Dear friend,
As we head into a new special session of the Legislature, I'll keep fighting for the people as Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus. This session will be one step in reinforcing California as a fortress of progress against the Trump administration.
"In an era where the presidential administration will be headed by unqualified cronies who want to abuse the federal government for tax breaks and immunity from crimes, we have to show the country what real democracy looks like." - Assemblymember Lee's statement to KQED.
I am confident that California will remain a beacon of hope and opportunity for all. Our state has shown that progressive and inclusive governance delivers for the people. We welcome all those who want to live in an America that strives for the best - no matter who's in the White House. In this session and the years to come, California must model delivering real, material changes to everyday working families.
Legislation to improve road safety begins
Everyone should be able to safely walk, drive, and bike on our roads. Sadly, California continues to see an alarming trend. Our state's pedestrian death rate is nearly 25% higher than the national average, and intersections are some of the most fatal sections of our roads. But there are simple fixes that can reduce the number of traffic collisions, like the traffic measure known as daylighting.
My daylighting legislation, AB 413, helps save lives by keeping 20 feet of crosswalks clear of parked vehicles, which is roughly the length of a Ford F-150 or Dodge Ram. Local cities in California may begin issuing citations for people who park in daylighting zones starting on January 1, 2025.
Daylighting is a proven solution to curb traffic injuries and fatalities. More than 40 states have already enacted daylighting laws, and I'm glad to see that California is finally catching up with the rest of the nation in improving road safety.
More from the Associated Press about the profound impacts of daylighting.
2nd Annual Youth Art Contest: Riding Future Transit
I'm excited to host my second annual Youth Art Contest themed "Riding Future Transit." The contest is open to all K-12 students living in my district, including Fremont, Milpitas, Newark, Northern San Jose, and Sunol.
This is your chance to show your talent in illustrating the transit system of our future. The deadline to submit your artwork is Friday, February 21, 2025, at 5 p.m. Join the contest for an opportunity to have your artwork displayed at my Capitol Office for a year, and be honored at the California State Assembly!
(Winners of the inaugural Youth Art Contest receive their certificates of recognition at the California State Assembly Floor. Check out my recap of the contest, and our winners' visit to the State Capitol in Sacramento.)
Nominate an Unsung Hero
Our annual Unsung Heroes event is coming up in April, and I need your help to nominate an unsung hero from our district. Members of our community work hard every day, and don't often get the recognition they deserve. I am asking you to nominate an Unsung Hero who has volunteered their time or stepped up tremendously to make our community a better place.
Celebration at the California School for the Deaf-Fremont
(Celebrating the signing of AB 2367 at the California School for the Deaf-Fremont.)
Just one year after a presentation by students from the California School for the Deaf-Fremont (CSD), we celebrated the very special occasion of the passage and signing of AB 2367. The students inspired me to introduce the bill to allow highway signage for state special schools to be built. This way, more families will be aware of our state special schools like CSD, and all the incredible opportunities they offer.
More from the Mercury News.
State Funding For Asian American Communities
(Meeting with community organizations Asian Law Alliance, Filipino Advocates for Justice, Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities, and Asian Health Services on API Equity budget funding.)
The state's Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Equity budget, sponsored by the California API Legislative Caucus, has been crucial in providing funding to combat API hate crimes, and the inequities faced by our communities. From 2021 to 2024, the state has allocated over $31 million of Stop the Hate funding to Bay Area and Central Coast organizations focused on health services, community safety, youth leadership development, and more. It's been an honor serving as a member of the API Caucus over the last four years. As its newly appointed Parliamentarian, I'll continue to fight for equity, inclusion, and representation for our Asian American communities.
Government Job Fair
(Hosting the Government Job Fair with Assemblymember Liz Ortega, the California Department of Human Resources, and the Work for California team at the Fremont Downtown Event Center.)
It was my pleasure to host our first Government Job Fair in Fremont. With over 30 state and local agencies onsite, job seekers had the chance to network and explore career opportunities in all levels of government. Thank you to the 1,300 plus attendees for joining us!
A successful CalFresh program has relaunched! The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project makes nutritious food more affordable. That's why I've worked hard to secure $10 million in state funding to revive the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project. In November 2024 alone, it served 32,000 households and provided $1.3 million in rebates. This program helps CalFresh recipients stretch their food dollars, and it goes a long way for families like Nicole Cervantes'.
"I am so excited that the pilot program came back," said Nicole, a CalFresh recipient. "This is going to help my family. I have a 3-year-old and a 9-year-old ... There's a lot of families out here that need this extra assistance."
The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot is available at over 90 grocery stores in California, including seven in Alameda and Santa Clara counties. The program provides up to $60 in additional CalFresh benefits for a limited period of time. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity, and check out my explainer on the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot!
Lastly, happy New Year, and I hope everyone had a restful holiday.
Sincerely,
Alex Lee
Assemblymember, 24th District
