Community
Candidates for California Senate Seat Address Black, POC Issues at Zoom Forum
Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media hosted a Zoom forum for the four candidates leading the race to represent California in the U.S. Senate to discuss issues affecting the state’s minority communities.

By Magaly Muñoz
Post Staff
Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media hosted a Zoom forum for the four candidates leading the race to represent California in the U.S. Senate to discuss issues affecting the state’s minority communities.
U.S. congressmembers Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Adam Schiff (D-CA-30) and Katie Porter (D-CA-47) participated in the forum on Feb. 8; Steve Garvey was invited but did not attend.
Here are the key takeaways from the conversations:
Safety net programs, inclusion of undocumented immigrants
All three candidates support Medicare for All and believe that healthcare is a basic human right that should be accessible to everyone, regardless of immigration status.
The candidates were also asked about child tax credits, to which both Schiff and Porter said that if parents are spending money on childcare and the rising costs of basic needs, they should be able to get refunds on those necessities. Porter stated that childcare costs should be lowered, but not at the costs of those doing the work, especially since Black and Brown women mostly make up that workforce.
“The solution to investing more in childcare is lifting up the wages, recognizing the amazing professional capacity of our caregivers, and making that federal investment in childcare,” Porter said.
Immigration reform
The candidates were asked about how they would’ve voted for a recent immigration and foreign aid package that was created without the help of border state legislators. All three candidates said they would have opposed such an approach and that the primary states that are dealing with the issues of immigration need to be involved.
“First of all, if we’re going to be negotiating an immigration policy, I want to make sure that the members of the Hispanic Caucus have a seat at the table, which they didn’t. I want to make sure that border state Democrats have a seat at the table, which they didn’t,” Schiff said.
Lee, Schiff and Porter each also mentioned the need to find paths to citizenship for those with Temporary Permanent Status, enrollees of DACA and those who have contributed positively to California.
The Black Vote
One of the candidates will take over the Senate seat from Laphonza Butler, the only Black senator in the 100-member chamber.
As the only candidate of color, Lee emphasized that Black women are always on the frontline to champion for the rights of all underrepresented minority groups, and she will continue to push for those rights in the Senate. She stated that her history in immigrant communities also adds to her qualifications for the open seat.
“The lens that we bring, and the fact that we fight for everyone, the fact that we’ve been the backbone of the Democratic Party, we deserve a seat at that table,” Lee said.
Schiff shared that he has prioritized elevating Black and people of color’s voices in leadership positions over his term as a congressman and assures voters that if he is elected, he will continue to push for political positions to be filled by people that look like the diverse American population.
Porter stated that more needs to be done in Washington, D.C., to address racial disparities in health, education and wealth in the Black community. She added that they need to stand up against corporate America, big pharma and Wall Street who only do things for their own financial gain, and that she will continue to fight for a level playing field for all.
The primary election for the U.S. Senate seat will take place on Tuesday, March 5.
Bay Area
Gov. Newsom Looks Back at 2024 Milestones; Presents Vision for 2025
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

By Joe W. Bowers, California Black Media
In a recent video address, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared key moments that shaped California in 2024. He emphasized achievements in tourism, technology, public safety, and environmental resilience while underscoring the state’s ability to tackle challenges head-on.
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Focusing on innovation, Newsom praised NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for his leadership in advancing generative AI. He showcased the transformation of an abandoned mall into a quantum computing center in L.A. that addresses global challenges.
He also highlighted the ARCHES coalition’s work on green hydrogen, aiming to decarbonize California’s industries.
Newsom emphasized California’s leadership on clean transportation with over 2 million electric vehicles sold and a statewide network of 150,000 public chargers. He spoke about joining Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to celebrate the long-awaited electrification of Caltrain, linking San Francisco to San Jose.
In climate resilience, Newsom spotlighted removing the Klamath Dam, the largest project in U.S. history, restoring salmon migration and tribal lands. He discussed agreements with Italy and Pope Francis to address greenhouse gas emissions and praised the legislature’s action to increase transparency and hold oil companies accountable for gas price spikes.
Turning to health, housing, and education, Newsom outlined progress on Proposition 1 to improve mental health care, legislative efforts to increase housing construction, and the expansion of universal free school meals for all public school students.
Public safety highlights included combating fentanyl trafficking, expanding the California Highway Patrol, and addressing organized retail theft through new legislation.
Newsom also celebrated the state’s balanced budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. He joked about his detailed budget presentations as his “yearly Super Bowl,” highlighting the importance he places on fiscal responsibility.
The Governor closed by reflecting on 2024 as a year defined by resilience and optimism, crediting California’s ability to navigate polarization and overcome challenges. He emphasized the importance of preserving California’s values of innovation and inclusiveness while continuing to invest in communities, infrastructure, and equity as the state looks ahead to 2025.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025

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#NNPA BlackPress
NAACP Sues Trump Administration Over Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The civil rights organization argues that the move undermines protections for Black, elderly, and vulnerable consumers, leaving them exposed to financial exploitation. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the administration’s actions, calling them a reckless assault on consumer protections. “Once again, we are witnessing the dangerous impacts of an overreaching executive office. The Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opens the floodgates for unethical and predatory practices to run rampant,” Johnson stated. “We refuse to stand idly by as our most vulnerable communities are left unprotected due to irresponsible leaders. From seniors and retirees, disabled people, and victims of disaster to so many more, our nation stands to face immense financial hardship and adversity as a result of the elimination of the CFPB. If our President refuses to put people over profit, the NAACP will use every tool possible to put Americans first.”
The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease. Vought also suspended all investigations, rulemaking, public communications, and enforcement actions. Keisha D. Bross, NAACP Director of Opportunity, Race, and Justice, said the organization maintains its commitment to restoring the bureau’s critical role in protecting consumers. “The CFPB is an agency of the people. From the protection from junk fees to fighting excessive overdraft fees, providing assistance to impacted victims of natural disasters, and holding predatory practices accountable, the NAACP stands firm in bringing back the CFPB,” Bross said. “The NAACP will fight to hold financial entities responsible for the years of inequitable practices from big banks and lenders.”
The lawsuit, filed alongside the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the National Consumer Law Center, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the CFPB Employee Association, argues that the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. According to the complaint, the Trump administration has taken deliberate steps to dismantle the CFPB, including firing 70 employees via form email, canceling over $100 million in vendor contracts, and shutting down the agency’s consumer complaint system, which processes hundreds of thousands of cases monthly. The plaintiffs warn that these actions will leave millions of Americans defenseless against financial fraud and predatory lending practices. The lawsuit details the harm already inflicted by the agency’s closure. Among those affected is Rev. Eva Steege, an 83-year-old pastor with a terminal illness who was seeking student loan forgiveness through a CFPB-facilitated program. Her meeting with CFPB staff was abruptly canceled, leaving her without recourse to resolve her debt before passing.
The NAACP and other plaintiffs seek an immediate injunction to halt the administration’s actions and restore the CFPB’s operations. The legal challenge argues that the President has no unilateral authority to dismantle an agency created by Congress and that Vought’s appointment as acting director is unlawful. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to eliminate the CFPB, confirming last week that his administration was working to “totally eliminate” the agency. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key player in Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” celebrated the move with a social media post reading “CFPB RIP.”
If successful, the lawsuit could force the administration to reinstate the agency and resume its enforcement actions against financial institutions accused of predatory practices. “Neither the President nor the head of the CFPB has the power to dismantle an agency that Congress established,” the plaintiffs argue. “With each day the agency remains shut down, financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened—harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.”
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