www.montereycountyweekly.com July 6-12, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 Business began in the California State Assembly on Friday, June 30, with an order of business. Rule 118(A) would first have to be suspended, allowing for special guests in the chamber in the state Capitol. Among those special guests were some of the most powerful people in the country: former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Also among the special guests in the room were roughly two dozen farmworkers, organized through groups including Mujeres en Acción and Center for Community Advocacy. (I met Juan Trujillo, who picks nectarines and grapes, and who traveled from Fresno for the occasion.) That these people find themselves seated together in the California statehouse is remarkable. So is the reason they had all convened: the inauguration of the speaker of the Assembly, Robert Rivas, D-Hollister. Rivas’ rise is remarkable for a few reasons. One is that it’s been so fast: He first ran for Assembly in 2018 in a five-way race. He also spoke with a stutter; he’s since mastered public speaking. Besides excelling at oratory, Rivas focused on something even more important: listening. When he became chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, he traveled to every district in the state, listening to the concerns of agricultural leaders. After a political deal was struck with the former speaker, Anthony Rendon, Rivas had a six-month transition period leading up to his June 30 inauguration. He spent those months again traveling the state, hearing about local issues. “The work we do is about relationships,” Rivas says. The depth of those relationships was on display at the Capitol for a ceremony that was moving and inspiring. Several of Rivas’ Assembly colleagues spoke about the leadership he’s shown—and what they expect of him now that he holds the gavel. “Robert grew up in and lives in a rural community,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg. “He brings a lived experience to this job that we haven’t seen in a very long time. There are people in this state who sometimes feel forgotten. In this body, we pass a lot of laws, and they are often onesize-fits-all. That doesn’t always work for the people I represent and Robert represents.” Rivas’ rural roots are another reason his rise is so remarkable. The position of speaker is more commonly held by someone from San Francisco or Los Angeles. The speakership is widely viewed as the second-most powerful position in California, managing the larger chamber of the Legislature. Another reason it’s remarkable is Rivas’ own story, which several of his colleagues, and he himself, referred to as “the California dream.” He was raised by a single mom in farmworker housing in San Benito County. His family—grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins—pooled their savings to buy a house in Hollister in 1988, for $140,000. “It was a massive investment, but it was doable,” Rivas said in his remarks during the swearing-in ceremony. “The house was ours. It gave us a sense that our future was not so precarious, and that there was a place for us in California.” The question now is whether that dream can continue to be available for future generations. “I often wonder if our story would still be possible today,” Rivas said. Rivas articulated a broad and ambitious agenda—tackling housing costs, homelessness, climate change—but he does have some ideas about how to get there. He told his Assembly colleagues it was time to stop focusing on the number of bills passed, and instead on passing those that have the most impact. “Sometimes this will mean going back and fixing something, rather than passing a new law,” Rivas said. “It may mean saying no to an interest group that has had our back in the past. It may mean reaching out to a colleague whose beliefs are different from our own… This approach will allow us to make measurable progress on the most critical issues facing Californians and it will show the rest of the country that progressive government works.” “Thank you for keeping us inspired to fight for the California dream,” said Assemblymember Liz Ortega, D-San Leandro. “No solamente si se puede, pero si se pudo.” It’s not only yes we can, but yes we did. The doing starts now. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Leadership Style Robert Rivas makes history as the new speaker of the California Assembly. By Sara Rubin It Happened…Many moons ago, Squid had a lair in Santa Monica Bay, and every now and then, Squid oozed into town to resupply the pantry with shrimp-flavored popcorn. And occasionally on these errands, Squid would catch sight of a celebrity, whether it was Charlie Sheen spilling out of a limo packed with beautiful women to procure snacks at a corner store, or Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, back when they were a thing, dancing on the stage of a Hollywood nightclub. But the thing about celebrity sightings in L.A. is that the predominant ethos of the city is to let them be, pretend they are just like anyone else—no going up to them for autographs, no selfies—because otherwise they might never leave their homes. But Squid can’t blame those in the Starbucks in Soledad for getting giddy on Tuesday, June 27 when Keanu Reeves dropped in while he was charging his electric vehicle—on that day at least, Soledad lived up to its motto: It was happening in Soledad. And thankfully, Reeves was nothing like his character in the last movie Squid saw him in, Always Be My Maybe, where he played an a**hole version of himself (hilarity ensues). Instead, Reeves happily posed with patrons and employees for selfies, proving something that is true in every place Squid’s traveled: Some people are jerks, but most of them are nice. Puff, Pass…Squid remembers how easy it was to find weed during the Summer of Love, when Monterey Pop rolled through these parts and the vibes were groovy, to say the least. It’s finally even easier, now that legal dispensaries dot many parts of Monterey County. Still, there are quite strict rules and regulations legal operators must follow, lest they fall afoul of the long arm of the law. Case in point: On Thursday, June 29, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced it had confiscated and destroyed over 1,400 pounds of marijuana from an “unlawful” growing operation in rural Salinas. While the operation was licensed and permitted, it apparently was not reporting any cultivation activity to county and state regulators as required. As the DA noted, the cannabis industry in Monterey County—and much of the state—is now suffering through a bad downturn that has put many legal operators out of business. In part, growers blame heavy regulations—including costly taxes, licensing fees and property improvements—for pushing many into the illegal market. The blame also lies with simple supply and demand: There’s more of the stuff being produced than there are legal outlets to buy it, tanking prices. Squid is a lightweight, and cannot offer to help much by boosting demand in any significant way, but will be watching to see how (and if) things level out. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “Thank you for keeping us inspired.” Send Squid a tip: squid@mcweekly.com
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