Author: Stefi Mar

Education
Stefi Mar

Commentary: Inglewood’s School District Return to Local Control Offers Lessons for California

Nearly 14 years after California intervened in the Inglewood Unified School District’s (IUSD) fiscal crisis, the district is closer than ever to regaining full local control. That achievement deserves recognition. It also gives California an opportunity to evaluate what its longest-running school receivership can teach about helping school districts recover from fiscal crisis.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

From Blueprint to Breakthrough: Tackling Affordable Housing in New York City

Finding an affordable place to live continues to be a challenge for many as widespread housing shortages persist across the U.S. Rising home prices and high interest rates have made homeownership inaccessible for a large portion of the population. Meanwhile, as rental demand increases, the number of renters facing affordability challenges is also growing.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Surveillance Pricing Fight: State Senate Debates Bill Banning Retailers From Using AI to Set Prices Based on a Buyer’s Profile

Surveillance pricing—the algorithmic practice of using personal data to determine individualized costs for goods and services—is widespread in California, according to Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego). He warns that this system is actively impacting consumers across the state, and Black Californians could be specifically targeted.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

COMMENTARY: She Is Me — You Are Your First Love Story

There is something beautiful about women who love deeply. We are the women who answer late night phone calls, sit in hospital rooms, pray for our friends’ children, celebrate others while quietly carrying our own burdens, and somehow find a way to pour from cups that have been empty for quite some time.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Aftermarket Auto Parts Breathe New Life into Older Cars

From giving owners the opportunity to solve obsolescence issues related to discontinued parts to providing them with cost-effective repairs, these are some of the primary ways aftermarket auto parts breathe life into older or broken-down vehicles. They also offer upgrades that help boost vehicle reliability, comfort, and performance.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

‘Michael’s’ Billion-Dollar Success Meets a Stunning Family Reversal

As the blockbuster “Michael” crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office and cemented Michael Jackson’s estate as the steward of the first music biopic ever to reach the milestone, another chapter involving one of the singer’s closest relationships has moved into federal court.