November/December 2023 Newsletter
Community Events, Legislative Update and Holiday Resources
Since the conclusion of the legislative session in September I have had the great pleasure of spending my time in the 21st Assembly District attending community events, meeting with local leaders and residents and holding local office hours in numerous communities to hear directly from constituents about their concerns and priorities.
This fall, I have hosted three community office hours in Burlingame, San Carlos and South San Francisco, partnering with Burlingame Vice Mayor Donna Colson, San Carlos Mayor Adam Rak and my colleague Assemblymember Phil Ting, with whom I share representation of both South San Francisco and San Bruno. I look forward to the opportunity to meet constituents and to continuing to host these events throughout the District.
There is a great deal happening in the world, our nation and the state and I know there are many issues of deep concern that have been expressed to me directly by members of our shared communities.
During this Holiday Season, there will be many opportunities for us to gather as a community and to spend time with family, friends and neighbors. I look forward to seeing you at these events and gatherings throughout the 21st Assembly District.
Until Next Time!
If you are experiencing challenges or problems with a state agency, want to know more about state programs or services or to voice your opinion about pending state legislation feel free to reach out to my office. I look forward to hearing from you. And you can always check out what I'm up to on X (aka Twitter) at @AsmDianePapan or Instagram @asmdianepapan.
Sincerely,
Diane Papan
Assemblymember, 21st District
In The District
EPA Boys and Girls Club MOU Signing with Cañada College
In October, I attended and was delighted to speak at a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between Cañada College and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula East Palo Alto clubhouse. This formalized partnership renews existing commitments and continues to build a seamless pathway for middle school, high school, and college students in Southern San Mateo County to learn about and access college opportunities. Putting our youth on track for academic success and career pathways will pay enormous dividends in the future and this collaboration between the Boys and Girls Club and Cañada College is a wonderful partnership.
San Mateo County Navigation Center
In September, I had the privilege of touring the San Mateo County Navigation Center in Redwood City. The Center, which is operated and managed by LifeMoves, provides interim supportive housing along with a wide range of intensive services to individuals experiencing homelessness. These services include medical, dental, and mental health care, substance use treatment, and access to specialists who work with clients towards self-sufficiency. The facility has capacity for 260 people and is providing groundbreaking support to local residents in need by providing comprehensive support with the end goal of transitioning them to permanent housing and stability.
Burlingame High School 100th Anniversary
In October, we celebrated the centennial anniversary of Burlingame High School. I was delighted to attend events with many alumni and community members. Burlingame High School is a wonderful and venerable institution that has helped to shape the lives of so many who have passed through its halls. Go Panthers!
StarVista Changing Lives Gala
The Changing Lives Gala event supports the work of StarVista, a critically important important service nonprofit organization that assists San Mateo County residents by providing life counseling, case management, skill development, and crisis prevention programs and reaching tens of thousands of people every year. I was excited to attend the gala this year and learn about the many programs, successes and innovations StarVista is undertaking to better serve our community.
Legislative Update
The State Legislature reconvenes on January 3, 2024 and I will be introducing a range of new bills to address some of the challenges we face in California. Stay tuned for a full update on my legislative package in the New Year.
One bill on which I am a co-author is Assembly Bill 1567, a potential climate resiliency bond that, if passed by the Legislature, will appear on the November 2024 General Election Ballot.
Climate Resiliency Bond (Assembly Bill 1567)
Along with Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), I am co-authoring Assembly Bill 1567 to address the top concerns on many Californians. AB 1567 would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024. There remains a great deal of work in developing priorities for these investments but that work is now underway. This will remain in development through early next year.
Holiday Season
Holiday Season planning has commenced but planning for a happy season for many families can be a challenging time if they lack the financial resources to celebrate. Thankfully, there are resources available to help families celebrate happy holidays.
For those interested in some assistance, check your local 211 directory to see what holiday assistance resources are available locally.
Families in need can also apply to the Toys for Tots program operated by the Marine Corps Reserve on the local TFT Chapter website or you can call (650) 244-9806 for more information.
Locally, the Samaritan House provides a robust Holiday Program for existing clients that runs through December enabling families to share in the joy of the season without risking their financial security. This includes providing food for holiday meals as well as toys. Moreover, interested donors can also provide resources for those meals, volunteer for the distribution drives or even adopt families to provide food and gifts for the season. If you’d like more information about these programs, please call (650) 347-3648.
Local residents can also contact the 211 hotline or visit the 211 website here to connect to a range of resources.
Your Feedback
I have developed a brief feedback form for local residents to help prioritize my work on your behalf. If you have not already, please take a few moments to provide your input on priorities for the District – thank you to the nearly 3,000 residents that have participated already!