ABC 10

Last Monday, the California Senate passed Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León’s California Values Act, also known as the "sanctuary state" bill.

Los Angeles Times

The Trump administration has embarked on a stepped-up campaign to capture and deport immigrants living in the United States illegally, even if they’ve been here for a long time, have deep roots in the community and have been law-abiding and productive members of American society.

Los Angeles Times

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart on Wednesday became the first sheriff to endorse the so-called sanctuary state bill, which would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources for immigration enforcement.

The New York Times

Not long ago, California Democrats were broadly opposed to so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents.

But times have changed.

A poll conducted by U.C. Berkeley researchers in 2015 found that attitudes on sanctuary policies transcended political affiliation: 82 percent of Republicans and 73 percent of Democrats were opposed to them.

Los Angeles Times

California state Senate leader Kevin de León introduced Senate Bill 54 on what was an unusually acrimonious first day of the 2017 legislative session, as lawmakers in both chambers were locked in bitter debate over the still newly elected President Donald Trump. 

The New York Times

With the federal government vastly expanding who is considered a priority for deportation, the California State Senate approved a bill last week that increased protections for immigrants. The measure prohibits local law enforcement agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, report or arrest people for immigration violations.

By JOHN F. TAVAGLIONE and CHUCK WASHINGTON / Contributing writers

The California Legislature urgently needs to pass a transportation funding package in 2017 to address the billions in backlogged maintenance needs that have led to potholes, deteriorating roads, bridges and transit systems here in our community. The longer we wait to fix the small problems, the bigger and more expensive they become. In fact, it costs eight times more to fix a road than to maintain it.

The Legislature urgently needs to pass a transportation funding package in 2017 to address the billions in backlogged maintenance needs that have led to potholes, deteriorating roads, bridges and transit systems across our region and the state. The longer we wait to fix the small problems, the bigger and more expensive they become. In fact, it costs eight times more to fix a road than to maintain it.

Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislators on Wednesday announced a 10-year, $52.4 billion freeway repair and construction deal, and business and labor leaders have been quick to applaud, rightly.

California is at a crossroad when it comes to how we fix the highways, roads and bridges in our state and in our hometowns. We can either continue driving on rutted roads full of potholes, or we can decide to fix them and maintain them better so we get a full return on our investment.

That’s why I am urging our local State Senator and Assemblymember to join me in supporting the recently released compromise plan to fix our roads.