Photo Gallery

Thank you to our great Summer 2023 interns, Reina Jo, Meghna Nair, Sarah Wang, and Ava Brunner. They worked hard for our office this summer and we are so proud of their efforts.

This Fall, Reina will be a senior at Chadwick High School, Meghna a sophomore at UCLA, Sarah a freshman at American University in Washington, DC, and Ava a senior at Mira Costa High School.

Good luck to all!  We will miss you!

Breakfast with Torrance Councilwoman Bridget Lewis at The Pan in Torrance! We discussed public safety, homelessness, and the Metro light rail. Contact the Torrance Mayor and City Council to support the Metro C Line extension to Torrance to cut down on traffic and boost the South Bay economy!

Toured South Bay Family Health Care, a nonprofit community health clinic in North Redondo Beach, during National Health Center Week.

For over 50 years they have provided health and dental care to low income communities in the South Bay, mostly MediCal or uninsured patients.

I support healthcare for all!

Great job Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho for your new school year address at the Disney Concert Hall today. California's largest school district needs your whole child, whole community vision and energetic leadership.

#AcceleratingSuccess‬

Attended Lomita's 3rd Annual Lemonade Day this Saturday morning. Thank you to the Lomita Chamber of Commerce, and Heidi Butzine for organizing the event, which teaches valuable business and entrepreneurial skills to the participants.

I was amazed at how enthusiastic these young entrepreneurs were while operating their lemonade stands. Lomita won first place at the National level in 2021 and came in second in 2022. We are rooting for this year's young entrepreneurs who will represent Lomita and the South Bay.

Great program for Lomita's kids!

As Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, I was recently interviewed by representatives of the Los Angeles County Office of Education for their Schools on Point program, a 30-minute public affairs television show devoted to discussion about major legislative issues impacting California students and public schools.

We discussed my AB 247, a school facilities bond that would provide $14 billion in state matching funds for new school construction and infrastructure projects for both K-12 and community college districts.

We talked about my AB 938, which would raise school staff and teachers' salaries to close the wage gap between school site staff and similarly educated college graduates in other fields.

We also focused on the importance of Career Technical Education, and how my AB 377 would increase funding for the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) Program and consolidate the existing K-12 Strong Workforce Program (SWP).

Many thanks to Moderator Liz Graswich, Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)'s Executive Director of Communications, and the Host, Dr. Debra Duardo, Superintendent of Schools.

Focused on local homeless crisis during LAPD ride along in San Pedro and the South Bay with Los Angeles Police Officer Humberto Pitones and Sgt Juan Terrazas.

They shared the difficult challenge in being called upon to enforce the law while at the same time treating the unhoused with compassion.

They shared their frustration that there are not enough mental health workers and facilities to deal with all the unhoused who need help.

They shared their frustration that they would clean up a homeless encampment, only to see them set up somewhere else the next day.

They shared their frustration that too many of the unhoused would be offered housing, only to refuse because they don't want to have to comply with all the rules of the housing facility.

They say that gang violence is down, but the overall quality of life in the community is in the dumps.

They are afraid that we are all going to let this go on so long that people are starting to just accept it.

I just spent two hours with these LAPD officers, but I have a renewed appreciation for their tough jobs.

I enjoyed speaking yesterday at the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce's luncheon and roundtable discussion.  We discussed legislative priorities, as well as workforce development, job creation, economic growth, the environment, education, and transportation.

The Harbor Association of Industry & Commerce (HAIC) was established as a non-profit in 1975 to be a collective and impactful voice in support of the harbor business community.

I visited Cabrillo Avenue Elementary in San Pedro today. Its summer programs include English Language Arts, math, and STEM instruction. I also visited the Cabrillo Avenue Early Education Center and learned about the interactive learning they offer for our students most in need.

Thank you to LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Cabrillo Avenue Elementary Summer School Principal Demi Aguirre, and Cabrillo Early Education Center STEAM Academy Principal Paula Swearinger for graciously hosting me on their campuses.

Held a great town hall this morning at Manhattan Beach Public Library. It was good to hear from the community about issues of concern including housing and homelessness, public safety and education. Thank you to Mayor Pro Tem Jo Franklin, Councilmembers Amy Howorth and David Lesser and Manhattan Beach USD Board of Trustee Tina Shivpuri, and Manhattan Beach Police Chief Rachel Johnson for attending.

I also had the opportunity of recognizing Soroptimist International of Manhattan Beach for their 70 years of great work empowering women and girls through education and job training. Thank you for the fantastic work you are doing!

A special thanks to our office interns Ava, Meghna and Reina for their exceptional work and dedication to my office!