‘People are still mad’: Will CA go reparations payments?

After two reparations payments stalled within the closing day of session final 12 monthsreparation advocates are campaigning right this moment on the state Capitol to drum up assist for a similar measures.

In partnership with the Coalition for a Simply and Equitable California, the advocates are calling the rally “the first reparations advocacy day” in state historical past. The occasion’s lead organizer, Chris Lodgson, mentioned they need lawmakers to introduce, assist and undertake “bold” reparation payments — together with those the coalition are prioritizing.

• Lodgson: “People are still mad about the bills that did not get to the governor’s desk last year … and we’re looking forward to success in 2025.”

The 2 stalled payments weren’t a part of the 14-bill reparations bundle championed by the California Legislative Black Caucus final 12 months: One would have created a brand new state companywhereas the opposite would have created a fund for reparations insurance policies.

However the caucus, which sought a much less sweeping strategy within the face of public backlash, prevented the proposals from coming to a vote within the Meeting — a transfer that upset advocates. Gov. Gavin Newsom finally signed 5 of the 14 payments.

The coalition can also be pushing for proposals to allocate $30 million within the 2025-26 state finances to fund the state company; create a assured earnings program for senior residents who’re descendants of slaves; and compensate Black households who had their property seized by way of “racially motivated” eminent area (a proposal Newsom vetoed final 12 months).

However much like 2024, advocates have a troublesome highway forward. Reparations within the type of money funds are politically unpopularand the Legislature has been warned towards new spending amid a finances crunch.

Nonetheless, supporters are hopeful. Lodgson mentioned final 12 months’s defeats satisfied advocates to take “bigger” actions and attain out to different potential allies.

• Lodgson: “The Black Caucus should not ‘own’ all the reparations activity legislatively. We’re looking to work outside the Democratic Party quite frankly. Folks in both parties need to take the lead on this, and we’ve been talking to the Republican Party too.”

From CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn:

California is on tempo to see a “modest” surplus and keep away from a deficit as a result of it’s banking $16.5 billion in extra income above what was projected final June, Gov. Newsom advised reporters Monday in a preview of the state’s finances image.

Newsom’s workplace will formally unveil the 2025-26 finances on Friday, kicking off a six-month technique of negotiations and legislative conferences earlier than high Democrats within the Meeting and Senate strike a take care of the governor someday in late June.

Newsom predicts that extra money is heading to the state finances. The state’s foremost spending account, the overall fund, is projected to hit $229 billion in 2025-26 — about $10 billion extra than what his workplace and lawmakers predicted final June and $17 billion greater than what’s on this 12 months’s finances.

Questioning what else is within the finances? So are we! Be a part of our same-day protection Friday when the main points go reside someday within the morning.

From CalMatters’ Sameea Kamal:

What does a second Donald Trump administration imply for the Excessive-Velocity Rail venture?

Newsom commented briefly throughout a groundbreaking in Kern County Monday: “No one’s naive about the headwinds coming our way. But we withstood those a few years back and we were able to continue to move forward.”

Whereas the Biden administration infused $6 billion into the venturethe incoming Trump administration has as soon as once more set its sights on California’s overdue, over-budget Excessive-Velocity Rail. Throughout his first time period, Trump axed $1 billion in federal funding for the venture.

Earlier right this moment, Republican Congress member Kevin Kiley, from Northern California, launched a invoice to curtail additional state funding.

Newsom acknowledged the delays, but in addition touted a few of its latest progress: The venture’s closing environmental overview was accredited final June.

He mentioned the administration was “months away from making some early commitments on train sets,” however nonetheless “a couple of years away” from laying tracks.

Voters accredited a $10 billion bond again in 2008 to launch the venture, which was presupposed to have 800-miles up and operating by 2020 and value a complete of $40 billion to create a practice operating from San Francisco to Los Angeles in underneath three hours. The venture is now anticipated to price, at greatest, between $88 and $128 billion.

Almost three weeks after Gov. Newsom issued a state of emergency in California over the chicken flu, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reported the primary dying within the U.S. because of the virus Monday. Discover out the place.