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Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally Shares Message with Local African American Leaders

Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally Shares Message with Local African American Leaders

Community Voices @ EPA.net Posted 12/30/04 Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (seated, center) speaks to local leaders with Assemblyman Ira Ruskin (standing) on the right. Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally Shares Message with Local African American Leaders Spreading the word about the annual  California Legislative Black Caucus Conference (EPA.net) - Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton) brought a message of support to East Palo Alto’s African American leaders at a luncheon held at the Community Development Institute on December 21st.  He encouraged greater participation in political affairs through more African Americans running for office and also promoted attendance at a legislative conference focused on issues of concern to African Americans in California. The luncheon was organized by the network of activists who have for years held the African American Leadership Summit in East Palo Alto. The luncheon grew out of an earlier visit by Assemblyman Dymally to East Palo Alto last fall where the degree of grassroots activity came to his attention. That occasion was a campaign event for Ira Ruskin in his race for the local Assembly seat. Mr. Ruskin, now Assemblyman, also attended the luncheon. In Mr. Dymally's career he has served twice in the Assembly: from 1962 to 1966 and in his current term which began in 2002. As Assemblyman he represents the 52nd District which includes the City of Compton and other parts of Southern Los Angeles County. In 1966 he became the first African American to become a California State Senator. He was also the California Lieutenant Governor from 1974 to1978 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1981 as representative for Southern Los Angeles County. Mr. Dymally retired from Congress in 1992. Assemblyman Dymally with (left to right) Patricia Gerard, Nobantu Ankoanda, Jeanne Cuffey Tatum, Sharifa Wilson and Maisha Mouton. Assemblyman Dymally came to deliver a message on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus, whose current members are five African Americans  in the State Assembly and one in the Senate. All are based in Southern California. The Assemblyman conveyed to attendees at the luncheon that the Caucus represented them as well, despite the absence of African American state legislators in Northern California. Working in concert with Assemblyman Ruskin, he wanted to better understand the needs of the East Palo Alto community and the means to address them. Assemblyman Dymally also encouraged greater participation in state politics affecting African Americans. As a step in this direction, Mr. Dymally invited luncheon attendees to come to the California Legislative Black Caucus Conference in March of 2005. This is an annual event sponsored for the first time now by the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, of which Assemblyman Dymally is the Vice Chair. The Conference will be held in Sacramento from March 15th to March 17th and in Los Angeles from March 18th to March 20th. The Conference is described as “a forum for developing strategies and viable solutions to public policy issues.” A second step he noted would be reversing the decline in the number of African Americans elected to office by fielding more candidates. Local leadership was well represented at the meeting. Attendees included Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, Mayor David Woods, Council Member Patricia Foster, former Mayor Sharifa Wilson and around sixteen others, many executives or staff at local nonprofits. A topic of local concern discussed at the luncheon was the need to improve public transportation to local community colleges to make for easier attendance by East Palo Alto residents. Assemblyman Ruskin, for his part, attended the luncheon as part of a commitment he had made during his campaign to stay connected with East Palo Alto. Ruskin had offered to help create alliances of common interest between East Palo Alto and other regional agencies and offered to do this for the community college transportation issue that was raised. Assemblyman Dymally with Darnell Cooley (left) and Patrick Brock. Mr. Cooley is with the Legislative Black Caucus and arranged for Assemblyman Dymally to come to the East Palo Alto luncheon. Additionally, Assemblyman Ruskin said he would work with Assemblyman Dymally on state issues of importance to East Palo Alto and would make sure East Palo Alto was aware of relevant legislation that would be under consideration in Sacramento. An example was increased funding for mental health services made possible by the passage of Proposition 63 last November. While Assemblyman Dymally had encouraged activists and officials at the luncheon to come to the Legislative Black Caucus Conference, attendee Sharifa Wilson noted that he was also seeking participation by “people who are not the usual ones, people who have never been involved, including youth."   If you are interested to attend the annual California Legislative Black Caucus Conference in March, you can contact Tracy Rice at 310-603-9314 for more information. To find out more about Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally visit his website. Photography and reporting for this article provided by Patrick Brock.

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