Jewish Journal
By Debra L. Eckerling
The California Office of Emergency Services has awarded nearly $50 million to nonprofit organizations across the state through the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus announced on January 24. “The recent hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel was a sad and shameful example of the very real threats facing our community, and a further reminder of how security training and enhancements can mean the difference between life and death,” said Jewish Caucus Chair, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) and Vice Chair, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), in a joint statement.
On January 19, the Jewish Caucus introduced AB 1664, which will extend and strengthen the program, currently set to expire in 2025. Authored by Gabriel, co-authors of the measure include Wiener, as well as Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), Marc Levine (D–Marin County), Jose Medina (D-Riverside) and Chris Ward (D-San Diego), and state senators Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), Josh Becker (D-Peninsula), Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa), Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), Josh Newman (D-Orange County) and Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles).