Zbur, González Support Victims of Cesar Chavez Abuse Allegations
Assembly Members Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu) and Mark González (D-Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights) yesterday separately expressed support for victims of Cesar Chavez’s sexual abuse and rape allegations.
The allegations came to light in a bombshell New York Times muti-year investigative story published Wednesday, in which Ana Murguía and Debra Rojas came forward to share their stories of sexual abuse, some of which occurred when they were children.
Hours later, in a separate statement, Dolores Huerta — who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Chávez — revealed that she too had been sexually assaulted by him, saying the Times investigation compelled her to finally break her silence after six decades.
“My heart breaks for my friend Dolores Huerta and for Ana Murguía and Debra Rojas, who each bravely shared their stories of Cesar Chavez’s sexual abuse and rape.They, and all survivors, deserve our support and compassion, and we must continue to fight for survivors’ voices to be heard. We can never, ever accept sexual violence in our society,” said Zbur.
“After reading the statement from Dolores Huerta this morning, along with the accounts of other survivors, I am deeply horrified and disturbed by the serious allegations of sexual violence involving Cesar Chavez,” said González. “My mother, a survivor of domestic violence, has lived with lasting trauma, so I have seen firsthand the toll that abuse takes on a person and a family.
“For far too long, survivors have been silenced or made to feel that their truth does not matter. Today, we witnessed strength and courage in Dolores Huerta, Ana Murguía, and Debra Rojas for speaking out and sharing their truth. Dolores, I stand with you and with all survivors. In this state, sexual violence will never be tolerated.”
Horvath, Barger, Reform Mental Health Care for Homeless
Los Angeles County Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath (D-Sylmar, Pacoima, Panorama City Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, City, Sherman Oaks) and Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) this week saw the full Board of Supervisors approve their motion to reform and better integrate mental health care within the County’s homeless services system.
The motion is part of Horvath’s vision for a more coordinated, effective, and accountable homeless services system, now led by the County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing. The motion will also put a focus on expanding field-based care for people experiencing homelessness with serious mental illness.
“For too long, people living on our streets with serious mental illness have been failed by disconnected systems that expect them to find their way to care — instead of meeting them where they are,” said Horvath. “This motion begins to change that. By expanding field-based services, strengthening coordination between our Departments of Mental Health and Homeless Services and Housing, and building in accountability for outcomes, we are building a system that centers the people who need our help the most.”
As homelessness continues to impact all of our communities, so does the need for accessible, responsive mental health services. Nearly 16,000 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County are living with serious mental illness, many of whom are unsheltered, according to the motion.
“For too many people living on our streets, untreated mental health conditions are the root cause keeping them there,” said Barger. “Housing, shelter, and outreach are all essential—but on their own, they are not enough. Mental health care shouldn’t come after housing. In many cases, it’s what makes housing possible in the first place. This motion will help us better align our mental health and homeless services so we can meet people where they are and provide the coordinated, compassionate care they need to truly stabilize their lives.”
The motion also requires ongoing reporting to the Board on implementation progress, including updates within 90 days and regular reporting thereafter.
Valladares Announces Public Safety Legislative Package
State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, portions of the Antelope Valley) yesterday announced her public safety legislative package aimed at strengthening protections for crime victims, improving efforts to combat human trafficking, and cracking down on illegal dumping across California.
“Public safety means protecting our state’s most vulnerable, holding offenders accountable, and ensuring our communities are safe and clean,” said Valladares. “This package aims to address some of the most pressing public safety challenges facing our communities.”
The Package includes the California Multidisciplinary Alliance to Stop Trafficking (MAST) Act (Senate Bill 1022), which establishes a statewide task force to evaluate and improve collaboration between government agencies and non-profit organizations serving human trafficking victims.
“Human trafficking is an evil, complex and evolving crime that demands a coordinated response,” said Valladares. “This bill ensures we have an all-hands-on-deck approach to better protect trafficking victims and hold traffickers accountable.”
Other measures in the package include Senate Bill 1395, known as Kayleigh’s Law, which allows judges to issue lifetime protective orders at sentencing for individuals convicted of serious or violent felonies, or felony sex offenses against a minor; and Senate Bill 1230, which brings accountability to the crime of illegal dumping by increasing penalties for repeat offenders and improving coordination between state and local agencies.
“From protecting survivors of violence and trafficking to addressing illegal dumping in our communities, these bills are focused on making California safer for everyone,” said Valladares.
Hahn Awards $36 Million for parks and beaches in her district
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-Southeastern LA County including Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights) this week joined county and city leaders to announce that 17 cities and organizations in her district have been awarded $36 million in grants to build, plan, and improve parks, beach access, and open space.
Millions of dollars have been awarded to create new parks along the LA River in Southeast LA, a new botanical garden in Artesia, the restoration of South Beach in Avalon, and new trails in Huntington Park, Rancho Palos Verdes and Long Beach, and major park renovations in Cudahy, Bellflower, Norwalk and Torrance.
The funding comes from Measure A, a voter-approved property tax passed by Los Angeles County voters in 2016 to expand and improve parks, open space, and the public health and environmental benefits they provide.
Hahn and mayors and representatives from cities across her district made the announcement at the Hall of Administration, where the county announced a total of $78 million in grant funding.
“Parks shouldn’t be a luxury – but too many people in LA County don’t have a local park in their neighborhood,” said Hahn. “Thanks to Measure A and the generosity of LA County voters, we are making this massive, historic investment in parks and open space across my district– from Southeast LA, to Long Beach, all the way to Catalina Island. I am so proud to have so many city leaders in my district who recognize the importance of parks and are working every day to improve parks and park access for our residents.”
