Affirmative action was definitely working for Black America, but no longer | Opinion

Affirmative action ruling was bad

I find it shameful that the U.S. Supreme Court has abandoned America by overturning affirmative action. The highest and most prestigious court in America had a 6 to 3 vote to overturn affirmative action. This action was not warranted because it was working for Black America. This action is a precursor for other issues that may be revisited in the future. The Supreme Court’s decision is enough. Was this a political move or feedback from their very rich donors?

The court should have known you only overturn a law if it is not working for their society. It appears that the Black community has really made positive strides to get in college and increase enrollment on a consistent basis.. The Supreme Court should be happy with the results of Black admission to colleges. From 1960-70 black enrollment in a four-year colleges increased from 145,436 to 429,948 . It appears affirmative action is working.

What was the Supreme Court’s true reasoning for overturning affirmative action? This is not the America I grew up with, or is it?

Renter protection badly needed

It’s an obvious connection: evictions cause homelessness. Central Valley renters are struggling to stay in their homes while corporate landlords make record profits. Local state legislators, including Assemblymember Esmarelda Soria, have an opportunity to do right by thousands of their constituents by passing the Homelessness Prevention Act.

Senator Maria Elena Durazo presented SB 567 to close loopholes under existing law, which corporate landlords ruthlessly exploit. Landlords can initiate a “no fault” eviction for a number of reasons, allowing them to remove tenants regardless of their behavior or ability to pay rent.

Landlords may evict renters at any time in order for the owner or family member to move in, to withdraw a unit from the housing market, or for “substantial renovations” — a.k.a. “renovictions.” These loopholes encourage fraudulent behavior, like returning a unit to the market shortly after tenant removal at increased rent. In addition to addressing these loopholes, SB 567 establishes consequences for landlords who illegally evict tenants.

We urge Assemblymember Soria to stand with vulnerable tenants and vote yes. Legislators have a responsibility to protect vulnerable tenants at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords — especially for Central Valley communities. They can do so by passing SB 567.

New skills honed living in Fresno

Fresno is a great place to learn new skills!

Dodging drug-addled panhandlers and avoiding trash and human feces on cracked neglected city streets are wonderful ways to improve one’s balance. Should you become an unfortunate victim of a drive by shooting, assault or car jacking, your patience will be vastly improved after a several-hour wait to be seen by medical personnel in a local emergency room.

Surviving on minimum wage can also be tricky with the high cost of housing, but if you happen to be unlucky enough to join the ranks of the unhoused, your endurance skills will skyrocket. It is quite possible to park your borrowed shopping cart in the shade of a friendly tree and endure Fresno’s blistering summer heat and the cold fog of winter.

It’s simply a matter of acquiring the necessary skill set.

Good job by Fresno Chief Balderrama

An article by Tad Weber reports how Fresno’s Police Chief, Paco Balderrama, explains the reasons overall crime in Fresno has fallen. Balderrama attributes the fall of the crime rate is due to the increase of police officers. And that fact comes at a cost. Hiring more officers costs the city 51.8% of the general fund.

If spending more money brings down the crime rate, then why hasn’t that principle applied to other problems, like fighting homelessness. Other articles have stated that in Fresno and other large cities in California, funds have done little to alleviate homelessness. I’m sure that other social problems have not been resolved by simply throwing more money into the problem; education, to mention another one.

Balderrama mentions that a murder in the city necessitates 30 officers to be at the scene for half of their shifts. Devoting that much staffing to one crime means those officers can not be used to handle other crimes happening in other places. My point is that Balderrama has done a good job. He is studying the problem and comes up with solutions. He has a global understanding of the problem and uses that understanding to implement a solution.

Better explaining Fresno violence

Earlier this month Juan Esparza Loera shared some perspectives and upcoming events in his “California sees ‘alarming increases’ in hate crimes. San Joaquin Valley isn’t immune.”

While highlighting some findings from the recent report issued by Attorney General Rob Bonta, Juan unfortunately buried his own lead and missed an opportunity to explore root causes. A reader could easily mistake Juan’s listing of demographic changes as the “cause” of “racial friction” as he quickly glosses over “politicians and others are constantly attacking…minority groups.”

Our San Joaquin Valley has always been diverse and if today it is even more, that should be cause to celebrate, not raise alarm. If there has been an increase in hate violence, then we need to look at economic, social, and political reasons. Are our leaders modeling restorative visions of healing and unity? Are we investing in communities that have been left behind? Are we closing the health gap between all zip codes in our region?

A deeper analysis that uses the state report as a jumping-off point but one that speaks with survivors, communities, and key voices about their hopes, apprehensions and visions would provide significant context and perspective to this violence in our community.

More on tragic police dog death

I want to thank Nan Bader for her letter on the K-9 officer that was locked away in a hot garage, and escaped on the 4th of July, ending with the sad death of Kona. I was shocked that the dog would be treated so badly.

I assumed the officers (handlers) loved these dogs like family members. More needs to be done to protect these sweet smart helpful K-9 officers. More vetting of people who want to have one, to be sure they will be treated and protected like family.

This story was originally published July 30, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Affirmative action was definitely working for Black America, but no longer | Opinion."