New leaders in SEIU California + EQCA endorses a state controller + Who’s unvaccinated?

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

SEIU CALIFORNIA HAS NEW LEADERSHIP

SEIU California announced new leadership for the organization, as President Bob Schoonover steps down in favor of new President David Huerta.

Huerta will continue his duties as president of SEIU-USWW — representing more than 40,000 mostly private sector janitors, security guards, airport workers and others.

“SEIU members are a powerful force for progress in California,” said Huerta. “We fight for the public good and for justice for all. We stand up for the worth and dignity of essential workers who have kept us fed, cared for, and safe during this pandemic. California’s hardworking, frontline workers matter, and representing them as the President of SEIU California is an honor,” Huerta said in a statement. “I will dedicate my presidency to securing justice and inclusion for immigrant workers and their families, creating paths to power and union membership for millions more workers, and to partnering with other labor and progressive leaders to build a state that ends poverty, combats structural racism, expands our democracy, and creates opportunity for all.”

In addition, Tia Orr, who previously served as interim executive director of SEIU California, was permanently named to the post.

“SEIU members work night and day to care for people, to support their families, and to create opportunities for their kids. Most SEIU members are women of color, whose strongest voice on the issues that matter to them is through their union – and they inspire me to fight like hell for a better, more equal and more humane society. When I walk the corridors of power, I feel that I am in good company: I am walking with 700,000 hard-working mothers, brothers, fathers, and sisters, the members of this union. I know that together we can create a future where every worker has a voice, every family has what it needs to thrive, and every child is valued and given the opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” Orr said in a statement.

Finally, the organization announced that Rene Bayardo is taking over as director of government relations.

“I have 700,000 bosses,” Bayardo said in a statement. “They are the members of SEIU in California. They have an inspiring agenda for change, and I am humbled to advance their goals in Sacramento.”

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA ENDORSES GALPERIN FOR STATE CONTROLLER

LGBTQ advocacy group Equality California has issued an endorsement in the race for state controller. The group has thrown its support behind Ron Galperin, Los Angeles city controller.

According to Equality California, Galperin would be only the second openly gay statewide elected official if elected to office. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is the first.

“Equality California is proud to endorse Ron Galperin for State Controller,” Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang said in a statement. “In Los Angeles, Ron has ensured public dollars are spent transparently, efficiently and equitably while ensuring LGBTQ+ people are counted for in data that shows the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, homelessness, and food insecurity. California needs Ron’s experience and credibility to safeguard taxpayer dollars — and to strengthen the financial health of all Californians.”

Galperin, the first openly gay elected citywide official in Los Angeles history, oversees a budget of $11.2 billion, according to an Equality California statement.

“As Los Angeles’ first and only openly gay citywide elected official, I know how much representation matters,” Galperin said in a statement. “I’m proud to have the support of EQCA because we share a commitment for inclusion and for equity. As Los Angeles Controller, I’ve made it a priority to support, protect, and uplift our LGBTQI community, providing resources and assistance, advocacy and leadership - promoting values of inclusivity, equality, equity, and progress. I will do the same as California Controller and am thrilled to have EQCA help us build on our winning momentum.”

WHO’S UNVACCINATED IN CALIFORNIA?

While most Californians have been vaccinated against COVID-19, 14% of Californians say they will not or probably will not get the jab, according to a recent blog post from the Public Policy Institute of California.

That number has stayed fairly steady. Since January 2021, about 10% of Californians have consistently said that they definitely will not get the vaccine.

“Notably, the overwhelming majority of unvaccinated adults (86%) say that the omicron variant does not make them more likely to get vaccinated (11% say it makes them more likely to be vaccinated). Although majorities across demographic, political, and regional groups are vaccinated, wide disparities remain,” according to the post.

The PPIC found that vaccinated Californians tend to be older (90% of those 55 and up are vaccinated) and female (85% of women are vaccinated).

“Though there are disparities in vaccination rates across racial/ethnic groups, most Asian Americans (90%), Latinos (82%), whites (80%), and African Americans (79%) are vaccinated. And notably, the shares of each racial/ethnic group among the unvaccinated generally mirror their shares among all adults—with the exception of Asian Americans, who represent a slightly lower share of the unvaccinated population than the adult population,” according to the post.

Finally, politics appears to play a role in whether someone is willing to be vaccinated.

While 94% of Democrats say they’ve gotten the shot, only 75% of independents and 65% of Republicans have.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“On a personal note, I had the privilege of working with Judge Jackson at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster when we were both in private practice, and can attest to her incredible character and commitment to the law. I look forward to her historic confirmation.”

- Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, discussing President Joe Biden’s nomination of federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, via Twitter.

Best of the Bee:

• Gov. Gavin Newsom will lift a series of statewide orders he issued during the COVID-19 pandemic as California begins to shift its response to the virus – but his overall emergency declaration will remain in place, via Lindsey Holden.

• As an insurance crisis persists in California wildfire country, state regulators are preparing to order companies to offer discounts to homeowners who install double-pane windows, fire-safe roofs or take other steps to reduce the danger to properties, via Dale Kasler.

• The fight for $18? It’s on, say supporters of raising the minimum wage in California, via Andrew Sheeler.

This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 4:55 AM.