Black Legislative & Community Knowledge

California Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins has introduced AB 2760, legislation that would ban state and local law enforcement from purchasing or using taser shock gloves and similar wearable devices that deliver electrical shocks through direct physical contact. The proposed ban comes as these devices are being adopted by police departments nationwide, including in Omaha schools where officers have been equipped with 40 such devices. Lawmakers express concern that these weapons are untested, difficult to monitor through body cameras or oversight mechanisms, and could enable excessive force, particularly against vulnerable populations. The bill aims to prevent California communities from becoming testing grounds for emerging weapons technology that lacks adequate safety standards and accountability measures.

San Diego Continuing Education (SDCCE) has launched "Campus Built Together," a community initiative to rename its Harbor View Campus through a restorative justice approach. The college is organizing facilitated discussion sessions starting September 3rd, led by restorative justice practitioners Nina Harris and Duke Fisher, where community members can share perspectives on potential names. Additional naming circles will occur throughout September and October at various locations, and participants will also receive surveys to contribute input. The institution aims to complete the renaming process by the end of the fall semester, ensuring the new name authentically represents the campus community and surrounding neighborhoods.

California counties have reported preliminary declines in their 2026 homeless populations during the January point-in-time count, with over half of the 28 counties that released data showing decreases ranging from modest drops like San Francisco's 4% to significant reductions such as San Joaquin County's nearly one-third reduction. County officials attribute these improvements to increased shelter beds and low-income housing funded by recent state grants, including Homekey and other homelessness prevention programs. However, housing advocates question whether the declining numbers accurately reflect reality, suggesting that intensified encampment sweeps following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling may be scattering homeless individuals and making them harder to count rather than actually reducing homelessness. Officials also express concern about sustaining progress given recent federal cuts to social services and the one-time nature of state funding, which makes long-term planning difficult. # Key Takeaways

Following President Trump's executive orders dismantling DEI programs and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency cutting over 270,000 federal positions, Black women experienced disproportionate job losses as they held significant numbers of both DEI and federal government roles. By December 2025, approximately 820,000 Black women were unemployed, representing a 7.3 percent unemployment rate comparable to White women's rates during the Great Recession. The article profiles four Black women who lost jobs and eventually found new positions, sharing their experiences with job hunting challenges, workplace discrimination, and mental health impacts. Career experts and the profiled women offer advice about leveraging professional networks, utilizing AI strategically, overcoming imposter syndrome, and maintaining confidence during extended unemployment periods.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 on whether to certify a proposed constitutional amendment requiring voters to prove U.S. citizenship, preventing it from appearing on the November ballot without court intervention. Although the group Americans for Citizen Voting submitted over 700,000 signatures—far exceeding the required number—a random sample analysis found only 626 valid signatures out of the 629 needed for certification. The proposed amendment would establish one of the nation's strictest citizenship verification systems, requiring new and existing voters to prove citizenship, eliminating the signed affidavit option for those without photo ID, and creating a dual voter roll system similar to Arizona's. Supporters plan to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, which faces a tight deadline since absentee ballots must be finalized by late September for military and overseas voters.

Michigan voters are expected to decide in November on a ballot initiative that would prohibit political contributions from DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, major government contractors, their executives, and related parties. The proposal aims to curtail pay-to-play politics by extending existing bans on direct corporate contributions to include top officials, their families, and people with substantial ownership stakes in these companies. Opponents argue the measure violates First Amendment free speech rights, though legal experts note courts have historically permitted narrowly tailored restrictions designed to prevent corruption, particularly for government contractors and regulated monopolies. While the Board of State Canvassers approved the ballot summary, opponents have asked the Michigan Supreme Court to block it, and questions remain about its constitutional validity if passed.