November 25, 2021

By Tanu Henry

California Black Media

California is expected to move into the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2022, with a whopping $31 billion surplus, according to estimates from the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).

The LAO announced the anticipated surplus during a news briefing last week. 

“Under our current law and policy approach, we estimate the general fund revenue will reach $202 billion in the budget year and result in a surplus of about $31 billion for that budget year,” said Gabriel Petek, Legislative Analyst of the State of California, referring to LAO’s projections for fiscal year 2022-23.

Petek said the large surplus reflects a number of trends. Among them are surpluses in the state current operating budget, money left in the economic reserve from the last fiscal year, higher revenues than projected for the last two years, etc.

“Revenue collections have grown rapidly in recent months, coming in over $10 billion ahead of budget act expectations so far this year. Underlying this growth is a meteoric rise in several measures of economic activity,” LAO report reads.

That windfall in the state reserve could mean a rebate for taxpayers or more money for education and other public spending.

State spending is expected to reach a cap set by California voters through a ballot measure in 1979 called the Gann Limit. When that happens, the state is compelled to return money to taxpayers by lowering taxes, sending out rebates or spending money on education.

Salena Pryor, president of the California Black Small Business Association (BSBA) says she is encouraged by the investments the state has made to aid small businesses and to improve the overall economic outlook for Californians most impacted by the pandemic.

She hopes the state will use monies from the surplus to sustain some of its initial investments.

“There is still a lot more work to do. 41% of Black small businesses have closed permanently due to COVID-19, so further investments into start-ups and restarts would greatly benefit our community,” she said.

California has the strongest economy of any state in the country with an estimated Gross State Product of $3.0 trillion. If it were a country, California would be the 5th largest economy in the world.

“California has no peers - continues to have no peers. We are world beating in terms of our economic growth,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking at the California Economic Summit earlier this month.

“In the last five years, no western democracy has outperformed the state of California. The United States has not ... Germany, Japan, the U.K. ... no other western democracy has outperformed this state in our economic output of 21% GDP over the last five years.”

November 04, 2021

By Cora Jackson-Fossett

Contributing Writer

The field office of Councilmember Curren Price, Jr. (CD 9) proved popular to South L.A. residents, who lined up to apply for the BIG:LEAP - the Basic Income Guaranteed: Los Angeles Economic Assistance Program.

Through BIG:LEAP, 3,000 qualified recipients will get $1,000 per month starting the end of January 2022. The payments will be issued for 12 months with no-strings-attached or conditions on how the funds must be spent. 

The only requirements are that applicants must live in the city of Los Angeles, be over 18-years-old, have at least one dependent, income at or below 100% of the federal poverty line, and experienced economic and/or medical hardship due to COVID-19. 

Judging from the number of folks in line, many people meet the stipulations.

“The district I represent has high rates of poverty and high rates of homelessness. I wanted to identify a program that we could utilize to try to alleviate some of that. We know the program has been successful in other communities on a much smaller scale. I said I want to make that same kind of commitment in my district,” said Price.

Initially, Councilman Price designated $6 million from his public safety fund with the plan of providing 500 families with $1,000 per month.  However, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD 8) and Council President Nury Martinez (CD 6) contributed funds along with Mayor Eric Garcetti, who allocated $30 million, making BIG:LEAP a citywide program endowed with a total of $40 million to aid families living in poverty.

According to Price, BIG:LEAP “is an important opportunity to see how effective this kind of program can be. 

It will certainly benefit the individuals that are involved and their families, but it also will provide good data for the City as we reconfigure programs, figure out how we can assistance programs more effective, more innovative and more appropriate.”

Two local residents anticipated that the program would relieve some of their financial worries if they were deemed eligible to participate. Shamane Draper noted that the extra money would help her provide for her four-year-old son and two grandchildren.

“I would take care of my family and take care of bills. Because of COVID-19, it’s been a hardship for me and my family, so I would be really thankful if I am selected,” said Draper.

Lisa Lampkins shared comparable remarks, stating, “I’m the mother of five and it would really help us. I could catch up on my bills and be able to provide more for my family.”

Interested persons have until November Sunday, 7 to apply for BIG:LEAP. Applications can be submitted online at bigleap.lacity.org or in person at Price’s field office, 4301 S. Central Avenue in Los Angeles. The office hours during the application period are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The weekend hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Other sites in CD 9, including All Peoples Community Center, L.A. Trade-Tech College and Ascot, Junipero Serra and Vermont Square Branch Libraries, will also accept applications. The locations will offer computers, Wi-Fi and language support .

For more information about BIG:LEAP, call (323) 846-2651.

November 04, 2021

LAWT News Service

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has promoted Jacqueline Irvin to the senior management position of chief appraiser where she will lead the training division, among other duties.

“Jacqueline is invaluable to the Assessor’s Office,” said Assessor Prang. “Her ingenuity, creative passion and work ethic is of the highest caliber.

She will be able to manage and lead our future workforce as well as train and develop the board of supervisors pilot program with the local community colleges that is a pathway to County jobs.”

Ms. Irvin began her career with the Assessor’s Office in 2000 as an Appraiser Trainee. 

Over the past 20 years, she has held numerous positions including appraiser specialist in the Major Real Property Division, field trainer, supervising appraiser overseeing commercial/industrial properties and assessor’s representative at the Assessment Appeals Board.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Los Angeles County,” Irvin said.

“We are developing exiting programs here that will provide a direct link to good-paying jobs in the Assessor’s Office and elsewhere in the County.”

Ms. Irvin also will serve as the department lead for managing the Countywide Equity Action initiatives such as the Women and Girls Initiative (WGI) and the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative (ARDI).