[img]90|left|Loni Anderson||no_popup[/img] It was an historic event for women and for everyone in the 47th California Assembly District.
On Tuesday May 13, Karen Bass became the 67th Speaker of the State Assembly, the second woman in California to gain such office (Doris Allen held the post in 1995).
Ms. Bass also is the first African-American woman to hold such office in the nation.
It was truly a wonderful day in Sacramento.
Everyone who wanted to witness history and everyone who sought to solidify political relationships was there.
Those who were not there missed out on an opportunity to further their own goals or those of their constituents.
What a great opportunity it was.
I’ll get to more on just how great later.
Starting Out Early
Attendees came from all over; one group of community activists woke at 1 a.m. to ride a bus to the Capital from Los Angeles.
I flew to Sacramento early Tuesday morning with Culver City business owner Dan Cohen (of the Kitchen Store).
Upon boarding the plane I selected a seat next to former Los Angeles Police Commissioner David Cunningham III, and the flight became a blur as we discussed local, state and national politics.
The intellectual stimulation started with a bang, and it accelerated as the day progressed.
We made our way to the Capital and to the Speaker-Elect’s office to visit some of Karen Bass’s staff members who we thought might be there.
Speaker Definitely Is in
As luck would have it, Karen was in, and she had been since 5 a.m., doing media interviews. She took a moment to say hello.
She was relaxed and had a surprisingly calm demeanor for someone about to make history.
The appointment by majority vote of her peers in the Assembly happened quite unexpectedly a few months ago. As the former Speaker Willie Brown said to me once, “If you have the votes, don’t wait. Call the vote.”
And that is what the 66th Speaker, Fabian Nunez, did.
With Style and Class
Karen has made great strides in office, and she’s done so with grace and dignity. When she first took office, she immediately moved into positions of power, sitting on important committees and becoming the Majority Whip.
She then rose to Majority Leader, and is now the Speaker.
The Speaker’s job is very important. Karen not only is up to the challenge, she has been preparing for the position by meeting with colleagues in her party, in the Republican Party, with members of the Senate, with the Governor and other elected officials. Most notably, she has met with Los Angeles officials who understand the importance of building relationships — many of them have held state office as well.
To Be an Eyewitness
Karen has toured the state to become familiar with issues facing all Californians.
This kind of planning and forethought is not new for Karen.
Before she was elected to her first term as our Assembly Member, Karen toured the 47th Assembly District. She met with residents and business owners to learn what was important to us.
I attended many of those early meetings, not just in Culver City but also around the District.
Adding an Office
I can tell you Karen has continued to serve those of us who live in the 47th competently and well. Though her duties include helping all California Assembly Members and working closely with the Governor on budget and legislative issues, I’m sure she will continue to serve her constituents here in the 47th.
She will maintain her District Office on Wilshire Boulevard, and she will spend some time at the Speaker’s District Office in downtown Los Angeles.
After saying hello to Karen, we spent time by visiting other members of the Assembly and Senate whom we knew (or wanted to know better). In spite of the festivities planned for the day, the halls of the Capital were quiet.
Cameras Never Rest
At 10 a.m., the reception began in the Capital Rotunda (both floors), and that is where all the political elbow-rubbing occurred, if you could muscle your way through the crowd.
Anyone who knows me, knows I can and did. Everyone was busy catching up with old friends and making new ones.
Before the ceremony began, we headed up to a smaller reception with select constituents from the District (largely consisting of members of the Community Coalition that Karen was a part of when she first began her political career).
Also there were Los Angeles City Council members and L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa. The flash bulbs never stopped popping.
Karen came in to join the festivities before the swearing-in ceremony. I was disappointed to see no staff or elected officials from the city of Culver City.
Just before noon, viewing passes in hand, we made our way into the gallery to witness the ceremony.
The Who’s-There List
I heard that three other conference rooms were filled to capacity with others who came to watch the swearing-in. They watched by simulcast video feed.
There was only room for some 150 people in the public gallery above the Assembly Floor. We had terrific seats, and we enjoyed a full view of everything that was going on.
From Gov. Schwarzenegger’s tight whispers with Willie Brown, to the San Francisco and Los Angeles city officials who were deftly making their way around the room, we watched as Assembly Members, along with City Council members from Pasadena and Compton, all mingled on the floor.
Some senators were seen among the Assembly Members as well. Newly elected Laura Richardson (Congresswoman from Long Beach) was there and U.S. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Culver City) was, too, and she spoke as part of the event.
Reaching Across the Aisle
Some offered congratulations from their chairs, most notably Assemblyman Mike Villines representing California’s Central Valley and the Republican Party. He is the Minority Leader of the Assembly.
It was clear that this was more than a passing gesture because it was unscheduled. He was only recognized to speak after a note was passed to Fabian Nunez.
The friendliness between Karen and the Republican Party was further noted when she hugged Mike and the Republican sitting next to him on her way to the podium. She passed a senator on the aisle opposite Mike with what seemed to be barely a glance. (This senator, Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City), has an important election in L.A. County on June 3.)
Several times during the ceremony, besides standing ovations for former Speakers and notable members of the audience, the applause became rhythmic and strong, like a rally or a chant without words.
A fitting tribute to the weight and significance of the day.
Drumming up Co-operation
Finally, it was time for Karen to be escorted to the podium by five former Speakers, Robert Monagan, Willie Brown, Herb Wesson, Antonio Villaraigosa and Cruz Bustamante.
The soon-to-be immediate past speaker Fabian Nunez said, “It’s too bad we don’t have a drum roll.”
Not having to be asked twice everyone in the gallery obliged the request and proceeded to drum any surface we could find as Karen’s procession made its way among well-wishers on both sides of the aisle.
When Karen took the podium and began to speak — that was the moment that sealed the reality of the event for me.
Karen is soft spoken. Her voice is decidedly feminine.
Her words were touching when she spoke about her daughter.
She called for her daughter’s friends to stand in the gallery to be recognized.
A Word for the Governor
Five young women next to me stood with tears of joy in their eyes and sadness at knowing Karen’s daughter, gone a year and a half now, could not be there to witness the event.
Karen maintains a close connection with every one of them.
She then focused on business, discussing issues facing every corner of the state, and the budget in particular. She turned to Gov. Schwarzenegger and told him she looks forward to working with him to resolve the budget crisis and other matters in the State Legislature. (The revised budget would be presented the following day.)
She also spoke about her goal of setting up a tax commission to review the current structure and make suggestions on reform.
It is a bold move and an ambitious plan.
One that would not reap any results for over a year, and possibly not until she is out of office.
Where will she be headed then? There was speculation on this in the gallery that day but one thing is certain, Karen Bass is the Speaker of the Assembly and that is where you will find her working for California and the 47th District.
Loni Anderson L.Ac., Doctor of Oriental Medicine, also is 47th Assembly District Small Business and Health Commissioner. Ms. Anderson may be reached for comments at 310.838.8568.
