Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
News You Might Have Missed
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
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University of California Employees and Students Sue Trump Administration
University of California students, faculty, staff, and labor unions filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 16 against the Trump administration, alleging it is using civil rights laws to restrict academic freedom and undermine free speech.
The lawsuit follows the federal government decisions to fine the U.C. system $1.2 billion and freeze research funding at UCLA over alleged antisemitism and other civil rights violations.
According to the suit, the Trump administration’s proposed settlement with UCLA demands access to faculty, student, and staff data, ends diversity scholarships, bans overnight demonstrations on campus, and requires cooperation with immigration enforcement. The plaintiffs say these actions threaten the independence of universities and public research.
“The blunt cudgel the Trump administration has repeatedly employed in this attack on the independence of institutions of higher education has been the abrupt, unilateral, and unlawful termination of federal research funding on which those institutions and the public interest rely,” the lawsuit states.
The UC system, while not a direct party to the suit, said it is pursuing legal and advocacy efforts to restore funding. Spokesman Stett Holbrook said, “Federal cuts to research funding threaten lifesaving biomedical research, hamper U.S. economic competitiveness and jeopardize the health of Americans who depend on the University’s cutting-edge medical science and innovation.”
UC President James Milliken described the federal actions as “one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history.” The UC system receives more than $17 billion annually in federal support, including nearly $10 billion for Medicare and Medicaid research, and student aid.
This lawsuit follows similar actions against private universities, including Harvard, Brown, and Columbia, as well as K-12 public school districts investigated for alleged discrimination in diversity programs. The case is led by the American Association of University Professors and represented by Democracy Forward, a legal group experienced in challenging frozen federal funding.
The outcome could set a national precedent for how the federal government interacts with public universities, shaping research, campus governance, and academic freedom.
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Newsom Signs Nation’s Strongest Laws to Protect Schools, Hospitals from Federal Immigration Raids
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 20 signed what he called the nation’s strongest protections against federal immigration enforcement tactics, aimed at shielding children in schools and patients in hospitals from Trump-era “secret police” raids.
Newsom signed the legislation at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex — a compound housing four specialized public high schools — in Los Angeles.
The new laws prohibit federal officers, including ICE, from concealing their identities by requiring visible badge or name and restrict immigration enforcement in classrooms and nonpublic hospital areas without a judicial warrant. They also require school administrators to notify families when enforcement occurs on campus.
“Public safety depends on trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve — but Trump and Miller have shattered that trust and spread fear across America,” Newsom said. “California is putting an end to it and making sure schools and hospitals remain what they should be: places of care, not chaos.”
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said the measures protect families who live in fear of deportation.
“Our places of learning and healing must never be turned into the hunting grounds this federal administration has tried to make them out to be,” she said.
Lawmakers echoed her sentiment, with Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) noting that AAPI communities are among the most impacted, and Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) calling the package “a major win for our communities” that sets “important guardrails so that immigrant families can feel safe whether they are at school, at the doctor, or in their own neighborhood.”
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Influential Leader in Southern California’s Black and Muslim Communities Dies
Umar Hakim-Dey, a pillar of Southern California’s Black and Muslim communities, died Friday at the age of 55, community leaders announced.
Born and raised in Compton, Hakim-Dey was known for bridging racial, religious, and generational divides while advocating for the unhoused and mentoring young people.
Hakim-Dey served as board chair for LA Voice, a multi-faith community organization, and founded Inkerij, a social enterprise advising nonprofit and social impact organizations. He spearheaded Humanitarian Day, one of the nation’s largest Muslim-led charity initiatives, emphasizing not just giving but seeing recipients as human beings, according to Arbazz Nizami, co-founder of the Sahaba Initiative.
“One of the first people to really inspire us and motivate us to serve the community,” said Nizami, recalling Hakim-Dey’s mentorship over 15 years. Hakim-Dey converted to Islam at 28 and became a central figure at Masjid Ibadillah in Los Angeles and the ILM Foundation, connecting young people across backgrounds to community service.
Imam Jihad Saafir of Islah LA described him as a rare connector.
“Christian, Jewish, homeless, a person who has membership in the gang, he was able to talk to all of these audiences and engage them,” said Saafir.
Hakim-Dey grew up in a Compton neighborhood divided by gangs, joining the Crips in sixth grade and leaving at 18. He often cited this experience as shaping his understanding of community and loyalty.
He also worked as a “bridge builder” across faiths and racial groups. Andrea Hodos of New Ground recalled Hakim-Dey calmly deescalating a potential fight at a Muslim-Jewish interfaith event, saying, “He has the capacity to listen deeply and to stand firmly on his principles.”
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A Pipeline of Service: Gov. Newsom Launches New Effort to Support Young Men
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the California Men’s Service Challenge on Sept. 16, a statewide initiative aimed at addressing disconnection, mental health challenges, and declining opportunities among young men.
The program calls on 10,000 men to serve as mentors, coaches, and tutors, while inviting organizations across California to participate in building belonging and purpose.
“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity and even their own families. This action is about turning that around,” said Newsom. “It’s about showing every young man that he matters, he has purpose, and he has a community.”
The initiative is part of Newsom’s broader effort through the California Service Corps and partner organizations to create pathways for leadership, community engagement, and career development. Participants will work directly with young men, helping them connect to education, careers, and community resources.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort.
“Women and men may face different challenges, but we share a responsibility to lift up the next generation…The California Volunteers Men’s Service Challenge calls on 10,000 young men to step forward as mentors and coaches, offering the care and connection that can combat isolation and build belonging,” said Siebel Newsom.
The program partners with organizations including Improve Your Tomorrow, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentor California, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Giants Community Fund, and the American Institute for Boys and Men. These groups will help provide mentorship, service opportunities, and skill-building experiences.
“Young men across California are struggling with disconnection, loneliness and a lack of direction,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “Through service, we can give them a sense of purpose and the opportunity to build careers while making a difference in their communities.”
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Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Energy Bills, Stabilize Gas Market, and Reduce Pollution
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of bipartisan climate and energy legislation on Sept. 16 that promises to lower electricity costs, stabilize California’s gasoline market, and slash pollution. The reforms, backed by labor, business, environmental groups, and climate advocates, are being described as the most significant energy savings effort in a decade.
“I just signed into law the biggest electricity bill refunds in a decade,” said Newsom. “Millions of Californians will soon start saving billions on their energy costs, and the savings don’t stop there — we’re stabilizing the state’s gasoline supply to avert severe price spikes at the pump and we’re making it easier to build the abundant clean energy we need to keep bills lower.”
The legislation expands the California Climate Credit, which already saves families more than $100 annually on utility bills, and streamlines approval for clean energy projects to improve grid reliability, according to the Governor’s office.
It also extends the state’s Cap-and-Invest program through 2045, requiring polluters to pay for projects that benefit the communities most impacted by toxic emissions while providing stable funding for high-speed rail in the Central Valley.
To stabilize gasoline supply, the package allows for targeted, locally led oil production in Kern County, while maintaining safety standards for pipelines and refining operations. Supporters say this will help shield Californians from volatile price spikes as the state continues its transition away from fossil fuels.
The reforms also create the next generation of the California Wildfire Fund to protect survivors and ratepayers, while mandating billions in shareholder-funded grid upgrades by private utilities to reduce wildfire risk.
Newsom signed five bills as part of the package, including AB 825 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), AB 1207 by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), SB 237 by Sen. Tim Grayson (D-Concord), SB 254 by Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), and SB 840 by Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara).
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California Secretary of State Expands Apostille Pop-Up Shop Program With Statewide Events
The California Secretary of State’s office has launched a new Apostille Pop-Up Shop series, bringing document authentication services directly to communities across the state. The series kicked off Sept. 17 in San Diego in partnership with the San Diego Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s Office.
Upcoming events include Dublin on Sept. 26, Salinas on Oct. 1, Fresno on Oct. 20, and Santa Ana on Oct. 23. At each location, residents can have official documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and educational records authenticated for international use.
“This is about expanding access and making sure Californians can more easily get the services they need,” said the Secretary of State’s office in announcing the program. Officials added that hosting the events in local communities is intended to reduce travel burdens and provide faster, more convenient service.
To obtain an apostille, participants must bring the original notarized or certified document, a completed request cover sheet, and payment. The fee is $20 per apostille, plus a $6 special handling fee for each signature that requires authentication. Payment is accepted by Visa, Mastercard, check, or money order. Cash is not accepted.
Due to high demand, officials warn that wait times at the pop-up shops may run up to three hours. Residents who cannot attend may send documents with a trusted person to submit on their behalf. Apostille requests can also be processed by mail or in person at the Secretary of State’s offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
The pop-up shop program reflects a broader push to modernize government services and ensure residents across California have easier access to critical resources. By offering mobile services in multiple counties, the Secretary of State’s office aims to make document authentication faster, more convenient, and more accessible.
The effort underscores the importance of apostilles, which allow Californians to use official state documents abroad with international recognition. Officials say expanding the service directly into communities helps residents save time and ensures California remains connected globally
