California Politics 360 Full Episode

California Politics 360 Full Episode | Concerns over lack of parolee supervision, rising gas prices

The family of a 27-year-old woman killed in 2020 blames the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for not doing its job to keep tabs on a man on parole.

INMATES RELEASED ON PAROLE WITHOUT SUPERVISION. A FORMER CDC EMPLOYEE NOW SOUNDING THE ALARM. EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY PHONE. IT WAS LITERALLY, ARE YOU ABIDING BY THE LAW TODAY? YES. FANTASTIC FRUSTRATION FROM THE OIL INDUSTRY AHEAD OF AN UPCOMING VOTE IN SACRAMENTO, COMPANIES SAY IT COULD COLLAPSE THE INDUSTRY HERE IN CALIFORNIA IF THE WAR IN IRAN PERSISTS, WILL THAT CHANGE THE COURSE OF THIS PROPOSAL? TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE ON STRIKE CALLING FOR BETTER PAY. THE MESSAGE FROM ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S MOST POWERFUL UNIONS FORCING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CALIFORNIA POLITICS. 360 I’M ASHLEY ZAVALA FRUSTRATION GROWING WITH HOW THE STATE RELEASES CRIMINALS FROM PRISON AND AN APPARENT LACK OF SUPERVISION WHILE THEY’RE ON PAROLE. THIS WEEK, STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR TO REPLACE THE PAROLE BOARD. IT COMES AFTER THE BOARD APPROVED THE RELEASE OF VIOLENT SEX OFFENDERS UNDER THE STATE’S ELDER PAROLE LAW. PUBLIC SAFETY MUST ALWAYS COME FIRST, AND PREDATORS WHO ADMIT THAT THEY’RE STILL ATTRACTIVE TO CHILDREN BELONG BEHIND BARS, NOT BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CALL COMES AS GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S ADMINISTRATION IS FACING A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT. THE FAMILY OF A 27 YEAR OLD WOMAN KILLED IN 2020 BLAMES THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION FOR NOT DOING ITS JOB TO KEEP TABS ON A MAN ON PAROLE. HE’S NOW ACCUSED OF KILLING THEIR DAUGHTER AND ANOTHER WOMAN WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. NOW A FORMER CDC EMPLOYEE IS BLOWING THE WHISTLE. HE SAYS THERE’S A TOXIC CULTURE WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED FROM OUR STATE’S PRISON SYSTEM WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES. WE HONESTLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE DOING OR HOW THEY WERE DOING. YOU WEREN’T TRACKING PEOPLE WHO WERE ON PAROLE. I HAD GPS INFORMATION AND THAT’S IT. AND WHO TOLD YOU TO NOT DO THAT? MY SUPERVISORS. DISTURBING ALLEGATIONS FROM A FORMER STATE CORRECTIONS PAROLE OFFICER. AS A SEX OFFENDER AGENT. I HAD GPS TRACKING INFORMATION SO I COULD SEE PRETTY MUCH WHERE THEY WERE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. BUT BEYOND THAT, WHAT THEY WERE DOING AT THOSE MOMENTS, I HAVE NO IDEA. SPEAKING TO ME UNDER THE AGREEMENT, WE WOULD CONCEAL HIS IDENTITY. HE TALKED ABOUT HIS SIX YEARS WITH THE PAROLE UNIT BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE SAID THE ISSUE WORSENED DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN HE SAYS ALL WORK WAS DONE BY PHONE. IT WAS LITERALLY, ARE YOU ARE YOU ABIDING BY THE LAW TODAY? YES. FANTASTIC. WHATEVER THEY TOLD US IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD PUT IN THE SYSTEM AND SAYING THAT THAT’S THEIR OKAY. IT’S THAT POLICY THAT HIROKO ABE SAYS LED TO THE DEATH OF HER 27 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, HANAKO. SHE INYO. HANAKO WAS A VERY HONEST PERSON AND KIND AND THOUGHTFUL, SPEAKING TO US FROM JAPAN THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, ABE TALKED ABOUT THE DRIVER CHARGED WITH KILLING HANAKO AND ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN IN 2020, PROSECUTORS SAID TROY MCALLISTER WAS SPEEDING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METH AND ALCOHOL WHEN HE RAN A RED LIGHT. THIS VIDEO FROM KTVU SHOWS THE SCENE HE WAS ON PAROLE WITH THE CRIMINAL HISTORY THAT INCLUDES NINE FELONY CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING DRUG OFFENSES, ATTEMPTED CARJACKING AND ROBBERY. THE ABE FAMILY IS NOW FILING A GOVERNMENT CLAIM, SAYING DALY CITY POLICE CONTACTED CDCR TWO DAYS BEFORE THE CRASH. THEY WANTED HELP FINDING MCALLISTER TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY FOR VIOLATING HIS PAROLE. BUT THE CLAIM SAYS THE STATE REFUSED. NOTHING CAN BRING BACK THEIR DAUGHTER, SO THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT IF THE PAROLE DIVISION IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPERVISING PAROLEES, LET’S MAKE SURE THAT’S HAPPENING. THE CLAIM INCLUDES THIS EMAIL REPORTEDLY FROM SAN FRANCISCO PAROLE SUPERVISORS TELLING AGENTS NOT TO ASSIST OTHER AGENCIES. MY GUESS IS THAT IT GIVES THAT IMPRESSION THAT REHABILITATION IS WORKING, WHEN IN FACT THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE WAS HAPPENING. THEY WERE RUNNING AMOK, THE WHISTLEBLOWER SAYS. EVEN THOUGH RULES WERE RELAXED UNDER COVID ARREST, EXPECTATIONS NEVER FULLY █RECOVERED, SAYING T COULD CONTINUE TO LEAD TO PROBLEMS STATEWIDE. THEY’RE NOT BEING PROPERLY SUPERVISED. I BELIEVE THAT’S PURPOSEFUL IN NATURE AND UNEQUIVOCALLY I WILL STATE THAT THEY ARE NOT SAFE. PEOPLE ARE NOT SAFE AT ALL. THESE THESE PAROLEES ARE LEFT TO TO RAMPAGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND MORE ISSUES WILL OCCUR THAT ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE TO. UNFORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN SAN FRANCISCO. WE REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND TO CDCR FOR A COMMENT. AT THE TIME WE TAPED. WE HAD NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. CDC SAYS IT CANNOT COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION, BUT THE DEPARTMENT’S TOP PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. WELL, BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. SEVERAL CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ARE URGING CALIFORNIA REGULATORS TO RECONSIDER A PROPOSAL THAT COULD IMPACT HOW MUCH YOU PAY FOR GAS AT THE PUMP AND ELECTRICITY TO POWER YOUR HOME. HOW THE STATE AGENCY IS LA MESA REC VAN FUELING YOUR JOURNEY FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THE OIL INDUSTRY. THE GOVERNOR OF NEVADA AND 15 DEMOCRATIC CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE URGING THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD TO RECONSIDER PARTS OF A PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE STATE’S CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY THOSE IMPACTING GAS AND ELECTRICITY. THE CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM IS PART OF THE STATE’S CLEAN AIR LAWS THAT REQUIRE MAJOR COMPANIES TO EITHER CUT THEIR CREDITS TO EMIT CARBON OR PAY FOR STATE TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. THE PROPOSAL WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT CREDITS COMPANIES CAN USE MOVING FORWARD, WHICH COULD ADD COSTS FOR THEM OVERALL. BUT THE LEADER OF THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, LAUREN SANCHEZ, SAYS THERE’S TIME TO FIGURE THIS OUT, AND THE PROPOSAL IS NOT A DONE DEAL. HERE’S PART OF MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIR. ON RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY. THE OIL INDUSTRY HAS SAID THIS PROPOSAL ESSENTIALLY INCENTIVIZES COMPANIES TO IMPORT EVEN MORE FUEL FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, SOMETHING THE STATE IS ALREADY HEAVILY RELYING ON NOW. I MEAN, IS THAT NOT CONCERNING TO YOU, GIVEN THE WAR IN IRAN AND THE BLOCKING OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AT THIS POINT? YEAH, I AGAIN, WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT THE STAFF PROPOSAL IS REALLY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING BUSINESSES HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THAT’S WHY WE DIDN’T CHANGE THAT INDUSTRIAL ALLOCATION. AND WE’VE MAINTAINED A NUMBER OF THE COST CONTAINMENT MEASURES IN THE PROGRAM DESIGN. ACTUALLY, I SHOULD POINT OUT, AS THE LEGISLATURE WAS HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO EXTEND THIS PROGRAM LAST YEAR, IT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE INDUSTRY, THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY HERE IN CALIFORNIA, AND BY LABOR VOICES IN CALIFORNIA, ENVIRONMENTAL, BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. THIS PROGRAM HAS A 15 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS OF ONE. IT IS ONE OF OUR MOST COST EFFECTIVE CLIMATE POLICIES. AND AS WE THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS THAT IT HAS GENERATED FOR THE STATE, I MEAN, OVER $34 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS UP AND DOWN THE STATE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT, FOREST MANAGEMENT AND FIRE PREVENTION, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER. I MEAN, THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR COMMUNITIES. YOU LAYER ON TOP OF THAT, THAT THE PROGRAM HAS GENERATED $15 BILLION IN UTILITY BILL REBATES. AND YES, GAS PRICES ARE A TOP CONCERN FOR CALIFORNIANS AS OUR UTILITY BILLS. SO THE FACT THAT THIS PROGRAM IS HELPING ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY IS ALSO VERY PARAMOUNT. ALL OF THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE GETTING FEEDBACK THAT THE STAFF PROPOSAL DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THOSE CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DATA AND THE JUSTIFICATION ON THAT ISSUE. BUT I GUESS TO CLARIFY, IF THE WAR IN IRAN PERSISTS, WILL THAT CHANGE THE COURSE OF THIS PROPOSAL? THE WAR IN IRAN? AND, YOU KNOW, THE LATEST FEDERAL LAWSUITS ATTACKING CALIFORNIA? I MEAN, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GLOBAL EVENTS, FEDERAL EVENTS THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND THIS REGULATION, THIS REGULATION THAT IS COMING TO THE BOARD. AGAIN, IT’S NOT COMING TO THE BOARD UNTIL THE END OF MAY. SO WE’VE BUILT IN TIME FOR SOME OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AND ANALYSIS TO CONTINUE. BUT JUST OVERALL, BROADLY ON THIS, I MEAN, AS THE LEADER OF THAT’S TASKED WITH CLEANING CALIFORNIA’S AIR, MEETING THE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS, I MEAN, WHAT GOOD ARE THESE GOALS IF THE STATE IS SO HEAVILY RELYING ON FUEL THAT’S PRODUCED IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEN PUT ONTO SHIPS TO POLLUTE THE AIR, NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR STATE, BUT OUTSIDE OF IT? YEAH, IT’S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO THROUGH BOTH THE CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM AND THE LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD. AND IT’S Y, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION TO MINIMIZE LEAKAGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE WORK. CARB DOES MORE BROADLY, MAKING SURE THAT THE BENEFITS OF OUR REGULATIONS AND OUR POLICIES AND OUR PROGRAMS OUTWEIGH ANY COSTS. BUT ACTUALLY, AS YOU POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, TASKED WITH CLEANING THE AIR, 18 MILLION CALIFORNIANS STILL BREATHE UNHEALTHY AIR EVERY YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK, YOUR FORECAST TO HIT 90 DEGREES IN SACRAMENTO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MARCH, THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED. WE KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE, OVER BIPARTISAN ADMINISTRATIONS, HAS TASKED THE AIR BOARD WITH MOVING FORWARD AND STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN COSTS AND BENEFITS, AND SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES GOING FORWARD. YOU MENTIONED, AND YOU’VE BEEN MENTIONING THAT YOU’RE REALLY YOU’RE YOUR JOB. YOU’VE JUST TAKEN FROM THE LEGISLATURE, ESSENTIALLY, YOU WERE DIRECTED BY STATE LAWMAKERS TO CARRY OUT THIS RULEMAKING PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO CAP AND INVEST. SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED FOR THAT, WHO VOTED TO DIRECT YOU TO DO THIS WORK, ARE NOW ASKING YOU TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, ESPECIALLY ON THIS PROPOSAL WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY, WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THAT? I TAKE THAT FEEDBACK WITH DEEP HUMILITY AND DEEP GRATITUDE. YOU KNOW, I’M GRATEFUL THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR ENGAGEMENT DOESN’T STOP AT JUST PASSING THE BILL AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNING IT, BUT RATHER THROUGHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND THE REGULATORY PROCESS THAT THEY’RE STAYING ENGAGED. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ULTIMATELY THE PROPOSAL THAT COMES TO THE BOARD IS RESPONSIVE TO LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION AND AND REALLY HOW THEY INTENDED THE PROGRAM TO WORK. SO, YOU KNOW, I’VE SEEN THAT LETTER. I’VE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF OTHER LETTERS ON OTHER SETS OF ISSUES. AND WE’RE, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE TEAM IS LOOKING AT THAT FEEDBACK AND AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT HOW THE PROPOSAL MOVES FORWARD. CHAIR SANCHEZ TALKS MORE ABOUT THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE STATE’S REMAINING OIL REFINERS, THE CONVERSATIONS SHE SAYS HER OFFICE IS HAVING WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND LAWMAKERS. WHILE THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS ARE ON STRIKE, THE STATEWIDE COORDINATED CAMPAIGN TO VOICE THEIR PRIORITIES. WHILE THE POWERFUL UNION BEHIND THIS SAYS IT’S HAPPENING. THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE WALKED OFF THE JOB OR THREATENED TO STRIKE THIS YEAR, CALLING FOR BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS. LAST YEAR, THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED THE WE CAN’T WAIT CAMPAIGN. NOW TEACHERS ALL AT THE SAME TIME ARE STRIKING TO PUSH THE PRIORITIES OF THIS CAMPAIGN TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WITH CONTRACTS SET TO EXPIRE. I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE POWERFUL CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. SO YOU SAID EARLIER THAT SOME DISTRICTS ARE HOARDING MONEY, BUT MANY OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LIMITED WITH THEIR BUDGETS, AND EVEN MORE SO NOW WITH CITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND THE STATE ITSELF HAVING THESE MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICITS. I MEAN, A CTA IGNORING THAT, I’M NOT SURE WHAT YOU CITY BUDGETS DON’T IMPACT SCHOOL BUDGETS. I GUESS. SO YOU’RE ASKING ME. SO WHEN WE DO AN ANALYSIS OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DISTRICTS IN YOUR AREA, TWIN RIVERS, WHEN WE CAN COMPARE TWIN RIVERS TO THE 40 OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR SIZE DISTRICT WITH SQUIRRELED AWAY THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE. SO THAT’S THAT’S THE FACTS. NATOMAS ALSO, THESE ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATES. THESE DISTRICTS ACTUALLY HAVE INCREASING ENROLLMENT WHERE THEY GET MORE AND MORE MONEY PER STUDENT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THEM. WE ALSO LOOK, AS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION, WE ARE COMMITTED 100% TO ALSO GETTING MORE STATEWIDE REVENUE. IN FACT, WE LEAD ON THAT. INITIATIVE WE’RE TRYING TO PUT ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW, WHICH WILL INCREASE THE TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST CALIFORNIANS AND MAKE IT A PERMANENT EXTENSION OF A TAX. IT’S NOT AN INCREASED TAX BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE IT NOW, BUT IT CONTINUE TO TRY TO STABILIZE SOME OF THIS FUNDING. BUT WE EDUCATION, LOOK, WE HAVE MORE BILLIONAIRES THAN ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, ANYWHERE IN THIS NATION, ANYWHERE IN THIS WORLD. IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS WORLD. EDUCATION IS NOT GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT IT DESERVES. WHEN YOU COMPARE US TO OTHER STATES, IT’S REALLY, FRANKLY, FRANKLY, A FALSE EQUIVALENCE. OUR ECONOMY IS THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY WHEN WE COMPARE IT TO OTHER NATIONS. SO THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDING. AND THAT IS TRUE. WE’RE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH FRANK. FRANKLY, WE WOULD HAVE WISHED THAT DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE BEEN PUSHING AROUND THIS A LONG TIME AGO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO REALLY COMMITTED TO THE FACT THAT BECAUSE MONEY CAN BE SCARCE, THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT DISTRICTS GET SHOULD BE SPENT ON STUDENTS NOW, ON EDUCATORS NOW AND NOT HOARDED AWAY AS THEY ARE IN THESE DISTRICTS, BOTH TWIN RIVERS AND NATOMAS. BUT SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS, SAC CITY UNIFIED, FOR EXAMPLE. I MEAN, THEY’VE THEY’VE STRUGGLED TO SAY NO TO YOU. THEY’VE GIVEN CTA WHAT IT HAS WANTED. AND NOW IT’S IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY’RE REALLY STRAPPED FOR CASH BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN IN TO CTA DEMANDS IN THE PAST. I MEAN, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT REVENUE GENERATORS. I MEAN, WHY FLEX THIS POLITICAL MUSCLE WITH THIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND RELYING ON PUBLIC FUNDS? YEAH. AGAIN, I DO WANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION. THEY’RE NOT SAYING NO TO CTA ABOUT ANYTHING. THESE ARE LOCAL UNIONS AND LOCAL MEMBERS AND LOCAL EDUCATORS WHO ARE MAKING THESE. WE SUPPORT EACH ONE OF THEM IN THESE STRUGGLES. BUT THIS IS NOT THIS IS NOT A FLEX POLITICAL MUSCLE. THIS IS A FLEX OF WORKER POWER AND WORKER’S PENT UP FRUSTRATION ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SURVIVE, NOT BEING ABLE TO STAY IN THE DISTRICT. YOU BECAUSE YOU BREAK UP SAC CITY. I’VE TALKED TO EVERY STRIKE LINE I’M ON YESTERDAY. YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE FROM SAC CITY WHO USED TO WORK IN THE THOMAS AND TWIN RIVERS WERE COMING BACK TO SUPPORT THEIR COLLEAGUES AND SAYING, I’M SORRY TO HAVE LEFT. YOU GUYS IN YOUR DISTRICT HAVE GONE TO SAC CITY FOR THE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. WHAT’S HAPPENING IS THESE DISTRICTS THAT ARE ON STRIKE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE SAME THING THAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE AROUND THEM AND SAYING, WHY DO WE DESERVE LESS HERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE? GOLDBERG WEIGHS IN. WHEN I ASKED WHY CTA ISN’T TAKING ALL THIS ENERGY TOWARD LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL WHO ARE THERE TO ADDRESS STATEWIDE ISSUES. IT WAS A MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT THAT THOSE WHO WERE HERE WOULD NEVER FORGET. WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORIC UNITED FARM WORKERS MARCH THAT HAPPENED 60 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK MARKS 60 YEARS SINCE A SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, A MARCH THAT BEGAN IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AIMED TO BRING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE EXPLOITATION OF FARM WORKERS DURING THE DELANO GRAPE STRIKE. MARICELA DE LA CRUZ TAKES A LOOK AT THIS DEFINING MOMENT IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY. TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE ON THE CHARROS CAME IN, THE FARMWORKERS CAME IN APRIL 10TH, 1966. IT’S ENGRAVED IN MEMORY. THAT WAS AWAKENING, A BEAUTIFUL AWAKENING. THE MARCH STARTED ON MARCH 17TH AND 1966, WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF FARMWORKERS SET OUT FROM DELANO, BEGINNING A 280 MILE MARCH TO SACRAMENTO LED BY CESAR CHAVEZ. THE MARCH AIMED TO EXPOSE HARSH CONDITIONS FARMWORKERS FACED DURING THE DELANO GRAPE STRIKE AND DEMAND FAIR WAGES, UNION RECOGNITION AND DIGNITY IN THE FIELDS. WHAT BEGAN WITH ABOUT 75 FARMWORKERS GREW AS SUPPORTERS JOINED ALONG THE ROUTE, GROWING INTO ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LABOR DEMONSTRATIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. IT WAS A MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT THAT THOSE WHO WERE HERE WOULD NEVER FORGET. PEOPLE LIKE CUELLAR. HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WATCHED THE MARCHERS ARRIVE AT CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL, AND IT WAS EMPOWERING FOR ME. IT PLACED THE FARMWORKERS PLIGHT AND THEIR CAUSE SQUARELY BEFORE THE CONSCIENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, MARK GROSSMAN WORKED WITH CESAR CHAVEZ AND HAS WORKED WITH THE UFW FOR THE LAST 57 YEARS. AFTER 25 DAYS ON THE ROAD, THE MARCH REACHED SACRAMENTO. THE MASS OF PEOPLE THAT CAME IN AND THERE WERE BROWN, YOU KNOW, 60 YEARS AGO, HUNDREDS OF FARM WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS CROSSED THIS BRIDGE, ENDING A 280 MILE MARCH AS THEY BROUGHT THEIR FIGHT FOR LABOR RIGHTS DIRECTLY TO THE STEPS OF THE STATE CAPITOL. IT WAS SURPRISING TO EVERYONE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SEE THE BRIDGE SIX DECADES LATER, GOT TO TAKE A STAND. THE MESSAGE OF THAT MARCH STILL ECHOES TODAY, AS FARM WORKERS KEEP PUSHING FOR FAIR PAY, DIGNITY AND PROTECTIONS IN THE FIELDS. FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. EACH GENERATION NEEDS TO DISCOVER IT ANEW. EVERYBODY IN THE YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THAT WERE CRAZY AND ALL THAT. SO NOW WE’RE GOING TO GO BACK AND TELL THEM WHAT MARICELA DE LA CRUZ CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360, THE DELANO MARCH WAS INTENTIONALLY FRAMED AS A RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE, NOT JUST A PROTEST ENDING ON EASTER SUNDAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL. THEY GARNERED MUCH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AFTER STOPPING IN TOWNS FOR MASSES AND RALLIES. THIS YEAR, CALIFORNIA VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHO THEIR NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL BE. SO BEFORE YOU VOTE, WE WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT EXACTLY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OVERSEES, CURTIS BREAKS IT DOWN. CALIFORNIA IS ELECTING A NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THIS YEAR. SO WHAT DO THEY ACTUALLY DO? LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. A KEY PART OF THIS ROLE IS TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN AS GOVERNOR AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE, IF NEEDED. THEY SERVE AS THE ACTING GOVERNOR. IF THE GOVERNOR IS OUT OF STATE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN THE LEGISLATION IS DEADLOCKED, THEY COULD CAST A TIE BREAKING VOTE, BUT THAT RARELY HAPPENS HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ALSO SERVES ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT OVERSEE CALIFORNIA COLLEGES. THE JOB COULD VARY DEPENDING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR COULD ADD RESPONSIBILITIES. THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS A LIMIT OF TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS IN OFFICE. SO HOW MUCH DOES THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MAKE? WELL, LAST YEAR THE JOB PAID $184,000 BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK’S CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY.

California Politics 360 Full Episode | Concerns over lack of parolee supervision, rising gas prices

The family of a 27-year-old woman killed in 2020 blames the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for not doing its job to keep tabs on a man on parole.

Updated: 8:25 AM PDT Mar 15, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Frustration is growing with how the state releases criminals from prison and an apparent lack of supervision while they’re on parole. This week, state Republican leaders called on the governor to replace the Parole Board.The call comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is facing a potential lawsuit. The family of a 27-year-old woman killed in 2020 blames the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for not doing its job to keep tabs on a man on parole. Now, a former CDCR employee is blowing the whistle. He said there’s a toxic culture when it comes to people who are released from our state’s prison systems. The oil industry, the governor of Nevada, and 15 Democratic Assemblymembers are urging the California Air Resources Board to reconsider parts of a proposed update to the state’s Cap & Invest Program, specifically those impacting gas & electricity. Ashley Zavala sits down with the new chair of the Air Resources Board, Lauren Sanchez. Thousands of teachers have walked off the job or threatened to strike this year, calling for better pay. Last year, the California Teachers Association launched the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign. Ashley Zavala speaks with CTA President David Goldberg.This week marks 60 years since the United Farm Workers marched 280 miles from Delano to the State Capitol to bring attention to the conditions of farmworkers during the Delano Grape Strike.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

Frustration is growing with how the state releases criminals from prison and an apparent lack of supervision while they’re on parole.

This week, state Republican leaders called on the governor to replace the Parole Board.

The call comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is facing a potential lawsuit. The family of a 27-year-old woman killed in 2020 blames the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for not doing its job to keep tabs on a man on parole.

Now, a former CDCR employee is blowing the whistle. He said there’s a toxic culture when it comes to people who are released from our state’s prison systems.

The oil industry, the governor of Nevada, and 15 Democratic Assemblymembers are urging the California Air Resources Board to reconsider parts of a proposed update to the state’s Cap & Invest Program, specifically those impacting gas & electricity.

Ashley Zavala sits down with the new chair of the Air Resources Board, Lauren Sanchez.

Thousands of teachers have walked off the job or threatened to strike this year, calling for better pay. Last year, the California Teachers Association launched the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign. Ashley Zavala speaks with CTA President David Goldberg.

This week marks 60 years since the United Farm Workers marched 280 miles from Delano to the State Capitol to bring attention to the conditions of farmworkers during the Delano Grape Strike.

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.