ev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a respected faith and community leader in Orange County, died Sept. 9. He was 72.
Born Oct. 2, 1953, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who later built a life of service centered on family, faith, ministry and community.
Clark began his formal ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena in 1978. After acknowledging his call to ministry in 1980, he preached his first sermon and went on to serve churches throughout Southern California, including Second Baptist Church in Riverside, Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Rubidoux, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona and Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda.
In November 2003, Clark was called to lead New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he served as pastor for more than 22 years. His work extended beyond the pulpit through counseling, mentoring, civic engagement and efforts to strengthen Orange County’s African American community.
Clark was involved with the Orange County Heritage Council and supported efforts to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture. He assisted with the Orange County Black History Parade and Unity Festival, served on the Interfaith Committee and Orange County Transit Authority, and was president of the Orange County Ministers Conference.
In 2024, the City of Santa Ana recognized Clark for his contributions to the community. He also received the Orange County Southern Baptist Association Hall of Faith Award and was previously honored as Pastor of the Year by the Orange County Heritage Council.
Clark is survived by his wife, Andrea Joyles Clark; six children, Shawn Williams, Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Kyla Coward, Joshua Clark, Marissa Clark and Ashley Clark; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings; extended family; and the New Spirit Baptist Church congregation.
A wake will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at New Spirit Baptist Church, 701 S. Sullivan St. in Santa Ana, with a remembrance service from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Friendship Baptist Church, 17145 Bastanchury Road in Yorba Linda. Viewing begins at noon, followed by the service at 1 p.m.
Burial will take place Monday, Oct. 5, at 10:15 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.
Clark often shared a guiding principle that shaped his ministry: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Tesla Race Discrimination Trial This Week Set to Begin in Oakland
Tesla is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 21 in Oakland over California’s allegations of systemic racial harassment, discrimination and retaliation against Black employees.
Opening statements are set to begin Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. in Alameda County Superior Court. The trial had previously been scheduled to begin July 20.
The case, filed by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) in 2022, will be decided by a judge rather than a jury. The court estimates the bench trial will continue through Oct. 30, with each side receiving about 45 hours to present its case.
CRD sued Tesla following a roughly three-year investigation into conditions at the company’s California facilities. The department alleges Black employees were routinely subjected to racial slurs, including the N-word, sometimes in the presence of — or by — supervisors and managers.
According to the lawsuit, workers at Tesla’s Fremont factory referred to the facility as the “plantation” and called Black employees “slaves.” The state also alleges that Black workers were segregated, assigned more labor-intensive jobs and paid less than non-Black employees.
An analysis cited by CRD found that Black employees’ monthly compensation was $1,533 lower than that of white workers from June 2018 through June 2024. Black employees who complained allegedly faced harsher performance reviews, reprimands and termination.
Tesla has denied wrongdoing in racial discrimination cases and has maintained that it does not tolerate workplace harassment.
In May, the Alameda County Superior Court rejected Tesla’s attempt to have the state’s case dismissed, ruling that CRD had presented evidence raising factual questions about the company’s potential liability.
“Tesla claims to be built on the promise of creating a more sustainable future,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish. “But its employment practices remain rooted in some of the ugliest relics of the past. Black workers are paid less for their work. They are subjected to racist slurs. They face threats of being fired for speaking out. In California, we will not and cannot allow these alleged practices to continue. We look forward to having our day in court to hold Tesla accountable and to protect the rights of workers in our state.”
The trial is expected to examine whether Tesla knew about the alleged conduct and failed to prevent or correct it.
Asm. Kamlager-Dove to Run for Co-Chair of the House Democratic Communications Team
U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) is running to become co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, putting digital media, new platforms, and Los Angeles’ creative industry at the center of her campaign for a leadership role within the Democratic Caucus.
The California Democrat said her decision to seek the position was shaped by the 2024 presidential election and what she described as a major lesson from the party’s defeat: Democrats needed to do more to reach voters through social media, creators, independent journalists, podcasts, and other emerging platforms.
Kamlager-Dove said she responded by immersing herself in the changing media landscape and experimenting with new ways to communicate with voters. After President Donald Trump took office, she launched “Is This Sh*t Legal?” to explain the legal issues surrounding actions by the administration, why they mattered, and how Democrats were responding.
“I’ve also prioritized building lasting relationships with creators, podcasters, and independent journalists, so we’re consistently reaching their audiences and making sure our message is part of the conversation year-round,” Kamlager-Dove wrote in a letter seeking support from House Democrats.
She said she has filmed content with more than a quarter of the caucus during the current term, with some members joining her multiple times
Kamlager-Dove said one of her biggest goals would be connecting Los Angeles’ creative talent with the Democratic Caucus. She specifically pointed to writers, producers, storytellers, and digital creators as potential partners in helping Democrats explain their agenda and connect with voters.
“Hollywood understands how to tell complicated stories in compelling, accessible ways that meet people where they are,” she wrote.
Her bid comes as Democrats continue to grapple with a media environment in which voters increasingly encounter political information through social platforms, podcasts, creators, and independent digital outlets.
Kamlager-Dove also emphasized the importance of unity within the caucus, arguing that Democrats need to work collectively rather than as individual lawmakers.
She said she wants to serve as a bridge between Democratic leadership and members of the caucus while ensuring lawmakers and their districts have a voice in the party’s messaging.
“Above all, I’m committed to being a trusted voice for every member of this caucus and to ensuring that you and your districts are represented when decisions are made, and messaging is shaped,” Kamlager-Dove wrote.
Kamlager-Dove is seeking the support of House Democrats as she makes her case for the DPCC co-chair position, drawing on her experience in digital communications and Los Angeles’ entertainment and creative industries.
Poll: Becerra Widens His Lead Over Hilton; Californians Split on Wealth Tax
Democrat Xavier Becerra holds a 22-point lead over Republican Steve Hilton in California’s governor’s race, while voters remain closely divided over a proposed one-time tax on billionaires, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California poll.
The September PPIC survey found that 60% of likely voters support Becerra, compared with 38% for Hilton. His lead is actually narrower than it was in July, when he led Hilton 61% to 36%.
Becerra leads among independent voters, with 57% supporting him compared with 38% for Hilton. Party loyalty remains strong, with 93% of Democratic likely voters backing Becerra and 92% of Republicans supporting Hilton.
Hilton leads in the Central Valley, where 52% of likely voters support him compared with 46% for Becerra.
Affordability remains a major factor: 65% of likely voters say candidates’ plans to address cost-of-living issues are “very important” to their vote.
“Affordability continues to be top of mind for Californians when considering their choice for governor,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy.
The poll also found a narrow split over Proposition 40, a proposed one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers with assets exceeding $1 billion. Fifty-two percent of likely voters said they would vote yes, while 46% said they would vote no.
Support for the wealth tax varies sharply by party. Seventy-two percent of Democrats favor Proposition 40, compared with 46% of independents and 21% of Republicans.
Two competing measures also drew majority support. Fifty-one percent back Proposition 41, while 54% support Proposition 42, both of which could affect the wealth-tax proposal.
The findings come as Californians express broader frustration with the state’s political direction. Seventy-one percent of likely voters expect bad economic times in California over the next year.
“Californians are clearly grumpy and aren’t enamored with any particular political party or movement,” Baldassare said.
The survey interviewed 1,745 California adults, including 1,103 likely voters, from Sept. 4-10. The margin of error for likely voters is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Asm. Corey Jackson Announces Launch of 24-Hour Childcare in His District
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) has secured $2 million in state funding to launch a proposed childcare special district serving families in Moreno Valley and Perris, paving the way for a system designed to provide childcare 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Moreno Valley-Perris Childcare Special District would be the first special district in California focused specifically on childcare, according to Jackson’s office. The state funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs and help the district meet requirements set by the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO.
The proposed district would coordinate a mixed-delivery childcare system that could include home-based and center-based care. The goal is to provide universal childcare for families who work overnight, early morning, or other nontraditional shifts.
Jackson’s office says Moreno Valley is a certified “childcare desert,” with licensed childcare spaces available for only 15% of children with working parents. Infant care in Moreno Valley averages $2,776 a month, or about 35.7% of median household income. In Perris, licensed infant care can cost more than 60% of an individual worker’s gross median earnings, according to the assemblymember’s office.
“Securing this $2 million in startup funding is a monumental victory for the working-class families of Moreno Valley and Perris who have been trapped in a childcare desert for far too long,” Jackson said.
The proposal follows Jackson’s unsuccessful effort to establish the district through Assembly Bill 2083. The legislation would have created the district as a dependent special district covering Moreno Valley, Perris and their spheres of influence, with Riverside LAFCO responsible for reviewing its formation and boundaries.
The new funding allows the district’s formation to move forward without requiring mandatory contributions from local school districts and other stakeholders, according to Jackson’s office. His spokesperson, Daniel Peeden, said Jackson hopes the district can be operating by 2028.
The proposal has faced questions from some local officials. Moreno Valley City Councilmember Ed Delgado, who is running against Jackson for the 60th Assembly District seat, said he supports affordable childcare but questioned how the proposed district would operate and how much it would ultimately cost.
“Basically, he didn’t have a plan. We didn’t see a plan,” Delgado said, adding that officials had questions about operating costs, insurance and eligibility.
“It’s going to take a lot more than $2 million to create a special district to provide affordable childcare,” Delgado said.
Delgado has suggested working with existing childcare centers to subsidize costs for local families rather than creating a new agency.
Jackson’s office says the program will lower barriers to “workforce participation” and reduce “affordability anxiety” for young families. This landmark District is poised to trigger a virtuous cycle of economic upward mobility and long-term regional prosperity in the 60th Assembly District, his office added.
Padilla Presses FBI Director on Election Interference, Citing Riverside Sheriff Ballot Case
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on the bureau’s role in the upcoming midterm elections on Sept.15, citing the seizure of more than 650,000 ballots by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco as he sought assurances that federal agents would not take similar action.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Padilla asked Patel whether the FBI would commit to not seizing ballots, voting machines, or other election materials before the 2026 election is completed, results are certified, and any recounts or election contests are resolved.
Padilla referenced the FBI’s seizure of ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, earlier this year and what he called a “copycat move” in California, where Bianco’s department seized ballots from the November 2025 Proposition 50 election as part of an investigation into alleged discrepancies in the vote count.
“My question to you is, can you make the same commitment?” Padilla asked.
“Yes,” Patel responded.
The Riverside case has become a flashpoint in California’s debate over election administration. Bianco, a Republican candidate for governor at the time of the seizure, said his investigation was intended to determine whether ballots had been improperly counted. State and local election officials disputed the allegations, while California Attorney General Rob Bonta challenged the sheriff’s actions in court. The California Supreme Court later ordered the investigation paused while the legal dispute continues.
Padilla also pressed Patel about the FBI’s handling of congressional oversight requests, saying senators had waited nearly a year for answers to questions submitted after a previous hearing.
“It has been almost a year, and we still have not gotten responses, no answers to our questions for the record submitted last year,” Padilla said.
Patel said those questions had been answered, but still needed to be delivered through the Justice Department. He agreed that the end of October was a reasonable deadline for responses to questions submitted after Tuesday’s hearing.
The California senator also questioned Patel about the FBI’s investigation of shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection personnel. Padilla asked whether FBI leadership had instructed field offices to stop investigating excessive use of force by immigration enforcement officers.
“No,” Patel said.
Patel said the FBI’s role varies from case to case and that the bureau does not have a blanket rule requiring it to lead every investigation. When Padilla asked about the status of investigations into shootings involving ICE personnel, Patel said he would need to consult with the Department of Homeland Security before providing details.
Padilla’s questioning came as federal and state officials prepare for the November midterm elections amid heightened concerns about federal involvement in election administration. His office said Patel’s commitment was meant to ensure that the FBI would not seize election materials before the election process is complete.
