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Years
Vol. 65 No. 44 | Thursday, October 30, 2025
www.sdvoice.info
Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 65 Years
BALLOT DROP-OFF CALIFORNIANS, GET OUT AND VOTE LOCATIONS OPEN! SAYS SECRETARY OF STATE SHIRLEY WEBER Vote Early, Don’t Delay!
By Sunita Sohrabji
ACoM Though her family has lived in the US for more than 200 years, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber is only a second-generation voter — a reminder, she says, of the multiple challenges minority voters face in accessing the ballot box.
SPECIAL Election 2025
KEY DATES EARLY VOTing has begun
from The Old Globe
Don’t Delay, Vote Right Away! OCT 25: Select vote centers will be open daily for in-person voting from 8am to 5pm
NOV 1: All vote centers will be open daily from 8am to 5pm NOV 4: Final Day of Voting! All vote centers, official ballot drop boxes, and the Registrar’s office will be open from 7am to 8pm
READY TO VOTE? Check your voter registration TODAY!
www.sdvote.com
INSIDE
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:
Flickr CaliforniaPHOTO: Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber takes the mic as Attorney General Rob Bonta looks on. PHOTO: CSoS office photo
See VOTE page 2
ON THE BRINK: FEDERAL GOV’T SHUTDOWN THREATENS SNAP/ CALFRESH, HEADSTART PROGRAMS By Antonio Ray Harvey
CALIFORNIA BLACK M EDIA A total of 134 Head Start programs in California and across the country will not receive their operational funding if the federal government shutdown extends beyond Nov. 1 These early-learning programs are located in 41 states and Puerto Rico and serve more than 65,000 children, according to the First Five Fund.
As many as 1,900 facilities across the state — including the WCIC/Playmate Head Start Program in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood — could be affected by the government shutdown. A closure could leave thousands of children without services and create financial uncertainty for families who rely on these programs. PHOTO: Antonio Ray Harvey
See BRINK page 2
AUTHOR MARY E. GILDERS’ BOOK LAUNCH SIGNING By Darrel Wheeler
CONTRIBUTING WRITER On the third Saturday of October, homegrown author Mary E. Gilders returned to America’s Finest City and appeared at the Elementary Institute of Science for a special book launch signing. Family, friends and a host of supporters showed
PHOTO: Darrel Wheeler
up to get a signed copy of her latest creation Lilbit (A Grandmother’s Love Transcends). See AUTHOR page 7
Commander “Joe Rush”/ The Skyline 8U
PHOTO: Alyssa Thomas
SEE PAGES 5 & 10
SAN DIEGO MELANIN'S CALIFORNIA TEACHERS RIDES ASSOCIATION RALLIES BLACKTOBERFEST Black Joy BEHIND PROP. 50: INTO SAN DIEGO on the Ranch A STAND FOR EDUCATION
AND DEMOCRACY VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE
In a bold move reflecting the urgency of the times, the California Teachers Association (CTA) has thrown its weight behind Proposition 50, an initiative spearheaded by Governor Gavin Newsom aimed at redistricting. CTA is reaching out to California’s Black voters by activating a campaign utilizing some of the state’s legacy Black newspapers. See TEACHERS page 2
By Alyssa Thomas
CONTRIBUTING WRITER SD Melanin hosted its inaugural “Blacktoberfest” on October 18, 2025, at S&S Friendly Ranch, the city’s oldest Black-owned ranch. The event drew over 600 guests and ran from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Described by organizers as a fusion of HBCU homecoming spirit and West Coast culture, attendees fully embraced the theme with western-inspired
attire that reflected the ranch’s rich history. associated with the venue by arriving in all manner of Western-style attire ranging from cowboy boots to Wrangler shirts. The ranch was filled with a sea of lawn chairs and sprawling blankets where guests made themselves comfortable to enjoy the festivities. See BLACKTOBERFEST page 7
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