Promises to change the state budget to fund community colleges and protect affected communities from ICE, were made by running Cal. Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D- District 33, during LBCC’s Social Justice Intercultural Center’s Beyond the Box series on Oct. 12.
Held ahead of the upcoming midterm elections on Nov. 3, as part of Latinx Heritage Month, the event gave students insights into fourteen state propositions and broader legislative issues, while providing a platform to voice concerns about local and federal government.
Sen. Gonzalez says the majority of funding for colleges in the state’s budget goes towards UCs, yet these institutions have the ability to privately fund their operations while community colleges, who make up more than 60% of the student population in the United States, don’t have that same power.
Another concern that the senator brought up was the influx of federal ICE agents invading local communities and her direct opposition to the agency, claiming that around a dozen bills were passed this year to protect community members from federal agents.
“We have also passed bills that I’ve co-opted this year to ensure that your civil rights are safeguarded. We’re tracking every single thing that these thugs are doing on our streets to ensure that once the time comes and President Trump is out, we’re able to absolutely hold these people accountable,” says Sen. Gonzalez.
The senator put emphasis on Prop 43 in particular when asked which had her support, saying that the proposition will be a one-time tax of 5% on billionaires to then be able to put that money back into the state’s health-care system.
“We’re starting to see LA County clinics close. I’ve talked to clinicians, I’ve talked to doctors and many of the individuals that will be affected by these closures are people who are very low income, people that look like you and I, and it’s unfortunate. They’re either going to have huge premiums, or they’re gonna not be covered anymore,” says Senator Gonzalez in her explanation.
Senator Gonzalez sits on the education, health, energy and environmental equality committees for the 33rd district, which covers Southeast Los Angeles, the city and port of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, and Catalina Island.
The senator claims that her position in the Senate is to create policies and investments the community needs to “not just survive but thrive.” Addressing the students, Gonzalez emphasized her commitment to transparency and accessibility.
“I want to hear from you. That’s what I was elected to do. I’m not elected to just be in Sacramento to be on a computer. I’m here for you. Your tax dollars are paying me to be here, but more importantly, you have the right to ask me any question, you have the right to have access to me and you have the right to keep me accountable,” says Sen. Gonzalez.
The senator was invited by Eric Becerra, the director of student equity and Franklin Perez, head of the Ethnic Studies department, in the wake of the election.
Beyond the Box series are hosted to explore diversity and intersectionality of identities through members of the community who are professionals in their field or have pursued higher education.
Senator Gonzalez, in her adolescence, started at community college and was a single mother at the age of 19, with her parents being working-class immigrants.
In her chat, the senator says Barack Obama’s presidential campaign was an inspiration for her to make change in the community, not without pushback from peers.
“A lot of people would tell me I would never amount to who I am today. Those words mattered to me, and they hurt, but I still carry them because they make me push through all the challenges that we have,” says Senator Gonzalez when asked about her background.
The senator encourages students to take advantage of resources and centers such as the SJIC because for many members of the community, college doesn’t seem attainable and they head straight to the workforce rather than pursuing higher education.
Student Dawn Luna asks the senator what people can do right now to help progress change and the senator puts emphasis on doing the extra work to research who’s behind everything, whether it’s a bill, proposition, or any other political story.
“I can appreciate someone who’s genuine instead of just spouting words,” says student Dawn Luna when asked about what insight the event brought her about the Senator.
Student Kevin Saenz noted the benefit of having local leaders visit the campus, stating, “Civic engagement is really important and having it so convenient to access is great.”
The SJIC continues to put on Beyond the Box Events as well as hosting other cultural events for every group’s respective month, such as Filipino American History Month and their screenings of “Iti Mapukpukaw” on October 22 and “Reach Out” on October 28.
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