Dear Friend,
I am pleased to share that thirteen of my bills were signed into law this year. Together, legislative leadership and the Governor crafted a new state budget that is more equitable than ever and aims to reach all 40 million Californians with funding dedicated to lowering the cost of housing and improving transportation infrastructure. We also passed bipartisan legislation to address the future of work, climate change, healthcare, and public safety, just to name a few.
Wildfires and their effects on our communities remained at the forefront of my mind this year. Here in Silicon Valley, we have a unique opportunity to leverage new technologies to prepare for and prevent disasters. Thanks to collaborative efforts, Assemblymembers Kansen Chu, Ash Kalra, Senator Jim Beall, and I secured $5.5 million for the City of San José’s Emergency Preparedness Fund. Additionally, I secured $4 million to buy state-of-the-art disaster communications technology for the Santa Clara County Fire Department, as well as $500,000 to upgrade the City of Campbell’s Emergency Operations Center. This funding will allow first responders to relay information to Californians much faster than before, saving properties and lives.
In Santa Clara County, it was with great sadness and heartache that our community lost lives this year at the Gilroy Garlic Festival to an act of domestic terrorism. That is why this past November, I hosted Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, at my Firearm Town Hall to discuss gun safety and share how our community can get involved to prevent senseless acts of violence. It is through your strength that I am able to lead with conviction and fight for a future where children can go to school without fear; where congregants can go to their place of worship without fear; where families can go to the movie theater, yoga studio, night club, or even a music festival, without fear. In times of adversity, we are resilient. You continue to serve as my inspiration for public service weekly as I head back and forth to Sacramento from Campbell.
The 1,217 votes I took on the Assembly Floor were influenced by the 7,987 emails, letters, faxes, postcards, and phone calls received by my office. I led a group of over 50 youth commissioners from our six cities to visit the State Capitol to experience a day in the life of a legislator, and 35 District Office interns had the opportunity to learn about the legislative process and shadow legislative staff this year.
I engaged in meaningful conversations about conversion therapy and its harmful effects with both LGBTQ leaders and faith communities from across the state. These discussions brought about Assembly Concurrent Resolution 99, which calls upon all Californians to recognize the well-documented harms of conversion therapy and treat one another with compassion and respect. As a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, I will continue to advocate for equality, justice, and fight for the protection of LGBT rights.
It is a great privilege to serve you this year and I will continue to work hard to earn your trust. I wish you a very happy and safe holiday season, and I look forward to hearing from you as I craft our 2020 legislative package. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (408) 446-2810 with your ideas and feedback.
Sincerely,
EVAN LOW
Chair, Committee on Business and Professions
Assemblymember, 28th District – San José/Silicon Valley
