Press Releases

Friday, June 26, 2020

2020 has been witness to great challenges for our state eliminating a once robust funding surplus and creating a funding deficit in a matter of months – all caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fight to keep essential services funded while dealing with a $54 billion deficit was my priority. The havoc the coronavirus has caused to our economy, our educational and medical systems has been tremendous. Any additional disruptions to programs and services for our students, seniors, the homeless and business communities would have a lasting impact on millions of Californians.

Friday, June 26, 2020

2020 ha sido testigo de grandes desafíos para nuestro estado, eliminando los ahorros financieros que alguna vez fueron sólidos y creando escasez financieros en cuestión de meses, todo causado por la pandemia de COVID-19.

Mi prioridad era la lucha para mantener financiados los servicios esenciales mientras se enfrentaba a un balance negativo de $ 54 mil millones. Los estragos que el coronavirus ha causado a nuestra economía, nuestros sistemas educativos y médicos han sido tremendos. Cualquier interrupción adicional a los programas y servicios para nuestros estudiantes, personas de la tercera edad, las comunidades sin hogar y comerciales tendría un impacto duradero en millones de californianos.

Friday, June 19, 2020 - 13:00

Juneteenth, a celebratory tradition dating back to 1865 upon the notice of the end of the civil war and the freeing of slaves as announced in Texas, has held little fanfare over the years nationally – until now.

Recent tragic events related to the unfair treatment of communities of color under the law and a national discussion on racism and black lives in America has raised the profile of this celebration held on June 19th of each year.

Monday, June 15, 2020 - 16:00

Since the brutal killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer the issue of racism and equality in America has been front and center in the streets of our cities with peaceful marches and across our news platforms.

The Black community has suffered tremendously over the past four hundred years in our struggles to exist and obtain basic rights. Now, standing on the edge of real and powerful change, we have found greater allies in the fight for civil rights and equality. The movement ignited by Mr. Floyd’s death has been joined by other communities of color including and especially Latinos.

Monday, June 15, 2020 - 16:00

Desde el asesinato brutal de George Floyd por un oficial de policía de Minneapolis, el tema del racismo y la igualdad en los Estados Unidos ha estado al frente y al centro en las calles de nuestras ciudades con marchas pacíficas y en nuestras plataformas de noticias.

La comunidad negra ha sufrido enormemente en los últimos cuatrocientos años en nuestras luchas por existir y obtener derechos básicos. Ahora, al borde de un cambio real y poderoso, hemos encontrado mayores aliados en la lucha por los derechos civiles y la igualdad. Al movimiento provocado por la muerte del señor Floyd se han sumado otras comunidades de color, especialmente los Latinos.

Monday, June 1, 2020 - 09:30

To all the communities in the struggle for equality and positive change across our country, I understand and know your anguish and anger.

My family has a legacy of involvement in the civil rights movement. My uncle was part of the Little Rock Nine who suffered immense racism because they were integrated into a white school in Arkansas in 1957.

Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 08:45

It Only Takes One

George Floyd’s death at-the-hands of a Minneapolis police officer is one of many tragic deaths suffered by communities of color across the country on a regular basis. These acts are the results of systemic racism in our society and the failure to expose it and weed it out from institutions, organizations and places where authority has power to intimidate.

Mr. Floyd’s brutal killing, captured on video, is a grotesque reminder that America’s race-relation issues are strained and the fight for equality and civil rights continues.