Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll. [Roll Call] Members, a quorum is present. Would 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 of allegiance to the flag.

And we gather in God's presence. We pray today in the words of ee Cummings. I thank you, God, for most this amazing day. For the leaping greenly spirits of trees. And a blue true dream of sky. And for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is. Yes. I who have died. Am alive again today. And this is the sun's birthday. This is the birthday of life. And of love and wings. And of the gay great happening illimitably earth. How should tasting, touching, hearing, seeing, breathing. Any human merely being, doubt unimaginable you? Now the ears of my ears awake. And now the eyes of my eyes are opened. Amen.

Members, join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Members, welcome back from our spring recess. We're quickly moving through the agenda. We're first up it's privileges of the floor. I would like to take this opportunity to wish a happy belated birthday to Senator Laird. Who celebrated her birthday last Friday. Happy birthday. And also on behalf of Senator Archuleta. Please welcome Doctor Ziola D. Escobar. Healthcare leader, philanthropist, President and Chief Administrative Officer of Altamed. Doctor Escobar is a Senator selection of women of the year.

Please give her a warm Senate welcome. Now Members, moving on. The messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted. Now moving on to motions and resolutions. Without objection. The Senate journals for March 18, 2024 through March 21,2024 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk. Now we're moving on to consideration of the Daily file. Under Governor appointments. We have two Senator Laird's prepared. Senator Laird, when you're ready.

Thank you very much, Mister President. File item number one is the confirmation of the following four appointments to the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Kawser Amine, Erica Courtney, Rita Gallardo. Good and Crystal Young. They all bring unique backgrounds to the Commission. Miss Amine is an international human rights advocate. Miss Courtney is in the US Army Reserve and a Member of the Joint Chiefs of of Staff for the US Department of Defense Staff.

Miss Ghiardo is the Director of civic affairs at California State University, Sacramento. And Miss Young is a communications professional serving in the office of the first partner. All four Members were approved by the Rules Committee on March 6. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this appointment? Any discussion or debate hearing, seeing none, secretary, please call the roll. [Roll Call] Ayes. 32. No, zero. The appointment is confirmed. Now, moving on to file item two. Senator Laird.

Thank you, Mister President. Final item number two is the confirmation of Jeffrey Williams as a Member of the state park and recreation Commission. Since 2017, he's been Vice President of production for the Black Entertainment Television Media group. He is also the founder and co President of the Black Surfers Collective. He was approved by the Rules Committee on March 6. I respectfully asked for an I vote.

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

Ayes 31, no, six. The appointment is confirmed. Now, Members, we're moving to Senate. Third reading, we have two items. First up is file item 17. Member, are you prepared? Wahab? Senator Wahab, you're prepared. Secretary, please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 125 by Senator Wahab relative to Ramadan.

Senator, floor is yours.

Thank you. President and colleagues, I rise to present SCR 125 Ramadan. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal worldwide. It is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a time to reflect spiritually, build communally, aid those in need, and a chance to celebrate and express gratitude. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began at dusk on Sunday, March 10, and continues for one lunar month with Muslims fasting from sunrise to sunset each day. Fasting is meant to be a shared community experience.

No one is required to fast, and we especially ensure young children, the elderly, disabled, community Members, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and travelers are supported in their decision not to fast. The hunger encourages us to consider our values and necessities and how our lives do or do not align with what is important to us. Breaking the fast with friends and family in the early hours of the morning and late in the evening reminds us of what we should treasure and enjoy in life.

But fasting has been a mental and emotional challenge for many Muslims this year. Across the world, famine, war, death have taken over. Innocent men, women and children have died. Survivor's guilt is real. What does it mean to choose to deny oneself food as we witness the starvation of millions of people of multiple faiths across the world, some with no access to basic clean water or somewhere to use the restroom? While Muslims around the world are resilient, there is less joy.

This year in my own district, I hear the pain and sorrow of those who have lost dozens of family Members in Gaza. Some have even stated their entire family has been wiped out. I am proud that all the diversity caucuses, including the Women's Caucus and Jewish Caucus, signed onto a letter I wrote in October to President Biden and Secretary Blinken to prioritize human life and humanitarian aid. The least we can ask for, we all have power to do more.

Safety is the foundation of every community and the path to peace. The work of the Legislature is to better the lives of the community, and as a Member of the world, we should all do more to promote peace, love and acceptance. Many in the community have directed their emotional turmoil into one of the core tenets of Ramadan, and Zakat specifically is giving to charity as another pillar of Islam. The United nations refugee agency reported raising $46 million in relation to Ramadan in 2023.

We expect Zakat to be even greater. Across the agencies and organizations supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We are seeing refugees and asylum seekers grow every single day. So I appreciate the Governor, Governor Newsom adding his voice to the call for a ceasefire because it is what is needed the most right now. As Ramadan continues to close in the week, next week, or this week, I should say I hope we find an opportunity to collaborate across faiths to build a lasting peace.

At the end of the day, the beauty of the United States, and especially in California, is that we can celebrate the diversity of each other. The fact that Caesar Chavez Day, St. Patrick's Day, now Roz, Easter and Ramadan were all celebrated in one month shows the diversity of this great nation and the ability to honor our differences in love and gratitude. I hope we find an opportunity to renew our faith in humanity. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate hearing in scene nine, secretary, please call the roll. [Roll Call] Ayes 37, no. Zero. The resolution is approved. Now, Members, we're moving on to file item 19. Senator Portantino, he's prepared. Secretary, you may read

Senate Resolution 76 by Senator Portantino relative to International Dark Sky Week.

Thank you, Mister President and Members. I rise to present SCR 76, commemorating April 2 through the 8th as International Dark Sky Week in the State of California. Dark night skies are essential to the rhythms of life. Light pollution is detrimental and can negatively impact human health, contributing to energy waste and disrupt natural darkness. About 80% of the world's population exists under a bubble of light pollution. Therefore, they may cease to experience the ecological and health benefits of a dark sky.

California hosts two international dark sky communities, Borrego Springs and Julian, and three international dark sky Parks, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Anzo Borrego Desert park, which attract stable streams of international tourists. California is home to a multitude of nocturnal wildlife, including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, bats, owls, moths, crickets, and many more. Light pollution threatens a predator's ability to hunt, a prey's ability to hide interrupts migration patterns, prevents humans from getting proper sleep and many more detrimental activities amongst young citizens.

Our future leaders, it is critical that we preserve the feelings of wonder and awe in order to promote their growth, interests and science and interest in nature. I'd like to thank Dark Sky LA County for bringing this issue to my attention and for advocating for more dark sky places. And respectfully ask for an aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Ayes. 31 no, zero. The motion passes. I mean, the resolution passes. Now, Members, now is the time to return to motions and resolutions. Now is the time for adjourning memories. We're going to ask you to take your seats or take the conversation off the floor. First up is Senator Allen.

Well, thank you, Members. It's with a heavy heart that I rise today to ask that we adjourn in the memory of Alina Lehman Oleg, who's a true pillar of the west side Polish American community. She was a mother, a Polish immigrant, and a small business owner who poured her love for her culture and community into her restaurant, Warsawa. Alina was born in Krakow, beautiful City of Krakow in Poland, southern Poland, in 1941. She spent her formative years with her homeland embroiled in war, conflict and communism.

Regardless of where she found herself throughout her life, those early years forged within her an immutable love for Polish culture, tradition, and perhaps most important, cuisine. In 1968, when Alina was in her mid twenties, she made the decision to emigrate from her home and re establish herself in Berkeley. And having arrived in the United States, she found herself in a completely unfamiliar culture.

As a newly single mother of her two young children with only limited ability to speak the language, she connected with her new community through the language that she knew best, Polish cooking. Alina later explained, whenever I cooked something, people would say, you gotta open a restaurant. And so I did. In 1972, just a few years after arriving here in California, she took the advice of her new countrymen and opened her authentic Polish restaurant, Warshawa.

And then a few years later, she remarried and the couple relocated to my hometown of Santa Monica, reestablishing the restaurant on Lincoln Boulevard where it stood faithfully since 1979. Her profound community legacy was born that year, in twin halves alongside running her new restaurant, Alina was raising her newborn daughter, my childhood friend Natasha. For over 40 years, Alina welcomed the San Maka community to the old world oasis of Warshawa to experience authentic Polish culture and cooking.

Despite being a self trained chef, her phenomenal cooking literally made headlines, with her borscht recipe being published in the LA Times. They describe the quote homey little restaurant that has been serving amazingly sophisticated Polish food in Santa Monica for decades, adding that though it may be most famous for its roast duck and pierogi, the borscht is simply unbelievable.

Her joyful outlook even captured the silver lining of her homeland's cultural turmoil, pointing out in an interview, Poland was in a part of Europe that was always invaded by someone. The result is a lot of fusion in Polish dishes. The pierogi is like Ravioli's from our Italian queen that married the Polish king. Beyond being a source of world class Polish food, the restaurant served as a community hub and a gathering place throughout the early days of Santa Monica's progressive era.

And having begun her time in California cooking for her friends and neighbors, she saw her restaurant the same way. It was a welcoming space. Whether customers were her friends and when they walked in, they would then, whether or not they were friends, they would always leave as part of the extended family of the restaurant. She was steadfast in making the restaurant a force for good, both personally and societally. She held countless fundraisers, community groups over the years to support important causes and spark conversations.

After decades of running the cultural institution, her legacy came full circle when she passed the reins to her daughter Natasha in 2015, and in a poetic parallel to her mother's journey, Natasha had just moved back from Berkeley herself to her hometown, leaving behind her career in Silicon Valley, embarking on the new challenge of running a restaurant.

Unlike her mother, however, Natasha had Alina's decades of commitment to her craft and her community to serve as a guide, and she marked a new chapter for the restaurant by renaming it Solidarity, a name borrowed from Poland's first independent labor union that gave rise to a countrywide movement that ultimately gained true Independence from the Soviet the Soviets.

In Poland, the name is homage to Alina's Polish roots, her devotion to her husband and her family, and her unflinching support for all those bold enough to fight for progress in their community. And as she carries Solidarity into the modern era with changes like digital systems and modern dishes and a speakeasy, Natasha has preserved her mother's life work for the next generation to enjoy.

And I'll just say it's got a special place in my heart, is where we had our victory parties when I first was running for this seat, both in the primary and the General. So I always feel as though the place has a certain amount of magic for me. And I've had a birthday party there. It's a wonderful place and I'd love to take you guys there if you come out to Santa Monica at some point.

In addition to its ongoing stewardship of polish tradition, Alina's restaurant continues to offer a home to all those who care enough about our community to believe in its betterment. Despite barely speaking English when she arrived, she was committed to learning and developing personally. So much so that in her later years, she not only mastered three languages, but she never met a New York Times crossword puzzle she couldn't solve even Sundays.

So her memory lives on in all those who loved her, but also in the values and the ideas in this wonderful place that she gave to all of us on the west side. She's survived by her husband Paul, her three daughters, her four grandchildren, along with the extended Warshawa family. She's a brilliant, loving californian. Her Polish spirit will continue to warm hearts and welcome hearts from the corner of Lincoln and Santa Monica Boulevard. And I ask that you adjourn in Alina's memory today.

Thank you. We extend our deepest Senate condolences and we ask that you bring the name forward so she can be properly memorialized. Next up is Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, it's with great sadness that I rise to ask that the Senate adjourn in memory of an entire family, an entire San Francisco family that was killed when a car crashed into them. A family that was wiped out in one fell swoop that was taken far too soon in just a disaster that has shaken the entire San Francisco community.

On March 16, a Saturday, Diego Cardoso De Oliveira, Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto, who were the loving parents of one year old Joaquin and his three month old brother. The four of them were waiting at a bus stop in San Francisco and a car crashed into them and all four died. Their family describes them as warm and loving parents who had a deep love for their beautiful children and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with their two little boys.

They were also what one would call real life enhancers. The kind of people that everyone loved to be around. Happy, funny, kind, and always eager to make the best of what life had to offer them. Diego and Matilda lived in San Francisco's Mission district. Diego was a Brazilian citizen who worked as a creative Director at Apple. Matilda worked as a producer with RSA films. On the day of the crash, Diego and Matilda were celebrating their wedding anniversary.

And as the amazing parents that they were, they celebrated their wedding anniversary by or the plan was to take their two children to the zoo, the San Francisco zoo. Having recently sold their car, they were taking the bus to the zoo, waiting for the bus, and they were waiting at a bus stop in west portal and the car crashed into them. Three died that day. One of the children died several days later after a fight for his life at the hospital at San Francisco General.

I cannot overstate the level of grief in our community. For this to happen, for this entire family to be waiting at the bus stop one moment and gone the next, it's just devastating. Colleagues, we all know in our own communities that far too many Californians are dying every day because of traffic violence on our roads. We've seen a rise in traffic deaths in recent years. More than 4000 Californians die on our roads every year. That's 11 every single day. These are completely preventable deaths.

It's not inevitable. It's a policy choice that California is tolerating this level of death on our roads. It doesn't have to be this way. And a testament to the character of this family. The baby Kaweah, who survived for several days before dying. It was announced that the family's relatives had donated his organs to save the lives of other children. I want to thank the family for taking this tragedy and hopefully other children will survive as a result of this disaster. Please join me in adjourning today in memory of Diego, Matilda, Joaquin, and Kaweah. May you rest in peace.

Thank you. On behalf of California State Senate, we extend our most sincere condolences to the loss and ask that you bring the name forward so the entire family can be properly memorialized. Next up is Senator Dahle.

Thank you, Mister President. Members, it's with a heavy heart that I rise today to adjourn in the memory of one of our own Assemblymember Brian Nestande. Just to start out with, I'd like to say that when I came to the Assembly, I was the fourth Brian in our caucus, and we had our own caucus, the Brian caucus. Senator Jones, myself, Brian Nestande, and Senator Brian Maienschein. Brian Nestande, dedicated public servant and former Assembly Member who passed away at the age of 60.

Brian's contribution to his community and his commitment to public service will be remembered and cherished. Brian came from a political family, following in the footsteps of his father, Bruce Kenneth Nestande, who served as a California State Assembly Member. Brian's own political career began as a Chief of Staff for Sonny and Mary Bono during their terms in Congress. He later served in the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2014, representing the Chochella Valley. Brian's leadership and dedication to his constituents was evident throughout his career.

He was known for his ability to understand the nuances of the legislative work and his legislative process. His pragmatic approach and willingness to work across party lines made him a respected figure in the political arena. Beyond his political achievements, Brian and Sandy was a devoted family man. He leaves behind his wife Gina, his children and stepchildren, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time. Brian's passing is a loss not only for his family, but also for the community he served.

His impact will be remembered by those who had the privilege of working with him and witnessing his dedication to public service. As we adjourn in the memory of Brian and standing, let us honor his legacy by continuing to work towards the betterment of our communities and the pursuit of good governance. May his memory inspire us to strive for bipartisanship, understanding, and effective leadership. Members, there will be a reception in room 317 following the adjournment of the Senate. I just ask that we adjourn in the memory of our. Our own colleague, one of the Brains caucus's Members. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you. Senator Bradford, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. And I, too, want to rise and add my voice. First of thanks to Brian Nestande. Brian embodied what it meant to be a statesman. He embodied what it meant to be a true public servant. And as my colleague from Beaver stated, he worked across party lines on all issues. And even when he was voting against your Bill, he did it with that Kool aid smile all the time. And I am honored to call him a friend, call him a colleague.

And I was just blown away when I heard about his passing, because Brian and I, along with our colleague from Oakland, we had just celebrated our class reunion just in November in Palm Springs. And even though it was hosted and coordinated by our former speaker, John Perez, Brian pretty much coordinated everything that happened down in the valley that day, from the tram ride to the top of Mount San Jacinto to the, the dinner, to just amazing time we had in town that night.

And as usual, he had to smile. He gave me a hug, and he said, Bradford, when are you going to call me about golf? Because he knew my passion for golf. And he always said, we always have a golf course available. And it was with Brian that I first played Bighorn down in the desert because of his arrangement of that tee time.

And just fast forward, three weeks later, we were in Las Vegas at an energy conference, and I was on a panel, and I looked back in the back of the room, and there was Brian in the back of the room with a big smile on his face. And that's what I will always remember.

An individual who always looked for compromise, always wanted to, you know, find a way to make a way, and someone who always, I don't care what the conversation was about, always centered around his family. And Brian never missed the opportunity to talk about his wife and talk about his kids. And that's our last conversation that we had in Las Vegas. And I'm going to truly miss him. And, I mean, he was a special guy. And for those of us who served with him, we know what he meant, but he will never, ever be forgotten. He'll always be in our heart. And I ask that we adjourn in memory of Brian Nestande.

Senator Niello, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in honor of Brian also. I was certainly saddened but absolutely shocked by his death. I hadn't seen him for a few years. He and I served together in the Assembly my last two years, and he was just too damn young to pass away. He has been described well already in the previous remarks, and I can't add too much to that, except I would say that picture of him does capture his smile and his friendliness.

He was a rock solid, a conservative, but a guy that everybody liked and got along with, and a true servant, a true collaborator. And as I look back on the many phases of my life, the different experiences I've had, I walk away from each one, valuing the relationships that I make, relationships I would not have otherwise had. And Brian Nestande was one of those. And I am just so saddened that that relationship is no longer with us.

Senator Skinner, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I also served with Assemblymember Nestande. We got elected the same year, so we started and spent six years in the Assembly together. He was too young. I echo those comments. You should not be taken at that age. And unexpectedly, as he was, Brian, as a Assembly Member, we served in the time when they required a two thirds vote to pass a budget. And you think budgets are hard now?

You don't know anything that's hard until you have the situation where it requires a two thirds vote and the negotiations that go on for months, actually. But Brian was willing to roll up his sleeves and negotiate. He was not just a say no. And we reached agreement on budgets very commonly because of Brian. Not only, but a lot. Significantly, he was a team player. He understood that the Legislature is a team sport. Even if we're different parties, it is still any of us.

To succeed requires the support of our colleagues. We must have votes from our colleagues. We must negotiate. We must get our things out of committees with our colleagues. He understood that, and he was a real team player. He will be so missed, and I feel bereft that he was taken from us this early.

Senator Roth, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I, of course, knew Brian when he was up here. We served together. He was in the Assembly. I was in the Senate. He represented a portion of Riverside County, eastern Riverside County. But I knew Brian before that. Actually, I knew him when he worked for Sonny Bono and Mary Bono, when they were congressional representatives from our part of the world. His brother Barry.

I also knew his brother was Chief of Staff to former Assemblymember, former State Senator, former Riverside County supervisor John Benoit. And when his brother Barry died suddenly, unexpectedly at a very young age, Brian and his wife Gina took over as the leaders of that family. The last time I saw Brian, frankly, he was, of course, not in the Assembly. He was working in Riverside County.

He was actually passing out turkeys at a turkey giveaway on Thanksgiving, this last Thanksgiving, passing out turkeys to those who needed help. And we had an opportunity to talk and get together again. He was very concerned about my extracurricular activity this year, very interested in how that was turning out. And we had a very, very good conversation. But I'm just. I was taken at the time, and I recall it now. Brian Nestande, helping those who need help the most. He was kind. He was helpful.

He was honest. He was straightforward. He was all of those things and much, much more. We're better off for the fact that he was with us, and we will miss him a lot. Thank you, Madam President.

Our deep and sincere condolences to the family up in the gallery. Senator Dahle, if you could please bring the Assembly Member's name forward so that we may properly memorialize him. Now moving on to our Committee announcements. Senator Alvarado-Gil, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. The Committee for Human Services will be meeting upon adjournment at 03:00 in room 2200. Thank you, Senator. If there's no other business. Senator McGuire, the desk. Senator Dahle, for what purpose do you rise?

I just wanted to add that Brian's Chief of Staff and Members were in the gallery, and I just wanted to recognize them as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Nguyen, for what purpose you arise?

Can I still move an item to inactive file?

We're moving back to motions and resolutions. Senator Nguyen you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Please move item SCR 100 from the inactive file.

The desk were note. Senator. Purpose you will rise. Senator Glazer?

Condition of the file.

Members, we're going to take a quick five minute break. Less than five minutes. 5 seconds. Colleagues, a couple more minutes here. We're going to be moving to privileges of the floor and recognizing Senator Glazier.

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to say that many Members are very excited to hear the news that our next session that's scheduled for Thursday, that we're going to have it out on the Capitol lawn, closer to the people under the beauty that we have here in our Capitol park. And so I just wanted to say how appreciative I am for the leadership and their willingness to bring us out of our chamber to be closer to the people this coming Thursday. So with that, thank you.

Seeing as there is officially no further business, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President. Yes, for those individuals, that last name starts with G, ends with R. There will be session out on the lawn. So. But Members, we want to say, welcome you back to the remainder of the year. Know that everyone had a productive time in their districts, working in their communities. We have hit our busy season officially.

We have committees going, budget is moving, and want to say thank you so much for your hard work, and good to see everyone back. Our next floor session is going to be this Thursday, with the exception of G and R here in the chambers. Thursday, April 4 at 09:00 a.m. Thank you, Madam President. It's our version of March Madness. The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 p.m. At which time the adjourn motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday at 09:00 a.m.