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San Diego, CA
Opinion: Let’s Replace Banned Flavored Tobacco with Healthy Fare in San Diego’s ‘Food Deserts’
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The passage of a flavored tobacco ban within the metropolis of San Diego is sweet information for public well being. It may very well be notably excellent news for San Diegans residing in communities the place independently owned meals markets and liquor shops affiliated with the Neighborhood Market Affiliation are the first supply of groceries.
That’s as a result of the town council’s 7-2 vote to outlaw flavored e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco merchandise presents a well timed alternative for neighborhood markets — positioned in “meals deserts” stretching throughout the town’s city core — to fill empty shops cabinets as soon as stocked with manufacturers like Juul, Blu, Camel, and Marlboro with meals and drinks that promote wholesome, equitable and resilient communities.
Meals deserts are residential communities with restricted entry to wholesome, nutritious meals. These underserved areas are primarily low-income communities of colour the place residents have restricted mobility.
With out transportation and the buying energy to entry groceries at big-box retailers positioned exterior their neighborhoods, residents of meals deserts don’t have any selection however to feed their households the high-calorie and low-nutrient meals and drinks which are readily and conveniently obtainable at their nook market.
Roughly 25% of all census tracts in San Diego County are meals deserts. Within the metropolis of San Diego, most are clustered to the east of Interstate 805, extending to the town limits.
Advocates of the flavored tobacco ban preserve sugary candy flavored tobacco is a harmful gateway to nicotine dependancy amongst youngsters and younger adults. Their arsenal of analysis contains research presenting the vary of preventable persistent illnesses linked to flavored tobacco — together with coronary heart and lung illness, most cancers, and diabetes — and chronicling the tobacco business’s predatory advertising and marketing campaigns concentrating on children, girls and ladies, individuals who determine as LGBTQ and communities of colour.
The Neighborhood Market Affiliation campaigned in opposition to ending the sale of flavored tobacco. Claiming flavored tobacco merchandise comprise between 1 / 4 and half of its members’ retail gross sales, affiliation leaders warned of the pending financial hardship the ban would convey upon its members, forcing its mom-and-pop markets to put off employees, increase costs on different merchandise and probably shut.
However passage of the flavored tobacco ban units the stage for the affiliation to pivot to a brand new enterprise mannequin. It will possibly encourage its members to inventory contemporary vegetables and fruit, nutritious meals, and wholesome drinks at their nook markets and liquor shops. It will possibly advocate for a brand new relationship with suppliers of merchandise that set off the onset of life-sapping persistent
illness.
Thankfully, the affiliation needn’t look far for steerage to navigate this very important transition. The San Diego County’s Dwell Properly Neighborhood Market Program is primed to assist the commerce group’s transformation.
Grounded in greatest practices to assist market house owners develop enterprise fashions that appeal to new consumers and improve their backside line, this system is a catalyst for neighborhood markets desirous about promoting contemporary, wholesome, and reasonably priced meals and drinks.
Particularly, this system collaborates with house owners and operators to enhance inside and exterior retailer designs and increase promotion and availability of those merchandise. This dynamic empowers their prospects to hitch them in constructing wholesome, stronger communities.
In partnership with the UCSD Middle for Neighborhood Well being, the group market program prioritizes collaborations with small, independently owned meals markets serving low-income communities, together with Metropolis Heights and Southeastern San Diego. This system presents a Dwell Properly San Diego countywide platform that publicly acknowledges group markets for his or her participation and dedication to public well being.
This system is free, a successful proposition for the small companies it serves.
The passage of the flavored tobacco ban presents the Neighborhood Market Affiliation a brand new alternative. The group market program can present the group and its members with the sources and experience to assist them transition away from a enterprise mannequin depending on unhealthy merchandise.
Viewing the flavored tobacco ban as an open door, not a useless finish, it’s honest to ask: Why wouldn’t neighborhood market house owners select to domesticate buyer loyalty by stocking their cabinets with domestically sourced produce and reasonably priced shopper manufacturers that promote wholesome, thriving communities?
Dr. Rodney Hood is managing associate of the Care View Medical Group and president of the Multicultural IPA, a gaggle of unbiased physicians delivering culturally delicate healthcare. Dr. James Dunford served as San Diego’s first director of emergency medical providers and is medical director of the McAlister Institute, which offers low-cost substance abuse remedy, drug intervention, and restoration assist.
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San Diego, CA
Top San Diego concerts
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The Jazz Lounge Third Anniversary Weekend
Paul Simon and Pat Metheny have not performed at The Jazz Lounge, the intimate San Diego music venue that celebrates its third anniversary this weekend with two talent-packed concerts. But their presence has been felt at the all-ages club.
Simon has traded emails with award-winning vocalist Leonard Patton, The Jazz Lounge’s founder/owner, to suggest songs for Patton’s annual Paul Simon tribute concerts. And Metheny, whose music Patton has also performed annually at The Jazz Lounge, is such an ardent admirer that he had the versatile singer-songwriter join him for a 2022 Orange County concert that also featured San Diego guitar great Peter Sprague.
So, don’t be surprised if Patton and Sprague include a Metheny favorite or two when they perform Saturday on the second night of the venue’s third anniversary weekend concerts. It will be preceded by tonight’s show by a band co-led by Patton and ex-San Diego trumpet dynamo Curtis Taylor.
As for Simon, his music will be saluted at a pair of July 30 Jazz Lounge concerts at which Patton will celebrate the release of the first album by his Paul Simon Project group.
“I like the way you play,” Simon wrote to Patton. “A lot.”
All told, the Jazz Lounge will host 21 concerts in July. They include a July 16-20 residency by the superb pianist and composer Joshua White, a former San Diegan.
Other likely highlights include a July 16 gig by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sara Gazarek and two July 24 shows saluting the pioneering jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross that will team Patton with Maggie Roberston and Santino Sgambelluri.
And there’s more.
From 8 a.m. Aug. 7 to midnight Aug. 11, The Jazz Lounge will host dozens of artists as Patton tries for a new Guinness World Records mark in the Longest Acoustic Livestream category.
The current record, set in London in February, is 26 hours, 18 minutes and 57 seconds. The Jazz Lounge is shooting for 100 hours.
“If you’re going to break a record, really go for it,” said Patton, who in 2017 set a Guinness Record when he and his band performed in 70 San Diego County venues in 24 hours.
The Jazz Lounge Third Anniversary Weekend, with Leonard Patton & Curtis Taylor, 6:15 p.m. today, and Leonard Patton & Peter Sprague, 6:15 p.m. Saturday. The Jazz Lounge, 6618 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. $65 with dinner, $40 without. thejazzlounge.live
Harry Connick Jr.
Triple Grammy Award-winner Harry Connick Jr. and his band will perform at The Shell following a three-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Since the New Orleans native’s performance here will be orchestra-free, expect a more swinging and freewheeling affair. And to see him in a very different light, you can catch the debonair jazz, big band, Dixieland and pop crooner and pianist playing a brooding, tattooed rock star in “Find Me Falling,” the new rom-com film he stars in, which debuts July 19 on Netflix.
7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Shell, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $46-$225. theshell.org
The Aristocrats
Dazzling musicianship, pinpoint dynamic control and quirky humor have long been the hallmarks of The Aristocrats, whose concerts often inspire smiles and awe.
Featuring English guitarist Guthrie Govan, American bassist Bryan Beller and German drum wiz Marco Minnemann, this rock-and-way-beyond power trio achieves musical velocity and nuance in equal measure.
Their latest release, “Duck,” is a concept album about “a web-footed Antarctic Island native fleeing a penguin policeman all the way to New York City.” The fact that The Aristocrats are an all-instrumental band makes this concept even more intriguing.
7 p.m. Thursday. Ramona Mainstage, 626 Main Street, Ramona. $28. (760) 789-7008, ramonamainstage.com
San Diego, CA
Photos: Big Bay Boom 2024
![Photos: Big Bay Boom 2024](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SUT-L-Big-Bay-Boom-0705-003B.jpg?w=1024&h=686)
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San Diego, CA
Jill Ellis says allegations of poor work environment at NWSL's San Diego Wave are 'false'
SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Wave President Jill Ellis called allegations of a poor work environment made by a former employee of the National Women’s Soccer League team both “false” and “personally damaging.”
Ellis released a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday in response to a social media post by Brittany Alvarado, a former video and creative manager for the team. Alvarado called on the NWSL to remove Ellis, the former U.S. national coach.
Alvarado alleged the workplace was discriminatory and said it took a toll on her mental health in a lengthy post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ellis said mental health concerns are a priority for the club and it has support measures, including an employee assistance program. She added that when allegations of mistreatment have occurred, the team has investigated.
“In addition, when appropriate, independent third parties have assisted us in evaluating our workplace. At no time have those evaluations uncovered any wrongdoing by the club,” Ellis said.
Ellis, who coached the U.S. team to World Cup titles in both 2015 and 2019, added that the Wave is committed to building a strong and unified club.
“What we do is all about fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and excellence. The false accusations in (Wednesday’s) post are not only personally damaging but also take away from the incredible work and progress we’ve achieved together as a team,” Ellis said in the statement.
The Wave called Alvarado’s allegations inaccurate and defamatory. The team said it was looking into possible legal avenues available to address the matter.
Wave forward Alex Morgan, who played for Ellis on both of the World Cup-winning teams, issued a statement on social media in which she said she was disappointed by the allegations.
“As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment,” Morgan said. “But it’s important to me that we are creating that environment for both players AND staff throughout the entire organization. Equity in the workplace is something I have and will continue to advocate for.”
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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