Senator Cortese Newsletter: Big Strides for California

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Friends‚

As we move through June and into July‚ I am excited to share significant advancements in transportation‚ public safety‚ and education‚ as well as an important update on California’s budget. We have made remarkable progress in the past few months‚ and your continued support and engagement have been instrumental in driving these positive changes. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished together and what’s on the horizon.

Warmly,

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Senator Dave Cortese

Announcements

Senator Cortese with San José Mayor Matt Mahan breaking ground on the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector.
Senator Cortese with San José Mayor Matt Mahan
 

Eastridge to BART Regional Connector: I am thrilled to announce that we finally broke ground on the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector. This project will connect San José to BART‚ and all the major attractions and job centers in the Bay Area. I joined community and local leaders from across Santa Clara County this month to celebrate this long-awaited achievement. As I said then‚ it was an emotional and exciting moment that has been 20 years in the making and represents the hard work of countless leaders. I can’t overstate how transformative this project will be for the Bay Area’s transportation system. More than just getting people from point A to point B‚ this extension will reduce traffic‚ improve air quality‚ support local businesses‚ and provide a reliable transportation option for our community.

Senator Cortese and leaders of Community Seva.
Senator Cortese presents a Senate Resolution to leaders of Community Seva

Community Seva as Nonprofit of the Year: I was proud to honor Community Seva as Senate District 15’s Nonprofit of the Year for 2024 at a special event at the State Capitol. They are a lifeline in San José‚ feeding the hungry and serving the homeless. They exemplify the spirit of our community‚ and their dedication is truly inspiring. It was an honor to celebrate their achievements in this way‚ and to share that now with all of you.

 

Dave and Pattie Cortese standing in front of bright red classic truck.
Dave and Pattie Cortese pose at last year’s Rose‚ White‚ & Blue Parade

Rose‚ White‚ & Blue:

I want to announce that Pattie and I will once again be celebrating the 4th of July at San José’s Rose‚ White‚ & Blue Parade. We love this celebration of community and patriotism every year. If you haven’t attended‚ I encourage you to do so! Once again I will be bringing my own 1957 Chevy pickup as a parade entry. Many thanks to the organizers and sponsors for this great tradition!

I hope you’ll join us in celebrating. Details below.

When: July 4th‚ 2024
Parade: 9:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Festival: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: The Alameda‚ San José
Learn more: www.rwbsj.org

 

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I’m proud to bring you one of our most exciting “Capitol Updates” sections yet. In just the first half of June‚ we have made huge strides for California.

Education Bills

You all know how highly I value education. That’s why it was such a proud moment watching all four of my newest education bills pass the Assembly Education Committee this month. These bills (SB 333‚ SB 483‚ SB 956‚ and SB 1445) stand up for California’s students and address critical issues affecting some of California’s most vulnerable populations.

I’d like to take a moment to tell you about each one:

SB 333: California SOAR (Success‚ Opportunity‚ & Academic Resilience) Guaranteed Income Program

Senator Cortese, Tony Thurmond, and Tomas Vargas Jr.
Senator Cortese with State Superintendent / SB 333 bill sponsor‚ Tony Thurmond‚ and Tomas Vargas Jr.

Every year‚ thousands of homeless high school seniors in California face insurmountable challenges as they transition into adulthood. SB 333 aims to break this cycle of hardship by establishing the California SOAR Guaranteed Income Program‚ providing financial support to graduating homeless high school seniors. This transformative legislation grants $1‚000 per month for four months after exiting high school to help these students transition to college or enter the workforce. I am grateful to State Superintendent Tony Thurmond for joining me at the committee hearing to testify about this bill’s importance.

SB 483: Pupil Rights – Prohibition of Prone Restraint

Senator Cortese and Melaura Erickson-Tomaino, Ph. D.
Senator Cortese testifies at the Assembly Education Committee. (On the right: Melaura Erickson-Tomaino‚ Ph. D.)

Max Benson‚ a 13-year-old autistic student‚ tragically died after being restrained face down for over an hour at Guiding Hands School. As a father‚ and as a legislator‚ I was heartbroken and enraged when I heard what happened. His story has become a powerful call to action to end the dangerous practice of “prone restraint” in schools. My bill‚ SB 483‚ will eliminate the use of prone restraints in California schools‚ ensuring the safety and well-being of students‚ particularly those with disabilities. This bill was inspired when I was asked to a coffee meeting by district advocate David Forderer with a bill idea based on his own lived experience. It became immediately apparent how deeply this practice can traumatize and harm the students it is used on.

Recently‚ I was joined by Stacia Langley‚ Max Benson’s mother‚ at an Assembly Education Committee meeting‚ who testified in support of the bill‚ sharing her family’s tragic experience and the devastating impact of such dangerous practices. “This bill is long overdue and will save the lives of vulnerable children in our state‚” she shared. “We need to do everything in our power to keep children safe at school. I appreciate the Senate for recognizing the urgency of SB 483.”

To our relief‚ SB 483 passed the committee unanimously and was moved on for final votes in the Assembly.

SB 956: K-12 School Facilities: Design-Build Contracts
Another of my education bills‚ SB 956‚ also passed the committee. SB 956 saves California taxpayers millions of dollars on school construction by making the successful design-build program permanent law. This method allows school construction projects to combine design and construction phases‚ streamlining the process and containing taxpayer costs from the start.

It allows school boards to modernize aging schools and complete ongoing construction more quickly and cost-effectively. I was pleased to see we are one step closer to ensuring this effective program continues to benefit students for generations to come.

SB 1445: Restorative Justice Expulsion Hearings
Finally‚ my SB 1445‚ also passed. This bill focuses on providing enhanced support for students through restorative justice in expulsion hearings. The bill allows student board members to recommend restorative justice alternatives in expulsion cases‚ ensuring a more collaborative and supportive approach.

All Hands On Deck for the Safer California Plan

On June 10th‚ I proudly stood alongside Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire‚ the Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas‚ and my colleagues from both houses of the legislature to expedite the bipartisan Safer California Plan. This package of 14 bills addresses the increasing threats of retail theft and local crime in California. I am proud to have authored one of these bills‚ SB 908‚ to protect and prevent fentanyl-related deaths of children‚ and to have co-authored another 7.

The Safer California Plan will tackle urgent public concerns and rising crime‚ ensuring essential legal reforms are enacted swiftly. One of the bills in this package is SB 1242‚ which targets the use of fires as diversions for retail theft. That’s exactly what happened in April 2022 when a man set fire to a Home Depot in San José to divert attention away from his plan to steal goods. The entire structure burned down‚ threatening neighboring buildings and homes. The Safer California plan addresses crimes like this‚ and so many others.

My colleagues and I are determined to provide immediate and effective solutions to the public safety threats facing Californians‚ and by advancing the Safer California Plan this month‚ we took a major step toward implementing them.

You can learn more about SaferCA here.

The Budget: We Secure $1 Billion for Low-Income Housing and Protect Key Programs in 2024-25 Budget

This month‚ the California State Legislature approved the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Despite a tough fiscal landscape‚ the budget saves key programs‚ resources‚ and services that were scheduled to be cut‚ making major investments in housing and public safety. This budget represents my commitment to protecting California’s past investments‚ progress‚ and vulnerable communities.

The budget secures $1 billion for the “Homeless Housing‚ Assistance‚ and Prevention” (HHAP) program. It also restores funding to the Multi-Family Housing Program‚ ensuring stable housing for California’s communities. The way I see it: we are in a housing and homelessness crisis‚ these investments are crucial‚ and this money is lifesaving.

The Safer California Plan‚ mentioned above‚ is also fully funded in this budget. This ensures that our communities remain safe and secure‚ making huge quality-of-life changes for Californians.

As a former school board member‚ a parent‚ and a member of the Senate Education Committee‚ I value education very highly. This budget preserves funding for both K-12 and higher education programs‚ including student aid grants. We must ensure that our students have the resources they need to succeed‚ even in challenging economic times.

The budget also protects safety net services‚ supporting California’s most vulnerable residents. Our priority has always been to protect the safety net and ensure the progress we’ve made is not undone. This budget shows our dedication to supporting California’s historically underserved communities.

I am so grateful to our entire legislative team–who contributed to the budget. It is the result of months of hard work by a lot of smart and passionate people. I am confident that it will help us continue to move forward as a state.
 

Insurance Working Group

I’m also pleased to announce that I was selected by Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire to join the newly established Senate Insurance Working Group. This group aims to stabilize California’s insurance market and reduce wildfire risks.

The insurance crisis is leaving California residents vulnerable. I’m committed to finding sustainable solutions to ensure every Californian has reliable insurance coverage. This historic step highlights how seriously we are taking the wildfire risk in Sacramento. We are willing to do whatever it takes to make Californians more secure in the face of record wildfires. I’m proud to be joined by so many respected leaders in this working group as we find solutions to this problem.

 

Important Notes from the Community

My office received this flyer from Santa Clara County for constituent distribution. It details important information. We have authored and championed numerous bills to prevent fentanyl exposure/overdose. In the unfortunate moments where an overdose is not prevented‚ this information will save lives.

 

Naloxone (Narcan) is safe to use on infants and children. Under California law, any person is allowed to use naloxone (Narcan) on someone in an emergency where they need it. Ingesting any amount of opiods, specially fentanyl, can cause an overdose. Babies, toddlers, and children can overdose even from accidentally ingesting a tiny amount. If you think a child is having an overdose: 1: Call 911, and if possible, administer naloxone while someone else calls 911. 2: Give them naloxone (Narcan). 3: Start rescue breathing.Naloxone (Narcan) is safe to use on infants and children. Under California law, any person is allowed to use naloxone (Narcan) on someone in an emergency where they need it. Ingesting any amount of opiods, specially fentanyl, can cause an overdose. Babies, toddlers, and children can overdose even from accidentally ingesting a tiny amount. If you think a child is having an overdose: 1: Call 911, and if possible, administer naloxone while someone else calls 911. 2: Give them naloxone (Narcan). 3: Start rescue breathing. How to get Naloxone (Narcan): Call 4082726055 or email SCCOOPP@hhs.sccgov.org with your name and mailing address in the email. If you or someone you know needs treatment for substance abuse, please call 988 or 8007040900.

 

Community Updates

As the weather heats up‚ there are sure to be lots of fun and exciting government-sponsored community events worth attending! My team and I have compiled a short list for you below to inspire some summer fun with your family or friends.

San Jose

 

National Night Out:

Save the Date: National Night Out. Tuesday, August 6th, 2024. Join us for a fun-filled night to celebrate your community by planning an event in your neighborhood! Registration is free and now open! Visit www.SJPD.org for more information.

Saratoga

The City of Saratoga’s Classic & Cool Car Show will be held on Sunday‚ July 28‚ from 10 AM to 4 PM at Historic Saratoga Village & Big Basin Way. Sponsored by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce‚ it promises to be a day filled with fun for all who attend. This event is perfect for car enthusiasts‚ those interested in mechanical careers/studies‚ and families alike‚ offering a chance to see a variety of vintage and unique vehicles up close. Public parking is available at West Valley College and will have a shuttle service.

Saratoga California 2024 Summer Movie Nights. El Quito Park, 12855 Paseo Presada, Saratoga. Join the City of Saratoga the 2nd Friday in June, July, and August for a nighttime movie experience. Outdoor Movie. Movie starts at sunset but come early to enjoy family activities and visit our resource tables to gain valuable info from City partners. Movie Dates: June 14 - Wonka - approx. 8:30pm. July 12 - Trolla Band Together - approx 8:30pm. August 9 - Kung Fu Panda 4 - approx 8pm.

The City of Saratoga is hosting Summer Movie Nights at El Quito Park: Family-friendly movies under the stars on July 12 (Trolls 3) and August 9 (Kung Fu Panda 4). Movies start at sunset with pre-movie activities for all ages. What a great way to utilize public parks! For more info‚ visit the City’s website.

Campbell

Sponsored by the Downtown Campbell Business Association‚ the 2nd Annual Historic Downtown Campbell Car Show will be on Saturday‚ June 29‚ starting at 9:00 AM. This event will feature a wide range of classic cars‚ live music‚ and local vendors. It’s a great way to spend your Saturday morning and connect with fellow car enthusiasts and community members. Campbell’s public safety agencies will be in attendance if you’d like to learn more about Campbell the police or fire departments.

Cupertino

Senate District 15’s the City of Cupertino will host free Shakespeare in the park with performances of “The Tempest.” Enjoy a free and educational performance at Memorial Park Amphitheater in Cupertino. Performances run from July 20 to August 4‚ 2024‚ on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00 PM. Bring your family and friends for an evening of classic theater under the stars. The show lasts approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Visit the City website.

 

In The News

 

Santa Clara VTA breaks ground on Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project

Money-making L.A. hospitals quit delivering babies. Inside the fight to keep one labor ward open.

Senate Passes Bill to Bring Restorative Justice to Expulsion Hearings at Schools

Victor Garza remembered as “giant” force for human rights in Santa Clara County

Silicon Valley Latino icon Victor Garza leaves a lasting legacy

Press Release: Community Seva Honored As Senator Cortese’s Nonprofit Of The Year For Senate District 15

Press Release: Statement From Senator Cortese On The Passing Of Victor Garza

Press Release: Senator Dave Cortese And CA Leaders Expedite The Safer California Plan

Press Release: Senator Cortese Celebrates Advancement Of Four Crucial Bills Standing Up For California Students

Press Release: Senator Dave Cortese Joins Senate Insurance Working Group

 

 

 

State Resources

Here are just a few events I attended recently:

Senator Cortese addresses a crowd with a bullhorn alongside Tony Thurmond, members of the San Jose City Council, and a large crowd of community leaders and members.
Senator Cortese addresses a crowd with a bullhorn alongside State Superintendent Tony Thurmond‚ members of the San Jose City Council‚ and a large crowd of community leaders and members

I joined State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and members of Local 393 at the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event benefiting the YWCA. The community came together to support and raise awareness for survivors of domestic violence. I am always proud to stand with so many dedicated individuals working towards a safer and more just society–a California for All.

Senator Cortese presents a certificate to Empower and Excel volunteers.
Senator Cortese presents a certificate to Empower and Excel

We honored the many Empower And Excel volunteers for their amazing contribution of community service and commitment to give back to those less fortunate. Empower And Excel has mobilized over 2‚965 young people‚ who have contributed more than 136‚000 hours of service and served over 220‚647 people in need since the organization’s inception in 2015.

Special thanks to Ayesha Charagulla and the Empower And Excel Board of Directors for their leadership.

Senator Cortese speaks to a crowd.
Senator Cortese speaks to a crowd at History Park San Jose /em>

I joined the Santa Clara County Preservation Alliance at History Park in San Jose for their 3rd annual awards night.

Social Media and Website:
If you are interested in seeing what else my team and I have been up to‚ I encourage you to visit my social media and website:

Senator Cortese's Facebook Senator Cortese's Instagram Senator Cortese's Website Senator Cortese's Twitter

 

City of San Jose

City of Campbell 

City of Cupertino

City of Los Gatos

City of Saratoga

Santa Clara County

State Assistance

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Business Assistance 

Consumer Protection 

Jobs and Unemployment 

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Travel 

Voting 

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached at senator.cortese@sen.ca.gov or by calling (408) 558-1295.