Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the role.

[Roll Call]

Members of quorum is present with the members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery, please rise. We'll be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman. After which we're going to ask you to remain standing for the pledge allegiance to the flag.

Today we bring ourselves into your presence again. God of Martin and Rosa. Of Fannie Lou and Harriet. God of Malcolm X, Bayard Ruston and Lorraine Hansbury of James Baldwin, Cornell west and Michelle Alexander. God of Anne Bradstreet and Isabel Wilkerson. And of all who have believed in a future full of hope. We do not ask to see the road ahead. We do not ask for power or brilliance. Give us passion. Give us gratitude for our companions on the journey.

Open our hearts to the blessings of our oneness. That we may work for justice and healing, not because we ought to but because we know it is right and good for all of us. God of all who have suffered. All who have struggled. All who have yearned for love. We are millions, and we are one. Give us this day. That we may give back to you. Radiant with hope. Amen.

Members join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance of America.

We're going to pass some privileges to the floor for now, members. Now moving on to file item 4. Message from the governor will be deemed read. Message from the assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read. And amendments adopted. Motions and resolutions and notices.

Without objection, the Senate journals for February 19, 2024 through February 22, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the Minute Clerk.

All right, members, you're going to move back to privileges of the floor. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, are you prepared?

Members are now moving to consideration of daily file. Without objection, we're going to move to file item 10. Senator Smallwood Quavis.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to present a resolution in recommendation.

Secretary, please read first.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 by Senator Small Cuevas. Relative to Black History Month.

Senator Cuevas.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to present a resolution in recognition of an outstanding social justice champion. And advocate for women's health. With decades of efforts to change policies and practices to reduce health disparities and improve both formal and informal systems of care in Los Angeles.

Ms. Fran Jamat from her early work as a community organizer working with migrant families and Head Start parents in New York to her more recent roles since 1989 in California, Fran has worn many a hats as a community organizer, a grant maker, board member, executive director, policy advisor, donor, and mentor to generations of community leaders.

Her work is rooted in a belief that lived experience increases the kind of care that benefits individuals and families beyond the walls of hospitals, mental health facilities, and formal care systems.

She is a pioneer in the movement to validate and expand self help and mutual support groups. Fran has led innovative programs in the public arena through her work with Head Start in the US Office of Education, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the US Surgeon General and Health foundation, initiatives with Blue Shield of California foundation, and the California Endowment, among others. And that's where I got to meet Mr. Mott.

In fact, it was her work with the Surgeon General Coop's workshop on self help and public health that led UCLA and the California Department of Mental Health to recruit her to lead their efforts to establish self help centers in California and to oversee the 800 information line that connected thousands of residents to resources in communities across the state.

In 1994, Fran founded the California Black Women's Health Project, which we know very well because they are up here educating us every day on the health impacts facing black women in our communities.

The purpose of that organization was to increase social and emotional support for women at risk of stress related impairment and to raise awareness about health disparities that limit optimal health outcomes. As a philanthropist, Fran has served as the program director for community and women's health for the California Wellness Foundation.

Helped us get a grant back in the day for a number of South LA community based organizations. She is a trustee for the Liberty Hill foundation and a consultant to grant makers, which exponentially increases the resources available to nonprofit organizations serving marginalized communities.

Since 2002, Fran has headed the Jamaica Rollins Group, which works with philanthropists and foundations that seek the support of community based organizations providing important resources to communities of color. Retirement has never been part of Fran's agenda.

I don't think she's retired, although I hear she is. I see her everywhere. She continues to offer thoughtful leadership to uplift marginalized communities of color in Los Angeles and beyond, and to support women like me from being community activists to being leaders of our state.

Fran is just a treasure. She's a treasure and she's my neighbor. We live around the corner from each other. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Fran Jamat for this well deserved resolution as our 2024 unsung hero.

Congratulations.

Mr. President. Before we begin, I also want to just take a moment, and I think the rest of the unsung heroes are now in the gallery. They were running late from the assembly. I want to recognize the others who are in the gallery with us.

Being honored by the Legislative Black Caucus today, Kathy Adams, Mervyn Brookins, Dr. Ayanna E. Davis, Dominique DuPrima, Carolyn Fowler, Chris Johns, Justice Leodora Kruger, Kimberly Taylor, Mchale Treatz and Prophet Walker. So let's give them a round of applause.

Welcome to the California State Senate. We're going to take an individual picture now, and then we're going to go through the others, and then we'll take a group picture of those who would like to participate. We'd next like to invite Senator Bradford at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm now honored to recognize my unsung hero individual by the name of Dr. Thomas A. Parhelm. He's a family man who lives in Los Angeles and a phenomenal educator here in California.

Dr. Parhelm is the 11th President of the California State University, Dominguez Hills Maya Mamada, a highly diverse University in the metropolitan area that primary serves Los Angeles and South Bay areas of Los Angeles County.

Dr. Parhelm previously served as vice chancellor for student affairs and adjunct a faculty member at the University of California, Irvine, where he had been since 1985. He is affectionately called Dr. P and is a licensed psychologist with more than 40 years as a scholar and a practitioner. In addition to writing well over 45 journal articles and/or book chapters, he's the author of Psychological Storms, the African American Struggle for Identity and counseling persons of African descent. Raising the bar of a practitioner's competence.

Dr. Parhelm is a proud alumnus of the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship program and strives to align his personal endeavors with the legacies led by the MFP founders and former directors, Dr. James Jones and Dr. Dalmas Taylor.

He holds fellow status in division 17 and 45 of APA and with the American Counseling Association and the title of Distinguished Psychologists in the Association of Black Psychologists. Dr. Parhelm is the past president of the National Association of Black Psychologists and the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development.

Dr. Parhelm contributes his talents in the areas of social advocacy, community uplift, and youth empowerment to communities in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. He's categorizing him, I should say. Some have written Dr. Parhelm is a gifted and charismatic speaker in the tradition of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Indeed, for many, his presence as a public figure is transformative, the power of his innate humanity and manifests love, conveying an overwhelming sense of acceptance and understanding.

You feel a great many things in the presence of Dr. P. Mostly you feel better. You feel recognized, you feel appreciated. Dr. Parhelm grew up in Southern California and received his bachelor's degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine.

His master's degree in counseling psychology at Washington University, St. Louis, and received his PhD in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is a tremendous transformative leader.

As I stated, if you've been on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills, you've seen the growth, you've seen the student acceptance and appreciation of this man. He touches his students. He's a very visible individual on the campus.

Most presidents you very rarely see walking to campus. He's there every day walking to campus, interacting with students, making sure they get to know him, and he gets to know them and providing all the needs that they would possibly want.

He's also helped spearhead the Merv Daimley Institute at Cal State Dominguez Hill that has grown by leaps and bounds since he's been there. Unfortunately, Dr. Parhelm could not be here today. He's in Washington, DC, doing work on behalf of the University.

But he's here today represented by his amazing wife, Davida Parham, and his daughter, Kenya Parham. So on behalf of the Legislative Black Caucus and on Black History Month, my unsung hero, Dr. Thomas A. Prahelm.

Congratulations. We're going to take just an individual photograph now. Just an individual photograph. We're going to have one more comment to be heard on the floor, and then we'll do a group photograph after that. All right, so closing the ceremony today, we're going to recognize the minority leader, Senator Jones.

Thank you, Mr. President and members, I just want to stand up real quick in closing out the ceremony and thank Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, Senator Bradford, and the entire California Legislative Black Caucus for leading this great recognition today and all the honorees that have joined us in the chambers and on the floor. It is an honor to be in the presence of such great people that are helping make California the best state in the country.

Today we recognize just a few examples of the great contributions African Americans have made to our districts and to California as a whole during black history month and throughout the rest of the year.

I encourage all of us to continue to educate ourselves on the history of African Americans and the important contributions they have made to our society, especially here in California. There will be a reception for the honorees in the Eureka Room in the basement of the Capitol building.

Please join in the celebration and get a chance to meet these community leaders. And I also just want to point out the great educational material that we received on our desks and say thank you very much for that. And thank you again for the great recognition from our Senators. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Jones, Senator Bradford, and Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Thank you very much for the presentation. Members, you're invited to join a group photograph. Now in the back of the chambers, Members would like to participate in a group photograph.

All right, members, thanks for your attention this afternoon. We're going to move now to file item number 10. We're going to have another reading of it, so just stay tuned. Can I get everybody's attention, please? File item number 10. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas relative to Black History Month.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President, again, good afternoon, colleagues. I rise to present resolution SCR 107 that recognizes February 2024 as Black History Month and the monumental impact that black Americans have made and continue to make in this country and in this great state.

Black History Month is a celebration of the rich heritage and indomitable spirit of black Americans and a recognition of our profound contributions to building this country as leaders among nations and the largest economy in the world.

Beginning in 1619, when 55 million African men, women, and children were first brought to America, not as immigrants, but as slaves against their will, with the majority losing their lives across the gruesome middle passage, the free labor of enslaved black Americans was fundamental to this country, contributing to what scholars estimate to be valued at more than $20 trillion.

But there is no price tag for the generational freedom movement contributions that have been led by black people to this country throughout centuries.

Our blood, sweat, and tears from movements of emancipation by great leaders as Frederick Douglass to the civil rights movement of A. Philip Randolph, Dr. King to the Black Power movement of Malcolm X and Angela Davis, to the election of President Barack Obama, and the resurgence of black mass movements of Black Lives Matter. Black communities continue to remind California and America of our constitutional ideals, the true meaning of life, liberty, and justice for all.

I wouldn't want to imagine America without these moral vanguards, without good American allies standing with black Americans working to disrupt bigotry, hatred and greed. We can only imagine what our country could have been had all black people been free from the beginning, been treated as full human beings with full citizenship in this state and in this country.

But instead, we continue to manage the crisis of discrimination and oppression, a system soaked in the bloods of slaves that continues to produce disparate outcomes for black families in the areas of income, housing, homelessness, maternal health, food access, education, and life expectancy, the ultimate wealth gap.

These are all results of 250 years of slavery, 90 years of Jim Crow, 60 years of separate but equal, 35 years of racist housing policies, and an enduring state violence at the hands of police.

Stillback people have continued to persevere in this country. But the robustness of black resilience embodied in the brilliance of black music and food and art and language and dress and dance and laughter, the black joy. It's been openly embraced by all Americans and exported around the world. But that celebration of black culture does not repair the harm and can never be mistaken for the restitution and for equality.

Our rich culture is a byproduct of collective pain produced from generations of black people who were enslaved longer than we have been free in this country. Black History Month is also a time to acknowledge the scores of black American pioneers, of course, whose brilliant inventions and innovations designed everything from the traffic signal to the cell phone to the blood plasma bags.

And the gratitude of Henrietta Lacks, the mother of five whose cervical cancer cells were harvested as the source of numerous medical breakthroughs, saving countless lives worldwide. During Black History Month, we must acknowledge and learn from our past in order to work towards shaping a more equitable and inclusive California for all. And 2024, colleagues, mark California's newest chapter. We will make black history with the completion of our reparation task force 1100 page report, which I know you all have received.

And I hope that you all are working your way through. And I know my colleagues are going to be working with all of you to ensure that there are opportunities for education and understanding and hands on learning about the history of slavery and its impact on California.

In fact, the Assembly acknowledged the report today, and we did, too, in judiciary, in the form of an acknowledgement, and it did pass the assembly floor today, and we will hear that acknowledgement on Thursday.

I want to close by saying that Tanahishi Coates, a great writer, wrote, until we reconcile with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole. And most Californians agree that the impact of slavery continues to be felt today and that something must be done.

And that's where we come in, creating smart policies to increase home ownership, reduce poverty, improve health, optimize educational opportunities, and support black businesses as key parts of creating a better future, not just for black people, but for all of us.

Only then will California lead the way to finally healing the soul of this nation. Reparations is an acknowledgement of the social and economic disparities that persist due to centuries of slavery and segregation and systemic racism. These systems have created this wealth gap, which we spoke about earlier.

And just like any unchecked disease, this festering inequality has now begun to move beyond the red lined black neighborhoods. It's beginning to weaken all of our communities because we have allowed it to persist for so long.

As it stands now, far too many black families are drowning in crisis level disparities. We must deal with the source of this inequality and disparity to begin closing these gaps. The wealth gap. And what wealth is, it's not assets and debts. It's a whole cumulation of experience of life that so many black families never got to experience. Fair access to families, sustaining employment, health care, food, water, and housing, and education.

When families are denied opportunities and essential needs for 400 years, equaling dozens of generations, we must act. And that's why today's resolution is so poignant and significant, because through our collective work on reparations, we will face the truth about the racial wealth gap and build a stronger future for California. And I'll close with James Baldwin, one of my favorite writers. We cannot fix what we will not face.

As we commemorate Black History Month, let us be called to action to ensure that enormous contributions of black Americans and the ugly institutional injustices of slavery that still persist be our inspiration and motivation to strengthen our backs to do the courageous works it takes to bring California to higher ground this year and for many years, to the future. And thank you. I respectfully call for your aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. We're going to move next to discussion on the resolution. I see microphones up from Senator Becker. Senator Hurtado, Senator Becker.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today on behalf of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus as Vice Chair in support of SCR 107. I want to first thank my colleague from Los Angeles for her powerful words and her words about the trauma of that history and about the wealth gap and about the comprehensive solutions that are in front of us. So, thank you. I wanted to touch on two things.

First, acknowledge that black History Month is a celebration of black history and a reminder that black history is American history. And during this month, we are reminded we must recommit ourselves, not only just for this month, but all times, to learning about and honoring the black experience in the US and in California. And part of that is to acknowledge that we need institutions to preserve and teach society about the rich contributions of black history.

In my district, we've had this incredible collection, the Dominique Hoskins Black History Museum and learning center. And this was a woman who over 25 years, amassed this incredible collection about the broad swath of black history, some of which my colleagues spoke about. But for 25 years, it was a pop up, which means that every year, it would come out for Black History Month.

And then somehow, amazingly, she'd pack it up and it would sit in a warehouse for 11 months, and then she'd bring it back out and now, thanks to the financial support from the state last year, the dedication of its executive director, the museum is now on track for a permanent home. And we had an event last Friday, 22,000 its glory of black history. And again, parts that you met. Whenever people come in, they learn.

I learn as a history major about the inventors, about the history, about the culture, about the activists. And it's just a phenomenal institution and the kind of thing we need more of. I just want to comment that black community has always led the way on civil rights and continues to. And there's always been a long standing history and partnership between the black community and the Jewish community.

And perhaps the most recent and visible example occurred when Dr. Clarence Jones, Martin Luther King, Jr's former lawyer and advisor, was featured in a Super bowl commercial about antisemitism. And when asked why, he wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle on February 15, he said, every time we held a demonstration in the civil rights movement, I speak to the white folks who joined us. There were always some I'd ask, why are you here with us? I got the same response.

Well, attorney Jones, I'm out here with you and Dr. King because that's what my grandma and grandpa would want me to do. I didn't understand. What do their grandparents have to do with it? Our grandparents died in the Holocaust, they'd say, so they can't be here, but we know they'd want us to be. So in that Super bowl ad, Dr. Jones said, when we stand up to silence, we stand up to all hate.

I'm proud that the partnership between our communities continues today and that we must answer the need to continue and nurture this relationship. This month and every month, we celebrate the contributions of our black brothers and sisters in California and to the larger world and honor their stories, struggles, and triumphs. I ask for your support of SCR 107.

Thank you, Senator Becker. Next up is Senator Hurtado, followed by Senator Ashby and Senator Wahab. Senator Hurtado, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Latino caucus, it is my honor to rise today in strong support of FCR 107. Black history month is an important time for us to celebrate black excellence and to reflect on the extraordinary talents, achievements, and contributions of African Americans to our country.

Indeed, generations of African Americans, through words, sacrifice, and actions, have made immeasurable contributions to the success and prosperity of our state and our nation.

The struggles of many black Americans has also benefited and influenced members of the Latino community. For instance, the vital work performed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his commitment to nonviolence inspired many future political activists to seek social change.

Among those influenced by Dr. King was a young Cesar Chavez who would also achieve political success for farm workers through nonviolent means. And I want to give another personal example, and that's of my father. Many of you know, he immigrated to this country from Mexico.

And growing up as a young girl, one of the things that he would often tell me was, I have a dream. Over and over. He kept repeating this over and over to me growing up. And for a long time, I didn't know. But of course, when I started school, we started learning a little bit more about this famous speech and the importance of it.

And the speech really served as an inspiration for my father as an immigrant to this country, as someone that worked in the agriculture industry and for a very long time, and still to this day, serves as inspiration and hope, not just for me, not just for my father, but for many Latinos across the State of California and beyond.

Members, please join me in supporting this important resolution and by extension, honoring all those who helped weave this extraordinary historical tapestry we call America.

The Latino community is grateful for such leadership, inspiration, and support on behalf of the Latino caucus. I extend our thanks to the author and the legislative Black Caucus for its leadership and work on this important resolution.

Thank you, Senator Hurtado. Next up, Senator Ashby, followed by Senator Wahab. Senator Ashby.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Women's Caucus in support of SCR 107. When the Women's Caucus reached out about speaking in support of this resolution, they shared an interesting statistic that brings me tremendous pride, not only as the Senator for Sacramento, but more importantly, as a person who chose to make this city my home. There are 18 female Senators in the Legislative Women's Caucus.

Of those 18 districts represented by women in this chamber, only two have a higher population of black constituents than Sacramento. The Senator from Los Angeles, who is also notably presenting today's resolution, and the Senator from Berkeley who chairs the Women's Caucus. Let me start by saying what an honor it is to be included with those two amazing colleagues in such an important and profound way.

STR 107 recognizes February as Black History Month and urges us all to celebrate the many accomplishments and contributions that African Americans have had in our communities. There are many black women in California who are trailblazers. I'd like to take a moment to talk about two from Senate District 8. In 1974, Flossy Crump and Felicia Allen became not only the first two black women, but the first two women of any race to be sworn in as patrol officers in the greater Sacramento region.

Felicia Allen served 16 years with the Sacramento Police Department. She didn't intend on being a police officer, but she needed a part time job and learned the department was hiring. She was told they would not hire a woman, so she should mark every box on the application. Imagine her surprise when they actually hired her to be a police officer. Flossy Crump's journey started much differently when Flossy was a child. While walking behind her mother and sisters in her community, she was kidnapped.

She recounts fighting her captor non stop, eventually biting his leg and escaping with her life. When she reunited with her family, she remembers her mom deciding it might be best not to involve the police because she feared putting her young daughter through additional trauma when no one would believe that a white man kidnapped a little black girl anyway. A few weeks later, Flossy and her mother saw on the news that the same man had kidnapped, beaten, and raped another young girl.

Those childhood experiences led Flossy to become a Sacramento police officer and eventually a homicide detective. Flossy served 25 years with the department and held the highest standard of integrity, compassion, something she's known for to this day.

Both Flossy and Felicia faced extraordinary discrimination throughout their careers, but both were driven by a desire to break gender and racial barriers and to be present for a community previously unrepresented in that space.

Notably, their story was largely untold until just a few years ago, when Sacramento's first black Police Chief, Daniel Hahn, made it his personal mission to share the amazing accomplishments of these two women. In fact, Sacramento's police headquarters is now named in their honor. Joining us today in celebration of Black History Month in our gallery is retired Sacramento homicide detective Flossy Crump.

I'd like to thank the Senator from Los Angeles for bringing this resolution forward today and for allowing me to share the story of two amazing black women I know who broke glass ceilings. And on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus, I urge an aye vote on SCR 107.

Thank you, Senator Ashby, and welcome to your guest. We're to turn next to Senator Wahab.

Thank you, President and Members. On behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, I rise in support of SCR 107 to recognize February 2024 as Black History Month. Black History Month pays tribute to the triumphs and struggles of the African American community.

Since 1976, every us President has officially recognized the month of February as Black History Month and endorsed a yearly theme. This year's theme, African Americans in the arts, seeks to celebrate the vibrant achievements of black Americans and others of African descent.

Within fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, language, film, music, architecture, and cuisine, artistic movements such as black renaissance, hip hop, and Afrofuturism have expressed the resilience and creativity of the black community in ways that enrich American culture as we know it.

We say today, black history is American history. I also want to add that every single civil rights movement in the United States is based on the black civil rights movement.

It is our responsibility to learn about black history and to join the community in promoting equity for all Californians. And I ask that you join me in supporting SCR 107. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Next up on this resolution, Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Mr. President. And as Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I stand in strong support of SCR 107, which recognizes Black History Month. But as a few of my colleagues have stated, we're really recognizing American History Month. We're recognizing world history because we wouldn't be who we are today if it wasn't for the contributions of the African American.

Dr. W-E - B. Du Bois, civil rights leader, educator, the first black to graduate from Harvard, and the founder of the NAACP, often posed the question, would America be America, be it not for the Negro? And if we're honest with ourselves, it would be a resounding no.

Our great country would not be what we are today without the contributions of African Americans. Contributions in all fields, not just entertainment and sports, but in business, in science, education, and medicine. Many are probably unaware.

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the first African American to ever perform open heart surgery in this country. The first environmentalists weren't rich folks in the suburbs. It was the slave. It was George Washington carver who educated farmers and the benefit of crop rotation to put nutrients back in the field.

And clothing, piece of clothing. We all have worn jeans. It's some members who used to wear jeans on the floor, and everybody gets attributes that to Levi Strauss.

But if you knew the history, the denim fabric came from Africa, and it wasn't blue, it was green when it was brought here, and they incorporated that. But black culture, and I'm in sports anyway. Black culture, stories and triumphs are the core of who we are as a nation. Please know that America has stolen and misappropriated more than African Americans have ever burned and looted in this country. This year, black history focuses on African Americans and the art.

Looking at the impact that black artists, poets, writers, musicians, and dancers have made through their crafts, many of these artists have used their talents to serve as a catalyst for justice and speak the truth. To power and to inspire a nation. People like Paul Robeson, a classically trained artist, actor, athlete.

Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis, Jr. Lena Horn, Hattie McDaniels, the first African American woman to win an Oscar despite the fact that she had to sit in the kitchen and not in the room when her name was called.

Or Maggie Hathaway, a name that many people probably do not know, was an actress, a model, a singer. And she refused to play a degrading role in a movie sitting on a bell of hay as a slave with a rag on her head.

And she was boycotted in Hollywood in the late 50s, only to go on to found the Beverly Hills Hollywood NAACP, only to create the image awards that we have celebrated on an annual basis, and also was an avid golfer who helped integrate LA County golf in the late 50s and early 60s. And we now have a golf course in my district named after Maggy Hathaway for her amazing contributions. But many people are unaware of her story.

But black artists have often struggled to have their work properly recognized. Some of their artistic contributions have been misappropriated by others, such as rock and roll. Please know Elvis did not invent rock and roll. He admired Little Richard and Chuck Berry, and he emulated their style and their singing. So let's give credit where credit is due. Blues again. Jazz.

And the sad thing about many of these jazz artists, they had to go to Europe and Asia for their music to be appreciated, only for it to be appropriated back here in America by artists that didn't look like them. California is the haven for arts and the home of countless visionary black artists and movements. Another prominent black artist are the Nicholas brothers.

Many people know Fred Asteer, but how many know Feigner and Harold Nicholas, considered probably the best tap dancers that ever walked this earth, played in scores of movies. The most talented duel probably to ever dance in film on stage. But many folks don't know their story. They lived here in LA for a number of years. The 35th Senate Districts I represent has been the forefront of a lot of those contributions.

In December of 1966, just one year after the Watts Civil unrest which happened in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles black community was left on the edge of social and economic ruin. Residents and activists came together to host the inaugural Watts Summer Festival. The festival shined a light on this community and gave a space for black artists, writers, musicians to gather, share, and create and heal.

Many art collectives and organizations arose in response, including the Watchtower Arts Center, the Compton Arts Academy, the Watch Writers Workshop, the Pan African Film Festival, the Pan African People's Orchestra, just to name a few.

I'm also proud that the entire music genre that has become known as West Coast hip hop started in the communities of Compton, Inglewood, South La, Long Beach, the Bay Area, Oakland, and San Francisco, just to name a few. And as many know, art has always been a pillar of my life.

So I'm excited that we're recognizing many of the contributions that many of these amazing artists created. The arts has been the foundation for black history and to so many other of our communities. So I want to thank my colleague from Los Angeles for introducing this resolution and bringing it forward, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Bradford. Senator Laird.

Thank you, Mr. President. And I rise to speak on behalf of the Lgbt caucus. But I believe that when we were talking about Martin Luther King and that day, we made what I think is a point that otherwise I would have made today is the role of Baird Rustin and how he was involved in the Montgomery boycott, but couldn't be out front, or couldn't be out front when he was one of the organizers of the march on Washington.

But I think that what I'd like to talk about today a little bit is that we had a resolution by the same author earlier today in the Judiciary Committee, and it had to do with redress, and we had a very animated discussion among the members. And it really reflects on black history, because many of us talked about our history and how it intertwines with black history.

And in support of the resolution, I mentioned that I had the experience of being in high school, and it was still not illegal to discriminate in certain public accommodations. So there were two Elks Lodges in my hometown, one that discriminated and one that didn't. So the Elks Lodge that discriminated was 100% white, and the Elks Lodge that didn't discriminate was about 98% black.

I won their speech contest year after year, and it was such a strange thing to me to understand why that could exist, why there wouldn't be one, why everybody couldn't be open to it. And the other thing that I mentioned is that when I was in elementary school, you could see from the playground a black neighborhood that was four or five houses away, and yet the boundary for the schools passed in that space. So all those kids in that neighborhood went to another school.

And I didn't finish telling the story, but there was one kid that came to my elementary school who was African American, and I befriended him. We went to summer camp together. I think I didn't appreciate fully the barrier he was breaking. And it wasn't the first barrier he broke because he is a member of the award winning band confunction. And he came out of Vallejo of which is a great source of pride to us there.

And it's just important to note that when we talk about black history, in many ways, it's our history. It's how we were part of it or not part of it at the right time. And I think if we are going to get to the redress that was asked for in the committee today, it is only going to be when we'll have the full recognition of the part that we have had in it.

And that's what I think is so important about the debate we're having for this resolution. And it's why I am very pleased to support it.

Thank you. Senator Laird. Like to now give the floor to Senator McGuire.

Thank you so much, Mr. President and members. Today I join our colleagues in support of SCR 107. I want to say thank you to our colleagues in the legislative black caucus in recognizing Black History Month, which is a time to honor contributions and resilience and triumphs of the black community throughout our nation. It's also a time to be able to celebrate. Celebrate the pivotal role in shaping our society, our culture and our success.

From the courageous activists of the civil rights movements to the trailblazing leaders who have shattered barriers in every field imaginable, the impact of black Californians is immeasurable. I want to say thank you, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas and to Senator Bradford for their hard work and their dedication.

And here's what we know today. We know with the work of the reparations task force, our efforts on equity is just beginning. We know that there's much more work ahead this year and the years to come.

We respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 107.

Thank you, Senator Mcguire. A late microphone up, Senator Grove.

Thank you, Mr. President. I apologize. I should have spoke before the Senate pro tem. I do want to support SDR 107, but I want to focus on a lot of the positive things, especially those things that are going on in my district.

When I look at Michael Bowers, a community organizer who actually has one of the highest positions as an officer, an advocate for one of the largest medical providers, and then also the leadership role that he plays in making sure that the community that is in our area, specifically the black community, has upward mobility and every chance possible for success.

His story is from Cottonwood and if you know anything about Cottonwood in Bakersfield, that used to be one of the very worst areas that you could possibly live. And his story is from Cottonwood to Congress, and it's an incredible story. And now he sits on the board of some major country clubs in our area.

And when he brings these at risk youth in there and his photo is on the board members of the BCC and other country clubs, it is really impactful for him to be able to do that. Trachea Matthews, appointed by the governor for the health equity officer to make sure that there's a really super good voice on health equity and making sure that solid voices are heard.

Jessica Grimes, the first lady of God's Covenant church, on Oswald and what she does and her incredible story is just absolutely amazing. And she has so many things. She's one of the ones under 40 to watch. She's a Kern Regional K-16 Educational Collaborative.

She works on STEM programs to make sure that our STEM and science and technology programs go to the neighborhoods so that everybody has the opportunity for success. Javon Dangerfield.

Somebody used to be associated with the NAACP, and now he started a new company where he can bring kids in to do social media and media activities and stuff and get them engaged in the things that they're really good at. Because my grandkids operate my social media better than I do. And so this younger generation just has a heart for that.

Mike Jenkins, a bishop in our community who puts together citywide prayer movements so that we can pray over areas across denominational lines and church lines that are having struggles, those that are in gang violence, those that are having higher rates of crime. And you can really see the power of prayer through Bishop Jenkins and how that's changing in our community.

Pastor Jordan, a chaplain with the bigger Shore police department and somebody who works very hard to make sure know every kid has a bicycle and everybody always has food. And seniors have this, and they're working very, very hard to make sure that equality is out there, but in such a loving and positive way, I have to tout Natisha Kendra Johnson from Upside Productions and Upside Academy. She invests in the next generation of youth, black youth specifically.

And she does such an outstanding job that people in our community just give her money to be able to distribute to other nonprofits and those that may not have access to it because they trust her, because of the relationships that she's built.

Her daughter, Katie, mark my words, this young lady will be serving in this legislative body within the next 10 years. She is one of the most incredible young women I've ever met. She's barely graduating high school. You guys will love her.

She's an out of the box thinker. She's getting awards after awards after awards, and she continues to climb the ladder. And her goal is to represent the people of the State of California. So I just want to tout the individuals in my community celebrating Black History Month that are actually making a difference in my community, and thank them very much for their service to the area that I represent.

Thank you, Senator Grove. All debate having ceased, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you may close.

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, colleagues, for those thoughtful and heartfelt comments about this resolution, both from our colleagues across the island and fellow democrats. And with that, I respectfully call for your aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

On a vote of 37 to 0, the resolutions adopted.

All right, now, Members, we're moving on now to governor's appointments. We have two items, items 1 and 2. Senator Grove, she's prepared.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number one is a confirmation of former Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian, I believe one of the founders of the Armenian caucus, and he used to serve with us in the California State Assembly. Prior to serving in the Legislature, he was a Chief of Staff in the Assembly and in the Los Angeles City Council. He was approved by the Rules Committee on February 21 on a 5-0 vote. I actually told him this morning there would be much opposition on this floor and that he should be prepared for that. But I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on the appointment? Any discussion or debate?Hearing none. Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

All right. Ayes, 37. Noes, zero. The appointment is confirmed, Members. Now we're moving back to privileges of the floor. And we have some very special guests who have joined us today. Many have served in this legislative body. I would like to welcome the LA Delegation led by none other than our former speaker and mayor. Now, mayor and former congresswoman Karen Bass, Council President Paul Krekorian, Council Member Hernandez, Council Member Rodriguez, Council Member Soto-Martinez, and former Assemblyman and Councilman Bob Blumenfield. Welcome to the California State Senate.

Now Members will take a brief pause for a group photo. Those who wishing to take a picture with LA Delegation, please go back now. We'll reconvene in 30 seconds. All right, Members, we're moving this. We're moving to file item number two on appointments. Senator Grove, are you prepared?

Yes, Mr. President. Thank you. Colleagues, this is a very important appointment, not that they all aren't. But Karen Shine is the General Council for the Employment Development Department. And we all had issues with EDD and some problems, especially and specifically during the time of COVID where we had some of our constituents that weren't allowed to get benefits or were denied benefits or were delayed in benefits. Although she doesn't have a jurisdictional type authority over that. She is a General Council. She's a very qualified attorney.

She came from different departments as an attorney in her previous life, and she will do very, very well to make sure that the EDD stays in line and complies with the legal portions of what they're required to do. Respectfully ask for an aye vote. She appeared before the Rules Committee on February 21 and was approved by 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this appointment? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, noes at zero. The appointment is confirmed. Now, Members, we're moving on to special consent calendar. Is there any Member wishing to remove an item from the special consent calendar? Hearing, seeing none. Secretary, please read. We have items 18 through 27.

[Item Readings]

Secretary, please call the roll on special consent calendar.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, noes zero. The appointment consent calendar is approved. Now, Members, time for Committee announcements. Are there any Committee announcements? Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.

Labor Committee will convene in room 1200, 15 minutes after adjournment.

Thank you. Labor in room 1200, 15 minutes after adjournment. Senator Wahab.

Thank you. Labor, public employment, and retirement, and budget and fiscal review. Subcommitee number five will meet 15 minutes after adjournment. Thank you.

Budget sub five will meet 15 minutes after adjournment in the same Committee. 1200, same room. All right, Members, now we're returning to motions and resolutions. Now's the time for adjourn in memories. Senator Blakespear.

Thank you. I rise today to honor the Encinitas poet laureate, Patricia Trish Duggar, who passed away in January at age 94. I'll begin with words from wellknown fellow author Steve Cowitt that capture her spirit and essence. Trish Duggar is a deliciously good poet, sassy and clever. I was deeply moved by several poems that were beneath the clever chattiness, heartbreaking and memorable, especially those memories of her husband and his absence.

Trish Duggar likely relished the swath of emotions, from sassy to heartbreaking, that described the vibrancy of her poetry and also recognized the profound loss that she felt when her husband and soulmate Grant Duggar passed away in 1998. She credited Grant for introducing her to the local poetry community, where she thrived and shared her personal passion for poetry. It came as naturally to her as breathing. Through poetry, she artfully expressed her every thought and feeling about absolutely everything in her life.

Trish left an indelible legacy when she passed away on January 22, 2024. Her infectious smile graced the covers of two retrospective volumes with over 700 of her poems that gave her special joy because they were a work of love by her granddaughter Mimi. Another book, entitled Scrambled, featured landmarks of Cardiff by the Sea, a community she called home for 73 years. By 1998, she co-founded the Full Moon Poets that hosted annual poetry slams. This led to her being named the first honorary Encinitas Poet laureate in 2005.

On December 13, 2023, the mayor bestowed the official title of Encinitas Poet Laureate on Trish Duggar at the age of 94. The moving ceremony cemented her stature as a cultural pioneer whose decades of contributions enriched the city where she found much of her inspiration. Trish transfixed all who witnessed her transformation into dramatic personas.

Whenever she gave voice to her written words, she knew every word to every poem by heart and never missed a chance to share them with her husband, four children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. While Trish was known for her fun loving attitude, her life hadn't always been easy. She was born in 1929 in Chicago and raised in foster homes in Oak Park, Illinois, with her sister Gail and brother Bill.

They knew that their mother loved them very much, but that she struggled with being abandoned by their father during the depths of the depression. Fortunately, her mother, Opal Sanders, remained a close part of her children's lives even when they moved to California in 1952, after two years of college, Trish married the true love of her life, Grant Duggar, a young marine in a sharp uniform who understood her because he, too, was raised in orphanages.

Like so many others, they moved to the San Diego area by way of Camp Pendleton, where Grant was stationed during the Korean War. They made their home down the coast in the picturesque hamlet of Cardiff by the Sea, where I also live within walking distance of that home. And they raised Claudia, David, Kevin, and Dean. They welcomed all who crossed the footbridge over the creek into their home in the lush little canyon just a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean.

She loved deeply, and we know this by her famous poem Spare Parts, which is brief, and if you don't mind, I will read it before I conclude: We barge out of the womb with two of them, eyes, ears, arms, hands, legs, feet. Only one heart. Not a good plan. God should know we need at least a dozen, a baker's dozen of hearts. They break like Easter eggs hidden in the grass, stepped on and smashed.

My own heart is patched, bandaged, taped, barely the same shape it once was when it beat fast for you. We are forever grateful to Trish Duggar, who will always humor us, comfort us, and inspire us through the lasting gift of the poetry of her life. I ask the Senate to adjourn in Trish Duggar's memories today. Thank you.

Thank you. Our deepest condolences. We ask that you bring the name forward so she could be properly memorialized by the California State Senate. Next up is Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, with great sadness that I rise today as co-chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus to ask that the Senate adjourn in memory of Yair Yaakov, also known as Yaya. He was 59 years old. He was murdered on October 7 in Israel by Hamas during its massacre, mass sexual violence, and kidnapping of a huge number of Israelis and others. Yair was a cousin to Ryan Pesach, who is a former consultant to the Legislative Jewish Caucus.

He was a staffer in Senator Marty Block's office when our Jewish caucus was founded about a decade ago. He is a current member of the capital community, and he's joining us here today in the gallery. On October 7, Yair and his girlfriend Merav Tal, were taken captive by Hamas from their safe room in Yair's home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Yair's two sons, Or, 17, and Yagil, 13, were also taken hostage from their mother's home in that same October 7 attack by Hamas.

Thankfully, Mirav, Or, and Yagil were eventually able to return to their family in late November during a brief ceasefire and return of a limited number of hostages. In December, Yagil's bar mitzvah was scheduled to take place, but Yagil decided to postpone his bar mitzvah until after Yair could be safely returned from Gaza. Each day, his family remained hopeful and prayed for his safe return.

On February 15, Yair's family learned that he had actually not been kidnapped and held hostage on October 7, but rather had been killed by Hamas, murdered on October 7, and his body was then taken to Gaza. He had previously been assumed to have been among the surviving hostages, and his body is still believed to be held in Gaza. Yair had a zest for life and was a loving father of three. He had a spirit about him that embodied joy.

He's often described as being a humble person who always had a smile on his face. Music was a big part of his life, and he would often be seen dancing and singing. Yair is survived by his mother, Shoshana his brothers Yoram and Yaniv, his sister, Yarden, his girlfriend, Mirav Tal, has noted his three children, Mirav, Or, and Yagil, and his family, including Ryan, who is here, as I noted today. Yair will be deeply missed. May his memory be a blessing, and please join me today in adjourning the Senate in his memory.

Thank you. Our deepest condolences. We ask that you bring his name forward so he can be properly memorialized. If there's no other business. Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Thank you, Members. The Senate will be in recess until 3:30 p.m. at which time an adjournment motion will be made. We'll reconvene on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.