In Solidarity.
CalCAN supports the Black Lives Matter movement and the demands of community-based organizations on the front lines around the state and country, including calls for police reform and accountability and reallocation of funding to better support the needs of black and brown communities. We encourage you to view our full statement here and engage with the resources and policy issues included.
In 2020, CalCAN has taken support positions on numerous bills, including the following ones related to climate change, agriculture and social justice. All of the bills passed out of both the California Assembly and Senate.
- AB 2043 (Rivas, Garcia and Gonzales) would disseminate information about best practices for COVID-19 prevention related workplace benefits, like sick leave, in both Spanish and English to farmworkers statewide through local Spanish radio stations announcements and the distribution of workplace signs. Signed by the Governor September 28, 2020!
- AB 2054 (Kamlager) would establish a pilot grant program called the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems (C.R.I.S.E.S.) program to make grants for community organizations that support responses to local emergencies such as community violence, public health crises and climate disasters.
- AB 3121 (Weber) would establish an eight-member task force to study slavery and lasting discrimination and recommend reparations remedies for African Americans. Signed by the Governor.
- AB 826 (Santiago) would establish a one-time fund to provide undocumented workers and their families emergency food assistance to ensure they can keep putting food on their table during the pandemic.
CalCAN also supported Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-42-20 which imposed a statewide moratorium on water shutoffs to maintain and restore access to water in vulnerable communities in light of COVID-19 impacts.
We also supported ACA-5 which repeals back a 25-year-old proposition prohibiting affirmative action, which is now widely considered to have failed in assuring equal opportunities for all Californians. If approved by voters in November, it would make an amendment to the state constitution allowing affirmative action so race and gender could be considered and given preference in public contracting, public employment and public education. Among other important implications, this would remove barriers to earmarking funding for farmers of color.
Phase out single use plastic and fund compost and healthy soils!
The California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act would provide millions of dollars every year to build compost facilities and give grants to farmers and ranchers for healthy soil and water-smart practices. The money would come from a one-cent fee on plastics products sold in California that would fund healthy soils, composting, recycling, ocean cleanup, mitigation of the impacts of plastics pollution on disadvantaged communities, and more.
One of the leaders on this campaign is Californians Against Waste (CAW), a CalCAN partner and supporter of climate smart agriculture and composting. For background on the measure, please see the campaign website. As of August 11, 2020, enough signatures were collected to ensure this measure on the November 2022 ballot!
