THE ASSEMBLY IS NOW IN SESSION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WEBER NOTICES
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE
SERGEANT AT ARMS WILL PREPARE
THE CHAMBER AND BRING IN THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. THE CLERK WILL
CALL THE ROLL. ADDIS
AGUIAR-CURRY ALANIZ. ALVAREZ
ARAMBULA BAINES. BARBER. KHN.
BENNETT. BERM THÀNH. BERNER.
BONTA BRIAN. CALDERON, JUAN.
CARRILLO, WENDY. CARRILLO.
CERVANTES CHEN. CONNELLY. DALLEY
DAVIES. DIXON. ISOLE FLORA,
MIKE. FONG. FRIEDMAN GABRIEL.
GALLAGHER. GARCIA GIBSON.
GRAYSON. HANEY HART. HOLDEN.
HOOVER IRWIN. JACKSON.
JONES-SAWYER CORA. LACKEY. LEE
LOW. LOWENTHAL. MAIENSCHEIN
MATHIS. MCCARTY. MCKENNA
MURATSUCHI. NGUYEN. ORTEGA
PACHECO. PAPPIN. JIM PATTERSON,
JOE. PATTERSON. PELLERIN
PETRIE-NORRIS. QUIRK-SILVA.
RAMOS RENDON. REYES. LUCE RIVAS.
RODRIGUEZ. RUBIO SANCHEZ.
SANTIAGO. SCHIAVO SORIA. TO TING
. VALENCIA. VÆ. VALLAPUDUA
WALDRON. WALLACE. WARD WEBER.
WICKS. WILSON WOOD. ZUBER. MR.
SPEAKER.
MEMBERS A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE
ASK OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS IN
THE REAR OF THE CHAMBER AND IN
THE GALLERY TO PLEASE STAND FOR
THE PRAYER AND THE FLAG SALUTE.
TODAY'S PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED
BY OUR ASSEMBLY CHAPLAIN, IMAM
YASIR KHAN. IN THE NAME OF GOD,
THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST
MERCIFUL, ALMIGHTY GOD. AND THIS
ASSEMBLY, WE COME BEFORE YOU
WITH HEARTS OPEN AND SPIRITS
ATTUNED TO YOUR GUIDANCE. GRANT
US THE CLARITY TO DISCERN TRUTH
AMIDST COMPLEXITY, THE EMPATHY
TO UNDERSTAND DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES, AND THE COURAGE TO
ACT WITH CONVICTION. THÀNH AS WE
DELIBERATE AND DECIDE. MAY YOUR
LIGHT ILLUMINATE OUR PATH
LEADING US TO CHOICES THAT HONOR
JUSTICE. UPHOLD THE DIGNITY AND
FOSTER UNITY. MAY OUR MAY OUR
WORDS BE TEMPERED WITH KINDNESS,
OUR ACTIONS DRIVEN BY COMPASSION
AND OUR INTENTIONS GROUNDED IN
THE COMMON GOOD. BLESS OUR
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO SERVE OUR
COMMUNITY WITH WISDOM AND GRACE.
MAY WE BE INSTRUMENTS OF
HEALING, RECONCILIATION, AND
PROGRESS GUIDED BY YOUR ETERNAL
LOVE. IN YOUR HOLY PRESENCE, WE
HUMBLY OFFER THIS PRAYER. AMEN.
THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WILSON AS SHE LEADS US IN
THE PLEDGE. MEMBERS, STAFF, AND
VISITORS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE
PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG STATES OF AMERICA AND
TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. YOU
MAY BE SEATED. READING OF THE
PREVIOUS DAY'S JOURNAL. ASSEMBLY
CHAMBERS, SACRAMENTO, THURSDAY,
MAY 2ND, 2024. THE ASSEMBLY MET
AT 9 A.M. THE HONORABLE JIM WOOD
AND MR. FLORES SECONDS THAT THE
READING OF THE PREVIOUS DAY'S
JOURNAL BE DISPENSED WITH.
PRESENTATIONS AND PETITIONS.
THERE ARE NONE. INTRODUCTION AND
REFERENCE OF BILLS WILL BE
DEFERRED. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
WILL BE DEEMED READ AND
AMENDMENTS DEEMED ADOPTED.
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.
THERE ARE NONE. MESSAGES FROM
THE SENATE. THERE ARE NONE.
MOVING TO MOTIONS AND
RESOLUTIONS. THE ABSENCES FOR
THE DAY FOR MEDICAL LEAVE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JONES, SAWYER
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER MATHIS FOR
ILLNESS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON.
MEMBERS. PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY
RULE 77.2, I AM REFERRING ITEM
24 AB 2295, MR. LOWENTHAL, TO
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. MOVING
TO A PROCEDURAL MOTIONS.
MAJORITY LEADER AGUIAR-CURRY,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. SPEAKER. I
REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE 45.5 TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BERMAN AND
WALLACE TO SPEAK ON ADJOURNMENT
AND MEMORY TODAY. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE
118A TO ALLOW ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CALDERON TO HAVE GUESTS IN THE
REAR OF THE CHAMBER AND AT THE
ROSTRUM TO ALLOW ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS. BERNER, BONTA, PHILIP
AND CALDERON TO HAVE GUESTS
SEATED AT THEIR DESKS AND TO
ALLOW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS.
AGUIAR-CURRY REYES WARD,
GALLAGHER, WALDRON, WOOD AND
WILSON TO HAVE GUESTS IN THE
REAR OF THE CHAMBER TODAY.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE
THE ORDER. AT THE REQUEST OF THE
AUTHORS, PLEASE REMOVE ITEM 18
S.B. 1523, COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
ITEM 88 S.B. 1225. JONES FROM
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. CLERK WILL
NOTE A REQUEST. UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO WITHDRAW AB 2129
PETRIE-NORRIS AND AB 2541.
BAINES FROM FROM ENROLLMENT AND
ORDER THE BILLS TO RETURN TO THE
SENATE FOR FURTHER ACTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SHALL BE THE
ORDER AT THE REQUEST OF ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WICKS, I AM GIVING A ONE
DAY NOTICE TO REMOVE ITEM Ã
SEVEN SB 675 LIMÓN FROM THE
INACTIVE FILE. CLERK WILL NOTE I
REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE 56 TO
ALLOW THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES
TO NOTICE BILLS PENDING RE
REFERRAL FROM OTHER COMMITTEES.
TO ALLOW THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
TO NOTICE TWO BILLS FOR THE JULY
2ND HEARING. SB 201. EXCUSE ME
12 ZERO ONE DARAZO AND SB 1286
MEN, BOTH PENDING RE REFERRAL
FROM THE BANKING AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE TO ALLOW THE LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE TO NOTICE
SB 1298, CORTEZ FOR THEIR JULY
2ND HEARING PENDING THE RE
REFERRAL FROM NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE. WITHOUT OBJECTION,
SUCH SHALL BE THE ORDER I MOVE
TO SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE 96 AND
WITHDRAW AB 2813 AGUIAR-CURRY
FROM THE RULES COMMITTEE AND
ALLOW THE AUTHOR TO TAKE UP THE
BILL WITHOUT REFERENCE TO FILE
TODAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF A THIRD
READING, MISTER FLORA. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WITHHOLD
CONSENT AND ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
VOTE MAJORITY LEADER MISTER
FLORA IS ASKING FOR A ROLL CALL
VOTE OBJECTING TO CONSENT. THE
MAJORITY LEADER MOVES. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ORTEGA SECONDS TO SUSPEND
THE RULES. MEMBERS. THIS IS A
PROCEDURAL VOTE ON THE
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND NOT
DEBATABLE. THE CLERK WILL OPEN
THE ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTED WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE LEADER IS MAJORITY
LEADER ASKING FOR AN AYE VOTE.
MISTER FLORA ASKING FOR A NO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. THIS REQUIRES 40 VOTES.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 40. NOES
12. MOTION CARRIES THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY
RULE 96. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO RE REFER THE
FOLLOWING BILLS TO COMMITTEE SB
92 UMBERG FROM THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SB 52.
DOLLY. FROM THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE TO THE REVENUE AND
TAXATION COMMITTEE. SB 957
WIENER FROM THE PRIVACY AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. SB
984 WAHAB FROM THE GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, SB
1092 BLAKE SPEAR FROM THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. AND
THEN AFTER SECOND READING IS
ADOPTED TO RE REFER SB 1298
CORTEZ FROM THE LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE TO THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE,
THEN BACK TO THE LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU,
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER, JUST FOR
CLARIFICATION, THAT WAS SB 542.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SET SHALL BE
THE ORDER. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO
SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE 96 AND
WITHDRAW THE FOLLOWING BUDGET
RELATED BILLS FROM THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE AND ORDER THEM TO THE
SECOND READING. FILE SENATE.
BILLS
1081091531551561591601611621631641661681691701711
73 174, AND 175. MR. FLORA,
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WITHHOLD
CONSENT AND ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
VOTE SO THE MAJORITY LEADER
MOVES MR. FLORA OBJECT S MISS
ORTEGA SECONDS MEMBERS, THIS IS
A PROCEDURAL VOTE ON THE
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES AND NOT
DEBATABLE. THE CLERK WILL OPEN
THE ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTED WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE A PROCEDURAL
MOTION. MAJORITY LEADER ASKING
FOR AN AYE VOTE. MR. FULLER
ASKING FOR A NO VOTE. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE ON A
PROCEDURAL MOTION BILL. THE
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 41. NOES
12. MOTION CARRIES. THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED. I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SUSPEND
JOINT RULE 62 A THE FILE NOTICE
REQUIREMENT TO ALLOW THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO HEAR AB2
95. LOWENTHAL AND SB 92 LUMBERGH
AT THE HEARING ON TUESDAY, JUNE
25TH AT 9 A.M. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER. SB 1524 DODD IS CURRENTLY
ITEM ONE ON THE SECOND READING.
I REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HEANEY TO TAKE
UP SB 1524 TODAY WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO FILE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THIRD READING WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO WITHDRAW AB 1974
PETRIE-NORRIS FROM ENROLLMENT
AND ORDER THE BILL TO BE HELD AT
THE DESK WITHOUT OBJECTION. SET
SHALL BE THE ORDER. WELL, WE'RE
GOING TO START WITH SOME
INTRODUCTIONS. THERE'LL BE A LOT
OF INTRODUCTIONS TODAY. MEMBERS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, PLEASE,
MEMBERS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WISHING ASSEMBLY MEMBER PELLERIN
A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY. LET'S
ALSO WISH ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON
A HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY AS HE
CELEBRATES TOMORROW. HE'S NOT
HERE TODAY. HE'S HE'S SICK. BUT
WE'LL GET ANOTHER CHANCE AT HIM
HOPEFULLY IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU
HAVE A GUEST WITH US TODAY? YES.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
MY YOUNGEST SON, BRANT CALDERON.
HE'S HOME FROM BERKELEY. AND SO
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO
THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER VÆ VALLAPUDUA, YOU HAVE A
GUEST WITH YOU TODAY? I DO,
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I
HAVE MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, MY
EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. SHE'S
ON HER SUMMER BREAK. JUST GOT
DONE WITH HER TENNIS CAMP, AND
SHE NEEDED A BREAK. SO NOW SHE'S
HANGING HERE WITH HER FATHER. SO
LET ME INTRODUCE CATALINA. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER VÆ
VALLAPUDUA. WELCOME, CATALINA.
WE'LL NOW BE MOVING TO BUSINESS
ON THE DAILY FILE. WE'LL HAVE
FURTHER INTRODUCTIONS TODAY. I
DO WANT TO NOTE, WE DO HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL. WE HAVE A LOT OF
GUESTS WITH US TODAY, AND I'M
SURE I'M GOING TO LEAVE SOMEBODY
OUT. AND I'M SURE SOMEONE WILL
HELP ME WITH THAT LATER ON. BUT
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME WITH US
TODAY, FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PAUL HORCHER IS WITH US HERE
TODAY. FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER
AND SENATOR AND SPEAKER. SPEAKER
OF THE ASSEMBLY, BOB HERTZBERG
IS HERE WITH US TODAY. FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RUSTY ARIAS IS
HERE WITH US TODAY AS WELL. AS
IS FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARY
CONDIT. ALSO, FORMER ASSEMBLY
MEMBER AND CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA
IS WITH US HERE TODAY. AND
FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND A LOT
OF THINGS, INCLUDING ATTORNEY
GENERAL BILL LOCKYER IS WITH US
HERE TODAY. AND I'M SURE I'VE
MISSED SOME. AND I WILL BE
ADDING TO THAT AS WE GO THROUGH
THE REST OF THE REST OF THE
SESSION HERE TODAY. SO MOVING TO
BUSINESS ON THE ON THE DAILY
FILE SECOND READING CLERK WILL
READ THE SENATE BILLS 1524 9059
82 1144 1242 1416 1174, 1209
1159 WITH AMENDMENTS 1272, WITH
AMENDMENTS 1006, WITH AMENDMENTS
1062, WITH AMENDMENTS 1420. WITH
AMENDMENTS 1210, WITH AMENDMENTS
1298, WITH AMENDMENTS 1180 WITH
AMENDMENTS. SENATE BILL 1371 AND
SENATE BILL 1523. ALL BILLS WILL
BE DEEMED READ AND ALL
AMENDMENTS WILL BE DEEMED
ADOPTED. WE'RE GOING TO BE
MOVING TO THE. ITEM 51. ITEM 51
H.R. 109, BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CALDERON. THE CLERK WILL READ.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 109 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CALDERON AND OTHERS
RELATIVE TO WILLIE L BROWN.
JUNIOR DAY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CALDERON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS, I RISE TODAY TO PRESENT
HOUSE RESOLUTION 109 TO MARK
TODAY AS WILLIE L BROWN. JUNIOR
DAY. MR. BROWN IS ONE OF THE
MOST RENOWNED POLITICAL MINDS IN
OUR STATE'S HISTORY. HE WAS ONE
OF ONLY FOUR AFRICAN AMERICANS
IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN FIRST
ELECTED. HE IS THE FIRST AFRICAN
AMERICAN SPEAKER OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY, AND
HE SERVED 30 YEARS IN THE
ASSEMBLY, 15 YEARS AS SPEAKER,
THE LONGEST TENURE IN
CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY. HE THEN
WENT ON TO SERVE EIGHT
SUCCESSFUL YEARS AS THE MAYOR OF
SAN FRANCISCO. BUT HIS IMPACT
GOES BEYOND HOW MANY TERM'S HE
SERVED AND THE LEGISLATION HE
AUTHORED. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
ELEVATING THIS INSTITUTION, IN
RAISING THE STANDARDS FOR WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE A STRONG AND
EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR. HE ALSO
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED WHAT THE
HALLS OF THIS BUILDING LOOKED
LIKE, RECRUITING STAFF AS
DIVERSE AS OUR STATE AND
EMPOWERING A NEW GENERATION OF
LEADERSHIP. MR. BROWN CONTINUES
TO SHAPE POLITICAL LIFE IN
CALIFORNIA, SERVING AS A MENTOR
AND ADVISOR TO STATE AND
NATIONAL LEADERS. WE ARE FOREVER
INDEBTED TO HIM FOR HIS SERVICE
TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. VÀ.
FOR THESE REASONS, I'M HONORED
TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION
PROCLAIMING THIS DAY AS WILLIE L
BROWN JUNIOR DAY. MAY WE ALWAYS
CELEBRATE HIM FOR HIS
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEGENDARY
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. CALDERON. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WARD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE
TODAY AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE
LEGISLATIVE LGBTQ CAUCUS IN
SUPPORT OF H.R. 109, DESERVINGLY
, COMMEMORATING JUNE 24TH AS
WILLIE L BROWN DAY. TODAY WE NOT
ONLY REMEMBER, BUT ALSO
CELEBRATE THE LONG LASTING
LEGACY OF A TRAILBLAZING
CALIFORNIA LEADER WHOSE LIFE'S
WORK HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO
ADVANCING EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL. SPEAKER BROWN WAS NOT
JUST A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR HIS
CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO A BEACON
OF PROGRESS FOR LGBTQ
CALIFORNIANS ACROSS OUR STATE.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, SPEAKER
BROWN CHAMPIONED LGBTQ RIGHTS
WITH PASSION AND UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT. SHORTLY BEFORE
ENTERING THE ASSEMBLY, SPEAKER
BROWN INTRODUCED AND WORKED
TIRELESSLY FOR TWO YEARS TO PASS
HIS BILL THAT DECRIMINALIZE
HOMOSEXUALITY IN CALIFORNIA.
BUILDING OFF HIS WORK, SPEAKER
BROWN WAS NOT WAS ONLY ONE OF
TWO ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WHO VOTED
AGAINST A 1977 BILL BANNING SAME
SEX MARRIAGE. HIS COURAGE TO
STAND UP AGAINST HATE AND
DISCRIMINATION, TARGETING A
COMMUNITY THAT HE IS NOT A
MEMBER OF, INSPIRED COUNTLESS
OTHERS TO JOIN THE FIGHT FOR
EQUALITY, TURNING THE TIDES OF
HISTORY TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE
AND JUST CALIFORNIA. SPEAKER
BROWN UNDERSTOOD THAT EQUALITY
IS NOT NEGOTIABLE, AND THAT
EVERY CALIFORNIAN DESERVES TO
LIVE OPENLY, AUTHENTICALLY, AND
GENUINELY THEMSELVES WITHOUT
FEAR OF DISCRIMINATION AND
FURTHER, HIS ADVOCACY FOR OUR
LGBTQ COMMUNITY TRANSCENDED
LEGISLATION, AS HE ALSO WORKED
DILIGENTLY TO ADDRESS THE HIV
AIDS CRISIS, INCLUDING HIS
SUCCESS IN SECURING FUNDING FOR
RESEARCH AND INCREASING
EDUCATION TO COMBAT STIGMA
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISEASE. LET
US CARRY ON SPEAKER BROWN'S
LEGACY AND ALLOW HIS SPIRIT TO
INSPIRE US ALL IN OUR ADVOCACY
TO ENSURE THAT TRUE EQUALITY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS, NO
MATTER WHAT ADVERSITY WE FACE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM WHITTIER FOR AND MEMBERS OF
THE BLACK CAUCUS FOR BRINGING
FORTH THIS MEASURE AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE ON H.R. 109. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WARDE, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PELLERIN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, OUR
HONOREE ONCE SAID IN A POPULAR
2001 MOTION PICTURE, IT NEVER
COMES DOWN ON WILLIE BROWN, BUT
TODAY, PLENTY WILL COME DOWN ON
OUR HONOREE ADMIRATION, RESPECT,
CELEBRATION, REVERENCE.
APPRECIATION. PRAISE.
RECOGNITION THÀNH AND LOVE. AS A
FORMER STAFFER TO OUR LONGEST
SERVING SPEAKER, I AM PROUD TO
SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S
CAUCUS AS WE HONOR WILLIE L
BROWN, WHO CELEBRATED HIS 90TH
BIRTHDAY IN MARCH. TODAY, ON
THIS ASSEMBLY FLOOR WHERE THE
LEGENDARY WILLIE L BROWN JUNIOR
SERVED FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS,
WE CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF A DISTINGUISHED
LEADER AND ADVOCATE, A MAN WHOSE
LEGACY IS DEFINED BY HIS
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE
, EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT
OF WOMEN. WILLIE L BROWN JR A
NAME SYNONYMOUS WITH POLITICAL
ACUITY AND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP,
HAS BEEN A TRANSFORMATIVE FIGURE
IN AMERICAN POLITICS FOR MORE
THAN SIX DECADES, SERVING AS THE
SPEAKER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSEMBLY AND THE MAYOR OF SAN
FRANCISCO. HIS IMPACT ON THE
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IS PROFOUND
AND ENDURING. HOWEVER OVER AMONG
MANY OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ONE
STANDS OUT HIS STEADFAST
DEDICATION TO ADVANCING THE
RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN. FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS OF
HIS CAREER, WILLIE BROWN
UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF
GENDER EQUALITY IN AN ERA WHERE
WOMEN'S VOICES WERE OFTEN
MARGINALIZED, AND HE CHAMPIONED
THEIR INCLUSION AND
REPRESENTATION. IN 1964, WILLIE
BROWN WAS ELECTED TO THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY. HIS
TENURE IN THE ASSEMBLY WAS
MARKED BY HIS RELENTLESS FIGHT
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE
, AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY. WILLIE
BROWN CHAMPIONED NUMEROUS
LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES THAT
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS
CALIFORNIANS, PARTICULARLY FROM
THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
HIS EFFORTS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION
, HEALTH CARE, AND WORKERS
RIGHTS SET A NEW STANDARD FOR
PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP. UNDER
HIS LEADERSHIP, THE NUMBER OF
WOMEN IN THE ASSEMBLY INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY IN ENSURING THAT
THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD ON
CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING
FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND OUR
GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA. HE
WAS ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY IN
1980, A POSITION HE HELD FOR A
RECORD 15 YEARS AND WILL HOLD
FOR ALL ETERNITY. AS SPEAKER, HE
SKILLFULLY NAVIGATED THE
COMPLEXITIES OF STATE POLICY
POLITICS, FORGING BIPARTISAN
ALLIANCES AND FOSTERING A
COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT. HIS
STRATEGIC ACUMEN AND ABILITY TO
BUILD CONSENSUS WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN PASSING CRITICAL
LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSED THE
NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY GROWING AND
DIVERSE CALIFORNIA VÀ. AS
SPEAKER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSEMBLY, HE BROKE NEW GROUND BY
APPOINTING WOMEN TO KEY
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, FOSTERING
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEIR
TALENTS AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES
HELPED SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY. IN
CALIFORNIA, WOMEN LIKE MY
ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE FROM
WHITTIER, WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF
THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE US TODAY,
AND PHENOMENAL WOMEN LIKE OUR
FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS, DELAINE EASTIN, WHOSE
MEMORIAL WE ATTENDED THIS
MORNING, ELEANOR JOHNS, WHO
SERVED IN MANY LEADERSHIP ROLES
IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND WAS
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
WILLIE L BROWN INSTITUTE ON
POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE. HIS
FIRST PRESS SECRETARY, BOBBY
METZGER, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF,
LESLIE MEDINA, AND OTHER
INCREDIBLE WOMEN LEADERS LIKE
PATTY JO RUTLAND, ELIZABETH
KIRSTEN, LILY SPITZ, FLOAT
SANCHEZ, MARLENE GARCIA,
MARGUERITE ARCHIE HUDSON,
CELESTE ROSE, JOANNE O'MALLEY,
GAIL KAUFMAN, AND BERTHA GORMAN,
TO JUST NAME A FEW. MAYOR
BROWN'S TENURE IN SAN FRANCISCO
WAS MARKED BY HIS RELENTLESS
PURSUIT OF POLICIES THAT
SUPPORTED WOMEN IN EVERY ASPECT
OF THEIR LIVES. HE PRIORITIZED
AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE,
RECOGNIZING THAT ACCESS TO
QUALITY CHILDCARE IS ESSENTIAL
FOR WOMEN TO PURSUE THEIR
CAREERS AND EDUCATION. HIS
ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AIMED TO
REDUCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
TO SURVIVORS, AND ENSURING THEIR
SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. HE ALSO
CHAMPIONED EQUAL PAY
INITIATIVES, STRIVING TO CLOSE
THE WAGE GAP AND PROMOTE
ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR WOMEN
ACROSS THE CITY. BEYOND POLICY,
WILLIE BROWN'S PERSONAL
COMMITMENT TO MENTORING AND
EMPOWERING WOMEN HAS LEFT AN
INDELIBLE MARK. HE RECOGNIZED
THAT TRUE PROGRESS REQUIRES NOT
ONLY SYSTEMIC CHANGE, BUT ALSO
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH OUT HIS
CAREER, HE HAS MENTORED
COUNTLESS WOMEN, PROVIDING
GUIDANCE, INSPIRATION, AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO EXCEL
IN THEIR FIELDS. I AM BEYOND
GRATEFUL THAT I CONTINUE TO
BENEFIT FROM HIS MENTORSHIP AND
WITNESS HIS BRILLIANCE, WIT, AND
GENIUS FIRSTHAND. HIS BELIEF IN
THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN TO LEAD
AND INNOVATE HAS PAVED THE WAY
FOR A NEW GENERATION OF FEMALE
LEADERS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO
SHAPE OUR SOCIETY. HIS LEGACY IS
A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF
ADVOCACY, THE IMPORTANCE OF
REPRESENTATION, AND THE
TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF
INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP. HIS
EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY IMPROVED
THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS WOMEN,
BUT HAVE ALSO ENRICHED OUR
COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHENED OUR
DEMOCRACY. HE HAS INSPIRED
GENERATIONS OF POLITICIANS,
ACTIVISTS, AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS TO PURSUE PUBLIC
SERVICE WITH UNWAVERING
DEDICATION. HIS ABILITY TO
CONNECT WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL
WALKS OF LIFE, HIS ELOQUENCE AND
HIS UNYIELDING SPIRIT AND
CONTAGIOUS SMILE CONTINUE TO
SERVE AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND
INSPIRATION. WILLIE L BROWN JR
IS NOT JUST A POLITICAL ICON AND
A WELL TAILORED BRIONI SUIT. HE
IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE
POWER OF PERSEVERANCE, VISION
AND LEADERSHIP. HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CALIFORNIA AND
THE NATION HAVE LEFT AN
INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR HISTORY
AND HIS LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO
SHAPE THE FUTURE FOR YEARS TO
COME. IT'S WITH GREAT PRIDE AND
HONOR THAT I ASK YOU TO ALL
PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING ME THE
GREATEST GIFT ON MY BIRTHDAY BY
JOINING ME IN VOTING AYE FOR
H.R. 109, THE PROCLAIMS TODAY,
JUNE 24TH, WILLIE BROWN JR. DAY.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PELLERIN. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
CERVANTES. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, TODAY I RISE AS CHAIR
OF THE CALIFORNIA LATINO
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS IN SUPPORT OF
HOUSE RESOLUTION 109,
COMMEMORATING WILLIE BROWN DAY.
ON THIS OCCASION, WE HONOR A
TRUE LEGEND OF CALIFORNIA
POLITICS WHOSE NAME BELONGS IN
THE PANTHEON WITH JESSE UNRUH
AND JERRY BROWN, FORMER ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER AND MAYOR OF SAN
FRANCISCO WILLIE BROWN IS TRULY
ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL
FIGURES WHO SERVED IN THIS
LEGISLATURE AND INDEED IN THIS
VERY HOUSE. SPEAKER BROWN WELDED
US PRECEDENTED LEVELS OF
INFLUENCE IN DETERMINING THE
FUTURE OF OUR STATE, AND IN
SHAPING THE POLICY THAT EMANATED
FROM THIS VERY CHAMBER. AS A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE LGBT C¯
CAUCUS, THOSE BILLS INCLUDED
LANDMARK LEGISLATION
DECRIMINALIZING HOMOSEXUALITY IN
CALIFORNIA AND POLICIES
ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THE
HIV AND AIDS PANDEMIC. BUT
BEYOND HIS INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE
ON OUR GOLDEN STATE SPEAKER,
BROWN ALSO BECAME A WIDELY
RECOGNIZABLE VOICE IN NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC POLITICS. HIS
IMPASSIONED SPEECH REGARDING
SEATING THE CALIFORNIA
DELEGATION AT THE 1972
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
HELPED MAKE HIM A NATIONAL
FIGURE IN POLICY MAKING,
POLITICS, AND LEGISLATING. IF
THEY ARE A PROFESSION, THEN
SPEAKER BROWN IS TRULY AN
ACKNOWLEDGED MASTER. IT IS NO
SURPRISE THAT HIS VOICE HAS BEEN
SOUGHT FOR MENTORSHIP, FOR
COMMENTARY AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
FOR DECADES AFTER HIS PUBLIC
SERVICE. MR. SPEAKER, IT IS
TRULY AN HONOR TODAY TO HELP
CELEBRATE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
HELPED MAKE CALIFORNIA THE
GOLDEN STATE THAT IT TRULY IS,
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM WHITTIER FOR
BRINGING AND AUTHORING THIS
RESOLUTION AND FOR THESE VERY
REASONS. ON BEHALF OF THE LATINO
CAUCUS, I JOIN OUR COLLEAGUES IN
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING AN I
VOTE ON H.R. 109. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WILSON, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. MR. SPEAKER,
MEMBERS, I RISE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE
BLACK CAUCUS TO HONOR AND
RECOGNIZE FORMER ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, I'M SORRY, FORMER
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER WILLIE BROWN ON
HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY, WILLIE LOUIS
BROWN, JR HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT
AND ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THROUGHOUT HIS ILLUSTRIOUS
CAREER IN LAW, POLITICS, AND
PUBLIC SERVICE, AND DARE I SAY,
HE IS NOT DONE YET. FROM HIS
EARLY DAYS IN MINEOLA, TEXAS,
WILLIE BROWN JR DEMONSTRATED THE
INTELLIGENCE, AMBITION AND
PASSION THAT WOULD LATER PROPEL
HIM TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST
INFLUENTIAL FIGURES IN
CALIFORNIA POLITICS. AFTER
GRADUATING FROM SAN FRANCISCO
STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE
IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LATER
EARNING HIS JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, HASTINGS COLLEGE OF
LAW, HE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A
SKILLED LAWYER AND AN ADVOCATE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. HIS ENTRY INTO
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY IN
1964 WAS A TURNING POINT, NOT
ONLY IN HIS CAREER, BUT ALSO FOR
THE STATE. HE BECAME A STRONG
AND EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR,
CHAMPIONING PROGRESSIVE POLICIES
SUCH AS ASSEMBLY BILL 489, WHICH
HAS BEEN MENTIONED FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, WHICH LEGALIZE
HOMOSEXUAL AND HOMOSEXUALITY IN
CALIFORNIA, TO HIS ASCENSION TO
THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY IN
1980, MARKED A HISTORIC MOMENT
AS HE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK
SPEAKER IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE IN THE
ASSEMBLY, WILLIE BROWN JR
DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERSHIP AND A DEEP COMMITMENT
TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. HIS
REMARKABLE NEGOTIATION SKILLS
AND POLITICAL ACUMEN EARNED HIM
THE NICKNAME THE AYATOLLAH OF
THE ASSEMBLY, AND HE REMAINS THE
LONGEST SERVING SPEAKER IN
CALIFORNIA HISTORY. AFTER
LEAVING THE ASSEMBLY DUE TO TERM
LIMITS IN 1995, WHICH IS THE
ONLY WAY THEY COULD GET HIM TO
LEAVE, HE CONTINUED TO SHAPE THE
STATE'S FUTURE AS MAYOR OF SAN
FRANCISCO. HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DURING HIS MAYORAL MAYORSHIP
INCLUDED MEDIATING LABOR STRIKES
AND OVERSEEING SIGNIFICANT CITY
DEVELOPMENTS HAVE LEFT AN
INDELIBLE MARK ON THAT CITY
FOLLOWING HIS RETIREMENT FROM
PUBLIC OFFICE. WILLIE BROWN JR
CONTINUES TO DEDICATE HIMSELF TO
COMMUNITY SERVICE, INCLUDING THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WILLIE L
BROWN JUNIOR INSTITUTE ON
POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE AT
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY,
WHICH TRAINS FUTURE MUNICIPAL
ADMINISTRATORS. WILLIE BROWN, JR
HAS SERVED AS A MENTOR AND AN
INSPIRATION TO COUNTLESS ELECTED
OFFICIALS, LEGISLATIVE STAFF,
AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGHOUT
HIS CAREER. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND HIS
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
HAVE SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS, INCLUDING
EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS
FLOOR. ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK
CAUCUS, I AM PROUD TO CELEBRATE
WILLIE BROWN, JUNIOR DAY ON JUNE
24TH, 2024, IN RECOGNITION OF
HIS EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR STATE. HIS LEGACY IS ONE
OF UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO
PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE
BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE, AS THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS,
RESPECTFULLY URGE A STRONG AYE
VOTE ON H.R. 109. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RAMOS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS. I STAND HERE
TODAY WITHIN THE EARLY DAYS OF
TRIBAL GAMING, WHEN I WAS TRIBAL
CHAIRMAN OF THE SEMINOLE TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT. WE SEEK YOUR ADVICE
ON MOVING FORWARD IN A LOT OF
DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE THERE.
I REMEMBER PERSONALLY A CALL
THAT WE HAD WHEN WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT A TRIBAL ISSUE WHERE YOU
WERE ON THE CALL AND ALSO
SPEAKER PEREZ WAS ON THE CALL,
AND WE ASKED MR. SPEAKER, WHAT
DO YOU THINK? AND IMMEDIATELY
THERE WAS A COUPLE VOICES COMING
FORWARD BECAUSE TWO SPEAKERS
WERE ON THE LINE FROM THAT POINT
FORWARD, WE CONTINUED TO MOVE
FORWARD IN FORMING A
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF IN
INDIAN COUNTRY HERE IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. VÀ WE CONTINUE TO
LOOK FORWARD TO FORMING THAT
RELATIONSHIP AND FORMING THIS
CAUCUS HERE TODAY ON THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. BECAUSE OF YOUR
FORCE VISION MOVING FORWARD,
WE'RE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY AND
HAVE A DIVERSE CAUCUS LIKE WE
HAVE TODAY. AND FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN THE STATE'S HISTORY,
BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
VISION, THERE IS A CALIFORNIA
INDIAN NOW IN THESE CHAMBERS. SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY. AND I ASK MY
COLLEAGUES AND JOINING THE
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND VOTING
AYE ON H.R. 109. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
RAMOS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER TING, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET
ELECTED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO
THE ASSEMBLY, YOU REALIZE YOU
HAVE VERY BIG SHOES TO FILL. AND
YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PAST
LEGISLATORS, WHETHER THEIR NAMES
ARE BURDENED OR MCCARTHY OR ANY
ANY NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS WHO
HAVE REPRESENTED OUR CITY IN
THIS VERY AUGUST BODY. BUT THERE
IS REALLY NO NAME THAT LOOMS
LARGER THAN SPEAKER BROWN.
SPEAKER BROWN, HIS ABILITY TO
REALLY CHART A LEGISLATIVE
COURSE AND LEGISLATIVE POWER WAS
A MAJOR CHANGING EVENT IN THIS
BODY'S HISTORY. THE REASON WE
HAVE AS MUCH LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORITY TODAY IS IN PART DUE
TO HIS VISION, HIS VISION TO
HAVE A FULL TIME STAFF REALLY,
DURING HIS TENURE, YOU SAW US
MOVE TOWARD A FULL TIME
LEGISLATURE. YOU SAW A
PROFESSIONAL IZATION OF THIS
BODY OF REALLY THE ENTIRE
LEGISLATIVE BODY SO THAT WE
COULD REALLY BECOME A CO-EQUAL
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. AND THAT'S
WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WORK SO HARD
TO GET RID OF HIM IS BECAUSE HE
REPRESENTED A RISE IN POWER OF
THIS BODY. AND I BELIEVE THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE
QUITE OFTEN IF YOU ARE TRYING TO
REACH THE GOVERNOR OR YOU'RE
TRYING TO REACH A DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO REACH THOSE FOLKS. BUT FOR
US, WE ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
EVERY DAY. WE'RE AT THE GROCERY
STORE, WE'RE AT THE FARMER'S
MARKETS. WE'RE AT ANY NUMBER OF
COMMUNITY EVENTS ON THURSDAY,
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. THEY
ALL KNOW HOW TO FIND US. AND
BECAUSE WE AS LEGISLATORS ARE
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. THANKS
TO HIM, THE PEOPLE'S VOICE WAS
RISEN. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT
NOT JUST THAT, BUT ALSO WHO THE
PEOPLE WERE BECAUSE OF HIM, HIS
LEADERSHIP, YOU LOOK AT THE
DIVERSITY OF NOT JUST HIS STAFF,
BUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HE
CHAMPIONED, THE VERY MUCH
DIVERSITY OF THIS BODY. THE
REASON THAT IT'S MORE
REPRESENTATIVE OF CALIFORNIA, OF
THE POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA,
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, FROM
ALL REACHES OF THE STATE IS
FRANKLY DUE TO HIM AND HIS HIS
VISION, HIS UNAPOLOGETIC NATURE,
THAT EVERYBODY WAS WELCOME IN
THIS BODY, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE
PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND WAS,
WHO YOU ARE, WHAT RACE, GENDER,
ETC. THAT YOU HAD A RIGHT TO BE
HERE AND TO BE PART OF THIS
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. EVERY TIME I
WOULD SIT DOWN WITH SPEAKER
BROWN, IT WAS LIKE A MASTER
CLASS IN ASSEMBLY POLITICS. AND
FOR ME, I ALWAYS MADE A POINT TO
MAKE SURE THAT I CAUGHT UP WITH
HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES EVERY
SINGLE YEAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER I,
I TOOK THIS JOB. I REMEMBER, YOU
KNOW, HIM GIVING ME A ONE POINT,
A FEW POINTS OF WISDOM. HE HE
TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO
BEING SPEAKER, HE WAS THE WAYS
AND MEANS CHAIR BACK BACK IN
THOSE DAYS, THE APPROPRIATIONS
AND THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE
WERE ONE COMMITTEE. SO IF YOU
CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH POWER THAT
ONE COMMITTEE PERSON HAD, YOU
CAN JUST THINK ABOUT IT. WELL
SPEAKER BROWN WAS CHAIR OF THE
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, AND I
THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT
SPEAKER BROWN AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY
AN AMAZING ORDER, DRESSED
IMPECCABLY. WELL BUT I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY REALIZES HOW HARD
HE WORKS. SO I REMEMBER ONE ONE
THING HE TOLD ME, HE'S LIKE MY
GOAL AS WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR. SO
IF YOU'RE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR,
THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL IS TO
KNOW EVERY MEMBER'S BILL BETTER
THAN THEM. SO CAN YOU IMAGINE?
CAN YOU IMAGINE KNOWING EVERY
MEMBER'S BILL BETTER THAN THEM?
HE SAID, MY GOAL IS I WANT TO BE
ABLE TO RECITE THAT BILL AND
TELL THAT. TELL THE MEMBER WHAT
THEIR BILL DOES BETTER THAN
THEM. THAT WAS HIS GOAL. THAT
WAS HIS GOAL. AND SO IT JUST A
REMINDER HOW MUCH HARD WORK YOU
PUT IN. IT'S NOT JUST POLITICAL
SAVVY, IT'S NOT JUST
INTELLIGENCE. IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT
OF HARD WORK. LONG BEFORE I
BECAME BUDGET CHAIR. AND THAT'S
SOMETHING I REMIND MY I REMINDED
THE BUDGET STAFF ABOUT THIS
POINT THAT THAT HE GAVE ME. HE'S
LIKE, JUST REMEMBER, THE
GOVERNOR'S GOT A BLUE PENCIL,
BUT THAT BLUE PENCIL CANNOT ADD
$1 TO THE STATE BUDGET. NOT ONE
THAT AUTHORITY RESTS IN THIS
BODY, NOT THE GOVERNOR'S. SO IF
THE GOVERNOR WANTS ANY THING IN
THE BUDGET, IT HAS TO COME FROM
THE LEGISLATURE. WE HAVE TO GIVE
IT TO HIM. AND SO JUST REMINDING
OURSELVES OF THE AUTHORITY THAT
WE HAVE, THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE
INVESTED US. AND EVERY TIME I
WOULD SIT DOWN WITH HIM, IT WAS
A REMINDER ABOUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE TO MAKE
PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER, BUT ALSO
THE AUTHORITY THAT THE PEOPLE
HAVE ENTRUSTED WITH US IN THAT
HE SINGULARLY REALLY DEFINED AND
BECAME A COMPLETE MASTER OF. SO
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
AND ASK FOR OUR VOTE IN SUPPORT
OF H.R. 109 AND RECOGNIZING
SPEAKER BROWN ON HIS 90TH
BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. TING. MR. LOWE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES AND TO OUR COLLEAGUE
FROM THE CITY OF INDUSTRY AND
WHITTIER AND PARTS OF LOS
ANGELES, FOR ALLOWING US AN
OPPORTUNITY AND RECOGNIZING
SPEAKER BROWN, I RISE ON BEHALF
OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS. AND I
REMEMBER SPEAKER BROWN FIRST,
WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD,
ATTENDING WHAT WE WOULD CALL
FAMILY ASSOCIATIONS IN
CHINATOWN, IN WHICH, AS A TEN
YEAR OLD, SEEING THEN THIS
ENTOURAGE WALK INTO THIS ROOM
AND SPEAKER WILLIE BROWN GIVES
GREETINGS IN CHINESE AND OF
COURSE, MY CHINESE MOTHER THEN
QUIPS, HE SPEAKS CHINESE BETTER
THAN YOU. AND OF COURSE, THAT
ENTIRE REST OF THE DINNER I WAS
PRACTICING. GREETINGS IN CHINESE
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT
SENTIMENT TO TRY TO ALWAYS
EXCEL, TO BE PROUD OF MY CHINESE
HERITAGE. BUT THAT SHOWS, OF
COURSE, THE TYPE OF
REPRESENTATION AND THE CULTURAL
COMPETENCY OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
SPEAKER BROWN HAS SIMILARLY
FOUGHT TO HELP ENSURE THAT
FILIPINO VETERANS DURING WORLD
WAR TWO GAINED UNITED STATES
CITIZENSHIP. HE WAS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST RANKING STATE OFFICIALS
TO SUPPORT REPARATIONS FOR
JAPANESE AMERICANS, AS WELL AS
SOME OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITY AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, TO RECOGNIZE THE
PERSONAL CONNECTION AS WELL. HE
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING
ENSURE THAT THE ASIAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY BROKE THE GLASS
CEILING OR AS WE WOULD CALL THE
BAMBOO CEILING, AND APPOINTING
THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN AND
WOMAN AS THE CHIEF
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THIS
BODY. AND MAY LEE, TOM MAY LEE,
TOM AS A STAFF PERSON. SHE MAY
OR MAY NOT HAVE HELPED EVEN
WRITE THESE TALKING POINTS. ONCE
A STAFFER, ALWAYS A STAFFER.
SPEAKER BROWN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND
ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY AND
RECOGNIZING YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWE,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. LACKEY, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, SPEAKER
AND MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO NOT
SQUANDER THIS OPPORTUNITY TO,
FIRST OF ALL, SHARE SOMETHING
WITH YOU THAT YOU MAY NOT BE
AWARE OF. AND THAT IS HOW HIGHLY
SPEAKER BROWN IS THOUGHT OF BY
THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL,
HE ENHANCED OUR COMPENSATION
SUBSTANTIALLY DURING HIS
LEADERSHIP, AND HE HELPED BUILD
OUR IMAGE BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD
THE SACRIFICE THAT THAT AGENCY
OFFERS THIS STATE. AND SO,
BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF
MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA
HIGHWAY PATROL, I BEING A
RETIRED MEMBER, I WANTED TO
PERSONALLY NOT WASTE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU, IT
WAS A VERY, VERY BIG DEAL. AND
HE KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO DETAIL
TO ALL OF YOU, BUT I ALSO WANT
TO CHALLENGE THOSE OF US ON THIS
FLOOR WHO ARE MEN TO PICK UP OUR
DRIP GAME. BECAUSE I CAN TELL
YOU, NO ONE, HE UNDERSTANDS THE
IMPORTANCE OF IMAGE. EVERYBODY
AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET
WHERE WE'RE AT WHEN WE'RE ON
THIS FLOOR. AND WE SHOULD
DIGNIFY BY THAT THROUGH OUR
EXPRESSION, ON THE ATTIRE THAT
WE WEAR, BECAUSE NO ONE CAN
MATCH THE GUY MAY BE 90 YEARS
OLD, BUT HE WIPES US ALL OUT ON
HOW NICE HE LOOKS. SO I THINK
THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE
IMPORTANT. AND IT'S NOT JUST A
COMPLIMENT, IT'S SOMETHING TO
LEARN FROM. AND SO I JUST WANTED
TO SAY THANK YOU AND WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE, WHAT HE'S DONE FOR
THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
AND OTHER THINGS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. LACKEY. SO,
MEMBER PAPPIN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. FOR SOME OF THESE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THEY WILL
FIND IT QUITE IRONIC THAT I
FOLLOW MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS
ABOUT THE HIGHWAY PATROL. I'M
SURE SPEAKER BROWN WILL GET A
KICK OUT OF THAT AS WELL. SO I
RISE TODAY NOT ONLY AS AN
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, BUT ALSO AS
ANOTHER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS,
DAUGHTER LOU PAPAN AND GROWING
UP, YOU KNOW, I SAW FIRSTHAND
SPEAKER BROWN'S PROWESS,
SIGNIFIED BY AN EXTRAORDINARY
TALENT AND HIS BIGGEST TALENT
WAS THAT HE COULD COUNT. AND NOT
ONLY COULD HE COUNT, BUT IT WAS
THE HOW HE COUNTED THAT WAS VERY
IMPORTANT. THIS WASN'T A GUY
THAT'S JUST WAS GOOD AT MATH.
SPEAKER BROWN COUNTED BASED ON
WHO EACH MEMBER WAS AND WHAT IT
TOOK TO GET THAT MEMBERS VOTE,
BUT STILL MAKE IT THAT THAT
MEMBER COULD GO BACK TO HIS OR
HER DISTRICT AND GET REELECTED.
AND THAT TAKES AN EXTRAORDINARY
TALENT WITH 79 OTHER FOLKS IN
THIS IN THIS BODY, AND I WATCHED
HIM ON THIS GREEN CARPET AND IT
WAS MASTERFUL. THERE IS NO DOUBT
ABOUT IT. IT IS SPECTACULAR TO
SEE HIM NOW, BECAUSE EVEN IN
THOSE DAYS AND NOW IT WAS LIKE
POETRY IN MOTION. AND HE WORKED
THIS CARPET AND COULD GET THINGS
DONE THAT NO ONE COULD GET DONE.
AND IT ALL CAME DOWN TO BEING
ABLE TO COUNT AND BE ABLE TO
COUNT IN A VERY MASTERFUL WAY.
IT IS SO SPECTACULAR TO SEE THAT
THAT POETRY CONTINUES AT AGE 90.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM WHITTIER FOR INTRODUCING
H.R. 109, WHO ALSO HAD A FAMILY
MEMBER SERVE WITH SPEAKER BROWN
AND I KNOW BY OSMOSIS AND OUR
OUR BEING AROUND OUR FAMILY
MEMBERS, WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
HOW IT'S DONE AND, I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO SAY, MAY THAT POETRY
CONTINUE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PAPPIN ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
HAYNIE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WANT
TO FIRST THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
WHITTIER AND MEMBERS OF THE
BLACK CAUCUS FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION. I
PROUDLY STAND HERE SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE JEWISH CAUCUS AND
AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF SAN
FRANCISCO, HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MY
MOST ACCOMPLISHED, MOST
DISTINGUISHED AND BEST DRESSED
CONSTITUENT, MR. SPEAKER, WILLIE
BROWN, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO
PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT AS MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SAN FRANCISCO
DID, SOME OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
PERSPECTIVE OF OUR LOVE FOR OUR
SPEAKER AND OUR MAYOR, MR.
WILLIE BROWN. YOU KNOW, SAN
FRANCISCO IS SOMETIMES CALLED A
KNIFE FIGHT IN A PHONE BOOTH.
AND YET, WHAT IS OFTEN NOT SAID
IS THAT THE TRUTH IS THAT FIGHT
IS HAPPENING BECAUSE POLITICIANS
ARE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER
OVER WHO CAN ANSWER THAT CALL
FROM WILLIE BROWN, WILLIE BROWN,
GENIUS. HIS WARMTH, HIS CHARM
HAVE MADE HIM NOT ONLY ONE OF
THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS IN
SAN FRANCISCO AND IN CALIFORNIA
HISTORY, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE
MOST BELOVED. I CAN TELL YOU FOR
SURE THAT PEOPLE IN SAN
FRANCISCO HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN
WILLIE BROWN AT ALL, OR HIS
IMPACT. IN FACT, IF YOU ARE AT
AN EVENT OR YOU HEAR WHISPERS OF
PEOPLE SAYING THAT THE MAYOR IS
HERE, IT'S JUST AS LIKELY TO BE
MAYOR BROWN AS IT IS TO BE OUR
CURRENT MAYOR. LONDON BREED. IN
FACT, EVERY TIME LONDON BREED
HAS AN EVENT AND MAYOR BROWN IS
THERE, SHE HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE ARE TWO MAYORS OF SAN
FRANCISCO IN THE ROOM. TO MOST
SAN FRANCISCANS, WILLIE BROWN
REPRESENT FOR US THE SAN
FRANCISCO THAT THEY LOVE, THE
SAN FRANCISCO THAT THEY ARE
PROUD OF. THE SAN FRANCISCO THAT
WILLIE BROWN BROUGHT TO THIS
CHAMBER OF INCLUSION, OF
FAIRNESS, OF JUSTICE. AS
MENTIONED BY MY COLLEAGUES
EARLIER, WILLIE BROWN JUNIOR'S
ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IS MARKED BY
NUMEROUS HONORS AND ACCOLADES. A
TOWERING FIGURE IN CALIFORNIA
POLITICS, HE MADE HISTORY. AND
IN MANY WAYS, IF IT WEREN'T FOR
TERM LIMITS, HE MAY STILL BE OUR
SPEAKER OR STILL BE OUR MAYOR.
EVEN, CONSIDERING THE INCREDIBLE
TALENTS THAT HE BROUGHT TO HIS
WORK. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE VOICE
TO SOME OF HIS IMPACT ON THE
PEOPLE OF OUR CITY AND OF OUR
STATE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY
SINGLE PERSON IN SAN FRANCISCO,
IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE FROM ANY
AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU HAVE A
WILLIE BROWN STORY IN THE
TENDERLOIN WHERE I LIVE, HIS
NAME IS STILL SPOKEN WITH
REVERENCE BECAUSE HE FOUGHT FOR
THE PEOPLE THERE, AND HE LET
THEM KNOW THAT THEY MATTERED. HE
DIDN'T JUST USE HIS CONNECTIONS
FOR THE POWERFUL AND WEALTHY. HE
MADE SURE THAT IN THOSE SAME
ROOMS, THE MARGINALIZED AND THE
DISENFRANCHIZED WERE REPRESENTED
AND HEARD. HE STILL TODAY IS
SOMEBODY WHO, IF YOU BRING UP
HIS NAME IN A TAXI, AT A
RESTAURANT, AT A BAR, OR ON THE
STREET, PEOPLE WILL SHARE WITH
YOU THEIR WILLIE BROWN STORY AND
HE MORE OFTEN THAN ANYTHING
REPRESENTS SOMEONE WHO HAD
INFLUENCE AND POWER, BUT WHO
TOOK THE TIME TO LISTEN TO
OTHERS. HIS INFLUENCE HAS
REACHED FAR BEYOND THIS CHAMBER.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE
ARE MANY FORMER SPEAKERS WHO ARE
HERE. THERE ARE MANY FORMER
LEGISLATORS WHO ARE HERE. THERE
ARE ALSO MANY FORMER DEPARTMENT
HEADS, MANY FORMER ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
COMMISSIONERS. THE REACH OF
WILLIE BROWN'S MENTORS AND HIS
UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO SERVICE
HAS EXTENDED TO GENERATIONS OF
LEADERS IN OUR STATE AND IN OUR
CITY. I ALSO WANT TO CLOSE, AND
OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS BY
REGISTERING A COMPLAINT ABOUT
WILLIE BROWN. HE HAS MADE IT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY
REPRESENTATIVE FROM SAN
FRANCISCO TO BE ANYTHING BUT
DISAPPOINTING WHEN IT COMES TO
FASHION AND STYLE. TRULY, WHY
EVEN BOTHER TO BUY A NICE SUIT
WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO BE
COMPARED TO ONE OF THE BEST
DRESSED, ONE OF THE MOST
ACCOMPLISHED, ONE OF THE MOST
ELOQUENT, AND THE ONE OF THE
MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL FIGURES
AND LEADERS IN THE HISTORY OF
OUR STATE. IT'S NOT FAIR,
WILLIE, BUT I ADMIRE YOU. YOU
INSPIRE ME. I'M GRATEFUL TO
FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS AND TO
REPRESENT YOU, HERE IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY, YOU ARE CONTINUING TO
BE AN INSPIRATION FOR US ALL.
AND WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE. VOTE ON H.R.
109. THANK YOU, MR. HANEY. SOME
REMEMBER JIM PATTERSON. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. I HAVE A WILLIE BROWN
STORY AS WELL. SO WHEN I WAS
MAYOR OF FRESNO, WILLIE BROWN
WAS MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO. AND
THE TOP TEN LARGEST CITIES IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ARE MET
REGULARLY. AND I WAS PRIVILEGED
TO ATTEND A NUMBER OF THEM
THROUGH MY MAYORAL YEARS. AND WE
WERE AT THE FAIRMONT HOTEL. MY
WIFE, SHARON HAD COME UP WITH ME
AND WE HAD JUST BEEN DISMISSED
FROM OUR CONFERENCE, AND I WAS
WALKING DOWN THE STEPS WITH
SHARON, AND GOT TO THE TO THE
CORNER AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO
HAIL A CAB WHEN WILLIE BROWN
NOTICED THAT I WAS TRYING TO DO
THAT. HE CAME OVER AND HE SAID,
JIM, WHEN YOU'RE IN MY TOWN, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO GET A CAB. TURNED
TO ONE OF HIS AIDES AND
WHISPERED SOMETHING. AND AROUND
THE CORNER CAME A BIG BLACK
LIMOUSINE. WELL, I THOUGHT IT
WAS VERY NICE AND SHARON AND I
STARTED TO WALK TOWARD IT AND
WILLIE BROWN SAID, WELL, WAIT A
MINUTE, JIM, THAT'S MINE. YOURS
IS NEXT. NOW, FOR A MAYOR FROM
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, THAT IF I
EVER HAD ONE LIMOUSINE, I'D HAVE
BEEN RECALLED. WILLIE BROWN HAD
TWO. IT WAS NOT JUST A STYLE,
BUT IT WAS THE KINDNESS OF
RECOGNIZING, THESE TWO FROM
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, AND,
ALLOWING US TO RIDE BACK TO OUR
HOTEL IN THE WILLIE BROWN
LIMOUSINE. NUMBER TWO, ANOTHER
STORY. WE WERE PRIVILEGED FOR A
LOT OF YEARS. AND WHEN I WAS
MAYOR, WE WERE ABLE TO INVITE
AND KEEP THE MISS CALIFORNIA
PAGEANT IN FRESNO FOR ALMOST 15
YEARS. AND ONE OF THE, PRACTICES
OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT
PAGEANT WOULD, WOULD MEAN THEY
WOULD BRING A, A, A GIFT OF SOME
SIGNIFICANCE TO THE MAYOR OF
FRESNO FROM THEIR HOMETOWN.
WELL, MISS SAN FRANCISCO WAS
THERE, AND SHE CAME UP AND GAVE
ME A GIFT, AND I OPENED IT UP
AND IT WAS THE COOLEST SAN
FRANCISCO GIANT WARM UP JACKET
YOU'D EVER WANT TO SEE. AND ON
THE INSIDE, IN SHARPIE, HE WROTE
A PERSONAL NOTE TO ME, AND HE
SIGNED IT. MAYOR WILLIE BROWN.
I'VE BEEN OFFERED $500 OR MORE
FOR THAT JACKET BY A LOT OF
PEOPLE, NOT BECAUSE SO MUCH IT
WAS THE SAN FRANCISCO JACKET,
BUT WHEN YOU OPENED IT UP, YOU
HAD A REALLY BIG WILLIE BROWN
SIGNATURE. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS
A VERY DECENT THING TO DO TO
SIGN IT TO THE MAYOR OF FRESNO.
AND, I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF
WILLIE BROWN FOR THE MAN HE WAS,
THE KINDNESS HE SHOWED TO ME.
AND THE FACT THAT, EVEN THOUGH
FRESNO WAS, I THINK, LIKE 8 OR
9, WE'RE, LIKE, FIFTH LARGEST
NOW. FRESNO WAS RESPECTED BY THE
MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO. AND WHEN
WE WERE INVOLVED IN THAT MAYOR'S
CONFERENCE OF THE TOP LARGEST
CITIES, FRESNO WAS WELCOMED, MR.
BROWN WAS KIND AND INTRODUCING
ME AND ACTUALLY SAYING A FEW
NICE THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE
ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA. AND SO I WANTED YOU
TO KNOW, THAT I TELL THIS STORY
BECAUSE. TWO LIMOUSINES AND HE
SHARED ONE OF THEM WITH SHARON
AND ME TO GO TO OUR HOTEL. SO
THANKS FOR HIS KINDNESS. THANKS.
THANKS FOR SIGNING THE INSIDE OF
THAT. THAT JACKET, AND ALSO
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, HE
WOULD HAVE THE KIND OF RESPECT
FOR A PLACE IN CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA KNOWN MAINLY FOR
AGRICULTURE. BUT WAS, A GROWING
AND BECOMING AN INFLUENTIAL CITY
AND REGION IN CALIFORNIA. THAT
WAS KIND OF HIM. AND IT WAS AN
ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME TO SERVE MY
EIGHT YEARS HOPING TO BE AS
EFFECTIVE AS HE WAS IN SAN
FRANCISCO. I TRIED, I GOT CLOSE,
BUT I, I DID MISS THE MARK A
BIT. BUT TO THE SPEAKER AND TO,
TO WILLIE BROWN AT 90 YEARS OF
AGE, I'M GOING TO BE, DELIGHTED
TO PUNCH THAT GREEN BUTTON. AND
IN HOPES THAT WILLIE WILL HEAR
THIS SOMEWHERE AND KNOW THE
KINDNESS THAT HE SHOWED TO
SHARON AND ME, IS NOT FORGOTTEN,
AND IT IMPRESSED THE DAYLIGHTS
OUT OF ME. THANK YOU, MR.
PATTERSON. TWO LIMOUSINES AND I
DROVE UP IN A CHEVY, SO THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. AND FOR THE
RECORD, MR. BROWN IS HERE, SO,
DOCTOR WEBER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE
TODAY AND JOIN MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE FLOOR, TO HONOR THE SPEAKER,
WILLIE L BROWN JR. GROWING UP, I
WOULD HEAR HIS NAME FREQUENTLY
IN MY HOME DOWN IN SAN DIEGO
FROM BOTH OF MY PARENTS. AS A
YOUNG LAWYER, HE JOINED FORCES
WITH MANY OTHER BLACK LAWYERS
ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING MY
LATE FATHER, TO START CABLE, THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK
LAWYERS. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
GETTING BLACK JUDGES APPOINTED
TO THE BENCH, AND WAS A
PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK
CAUCUS WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO
THE STATE ASSEMBLY, HE WAS ONE
OF JUST FOUR BLACK CALIFORNIANS
SERVING, BUT HIS KEEN POLITICAL
JUDGMENT, HIS ABILITY TO
SUCCESSFULLY WORK ACROSS THE
AISLE, AND HIS SHARP DECISION
MAKING SKILLS MADE HIM STAND OUT
FROM ALL OTHER LEGISLATORS AT
THAT TIME, HE WAS THE FIRST
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF
AFRICAN DESCENT, AND THE LONGEST
SERVING SPEAKER THAT WE WILL
EVER HAVE. HE IS NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AND
RESPECTED. HIS LIFE STORY
EMBODIES THE AMERICAN DREAM
DESPITE HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS,
AND SEGREGATE TEXAS, HE BECAME
THE MOST POWERFUL LEGISLATOR IN
CALIFORNIA HISTORY. SPEAKER
WILLIE BROWN IS A VISIONARY WITH
THE COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND
DETERMINATION TO GET THINGS DONE
DESPITE WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK
WERE INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLES,
OBSTACLES. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM WHITTIER FOR
ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE.
SPEAKER BROWN, AND I THANK YOU.
SPEAKER BROWN. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. SPEAKER BROWN, FOR YOUR
LIFELONG DEDICATION TO SERVING
CALIFORNIANS. AND WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
ON H.R. 109. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, DOCTOR WEBER. MR. SPEAKER,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. PRO TEM AND I ALSO
RISE THIS AFTERNOON, WITH WITH
MANY OF YOU TO HONOR THE 90TH
BIRTHDAY OF THE LONGEST SERVING
SPEAKER IN CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY
HISTORY. AS WE'VE HEARD, THE
SELF-PROCLAIMED AYATOLLAH OF OUR
ASSEMBLY, SPEAKER EMERITUS
WILLIE BROWN. SPEAKER BROWN,
TRAILBLAZER IS THE BEST WORD
THAT WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR NINE
DECADES ON EARTH. BECAUSE FOR 90
YEARS, 90 YEARS, YOU'VE SET
FEARLESS FIRES THAT LIGHT THE
WAY FOR GOOD FROM YOUR YOUR
PERSONAL JOURNEY OUT OF THE
SEGREGATED SOUTH IN THE 1950S TO
DEFENDING EDUCATOR AND CIVIL
RIGHTS ACTIVIST MARIO SAVIO AND
HELPING TO ORGANIZE SIT INS IN
THE 1960S TO YOUR GAME CHANGING
SUPPORT FOR LGBTQ CALIFORNIANS
IN THE 1970S TO YOUR
UNCOMPROMISING STAND AGAINST
PUBLIC SERVICE CUTS AND I'M
THINKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR
60 DAY BUDGET STAND OFF AGAINST
PETE WILSON IN 1992. AND THEN,
OF COURSE, TO YOUR 15
UNPRECEDENTED YEARS AS SPEAKER
OF THIS BODY, YOU ARE AN ICON.
YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND. AND
WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR
90TH BIRTHDAY HERE IN THIS
ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS THIS AFTERNOON
. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. SPEAKER,
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. ALL DEBATE HAVING
CEASED, ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON
, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? YES
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, IN
CLOSING, I WANT TO SHARE SOME
PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND
OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MR. BROWN.
THE NEEDS OF MEMBERS WERE ALWAYS
A TOP PRIORITY FOR MR. BROWN.
HIS COMMITMENT TO BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE ENABLED HIM, FOR
INSTANCE, TO BALANCE DOUBLE
DIGIT BILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS
WITH RAZOR THIN DEMOCRATIC
MARGINS. FRIEND AND FOE ALIKE
DESCRIBED HIM AS A POLITICAL
GENIUS, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT
INTELLECT AND GIFTED ORATOR WITH
THE ABILITY TO BRING HUMOR AND
LAUGHTER INTO ANY ROOM. FOR
EXAMPLE, AS A FAVOR TO A
REPUBLICAN MEMBER, HE ONCE SPOKE
TO A LARGE GROUP OF COMMUNITY
LEADERS IN A VERY CONCERNED
DISTRICT. THEY WANTED TO VOICE
THEIR CRITICISMS AND PERSONALLY
VENT THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH
HIS LEADERSHIP. DURING HIS
SPEECH, HOWEVER, HE WAS
INTERRUPTED NOT BY BOOS, BUT BY
LAUGHTER, AND BY THE TIME HE WAS
DONE, HE GOT A STANDING OVATION.
THAT'S A TRUE STORY. THIS IS THE
EFFECT HE HAS ON PEOPLE. AS MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, MR.
BROWN IS A LARGER THAN LIFE
PERSONALITY WITH HIS OWN
SOPHISTICATED SENSE OF PERSONAL
STYLE. BUT AS SPEAKER, HE ALSO
FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO EMPOWER
THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED FOR HIM.
HE HIRED HUNDREDS OF STAFF,
PARTICULARLY WOMEN, BLACK,
LATINO AND ASIAN STAFF. HE
MENTORED THEM AS THEY ACHIEVED
GREAT ESTEEM OR PUBLIC OFFICE.
HE HAS AND STILL MENTORS
NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL
LEADERS AND CANDIDATES FOR
OFFICE. AND I'M PROUD TO BE ONE
OF THEM. I RECENTLY BUMPED INTO
A FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER WHO
SERVED UNDER WITH SPEAKER BROWN,
AND HE SAID, ISN'T THIS THE BEST
JOB EVER? IT'S THE GREATEST JOB,
RIGHT? AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT
IS A WONDERFUL JOB, AND IT'S
TRULY A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR
TO SERVE ON THE GREEN CARPET.
BUT THE BEST JOB I EVER HAD WAS
WORKING FOR WILLIE BROWN. HE
PUSHED HIS STAFF BECAUSE HE SAW
THINGS IN US THAT WE DID NOT SEE
IN OURSELF. I REMEMBER I'D BEEN
WORKING FOR HIM FOR A SHORT TIME
, AND HE CALLED ME INTO HIS
OFFICE AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW
WHAT? IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO
SPREAD YOUR WINGS. YOU'RE GOING
TO BE WORKING ON THE FIRST EVER
ECONOMIC SUMMIT. AND THIS WAS A
CONVENTION OF THE BEST MINDS IN
THE STATE TO FIND WAYS TO
STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S FALTERING
ECONOMY DURING THE WORST
RECESSION, CALIFORNIA HAD FACED
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. MR.
BROWN CONVENED THE SUMMIT
BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THE BIG
PICTURE. HE KNEW THAT THERE
WOULD BE NO NATIONAL RECOVERY
UNLESS CALIFORNIA RECOVERED. AND
FINALLY, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT
TO SHARE A SHORT PERSONAL STORY,
SEVERAL YEARS AFTER HE I LEFT
HIS EMPLOYMENT, HE WAS NOW THE
MAYOR, I RAN INTO HIM AT A
CALIFORNIA DELEGATION EVENT IN
WASHINGTON, D.C, AT SENATOR
FEINSTEIN'S HOME, AND I WAS
ABOUT TO GET MARRIED. AND IT WAS
ABOUT 20 DAYS AWAY FROM THE
WEDDING. AND HE SAID, I'M COMING
TO THE WEDDING. AND I THANKED
HIM AND HE SAID, LET ME SEE THE
RING. AND I SAID, WELL, I'VE
BEEN SO BUSY, WE HAVEN'T HAD
TIME TO GO RING SHOPPING. SO HE
PROCEEDED TO CALL MY HUSBAND
OVER IN FRONT OF SENATOR
FEINSTEIN, SPEAKER PELOSI AND
SEVERAL OTHER DIGNITARIES AND
JUST LIGHT HIM UP. AND SO LONG
STORY SHORT, THE NEXT WEEK, MY
HUSBAND DROVE TO SAN FRANCISCO.
MR. BROWN TOOK HIM SHOPPING, AND
I GOT A RING. AND SO THANK YOU
FOR THAT, MR. BROWN. BUT THE
POINT IS, WHEN MR. BROWN IS YOUR
FRIEND, HE'S YOUR FRIEND FOR
LIFE, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE
TODAY WITH YOU, MR. BROWN. AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
ON H.R. 109 AND THAT THE FIRST
ROLL BE OPEN FOR COAUTHORS.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CALDERON SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER DEBATE. THE CLERK WILL
OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE, ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. AS A
COAUTHOR. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE
THE ROLL AND TALLY THE VOTES.
THERE ARE 71 COAUTHORS ADDED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE A
VOICE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? SAY NO. THE AYES HAVE
IT. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING
A WARM WELCOME TO A SPEAKER
EMERITUS. WILLIE WILLIE L BROWN
JR.
THANK YOU. THANK. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VERY
WARM, WARM. WORDS THE
RECOLLECTION OF STORIES AND
PLACES AND PEOPLE. I MUST TELL
YOU THAT. NOTHING MATCHES BEING
A MEMBERS OF THIS BODY. VÆ THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE. OUR
UNMATCHED IN YOUR PERFORMANCE
ANYWHERE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS
STATE. AND TO HAVE ME HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ONE OF
YOU. I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED. I
ALSO FIND IT QUITE UNUSUAL THAT
ALL THESE STORIES BEING TOLD,
WHILE I'M ALIVE. I GOT TO BE THE
ENVY OF EVERY DEAD MEMBER WHOM
I'VE EVER SPOKE AT THEIR
CALLING. AND THE AMAZING THING
FOR ME IS THAT MY THREE OF MY
CHILDREN ARE HERE SOMEWHERE, AND
THEY SHOWED UP AMAZE ME. AND I
MUST TELL YOU THAT MY DAUGHTER
SUSAN, MY DAUGHTER ROBIN, AND MY
SON MICHAEL, OR SURPRISED ME BY
BEING HERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW
THEY GOT OFF FROM THEIR JOBS. I
DON'T RECOMMEND NOT SHOWING UP
FOR WORK. EVEN WHEN THE HONORING
THE DAD I MUST TELL YOU ALSO
THAT I HAD A GREAT VISIT WITH
YOUR SPEAKER, NOW A FELLOW
SPEAKER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I
ACTUALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO
GETTING BACK INTO MY OFFICE.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF NEW FURNITURE,
A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN I WAS
THERE. BUT IT SERVES THE PURPOSE
. WE ACTUALLY SAID AT THE ROUND
TABLE WHERE OUR THE TEAM THAT
HELPS HIM SO MUCH, HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS
WITH HIM. I MUST ALSO TELL YOU
THAT I LISTENED CLOSELY AS EACH
ONE OF YOU SUPPORTED THE
RESOLUTION, SPOKE, BECAUSE, NOW
I WILL. I HOPE, ELECTRONICALLY
IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ME. SO I
CAN STOP WATCHING CNN AND FOX
AND ALL THOSE OTHERS. THEY'RE
DULL BY COMPARISON. FROM MY HOME
BASE. AND THE PERFORMANCE YOU
PUT ON TODAY AND HONOR OF ME AND
YOU INTERRUPTED YOUR WORK
SCHEDULE, AND I AM EVEN MORE
DELIGHTED THAT YOU ARE, DID THAT
BECAUSE THOSE FELLOW MEMBERS WHO
SERVED WITH ME, WILL BE PLEASED.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE TOLERATED
THIS WHEN I SERVED IN. SO I DID
HAVE SOME FLAWS, BECAUSE I'M NOW
ENJOYING EVERY SECOND OF IT, AND
I CAN KEEP ON GOING FOREVER. BUT
I WILL NOT. I WILL SAY TO THE
AUTHOR OF THIS RESOLUTION AND TO
ALL OF YOU WHO COAUTHORED THE
RESOLUTION, AND I WOULD SAY TO
THE SPEAKER, I'M COMING BACK TO
VISIT, AND I'LL COME BACK,
WITHOUT A TIE AND THEREFORE
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE
FLOOR. SO, I WILL COME BACK
WHENEVER EVER YOU CALL UPON ME
IN ANY FASHION. OAN. I JUST
WANT YOU TO KEEP MAKING
EVERYBODY WHO'S EVER SERVED IN
THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AS
PROUD AS I AM. AND I'M SURE THEY
WOULD BE WHEN THEY MEET EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU. YOU ARE LIVING
THEIR TRADITION OF THIS
INCREDIBLE BODY. AND, MR.
SPEAKER, IN YOUR CAPACITY AS THE
LEADER OF THIS BODY, I REALLY DO
WISH YOU WELL. AND I KNOW THAT
WHEN YOU NOTICE THE NOISE
STOPPED WHEN I GOT UP. THAT'S
BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LISTEN
TO. AND I'M GLAD THEY DID,
BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO HEAR US
COLLECT ONLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. SPEAKER
EMERITUS ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CALDERON WILL BRING THE
RESOLUTION FORWARD TO THE FRONT
OF THE DESK TO PRESENT TO
SPEAKER EMERITUS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE
BUNCH OF MEMBERS WHO MIGHT LIKE
TO COME UP AND JOIN IN THE
PRESENTATION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
SO PLEASE, MEMBERS, COME ON UP.
WELL, IN A MINUTE.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.
WHILE WE ARE HAVING SOME
PHOTOGRAPHS UP HERE TAKEN, I
JUST WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE
FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER SUNNY
MOJONNIER, WHO IS HERE WITH US
TODAY. WELCOME.
OKAY, JUST A COUPLE MORE
PICTURES. IT LOOKS LIKE HERE,
MEMBERS. WE DO HAVE AGENDA AHEAD
OF US HERE.
MEMBERS. AS MR. SPEAKER EMERITUS
IS EXITS THE CHAMBER, PLEASE.
ONE MORE TIME. A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR SPEAKER EMERITUS
WILLIE BROWN.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, MR.
SPEAKER. WE DO HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL INTRODUCTIONS. A
COUPLE OF COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL
INTRODUCTIONS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BONTA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTION.
MEMBERS, PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE MY MOTHER, ENID.
MAGALI ROSARIO DE SEVILLA, WHO
IS HERE TODAY. SHE'S A STAUNCH
ADVOCATE, TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING
THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
A STRONG WOMAN, AND VERY
THANKFUL THAT SHE'S HERE TODAY
IN HER CAPACITY AS, MY HEALTH
CARE WORKER. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER BONTA. AND
WELCOME TO YOUR MOTHER, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RUBIO. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS.
FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MEMBERS AND MR. SPEAKER, JOINING
US IN THE GALLERY TODAY ARE OVER
36 STUDENTS FROM ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT 48. YOUNG LEGISLATOR
PROGRAM. THESE STUDENTS HAVE
SPENT THE LAST SIX MONTHS
LEARNING ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE
AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND
ARE HERE TODAY TO SEE THE
PROCESS IN ACTION. PLEASE JOIN
ME IN WELCOMING THESE FUTURE
LEGISLATORS TO THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSEMBLY.
MY SCRIPT SAYS I'LL BE DOING
THIS FROM MY DESK, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO DO IT FROM MY DESK
TODAY IN THE BACK OF THE
CHAMBER, I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL
INTRODUCTION TO MAKE. I'M
RECOGNIZING ANTHONY RIGHT.
HEALTH ACCESS, CALIFORNIA'S
LONGTIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
WHOSE TENURE WITH HEALTH ACCESS
IS COMING TO AN END AS HE
ACCEPTS A NEW CHALLENGE TO LEAD
FAMILIES USA, THE NATIONAL
NONPARTISAN VOICE FOR HEALTH
CARE CONSUMERS IN WASHINGTON, DC
. CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN SO LUCKY
TO HAVE HIM LEAD HEALTH ACCESS
FOR 22 YEARS. ANTHONY AND HEALTH
ACCESS HAVE HELPED WITH NGUYEN
DOZENS OF REFORMS IN HEALTH CARE
, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE
PASSAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, AS WELL AS DEFENDING AND
EXPANDING IT IN CALIFORNIA. THE
CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF HEALTH
CARE AFFORDABILITY, DRUG COST
REFORM, ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY
AND EXPANDING CARE TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS. MUCH OF THESE
EFFORTS HAVE FOUND LEGISLATORS
AND HEALTH ACCESS AS
COMPLEMENTARY PARTNERS, FIGHTING
FOR ACCESS TO QUALITY AND
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS. JOIN ME IN
CONGRATULATING ANTHONY FOR A JOB
WELL DONE, AND OUR BEST WISHES
IN YOUR NEW ROLE. WE KNOW YOU'LL
CONTINUE TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR
HEALTH CARE AND FOR THE PATIENTS
AND CONSUMERS IT SERVES. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, ANTHONY.
AND FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER'S
DESK, THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
GARCIA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
COLLEAGUES, TODAY WE ARE EXCITED
TO WELCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
FROM THE COACHELLA VALLEY TO OUR
CAPITOL. THESE STUDENTS ARE
PARTICIPATING IN A LEADERSHIP
AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM WITH
EASTERN COACHELLA VALLEY FOR
CHANGE AND GÒM CONSUL OF MEXICAN
FEDERATION AND NORTH AMERICA.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING STUDENTS
AND THEIR FAMILIES, SUPPORTING
PATHWAYS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
AND CREATE UPLIFTING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EASTERN
COACHELLA VALLEY COMMUNITIES.
THEY HAVE SPENT THE DAY MEETING
WITH LEGISLATORS, EXPLORING THE
CAPITOL AND ADVOCATING FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION. PLEASE
COLLEAGUES, HELP ME WELCOME
THESE INDIVIDUALS ALONG WITH
THEIR FAMILIES, MEMBERS OF BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS. AGAIN, THE
EASTERN COACHELLA VALLEY FOR
CHANGE AND GÒM, TO OUR GREAT
STATE CAPITOL. THANK YOU, MR.
GARCIA. ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FROM THE VERY
POPULAR MAJORITY LEADER'S DESK
TODAY FOR YOUR GUEST
INTRODUCTIONS. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS, I RISE
TODAY TO WELCOME SEVERAL MEMBERS
OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED AND
STAFF OF THE ALL DADS MATTER
PROGRAM. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE
JUST CELEBRATED, FATHER'S DAY,
TO ALL THE DADS AND FATHER
FIGURES IN OUR LIVES, I DO WANT
TO RECOGNIZE WHAT MERCED COUNTY
IS DOING. THE ALL DADS MATTER IS
A HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY PROGRAM
THAT OFFERS A ONE STOP SHOP FOR
DADS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND
NAVIGATING OUR SYSTEMS AND
SERVICES, THEY'RE TRAUMA
INFORMED TEAM, WHICH IS HERE. Þ
HERE TO MY LEFT, WHICH IS HERE
PROVIDES SOME VERY VALUABLE
INFORMATION TO LOCAL DADS IN OUR
COMMUNITY THROUGH HOSTING DAD
BOOT CAMPS AND MUCH MORE. AS YOU
GUYS KNOW, A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS
ALWAYS SEEM TO BE GEARED TOWARDS
MOMS. IT IS AWESOME TO SEE WHAT
MERCED COUNTY IS DOING, AND SO I
WANT TO THANK THEM FOR BEING
HERE TODAY IN SACRAMENTO. THANK
YOU, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SORIA, AND
WELCOME TO YOUR GUESTS. MEMBERS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER REYES IS GOING
TO BE INTRODUCING HER GUESTS.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS, AS. I ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING A
VERY SPECIAL GUEST, OUR OUTGOING
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION, CSAC MARLENE GARCIA,
WHO IS HERE WITH HER HUSBAND
PHIL, AND HER TWO SONS. I WANT
TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER,
AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE
SPEAKING ABOUT HER. MARLENE IS
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
HIGHER EDUCATION. AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION, SHE OVERSEES A
BUDGET OF $3.2 BILLION AND A
TEAM OF 125, WHILE EXPANDING
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY BY
REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO
COLLEGE SUCCESS. WITHOUT A
DOUBT, IF YOU'VE EVER TALKED TO
MARLENE, YOU KNOW THAT SHE IS
COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR
STUDENTS, AND SHE TRIES TO FIND
EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR STUDENTS DO SUCCEED AND
THAT WHEN THERE ARE BARRIERS,
SHE WORKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
STUDENTS KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND
THEY WILL BE HELPED. SHE IS A
FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER,
HAVING WORKED FOR THE SENATE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND SERVED
AS SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION
ADVISOR TO FORMER ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER WILLIE BROWN JR, WHOM WE
HONORED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.
HER WORK HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE
FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS
APPLYING TO FOR FINANCIAL AID.
SHE HAS BEEN NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED FOR HER WORK AND WAS
FEATURED AS ONE OF 11 HIGHER
EDUCATION A NEW GENERATION OF
THINKERS, AND WAS A FELLOW WITH
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC
POLICY AND HIGHER EDUCATION. SHE
HAS OVER 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING ON HIGHER EDUCATION
POLICY AND WILL BE WILL BE
RETIRING FROM CSAC THIS WEEK.
SHE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY
THOSE IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION
SPACE, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL
THESE YEARS OF SERVICE, TRUE
SERVICE TO ALL OF US, BUT MOST
ESPECIALLY TO OUR STUDENTS
MEMBERS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING MARLENE AND HER FAMILY
TO THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. AND I
WOULD ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES
ALSO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR
COMMENTS. YES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CERVANTES, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS, I RISE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF THE LATINO LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS
TO COMMEMORATE THE LONG STANDING
WORK OF THE OUTGOING EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, MARLENE GARCIA, AND
WISH HER THE BEST AS SHE EMBARKS
ON A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT,
MEMBERS, IT WAS REALLY THROUGH
MARLENE'S LEADERSHIP AND CSAC,
AS WELL AS THE COLLABORATIVE
EFFORTS WITH THE SPEAKER AND
LEADERSHIP. MYSELF THROUGH AB
1887, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
EXTEND THE APPLICATION DEADLINE
FOR STATE FINANCIAL AID FROM
APRIL 2ND TO MAY 2ND. AND THIS
EXTENSION ALLOWED US TO SUPPORT
STUDENTS IN NEED WITH THE
URGENCY THAT THEY DESERVED. BUT
REALLY, IT'S THE URGENCY WITH
WHICH WE ACTED THAT COULD ONLY
HAVE BEEN DONE WITH THE
TENACIOUS LEADERSHIP OF MISS
GARCIA AND MARLENE HAS HAD A
PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON THE LIVES
OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN THE
LANDSCAPE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE
LATINO CAUCUS IS GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR WORK, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP,
AND WE WISH YOU A WELL DESERVED
RETIREMENT. CONGRATULATIONS
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CERVANTES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
ALVAREZ THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES
WHO ALREADY SO ELOQUENTLY SPOKE,
ABOUT MISS GARCIA. I JUST WANT
TO ADD A FEW A FEW, ONE SMALL
ANECDOTE THAT I THINK TO ME
SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC
SERVANTS THAT MARLENE IS. THIS
YEAR, WE HAD OUR, AS SOME OF YOU
KNOW, THE FINANCIAL AID, ROLLOUT
WAS, WAS A LITTLE BIT
CHALLENGING THIS YEAR WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE HAD
OUR FIRST FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP
IN COLLEGE. WORKSHOP IN JANUARY,
AS SOON AS WE KNEW WE COULD MOVE
FORWARD WITH, HELPING STUDENTS
ENROLL. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU
HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL. AND
THAT'S A SERVICE WE ALL PROVIDE
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. AS, MARLENE
WAS ON THE GROUND WITH ME,
LITERALLY, WE WERE THERE FOR
HOURS AS WE ENCOUNTERED THE
CHALLENGES THAT SO MANY OF THE
FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS HAVE
ENCOUNTERED WHEN IT COMES TO
THAT FINANCIAL AID FORM. AND SO
SHE IS LITERALLY ON THE GROUND
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE
ARE LOOKING TO SERVE OUR
STUDENTS, OUR THOUSANDS OF
STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA SO THEY
CAN GET THE FINANCIAL AID THAT
THEY NEED AND DESERVE IN ORDER
TO CONTINUE THEIR ON THEIR
EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. THAT IS
JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE 30 PLUS
YEAR HISTORY OF A PUBLIC SERVANT
THAT SHE IS SO, MARLENE, I JUST
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC SERVICE, TO CALIFORNIA.
AND I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF
WELCOMING, WELCOMING, WELL,
WELCOMING MARLENE BACK HOME TO
THE 80TH DISTRICT, WHERE SHE
COMES FROM A FAMILY OF PUBLIC
SERVANTS, OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
DONE TREMENDOUS WORK IN OUR
STATE, AND MARLENE IS JUST ONE
OTHER IN THE FAMILY AND
WELCOMING YOU BACK AND
CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR
RETIREMENT. THANK YOU. MARLENE.
AND MR. FONG, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, TODAY I RISE TO
RECOGNIZE AND TO HONOR AND TO
CONTINUE. THANK MY COLLEAGUES
FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND EFFORTS
IN HONORING DOCTOR MARLENE
GARCIA. AS YOU HEARD FROM MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SAN DIEGO, SHE IS
LITERALLY ON THE GROUND IN EACH
AND EVERY DAY TO EXPAND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN
HIGHER EDUCATION. AND IN MY
DISTRICT IN EAST L.A. COLLEGE,
WE PARTNERED TOGETHER ON A CASH
FOR COLLEGE WORKSHOP A COUPLE OF
YEARS BACK, AND SHE'S BEEN A
TREMENDOUS LEADER. AND WE ALSO
PARTNERED ON ASSEMBLY BILL 1540
THAT THIS BODY GOT DONE TO
EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO
STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR
FINANCIAL AID FOR OUR
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU, DOCTOR
MARLENE GARCIA, FOR YOUR
TREMENDOUS SERVICE AND
LEADERSHIP. AND CONGRATULATIONS
AND BEST WISHES. THANK YOU, MR.
FONG, AND THANK YOU. WELCOME TO
THE ASSEMBLY. AND
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
MEMBERS, WE ARE MOVING BACK TO
ASSEMBLY. THIRD READING FILE
ITEM 44. ACA TEN BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY. THE CLERK
WILL READ ASSEMBLY
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TEN BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY. AN
ACT RELATING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FINANCE. MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED MEMBERS ACA ONE
IS ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.
NOTHING ABOUT TODAY'S
PROCEEDINGS WILL CHANGE THAT. I
RISE TO PRESENT ACA TEN TO DO
ONE THING. IT WILL REMOVE THE
SPECIAL TAX PROVISIONS IN ACA
ONE. NOW I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER WHO
DOESN'T KNOW HOW PASSIONATELY I
BELIEVE IN ACA ONE AS IT IS
CURRENTLY CRAFTED, WHETHER OR
NOT THEY CHOOSE TO USE THEM. I
FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HAVE MULTIPLE
FINANCING TOOLS AVAILABLE TO
THEM, INCLUDING SPECIAL TAXES.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN WE SEE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MARGINALLY
IMPROVE STATE AND LOCAL POLICY,
WE MUST MOVE TO ACCOMPLISH AS
MUCH AS WE CAN. ACA TEN ALSO
MEMORIZES COMPONENTS OF
COMPROMISE THAT REMOVE THE
OPPOSITION OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. THEIR
LETTERS TO THAT EFFECT ARE
AVAILABLE. AVAILABLE IN YOUR
BILL SYSTEMS. WE AGREED THAT
HOUSING ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
SUPPORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE MUST
BE A PART OF THE PACKAGE LIKE
ROADS, LOCAL ROADS, CLEAN WATER
AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PROJECTS WITH YOUR SUPPORT, ACA
TEN BONDING WILL BE THE ONLY NEW
FINANCIAL TOOL AVAILABLE TO
LOCALS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BUT
ONLY IF THEY ADHERE TO HISTORIC
EXPENDITURE PLANS, AUDITING AND
THE STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES IN THE INITIATIVE.
ULTIMATELY, VOTERS WILL MAKE
THEIR CHOICE IN NOVEMBER IF THEY
WANT TO APPROVE LOCAL,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS,
HOMELESS SHELTERS TO GET OUR
STATE'S VETERANS OFF THE STREETS
AND SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL
ECONOMIES WITH THE ROADS AND
CLEAN WATER PROJECTS THEY NEED
TO THRIVE. REMEMBER, ACA ONE
JUST GIVES LOCALS THAT
OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CHOOSE TO
ASK THEIR VOTERS TO SUPPORT
THEIR SPECIFIC PLAN IN ACA TEN,
VOTERS CAN TRUST THAT THEIR
DOLLARS WILL BE SAFEGUARDED BY
TRAINED CITIZENS. OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEES OF THEIR LOCAL PEERS.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL
AUDITS REVIEWED BY THE BUREAU OF
STATE AUDIT VOIGTS WILL BE
REQUIRED UNDER THE INITIATIVE.
BOND PROCEEDS MUST BE COMMITTED
BEFORE ANOTHER LOCAL INITIATIVE
IS OFFERED TO VOTERS. IT WILL
STILL PROHIBIT SPENDING ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SALARIES AND
OPERATIONS, AND CAP
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR
IMPLEMENTING THE INITIATIVE. AT
5. AGAIN, MEMBERS. NO OTHER
STATE OR LOCAL INITIATIVE
REQUIRE THIS LEVEL OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
ACA TEN DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT
THAT THESE LOCAL INITIATIVES ARE
ONLY FOR LOCAL ENTITIES WHO
CHOOSE TO RUN A LOCAL INITIATIVE
. IT'S OPTIONAL. THEY CAN TAKE
IT OR LEAVE IT. ACA ONE, AS
AMENDED BY ACA TEN, WILL SIMPLY
LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR
CITIES, OUR COUNTIES, OUR
SPECIAL DISTRICTS WITH THE SAME
VOTE THRESHOLD CURRENTLY ENJOYED
BY LOCAL SCHOOL BONDS. THIS
AUTHORITY HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL
AND NONCONTROVERSIAL ON THE
LOCAL LEVEL. MANY OF YOU MAY
HAVE FORGOTTEN THE AUTHORITY
EVEN EXISTS. ACA ONE WAS
SPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, THE
STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
TRADES AND NONPROFIT HOUSING,
AND IS A STRONG SUPPORT FROM
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION, CAL
CITIES AND THE STATE ASSOCIATION
OF COUNTIES AND THE BAY AREA
COUNCIL. THE NEW CALIFORNIA
COALITION, BOTH LARGE REGIONAL
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL
AS CALIFORNIA YIMBY AND DOZENS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE STATE.
LET ME SAY JUST ONE MORE TIME.
COLLEAGUES A VOTE FOR ACA TEN IS
A VOTE TO REMOVE SPECIAL TAXES
FROM THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. BUT IF
YOU WANT TO SEND A CLEAR
MESSAGE, A CLEAR PUBLIC MESSAGE
TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU
SUPPORT SPECIAL TAXES, THEN I
DON'T SUPPORT ACA TEN. BUT IF
YOU THINK LOCAL BONDS ARE A
MODEST, INCREMENTAL STEP
FORWARD, THEN VOTE FOR THIS
MEASURE. IT IS SIMPLE. IT IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD AS THAT. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE ON ACA TEN. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. WIX, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS,
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
OUR COLLEAGUE FROM WINTERS, AND
I THINK THIS IS HER SIXTH YEAR
OF THIS WORK, AND SHE'S PUT SO
MUCH TIME AND ENERGY AND HEART
AND PASSION INTO THIS, AND SHE'S
DOING THIS NOT BECAUSE OF HER,
BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT
THING TO DO. WE WANT TO GIVE
VOTERS THE CHOICE TO REDUCE THE
THRESHOLD, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION TO
OUR HOUSING CRISIS. YOU KNOW,
ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO,
MY COLLEAGUE FROM CONCORD AND
THE SPEAKER AND I AND MANY OF
YOU JOINED US ON A HOUSING TOUR
ACROSS THE STATE. WE WENT TO, I
DON'T KNOW, 30 DIFFERENT EVENTS
THAT WERE I THINK, ALMOST 30
MEMBERS WHO JOINED AT DIFFERENT
TIMES. AND THE ONE THING WE
HEARD IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY,
EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY DOESN'T
MATTER, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN
DOESN'T MATTER. THEY ALL WANTED
MORE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
HOUSING. AND THERE WAS THAT
NEED. AND WE FELT THAT AND HEARD
THAT THIS IS PART OF THAT
SOLUTION. GIVE OUR LOCAL
CONSTITUENTS, GIVE OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES THE ABILITY TO BE
PART OF THE SOLUTION WHEN IT
COMES TO OUR HOUSING CRISIS,
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WHEN IT
COMES TO STREAMLINING. WE HAVE
TO DO MORE. THAT'S A BIG PIECE
OF THIS. WE HAVE TO BRING DOWN
THE COST OF HOUSING TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO BUILD. WE ALSO NEED
PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING
AND TO ALLOW OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES TO SAY THEY WANT TO
STEP UP TO THE PLATE, THEY WANT
TO VOTE FOR THESE. WE KNOW MANY
OF THE COMMUNITIES CAN AND WANT
IT. WE NEED TO REDUCE THAT
THRESHOLD OF 55. THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT THIS DOES. IT'S A MORE
MODERATE VERSION OF WHAT YOU ALL
HAVE ALREADY VOTED ON. SO
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. WIX. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WILSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. MR.
SPEAKER. MEMBERS, I RISE IN
SUPPORT OF ACA TEN. ACA TEN
PROVIDES A VALUABLE TOOL TO OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO
HELP THEM DECIDE HOW TO BEST
SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT ALSO
GIVES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN LOCAL
CONTROL, LOCAL INVESTMENT AND
LOCAL JOBS IN EVERY ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE'RE WITNESSING
OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT A TWO
THIRDS SUPERMAJORITY THRESHOLD
IS TOO HIGH TO MAKE LOCAL
INITIATIVES ATTAINABLE IN OUR
DISTRICT. REALIZING TWO THIRDS
IS UNATTAINABLE WITHOUT A
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN
POLITICAL RESOURCES TO
COUNTERACT NEGATIVE AND
OFTENTIMES MISINFORMED OR
DECEITFUL MESSAGES, MANY LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT
TO SEEK VOTER APPROVAL. WE
ALREADY SUPPORT, AS WAS STATED,
SCHOOL DISTRICT INITIATIVES WITH
A 55% SUPERMAJORITY THRESHOLD
AND ACA TEN LEVELS. THE PLAYING
FIELD FOR OUR CITIES, COUNTIES,
AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS. WITH
THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU FOR
A STRONG, STRONG AYE VOTE ON ACA
TEN. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WILSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, I STAND IN PROUD
SUPPORT AND RISING SUPPORT OF
ACA TEN. ACA TEN IS ABOUT
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S
ABOUT SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIES
AND ENSURING RESPONSIBLE USE OF
PUBLIC FUNDS BY LOWERING THE
VOTER THRESHOLD. IN GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS ACA TEN REMOVES
BARRIERS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO SECURE THE NECESSARY AND MAY
I STATE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED
FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN
STATEWIDE, AND THE EFFECTS OF
CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING SHORTAGE
ARE ESPECIALLY FELT EVEN IN MY
DISTRICT. IN THE EAST BAY
COMMUNITY, CALIFORNIA WILL NEED
TO BUILD THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS
CRISIS BY ESTABLISHING PARITY
FOR CITIES, COUNTIES AND SPECIAL
DISTRICTS WITH THE SAME VOTER
THRESHOLD ESTABLISHED BY ACA
ONE, WE'RE GIVING COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE STATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SIGNIFICANTLY ACCELERATE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SORELY NEEDED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND,
IMPORTANTLY, ACA TEN INCLUDES
HISTORIC ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE USED
RESPONSIBLY, PROTECTING VOTERS
AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRUST.
THESE MEASURES ENSURE THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS REMAIN FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES. ACA TEN
PROMOTES LOCAL INVESTMENT,
STIMULATES LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND
CREATES LOCAL JOBS. THANK YOU
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GRAYSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
RUBIO, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS, I
RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ACA
TEN. ACA TEN WILL PROVIDE A
VALUABLE TOOL TO OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO HELP THEM
DECIDE HOW TO BEST SERVE THEIR
COMMUNITIES. WHEN WE DON'T GIVE
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE ABILITY TO
OPT IN AND OPT IN IS THE KEY
WORD, TO LOCAL MEASURES. AS WE
HAVE REPEATEDLY SEEN, THEY ARE
FORCED TO COME TO US FOR STATE
FUNDING BY MAKING CLARIFYING
CHANGES TO THE WORK DONE BY MY
COLLEAGUE FROM WINTERS OVER THE
PAST SIX YEARS, ACA TEN SIMPLY
LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR
CITIES, COUNTIES AND SPECIAL
DISTRICTS TO FURTHER OUR GOALS
OF REDUCING HOMELESSNESS AND
POVERTY BY CREATING AN AND
CREATING AN ATTAINABLE FUNDING
SOURCE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, ACA TEN WILL
ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
ABLE TO ATTAIN CRITICAL FUNDING
TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS. THIS MEASURE HAS
RECEIVED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT
ACROSS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES. A
CLEAR INDICATION THAT THESE
CHANGES ARE NECESSARY AND WILL
BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THANK YOU
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
AYE VOTE ON ACA TEN. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RUBIO, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MCKENNA. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED MEMBERS. I RISE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF ACA TEN. AS MY
COLLEAGUE FROM WINTERS JUST
EXPLAINED, IF YOU VOTE FOR ACA
TEN, VOTERS WILL NO LONGER BE
OFFERED THE OPTION TO LOWER THE
VOTE THRESHOLD FOR SPECIAL TAXES
. JUST FINES. LET'S FACE IT, ALL
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SUFFERING
AND HAVE BEEN TELLING US FOR
YEARS THAT THEY NEED MORE
FUNDING FOR CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AT HOME.
I KNOW THE COMMUNITIES IN MY
DISTRICT DESPERATELY NEED THE
ABILITY TO FUND LOCAL PRIORITY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. WHEN WE
DON'T GIVE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THE ABILITY TO OPT IN TO LOCAL
MEASURES, AS WE HAVE REPEATEDLY
SEEN, THEY ARE FORCED TO COME TO
US FOR STATE FUNDING AND STATE
BOND INITIATIVES. ACA TEN WILL
STILL PROVIDE A VALUABLE TOOL TO
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO
HELP THEM DECIDE HOW TO BEST
SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND WE
HAVE ALREADY GIVEN LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS A 55% THRESHOLD FOR
BOND INITIATIVE. ACA. ACA TEN
SIMPLY LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD
FOR OUR CITIES, COUNTIES, AND
SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND STILL
FURTHERS ONE FURTHERS OUR GOAL
TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AND
POVERTY BY CREATING AN
ATTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES. A VOTE FOR
ACA TEN IS A VOTE TO REMOVE
SPECIAL TAXES FROM ACA ONE ON
THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. IT IS
SPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. THE
STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
TRADES AND NONPROFIT HOUSING. IT
HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION AND
COUNTLESS HOUSING AND HOMELESS
ACTIVE ARTISTS AROUND OUR STATE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
FOR ACA TEN. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MCKENNA. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GALLAGHER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
YES. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
LOOK, BONDS STILL HAVE TO BE
PAID. I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND
THAT. AND THIS DOES UNDERMINE
PROP 13. AND I THINK YOU GUYS
JUST NEED TO BE UP FRONT ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THIS
UNDERMINES PROP 13. IT MAKES IT
EASIER TO RAISE TAXES. I
APPRECIATE THAT THE SPECIAL TAX
PROVISION HAS BEEN REMOVED OUT
OF THIS BILL. BUT OF COURSE YOU
GUYS VOTED FOR THAT NOT VERY
LONG AGO. YOU ALL VOTED FOR THAT
BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU WANTED
LOCALS TO BE ABLE TO RAISE
SPECIAL TAXES UNDER A LOWER
THRESHOLD. IT'S GOOD THAT THAT'S
BEING TAKEN OUT WITH THIS
MEASURE AS WELL. THERE'S SO MANY
THINGS MOVING IN AND OUT OF THIS
HOUSE RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S HARD
TO KEEP TRACK OF, BUT THE BOTTOM
LINE IS YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR TO RAISE TAXES. AND I
THINK IT'S ALSO LIKE, LET'S
LET'S NOT BE DISINGENUOUS
BECAUSE IN THIS BUDGET THAT
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE VOTING ON
OR PIECES OF IT ARE COMING IN
THIS BUDGET, YOU'RE CUTTING
FUNDING FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND YOU'RE SAYING TO THE LOCALS,
HEY, IF YOU WANT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, YOU JUST TAX YOURSELVES
MORE, BOND YOURSELF OUT MORE TO
DO IT, SO LET'S JUST BE REAL
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING
HERE. IT IS UNDERMINING PROP 13
AND THOSE PROTECTIONS AND
ALLOWING FOR 55% VOTE TO CREATE
MORE BOND DEBT ON LOCALS. AND
I'LL JUST END WITH THIS. IF YOU
DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ARE
UPSET ABOUT ALL THIS BECAUSE
THEY ARE PAYING THE HIGHEST COST
IN THE NATION IN THIS STATE, AND
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AND YOU'RE
GOING TO DRIVE THOSE COSTS UP
EVEN MORE. JUST WAIT AND SEE.
BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE
GETTING REALLY UPSET WITH WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING. AND THEN TO SAY,
OH, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE
THE CHOICE. YOU WANT TO GIVE
THEM THE CHOICE TO RAISE THEIR
TAXES OR TO RAISE MORE BONDS,
YOU KNOW, IN DEBT THEMSELVES
MORE. BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE
PEOPLE THE CHOICE TO VOTE ON
BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR
THEMSELVES AGAINST TAXES,
BECAUSE YOU ALL WENT TO THE
SUPREME COURT AND TOOK THAT
CHOICE AWAY FROM THEM BY
REMOVING THAT BALLOT MEASURE
LAST WEEK. BUT NOW WE'RE ABOUT
CHOICE, RIGHT CHOICE TO TAX
YOURSELF MORE LOCALS TO PUT
THEMSELVES INTO MORE DEBT.
THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT YOU GET.
BUT IF YOU, A VOTER, WANT TO
PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST MORE
TAXES AND MORE COSTS, YOU DON'T
GET A CHANCE TO VOTE. SO AGAIN,
I JUST LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT
THIS REALLY DOES AND WHAT IT
DOESN'T. LET'S NOT SUGARCOAT IT.
YOU'RE MAKING IT EASIER TO RAISE
TAXES ON PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. AND THOSE TAXES PAY THE
DEBT THAT WOULD BE INCREASED
UNDER THIS MEASURE AS WELL. SO
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.
AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO
DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO VOTE. MR.
GALLAGHER. MR. BERMAN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. I CANNOT ABIDE BY
THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS BEING
SPREAD AROUND ACA TI¾N ON THIS
FLOOR. I CANNOT ABIDE, AND SO I
WILL RISE UP AND OVERTHROW YOU.
SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE FROM NICHOLAS WAS
TALKING ABOUT ON TWITTER THE
OTHER DAY IN WANTING TO
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. BUT I
THINK, MR. BERMAN, THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS ACA IS THAT
WE GIVE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY WANT IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES BY A 55, BY A
55% THRESHOLD. SO IT'S MORE THAN
A MAJORITY. WE ARE GIVING OUR
COMMUNITIES THE ABILITY. I
PERSONALLY THINK WE SHOULD LOWER
IT TO A SIMPLE MAJORITY. BUT BUT
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY THAT
WOULD CREATE POLITICALLY IN
GETTING THIS PASSED. BUT TO HAVE
55% OF A COMMUNITY BE ABLE TO
SAY THIS IS A PRIORITY AND WE
WANT TO FUND IT, THERE'S NOTHING
MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN THAT. AND I
KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS DON'T WANT
TO ABIDE BY DEMOCRACY ALL THE
TIME, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE DO THIS ON THIS FLOOR. I
WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT ACA. TI¾N.
THANK YOU, MR. BERMAN. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER DEBATE. MISS
AGUIAR-CURRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I WOULD COLLEAGUES, THIS
IS A VOTE TO REMOVE SPECIAL
TAXES FROM THE BALLOT. THIS IS A
VOTE TO INTRODUCE MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE SYSTEM.
THIS IS A VOTE TO ALLOW LOCAL
OFFICIALS A CHOICE TO ASK THEIR
NEIGHBORS IF THEY SUPPORT LOCAL
SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL PROBLEMS. I
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. WITH
THAT, THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTED WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE, ALL THOSE VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE, ALL THOSE VOTES
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. THIS IS A 54
VOTE BILL. MEMBERS ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. 54 VOTES. MEMBERS.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL. TALLY
THE VOTES. AYES 54. NOES EIGHT.
MEASURE PASSES WITHOUT
OBJECTION. IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL
TO THE SENATE. MOVING ON NOW.
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO FILE SB
1524, SENATOR DODD, PRESENTED BY
MR. HANEY. CLERK WILL READ
SENATE BILL 1524 BY SENATOR DODD
AND OTHERS AN ACT RELATING TO
UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES AND
DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF TO
TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MR.
HANEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, I
RISE TO PRESENT SB 1524 BY
SENATOR DODD. SB 1524 ADDRESSES
QUESTIONS AND UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES SURROUNDING SB 478
LEGISLATION AUTHORED BY SENATOR
DODD TO ADDRESS THE DECEPTIVE
ADVERTISING PRACTICE OF DRIP
PRICING OR HIDDEN FEES. 1524
WOULD REQUIRE THE CLEAR AND
CONSPICUOUS DISCLOSURE OF ALL
MANDATORY FEES FOR FOOD OR
BEVERAGES SOLD DIRECTLY TO A
CONSUMER IN A RESTAURANT, BAR,
FOOD, CONCESSION CATERER,
GROCERY STORE, OR A GROCERY
DELIVERY SERVICE. THIS CLEARS UP
THIS CLEAR UP FRONT DISCLOSURE
OF ANY FEE AND A DESCRIPTION OF
ITS PURPOSE WOULD BE REQUIRED ON
ALL ADVERTISEMENTS, MENUS OR
OTHER DISPLAYS THAT CONTAIN THE
PRICE OF A FOOD OR BEVERAGE ITEM
AND WORKING THROUGH
IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 478 AS IT
IS SET TO TAKE EFFECT JULY 1ST.
UNIQUE PROBLEMS CAME TO LIGHT,
AND SB 1524 WILL ADDRESS THOSE
PROBLEMS, UPHOLDING THE
PRINCIPLE OF PROVIDING CONSUMERS
WITH UPFRONT TRANSPARENCY
WITHOUT INADVERTENTLY HARMING
FOOD SERVICE WORKERS OR SMALL
BUSINESSES. THIS MEASURE HAS
ENJOYED UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT, AND RECENT AMENDMENTS
HAVE RESPONDED TO CONCERNS FROM
SOME CONSUMER CONSUMER GROUPS. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE ON BEHALF OF SENATOR DODD
AND REQUEST IMMEDIATE
TRANSMITTAL OF SB 1524 TO THE
SENATE. THANK YOU, MR. HANEY.
SEEING AND HEARING NO FURTHER
DEBATE, THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. THIS IS A 54
VOTE BILL. MEMBERS ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. THE
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 63. NO,
ZERO ON THE URGENCY. AYES 63.
NOES ZERO ON THE MEASURE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION. IMMEDIATE
TRANSMITTAL TO THE SENATE
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO FILE AB
2813 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
AGUIAR-CURRY, THE CLERK WILL
READ. ASSEMBLY BILL 2813 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY AND
OTHERS. AN ACT RELATING TO
GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND DECLARING
THE URGENCY THEREOF TO TAKE
EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. AGUIAR-CURRY
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS. AB
2813 IS A COMPANION MEASURE TO
ACA ONE, WHICH THE LEGISLATURE
PASSED LAST YEAR. IT WILL ONLY
BECOME OPERATIVE IF ACA ONE IS
APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN
NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, WE EQUIPPED
THE INITIATIVE WITH HISTORIC
GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT VOTERS AND
ENSURE FISCAL OVERSIGHT,
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE
THE VOTE THRESHOLD FOR BONDS. AB
2813 FURTHERS THE STATUTORY
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES IN ACA
ONE. THIS BILL ALSO ADDS FURTHER
GUARDRAILS TO ACA ONE NEGOTIATED
WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
TO REMOVE THEIR OPPOSITION TO AB
2813 AND ACA TEN, AND THEY
THEREFORE WILL NOT BE OPPOSED.
MONNING ACA ONE. IN NOVEMBER.
SPECIFICALLY, WE NEGOTIATED ACA
ONE. INITIATIVES CANNOT BE USED
TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF EXISTING
RESIDENTIAL HOUSING BETWEEN 1
AND 4 UNITS. HOWEVER THERE ARE
EXCEPTIONS FOR EMERGENCY
RESPONSE FACILITIES AND FOR DEED
RESTRICTED UNITS THAT PROVIDE
HOUSING TO VETERANS, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, MIGRANTS AND
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. ALSO,
IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHOOSES TO
INCLUDE THEM IN A LOCAL
INITIATIVE, GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AND DOWN
PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WILL
BE ALLOWED UNDER ACA ONE. WE
MAKE CLEAR THAT A TWO THIRDS
VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO CHANGE OR ELIMINATE
THESE PROTECTIONS, AB AB 2813
ALSO PROHIBITS THE CONSTRUCTION
OF STADIUMS OR ARENAS FOR
PRIVATE INTERESTS. LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE HOME HARDENING GRANTS IN
ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR
COMMUNITIES FROM WILDFIRE. VÀ.
THIS BILL AND ACA TEN GIVE NO
NEW BONDING AUTHORITY TO ANY
SPECIAL DISTRICT EXCEPT FOR FIRE
DISTRICTS. AB 28, 13 AND AC 18
MAINTAIN THE STATUTORY
INDEBTEDNESS. CAPS FOR ALL LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS. THIS BILL STILL
DEFINES AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
CLARIFIES PROJECT ELIGIBILITY.
IT DEFINES THE SIZE, THE MAKEUP
AND ELIGIBILITY OF CITIZENS
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND PROVIDES
THE STATE AUDITOR REVIEW OF
LOCAL AUDITS REQUIRED BY ACA.
ONE MEMBERS. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
VOTED FOR AC ONE. THIS BILL
BUILDS UPON OUR EFFORTS TO
INCREASE OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
INITIATIVE. IF VOTERS APPROVE
ACA ONE. CERTAINLY ALL OF US
WANT TO BE AS ACCOUNTABLE AND
TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. AB 2813
IS ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
RESPONSIBLE FISCAL POLICY. FOR
THOSE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER, SEEING
AND HEARING NO FURTHER DEBATE,
THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLL.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTED WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. THIS REQUIRES 54
VOTES. MEMBERS ALL THOSE VOTES
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL THOSE
VOTES WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 54. NOES
FOUR. ON THE URGENCY. AYES 54.
NOES FOUR ON THE MEASURE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION. IMMEDIATE
TRANSMITTAL TO THE SENATE.
MEMBERS, YOUR RESPECTFUL
ATTENTION, PLEASE. TO. MR.
SPEAKER. MEMBERS YOUR ATTENTION
TO MR. SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. PRO TEM. AND IT IS WITH
DEEP SADNESS AND HEAVY HEARTS
THAT WE INFORM ALL OF YOU, OF
THE PASSING OF OUR COLLEAGUE AND
FRIEND ALDO GARCIA, WHO LEFT US
UNEXPECTEDLY OVER THE WEEKEND.
WE ARE ALL SADDENED BY THIS,
THIS TRAGIC AND HEARTBREAKING
NEWS. ALDO WAS A LEGISLATIVE
ASSISTANT FOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
JUAN CARRILLO AND ALSO SERVED AS
AN ASSEMBLY FELLOW JUST LAST
YEAR IN ASSEMBLY MEMBER LORI
WILSON'S OFFICE. YOU KNOW, OUR
HEARTFELT, OUR CONDOLENCES GO
OUT TO ALL THOSE FAMILY, TO OUR
LEGISLATIVE STAFF AND EVERYONE
WHO KNEW AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK WITH HIM AT HIS, YOU
KNOW, IN HIS BRIEF TIME HERE IN
THE LEGISLATURE, THIS IS A
DIFFICULT TIME. AND SO SHOULD
YOU. YOU OR YOUR STAFF NEED
SUPPORT, PLEASE REACH OUT TO
HUMAN RESOURCES. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. I'D ASK THAT WE HAVE A
MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALDO
GARCIA.
THANK YOU. MOVING ON NOW TO, WE
DO HAVE SOME MORE. A COUPLE OF
MORE INTRODUCTIONS HERE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON, YOU HAVE
A GUEST INTRODUCTION. I DO, I
DO. I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU. MY
APOLOGIES. NO WORRIES, NO
WORRIES. HAPPY TO. HAPPY TO MAKE
THIS INTRODUCTION. MR. SPEAKER,
PRO TEM MEMBERS TODAY I HAVE THE
DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF
WELCOMING AN EXTRAORDINARY
INDIVIDUAL TO THE ASSEMBLY.
FAIRFIELD COUNCIL MEMBER KAY
PATRICE WILLIAMS, KATE PATRICE
WILLIAMS, J.D. IS A REMARKABLE
PUBLIC SERVANT WHOSE CAREER HAS
BEEN MARKED BY DEDICATION,
PASSION AND UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE.
A PROUD ALUMNA OF SAN FRANCISCO
LAW SCHOOL, KATE PATRICE HAS
WORN MANY HATS THROUGHOUT HER
ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, INCLUDING
CHIEF MARKETING STRATEGIST,
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR
OF MARKETING AS A BROADCAST
JOURNALIST AND THE HOST OF
TURNING POINT WITH KATE PATRICE
WILLIAMS, SHE REMAINS DEEPLY
CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY,
PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR
MEANINGFUL DIALOG AND
ENGAGEMENT. KATE PATRICE
DEDICATION EXTENDS BEYOND HER
PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS. SHE IS
THE FOUNDER OF HAZEL'S
TRANQUILITY PLACE, A
TRANSITIONAL HOME FOR WOMEN AND
CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY
EX-OFFENDERS, PROVIDING THEM
WITH THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
NEEDED TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
THIS INITIATIVE REFLECTS HER
FIRM BELIEF IN SECOND CHANCES
AND HER COMMITMENT TO HELPING
INDIVIDUALS REINTEGRATE INTO
SOCIETY AND THRIVE. PLEASE JOIN
ME IN EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME
TO COUNCIL MEMBER KATE PATRICE
WILLIAMS, A TRUE EXEMPLAR OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING
DEDICATION. WE ARE HONORED TO
HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TODAY, AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR
COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WILSON, AND WELCOME TO
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WALDRON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS. TODAY,
I AM ESPECIALLY HONORED TO
WELCOME AND RECOGNIZE BEAGLE
FREEDOM PROJECT. THIS IS. AND
THEY'LL BE ON THE BACK OF THE
FLOOR. ALSO, THIS EXTRAORDINARY
ORGANIZATION IS THE WORLD'S
LEADING ADVOCATE FOR RESCUING
AND REHOMING ANIMALS USED IN
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH. SINCE
2010, THEY HAVE SAVED THOUSANDS
OF ANIMALS AND TIRELESSLY WORKED
TO END THEIR ABUSE THROUGH
EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND
LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS. THE
ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATION THAT
THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES IS
VITAL, SUCH AS LENIN'S LAW,
WHICH PHASED OUT CLOSED COLONY
BLOOD BANKS. THESE ARE PLACES
THAT KEEP DOGS IN CAGES FOR
MONTHS OR YEARS AT A TIME IN
ORDER TO BLEED THEM FOR BLOOD
AND BLOOD COMPONENTS. ANOTHER
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IS THE CALIFORNIA BEAGLE FREEDOM
BILL, WHICH ENSURES DOGS AND
CATS USED FOR TESTING AND
EXPERIMENTATION GET EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LIFE AFTER
LABS AND GET ADOPTED INTO LOVING
HOMES. IT US TWO SESSIONS TO GET THAT
BILL PASSED. IT'S VERY EXCITING
AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE TO COAUTHOR AND WORK
ON PASSING THE CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL
LEGISLATION IN COLLABORATION
WITH BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT. IF
YOU CAN IMAGINE BEAGLES IN CAGES
FOR THEIR WHOLE LIFE AND FINALLY
BEING ABLE TO FIND A FOREVER
HOME WITH LOVE, IT JUST MAKES
ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
AND ALSO EXCITING NEWS ANNOUNCED
ON VALENTINE'S DAY THIS YEAR,
BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT ACHIEVED
THE SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE OF
SUCCESSFULLY SHUTTING DOWN AN
ENTIRE ANIMAL TESTING LABORATORY
IN OKLAHOMA. FOR THIS MONUMENTAL
VICTORY FOR BEAGLE FREEDOM
PROJECT, REALLY SAVES THE
COUNTLESS ANIMALS THAT WILL NO
LONGER BE BRED OR SUBJECTED TO
TESTING. NEARLY 96% OF THE DOGS
USED ARE BEAGLES, MAINLY BECAUSE
OF THEIR FRIENDLY, DOCILE, AND
SUBMISSIVE NATURE. THIS IS ONLY
ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY
BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT IS SUCH
AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION TO ME,
AND TO RECOGNIZE TODAY. PLEASE
JOIN ME IN WELCOMING SHANNON
KEITH, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF
BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT, ALONG
WITH MELINA SHIRLEY, WHO
REPRESENTS ALL THE INCREDIBLE
STAFF MEMBERS WHO MAKE THIS
ORGANIZATION'S ESSENTIAL WORK
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WALDRON, AND WELCOME TO YOUR
GUESTS.
MEMBERS WILL NOW BE MOVING TO
THE CONCURRENCE OF SENATE
AMENDMENTS. FILE ITEM 21, AB
2261 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA.
THE CLERK WILL READ. ASSEMBLY
BILL 2261 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GARCIA. AN ACT RELATING TO
TRANSPORTATION, DECLARING THE
URGENCY THEREOF TO TAKE EFFECT
IMMEDIATELY. GARCIA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND COLLEAGUES, 2261 IS
BACK FOR CONCURRENCE. THIS BILL
WOULD SEEK TO CLARIFY AMBIGUITY
REGARDING FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
TRIBES FROM BEING THE LEAD
APPLICANT TO RECEIVE FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.
SPECIFICALLY, THE BILL CLARIFIES
THAT NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES
QUALIFY AS LOCAL AGENCIES AND
LOCAL PROJECT MANAGERS AND
AGENCIES. STATUE IS IMPLEMENTED
IN THIS BILL TO ENSURE THE
IMPROVEMENT AND SAFETY OF
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN A
TIMELY MANNER. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. SEEING
AND HEARING NO FURTHER DEBATE,
THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLL.
ALL THOSE VOTED WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE, ALL THOSE VOTED WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTED WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE
THE ROLL AND TALLY THE VOTES.
AYES 71. NØ ZERO. ON THE
URGENCY. AYES 71. NÓ ZERO ON
CONCURRENCES OF SENATE
AMENDMENTS. MOVING TO FILE ITEM
23 AB 3197 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LACKEY. CLERK WILL READ.
ASSEMBLY BILL 3197 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. LACKEY. AN ACT RELATING
TO ELECTIONS. MEMBER. LACKEY,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS, FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT AB 3197.
THIS BILL IS BACK ON CONCURRENCE
AND I WOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY,
WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPRECIATE YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. LACKEY. SEEING AND HEARING
NO FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL
AND TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 68. NÓ
ZERO. SENATE AMENDMENTS ARE
CONCURRED IN. MOVING TO FILE
ITEM 26 AB 1782 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TO THE CLERK WILL READ.
ASSEMBLY BILL 1782 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TO AN ACT RELATING TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. MEMBER TAU,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS AB 1782
IS BACK FOR CONCURRENCE DE
AMENDMENT. SENATE AMENDMENT ARE
TECHNICAL. THIS WILL ALLOW
CITIES TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL
FUNDS TO USE FOR HOMELESSNESS.
HOUSING PROJECT. THIS BILL HAS
RECEIVED STRONG BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT AND HAS NO OPPOSITION. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
. THANK YOU ASSEMBLY MEMBER, TO
SEEING AND HEARING NO FURTHER
DEBATE. THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTES WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTES
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. CLERK WILL
CLOSE THE ROLL AND TALLY THE
VOTES. AYES 69. NO ZERO. SENATE
AMENDMENTS ARE CONCURRED IN.
MOVING TO FILE ITEM 31 AB 2325
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE. THE
CLERK WILL READ. ASSEMBLY BILL
2325 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE. AN
ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES, THIS IS
A SIMPLE BILL THAT AMENDS THE
BART STATUTES TO ALLOW THE
DISTRICT TO RESTRUCTURE ITS
FINANCIAL OFFICERS TO INCREASE
EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY
CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITIES INTO A NEWLY
CREATED POSITION OF THE CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER. WILL PASS OUR
HOUSE ON CONSENT IN MAY, SET
AMENDMENTS FOR TECHNICAL AND
CLARIFYING, AND PASS THE SENATE
ON CONSENT. THERE'S NO
OPPOSITION. RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
I VOTE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER LEE. SEEING AND HEARING
NO FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE
VOTED WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTED WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL
AND TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 68. NO
ZERO. SENATE AMENDMENTS ARE
CONCURRED IN. MOVING TO FILE
ITEM 35 AB 2932 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER JO PATTERSON. THE CLERK
WILL READ. ASSEMBLY BILL 2932 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JO PATTERSON AND
OTHERS. AN ACT RELATING TO PUPIL
INSTRUCTION. PATTERSON, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. GREAT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AB 2932 REQUIRES A STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO HELP
STUDENTS BECOME INFORMED ON AN
EVER GROWING EPIDEMIC OF
SEXTORTION. IT REQUIRES STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO
INCORPORATE IT INTO CURRICULUM
UPDATES. IT HAS NO OPPOSITION.
AND, AND THE ONLY AMENDMENTS IN
THE SENATE WERE ADDING
COAUTHORS. AND WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK WILL
OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 71 NØ
ZERO. SENATE AMENDMENTS ARE
CONCURRED IN BACK TO ASSEMBLY.
THIRD READING FILE ITEM 46 ACR
205 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
AGUIAR-CURRY YOU ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. AFTER HE READS, YOU WILL
BE RECOGNIZED, THE CLERK WILL
READ. ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION 205 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY AND OTHERS
RELATIVE TO PORTUGUESE HERITAGE
MONTH. OKAY, NOW YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, I RISE TODAY TO PRESENT
ACR 205 RECOGNIZING MAY 20TH AS
AZORES DAY, JUNE 10TH AS
PORTUGAL DAY AND THE MONTH OF
JUNE 2024 AS PORTUGUESE HERITAGE
MONTH. THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
CALIFORNIA OF CALIFORNIANS OF
PORTUGUESE ANCESTRY TO OUR STATE
SPAN ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE. ACR 205
HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THESE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ACCOMPLISHED
WHILE EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE
OF BRINGING TOGETHER
CALIFORNIANS OF PORTUGUESE
DESCENT, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM
THE AZORES, TO SHAPE A BETTER
FUTURE FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS, IS
ONE REMARKABLE INITIATIVE IN
THIS REGARD IS THE PORTUGUESE
BEYOND BORDERS INSTITUTE AT
FRESNO STATE. THEY HAVE
DEVELOPED A GRASSROOTS,
COMMUNITY BASED STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR TEACHING OF PORTUGUESE
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN
CALIFORNIA, MAKING OUR STATE THE
ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY WITH
SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM. IT
IS CRUCIAL TO FOSTER
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL
PORTUGUESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY,
OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES,
PORTUGUESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE AZORES. THESE
COLLABORATIONS AIM TO ENCOURAGE
STUDENT EXCHANGE, A STUDENT
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND PROMOTING
THE SHARING OF IDEAS,
TECHNOLOGIES AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. THE BONDS
ESTABLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA
PORTUGUESE ANCESTRY ARE, WITH
OTHER ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, HOLD
IMMENSE VALUE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
THE NATION'S MOST DIVERSE STATE.
THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES OUR
COMMUNITY'S VITAL ROLE IN
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA, HONORING
THEIR ONGOING INTEGRATION AND
THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR OF
THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS. AS
THE DAUGHTER OF A PORTUGUESE
AMERICAN, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
YOUR AYE VOTE AND ASK FOR THE
FIRST ROLL TO BE OPEN FOR
COAUTHORS. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. SORIA. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
ACR 205 AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A
PROUD PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY IN MY
DISTRICT. SINCE THEIR INITIAL
MAJOR WAVE OF IMMIGRATION IN THE
LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH
CENTURY, PORTUGUESE AMERICANS
HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE
IN AND MADE TREMENDOUS
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CENTRAL
VALLEY FROM THE WORK OF THE
FIRST IMMIGRANTS ON CALIFORNIA'S
DAIRY FARMS. THROUGH TODAY,
PORTUGUESE AMERICANS HAVE
CONTRIBUTED NOT ONLY TO
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS,
BUT THE STRENGTH OF ITS
COMMUNITIES. AS ONE OF THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY, WHICH IS HOME TO
THE LARGEST PORTUGUESE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA. I WANT
TO I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO THE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN FROM YOLO COUNTY
FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION
FORWARD AND RECOGNIZING THE
HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF
CALIFORNIA'S PORTUGUESE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER SORIA. SEEING AND HEARING
NO FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL FIRST. ROLL
IS OPEN FOR COAUTHORS. ALL THOSE
VÚI WHO DESIRE TO VOTE AS A
COAUTHOR. ALL THOSE VOTES WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE AS A COAUTHOR.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. THERE ARE 74
COAUTHORS ADDED. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. ALL IN
FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED? SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION
IS ADOPTED. MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. HERE WITH ME
ON THE FLOOR TODAY, I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE A DISTINGUISHED
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PLAY
VITAL ROLES IN FOSTERING AND
STRENGTHENING THE PORTUGUESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN
CALIFORNIA. IN THE REAR OF THE
CHAMBER. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
AZORES. ARTUR LIMA. AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
PORTUGUESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
DENISE BORGES AND EARLIER
CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA WAS HERE
AS WELL. IN THE GALLERY.
EVERYBODY BETTER WAVE UP THERE,
DO THE BIG PORTUGUESE WAVE. OH,
WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE
CALIFORNIA PORTUGUESE AMERICAN
COALITION, INCLUDING LOCAL
OFFICIALS. PLEASE GIVE THEM A
WARM WELCOME.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER, WELCOME TO YOUR GUESTS.
MOVING ON TO FILE ITEM 50 ACR
218 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER THREE OF
US CLERK WILL READ. ASSEMBLY
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 218 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER THREE OF US AND
OTHERS RELATIVE TO CALIFORNIA
LOWRIDER DAY RIVAS YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER AND MEMBERS ACR 218
SEEKS TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST
SUNDAY OF SUMMER AS CALIFORNIA
LARA RIDER DAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
THE LOWRIDER CULTURE THAT
STARTED IN LOS ANGELES IN THE
MID 1940S AND GREW ALONGSIDE THE
CHICANO MOVEMENT OF THE 1960S.
THE BIRTH OF LOWRIDING WAS NOT
JUST FOR SHOW. IT WAS A RESPONSE
TO THE STRUGGLES FACED BY THE
MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
DURING A TIME OF INTENSE
INEQUALITY. BY THE 1970S,
LOWRIDERS EVOLVED TO BECOME MORE
THAN VEHICLES. THEY BECAME
CANVASES FOR COLLECTIVE
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL
STATEMENTS. CHICANO ARTISTS MADE
EACH LOWRIDER A MOBILE
MASTERPIECE, SYMBOLIZING
RESISTANCE, IDENTITY, AND
SOLIDARITY AGAINST SOCIETAL
INJUSTICE. BY OFFICIALLY
CELEBRATING THIS DAY, WE SHINE A
SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTISTRY AND
CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT GOES INTO
CREATING THESE ICONIC CARS. IN
1988, CALIFORNIA PASSED A LAW TO
ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PASS
ANTI CRUISING RESOLUTIONS.
DESPITE THESE UNJUST ORDINANCES,
THE LOWRIDER COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN
RESILIENCE AND UNITY. IN 2020,
CAR CLUBS PARTICIPATED IN COVID
19 VACCINE DRIVES, RAISED MONEY
FOR LOCAL CAUSES, RAISED
AWARENESS ABOUT THE CENSUS COUNT
AND ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY
ACTIVISM. CITIES ARE STARTING TO
RECOGNIZE THAT BY PROHIBITING
THE CRUISING OF VINTAGE
LOWRIDERS AND CUSTOM CARS, THEY
ARE ENABLING DISCRIMINATORY
PRACTICES, INCLUDING
PERPETUATING RACIAL BIASES. IN
2022, I AUTHORED ACR 176, A
RESOLUTION THAT ENCOURAGED
CITIES TO REPEAL THEIR BANS AND
RECOGNIZE THAT CRUISING HOLDS
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR MANY
COMMUNITIES. AFTER THE CHARGE TO
OVERTURN THESE UNJUST
ORDINANCES, I WAS A PROUD
COAUTHOR OF MY COLLEAGUE FROM
SAN DIEGO'S AB 436 ON CALIFORNIA
LOWRIDER DAY. LET US COME
TOGETHER TO APPRECIATE THE
CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC
SIGNIFICANCE OF LOWRIDING. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
RIVAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER WENDY
CARRILLO. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, I JUST WANT TO THANK
THE MEMBER FROM THE SAN FERNANDO
VALLEY FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT
RESOLUTION ON ACR 218
RECOGNIZING LOWRIDER DAY. AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY QUÊ VIVA LOS
LOWRIDERS IS PROUDLY
REPRESENTING WHITTIER BOULEVARD
IN EAST LOS ANGELES. AND SO THIS
IS A GREAT RESOLUTION TO REALLY
COMMEMORATE OUR CULTURE, THE
LOVE OF LOWRIDERS, AND REALLY
WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
PROUDLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
ACR 218. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CARRILLO. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALVAREZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I
PROUDLY RISE IN SUPPORT OF ACR
218 AND THANK OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOR
INTRODUCING THIS. WE LAST YEAR
THROUGH THE AB 436 LEGISLATIVE
DISCUSSION AND DEBATE THAT WE
HAD, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE
LOWRIDER CULTURE FROM THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE LESSONS THAT
I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT. AND I WAS
PROUD TO HEAR FROM LITERALLY
EVERYWHERE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH,
THERE ARE LOWRIDER COMMUNITIES
WHO, AS DESCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR
OF THE RESOLUTION, HAVE
CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH. IT BEGAN AS
A MOVEMENT OF A COMMUNITY THAT
WANTED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN
WAYS THAT WERE BEING PROHIBITED
FROM CULTURALLY EXPRESSING WHO
THEY WERE AND WHAT THEY STOOD
FOR. TO NOW, TODAY, REALLY
INNOVATIVE AND UNIQUE PIECES OF
ART ON WHEELS AS WE'VE COME TO
KNOW THEM, I AM REALLY PROUD TO
STAND HERE TO SUPPORT ACR 218
AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK ALL OF YOU
WHO IN A VERY BIPARTISAN
FASHION, HELPED MAKE SURE THAT
CRUISING IS NO LONGER A CRIME IN
THE PASSAGE OF AB 436 LAST YEAR
AND AGAIN HONORED TO SUPPORT ACR
218. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU, MR. ALVAREZ. MR. LOWENTHAL,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE
JEWISH CAUCUS, I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF ACR 218 RECOGNIZING
CALIFORNIA LOWRIDER DAY.
LOWRIDER DAY IS A CHANCE TO
CELEBRATE THE HISTORY AND
RESILIENCE OF OUR LATINO
COMMUNITY HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
VÀ. AT A TIME WHEN MEXICAN
AMERICAN CULTURE IN THE UNITED
STATES AND THOSE DISPLAYING
CHICANO IDENTITIES WAS DEEPLY
IMPACTED BY INEQUALITY AND
SEGREGATION, CHICANOS REFUSED TO
BE SILENCED OR LET THEIR
IDENTITY BE SUPPRESSED. THEY
CHOSE TO EXPRESS THEIR CULTURAL
VALUES, HISTORIES, FOLKLORE,
PERSONAL STORIES, AND RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS THROUGH THEIR ARTISTRY,
INCLUDING THE ICONIC LOWRIDER,
THE LOWRIDER MOVEMENT HAS
CONTINUED TO CREATE A SPACE FOR
CHICANOS AND INCREASINGLY, FOR
ALLIED COMMUNITIES TO INTEGRATE
THEIR IDENTITY WITH ACTIVISM AND
COMMUNITY SUPPORT. CAR CLUBS
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN COVID 19
VACCINE DRIVES, RAISED MONEY FOR
LOCAL CAUSES, AND ADVOCATED FOR
THE COMMUNITY. DESPITE ATTACKS
ON THE LOWRIDER MOVEMENT IN THE
PAST, THE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN A
PROUD DISPLAY OF CULTURE AND
RESILIENCE AND ENJOYED A
RESURGENCE IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS. INDEED, I ENCOURAGE ALL
OF YOU TO VISIT THE SMITHSONIAN
IN WASHINGTON, WHERE LOWRIDER
VEHICLES ARE ON PROUD DISPLAY.
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS ALL TOO
FAMILIAR WITH THE IMPACT
WRONGFUL ASSUMPTIONS AND
RHETORIC CAN HAVE. WE TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING THE FREEDOM OF CULTURAL
EXPRESSION AS THAT RIGHT HAS
BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM OUR
COMMUNITY FAR TOO MANY TIMES. WE
THEREFORE EMPATHIZE STRONGLY
WITH THE LOWRIDER COMMUNITY, ONE
THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO
CONSTANT DISCRIMINATION AND
RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT THAT WOMEN
HAVE HAD WITHIN THE LOWRIDER
COMMUNITY AS PILLARS OF THIS
MOVEMENT. AS A PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEDICATED TO THE VALUE OF TIKKUN
OLAM REPAIRING THE WORLD, WE ARE
APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK.
LOWRIDERS HAVE DONE IN SERVICE
OF THEIR WIDER COMMUNITIES AND
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. IN
THAT SPIRIT, AND ON BEHALF OF
THE JEWISH CAUCUS, I
RESPECTFULLY URGE AN AYE VOTE ON
ACR 218. THANK YOU, MR.
LOWENTHAL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE ASSEMBLY MEMBER RIVAS, I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES THAT STOOD UP IN
SUPPORT OF ACR. 218, AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. I MEAN, AND THE ROLE, TO BE
OPEN FOR COAUTHORS. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RIVAS, THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL FOR
COAUTHORS. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE AS A COAUTHOR OF
THE RESOLUTION. ALL THOSE VOTE
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. THE CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND TALLY
THE VOTES. AYES 68. EXCUSE ME.
60. THERE ARE 68 COAUTHORS
ADDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL
TAKE A VOICE VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY
AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAY NO. THE
AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. MOVING NOW TO SENATE.
THIRD READING FILE ITEM 57 SB
1353, SENATOR WAHAB BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TING. THE CLERK WILL
READ. SENATE BILL 1353 BY
SENATOR WAHAB AND OTHERS. AN ACT
RELATING TO JUVENILES. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. I'M RISING TO PRESENT
SB 1353 ON BEHALF OF SENATOR
WAHAB. SB 1353 ADDS TO THE
EXISTING YOUTH BILL OF RIGHTS
THAT YOUTH DETAINED IN JUVENILE
FACILITIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AYE VOTE ON
SB 1353. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TING. SEEING AND HEARING
NO FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE
VOTED WHO DESIRE TO VOTE AYE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. WE'LL CLOSE THE ROLL.
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 66. NOES
ZERO. MEASURE PASSES. MOVING TO
FILE ITEM 59, SB 739 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER OR EXCUSE ME BY SENATOR
ASHBY, PRESENTED BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER NGUYEN. CLERK WILL READ
THE SENATE BILL 739 BY SENATOR
ASHBY, AN ACCOLADE TO PUBLIC
CONTRACTS. DECLARE THE URGENCY
THEREOF TO TAKE EFFECT
IMMEDIATELY. NGUYEN. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, I RISE TO
PRESENT SB 739, WHICH ALLOWS THE
CITY OF ELK GROVE TO UTILIZE
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FOR THE
SACRAMENTO REGION'S NEW ZOO IN
ELK GROVE. UTILIZING THIS MODEL,
FROM THE ONSET OF THIS PROJECT
CAN HELP FURTHER ALIGN THE
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS
COMPLEX PROPOSAL, WHILE ALSO
ALLOWING FOR THE TIME AND COST
SAVINGS FOR THE CITY. SB 739 IS
A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS BRINGING
THIS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO
SENATE DISTRICT EIGHT AND
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT TEN. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
NGUYEN. SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK WILL
OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTED
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE, ALL THOSE
VOTED WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 73. NÓ
ZERO. MEASURE ON THE URGENCY.
AYES 73. NÓ ZERO. ON THE BILL.
MEASURE PASSES. MOVING TO FILE
ITEM 74 SCR 157. SENATOR ALLEN,
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE. THE
CLERK WILL READ. SENATE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 157 BY
SENATOR ALLEN RELATIVE TO
DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE
TO WITHDRAW FROM CONSIDERATION
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. SENATE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TWO OF
THE 20 2122 REGULAR SESSION
RELATIVE TO PUBLIC HOUSING
PROJECTS. MEMBER. LEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. SCR 157 WILL WILL
WITHDRAW SCA TWO FROM THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT AND ALLOW US TO
RECONSIDER THE BEST TIME TO PUT
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE VOTERS
TO REPEAL ARTICLE 34. I AM
RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER DEBATE, THE CLERK WILL
OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE. CLOSE THE
ROLL. TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 57.
NOES TWO. ON THE URGENCY. AYES
57. NOES TWO. THERE'S NO
URGENCY, JUST SEEMED LIKE THERE
WAS URGENCY. A AYES 57. NOES
TWO. MEASURE PASSES. EVERYTHING
ELSE SEEMED URGENT TODAY. SO
WHAT THE HECK. MOVING TO A VOTE
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. DOES
ANY MEMBER WISH TO REMOVE AN
ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE. THE
CLERK WILL READ THE SECOND DAY
CONSENT CALENDAR. A SENATE BILL
948 BY SENATOR LIMÓN AND OTHERS.
AN ACT RELATING TO THE POLITICAL
REFORM ACT OF 1974. CLERK WILL
OPEN THE ROLL ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. ALL THOSE VOTED WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE, ALL THOSE VOTED
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE, ALL THOSE
VOTE, WHO DESIRE TO VOTE ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. AYE. CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLL. TALLY THE
VOTES. AYES 74. NO. ZERO. THE
CONSENT CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS. A QUORUM CALL IS STILL
IN PLACE TO MAKE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT. BEFORE WE MOVE,
THOUGH, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE
OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THEN WE
WILL COME BACK TO A ADJOURNMENTS
IN MEMORY. THERE WILL BE
COMMITTEE HEARINGS UPON
ADJOURNMENT HERE. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT WILL MEET IN CAPITOL
ROOM 444, NATURAL RESOURCE IN
CAPITOL ROOM 447 REVENUE AND
TAXATION IN CAPITOL ROOM 126.
LISTEN CLOSELY HERE ON THIS ONE.
TOMORROW, TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH, IS
A CHECK IN SESSION. WEDNESDAY
JUNE 26TH FLOOR SESSION AT 5
P.M. AND THEN THURSDAY, JUNE
27TH FLOOR SESSION AT 9 A.M. SO
WE'LL NOW GO BACK AND ASK THAT
YOU GIVE YOUR RESPECTFUL
ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO ARE
GRANTED PRIOR PERMISSION TO
SPEAK ON AN ADJOURNMENT IN
MEMORY. IF YOU NEED TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION, PLEASE TAKE IT OFF
THE FLOOR. QUORUM CALL IS IN
PLACE. PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS
OFF THE FLOOR.
SO YOU GIVE YOUR RESPECTFUL
ATTENTION TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BERMAN FOR HIS ADJOURNMENT IN
MEMORY. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE TO REQUEST THAT WE
ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF
ARGUABLY, ARGUABLY ALL THE
GREATEST ALL AROUND BASEBALL
PLAYER OF ALL TIME, THE SAY,
HEY, KID, WILLIE MAYS, WILLIE
HOWARD MAYS JR WAS BORN ON MAY
6TH, 1931, IN WESTFIELD,
ALABAMA, NEAR BIRMINGHAM. HIS
PARENTS WERE UNMARRIED TEENAGERS
IN HIGH SCHOOL. ONE OF HIS
TEACHERS GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO
LEAVE CLASS EARLY IF NEEDED TO
GO TO PRACTICE BECAUSE IN HER
WORDS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A
BALLPLAYER. THAT TEACHER WAS THE
MOTHER OF FUTURE SECRETARY OF
STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE. MAYS
JOINED THE BIRMINGHAM BLACK
BARONS OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE IN
1948, AND WAS SIGNED BY THE THEN
NEW YORK GIANTS TWO YEARS LATER.
IN 1950. HE WAS THE ONLY BLACK
PLAYER IN THE INTERSTATE LEAGUE
AT THE TIME, AND DURING HIS HALL
OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY, HE
TOLD THE STORY OF BEING TAUNTED
BY OPPOSING FANS IN MARYLAND
AFTER HITTING FOUR HOME RUNS, A
TRIPLE AND A DOUBLE IN THE FIRST
TWO GAMES OF THE SERIES, THE PA
ANNOUNCER FOR THE OTHER TEAM
PLEADED WITH FANS NOT TO TAUNT
MAYS ANYMORE BECAUSE, QUOTE,
HE'S KILLING US. BY THE END OF
THE THIRD GAME, THOSE TAUNTS HAD
TURNED TO CHEERS. MAYS WAS
CALLED UP TO THE GIANTS IN 1951,
AND WHILE HE STRUGGLED AT FIRST,
HE QUICKLY FOUND HIS STRIDE AND
WENT ON TO WIN NATIONAL LEAGUE
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. WALT MAYS IS
KNOWN FOR HIS REMARKABLE SUCCESS
AT THE PLATE. MANY FOLKS DON'T
REALIZE THAT MAYS WAS AS GOOD,
IF NOT BETTER, PLAYING OUTFIELD
THAN HE WAS AS A BATTER. HE
WOULD DAZZLE BOTH FANS AND
TEAMMATES ALIKE WITH HIS
SPECTACULAR PLAYS IN CENTER
FIELD AT THE CAVERNOUS POLO
GROUNDS, WHERE THE NEW YORK
GIANTS PLAYED MAYS MOST FAMOUS
PLAY AND QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST
FAMOUS DEFENSIVE PLAY IN MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY, CAME IN
THE FIRST GAME OF THE 1954 WORLD
SERIES, WITH THE SCORE TIED TWO
TWO IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
INNING WITH TWO ON AND NOBODY
OUT, THE HITTER LAUNCHED A DEEP
FLY BALL TO CENTER FIELD. MAYS
TURNED AROUND AND BEGAN
SPRINTING BACK AND BACK AND BACK
ABOUT 450FT FROM HOME PLATE WITH
NO TIME TO TURN AROUND, MAYS
LEANED HIS HEAD BACK TO FIND THE
BALL, LIFTED HIS LEFT HAND UP,
AND SOMEHOW MADE WHAT WOULD
FOREVER BE KNOWN AS THE CATCH AN
ABSOLUTELY INSANE PLAY AT A
CRITICAL TIME. ON THE BIGGEST
STAGE IN SPORTS, THE GIANTS
MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO IN 1958.
BY THIS POINT, MAYS HAD WON THE
MVP OF THE LEAGUE, THE WORLD
SERIES AND HE WAS A HOUSEHOLD
NAME IN AMERICA. BUT EVEN STILL,
MAYS HAD TROUBLE PURCHASING A
HOME IN A FASHIONABLE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN FRANCISCO
BECAUSE NEIGHBORS WERE WORRIED
THAT PROPERTY VALUES WOULD
DECLINE IF A BLACK FAMILY MOVED
IN. SUCH WAS THE RACISM THAT
EXISTED IN SAN FRANCISCO IN THE
LATE 1950S. MAYS COMPILED FAR
TOO MANY STATISTICS TO MENTION,
BUT HERE ARE JUST THE
HIGHLIGHTS. HIS 7112 PUTOUTS AS
AN OUTFIELDER, RANKED NUMBER ONE
IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY, AND HE
WON 12 GOLD GLOVE AWARDS
BEGINNING IN 1957, WHICH WAS THE
YEAR THE HONOR WAS FIRST
CREATED. BUT THAT WAS SIX YEARS
AFTER MAYS WAS ALREADY PLAYING
IN THE MAJORS. HE DROVE IN MORE
THAN 100 RUNS IN TEN DIFFERENT
SEASONS AND SCORED MORE THAN 100
RUNS IN 12 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
HIS 660 HOME RUNS ARE SIXTH ALL
TIME, AND HE ONCE LAMENTED THAT
PLAYING AT THE FREEZING AND
WINDY CANDLESTICK PARK PROBABLY
ROBBED HIM OF 10 TO 12 HOME RUNS
A YEAR. HIS 2068 RUNS SCORED PUT
HIM SEVENTH ON THE CAREER LIST,
AND HIS 1409 RUNS BATTED IN ARE
12TH, AND HIS 3293 HITS PUT HIM
LISTED AS NUMBER 13. ALL TIME.
AND HE DIDN'T JUST HIT FOR
POWER, HE DIDN'T JUST HIT FOR
AVERAGE. HE ALSO STOLE 338 BASES
AT A TIME WHEN NOT THAT MANY
PLAYERS WERE WERE FOCUSING ON
THAT AND HE PLAYED IN 150 OR
MORE GAMES IN 13 CONSECUTIVE
SEASONS, 150 OR MORE GAMES IN 13
CONSECUTIVE SEASONS. THESE DAYS,
HARDLY ANYBODY PLAYS 150 GAMES
IN ONE SEASON. MAYS WAS THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE
YEAR IN 1951, AND WAS NAMED MOST
VALUABLE PLAYER IN 1954 AND
1965. HE WAS SELECTED FOR 24 ALL
STAR GAMES AND WAS THE MVP OF
THE ALL STAR GAME IN 1963. IN
1968, AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES FROM
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WILLIE MAYS
WAS THE FAVORITE PLAYER OF NONE
OTHER THAN THE LEGENDARY DODGERS
BROADCASTER VIN SCULLY. THERE
WAS A FUN ARTICLE IN THE LA
TIMES ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK.
MAYS, WHO LIVED IN ATHERTON
BEFORE RECENTLY MOVING TO PALO
ALTO, BOTH IN THE 23RD ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT, IS SURVIVED BY HIS
SON, MICHAEL. AND AGAIN, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE
ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF WILLIE
THE SAY, HEY KID MAYS. THANK
YOU, MR. BERMAN. MR. HANEY, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
ADJOURNMENT AND MEMORY. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WANT TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM PALO
ALTO FOR BRINGING THIS
ADJOURNMENT FORWARD. I ALSO WANT
TO SPEAK IN THE MEMORY OF WILLIE
MAYS, THE SAY, HEY, KID, WHO WAS
A LEGEND BOTH ON AND OFF THE
FIELD. HE WAS NOT ONLY FOR ALL
OF THE REASONS THAT YOU JUST
HEARD THE GREATEST BASEBALL
PLAYER OF ALL TIME. HE EXCELLED
ON ONE OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST
STAGES AT A TIME OF TREMENDOUS
CHANGE THAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN
OUR COUNTRY. AND IN MANY WAYS,
HE WAS THE FACE OF MUCH OF THAT
CHANGE IN SPIRING AN ENTIRE
GENERATION OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT HIM
AND HIS INCREDIBLE SKILL AND
ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT THE CHANGES
THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE FIELD OF
BASEBALL, WHICH THEN AND NOW WAS
AMERICA'S PASTIME TIME, BUT ALSO
WHAT HE REPRESENTED IN TERMS OF
CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY. AS YOU
HEARD, HE HIMSELF, WHEN HE CAME
TO SAN FRANCISCO, FACED HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION, DESPITE BEING
ONE OF THE BEST BASEBALL PLAYERS
OF ALL TIME. HE COULDN'T HIMSELF
FIND A HOME IN SAN FRANCISCO
WITHOUT FACING DISCRIMINATION.
IT WAS ACTUALLY HIS EXPERIENCE
THAT, IN MANY WAYS, INSPIRED AND
SPURRED GOVERNOR PAT BROWN AND
THIS LEGISLATURE TO PASS A BILL
OUTLAWING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
IN THE SALE AND RENTAL OF
HOUSING. WILLIE MAYS WAS THE
PERSONIFICATION OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO GIANTS. I GREW UP AS A
HUGE FAN OF THE GIANTS AND WOULD
SEE HIM REGULARLY AT GAMES, HE
WOULD BE THERE, AT THE PARK HE
WOULD LEAD. CHEERS, HE WAS IN SO
MANY WAYS, WHAT REPRESENTED FOR
US AS BASEBALL FANS THE JOY AND
THE EXCITEMENT AND THE POTENTIAL
OF THE SPORT. HE ALSO FOUNDED A
CHARITY, THE SAY HEY FOUNDATION,
WHICH PROMOTED YOUTH BASEBALL
AND GAVE UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH
POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND SAFER
COMMUNITIES, HE ENSURED THAT
MANY AMERICANS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY BLACK
AMERICANS AND BLACK YOUTH HAD
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY
BASEBALL AND TO ALSO PURSUE
COLLEGE PREPARATION AND
SCHOLARSHIPS. WILLIE MAYS HELPED
CHANGE AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT BY
LEAVING A ONE OF A KIND LEGACY
ON THE SPORT AND BASEBALL IN SAN
FRANCISCO, IN CALIFORNIA, AND IN
AMERICAN SOCIETY. HE WAS AN
INCREDIBLE CALIFORNIAN WHO DID
SO MUCH TO CHANGE OUR WORLD AND
TO INSPIRE COUNTLESS PEOPLE.
REST FOREVER. REST WELL FOREVER.
GIANT THE SAY HEY KID, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE ADJOURN
IN HIS MEMORY. THANK YOU, MR.
HANEY. MR. WALLACE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR ADJOURNMENT
IN MEMORY. WELL, I'M SORRY I. I
SORRY I DIDN'T SEE IT. MR.
PATTERSON, THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I.
I'M A BAY AREA KID, BORN AND
RAISED IN THE BURLINGAME, SAN
MATEO AREA. MY WIFE, SHARON,
BORN AND RAISED IN HAYWARD. WE
DATED ACROSS THE SAN MATEO BAY
BRIDGE, BUT I WAS AND STILL AM A
SAN FRANCISCO GIANT FAN. AND I
HAVE A BOYHOOD MEMORY THAT IS AS
IF IT'S A BLACK AND WHITE
NEWSREEL RUNNING IN MY HEAD
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WHEN THE
GIANTS CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO, MY
DAD TOOK ME TO THE PARADE THAT
CAME DOWN MARKET STREET. AND I
REMEMBER AS A YOUNG KID SEEING
WILLIE MAYS IN A WHITE
CONVERTIBLE CADILLAC, SITTING
UP, WAVING TO THE CROWD. YOU
KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK
WE ALL RECALL ABOUT WILLIE MAYS
WAS HE WAS A FAIRLY JOYOUS MAN.
AND I REMEMBER HIM WAVING AND
SMILING AND ALL OF THAT, THIS
WAS BEFORE WE HAD THE
CANDLESTICK PARK. AND I REMEMBER
GOING TO A BASEBALL GAMES WHEN
WILLIE MAYS WAS PLAYING AT KEZAR
STADIUM. AND SOMETIMES THEY HAD
TO CALL THE BASEBALL GAMES FOR A
WHILE BECAUSE TOO MANY SEAGULLS
CAME IN AND LANDED ON THE
BASEBALL STADIUM. 40 NINERS
PLAYED THERE, TOO, AND HAD
SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES. BUT WHAT I
RECALL ABOUT WILLIE MAYS IS THAT
HE WAS A FANTASTIC BASEBALL
PLAYER, BUT HE WAS A FANTASTIC
HUMAN BEING. HE WAS A GOOD MAN
IN HIS HEART, EVEN FACING THE
KINDS OF DISCRIMINATION AND
DIFFICULTY HE DIDN'T LET IT SOUR
HIM ON OTHERS OR ON THE GAME OR
ON THE CITY, AND I THINK THAT'S
THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP AND USE
OF TALENT, THAT HAS MADE US ALL
MISS HIM. NOW, BASEBALL ISN'T
GOING TO BE THE SAME. YOU KNOW,
THE MOVIE THAT, THAT CALLED THE
NATURAL. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
WILLIE MAYS. HE WAS THE NATURAL,
AND HE WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
BUT HE WAS ALSO A REALLY GOOD
AND DECENT, JOYFUL HUMAN BEING.
AND HE SPREAD THAT KIND OF
APPRECIATION AND JOY FOR THE
LIFE HE WAS ABLE TO LIVE, BUT
HELPED OTHERS, YOUNG PEOPLE
DREAM THEIR DREAM, EVEN IN THE
MIDST OF THE KINDS OF
DIFFICULTIES THAT HE MIGHT HAVE
FACED. AND SO WITH THAT BLACK
AND WHITE NEWSREEL RUNNING IN MY
HEAD, I SEE HIM RIGHT DOWN
MARKET STREET IN THAT WHITE
CADILLAC. THE BIG FINS, THE
TOP'S DOWN. HE'S SITTING THERE
WAVING. I SWEAR. HE WAVED AT ME.
I'M EXAGGERATING, BUT HECK, I'M
A POLITICIAN. SO I, I JOINED
EVERYONE IN REMEMBERING HIM. WE
MISS HIM, HAS THERE BEEN ANYBODY
LIKE HIM? I DON'T THINK SO. AND
SO WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY. WAS IT
JACK BENNY? WHAT WAS IT? THANKS
FOR THE MEMORIES. WHO WAS? BUT
THAT WAS THE THEME SONG. ONE OF
THE COMEDIANS, I. ANYWAY, I WAS
JUST THINKING. THANKS FOR THE
MEMORIES. I'M NOT GOING TO SING
IT BECAUSE, YOU'D ALL LEAVE, AND
WE'RE NOT. WE'RE STILL UNDER
CALLS. I WON'T DO THAT. ANYWAY,
I JOINED EVERYBODY HERE IN JUST
THANKING, THE MEMORY FOR THE
MEMORIES, FOR WHAT HE DID, GREAT
BASEBALL PLAYER. AND SHARON AND
I HAD A LOT OF FUN TIMES, BOTH
AT KEZAR AND THEN AT, AT
CANDLESTICK. I REMEMBER WHEN WE
WERE DRIVING FROM FRESNO, UP TO,
THE PORTLAND, OREGON AREA IS
WHERE WE ADOPTED OUR THIRD
CHILD, MY DAUGHTER, LINDSAY, AND
WE MADE PLANS TO STOP ALONG THE
WAY IN SAN FRANCISCO BECAUSE
WILLIE MAYS WAS PLAYING IN A
GAME AND HE HAD HIT 499 HOME
RUNS. AND I WANTED TO BE IN THE
STADIUM WHEN HE HIT 500. WELL,
HE DIDN'T HIT 500 THAT THAT
GAME. 30S SO WE GOT IN IN THE
CAR AND WE'RE DRIVING UP AND WE
WERE LISTENING TO THE RADIO.
KSFO RIGHT, LON SIMMONS AND THE
CROWD AND ALL OF THAT. WELL SURE
ENOUGH, THAT WAS THE GAME. HE
HIT HOME RUN NUMBER 500. WE
MISSED IT BY ONE GAME, BUT THE
MEMORY, THE JOYS, THE EXCITEMENT
OF THE OF THE GIANTS AND THE
OTHER GIANTS THAT WERE AROUND
HIM. RIGHT, WILLIE MCCOVEY, JUAN
MARICHAL, ORLANDO CEPEDA, ALL
HIS OTHERS, IT WAS A GREAT TIME
TO BE A GIANTS FAN. AND WE'RE
GOING TO MISS HIM. AND, THE GAME
LOST AN ICON, ONE OF THE BEST
BASEBALL PLAYERS EVER. AND WE'RE
GRATEFUL FOR THE MEMORIES AND
GRATEFUL FOR HIS LIFE AMONGST US
. HE'S BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO
ALL. THANK YOU. AND I ADJOURN IN
MEMORY AS WELL WITH MY
COLLEAGUES FOR WILLIE. SAY HEY,
MAYS. THANK YOU, MR. PATTERSON.
MR. WALLACE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR ADJOURNMENT AND MEMORY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS,
TODAY I RISE TO ASK THIS BODY TO
ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF ARTHUR
ART LEE WELCH, A FORMER MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE
CITY OF BANNING. ART WELCH WAS
BORN ON DECEMBER 4TH, 1937, IN
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI. HE WAS
A MEMBER OF SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY
AT SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI STATE
UNIVERSITY. HE GRADUATED WITH A
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN
1960. THAT SAME YEAR, HE MARRIED
THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, JOANNE
JODY THOMAS. THEY RAISED THREE
CHILDREN LIZBETH, JIM, AND
SCOTT. ART HAD A SUCCESSFUL 36
YEAR CAREER WITH THE
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MERCK AND
C BEFORE RETIRING IN 1996. A
PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY ART
SERVED ON THE BANNING CITY
COUNCIL FOR 12 YEARS AND AS
MAYOR OF BANNING FOR FOUR YEARS.
HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF BOTH
THE BANNING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND THE ROTARY CLUB OF SAN
GORGONIO PASS. HE WAS A FIELD
REPRESENTATIVE FOR ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PAUL COOK, SENATOR BILL
EMERSON, SENATOR MIKE MORRELL,
AND SENATOR ROSA OCHOA BOGH AS
AN ELDER IN THE BEAUMONT
PRESBYTERY, CHURCH ART OFFERED
HIS TIME AND EXPERTISE AS VICE
PRESIDENT OF TABLE OF PLENTY, A
FOOD KITCHEN THAT SERVES ABOUT
200 MEALS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE
CHURCH. EVERYONE LOVED ART,
INCLUDING ME. HE HAD A BIG HEART
AND CARED DEEPLY ABOUT HIS
COMMUNITY. ART WAS A DEDICATED
PUBLIC SERVANT AND WAS ALWAYS
WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF BANNING WAS
REMARKABLE AND HE WAS A
WONDERFUL STORYTELLER FOR ART.
LEAVES. HIS WIFE JODY, HIS THREE
CHILDREN, SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN,
THREE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, 23
FAMILY DOGS, BELOVED CATS AND
COUNTLESS FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS
THROUGHOUT THE BANNING
COMMUNITY. I ASK HIS BODY TO
ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF ART
WELCH. THANK YOU, MR. WALLACE.
MEMBERS, PLEASE BRING THE NAMES
TO THE DESK TO BE PRINTED IN THE
JOURNAL. ALL REQUESTS TO ADJOURN
IN MEMORY WILL BE DEEMED READ
AND PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL. ALL
OTHER ALL OTHER ITEMS WILL BE
PASSED AND RETAINED. ALL MOTIONS
SHALL BE CONTINUED. SEEING AND
HEARING. NO FURTHER BUSINESS.
I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MR. FONG MOVES. MR. WALLACE
SECONDS THAT THE HOUSE STANDS
ADJOURNED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE
26TH AT 5 P.M. QUORUM CALL IS
LIFTED AND THE HOUSE IS
ADJOURNED.
OKAY, JOE PATERSON, VOTE CHANGE
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO FILE AB
2813. NO TO NOT VOTING. VOTE
CHANGE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOE
PATERSON, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
FILE ASSEMBLY BILL 2813. NO TO
NOT VOTING.