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Opinion
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- Written by: Shelly Thompson
Dear Editor,
Assembly Bill 84 unfairly targets charter schools — and the families like mine who rely on them. We chose a charter because it offered the flexibility and personal support our child needed to thrive. Everything from the school’s budget to test scores is public — charter schools are already transparent.
Meanwhile, traditional districts that experienced massive fraud — like Magnolia, where $16.7 million was stolen, or Mt. Diablo, where $3.3 million disappeared — faced no state crackdown. So why punish charter schools that are doing things right?
Charters serve many students who need something different: those with learning disabilities, anxiety, health conditions, or challenges in traditional classrooms. AB 84 would strip those families of choice, replacing it with red tape and funding cuts.
Rather than pass AB 84, our lawmakers should support SB 414 — a more balanced approach that strengthens oversight without dismantling educational options. Accountability should be systemwide, not selective.
Shelly Thompson lives in Los Angeles, California.
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- Written by: Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs
Thanks to TikTok, my business has taken off.
I started California-based Diggs Publishing after I faced the devastating news that my niece was being sexually abused.
As part of my healing process, I wrote a book to work towards child sexual abuse prevention.
In 2023, I joined TikTok to promote my books and post advocacy videos. From there, I went viral and sold out of all of my inventory in one day.
Now, because of TikTok Shop, we’ve sold over 113,000 products, most of which are children’s books and educational tools focused on body safety, consent, and emotional wellness.
These sales have allowed me to launch a nonprofit, Kids Again Foundation, to help children heal from trauma.
I hope other families can turn to TikTok to build community, share trauma experiences, and most importantly, spread prevention awareness.
I hope my federal lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Thompson, Sen. Alex Padilla, and Sen. Adam Schiff, will support a deal that keeps TikTok running to support my business and many others in California.
Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs is the chief executive officer of Diggs Publishing. She lives in Rohnert Park, California.
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- Written by: Jon Hochschartner
Any politician who cares one iota about animal welfare should support increased public funding for cultivated-meat research.
For those who don’t know, the revolutionary protein is grown from livestock cells, without slaughter.
I believe development of this technology is the most promising means of reducing nonhuman suffering and premature death.
While the private sector has made notable progress in advancing the field of cellular agriculture, significant hurdles remain. Perhaps the most important of these is reaching price parity with slaughtered options.
Our elected leaders can help advance this compassionate technology by backing further government investment in cultivated-meat research.
Jon Hochschartner lives in Granby, Connecticut.
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- Written by: Congressman Mike Thompson
This Memorial Day, our community gathered to honor the brave service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Just as important is our responsibility to be there for those who did come home.
Over the last few years, we’ve made real progress in honoring our veterans’ service. With bipartisan support, Congress passed the PACT Act and the COMPACT Act — landmark laws that are finally delivering the care and benefits our veterans have earned.
From expanding coverage for toxic exposure to ensuring crisis support for those at risk of suicide, these laws are saving lives.
That’s why it is unfortunate that since the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump has gone after veterans who transitioned from military service into critical jobs across our federal government.
The president has already fired more than 6,000 of these veteran workers and has begun firing 83,000 VA staff.
The media has reported that some of those fired worked for the veteran suicide hotline. Our veterans have a 57% higher risk of suicide than those who haven't served.
A veteran who visited my office in Washington, D.C. recently said that for a veteran in crisis, the person answering the phone at the VA might be just as important as a doctor.
It’s unconscionable that this administration is gutting services that literally save lives. The stakes are too high for our veterans right now.
If you or a veteran you know needs help accessing health care or other benefits, please contact my nearest office.
I promise to keep raising my voice in this fight for our veterans. Please keep raising yours.
Congressman Mike Thompson serves California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.