GOOD AFTERNOON. Þ COLUMN
RESPONSE. I GOT YOUR. I'D LIKE
TO BEGIN THE SELECT COMMITTEE
HEARING ON POVERTY AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY, BEFORE I DO, I WANT
TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
HERE WITH ME. JUAN CARRILLO FROM
THE ANTELOPE VALLEY, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ELOISE REYES, FROM SAN
BERNARDINO, RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER REGGIE JONES.
SAWYER FROM SOUTH CENTRAL LOS
ANGELES, AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER
KALRA FROM SAN HÌ AT SAN JOSE.
IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THESE
MEMBERS AND MANY OTHERS REFLECT
A GROWING CONSTITUENCY IN THE
STATE ASSEMBLY AND IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO CENTER THE NEEDS,
OF FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN
POVERTY AND DEEP POVERTY ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. SO I WANT TO THANK
THE NEARLY EVERY SEAT IN THIS
ROOM THAT IS FULL, BECAUSE YOUR
VOICE IS THE REASON WE'RE HAVING
THIS HEARING. AND WE ARE HAVING
THIS HEARING BECAUSE THIS IS THE
WEEK WHERE THE STATE ASSEMBLY
VOTES ON OUR BUDGET. AND WE ARE
HAVING THIS HEARING BECAUSE WE
SHOULDN'T VOTE ON A BUDGET THAT
DOESN'T CENTER THE DIRECT
EXPERIENCES, NEEDS AND VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA VÀ WHO
ARE RELYING ON STATE GOVERNMENT
TO INVEST IN THEIR OPPORTUNITY
AND WELL-BEING. WE ARE HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IT IS
CRITICAL THAT THIS LEGISLATURE
BE RESPONSIVE TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS, NOT JUST THOSE
WITH ACCESS AND POWER. AND SO
THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE POOR
FOLKS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, FOLKS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING, FOLKS WHO
ARE ON THE MARGINS, FOLKS WHO
KNOW THAT THE COST OF RENT IS
TOO HIGH. THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE
ACCESS TO THE HALLS OF POWER. SO
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. AND
BEFORE WE START WITH OUR FIRST
OF THREE PANELS TODAY, I WANTED
TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY OF THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE
WITH US. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE
ANY OPENING COMMENTS. CARILLO
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR, FOR INVITING ME TO THIS
CRUCIAL HEARING AND HAPPY TO BE
HERE AND WILLING TO SEE HOW WE
CAN COME TOGETHER AND KEEP ON
SUPPORTING THE CRUCIAL NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
SENATE-TV MEMBER REYES. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS WE ALL KNOW,
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN
RISING. IT'S BEEN RISING
SIGNIFICANTLY, AND IT'S
AFFECTING OUR WORKING FAMILIES
MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE. AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I
APPRECIATE THAT THE CHAIR MAKES
A POINT OF THIS, THAT, THAT THIS
HAS TO BE A PLACE FOR THE VOICES
TO BE HEARD, OFTENTIMES. AND YOU
SAID THIS EARLIER AT THE RALLY
THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
BEING A VOICE AND BEING IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
LEADERSHIP IN THE ASSEMBLY AND
THE SENATE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. BUT THE VOICE
THAT WE CARRY IS THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE, AND IT IS YOUR
VOICES. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THE COMMUNITY PRESENT AND
VERY SPECIFICALLY, SEIU IS IN
THE HOUSE, AND I APPRECIATE
HAVING ALL OF YOU HERE.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER JONES-SAWYER, AND
I'M ACTUALLY PROUD TO BE HERE,
THIS IS MY LAST YEAR IN THE
ASSEMBLY. AND THE 11 YEARS I'VE
BEEN HERE, WE HAVE NOT MADE AN
EFFORT TO ACTUALLY DEAL
SPECIFICALLY WITH POVERTY. WE'VE
HAD MEMBERS IN THE BLACK CAUCUS,
LATINO CAUCUS, AAPI CAUCUS,
LGBTQ CAUCUS TALK ABOUT IT IN
GENERAL OR TALK ABOUT IT. WE
TALK ABOUT HOUSING, BUT WE TALK
ABOUT HOUSING POVERTY. WE TALK
ABOUT LABOR AND JOBS. WE TALK
ABOUT JOBS, POVERTY, BUT WE
NEVER SPECIFICALLY HAVE
ADDRESSED IT HEAD ON, AS MY
COLLEAGUE WHO I CAME IN WITH,
HOLLY MITCHELL, USED TO TALK
ABOUT POVERTY AND HOW EVEN IF
YOU HAVE A JOB, EVEN IF YOU'RE
WORKING 24 OVER SEVEN AND SOME
OF YOU ARE WORKING 48 HOURS A
DAY, A WEEK, WELL, NO, SOME
PEOPLE ARE WORKING TWO JOBS AND
SO THEY'RE WORKING 24 HOURS AND
THEN THEY GO BACK THE NEXT DAY
WORKING 24 HOURS. I MEAN, IT'S
JUST JUST TO PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE. AND THEY STILL CAN'T MAKE
THE RENT AND THEY STILL CAN'T
MEET THEIR NECESSARY NEEDS. AND
SO POVERTY IS NOT WHAT WE KIND
OF THINK IN OUR HEAD. PEOPLE
WITHOUT A JOB THAT ARE LIVING ON
THE STREET, THAT ARE HOMELESS,
POVERTY CAN ALSO BE WITH PEOPLE
WHO HAVE JOBS. AND SO THIS IS
WHY THIS COMMITTEE IS SO
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE GET THE
POVERTY FROM EVERY POINT OF
VIEW. SO I COMMEND THE CHAIR FOR
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND I
COMMEND YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND
ULTIMATELY, WE'LL FINALLY GET TO
THE ROOT CAUSES AND THE ROOT
SOLUTIONS OF POVERTY. THANK YOU.
MR. JONES-SAWYER, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CULVER THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE,
CONTINUING TO SHOW UP FOR THIS
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. AND I
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR. I CAN'T
THINK OF ANYONE BETTER IN OUR
LEGISLATURE TO LEAD THIS
CONVERSATION, NOT JUST NOW, BUT
INTO THE FUTURE. AND YOU KNOW, I
REPRESENT SAN JOSE, CAPITAL OF
SILICON VALLEY. AND THE REALITY
IS THAT POVERTY, WHETHER YOU'RE
IN THE POOREST COUNTY OF MODOC
OR THE WEALTHIEST COUNTY OF
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, POVERTY IS
DEEP ROOTED, AND IN PLACES LIKE
IN SILICON VALLEY, IT'S SO HARD
TO SURVIVE WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN
YOU'RE WORKING CLASS. AND SO WE
NEED TO DO MORE. WE'RE HERE SO
THAT WE CAN LEARN HOW WE CAN DO
MORE, AND AS SENATOR
JONES-SAWYER SAID, WE'RE HERE
NOT JUST IDENTIFY THE ROOTS OF
THE PROBLEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THOSE SOLUTIONS CAN BE. SO THANK
YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING PART
OF THIS CONVERSATION. AND TO THE
SPEAKERS FOR HELPING TO
ILLUMINATE US. THANK YOU, MR.
CORREA. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK
, SPEAKER RIVAS FOR AUTHORIZING
THE SELECT COMMITTEE AND THE
SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING TODAY.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
PANELS. THE FIRST PANEL IS GOING
TO GIVE US, KIND OF AN OVERVIEW
AND INTRODUCTION TO POVERTY IN
CALIFORNIA. AND WITH THAT, I'D
LIKE TO BRING UP DEVIN GRAY OF
IN POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA AND
KAYLA KITSON FROM THE CALIFORNIA
BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER.
IN WHATEVER ORDER YOU TWO
PREFER, YOUR FIRST, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR BRIAN. AND
MEMBERS OF THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS DEVIN
GRAY. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF END
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA, OR EPIC
FOR SHORT. WE'RE AN ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED BY
FORMER STOCKTON MAYOR MICHAEL
TUBBS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IN
2022. EPIC AND OUR ALLIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE
THRILLED THAT THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON POVERTY AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY HAS
RECONVENED FOR THIS SESSION,
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
STORIES, THE IDEAS AND THE
POLICY PROPOSALS THAT EMERGE
FROM THIS HEARING AND SUBSEQUENT
HEARINGS ARE NEEDED NOW MORE
THAN EVER. AND I THINK THIS IS
THE PERFECT VENUE FOR US TO TAKE
STOCK OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE,
THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN
RECENT YEARS, AND THE STEPS THAT
WE MUST TAKE TO MAKE GOOD ON THE
PROMISES THAT LIE AT THE HEART
OF THE CALIFORNIA DREAM, WHICH
IN MY MIND INCLUDE QUALITY JOBS
AND WAGES, ECONOMIC SECURITY,
AND UPWARD MOBILITY. A SAFETY
NET THAT'S ROBUST AND READILY
ACCESSIBLE, AND SAFE COMMUNITIES
FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.
BUT THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS
THAT WHILE THE CALIFORNIA DREAM
HAS BECOME QUITE REAL FOR SOME,
IT'S BEEN A PIPE DREAM FOR FAR
TOO MANY, AND THAT IS LED
CALIFORNIA TO BECOME A STATE OF
CONTRADICTIONS RATHER THAN A
STATE THAT HAS REALIZED SHARED
PROSPERITY. AND MOST OF US WILL
BE FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF ALL OF
THE STATISTICS WHERE THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, WE
HAVE A GDP OF $3.9 TRILLION. AND
YET, YEAR AFTER YEAR, CALIFORNIA
HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF POVERTY
OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
WHEN WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COST
OF LIVING, WE HAVE MORE
BILLIONAIRES WITHIN CALIFORNIA
THAN ANY COUNTRY IN THE ENTIRE
WORLD, ASIDE FROM THE REMAINDER
OF THE US AND CHINA AND YET, 5
MILLION CALIFORNIANS LIVE IN
POVERTY TODAY, AND WE HAVE VERY
PRONOUNCED AND PERSISTENT RACIAL
INCOME AND RACIAL WEALTH GAPS IN
CALIFORNIA FOR EVERY $1 THAT
WHITE FAMILIES EARN, BLACK
FAMILIES EARN $0.60 AND LATINO
FAMILIES EARN $0.52. AND THIS
IS, OF COURSE, EXACERBATES A
NATIONWIDE RACIAL WEALTH GAP
THAT REMAINS AS WIDE AS IT WAS
WHEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF
1964 WAS PASSED. NOW, MANY
PEOPLE WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN AWAY
THESE INEQUITIES THROUGH A
NUMBER OF FALSE STEREOTYPES AND
NARRATIVES THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN
POVERTY JUST NEED TO WORK
HARDER, OR THAT THEY POSSESS
SOME OTHER KINDS OF QUALITIES,
OR TRAITS THAT RESULTS IN
POVERTY, OR SIMPLY THAT POVERTY
IS JUST AN INEVITABILITY, AND
THEREFORE, SPENDING MONEY ON IT
IS A WASTE OF OUR TIME AND
RESOURCES. BUT I THINK FOR THOSE
OF US WHO LIVE AND BREATHE THIS
WORK, CERTAINLY FOR THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED POVERTY
OURSELVES, WE KNOW THAT THESE
TROPES ARE EASILY DISPROVEN.
NONETHELESS, THOUGH, THIS
INACCURATE STORY PERSISTS IN THE
MINDS OF MANY CALIFORNIANS AND
UNDOUBTEDLY INFLUENCES OUR
POLICYMAKING. SO WITH THESE
FALSE NARRATIVES IN MIND, OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS SPENT THE LAST
TWO YEARS GOING ACROSS
CALIFORNIA TO TRY TO LEARN AND
SHARE WHAT THE REAL STORY OF
POVERTY IS IN THE STATE. WE
VISITED COMMUNITIES IN OVER 20
COUNTIES, NOW MEETING WITH
PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING IN
POVERTY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE
ADVANCING SOLUTIONS TO END IT IN
THE STATE. AND WHAT WE SAW WON'T
SURPRISE MOST PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM. WE'VE HEARD HUNDREDS OF
STORIES FROM CALIFORNIANS UP AND
DOWN THE STATE WHO ARE WORKING
HARD, BUT COMING UP AGAINST A
SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT ONLY MADE IT
HARDER TO GET AHEAD, BUT HAS
MADE POVERTY AN INEVITABILITY
FOR FAR TOO MANY. FOR EXAMPLE,
WE MET A YOUNG MOTHER IN COMPTON
WHO WAS WORKING HER WAY THROUGH
COLLEGE BUT COULDN'T ACCESS OUR
SAFETY NET WHEN SHE NEEDED IT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE MET
TENANTS IN ANTIOCH WHO FACED
DRAMATIC RENT INCREASES AND
PREDATORY LANDLORDS WITHOUT
ADEQUATE RECOURSE, EVEN WHEN RAW
SEWAGE WAS SPEWING ON THE
GROUNDS AT THEIR FRONT DOOR. WE
MET FAST FOOD WORKERS IN OAKLAND
WHO HAVE ENDURED WORKPLACE
HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION FROM
THEIR EMPLOYERS. BUT WORKED
TOGETHER TO FIGHT BACK AND
ACHIEVE ONE OF THE GREATEST
VICTORIES FOR WORKERS THE STATE
HAS SEEN IN RECENT YEARS. AND
FROM ALL OF THESE STORIES, THERE
WAS ONE GIANT, UNAVOIDABLE
TAKEAWAY IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
LIKE THIS. WE CAN HAVE A STATE
WITH HIGH FLOORS FOR INCOME AND
WEALTH THROUGH POLICIES LIKE
GUARANTEED INCOME AND BABY
BONDS, WE CAN HAVE ABUNDANT AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUCH THAT NO
CALIFORNIAN HAS TO SPEND MORE
THAN A THIRD OF THEIR PAYCHECK
ON THEIR HOUSING COSTS. WE CAN
HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ALL
ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, BUT
INSTEAD WE ALLOW WHAT EPIC CALLS
THE SETUP THE POLICY CHOICES
THAT LITERALLY CREATE AND
SUSTAIN POVERTY. AND RATHER THAN
CALL OUT THE SETUP, FAR TOO MANY
OF US ARE WED TO THE STORY THAT
POVERTY IS FUNDAMENTALLY AN
INDIVIDUAL FAILING RATHER THAN A
POLICY FAILURE, OR THAT WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO DO BETTER WHEN IN
REALITY WE LIVE IN A STATE AND A
NATION WITH MASSIVE ABUNDANCE
AND A NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE
WEALTHY AND HUGE CORPORATIONS
ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE
TOWARDS OUR STATE'S REVENUES.
BUT I THINK THROUGH THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE, WE CAN CONTINUE THE
WORK OF TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT
WHAT MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS
ARE EXPERIENCING EVERY DAY. AND
MAKE CLEAR HOW FALSE NARRATIVES
HAVE LED TO ADVERSE OUTCOMES. I
FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF HARMFUL
AND INACCURATE NARRATIVES CAN
LEAD TO BAD POLICY CHOICES, THEN
TELLING AN ACCURATE STORY BASED
ON PEOPLE'S REAL EXPERIENCES CAN
PAVE THE WAY FOR VERY REAL
POLICY VICTORIES. AND WE DON'T
HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR BACK TO SEE
EVIDENCE OF THIS IN CONCERT WITH
DEDICATED ORGANIZING AND POWER
BUILDING. IT WAS STORIES LIKE
THOSE OF ASHON HIGHTOWER, A
SACRAMENTO BURGER KING WORKER
WHO SPOKE AT THE RALLY TO LAUNCH
THIS COMMITTEE TWO YEARS AGO,
AND OTHERS JUST LIKE HER THAT
PROPELLED OUR STATE TO RAISING
THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR FAST FOOD
WORKERS TO $20 AN HOUR. OR
CLAUDIO RAMIREZ, AN ADVOCATE
WITH PARENT VOICES WHO CALLED
FOR A RAISE FOR CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS IN THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE'S FIRST HEARING BACK
IN 2022 AND HELPED 40,000 A 20% PAY
RAISE. SO TO CLOSE HEAR FROM
MANY BRILLIANT PEOPLE TODAY,
YOU'LL HEAR THEIR STORIES AND
THEIR EXPERTISE, AND OFTEN AN
EXPERTISE THAT'S INFORMED BY
THEIR STORIES. BUT WHEN WE
ADJOURN, MY HOPE IS THAT WE
LEAVE WITH AN INTENT TO TAKE
CONCRETE ACTION TOGETHER AS
PARTNERS AND ENSURE THAT THEIR
PRESENCE AND IDEAS CONTINUE TO
RESIDE IN THE HALLS OF POWER
HERE. BECAUSE THE STAKES OF
POLICY DECISIONS ARE HIGHEST FOR
THEM AND THE NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS
FOR COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO THE
CLEAREST TO THEM. SO LET US
RESOLVE TO CONTINUE THIS
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING
HERE. THANK YOU, MR. GRAY. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO MISS KITSON AND THEN
ASK QUESTIONS, AFTERWARDS. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR BRYAN
, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M
KAYLA KITSON, A SENIOR POLICY
ANALYST AT THE CALIFORNIA BUDGET
AND POLICY CENTER. AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOLDING
THIS IMPORTANT HEARING TODAY.
I'M GOING TO FOCUS MY COMMENTS
ON SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE
LEADERS TO EQUITABLY RAISE
REVENUES THAT CAN SUPPORT
INVESTMENTS IN ENDING POVERTY
AND ADDRESSING THE RACIAL WEALTH
GAP. WHILE CALIFORNIA DOES LEAD
THE NATION IN HAVING A
PROGRESSIVE PERSONAL INCOME TAX
SYSTEM, THERE ARE INEQUITIES IN
THE STATE'S TAX SYSTEM THAT ALSO
REDUCE STATE REVENUES, TAKING
MONEY OFF THE TABLE THAT COULD
INSTEAD BE USED TO ENSURE THAT
ALL CALIFORNIANS HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO
MAKE THE STATE TAX THE STATE'S
TAX SYSTEM MORE FAIR, WHILE
RAISING ADDITIONAL REVENUES.
STATE LEADERS CAN BEGIN BY
EXAMINING THE TENS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE THAT THE
STATE IS LOSING TO TAX
EXPENDITURES EVERY YEAR THAT
LARGELY DON'T HAVE TO BE
REAUTHORIZED THROUGH THE ANNUAL
BUDGET PROCESS. MANY OF THESE
TAX EXPENDITURES PROVIDE A
MAJORITY OF THEIR BENEFITS TO
HIGHLY PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS,
AND HIGHER INCOME CALIFORNIANS,
AND FOR MANY OF THEM, THERE'S
LITTLE TO NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY
ACHIEVE THEIR POLICY GOALS, SOME
OF THESE TAX EXPENDITURES ALSO
ONLY BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY
HAVE THE MEANS TO BUILD WEALTH,
THROUGH THINGS LIKE HOME
OWNERSHIP, RETIREMENT SAVINGS
AND COLLEGE SAVINGS. AND THEY
COULD BE RESTRUCTURED TO MORE
EQUITABLY HELP PEOPLE BUILD
WEALTH WHO DON'T ALREADY HAVE
IT. ADDITIONALLY, THE STATE
LOSES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH
YEAR TO CORPORATE TAX BREAKS,
PROVIDING IMMENSE BENEFITS TO
LARGE, PROFITABLE AND
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS.
WE'VE SEEN CORPORATE PROFITS
NATIONALLY SOAR IN RECENT YEARS,
EVEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC,
AND THEY REMAIN NEAR RECORD
HIGHS. IN CALIFORNIA, CORPORATE
PROFITS INCREASED 155% FROM 2002
TO 2021, COMPARED TO ONLY A 13%
INCREASE IN WAGES FOR THE
TYPICAL CALIFORNIAN. AND THAT'S
AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION.
THE STATE'S LARGEST CORPORATE
TAX EXPENDITURE. THE WATER'S
EDGE ELECTION COST THE STATE
AROUND $4 BILLION A YEAR,
ACCORDING TO THE FRANCHISE TAX
BOARD ESTIMATES. THIS PROVISION
ALLOWS CORPORATIONS TO CHOOSE
WHETHER TO USE THEIR WORLDWIDE
INCOME OR JUST THEIR DOMESTIC
INCOME AS THE STARTING POINT IN
THEIR STATE TAX CALCULATIONS,
AND THIS CREATES AN INCENTIVE
FOR CORPORATIONS TO USE COMPLEX
ACCOUNTING MANEUVERS TO SHIFT
PROFITS ACTUALLY EARNED HERE IN
CALIFORNIA OVERSEAS, TO MINIMIZE
THEIR STATE TAXES. THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION HERE
WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE THE
WATER'S EDGE IN ENTIRELY,
FREEING UP AROUND $4 BILLION IN
POTENTIAL NEW REVENUES EACH YEAR
. AN INTERMEDIATE STEP TOWARDS
FAIRER TAXATION HERE WOULD BE TO
ADOPT SOME OF THE FEDERAL
MEASURES THAT WERE ENACTED IN
RECENT YEARS TO ADDRESS THIS
TYPE OF PROFIT SHIFTING AND TAX
AVOIDANCE. ANOTHER REVENUE
OPTION STATE LEADERS COULD
CONSIDER WOULD BE TO PERMANENTLY
LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TAX CREDITS
BUSINESSES CAN TAKE IN A GIVEN
YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME STATES
HAVE LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF TAX
CREDITS A BUSINESS CAN TAKE IN A
GIVEN YEAR TO 50% OF THE TAXES
THEY WOULD OTHERWISE OWE, BUT OF
COURSE, THAT COULD BE ADJUSTED.
THE THIS WOULD PREVENT
CORPORATIONS FROM CONTRIBUTING.
CONTRIBUTING NEXT TO NOTHING IN
TAXES IN YEARS WHEN THEY'RE
TURNING SIZABLE PROFITS. AND IT
WOULD ENSURE THAT CORPORATE
PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS ARE
MAKING MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
TO CALIFORNIA'S VITAL PUBLIC
SERVICES UPON WHICH THEIR
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS DEPEND. A
FINAL CORPORATE TAX OPTION I'LL
MENTION IS TO MOVE TO A
GRADUATED TAX RATE SO THAT THE
MOST PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS ARE
PAYING A HIGHER RATE THAN THOSE
WITH MORE MODEST PROFITS. AS YOU
MAY RECALL, A VERSION OF THIS
CONCEPT WAS INTRODUCED LAST YEAR
IN THE SENATE. ONE SIMPLE STEP
THAT POLICYMAKERS COULD TAKE
TOWARDS TAX FAIRNESS IS JUST TO
REQUIRE DATA TO BE REGULARLY
PUBLICLY REPORTED ON THE NUMBER
OF CORPORATIONS THAT ARE PAYING
LITTLE TO NOTHING IN TAXES, AND
THE DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
FROM THOSE BUSINESS TAX BREAKS.
UNDERSTANDING THESE INEQUITIES
IN THE TAX SYSTEM IS REALLY THE
FIRST STEP TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
THEM. THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS
TO MAKE THE TAX SYSTEM MORE FAIR
AND RAISE REVENUE. FOR EXAMPLE,
CALIFORNIA DOESN'T CURRENTLY TAX
INHERITED WEALTH. THE STATE HAD
AN INHERITANCE TAXES AS ONE OF
ITS EARLIEST FORMS OF TAXATION.
BUT IN EARLY THE EARLY 1980S,
VOTERS ELIMINATED IT. YET SINCE
THEN, WEALTH INEQUALITY HAS
GROWN CONSIDERABLY, AND WE KNOW
THAT RACIAL DISPARITIES IN
INHERITANCES ARE QUITE STARK. SO
ASKING VOTERS TO REINSTATE A TAX
ON INHERITED WEALTH COULD HELP
TO REDUCE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP,
PARTICULARLY IF THIS WERE TO
HELP THE STATE INVEST IN WEALTH
BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES
WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
EXCLUDED FROM WEALTH BUILDING
OPPORTUNITIES. SO I'LL END MY
COMMENTS THERE. AND AGAIN, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO
THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I
APPRECIATE THAT. ANY QUESTIONS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, SOME MEMBER.
KOLLER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE
PRESENTATION, KAYLA HAD A
QUESTION ON SOMETHING YOU JUST
MENTIONED REGARDING GRADUATED
CORPORATE TAX RATES. ARE THERE
EXAMPLES OF THAT BEING DONE
ANYWHERE ELSE? YEAH, I DON'T
HAVE A LIST IN FRONT OF ME, BUT
THERE ARE SEVERAL STATES THAT DO
HAVE GRADUATED CORPORATE TAX
RATES OR IN SOME RECENT YEARS, I
THINK STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND
NEW JERSEY HAD INSTITUTED JUST A
SURTAX ON THE MOST PROFITABLE,
PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS. SO
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO
APPROACH IT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE AS MANY BRACKETS AS
IN THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX
SYSTEM, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO
ENSURE THAT, THAT THOSE, THOSE
PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE
REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOST
OF THE PROFITS IN THE STATE ARE
SUBJECT TO A HIGHER AND IN THOSE
CASES, THOSE ARE ALSO JUST
ONSHORE, LIKE LIKE THE PROFITS
THEY MAKE ONSHORE AS OPPOSED TO,
GLOBALLY. WELL, SO IN CALIFORNIA
WE ONLY ARE ABLE TO TAX THAT,
YOU KNOW, THE SHARE OF PROFITS
THAT ARE ALLOCABLE OR
APPORTIONED TO CALIFORNIA. SO
THE WATER'S EDGE PIECE THAT I
MENTIONED IS PART OF PART OF
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE AN
ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT
BUSINESSES ARE MAKING GLOBALLY
SO THAT WE CAN ACCURATELY THEN,
FIGURE OUT THE PORTION THAT CAN
BE TAXABLE IN CALIFORNIA. THE
LAST QUESTION IS ON DATA
REPORTING. YOU INDICATED THAT
HOW IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US
TO ACTUALLY HAVE CLEAR REPORTING
ON THE TAXES SPENT. BUT ALSO,
YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT
THE BENEFITS FROM SOMETHING
ALONG THE LINES OF BENEFITS
FROM, ANY BREAKS THEY MIGHT GET.
AND WHEN YOU SO I GUESS A WAY TO
KIND OF QUANTIFY LIKE THEY ALL
THE RHETORIC IS ALWAYS YOU GIVE
US A TAX BREAK, WE'RE GOING TO
CREATE JOBS. WE DON'T KNOW IF
THAT'S NECESSARILY THE CASE
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA.
AND SO ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF
JURISDICTIONS THAT DO THAT
WHERE, HEY, THIS IS THE TAXES
YOU'RE SPENDING. THIS IS HOW
MUCH YOU'RE GETTING BREAKS ON.
THIS IS THE JOBS THAT YOU
CREATED A YEAR OVER YEAR THAT
YOU CAN ATTRIBUTE TO THOSE TAX
BREAKS. YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION. AGAIN I DON'T HAVE A
LIST IN FRONT OF ME. I KNOW THAT
A FEW YEARS AGO THE PEW
CHARITABLE TRUSTS DID A REPORT
LOOKING AT THE TAX EXPENDITURE
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ACROSS
STATES AND FOUND THAT WE WERE
ACTUALLY LAGGING IN, IN WHAT,
YOU KNOW, ANNUAL OR AT LEAST
REGULARLY EVALUATING WHAT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN TAX
BREAKS ARE. I KNOW WE HAVE
CERTAIN TAX BREAKS THAT ARE
EVALUATED BY LAW OCCASIONALLY,
BUT BUILDING IN SOME KIND OF
MORE REGULAR EVALUATION, I THINK
I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU
ON WHAT STATES DO THAT AND WHAT
IT LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. MR. GRAY, YOU WENT ON A
LISTENING TOUR ACROSS THE STATE
OVER THE LAST YEAR. YEAR AND A
HALF. YES, SINCE OUR FIRST
HEARING, HOW WOULD YOU
ARTICULATE THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT
POVERTY LOOKS LIKE ACROSS
CALIFORNIA? HOW PEOPLE FEEL?
WHERE ARE WE, EXACTLY? AND IN
THE RICHEST STATE, IN THE
RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD? I
SO APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, MR.
CHAIR. CALIFORNIA, AS YOU KNOW,
WAS A IS A MASSIVE STATE, 40
MILLION PEOPLE AND 40 MILLION
STORIES. AND POVERTY DOESN'T
ALWAYS MANIFEST IN THE SAME WAY
IN LOS ANGELES AS IT DOES
PERHAPS IN REDDING OR IN DEL
NORTE COUNTY, THERE ARE
CERTAINLY CONSISTENCIES, THOUGH.
I THINK CALIFORNIANS IN EVERY
CORNER OF THE STATE ARE
EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS
WHERE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FAR TOO
MUCH FOR FAR TOO LITTLE, AND NOT
HAVING THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY
AND RECOURSE THAT THEY NEED IF
THEY'RE TENANTS, OR FINDING
SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ENTRY
FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AS WELL, I
THINK IT'S WHAT'S DRIVING PEOPLE
OUT OF THE STATE IN MANY CASES,
OR AT LEAST LEAVING PEOPLE
FEELING LESS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF THE STATE AS IT
COULD, BUT IT'S ALSO
PARTICULARIZED IN THE FAR NORTH
OF THE STATE, WE SEE VERY REAL
INSTANCES OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
BEING QUITE REAL SERVICE
DELIVERY IS VERY DIFFERENT IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY. OF COURSE,
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE, DIFFERENT
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS
THAT THEY DO IN OTHER PORTIONS
OF THE STATE AS WELL. SO IT'S
QUITE DIVERSE. BUT LIKE I SAID,
THERE ARE CONSISTENCIES ACROSS
CHALLENGES WITH HOUSING, BOTH
FOR ASPIRING HOMEOWNERS AND BOTH
AND RENTERS AS WELL. PEOPLE HAVE
CHALLENGES ACCESSING THE SAFETY
NET. IT'S A VERY COMMON THEME
WHERE PEOPLE FIND IT QUITE
ONEROUS AND RIGHTFULLY SO. FOR
THE VARIETY OF FORMS THEY HAVE
TO FILL OUT TO BE ABLE TO GET
ACCESS TO PROGRAMS LIKE CALWORKS
AND CALFRESH. THE CONSTANT
RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS,
THE BENEFITS CLIFF WHERE YOU
MAKE ONE TOO MANY DOLLARS AND
YOU'RE KICKED OFF THE PROGRAM
ENTIRELY. ALL OF THESE THINGS
ARE VERY REAL, BUT I WOULD
REITERATE, SORT OF APROPOS OF
THE STATEMENT THAT I MADE, THAT
MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS AND MANY
OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE
PROGRAMS ARE A RESULT OF THE
STORY THAT WE'VE TOLD THAT
ULTIMATELY LEADS TO, THE
PROGRAMS THEMSELVES BEING
STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT
VALIDATES THE HARMFUL TROPE. SO
WHEN WE INTERNALIZE THE BELIEF
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING FOR
PUBLIC BENEFITS, FOR EXAMPLE,
ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY, VÆ, OR ARE
LEECHES ON THE SYSTEM UNTIL
PROVEN OTHERWISE, WE THEN
STRUCTURE THE PROGRAMS
ACCORDINGLY, SUCH THAT WE MAKE
APPLICANTS HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH
HOOPS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO WE
HEAR STORIES LIKE THIS ALL THE
TIME ACROSS THE STATE, AND IT
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF YOU'RE
IN LA OR OR SAN JOSE OR IN
FRESNO. THERE'S A LOT OF
PARALLELS. APPRECIATE THAT. MR.
JONES-SAWYER, I FIND THIS REALLY
INTERESTING, WHAT YOU WHAT
YOU'VE DONE, AND I WONDER IF YOU
EVER LOOKED AT JUST THE POLICIES
OF CALIFORNIA. AND HOW THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO, TO POVERTY. AND
I LOOK AT THAT THROUGH THE LENS
OF SOMEONE WHO'S JUST SPENT THE
LAST TWO, MAYBE THREE YEARS OF
MY LIFE DEALING WITH REPARATIONS
FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS. AND AS
YOU KNOW, THE WEALTH GAP BETWEEN
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WHITE
FAMILIES IS SIGNIFICANT. FOR
EVERY $400,000, APPROXIMATELY A
WEALTH FOR WHITE FAMILIES,
$4,000 IS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
POLICIES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE,
REDLINING, NOT HAVING US BEING
ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL,
EVEN RIGHT NOW, I THINK THERE'S
A THERE'S A BILL GOING THROUGH,
HOPEFULLY THAT IT GOT PASSED,
WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET
SLAVERY OUT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
THÀNH OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
IN TODAY'S SOCIETY THAT WE A
BILL THAT FAILED IN THE
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WE'RE
NOW RESURFACING AND TRYING TO
GET THROUGH NOW, THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS WHERE WE USE THE PRISON
SYSTEM TO KEEP US DOWN AND TO
KEEP US FROM BEING ABLE TO
ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM, THE
DREAM OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT OUR
ACTUAL POLICIES, WHICH IS COULD
BE EVEN MORE INSIDIOUS THAN
SOMEONE JUST KEEPING US IN
POVERTY? ABSOLUTELY I DON'T
THINK THAT WE CAN MAKE GENUINE
PROGRESS ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY
WITHOUT HAVING A VERY HONEST AND
REAL ACCOUNTING OF NOT JUST THE
CRIMES OF THE PAST THAT TOOK
PLACE HERE, BUT ALSO HOW WE'RE
PLANNING TO RESOLVE THEM TODAY
AND GET US BACK JUST TO SQUARE
ONE. IT'S ALMOST DIFFICULT TO
IMAGINE HOW WE MAKE PROGRESS IF
WE DON'T CATCH UP TO WHERE WE
SHOULD BE IN THE FIRST PLACE,
RIGHT? SO I'M I'M VERY
OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'VE SEEM TO
MADE MAKE PROGRESS ON THE
REPARATIONS TASK FORCE, IF FOR
NO OTHER REASON THAN TO HAVE AN
HONEST ACCOUNTING ABOUT WHAT'S
TAKING PLACE IN THE PAST AND
SUCH AND SUCH THAT WE CAN THEN
MOVE FORWARD AND ADVANCE TYPES
OF POLICIES THAT DO BUILD
WEALTH. I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE
WORKED WITH OUR FRIENDS AT END
CHILD POVERTY CALIFORNIA ON THE
HOPE ACCOUNTS BILL, WHICH IS THE
STATE'S FIRST BABY BOND PROGRAM
THAT WILL SEE AROUND 50 TO
60,000 KIDS IN THIS STATE. THOSE
WHO WERE FORMERLY IN THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM AND THOSE WHO LOST A
PARENT TO COVID RECEIVE A BABY
BOND OF AROUND 4500 TO $5000
WHEN THEY TURN 18. THAT STATE
FUNDED, IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD
LOVE TO SEE A MORE EXPANSIVE
PROGRAM THAT'S EVEN MORE ROBUST,
BUT I THINK IT'S A DEMONSTRATION
IN THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT
WE'VE SYSTEMICALLY DISINVESTED
IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST
THROUGH BIAS, BUT THROUGH ACTUAL
HARD POLICY. AND THAT I THINK
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS
THROUGH, OBVIOUSLY, TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN
THE PAST, BUT ALSO MAKING
AFFIRMATIVE STEPS FORWARD TO
CORRECT THOSE WRONGS OF THE
PAST. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SENATOR REYES. IT'S CLEAR TO ME
THAT OFTENTIMES WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG, WE'LL HAVE
TO LOOK TO THE PAST TO SEE WHAT
WE DID TO SET UP ALL OF THESE
WRONGS, SETTING UP POLICIES THAT
WILL CORRECT THOSE WRONGS IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT HAVING TO FILL OUT
THE FORMS. AND IT'S A DIFFERENT
FORM FOR EVERY EVERYONE AND ONE
COMPUTER PROGRAM IS NOT TALKING
TO THE OTHER. SO YOU HAVE TO DO
ALL THESE FORMS. I KNOW THAT
BECAUSE WE HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE GOING THROUGH IT, HOW
WRONG IT IS. THEN WE'RE ABLE TO
MAKE CHANGES. AND I KNOW THAT IN
THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES,
THAT'S THAT'S BEEN A Kò IN THE
LAST FEW YEARS, TRYING TO FIND
WAYS TO, TO STREAMLINE THE
APPLICATION PROCESS, ON TAXES. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE
CAN WE CAN REFORM THE TAX
STRUCTURE FUTURE. SO BECAUSE
WE'RE REALLY SAYING THE LET'S
MAKE IT EQUITABLE, IF YOU ARE
MAKING MORE, YOU SHOULD PAY
MORE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT CONCEPT. IF YOU'RE NOT
MAKING ANY WELL, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO PAY ANY TAXES. BUT THE
PROBLEM IS, JUST AS YOU HAVE
STATED, THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT
THOSE WHO ARE MAKING MORE FIND
WAYS TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE
MAKING LESS. THUS THE TAX BASE
IS LESS. SO TRYING TO CLOSE
THOSE LOOPHOLES IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. AND I, I THINK THAT
THE VERY SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS
THAT YOU MAKE, WHETHER IT'S ON
ON REFORMING THE TAX BASE OR ON
POLICIES, POLICIES REGARDING HOW
APPLICANTS RECEIVE BENEFITS,
THESE ARE REAL REFORMS, AND I
HOPE THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE THOSE
LISTS TO OUR CHAIR BECAUSE NEXT
YEAR WE'LL BE LOOKING AT NEW
BILLS TO INTRODUCE AND JUST AS
THE REFORMATION TASK FORCE, I
MEAN, THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN
DONE, THE DETAIL AND THE EXPERTS
THAT WERE THAT WERE BROUGHT IN
TO COME UP WITH A PACKAGE OF
BILLS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POVERTY
OR ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT OUR CHAIR
WILL WILL RECEIVE THOSE AND
THEN, BY EXTENSION, THE REST OF
US WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE
SPECIFIC POLICY CHANGES OR
POLICY SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARILLO.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ONE THING
THAT GOT MY ATTENTION DURING MR.
GRAY'S OPENING REMARKS IS HE
SAID THAT LET'S CONTINUE TELLING
THE TRUTH, THAT IS POWERFUL,
THERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES THAT YOU
SHARE WITH US. PEOPLE THAT YOU
MET IN LA. I BELIEVE YOU
MENTIONED ONE OF THEM. I BELIEVE
THAT THOSE ARE POWERFUL
EXPERIENCES TO SHARE WITH
LEGISLATORS. YES. AND THE WAY
THAT I SEE THE FUTURE SEEMS TO
BE BRIGHT. I SAY THAT BECAUSE
SOME OF US COME FROM FOSTER
FAMILIES, SOME OF US ARE
IMMIGRANTS. ME MYSELF, COMING
FROM MEXICO AT THE AGE OF 15
YEARS OLD, JUST, TRYING TO GET A
BETTER LIFE FOR MY FAMILY, MY
YOUNGER SIBLINGS. AND, YOU KNOW,
YEARS LATER, HERE I AM, AND I
THINK THAT IT'S VERY POWERFUL
WHEN YOU HAVE LEGISLATORS THAT
HAVE EXPERIENCED, FOSTER
FAMILIES AND IMMIGRANTS WORKING
AS A DISHWASHER IN CONSTRUCTION,
EXPERIENCING THE OBSTACLES THAT
TRYING TO SEND US BACK TO
CONSTRUCTION WHEN YOU'RE TRYING
TO GET AN EDUCATION. THINGS THAT
I EXPERIENCED. SO FOR ME, BEING
ABLE TO, UNDERSTAND THE
STRUGGLES THAT WE LIVE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE. AND I SEE THAT, THE
LEGISLATORS CHANGING, I SEE THAT
MORE AND MORE OF US ARE COMING
HERE AND BEING, WANTING TO MAKE
IT BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES,
FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR THOSE THAT
WE REPRESENT. SO TO ME, AGAIN,
YOU'RE SAYING, CONTINUE TELLING
THE TRUTH TO ME, THAT IS VERY
POWERFUL, ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW,
THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH TO
BE ABLE TO COME AND TELL US YOUR
EXPERIENCES BECAUSE NOT
EVERYBODY IN THE LEGISLATION HAS
EXPERIENCED THOSE THINGS THAT
I'VE EXPERIENCED. AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
KEEP TELLING US WHAT THE TRUTH
IS ABOUT. CALIFORNIA, THANK YOU
FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY
KIND. TELL THE TRUTH, FOR OUR
TWO PANELISTS, IF I ALSO REALLY
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT RAISING REVENUES OR SAVING
MONEY. RIGHT. WE ARE STILL
SUBSIDIZING OIL COMPANIES,
RIGHT? WE ARE DOING PLENTY OF
THINGS ACROSS CALIFORNIA THAT WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON,
DEFINITELY WANT TO FOLLOW UP
WITH WITH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THE LIMIT, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
TAX BREAKS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL
CORPORATION CAN TAKE, AND SEE
WHAT KIND OF MODELS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THERE ARE TO LEARN FROM.
BUT IF BOTH OF YOU HAD TO LEAVE
THIS COMMITTEE AND BY EXTENSION
THE ENTIRE STATE ASSEMBLY, WITH
KIND OF A FINAL THOUGHT TO CLOSE
OUT THIS FIRST PANEL, WHAT WOULD
YOU LEAVE US WITH? I THINK SORT
OF SIMPLY PUT, THE OUTCOMES THAT
WE GET ARE A RESULT OF POLICY
CHOICES, RIGHT? WE MAKE CHOICES
AROUND THE REVENUES THAT WE
RAISE AND FROM WHOM AND HOW WE
SPEND OUR MONEY AND HOW WE
DESIGN OUR SYSTEMS. AND I MY
CALL TO ACTION REALLY, IS THAT
WE SHOULD ALL BE EXAMINING WHAT
THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS ARE
THAT LEAD TO CERTAIN POLICY
CHOICES, AND I THINK THAT CAN
APPLY TO OUR BENEFIT SYSTEM, TO
HOUSING, TO OUR TAX CODE AND
EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT MY, WHAT I
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO, BOTH IN
POLICY MAKING AND AS ADVOCATES
AND AS CITIZENS OF THE STATE, IS
LET'S EXAMINE THE UNDERLYING
ASSUMPTIONS AND THE STORIES THAT
WE BELIEVE THAT HAVE INFORMED
THE TYPES OF POLICIES THAT WE
ULTIMATELY DECIDE ON. YEAH. JUST
TO ADD ON TO THAT, I THINK TO
KIND OF A TWO PRONGED ANSWER IS
THAT I WANT FOLKS TO THINK
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND ALL
THIS MONEY THROUGH THE TAX CODE,
AND IT JUST SOMETIMES JUST IS
OVER HERE, NOT PART OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS. AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THOSE
THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING
THERE THAT WE DON'T EVALUATE IN
THE SAME WAY THAT WE'VE EVALUATE
THROUGH, THROUGH THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS FOR SPENDING
PROGRAMS, AND THEN THE SECOND
PIECE THAT I WOULD WANT WANTED
TO NOTE IS JUST, LOOKING AT
REVENUES AS A TOOL OR LOOKING AT
TAX POLICY AS A TOOL TO RAISE
REVENUE, AS WELL AS LOOKING,
EXAMINING TAX POLICY FOR THE
IMPACTS THAT IT COULD HAVE ON
THINGS LIKE POVERTY AND THE
RACIAL WEALTH GAP IN AND OF
THEMSELVES, IN ADDITION TO WHAT
THEY COULD MAKE POSSIBLE, WHAT
THE REVENUES COULD MAKE POSSIBLE
IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS. THANK
YOU BOTH FOR BEING OUR FIRST
PANEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU ALL. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
PANEL IS GOING TO BE ON
INTERVENTIONS PROGRAMS AND
WORKER POWER. AND WE'VE GOT
THREE INCREDIBLE PANELISTS, HERE
WITH US TODAY, PRISCILLA CENOBIO
FROM THE DOLORES HUERTA
FOUNDATION. ALSO, I'M HEARING
RUMBLINGS THAT DOLORES HUERTA
HERSELF MIGHT BE JOINING US HERE
SHORTLY TO TESTIFY AS WELL,
ANDRE PETRONE, A SOCIAL WORKER
AND KELLY O'BRIEN FROM THE
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY. AND YOU CAN BEGIN IN
ANY ORDER THAT YOU WANT. BUT I
WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU
AND EVERYBODY HERE FOR BEING
HERE, IN ADDITION TO GETTING
KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE
ARE AND KIND OF THE UNDERLYING
ASSUMPTIONS THAT GOT US HERE,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT
INTERVENTIONS ARE WORKING, WHAT
KIND OF PROGRAMS EXIST AND WHAT
POWER, WHAT POWER CAN WE GIVE TO
THE PEOPLE BY EMPOWERING WORKERS
, AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL PASS
IT TO YOU. OKAY, COOL, HELLO,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
KELLY O'BRIEN. I USE SHE HER
PRONOUNS, AND I'M A POLICY
ADVOCATE FOR WESTERN CENTER ON
LAW AND POVERTY. FOR OVER 55
YEARS, THE WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY HAS ADVOCATED ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIANS
EXPERIENCING POVERTY IN EVERY
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. THROUGH
THE LENS OF ECONOMIC AND RACIAL
JUSTICE, WE LITIGATE, EDUCATE,
AND ADVOCATE AROUND HEALTH CARE,
HOUSING, AND PUBLIC BENEFITS
POLICIES. I WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR AND MEMBERS FOR THIS
IMPORTANT HEARING AND MY FELLOW
PANELISTS, TODAY I'LL REVIEW
SOME OF THE ANTI-POVERTY
INTERVENTIONS THAT HAVE NOT YET
BEEN COVERED BY OTHER SPEAKERS,
SO STARTING WITH SSI AND SSP,
THE SSI AND SSP ARE A CRITICAL
SAFETY NET PROGRAM THAT PROVIDE
BASIC INCOME TO OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH NO
OR VERY LIMITED INCOME OR
RESOURCES. WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL
THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET AND THE LEGISLATURE'S
AGREED UPON BUDGET, BOTH
MAINTAIN THE GRANT INCREASE THAT
TOOK EFFECT AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS YEAR. BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
BECAUSE OF INFLATION, THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING IN CALIFORNIA AND
RECESSION ERA CUTS TO SSI, SSP,
THE RECENT INCREASE DOES NOT
EVEN BRING THE GRANT UP TO THE
OUTDATED AND INADEQUATE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH HASN'T BEEN
UPDATED IN THE LAST 60 YEARS.
UNLIKE THE ELDER INDEX, WHICH
SHOULD REALLY BE OUR NORTH STAR,
DESPITE RECENT INCREASES, LIVING
AS AN OLDER ADULT OR PERSON WITH
A DISABILITY WITH LOW INCOME IS
EXTREMELY PRECARIOUS. HIGH
RENTS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED,
HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS,
PUTTING LOW INCOME PEOPLE AT
GREAT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS. THE
CURRENT INDIVIDUAL SSI, SSP
GRANT IS ONLY $1,183 PER MONTH.
AS A RESULT, MANY ELDER AND
DISABLED ADULTS ARE SPENDING
THEIR ENTIRE GRANT JUST TO AVOID
HOMELESSNESS, LEAVING THEM WITH
NOTHING TO MEET THEIR OTHER
NEEDS. THE SSI SSP PROGRAM
SUPPORTS 1.1 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS, INCLUDING 100,000
CHILDREN. SSI BENEFICIARIES LIVE
IN EVERY COMMUNITY AND REFLECT
THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE AS A
SAFETY NET PROGRAM. SSI IS A
CRITICAL BENEFIT FOR SENIORS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO
HAVE HAD LESS ACCESS TO
EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS WOMEN,
ESPECIALLY OLDER WOMEN OF COLOR,
PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ PEOPLE,
AND IMMIGRANTS. RACIAL WEALTH
DISPARITIES ALSO MEAN THAT
ELDERLY BLACK AMERICANS RELY
MORE ON INCOME FROM SSI AND ARE
MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO
LIVE IN POVERTY IN THE FUTURE.
TO TRULY MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS
COMMUNITY, GRANTS NEED TO BE
RAISED TO AT LEAST 100% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH
WE'VE ALREADY COVERED IS
INADEQUATE, AND THERE NEEDS TO
BE A YEARLY COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENT SO THAT THE GRANTS
RETAIN THEIR PURCHASING POWER,
ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES OF
EXTREMELY HIGH INFLATION. IN
ADDITION, WE SHOULD LOOK AT
BETTER MEASURES OF POVERTY TO
MAKE SURE THIS COMMUNITY IS
ADEQUATELY SERVED. NEXT, I'M
GOING TO ADDRESS GUARANTEED
INCOME, GUARANTEED INCOME REFERS
TO REGULAR AND UNRESTRICTED CASH
PAYMENTS THAT ARE MADE TO
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED
. POVERTY IS A LACK OF ACCESS TO
CASH. SO UNSURPRISINGLY, WHEN WE
TARGET CASH ASSISTANCE AT PEOPLE
IN NEED, THEY TEND TO GET OUT OF
POVERTY. DIRECT PAYMENTS THAT
PEOPLE CAN USE ON WHATEVER THEY
NEED ARE ROOTED IN DIGNITY,
SELF-DETERMINATION AND CHOICE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE DATA
SHOWS THAT THIS WORKS. DURING
THE PANDEMIC, MANY HOUSEHOLDS
EXPERIENCED GREAT FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP. IN RESPONSE, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENT STIMULUS
CHECKS AND TAX CREDITS. THESE
PAYMENTS REDUCE POVERTY BY 67%
IN 2021. THE LARGEST AND MOST
EFFECTIVE POVERTY REDUCTION
POLICY IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
THIS SHOWS JUST HOW EFFECTIVE
DIRECT CASH AID IS IN KEEPING
AMERICANS OUT OF POVERTY AND
SHOWS THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS CAN
ISSUE UNRESTRICTED CASH PAYMENTS
WHEN THERE IS THE POLITICAL WILL
TO DO SO. THERE ARE MANY
PROGRAMS UNDERWAY IN CALIFORNIA
AND NATIONALLY, JUST AND
NATIONALLY. JUST LAST YEAR,
CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH
OF THE FIRST STATE FUNDED
GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAMS
IN THE UNITED STATES, JAI IS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL TO DISRUPT
SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES THAT CAN
HELP TO SHIFT THE TRAJECTORY OF
SOMEONE'S LIFE AND WILL HAVE
LONG, LONG LASTING IMPACTS
BEYOND THE PROGRAM. A FEW STEPS
THE LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE TO
SUPPORT JAI PROGRAMS IN THE
FUTURE ARE. PASSING LEGISLATION
TO ADDRESS THE CONSIDERATION OF
JAI PAYMENTS AS INCOME, WHICH
CAN INTERFERE WITH THE
ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER FOR OTHER
BENEFITS IN A MORE FAVORABLE
BUDGET YEAR. WE WOULD ALSO LOVE
TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE EXTEND
THE STATE FUNDED PILOTS AND THEN
MOVING ON TO CHILD SUPPORT
INTERCEPTION, CHILD SUPPORT IS
INTENDED FOR CHILDREN, BUT FOR
ALMOST 50 YEARS, CALIFORNIA HAS
REQUIRED PARENTS WHO RECEIVE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO REPAY THE
STATE BY INTERCEPTING THEIR
CHILD SUPPORT BENEFITS. THIS
MEANS THAT IN CALIFORNIA, WHEN
LOW INCOME PARENTS MAKE MONTHLY
CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS, MOST OF
THEIR PAYMENT WILL NEVER REACH
THEIR CHILD. INSTEAD, IT WILL GO
TOWARDS REIMBURSING THE STATE
FOR THE COST OF SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS THAT THEIR FAMILY IS
ELIGIBLE FOR. ONE OF OUR
PRIORITIES IS TO END THE
GOVERNMENT INTERCEPTION OF CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND INSTEAD
IMPLEMENT FULL PASS THROUGH,
MEANING ALL CHILD SUPPORT
PAYMENTS THAT ARE COLLECTED BY
THE STATE WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO
THE CUSTODIAL PARENT. CALIFORNIA
USES THIS PROCESS CURRENTLY TO
EXTRACT $150 MILLION A YEAR FROM
THE POOREST FAMILIES IN OUR
STATE. DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACTING FAMILIES OF COLOR. IF
A PARENT FALLS BEHIND ON CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS, THEY FACE
SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. REYES THERE
IS A 10% INTEREST RATE ON CHILD
SUPPORT DEBT IN CALIFORNIA, ONE
OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE OF HIGH INTEREST RATES
AND BECAUSE IMPACTED PARENTS
TEND TO BE LOW INCOME. THIS
SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN A $6.4
BILLION THE GOVERNMENT OWED
CHILD SUPPORT DEBT AND ACCORDING
TO THE URBAN INSTITUTE STUDY,
MORE THAN 95% OF THAT DEBT IS
DEEMED UNCOLLECTABLE, WHICH
MEANS THE ONLY FUNCTION OF THAT
DEBT IS TO TRAP PARENTS AND IN
TURN, THEIR CHILDREN IN
FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY. LUCKILY,
THERE IS A PATH TOWARDS VICTORY,
WE ARE ON THE PATH TO BECOMING A
NATIONAL LEADER IN REDRESSING
THIS INJUSTICE. AND THIS YEAR,
ON MAY 1ST, CALIFORNIA BEGAN
PASSING THROUGH CHILD SUPPORT
PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES WHO WERE
FORMERLY ON CALWORKS. THIS, THE
WESTERN CENTER HAS ALSO BEEN
WORKING WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO SET
THE STAGE FOR AN EXPANSION INTO
ENACTING PASS THROUGH FOR
FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY ON
CALWORKS. THIS POLICY CHANGE IS
FISCALLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO
BECAUSE NOT INVESTING IN
FAMILIES NOW WILL COST THE STATE
MORE IN THE FUTURE. IN TERMS OF
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND
INTERVENTIONS, AND IT'S MORALLY
THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE BY
INTERCEPTING CHILD SUPPORT
PAYMENTS, THE STATE IS ENGAGED
IN SOMETHING THAT IS ACTIVELY
CAUSING LASTING HARM AND
FINANCIAL STRESS TO LOW INCOME
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ON THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH
ENSURE THAT ALL CALIFORNIANS CAN
LIVE WITH DIGNITY. THANK YOU,
MISS O'BRIEN. PRISCILLA, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? YES. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. HI, EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS PRISCILLA CENOBIO.
I'M 18 AND I AM FROM TULARE
COUNTY OUT OF A LITTLE CITY
CALLED VISALIA, AND I AM ONE OF
THE FEW MINORITIES IN
CALIFORNIA. MY PARENTS ARE
CLASSIFIED AS LOW INCOME AND SO
AM I, BECAUSE WE LEARN, WE EARN
LESS THAN 20,000 PER YEAR. DO
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS? I
CAN'T EVEN AFFORD A CAR. THAT'S
SAD, BUT. BUT I'M HERE TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT WHY CAL WORKS AND
WILK WORKS. WHEN I WAS LITTLE,
MY DAD USED TO WORK IN THE
FIELDS AND ONE DAY HE WENT OFF
PICKING CHERRIES AS ANY OTHER
FARM WORKER WOULD, AND HE FELL
OFF THE LADDER AND ALL HIS RIBS
WERE BROKEN. BUT UNFORTUNATELY
WE WERE TOO POOR TO PAY FOR HIS
MEDICAL CARE AND WE COULDN'T PAY
HIS MEDICAL BILLS. SO FOR THOSE
YEARS AFTERWARDS, HE HAD TO TAKE
ALL THAT PAIN AND CONTINUE
WORKING. I'M THE OLDEST OUT OF
11 KIDS, SO IT'S KIND OF HARD
MAINTAINING 11 KIDS. I THINK THE
GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE
GOVERNOR WHO PASSED CAL WORKS
AND WICK AND ALL THOSE SAFETY
PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED ME
TO HAVE FOOD ON MY PLATE. THEY
ALLOWED ME TO HAVE CLOTHES. THEY
ALLOWED ME TO HAVE SHOES, BASIC
NECESSITIES THAT ANY HUMAN
SHOULD HAVE. I WAS FIRST, AT
AROUND EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN I
FIRST STARTED WORKING IN THE
FIELDS. NO CHILD SHOULD EVER
HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I KNOW MANY
OTHERS DID, BUT IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I WAS WILLING TO DO TO
PROTECT MY SIBLINGS. I WAS
WILLING TO DO SCRATCH UP MY
HANDS, TO INHALE ALL THE
CHEMICALS THAT ARE OFTEN SPRAYED
IN THE FIELDS. I WAS WILLING TO
WORK LONG HOURS IN THE FIELDS IN
EXCHANGE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE FOOD, AND TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE CLOTHES. BUT WITH
THIS RECENT FAIR BUDGET THING I
COULD FACE, I COULD POSSIBLY,
DECIDE NOT TO END UP GOING TO
COLLEGE BECAUSE MY FAMILY WOULD
NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO STAY
AFLOAT, AND THAT MEANS THAT I
WOULD HAVE NO EDUCATION. THAT
MEANS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO OUT
OF SCHOOL SOMETHING THAT WAS
REALLY HARD TO GET INTO IN THE
FIRST PLACE. AND I WANT MY
FAMILY TO HAVE THE BEST FOR
THEM. AND THAT MEANS CAL WORKS
STILL HAS TO STAY. THAT MEANS
THAT MY DAD, HE'S ALREADY 40
SOMETHING, HE SHOULD NOT BE
WORKING AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN
13 PEOPLE IN A HOUSEHOLD. WE
LIVE IN A THREE ROOM HOUSEHOLD
AND WE CAN BARELY AFFORD IT. AND
THAT'S SAD BECAUSE MY LITTLE
YOUNGEST BROTHER IS TWO YEARS
OLD AND HE RELIES ON ME TO GET
MOST OF HIS CLOTHES, MOST OF HIS
FOOD. MY OTHER BROTHER, HE'S
FIVE, HE'S ENTERING
KINDERGARTEN, AND LUCKILY HE HAS
NOT KNOWN THE DANGERS OF WORKING
IN THE FIELDS. I ASK FOR YOU
GUYS TO PLEASE CONSIDER ALL
THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL
WORKING OUT THERE, BECAUSE I
HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN HIGH
SCHOOL WHO ARE STILL WORKING IN
THOSE FIELDS. FIRST OF ALL, THEY
DON'T EVEN GET FAIR WAGES
BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THEY
HAVE TO GO INCOGNITO BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK
PROPERLY. AND ALL I ASK FOR YOU
GUYS IS THAT, REMEMBER, THE
CHILDREN REMAIN FOR US WORKERS
WHO CARRY CALIFORNIA ON OUR
BACKS. REMEMBER THAT WE TOO ARE
HUMAN AND THAT WE RELY ON YOU
GUYS FOR THE HELP THAT WE NEED.
WE RELY ON YOU GUYS FOR OUR
DAILY NECESSITIES BECAUSE
UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN THOUGH WE
WORK HARD, WE WON'T EVER MAKE IT
OUT OF THE HOOD, AS PEOPLE SAY,
BECAUSE WE'RE A BIG FAMILY AND
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP BASIC
NECESSITIES ON OUR TABLE WITHOUT
YOU GUYS. SO PLEASE, LIKE I
SAID, PLEASE REMEMBER THE
CHILDREN. PLEASE REMEMBER THE
WORKERS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE
TOO ARE HUMAN AND THAT YOU GUYS
ARE OUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THAT WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US
WITH THAT TESTIMONY, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, YOUR
VOICE IS POWERFUL AND IS MAKING
A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. SO KNOW
THAT, NEXT. MR. MAY I SAY
SOMETHING? THANK YOU FOR
SHARING. SHARING THAT I'M THE
OLDEST OF EIGHT KIDS AND I KNOW
WHAT IT'S LIKE WORKING THE WAY
YOU DO, HAVING TO PROVIDE FOR
THE SIBLINGS. AND, THIS WAS IN
GUADALAJARA, WHERE I WAS BORN,
HEARING THAT THIS HAPPENS HERE
IN THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN
THE WORLD, WHICH IS SADDENS ME.
AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY LET US
KNOW YOUR STORIES. LET US KNOW
THE STRUGGLES THAT YOU GO
THROUGH BECAUSE I IDENTIFY WITH
YOU FOR WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THAT
IS WHY HEARINGS LIKE THIS ARE
IMPORTANT. WE HAVE ONE LAST
PANELIST, MISS, MISS PETRONE, TO
CLOSE US OUT. AND I DO HAVE A
QUESTION FOR MY COLLEAGUE FROM
LANCASTER. I'M GOING TO PUT YOU
ON THE SPOT. I'VE GOT TO RUN
DOWNSTAIRS TO ADD ON AND
PRIVACY. WOULD YOU MIND
OVERSEEING THIS LAST, WITNESS
HERE? AND THEN I BELIEVE DOLORES
HUERTA IS GOING TO BE JOINING US
IN ABOUT 12 MINUTES. MY
PLEASURE. I'M GOING TO PASS THE
GAVEL TO MY VICE CHAIR HERE, AND
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH YOU. MAY
BEGIN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANDRE
PATRON. I AM A SAN JOSE
RESIDENT. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF
THE SEIU 521. I'M A SUPERVISOR
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
CHILDREN SERVICES IN SANTA CLARA
COUNTY. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
WORK FOR 23 YEARS. I'M HERE TO
HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE
OUTSTANDING AND LIFE SAVING WORK
OF OUR AMAZING TEAM AND TEAMS
LIKE US ALL OVER CALIFORNIA. VÀ
ARE DOING FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES THAT ARE IN CRISIS. OUR
TEAM IS A UNIQUE ENTITY THAT
PROVIDES 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK EARLY INTERVENTION
EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PARTICULARLY
IN THE INVESTIGATION OF CASES
WHERE THERE'S CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT. IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP
UP, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP.
OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
WORKS VERY LONG HOURS, GOING ALL
OVER THE COUNTY DAY OR NIGHT TO
RESPOND TO FAMILY IS EVERY DAY.
EACH REFERRAL THAT COMES IN
REQUIRES A SOCIAL WORKER TO HAVE
LENGTHY INVESTIGATIONS OF CHILD
ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND LOTS OF
FOLLOW UP, WHICH FREQUENTLY
INVOLVES THE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR WITH COUNTY
COUNSEL HAVING CONSULTATIONS. IT
IS VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE ON OUR
TEAM THERE IS AN
OVERREPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN
OF COLOR. SO IT IS EXTREMELY,
DISPROPORTION COMPARED TO THE
GENERAL POPULATION OF OUR
COUNTY. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY
2% OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY IN SANTA
CLARA COUNTY, BUT THERE IS OVER
14% OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY IN THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. THAT TELLS
US THAT THERE ARE CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS THAT ARE NOT BEING
ADDRESSED. A ROBUST SOCIAL
SAFETY NET IS NOT A LUXURY. WHEN
WE MAKE CUTS TO ANTI-POVERTY
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, IT MAY
SEEM LIKE WE ARE SAVING MONEY IN
THE SHORT TERM, BUT THE LONG
TERM RAMIFICATIONS CAN BE COSTLY
AND EVEN DEADLY. THE RESULT IS
INCREASING INCREASED
HOMELESSNESS AND A GREATER
BURDEN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. OUR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROOMS. I'M
SORRY, OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND
HOSPITALS, OUR PRISON SYSTEM AND
OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TO SAY
NOTHING OF THE INCALCULABLE
TRAUMA THAT IS INFLICTED ON THE
CHILDREN THAT MY TEAM WORKS WITH
EVERY DAY. ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES OUR TEAM FACES IS
THAT, BY NATURE, OUR WORK IS
REACTIVE. THAT'S BECAUSE THE
FAMILIES THAT WE SEE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH ACCESS TO PROACTIVE
SAFETY NET INTERVENTIONS IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT COULD HELP
MITIGATE THE RISK OF CHILD ABUSE
AND NEGLECT. NOW, WITH THOSE
SAFETY NET RESOURCES UNDER
THREAT, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR MY TEAM.
WHEN I BECAME A SUPERVISOR FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
CHILDREN'S SERVICES, I DECIDED
TO BE A SOLUTION FOCUSED AS
POSSIBLE. MY AIM IS TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP SOCIAL
WORKERS HELP THESE CHILDREN. I'M
PROUD TO SAY WE ARE 100% FOCUSED
ON DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE
IT POSSIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN WE
SEE TO STAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES
IN A SAFE WAY, BUT THE TRUTH IS,
WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE. IT DOES
TAKE COMMUNITY BUY IN AND
INVESTMENT TO CHANGE THE
TRAJECTORY OF FAMILIES,
ESPECIALLY FAMILIES OF COLOR
AWAY FROM POVERTY. IT SHOULD GO
WITHOUT SAYING THAT SECURING THE
SAFETY OF CHILDREN IS THE FIRST
AND MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN
FIGHTING POVERTY. ONCE WE ENSURE
THAT CHILDREN ARE STABLE, IT IS
CRITICAL THAT THEY AND THEIR
FAMILIES RECEIVE THE OTHER
SAFETY NET SERVICES THEY NEED TO
SUPPORT THEM OUT OF POVERTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR
COMMITMENT TO ENDING POVERTY AND
CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE
ECONOMY FOR ALL FAMILIES, AND I
HAVE TO END WITH THE WHITNEY
HOUSTON SONG, CHILDREN ARE OUR
FUTURE. AND IT'S REALLY IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR
CARRILLO DEFINITELY AGREE WITH
THAT. THE CHILDREN ARE OUR
FUTURE, THE DISTRICT THAT I
REPRESENT IS JUST ABOUT 45 MILES
NORTH OF L.A. COUNTY, AND THE
HIGH DESERT AREA THAT I
REPRESENT, JUST LIKE THE CENTRAL
VALLEY, WHICH HAS DON'T GET
EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES,
UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE CITY OF LA LA COUNTY IS THE
URBAN CENTER IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, AS OTHER CITIES LIKE
SAN DIEGO, ORANGE COUNTY, ALL
THE LIMITED RESOURCES, SEEM TO
GO TO THOSE HIGH POPULATED
AREAS. THEREFORE OUR AREAS, LIKE
THE ONES THAT I REPRESENT IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, WE BARELY GET
ANY ANYTHING LEFT FROM THOSE
RESOURCES, I STARTED BEING A
BOARD MEMBER FOR THE PALMDALE
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2013. THAT'S
WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE HIGH
DESERT GETS A HIGH NUMBER OF
FOSTER CHILDREN. AND
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DON'T COME
WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
NEED, WE DID THE BEST THAT WE
COULD. WE STILL DO THE BEST THAT
WE CAN TO PROVIDE THOSE
RESOURCES, BUT I JUST WISH THAT
THERE WAS MORE TRANSPARENCY IN
THE WAY THAT THESE RESOURCES GET
DISTRIBUTED AGAIN, BECAUSE THOSE
SEARCHES SEEM TO BE FORGOTTEN
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT
THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D
BE INTERESTED IN, TO SEE MORE
TRANSPARENCY AS TO HOW I SEE
THAT IS LIMITED RESOURCES,
AGAIN, SEEM TO GO TO JUST ONE,
MORE URBANIZED AREA AND THE
AREAS WITH, YOU KNOW, GREAT NEED
BECAUSE THE NEED IS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE, NOT ONLY THOSE
URBANIZED AREAS. SO AGAIN, I
JUST WONDER IF YOU COULD,
COMMENT ON ALONG THOSE LINES OF
HOW THESE RESOURCES GET
DISTRIBUTED, ACROSS THE STATE,
BECAUSE THE NEEDS ARE ACROSS THE
STATE, NOT JUST IN URBAN AREAS.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN
PROVIDE US WITH? YEAH. WELL, I
MEAN, I DO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
SANTA CLARA COUNTY IS, IF NOT
THE RICHEST, ONE OF THE RICHEST
COUNTIES IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
AND WHEN WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
STRUGGLING WITH, YOU KNOW,
TRYING TO, PROVIDE RESOURCES. I
MEAN, WE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF I
MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE, I THINK
USED TO HAVE AT ONE TIME. AND
THERE WERE, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE
THERE WERE A LOT MORE SERVICES
OUT THERE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S BECAUSE THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE
ALSO GOT, YOU KNOW, HAVE ALSO
HAD SHORTAGE OF FUNDS AVAILABLE,
YOU KNOW, GRANTS OR CUT OR THEY
LOSE, THEY LOSE THEIR FUNDING.
AND SO I THINK, I THINK EVERYONE
IS STRUGGLING AS FAR AS, YOU
KNOW, YOU KNOW, DOING THAT. AND
I KNOW THAT THE SMALLER THE MUCH
SMALLER COUNTIES, OF COURSE,
THEY DON'T HAVE THE ROBUST, YOU
KNOW, SERVICES ALSO THAT SAY
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HAS BECAUSE
YES, WE ARE PRETTY FORTUNATE TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE THE LIKE THE 24
OVER SEVEN, SERVICE. I MEAN, WE
TRY TO BE AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW,
AROUND, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE
CLOCK. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOMEONE
ALWAYS ANSWERING THE HOTLINE
CALLS, BUT THEN I KNOW THERE'S
SMALLER COUNTIES THAT, YOU KNOW,
AFTER 5 P.M. OR 6 P.M. THAT THEY
HAVE TO CALL THE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT IF THERE'S, YOU
KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
CRITICAL, BUT BUT I'M NOT SURE
IF I, ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION OR
MADE THE COMMENT. IT JUST GIVES
ME AN IDEA. AGAIN, I JUST IT WAS
MORE OF A COMMENT. YEAH, BECAUSE
AGAIN, KNOWING THE LIMITED
RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. BUT
AGAIN, HAVING THOSE AREAS OF THE
STATE THAT SEEM TO BE EVEN
GETTING LESS OF THE LESS THAT WE
HAVE, RIGHT. YEAH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR
POINT ABOUT CHILDREN BEING OUR
FUTURE, IN OUR IN OUR PRESENCE.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHY THE
ASSEMBLY IS WORKING SO HARD TO
RESTORE FUNDING IN SOME CRITICAL
Kò PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE FIRST
PROGRAM, IN THE BUDGET PROPOSALS
THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD. BUT
WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO,
MISS ZENOBIA, YOU TALKED ABOUT
YOUR KIND OF LIVED AND LEARNED
EXPERIENCE. IF YOU HAD TO TALK
TO A BUNCH OF LEGISLATORS,
LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE ON
$20,000 A YEAR OR LESS, AND THE
IMPACT THAT OUR DECISION MAKING
UP HERE HAS, WHAT WOULD WHAT
WOULD YOU TELL ALL 120 OF THOSE
LEGISLATORS? I WOULD TELL THEM,
WE'RE SLIGHTLY BETTER OFF THAN A
THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. AND THAT'S
PRETTY UNFORTUNATE TO SAY. AND I
WOULD LIKE TO TELL THEM THAT
20,000 ALONE DOESN'T RAISE ONE
KID ALONE. I WISH TO, LIKE, BE
ABLE TO TAKE MY SIBLINGS, YOU
KNOW, TO LIKE A SOCCER, A SOCCER
CLUB, BASEBALL CLUB, TO
EXTRACURRICULARS. BUT I CAN'T
AFFORD THAT. NEITHER CAN MY
PARENTS. I JUST WANT TO TELL
THEM THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I'M HUMAN TOO, AND I. I WANT TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE FUN. I WANT MY
SIBLINGS TO BE ABLE TO GET AN
EDUCATION, FIRST OF ALL, AND
WITHOUT THAT MONEY, THEY CAN'T
EVEN ENTER LIKE THE CERTAIN
DEMOGRAPHICS OF A GOOD HIGH
SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, THE HIGH
SCHOOL THAT WE'RE GOING TO RIGHT
NOW, IT'S RANKED LIKE IN THE
BOTTOM NUMBERS OF THE STATE.
LIKE IT'S BARELY A GOOD ENOUGH
SCHOOL TO LEARN TO READ, BUT
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT I HAVE TO
TELL THEM THAT WE'RE SLIGHTLY
BETTER OFF THAN A THIRD WORLD
COUNTRY, BECAUSE YOU THINK WHEN
YOU THINK ABOUT A THIRD WORLD
COUNTRY, YOU'RE THINKING
STARVATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT,
AND TO THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU'RE
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO EAT FOR THE
NEXT DAY. THAT'S LIKE, OKAY, I
DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE THAT BAD.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN
CALIFORNIA WHERE EVERYBODY'S
LIKE, OH, YOU THINK OF LIKE THE
PALM TREES AND STUFF, BUT YOU
FORGET THAT WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF
THE HIGHEST AGRICULTURE OUTPUTS
OF THE STATE. LIKE, I JUST WANT
THEM TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE ON
THE TIPPING END OF LIKE, EITHER
HAVING AN ECONOMIC DISASTER OR
ON THE TIPPING POINT OF HAVING
AN ECONOMIC BOOM. AND TO
REMEMBER THAT CHILDREN ARE THEIR
FUTURE. LIKE SHE SAID, CHILDREN
ARE THE KIDS OF TOMORROW.
THEY'RE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
AND YEAH. I THINK THAT'S
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL, MISS
O'BRIEN, YOU TALKED ABOUT A LOT
OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT
HADN'T BEEN MENTIONED YET. THE
HOPE PROGRAM, AND BABY BONDS AND
HOW THERE'S, A POSITIVE IMPACT
THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE FROM
THAT. BUT WE WON'T SEE IT UNTIL
THOSE BONDS ARE ULTIMATELY
ACCESSED. BUT THERE'S A THERE'S
A REASON TO MAKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS. NOW BECAUSE THEY
WILL HAVE THAT BOOM EFFECT IN
THE FUTURE. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
GUARANTEED INCOME PILOTS. I'M
CURIOUS WHAT DEGREE AND THIS CAN
BE FOR ANY OF YOU. BUT
SPECIFICALLY, MISS O'BRIEN, YOU
WORKERS WAGES, WE HAVE FOUGHT
TREMENDOUSLY HARD TO SET A FAST
FOOD STANDARD FOR THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY BECAUSE NOBODY WHO'S
WORKING FULL TIME IN ANY
CAPACITY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
TAKE CARE OF THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR HEALTH CARE
WORKER WAGES. WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR
CHILD REIMBURSEMENT RATES THAT
ARE STILL BEHIND. WE HAVE FOUGHT
FOR WORKERS, STATE EMPLOYEES,
CITY EMPLOYEES, LABOR ACROSS THE
BOARD TO FIGHT FOR FAIR
CONTRACTS AND FAIR WAGES.
CALIFORNIA LIKES TO PROMOTE
OURSELVES AS A LEADER IN MANY OF
THOSE RESPECTS, EVEN THOUGH WE
ARE STILL DRASTICALLY BEHIND.
BUT WHAT DO THOSE KINDS OF
INVESTMENTS AND WORKER INCOME
AND WAGES, WHAT DO THOSE HAVE ON
A POSITIVE ACCOUNT ECONOMY? AND
WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE RIGHT
NOW, GIVEN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
CONDITIONS THAT CALIFORNIA IS
EXPERIENCING? OKAY OH, WOW, I
WOULD SAY I THINK THIS HAS BEEN
THIS WAS MENTIONED IN THE FIRST
PANEL AS WELL, BUT THAT POVERTY
IS A POLICY CHOICE. IT'S A
POLICY CHOICE MADE BY A
GOVERNMENT, AND IT'S A POLICY
CHOICE MADE BY CORPORATIONS, SO
THERE'S I THINK THE BEST THING
THAT WE COULD DO TO ADDRESS
POVERTY IS PAY PEOPLE A LIVING
WAGE, PAY EVERYONE A LIVING WAGE
THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR LIVING
IN THE PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE.
IN CALIFORNIA, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE
EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF LIVING
ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY IN
CERTAIN AREAS. AND PEOPLE JUST,
PEOPLE LIKE WHAT? ALSO WHAT WAS
SAID IN THE FIRST PANEL, PEOPLE
HAVE SUCH A FALSE NARRATIVE
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC BENEFITS.
AND PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A FALSE
IDEA OF WHO IS POOR. AND IN
GENERAL, PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR ARE
WORKING POOR, PEOPLE ARE DOING
THEIR BEST WORKING REALLY HARD,
WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS, AND
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE ENDS
MEET, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY
SHAMEFUL, YOU KNOW, THE REASON,
THE POVERTY CHOICE THAT OR THE
POLICY CHOICE THAT IS BEING
MADE, THE POLICY FAILURE THAT IS
HAPPENING IS HAS TO DO WITH
ALLOWING THE WEALTHY, THE
EXTREMELY WEALTHY, TO EXPLOIT
THE POOR. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT
IT COMES DOWN TO. SO I THINK
ADDRESSING, LOW WAGES IS THE
BEST POSSIBLE WAY THAT WE CAN
GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY DESERVE,
WHAT THEY WORK FOR, AND THEN,
YOU KNOW, THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET
IS SUPPOSED TO EXIST TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE, WHEN
PEOPLE ARE TEMPORARILY
EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE
THEY'RE BETWEEN JOBS OR
SOMETHING, THEN IT SHOULD BE
ABLE TO KICK IN. IT SHOULDN'T
HAVE TO BE SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO
ARE FULLY EMPLOYED, PEOPLE WHO
ARE WORKING, SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
BE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS, BUT THEY
THEY DO HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT MAKING ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. SO I WOULD ASK FINALLY FOR
THE THREE OF YOU BEFORE WE GO TO
OUR FINAL PANEL, SAME QUESTION
AT THE END OF THE FIRST PANEL.
IF YOU HAD TO LEAVE US WITH ONE
LAST THOUGHT TO KEEP IN MIND,
THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND AS
WE'RE VOTING AND CONSIDERING
DIFFERENT BUDGET PROPOSALS AS
EARLY AS THIS WEEK, WHAT WOULD
YOU LEAVE US WITH? I THINK I
WOULD SAY, REMEMBER THAT
CHILDREN, BECAUSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY, THE CHILDREN LIKE SHE
SAID, WE HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THAT
CHILDREN ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO THESE MOST MOST OF
THESE PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON
CHILDREN. SO I JUST WANT TO LIKE
KEEP IT. THIS IS THE TRUTH.
THESE CHILDREN ARE THE ONES WHO
ARE SUFFERING. IT'S NOT SO MUCH
AS THE ADULT. IT'S RATHER THE
CHILDREN WHO ARE FEELING THE
EFFECTS OF SUCH IMPROPER
POLICIES, LIKE SHE SAID. AND
JUST REMEMBER THE CHILDREN. LIKE
AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE
ADULT. YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY
GONE THROUGH A CHILDHOOD, BUT
THESE KIDS ARE STILL GROWING UP
AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO
THROUGH THOSE STRUGGLES. SO
REMEMBER THE KIDS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T
THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET
INTO THE BUSINESS OF DOING
FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING. THERE'S
DEFINITELY THINGS THAT I DON'T
THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
FUNDING, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THEY SHOULD BE ARE THINGS
THAT PROVIDE THE LIFE ESSENTIALS
LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, YOU KNOW,
THE THOSE KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
PROGRAMS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
HELPING PEOPLE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I
THINK THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY
THEY CAN GO AROUND. BUT I REALLY
THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE
LIVELIHOOD OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES, I DON'T THINK THOSE
THOSE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE CUT. I
THINK IT SHOULD BE CUT FROM
SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NOT
ESSENTIAL TO PEOPLE'S LIVES AND
LIVELIHOOD. YEAH, IT'S HARD TO
FOLLOW THAT. I FEEL LIKE, JUST I
WANT TO LEAVE ON A KIND OF
HOPEFUL NOTE, I GUESS, POVERTY
IS A POLICY FAILURE, BUT WE HAVE
A CHANCE TO MAKE DIFFERENT
CHOICES IN THE FUTURE. AND I
MENTIONED A FEW AREAS THAT WE'RE
MAKING PROGRESS, AND THERE'S
OBVIOUSLY PLENTY MORE. SO IF ALL
OF US CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER
AGAINST POVERTY AND AID TO
CREATE ECONOMIC EQUALITY AND
EQUITY, I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU THREE SO
MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FOR
OUR FINAL PANEL. YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT POVERTY LOOKS LIKE ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, AN INTRODUCTION TO
WHERE WE ARE. MÀ. WE'VE HAD A
CONVERSATION ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT
WORK AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL
IMPACT, PRISCILLA LAID IT OUT
VERY PLAIN FOR US, HOW
MEANINGFUL THESE PROGRAMS ARE
FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THE
MARGINS. SO TO CLOSE THIS OUT,
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC
INCLUSION AND JUSTICE. WHAT ARE
THE NEXT STEPS? AND FOR THAT WE
HAVE YESENIA JIMENEZ FROM GRACE
AND IN CHILD POVERTY, CALIFORNIA
, AND KYLIE LONGO FLORES FROM
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD
BANKS, IN WHATEVER ORDER YOU
PREFER. OKAY GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR BRYAN. AND OF COURSE, ALL
THE MEMBERS THAT WERE HERE WITH
US PRESENT FOR THE SELECT
COMMITTEE, AS YOU MENTIONED, MY
NAME IS YESENIA JIMENEZ. I'M
HERE WITH GRACE, AND TODAY I'M
HONORED TO JOIN MY PEERS IN
DISCUSSING OPPORTUNITIES TO
BUILD A MORE LIBERAL AND, FUTURE
FOR CALIFORNIA. ONE FREE FROM
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND POVERTY,
WHERE ALL FAMILIES EXPERIENCE
ABUNDANCE, DIGNITY, LOVE, AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE, TODAY,
SPECIFICALLY, I WILL BEGIN BY
DISCUSSING THE IMPORTANCE OF
BUILDING UPON OUR EXISTING
ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS, SHARING
TWO NEW KEY WAYS CALIFORNIA CAN
BUILD A MORE RESILIENT AND
EQUITABLE FUTURE, AND EMPHASIZE
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN
DIGNITY. CALIFORNIA HAS MADE
INDELIBLE STRIDES FOR LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. CALIFORNIA'S VIA
THE STATE'S CALIFORNIA EARNED
INCOME TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND
THE YOUNG CHILD TAX CREDIT
PROGRAM. OUR STATE HAS BEEN A
NATIONAL LEADER, GOING FAR
BEYOND OTHER STATES ON WHO WE
INCLUDE IN OUR PROGRAMS. WE KNOW
THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR STATE
LEADERS THAT HAVE SHOWN BRAVERY
AND ENCOURAGE US TO INTRODUCE
BOLD MEASURES. TWO EXAMPLES OF
THIS BRAVERY STARTED WITH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CALI EITC
AND THE YOUNG CHILD TAX CREDIT,
REFUNDABLE CREDITS DESIGNED TO
EMPOWER LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS
TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. THESE
CREDITS HELP THOSE EARNING LESS
THAN 30,000 A YEAR TO AFFORD
BASIC EXPENSES LIKE FOOD,
HOUSING AND CHILDCARE. AND AS OF
2022, THE YOUNG CHILD TAX CREDIT
IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR HOUSEHOLDS
WITH NO INCOME OR VERY LOW
INCOMES. THE BEAUTIFUL THING
ABOUT THESE TWO TAX CREDIT
PROGRAMS IS THAT IS THAT THEY
DELIVER CASH DIRECTLY TO
FAMILIES, HONORING OUR FAMILIES
ECONOMIC AUTONOMY AND SUPPORTING
THEIR FINANCIAL FREEDOM.
HOWEVER, 88% OF RECIPIENTS
RECEIVE LESS THAN $300 AND 43%
RECEIVE LESS THAN $100 FROM
THESE TAX BENEFIT. ADDITIONALLY,
THE MAJORITY OF CALI EITC
ELIGIBLE FAMILIES ARE INELIGIBLE
FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAM,
CREATING CLEAR INEQUITIES AND
CAUSING CONFUSION FOR FAMILIES.
SO TWO KEY WAYS ARE REFUNDABLE.
CREDITS CAN BE IMPROVED INCLUDE
RAISING THE MINIMUM CREDIT FROM
$1 TO $300 AND EXTENDING THE
YOUNG CHILD TAX CREDIT TO
INCLUDE ALL CALI EITC ELIGIBLE
FAMILIES. I DO WANT TO SPEND
SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SHARED
EARLIER REGARDING THE RACIAL
WEALTH GAP, AS POVERTY IS OFTEN
DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF INCOME.
HOWEVER WE KNOW CHILDHOOD
POVERTY EXTENDS BEYOND INCOME,
IMPACTING ACCESS TO PROPER
NUTRITION, HOUSING, POLICE, FREE
ENVIRONMENTS, HEALTH SERVICES,
EDUCATION, EDUCATION AND WEALTH
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES.
RACIALIZED CHILD AND
INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY ARE
SYMPTOMS OF A LARGER PROBLEM OF
RACIAL DISPARITIES IN WEALTH
RATHER THAN INCOME, ARE THE
PARAMOUNT INDICATORS OF ECONOMIC
INEQUALITY. THE LACK OF WEALTH
INHIBITS FUNDAMENTAL MILESTONES
LIKE HOME OWNERSHIP AND PURSUING
HIGHER EDUCATION. MOREOVER,
LIMITED WEALTH AFFECTS OVERALL
WELL-BEING, LEADING TO INCREASED
STRESS AND ANXIETY DUE TO
FINANCIAL INSTABILITY, K¾T,
LIMITED ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH
CARE, AND THE INABILITY TO
AFFORD NUTRITIOUS FOOD, SAFE
HOUSING, OR EVEN DREAM. AS
PRISCILLA SHARED EARLIER, LET'S
BE CLEAR IN ORDER TO BUILD A
MORE LIBERATED CALIFORNIA, TO
BUILD A MORE LIBERATED
CALIFORNIA REQUIRES MORE THAN
ECONOMIC INCLUSION. IT DEMANDS
THAT EVERY PERSON IN OUR STATE
IS RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED AS A
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN BEING. WITHOUT
THIS RECOGNITION, VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES WILL REMAIN TRAPPED
IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF
RIGHTLESSNESS TO IMPROVE THE
LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS
GAP, WE MUST CONSISTENTLY AND
INTENTIONALLY ADVOCATE FOR
SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN HOUSING,
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, CRIMINAL
JUSTICE, AND, WHICH PERPETUATE
GENERATIONAL AND WEALTH
INEQUALITIES, TWO KEY
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE ECONOMIC
INCLUSION AND DIGNITY IN OUR
STATE ARE ESTABLISHING A SAFETY
NET FOR ALL AND GUARANTEEING
OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL. WHILE MILLIONS OF
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT WORKERS
CONTRIBUTE TO CALIFORNIA'S
PROSPERITY, THEY ARE UNABLE TO
ACCESS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE JOB LOSS OR
EVEN ARE INJURED IN THE
WORKPLACE. THIS HARMS THEIR
WELL-BEING, FORCING THEM TO
EXHAUST SAVINGS AND INCUR DEBT
FOR BASIC NEEDS LIKE HOUSING,
CHILDCARE AND FOOD. TO BUILD A
RESILIENT AND ECONOMIC FUTURE,
CALIFORNIA MUST END THESE UNJUST
EXCLUSIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS. SECOND, UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS ARE BLOCKED FROM
ESSENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES, UNABLE
TO OBTAIN PAYING JOBS ON CAMPUS
DUE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
CALIFORNIA'S HIGHER EDUCATION
SYSTEMS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REMOVE THESE BARRIERS, ENSURING
THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE EQUAL
ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED
TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND
COMPLETE THEIR DEGREES.
CALIFORNIA HAS TAKEN
TRANSFORMATIVE STEPS TO ENSURE
THAT EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF
STATUS, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. ENACTING
MEDI-CAL FOR ALL AFFIRMS OUR
BELIEF THAT EVERYONE DESERVES
HEALTH CARE. OUR COMMITMENT TO
FOOD FOR ALL ENSURES EVERYONE
HAS A RIGHT TO NOURISHMENT AND
FREEDOM FROM HUNGER. AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL RECOGNIZES
THAT HUMAN DIGNITY GOES BEYOND
ACCESS TO OUR SAFETY NET.
SECURING THE RIGHT TO A
DIGNIFIED AND EMPOWERING,
EMPOWERING WORKPLACE, AT THE
TIME WE BUILT SYSTEMS OF CARE,
WE MUST DISMANTLE FAILED
APPROACHES THAT REINFORCE RACIAL
INEQUITIES. MORAL PANICS ABOUT
POVERTY DRIVEN SURVIVAL CRIMES
DO NOT SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. THEY
SUBJECT OUR COMMUNITIES TO
SUSPICION AND STIGMA. WE MUST
REFORM THE CARCERAL SYSTEM,
WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS
MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS,
ERODING TRUST IN GOVERNANCE
SYSTEMS AND PERPETUATING CYCLES
OF POVERTY. IN CLOSING, GRACE
AND OUR COALITION PARTNERS WILL
CONTINUE TO REMIND OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF
EVERYDAY CALIFORNIANS THAT WHEN
MET WITH TOUGH CHOICES, HOLD
TIGHT TO THEIR VALUES, THEIR
KIDS AND THEIR FUTURES, AND ARE
WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO
SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS. LET US
ENSURE THAT OUR SOLUTIONS TO
THAT OUR SOLUTIONS GO BEYOND
INCREASING MONETARY ASSETS AND
FOCUS ON EMPOWERING FUTURE
GENERATIONS BY ADDRESSING THE
INEQUITIES THAT IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITY'S OVERALL QUALITY OF
LIFE. THANK YOU. THAT WAS
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. HI, CHAIR,
KELLY LONGO FLORES WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD
BANKS. I JUST WANT TO START OUT
BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR HOLDING
THIS. THIS TESTIMONY HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL, AND THIS IS
WHAT WE COME HERE TO DO. SO,
AGAIN, KELLY LONGO FLORES, I'M
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF FOOD BANKS. WE WORK ALONGSIDE
41 FOOD BANKS WHO COLLECTIVELY
SERVE 6 MILLION CALIFORNIANS A
MONTH WITH A MISSION TO HUNGER.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY. SO I'M GOING TO SET
THE TABLE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HUNGER. GENERALLY KIND OF SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW THAT
WORKED AND THEN END WITH WHERE
WE'D LIKE TO SEE THINGS GO, WE
KNOW THAT MORE THAN 1 IN 5
CALIFORNIA HOUSEHOLDS, 1 IN 4
WITH CHILDREN, 1 IN 4 WITH
CHILDREN, ARE FACED WITH A TOXIC
STRESS AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
OF FOOD INSECURITY, WITH
SHOCKING DISPARITIES FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THESE ARE
STAGGERING NUMBERS, AND IT'S
CLEAR THAT THE NEED FOR FOOD
ASSISTANCE IS TOO LARGE FOR OUR
FOOD BANKS TO MEET ALONE, OUR
FOOD BANKS ARE SEEING 20% MORE
NEED COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, WITH
ONLY 4% MORE FOOD IN THE
WAREHOUSES. SO I THINK LIKE
DURING COVID, THERE WERE IMAGES
SHOWING LINES AROUND THE BLOCK
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION
TO THE NEED OF FOOD. AND NOW
THAT THAT ATTENTION HAS GONE
AWAY, WE'RE NOT SEEING I DON'T
THINK FOLKS REALIZE THE SCOPE OF
WHERE WE ARE, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR
EVERY ONE MEAL THAT FOOD BANKS
PROVIDE, CALFRESH PROVIDES NINE
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
WORKS AND WHAT'S MEETING THAT
NEED, I WANT TO FOCUS ON
CALFRESH A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
CALFRESH IS OUR BEST DEFENSE
AGAINST HUNGER. WE NEED THESE
ROBUST FOOD BENEFITS. WE CAN'T
DO IT ALONE. IT SERVES OVER 5
MILLION WHO RELY ON CALFRESH.
AND THIS IS A REALLY, INCREDIBLE
STATISTIC TO ME FROM PPIC,
ROUGHLY HALF OF CALIFORNIA'S
YOUNG CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN
CALFRESH BY THE TIME THEY TURN
SIX, AND I THINK WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND,
RETURN ON INVESTMENTS AND WHAT
THIS ACTUALLY MEANS, JUST A
RECENT USDA SHOWED, STUDY SHOWS
THAT AS MUCH AS $1. 80, IS A
RETURN FOR EVERY CALFRESH DOLLAR
SPENT. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT OUR INVESTMENTS AND WHERE
THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I THINK
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
CALFRESH BROUGHT IN $13 BILLION
IN FEDERAL FOOD BENEFITS, 23
BILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY. AND THIS ONE ALWAYS
GETS ME $173,000, 73,000 JOBS
STATEWIDE, BUT WE KNOW WE CAN DO
MORE TO BOOST IT. OUR
PARTICIPATION RATE IS SOME OF
THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY,
THERE'S COMPLEX REASONS. I THINK
SOME OF THE PANELS TALKED ABOUT
THAT A LITTLE BIT TODAY, WE HAVE
ABOUT 207 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS WHO
AREN'T RECEIVING WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE, SO FOR CONTEXT, IF WE
HAD THOSE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, WE
WOULD BE SEEING $3.46 BILLION IN
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MONEY COMING
TO CALIFORNIA, AND CALIFORNIANS
USE THEIR EBT CARDS AT LOCAL
GROCERY STORES, FARMERS MARKETS,
THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR SNAP
BENEFITS. OVER 23,000 RETAILERS.
AND THAT'S IMPACTING OUR FARMERS
, OUR FARM WORKERS, TRUCKERS,
GROCERS, EVERYBODY ACROSS THE
FOOD SECTOR. SO THIS IS A HIGH
MULTIPLIER EFFECT. AND IT REALLY
DEMONSTRATES HOW CALIFORNIA,
STIMULATES OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES.
BUT OF COURSE, WE KNOW IT'S NOT
JUST BUYING POWER, AND ACCORDING
TO THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE
OF CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT CALFRESH
ACROSS THE STATE, WE WOULD SEE A
3% INCREASE IN THE POVERTY
LEVEL. AND AMONGST CALFRESH
PARTICIPANTS, AN 11% INCREASE IN
POVERTY. SO WE'RE HERE TO TALK
NEXT STEPS. THAT'S THE PURPOSE
OF OUR PANEL. I THINK THE
NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND
THE STORIES WE HEAR FROM OUR
COMMUNITIES SPEAK LOUDER WHEN WE
INVEST IN THINGS LIKE MINIMUM
BENEFITS AND SUPPORTING OUR FOOD
SAFETY NET. WE SEE THE BENEFITS
ACROSS THE BOARD, IT PROVIDES,
IT STIMULATES THE ECONOMY, KEEPS
PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, AND OF
COURSE FEEDS PEOPLE AND THE
FAMILIES AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND
OUR COMMUNITY, SO IF I COULD
JUST VERY QUICKLY TALK ABOUT,
LIKE, WHAT WE KNOW WORKS, WHEN
WE HAD PANDEMIC EBT, WHICH WAS A
HUGE BOOST, I WANT TO OUR,
FANTASTIC RESEARCH TEAM AT KAFB
FOUND WHEN THEY DID A SURVEY,
FOUND THAT FOLKS USE HAD A MORE
AND GREATER VARIETY OF FOOD WHEN
THEY HAD ADDITIONAL FUNDS, AND
IT HELPED THE HOUSEHOLDS WHETHER
THE INCOME FLUCTUATIONS DURING
COVID AND IT HAD A STABILIZING
EFFECT. SO WE KNOW WHAT WORKS.
SO MOVING FORWARD, SUPPORTING
POLICIES LIKE, LIKE FOOD FOR ALL
WITHOUT EXCLUSIONS OR DELAY,
INCREASING MINIMUM BENEFITS,
WHICH THE MINIMUM BENEFIT RIGHT
NOW IS $23 A MONTH, WHICH WE
KNOW IS WHOLLY INADEQUATE. BUT
IT'S NOT JUST IN THE FOOD SPACE.
IT'S A BROADER, LARGER SET OF
POLICY SOLUTIONS WHIC CALWORKS
EITC ICTC, LIVING WAGE. BUT WE
KNOW WHAT WORKS. WE'VE SEEN THE
IMPACT AND WE CAN WE CAN
REPLICATE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ALSO
SPEAK TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON
THE GROUND IN THE FOOD BANKS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
MEAN, YOU'VE JUST LAID OUT SO
MANY IMPORTANT REASONS WHY THESE
PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT AND
EFFECTIVE, AND FUNDING THEM IS
ESSENTIAL, I THINK IN TOUGH
ECONOMIC TIMES, IT'S EASY. IT'S
NOT EASY, BUT IT'S IT SEEMS
APPARENT TO WANT TO CUT THE
EXTREMELY LARGE EXPENDITURES
LIKE CALFRESH, LIKE CALWORKS,
LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT SO
MANY FAMILIES ARE RELYING ON.
BUT AS YOU MENTIONED. HALF OF
YOUNG CHILDREN BY THE AGE OF
SIX, AT SOME POINT HAVE RELIED
ON CALFRESH Ó, $173,000, OR
173,000 JOBS ARE CREATED FROM
CALFRESH, THAT OUR INVESTMENTS
IN FEEDING THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA HAVE A TANGIBLE
ECONOMIC REBOUND EFFECT ACROSS
THE STATE. THAT IS INCREDIBLY
POWERFUL. AND I SEE YOUR
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL SHIRT HERE
AS WELL. RIGHT AND IT'S A
REMINDER THAT OUR UNDOCUMENTED
COMMUNITIES ARE A PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION. YOU CAN'T TALK
ABOUT DEEP POVERTY ACROSS
CALIFORNIA UNLESS YOU SEE ALL OF
CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING OUR
UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES. SO THANK
YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK TO
UPLIFT IT. IF YOU COULD SPEAK
ONE FINAL MESSAGE TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, RIGHT. AND
SPECIFICALLY TO THE STATE
ASSEMBLY, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL
US? WE KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WE
JUST NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE
KNOW WORKS. AND THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING THE CALFRESH MINIMUM
BENEFIT. THAT IS A HUGE FIRST
STEP. SO THANK YOU TO THE
ASSEMBLY FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
FIRST, SHOWING AN AIR OF
GRATITUDE FOR HOLDING DOWN THE
LINE AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST
SOME OF THE PROPOSED CUTS THAT
WERE SUGGESTED IN THE MAY
REVISION AND INSTEAD FOLLOWING
THAT UP WITH SOME POWERFUL
OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES. WE KNOW THAT A CUT IS
NOT JUST A CUT TODAY, BUT IT HAS
DEVASTATING IMPACTS. AND SO AS
WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE CUTS
THAT, MANY OF OUR PANELISTS
TODAY SHARED ABOUT, I THINK I'M
REALLY STRUCK WITH THE WORDS
THAT PRISCILLA SAID, REMEMBER
THE CHILDREN, REMEMBER OUR
FUTURE, REMEMBER OUR FAMILIES.
AND RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW,
YES, IT'S A TOUGH BUDGET SEASON,
BUT CUTTING A PROGRAM THAT
LITERALLY MEETS OUR SAFETY OR
MEETS OUR BASIC NEEDS WILL PUT
US ON THE STREETS. IT HAS THE
POWER TO KILL US AS WELL. AND SO
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
REALLY PUT THAT FRONT AND CENTER
THAT THESE DECISIONS WE KNOW ARE
NOT EASY, BUT THEY'RE EVEN LESS
EASIER FOR OUR FAMILIES. SO IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PRIORITIZE OUR FAMILIES IN OUR
BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
POWER. THANK YOU, AND THAT WAS
OUR THIRD PANEL. AND I THINK
IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE
CLOSE OUR SELECT COMMITTEE
HEARING WITH A TRAILBLAZER, AN
ICON, A CHAMPION FOR WORKER
RIGHTS, FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS. I SEE THE GREAT
DOLORES HUERTA HAS JOINED US
TODAY, IF YOU'D BE OPEN TO
GIVING US ANY COMMENTS OR
THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE AROUND
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA, THAT
WOULD BE VERY POWERFUL FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WELL,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME
GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. I
KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. IT'S
BEEN A HOT DAY, BUT I JUST WANT
TO SHARE THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN MADE PREVIOUSLY IN THAT WE
KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE IN A
REALLY HARD PLACE RIGHT NOW IN
TERMS OF THE BUDGET CUTS THAT
HAVE TO BE MADE, BUT WE HAVE TO
BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T CUT THE
BUDGETS IN PLACES WHERE WE HAVE
SO MUCH POVERTY THERE IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S A VERY WEALTHY
AREA WITH OIL AND AG AND PRISONS
, ETC, WE STILL KNOW WE HAVE SO
MANY FARMWORKER FAMILIES THAT
ARE LIVING IN POVERTY AND, AND
THE PEOPLE THAT CARE FOR THEM,
THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, YOU
KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN
THE HOSPITALS, ALL OF THESE
SERVICE WORKERS, THAT THEY IT'S
SO HARD FOR THEM TO GET A
CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT WE
HAVE DOWN THERE. AND SO WE
REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT, AND WE
DON'T WANT THE POVERTY TO
INCREASE. AND IF IN ALL OF THE
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE
BEING MADE RIGHT NOW, IF WE CAN
TAKE PART OF THE CUTS NEED TO BE
MADE, THE CUTS TO BE MADE FROM
THE WEALTHY SECTOR, NOT THE
POVERTY SECTOR, FROM THE WEALTHY
SECTOR, NOT THE POVERTY SECTOR,
WE DO NOT WANT TO INCREASE THE
POVERTY. WE DO NOT WANT TO
INCREASE THE HOMELESSNESS THAT
WE HAVE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. SO, I THINK
MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY
IMPLORING YOU, AND I JUST WANT
TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE VOICE OF
THE OTHERS TO SAY, PLEASE, I
KNOW THEY'RE HARD DECISIONS, BUT
WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE HARD
DECISIONS, THINK OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE POOR, THE MARGINALIZED,
THE UNDOCUMENTED, THE PEOPLE
THAT NEED YOUR HELP, THAT NEED
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AND MY
COLLEAGUE ALEGRIA HERE WANTS TO.
AND BY THE WAY, HER BROTHER,
ARNULFO DE LA CRUZ, IS THE
PRESIDENT. VERY WELL. SEIU 2015.
LOCAL 2015. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
SO MUCH. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE
HERE SITTING WITH YOU, DOLORES.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING
THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST
LEVELS OF MARGINALIZATION. I
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT ENDING POVERTY, WE ALSO
KNOW WITH THE GENERATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT COMING
WAY BEFORE US, THAT ONE OF THE
CLEAREST WAYS TO END POVERTY IS
TO RAISE WAGES. AND SO AS WE
TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE ENDING
POVERTY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE
BENEFITS AND THE AND THE AND THE
NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING SUCH DEEP POVERTY
DESPITE WORKING SO HARD TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. SO
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION TODAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND
THANK YOU FOR MAKING HARD
CHOICES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY,
HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO BENEFIT
THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE MOST OF
OUR ATTENTION AND CERTAINLY THE
LION'S SHARE OF THE RESOURCES
THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR STATE
RIGHT NOW AND THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE THERE FOR YOU. THANK YOU,
MISS. THANK YOU. DOLORES YOU
HAVE BEEN A LEADER ACROSS OUR
STATE FOR MANY GENERATIONS,
DESPITE LOOKING NOT A DAY OVER
27, WHERE ARE WE NOW WITH
POVERTY IN ALL OF YOUR LIFETIME
OF ORGANIZING AND FIGHTING,
WHERE IS THE LABOR MOVEMENT?
WHERE IS CALIFORNIA? ARE WE
WORSE THAN WE'VE BEEN BEFORE? DO
YOU FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON A PATHWAY
BETTER. HAVE WE MADE STRIDES AND
FALLEN BACK? WHAT WAS IT? WHAT
DO YOU THINK? WHERE OF WHERE WE
ARE? WELL, IN MY LIFETIME, I
REMEMBER GOING TO MEXICO WHEN I
WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND SEEING
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS SLEEPING,
AND I THOUGHT, I'LL NEVER SEE
THAT IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. AND WHEN WE SEE ALL OF
THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THE RENT,
YOU KNOW, WE SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE
JUST LIVING SUCH POVERTY BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH
MONEY. WE KNOW THAT OUR SYSTEM
IS SOMEWHAT FAILING, AND SO WE
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND AS ALEGRIA JUST SAID, THE
BEST WAY IS TO RAISE PEOPLE'S
WAGES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
WORKING PEOPLE, WHEN THEY GET A
CHECK, THEY SPEND THAT MONEY AT
THE GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW,
THEY PAY THEIR RENT, YOU KNOW,
THEY PAY UTILITIES, ETC. AND
THEY DON'T PUT IT IN STOCKS AND
BONDS AND STASH IT AWAY. THEIR
MONEY GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE
INCOME STREAM. WHEN YOU HAVE
THESE VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW, THEY HAVE THEY GET TONS
AND TONS OF MONEY, BUT THEY
DON'T PUT THAT MONEY INTO THE
INCOME STREAM. SO WE HAVE TO
THINK, HOW CAN WE KEEP OUR
ECONOMY FLOWING AND MAKING SURE
THAT EVERYBODY, ALL SOCIETY,
BENEFITS FROM THE WEALTH THAT WE
HAVE? SO I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD
FOR LEGISLATORS BECAUSE WE CAN'T
CONTROL HOW THEY RAISE THE RENTS
OR HOW THEY HOW THEY, YOU KNOW,
RAISE THE PRICES OF FOOD, ETC.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER WE
CAN WITHIN OUR POWER, YOUR POWER
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POOR
PEOPLE DO NOT SUFFER FROM THE
SINS OF OTHERS. OKAY. THIS IS
THEY ARE YOU MIGHT SAY, YOU ARE
THE CARETAKERS OF THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA, AND ESPECIALLY THE
POOR PEOPLE, THE WORKING PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S AN
INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY THAT
IT'S NOT LOST ON ME. IT IS NOT
LOST ON SPEAKER RIVAS IT IS NOT
LOST ON ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
CHOLERA. JOAN SAWYER,
ASSEMBLYWOMAN REYES ASSEMBLY
MEMBER JUAN CARRILLO, WHO ARE
ALL WITH US TODAY. I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF THE PANELISTS WHO
CAME TO TESTIFY. I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF THE SEIU MEMBERS AND
WORKERS AND, POVERTY ALLEVIATION
ADVOCATES WHO HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE
THE CAPITOL RAISING RIGHTEOUS
NOISE ALL DAY, CALLING ON US TO
THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THIS
BUDGET THAT WE ARE WORKING ON,
FROM THE TESTIMONY THAT I'VE
HEARD ALL DAY TODAY AND IN
PREVIOUS HEARINGS OF THIS
COMMITTEE, IT'S VERY CLEAR TO
ME, THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE STRUGGLING. AT THE SAME
TIME, WE HAVE THE GREATEST
WEALTH WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE ON OUR
STREETS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE
HAVE A LARGER AND GROWING
BILLIONAIRE CLASS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. THAT IS WHY WE'RE
FEELING THIS ECONOMIC
INSTABILITY IN THE BUDGET. THAT
IS WHY WE ARE FEELING THE
ECONOMIC ANXIETY ACROSS OUR
STATE AND THE BRUNT OF THAT
WEIGHT IS BEING FELT ON THE SAME
COMMUNITIES WHERE THE RENT IS
TOO HIGH, THE WAGES ARE TOO LOW,
THE SCHOOLS ARE UNDERFUNDED, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS ARE NEXT
DOOR AND THE POLICE ARE AROUND
THE CORNER. WE'VE GOT TO THINK
ABOUT THIS COMPREHENSIVELY AND
CRITICALLY. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO IN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR GIVING VOICE TO THAT
PROCESS. AND WITH THAT, THAT
CONCLUDES TODAY'S HEARING ON THE
SELECT COMMITTEE OF POVERTY AND
ECONOMIC INCLUSION. THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU.