Volume 40 No. 4 | Thursday, April 9, 2026

• Volume 40 No. 4
• WSSNEWS
• Sharing the Quest for Excellence

FOR DAILY NEWS AND UPDATES VISIT www.wssnews.com

Thursday April 9, 2026

National Black Grads Celebrate 15 Years of Success and Academic Impact

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WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

San Bernardino City Council Censures

Councilmember Treasure Ortiz

Council cites municipal code violations, bogus $2 million lawsuit, illegal recordings, and lies about arrest history.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - On April 1, 2026, the San Bernardino City Council voted unanimously, 6-0, to formally censure Coun- cilmember Treasure Ortiz after an outside in- vestigation found she violated San Bernardino Municipal Code Section 2.58.050(A), (B), and (B)(1), which require honesty, integrity, trans- parency, and conduct above reproach from elected officials.

The Mayor did not vote because, per Section 303 of the City Charter, she was not afforded a vote.

The council found that Ortiz used her elected position and City resources to promote false claims against the City and police department for her own political and personal benefit. The Bottom Line

Publisher's Commentary by Wallace J Allen IV

Our President is obviously sick! We are even sicker because we have not insisted on his impeachment and hospitalization! His mental state is his legitimate ex- cuse. We have none! Our cavalier investigation began after Ortiz filed a bogus $2 million lawsuit to bury her arrest history, promote her City Council race, with taxpayers paying the bill.

Ortiz's arrest history threatened to damage her politically, so Ortiz not only falsely accused the City and police of accessing her arrest records, but she also then tried to legitimize her lie with a lawsuit seeking a $2 million taxpayer payout for herself. Ortiz filed the $2 million claim in March 2025 and then sued the City in federal court in November 2025 after the City rejected it. An outside investigation found her allega- tions to be false and the lawsuit an attempt to obtain millions in taxpayer dollars. Ortiz also illegally recorded police officials to overindulgent attitude is harming the entire planet! We must insist that our elected officials, Demo-

DR. TREASURE ORTIZ

He Has Lost It!

crat and Republican, demonstrate their love for America and empa- thy for a very sick man by relievprop up her false claims. California is a two- party consent state, and secretly recording a conversation without everyone's consent is il- legal. Ortiz secretly recorded Lt. Jose Loera on August 15, 2024, and Chief Darren Goodman on August 29, 2024 while trying to build evi- dence for her false claims that police and City officials had illegally accessed her records and targeted her. The District Attorney later filed criminal charges against her under Penal Code 632(a).

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ing Trump of the emotional trau- ma he is demonstrating.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) today welcomes the return of Chief John Guttierez as School Police Chief, marking a full-circle moment in his illustrious career.

A dedicated advocate for children and a respected law enforcement leader, Chief Guttierez returned to SBCUSD on March 18, bring ing more than 30 years of experi- ence and a commitment to student safety, well-being and community partnership.

"This is more than a leader- ship transition, it's a homecom- ing," said Superintendent Mau- ricio Arellano. "Chief Guttierez understands our community, our students and our responsibility to keep them safe. His experience and heart for service make him the right leader at the right time for SBCUSD."

From SBCUSD

Sergeant to Chief:

John Guttierez Returns to Lead Safety Efforts

KKKK

POL

O John Guttierez is the new head of the San Bernardino City Unified School District Police Department. School Police Chief Guttierez brings more than 30 years of law-enforcement experience and a deep- rooted commitment to student safety, well-being and community partnership to the position. (Photo by Steven Moore and provided courtesy of SBCUSD).

Through the survey tool Though- tExchange, SBCUSD conducted a comprehensive, community-en- gaged search process to identify its next chief, gathering meaning- ful input from students, families, staff and community partners. Through this engagement, partici- pants consistently emphasized the importance of selecting a leader who is deeply rooted in the com- munity, culturally competent and committed to building trust through transparency, communi- cation and relationship-building. Respondents called for a chief who prioritizes prevention, stu- dent well-being and restorative approaches, while also maintain- ing strong safety protocols.

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• Carl Dameron
• Alton Garrett Jr.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - The San Bernardino Black Cultur- al Foundation announces that the 34th Black Rose Awards has been rescheduled to Saturday, Sep- tember 12, at the Santos Manuel Student Union at California State University, San Bernardino.

Carl M. Dameron, President of the Black Cultural Foundation, said: "We are still celebrating our Black Rose Award winners, and we look forward to having you join us at this celebration of excel- lence in our community."

The Black Rose Awards hon- or outstanding individuals who have contributed to the advance- ment and enrichment of San Ber- nardino's Black community. This prestigious event recognizes those who demonstrate leadership, ded- ication, and service.

This year's Jim King Founders Award winner is the J.W. Vines Medical Society and Foundation, which is committed to increasing the number of African American healthcare professionals in the Inland Empire and addressing healthcare disparities.

The Dr. Juanita Scott Humanitar- ian of the Year Award goes to Carl

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

Save the Date:

The Black Rose Awards on September 12

Chache Wright

Jonathan Beauregard

M. Dameron, founder and chief creative officer of Dameron Com- munications and president of the Black Culture Foundation.

Other Black Rose Award winners include: Alisha James, a Spanish teacher at San Bernardino High School; Alton Garrett Jr., Man- aging Partner of Garrett Man- agement Group LLC; Anthony Morris, Supervisor of Mobile Maintenance Teams at San Ber- nardino Unified School District; Chache Wright, San Bernardino NAACP President; Dr. Keith Mo- ses, a mentor, teacher, and advo- cate for young people; Jonathan Beauregard, CEO of the Beau- regard Family Therapy Group; Marcelino "Mars" Serna, Fontana Unified School District Board Vice President; and Tawon Green, CEO and Founder of Dreams Training Facility.

Tickets are $125 per person. A table of eight costs $840. Student tickets are $75, and a student ta- ble for eight is $600. For tickets, visit: https://sbbcfoundation.org/ black-rose-tickets. To sponsor the Black Rose Awards, go to: https:// sbbcfoundation.org/black-rosesponsorship

• WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER
• LUE Productions Presents the First-Ever
• West-Coast R&B Cypher

A Night of Soulful Vibes, Live Performances, and Artist Recognition

Fabzi

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-LUE Produc- tions proudly announces its inaugural West- Coast R&B Cypher, an electrifying evening dedicated to celebrating the essence of R&B music and the artists who keep the culture

In San Bernardino County, Black babies are almost three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies. From 2018 to 2023, the number of babies born too early went up by more than 10%. Black mothers also have a higher chance of feeling sad or depressed during pregnancy, which can affect both mom and baby.

JaLise •De La Cruz alive. Taking place on Saturday, April 18th from 7:00 PM to Midnight, this highly antici- pated event will bring together a dynamic line- up of vocalists, performers, and creatives for an unforgettable night of live entertainment.

Rallying Around Sisters

Perinatal Equity in San Bernardino County

But there is hope-and people are taking action. That's where FIMR, the Fetal Infant Mortality Review, comes in.

FIMR is a local group of doctors, nurses, community leaders, and neighbors. They work together to learn why some babies die and how to stop it from happening. They look at real cases (mom's and baby's information is kept private) and share ideas to help make care better for families.

Jahara Dante

Designed for true lovers of the R&B vibe, the West-Coast R&B Cypher will showcase powerful live singing through three uniquely See "LUE Productions..." page 8

Together, we can build healthy beginnings for Black families.

For more information, visit dph.sbcounty.gov/mcah or email [email protected].

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Public Health

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

County Communications Team Earns Top Honors at Regional Advertising Awards

• INLANDIRRE
• AMERICAN AP SING DS ac
• ONNECT
• CRO
• IRE
• GOLD ADDY AWARD
• AMERICA ADVERTISI
• Inland Empire Competition
• GOLD ADDY AWARD
• San Bernardino County Communications Group
• Music With Lyrics

"So Much to Love - Song San Bernardino County

GOLD ADDY AWARD

San Bernardino County Communications Group

Puble Service Our Of Flood Preparednes

County Administrative Office Communications celebrates at the 2026 ADDY Awards, where the team earned multiple gold and silver honors for creative, impactful visual and audio communication projects.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA--- San Bernardino County proved that government communica- tions can be as creative and compelling as the big brands in the private sector.

At the 2026 American Advertising Awards Inland Empire (the ADDYS), County Admin- istrative Office Communications earned 12 awards: three gold and nine silver. The March 26 ceremony, held at the historic Terminal 1 at Ontario International Airport, recognizes the LUE productions

SINGER

Wanted

UCB-Urban Citty Boyzz

LUE Productions is searching for 2 talented boys to complete our dynamic all-boy urban singing group, Inland Empire UCB-Urban Citty Boyzz

• Boys ages 9-11 years old
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• INFORMATION
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Your voice could be the star we've been waiting for.

[email protected] - Lueproductions.org+ best in strategy, execution and storytelling in their community." the local advertising industry.

"This recognition reflects the incredible talent of our team and partners in reimagining how we serve the public," said Chief Communica- tions Officer Martha Guzman-Hurtado. "We believe that clear communication is a core ser- vice. By making county information easy to understand and engaging, we are ensuring our residents stay informed, safe and connected to County Communications earned three gold ADDYS for both life saving public safety mes- saging and strong community pride storytell- ing.

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Wednesday-Sunday 12-7pm

National Black Grads proudly hosted its 2026 Scholarship Cel- ebration on Saturday at San Ber- nardino Valley College, drawing a standing-room-only crowd in sup- port of local student achievement. The event brought together a dis- tinguished group of community leaders, educators, and supporters from across San Bernardino and Riverside counties to honor the accomplishments of 41 African American students representing communities throughout the In- land Empire.

Among those in attendance were Dr. Gwen Rogers of the San Ber- nardino County Board of Educa- tion and Dwaine Radden Sr., Ex- ecutive Director of PAL Charter Academy, along with many other notable community figures. At tendees gathered to celebrate aca- demic excellence, resilience, and the bright futures of these gradu- ating seniors.

Each student was recognized for their hard work and awarded a scholarship of $1,000 or more to support their continued education. The PAL Center, a local commu- nity agency in San Bernardino, sponsored Kelis Johnson, a Cajon High School scholar and student intern at the organization. She will be attending Benedict College in South Carolina on a full academic

Front page story

National Black Grads Celebrate 15 Years of Success and Impact

FBN/DBA $99 www.wssnews.com | (909)384-8131

By Bueno Community News scholarship. In recognition of her achievements, PAL also contrib- uted an additional $1,000 to sup- port her educational journey.

Radden, attending the event for the first time, described the ex- perience as powerful and inspir- ing. "To see all of those African American students march into the building was real and moving," he said. "That is our hope and our fu- ture."

Founded by Jonathan and Key- nasia Buffong, National Black Grads continues its mission of up- lifting and empowering students by providing resources, recogni- tion, and financial support to help them succeed beyond high school. Jonathan Buffong emphasized that the program's success is driven by the commitment of local leaders, businesses, and community orga- nizations that invest in these stu- dents' futures.

Now celebrating 15 years of ser- vice, the organization's annual scholarship celebration serves not only as a recognition of student achievement but also as an oppor- tunity to educate students about the legacy and impact of Histori- cally Black Colleges and Univer- sities (HBCUs), which have paved the way for generations of Black students across America.

WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

City of San Bernardino Names Tarik Rahmani as its New Finance Director where he oversaw multiple de- partments, including Finance, Utilities, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and the library. In that role, he was responsible for man- aging the City's operating budget, capital improvement and infra- structure programs, and long-term financial strategy.

"Tarik Rahmani brings a proven track record of financial leader- ship, innovation, and strategic thinking to San Bernardino," said City Manager Eric Levitt. "His extensive experience in municipal finance and his ability to align fis- cal strategies with community pri- orities will be instrumental. He is a great addition to our team."

Prior to his tenure in Florida, Rahmani held several key leader- ship roles in California, including as Deputy City Manager and Fi- nance Director for the City of Car- son. There, he served as the City's Chief Financial and Innovation Officer, managing a large finance team and overseeing the budget- ing, capital improvement, and in- frastructure programs.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-The City of San Bernardino is pleased to announce the appointment of Tarik Rahmani as its new Fi- nance Director, who brings nearly twenty-five years of high-level municipal finance and executive leadership experience to the orga- nization.

Rahmani most recently served as Chief Financial Officer and In- terim Deputy City Manager for the City of North Miami Beach, To continue, visit westsidestorynewspaper.com.

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Your Envelope Must Be Stamped- Not Just Mailed

• How to Address an Envelope Correctly
• Your Name
• Your Address
• Recipient Name

1234 Main Street Anytown, NY 12345

Many voters and taxpayers don't realize there's a critical dif- ference between dropping an envelope in a mailbox and having it officially postmarked by the post office and that difference could cost you.

According to the Registrar of Voters and the IRS, it's not enough to simply place your envelope in the mail. Your envelope must receive an official postal stamp no later than the relevant dead- line: Election Day for mail-in ballots, and April 15 for tax re- turns. Envelopes dropped in a mailbox may not be processed or postmarked on the same day they're deposited, which could cause your submission to be considered late.

To ensure your ballot or tax return is accepted, take your enve- lope inside your local post office and have it hand-stamped by a clerk. Better yet, don't wait until the deadline-visit the post of- fice a few days early to avoid long lines and give yourself peace of mind.

When in doubt, go in person and get the stamp.

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U.S. POSTAGE

Every election cycle, the conver- sation starts the same way. Cam- paigns announce their outreach. Candidates say our name. They show up at our churches, our so- rority events, our community gatherings.

And then, too often, they govern like they forgot we existed.

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• THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026
• Letter to the Editor:

Our Vote Is Not a Blank Check--What Black Women Are Really Saying About the Governor's Race

By Kellie Todd Griffin | Special to California Black Media

That pattern is why the data that was just released from the 2026 California Voter Index Baseline Survey stops me cold. It confirms what Black women in California have been saying for years: we are watching, we are engaged, and we are not yet sold.

Here's what the numbers show: roughly one-third of Black women remain undecided, making it one of the largest response categories about who they'll support in the June 2026 gubernatorial primary. It is a number that should shake every campaign headquarters in this state.

Do not mistake it for apathy.

Let's be clear: Black women are planning to vote. In this survey, 80.4% say they will definitely cast a ballot in June, and when you include likely voters, the num- ber climbs to roughly 91%. We are showing up. The question is whether candidates have given us a compelling reason to show up for them.

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• WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER
• California's Big-City
• Mayors: Cutting HHAP Funding Threatens
• Gains Made in Homelessness Fight
• Continued from page 4
• LUE Productions
• Presents the First-Ever
• West-Coast R&B Cypher

Deven Powers, and Ladii Rain, curated cypher sessions:

Love Jones! Slow and Gerald Williams, Yaddida Page sensational grooves

Turn Me Up! - High-energy, upbeat performances and more.

As part of the celebration, LUE Productions will honor several in-

Gumbo! - A mellow fusion dividuals whose dedication and By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media contributions have significantly impacted the local music move- ment and creative community.

"This event is about creating a platform where artists can ex- press themselves, connect, and keep real R&B alive on the West Coast," said LUE Productions.

The West-Coast R&B Cypher promises an immersive experi- ence filled with talent, passion, and authentic musical energy. $20 entry fee

For more information, media inquiries, or vendor and sponsor- ship opportunities, please contact LUE Production at 909.567.1000 of sounds and styles

In addition to soulful R&B per- formances, guests will also enjoy select showcases from rap and hip- hop artists, creating a rich blend of musical expression throughout the evening.

Headlining the event is multi- talented artist Yung Muusik, an accomplished R&B singer, song- writer, actor, producer, and author, bringing star power and an unfor- gettable performance to the stage.

The evening will also feature special guest performances by: Jalise De La Cruz, Fabz, Johara Dante, San Bernardino CB, IE- ZLITTESTDYKE, Maya Janai, CALIFO

FORNI

Between 2020 and 2024, Long Beach experienced a minimal but incremental decrease in chronic homelessness that was interrupted by the Los Angeles County wild- fires in early January 2025, ac- cording to a point-in-time count conducted by the city's governand a bipartisan group of mayors representing California's 13 larg- est cities traveled to Sacramento to urge state leaders to replenish and sustain funding for the Home- less Housing, Assistance and Pre- vention (HHAP) program.

"In the city of Long Beach, we increased our shelter capacity in the last three years by 84%, nearly doubling the amount of shelter," Richardson said at the news con- ference held at the State Capitol Swing Space. "This is one incred- ible strategy of how we move people out of tents, unmanaged encampments, and into shelter."

ment.

After making notable progress on increasing affordable housing, adopting "Housing First" models, and providing wraparound sup- portive services, Rex Richardson, the mayor of Long Beach, and city government officials across the state say their efforts could be jeopardized by funding cuts in the Governor's budget.

In late March 2026, Richardson

CLASSIFIED / LEGAL SECTION

SUMMONS (CITACION more information at the al demandeante. Una carta o mas de valor recibida no lo protegen. Su respuesta concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene

JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFEN- Self-Help Center (www.

California Courts Online o una liameda Telefonica mediante un acuerdo o una 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 re- quirements. 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 af- ford 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 por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es possible que haya un formulando que usted pueda usar para su re- spuesta. Puede encontrar es- tos formularios de la corte y mas informacion en el Cen- Cen- tro 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 mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pide al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requistios legals. Es

DANT:; AVISO AL DE-

MANDADO: COLONY REDEMPTION, A CALI- FORNIA LIMITED LI- ABILITY COMPANY; LA FON COLEMAN & LUCILLE REVOCABLE TRUST 4-2; COLEMAN M. LAFON, INDIVIDU- ALLY, AND AS TRUSTEE; LUCILLE D. LA FON, AS INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS TRUSTEE; AG-CRG HIGHLAND OWNER, L.L.C., A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; AND DOES 1 THROUGH 20 INCLU SIVE

CASE #: CIVSB 2301149 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DE- MANDANTE): SUNIL BHASIN

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUN- TY OF RIVERSIDE, PALM SPRINGS, 3255 E. TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, 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 direccion de la corte son) SUPERIOR COURT OF CA, COUNTY SAN BERNARDINO; 247 W. THIRD STREET, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415. The name, address and tele- phone number of the plain- tiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, son): SUNIL BHASIN, 225 SIMI VAL- LEY DR., #941206, SIMI VALLEY CA 93065; (909) 233-8934

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org), the California Courts Online Self-help Center (www.coiurtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county

Si no conoce a un abogado, Date: 6/20/2024 puede liamar a un servicio Run Dates: 4-9, 4-16, 4-23, de remission a abogados. 4-30-2026 Si no puede pagar a un WSS#: 25-000 bar association. NOTE: The abogado, es possible que court has a statutory lien for cumpla con los requisites waived fees and costs on para obtener servicios lega- any settlement or arbitration les gratuitos de un programa award of $10,000 or more de servicios legales sin fines in a civil case. The court's de lucro. Puede encontrar lien must be paid before the estos grupos sin fines de court will dismiss the case. lucro en el sitio web de AVISO! Lo han demandado. California Legal Services, Si no responde dentro de 30 (www.lawhelpcalifornia. dias, la corte puede decider org, en el Centro de Ayuda ele en su contra sin escuchar de las Cortes de California, su version., Lea la infor- (www.sucortecagov) o po- macion a continuaction. niendose c contacto con Tiene 30 DIAS DE CAL la corte o el colegio de abo- ENDARIO despues de que gados locales. AVISO: Por le entreguen esta citacion ley, la corte tiene derecho y papeles legals para pre- a reclmar las cuotas y los senter una respuesta por coastos exentos por imponer escito en esta corte y hacer un gravamen sobre cualqui- que se entregue una copia er recuperacion de $10,000

CA 92262

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 y at you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and Tune into the station that leaves no listener behind, KCAA 1050-AM! Advertise your company or product on KCAA 1050-AM. Call the KCAA business office at 909-885-8497. For program information and live Internet streaming, log on to www.kcaaradio.com.