California Governor Gavin Newsom

Newsom Vetoes Bill to Extend Term of Reparations Task Force

On Sept. 29, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill (AB) 2296 authored by Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer. The bill proposed extending the term for the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans by an additional year until July 1, 2024.  

State Department of Aging: There Is Help for Elder Californians

The Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church’s Commission on Social Action held a community meeting on aging last Thursday in San Bernardino with representatives from the California Department of Aging (CDA) and the Bernardino County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services.

Exclusive: Gov. Newsom Talks Reparations, Recall and Future Goals

The dialogue occurred on Thursday, September 30, following Newsom’s signing of legislation to return Bruce’s Beach to the descendants of the original owners of the resort. Brooks met with the governor on the Bruce family property in Manhattan Beach and questioned him on reparations, the recent gubernatorial recall and his future goals.

WATCH: Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks on signing Bruce’s Beach bill, returning stolen land back to Black family

The story behind Bruce’s Beach tells a narrative of Black-ownership in America. Original property owners Charles and Willa Bruce had their land seized by the City of Manhattan Beach, California. The local government managed the rights to the land for almost 100 years.

However, on Thursday, September 30, 2021 the authority of Bruce’s Beach has been given back to the descendants of the original landowners.

The waves from the pacific ocean pulled onto the sandy shores owned by Willa and Charles Bruce. In 1912, they were the first Black landowners in Manhattan Beach, the Bruce’s became a family that owned multiple beach plots.

Read more about Bruce’s Beach on https://lasentinel.net/bruces-beach-property-returned-to-family.html

Newsom Signs AB 331 to Stop Organized Retail Theft

Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer sponsored  legislation to extend sunset date of the crime of organized retail theft Governor Gavin Newson called up Assembly member Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) as Newsom signed into law AB 331 to help the state apply resources to reduce crime and stop organized retail theft. The signing took place July 21 at The Hangout, a small business in Long Beach. Jones-Sawyer sponsored the legislation to extend the sunset date to January 1, 2026 of the crime of organized retail theft and the California Highway Patrol Organized Retail Crime Task Force. Among the African American law enforcement members