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AMERICAN

“A Man In Debt is So Far A Slave” -Emerson

NEWSPAPER A Community Newspaper Serving San Bernardino, Riverside & Los Angeles Counties Volume 51 No. 13 Mailing: P.O. Box 837, Victorville, CA 92383

July 16 2020 - July 22, 2020 Office: (909) 889-7677

Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com

Website: www.SB-American.com

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)

Wells Fargo Commitment Could Potentially Result in Billions for Small Businesses

“Always Rejoice”! Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses Moves to Streaming Platform

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia For more than 100 years, this is what you would typically see at a convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. For the first time in history, these highly anticipated annual gatherings have been canceled and moved to a virtual platform for the safety of all. Many will view the convention from their private homes along with their fellow congregants worldwide.

Given the federal government's extension of the PPP, Wells Fargo will reopen its PPP loan application process to eligible customers as soon as possible through a link in Business Online Banking, the bank noted in a news release. In April, Wells Fargo announced it would donate gross proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Plan to nonprofits working with small businesses. This month, the bank has ramped up its efforts by unveiling the details of an approximately $400 million initiative to help small businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to help keep the doors of small businesses open, retain employees, and rebuild. Through Wells Fargo’s new Open for Business Fund, the company will engage nonprofit organizations to provide capital, technical support, and long-term resiliency programs to small businesses, emphasizing those that are minority-owned businesses. “We realized early on that small businesses were taking the brunt of what was happening with COVID-19 and the economic slowdown that occurred,” said Jenny Flores, Wells Fargo’s head of small business growth philanthropy. “We also noticed that diverse individuals were having a very negative impact, and with the data, it was coming to 41 percent or 450,000 Black-owned businesses

closed when COVID hit. That is a disproportionate impact not only to the entrepreneurs but also to the employees they have and the pocketbook,” Flores stated. Through June 30, Wells Fargo funded loans under the PPP for more than 179,000 customers, with an average loan amount of $56,000, totaling $10.1 billion. Of the loans made, 84 percent of those are for companies with less than ten employees; 60 percent were for amounts of $25,000 or less; and, 90 percent of these applicants had $2 million or less in annual revenue. Given the federal government’s extension of the PPP, Wells Fargo will reopen its PPP loan application process to eligible customers as soon as possible through a link in Business Online Banking, the bank noted in a news release. Additionally, the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund’s initial grants will allocate $28 million to Community D e vel o p m e n t Fi n a n c i a l Institutions (CDFIs), also known as nonprofit community lenders. The grants are aimed at empowering Black and African A m e r i c a n - ow n e d s m a l l

businesses, which the National Bureau of Economic Research said are closing at nearly twice the rate of the industry. Among the first grantees are Expanding Black Business Credit Initiative (EBBC), which will support the launch of a Black Vision Fund to increase the flow of capital to Black-focused CDFIs for transformational work to close the racial wealth gap in African American communities. The CDFIs will also receive capital for urgent deployment to impacted businesses in the MidAtlantic, Southeast, and Midwest. Further, a Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will provide grants and low-cost capital to more than 2,800 entrepreneurs, focu si ng on prevent i ng loss in revenue, sustaining employment, and averting vacancies among vulnerable small business owners in urban and rural markets nationwide. “This is an extension of the commitment we had to diverse businesses,” Flores noted. “Small businesses need cash to open again, and we are putting $260 million for community development financial pocket

lenders that have a track record of reaching diverse communities. We want them to be able to do new loans and to have grant money.” Wells Fargo counts as one of the top PPP lenders in the country and has spent a lot of time understanding various strategies to assist small businesses, Flores declared. “We have key members across the country, and I talk to entrepreneurs directly,” she said. “This reflects a very thoughtful approach, one that is based on really putting the customer right at the center, listening to what they need. This has potentially $1 billion of impact in a threeyear period,” Flores added. “When they get the loans and recycle that and then for every million CDFI loans out to small businesses, they can support 18 businesses and create 31 jobs. “Hence, if you take the $250 million and work through it, it’s thousands of businesses we’re impacting in such a positive way. We’re really proud of the opportunity we have to collaborate with CDFIs and particularly those who are led by diverse entrepreneurs.”

In a world where achieving a state of sustained joy may seem elusive—even impossible—for many, millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their invited guests in some 240 lands will “attend” a global convention this summer with the theme “Always Rejoice”! For the first time in their history of holding conventions, Jehovah’s Witnesses have moved this highly anticipated annual event to a streaming platform. Congregations, families, and guests will view the program during July and August 2020. Typically, these conventions are held in stadiums, arenas, conference halls, and smaller gathering places around the world. Locally, four conventions were scheduled to be held during the months of July through September, at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA, where 7,000 were expected to attend each convention. The convention was cancelled in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our worship is centered on our mutual love for our God and for each other, irrespective of where

we are physically,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “This year’s convention program underscores the unity of our international family and the joy that people can have against a backdrop of stress and despair.” The two Christian principles guiding the Witnesses’ historic decision are respect for the sanctity of life and love of neighbor. “As much as we long to meet together, life is far too precious to put at risk,” said Hendriks. “The virtual meetings we have held over the past four months have proved to all of us that it’s not about where we are physically. It’s about where we are spiritually. In many ways we are closer as a spiritual family than ever before.” The program is to be released in six installments, each corresponding to a morning or afternoon session of what would have been three successive convention days. Many congregations and families will view the first convention session during the weekend of July 11-12. The final weekend of the virtual event is scheduled for August 29-30. The program explores questions

A highlight of the annual convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the live baptism that usually happens during the Saturday program. In 2020, local arrangements will be made to baptize all candidates in a dignified and safe environment, streaming it live to family friends.

like: What contributes to finding and sustaining joy? How can you cultivate joy in the family? How can you remain joyful in difficult times? A key feature will be a Bible-based drama that considers the life of Nehemiah and how he helped the ancient nation of Israel find joy in their worship of God. Those interested in viewing the convention can contact their local congregation or access the program on jw.org, available under the “Library” tab. There

is no charge for viewing the convention. Each year many who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses attend the annual conventions. There are more than 8.6 million active Witnesses worldwide, yet the 2019 conventions had a peak attendance of more than 14 million. With the program available online in hundreds of languages, this may be the most attended convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses to date.

The 2020 “Always Rejoice” convention program can be accessed on jw.org, available under the “Library” tab. There is no charge for viewing the convention.

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July 16, 2020

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION

COVID-19 Shines A Bright Light On Disparities In Health Care Among People Of Color Community/Education News New York, NY, July 13, 2020 ̶ “During the coronavirus pandemic, people should guard their eyes with glasses or face shields to protect their eyes from virus infection," said Dr. Daniel Laroche, Director of Glaucoma Services and President of Advanced Eyecare of New York. People also need to know, even though there are many concerns about COVID-19, common-sense precautions can significantly reduce the risk of infection, he says, adding: “Wash hands frequently, follow good contact lens hygiene and avoid rubbing or touching our mouth, nose, and especially our eyes.'' Dr. Laroche is also affiliated with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, Island Eye Surgical Center, and New York University. The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the way people visit their doctors. For patients over 60, Dr. Laroche advises it's better to stay home and do telehealth over the phone or video consultation until the pandemic flattens. He also encourages people to wear face masks on visits and maintain social distancing, even if they are in a health clinic. “Eyesight or human vision is one of the most important senses. As much as 80% of what we feel comes through our sense of sight. By

protecting the eyes, people will reduce the chance of blindness and vision loss while also staying on top of any developing eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts. A healthy brain function requires a healthy vision. The brain is our most essential organ, and It allows us to control other organs. Normal and healthy vision contributes to improved learning and comprehension for a better quality of life,” says Dr. Laroche. Dr. Laroche says there is another critical issue that COVID-19 has brought to the forefront and that is the issue of health care disparities among Black and Brown people. “Nationally, African American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population. In four states, the rate is three or more times greater. In forty-two states, plus Washington, D.C., Hispanics make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population. In eight states it’s more than four times greater,” he says, adding: “In stark contrast, White deaths from COVID-19 are lower than their share of the population in thirty-seven states.” Dr. Laroche says there are several things that can be done to not only address but to help combat this issue:

The Black Community Gets a new, Innovative Online Platform: A Beacon to Support Black Unity, Healing, and Solutions Community News Now there is an innovative new platform where Black people get to engage in culturally-rooted, interactive activities, self-guided healing programs, expert-led webinars, and insightful quizzes. BlackTherapyCentral.com (BTC) is a digital platform bringing a novel approach to mental wellness in Black communities. It is the only online therapy platform that is African-centered and designed for the Black experience. On BTC users and African-centered Black therapists and wellness professionals can connect in a variety of ways through programs in-person sessions, or secure virtual consultations. BTC is at the forefront of a new awakening in Black mental health, leading millions of Black people to embrace therapy and its role in overall wellness. "We carry within us generations of our people, our ancestors.... Other people's therapy is not for us but, African-centered therapy encourages that spiritSelf within you, to guide you personally and us collectively," stated Dr. Mawiyah Kambon, BlackTherapyCentral.com cofounder. Black therapists and wellness professionals from around the U.S. launched BTC in October 2019. The African-centered mental health service quickly engaged thousands beginning in April. BTC promotes wellness through free membership access to stress relief programs, an active directory of vetted, licensed therapists, and engages the global Black community through a dynamic brand of healing support. BTC galvanized global healing solutions when its therapists recently sprang into action to host the Global Black Community Online Townhall Meeting: Unity, Healing and Solutions for COVID-19 and Beyond. The successful event had 1900+ participants and panelists from 37 countries addressing

issues about health, economics, politics, and more. "We are in this fight, but it is not just a physical one to stay healthy from COVID-19...psychological warfare is part of this," said BTC advisor and member, Dr. Jamila Codrington, NY-based, licensed psychologist. "We want to be able to reclaim our selfdetermination." As a solution, BTC immediately rolled out the 10-Day Healing Journey. This free online program is a multisensory Black healing experience created with unique culturally themed affirmations, offline activities, guided meditations, curated visuals, and music selections. As a result, hundreds have shared the overwhelmingly positive impact the Journey has had on their lives. "I didn't know Black therapy is so different. This has been so good, I got my whole family involved, parents, siblings, children, everybody," shared Journey participant, Damon from New York. With the program's progressive approach, it is hard to believe there used to be a stigma attached to getting therapy. July is Black Mental Health Awareness Month. Because that fact is little-known, BTC is springing to action again to spread the word. BTC will ramp up to provide support against the onslaught of global challenges affecting Black people. "The ongoing global racism and genocide against the Black community has traumatized us whether we consciously feel it or not... We created Black Therapy Central to call our people together to heal ourselves and ultimately heal the world," stated Dr. Kambon. BTC welcomes new therapists to get involved and join the platform to connect with people seeking therapy. Individuals who want to engage can also visit: www. blacktherapycentral.com

1. Increase the number of Black and Afro-Latino p h y s i c i a n s wo r l d w i d e . 2. Implement u n iversal healthcare. 3. Increase wealth and education which produces better health. 4. Provide a living income stipend for poor people to access food and reduce malnutrition. 5. Eliminate racism to reduce stress. 6. Identify white supremist organizations as terrorist groups. 7. Re com me nd al l corporations have people of color in the top management and leadership positions. 8. Eliminate sole reliance on standardized testing as the criteria to be used at entry to magnet schools. 9. Provide more funding to reduce homelessness and for mental health. 10.The government should also require medical school, research

and hospital funding to diversify and benefit people of color. About Dr. Daniel Laroche: Dr. Laroche is an exceptional glaucoma specialist in New York. He studied and received his bachelor's degree from New York University and a medical doctorate with honors in research from Weil Cornell University Medical College. He underwent a medical internship at Montefiore Hospital and finished his Ophthalmology residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C., where he was the chief resident in his third year. He later completed his glaucoma fellowship at New York Eye and Ear. For more information about Dr. Laroche, please call 212663-0473 or visit: www. a d v a n c e d e y e c a r e n y. c o m .

By Khalil Abdullah, Ethnic Media Services representatives from state and local agencies responsible for consumer protection, as well as from nonprofits like the AARP, the Better Business Bureau, and others on the frontlines of battling scams and deceptive marketing practices. “Scammers are like vampires who bleed their victims not just of money but of hope and self-respect,” said conference moderator Sandy Close, director of Ethnic Media Services. Close urged media participants “to shine a light on these activities through your media coverage and your community service.” Susan Bolin, from the Better Business Bureau, concurred with the need for increased media coverage and involvement. While acknowledging active media participation in Fort Wayne and Evansville, “we still need more help. Just imagine the impact that we can have if every media outlet

Mary Martin-Harris / Editor Clifton B. Harris / Audio Engineering Editor Legal /Display Advertising (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 6, 1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 15313 by the Superior Court of San Bernardino County.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News is committed to serving its readers by presenting news unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing, strive to achieve a united community. News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.

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continued on page 6

MALDEF Statement Supporting Boycott of Goya Foods Community News (LOS ANGELES) – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) issued the following statement on the call for a national boycott of Goya Food, Inc.: “Calls for a boycott of Goya Foods are not an unlawful ‘suppression of speech.’ No business has a right to unimpeded sales or never-ending profits. Our First Amendment protects against government suppression of speech. For example, when a government leader urges a foreign country not to allow a member of Congress to enter that foreign country because the government leader does not like what that member of Congress has to say, that is an obvious and unconstitutional attempt at suppression of speech. However, when people choose not to patronize businesses that praise racism or that praise and support racists, that is not an unlawful suppression of speech. In fact, it is the opposite. It is the

Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Investigative Reporter sbamericannews@gmail.com

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Coronavirus Opens A Pandoras Box Of Scams Indianapolis, IND -- If Willie Sutton were alive, he wouldn’t be robbing banks, more likely he’d be a scam artist, siphoning off a portion of the almost $70 million that Indiana consumers alone have reportedly lost to fraud even before the COVID-19 pandemic opened up a pandora’s box of new scam opportunities. “At the Federal Trade Commission, we always say the fraudsters follow the headlines,” explained Todd Kossow, Director of the Midwest Region of the FTC. “They take advantage of the major news stories of the day and find new ways to access consumer’s personal financial information. The corona virus pandemic has been no exception to that.” Kossow’s remarks were delivered at an on-line convening for ethnic media primarily covering Indianapolis and nearby regions. In addition to FTC staff, presenters included

Publisher’s Corner

free people organizing to express their strong and constitutionallyprotected view that racism and its equally evil doppelganger, nativism, ought never be praised as responsible leadership. “Just as boycotts of businesses that continue to advertise on television shows or social media platforms that promote racism are protected expressions of free speech, so too are boycotts of businesses that publicly praise racism. “There is no excuse for praising racism and nativism as laudable leadership. MALDEF supports those who call for a boycott -- a constitutionally-protected refusal to purchase products -- of Goya Foods. To regain community support, Goya Foods must do more than apologize or donate product to food banks. It must invest a significant portion of its profits in the work of antiracism and anti-nativism.”

Private Investigator Retired Law Enforcement Officer P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393

Telephone (760) 514-8310 Fax: (909) 889-2882 E-mail: timewisepi968@gmail.com

When the state becomes the pusher By Jon Coupal We all know that there is an endless list of addictive substances that present a real danger to people. Alcohol, cocaine and heroin just to name a few. But a powerful addictive substance provided by our own government is public money. Few things can get individuals and institutions more hooked than that. Although we’ve known for a long time that government largess often comes with negative consequences, what recently brought this to mind was a series of stories revealing which businesses and nonprofit organizations received public funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These reports question whether the program — intended to preserve jobs by helping small businesses get through the pandemic — has served its intended purpose. For example, the Small Business Administration released

information which shows that private equity-backed chains and some companies owned by members of Congress received money from the Paycheck Protection Program along with almost 90,000 employers that would not commit to retaining their employees. Just in the Sacramento area, more than 800 companies borrowed money from the federal government including powerful lobbying organizations and law firms. Although initially resistant to releasing data on PPP disbursements, the federal government relented when faced with possible litigation. While the exact amounts of the loans to specific recipients were not disclosed, the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration made available a list of the thousands of businesses, nonprofits and others that received at least $150,000.

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July 16, 2020

LIFESTYLE/RELIGION

Black at Samford Pushes for Changes in the University’s Culture, Treatment of Black Students Sydney Cromwell, July 7, 2020

But not for students of color. Many Black current and former Samford students are now sharing stories about how that bubble has concealed their experiences of racism, discrimination, isolation and pain. The Black at Samford Instagram account was started June 19, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery after the Civil War, popularly known as Juneteenth. Since then, about 150 submitted stories from students, alumni, potential students and employees have been posted. The stories run the gamut of racial experiences: exclusion from student groups’ events based on race; offensive stereotypes; assumptions that black students were accepted to Samford based on athletic rather than academic achievements; different treatment by white professors or coaches compared to their white peers; judgment for interracial dating; casual use of racial slurs by white students; and the unofficial racial division of the campus cafeteria. In one of those posts, Veronica Anjelica Duarte-McCants, a 2015 graduate, said that part of the reason she chose Samford was because of its strong religious reputation. “However, when I got to Samford it shook me to my core. It made my walk with Christ a continual struggle because I didn’t feel God on that campus. I interacted with closed minded, racist, and bigoted students, faculty, staff, and administrators at Samford and it made me feel like if you’re a Christian and you serve the same God I do, I don’t want any part of it,” she wrote. “Being Black at Samford meant during an international Jan-term

Samford University fans cheer on the Bulldogs. The school is predominantly white, and Black students now are pushing for changes to procedures and culture to treat them more fairly and make the campus more multicultural. (Source: Samford University) Students at Samford University regularly talk about the “Samford bubble,” the idea that when they step onto campus, they leave the real world behind. Inside the bubble, there’s a sense they are more sheltered and there is more uniformity in the beliefs and backgrounds of students and faculty.

(short academic session between the fall and spring semesters) trip I was isolated and told I would live by myself in all of our locations since it was ‘just me,’” wrote Aneesa Anderson, a 2016 graduate. Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland issued a statement addressed to Black members of the campus on June 22. “The wounds, recent or decades old, remain excruciating. I am grateful to those of you who have shared your ideas and hopes for change,” his statement read. He outlined several changes, including establishment of a task force on racial justice, development of scholarships and a hiring of diversity liaisons. But Black at Samford organizers have posted that the time for vague promises is past. “Because we have been pushed to the side so many times and

have been ‘task forced’ to death, our main issue is the fact that there were no measurable goals in this statement,” the group posted. “We have no way to keep Samford accountable to this statement.” And the stories continue to roll in. Jonathan Bailey, a 2014 graduate, said being Black at Samford meant “watching my friends who were athletes, most of whom were black, struggle to have extensions for their assignments even though they were on the road half the semester but have the same professors cancel classes, assignments, and tests to account for Step Sing (an annual student singing and dancing competition).” Qiona Payton, a 2019 graduate, submitted a story about being injured as a track and field student-athlete, and she said she received worse treatment and

rehab from coaches and athletic staff than white teammates with similar injuries. The lack of care led to additional injuries and loss of athletic scholarships, she said. Her story read, in part: “What hurt the most was that when expressing my experiences and feelings to my team, coaches and athletic department staff over the years there, I was always seen as the stereotypical ‘black girl with an attitude’ for being upset about how I was treated, despite always following instructions and constantly supporting everyone. Black people, especially women, do not get taken care of enough when it comes to mental and physical pain, and I hope that in Samford’s future we can see more love and care for them.” Yassar Ahman El-Amin, a 2020 graduate and football player,

“I Tell You, You Best Wake Up and Wake Up Now!” By: Lou Yeboah

Lou Yeboah

SBCUSD Assistant Superintendent Named CALSA Administrator Of The Year Lifestyle News

The California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) named San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD’s) Dr. Rachel Monárrez as the Central Office Administrator of the Year for the state for her distinguished leadership and excellence in advocating on behalf of Latina/Latino/Latinx children. Dr. Monárrez is the assistant superintendent of Continuous Improvement, which is focused on ensuring access and services to all students so that they can thrive academically, emotionally, and behaviorally. She joined SBCUSD in August 2016 as the assistant superintendent of Student Services. Since then, Dr. Monárrez has worked closely with parent advisory groups and is currently

focused on engaging families in decisions that impact students. “It gives me great pleasure to work towards improving t h is Dist r ict to create positive outcomes for our students,” Dr. Monárrez said. Prior to joining SBCUSD, Dr. Monárrez earned National Board Certification, one of the highest and most rigorous certifications a teacher can earn. She also served as principal of two schools, was the director of English Learner Programs and Special Education, and was an assistant superintendent of Educational Services. In 2018, Dr. Monárrez was promoted from SBCUSD assistant superintendent of Student Services to her current position as the head of the Continuous I m p r ove m e n t D i v i s i o n . CALSA is a professional association that advocates for the continued development and placement of Latino/ Latina/Latinx educational leaders who are committed to a quality public education. The organization provides members with mentoring and professional assistance, among other support.

Prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of our eyes! Wake up! Wake up from your slumber! Be alert! Be discerning! Watch and Pray! Pray in order that you may have strength to escape the things that are about to take place. Live in the light of Christ coming. Do this, knowing that your salvation is nearer than when you first believed. [1 Peter 4:7]. For indeed the “fig tree” is putting forth “buds!” I tell you, you best wake up, and wake up now! Because the end to all things is approaching, says the Lord. “Prepare for a time of trouble. Seek Me while I may be found. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts… “[Isaiah 55:6-7]. Be clearminded, and understand what time it is! I want you to know that world situations are preparations for events leading to Christ’s return. One event, the return of Israel to their land which God promised to them many times in the book of Genesis. This prophecy was fulfilled. Another world event, the rise of Russia to a place of international power and importance. This prophecy is being fulfilled. And yet, another the important developments and mindboggling events is the development of a one-world government. I tell you, you best wake up and wake up now! These and multitudes of other prophetic fulfillment are among the strongest proofs of the accuracy, truthfulness and inspiration of the Bible. It is imperative that you make sure you are ready to meet your Maker, The closer we draw to the second coming of Christ, the more urgent

it is that we awake out of spiritual sleep! If ever there was a time to pay attention and get prepared, it is now! Wake up! Be discerning! Know what time of day it is! As Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5:16─ If we do not use this period of grace that we have been given by God with the correct focus, we might be blown away like so much chaff. I tell you, prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes, and it pains God to know that the suffering is about to get much, much worse. It grieves Him to consider the diseases and other horrors soon to be visited upon Earth. But it is all part of His plan to teach man the absolute necessity of obeying His law. And scripture after scripture shows that God’s plan will succeed! I tell you, you best wake up, and wake now! “Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who made you. … “How often have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thundering, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and diseases of every kind, … and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!” Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near,” [Revelation 1:3, see also 22:7]. END TIME SIGNS … [Daniel 12:4; Zechariah 12:3; Matthew 13:25-30; Matthew 24:6-14,24; Luke 21:25-26; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 1Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-52Timothy 4:4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:3-6].

said coaches made jokes at his expense for being Muslim and didn’t accommodate his dietary restrictions. “I didn’t eat after workouts because the caf only had pork items, and being Muslim this is something that’s not in our diets. I called my coach because I could not afford to get any food on my own, and I was told not to disturb them and if I was really hungry I would eat. On a road game they had order(ed) pork sandwiches knowing that I didn’t eat pork (and) told me to take the pork off and eat the bread,” he said. El-Amin’s submission also said, “One of the coaches told a group of black players that he ‘owns them’ because he got them out of trouble.” Saige Avis was on the cheerleading team for two years. “I was asked on multiple occasions to go to specific events solely because I

was black and they ‘needed to look diverse,’” she wrote Lauren Williams, who attended Samford for her freshman year, wrote to Black at Samford that she was surprised to find that she had received more in scholarship and financial aid opportunities than some of her Black friends. Samford University is nestled in an idyllic property in Homewood, but Black students now are saying they aren’t included in the same “bubble” of security and harmony. (Source: Samford University) “Looking back, I truly believe that Samford wants to think that they are reaching out and making themselves available to underrepresented communities and neighborhoods but in order to really make a difference, you need to be just as willing to invest in them as they would any other predominantly white community.” Showing Black children around the campus is all well and good, she wrote, but “what does this accomplish if the children don’t see many professors or students who (look) like them? The faculty that does look like them work in the food industry and custodial services on campus.” Several students also shared that they had trouble knowing when and how to speak up in response to these experiences. The Black at Samford account is run by a group of several dozen people with current or former Samford connections. Organizers have written that they intend to continue posting specific demands until they see concrete changes from the administration.

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1003

Beacons of Transformation and Renewal Angel Luis Rivera-Agosto Area Executive for Latin America and the Caribbean “I appeal to you; therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what the will of God— what is good and acceptable and perfect is.” Romans 12:1-2 (NRSV) I have been living a fascinating paradox. My ministry requires me to travel regularly throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, visiting Partners, providing pastoral care and follow-up with mission personnel, and advocating for justice, peace, and reconciliation. COVID-19 placed me behind closed walls, as I am particularly vulnerable to it due to my asthma condition. Because of that, I kept myself quarantined, working from home, and connecting to the outside world through the Internet. In that stage of stillness, I have found the opportunity to connect and witness processes where people continue placing their bodies in danger for the common good. I followed the news regarding a Puerto Rican social leader, who was arrested, for defending the right to food during the COVID-19 pandemic. I witnessed the love and dedication of a group of farmers in Paraguay, who brought their products to market for distribution and used in the popular community pots in Asunción, the capital of that South American country. I acknowledged the work of an ecumenical religious leader who risked his own life and health to move dozens of families from the immigrant and refugee camps in Tijuana, Mexico, to protect them from the onslaught of the

virus. It is the cry of thousands of young people around the U.S., bringing a powerful message to those in authority to overcome racism and systemic injustice, because "black lives matter." The shared biblical text invites us to affirm the centrality of the subject as reason and motive for our struggles. According to Paul, it is our practice that comes from the pure love that puts us into a "giving of the body, a presentation of the living sacrifice." Out of our real human experience and felt needs, we are called to confront ideological speculation of structural injustice and neoliberalism. A second element comes from "resisting our conformity to this world and the renewal of our minds." It implies knowing the system, gathering information, and revealing the real agendas to pursue a change for the Common Good. A third element is based on that "good, pleasant and perfect will." It is simply not enough to denounce those who profit at the expense of the wellbeing of all. It is also necessary to give way to social projects that raise the ethical character of our societies. It is imperative to build, facilitate, understand, and strengthen the human and ecological development of our communities around the world. I keep checking on the right time to travel again, always caring for my neighbor and me. When it happens, I want to be ready to face new times beyond COVID-19. Times inspired by the fullness of life, beyond nostalgic dreams back into a said "normality." It is time to move forward and to seek transformation and renewal.

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July 16, 2020

STATE / GOVERNMENT

Big Mac Racism at McDonald’s By Whitney Gresham and Trevor W. Coleman II The Michigan Chronicle

But among Neal’s and Guster-Hines’ most shocking claims was the racist, sexist taunts they had to endure from the McDonald’s executives. The suit alleges that in 2005 Marty Ranft, a white vice president and general manager of the McDonald’s Ohio Region told Guster-Hines “You are a nigger like all the rest--you just believe you are better cause you are a smart one.” (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) For more than 50 years, the McDonald’s Corporation took pride in branding itself as a socially conscious corporation particularly interested in doing business in abandoned and long-ignored Black communities while embracing racial diversity as a critical component of its corporate ethos. It is a philosophy that helped create a popular narrative and also focus on story that the Chicago-based company was a progressive business and a place where African Americans could grow, find mentors, promotions and economic opportunity. However, that image was shattered this year in an explosive lawsuit brought by two African American female executives who claim that under new leadership the company not only deliberately divested from the Black community and businesses, but hurled racist, sexist insults at them including referring to the employees as “niggers” and “angry Black women.” Adding further injury to the grotesque insults, the women also claimed when they spoke up about such treatment they were demoted, and the perpetrators were promoted. The shocking accusations have rocked the fast food industry especially since McDonald’s has long projected itself as a leader in diversity initiatives and as an aggressive recruiter and developer of African American talent and entrepreneurs. But Domineca Neal and Vicki Guster-Hines, former vice presidents of the fast food chain, allege the discrimination and harassment started and progressive programs came to a screeching halt following a change in corporate leadership at McDonald’s in 2015. In their suit they said the new regime engaged in systemic racist and

discriminatory behavior and civil rights abuses against them and other Black executives. Among the allegations were that one top white male executive repeatedly referred to them as “angry Black women” and another who earlier had referred to Black employees as “niggers” shockingly being promoted rather than disciplined following a complaint filed against him for such racially abusive language. In an exclusive interview with the Michigan Chronicle, Neal, a native Detroiter, said the harassment began shortly after the new CEO, Britishborn Steve Easterbrook, came on board in 2015 and initiated a corporate restructuring plan that de-emphasized racial diversity and input from Black executives and franchisees. She and GusterHines were then demoted from vice-president to senior director positions in July 2018. They are seeking compensation following those demotions, claiming that they occurred as a result of discrimination. “When they assumed leadership, it became very clear that African Americans stakeholders were no longer a strategic priority and the environment became toxic,” she said. “An example would be, you know, cutting advertising spending with African American agencies that impacted, of course, African American customers and local community organizations, and it didn’t make economic sense, it didn’t make good business sense.” McDonald’s commitment to diversity was so widely known and promoted that it was regularly named among the Fortune 500 top corporations for diversity and inclusion and other companies would benchmark against them. That reputation, however, is now threatened by the lawsuit scheduled to be heard in the

Northern District Court of Illinois next month or early August. Besides Easterbrook; who was let go last year after it was revealed he was involved in an affair with a colleague in violation of company policy, also named in the suit are the current CEO, Chris Kempczinski, and Charles Strong, the chief field officer. At its bare essence, the women allege in the suit the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain has “declared war against the African American community.” She noted her observation is based on its new business plan and corporate leadership’s attitudes toward African American employees and owner-operators who had the majority of restaurants in African American consumer markets and would be impacted, more so than others. “And that action coincided with a significant reduction in the number of African American owner-operators.” When Neal and other executives brought these concerns to the attention of leadership, they began to retaliate against them. They defunded the company’s African American Diversity Council and it subsequently became dormant. The Council provided career development and a talent pipeline for African American employees. And soon the demotions started with African Americans being targeted for elimination such as herself and Guster-Hines, leaving no African Americans at Kempczinski’s leadership table during his tenure as president of McDonald’s USA to advocate on behalf of Black employees, franchise operators, or customers. The suit claims the number of African American executives in the top ranks of McDonald’s operations fell to seven in 2019 from 42 in 2014, the year before the new regime came on board. T he suit also alleges:

Before Easterbrook and K e m p c z i n s k i’s a r r i v a l , African American consumers generated 20% of all revenue for McDonald’s US stores. Easterbrook and Kempczinski caused a decrease in advertising to attract African American patronage. The constant cutting in the funding of programs for building African American leadership resulted in the systemwide purchases by African Americans to decline by 6%. Nearly one out of three African American franchisees left the McDonald’s system since Easterbrook arrived which was disproportionate to the loss of nonAfrican American franchisees. But among Neal’s and GusterHines’ most shocking claims was the racist, sexist taunts they had to endure from the McDonald’s executives. The suit alleges that in 2005 Marty Ranft, a white vice president and general manager of the McDonald’s Ohio Region told Guster-Hines “You are a nigger like all the rest–you just believe you are better cause you are a smart one.” She further alleges she reported Ranft to her supervisors and emphasized that she would not tolerate being called a nigger within McDonald’s or anywhere else. She said there was no response to her complaint from the corporation and Ranft was eventually promoted to Vice President of Development for the entire U.S. The suit also alleges in 2017 Strong, who supervised Neal and Guster-Hines and at the time responsible for 50% of the U.S. business and about 14,000 restaurants, instructed Neal not to consult with or take the advice of two African American women, Bridgette Hernandez and Barbara Calloway who had been promoted over Strong’s opposition. She alleged he stated,

“We don’t need any of that Black woman’s attitude. They are too angry and aggressive.” The next year in March 2018, Strong allegedly told GusterHines that five African American women, Chioke Elmore, Regina Johnson, Hernandez, Calloway and Neal, were “angry Black women” that “always seemed to be mad about something.” He then allegedly asked Guster-Hines to explain the source of their anger. The five women constituted 40% of female African American vice presidents as of March 2018. And were three out of five vice presidents reporting to Strong when he allegedly made these statements. “So that was shocking that he was so openly discussing that with various stakeholders that we were angry Black women,” Neal said. But what she, Guster-Hines, and others found even more jarring and demoralizing was after they shared Strong’s racist, sexist, and demeaning remarks to his superiors, he, too, was promoted and they were demoted. “In shocking ways difficult to overstate, McDonald’s u nder Easterbrook a nd Kempczinski declared a war against the African American community,” the lawsuit alleges. Neither the McDonald’s Corporation Media Relations Department or the lawyer representing them, Nigel F. Telman of Chicago, returned calls from the Chronicle by publication deadline. However, in a statement to the media in January, issued at the filing of the suit, McDonald’s said it disagreed with the characterization of the company’s behavior. It said 45% of its corporate officers and all of its field vicepresidents are people of color. “At McDonald’s, our actions are

rooted in our belief that a diverse, vibrant, inclusive, and respectful company makes us stronger,” the company said. “While we disagree with characterizations in the complaint, we are currently reviewing it and will respond to the complaint accordingly.” Carmen D. Caruso and Linda C. Chatman, the Chicagobased trial lawyers representing Neal and Guster-Hines said the behavior by McDonald’s executives constituted some of the most egregious acts of racial discrimination they have ever been confronted with in their careers. “Under the g uise of reorganizing the way they manage the franchise system, the restaurant system across the country, they basically decimated the ranks of the African American leadership and employees,” Caruso said. “That to me is one of the most glaring act of intentional discrimination that we saw in the case. And we lay those numbers out in greater detail in the complaint itself. But that was very, very, serious discrimination in employment, and it’s over and above a lot of other things that came before and other things that have come after, but that’s kind of a centerpiece of the discrimination against the executive employees, including Domineca and Vicki.” Chatman agreed and said that they are also arguing that McDonald’s will try to argue that their promotion and demotion policies are neutral because they are based on data, not race. The racially hostile work environment had a particularly destructive impact upon Black employees, including Domineca and Vicki. “The crux of it is that, under Easterbrook and now Kempczinski, McDonald’s is not interested in, or focused continued on page 7

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July 16, 2020

LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS STATEMENT 20200005783

NAME

Date Filed: 06/26/2020 Filing Expires On: 06/26/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.):PINNACLE HOME County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 5532 N. PINNACLE LN. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Name of Individual Registrant: ESTHER CHUANG Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./ Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./ Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 5542 N. PINNACLE LN SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: June 15, 2020 Esther Chuang, Manager, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS STATEMENT 20200005660

NAME

Date Filed: 06/23/2020 Filing Expires On: 06/23/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.):AVIONCE INSTITUTE OF MORTGAGE TRAINING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 15220 COMANCHE ROAD APPLE VALLEY, CA 92307 Mailing Address: 15220 COMANCHE ROAD APPLE VALLEY, 92307 Name of Individual Registrant: DORIS A. CROSBY Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./ Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./ Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 15220 COMANCHE ROAD APPLE VALLEY, CA 92307 Name of Individual Registrant: ROBERT L. CROSBY Residence Street Address: 15220 COMANCHE ROAD APPLE VALLEY, CA 92307 This business is/was conducted by: A Married Couple Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: June 14, 2020 Doris Crosby, Director, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July16, 23, 30, August 6, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200005376 Date Filed: 06/15/2020 Filing Expires On: 06/15/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./ Org./Reg.): AMBER STEEL County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200005783 Date Filed: 06/26/2020 Filing Expires On: 06/26/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./ Reg.):PINNACLE HOME County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 5532 N. PINNACLE LN. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Name of Individual Registrant: ESTHER CHUANG Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 5542 N. PINNACLE LN SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: June 15, 2020 Esther Chuang, Manager, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020.

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Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 312 SOUTH WILLOW AVENUE RIALTO, CA 92376 Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 900 RIALTO, CA 92377 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./ Reg.:H. WAYNE LEWIS, INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.:C0610376 Residence Street Address: 312 SOUTH WLLOW AVENUE RIALTO, CA 92376 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: May 9, 1995 Kriss Lewis, President, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper July 2, 9, 16, 23, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS STATEMENT 20200005783

NAME

SUMMONS SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20STLC00559 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): AUBREY LAUREN BURGE, and Does 1 to 10 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): S TAT E FA R M M U T U A L AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): REESE LAW GROUP, Michael D. Schoeck, Esq. Bar #277945, 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/842-5850 (File No. 285846) DATE (Fecha): 01/17/2020 Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/ Clerk of Court (Secretario), by Lillian Castillejo, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served as an individual. 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6/20 CNS-3378339# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: GARY LYNN MAYS

CASE NO. PROPS 2000384. To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of GARY

LYNN MAYS.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE

has been filed by Katrina L. Mays in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Katrina L. Mays be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: August 18, 2020 at 1:39 PM in Dept. S36 located at 247 W. Third St., San Bernardino, CA 92415. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Tracy T. Woo, Esq. (SBN 310384), 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Ste. 200-138, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 851-0901. Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper July 16, 23, 30, 2020.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

CASE NO. PROPS 2000012 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of JOHN

A. BOYD JR. aka JOHN AARON BOYD JR.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MARQUITA J. WILLIAMS in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MARQUITA J. WILLIAMS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 8/11/20 Time: 1:30 in Dept.: S35 located at 247 West Third Street., San Bernardino, CA 92415.-0212 Central Justice Center IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Bryan C. Hartnell; HARTNELL LAW GROUP, APC. 25757 Redlands Boulevard Redlands, CA 92373-8453 (909) 796-6881 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper July 16, 23, 30, 2020.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: DOROTHY S. MORALES aka DOROTHY SILVA MORALES DOROTHY MORALES

CASE NO. PROPS 2000415 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of DOROTHY

S. MORALES aka DOROTHY SILVA MORALES aka DOROTHY MORALES

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by SANDRA M. MEDINA in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that SANDRA M. MEDINA be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 8/26/20 Time: 1:30 in Dept.: S36 located at 247 West Third Street., San Bernardino, CA 92415.-0212 Central Justice Center IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Bryan C. Hartnell; HARTNELL LAW GROUP, APC. 25757 Redlands Boulevard Redlands, CA 92373-8453 (909) 796-6881 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper July 16, 23, 30, 2020.

FTC Sends More Than $16 Million in Refunds to Victims of Bogus Debt Relief Operation Explore Data: Learn more about FTC RefundsThe Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $16 million to individuals who lost money to a debt relief scam that targeted tens of thousands of consumers facing financial difficulty. The FTC and the Florida Office of the Attorney General alleged that a group of defendants known as Helping America Group got people to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars a month by falsely promising to pay, settle, or obtain dismissal of their debts and improve their credit scores. Over time, victims found their debts unpaid, their accounts in default, and their credit scores severely damaged—some were sued by their creditors, and some were forced into bankruptcy. The FTC is providing 27,083 refund checks to victims of the scam. The FTC expects to collect additional money in this case, and plans to send a second round of checks at that time. Recipients should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check. If recipients have questions about the refunds, they should contact the FTC’s refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 833-928-2567. The FTC’s new interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2019, FTC actions led to more than $232 million in refunds to consumers across the country. The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources. Contact Information CONTACT FOR CONSUMERS: Refund Administrator JND Legal Administration 833-928-2567

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ELEANOR P. WIESE

CASE NO. PROPS 2000353 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of ELEANOR P.

WIESE

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by BARBARA WIESE in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that BARBARA WIESE be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: August 05, 2020 Time: 1:30 pm in Dept. : S35 located at 247 W. Third St Second Floor San Bernardino Justice Center-Probate Division, San Bernardino, CA 92415. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Guay P. Wilson 14 N. Eighth Street Redlands, CA 92373 (909) 793-2044 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper July 16, 23, 30, 2020.

YOUR CLASSIFIED AD GOES HERE PLEASE CALL TO RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE @909-889-7677 OR EMAIL: msbamericannews@ gmail.com

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July 16, 2020

SPORTS / HEALTH/LIFESTYLE

Opinion: The Shameful “Black Lives” Hypocrisy of Uber, Lyft and Other Gig Companies Cherri Murphy | Special to California Black Media

To executives at Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Postmates, and other gig companies: We are the workers who power the core of your businesses and we write in response to your recent comments on the Black Lives Matter movement. Your statements have included various platitudes about your commitment to racial justice and the Black community. We are not fooled. Your lip service in support of Black Lives is hollow, created by well-paid public relations teams, and absent of any promise of real change. Lyft has been my primary source of income for the past three years and I’ve driven over 12,000 rides. A survey by the University of California Santa Cruz suggests 70% of rideshare drivers are African Americans and other People of Color, 50% are immigrants, and, because of company greed, only

31% say they could find $400 in an emergency. Racial justice is economic justice. The conditions that make police killings of Black people possible and inevitable are the same conditions that make the exploitation of Black and Brown workers possible and inevitable. We reject your attempts to separate racial justice from economic justice and we see it as an attempt to dodge your responsibility for the exploitation of your Black and Brown workers everyday. This fight is not only about police killings and terror — it is about every institution that exploits and abuses Black and Brown people in this country. When it comes to exploiting Black and brown people, you and your companies are experts. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, gig workers were faced with a devil’s choice: Continue

working despite a deadly virus or risk losing the roof over our heads. When we attempted to secure masks, hand sanitizer, paid sick time off, unemployment wages, and other protective measures we found obstacles, opaque processes, and hand wringing. We had to turn to outside organizations — and each other — for safety during the pandemic. Where were you then? The Black gig workers who have been on the frontlines of this pandemic have been the hardest hit economically and the most likely to die from the virus, yet your companies have done nothing to ensure our welfare. There are stories of drivers who have lost their lives, yet your companies once again, were nowhere to be found. Where

were you then? Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Black gig workers already faced discrimination and abuse on the job. Black gig workers already had no protection from racist consumers who file false complaints and do not tip. Black gig workers already found less support and more discrimination from staff meant to “support” us. Black gig workers already were subject to more policing and harassment from law enforcement on the job everyday. Where were you then Then, as now, you were stealing from your workers. You pay us starvation wages while you and your executives return to million dollar homes that you built off our backs. You d e ny u s worke rs’ compensation and disability insurance if we are injured and you refuse to provide protection from discrimination and retaliation. We work late-night hours, weekends, and holidays away from our families for no overtime pay. You increase rideshare prices in predominately Black and Brown neighborhoods. Today, until November, Californians will hear from the real experts — the drivers. We believe from the very depth of our beings that there will be no peace until there is justice. If you respect Black lives, as your corporate statements so proudly declare, you will respect Black voices and listen to your workers when they say that enough is enough. All labor has dignity. All labor has worth. We demand that you respect ours. About the Author Cherri Murphy is a Lyft Driver and social justice activist.

ACLU Statement on President Trump’s Dismissal of the Disproportionate Police Killings of Black People Lifestyle News WASHINGTON — When asked in an interview today why Black Americans are “still dying at the hands of law enforcement in this country,” President Donald Trump responded: “So are white people. So are white people. What a terrible question to ask. So are white people,” Trump told CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge at the White House. "More people, by the way. More white people." Jeffery Robinson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality, highlighted the dangerous and racist implications of the president's comments in the following statement: “President Trump once again showed that he and his administration will continue to ignore the racial terror campaigns that law enforcement wage daily in Black and Brown communities. His statement not only ignores the fact that

per capita Black and Brown people are disproportionately killed by police, it provides the foundation for the dangerous and unconstitutional police practices that result in the deaths of Black people with regularity. “Trump’s racism is so absolute that he continues to refuse to give even a tacit acknowledgment to the epidemic of police violence against Black people in America. His claims that asking about police killing Black people is a terrible question are rooted in his inability to discuss race and policing without sounding bigoted and foolish. This type of behavior isn't new, rather just affirmation that President Trump is a bigot with no problem with the level of police violence against Black communities. It’s clear that the President of the United States will continue to use the violence and suffering perpetrated against Black communities as a white-supremacist dog whistle ahead of the coming election.” This statement is here: https:// www.aclu.org/press-releases/ aclu-statement-president-trumpsdismissal-disproportionatepolice-killings-black

Coronavirus Opens A Pandoras Box Of Scams...continued from page 2 partnered with us.” Ultimately, Bollin said she wants to make Indianapolis a scam-free zone. The goal is a daunting one. Scams that have proliferated since the pandemic include large up-front money payments to companies claiming they can assist homeowners to renegotiate mortgage payments they missed because of COVID linked job layoffs; or scams that promise small businesses an inside track to securing federal paycheck protection funds to retain employees. “So what are the main types of COVID-19 related scams that we’re seeing?” Kossow asked. “Scammers who are pitching socalled treatments and cures for COVID-19 without any proof that they work… The FTC has sent warning letters to nearly 250 companies making such claims.” Presenters cited several “red flags” typically associated with scams: run out and buy a gift card to make a payment; a money wire transfer is required; an upfront payment is necessary before a prize can be claimed; authentication of your bank account number or verification of your Social Security number as mandatory in order to speed or complete the application or funding process. Several speakers said that humiliation over being scammed often discourages victims from reporting what happened. There’s also a sense that trying to recover the money is a hopeless task. This is particularly true with gift card transactions. At least with payments made on credit cards, victims have a bank record to point to in filing a fraud claim.

Moreover, victims have a selfinterest in reporting scams, Andrew Johnson, Chief of Staff of the FTC’s Division of Consumer Affairs, emphasized “Since July, 2018, In just a two-year period, the FTC mailed $23.6 million to almost 140,000 people in the state of Indiana, which is pretty remarkable,” Johnson said. “Generally, when the FTC settles or wins a case, and we get money that we can return back to consumers, one of the main ways we determine who to send money to, is we look back at our database of who reported to us.” One net result of the pandemic’s advent is a decrease in face-to-face counseling that would encourage reporting to the FTC. Cheryl Koch-Martinez, who works at Indiana Legal Services, said her organization assists low-income residents in understanding their financial options and advising them on consumer fraud cases. Given the imperative for social-distancing, “faceto-face communication is just not there,” she said. Telephone and e-mail are inefficient substitutes for the sensitive conversations t hat need to occu r. Reverend David Green, Senior Pastor, Purpose of Life Ministry, shared the experience of a maintenance engineer at his church. Originally from El Salvador, he immigrated to the United States 20 years ago and obtained citizenship. He sent $1,000 to purchase a trailer

in Kentucky and then sought to make arrangements with the sellers to personally pick it up. “They said, ‘no,’” Green reported. “They said they needed to deliver it and that if he would go to PayPal and send $600 for the insurance on the delivery of the trailer, that when the trailer got delivered, he would get the $600 back.” In this case, Reverend Green encouraged his church’s employee to file a report with the FTC and the Better Business Bureau after the seller would answer phone calls but promptly hang up. Several speakers highlighted the debilitating effects of scams that prey on people’s loneliness. While romance scams come readily to mind, scammers also have used a victim to become unwitting money mules, someone who moves money to a thirdparty. The use of third parties makes the origin and movement of financial transactions more difficult for authorities to trace. Such was the case Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn Mindrum described of an elderly woman who was told she’d won the lottery and had to pay fees before she could secure her winnings. She did not win the lottery, lost a substantial amount in so-called fees, “but,” Mindrum explained, “she talked to the scammer for two years!” Mindrum said her office stepped in to end the relationship, extradited the scammer to the U.S. and successfully prosecuted him. The woman was not charged.

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NFL Will Play Black National Anthem at Games By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

As noted in Sports Illustrated, Lift Every Voice and Sing has an extensive history since its first inception as a poem in 1899. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the playing of the national anthem to bring awareness to social and other injustices faced regularly by Black and Brown individuals in America, the National Football League, President Donald Trump, and others wrongly associated the quarterback’s actions as a protest against the U.S. flag and the nation’s military. In the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd, protests and demonstrations have awakened America and most of the world to the plight of African Americans who long have suffered injustice, inequality, and an overall lack of understanding. The NFL remains at the forefront of the new understanding, and now they’ve taken that knowledge, and, in an unprecedented decision, the league announced it would play

Lift Every Voice and Sing – the Black National Anthem – before every opening day game this year. The performance of the song will occur before “The StarSpangled Banner,” the NFL said. The league’s season opener is scheduled for September 10, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans. “The league taking the opportunity to play “Lift every voice and sing” (the Black national anthem) is sweet. It’s a great way to honor those who started this movement year and years ago,” tweeted Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Chris Conley. “For those who aren’t familiar with it, this song seeks to remind us of our past as a country and to strive to be better. It speaks to all of us, not just Black people, even tho it became a rallying cry for Blacks in the Jim Crow era. It is a beautiful message

Federal medical team to assist at Eisenhower Health hospital in Rancho Mirage Riverside County News A team of federal doctors and nurses are arriving at Eisenhower Health hospital Thursday to support the facility as the hospital copes with the influx of coronavirus patients. The team of doctors, physician assistants, critical care nurses and respiratory technicians assigned to Eisenhower is part of a state of California request for federal support to medical facilities throughout California. “We are grateful to receive this support from FEMA and the federal medical team, and I appreciate the emergency operations center team for pursuing this effort at the request of Eisenhower Health,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “These are crucial resources as we all work together at the federal, state and local levels of government to overcome this pandemic.” The federal team is made up of

active military medical personnel. “The federal support will provide much-needed assistance to Eisenhower at a time when the entire medical system deals with the rise in coronavirus cases,” said Bruce Barton, director of the County of Riverside Emergency Management Depar tment. “That assistance will make a difference for those who are being impacted by this virus that has taken so many lives.” Federal medical teams are also assisting other California counties. “The hospital is nearing capacity in our ICU and on our Covid-19 units,” says Alan Williamson, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Eisenhower Health. “Currently, we only have three more ‘staffed’ beds available in the ICU. Additionally, we are approaching 80 percent of bed capacity within the hospital, but are at virtually 100 percent of our staffing capacity. We are grateful for the support from FEMA and its Air Force Medical response team. It comes at a critical time.”

birthed from pain,” Conley added. “To those claiming the song is derisive, I ask which part? Much like America the Beautiful is played to honor, this song is the same. It’s isn’t for “just Black people” it’s for all who acknowledge the past and press toward a better future.” As noted in Sports Illustrated, Lift Every Voice and Sing has an extensive history since its first inception as a poem in 1899. According to the NAACP, its lyrics were penned by writer and NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson (a Jacksonville native). It was eventually adopted for music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. Years later, it was adopted by the NAACP as the organization’s official song. According to the NAACP, the song was first performed in Jacksonville at a school where James Weldon Johnson

was the principal. As part of a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, 1900, Lift Every Voice and Sing was publicly performed by 500 school children at the Stanton School. The NFL has recently acknowledged it was wrong in how it handled Kaepernick, who has mostly been black balled from the game. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he now would encourage teams to sign the former Super Bowl quarterback. Because Goodell has reversed course and said he would allow kneeling, the league came under enormous criticism from President Donald Trump, who now is calling for a boycott of the NFL. Sen. Ted Cruz called the decision to play the Black National Anthem “asinine,” further fueling racial tensions that have already boiled over since the Floyd killing.

Newsom closes indoor businesses statewide; clamps down further on some counties BY ANA B. IBARRA IN SUMMARY As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to spike, California Gov. Gavin Newsom closes indoor activities at restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, museums and card rooms while also ordering breweries and bars to close all operations, indoors and out. California must once again close indoor operations of various business sectors as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to spike, and resources in several counties dwindle, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday. Effective immediately, all counties will have to shut down indoor activities at restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos and museums, as well as card rooms. Breweries and bars must close both indoor and outdoor operations; those restaurants with outdoor seating can still serve customers. In addition, 29 counties on the state’s watch list— those that

report three consecutive days of increased hospitalizations and transmission— also will have to shut down fitness centers, places of worship, protests, hair salons, indoor malls and some offices, unless these can operate outdoors or by pick-up. The inclusion of protests the majority of which occur outside, anyway— reveals the sweeping nature of the new shut-down order, and its attempt to cover the bases in trying to keep crowds from congregating. As of Monday, 31 of California’s 58 counties were on the state’s monitoring list, including newly added Placer, Sutter, Sonoma and Yuba. (Two of the counties, Alameda and Santa Clara, have not yet hit the three-day threshold for further restrictions.) Large counties being monitored include Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego and Orange. Together, the watch list accounts for 80% of the state’s population.

July 16, 2020

All In Or Out? How Business Owners Can Deal With COVID’S Cloudy Future County National News Spikes in infections in many states, double-digit unemployment, consumer and lender concerns, and steep economic challenges in the wake of a long shutdown make it difficult to forecast if and when many companies will fully recover. Small business owners – many of them baby boomers and in the retirement age range – are in a difficult position trying to decide whether to risk staying in business or sell and cut their losses, says Michael Sipe, author of The AVADA Principle and founder of the consulting firm 10x Catalyst Groups (www.10xgroups.com). “We are in the early stages of a depression that’s going to go on quite a while,” Sipe says. “Many small business owners are in their 60s and 70s, and they’re tired and beat up. Some recovered from the financial collapse of 2008, but now they’re getting hammered again. “Customers and employees are scared or nervous. The supply chain is a big problem, and there’s this crazy situation where prices are going up because of the shortages, but meanwhile we have a depression because there aren’t enough transactions.” Sipe offers the following suggestions to small business owners as they try to sort out their future amidst so much uncertainty: Quit. “A lot of people are going to do that,” Sipe says. “And if that’s the decision, they should quit fast. Don’t drag this out. One of the things that happened in the recession of 2008 was people refused to face reality, and it cost them everything, their savings and retirement. If you’re 60 to 70 years old right now and don’t know if you can gut this out another 10 or 15 years, then cut your losses. You’ll have a little nest egg now

as opposed to spending all of it trying to bail the business out.” Reinvent. “If you’re not going to quit,” Sipe says, “then you’ve got to change. Just slugging it out and hoping it’s going to get better or that it will get back to normal – that kind of thinking is ridiculous. We have huge structural problems as a country. So if you’re going to reinvent, you have to come back to the fundamentals of business. The owner has to back up and say, ‘What are the fundamental concerns of customers we are actually trying to address here?’ And focus energy on those prime areas that are going to move people to pay a good margin for your product. Don’t ask why it’s not easier; ask how you can get better.” Be flexible. Given the fluid state of our world, Sipe says changing some of your business model and processes may have to become a habit. “The next thing business owners have to do is realize what they changed today may need to change tomorrow,” he says. “The innovation has to happen every day. That has a lot to do with listening to customers and anticipating what they would respond to. Engagement with customers and engagement in the innovation process for owners is absolutely critical. If an owner is not willing to try and get that figured out with and for their customers, they’re going to fail. “The business has to be infused with a fresh energy and a fresh passion,” Sipe says. “If you’re not going to quit during these extremely difficult times, that means you’ve got to get back in the game. And you’ve got to play hard, because this is going to be tough.”

Big Mac Racism at McDonald’s...continued upon, Black customers, Black franchisees or Black executives, as evidenced by how they decimated their ranks at the corporate level,” she said. “Domineca and Vicki were forced to witness McDonald’s blatantly deemphasize Black people and the effect upon them was terrible,” Chatman said. “I mean, how are they supposed to work in an environment that is openly hostile to people who look like them.” Neal said when Kempczinski was told about concerns that there weren’t any Blacks on his U.S. President executive team, he said he can the ask questions “the numbers don’t matter.” “But, the numbers do m at t e r,” C h at m a n s a id Caruso said the bottom line is that they are alleging their clients were victims of intentional discrimination and it came from the very top of the McDonald’s organization in the person of Steve Easterbrook and Christopher Kempczinski. “It was not an accident that all this happened to Domineca and Vicki, and other African Americans in the company,” he said. Neal, reflecting on her time at McDonald’s recalled how happy she was to join the organization in 2011 precisely because of its reputation for embracing the African American community. “And we embraced them, and that was shown through the loyalty to the brand, the representation of African American talent at all levels throughout the organization

and the opportunities to create wealth for the African American owner-operators which was also very inspiring and a representation of their diversity and inclusion values,” she said. Now, after leaving the corporation in March, Neal still finds the swift turnabout in the company’s attitude and values – after nearly 50 years of progress – disconcerting. She said the whole “angry Black woman” incident felt as if she was living in an episode of Mad Men. She is left to wonder how sincere the corporation was about diversity and inclusion in the first place. She noted things would never have had gotten out of hand as it did if the Board of Directors had come down on the executives. But they didn’t. “It was very disheartening, heartbreaking, and shocking because I think that we’re at a stage in society, where we know that’s language that is racial in nature and stereotypical and used in a manner to quiet African American women from being able to comfortably bring their authentic selves to the workplace,” Neal said. (Part 2 of Big Mac Attack on Blacks: Black McDonald’s Owner-Operators Caught between a Rock and Hard Place as Black Executives Fight for Fairness and Corporation Demands Loyalty)

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July 16, 2020