KCAA: The Empire Talks Back with Wallace Allen (Sun, 2 Nov, 2025)

KCAA: The Empire Talks Back with Wallace Allen on Sun, 2 Nov, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
D two Protecting the Future of Working Families Teamsters nineteen
thirty two.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Dot Org, NBC News Radio. I'm Lisa Carton. The US
military has carried out another deadly strike on an alleged
drug boat in the Caribbean Sea. Three alleged NARCO terrorists
were killed in the operation. In a post on x
on Saturday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that the

(00:26):
vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in
illicit narcotics smuggling. This marks the fifteen strike the US
has conducted since they began in early September. A federal
court is ordering the Trump administration to start paying out
Snap food benefits on Saturday. The Rhode Island Court said
the administration must present a plan by Monday to either

(00:47):
make full payments on that day or partial payments by Wednesday.
The program for low income Americans has been suspended because
of the shutdown. And the Dodgers are celebrating their second
straight World Series championship after beating Toronto in the World Series.
They'll be celebrating in Los Angeles tomorrow. Lisa Carton, NBC
News Radio.

Speaker 3 (01:08):
The Dodgers are back to back World Series champions They
trip up the Jays in Toronto, five to four and
eleven innings. Miguel Rojas tied the game with a solo
home run in the ninth. Will Smith a go ahead
solo shot in the eleventh. Yoshinobu Yamamoto his third win
at the World Series. Top twenty five College football Number
one Ohio State stays unbeaten. They knock off Penn State.

(01:29):
Vanderbilt upset by Texas. Number five Georgia over Florida, Number
two Indiana States undefeated. They beat Maryland, Oklahoma, beats Tennessee, Utah,
pounds Cincinnati, and in overtime, SMU upsets number nine Miami
twenty six to twenty in the NBA zach Lavine with
thirty one as the Kings beat the Bucks. Rockets over
the Celtics KD with twenty six. NFL Vikings at the Lions,

(01:51):
JJ McCarthy returns at quarterback. The Ravens make a move
trading for former Pro Bowl corner Jai Are Alexander Falcons
at the Pats today, the Holds visit the Steelers, Seahawks
at the Commanders, It's the Panthers at the Packers, and
the Chiefs visit the bills. That's sports. I'm trey better.

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(02:32):
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message in data rates may play. You may receive up
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Speaker 1 (06:56):
It's that time of year again, No, not the holidays.
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(07:16):
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Speaker 9 (07:39):
AM Radio provides always on new sports, talk, traffic and
weather reports. It also delivers vital emergency information when your
community needs it most. A new bill in Congress would
ensure AM radio stays in your car because when salent
Internet services are down, this free emergency service is critical.
Text AM to five two eight eighty six and tell
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Speaker 10 (08:02):
Message in dotteraries may aply.

Speaker 3 (08:03):
You may receive up the four messages a month, and
you may text stop to stop this message.

Speaker 9 (08:06):
Furnished by the National Association of Broadcasters.

Speaker 4 (08:11):
One of the best ways to build a healthier local
economy is by shopping locally. Teamster Advantage is a shop
local program started by Teamster Local nineteen thirty two that
is brought together hundreds of locally owned businesses to provide
discounts for residents who make shopping locally their priority, everything
from restaurants like Corkies, to fund times at SB Raceway

(08:35):
and much much more. If you're not currently a Teamster
and you want access to these local business discounts, contact
Jennifer at nine oh nine eight eight nine eight three
seven seven Extension two twenty four. Give her a call.
That number again is nine oh nine eight eight nine

(08:55):
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Speaker 11 (09:03):
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Speaker 12 (09:26):
Is it one zero.

Speaker 11 (09:27):
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Speaker 10 (09:34):
They're on the air because they care. Kse aa All

(09:54):
right there it is.

Speaker 12 (09:56):
Al that's the beat to wake up too. Oh yeah,
this is Empire Talks back on Wallace Allen here on
the case for truth justice with the right information to
help improve the situation. We've got several great things that
we can talk about, and several things that we're going
to talk about that are not so great. But we
can't let too much time pass without congratulating the Los

(10:19):
Angeles Dodgers for bringing, well not bringing, but maintaining the
glory that Southern California represents to the world. And we've
got an opportunity to share that glory. And we're not
just gonna make the rest of the world feel embarrassed
and inadequate, though they may feel that way because of

(10:40):
the weather, because of the wonderful people, wonderful teams that
we have here. But once again, we've got the Internet
and the worldview and the whole world can share the
joy and the beauty of southern California. As a matter
of fact, we've got people from all over the world.
Today we'll be talking to doctor Monica Soni from Northern
calorn who's going to discuss the blessings of covered California.

(11:06):
We have my daughter who is on the East coast
representing the Empire talks back and she's also a strong
advocate for Jamaica. We're going to talk about what we
can do to help Jamaica out. And we have here
in the southern California area our first five representative, San
Berardino County, doctor Kieren Scott Or. She's not a doctor, doctor,

(11:30):
but she makes people feel good. So I can accidentally
say that now and then sound sound like I've got
three or four doctors surrounded by a professional folks who
know much more than I do, and they're all going
to help us all get a little bit smarter. Doctor
Monique Sonia is the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Deputy
Executive Director at Covered California. She leads the Health Equity

(11:54):
and Quality Transformation Division and is responsible for for health equity,
health care strategy, medical policy, and other clinical operations to
continuously improve the health services provided through Covered California's contracted

(12:15):
health plans and California's delivery system. She's a Board certified
internal medical position with more than a decade of experience
working on out patients and in patient settings. Doctor Sony,
how are you this morning?

Speaker 13 (12:33):
I'm doing great celebrating the Dodgers.

Speaker 11 (12:35):
How are you?

Speaker 12 (12:36):
Oh, isn't that amazing? And now where are you basically stationed?

Speaker 13 (12:40):
I'm actually in Los Angeles.

Speaker 12 (12:44):
Okay, so you're not usurping any locality there. You belong here.
This is a good deal.

Speaker 13 (12:51):
Wasn't that exciting, incredible and incredible world series.

Speaker 12 (12:55):
My wife has said that I need to let the
world know that I somehow mistakenly, for at least five minutes,
thought that Toronto had won the game and moped around
the house and you know, and so she woke me
up and told me the truth, which I have to
give her credit for doing many times throughout our marriage
and probably will hopefully we'll continue to do. Not that

(13:18):
I'm looking forward to making mistakes, but I am looking
forward to her expert eagle eye to keep things straight. Okay,
I'm looking for my messages now to see if I
did that right. So I'll be checking on that, doctor Sony.
Covered California is an insurance provider. Let me get you
to define to my audience what Covered California is, and

(13:43):
let's talk a little bit about your points and your purposes,
how things are working, and if we need to be
worried about the government shut down and what funds are
available and if you guys are going to end up
doing But it's been threatened to be done, that healthcare
prices are going to be going up. So I'm going

(14:04):
to get quiet here, which my wife won't believe she
has I've talked too much, but let me he has.
It's laughing. Ladies, don't have any problem laughing at right
with me because of the things that my wife has discovered.

Speaker 13 (14:20):
We support the wives, we support the lives. Well, let
me let me clarify. Cover California. We are the only
place where folks can come get financial assistant to get
their insurance. We are not an insurance company, but we
do facilitate folks getting coverage. I'm a Californian working for Californians,
and right now we support nearly two million folks in

(14:42):
financial assistance to get insurance. So these there, folks who
make too much money for medical are not yet old
enough for Medicare, or for whatever reason, do not get
offered insurance to their employers. So this is a lot
of entrepreneurs, farmers, hair stylists, workers, I mean, that's a
lot of the folks that we serve across the state.

(15:03):
And over ninety percent of the folks that we have
uncovered California get some form of financial assistance. And you
nailed it. Part of the reason why the government is
shut down is about will we continue to have the
level of financial assistance that we've been able to offer
folks in the next year. So this is what it's
being debated and deliberated in DC right now.

Speaker 12 (15:27):
How worried should Californians be and how much of a
help will cover California be in diminishing that thing that
they should be worried about.

Speaker 13 (15:40):
I think they should be worried. I mean, we are
the largest state based marketplace. Like I said, it's nearly
two million folks from the top of the state to
the bottom of the state. And we get right now
about two point five billion dollars in premium tax credits
from the federal government to have the level of affordability

(16:00):
and you've been able to provide for folks. If it
is not extended and it expires in December, the end
of December twenty twenty five, we absolutely see really substantial
increases in what people will have to pay. We're lucky
in California. Our state legislature has already allocated some money

(16:23):
to try to minimize that impact. But it's only about
one hundred and ninety million dollars, and I say only
because that's a lot less than two point five billion,
So there will still be a whole that the state
is unable to close, a.

Speaker 12 (16:36):
Lot more than my paycheck will be able to. You know,
much of the problem it has to be the mental
issues that people go through as they listen to the
so called helpful commercials where people are telling us about
all of the medicare and medical and getting all of

(16:58):
this mail about you know, signing up and open season
and open coverage time, and that's confusing. What do we
do to simplify that? What is Covered California doing to
help simplify this information flow to get people some emotional
as well as actual physical support.

Speaker 13 (17:20):
Yes, it is confusing, and I think that is why
Covered California, frankly was created the way that it was created.
We are an active purchaser, so we negotiate with health
fans to try to keep prices down, to make sure
that there are high quality providers available to folks, and
to kind of hold our health plans feet to the
fire to make sure that they're delivering on high quality,

(17:44):
equitable outcomes. And we spend most of our days trying
to make it simpler for folks. So if you go
to our website coveredca dot com, there is a chat thought.
There's four simple questions that you can type in so
we get a sense of how much Manchell assistance you
might qualify for fiftee, what health plans we have? You

(18:04):
can call us. And we also have thousands of live
support certified enrollers across the state who are happy to
sit next to you to help you figure out is
this the right choice for you? And about fifty percent
of people we support actually use a en roller to
help them make their decisions.

Speaker 12 (18:23):
How do we get in touch with those individuals that
are available. I know that we have relationships with nonprofit organizations.
I know of several here in the Inland Empire, and
the one that keeps coming to mind is the Riverside
County Black Chamber. But I know that there's got to
be more that are involved with that. How do we

(18:46):
get a list of those? How do we find out
who those people are? Because obviously having someone that is
sitting across the table from that is not on commission
or getting paid somehow to favor one circumstance over another,
it's kind of hard to know exactly what to do

(19:08):
when you're talking to someone who's actually trying to sell
you something. So how do we get to people who
are kind of neutral in that position?

Speaker 13 (19:17):
Yes, so one covered California. We operate our own service center.
And again, like I said, we're speed employees. We do
not benefit in any financial way from folks getting covered
or what plan you choose. Right, We're really here just
to be a service, right, We're essentially a service provider.
So you can talk on the phone to one of
our specific agents if that's more comfortable for folks. But also,

(19:40):
if you go to cover da dot com and you
type your zip code in, it will give you the
names of the folks just down the street from you,
you know, in the inland empire around who you probably
many folks will already know those folks who have been
doing this type of work and helping support folks for
over a decade. So that's also another option.

Speaker 12 (19:58):
So to make that simple, let's say everybody that has
a telephone has access to Google. Yeah, okay, and if
you go to Google and you punch in covered c
A dot com, you'll be at the website and you'll
have action or an ability to put in your your

(20:18):
zip code and find a local support mechanism some people
that look like you that live in your neighborhood that
gonna be you know, understanding of your circumstance and make
it a little easier. So that's covered c A dot
covered c A dot com. Uh, i'd say covered California,
but it's covered c A dot Com. And we recommend

(20:41):
that you step up and do that to take take
some of the mystique out of what's going on. Because
cover California. You guys, give me a little history on
Covered California. Because you've been able to, uh, stay on
top of the snow in the blizzard in terms of
skiing and and and not being smothered by what's going

(21:02):
on politically and financially. You've been pretty consistent as helpers
for people in the state of California. Give us a
little history of that how you've done it.

Speaker 13 (21:13):
Absolutely, so you know, we are California's Obamacare. So when
the Affordable Payoffs was moving through, California started to prepare
itself to be an early adopter. We opened our doors
as soon as the law passed. And we are a
government agency sort of a STEMI independence government agency. So
we are non partisan, right. Really, Like I said, our

(21:36):
whole goal is to reduce the number of uninsured by
any type of coverage you get through us, through medical,
through your job. But whatever works for you declement for us.
So that's one of our goals. Our next goal is
to keep it as affordable as possible, and we do
have a goal in our mission statement to reduce health disparities.
So you can really think of us as a group

(21:59):
of people fighting for Californians, Californians fighting for Californias and
maintaining the course on reducing the number of uninsured. I
will tell you it's a tough time right now. We
had a record open enrollment this year in twenty twenty
five because we were able to provide so much financial assistance.
We actually eliminated the ductibles for over a million people

(22:22):
this year. That's better than many people can get through
their jobs. And now we're looking at a situation where
a lot of that may be rolled back if the
enhance premium tests that are not extended by the seederal government.

Speaker 12 (22:36):
Would I be accurate if I say that COVID California
is a statewide organization that uses the power of the
state and of the people of the state to generate
access to a system of healthcare and break it down
to where local people can talk to local folk to

(22:59):
understand and understand how to get local support and help
for their health care. So that we are looking at
a very complicated system, but we have a very simplified
method to get involved and get help in getting involved.
And we can do it to two ways. We can

(23:19):
go to the coverca dot com or we can even
make a phone call. I think that number is eight hundred,
three hundred fifteen or six. Is that correct?

Speaker 13 (23:29):
Yes, you were entirely correct. Everything said is right, and
I would add on top of that before you go out.

Speaker 12 (23:35):
Before before you could you say that again that everything
I said was correct. Just one it one more time,
so let be sure that Josephine is listening here.

Speaker 13 (23:48):
Well, if you were one percent correctly.

Speaker 14 (23:50):
All right, very good?

Speaker 12 (23:52):
Okay, my goodness, I'd love that. No, it's important for
us to understand that everything complicated doesn't have to stay
that way. We've got experts who have been able to
unwind the complicated aspects of it and put people in
a position that can simplify the conversation and clarify for

(24:14):
those of us who don't have time to explore to
figure all of that out. But it's important to be
able to trust someone that's not trying to drag you
through the system to get paid for themselves, but because
they understand the importance of helping and of serving. And
that's what I feel every time I talk with you,

(24:35):
and I'm happy to say this is at least the
third time I've had the pleasure, and I look forward
to the next time because you guys are very consistent
in what you do, and society is very consistent in
its attempt to keep you confused and manipulate you, so
that I don't really know what the purpose of the

(24:57):
manipulation is. I haven't seen the progress it brings. But
we are willing to fight it, and we are willing
to do whatever we can to stay partners with organizations
like yours that are here to help. And it's obviously
that that's what you're here to do. You've got thirty seconds,
or maybe even thirty nine, but tell us you know

(25:17):
your final statement on what we need to know about
covered California.

Speaker 13 (25:21):
I think you nailed it right. This we're in open enrollment.
It ends January thirty for come to cover da dot
com if you have any questions, and I'll just add
one more piece, which is you know, when you introduce me,
I'm a practicing primary SPARADOCT. My whole job at Covered
California is of course coverage, but it's for the folks
that we serve to make sure that they can get

(25:41):
high quality care. And so, like I said, the whole
health plans and our delivery systems speak to the fire
when things are not going well, when things are broken,
my job is to try to fix that for the
state of California. So I think about myself as a
primary scare doctor in part for the state of California.
So these are the folks behind the scenes that are
here thinking of you, working for you, working on your behalf.

(26:03):
And we're just grateful. We're grateful to have the partnership
with you. While I think grateful to be able to
be a service to California.

Speaker 12 (26:10):
Well, I'm as proud to be a partner with Covered
California as I am to have the opportunity to pitch
for the Dodgers. But I don't have the opportunity to
pitch for them except the verbal pitch, you know. But
we are on the same team, and God bless you.
I love you, and we look forward to the next
time and everything we can do to help will enthusiastic
about doing it. Thank you very good, doctor Sony. Our

(26:33):
pleasure very good, This says Empire Talks back on Wallis ANTL.
We've just had a wonderful opportunity to talk with doctor
Monica Sony. She is a very important person in the
fact that she's a plain person, speaks plain language, but

(26:54):
she's got a complicated thing that she explains very very well.
And that's how Covered Californ works for us in helping
keep us on our healthcare system. We're going to take
a short break and we'll be right back and get
a chance to speak to Karen Scott. She is with
San Bernardino First, San Borandino County First five and they

(27:15):
believe that ninety percent of a child's brain is developed
before age five, so that's why the first five years
are very critical, and we'll get a chance to talk
about how we can support our children at that point.
We'll be right back after this short break.

Speaker 15 (27:43):
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(28:17):
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Speaker 12 (28:32):
We are back. This is Empire Talks Back. I'm willing
to say allen here on the case for truth and
justice with the right information to help improve the situation.
You know, we all like to hear that laughter, the
kids running up and down the hall. But Halloween you
had them knocking on your doors, and I hope you
did the right thing. We Can't's hard to do the

(28:53):
right thing on Halloween because they asked for candy and
doughnuts and all kinds of sugary sweets, and man, the
parent knows better, we know better. I don't know. Giving
them broccoli probably would have been a good thing, you know.
Boil up some broccoli and ended up. You know that
for kids that are under five, it's good for them.

(29:15):
I don't know if if you've figured out how to
make them like it, give me a call. I'd like
to pass that word on to other people. I do
have to say that for a while, my son, my
middle son, was able to actually get his youngsters to
enjoy eating spinach sandwiches. I don't know when I first

(29:38):
saw him doing it, I thought maybe I should call
the county. But they enjoyed it so much. I said, well,
it's an amazing thing. But at all sames. All of
that is to say that children expect love, and if
you're able to love doing what you do with them
and for them, they will probably receive it the same way.

(29:58):
And that's the things that are good for them as
well as the things that they may not agree are
good for them. We have Karen Scott, she's the executive
director of San Bernardino County First five. They have a
lot of things that they do, but all of the
things that they do are centered around the fact that

(30:20):
nine of a child's brain is developed before age five,
and that we don't want her to keep walking around
them talking about wee gooey, how your dooey wooey? Old
qtie WOOKI you can't talk baby, talk to him if
you want them to learn how to talk. People talk
to you, doctor Scott. And I keep saying that, but

(30:40):
you're not insulted if I call you doctor Scott or okay,
very very good, very good. When we talk about first five,
as I've just mentioned, and you've been with verse five,
I guess since its inception here in the county of No.

Speaker 17 (30:54):
No, No No No. I started this past Monday. I
celebrated my eighteenth year anniversary with first five semidio.

Speaker 12 (31:03):
Okay, and how long is first five?

Speaker 17 (31:04):
Sanbernadino bennetson First five Samernadino under Prop ten was approved
by voters in November of nineteen ninety eight. Our First
five in San Fernadino County was up and running effective
nineteen ninety nine.

Speaker 16 (31:17):
So we are at twenty six years.

Speaker 12 (31:21):
Oh very good, okay, Okay, that means I was here
when you were installed. Did we have a big party
for you?

Speaker 17 (31:31):
We had a big party just recently celebrating our twenty
fifth anniversary.

Speaker 12 (31:34):
Okay, I know that party. Very good. Well, what do
you think as a number one accomplishment that first five
has been able to make during the time that you've
been aboard.

Speaker 17 (31:42):
I think more awareness, more parents understand the importance of
the first five years, more partners are nonprofits, folks that
help us serve the community, understand more about the first
five years and what's so important in order to promote
the health and wellness the well being of children zero

(32:04):
to five.

Speaker 12 (32:04):
Okay, so I know that each county has its own
first five, correct, and that we have the state first five. Yes,
And in terms of the target audience, I note as
I spoke to you earlier, that it appeared early on
when we first started that we were talking basically to
the parents of children up to five years old. But

(32:26):
now we're speaking and including grandparents, neighbors, nonprofit organizations. Understanding
that everybody really has the opportunity to influence what goes
on with children, and really that we not just have
an opportunity, since we all have something to say about
those children that are either good or bad in the

(32:50):
restaurant or on the plane or wherever we see them
in school. As they become teenagers, they after that ninety
percent of the brain. Is that an opportunity to pick
up some of the things they want to pick up
as oppose are the things that we try to feed them.
You've you've changed your targets, You've you've come much more inclusive.

(33:12):
How do you deal with that in terms of your
messaging and what is it that you expect the general
community to be able to do to support first five?

Speaker 16 (33:21):
Well, our community there are greatest advocates. You know, we
have a lot of advocates. I believe that verse five
works so.

Speaker 17 (33:28):
Much more collaboratively now. You know, as we've learned, as
we've developed messaging to really get that point across here.

Speaker 16 (33:37):
Locally, we do surveys.

Speaker 17 (33:39):
To measure that to see, you know, how are we
moving the needle as far as awareness, as far as
our families understanding what it is that children need. How
are we connecting with our schools, with our educators to
understand that children come to school ready, ready to learn.

Speaker 16 (33:57):
You know, how do we work with our mayors and our.

Speaker 17 (34:00):
Civic leaders to ensure that we're developing great citizens that
improves our wellbeing of our entire county.

Speaker 12 (34:08):
Well, one of the things that is going to help
do that. It's something that my parents proudly talk about
as they reflect on my childhood that you know, I
was picking up the newspaper and stuff when I was
three years old and they thought I was reading, but
anyway reading and I see that you have an event

(34:31):
coming up where you got well, you guys have been
doing this giving books away, So tell us a little
bit about why you give books away, where you get
the books from, and what people can do to support that.

Speaker 17 (34:42):
Absolutely, so we have been supporting literacy pretty much from
day one. We've had annual literacy events, but in the
last few years we have developed a very unique campaign
called Gift a Kid a Book. It has been very successful.
We've given out more than ten thousand books a year
during our Gift a Book campaign and we expect to

(35:04):
give out five thousand books by the end of this year,
and many of those books will be available for our
counties children at our Gift a Book Fair that that's
coming up on November fifteenth.

Speaker 12 (35:15):
November fifteenth, Gift a Book Fair.

Speaker 16 (35:19):
Yes, Gift a book, A Gift a Kid a book.

Speaker 12 (35:22):
Gift a kid a book. And we're talking about kids
five and under, yes, correct, And if you have an
older kid read to them then that would be that'd
be fine. Too. Where do we get the.

Speaker 17 (35:33):
Books from the books are going to be distributed at
the community. Oh, we order them from different vendors. Of course,
we order books in bulk and always looking for the
best price in books, and of course the best titles
and you know those books that when we order the books,
my staff often goes in the room that we're breaking

(35:56):
down the bundles, right, and they have their favorites that
they remember from their childhood.

Speaker 16 (36:03):
We have a great selections.

Speaker 12 (36:05):
So how about people who donate books? Are you at
any point accepting donated.

Speaker 17 (36:10):
We'll always accept donations, but we don't typically receive them
that way. We typically purchase our books.

Speaker 12 (36:17):
I'm saying that because I'm at a point in life
where I'm clearing out, you know, and there's books and
books and books. And my mother ninety nine years old,
bless her heart, she has a collection of books, and
you know, those are things that times are changing. People

(36:38):
are on the internet and we find that there are
lots and lots of books. What do we do with them?
Can we? It used to be that, you know, everybody
wanted the books, but it doesn't seem that that's the case.
So your event on the fifteenth is something that might
make it easier for us to give away books if
we keep enticing the young people. How do you reconcile

(37:04):
the giving of the books with the internet. Because I
have two grand babies that live with me that I'm
really blessed to be able to share their life growth with.
And they are in school once in preschool. But they
all have their computers. Yes okay, and they are very

(37:25):
active in reading the computers. They do get their books
and they are reading the books. But is there how
do you see the future in terms of what we're
doing well.

Speaker 17 (37:34):
I think that's one of the strategies with our Gift
a Kid a Book campaign is to get a real
physical book in a child's hand right, get them to
develop that love of reading.

Speaker 16 (37:46):
From actually having a book. Sit with the child. That's
why we advocate to sit with your child.

Speaker 17 (37:52):
Early on and read together. Look at the pictures, look
at the words, read it over and over until they
recognize what reading is all about. How many times have
parents read a book They're tired the end of the
day and they think, oh, I'm just going to skip
and oh no, that kid has heard that book before.
They know that you missed a part and they will

(38:13):
tell you that you, wait a minute, you missed this
part of the book. So that only comes from sitting,
having that child sit in your lap, having that child
sit next to you, open that book, read the words,
they feel the words. It becomes part of the process
of developing their brain.

Speaker 12 (38:30):
And so much more takes place than the actual reading
of that book. The bonding that takes place, the memories
that you create for the child, and actually the comfort
that you ultimately create for yourself with your memories. I
am mature enough to realize how important those moments are

(38:50):
long after they occur. What is it that we can
do to support what you're doing there? And are you
going to do more and more of it? But it's
a it's a good thing, and we definitely want to
be part of that team, just like we are with
the Dodgers. Dodgers, you know, I was a little disappointed
that mister Roberts didn't give me a call and asked

(39:12):
for my advice. I may have been able to stick
on top of the game a little bit better if
you call me, But I'm willing to take your advice
and see what we can do here at the Empire
talks back to help support First five more and to
be involved with pushing our kids to those unlimited places

(39:35):
that they can go when they have the full support
of our community.

Speaker 16 (39:37):
Absolutely well.

Speaker 17 (39:38):
One of the things definitely come out and support our
Gift a Book, Gift a Kid a Book community Fair
happening at our beautiful samar Nadino County Museum at twenty
twenty four Orange Tree Lane in Redlands, and that is
on November fifteenth from from ten a nine thirty am

(39:59):
to It does require registration, so go to our website
at first the number five sam Bernardino dot org and
you can get all the information about that.

Speaker 16 (40:12):
We did a quick.

Speaker 17 (40:13):
Little video recently to talk about some of the things
that you can expect at this event, including Twinkle Time.
We use twinkle Time at many of our events and
the kids just love her. We have Raphael the magician. Okay,
that that is going to be great. We have story time,
we have train rides, we have face painting, we have balloons.

(40:35):
Is there any cost, There is no cost. There is
no cost, and every child will receive a book and
they get to.

Speaker 16 (40:41):
Choose their book.

Speaker 12 (40:42):
Now, this is a that means this is a double
dip because it usually costs for children to come into
the museum, So they'll not only have an opportunity to
get involved in the things that you're bringing with them,
but they'll actually be able to go into the museum.

Speaker 17 (40:57):
And see the museum's Absolutely.

Speaker 12 (41:01):
That's a great deal.

Speaker 16 (41:02):
Absolutely.

Speaker 12 (41:02):
I remember popping in, just popping in with my granddaughters
at one point, and I didn't happen to have all
of the cash. Fortunately I had a card with me,
but it was surprising to see how much investment I
was about to make, you know. But so you guys
don't want to miss this opportunity. If you've got you
don't have to take any money.

Speaker 16 (41:24):
Just bring the kids.

Speaker 12 (41:25):
And if you're a little bit nostalgic about kids that
you don't have access to anymore, come on out and
volunteer and maybe somebody will let you read a story
to their kid, or listen to someone else read a story.
But it's a good thing. It's something that we've really
looked forward to.

Speaker 16 (41:42):
That's how we can all help.

Speaker 12 (41:43):
Thank you very good, Karen. I appreciate you taking the
time to come out with us today. I appreciate the
fact that you are a Dodger fan. Okay, good deal,
and we'll be talking about the Lakers as we go forward.
But right now, let's stay in the light, this wonderful
light that the Dodgers have placed us under, and we'll
have the Empire something else to talk back about. We

(42:05):
can now this is one of the times when we
do include La with our Empire. I'll have to say,
Empire Talks Back was put together as a result of
how we were a little kicked off sometimes about how
the only information people were getting about the Iland Empire
came through the lenses of LA. But as long as

(42:26):
the Dodgers are winning, the Lakers are winning, LA is
welcome here, Neil and Empire. You guys, come on out
and enjoy some real sunshine, enjoy some real friendly people.
We can appreciate that. Karen, thank you very much.

Speaker 16 (42:38):
Thank you.

Speaker 12 (42:38):
Look forward to the next time this is Empire Talks
Back on Wall. This Allen, we're going to take a
short break and we're going to come back and we're
going to talk to my Mishua Allen from the East Coast,
our East Coast representative, and we're going to talk a
little bit about Jamaica and what we might be able
to do to help support bringing that beautiful island back

(42:59):
to it's a Christine condition. It's certainly to help the people.
We'll be right back after this short break.

Speaker 15 (43:14):
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the best service and the best rates called nine o
nine three eight four eight one three one. Publishing legal
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nineteen ninety, west Side Story provides friendly expert service called
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To benefit from budget friendly rates, whether a fictitious business name,

(43:36):
a name change, a divorced summons, or any other legal
or public notice called west Side Story Newspaper nine oh
nine three eight four eight one three one. Nine oh
nine three eight four eight one three one. That's nine
oh nine three eight four eight one three one.

Speaker 12 (44:10):
All right, this is Emperor Talks Back. I'm Wallas Allan.
I was sitting here talking with Miss Scott about some
additional things that they do to support reading with the children,
and now we'll get a chance to bring her back.
I'm going to talk more about that, but we encourage
you to have the kids read to each other, and
you read to them and get them to read to you.

(44:30):
That makes a lot of sense. I did that with
this young lady that's on the phone right now, and
she reached to me now all the time. This is
my eldest jewel, my seed that has developed into a
marvelous plant that the world benefits from. Miss Michievll, how

(44:52):
are you this morning? Daughter? We had a moment in
our last conversation where she called me daddy on the
air and.

Speaker 18 (45:00):
Uh, let me say good afternoon forget No.

Speaker 12 (45:07):
No, no, no, no, no, Florida. I don't I don't
want you to think that it was just a disclosure
that I had made I should have made. But I
don't want any point for you to think that I'm
not so elated to have you as my daughter that
I'm going to hide behind your expertise and pretend that

(45:27):
I just have to know this brilliant person who is
able to add to my show. Uh, you are my
brilliant daughter, and I appreciate it.

Speaker 18 (45:36):
You're first born at the stay I'm at the stage
of my life where I do prefer the term first
born to eldest. Yes, okay, and I because I don't
look eldish, but I can look yes, yes.

Speaker 12 (45:53):
Well, you are one of the people that understands that
age simply as a means of God adding more beauty
to your life. So, Darling, we had this, we had this, uh,
this catastrophe in Jamaica and the Caribbean, uh, this hurricane.

(46:15):
I don't know why they don't call them Himocanes, but
you know that's funny.

Speaker 18 (46:20):
Yeah, because a woman would never do this kind of damning.

Speaker 12 (46:23):
I would, I would hope not. And and and I've
seen some broken hearted men that would disagree with you
on that. But at the same time, we want to
keep it. Eric, Eric, I don't know why, Eric Eric.
I need you to be able to laugh where people
can hear you. You need to laugh into the microphone
because I don't know if my jokes work anywhere as
well as they do with you. I appreciate your.

Speaker 18 (46:44):
Brother, well, you know, yeah, we have to laugh a
little bit, you know in Jamaica. In Jamaica, you know,
which is my second home, third home, a home.

Speaker 12 (47:00):
You're making people jealous because so many of us would
love to be able to call it just a part
time home. The fact that you were, to some extent
raised in Jamaica is a beautiful but that's what ties
us together here. That's what gives authenticity to your statements
and concerns about what we can do to help the
people of Jamaica that are still in Jamaica, and certainly

(47:22):
the people who have a neighbor who has family in
Jamaica and he's not able to get in touch with
him the phones are still not working.

Speaker 8 (47:31):
Well.

Speaker 12 (47:31):
That's one of.

Speaker 18 (47:32):
The key things and understanding that in the Caribbean, which
some people refer to as a third World region, but
it's actually not. I prefer the term emerging global markets,
because every economy in the world, and every capitalist in

(47:53):
the world, for better or worse, just like the continent
of Africa, seems to keep a very close eye an
interest on Jamaica and the region. And it's the reason
why I'm really happy that in California and other parts
of the US and other parts of the world, people

(48:13):
are interested in the people of Jamaica because the same
things that happen here when there are catastrophes like Hurricane
Katrina and what we've experienced in California with the fires,
is the humanitarians in us to come forth, but also

(48:34):
in a lot of ways, the capitalists and those who
are more interested in the opportunities of these kind of
catastrophes come forth. And I know that's not what you
led with, but because it's kind of on my mind
because I just read an article and already, you know,
these homes in Saint Elizabeth, in Black River, Westmoreland, Saint Anne.

(49:01):
You know, they may not be beautiful vacation villas or resorts,
but they are homes to people. People going back generations
have been on this land, similar to Native Americans here,
and they own their police be at an acre, be
it a half acre, and the homes and the structures

(49:24):
as we're seeing may not have been hurricane proof, but
quite frankly, there is no home really in the region
that's one hund you know, say, from a Category five hurricane.
Plus they were in recovery from last year's hurricane Barrel,
which was not a Category five. But that area is

(49:47):
a lot of farmland. It's Jamaica's bread basket where the
majority of the food is grown that feeds the entire island.
And they were in the midst of bringing back those
crops and happened and already, just like there's an infamous
project here in the United States that we refer to

(50:08):
a lot. There's been a project and a plan on
the island of Jamaica to come in and build and
make it a tourist tament and for that they need property.
So unfortunately, there are also already people looking for opportunities
to buy out people that in a small place, quite frankly,

(50:28):
don't really have anywhere to relocate to.

Speaker 14 (50:31):
So I say that just.

Speaker 18 (50:34):
To point out that we are connected in so many ways.

Speaker 12 (50:40):
Let me give an overview of what happens with tragedy.
Tragedy is what happens to people who are not able
to turn it around on their own. We've had the
Palisade fire, the Eating fire, the Pasadena and in those cases,
in each of them cases, there have been people with

(51:02):
resources and money who've come forward to try to buy
the land under the guys and may be misguided, it
may just be their capitalistic desire, and maybe they are
actually trying to help people, and they come and they
want to buy them out, give them a little money.
But you have to we all have to remember that
when you sell what you've got doesn't mean you're going

(51:23):
to be able to replace it with a little bit
of money that people have given you. You may be
able to go replace it somewhere else, but it's going
to be nowhere near the type of place that you
were living in. You're not if you sold your house
in the Palace Asia and Pasadena, you're going to have
to go live in the desert somewhere to find some

(51:44):
place that you can replace it with the money that
they've given you. And Jamaica is beautiful everywhere, and so
to go in and try to buy the land. But
the Jamaicans are shrewd people, and they if I'm going
to make a statement about everybody, that's the closest thing

(52:06):
that I can say about Jamaican's is that they tend
to be shrewd people, people who are.

Speaker 14 (52:11):
And very creative.

Speaker 18 (52:12):
There's a term in Jamaica that I learned growing up
where they say Toonia Hanna mcfashion. So that means you
take whatever you have. It could be a tablecloth, it
could be curtains, it could be material or fabric, but
the bottom line is you put your hand to it
and your creativity to it and you turn it into
something that everybody wants miss And I think.

Speaker 12 (52:34):
Yeah, you work with the Marley family. Yes, the Marley
family has a Marley family.

Speaker 18 (52:41):
Foundation, the Bob and Reader Marley founder for more than
three decades on the ground in Jamaica.

Speaker 12 (52:52):
What are they doing at this point because we're running short.
This is the quickest on radio.

Speaker 18 (52:58):
Yeah, I'm sorry. I had to put a cake in
the other for your grandson.

Speaker 12 (53:02):
Let me tell you, really, see, wonder did you figure
out yet how to ship some cake across country?

Speaker 18 (53:08):
I figured out how to ship it. But remember that
that today ups turned around. It's twenty six bucks.

Speaker 14 (53:13):
But yet I have figured out how to do it
safely and get it all the way to California. But
as you said, we are short on time. Let's let's
stay focused on the matter at hand.

Speaker 18 (53:26):
Yeah. What I do want to say is that immediately
and understand that assessments are still going on. Thankfully, there
is power in the majority of Kingston, but phones by
and large tend to be down, especially in the hardest
hit areas. It doesn't mean necessarily that people are not okay.
I've heard from some people who where they just lost

(53:49):
electricity and they have to preserve the charge of their phones.
The majority of the people in Jamaica use mobile phones,
so if mobile service is down, they can't reach anyone.
If they don't have power. They're going to conserve their charge.
So you know, sometimes you just have to keep praying
and stand on faith, but you will hear from someone already.

(54:10):
There are people in Jamaica on the ground who are
helping each other connect. A lot of the roads are impassable,
so you have to wait on the tractors to get
in there. You have to wait. One of the things
that the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation is doing immediately
is they've actually asked access tractors and people who already
have that machinery and they're supporting them with the fuel

(54:31):
they need. And in some cases you know where it's
down to, like cutting up the brush in the trees
and getting those things out of the way so that
you can get to people. The government is doing that
as well. I do want to let everyone know that
the government of Jamaica has what is called the Catastrophe
Bond that is provided by I believe by the International

(54:54):
Monetary Fund. It is not money you have to pay back,
but there is a one hundred and fifty milli million
dollar catastrophe bond that the Jamaican government has and is
going to access that will provide the restoration of infrastructure,
so the roads, the power, those important things. But the
people definitely need people.

Speaker 15 (55:19):
House.

Speaker 18 (55:19):
Well, private housing doesn't fully come under the heading of infrastructure.
Some of the agricultural support will. We don't know fully.
We have to see what those notes and what this
all looks like because the government, the government isn't the
one who told us about the bonds. But I won't
get into that, ya, but you know, but but those

(55:41):
outside made us aware publicly on CNN. I mean, the
story is out there, so we know that that is there.

Speaker 13 (55:48):
There are also.

Speaker 18 (55:49):
Organizations like Food for the Poor, and we've partner the
Bobbing Reader Marley Foundation has partnered with.

Speaker 13 (55:56):
Food for the Poor in the past.

Speaker 18 (55:57):
We did it last year, we'll probably do it again.
But the focus of the Bob and readA Marley Foundation
right now for the long term campaign is housing. Kits
thirty eight hundred US dollars provide the materials for six
hundred square foot of housing, including the installation and the construction,

(56:18):
the nails, the lumber, the concrete, all of those things.
So they are already working to assess and there will
be a way for people to access that. Another organization
that the Bobb and readam Marley Foundation works with that
is actively raising funds is the American Friends of Jamaica,
which is an organization that was founded by former US

(56:41):
ambassadors to Jamaica. So they know how the system works,
they know where the needs are. So it's about partnering
and getting together. So we have the long term plan,
we also have the short term plant food clothing. There
are people who have literally lost everything. So right now
we have I believe Sidela's Tomi. Last night we've gotten

(57:04):
thirty four palettes of those emergency food packets. They're called mrs.

Speaker 11 (57:11):
I believe, yes, that can see.

Speaker 18 (57:13):
A thousand people. So that palette is that that is
leaving this week. Her brother connected with the shipping company
here in Miami, so that is going to be leaving
within the next couple of days and getting there. We
also are putting together some paletts of new clothing, especially
things like socks, shirts. There are organizations that are collecting

(57:35):
things like diapers, hygiene, things that women and children in
particular needs.

Speaker 12 (57:39):
We're moving pretty fast here. Yeah, tell us how to
be in touch with the Bob and Rida Marley Foundation.
And I think you mentioned the Friends of Jamaica all.

Speaker 18 (57:53):
Right, Well, the first thing in the easiest way, since
we're moving fast, is go ahead and follow the West
Side Story socials Instagram and say book because I am
putting updates there. There's also the Bob Marleyfoundation dot org
that has information, so that is the other place that
you can go to where you can make donations, you
can see where those donations are going, and you can

(58:15):
see exactly what's happening. There is an official go fund
me that the Bob Marley Foundation has partnered with GoFundMe,
and there's a USB fighter, God's bless him. He's of
Jamaican descent. I can't remember his name right now at
the top of my head, but if you go to
go fundme, that is one of the lead official fundraisers
on that page. So you know, social media comes in

(58:38):
handy right now if you follow the right pages asj cares.

Speaker 12 (58:43):
Is okay, so give them how to get to the
West Side Story issue since that opens the gate.

Speaker 18 (58:51):
That opens the gate is you can go to on
Instagram it's West Side Story News and it's also wssnews
dot com online. You can also go to West Side
Story News on Facebook. You can go to Empire talks

(59:11):
back on Instagram, which is a new social portal that
we're using, So if you don't follow it already, go
follow it on Instagram. Empire talks back and the information
will be there as well.

Speaker 12 (59:24):
God bless you. Thank you so much for being thank
you for deciding to let me be your daddy. I'm
just just amazed at how you and your sisters and
brothers have developed the things that you do, So it's
a blessed.

Speaker 18 (59:39):
So the firstborn of two first borns is very grateful
that the two firstborns chose me. And also we're smart
enough to make me the proof of concept and make
me the prototype, and your humility.

Speaker 13 (59:52):
Your humility to go ahead and continue and bring some
other ones in here.

Speaker 12 (59:58):
Next week, folks will see you under two conditions, one
if the Good Lord's willing, two if the creek don't rise.
God bless you. Thank you so much for spending your time,
and remember you can