It’s time for our Summer LPCA State Download!
California has faced immense and relentless attacks from the Trump administration—from violent and constant immigration raids to efforts to strip away at our civil rights and undermine our state and local values. These assaults are being felt throughout our communities, targeting every facet of our lives: the health, safety, education, transportation, economics, and the dignity of our neighbors.
But our LPCA members have not backed down. Across the state, our members are rising to the challenge with courage and clarity of purpose. They’re passing bold policies to protect our LGBTQIA+ and immigrant neighbors, expand access to affordable housing and healthcare, and defend our civil rights. In the face of federal hostility, you’re showing what real leadership looks like—rooted in justice, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to racial, economic, and gender justice.
In this iteration of our LPCA State Download, you’ll read about some of our members’ wins, our National Convening, and what’s to come in California.
🤜🤛 California Strong at National Convening
California’s presence at our 2025 National Convening was impossible to miss! With 50 members in attendance and over 30 jurisdictions represented, our state delegation was the largest in Chicago and your passion, ideas, and fire were felt throughout. Members like Eduardo Martinez (Richmond City Council), Juan Muñoz-Guevara (Lynwood City Council), and Sean Elo Rivera (San Diego City Council) shared powerful stories of struggle and success, reminded us of the importance of being courageous in these times and offered lessons and inspiration to all. Local Progress California’s future is bright, and we’re just getting started! Read the full recap in our blog.
🥳 Closing out our Second Cohort of the Bay Area Progressive Governance Lab
On June 7, Local Progress and Bay Rising hosted the closing session of the second Bay Area Progressive Governance Lab, launched in December 2024 to train values-aligned local elected officials across city councils, school boards, transit boards, and more. Over six sessions, participants explored the topics of budgeting, media relations and communications, land use, housing, tenant rights, and local responses to attacks on immigrant communities.
The final session featured Local Progress member and former San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who shared how she successfully developed hundreds of affordable housing units without displacement, and Leah Simon-Weisberg, Local Progress Member, former Berkeley Rent Board member and current Movement Legal Executive Director, who offered best practices and policy ideas for supporting tenants despite state pre-emption. With the program complete, Local Progress and Bay Rising will continue working with values-aligned elected officials to support them through policy, organizing, and network building.
📝 Continuing Our Work in the Inland Empire
As we close out our Bay Area Progressive Governance Lab, we continue the program in the Inland Empire. Local elected officials in the region have attended sessions to sharpen their skills and connect them with other values-aligned local elected officials, touching on topics such as Working with your City Attorney and City Manager, Agenda Setting, Developing your Narrative, etc. The next session is on Understanding Budgeting which will lead attendees through the basics of the budget, timeline and process, questions to ask of city staff, and how to maneuver what is often the most daunting process of the year.
Upcoming trainings are open to members in the Inland Empire:
- Media Relations and Communications: Aug 18 at 6pm | Register here
- Land Use and Housing: Aug 25 at 6pm | Register here
✍️ Pushing Back on Trump and Noem’s Attacks on Immigrant Communities
Local Progress California members have remained strong in response to the immigration raids across California, standing shoulder to shoulder with one another and our labor and community-based organizations.
Beginning on June 6th, the federal administration has carried out raids across Los Angeles County, targeting places like Home Depots, car washes, bus stops, and even detaining individuals at their immigration court appointments. In response, Local Progress joined the Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), and the Pat Brown Institute for the first Coordinated Leadership: LA Responds to the ICE Raids Zoom call. Over 60 local elected officials joined the call to hear from CHIRLA and other on-the-ground advocates directly, learn about ways for municipalities to support immigrant communities, and support one another through the ongoing concerns.
Following the call, Local Progress has convened Los Angeles area local electeds twice more and supported a sign-on letter with 200 signatories including California State Senators, California State Assembly Members, Mayors and Board Presidents, Vice Mayors, Mayor Pro Tems, and Board Vice Presidents, and about City Council Members, School Board Directors, County Supervisors, etc.
Interested in local action in response to federal attacks, schedule some time to chat with me.
☀️We’re building our California State Chapter!
In California, our Organizing Committee (OC) is laying the foundation for a state chapter that truly reflects and represents our state. Our current OC members are: Hector Bustos (Santa Ana Unified School District), Caroline Torosis (Santa Monica City Council), Stevevonna Evans (Adelanto City Council), Emmanuel Soto (City Council), and Valarie Bachelor (Oakland Unified School District). We’re looking for more leaders to join the OC, especially those from San Diego, the Central Coast, and Sacramento who are ready to step up and help shape the future of Local Progress California. If you’re interested, please reach out.
Want to get involved with our chapter? Let’s talk! Local Progress members have access to a slew of policy and strategic resources, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start, so let’s connect about it. I am based in Los Angeles and I would love to meet with you online or wherever you are. Schedule a meeting with me!
📝 Member Survey
Our Member Survey is now live! At the National Convening, over 150 members shared their thoughts about Local Progress, and we want yours too! The results will help inform our future work and priorities. As a thank you for taking the time to complete the survey we’re offering a $25 virtual Visa gift card or donation to the charity of your choice.
🧰 Tools to Interrupt Criminalization
As local elected leaders continue to stand with and fight for the protection of their immigrant communities, we want to ensure that you have the resources you need. Use LP’s updated guides–Protecting Immigrant Rights Under a Hostile Federal Administration and Let’s Talk Real Safety–to align around a strong, consistent narrative. New content includes Best Practices for messaging on immigration and guidance on Responding to a Raid in your Community; and Addressing Public Suffering and Ending Harm and Surveillance, emphasizing the urgent need to move away from carceral solutions and toward real investments that address the root causes of harm.
📣 What the Billionaire Tax Scam Means For Our Communities
The Trump Administration and its Congressional allies just took away life-saving healthcare and food assistance from millions of Americans. All to give themselves – and their billionaire donors – massive tax cuts. In this dire moment, local leaders will be the first line of defense to support our communities against a hostile federal government. Learn more about this billionaire tax scam, its impacts, and check out our messaging toolkit to find out how you can fight back.
🛑How Local Leaders Can Protect Communities from AI and the Tech Oligarchy
This past May, OpenAI and Microsoft lobbyists called for a shutdown on AI regulation. And recently, Congress passed a tax bill with a provision that would restrict states from regulating AI for 10 years (though it faces a steep challenge in the Senate). Our recently released report details how local elected officials and local communities should approach governance as the tech oligarchy’s influence grows in the era of AI. You can also rewatch the webinar we held this past May with AI Now Institute, New York City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez, and report author, former San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen where we discussed this topic and more.
Emmanuel J. Estrada, Baldwin Park City Council Member
Emmanuel J. Estrada is known for his commitment to uplifting working-class families and fostering a healthier, more equitable community. Emmanuel’s journey to public service began with a deep-rooted passion for his hometown and a desire to make a positive impact. At the age of 26, Emmanuel made history as the second youngest mayor of Baldwin Park.
Emmanuel’s vision for Baldwin Park is grounded in the principles of equity, opportunity, and inclusivity. His top priorities include eliminating socioeconomic barriers for working-class families, promoting access to quality services, and fostering stability for all residents. Under his leadership, Baldwin Park has seen significant progress in these areas, with initiatives aimed at expanding affordable housing, improving community health, and investing in education and job training programs.
🏡 Stay Connected to our Caucuses!
Join us for the November All Caucus Meeting – Wednesday, November 12th! We will bring together the general membership of each caucus to build community and share space across identities. This gathering will be an opportunity to learn from one another, deepen cross-caucus relationships, and strengthen our individual caucuses through the sharing of our collective brilliance. 👉 Register Here.
👩💻 Steering Committee
The LP School Board work is shaped by a Steering Committee made up of school board members from across the country. This group meets on zoom for about an hour every month (typically Friday afternoons) and helps set the agenda for our school board work across the network. We have a strong group but need help from more school board members across the network to add capacity to this important body! Are you interested in learning more? Fill out the form here.
