Organized resistance to President-elect Trump’s second term starts taking shape.

Sara Rubin here, still wondering, nearly a month after the election, what actions people and institutions will take to safeguard certain institutions and values that will come under attack in a second administration of President-elect Donald Trump. While he has not yet been sworn in, efforts are underway to get organized. 

Two days after the election, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would convene a special session of the Legislature, starting Dec. 2, to address Trump’s plans and plan to effectively protect California values.

When that session convened starting today, Dec. 2, the Assembly Budget Committee Chair, Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, introduced legislation that would authorize up to $25 million of additional funding “to challenge any unconstitutional or unlawful federal actions that threaten California’s interests or values.” 

“While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel said in a statement. Potential areas of litigation include civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action and immigration.

Immigration is high on the list of priorities for Monterey County’s leaders. The same day Newsom announced the special session, county supervisors Luis Alejo and Chris Lopez submitted a request to create a new ad hoc committee to address immigrants’ rights. 

“In light of the election of a new presidential administration who has threatened to take unprecedented actions against immigrants, this referral seeks to create a Monterey County Immigrants Rights Ad Hoc Committee that will bring together key immigrant community stakeholders that could make recommendations, enhance communication and assist the County of Monterey in preparing and protecting our immigrant community in Monterey County against any unconstitutional and draconian federal actions,” according to their request to the board.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take up that request tomorrow, Dec. 3, after 1:30pm. (You can participate in person at 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, or virtually.) 

Whatever your political persuasion, the critical presence of immigrants in Monterey County is undeniable. Nearly one-third of our community is foreign-born. That this subset of our community—which not only powers our economic engine, but also adds perspective, art, culture, food and diversity of lived experience to Monterey County—is under attack means all of us are under attack. What the specific battles ahead will look like remains to be seen, but step one is forming the architecture (a committee) designated to deal with whatever policy issues lie ahead.