If passed by the State Senate, ACA 3 would be on the November 8 ballot for California voters to decide whether to amend the California Constitution and prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude without exception.

“On the heels of the nationwide abolition movement, the California Abolition Act seeks to abolish forced labor and involuntary servitude unconditionally in the state of California,” Senator Syndey Kamlager, author of ACA 3 said.

The Thirteenth Amendment of the United Constitution was ratified in 1865, prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude but as an exception, involuntary servitude is allowed when imposed as punishment for a crime.

Article I, section 6, of the California Constitution contains the same prohibitions on slavery and involuntary servitude and the same exception for involuntary servitude as punishment for crime. Co-chairs of ACA3, Jamilia Land and Samual Brown, said California is one step closer to ending legalized slavery in the State.

“Today, that practice continues in the form of forced labor in prisons, which falls disproportionately on Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous people and reflects broader disparities in the criminal justice system,” Land said. Brown was incarcerated for 24 years and was the author of the proposal that became ACA 3.

“The ultimate goal isn’t about increasing wages but exposing this as a moral issue and ending involuntary servitude. There’s no reason we should still have legalized slavery via mass incarceration in 2021,” Brown said in a previous interview.

Today, 12 states prohibit enslavement and involuntary servitude, but exception provisions for criminal punishment remain, according to Senator Kamlager.

Over 94,000 Californians are currently incarcerated in state prison, According to the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

African Americans account for 28 percent of the prison population and less than 6 percent of California’s overall population.

“As it stands the Constitution of our State prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude except for the punishment of crime,” Kamlager said. “Abolition is not conditional. In the year 2021, in our great state of California often touted as one of the most progressive states in the country, this is unacceptable.”

Although no courts explicitly include labor as a condition of criminal sentencing, many incarcerated people perform labor oftentimes for as little as eight cents an hour, or no wages at all, according to the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

“The penal code says that CDCR shall require of every able bodied prisoner imprisoned in any State prison, as many hours of faithful labor of each day and everyday during his or her term of imprisonment as shall be prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Director of Corrections,” Kamlager said. “When I read that, I thought to myself this is very similar to what I would hear in a story about a slave owner and a plantation.” In 2018, Colorado passed a ballot measure that removed slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment from its state Constitution. In 2020, Utah and Nebraska did the same.

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (Oregon) and U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams (Georgia) introduced SJR 81 and HJR 104 also known as the Abolition Act, which would repeal and replace the exclusionary language of the 13th amendment.

“Dissolving the remnants of slavery and racial inequality is more important now than ever before. Our state constitution has yet to reflect the values of equality and justice that Californians now hold so dear,” Kamlager said.

Samual Brown says, “As it stands and operates, the current penal system is one which prioritizes cheap, and most times free labor over public safety, education, pro-social engagement and citizenship training.”

“We must not forget that California is the largest carceral state in the country and along with the rest of this nation are in direct violation of United Nations laws”. Jamilia Land, co-chair of the California Abolition Act Coalition. The U.S is in violation of International anti-slavery Treatise by having a constitutional exception to slavery and involuntary servitude according to Max Parthas, Director of State Operations for the Abolish Slavery National Network.

“The Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, is a 1956 United Nations treaty which builds upon the 1926 Slavery Convention, which is still operative and which proposed to secure the abolition of slavery and of the slave trade,” Parthas said.

Robert J. Hansen | Contributed

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After polls closed, Mia Bonta had just over 55% of the vote, compared to about 45% for her opponent, Janani Ramachandran, with about 46,000 votes counted.

Mia Bonta is backed by a powerful coalition of political, business and union leaders that Ramachandran says makes her beholden to special interests.

Bonta had 38% of the vote in the June primary, well short of the majority she needed to win outright and avoid a runoff with Ramachandran, who finished second with 25%. Under California’s election system the top two vote-getters move on the general election regardless of their party affiliation.

Two-thirds of voters in the 18th Assembly District are registered Democrats. Rob Bonta won with 87% support in each of his last four elections. He left the Legislature in April after Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him to fill the state’s top law enforcement post.

Mia Bonta is president of the Alameda School Board and chief executive of Oakland Promise, a college and career preparation program in the city’s public schools. She raised nearly three times as much as her opponent and benefited from four independent expenditure committees that spent nearly $1 million on her behalf.

Bonta has endorsements from the state Democratic Party, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland and the state treasurer, schools superintendent and secretary of state. Bonta, 49, is also backed by the Legislature’s Latino and Black caucuses.

“I’ve dedicated my life to fighting for progressive change,” Bonta said in a campaign ad. “From anti-poverty activist to education nonprofit leader, I’ll keep leading on investing in public schools, bold climate action, and criminal justice reform.”

Ramachandran, 29, is a social justice attorney, previously served on the Oakland Public Ethics Commission and currently serves on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. She is backed by the Legislature’s Asian and Pacific Islander and LGBTQ caucuses and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna. Ramachandran says Bonta isn’t progressive enough for the 18th District that includes a large swath of Oakland.

“My opponent may have the corporations on her side – but what we have is much more powerful: the power of the people,” Ramachandran said in backing “a true living wage, Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, rooting racism out of our criminal-legal systems, and ending inhumane evictions.”

The results of Tuesday’s special election will be certified by Sept. 10.

AP News | Contributed

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San Jacinto Councilman Andrew Kotyuk will take on the duties of mayor for the third go-around as of January.  I sat down with him on Tuesday for an interview, hoping to hear his plans for the upcoming term. I got that and more, as you shall see in detail in the paragraphs to come.

How, I asked, would the new term be different from the two previous terms?

“I think those answers are intertwined. All of the work done in the first term is now coming to fruition. Government moves slowly. Take Walmart, the new Soboba Casino or the commercial development along Sanderson Avenue. We have a great deal of commercial activity. Those are extremely positive commercial ventures that draw “spenders” into the city. That is one reason I ran again. All those cylinders are firing up and I want us to progress from there.

‘As to the negatives, we still don’t have a tremendous amount of revenue in the city. Our public safety isn’t 100% funded. That will come.  Also, we have sales tax leakage. We don’t have the big car dealerships. We don’t have malls. People spend that money elsewhere and it becomes a loss of tax revenue to us. The same goes for jobs.”

“I have a vision because we have all the probabilities of growth. The entertainment corridor along Ramona Expressway by Soboba. We’re working on that to bring outside dollars into the valley. When people come here and leave their money that is a boost to our economy: it brings in more tax dollars which can be used for development and expansions. If that doesn’t happen, then all we’re doing is just passing our money around and the economy never grows.”

Why aren’t the car dealerships coming to San Jacinto? “Historically Hemet wanted them. The traditional mind-set was to have them in Hemet.”

“Our entire Valley has been harmed because we lack viable corridors from the outside world. When the I-15, 215 and 10 freeways were extended around our valley, highways 74 and 79 no longer mattered. That is known as the “Route 66 effect” and everybody knows what happened to “America’s highway”; It literally became a side street to the nation. Before those freeways, people came here and spent their money because 74 and 79 were the corridors. We lost all that commercial trade. With the widened freeways they simply have by-passed us.

“The 79 expansion and the Mid-County Parkway are finally, after 30 years, ready to be built. In a recent meeting with leadership of the valley, it was agreed that we can bring those new corridors into the valley and open the central part of the economy again. Return of commerce will increase land values and bring back the tourism that once blossomed here. Those highways are the aortas to the heart of our growth. Our link has already been approved.”

What, I asked, will people be attracted to here if they do come?

“People are creatures of habit. We have a natural corridor for people driving from Orange County to Coachella and the festival; Stage Coach and the Tennis Tournaments from Newport to their houses in the desert. Also San Diego to all points north and west. Typically, they will stop along the way for food or gas.

“We live in one of the most beautiful valleys anywhere. People come here and see the snow-peaked mountains and lush wild flowers – things that don’t exist everywhere. You know, this valley was once the most popular retirement community in the country.”

That being all and well in the past, our median age is in the mid thirties and not high sixties anymore. What do we have that will attract a younger generation?

(Newly elected San Jacinto Mayor)

“We have an affordable life-style, and are implementing neighborhood connections and trails where you don’t have to drive to go to a restaurant or store, but can bike or walk there. It keeps you close to home which allows one to enjoy and participate in the community. We have installed a ton of trails that serve to implement neighborhood connections. New communities that are rising out of the past like a Phoenix from the ashes. There is a community focused on Spanish styles and one more focused on a country atmosphere, craftsmanship and a space for outdoor performances. I see a future that involves affordable housing in a beautiful place: a quality of life not available to young families starting out. That’s why we already have a generation of youth settling in the Valley. Our median age in San Jacinto is not 70 but 31.1. That’s a whole new transfusion into the community.

“Folks can both live and work here. Most hate to commute anyway. It will give more time for family recreation and other family activities. The new corridors will accommodate semi rigs bringing goods and commerce to us. That isn’t about to happen on the roads coming in now.”

How about entertainment. What do we have available for visitors and where do you see expansion?

“As to what we already have, look at the history of the community, Mount San Jacinto Theater, music and dance or our school systems and their theater and music productions. Then there is ISOMATA in Idyllwild which produces entertainment stars that become known world wide.  We have the infrastructure. If we have an entertainment venue, a place where those local entertainers and artists can practice their talents, it would be awesome. Also, look at the Ramona Bowl, the Soboba Casino. We used to draw new actors and actresses to the Ramona Bowl, drawing the theatrical actors to perform there in the Ramona Play. Our entertainment roots are vast and strong. We just have to water and nourish them and they will bloom.”

Summing up, Kotyuk believes that the effort he will push, for better highways into our community, more jobs and the entertainment sectors will cause people to want to come here and bring their dollars to increase the economy.

He states that, “It isn’t rocket science. For more than 30 years the Chambers of Commerce, business and environmentalists cooperated to bring tourism here. They need to do it again. Our pitch is simple: Draw the right people into the valley to live and spend their money here, instead of going outside and spending our tax dollars in other communities. We need to be united in that cause.”

Every so often the question is posed: Why doesn’t the valley unite to become one city. We have two cities and county governments. Wouldn’t it be easier and cost-effective to merge into one entity?

“Been there. Done that. It didn’t work. Municipalities receive revenues and how those revenues are structured, whether it be housing, gas or vehicle license fees – if you stop and start over those funds go away and you have to start from scratch. What we could do is create a Joint Powers Authority where both cities remain as they are, but share our overheads with their own identities. A lot of people won’t like what I say. There are a lot of generational habits that don’t want to change. But sharing management of water, trash or city management would create great cost-savings. Don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.”

Now the big question. It is rumored in every coffee shop and gathering place in town: the new mayor will run for Supervisor. Any truth there?

“Here is the facts: in the past week, I was approached by leadership from Sam Bernardino and Riverside Counties to run against Chad Mayes on the Republican ticket since he has resigned from the party and is registered as a NPP (No political persuasion). This past Friday I qualified as a candidate. I am definitely running for the State Assembly in the 42^nd District and one thing is for sure: had I been your Assemblyman, that Florida Avenue median being put in by Cal-Trans would never have happened.”

If Kotyuk makes it to the State Assembly, you can be sure he will concentrate on bringing all those things we discussed to the valley. Mayor or Assemblyman, this young man charts his own course. Just sayin’

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“I am a volunteer for, and President of, the Ladies Of Charity. It’s an international charity that was founded by Saint Vincent DePaul, patron Saint of all charity. Ladies of Charity responded to the needs of the poor in seventeenth-century France; and has been doing so ever since.”

You’d think that her doing pro bono work (Ms. Mazingo is an attorney) and volunteering for a charity would be enough for one resume.  You’d be wrong. After graduating from Howard University law school in 1999 and receiving an LLM (a Master’s in Law) in 2000 from American University’s Washington College of Law and Government, Mazingo went into private practice. From there she worked on both Barack Obama campaigns, was appointed to the Prince George’s County election board from 2000 to 2012 and moved here to Hemet that same year.

Aside from doing her pro bono work and being a member of the Ladies of Charity for 23 years, Ms. Mazingo also ministers to the homeless and is also the national president for Las Amigas Incorporated. “My mission is caring for others, and putting that into daily action is my goal,” said Mazingo. She Added “In 2013 I was appointed by then-county supervisor Jeff Stone as his commissioner for women. When Chuck Washington won that seat, he appointed me as well. To me, it’s all the same; it’s all about helping others. And I’ve learned from all of it. In 2016, I was chosen by Senator Mike Morrell as Woman of the year for his district SD 23.”

Mazingo’s latest lesson came from a painful 2018 loss when she ran for this same Assembly District 42 seat, losing to Chad Mayes. “One of the most important lessons I learned from that loss was that if you are honest and open, and if you show a genuine interest in people, they will show you their best selves.

We can use that to move our district forward,” said Mazingo, adding, “In 2018, we shocked the status quo: the district never had a woman, never had a person of color, and never had a Democrat who got such a large number of votes. In 2020 we seek to capitalize on those accomplishments.”

Mazingo counts homelessness and veterans affairs as those issues most close to her heart.
“Senior women make up the largest group of homeless on our streets. Some single others are living in cars with their children because they can’t afford housing and healthcare or the exorbitant cost of childcare. Our veterans are the reason that you and I can have this conversation, yet they have been physically, mentally, and emotionally compromised. As a district are doing very little to help these people.”

Sadder still is the fact that, as Mazingo points out, benefits are assigned for these groups, but they’re just not being served or taught how to access these services. “We have a housing crisis in this district and this county. We have vacant buildings, just sitting there. We have 10% of Mount San Jacinto students who are homeless, and there are programs out there that help these people, but they’re not being accessed. We have to spend our energies helping people to take advantage of all the things that this district offers.”

How does a woman, taking on the role of David, fighting a Goliath, overcome the odds and win the district assembly seat in 2020? “We must continually challenge people to seek their better selves. I must implore people–especially people of color, also our younger voters and those who have been marginalized, to get out and vote. We must instill in the electorate a sense of urgency that things can, must and will change. But only if they give us their vote,” says Mazingo, adding, “when the cat is cornered…it comes out fighting. We must be fighters and advocates for those who are afraid, for those who feel they have no voice and for those who don’t know how to fight. That’s what my candidacy is about. It’s what my whole life has been about. I’ll never stop serving and fighting for those in need.”

For those interested in Mazingo’s campaign, they are urged to visit her Facebook page, which is Deni for State assembly, on Twitter @DeniMazingoCA or email the campaign at info@deniforassembly.com.

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