Senator Newman’s August 2023 Newsletter

Dear friends and neighbors,

We’ve now entered the so-called Dog Days of Summer, and as it happens, August is National Dog Month. For those of you with dogs or other pets, you know that our furry, feathered, or scaly friends inevitably become essential members of our families. I know this well -- my family has four adopted rescue Chihuahuas, and despite their various quirks, we couldn’t imagine life without them.

This is one of the reasons I was happy to author SB 971 during last year’s legislative session. SB 971 requires that all new housing financed through the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program is pet-inclusive. As we look to continue tackling housing affordability in California, it is important that all members of our families can be provided comfort and safe shelter.

In honor of National Dog Month, I invite you to send in a picture of you or members of your family with your beloved canine companions (or any other family pet, for that matter) to Senator.Newman@senate.ca.gov, or DM me a picture on Instagram to @senatornewmanca. You and your best friends will have the chance to be featured on my Instagram and webpage as Senate District 29 community pet mascots. I look forward to seeing pictures of your adorable canine, feline, reptilian, or avian family members.

And as always, my office is available to answer any questions, concerns, or comments you may have regarding happenings in District 29 or in the Capitol. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 714-525-2342 or https://sd29.senate.ca.gov/contact.

All the best,

Josh Newman
Senator, 29th District

 

The Legislature just completed its annual month-long summer break. During that time, I was busy around the district while spending some quality time with my wife and daughter. During summer recess, members take time to meet with constituents and attend district events. They also get some R&R before heading back to the Capitol in mid-August to finish out the legislative session. When the Legislature reconvenes on August 14, the Senate and Assembly will have one month to get all remaining active measures through the rest of the legislative process and to the finish line of the Governor’s desk. I’m looking forward to some rousing debates on the Senate floor as my colleagues and I vote on Assembly bills and on our own Senate bills once they return to the Senate for a concurrence vote.

 

Groundswell OC Meeting

On July 7, I met with Don Han, Director of Community Partnerships, and Helia Daigeau at Groundswell (formerly OC Human Relations). Groundswell was founded in 1991 and focuses on hate prevention work in Orange County. Their services include a range of community building, mediation, and education programs as well as training services. In partnership with the OC Board of Supervisors, 211OC, and community-based organizations, Groundswell encourages individuals to report hate crimes or incidents that they have experienced or witnessed. Each year, they publish an OC Hate Crime Report which tracks hate activity in the region. In recent years, Groundswell has observed an alarming increase in hate incidents around the community, primarily motivated by the victim’s race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, and/or religion. It was a pleasure to meet with Don and Helia who are engaged in this important work and are working every day to prevent hate in our communities.

Heroes Hall “Serenity Walk”

On July 20, I joined my colleagues from across Orange County to commemorate the grand opening of the Heroes Hall “Serenity Walk” at the OC Fairgrounds. This thoughtfully designed outdoor space will provide Orange County veterans a warm and inclusive space to connect, share their experiences, and foster camaraderie and healing. The next time you visit Heroes Hall, I invite you to take a walk through the peaceful and inviting landscape, adorned with memorials and special plantings honoring Purple Heart recipients, veterans, and their families and reflect on the service and sacrifice of our heroes.

29th Senate District’s July 2023 Restaurant of the Month

It was my privilege to recognize Thai & Laos Market Restaurant in Anaheim as the 29th Senate District’s July 2023 Restaurant of the Month.

35 years ago in 1988, John & Kim Limjaroen, immigrants from Thailand and Laos, opened the first iteration of their business as a restaurant under the name “Thai Market” in Anaheim. A few years later, the couple expanded their business to include a grocery of fresh Thai and Lao produce and specialty ingredients. It was the rare specialty Asian grocer serving the area at the time, and is likely the longest standing Asian grocer in the North Orange County region today. A small, family-run business, Thai & Laos Market Restaurant prides itself on the quality of its goods and services rather than maximizing its volume of business and patrons.

Anna and Karen, two of John and Kim’s seven children and the most visible employees at the restaurant, spend much of their days walking customers through the intricacies of Thai and Lao dishes so that they can prepare dishes in their own home kitchens. The meals served at the restaurant, which are boldly aromatic and flavorful, are based on authentic family recipes that were perfected over generations and carried thousands of miles across the globe to the United States in the hearts and minds of John and Kim.

Thai & Laos Market Restaurant has provided convenient access to the rich flavors of Thai and Lao cuisine for more than three decades. We extend our appreciation for Thai & Laos Market Restaurant’s contributions to the diversity and quality of culinary offerings in the 29th Senate District.

29th Senate District’s July 2023 Citizen of the Month

I’m very proud to present Leslee Milch, a Buena Park Unified School District teacher and the leader of its “Read to Me” summer reading program, as the 29th Senate District’s “Citizen of the Month” for July 2023.

Throughout her more than thirty years as an educator, Leslee has served primarily as a kindergarten teacher, with a passion for uncovering and fostering essential academic and social skills in her students. In the classroom where she often reads to and with her students, Leslee places a special emphasis on literacy. One day 25 years ago, she was inspired to continue her work beyond the end of the school year by creating the “Read to Me” summer reading program, with the goal of mitigating learning loss during the summer. Leslee set out by meeting with students at George Bellis Park in Buena Park on a weekly basis to read a story together and share a healthy snack. Every year since, she has continued the program, and “Read to Me” has become a well-known and cherished community institution.

Though Leslee began “Read to Me” many years ago, initiatives like her efforts to improve community literacy have sadly become ever more necessary. It’s a profound irony of the current digital age, where Internet products like social media and video games easily outcompete traditional media such as books for attention. Multiple recent studies have shown that rates of literacy are in decline among virtually every age group in America, with the steepest declines found in young adults and children. Since literacy forms the basis for many other forms of civic, cultural, and economic participation, this downward trend could very well foreshadow a corollary decline in our collective capacity to engage with each other productively.

With that as a backdrop, I’m very encouraged that educators like Leslee remain committed to offsetting that trend by cultivating literacy in young learners and reframing the act of reading as recreation. Congratulations to Leslee on her recognition as our Citizen of the Month for July. We wish her the very best as she continues this local tradition and her exemplary career as a National Board-Certified Teacher.

You can learn more about “Read to Me” here.

 

From Erica Lucia, District Director

“On July 21, I attended the first day of a three-day educational seminar hosted in coordination with the FAA, Cal State Fullerton, and Fullerton College entitled ‘Droning On: California Edition.’ The event included informational presentations on drones from experts in the field of public safety, government, and education.”

You can watch the recap video here.

From Nathan Bass, serving the cities of Anaheim, Chino Hills, and Placentia:

“On July 27, I attended the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce’s most highly anticipated event of the year: its 2023 Business Recognition and Awards Dinner. Held at Chaffey College’s Chino campus, the event drew hundreds of guests from the region’s vibrant and enthusiastic business community. Throughout the evening, the Chamber recognized and presented awards to fifteen individuals and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the local economy and entrepreneurial culture. I was proud to recognize most of those honored that evening, having met and worked with them in the past few years. It was a special opportunity to see those professionals receive such prominent recognition by their own community.”

From Scott Do, serving the cities of Fullerton, La Habra, and Stanton:

“Last month I had the opportunity to staff our beloved Better Senator Ice Cream truck at a community health and resource fair put together by Senator Tom Umberg, Anaheim councilmember Carlos Leon, and Savanna High School -- my alma mater. I also had the pleasure of letting our district office intern, Selwyn Gibson, shadow me on his last day with our office! By the time I departed, I was reminded of how important our jobs in the field are, and how much of an impact we can have on someone’s life. When I was a kid, I wish I had known about these services for my family. Thank you Senator Umberg and his incredible staff for putting on this much-needed event. Cheers!”

From Elizabeth Lavezzari, serving the cities of Cypress, La Palma, and West Covina:

“On July 13, I had the honor of joining representatives from the offices of Assemblymember Quirk-Silva and Senator Nguyen at the Cypress Senior Center to present a resolution in recognition of the Center’s 30th anniversary. Since its establishment 30 years ago, the Cypress Senior Center has provided residents the opportunity to engage in a variety of successful programming, ranging from physical fitness to art and recreation. The Senior Center currently serves 400 seniors daily and is operated by a dedicated group of city recreation staff. It was a pleasure to join community members, Council Member David Burke, and staff to commemorate this milestone. We extend our appreciation for the Senior Center’s service to the community and look forward to many more years of service!”

From Christiane Salamat, serving the cities of Diamond Bar, Industry, Rowland Heights and Walnut:

"I am honored to be the newest addition to Team Newman! As a District Representative, I will be serving the San Gabriel Valley portion of our district, including the cities of Diamond Bar, Industry, Walnut, and Rowland Heights. Having grown up in nearby Chino Hills, I have so many wonderful experiences and formative memories of the San Gabriel Valley and its immense wealth of culture, diversity, and talent that emanates throughout the community. I look forward to serving these cities on behalf of the Senator and connecting with the local communities within the region."

From Sheen Sidhu, serving the cities of Buena Park, Brea, and Yorba Linda:

“On July 18, I had the honor of taking part in the groundbreaking for Whitaker Park in Buena Park. Expected to open Spring 2024, this exciting new joint-use project will allow Whitaker Elementary students to use the park during school hours and will remain open to the public during non-school hours. Complete with a butterfly garden and a shark-themed play structure, Whitaker Park will serve as an important resource for the community, creating more opportunities for outdoor play and exploration. Thank you to the City of Buena Park and the Buena Park School District for making this project possible!”

 

2023 State Board of Equalization Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights Hearing

The State Board of Equalization (BOE), responsible for property tax programs, the Alcoholic Beverage Tax, and Tax on Insurers, will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. All taxpayers and stakeholders are invited and encouraged to participate.

During the public hearing, taxpayers will have the opportunity to share comments, suggestions, or concerns regarding the Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Report, California’s property tax system, or the Alcoholic Beverage Tax.

This hearing is scheduled to be conducted in person at 450 N St., Auditorium Sacramento, CA 95814, with remote participation available by calling 1-877-336-4440 / access code: 4192718#. Written comments may be submitted in advance by visiting https://www.boe.ca.gov/meetings/heartra.htm