2023 December Newsletter

Dear Friend,
 
Happy Holidays!
 
As we get closer to 2024, I feel immense gratitude heading into my fourth and final year in the California State Senate. Together, we have gotten so much done for Orange County families these last three years – 27 bills signed by the Governor, over $80 million toward local projects, and dozens of town hall-style events across our community.
 
One of the initiatives I am most proud of is my work to address the climate crisis both here at home and across the state. As Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, I know state and local collaboration is the key to delivering on major projects. The strength of these partnerships led to the 2023 Water Policy Forum at UC Irvine to help move the needle on water capture, as well as nearly $15 million to complete the Jeffrey Space Open Trail that connects one of our most popular walking and biking paths. My bill SB 337 was signed by the Governor to conserve 30 percent of California's public lands and 30 percent of our waterways to preserve the open spaces we all cherish, and stop the extinction crisis in its tracks.
 
With a New Year also comes a new Legislative year at our State Capitol. With eight new laws on the books protecting victims of domestic violence, my team and I have already jumpstarted next year’s bill package with the recent announcement of my new bill to prohibit adult sexual abuse by religious clergy. Not only will this bill bring California in line with 13 other states, this bill holds priests, ministers, and other ordained clergy accountable for exploiting adult members of their congregations.
 
As always, your feedback and input into the legislative process is encouraged. My office is here to serve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of help.
 
Yours,

Dave Min
Senator, 37th Senate District

During the pandemic, so many of us found comfort and profundity in art. But an appreciation for the arts is too often seen as the realm of the elite. That's why I'm grateful to the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) for its efforts to provide free art education programs for students and working families to try to make modern art more accessible to everyone.
 
I was proud to be able to work with the State of California to find $250,000 in funding to support OCMA programming, which is provided free of charge.

OCMA Board President Lucy Sun stated, “In the last year we have really changed the dynamics of who goes to museums in Orange County and who has access to art. Here, our motto is everybody is welcome. We call it the democratization of art and that is very much what we are trying to do here.” Read more about this first-ever investment in the museum’s 61 year history.

Water is essential to human life. As Chair of the Senate's Natural Resources and Water Committee, I'm mindful that the acceleration of climate change means we need to be rethinking and adapting our water management strategies. This is why I organized the 2023 Water Policy Forum, to bring together local thought leaders and stakeholders to help find sustainable solutions on water. Watch the full Water Forum discussion on YouTube.

This year, I was able to secure $1 million from the state budget for UCI’s Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Able Leaders (IDEAL) Program to promote education, training, and career placement of under-represented groups in the water sector and ensure that Orange County remains a world leader in water conservation. A big thank you to the School of Social Ecology for their partnership to secure this investment.

In addition to the launch of the new Real Time Crime Center, I partnered with the Irvine Police Department to deliver serious investments in both public safety and sustainability at the Great Park. It’s no secret Irvine ranks among the safest cities in America, and this new fleet of all-electric police vehicles will ensure that our community continues to lead. This initiative aligns with the City of Irvine's goal of transitioning to electric vehicles by 2030, and I want to express my gratitude to Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent and the Irvine City Council for their strong partnership in making these advancements possible.

The Irvine Police Department is set to procure modern communications equipment, charging stations, and a fleet of 13 electric vehicles, including Ford Lightning trucks, Ford Mustang Mach Es, Polaris Rangers, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in 2024.

As Vice Chair of the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Legislative Caucus, I’m proud to have help deliver more than $200 million in state funds to fight anti-Asian hate and invest in education. Recently, I sat down to hear firsthand from AAPI leaders across the business, nonprofit, and public sectors to talk about how these grants directly improved local services and what more can be done for Orange County.

Watch the full Roundtable discussion on Facebook.
 

Team Min in the News
 
LA Times - Sen. Min secures $250,000 for OCMA Public Education Programs
 
UC Irvine - Safe, Clean, Affordable Water For All
 
City of Irvine - $990,000 for Irvine Police Department Electric Vehicles
 
Orange County Register - OC leaders dedicate 405 Freeway widening completion
 
Mineta Transportation Institute - Putting the Brakes on Street Harassment
 
OC Register - Irvine Plans to Transition Great Park Police Fleet to All Electric