THE ASSEMBLY IS NOW IN SESSION.
DIXON NOTICES THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM. THE SERGEANT IN ARMS
WILL PREPARE THE CHAMBER AND
BRINGING THE ABSENT MEMBERS. THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. ADDIS
AGUIAR-CURRY. COLONIES. ALVAREZ
ARAMBULA. BAINES BAUER-KAHAN.
BENNETT. BERMAN. BOERNER HORVATH
BONTA. BRIAN CALDERON. JUAN
CARILLO. WENDY CARILLO,
CERVANTES CHIN CONNELLY. DALLI.
DAVIES DIXON IS SILLY. LARA.
MIKE FONG, VINCE FONG. FRIEDMAN.
GABRIEL. GALLAGHER GARCIA.
GIBSON. GRAYSON. HANEY. HEART.
HOLDEN. HOOVER. IRWIN. JACKSON
JOAN SAWYER, KARA. LACKEY. LEE.
LOW. LOWENTHAL MAIENSCHEIN
MATHIS MCCARTY MAKIN ER
MURATSUCHI WHEN ORTEGA. PACHECO.
HAPPENED. JIM PATTERSON, JOE
PATTERSON. PELLERIN
PETRIE-NORRIS IS QUIRK SILVA.
RAMOS REYES THREE OF US, ROBERT
REVIS, RODRIGUEZ RUBIO SANCHEZ,
SANTIAGO SHIAVO SORIA. TO AH,
TING. VALENCIA, VÆ VALLAPUDUA.
WALDRON. WALLACE WARD. WEBER.
WICKS. WILSON. I WOULD ZABAR. MR
SPEAKER.
MEMBERS. A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE
WILL ASK OUR GUESTS AND OUR
VISITORS IN THE REAR OF THE
CHAMBER AND IN THE GALLERY TO
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRAYER.
TODAY'S PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED
BY OUR ASSEMBLY CHAPLAIN IMAM
YASIR KHAN AND MOMMY SER. AND
THE NAME OF GOD. THE MOST
GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL.
ALMIGHTY GOD. WE PRAY TO YOU
TODAY. BY STANDING HERE ON THIS
ASSEMBLY FLOOR. BOWING OUR HEADS
AND TURNING OUR HEARTS TOWARDS
YOU. SEEKING YOUR BLESSINGS THAT
YOU BLESS US IN OUR ENDEAVORS.
TO SERVE YOU THROUGH,
REPRESENTING ALL THOSE THAT ARE
FACING INJUSTICE. BY STANDING UP
AND BEING VOCAL. ALLOW US TO
REMAIN GROUNDED. AND THE VALUES
THAT ARE MOST PLEASING TO YOU.
USE US TO BRING HOPE TO THOSE
THAT NEEDED. AND OUR GREAT STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. I MEAN, WE ASK
OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS TO
REMAIN STANDING AND JOIN US IN
THE FLAG SALUTE. PLEASE JOIN US
FROM MEMBER JACKSON AS HE LEADS
US IN THE IN THE BLACK SALUTE.
WILL YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE?
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU MAY
BE SEATED. READING OF THE
PREVIOUS DAY'S JOURNAL. THE
CHAMBER SACRAMENT ON WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 30TH 2022 PURSUANT TO
THE PROVISIONS OF JOINT RULE 59
THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY GENERAL
FOR THE 2021 22 REGULAR SESSION
WAS PRINTED WHILE THE ASSEMBLY
WAS IN FINAL RECESS,
COMMUNICATION MOVES AND MR FLORA
SECONDS AT 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 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. MAJORITY
LEADER RACE YOU RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. THANK
YOU, MR SPEAKER. I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SUSPEND
ASSEMBLY RULE 45.5 TO ALLOW
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PELLERIN AND
ROBERT RIVAS TO SPEAK ON AN
ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY TODAY
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE
THE ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL BE MOVING TO
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING. AND JUST
AS A COURTESY REMINDER. PLEASE
REMEMBER ONE IF YOU'D LIKE TO
SPEAK ON ANY ITEM TO RAISE YOUR
MICROPHONE. WHEN THAT ITEM IS
CALLED. AND ALSO TO TURN YOUR
KEY TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON ITEMS
TODAY. AND WE'LL BE MOVING TO
FILE ITEM ONE. THIS IS A CR ONE.
THE CLERK WILL READ CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION ONE BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WILSON RELATIVE
TO REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR REMEMBER WILSON, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED AT YOUR DESK. GOOD
MORNING MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER AS THE CHAIR OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK
CAUCUS, I PRESENT TO YOU A CR
ONE. WHICH WOULD HONOR THE LATE
CIVIL RIGHTS ICON DR MARTIN
LUTHER KING AND COMMEMORATE
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY. ON
MONDAY, WHILE WE ALL HAVE THE
LUXURY OF OBSERVING HIS
SACRIFICES AND MORNING AMERICA'S
LOSS WITH A DAY OFF WE MUST
ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE TRUE
MEANING OF THIS HOLIDAY AND THE
LASTING LEGACY. HE LEFT US. THE
FIGHT THAT ENSUED FOR OUR NATION
TO OBSERVE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
DAY RESEMBLES THE STRUGGLES FOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT AFRICAN
AMERICANS HAVE ENDURED SINCE OUR
ARRIVAL TO THIS COUNTRY. TODAY
WE ALL IN THIS COUNTRY BENEFIT
FROM THE WORKS OF THIS GREAT MAN
WHO MADE IT HIS LIFE'S GOAL TO
SERVE AN ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF
THOSE WITHOUT A VOICE
REPRESENTING THOSE WHO
HISTORICALLY ARE MARGINALIZED
AND HAVE LACKED ADEQUATE
REPRESENTATION. DR KING'S
COURAGE AND DETERMINATION
REMAINS AN INSPIRATION AND
MOTIVATION FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO
GREW UP DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT. DR KING LED THE MODERN
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FOR ALMOST
13 YEARS FROM HIS ELECTION AS
THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE MONTGOMERY
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IN
DECEMBER OF 1955 UNTIL HIS
ASSASSINATION. UNDER DR KING'S
LEADERSHIP, HE HELPED DEMAND AND
ABOLISH DISCRIMINATORY PUBLIC
POLICIES THROUGHOUT THIS NATION
. HE ATE IN THE REPEAL OF JIM
CROW LAWS IN SOUTHERN STATES
HELPED SHEPHERD THE VOTING
RIGHTS ACT AND BROUGHT NATIONAL
ATTENTION TO THE DISCRIMINATORY
BANKING AND HOUSING POLICIES AND
PRACTICES KNOWN AS RED LINING.
DR KING ALSO BECAME ONE OF THE
MOST NOTABLE NONVIOLENT LEADERS
IN THE WORLD'S HISTORY. STATING
THAT NON VIOLENCE IS THE ANSWER
TO CRUCIAL POLITICAL AND MORAL
QUESTIONS OF OUR TIME. HE
UNDERSTOOD THAT THOSE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT WOULD RESIST OFTEN
VIOLENTLY. NONETHELESS DR KING
RESPONDED TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY
CREATING A DIALOGUE THAT WOULD
HEAL RACIAL WOUNDS AND ENCOURAGE
UNDERSTANDING. UNIFYING THE
MASSES. FINALLY AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, DOCTOR KING WAS A
TRUTH TELLER. NO MATTER HOW
CONVENIENT OR INCONVENIENT THOSE
TRUTH WERE, DR KING WAS ALWAYS
WILLING TO SPEAK OPENLY AND
CANDIDLY. IN 1968 AND HIS THE
OTHER AMERICA SPEECH, DR KING
SAID. I STILL BELIEVE THAT
FREEDOM IS THE BONUS YOU RECEIVE
FOR TELLING THE TRUTH. YOU SHALL
KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH
SHALL SET YOU FREE AND I DO NOT
SEE HOW WE WILL EVER RESOLVED
EVER SOLVED THE TURBULENT
PROBLEM OF RACE CONFRONTING OUR
NATION UNTIL THERE IS AN HONEST
CONFRONTATION WITH IT. AND A
WILLING SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH.
AND A WILLINGNESS TO ADMIT THE
TRUTH WHEN WE DISCOVER IT. WE
MUST LOOK TO DR KING'S EXAMPLE
AS A MORAL AND ETHICAL COMPASS
TO HELP CONFRONT THE PERSISTENT
INJUSTICES THAT PLAGUE THIS
NATION. I BELIEVE DR KING WOULD
WANT US TO MAKE A DETERMINED
EFFORT TO ENDURE ANY AND ALL
CHALLENGES IF IT MEANT CREATING
A MORE EQUAL. AND JUST SOCIETY
FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AS
LAWMAKERS AND CITIZENS OF THIS
GREAT NATION. LET US
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS MEMBERS OF
THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND BODY, THE
AFOREMENTIONED DEDICATED
INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT AND COMMITMENT
TO TRUTH AND JUSTICE. DR KING
SAID. THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT
TO DO THE RIGHT THING. LET'S DO
THE RIGHT THING TODAY AND NOT
JUST VOTING FOR THIS RESOLUTION
, BUT TRULY CELEBRATING DR KING
BY ENDING RACISM, HATRED,
DIVISION AND BIAS CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT STILL EXISTS
TODAY. 55 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
ON A CR ONE AND WOULD REQUEST
THE ROLE TO BE OPEN FOR CO
AUTHORS. THANK YOU, MISS WILSON.
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GIBSON,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. MR. SPEAKER AND
MEMBERS WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING, UH, THIS
A CR BEFORE US TODAY. A CR ONE
COMMEMORATES THE WORK OF DR
MARTHA KING JR. AND THAT THE
NATION'S THAN THE NATION'S
HOLIDAY THAT WE CELEBRATE IN HIS
NAME TODAY. DR KING WAS A TRUE
PATRIOT. HE FOUGHT FOR WHAT
AMERICA? WHAT COULD BE NOT WHAT
IT WAS. YOU SEE THE FIGHT WAS IN
SELMA, ALABAMA, AND HE WENT
THERE BECAUSE THE FIGHT WAS
THERE. CIVIL RIGHTS WAS ON THE
LINE. HE WAS THERE FIGHTING FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS. THE FIGHT WAS ALSO
FOR VOTING RIGHTS, AND HE STOOD
AND HE FOUGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS
IN THIS COUNTRY. HE FOUGHT FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS. IN THIS COUNTRY.
HE FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO
ORGANIZE. HE FOUGHT AGAINST THE
POLL TAX. WHY BECAUSE THE FIGHT
WAS THERE. THE FIGHT WAS IN
WASHINGTON, D. C. WHY BECAUSE
THE FIGHT WAS THERE FOR RIGHTS
FOR PEOPLE TO ELEVATE THEIR
VOICES WHEN AMERICA MADE THEM
IRRELEVANT. FAST FORWARD TO
2023. THIS IS STILL TRUE TODAY.
IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE'RE STILL
JUST BEGINNING TO DO THE WORK
THAT DR MARTHA KING SET OUT AND
ASKED US ALL TO DO YOU SEE TODAY
THE FIGHT IN MOST OF OUR
COMMUNITIES IS HOMELESSNESS IS
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND YOU'RE
IN THE POSITION. WHY IS BECAUSE
THE FIGHT IS THERE, DOCTOR
MARTHA KING FOUGHT FOR RACIAL
IT'S JUSTICE. ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE. TODAY WE HAVE A
PANDEMIC. THAT PANDEMIC HAS HIT
THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.
THE HARDEST HEALTHCARE IS A
JUSTICE THAT DR MARTHA KING AS
WELL AS MARTIN KING HOSPITAL, IN
WHICH I'M HAPPY TO SERVE IN MY
COMMUNITY, WHICH WE CALL GROUND
ZERO MEMBERS TODAY WE HAVE AN
INJUSTICE AND HEALTHCARE FOR
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE
CANNOT HAVE TO CALIFORNIA'S ONE
HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND
ANOTHER COMMUNITY HAVING NO
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THIS
STATE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES
AH, THAT I CALL TO YOUR
ATTENTION FROM DR MARTHA KINGS,
HE SAID. THIS YOUR LIFE BEGINS
THE END THE MOMENT YOU START
BEING SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS
THAT MATTER. IN THE END, WE WILL
NOT REMEMBER THE WORDS OF OUR
ENEMIES BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR
FRIENDS, WE WILL HAVE TO REPENT
IN THIS GENERATION FOR THE
VICTORIAN WORDS AND ACTION, NOT
OF THE BAD PEOPLE, BUT OTHER
GOOD PEOPLE. THERE COMES A TIME
THAT SILENCE IS A FORM OF
BETRAYAL. I ASKED YOU TO STAND
WITH ALL OF US WITH A STRONG I
VOTE TO COMMEMORATE THIS DAY. UH
A CR ONE WITH THE STRONG I VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR GIBSON. AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAKIN, ER. YOU
RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR DESK ON THIS
RESOLUTION? MR SPEAKER AND
MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE WOMEN
CAUCUS. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF A
CR ONE. DR KING INSPIRED A
NATION TO STAND UP AND FACE IN
THE FACE OF INJUSTICE, AND HE
STARTED A MOVEMENT THAT COULD
NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE
HELP OF WOMEN. DR KING KNEW THAT
WOMEN PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART.
UM IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WHO OFTEN
TIMES HAD THE ADDED BURDEN OF
FIGHTING SEXISM AND GENDER
DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE
MOVEMENT. WOMEN ORGANIZED IN OUR
CHURCHES PARTICIPATED IN
PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND BECAUSE
THEY COULD NOT COULD NOT HOLD
FORMAL OFFICE OR LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS IN MOST OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. THEY
BECAME THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN
LEADERSHIP AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
WOMEN LIKE DAISY BATES, WHO LED
THE MOVEMENT TO END SEGREGATION
IN SCHOOLS, WOMEN LIKE L. A.
BARKER BAKER, WHO FOUGHT TO END
THE JIM CROW LAWS ORGANIZED
MARTIN LUTHER KING'S CHRISTIAN
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, RAN VOTER
REGISTRATION CAMPAIGNS AND
FOUNDED THE STUDENT. NONVIOLENT
COORDINATING COMMITTEE LEADING
LUNCH COUNTER SIT INS WHEN BLACK
PEOPLE WERE DENIED SERVICES.
WOMEN LIKE DIANE NASH, WHO
FOUGHT WITH THE FREEDOM WRITERS
WHO PROTESTED SEGREGATION ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WOMEN
LIKE ROSA PARKS, WHO STARTED A
MOVEMENT WHEN SHE REFUSED TO
GIVE UP HER SEAT. TODAY AS I
LOOK AROUND AT THE DIVERSITY OF
OUR MEMBERS AND THE STRONG WOMEN
WHO STAND TOGETHER IN THIS BODY
, I'M REMINDED OF HIS OF THE
HISTORY THAT WE ARE CONTINUING
TO MOVE FORWARD AND ON THE KINGS
AND QUEENS WHO HAVE PAVED THE
WAY FOR ALL OF US HERE TODAY. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR SKINNER. AND
REMEMBER, RAMOS, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED AT YOUR DESK ON THIS
RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. TODAY I RISE AS CHAIR
OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE
AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS TO
JOIN IN TODAY'S COMMEMORATION OF
DR MARTIN LUTHER JR. KING
JUNIOR'S BIRTHDAY AND HIS LEGACY
THAT LIVES ON TODAY. DURING HIS
LEGACY, DOCTOR KING CONTINUED TO
SERVE AS AN ANGEL ON OUR
SHOULDERS, MANY AREAS THAT WE
ALL GREW UP IN REMINDING US THAT
CHANGE CANNOT COME THROUGH
VIOLENCE AND THAT EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE THE
FOUNDATION FOR A THRIVING
COUNTRY AND NATION. WHAT IS MOST
STRIKING ABOUT DR KING IS THAT
HE REACHED OUT BEYOND THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO
INCLUDE OTHERS IN HIS DREAM,
OTHERS THAT HEARD THE CALL FOR
THESE THINGS WITHIN AREAS IN THE
POPULATION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING INDIAN
RESERVATIONS. IN 1963 IN HIS
BOOK. WHY WHY WE CAN'T WAIT, HE
WROTE. OUR NATION WAS BORN IN
GENOCIDE. WHEN IT EMBRACED THE
DOCTRINE THAT THE ORIGINAL
AMERICAN, THE INDIAN WAS AN
INFERIOR RACE. WE ARE. PERHAPS
THE ONLY NATION WAS TRIED AS A
MATTER OF NATIONAL POLICY TO
WIPE OUT ITS INDIGENOUS
POPULATION. MOREOVER WE ELEVATED
THAT TRAGIC EXPERIENCE INTO A
NOTABLE CRUSADE. INDEED EVEN
TODAY WE HAVE NOT PERMITTED
OURSELVES TO REJECT OR FEEL
REMORSE FOR THIS SHAMEFUL
EPISODE. OUR LITERATURE. OUR
FILMS ARE DRAMA OR FOLKLORE, ALL
EXALTED. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY
SINCE HE WROTE THAT PASSAGE.
THANKS TO DR KING. AND THAT OF
MANY OTHERS HAVE HIS EFFORTS
CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US TO ENSURE
THAT AMERICA AND THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IS A JUST PLACE FOR
ALL. AND WHEN WE'RE ASKED, WHO
DO WE ADVOCATE FOR? WHO DO WE
ADVOCATE FOR IN THESE CHAMBERS?
WHO DO WE ADVOCATE FOR? IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA? WE ADVOCATE
FOR ALL PEOPLE, ALL RACES, ALL
ETHNICITIES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE ADVOCATE FOR THAT
VOICE THAT HAS BEEN TRIED TO BE
SILENCED OVER THE YEARS. WE
ADVOCATE FOR THAT VOICE TO BE
HEARD. WE ADVOCATE FOR ALL IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND
THAT INCLUDES EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF US IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY, IN
THE ETHNICITIES THAT WE ALL
REPRESENT, THAT IS THE DREAM.
KI¾M THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN IN SUPPORTING
THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MR
RAMOS. AND IT'S A MEMBER.
JACKSON. YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR
DESK ON THIS RESOLUTION? THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MR SPEAKER. I
RISE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE LGBT Q
CAUCUS AND SUPPORT OF A CR ONE.
TODAY WE HONOR A GIANT AND THE
FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
HUMANITY. HE SPARKED A
REVOLUTION AND HIS LEGACY IS ONE
OF ACTION AND THE NAME OF
JUSTICE. DR MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR LIT A PATH FOR MILLIONS TO
FOLLOW. SO WE HONOR HIM THROUGH
PEACEFUL PROTEST, AND WE
CONTINUE TO WORK FOR EQUAL
RIGHTS AND IN TO DISCRIMINATION
AND A MORE JUST AMERICA. HE
MAINTAINED A VISION. FOR A MORE
DIVERSE AMERICA, WHERE ALL
PEOPLE ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF
EQUALITY AND EVERYONE HAS WHAT
THEY NEED TO THRIVE. HE ENDURED
VIOLENCE WHILE LIVING TO DEMAND
PEACE. AND HE WAS EVEN GUNNED
DOWN IN HIS PREMATURE DEATH. HE
LITERALLY RISKED AND LOST HIS
LIFE FIGHTING AGAINST RACISM.
MARGINALIZATION. AND OPPRESSION.
HE LIVED OUT HIS OWN WORDS WHEN
HE SAID. IF YOU HAVEN'T FOUND
SOMETHING WORTH DYING FOR.
YOU'RE NOT FIT TO LIVE. AND IN
THE PROCESS, HE CHANGED THE
WORLD. AND HE HAD HELP FROM
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALSO
STRUGGLING WITH ACCEPTANCE IN
SOCIETY. BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL
IDENTITY. YOU CANNOT MENTION
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WITHOUT
MENTIONING BOEHNER, DRESSED IN
WHO WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY
ARCHITECTS ON THE MARCH ON
WASHINGTON AND THE FREEDOM RIDES
IN THE 19 SIXTIES. AND HE WAS
ALSO A KEY ADVISER TO DR KING.
IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS AN
INDISPENSABLE PART. OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT. HOWEVER HIS
LIFE WASN'T AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN
PUT HIM AT ODDS WITH THE
CULTURAL NORMS OF THE LARGER
SOCIETY. AND LEFT HIM EITHER WAR
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES. OR
EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE MOVEMENT FOR
STRETCHES OF TIME. AND JOHN AND
BRO'S BOOK, MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR. NONVIOLENT STRATEGIES AND
TACTICS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. HE
MAKES THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATION
IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF DOCTOR
KING. HE OBSERVES THAT AGAPE.
THE GREEK TERM USED FOR
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. INVOLVES
RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT ALL
HUMAN LIFE IS INTERRELATED. KING
ASSERTED THAT HUMANITY MUST BE
SEEN AS A SINGLE PROCESS. ALL
MEN ARE BROTHERS. AND ALL WOMEN
ARE SISTERS. AND THEREFORE
WHATEVER DIRECTLY AFFECTS ONE
PERSON AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY.
THE EXISTENCE OF INJUSTICE
ANYWHERE. AS A THREAT TO JUSTICE
EVERYWHERE. IT IS THEN NOT ONLY
APPROPRIATE BUT NECESSARY. FOR
EACH AMERICAN TO BE ACTIVELY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INJUSTICES
TO EVERY OTHER AMERICAN.
THEREFORE NO AMERICAN CAN BE
JUDGED TO BE AN OUTSIDE
AGITATOR. AFFLUENT AMERICANS OR
DIFFERENT GROUPS OR ETHNICITIES
OR SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS OR TO
RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGE OF
AGAPE. THEY MUST CONFRONT THE
QUESTION. HOW RESPONSIBLE AM I?
FOR THE WELL BEING OF MY FELLOW
MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. TO CHOOSE TO
IGNORE AN EVIL. IS TO BECOME AN
ACCOMPLICE TO EVIL. YES A GAPING
REQUIRES THAT WE BE OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS KEEPER. THEREFORE HE
HAS A HE IS A PART OF ME, AND I
AM A PART OF HIM. HER AGONY
DIMINISHES ME. AND HER SALVATION
IN LARGE IS ME. DR KING'S LEGACY
IS STILL FELT TODAY AS WE INVOKE
HIS NAME. AND TRY TO FULFILL HIS
DREAM OF EQUITY AND EQUALITY FOR
ALL 30 SECONDS. MR SPEAKER, THE
LGBT Q CAUCUS STAND SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE
WITH THE BLACK CAUCUS AND WE
RESPECTFULLY URGE AND I VOTE.
THANK YOU, DR JACKSON. AND A
SEVEN MEMBER FONG. YOU WERE
RECOGNIZED AT YOUR DESK ON THIS
RESOLUTION. GOOD MORNING, MR
SPEAKER AND MEMBERS. TODAY I
RISE ON BEHALF OF THE ASIAN
AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND STRONG
SUPPORT OF A CR ONE. OUR CAUCUS
FIELDS DEEP GRATITUDE TO DR
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FOR THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE
TODAY. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
INSPIRED THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
MARCHED, PROTEST IT AND PUT
THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE ON THE
FIGHT. FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES. IT WAS DR KING AND
HIS LEADERSHIP WITH THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT INSPIRED A
LARGER ÁP. AYE. ACTIVIST
MOVEMENT, INCLUDING THE
LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENTIAL
LEADERS LIKE GRACE, LEE BOGGS,
KOCHIYAMA LARRY IT, LEON AND
FRED KOREMATSU. HIS WORK
INSPIRED ÁP COMMUNITIES TO STAND
UP AND TAKE ACTION IN THE FACE
OF DIVERSITY, INCLUDING STRIKING
ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA
FARMWORKERS AND DEMANDING
INTEGRATED ETHNIC STUDIES. OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO THRIVE
IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE
PATH THAT WAS PAID FOR US BY DR
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TODAY AS
WE REFLECT ON HIS LEGACY. IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT
NOW IS THE TIME TO STAND UP AND
FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR
VOTING RIGHTS AND FOR OUR
DEMOCRACY. ON BEHALF OF THESE
AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS. PLEASE JOIN
ME IN HONORING THE LIFE AND
LEGACY OF DON MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR AND VOTING I ON A CR ONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR
FONG. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ORTEGA.
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR DESK ON
THIS RESOLUTION? TODAY I RISE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA LATINO
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS. AND SUPPORT
OF ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION ONE. COMMEMORATING DR
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY. DR
KING HOLDS A PARTICULARLY FOUND
PLACE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF
OUR LATINO COMMUNITY. WHEN HE
WAS PLANNING THE ICONIC MARCH ON
WASHINGTON, WHICH CULMINATED IN
HIS HISTORIC I HAVE A DREAM
SPEECH, DR KING PUSH FOR GREATER
VISIBILITY OF LATINOS IN THE
MARCH. AND THEY WERE COUNTED IN
THE THOUSANDS. HE ASKED
FILIBERTO HARINA, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE
TO ORGANIZE THE LATINO COMMUNITY
TO ATTEND THE MARCH. CHINA ALSO
SPOKE AT THE MARCH ABOUT THE
DISCRIMINATION FACED BY LATINOS.
MANY WHO ARE STILL PHASING IT
TODAY. INDEED, DR KING'S
COMMITMENT TO THE LATINO
COMMUNITY DID NOT END THERE. HE
ALSO SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED
CHAVEZ 1966 HUNGER STRIKE.
DURING THE STRIKE, DOCTOR KING
SAID TO TELEGRAM TO CHAVEZ,
WHICH READ. I AM DEEPLY MOVED BY
YOUR COURAGE AND FASTING AS YOUR
PERSONAL SACRIFICE FOR JUSTICE
THROUGH NONVIOLENCE. AFTER DR
KING'S OF FASCINATION, CESAR
CHAVEZ CONTINUED TO DISPLAY A
PORTRAIT OF HIM IN HIS OFFICE.
INDEED LIKE CESAR CHAVEZ. WE
MUST REMEMBER THE RADICAL NATURE
OF DR KING'S LEGACY. WE OFTEN
DISCUSSED IT INTEGRAL ROLE MLK
PLAYED IN ADVANCING THE COST OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND AS A PROUD
AND APOLOGETIC LATINA. WE DON'T
OFTEN DISCUSS HOW HE ALSO
INSPIRED AND MOBILIZE LATINOS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT
A DOUBT, MLK STREAM IS A SHARED
ONE. AS MLK ONCE SAID. ARE
SEPARATE STRUGGLES ARE REALLY A
STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, DIGNITY
AND HUMANITY. DR KING DID NOT
ADVOCATE FOR CONFORMITY OR
COMPLIANCE. HE FOUGHT FOR THE
NOTION THAT ALL LOST ARE
INHERENTLY JUST AND THAT IS THE
DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN TO HELP
BEND THE ARC OF MORAL UNIVERSE
TOWARDS THE JUSTICE. WE ALL
SEEK. WELL, DR KING IS NOW
UNIVERSALLY BELOVED FIGURE. IT
IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
THESE IDEAS NOW UNITE US WERE
OPPOSED BY VERY VOCAL SEGMENTS
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS IS
WHY WE CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR DAY. LET US REMEMBER
THAT THE BEST WAY TO HONOR HIS
MEMORY AND TWO PER SERVE. HIS
LEGACY IS TO FIGHT THOSE
DIFFICULT FIGHTS. EVEN AND THE
FAITH. OF ENTRENCHED AND EVEN
VIOLENT OPPOSITION. 55 YEARS
AFTER HIS DEATH, DR KING WOULD
NOT WANT US TO BE SILENT AND THE
FAITH OF INJUSTICE. NOW MORE
THAN EVER, IN TIMES OF POLITICAL
AND SOCIAL CHANGES IN OUR STATE
AND COUNTRY, WE MUST CONTINUE TO
STRUGGLE FOR THAT DIGNITY. THAT
EQUALITY THAT WE MUST ACHIEVE TO
GET FREEDOM AND REAL JUSTICE.
FOR THESE REASONS. COLLEAGUES I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN ABLE ON
A CR ONE. THANK YOU, MR ORTEGA.
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GABRIEL,
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR DESK.
THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER. I RISE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE JEWISH
CAUCUS TO ENSURE THE REMARKABLE
LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR THE JEWISH CAUCUS
IS PROUD TO STAND WITH THE BLACK
CAUCUS AND WITH OUR SISTER
CAUCUSES IN RECOGNIZING DR KING
AS ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICANS
OF ANY GENERATION. DR KING HAS
ALWAYS OCCUPIED A TRULY UNIQUE
PLACE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF
AMERICAN JEWS. FOR MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY. DOCTOR KING WAS THE
LIVING IN BODY MINT OF THE QUEST
FOR FREEDOM, HUMAN DIGNITY AND
JUSTICE THAT ARE THE CENTRAL
FOCUS OF THE JEWISH TRADITION.
INDEED, FEW IMAGES INSPIRE AS
MUCH PRIDE IN THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY AS THE ICONIC
PHOTOGRAPH OF RABBI ABRAHAM
JOSHUA HESCHEL. THE MOST
PROMINENT AMERICAN RABBI OF HIS
GENERATION, MARCHING ARM AND ARM
WITH DR KING ACROSS THE EDMUND
PETTUS BRIDGE IN MARCH OF 1965.
AFTERWARDS IN WORDS THAT WERE
QUOTED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA HALF A
CENTURY LATER, RABBI HESCHEL
REFLECTED THAT MARCHING WITH DR
KING WAS A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL
EXPERIENCE, WHERE HE FELT THAT
HIS LEGS WERE PRAYING. THAT SAME
YEAR, THE AMERICAN JEWISH
COMMITTEE HONORED DR KING WITH
ITS PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN
LIBERTIES MEDALLION IN
RECOGNITION OF HIS EFFORTS TO
ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE FOR ALL AMERICANS. DR
KING WAS ALSO A GREAT FRIEND AND
ALLY TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. IN
OUR OWN STRUGGLES, HE SPOKE OUT
POWERFULLY AGAINST ANTI SEMITISM
IN DEFENSE OF THE STATE OF
ISRAEL AND FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS
OF PERSECUTED JEWS IN THE SOVIET
UNION. THE GLOBAL JEWISH
COMMUNITIES. TREMENDOUS
AFFECTION FOR DR KING IS PERHAPS
BEST EVIDENT IN JERUSALEM, WHERE
EACH DAY THOUSANDS WALKED DOWN A
BOULEVARD NAMED IN HIS HONOR. IN
A CITY WHERE THE STREETS ARE
NAMED FOR THE GREAT PROFITS OF
THE HEBREW BIBLE, THE JEWISH
PEOPLE CHOSE TO UPLIFT AND HONOR
AMERICA'S GREATEST PROPHET OF
FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.
THIS WEEKEND, MY COMMUNITY AND
SO MANY SYNAGOGUES AND JEWISH
COMMUNITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA
WILL HOLD SPECIAL SERVICES TO
HONOR DR KING. WE WILL TEACH OUR
CHILDREN ABOUT HIS ENORMOUS
BRAVERY. HIS MORAL CLARITY AND
HIS UNFINISHED STRUGGLE FOR
JUSTICE. WE WILL REFLECT ON HIS
TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
CRINGE AT HOW MUCH WORK REMAINS
TRULY TRULY FULFILL HIS DREAM.
AND WE WILL SEEK TO HONOR HIS
MEMORY BY JOINING HANDS WITH
CALIFORNIANS OF ALL FAITHS AND
BACKGROUNDS TO ADVANCE JUSTICE
AND EQUITY AND HELPFUL FAIL HIS
REMARKABLE VISION. IN THAT
SPIRIT AND ON BEHALF OF THE
JEWISH CAUCUS IRON STRONG
SUPPORT FOR A CR ONE. THANK YOU,
MR GABRIEL. AND AS A MEMBER OF
JOAN SAWYER YOU RECOGNIZE AT
YOUR DESK. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. UM SO 10 YEARS AGO. I
WAS A FRESHMAN ON THIS FLOOR.
AND THE FIRST TIME I EVER SPOKE.
WAS ON MARTIN LUTHER KING
WEEKEND. AND I LEAVE THIS
MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE HERE. I'M
GONNA GIVE YOU THE SAME MESSAGE
THAT I GAVE TO MY COLLEAGUES
BACK THEN. MARTIN LUTHER KING
FROM THE MONTGOMERY BOYCOTT
UNTIL ITS DEATH. HE DID AMAZING
THINGS. BUT MOST IMPORTANT, HE
DID IT IN 12. HMM. YEARS. LET ME
LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MINUTE. I
TOLD MY COLLEAGUES THEN IF WE
COULD JUST DO 1 1/100 OF WHAT HE
DID IN 12 YEARS IN OUR YEARS IN
THIS BODY. WE WILL BE VERY
SUCCESSFUL. AS NOW ONE OF THE
SENIOR MEMBERS, NOT A FRESHMAN
MEMBER WITH ONLY TWO YEARS LEFT.
THEY ALSO KNOW IT'S NOW WE
STOPPED CHASING OUR DREAMS. AND
WE START CATCHING OUR DREAMS. I
THINK THAT'S WHAT DR MARTIN
LUTHER KING WAS ALL THE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT
DREAMS AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
THAT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT
DOING STUFF NOW IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT AND DOING THE RIGHT
THING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. ON
DECEMBER 21ST A MINOR OPERATION.
RIGHT AFTER A SUCCESSFUL
OPERATION. I HAD A CARDIAC
ARREST AND DIED. I DIED. MY
DREAM WAS ENDED WITH OVER. AND
WITH THE HELP OF SOME GOOD
SURGEONS AND PEOPLE IN THE
HOSPITAL. THEY BROUGHT ME BACK.
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED
IT. WHAT MEDICATION THEY GAVE
ME. I'M A CHRISTIAN FELLOW. FIVE
LOVE TO BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER
HAPPENED, I WENT UP. MY NAME
WASN'T ON THE BOOK AND HE SENT
ME BACK. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO
BELIEVE THAT THOSE MY ANCESTORS
AND THOSE WHO ARE UP THERE UM,
REALLY SAID I HAD MUCH MORE TO
DO. I HAVE TWO MORE YEARS HERE.
AS I SAID, THAT'S ONE OF THE
SENIOR MEMBERS. I STILL HAVE A
LOT TO DO NOT ONLY IN THIS
CHAMBER BUT A LOT TO DO. AFTER
THIS PEOPLE ASK ME. WHAT DID YOU
SEE? WHEN YOU DIE. THERE'S A LOT
OF THINGS I COULD TELL YOU
SOMETHING. I WON'T TELL YOU
BECAUSE YOU THINK I'M CRAZY. BUT
ONE THING I DID I CAN TELL YOU
IS I WAS ABLE TO GO. IN MY
DREAM. TO MY GRANDSON'S GRADUATE
COLLEGE GRADUATION. SO I KNOW
AND I BELIEVE IN MY HEART HAVE A
LONG WAY TO LIVE. THAT'S WHAT I
ASKED EACH OF YOU. THE FRESHMAN.
ESPECIALLY WHEN I ASKED EACH OF
YOU AS YOU PREPARE YOUR BILLS
THAT YOU ASKED FOR BUDGET
REQUESTS AS YOU WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO DO. THINK ABOUT WHAT?
EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE SAID
ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING. ALL
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHETHER
IT'S CIVIL RIGHTS WITH VOTING,
WHETHER IT'S JUST BRINGING
PEOPLE TOGETHER. WHETHER IT'S
THE MARCH IN SELMA, IT'S JUST A
PLETHORA OF THINGS. ONE MAN
NEVER ELECTED, NOT RICH. YOU
BELIEVE IN GOD? AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT? THAT ONE MAN DID. HE
CHANGED NOT ONLY HIS CITY, NOT
ONLY HIS STATE, NOT ONLY HIS
COUNTRY, HE CHANGED THE WORLD.
ONE MAN WITH NO MONEY. AND WITH
NO POLITICAL BACKING. BUT THE
FAITH OF DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING. IF YOU REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY, TRULY TRULY TRULY WENT
ON TO BURN WITH THE KING. WHEN
YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO
DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA
FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. PUT
IT IN THAT CONTEXT. THAT'S HOW
YOU CELEBRATE HIS LIFE. YOU PUT
IN THAT CONTEXT AND YOU MOVE
ASIDE. RACE RELIGION. SEXUAL
ORIENTATION. YEAH. POLITICAL
PARTIES. AND REALLY TRY TO MAKE
CALIFORNIA BETTER IN HIS NAME. I
KNOW NOW I COULD HAVE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WOULD HAVE
BEEN. I LOST MY LIFE AND MY
CAREER AND EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE
ENDED ON DECEMBER 21ST. TOMORROW
IS MY BIRTHDAY. MARTIN LUTHER
KING'S BIRTHDAY AFTER THAT. AS
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I'VE BEEN
REBORN. REBORN TO DO MORE THAN I
EVER DID BEFORE. AND SO. WHEN
YOU COME TO THIS BODY NOW, NOW
THAT YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN,
YOU'VE BEEN REBORN. TO DO THE
BEST YOU CAN FOR EVERYBODY IN
CALIFORNIA. AND AGAIN. A SEE A
ONE IS ITS MORE THAN JUST
COMMEMORATING. WE NEED TO START
DOING WE NEED TO STOP CHASING
OUR DREAMS AND CATCHING THOSE
DREAMS AND MAKING THEM HAPPEN.
THANK YOU, MR JONES. SAWYER. AND
SEEING NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR
DISCUSSION. AND SOME OF THEM
WERE WILSON. YOU MAKE CLOTHES.
THANK YOU. MR SPEAKER. I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF
THE ASSEMBLY WHO STOOD
REPRESENTING EITHER CAUCUSES OR
THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES.
THANK YOU, MR JONES. SAWYER. UM
FOR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A CR
ONE. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD A
QUOTE THAT SAID, WE MUST LEARN
TO LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS AND
SISTERS OR WE WILL PERISH AS
FOOLS. AND I KNOW HERE IN THE
STATE ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE LEARNED
TO LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS AND
SISTERS, NO MATTER OUR POLITICAL
IDEOLOGY, NO MATTER THE COLOR OF
OUR SKIN, NO MATTER OUR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION. WE DO WORK HARD AND
WELL TOGETHER. SO I THANK YOU.
AND WITH THAT, I ASKED THAT THE
ROLE WILL BE OPEN FOR CO AUTHORS
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
EVERYONE'S I VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS WILSON MEMBERS.
THE FIRST ROLE WILL BE OPEN FOR
CO AUTHORS, THE CLERK WILL OPEN
THE ROLE. ALL THOSE WHO WISH TO
BE A CO AUTHOR ON A CR ONE.
PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. ALL THOSE
WHO WISH TO BE A CO AUTHOR,
PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLE. THERE ARE
67 CO AUTHORS ADDED. AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE WILL TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. ALL
THOSE OPPOSED, SAY, NAY, HAVE
IT. RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. AND
WITH THAT WE HAVE CONCLUDED THE
BUSINESS ON FILE. MEMBERS WILL
BE MOVING TO A GERMANS AND
MEMORY. WE ASKED. YOU GIVE.
MEMBERS WILL BE LIFTING THE CALL
AT THIS TIME. AND WE ASK THAT
YOU GIVE RESPECTFUL ATTENTION TO
THOSE GRANTED PRIOR PERMISSION
TO SPEAK ON THEIR ADJOURNMENT IN
MEMORY.
HE RECOGNIZED ME OR.
MEMBERS WILL BE TAKING UP OUR
OWN GERMANS AND MEMORY TODAY.
AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH SOMEBODY
MEMBER PELLERIN, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED AT YOUR DESK FOR YOUR
GERMAN AND MEMORY. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES I RISE
TODAY TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY
OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERIOR
COURT JUDGE PAUL AMERICA GONDA
JUDGE MERRICK GONDA PASSED AWAY
ON DECEMBER 10TH AFTER A
COURAGEOUS BATTLE WITH
PANCREATIC CANCER. HE WAS 62
YEARS OLD. HE HAS SURVIVED BY
MARGARET, HIS WIFE OF 31 YEARS,
HIS SONS PATRICK AND PETER, AND
HIS BELOVED DOG, DUKE. HE
OFFICIATED AT THE MARRIAGE
CEREMONY OF HIS SON, PATRICK AND
HIS WIFE, BRITTANY, JUST A FEW
DAYS BEFORE HE DIED. I WAS
HONORED TO ATTEND JUDGE MARAH
GANDHI'S MEMORIAL SERVICES LAST
WEEKEND. AND THERE WERE MORE
PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH TO
CELEBRATE PAUL'S LIFE. THEN THEY
GET FOR EASTER TO CELEBRATE THE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
JUDGE PARAGON DAH LOVED HIS
FAMILY AND HE LOVED LIFE. HE
LIVED LIFE TO ITS FULLEST EVERY
SINGLE DAY. WHEN I WORKED FOR
THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ, AND WE
WERE ON THE SAME FLOOR AS PAUL.
YOU COULD ALWAYS HEAR HIM BEFORE
YOU SAW HIM. PAUL WAS EXUBERANT.
A FIREBALL OF ENERGY. HE WOULD
SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE GAVE GREAT
BEAR HUGS AND COULD LIGHT UP A
ROOM WITH HIS SMILE. PAUL LOVED
BEING A JUDGE. HE LOVED THE RULE
OF LAW AND WOULD OFTEN BURST
INTO THE OFFICE OF HIS FELLOW
JUDGES UNABLE TO CONTAIN HIS
EXCITEMENT OVER A RECENT COURT
PROCEEDING. PRIOR TO HIS
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT IN 2006
PAUL SERVED AS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR
18 YEARS, AND HE WAS A FORMER
COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF SCOTTS VALLEY. DURING
HIS 15 YEARS SERVING ON THE
BENCH. JUDGE MARAH GONDA WAS
INSTRUMENTAL AND LAUNCHING THE
FAMILY PRESERVATION COURT FOR
PARENTS WITH ADDICTION PROBLEMS
AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COURT FOR
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS. PAUL SERVED
ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE
CALIFORNIA JUDGES ASSOCIATION
FROM 2018 TO 2021 RECEIVED THE
ASSOCIATION'S PRESIDENT'S AWARD
IN 2021. PAUL WAS DEDICATED TO
HIS UNDERGRADUATE èC BERKELEY
BEARS FOOTBALL TEAM ATTENDING
GAMES, OFTEN WITH FAMILY AND
FRIENDS. WHAT CAN I SAY? PAUL
ALWAYS ROOTED FOR THE UNDERDOG.
PAUL WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS
DRAMATIC HAND GESTURES, HIS
EXTENSIVE VOCABULARY HIS
PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY, HIS PASSION
FOR JUSTICE AND HIS BOOMING
LAUGH. IT'S SO APPROPRIATE THAT
WE ARE ADJOURNING IN MEMORY
TODAY WHEN WE'RE ALSO
CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING
BECAUSE PAUL ALSO LIVED BY THOSE
VALUES. BUT MOST OF ALL, PAUL
WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS
UNABASHED LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY,
HIS FRIENDS AND HIS COLLEAGUES.
HE TRULY TOUCHED THE LIVES OF
MANY INCLUDING MINE. MR SPEAKER
, WILL YOU PLEASE BANG YOUR
GAVEL? ONE TIME IN MEMORY OF OUR
BELOVED JUDGE PALMERA GONDA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
PELLERIN. AND SOME MEMBER
ROBERT RIVAS. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED
AT YOUR DESK FOR YOUR
ADJOURNMENT AND MEMORY. THANK
YOU. MR SPEAKER. THIS MORNING. I
RISE IN THE MEMORY OF DON
CHRISTOPHER. BELOVED RESIDENT
FROM THE CITY OF GILROY. MANY
PEOPLE KNOW DAWN. AS THE KING OF
GARLIC. AND FOR THAT MATTER,
IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE
CITY OF GILROY IS KNOWN AS THE
GARLIC, CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
DIÆN CHRISTOPHER CHANGED THE WAY
THAT CALIFORNIANS THAT, IN FACT
, THE ENTIRE WORLD SAW GARLIC.
DON WAS A COMMUNITY MAN, A
VISIONARY. AS A THIRD GENERATION
FARMER. HE TRANSFORMED, HE
TRANSFORMED A SMALL GARLIC FARM.
INTO A 6000 ACRE CHRISTOPHER
RANCH. WHICH TODAY PRODUCES £100
MILLION OF HEIRLOOM GARLIC EVERY
SINGLE YEAR. DON WAS ALSO THE CO
FOUNDER. OF THE GILROY GARLIC
FESTIVAL. AN EVENT THAT HIS
DRAWN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD. TO THE Tð THE CITY OF
GILROY. WHERE THEY WOULD TASTE
AND EXPERIENCE THE VERSATILITY
OF GUILLORY GARLIC. FROM GARLIC
FRIES. TWO GARLIC, SOME SOME
KETTLE CORN. FESTIVAL GOERS ARE
ALWAYS END THEIR VISIT WITH A
SCOOP OF GARLIC ICE CREAM. DON'T
ALWAYS SOUGHT TO GIVE BACK TO
OUR COMMUNITY. HE CONTRIBUTED
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS
SCHOLARSHIPS AND CREATED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR
REGION. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.
AND ITS GENEROUS GIVING.
CHRISTOPHER RANCH ESTABLISHED
ITSELF AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE GREATER GUILLORY
AREA IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF
SANTA CLARA COUNTY. IN ADDITION
, DON DONATED PART OF HIS LANTA.
TO THE GILROY UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND A STATE
OF THE ART SPORTS COMPLEX. FOR
THE CITY'S YOUTH. DON HE MADE A
POSITIVE DIFFERENCE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF EVERY PERSON HE
MET. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT HE
LOVED GARLIC. BUT EVEN MORE HE
LOVED HIS FAMILY AND HE LOVED
HIS COMMUNITY. DON THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR OUR
REGION FOR OUR STATE. YOU WILL
BE SORELY MISSED, BUT YOUR
IMPACT ON GILROY AND SOME OF THE
SURROUNDING REGION WILL NEVER
NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU,
MR SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MR RIVAS.
MEMBERS PLEASE BRING THE NAMES
TO THE DESK TO BE PRINTED IN THE
JOURNAL ALL REQUEST TO ADJOURN.
THE MEMORY WILL BE DEEMED READ
AND PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL. YOU
MEAN TO ANNOUNCEMENTS MEMBERS? I
THINK WE HAD HEARD THAT TOMORROW
IS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JONES
SAWYER'S BIRTHDAY, AND THERE ARE
CAKES AND THE MEMBERS LOUNGE TO
CELEBRATE. AND THE SESSION
SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS. ON
MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH. WE WILL BE
OBSERVING DR MARTIN LUTHER KING
JUNIOR'S HOLIDAY. AND TUESDAY,
JANUARY 17TH FLOOR SESSION IS AT
ONE PM SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS. I'M READY TO
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MISS REYES MOVES, MR LACKEY
SECONDS. THIS HOUSE STANDS
ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY. JANUARY
17TH AT ONE PM WE ARE ADJOURNED.