Black Legislative & Community Knowledge

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a public warning about the dramatic increase in cryptocurrency fraud and online sextortion schemes that resulted in over $20 billion in losses nationwide during 2025. The scams have evolved to incorporate artificial intelligence and deepfakes, making them harder to detect, while younger social media users on platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become primary targets alongside traditional older victims. Common schemes include "rug-pull" cryptocurrency scams where fraudsters artificially inflate asset values before selling off their holdings, sextortion attempts using explicit images as leverage, and recovery fraud targeting previous scam victims. Bonta's office has taken down more than 100 fraudulent websites that stole at least $8.3 million, and new legislation now enables authorities to return seized cryptocurrency to victims even when perpetrators operate from outside the United States.

The San Diego City Council voted to nearly double the Minimum Wage and Labor Standards Enforcement Fee from $1.47 to $2.82 per covered employee, despite objections from the city's Small Business Advisory Board regarding the financial burden on local companies. The advisory board, which advocates for regulatory relief and has previously helped reduce business tax certificate costs for smaller enterprises, voted to formally communicate its concerns about the fee increase through an advisory letter. During its September meeting, the board also addressed various small business issues including food facility permitting, flood preparedness following 2024 flooding events, and capacity building grants for nonprofits supporting businesses in under-resourced communities. Additionally, board members discussed concerns about ADA compliance lawsuits targeting small businesses and received updates on the fiscal year 2027 grant program, which received 105 total applications across two funding tracks.

The 2026 midterm elections saw overwhelming support from Black voters for Democratic candidates, with approximately 90% backing Democratic House candidates, largely driven by opposition to President Trump. Black voters, alongside Latino and Asian American communities, played a decisive role in delivering Democratic victories across battleground states, resulting in a Senate majority of 53-47 and a House majority of 250-157. Grassroots organizations invested over $24 million and conducted extensive outreach, including door-knocking campaigns reaching millions of voters, emphasizing the importance of year-round community engagement rather than election-cycle-only efforts. Top concerns for Black voters centered on economic issues like inflation, cost of living, and affordable housing, while threats to democracy and voting rights also ranked highly, particularly amid widespread voter roll purges that removed over 19 million people nationwide between 2020-2022.

Jordan Williams, a Detroit-area cowboy and cofounder of Urban City Cowboys, staged a publicity stunt by briefly boarding a city bus with his horse Raven while riding along 7 Mile Road during a fundraising event. The stunt, which was captured on video and went viral, was meant to draw attention to his equestrian therapy and rodeo program for youth and people with disabilities. Williams, who recently relocated his operation from Detroit to a 20-acre property in Romulus, runs a program that serves participants ranging from age 5 to 68 and cares for 22 horses plus numerous other farm animals. Following the incident, Detroit transit officials clarified that horses don't qualify as service animals under ADA requirements, spoke with the bus driver involved, and announced plans for department-wide training on relevant policies.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has introduced a participatory budgeting pilot program that allocates $250,000 to each of the city's seven council districts for resident-driven infrastructure improvements. The initiative, which Sheffield previously advocated for as a council member, enables Detroit residents to propose and vote on neighborhood capital projects such as park enhancements, sidewalk repairs, and beautification efforts. The program will unfold in three phases beginning with design committee applications opening in November 2024, followed by idea submission and voting in 2027, and concluding with project implementation. Community leaders have already identified potential projects ranging from updating bus shelters and creating Motown heritage markers to addressing abandoned properties and developing youth employment programs. # Key Takeaways

Michigan Democrats won competitive races by promising to address high costs, fight Trump's tariffs, and tackle economic pressures facing voters. Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson and Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed have pledged to provide relief on household expenses, but face significant political and budgetary constraints in delivering on these promises. While experts acknowledge some opportunities exist for relief through wage increases, tax credits, and utility reforms, they warn there is no quick fix for complex affordability issues stemming from both stagnant wages and rising costs. The incoming Democratic leaders must navigate federal limitations, state budget constraints, and the reality that many systemic economic problems require long-term solutions rather than immediate relief. # Key Takeaways