The Toni Times | April 2023
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Happy April!
This month we’re starting a new feature in the newsletter, a special message just for Team Toni members, something we thought would be a fun way to reward our most frequent readers. This month’s message is:
8-1-16-16-25 1-16-18-9-12 6-15-15-12-19 4-1-25! 2-5 19-21-18-5 20-15 4-18-9-14-11 25-15-21-18 15-22-1-12-20-9-14-5!
Unfortunately, a technical glitch prevented the decoding button from being ready for the rollout, so we had to put the answer at the end just in case. Don’t peek!
There’s an old saying that April Showers bring May Flowers. Let’s hope they are just showers! The March “showers” we faced helped relieve the drought, but also brought evacuations, damage, and suffering. I want to offer a special thanks to everyone responsible for helping keep people safe on our streets and highways. Let’s all remember to heed their safety warnings, and let’s all remember to be vigilant as the threat of floods and mudslides continues.
This being the start of April, it’s a good time for a reminder that for all Californians living in counties that have had disaster declarations because of the storms, the normal April tax filing date has been extended to October. There is nothing to submit or apply for, if eligible, just file the returns in October – more on that later in this newsletter. Of course, for everyone eligible for the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, if you are able, the sooner you file the sooner you get money back for your household. There’s more information about the Earned Income Tax Credit here.
The damage California has endured from these latest storms also is a good reminder that we can’t let up in the fight to reduce and remove the threats caused by climate change. And, as we once again celebrate Earth Day later this month, it’s a good time to redouble our commitment to that fight. Through record funding and innovative bills, the Legislature has been a constant force in ensuring California sets and meets responsible climate goals. That will absolutely stay true in 2023.
Speaking of celebrations, Happy Easter and Happy Passover to everyone who shares in these joyous holidays this month. The holy month of Ramadan continues into April, as well, and I hope everyone has wonderful and meaningful celebrations with family, friends, and community members.
Another sign that spring is here and summer is coming is that the Padres season opened two days ago. They did us proud last year, and I can’t wait to see what happens this season. Hopefully in person a time or two!
Finally, I want to say a special thank you to all of the young people and their allies who will be taking part in GLSEN’s annual Day of Silence on April 14th. The voices of young people are an important force against all the attacks that are being launched against the LGBTQ+ community—and on the 14th, their silence will speak volumes.
Thanks for reading,
Toni
Happy April Fools Day! Be sure to drink your Ovaltine!
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Reproductive rights are under attack at the national level. Just as recently as this week, a Texas judge heard arguments in a lawsuit that threatens to reverse the Food and Drug Administration Approval of a medication that has been safely used to do medication abortions for more than two decades.
In California, we are doing everything in our power to remain ahead of the curve to make our state a safe haven for both those seeking reproductive services, and those providing reproductive services.
I have introduced two bills this legislative session that focus on training and shielding abortion providers, so that they can continue to provide reproductive services without disruption – Senate Bill 385 and Senate Bill 487.
SB 385 helps expand the network of abortion providers in California by expanding and modernizing training for physician assistants, and allowing them to perform first trimester abortions within the scope of their clinical and professional education and training. By having more providers in our state, we can better ensure that Californians, and those coming here for reproductive health care, can get the services they need.
SB 487 protects abortion providers from facing penalties for performing abortion services on people coming from out of state. SB 487 also protects providers from facing penalties in California if they travel out of state to provide services. Shielding providers in California helps reassure them they can continue to practice here without retaliation.
Both of these bills are important steps to help our California abortion providers continue to provide critical health care to all those who may need it, and will further strengthen our state’s position as a leader on reproductive rights and access.
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Every year in celebration of Women’s History Month, we have a tradition in the Legislature of celebrating women from each Senate and Assembly district who are accomplishing amazing things in their communities. This year, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus celebrated Women Making Herstory with a ceremony at the Capitol on March 20.
My choice for our 39th Senate District Woman Making Herstory is Toluwalaṣé “Laṣé” Ajayi, MD. Dr. Ajayi is a community hospitalist and pediatric palliative medicine physician at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Additionally, she serves as a senior staff scientist in digital medicine at the Scripps Research Translational Institute. She is a Trustee of the American Medical Association, President of the San Diego County Medical Society, and Chair of the Council on Medical Services of the California Medical Association. She is the ninth woman, and first Black woman, to be elected president in the Medical Society’s 152-year history.
When she was seven years old, Dr. Ajayi immigrated to the United States as a political refugee from Nigeria and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas. She completed medical school at the University of Kansas and a pediatric residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center prior to training in adult and pediatric palliative medicine at the Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice.
Dr. Ajayi lives in San Diego with her partner, Dr. Kyle Edmonds, their three children, Ayokárí, Tiwalolá, and Palmer, and a rambunctious Bernedoodle named Dùnní.
In addition to selecting Dr. Ajayi as a Woman Making Herstory, I continued my annual tradition of honoring Women of the 39th District, based on community nominations. For 2023, I selected 23 remarkable women. They are a diverse group of high achievers and community leaders, representing a wide variety of occupations, vocations, and life experiences. Thank you to those who took the time to submit nominees for consideration.
You can learn more about all of these impressive women and their contributions to our community here.
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The year ahead presents some unique economic challenges. From high inflation, to the slumping stock market, to tech sector layoffs, we have seen a reduction in the revenues forecasted for the coming fiscal year, and we know that many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet.
That being said, California is entering 2023 in a position of economic strength – our economy is the fourth largest in the world and thanks to a decade of responsible budgeting, we are prepared to withstand these economic challenges without cuts to core programs or middle class tax increases. That is the basis of the Senate’s “Protect Our Progress” key budget values, which is the initial step in the Senate’s budget development. The next step will be developing details of the “Protect Our Progress” budget plan, which is expected to be will released later this month.
In recent years, the Senate was able to make historic investments in California families, including record levels of school funding from pre-K through higher education, expanding Medi-Cal to all those who need it, protecting abortion and reproductive health care, and innovative investments in homelessness and affordable housing solutions.
The Senate’s key budget values protect these vital programs, maintaining the commitment we made to Californians. To learn more about the Senate’s Key Values, click here.
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To help alleviate some of the hardship caused by the severe winter storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a disaster declaration for counties that experienced flooding, mudslides and significant property damage in December and January.
Residents of impacted counties, including the County of San Diego, now have until October 16, 2023 to file both federal and state tax returns and make tax payments. The extension is applicable to both individual and business taxes.
The extension applies to deadlines falling from January 8 to October 16, including the 2022 individual income tax returns due on April 18 and quarterly estimated tax payments, which are typically due on January 17, April 18, June 15 and September 15, 2023.
This also applies to business entities whose tax returns are normally due on March 15 and April 18, and PTE Elective Tax payments due on June 15.
Additionally, California also is extending the state tax filing and payment due dates to October 16 for impacted counties. Click here for information from the Franchise Tax Board and here for more information from the Internal Revenue Service.
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It was great to tour the Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s research vessel with Governor Newsom! In 2021, I secured budget funding for a new research vessel to help Scripps continue their critical research that helps us better understand the impact of climate change and sea-level rise on the California Coast. The new vessel will have a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-hybrid propulsion system, enabling zero-emission operations.
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On World Wildlife Day, I joined the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their Toss the Tusk event to help raise awareness of the elephant poaching crisis, illegal ivory trade, and provide an opportunity to safely surrender ivory products. This issue has been a critical part of my work in the legislature - in 2016, my bill AB 96 went into effect, closing a loophole and allowing the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to enforce the law prohibiting the import and sale of elephant ivory and rhino horns in the state of California.
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I enjoyed a very informative briefing and tour of the U.S. Air National Guard’s 147th Combat Communications Squadron (147 CBCS), which provides dedicated emergency response to the state in times of need. I appreciated the opportunity to speak with California National Guard Acting Adjutant General, Major General Matthew Beevers, and hear about all the work they do on behalf of California!
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With 31 stores and 5 Community Employment Centers throughout San Diego County, Goodwill San Diego provides employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. I was happy to sit down with President and CEO, Toni Giffin, to talk about her vision and priorities.
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I always enjoy the opportunity to come home and share what we’re working on in Sacramento with local civic leaders, like those involved with the Herb Klein Group - many of whom I’ve known since my time at City Hall.
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I’m happy to have Senator Steve Padilla working beside me in Sacramento and here at home. It was an honor to provide his Oath of Office at his community swearing-in ceremony, held in his hometown of Chula Vista.
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Last month, many people in my district celebrated Nowruz, the Persian New Year. I hope that all who observed enjoyed a holiday of renewal and new beginnings!
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