LOS ANGELES — As Kamala Harris steps into her function as vp and out of her Senate workplace this week, the Democrat Alex Padilla will develop into
LOS ANGELES — As Kamala Harris steps into her function as vp and out of her Senate workplace this week, the Democrat Alex Padilla will develop into the primary Latino senator from California, a state the place Latino residents comprise 40 p.c of the inhabitants, and can be certainly one of six within the Senate. Mr. Padilla, who has been California’s secretary of state since 2015, is heading to Washington at a time when the nation — and California — is deeply mired within the pandemic and a sluggish vaccine rollout. His personal political profession started with immigration activism, and he believes that the nation wants a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants. He mentioned he was assured that the Senate would have the ability to concentrate on an impeachment trial and the urgent must get the pandemic below management — “we are going to stroll and chew gum on the similar time.”
These are frivolously edited excerpts from the dialog.
California is roughly 40 p.c Latino, but you’re the primary Latino senator from the state. Why do you assume that took so lengthy? What does it say about California and the political affect of Latinos?
I don’t know if I’ve a 170-year reply to that query, but it surely’s a giant second for the Latino neighborhood in California. I’m positive there’s a variety of researchers and lecturers with numerous theories. I simply know that it has simply added to the sense of urgency with which I’m ready to sort out the job.
Loads of large points want consideration — rising entry to well being care, combating local weather change, a complete immigration reform, closing the schooling hole. However in the interim, it’s all via the lens of Covid, in recognition of the devastation the injury has triggered for much too many households, far too many communities, particularly Latino communities and different communities of shade.
Let’s speak concerning the pandemic. Los Angeles is at the moment an epicenter of the pandemic, and Pacoima, the neighborhood you grew up in, is an epicenter of that epicenter. What can the Senate do about that?
That’s an important instance of the individuals who say, effectively, you already know, don’t take stuff too personally. Effectively, I can’t assist however take it personally. My dad lives there and we’ve managed to maintain him protected and wholesome since March. However I take into consideration his security each single day.
From the start, communities of shade, the important staff, which Latinos disproportionately make up, are at elevated threat due to the character of their work. We’re contracting it, and it impacts us disproportionately in comparison with different communities. And that’s what’s taking part in out proper now.
I simply want so many extra governors had taken the daring, aggressive motion that our governor did. We have been capable of preserve the numbers comparatively decrease per capita for an excellent chunk of 2020, in comparison with different states, together with neighboring Arizona.
Right here’s what breaks my coronary heart, you already know, of catch the morning information and listen to about report Dow Jones, Dow Jones. However in the event you go to the Covid testing websites or the meals banks, you see longer and longer traces. That distinction is heartbreaking.
I do know Gov. Gavin Newsom is a longtime ally and he simply appointed you. However given the an infection charges right here, and the gradual vaccine rollout, it looks like a wierd time to reward him. Do you actually assume he’s doing an excellent job proper now?
I feel he’s been dealt a tricky hand by the Trump administration. Clearly there can be a subsequent part of the vaccine, but it surely’s actually laborious to plan for the subsequent part of the vaccine rollout if you don’t know when the subsequent batch of vaccines are coming. I do know Donald Trump will not be up for this. His failure or refusal to guide from Day 1 of the pandemic is what has triggered this mess throughout the nation.
Democrats are going to have an especially packed agenda — do you assume impeachment will impede on that? Do you need to see a trial within the Senate?
It could make for longer workdays or for longer workweeks, however we now have to prioritize Covid response and uphold our democracy and accountability, accountability and accountability. No person is above the regulation. That’s what the American individuals imagine. And so they deserve a Congress that’s going to behave on that.
So there’s no query in your thoughts you need to see motion on that?
Completely. And as I speak to an increasing number of of my colleagues to be, I hear loud and clear as we will and we are going to stroll and chew gum on the similar time. We have now to.
Your individual political profession got here out of your immigration activism. I’ve talked to a variety of present immigration activists who’re very skeptical about whether or not the Biden administration will make the sorts of sweeping adjustments they need to see. Do you share any of that skepticism?
No state has extra at stake in that debate than this one. Look, I’m optimistic, however I do know full effectively that it’s going to take a variety of work and I’m desperate to get to that work. I feel we’d like normalization and a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants within the nation. A great chunk of the important work pressure that we’ve been praising for the reason that starting of the pandemic is undocumented. It’s not sufficient to simply reverse government orders signed by Donald Trump. We have now to transcend that and truly present the excellent immigration reform. So it could be laborious, however I do know it’s attainable we now have to rebuild the asylum system on the border, amongst different issues. Let’s sort out the wait occasions of the naturalization course of for eligible residents right this moment.
How frightened are you about the way forward for elections? Do the doubts that the president and different Republicans have sowed undermine democracy?
The doubt is a big hazard and it’s not only a potential hazard. We noticed the deadly penalties of getting a conspiracy theorist with a bullhorn sitting within the Oval Workplace. Buteven with the departure of Trump, we now have a variety of work to do earlier than the subsequent election. Misinformation, disinformation is extraordinarily harmful. We’re already seeing it play out in vaccine distribution and insecurity in sure communities of the vaccine and subsequently an unwillingness possibly to take it sooner quite than later.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. campaigned on unity, and I count on that can be a theme of his speech on Wednesday. How optimistic are you or not that unity is one thing that may occur in our nation, given the final 4 years and the previous couple of weeks?
Unity may be very, very a lot a worth. You understand, we’re not going to achieve utopia in sooner or later or one week and even one yr. However it’s going to be one thing that we attempt for. I hope it manifests itself within the working surroundings within the halls of Congress. However it’s additionally necessary to occur in residing rooms and ultimately diners and barbershops throughout America.
The Democrats have a slight edge within the Senate. Do you assume meaning there can be extra formidable motion, extra formidable laws?
I actually hope so. Look it, we’ve bought to assume large. That’s going to be my sentiment. Even with out the pandemic of this final yr, along with the well being and financial devastation that Covid has wreaked on a variety of communities, it’s additionally exacerbated a variety of the underlying disparities, which actually have to be addressed. Training, for instance, with so many younger individuals studying, making an attempt to be taught remotely, it’s introduced again issues concerning the digital divide, whether or not it’s with entry to broadband or digital literacy, even the affordability of units. So there was an schooling hole previous to the pandemic and proof reveals that it’s exacerbated by the pandemic. That’s only one instance.
The place do you set your self on the political spectrum? Do you count on to be kind of on the extra progressive finish of the caucus, or do you take into account your self a average?
I’m desperate to arrive within the Senate and start pushing the envelope.