Latest E-Newsletter
Happy July and Happy 248th Birthday America! It seems like only yesterday my family and I were celebrating the Bicentennial in Virginia, which was very special because it is home to so much of our nation’s founding history. Now, we’re only two years away from celebrating our nation’s quarter-millennial, and how quickly that time has flown by! The pursuit of happiness and liberty and justice for all are still more aspirational than real for too many Americans, but as we continue to fix our country’s flaws, the 4th of July is always a good time to remember all the benefits this great nation has brought forth into the world.
As both a proud American and a pet parent, I do want to include my annual reminder that 4th of July celebrations can be very scary and dangerous for animals. Our good friends at the San Diego Humane Society have some suggestions about how to make the 4th more pet friendly, including checking with your vet about anxiety medications, creating a special sanctuary in your home, and even arranging for a pet sitter while you are out celebrating. You can see all their tips here.
July 1 marks the start of California’s new fiscal year, and I am pleased to say that my Senate Colleagues, the Assembly, and the Governor have once again produced a responsible, on-time, balanced budget that not only addresses this tough budget year, but puts California in solid shape to start preparing for 2025-26. I have to admit, when the revenue and deficit projections started coming out last year, I had flashbacks to the nightmare years of the Great Recession. But by making some tough decisions, taking early actions to address the shortfall, and wisely using some of the fiscal reserves we established a decade ago, we made it through the budget with California’s core programs—and values—intact.
July of course means San Diego Pride. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride Day and parade in San Diego, and I continue to be amazed at how much our local celebration has grown in size and spirit over the years. I hope to see you there! There’s nothing better than being out and proud with friends old and new. Pride is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate victories won, friends and loved ones lost, and build an even stronger community for all the work ahead.
50 years of San Diego Pride. Nearly 250 years of America. Freedom, justice, equality, and happiness are things every single one of us deserves—and we’ve got to keep fighting together—all of us—until that is true for each and every one of us!
Thanks for reading,
Toni
An early Happy Independence Day to you! And a very special Happy Birthday to my brother, George! Once again we are about to join family, friends and neighbors to celebrate the founding of our nation. While we resist the attacks on our democratic institutions and rights and continue to work to make the promise of liberty and equality for all a reality, the Declaration of Independence signed 248 years ago endures as a blueprint of the American Dream!
I wish you have a fun, safe, and meaningful holiday. Below are some of the events around San Diego that are family friendly and great for everyone:
Old Town San Diego 4th of July
Old Town San Diego State Historical Park
The State Historic Park will be celebrating as early San Diego residents did in the 1800s with free games, crafts, and live music from the Big Mountain Blue Grass Band. La Plaza de las Armas, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
San Diego County Fair
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Traditionally, July 4th is the final day of the San Diego County Fair, but this year the Fair is being extended until Sunday, July 7, so you have extra time to enjoy all of the fair’s rides, attractions, and exhibits. The fair is the largest and longest running event in the county, and this year’s theme is “Let’s Go Retro!” Adult admission ranges from $16-25, children under 5 free.
Coronado Independence Day Parade
10am on Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA
Join Coronado City for their 75th Anniversary 4th of July parade, and stay for Navy Leap Frogs Aerial Demonstration at the Coronado Golf Course 17th Fairway at 2:00, and a series of free concerts (kids concert, patriotic concert with the Coronado Concert Band, and The Mighty Untouchables) at Spreckels Park throughout the afternoon and evening.
Community Parades, Concerts and Festivals
Several parades and related events will be held throughout the 39th Senate District on July 4th, including Mission Hills, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, and University City (click for details).
Although the first official city-sanctioned Pride march in San Diego was in 1975, the first march was actually held in 1974 without a permit, with participants having to stay on sidewalks as they traversed from The Gay Center for Social Services in Golden Hill to Balboa Park and back. San Diego Pride is celebrating its semicentennial with a theme of “Making History Now: 50 Years of Pride.”
Here is a line-up of some of the official events:
- She Fest, Saturday, July 13, 11:00 a.m. at the Hillcrest Flagpole (1500 University Avenue, San Diego) – This tenth annual event centers 2SLGBTQ+ women, non-binary people, and people who find community with these identities. (Note: “2S” stands for Two Spirit,” a person of Indigenous descent whose individual spirits are a blend of both male and female.)
- Light Up the Cathedral, Wednesday, July 17, 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (2728 6th Avenue, San Diego – enter on 5th Avenue side) – Gather with LGBTQ+ faith leaders to celebrate our faith and resilience and light up the Cathedral in rainbow colors.
- Spirit of Stonewall Rally, Friday, July 19, 6 p.m. at the Hillcrest Flagpole – This event recognizes individuals and groups who contribute significantly to the LGBTQ+ community through their leadership, activism and philanthropy. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
- Champion of Pride – Paris Quion
- Community Grand Marshal – LGBTQIA+ & Allied Educators and Library Workers
- Stonewall Service – East County Queer & Trans Coalition
- Stonewall Philanthropy – Qualcomm
- Hero of Pride – San Diego Pride Founding Leadership
- Community Service – Jordan Daniels
- Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture – Patric Stillman
- Friend of Pride – Dr. Jill Blumenthal
- Light of Pride – Dharma Bum Temple
- Inspirational Relationship – Teresa Oyas & Rose Ruybal
- Pride Parade, Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m., starting at the Hillcrest Flagpole and ending at Balboa Park – The annual San Diego Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Prides in the United States, attracting over 250,000 people.
- Pride Festival, Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Sunday, July 21, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Marston Point, Balboa Park – Highlighting the best in LGBTQ+ entertainment, interactive exhibits, cultural presentations, and community resources.
For more information about San Diego Pride activities, go to sdpride.org
Today marks the beginning of the 2024-25 fiscal year, and with it comes our finalized budget plan. On June 22nd, the Senate, Assembly, and Governor Newsom reached a three-party agreement on a balanced budget that addresses the challenges of this fiscal year, uses our reserves responsibly, and continues to support education, climate action, healthcare access, our homelessness and housing initiatives, and more programs Californians rely on every day.
As one of the few members of the Legislature who was in office during California’s last budget shortfall, this year reminds me how proud I am of the work I did as Speaker and Pro Tem alongside Governors Brown and Newsom to build a Rainy Day Fund and ensure the state is better prepared to handle lean years. We did have to make tough decisions this year – but the outlook is much better because we have reserves to help balance the budget. In the years to come, the Legislature will continue to prioritize building the Rainy Day Fund and supporting our state’s core programs.
Senator Atkins presenting a resolution to Outdoor Outreach Executive Director Ben McCue and Senior Director of Finance & Administration Molly Morelli at a ceremony at the Capitol on June 5.
Can you believe we have kids that live less than ten miles from the coast but have never been to the beach? Outdoor Outreach is changing that, and in doing so, is mentoring future generations to become civic leaders and stewards of our environment. That is why I selected Outdoor Outreach to be the 39th Senate District 2024 Nonprofit of the Year.
For 25 years, Outdoor Outreach has worked to connect San Diego youth to the transformative power of the outdoors with a unique model of adventure-based youth development programs. Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach has worked with more than 20,000 young people.
Outdoor Outreach maintains partnerships with over 40 Title I schools, social service agencies and youth-serving organizations to engage communities who benefit most from their programming. Recent successes include an innovative mental health prevention and early intervention program based on outdoor engagement, as well as a juvenile justice program focused on nature-based engagement for critical youth.
Over half of the organization’s paid instructors are graduates of Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program, a paid training experience for young adults (ages 16-21) living in or around San Diego. The program focuses on workforce development, civic engagement, and outdoor industry skills.
This is the ninth year of the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative, a statewide effort honoring the critical role nonprofit organizations play in California. Each year, state legislators choose a nonprofit from their district to be honored.
The program is sponsored by the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits, the leading policy voice for California’s nonprofit sector, focuses on advocacy, education, and research to build a more powerful and politically engaged nonprofit network across the state.
For more information on Outdoor Outreach, visit their website at outdooroutreach.org.
I joined Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and San Diego leaders on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision to discuss our efforts to protect reproductive rights and improve access to reproductive care. In California, access to abortion and contraception is a constitutional right, and we are firmly committed to protecting it.
During my time in the legislature, I have championed legislation and funding to address the needs of domestic violence survivors. That includes securing $2 million in state funding in 2022 to go towards Casa Mariposa. This safe haven includes integral services such as case management; legal assistance; childcare; counseling; emergency supports such as food, clothing, and transportation; and healthcare.
It was great to join local leaders to officially welcome new San Diego Community College District Chancellor Gregory Smith! Chancellor Smith is a community college graduate himself and has worked in public service and higher education for nearly two decades. I look forward to continuing to work with him!
Congratulations to Dr. Steven Koh and the newly sworn-in board of the San Diego County Medical Society! Your dedication to our community is inspiring. I look forward to your continued healthcare leadership, and our work to provide access to quality healthcare for all Californians.
I was honored to receive the Housing Champion Award from the San Diego Housing Federation at this year’s Ruby Awards. I have spent my career in public service working to make housing more accessible and affordable to all Californians, and will continue working to address our state’s housing crisis.
For 20 years, the San Diego Military Advisory Council has advocated for and supported military service members and veterans throughout San Diego, while strengthening ties with regional leaders and the greater community. Team Toni presented them with a Senate Resolution to recognize their anniversary!
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