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Politico Playbook: The Trump factor in the state budget

California Playbook Reporters Blake Jones and Dustin Gardiner, and Eric He spoke with John Affeldt, Managing Attorney and Director of Education Equity on Governor Newsom’s May revise budget and what to expect given budget constraints this year.

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For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with one of Public Advocates’ issue specialists, contact: Sumeet Bal, Director of Communications

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Videos

Media, News

Ed Source: Hot classrooms, Leaky Roofs—One Student’s Fight for Better School Facilities

EdSource’s Education Beat podcast, hosted by Zaidee Stavely, featured Miliani Rodriguez, named plaintiff in Public Advocates’ landmark lawsuit Miliani R. v. State of California, alongside EdSource Editor-at-Large John Fensterwald. Rodriguez, a senior at Coachella Valley High School, shared her experience attending schools in Coachella Valley Unified School District since kindergarten—enduring air conditioning that breaks in 100-degree heat, leaking ceilings, and flooded classrooms. The podcast explores how the lawsuit challenges California’s school facility funding system, which sends more money to districts with greater property wealth while locking out poor districts from accessing funding.

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Press Release: Landmark Lawsuit Challenges California’s “Backwards” School Facilities System That Punishes Poor Districts

Today Public Advocates, a civil rights law firm, and pro bono counsel Morrison Foerster, filed a landmark constitutional challenge on behalf of students, families, and educators against the State of California for operating a discriminatory school facility funding system that forces children in low-wealth districts to learn in buildings with toxic mold, leaky classrooms, failing HVAC systems and dangerous playgrounds while wealthy districts are funded to build state-of-the-art facilities.

The San Francisco Chronicle: A Sales Tax Hike Isn’t the Way to Save bay Area’s Public Transportation; Here’s what should be Done

Public Advocates’ Senior Policy Advocate for Transportation Justice Laurel Paget-Seekins, co-authored an op-ed with SEIU 1021’s John Arantes and 350 Bay Area Executive Director Laura Neish to propose a new, fairer, long term funding solution that supports Bay Area public transportation without adding to the burdens of everyday drivers, riders and community members.

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Press releases and statements

Press Release: Landmark Lawsuit Challenges California’s “Backwards” School Facilities System That Punishes Poor Districts

Today Public Advocates, a civil rights law firm, and pro bono counsel Morrison Foerster, filed a landmark constitutional challenge on behalf of students, families, and educators against the State of California for operating a discriminatory school facility funding system that forces children in low-wealth districts to learn in buildings with toxic mold, leaky classrooms, failing HVAC systems and dangerous playgrounds while wealthy districts are funded to build state-of-the-art facilities.

Statement: Public Advocates Demands Trump End Troop Deployment, Ice Raids on California Communities

Public Advocates strongly condemns President Trump’s deployment of 2,000 armed National Guard troops and 700 Marines against demonstrators and immigrant communities in Los Angeles. This dangerous escalation represents a boiling point in the Trump administration’s attacks on Californians that began in January while our state struggled to recover from devastating firestorms.

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blogs and articles

Workers and Riders Unite: Bus schedules by and for humans

“… we are not machines. We’re human beings, and we have needs.” Lisa, an AC Transit operator, shared this powerful statement with the AC Transit …

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Videos: Equitably funding school facility modernization

Public Advocates is partnering with impacted students, families, educators, and grassroots community organizations across the state to call for an equitable education bond this November …

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Blog: Reframing AC Transit Realign for Long-Term Solutions

In response to changing travel after the COVID pandemic, AC Transit’s is doing a project called Realign to propose changes in their service. The proposals …

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