What it do with Lue

BOTTOM LINE… Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Water districts throughout California are reacting to the drought by offering a variety of rebates and incentives for residents to remove and replace the grass in their yards.  The goal is to replace grass with natural California desert loving plants that do not require as much water to survive.  Jennifer Aires, Water Resource Manager of the Yucaipa Valley Water District, was a guest on this past Sunday’s EMPIRE TALKS BACK radio program where she discussed the importance of saving water and some methods for doing so, which included removing grass from your yard.  She explained that some cities’ water districts are offering as much as $2.00 per square foot as incentive for residents to remove their grass.  The incentives must be arranged prior to the removal. Contact your water district to determine the process for qualifying to participate in the program.  Do not remove and replace your yard grass until your approval is made or you will probably not qualify for the rebate.

Jobs will be created by this program because of the fact that most people will not be able to do the yard work required for the removal and replacement.  Youth Build Inland Empire has a Landscape Training Program that is very capable of designing and completing a landscape that is water-friendly and that stays in the rebate-budget allowed by your water district.  Inland Empire residents have the opportunity to “save water and money while beautifying their yards and creating jobs and business opportunity at the same time,” by participating in state wide project to save water.

Call your water district to determine what incentives are offered to remove and replace your yard grass. Find out the process for qualifying for those incentives.  If you have the ability to remove and replace with your own resources, do so. If you are inclined to have someone else handle the project labor, I recommend you call I.E. Youth Build to help you at (909) 890-9106 and ask for Felix.

By Audrey Thompson

During this election season I have heard the Democratic Party telling African American voters why we have to get out the vote and vote for the Democrats, but here’s what I have to say about that.

Jobs, jobs, jobs! The unemployment rate for African Americans in the Inland Empire has always been the highest of all races and voting for some of the local Democrats have not changed that fact. Labor Unions and Trades certainly do not employ African Americans to the extent they can and they give the  most money to Democrats running for office. Yet, Democrats come to our community and expect us to vote for them, no questions asked. Democrats are owned by the Unions and will not speak out against the Unions and Labor on our behalf. For Democrats Union money is more important than our vote. Well let’s show them this election how powerful our vote is!

How many times have we had the conversation about driving down the freeway under construction and we see no African American working on that project? How many times have we drove by building and housing construction projects and did not see any African American working on that project?

Why is it that Labor Unions and Trades have Black Labor Unions and Trades divisions? No brainer, if the Unions and Trades were fair to our workers and black leadership representation, we certainly would not need a black division. It is almost impossible for Blacks to get apprenticeship positions in Labor and Trades. Yet again, Labor Union and Trades give the most money to Democrats locally, statewide and nationally. They are so bad out here in the Inland Empire that when it comes time for the Riverside/San Bernardino Central Labor Council Secretary/Treasurer, Laurie Stalnaker,  to interview candidates running for election, they don’t even invite African American candidates who have half a chance. She invites African American candidates who she knows will lose the race or have no competition in a race. CLC, Laurie Stalnaker, will not interview a viable black candidate in a significant powerful elected position. She has to be called on the carpet to interview certain African American candidates for the Union to interview for their endorsement.

And to add insult to injury, Miss Laurie is also a Delegate for the California Democratic party and a Delegate for Pete Aguilar. There have been several complaints against Laurie Stalnaker to the California State Democratic party for her racism and supporting the Republican candidate over the  Democrat candidate. The Democratic party has taken no action against her. Laurie Stalnaker has financed  Republican candidates that helped put the City of San Bernardino into Bankruptcy. However, if an African American Democratic candidate supports a Republican the same Democratic party will use their by-laws to not endorse the African American candidate.  I am telling you what God loves and that is the truth.

Black folk, please be informed. Let’s take a closer look at the candidates coming to our churches and community centers asking for our vote. Democrats know that 80% of African Americans who actually go to the polls and vote will vote for a Democrat no matter who the Democrat is and no questions asked! That is not the case with all other populations of voters. Be informed, hear what both parties have to say. Don’t just take for granted that the Democrat has your best interest at heart. Be informed!

What we need most are jobs and if the Unions Labor and Trades have the most invested in the Democrats who are asking for our vote maybe we should consider the other candidate. The only thing we have is our vote, and the only way to make the Democratic party understand we mean business is to vote for the other guy. How many times are we going to be hoodwinked, bamboozled and duped by our Democratic party?

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino Police Department is currently accepting reservations for the next Community Police Academy. This is an eight-week program designed to give participants an inside look at local law enforcement. The program is designed to form a stronger partnership between the community and the Police Department through education. Participants will be exposed to a variety of topics, such as: Criminal investigations; Crime analysis and crime mapping; Gang enforcement; Traffic laws and enforcement; Animal Control; Community Policing and many more. Course material will be presented by Police Department administrators and veteran department staff. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet the Chief of Police, where they are encouraged to ask questions.  Enrollment is limited to 50 students per class. Potential candidates must live or work in the City of San Bernardino.

Classes will meet in the Police Department’s main training room, 710 N. “D” Street, on Wednesday evenings 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for eight consecutive weeks.  Free parking will be provided to the front of the police station as well as on adjoining streets.   The Fall Academy will begin Wednesday, September, 24, and continue through graduation on Wednesday, November 12.

The Citizen’s Academy is a great way to learn about your community, meet nice people, and get to know the men and women of your police department.  For more information, contact Community Affairs at (909) 384-5753 or by e-mail, communityaffairs@sbcity.org.

Jennifer Eberhardt says the MacArthur fellowship will allow her to expand her research on race and the criminal justice system. (Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

Stanford’s Jennifer Eberhardt has been named one of the 2014 fellows of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A social psychologist, she studies the racial elements in the perceptions of crime.

BY CLIFTON B. PARKER

Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, who studies race and the law, has been named one of the 2014 fellows of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The fellowships, given to scholars for their achievement and potential, include a $625,000 stipend over five years. The honors rank among the most prestigious prizes in academia and the creative arts. They are sometimes referred to as the “genius” awards.

“I feel it gives me the space to pursue my research with new energy and motivation,” Eberhardt said. “It reaffirms how important the issues of race and inequality are in the legal system.”

When the foundation initially contacted her to inform her that she was named a fellow, Eberhardt was overwhelmed.

“I had no inkling, no idea they were considering me. It felt like a pivotal moment in my life.”

When the awards were publicly announced Tuesday night, Eberhardt received numerous calls and emails from colleagues, friends and family. “I think I had only a couple hours of sleep,” she chuckled. Thursday promised to be even busier – in addition to the MacArthur media inquiries, she was due to give two different presentations on racial disparities to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“But I feel good and have the energy,” Eberhardt said. “I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.”

Joined Stanford in 1998

Since she arrived on campus in 1998, Eberhardt has examined the role that racial stereotypes play in the criminalization of African-Americans. She joined the Stanford faculty after teaching at Yale University, and is currently an associate professor in psychology and co-director of SPARQ, a university initiative that addresses social problems.

Her colleague Greg Walton, a Stanford assistant professor of psychology, said that Eberhardt’s research has vital social significance. “In helping understand our minds, Jennifer’s research helps us see the kinds of changes we need to make in society to help give all people a fair shot,” he said.

A first-generation college graduate from Cleveland, Ohio, Eberhardt said that her parents instilled in her a love of education. She witnessed the disparity in education in the different neighborhoods where she grew up, and soon fell in love with learning. Her late father, Harlan, a postal mail worker, “understood the power of education,” she said.

And her late mother, Mary, was inspired enough by her daughter’s collegiate success – she earned a doctorate from Harvard – to go to college herself at midlife.

“Education is transformational,” Eberhardt said.

Expanding research

Now, the MacArthur fellowship will greatly expand her research plans and resources to connect with real-world policy. “I hope to work with more law enforcement agencies and do things off the beaten path,” Eberhardt said, noting that she’s currently engaged with the Oakland Police Department on the analysis of racial profiling data. “Many of the (law enforcement) agencies collect the data but often don’t know what to do with it,” she said.

As Eberhardt pointed out, although African-Americans constitute only 12 percent of America’s population, they represent 40 percent of the nation’s prison inmates.

Her statistical analysis has shown that police officers are more likely to identify African-American faces than white faces as criminal. In one experimental study, people who were exposed to black faces were then more likely to identify a blurry image as a gun than those who were exposed to white faces or no faces.

Eberhardt plans to combine social psychological insights with technology to improve outcomes in the criminal justice context and elsewhere.

“I’m hopeful to bring about real social change,” she said.

The Board of Directors of the California Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Executive Director. The California Black Chamber of Commerce is a state-wide business association that has been in existence for over 20 years, headquartered in Sacramento, California. The CBCC is the states’ largest African-American organization representing more than 8, 000 African-American- owned businesses. It serves as the umbrella organization for more than 22 member chambers statewide and it actively promotes the economic growth and development of entrepreneurs.

Attached is the position description that describes the responsibilities, experiences and education requirements and working environment for this position.

All Applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter/ letter of interest and resume by email at: cbcc@calbcc.org with attachments, please include “Executive Director” in the subject line or by mail to the following:
Mailing Address:
California Black Chamber of Commerce
ATTN: Aubry Stone
1600 Sacramento Inn Way, Suite 232
Sacramento, California 95815

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST REACH THE CBCC OFFICE
NO LATER THAN
5:00 PM ON OCTOBER 1, 2014 TO BE CONSIDERED.

Application link:
http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103180196120-363/President+Position+Description.pdf

Eligible donors encouraged to give during National Preparedness Month

LOS ANGELES, CA — Disasters can strike at any time, and the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to help their communities prepare for emergencies by giving blood during National Preparedness Month.

The mission of the Red Cross is to help the public prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. During National Preparedness Month, the Red Cross reminds Americans to take simple steps to get ready for emergencies in their homes, workplaces and communities. One way to support this mission is to become a regular blood donor.

A stable blood supply is central to ensuring patient needs are met in emergencies. Blood can take up to three days to be tested, processed and made available for patients. It’s the blood already on the shelves that can help save lives when disaster strikes.

To help increase donations during the month of September, those who come out to donate blood or platelets throughout the month will receive a coupon by email for a free haircut at participating Sport Clips locations.

Appointments to donate and help the Red Cross prepare for patient needs across the country can be made at redcrossblood.org. Information about other ways to help prepare for emergencies is available at redcross.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Apple Valley

9/17/2014: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Sitting Bull Academy, 19445 Sitting Bull Rd

Bloomington

9/23/2014: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hope Academy Charter School, 1055 Bloomington Ave

Chino

9/24/2014: 1 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Chino Neighborhood Activity Center, 5201 D Street

Chino Hills

9/18/2014: 1:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3354 Eucalyptus

Rancho Cucamonga

9/23/2014: 1 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., TR AM Red Cross Ontario Chapter, 10600 N Trademark Pkwy Suite 406

9/24/2014: 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., First American, 11175 Azusa Ct

San Bernardino

9/18/2014: 10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College, 701 South Mount Vernon Ave

West Covina

9/24/2014: 12:45 p.m. – 7 p.m., Cameron Elementary School, 1225 E Cameron West

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

CULVER CITY, CA – Sony Pictures Television’s The Queen Latifah Show, hosted by global entertainment icon Queen Latifah, returns with an all new season on Monday, September 15 (visit queenlatifah.com for “Where to Watch” in your local market).  This season Queen will expand her platform with more entertainment, more fun and the launch of several season-long initiatives designed to spark forward momentum in the lives of her guests and viewers through transformational, life-changing opportunities and unexpected surprises that will play out on the air.

“This show is truly the embodiment of my journey,” says Queen. “Nothing makes me happier than to have the opportunity to share my experience with others and give people a chance to realize their dreams. For those viewers who have been with us from the beginning and those who may be tuning in for the first time, season two of The Queen Latifah Show is going to deliver some great surprises and a whole lot of feel-good fun.”

In her season premiere, Latifah will welcome Academy Award-winning actress and producer Reese Witherspoon to discuss her upcoming role in the feature film The Good Lie, which tells the story of an American woman whose life was forever changed when she befriends three refugees who were among the Lost Boys of Sudan.   This inspirational story of a woman whose simple act of kindness impacted the lives of so many others is an ideal example of someone taking their life “One Step Further” and to that end, Reese and Queen will together introduce this season-long initiative with a big surprise for a deserving guest.

The “One Step Further” initiative is designed to empower viewers to take their own lives one step further in pursuit of their dreams, with Queen Latifah as the motivating force in taking the first step on their journey. “One Step Further” will help viewers to discover possibilities for their lives they never imagined and provide them with opportunities they may not have otherwise.

Throughout the rest of week one, Queen welcomes the effervescent comedic icon Goldie Hawn, Sesame Street favorites and fun-loving, fan favorite Kristen Bell.  Queen is also bringing back iconic TV games with a celebrity twist this season playing The Dating Game with Toni Braxton and taking on Kristin Bell in a round of Pyramid, complete with host John Davidson, with more to come. Plus, Queen delivers an unbelievable surprise to Mo’ne Davis, the Little League pitching phenom whose breakout performance has inspired a new generation of aspiring athletes, then the Golden Sisters are back for a sky-diving adventure and Queen presents a YouTube Daddy/Daughter Dance-off!

The week of September 22, the star power continues when two of Hollywood’s biggest names make their debut on the show. Monday, Jada Pinkett Smith, who is also an executive producer on The Queen Latifah Show will make her first in-studio appearance, and on Friday, September 26 the one and only Academy Award-winning Denzel Washington of the upcoming film The Equalizer will grace Queen’s “Big Sexy” stage for the first time.

Other new features on the show this season include “QUEEN SCREEN,” an interactive surprise that will allow Queen Latifah to pop up where she is least expected with great prizes for unsuspecting folks and “THE HIGH NOTE,” a recurring segment to wrap up the show during which Queen Latifah, a celebrity guests and/or members of the studio audience share good news, big or small to send the viewers off with a smile.  The series will also feature Queen’s comedic commentary and parodies of pop-culture events and happenings.

The Queen Latifah Show is a daytime talk-variety series that showcases Queen Latifah’s extraordinary range of talents as a global entertainment icon.  The show is produced by Flavor Unit, Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television and is cleared on major station groups around the country, including the CBS Television Stations.  Todd Yasui is Executive Producer with Co-Executive Producers Jack Mori and Ianthe Jones.

NEW YORK, NY- The golf and beverage businesses will never be the same. The men behind DRIVEN Global, Mark Thierry and Greshaun Fulgham are single handedly shifting the landscape and trajectory of the world of golf and fine beverages. Under the DRIVEN Global umbrella lies the first ever African-American-owned golf brand, DRIVEN Golf and wine brand, DESTINY Moscato through Red Styxx Beverage.

It all began when Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and America’s first African-American billionaire, introduced the two self-made millionaires Mark Thierry and Greshaun Fulgham. What resulted from this pairing, not only is an inspiring business partnership, but an incredibly strong friendship. Mark Thierry is an award winning entrepreneur from Texas with a successful career in sales, medical diagnostics and federal contracting. Greshaun Fulgham, from Washington DC, is international financier and real estate mogul. Opposites attract, yet their synergy is contagious. Where Thierry thrives off risk-taking, Fulgham masters structure. When Thierry was thinking national, Fulgham was going global. What binds them together is the dream.

Both Thierry and Fulgham want to de-mystify the perception of black men, to show the world, that with hard work, drive and intellect, African-American men can succeed, be dedicated fathers and husbands, collaborate and build successful partnerships, uplift their communities and change the world. With DRIVEN Global, change comes with one golf club and wine glass at a time. Their mutual core values of family, diligence, sacrifice, social responsibility and sustainable leadership are evident in all aspects of DRIVEN Global. For the partners, it’s all about dreaming big. Thierry stated: “The Dream involves the awareness that everyone has more to this life that they can strive for. The Dream that a golf club, or anything for that matter, can be a metaphor for someone making the best of themselves.”

The launch of DRIVEN Golf this Fall 2014 will be the first minority-owned golf brand dedicated to inspiring first-time golfers of color and urban socialites to jump into the game. Destiny Moscato is their exquisite-tasting aspirational American Sparkling Moscato, of Red Styxx Beverage, a subsidiary of DRIVEN Global. The Destiny Moscato launch will be taking place in Houston, Texas from October 2-4, 2014.

The fearless, collaborative drive of Mark Thierry and Greshaun Fulgham is the foundation of DRIVEN Global’s, multi-platform taste making brands. The two best friends, brought together by the visionary Robert Johnson, plan to follow in their mentors footsteps. “Our goal is to build a billion dollar business,” states Thierry. “We are starting a new legacy.” They have the perfect tagline…“Are you driven?” For more information check out drivengroupllc.com, driven-golf.com and DestinyMoscato.com. For all press inquiries, contact Theodore Palmer of Creative Edge PR at tpalmer@creativeedgepr.com.

This fall, every high school student athlete in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) will be eligible to receive a free head and heart Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. PUSD has partnered with the Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) to conduct a cutting-edge research program focused on diagnosis and prevention of sudden cardiac death and traumatic brain injury in student athletes.  This program is motivated by increased public recognition of traumatic brain injuries by the National Football League and others and the deaths of students across the country due to sudden cardiac death. This study is a first for Pasadena high school athletes.

“I am extremely excited to partner with the Huntington Research Institute to provide this service to PUSD students and I believe this program is beneficial for our athletes,” said PUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brian McDonald.  “As someone who witnessed the sudden heart related death of a childhood friend immediately after a soccer game, I understand the importance of preventative care to protect our student athletes.  We are grateful to the HMRI for their willingness to include us in this important endeavor.”

Student athletes will be eligible to receive a free cardiac MRI designed to identify an inherited heart condition that predisposes a student to sudden cardiac death (SCD), a non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected event resulting from the cessation of the heart beating within six hours of a previously witnessed state of normal health.  People at risk for SCD are usually without symptoms and unaware that they have a predisposing condition. An Altadena resident and former PUSD student who was attending Harvard-Westlake succumbed to SCD last year. Devastating events such as this could potentially be prevented by the simple scan offered to PUSD athletes.

“I am excited to be able to offer this new benefit to our PUSD athletes,” said Ann Rector, PUSD Coordinator of Health Programs. “This study has the potential of not only saving a life, but also helping researchers understand sports-related trauma.”

PUSD athletes can also receive brain scans designed to diagnosis and prevent brain injuries resulting from a concussion.  Concussions are traumatic brain injuries that can lead to chronic cognitive and neurobehavioral difficulties especially if the concussions are recurrent. Although the majority of athletes who experience a concussion are likely to recover, an unknown number of these individuals may experience difficulties related to recurrent injury, commonly referred to as Post-Concussion Syndrome.

Two MRI head screening exams, an initial screening early in the school year and a follow-up at the end of the school year, are available to student athletes free of charge.  Any athlete who experiences a concussion while participating in a PUSD sporting event will also receive a follow-up scan to see how the injury has affected the brain.  Participation in both the brain and heart scans is optional and will supplement the annual physical exam that athletes receive. An MRI does not involve radiation exposure and the scans are very safe.

“HMRI’s expertise in non-invasive imaging is an important resource for PUSD and we are pleased to offer these normally expensive studies to young athletes at no cost to the student or the district,” said HMRI’s Chief Scientific Officer, Marie Csete MD, PhD. “HMRI scientists will also benefit from studying students because there is insufficient data about the incidence of cardiac abnormalities that could lead to SCD.  Importantly, HMRI is at the forefront of understanding how imaging can be used to diagnose and follow patients after they sustain a head injury, but we have focused on older patients to date, so important information about trauma to young brains can help fill in the scientific picture and, we hope, help future athletes.”

For more information about these programs, contact Ann Rector at rector.ann@pusd.us.

“Three Feet for Safety Act” Takes Effect September 16, 2014

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is alerting drivers about a new law that requires them to give bicyclists, traveling in the same direction, three feet of clearance when passing. The Three Feet for Safety Act takes effect September 16, 2014.

According to the new law (AB1371, Bradford), signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. on September 23, 2013, if traffic or roadway conditions prevent motorists from giving cyclists three feet of space, drivers must “slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent” and only pass when a cyclist will not be in danger.  Violations are punishable by a $35 fine.  Motorists who collide with cyclists and injure them while violating the Three Feet for Safety Act can be subject to a $220 fine.  Under the previous law, a vehicle was simply required to pass to the left at a “safe distance.”

Each year in California, more than 100 people are killed and hundreds of thousands more are injured in bicycle collisions. Some bicycle related crashes are connected to the bicyclist’s behavior, while others are due to the motorist’s lack of attention.

• Bicycle riders on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and are subject to the same rules and regulations. Refer to the California Driver Handbook to become familiar with these rules.
• Motorists must look carefully for bicyclists before turning left or right, merging into bicycle lanes, and opening doors next to moving traffic. Respect the right-of-way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with you.

California is among 24 states that require motorists to give bicyclists three feet of clearance while passing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

For more information about safely sharing the road, check out these helpful DMV resources:

Safety Tips for Bicyclists and Motorists, Bicycle Resources, and an Informational Video.

Save Time, Go Online! Doing business with the DMV has never been easier. The DMV offers an array of services to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through its Website(www.dmv.ca.gov), including online advance appointments for written and drive tests; vehicle registration and driver license renewals, selection of personalized license plates, changes of address and payment of fees via secure debit transactions. Customers can also effect transactions by calling DMV customer service at (800) 777–0133. The DMV is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).