The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, former pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles, died of natural causes April 6 at his Windsor Hills Home. He was 94.

“Today, we lost a giant. Reverend Dr. Cecil Murray dedicated his life to service, community, and putting God first in all things. I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of the dynamic religious leader whose ministry inspired and attracted millionaires as well as former gang bangers and people dealing with substance use disorder (SUD).

Murray oversaw the growth of FAME’s congregation from 250 members to 18,000.

“My heart is with the First AME congregation and community today as we reflect on a legacy that changed this city forever,” Bass continued.

Murray served as Senior Minister at FAME, the oldest Black congregation in the city, for 27 years. During that time, various dignitaries visited and he built strong relationships with political and civic leaders in the city and across the state, as well as a number of Hollywood figures. Several national political leaders also visited with Murray and his congregation at FAME, including Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Murray, a Florida native and U.S. Air Force vet, attended Florida A&M University, where he majored in history, worked on the school newspaper and pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.  He later attended Claremont School of Theology in Los Angeles County, where he earned his doctorate in Divinity.

Murray is survived by his son Drew. His wife Bernadine, who was a committed member of the A.M.E. church and the daughter of his childhood pastor, died in 2013.

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Charter cities in California won a lawsuit last week against the state that declared Senate Bill (SB) 9, a pro-housing bill, unconstitutional.

Passed in 2021, SB 9 is also known as the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (HOME). That law permits up to four residential units — counting individual units of duplexes, triplexes and residential dwelling units (RDUs) – to be built on properties in neighborhoods that were previously zoned for only single-family homes.

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of the cities, pointing out that SB 9 discredited charter cities that were granted jurisdiction to create new governance systems and enact policy reforms. The court ruling affects 121 charter cities that have local constitutions.

Attorney Pam Lee represented five Southern California cities in the lawsuit against the state and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“This is a monumental victory for all charter cities in California,” Lee said.

However, general law cities are excluded from the court ruling as state housing laws still apply in residential areas.

Attorney General Bonta and his team are working to review the decision and consider all options that will protect SB 9 as a state law. Bonta said the law has helped provide affordable housing for residents in California.

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“Our statewide housing shortage and affordability crisis requires collaboration, innovation, and a good faith effort by local governments to increase the housing supply,” Bonta said.

“SB9 is an important tool in this effort, and we’re going to make sure homeowners have the opportunity to utilize it,” he said.

Charter cities remain adamant that the state should refrain from making land-use decisions on their behalf. In the lawsuit, city representatives argued that SB 9 eliminates local authority to create single-family zoning districts and approve housing developments.

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By Antonio Ray Harvey

California Black Media  

 The Black Leadership Council (BLC) honored Secretary of State Shirley Weber, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and Controller Malia Cohen on June 19 during its Juneteenth Legislative Awards Luncheon in Sacramento.

Along with other awardees, California’s three Black constitutional officers were honored for their dedication to excellence, vision for equality, and awareness of political rights. The awards presentation was held at the Sutter Club near the State Capitol.

The state’s other constitutional officers are Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalikis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and the four members of the state’s Board of Equalization. 

“It was a wonderful event. Well done,” Weber said. “They’ve honored some wonderful people. I am just proud to be a part of the list.”

Honorees included Dr. Flojaune Cofer, an epidemiologist, policy director, community advocate, and mayoral candidate in Sacramento; and Tomiquia Moss, who was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as the secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSHA) in November 2023.

Tiyesha Watts, a legislative and policy analyst for the California Academy of Family Physicians, was the youngest of the six honorees. She is well known around the State Capitol for being an outspoken advocate, bringing awareness to challenges people are facing in socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

Tasha Henneman, chief of Policy and Government Affairs for PRC (formerly Positive Resource Center), shared that she admired Watts’ leadership and extensive knowledge of the legislative process.

“I was immediately impressed by her intellect, professionalism, grace, and confidence from providing expert testimony on a bill or just in a ‘me, too’ moment, or just facilitating a meeting with a physician or budget staff,” said Henneman.

BLC co-chairs Brett Andrews, interim CEO of All Home; and Felton Institute CEO Al Gilbert provided opening remarks, along with PRC CEO Chuan Teng and Board Treasurer Darren Smith.

Kapri Walker, chair of the California Legislative Black Staff Association (CLBSA), addressed the need for more Black legislative staff. Walker, who is from San Diego, is a former Capitol Senate Fellow. She said CLBS is currently raising money to fund interns.

Henneman referred to Walker as a “generational leader.”

“We are trying to strengthen the pipeline of young Black talent into positions of power,” Walker said.

BLC is a group of leaders whose work involves improving the conditions for Black Californians and other vulnerable populations across the state in housing, education, and healthcare. BLC also seeks to remove institutional barriers based on race, class, color, and zip codes.

In addition to the Legislative Awards Luncheon, BLC was at the State Capitol to commemorate Juneteenth by participating in “Black in Action Advocacy Day” held to engage policymakers in Sacramento.

“BLC to me is not just an organization or effort that is trying to systemically change the future for Black folks, it’s a movement,” Moss, a former co-chair of BLC, said while accepting her award.

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