California Legislature: Dolores Huerta Will Lie In Honor at State Capitol on Nov. 16
Dolores Huerta, the labor and civil rights leader who helped transform conditions for farmworkers and collaborated with Black activists and civil rights leaders, will lie in honor at the California State Capitol on Nov. 16, legislative leaders announced.
The public may pay respects from noon to 6 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda, Senate President pro Tem Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) said.
A midday program is planned, with details to be announced.
Huerta died Oct. 28 at her Bakersfield home after battling cancer. She was 96. Her death prompted tributes from across the country.
Born in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta became an organizer in California’s Central Valley. In 1962, she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with César Chávez; it later became the United Farm Workers. She helped lead the Delano grape strike and nationwide grape boycott, drawing attention to farmworkers’ low wages and harsh conditions.
Her organizing helped secure passage of California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, which established farmworkers’ right to collective bargaining. Huerta also advocated for women’s equality, immigrant rights and environmental justice. Her rallying cry, “¡Sí, se puede!” — “Yes, we can” — became a movement slogan. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2003, she founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation to organize communities and develop local leaders.
“Dolores negotiated my grandfather’s first union contract at Almaden Vineyards,” Rivas said. “She brought to that bargaining table what she brought to every fight: the conviction that farmworkers deserved fair pay, dignity and a say in the conditions under which they worked.”
Public memorial events are scheduled in Bakersfield. A rosary and vigil will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at IBEW Local 428 Hall, 3921 Sillect Ave., for “prayer, reflection and quiet remembrance,” the Foundation said.
On Nov. 20, events at Dignity Health Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave., will begin at 8 a.m. with a blessing by Aztec dancers, followed by an interfaith memorial service at 10 a.m. A celebration of life at 2 p.m. will include speakers from labor, public office, cultural communities and community organizing, and a live performance by Los Lobos.
Gov. Newsom: Capital Punishment Is Inconsistent With California Values; Public Safety Goals
Gov. Gavin Newsom says capital punishment is inconsistent with the state’s legal values and public safety goals, defending his decision to commute all 548 death sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
In an open letter released Nov. 5, Newsom argued that California’s death penalty system is deeply flawed and cannot ensure fair or consistent justice. He said the decision followed consultations with victims’ families, survivors, public safety experts, religious and civil rights leaders, prison wardens and jurors.
“I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency,” Newsom stated.
He also criticized the fairness of the state’s system, saying, “By every measure, California’s system for administering the death penalty is a failure. It has not been and cannot be fairly applied and has resulted in the conviction of innocent people.”
Newsom said he considered the impact of the decision on victims’ families and acknowledged that some would view the commutations as a denial of justice. However, he argued that life without parole is the most severe punishment he can lawfully impose and ethically enforce. He also expressed concern that drawing distinctions among categories of murder cases could create unequal treatment for victims and their families.
The commutations will not release any prisoners or make them eligible for parole. California’s death penalty law will also remain in place, allowing prosecutors to continue seeking death sentences. However, 382 of the commutations require approval from the California Supreme Court because the prisoners were convicted of multiple felonies.
The announcement has drawn sharply divided reactions. Some victims’ relatives and prosecutors criticized the decision, while others, including Jess Nichol, the stepsister of Polly Klaas – the 12-year-old Petaluma girl who was abducted and murdered in 1993 – welcomed it. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen supported the move, citing concerns about racial bias and the unequal application of the death penalty. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe opposed it.
“As Governor, I alone bear responsibility for this decision and its impact, just as I alone would bear responsibility for each execution,” Newsom stated.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson Speaks Out on Mass Shooting in Her District
Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) has spoken out following a deadly shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield that left a pregnant woman dead and six others wounded, expressing condolences to the victims and their families while calling on the community to support one another.
In an Instagram post, Wilson said the shooting had shaken the community and acknowledged the lasting impact of gun violence on those affected.
“Our community was rocked by gun violence,” Wilson stated. “Sadly, we are not alone in experiencing the devastating impact of these senseless acts of violence, but that does not make the pain or trauma any less profound.”
The shooting occurred Friday, Oct. 30, inside the Spirit Halloween store at Solano Town Center. Police said seven people were shot in what investigators described as a targeted incident involving one suspect.
The woman who died was identified as 31-year-old Constance Hages, who was pregnant. Three male victims, ages 16, 19, and 32, were reported in critical condition, while a 23-year-old man was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Two other men, ages 19 and 43, were treated and released.
Wilson thanked local first responders for their swift response and acknowledged the support of state and federal partners as the investigation continued. She also expressed sympathy for those injured and for Hages’ family and loved ones.
“My heart breaks for everyone who experienced this tragedy firsthand, for those who were injured, and for the families and loved ones grieving a loss,” she stated. “As a community, we must come together to support one another, surround those impacted with compassion, and prayerfully work toward healing and wholeness.”
The investigation has since led to the arrest of a 17-year-old boy. Fairfield police said a school resource officer identified the suspect after reviewing surveillance footage. Authorities arrested him Monday following a SWAT operation at a home in Suisun City.
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office announced that the teenager would be charged as an adult. He faces two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and multiple firearm enhancements. Police believe another customer was the intended target of the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing as the 17-year-old suspect faces adult charges.
As Fairfield mourns Hages and those injured recover, Wilson urged residents to support one another and help the community heal.
Bonta, 44 Other AGs Unite to Fight Bullying, Protect Kids Online
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined 44 other attorneys general in urging Congress to pass federal legislation that would strengthen online safety protections for children, including safeguards against cyberbullying and harmful social media features.
In a letter to congressional leaders, the bipartisan coalition reaffirmed its support for the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) also known as S. 748 and called on the House of Representatives to pass the measure.
The attorneys general said investigations into major social media companies found that platforms used design features that encouraged addictive behavior among children while documenting the resulting mental health harms. They also cited lawsuits against companies including Meta and a recently announced $17 billion multistate settlement that requires the company to introduce additional protections for young users.
“Congress must act to ensure that our children receive the protections they deserve across all online platforms,” the attorneys general stated, warning that lawmakers must also prepare for potential harms from emerging artificial intelligence products.
Bonta said federal legislation should establish minimum protections while allowing states to adopt stronger safeguards.
“Federal action is critical to keep kids safe online,” Bonta said in a statement. “The Senate’s KOSA legislation creates a federal floor of baseline protections states can build off of, while still allowing states like California to have stronger safeguards in place.”
The Senate bill would establish a duty of care requiring social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent and reduce harm to users under 18. It would also set minimum safety standards for social media and gaming platforms while preserving states’ authority to enact and enforce stronger child protection laws.
The attorneys general raised concerns about the House version, H.R. 6484, arguing that its preemption provisions could limit states’ ability to introduce or enforce laws addressing online harms.
California has already enacted legislation targeting addictive social media features and requiring warning labels on platforms used by children and teenagers. The state has also pursued legal action against major technology companies over allegations that their platforms were designed to keep young users engaged despite known risks to their mental and physical health.
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To Help Save Hollywood, Gov. Newsom Proposes $1 Billion Film and Television Tax Credit
Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to increase California’s annual film and television tax credit from $750 million to at least $1 billion, in another effort to attract productions and retain entertainment industry jobs in the state.
Announced in Hollywood, the proposed expansion would make above-the-line talent eligible for tax credits, increase funding for independent films to $100 million annually and offer additional incentives to companies that commit to producing multiple projects in California.
The plan would also extend the program through 2040 and require state approval before taking effect.
“California created the modern entertainment industry; we’re the capital of entertainment and we’re going to keep it here,” said Newsom. “At least $1 billion in tax credits means more investment flowing into our economy and more opportunity across the industry.”
The proposal follows last year’s expansion, which increased the program’s annual funding from $330 million to $750 million. According to the governor’s office, applications increased 82% in the first year of the expanded program.
The administration also reported $8.25 billion in direct production spending, including $5.3 billion in qualified expenditures and $3.2 billion in qualified wages. The program supported more than 43,000 cast and crew jobs, while film shoot days increased 52% year over year and television shoot days rose more than 7%.
Dee Dee Myers, Newsom’s senior adviser and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), said the proposed increase would help California compete for productions and investment.
“A $1 billion California Film and TV Tax Credit would strengthen California’s creative industries, support more good-paying jobs, and keep our entertainment economy growing,” Myers said.
Colleen Bell, director of the California Film Commission, also backed the proposal, describing the tax credit as an important tool for attracting productions and supporting crews across the state.
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) said last year’s expansion had already helped bring jobs back to California.
Since its launch in 2009, the program has generated more than $35.4 billion in economic activity and supported over 248,000 cast and crew jobs, according to the governor’s office.
Newsom also renewed his call for Congress to pass the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which would establish a federal tax credit for film and television production. He said federal support is needed alongside state incentives as competition for productions grows.
