In an unprecedented move, the Santa Clarita City Council unanimously approved the conversion of our valley’s most valuable piece of property, the Valencia Town Center, into a homeless encampment for undocumented immigrants. The council’s decision came on the heels of a mandate issued by Governor Newsom requiring cities throughout California to donate food, shelter and clothing to migrants crossing the ...

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 14 into law on Monday, strengthening the penalties for individuals caught trafficking minors in California. The law considers the trafficking of minors for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex as a major offense, including heavier penalties and enhanced sentences for those found guilty. “I applaud the Governor for signing SB 14 by ...

Newsom signed a bill into law Tuesday that will tax the gun industry to create a permanent funding source for school safety and gun violence prevention programs in California. On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 28 (AB 28) the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act, into law. Authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel D-Encino, AB 28 will impose ...

California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a possible 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution on Thursday, stating it was aimed at helping to end the gun violence crisis in America. “Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” Newsom said. “So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to do ...

The California Reparations Task Force, a Governor-appointed body, has estimated that the state’s payouts to modern-day descendants of Black slaves could total as much as $569 billion. A 550-page report from the task force is the first government-commissioned study on harms against the Black community since the 1968 Kerner Commission report ordered by President Lyndon Johnson, according to task force ...

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger thanked Governor Gavin Newsom Monday for declaring a state of emergency, allowing state and federal funds to be used to help relieve the damage caused by the Route Fire. In a letter sent to Newsom Monday,  Barger expressed her appreciation for his recent State of Emergency Proclamation that directs Caltrans to request FEMA assistance ...

In an effort to help L.A. County recover from the damages of the Route Fire that broke out in Castaic in August, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Saturday.  The proclamation directs the California state government to assist local L.A. County authorities with the recovery effort and directs the California Department of Transportation to request immediate assistance ...

Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, responded to the announcement that Governor Gavin Newsom intends to end the state of emergency by February 2023, nearly three years since he declared the COVID-19 emergency: “Here’s one good thing to come out of the governor’s ‘sub-zero’ interest in running for president,” Wilk said. Senate Republicans, led by Senator Melissa Melendez (Lake ...

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that every Californian can now access free online tutoring available 24/7 through a new initiative offering homework help in every K-12 subject and skill-building resources for adult learners. Newsom also announced $254 million in grants to public libraries in 172 cities across 34 counties to renovate and improve facilities across the state.  This is ...

Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, released a statement on her thoughts following Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of the CARE Courts legislation.  CARE Court is legislation set to provide individuals with severe mental health and substance use disorders the care and services they need to get healthy.  “When it comes to our homelessness crisis, the status quo is inhumane. I ...