Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Sen. Caballero Backs Newsom's COVID-19 Efforts, Seeks Legal Status for Farmworkers
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
March 25, 2020

Share

Like most of her legislative colleagues, state Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) is working at home instead of the State Capitol in Sacramento.
Bills may have stalled, but dealing with the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak hasn’t. Her 12th Senate District covers parts of Fresno, Madera, Stanislaus, and Monterey counties, and all of Merced and San Benito counties.
Caballero supports Gov. Gavin Newsom’s actions to nearly shut down the entire state while sheltering in place.
One of the last actions legislators took before returning to their homes was to approve a $1.1 billion coronavirus relief package to aid healthcare providers, businesses and schools.
GV Wire spoke with Caballero over the phone from her Salinas home.

State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) works from home during the COVID-19 crisis.

Supports Steps Taken by Governor

Caballero backs Newsom’s stay-at-home order issued last week.
“I believe it is the right thing to do,” Caballero said. “(Newsom) recognized the economic devastation of closing businesses and asking people not to be out and about. But if we are going to get a handle on this .. the experts say the only way is to slow it down.”
She added that the only way to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and “avoid the possibility of a very high death count,” especially among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, is to isolate.
Caballero mentioned her 90-year old mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, as one of those in a vulnerable group.
Another concern for Caballero: the healthcare industry could be overwhelmed if COVID-19 continues unchecked.
“Sheltering in place is meant to save lives. And for me, that’s critical,” Caballero said.

Help Farmworkers. Make Them Legal.

Because agriculture is considered an essential industry, farm laborers have been allowed to continue working under state and local emergency ordinances.
Caballero said maintaining the food supply is a national security issue, and she wants the federal government to change policies to ensure a reliable agricultural workforce.
“We ought to do everything possible to legalize their status. It’s my hope that the federal government will take action while it’s passing these emergency ordinances to legalize those farmworkers. It’s the right thing to do. It’s way past due,” Caballero said.
To recognize the importance of farmworkers, Caballero suggests granting them a green card, or blue card — a legal immigration status specifically designated for agriculture workers.
Caballero also wants improved safety procedures because ag is an essential business.


“We ought to do everything possible to legalize their status. It’s my hope that the federal government will take action while it’s passing these emergency ordinances to legalize those farmworkers. It’s the right thing to do. It’s way past due.” — State Sen. Anna Caballero
“As a consequence, (the industry has) a new task … how to keep workers safe, and that the business will train its supervisors to keep people safe,” Caballero said.
Those procedures include hand washing and social distancing.

Adjusting to Working at Home

One of the toughest adjustments to working from home for the senator is keeping in touch with legislative colleagues.
“We have had a series of phone conferences and the difficulty is trying to have a conversation when 40 people are on the phone. It’s just really hard,” Caballero said. “It’s not the same as being in a room and having a conversation.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers are attempting to figure out if they can meet and vote electronically.
Caballero says the Legislature “left things in good shape,” before returning home, the safest option. Medical professionals helped shape that opinion.
“The best solution was going to be for us to stay home and continue doing our work, because obviously we need to hear from the constituents what’s happening in their life and how we can be helpful,” Caballero said.
Working in Sacramento made social distancing nearly impossible. Senators sat closer than six feet on the floor. Caballero said nearly 100 people came to her office daily to discuss the state budget.
“I made the decision, I wasn’t going to be shaking hands. We did the elbow bump because I knew that this virus had the potential to be very dangerous,” Caballero said.
Not seeing her staff on a daily basis makes work difficult, but Caballero’s proud of her staff for coming through.
“It’s much more efficient to be all together and to be able to say, ‘here’s what we’re going to do,’ and everybody goes and does it,” Caballero said. “When you’re doing it over the phone, it’s a little bit more difficult. But you know what? We’re getting it done.”

DON'T MISS

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

DON'T MISS

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

DON'T MISS

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

DON'T MISS

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

DON'T MISS

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to Watch the Fight, Time, Odds

DON'T MISS

Travel in the West Bank Is a Tale of Two Journeys

DON'T MISS

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

DON'T MISS

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

DON'T MISS

If You Thought Trump Wasn’t Serious About Deportations, Look at His First Appointments

DON'T MISS

Biden EPA to Charge First-Ever ‘Methane Fee’ for Emissions Waste by Oil and Gas Companies

UP NEXT

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

UP NEXT

California Counts Methodically as House Control Hangs in the Balance

UP NEXT

Voters in California City Reject Measure Allowing Noncitizens to Vote in Local Races

UP NEXT

Voters in Oakland Oust Mayor Sheng Thao Just 2 Years Into Her Term

UP NEXT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Will Spend Part of Week in DC as He Tries to Trump-Proof State Policies

UP NEXT

US Regulators Investigating Whether Engines on 1.4 Million Hondas Might Fail

UP NEXT

When to Catch the Last Supermoon of the Year

UP NEXT

California Farmers Enjoy Pistachio Boom, With Much of It Headed to China

UP NEXT

Mattel Says It ‘Deeply’ Regrets Misprint on ‘Wicked’ Dolls Packaging That Links to Porn Site

UP NEXT

Do Trump and Newsom Agree On Anything? Yes, Homeless Encampments

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

3 hours ago

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to Watch the Fight, Time, Odds

4 hours ago

Travel in the West Bank Is a Tale of Two Journeys

4 hours ago

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

4 hours ago

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

5 hours ago

If You Thought Trump Wasn’t Serious About Deportations, Look at His First Appointments

5 hours ago

Biden EPA to Charge First-Ever ‘Methane Fee’ for Emissions Waste by Oil and Gas Companies

5 hours ago

Trump Picks Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to Be Ambassador to Israel

5 hours ago

At the Pandemic’s Start, Americans Began Drinking More. They Still Are.

5 hours ago

Last GOP Congressman Anchored in Democratic LA County Concedes in Race Against Former NASA Exec

6 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

With President-elect Donald Trump’s intention to nominate John Ratcliffe as CIA director, it appears Devin Nunes will remain heading T...

44 mins ago

Photo of David Bernhardt
44 mins ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

Nathaniel Lujano, 23, of Tulare, a known gang member was sentenced to life without parole for two 2022 murders, committed to benefit a criminal street gang. (Tulare County DA)
2 hours ago

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

Photo of David Bernhardt
3 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

3 hours ago

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

4 hours ago

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to Watch the Fight, Time, Odds

Grigory Kels Tsvi, left, crosses the West Bank on a bus, May 10, 2024. Israel says it manages the roads to reduce friction and prevent militant attacks on Israelis — rights groups say the movement restrictions on Palestinians create deep inequality. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times)
4 hours ago

Travel in the West Bank Is a Tale of Two Journeys

4 hours ago

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

5 hours ago

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

Search

Send this to a friend