2024 April Newsletter

Dear Friend, 

Like the rest of the state, Orange County deserves its fair share of state dollars. That’s a promise I have worked hard to keep during my tenure and the culmination of these state investments is being felt in cities throughout the 37th Senate District.

I was honored to recognize two local projects funded in the State Budget, one in Irvine and the other in Laguna Beach. The first, is the long awaited and final stretch of the Jeffrey Space Open Trail that connects JOST with the beach trail network, Santa Ana Mountains, and Cleveland National Forest. A new pedestrian bridge over the I-5 Freeway is now under construction and will create unobstructed access for hikers and bikers through the heart of Irvine. The second project is the wholesale renovation of Moulton Meadows Dog Park, a local favorite for families and canines in Laguna Beach. You can learn more about these projects below, and find information about local projects funded by state funds in Newport, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and other communities here.

After a short recess, the State Senate is back to work this week. Spring time shapes up to be one of our busiest in Sacramento as the Legislature begins to hear hundreds of bills in policy committees. It’s also a time where substantive debate takes place to build consensus with my colleagues in the Senate who represent other parts of California. I’m proud to share that my bills focused on retail theft prevention and voter ID requirements both passed out of committee, moving closer to becoming law.

As always, your feedback and input into the legislative process is encouraged. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to share your views on bills and any other issues that are important to you. 

Thank you for the honor of representing you and our Orange County community.

Sincerely,

Dave Min
Senator, 37th Senate District

 

Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Friend, Pamela Estes, Brooke Weitzman, Senator Min, Rebeca Gilad, and Alison Edwards. 

 

Last month, I was proud to celebrate Women's History Month by announcing the 2024 Women of Distinction Awards here in California’s 37th Senate District. These awards recognize the outstanding service and accomplishments of local women leaders. From social justice to community organizing, each of the six honorees represent the very best in their respective fields, and serves as a role model and inspiration for the greater Orange County Community. 

The 2024 Women of Distinction honorees include:

• Alison Lehmann Edwards - Chief Executive Officer at Groundswell
• Pamela Estes – Chief Executive Officer at Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
• Xiaoyan "Luna" Lu - Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center
• Jennifer Friend, J.D. – Chief Executive Officer at Project Hope Alliance
• Rebeca Gilad – Founder Community Bridge Builders
• Paulette Lombardi-Fries – President at Travel Costa Mesa
• Brooke Weitzman – Executive Director at Elder Law and Disability Rights Center
   

Senator Min presenting Brooke Weitzman with the 2024 Women of Distinction Award. 

Women's History Month is not just about honoring women who came before us, but honoring those who continue to challenge the status quo and make history every single day. Orange County is home to incredible women leaders whose impact has transformed our communities and our ability to address some of the most challenging issues of our time. 
 

Thanks to $300,000 in the State Budget, the Moulton Meadows Dog Park has officially reopened with a variety of new amenities and enhancements for the community, including new benches, new fencing, a modified irrigation system, renovated turf, new landscaping, and a new asphalt path along the frontage of the dog play area.

I’ve always believed that Orange County's open spaces are part of what makes our communities an incredible place to live, work, and raise a family. This investment is a reflection of the strong state and local partnership that helps to meet the localized needs of Orange County families. A big thank you to the City leaders and the many residents, including our very vocal canine community, who made this dog play area a reality for Moulton Meadows. 

I was joined by the one and only K9 Cooper, a fantastic Labrador Retriever who proudly serves at the Laguna Beach Police Department. 

 

Proud to welcome a fantastic group of students from Orange High School's Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) to the State Capitol! The future looks bright for these cadets and I can't wait to see what they accomplish next. 

For over a 100 years, the JROTC program has provided high school students with hands-on skills in citizenship and leadership. Study after study has shown that students who participate in JROTC programs have better attendance, grades, and graduation rates relative to students participating in general academic programs. Learn more about JRTOC program at Orange High School here. 

 

Transparency keeps government accountable. That's why I held a hearing on California’s 30x30 goals, which were codified last year to conserve 30% of our public lands and coastal waters by the year 2030. Our planet is experiencing an extinction crisis, which is being exacerbated by climate change. Scientists have made it clear that 30x30 is a crucial step toward trying to preserve biodiversity and #30X30CA has the potential to serve as a model for the extinction crisis not just in California, but across the world.

I'd like to thank the incredible coalition of environmental groups who continue to hold the state accountable. Future generations are relying on us to get this right while we still have time to turn the tide on climate change. 

 

Last week, the City of Irvine and I hosted a groundbreaking for the Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge Project. The JOST currently stretches 3.5 miles through the heart of Irvine, and $14.5 million in state funding supports a critical piece of the trail that has yet to be finished: a 1.5-mile extension running from Barranca to Interstate 5.

Connecting the Jeffrey Open Space Trail from the mountains to the sea has been a dream of avid hikers and bicyclists not just in Irvine but throughout the Orange County region. During my first year in the State Senate, I was incredibly proud to secure funding in the State Budget to jumpstart construction on the last piece of this dream and create a one of a kind link over the I-5 Freeway. Once complete, the new bridge will connect JOST with the coastal trail network, Santa Ana Mountains, and Cleveland National Forest.

The planned bridge is 1,200 feet long and 15 feet wide, spanning Interstate 5, the Caltrans Park & Ride parking lot and Walnut Avenue. Lighting elements are also included in the design to ensure the JOST Bridge is as functional and aesthetically pleasing at night as it is during the day. 

Construction of the facility will take approximately two years, and the bridge should be open for public use by early 2026.

 

The movement for abortion rights has never been stronger. My wife Jane and I were so proud to join Planned Parenthood for their annual luncheon to support the physicians, medical staff, and support professionals on the front lines of reproductive healthcare in Orange County and San Bernardino. 

A+ on the ‘Streets For All’ Legislative Scorecard 

Thank you to Streets For All for naming me among its Top 5 Legislators! California is taking huge strides to make public transit safe for everyone with my bill Senate Bill (SB) 434 signed into law. From BART to OCTA, transit operators are finally addressing root causes of street harassment. 

SB 434 mandates that the top 10 transit operators in the state gather and disclose survey data with the aim of enhancing rider safety and curbing street harassment on public transit. The measure places special emphasis on outreach initiatives that target specific groups such as women, non-English speakers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and riders with disabilities, all of whom face a higher risk of street harassment. Read more about the new survey approach at the Mineta Transportation Institute here. 

 

• City of Irvine: Groundbreaking for JOST Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge
• OC Register - Mandatory reporting in domestic violence cases can affect children
• OC Register - What’s Next for Huntington Beach’s Voter ID Proposal 
• OC Register - Emergency Response Team Investigates 2-Mile-Long Oil Sheen
• OC Register - Legislators Unveil Plan to Tackle Fentanyl and Retail Theft
• OC Register - Pedestrian bridge over 5 Freeway in Irvine to be open for public use by early 2026

 

Costa Mesa Dump Day - April 20 

Don’t miss your chance to get rid of bulky household waste at the Caltrans Dump Day event at the Costa Mesa Senior Center. Teams will be onsite to take items like old mattresses, furniture and e-waste. The Goodwill of Orange County will divert gently used items from the landfill to those in need.

WHEN: Saturday
             April 20, 2024
             8:00am - 11:00am

WHERE: Costa Mesa Senior Center 

695 West 19th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

(Entrance on Plumer Street)

The event will be held until 11:00 am or until capacity is reached.