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It’s Thursday, June 13, and so much happening across California. These are some of the headlines this morning:

• The fight over Prop 47 reform and the growing political divide.

• The Supreme Court just made a big ruling on access to an abortion pill.

• Anti-Israel protesters have taken over another campus by force.

• But let’s start by looking at the controversy surrounding the reparation movement in California.

Black Reparations in California

Despite overwhelming public opposition, California lawmakers are pushing ahead with controversial measures to provide reparations to Black residents.

About three weeks ago, the Democratic majority in Sacramento passed three reparation measures, but this week we’ve learned from GOP lawmakers that a key committee approved potential funds for the $800 Billion project. 

Catch Up Quick:  On May 21, lawmakers passed a set of three bills: SB 1331, SB 1403, and SB 1050- with the intent to “begin correcting the harms of slavery and decades of anti-Black racism perpetuated by the state and local governments.”

This was all based on a reparation task force report ordered by Governor Newsom, to look at California’s complicity in slavery and come up with proposals for reparations.

The measures:

• Create a fund for reparations programs and compensate black families for property that the government unjustly seized from them using eminent domain.

• Calls for creating an agency to help Black families research their family lineage and confirm their eligibility for any future restitution passed by the state.

• The cost to fund could exceed $800 billion for taxpayers, according to economists.

This story gives a good breakdown of the proposals.

Californians Do Not Support Reparation Payments

Even though the democratic majority in Sacramento voted to pass the all measures, recent polling shows the public doesn’t support it.

According to a UC Berkley Study released in September:

• 59% of Californians Oppose Payments

• 91% of Republicans Oppose Payments

• 42% of Democrats Oppose Payments

Also, critics argue not only does it disregard the will of the majority, but many raise questions about how the state will fund such measures when it is dealing with a $73 billion deficit. 

What’s Next 

• The measures are now headed to the Assembly for a vote.

• If passed, they land on Governor Newsom’s desk in September.

A Controversial Take

Prager U’s Xaviaer took a walk in LA recently and had a few thoughts on the reparation movement.

POLITICS, ECONOMY, EDUCATION & SCIENCE

PROP 47 REFORM LATEST

As negotiations continue over the Prop 47 reform measure, division among politicians, especially within the Democratic Party, has become increasingly evident. That’s because of the outrage from Californians who have urged the lawmakers to stop playing politics.

What’s New

• The Secretary of State’s Office announced the Proposition 47 Reform Initiative has qualified for the November ballot.

• The measure obtained over 600,000 valid petition signatures, surpassing the required 546,651.

• The GOP and now even some DEMS are opposing efforts by Democratic state leaders who are challenging the ballot initiative to reform Prop 47.

Quick Catch Up

• Proposition 47 had loosened penalties for drug and theft crimes.

• The new reform initiative aims to reinstate consequences and prison time for thieves and fentanyl dealers.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom and other top DEM lawmakers opposed the measure and fast-tracked their own legislation.

• Newsom/DEMS proposed an amendment stating that if voters pass the state initiative to reform Prop 47, their legislative reforms would be immediately repealed.

Your voice matters- Mike lays out ways to contact your local state representative:

CAL STATE LA- VIOLENT PROTESTS

Another group of anti-Israel protesters took a building by force on the campus of Cal State LA last night.

Nearly 100 protesters blocked off entrances and exits to the building in what university officials called an “unauthorized” action. Windows were vandalized with spray paint and campus furniture was overturned and blocking doors.

The office of Cal State L.A. President is in the building. The university asked employees on the upper floors to shelter in place.

Police were called but it’s unclear if they were allowed to take any action to stop this violence and make arrests.

RIP TO A LEGEND

Los Angeles lost a great one this week. Even if you’ve never watched NBA game, you've seen Jerry West's influence: his silhouette serves as the NBA’s logo.

During his tenure with the Lakers, West not only led the team to multiple championships but also served as their general manager. He played a pivotal role in assembling the iconic team of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. But perhaps his greatest role in Lakers history was developing his close friendships along the way with legends like Magic Johnson.

HOT TAKES

🚨 ABORTION PILL RULING: The Supreme Court upheld a woman's access to a widely used abortion pill. Justices determined that abortion opponents did not have legal standing to challenge the FDA's approval of the medication, mifepristone, and subsequent efforts by the FDA to facilitate its accessibility."

🚨 PARENTS REVIEW BOOKS:  Lodi Unified School District now allows parents to decide which reading materials their children can access. This decision comes in the wake of controversy sparked by books distributed to teenagers by teachers, which depicted sexual encounters between two teenage boys.

🚨 MUSK HARASSMENT LAWSUIT:  Several engineers (both male and female) have sued  Elon Musk and SpaceX for alleged sexual harassment. The lawsuit describes an “animal house-like working environment” and was filed in Los Angeles.

🚨 MOST POLLUTED BEACHES: Once again, California has three beaches featured on the list of the most polluted beaches in the country, according to the annual study by the Surfrider Foundation.

🚨 STRANDED SURFER RESCUED:  A stranded windsurfer was rescued after using rocks to spell out “help” on a Santa Cruz County beach where he became trapped. People riding in a helicopter spotted him from above. Photo here.

GOLDEN STATE GLOW

🌴 We all know Fremont is pretty special, but now a new poll has ranked it as the happiest place to live in the United States.

The Bay Area’s fourth-biggest city took the top spot in a new poll by WalletHub that looked at emotional well-being, income/employment, and community and environment.

San Jose, Irvine, and San Francisco also made the top 10.

🌴 The iconic San Francisco home used in the 1990s sitcom Full House has hit the market for a cool $6.5 million. Everything you need to know about the 4 bed 3 bath house is here.

 🗓THIS DAY IN CALI-HISTORY

June 13: 

On this day in 1995, Alanais Morrisette released her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill, which would go on to be an anthem for Gen X teen girls and earn her Grammy award for Album of the Year. The timeless masterpiece was recorded in Encino.

On this day in 2012, San Francisco Giants’s Matt Cain threw the first and only perfect game in Giants franchise history. It was only the 22nd perfect game in Major League history. Baseball fans will love this documentary.