November eNews Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins of San Diego & Sacramento, California, United States for Wednesday, 2 November 2016November eNews
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
November means Thanksgiving and, of course, Thanksgiving means giving thanks for everything we have. It also means giving back to the community, if we are able, to show our gratitude. I hope you can find a way to give back, even if only in the smallest of ways. And I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
As I have attended neighborhood meetings here in San Diego and talked to community members, I’ve heard the assertion more than once that AB 109 and Proposition 47 have resulted in higher crime rates.
Passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2011, AB 109 was a response to a severe problem in California: overcrowding in our state prisons.
Also referred to as “realignment,” it took responsibility for supervising certain felony offenders and state prison parolees away from state prisons and state parole agents and gave it to county jails and probation officers. Counties were provided with state funding to pay for the increased caseload and given significant flexibility in the way they implemented AB 109. Those were key considerations in my support for AB 109.
Along those same lines, Prop. 47, which was placed on the ballot as a citizens-led initiative and approved by California voters in 2014, reclassified certain nonviolent felony crimes as misdemeanors and made some prisoners eligible for possible resentencing, pending a thorough review. It also created a fund for the generated savings, to be spent on programs aimed at reducing prison recidivism.
Many law-enforcement officials – including San Diego’s police chief – express concern that these two measures are making the public less safe, although researchers say it’s too early to define the impacts of Prop. 47.
As for AB 109, I came across a news story that should be part of our ongoing conversation. It was a September 29th KQED story, written by Marisa Lagos, that reported AB 109 has not increased crime; this was based on a study by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), which Lagos calls the “most comprehensive study of realignment’s impacts.” (You can search online for the headline, “Five Years Later, Many See Criminal Justice Realignment As Success,” to read it yourself.)
That’s good news. As UC Irvine criminologist Charis Kubrin says in the story, it means “we can downsize our prisons… without harming public safety.”
As the KQED story noted, AB 109 was a controversial idea. Matt Cate, who in 2011 oversaw the state’s prisons, warned Gov. Jerry Brown at that time that the plan was risky. These days, Cate is executive director of the California State Association of Counties – counties bear the brunt of the new responsibility – and he sees it as a success.
We already knew that massive-scale incarceration doesn’t work. It’s enormously expensive for taxpayers, and that money could be spent on many other worthwhile programs, from education and childcare to public health and targeted tax credits for job creation. Too often, inmates come out of prisons worse than they went in; we just haven’t done a very good job on the rehabilitation side.
I believe that rehabilitation is the right policy goal in the short term. I’m confident that the counties that focus holistically on reintegrating former inmates will be those that see less crime and reduced recidivism. In the long term, we need to focus on prevention through policies that promote healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities. County officials in San Diego -- the sheriff, the health and human services director, the chief probation officer, and the district attorney -- are leaders in this arena.
Still, not everything in the KQED story was positive about AB 109. It noted that the PPIC released a paper more recently saying that predicted savings from realignment haven’t yet materialized. Costs have merely been shifted to counties, where jails are experiencing overcrowding.
Given that some in law enforcement still have serious reservations, and given that counties are feeling the growing pains, this issue is not completely settled in my mind. It’s likely that more needs to be done to make sure the policy is working at all levels, perhaps with additional post-release rehabilitation programs, housing assistance, and more resources for counties to support our local sheriffs and probations departments.
I’m encouraged that the data are pointing to success so far, but this is the state’s most important public safety issue, so I assure you, I’ll be monitoring it closely and continuing the dialogue with you.-------
Passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2011, AB 109 was a response to a severe problem in California: overcrowding in our state prisons.
Also referred to as “realignment,” it took responsibility for supervising certain felony offenders and state prison parolees away from state prisons and state parole agents and gave it to county jails and probation officers. Counties were provided with state funding to pay for the increased caseload and given significant flexibility in the way they implemented AB 109. Those were key considerations in my support for AB 109.
Along those same lines, Prop. 47, which was placed on the ballot as a citizens-led initiative and approved by California voters in 2014, reclassified certain nonviolent felony crimes as misdemeanors and made some prisoners eligible for possible resentencing, pending a thorough review. It also created a fund for the generated savings, to be spent on programs aimed at reducing prison recidivism.
Many law-enforcement officials – including San Diego’s police chief – express concern that these two measures are making the public less safe, although researchers say it’s too early to define the impacts of Prop. 47.
As for AB 109, I came across a news story that should be part of our ongoing conversation. It was a September 29th KQED story, written by Marisa Lagos, that reported AB 109 has not increased crime; this was based on a study by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), which Lagos calls the “most comprehensive study of realignment’s impacts.” (You can search online for the headline, “Five Years Later, Many See Criminal Justice Realignment As Success,” to read it yourself.)
That’s good news. As UC Irvine criminologist Charis Kubrin says in the story, it means “we can downsize our prisons… without harming public safety.”
As the KQED story noted, AB 109 was a controversial idea. Matt Cate, who in 2011 oversaw the state’s prisons, warned Gov. Jerry Brown at that time that the plan was risky. These days, Cate is executive director of the California State Association of Counties – counties bear the brunt of the new responsibility – and he sees it as a success.
We already knew that massive-scale incarceration doesn’t work. It’s enormously expensive for taxpayers, and that money could be spent on many other worthwhile programs, from education and childcare to public health and targeted tax credits for job creation. Too often, inmates come out of prisons worse than they went in; we just haven’t done a very good job on the rehabilitation side.
I believe that rehabilitation is the right policy goal in the short term. I’m confident that the counties that focus holistically on reintegrating former inmates will be those that see less crime and reduced recidivism. In the long term, we need to focus on prevention through policies that promote healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities. County officials in San Diego -- the sheriff, the health and human services director, the chief probation officer, and the district attorney -- are leaders in this arena.
Still, not everything in the KQED story was positive about AB 109. It noted that the PPIC released a paper more recently saying that predicted savings from realignment haven’t yet materialized. Costs have merely been shifted to counties, where jails are experiencing overcrowding.
Given that some in law enforcement still have serious reservations, and given that counties are feeling the growing pains, this issue is not completely settled in my mind. It’s likely that more needs to be done to make sure the policy is working at all levels, perhaps with additional post-release rehabilitation programs, housing assistance, and more resources for counties to support our local sheriffs and probations departments.
I’m encouraged that the data are pointing to success so far, but this is the state’s most important public safety issue, so I assure you, I’ll be monitoring it closely and continuing the dialogue with you.-------
IN THIS ISSUE:
-------Governor Brown Signs My Bills
Another legislative session is over, and that means another group of bills have been signed that I think will provide great benefits to the people of San Diego and all of California.
One of my bills signed by the governor was a piece of legislation that I introduced nearly two years ago and I am very proud of it. AB 635 will start the state down a path to providing medical interpretation services to low-income Californians with limited English skills.
AB 635 requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to conduct a study and make recommendations for the best way to provide these services for Medi-Cal patients. DHCS would then initiate a pilot project to test the recommendations. The current state budget includes $3 million to fund these activities.
The governor also signed my AB 1795, which will help more low-income Californians become eligible for state-covered screening and treatment for breast cancer and cervical cancer.
AB 1795 resolves two specific problems – one that blocks mammogram coverage for women younger than 40 who have symptoms for breast cancer, and one that provides less treatment coverage for patients who experience a recurrence of cancer in the same body tissue as the first cancer than patients who experience a second cancer in a different part of the body.
My remaining bills that the governor signed deal specifically with San Diego issues.
One bill that I’m really excited about will give a big boost to the city of Imperial Beach and its efforts to revitalize its key commercial corridor, Palm Avenue. AB 1500 will authorize the state of California to relinquish control of two stretches of State Route 75 to the cities of San Diego and Imperial Beach.
Route 75 is the highway that crosses the Coronado Bridge, snakes through Coronado, traverses the Silver Strand, and then becomes Palm Avenue when it reaches I.B.. Imperial Beach has been working on revitalization plans for many years, and having greater control over what happens on Palm Avenue will make it much easier to strengthen the local business economy and the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Meanwhile, AB 2568 will allow San Diego County to offer more efficient and responsive health services to county residents. The bill allows the county to be officially designated as an integrated Health and Human Services Agency.
San Diego County has been running an integrated agency overseeing all health and human services departments since 1998, and it has worked well for county residents who require services such as those dealing with aging and independence, behavioral health, child welfare, public health, and self-sufficiency programs. However, the county hasn’t had an official designation, which gives counties added flexibility in budgeting between department accounts.
This new flexibility will allow our county to be more nimble in providing behavioral-health care and protective services, and be able to direct funding where it’s needed most.
And finally, AB 291 ratifies a new gaming compact between the state of California and the Barona Band of Mission Indians, superseding a 1999 agreement.
The compact provides a framework for the sharing of gaming revenue with San Diego County and other local jurisdictions to mitigate off-reservation impacts. It also includes environmental and workforce protections, provides revenue sharing with non-gaming tribes, and maintains strict consumer protections.
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Another Honor for Christine Kehoe and Her ‘Political Animals’
With former state Sen. Christine Kehoe at the San Diego Film Festival. “Political Animals” was part of the festival this year.
A couple of months ago, I told you how proud I was to take part in this summer’s Assembly ceremony to honor our pioneering LGBT legislators, including former state Sen. Christine Kehoe, my mentor.
To recap: I worked on her staff when she was on the San Diego City Council, and she encouraged me to follow in her footsteps and run for office. From the council, she went on to serve in both the Assembly and the Senate.
Last month, I was pleased to take part in another remarkable acknowledgment of Chris' work, the documentary “Political Animals,” which was screened at the San Diego Film Festival.
The film focuses on the experiences of Chris, along with those of her former colleagues in the Legislature: Sheila Kuehl, Carole Migden, and Jackie Goldberg. Filmmakers Jonah Markowitz and Tracy Wares credit them with authoring bills that formed the groundwork for pro-LGBT legislation across the country.
As Chris says in the film, “The whole community was getting more political. There was no going back.”
A promotional line for the film – “When Women Lead, Leaders Follow” – is an appropriate way to describe Chris, Sheila, Carole, and Jackie’s work. They have been, and remain, inspirations for the generations of women and LGBT leaders who have followed them. I’m so glad “Political Animals” is available to show the community how their landmark accomplishments have changed lives for the better, not just in California, but around the country.
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In Coronado, a Blue Star for Those Who Serve
Examples of the banners that will be placed along the Blue Star Memorial Highway in Coronado.
From Camp Pendleton to the Naval Outlying Landing Field in Imperial Beach, San Diego is home to many bases and installations for our sailors and Marines. It’s appropriate that in Coronado, we now have a new site to honor their service.
The Blue Star Memorial Highway program is a collaboration between the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and National Garden Clubs of America that was instituted after World War II. It pays tribute to the nation’s armed forces by honoring select state and national routes that serve an important role in defense of our nation.
In 2014, the city of Coronado designated State Route 282, or Third and Fourth streets from Orange Avenue to Naval Air Station North Island, as the “Coronado Avenue of Heroes” and adopted the companion banner program now implemented along the roadway.
Shortly thereafter, members of the Avenue of Heroes Neighborhood Association (AOHNA) began working to secure a Blue Star designation.
I was happy to help the state of California recognize the contributions of this neighborhood and the military members and veterans who daily travel this route to Naval Air Station North Island. In August, Governor Jerry Brown signed my resolution, ACR 163, which made Coronado’s Blue Star designation official.
More work remains. Caltrans policy is to collaborate with California Garden Clubs Inc. to determine the location, design, installation, and maintenance of memorial markers on Blue Star Memorial Highways.
Meanwhile, the Avenue of Heroes Neighborhood Association is eager to increase the sense of place and identity on Third and Fourth streets through an “Honor Our Military” route theme.
Its mission is to create an appropriate environment to honor the men and women recognized in the banner program through the improvement and beautification of Third and Fourth streets / Coronado Avenue of Heroes.
More than 30 honorees have already been chosen, and they include well-known retired officers who spent their careers in the military and those who more recently made the ultimate sacrifice for their countries.
The honorees include Navy Vice Adm. James Stockdale, a Medal of Honor recipient; Navy Commander Francis Fane, credited with laying the groundwork for the Navy SEALs; Major Gen. Joseph Pendleton, a Marine who helped establish San Diego as a major military hub; and Chief Petty Officer Charles Keating, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Iraq this past May.
Becoming home to a Blue Star Memorial Highway acknowledges Coronado’s long history with the Navy and the service and sacrifice of our military members. I hope San Diegans take the opportunity soon to drive along Third and Fourth streets to see this valuable reminder of the dedication and valor demonstrated by those honored along the highway.
For more information go to https://www.coronado.ca.us/cms/one.aspx?pageId=1617550.
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How San Diego Responded to a Humanitarian Crisis
Recently spoke with volunteers and Pastor Bill Jenkins of the Christ United Methodist Ministry Center, the center of local efforts for Haitian migrants who crossed the border seeking aid.
You may have heard about the large number of displaced Haitians who have come to Tijuana recently, presented themselves at our ports of entry, and sought humanitarian assistance.
Their situation is heart-rending. They fled their country in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake and found work in South America, only to have financial crises there displace them once again, leading them to head north to find refuge. Many of them have relatives in the U.S. and faced tremendous hardship traveling through Central America and Mexico to reach the border, where they hoped to begin the final leg of their journeys and reach their families, who are mostly on the East Coast.
While federal officials determine their fates, state and local aid agencies in San Diego and Tijuana have stepped up to help these visitors, many of whom arrived in our region with little more than the clothes on their backs after their arduous trips.
The state Department of Social Services worked with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and Catholic Charities, helping the Haitian travelers find housing and transportation to reach their families. The California Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Social Services, National Guard, and Cal Volunteers joined forces with community organizations to provide transition shelter, food, clothing, and other assistance during a critical period.
Community groups have played a huge role in San Diego’s response. The Christ United Methodist Ministry Center in Normal Heights was a vital clearinghouse and a safe haven. Among the volunteers who pitched in were Haitian community members in San Diego, some of whom even quit their jobs to volunteer at the church, serving as language interpreters and providing other help as needed.
In all, the Christ Ministry Center has helped an estimated 4,000 people who’ve made their way across the border. Most of these people have moved on to the East Coast, but several hundred are staying in San Diego and continue to be assisted by Christ Ministry and other supporting organizations.
Christ Ministry continues to house women and children, while a small number of men still in need of shelter have been placed by Catholic Charities into temporary housing.
I was happy to join the Rev. Bill Jenkins from Christ Ministry when he stood with Alliance San Diego before a line of news cameras and assorted reporters to ask for the public’s help.
In addition to my undying appreciation for Pastor Bill, the Christ Ministry Center, and Alliance San Diego, I want to thank the other members of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, as well as La Maestra Community Health Centers, the Red Cross, Casa Cornelia Law Center, students from the CSU San Marcos School of Nursing, the LGBT Center, and our labor friends from United Domestic Workers, UNITE HERE!, and SEIU. I additionally want to thank the many faith leaders whose congregations stepped up to donate much-needed food, clothing, and other items. So many community partners came forward to help people in need.
To me, that’s what San Diego is about. When crisis hits, San Diegans respond. There’s been so much negativity in our country lately, but San Diegans don’t give in to fear, anger, and pessimism. We reach out to help when others are in trouble. I’m so thankful for that.
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Support Your Community on Small Business Saturday
We all know that the busy holiday shopping period kicks in right after Thanksgiving. Since 2010, though, rather than going to the mall or big chain stores, we’ve been encouraged to embrace Small Business Saturday. It’s been a wonderful reminder to remember our neighborhood businesses, and it’s been a big hit.
This year Small Business Saturday falls on November 26th , and the motto, as always, is “Shop Small” to support small businesses and their close connection to our communities. These are your neighbors, who create jobs right in your backyard.
Our state economy is booming. Some estimates show that California, if we were a country, has risen to become the fifth largest economy in world. Small business is huge driver for this success, with more than 3.5 million of them in California.
Small businesses don’t just power our economy, though. They serve as the backbone of vibrant town centers, lending character to the communities around them. They also are great contributors to local causes.
In addition, small community businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy. It is estimated that for every $100 spent at a local business, more than $60 will stay in the community. Small businesses also create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than larger firms.
There are public and environmental benefits, too. Small businesses are more accountable to their communities and require little infrastructure when compared with companies that require a great deal of acreage or square footage to operate. They also are more sustainable, as small businesses tend to have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies, while reducing sprawl because they are often located along walkable Main Streets or town centers.
Here are some suggestions for how to support our small businesses:
Please join the many communities across California and the nation that will support local small businesses on Small Business Saturday. These businesses do so much for our communities year-round. The holiday season is a special time to give back to them, too.
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Reaching Veterans to Help Small Business Owners Succeed
Since 2011, 2.5 million to 3 million soldiers have served in active duty. When they return, many want to step out on their own and launch a business. Veterans turn to entrepreneurship at a greater rate than the rest of the population.
More than 2.4 million U.S. businesses are owned by veterans, and they employ 5.8 million workers – and California, just like it does in so many cases, leads the pack.
To support them, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently awarded the San Diego region a grant to operate the ninth “Veterans Business Outreach Center” (VBOC) in the U.S. to help veteran business owners succeed.
The VBOC provides free business advising and training to veterans and their spouses to help them start, manage, and expand their businesses. There is no cost to veterans for most workshops.
Veterans can visit http://www.socalvboc.org to request counseling or sign up for more than 15 workshops a month, including:
Registration is required. It closes on November 3rd .
The VBOC also can help veteran-owned businesses obtain certifications such as “Disabled Veteran-Owned Business,” which gives preference on state-funded projects. There are many opportunities for these businesses right now, especially with the many ongoing federal and state-funded projects in the region, including the Mid-Coast Trolley Project and the North Coast Corridor Project.
Mira Costa College is the SBA grant recipient. The college’s VBOC is located at the North San Diego Small Business Development Center, 2075 Las Palmas Drive in Carlsbad. Veterans and their spouses can call (760) 795-8739 to schedule an assessment or register for any of the workshops at the center’s website.
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Remembering the Hungry on Thanksgiving
With Ruth Henricks, owner of the Huddle in Mission Hills. She helps us each year as part of a Thanksgiving turkey drive for the community.
Thanksgiving, of course, is a time to show our gratitude, but it’s also a great opportunity to remember those who are less fortunate. There are many San Diegans who don’t know where there next meal will come from.
Of San Diego County’s 3.1 million residents, almost 470,000 live in poverty – nearly 15 % of the population. It’s even more devastating to know that more than one out of every four of those facing poverty is a child. Many of these San Diegans face “food insecurity,” which means they are in danger of missing their next meal.
There are various ways to help fight hunger during this season, from picking up extra cans of non-perishable food at the grocery store to joining or creating a food drive.
Here are some local events and other opportunities to help:
Take a Capitol Tour!
If you're traveling from San Diego to Sacramento, and you would like a tour of the Capitol, please contact my district office, (619) 645-3090.
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Everyone Deserves Fair Pay
During the last couple of years, the state Legislature has made great strides in strengthening laws that ensure fair and equitable pay for work, regardless of gender. In 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Fair Pay Act, which shored up some weaknesses in our equal-pay statutes.
If you believe you’re not being paid equal pay for equal work, you can file a claim with the state Labor Commissioner’s Office. Please go to the state Department of Industrial Relations’ website (dir.ca.gov) and type “Equal Pay Act” in the search field. That will take you to an informative page with a Q&A that explains how the laws have been strengthened and how to file a claim.
The web page also includes information about filing a claim for gender discrimination under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly outside of pay issues.
This is 2016. It’s long past time for equal treatment under the law. I remain committed to support efforts to reach that goal.
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Being Thankful and Bringing Awareness to Homelessness
On the streets in January, taking part in the annual WeAllCount survey of homeless people in our region.
If you know only one thing about me, it could be that I’m from the South. Odds are, however, it’s that housing is my public-policy passion. More specifically, it’s providing affordable housing for people with very low incomes and people experiencing homelessness.
That’s why I appreciate the efforts of organizations that draw attention to the plight of people who are homeless. Two of those are the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. Every year, they unite to sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (HH Week).
HH Week is held annually the week before Thanksgiving, as a way of reminding Americans to be thankful for what they have and to show compassion for those who have much less. HH Week, which runs this year from November 12th through 20th, urges us to volunteer with local groups that help people who are homeless and/or hungry.
In California, we have 12% of the U.S. population, but 20% of the nation’s homeless. Recently, San Diego experienced a dramatic rise in the number of unsheltered homeless people -- those who live outdoors or in cars, rather than in shelters.
But I don’t have to tell you how big a problem homelessness is. You see it for yourselves every day, mostly in the downtown area, but also in other communities.
I pledge to continue to seek solutions at the state level. The Legislature this year passed a number of measures that will help, including a $2 billion bond that will fund the creation of permanent supportive housing for homeless people who suffer from mental illness. My No. 1 goal is to find a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, so we can get more people and families off the streets and into homes of their own.
You can help locally by donating your time or money to organizations in San Diego that help fight homelessness or bring comfort to your neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. You can also help urge local city and county leaders to pursue solutions that follow the “Housing First” model to offer permanent, affordable housing as quickly as possible.
I was pleased that the city of San Diego recently hired someone whose job will be to serve a point person on local homelessness, making sure that all agencies, departments, and service providers are on the same page.
Most of us have much to be thankful for. This month and beyond, let’s bring some extra attention to those who are struggling.
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It’s American Diabetes Month – Eat Healthy!
November is American Diabetes Month. To help spread awareness of this terrible disease, both my district office in San Diego and my Capitol office will participate in National Healthy Lunch Day on November 15th. We’ll post photos of our yummy, healthful dishes on social media, using the hashtag #MyHealthyLunch. I encourage you to do the same!
Diabetes is a growing health crisis affecting more than 29 million Americans. San Diego is home to 2.4 million Americans living with diabetes and prediabetes. Studies show one in three children born after 2000 in the United States is directly affected by this disease.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 23 seconds, and 86 million Americans are at risk for the disease.
I am committed to educating our community about its effects and how we can support those who are suffering.
The 2016 American Diabetes Month campaign, dubbed “This is Diabetes,” invites people to share their own stories of how diabetes has impacted them, their families, or their friends – stories of challenge and triumph. Use the hashtag #ThisIsDiabetes on social media.
Every day we have the opportunity to make small changes that contribute to a healthier lifestyle. It can be as simple as packing a lunch or educating friends and family about the effects of diabetes. No small adjustment is insignificant, and every small step counts.
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Best Face Forward for Pacific Beach
Sometimes you need help addressing issues with state agencies. My staff is here for you. They can provide support to constituents in their dealings with a variety of agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Consumer Affairs , among others.
We were recently contacted by a constituent who represented a group of residents concerned about trash and overgrown vegetation along Interstate 5 near Pacific Beach. It was unsightly, and since the freeway is the gateway for many visitors to Pacific Beach, the residents wanted to present the best face for their community.
We contacted Caltrans, and officials responded the same day, creating a service request. The constituent contacted us by the end of the week to say a maintenance crew was at the scene 24 hours after her call, clearing the freeway on- and off-ramps near Pacific Beach. She was thrilled by the quick turnaround.
If you find you need help, please call our office at (619) 645-3090. You’ll be referred to one of our field reps, who keep in regular contact with our state agencies. They will be happy to offer you the support you need to resolve your issue.
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Around the District
With Rep. Scott Peters and philanthropist Gary West, who along with his wife, Mary, supported the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center, which celebrated its grand opening in October. The center provides care for needy seniors who might otherwise not be able to afford dental services.
Pleased to be there to honor my friend, Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber, as she was inducted into the Black American Political Association of California.
Big day as I joined the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. on a tour of the Samsung plant in Tijuana. This was just one of the many ways the EDC shined the spotlight on our region for Manufacturing Day, a reminder of the wide variety of goods produced in San Diego, from tech devices to sporting goods.
Spent the evening with constituents in Hillcrest recently, at the town council and community business meetings. Here I am with members of the Hillcrest Business Association.
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To view the district events calendar, please click the button below
View Calendar+-------
Warmly,
Toni G. Atkins
Speaker Emeritus
A banner in honor of Chief Petty Officer Charles Keating IV, placed along the newly christened Blue Star Memorial Highway in Coronado. The state made the "Blue Star" designation official in August.
P.S. Social media is a great way to connect with my office! Use the icon below to like my page on Facebook.
- A Note from Toni
- Governor Brown Signs My Bills
- Another Honor for Christine Kehoe and Her 'Political Animals'
- In Coronado, a Blue Star for Those Who Serve
- How San Diego Responded to a Humanitarian Crisis
- Support Your Community on Small Business Saturday
- Reaching Veterans to Help Small Business Owners Succeed
- Remembering the Hungry on Thanksgiving
- Take a Capitol Tour!
- Everyone Deserves Fair Pay
- Being Thankful and Bringing Awareness to Homelessness
- It's American Diabetes Month - Eat Healthy!
- Best Face Forward for Pacific Beach
- Around the District
- Events & Office Hours Calendar
-------Governor Brown Signs My Bills
Another legislative session is over, and that means another group of bills have been signed that I think will provide great benefits to the people of San Diego and all of California.
One of my bills signed by the governor was a piece of legislation that I introduced nearly two years ago and I am very proud of it. AB 635 will start the state down a path to providing medical interpretation services to low-income Californians with limited English skills.
AB 635 requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to conduct a study and make recommendations for the best way to provide these services for Medi-Cal patients. DHCS would then initiate a pilot project to test the recommendations. The current state budget includes $3 million to fund these activities.
The governor also signed my AB 1795, which will help more low-income Californians become eligible for state-covered screening and treatment for breast cancer and cervical cancer.
AB 1795 resolves two specific problems – one that blocks mammogram coverage for women younger than 40 who have symptoms for breast cancer, and one that provides less treatment coverage for patients who experience a recurrence of cancer in the same body tissue as the first cancer than patients who experience a second cancer in a different part of the body.
My remaining bills that the governor signed deal specifically with San Diego issues.
One bill that I’m really excited about will give a big boost to the city of Imperial Beach and its efforts to revitalize its key commercial corridor, Palm Avenue. AB 1500 will authorize the state of California to relinquish control of two stretches of State Route 75 to the cities of San Diego and Imperial Beach.
Route 75 is the highway that crosses the Coronado Bridge, snakes through Coronado, traverses the Silver Strand, and then becomes Palm Avenue when it reaches I.B.. Imperial Beach has been working on revitalization plans for many years, and having greater control over what happens on Palm Avenue will make it much easier to strengthen the local business economy and the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Meanwhile, AB 2568 will allow San Diego County to offer more efficient and responsive health services to county residents. The bill allows the county to be officially designated as an integrated Health and Human Services Agency.
San Diego County has been running an integrated agency overseeing all health and human services departments since 1998, and it has worked well for county residents who require services such as those dealing with aging and independence, behavioral health, child welfare, public health, and self-sufficiency programs. However, the county hasn’t had an official designation, which gives counties added flexibility in budgeting between department accounts.
This new flexibility will allow our county to be more nimble in providing behavioral-health care and protective services, and be able to direct funding where it’s needed most.
And finally, AB 291 ratifies a new gaming compact between the state of California and the Barona Band of Mission Indians, superseding a 1999 agreement.
The compact provides a framework for the sharing of gaming revenue with San Diego County and other local jurisdictions to mitigate off-reservation impacts. It also includes environmental and workforce protections, provides revenue sharing with non-gaming tribes, and maintains strict consumer protections.
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Another Honor for Christine Kehoe and Her ‘Political Animals’
With former state Sen. Christine Kehoe at the San Diego Film Festival. “Political Animals” was part of the festival this year.
A couple of months ago, I told you how proud I was to take part in this summer’s Assembly ceremony to honor our pioneering LGBT legislators, including former state Sen. Christine Kehoe, my mentor.
To recap: I worked on her staff when she was on the San Diego City Council, and she encouraged me to follow in her footsteps and run for office. From the council, she went on to serve in both the Assembly and the Senate.
Last month, I was pleased to take part in another remarkable acknowledgment of Chris' work, the documentary “Political Animals,” which was screened at the San Diego Film Festival.
The film focuses on the experiences of Chris, along with those of her former colleagues in the Legislature: Sheila Kuehl, Carole Migden, and Jackie Goldberg. Filmmakers Jonah Markowitz and Tracy Wares credit them with authoring bills that formed the groundwork for pro-LGBT legislation across the country.
As Chris says in the film, “The whole community was getting more political. There was no going back.”
A promotional line for the film – “When Women Lead, Leaders Follow” – is an appropriate way to describe Chris, Sheila, Carole, and Jackie’s work. They have been, and remain, inspirations for the generations of women and LGBT leaders who have followed them. I’m so glad “Political Animals” is available to show the community how their landmark accomplishments have changed lives for the better, not just in California, but around the country.
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In Coronado, a Blue Star for Those Who Serve
From Camp Pendleton to the Naval Outlying Landing Field in Imperial Beach, San Diego is home to many bases and installations for our sailors and Marines. It’s appropriate that in Coronado, we now have a new site to honor their service.
The Blue Star Memorial Highway program is a collaboration between the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and National Garden Clubs of America that was instituted after World War II. It pays tribute to the nation’s armed forces by honoring select state and national routes that serve an important role in defense of our nation.
In 2014, the city of Coronado designated State Route 282, or Third and Fourth streets from Orange Avenue to Naval Air Station North Island, as the “Coronado Avenue of Heroes” and adopted the companion banner program now implemented along the roadway.
Shortly thereafter, members of the Avenue of Heroes Neighborhood Association (AOHNA) began working to secure a Blue Star designation.
I was happy to help the state of California recognize the contributions of this neighborhood and the military members and veterans who daily travel this route to Naval Air Station North Island. In August, Governor Jerry Brown signed my resolution, ACR 163, which made Coronado’s Blue Star designation official.
More work remains. Caltrans policy is to collaborate with California Garden Clubs Inc. to determine the location, design, installation, and maintenance of memorial markers on Blue Star Memorial Highways.
Meanwhile, the Avenue of Heroes Neighborhood Association is eager to increase the sense of place and identity on Third and Fourth streets through an “Honor Our Military” route theme.
Its mission is to create an appropriate environment to honor the men and women recognized in the banner program through the improvement and beautification of Third and Fourth streets / Coronado Avenue of Heroes.
More than 30 honorees have already been chosen, and they include well-known retired officers who spent their careers in the military and those who more recently made the ultimate sacrifice for their countries.
The honorees include Navy Vice Adm. James Stockdale, a Medal of Honor recipient; Navy Commander Francis Fane, credited with laying the groundwork for the Navy SEALs; Major Gen. Joseph Pendleton, a Marine who helped establish San Diego as a major military hub; and Chief Petty Officer Charles Keating, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Iraq this past May.
Becoming home to a Blue Star Memorial Highway acknowledges Coronado’s long history with the Navy and the service and sacrifice of our military members. I hope San Diegans take the opportunity soon to drive along Third and Fourth streets to see this valuable reminder of the dedication and valor demonstrated by those honored along the highway.
For more information go to https://www.coronado.ca.us/cms/one.aspx?pageId=1617550.
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How San Diego Responded to a Humanitarian Crisis
Recently spoke with volunteers and Pastor Bill Jenkins of the Christ United Methodist Ministry Center, the center of local efforts for Haitian migrants who crossed the border seeking aid.
You may have heard about the large number of displaced Haitians who have come to Tijuana recently, presented themselves at our ports of entry, and sought humanitarian assistance.
Their situation is heart-rending. They fled their country in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake and found work in South America, only to have financial crises there displace them once again, leading them to head north to find refuge. Many of them have relatives in the U.S. and faced tremendous hardship traveling through Central America and Mexico to reach the border, where they hoped to begin the final leg of their journeys and reach their families, who are mostly on the East Coast.
While federal officials determine their fates, state and local aid agencies in San Diego and Tijuana have stepped up to help these visitors, many of whom arrived in our region with little more than the clothes on their backs after their arduous trips.
The state Department of Social Services worked with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and Catholic Charities, helping the Haitian travelers find housing and transportation to reach their families. The California Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Social Services, National Guard, and Cal Volunteers joined forces with community organizations to provide transition shelter, food, clothing, and other assistance during a critical period.
Community groups have played a huge role in San Diego’s response. The Christ United Methodist Ministry Center in Normal Heights was a vital clearinghouse and a safe haven. Among the volunteers who pitched in were Haitian community members in San Diego, some of whom even quit their jobs to volunteer at the church, serving as language interpreters and providing other help as needed.
In all, the Christ Ministry Center has helped an estimated 4,000 people who’ve made their way across the border. Most of these people have moved on to the East Coast, but several hundred are staying in San Diego and continue to be assisted by Christ Ministry and other supporting organizations.
Christ Ministry continues to house women and children, while a small number of men still in need of shelter have been placed by Catholic Charities into temporary housing.
I was happy to join the Rev. Bill Jenkins from Christ Ministry when he stood with Alliance San Diego before a line of news cameras and assorted reporters to ask for the public’s help.
In addition to my undying appreciation for Pastor Bill, the Christ Ministry Center, and Alliance San Diego, I want to thank the other members of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, as well as La Maestra Community Health Centers, the Red Cross, Casa Cornelia Law Center, students from the CSU San Marcos School of Nursing, the LGBT Center, and our labor friends from United Domestic Workers, UNITE HERE!, and SEIU. I additionally want to thank the many faith leaders whose congregations stepped up to donate much-needed food, clothing, and other items. So many community partners came forward to help people in need.
To me, that’s what San Diego is about. When crisis hits, San Diegans respond. There’s been so much negativity in our country lately, but San Diegans don’t give in to fear, anger, and pessimism. We reach out to help when others are in trouble. I’m so thankful for that.
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Support Your Community on Small Business Saturday
We all know that the busy holiday shopping period kicks in right after Thanksgiving. Since 2010, though, rather than going to the mall or big chain stores, we’ve been encouraged to embrace Small Business Saturday. It’s been a wonderful reminder to remember our neighborhood businesses, and it’s been a big hit.
This year Small Business Saturday falls on November 26th , and the motto, as always, is “Shop Small” to support small businesses and their close connection to our communities. These are your neighbors, who create jobs right in your backyard.
Our state economy is booming. Some estimates show that California, if we were a country, has risen to become the fifth largest economy in world. Small business is huge driver for this success, with more than 3.5 million of them in California.
Small businesses don’t just power our economy, though. They serve as the backbone of vibrant town centers, lending character to the communities around them. They also are great contributors to local causes.
In addition, small community businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy. It is estimated that for every $100 spent at a local business, more than $60 will stay in the community. Small businesses also create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than larger firms.
There are public and environmental benefits, too. Small businesses are more accountable to their communities and require little infrastructure when compared with companies that require a great deal of acreage or square footage to operate. They also are more sustainable, as small businesses tend to have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies, while reducing sprawl because they are often located along walkable Main Streets or town centers.
Here are some suggestions for how to support our small businesses:
- Enjoy the specialty at a local restaurant or relax over a coffee at a local cafe.
- Visit your neighborhood nursery or hardware store for garden or home needs.
- Purchase a holiday present at a local shop; Small Business Saturday is perfectly timed for gift shopping!
- Get your car serviced by a mechanic in your neighborhood.
- Visit a farmers market to purchase the ingredients for holiday feasts and festivities.
Please join the many communities across California and the nation that will support local small businesses on Small Business Saturday. These businesses do so much for our communities year-round. The holiday season is a special time to give back to them, too.
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Reaching Veterans to Help Small Business Owners Succeed
Since 2011, 2.5 million to 3 million soldiers have served in active duty. When they return, many want to step out on their own and launch a business. Veterans turn to entrepreneurship at a greater rate than the rest of the population.
More than 2.4 million U.S. businesses are owned by veterans, and they employ 5.8 million workers – and California, just like it does in so many cases, leads the pack.
To support them, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently awarded the San Diego region a grant to operate the ninth “Veterans Business Outreach Center” (VBOC) in the U.S. to help veteran business owners succeed.
The VBOC provides free business advising and training to veterans and their spouses to help them start, manage, and expand their businesses. There is no cost to veterans for most workshops.
Veterans can visit http://www.socalvboc.org to request counseling or sign up for more than 15 workshops a month, including:
- How to Start a Business
- Beyond the Basics of Government Contracting
- Internet Marketing
- Customer Service
- Exporting
- Legal Issues, and
- Quick Books.
Registration is required. It closes on November 3rd .
The VBOC also can help veteran-owned businesses obtain certifications such as “Disabled Veteran-Owned Business,” which gives preference on state-funded projects. There are many opportunities for these businesses right now, especially with the many ongoing federal and state-funded projects in the region, including the Mid-Coast Trolley Project and the North Coast Corridor Project.
Mira Costa College is the SBA grant recipient. The college’s VBOC is located at the North San Diego Small Business Development Center, 2075 Las Palmas Drive in Carlsbad. Veterans and their spouses can call (760) 795-8739 to schedule an assessment or register for any of the workshops at the center’s website.
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Remembering the Hungry on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, of course, is a time to show our gratitude, but it’s also a great opportunity to remember those who are less fortunate. There are many San Diegans who don’t know where there next meal will come from.
Of San Diego County’s 3.1 million residents, almost 470,000 live in poverty – nearly 15 % of the population. It’s even more devastating to know that more than one out of every four of those facing poverty is a child. Many of these San Diegans face “food insecurity,” which means they are in danger of missing their next meal.
There are various ways to help fight hunger during this season, from picking up extra cans of non-perishable food at the grocery store to joining or creating a food drive.
Here are some local events and other opportunities to help:
- Run for the Hungry: You can join the 16th annual Thanksgiving Run for the Hungry on November 24th. The event features 5K and 10K run/walks and takes place in downtown San Diego, beginning at Broadway Circle, in front of Westfield Horton Plaza, and continuing through East Village and the Gaslamp Quarter Proceeds benefit the hunger-relief programs of the San Diego Food Bank and the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service of San Diego. For more information, visit www.SDRunfortheHungry.org.
- Virtual Food Drive: Interested in creating your own food drive? The San Diego Food Bank has a way. By hosting a food drive online, for family or co-workers, you’re also helping the Food Bank devote more resources to clients rather than to collecting donations from physical drive locations throughout San Diego. Virtual drives focus on the same staples as any other food drives – items like canned tuna, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, and cereals. Donors can create fundraisers linked to special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations – and of course, a Thanksgiving food drive! The Food Bank uses your information to set up a page especially for your food drive, which then can be shared on social media. Find out more at FoodDriveonline.org. Many supermarkets and local businesses throughout San Diego County have barrels on display during the season to collect items for food banks and other agencies. Local companies step up, too. Sprouts, for instance, offers pre-bagged groceries in the annual “Grab n’ Give Drive.” Patrons are asked to buy a bag, which the store donates to local food banks. In 2013, that resulted in more than 400,000 meals for hungry San Diegans. We should remember that hunger is a problem that can be easy to miss. It might affect the senior citizen you see at the post office, the youngster walking home from school, your co-worker, or the cashier at the coffee shop. Supporting food banks at this time of year is a good way to be thankful for your own blessings, while also helping those who are less fortunate have a brighter holiday. Please join me in supporting or launching a food drive as Thanksgiving draws closer.
Take a Capitol Tour!
If you're traveling from San Diego to Sacramento, and you would like a tour of the Capitol, please contact my district office, (619) 645-3090.
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Everyone Deserves Fair Pay
During the last couple of years, the state Legislature has made great strides in strengthening laws that ensure fair and equitable pay for work, regardless of gender. In 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Fair Pay Act, which shored up some weaknesses in our equal-pay statutes.
If you believe you’re not being paid equal pay for equal work, you can file a claim with the state Labor Commissioner’s Office. Please go to the state Department of Industrial Relations’ website (dir.ca.gov) and type “Equal Pay Act” in the search field. That will take you to an informative page with a Q&A that explains how the laws have been strengthened and how to file a claim.
The web page also includes information about filing a claim for gender discrimination under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly outside of pay issues.
This is 2016. It’s long past time for equal treatment under the law. I remain committed to support efforts to reach that goal.
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Being Thankful and Bringing Awareness to Homelessness
On the streets in January, taking part in the annual WeAllCount survey of homeless people in our region.
If you know only one thing about me, it could be that I’m from the South. Odds are, however, it’s that housing is my public-policy passion. More specifically, it’s providing affordable housing for people with very low incomes and people experiencing homelessness.
That’s why I appreciate the efforts of organizations that draw attention to the plight of people who are homeless. Two of those are the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. Every year, they unite to sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (HH Week).
HH Week is held annually the week before Thanksgiving, as a way of reminding Americans to be thankful for what they have and to show compassion for those who have much less. HH Week, which runs this year from November 12th through 20th, urges us to volunteer with local groups that help people who are homeless and/or hungry.
In California, we have 12% of the U.S. population, but 20% of the nation’s homeless. Recently, San Diego experienced a dramatic rise in the number of unsheltered homeless people -- those who live outdoors or in cars, rather than in shelters.
But I don’t have to tell you how big a problem homelessness is. You see it for yourselves every day, mostly in the downtown area, but also in other communities.
I pledge to continue to seek solutions at the state level. The Legislature this year passed a number of measures that will help, including a $2 billion bond that will fund the creation of permanent supportive housing for homeless people who suffer from mental illness. My No. 1 goal is to find a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, so we can get more people and families off the streets and into homes of their own.
You can help locally by donating your time or money to organizations in San Diego that help fight homelessness or bring comfort to your neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. You can also help urge local city and county leaders to pursue solutions that follow the “Housing First” model to offer permanent, affordable housing as quickly as possible.
I was pleased that the city of San Diego recently hired someone whose job will be to serve a point person on local homelessness, making sure that all agencies, departments, and service providers are on the same page.
Most of us have much to be thankful for. This month and beyond, let’s bring some extra attention to those who are struggling.
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It’s American Diabetes Month – Eat Healthy!
November is American Diabetes Month. To help spread awareness of this terrible disease, both my district office in San Diego and my Capitol office will participate in National Healthy Lunch Day on November 15th. We’ll post photos of our yummy, healthful dishes on social media, using the hashtag #MyHealthyLunch. I encourage you to do the same!
Diabetes is a growing health crisis affecting more than 29 million Americans. San Diego is home to 2.4 million Americans living with diabetes and prediabetes. Studies show one in three children born after 2000 in the United States is directly affected by this disease.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 23 seconds, and 86 million Americans are at risk for the disease.
I am committed to educating our community about its effects and how we can support those who are suffering.
The 2016 American Diabetes Month campaign, dubbed “This is Diabetes,” invites people to share their own stories of how diabetes has impacted them, their families, or their friends – stories of challenge and triumph. Use the hashtag #ThisIsDiabetes on social media.
Every day we have the opportunity to make small changes that contribute to a healthier lifestyle. It can be as simple as packing a lunch or educating friends and family about the effects of diabetes. No small adjustment is insignificant, and every small step counts.
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Best Face Forward for Pacific Beach
Sometimes you need help addressing issues with state agencies. My staff is here for you. They can provide support to constituents in their dealings with a variety of agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Consumer Affairs , among others.
We were recently contacted by a constituent who represented a group of residents concerned about trash and overgrown vegetation along Interstate 5 near Pacific Beach. It was unsightly, and since the freeway is the gateway for many visitors to Pacific Beach, the residents wanted to present the best face for their community.
We contacted Caltrans, and officials responded the same day, creating a service request. The constituent contacted us by the end of the week to say a maintenance crew was at the scene 24 hours after her call, clearing the freeway on- and off-ramps near Pacific Beach. She was thrilled by the quick turnaround.
If you find you need help, please call our office at (619) 645-3090. You’ll be referred to one of our field reps, who keep in regular contact with our state agencies. They will be happy to offer you the support you need to resolve your issue.
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Around the District
With Rep. Scott Peters and philanthropist Gary West, who along with his wife, Mary, supported the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center, which celebrated its grand opening in October. The center provides care for needy seniors who might otherwise not be able to afford dental services.
Pleased to be there to honor my friend, Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber, as she was inducted into the Black American Political Association of California.
Big day as I joined the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. on a tour of the Samsung plant in Tijuana. This was just one of the many ways the EDC shined the spotlight on our region for Manufacturing Day, a reminder of the wide variety of goods produced in San Diego, from tech devices to sporting goods.
Spent the evening with constituents in Hillcrest recently, at the town council and community business meetings. Here I am with members of the Hillcrest Business Association.
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To view the district events calendar, please click the button below
View Calendar+-------
Warmly,
Toni G. Atkins
Speaker Emeritus
78th Assembly District
P.S. Social media is a great way to connect with my office! Use the icon below to like my page on Facebook.
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Website: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a78Email: Assemblymember Toni G. Atkins
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, California 94249-0078, United States
Tel: (916) 319-2078
Fax: (916) 319-2178
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, California 94249-0078, United States
Tel: (916) 319-2078
Fax: (916) 319-2178
District Office:
1350 Front Street
Room 6054
San Diego, California 92101, United States
Tel: (619) 645-3090
Fax: (619) 645-3094
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1350 Front Street
Room 6054
San Diego, California 92101, United States
Tel: (619) 645-3090
Fax: (619) 645-3094
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