<![CDATA[THE COLLEGIAN

<![CDATA[THE COLLEGIAN - News]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:43:58 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[The Collegian Current (Politics Edition)]]>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:22:13 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/the-collegian-current-politics-editionBy Norah Schramm
News Reporter

Jimmy Kimmel Fired… and then Reinstated?
On September 15, Jimmy Kimmel was fired over statements made on his ABC late-night show, taken off the air for a short period of time. On his show, Kimmel said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” The statement caused him to be subsequently fired by the Disney Corporation (the parent company of ABC). The main issue with the firing of Jimmy Kimmel was due to the question of government oversight and suppression of the First Amendment. When he returned on September 23, 2025, his show saw an increase in viewership to 6.5 million viewers. This breaks from the treatment given to Stephen Colbert.

Pete Hegseth Orders Meeting Without Reason
In an unprecedented turn of events, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called for a meeting with all of the high-ranking military officials and generals without releasing information on what the meeting would be about. “‘The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,’ chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to The Hill, offering no additional details.” At the time of this article, we do not have any further information on what exactly will be discussed; however, this is a change from how these military proceedings are typically done. Often, most of these meetings take place with fewer military officials, and there is normally more time between when a meeting is called and when the meeting takes place.

Oklahoma Orders Turning Point to be at Every High School
The Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters said at a press conference on September 17th: “We will be putting TPUSA on every high school campus in Oklahoma,” Walters said in the press release. “Charlie Kirk inspired a generation to love America, to speak boldly, and to never shy away from debate. Our kids must get involved and active. We will fight back against the liberal propaganda, pushed by the radical left, and the teachers' unions. Our fight starts now.” As of September 24th, 2025, according to the Oklahoma Voice, Walters is set to resign as the Superintendent to become the CEO of an anti-teacher union.

Charlie Kirk’s Funeral: Memorial or Rally?
Charlie Kirk’s funeral on September 21, 2025, featured several speeches about Kirk’s death, including one by his widowed wife, Erika Kirk, who took control of Turning Point USA. Other keynote speakers included President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Stephen Miller also spoke at this event, but his speech referenced the storm, which has sparked backlash online from a similar speech entitled “The Storm Is Coming” by Joseph Goebbels, who was the Head of Nazi Propaganda under Hitler.

Sources:
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5521707-hegseth-summons-top-generals/
https://oklahomavoice.com/2025/09/24/walters-to-resign-as-oklahoma-state-superintendent-announces-position-in-national-teacher-group/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jimmy-kimmel-responds-abc-show-indefinite-hold-rcna232128
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/24/turning-point-oklahoma-high-schools
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/charlie-kirk-funeral-09-21-25
https://www.thenational.scot/news/25484573.stephen-millers-charlie-kirk-speech-draws-joseph-goebbels-comparisons/
https://nypost.com/2025/09/29/media/jimmy-kimmel-sheds-64-of-audience-after-short-lived-ratings-spike-following-suspension/

]]><![CDATA[Trump's First 50 days in Office]]>Thu, 15 May 2025 02:05:26 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/trumps-first-50-days-in-officeBy Norah Schramm
News Editor

In his first 50 days in office Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States respectively, has signed 82 executive orders. He is the second President to ever be elected non-consecutively - the first was Grover Cleveland. His first term was 1885-1889 and his second term was 1893-1897. He was the 22nd and 24th President. Trump's second election as President of the United States was only his third campaign for any public office. His election success rate has been 2 out of 3. This is significant because it is difficult to win the presidential office after losing an election. Typically incumbents have more political power, and thus it is often easier to become president a second time while still president. His Executive Order passage rate has been the highest of the past 40 years. (Tracking Trump's executive orders)

“Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.” - The Trump-Vance Administration Priorities

List of executive orders plus dates

President Trump Announces Cabinet and Cabinet Level Appointments January 20, 2025
President Trump Announces Sub-Cabinet Appointments January 20, 2025
President Trump Announces Acting Cabinet and Cabinet-Level Positions January 20, 2025
President Trump Designates Chairmen and Acting Chairmen January 20, 2025
Flying The Flag Of The United States At Full-Staff On Inauguration Day January 20, 2025
Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions January 20, 2025
Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship January 20, 2025
Ending The Weaponization Of The Federal Government January 20, 2025
Return to In-Person Work January 20, 2025
Regulatory Freeze Pending Review January 20, 2025
Hiring Freeze January 20, 2025
Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis January 20, 2025
Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements January 20, 2025
Granting Pardons And Commutation Of Sentences For Certain Offenses Relating To The Events At Or Near The United States Capitol On January 6,2021 January 20, 2025
Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok January 20, 2025
Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization January 20, 2025
Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce January 20, 2025
Holding Former Government Officials Accountable For Election Interference And Improper Disclosure Of Sensitive Governmental Information January 20, 2025
Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States January 20, 2025
Memorandum to Resolve the Backlog of Security Clearances for Executive Office of the President Personnel January 20, 2025
America First Trade Policy January 20, 2025
Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States January 20, 2025
Unleashing American Energy January 20, 2025
Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program January 20, 2025
Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship January 20, 2025
Securing Our Borders January 20, 2025
Putting People Over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California January 20, 2025
Restoring The Death Penalty And Protecting Public Safety January 20, 2025
Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture January 20, 2025
Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives January 20, 2025
Declaring a National Energy Emergency January 20, 2025
Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects January 20, 2025
Reevaluating And Realigning United States Foreign Aid January 20, 2025
Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees January 20, 2025
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal) January 20, 2025
Protecting The American People Against Invasion January 20, 2025
Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential January 20, 2025
Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats January 20, 2025
America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State January 20, 2025
Establishing And Implementing The President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency” January 20, 2025
Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government January 20, 2025
Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing January 20, 2025
Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service January 20, 2025
Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists January 20, 2025
Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness January 20, 2025
Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion January 20, 2025
Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation January 21, 2025
Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity January 21, 2025
Nominations Transmitted to the Senate January 22, 2025
Executive Grant of Clemency for Andrew Zabavsky January 22, 2025
Designation Of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization January 22, 2025
Executive Grant of Clemency for Terence Sutton January 22, 2025
Federal Recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina January 23, 2025
Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology January 23, 2025
Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy January 23, 2025
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology January 23, 2025
Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence January 23, 2025
The First 100 Hours: Historic Action to Kick off America's Golden Age January 24, 2025
Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency January 24, 2025
Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas January 24, 2025
Enforcing the Hyde Amendment January 24, 2025
Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defence, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of the United States for International Development January 24, 2025
The National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, 2025 January 27, 2025
The Iron Dome for America January 27, 2025
Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness January 27, 2025
Restoring America’s Fighting Force January 27, 2025
Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate January 27, 2025
Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation January 28, 2025
Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families January 29, 2025
Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling January 29, 2025
Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday January 29, 2025
Expanding Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Full Capacity January 29, 2025
President Donald J. Trump Signed S.5 into Law January 29, 2025
Additional Measure to Combat Anti-Semitism January 29, 2025
Immediate Assessment of Aviation Safety January 30, 2025
Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation January 31, 2025
Limiting Lame-Duck Collective Bargaining Agreements That Improperly attempt to Constrain the New President January 31, 2025
Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border February 1, 2025
Imposing Duties to Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China February 1, 2025
Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border February 1, 2025
American Heart Month February 3, 2025
Career and Technical Education Month, 2025 February 3, 2025
Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border February 3, 2025
A Plan for Establishing a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund February 3, 2025
Progress on the Situation at Our Northern Border February 3, 2025
National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-2 February 4, 2025
Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations February 4, 2025
Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China February 5, 2025
Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports February 5, 2025
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies February 6, 2025
Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias February 6, 2025
Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court February 6, 2025
President Trump Announces Appointments to the White House Faith Office February 7, 2025
Establishment of The White House Faith Office February 7, 2025
Protecting Second Amendment Rights February 7, 2025
Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa February 7, 2025
Gulf of America Day, 2025 February 9, 2025
Ending Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws February 10, 2025
Eliminating the Federal Executive Institute February 10, 2025
Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security February 10, 2025
Adjusting Imports of Steel into The United States February 10, 2025
Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative February 11, 2025
President Trump Announces the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board February 11, 2025
Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into The United States February 11, 2025
Nominations Sent to the Senate February 12, 2025
One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations February 12, 2025
Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission February 13, 2025
Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council February 14, 2025
Keeping Education Accessible and Ending Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools February 15, 2025
President Donald J. Trump Approves Kentucky Emergency Declaration February 16, 2025
President George Washington’s Birthday, 2025 February 17, 2025
Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending February 18, 2025
Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization February 18, 2025
Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies February 18, 2025
Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders February 19, 2025
President Trump Announces Appointments to the Council of Governors February 19, 2025
80th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima February 19, 2025
Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Regulatory Initiative February 19, 2025
Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy February 19, 2025
Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties February 21, 2025
America First Investment Policy February 21, 2025
President Trump Takes Decisive Action to Deliver Relief to Kentucky February 25, 2025
Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper February 25, 2025
Suspension of Security Clearances and Evaluation of Government Contracts February 25, 2025
Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information February 25, 2025
Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative February 26, 2025
Designating English as the Official Language of The United States March 1, 2025
Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production March 1, 2025
Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Timber, Lumber March 1, 2025
Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs across our Northern Border March 2, 2025
Amendment to Duties to Address the Situation at our Southern Border March 2, 2025
Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China March 3, 2025
Honoring Jocelyn Nungaray March 5, 2025
Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border March 6, 2025
Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP March 6, 2025
Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Southern Border March 6, 2025
Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile March 6, 2025
Establishing The White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 March 7, 2025
Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness March 7, 2025
U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, 2025 March 9, 2025

]]><![CDATA[What to know about local lamorinda elections]]>Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/what-to-know-about-local-lamorinda-electionsBy Andrew Martinez Cabrera
Editor-in-Chief

On Nov. 5, Lamorinda residents will be voting in their general municipal elections as local governments prepare for their races, with candidates seeking town council positions as first-time council members or current holders seeking re-election.

Lafayette’s city council has three seats open for a four-year term and one seat available for a two-year term. Seeking re-election for Lafayette city council are current council members Carl Anduri, John McCormick and Mayor Gina Dawson, alongside newcomer Lauren McCabe Herpich, a small business owner and substitute teacher. Running for the two-year terms are financial analyst Mario DiPrisco and public financial specialist Jim Cervantes.

Central topics for all six candidates include financial stability/transparency, reducing fire risk/ public safety and housing. Candidates like McCormick aim to “[Champion Lafayette’s] business community” through promotion and the possibility of revitalization. Similarly, Herpich proposes building new community spaces like parks to challenge the continued urbanization of Lafayette while still generating revenue for the city.

McCormick, regarding fire risk, proposes increased collaboration with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (Con Fire) to assess evacuation routes and encourage community removals of flammable brushes around resident’s properties. Candidate Carl Anduri wishes to expand efforts to combat wildfires, including an increase in resources and meeting future Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) standards while being a high-risk fire zone.

On housing, Mayor Dawson promises to focus on building more inclusive and affordable housing made possible by the community-inputted Housing Element, a blueprint for how housing can be developed in the city. The hope for Dawson is that increased housing will also lead to economic growth.

DiPrisco’s plans for housing differ, wanting to lower housing construction costs by speeding up the review planning process with the aid of AI. DiPrisco also proposes a “voluntary and temporary fee” to hire a temporary contractor to accelerate plan review.

Also on the ballot for Lafayette residents alongside the city council candidates is Measure H, a 0.5% sales tax by the city of Lafayette to continue to fund and maintain the current level of city services.

Currently, Lafayette is experiencing a financial deficit, with services such as pavement management costing the city $1 million a year. Additionally. “the cost of general liability, property, and employment insurance has increased 144% over the last five years,” according to a FAQ about Measure H on Lafayette’s official website.

Measure H would be in effect for seven years, estimated to generate “approximately $2.4 million each year in locally controlled funds that benefit Lafayette,” according to Lafayette’s official website. A 50% vote is needed for Measure H to be implemented. If passed, Measure H would funnel directly into Lafayette’s General Fund, which supports street maintenance, public safety resources, services for senior citizens, park services and continued community partner support between Lafayette’s Chamber of Commerce and local school districts.

Current city council members, such as Mayor Gina Dawson, support Measure H. Political newcomer and candidate Lauren McCabe Herpich, is against the proposed sales tax.

In Orinda, only two seats for a four-year term are available for the city council, as opposed to Lafayette’s three seats. Running are Mayor Darlene K. Gee, Oakland legislative recorder Candace T. Evans and Orinda Union School District Board President Cara R. Hoxie.

Mayor Gee’s focuses include long-term sustainable infrastructure, wildfire prevention and fiscal responsibility. Gee, a licensed California civil engineer, aims for the infrastructure plan to rely on residential input, working to “find balance between local vision and numerous state and regional mandates.”

Evans, self-described as a “Political Enthusiast, Equity Advocate, and Business Woman,” is Orinda’s first woman of color ever appointed to a commission seat in Orinda. Evans claims that she will bring a new perspective to Orinda, focusing on the “expansion of fire prevention and public works projects,” economic growth such as revitalizing Orinda’s downtown and “enhancing senior programs,” among other issues.

Like Herpich, Hoxie’s main priority is education, whose experience includes improving the conditions of Orinda schools like the implementation of wellness centers and a phonics program (teaching language acquisition with an emphasis on sounds) in an elementary school. Hoxie, having worked with Orinda’s city council in the past to address fire safety, promises to provide “sound leadership… so that Orinda can continue to thrive while being a welcoming community for all families.”

Moraga’s situation is different in that there are three vacant seats for the city council and only three candidates applied for the city council’s nomination process, meaning that all three will be elected for their respective seats. The candidates are Lisa Maglio, Brian Dolan and Graham Thiel. According to the Lamorinda Weekly, “With a vote of 4-0…, the council appointed the three candidates to the Moraga Town Council and canceled the Nov. 5 local election.”

Maglio’s focuses include the implementation of Moraga’s Housing Element, including affordable housing, as well as economic development in their commercial centers. Dolan, Moraga’s interim town director and retired city planner/manager, hopes to “[maintain] fiscal responsibility… fire safety, infrastructure maintenance…” and retain Moraga’s open space. Graham Thiel, Moraga’s Planning Commissioner, hopes to economically develop Moraga Center and Rheem Valley and, like Dolan, continue to preserve Moraga’s natural beauty.

]]><![CDATA[What To Know About California’s Propositions]]>Sun, 20 Oct 2024 01:45:06 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/what-to-know-about-californias-propositionsA Breakdown of the Ten Ballot Propositions

By Edith Cuevas
News Reporter

Voters across California will be casting their vote for ten propositions this November. This year’s ballot includes a diverse array of measures that will affect legislation ranging from healthcare reform to environmental protection. Propositions are a unique opportunity for voters to directly participate in the legislative process. Let’s break down each proposition on the ballot with the help of California’s voter guide.

Proposition 2: Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities. Legislative Statute.

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K-12 public schools, charter schools, community colleges and career technical programs. Fiscal Impact: State cost of about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay bond.

YES vote: The state could borrow $10 billion to build new or renovate existing public school and community college facilities.
NO vote: The state could not borrow $10 billion to build new or renovate existing public school and community college facilities.

Proposition 3: Constitutional Right to Marriage. Legislative Constitutional Amendment

Amends the California Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry without regard to race or sex. Will remove language in the Constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Fiscal Impact: No change for state or local governments.

YES vote: Language in the California Constitution would be updated, without change of who can marry.
NO vote: Language in the California Constitution would remain as is, without change of who can marry.

Proposition 4: Authorizes Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural lands from Climate Risks. Legislative Statute.

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Fiscal impact: State cost of about $100 million annually to repay the bond.

YES vote: The state could borrow $10 billion to fund activities aimed at conserving natural resources, as well as responding to the causes and effects of climate change.
NO vote: The state could not borrow $10 billion to fund various activities aimed at conserving natural resources, as well as responding to the causes and effects of climate change.

Proposition 5: Allows for Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure with 55% Voter Approval. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.

Allows approval of local infrastructure and housing bonds for low- and middle-income Californians with 55% vote. Fiscal Impact: Increased local borrowing to fund affordable housing, supportive housing, and public infrastructure. The amount would depend on decisions by local governments and voters. Borrowing would be repaid with higher property taxes.

YES vote: Certain local bonds and related property taxes could be approved with a 55% vote, lowering it from the current 66.67%.
NO vote: Certain local bonds and related property taxes would continue to need approval by a two-thirds vote of the local electorate.

Proposition 6: Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude For Incarcerated Persons. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.

Creates an amendment on the California Constitution to remove current provision that allows jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime. Fiscal Impact: Potential increase or decrease in state and local costs, depending on how work for people in the state prison and county jail changes.

YES Vote: Involuntary servitude would not be allowed as punishment for crime. State prisons would not be allowed to discipline people in prison who refuse to work.
NO Vote: Involuntary servitude would continue to be allowed as punishment for crime.

Proposition 32: Raises Minimum Wage. Initiative Statute.

Raises minimum wage: For employers with 26 or more employees, to $17 immediately, $18 on January 1, 2025. For employers with $25 or fewer employees, to $17 on January 17, 2025, $18 on January 1, 2026. Fiscal Impact: State or local costs would increase or decrease by up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

YES Vote: The state minimum wage would rise to $18 by 2026. After, it could go up based on how fast prices are going up.
NO Vote: The state minimum wage would likely be about $17 per hour in 2026. After, it would go up each year based on how fast prices are going up.

Proposition 33: Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. Initiative Statute.

Repeals the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which currently prohibits local ordinances from limiting initial residential rental rates for new tenants or rent increases for existing tenants in certain residential properties. Fiscal Impact: Reduction in local property tax revenues of at least tens of millions of dollars annually due to likely expansion of rent control in some communities.

YES Vote: State law would not limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.
NO Vote: State law would continue to limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.

Proposition 34: Restricts Spending of Prescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers. Initiative Statutes.

Requires certain providers to spend at least 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug programs on direct patient care. Authorizes the negotiation of Medi-Cal drug prices. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs, likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually, to enforce new rules on certain healthcare entities. Affected entities would pay fees to cover these costs.

YES Vote: Certain healthcare entities would have to follow new rules about how they spend revenue they earn from a federal drug prescription discount program.
NO Vote: These new rules would not go into effect.

Proposition 35: Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services. Initiative Statute.

Makes permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, which, if approved by the federal government, provides revenues to pay for Medi-Cal health care services. Fiscal Impact: Short-term state costs between roughly $1 billion and $2 billion annually to increase funding for certain health programs. Total funding increases between $2 billion and $5 billion annually. Long-term effects are unknown.

YES Vote: An existing state tax on health plans that provides funding for certain health programs would become permanent. New rules would direct how the state must use the revenue.
NO Vote: An existing state tax on health plans would end in 2027, unless the Legislature continues it. New rules would not become law.

Proposition 36: Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes. Initiative Statute.

Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for thefts under $950, if the defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions. Fiscal Impact: State criminal justice costs increase from tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

YES Vote: People convicted of certain drug or theft crimes could receive increased punishment, such as longer prison sentences. In some cases, people who possess illegal drugs would be required to complete treatment or serve up to three years in prison.

NO Vote: Punishment for drug and theft crimes would remain the same.

For more information, visit the California voter guide, or the Legislative Analyst’s Office for a complete breakdown of each proposition.

]]><![CDATA[Tesla’s Fremont Plant Accused of Emitting Tons of Illegal Air Pollutants, Sued by Grassroot Organization]]>Wed, 22 May 2024 17:49:31 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/teslas-fremont-plant-accused-of-emitting-tons-of-illegal-air-pollutants-sued-by-grassroot-organization

Image C/O Noah Berger / Associated Press

By Andrew Martinez Cabrera
Associate Editor

On May 2, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) requested an abatement order against Tesla’s Fremont Plant from their agency’s independent Hearing Board. The abatement order would force Tesla to “stop frequent and ongoing violations from the paint shop operations at the [Fremont] facility.”

According to their press statement, the Fremont site already possesses 112 Notices of Violation since 2019, without proper abatement. The facility is estimated to roughly emit “as much as 750 pounds of illegal air pollution” per one notice, noting that “[these] violations are frequent, recurring and can negatively affect public health and the environment.”

The BAAQMD says that Tesla’s thermal oxidizer, a combustion device that destroys/converts hazardous air pollutants into CO2 and H20 before emitting them into the atmosphere, or similar abatement systems break down repeatedly. As a result, “emissions are automatically vented directly into the atmosphere without proper abatement.” Other times, Tesla would shut down these systems whenever equipment problems arose in the paint shops.

According to the BAAQMD, these problems are easy to address and avoidable. In response, the Bay Area agency has requested that Tesla hire a third-party consultant who would evaluate and suggest recommendations that Tesla would then be required to adopt. The Hearing Board will have to approve their plan before Tesla fully implements its recommendations as a form of checks and balances.

Independently of BAAQMD’s accusation, the nonprofit group Environmental Democracy Project, based in Oakland, filed a citizen lawsuit against Tesla for emissions. The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of California on May 13, about two weeks after the agency’s complaint. The suit alleges that Tesla’s Fremont facility has violated the Clean Air Act. Some of the reasons mentioned above in the BAAQMD are repeated in the lawsuit, with an emphasis on worker/resident exposure to deadly chemicals from Tesla’s plant.

Attached in the lawsuit is a March 4 notice from the EDP towards Tesla, Tesla Fremont’s self-reported list of violations of the Clean Air Act from January 2021-2022 with dates and descriptions, and BAAQMD’s 163 notices of violations from January 2021 to January 2024. The EDP hopes to “put an end to Tesla’s Clean Air Act violations at the Fremont Factory and penalize Tesla for its unlawful conduct, thereby deterring future noncompliance.”

]]><![CDATA[Kayakers v. Chevron]]>Wed, 22 May 2024 17:47:13 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/kayakers-v-chevronKayaker protestors take their grievances onto the bay

Image c/o Brooke Ashton/Climate News

By Anthony Romero
News Reporter

Five dozen climate activists sailed out in kayaks to protest the Chevron Corporation’s Richmond oil refinery. Rallying under the looming shadow of Chevron’s oil tankers, the protesters held signs that read: “Pollute no more”, “Act Now”, and “Clean air, water, and soil for all” in the hopes of bringing greater attention to the role Chevron has in the environmental and health harms in the surrounding community.

The core group organizing the kayakers is the Rich City Rays, a collective of grassroots groups dedicated to climate justice based in Richmond. The kayakers strategically gathered near the tankers docked at Chevron’s Long Wharf, California's largest marine oil terminal. Long Wharf acts as a port for tankers to unload crude oil and pick up petroleum products, ranging from lubricants and gasoline to diesel and jet fuel; the Richmond refinery processes over 250,000 barrels of crude oil.

The Rich City Rays members grew up in Richmond drinking the water and breathing the air near the processing plant. “All the people that have lived in Richmond for the last 120 years have been in the shadow of this refinery,” said Alfredo Angulo, one of the group’s organizers. “They have experienced every fire event, all the benzene emissions, every oil spill.” Angulo is a first-generation Mexican-American resident of Richmond and a UC Berkeley graduate with a degree in political science.

“There’s this understanding that we need to move away from oil and gas for the health and safety of our community, but also as the climate crisis strengthens and our communities are being more exposed to the negative effects of climate change, we need to move away from oil and gas to stop this climate chaos,” Angulo stated. “The world is on fire, and Chevron plays a massive role in driving the crisis.”

Angulo’s, along with many of their fellow Rays members, call for activism began after a 2012 incident in which a Chevron refinery pipe carrying over 10,800 barrels of petroleum burst and sent highly flammable oil into the surrounding area, which ignited and engulfed Richmond in a dark, vaporous cloud. About 15,000 people sought medical treatment after the accident, reporting breathing problems, chest pain, asthma, headaches, and other health complications in the following weeks. Twenty individuals required hospitalization.

Angulo and the Rich City Rays hope to highlight the fossil fuel industry’s disproportionate effects on the environment, communities, and neighborhoods of color. For this reason, kayakers could be seen waving the flags of Ecuador, Myanmar, and Palestine to protest Chevron’s international reach. Another goal of the Rays is community engagement, encouraging Black and Latino youth to participate in a water sport like kayaking, an activity they historically lacked access to.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the company stated that Chevron respects the right of individuals to protest peacefully and that the oil conglomerate’s Richmond branch remains dedicated to safely providing essential energy to the Bay Area.

]]><![CDATA[Family of Angelo Quinto Reaches $7.5 Million Settlement with Antioch]]>Wed, 22 May 2024 17:41:54 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/family-of-angelo-quinto-reaches-75-million-settlement-with-antioch

Image c/o Beth LaBerge/KQED

By Edith Cuevas
News Reporter

The family of a Navy veteran who died in 2020 while in police custody has settled a federal lawsuit with the city of Antioch for $7.5 million. Angelo Quinto was suffering from a mental health crisis when a police officer pressed a knee to his neck for five minutes.

The lawsuit alleged that the responding officers of the Antioch Police Department used excessive force when attempting to restrain Quinto. According to the East Bay Times, Quinto’s death was initially ruled accidental, with the pathologist deeming the cause as “excited delirium”. This term has been primarily associated with cases that involved police force. According to NBC Bay Area, the Quinto’s family attorney stated during a deposition that the term “excited delirium” is a phony cause of death.

It wasn’t until after pressure from the Quinto's family attorney that a second autopsy was performed, and asphyxia was determined to be the cause of death.

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton decided not to file criminal charges against the officers involved in the restraint. According to NBC, county prosecutors alleged that Quinto was under the influence of drugs and that he died from the disputed excited delirium syndrome.

Since his death in 2020, the Quinto family has been active in calling for police reform. The family has had success in creating the City of Antioch’s first mental health response team. The City of Antioch also adopted a police oversight committee composed of 7 citizens of the city.

]]><![CDATA[California Democratic Party Take Positions on Ballot Measures for November Election]]>Wed, 22 May 2024 17:38:25 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/california-democratic-party-take-positions-on-ballot-measures-for-november-election

Image C/O Andrew Burton / Getty Images

By Andrew Martinez Cabrera
Associate Editor

Over the weekend, the California Democratic Party (CADEM) held an Executive Board meeting in San Diego to discuss which measures will appear on the ballot this November. CADEM’s Resolution Committee provided the Executive Board with various resolutions and recommended the “California Democratic Party to take the following positions.”

Resolutions supported include Assembly Constitution Amendment 1 (ACA 1) which would require 55% voter approval rather than a two-thirds approval for special taxes and bonds. Lowering the voter threshold would allow for easier approval of special taxes and bonds “for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects.”

Also supported by CADEM was the ACA 5, which seeks to amend outdated language in the California Constitution, originally only recognizing marriage between a heterosexual couple. ACA 13, like ACA 1, similarly deals with voter thresholds in which any adopted measure would only be approved if the number of votes “is equal to or greater than the highest voter approval requirement that the initiative measure would impose.”

Awaiting eligibility but still supported include an initiative to add a one-semester finance course as a high school graduation requirement, permanent funding for Medicare services, the expansion of local governments’ “authority to enact rent control on residential property,” and the raising of the state minimum wage from $15 to $18.

Opposed by the California Democratic Party include an increase in felony charges for drug possessions and theft crimes, restrictive rights for transgender youth, and eliminating employees' ability to file lawsuits for monetary penalties concerning state-labor violations.

]]><![CDATA[How Do Saint Mary’s Students Feel About the Presidential Election?]]>Wed, 01 May 2024 17:02:09 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/how-do-saint-marys-students-feel-about-the-presidential-election

Image c/o AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File; AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., Business Insider

By Jenevieve Monroe
News Editor

Almost five months into the year, Americans are seeing a tight race in popularity between Presidential candidates. A recent poll released by the Siena College Research Institute shows a nearly perfect divide between Americans: “Trump now leads Biden 46% to 45% among registered voters, a decline from February's 48% to 43% lead.” This stark divide in voting behavior has left many Bay Area residents uncertain about what the next year holds. But are these concerns reflected throughout our student body? The Collegian conducted its own poll to gauge the political views of eligible voters on campus. The result?

Nearly 57% of students polled intend to vote for President Biden this fall. As for the former president, only 3.6% of students surveyed intend to vote for Trump. These results indicate our campus to be highly Democratic, but do these values reflect the same voting behaviors of college students nationwide? Current polling data has been both limited and mixed on this question. A recent report from Best Colleges shows former president Trump to be leading amongst college voters by 2% more than Biden. So no, Saint Mary’s students are not experiencing the same kind of partisan divide as other college campuses across the country. We are not experiencing the same partisan divide that is evident throughout the East Bay; just recently, an article was released explaining how local election workers fear for their safety due to an influx of fraudulent election related threats. One may wonder why Saint Mary’s is an outlier to these trends.

Student responses to this poll varied, but most respondents were concerned about the campus culture surrounding fall’s election. One student views this election to be more consequential than any presidential election in history, claiming former President Donald Trump to be “a threat to our country and democracy.” Another expressed their dissent against a culture of ageism that has allegedly attached itself to the Biden campaign. “ I am fully confident that Biden can serve four more years and stories of his senility are simply ridiculous bias against him.” Other students have expressed hope for more civic engagement on campus next semester. One student was uncertain about when voting for the presidency occurred.

Students were also asked whether their chosen candidate reflected their ideological values. Surprisingly, the majority of respondents felt that their candidate was only partially representative of their own beliefs. One student expressed these frustrations as consequential to our two party system. “Neither candidate is strong and… truly reflective of their party as a whole. It’s unfortunate that both parties didn’t really give room for other voices to be heard (with the DNC never holding any presidential debates and the RNC proclaiming Trump as the nominee before all the major primaries could take place).”

Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy (Independent) has also been making some waves amongst student voters. Some respondents believe his candidacy offers promising policy changes for their future. “He’s a staunch environmentalist and has pledged to make homeownership easier, which is a big concern for me as someone who currently rents. I don’t want to be a renter all my life and have my life, in part, dictated by landlords and unjust rent prices.” This respondent views Kennedy to be the only presidential candidate who has advocated to make housing more affordable.

You may be wondering why anyone should care about this data. Eligible voters can now reflect on the views of their peers and determine whether their own values are represented at this campus. Make your voices known by practicing civic engagement at Saint Mary’s and mobilizing for your beliefs. We’re five months in with six more to go: that’s a lot of time to make change.

]]><![CDATA[No More CLEAR at CA Airports?]]>Wed, 01 May 2024 16:45:21 GMThttps://www.smccollegian.org/news/no-more-clear-at-ca-airports

Image c/o KRON4

By Madison Sciba
Editor-in-Chief

A bill currently making its way through the California legislature has its sights set on ending third-party identification companies at TSA in California airports. These third-party identification companies, such as CLEAR, allow people to skip the line at security, and even jump ahead of those who already have TSA precheck. Anyone can get this “skip the line” pass. Well, anyone who is willing to pay $189 a year for the service.

Anyone who has flown out of Oakland airport knows that the TSA line can be atrociously long, and watching the CLEAR people cut the line can be infuriating. California lawmakers are proposing that companies like CLEAR should set up their own form of security, in addition to TSA, because it is unfair that those who cannot pay are being forced to wait while those who do pay are able to jump the line.

Travelers at SJC worry that this will cause airfare to go up, and wait times at security will increase. Although passengers familiar with SJC know that the quickest way to get through security is to go through regular TSA as PreCheck and CLEAR usually have longer lines.

Airlines are also concerned about the bill, as they are worried that it will cause more delays and missed flights because passengers with services like CLEAR use it to expedite the TSA security process. However, it should be noted that major US airlines, such as United, Delta, and Alaska, have already partnered with CLEAR

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