News

As an Arab Muslim woman teaching in California for the past decade, I have heard more hate and disinformation about my culture and faith than I care to remember.

Social media is where most disinformation starts. It spreads across California every day, ranging from conspiracy theories about climate change to rumors designed to undermine confidence in public health protections, or the hate speech that fueled the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi.  

California lawmakers passed legislation designed to protect the privacy and well-being of minors on social media and shield them from predators and exploitative commercialization on internet platforms.
Legislators also approved a bill under which platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube and Google would be required to publicly disclose their policies on how they screen content, a requirement aimed at combating the spread of hate, racism, extremist violence and conspiracy theories online.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a controversial bill into law that aims to force greater transparency of social media companies, setting up a potential battle over whether such measures violate free-speech protections.

A first-of-its-kind California bill would require social media companies to disclose their content moderation policies to the public in an effort to stem the spread of online harassment.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel of Los Angeles, who chairs the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, said a recent committee victory was a major step toward getting the bill on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. The measure passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on June 28 and now heads to the Appropriations Committee.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) — Some state lawmakers want social media companies to be more transparent about the information pushed out on their platforms.

This comes in response to recent mass shootings and other forms of violence lawmakers say were fueled by hate online.

“Social media platforms are enabling the spread of hate, racism, extremism and violence,” Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, said.

Dr. Sally Ride was honored Friday when a portion of the 101 Freeway was named after the trailblazer.

A portion of the freeway will be located between Balboa Avenue and the 405 Freeway and be known as the Dr. Sally Ride Memorial Highway.

"Sally was a transformational figure who captured America's heart, inspired generations of young women and girls to follow their dreams and reach for the stars and ultimately shattered the highest glass ceiling," said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. 

Ride is a beloved American hero and grew up in Encino.

Against the backdrop of impending wildfire season and 2021 being the second driest year for California on record, the California State Assembly approved legislation by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D - Woodland Hills) that will incentivize installing drought-tolerant landscaping. That landscaping is seen as a key tool to combat California’s worsening drought and increase water conservation.

In the wake of another tragedy and inaction at the national level, the Assembly Wednesday advanced a package of six gun violence prevention bills to the Senate, signaling California’s commitment to doing everything possible to take action where the federal government is not.

A bill that would expand the scope of the ban on illegal street races in California passed the Assembly on Monday.

Assembly Bill 2000, authored by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), would crack down further on illegal street racing, as well as similar “sideshows” and other non-legal events. Specifically, illegal street racing would be expanded beyond highways and streets. Under AB 2000, they would also now be illegal to do in off street parking lots.

We apply for jobs online; buy and sell any item we want online; and even go to school online. To access the limited spots in an affordable housing development, however, one has to fill out paper forms — over and over again. In 21st-century California, a simple, practical, online application for available affordable housing is long overdue.