The Bradford Bulletin - sd35.senate.ca.gov

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The Bradford Bulletin A M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

- J U N E 2 0 2 1 –

Dear Friends, Summer heat is here to stay! Save energy where you can and don’t forget to stay hydrated. If you have not already done so, schedule an appointment for your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. 60 percent of Californians are fully vaccinated. The more people that get vaccinated the better we protect those who cannot safely get the vaccine. Please sign up or help someone else sign up at myturn.ca.gov to be notified of appointment availability. This month the Senate and Assembly passed an unprecedented budget of $262 billion — $435 million of which makes needed and helpful investments specifically into District 35, further explained below. The next major legislative deadline is approaching fast. Bills that have passed into the opposite house will be heard in their respective Appropriations Committees. Hundreds of bills will be judged on their price tag and the value that they will give to Californians. Be sure to call the Committee members to let them know which bills you believe deserve to be passed. If there is a bill that you have an opinion about, get engaged by calling your representatives and sharing your thoughts and concerns with us. Now is the best time to add your voice to the legislative process. The state of California made history when its new task force to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans met earlier this month. Created as a result of Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the task force is a first-in-the-nation effort by a state government to take an expansive look at the institution of slavery and its present-day effects on the lives of Black Americans. The first virtual gathering lasted six hours and included the swearing-in ceremony and professional introduction of all nine members of the task force. I am honored to serve on this historic task force. Stay safe, healthy, and active,

Senator Steven Bradford

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The Budget Act of 2021

The California Senate and the Assembly passed an unprecedented budget. While Governor Gavin Newsom has yet to sign Assembly Bill 129: the Budget Act of 2021, this measure does represent a three-party agreement between the Senate, Assembly, and the Newsom Administration. The total budget spending package is $262.6 billion, of which $196.4 million is from the General Fund. The state is using $11 billion to pay off all the Proposition 98 money owed to schools, which was borrowed to deal with last year’s budget crises. Over $25 billion is being saved in various reserve accounts to create safety buffers for unanticipated volatility and to put the state on solid fiscal footing.

The Budget Act of 2021 makes needed and helpful investments specifically into Senate District 35, including, but not limited to, the following:

• $60 million to California State University Dominguez Hills to address infrastructure needs; • $50 million for Charles Drew University to construct a medicine and science building and to support

more people of color going into the health profession; • $10 million to Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Hospital to provide infrastructure and workforce

support; • $8.5 million for the Inglewood Market Street Streetscape Improvement Program and the Market

Street Facade and Tenant Improvement Program; • $1.2 million to the Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor for restoration of the Cheryl Green

Center for children to play and learn; • $3.5 million for the Los Angeles Black Worker Center to create the Workforce Equity

Demonstration Project to assist more workers in obtaining government jobs; and, • $1 million to the Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political & Economic Institute at California

State University Dominguez Hills.

Notable overall investments in The Budget Act of 2021-22 include, but are not limited to:

• Another modified round of the Golden State Stimulus, which will provide direct relief to Californians with income up to $75,000, with the amount of assistance varying from $500 to $1,100 depending on a family’s filing status;

• Extension of the eviction moratorium for non-payment of rent to September 30, 2021 and 100 percent rent COVID rent forgiveness;

• $1.5 billion in grants to small business and non-profits; • $12 billion to prevent homelessness; • An additional 120,000 child care slots in fiscal year 2021-22, and increasing an additional 80,000

slots over the next four years; • $3 billion one-time to launch a statewide Initiative to foster community schools in over 1000

campuses where students and their families’ health and services needs can be met with the overarching goal of supporting academic success;

• $1 billion ongoing and $753 million one-time to expand afterschool and summer school enrichment programs for low-income students;

• Expansion of Medi-Cal to adults age 50 and older regardless of immigration status; • $151 million to eliminate criminal administrative fees that create a poverty and debt trap for the

many who cannot afford to pay them; and, • $30 million to help cannabis equity applicants and licensees pay for the cost of licensing fees.

Click here for more information on the State Budget.

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Resources and Updates

C O M M U N I T Y R E S O U R C E S A N D I M P O R T A N T U P D A T E S

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE EXPANDS $100 MILLION HIRING TAX CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

AB 150 allocates an additional $117 million and expands the parameters of the Main Street Hiring Credit program, started by Senator Steven Bradford. The parameters to the Main Street Hiring Credit will be expanded in the following ways when the bill is signed by the Governor:

• Qualified small business employers are now defined as those with 500 or fewer employees and that demonstrate at least a 20 percent decline in gross receipt in at least one period of comparison as defined.

• Credit is not refundable, and usable against either: i) the personal income or corporate income in the 2021 tax year and may be carried over for four years, and ii) the sales and use taxes between January 1, 2022 and April 30, 2027.

• Allows $1,000 of credit for each new employee added, calculated by comparing monthly full-time equivalent employees either in fiscal year 2020-21 or Quarter 2 of 2021, whichever is lower, as compared to Quarter 2 of 2020.

• Limits the total credit to $150,000 for taxpayers. • Credits are available on a first come-first serve

basis.

Click here for more information.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is recommending that all residents wear masks in public indoor spaces — regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 due to the Delta variant spreads.

COVID 19 VACCINES

Call the CA COVID-19 Hotline at

1-833-422-4255 or Visit: https://myturn.ca.gov/

Eviction Moratorium Extended 3 More Months and Rent Relief Program Funding Doubled to Pay 100% Past Due Rent for Low-Income Tenants:

• On Monday June 28th, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to extend the state’s eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021 and clear rent debt for low-income Californians that have suffered economic hardship due to the pandemic. Under AB 832, California will significantly increase cash assistance to low-income tenants and small landlords under the state’s $5.2 billion rent relief program.

• The new legislation will now cover 100 percent of past-due and prospective rent payments, as well as utility bills for income-qualified tenants.

• If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, please visit HousingIsKey.com to check eligibility requirements and to apply, or call the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center at 833-430-2122.

FIND AND CLAIM MONEY OWED TO YOU California’s Unclaimed Property Program reunites lost and abandoned private property with the rightful owner or heirs. After three years without contact from the property owner, businesses are required to turn private property over to the State Controller’s Office.

• Visit the Controller’s website at sco.ca.gov or claimit.ca.gov to see if the State is holding property in your name.

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Community Round-Up

MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Local Elected Officials of LA County welcomed Governor Gavin Newsom at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital to thank the Healthcare workers for their perseverance and commitment through the continuous battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Senator Bradford joined Local Elected Offiacals in Long Beach and Manhattan Beach to celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration of the Emancipation of African Americans from slavery, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the history and contributions of our ancestors.

Senator Bradford served as the Installation Officer for the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce. He installed the incoming Board of Directors to both the Chambers. GARDENA JAZZ FESTIVAL

Senator Bradford serves as the Founder and Chair of the Gardena Jazz Festival, this year will mark its 18th Annual event. To learn about being a part of the event or to purchase tickets, click here.

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Here to Help L E A R N A B O U T H O W O U R O F F I C E C A N A S S I S T Y O U

The following are some of the services available from my District Office:

Constituent Services • DMV / auto insurance problems • Consumer complaints • Medi-Cal payments and eligibility • Unemployment insurance questions

Community Services • Community organizations • Technical assistance / advice on local issues • Funding for local projects • Neighborhood outreach

Contact my District Office for assistance:

Inglewood District Office San Pedro Satellite Office Phone: (310) 412-6120 Phone: (310) 514-8573

2021 LEGISLATIONS

The following bills have currently passed the Senate, and are being considered in the Assembly:

• SB 2: Police Decertification Act of 2021 • SB 567: Determinate Sentencing Reform • SB 586: Criminal Administrative Fees • SB 710: Recusal of District Attorneys • SB 796: Returning Bruce’s Beach to its Owners • SB 26: Fair Pay to Play Act 2.0 • SB 777: The California Jumpstart Act • SB 603: Cannabis Equity • SB 655: Insurance Diversity • SB 694: Utility Workforce Diversity • SB 743: Broadband in Public Housing • SB 521: Value Based Contracts • SB 788: Workers’ Compensation

You can follow and read more about my full legislative package on my website by clicking here. Track the status of any bill by clicking here.

For Assistance with legislation, please contact my Capitol Office:

Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 2059 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4035

JOIN TEAM BRADFORD

Job Announcement: Executive Assistant/Scheduler

Basic Functions: Under the supervision of the Chief of Staff, the Executive Assistant /Scheduler will serve in the Capitol office as a full-time scheduler. Responsibilities include scheduling for the Senator, greeting visitors, answering the telephone, managing incoming mail, ordering supplies, and general support functions.

Duties: The Scheduler will manage a highly complex and dynamic calendar, make travel arrangements, and schedule district and Capitol meetings for the Senator. Punctuality is required. The Executive Assistant/ Schedulermust maintain hours Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in addition to working a flexible schedule, as needed.

To Apply: Submit Cover Letter and Resume To: [email protected]

FUN FACT ABOUT CALIFORNIA

State Nickname: The Golden State is a good state nickname since modern California’s success started with the discovery of gold.

STAYING CONNECTED

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