California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Three Black Women Among Gov. Newsom’s Recent Judicial Appointments
Gov. Gavin Newsom has nominated three Black women — Justice Rashida Adams and Judges Denise Hippach and Juliet Macaulay — to serve on California Courts of Appeal.
They are among eight appellate court nominees recently announced by Newsom. The governor also appointed nine Superior Court judges across five counties.
Adams, of Los Angeles County, was nominated as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three. She has served as an associate justice on the court since 2023 and previously served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge from 2017 to 2023.
Adams, who earned her law degree from Yale Law School, would succeed retired Justice Lee Edmon. Her term would begin Jan. 4, 2027, subject to voter confirmation in the Nov. 3 general election.
Hippach, of San Luis Obispo County, was nominated as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Six. She has served on the Santa Barbara County Superior Court since 2022 and previously worked in county counsel, attorney general, district attorney and appellate counsel offices. She earned her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
Macaulay, of Orange County, was nominated as an associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three. She has served on the Orange County Superior Court since 2022. Previously, she was chief administrative law judge at the California Department of Social Services and held several positions with the California Board of Parole Hearings. She earned her law degree from the University of Ibadan.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has nominated three Black women to serve on California Courts of Appeal: Justice Rashida Adams, right, and Judges Denise Hippach, center, and Juliet Macaulay, left.
Newsom’s other appellate nominees are David Sapp and Judge Lauri Damrell for the Third District; Judges Marsha Amin and Lisa Rodriguez for the Fourth District, Division One; and Judge Frederick Chung for the Sixth District.
The governor also appointed Justin Ford, Erin Murphy, Wilson Park and Maricela Segura to the Los Angeles County Superior Court; Timothy Mulhere in Riverside County; and Crystal Salumbides and Brigid Campo in San Diego County. David Kim received an interim appointment in Sonoma County, and Phoebe Maffei received an interim appointment in San Francisco County.
The appellate nominations require confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. Each appellate position pays $280,052 annually, while the Superior Court positions pay $244,727.
Longtime BWOPA Member Brendalyn Goodall Appointed to California Workforce Development Board
Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed longtime Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) member Brendalynn Goodall to the California Workforce Development Board.
Goodall, an Oakland resident with decades of experience in public service, has held leadership positions focused on employment, aging services and assistance for underserved communities.
BWOPA California celebrated the appointment, describing Goodall as a dedicated advocate for workers, families and older adults.
“Her appointment reflects a lifetime of leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to strengthening California’s workforce and expanding opportunity for all,” the organization stated in a press release.
Goodall served as summer jobs program coordinator in the Oakland Mayor’s Office from 2012 to 2014. In that position, she helped connect young people with employment opportunities and job experience.
Before joining the Mayor’s Office, Goodall was division manager for Aging and Adult Services in the City of Oakland Human Services Department from 2002 to 2011. She previously served as senior services supervisor and program director for the city’s Department of Aging, Health and Human Services from 1990 to 2002.
Goodall is also a member of the California Commission on Aging, which advises the governor and state officials on policies and programs affecting older Californians.
The California Workforce Development Board works with the governor to shape workforce policies, programs and investments designed to strengthen the state’s economy. It collaborates with employers, workers, labor organizations, educational institutions, community groups and California’s 45 local workforce development boards to expand access to quality jobs and respond to regional employment needs. According to the board, its work includes coordinating state programs and guiding investments in workforce training and development.
Goodall earned a Master of Social Work from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from California State University, East Bay.
The board position does not require Senate confirmation and pays $100 per diem. Goodall is a Democrat.
Judge Rules Prop 39 Supporters Made False Claims in Voter Guide
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge has ordered changes to California’s official voter guide after ruling that supporters of Proposition 39 made false and misleading claims about the voter identification initiative, handing a legal victory to Democratic leaders challenging the ballot measure.
The ruling requires supporters to remove or revise statements claiming the measure would make voting easier, protect voter privacy and save taxpayers millions of dollars before the voter guide is distributed ahead of California’s Nov. 3 general election.
Proposition 39 would require voters to present government-issued identification when voting in person and provide identifying information when voting by mail. The measure would also require election officials to use government data to help verify voter registration records and provide free voter identification cards to those who request them.
The lawsuit was filed by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), who argued that statements included in the official voter guide misrepresented the measure’s effects. The court agreed, finding that several of the campaign’s claims were contradicted by the measure itself and the independent fiscal analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).
“The Court finds that the statements that Proposition 39 would make voting easier are false and misleading,” the ruling states. The judge wrote that requiring voters to bring identification to the polls or locate identification information before returning a mail ballot adds additional steps to the voting process.
The court also found claims that Proposition 39 would strengthen voter privacy were misleading because the measure requires voters casting mail ballots to write the last four digits of a government-issued identification number on the outside of the ballot envelope, making that information “less private and less secure.”
In addition, the judge ruled that statements claiming the measure would save taxpayers millions of dollars were “objectively untrue,” citing the LAO’s estimate that implementation could cost the state tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Prop 39 is a MAGA-backed power grab by Donald Trump’s closest allies,” said Rivas. “As today’s ruling underscores, Prop 39 isn’t about election security or fair elections. The real goal of the MAGA activists who wrote Prop 39 is to make it harder for Californians to vote.”
The ruling comes less than three months before California voters decide the fate of Proposition 39 in the Nov. 3 statewide election.
Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) said he was disappointed by the judge’s ruling, adding that opponents of the bill will have to work harder to educate the public about the proposition and get the vote out.
“As expected, a liberal judge approved the rigged ballot title given by CA Dems to Prop 39, our bipartisan voter ID measure,” DeMaio posted on Instagram. “They want to trick you into voting against it.”
Assembly Republicans Oust Flora, Elect Macedo as New Minority Leader
On Aug. 3, California Assembly Republicans abruptly voted during a closed-door meeting to remove Minority Leader Heath Flora (R-Ripon). The vote came as lawmakers returned to Sacramento following a monthlong summer recess.
Assemblymember Alexandra “Ali” Macedo (R-Tulare) was elected to replace Flora as leader of the Republican caucus in the lower house. Flora had faced growing dissatisfaction among some caucus members over his leadership.
Macedo was elected to the Assembly in November 2024 and took office Dec. 2, 2024. She represents Assembly District 33, which includes portions of Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties. She is seeking re-election in the Nov. 3 general election.
After being elected minority leader, Macedo told reporters at the Capitol, including California Black Media, that the Republican caucus would continue to “fight” for Californians despite Democratic supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature.
“We are a strong group even though we are in the minority,” Macedo said. “We continue to fight for all Californians who are paying the price for the Democrat uni-party rule that has made California so unaffordable.”
In February 2025, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) removed Macedo from the Assembly Budget Committee, Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation, and the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. She was also removed as vice chair of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee but appointed vice chair of the Assembly Elections Committee.
Some Republican lawmakers characterized the changes as retaliation against Macedo, an outspoken critic of state spending and policies advanced by the Democratic supermajority.
The 32-year-old first-term lawmaker has been described as a rising star in the Republican Party.
“I am confident she will be a strong voice for Republican members and the Californians they represent,” California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin said. “We congratulate Republican Assembly Leader Macedo and look forward to working with her and the entire caucus to win elections this November and advance Republican proposals in the Legislature.”
–
Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s Bill Aiming to Connect California Farms and School Cafeterias Sent to Suspense File
Legislation aimed at helping California schools purchase more food from local farmers has been placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee’s Suspense File, a procedural step reserved for bills with significant fiscal costs.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1731, introduced by Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), would establish the California Healthy Food Procurement Fund within the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The proposal would create a dedicated procurement fund and approved vendor system to connect schools with California farmers and regional food distributors, making it easier for schools to purchase fresh, minimally processed foods.
Supporters say the bill addresses challenges facing both California’s agricultural sector and school meal programs. More than 7,000 small- and mid-sized California farms closed between 2017 and 2022 because of rising production costs and shrinking market opportunities, according to Wilson’s office.
At the same time, California schools serve roughly 5 million meals each day while transitioning away from ultra-processed foods under state law.
“Supporting our farmers as they face stability challenges, while ensuring our state’s children have access to nutritious foods, is not just important. It’s essential,” Wilson said when introducing the legislation. “AB 1731 is a powerful step forward, empowering California’s farmers to give back to their communities with healthier food options, and ensuring our children thrive with the nourishment they deserve.”
If enacted, the measure would establish a procurement fund to help schools source California-grown foods through local farmers and regional food hubs without increasing costs or administrative burdens for school nutrition directors.
The bill is co-sponsored by California Certified Organic Farmers and Fullwell, both of which say the proposal would strengthen regional food supply chains, create stable markets for farmers and improve students’ access to healthy meals.
Placement on the Suspense File allows lawmakers to consider AB 1731 alongside other bills with fiscal impacts before deciding whether it will advance for a vote. Measures on the Suspense File are typically considered together near the end of the Appropriations Committee process.
If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork would establish the procurement fund by Jan. 1, 2028.
Appropriations Committee Votes to Clear Sen. Akilah Weber’s Bill on Heights of Buildings Opposed by Some Environmentalists
A California Senate bill intended to clarify how building height is evaluated under state environmental law has cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee, advancing legislation that has drawn support from housing advocates and opposition from some environmental groups.
Senate Bill (SB) 958, authored by Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), would specify that a project’s building height alone cannot be considered a significant environmental impact under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. Supporters say the measure would provide greater certainty for housing and redevelopment projects while maintaining existing environmental review requirements.
The bill has attracted attention because of its potential implications for redevelopment projects across California, including San Diego’s proposed Midway Rising project. Opponents argue the legislation could limit CEQA’s review of taller buildings and weaken environmental protections for future development.
Weber Pierson has rejected those claims, saying SB 958 does not exempt projects from environmental review or reduce the authority of local governments to approve or deny developments.
“At a time when California is experiencing a housing crisis, SB 958 provides cities and communities throughout the state with greater clarity to pursue responsible housing and redevelopment opportunities while maintaining existing legal and environmental requirements,” Weber Pierson said.
The senator added that the legislation “does not create a CEQA exemption, eliminate environmental review, or change the authority of cities, counties, and local agencies to approve or deny projects.” She said project-specific concerns would continue to be evaluated through existing planning, permitting and environmental review processes.
Some environmental advocates and community groups contend recent amendments expanded the bill’s reach beyond San Diego, raising concerns about how building height could be considered in environmental reviews for infill developments statewide.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee’s vote moves SB 958 one step closer to a full Assembly vote. If approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the measure, supporters say, would become part of California’s ongoing efforts to address housing development while preserving environmental review under CEQA.
“A Free Press Is Essential to Free Society”: Gov. Newsom Blasts Trump Admin Decision to Remove Limits on U.S. TV Station Ownership
Gov. Gavin Newsom is sharply criticizing the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to eliminate a decades-old limit on television station ownership, warning the move could increase media consolidation and weaken independent local journalism.
The FCC voted 2-1 on Aug. 6 to end the national ownership cap that barred a single television station group from reaching more than 39% of U.S. households. The commission also voted to allow companies to own more than two television stations in a single market, arguing the changes will help traditional broadcasters compete with streaming services and other digital media platforms.
Newsom said the decision threatens the diversity and independence of the nation’s media, accusing the Trump administration of dismantling safeguards intended to prevent excessive concentration of media ownership.
“The Trump administration continues to chip away at the foundations of our democracy — one decision at a time — to pave the way for a propaganda machine for his MAGA agenda,” Newsom said. He added that removing the ownership limits would make it easier for Trump “to control what Americans see, hear, and read,” calling the decision “an attack on independent, local news.”
The ownership cap was first established in the 1980s to prevent a small number of companies from controlling too many local television stations. Under the new policy, the FCC will review ownership proposals exceeding the former cap on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they serve the public interest.
Supporters of the rule change say that the restrictions no longer reflect today’s media landscape, where broadcasters compete with streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube for viewers and advertising revenue. They argue that larger station groups will have more resources to invest in local news.
Critics, however, contend that the policy could accelerate corporate consolidation, reduce the number of independent news outlets and diminish local voices. Some also question whether the FCC has the authority to eliminate a limit established by Congress without legislative approval.
Newsom said preserving an independent press is essential to protecting democratic institutions.
“A free press is essential to a free society,” he said. “Democracies depend on a diverse media landscape that isn’t polluted by political loyalty or ideological conformity.”
The FCC’s decision is expected to face legal and political scrutiny as critics question whether the agency has the authority to eliminate a television ownership limit established by Congress. Supporters, meanwhile, say that the changes are necessary to help broadcasters compete in an increasingly digital media marketplace.
