Creating Change - December 2023

I would like to wish all of you in our community a wonderful and happy holiday season filled with family, friendship and joy!

Have you ever wondered what I, as your State Senator do in a regular day in the district? Check out my Day in the Life district video from earlier this month: https://youtu.be/QIXAKppffn4
 

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a State Senator in the District is like? Since Session ended in September I’ve had a busy fall working to support our community however I can. Check out this “Day in the District” video from earlier this month. Come along with me as I visit some of the non-profit and government organizations that make our community so vibrant. This is the best part of my job—seeing the results of the work my team and I do to improve our community and engaging with constituents on ideas for the future.

 

 

 

As we approach the end of 2023 and the beginning of a new legislative year, I wanted to do a year in review about progress and challenges on some of the issues that I’ve heard from you matter the most. 

To do this I hosted my first ever virtual State of the District Town Hall event where I shared what I’ve been working on to improve our district and what we’ve accomplished, as well as areas I need to do more. Hundreds of constituents joined this virtual town hall and, through our Q&A session, I received important feedback on what we need to focus on in the next year. You can watch the full State of the District Town Hall here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQLu3JvneeQ
 

Pictured here: San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Director Nicholas Calderon, San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, Senator Josh Becker, and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller. 

This year, I was proud to secure millions of dollars in funding for important projects that directly impact issues that our community faces, including affordable housing for farmworkers and seniors, water reclamation, parks and recreation, and environment and infrastructure improvements. I spent this legislative recess presenting checks to our cities, counties, and other local organizations that will work to deliver real results in Senate District 13. Among the recipients of his support are:
 

• $2 million for affordable housing in the City of Half Moon Bay for current and future generations of Half Moon Bay and Coastside farmworkers.
• $2 million for a permanent location for the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum.
• $1 million for the Alta Housing North Fair Oaks Senior Housing Project.
• $1.5 million to the Community Services Agency (CSA) of Mountain View, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills to repair and repurpose an existing building and pursue a secondary site for a Food and Nutrition Center.
• $500,000 to San Mateo County toward creation of historic markers and interpretive signage for the 90 Mile Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail Project.
• $1 million to the City of Burlingame to improve the environment by reclaiming wastewater and reducing demand for potable water.
• $1 million to Redwood City and OneShoreline to repair and reinforce protections for mobile home parks.
• $300,000 to the City of Millbrae to support the Bayside Manor and Marina Vista Park projects.
• $300,000 for the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center.
• $200,000 to Redwood City and Redwood City Together for its Purposeful, Action, Creation and Engagement (PACE) program.

 
For a complete list of budget appropriations that directly benefit Senate District 13, you can visit my website here: https://sd13.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/june-29-2023/legislature-approves-balanced-budget-supports-key-senate-district
 

Do you have an idea to improve our community and state? Do you have an idea for a bill that could become a California law? I want to hear your ideas! I am proud to announce that the annual “There Ought to be a Law” competition is accepting submissions. I am carrying on the tradition that Supervisor Joe Simitian began when he was our state Senator. Your idea could become the next bill that I author in the 2024 legislative session. If your bill idea is selected, you will be invited to come to the California State Capitol.
 
If you have an idea for a law, you can submit it here or scan the QR code above. Submissions are due January 8. 2023. 

 

 

Thanks to the generosity of our community, I donated over 50 jackets to the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) to help bring warmth during this winter season. This terrific organization works to provide life-changing services to those in need in our community. EHP has been serving working families, seniors, people with limited incomes and those who have both emergency and on-going needs in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and surrounding communities since 1975. When I was there, they showed me the bounty of donated food from the canned food drive that my son and the Menlo-Atherton High School students run each year. This is the largest public school canned food drive in the nation, and I am so proud of him and the school. 

 

 

I stopped by the All Five in Menlo Park to see the incredible progress that they are making with providing our children with early education. All Five is committed to bringing equity to early education to the time when children’s brains grow the most. I was proud to stop by and spend some time meeting teachers, administrators and students. I even had an opportunity to participate in story time with some of the students!

 

 

The Menlo Park Fire District recently completed construction of the new Station 4 facility and celebrated with a ribbon cutting and open house ceremony. I toured the impressive station and received an update on how our newest fire department is providing life-saving services to our community and the state. Menlo Park has resources dedicated to statewide mutual aid operations in the event of catastrophic wildfires like we have seen in recent years.
 
I am also very proud that my entire District Office team and I receive training from the Menlo Park Fire Department on administering life-saving Naxolone in the event of a fentanyl overdose. My office is the first Senate Office in the entire state that has been approved by the California Department of Public Health to administer Naxolone, which is a vital step in combating the fentanyl crisis. I recently held a virtual town hall on the fentanyl crisis which you can view here: https://sd13.senate.ca.gov/video/addressing-the-fentanyl-crisis-whats-being-done-the-peninsula

 

Did you know that there are rebates available to you if you are upgrading your home with clean electric products?
 
The FutureFit Homes Program was created to help Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SCVE) customers upgrade their home appliances to clean electricity. SVCE rebates are available for single family homes swapping out existing equipment, not for new building construction.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) customers can receive up to $8,000 in rebates for replacing a gas water heater and gas furnace with efficient, electric heat pump equipment through the FutureFit Homes Program.  
 
Small and medium businesses can receive up to $20,000 in rebates ($25,000 for nonprofits) for upgrading their gas water heater or rooftop HVAC unit to efficient, electric heat pump equipment through the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Small-to-Medium Business Rebate Program.
 
For more information on how to receive assistance with transitioning your home or business to clean energy, you can visit this SCVE website at: https://svcleanenergy.org/home-rebates/.

 

CA Sen Josh Becker talks data privacy during the holiday shopping season and the DELETE Act on KRON4
(KRON 4, December 11, 2023)
 
California bill reduces markups on essential items across state prison canteens
(PRISM, December 19, 2023)
 
State Sen. Becker touts legislative achievements
(Pacifica Tribune, December 19, 2023)
 
Senator Josh Becker Secures Funds for Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail Signage
(County of San Mateo, December 13, 2023)
 
Bay Area Public Transit Committee To Discuss Fiscal Challenges
(SF Gate, November 26, 2023)
 
High-rise development proposed for Mollie Stone's site in Palo Alto
Palo Alto Online, November 21, 2023)

Half Moon Bay gets $2 Million for farmworker housing
(KTVU, December 21, 2023)

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Again, I wish everyone a happy holiday season and I hope the New Year brings you peace and joy. 

Sincerely,
Josh Becker
Senator, 13th District