California State AssemblyCandidate for District 9

As a region, we are far behind the rest of the state when it comes to building sufficient rental and affordable housing options for working-class families, the homeless, and citizens on fixed incomes. We need to make every effort to bring stability to the housing market place. The key here is increasing supply at a price point that citizens can afford. It’s a supply issue.

We know from recent media accounts that some 17,000 Bay Area workers are living in our region because of their inability to find housing near their jobs. This influx of people living in our region is putting further pressure on our supply. The department of housing and community development estimates that California must build at least 180,000 units a year to keep pace with demand, not accounting for the backlog of approximately 2 million units that has accrued over the last several decades.

Two years ago, I voted in favor of legislation to help address California’s affordable housing shortage. However, the revenue generated by SB 1 is a drop in the bucket. California is a very diverse state and a one-size fits all approach for rent control could actually hinder economic growth and construction of new homes and affordable housing.

First, I oppose proposals that would tunnel under the Delta and transport northern California water south. Whether one tunnel or two, these proposals could have potentially devastating effects on Sacramento River communities in my district and across the river and should be stopped.

I do favor whatever we can do to conserve water, curb water abusers, reduce leakage and excessive runoff, limit evaporation from canals and reservoirs, and incentivize homeowners, farmers, businesses and public entities to reduce unnecessary water consumption.

I also support efforts to expand our water storage capabilities through non-intrusive methods like raising the height of existing dams and increasing groundwater storage projects.

Climate change is a serious, existential threat to our planet and our way of life, and coping with it – either to reduce emissions or to deal with the effects of it in the way of natural disasters and sea level rise – is going to take a significant toll on our economy and those around the world.

That’s why, since my election to the Assembly in 2014, my Democratic colleagues and I have passed several pieces of legislation aimed at combating global warming, including, passing SB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act) and extending California's cap-and-trade program.

Additionally, I proudly authored legislation to help combat poor air quality in our region and incentivize low-income residents to replace older, high-polluting vehicles; and supported measures to encourage fleet-wide adoption of electric vehicles, make it easier for large energy consumers like agriculture and industrial uses to access energy efficiency programs, and allow more consumers to purchase power from independent sources rather than utilities.

Many of the objectives of the Green New Deal are attainable, and I agree with them. But I am also a realist, and I try not to make promises that I know we cannot keep. We need to move away from oil and gas as fuel sources; encourage the use of renewable energy by consumers, businesses and agriculture; and incentivize the tech industry to find ways to both reduce fossil fuel consumption and cope with what may be the inevitable effects of sea level rise.    

We need to stop the revolving door that has offenders constantly cycling in and out of our prisons.  This means restoring programs to reduce recidivism, including counseling, drug treatment, education and job training programs for prisoners along with discontinuing programs that don’t work as discussed earlier last year by the LOA.  The State must require CDCR to communicate with County jails to really track recidivism rates so we have a better understanding of the problem.  Currently that’s not happening.

We must also focus our efforts on early intervention and education programs – that’s why I’ve been a champion of our First 5’s, investing in youth enrichment programs, and ensuring every dollar possible is invested in our classrooms. If we provide our youth the opportunity to succeed in college and career, we divert them from the penal system and build a more equitable, just community.

In addition, we need to ensure that violent criminals are kept off our streets and out of our neighborhoods.  Over the last few years I have seen victims being forgotten.  For instance, right now in California some crimes are still considered “non-violent” and are even routinely referred to as “low-level”.  These crimes include; sexually trafficking a child, felony domestic violence, raping an intoxicated or disabled person, felony hate crimes, and even arson with all the damage fires have done to our state.  Through various avenues I have supported adding these obviously violent crimes, as violent.  I have also supported giving the public more authority over early release decisions, which are now made by unelected officials with little input from victims, prosecutors or the public.

Prop. 13 is an important protection that homeowners in California do not want to lose. At the same time, its strict hold over property tax revenues has had significant impacts on our communities and the abilities of local governments to deliver services and maintain the quality of our schools, infrastructure and vital services.  While I have not yet taken a position on the 2020 ballot measure to split tax rolls and allow reassessment of commercial and industrial properties, I am carefully considering it as more detail about the ramifications become available.

As a region, we are far behind the rest of the state when it comes to building sufficient rental and affordable housing options for working-class families, the homeless, and citizens on fixed incomes. We need to make every effort to bring stability to the housing marketplace. The key here is increasing supply at a price point that citizens can afford. It’s a supply issue.

That’s why I’ve led on streamlining the permitting and approval process in the Assembly, accelerating housing construction. This has helped bring new housing construction to Elk Grove, Sacramento and Lodi. We need to do more, but supply is picking up.

We know that sky-high prices in the Bay Area have resulted in greater rates of migration to our region, which puts further pressure on our already inadequate housing supply.

In terms of controlling the cost of housing, California is a very diverse state and a one-size fits all approach for rent control could actually hinder economic growth and limit construction of new homes and affordable housing. 

Clearly, the cost of prescription drugs is a huge burden for consumers, and I have supported efforts like SB 17 that attempted to bring down the price of drugs and prevent future increases. 

The Governor’s proposal to control costs by contracting directly with generic drug manufacturers, including international manufacturers, is an interesting one, and I applaud his efforts to seek new, bold, innovative solutions to a problem that is so important to virtually all Californians.  However, there is much detail that needs to be fleshed out regarding this plan, and I will closely follow the progress of this proposal as more detail emerges before rendering a final opinion.