure 3. Special and Open-Enrollment Plan Selections by Ethnicity).

Figure 3. Special and Open-Enrollment Plan Selections by Ethnicity

^[1] All plan selections since the end of 2020 open enrollment through Dec. 31, 2020, including new enrollments during both 2020 special enrollment and 2021 open enrollment.

The data also highlights Covered California’s critical role in helping low-income Californians — those hardest hit by the COVID pandemic — get access to necessary health care. Of the record number of plan selections, 57 percent of consumers have an annual household income of less than 250 percent of the federal poverty limit (FPL), which corresponds to just under $32,000 for a single person household (see Figure 4. Covered California 2021 Net Plan Selections by Income).

“These are Californians who are most vulnerable to the pandemic, many of them working hourly jobs or in the service industry, who have been hardest hit by the crisis,” Lee said. “Covered California helps give them access to some of the best care in the country and the peace of mind in knowing that they have insurance to protect them if the worst happens.”

Figure 4.  Covered California 2021 Net Plan Selections by Income

Additionally, 44,500 middle-income Californians now benefit from the state subsidy program, which is the first in the nation providing financial assistance to consumers whose income exceeds the federal requirements. Under the landmark program, Californians earning up to $76,560 — or a family of four with a household income of up to $157,200 — may be eligible for financial help to lower the cost of their coverage.

Shop and Compare

Those interested in applying for coverage can explore their options — and find out whether they are eligible for financial help — in just a few minutes by using the Shop and Compare Tool at CoveredCA.com. All they need to do is enter their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage to find out which plans are available in their area.

Consumers who sign up by Jan. 31 will need to pay their first bill in order to have their coverage take effect on Feb. 1.

“Now is not the time to be sick and uninsured as California continues to endure the worst pandemic in modern history,” Lee said. “Don’t put yourself or your family at risk. Sign up now and be covered on Feb. 1.”

Lee added that, in light of the pandemic, Covered California will continue to evaluate what the agency may do after the Jan. 31 deadline if further action is needed to help Californians during this critical time.

Another important reason to sign up is that California’s individual mandate penalty remains in place for 2021. Consumers who can afford health care coverage, but choose to go without, could pay a penalty when filing their state income taxes in 2022. The penalty is administered by California’s Franchise Tax Board, and could be as much as $2,250 for a family of four.

Getting Help Enrolling

Consumers interested in learning more about their coverage options can:

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

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.

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California’s Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Programs is offering eligible California businesses and nonprofits grants of $5,000 – $25,000!

Applicants can start uploading documents on 01/06.

Deadline extended to 01/13. 

Learn more at www.CAReliefGrant.com.  #CAReliefGrant

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Chris Holden introduced, AB 229, legislation that establishes use of force trainings within the existing courses provided by the California Private Security Services Act. Under current laws, no use of force trainings exist for Private Patrol Operators.

“When private security are responsible for the safety of the general public, those private operators must have the proper training in order to apply the appropriate use of force in any particular situation,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “We put a lot of attention on our State’s peace officers, but private security, who sometimes are in similar circumstances, need comparable training.”

In 2019, Mario Matthews was restrained face-down on the floor at Golden 1 Center by two security personnel after he ran on to the court following an NBA exhibition game. According the lawsuit filed by his parents, his hands were handcuffed behind his back and the two security personnel got on top of his back.  One security guard used his right knee to apply pressure to the side of Mario’s neck for approximately four and a half minutes.  In addition to the initial two Universal Protection Security personnel, a third security officer placed himself on Mario’s back. 

After approximately ten minutes, several Sacramento Police Department officers arrived and used maximum restraints; they tied his legs together with one strap and another strap around his waist.  For a total of 20 minutes, Mario was facedown with as many as four people on top of him. Mario became unresponsive and was taken to the hospital.  He passed away two days later.  The lawsuit claims that the Sacramento County Coroner acknowledged that restraint was a cause of Mario’s death. 

“What happened to Mario is unacceptable, and proper training will play big role in avoiding unnecessary harm or death to others,” said Holden.

AB 229 requires the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) to develop curriculum and training courses on the appropriate use of force for private security services employees in consultation with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom sounded upbeat when he announced at a press briefing Friday afternoon that he has submitted a $227 billion budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the State Legislature for approval.

The spending plan reflects a brighter picture than the gloomier one Newsom presented last summer when he projected a steep budget shortfall of more than $50 billion. In this proposal, the governor’s office is estimating that there will be a budget surplus of about $15 billion over the 2020-21 fiscal year, with nearly $3 billion stashed in the state’s operating reserve.

“In these darkest moments of the COVID-19 pandemic, this budget will help Californians with urgent action to address our immediate challenges and build towards our recovery,” said Newsom. “As always, our Budget is built on our core California values of inclusion, economic growth and a brighter future for all.”

The proposal includes significant investments intended to shore up and revive the state economy battered by the COVID-19 global pandemic. It proposes $2.4 billion for a one-time payout of $600 per individual from the “Golden State Stimulus” fund for the lowest earning Californians, many of them essential workers, who have been hit hardest by the global health crisis and the economic dip it caused. The majority of workers that have been affected are African American, Hispanic or from other ethnic groups in California and across the country.

To ensure a swift economic recovery, the governor has allocated $372 million to facilitate the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the state.

Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles), chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and the only African American lawmaker in the upper house of the California legislature, says he is pleased that the governor’s budget invests in equity. He told CBM that he will work with the governor’s office to make sure the proposals in the plan, particularly the relief for businesses, benefit Black Californians.

“Governor Newsom’s 2021-2022 budget proposal reflects what we are all hoping: that things are getting back on track and in a better way. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate California, but thanks to the swift actions taken last year by the Legislature and the Governor, we are in a strong position to combat this crisis and rebuild our economy,” Bradford said

 “We do not want to go back to where we were. We want a more just economy moving forward,” the senator added.

Workers at hospitals, grocery store clerks, public transportation operators and more had to continue showing up to work through the most difficult and uncertain phases of the pandemic last year. And entrepreneurs like barbers and beauticians and workers in retail, food and beverage service, hospitality and the leisure sectors suffered the most job losses. Newsom announced $777.5 billion in his budget for economic recovery, including assistance to businesses of all sizes – more than $500 million will go to small businesses — and money to support the state’s minimum wage increase to $14.

Bradford, who is also chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, applauded Gov Newsom for including funding for improving prisons and criminal justice reform efforts.

“As Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I am also pleased to see funding for the maintenance of California state prisons, Los Angeles County, use of force investigations by the Department of Justice, and rehabilitation and educational programs for our inmate population,” he said.  “Following the work I began in 2018 with the California Cannabis Equity Act, I am delighted to see the permanent funding of the state’s local equity grant program, which is a momentous step toward a fair and equitable cannabis market.”

The money for COVID economic recovery comes at a time when there looms the threat of another economic downturn. According to numbers released by the U.S. Department of Labor Friday, payrolls across the country decreased by 140,000 jobs in December. It is the sharpest drop in jobs since last April. The economy has not fully bounced back since the beginning of the pandemic last march when it lost 22.2 million jobs. Only 12.4 million jobs have been recovered so far.

Although the governor’s budget projects optimism, and it provides substantial funding for critical ongoing government priorities like education, transportation public safety, higher education, health care and green initiatives, it is short on details. It does however include a clear high-level breakdown of where the money will be spent – if not exactly how. For example, Gov. Newsom calls for $2 billion to help schools across the state to reopen in the next couple of months. The budget also allots $85.8 billion for schools, which includes teacher training, early childhood education programs, teacher recruitment and money to extend learning into the summer.  The governor is also proposing that the state invests $500 million in low-cost housing tax credits; $1.75 billion to continue purchasing motels to house the homeless under “Project Room Key;” and $353 million for job training and creation programs.

Over the next 5 months, Gov. Newsom says he and the Legislature will be working to hash out, distill and define budget priorities. Through the process, they will determine how and at which level of government – state, county or municipal – the monies will be spent. Then in May, he will present his revised, and more detailed, budget to the legislature for final approval before the fiscal year begins in July.

Senate Republicans say over 19,000 small businesses in the state have had to shutter since the pandemic began. Therefore, they are urging the governor to increase funding for them.

“Over the past ten months, the Governor’s shutdowns and COVID-19 challenges have made it difficult for millions of Californians,” said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) in a statement responding to the governor’s budget.

Some environmental groups complained that the budget redirects cash to emergency preparedness, “short-changing” programs that provide funding to underserved communities, some of them places where Black Californians live.

“The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is meant to cut pollution in our most impacted communities,” said CEO Debra Gore-Mann, president of the Greenlighting Institute, a public policy and research organization based in Oakland. “Funding for wildfires should come from the utilities whose recklessness led to so many problems.

Gov. Newsom says now that he has presented his budget, the hard work begins.

“The Budget makes progress towards the goal I set when taking office to harness California’s spirit of innovation and resilience and put the California Dream within reach of more Californians,” Gov. Newsom said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino County Board of Education welcomed Andrea DeLeon as the newest member of the Board at their meeting on December 14. DeLeon will represent Trustee Area E that includes the unified districts of Bear Valley, Colton Joint, Morongo, Redlands, Rim of the World (east of Highway 38) and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint.

DeLeon’s oath of office was administered by City of Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren and included her son Andrew Sandoval.

“My son encouraged me to run for office and it was deeply meaningful to have him and Mayor Warren there to share in such a special moment,” said DeLeon. “I am excited to serve the San Bernardino County community.”

DeLeon replaces Alen Ritchie who chose not to seek re-election and retired after 12 years on the County Board. He attended his last meeting on November 2.

“I would like to thank Mr. Ritchie for his service to public education as a County Board member,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “Welcome to our new and returning trustees for their commitment and support of students and families.”

Laura Mancha was sworn in for a new four-year term and elected as vice president of the Board. She has served on the County Board since 2010 representing Trustee Area C.

School districts in this area include Chino Valley Unified, Cucamonga, Fontana Unified, Mountain View, and portions of Chaffey Joint Union High and Ontario-Montclair.

Mancha’s oath of office was administered by Manuel Mancha, her husband of over 40 years.

The San Bernardino County Board of Education elected Ken Larson as president of the five-member governing body.  

Larson, who will serve a one-year term, represents Trustee Area A, which includes the school districts of Adelanto, Apple Valley Unified, Baker Valley Unified, Barstow Unified, Helendale, Hesperia Unified, Lucerne Valley Unified, Needles Unified, Oro Grande, Rim of the World Unified (west of Highway 138), Silver Valley Unified, Trona Joint

Unified, Victor Elementary and Victor Valley Union High. He replaces Laura Mancha, whose one-year term ended on December 14.

Larson acknowledged and thanked Mancha for her service and leadership during the past year as board president. “It has been my honor to serve as president and represent the County Board of Education,” Mancha said.

Larson has served on the County Board since December 3, 2018. This is his first term as president of the group.

The Board establishes policy, adopts an annual budget, approves building plans and hears student expulsion, inter-district transfer and charter school appeals. The Board meets monthly, regularly the first Monday of the month. The next scheduled meeting for the Board is scheduled for January 4, 2021.

Visit the County Board of Education webpage to view meeting minutes, calendar and additional information.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -– One of the most popular resolutions at the beginning of each year is the desire to quit smoking, with more than 70% of smokers reporting they want to quit. Smoking is a risk factor for severe illness from COVID-19, which makes 2021 an even more opportune time to begin the journey to quitting once and for all. With the help of the American Lung Association, more than a million people have achieved success with their goal to quit smoking.

The American Lung Association has the following five tips for those looking to quit smoking this year:

1.    Utilize a plan that is proven to be both safe and effective in helping you quit for good. Despite what Juul and other e-cigarette companies want you to believe, switching to vaping (e-cigarettes) is not quitting smoking. E-cigarettes are tobacco products, they contain nicotine, and FDA has not approved any e-cigarette as a quit smoking device.

2.    Learn from past experiences. Most smokers have tried to quit before and sometimes people get discouraged thinking about previous attempts. Instead, treat those experiences as steps on the road to future success. Think about what helped you during those tries and what you’ll do differently in your next quit attempt.

3.    You don’t have to quit alone. Enrolling in a tobacco counseling program, such as American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking®, can increase your chances of success by up to 60% when used in combination with medication.

4.    Talk to a doctor about quit smoking medications. Talking to a doctor can significantly increase your chances of quitting successfully. There are seven FDA-approved quit smoking medications that can help you quit. Just make sure to follow the directions and use them for the full duration they are prescribed.

5.    Every smoker can quit. Find the right combination of techniques for you and above all, keep trying. Slip-ups – having a puff or smoking one or two cigarettes – are common but don’t mean that a quitter has failed. The important thing is to keep trying to quit. 

The American Lung Association is here for you every step of the way with tools, tips and support. The important thing is to keep trying to quit, until you quit for good. Freedom From Smoking® helps individuals create their own unique quit plan for vaping and smoking, as well as tips and techniques to stay successful in the long run. Freedom From Smoking can be accessed online, at a virtual group clinic, by phone at 1-800-LUNG-USA and through a self-guided workbook. Those looking to quit smoking are encouraged to use the method that works best for their learning style, schedule and unique quit smoking plan. Ranked as the most effective smoking cessation program in a study of 100 managed care organizations conducted at Fordham University Graduate School of Business, Freedom From Smoking has helped hundreds of thousands participants quit smoking. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity for people, when they’re ready, to find the proven quit smoking support they need,” said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer. “Quitting smoking will immediately improve your health and might also decrease your odds of severe illness from COVID-19. It’s the perfect way to set yourself up for a healthy new year and healthy years to come.”

For more information about quitting smoking and how to access Freedom From Smoking, visit the American Lung Association website at Lung.org/ffs or call the free Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872).

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About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

SACRAMENTO–The California Legislative Black Caucus has elected Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and Assemblymember Kamlager (D-Los Angeles) to serve as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, through the 2021-2022 legislative session. In addition, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) will now serve as Secretary and Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) will remain in his position as Treasurer.

“I am honored and humbled to be elected by my colleagues to serve as the next Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. We are grateful for Dr. Weber’s leadership during her time with the Caucus and have no doubt she will lead with the same passion and desire for equality and justice as Secretary of State. I look forward to serving in a similar fashion of Dr. Weber and previous Chairs championing African American issues for the state and nation,” said Senator Bradford.

Senator Bradford was elected to the legislature in 2009, making him the longest serving member of the Caucus and currently the only Black senator in the state legislature. Senator Bradford’s election as Caucus Chair follows Governor Newsom’s appointment of former Caucus Chair, and Assemblymember, Dr. Shirley Weber as California’s next Secretary of State.

“It is a bittersweet moment as I pass the leadership torch to Senator Steven Bradford. The California Legislative Black Caucus is a small but mighty group of 9 members. Together we have been a powerful force, united and unwavering in our commitment to fight and win tough battles to improve the lives of Black Californians. I thank the Black Caucus for its support during my tenure as Chair, and I have full trust and confidence in Senator Bradford to take on the leadership of the Caucus. I also look forward to building on the partnership between the Secretary of State’s office and the CLBC to protect and expand voting rights in California,” said Dr. Shirley N. Weber.

Throughout its over 50-year history, the CLBC has been instrumental in crafting and supporting legislation to promote racial and gender equality for the State.  We will continue to advance an agenda that assures quality health care, establishing a more transparent and accountable police system, increased employment and economic security, and justice for all Californians.