Senator Newman’s October 2023 Newsletter
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With temperatures still seeming so summer-like, it’s almost hard to believe that it’s now officially fall. The month of October is the traditional gateway into the many end-of-the-year festivities we all so enjoy, and the 29th Senate District boasts a bountiful range of harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, and Halloween-related events. I hope everyone will be able to participate in as many of them as possible this year. For successive years during the pandemic, the quintessential, timeless Halloween pastime that is trick-or-treating was sadly not possible. So, for our new trick-or-treaters out there, or for anyone who needs a refresher, a few safety reminders:
- Wear a visible, flame-retardant costume that you love
- Stay on sidewalks and walk with a trusted adult or group
- Take a flashlight with you and always look both ways when crossing streets
- Only visit homes that are well-lit
- Carefully examine all your treats before eating
While we’re enjoying these fall festivities, I’d like to remind you that October is also “Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer among women; according to the American Cancer Society, the risk of a woman developing breast cancer in her lifetime is approximately 13%. The state of California, in partnership with our UC health systems, has allocated substantial funding for research on treatments and toward a cure for breast cancer.
Given its prevalence, preventative screenings are recommended for everyone, regardless of gender. EWC provides free breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to California’s underserved population. For information on eligibility and services available, please take a look here.
While it’s often tempting to avoid discussing uncomfortable issues like cancer, prevention and early detection remain the best strategies for long-term health and positive outcomes.
I wish you and your family a wonderful time as you welcome in the new season and all of the festive opportunities for connection and community it presents. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you need any help, or have any questions or comments about the legislative process or district happenings at 714-525-2342 or https://sd29.senate.ca.gov/contact.
Josh Newman
Senator, 29th District
Capitol Updates
In addition to pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, and cooler weather, fall marks the completion of the 2023 Legislative year. September 14th marked the State Legislature’s last official day of session -- the final opportunity for all active bills to be voted on and, when passed, sent to the Governor's desk for signature. Governor Newsom now has until October 14th to either sign or veto each bill sent to him. Throughout the last few weeks of session, my staff and I worked tirelessly to review the hundreds of bills we considered, while also working to advance the individual pieces of legislation I authored this year. I’m very proud of the successful year my team and I have had in moving along many productive pieces of legislation:
SB 145: Environmental mitigation: Department of Transportation
Part of the Governor’s 2023 Infrastructure Package, SB 145 was unanimously approved by the Legislature and includes two fixes that will allow Caltrans to implement long-term environmental mitigation and conservation measures in a faster, more cost-effective way. One fix includes streamlining the construction of three new wildlife crossings over Interstate 15 as part of Brightline West’s high speed railway project between Southern California and Las Vegas. By reducing time-intensive, bureaucratic red tape, SB 145 maximizes our state’s competitiveness for federal funding and makes clear California remains committed to the highest standards of ecological protection. SB 145 was approved unanimously by the Legislature and enacted immediately in July 2023.
SB 251: Double-Duty Elected Official Conflicts of Interest
This bill would prohibit any full-time, salaried elected official in California from employing as a member of their paid staff any other elected official with common constituents. This bill initially failed in the Senate Committee on Elections & Constitutional Amendments, but was subsequently granted “reconsideration,” so it can be included again in a committee policy hearing in the coming year.
SB 291: "Recess for All"
Research shows that recess and outdoor play is an essential component of childhood learning and development. SB 291 would ensure that every child in grades K-6 be afforded at least 30 minutes of recess daily and would disallow the withholding of recess as punishment. SB 291 passed out of the Senate and Assembly with unanimous, bipartisan support and was subsequently signed by the Governor.
SB 347: Driver Education and Training Grant Program
For low-income families, driving can be key to greater economic opportunity and mobility. But when it comes to supervised behind-the-wheel training, working parents shouldn’t be expected to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket for private lessons when they’re busy trying to make ends meet. SB 347 seeks to connect low-income high school students to reduced cost, behind-the-wheel driver’s education training, to afford everyone equitable access to this fundamental skill.
SB 386: Fixes to California's Elections Codes
This bill makes various changes to the elections code in order to further secure, modernize, and streamline California election procedures. SB 386 updates the elections code by (1) extending the signature verification periods within which election officials must complete their determination of the number of qualified signatures on various state and local petitions; (2) requiring city election officials to publish a public notice with specified city election information no later than three days before the deadline for nomination papers; and (3) removing antiquated instructions as it relates to presidential elections that appear on the ballot. SB 386 awaits the Governor’s signature.
SB 409: Video Ballot Statements Pilot
SB 409 would establish a pilot program in one or more California counties, in which voters will be able to view video versions of the ballot statements submitted by candidates running for election. Voters will be able to easily access these recordings by going to the website of their county elections office, or by scanning a QR code image on the county voter guide. SB 409 was made a two-year bill in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
SB 444: Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Programs
SB 444 encourages California Community Colleges to establish Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) programs and creates a set of regulations that programs must follow in order to receive state funding. Under this bill, the successful MESA program will be codified into the California Education code, thereby providing the stability and ongoing evaluation necessary to best serve students across the state. SB 444 awaits the Governor’s signature.
SB 494: School District Governing Board Meetings
This bill requires district governing boards to use the regular meeting process, rather than employing special or emergency measures when taking action to terminate a district superintendent and/or an assistant superintendent without cause. SB 494 also creates a “cooling off” period after a school board election (at which one or more members of the governing board are elected or recalled) before the governing board may formally act to terminate a district superintendent or an assistant superintendent without cause. SB 494 now awaits the Governor’s signature.
SB 568: Bolstering In-State Recycling of Electronic Waste
To combat the environmental damages and health hazards that occur when electronic waste (also known as “e-waste”) is shipped overseas for disposal, SB 568 will require that exporters of e-waste look first for in-state recycling capacity prior to a decision to export. Not only will this legislation work to address the environmental problems that e-waste causes abroad, it will also bolster in-state e-waste recycling as the industry continues to advance new technologies and processes to safely and responsibly extract scarce and valuable raw materials such as gold, platinum, cobalt, and other rare earth elements. SB 568 was recently signed into law by the Governor.
SB 617: Progressive Design-Build for Transportation Agencies
California is poised to receive as much as $41 billion in federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. SB 617 will authorize local transportation agencies to utilize a contracting model called progressive design-build in the building of essential transportation projects, like new rapid transit lines and other major road improvements. Utilization of the progressive design-build model has shown substantial benefits in reducing project risks, costs, and construction times, while placing the burden of cost overruns on the contractor rather than the taxpayer. SB 617 enjoyed the unanimous support of the Legislature, and has been signed into law by the Governor.
SB 707: Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2023
To address the escalating problem of textile waste and its ensuing environmental damage, SB 707 would establish an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for textiles under the regulatory authority of CalRecycle. This bill will assign producers of clothing and other textiles shared responsibility for funding and implementing programmatic plans that will facilitate the repair and reuse of clothing and expand recycling of textile fibers. This bill is currently in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and will be heard when the Legislature reconvenes next year.
SB 760: School facilities: all-gender restrooms.
SB 760 will ensure that all K-12 students in California have appropriate and equitable access to restrooms by requiring all K-12 schools in California to provide accessible all-gender restrooms for students to use during school hours. This measure will improve the well-being of all students on campus while ensuring safer and more inclusive school communities for everyone. SB 760 was signed by the Governor.
SCA 1: Recall Reform
SCA 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that asks voters to simplify and update California’s recall process so that in the event of a recall ballot, only one question would appear on the ballot: whether the official in question should be recalled, with a simple response of yes or no. The ability to recall a corrupt or incompetent elected official is an essential tool for democratic accountability in California, but it should not be used, as it often has been in recent years, simply as an opportunity to game or manipulate our elections system. SCA 1 enjoys the support of “good government” and voting rights advocates, to include California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, and is pending on the Senate Floor.
About Zero-Emission Vehicles:
In response, California has been working hard to clean our air and shift away from climate-warming fuels and energy sources, including an ambitious plan to eliminate the sale of cars with internal combustion engines in a little more than a decade. By eliminating toxic tailpipe exhaust, zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, offer the potential to reduce climate-warming emissions and unhealthy air pollution by over 80%, and since owners of ZEVs don’t have to pay for gasoline, they’re often cheaper to own in the long run.
Keen readers of these newsletters will know that I’m a proud zero-emission vehicle owner and part of a zero-emission vehicle household, with both types of zero-emissions cars in our driveway: an electric car, driven by my wife, and a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which I drive. I love my hydrogen fuel cell car. It’s great to drive, and I like that I’m able to play my part in combatting climate change. But ZEVs can be several thousand dollars more expensive at purchase than a gasoline-powered car, and for the many families that live in apartments and don’t have easy access to charging at home, the lack of working public chargers makes electric vehicle ownership impractical and unrealistic.
That’s why it’s clear that if we hope to make zero-emission vehicles practical for every family we’re going to have to solve these issues. That’s why I worked hard this legislative session on Senate Bill 425, which would have increased the rebates for zero-emission pickup trucks (but which unfortunately died in the Assembly Appropriations committee). It’s also why I’ve been an ardent advocate for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, which are zero-emission, but unlike electric vehicles can be refueled as quickly as a gas car. I was proud to chair the first-ever hearing of the Senate’s Select Committee on Transitioning to a Zero-Emission Energy Future, at which we explored strategies and challenges for making our public chargers and hydrogen refueling stations more reliable. And it’s why I was proud to work so hard on the reauthorization of the Clean Transportation Program, which will ultimately provide $1.2 billion in funding through the year 2035 to build new chargers and hydrogen refueling stations, and to make sure that the legislation that renewed the program included new, rigorous accountability measures that will help the State track and evaluate reliability and performance.
It’s unreasonable to expect families to pay tens of thousands of dollars more for a ZEV, or spend hours going out of their way to find a working charger or station when they’re already busy trying to make ends meet. We need to make buying and owning a zero-emission vehicle as easy as pulling up to your local gas station, and as affordable as any other gas-powered car on the market. And it’s my responsibility as a state legislator to help shape the policies and economic conditions that make such a seamless transition possible.
If you’re in the market for a new car, check out driveclean.ca.gov for a run down on the State’s various zero-emission vehicle incentives and rebates. And as always, if there's any way my office can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.
District Updates
AccessCal’s New Headquarters Grand Opening
On September 9, I joined community leaders to commemorate the grand opening of the Access California Services’ new headquarters in the city of Anaheim. For more than twenty-five years, AccessCal, as it is known locally, has served as a critical resource to underserved populations in Southern California, providing immigration, wellness, education, and advocacy services in more than twenty different languages. I was very proud to secure in last year’s state budget the $5 million that was used for the renovation of their new headquarters, and I look forward to seeing AccessCal’s expanded footprint multiply their outreach efforts and increase their positive mark on our community.
OC Human Relations Commission 2022 Hate Crimes Report Released
Each year, the OC Human Relations Commission and local non-profit Groundswell publish a report on bias-motivated hate activity in Orange County, relying on a collaborative data collection effort between law enforcement, individuals, school districts, colleges/universities, and community-based organizations. On September 21, the Orange County Human Relations Commission and Groundswell presented the findings of their 2022 OC Hate Crime Report.
In 2022, a staggering 450 hate crimes and incidents were reported across Orange County. This figure represents a very disconcerting 94% increase in hate activity compared to similar data from 2018. The report further found that hate incidents were motivated mainly by bias against race/ethnicity/national origin, religion, and sexual orientation. Hate-motivated activity observed in schools also increased compared to 2021.
Since bias-motivated hate incidents are voluntarily reported, it is quite likely that these incidents happen at even higher rates than we know. Earlier this year, I was proud to introduce a senate concurrent resolution, SCR 15, that creates “Stand Against Hate Action Day,” to clearly and collectively denounce hate in all its forms and to support organizations working to combat hate. We must continue to work together to prevent hate crimes and hate incidents in the future.
The full report can be accessed at this link. If you or someone you know is the witness to or victim of a hate-motivated incident or crime, you can report by calling 211OC, sending an email to ochateacticity@211oc.org, or texting “OChateActivity” to 898211.
29th Senate District’s September 2023 Restaurant of the Month
It was my great privilege to recognize Hide Out Café in Rowland Heights as the 29th Senate District's September 2023 Restaurant of the Month.
Known for their cozy interiors, signature beverages, and unique menu that spans Asian fusion and comfort foods, Hide Out Café has become a significant addition to the Rowland Heights dining scene since its opening in 2018. On a regular day, you can often find owner Dapheny Yingying Chen around the restaurant, happy to greet guests and looking forward to the rewarding feeling of seeing people enjoy all that the restaurant has to offer.
We extend our appreciation for Hide Out Café's contributions to the diversity and quality of culinary offerings in the 29th Senate District over the last five years and onwards.
29th Senate District’s September 2023 Citizen of the Month
In the wake of the devastating Hawaii Firestorm in August this year, Chef Charles Akau and his wife Jamie Borromeo of the Chino Hills-based eatery “Mila’s Kitchen Hawaii,” organized an emergency relief fundraiser for wildfire survivors that generated more than $10,000 in humanitarian aid. Born and raised on the islands as a native Hawaiian, Charles aptly titled the meal ticket-fundraiser “Kōkua Maui,” invoking the Hawaiian cultural precept of kōkua, which characterizes the widespread desire to help others selflessly and without any expectation of personal gain. From that humble starting point, Charles and Jamie reached out to residents and businesses across the region, requesting food and material contributions to operate the fundraiser.
In total, nearly 20 businesses all across Southern California donated high-quality foods, specialty Hawaiian ingredients, and other materials, boosting the fundraiser to a resounding success. Originally set with the goal of amassing $10,000, the effort easily broke that ceiling and generated an impressive $12,000 for survivors. Understanding that the most useful resource for people impacted by an emergency is often money, Charles and Jamie quickly transferred the fundraiser proceeds to a trusted leader in the Maui community. In turn, the relief money was distributed to families throughout the community as a shared resource. From Chino Hills to Lahaina, Kōkua Maui was a truly inspiring community effort.
I am very proud to present Charles, Jamie, and Mila’s Kitchen Hawaii as Citizen of the Month for the 29th Senate District for their outstanding commitment to provide financial relief for Maui wildfire survivors.
Please join me in congratulating them on this well-deserved honor.
Staff Highlights
From Erica Lucia, District Director:
"On September 13, I attended a panel event hosted by the End Human Trafficking Collaborative of Orange County. We heard from experts and leaders from the front lines about key issues and achievable milestones, including discussions with Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large on Human Trafficking John Richmond and Human Trafficking Director of the Los Angeles Attorney’s Office Anh Truong. One milestone highlighted was Senate Bill 14, which was recently signed by the Governor on September 25 – this bill helps protects victims of trafficking by making child human trafficking a serious felony – which Senator Newman was a proud co-author of."
From Nathan Bass, serving the cities of Anaheim, Chino Hills, and Placentia:
“Growing up in the Bass House, I always knew when Election Day was around the corner because my family would begin to buzz about the opportunity to make their voice heard. Their enthusiasm for civic participation became my own over time, so I naturally welcomed an invitation from Cal Poly Pomona to help encourage students to involve themselves at their campus’s 2023 National Voter Registration Day rally. If you are reading this newsletter, it’s probably because you have already registered to vote. However, like many college students, your voter registration may be outdated or presently inaccurate. With the primary and general elections of 2024 just down the road, I urge you to check the status of your voter registration to ensure you are fully prepared to participate. Check your voter registration status here: registertovote.ca.gov.”
From Scott Do, serving the cities of Fullerton, La Habra, and Stanton:
"Last month I had the honor of attending Fullerton College’s dedication of Cruz Reynoso Hall. The Honorable Cruz Reynoso was a role model for many. He was an American civil rights activist and lawyer, educator, the first Chicano California Supreme Court Justice, and a Hornet! Through his work, he was able to inspire the next generation of black and brown leaders. Looking back at what life looked like in North Orange County when Cruz was growing up, and what it looks like now, it’s incredibly humbling to see the progress we’ve made today as a society. We are forever in his debt."
From Elizabeth Lavezzari, serving the cities of Cypress, La Palma, and West Covina:
"On Saturday, September 23, I joined Region 10 of the California Association of Student Councils (CASC) at Valencia High School for the 2023 Fall Regional Student Advocacy Conference. As a participant on the feedback panel, I had the opportunity to hear student proposals and offer suggestions as they hope to continue advocating for these ideas. I was so impressed by the quality of the proposals and the passion the students have for critical topics like gender equity, environmental justice, mental health, academic support, and post-high school preparedness. As young leaders, students have a unique perspective on key education issues and their voices are incredibly important."
From Christiane Salamat, serving the cities of Diamond Bar, Industry, Rowland Heights, and Walnut:
"On September 16, Sheen and I had the pleasure of joining Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Supervisor Katrina Foley, and about 50 local volunteers at Harvest Solution Farms in Irvine for a morning harvesting fresh produce to be distributed to local food pantries all throughout Orange County. As a team, we harvested 7,000 pounds of bell peppers that morning -- just a portion of the nearly 50,000 pounds of fresh produce that the Farm directly provides every week to those experiencing food and nutritional insecurity in the county."
Want to get involved? You can learn more about volunteering at Harvest Solutions Farm and the Second Harvest Food Bank here.
From Sheen Sidhu, serving the cities of Buena Park, Brea, and Yorba Linda:
"On September 2, Yorba Linda resident, Larry Cruz, was awarded his Purple Heart -- 53 years after being wounded on the battle field in Vietnam. Cadets from the Sunburst Youth Academy gave Mr. Cruz a warm welcome, as members of the community joined to celebrate this joyous occasion. Witnessing Mr. Cruz receive the long overdue recognition for his service was an incredibly memorable moment, and one I’ll never forget. As the ceremony concluded, I felt a deep respect and great appreciation for our veterans and current service members, who have made countless sacrifices in order to preserve our freedoms."
Events
Walk to End Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert
The “Care for the Givers” Project is hosting its inaugural benefit concert for Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Siblings Isabella and Sammy Poppin, who are young but very dedicated advocates for Alzheimer’s awareness, have organized a night of community and solidarity to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research.
Alzheimer’s disease impacts millions of individuals and their families, with caregivers playing an essential yet often underappreciated role. Your attendance would contribute not only to Alzheimer’s research, but the support for caregivers who provide love, care, and strength for people affected by the disease.
WHO: Care for the Givers Project
WHAT: Benefit Concert for Walk to End Alzheimer’s
WHEN: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 / 7 PM / Doors open 6 PM
WHERE: The Coach House / 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
For more information visit: https://thecoachhouse.com/concert-schedule/?event_id=13650758
Resources
The County of Orange is conducting its first-ever Older-Adults Needs Assessment. If you are aged 55 or older, or are caring for someone 55 years or older, please share your experiences by participating in the survey. Results from the survey will be used to help the County develop their Master Plan for Aging, which will ensure that the needs of our older adults are being met.
Homeowner’s Resource Fair
The Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office is hosting a homeowner’s resource fair on Saturday, October 14, 2023. This quarterly fair offers essential resources and educational opportunities for homeowners in the region. Participants can receive information on property transfers, senior and veteran benefits, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction, and more. Register here (registration is not required to attend).
WHO: Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office
WHAT: Homeowner’s Resource Fair
WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2023 / 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Recreation Park / 208 Park Avenue, San Fernando, CA 91340
Save the Date: Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force’s “Know More, Do Better”
SAVE THE DATE as the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) and community partners bring back the “Know More, Do Better” sexual exploitation and human trafficking prevention and awareness event for 7th and 8th grade students in Orange County on Wednesday January 31, 2024 for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
