Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, February 4, 2017

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

SECTION B

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

WELCOME TO THE 48TH DISTRICT:

ASSEMBLYWOMAN BLANCA RUBIO

Editorial

SUSAN Henderson, Publisher

BLACK HISTORY 
MONTH AND 
WHY WE STILL 
NEED IT

It’s been a difficult time 
in America since the 
election, especially for 
people of color. Some 
of you reading this will 
disagree but that is a fact. 
And yes, it is because of the actions of the person 
who now sits at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. You 
may say that his actions of late have been directed 
towards Mexicans or Muslims and not necessarily 
African Americans, but spewing for hatred hurts 
us all. For African Americans, it pours salt in the 
wounds that were just slowly beginning to heal in 
the first place.

These are truly troubling times, and I can honestly 
say that for the last 15 days, I have not rested 
with the peace of mind that should come from 
living in America. Former California Governor 
Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the nail on the head 
when he suggested that if Trump went back to 
The Apprentice, “…then people can finally sleep 
comfortably again.” 

Nevertheless, this week marks the beginning of 
Black History Month a time when most of the 
nation takes a moment to reflect on the significant 
contributions of African Americans, so I thought 
I’d dedicate this space to the answer of a question 
that I’ve heard throughout my life from Whites, 
Blacks and just about everyone else: “Why do 
we need (or still need or ever needed) an African 
American History Month? 

The acrimonius answer would be: So that our 
President would know that Frederick Douglass 
died 122 years ago. However, I want to stay 
focused.

I ran across an article published by the Editorial 
Board of Democrat & Chronicle (A USA Today 
publication) that I thought answered the question 
very well so I am sharing it with you. 

(My comments are italicized).

“This week, as the national observance of Black 
History Month begins, history will undoubtedly 
repeat itself. Someone, somewhere will ask the 
question: Do we still need Black History Month?

For some, particularly 20-somethings born 
in what has been called the post-racial era of 
America, there is no need to continue that month-
long observance that grew out of Negro History 
Week in February 1926. To them, it's nothing 
more than a robotic tradition that trots out the 

same figures and facts every February.

For others, older generations and historians for 
example, there is a fear that facts about African 
Americans in U.S. history will be lost without 
Black History Month. As an example of that fear, 
that group can point to 2015, when McGraw Hill 
had to do some serious damage control after its 
high school world-geography textbooks included 
an embarrassing map description as part of its 
lesson on U.S. immigration patterns that read : 
"The Atlantic Slave Trade between the 1500s and 
1800s brought millions of workers from Africa to 
the southern United States to work on agricultural 
plantations." (If you can’t see what’s wrong with 
that statement, call me!)

The annual debate about the need for Black 
History Month likely won't end in 2017. Yet no 
matter which side of the discussion you land 
on, we would all do well to remember that Black 
history is American history and there remain 
lessons to be learned from our past. Lessons that 
can help us understand one another and perhaps 
bring us closer together.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black 
History Month in 1976, and he called upon the 
country to "seize the opportunity to honor the 
too-often neglected accomplishments of black 
Americans in every area of endeavor throughout 
our history."

Forty-one years later, the month-long celebration 
continues and it comes on the heels of the opening 
of the National Museum of African American 
History & Culture in our nation's capital last 
September. The national museum cites as one 
its four pillars of purpose that it exists to explore 
"what it means to be an American and share how 
American values like resiliency, optimism, and 
spirituality are reflected in African American 
history and culture."

This month, classrooms across the country will 
share lessons that spotlight well-known African 
American men and women who had the courage 
to stand up for the disenfranchised, the moral 
compass to walk on the right side of history. And 
while we know about Dr. Martin Luther King 
Jr., Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and 
Rosa Parks, there are many, many more people, 
everyday men and women, who fought for the 
freedoms our nation holds dear.

This month is in remembrance of them, of the 
indomitable American spirit. The need for Black 
History Month remains and the lessons we can 
learn about our country and ourselves during this 
observance are clear.”


By Joan Schmidt

 There’s a new face in the 48th Assembly 
District Office and her name is Blanca Rubio. 
The 48th Assembly District includes the cities of 
Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, 
Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, 
West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley 
unincorporated areas including Bassett, Charter 
Oak, Citrus, Duarte, East Arcadia, Monrovia, 
Valinda and La Puente.

 Ms. Rubio, the first woman to represent this area 
since Hilda Solis, comes with a lot of experience 
and may already be known to many residents. 
What a background she has and she certainly has 
worked very hard to be in this position.

 Blanca Rubio, the eldest of five children is 47 
years old and was born in Juarez, Mexico. When 
she was almost eight years old, her family came to 
the United States in 1977, like many immigrants 
in search of a better life. Her parents were hard-
working; her dad in a factory, and her mom, a 
housekeeper. She grew up in the Pico Union and 
Echo Park area of Los Angeles attending Belmont 
High School. During her senior year, the family 
relocated to Bell, and after she graduated, she took 
classes at East Los Angeles College. She moved to 
Baldwin Park, became a citizen in 1994 and earned 
a bachelor’s degree in business administration 
and a master ’s degree in education from Azusa 
Pacific University.

 The Congresswomen has worn many hats. In 
1997, she was elected to the Valley County Water 
District Board of Directors after encouragement 
from a friend, Carson Mayor Albert Robles. Rubio 
worked in human resources and as a teacher in 
the Baldwin Park Unified School District. In 
2003, she was elected to the Baldwin Park School 
District Board of Education. She served on both 
boards for two years, but was sued by a colleague 
who tried to say there was a conflict of interest. 
Of course Rubio won the civil case, but decided 
against seeking re-election to the Water Board. 

 Assemblywoman Rubio also has taught in the 
Fontana School District. Her sister Susan is on 
the Baldwin Park City Council. How proud their 
parents must be!

 On December 5, 2016, Rubio was officially 
sworn in as Assemblywoman for the 48th 
District. She already has joined dozens of other 
lawmakers and hundreds of Planned Parenthood 
supporters on the steps of the State Capitol to 
show their support for the organization that has 
provided critical health care services to millions 
of Californians over its 100 year history. “This is 
not just a women’s issue, but it’s a man’s one too.” 

 Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council 
Member Terrence Williams recently met with the 
Assemblywoman for a dialogue about our area. 
She will be communicating with Assemblyman 
Chris Holden who represents the City of Monrovia 
in light of the recent criminal activities plaguing 
our areas.

 

 Assemblywoman Rubio’s local district office 
is at 100 North Barranca Street, Suite 895, West 
Covina, CA 91791. The phone number is (626) 960-
4457. Please visit: http// www.asmdc:org/rubio

BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Board of Equalization visits retailers in your area

Good afternoon. Staff from the Board of Equalization’s 
(BOE) Statewide Compliance & Outreach Program 
(SCOP) will soon visit non-residential retail businesses 
in your area.

 The purpose of the program is to educate business 
operators about the BOE, its tax and fee programs, as 
well as identify gaps in compliance where businesses 
may be selling or leasing tangible personal property 
without a seller’s permit. During visits to your area, 
the SCOP team members are happy to assist businesses 
by answering questions about how to register with the 
BOE, file tax returns, and pay BOE-administered taxes 
and fees.

 The BOE has found that more than 98 percent 
of California businesses that receive SCOP visits 
are operating with the correct permits. However, 
noncompliance contributes to more than $2 billion in 
uncollected sales and use taxes that make up part of the 
state’s “tax gap”—the difference between the amount of 
taxes owed and the amount paid, negatively impacting 
all state taxpayers.

 Letters notifying taxpayers of an upcoming SCOP 
visit were recently sent to the areas listed below. A current 
listing of all locations SCOP teams are scheduled to visit 
in the near future can be found on the SCOP webpage. 


Thursday, February 9, 2017 
8-9:30am 
Hosted by: Courtyard Marriott 
14535 Towne Center Drive 
Topic: Measure H 
Speaker: Leticia Colchado 
Homeless Initiative 
LA County Chief Executive Office 
In March 2017, LA County residents will vote on Special Ballot Measure H, a . cent 
sales tax that will provide dedicated revenue to combat homelessness across Los 
Angeles County. A member of the County’s Homeless Initiative team will provide 
education on Measure H, its legal requirements, strategies eligible for funding if the 
special tax is approved and the planning process for allocating projected revenue. 
Bring a door prize and promote your 
business. 
RSVP by February 3 to tmuse@wm.com
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com