By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Gov. Newsom Signs Bill to Ensure Refineries Have Enough Fuel to Avoid Gas Shortages
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Oct. 14 written to help prevent gas prices from spiking to protect consumers. Democrats in the Legislature introduced ABX2-1 to push back on the increasing cost of energy prices and the impacts of climate change by the oil industry.
“With this new law, big oil companies are now responsible for stabilizing prices at the pump,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) after Gov. Newsom signed the law.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), California residents pay the highest prices for gas in the U.S. as a result of taxes and added costs resulting from environmental regulations. The average price for unleaded gas in California was approximately $4.68 per gallon this month, compared to the national average of $3.20 per gallon.
The bills authors, Assemblymembers Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) introduced the legislation after the state’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight revealed that gas price spikes are primarily caused by increases in global crude oil prices and unplanned refinery outages. State law allows energy regulators to require that refineries keep certain amounts of fuel on hand to prevent sudden price increases when refineries go offline for maintenance.
Newsom said the State Legislature is “not waiting around for the industry to do the right thing.
“We’re taking action to prevent these price spikes and save consumers money at the pump. Now, the state has the tools to make sure they backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance so there aren’t shortages that drive up prices,” Newsom said.
Democrats criticized the oil industry for trying to keep the legislation from passing. Lawmakers said that price spikes have cost residents billions of dollars over the years.
Opponents of ABX2-1 argued that the law could unintentionally raise overall gas prices and threaten the safety of workers by giving the state more oversight over refinery maintenance schedules, and a delay in maintenance could lead to accidents.
Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association said policymakers do not understand the oil industry and what drives gas prices.
“Regulators remain fixated on controlling businesses with more taxes, fees, and costly demands,” said Reheis-Boyd in a statement.
Following Gov. Newsom’s decision to enact the bill, Phillips 66 announced that it will shut down its refinery in Wilmington next year. The state is projected to lose more than 8% of its crude oil processing capacity as a result of the company’s cost-saving move to close its refinery.
United Health Foundation Is Offering $3,200 Scholarships for Health Care Professionals
The United Health Foundation (UHF) announced the Diversity in Health Care Scholarship program, an initiative offering $3,200 scholarships to underrepresented healthcare professionals.
The program is part of the foundation’s commitment to making the healthcare system work better for students, professionals, and people from diverse backgrounds.
According to UHF, the initiative is designed to help underrepresented health professionals advance their clinical degrees and credentials. The scholarship provides funding for professionals from various clinical fields such as nursing, mental health, physical therapy, dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine. Previous scholarship recipients stated that they are motivated by the desire to serve patients within their respective communities by providing culturally responsive care.
“Experience shows that when patients receive care from health providers who speak their language or understand their cultural needs, they are more responsive and engaged,” said Anne Yau, UHF President, in a statement.
“This can lead to better health outcomes, as patients feel safe and trust their health care providers,” Yau added.
Since the program launched in 2022, the foundation has provided scholarships to approximately 2,000 students and professionals who want to make a difference in health care. The initiative aims to sponsor 10,000 clinicians by 2033.
Interested health care workers can apply for the scholarship at this website.
California Increase Wages for Health Care Workers
California has increased wages for some of the lowest-paid healthcare workers in the state.
According to the University of California, Berkeley Labor Center, the new minimum-wage increase to $25 an hour over the next decade will affect approximately 460,00 workers in the health care industry. Under the new law, which took effect Oct. 16, professionals working at rural independent healthcare facilities will earn a minimum of $18 an hour immediately. Hospitals with at least 10,000 employees will now have a minimum wage floor of at least $23 an hour.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law last year, and the wage increase was supposed to take effect on June 1, 2024. However, the state budget deficit of nearly $46 billion at the time caused a delay in implementing the pay increase for some months.
John Logan, professor of Labor and Employment at San Francisco State University, said that the wage increase will help the health care industry retain and recruit workers in an interview with ABC News.
“It’s a way of providing something approaching a living wage for hundreds of thousands of workers that didn’t have it before,” said Logan.
The minimum wage for most workers in California is $16 and voters will decide in November to increase the rate to $18 an hour by 2026. Increasing the wage would make the rate the highest statewide minimum wage in the country.
Apply Now: You Can Help to Shape Calif. Transportation Policy by Joining This Board
Last week, California State agencies announced a call for applicants to serve on the Interagency Equity Advisory Committee.
Applications are due by, Dec.1, 2024.
The committee consists of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the California Transportation Commission (Commission), and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
The committee has 15 members who advise, review, and provide recommendations related to transportation plans, programs, and policies. Committee membership is intended to promote diverse and historically marginalized voices in California with the aim of improving transportation equity.
Toks Omishakin, Secretary of CalSTA said that the Equity Advisory Committee is making a difference through valuable recommendations to the state’s transportation system.
“I encourage all interested Californians to apply to join the committee as a critical voice helping elevate historically marginalized communities,” said Omishakin.
The committee has experts from various backgrounds including tribal and indigenous communities. The group also has advocates from community organizations such as climate and air quality, housing justice, as well as environmental justice and equity. The committee will address accessibility disability advocacy and rural area concerns.
Members serve up to two years on the committee and are eligible for a $100 per diem for their service. Applicants must be residents of California and have experience in developing and implementing community-derived policies in partnership with the government or similar institutions.
For more information on the Equity Advisory Committee, please visit: https://catc.ca.gov/programs/interagency-equity-advisory-committee
Secretary of State Weber Urges Californians to Take Advantage of Early Voting
Last week, California Secretary of State (SOS) Shirley N. Weber encouraged voters to submit their ballots early for the upcoming general elections in November.
The SOS’s office listed a step-by-step process that voters can follow to complete and return their vote-by-mail ballot.
“California voters are no longer limited to a single day of voting. Why wait in line on Election Day when you have early voting options?” said Secretary Weber. “Once you receive your ballot, complete it, sign the back of the envelope, and then you can return it by mail, drop box, or at any early voting location.”
Voters can visit the Secretary of State’s official website to view the full list of drop box locations, where they can drop off their vote-by-mail ballot
Eligible citizens can register to vote or update their voter registration online. The last day to register for the Nov. 5 General Election is Oct. 21, 2024.
Other important dates for the upcoming elections are listed below:
- Ballot drop-off locations opened on Oct. 8, 2024.
- Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning on Oct 26. 2024.
- Mailed vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 12, 2024.
Information about county elections offices can be found at sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.
Upcoming California key deadlines and dates for the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election can be found at sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-nov-5-2024/key-dates-deadlines.
The November 5, 2024, General Election Calendar can be found at elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2024-primary/section-08-general-election-calendar.pdf.
California Expands Access to Culturally Based Treatment For Substance Abuse
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state is expanding access to culturally based treatment services for people struggling with substance use disorder.
Recently, the state expanded Medi-Cal coverage to include traditional healthcare practices that help improve the health outcomes of individuals with substance disorders. State data showed that Native Americans are disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic with higher death rates caused by overdoses compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the country.
Newsom said that the State wants to help heal the historical wounds inflicted on tribes, including the alarming health disparities between Native communities and other groups.
“By supporting greater access to traditional medicine and healing, we are taking another step toward a healthier, brighter future,” said Newsom.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved medical coverage for two new categories of interventions under state law in partnership with tribal partners. The first intervention will be provided by traditional healers using methods such as spiritual ceremonies, music therapy, and herbal remedies. The second intervention works with natural helpers offering navigational support, psychological skill building, self-management, and trauma support.
Tyler Sadwith, California State Medicaid Director, said Indigenous people, “now have access to culturally based traditional healing practices through Medi-Cal, marking a historic step toward health equity and honoring the rich traditions of our diverse Native communities.”
A study by the National Council of Urban Indian Health showed that culturally centered approaches help enhance engagement and recovery outcomes.
Black and Latino Men Lag in Developmental Education, Study Reveals
Black and Latino men have the lowest educational attainment in the state, according to a report on developmental education reform by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Recent state data shows that only 13% of Latino and 16% of Black men between the ages of 22 and 27 have at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the report.
The level of educational attainment of Black and Latino women is nearly double that of their male counterparts.
When it comes to college enrollment and completion, “persistence may be the biggest challenge for Latino and Black men,” with more than half of them leaving college without a degree or transferring.
The State Legislature implemented Assembly Bill 705, a law that mandated reforms in developmental education. The reforms allowed historically underrepresented students such as Black and Latino Men to use community colleges as a primary gateway to higher education. The data also revealed that Black and Latino men lag in educational attainment compared to White and Asian students.
“The implications of the growing racial gap in bachelor’s degree attainment are significant, considering that a growing share of California’s future labor force will come from these groups,” the report stated regarding the future contributions of Black and Latino men.
In California, community colleges are the primary access point to higher education for Black and Latino students. Most underrepresented students transfer to a four-year institution to attain a bachelor’s degree. However, state data shows that transfer rates remain low among Black and Latino male students, and few students succeed in their goal to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Despite the low college graduation rates among Black and Latino students, AB705 has helped reform developmental education. The study recommended that institutions of higher learning create and implement initiatives that help connect students to academic and student services, including resources that cultivate a broader sense of belonging for men of color.
Conservative Group Targets LAUSD Program for Black Students
A conservative group in Virginia filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Los Angeles Unified School District, demanding that it end racial preferences in a program aimed at helping low-performing Black students.
Supporters of the Black Student Achievement Plan have condemned this political move and insist that the program to be preserved in its original form.
However, under pressure, the LAUSD has decided to overhaul the $120 million academic program for Black students by removing race as a factor that determines which children will get help in public schools.
The Virginia-based group, Parents Defending Education, wants to overhaul the program, alleging that it violates the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by providing additional education services based on a student’s race. The group filed the complaint in July 2023, arguing that its mission is to oppose “destructive practices” in schools regarding policies related to race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
“The Los Angeles Unified School District is offering race-based programming for some students that is not open to all,” stated the group in an online post.
However, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights dismissed the complaint on July 11, 2024. The department stated that that the LAUSD revised the criteria for the program from being centered on race to basing it on achievement, school environment survey, and absenteeism.
Supporters of the academic program, such as Ebony Batiste, a teacher at 74th Street Elementary School in South L.A., argued that the program is a form of restorative justice.
“There’s a lot of historical and systemic inequities that, if we’re not going to address them, Black children are going to continue to fail,” said Batiste to the LA. Times “Sometimes I feel like every time we try, our hands are tied behind our back, and we’re not being allowed to help the children that need help.”
Following the dismissal of the complaint, the LAUSD intends to continue working with Black students and support other students with similar academic needs under the revamped program.
