January 2025 Newsletter

Happy New Year, neighbors! Here are some updates from Sacramento to kick-start the year.

The 2025 legislative session has begun, and we are off to a strong start! This year, I have been appointed Chair of the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism. All of these jurisdictions are important to San Diego, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect access to the arts, increase tourism, and improve opportunities for cultural enrichment and athletic activities. My other committee assignments include:

• Budget Subcommittee on State Administration
• Labor and Employment
• Local Government
• Privacy and Consumer Protection
• Transportation

And while I will keep working on climate, transportation, and civil rights issues as cornerstones of my legislative package for 2025, these committee assignments allow me a closer role in shaping all the bills that fall in their respective jurisdictions.

The Legislature’s decisions from last year stabilized California’s position to deal with critical needs of state in 2025. This year with a positive fiscal situation, I appreciate the Governor’s recommendation to add more accountability to our housing and homelessness funds – something the Assembly has asked for in annual oversight hearings. However, I am again alarmed with a proposed budget that zeroes out support for ongoing affordable housing programs and tax credits. Just like last year, the Legislature must prioritize resources to build affordable housing and meet the needs of our constituents. I look forward to reviewing the proposal and upcoming hearings as we must also help Californians recover from devastating fires and address the cost-of-living crisis the state is facing.

Some highlights from the Governor's proposed budget include:

• No foreseen deficit.
• Saving $17 Billion for California's Rainy Day Fund.
• Proposing enhanced accountability for funds spent on housing and homelessness solutions, including prioritizing funding for local governments with Pro-Housing Designations and requiring local governments to follow state guidance on encampment policy to be eligible for funding.
• Securing Universal Transitional Kindergarten for every four-year old in California with funding to work towards the goal of 10:1 UTK child to staff ratios.
• $100 million one-time funding to the California Community Colleges to expand credit-for-prior-learning and begin building the Career Passport program.
• $13 million for home hardening - helping Californians protect their homes from fires.
• $228.2 million of Proposition 4 bond funds for port upgrades to support the development of offshore wind generation.

I will be spending the weeks coming up more thoroughly reviewing each department's proposals, and make sure our priorities and needs of our constituents are put first. While there are several months of hearings and opportunities for improvements, I welcome your feedback throughout the budget process.

With the events in Los Angeles these last two weeks fueled by low winter rains and strong Santa Ana winds, we are overseeing closely the devastating impacts to hundreds of thousands of Californians. This is a historic loss, and we will be grappling with its impact in upcoming discussions at the Capitol. Our district knows the threat of wildfires to our homes and communities, and should be taken seriously.

Now is as good a time as any to make sure you and your family are prepared for an emergency. Below are some tips to ensure you are ready in case of evacuation or orders.

• Create an emergency plan for your family: know where to meet, how to communicate, and be familiar with evacuation routes. If you have pets, make sure you have a plan for them as well!
• Build an emergency kit: Keep essential supplies together, such as water, important documents, non-perishable foods, first aid items, flashlights, batteries, pet food, masks, blankets, and medications. Update the kit regularly. Check out Cal Fire's website for more tips on building your emergency kit.
• Stay informed: Sign up for local government alerts and warnings. Monitor weather conditions and heed safety precautions. You can sign up for text alerts from the County of San Diego here.
• Consider updating your landscaping to create a defensible space around your home and protect it from wildfires. You can learn more about this practice on Cal Fire's website here.

From left to right: top to bottom: Top left: Team Ward attending a Toys for Tots event at the Copley-Price YMCA. Top right: Celebrating the ribbon cutting of the Old Town Gateway Sign. Bottom left: Enjoying the first week of session with my colleagues, Assemblymembers Darshana Patel (AD 76) and David Alvarez (AD 80). Bottom right: Distributing food and toys at Bayside Community Center.

I am grateful to continue to serve as your Assemblymember at the California Capitol for the coming terms. One of the best ways to stay informed is to follow my social media accounts on Facebook, X, Threads, and Instagram where you can know in real time what developments are happening or what I am 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 bottom of this email, and a staff member will connect with you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Christopher M. Ward
Assemblymember, 78th District