Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

Grassroots Groups Push ‘Motor Voter’ Bill Aimed at 100% Registration of California’s Electorate

Last week, hundreds of community leaders, advocates, and organizers representing labor, faith-based, Black, AAPI, Latinos, women and youth rally and march were held at the State Capitol. They were supporting Senate Bill (SB) 846, which aims to increase election turnout and remove barriers to voter registration for millions of Californians.

Published

3 years ago

June 24, 2023

Oakland Post

The California Grassroots Democracy Coalition held the "Day of Democracy In Support of Secure Automatic Voter Registration" rally and march on June 14, 2023. The participants marched around the California Secretary of State building (in the background) in Sacramento. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio Ray Harvey
California Black Media

Last week, hundreds of community leaders, advocates, and organizers representing labor, faith-based, Black, AAPI, Latinos, women and youth rally and march were held at the State Capitol.

They were supporting Senate Bill (SB) 846, which aims to increase election turnout and remove barriers to voter registration for millions of Californians.

The California Grassroots Democracy Coalition, which is the largest voting rights coalition in California, has launched a campaign to enfranchise 4.7 million unregistered voters through SB 846.

This bill, also known as the Motor Voter bill, was authored by state Senators Caroline Menjivar (D-Chino) and Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara).

The coalition, which represents millions of Californians, has embarked on a multi-year campaign to expand the electorate to better reflect the state’s diversity.

SB 846 is co-sponsored by three members of the California Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC) — Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), and Mike Gipson (D-Carson).

“For decades, grassroots organizations like ours have worked year-round, mobilizing voters, organizing immigrant communities, providing legal services, running advocacy campaigns, and building multi-racial, multi-issue coalitions,” said Stanette Dixon, volunteer coordinator from Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement. “We are coming together to advance a new vision for California’s democracy and dismantle racist barriers to civic participation that marginalize BIPOC, naturalized citizens, young, low-income, and low English proficiency voters.”

SB 846 is being reviewed in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to transmit specified information to Secretary of State Shirley Weber for each person submitting a driver’s license application. To be eligible for voter registration or preregistration, these individuals must be United States citizens and of an eligible age.

Several states, including Alaska, Massachusetts, Oregon, Colorado, Delaware and the District of Columbia, have already passed similar legislation with overwhelmingly positive results.

Members of the coalition and other supporters marched from the state capitol and circled the Secretary of State building twice at 10th and O streets in downtown Sacramento to rally support for the legislation.

SB 846 provides a path to 100% voter registration, supporters say.

“California is no stranger to making election improvements, from creating the first version of automatic voter registration, to making it possible for all registered voters to vote by mail. Now, we have the opportunity to take the next step in modernizing California’s elections,” Limón said in a statement. “SB 846 will broaden access to the ballot box for all eligible voters.”

Data shows that due to a lack of voter registration among traditionally hard-to-reach communities, California’s current voter population is unrepresentative of its demographic, Limón and Menjivar explain.

According to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), 82% of California’s adults are eligible to vote, but only 64% are registered. As a result, younger, lower-income, less educated and state residents who are renters are underrepresented during elections.

Leveraging its voter engagement expertise with communities traditionally ignored by mainstream political campaigns, the California Grassroots Democracy Coalition (CGDC) says it promotes legislation that expands the electorate, builds up civic education, voter registration, and turnout in underrepresented communities, according to the group’s website.

CGDC comprises 140-plus grassroots organizations that are committed to helping California’s most vulnerable communities become empowered through pro-democracy reforms. Organizations in the network have a range of priorities, including, criminal justice reform, immigrant rights, language access, low-income communities, environmental justice, religious rights, labor unions, etc.

Julius Thibodeaux, Executive Director for Movement 4 Life, spoke about his experience as a person who was formerly incarcerated and how it affected his access to voting. He also discussed the importance of investing in the development, health and wellbeing of youth in cities.

“In 2020, California voters restored voting rights for more than 50,000 people who are no longer incarcerated. But that’s only the first step,” Thibodeaux told California Black Media at the march and rally. “Now, the work begins to get folks informed, registered, and returning to the ballot box every fall and spring election.”

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Black Caucus Members Join Legislative Democrats to Condemn Fatal Shootings by Federal Agents

Lawmakers expressed concern and outrage over the killings of Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, and Renee Nicole Good, a poet, writer, and mother of three. Sen. Laura Richardson (D–San Pedro) spoke on behalf of the CLBC, criticizing federal immigration enforcement practices and calling for accountability.

Published

5 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Sen. Laura Richardson (D San Pedro) spoke on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus at a Jan. 26 news conference condemning the fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti and other civilians by federal immigration agents, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ICE, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Screenshot)

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

Led by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D–Salinas) and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón (D–Santa Barbara), California Democratic lawmakers, including members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), held a news conference in Sacramento on Jan. 26 to address recent fatal shootings of civilians by federal immigration agents in Minnesota and California.

Lawmakers expressed concern and outrage over the killings of Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, and Renee Nicole Good, a poet, writer, and mother of three.

Sen. Laura Richardson (D–San Pedro) spoke on behalf of the CLBC, criticizing federal immigration enforcement practices and calling for accountability.

Richardson, who said she was previously married to a police officer, argued that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents are not “making sure lawful activity is occurring.” She invoked the words of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to condemn what she described as public silence in the face of injustice.

“We are Californians. We are Americans, and we will not be silent. We will be here every time, every day, until this stops,” Richardson said.

Assemblymember Mark González (D–Los Angeles) recalled the names of people who were allegedly shot in January during enforcement operations involving ICE or U.S. Border Patrol agents.

On New Year’s Eve, Keith Porter Jr., 43, was allegedly shot and killed by an off-duty ICE agent in Northridge, Los Angeles. Authorities said the confrontation occurred outside an apartment complex after the agent alleged Porter fired celebratory gunshots into the air.

“What’s been happening there is not isolated. It’s part of a dangerous pattern of federal power turning inward on the people it claims to serve,” González said.

Following the news conference, Democratic lawmakers announced a slate of legislative proposals to increase oversight and limit state law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

During the briefing, Rivas described the fatal incidents as an “assault on the American right to life” and characterized federal agents’ actions as a form of “out-of-control violence.”

On Jan. 6, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D–Ladera Heights) introduced Assembly Bill 1537, titled “Peace Officers: Secondary Employment.” The bill would prohibit California peace officers from taking secondary employment, contract work, or volunteer roles with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), its contractors, or any entity involved in immigration enforcement.

“Right now, California’s law enforcement officers can take second jobs with ICE,” Bryan, a member of the CLBC, wrote in a Jan. 27 Instagram post. “AB 1537

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At Sac Summit, California African American Chamber of Commerce Shows Growing Clout; Lays Out Top Goals

With the theme “Driving Equity Through Economic Innovation,” discussions at the CAACC summit focused on the intersection of policy and commerce, aiming to widen access to California’s economic landscape for historically underfunded communities.

Published

6 days ago

February 9, 2026

Oakland Post

The AI and Business moderator and panelists at CAACC's 2026 Economy Summit. Shown left to right: Vic Baker, Equitify; Cathy Adams, President and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Harbour, BizFed Institute; Ahmad Holmes, CAACC President and CEO; Sarah Harris, Black Business Association; Angela Shell, California Department of General Services; Edwin Lombard, ELM Strategies; Christine Shelby, Digital Strategist, Sacramento Observer; and Patricia Watts, CAACC Chairperson. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

In step with its commitment to drive economic growth, equity, and wealth creation for African American businesses in the Golden State, the California African American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) held its third annual California American Economy Summit at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento on Jan. 28.

Organized by CAACC President and CEO Ahmad Holmes, along with CB Communications, members and the board of directors of the statewide organization shared the group’s current priorities and talked about its growing influence across California.

“This is about all of the information we are gathering for our CAACC membership that trickles down to all the chambers across the state,” said Chairperson Patricia Watts, who is also the proprietor of Cerritos-based FCI Management, an energy and water consulting firm.

“The idea is that we are one voice — especially when it comes to policy issues and information sharing. We’re only stronger if we work together,” Watts said, speaking about the CAACC’s growing influence.

The agenda included plenary sessions with topics covering building economic power through artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening Black businesses, increasing state contracting opportunities and cross-sector collaboration to drive business growth.

“We’re grateful for all the entrepreneurs that were here, all the corporate leaders, the policymakers, investors, and community champions all in one single room,” Holmes said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a video message opening the summit.

State officials like California State Controller Malia Cohen and State Treasurer Fiona Ma also attended.

Ma participated in a fireside chat with Regina Brown Wilson, the Executive Director of California Black Media (CBM).

Their conversation focused on economic development, infrastructure investment, and fiscal stewardship aimed at driving long-term growth in California. In addition, Ma shared insights into state-level initiatives to expand access to capital and support the growth of small businesses for underserved entrepreneurs.

Closing out the event, Toks Omishakin, California secretary of the State Transportation Agency; Danetta Jackson of the Department of General Services; and former Major League Baseball player and 2022 World Series–winning manager Dusty Baker were honored with community recognition awards.

Derek Smith, a CAACC board member who chairs both the Audit Committee and the Political Action Committee, said the organization continues to expand its membership, raise its profile, and execute a strategic plan to reach every region of the state.

“This summit is the best one I’ve ever been a part of. We are becoming a force, and I think the state has been waiting for someone to step up,” Smith says. We had a few chambers out there, but we’re finally stepping in and taking control. We’re going to lead for as long as we can.”

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Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

$96 Million Allocated So Far to Black-Owned Firms as High-Speed Rail Project Expands Jobs, Boost Local Economies

Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, says the rail project “is exactly the kind of investment” California needs.

Published

5 months ago

September 14, 2025

Oakland Post

San Joaquin River Viaduct, completed in February 2021, is a 4,700-foot structure in north Fresno spanning the San Joaquin River and Union Pacific tracks along SR 99. Featuring arches as Fresno’s northern gateway and a pergola that carries high-speed trains over the rail line, it stretches from the river to near Herndon Avenue.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

As of May 31, the most recent data from the California High-Speed Rail Authority shows that 47 African American-owned firms are participating in the project as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs).

A total of 936 Certified Small businesses are working on the high-speed rail program statewide, representatives of the high-speed rail project say.

The number of Black-owned DBE firms (5.2%) accounts for $96 million of the $1.136 billion allocated to minority firms thus far.

Smallwood-Cuevas, speaking in Aug. 25 at the State Capitol Swing Space Annex — along with a coalition of Democratic state legislators and union leaders — provided an update on the California High-Speed Rail project and its efforts to employ people from the Black community and businesses.

“It builds a cleaner, more connected California while creating thousands of union jobs,” said Smallwood-Cuevas. “And we must ensure workforce equity, with pathways that open doors for workers who too often have been left out of good-paying careers.”

The remaining DBE minority-owned firms received the following amounts:

Asian Subcontinent: 24 firms received approximately $65 million
Asian-Pacific Islander: 52 firms received approximately $86 million
Native American: 6 firms received approximately $39 million
Hispanic/Latino: an unspecified number of DBE businesses received approximately $848 million

There are currently 328 certified DBEs participating in the project, according to the California High Speed Authority. The multi-billion-dollar project is billed to be committed to small, disabled, disadvantaged, and diverse businesses playing a major role in building the statewide high-speed rail project.

“As a Central Valley native, I know firsthand how transformative high-speed rail will be for our communities,” stated Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) a member of the CLBC and Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee.

“Stable and sustained funding is essential to delivering this project and fulfilling the promise made to voters.”

The news conference was hosted by Senate Transportation Chair, Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), who was promoting Senate Bill (SB) 545. He and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) urged the Legislature to commit to a steady, annual investment from a cap-and-trade program to fund the high-speed rail project.

Dr. Melanie Okoro, the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Eco-Alpha, attended the briefing. Eco-Alpha is a Sacramento-headquartered small, women-owned, minority-certified firm.

The company, not classified as a DBE, earned its status as a certified small business and a certified women-minority small business through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Department of General Services (DGS). The certification allowed Eco-Alpha to be featured by CHSRA as a small business working on the project.

The Black-owned firm provides engineering and environmental services to the California High-Speed Rail project, primarily focused on facilities operation and Maintenance.

Okoro said laborers are not the only workers benefiting from the project. Professionals of color in engineering, with specialized knowledge and problem-solving skills to design, build, and maintain a wide array of structures, systems, and products, are looking forward to these “great opportunities.”