Dear Friends,
It was not lost on me that this year’s celebration and recognition of Black History Month came in the face of a national attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our diversity is our greatest strength and I am committed to continuing supporting uplifting DEI efforts in the California Legislature and beyond. This month I was proud to celebrate the CA Black Chamber of Commerce and Small Businesses on the Assembly floor along with Unsung Heros uplifted by the California Legislative Black Caucus including Oakland’s own Jamilia Land. It’s clear we will continue to face attacks on California values and we must continue to meet this moment.
Yours in Service,
Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District
#TeamBonta has been busy in the Capitol introducing our 2025 legislative package. I have introduced 22 bills this cycle targeting a diverse range of issues to improve health outcomes for Californians, keep more money in your wallet, and respond to impending federal threats. The bills include:
- AB 298 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for children’s health care.
- ABs 1230 and 1376 would combat the school-to-prison pipeline.
- AB 1318 aims to protect our non-profits from targeting from the federal administration.
Did you know anyone can submit a position letter to the legislature’s committees as bills move through California’s legislative process? Learn more below.
Undocumented immigrants contributed nearly $8.5 Billion in state and local taxes, all without access to many of the basic social programs we enjoy as residents. I was proud to meet with UnidosUS, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, and Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas recently to learn more about the needs of our immigrant communities and uplift California’s recently approved funding towards protecting Californians from any unconstitutional federal actions and providing legal aid to protect our immigrant populations.
Immigration Resources:
Know Your Rights, Legal Representation, Rapid Response Networks, State Resources, and More.
This month, Assembly District 18 was home to numerous celebrations of the NBA All-Star Game, hosted in the Bay Area, featuring events in the Oakland Arena and around the Town, including the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA All-Star Practice, and the HBCU Classic, where Tuskegee University beat Morehouse College. NBA All-Stars and Legends alike came in force to the Town, including Jaylen Brown, who is investing millions in Black-owned businesses here in Oakland, and Oakland's own Antonio Davis, who became CEO of the National Basketball Retired Players Association. I was honored to help induct late NBA greats like Warriors legend Al Attles and NCAA and Celtics pioneer Don Barksdale into the Oakland Hall of Fame!
The weekend also brought significant investments to Oakland. AT&T, NBA Cares, Human I-T, and New York Liberty WNBA Champion (and East Bay native) Sabrina Ionescu teamed up to distribute laptops to East Oakland Youth Development Center students. The Eat. Play. Learn. Foundation hosted a day of service and a playground renovation at East Oakland Pride Elementary School. McClymonds High School opened their new Bill Russell gymnasium, named after the late NBA legend. Team Bonta and the entire Town were incredibly grateful to see this investment in youth education and opportunity.
Our office is closely monitoring the US Department of Education’s attempt to eliminate Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion programs in our schools. This order targets programs that have allowed Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other students from diverse backgrounds to thrive in school, find community, and make a college degree feel within reach. Scholarships for racial minorities, heritage-based graduation ceremonies, and cultural-themed dorm floors are just a few of the programs at risk. Given that California regularly pays more in federal taxes than we get back, I am committed to ensuring our schools are not held to this overreaching standard while maintaining the federal funding that our schools and universities rely on.
Learn more: Alameda Restaurant Week, Oakland Restaurant Week, CLLCF Scholarship
THANK YOU FOR READING!
My office remains committed to helping you navigate any State resources or individualized questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office for any assistance or support with your questions.