August Newsletter

Hello, Assembly District 78! I'm your representative Chris Ward and I want to bring you up to date on the latest for the month of August.

The Legislature has reconvened after summer recess, and the first day back, my colleagues and I voted to approve my resolution to make November "Homelessness Awareness Month." I wanted to highlight the invaluable support and dedicated service of homeless outreach workers across the state. This included inviting people from several different organizations to the State Capitol to be honored, including People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), Housing California, Father Joe's Villages, El Hogar Community Services, the Sacramento Federal Defender's Office outreach team, and Downtown Streets Team. It was an honor to have them all at the Capitol and receive the recognition they deserve.

My office will also be putting together helpful outreach materials for constituents to donate and volunteer to various organizations in San Diego. Stay tuned for more information on that in November.

We are nearing another major hurdle for legislation to head to the governor's desk. Several of my bills are in the Senate where they are waiting to be heard in committees, including eight which are in the Senate Appropriations Committee where members will decide if they move forward or not. I'll be able to update you on the status of those bills in the September newsletter.

One of my bills is already on the governor's desk. AB 30 would broaden the atmospheric river program administered through the Department of Water Resources to connect reservoir and flood control operations with best practices in prediction modeling to optimize water management, increase storage, and reduce flood risk. With the recent extremes we've been experiencing with weather in California - and San Diego in particular - this bill will help us better prepare for the future. I look forward to the governor signing it into law.

Finally, I have introduced Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 to ensure a simple majority vote remains the threshold for a ballot measure to pass. Currently, under California law, any ballot measure approved by a majority of voters can selectively require a future measure to pass with a supermajority of the vote. This is a common sense measure that protects the majority vote for state initiatives. Any measure that imposes a two-thirds supermajority vote threshold should also have to pass with a two-thirds vote. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Elections first.

In case you missed it, I recently announced the winners of the 78th Assembly District's Small Business of the Year Awards on social media. My office received over 300 nominations highlighting special businesses in the district, which is incredible. But five businesses stood out for their extraordinary contributions to our community.

Hopnonymous Brewing Company in Kearny Mesa was nominated for its outstanding customer service and welcoming atmosphere. Sisters Pizza in Hillcrest is a local favorite for quality pizza for a cause, and the owner Emily prioritizes giving back to the community with the #KindnessForKate movement. 1502 Candle Company in Grantville uses recyclable and biodegradable ingredients to craft exquisitely scented candles, and the owner Caroline donates 1% of her proceeds to environmental and social justice organizations. Baba Kabob in Mira Mesa creates masterfully authentic meals and makes each customer feel welcomed. Finally, Odyssey Training Center in Linda Vista is a veteran-owned business offering Jiu Jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, a kids' martial arts program and group classes.

Congratulations to all our winners and please be sure to stop by and give them your business if you're inclined.

From left to right: Top left: Assemblymember Ward joins San Diego leaders to announce nearly $25 million secured for local projects. Top right: Meeting with members of the California Youth Empowerment Network. Bottom left: Homelessness outreach workers visit the State Capitol to be recognized by Assemblymember Ward's HR 46. Bottom right: Assemblymember Ward and district staff at Hillcrest CityFest.

As always, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be your representative and work on these issues and more. One of the best ways to stay informed is to follow my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Threads where you can know in real time what developments are happening or what I'm working on every day.

And if you need assistance, please know that my district office staff is available and ready to serve or answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out to the contact information at the end of this segment, and a staff member will connect with you as soon as possible. I wish you, your family, and your neighbors all the best.

Sincerely,

Christopher M. Ward
Assemblymember, 78th District