The Back to School Backpack Drive was a huge success! It was truly heartening to witness the joy on the faces of the children as they eagerly prepared for the upcoming school year. The campus was bustling with excitement as families gathered to pick up essential supplies that will undoubtedly help create better opportunities for them for the new school year. Our sincere thanks go to the Logan Memorial Education Campus for graciously hosting this event, and we extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors who played a crucial role in making this drive possible. Your support has a lasting impact on these students' educational journeys.
I want to express my gratitude to the UC Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation for organizing and hosting an exceptional symposium. It was an honor to be part of the Policymaker Panel alongside esteemed colleagues from the California Legislature – Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Senator Catherine Blakespear, and Senator Scott Wiener. Our insightful and productive discussion, moderated by Liam Dillion, delved deep into the pressing issue of housing. As we explored innovative housing policies and robust collaborations, I'm hopeful that our dialogue will contribute to the ongoing effort to navigate the housing crisis in our state. My two housing bills are scheduled to be heard next xxx.
I had the privilege of joining my team in attending National Night Out! It was great to come together with our neighbors and establish meaningful connections with our local law enforcement. I hope that you and your neighbors also had the chance to partake in the festivities within your own neighborhoods or at any of the community-wide events. It was heartening to witness the collective effort to strengthen the bonds that make our community a safe and vibrant place to live. As we continue to work towards fostering unity and positivity let's look forward to more opportunities to come together.
I want to extend a heartfelt and enormous thank you to the remarkable team at Chiroy's CAFE for their warm hospitality in hosting our coffee gathering earlier in the month. It was truly heartwarming to see the space bustling with the energy of our amazing community members who joined us. Your presence and engagement resonate deeply with me, and your insights and stories serve as a guiding light as we collaborate to tackle the most largest issues that our community faces. These conversations are significant steps towards driving positive change. Your willingness to share your experiences, concerns, and ideas reinforces the connection we share as a community. It's this collaborative spirit that fuels our collective journey towards a brighter future.
The impact of the sewage pollution on our beaches and communities has reached critical levels, and it is crucial that we rally together now more than ever to address this urgent matter. That is why we launched our Cleaner Communities program last month. It is high time that we join forces with federal government leaders and demand that they take sewage pollution seriously. Our communities and our environment deserve nothing less!
The negative impacts in our communities can not be understated from health hazards to economic consequences. Hence why we are calling on President Biden to take immediate action and allocate federal resources to clean up this disaster once for all.
I was truly privileged to have the opportunity to celebrate and express our deep gratitude to the dedicated volunteers of the Friends of the San Ysidro Library. The dedication of these volunteers ensures that our libraries continue to thrive, offering a wide range of educational and cultural opportunities to our residents. These libraries, as we all know, serve as invaluable hubs that bring our diverse community together and are vibrant spaces where individuals of all ages and backgrounds can connect, learn, and grow. So, once again, a heartfelt thank you to the Friends of the San Ysidro Library for their remarkable contributions to our community's well-being and unity.
My bill “Speed Up the Border Crossing Act” was signed by Governor Newsom and is now passed! This bill not only facilitates quicker border crossings but also opens opportunity for business growth, family reunions, and strengthens the bonds within our cross-border community. SANDAG is now allowed to fast-track a construction project for the State Highway Route 11 corridor, including highway improvements and international border-crossing facilities, which will reduce border-crossing wait times by up to 50%.
Here are some bills that being reviewed by Governor Newsom to become law:
Arts & Culture: Cruising is Not A Crime is currently being reviewed. This is the last step needed before legalizing cruising in California. Marking an incredible milestone in the fight for keeping our culture alive! Once enacted into law, it will render any potential city-wide bans on cruising null and void, ensuring families and low-riders the freedom to cruise without the fear of being pulled over and racially profiled.
Housing: Two bills that are assisting with California’s biggest crisis, our housing crisis, are also being reviewed. They are opening up opportunities and reducing roadblocks for more housing affordability projects. We must continue to fight for housing affordability programs for our communities to be able to continue to thrive in our state.
SANDAG is now allowed to fast-track a construction project for the State Highway Route 11 corridor, including highway improvements and international border-crossing facilities, which will reduce border-crossing wait times by up to 50%. This authorizes SANDAG to utilize the Construction Manager/ General Contractor (CMGC) contracting method on the SR 11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project.
(Already in effect)
Allows housing developers to maximize existing incentives to build low income affordable units. Housing is a major crisis facing all Californians, and offering affordable options for middle-income families is crucial. This law will create new housing for middle-income families and additional low-income and market-rate housing. It's time we create housing opportunities for all.
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
Will make it easier to build affordable housing by providing a crucial exemption of CEQA for 100% affordable housing projects that meet specific location requirements, labor standards, and environmental regulations.
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
All existing bans against cruising are now void and we have successfully eliminated any city's ability to impose a ban on cruising throughout the state of California.This milestone is a celebration of preserving our cultural heritage, protecting our rights, and fostering a sense of unity within our community. Thank you to everyone who has supported this bill! You played a crucial role in making this possible. Now that cruising is officially recognized as a lawful and valued expression of art and culture, let us continue to come together as a community and fight for our rights!
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
Will create a pilot program to allow low-income students who live near the California-Mexico border a discounted tuition rate. This pilot program can unlock a significant untapped resource to prepare a more diverse population among our workforce. I want to thank all the advocates who supported this bill and for fighting to expand education opportunities to every community.
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
Pharmacogenomic testing will help individuals get the correct medicine at an affordable cost while saving the State of California millions annually. It will ensure Medi-Cal patients have coverage of evidence-based pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing to improve their quality of care. PGx testing helps individuals get the correct medications and dosage based on their genetic background, reducing emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and overall healthcare spending. The poorest of Californians will now be able to take this test, which is essential to reducing health inequities, addressing the mental health crisis and opioid epidemic, and ensuring patients receive the appropriate dose of the correct medicine. This legislative proposal was generated by a young resident of the 80th District who found this test helped save her life.
(Goes into effect July 1, 2024)
This will allow the State Auditor’s Office to continue to receive data from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services system to be able to conduct audits and continue accountability and transparency in government.
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
Allows family councils at long-term care facilities to meet and communicate electronically. As a state, we don't do enough to support one of the state's fastest-growing and most vulnerable populations: our elderly. We must identify ways to support the state’s elderly population, which is expected to increase. My bill will strengthen the Family Council's ability to support long-term care facility residents. We must support seniors when it comes to healthcare. I took care of my dad until his passing two years ago, and I have tremendous respect for the dignity of our older population and want to make sure the state takes care of them.
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
The Public Utilities Commission has updated gas regulations, requiring consideration of specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each gas corporation and core transport agent, and violation of the regulations is a crime. I want to thank the Governor for signing this bill into law and recognizing biomethane's importance as a renewable energy source. This will help California get closer to achieving net zero emission goals while ensuring that all gas customers have an equal opportunity to contribute to California's decarbonization efforts.
(Goes into effect January 1, 2024)
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