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State to vote on abortion as constitutional right
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By City News Service
Agroup of 13 current and former Filipino American officials Tuesday remembered Duarte Mayor Pro Tem Tzeitel ParasCaracci as a "great trailblazer," one day after her death at age 49 was announced. "As a joint body of Filipino American local elected officials from Southern California, we are saddened to hear of the passing of a great trailblazer and community leader, Mayor Pro Tem and former Mayor Tzeitel Paras- Caracci," the group said in a statement released by Artesia Mayor Melissa Ramoso. "As the longest sitting United States Filipino American municipal elected official in office, Mayor Pro Tem Paras-Caracci served her community honorably for 21 years." Paras-Caracci died following a nearly three-year battle with lung cancer, Duarte Mayor Margaret Finlay announced Monday. She died at her home surrounded by family on Saturday, Finlay added. Tuesday's statement from the Filipino American group went on to say of ParasCaracci, "She served as an inspiration to her city and the Filipino American community. Her enthusiastic desire to serve others was inspirational to all of us. We will miss her as our fellow kababayan, but her legacy will live on. Our deepest condolences to the Parras-Caracci family and the City of Duarte." Besides Ramoso, the statement was signed by Ariel Pe, vice mayor or Lakewood; Sonny Santa Ines, mayor pro tem of Bellflower; Rachelle Arizmendi, councilwoman from Sierra Madre; Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, councilman from Cerritos; Lynda Johnson, councilwoman from Cerritos; Letty LopezViado, councilwoman from West Covina; Arleen Bocatija Rojas, councilwoman from Carson; Evelyn Zneimer, councilwoman from South Pasadena; Mark Pulido, retired mayor of Cerritos; Victor Manalo, retired mayor of Artesia; Thomas Small, retired mayor of Culver City; and Marissa Castro-Salvati, former civil service and taxicab commissioner for the city of Los Angeles. Paras-Caracci was first elected to the council in 2001. She was the first FilipinoAmerican to be elected to the Duarte City Council and the first Duarte High School graduate. She served as mayor in 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Paras-Caracci was also a member of the National League of Cities Board of Directors, the League of California Cities Board of Directors and president of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials. In addition, she was a director for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, a governing board member of Foothill Transit and a board member of the Duarte Community Coordinating Council. "We have suffered a huge loss in our city and I am profoundly saddened as Tzeitel was an immensely capable member of our council, as well as a great personal friend to me, as well as many others," Finlay said. "Her smile and energy were infectious, and it was an honor to serve on council with her." Born Aug. 8, 1972, in Quezon City, Philippines, and named for the eldest daughter from the Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof," Paras- Caracci and her family moved to Los Angeles in 1975 and to Duarte in 1985. She graduated from Duarte High School in 1989 and later from Woodbury University in Burbank. Paras-Caracci is survived by her parents, Lino and Russel Paras; her husband, K.C. Caracci; stepdaughter Dr. Blake Caracci, son Jack Russell; and her brothers Bertrand and John Paul George. In lieu of flowers, the family asked those who wish to honor Paras- Caracci to donate to the City of Hope at cityofhope.org/giving/givehonor-or- memory.
Mayor Pro Tem Tzeitel Paras-Caracci. | Photo courtesy of the City of Duarte
Cervanté Pope
cpope@heysocal.com)
Come November’s midterm elections, Californians can vote to make abortion rights a part of the state’s constitution. The decision comes after Friday’s federal overturning of Roe v.
Wade — the law allowing the nationwide right to abortion. The state
Assembly voted Monday to amend Article 1 of the
California Constitution, one week after the Senate passed it. Gov. Gavin Newsom wholeheartedly supports the measure, but it doesn’t require his signature. A majority of California residents have expressed support for Roe v. Wade and are expected to vote in favor of the bill’s amendment during the midterms. If passed, the bill would explicitly state the legality of abortion and other reproductive rights, phrased as follows: The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. Since May’s leaked draft opinion from Justice Alito stated “The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision,” California officials felt it necessary to include specific language in the amendment. “California remains steadfast in the right of individuals to access abortion care,” Democrat Toni G. Atkins, president pro tempore of the state Senate, said in an interview. “That’s what we explicitly want to make sure continues to be the case, no matter who’s in office, no matter who the judge is. … I don’t want people to think we are safe here just because we have a constitution that guarantees a right to privacy — it doesn’t say abortion.” Even without amending the bill, Gov. Newsom has been very vocal in his stance on abortion and his intentions to keep California a “safe haven” for those seeking the procedure. “Abortion is legal in California. It will remain that way,” Gov. Newsom tweeted the day of the overturning. “We will not cooperate with any states that attempt to prosecute women or doctors for receiving or providing reproductive care.”
