As the September edition of the Toni Times was being prepared, my top-priority bill, SB 2, was still under consideration in the Assembly - the deadline for Senate bills to pass "the other house" is September 15^th.

SB 2 - the Building Homes and Jobs Act - is part of a package of bills aimed at addressing California's severe housing crisis. Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon pledged to make the package a priority during this year's session's home stretch.

SB 2 - the Building Homes and Jobs Act - would create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing. The bill would raise roughly $250 million annually to provide homes for struggling families, seniors and people experiencing chronic homelessness. The revenue would come from a $75 fee imposed on the filing of certain real-estate documents. SB 2 would exempt all property sales from the fee.

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My 2017 bills are making their way through the legislative process. This year's session ends on September 15^th. All of these bills have passed the Senate and are in the Assembly for consideration.

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In 2003, the Cedar fire became one of the most devastating wildfires in California history, scorching more than 280,000 acres in San Diego County and destroying 2,820 homes. Fifteen people lost their lives. The fire started in October. Four years later, the Witch Creek and Harris fires combined to burn more than 288,000 acres in San Diego County and destroy more than 1,300 homes. Seven people died. Those fires also started in October.

Fall is fire season, and the fact that hundreds of thousands of San Diego County trees have died in recent years – as a result of prolonged drought and voracious beetles - isn't helping. September is a great time to make sure you are prepared for fire season.

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies.

In August, a constituent appeared at our office armed with a notice from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, informing him that he was being charged a Fire Prevention Fee - in addition to a late penalty, plus interest. The constituent didn't think he should have to pay the penalty because the notice he received was the first time he'd heard about the fee.

My staff contacted the department on his behalf and discovered that the original notice was sent to the wrong mailing address. The department agreed to remove the penalty and the interest from the constituent's bill.

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Talking construction - housing, water, infrastructure -  with the men and women of Southwest Carpenters Local 547.

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Toni Atkins Senator, 39th District