Hot Topics and Important Issues
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Greenberg Named to MBUSD School Board
The Manhattan Beach school board on Wednesday named parent and longtime school volunteer Bruce Greenberg as its newest board member.
Read the full article here |
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LWVC co-sponsors ACA 4, a constitutional amendment that will restore the voting rights of people incarcerated in California.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan and Formerly Incarcerated Leaders Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Restore Voting Rights
Read the full Press Release |
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Missed the ACTION ON IMMIGRATION webinar?
The Immigration Committee of the League of Women Voters of San Diego invited professionals with deep experience on immigration to speak at this informative Zoom webinar.
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Meeting Safely During an Airborne Pandemic
(And yes, we're still in the middle of one.)
by Grace Peng
Over 30 LWV members met up at Torrance’s The Depot Restaurant on Saturday, January 7, 2023. It’s the second time that we held Tri-League Buffet Brunch in person since the start of the pandemic.
We want to keep meeting in person, but do so safely. No one wants to be responsible for hosting a super-spreader event. No one wants to catch a disease that can cause debilitating Long Covid. (I had just spent a tough 2 months with Medium Covid, ailments triggered by Covid, but lasting much longer than the acute phase.)
Because we keep spreading Covid, it mutates and becomes more spreadable over time. New Covid variants have evolved to be more transmissible than measles. It can float in the air for hours after someone contagious has been in the room. You no longer need to be near someone with Covid to catch it.
Even people who are fully-vaccinated can catch and spread Covid, putting us in a perpetual loop. We don’t have to stay home isolated all the time, if we do a few simple things: ventilate, filter, source control.
Clean Air Crew, a volunteer group of indoor air quality and infectious disease experts, have put together a fantastic and informative website of tips & tools for an airborne pandemic. I follow their advice and practice these steps to protect myself.
Over 30 LWV members met up at Torrance’s The Depot Restaurant on Saturday, January 7, 2023. It’s the second time that we held Tri-League Buffet Brunch in person since the start of the pandemic.
We want to keep meeting in person, but do so safely. No one wants to be responsible for hosting a super-spreader event. No one wants to catch a disease that can cause debilitating Long Covid. (I had just spent a tough 2 months with Medium Covid, ailments triggered by Covid, but lasting much longer than the acute phase.)
Because we keep spreading Covid, it mutates and becomes more spreadable over time. New Covid variants have evolved to be more transmissible than measles. It can float in the air for hours after someone contagious has been in the room. You no longer need to be near someone with Covid to catch it.
Even people who are fully-vaccinated can catch and spread Covid, putting us in a perpetual loop. We don’t have to stay home isolated all the time, if we do a few simple things: ventilate, filter, source control.
Clean Air Crew, a volunteer group of indoor air quality and infectious disease experts, have put together a fantastic and informative website of tips & tools for an airborne pandemic. I follow their advice and practice these steps to protect myself.
- Be aware of ventilation: I brought 2 pocket CO2 sensors to measure how well the space was ventilated. With the doors open, it was fine. But, once people complained of feeling cold and closed the doors, CO2 climbed quickly, reaching over 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in minutes!. At that concentration, about 2% of every breath you take was recently exhaled by someone else. Given community prevalence of Covid-19, there was likely someone in the room that was not yet showing symptoms, but able to infect others (unless preventative measures were taken). We opened the doors again and CO2 dropped to 600-700 ppm. This is better, but not totally safe without layers of other safety measures.
- Filtration: I brought my own HEPA filter and placed it near my seat, but not in the way where it could be a trip hazard. Covid is airborne, traveling in aerosols which can be filtered out like smoke aerosols. When I took off my mask to eat, the HEPA filter reduced risk for people sitting near it.
- Source Control: If you are sick, stay home. If you must go out when feeling less than well, or if you have been exposed, or community transmission rates are high, mask up. When I wasn’t actively eating or drinking, I kept my mask on. When we speak and breath, we shed aerosols. A mask catches droplets very effectively and smaller aerosols moderately well. With universal masking, chances of spreading Covid, even if someone present has it, are small. The key is to minimize aerosols in the air. If people keep their mask on except when they need to eat, drink or if they are the teacher or public speaker, we are all safer.
This graphic uses European number notation. 1.100 means 1,100 in the US.
New California Laws for 2023
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A SUMMARY OF OUR NEW LAWS STARTING JANUARY 1, 2023
HOLIDAYS
California has three new state holidays. AB 1655 adds June 19, known as Juneteenth, as a state holiday. AB 2596 recognizes Lunar New Year as a state holiday and AB 1801 designates April 24 as Genocide Remembrance Day. WORKPLACE Wage Transparency: SB 1162 is a big win for workers. It requires businesses with 15 or more employees to include information about salary ranges for all job postings. Workers will also have the right now to know the pay scale for their current position. Companies with 100 or more employees are required to submit pay data and wage history to the state by May of each year or face penalties. Bereavement Leave: AB 1949 allows workers to take up to five days of bereavement leave for the death of a close family member, such as a spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild. The leave may be unpaid at companies without a bereavement policy or workers may use available sick time if company policy only allows for up to three days of bereavement leave. Family Care: AB 1041 allows employees to take family care or medical leave for an expanded group of individuals. An employee can now take leave for a "designated" person who is either related by blood or whose association with the employee is equivalent to a family relationship. Fast Food Workers: AB 257 creates special council that will have the authority to create employment laws for workers at fast food chains with 100 or more locations or franchises nationwide. The council will be able to set wages, working conditions and training for fast food workers. Farmworker Unionization: AB 2183 makes it easier for farmworkers to unionize by allowing them to vote by mail in an election for collective bargaining representation. Currently, the vote may only take place in person. Street Vendors: SB 972 makes it easier for mobile street vendors who often sell fresh fruit, tacos or hot dogs, to obtain permits and meet health requirements. The law reduces the cost of permit fees and changes health requirements which often times were similar to brick-and-mortar restaurants or food trucks. State of Emergency: SB 1044 prohibits an employer, in an event of an emergency, from retaliating or disciplining an employee who refuses to report to work or leaves a workplace because they have a reasonable belief that the work area is unsafe. Employers are prohibited from taking a worker's mobile device or preventing them from seeking help. The law defines an emergency as a natural disaster or criminal act. A health pandemic is not listed as an eligible emergency. COVID-19: AB 2683 extends an existing law until 2024 requiring employers to notify workers of a COVID-19 infection in the workplace. The law also repeals a provision that requires the employer to notify the local public health department of a COVID-19 outbreak. Law Enforcement: SB 960 eliminates a requirement that peace officers be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents applying for citizenship. The law simply requires that anyone applying to be a law enforcement officer be legally authorized to work in the United States. CRIME Retail Theft: AB 2294 allows police to keep in custody individuals convicted of theft from a store in the past six months if they are suspected of organized retail theft. Previously, an individual detained for retail theft was given a written notice or citation and released. The law also establishes recidivism programs to prevent repeat offenders. Stolen Goods: AB 1700 requires the state attorney general to establish a website for people to report items they suspect are stolen and being sold on the internet. A companion bill (SB 301) that requires online marketplaces to obtain personal and financial information from high volume sellers takes effect in July. Catalytic Converters: Several laws take effect to confront the rising problem of catalytic converter thefts. SB 1087 prohibits anyone from buying a catalytic converter other than from an automobile dismantler, an automotive repair dealer or a person providing documentation they are the lawful owner of the catalytic converter. AB 1740 requires recyclers to obtain a copy of the title of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed. Human Trafficking: AB 1661 requires hair salons, nail salons and other barbering and cosmetology businesses to post signs containing information about slavery and human trafficking. The signs must include phone numbers where to report such crimes. Criminal Justice Criminal Records: SB 731 gives people with some criminal convictions a clean slate. The law expands what type of crimes are eligible to be automatically sealed and, for the first time, allows people with violent felony records to petition to have their records sealed if they completed their sentence and have not had a new felony offense in four years. Almost all crimes qualify except sex-related crimes. Certain provisions of this law will take effect in July. Rap Lyrics: California becomes the first state to limit the use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials. Prosecutors have at times relied on rap lyrics as evidence the artist was documenting a crime they were accused of committing. Researchers found that juries shown similar lyrics have shown bias against Black and Latino rap artists, but not white country music artists. Food Food Packaging: AB 1200 bans the use of food packaging, such as take-out boxes and food wrappers, made from plant fibers that contain PFAS that were intentionally added or are present at levels above 100 parts per million. PFAS are hazardous chemicals added to food packaging to make them more water or stain resistant. ABORTION Protections: AB 2223 protects women from prosecution if they chose to end a pregnancy or undergo an abortion, even if it happens outside the medical system. It also protects someone who helped a women with an abortion from criminal or civil liability. The following abortion-related bills are new but were implemented immediately upon their passage in September. Confidentiality: AB 1242 prohibits social media and technology companies based in California (such as Apple, Facebook and Google) from sharing communication and messages related to abortion care with out-of-state agencies. The law also prohibits law enforcement agencies in California from arresting anyone who obtained or performed a legal abortion at the request of out-of-state law enforcement agencies. Medical Information: AB 2091 prohibits medical providers and health insurers from disclosing information that identifies individuals that are seeking abortion care. It also protects people from having to disclose the identity of a person who they know underwent an abortion. Medical Licenses: AB 2626 prohibits medical licensing boards from revoking the license of doctors, nurses and midwives who perform a legal abortion in the state. It also prohibits licensing boards from denying medical licenses to medical professionals who were disciplined in another state for performing an abortion. HEALTH CARE Gender-Affirming Care: SB 107 protects families of transgender children from out-of-state laws that may target them. It prohibits health care providers from releasing medical information about a parent or guardian who allows a child to receive gender-affirming care. It shields parents and children from legal action by states that have enacted bans or restrictions on this type of care. The law also prohibits law enforcement from arresting a parent or taking a child based on a warrant from a state that restricts gender-affirming care. Mental Illness: SB 1338 lets family members and first responders petition a judge to order treatment for people who suffer from severe mental illness or addiction. Each county must establish its own CARE Court to evaluate each case. Implementation begins in October in the counties of Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus and Tuolumne. All counties must implement the CARE Court by 2024. |
TRAFFIC & DRIVING
Online Driver’s License Renewal for Californians 70 and Older Ends: AB 174 requires require drivers 70 and older to renew their license in person at a DMV office. In 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom temporarily waived the California law requiring senior drivers to renew their licenses at a DMV field office to help Californians avoid DMV field offices during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Requirement for Permanent Disabled Person Parking Placard Renewals: SB 611requires the DMV to notify Californians who have had their permanent Disabled Person Parking Placard for at least six years and ask them to confirm that they are still in need of one. The DMV will not renew placards for people who do not respond. This renewal requirement is one provision of prior legislation, SB 611, enacted in 2017 to curb fraud and abuse of Disabled Person Parking Placards. Jaywalking: AB 2147 makes it illegal for law enforcement to stop and cite a person for jaywalking unless the person crosses the street in an unsafe manner. Enhanced Safeguards for Bicycle Riders: AB 1909 requires cars to change lanes, when feasible, to pass a bicyclist using a traffic lane. It also allows electric bicycles to be used on most bicycle lanes but allows local governments to prohibit them on recreational trails. The OmniBike law would also stop enforcement of local bicycle licensing laws. Ban on Sideshows at Parking Facilities (AB 2000, Gabriel) Parking lots across the state are now included with public roads as locations where street racing and sideshows are banned. Another law passed in 2021 (AB 3, Fong) allows courts to suspend an individual’s driver’s license for violating this ban beginning on July 1, 2025. Consumer Notices for Semiautonomous Vehicles: SB 1398 requires dealers and manufacturers that sell new passenger vehicles equipped with a partial driving automation feature or provide any software update or vehicle upgrade that adds such a feature are required to give a clear description of its functions and limitations. The law also prohibits a manufacturer or dealer from deceptively marketing a feature. RETAIL Pink Tax: AB 1287 aims to eliminate the so-called "pink tax," a retail practice that charges women more than men for razors, shampoos, deodorants and other similar items. The law would fine businesses up to $10,000 for violations. Flavored Tobacco: In November, California voters approved the implementation of a two-year-old state law that bans the sale of flavored tobacco products. On December 12, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a petition by tobacco companies to block the ban, which now goes into effect by December 21, 2022. The law prohibits the sale of menthol and other flavored cigarettes as well as flavored tobacco for vape pens. Advocates say flavored tobacco targets teenagers. Fur Clothing: In 2019, California became the first state to ban the sale of new animal fur products in the state. Implementation of that law was delayed until 2023 to give retailers time to sell off their inventory. The ban does not apply to leather, cowhide or shearling products. The ban does not apply to used fur clothing. Privacy Consumer Privacy: Proposition 24, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) approved in 2020, gave consumers the right to know, delete or opt-out of the sale of their personal information. New provisions take effect in 2023 that allow consumers and employees to ask businesses to disclose the personal information they have collected on them and ask them to delete or correct that information. Employees may also ask a company not to sell or share their personal information and have the right to know what personal information their employer is selling or sharing about them and with whom. Consumers and employees can also direct businesses to limit the use of sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers, financial account information, geolocation data or genetic data. HOUSING Retail Sites: AB 2011 streamlines the permitting process to make it easier to build affordable housing or mixed-income housing on shuttered or underutilized strip malls or commercial corridors. Proponents say it will lead to two million new housing units in California. Office Spaces: SB 6 allows office space, retail sites or parking areas to be converted into housing units without the need for rezoning. Parking Requirements: AB 2097 prohibits local governments from setting a minimum vehicle parking space requirement on any new residential or commercial development that is located within half-a-mile of public transit. HOA Homes: AB 1410 prohibits HOA governing boards from disciplining or fining homeowners who criticize HOA rules on social media. It also allows homeowners to rent their owner-occupied home for more than 30 days even if it is not allowed in their HOA agreement. Climate Greenhouse Gases: AB 1279 makes it official policy for California to become carbon neutral by 2045 or earlier. It also requires the state to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 85% compared to 1990 levels. Renewable Energy: SB 1020 establishes that by the year 2035, 90% of California's electricity come from renewable energy sources. That requirement increases to 100% by 2045. Education EDUCATION Community Colleges: AB 1232 allows refugees and recent immigrants to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at California community colleges and either avoid paying tuition or pay a reduced fee. ELECTIONS Special Elections: AB 2584 increases the number of signatures required to begin a recall petition of an elected official and requires an estimate of the cost of conducting a special election. If the recall is authorized within 180 days of a regular election it must be consolidated with the regular election. SB 1061 provides similar requirements to fill vacancies by a member of a school board or community college district. GUNS Restraining Orders: AB 2870 strengthens California's so-called "red flag" law which authorizes a court to issue a restraining order to prohibit a person from purchasing or possessing a firearm if that person poses a danger to themselves or others. The law now allows roommates, dating partners and an individual with a child in common to request a firearm restraining order. Previously, only law enforcement, immediate family members, employers, coworkers or teachers could make such a request. Firearm Possession: AB 2239 prohibits anyone convicted of misdemeanor child abuse or elder abuse on or after Jan. 1, 2023 from possessing a firearm. Gun Manufacturers Lawsuits: AB 1594 does not take effect until July. It will allow prosecutors or anyone who suffered harm from gun violence in California to sue firearm manufacturers for damages. The law is modeled after a Texas law that allows private citizens to sue people who participate in an abortion. Several other firearm laws approved in 2022 took effect immediately upon signing by the governor. Among them are AB 2571, which restricts the advertising of firearms to minors. AB 1621 restricts ghost guns and kits used to build them and SB 1327 allows private citizens to take civil action to limit the spread of illegal assault weapons. |
2022 Advocacy Wrap-UpCALIFORNIA BIG WINS
Get the highlights from the nearly 80 pieces of legislation that the League advocated for in 2022 at the LWV of California website! |
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Torrance's Response to Homelessness
The Torrance Area League hosted the Tri-League Buffet Brunch at The Depot Restaurant in Torrance on Sept. 24th — it was wonderful to have 50 attendees from throughout the South Bay!
Keynote speaker Viet Hoang, Deputy City Manager for Torrance, discussed the city’s response to homelessness, including its Street Outreach Team and 3290 Housing Village (temporary/transitional housing; 40 individual small homes. This is similar to Redondo Beach‘s 15 tiny homes.) The Street Outreach Team includes services from Harbor Interfaith, Venice Family Clinic (medical and mental health care), and will soon add mental health support from Mental Health America of LA. The Village is operated by Harbor Interfaith Services; this includes case management, three meals a day provided by Beacon House, weekly visits from the Venice Family Clinic, and job assistance from the South Bay Workforce Investment Board. Please visit the Torrance city website for additional information at Homeless Services | City of Torrance. For a list of on-going and occasional needs, view Torrance Village Donation Wish List. |
Take a moment to help someone in need. The City of Torrance and Harbor Interfaith Services invites community members to support the 3290 Torrance Housing Village. Please consider donating ongoing items such as:
Donations may be dropped off anytime in the Torrance City Hall lobby box, 3031 Torrance Blvd., or contact Nancy to arrange for pickup at NancyWilcox777@Gmail.com.
Monetary donations are also welcomed and will be used to purchase additional needs. For online donations click here and dedicate the gift to "Torrance Village," or send a check to Harbor Interfaith Services, 670 WS. 97th St., San Pedro, CA 90731 with "Torrance Village" |
California State FY22-23 Homelessness and Housing Highlights
Governor Newsom and the Legislature have agreed on a state budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. The budget continues to build on previous investments in preventing and ending homelessness, and expanding housing opportunities. Here are some highlights of what is in this year's budget for housing and homelessness:
California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH)
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
California Housing Finance Agency
California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH)
- Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP): $1 billion for local governments to address homelessness. This will be the fifth round of the HHAP program. These funds will go to LA County, City of Los Angeles, and the LA Continuum of Care (administered by LAHSA)
- Encampment Resolution Grants: $700 million to assist local governments with resolving critical encampments and transitioning individuals into permanent housing.
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
- Homekey 2.0: $1.45 billion for Homekey Round 3, which includes $150 million in this year's budget and $1.3 billion allocated for FY 2022-23 in last year's budget, to rapidly expand housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. During Round 2, the City of Redondo Beach received funds to support the conversion of a motel to permanent housing.
- Catalytic Infill Development and Adaptive Reuse: $400 million to accelerate and scale housing production efforts by converting existing infrastructure, public lands, commercial buildings and underutilized retail space into climate-sensitive mixed-use locations with residential and other uses.
- Infill Infrastructure Grant Program: $425 million to encourage affordable housing and mixed-use development on infill sites.
- Housing Accelerator Program: $250 million to reduce the backlog of shovel-ready projects stuck in the funding pipeline.
- Multifamily Housing Program: $325 million to provide low-interest, long-term deferred payment loans for new construction, rehabilitation and preservation of permanent rental housing for lower-income households.
California Housing Finance Agency
- California Dream for All: $500 million to establish a program to make home ownership more achievable for up to 4,000 first-time home buyers.
- Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing: $50 million to reimburse pre-development and non-recurring closing costs associated with the construction of ADUs.
California Mortgage Relief Program
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In December 2021, the State launched the California Mortgage Relief Program to provide assistance to homeowners who fell behind on their housing payments due to financial hardships they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is funded by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeowner Assistance Fund and administered by the California Housing Finance Agency Homeowner Relief Corporation.
The California Mortgage Relief Program is expanding to help homeowners who may be current on their mortgage payments but are delinquent on property tax payments. Eligible homeowners could receive up to $20,000 to cover past-due property tax payments. There is no cost to apply, and the funds never have to be paid back. Homeowners can check their eligibility, apply for property tax relief, and obtain information in several additional languages at https://CaMortgageRelief.org. For assistance, please contact (888) 840-2594 or info@camortgagerelief.org. Homeowners may also sign up for the program’s e‑newsletter for notification when applications open. |
Applicants seeking property tax relief must meet all of the following criteria:
- Faced a pandemic-related financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020.
- Household income at or below 100 percent of their county’s Area Median Income.
- Missed one property tax payment before June 13, 2022.
- Only own and occupy one property in California as their primary residence.
- Own a single-family home, condominium, or permanently affixed manufactured home.
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Find your Beach Cities Voting Drop Box
Voters can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots for the statewide primary election until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 8, at the following drop box locations:
Find your Ballot Box here. |
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LWVC Legislative Interview
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Yearly, California League of Women’s Voters asks local leagues to interview their elected representatives. The questions are provided and a report is returned to the California League. Below is the report for the March 23, 2022 interview with Senator Senator Ben Allen, Senate District 26. Representatives from LWV Santa Monica, LWV Beach Cities, LWV Palos Verdes Peninsula, and LWV Greater Los Angeles were on the Zoom interview.
Senator Ben Allen represents the nearly one million residents who live in California’s 26th State Senate District, which consists of the Hollywood, Westside, Coastal, and South Bay communities of Los Angeles County. He chairs the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts.
Senator Ben Allen represents the nearly one million residents who live in California’s 26th State Senate District, which consists of the Hollywood, Westside, Coastal, and South Bay communities of Los Angeles County. He chairs the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts.
LWVC Legislative Interview Report 2021 - 2022 By Nancy Mahr , LWV Los Angeles County ILO, LWV Palos Verdes Peninsula
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Question 1: Redistricting Changes in Advance of 2031
California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, and the standards they are required to follow, represent the gold standard for independent nonpartisan redistricting. For the 2021 redistricting cycle, the legislature adopted some groundbreaking reforms for local redistricting, establishing requirements for public outreach and ranked criteria to be used for city and county redistricting. What changes, if any, would you support for the next redistricting cycle in 2031?
Ben Allen response:
Question 2: Climate Change, Water, and Equity Scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) estimate that the overwhelming majority of the impacts of climate change will be connected to water – drought, floods, unreliable water supplies, poor water quality and ecosystem devastation. Historically, within the U.S., low-income communities and communities of color, both urban and rural, have been experiencing the greatest harm, although global warming affects everyone. What do you see as ways California can help these communities while dealing with the water effects of climate change upon the state? How do we move toward equity and sustainability? Please tell us about both proposed and potential legislation and funding sources. Ben Allen response:
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Question 3: California’s Children and Youth Mental Health Emergency The pandemic has exacerbated existing problems related to the mental health of California’s children and youth, and the ensuing crisis disproportionately impacts under-resourced communities. California's new Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative - Detailed Proposal, which allocates $4.4 billion over five years to address these issues, may help reform our overburdened system. The challenges, however, are significant and there have been recommendations made for further legislative action to ensure success. What more needs to be done to address the mental health needs of California’s children and youth? Do you anticipate proposing or supporting any legislation to confront the growing problem? Ben Allen response:
Q4: Personal Priorities of Legislator What other major issues do you think the legislature must deal with in 2022? What are your personal priorities? Ben Allen response:
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SUMMARY: Senator Ben Allen's priorities include children, the environment, self-reliance regarding water, campaign reform, homelessness and housing (critically important and tied to mental health).
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If you missed the meeting, watch this
eye-opening interview.
Our New County Supervisor:
Holly Mitchell
As a result of the new census numbers and redistricting, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach were moved from District 4 to District 2.
On April 11, 2022 our new LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell met with us to share her insights and answer our questions about our widespread, diverse new district.
On April 11, 2022 our new LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell met with us to share her insights and answer our questions about our widespread, diverse new district.
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How Reliable is Your News Source?
Understanding Media Bias Don't be fooled by media bias and fake news. Make up your own mind about an issue by putting aside pre-conceived notions and emotionalism and looking at it from different angles. LWV of Torrance has links to resources we all need. Don't be fooled by media bias & misinformation. |
Watch the January 11 Presentation: Carol Moon Goldberg / Voting Rights
Download the Jan. 11 presentation slides.
Watch the February 10 Presentation: Rob Richie / Ranked Choice Voting
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2022
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LWVC Legislative Interview
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Yearly, California League of Women’s Voters asks local leagues to interview their elected representatives. The questions are provided and a report is returned to the California League. Below is the report for the January 28, 2022 interview with Al Muratsuchi, Assembly District 66. Representatives from Beach Cities, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and Santa Monica were on the Zoom interview.
Question 1: Redistricting Changes in Advance of 2031 For the 2021 Redistricting cycle, the legislature adopted some reforms for local redistricting, establishing requirements for public outreach and ranked criteria to be used for criteria to be used for city and county redistricting. What changes, if any, would you support for the next redistricting cycle in 2031? Assemblyman Muraatsuchi’s responses:
Question 2: Climate Change, Water & Equity Scientists at the PUC estimate that the overwhelming impacts of climate change will be connected to water-drought, floods, unreliable water supplies, poor water quality and ecosystem devastation. Historically, within the U.S., low-income communities, and communities of color, both urban and rural, have been experiencing the greatest harm. What do you see as ways California can help these communities while dealing with the water effects of climate change upon the state? How do we move toward dequity and sustainability. Please tell us about both proposed and potential legislation and funding sources? Assemblyman Muratsuchi’s responses:
Question 3: California’s Children and Youth Mental Health Emergency The pandemic has exacerbated existing problems related to the mental health of California’s children and youth and the ensuing crisis disproportionately impacts under-resourced communities. California’s new Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative -detailed proposal which allocates $4.4 billion over five years to aaddress these issues may help our overburdened system. The challenges are significant and there have been recommendations for further legislative action to ensure success. |
What more needs to be done to address the mental health needs of California’s children and youth? Do you anticipate proposing or supporting any legislation to confront the growing problem?
Assemblyman Muratsuchi’s response:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-27/mental-health-care-in-south-la https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-05/mental-health-crisis-counselors-pandemic Q4: Personal Priorities of Legislator What other major issues do you think the legislature must deal with in 2021? What are your personal priorities? Assemblyman Muratsuchi’s responses:
Any additional comments or observations:
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Governor Newsom Highlights California Blueprint Investments in State’s Infrastructure and Clean Transportation Future
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Published: Jan 13, 2022
The California Blueprint includes a proposed $9.1 billion package to advance clean transit initiatives that support the state’s climate and public health goals, promote equity and bolster the green economy, including $4.9 billion for transit and rail projects to improve connectivity, climate adaptation, bicycle and pedestrian safety and more locally driven initiatives. In addition, the Blueprint proposes a $4.2 billion investment in California’s High-Speed Rail project, which will eventually share the electrified Caltrain corridor, as well as funding for projects that encourage active modes of transportation and improve equity and safety, including converting underutilized highways into corridors that better serve residents. The Blueprint positions California to take advantage of additional federal infrastructure investments.
- $9.1 billion for clean transit projects that advance state’s climate and public health goals while creating good-paying jobs
- Continued support to make California’s ports more efficient and improve supply chain
- $10 billion total package to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles
The California Blueprint includes a proposed $9.1 billion package to advance clean transit initiatives that support the state’s climate and public health goals, promote equity and bolster the green economy, including $4.9 billion for transit and rail projects to improve connectivity, climate adaptation, bicycle and pedestrian safety and more locally driven initiatives. In addition, the Blueprint proposes a $4.2 billion investment in California’s High-Speed Rail project, which will eventually share the electrified Caltrain corridor, as well as funding for projects that encourage active modes of transportation and improve equity and safety, including converting underutilized highways into corridors that better serve residents. The Blueprint positions California to take advantage of additional federal infrastructure investments.
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In Plain Sight
The pandemic has exacerbated domestic violence. It is the leading cause of female and family homelessness in LA County, as well as nationally. Please share these domestic violence resources — you never know who you might save, as most of these victims suffer in silence before they are able to leave their situation.
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California Democratic Assembly members, from left, James Ramos, Chris Holden, Jose Medina and Rudy Salas Jr., huddle during an Assembly session in Sacramento on Jan. 22, 2020. Medina's bill to make ethnic studies a high school requirement was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
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California becomes first state to require ethnic studies for high school graduation
Washington Post: October 9, 2021
California students will soon be required to take ethnic studies to graduate high school, the first mandate of its kind to ensure K-12 students are taught about ethnic and racial groups whose history and traditions have been traditionally overlooked. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the legislation Friday, ending a years-long debate over drafting a model ethnic studies curriculum that more closely reflects the diverse population in California classrooms. |
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Governor Newsom Signs Policing Reform Legislation
Published: Sep 30, 2021
SB 2 creates a system to investigate and revoke or suspend peace officer certification for serious misconduct. SB 16 increases transparency over peace officer misconduct records. The Governor also signed legislation strengthening policing responsibility and accountability guidelines, raising eligibility standards and banning harmful techniques. |
