Dear Director El-Tawansy, Commissioner Duryee, and Chief Wahl,

We are writing to request information regarding three recent closures of the Interstate 5 in San Diego and Orange Counties that resulted in significant and prolonged disruptions for tens of thousands of Californians. First, we want to be clear that public safety – including the safety of law enforcement and the general public – must always be the top priority. We commend all of law enforcement and first responders for putting their lives on the line and running to unpredictable and high-risk situations. At the same time, when closures of a critical interstate extend for hours, specifically during peak periods, careful examination and explanation of existing policies, procedures, and tools are warranted.

I am writing to you today as both the State Senator for District 38 and a long-time Encinitas resident, proud council alumna, and former Mayor, in support of preserving the core features of the recently completed western phase of the Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Project.

Dear Secretary Omishakin:

Thank you for your partnership as the Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency continues its work to ensure the long-term resiliency and performance of the vital rail corridor. We write to you as members of the subcommittee and co-authors of Senate Bill 1098, the Southern California Rail Revitalization Act, to reaffirm the importance of the planning and coordination efforts required by the bill.

Dear Director El-Tawansy:

I greatly appreciate Caltrans’ commitment to serving the transportation needs of the state, including leveraging all available resources to encourage the use of public transportation services. It is in that spirit that I write to you regarding Changeable Message Signs (CMS) along state highways and how to best leverage them for state priorities. I encourage Caltrans to display transit-related messaging on these signs, specifically along highways parallel to intercity and regional rail.

Dear California Energy Commissioners,

As the State Senator representing District 38, I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed siting of the Compass Energy Storage Project in San Juan Capistrano.

Dear Governor Newsom, Secretary Coloretti, Secretary Garcia, and Director Heller,

Enacting SB 54 demonstrated our state’s leadership role in tackling the plastic pollution crisis and ensuring producers share the responsibility for the end-of-life management costs of the single-use materials they generate. We recognize that enacting SB 54 was just the first step in the long and important implementation process, and we appreciate the work that has gone into developing the regulations thus far.

Dear Pro Tem McGuire:

In advance of the release of the Governor’s May Revise, we understand that the State likely will face a significant budget deficit. Collectively, we will need to carefully weigh our decisions to ensure that we cause the least harm to Californians and protect core investments that serve our constituents.

Dear Secretary Omishakin and Director Tavares:

Thank you for your continued partnership in meeting California’s transportation needs. I write to you to raise the importance of three areas of interest to the state’s passenger rail services.