By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
California Education Chief Tony Thurmond Appoints Atty. Mark Harris to Workgroup on Healthcare Costs
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has appointed attorney and economist Mark T. Harris to a new statewide workgroup that will develop policy recommendations to address rising healthcare costs affecting TK-12 school districts and educators.
The TK-12 Education Healthcare Cost Workgroup will bring together educators, economists and policy experts to examine the financial impact of increasing healthcare costs on school districts and identify solutions to help schools continue providing quality healthcare benefits to employees and their families.
“We are all painfully aware of the rising costs of healthcare in this country, and our school districts are not immune to that strain,” said Thurmond. “School districts must be able to afford quality healthcare for their employees, and all school employees deserve access to quality healthcare for themselves and their families.”
Harris is an attorney, economist and senior continuing lecturer at the University of California, Merced. He also serves as director of the university’s Law Clinic, general counsel to the Fresno Unified School District and special counsel to the Sacramento City Unified School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District. Before entering academia, Harris worked as an investment banker on Wall Street and has lectured internationally on law and finance.
In 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Harris to the Export-Import Bank of the United States’ Council on Climate. He also recently received the inaugural National Action Network Rev. Al Sharpton Legacy Award in recognition of his work advancing civil rights and social justice.
Harris said he accepted the appointment in honor of his late mother, who spent more than 60 years teaching in Los Angeles and Sacramento public schools and served as a leader of United Teachers Los Angeles. He also noted that his wife, Dr. Marianna Y. Harris, is a former public school teacher and school site leader.
“I hope that the contribution I make to the Workgroup helps move the needle in a positive direction relative to healthcare finance equity for all who are within the public education ecosystem,” Harris said.
The California Department of Education said the workgroup’s recommendations will focus on helping school districts manage rising healthcare costs while preserving access to quality healthcare for educators. Officials said the effort comes as school systems across California continue to face growing financial pressures associated with employee healthcare benefits.
California Controller Malia Cohen Releases Searchable Government Workforce Data, Showing $33.1B in Total Wages; Highest-Paid Employee Earned $1.2 Million
California State Controller Malia M. Cohen on July 9 released updated payroll datashowing local governments paid more than $33.1 billion in wages to approximately 751,117 public employees during calendar year 2025, while launching an updated searchable database that allows the public to access compensation across cities and counties.
The annual Government Compensation in California report provides one of the state’s most comprehensive public records of local government payroll and compensation. The data show local governments paid nearly $26 billion in regular pay, $3.6 billion in overtime pay, about $675.8 million in lumpsum pay and nearly $2.9 billion in other pay, for total wages exceeding $33.1 billion. Employers also contributed nearly $9 billion toward employee retirement and health benefits, bringing total compensation to nearly $94.4 billion.
“Public trust starts with public information,” said Cohen. “Every Californian deserves easy access to reliable information about how taxpayer dollars are spent at the city and county level. By publishing this data each year, we’re giving the public the tools to explore, compare, and better understand compensation across local government.”
Among California cities, Hayward reported the highest average employee wage, followed by Atherton and San Francisco. Santa Clara County, Alameda County and Los Angeles County reported the highest average employee wages among counties.
The report also identified the state’s highest-paid local government employee. A deputy police chief in Redlands reported $1,203,370 in total wages during 2025. Several Los Angeles positions also ranked among the highest paid, including a fire battalion chief who earned $921,050, multiple transmission and distribution district supervisors earning more than $760,000, a chief port pilot with $777,990, an electric distribution mechanic with $760,684 and a general manager and chief engineer with $748,766.
State officials said 16 cities and one county either failed to submit required payroll information or submitted incomplete data, despite California law requiring local governments to report employee compensation annually to the Controller’s Office.
Since its launch in 2010, the Government Compensation in California database has expanded to include salary and benefit information for more than two million government positions reported each year. The searchable database allows users to compare compensation across agencies, search by job classification, explore interactive maps and download payroll data for independent analysis.
Gov. Newsom Signs Sweeping Education Governance; Announces $151.4 Billion Investment After Decades of Reform Calls
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation restructuring California’s public education governance system, marking what supporters describe as the most significant overhaul of the state’s TK-12 leadership structure in more than a century.
Assembly Bill 181, authored by Assemblymembers David Alvarez (D-San Diego) and Darshana Patel (D-Poway), creates an appointed Education Commissioner who will oversee the California Department of Education under the direction of the State Board of Education. The measure is intended to align the state’s policymaking and administrative functions while redefining the role of the elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“California can no longer afford to postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century,” Newsom said after signing the bill. He said the current system has long divided responsibility for setting education policy from implementing it, weakening accountability and slowing improvements for students.
The legislation also expands the superintendent’s role by making the office a voting member of the governing boards overseeing California’s three public higher education systems, while adding two legislative appointees to the State Board of Education and clarifying responsibilities among state education leaders.
The governance overhaul comes alongside what the Newsom administration describes as a historic investment in California’s public schools. On July 10, Newsom announced that the 2026 Budget Act provides $151.4 billion in total funding for TK-12 education — the highest level of school funding in state history.
The budget expands support for Universal Transitional Kindergarten, community schools, literacy and mathematics initiatives, student mental health services, and before- and after-school and summer learning programs, investments the administration says are designed to improve academic achievement and advance educational equity across the state.
“This budget is remarkable in all the ways you’ve heard and some others,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, President, California State Board of Education.
“Just over a decade when the local control funding formula was beginning to be funded California was one of the lowest funded states in the country and one of the lowest performing states in the country,” Darling-Hammond continued. “We were in the bottom 5 on just about everything and we had the fewest teachers per pupil administrators. This budget has the largest investment education in the last seven years. “Our investments in proposition 98, the education side of the budget, have gone up by about 78%. That’s a 66% increase in per-pupil spending.
The proposal follows months of legislative hearings and builds on recommendations dating back decades. Supporters point to repeated studies, including the Legislature’s 2002 Master Plan for Education, concluding that California’s education governance structure is fragmented, with overlapping authority that hinders effective implementation of state policies.
Alvarez said the reforms are especially important because longstanding governance problems have contributed to persistent achievement gaps affecting Black and Latino students.
“Past leaders failed to act, and our students have paid the price,” Alvarez said, adding that the measure aligns “authority, accountability, and resources” to improve educational outcomes.
The legislation drew support from county superintendents, school administrators, education equity organizations, business officials, and more than 950 organizations statewide, according to the Governor’s Office.
The new governance structure takes effect in January 2027, when California’s next governor and superintendent assume office. State officials will spend the coming months developing transition plans and reporting requirements intended to ensure an orderly implementation.
Sen. Padilla Condemns Trump Administration’s Removal of Democratic Election Commissioners
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee, is condemning the Trump administration’s dismissal of the Democratic members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), calling the move an attack on the nation’s election system just months before the 2026 midterm elections.
Padilla joined U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), ranking member of the House Committee on Administration, in criticizing the decision, which also coincided with the resignation of the commission’s remaining Republican member. The departures leave the four-member federal agency without any commissioners less than four months before Election Day.
The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 to serve as an independent, bipartisan agency that provides guidance, resources and support to state and local election officials. By law, no more than two commissioners may belong to the same political party, and commissioners continue serving until their successors are confirmed and sworn into office.
Padilla and Morelle argued that removing the Democratic commissioners undermines the agency’s independence and weakens federal support for election administrators across the country.
“Here we go again. President Trump is trying to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure,” Padilla and Morelle said in a joint statement. “Purging commissioners just months before the midterm elections and further gutting support for our state and local elections officials is a blatant part of his plan to politicize our elections and enable more unlawful and dangerous election interference.”
The lawmakers continued, “Trump continues to double down on his efforts to erode trust in our elections, undermine independent oversight, and further his Administration’s attempt to ‘take over’ elections. Americans deserve elections that are safe, secure, and run free from political interference — not overseen by partisan loyalists and election deniers beholden to Trump.”
The EAC was created in response to widespread concerns about election administration following the 2000 presidential election. The agency distributes federal election funds, develops voluntary voting system guidelines, certifies voting equipment, and provides best practices and technical assistance to election officials nationwide.
Under federal law, commissioners are nominated by the president, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and may serve up to two four-year terms. The statute also specifies that commissioners remain in office after their terms expire until their successors have been appointed and have taken office.
The Trump administration has not publicly detailed the legal basis for the dismissals. The removal of the Democratic commissioners leaves the EAC without a quorum or leadership as election officials across the country continue preparations for the November 2026 midterm elections.
No Home for Hate in L.A.: City Leaders Rally a Month After Violent Attack Against Street Vendor
Los Angeles city leaders, law enforcement officials and community advocates gathered at City Hall one month after a longtime street vendor was violently assaulted in what officials described as a possible hate crime, condemning hate and discrimination while urging victims to report incidents and seek help.
The Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department organized the news conference on behalf of Mayor Karen Bass following what officials called an unprovoked attack on Arabelia Martinez, a street vendor, while she worked at her hot dog cart near Figueroa and Seventh streets. Officials said Martinez was subjected to violence, extortion and harassment, leaving her injured and damaging her livelihood. The event brought together District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles Police Department leadership, Councilmembers Ysabel Jurado and Eunisses Hernandez, and community advocacy partners to show support for Martinez and the city’s street vendor community.
“Let’s stop all the discrimination against street vendors. Enough!” Martinez said in a translated statement. “All of us have the dignity to work with freedom in this country. We all have the right to do our job. We are all humans. We are all equals.”
Martinez, who said she has worked as a street vendor since 1996, encouraged others not to remain silent after experiencing discrimination or violence.
“Raise your voice,” she said. “Everyone who has been assaulted and stayed silent. I am very proud to be Oaxacan… To all street vendors, feel proud of your work. Unity makes us strong. Yes, we can. We can make a change.”
Capri Maddox, executive director of the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, said the city organized the event to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Martinez and send a clear message that “Hate has no home in Los Angeles.”
“For more than 30 years, Ms. Martinez has been a vital part of our street vending community,” said Maddox. “We want every Angeleno to understand this: no matter your citizenship status, your permit status, your country of origin, or the language you speak, you have rights!”
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado said the legal process should continue but added that preventing future attacks also requires supporting victims and strengthening partnerships among residents, businesses, community organizations and public agencies.
City officials urged anyone who experiences discrimination to file a civil rights enforcement claim with the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department. They also encouraged victims and witnesses of crimes to contact law enforcement, saying Los Angeles is committed to protecting all residents from hate and discrimination.
Dr. Oz to Decide Fate of California $2 Billion Plan to Fill Medi-Cal Funding Gap
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will decide whether California can move forward with a $2 billion plan to help fund Medi-Cal, a decision that could affect health coverage for millions of low-income and disabled residents.
The proposal would raise California’s managed care tax on health insurance companies to replace federal Medicaid funding the state expects to lose after the Trump administration restricted a financing mechanism that states have long used to support their Medicaid programs. Federal approval is required before the plan can take effect.
State Republicans urged Oz in a letter June 6 to reject the proposal, arguing it would increase health insurance costs for Californians.
A nonpartisan state analysis estimated the tax could raise annual premiums for an individual by about $100. Supporters of the plan say the additional revenue is needed to help maintain Medi-Cal funding and avoid disruptions to healthcare coverage.
“The administration cannot prejudge an application until it’s thoroughly reviewed, but Gavin Newsom proudly pushing a plan that could jack up insurance premiums is on par for California Democrats,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.
Christian Beltran, deputy director of legislation for the California Department of Finance, said the proposal was designed to meet federal requirements.
“If the federal government denies the proposal,” Beltran said, Newsom’s administration “will review the rationale for the denial, assess options and determine next steps.”
Medi-Cal provides healthcare coverage to about 14 million Californians with low incomes or disabilities. Last fiscal year, the federal government spent about $120 billion on the program, while California contributed $45 billion from the state’s general fund.
For years, California has used a tax on health insurers to help finance Medi-Cal while receiving additional federal matching funds. The Trump administration ended that practice it described as a loophole, prompting state lawmakers to approve a revised managed care tax as part of the recently enacted state budget.
California’s current managed care tax expires at the end of the year. If federal regulators reject the proposal, state lawmakers could be forced to identify spending cuts or alternative revenue sources to help close the funding gap and continue funding Medi-Cal.
