This month, we continue to watch the disturbing and dangerous events unfolding in Ukraine, and pray for the safety of the Ukrainian people. Spring is often a harbinger of hope, and we certainly need that now.

I'm hopeful because March brings with it early budget actions in Sacramento, and projections continue to show that this will be another great year for historic investments and savings thanks to California's commonsense, voter-approved revenue system. One of the first early budget actions we've already taken is extending California's COVID-19 paid sick leave program through September 30, 2022. That helps protect the health of frontline workers and allows businesses to continue to stabilize and succeed. We've also taken early actions to restore some tax breaks for small businesses that were deferred by the pandemic.

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Women's History Month is one of my favorite times of the year, because it gives us a chance to pause and recognize the diverse achievements and contributions women have made.

Every March, my colleagues and I each select one woman from our districts to honor in the Capitol as part of the California Legislative Women's Caucus "Woman of the Year" celebration. This year, I have chosen a woman who works on the front lines of the war on women's rights and reproductive justice, Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Planned Parenthood the Pacific Southwest and Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest.

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Last month, the City of San Diego took a positive step in helping address our state's housing crisis by implementing the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (HOME Act). This law, also known as SB 9, went into effect on Jan. 1 and was one of several pieces of legislation focused on easing the state's housing crisis – a crisis that continues to be a focal point this legislative year.

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Tax season is upon us! As you prepare to file, take a few minutes to see if you can get some money back in your pocket with the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).

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Thanks in large part to the work of César Chávez and other labor leaders, California has long led the nation on workers' rights, particularly the protection of farmworkers. That is why it was so disappointing when, last June, the United States Supreme Court struck down a California rule that had allowed union organizers to meet with farmworkers on farms during off hours. The regulation, which Chávez fought hard to see adopted, recognized the reality that farmworkers have long days in rural areas and often live on the property, making it difficult for them to meet with union organizers if they cannot do so on the farm. The Supreme Court's decision is a huge blow to a farmworker's ability to unionize and advocate for fair working conditions.

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State-Funded District Projects Moving Forward

During my time as Senate President pro Tempore, it has been a privilege to advocate for state funding that benefits our communities and regional assets, both in the 39^th Senate District and throughout San Diego County. I wanted to share some updates on a few of these projects.  

Project Update: Balboa Park Botanical Building

In 2019, I was able to allocate $8.2 million in the state budget to restore the iconic Balboa Park Botanical Building. If you take a walk through the park today, you'll see temporary facades and fencing are now in place around it. I'm told that the pond will soon be drained, but never fear—a number of plants will be salvaged and relocated to a nursery. Don't let these changes alarm you—they mean the much-anticipated construction will begin soon! The upgrades, which have been made possible by a public-private partnership, are projected to finish in two years. For more information on this project, be sure to sign up for email updates from Forever Balboa Park.

Project Update: Pure Water

The $50 million included in last year's budget for Pure Water Phase 1 is now in the hands of the City of San Diego. The city plans to use the funds to cover the pump station and conveyance to get the wastewater from its initial treatment at the North City Water Reclamation Facility to the new Pure Water plant. They will also help cover the cost of the reverse osmosis membrane technology. Once complete, the project will provide half of our city's clean, reliable, recycled supply of water by 2035. You can stay up to date here.

Project Update: Oak Park Library

Finally, an update that is particularly special to me. In February, Team Toni took a tour of the proposed site for the future Oak Park Library. What is now an empty lot within Chollas Creek Regional Park and near Chollas Lake, will one day be a brand new, 20,000 square-foot, single-story library.

The project is estimated to take four years to complete once all the funding has been allocated. Libraries are key centers of our communities and I was happy to help advocate for $300,000 in state funding for this project. Team Toni was happy to take the tour with project partners, including the City of San Diego City Council, the Parks and Recreation Department, Friends of the Library, and the Oak Park Community Council, as well as Councilmember Monica Mongomery Steppe, and the offices of Assemblymember Akilah Weber, and Mayor Todd Gloria.

Honoring Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Ardem Patapoutian

Team Toni was honored to meet Nobel Laureate Dr. Ardem Patapoutian and present him with a Senate Resolution in recognition of his outstanding work in neuroscience. Dr. Patapoutian lives in Del Mar and works at the prestigious Scripps Research Institute. His incredible and innovative research continues to push our city, region, and state forward. As an immigrant who left Lebanon during turbulent times, his achievement is even more inspiring. Learn more about him here.