By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has introduced two bills in the State Senate that could lower prescription drug prices for California residents.

Senate Bill (SB) 40, or the Insulin Affordability Act — and accompanying legislation, SB 41, or Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform — comprise Wiener’s Prescription Drug Affordability (PDA) Package.

Together, the bills would cap monthly co-pays for insulin at $35 (SB 40) and create regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) whose negotiation practices, critics say, have resulted in steep price increases for prescription drugs (SB 41).

“It makes no sense that people with diabetes in states like West Virginia can access affordable insulin while Californians are stuck with higher prices,” said Wiener in a statement.

“When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in Blue States, working people pay the price. As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable,” continued Weiner. It is past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”

SB 40’s proposed $35 monthly co-pay was written, in part, in response to the price of insulin tripling over the past decade, Wiener’s office says. As a result of the increase, one in four people using insulin has reported insulin underuse because they can’t afford the full dose. Four in five Americans in need of insulin have incurred thousands of dollars in credit card debt to pay for the medication, according to a recent survey conducted by CharityRx.

About 4,037,000 adult Californians have diabetes, with an additional 263,000 cases of Type 1diabetes diagnosed each year. This rate in new cases disproportionately affects the elderly, men, and low-income patients, Wiener’s office reports.

Christine Fallabel, regional director of state government affairs and advocacy with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a sponsor of SB 40, said, “The ADA has long led the fight to make insulin more affordable, and there has been significant progress. We look forward to building on the momentum across the country to extend the $35 per month insulin cap to include people with state-regulated health plans in California. No one should have to skip their lifesaving insulin due to costs alone.”

According to Wiener, SB 41 is his follow-up to similar legislation he introduced last year, SB 966, which was vetoed by Gov. Newsom.

Middlemen in the pharmaceutical industry, PBMs buy prescription drugs from manufacturers and then sell them to pharmacies and health plans. Their position as intermediaries allows them to charge high administrative fees and significantly higher prices for drugs to pharmacies than they paid originally. This practice results in higher costs for patients seeking the prescriptions they need.

“On behalf of the Californians we serve who live with chronic and rare diseases, we are grateful to Sen. Wiener for his commitment and attempt to hold pharmacy middlemen accountable for their anti-patient and anti-pharmacy practices,” stated Liz Helms, California Chronic Care Coalition President & CEO.  “Health care costs continue to rise when patients cannot afford medically necessary medications. We are committed to bringing transparency and oversight to PBMs, and look forward to continuing our work with Senator Wiener, our advocacy partners, and welcome others to join us in this fight.”

SB 41 proposes that all PBMs be licensed and that they disclose basic information regarding their business practices to the licensing entity. It also calls for a number of other requirements and prohibitions, including limiting how fees may be charged and requiring transparency related to all fees assessed.

“This bill addresses some of the worst abuses by pharmacy benefit managers: lack of transparency, unfair business practices, steering, and price gouging,” said Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog. “Increasingly what is best for PBMs is not best for patients or the health care system.”

In 2022, drug spending in California grew by 12%, while total health premiums rose by just 4%. Last year, more than half of Californians either skipped or postponed mental and physical healthcare due to cost, putting their safety and well-being at risk. One in three reported holding medical debt, including half of low-income Californians.

So far, there is no organized opposition to the Prescription Drug Affordability package.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra has welcomed three new Board Members and promoted two former Board Members to Emeritus status.

“We consistently seek leaders who have a heart for the arts and all it can mean to a growing urban area like the Inland Empire,” explained Symphony Board of Directors President Donna Marie Minano. “As a regional Symphony, it is imperative that we involve leaders who are geographically representative, but even more so, that they bring diversity of thought and life experience to our decision-making processes.”

Since December, Minano and the San Bernardino Symphony Association’s Officers and General Board have officially welcomed Marla Matime, Kurt Weinmeister, and Dr. Scott Wyatt to the Board. Each will serve a three-tear term. The Association also promoted to Emeritus status former Board Members Dr. Judy Rodriguez Watson and Hon. Judith Valles who joined the Board in 2007 and 1999 respectively.

Nominated by Board President Elect Sonietta Brown, Marla Matime is is the founder and CEO of The MAR.M Agency LLC, a creative marketing, advertising, and communications agency serving Southern California.

She is the Consultant/Executive Director of the Black Elected Officials of California. She serves on the board of directors as President of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice and is chair of CCAEJ Action. She is also a mother of three and serves as Immediate Past President of the African American Parent Advisory Committee at Lake Mathews Elementary and is VP of Communications for the school’s PTA.

Nominated by Board Governance Chair Dr. Erin Keefe, Kurt Weinmeister recently retired from his role as Chief Operating Officer at St. Bernardine’s Medical Center in San Bernardino where he had served since 2017.

Previously, he was CEO of San Dimas Community Hospital and Executive Vice President/COO of St. Francis Medical Center.

The Upland resident, an avid biker, skier, and world traveler, has been involved in the arts for many years and is a longtime supporter of youth arts education.

Nominated by Board Endowment Chair Jeffrey Torres, Dr. Scott Wyatt is an elected Board Member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District where he has served since 2015. He is also the proud father of two children who attended District schools and from 2010-2011, he volunteered on the District Advisory Committee and was PTO president at Richardson PREP HI Middle School.

Dr. Wyatt has been an educator for over 20 years, serving as a teacher, lead teacher, principal and Area Director of Student Services. He has worked in K-12 Alternative Education programs, Juvenile Court School Programs, ROP/CTE programs, Special Education programs, and he supervised the Toyota Learning Center at the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. He serves on numerous committees throughout the county and state including the San Bernardino Countywide Gangs and Drugs Task Force where he is the Chair.

Emeritus Board Member Judy Rodriguez Watson is owner of Watson & Associates Development Corporation, located in Seal Beach California, along with her husband James R. Watson. The Company develops, owns and operates real estate and has been in business since 1972. Both Watsons have been involved in local philanthropy focusing on California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra for decades.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from CSUSB in 2015. Much of Judy’s attention is now devoted to philanthropist activities.

Emeritus Board Member Hon. Judith Valles is a former two-term Mayor of the City of San Bernardino. In that role, she oversaw numerous community revitalization programs including renovating the City’s historic areas, increasing the number of neighborhood cluster associations, expanding youth programs, and bringing about greater support for the arts. She served as Symphony Board President from 2013-2015.

She was born in San Bernardino and attended both San Bernardino High School and San Bernardino Valley College before seeking higher education. In addition to being San Bernardino’s first Latina mayor, she became the first Latina President of a large community college.

Since forming an Association in 1963 and incorporating in 1982, the San Bernardino Symphony’s leadership has included numerous notable names, including author and lecturer Frank Plash, newspaper publisher Gerald A. “Jerry” Bean, philanthropist Marilyn Karnig, Gresham, Savage, Nolan and Tilden partners Allen Gresham and Phillip Savage III, law professor and partner with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith Dean McVay, noted educators Dr. John M. Pfau, Dr. Jay Fiene, and Drs. Ernest and Dorothy Garcia, as well as many respected local business owners such as Mary Schnepp, Duke Hill, and Charles Obershaw.

She was born in San Bernardino and attended both San Bernardino High School and San Bernardino Valley College before seeking higher education. In addition to being San Bernardino’s first Latina mayor, she became the first Latina President of a large community college.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

Two former members of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans shared some of their experiences developing a 1,075-page report that detailed injustices suffered by African Americans during and after chattel slavery.

Los Angeles-based clinical psychologist Dr. Cheryl Grills and Bay Area-based attorney Don Tamaki, who were part of the nine-member reparations panel spoke at the “Justice Through Action: Black Reparations-Reparative Justice” event hosted by local chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) in Sacramento on Feb. 8.

The event was held at the California Museum.

“The first impact that the overall report had on me is that it gave me a panoramic view and it was a panoramic view of the elephant in the room,” Grills, who attended the event virtually, told the audience.

“The way America teaches about our history, American history, gives us little snippets and little pieces. It’s definitely watered down,” Grills added.

However, Grills said the report the task force compiled presented a version of the Black experience in America that was not diluted.

“You could see the totality of the elephant,” she said. “The report gives you the fullness and density of the elephant, which was, at the same time, validating, overwhelming, and painful.”

The final reparations report was submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the legislature on June 29, 2023, after the task force completed a two-year study that proposed a comprehensive reparations plan.

Assembly Bill (AB) 3121 authored by then-Assemblymember Shirley Weber and enacted on Sep. 30, 2020, established the state’s reparations task force.

“California has historically led the country on civil rights, yet we have not come to terms with our state’s ugly past that allowed slaveholding within our borders and returned escaped slaves to their masters,” stated Weber, who is now Secretary of State.

The JACL is the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American-Pacific Islander Civil Rights Organization. It is focused on securing and safeguarding the civil and human rights of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) and all communities who are affected by injustice and bigotry.

The JACL presentation was hosted to observe the 83rd anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

That panel was part of the Northern California Time of Remembrance (NCTOR) committee’s Annual Day of Remembrance program organized in partnership with the California Museum.

Tamaki, who is Japanese American and the only non-Black member of the task force, said the Black and Japanese experiences in America have some parallels but there are significant differences as well.

“When you look at reparations, and this was the eye opener to me, it’s actually a unifying concept,” Tamaki said. “There’s no equivalence between four years in a concentration camp that our community experienced and 400 years of oppression.”

Tamaki explained, “We do have some things in common. Japanese know something about mass incarceration and profiling and the consequences. In that respect, there is a reason for all of us, whatever our background, to start looking at (reparations). We have to cure the body and not just put a band-aid on it.”

Grills is a clinical psychologist whose work focuses on community psychology. A Professor of Psychology at Loyola Marymount University, she us also a past president of the Association of Black Psychologists.

Tamaki is a senior counsel at Minami Tamaki LLP.  He has spent decades working with AAPI legal services programs. In the 1980s, he participated in the Japanese American reparations movement and served on the pro bono legal team that reopened the landmark 1944 Supreme Court case of Fred Korematsu.

The case resulted in overturning Korematsu’s criminal conviction for violating the incarceration order that led to the imprisonment of 125,000 Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Tamaki was the lone non-Black member of the nine-member Reparations Task Force.

At the 2025 NCTOR event, presented by local chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), several Japanese, Jewish and other non-Black groups in California conveyed their support for reparations for Black American residents of the state who are descendants of enslaved people.

Earnest Uwazie, a Sacramento State University criminal justice professor and director of the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, was one of more than 100 persons who listened to the two-hour discussion.

“I thought the event was great,” said Uwazie. “It’s always great to hear from the people involved in the study of reparations and it is good to get a comparative with the Japanese experience. This was extremely informative.”

San Bernardino, CA — This February, in celebration of Black History Month, Healthy Heritage, is launching the Effective Black Parenting Program (EBPP), a nationally accredited program designed to empower parents with culturally affirming tools to raise confident, successful Black children.

Developed by the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring (CICC), the Effective Black Parenting Program is the first parenting skill-building program to respect and honor the unique history and traditions of people of African descent and to teach skills in a manner that is both culturally sensitive and culturally affirming.  Over the past 30 years, this program has educated thousands of parents in communities across the country. Healthy Heritage is honored to have been selected as a community-based partner by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to offer this proven program to families in San Bernardino County, at no cost to participants.

The EBPP is a 15-session workshop series facilitated by licensed mental health therapists. It empowers families with practical tools to foster strong, healthy relationships and nurture the next generation of Black leaders. Healthy Heritage will offer the workshops both in person and online via Zoom, with classes beginning in February 2025. These sessions are free of charge and open to parents and caregivers residing in San Bernardino County.

“The Effective Black Parenting Program is a celebration of the Black family, both traditional and nontraditional. The program honors our resilience, culture, and legacy, and truly empowers parents to raise successful Black children,” said Phyllis Clark, Founder & Executive Director of Healthy Heritage. “As we honor Black History, we also have the opportunity to create history, and we want Black children and families of San Bernardino County to build strong foundations, embrace their potential for success, and lead healthy, thriving lives.”

Participants will learn evidence-based parenting strategies, including fostering positive communication, managing behavior, understanding child development, and building self-esteem, all rooted in cultural affirmation.

To sign up for the program, visit  https://bit.ly/sb-ebpp or call 951-293-4240 for more information.

As Black History Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black communities, Healthy Heritage seeks to build on that tradition, empowering families and creating lasting impacts for generations to come.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Dameron Communications announced the addition of Vickie Davis, L.M.F.T., M.A., M.A.C., to their team as a Social Media Expert.

“Joining Dameron Communications allows me to merge my expertise with my commitment to uplifting our community. Being part of a team that values community engagement and strategic advocacy is a privilege. I am grateful for this incredible opportunity to amplify meaningful causes and create lasting impact.”

Davis brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and social impact to her new role. As a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, she has dedicated her career to uplifting historically disadvantaged communities through mental health advocacy, youth empowerment, and community-based initiatives.

Beyond her clinical work, Davis is a passionate community organizer. She co-founded “Black on the Block,” now known as Rialto City Jam, and initiated the Juneteenth Jam in Rialto—both events celebrate heritage and support small businesses. She also spearheads an annual I.E. Tour of Toys, delivering joy to underserved families across the Inland Empire.

“Davis’s expertise in community engagement, combined with her deep understanding of social issues, will be invaluable to Dameron Communications as the agency continues to expand its social media offerings and help clients connect with their target audiences in meaningful ways,” said Carl M. Dameron, president of Dameron Communications. Dameron Communications is a diverse team of communications professionals founded in 1988.

The agency offers a wide range of public relations, advertising, media research, community relations, and government relations services. Dameron Communications has a proven track record of success, and itswork has won numerous awards and client accolades.

About Dameron Communications

Dameron Communications is a full-service communications agency that combines unsurpassed relationships with proven advertising and public relations methods. The agency’s experienced professionals are dedicated to delivering winning and measurable results for its clients.

By Kellie Todd Griffin | Special to California Black Media?? 

We are standing at a crossroads –where our history meets our future. And in this moment, we must ask ourselves: What would our ancestors do?

Over the last six months, we’ve watched companies quietly step away from their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). And that has left many of us with a hard choice to make because — let’s be real –letting go of our conveniences isn’t easy. But we have never been a people who choose what’s easy over what’s right. Our legacy is built on struggle, on sacrifice, on knowing that real progress doesn’t come without real work.

Almost 70 years ago, the Montgomery Bus Boycott showed us exactly what that work looks like. It wasn’t just about Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat. It was about an entire community coming together — pastors, first ladies, labor leaders, business owners, everyday folks — who said, “Enough.” For 13 months, they walked instead of riding the bus. They organized carpools. They sacrificed their safety, their comfort, and their livelihoods to take a stand. And they won.

That boycott didn’t just desegregate buses. It showed the world the power of Black economic resistance. It hit the city’s transit system where it hurt, forcing real change. And when insurance companies tried to shut them down, they found a way. When taxi drivers were threatened for supporting the movement, they kept going. When the world told them no, they answered with action.

And we’ve seen that same power time and again. In the 1980s, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Operation PUSH took on Coca-Cola, demanding that the company invest in Black businesses and communities. After just one month of organized pressure, Coca-Cola agreed to funnel millions of dollars into Black-owned enterprises, expand diversity in its workforce, and increase Black representation at the decision-making table.

In the 1990s, Jackson and Glenda Gill did it again — this time with the auto industry. They pushed Japanese car manufacturers to invest in Black suppliers, dealers, and employees, securing $7.2 billion in diversity initiatives from Toyota alone.

These movements teach us something critical: Boycotts work. Economic action drives systemic change. But let’s be clear: change requires sacrifice. There will be Black- owned businesses caught in the crossfire. Some will lose shelf space. Some may struggle. And that is a real and difficult truth. But history shows us that without real commitments to equity, they’ll be left behind anyway.

Montgomery wasn’t just about civil rights. It was an economic battle. And for a moment, we built something incredible — a fully functioning Black-owned transit system. But when the buses were integrated, that system disappeared. And that should make us think.

Many Black entrepreneurs today are building businesses out of necessity. They see a need in the market, and they fill it — not just for profit, but for us. And if they can trust us to support them, then we have to demand more from the places that only see us as consumers.

Last fall, Walmart announced it would no longer focus on DEI, choosing instead to talk about “belonging.” And yet, just weeks later, they rolled out holiday commercials featuring Lorenz Tate, Nia Long and Busta Rhymes –images carefully designed to speak to us, to our culture, to our spending power.

And our spending power is undeniable. Black consumers make up 10% of Walmart’s sales, 8.9% of Target’s. Our economic clout reached $1.6 trillion in 2020. And it’s only growing.

Our dollar matters. But this moment isn’t about money. It’s about power. It’s about whether we’re willing to step outside our comfort zones, to punch above our weight class just like our ancestors did. Because our fight has never been about today. It has always been about tomorrow.

So, the question is: What kind of future are we willing to build? And what are we willing to sacrifice to get there?

Let’s make this happen.

About the Author

Kellie Todd Griffin is the President & CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute. With a deep commitment to equity and justice, she champions initiatives that amplify the voices and influence of Black women across California. Known for her strategic insight and passion for community empowerment, Kellie is a driving force in fostering systemic change and collective progress.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The firestorms that ravaged Southern California have drawn attention to historically Black communities like Altadena, one of the first areas in Los Angeles County where Black families could buy homes during the Great Migration.

Before the fire, Altadena’s Black population was 18% with a Black homeownership rate of nearly 81% — more than the double the state rate of about 36.6%.

For Black History Month, California Black Media explores 14 other historically Black neighborhoods that thrived in the Golden State despite numerous challenges.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list.

1. Allensworth (Tulare County) – Founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other Black settlers, Allensworth was California’s first and only town established and governed by African However, Allensworth’s livelihood depended on a railroad company and water supply company. Eventually, the railroad company stopped service to the town and the water company cut off the town’s water supply, leading most residents to relocate. Many of the town’s original buildings have been restored.
2. North Richmond (Contra Costa County) – Developed during World War II, North Richmond attracted Black workers to Kaiser Shipyards. One of the first downtown Black owned businesses was O.B. Freeman’s Shoeshine on Macdonald Avenue which became a popular gathering place for Black motor-bikers.
3. Oak Park (Sacramento County) – One of Sacramento’s oldest Black neighborhoods, Oak Park grew due to the lack of racial covenants that restricted Black land ownership during the Great Depression. It became a hub of Black culture and entrepreneurship. For example, renowned culinary artist George Dunlap opened a string of restaurants in the area, including Dunlap’s Dining Room, known for its Southern cooking.
4. West Oakland (Alameda County) – A major center for Black migration during WWII, known for its jazz scene and civil rights activism. The neighborhood was home to the Black Panther Party headquarters and a center of Black commerce and entertainment in the 1940s and 1950s. Seventh Street served as the cultural hub of the area and was lined with Black-owned businesses, including Slim Jenkin’s Place, one of the most popular jazz clubs in the area attracting big names like B.B King, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington.
5. South Berkeley (Alameda County) –Black families moved to South Berkeley during the Great Migration for jobs at shipyards and railroad companies. In 1948, William Byron Rumford Sr. became the first African American elected to a state public office when he won an Assembly seat. Rumford owned a pharmacy on Sacramento Street, which was a hub for the Black community.
6. Bayview-Hunters Point (San Francisco County) – During WWII, the establishment of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard attracted an influx of African American workers. Around that time, 59% of the neighborhood’s population was The area, which has a rich history of activism, remains the neighborhood with the highest concentration of Black San Franciscans.
7. Seaside (Monterey County) – The presence of the Black community in this area grew significantly due to the presence of Fort Ord, a U.S. Army base. By the 1960’s, Seaside had the largest concentration of American Americans between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over a quarter of Seaside’s population was Black at the time.
8. Watts (Los Angeles County) – Famous for the Watts Towers, the city became a significant hub for Black cultural and political movements. Watts became predominantly Black in the 1940s. War industries were a primary source of employment for new workers coming into Watts. The neighborhood is also known for the Watts Uprising, a series of protests in 1965 mainly opposing police
9. Ladera Heights, View Park and Baldwin Hills (Los Angeles County) – These adjacent neighborhoods are considered some of the wealthiest historically Black communities in the S. African Americans were not allowed to live in the area until 1948 when the Supreme Court ruled against racial restrictive covenants. By 1970, residents of the area were 75% Black. Celebrities including Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Nancy Wilson, Michael Cooper, Regina King and Issa Rae have called the area home. Ladera Heights, View Park and Baldwin Hills are often referred to the “Black Beverly Hills.”
10. Leimert Park (Los Angeles County) – A cultural and artistic center for African Americans, Leimert Park is known for its jazz heritage and Black-owned businesses. The area is home to one of the largest and oldest Juneteenth celebrations in the country.
11. Inglewood (Los Angeles County) – In 1960, only 29 of Inglewood’s population of 63,390 were Black. But by 1980, 56% of the city’s population was Black. “White Flight” from the area during the 1970s sparked the influx of Black residents. In 1983, Edward Vincent Jr. Became Inglewood’s first Black mayor. Inglewood has become a sports and entertainment hub under current mayor James Butts.
12. Southeast San Diego (San Diego County County) – The area is home to Bethel AME Church, the oldest Black church in San Diego, founded in 1887. Before gentrification and redevelopment began to intensify — beginning in the 1970s through the 2000s — the Imperial Avenue Corridor was known as a mini “Black Wall Street.”
13. The Fillmore District (San Francisco County) – Known as the “Harlem of the West,” the Fillmore community in San Francisco became a hub for Black businesses and art after World War II. Many Blacks migrated to the area because it was one of the areas in the city without a racist housing covenant. The Fillmore was renowned for its jazz scene, with famous clubs like Jimbo’s Bop city.
14. Compton (Los Angeles County) – In 1960, Compton’s Black population was 40%, a figure that was around 5% ten years prior. The rise in the area’s Black population was due, in part, to a real estate tactic called “Blockbusting” where real estate agents would induce White homeowners to sell their properties at reduced prices by suggesting Black families were moving into the neighborhood. Then, those agents would sell those homes to Black families at higher prices. In 1969, Compton elected Douglas Dollarhide, the first Black mayor of a major California city.

SACRAMENTO, CA– Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson and fellow Assembly Democrats moved with urgency on Monday to protect our economy, vulnerable Californians and immigrant workers in the face of threats from the White House and Republicans in Washington.

Democrats voted overwhelmingly to pass two bills:

• Alegal defense fund that allocates $25 million for the California Department of Justice to protect California taxpayers and the state’s economy from hostile action in Washington, including the recent “Republican Freeze.”
• Funding for immigration Legal Aid and Servicesorganizations, which assist veterans, students, renters, families, victims of domestic violence and law-abiding immigrants who pay more than $130 billion annually in state and federal taxes and contribute over $1 trillion yearly to the California economy. In a letter of direction, the Legislature stated that this bill’s funding does not go to legal defense for people convicted of violent and serious felonies.

The legislation will strengthen California’s ability to fight unlawful and unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration. The bills pass on the heels of President Trump’s reckless attempt to freeze Congressionally approved federal funding, loans and grants last week, which jeopardizes funding for small business loans, schools, housing assistance, nonprofit grants, wildfire protection and Southern California wildfire relief, and health care and research.

What Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson Says About The Bills

“Today’s vote reaffirms our commitment. Every person deserves the right to dignity and self-determination. In the face of forces seeking to spread chaos and hate, we must stand up for our communities. I will work with my colleagues to use every available resource to protect those targeted and ensure that common-sense governing prevails over political noise. Our focus remains on lowering the cost of living and building opportunities so that everyone in California can thrive.”

What Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas Says

“At a time when Washington is being dragged-down by unprofessional, chaotic behavior, here in California we are focused on results. This year, our priority is cost of living and housing. But Californians are being threatened by an out-of-control administration that doesn’t care about the Constitution and thinks there are no limits to its power. That is why we are delivering legislation that will allocate resources to defend Californians from this urgent threat. We are here today because we do not trust President Donald Trump.”

What Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel Says

“While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, we also have a responsibility to protect California taxpayers and to defend the fundamental rights of all Californians. For that reason, we cannot – and will not – stand idly by if the Administration breaks the law or violates the U.S. Constitution. Californians should rest assured that we will vigorously protect both their fair share of federal dollars and their fundamental constitutional rights.”

How These Bills Work

• SBX1-1would amend the 2024 Budget Act to include a State Litigation Fund, allocating $25 million to the Department of Justice to assist in protecting California residents and taxpayers. For instance, if the federal government withholds emergency aid after a natural disaster, such as the L.A. firestorms, the fund will allow the DOJ to pursue legal recourse to secure the emergency aid from the federal government, providing California taxpayers with billions of dollars.
• SBX1-2amends the Budget Act to add funding for Legal Services, including $25 million for legal assistance for Californians and immigrant communities. Our Assembly’s direction is crystal clear and in writing: This funding goes toward supporting free legal services for especially vulnerable Californians, including veterans, people with disabilities, unhoused youth, those facing eviction, seniors, and victims of domestic violence, wage theft and human trafficking. Per the Legislature’s direction, funding will not be used for legal services defending those convicted of a violent or serious felony.

What California Community Leaders Say About a Legal Defense Fund to Protect Our Economy

“We applaud the Senate, Assembly and Governor for acting to ensure California has the resources necessary to act if federal policies will negatively impact Californians. The recent memo from the Office of Management and Budget raised serious questions of the potential impacts of abrupt cuts in federal funding, which could have consequences for healthcare delivery, disaster recovery, emergency response, and other critical government functions. This action is not about antagonizing the federal government but instead being prepared to protect our residents if policy action taken at the federal level has intended, or unintended, negative consequences on the communities we serve.” 

— Brian K. Rice, President, California Professional Firefighters

“Federal funding and programs are critical to helping safety net providers be a lifeline for millions of Americans. We can’t play politics with people’s lives. We thank the State of California for acting swiftly to put the necessary resources in place to respond to any threats to our federal programs and funding.”

– Louise McCarthy, President & CEO, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County

“This $50 million funding package is about survival for the small and minority-owned businesses that form the backbone of our local economy, many of which face steep challenges in accessing capital, contracts, and protections. The Trump administration’s freeze on federal funds has only deepened this uncertainty. We are grateful to the legislature for taking action to help ensure these businesses have the resources they need to thrive.”

– Pepi Jackson, President & CEO, Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce

How a Legal Defense Fund Protect California’s Businesses, Workers and Families

• It is estimated that the Department of Justice spent approximately $40 million on legal defense to protect billions of dollars for California between 2016 and 2021 (according toCalMatters). Successful defenses included:
• California ensured the Department of Energy could finalize efficiency rules, generating more than $8 billion in savings for ratepayers (NRDC)
• DOJ secured nearly $60 million in federal public-safety grant reimbursements (SacBee)
• According to CalMatters: “Trump lost about two-thirds of cases filed against his administration” between 2016 and 2021

Economic Impact of California Immigrant Workers

• California immigrants pay nearly $130 billion annually in state and federal taxes (USC CA Immigrant Data Portal 2021)
• 88% of farmworkers in CA are immigrants—that’s 880,000 people. Approximately half are undocumented. (JBS International for the US Department of Labor)
• Immigrants hold one-thirdof all tourism and hospitality jobs in California. (LA Times Analysis of 2022 US Census Data)
• We must rebuild LA and increase affordable housing. Neither will happen without immigrants, who make up 41% of the construction workforce. (National Association of Homebuilders 2023)
• 50% of certified nursing assistants in CA nursing homes are immigrants. (Health Affairs 2021), and about 40% of child day-care workers. (LA Times Analysis of 2022 US Census Data)
• California immigrants contribute $715 billion in gross domestic product. (CA Immigrant Policy Center 2016)

Wildfire Protection and Prevention

This year during Special Session, Assembly Democrats already approved into law a $2.5 billion package to provide immediate aid for L.A. wildfire recovery. The legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, is a first step to deliver billions in state funding for wildfire response and recovery that will accelerate cleanup of impacted neighborhoods, and fast-track the rebuilding of schools and homes.

Assembly Democrats have made historic investments in wildfire protection and prevention in recent years including:

• Between 2014 and 2024, the number of positions dedicated to fire protection increased from 5,756 to 10,275 at CalFire, an approximately 80% increase.
• The LAO estimates that CalFire’s total base wildfire protection budget has nearly tripled over the past 10 years (from $1.1 billion in 2014-15 to $3 billion in 2023-24).
• The 24-25 budget included $199 million and 338 new positions to CalFire to begin implementing a shift to a 66 hour workweek. This will eventually rise to $770 million on an ongoing basis and 2,457 new permanent positions by 2028-29. These positions are dedicated to fire protection across the state.
• In the historic 2021 and 2022 climate packages, the Legislature invested more than $2.8 billion in Wildfire and Forest Resilience, including fire prevention efforts, across multiple budget years. The 24-25 budget maintained 93% of that funding or $2.6 billion.
• The 24-25 budget also avoided cuts and approved several fund shifts from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) for various wildfire resilience programs. These include:
  • $20 million for the prescribed fire liability pilot program
  • $82 million for Fire prevention grants
  • $26 million for Unit Fire prevention projects
  • $10 million for Tribal Wildfire and Forest Resilience
  • The 24-25 budget maintains $200 million through 2028 for prevention programs focused on prescribed burns, fuels reductions, fuel breaks.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL— Talk show host Tamron Hall kicked off Black History Month at Walt Disney World Resort on Saturday by leading her family on a festive day of Disney fun along with “Celebrate Soulfully” offerings, culminated by a jubilant parade at Magic Kingdom Park.

Hall, known for her work as a TV talk show host, journalist and author, served as the grand marshal in the parade down Main Street, U.S.A., that featured Disney characters, energetic music and cheering guests.

Hall and her family also experienced the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction, met Princess Tiana and posed for photos with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto, as well as Disney cast members.

The parade marked the start of Black History Month celebrations at Walt Disney World, where guests can “Celebrate Soulfully” with a vibrant mix of music, art, entertainment and food throughout February and beyond.

• Four Black artists are showcasing their work this month at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, a celebration of artistic expression. The artists appear on various days through mid-February. Also, several Black artists are performing onstage at America Gardens Theatre during the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series on select nights during the festival.
• The Disney Springs Art Walk features colorful murals by Black artists that celebrate Black culture and expression, including a new mural by Washington D.C. – based artist Brandon Hill that debuts this month.
• Throughout Walt Disney World, there are food and beverage items from Walt Disney World’s “Celebrate Soulfully” menu, which feature classic comfort foods prepared by a diverse group of Walt Disney World chefs, such as blackened salmon and peach cobbler.
• And guests can always interact with a variety of popular and diverse Disney characters, such as Princess Tiana at Magic Kingdom, Ariel from the live-action story “The Little Mermaid” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Asha at EPCOT.

Like Hall, guests can “Celebrate Soulfully” throughout the month and all year long through a wide variety of ticket, dining, and hotel options as well as promotional offers for families. More information is available at www.DisneyWorld.com/offers.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA–– For the past three weeks, staff members from the San

Bernardino Animal Services Department have been assisting their counterparts in Los Angeles following the devastating fire that hit the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas.

On January 15, the City received a formal request for animal control assistance from the City of Los Angeles in response to the Palisades Fire.

The San Bernardino Department of Animal Services joined teams from Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Mission Viejo by sending animal control officers to the area affected by the fire to search and rescue pets and wild animals that were lost, left behind, or injured.

“Helping other jurisdictions in need following a disaster is not only the right thing to do, but our staff gain crucial skills that can help San Bernardino’s residents if something were to happen here,” said San Bernardino Animal Services Director Kris Watson.

City of San Bernardino Animal Services Supervisor, Arianna Gonzalez, Lead Animal Control Officer, Eduardo Alvarez as well as Animal Control Officers Patrick Galvan, Jasmine Torres and Estevan Barajas worked in shifts travelling to Los Angeles to assist in the effort.

“Seeing the devastation was heartbreaking and the conditions were difficult, but locating lost pets and returning them to their grateful owners was very rewarding,” said Animal Services Supervisor Arianna Gonzalez. “The appreciation from local residents, including comedian Jay Leno, made the hard work worth it.”

The Animal Control officers would start the day with a list of addresses and pet owners hoping to either find or receive an update on pets they had to leave behind.

In one case, the San Bernardino team was able to let a relieved homeowner know that the 28 fish in one of her koi ponds had survived the fire. Although her house was destroyed, staff were able to locate and evacuate the fish from the disaster area, and they are now recovering in a pond at DreamWorks Studios.

“She was so happy that their fish were ok,” added Gonzalez. “It gave them hope in what was a terrible situation. The City of San Bernardino will be reimbursed for staff time by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).