Vote! And other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

The 2024 general election is on Tuesday.

Please turn in your ballot and vote‚ if you haven’t already. Your participation is vitally important for our democracy!

I know many of us are passionate about politics and the candidates and ballot measures we support‚ but at the end of the day‚ we must respect the final results and the will of voters. Respecting the principles of democracy - and the rule of law - is essential to maintaining a healthy‚ functioning and orderly republic.

First and foremost‚ we must ensure our elections are free and fair‚ and all ballots are safely‚ securely and accurately tallied. I was very impressed by the professionalism and safeguards in place I witnessed in my visit this week to the office of the Orange County Registrar of Voters. You can read more on that below.

We owe all elections officials across California a debt of gratitude for their hard work and dedication to make our democracy work. Thank you for all you do!

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Here is a short video showing highlights of my visit. To watch‚ click on the image.

As a Senator and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments‚ I take the integrity of our elections very seriously.

That’s why I was glad to get a tour this week of the Orange County Registrar’s office from the registrar himself‚ Bob Page‚ who walked me and the media through every step of the ballot collection and vote tallying processes.

The professionals who uphold the electoral process are incredible. It takes a small army to facilitate an election and seeing firsthand how precise every step is gives me great confidence in the security of our elections. I am proud of our dedicated elections workers‚ in Orange County and across the state‚ who are working tirelessly to process ballots safely‚ securely and accurately to ensure every Californian’s voice is heard!

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Bob Page explained how ballot drop boxes are secured and checked daily (left photo)‚ and how ballots come into the registrar’s office and are sorted in a secure area (right photo) that is heavily monitored.

You can see more of the tour in this social media post:
https://x.com/OCRegistrar/status/1851445203846025681

MEDIA COVRAGE

Orange County Register: How Orange County elections officials are ensuring the voting process is safe and secure

I was glad to join with state and local officials to announce state funding for projects to enhance rail travel through Southern California. In the photo‚ left to right‚ are San Clemente City Councilmember Rick Loeffler‚ OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson‚ OCTA Board Chair Tam Nguyen‚ Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley‚ California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin‚ Asm. Laurie Davies‚ SANDAG CEO Mario Orso‚ Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner‚ NCTD COO of Bus Lilia Montoya‚ and NCTD CEO Shawn Donaghy.

The state’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funds projects throughout California that enhance and improve rail travel. The goal of this program is to boost rail travel - and provide alternatives to driving - to help the state meet its climate goals.

I was thrilled to join regional officials last week to announce the latest awards in San Diego and Orange counties. More than $1.3 billion was awarded to 27 different projects statewide‚ including three groups of projects involving the 351-mile Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor. That’s more than $200 million invested directly into the 38th Senate District and projects that benefit our transit and coastal resources!

TIRCP is funded primarily by SB 1‚ the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017‚ and the state’s cap-and-trade program.

The awards included:

North County Transit District and San Diego Association of Governments (NCTD and SANDAG)

Project: LOSSAN Double Tracking and Bluff Stabilization
Award: $38‚468‚000
Total Project Budget: $155‚603‚165

The LOSSAN Double-Tracking and Bluff Stabilization project includes two upgrades aimed at increasing and retaining ridership: the Eastbrook to Shell Double-Tracking (ESDT) and the Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Phase 5 Continuation (DMB5C).

The ESDT project involves the replacement of a 0.6-mile segment of single track with a double track segment so trains don’t have to wait for one another to pass‚ which increases a train’s travel time - something that benefits the rider! This replacement also includes the replacement of the existing 700-foot long‚ single-track San Luis Rey River bridge with a new‚ modern double-track concrete girder bridge.

The DMB5C project will include the installation of up to 128 new soldier piles‚ which stabilize the bluffs. This method reduces the risk of slope failure beneath the tracks along the Del Mar Bluffs and avoids the associated shutdown in rail service between San Diego and the rest of the LOSSAN Corridor. As weather and erosion get stronger and more frequent‚ this project is even more important as the experts work toward a long-term relocation option.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)

Project: Coastal Rail Infrastructure Resiliency Project
Award: $125‚000‚000
Total Project Budget: $313‚243‚000

This project will implement infrastructure and resiliency improvements at four locations within a 7-mile coastal section within Orange County. OCTA has identified four areas along the coastal area in the city of San Clemente that pose an imminent threat to rail operations due to coastal storm surges‚ combined with failing slopes and other environmental factors that affect rail operations.

Over the past three years‚ there has been repeated closures in this section of the corridor for a cumulative total of over 12 months of closures due to extensive railroad track movement and slope instability. This project proactively plans to avoid future disruptions. Once completed‚ this project will stabilize this section of the corridor for the next 30 years.

Coast Rail Coordinating Council

Project: Facilitating and Accelerating Service Transformations (FAST) on the Central Coast Program
Award: $63‚259‚000
Total Project Budget: $102‚405‚000

This program of projects will improve rail services in the northern portions of the LOSSAN corridor and connect into Monterey County. On the LOSSAN corridor‚ track improvements in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties will improve Pacific Surfliner services near the northern terminus of the corridor and enable a seventh round-trip train between Goleta and San Diego‚ respectively. The additional round-trip service alone is estimated to attract more than 100‚000 new Pacific Surfliner trips in the first year.

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In this interview with the Epoch Times‚ I talked about the importance of my legislation signed by the Governor to ban plastic bags from being provided at grocery store checkouts. To watch‚ click on the image above.

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Alex Davis (left) with me at a Senate hearing.

I could not do my job without my staff‚ who works hard to serve you and help me pursue my goals.

Transportation is an important issue to the residents of Senate District 38. As we look to the future‚ we want to increase the efficiency of our transportation system‚ reduce reliance on cars and freeway congestion‚ and lower greenhouse gas emissions. An incredibly important transportation asset that runs through the entirety of my district is the LOSSAN rail line‚ where you frequently see the Coaster‚ Metrolink‚ and the Pacific Surfliner zip by.

I am grateful for the assistance and expertise of Alex Davis‚ who is the Principal Consultant for the Senate Transportation Subcommittee on the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency‚ which I chair.

Alex stays on top of all of the emerging transportation and transit issues‚ and he is at the center of guiding the important work of this subcommittee.

Not only does Alex staff the committee‚ but he advises me on all transportation topics. Alex has a wealth of experience and knowledge I am fortunate to draw upon.

Before taking his present job in September 2023‚ Alex worked for six years as the Senior Manager‚ Government Relations for Metrolink‚ the Southern California regional rail operator. In that capacity‚ Alex led legislative and regulatory activities for the agency‚ including advocating for supportive policies and funding with local‚ state and federal government stakeholders.

From 2015 to 2017‚ Alex worked for the Valley Industry and Commerce Association‚ which was his first job in the transportation policy field.

He completed his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Southern California and holds a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University. In his free time‚ Alex can be found exploring the many arts and recreational opportunities in Orange and San Diego counties.

A lifelong Southern California resident‚ Alex works out of my Laguna Hills District Office in Orange County. I am delighted to have Alex on my team!

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I was happy to receive a 100 percent legislative scorecard for how I voted on legislation affecting education and educators in 2024 by CFT‚ a union of educators and classified professionals.

I supported CFT’s efforts to advance legislation that addressed the current education staffing crisis‚ climate change‚ rights for undocumented students‚ COVID protections‚ paid family leave‚ and the encroachment of so-called ‘artificial intelligence’ into the public education system.

One’s exit from this life is extremely personal and one thing we’re all guaranteed. I am holding an event on Dec. 4 at MiraCosta College to provide information about end-of-life choices. This is open to the public. RSVP today to attend!

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