Holiday Open Houses, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holiday season! 

It’s my last month being in District 38 before I begin the Monday through Friday commute to our state’s capital‚ Sacramento. Being home has been grounding and energizing full of meetings with leaders in both Orange and San Diego counties‚ stopping by events and hosting my own‚ and simply spending time with family. It has been a very busy and very active stretch and I’m grateful for every conversation and connection. 

At the same time‚ I’m looking forward to getting back to Sacramento and diving into the work ahead. Starting January 5‚ I will reconvene with my colleagues to negotiate the state budget‚ introduce new legislation‚ advance policy priorities and continue my year-round drive to make progress for our district. 

This is also the time of year I like to open the doors of both my district offices to the community to see you and hear about your thoughts and wishes for next year‚ all while collecting toys and coats for children in need. 

These events are free and open to the public‚ and no donations are required to attend. I look forward to talking with you‚ and I hope you can make it! RSVP is required.

Open House & Toy Drive Supporting Lived Experiences in Carlsbad
Tuesday‚ December 9
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Carlsbad District Office
2385 Camino Vida Roble‚ Suite 205
Carlsbad‚ CA 92011
Phone: (760) 438-2006
Go here to RSVP to attend

Open House & Toy and Coat Drive in Laguna Hills Supporting CHP and Supervisor Katrina Foley’s Coat Drive
Wednesday‚ December 10
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Laguna Hills District Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Laguna Hills‚ CA 92653
Phone: (949) 598-5850
Go here to RSVP to attend

Feeding the goats pumpkins (photo on left)‚ and with (left to right) my mother Tricia‚ son Oliver‚ daughter (Ava) Bailey‚ husband Jeremy and the goats grazing on land near my home to eliminate dry brush. To see video of the goats‚ visit my Facebook page or X account or Instagram account.

California is in constant danger of wildfires which is why we must do everything possible to reduce fuel for wildfires and responsibly manage our land. A great way to do that is to use livestock to graze.

I was happy to contract with Good Shepherds to bring dozens of goats to land near our home in Encinitas for a few weeks to reduce dry brush‚ grass and other vegetation that can contribute to fire risk. This is an ecologically friendly approach that doesn’t involve heavy machinery‚ poisons or burning. 

The goats are a true delight! They don’t smell or pose any danger; and they get right to work munching down to the nub nearly any plant. It’s a great way to reduce the under-story of plants that can become compacted with dry and flammable brush.

Thanks to SB 675‚ passed and signed into law last year‚ California is developing a strategic plan to expand the use of prescribed grazing. This will set state guidelines and allows CalFire to use wildfire prevention grants for grazing projects.

Grazing as a practice has been done for centuries and is a tried-and-true method at land management. As the Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee‚ I am always looking for the best ways for California to protect and manage its environment and strengthen sustainable solutions. 

I invited neighbors to join me the day before Thanksgiving for a “pumpkin smash‚” to feed leftover pumpkins to the goats and see firsthand how targeted grazing helps prevent wildfires and protect our communities. The goats and humans loved it! It was such a joyful‚ educational afternoon.

I joined U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (to my immediate right) at a recent press conference to call on the Trump administration to back away from issuing leases for new oil drilling off the coast of California

It’s an outrage that the Trump administration has announced plans to issue new leases for offshore oil drilling off the California coast. Once again‚ the Trump administration is showing its disdain for environmental protection – and its allegiance to big money‚ big corporations and big oil. 

California has not issued a new lease for offshore oil or gas development since 1968‚ and there’s a reason for that. Offshore oil drilling means that spills and leakages are inevitable. In 2021‚ a spill from a pipeline off Huntington Beach spread tarballs and oil residue dozens of miles up and down Southern California’s coastline and closing beaches. I remember seeing them on our sand. 

In California‚ we follow science and understand the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change. So‚ to endanger the beauty‚ sustainability and economic viability of California’s ocean waters and coastline to drill for a fuel source that is harmful to the planet is a very bad idea. 

I am grateful to everyone who has joined with us to fight this short-sighed and unwise proposal. I am proud to support Rep. Mike Levin’s Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act‚ which would prohibit new drilling in federal waters off our shoreline‚ and I encourage Congress to pass it.

On a recent tour of the San Diego Humane Society and the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center‚ I got to see a possum and other animals being rehabilitated. It’s a relatively slow period in the winter when wildlife are not reproducing; so there are fewer in need at the San Diego Humane Society. Pictured here left to right: SDHS Government Relations Director Julianna Tetlow‚ California Wildlife Officers Foundation Board Member Meghan Spieker‚ me‚ California Fish and Game Commissioner Samantha Murray‚ Jennifer Fearing with Fearless Advocacy‚ Lisa Gilfillan and Caitlynn Birch with Oceana‚ and CEO Dr. Gary Weitzman. 

The San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) cares for over 40‚000 pets and wildlife annually across its five campuses. It also runs Project Wildlife‚ one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation programs in the country‚ and I was fortunate to see the program in action.

It’s a modern‚ impressive facility that opened six years ago and is specially designed to reduce stress and speed recovery of animals. The center and its staff nurse sick‚ injured and orphaned animals to full strength so they can be returned to their natural habitats. 

Their second location in Ramona cares for native predators like bobcats‚ mountain lions‚ coyotes and even a grumpy pygmy hippo! I’m very proud of the work they do in the region and I can’t imagine a San Diego County without them given the great work they do. 

As Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee‚ I am keenly aware of the importance of protecting wildlife and their surroundings‚ and I am very grateful for Project Wildlife and what it does. 

This year‚ I authored legislation to extend funding to acquire‚ restore and enhance wildlife habitats across the state. SB 427 ensures that for the Habitat Conservation Fund will continue another 10 years‚ providing grants to projects throughout California that preserve open space and wildlife habitat.

I joined Sens. Jerry McNerney and Anna Caballero‚ and moderator Brenda Bass‚ for a recent panel discussion in San Diego on nuclear fusion energy and what California can do to accelerate its development.

Nuclear fusion energy has tremendous potential to one day deliver unlimited clean energy without waste or any negative environmental consequences. That’s why it is so important for scientific research to continue into nuclear fusion‚ and for state and local government to support its development. 

Much thanks to General Atomics‚ the U.S. Department of Energy‚ the Lawrence Livermore National Lab and the University of California for bringing together policymakers‚ scientists‚ investors‚ startup executives and the media to discuss and better understand the challenges and opportunities for growing California’s nuclear fusion ecosystem.

This inaugural event helped generate excitement and interest in this emerging field of science. California is at the cutting edge‚ with nuclear fusion facilities run by General Atomics in San Diego County and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Alameda County‚ among others. Learn more about nuclear energy fusion here. 

Earlier this year‚ I authored and passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 25‚ which declared the State of California’s appreciation and support for all who are working to develop nuclear fusion energy and setting the goal of siting a fusion pilot plant in the state by the 2040s.

With (left to right) Mark Cafferty‚ President & CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.; Serge Dedina‚ Executive Director of Wildcoast; and Jade Clemons‚ Director of Economic and Workforce Development at Altsea‚ who moderated our panel discussion.

Did you know that San Diego is one of the world’s leading Blue Tech centers and the national hub for blue economy innovation? Blue Tech is the growing field of using advanced technologies to create sustainable practices throughout ocean and water-related industries.

The region has more than 4‚300 companies‚ employs over 114‚000 people and generates $16.2 billion in direct sales annually through Blue Economy sectors‚ such as marine robotics‚ ocean data systems‚ desalination and renewable ocean energy. According to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.‚ Blue Tech involves 46‚000 direct maritime jobs and $14 billion in annual revenue‚ making it a cornerstone of the local economy‚ along with the defense and life sciences industries. 

I was happy to join local economic and ocean industry leaders to talk about Blue Tech‚ and what the state can do to support it. When people think of San Diego‚ they often picture our stunning coastline‚ but the ocean is so much more – it fuels our economy in so many ways. That’s why it’s crucial that we manage it wisely and foster technology and innovation that reinforces sustainability.

Evelyn Thomas received a Senate Certificate of Recognition from my District Director Francine Busby.

I am delighted to honor Evelyn Thomas as my Senate District 38 Community Champion of the Month for November for her lifelong service to veterans and her devotion to education and advocacy to empower others. 

Raised by a single mother‚ Thomas often did her homework by candlelight when her mother couldn’t pay the electric bill. She learned about the civil rights movement and the philosophy of nonviolent resistance from her mother. Thomas joined the National Guard at age 17 with her mother’s authorization because she was not yet old enough to enlist on her own‚ and then was transferred to the Marine Corps. 

During her service‚ she experienced discrimination that was aimed at LGBT service members. As a result‚ she took it upon herself to become an activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals in the military.

Thomas was especially motivated to protect women of color‚ who were disproportionately silenced and sexually coerced. Thomas’s efforts contributed to the abolishment of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in 2011‚ and she received an invitation to personally witness the signing of the repeal by President Obama.

For 16 years‚ Thomas has provided emotional support‚ counseling and advocacy for veterans through the Sanctuary Project Veterans‚ an outreach ministry she founded. She serves at the Veterans Affairs Representative in the Oceana Community‚ connecting senior veterans‚ surviving spouses and their families to crucial benefits and services. She also serves on the Advisory Council of the Benjamin F. Dillingham III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor and is an Onward Ops Sponsor for veterans discharged under President Trump’s Executive Order 14183‚ empowering those transitioning from military to civilian life.

Thomas earned a master’s degree and taught high school in Oceanside. She created the Striving Towards Achieving Academy Requirements (STAAR) program to help English Language Learners build confidence and achieve academic success. She has also developed a training program on inclusion‚ equity and LGBTQ+ challenges for employees of the City of Oceanside. 

Thomas embodies compassion‚ justice and community spirit. Her decades of service uplifting students and supporting veterans make her a deserving District 38 Community Champion for November.

Visit the DMV’s website for assistance and answers to frequently asked questions. 

Did you know you can avoid a number of problems by making sure your address is up to date at the DMV? 

You are legally required to inform the DMV within 10 days of moving‚ whether you are moving within California or out of state. Doing so will help important official communications‚ such as renewal notices‚ recall information and other documents reach you in a timely fashion‚ so you don’t face late penalties. The address is also used by courts‚ emergency services and election officials. 

Luckily‚ you can change your address easily online at dmv.ca.gov. Be sure to have both your old address and new address ready. If you are also changing the address for your vehicle or vessel‚ you ’ll need your most recent registration card and the address where your vehicle or boat is located. 

Remember to update your Disabled Parking Placard mailing address as well. Here’s a QR code leading to the DMV’s Change of Address page.

If you’re having any problems with the DMV‚ or any other state agency or department‚ please contact one of my district offices for assistance. You can call my Carlsbad District Office at (760) 438-2006 or my Laguna Hills District Office at (949) 598-5850. 

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