What it do with Lue

By McKenzie Jackson ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

Blondy B. is an Uber driver and budding social media content creator in West Los Angeles. When he first started seeing the high cost of gas posted on service station pylon signs in his neighborhood, he says his frustration was met with a sense of disbelief at how fast prices were shooting up.

“I was like, ‘Yo, what the …,” said the 31-year-old, adding an expletive for emphasis. “It has been mind-blowing,” he said.

Blondy B. says it used to take $75 to fill his SUV’s tank. Now, it costs nearly $110.

He says dollars he was stacking to pursue his California Dream are now being poured into his gas tank.

The average cost of a gallon of gas in the Golden State has increased over $1 during the last month, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

“Sometimes with Uber, you wait five, 15, or even 30 minutes to get a ride,” he said. “Now, whenever I’m done with a ride, I park right there, shutdown the car, and wait for the next call.”

Uber and Lyft are both tacking on a surcharge of 55-cents per ride paid to drivers to offset the high costs of gas.

Santa Monica resident Clint Thompson, an avid cyclist, has spent more time walking and riding his bicycle than driving this month. He says the cost to fill his car’s tank is $120.

“It’s horrible,” he told California Black Media.

Like Blondy B. and Thompson, millions of drivers across the Golden State and around the U.S. are feeling the pain of record high prices at the gas pump. According to AAA, the average cost of regular gas per gallon in California was 5.847 on Sunday. The national average for regular gas was $4.30 per gallon.

On March 18, Democrats in the California Senate and Assembly presented a plan to provide $200 payments to each taxpayer in the state and their dependents. Under the plan, the state will send out the rebates to households with incomes of up to $250,000 to offset the costs of food, gas and other services family need.

Based on initial estimates, the plan could cost the state $6.8 billion.

“Speaker Rendon and I made a commitment to the people of California that we would find a solution to help people get through the financial hardships imposed by the rising cost of fuel and consumer goods,” said California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).

“We’re holding true to that promise and have developed a proposal that would help a vast majority of Californians,” she added.

Before that, on March 14, California Assembly Democrats unanimously voted 40-18 against a proposal their Republican colleagues pushed to suspend California’s 51-cent per gallon gas tax.

“Wow. Every @AsmRepublicans lawmaker voted to take 50 cents off the gallon of gas. Not a single Democrat Assemblymember supported this effort to lower gas prices,” Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) tweeted.

Then, on March 16, Assembly Democrats announced a proposal for a $400 tax rebate that would be sent to every California taxpayer — whether they drive or own an automobile or not – to offset the high price of gas. The $400 amount is based on an estimate of what the total annual cost would be to cover the .51-cent-per-gallon tax for the average driver.

 “A rebate is a better approach than suspending the gas tax — which would severely impact funding for important transportation projects and offers no guarantee that oil companies would pass on the savings to consumers,” said Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) in a statement.

The Rev. Shane Harris, the president of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates (PAJA) in San Diego, said the $400 rebate doesn’t help enough.

On March 17, he sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators. In it, Harris proposed what he called the Golden State Gas Stimulus, which asks that $1,200 be given to every Californian who has a registered vehicle and makes up to $75,000 annually. State registered vehicle owners that earn between $75,000 and $95,000 would receive $600, according to Harris’ plan.

“A stimulus is extra money, a rebate is essentially giving me back what I own anyway,” Harris said. “My argument is that we need more resources, not money that is already ours. The $400 just does not meet this moment from my perspective.”

Across California, there are 15 refineries supplying gas for transportation to all regions of the state, according to the California Air Resources Board.

On top of that, Californians pay an average of about $1.27 more than the rest of the country per gallon in taxes and fees, including a 51.1 cent excise tax that goes toward road repairs. Other fees included in that amount are climate program costs and local taxes.

PAJA teamed up with several groups — many who share his view about the Dems’ $400 gas rebate plan — to hold a gas giveaway at an Arco gas station in San Diego on March 14. The organizations used $15,000 worth of donated funds to put up to $50 of gas in the tanks of over 320 people’s cars.

Harris said drivers told him that without the donated gasoline they would not have been able to meet routine obligations like getting to work or taking their children to school.

“We were trying to meet a critical need for working class and low-income people,” Harris said. “One mother handed me a card and was crying. She didn’t know if she would be able to pay for her medication or gas this week. Her medication was $70. Meeting this need was critical for those most impacted by the prices at the pump.”

A lot of individuals, Harris noted, are terrified of high gas prices, and those telling people to take a bus or trolley or buy an electric car instead of driving their current automobile are in the wrong.

“I don’t know how you tell a low-income person or a working-class person they should buy a $50,000 electric car in the spur of a moment when gas prices are at an all-time high,” Harris said. “It is very elitist to tell working class people to get on the bus when the bus takes three hours to get from one location to the next.”

Blondy B. said California’s leaders need to realize if individuals like him, who have service jobs, are priced out of driving their automobiles the whole state will pay.

“They aren’t going to listen to me,” Blondy B. said of elected officials. “They need to help out. If prices keep going up, people are going to suffer.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On April 16th, 2022, at Indian Springs High School Join All Nations Worship Assembly SBD for the LARGEST FREE Easter Egg Hunt in San Bernardino County from 12:00PM – 3:00PM. 30,000 eggs, food, games, candy, and fun for the entire family! We’ll be having 4 different Egg hunts by age including a special needs hunt for ages 2-11. Can’t wait to see you there!

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

On Equal Pay Day last week, First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom addressed the gender and race wage gap in the U.S. and the state, as the federal government announced similar plans.

“In [California], we have some of the strongest pay laws in the nation, but women still earn just $.86 on the dollar and that number plummets for women of color,” said Newsom.

Equal Pay Day was March 15.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) estimates that women in the U.S. earn 83 cents to every dollar that men earn.

That gap gets wider for women of color, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

According to the AAUW, Black women earned 58 cents for every dollar White men made in 2019.

In 2019, the AAUW estimated that Black women, on average, were paid about 63% of what white men were paid.

To throw light on the specificity of this discrepancy, AAUW designates Sept. 21 as Black Women Equal Pay Day.

“While sexism and racism are distinct forms of discrimination that manifest differently, their effects are compounded when a person experiences both at the same time. Intersectional discrimination perpetuates the racial and gender wealth gaps, limits Black women’s access to educational opportunities, and impedes their career advancement,” it reads on the AAUW’s website.

Last week, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced plans to implement measures to combat the gender and racial wage gap last Tuesday.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women earn less than men on average in nearly 350 different occupations.

Department of Labor Chief Economist Janelle Jones wrote that educated Black and Brown women are representative of this estimate.

“Black and Latina women with only a bachelor’s degree have the largest gap at 65%, and Black women with advanced degrees earn 70% of what white men with advanced degrees earn,” stated Jones.

“This is a big problem, but we actually know how to fix it,” said Wendy Chun-Hoon, director of the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor.

The federal investment strategy includes two major aspects of the gender wage gap: salary history and occupational segregation.

The Department of Labor plans to limit the use of prior salary history in the hiring process, which they hope will help to close the gender gap and balance the pay-setting for federal employees.

Additionally, the White House announced that President Biden will sign an executive order focused on the same goals regarding employment decisions by federal contractors.

“By looking at things like salary history, what’s really underneath that is the fact that women are concentrated into some of the lowest paying jobs in our economy,” said Chun-Hoon.

The White House’s second area of concern is the effect of occupational segregation on women’s economic security.

Occupational segregation, according to Chun-Hoon, is concerned with where women work and how some of those jobs tend to be valued at a lower rate.

“By looking at things like salary history, what’s really underneath that is the fact that women are concentrated into some of the lowest paying jobs in our economy,” said Chun-Hoon.

She mentioned that the effect occupational segregation has on gender wage disparities also affects race wage disparities, as is the intersectional nature of earning inequality.

“In 2019, this is even before the impact of the pandemic, Black women faced a $39.3 billion loss, Hispanic women faced a $46.7 billion loss just because of the jobs they were concentrated in,” said Chun-Hoon.

The goal, according to Chun-Hoon, is to make investments in occupations often filled by women — such as education and health care — to bridge the gap.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY—- San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. is ecstatic to see that TopGolf has opened in San Bernardino County. TopGolf had its grand opening on March 11, 2022, in the city of Ontario. TopGolf is an outstanding entertainment asset for all ages and its existence will assist in keeping our county’s Regional Park’s system stronger due to the revenue it shall receive here in San Bernardino County.

“I am happy to see that an international entertainment group, such as TopGolf has opened its first Southern California location right here in San Bernardino County. This location will create hundreds of sector jobs and the annual revenue to our County Regional Parks will be approximately $625,000. This location is an opportunity for families and businesses in our county and across our region recreationally. So many jobs in our county have been created due to the opening of TopGolf and it will attract people from all over the state to come and visit. I am looking forward to seeing families golf here and hope everyone has a great time.” -Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

SACRAMENTO, CA— As part of an annual recognition of Women’s History Month in the State Capitol, Assemblymember Chris Holden announces the City of Pasadena’s Director of Public Health and Health Officer, Dr. Ying Ying Goh as the 41^st Assembly District’s Woman of the Year.

“I am thrilled to have Dr. Ying Ying Goh as Woman of the Year for the 41^st Assembly District,” said Assemblymember Holden. “Her dedication in the face of overwhelming pressure is admirable and deserves to be acknowledged, Dr. Goh has worked tirelessly to get resources to the City of Pasadena and to its residents.”

Dr. Goh serves as the City of Pasadena’s Director of Public Health and Health Officer, and is responsible for the overall planning, administration and operation of the Pasadena Public Health Department. In this dual role, Dr. Goh also provides medical supervision and direction for City health services and programs and has the authority to declare public health emergencies and quarantines. Prior to appointment as Director of Public Health, Dr. Goh served in various capacities at the Pasadena Public Health Department, as the City’s Health Officer/Deputy Director and as the Department’s Medical Director for Programs and Research, securing new grant funding and managing programs related to diabetes care management and childhood obesity prevention. Her professional experience includes clinical pediatric practice; management of a California Endowment task force to improve healthcare access and quality in Los Angeles County; design and implementation of a case management program for seniors with chronic conditions, and research to improve nutrition and physical activity for youth. Dr. Goh earned a bachelor’s degree at Stanford University.

In addition to recognizing Dr. Ying Ying Goh as the 41^st Assembly District’s Woman of the Year, Assemblymember Holden will recognize a Woman of Distinction from each city in the 41^st

Women of Distinction from throughout the district include Juanita West-Tillman (Altadena), Cher Ofstedahl (Claremont), Chief Colleen Flores (La Verne), Maritza Flores-Travanti (Monrovia), Elizabeth McSwain, (Rancho Cucamonga), Marilyn Sparks (San Dimas), Bertha Aguirre (Sierra Madre), Cathy Billings (South Pasadena) and Kim Anthony (Upland). Over 150 nominations were sent to Assemblymember Holden for the honor.

“The 2022 Women of Distinction are dedicated leaders who improve the lives for thousands of individuals and families in the 41st Assembly District and beyond,” said Holden. “They demonstrate the power of giving to others and community empowerment, I am honored to be amongst a high caliber of professionals.”

BLOOMINGTON, CA— Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. helped kick off the beginning of the baseball season by participating in the Opening Day Ceremonies for the Bloomington Little League at Kessler Park. All Little League teams were present, and they were able to join in on the games and giveaways. The highlight of the opening was seeing two 1981 World Series Dodger Champions and co-MVPs, 3rd baseman Ron Cey and catcher, Steve Yeager in attendance. The event was supported by the Department of San Bernardino County Sheriffs, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the Bloomington Municipal Advisory Council (MAC).

“The Opening Day Ceremony for the Bloomington Little League began on a good note as the community gathered at Kessler Park to start off the baseball season. The event was well attended, and a lot of community support was present for the little leaguers. The Bloomington Little League members had a blast seeing baseball legends Ron Cey and Steve Yeager attend the event. The Dodger Alumni gave the children an inspirational speech. These 1981 World Series Champions’ presence at the opening was very special to the Little League. Some of the lucky players left the event with autographed baseballs and cards. I look forward to attending Bloomington Little League games this season and am looking forward to the rest of baseball season!” -Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

By Lou Yeboah

You see, Jesus Himself pointed out the importance of discerning the signs of the times. Shortly before His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus delivered a major prophecy of end-time events, recorded in [Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21]. He was asked by His disciples: “When will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” [Matthew 24:3].

In response, Jesus showed that Jerusalem would be the central focus of the political and military upheavals that would immediately precede His return: For He said,

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near . . . For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” [Luke 21: 20-22].

The end-time king of the North and king of the South [Daniel 11]. God revealed to Daniel that after Babylon, Persia would arise as the greatest power of the region, to be followed in turn by Greece. “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land [the Holy Land], and many countries shall be overthrown.” [Daniel 11:40-41].

After Greece came the Roman Empire, “dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong.” This empire was to have “ten horns” [part of the fourth beast of Daniel 7] and would continue in some form until the establishment of God’s Kingdom at Christ’s return.

Just thinking about the horrors to be visited on the city caused Jesus to weep.

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation” [Luke 19:42-44]. I tell you; It is Critical for you to understand and recognize Biblical Prophecies of the End Time!

For there are so many signs that tell us we are living in the last days of earth’s history. Not only do we have the main Bible signs, and the 6000-year timeline plan of God, but we also have the apostle Paul’s description of the last days in [2 Timothy 3:1-5].

I tell you, as a people we desperately need to get right with God, because we are in judgment time and Jesus is going to return soon to give His reward. For there are so many signs today which point to the soon arrival of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Conflict and war rages across the globe. Disaster after disaster unfolds upon the nations. Economies are collapsing around the world. Animal life is diseased and dying. And wickedness and sin is rampant.

Do you have eyes to see what is happening? God is giving us plenty of warning!

Read Daniel 7 carefully. Consider unfolding world events. Consider the nations that are represented by the lion with eagle’s wings, the bear, and soon the leopard. Watch as prophecy that troubled Daniel unfolds before our eyes. Know that God’s word is sure.

Study Revelation 13 for insights into the beast, and by all means be on alert, praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all that is coming and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man. [Luke 21:36].

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for NOW, is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [Romans 13:11].

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Most people attending a recent community meeting on reparations in the Bay Area had never heard of Russell City, an unincorporated majority Black community in Northern California that local authorities bulldozed in the 1960s, causing the displacement of most of its Black residents.

Many of Russell City’s African American residents had relocated to the Northern California town, located in present-day Hayward, to escape segregation and sharecropping in the South.

Marian Johnson and Michael Johnson, sister and brother, testified at the meeting co-hosted by the Coalition for A Just and Equitable California (CJEC) with the support of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. Both their grandparents and great-grandparents lived in Russell city.

CJEC is a statewide coalition of organizations, fighting for reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

The Johnsons explained to the audience what Russell City meant to them and why they are supporting the push for reparations in California.

“Russell City had a population of 1,400 people and 400 homes. It was a ‘redlined community,’ and all the properties were taken by eminent domain,” Marian Johnson said. “In California, a lot of this happened and a lot of people did not know it happened. It’s a secret. Now, it’s coming to light.”

Task Force member Don Tamaki attended the meeting. He said the information shared during the discussion is pertinent to correcting the injustices that prevented Black families from building generational wealth.

“What you are describing is what happened to the Fillmore District, the ‘Harlem of the West,’ in the 1950s, where 20,000 were actually displaced and almost 900 Black businesses were destroyed because of eminent domain,” Tamaki told California Black Media, referring to the historic majority Black San Francisco neighborhood known as the Golden City’s foremost Black cultural and political hub.

Russell City started as a farming community in 1853. It was founded by a Danish immigrant who provided sanctuary to African Americans before and after the Civil War.

As the community grew, it became independent, and “culturally vibrant,” Michael Johnson said. By the 1950s, though, Hayward leaders considered Russell City a “blight” to the surrounding area and sought to rebuild it as an industrial park.

On Jan. 8, 1963, Alameda County and Hayward officials began hearings to discuss the forced removal of Russell City residents. Soon after, authorities wiped out the entire community with bulldozers, and rezoned the land for industrial use.

Michael Johnson said one of his grandparents moved to Russell City because urban renewal pushed them out of the Fillmore District in San Francisco.

 “Ultimately, they moved those Africans, indigenous, and people of color into Russell City because they couldn’t buy homes in Hayward or Oakland. Then, they determined it was a blighted area and forced them out,” said Michael Johnson.

Since the reparations task force started holding meetings in June 2021, numerous accounts of private and state-backed land grabs targeting African Americans have surfaced. Some of property was taken from Black landowners through eminent domain in the name of “urban renewal” projects. Others were stolen through fraud, intimidation and violence.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to return Manhattan Beach property to descendants of the Bruce family who owned a beachfront resort in Los Angeles County before it was forcefully taken from them in the early 1920s.

Chris Lodgson, a member of CJEC, said he is asking other Black Californians like the Johnsons to come forward with their stories.

CJEC is one of seven organizations across the state that will hold “listening sessions” involving Black Californians from different backgrounds and regions of the state.

The community partners of the Richmond event were Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative (PSICC), Richmond Progressive Alliance, and the Bay Area Black Alliance for Peace (BAP).

Members of the National Black Liberation Movement Network (NBLMN) and AfroSocialists also attended.

The Richmond testimonies mirrored other accounts that have been shared with the task force. Another Southern California eminent domain case coming to light – and to the attention of the task force — had been obscured for over six decades.

In 1958, Silas White, a Black entrepreneur, a grand idea to open a recreational venue on Santa Monica Beach called the Ebony Beach Club. White had a vision for entertainment and leisure that would include golf tournaments, talent shows, and fishing trips.

Before White could move ahead with his plans, Santa Monica officials used eminent domain to take his property at 1811 Ocean Avenue. The facility was near a tight-knit community of Black Californians that lived, worked, and attended churches in the Belmar Triangle.

The City of Santa Monica demolished the building in January 1960 after White lost a court battle to keep the property. Subsequently, homes in the vicinity owned by Black people were burned to the ground to build the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

In 2021, Hayward City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution apologizing to African Americans and other people of color for the city’s real estate and banking industries’ “racially disparate impacts and inequities resulting from past City policy and decision-making,” the council said in a statement.

“The resolution also cites Hayward’s participation in federally sponsored urban renewal initiatives, which frequently resulted in the mass displacement and dislocation without fair compensation of largely Black households, neighborhoods, and entire communities across the country during the 1960s and 1970s,” the council stated.

The Hayward Community Services Commission has drawn up a list of 10 steps the Bay Area City could develop to address past unfairness and complicity in historical racism and social injustices.

The program would also include working with surviving Russell City to determine appropriate restitution.

Michael Johnson said restitution should be reparations.

“There are a number of things we want. No. 1, we want our land back. We have proof that we own the property,” said Michael Johnson, who grew up in East Oakland. “Secondly, we want all the leases turned over to the rightful owners of that land and the taxes collected over 58 years. The other form of reparations, that we see fit is maybe not having a tax on the land for the next 50 years.”

Lodgson said more stories like Russell City will emerge as the listening sessions get underway.

 “There is so much work to be done. There is no turning back,” Lodgson said.

The Reparations Task Force next two-day meeting will be held March 29 at 8:30 a.m. and March 30 at 9 a.m. You can participate or observe here.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Four distinguished young men will be presented to society on Saturday, April 2, 2021, at the beautiful campus of California State University, in the new Santos Manuel Student Union North building. This year marks the 54th Beautillion Ball featuring the theme, “Young Men Striving for Excellence”.

The Beautillion Program was started in the Inland Empire out of concern for the future and survival of the young black men in the community in which they live and serve. High school seniors who participate in the program are known as Knights. This program is designed to help young men who are seniors in high school prepare for college through the solicitation of ads, leadership development, accountability, responsibility, etiquette, attire for all occasions, spiritual growth, public speaking, and community service.  At the conclusion of the program one young man will be recognized “Sir Knight”.

Other awards are given for academics and other achievements. This year our Knights are eager to earn this prestigious title as well as join the myriad of doctors, lawyers and business professionals that have embarked upon this ritual in the past. To date, we have given out approximately 2.5 million dollars in scholarships to our college bound young men.

Attendance requires formal attire, a Covid-19 Daily Health Screening and Face Covering – the link to the Health Screen is available in article on the WSS News website. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $50.00 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m. A parking fee is required.

For more information, please call chairperson, Sheri Lewis at (909) 320-0799 or co-chairperson, Elsie Paulino (951) 205-8823 or publicity chairperson, Marlene Davis at (909) 709-5502

By Lue Dowdy \ LUE Productions

LUE Productions Community Umbrella Services ( L.P.C.U.S.) is seeking 10 talented youth acts for their upcoming $1000 SUMMER YOUTH TALENT SHOWCASE. Do you know of a talented youth or teen? Send them the following information regarding one of the hottest youth talent shows coming to the City of San Bernardino on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

The purpose of the event is to showcase talent within San Bernardino County and beyond. You must be 19-years-old and under to compete. Auditions are FREE and all youth are welcome. L.P.C.U.S. is also looking for youth interested in being an event model or setting up a vendor booth. The event will be a fun filled day with free resources, amazing talent, and youth networking.

Sponsored in part by Councilman, Damon Alexander, 7th Ward, Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, and Youth build Inland Empire.

The first Audition will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m. located at 555 N. Arrowhead Avenue in San Bernardino. For more information, please text (909) 567-1000 to secure your slot.

This year the judges are Randy Hawkins, Patricia Collier, JD Musgrove, Yung Muusik, Stacia Guillen, Felicia Alexander, Tawnya Rhoades-Henley, and Midnight. The showcase will be hosted by Alejandro Gutierrez of ‘Lifting Our Stories’and co-hosted by Eden of Toys of Eden and Lil Reggie of HipHop Phonics.