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Thank you Jerome Chang and Brianna Egan of Redondo Beach for organizing today’s Rally in Solidarity with the South Bay AAPI Community! This national trend of hate-fueled incidents targeting Asian Pacific Islanders amid the COVID-19 pandemic is not acceptable. That is why I introduced AB 557 (Hate Crimes Hotline) which requires the California Department of Justice to establish and maintain a toll-free statewide hotline and online form to report hate crimes and hate incidents.

Thank you South Bay friends for attending today’s rally to stand up, speak out, and stand together against hate.

Joined Supervisor Janice Hahn and others to right a wrong done against the Bruce family and other Black families in Manhattan Beach a hundred years ago. As a coauthor of SB 796, I will fight for justice for descendants of the Bruce family.

"Today, I, along with Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago and Eduardo Garcia, hosted a virtual press conference to announce my AB 34, the California Broadband for All Bond Act of 2022, a $10 billion general obligation bond measure to help close the digital divide throughout California.

Speakers in support of AB 34 included State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, California School Board Association President-elect Dr. Susan Heredia, and California State Association of Counties representative and Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo.Assembly Bill (AB) 34 will invest in broadband infrastructure throughout California and increase access to high-speed internet, prioritizing unserved and disadvantaged communities to help close the digital divide. The bill will help jumpstart the state’s economic recovery and support public education, telecommuting, telehealth and telemedicine, emergency response and preparedness, and other vital services. AB 34 will be heard and voted on in the Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance, chaired by AB 34 joint author

Assemblymember Santiago, in April 2021.

California needs to go big and bold to close the digital divide and jumpstart the economic recovery. This pandemic has highlighted enormous disparities in access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet, especially in rural and low-income urban communities. As the ‘Innovation State’, California should lead by significantly increasing its investment in public broadband infrastructure -- the Infrastructure of the 21st Century -- to provide affordable and reliable access to the internet for all Californians."

I participated in the Save our Seniors rally in Little Tokyo this weekend. Seniors in residential care facilities are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the owner of Sakura Gardens Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) here in the South Bay that primarily serves the Japanese American community is threatening to sell the facility and turn it into an apartment complex.

That's why I introduced AB 279, which would prohibit a senior residential care facility from making significant changes to the delivery of residential care services during the COVID-19 state of emergency unless the owner of the facility declares bankruptcy.

We have a moral obligation to do everything we can to protect these seniors from eviction or transfer trauma. At the very least, we should allow these seniors and their loved ones the peace of mind knowing that their current homes will not be taken away from them during a pandemic.

It is my honor to recognize Joeann Valle, as this year’s #AD66 Woman of the Year. The award is being given posthumously, as Joeann unfortunately died in January after a battle with cancer.

Joeann Valle was a community activist that left a legacy of service. Joeann founded the Harbor City Neighborhood Council, Boys and Girls Club of the South Bay, and Friends of Liberty. She led organizations such as the LA Gateway Chamber of Commerce, LA Harbor College Foundation Board, and Harbor City/Lomita Lions Club. Her selfless devotion to Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, and Lomita were inspirational to the South Bay community.

Her hard work for the community will be remembered for years to come.

Almost exactly a year after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, I toured a COVID-19 mass vaccination site administered by Beach Cities Health District. Volunteers, student nurses, healthcare professionals, and dedicated BCHD staff have worked together to administer over 2,000 vaccine doses to South Bay teachers and school staff. Thank you for your heroic efforts to help safely reopen our schools!

Thank you to the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, and the South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce for inviting me today to their 7th Annual South Bay Legislative Meet & Greet.

I spoke about my Assembly Constitutional Amendment to require all local land-use controls and zoning regulations to remain within the communities incorporated by the State of California. I also talked about my Broad Band for All Act that will help increase broadband access to all. To help businesses, I have introduced AB 255 which provide rent relief for small businesses by creating a process for property owners and small business owners to work together on rent issues related to COVID. As we continue to weather the pandemic, my goal is to continue to work on issues that matter to all of us such as reopening of our schools, housing and balancing our equities.