Rejecting Political Violence and Other News

Greetings!

It has been an eventful last few weeks‚ and I know it has been very stressful for many of you. The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration raids‚ tearing families apart and upending businesses and communities across California‚ has frightened many. The President hasn’t focused on targeting those with dangerous criminal records as he had promised. He’s sadly going after hard-working members of society‚ and it’s heartbreaking to see.

President Trump’s assault on California continues‚ with his administration cutting funding across the board – for research‚ education‚ transportation and more. He also stripped California of its authority to set higher vehicle emission standards‚ something we have done for 50+ years to eliminate smog‚ improve air quality and protect the health and safety of our residents.

At the state level‚ we passed a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year‚ which begins on July 1. (More on that below.) And in the state Senate‚ we elected a new leader‚ Sen. Monique Limón‚ who will take over early next year for our current Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire‚ who will be termed out next year. I strongly support our current Senate President and the job he has done for the Senate over the last year and a half. And I have a close relationship with our incoming Senate President‚ as we sat next to each other for the first two years on the floor of the Senate. Her district‚ which includes her hometown of Santa Barbara‚ is similar to my district. 

Over the weekend‚ tragically‚ a Minnesota state legislator and her husband were killed and another was gravely wounded. I am grateful that authorities have apprehended the suspect. It’s clear this was politically motivated violence‚ which I strongly condemn. 

Yes‚ we live in divisive times‚ and our politics appear meaner‚ more combative and more heartless than ever. But violence is not the answer – not now‚ not ever. Not if we want to maintain a functioning democracy. We must respect one another and each other’s views‚ even if we disagree with them‚ and support and protect the democratic process. I seek to understand those whose opinions are different from mine. We may not always agree‚ but I respect and value diversity of thought. It is what makes communities stronger. 

The Legislature continues to be in full swing with Senate committees considering policy proposals from the Assembly and vice versa. This week‚ the Senate Environmental Quality Committee‚ which I chair‚ held its first hearing with Assembly bills. It’s exciting to see the solutions my colleagues in the other house are proposing related to environmental issues. I also presented my legislation (SB 477) to make the state more effective at investigating and prosecuting civil rights violations to the Assembly Judiciary Committee‚ where it passed. There is always a lot to do!

I stood with California State Senate Democrats who gathered on the west steps of the state Capitol last week to speak out against the Trump administration’s authoritarian tactics‚ lawlessness and attack on California. 

The recent raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the state have been recklessly heavy-handed‚ cruel and terrorizing. It’s heartbreaking to see workers hauled out of restaurant kitchens‚ children left alone screaming for their parents and families torn apart. The way in which these raids are being conducted is clearly designed to frighten and intimidate Californians and destabilize communities. 

I denounce the unnecessary deployment of the National Guard‚ without consent of the Governor‚ and U.S. Marines‚ which is an uncalled for overreaction that only serves to stoke fear and unrest. The President has done this unlawfully and intentionally in a clear effort to create division and provoke panic. The situation in Los Angeles does not meet the criteria for federalization. Local and state law enforcement are well able to subdue any unlawful activity. There is no invasion by a foreign country‚ rebellion against the authority of the government or an inability to execute federal laws. 

The President should immediately end the creation of an unwarranted and unnecessary police state.

I joined an estimated 60‚000 who attended San Diego’s No Kings protest on June 14. Photo by David J. Bohnet (above right).

I support non-violent‚ peaceful demonstrations. It is the right of all Americans to be protected in peaceful protest. It is also the right of the people to observe government. 

I was glad to see that No Kings rallies held across California‚ and across the nation‚ to protest the Trump administration’s policies were conducted orderly and peacefully‚ with very few isolated incidents of violence reported. 

To all who attended‚ thank you for your activism‚ patriotism and positive energy calling for change.

To watch my 9-minute Senate floor speech about the state budget‚ explaining my concerns and why I voted for it‚ click on the image above. 

The state Legislature passed the state budget by its constitutional deadline. Now the budget we approved has to be negotiated with the Governor‚ so the process is not finished yet. 

Coming to agreement on a $322 billion spending plan‚ with its vast complexity and competing priorities‚ is immensely challenging. Every state budget represents a compromise – no one lawmaker‚ not even the Governor‚ gets exactly what they want. 

I have deep concerns about the state’s finances‚ and I think we need to do a better job to eliminate an ongoing structural deficit and right size our spending. I’d also like to see a more robust rainy day fund‚ to cope with economic downturns. 

That being said‚ however‚ there are many good things in the budget – what I think are improvements on the Governor’s proposal – such as a commitment to provide $500 million in homelessness prevention funding and rejection of cuts to the UC and CSU system. 

California is under assault from a federal administration hell bent on stripping our authority and slashing our funding in many different categories. 

So‚ it’s essential that we get our house in order and prepare ourselves to weather this storm‚ and that means having a buffer. To that end‚ I am grateful that the Legislature is proposing a constitutional amendment for you to vote on that would increase the potential maximum annual deposit into the state’s rainy day fund from 10% to 25% of General Fund revenues in surplus times. We have to be responsible and prepare for times of uncertainty.

I joined with Sen. Roger Niello‚ California district attorneys‚ sheriffs and probation officers at a Capitol press conference this past week (above) to call for funding the implementation of Proposition 36. San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez also participated.

The budget approved by the Legislature includes $110 million to implement Proposition 36‚ which increases sentences on certain drug and theft crimes. Prop 36 passed last November with 68% of voters supporting it. The initial budget amount is just a start. 

As we see Prop 36 implemented by law enforcement throughout the state‚ we’ll have a better understanding of additional funding requests for the Legislature to respond to. 

The Governor is currently reviewing the budget sent to him by the Legislature and deciding whether he will use his authority to line-item veto any elements of it. 

It’s clear that we need money in this budget‚ and future year budgets‚ to provide district attorneys‚ sheriffs and probation officers the resources they need for Prop 36. 

For example‚ since the law went into effect‚ it has cost the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department about $15 million more so far to manage about 1‚600 additional people who have been arrested on Prop 36 charges.

This is not a partisan issue. Voters passed Prop 36 and now it’s time to implement it. It really is that simple.

A Surfliner Amtrak train travels along the Del Mar bluffs in 2023. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Union-Tribune.)

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is pursuing a project to move about 1.7 miles of railroad track off the unstable Del Mar bluffs‚ and it has suggested four potential options. 

In May‚ the agency released the Notice of Preparation or NOP for the rail realignment project‚ and members of the public have until June 30 to provide comments on it. The line is part of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor‚ which runs from San Diego through six counties to San Luis Obispo. 

The rail line has endured frequent closures in recent years‚ due to stability and safety problems created by coastal erosion. Transportation officials say the Del Mar section of the line is particularly vulnerable and needs to be rerouted. 

I encourage everyone to stay connected with SANDAG via its project website. Comments to the NOP may be submitted to SANDAG online‚ to lossancomments@sandag.org‚ or via regular mail to SANDAG‚ Attn: LOSSAN Comments‚ 1011 Union Street‚ Suite 400‚ San Diego‚ CA 92101.

Effective this week‚ Pacific Surfliner has expanded service‚ adding one full northbound and southbound trip between San Diego and Los Angeles. To learn more and see the schedule‚ go here.

I addressed graduates of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) last week at its commencement ceremony in Sacramento. 

The CCC has long been one of the best investments that California makes in young people to develop skills for jobs‚ to improve our environment and to contribute to our disaster response efforts. Established in 1976‚ the California Conservation Corps is the oldest and largest conservation corps in the nation. 

The corps is a youth workforce development program dedicated to preparing adults aged 18 to 25 for meaningful careers and educational opportunities‚ and helping many of them get their high school diplomas.

The CCC is involved in many vital efforts to protect and enhance California’s environment – to fight and prevent wildfires; manage forests; build and maintain park trails‚ campgrounds and bridges; respond to flooding and other emergencies; improve wildlife habitats; install renewable energy; and perform many other related tasks. 

I am thankful for the corps‚ its meaningful work and immense value to the state‚ and to the many fine young people who participate in it.

Kara Chine’s activism has taken her to the U.S. Capitol (left) and given voice to students (right).

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month‚ so I’m especially honored to recognize Kara Chine as the District 38 June 2025 Champion of the Month. 

Kara volunteers thousands of hours every year to end gun violence as the San Diego-area lead for Team ENOUGH‚ the youth-led initiative of Brady United. She also serves on the Board of San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention (SD4GVP)‚ a coalition of over 26 organizations of survivors‚ activists‚ youth groups and others who work together to reduce gun violence in the San Diego region. Her role with SD4GVP is to mobilize youth through advocacy‚ art and activism.

Kara was an English‚ drama and speech teacher at Santana High School in Santee just before a student shooting in 2001 killed two students and injured 13 others. The attack struck home because she knew so many teachers and students at the school. Then 26 children and teachers were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012‚ and 17 students and teachers died in the high school shooting in Parkland‚ Florida‚ in 2018‚ just as Kara’s children were attending high school. 

“After Parkland‚ I saw students doing advocacy on behalf of their own safety‚” Kara said. “I was moved by their courage‚ so I got my feet wet by testifying and helping students advocate to stop gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds under the wing of Rose Ann and Ira Sharp’s NeverAgainCA campaign.” 

With the support of many politicians‚ including me when I was Mayor of Encinitas and Mayor Todd Gloria when he was in the Assembly‚ that campaign succeeded. In 2022‚ firearms sales were banned on all California state property. Seeing that ban upheld in the Supreme Court in May 2025 showed young people what a difference their voices can make.

Kara recognizes that some youth are interested in advocacy and public speaking while others choose impact through artistic expression. Most recently‚ Kara led a somber flash mob with teen musicians in Balboa Park‚ where families of gun violence victims shared photographs of their loved ones. 

This summer‚ Team ENOUGH is hosting an online art gallery‚ “Growing up with Gun Violence: Beyond Thoughts and Prayers.” The exhibit elevates the voices of high school students who have grown up in the shadow of gun violence. 

The gallery harnesses the creativity and lived experience of youth to challenge the normalization of gun violence and call the community to meaningful united action. I will be selecting one of the pieces as my “Legislator’s Choice.” If you are a student aged 14-18‚ you can submit your original artwork here by June 30 and add your voice to the call for a future free from the fear of gun violence.

“Youth have a superpower of not being perceived as partisan‚” Kara said. “They aren’t old enough to vote‚ but they are old enough to speak for themselves to legislators‚ media and others who are much more likely to listen to a young person who is calling for a future free from gun violence.”

Thank you‚ Kara‚ for your work to empower students and change the trajectory of gun violence. I’m proud to stand with you and with thousands of gun violence prevention advocates like you in District 38 and across the state.

I joined fellow women legislators for a recent tour of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and its National Ignition Facility (NIF) organized by the Legislative Women’s Caucus. 

I was delighted to visit the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and see firsthand its revolutionary efforts to develop a new source of clean energy.

NIF is one of two major centers pioneering nuclear fusion energy in California. The other‚ General Atomics DIII-D National Fusion Facility‚ is in San Diego. 

Fusion energy offers the promise of a nearly limitless‚ clean‚ safe power source. Unlike traditional fossil fuels‚ it produces no air pollution or harmful emissions. Unlike nuclear fission‚ it produces no long-lasting dangerous waste. I am a strong supporter of scientific research to maximize nuclear fusion and its possibilities. 

That’s why I authored SCR 25‚ a resolution expressing California’s commitment to supporting the fusion energy ecosystem and making utility-grade fusion power a reality.

The Lawrence Livermore Lab is advancing science on many exciting fronts‚ and I was thrilled to learn what it is doing. NIF‚ which houses the world’s largest and highest-energy laser system‚ made history in December 2022‚ when it achieved fusion ignition in a lab for the first time.

This valuable and timely workshop is being held jointly by the California Small Business Development Center and the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce. I hope you can take advantage of it!
 

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

In partnership‚

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