White people made up the majority of appointments last year by California Gov. Gavin Newsom — renewing interest in a bill that would require the governor’s office to release demographic data of appointees.
By Jessica Flores
When it came to filling vacancies on nearly 500 state boards, commissions, agencies and task forces last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered more than half of the appointments to white people, a report found — renewing calls for equity in state leadership and interest in a bill that would require the governor’s office to release demographic data of its appointees.
The report, released this month by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, or HOPE, found racial and geographic disparities among the people who were appointed to statewide bodies in 2023. While Newsom “made strides” in appointing more people of color and reached near gender parity last year, the researchers said nonwhite people remain underrepresented in positions that play a critical role in advising the governor’s administration and establishing statewide policies.
According to the report, the governor’s office appointed 480 people during Jan. 1-Dec. 15, 2023. Of those appointments, 52% went to white people, 17% to Latinos, 11% to Black people, nearly 9% to Asian American and Pacific Islander people, and 2% to Native Americans.
With just over 39 million people in California, white people make up 34% of the population, Latinos/Hispanics 40%, Black people 5%, and Asian Americans 15%, according to census data.
“We’re missing out on hearing from the voices of communities that may be underserved,” Helen Torres, CEO of HOPE, told the Chronicle. Diversity among appointees “is a fail-safe to ensure that all Californians have representation on some of the most important commissions that make the most important decisions.”
Read more at: SF Chronicle
1 Comment
Maybe those appointees were who thought were the best qualified.. nobody seems to care about qualifications these days right? As long as they are minorities who cares if they are qualified? I’m a minority and I even know that most minorities are NOT qualified and hardly choose a job in politics. And the ones that do aren’t really even qualified to run their own house let alone the state. This whole idea to make sure unqualified minorities are in power is stupid and ridiculous