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“The Nation is Watching”: Cal Legislature Advances Four Reparations Bills

Three reparations bills authored by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Aug. 15. Senate Bill (SB) 1403, SB 1050, and SB 1331 are now on their way to the Assembly floor for a full vote. If approved, the bills would advance to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature or veto.

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California State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), left, and his Chief of Staff Carolyn McIntyre, right, leave the Senate chambers on May 21 at the State Capitol after three of Bradford's reparations bills passed off the floor, including SB 1403 (California American Freedmen Affairs Agency). (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey).
California State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), left, and his Chief of Staff Carolyn McIntyre, right, leave the Senate chambers on May 21 at the State Capitol after three of Bradford's reparations bills passed off the floor, including SB 1403 (California American Freedmen Affairs Agency). (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey).

Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media 

Three reparations bills authored by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Aug. 15.

Senate Bill (SB) 1403, SB 1050, and SB 1331 are now on their way to the Assembly floor for a full vote. If approved, the bills would advance to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature or veto.

“I want to thank the committee for seeing the importance of these measures,” Bradford said. “I think it speaks to the fact that reparations is an issue that still needs to be addressed. We still experience institutional racism and discrimination in this country.”

SB 1331 proposes creating an account in the state treasury to fund reparations policies approved by the Legislature and the Governor.

SB 1050 would offer compensation to Black Californians who are descendants of enslaved people who lost homes or had their land taken without fair compensation as a result of racially motivated misuse of eminent domain.

SB 1403 establishes the framework for establishing the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency (CAFAA), a state-level department that would oversee all reparations activities, including validating individuals’ status as a descendant of an enslaved person in the United States.

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, said it was critical that the reparations bills moved out of the “suspense file,” a designation for bills estimated to cost over $150,000 to implement.

“We moved forward with all the reparations bills. I think this is obviously a huge issue not just for our state but our country,” Wicks said. “It’s about time we have real-direct public policy conversations about it.”

In its final 1,075-page report submitted to the legislature in June 2023, the California Reparations Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans made 115 recommendations to compensate African Americans for harms experienced as a result of slavery.

One of the recommendations is for the state to issue a formal apology to the descendants of people enslaved in the United States. Assembly Bill (AB) 3089, authored by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), would require the state to make that statement.

It passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee with a 5-0 vote and is the fourth reparations bill advanced by the Legislature. Senate minority leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) and Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), abstained from voting.

Chris Lodgson, a member of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC), a Sacramento-based reparations advocacy organization, attended the Assembly Appropriation Committee’s suspense file hearing.

“Our ancestors have been with us every step of the way,” Lodgson said. “But there is still more work to do. We must get the (current) bills off the floor in the next two weeks. Make no mistake about it, we would not have those opportunities for the next fights if we did not win today.”

Bradford hopes the bills and other reparations legislation pushed by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) set the standards for other states.

“This is not a handout. This is what was promised to us 163 years ago and it’s long overdue,” Bradford said. “I hope it sends a signal not only for California but for the rest of the nation that this is a priority. Not only is California watching. The nation is watching.”

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Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

In Letter, Conservative Org Threatens Mayor Bass, Other Officials, With Imprisonment

The conservative non-profit America First Legal sent letters to Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and other California elected officials that they deem could interfere with federal immigration activities after Donald Trump is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.

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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass Facebook page.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass Facebook page.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is one of 249 officials across the country who have been warned that they could be imprisoned for not supporting federal government efforts to detain and deport people illegally living in the United States.

The conservative non-profit America First Legal sent letters to Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and other California elected officials that they deem could interfere with federal immigration activities after Donald Trump is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.

America First Legal is run by Trump’s incoming deputy Chief of Staff for policy Stephen Miller. After the election in November, Miller confirmed that he will push for the declaration of a national emergency and use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

On Nov. 12, Bass said in a statement that the city of Los Angeles would take swift action to implement protections for immigrant communities.

“Especially in the face of growing threats to the immigrant communities here in Los Angeles, I stand with the people of this city,” Bass stated. “This moment demands urgency. Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.”

The America First Legal letter to McDonnell’s office by email was dated Dec. 23. It states that the nonprofit “identified Los Angeles as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is violating federal law.”

“Federal law is clear: aliens unlawfully present in the United States are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them. It is also a crime to prevent federal officials from enforcing immigration laws. These laws were duly enacted by the people’s elected representatives,” the letter reads.

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Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

Black Caucus Members Appointed to Leadership Roles in State Legislature

On Jan. 3, McGuire announced that Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) was named to the Democratic leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. Richardson will also serve as chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego) will serve as chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services. 

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California Capitol. iStock Photo.
California Capitol. iStock Photo.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌,
‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

 All 12 members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) have been assigned leadership roles in the State Senate and the State Assembly, according to separate statements issued by Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).

On Jan. 3, McGuire announced that Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) was named to the Democratic leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. Richardson will also chair the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego) will chair Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services.

The Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee will be chaired by Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles).

On Dec. 27, Rivas announced his Assembly leadership team and the chairpersons of all Assembly committees, including CLBC members: CLBC Vice Chair Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), chair of the Natural Resources Committee; Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the Transportation Committee;  Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), chair of the Budget Human Services Committee; Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), chair of the Emergency Management Committee; Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), chair of the Health Committee;  Tina McKinnor (D- Inglewood), chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee; Mike Gipson (D-Carson), chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee; and  LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), assistant majority leader for Policy.

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Activism

U.S. District Court Temporarily Blocks California’s Law Aiming to Protect Children from Social Media Addiction

Supporters of the legislation say it protects youth from social media addiction.NetChoice, an advocacy group that promotes freedom of choice on the internet, filed the lawsuit with the District Court. The court issued a stay that now allows the case, NetChoice v. Bonta (2024), to head to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

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iStock.
iStock.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a request by advocates for free expression and free enterprise on the Internet to halt a California’s internet surveillance law, Senate Bill (SB) 976, from going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Supporters of the legislation say it protects youth from social media addiction.NetChoice, an advocacy group that promotes freedom of choice on the internet, filed the lawsuit with the District Court. The court issued a stay that now allows the case, NetChoice v. Bonta (2024), to head to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

“While we are disappointed that the District Court did not grant our entire preliminary injunction, we are glad it agreed to issue this temporary stay while we appeal,” said Paul Taske, NetChoice Associate Director of Litigation in a statement.

“We look forward to seeing California in the Ninth Circuit to yet again stop the state from creating an online censorship regime.”

Responding, California Attorney General Rob Bonta says he is pleased “the court understands the importance of giving California’s families choice.”

“California’s landmark law allows young people to intentionally develop the relationship they want with social media, rather than the relationship that is most profitable for companies using tricks and traps to glue young people’s eyes to their screens,” Bonta said in a Dec. 31 statement.

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