Senator Newman’s May 2021 Recap

Dear Friend and Neighbor,

It’s June in sunny Southern California, and while on any given morning we may or may not find ourselves walking through a June gloom, what I do know with certainty is that the 29^th Senate District, along with the rest of California, finally stands poised at the gateway to the better half of 2021.

As of this writing, Orange and Los Angeles Counties have now qualified for the state’s Yellow tier, with San Bernardino County not too far behind, currently in the Orange tier, and making steady progress toward Yellow.

My staff and I are eagerly waiting for June 15^th (while digging out and spiffing up our office clothes, searching for mislaid travel mugs, and remembering how to act in a crowd), when California’s economy will finally be able to reopen fully.

I’m sure you’re just as eager as we are to bask in the relief and recovery that the post-pandemic era will bring. Beyond that, it’s also true that we can’t simply go back to the way things were--we need to examine and repair infrastructure, reassess and address critical needs, and make all necessary plans and preparations in order to better prepare for and handle similar challenges and crises in the future. Hopefully they won’t present themselves anytime soon, but they will at some point, sure as the sun goes down and the tide comes in. For my part, I’m committed to making sure that the 29^th Senate District is given the support it needs to do exactly that.

I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and healthy during this time. As we begin to heal and rebuild, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 714-525-2342 or https://sd29.senate.ca.gov/contact with any issues you’re experiencing with state agencies or programs.

My team will be more than happy to assist you in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Spanish.

All the best,

Josh Newman
Senator, 29^th District

“California Roars Back”

The California grizzly that adorns our state flag has actually been extinct since 1924, so I couldn’t tell you whether a California grizzly can actually roar.  But its enduring presence as an emblem, I’m sure, imparts a certain symbolic reverberation throughout the state.  My district office, in fact, proudly sports a California grizzly on its sign in front.  Meanwhile, in the Capitol, my Sacramento team is hard at work as part of the legislative effort to make sure California is going to indeed roar back.

It starts with this: despite the initial fears of a massive recession at the start of the pandemic, California is currently looking at a staggering $75.7 billion surplus.  It’s unexpected and hard to believe. You may be wondering how this came to be, when for the past year, the whole country has been running on lean meat and bracing for a severe recession. Despite the pandemic wreaking havoc on California’s economy, its fiscal impact has been mitigated by high earners (think Silicon Valley, white-collar professionals, remote work-compatible workers), whose limited job loss and continued activity contributed to a steady stream of income tax that in the end has more than offset the impact of the jump in California’s unemployment rate in other sectors during the pandemic.

So, you may be reasonably asking, what exactly is the state going to do with all this money?  Here’s a brief rundown of the state’s plans for the funds, as proposed in the Governor’s most recent budget proposal:

• $12 billion to address homelessness
• $11.9 billion in rebates for individuals making less than $75,000, at $600 per individual, with an additional $500 for qualifying families with dependents
• $ 5.2 billion to help tenants covered accrued rent debt and make future payments
• $2 billion to cover outstanding utility bills and tenant legal services
• $4 billion proposed to expand California’s COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant program
• $1.5 billion to clean public spaces near highways and transform public spaces through arts and cultural projects
• $11 billion to modernize California’s roads, bridges, and public transportation
• $7 billion to extend and expand broadband access in underserved communities
• $3.2 billion to increase zero-emission vehicle adoption and use
• $1.3 billion to prepare the state for extreme heat and rising sea levels caused by climate change

As it relates specifically to our Senate District, I’ve requested funding in the pending budget to extend the North Orange County Public Safety Task Force. Originally created in 2017 with six cities, the Task Force now comprises ten cities, all of which fall within the 29^th District: Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Stanton, and Yorba Linda. The Task Force identifies regional solutions to homelessness, youth violence, and the challenges associated with post-incarceration re-entry in Orange County. These are all critical issues that have been further compounded by the pandemic and must be addressed. In its first four years, the Task Force has proven itself to be an innovative, area-specific model for improving public safety, so its extension and augmentation is a key priority.

I’ve also requested funding to preserve West Coyote Hills, which represents the last remaining substantial natural open space in North Orange County. If West Coyote Hills is developed, millions of residents in the area will forever lose access to a precious natural asset of open space that is unique to the southern Los Angeles County and northern Orange County region.  Preserving this land would not only protect the natural habitat of plants and animals native to the region, but secure an environmental legacy for future generations to enjoy and uphold.

Environmental preservation is also a goal of one of my priority bills. On May 24^th, SB 266, which will add additional parcels of land to Chino Hills State Park, passed unanimously out of the State Senate by a vote of 40 to zero. This is, in essence, the entirety of the California Senate, across both aisles, recognizing the importance and urgency of maintaining the rich biodiversity of our wildlands and preserving increasingly rare open space for future generations to enjoy.

As a member of the Senate budget committee and one of the five Senate budget subcommittees, I’ll be working with my colleagues and the Governor this month to deliver a June budget by the mandated deadline of June 15^th, the same day California’s economy is slated to re-open in full force. I have full confidence in the positive impact of both, and I plan to provide you with an update next month with more details and commentary from the final June budget following its passage.

Every month, I’m proud to have the opportunity to honor an individual of exceptional service and outstanding merit as the 29^th Senate District’s Citizen of the Month. This past month, in May, I had the privilege of recognizing district resident Michael Sean Wright for his contributions to homeless and unsheltered residents in Orange County. Michael initially created Wound Walk OC as a personal project. Now, along with dedicated volunteers across the district, Michael offers emergency first aid, wound care, and food and hygiene packages to individuals most in need of care and support. Through his tireless actions and advocacy, Michael has sparked a conversation in the ways we approach homelessness intervention, and has offered sincere compassion and empathy that is often absent during discussion regarding this societal crisis.  Individuals like Michael serve as models of community advocacy that strengthen the welfare of residents in the 29th District.

Do you have a neighbor, colleague, family member, or friend who is making a positive impact in our community?  If so, I'd love to hear more about their work.  Each month, I'll be honoring constituents in the 29th District who are doing the kind of extraordinary work that Michael is doing.  You can submit your nominations here: https://tinyurl.com/g5oq7fqb.

Is there anything more deliciously embedded in our lives than food? One could argue that it’s the best cultural ambassador there is. This simple object of sustenance becomes a way to record our evolving palates, map out the stories of our heritage, and forge a link between the universality of our lives and the relativism of our experiences. Put more simply, food is good. And what better to do but share all the great food our community has to offer? The 29^th District is home to an eclectic variety of cuisines, all being served at proud, locally owned restaurants. Every month, my district office will be on the lookout to highlight these establishments through community nominations.

For May, my district staffer Scott stopped by to present a certificate of recognition to Peter, the owner of FEU Noodle Bar in La Habra. Inspired by the flavors of traditional Vietnamese dishes, FEU Noodle Bar gives patrons a preeminent restaurant experience that’s brought to life by fresh ingredients, carefully curated menu options, and first-class customer service. Eating here is a surprise: the classic beef broth simmered for eight hours will be familiar for lovers of pho (a classic Vietnamese noodle dish), but what about the addition of black truffle paste, or kimchi & bacon carbonara udon? Peter’s restaurant straddles the line between traditional and fusion cuisine to create fun, novel dishes. Why not check it out yourself? Visit FEU Noodle Bar at 1456 S. Harbor Blvd in La Habra!

Do you have a favorite locally-owned restaurant in the 29th Senate District? We'd love to hear about it. Submit your nomination for Restaurant of the Month here: https://forms.gle/Xpvguqgafi4R3Jv27