Profile: Jovanka Beckles for State Senate

Jovanka Beckles is the Bernie Sanders-endorsed candidate for State Senate in Berkeley and beyond.  See https://jovanka4casenate.com/

This may be enough for left-leaning voters to mark Beckles for election.  And Bernie is direct as always:

“This moment requires bold, progressive leadership. Jovanka knows the struggles of working people and will be an effective, unwavering fighter for them in the state Senate.”

Jovanka is a Panamanian-born Black and LGBT leader of the Richmond Progressive Alliance. She served on the Richmond city council for eight years, and four on the AC Transit board.

Richmond is an 18.7% African American city, dominated by the fossil fuel industry, namely Chevron Corporation. The company’s oil refineries poison the air of Richmond, and on bad days, of Berkeley as well.

For years Berkeley leaders tolerated our own industrial polluters at Pacific Steel. But in Richmond, Jovanka and her allies kept the pressure on Chevron. In 2014, the company and its allies threw $3 million to keep her off the city council—and lost, paving the way for Jovanka and her allies to hold them to account. A settlement with Chevron netted $100 million in payments for human needs in the city.

Jovanka also was a pioneer in implementing “Ban the Box,” stopping Richmond from asking if a job-seeker had ever been convicted. This change is a key piece of restorative justice against the continuing effects of mass incarceration. And, she was a key player in making Richmond the first city to implement rent control in many years.

After serving Richmond, Jovanka moved onto the regional stage to become a leader of AC Transit, where she fought for transportation justice. And now in her run for the state legislature, she brings the same people-oriented drive that has powered her whole political career.

As Senator Beckles, she pledges, she would continue fighting for fair wages, power in our workplaces, and reforming Prop. 13.

Specifically, she would continue fighting for a Green New Deal for the East Bay, starting with seamless, green, zero-emission public transit, that we keep accessible and fare-free for all.

And very important for a state legislator, she understands what a reimagined view of public safety is.  She is a strong example of what is called “crime victims against mass incarceration.”  After suffering a traumatic home invasion, according to her campaign website, Jovanka “was directly impacted by the profound needs of our growing marginalized communities.

She felt moved to run for political office where she knew she could make a difference as an elected official who could deliver results for those with the greatest needs.

Rather than proposing carceral and punitive consequences, Jovanka has been a vocal and active advocate for the working class, the poor, the unhoused, those at risk of incarceration and returning community members looking for a second chance. Recognizing that the underlying needs of struggling folks must be met, Jovanka fought for, created, and supported policies that include: banning the box on City job applications, providing any community member who wanted one a local identification card, pushing for and winning a fight for rent control, and raising the minimum wage.”

Jovanka submitted a comment to Berkeley Speaks drawing on her 34 years of experience as a mental health provider:

As someone with extensive experience in mental health and wraparound services, I see a deep, systemic link between mental health, poverty, and homelessness. Poverty and homelessness are not just contributors to mental health challenges but also consequences of unmet mental health needs. The stress, trauma, and instability that come with poverty and homelessness can make mental health conditions worse, while untreated mental health issues can lead to difficulties in maintaining employment, housing, and stable relationships, creating a vicious cycle.

I believe that individuals living in poverty or experiencing homelessness face additional barriers to accessing mental health care, such as financial limitations, lack of insurance, and insufficient social services. That’s why I advocate for more comprehensive, accessible mental health services that address the root causes of poverty and homelessness, not just the symptoms. I also believe that community support, public policy changes, and affordable housing are critical to breaking this cycle.

Additionally, I stress the importance of compassionate, trauma-informed care that acknowledges the intersecting challenges people face. It’s essential that we provide not just mental health treatment but a holistic, stable support system that includes housing, employment assistance, and access to social services.