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Years
Vol. 65 No. 22 | Thursday, May 29, 2025
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Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 65 Years
SEE THE 2025 MINORITY HEALTH SEPCIAL ISSUE INSIDE!
The San Dieg o
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Voice & iewpoint
MINORITY HEA LTH specia l Issue 2025
INSIDE THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:
GREATER JACKSON MEMORIAL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION! SEE PAGE 8
PHOTO: Courtesy of NNPA
HATE AND CHAOS RISE
SDSU’S INAUGURAL COHORT GRADUATES FROM VISTA SEE PAGE 8
LEMON GROVE SCHOOL
LEADERS REEL OVER
FEDERAL CUTS TO IN TRUMP’S AMERICA By Stacy M. Brown BLACK PRESS USA SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified 1,371 hate and antigovernment extremist groups operating across the United States in 2024. In its latest Year in Hate & Extremism report, the SPLC reveals how these groups are embedding themselves in politics and policymaking while targeting marginalized communities through intimidation, disinformation, and violence. “Extremists at all levels of government are using cruelty, chaos, and
constant attacks on communities and our democracy to make us feel powerless,” said SPLC President Margaret Huang. The report outlines how hard-right groups aggressively targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives throughout 2024. Figures on the far right falsely framed DEI as a threat to white Americans, with some branding it a form of “white genocide.” After the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, a former Utah legislator blamed the incident on DEI, posting “DEI = DIE.” See AMERICA page 2
POLITICAL PLAYBACK:
MENTAL HEALTH GRANT By Macy Meinhardt
V&V STAFF WRITER, CA LOCAL NEWS FELLOW Cheryl Robertson, a Lemon Grove School District Board Trustee, remembers the gut punch when she learned the Trump administration had terminated funding for their school's mental health programs. The challenges already facing public education, stacked with alarming trends in youth mental health, made the news sting even more. “It feels like they are cutting us off at the knees while taking the wheels off our wheelchair,” said Robertson. By coincidence, Robertson, joined by District Superintendent Marianna Vinson and other local education officials, was in Washington the
Cheryl Roberston, Lemon Grove Board Trustee. PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ V&V Staff
day they received notice. The group was part of a statewide coalition fighting to save other education services on the federal chopping block, such as Medicaid and special education programs. While in the taxi back from Capitol Hill, an email was forwarded to the group from the Department of Education notifying the group that another lifeline for students would be shuttered: mental health services.
CALIFORNIA CAPITOL NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED AT STATE CAPITOL, ADVOCATES
RALLY SUPPORT FOR MATERNITY HEALTH BILL
By Bo Tefu CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA
Barbara Lee Sworn in as Oakland’s First Black Woman Mayor
By Antonio Ray Harvey CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA
Barbara Lee was sworn in on May 20 as the 52nd mayor of Oakland, becoming the first Black woman to hold the city’s highest office. The longtime East Bay congresswoman received a standing ovation as she entered Oakland City Hall to take the oath of office following her victory in a special election. Before her swearing-in ceremony, Lee revealed she has been collaborating with interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins on a comprehensive budget proposal that includes job cuts at City Hall, while prioritizing funding for public safety. Lee emphasized the urgency of addressing the city’s fiscal challenges alongside her broader goals. Lee expressed a commitment to revitalizing the community.
See GRANT page 2
To address California’s maternity health crisis, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) authored Senate Bill (SB) 626.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. PHOTO: CBM
“I want to restore hope, create opportunities for our young people, ensure a safe path for our sons and daughters to have long, productive lives and to be housed in our own homes in a safe, clean city,” said Lee. See PLAYBACK page 2
On April 30, the Senate Health Committee voted 11-0 to advance the legislation. It now moves to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for consideration.
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D–Los Angeles) spoke at the Pain to Power event hosted by the California Coalition for Perinatal Mental Health and Justice. She is the author of SB 626, a survivor-led bill aimed at strengthening California’s response to the perinatal mental health crisis. PHOTO: Antonio Ray Harvey/CBM
Also known as “Perinatal Health Screenings and Treatment,” the legislation would require a licensed health care practitioner who provides perinatal care to screen, diagnose, and treat patients for a “maternal perinatal mental health condition,” according to the bill’s language. “SB 626 is not just legislation — it’s a declaration that the lives of birthing people matter,” said Smallwood-Cuevas, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). See BILL page 5
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