By Dianne Anderson

Anybody need an extra $4,000?

Usually that question raises all hands up for Charles James, who heads the Individual Development Accounts workshop classes for San Bernardino County Community Action Partnership.

“That’s how I start my orientations, that’s exactly how I do it,” said James. “Do you know anyone that will give you $4,000 free money and say, ‘don't pay it back?’”

Not a lot of places can make that claim, but interestingly, folks in the community aren’t exactly  busting down the doors of the program that wants to give away matching funds to low-to-moderate income people who stick out the savings plan. They will take home $4,000 in matched funds for their $2,000 saved over a two-year period. If they have a two-income family, they get $8,000.

By Dianne Anderson

Cuts to close debilitating budget deficits must come from somewhere, and that somewhere usually means where poor people – translate: Black and Brown people -- need it the most on their way to the prison system.

Currently, Blacks make up only 13 percent of the general population, but they comprise half of the 2.3 million Americans now behind bars.

Locally, San Bernardino County is looking to cut 39 public defender positions. In Riverside county, Gary Windom is bracing for a 25 percent reduction at his Public Defender's office.

By Eliz Dowdy