The Toni Times | November 2024
Last week I had the opportunity to take part in the celebration of the 150th birthday of the San Diego Natural History Museum. It was a great tribute to this fun and fascinating institution. I also had the chance to get a preview of the iconic Botanical Building in Balboa Park, which will be open in time for December Nights. I was pleased to be able to secure state funding to provide much-needed rehabilitation. If you haven’t been to Balboa Park lately, I encourage you to check it out. Our “crown jewel” will have a special sparkle as we bring 2024 to a close.
November has some of the most important dates on the calendar. November 5 is Election Day, and I hope you all are registered and plan to vote if you haven’t already. Like so many things with our government, we are more effective when we are engaged together.
One of my top priorities in both the Assembly and the Senate has been our veterans. As you know, I come from a military family, and our region is home to many military personnel and facilities. So Veterans Day, on November 11, is always a day I try to honor with great respect and purpose.
Finally, as our calendar for 2024 gets shorter, we come together to celebrate Thanksgiving on November 28. I will once again be particularly thankful for all the people in our communities who work so hard so the rest of us can have food on our tables. I know that as I count my blessings I will also be thankful to all of you for the honor and privilege of representing our communities in Sacramento.
This won’t be the last you’ll hear from me before I leave the Senate. There is still work to do on behalf of the people of the 39th District, and I’ll be working with the next Senator to ensure a smooth transition so they can start their service strong. But this *is* the last edition of The Toni Times—at least in this incarnation, and I wanted to be sure to take the opportunity to say thank you for reading. And thank you for everything.
Toni
Tuesday, November 5 is the last day to vote in the 2024 Presidential General Election. There are three ways to cast your ballot:
- Mail It: Sign, date and return the ballot that was mailed to you, which must be postmarked by November 5 (no postage required). Your signature on the outer envelope is required for your vote to count.
- Drop It Off: You can drop your ballot off at any of the official drop box locations throughout the county, including most libraries. Click here to find a drop box location near you. 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, November 2, all vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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. Eligible citizens who are not yet registered can take advantage of California’s Same Day Voter Registration. You will register and cast a provisional ballot which will be counted once the verification process is completed. Click here for a list of voting center locations.
For questions or more information call the San Diego County Registrar of Voters at (858) 565-5800 or visit sdvote.com.
Monday, November 11 is Veterans Day. In honor of all those who have served, federal, state and local government offices, schools, banks, and post offices will be closed.
Coming from a military family, Veterans Day has always been meaningful to me. My father, grandfather, two brothers, twin sister, brother-in-law, two uncles, two cousins, and two nephews all served in the Armed Forces.
For more than a century, the military has significantly shaped the San Diego region, home to one of the largest concentrations of military personnel and veterans in the world. There are over 200,000 veterans in the San Diego County.
Our San Diego community also has many opportunities to honor the contributions of America’s service members and veterans. Events in our region include:
Fleet Week San Diego
November 1-11
Broadway Pier, 1000 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown San Diego
Featuring military displays, high tech equipment in the Innovation Zone, Navy and Coast Guard ship tours, live music, food, and fun for the whole family
San Diego Veterans Day Parade
November 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Embarcadero – Harbor Drive in front of the County Administration Building, Downtown San Diego
See more than 4,000 veterans, active military, bands, floats and civic groups celebrate Veterans Day.
Veterans Day Boat Parade (Fleet Week Event)
November 11 at 10:15 a.m., San Diego Bay, Downtown San Diego
View the boat parade the shore of Shelter Island, Harbor Island, San Diego Embarcadero, Seaport Village and Coronado Tidelands Park.
Silver Strand Veterans Day Half Marathon
November 10, 7:00-11:00 a.m.
Starts at Sunset Park in Coronado continuing to Silver Strand Boulevard (Highway 75)
Silver Strand Half Marathon,10 Miler, 12K (7.45 mile) & Veterans Day 5K in San Diego. Great event for all runners, walkers & athletes.
USS Midway Veterans Day Celebration
November 11, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
910 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown San Diego
Step aboard the historic USS Midway Museum and immerse yourself in a day of honor, gratitude, and community at the Salute to Service Festival. The event is free to all veterans, military and their families.
Miramar National Cemetery Veterans Day 2024 Ceremony
November 11, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
5795 Nobel Drive San Diego
Miramar National Cemetery will honor the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard. This year’s keynote speaker is RADM Joseph Buzzella, Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District.
Mt. Soledad Veterans Day Ceremony
November 9, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South, La Jolla
From the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, you can experience the breathtaking 360-degree views of San Diego.
There will be free parking and shuttle services from Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church and French American School.
Military Museums, Memorials and More
All Year-Round
Through a tour of the decommissioned USS Midway aircraft carrier, a visit to the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center or a walking tour of the "Greatest Generation Collection" of artwork along San Diego's Embarcadero, visitors can discover the victories, tragedies, and sacrifices of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, past and present.
To our veterans, current members of the military, and their families: Thank you for your service, and for the sacrifices you have made for our country.
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize, celebrate and honor the rich cultures and traditions of the Native tribes that were here long before California became a state. San Diego County is home to numerous tribes that I have long seen as friends and partners engaged in meaningful collaboration based on respect for individual and sovereign rights. In total, over 20,000 Native Americans live in San Diego County.
This month, I encourage you to educate yourself on the tribal groups native to the San Diego region – their history, their culture, and their present-day advocacy for their communities. The Iipay ~ Tipai Kumeyaay Mut Niihepok Land of the First People Area, which opened in 2021 in Old Town San Diego, is a great place to start. The establishment of this site began as a collaboration between the Kumeyaay and Senator Christine Kehoe, my predecessor and mentor. The vision was to build a new “front porch” for Old Town State Park, one that paid tribute to its Native people. Land was transferred from the old Caltrans district headquarters building, and in 2018, the demolition of the Caltrans building began to make way for this new park. It features a digital tour about the Kumeyaay and the San Diego River.
It was an honor to be a part of the creation of the beautiful and important space, and I’m grateful to all the partners, particularly the Kumeyaay, who contributed so much time and effort to ensuring that the stories of the people native to San Diego will be told for generations to come.
In 2019, I secured $8.26 million through the state Budget for major renovations and restorations of Balboa Park’s Botanical Building. The City of San Diego has nearly completed Phase 1 of the project, Forever Balboa Park has Phase 2 underway, and a ribbon cutting is coming this December! Thank you to Mayor Todd Gloria and the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department for including me in the tour of this beautiful facility.
The San Diego Natural History Museum is a gift that keeps on giving every single day to Californians and to visitors from around the world. From fossils and gems to native plants, there’s something for everyone. Happy 150th Anniversary to The Nat!
Our region is home to the biggest military installation on the West Coast and one of the largest concentrations in the world. I actually moved to San Diego in 1985 to help my twin sister, Tenia, take care of her infant son while her husband was deployed. She was on active duty on Naval Base San Diego at the time. San Diego is home to one out of every six Sailors in the Navy, one out of every four Marines, and hosts U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego. Additionally, San Diego is home base for numerous operational and support commands. Each year, the San Diego Military Advisory Council highlights the critical role the military community has on San Diego’s economy by releasing their Military Economic Impact Report.
I had a fin-tastic time welcoming The American Sportfishing Association’s Sportfishing Summit to San Diego, where our fleet is the largest in the world! Thank you for the oppor-tuna-ty to discuss the positive impact the fishing community has on our tourism economy, which includes an annual economic impact of over $6 billion in California.
I was honored to secure state budget funding to support the Latino Legacy Foundation Storytellers Festival, part of a powerful multimedia project that preserves and shares community stories that teach us our past and preserve lessons to guide our future.
I had a great time at the Burlingame Block Party! I’ve had the honor of representing this neighborhood in local and state government for 30 years.
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