At Home in San Francisco: Harris’ First Major Speech
Election Loss Was Rousing Call-to-Action
By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
Former Vice-President Kamala Harris delivered her first extensive public remarks since her defeat in the 2024 presidential election.
To cheers and a standing ovation, Harris spoke at the 20th Anniversary Gala of Emerge, an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. The event was held in San Francisco on April 30.
“Right now, we are living in their vision for America,” said Harris, who some California capital insiders believe will soon announce her candidacy for governor.
“This is not a vision that Americans want. We are living in a moment when the checks and
balances upon which we have historically relied have begun to buckle,” continued Harris. “And we here know that when the checks and balances ultimately collapse, if Congress fails to do its part, or if the courts fail to do their part, or if both do their part, but the president defies them anyway, well, friends, that is called a constitutional crisis. And that is a crisis that will eventually impact everyone.”
In her speech, Harris praised Emerge for its work and impact around the United States. Since it was founded in 2002, the organization — founded in California — has trained over 6,500 Democratic women to run for office and more than 1,200 alums of the program serve in government today
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most as bad here in California as it was in any of the southern states, Thompson remembers.
Semi-professional and professional jobs were not easily available to Blacks. Mortuaries were no different. White funeral homes refused to address the burial and funeral needs of Blacks. In fact, they absolutely refused to serve Blacks until well after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It wasn’t until the end of the eighties that “white” Mortuaries prioritized the color “green” over the color “Black.”
By Oakland Post Staff
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 29 announced a new wave of artificial intelligence initiatives aimed at improving public safety, enhancing customer service, and streamlining state operations. The state has entered into three new partnerships to apply generative AI (GenAI) technologies in traffic management, highway safety, and taxpayer assistance.
“California is demonstrating that GenAI can help us improve the way we do business for Californians,” said Trista Gonzalez, director of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), which will use AI to assist call center agents during peak seasons.
The initiatives include using Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI platform to help Caltrans reduce highway congestion, deploying Google Gemini AI via Deloitte to identify traffic safety improvements, and incorporating Anthropic’s Claude to improve CDTFA’s response times to tax-
payer inquiries.
“We’re DOGE but better,” Newsom said, stressing that California’s approach is about strengthening public services, not cutting them.
Newsom emphasized that the projects are being implemented in coordination with state employees and unions, contrasting the state’s approach with federal cost-cutting measures under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. “The announcement we’re making today was done in partnership with state workers and employees. That’s the difference,” Newsom said in Los Angeles.
The announcement builds on Newsom’s 2023 executive order directing state agencies to adopt GenAI to deliver faster, more responsive services. It comes as California faces off with the federal government over proposed cuts to AmeriCorps and tariffs, further asserting its role in shaping national policy through innovation and legal challenges.
Additional initiatives, including the Engaged California digital platform and a new productivity-focused AI pilot program, un-
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
To address California’s maternity health crisis, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Sabrina Cervantes (DRiverside) authored Senate Bill (SB) 626.
On April 30, the Senate Health Committee voted 11-0 to advance the legislation. It now moves to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for consideration.
Also known as “Perinatal Health Screenings and Treatment,” the legislation would require a licensed health care practitioner who provides perinatal care to screen, diagnose, and treat patients for a “maternal perinatal mental health condition,” according to the bill’s language.
“SB 626 is not just legislation — it’s a declaration that the lives of birthing people matter,” said Smallwood-Cuevas, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).
“Maternal health must be treated as a human right, not a privilege. This bill moves us toward dismantling the inequities that have left too many Black, Brown, Indigenous, and marginalized families behind,” she added.
SB 626 includes key provisions such as requiring all perinatal providers to screen, diagnose, and treat maternal mental health conditions.
The bill would also require an insurance plan that covers mental health services during the perinatal period, including case management, care coordination, and at least one FDA-approved medication.
The third action of SB 626 requires health insurers and service plans to report annually on the usage and results of maternal mental health services and publicly post the data on their websites.
“As a legislator and a mom of triplets, I understand the issue both professionally and personally. That is why I am so proud to coauthor SB 626,” stated Cervantes. “California has a responsibility to ensure no parent suffers in silence when help should have been within reach.”
According to information provided by Smallwood-Cuevas’ office, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation, and perinatal depression — a mood disorder that emerges during pregnancy or after childbirth — is the leading cause, with only 15% receiving treatment.
In addition, the crisis disproportionately impacts Black women, people of color, low-income, and marginalized families due to obstacles in obtaining culturally competent care. The dilemma costs California $2.4 billion annually.
On April 29, over 100 survivors, clinicians, community leaders, and advocates from across the state convened at the State Capitol for the daylong event, “From Pain to Power: A California Storytelling and Advocacy Day.”
The occasion featured storytelling by parents, a documentary screening, and legislative visits focused on the passage of SB 626.
The list of speakers included Jessica Walker, founder of Be Mom Aware; Gabrielle Brown, the Black Maternal and Infant Health Program Manager for Black Women for Wellness Action Project; and Cassie Gardener-Manjikian, co-founder of California Coalition for Perinatal Mental Health and Justice (CCPMHJ).
“Black mothers have long carried the heaviest burdens in a healthcare system that was never designed with us in mind,” said
After 78 years of dedicated service in the funeral industry, Arthur E. Thompson and his wife Linda are announcing his well-earned retirement from Thompson Funeral Home located at 9900 International Blvd. in Oakland and Thompson’s Bayview Mortuary, 950 Gilman Avenue in San Francisco.
In 1960, Thompson became the first Black person to park a car in San Francisco’s Union Square. It was not his car. He was the first Black hired as a parking attendant there. He desired more out of life. His goal was to make a difference in the lives of people while determining and controlling his own career course.
At the time, America for Blacks and whites existed in separate communities. “Separate but equal” was the law of the land. While most people today think of Jim Crow existing only in the south, it was al-
In 1964, Thompson’s dream to become an entrepreneur became a reality when he opened American Funeral Home. After the closure of American Funeral Home, he opened Thompson Funeral Home. At that time, there were only five Black-owned funeral homes in Oakland. Thompson’s was the sixth. Today, Thompson’s and Thompson’s Bayview Mortuary Inc., acquired in 2005, are among the remaining Black-owned funeral homes in the Bay Area.
Mr. Thompson has spent nearly eight decades providing comfort, guidance, and unwavering support to countless families during their most difficult times. Throughout the years, Thompson has witnessed the industry evolve while remaining steadfast in his commitment to dignity, compassion and professionalism.
His legacy, Thompson’s family says, is one of kindness, integrity, and an enduring dedication to
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