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California's Black Lawmakers are Advancing Different Sets of Reparations Bills
April 12, 2024
As California becomes the first state to publicly grapple with the complexities of reparations, a conflict has emerged between reparations advocates and some lawmakers backing bills to implement a state task force’s recommendations.
Leading Black lawmakers are advancing different sets of bills, raising questions about whether they have competing visions. But the chairperson of the California Legislative Black Caucus on Wednesday said there’s no rift between caucus members, just a strategic discussion over which bills to prioritize this year.
“I wouldn’t describe it as an internal dispute at all,” said Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a Democrat from Suisun City in the outer Bay Area and chairperson of the coalition.
Even so, some advocates say the caucus is backing bills that don’t go far enough to address systemic inequities.
Turnout in these California districts has been low for voters of color. Will 2024 change?
July 24, 2024
“I don’t really follow politics at all,” said Brandon Lopez, 29, of Lemoore. Lopez, who does not have a party affiliation, told The Bee at Alma’s Flea Market in Hanford last month that he is registered to vote but he is not planning to vote in November. TOP VIDEOS Lopez feels both parties make promises but don’t deliver. He said he hasn’t been approached by any groups about voting, doesn’t know the name of his current congressman or who will be on the ballot in November. Potential voters such as Lopez are crucial to the outcome of two congressional elections in the Central Valley, California’s 450-mile-long agricultural center.
The elections are considered tossups by nonpartisan analysts. The outcome of those elections in the San Joaquin Valley, the southern portion of the Central Valley, and other contests nearby could very well determine which political party controls Congress next year. Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats nationwide to win control while Republicans are hoping to hang on.
Introducing the 2024 California ballot propositions. Here’s what they would do
July 10, 2024
Ballot propositions for California’s November 2024 election were numbered late Wednesday, giving voters a look at the ten measures they’ll decide on this fall.
They include $20 billion in proposed bonds for climate and schools, a proposal to reform sentencing for drug crimes and retail theft, and measures to close a loophole for involuntary servitude in the California constitution, further raise the state’s minimum wage and more.
Other qualified measures were removed or pulled from the ballot in the days and weeks leading up to its certification, both via courts and backroom dealmaking between initiative proponents, lawmakers and the governor. Gov. Gavin Newsom and top legislative Democrats were also crafting a competing ballot measure to address retail theft, but abandoned the effort at the last moment.
Here’s a look at the ballot propositions certified and numbered by the Secretary of State:
Sen. Steve Bradford Introduces Historic Reparations Legislation
August 31, 2023
Sen. Steven Bradford(D-Gardena) has proposed that the state should create a system of redress for injustices committed against Black Californians.
Senate Bill (SB) 490, introduced by Bradford on Aug. 21, would amend Title 2 of the state government code to establish a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency (CAAFAA). The agency would be responsible for managing the reparations process for Black Californians, as determined by the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Assemblymembers Wilson and Gipson Present $3 Million Check to 40-Acre Conservation League for First Land Acquisition
August 31, 2023
On August 24th, Assemblymembers Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun), Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, and Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) presented a $3 million symbolic check to the 40-Acre Conservation League, California’s first and only Black-led conservation group.
This investment, provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, will help the league acquire its first land acquisition, a 650-acre plot 70 miles North of Sacramento.
“I am so thrilled that I was able to help secure $3 million dollars for 40-Acre Conservation League’s first land acquisition,” said Gipson. “This remarkable achievement is a gateway for more people of color to enter the conservancy space, and it demonstrates that when like-minded organizations unite for a common cause, they can achieve remarkable results.”
California Announces New Efforts to Fight Hate and Discrimination
August 31, 2023
As the rate of hate crimes continues to increase in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced additional funding, resources and guidance designed to protect impacted residents.
Allocations include $91.4 million to 173 local organizations across the state to support victims, provide resources, and facilitate anti-hate prevention measures. The first major statewide media campaign entitled “CA vs Hate” with print, radio, and digital ads will run in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Tongan, Mixtec, and Hmong. The campaign will focus on traditionally hard-to-reach communities. And a letter to all public-school leaders in California highlighting the legal responsibilities to ensure ethnic studies curricula are appropriate and do not reflect or promote bias, bigotry or discrimination.
A California panel has called for billions in reparations for descendants of slaves
May 07, 2023
OAKLAND, Calif. — California's reparations task force voted Saturday to approve recommendations on how the state may compensate and apologize to Black residents for generations of harm caused by discriminatory policies.
The nine-member committee, which first convened nearly two years ago, gave final approval at a meeting in Oakland to a hefty list of proposals that now go to state lawmakers to consider for reparations legislation.
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, who is cosponsoring a bill in Congress to study restitution proposals for African Americans, at the meeting called on states and the federal government to pass reparations legislation.
Cash for slavery reparations gets cool response from California officials
May 10, 2023
A proposal to pay Black people in California up to $1.2 million in restitution for slavery ran into political headwinds Wednesday as Gov. Gavin Newsom and a lawmaker who was on the state panel raised doubts about the prospect of cash payments.
State Sen. Steven Bradford said he wouldn’t count on the Legislature — though dominated by Democrats — to vote in favor of payments, one of the recommendations of a panel expected to release its final recommendations on July 1.
“I’m realistic enough to know that we might not have colleagues who are willing to do that,” Bradford told reporters.
Black Women with Medi-Cal Pursue Health Despite Mistreatment in the Health Care System
May 08, 2023
In the Listening to Black Californians study, one group that stood out was Black women with Medi-Cal coverage, who are more likely to report negative experiences and discrimination in the health care system than Black Californians overall.
Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, provides health coverage to people with low incomes. It covers one in three Californians, and Black Californians made up 6.9% of Medi-Cal enrollees in 2022.
This study included hour-long interviews with 13 women with Medi-Cal, two focus groups with Medi-Cal participants, and 383 female survey respondents with Medi-Cal.