Chop Wood, Carry CA 6/13 ☀️

A couple of small things before No Kings!

Hey Team California!

Coming to you from LA where I live and where it is mostly peaceful and calm—aside from the ICE raids—regardless of the lies being told on Fox News. I am looking forward to the No Kings protests tomorrow and I hope you are too!

But I’m not writing you about No Kings. There are a few things brewing that need our action!

Though 99.9% calm here, there has been some violence, most of which is coming from the police using excessive force when dealing with peaceful protesters. So please help hold those in charge accountable by calling Mayor Karen Bass and asking her to take the LAPD to task:

Mayor Karen Bass Office: (213) 978-1028 or leave a message on mayor.lacity.gov/contact

Script:

Hi this is [name]; I’m a California/Los Angeles resident from [zip]. I’m calling to ask the Mayor to demand that LAPD stops harming citizens for no reason. During peaceful protests, it is imperative that the police aren’t the ones responding violently to citizens exercising their rights. We’ve seen too many instances where the police actions are unprovoked and disproportionate to what is happening. Rein them in now, please. Thanks.

Next up, we have a great opportunity for a California statewide action against Elon Musk and Tesla.

FACT: The pension funds for current and retired California teachers (CalSTRS) and state, county, and municipal employees (CalPERS) each have more than $1 billion invested in Tesla stock. The reaction from California taxpayers and residents when they learn about the $2B+ investments in Tesla is visceral revulsion.

Click here to sign a petition to CalSTRS and CalPERS to tell them to sell their Tesla stock!

The next CalPERS and CalSTRS board meetings are coming up June 16 (Monday!) and July 9 where decisions on divesting may be made so please send an email to CalSTRS and CalPERS ASAP.

Also related to Tesla and Musk is a bill in Sacramento that has been flying under the radar but will hit your wallet hard the next time you buy a car.

Unless we speak up, California Democrats could help Republicans give Elon Musk a new way to rip off consumers and add tens of millions per year to Tesla's profits.

Send a letter to your Assembly member in Sacramento and demand they vote NO on Senate Bill 791 (SB791).

Under current California law, "document processing fees" are capped at no more than $85. But a bill is working its way through the legislature with Democratic support that would allow car dealers to charge you 1% of the vehicle cost up to $500.

Consumer advocates call these "junk fees" because they're a way for companies to make more money without providing consumers any value.

The bill is on track to pass the Senate because it's flown undercover but we can stop it if we speak up.

Next, you may have already heard me talking about the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bills that are before both houses of the state legislature. Last week, Los Angeles City Council Member Katy Yaroslavsky introduced Council File 25-0002-S44, a resolution in support of these critically important bills—which can make a vast difference in the LA area's ability to recover from the fires.

LA residents are being asked to submit public comments in support of the motion. Click on this link to add your comment. Express your thoughts about the Climate Superfund legislation and why the City Council should go on record with their support. A fact sheet is attached for your reference.

If passed, the Climate Superfund legislation will require the largest multinational fossil fuel companies (i.e. Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell) to pay their fair share of climate-related damages based on their documented CO2 emissions from 1990-2004. The fees collected from these polluters will be deposited into a Superfund account, managed by CalEPA, to mitigate existing problems and prevent future climate-related damages across the state. California taxpayers, local municipalities and the state cannot, and should not have to pay for damages associated with extreme heat, wildfires, drought and floods that are attributable to the largest polluters.

Your comments in the Council File are very important. Please take a few moments to submit your comments in support of Council File 25-0002-S44.

Ok, that’s it for now. Stay strong, stay safe,

Jess (and Andrea who helps with state newsletters)