As we get ready to flip the page to a new calendar year, December is a good time to pause – whenever we can between the hustle and the bustle of the holiday season – and reflect on the year behind us and think ahead to the one coming around the corner. I like to reset and remind myself of the core values that guide me through life and set the foundation for my policy priorities.

More than anything else, 2017 was a contradiction. While much of the news coming out of Washington, D.C., was disconcerting, California had an exceptional year. We passed the most forward-thinking budget during my time in the Legislature, and we approved major housing, climate-change, transportation, and parks and water legislation.

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Each year, I look forward to participating in Operation Gobble, an event during which California American Water donates Thanksgiving turkeys to charitable organizations up and down the state. In turn, those organizations provide the turkeys to the needy families they serve.

This year, I arranged for many plump holiday turkeys to go to 11 wonderful organizations in the 39th Senate District, whose representatives came one by one to St. James Lutheran Church in Imperial Beach on November 21st to pick up them up.

Providing turkeys to the San Diego LGBT Community Center.

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"We All Count," the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless' annual count of people living on the streets, in their cars, or in shelters will take place on January 26th, but organizers are already seeking volunteers who are interested in dedicating their early-morning hours (4 to 7 a.m.) to surveying people who are experiencing homelessness.

With civic leader Mel Katz, interviewing a woman who was experiencing homelessness last January.

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Late in 2016, I selected Stephanie Park as my top choice among many impressive candidates to work as a Senate Fellow in my Capitol office, and I couldn't be happier that the California Senate Fellows Program assigned her to me. Throughout 2017, Stephanie was an integral member of my staff, serving as my point policy aide on housing - my top priority.

Recognizing the talents of my Senate Fellow, Stephanie Park.

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On November 16th, the California Competes Tax Credit Committee approved $69 million in tax credits for 90 companies that agreed to make a combined $1.2 billion in capital investments and create more than 6,200 jobs.

Of that statewide total, 17 San Diego County businesses received nearly $12 million in tax credits to create 1,160 new jobs.

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December Nights – 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 in Balboa Park.

54th Annual North Park Toyland Holiday Parade and Festival – 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, along University Avenue between Utah Street and Iowa Street in North Park.

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies. If you're having trouble working out an issue with any state agency, please call my office at 619-645-3133, and my staff will do everything in their power to help.

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Had a great conversation with residents in Kensington at the home of Patty Ungar & Philip Linssen.

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Toni Atkins Senator, 39th District