SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, detainees at two ICE detention facilities in California, California City and Golden State Annex, announced they would hold a boycott to protest increasing prices and gross profiteering at commissaries at these facilities. Earlier this year, California State Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 941, which would prohibit the excessive markup of products sold at these private detention facilities. The bill has received bipartisan support as it moves through the Legislature.
Senator Steve Padilla - Otay Ranch
Senate District
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Senator Steve Padilla was elected in 2022 representing the counties of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino. Steve is a native of San Diego county and lifelong Chula Vista resident, he is a graduate of Bonita Vista High School, a former police officer and police Detective.
Steve’s interest in public affairs began early in life as did his service to Chula Vista, where he served as a member of the Board of Ethics and Safety Commission. He was elected for the first time to the City Council in 1994 and served two terms. In 2002, Steve was elected the City’s 38th Mayor and served from 2002 – 2006.
Prior to being elected to the State Senate, Steve worked with a variety of private entities, non-profits and public interest groups where he advocated on issues ranging from economic development, transportation, housing, and social and environmental justice. In 2008 he was invited to be a member of the Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration Policy for the Council on Foreign Relations.
Senator Padilla is noted for being the first person of color ever elected to City office in Chula Vista history, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. He holds undergraduate degrees in Liberal Arts and Public Administration from Southwestern College and National University, and studied law at Western State University, College of Law. He has been a published columnist writing on local, state, and national policy issues. He resides in Otay Ranch.
Latest Press Releases
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) introduced language to amend Senate Bill 420, ensuring organizations tied to private immigration detention centers cannot claim charitable tax status solely because they are organized as nonprofits.
SACRAMENTO – Today, the Senate approved Senate Bill 867, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego). This bill is a first-in-the-nation piece of legislation placing a 4-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of toys with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot capabilities for children under 18. The purpose of this legislation is to allow time for safety regulations to be developed to protect children from dangerous AI interactions.