Passing Crime Bills, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

The 2024 state legislative session is racing to the end. We must conclude our business for the year in just more than one week – by midnight on the last day of August. It’s nerve-racking at times because inevitably tough decisions are put off until the end and negotiations between the Governor‚ Assembly and Senate can get tense.

One area where we recently took meaningful action was passing a 16-bill package aimed at addressing the rise in retail theft and property crimes. According to the Public Policy Institute of California in this report shoplifting rates in California continued to rise in 2023.

Many people have witnessed stealing‚ seen online videos of smash and grabs‚ or heard stories about first-hand accounts from friends. I’ve experienced all three. Earlier this year‚ as I was entering a Sacramento grocery store‚ a man sprinted by me with his arms full of alcohol.

We need to address this urgent problem affecting retailers‚ grocery stores‚ mom & pops and everyday consumers. So the Legislature passed and the Governor signed bills that do the following things:

• make it easier to prosecute organized retail theft rings that sells stolen goods online
• make repeated theft convictions a felony
• allow aggregating crimes across different counties into one court
• allow police to arrest someone on suspicion of retail theft even if the officer did not witness the crime
• deter car break-ins by adding and increasing penalties for possession of items stolen from a vehicle with intent to resell

Additionally‚ voters will get to weigh in on Proposition 36‚ which would go further by increasing sentences for property crimes and offenses related to fentanyl‚ on the November ballot. CalMatters has a good summary of the bills and the ballot measure in this article: Gavin Newsom signs new retail theft laws as voters weigh even tougher penalties.

Mayor Gloria and I were thrilled to share the news on X!

I’m glad to report that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed one of the bills I carried at the request of the City of San Diego‚ SB 1361.

The legislation clarifies that homeless services contracts approved by city and county governments are not subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and cannot be further delayed by claims against those types of services.

Presently‚ CEQA already exempts actions and services to assist the homeless undertaken by government agencies. This bill extends that exemption to contracts executed by local governments.

It is another step aimed at protecting‚ and speeding up‚ the delivery of shelter and services for people escaping homelessness.

Said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria: “SB 1361 will help us cut through red tape and swiftly get people off the street‚ into shelter‚ and on a path to permanent housing. This legislation allows us to act quickly and effectively in addressing the most pressing issue facing our communities. I’m grateful to Senator Blakespear and Governor Newsom for their continued leadership in finding solutions for California’s homelessness crisis.”

The new law takes effect Jan. 1‚ 2025.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Orange County Register: Gov. Newsom signs bill exempting homeless service providers that partner with local governments from CEQA

I spoke about the need to reduce plastic waste at last weekend’s press conference at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.

I am so inspired by all people and organizations who have advocated fervently for SB 1053‚ my legislation to uphold the will of the voters and ban plastic bags from being provided at grocery store checkouts.

Surfrider and CALPIRG joined together last weekend calling for the passage of the bill before they did their monthly beach cleanup. Other’s attending included U.S. Rep. Mike Levin‚ Asm. Laurie Davies‚ Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz‚ Encinitas City Councilmember Joy Lyndes‚ Mitch Silverstein from Surfrider Foundation San Diego and Toby Ngo‚ chair of UCSD CalPIRG. Thank you to all the dedicated environmentalists who want to see less plastic waste and have put such energy into advocating for this bill!

You can read why this is so important in an op-ed I wrote with Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.

The latest hearing of the Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency‚ which I chair‚ focused on what is being done by rail operators to meet ridership goals.

The agenda‚ and all the materials for the hearing‚ including the presentations made by participants‚ can be found on the subcommittee’s web page. Or‚ you can watch the entire hearing by going here‚ and scrolling down to 8/13/2024 and the name of the subcommittee for a video link.

Over the last year and a half‚ this subcommittee has discussed the urgent and emergency conditions along the 351-mile coastal rail corridor between San Luis Obispo and San Diego known as LOSSAN.

I’ve advocated for strategic‚ coordinated and bold action. We’ve already seen five track closures over three years lasting many months at a time and totaling more than a year of closures that has undermined reliability and crippled ridership.

If we are serious about meeting our region’s congestion‚ air quality‚ and equity goals‚ we must significantly and dramatically increase rail ridership. I know this is complicated and challenging‚ as we have learned from our hearings‚ but the truth is‚ we must do better.

We must set more ambitious goals – and we must push to meet them.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Del Mar Times/San Diego Union-Tribune: Subcommittee on LOSSAN rail discuss ridership‚ transparency

Voice of San Diego: How My Train Ride Got Off Track

I had a chance to see some interim housing units displayed for a press conference on SB 1395. This unit‚ produced by Azure Printed Homes of Los Angeles‚ is a 3D-printed studio made of recycled materials that has electricity and climate control and is on wheels‚ so it can easily be moved to wherever it is needed.

When it comes to homelessness‚ it’s clear that we need to do better across the board.

SB 1395‚ legislation by Sen. Josh Becker that I am co-authoring‚ attacks one part of this problem by removing hurdles and time-consuming constraints to building interim housing. It extends the emergency housing provisions under the Shelter Crisis Act and expands the CEQA exemptions for interim housing projects.

In short‚ this makes it easier and quicker for local governments to pursue interim housing‚ which is not a temporary shelter bed or permanent long-term housing. It’s the step in between. Interim housing provides an important stepping stone for the unhoused – allowing them to come indoors and have a private room and start getting the support and services they need to eventually get back into permanent housing.

Because this type of housing can be quick and relatively inexpensive to build‚ and units can be easily moved to where they are needed‚ this is a crucial and valuable asset for local governments in addressing homelessness.

To watch our press conference on the bill‚ go here.

MEDIA COVERAGE

CBS News: Temporary housing for homeless Californians could get eaiser to build under Bay Area lawmaker’s bill

I was proud to highlight the importance of the life sciences industry with Senate Resolution 111‚ which proclaimed August California Life Sciences Month. Click on the image above to see my floor speech on it.

The life sciences industry is one to be proud of. The sector is a major economic engine for the State of California‚ and one of the biggest global hubs is right here in my district with over 1‚000 companies working to advance medical research‚ biotechnology‚ and medical device development. The industry employs 441‚770 Californians and contributes $57 billion in wages across the state.

Because of this industry‚ we have groundbreaking discoveries. It’s how we know what the structure of DNA is‚ and it played a huge part in the Human Genome Project‚ life-changing vaccines‚ groundbreaking medicines‚ therapies‚ and so much more. I’m so proud of the work that happens in not only San Diego and Orange County‚ but also Los Angeles County‚ and the Bay Area. Through Senate Resolution 111‚ August was declared California Life Sciences Month!

It is my honor to name Ali Monge (above)‚ Executive Director and President of Women for American Values and Ethics (WAVE)‚ as Champion of the Month for August in the 38th Senate District.

WAVE is a woman-led‚ action-oriented grassroots organization using fact-based resources to educate and empower members of the community.

Since WAVE’s founding in 2016‚ Ali has played an important role at the organization. Ali stepped in as executive director and president in early 2023‚ assuming the responsibilities for overall strategic planning‚ program direction and fundraising.

Her team of volunteers advocate for environmental protection‚ government integrity‚ public education and civic engagement. The organization collaborates with gun safety organizations and engages with schools‚ the nonprofit community and law enforcement agencies‚ to mitigate gun-related injuries‚ contributing to a safer Orange County.

And WAVE also works hard to boost voter participation. WAVE fights measures that restrict access to voting‚ registers voters‚ produces educational materials for voters and helps monitor elections and polling places.

As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day on Monday (Aug. 26)‚ I am especially grateful for all that Ali and WAVE have done to get women involved with public affairs‚ engaged in the political process and participating in elections.

Ali’s contributions in politics‚ grassroots organizing‚ the nonprofit community and philanthropy make her a deserving Champion of the Month!

I am so thankful for my summer interns (left to right) Phoebe Lemon‚ Kameron Tessier and Vivian Shepherd-Mayen. Here they are receiving Senate Certificates of Recognition.

As our students return to school‚ I want to express my appreciation to my summer interns who have worked diligently over the past few months to serve the residents of the 38th Senate District. Our summer interns worked on several cases to help our constituents resolve complicated or challenging issues they experienced with state agencies. They learned about the legislative process and how public policies impact our communities.

They have been hard working and dedicated – and my entire team has been impressed with what they have done and grateful for their assistance. So‚ thank you so much Phoebe‚ Kameron and Vivian! We wish you well in your studies‚ and we will miss you.

Now we are accepting applications for our fall internships. To apply‚ please send a cover letter and resume to my Senior District Representative Fernando Hernandez at Fernando.A.Hernandez@sen.ca.gov. Interns must be able to work 20 hours a week. These positions are open in my Encinitas District Office.

The California State Capitol.

I pride myself in having assembled a strong team of dedicated staff to help me serve you.

Currently‚ I have an opening for a legislative director‚ and I am looking for someone with strong policy skills‚ a passion for legislating and a strong desire to change the world.

The legislative director’s primary responsibility will be to develop and advance my legislative agenda‚ and will work closely with myself‚ all my staff and‚ in particular‚ my chief of staff.

The salary range for this position is $7‚956–$15‚138 monthly‚ depending on experience. The job is based in Sacramento and the successful applicant would need to live there.

Minimum legislative experience of four years is required. Interested applicants should submit their applications through the Senate Careers page. Any questions about the job should be directed to Jack Christensen at Jack.Christensen@sen.ca.gov.

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