The Toni Times | September 2024
Happy September! And what better way to start this new month than by celebrating Labor Day!
Estimates say California has about 19 million working people who keep our state moving and our economy humming, so that’s a lot of celebrating to do!
It’s important that policymakers keep working people in mind all year long, especially as we find ways to ensure fair wages, safe conditions, and secure retirements for all California workers. And of course, every working family deserves to have a safe home they can afford and a good school their kids can attend. Those are worthy goals for us to pursue 365 days a year.
Speaking of being a policymaker, we adjourned the Senate on August 31— which means I have now (barring special sessions called by the Governor) cast my last vote as a member of the California Legislature! I’ll share more about what an honor and privilege it has been to serve the people of the 39th Senate District in our final newsletters, but for now there is still a lot of work to do!
Governor Newsom now has 30 days to sign or veto the final bills the Legislature sent to him. So my colleagues and I will be working to ensure we get his signature on our remaining bills and on other important priorities, including bills sponsored by the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the LGBTQ+ Caucus.
Here in the district, we will also be busy right up until the minute my successor is sworn-in, helping constituents with any issues, concerns, or problems you may be having with state government. So please don’t hesitate to call or shoot us an e-mail if we can help!
Thanks for reading.
Toni
P.S. On a personal note, in September we celebrate my spouse Jennifer’s birthday and our 16th wedding anniversary! Happy birthday and happy anniversary, Jen – looking forward to all the celebrations, joy, and love in the years to come!
Yesterday, the Senate adjourned the 2023-2024 session. After a busy final few weeks, I’m pleased to report that the bills below were passed by the Legislature and have headed off to Governor Newsom for his signature.
- SB 450, which would address issues with SB 9 implementation to give homeowners more tools to increase California’s housing supply and build intergenerational wealth.
- SB 1213, which would increase the income eligibility for the Every Woman Counts program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program, which provide free breast and cervical cancer screenings and affordable treatment to eligible Californians.
- SB 1342, which would streamline two energy and water projects in the San Diego region.
This being my final session in the California State Legislature, I’m immensely proud of the work we’ve accomplished throughout my 14 years representing San Diego. Though our legislative session is complete, I remain dedicated to representing the 39th Senate District for the remainder of my term.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th. The mid-month timeframe is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence within these dates.
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the enduring contributions of Hispanic/Latinx Americans and celebrates their cultural heritage. (The term “Latinx” is a gender-neutral term that relates to people of Latin American origin or descent.) This year’s theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”
The nearly 16 million Latinx California residents represent the largest ethnic group in the state, comprising almost 40% of the population and over half of the young population (24 and under). In San Diego County, about 35% of the population is Latinx.
In San Diego, our architecture, art, cuisine, and neighborhoods have been greatly influenced by our Latinx communities. From the powerful tribute to Mexican American artists and activists at Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, to our strong binational relationship with our neighbors across the border, to the many Latinx-owned small businesses, San Diego has been shaped into the region we love thanks in large part to the Latinx Americans who call it home.
California’s diversity is our strength, but we also recognize disproportionate challenges faced by the Latinx community. The Legislature has worked to address these disparities by expanding access to health care, quality education, and affordable housing, empowering Latinx communities to achieve the California Dream.
California Native American Day is September 27th – a day to pay tribute to the many indigenous communities that have been here long before California became a state. The people indigenous to what we now call San Diego County make up 18 tribes that have lived here for thousands of years.
All across California, numerous tribal groups have shaped our history and culture, but their voices have often gone unheard. It is our responsibility to listen to indigenous leaders and communities, learn from their stories, and acknowledge the painful history of oppression present in our state.
As we seek to build an inclusive society with opportunity for all, we must work alongside indigenous leaders and support their efforts to build economic prosperity in their communities and secure their rights to land, water, and self-determination. When we stand in solidarity, we can chart a new path towards a better future for all of us.
Welcome to PanDiego! I joined Governor Gavin Newsom, Ambassador Xie Feng, Deputy Secretary General Si Ping of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, Mayor Todd Gloria and others to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to their new home and officially open Panda Ridge to the public. The partnership between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the CWCA supports a shared mission to protect animal populations that are vulnerable to extinction. Global collaborations like these between California and China are critical for wildlife conservation, and we will continue to celebrate them.
I’ve been proud to represent San Diego’s crown jewel for over 20 years. I could not be more honored to receive the Key to Balboa Park from Mayor Todd Gloria, and join the likes of my friend and the grande dame of Balboa Park, Betty Peabody, who received the first key! I also want to thank all of the dedicated volunteers, Forever Balboa Park, and City of San Diego staff who help maintain and enhance our park. I will continue to be a diligent steward of this incredible community asset.
I had a great time with everyone at the annual HRC San Diego dinner! I am proud to have partnered with the Human Rights Campaign every step of the way as we’ve made historic gains for the LGBTQ+ community. The work they do nationwide will make equality, equity and liberation a reality for all LGBTQ+ folks.
Congratulations to La Maestra Community Health Centers on opening their new health clinic in City Heights! Complete wellness requires more than just a trip to the doctor, and their holistic, solution-based Circle of Care addresses the health and wellbeing needs of diverse communities.
The San Diego County Farm Bureau is the voice of over 4,000 local farms. With 94% of them family owned, and over 280 certified organic. That’s the most organic growers in any county in the country! Their advocacy work always has the best interests of agriculture and workers in mind.
Congratulations to Makeda Dread Cheatom and WorldBeat Cultural Center on their 25 year lease from the City of San Diego! After 30 years of month-to-month leases, this amazing non-profit in Balboa Park that supports multi-cultural arts is officially here to stay!
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