California Black Media

Gov. Newsom and Speaker Rivas Announce Legislation That Will Prevent Gas Hikes

California lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent gasoline price spikes, stated Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) last week during a special legislative session on gas prices. The State Assembly set a legislative plan of action to address the surge in gas prices, proposing a bill to increase crude oil and fuel capacity to lower high prices for residents pumping gas at refill stations.

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2024

Oakland Post

The legislation, introduced and co-authored by Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), aims to make oil refiners manage the state’s gasoline supply responsibly and protect consumers from unexpected financial burdens.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The State Assembly set a legislative plan of action to address the surge in gas prices, proposing a bill to increase crude oil and fuel capacity to lower high prices for residents pumping gas at refill stations. The legislation, introduced and co-authored by Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), aims to make oil refiners manage the state’s gasoline supply responsibly and protect consumers from unexpected financial burdens.

Newsom praised the bill and commended lawmakers for proposing legislation that could help residents save money.

“Gas price spikes are profit spikes for Big Oil, and California won’t stand by as families get gouged,” said Newsom.

Rivas stated that a special session was held to thoroughly vet the proposals.

“We must stop oil companies from raking in record profits at the expense of Californians,” said Rivas.

“We’ll hear from experts and ensure that the public has a voice in the process. I’m committed to delivering solutions that can rein in soaring gas costs and provide real savings at the pump,” he said.

In 2022, Gov. Newsom partnered with the Legislature to sign into law a package of reforms that hold oil companies accountable for the spike in gas prices. The reforms helped create the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight, an independent agency that monitored oil companies. The agency uncovered that high gas prices were caused by suspicious market transactions. Lawmakers outlined specific proposals to reform the state’s gas spot market to prevent spikes due to a lack of stable gas supply.

This year, lawmakers worked with the independent agency to monitor gas prices and discovered that refineries went offline without planning to backfill supplies. As a result, refining margins spiked causing spot and retail prices for gas to increase.

Under this new bill, Newsom plans to authorize the California Energy Commission (CEC) to maintain a minimum inventory of refined fuel in the distribution chain to avoid supply shortages.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 24 – 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 24 – 30, 2025

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December 25, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of December 17 – 23, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 17 – 23, 2025

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December 20, 2025

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Black Women’s Think Tank Founder Kellie Todd Griffin

As the president and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Griffin is on a mission to shift the narrative and outcomes for Black women and girls. She founded the nation’s first Black Women’s Think Tank, securing $5 million in state funding to fuel policy change.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Kellie Todd Griffin. CBM file photo.

By Edward Henderson
California Black Media

With more than 25 years of experience spanning public affairs, community engagement, strategy, marketing, and communications, Kellie Todd Griffin is recognized across California as a leader who mobilizes people and policy around issues that matter.

Griffin spoke with California Black Media (CBM) about her successes and setbacks in 2025 and her hopes for 2026.

Looking back at 2025, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why? 

Our greatest achievement in this year is we got an opportunity to honor the work of 35 Black women throughout California who are trailblazing the way for the next generation of leaders.

How did your leadership, efforts and investments as president and CEO California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians? 

We’re training the next leaders. We have been able to train 35 women over a two-year period, and we’re about to start a new cohort of another 30 women. We also have trained over 500 middle and high school girls in leadership, advocacy, and financial literacy.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

Getting the question, “why.” Why advocate for Black women? Why invest in Black people, Black communities? It’s always constantly having to explain that, although we are aware that there are other populations that are in great need, the quality-of-life indices for Black Californians continue to decrease. Our life expectancies are decreasing. Our unhoused population is increasing. Our health outcomes remain the worst.

We’re not asking anyone to choose one group to prioritize. We are saying, though, in addition to your investments into our immigrant brothers and sisters – or our religious brothers and sisters – we are also asking you to uplift the needs of Black Californians. That way, all of us can move forward together.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

I’ve always been amazed by the joy of Black women in the midst of crisis.

That is really our secret sauce. We don’t let the current state of any issue take our joy from us. It may break us a little bit. We may get tired a little bit. But we find ways to express that – through the arts, through music, through poetry.

What is one lesson you learned in 2025 that will inform your decision-making next year?

Reset. It’s so important not to be sitting still. We have a new administration. We’re seeing data showing that Black women have the largest unemployment rate. We’ve lost so many jobs. We can have rest – we can be restful – but we have to continue the resistance.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians faced in 2025?

Motivation.

I choose motivation because of the tiredness. What is going to motivate us to be involved in 2026?

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

I want to get Black Californians in spaces and places of power and influence – as well as opportunities to thrive economically, socially, and physically.