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California gubernatorial candidates address affordability in heated debate
VOL. 17, 15,
NO. 273
SoCal man charged with attempting to kill Trump, officials By Joe Taglieri
By City News Service
joet@beaconmedianews.com
I
n a 90-minute debate at Pomona College Tuesday evening, eight gubernatorial candidates shared their plans to address affordability and how they'll support residents to attain the "California Dream." Former Fox News Channel host Steve Hilton opened the debate by making a commitment to make the state "Califordable," with a proposal to decrease utility bills and making it easier to purchase homes. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the other Republican on the debate stage, added Democratic Party policies were "destroying California," and blaming them for the housing and homelessness crisis, as well as the rising cost of living. The Democratic candidates said affordability issues have been exacerbated by President Donald Trump and his policies, specifically citing the war with Iran and cuts to federal health care tax credits. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said he would sign legislation to temporarily suspend the state's gas tax in response to prices having risen to their highest amounts since 2023 due to
Cole Tomas Allen lays on the floor of a ballroom in the Washington Hilton in the custody of federal agents Sunday after he allegedly tried to assassinate President Donald Trump and administration officials at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. | Photo courtesy of President Donald Trump/Truth Social Eight candidates for governor in this year's election participated in a lively debate Tuesday at Pomona College — top row from left, Xavier Becera, a Democrat; Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton; and Democrat Matt Mahan; bottom row from left, Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa. | Photos courtesy of Pomona College
the war with Iran. Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra defended the gas tax, adding that if it were rescinded it would impact the state's spending on road repairs, which the tax funds. He noted he would focus on building homes and lowering drug prices. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond explained his plans for supporting homeownership, which he described as "the American Dream." He proposed the creation of
down-payment assistance grants to help new homeowners, and the building of 2 million housing units on surplus property on school district-owned properties. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also supported such a program, offering a $25 billion plan. Billionaire investor Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter backed efforts to streamline permits and creating more housing in order to address the state's
housing crisis. On health care, Becerra criticized President Donald Trump for signing the "One Big Beautiful Bill" which reduced tax credits for health insurance coverage. "Had Trump allowed the premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to continue forward, millions of Californians would be able to afford their health care insurance," Becerra said. Becerra took a moment
See Debate Page 08
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31-year-old Torrance man who allegedly shot a Secret Service agent at a hotel in the nation's capital where President Donald Trump was about to address the White House Correspondents' Dinner was charged Monday with attempting to assassinate the president and other federal counts. Cole Tomas Allen — who is also a Caltech graduate and former intern at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena — was also accused of transportation of a firearm and ammunition through interstate commerce to commit
a felony and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. The assassination charge alone could result in a sentence of life in prison, officials said. Allen made his first court appearance Monday in Washington, D.C. He is due back in court for a bail hearing Thursday, and at a preliminary hearing tentatively set for May 11 a judge determines if the amount of evidence warrants a trial. Federal officials said Allen allegedly sent family members in Southern California a manifesto railing
See Assassination attempt Page 31
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