February 2021 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits as the New Year is under way, and we head towards spring. It has been a productive last couple of months as my fellow State Senators and I have continued working to help families navigate the pandemic while our state continues the process of keeping businesses, schools and communities safely open.

My district office team and I have been busy alongside our regional partners. From laptop giveaways and ribbon cutting ceremonies, to drive thru vaccine clinics and food banks in underserved regions: we are out there and doing our best to serve our communities. 

My Capitol office team and I have been busy working to deliver more supportive resources and budget wins for our district. From increased funding to help our military veterans troubleshoot or access their benefits, to funding for upgrades to the public spaces we have cherished in our communities for generations: wherever I can, I will advocate for our communities.

Please continue to check the County of Los Angeles Public Health website for the latest Covid information and updated guidance, as well as vaccine administrating locations, by visiting http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/

As always, I stand ready to help you resolve any issues you may have with any state agencies, and encourage you to please reach out to either my Capitol or District offices for assistance at (562) 406-1001 or visit https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/.

God bless,

Senator Bob Archuleta
Thirty-Second Senate District

Budget Wins for Public Health, Veterans, and Public Safety, as Well as Seven Bills Sent to the Governor’s Desk

I shared with you previously how privileged I am to have worked with my colleagues to deliver something for everyone in our community. Wins for projects ranging from $1.1 million in funding for the La Habra Heights Fire Department to upgrade their equipment and facilities, to state budget funding for repair work at Smith Park Aquatic Center in Pico Rivera and Parnell Park in Whittier. The full text of my press releases and listing of budget wins for our district is available on my website at https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/news/press-releases  

Seven Bills Sent to the Governor’s Desk

Seven Bills Sent to the Governor’s Desk

In 2021, I sent seven bills to the Governor’s desk for his signature, in addition to more budget wins for the district, specifically:

• $1,000,000 in funding for Smith Park Aquatic Center in Pico Rivera for emergency repairs
• $5.019,000 in funding for Parnell Park in Whittier for improvements and renovations to the park’s facilities
• $1,075,000 in funding for the La Habra Heights Fire Department for a new fire engine and building upgrades

I am committed to improving the quality of life and public safety of all the communities in my district. I worked on bills that delivered something for everyone: funding for organizations that support military veterans, a statewide study on hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle infrastructure to meet our zero emission targets, and safer protocols for waste haulers to reduce accidental fires that cause wildfires and contribute to climate change.

As our communities strive to safely reopen and make the long term planning that is necessary to operate efficiently, I will be there to support them in any way possible. I will be their partner and advocate by continuing to work on common sense legislation. Moreover, I will continue to deliver budget wins to support the immediate and long term funding that our communities rightfully deserve.

For updates on my legislation in the California State Senate, please visit my website at https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/2021-2022-legislation

In the district, my team and I are hard at work reminding everyone to vaccinate as soon as soon as possible. As vaccines are now more readily available, it is incumbent upon all of us to do our part and visit a drive thru location or the nearest pharmacy as soon as we are able to do so.

We stand by and ready to help our community wherever needed. Whether it is personal protection equipment delivery to senior centers or communities in need, to coordinating with our local partners on drive-thru vaccine clinics, we are here to serve. 

Please regularly visit the Los Angeles County Public Health website for the most up to date information.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index.htm

February is Black History Month, a time to reflect on significant contributions and historical milestones. In the words of President Gerald Ford, who officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

There are a myriad of resources to engage with in order to learn more about the history and contributions of Black Americans. From the Library of Congress and National Endowment of the Humanities, to the Visit California and LA County Library websites, I encourage you to check out some of the following websites:

• Visit California: https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/how-honor-black-history-month-california/
• The Library of Congress: https://blackhistorymonth.gov/
• Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation: https://parks.lacounty.gov/bhm2022/

Los Angeles County Library: https://lacountylibrary.org/aabhm/

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus is holding two scholarship contests for the 2022 remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. California high school students from 9th grade through 12th grade are invited to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to increase greater awareness of the Armenian Genocide on its anniversary.

On April 15, 2022, the Caucus will be announce the scholarship winners to mainstream and Armenian media. All winners will be awarded scholarships and will be acknowledged at the California Armenian Legislative Caucus’ annual Armenian Advocacy Day and receive special recognition from the members of the Armenian Caucus. Original artwork will be requested from visual arts applicants if they are selected as a finalist for possible display in the California State Capitol.

To learn more about the scholarship, please visit my website at https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/news/2112022-california-legislators-announce-essay-and-visual-arts-scholarships-raise-awareness

My staff is available and committed to helping you resolve any issues you have with any state agencies. We will contact a state agency on your behalf to see if we can help get your questions answered or matter resolved.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, my staff has helped hundreds of people in our community with EDD claim issues, ensuring they received their benefits.

Whether you have an issue related to this year’s tax season for which you need to speak with the Franchise Tax Board, or your professional license with the Department of Consumer Affairs is pending and you are not sure when it will be renewed, we can help if you give us a call at (562) 406-1001.

You can also find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at https://bit.ly/3ikvzm6

Sincerely,

Senator Bob Archuleta
Thirty-Second Senate District