Caucus News

SACRAMENTO — The following statement is in response to reports that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will sue the state of California over laws that block the Trump Administration from expanding detention of immigrants. Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) authored Senate Bill 29, which prevents California cities from expanding contracts with for-profit prison companies to detain immigrants and requires public input on any expansion of ICE-operated facilities. SB 29 is a counterpart to AB 103, which blocked the expansion of immigrant detention in public jails:

SACRAMENTO – Assembly and Senate legislators will today examine how best to investigate and respond to sexual harassment incidents, complaints and allegations in the fourth hearing of the Joint Committee on Rules Subcommittee on Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response.

The Subcommittee hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. March 6, in Capitol Room 4203.

Glendale, California – Senator Anthony J. Portantino, D – La Cañada Flintridge has selected Glendale City Manager Yasmin Beers as the 2018 Woman of the Year. She is the first woman to serve as city manager and her role is to supervise nearly 2000 city employees. Formerly, she has served as the city’s Chief Operating Officer, the Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Interim City Manager. She was previously a member of the Soroptismist International of Glendale and a Board Member of the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.

Sacramento –  Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced the introduction of a resolution that will put California at the forefront in supporting intersex individuals and their families.

SACRAMENTO - Responding to a weekend decision by an employee of the California Public Utilities Commission to allow SoCalGas to dramatically expand the usage of Aliso Canyon, without public notice or Commission approval, Senator Stern questioned the basis of the decision.

SACRAMENTO - Responding to a weekend decision by an employee of the California Public Utilities Commission to allow SoCalGas to dramatically expand the usage of Aliso Canyon, without public notice or Commission approval, Senator Stern questioned the basis of the decision.

Sacramento – In response to the Trump Administration’s announcement of increasing offshore oil and gas drilling, Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, and 226 legislators from 17 coastal states signed a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in opposition to the plan. The letter was released today at a Bureau of Open Energy Management in Olympia, Washington.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, will convene the 45th annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum Thursday, March 8 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Sacramento, CA - Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) today was joined by law enforcement leaders from ten North Orange County cities to publicly launch the North Orange County Public Safety Task Force.  Senator Newman and the ten law enforcement leaders discussed public safety specifically as it relates to developing gang activity, the homeless crisis, and proposed regional solutions to both.

Said Buena Park Police Chief Corey Sianez:

GARDENA – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), who is leading a successful statewide effort to reduce over-regulation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), joined the founder of Cover, a Los Angeles-based technology company that designs and builds backyard homes, today to highlight their role in providing more affordable housing in California.