But 18 other election-related bills await the governor\u2019s decision. Among them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- AB 545<\/a>, which requires all counties to provide curbside voting for people with disabilities, along with other increased accessibility measures. That\u2019s one of six bills authored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin<\/a> \u2014 a former county clerk who took over as chairperson of the Assembly\u2019s elections committee when Bryan was named majority leader.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pellerin also authored AB 969<\/a> \u2014 in direct response to Shasta County\u2019s move to get rid of Dominion voting machines and hand count ballots \u2014 which requires machines for most elections<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- SB 77<\/a> by Sen. Tom Umberg<\/a>, allows election officials to reach out by phone, email or text message to verify voters\u2019 signatures instead of just through mail. AB 626<\/a>, also by Pellerin, would allow people to return their vote-by-mail ballot in person, without an envelope, so it can be counted right away.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While SB 77 and AB 626 aim to help election officials and voters, as a bonus, they could also speed up the vote-counting process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s something Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, believes is an important issue for the state to address. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Alexander:<\/strong> \u201cLong vote counts provide the opportunity for campaigns who see their Election Night margins shrink to raise doubts about the accuracy of the process and undermine public confidence. Long vote counts also delay the ability of the winning candidate to prepare to take office and serve his or her voters, putting those constituents at a disadvantage.\u201d <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Making voting simpler could also get more people to register to vote \u2014 Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day<\/a> \u2014 and increase participation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\uc5d0\uc11c November 2022 election<\/a>, more than 11.1 million Californians voted, but 26.9 million were eligible. In the last presidential election, in 2020, 17.8 million voted, of 25.1 million eligible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the record:<\/strong> This item has been updated to more precisely describe the mail ballots that registered Democrats and Republicans will receive for the March primary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
CalMatters is hiring: <\/strong>We have several newsroom opportunities, including for an economy reporter<\/a>, \uc544 tech reporter<\/a> and a state Capitol reporter<\/a> focused on San Diego and the Inland Empire (in partnership with Voice of San Diego). See all our openings<\/a> and apply here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\ub2f9\uc2e0\uc774 \uc54c\uc544\uc57c \ud560 \ub2e4\ub978 \uc774\uc57c\uae30\ub4e4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n 1<\/span>\n Are prison rehab programs working?<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n \n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/calmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/09192023_Rehab_Over_Incarceration_Panel_RL_CM_01.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1\")
CalMatters investigative reporter Byrhonda Lyons, far left, moderates a panel discussion on rehabilitation over incarceration at the CalMatters Studio in Sacramento on Sept. 19, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n CalMatters\uc5d0\uc11c <\/em><\/strong>Shreya Agrawal<\/em><\/strong><\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gov. Newsom doubled down this year on his bid to bring more rehabilitation programs into California prisons when he announced his plan to refashion San Quentin State Prison<\/a> as a hub for those services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It followed his moves to build out rehab programs at other prisons<\/a>, and the state\u2019s growing investment in reentry services for parolees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But are any of these programs actually working?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several experts tackled that question in a CalMatters panel discussio<\/a>n Tuesday moderated by investigative reporter Byrhonda Lyons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 40% of people who are released from prison in California are reconvicted within three years of their release, according to data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation<\/a>. That number has not changed substantially over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Orlando Sanchez Zavala<\/strong>, a panelist and corrections analyst at the Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office: \u201cHow you measure rehabilitation is a key way to define it. One perspective is reducing people’s ability to commit criminal offenses after being released from prison. Another one is providing them with the needs that they have that originally led them to incarceration.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
But sometimes the state just doesn\u2019t have the data. Lyons earlier this year dug into California\u2019s single largest rehabilitation program for parolees<\/a>, Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming. She found in part that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation had not collected recidivism data on the program or evaluated whether participants eventually landed jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several panelists encouraged a broader view of rehabilitation to account for changes beyond another conviction. Panelist Kimberly Richman<\/strong>, chairperson of the sociology department at the University of San Francisco, noted the corrections department defines rehabilitation as a change mindset and restoration of one\u2019s health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Jesse Vasquez<\/strong>, executive director of Friends of San Quentin News: \u201cIncarceration for the past 170 years has been about locking them up and throwing away the key. This is the first time ever that we’re finally taking a chance on investing in the people inside. But guess what, if you don’t give it enough time, you’re not going to know. And there’s already so much criticism in this space. That is discouraging for the incarcerated to hear that society doesn’t care. They don’t want to fund this. They don’t want to support this.\u201d <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Collette Carroll<\/strong>, executive director and co-founder of California Reentry Institute: \u201cWe talk about transformation. Transformation is internal. Our philosophy is we have to help somebody transform the inside, they have to heal. Our first day in class, I want them to repeat after me, \u2018I am not my crime,\u2019 because society has labeled them as what they’ve done. We’ve got to help them understand they have some self worth and once you give somebody self worth they will be different.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Catch up on video:<\/strong> If you missed the session, you can watch it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previous events:<\/strong> Here\u2019s our coverage of the prior panel discussions in Sacramento: in May on homeownership<\/a>, in June on police shootings<\/a> and in August on electric vehicles and inequality<\/a>. And find out about three more events in October<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n 2<\/span>\n Truckers to Newsom: Sign the bill<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n \n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/calmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/091923-Truckers-Protest-AB316-FG-CM-10.jpg?resize=1024%2C666&ssl=1\")
A protester holds a sign calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill that would require a human back-up driver in autonomous trucks during a rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Sept. 19, 2023. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Humans and workers \u2014 or \u201crobots and greedy tech companies?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the choice Gov. Gavin Newsom has to make, according to Teamsters who rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday for a bill regulating driverless trucks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union members are urging the governor to sign Assembly Bill 316<\/a>, which was authored by Democratic Assemblymembers \uc138\uc2e4\ub9ac\uc544 \uc544\uae30\uc544\ub974-\ucee4\ub9ac<\/a> of Davis and Laura Friedman<\/a> of Burbank, and garnered bipartisan support as it passed the Legislature last week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the Newsom administration has strongly hinted that he will veto the bill<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill requires one person to be present in a driverless truck in case of emergencies \u2014 a move that the industry says would effectively ban autonomous trucks before the technology is even in use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But truck drivers at the Capitol said the bill would protect jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Alex Sunglao<\/strong>, a member of Teamsters Local 439: \u201cWhat are the drivers going to do once the AI takes over? I’ve been doing this for 23 years. What am I going to do? I\u2019m getting old. Don\u2019t tell me you\u2019re going to put me in the warehouse.\u201d <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
They also said it\u2019s unclear who would be held liable in the event of an accident caused by a driverless truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Carlos Moreno<\/strong>, also in Local 439: \u201cWho are they going to blame? The AI? I think, blame Newsom for delivering that s\u2013it. I’m sorry for my French, but that’s what it is.\u201d
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBut the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argues that driverless vehicles would address a truck driver shortage and prevent driver fatigue that can be harmful, and even fatal. Jeff Farrah, the association\u2019s executive director, wrote in the \uc624\ub80c\uc9c0 \uce74\uc6b4\ud2f0 \ub808\uc9c0\uc2a4\ud130<\/a> that the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Highway Patrol are still writing rules \u201cand yet the California Legislature is upending the process.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens if Newsom vetoes the bill? Jason Rabinowitz, president of Teamsters Joint Council 7, told CalMatters: \u201cI wont say much about what our plans are if he vetoes it, but I will say that our fight to protect and save our jobs from the robot trucks will continue.”<\/p>\n\n\n
\n 3<\/span>\n Community college students in need<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n \n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/calmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/083023_Laney-College_SN_CM_07.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1\")
The Rotary Club of Oakland passes out free food to the students at Laney College in Oakland on Aug. 30, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n From CalMatters community college reporter <\/em><\/strong>\uc544\ub2f4 \uc5d0\uccbc\uba3c<\/em><\/strong><\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A growing number of community college students are homeless according to a survey released Tuesday <\/a>by a task force of community college leaders and the RP Group, a research organization. In 2019, the last time the state released survey results<\/a> about housing and food access for students, it found that 19% experienced homelessness in the previous year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, it\u2019s 24%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rise in homelessness reinforces how important\u2014 and urgent \u2014 the problem is, said Larry Galizio, president and CEO of the Community College League of California. He said the numbers aren\u2019t surprising, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galizio<\/strong>: \u201cIn community colleges, we serve the lowest income students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State lawmakers have invested more than $180 million since 2021 to support community college students’ basic needs, such as food and shelter. \u201cThere\u2019s work to be done clearly but those dollars have been helpful,\u201d said Galizio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every campus now offers some level of services, though they aren\u2019t always easy to find. A third of colleges missed the state\u2019s deadline<\/a> to set up a single \u201cbasic needs\u201d center on campus, CalMatters reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other findings from the survey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 9 in 10 single parents at community college are struggling to keep their homes, often because they struggle to pay rent or utilities; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More than one quarter of students said that in the past 30 days they had felt hungry but did not eat because they couldn\u2019t afford food;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The highest rates of homelessness is in the region encompassing San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Black, Native, LGBTQ+ students and students previously convicted of a crime struggled to access food and housing at the highest rates. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
As campuses continue to expand their food pantries and housing services, they are also registering students for public benefits.<\/a> The survey found that students who struggled to afford food in 2023 were twice as likely to receive CalFresh, the state\u2019s food stamps programs, than in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n \n\nCalMatters Commentary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCalMatters \uce7c\ub7fc\ub2c8\uc2a4\ud2b8 Dan Walters:<\/strong> With a new leader at the helm, California\u2019s labor unions achieved major gains<\/a> in this year\u2019s legislative session, even though only 17% of the state\u2019s workers belong to unions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s why supporters of a caste discrimination bill <\/strong>are on a hunger strike, writes Prem Pariyar<\/a>, an activist against caste discrimination. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n
Other things worth your time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n Some stories may require a subscription to read<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\nCalifornia gets $100 million to plant trees<\/strong> and combat heat \/\/ \ub85c\uc2a4\uc564\uc824\ub808\uc2a4 \ud0c0\uc784\uc988<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
California tops FEMA’s new list<\/strong> of areas vulnerable to weather disasters \/\/ \uba38\ud050\ub9ac \ub274\uc2a4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regulator says Arrowhead must stop<\/strong> bottling water from SoCal spring \/\/ Sacramento Bee<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden nominee with hearing disability<\/strong> confirmed to CA federal court \/\/ Bloomberg Law<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why highly sought nurses<\/strong> are moving to California \/\/ \ub85c\uc2a4\uc564\uc824\ub808\uc2a4 \ud0c0\uc784\uc988<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
CalPERS investment chief\u2019s sports deals<\/strong> didn\u2019t win over staff before exit \/\/ Bloomberg Law<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key issue in Google trial:<\/strong> How big is its data advantage? \/\/ New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are desalination pods on the ocean floor<\/strong> an answer to drought? \/\/ \ub85c\uc2a4\uc564\uc824\ub808\uc2a4 \ud0c0\uc784\uc988<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ron DeSantis swings at Kevin McCarthy<\/strong> to try to hurt Trump \/\/ \ud3f4\ub9ac\ud2f0\ucf54<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are prefabricated ADUs <\/strong>an answer to affordable housing shortage? \/\/ \ub85c\uc2a4\uc564\uc824\ub808\uc2a4 \ud0c0\uc784\uc988<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Carlos Moreno<\/strong>, also in Local 439: \u201cWho are they going to blame? The AI? I think, blame Newsom for delivering that s\u2013it. I’m sorry for my French, but that’s what it is.\u201d
- Collette Carroll<\/strong>, executive director and co-founder of California Reentry Institute: \u201cWe talk about transformation. Transformation is internal. Our philosophy is we have to help somebody transform the inside, they have to heal. Our first day in class, I want them to repeat after me, \u2018I am not my crime,\u2019 because society has labeled them as what they’ve done. We’ve got to help them understand they have some self worth and once you give somebody self worth they will be different.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Jesse Vasquez<\/strong>, executive director of Friends of San Quentin News: \u201cIncarceration for the past 170 years has been about locking them up and throwing away the key. This is the first time ever that we’re finally taking a chance on investing in the people inside. But guess what, if you don’t give it enough time, you’re not going to know. And there’s already so much criticism in this space. That is discouraging for the incarcerated to hear that society doesn’t care. They don’t want to fund this. They don’t want to support this.\u201d <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Orlando Sanchez Zavala<\/strong>, a panelist and corrections analyst at the Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office: \u201cHow you measure rehabilitation is a key way to define it. One perspective is reducing people’s ability to commit criminal offenses after being released from prison. Another one is providing them with the needs that they have that originally led them to incarceration.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Pellerin also authored AB 969<\/a> \u2014 in direct response to Shasta County\u2019s move to get rid of Dominion voting machines and hand count ballots \u2014 which requires machines for most elections<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n