The Toni Times | October 2024
Welcome to October! You all probably know by now that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I am already excited and getting ready to get the pointy black hat out of the closet in time to hand out goodies to the neighborhood kids once again. It’s such a fun tradition and I love seeing all the families trick-or-treating together year after year.
Speaking of the closet, October 11 is National Coming Out Day, and while I know it seems that greater numbers and more awareness would have made this process easier, there are still too many people in too many places where it is difficult and maybe even dangerous to come out. I am hopeful that the Bridge Act, which I authored last year, will be helpful in making coming out easier. I remember how unsure I was. And I am grateful to this day for how loving and understanding my religious conservative parents were. I want everybody to be that fortunate.
October also means we are almost upon another election. So this is the time to double check and make sure your voter registration is in order and correct. There’s more about that later in the newsletter. This is also a good time to study up on all the issues and candidates who will be before us at the local, state, and national levels. There is nothing better for our democracy than an informed voter.
Finally, First Dog Emeritus Joey has requested that I remind you that the third Saturday in October has been designated “National Fetch Day” in order to help encourage bonding and exercise for pets and their people. Now, it’s not like he or his sister really need any more days or ways to be made to feel special—I think that’s pretty well covered—but we’ll be out there joining in the fun on October 19th and hope you and your fur babies will too!
Thanks for reading.
Toni
P.S. Go Padres!
I’m pleased to share that SB 450 and SB 1342, two bills I authored that will have important impacts for the San Diego region, have been signed by Governor Newsom!
California’s housing shortage is one of the main issues our state is facing, and SB 450 is another piece of our work tackling this problem. It addresses issues with SB 9 implementation, to ensure more Californians can take advantage of the opportunity to pursue SB 9 duplexes and lot splits – increasing our housing supply and building generational wealth for their families. Read more about SB 450 here.
SB 1342 streamlines two critical water and energy projects in the San Diego region: the San Vicente Energy Storage project and the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. These projects will improve the region’s infrastructure, promote clean energy reduce coastal sewage pollution, and create good jobs for San Diegans. Learn more here.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. Early detection of breast cancer is critical – when cancer is detected early, the survival rate increases dramatically. That’s why it’s essential to speak to your doctor about your individual risk and follow their recommendations for screenings or preventative measures.
Throughout my time in the Legislature, I’ve worked to ensure that women can access the breast cancer screenings and treatment they need. If healthcare services are unaffordable, people may choose to skip screenings or delay treatment, which results in more late stage cancer diagnoses and higher rates of cancer death. This is preventable – as long as we prioritize making health care accessible for all Californians.
Ever since I directed a women’s health clinic early in my career, issues like breast cancer have been central to my work as an elected official. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m reflecting on the work we’ve done to increase access to care, improve breast cancer treatments, and lower the rates of breast cancer deaths. There have been many successes, but there’s still more work to do, and each of us has a part to play.
P.S. Get your mammogram! I will be getting mine this month. Early detection is key to improving health outcomes, so it’s very important to get regular screenings!
Voting is one of our most important civic duties, and California has made it easy to exercise that right. Every active registered voter in California will receive a ballot in the mail for the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election. Ballots will be sent starting October 6, and you should receive yours that same week. You have three options to return your ballot:
- Mail It: Sign, date and return your ballot, which must be postmarked by November 5 (no postage required) and received by November 12. Your signature on the outer envelope is required for your vote to count. You can track your ballot by signing up for Where’s My Ballot? at sdvote.com.
- Drop It Off: Starting October 8, you can drop it off at any of the official drop box locations throughout the county, including most libraries. Don’t forget to sign the envelope before dropping it off!
- Visit a Vote Center: You can vote at any of vote centers throughout the county. Starting Saturday, October 26, select vote centers will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, November 2, all vote centers will be open through the final day of voting, November 5. On November 5, the vote centers are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. At the vote center you can either drop off the ballot you received in the mail or vote in person using the accessible ballot marking device.
A list of drop off locations and vote centers is available at sdvote.com.
Register to Vote: It’s not too late to register to vote in the November 5 election. You can do so online by Monday, October 21, at sdvote.com. You’ll need a California-issued driver’s license or identification card number and the last four numbers of your Social Security number. (If you do not include this information, you will be required to provide identification when you vote if it is your first time voting in a federal election.) If you miss the October 21 online registration deadline, eligible citizens can take advantage of California’s Same Day Voter Registration at any vote center – in which case, you will cast a provisional ballot which will be counted once the verification process is completed.
For questions or more information call the Registrar of Voters at (858) 565-5800 or visit sdvote.com. You can receive information about accessible voting for voters with disabilities or requesting election materials in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese or Chinese.
Thank you to Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest for honoring me with the Sara Moser Award - named after the woman who started San Diego’s own chapter of Planned Parenthood. My commitment to reproductive justice and women’s health has been central to my life’s work, so this award is very special to me.
While the profits of major hotel chains are at historic highs, they have kept COVID era cuts to staffing and services in order to maintain their profits - leaving workers behind. Last month, hotel workers who cook, clean, and take care of their guests have stood together in a nationwide strike seeking fairness and equity. One job should be enough and I stand with UNITE HERE Local 30 in the fight!
The San Diego Building & Construction Trades Council represents over 30,000 hardworking men and women across San Diego County, fiercely advocating for the rights and well-being of working families. At the annual John Lyons Memorial Foundation Banquet, we honored individuals who dedicate themselves to strengthening our communities and the labor movement.
For people of all ages and backgrounds, libraries provide free resources, safe places for the community to gather, and a path to discovery and education. The Millenia Library was the largest single beneficiary of state funds for libraries in the San Diego region in 2020. My colleagues and I in the Legislature were proud to secure funding to help make this project a reality for the community of Chula Vista.
Community Housing Works has built life-changing affordable housing for over 35 years. At the annual DreamBuilder Gala, I was moved to hear so many impactful stories from residents, service providers, and staff. Together, they improve people’s lives every day.
Thank you to the Port of San Diego and Board Members for this incredible recognition. It has been an absolute honor to work with you and represent the San Diego region locally as a Councilmember, and at the State level as an Assemblymember and Senator.
I welcomed the Alliance of California’s Farmers and Ranchers Community Fund to San Diego for their fall policy forum. These industry leaders produce the food we eat, the fiber for our clothes, and the plants and vegetation that beautify our environment. The public education and research work they do is key to protecting and enhancing California’s agricultural infrastructure and natural resources.
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