August 2014 eNews for Speaker Toni G. Atkins

August 2014 eNews for Speaker Toni G. Atkins
Friends,
My August newsletter is here. Inside you will find an update on our drought situation, profiles of several outstanding San Diegans, a legislative report, and a feature on the farmers markets around the 78th Assembly District. And, of course, there are photos of district events and people and a schedule of upcoming community office hours by my office.
I hope you enjoy reading this and continue to have an outstanding summer.
IN THIS ISSUE:
A Note from Toni
LGBT Pride Celebrates Achievements
Veteran Of The Year Honored
Governor Signs My Bills Into Law
Funding For Environmental Justice Grants Included In This Year's State Budget
Community Office Hours
Spotlight On The 78th: Summertime Means Farmers Markets
Around the District
Read All Stories Online
A Note from Toni –
Most of us have heard the Mark Twain quote, “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” Some experts question whether Twain actually ever said this, but there is no doubt that it is an apt description of California’s history with water woes.  This year is no different, as we face one of our worst droughts in memory. And climatologists who had predicted a rainy El Niño season for later this year are now scaling back those predictions. 
A study recently released by the University of California, Davis, Center for Watershed Sciences estimates that this year alone 430,000 acres will remain unplanted due to lack of water, or 5 percent of the irrigated cropland that is the basis of our state’s $44.7 billion agricultural industry.  The study predicts this will cost our economy $2.2 billion and 17,000 jobs and will strain our groundwater resources.  
Drinking water, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities dependent on water – and which are critical to both our lifestyle and our tourism economy – are also in jeopardy.
So we all have to work together to prove Twain wrong.
Recently, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted mandatory statewide emergency water restrictions primarily intended to reduce urban outdoor water use.  These include prohibitions on washing down driveways and sidewalks, allowing outdoor landscape watering to run off into streets and storm drains, washing a car with a hose unless it is fitted with a shutoff valve, and using any potable water in fountains unless it is recirculated.  Violations of these restrictions could lead to fines as high as $500 a day, but the real goal is to get everyone to be water-wise.
Here in San Diego, we already have a strong system of water conservation that in many places has included restricted lawn-watering days and times, a requirement to immediately fix leaks, and limits on serving water in restaurants.  The San Diego County Water Authority has recently urged the extension of these restrictions countywide and has adopted a model ordinance for local governments to use to accomplish this. 
With these measures in place and with extensive public education, San Diego County has reduced its water use 20% since 2007, despite a growing population.  Recent heat waves spiked our usage in the short term, but San Diegans are working hard to conserve. Unfortunately, in the current crisis, it is not enough.
At the state level, we must continue to focus on longer term solutions.  When the legislature returns from its summer recess this month, we will have one week to decide what, if any, water project bonds to place on the November ballot.  These discussions have not been easy, with old rivalries surfacing through regional and industry disagreements about who is entitled to water and whether we should invest in greater storage capacity so we can save rainfall during good years for the “sunny days” that surely lie ahead.
I will have an active leadership role in the upcoming legislative discussions and will continue to make a fair and balanced approach to water one of my highest priorities.  I will also be counting on every San Diegan to be part of the solution.
Warmly,

Speaker of the Assembly, Toni G. Atkins
TONI G. ATKINS
LGBT Pride Celebrates Achievements
The Legislative LGBT Caucus recently recognized 10 individuals who continue to make a difference in California and around the country in a special ceremony at the State Capitol on June 24th, in recognition of Pride month.  Among those honored were two San Diegans – Council President Todd Gloria and my honoree from the 78th Assembly District, Tracie Jada O’Brien.
Recognized for “Excellence in Public Service,” Council President Gloria is an openly gay native San Diegan, third generation resident of District Three, which he represents on the City Council, and a dedicated public servant.  Todd also served as the Interim Mayor of the City of San Diego from August 30, 2013 until March 3, 2014. Since being elected Councilmember in 2008, Todd has championed increased infrastructure investment, resulting in miles of smoother roads, subsequently coining the term "sexy streets." He also led the way for San Diego's first permanent year-round homeless service center and is a leading advocate for transportation options including a stronger public transit system and pedestrian and bicycle projects, and authored Proposition C, which updated the City's veterans hiring policy. In 2013, Todd was one of 24 individuals chosen for the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowship Program for Public Leadership, recognizing him as one of the nation’s most promising young leaders in American government.

San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria (center) was honored for Excellence in Public Service.  Pictured here with Council President Gloria and me are Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez (far left), Assemblymember Rich Gordon, Chair of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, and San Diego Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (far right.)
Tracie Jada O’Brien was honored for Excellence in Community and Public Service.  Her leadership in the transgender community spans several decades of activism in groups such as Transaction, San Diego’s first political and social transgender group, which succeeded in repealing the county’s cross-dressing laws and created Southern California’s first Transgender Women of Color HIV Prevention Campaign, for which Tracie was the cover model in the 1990’s.   Tracie went on to become coordinator of San Diego’s first Transgender Education, Access and Support Program and to serve as co-chair of our Transgender Day of Empowerment.  Throughout this work, Tracie has focused on the enormous disparities in resources available to the transgender community.  Tracie is a certified counselor and is currently affiliated with the San Diego service providers Mental Health Systems, Stepping Stone, and Family Health Centers.  

Tracie Jada O’Brien (center) was honored for Excellence in Community and Public Service.  Pictured here with Ms. O’Brien and me are San Diego Assemblymembers Shirley Weber (far left) and Lorena Gonzalez (far right) and Chair of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, Rich Gordon.
 Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Riots which took place following police raids on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, 45 years ago.  Exactly one year after the Stonewall Riots, the LGBT community began annual celebrations of this event, which brought widespread attention to the LGBT struggle for equality.  By coincidence, Pride Month also represents the first anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision to strike down California’s Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, bringing marriage equality to many more American same sex couples.

I was honored to be the Grand Marshal for this year’s LGBT Pride Parade in San Diego.

I was honored to be selected as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Pride Parade in San Diego.  San Diego Pride is our city’s largest civic event, larger than any convention or sporting event.  This year was San Diego Pride’s 40th anniversary.  Started as a small gathering of LGBT San Diegans who were unable to get a police permit for their “walk,” today’s Pride Parade is seen by as many as 250,000 people lining the streets of Hillcrest.  Pride weekend also now includes a two-day music festival, a community block party, family activities, and the Spirit of Stonewall Rally. In 2009, Pride brought $29 million into the local economy, including the cost of lodging for the many out of town visitors. Last year, Pride was able to distribute $2 million in donations to charitable groups from the event’s proceeds.
As you can see, we had much to celebrate during Pride season this year, but there is still much work to do to achieve full LGBT equality.
Veteran Of The Year Honored
Pearl Harbor survivor Allen Bodenlos is the 78th Assembly District’s Veteran of the Year.  Al played trumpet, French horn and baritone horn in his high school band. He wanted to be a musician, and had even been accepted into a conservatory, but enlisted in the Army instead in 1940. He was made a bugler and then a bugle master because of his abilities and maybe because he always added a little jazz to the sound when he played!
In 1941, Al was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.  On Saturday, December 6 he was in Pearl Harbor buying instruments with his friend Clyde Williams, a friend and fellow musician from the USS Arizona. That evening, there was a “battle of the bands” among musicians stationed on the different battleships in the harbor. At the end of the evening, Al turned down an offer to stay overnight on the Arizona and stayed in a nearby cottage instead.
He was on a shuttle back to the barracks early Sunday morning when the attack came.
Veteran of the Year Allen Bodenlos
Ordered to take cover in a ditch, Al and the other passengers watched black smoke rising and enemy planes flying so close that, as he says, you could see the pilots’ faces. Al was also the company courier, so as soon as he got back to base he spent the next two days on a motorcycle, without sleep, running messages between the command post and airfields on the island. Al spent the rest of the war building and repairing airfields throughout the Pacific. He remained in the army after the war, including being stationed in Korea. He retired in 1947.
Al is an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and he has helped teach many young people about Pearl Harbor and the war. Every year Al returns to Pearl Harbor to place flowers at the USS Arizona and the USS Utah memorials. He is so busy there he says he always needs a vacation after Hawaii!
I am honored to represent Al Bodenlos in the Assembly and I am very proud that he is the 78th Assembly District’s Veteran of the Year.
Governor Signs My Bills Into Law
Governor Brown has recently signed several of the bills I introduced in the beginning of this year.
Domestic Violence Survivors.  AB 1623 will encourage survivors of domestic violence to seek assistance by ensuring the confidentiality of all personal information they may reveal to staff at domestic violence assistance centers called Family Justice Centers.  Sometimes, it is critical that victims of abuse share personal, private information with the people who are trying to help them.  They may have other problems in their lives that bear on the abuse and it is important for service providers to have a full picture.  The most important first step in addressing abuse is to get the victim, and any children involved, into a safe and healthy situation.  If victims fear that they might get in trouble by trying to escape an abusive environment, they are not likely to seek help.
Public Safety.  AB 2149 will enable the County of San Diego to replace its outdated Regional Communication System with newer technology through a competitive process.  This system serves our region’s 911 dispatchers and first responders.  My bill will ensure that both quality and cost are considered during the process to select a replacement system.
Preserving Local Assets.  AB 1963 continues my work to improve the process of dissolution for former redevelopment agencies in order to preserve good projects and properties that were part of redevelopment when it ended.  This bill provides additional time for local governments to submit and receive approval from the state Department of Finance (DOF) of their long range property management plan (LRPMP.) These plans propose uses of property previously owned by the redevelopment agency that are in the public interest, such as use as a fire station or a park. Without DOF approval of a LRPMP, the properties must be quickly sold at whatever price can be obtained, essentially a “fire sale.”  DOF currently has a significant backlog of LRPMPs and will be unable to meet the original deadline for their review. My bill will prevent fire sales while the process continues.
Upon the legislature’s return to Sacramento in August, we will have about one month to decide on the bills that remain in the process. Additional information about the bills I am carrying this year can be found at http://asmdc.org/speaker/about/legislation/2014-legislation.
Funding For Environmental Justice Grants Included In This Year's State Budget
For the first time in almost a decade, the recently adopted 2014-15 state budget includes additional funding for California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) grants for environmental justice projects. Environmental justice is a public policy principle that seeks to prevent a disproportionate impact of toxins and pollution on any single community. CalEPA grants are competitively awarded to non-profits to help them assess environmental issues in areas affected by these hazards. This year, $1.5 million in grant funds will be available, up from $250,000 last year. The funding cap on individual projects has also been raised from $20,000 to $50,000 this year.
CalEPA is currently accepting applications for this Small Grants Program.  Projects accepted for funding may address a variety of environmental and public health objectives, including education on the health and safety of pesticide use, reducing diesel emissions, ensuring safe drinking water, and increasing stakeholder participation in environmental decision-making at the state and local levels. 
Applications must be received by 4:00 pm on September 30, 2014.  CalEPA will announce the grant awards in December.  To obtain an application package, please visit CalEPA’s Environmental Justice website at http://www.calepa.ca.gov/EnvJustice/.  Applications may also be requested by writing to California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Secretary, Attn: Malinda Dumisani, EJ Small Grants Program, P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA  95812-281,via email at Malinda.Dumisani@calepa.ca.gov or by calling 916-445-9480.
Community Office Hours
Continuing this month, my Assembly office will be on-location in local neighborhoods. These Community Office Hours are an opportunity for you to meet with staff and obtain information on state services and events in your community. Please join us!
My office is ready to assist you with the following:
Constituent Services
Department of Motor Vehicles
Consumer Complaints
Veterans Affairs
Medi-Cal and Covered California (Affordable Care Act)
Property Tax Issues
Unemployment and Disability Insurance
State Franchise Tax Board
Legislative Services
Express an opinion
Suggest changes to a law
Ask for copies, summaries, and information on bills
State Information
The State Budget
State agency phone numbers
Reports issued by the Legislature and State Agencies
State Capitol tour requests
Drought response and water-saving information
Tuesday, August 5
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Central Library
Mary Hollis Clark Conference Center
330 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Thursday, August 7
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Pacific Beach Library
4275 Cass Street
San Diego, CA 92109
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Monday, August 11
11 a.m. to noon
N. University City Library
8820 Judicial Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Wednesday, August 13
1 – 2 p.m.
North Park Library
3795 31st Street
San Diego, CA 92104
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Friday, August 22
5 – 6 p.m.
Dempsey Holder Safety Center
950 Ocean Lane
Imperial Beach, CA 91932
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Monday, August 25
11 a.m. – noon
N. University City Library
8820 Judicial Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Wednesday, August 27
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Pt. Loma/Hervey Library
3701 Voltaire Street
San Diego, CA 92122
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Wednesday, August 27
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
North Park Library
3795 31st Street
San Diego, CA 92104
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Thursday, August 28
4 - 5 p.m.
La Jolla/Riford Branch Library
7555 Draper Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
RSVP For This Event Get Directions
Spotlight On The 78th: Summertime Means Farmers Markets
Heirloom tomatoes with fresh herbs and balsamic vinegar.  Bouquets of flowers in every room.  Locally sourced fruit salad.  These are some of the great pleasures of summer that can be had from your local certified farmers market.
People are often surprised to discover that San Diego is a significant agricultural center, home to more than 6,500 farms. Agriculture is our region’s fourth largest industry and there are more small farms located in San Diego than in any other county in the nation. This is why we have such a robust system of farmers markets.
On almost any day of the week, there is a farmers market operating somewhere in the 78th District.  Just like in times gone by, you can do your weekly farm-fresh shopping in the open air along with your neighbors, and support local businesses at the same time.  Each farmers market has its own style and unique flavor.  Certified farmers markets are approved by the County Agricultural Commissioner as selling only California-grown products that meet a very high standard.
Check the list below to find a farmers market near you.  Or visit another neighborhood’s farmers market and see the food diversity of our community.
Coronado Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 2:30-6 p.m.
1st & B Ferry Landing
Coronado, CA 92118

Del Mar Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 1-4 p.m.
1050 Camino Del Mar (Between 10th & 11th Streets) 
Del Mar, CA 92014
Fisherman's Certified Market
Wednesday: 3-7 p.m. 
4900 North Harbor Dr. west of Nimitz Blvd
San Diego, CA 92106
Gaslamp - Third Ave Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
400 block of Third Ave. between Island Ave. & J St.
San Diego, CA 92101
Golden Hill/South Park
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m.
B Street between 27th and 28th
San Diego, CA 92105
Hillcrest Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
3960 Normal Street at Lincoln (Adjacent to the DMV)
San Diego, CA 92103
Horton Square Certified Market
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (March - Oct)
225 Broadway, south side of building cross street Broadway Circle 
San Diego, CA 92101
Imperial Beach Certified Farmers Market
Friday: 12 – 6 p.m. (Oct-Mar), 12 - 7:30 p.m. (Apr-Sept) 
Portwood Pier Plaza 
10 Evergreen Ave.
Imperial Beach, CA 91932    

La Jolla Open Aire Market
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
1111 Marine St. - SW corner of La Jolla Elem. School
La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla/UCSD CFM at the Price Center 
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (closed 3rd week of June through 3rd week of Sept and 2nd week of Dec through 1st week of Jan.) 
9500 Gilman Dr. by Lymann Ln. & Gilman Dr.
La Jolla, CA 92093
Little Italy Mercato 
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Date Street-Kettner to Union St.
San Diego, CA 92101    

North Park Farmers Market
Thursday: 3 – 7 p.m.
Herman St. between University and North Park Way
San Diego, California 92104
Ocean Beach Certified Farmers Market and Wednesday Night Out
Wednesday: 4 – 8 p.m. (Summer) / 4 – 7 p.m. (Winter) 
4900 block of Newport Between Cable & Bacon
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
Pacific Beach Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 8 a.m. - noon
4150 Mission Blvd between Reed & Pacific Beach Blvd 
Pacific Beach, CA 92109
Pacific Beach Tuesday Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 2 – 7 p.m. 
Bayard St from Garnet Ave. to Hornblend St. 
San Diego, CA 92109
Point Loma Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 
2900 block of Cannon St., between Rosecrans & Shafter 
San Diego, CA 92106
Seaside Certified Farmers Market - Mission Bay
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
2475 Grand Ave. & Lee St.
San Diego, CA 92109
Solana Beach Farmers Market
Sunday: 1 - 5 p.m.
410 S. Cedros Ave. 
Solana Beach, CA 92075

University Heights Open Aire Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
4100 Normal St. - Cross Streets Park Blvd & El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92103
Around the District

The National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) invited me to join them at their national convention in San Diego earlier this summer.  I was pleased to join my legislative colleagues Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva and Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg in speaking with their members.

Independence Day in Coronado is a festive occasion!  I enjoyed joining Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka for the town’s annual parade.

Stand Down is an annual 3-day event in San Diego conducted by Veterans Village of San Diego to connect homeless veterans with services.  At the 27th annual Stand Down in July, the good news was that the number of vets seeking help was down to 894 from 968 last year, the second year in a row the number has dropped.  Hopefully that means we are reducing veterans’ homelessness.  The number of volunteers also increased this year, with nearly 3,000 people helping out during the weekend.

Fred Lindahl with Mountain Shadows Foundation (l) and Mark Klaus of Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) recently met with me in my San Diego office to tell me about their work.  Their organizations provide housing and support to people with developmental disabilities, enabling them to live independently while also delivering cost savings to taxpayers.

It was my great pleasure to recognize the accomplishments of Dan Gross, Executive Vice President with Sharp Healthcare with a special Assembly Resolution.  Dan began his career in healthcare in 1979 as a clinical nurse.  He now oversees four acute care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, government relations and clinical effectiveness for the Sharp system.  Thank you for your service Dan!
Warmly,

Speaker of the Assembly, Toni G. Atkins
Toni G. Atkins
Speaker of the Assembly
78th Assembly District
California Assembly Democratic Caucus
Website: http://www.asmdc.org/speaker
Email: Speaker Toni G. Atkins
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849 
Sacramento, CA 94249-0078 United States
Tel: (916) 319-2078
Fax: (916) 319-2178
District Office:
1350 Front Street
Room 6054
San Diego, CA 92101 United States
Tel: (619) 645-3090
Fax: (619) 645-3094
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