The Toni Times | September 2020
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What a month! Only hours ago, the California State Senate finished reviewing hundreds of bills as our two-year legislative session came to an end. The end of session is always a crunch time, but this year it was even more complicated because of the measures we had to put in place to keep the public, legislators, and staff safe while doing the people’s business.
The Senate announced in April that we would narrow our bill focus to the most pressing issues facing California, especially the pandemic and economic recovery. We also sought to find ways to address the great call for change spurred by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and too many others, passing several bills to help remove some of the stains of racism from our social fabric. We must keep the legislative momentum going for even more gains.
With COVID-19, as soon as the first stay-at-home order took effect, the Senate began developing a path forward for the people of our state. We approved emergency aid, and laid out proposals that will help Californians – including essential workers, first responders, renters, small businesses and working families – keep their housing, reach financial stability and have safer workplaces. Having focused much of my life’s work on affordable housing, which was a crisis before the pandemic, and has been made worse by it, I know much remains to be done in our next session. In addition to helping meet California’s housing demand, housing production legislation will create thousands of good jobs that strengthen working families and help rebuild the state’s economy. The $100 million hiring credit we enacted this session will also spur new jobs.
While we had to delay several important bills this year, that doesn’t mean it is the end for them. I postponed my big bill of the year, SB 1100, which would have helped local communities combat sea level rise. This is an issue that is not going away, and must to be part of California’s comprehensive approach to climate change. I appreciate the support and input we have received from Scripps and local climate organizations and I’m excited to build on this good work next year. In fact, over the next few weeks, I look forward to having conversations here at home and with Californians all across the state on different legislative approaches the Senate should consider when our new session starts in December. I hope you will be part of those discussions.
We are working on a more in-depth recap of the end of session, which I will be sharing with you soon. My office will also continue to provide important information on COVID-19, fires and power outages, and other urgent situations that may develop. In the meantime, stay safe, stay well, check in on each other, and please, contact me or my office if we can be of any help.
The 2020 Census window is quickly coming to a close, with the deadline to respond September 30. It is imperative that everyone participate. I invited Kyra Greene, the Executive Director of the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI), to explain why 2020 is one of the most crucial Census years in a generation. - Toni
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We get one chance every 10 years to make a difference that can last a generation. We must take it.
In 2020, we all get to count fully in the Census, something deeply meaningful to me as a Black woman.
It’s a shameful reality that for 80 years, a Black person was only counted as three-fifths of a person to determine how many representatives each state would have. Now, the Census is constitutionally bound to count the “whole number of persons in each state.” This means that everyone – regardless of your race, country of origin, or citizenship status – has the constitutional right to be counted. But, if we fail to count large numbers of people of particular races, ethnicities, or citizenship status, then the communities where those folks live will still only get a portion of the representation they are entitled to have.
Participating in the Census is one of the easiest and most inclusive forms of civic engagement available to us. It sends that message that, “This is who I am; I am here and I matter.” At the Center on Policy Initiatives (CPI) we work to ensure that low-income communities of color get their fair share of public investments. Making sure that every household fills out their Census form and reports about every person, even the babies, is part of ensuring communities get their fair share of money and political power. Each person counted brings in funding that supports public programs, roads, schools, hospitals, and many other services in the San Diego region.
At CPI, we also use U.S. Census Bureau data as the basis for much of our research and analysis. The insights we derive from U.S. Census data help drive our policy recommendations and our work in the intersectional fights to make systematic changes that make life better for ALL families in San Diego.
CPI is a proud member of Count Me 2020, a coalition of over 100 organizations doing outreach to ensure a complete and accurate Census count in the San Diego and Imperial County region. An undercount impacts low-income and other hard-to-count communities the most. We only have until September 30 to be counted, so please complete the Census today.
Over the past several weeks, my district team has spoken to many constituents who are confused about what to do if their driver’s license expires during the COVID-19 pandemic. I completely understand the frustration. With so many epidemic-related updates to navigate, it can be hard to keep information straight. Let me try to clear it up with this chart, which explains the most common license extension scenarios.
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As you can see in the chart, many services can be handled from home through the DMV’s Online Services Portal. And, of course, if you still have any questions, you can call my office at (619) 645-3133. We’re always here to help you.
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One of America’s most consequential elections will happen on November 3, 2020. As a nation, we will collectively decide our next President of the United States and other important local, state, and federal issues that will shape our everyday lives. I encourage everyone to register to vote online by October 19, 2020. But, you don’t need to wait that long. You can register right now.
Due to COVID-19, our priority is to protect the health of all voters and poll workers. To that end, all registered, active voters will receive a ballot in the mail that they can return through the mail, drop off at their county registrar’s office, or at a voting location.
Find more information about registering and voting on the San Diego Registrar of Voters’ website.
September 15 marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which affords us an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the vast contributions Hispanic Americans make in our communities.
This year, National Hispanic Heritage Month takes on a uniquely poignant tone as we see how COVID-19 is impacting California’s Latinx population at higher rates than any other group – some 59 percent of positive cases and 47 percent of deaths statewide. Many of those impacted are essential workers.
It is important that we recognize this truth and do all we can to safeguard our neighbors, and all who are vulnerable, from the threat of the virus.
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Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, we haven’t been able to see one another in person for many months. But that hasn’t stopped my district team from staying connected with you. They have been calling, zooming, writing, and assisting thousands of our neighbors. I’m so proud of how they are meeting this moment with our constituents’ needs top of mind.
Please remember to reach out to our team if you need help. Every call, every email, every meeting — every one of you — matters to Team Toni. We are honored to serve you.
Call us at: (619) 645-3133
Send us a message: https://sd39.senate.ca.gov/contact
Email me: senator.atkins@senate.ca.gov
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