October 05, 2023

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

A recent poll by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) revealed that California residents have differing opinions on cash reparations for Black people. In response, the state’s Congressional Black Caucus intends to launch a campaign across the state to educate citizens about the significance of reparations for Black communities affected by slavery. Caucus members said the campaign will push for direct financial compensation for African Americans.

A survey by the Berkeley IGS found that 60% of California voters believe that the legacy of slavery is still impacting the current situation of Black residents in the state.

Approximately 20% say they see some effect, and 13% say they see little.

The views compare to 31% who don’t think it has any impact. Further, the opinions of Democrats and liberals diverge considerably from those of Republicans and conservatives. Most Democrats and liberals in the state believe that the legacy of slavery has a significant or at least some impact on the lives of Black residents. In contrast, about two in three Republicans and conservatives take the opposite view and think the legacy has no effect today.

Most California voters (59% to 28%) oppose the state Reparations Task Force’s recommendations to provide cash payments to the descendants of enslaved Black people, according to the poll.

“The findings reveal California voters’ racial, political contradictions,” IGS co-director Cristina Mora said in a news release. “While many can empathize with the plight of Black Americans, not all these feelings will translate into support for policies that address longstanding racial harms. And though this might be an information issue for some groups, the fact that even liberals are divided indicates that campaigns for racial redress will face a steep uphill climb.”

Reginald Jones-Sawyer, a member of the reparations task force, emphasized that the poll results show a big lack of awareness about California’s long history of slavery and other forms of racism that have caused lasting harm to Black families.

“Polls can be skewed because usually enough information isn’t given to the people so that they don’t have a full understanding of what’s going on,” Jones-Sawyer told NBC News. “If each individual that they polled had read that 400-page document we did last year, which proved how California was complicit in chattel slavery, and read the 1,100-page document that we printed out this year, which talked about what reparations should be, there’s absolutely no way you would believe that [there] shouldn’t be some type of compensation.”

To bridge this knowledge gap, Jones-Sawyer said the Black Caucus would initiate a fundraising campaign to secure the services of a firm that delivers “clear, concise, and direct messaging” about the report. He emphasized the need to combat efforts to undermine the task force’s findings.

A big challenge is educating the members of the California Assembly. They are expected to sponsor legislation based on a 1,000-page report published in June by the task force. The state Reparations Task Force report addressed many areas and advocated for over 100 statewide policies to rectify generations of discrimination.

The text does not specify the amount of money that will be given to individuals who can prove their ancestry as either enslaved African Americans or free African Americans before 1900.

Jones-Sawyer illustrated the urgency of the matter with a compelling analogy: “If you were to buy something, and then later on, you find out that it was stolen property, you wouldn’t keep that property. You wouldn’t take advantage of it. Well, the labor of African Americans was stolen for centuries. And now we’re asking for us to restore our dignity, restore what was taken from us. And any legal system would tell you that is the appropriate measure that you should take. And I think any American, once they are educated, would understand why it’s so important to have reparations.”

However, the absence of a specified monetary figure remains a point of contention for many within the Black community. Cathy Adams, president of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of educating the public about the historical injustices.

“This isn’t about Black people looking for a check, a handout,” Adams told NBC. “This is bigger than that. The harms of slavery are real. We are dealing with a number of disparities and inequities in the Black community that stem from what was denied or taken from us, our ancestors.”

Denise Branch, an anti-racism educator and racial equity consultant, interpreted the poll results as indicative of lingering attitudes towards Black Americans. Branch argued that the lasting financial ramifications of slavery on Black communities cannot be dismissed.

The California Black Caucus is working with the Legislature on recommendations for reparations for Black Californians. They will involve the public in gathering insights and ideas to influence decision-makers. They plan to present their recommendations to Gov. Gavin Newsom in early 2024.

“Some of the best ideas we ever got did not come from elected officials, did not come from academics, did not come from a bureaucrat,” Jones-Sawyer affirmed. “They came from real people. And that’s going to be the thing that will get us over when we start talking to our fellow legislators about why this is so important and why they need to vote yes on it. We’re not going to get them all. But we don’t need them all. We just need the majority in the assembly. And I think we have a good clear path to that.”

September 21, 2023

LAWT News Service

The Women of LA City Hall Event celebrated its 10th Anniversary at the prestigious Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles, honoring all the women in front and behind the scenes of LA City government.

This year’s honorees included Mayor Karen Bass, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, and Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley, making history as the first time these high-ranking positions have all been held by women.

The FOX Corporation was the presenting sponsor of the sold-out event which celebrates how far women have come in L.A. city representation. In the event’s inaugural year 2013, there was only one woman elected official in the city.

Today, Los Angeles boasts nine women elected to office. This is half of the LA City Council and two out of the three City-wide elected positions.

“I’m honored to receive this award. I want to thank the women leaders who put on the Women of L.A. City Hall event and honored CASA of Los Angeles. The work that CASA does save children’s lives and I’m so glad to see Charity Chandler Cole leading the organization to expand the work of CASA and address the child welfare system,” said Bass.

“We’re graced to be the beneficiary of this event, bringing together the most impressive female leaders in our community,” said CASA/LA CEO Charity Chandler Cole. “We thank Mayor Bass for her continued support for our cause and congratulate her on this well-deserved accolade.” 

Each year, the Women LA City Hall Committee chooses a Los Angeles based non-profit organization to support and help raise crucial funds to continue their work; the host nonprofit for this year’s event is CASA of Los Angeles.

CASA/LA advocates for children and families in LA County’s overburdened child welfare and juvenile justice systems, helping them receive equitable access to the resources they need for their physical, mental, emotional, and educational well-being.

October 05, 2023

By Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.

Executive Editor

Governor Gavin Newsom promised to appoint a Black woman to replace the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.  With the selection of U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, he delivered to Californians a young, bold and unapologetically strong leader for the job.

The selection of Laphonza Butler was a surprise by many political leaders throughout California, if not the nation.  But, Laphonza Butler is not new to California politics.  She is a veteran former labor leader and community activist, who prior to accepting Gov. Newsom’s appointment served as the president of Emily’s List, a powerful democratic political advocacy group “dedicated to supporting Pro-Choice Women up and down the ballot and across the country with the goal of fighting for women's rights and our communities.” 

The last Black woman to serve in the Senate was Kamala D. Harris before she was elected U.S. vice president.   Harris, who has remained close to Butler for years, administered her friend’s oath of office on Tuesday, October 3, making Butler only the third female Black U.S. senator in the history of the nation.  Butler and Harris have been close since their paths crossed in California political circles much earlier in their careers.

At the age of 44, Butler will be one of the youngest members to serve in the U.S. Senate and she said about her appointment by Newsom, “You know, my selection came as a bit of a surprise to me for sure.”  But even with this surprise, many believe she is ready, willing and able to carry on the legacy of Feinstein. 

There is already a very intense race for Feinstein’s seat pitting veteran political leaders Congress­woman Barbara Lee, Congress­woman Katie Porter and Congress­man Adam Schiff for a term that will begin in January 2025. 

While Feinstein announced before her passing that she would not run for another term, Newsom had promised in 2021 to appoint a Black woman to the seat if Feinstein retired early. He made that vow shortly after he named Alex Padilla, who was then California’s secretary of state, to replace Harris when she was elected vice president. 

However, with the appointment of Butler, the race could get even tighter since Butler could run as the incumbent if she chooses to enter the race.  When asked if this was a potential move for her, the veteran leader said that she needed more time to make a decision. 

“I literally spent all of today in orientations, finding out how the Senate works. I have been on the campaigns. I know what it takes, but I also want to be respectful of the three current candidates.  I know they are qualified, capable leaders.  I want to be thoughtful about making a direct declaration.  I just haven’t made that decision. I just haven’t done that yet,” admitted Butler, California’s newest senator.

Gov. Newsom faced intense pressure from many Black leaders to choose Rep. Barbara Lee to fill the vacancy.  Lee, who is a veteran political leader, has a lot of experience on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, but Newsom had recently said “he didn’t want to put his thumb on the scales of the current race.” However, Newsom did not set any limitations or preconditions if Butler decides to enter the race according to many people who were closely involved in the selection process.

Outlining her vision for California, Butler made it clear that she does have a plan and also intends to carry forward many of the issues of her predecessor, Diane Feinstein. 

“I think, I can continue to be the center and driver of so many things here in California, but not just for our state, but for our country,” Butler said. 

“I intend to be a part of not only California, but the national conversation about reproductive freedom and I think being a senator from California, it is important to represent the residents of California in that national debate.”

Butler also intends to continue to be an advocate against gun violence, which is an issue that Sen. Feinstein was committed to since her own early political career was impacted by the murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in Nov. 1978.

“As a parent, my own daughter’s school has been put on lockdown because of gun violence,” noted Butler.  “I think that families want to see an end to not only to gun violence in schools, but also in our communities.  I want to continue working to find solutions to keep our children safe and help build them the kind of futures they want, that they deserve, and I intend to work to ensure that we are investing in education and strengthening our educators.”

Senator Butler is an experienced leader who has a clear grasp of the issues facing not only Californians, but working people throughout the nation.  Growing up in Magnolia, Mississippi, she watched her mother “sacrifice everything to put her kids first” after the death of her father, working night shifts as a nurse, security guard and classroom aide.

Senator Chuck Schumer, in a speech on the floor of the Senate, said Butler is only the third Black woman in American history to serve in the U.S. Senate.  He called the moment historic for California and the entire country.

“She’s the first openly lesbian senator from California, and she’s the first openly LGBTQ senator of color to serve in this body,” Schumer said. “Today, the Senate takes another step towards fully reflecting our vibrant democracy.”

Labor leaders from across the nation also praised the selection of Butler, from Yvonne Wheeler, president of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor to members of SEIU where Butler served in several leadership position for over 10 years. 

“Laphonza Butler has dedicated her life to uniting working people and fighting for economic and racial justice. She is a strong, passionate leader, and she will make an outstanding U.S. Senator,” the union’s president, Mary Kay Henry, said in a statement.

Finally, Butler also wanted it to be known that she is a major advocate for economic empowerment.   She said she wants to make sure that “from local small business to Silicon Valley startups to real estate investors [that] we as a country have to make sure we are creating those economic opportunities and also making sure that we are deploying those resources equitably for all.,” she stressed.   

“We have to spread those resources across all communities and across all lines. Let’s not forget women are the fastest growing entrepreneurs in the country and I want to be able to continue my work to focus on strengthening the economic prosperity and mobility of women across the state of California and across the country,” stated the senator.

Butler has spent her life working for the betterment of working-class people and as a U.S. Senator, she insisted that she doesn’t intend to stop doing that work. 

“I want to make sure that I am utilizing my platform as the United States Senator for California to really put the debate on the issues for workers.  This has been a hot labor summer. There are still hundreds of thousands of workers who are suffering from economic inequality,” said Butler.

She added, “We have to work to address housing insecurities, food insecurities and focus on all the things that will really help families thrive. I think we've got to really start to talk about tell the stories and really engage everyone in a meaningful way to find solutions that hopefully we can start through collegial conversations.” 

Butler noted that through collegial conversations, the public will discover that the farmer in Fresno probably has a lot in common with that farmer in Iowa and in finding and addressing those similar issues leads to engaging and building partnerships to find the solutions to make government work for both of those farmers and farmers all across the place.

Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel and chairman of Bakewell Media, said that the selection of Laphonza Butler as the newest California senator was a brilliant selection by the Governor. 

“Laphonza is a serious leader.  She understands not only the issues facing our community, but she also knows and understands the issues facing working people throughout the nation,” Bakewell said. 

“Look at her resume, look at the work she has done, the lives she’s affected and the results she has delivered on.  She is a strong Black woman who has dedicated her life to the service of others, and I have no doubt she will do an excellent job in the U.S. Senate.  Congratulations Laphonsa!”

September 21, 2023

LAWT News Service

Under the leadership of Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Council District Eight has developed one of the City’s most extensive pipelines of permanent supportive housing.

The new housing development, West Terrace offers 64 units of housing to South LA families. Through the District’s Housing at Home initiative, CD8 continues to place people and families into homes in the same neighborhoods where they live, work, and worship.

On Saturday, September 16, Harris-Dawson was joined by Mayor Karen Bass and other City and County officials to welcome and introduce new residents including formerly unhoused seniors and families, to their neighbors. There were tours of the new complex which features a playground and community spaces, tacos for everyone, and the KLJH RadioFree Voices Performance Choir. After the ribbon cutting, gospel music soared throughout the venue, touching and lifting the spirits of everyone under their sound. 

Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson remarked, “Today, we've opened doors to more than just houses; we've opened doors to hope and community. Together, with Mayor Karen Bass and our dedicated team, we're building homes and  building stronger neighborhoods, one family at a time.”

Housing at Home is a South LA initiative that advocates keeping people housed and rooted in their communities. This is a practical solution that keeps people connected to their communities and provides housing in a place with all the familiarity of home.