By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Proposed California Initiative Would Force State Action if President Exceeds Two-Term Limit
California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., announced that a new initiative was cleared for circulation on Jan. 5, 2026, allowing the proponent to begin collecting petition signatures.
The measure, formally titled “Requires State Response if President of the United States Unlawfully Retains Office Beyond Two-Term Limit. Initiative Constitutional Amendment,” directs California to take action if a president remains in office after two terms in violation of the Twenty-Second Amendment.
Under the initiative, if a court finds a president has unlawfully retained office, “The State of California must stop recognizing the individual as President; the Attorney General must take lawful steps to arrest and prosecute the individual; and the Legislature must enact laws disqualifying the individual from future state office.”
The Legislative Analyst ’s Office (LAO) and the Director of Finance Joe Stephenshaw estimate a potential increase in one-time state costs “not likely to exceed the low millions of dollars” for enforcement, as well as additional costs to protect state employees, veterans, and servicemembers who refuse unconstitutional orders.
Proponent Roberto Ramos must gather signatures from 874,641 registered voters — 8% of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2022 general election — within 180 days. Petitions must be submitted to county elections officials by July 6, 2026.
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for the measure is 2007, and the Attorney General’s is 25-0030A1. Ramos can be reached at 549 Hilltop Terrace, Palmdale, CA 93551, (808) 600-0636, or RamosR2025@lawnet.ucla.edu.
Joy Atkinson, Advocate for Black Women in Public Policy, Remembered
Joy Atkinson, a longtime civic leader and advocate for Black women in public policy and political leadership, has died.
Atkinson served as consulting executive director of the Los Angeles African American Women’s Public Policy Institute and was a founding member of the organization. She spent decades supporting its leadership development programs focused on policy training, civic education and preparation for public service.
Credit: California Black Media
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Atkinson worked to expand opportunities for Black women in government, advocacy and community leadership. The institute’s programs trained hundreds of women who later pursued roles in public office, nonprofit leadership and civic engagement.
Earlier in her career, Atkinson worked for former California Assemblymember Gwen Moore, where she gained experience in legislative operations and constituent services. She later held several civic leadership roles in Los Angeles, including appointments to city commissions focused on neighborhood empowerment and community engagement.
Atkinson also served as a mentor to women pursuing careers in public service. Her influence continues through the individuals and organizations shaped by her work.
Gov. Newsom Issues Proclamation Announcing June 2 as Primary Election Day
California voters will head to the polls on June 2, 2026, after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation last week declaring the date of the state’s next statewide direct primary election.
The announcement, released on Jan. 5, formally sets the election in accordance with state law and outlines the offices that will appear on the ballot. The primary will determine candidates for California’s top executive, legislative and congressional races ahead of the November general election.
Under the proclamation, voters will cast ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner and state superintendent of public instruction, as well as members of the State Board of Equalization from each of the state’s four districts.
California’s full congressional delegation will be on the primary ballot, with candidates running in each of the state’s 52 U.S. House districts. Legislative races will include state Senate seats from even-numbered districts and all 80 Assembly seats.
“I, Gavin Newsom, Governor of the State of California, pursuant to California law, including without limitation, section 12000 of the Elections Code, proclaim and order that a Statewide Direct Primary Election will be held throughout this State on Tuesday, the 2nd day of June 2026,” Newsom announced in an official proclamation.
The primary will also include contests for county, judicial and other offices as provided by law. In addition, voters may be asked to decide on proposed constitutional amendments, ballot propositions and other questions that are required to be submitted under state law.
California operates under a top-two primary system, meaning all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same primary ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes in each race advance to the general election, even if both belong to the same political party.
California Marks First Anniversary of Devastating Los Angeles Fires
California marked the one-year anniversary of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires as state and federal leaders renewed calls for continued disaster recovery support and highlighted progress made since the blazes tore through parts of the greater Los Angeles County region.
The fires, fueled by wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, claimed at least 30 lives, burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed over 16,000 structures, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. The disaster caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, highways, and other critical infrastructure across the region.
As communities continue to rebuild, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the fires underscored the need for faster and more targeted wildfire prevention efforts statewide.
“The Los Angeles fires showed us we need to move faster and smarter,” Newsom said. “We’re streamlining projects that used to take years, deploying new technology to target our efforts where they matter most, and investing record funding in prevention. We’re turning hard lessons into concrete action and delivering results on the ground.”
At the federal level, California’s entire congressional delegation used the anniversary to press President Trump for additional disaster recovery funding. U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff , along with Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), led a bipartisan letter urging the administration to approve overdue federal assistance needed for long-term recovery in Los Angeles County.
While lawmakers praised the federal government’s initial response, including what they described as the fastest wildfire debris cleanup in U.S. history, they said current funding is not enough to meet ongoing needs. The Army Corps of Engineers cleared hazardous debris from more than 9,000 properties in under 30 days and removed more than 2.5 million tons of debris in the first nine months after the fires.
“As the recovery process continues, additional federal support is needed, and our entire delegation looks forward to working cooperatively with your administration to ensure the communities of Southern California receive their fair share of federal disaster assistance,” the bipartisan lawmakers stated in an open letter to President Donald Trump.
State and local officials have also moved to cut red tape and speed up rebuilding through streamlined permitting and reconstruction policies. However, lawmakers stressed that the scale of destruction from the Eaton and Palisades fires requires sustained federal involvement, similar to aid provided to communities affected by other major disasters nationwide.
As California reflects on the anniversary of one of its most destructive wildfire events, leaders say continued investment and coordination will be critical to help affected families and communities fully recover and rebuild.
CalPERS Hires Shari Slate as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System announced it has hired Shari Slate as its new chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, adding a veteran corporate executive to its leadership team as the pension system continues efforts to embed DEI across its operations.
Slate, a Sacramento-area resident, brings nearly two decades of experience leading diversity and inclusion strategies at major national companies. She most recently served as senior vice president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at CVS Health, whose businesses include retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefits management and Aetna health insurance.
In her new role, Slate will lead CalPERS’ work to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the organization and across relationships with suppliers, contractors and investment partners. She will serve on the CalPERS executive team and report directly to Chief Executive Officer Marcie Frost.
“Shari brings the kind of leadership this moment calls for, connecting diversity, inclusion, and equity to trust, governance and our core values,” Frost said. “She will help CalPERS continue to lead with our purpose, which is to deliver the best outcomes for the millions of people who depend on us for their retirement and health care benefits.”
Before joining CVS Health, Slate was chief inclusion and collaboration officer and senior vice president at Cisco Systems Inc., where she helped launch the Office of Inclusion and Collaboration in 2015. During her tenure, Cisco built a broad pipeline of diverse talent and received multiple workplace honors, including being named No. 1 on Fortune Magazine’s “World’s 25 Best Places to Work” list in 2019 and 2020 and earning spots on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in the U.S. from 2021 through 2023.
Slate said CalPERS’ mission drew her to the role.
“CalPERS shows up for people at one of the most important moments of their lives, when work ends and trust matters most,” she said. “I hope to ensure that CalPERS works for all the people it was built to serve, beginning with our people and extending to every member who depends on this system.”
A graduate of Mills College, Slate began her career at Xerox Corp. before becoming one of the youngest diversity officers at a Fortune 500 company while at Sun Microsystems. She has served on several boards and councils, including the California State University Foundation Board of Governors and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Systemic Inequalities and Social Cohesion.
CalPERS is the largest defined-benefit public pension system in the United States, serving nearly 2.4 million retirement members and administering health benefits for more than 1.5 million members and their families.
Stockton Independent Review Clears Vice Mayor Jason Lee in Wild ’N Out inquiry; Debate Continues at City Hall
A $50,000, taxpayer-funded investigation has cleared Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee of any legal or ethical violations tied to a 2025 stop of Wild ’N Out, the rap battle improv TV show, in the city.
The findings have not ended the political fallout surrounding the episode.
An independent review by Hanson Bridgette LLP concluded that Lee did not abuse his authority, improperly influence city staff, misuse public funds, or hold a financial interest requiring recusal in connection with the May 24, 2025, comedy show featuring entertainer Nick Cannon. The firm found no violations of state law, the city charter, or municipal ethics rules.
The investigation stemmed from allegations raised months after the event, when critics accused Lee of using his celebrity connections to push city staff to bend established policies. Lee publicly rejected those claims, stating the production came to Stockton as a personal favor meant to elevate the city’s cultural visibility and demonstrate that it could attract nationally recognized entertainment.
Despite those denials, the issue escalated in December 2025 when Mayor Christina Fugazi moved to broaden the inquiry, including scrutiny of Lee’s participation in discussions related to the investigation itself. The Stockton City Council voted 4–3 to proceed, a decision that underscored deep divisions among council members and drew criticism over the cost and scope of the probe.
While the report ultimately cleared Lee, it included language that has kept the debate alive. Investigators noted that ethical expectations for elected officials can extend beyond what the law strictly requires, even when a personal interest appears aligned with the public good.
“At most, the facts reflect a possible lack of awareness of the need to consider ethical standards even when one’s personal interests are aligned with official duties,” the report stated.
Lee responded, arguing that he had attempted to prevent taxpayers from spending $50,000 on what he described as an unnecessary investigation.
Fugazi, however, has emphasized the report’s ethical caution, maintaining that Stockton residents deserve leadership that exceeds minimum legal standards.
The City Council is scheduled to formally review the findings at its Jan. 12 meeting. Although the investigation closed the door on allegations of wrongdoing, it has left open a larger question for Stockton politics: whether public trust is measured solely by legal compliance, or by a higher bar shaped by perception, transparency, and accountability.