‘CARE Court’ legislation unveiled + $$ to fight anti-Asian racism + Activists fight fossil fuels
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
‘CARE COURT’ LEGISLATION IS UNVEILED
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “CARE Court” proposal is in print.
SB 1338, authored by Sens. Thomas Umberg, D-Santa Ana, and Susan Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton, would enact the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (or CARE) Act.
“I thank the Legislature for moving with urgency to introduce this legislation that brings us a step closer to providing vital treatment and support for Californians struggling with severe schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders,” Newsom said in a statement. “Sadly, the status quo provides support only after a criminal justice intervention or conservatorship. CARE Court is a paradigm shift, providing a new pathway for seriously ill individuals before they end up cycling through prison, emergency rooms, or homeless encampments.”
The bill would authorize specified people to petition a civil court to create a plan and implement services — including behavioral health care, stabilization medication and housing support — to adults on the schizophrenia spectrum or who have a psychotic disorder and who lack decision-making capacity, according to the legislative counsel’s digest.
“Passing this legislation in a timely manner is incredibly important to help those in desperate need of services receive the support they deserve. I look forward to our continued partnership with the Legislature and stakeholders to make CARE Court a reality in communities across California,” Newsom said.
STATE TO SPEND $14 MILLION TO FIGHT ANTI-AAPI HATE
California will spend $14.2 million to fight anti-Asian racism.
The money comes in the form of “Stop AAPI Hate” grants, and comes from a $166.5 million package included in last year’s budget.
“State investment in the Asian American Pacific Islander community is long overdue. It’s gratifying to see the initial round of grants go to deserving organizations committed to carrying out the important work of stopping AAPI hate. The funding will help provide victims with essential services and resources, as well as strengthen violence prevention programs. This is as a necessary step toward creating a safer environment for all Californians, and I’m glad to see the first part of the API Equity Budget roll out,” said Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, in a statement.
The nation has seen a serious uptick in anti-Asian hate incidents since the pandemic began.
From the start of the pandemic through the end of 2021, there were nearly 11,000 recorded incidents of hate across the country, according to the national Stop AAPI Hate website.
“The surge in attacks has been attributed to people wrongly blaming a community for COVID-19 and the restrictions that followed,” according to a statement from Ting’s office.
A second round of Stop AAPI Hate grants are expected to be announced this summer.
ACTIVISTS CALL ON NEWSOM TO END FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION
Groups affiliated with the Last Chance Alliance gathered in cities across California on Friday to protest and demand that Newsom phase out oil and gas drilling in the state.
Protests were held in Sacramento, as well as Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Coalinga and Bakersfield.
Dependence on fossil fuels props up dictators and leaves us all less secure,” said a statement released by the group.. “Fossil fuel burning is also driving the climate crisis and making Californians more vulnerable to record breaking wildfires, drought, and heat. And if that weren’t enough, the fossil fuel industry continues to extract, process and burn its products primarily in frontline communities of color, who are already the most vulnerable to climate change harms.”
Activists specifically want Newsom to stop issuing new fossil fuel extraction permits, set California on a track to drop existing oil production, and roll out a community setback rule for existing gas and oil wells.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I do appreciate that Twitter now asks you ‘hey dumb*** do you want to read this article before you re-tweet it.’”
- Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, via Twitter.
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