Zephyr Apartments in Grantville.

California's housing crisis is plunging families and individuals into poverty, threatening our children's futures, splitting up families, making it difficult for businesses to attract and retain talent, and burdening our economy. Housing instability sends ripples throughout all facets of our society, affecting education, physical and mental health, transportation, and climate action.

I recognized this growing problem more than 20 years ago while working as a policy aide at the city level and began working to strengthen San Diego's affordable-housing efforts after being elected to the City Council.

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LEFT: With Tuna Harbor Dockside Market Director Pete Halmay, County Supervisor Greg Cox, and Port Chair Garry Bonelli. RIGHT: Teddy goes home with Matt and his mom, Sharon.

What an honor it was on October 4 to again serve as Acting Governor while Governor Gavin Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis were both out of the state. It was the third time I've had the privilege of being California's top elected official for a day.

The first time came on July 30, 2014, while I was Speaker of the Assembly, when the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Senate Leader were all out of the state. I used that opportunity to declare it Tony Gwynn Day in the state of California, honoring the San Diego baseball legend who'd sadly passed away due to complications from cancer 44 days prior. Then it happened again in September 2014.

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California is shaking up its emergency warning system in an effort to keep residents safe in the event of an earthquake, launching a new tool that I encourage all San Diegans to use.

The statewide Earthquake Early Warning System – the first of its kind in the nation – was launched October 17, on the 30th anniversary of the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake.

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Attention nature lovers: Did you know there is a living library of ecosystems preserved for the public good in our district?

In addition to an exceptional University of California campus, the San Diego region also is home to several of the UC's Natural Reserves, a conservation system consisting of 41 protected sites – more than 756,000 acres – throughout the state.

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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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I was inspired joining UCSD's CALPIRG students for their fall kick-off meeting! They have helped thousands of students register to vote and worked with the UC system to commit to renewable energy, among many other things.

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