California Black Media
Black Caucus Opposes New Retail Theft Bill, Leaving Democrats Divided
Members of California’s Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) last week rallied against Proposition 36 in Sacramento on Aug. 20, arguing that, if approved, the proposal would disproportionally impact Black and Brown communities statewide. Prop 36 aims to increase penalties for retail theft, upgrading charges for some criminal offenses from misdemeanors to felonies.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
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Members of California’s Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) last week rallied against Proposition 36 in Sacramento on Aug. 20, arguing that, if approved, the proposal would disproportionally impact Black and Brown communities statewide.
Prop 36 aims to increase penalties for retail theft, upgrading charges for some criminal offenses from misdemeanors to felonies. Black caucus members who have been vocal in their opposition of the legislation include Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Isaac Bryan (D Ladera Heights), Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), and Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood).
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) was also among a coalition of Democratic leaders rallying against the bill on Aug. 20 at the State Capitol. Other Democratic lawmakers attending the press conference included Assemblymembers Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and Alex Lee (D-San Jose).
Bryan challenged fellow Democrats to advocate for laws that aim to alleviate poverty and crime calling Prop 36 a bipartisan failure.
“We are not going back. For decades, communities have been calling for us to invest in safe solutions that address the root causes of poverty and desperation. Prop. 36 is a return to the bipartisan failures of the 1980s and 90s. We can and must do better,” Bryan said in a statement.
He condemned the law stating that “every dollar we spend criminalizing poverty is a dollar we could’ve better spent ending it.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the ballot measure, stating that Prop 36 would be costly for the state and potentially lead to the overcrowding of state prisons.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026
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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 – 17, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026
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Bo Tefu
Trump’s White House Pushes to Control California Wildfire Recovery
The executive order signed Jan. 27 by President Donald Trump directs federal agencies to explore regulations that could override California and municipal permitting rules for homes and other structures destroyed in the fires. Land-use and rebuilding permits have traditionally been handled by cities and counties, making the move an unprecedented federal intervention into disaster recovery.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
The White House is moving to take control of wildfire recovery efforts in the Los Angeles County area, issuing an executive order that would shift rebuilding permit authority from state and local governments to the federal government following the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires.
The executive order signed Jan. 27 by President Donald Trump directs federal agencies to explore regulations that could override California and municipal permitting rules for homes and other structures destroyed in the fires. Land-use and rebuilding permits have traditionally been handled by cities and counties, making the move an unprecedented federal intervention into disaster recovery.
“I want to see if we can take over the city and state and just give the people their permits they want to build,” Trump told the media when signing the order.
The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed about 16,000 homes, businesses, and other structures across Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and surrounding areas. According to local data, roughly 4,700 applications to rebuild have been submitted, with about 2,000 approved so far. Officials say the pace of rebuilding is consistent with recovery timelines from other major wildfires in California, where reconstruction often takes several years.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass quickly condemned the order, stating that it is unnecessary and legally questionable. Disaster recovery experts echoed those concerns, pointing to constitutional limits on federal authority over land-use decisions.
Trump’s order calls on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration to consider allowing builders to self-certify compliance with health and safety regulations to receive federal approval.
The dispute has become another flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between Trump and Newsom. The governor has requested $33 billion in federal disaster aid that has not yet been approved, while survivors continue to face challenges related to insurance payouts, high rebuilding costs, and legal disputes tied to the cause of the fires.
“Instead of finally sending to Congress the federal relief Los Angeles needs to rebuild from last year’s firestorms, Donald Trump continues to live in fantasy land,” Newsom wrote on X.
Bass said the White House could speed recovery by approving disaster aid and pushing insurers and lenders to support affected residents.
Trump’s order calls for draft regulations within 30 days and final rules within 90 days.
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