News

,

Dickies Partners with Estevan Oriol Drops Capsule Collection and Celebrates Release Party

,

The Pomonan News
Published 8/3/2022 7am PST

Estevan Oriol, a well-known photographer who has photographed the Chicano gang life and celebrities such as Robert Dinero and Al Pacino, is currently working with the Dickies brand to capture the essence of the streets.

Estevan Oriol has collaborated with Dickies on a unique capsule collection, which highlights Chicano culture and focuses on LA's Lowriding subculture. The 12-piece collection combines Dickies' classic workplace designs with Oriol's distinctive street edge. It consists mainly of the Indigo Denim Bib Overalls, the Original 874 Twill Work Pants the LA Nights Long Sleeve T-Shirt.

The collection debuted at an exclusive, invitation-only event in Los Angeles, California.

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, creative strategist, and writer in training, but mostly a photographer. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking unhoused veterans to housing.

A 5-2 Vote is a Victory for Tenants Throughout the City of Pomona

Audio Block
Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more

By Julian Lucas
Published 8/2/2022 6am PST

Pomona — Yesterday evening PUSH Coalition (Pomona United for Stable Housing) and Housing is A Human Right Organization in support of PUSH rallied in front of City Hall for rent stabilization in the city of Pomona. PUSH’s demanded that city council vote to cap rents at 3%. However, council voted in favor of a 4% increase 1 % percent less than the original proposed 5%. During a special meeting last week. Mayor Tim Sandoval mentioned people suffer from trauma, especially the youth of families who struggle pay their rent.

The eviction restriction for the state of California lifted on July 1, last month, after a two year moratorium. Although the moratorium expired, some tenants are protected, without rent increase burden in several counties, including Los Angeles County, but the protections are limited to low-income families.

After the rally, members of both organizations attended last nights city council meeting to weigh in during public comment. The final vote to increase rents resulted in a 4% increase with a 5-2 vote, Council member Torres and Ontiveros-Cole voting against the increase. The increase will go into effect immediately.

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, creative strategist, and writer in training, but mostly a photographer. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking unhoused veterans to housing.

Abortion Rights: Demonstrators Take to the Streets in Protest of SCOTUS Overturning Roe v. Wade

Text and Photo Essay by Julian Lucas
Published 11:43am PST

Yesterday the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade sparked hundreds of protests cascaded across the United States. In Los Angeles demonstrators took to the streets and shut down a portion of the 110 Fwy temporarily affecting traffic making their way to the 101/10 Fwy east interchange marching eastbound, eventually being met by LAPD in full riot gear. In the later evening, the protest led to multiple arrests after LAPD prompted a tactical response. The protesters faced-off with LAPD in response to police confronting and targeting protesters and journalists.

Roe v. Wade was a 1973 historical decision from the Supreme Court which allowed unrestricted abortion access throughout the country. The ruling's reversal has been questioned since a leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court's likely judgment in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was released.

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, creative strategist, and writer in training, but mostly a photographer. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking unhoused veterans to housing.

BREAKING NEWS: Ballot Initiative Aims to Increase Youth Funding in Pomona!

The Pomonan
Published February 8, 2021 8:50 Am PST

POMONA, CA - On Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 12pm community leaders will host a campaign kickoff event and present background, testimonies, and an overview on the effort to place the Pomona Kids First Initiative on the 2022 ballot. Earlier in the month, on February 2, 2022, community leaders visited Pomona City Hall to submit the Pomona Kids First Initiative. The Initiative is a unique measure that aims to meet the urgent needs of Pomona youth and their families as they continue to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pomona Kids First Initiative would amend the City of Pomona Charter to create the Pomona Fund for Children and Youth (“Fund”), financed through the City of Pomona’s general purpose revenue and would also create the Department of Children and Families that would administer the Fund and ensure that the children, youth, and young adults of Pomona have the resources they need to thrive and excel. In the upcoming months, Pomona Kids First leaders will be working to collect signatures from Pomona voters to put this initiative on the 2022 Pomona City Election ballot. If approved by voters, the funds will be used for programs and services that promote health and well-being for Pomona families, provide youth development and leadership opportunities, offer alternatives to youth incarceration, and help strengthen Pomona’s families and communities.

At this time, Pomona does not provide significant funding for children and youth programs. In Fiscal Year 2020-21, during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, less than 1% of the City’s budget was allocated to special youth programming under the Neighborhood Services budget. In 2021-22, the line item was defunded by 100% midst the pandemic, and no longer exists as part of the city budget. Given the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the stability of youth’s mental, physical, and emotional wellness, now more than ever, youth need structural support from their city. This newly created Fund represents an exciting new opportunity to provide increased and dedicated funding for programs and services that address the needs of Pomona’s children, youth, and young adults.

WHO: Pomona Kids First is a community-led emergency response to the public health and economic crisis impacting our kids and families.

● Youth
● Parents
● Community members

WHAT: A presentation that will provide background, testimonies, and an overview on the effort to place the Pomona Kids First Initiative on the 2022 ballot.

WHEN: Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 12pm to 1:30pm

WHERE: Tony Cerda Park
400 West Grand Avenue, Pomona, CA 91766

VISUALS: Youth, speeches, parents, families

Pomona Kids First is a community-led emergency response to the public health and economic crisis impacting our kids and families. The initiative was inspired by the multi-year effort of youth organizers to increase city funding for kids in Pomona. Pomona Kids First is led by Pomona youth, longtime Pomona residents, and community members. Their work is inspired and informed by the efforts of Pomona youth and families coming together to improve the wellbeing of all Pomona’s children. If you want to learn more and support this initiative, visit www.pomonakidsfirst.com

La Verne Protests the States Proposal of Transferring Older Juvenile Offenders

Text & Photography Julian Lucas
Published December 20, 2021 7:47am

Over the weekend, two corner streets in La Verne were filled with angry residents protesting the state's proposal to transfer juvenile offenders who have committed more serious crimes to a county-run camp on Stephens Ranch Road. The facilities Camps Paige and Afflerbaugh presently house low-level offenders.

Although the permanent site hasn’t been approved by the probation oversight board, according to the commission, it will be receiving considerable security modifications. The county-run facilities will offer a less prison-like or institutionalized-style environment, and will contribute to rehabilitation. 

La Verne’s Mayor Tim Hepburn said he will “continue to support concerned residents and fight” to keep the level 4 facility out of the city. He also said, 

”They don’t need to be next to our homes, send them all to the desert!” 

 ”They need to build more prisons!” Some residents shouted.

The truth is that not all current institutions have the infrastructure or processes in place to deliver the "least restrictive acceptable environment" needed under SB 823 at the county level. Again, this setting would be as punishment-free as possible while still being suitable and safe for the youth, staff, and community.

A Glendora resident, who attended in support of the La Verne community, directed her frustrations at Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon. She said she was there to “send Gascon a message.” She stated, “You cannot reimagine crime, rape, murder, arson and other things that hurts our family. Gascon should be working on reimagining family values.  (Listen Below)

When District Attorney George Gascon was running for election in Los Angeles he vowed to stop the prosecution of youth as adults in November of 2020, during his race against Jackie Lacey who was the current DA. Senate Bill 823 was actually introduced at the beginning of 2020 on January 10, 2020. Gascon didn’t take office in December 2020. History SB 823

In 2020, California passed SB 823 / AB 1868, which will eventually do away with California's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) in favor of providing funding to counties for supervision and service delivery to youth in trouble with the law. Presently, 58 counties must now select a local facility to house young offenders who would previously be taken to a state youth prison.

Historically, there were approximately 10,000 children were incarcerated in state juvenile facilities in California in 1996. By the end of 2019, the number had dropped to around 750. Black and Latino youth make up the disproportionate amount of the states’ institutions, accounting for 88 percent of all youth offenders in 2020. As of October 2021, there are around 700 adolescents jailed in California.

LINKS

Julian Lucas, is fine art photographer, photojournalist, and creative strategist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking homeless veterans to housing.