California Black Media Briefs

Arrest Drug Users

Mayor London Breed has been adamant in defense of her policy to arrest and detain drug users to get them into treatment programs.

Breed has directed the San Francisco Police Department to use public intoxication laws to make these arrests. So far, officers have cited or arrested 38 people under the “Intoxication Detention Program.” on her plans to open wellness hubs for overdose prevention, as well as the recent drug-related arrests.

Tensions flared over Breed’s policies during a Board of Supervisors’ meeting on June 13.

Preston quoted from a Department of Public Health report that discouraged “punitive policies” and noted that Black, Brown and Indigenous communities have long been targeted by drug crackdowns.

“The fact is, it’s not just services; it’s also force,” Breed responded, using the example of a friend who had entered treatment after an arrest. “You can quote all these statistics all you want, but at the end of the day, you’ve never lived in it.”

Advocates Say Trailer Bill Language Will Weaken California’s Police Decertification Law could counteract Senate Bill (SB) 2, a bill Newsom signed into law in 2021 that details harsh penalties for serious police misconduct including revoking their certifications.

This would prevent officers from being employed by another department in California.

“What is happening here is that the administration is moving forward endorsing a policy in the dark that actually puts records of police officer misconduct in the dark,” said Carmen-Nicole Cox, director of Government Affairs for ACLU California Action. “We cannot use a secret policy to remove police transparency.”

Grassroots Groups Push ‘Motor Voter’ Bill...

Continued from page 2 tice reform, immigrant rights, language access, low-income communities, environmental justice, religious rights, labor unions, etc.

Leveraging its voter engagement expertise with communities traditionally ignored by mainstream political campaigns, the California Grassroots Democracy Coalition (CGDC) says it promotes legislation that expands the electorate, builds up civic education, voter registration, and turnout in underrepresented communities, according to the group’s website.

Julius Thibodeaux, Executive Director for Movement 4 Life, spoke about his experience as a person who was formerly incarcerated and how it affected his access to voting. He also discussed the importance of investing in the development, health and wellbeing of youth in cities.

By Joe Bowers and Edward Henderson California Black Media

‘You’ve Never Lived It’: S.F. Mayor Breed Defends Decision to

“Here we go, another white man talking about Black and Brown people as if you’re the savior of these people,” Breed told Supervisor Dean Preston, a frequent critic of both the mayor and police.

Preston interrogated the mayor

Last week, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action held a press conference to speak out against new trailer bill language that could be passed along with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget.

Their fear is the new language

The press conference took place on the heels of a scandal within the Antioch Police Department involving 45 officers who were part of a text thread that included racist, misogynistic, and homophobic messages.

Read the full story on postnewsgroup.com

CGDC comprises 140-plus grassroots organizations that are committed to helping California’s most vulnerable communities become empowered through pro-democracy reforms. Organizations in the network have a range of priorities, including, criminal jus-

“In 2020, California voters restored voting rights for more than 50,000 people who are no longer incarcerated. But that’s only the first step,” Thibodeaux told California Black Media at the march and rally. “Now, the work begins to get folks informed, registered, and returning to the ballot box every fall and spring election.”