By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
The 2024 State of Black California Tour stop in Oakland has been rescheduled from Sept. 28 to Dec. 13, at the Oakland Museum of California. Registration for the event is closed after reaching maximum capacity, according to CBBF’s website.
Registration for the Oct. 5 tour stop in Moreno Valley is closed as well. Al Sharpton will be a guest speaker at that event.
The series, co-hosted by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), has made stops in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno, and Sacramento.
The State of Black California series creates space for Black Californians to engage the public and policymakers on the issues that impact the Black community. It will also provide conversations about the status of reparations legislation.
The CBFF is a five-year, $100 million measure to ensure that Black power-building and movement-based organizations have the sustainable investments and effective resources needed to remove systemic and institutional racism. CBFF was the benefactor of $3.5 million in state funds last year, distributed to various Black networks in the state.
San Diego: Controller Malia Cohen Attends Launch of First All-Electric Harbor Crane in U.S.
State Controller Malia Cohen attended the launch of the new all-electric mobile harbor crane system at the Port of San Diego, the only dockside lifting machine of its kind in the United States.
Cohen participated in the event along with Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) and Randa Coniglio the Acting Port Chief Executive Officer.
The Port of San Diego is transitioning its industrial activities to advance the state’s clean energy goals, have a great economic impact, and improve the air quality to nearby neighborhoods. The port installed two Generation 6 Mobile Harbor Cranes at the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT), the first-ever in the nation’s history. State and local leaders, partners stakeholders, and community members attending the celebration witnessed a demonstration of the crane’s system capabilities.
Cohen, who is also chair of the State Lands Commission, was optimistic about the health and environmental impact of the new development.
“These new cranes will advance the state’s clean energy goals while amplifying the Port’s tremendous economic impact on the San Diego County region,” said Cohen.
“I believe that with continued investments in innovative clean energy infrastructure, workforce development, and job training, paired with ongoing meaningful community engagement and inclusion, and collaborative leadership, we can build a better tomorrow with thriving communities, a sustainable economy, and a vibrant port industry,” she added.
Frank Urtasun, chairman of the Port of San Diego and board of Port Commissioners, said that the new all-electric cranes meet the agency’s dual-focused maritime missions to have cleaner air and deliver goods for communities in the region.
“We’re improving air quality, driving commerce, and supporting good jobs. Everybody wins,” said Urtasun.
The newly installed cranes are replacing the Port’s former diesel-powered crane. This transition is a step toward achieving one of the Port’s goals as part of the Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS). The Port is working to replace all cargo handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030.
Gov. Newsom Signs Legislative Package to Increase Housing, Improve Accountability
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan legislative package to improve housing initiatives and address the homelessness crisis. The laws aim to streamline housing production and hold local governments accountable to state housing laws.
The Legislature will enact over 30 new laws to strengthen housing protections for residents and improve transparency and efficiency for housing programs and initiatives.
“No more excuses. California is taking action to fix the decades-long homelessness, housing, and mental health crises,” said Newsom
“These new laws — paired with the state’s unprecedented resources — will deliver more housing, get people off the streets, and provide life-changing support that will benefit all Californians,” he said.
The bill package has new laws that mandate local governments to provide housing to vulnerable residents or low-income individuals experiencing homelessness. The laws will create strict timelines and robust requirements for local governments to report progress on housing and provide notice to the public, increasing accountability for local agencies. Under the new state laws, cities and counties that fail to adopt housing element revisions or approve housing developments will face monetary penalties for failing to comply with housing laws. The state will reduce regulatory barriers to promote housing near transit and provide incentives for accessory dwelling units as well as senior and student accommodation.
The bill package includes $2.2 billion in funding through Proposition 1 to build housing for veterans and individuals struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. The state plans to develop over 4,000 housing units and expand its HomeKey initiative to convert existing buildings into housing projects for homeless people statewide.
Sen. Laphonza Butler Helps Secure Nomination of Central California Federal Judge Michelle Williams Court
Last week, U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped to secure the nomination of Judge Michelle Williams Court as Judge for the Central District of California with a vote of 49-44.
In her new role, Court became the third Black woman and fifth in the court’s history to serve as an Article III Judge in the state’s Central District.
Since 2012, Court worked for the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County.
In 2023, she was a supervising judge in the court’s civil division. Before being a judge, she worked as an attorney, then later became the vice president and general counsel at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm specializing in human rights and poverty justice.
Court dedicated her career as a lawyer to civil rights and social development. She led and contributed to several projects at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the American Civil Liberties Union in Southern California. The judge earned her Juris Doctor in 1993 from the Loyola Law School at the Loyola Marymount University, and she received her bachelor’s in 1988 from Pomona College.
“The Central District of California serves roughly seventeen million people, making it the largest federal district by population in the entire United States. The judges who serve these Californians are currently facing an unprecedented number of filings, making the need to fill the court’s vacancies all that more urgent. It is commonly said that ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’ and at this moment the people of California’s Central District are indeed being denied justice as a direct result of these judicial vacancies,” said Butler in her statement on the Senate Floor urging her colleagues to approve Court’s nomination.
Butler also praised Court’s commitment to justice and track record of serving the state of California.
“Her nomination is an important step towards building trust in our legal system by ensuring that our federal courts reflect and represent the diversity of the people it serves,” he said regarding Judge Court’s career serving in the state’s justice system.
Legislative Republicans Present “Real Solutions” to Drive Down Gas Prices
Assembly Republicans presented a plan last week with what they called “real solutions” to lower gas prices during a special legislative session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assembly Democrats to pass legislation to address the high cost of gasoline prices in the state.
The Republican Caucus proposed seven bills that aim to make gas more affordable statewide. The package includes bills that exempt gas from the state’s cap-and-trade program that adds 30 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas.
Republicans also introduced a bill to suspend the state’s gas tax for one year, a bill requiring the California Energy Commission to regularly update a public dashboard comparing the state’s gas prices to national averages.
Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said Newsom failed to reduce the cost of gas and that the special session is an attempt to distract residents and leaders from the governor’s failure.
“While Democrats fall in line behind a scheme that Newsom’s administration says could increase gas prices, Assembly Republicans have a common-sense plan to give drivers relief,” said Gallagher.
However, Capitol insiders expect the Democratic majority to push back on the bills. They could also be vetoed by Newsom.
Despite these challenges, Daniel Villaseñor, a spokesperson for the Governor, stated that the Republican bills are a part of “Big Oil’s wish list.”
He argued that there is nothing in the proposed bills that will prevent spikes in gas prices. Newsom is focused on solutions that protect residents from getting gouged at the pump with prices that only bring profits to the oil industry and misery for consumers, Villaseñor stated.
Study: UC 4-Year Grad Rate Doubles That of CSU
Graduation rates at the University of California have increased by 10 points over the last ten years putting the college system on track to achieve its 2030 graduation goals, according to a report on college completion in the state released by the Public Policy Institute of California.
Recent data indicated that the UC system has a graduation rate of 73% for four-year students and a six-year graduation rate of 86%, according to the institution’s data. The system will increase the four-year graduation rate to 76% and the six-year rate to 90% by 2030.
However, students at California State University are lagging behind with a graduation rate of 36% for four-year students and a 62% for six-year graduation rate. The graduation rates for students in the UC system are more than double that of students at CSU. Consequently, it is unlikely that CSU will meet its graduation goal of graduating 40% of four-year students and 70% of six-year students by 2025.
The report revealed that nonprofit institutions have relatively high completion rates compared to a high number of for-profit and private colleges that have lower graduation rates.
Researchers stated that longstanding equity gaps in college completion persist indicating that Black and Latino students graduate at lower rates of 52% and 64% The data is varied in comparison to White and Asian students who graduate at higher rates of 75% and 83%, respectively.
Nonetheless, the report showed that Black students in the UC system graduated at a rate of 78% in four years, nearly double the graduation number of Black students in the CSU system with a rate of 47 percent.
“Campus and regional disparities are stark,” the report stated regarding the varying graduation rates at the different college locations.
“Despite progress, equity gaps at UC remain nearly as large as they were in 2018. At CSU, gaps have widened over time; however, many campuses have made progress in closing them,” the report stated about the equity gaps in the college systems.
The state has set a goal to achieve a graduation rate of 70% by 2030.
Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Protecting Creatives as AI Evolves
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills to help actors and performers, including deceased individuals, protect their digital likeness in audio and visual content posted online.
The legislation intends to promote the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and different forms of digital media technologies used for entertainment.
Newsom signed Assembly Bill AB 2602, authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) requires contracts to specify the use of AI-generated digital replicas of a performer’s voice or likeness. The bill stipulates that the performer must be professionally represented in the negotiating contract.
The law, supporters say, will protect performers, preventing the use of AI to replicate their voices and likenesses without permission.
Kalra acknowledged the impact of AI in the entertainment industry and expressed gratitude for Newsom supporting the bill.
Kalra said AB 2602 is, “a bill that will safeguard a performer’s right to their digital self and protect artists’ livelihoods. While this bill was informed by negotiations during the historic strike by SAG-AFTRA, AB 2602 shows how California can strike the right balance between AI innovation and protecting workers in the digital age.”
The second law, AB 1836, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), prohibits the commercial use of digital replicas of deceased performers in the media without consent from the performer’s estate. The use of replicas includes, but is not limited to, various forms of media, including films, TV shows, video games, audiobooks, and sound recordings. The newly signed law will restrict the unauthorized use of digital replicas in any visual or audio recordings delivered by performers while they were still alive.
Kahan said that the law helps protect the work of performers and prevents the harmful impact of AI when they are deceased.
“California has always had the best protections for artists in order to safeguard their work and likeness, but artificial intelligence (AI) requires us to continue to update the law to ensure that we are fully protecting our amazing performers,” said Kahan.
“It is now possible to create new performances of artists even after their death. Individuals and their estates deserve protections that extend beyond their life to ensure they control their own likeness and profit from it; that is exactly what AB 1836 does,” she said.
With the ever-evolving nature of AI and digital media, state officials and leaders in the tech industry anticipate that California will help regulate and shape legislation to address issues regarding online content and mass media.
Ahead of Nov. Election, Event to Check Pulse of California’s Political Landscape
The Public Policy Institute of California is hosting a “2024 Speaker Series on California’s Future,” a preview event outlining the political landscape of the state and the nation ahead of the upcoming November elections.
The event, which will be held Sept. 26 from 12 noon to 1 p.m., will include a panel of prominent political journalists who will assess the mood of the electorate and discuss themes and issues that are likely to shape the election outcome in November.
The welcome and opening remarks of the event will be led by Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the president and chief executive officer of the PPIC. The discussion will be moderated by FOX 11 news anchor Elex Michaelson, journalists joining the conversation include senior political writer Joe Garofoli of the San Francisco Chronicle, national politics reporter Astead Herndon of the The New York Times, political correspondent for KQED Marisa Lagos, and senior political reporter POLITICO Melanie Mason.
A statewide survey by the PPIC revealed key findings that highlighted people’s concerns regarding candidates of choice for the 2024 presidential election, the 10 state propositions on the ballot, and the financial direction of the state in the next 12 months.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party standard bearer, 6 in 10 California likely voters support the Democratic presidential ticket compared to the Republican party and other candidates.
“Californians’ support for the Democratic presidential candidate — and partisans’ overwhelming preference for their party’s candidates — were the consistent trends before Harris replaced Biden,” the survey report stated.
Among the 10 ballot measures, approximately 71% of voters are expected to vote yes on Proposition 36, allowing felony charges and increased sentences for some drug and theft crimes.
According to the survey, the majority of voters, “think it is a good thing that a majority of voters can make laws and change public policies by passing initiatives.” Voters agree that initiatives on the ballot, “bring up important public policy issues that the Governor and Legislature have not adequately addressed.”
The survey also revealed that nearly half of voters think the state and country are headed in the wrong direction and expect financial struggles in the next 12 months.
The event will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.
The PPIC Speaker Series on California’s Future invites thought leaders and changemakers to address challenges in the state. Residents can visit the PPIC website for more information and register for the event available online and in person.
Assembly Select Committee on Happiness Releases Its Final Report
Happy people have better general health and tend to live longer enjoying employment, economic, and personal benefits, according to a report on happiness by California’s Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes.
The committee revealed that the negative impact of unhappiness and its related factors is severe. The report showed that happier people are healthier compared to unhappy people who struggle with behavioral health issues.
Susan DeMarois, director of the California Department of Aging, testified to the committee that loneliness has damaging health outcomes for senior residents.
“A significant driver in the epidemic of older adult behavioral health issues is loneliness,” said DeMarois. “Loneliness has such far-reaching consequences that the health impact is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”
According to surveys conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) in 1998 and 2023, happiness for people in California has decreased significantly by almost half in the last 25 years.
The survey showed that fewer residents are “very happy,” 28% of residents were happy in 1998 as opposed to 16% in 2023.
Survey results indicated that more people said they were “not too happy,” 13% of people admitted to being unhappy in 1998 compared to 26% in 2023. A major concern for the committee is that the number of unhappy people has doubled in the last quarter century.
Other survey polls by Gallup showed that coastal residents were more likely to be happy than their inland counterparts.
Given the recent survey results, the committee urged the state to adopt a creative and collaborative approach to improving happiness among residents. Survey polls verified that public trust in the state government is at a historic low. The report recommends lawmakers develop policies that help create trust between residents and the state government.
