By Kenneth Miller

Special to California Black Media Partners  

In a few weeks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the world will be watching history unfold as Kamala Harris steps into her own as Standard Bearer of the Party.

Somewhere amid all of the blowing horns, balloons and wacky outfits will be California’s own political powerbroker and “Master Queen” Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), arguably the most powerful Black elected official in America right now.

For more than 40 years — 33 of them serving in the United States House of Representatives — “Auntie Maxine” has proved her might and mettle.

She has successfully advocated for $10 billion in funding for Section 8 housing and secured $50 million in funding for Youth Fair Chance, $400 million for Minority HIV/AIDS Funding and $6 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization.

She is always at the forefront fighting for what is best for the communities she serves.

In our divided political universe today, many of us are constantly presented with the argument that our system of governance is fixed and failing us, and our elected officials are out of touch and, therefore, there is no reason to vote. Buying into this notion plays into the hands of powerful political interests, some of whom are the philosophical heirs of those who denied Blacks voting rights to begin with.

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That is why leadership is paramount – real leadership, trusted, courageous and reliable, that is demonstrated by the actions and deeds of those we elect to serve.

Such was the case when Waters learned California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his state budget without any funding for the Martin Luther King Community Hospital (MLKCH) in South Los Angeles which was on the brink of closing yet again.

Fuming, Waters confronted Newsom at an event about the MLKCH dilemma. In a letter sent to Newsom, Waters appealed; “I call on you as the Governor of the Great State of California to reverse your decision of 2022 and immediately support legislation that will adjust MLKCH’s supplemental funding methodology to include outpatient services, including the approximately 125,000 ED services provided by the hospital every year. This will cost an estimated $25 million per year. More importantly, it will save countless lives.”

Newsom had previously vetoed legislation authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Assembly Bill (AB) 2426, which aimed to expand MLKCH’s supplemental funding in order to cover hospital-based outpatient services provided in the emergency department.

The bill provided MLKCH approximately $25-$30 million in additional funds annually.

Not long after Waters sent a letter to Newsom on June 14, Newsom reversed course and signed off the legislation to fund MLKCH.

It was a ‘gangsta’ move as we say in the ’hood, and copied on the letter was a list of critical community stakeholders which included pastors, elected officials and civil rights leaders.

“This unique hospital serves some of the poorest and sickest people in the State of California and perhaps the entire country. Our community depends on MLKCH, and we cannot allow it to close,” Waters wrote.

We can always count on Waters to be in the middle of the fight. She’s like Mike Tyson in his heyday, always menacing and moving towards the opponent intent on securing victory by any means necessary.

About the Author  

Ken Miller is publisher of the South Bay Black Journal. 

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