Dear Friend,

Four years ago, I was sworn into office to serve at the State Assembly. It was a surreal experience - a time of unprecedented change for both myself and the rest of the world as we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Standing in Sacramento's Golden One Center for the swearing-in ceremony, I felt incredibly humbled. Against all odds, I had the honor of serving my home district.

Now, two terms later, I'm proud of all that we've accomplished. Beset by challenges with no easy solutions, from COVID and the housing crisis to environmental injustices and budget cuts, we met these issues head on with ideas and policies to make California a more equitable place. I worked tirelessly to help our constituents get the COVID relief they needed. I defended investments for working people amid serious budget challenges. With sky-high costs of living, I fought hard to actualize housing as a human right, and hold Big Oil accountable for price-gouging consumers.

Thirty-four of my bills were signed by the Governor, legislation that tackles the most pressing issues spanning from housing security and public transit to traffic safety and access to drinking water. My office closed more than 4,000 constituent cases, including over 1,700 EDD cases. I secured nearly $47 million in state funding for school facilities, homeless prevention, infrastructure improvements, and beyond.

Navigating the COVID Years

There was no time to spare after I took office in 2020. COVID cases were rising dramatically, and we were still without a vaccine yet. The economy was devastated. Millions lost their jobs. Working families struggled to put food on the table and afford their homes.

My office assisted constituents in resolving their EDD cases, and helped them access unemployment and disability benefits along with paid family leave. We ensured those who qualified for the Golden State Stimulus and rent relief programs received much needed financial assistance. I heard from educators and families about the challenges of remote learning. During these difficult times, it was my top priority to ensure safe and supportive learning environments for students. I was focused on helping constituents gain economic relief, and recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Embracing Social Housing at Scale

COVID laid bare the persistent inequalities of our society. That's all too apparent in California's housing crisis, where roughly 30% of all unhoused people reside. The pandemic worsened the already precarious housing situations of many Californians. In 2021, 3.1 million people had trouble paying for rent or mortgage. As the housing shortage persists, however, home prices continue to skyrocket. A Californian home is over twice as expensive as a typical U.S. home, and the median single-family home price in San Jose is more than $2 million.

I see first-hand the American dream of owning your home become impossible for far too many. But there's one crucial tool we're missing to address our chronic housing shortage, and that's social housing - publicly owned and developed homes for mixed-income residents. It's a housing model that I've tirelessly pursued at the Legislature, one that has successfully solved housing shortages in places like Singapore and Vienna, Austria.

(Left: Social housing delegation to Vienna. Right: Presenting on social housing to housing advocates, policymakers, and students.)

In 2021, I was the first state legislator in California to introduce social housing legislation, and I have proposed the California Social Housing Act every year since taking office. I was also honored to become Chair of the Select Committee on Social Housing. Our coalition of supporters is only growing stronger and stronger. My delegations to study Singapore and Vienna's housing models have affirmed my commitment to embracing social housing at scale.

"Now more than ever, I'm hopeful that we will show everyone
how powerful public development is as a solution to our housing crisis." 

People see the need for an alternative. Policymakers realize the potential of social housing, and the movement is gaining momentum in the U.S. Now more than ever, I'm hopeful that we will show everyone how powerful public development is as a solution to our housing crisis.

Taxing the Ultra-Rich

As 99.9% of society works every day - many living paycheck to paycheck - the ultra-rich are accumulating more and more wealth. These mega billionaires have more comfort and luxury than all of us combined will ever see in a lifetime. Take Jeff Bezos as an example, who adds $500 to his wealth every second based on his wealth gain between 2012 to 2022. Yet, working Californians pay a higher proportion of their income in taxes than the 0.1%, shouldering the burden of paying for our roads, infrastructure, and schools.

The wealthiest own more and benefit more from the Golden State than anyone else. Yet, much of that wealth is untaxed. The ultra-rich can sidestep income taxes because gains from skyrocketing values of assets like stocks and property aren't taxable income unless they're sold.

My proposed wealth tax on the 0.1% with net worths of over $50 million ensures the ultra-rich pay their proportionate share of taxes. I introduced this measure in a concerted effort with seven other states in 2023 - a common sense proposal to raise desperately needed state revenues. That's more money for public transit, our children's education, and direct assistance for the most vulnerable, funding that's all the more important during tough budget years. We have to consider and exhaust all potential revenue sources before proposing any cuts to essential services.

Securing a Budget for the People

Heading into 2024, the state has continued to face a deficit of tens of billions, with the Governor proposing sweeping cuts to programs in areas like housing and social services. The budget is a reflection of our values. As Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, I'm committed to protecting California's social safety nets. Defending our investments for working families is imperative to my vision of creating a more equal society for all - an ideal that also guided my work as Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee.

(The Assembly Human Services Committee members and staff. The committee oversees legislation related to child welfare services, CalWORKs, CalFresh, developmental disability services, and more.)

I'm proud that the Legislature ultimately passed a budget that prioritizes the people. We helped preserve funding for key programs to increase housing supply, and provide services for the unhoused. The budget also protects funding to social safety net programs, including food benefits as well as cash aid and services for families in need.

"The budget is a reflection of our values. As Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, I'm committed to protecting California's social safety nets. Defending our investments for working families is imperative to my vision of creating a more equal society for all."

As costs of living continue to rise, however, it's getting harder and harder for low-income families to make ends meet. The end of pandemic benefits has exacerbated the hardships of those who already struggle. California's poverty rate has soared significantly, increasing to 18.9% in 2023 from 11% in 2021. We have a lot more work to do, and I remain committed to uplifting our most vulnerable community members.

Holding Big Oil Up To Public Scrutiny

Beyond the costs of basic needs like housing and food, price spikes at the gas pump are taking a major toll on consumers. The oil industry is pushing up gas prices and maximizing profits off the backs of everyday Californians. Over the last few years, I've worked with my colleagues to stop Big Oil's greed and mitigate their profiteering at the pump.

In an effort to protect consumers from the oil industry's price gouging, the Governor declared a special session of the Legislature this August, building on our work in the first special session of 2022. We saw record high gas prices that year, and the Governor wanted to pass a Windfall Profits Tax on Big Oil, or a tax on their excessive profits - the same idea I introduced in March 2022.

That first special session culminated in the passage and signing of legislation in March 2023. The bill empowered the California Energy Commission to open up the oil industry to more scrutiny of their practices than ever before, and allows for a cap on oil refineries' profits.

(The Governor signs ABX2-1 at the Rotunda of the State Capitol.)

During 2024's special session, I was excited to serve on the new Petroleum and Gasoline Supply Committee, and be a principal co-author on legislation to stabilize gas prices. The bill opens up even more of Big Oil's books, and enables the California Energy Commission to mandate that oil companies keep minimum fuel reserves - that way they can't use a "shortage" of oil inventory as an excuse to spike prices. More liquidity in the supply means less volatility in prices and less impact on your wallet.

Listening To Your Feedback

(Top left: Visiting a Sante Fe Foods' grocery store, a participating retailer of a successful CalFresh program. Top right: Joining the picket lines of union members from the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente. Bottom: Recognizing our community's unsung heroes.)

Over the last four years, I've spent hundreds of hours meeting with constituents, and held 20 events to recognize our community members. From everyday people, I've sourced and authored bills to exempt disabled veterans from tolls, help businesses become disability-friendly, create an LGBTQ+ commission, extend CalFresh benefits for fresh produce, and electrify trains.

Heading into my third term in office, I'll keep fighting for all Californians to have an equal opportunity to succeed. We'll need bold solutions to achieve this reality, and I look forward to working with the newly elected members of the Legislature. Thank you all for giving me the chance to serve as your Assemblymember.

Yours in Service,

Alex Lee
Assemblymember, 24th District