At a news conference urging voters to oppose Proposition 23, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told Texan oil companies to go home for interfering in California politics by funding the initiative that would suspend AB 32, a landmark state law that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The LA Times reports that the mayor stated, “We won't compromise our environmental and health standards so you can make more money,” and argued that if the proposition passes it would be bad for the health of Californians. Community activists from Latino neighborhoods participated in the event, which you can read more about here.

And in other Prop 23 news, Sacramento’s City Council voted unanimously to oppose the ballot measure. The Sacramento Press reports that “Councilman Steve Cohn said Tuesday night that the proposition is ‘a false choice between economy and the environment.’” You can read the city’s resolution against the initiative here.

Finally, Earl Cooper, the President/CEO of the Black Business Association, took to the pages of Fox & Hounds to write in support of Prop 23 due to concerns about the effects that AB 32 will have on small businesses. Cooper writes:

“The independent Legislative Analyst has determined that AB 32 will increase energy costs and result in lost jobs.  The California Air Resources Board (CARB) itself has acknowledged that small businesses will be hit disproportionately hard since they typically spend a larger percentage of their budgets on utilities and fuel. That's why the Black Business Association, and African American organizations across the state, strongly support Proposition 23.  By temporarily suspending the state's costly global warming law, Yes on 23 will save small businesses and families from the electricity, gasoline and natural gas cost increases that would occur if this flawed law were implemented.”

You can read the rest here.