NFIB California Main Street Minute, Nov. 27-Dec. 1

November 27, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

Welcome to the November 27-December 1 edition of the Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento. The Legislature

What should have been a quiet Thanksgiving week in official Sacramento was instead full of palace intrigue in the State Assembly. Last Tuesday (November 21), Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced the new caucus leaders and committee chairs.

Most newsworthy was the heave-ho given Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) from his post as majority leader. Bryan had been an early backer of Rivas’ bid to oust former Speaker Anthony Rendon. “The move was the biggest surprise in a broad overhaul that marks the first major display of power in the Rivas era — and unmistakably a downgrade of Bryan, an ambitious pol who had talked up his close ties to the speaker,” reported Politico.

“Shortly after the new assignments dropped, lobbyists in the Capitol pointed out that Bryan had been talking up his power as majority leader in Los Angeles circles, going so far as to brand himself as the ‘Speaker for LA’ at a virtual meet-and-greet with the LA County Business Federation earlier this year, an episode that was recapped in a newsletter to members of the organization … ‘My brother Speaker Rivas is really one of my best friends. But he’s not from here,’ Bryan is quoted as saying in the BizFed newsletter. After the announcement became public late Tuesday, Bryan appeared to take a veiled shot at the speaker by noting that his formal leadership ranks now were without a Black member.”

One small ray of sunlight for small business was the announcement of Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) as the new majority leader replacing Bryan. While not possessing a great small-business-voting record (25%), she took the time to meet with NFIB members during Leadership Day on September 14 and was genuinely interested in small businesses’ concerns.

The rest of the appointments, however, make for grim reading for small business: Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) is the new chair of the Appropriations Committee and Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) the new chair of the Budget Committee. Remember, the Rivas team deposed former Speaker Anthony Rendon because his team wasn’t progressive enough.

NFIB California News Release

NFIB California in the News A sample of some big media hits from the above news release:

KGO-TV, Channel 7, San Francisco, State Director John Kabateck discusses Small Business Saturday with anchor Gloria Rodriguez.

KNX 1070 NewsRadio, Los Angeles, November 25—State Director John Kabateck discusses the importance of Small Business Saturday.

Los Angeles Business Journal, November 20—Columnist Charles Crumpley quotes Kabateck for a column on the small business blues.

Calendar

November 8, last day to submit signatures in lieu of filing fee period for those seeking elective office.
December 28, Certified list of candidates for the March 5 Primary Election released.
January. 3, 2024, the Legislature reconvenes.
February 5, counties begin mailing ballots.
February, last day to register to vote in the March Primary.
March 5, Primary Election Day.
More deadlines here.

National Legislative Program Manager Caitlin Lanzara’s weekly report will return December 1 Next Main Street Minute December 4.