Improving Rail for Large Events, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

When tens of thousands of people descend on a stadium or concert venue‚ our transportation system shouldn’t force them all into their cars‚ when there’s a rail station nearby.

That’s why I’ve introduced SB 1136‚ a bill to remove the barriers that make it unnecessarily difficult for passengers to use rail to attend major regional events like sports games and concerts.

Rail is ideal for moving large numbers of people‚ but today riders often struggle to plan trips across transit networks‚ find clear schedules‚ or buy a single ticket. Too often‚ what should be the most convenient option becomes the most complicated.

Along the southern portion of the LOSSAN rail corridor‚ for example‚ there may be only one Pacific Surfliner train that arrives in Los Angeles or San Diego in time for a major event. If that train is sold out or unavailable‚ riders from Orange and San Diego counties are left piecing together a transfer in Oceanside between Metrolink and COASTER—adding uncertainty‚ extra time‚ and frustration.

Faced with that hassle‚ many people simply drive‚ worsening freeway congestion that could be avoided.

SB 1136 would require Pacific Surfliner‚ Metrolink‚ and COASTER to plan service around large events‚ in order to better coordinate service planning‚ equipment‚ and schedules to minimize transfers‚ maximize capacity‚ and make rail the easiest choice for event travel.

This bill is part of my broader effort to improve the planning and management of public transportation. If California is serious about reducing congestion and modernizing mobility‚ we need rail service that actually works for how people travel today.

State Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin came into my office last week to discuss the challenges currently faced by transit agencies‚ and how to improve rail performance and ridership along the LOSSAN corridor. There is a comprehensive analysis underway right now based on my bill‚ SB 1098‚ from two years ago that should make recommendations for changes to improve performance.

What a treat to honor 50 women in San Diego County for outstanding leadership‚ achievements‚ and contributions to the community.

In celebration of Women’s History Month in March‚ each year I recognize “Women Who Inspire.” They are nominated by a fellow community member and were honored at a breakfast reception at Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center last week.

I grew up in a multi‑generational family of strong women‚ and that helped make me into the woman I am today. I take pride in the fact that the majority of the California State Senate is female ‑ 21 of 40.

The women who came before us opened doors and smashed ceilings to make this happen. Despite our progress‚ however‚ we still have not reached gender equity. And this is particularly true in positions of leadership.

As former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said‚ “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”

Thank you Women Who Inspire for your hard work and dedication and for being terrific role models!

Soon after I was elected‚ I visited the La Posada de Guadalupe‚ owned and operated by the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego‚ to see the vacant‚ temporary beds originally designed for seasonal farmworkers.

North county is known for its agricultural industry and boasts more than 4‚000 farms with a $1.66 billion production value. A large workforce is needed to manage more than 200‚000 acres of land.

Some of the workforce at these farms is seasonal‚ and the La Posada de Guadalupe project‚ a Catholic Charities‑run shelter for male farmworkers in Carlsbad‚ offers beds to these workers. Due to the sporadic use of the beds‚ some are left vacant at different times of the year. Over the years‚ the Catholic Diocese reports‚ utilization of the shelter has declined‚ as changes in regional agricultural has reduced the need for transient farmworker housing.

Working with Carlsbad city officials and the Catholic Diocese‚ I have advocated for the state to approve using the available beds at La Posada de Guadalupe for non‑farmworkers when the beds are left vacant.

This year we were successful! The state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) recently gave authorization for the facility to use up to 40 of its beds designated for farmworkers for others who are homeless‚ when they are not in use by farmworkers.

This is a great solution to maximize shelter bed usage. Having shelter beds left open for months on end is a complete waste. Thanks to all who have worked to make this happen!

I joined Sen. Roger Niello (far right)‚ district attorneys‚ sheriffs and probation officers at the Capitol last June to urge funding for Proposition 36 implementation.

As the Legislature continues to work on writing the state budget for the coming fiscal year‚ which begins on July 1‚ I have asked for increased funding in several key areas. In January‚ the Governor proposed a $348.9 billion budget that generally holds to the state’s baseline commitments without proposing any significant non‑mandated new spending. Many of the Legislature’s previous priorities were not included in the Governor’s proposed budget so there is a lot to negotiate in the months ahead.

In a letter I recently sent to the budget committee‚ I called for:

• $500 million for the Homeless Housing‚ Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Grant Program
  HHAP is one of the most important funding sources to prevent and end homelessness in our state. The program distributes money through grants to local governments. The Governor proposed cutting it to $500 million this year‚ after funding it at $1 billion in previous years. That’s not good enough‚ given the immense need for more shelters‚ interim housing and services serving people who are homeless.
• $400 million for Proposition 36 implementation and funding for recovery support services and substance use treatment
  Prop 36‚ overwhelming approved by the state’s voters in 2024‚ is a strong bipartisan mandate to reduce repeat theft offenses‚ improve public safety and expand access to behavioral health and substance use treatment. I fought hard to get $100 million added to this year’s budget (2025‑26) to help pay local agencies for the cost of implementation. What we have learned is that much more is needed to align resources with the scale of implementation and ensure the measure achieves its promised outcomes. Read the press release here.
• $48.8 million for Wildlife Coexistence Program
  Human‑wildlife conflicts are increasing across California‚ affecting rural ranching communities as well as urban and suburban neighborhoods. That’s why we need this money to restart a statewide Wildlife Coexistence Program within the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. This proactive‚ science‑based conflict prevention effort would benefit all Californians‚ as well as protect wildlife. I have authored legislation‚ SB 1135‚ to restart this important program and this funding would ensure it happens.
• $35 million for California Local News Fellowship and Civic Media Fund
  As a former journalist‚ I know the value of the news media and its importance for a democracy. That’s why I am calling for $15 million in the Local Journalism Fellowship to support programs that place early‑career journalists in newsrooms throughout the state to expand reporting capacity. I helped get $15 million for the fellowship in the current budget‚ and I think it’s important to keep this going. Also‚ an additional $20 million should go to the Civic Journalism Program to direct new resources to local newsrooms of all types at a time when the industry has experienced significant contraction.
• Transit Stabilizing Funds
  Transit agencies across the state are struggling to maintain fiscal solvency and increase ridership. The state must do more in the near term to avert catastrophic service reductions. I support making short‑term stabilization funds available‚ as needed‚ to address emergencies and maintain service levels.
• Full Forgiveness of Distressed Hospital Loan Funds
  As the health care industry continues to face unprecedented financial pressures‚ full forgiveness of Distressed Hospital Loan Funds (DHLP) would set up our struggling health care facilities to advance efforts to regain financial control. Such action would provide stability to hospitals‚ such as Tri‑City Medical Center in Oceanside‚ serving vulnerable populations and allow limited resources to be directed toward patient care.

According to a 2025 study by Everytown for Gun Safety‚ California has the strongest gun laws in the nation and a gun violence rate well below the national average.

In the Legislature‚ we’re always looking at ways we could reduce gun violence and ensure responsible gun ownership. I am glad to report that I was recently named the Vice Chair of the Legislature’s Gun Violence Prevention Work Group.

This group of 29 legislators gets together regularly to discuss potential legislation and consider if the state’s gun laws are working‚ or whether they need to be tweaked or strengthened in any way. I look forward to working closely with the work group’s Chair‚ Assemblymember Catherine Stefani‚ to make sure California has the toughest – and best – gun violence prevention laws in the nation.

You can watch videos of some of my events on my Instagram page. Go here to see my Coastal Rail Trail check presentation in Solana Beach‚ go here to see a celebration of Women Who Inspire and go here to see my visit to the Oregon State University lab testing artificial reefs that will be used in Oceanside for the RE:BEACH program.

April is National Volunteer Month‚ so it’s time for Cheers for Volunteers‚ my program to recognize the many wonderful volunteers who help throughout Senate District 38.

So‚ please take a moment to nominate a volunteer who stands out at your organization for their expertise‚ commitment‚ caring and/or longevity. No matter what their role‚ volunteers are indispensable and deserve our appreciation.

Nominees should reside or volunteer in Senate District 38‚ which covers northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. See the Senate District 38 map here.

During the month of April‚ I will thank each nominee with a personalized letter and certificate of appreciation. And‚ if your organization would like to present the letter and certificate to them‚ our office is happy to make arrangements to do so.

Please note: The deadline to submit a nomination is April 3.

On March 26‚ I am co‑hosting a town hall with Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley. I hope you can make it!

Thank you for your support. I am honored to serve you.

In partnership‚

Email me at Senator.Blakespear@Senate.ca.gov
Call my Carlsbad district office at (760) 438-2005
Call my Laguna Hills district office at (949) 598-5850
Call my Capitol office in Sacramento at (916) 651-4038