By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Oct .4, the Governor’s office announced that the state has launched a new revamped digital portal at CA.gov where Californians have access to “hundreds of state services and programs.”

 “This overhaul is the latest milestone in the state’s ongoing digital strategy to improve user experience, accessibility, and service delivery for millions of Californians,” read a press release.

“A big part of the work we’re doing to build a “California for All” is rooted in how accessible our government is to the people. As part of our ongoing work to connect people to their government, today we’re introducing a new CA.gov — California’s ‘homepage’ that serves as a portal to state services and programs,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.

State Chief Information Officer and California Technology Department Director Liana Bailey-Crimmin said, “We will continue to ensure timely and accurate government information is just a click away. Whether you’re looking for assistance with essential services or want to learn about what the Golden State is doing for climate action, new business development, or California government – this site has it.”

“Using advanced technology, the site has a greatly improved search feature, works well on mobile devices and meets modern web standards. The previous version of CA.gov was launched in 2017, and as user needs and technology evolved, the state implemented the work to revamp it,” Bailey-Crimmin added.

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

 The California Latino Legislative Caucus (CLLC) announced new leadership last week as the community celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.

The CLLC elected Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) as the next Chair. The group also elected two vice-chairpersons: Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro) will serve as the Northern California Vice Chair and Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) will serve as the Southern California Vice Chair.

The CLLC has 37 members including senators, assemblymembers, and constitutional officers. The legislative group seeks to advance policy and develop ways that empower the Latino community statewide.

Gonzalez, the newly elected chair, made history in 2020 when she served as the first Latina to chair the Senate Transportation Committee and the only woman to hold the position in the past 20 years. Before becoming chair, Gonzalez served as the Majority Whip in 2021, Senate Majority Leader in 2024, and later became the Vice Chair of the Latino Caucus in 2022.

“As Chair, I remain committed to advancing policies that support our communities and uplift future generations on such seminal issues as health equity, climate action, worker’s rights, economic opportunity, and more,” said Gonzalez.

Ortega is a veteran labor leader and activist from an immigrant family. She has dedicated her career to advocating for working-class people in Alameda County. Ortega was the first Latina elected to the Alameda Labor Council representing 135,000 workers in the East Bay. She also became the first Latina Chair of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment.

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“I know the work we do has a lasting impact that carries on for generations, and I’m ready to tackle the many challenges our Latino communities face,” said Ortega. “I am committed to making a change that will benefit working families and communities, who are the backbone of our economy and part of the rich cultural fabric that makes California so vibrant and diverse.”

Carrillo is an outspoken advocate for affordable housing to address the homelessness crisis and environmental issues. Before his current role, he was a member of the Palmdale City Council and worked as a city planner for 15 years.

“It’s a profound honor to step into this role and champion meaningful initiatives that will shape a brighter future for our diverse Latino communities,” he said. “I’m excited to continue working to empower immigrant families, workers, small businesses, students, and parents across California.”

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By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

As Native Americans celebrated 100 years of citizenship and the right to vote at the State Capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring Native American Day and signed bills aimed at pushing tribal priorities forward.

The package of bills, which includes policies to enhance laws for vulnerable Native American youth and increase access to social supports, was signed on Sept. 27.

“I’m proud of the progress California has made to reckon with the dark chapters of our past, and we’re committed to continuing this important work to promote equity, inclusion, and accountability for Native peoples,” Newsom stated.

Newsom signed seven tribal-related bills introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), including Assembly Bill (AB) 2695, which helps California track trends in domestic violence and collect accurate information concerning violence in tribal lands.

AB 2695 will require the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to align its records and data with the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to assist law enforcement agencies and other entities with identifying where incidents related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) are taking place.

In addition, the bill requires law enforcement to document whether domestic violence incidents took place in Indian Country.

Ramos is the first Native American elected to the California legislature and the chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus (CLNAC).

“This measure will help California deal with the lack of clear data about MMIP and where domestic violence occurs,” stated Ramos, a member of the Serrano-Cahuilla tribe.  “That information will better inform us about how to deal with this issue as California ranks fifth in the nation in MMIP unresolved cases.”

Underreporting, racial misclassification, bias, and lack of resources to follow through and properly close cases are also obstacles when working on MMIP cases. The DOJ will now have the assets to address those issues.

“For the first time in California, law enforcement agencies will be required to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to my office,” Attorney General Rob Bonta stated. “(AB 2695) will help all of us develop data-driven strategies to end the MMIP crisis in our state and improve justice for tribal citizens.”

As part of the CLNAC’s priority package, Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 2795 authored by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno). Ramos is the co-author of the legislation.

AB 2795 lowers administrative barriers to CalWORKS and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services at Indian health clinics in the state.

“It is vital that we ensure members of tribal communities have equitable access to safety net programs when needed,” Arambula stated.

Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instructions, co-sponsored AB 1821.

“This initiative supports California’s diverse students to be seen, heard, and understood in their instructional materials, and to foster a deeper appreciation for our Native communities’ history and cultures,” Thurmond stated.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

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