Taking a Stand Against Violence, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

Like many of you‚ I was horrified to learn of the shootings earlier this week at the Islamic Center of San Diego‚ which is just two miles outside of my district in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego.

To the Muslim community‚ I stand with you and fully condemn Islamophobia in California.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families‚ and we all owe an immense debt of gratitude to the very brave security guard Amin Abdullah‚ as well as the two other adults Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad‚ who engaged the attackers‚ alerted others and ultimately lost their lives protecting more than 100 children who were in the mosque at the time.

In a civil democracy‚ violence is never the answer. In this case‚ guns were stolen by two radicalized young men from a parent and intentionally used those weapons to harm people. This is another example of how we need to continue addressing mental health issues as well as pursuing responsible gun ownership policy changes. I’ve worked hard as an elected official over the years to help promote safe storage laws and red flag laws.

Freedom of religion is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution‚ and everyone in this country should be able to worship in peace‚ without fear of violence or discrimination.

Once again‚ we see how the internet and social media played a role in radicalizing two teenage boys‚ fueling their hatred and racism. “The attack was yet another example of how the combination of alienated young men with access to guns and a hateful online community that welcomes them can lead to a spasm of real‑world violence‚” the New York Times wrote.

This is unacceptable. We need to take a firm stand‚ as a nation‚ and across the globe‚ against racism‚ hatred and violence‚ and it’s critical that when you see something‚ say something.
 

The state’s big three tax revenues (orange line above) are the personal income tax‚ the corporation tax and the sales and use tax. Together‚ they provide roughly 95 percent of the state’s General Fund‚ but due to their progressive nature‚ swing wildly year to year. The economy (yellow line) represents the total personal income of Californians.

The state’s budget picture has improved since January‚ thanks to a higher‑than‑forecasted increase in personal income‚ corporation and sales taxes for the state.

I generally support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revision to the proposed 2026‑27 state budget‚ which he unveiled last week. It’s more disciplined than his original proposal in January‚ cutting the structural deficit in half. Still‚ we must be wary‚ because‚ as he noted‚ the state’s revenues have long been volatile‚ rising and falling faster and more dramatically than the state’s economy as a whole does. (See graphic above.)

Furthermore‚ as the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office points out‚ the state still has a structural deficit. That means that in future years anticipated revenue is expected to fall short of covering the state’s ongoing expenditures. We need to align revenue and expenditures.

While I support the framework of Newsom’s new plan‚ there are still shortcomings that need to be addressed. For one‚ it does not include any funding for Proposition 36 implementation. (The current year’s budget includes $100 million for it‚ and the Senate’s budget plan differs from the Governor’s‚ as it proposed another $100 million.)

Prop 36‚ which was overwhelmingly approved by the state’s voters in 2024‚ increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes‚ and it mandates drug and alcohol treatment for offenders who need it. The problem is it significantly increases costs for local agencies‚ and many struggle to fully implement its provisions without more support from the state.

Another big concern is the state of Medi‑Cal‚ the state’s health care program for low‑income families. The problems stem from the federal government‚ namely H.R. 1‚ the legislation approved by Congress last summer slashing federal funding for the program. In all‚ 14.8 million Californians rely on the program‚ including more than 194‚000 residents of Senate District 38. It’s projected that‚ due to H.R. 1‚ up to 2 million Californians could lose health care.

This not only jeopardizes public health but it also ultimately costs taxpayers because people without health care end up in emergency rooms‚ where care is especially expensive‚ when they get injured or sick.

As a member of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee‚ I will continue to pore over the Governor’s proposal and look for areas for improvement. Go here‚ to learn more.

I’ll provide updates on the budget’s final details‚ as they emerge‚ in coming newsletters. Also‚ I welcome your input‚ as always. You can email Senator.Blakespear@Senate.ca.gov or call my office (See the bottom of newsletter for office phone numbers.)
 

Here I am at the Casina Pio IV‚ headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences‚ at the Vatican in Italy‚ with other participants in the academy’s summit on advancing the world’s resilience to climate change.

I was honored to join more than 40 officials from across the globe for a Vatican‑led discussion on climate change. We focused on the practical realities of drafting‚ passing and implementing climate change legislation.

The most important conversations weren’t ideological. They were practical: How do we protect people‚ reduce risk and build communities that can actually withstand what’s coming?

It was inspiring to see the honest concern and commitment to work together on this truly global problem from prominent officials from every corner of the Earth. They included legislators‚ policymakers‚ judicial leaders and representatives from global institutions and faith communities.

We are all in this together – climate change has no boundaries and affects all of us. Other countries are watching closely what California is doing‚ as many of our policies‚ such as our cap‑and‑invest program‚ are leading the way.
 

It was a delight to meet Bishop Chancellor Emeritus Monsignor Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo as part of the Pontifical Academies. In the left photo‚ we’re standing in front of the “Pope Mobile‚” after the Pope arrived in it and then exited to deliver the “Papal Audience” to thousands of people in St. Peters Square. To watch a short video of my trip (right photo)‚ visit my Instagram page here.
 

Older teenagers should not be barred from getting a library card simply because they can’t get their parent or guardian to go with them to the library.

I am happy to report that three of my bills have recently been approved by the Senate.

• SB 965‚ which would prohibit libraries from requiring the physical presence of parents for 16‑ or 17‑year‑olds to get a library card‚ passed the Senate on a bipartisan 35‑0 vote.
• SB 1088‚ which would standardize and harmonize documents used for end-of-life care‚ passed the Senate on a bipartisan 38‑0 vote. Specifically‚ the legislation would improve clarity and consistency among the three types of forms that can be used to legally document the type of care and medical treatment a person wants should they become seriously ill or injured and unable to articulate their wishes. Read more here.
• SB 1046‚ which would set safety standards for workers exposed to hazardous‚ transboundary pollution that crosses the California‑Mexico border‚ passed the Senate on a bipartisan 38‑0 vote. Read more here.
   

I recently spoke at a panel discussion on Alzheimer’s Disease in Sacramento.

We’ve often heard of the Silver Tsunami‚ which refers to the aging of California’s population. As a greater portion of the state’s population becomes older‚ we must ensure seniors are getting the support and services they need to stay healthy‚ get around and afford housing.

That’s why I have been holding a series of events throughout Senate District 38 for seniors‚ to provide them with guidance on how to avoid scams‚ stay sharp as drivers and access public services they may need. The next event‚ a free senior scam prevention seminar‚ will be held on June 9 in Carlsbad. For more information‚ go here. (Or‚ see graphic below.)

According to the Public Policy Institute of California‚ by 2040‚ 22 percent of Californians will be 65 or older‚ up from 14 percent in 2020. This will present many challenges for the state.

To address these‚ the Governor launched a Master Plan on Aging to guide the development of policies to support this growing population. The plan focuses on housing‚ health‚ caregiving‚ economic security and inclusion and equity for older adults and people with disabilities. It includes a Data Dashboard for Aging and an Implementation Tracker.

As for Alzheimer’s‚ an estimated 720‚000 Californians suffer from it‚ more than in any other state in the nation. In 2015‚ Alzheimer’s disease was the third‑leading cause of death among Californians. We must continue to raise awareness‚ and push for research to help develop the therapies that could slow or thwart development of the disease.
 

 
I was happy to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the new Google store in San Diego at Mission Valley mall and present it with a Senate Certificate of Recognition.

San Diego County’s economy is strong‚ thanks to the growing sectors of biotech‚ tech‚ energy development and other innovation‑driven industries. That’s one reason Google decided to open one of its first stores in the country here.

“San Diego is the eighth most populous city in the nation and a world‑class hub of innovation. As we continue to expand the Google Store footprint across the country‚ San Diego was identified as an important market to reach early on in our rollout‚” Google executive Michael Camacho told the San Diego Union‑Tribune.

I continue to work to support our innovation economy and the research and development needed at UC San Diego and other places to fuel it.
 

I am proud to represent members of the military and their families across San Diego and Orange counties. On Memorial Day‚ we honor and remember the sacrifices made by all those who died serving our great nation in the United States Armed Forces. We would not be the country that we are‚ or enjoy the freedoms that we have‚ without their dedication and willingness to risk their own lives for it.

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

In partnership‚