This week marks major celebrations in Oakland as our town recognizes its 171st birthday after being first incorporated on May 4, 1854. Since then, Oaklanders have lived a storied history, from the soaring Haciendas of Peralta to the roaring train cars owned by California’s ‘robber barons’ who pulled into Oakland and birthed the first black labor union. The Civil Rights and Free Speech movements of the 1960s and 70s that first shook the East Bay, then the nation.
This week also marks the annual "510 Day." The History of Oakland is still being written, but this week provides an opportunity to look back with pride about where we've been and imagine the future we hope to build together as we work toward where we're going.
Happy birthday, Oakland!
Yours in Service,
Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District
At the end of last month, I joined my friend, our Congresswoman, Representative Lateefah Simon, at her Alameda Town Hall. In this moment of political chaos, our collaborations across different levels of government are more crucial than ever to stand up for what we believe in. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with the community and share our values of protecting the environment, expanding access to health care, and defending quality education. I look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Simon to serve East Bay residents and stand up to attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ Californians, and our cities.
On the first day of this legislative cycle, I introduced a package of bills to further California's position as a leader in protecting reproductive and maternal health. All three bills have passed the Assembly Floor and are heading to the Senate; California will not roll over to the authoritarian whims of Washington. AB 40 to protect access to abortion in emergency care settings passed with 58 votes, AB 50 to make over-the-counter birth control more accessible for Medi-Cal recipients passed with 73, and AB 55 to support our alternative birth centers passed with a whopping 75 votes.
I'm proud to be advancing bipartisan solutions that will ensure no one is turned away from a hospital when they need medical care, promote equity in over-the-counter birth control, and improve health outcomes for California babies and parents.
On Monday, in coordination with Governor Newsom, our office announced that California has submitted an application to the federal government that would update and expand our state's essential health benefits if approved. This update would require health plans in the individual and small group markets to extend coverage to include services to evaluate, diagnose, and treat infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination, an annual hearing exam and hearing aids, and expanded durable medical equipment (DME) benefits, including coverage for mobility devices such as walkers, manual and power wheelchairs, and scooters, among other new DME coverage.
I have been working closely on this issue for over a year with a commitment to prioritizing meaningful access to care. If approved, this will be life-changing for the young couple who will finally be able to start their family, a child who will be able to hear their teacher, and someone with mobility limitations looking to remain independent. Californians deserve this.
In a huge win for the city of Alameda and the Alameda Food Bank, the Alameda County Superior Court rejected a lawsuit against the food bank’s developing new home on the former Naval Air Station. This clears the way for progress on one of Alameda’s most celebrated community partners and hubs for volunteerism, and a key development in Alameda’s base-closure recovery.
Though this chapter has drawn to a close, my office is still committed to carrying legislation inspired by the ordeal - AB 1162: Challenges to housing and community-serving projects.
The federal administration is going to war against our country’s nonprofits. Nonprofits are the backbones of our communities. However, the White House has been leading a charge, rolling back and threatening nonprofits that don’t align with their values. This cannot stand. I’m leading legislation this year, AB 1318, to protect California’s nonprofits from this political targeting.
One victim of this targeting has been Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), a group that provides support to neglected and abused children who are navigating our legal system. I’ve been proud to support CASAs, authoring ACR 26, which recognized February 6 as CASA Appreciation Day in California. I am also working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure California prioritizes providing critical funding to support CASAs and our youth.
Learn More: Student Loan Resource Library, SunBucks, ARPD: Summer Activity Guide
THANK YOU FOR READING!
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