Senate adjourns in memory of several Californians; lawmaker urges more protections after clinician's fatal stabbing

The California State Senate paused its routine business on Jan. 16 to adjourn in memory of several Californians, delivering extended tributes that highlighted long records of civic service and, in one case, raised concerns about workplace safety for health-care providers.

Senator Cortese asked the chamber to adjourn in memory of Elizabeth 'Betsy' Hammer Carr, recounting her decades of activism on civil-rights causes, housing access and prisoners' rights and describing her long record of community organizing. Cortese said Carr had been "involved in the Fair Workplace Collaborative, the COVID Assistance Network" and Measure A housing efforts and asked colleagues to remember her service.

Senator Weiner rose to ask the Senate to adjourn in memory of Alberto Rangel, who, the senator said, "passed away from stab wounds sustained while serving with dedication, as a health care worker at San Francisco General Hospital on December 6 at the age of 51." Weiner recounted Rangel's training and work history and described him as "a magnificent human being," and used the occasion to press the point that hospitals and public-health systems must do more to protect front-line staff. "We need to do more, to, ensure the safety of these workers so they can focus on doing their job," Weiner said.

Senator Rubio asked the Senate to adjourn in memory of William Louis 'Bill' McIntyre Jr., summarizing his business and philanthropic work in Covina and his roles in local institutions. Senator Small Cuevas delivered a lengthy tribute to Joy Atkins Atkinson, noting her mentoring work through the Los Angeles African American Women's Public Policy Institute and her decades of civic leadership; family members were present in the gallery.

These tributes were delivered after the morning's confirmations and consent-calendar business and concluded with requests to bring each honoree's name forward so the Senate might properly memorialize them. No formal votes on these memorials were recorded in the morning transcript; each was presented by a senator and the chamber adjourned in their memory as part of customary floor proceedings.

The Memorial for Alberto Rangel and health-worker safety
Senator Weiner used his memorial remarks to focus specifically on the circumstances of Rangel's death and the broader safety risks faced by hospital staff who treat patients with behavioral-health challenges. Weiner described the death as "devastating" and said it was "another reminder that health care workers face enormous risks." He urged systemic measures to improve safety so clinicians could focus on patient care rather than personal safety concerns.

The Senate scheduled additional business later in the day and reconvened for procedural items after the memorials.