California’s standards of educational excellence have long set us apart and above. However, in recent years rising tuition and increased student debt have led many prospective students and young people to become disillusioned with the appeal of a higher education. In order to secure our developmental future and continued tradition of success and excellence, California must make our educational system more accountable and accessible to students. We have to ensure our educational standards of excellence don't slip. Recently, I authored SCA 14, a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would limit the budgetary autonomy of the Board of Regents and enact changes to the Board to make it more accountable to the students. But beyond the changes made to the Board of Regents, the State of California also needs to provide more funding to our UC and CSU systems so that we can return to the dream of truly affordable higher education set forth in the California Master Plan for Higher Education. In addition, I proudly supported Assemblymember Santiago's California College Promise, which passed last fall and made the first year of community college free to all qualified Californians. This is a major victory for California's students, but we must continue to protect those that are still facing crippling student debt.
During my time in the State Legislature, I have worked to address income inequality and improve opportunities for economic mobility by making a quality education more accessible to all young people. In addition, I have championed investments in workforce development and job-training as well as vocational and career technical programs that help level the field. Another step to combat income inequality and rebuild our middle class is closing antiquated tax loopholes that benefit corporations and the wealthy. As Lieutenant Governor, I will advocate for a fairer, more progressive tax code to help mend the wealth-gap.
We owe it to our public employees and to the people’s faith in government to keep the promises we make and guarantee defined benefit retirement plans. Defined contribution plans would be a betrayal of the promise we’ve made to California’s workers that they retire with a livable pension and I will fight passionately against such a change.
In addition, I proudly supported SB 1234 which launched the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, now known as CalSavers, the most significant expansion of retirement security since we passed Social Security. CalSavers is a voluntary savings plan for private sector California workers that will incur no cost or liability to taxpayers or employers. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to protect defined benefit pension plans for public employees and continue working with my colleagues in the State Legislature to identify creative strategies to help guarantee a dignified retirement for all working Californians.
California is facing an extreme affordable housing crisis and I support efforts to fund statewide affordable housing initiatives and will advocate for affordable housing ordinances to create desperately needed low-income housing for seniors, families, the mentally ill, and the disabled. Additionally, I support earmarked funds for LGBT affirmative housing. We should continue to pass legislation to combat gender identity discrimination in housing, education, and employment. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll urge cities throughout the state to enhance their use of inclusionary zoning by mandating that developers make a percentage of their units below market rate value. In the State Legislature, I have consistently voted for affordable housing initiatives and I supported Senate Bill 2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, which will build safe and affordable apartments and single-family homes while creating 29,000 jobs for every $500 million invested in affordable housing. Also, I was proud to support Senate Bill 35, which streamlined the zoning process for affordable housing, reducing the red tape that interferes with that process. Ultimately, I believe we need to lower the cost of housing and increase the number of units so people are not completely priced out of the area they work in, or worse still, left homeless.
Our nation is experiencing unprecedented division and political unrest. But with the enormous societal and economic hardships we are grappling with today, we need to be able to talk to one another and come up with solutions to the challenges we all collectively face.
As a statewide leader, I will work to lead by example and create a culture of inclusivity and respect. I believe I have a unique ability to appeal to both the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and moderate voters due to my record of creating positive change for Californians and listening to all sides of an issue. If elected as Lieutenant Governor, I will use the bully pulpit of this office to advocate for people over party. I will work with all stakeholders in the community to launch public education campaigns and hold community events that promote togetherness and creative problem solving, regardless of political views.
In addition, I will protect every Californian’s freedom of speech, hold those guilty of hate crimes responsible, and invest in education. A good education gives young people critical thinking skills that allow them to make responsible decisions and open their minds to new cultures and ideas.
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