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May is here! I'm your representative Chris Ward and I want to bring you up to date on the latest news for Assembly District 78.
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| LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
First, I want to give you an update on my legislative package this year.
With support from Governor Newsom, I recently introduced a bill to ensure our housing planning processes are inclusive of the most vulnerable Californians. AB 3093 will introduce two new categories into the Regional Housing Needs Allocation: Those experiencing homelessness and those who are on the brink of it, so we can recognize and plan for the housing needs of individuals earning the lowest incomes in the state. This bill recently passed the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee and now heads to Assembly Appropriations.
Hate flyers continue to be the preferred method of bigots to sow the seeds of division, harass, and intimidate others based on their religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Recently, a neighborhood in San Diego was targeted with antisemitic flyers -- one of several instances of this occurring within the last year. The Stop Hate Littering Act will make necessary updates to existing law by building on the Ralph Act of 1976 to ensure victims are provided adequate protections, civil recourse, and create new legal tools for law enforcement to hold offenders accountable and deter hate act activity. The bill will be heard next in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Finally, AB 1932 aims to provide a dedicated funding source for housing and homelessness prevention by eliminating the mortgage interest deduction for homeowners who own a second house or vacation home. This is a tax benefit that California offers year after year without question, but results in a massive revenue loss to the state. While we are in the midst of a housing crisis, this could generate up to $200 million annually for California to permanently increase homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers, implement more homelessness prevention strategies, and build desperately needed affordable housing for our extremely low-income constituents. The bill is currently eligible for a vote on the Assembly Floor.
| SMALL BUSINESS MONTH |
May is Small Business Month, and I have handpicked five fantastic locations in Assembly District 78 that provide outstanding service to our community. In the next week on my social media accounts, you'll learn a little about each of the small businesses I wanted to highlight and see a little footage my staff and I recorded from a recent visit. If you're not following me on X, Facebook, Instagram or Threads, make sure to follow my official pages shown at the end of the video so you don't miss out on this exciting content. Here is a little more about each:
Parent Share is a co-working space for parents who wish to achieve their professional or educational goals, while not missing their child's first steps and other developmental milestones. Their mission is to create a kind, and nurturing environment for early educational development for children with parental observation and participation. They have spaces for infants, toddlers, and young adolescents to play and socialize while still being within earshot.
The Divine Bubble is located on 30th Street in Normal Heights, and they sell crystals, essential oils, offer spiritual healing services, and host community events for all to enjoy. Their essence is rooted deeply in the profound yet simple belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and honored for their unique narrative.
At Dia Del Café, you can find delicious coffee, Mexican pastries, and breakfast sandwiches, all while enjoying décor inspired by the celebration of Día de Muertos. Local artwork adorns the wall available for purchase, alongside an authentic ofrenda and sugar skulls galore. Dia Del Café is not only a great place to grab coffee but they also host events for the Latinx community.
Modo Yoga Studio is a community of inspired students, joined together by their love of yoga and protecting the earth. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a more experienced student, they offer accessible classes that are challenging, healthy and fun!
Finally, Community Plumbing was started in 2017 to provide excellent and professional service to the San Diego area. While plumbers can sometimes get a bad reputation and you never know who you might be hiring when you use a big company, this family-owned business has served many of the bars, restaurants, residences, and businesses in the North Park, Hillcrest, and Mission Hills neighborhoods.
I look forward to sharing more with you about our Small Business Month honorees on social media soon!
| CIVICS COMPETITION |
You may recall earlier this year I held a contest for fourth- and eleventh-graders in our district to learn more about civics and encourage them to get involved in the inner workings of our government by creating an original piece of art. I'm pleased to announce that my office and community partners have chosen our finalists, and I want to share these amazingly creative submissions that were sent to us.
Thank you to all the students who participated in our inaugural competition. I am inspired by your work and I truly appreciate everyone who submitted an entry for this contest. I look forward to seeing what you come up with next year.
| HOLOCAUST HONOREES |
I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to my 2024 Holocaust Remembrance Honorees Miklos and Manya Wallenfels, who recently traveled to the Capitol to receive a certificate. Together, they have shared their stories of growing up in Nazi-occupied Europe and their account of the atrocities that happened before and during World War II with countless others to educate them on the Holocaust. If you would like to learn more about them, be sure to check out the video my office filmed while they were in Sacramento.
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| DISTRICT EVENTS |
Tierrafest Parade
The Tierrafest Parade will take place on Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. The parade route will take place on TierraSanta Boulevard between Santo Road and La Cuesta. There will also be a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at New Break parking lot, as well as dinner, music, fun and games for the whole family from 4:30 - 8 p.m. Be sure to stick around for the fireworks at 8:15 p.m. To learn more, click on the link below.
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Asian Pacific Cultural Festival
The 11th annual Asian Pacific Cultural Festival of San Diego will be returning on May 18! The event will feature cultural, traditional, and contemporary acts, as well as lots of family-friendly, fun, activities at this free event. Visit the URL below to learn more:
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| OUT IN THE COMMUNITY |
From Top to Bottom: Left to Right: Top Left: Speaking at an Environment California rally to promote future climate investments to protect the environment. Top Right: Meeting with Governor Newsom as Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus to discuss legislative and budget priorities. Bottom Left: Kicking off the celebrations at the Linda Vista Multicultural Fair. Bottom Right: Assemblymember Ward receives an update on California's homelessness efforts in Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight.
| CLOSE OUT |
As always, I want to thank you for your support. I'm grateful 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, X, Threads and Instagram 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 video, 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