What it do with Lue

SACRAMENTO, CA—- AB 685, by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino) was signed into law by Governor Newsom in Sacramento.  AB 685 requires employers to provide a notice within one business day to employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 at their worksite, and report to the California Department of Public Health if an outbreak occurs.    Current law does not require employers to notify their employees that they have been exposed to someone with Covid-19 at their work site.   California is still making progress to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases, but nonetheless the state is still averaging about 4,000 new cases per day as well as 100 deaths over the last two weeks.

Existing law addresses various workplace risks that must be reported to public health officials but lacks clarity on the appropriate reporting and employee notice that should occur when someone has been exposed to Covid-19.  Specifically, Covid-19 outbreaks and workplace exposures are subject to state and local requirements that are not clear to either employees or employers.  AB 685 establishes a clear standard and protocol that must be followed to address workplace exposure and worker protection.

“In the age of Covid-19 our essential workers risk their lives and the lives of their loved ones in our fields, hospitals, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, restaurant kitchens and countless other businesses in our state,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “COVID-19 infections and deaths disproportionately affect the Latino, Black, and Asian Pacific Islander communities. Communities that make up the majority of our state’s low-wage workers.  By notifying the public and workers of potential exposures as required under AB 685 we allow workers to take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their loved ones while also bolstering the response of public health officials.”

“UFCW members – and all essential workers – have suffered greatly in the pandemic from a lack of basic information needed to prevent worksite exposure and target COVID-19 hotspots,” said Andrea Zinder, president, UFCW Western States Council and UFCW Local 324. “Targeting virus spread in our pharmacies, grocery stores, farms, meatpacking plants, and countless other businesses is vital to prevent workers from getting sick and carrying illness home to our families and frontline communities; it is also essential to get our economy moving again and allow our state to re-open safely.”

“Too many employers have refused to properly notify workers when COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks occur, leading to countless worker illnesses and even fatalities,” said Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation. “AB 685 (Reyes), by requiring such notification, will allow workers, their unions, and local public health officials to keep employees and the public safe and is a critically important tool for lessening the spread of this horrible virus. We applaud the great work of Assemblymember Reyes and the UFCW Western States Council in getting this bill through the legislature and thank the Governor for signing it.”

Current law lacks clarity as to an employer’s reporting requirements, including to their own

workforce. This deficiency has led to workers and members of the public living in fear for their own safety, unaware of where outbreaks may already be occurring.

A Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey released today also reveals that a majority of Californians are still concerned about potentially contracting Covid-19 and that communities of color and low-income workers are likely to be much more concerned than their counterparts.

Not only was justice not served, the desultory and insufficient result we received today was also unacceptably slow in manifesting. It has been over six months since Breonna Taylor’s innocent life was senselessly taken at the hands of careless, negligent, and indifferent law enforcement officials sworn to protect and serve her. 

As officers of the court that take our oaths and hold our bar licenses in high regard, we urge our families and friends of color around us to place faith in the justice system within which we work, pointing out that the system needs our participation if it is ever going to bring forth the results we deem to be just. However, when headline after headline consistently supports the theory we so desperately want to disprove, it’s beginning to become more and more difficult to make the case that black lives matter to anyone but us. 

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s vow to “vigorously prosecute” Brett Hankison, the sole Louisville police officer criminally charged with three counts of wanton endangerment of the first degree as a result of Taylor’s death, falls on deaf and enraged ears. Breonna was a completely innocent woman, sleeping in her own home when she was killed by Louisville police attempting a no knock search warrant. How much clearer do the facts have to be for public officials on the ground to take appropriate and just action without public unrest and protest! While we will certainly continue to use our voices, admittedly it is frustrating that it is even necessary given how egregious and outrageous these facts are. 

NBA Vice President for Regions and Affiliates, Lonita Baker, is lead counsel representing Breonna Taylor’s family and was quoted today stating, “This is the most absurd legal maneuvering that I have ever seen.  If his [Ex-Officer Brett Hankison] behavior was wanton to those in neighboring apartments it was likewise wanton to Breonna and Kenny.  He should have been charged with wanton murder and another count of wanton endangerment.  To add insult to injury, an indictment for wanton endangerment was returned for Breonna’s white neighbors but none for her black neighbors that also had gunshots from the police entering their home.  This is another example of the devaluing of black lives.”

We stand in solidarity with Lonita, her co-counsel NBA Past President Ben Crump, their legal team, and Breonna’s family, and pledge the support of the National Bar Association in an effort to bring about honorable justice for Breonna and her family.  May our precious Angel Breonna continue to Rest in Peace.

Former LAPD Dispatcher Condemns Violence, Urges Justice Reforms in Seeking Peace

POMONA, CA—- Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to news that two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies were ambushed by a gunman on Saturday while sitting in their squad car in Compton, California. Both deputies, one male and one female, remain in critical condition after undergoing multiple surgeries. The assailant remains at large, and anyone with information about his identity or whereabouts should contact the police immediately to help bring him to justice.

Congresswoman Torres released the following statement:

“I categorically condemn this act of horrific violence. The perpetrator on that chilling video must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and brought to swift justice.

“As someone who dispatched LAPD officers for nearly 18 years, and who experienced the horrors of a lawless society as a child growing up in Guatemala, this is personal to me. I know how vital the heroes that were attacked last weekend are, because I’ve met the people they protect. Anyone demanding an end to the police, or declaring this violence somehow justified because of other violence, has never heard the calls that I have. Answer the phone when a store clerk is held at gunpoint, or as a child is senselessly murdered on the other end of the line, and then come talk to me about defunding the police. The fact is those calls take place every single day, and two of the people who suit up to protect the public were gunned down on Saturday.

“This attack did not take place in a vacuum though – the moment of reckoning law enforcement is in right now is long-overdue and well-justified. As a woman of color in a country besieged by overt and systemic racism, the anguish fueling tensions on our streets is as real to me as it is to any other minority living in America today. Law enforcement must ensure that nobody is unfairly targeted, persecuted, and yes, murdered, by unchecked police aggression. That has not happened for black Americans and it has not happened for brown Americans.

“The oath to serve one’s community is sacred, and we honor those who live by it when we refuse to tolerate those who break it. These officers did nothing to deserve what happened to them on Saturday, but as they struggle to recover, the eyes of history are now upon us as our region struggles to respond.

“The burden is on law enforcement to earn the public’s trust, but whether or not they are allowed to earn that trust is up to each and every American. In that sense, we all have a role to play in making this a safe and tolerant country. We will sink or swim together, whether we realize it or not. I pray we realize it, act upon it, and become the agents of change our society desperately needs.”

Congresswoman Torres spent nearly 18 years working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department, and has maintained long and productive relationships with law enforcement officials throughout her time in public service. That history has not stopped Torres from being an outspoken critic of police brutality, and used her experiences as a dispatcher to improve police reform legislation following the high-profile murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Rep. Torres also leads an ongoing effort in Congress to force the Department of Justice to update and make public a 2006 FBI intelligence assessment entitled, “White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Omnitrans is set to implement significant service changes on September 8, including new, realigned, and eliminated routes, a microtransit pilot project, and restoration of some service that was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re pleased to welcome our customers back with enhanced cleaning and increased frequency on our most popular routes,” said Omnitrans CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “This service change implementation maximizes system efficiency to prepare our agency for future transit needs and financial sustainability.”

In all, 27 of the agency’s 32 current routes are scheduled for changes, including resumption of 20-minute service on Omnitrans’ core network, Routes 1, 3, 4, 14, 61, 66, the elimination of seven routes and the introduction of four new routes to cover most of the impacted service areas. The new routes also will provide connections to the communities of Eastvale and the Ontario-East Metrolink station for the first time.

The agency also will introduce OmniRide microtransit service in Chino Hills and parts of Chino, which allows customers to make reservations on the OmniRide On-Demand mobile app and be picked up and delivered to specific locations in the service area on weekdays, much like Uber or Lyft service.

Detailed information on all service changes is available at www.omnitrans.org/guide-to-september-2020-service-changes/.

These service changes implement Omnitrans’ ConnectForward plan, which was introduced earlier this year at a series of 22 public meetings throughout the region. The plan was finalized following customer feedback and approved by the agency Board of Directors this summer.

Meet Ronda Reid-Mohammed, the founder and CEO of Filance, a new app that connects certified financial service sector professionals directly with low and middle-income individuals and families. The platform allows users to receive financial advisory services from their mobile device.

Ronda says she created the app to bolster financial stability among everyday people. With an emphasis on affordability, she feels the app will open doors for those who might have perceived financial advisors as out of reach, either due to cost or lack of access.

“Cost should not be a barrier for seeking financial advice. Everyone, no matter their income, should be able to work with a professional who can help them make a plan for their finances,” she said. “Many people are already burdened with embarrassment when admitting they need financial advice, so it was significantly important to me to remove the cost barrier and provide a personalized and discreet service.”

The Filance App offers:

• A secure and simple interface that is easy for both the customer and their provider to use with voice and video features for personalized sessions.

• Nationwide accessibility so users can connect with financial professionals regardless of their physical proximity to them.

• Affordability through a bidding system, so customers can select the best advisor for their budget and situation, while only paying for the service they need.

“We have a wealth problem in this country,” Ronda said. “I wanted to use my technology expertise and background to create a platform that could help improve the financial lives of everyday people. I believe if everyday people have access to more resources like financial advisors and planners, we could level the playing field a little and begin to close the wealth gap through that access.”

For more information on Filance, visit www.filancellc.com

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About Filance:
Ronda Reid-Mohammed created Filance in June 2018. She has been in the IT Industry since 2002 and holds a B.S. in Computer Science from ECPI College of Science and Technology, as well as an M.A. in Management and Leadership from Liberty University.

By Pilar Marrero, Ethnic Media Services

All registered voters in California will soon receive a mail-in ballot even if they haven’t asked for one, and there will be plenty of options to register, re-register, vote by mail, vote in person or vote curbside up until Nov. 3^rd, said Secretary of State Alex Padilla at a briefing with ethnic media.

“We have to start thinking of November 3^rd as the last day of voting, not simply as ‘election day’,” Padilla noted. 

California has 21 million registered voters, more than the population of every other state except Florida and Texas, and the largest number of voters anywhere.

Voting by mail has been growing in popularity, Padilla said. In the last statewide election – the March primary—up to 70% of registered voters voted by mail.

“That’s a great start, but in California 30% of voters is still a large number.  We want to make sure those who are not familiar with this way of voting are comfortable with it, and know they can still vote in person if they need or want to,” Padilla said.

Voters should vote by mail and vote early, Padilla urged, and they should take advantage of tools that improve the transparency and security of voting such as ballot tracking (Where’s My Ballot?) which tells them when their ballot has been sent, when it was received by the county, and when it was counted.

Voters can sign up for ballot tracking and receive notices via text, email or voice call, he added.

“This will be great for transparency, accountability and confidence, which have come under attack in recent weeks,” Padilla noted.  He called the timing of the Presidential elections in the midst of the pandemic and heightened political polarization “an unprecedented situation.”

Padilla encouraged voters to register, re-register if they need to change their voter file information or check their registration status by going online at  VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov.  If any of their information has changed, including their address, they can register or re-register at https://registertovote.ca.gov/.

Mail-in ballots will go to voters the first week of October (and mid-September for overseas voters).  

“According to the law you need to postmark the ballot by Nov. 3, but we are extending the deadline for that ballot to arrive in county offices from three days to 17 days,” Padilla said.  “This is just in case there are delays by the postal service.”

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19, but in 15 counties that participate in conditional voter registration, including San Francisco, people can complete a Voter Registration Application at their local Department of Elections on the day of the election and receive a provisional ballot which will be counted after it has been verified. 

“There are several reasons why some people need to vote in person – such as accessibility, or to receive language assistance, or to replace a ballot that was lost, or if you made a mistake,” Padilla noted.

Voting in person will happen in bigger and safer locations than in the past,  such as the  Golden One Center in Sacramento, an NBA arena, the Dodger Stadium and the Staples Center in L.A., the Chase Center in San Francisco, and the Oakland Coliseum.

Counties are working to identify voting locations where authorities can guarantee that health precautions are followed, including social distancing, mandatory use of masks and availability of sanitizers.

As for the security of mail-in voting which President Trump has repeatedly questioned, Padilla pointed out that ballots are printed on paper that has specific watermarks, are printed by certified printers made in the USA only, use official envelopes   with barcodes that can be tracked, and require the voter’s signature on the outside of the envelope.

Referring to President Trump’s recent suggestion that voters in North Carolina vote by mail and then show up in person “to test if the first ballot was counted,” Padilla said that the state has a number of features to prevent any kind of “double voting.”

In California every ballot has a unique barcode and as a ballot comes in or the person votes, the record is “immediately updated.”  If someone sends a mail-in ballot and then presents themselves as the ballot box, they will be shown to have voted and be turned away, he said.

He also said any kind of “electioneering” or harassment at the polls is “illegal.” He encouraged anyone with questions, comments or complaints to call the SOS hotline at 1 800 345 VOTE or their local county registrar.

Padilla warned that for close races it will take weeks for counties to finish processing and auditing the results.  “If that’s the case, it’s not a time to panic but to be patient and confident,” Padilla said, adding that he is concerned that President Trump will claim victory “prematurely.”

“Results aren’t final until the work is done,” Padilla said.

This is the first in a series of five articles and editorials that will inform you about the sources, quality and safety of your drinking water in California, and introduce you to economic opportunities as well as key African American decision makers in our state’s water industry.  

By Dale Hunter | Special to California Black Media  

Is your tap water safe to drink?  

For a majority of Californians, the answer is “yes.”  

However, in some areas, especially rural and disadvantaged communities, the drinking water does not meet state and federal drinking water standards and regulations.  

California has some of the strictest water quality regulations in the nation, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution for communities with challenges meeting those regulations. The quality of your drinking water depends largely on where you live. For example, if you live in Stockton, the source of your drinking water may be from local groundwater wells or from the San Joaquin River Delta. Many Southern Californians drink water from the Colorado River.  

The source of your water supply dictates how much clean-up and treatment is required. The agency responsible for delivering the water to your home — which may be a city, special district or private company — will dictate whether that treatment occurs, and which process is used.  

The California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF), in partnership with the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), is sponsoring a five-part series titled, “Is Your Water Safe to Drink.” 

Over the next two months, the series will examine and inform the African American community about the current drinking water quality across our state. Community leaders, water quality experts and clean water advocates will offer their perspectives on the challenges to ensuring safe drinking water for all.  

In 2012, a California law declared that every person in the state has a right to clean, safe and affordable drinking water. Although that law did not appropriate any money or levy any taxes to fund its implementation, in 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 200, authored by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel), to provide funding to achieve the goal of “safe drinking water in every California community and for every Californian.”   

The State Water Resources Control Board estimates that all drinking water funding sources combined will provide $496 million during the 2020-’21 fiscal year for drinking water solutions. 

In this series, we hope to inform you about the water industry in California and about the safety of your water supply. Our goal is to motivate you to become engaged and active participants in influencing the decisions the state and companies make regarding the water you depend on to live and for so many other vital aspects of your life.   

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The information in this article is brought to you in partnership with the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), a non-profit statewide association of public water agencies whose more than 450 members are responsible for about 90 % of the water deliveries in California.   

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

This year’s wildfire season has already been out of the ordinary. About 3.3 million acres have burned across vast tracts of California, Oregon and Washington. The areas surrounding those places have also been affected by dangerous levels of smoke over the last few weeks. 

Although the skies in the Bay Area are no longer orange and the air quality has improved, wildfire season is not over.  Therefore, officials are advising people living close to wildfires to learn more about how air quality affects their health. 

“Anytime we have any major wildfires, we often see some very high levels of air pollution,” said Dr. Jo Kay Ghosh, the Health Effects Officer at South Coast Air Quality Management District, the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.  

She spoke to California Black Media about how unhealthy air quality affects our health. 

“Most of us have been experiencing burning eyes, or a scratchy throat, a headache, or coughing,” she said.  But for some people, these high levels of particle air pollution can cause more serious health problems such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and heart attack.” 

Some Black communities in California are already exposed to higher levels of air pollution. A number of studies have found that that dangerous amounts of contaminants continue to poison the air in African-American and lower-income areas even as they decrease in higher-income and predominantly White areas. 

Several studies have also found that wildfires are growing contributors to fine-particle pollution across the West Coast. Though the long-term health effects of exposure to fine-particle pollution and smog are well-established, there has been little research on the long-term effects of wildfire smoke, according to environmental experts.  

“We know that some communities that are living near a lot of sources of air pollution like freeways or areas where there’s a lot of industrial activity, we know that these communities are often disproportionately impacted by these types of health conditions. So whenever we have this kind of poor air quality during wildfires, we definitely recommend to take precaution because these high levels of pollution can cause some serious health problems,” Ghosh said. 

The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) measures the amount of air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500. It increases as air quality gets worse, with an AQI value over 300 representing hazardous air quality. When the AQI reaches between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, and at 151 or higher, members of the general public may experience health effects, with the risk getting higher as the AQI increases. 

Ghosh recommends that community members check their air quality frequently, as conditions can change quickly. South Coast Air Quality Management District has an air quality app available on their website in both English and Spanish. 

“When we have wildfire conditions, your air quality can change hour to hour and sometimes even within a few minutes, because the wind conditions really affect which direction the smoke is going. Some areas might see moderate air quality, and maybe in the next hour, it might go all the way up to unhealthy. So definitely check what the conditions are in your area at that time.” 

Ghosh says there are a few preventive measures all Californians affected by poor quality of air — or who live near wildfires —  can take, too, to manage their health. 

“If you’re seeing that your air quality in your area is unhealthy, try to stay indoors if your doors and windows shut. If you have an air conditioner, air purifier you can run that to help filter out particles that may have gotten indoors. But you know those units can be pretty expensive. So actually, there are some instructions available to create a temporary air purifier. If you can get a box fan and a disposable air filter, you can create a temporary air filter that you can use it in a bedroom.” 

The South Coast AQMD app is available at aqmd.gov/mobileapp.  

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

Early voting in California will begin Monday, October 5. Registered voters will be able to either mail in or drop off their ballots from that day until the day before Election Day, Monday, November 2.  

In a deeply divided American electorate, both Democrats and Republicans have been pushing efforts to motivate their respective party bases to get out and vote. And in an election year when a few votes in a handful of swing states will likely determine who will win the U.S. presidency, poll watchers are predicting that young people could be the deciding vote in several places.  

“Don’t let anyone keep you from exercising your sacred vote. Make your plan to vote. Grab your vote and head to the polls the first day they are open,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, calling out young people in his speech at the Democratic National Convention in August.  

Across California, young voters are speaking out about the issues that concern them this election, and decisions that will affect their future. On September. 11, Power California, a civic engagement organization that encourages young people of color to participate in government, hosted their “Fight For Our Future Campaign Kick-Off.” 

Young activists from all corners of California spoke about issues coming up in the November election to launch he campaign, which aims to reach more than 150,000 California voters between the ages of 18 and 35 through virtual phone banking and texting. 

Annie Gonzalez, the actress known for her role as Lidia Solis on Netflix’s comedy-drama series “Gentefied,” hosted the virtual event. She addressed the struggles that young people of color are facing in the lead up to the election.  

According to Power California’s 2020 Youth Poll, 46 percent of young people surveyed had difficulty buying food, household supplies or medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 67 percent said their state government is not doing enough to address the impact of COVID-19. 

“Young people of color have been hit hard by these crises, and their needs and futures must be centered in this election, and always during the recovery, from young essential workers risking everything to take care of us to college students unsure about their future to everyday young people struggling to afford rent,” said Gonzalez. 

Kendrick Sampson, activist and actor known for his role as Nathan Campbell on HBO’s popular comedy-drama series “Insecure,” addressed the young people watching the event as well. He stressed the importance of activism and participation.   

“I’m inspired by all the young people. It’s what keeps me going and motivated, because y’all are leading the movement across the country. Young people like yourselves are rising up and fueling movements for justice, from Black Lives Matter and calls to defund the police to climate change and immigrant rights. You are the leaders and the moral compass of our nation in every major movement for justice that has been true in our past, and it is still true today.” 

Tyler Okeke, a 19-year-old organizer with Power California, asked young people to sign a letter asking Gov. Newsom to endorse Proposition 15. The ballot measure would require commercial and industrial properties to be taxed at their market value. According to Ballotpedia, 40 percent of the revenue generated will fund school districts and community colleges. 

“It will require decisive action from our elected leaders, especially leaders like Governor Newsom,” he said. “We need leaders who will put people over corporations and take steps to meet California’s most essential human needs while recognizing that young people are the central force of this future that we want for this state.” 

Ixchel Arista, a 15-year-old youth organizer with Oakland Kids First, advocated for Measure QQ, a ballot initiative in Oakland which will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections. 

“Students feel the most impact as we spend most of our lives at school, yet have no say in decisions being made for our education. We need to be able to decide who is making these impactful decisions,” said Arista. 

Te’Ausha Garcia, a civic engagement organizer with Californians for Justice in Fresno, said, “It’s important that we fight for the solutions that we need, because who else will fight for us? We have to be willing to stand up and fight for what we want. Otherwise the change we desperately need will not be showcased. We must stand up for our rights and really name what it is that we need.” 

“We must continue to fight for our right to the future that we deserve. The right to have our most basic human needs met: Clean and fresh air and water, housing, healthcare and education. The right to be free and to live with dignity and without discrimination, the right to determine the future of our democracy and our economy, and we will not stop until we secure these rights. We will not stop until we secure these rights,” said Eugene Vang, a 19-year-old activist from Merced, who organizes with 99 Routes and Power California.