Embracing Spring's Challenges, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

From trade wars to stock market drops to job losses there is tremendous turmoil right now.

Even though the State of California is the 5th largest economy in the world‚ we are not able to insulate our residents from the cataclysms coming from the federal government. Every day I’m grateful I live here in California. And every day I work to make sure that we prioritize the well-being of our state’s residents in the face of the turbulence.

One of the most pressing issues is the state budget. Many of our state programs are heavily reliant on both the federal government and returns from the stock market. Fiscal responsibility‚ discipline and living within our means are critical‚ especially now when we are facing so much uncertainty.

While big changes swirl‚ legislators continue the work of hearing and presenting bills on a wide range of topics in committees. Some of these highlights from the last two weeks are below.

The return of spring always lifts my spirits. I hope you’re able to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. We have face many challenges‚ but spring always brings renewed hope and the energy to meet those challenges.

​

We held a press conference this week to call for more urgency to address homelessness and to take steps that would help cities build and operate interim housing to get unsheltered people off the streets NOW.

I joined Sen. Josh Becker‚ San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and other advocates to push for legislation that would make it easier for cities to provide interim housing‚ which is a place for people to go (like a mobile home or a tiny home or a shelter) that is not designed to be a forever home. It’s a safer and cleaner alternative to a tent.

The bills‚ SB 16 and SB 606‚ would require cities to plan to get all their unsheltered residents into housing and counties to provide greater support for social services needed for shelters and interim housing units. Watch the press conference here.

SB 16 would direct counties to partner with cities to support operations of their interim housing facilities. Specifically‚ it would require counties to cover at least 50 percent of the cost to operate cities’ interim housing and shelter operations.

SB 606 would require cities‚ counties and continuums of care to proactively plan to end unsheltered homelessness in their jurisdictions‚ and it would encourage small cities to participate in regional planning to address homelessness.

Interim housing units‚ like those that are modular and factory built‚ can be much more quickly developed and provided to the unsheltered than traditional brick-and-mortar housing. The City of San Jose was able to develop more than 700 units of modular interim housing in 18 months‚ while typical affordable housing projects take between four and seven years to complete.

But cities struggle to provide social services needed at shelters and interim housing units that are generally provided by counties. SB 16 ensures cities get the support they need to pursue and operate interim housing‚ and SB 606 ensures that cities are working toward the goal of moving all unsheltered off the streets and into housing‚ known as “functional zero unsheltered.”

For years‚ California’s homeless crisis has continued to worsen. We need to step up and make it a clear goal in every region to get people off the streets‚ and we have to give cities the tools and support they need to do that. Counties need to be full partners in this effort. That’s why we need SB 16 and SB 606.

Participating in the press conference were (left to right) Sen. Josh Becker; Semaj Algere‚ a resident of Emergency Bridge Housing at The Grove; Adrian Covert‚ of the Bay Area Council; myself; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; Elizabeth Funk‚ of DignityMoves; and Daniel Conway‚ of the California Grocers Association.

I made the case for legislation to set up a program to collect expired marine flares at a hearing of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Beside me is Heidi Sanborn‚ Executive Director of the National Stewardship Action Council‚ a supporter of the bill. This legislation takes a thoughtful and responsible approach to this problem by requiring manufacturers to safely collect and dispose of expired marine flares. Read more here about SB 561.

In Sacramento‚ the Legislature’s policy committees are going full bore. Several of my bills are getting hearings. I am glad to report that in addition to SB 561‚ two other environmental bills recently passed policy committees.

SB 427‚ legislation to indefinitely protect state funding to acquire‚ restore and enhance wildlife habitats across the state‚ was passed by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. In a state as beautiful and wondrous as California‚ we need to safeguard our open spaces and protect and restore wildlife habitat. That’s what the Habitat Conservation Fund has been doing for over three decades. SB 427 ensures this important fund will continue long into the future. Read more here.

SB 633‚ legislation requiring the manufacturers of beverage containers to verify the amount of recycled plastic they are using‚ passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. When a plastic bottle says it is 75 percent recycled‚ we should know if that is true. By requiring verification‚ the state is ensuring transparency in recycling and making sure manufacturers meet state requirements for the amount of recycled content they must use.

​

California and 15 other states have sued the Trump administration for cutting off grant funding from public health and medical research institutions.

The National Institutes of Health is the world’s leading public funder of biomedical research. More than 80 percent of the agency’s $47 billion budget goes to outside researchers.

Cuts and delays to NIH funding have crippled research teams in universities across the country and halted studies midstream‚ setting back work on diseases like cancer and diabetes and plunging American medical research into crisis‚ the New York Times reports.

This has been devastating for the UC San Diego School of Medicine‚ which received more than $460 million in NIH grants in 2023‚ and for many of California’s public universities and colleges. The research helps fuel advances in the life sciences industry‚ California’s second-leading industry that thrives in San Diego and Orange counties.

Late last month‚ the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly issued termination notices to state and local public health agencies across the county receiving the grant funding. The funding was supposed to run until 2026.

​

Food service ware products made with polystyrene that don’t meet new recycling standards were still on the shelves in stores recently‚ despite a ban that took effect on Jan. 1. (Photo courtesy of the L.A. Times.) CalRecycle issued a bulletin last week to clarify the law.

Maybe due to this story in the L.A. Times‚ (or maybe due to my advocacy in committee!) CalRecycle has issued guidance that clearly establishes that Styrofoam can no longer be sold or imported in California.

The passage of SB 54 (2022‚ Allen) was a big step forward in combatting the growing amount of plastic waste that is destroying our environment and poisoning people. The bill created a comprehensive framework for an extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy that forces manufacturers of products to reduce all plastic packaging over time and increase rates of recycled materials used in the products.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently stalled the development of regulations required to implement much of SB 54. But some elements of the legislation don’t need further refinement‚ such as the requirement that Styrofoam food service items contain at least 25 percent recycled material by Jan. 1‚ 2025. Because Styrofoam doesn’t meet this recycling threshold it is de facto banned.

Alongside a coalition of colleagues and advocates‚ I am encouraging the Governor to issue the regulations as soon as possible to move the needle on curbing the scourge of plastic.

​

Rampant fires throughout California‚ including those in January in Southern California‚ have made it tougher for homeowners to find‚ and get‚ fire insurance.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has announced an expansion of the state’s FAIR Plan that provides greater levels of coverage and is especially beneficial for homeowners associations (HOAs.)

Find out more here.

The FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan is California’s insurer of last resort operated by a consortium of insurance companies providing fire insurance. The number of Californians forced to use the FAIR Plan has increased significantly in recent years‚ as traditional insurers have retreated from high-risk areas.

Lara has more than doubled previous coverage limits. Under the new rules‚ commercial property coverage can go up to $20 million per building‚ with a total $100 million maximum limit per location. This is especially important for HOAs‚ many of which could not get coverage under the previous limits.

I know that hearing about losing your home insurance can be stressful and scary. Any time you need help navigating this‚ please reach out to my office at Senator.Blakespear@senate.ca.gov. My staff are constantly working with the California Department of Insurance on complaints and investigations regarding insurers and dropping coverage.

A helpful next step‚ should this happen to you‚ is to visit the California Department of Insurance’s website here. I’m standing by to support you to the best of my ability.

​This is good news! Pacific Surfliner has expanded service, effective March 31. Surfliner has added a new southbound train from Los Angeles and a new northbound train from San Diego. It has also adjusted arrival and departure times to accommodate the increased service.

Overall‚ this creates more options for traveling between San Diego and Los Angeles‚ giving commuters more alternatives to driving. Riding the train is more pleasurable than driving‚ and it’s better for the environment.

Learn more about the schedule change here.

​

To learn more about how to get a Real ID‚ visit the DMV website‚ pictured above.

In order to board a domestic flight beginning May 7‚ you will need a current U.S. passport or a Real ID. Congress passed the Real ID Act of 2005 to strengthen national security in the United States in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

But the implementation has been delayed many years by many things‚ including the Covid-19 epidemic. The federal government has said that is sticking to its most recent deadline.

If you plan airline travel after May 7 and don’t have a passport or Real ID‚ make an appointment with the DMV today! I recently uploaded my California Driver’s License to my Apple Wallet and am using an e-copy of my license to board a plane‚ which is even simpler.
 

​

Many prominent women working in the legal profession (above) joined me for a reception before Senate floor session.

I was happy to pass a Senate resolution designating April as Women in Law Month. You can watch my presentation here.

Here I am presenting the resolution on the Senate floor‚ as women who attended a reception we held watched from the gallery.

​

April is National Volunteer Month‚ so I’ve launched a Cheers for Volunteers recognition program!

Please nominate a volunteer who stands out at your organization for their expertise‚ commitment‚ caring and/or longevity. Whether they serve as board members‚ greeters‚ event organizers‚ food servers‚ drivers‚ mentors‚ social media managers‚ or in any other role‚ volunteers are indispensable and deserve our recognition and appreciation.

Don’t wait‚ submit your nomination today. The deadline is April 18.

The spirit of citizen initiative and self-reliance has prevailed in the United States for over two centuries‚ and volunteerism remains an important pillar of our society that we should celebrate.

​I am a big fan and strong supporter of the San Diego Padres and San Diego’s new Major League Soccer team San Diego FC! I was at work in Sacramento when the Padres opened their season‚ but was glad to show my support by wearing my jersey in front of the capitol building. I was also thrilled to recently attend San Diego FC’s amazing 3-2 victory over LAFC (photo on right) at Snapdragon Stadium with my son Oliver and husband Jeremy. They are off to a great start in their first season‚ and it was wonderful to see the stadium packed and the team bringing the community together.

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

In partnership,

To learn more about what I am doing, follow me on social media.

Email me at Senator.Blakespear@Senate.ca.gov

Call my Encinitas district office at (760) 642-0809

Call my Laguna Hills district office at (949) 598-5850

Call my Capitol office in Sacramento at (916) 651-4038