2022-2023 State Budget Highlights
$3.861 Billion in Direct Investments for District & Statewide:
$1 Million – for the Wilmington Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor to develop its "A Safer Wilmington" initiative that includes a three-component strategy – a new Wilmington Park Club, expanded programming and safety at the Wilmington Club sit, and safe transportation.
$1.5 Million – for the Watts Empowerment Center that will support the planning, design, and renovation of the 4-acre arts and culture campus and allow the center to expand services and accelerate existing efforts.
$3.5 Million – to the City of Compton to convert Roosevelt Middle School into a Pathways in Technology Early College High School, also known as a "P-Tech" education institution, which will provide students with the academic, technical, and professional skills and credentials they need for competitive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs.
$4 Million – for the Watts Tower Arts Center to begin renovations that will expand recreation and green space in the Watts community, more than doubling the area's current park acreage, which will increase recreational opportunities while bringing new arts and cultural opportunities to the community.
$6.7 Million – for the Battleship USS Iowa Museum to build and operate the Freedom of the Seas Park Pavilion for the benefit of the Los Angeles Harbor Region, particularly for underserved communities located in "park poor" areas who also have limited ocean and waterfront access.
$7 Million – for the City of Carson to begin projects that include City facilities, parks, and community infrastructure.
$7 Million – for the Broadway South corridor in Los Angeles to begin its first phase of construction on the transformative Broadway South project, a Green Street redesign of 2.8-miles of Manchester Avenue and Broadway Street that will create a state-of-the-art multimodal active transportation corridor.
$110 Million - for the nation's first Goods Movement Workforce Training Campus, to be located in the Los Angeles Harbor Region, which will ensure an adequate supply of trained workers across the goods movement industry.
$10 Million – for peer-to-peer mental health services in K-12 schools. (AB 1969 – Peer-to-peer mental health)
$3.6 Billion – to the California Department of Education for instructional materials and professional development to improve school climate, which also includes training for de-escalation specialist and restorative justice best practices. (AB 2794 – De-escalation specialists)
Supported an Additional $272 Million in State Budget:
$12 Million – to repair the Artesia Bridge in the City of Compton.
$5 Million – to CSU Dominguez Hills for the California Black Women's Think Tank, the nation's first research institution aimed to provide solutions and remove barriers that Black women and girls face on a daily basis, to achieve racial and gender equity.
$250 Million – to reconstruct Lynwood High School.
$3 Million – to the 40 Acre Conservation League, an African American led conservation land trust to acquire lands for the empowerment of all, with an emphasis on people of color, under three pillars: Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, and Recreational Justice.
$2 Million – for Summit of the Americas costs.
Assemblymember Gipson Leads Effort to Oppose Controversial Monument in Carson
(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), members of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus – consisting of Assemblymember Nazarian, Assemblymember Achadjian, and Assemblymember Wilk – and Assemblymember Gatto led a successful effort to oppose construction of a controversial monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk being considered by the Carson City Council last night.
Legislature Approves UC Audit
(Sacramento) –The University of California will be the subject of an audit later this summer, as put forth by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC). The audit which will focus on the UC’s budget process, nonresident student enrollment, and executive compensation was approved by the committee today by a unanimous, bi-partisan 12-0 vote.
Bill to Restore Local Authority to Community College
(Sacramento) –Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) introduced legislation intending to help reinstate local governing authority to the Compton Community College. Assembly Bill (AB) 986 will provide a potential legislative solution to the ongoing attempts to restore control of the college to the district.
“I made a promise to the members of my community that I would do whatever I can to put Compton Community College back in the hands of local authority,” states Gipson. “AB 986 is part of keeping that commitment to the citizens of my district.”
Tax Exemption Proposed for Terminally Ill Patients Medicinal Marijuana
(Sacramento) – Today, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) introduced legislation to extend the sales and use tax exemption for medicines to include medical marijuana prescribed for terminally ill patients. Sponsored by the Chairman of the Board of Equalization (BOE), Jerome Horton, Assembly Bill (AB) 821 creates a process for qualified patients to receive an exemption certificate for their purchases of medical marijuana.
“Our culture has come a long way in understanding and applying the medicinal uses of marijuana,” states Gipson. “If current practice is that medicine should not be taxed for patient treatment, then it is only fair that we apply this standard across the board.”
Oversight Hearing Calls for Audit of UC Budget
(Sacramento) – Today, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), under the chairmanship of Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), conducted a joint oversight hearing with the Assembly Higher Education Committee regarding the University of California’s budget process. The hearing was in response to ongoing issues stemming from a 2011 State Audit of the UC budget system.
“The UC system is world-renowned among institutions of higher learning, and is something that all Californians are proud of and benefit from,” states Gipson. “However, when questions arise about inequity amongst our student population, and there arise concerns regarding a lack of accountability and transparency, it is the job of the Legislature to get answers.”
Gipson Takes Oath as Newest Assemblymember for 64th District
Education, public safety to be top Assembly priorities
(SACRAMENTO) - Mike Gipson (D-Carson) was sworn in as the Assemblymember for the 64th Assembly District. The ceremony took place in the Assembly Chamber of the State Capitol.
“There is much work to be done,” said Gipson. “I am incredibly honored that my constituents have placed their trust in me to take action on their behalf.”
Immediately prior to his election to the Assembly, Gipson served as Vice-President of the Advisory Board for the State Public Utilities Commission and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Positive Imagery Foundation, Inc.
In addition to serving as an advocate for public school teachers with United Teachers Los Angeles, he is also the former Chairman of the California Contract Cities’ Legislative Committee.
District 64 includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor Gateway, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, South Los Angeles, Torrance, Watts/Willowbrook and Wilmington.
The oath of office was administered by California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin Liu.