In the News

2022 Women of the District

March 8, 2022

California’s 39th Senate District is home to many outstanding women who serve our communities, organizations and nonprofits. Every year, my legislative colleagues and I each select one woman from our districts to honor as part of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus “Woman of the Year.”

UCSD vaccinates 100k San Diegans; county’s rollout ranks second in state

February 10, 2021

The San Diego Union Tribune

The county’s first mass vaccination center, run by UC San Diego, crossed a major milestone this week after inoculating more than 100,000 people against the novel coronavirus.

UCSD Health reached the mark on Wednesday, according to Dr. Christopher Longhurst, chief information officer.

About one out of every three San Diegans who’ve gotten a COVID-19 vaccine received their shot at the superstation, located at the Petco Park tailgate lot. UCSD partnered with the county, city and Padres to launch the effort on Jan. 11...Read more on The San Diego Tribune

Senate Leader Atkins Announces Two Appointments to Reparations Task Force

February 1, 2021

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) today announced her appointment of Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and San Diego City Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe to the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, with a Special Consideration for African Americans Who are Descendants of Persons Enslaved in the United States.

Unprecedented 2020 Legislative Session Ends With Progress On Key Challenges Facing California

September 1, 2020

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate adjourned the unprecedented 2020 legislative session today, having approved significant measures to fight COVID-19, spur economic recovery, and respond to calls for greater economic and social justice.

Skivvies for Stand Down

June 3, 2019

Every year since 2015, I have spearheaded Socks for Stand Down, providing thousands of pairs of socks and underwear for veterans who participate in Stand Down, an annual three-day event run by Veterans Village of San Diego where struggling military veterans can access services, bond with one another and get some much-deserved rest and relaxation.

Op-Ed: California urgently needs affordable housing. Let’s take time to craft the right solution

May 22, 2019

Throughout my career, I have been unwavering in my support for increasing California’s supply of affordable housing.

In the state Legislature, I created a historic ongoing funding source for affordable housing, made sure affordable housing was included in cap-and-trade funds and provided funding for permanent supportive housing as well as other programs and funding to combat homelessness.

Commentary | Toni Gayle Atkins: State of California can’t afford complacency

February 13, 2019

It is a profound honor to represent the fifth-largest economy in the world in elective office. Now that the new Legislature has been sworn in, we must put aside election-year disputes and come together as one California because we have urgent work ahead of us.

California Senate Leader: Housing, Wildfires Top List of Woes

January 30, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – California’s severe housing shortage is the most pressing issue facing the Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom this year according to state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, speaking at an event hosted by California’s Public Policy Institute on Wednesday.

Misconduct in Workplace? First-in-Nation Panel Told by Sen. Atkins

January 18, 2019

State Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, Friday announced the state legislature’s creation of an independent workplace conduct unit and review panel, the first of its kind in the country.

Atkins and Rendon, the Senate president and Assembly speaker, respectively, jointly announced the conduct unit’s creation with state Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

Five employment law experts already have been appointed to the conduct unit, the three said in their announcement.

Commentary | Atkins: 'Thank you, Gov. Brown, for leaving California a better place than you found it.'

January 4, 2019

When Edmund G. Brown Jr. was first sworn-in as governor, a San Diegan, Jim Mills, was on hand as president pro tem of the California State Senate. Now, as our governor prepares to finish his fourth term, I am proud to be the San Diegan leading the Senate in offering a fond and respectful farewell.

Or, as Gov. Brown would likely say, “Ave atque vale.”