Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
News You Might Have Missed
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
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Gov. Newsom Approves $170 Million to Fast Track Wildfire Resilience
With wildfire season approaching, last week Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 100, unlocking $170 million to fast-track wildfire prevention and forest management projects — many of which directly protect communities of color, who are often hardest hit by climate-driven disasters.
“With this latest round of funding, we’re continuing to increase the speed and size of forest and vegetation management essential to protecting communities,” said Newsom when he announced the funding on April 14.
“We are leaving no stone unturned –including cutting red tape — in our mission to ensure our neighborhoods are protected from destructive wildfires,” he said.
AB 100 approves major investments in regional conservancies across the state, including over $30 million each for the Sierra Nevada, Santa Monica Mountains, State Coastal, and San Gabriel/Lower LA Rivers and Mountains conservancies. An additional $10 million will support wildfire response and resilience efforts.
Newsom also signed an executive order suspending certain regulations to allow urgent work to move forward faster.
This funding builds on California’s broader Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, a $2.7 billion effort to reduce fuel loads, increase prescribed burning, and harden communities. The state has also launched new dashboards to keep the public informed and hold agencies accountable.
California has also committed to continue investing $200 million annually through 2028 to expand this effort, ensuring long-term resilience, particularly in vulnerable communities.
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Newsom Fights Back as AmeriCorps Shutdown Threatens Vital Services in Black Communities
Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing the federal government over its decision to dismantle AmeriCorps, a move that puts essential frontline services in Black and Brown communities across California at risk, the Governor’s office said.
From tutoring students and mentoring foster youth to disaster recovery and community rebuilding, AmeriCorps has been a backbone of support for many communities across California.
“When wildfires devastated L.A. earlier this year, it was AmeriCorps members out there helping families recover,” Newsom said when he announced the lawsuit on April 17. “And now the federal government wants to pull the plug? We’re not having it.”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration is behind the rollback, which Newsom calls “a middle finger to volunteers.”
Meanwhile, Newsom’s office announced that the state is expanding the California Service Corps, the nation’s largest state-run service program.
AmeriCorps has provided pathways for thousands of young people to gain job experience, give back, and uplift underserved neighborhoods. Last year alone, over 6,000 members across the state logged 4.4 million hours, tutoring more than 73,000 students, planting trees, supporting foster youth, and helping fire-impacted families.
The California Service Corps includes four paid branches: the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, Youth Service Corps, California Climate Action Corps, and AmeriCorps California. Together, they’re larger than the Peace Corps and are working on everything from academic recovery to climate justice.
“DOGE’s actions aren’t about making government work better. They are about making communities weaker,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday.
“These actions will dismantle vital lifelines in communities across California. AmeriCorps members are out in the field teaching children to read, supporting seniors and helping families recover after disasters. AmeriCorps is not bureaucracy; it’s boots on the ground,” he said.
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Atty Gen. Bonta Commits to Fighting Trump Admin Social Security Cuts
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is pushing back against federal policies that make it harder for millions of Americans, especially seniors and people with disabilities, to access Social Security Administration (SSA) services.
Last week, Bonta joined 20 attorneys general in filing a legal brief against the Trump Administration and its controversial Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), which has slashed Social Security staffing, shut down field offices, and introduced chaotic policy changes.
For many Black Californians, Social Security is a lifeline — whether it’s helping aging parents cover rent, providing disability support for family members, or connecting folks to health insurance through Medicaid. But with field offices closing and wait times rising, these basic needs are becoming harder to meet.
“This is about protecting our elders, our disabled neighbors, and everyone who relies on Social Security to survive,” said Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s reckless actions have made a broken system worse — and we won’t let that stand.”
Since DOGE’s changes, advocates say call wait times have nearly doubled, online services are crashing, and seniors who don’t use social media are being told to check for updates on the social media platform X, which is owned by DOGE head Elon Musk. Field offices are being also being shut down even in rural areas where Black seniors already have to travel miles to get help, the advocates say.
Bonta’s office has launched a new website where Californians can report disruptions in SSA services. This legal action is just one of many efforts to protect the rights, dignity, and survival of California’s most vulnerable.
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Report: Californians Are Losing Confidence in Schools as Black Parents Voice Growing Concerns
A new statewide survey from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows that Californians’ confidence in public schools and in how Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers are handling education has dropped significantly since the pandemic.
PPIC released the findings last week, highlighting the growing frustration across the state, especially among Black and Latino families.
Half of California’s adults say K-12 schools are headed in the wrong direction. Just five years ago, most Californians believed schools were improving. Now, only 50% approve of Newsom’s leadership on education, a sharp drop from 73% in 2020.
The survey also highlights that Black Californians are among the most concerned about key issues like chronic absenteeism, declining enrollment, and school funding. About one in three Black adults said absenteeism is a major concern, compared to just 14% of White and Asian adults.
Because school funding depends on attendance, these issues could have a deeper impact on Black communities, advocates point out.
Nearly all Californians agree that teacher pay is too low. Many Black and Hispanic parents also expressed growing support for school choice programs like vouchers, signaling dissatisfaction with the current public school system.
Although California has a funding law that gives extra support to districts with more low-income students and English learners, most parents surveyed said their schools are not asking for community input on how that money is spent.
The PPIC survey was conducted in both English and Spanish and shows that California’s school recovery efforts continue to face challenges. Families are calling for more communication, stronger leadership, and equity in classrooms.
For many Black parents and students, the message is clear: schools must do more to meet the moment and deliver on the promise of education for all.
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Attorney Gen. Bonta and Gov. Newsom Fight Tariffs They Say Threaten California’s Economy, Communities
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom are taking a stand against the Trump administration’s tariffs, which they argue are hurting California’s economy and disproportionately impacting Black communities.
The pair announced a lawsuit on April 16 that the state has filed to challenge these tariffs that have been imposed without congressional approval.
The tariffs, which President Trump began to issue on April 2 by executive order, have sent shockwaves through financial markets and are expected to significantly increase the costs for goods and services.
The economic toll is expected to shrink the U.S. economy by $100 billion annually and cost the average American family an additional $2,100 each year,” Newsom’s office warns. For California, a major importer and exporter, this means higher prices for everyday items and more challenges for businesses, especially small and minority-owned ones.
Black Californians, particularly those engaged in agriculture, retail, and small businesses, are facing the brunt of these impacts. As one of the nation’s largest exporters, California’s agricultural sector, which provides food and jobs for many communities of color, is now under threat. Retaliatory tariffs from other nations are only adding to the strain on these industries, which will likely lead to job cuts and financial losses in communities already grappling with economic inequality.
Bonta emphasized the importance of protecting California’s economy, noting that these tariffs have already led to significant disruptions, including rising inflation and higher living costs. “This is more than just an economic issue; it’s about ensuring that communities of color aren’t left behind when powerful forces in Washington make decisions that impact our daily lives,” said Bonta.
Newsom echoed Bonta’s commitment, stating, “We are standing up for all Californians, especially those who can least afford to shoulder the burden of these unlawful tariffs.”
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Asm. Corey Jackson Proposes Safe Parking for Homeless College Students Amid Housing Crisis
As California’s housing crisis continues impact students, new legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 90, promises to allow college students without stable housing to sleep in their cars on campus, offering a stark but practical solution aimed at immediate relief.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of the AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.
“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” he said at a recent hearing.
The bill passed its first committee vote and is gaining attention as housing affordability remains a top concern across the state. California rents are more than 30% above the national average, and long waitlists for student housing have left thousands in limbo. CSU reported more than 4,000 students on its housing waitlist last year.
Supporters stress that the bill is not a long-term solution, but a humane step toward helping students who have no other place to go. A successful pilot program at Long Beach City College has already shown that safe, supervised overnight parking can work, giving students access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a secure environment.
However, the CSU and community college systems oppose the bill, citing funding concerns. Critics also worry about safety and oversight. But Jackson and student advocates argue the crisis demands bold action.
“If we know students are already sleeping in their cars, why not help them do it safely?” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.
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$4.4 Million in Stolen Goods Recovered, 383 Arrests Made in Statewide Crackdown on Organized Retail Crime
California’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has recovered nearly 41,000 stolen items valued at $4.4 million and made 383 arrests since January 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced April 17. The state-led effort, spearheaded by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), is part of a broader initiative to tackle the growing problem of organized retail theft.
“The CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force teams have demonstrated exceptional dedication and coordination, leading to significant disruptions of criminal networks targeting California’s businesses,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
In March alone, the task force recovered over $2.1 million in stolen merchandise and made 174 arrests. Notably, officers dismantled a major theft ring in the Bay Area, retrieving more than $779,000 in goods. In another incident, CHP used real-time tracking to apprehend a suspect in Lincoln who stole 137 beauty items, leading to the recovery of $19,000 in goods and discovery of $10,000 in store damage.
Since its formation in 2019, the task force has led over 3,700 investigations, resulting in about 4,200 arrests and the recovery of stolen merchandise valued at more than $56 million.
California law allows for felony charges in organized retail crime cases involving thefts over $950, which is one of the strictest thresholds in the nation.
Recent data shows that property crime in California fell 8.5% in 2024, while violent crime declined by 4.6%, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
As part of its ongoing commitment to public safety, the state has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to support law enforcement efforts. Last year, $267 million was distributed to 55 communities to hire more police and strengthen criminal enforcement.
Officials credit the progress to stronger law enforcement partnerships, focused operations, and ongoing public safety investments aimed at protecting communities and businesses.
