Category: Pop Life

Pop culture stuff that I find interesting….

It’s October – But There’s No Slowing Down!

On By Melba V. PearsonIn Legal News, Pop LifeLeave a comment

My father has a saying that resonates more and more as I get older (along with many other “Jamaicanisms” since we love to speak in riddles, lol).

It’s not the moment that a leaf falls to the water bottom that it rots.

Practically, it’s accurate. A leaf doesn’t rot that fast, it takes time. But day by day, bit by bit, time and water break down the leaf.

The same applies to politics. One act is rarely in isolation; and multiple acts together can erode democracy, or can create a toxic environment for various communities. I’ve been very vocal about why it is important for history to be taught accurately, for the power of the voters to remain undiluted, and to push back against hate. The horrible events in Jacksonville, where three people were murdered at a Dollar General simply because of the color of their skin, lays this very bare. Florida is now home to 89 hate groups as per the Southern Poverty Law Center, including the Proud Boys and Nazis who have paraded in major streets in Orlando – including outside Disney World. The Florida governor’s policies that led to banning of books by Black/other authors of color, and discussions of the “benefits” of slavery chips away at the humanity of us all, allows hate groups to flourish due to feeling that they have a home, and results in people with hate in their hearts acting out in violent ways.

I also see this connected to the removal of 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell. The Florida governor ignored the will of more than 66% of the voters in the Orlando area who overwhelmingly voted for SA Worrell to be their elected prosecutor, and removed her from office. I did a TikTok breaking down why this is so problematic, along with an op-ed by my colleagues and I that appeared in the Miami Herald. And for those who say “but the people elected the governor” — they’re clearly missing the point of how democracy works. This isn’t a monarchy where everyone serves at the pleasure of the king. Elected officials should not be pulled out of office for political differences – this must only be if they are literally not doing their job. With crime on the decline in the Orlando area as shown by the data, clearly her method of prosecution is working. Check out the press conference where I spoke along with fellow Miami attorneys here. Despite the wrongful removal, SA Worrell is running for re-election while suing to get her job back. You can support her by donating to her campaign here and GoFundMe here.

Lastly, in another attack on the voters, the Florida Supreme Court asked the Florida Legislature to look into consolidating some of our 20 judicial circuits. I did a Mondays With Melba as to why that’s problematic – and in the public comments that have been given at townhalls around the state, NO ONE is speaking in favor of this from either party. It will make it harder for survivors of crime to access justice, as well as for every day people to resolve matters in court since it may close the courthouse closest to them. Let your voice be heard on this! The Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee will hold their next public hearing at 10:00 am (EDT) on Friday, October 13, 2023, in person at the George Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602, and virtually via Zoom. To attend participate virtually, you must register in advance by clicking here.

Nothing like having a front row seat to history – congrats to ACLU of Florida alum Judge Nancy Abudu on becoming the first Black woman to be appointed to the federal 11th Circuit of Appeals by President Joe Biden!! Wonderful to be reunited with my former co-workers for this amazing event.

ICYMI

See my #MondaysWithMelba with Moms for Libros — a dynamic duo pushing back on the extreme book bans in Miami!

Great to be back on the Sunday morning political roundtable on WPLG Channel 10 This Week in South Florida, where we talked about the Republican presidential debate, the Jacksonville shooting and other current events.

Very fun interview with the team at City Life Guru on my early days in Miami, my career path, and my favorite places to go when in town!

Enjoyed bringing my legal analysis to the brand new CourtTV show “Opening Statements“

In studio at Court TV!

Call To Action:

In addition to letting your voice be heard around the issues I mentioned above, be sure to check your vote by mail status! All vote by mail registrations in Florida were deleted from the system last December, so everyone must re-enroll! Some residents have elections coming up soon – for instance this November in Miami Beach, and a special election in South Dade. Click here to re-enroll if you haven’t already!

Tune in for a very educational and intense #MondaysWithMelba for Indigenous People’s Day on October 9 at 6pm! My guests are Mrs. Betty Osceola of the Miccosukee Tribe, and Chairman Robert Rosa of the United Confederation of Taino People. We talk about everything from environmental issues to respecting the remains of the Indigenous elders. Tune in via my Facebook Live, LinkedIn or YouTube pages; later in the week on my Instagram @resident_legal_diva and @melbaformiami.

#MondaysWithMelba honoring Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, October 9 at 6pm EST!

Candidates I’m Watching:

Andrea Jenkins — I was proud to co-host a fundraiser supporting her re-election campaign. She’s the first Black transgender woman to be elected to public office in the US, and she serves as the President of the Minneapolis City Council. The election is November 7.

Johnny Farias — On December 5, there’s a special election for the Florida House in South Dade, and I wholeheartedly support Johnny. He’s a Navy vet, an electrician with his own business, and a true man of the people.

Turning to the 2024 races:

Christopher Benjamin — It was an honor to co-host a fundraiser for him! I’ve known Rep. Benjamin for quite a while now, and he is a true public servant — attorney, state representative, and now, seeking the position of County Court Judge in Miami.

Rodney Jacobs — I’m really excited about Rodney throwing his hat in the ring for Florida State Senate. His military service, as well as working on police misconduct in the City of Miami, gives him a fresh, balanced perspective that is sorely needed!

Marisol Zentano — Marisol is taking another shot at becoming Miami Dade’s Property Appraiser. She ran in 2020 with me, and did incredibly well with little name recognition plus a short runway to campaign. 2024 will be the year for her to win it!

Just celebrated my 50th birthday! Embracing this new chapter.

In Solidarity,

M.

Tips for Summer Travel with Elderly Family

On By Melba V. PearsonIn Good Vibes, Pop LifeLeave a comment
Photo by Dimitri Dim on Pexels.com

Summer is underway as well as revenge travel season. Now that some COVID19 restrictions are being lifted due to increased vaccinations, you may be planning to take that long awaited trip that may have been delayed. Here are some tips for traveling with elder family members or folks with disabilities.

Pack your patience. No matter how you try, things don’t go according to plan. Everything will take much longer than you think — from getting to and from the airport, getting around or receiving services. Your loved one may get frustrated as well. So take deep breaths and allow yourself plenty of time.

Be realistic. You may remember your loved one as younger and more vibrant. Mobility changes over time, which can be hard for both you and your loved one. They want to be able to do more but can’t; you may possibly have expected them to do more than they can. For instance, if you normally have short visits with your loved one, and they are fine walking around the house, that is a far cry from having to walk long distances at the airport dragging a rolling suitcase. Also, with the pandemic, folks have physically been less active — even us as younger people! So bring your patience, plan, and think through the best way to get from points A to B.

Direct flights can be better. If at all possible, try to get a direct flight to your destination. It allows your loved one to get settled once, and you don’t have to worry about a delay causing a logistical nightmare with missed connections. We’ve seen how some airlines have cancelled flights at the last minute. A direct flight can prevent that dreaded sprint in between terminals with someone who is not as mobile. There are the carts that drive through the airport, but multiple stops for other passengers may also slow down the process.

Get a wheelchair at booking. Every airline allows you to book wheelchair assistance when you purchase your flight. But I have to share a cautionary tale. On a recent trip with my elderly dad for a funeral, my husband and I booked a wheelchair through American Airlines. We arrived at Miami International Airport two hours before the flight, and went to the designated area run by Envoy who handles the wheelchairs there. The lady at the desk informed us that we would have to sit and wait for 45 minutes. This is even before going through TSA and the long trek to the departure gate. When I expressed my shock, she pointed to an older lady who was sitting with her head in her hands looking defeated “well, her flight boards in 5 minutes” with a shrug. Not wanting to take the chance, we ended up walking very slowly with my dad to the gate, which was very physically draining for him. We were blessed that although he had limited mobility, he could walk — but what about those for whom that is completely out of the question? The absolute reverse was true when we left Jamaica (a place that some disparage as a “3rd world country”). The level of care and attention we received was outstanding. So with this experience, I would suggest calling the airport to see what the wait times are for wheelchairs. Consider purchasing a lower cost wheelchair for travel if you are able, so that you can get your loved one to the destination with limited aggravation.

Pack very light or check luggage. Between dealing with wheelchairs, seating and other logistics, dragging a bag behind you is another drama that may end up being a lot. Use curbside check in if possible, or wear a backpack so that your hands remain free for whatever is needed.

Wear comfy shoes. This is not the time to be cute when you have to sprint ahead and head off random travel disasters. Trust me.

Empty your loved one’s pockets. The side eye you get for holding up the TSA line is never fun. Don’t be that group if at all possible. Even after asking your loved one “are your pockets empty?”, search all of their pockets. Inevitably, you will find change, a phone, eyeglasses or something. It took about three trips before I realized I must handle that aspect.

While there are logistical considerations, the benefit of travelling for family gatherings, vacations or just to spend time together far outweighs the irritations that can be involved. Plan ahead, use these tips, and have a great summer! If you have other tips, please share in the comments!

This story originally appeared in Medium – check it out and send some claps if you are a member!

Tips For When Mother’s Day Hurts…

On By Melba V. PearsonIn Good Vibes, Pop LifeLeave a comment
My mom, in NYC circa 1973

Happy Mother’s Day to all who celebrate!!

For some folks (myself included), today can be tough. If you lost your mother, mother figure, spouse/partner or as a mom – lost your child, today can be very painful. I lost my mom to cancer nine years ago. The grief has a way of creeping up on you, especially as the barrage of commercials, ads and emails pop up everywhere in the days leading up to today. Here are a few tips to help you get through.

  • It’s Okay. How you are feeling is valid. You don’t need to “toughen up”, and you do not need to pretend.
  • Unplug. Today is a really good day to stay off social media. Scrolling past happy smiling faces of families having brunch may be a lot to handle emotionally and remind you of your loss. Set the phone to do not disturb, leave it in an inaccessible place for a while, and take a break.
  • Find a Positive Distraction. Try binging the show that you’ve been meaning to watch on the streaming service of your choice. Watch some old DVD’s. I suggest opting out of network television because many stations do Mother’s Day themed programming. Get outside for a while. Journal. Work on that project you’ve been procrastinating for so long. Do something positive to keep yourself distracted.
  • Don’t Self Medicate. I’m not judging anyone for this one. However, using drugs or alcohol can make the pain you are feeling worse – and you may do something you will really regret. Also, practically speaking, tomorrow is Monday. Starting the week with a hangover – even on Zoom – is not fun.
  • It’ll Be Over Soon. It’s 24 hours, part of which you’ll be sleeping. You’ve made it this far. Just a few more hours!

Grief is an ongoing process that does not resolve itself overnight. It’s a rollercoaster, with good days and bad days. See a therapist if it gets too hard to cope. Check with your insurance provider if you have one. If not, there are so many apps and therapists that provide virtual sessions. One list is here.

Kudos to companies like Etsy and The Lip Bar (TLB) who sent emails allowing customers to opt out of Mother’s Day email advertisements. Having that option was definitely kind and sensitive.

I hope this is helpful. Sending you all a big virtual hug!

So I Did a Thing….

On By Melba V. PearsonIn Legal News, Pop LifeLeave a comment

Hey RLD Family!

I hope everyone is well, healthy, and on the way to being vaccinated!!

Things have been good and hectic in my world (yes, I know, shocker!), but lots of great projects have come to my world!

This week, I was featured in the documentary “Last Day In“, which critically examines the US criminal justice system. It was a project in collaboration with several filmmakers and the hip hop artist Kodak Black, who had several high profile brushes with the law before being pardoned by the last presidential administration.

We do not speak about his case; instead, we focus on what the average, every day person encounters after being arrested, and the collateral consequences that impact entire communities for generations.

See the video below, and share your thoughts!!