Announcing funding for Balboa Park.

I'll never forget what it was like to join the state Legislature in 2010 and immediately be forced to confront a $26-billion budget deficit. The conversation wasn't about how we could move California forward – it was about which of the important programs that millions of residents rely on would be saved, and which ones would be eliminated or cut to the bone.

Thanks to a strong economy powered by our small businesses, responsible governance, and wise decisions by the voters, things are very different today.

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Connections Housing

Given California's housing crisis, we need as many tools at our disposal as possible. This year, I have a bill that will give us another one – a state-level historic preservation tax credit.

SB 451 would augment the existing federal historic preservation tax credit and add an incentive for owners of officially designated historic buildings to renovate their properties and potentially create new housing opportunities.

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We had a great time in Verbatim Books' new event space in North Park at my annual reception for some of the wonderful small businesses that help make the 39^th Senate District so great. Many of our past honorees joined us, as did a handful of new honorees, such as Simply Local (North Park), Smitty's Service (Normal Heights), Matt Kalla Insurance Agency (Point Loma Heights), Venice Pizza (Mid-City), Old Town Trolley Tours, Station Tavern and Burgers (South Park), The Huddle (Mission Hills), and my Small Business of the Year, the Chicken Pie Shop (North Park). Congratulations to the honorees – and thank you to all small-business owners who power and shape our region!

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We've reached the second half of this year's legislative session, with Senate bills being considered in the Assembly, and vice versa. Here's a rundown of my legislation this year:

SB 1 – the California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019 – is California's "insurance policy" against the reckless deregulation happening at the federal level. SB 1 ensures that any federal environmental or worker safety standard in place as of January 19, 2017, remains in effect under state law even if the federal government rolls it back. SB 1 cleared the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee on June 18.

SB 66 allows clinics and rural healthcare providers to bill Medi-Cal for two visits on the same day if patients receive mental health treatment on the same day they receive other medical treatment. This will help ensure healthcare providers can continue to deliver vital mental health services and be reimbursed for those services. SB 66 will be heard by the Assembly Health Committee on July 2.

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies. If you're having trouble working out an issue with any state agency, please call my office at 619-645-3133, and my staff will do everything in their power to help.

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It was a pleasure to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Oak Park Library, an integral institution in this diverse community.

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