The primary elections are less than a month away and candidates running for the 35th State Senate District have eight hopefuls running to replace Sen. Steve Bradford, who is termed out after serving two terms.
Highlights of Bradford’s tenure include his authoring and getting signed into law the California Cannabis Equity Act, a first-in-the-nation bill that encouraged equitable participation in the cannabis industry of people negatively impacted by the War on Drugs.
In his continued pursuit to enact policies that provide for equity and fairness, Sen. Bradford authored a first-in-the-nation “name, image, and likeness” bill which allows college athletes who generate billions of dollars for corporate sponsors and their universities through the use of their name and images, to also benefit from their skills and talents.
As chair of the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, Sen. Bradford helped financially empower underserved communities with funding generated from bad actors in the lending industry.
In 2020, Sen. Bradford was named chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. As chair of the committee, Sen. Bradford authored legislation to increase law enforcement transparency and accountability, including SB 2 or The Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act of 2021, which created the first statewide process to allow for the decertification of police officers who have been found guilty of abuse and other serious acts of misconduct. He has also authored legislation that allows children to consult with legal counsel before interrogation and before waiving their Miranda rights.
The senator also authored legislation to address the return of land stolen from the Bruce family – Bruce’s Beach. His legislation authorized the County of LA to return Bruce’s Beach to the descendants of the Bruce family.
In 2021, Sen. Bradford was appointed to California’s Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. The Reparations Task Force is charged with examining the lasting consequences of slavery in the United States and making recommendations on how California can potentially make reparations for those affected. The report was completed by July 1, 2023.
In 2022, Senator Bradford had bills signed into law that encourage water conservation, guarantee public health care employees meal breaks and protect the personal information of sellers. Most recently, he has been nominated to receive the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) Lifetime Achievement Award. This award goes to legislators whose work has distinguished them from their peers, and whose contributions will continue to have lasting positive effects on the African-American community and our nation as well as add value to the NBCSL organization itself.
The 35th State Senate District includes the Los Angeles County communities of Carson, San Pedro, Compton, West Compton, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, West Carson, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington.
- The governor has limited security deposits to one month’s rent (set to start July 1, 2024). But rental rates are still too high. What can be done by the state legislature to alleviate the pain? And what more can be done to lower the barrier to homeownership in this current economic environment?
- Alex Monteiro- I support tenant protections such as rent control and rent caps. We need to ensure that tenants are protected and able to affordably live in our state. We also need to support and enhance programs for our unhoused communities. This includes increasing funding for affordable housing and mental health services. I serve on the South Bay Cities Council of Governments Homeless Task, working with local leaders and service providers to find solutions and reduce the rate of homelessness in our communities.
I absolutely believe we should prioritize the construction of affordable housing units. As a non-profit leader and builder of affordable housing in my community, I’ve advocated locally and regionally for affordable housing and multi-unit housing throughout the district. I’ve also advocated for local zoning reform as a City Council member to make it easier to produce affordable housing in Hawthorne.
- Albert Robles- Yes, rental rates are too high. This is simply the result of supply and demand. In other words, we need to increase the housing supply and rents will come down — but we need to increase the housing supply at all levels, i.e., market-rate housing, workforce housing, student housing and yes affordable housing too. It is all connected. While all candidates may talk about the need to create more housing, I am very proud of the fact that more housing units were permitted and constructed during my tenure as Carson mayor (2015-2021) than all the other candidates combined have ever constructed and/or permitted! I am most proud of being directly responsible for the first-ever veterans’ affordable housing development that literally took homeless veterans off the streets. (It is located at the corner of Carson Street and Figueroa Street.) We can increase homeownership with stronger and more aggressive first-time homeownership programs, i.e., helping with downpayment and zero interest rate loans that are repaid and then recycled into more loans, and so on. As a state senator, I will introduce legislation to do this ASAP.
- Nilo Vega Michelin- Housing is unaffordable for thousands of District 35 residents. The state should provide silent second mortgages and down payment assistance for first-time home buyers. It should also provide rental vouchers and tax credits for renters. Fair housing laws should be enforced more vigorously. We should support alternative housing models such as tiny homes, modular homes, and community housing trusts.
- Laura Richardson- Should I be elected to the State Senate and a member of the legislature, I will work to prioritize affordable housing initiatives, such as creating a housing trust fund to assist with financing via a second mortgage loan and or lower interest rates, cutting through red tape to streamline the building permit process and incentivizing the industry to build/renovate more student, workforce and senior housing. Creating down payment assistance programs, investing in homebuyer education, incentivizing affordable housing development, and collaborating with financial institutions are further steps that can be taken. Through these proactive measures, the state legislature can foster a more equitable and sustainable housing market, and facilitate access and preservation of homeownership in the current economic climate.
- Senate District 35 has major job generators throughout the district, including the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of LA executive director has committed to building a center to retrain workers and provide access to communities that have traditionally not had access to such resources. What would you do from the state legislature that would help facilitate that work?
- Alex Monteiro- I am committed to funding and supporting this center however I can in the State Senate. It is very important to retain workers and train the next generation, especially those from underrepresented communities, for good-paying jobs in this industry.
- Albert Robles- In addition to increasing the local housing stock, I would introduce legislation to require a local workforce component for all major job generators throughout the district, because I believe people should work where they live. This helps the economy and environment with the lessening of commute times, too.Again, while all other candidates may talk about creating jobs, I am very proud of the fact that more jobs were created in the private sector as a direct result of my efforts than all the other candidates combined have ever created!
- Nilo Vega Michelin– I have supported vocational and technology training at El Camino College. These programs provide training that prepares students for the technology economy quicker than four-year colleges. They also provide mentorship and internships. There are also programs to assist minority students enter and thrive in the technology field. I would support these programs statewide.
- Laura Richardson- I would advocate for increased state funding for workforce development programs tailored to the needs of workers in key job-generating sectors like the ports. This funding could be allocated towards establishing comprehensive training centers, expanding vocational education opportunities, and providing financial assistance for individuals seeking to acquire new skills or certifications. I would champion legislation aimed at fostering partnerships between industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and community organizations to ensure that workforce development efforts are inclusive and responsive to the needs of all residents, regardless of background or socioeconomic status. By prioritizing investments in workforce training and expanding access to resources, we can empower workers to thrive in evolving industries while fostering greater economic equity and opportunity for all Californians. This commitment to workforce development and community empowerment is why I am proud to have the support of ILWU Local 13, Teamsters Joint Council 42, UA Journeyman and Apprentices Local 250, and the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16. Together, we can build a brighter future for our communities and ensure that every Californian has the opportunity to succeed in the changing economy.
- Energy rates have also been climbing and are another area in which Californians of every economic class are feeling the pinch. Most of it has to do with infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. What would you do from the state legislature to help the working-class middle-class families on this front?
- Alex Monteiro- I will advocate for 100% green energy and electrification of the district and state. We need to invest in clean and renewable energy that will ultimately be more cost-effective than fossil fuels. We also need to fund state programs to ensure that our working, lower, and middle-class families can afford the current high costs of energy.
- Albert Robles- By fighting the stupidity of some laws: for example, it makes no sense that a multi-millionaire gets the same tax break/subsidy to buy an electric vehicle when they do not need it, and a working-class middle-class family gets the exact same tax break/subsidy but still cannot afford the electric vehicle, and/or even worse are then stuck driving older less fuel-efficient cars because they cannot afford a newer fuel efficient car. We should take the savings from the elimination of the tax break/subsidy for multi-millionaires to buy an electric vehicle and increase the tax break/subsidy for working-class middle-class families so that they can actually afford the electric vehicle. I would also introduce legislation to allow working-class middle-class families to deduct their fuel costs from their state income taxes. In addition, we need to reduce our overall energy demand and while other all candidates may talk about the need to reduce our energy demands, I am very proud of the fact that I led the effort to construct the most advanced water recycling facility in the world, which was named after me, “the Albert Robles center for water recycling and environmental learning” (www.wrd.org). This project not only increases our water sustainability but is 100% energy self-sufficient and because it significantly reduced our dependence on imported water this also made more energy available for other purposes because about 30% of the energy we consume in California is due to moving and delivering water. No other candidate can even come close to how much-reduced energy consumption my direct efforts are responsible for in California.
- Nilo Vega Michelin– I would support a progressive fee structure where low-income energy users pay a lower rate than high-income energy users. I would invest more in renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. I would also support tax breaks so that residents can install improvements and smart technology to make their houses more energy efficient.
- Laura Richardson- I recognize the pressing need to address the challenges of rising energy rates, particularly for families across California and in the 35th State Senate District. To tackle this issue, I propose a multifaceted approach focused on promoting energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy options, and advocating for fair utility policies. Firstly, I would prioritize increasing funding for energy efficiency programs tailored to assist low and moderate-income households in reducing their energy consumption and utility bills such as window, lighting, and appliance upgrades. These programs would include initiatives for weatherization, home energy upgrades, and appliance efficiency standards, empowering families to save money while contributing to a cleaner environment. Furthermore, I will push for greater accountability and transparency as it relates to solar costs by users and non-users. Through collaborative efforts and progressive policy initiatives, we can create an equitable energy system that benefits all Californians.
- Crime is still at historic lows but residents don’t feel any safer. From the state legislature, what would you look to do to change the narrative?
- Alex Monteiro- I believe we need to share the positive data that shows crime is down while also listening to the crime-related concerns of our community members. We need to work with residents, law enforcement and local leaders to address the crime that is still happening in our communities. I spearheaded the efforts to create my city’s citizen police review board. While I do have the endorsement of my local police association, that is because they know I have worked with them on appropriate reform efforts such as increasing the use of community policing, setting up a citizen police review board, and other ways to hold the police accountable while increasing public trust.
- Albert Robles- As mayor of Carson, I received regular crime stats via my cell, and there is no reason that all citizens should not be regularly sent these crime statistics information directly to them, too. Everyone should be getting this information now.
- Nilo Vega Michelin– I have supported the Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students (FIRST) Program for students at El Camino College. It provides training, support groups, and counseling assistance to students who have been incarcerated. It has a high success rate. I would support expanding this program statewide.
- Laura Richardson- I would prioritize investing in community policing initiatives that foster trust and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local residents. This involves allocating resources toward crime prevention programs, youth outreach efforts, and community-based organizations that address the root causes of crime, such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and substance abuse. Additionally, I would advocate for increased funding for mental health services and rehabilitation programs to support individuals at risk of involvement in criminal activities. By fostering stronger partnerships between communities and law enforcement, implementing proactive crime prevention strategies, and addressing the underlying social determinants of crime, we can work towards changing the narrative and creating safer neighborhoods for all residents and officers as well.