By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
Gov. Newsom Swears in Tomiquia Moss as Head of California Housing and Homelessness Agency
Gov. Gavin Newsom has sworn in Tomiquia Moss as secretary of the newly established California Housing and Homelessness Agency, placing a longtime housing official at the helm of California’s efforts to expand affordable housing, reduce homelessness and coordinate housing policy across state government.
The appointment comes as Newsom implements the 2026-27 state budget, which funds the new agency, and a package of housing finance reforms, including the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026. The administration said the measures are intended to accelerate housing construction, preserve affordable homes, expand homeownership opportunities for veterans and middle- and lower-income households, and increase supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
“I’m proud to appoint Tomiquia Moss to lead the California Housing and Homelessness Agency,” said Newsom on June 30. “Tomiquia is a proven leader who understands that housing is foundational to opportunity, dignity, and economic security. We created this agency because California needed a single, coordinated strategy to confront homelessness, expand housing, and protect the rights of every Californian.”
Newsom said California has made progress through “historic investments and an all-hands-on-deck approach” but said the work is far from complete. He added that Moss has “the experience, the grit, and the vision to build on that momentum and drive the next phase of this work.”
Moss, who previously served as secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, said she plans to build a more coordinated and accountable housing system.
Before joining the Newsom administration, Moss spent more than two decades in nonprofit and public service leadership, including as founder and CEO of All Home, CEO of Hamilton Families, executive director of San Francisco’s HOPE SF Initiative, and chief of staff to the mayor of Oakland.
“As we expand opportunity, I’m committed to protecting the civil rights of every Californian while accelerating housing production and strengthening our homelessness response,” said Moss. “I look forward to working with the Governor, the Legislature, and local partners to deliver stability, fairness, and dignity across our communities.”
According to the governor’s office, California has increased annual residential construction by 59% since 2018, with about 111,000 homes built in 2024. The administration also said the state recorded its largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in 16 years and a 2.8% decline in overall homelessness.
The California Housing and Homelessness Agency will oversee the Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Housing Finance Agency, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Housing Development and Finance Committee and the Civil Rights Department as part of a long-term strategy to address the state’s housing shortage and homelessness crisis.
California Lawmakers Honor Dodgers’ Back-to-Back World Series Championships at State Capitol
On June 29, representatives from the Los Angeles Dodgers presented their consecutive 2024 and 2025 World Series trophies at the California State Capitol.
State lawmakers showcased the trophies in the Senate and Assembly chambers to honor the Major League Baseball franchise’s achievements and celebrate its impact across California.
The presentations were held while the Dodgers were in the Sacramento area to play a three-game interleague series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in 2024 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 to win back-to-back championships. In total, the Dodgers franchise has won nine World Series titles.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who led the Dodgers to the World Series championships, told California Black Media (CBM) that he visited the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers on June 30 after a golfing outing with A’s manager Mark Kotsay.
“It was absolutely great. I enjoyed meeting with the legislators,” said Roberts, who has been the Dodgers’ manager for the last 11 seasons. “It was a nice occasion. Sacramento treated us really well for our first time playing here.”
Submit Your Arguments Now: Secretary of State Weber Announces Ballot Proposition Numbers
California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber has assigned proposition numbers to the measures that will appear on California’s Nov. 3 general election ballot and is inviting Californians to submit arguments for inclusion in the state’s Official Voter Information Guide.
The guide, which is mailed to every voting household and published online before the election, provides voters with impartial information about statewide ballot measures, along with selected arguments supporting and opposing each proposition.
“This is one of the most important ways Californians can participate in the democratic process before Election Day,” the Secretary of State’s Office said in announcing the filing period for ballot arguments.
The November ballot includes legislative measures and citizen initiatives covering a wide range of issues, including affordable housing, state budget reserves, taxes on high-income earners, campaign finance, election procedures, environmental review, health care funding and housing assistance.
Among the measures, Proposition 1 would authorize $11.25 billion in bonds to finance affordable housing programs and housing assistance for veterans. Proposition 3 would make permanent an existing tax on high-income Californians that supports public schools and community colleges, while Proposition 39 would establish new voter identification and citizenship verification requirements for California elections.
State law gives first priority for ballot arguments on legislative measures to legislators and, for initiative measures, to the official proponents. If additional arguments are submitted, priority is given to bona fide citizen associations and then to individual voters. No more than three people may sign an argument or rebuttal that appears in the voter guide.
The Secretary of State’s Office said ballot arguments are limited to 500 words and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on July 7. Rebuttals, which may not exceed 250 words, are due by 5 p.m. on July 16. Candidate statements for statewide constitutional offices must be submitted by 5 p.m. on July 15.
The Official Voter Information Guide will be mailed to registered voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election, providing Californians with ballot summaries, fiscal analyses and certified arguments before they cast their votes.
Lawmakers: $29 Million New Budget Allocation Will Help California Count Ballots Faster
California’s 2026-27 state budget includes $29 million to help counties speed up ballot counting through investments in staffing, technology and equipment, part of a broader election funding package aimed at improving election administration ahead of future statewide contests.
The funding comes after criticism over the pace of vote counting following California’s June 2 primary election. Election officials and voting advocates say the new investment will help counties modernize ballot processing while maintaining the state’s extensive vote-by-mail system.
The budget agreement between Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers allocates $29 million for county election offices to upgrade staffing, technology and equipment. It also includes $5 million for county voter outreach and education, $5 million for statewide voter education through the Secretary of State’s Office and $750,000 to combat election misinformation.
Election officials welcomed the funding but said California needs a stable, long-term funding source to maintain election operations.
“You can’t just do things as a one-time fix,” said Jesse Salinas, president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials. “They have to be done as a real ongoing commitment. That is critical for us to maintain the quality of our democracy.”
Voting advocates had sought additional funding before the budget agreement. The California Voter Foundation requested $35 million for voter education and another $55 million to support staffing, equipment and expanded ballot-processing capacity.
Foundation President Kim Alexander said California’s lengthy vote-counting process is driven by state policies designed to ensure ballots are counted accurately.
“California has one of the most accessible voting systems in the world, but our long count overshadows our strengths,” Alexander said in a statement. “When results take weeks, it creates space for confusion and misinformation.”
Under California law, election officials have time to verify signatures and allow voters to correct certain signature issues on mail ballots. Following the June 2 primary, counties could not certify results before June 26, and the Secretary of State’s Office is expected to certify the statewide election by July 10.
Supporters say the new funding will help counties process ballots more efficiently while preserving safeguards intended to ensure every eligible vote is counted.
The California Secretary of State’s Office will accept ballot arguments supporting or opposing statewide measures through 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, with rebuttals due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. Arguments are limited to 500 words and rebuttals to 250 words, with no more than three signers per submission. Materials may be delivered in person, faxed to (916) 653-3214, or emailed to VIGarguments@sos.ca.gov. Faxed and emailed submissions must be followed by the original documents within 72 hours.
Bill Aims to Protect Eaton Fire Victims From “Predatory” Real Estate Developers
California lawmakers are advancing legislation that would temporarily protect homeowners recovering from the devastating Eaton Fire from rapid redevelopment, giving residents in Altadena more time to rebuild before investors can pursue projects that supporters say could permanently reshape the community.
Senate Bill 1090, authored by state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), would suspend several streamlined housing development approvals in Altadena ZIP codes 91001 and 91003 for applications submitted between Jan. 7, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2030. Supporters say the measure is intended to prevent speculative developers from taking advantage of homeowners displaced by the wildfire while preserving the community’s character during recovery.
“This is important community-driven legislation,” Pérez said as lawmakers advanced the bill.
Pérez said SB 1090 “will protect Eaton Fire survivors and allow them the time they need to rebuild their community without the overpowering influence of predatory developers looking to take advantage of the devastation and suffering caused by the Eaton fire.”
The legislation would also temporarily exempt the affected Altadena neighborhoods from several ministerial approval requirements established under California housing laws. Specifically, it would pause streamlined approvals for qualifying housing developments, urban lot splits and certain subdivision maps that would otherwise be processed without discretionary review. The exemption would not apply to projects whose property rights had already vested before the measure takes effect.
According to the bill’s legislative findings, the proposal is needed because Altadena was excluded from earlier executive actions that provided similar rebuilding protections to other Los Angeles County communities affected by the 2025 wildfires. Lawmakers said a special statute is necessary to address the risk of “predatory development practices” during the area’s recovery.
The Eaton Fire ignited on Jan. 7, 2025, scorching nearly 15,000 acres and destroying more than 9,400 structures across Altadena and Pasadena, including about 6,000 single-family homes in Altadena. Supporters of SB 1090 argue that many displaced residents remain vulnerable to below-market purchase offers while they navigate insurance claims, rebuilding costs and temporary housing.
The bill has already passed the state Senate and is awaiting consideration in the Assembly. If approved by both chambers and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the temporary protections would remain in place through Jan. 7, 2030, giving Eaton Fire survivors additional time to rebuild before broader streamlined development rules once again apply to the affected neighborhoods.
“For Too Many Students, Math Struggles Go Unnoticed,” Says Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson as Education Bill Advances
A bill aimed at helping California’s youngest students build stronger math skills moved forward this week after winning bipartisan approval in the Assembly Education Committee.
Senate Bill 1067, authored by Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), would establish a statewide framework for screening students in kindergarten through second grade for foundational math skills. The measure is intended to help schools identify learning gaps early and provide evidence-based support before students fall behind.
Research has consistently found that early math proficiency is one of the strongest indicators of long-term academic success. Supporters of the bill say many students reach later grades without mastering basic math concepts, making it more difficult to keep pace academically.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to build a strong foundation for future success,” Weber Pierson said in a statement. “For too many students, math struggles go unnoticed until they have already fallen significantly behind. SB 1067 gives educators the tools to identify learning needs early and provide targeted, evidence-based support when it can make the greatest difference. By investing in our youngest learners today, we are helping prepare the next generation for success in school, college, and the workforce.”
The proposal builds on California’s recent efforts to improve early literacy by applying a similar approach to mathematics. If enacted, SB 1067 would require the development of evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment tools. It also would ensure parents receive information about their child’s progress and available academic support.
The bill’s sponsor, EdVoice, said early intervention can prevent small learning gaps from becoming long-term obstacles.
“Strong math skills open doors to future opportunities, but too many students miss out because they don’t receive support early enough,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice. “SB 1067 gives educators the ability to identify learning gaps before they become long-term barriers and helps ensure every child has the foundation they need to succeed.”
After clearing the Assembly Education Committee, SB 1067 has now advanced to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
