INGLEWOOD – Inglewood Assemblymember Tina McKinnor is introducing bills this legislative session designed to focus on education, housing and victims of eminent domain.
Assembly Bill 51 would restructure Inglewood Unified School District’s (IUSD) receivership loan to 0% interest allowing the District to dedicate all of its resources towards student success and exiting receivership.
“The voters overwhelmingly reelected me to continue the work of bringing bold, progressive leadership to communities in Los Angeles County and across California,” said McKinnor. “My first bill introduced this year is focused on supporting the work of Inglewood students, parents, teachers and administrators to return the school district to local control. The school district has made important progress in the past few years and I am confident that my AB 51 will further their commitment to help every Inglewood student succeed.”
IUSD has been under receivership since 2012 and has since closed nearly a half dozen school sites due to low enrollment.
Parent advocates applaud the bill as a step in the right direction.
“This bill is not what IUSD needs to solve its problems, but it’s a step in the right direction. We appreciate the Assemblywoman’s leadership on this but what we really need is to be shown the same type of grace that the CA Legislature voted for with the Distressed Hospital Loan Act. Under that act, they gave the hospitals who took out loans a 0% interest rate and made the loans 100% forgivable,” said Fredrisha Dixon, who has spearheaded efforts to bring both Inglwood and Oakland School District’s out of receivership.
“At the very least, we need for AB 51 to make the 0% interest rate retroactive for IUSD and OUSD’s loans. Our communities are eager to work in partnership with Assemblywoman McKinnor’s office to bring about the much needed changes our school districts need and deserve.”
The bill would also cover the Oakland Unified School District which is also under receivership but excludes a community college district.
McKinnor is also introducing the Home Purchase Assistance Program under Assembly Bill 57 that would establish a first time homebuyers program for the descendants of formerly enslaved people.
Existing law requires the agency to administer a home purchase assistance program for the purpose of assisting low- and moderate-income home buyers to qualify for the purchase of owner-occupied homes, as specified. Existing law establishes the Home Purchase Assistance Fund, which is continuously appropriated for expenditure pursuant to the program and defraying the administrative costs for the agency. Existing law requires, on and after July 1, 2016, unobligated amounts remaining in any fund established for specified purposes to be transferred to the fund for expenditure by the agency for the purposes of the program.
McKinnor will also introduce Assembly Bill 62 which would provide for financial compensation to someone who was the victim of racially motivated eminent domain.
The California Constitution authorizes governmental entities to take or damage private property for public use only when just compensation, ascertained by a jury unless waived, has first been paid to, or into court for, the owner.
The Eminent Domain Law provides the procedure for the exercise of the constitutional power and authorizes public entities, as defined, to acquire property only for a public use, while specifying that the law does not require that the power of eminent domain be exercised.
Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2030, the Racial Equity Commission within the Office of Planning and Research and requires the commission to develop resources, best practices, and tools for advancing racial equity by, among other things, developing a statewide Racial Equity Framework that includes methodologies and tools that can be employed to advance racial equity and address structural racism in California.
AB 62 would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would assist victims of racially motivated eminent domain in seeking the return of the taken property, other property of equal value, or financial compensation.
McKinnor is proud of the legislative package she is proposing and also reflects on the historic number of women currently serving in the state legislature.
“I am proud to be among an historic sisterhood this year with a record nine Black women serving in the California State Legislature. Never in this history of California have so many Black women been elected to serve in the Legislature at the same time. With our sholders back and our chins held high, we will give voice to the needs of Black Californians and all residents who share our commitment to see the Golden State succeed.”