Assembly Floor

The Assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry notices the absence of a quorum. The Sergeant at Arms will prepare the chambers and bring in the absent Members. The Clerk will call the roll.

[Roll Call] Mr. Speaker.

Please join me in a moment of reflection. After a few months of marriage, I remember asking or saying to my husband, you know you are a much better minister than you are a husband. Surprised, he asked me what I meant. I explained, when people come to talk with you at the temple, you listen attentively, consider their words, and you respond thoughtfully. At home, I feel that sometimes you're not even paying attention when we're talking. He thought a moment, nodded his head and said, you're right.

But you know, I've been a minister a lot longer than I've been a husband. So if you give me some time, I know I can get better at being a husband. Then he added with a grin, until I get better, if there is something you really need to talk to me about, just make an appointment at the office. Although I still roll my eyes at him, his husband's skills have improved over the last 40 years.

We both know that for a relationship to work, we must try to be the best versions of ourselves with each other, too. My early Valentine's encouragement this: let's always try to be the best versions of ourselves with everyone, but most especially with those whose lives give meaning to our own. Namu Amida Butsu. Let us live with kindness and gratitude beyond words.

We ask our guests and visitors to remain standing and join us in the flag salute. Assembly Member Solache will lead us in the pledge.

Colleagues, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...

You may be seated. To our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting the orderly conduct of official business. Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal remedies. Reading of the previous day's Journal.

Assembly Chamber, Sacramento, Thursday, January 16, 2025. The Assembly met at 7:00 am. The Honorable Tri Ta, Assembly Member 70th District presiding. Chief Clerk Sue Parker at the desk. Reading Clerk David A. Bowman reading. Roll call. The following are placed upon the morning roll call. 46. [Roll Call]

Mr. Garcia moves and Mr. Flora seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions, there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the governor, there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none. Moving to motions and resolutions. The absences for the day will be deemed read and printed in the Journal. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Ramos, Schultz, Wicks, and Zbur to speak on an adjournment in memory today.

Without objection, such shall be the order. We will now move to guest introductions. Assembly Member Haney, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and Members. I want to welcome an extraordinary chef and a true San Francisco community leader, Miguel Escobedo. Born in Mexico City and raised in the Bay Area, Miguel's journey started in the kitchen but has always been more than about just food.

He got his start in 1996 working at his uncle's restaurant, Celia's Mexican Restaurant, alongside his parents. In 1999, he co-founded Papalote Mexican Grill, which quickly became a beloved San Francisco institution. But his passion for tacos al pastor eventually took him back to Mexico in 20... Mexico City in 2018, and after his return to the US he created his food truck, Al Pastor Papi. Miguel doesn't just serve al pastor tacos. He serves hope, support, and solidarity.

When the pandemic hit, Al Pastor Papi turned into a lifeline for many people. Miguel and his team provided free meals for farm workers, seniors, and frontline workers. In 2020, when wildfires were devastating much of Northern California, Al Pastor Papi was there feeding emergency responders and donating to displaced families.

In 2021, San Francisco declared July 13 as Al Pastor Papi Day, honoring Miguel and his team's dedication to the city. Sadly, in January, Miguel made the difficult decision to close Al Pastor Papi for the foreseeable future. But that doesn't take away the tremendous mark he has made on our city.

His story is proof that a food truck is more than just a business. It can be a vehicle for change, a gathering place for culture, and a symbol of resilience. Thank you, Miguel, the Escobedo family, and the Al Pastor Papi team for all that you've done. Please help me in welcoming Miguel to the legislative floor.

Thank you, Assembly Member Haney. Assembly Member Bryan, you're recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues. Every year, the California Legislative Black Caucus hosts a small business brunch where we honor black businesses from up and down the state. We do it in collaboration with the California Black Chamber of Commerce. Seated up here is the Chamber of Commerce and all of our awardees this year.

If we could give them a round of applause. I'd also like to take a point of personal privilege and recognize Jonathan and Roni Cleveland from Post and Beam in my district and Malik Muhammad from Malik's Books. Please stand.

Thank you, Assembly Member Bryan. There is no business on the daily file. We will now move to adjournments in memory. Members, the quorum call is still in place. Please give your respect and attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on their adjournment in memory. Assembly Member Zbur, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Madam Speaker and Members, today I rise to honor the memory of my mother, Erlinda Chavez Zbur, who passed peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of November 20, 2024, just two months shy of her 101st birthday, which is tomorrow.

She was born on February 11, 1924 on her family's farm in the Rio Grande Valley south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was the daughter of Francisco and Josefina Chavez and was one of eight siblings, Modesto, Erasmo, Laversa, Emilia, Luis, Arturo, and Francisco Jr.

It's hard to grasp the changes she saw in the world in the over hundred years that she lived. She was part of the greatest generation, living through the Great Depression, World War II, the HIV and Covid pandemics, and the emergence of social media.

When she was a little girl, her family's adobe home had neither electricity nor indoor plumbing. They drew light from kerosene lamps and obtained water for drinking, cooking, and bathing from an outdoor hand pump. She and her siblings worked hard on the family farm, and the family grew the food that sustained them.

She learned English in school, as my grandparents spoke only Spanish. She was very proud that she got her first job when she was 10 years old, working in the community post office and general store. And she would explain that she got that job because she could read and speak English well, and because the store owners knew that the Chavez kids were hard working and honest. She was strong and fiercely independent. When she was in her teens, she left home to become a Christian missionary in a conservative denomination.

But she became disillusioned after a few years, and to my grandparents dismay, she left the mission, moved to an apartment in the big city of Albuquerque, and began working to support herself. In the early 1950s, it was extremely unusual for a young unmarried woman to leave her parents home to pursue a career, and her independence garnered significant social disapproval. A few years ago, my mom confided in me that the reason she had moved to Albuquerque was because she wanted to complete her high school education and go on to college.

So after time, she got a job as a waitress at the University of New Mexico coffee shop because she thought that working there would ultimately open up a pathway to college. It was there that she met my dad, who was studying for his bachelor's degree.

They were married in June 1956, and around 1965, my mom convinced my dad to move the family back to New Mexico, to the farm community that she grew up in, so that we, as a family could care for my aging grandparents.

It was there, in that rural farming community in New Mexico's Rio Grande Valley, that she and my dad raised their family. My sisters, Joanne and Jacqueline, my brother John, and me. My mom was a wonderful, loving mother who made every one of her children know that we were loved.

She was proud of our Latino heritage and made sure that the Chavez family traditions lived on in her children. She was deeply in love with my dad, so much so that she never dated or married after my dad's passing over three decades ago. She was loving but had clear expectations about how we treated other people.

She always put her children first and, like my dad, instilled in each of us the values of hard work, resilience, kindness, and doing what is right. We were taught to respect people and put the needs of others ahead of our own. Importantly, she taught us to question ourselves and to try to resolve and avoid disputes with others.

I remember her telling me more than once when I was a little boy. There is good in everyone. Sometimes you just need to try hard to find it. And when you disagree with someone, if you come halfway, generally the other person will meet you in the middle. I find the house so empty now without you, mom. She lived with me, and I had the honor of having that during the last four years of her life. I find solace in the fact that you, mom, are reunited with dad and your daughter and my sister Jacqueline.

I know the three of you are up there having fun, making good trouble, and looking out for our family as you always did when you were here. My mother is survived by my brother John, my sister Joanne, myself, and her grandchildren, Cherine, Rose and Raphael. I respectfully request that we adjourn in her memory. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Assembly Member Zbur. Assembly Member Ramos, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise to request that we adjourn in the memory of Chairwoman Priscilla Hunter, who passed at the age of 77 on November 16th. She was the Chairwoman of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians. Ms. Hunter was a well known tribal leader and environmental activist.

As a tribal chair for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, she assisted in developing tribal housing and community such as gymnasiums, pool, and education center to bring resources to her tribe. She was committed to preserving the Pomo cultural heritage for future generations.

Ms. Hunter played an integral role in supporting the California Indian Gaming Association, the California Indian Recognition Task Force, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. She paved the way for many of the gaming compacts that are in front of this body throughout this time and was involved before compacts were signed into law here in the State of California with marching in civil rights for Native Americans.

Marching across that bridge with the likes of Jesse Jackson and other tribal leaders to bring forth bring forth the voices of California's first people. Paving the way again for compacts, the first compacts in the state to be signed by the governor.

She was a strong, active voice in protecting the environment and worked to protect heritage landscapes with the Mendocino County Tribes of Pomo people. Chairwoman helped initiate and lead the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council to preserve nearly 5,000 acres of forest on the Northwest Coast.

Ms. Hunter was a caring and compassionate leader whose good deeds earned her the respect and admiration of countless individuals and the respect of Indian country here in the State of California. We extend our condolences to her family, her people, an extensive network of friends. California Indian country will miss her physical presence.

But be assured her spirit and guidance will continue, continue to guide California Indian people into the next generations. To that, we owe her a great gratitude from the people, California's first people, here in the State of California.

Here today, enjoying and honoring the legacy of Chairwoman Hunter, is her partner, Polly Girvin, their children, Michael and Melinda, and grandchildren Justine and Tristan, along with members of the Pomo nation and families throughout her area. Let's give them a round of applause.

Assembly Member Rogers, you are recognized.

I, too, rise today to adjourn in memory for Chairwoman Hunter. And I want to thank my colleague for bringing this to the floor. Whenever I hear adjourn in memories from my colleagues, I try to take from it not just the impact that that person had in our individual districts, but how much they meant to the State of California.

As my colleague mentioned, the struggles for the Chairwoman wasn't just for her own people. Her people were evicted from their land to make room for Lake Mendocino in the 1950s. And for 20 years, she fought to make sure that they regained their federal recognition status and were able to reestablish their reservation.

And that would have been enough to honor anybody on this floor. But Chairwoman Hunter took that as a calling and made sure that she fought for folks across this state and across lines, because, after all, there were none when many tribes were first established, to make sure that they received similar recognition. You heard the work that she did. She served under four different governors to make sure that folks gained recognition from the federal government, many in districts across California.

And if we're to take one thing from her leadership, it's that take those struggles that we each have felt, fight for your people, and then make sure that that never happens again and that you help others who are struggling as well. We adjourn in her memory today. I know her family and tribe is here. Thank you so much for lending her to the people of California, to other tribes. And let's live on with her spirit and make sure that we, too, continue the fight. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Members Ramos and Rogers. Members, let us observe a moment of silence to honor the life of Priscilla Hunter. Thank you. Assembly Member Wicks, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Good afternoon, Members. I rise to adjourn in the memory of Jim McMillan, a prominent member of the Richmond community since 1960. Jim was an example of incredible community leadership and vision, and he led the way in the battle for racial justice in Richmond. Mostly known as Jim,James Berney McMillan Jr. was born in 1927 in Mineral Wells, Texas.

He grew up as the middle child along with his brother Lars and sister Lottie. He spoke highly of his parents, calling his mother Theodore a champ and praising his father, Jim McMillan Sr., as an example of diligence and morality in his position as a deacon in the Baptist church.

Jim began his collegiate studies at Langston University, a historically black college in Oklahoma, but he was soon drafted to the US Army. After his service, he was honorably discharged and returned to the US to study pharmacology at Oregon State University. A few years after graduating in 1960, Jim made his way to Richmond and opened McMillan's Pharmacy.

The establishment became an important community institution, as residents relied on the pharmacy not just to receive care they needed, but also a place to connect with fellow Richmond residents. Then in 1983, Jim ran for Richmond City Council and won.

During his 12 years on the council and his time as an active Richmond resident, he emphasized residential and commercial growth in the city, created neighborhood councils to boost residents community involvement, and above all, exposed and combated racism within the Richmond Police Department.

Jim also co founded Richmond's Black Americans for Political Action Committee, an organization that continues to be pivotal in working towards African American representation in Contra Costa County's political and economic arenas. He was a Golden Heritage Member of the NAACP and he received a lifetime achievement award for his remarkable service and commitment to his community.

Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez expressed that Jim was, quote, a pillar of our community whose contributions as a local pharmacist and dedicated public servant have left an indelible mark on Richmond. Jim supported me when I ran in 2018 in a 12 way contested primary, which was no easy feat. And I know those of us who've gotten here, it was not easy for any of us.

And you remember the people who were with you in those battles. And I know I would not be standing here today if it weren't for Jim and his support of me in this office. Close friends describe his kindness and applaud him as a very protective family figure in the community. Jim passed away on November 28 at the age of 97 years old. But his legacy lives on through his incredible contributions to the Richmond community. I ask that the Assembly adjourn in his memory today.

Thank you, Assembly Member Wicks. Assembly Member Schultz, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and Members. Today I rise to ask that this Assembly adjourn in memory for Ron Davis. Ron Davis served the City of Burbank as not only its general manager of water and power but as a city manager, over 20 years of incredible, incredible opportunity and challenge.

Ron was someone that I only had a chance to meet once, but he was the person who very much set out to make a difference in this world. His mission in life was to do good for others and to try to improve his community to the best that he could.

Ron was born in the State of Washington and started working at 13 years old to provide for himself and for his family. And that work ethic and drive eventually led him to the United States Navy, where he served this country for six years aboard one of our nuclear submarines to help defend our shores and our people.

He then took that technical expertise from the United States Navy and joined Puget Sound Energy in the State of Washington. And this is one of the parts I love about Ron. It's one of my favorite stories. He was not someone who aspired to public service necessarily, but wanted to do good in his community.

In the summer of 1999, he was visiting Southern California and had a chance to speak with a recruiter about a job opportunity at Burbank Water and Power as its general manager. Ron did not particularly want that opportunity, but what was interesting about that story is that at the time, the city was on the verge of giving up on its own water and power department. And in that process, Ron made it all the way to the final interview.

And he had a conversation with the city manager at the time, who told him, the utility simply cannot be saved, so it's okay if you don't take the job. Well, Ron took that as a challenge, as he did in everything he's done in his life, and he not only saved the utility, but turned Burbank Water and Power into one of the most reliable and affordable power providers in all of Southern California, a flagship for the region. And even after that, as Ron eyed retirement in 2016, he was called to service again.

City manager had left, and the City of Burbank was in a perilous financial situation, and Ron simply couldn't abandon his ship, so to speak. So he took the job as city manager and helped righted the ship three and a half years later. Ron served his community for over 20 years and to his family, his wife, Cheryl, his two sons, Eric and Adam, and the three grandchildren that he left behind on January 9th, I'll simply say that Ron set out in his life to make a difference and to make the world a better place.

And in the City of Burbank and in Southern California, we can confidently say that he very much did that. Our condolences are with all of the family watching today live. And with that, Madam Speaker, I respectfully request that we adjourn in Ron's memory. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Schultz. Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the Journal. All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the Journal. Moving to announcements. Members, Budget Committee meets today upon adjournment in the swing space, room 1100. The session schedule is as follows.

Tuesday, February 11th, check in session. Wednesday, February 12th, check in session. Thursday, February 13th, check in session. Friday, February 14th, floor session at 9am. Seeing and hearing no further business, I am ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Mr. Garcia moves and Ms. Aguiar-Curry seconds that this house stands adjourned until Friday, February 14th at 9am. The quorum call is lifted and we are adjourned.