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Catching Up with Rick: End of Summer 2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone is staying cool and finding meaningful ways to enjoy what's left of the summer. My District and Capitol office teams and I have been working hard over the past few months, advancing my legislative priorities forward in Sacramento, deepening connections in our local communities and helping constituents access the resources and services they need.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about what is happening at the Capitol and in our community.

Yours in Service,

Rick Chavez Zbur Signature

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur
Democratic Caucus Chair
51st Assembly District

Signed by the Governor: Californians Together Against Retail Theft

Asm. Zbur at podium, speaking, as Speaker Rivas and other legislators listen on
Californians Together Against Retail Crime Press Conference, Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Retail theft hurts our community in many ways. Business owners are faced with losses and forced to make decisions about relocating, workers face threats to their safety and customers experience longer wait times as basic items are unlocked by employees. This is unacceptable.

I was proud to be named Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Retail Theft by Speaker Robert Rivas to identify smart, effective and data-driven solutions to the epidemic of retail theft that is plaguing communities. After a series of hearings and meetings with a wide range of stakeholders across the state, the Speaker and I introduced AB 2943, the California Retail Theft Reduction Act, which provides effective solutions to retail crime in a number of ways.

AB 2943:

  • Creates a new offense targeting organized crime rings and serial retail thieves
  • Aggregates the value of thefts from different victims so that multiple thefts can be charged together as a felony
  • Expands the use of diversion and rehabilitation programs
  • Expands tools for police to make arrests based on sworn statements and video
  • Encourages businesses to report retail thefts by protecting businesses and retailers from nuisance actions

This bill, part of a bipartisan and comprehensive retail theft package in the Assembly and Senate, advances key component of recommendations released by the Governor's Office, while also preserving key criminal justice reforms that have been effective at keeping our communities safe.

Assembly's Retail Theft Bill Package

Making Headlines:

Fighting Antisemitism

Asm. Zbur speaking on cell phone at rally
Assemblymember Zbur demands security as anti-Israel protestors move in and tensions rise at a pro-Israel rally at UCLA, Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Like so many others, I was shocked and appalled by the blatant antisemitism on full display on our nation's college campuses. My district is home to UCLA, where I personally witnessed among other egregious violations, intimidation of Jewish students and community members, glorification of extremism and terrorism and the blockade of Jewish students from parts of campus. To make matters worse, some administrators and faculty facilitated or supported their actions.

I firmly and unequivocally support the First Amendment, but what we saw take place on campus far exceeded the bounds of free speech. Harassment, intimidation, assault and impeding another student's access to education are unacceptable. For weeks, I had urged UCLA leadership to take action to protect all students. Failure to address this situation led to an environment in which Jewish students faced discrimination and later resulted in an assault on the encampment, which was permitted to continue for hours, risking the safety of those protesting. In addition to my office's constant communication with the Chancellor's office, LAPD and the FBI, I issued a formal request for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Read my Letter to the U.S. Department of Education.

Asm. Zbur, Chief Stainbrook and former Mayor Dr. Gold at the October 7 installation
Assemblymember Zbur joins Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook and former Mayor Dr. Julian Gold at the October 7 installation.

I would be so grateful and honored to see a permanent October 7 Memorial in Assembly District 51. My office communicated my full support formally to the Beverly Hills City Council, which is considering various options. Nothing can undo the collective trauma and grief the Jewish community has endured since the attack, nor bring back the 1,200 people murdered by Hamas. However, in a time of denial and victim blaming regarding the events of October 7, a proper memorial serves as a dignified remembrance that the victims rightfully deserve.

Let us also remember that at this moment there are still hostages held by terrorists in Gaza. Bring them home – NOW!

Making Headlines:

Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Pride

Asm. Zbur and guest sitting on top of backseat of parade car

I had a great time celebrating Pride in Los Angeles with my friend and colleague Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey) and with my friends at Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ Civil Rights organization, the group I previously led. I am beyond grateful to the organizers, artists and non-profits that made this day’s Pride Celebration possible. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, it is an honor to uplift and celebrate the progress we’ve achieved. Our visibility also inspires young people to embrace their authentic selves and believe they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

The 2024 Legislative Session Convenes!

Ten Zbur-Authored Bills Head to Governor's Desk

I'm proud to announce that this legislative session has been an incredible success, with significant strides made in each of my priority areas.

Retail Theft

Appointed by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to chair the Select Committee on Retail Theft, I am proud to have led the Assembly's effort to pass impactful legislation to address retail theft in a compassionate and cost-effective manner. Together with Speaker Rivas, I authored the lead bill, AB 2943, which was signed into law by Governor Newsom and will begin making our communities safer on January 1, 2025. For additional details on my bill and the full retail theft package signed into law, check out the Governor's Press Release.

Climate & Environmental Protections

California made historic progress in tackling the climate crisis, including advancing a $10 billion climate bond to keep California at the forefront of climate action. This bond will support initiatives for safe drinking water, drought and flood resilience, wildfire and forest management, coastal protection, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity conservation, climate-smart agriculture, park creation, and clean air programs. As a member of the Assembly Climate Bond Working Group, I was proud to help guide this important work.

Key investments in the climate bond that I actively fought for include:

  • $475 million to Advance Offshore Wind Energy to transition away from dirty fossil fuels
  • $81.5 million for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
  • $48 million for the Baldwin Hills Conservancy
  • $80 million for the Los Angeles River Watershed & Revitalization Plan

My Other Legislative Initiatives

In addition to the above, I also authored bills that passed both houses of the Legislature and await Governor Newsom's signature. These bills will improve the lives of Californians in the following priority areas.

  • Housing & Homelessness
  • LGBTQ+ Civil Rights & Health Care
  • Workers' Rights
  • Gun Safety
Learn More

Honoring Our Community's Leaders

collage of four community leader portraits
Clockwise from Top Left: Lili Bosse, Jai Rodriguez, Brad Sears and Nancy Sutley

As your Assemblymember, I have the privilege of being able to honor community members for recognition every year in a number of areas. These are the honorees I've named so far this year.

2024 Yom HaShoah Honoree - Lili Bosse
I had the honor of presenting former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse as my honoree for the 2024 Yom Hashoah Awards. Lili Bosse, the descendant of Holocaust survivor Rose Orenstein Tore and one of California's most courageous leaders in the fight against antisemitism, was given formal commendations on behalf of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.

2024 Latino Spirit Award Honoree - Nancy Sutley
I had the pleasure of nominating Nancy Sutley as a recipient of a Latino Spirit Award, which recognizes the significant contributions of members of the Latino Community. Sutley, who currently leads Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' environmental, energy and sustainability policy and programs as her Chief Sustainability Officer, was honored by the California Legislative Latino Caucus.

2024 Pride Month Honoree - Jai Rodriguez
It was a privilege to presentJai Rodriguez as myPride Month honoree during the Assembly Floor Ceremony conducted by the California LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus. As one of the original Fab Five in Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, & in his work since, he's amplified the stories of LGBTQ+ people across the country.

2024 Nonprofit of the Year - UCLA Williams Institute
I was proud to recognize the UCLA Williams Institute as my California Nonprofit of the Year! The Williams Institute's research and scholarship, along with the leadership of Founding Executive Director Brad Sears, have significantly advanced the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, making a positive impact on countless lives.

District 51 Advisory Committee Meetings

I value the knowledge and expertise of our local leaders in District 51, I am working to ensure their questions and concerns are addressed. I created a number of District 51 Advisory Committee meetings to get input on issues we face at the local and state levels.

Each advisory committee includes over 25 members and here are the first meetings we held earlier this year.

In the Community

Asm. Zbur holding microphone and speaking, with foliage backdrop in background

I've attended many community events this year, including the following:

  • Pick Pico 10th anniversary
  • Hollywood Dell Block Party
  • Larchmont Village Block Party
  • CicLAvia Melrose
  • Williams Institute Legacy Gala
  • Project Angel Food Garden Party
  • AT&T Town Hall
Read More

Awards

Harvard Club Award
I was proud to receive the 2024 John Harvard Award for Distinguished Community Service. I was honored based on my contributions as the former president and 20-year board member of California Envirovoters; my time as former executive director of Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization and now my service as an assemblymember representing the 51st Assembly District.

JQ International Award
It was an honor and a privilege to be the first non-Jewish person to receive the prestigious JQ Impact Award. The Impact Award is given to individuals who have helped elevate the voices and celebrate the lives of LGBTQ+ Jewish people. JQ International is the largest LGBTQ+ Jewish organization in California.

Read the Full Speech

Meet Our Interns - Elizabeth Brady

Intern Elizabeth Brady

In our District office in Hollywood, we have a robust internship program that gives students an opportunity to serve their community and learn about California government. Elizabeth Brady, featured above, is an upcoming senior at UCLA studying Public Affairs and Political Science. She aims to go to law school after graduation, hoping to make the world a better place by transforming and working with the criminal justice system.

Apply for an Internship