By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
New Property Insurance Bill Aims to Help L.A. Fire Victims; Stabilize Market
Last week, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) and Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 226, legislation the authors say will strengthen the state’s property insurance market and “protect homeowners, families and consumers.”
AB 226 also proposes increasing the claims-paying capacity of the FAIR Plan, The California Fair Access to Insurance Requirement (FAIR) plan, a private insurance pool for residents and businesses who can’t find insurance otherwise through the general market.
According to the Office of California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), the legislation would authorize the FAIR Plan “to request the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) to issue bonds if the FAIR Plan faces liquidity challenges in the event of a major catastrophe such as a wildfire.”
The California Building Industry Association issued a statement on Jan. 10, praising the plan and urging the Legislature and Governor to sign it into law without delays.
“AB 226 will help bolster the solvency of the California FAIR Plan and California’s property insurance market. The tragedy unfolding in Los Angeles underscores how urgently this measure is needed to address the insurance and related housing crisis,” the CBIA statement reads.
“This legislative proposal was originally introduced in the Legislature last year in the form of AB 2996. That bill did not receive a single ‘NO’ vote as it moved through the legislative process, but unfortunately died on the final night of session,” it continues.
Rivas said the bill is one way to help L.A. fire victims.
“Our Assembly is taking action today,” Rivas said. “The Assembly plans to advance legislation to support recovery efforts, including a bill focused on insurance claims for homeowners.”
California High Speed Rail Moves to Track-Laying Phase; Will Connect to Vegas
Gov. Gavin Newsom joined officials and workers to mark the start of the track-laying phase of California’s high-speed rail project. The event also celebrated the completion of a key 22-mile stretch in Kern County.
This milestone is a significant step toward the project’s eventual passenger service, expected between 2030 and 2033.
“This is not just a transportation project, this is a transformation project,” said Newsom.
The state “just took a massive step forward. We’re moving into the track-laying phase, completing structures for key segments, and laying the groundwork for a high-speed rail network,” he added.
At the groundbreaking, which was held near Bakersfield, Newsom and California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri celebrated the completion of Construction Package 4 (CP 4), which includes 11 civil structures, such as viaducts and overpasses. CP 4 spans from Poplar Avenue in Wasco to the Kern/Tulare County line. The project has created over 14,500 jobs to date, including more than 3,200 in Kern County.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to advancing high-speed rail as a cornerstone of California’s infrastructure,” said Choudri.
The railhead, currently under construction, will serve as a freight yard for receiving and staging materials for track installation. The track-laying phase includes preparing the site for ballast, ties, and rail installation.
California’s high-speed rail system aims to connect the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Southern California, forming a link for economic growth. Partnerships with Brightline West and High Desert Corridor are advancing plans for an interoperable rail network, enabling travel from Northern California to Las Vegas.
“High-speed rail connects communities and drives economic opportunity,” said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. “This project will reshape our future.”
Rep. Barbara Lee Explores Bid to Run for Mayor of Oakland
Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, 78, who represented Alameda County in the U.S. Congress for 26 years, has filed paperwork to run for mayor of Oakland in a special election to replace former Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled in November.
Lee retired from Congress in 2024.
The special election follows Thao’s recall, driven by public dissatisfaction with issues such as the housing crisis, crime, and rising costs. Thao was the first Hmong American mayor of a major U.S. city.
As a progressive icon, Lee has been a popular figure in the city. Throughout her congressional career, she was reelected with more than 80% of the vote and is the only Black woman elected to the U.S. House from Northern California. Known for her principled stances, Lee was the sole member of Congress to vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force after the September 11 attacks. In 2023, she was the first lawmaker to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
After losing her 2024 bid for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by the late Dianne Feinstein, Lee hinted she was considering running for Oakland mayor.
“The decision to run for mayor of Oakland, a city I have long called home, is not one I take lightly,” she said in her final days in Congress.
Lee’s candidacy comes at a pivotal moment for Oakland as the city grapples with significant challenges. Supporters believe her leadership and deep ties to the community could bring stability and progress during a time of uncertainty.
An official announcement is expected in the near future.
New Calif. Bill Aims to Ban Trans Students From High School Sports
Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita) introduced a bill on Jan 6, Assembly Bill (AB) 89, calling for the prohibition of transgender girls from participating in girls’ high school sports in California. Dubbed the “Protect Girls’ Sports Act,” the bill would require sports organizations to enforce policies limiting female sports teams to individuals assigned female at birth.
Fairness in female sports is being stripped away,” said Sanchez, referring to trans athletes as “biological males” in a video announcement. Critics argue the legislation promotes discrimination and intensifies the challenges trans students face.
Sanchez’s proposal faces steep opposition in California’s Democratic-controlled legislature and conflicts with state laws that protect transgender students’ rights. A 2013 California law ensures trans students can participate in sex-segregated activities and use facilities aligned with their gender identity, a position backed by federal court rulings.
The legislation arrives amid broader legal battles and heated debates surrounding transgender athletes in California. In one case, two high school students sued Riverside Unified School District, claiming a transgender teammate “unfairly” took their spot at a cross-country event. The controversy has fueled transphobic activism, with some students wearing anti-trans T-shirts and Republican lawmakers calling for the district superintendent’s resignation.
San Jose State University faced scrutiny after a volleyball player joined a lawsuit opposing trans women in NCAA sports. Such incidents, along with Sanchez’s bill, highlight a growing focus among conservative activists on transgender athletes.
Advocates for trans rights, including parents and groups like Our Schools USA, have condemned the growing opposition. Daisy Gardner, a parent of an LGBTQ student, said hate campaigns have forced some trans athletes to quit sports entirely. “It’s just not right for these kids to go through this,” said one parent anonymously.
California remains one of 24 states safeguarding trans students’ participation in gender-segregated sports, making the bill’s future uncertain.
Report: 29% of Californians Say Someone in Their Home Has to Cut Back on Food to Save Money
Rising prices and inflation has left more than half of California’s low-income households struggling financially. In 2024, 29% of residents reported that they or someone in their household has cut back on food to save money, according to a December Public Policy Institute of California report. Many
Californians, including 40% of lower-income adults, worry daily about the cost of housing.
“Only one in three Californians think that the American Dream – including the notion that if you work hard, you’ll get ahead –holds true,” stated the report regarding people’s outlook on the current economic condition.
The financial hardships are widespread, as 23% of Californians have experienced reduced work hours, 22% have struggled to pay rent or mortgages, and 21% have been unable to pay a monthly bill. Many also faced health-related financial difficulties, with 20% postponing medical visits or medication purchases, while others sought assistance through programs like CalFresh or food banks.
These difficulties are most pronounced for lower-income households, particularly those earning under $20,000 annually. Renters are especially vulnerable, with 34 percent reporting difficulty paying for housing, compared to just 12 percent of homeowners. Minority groups, particularly African Americans and Latinos, are more likely to report financial hardships than Asian Americans and whites. Among lower-income Californians, younger, less-educated individuals, and those making under $20,000 a year are most likely to experience these challenges.
Despite national indicators showing steady employment growth and lower inflation, many Californians continue to face low wages, particularly given the state’s high cost of living.
