December is a time for celebrations—and  love, light, and the fellowship of family and friends. There is so much to be thankful for and excited about this year, even with the challenges we continue to face and with new ones that have arisen and require our attention as well. This December I can't help thinking about celebrating Christmas as a little girl – my twin sister and I sharing time with our older brothers and our parents, the special foods like candy canes and the tangerines that were such a rarity in Southwestern Virginia. I can only imagine how exhausted my parents must have been with all the holiday preparations on top of their daily responsibilities. I think a lot of us may be there right now...

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(Pictured with Senators Josh Newman and Susan Eggman, Julie Baker, Assemblymember Cecelia Aguiar-Curry)

California has been in a housing crisis for years, and the pandemic exacerbated the need for affordable housing, more access and opportunity. It also highlighted the wealth gap and how it's impacting those who live here. 
Ensuring that Californians' dreams of home ownership can become reality was a focal point of my message at the California Forward Economic Summit in Monterey last month. There, I opened a panel discussion about the importance of homeownership as a method of overcoming inequality.

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One hundred years ago today, on December, 1, 1921, the installation now known as the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego was commissioned by General Joseph Pendleton.

That action represented the founding of a permanent Marine Corps Base in the city, making it the oldest Marine Corps installation on the West Coast.  

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We may have just celebrated Veterans Day last month, but in San Diego, every day is Veterans Day, as the military has significantly shaped the San Diego region for more than a decade.

That is why I was so happy to participate in the return of Stand Down at Veterans Village San Diego (VVSD). It was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The federal American Rescue Plan has helped lower health care costs for people who enroll in an Affordable Care Act marketplace – such as Covered California – by offering an increase in the amount of subsidies for 2022.

That's why it's so important to sign up if you are eligible. The 2022 Open Enrollment period for Covered California is now open, and runs through January 31, 2022. If you want your new plan to go into effect when the new year starts, you need to sign up by Dec. 15.

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Celebrating Budget Wins Throughout the Region

Libraries are integral to learning and connectivity within our communities, which is why I was so happy to celebrate the state funding I helped secure as part of this year's budget for the City of San Diego's Oak Park Branch Library.

The community has been advocating for a new library for many years, and this is one step closer to making that happen. Last month, I presented a check for $300,000 to Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe and members of the Oak Park community to kick start the process, which will help a brand new library. Thank you to all those who showed up to celebrate!

It also was an honor to celebrate a budget win alongside Senator Ben Hueso in the South Bay, as we presented a $2 million check to National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo Solis for renovations and upgrades to the Las Palmas Pool and park. This recreation area has served the community for generations.

This fiscal win is yet another example of the equitable impact our budget has been able to make throughout the region and the state.

Milestone Donation at the San Diego Blood Bank

Donating blood has been a longtime commitment of mine, and I am so proud to have hit the one-gallon donation milestone at the San Diego Blood Bank on November 15. Giving blood is a commitment that runs in my family. My dad, a dedicated donor, wound up donating three gallons over his lifetime. As someone who donated blood routinely, I recently learned about the Blood Bank's "Guardians Pledge." By signing up, I committed to making a donation every eight weeks.

A nationwide blood shortage still persists, and is at critical levels, with some supplies of blood types dwindling to about two day's worth of supply. The normal supply is about seven days.

Without adequate blood donors, surgeries and other important therapies could be delayed. Donations of all types are needed, including platelets, but O+ and O- blood types are vital. Blood donations save lives, and the time is now. To make an appointment, call 619-400-8521 or click here.

Raising the Trans Flag in Hillcrest

Team Toni was honored to kickoff #TransAwarenessWeek by attending the San Diego LGBT Center's Transgender Pride Flag Raising Ceremony! This is an important week each year to celebrate our trans siblings while spreading awareness of the issues they face & continuing the fight for Trans Rights.