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Vol. 64 No. 48 | Thursday, November 28, 2024
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Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 64 Years
15 Democrats Join Republicans in Backing Bill Critics Call Dictator’s Dream By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Donald Trump has openly declared he would rule as a dictator from his first day in office. Astonishingly, 15
INSIDE
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:
House Democrats joined Republicans in passing a bill many say could empower the President-Elect to do just that. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages See DREAM, Page 2
FROM THE PUBLISHER: THE CONTINUED ABUSE OF OUR BLACK INMATE
PHOTO: NNPA
SEE PAGES 8-12
San Diego to Face Harsh Budget Cycle
HORNETS WIN CIF OPEN DIVISION FINALS! SEE PAGE 6
In New Year
Shortage of funds yields possibility of deeper cuts ahead of the 2026 city budget By Macy Meinhardt Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer The City of San Diego’s budget priorities for the next fiscal year
are now taking shape. Topping the city council’s spending list: funding for housing assisSee BUDGET, Page 2
San Diego to Face Harsh Budget Cycle In New Year
Neighborhood House Association’s
110th Anniversary Celebration
See ANNIVERSARY, Page 4
Longtime NHA supporter, Stedman Graham, Awarded the Chairperson’s Award
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING REV. RAY SMITH, THE JACOBS CENTER, NORMAN POWELL, AND ELEGANT DIVA’S DONATE FOOD AND SHARE RESOURCES SEE PAGES 8-12
Affordable Care Act in Jeopardy Subsidies face expiration in 2025 By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Chollas Valley and Emerald Hills residents at the Nov. 18 Chollas Valley Community Planning Group Meeting. PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ screenshot via Voice & Viewpoint YouTube channel
Questions Remain in Controversial
Zone Change in District 4 By Macy Meinhardt Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer City staff and District 4 community members remain at odds on the approach to remove a zone regulation that residents claim unlawfully targets historically underserved communities of color. The regulation, titled Footnote 7, minimizes the square lot size for homes to 5,000 square feet in Encanto and Southeastern neighborhoods. Everywhere else in the city the minimum lot size between homes is 20,000 square feet. The effect of this, community members argue, is that it perpetuates unlawful housing segregation by allowing for additional
density exclusive to one region. “We have a disproportionate share of that type of housing here, and it is causing all who come here,” said Andrea Hetheru, Chair of the Chollas Valley Community Planning Group (CVPG).
As Congress prepares to finalize its leadership in both chambers, the fate of health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans hangs in the balance. Essentially, if Republicans wrest control of the House along with their victories at the White House, Senate, and Supreme Court, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) likely will end. In 2024, enrollment in PHOTO: NNPA ACA marketplaces reached historic highs, with over 45 million nationwide now enrolled in ACA-related coverage—a 46% increase since 2021 and more than three times the enrollment since the ACA’s early years in 2014. The program, known as Obamacare, has become an essential fixture in the U.S. healthcare system. “For decades, when it came to federal programs we could depend on to keep Americans covered, three were always top of mind—Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, but now it’s crystal clear that we need to add a fourth—the Affordable Care Act.,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra proclaimed earlier this year. Becerra praised the recent wave of enrollment, adding, “A record-breaking number of Americans have signed up for affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace, and now they and their families have the peace of mind that comes with coverage.”
The city maintains that they share residents' concern, and has agreed to undergo a process to remove the footnote from land development code projected for early next year. This, however, would mean that until
The record enrollment has primarily been driven by enhanced subsidies, which were first enacted under the Biden administration in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan. The subsidies limit insurance costs to no more than 8.5% of a household’s income for many middle-income Americans, making coverage accessible for those previously unable to afford it. However, the enhanced subsidies are only guaranteed through the end of 2025, and with Republicans newly in control of the Senate and vying for control of the House, the potential loss of these financial aids could spell trouble for
See ZONE, Page 2
See AFFORDABLE, Page 2
This area of the city has long faced challenges, including high poverty rates, inadequate infrastructure, and a predominantly minority population.
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