Contributor: Rob Reiner reshaped how California understands and invests in children
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After his tragic death Sunday, the world remembers Rob Reiner as a cinematic force — and he was one, as an unforgettable presence on the ambitious 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” and later as the director of beloved films.I came to know him differently: as a restless thinker who transformed his own life story into bold public policy, reshaping how California understands and invests in its youngest children.Reiner almost single-handedly conceived and led the successful 1998 campaign for California’s Proposition 10, a tobacco tax to raise funds for early childhood health and education.
It established a statewide commission and 58 county commissions charged with investing in healthcare, parenting support, early education and other services for children from prenatal stages through age 5.At the time this was a radical reframing of public responsibility — placing the earliest years of life at the center of social policy.Reiner did not arrive at this work casually.He immersed himself in the science of early brain development and the evidence showing how experiences in the first five years shape lifelong outcomes.
He articulated, clearly and persuasively, that investing early was not charity but a proven way to reduce crime, mitigate poverty and strengthen families and communities.I saw his commitment up close when I was the founding chief executive of First 5 Alameda County, one of the county commissions Prop 10 created.Reiner never delegated the hard parts.
He showed up, listened closely, asked tough questions and helped solve problems.He led with clarity and conviction, refusing to let bureaucratic inertia define the limits of what was possible.
He knew that public policy, like storytelling, requires imagination, discipline and persistence.As the founding chair of First 5 California, which was created by Prop 10, Reiner extended his leadership far beyond the campaign....