Dear Friend,
The federal regime is ramping up its assault on our rights and values, and we must resist its unconstitutional attacks. From our workplaces and schools to courthouses and farmlands, ICE agents are terrorizing our immigrant communities with indiscriminate raids. Rifle-carrying, masked agents jumping out of unmarked vans to arrest Californians at schools or worksites do not make us safer. Gutting our clean vehicle rules, slashing healthcare investments, and tearing families apart jeopardizes all of California. By deploying combat troops to Los Angeles, the federal regime is escalating our nation into unprecedented levels of violence and instability.
We will not waver, and as I wrote to you when the president first took office, California will remain a fortress of progress. Our state acted swiftly by suing Trump's unlawful deployment of federal troops in LA. We are standing firm in the face of the federal government's assault on immigrants, trans rights, environmental standards, and public health. During his first term in office, California sued the administration over 120 times and won the majority of our cases. Now, with the Legislature having approved $50 million for immigrant legal aid and our Department of Justice to uphold the rule of law in court against Trump, I am confident that we will once again prevail.
I remain hopeful, especially with recent peaceful demonstrations across the Bay Area and nation where millions of us took to the streets. Together, we will show our nation the power and resolve of the people.
Housing Legislation Makes Headway
Since my first day in office, I have been working tirelessly to tackle the housing crisis. We all know that housing is way too expensive in the Bay Area. You have to earn nearly $300,000 a year to afford a modest home in San Jose. But the median household salary in the city is about $170,000, meaning that buying a home is almost - if not entirely - impossible for most.
The state isn't building enough housing, but we can change that by bringing social housing - publicly developed and owned mixed-income homes - to California. My legislation, AB 11, will create a state-level developer to do just that: building social housing statewide. The bill has passed the Assembly and is now in the Senate.
At the same time, we must protect the limited supply of existing homes available for Californians. Homes are meant for people - not for corporations. But we've seen corporate landlords backed by Wall Street buy up neighborhoods worth of single-family homes and convert them to rentals. They're stripping away homeownership opportunities from working families.
AB 1240 bans corporations that own more than 1,000 single-family homes from buying additional properties and renting them out. This bill, which also passed the Assembly, will ensure that Californians have the chance to buy their first homes.
I'm proud of the progress we've made with our legislation, and we can make housing more attainable for everyone.
Recognizing Our 2025 Unsung Heroes
During our Unsung Heroes event, I recognized 27 honorees for their contributions to our district. Our honorees are volunteers, community advocates, and nonprofit leaders. From helping our unhoused neighbors and mentoring the next generations to beautifying our neighborhoods, they are working tirelessly to make our community a better place. Here's more about the work of our Unsung Heroes.
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Did you know that our district is the most Asian majority district in California? Asian Americans account for roughly 60% of the population, and it was my great pleasure to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month last month. This year, our honorees are:
- Leslie Marie Legacion Campos: Music Teacher at St. Victor School and the Music Director at St. Francis of Assisi Parish
- Rachelle Currie: Senior Executive Assistant to the City Manager of the City of Milpitas
- Afia Laiq: Member of the North Valley Council of PTAs
- Joy Kippum Lee: Senior at Newark Memorial High School and student board member of Newark Unified School District Board
- Tonichi Lorenzana: English Teacher and the English department Co-Chair at Milpitas High School
- Swati Shah: Business Development Executive at SourceIN, Co-President of Milpitas Community Education Foundation and Co-Founder of Bay Area Gurukul
- Ismaili Council's Academic Coaching Program (ACP) Volunteers
Observing Memorial Day
My office joined the City of Milpitas to commemorate Memorial Day. We honor and remember our fallen heroes - the service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We pay tribute to their courage, patriotism, and devotion to duty.
New Bill Aims to Ban Cat Declawing - PBS
Cat declawing is an outdated, cruel, and unethical surgical procedure. This practice of mutilation is disabling for cats and results in lifelong disfigurement. It's the equivalent of removing a person's fingers at the top knuckle. As PBS reports, over 30 countries and several U.S. states have already banned cat declawing. My bill AB 867 will reinforce California's commitment to protecting the welfare of our cats by banning cat declawing in our state.
Know Your Rights
Everyone is guaranteed rights under the U.S. Constitution, regardless of their immigration status. It's critical that you know your rights if you're approached by law enforcement, and here are some resources that may be helpful for you.
Disaster Preparedness
By taking steps to prepare for an emergency like a wildfire, you can keep yourself and your family safe. You can sign up for local alerts in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, and visit the National Interagency Fire Center's website to prepare for potential emergencies.
Sincerely,
Alex Lee
Assemblymember, 24th District
