Dear Friends and Neighbors,
January has flown by—somehow feeling both deceivingly fast and painstakingly slow. Given the start of session, and despite being in Sacramento for much of the week, I had the privilege of rushing back to the district to swear in my former Policy Advisor, Kate Daniels, as the newest member of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. Kate and I have worked shoulder-to-shoulder on some of Monterey County’s toughest challenges, including housing, homelessness, water, and protecting the Big Sur Coast. Watching her passion and dedication in action has been inspiring, and I know she will bring that same energy to her new role representing the 5th District. Congratulations on your new role, Madame Supervisor Daniels!
This month, as we know, has also brought significant challenges to many Californians. My heart is with those impacted by the Moss Landing battery storage fire and the multiple fires devastating Southern California. These events have disrupted lives, livelihoods, and our environment, and I’m deeply grateful to the first responders who have worked tirelessly to protect our communities. For updates on the Moss Landing fire and the steps being taken to address it, please see the District Updates section below.
As I begin my final four-year term in the State Senate, I am laser-focused on representing the values of the Central Coast. Whether it’s in Sacramento or Washington, I will continue to champion public education, environmental stewardship, clean energy, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, and access to quality healthcare—issues that are vital to our community and increasingly under threat.
Warm Regards,
JOHN LAIRD
Senator, 17th District
I want to thank Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire for entrusting me to continue my Chairmanship on the Senate Budget Subcommittee #1 on Education. In addition, I have been added to all the same committees as the previous legislative session, with the addition of the Senate Local Government Committee. As someone who got their start in local government both as a Councilmember and Mayor and as a longtime County employee, I am looking forward to working with all members of the committee to advocate for the local needs of the Central Coast region.
Governor Newsom recently released his January Budget Proposal for 2025-2026. As Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Education, I am steadfast in my commitment to safeguarding the transformative investments and initiatives we have made to date in our robust TK-12 education and higher education systems. I am disappointed reductions have been proposed in both the University of California and California State University budgets. We will need to explore ways to restore these cuts, particularly to the CSUs. I do applaud the Prop. 98 cost of living increase, as it is vital we maintain our commitments to education. Click here to read my full statement.
My staff were honored to attend the Regional Immigrants Rights Convening in Salinas with CA Attorney General Rob Bonta. Over the past two months, the Attorney General has released a number of guidances to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and assist public institutions in revising their policies and procedures in order to comply with state law. The full set of resources, available in multiple languages, can be accessed at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.
The recent fire at the Moss Landing battery storage facility is deeply concerning, leaving the community searching for answers over a week later. An independent investigation is needed to sufficiently ground truth the causes of this fire and any potential impacts to environmental or personal health.
To help rebuild community trust that the facility can operate safely, significant changes are necessary. While the system currently remains offline, Vistra must take immediate steps to address these issues, including:
- Providing the Monterey Bay Air Resources District with sufficient “SPM Flex” gas detectors to effectively track hydrogen fluoride (HF) levels
- Collaborating with the North County Fire Protection District to expand their capacity and readiness to respond to incidents of this scale
- Initiating additional environmental monitoring and testing such as air, soil, water, and particulate matter assessments; and
- Presenting emergency safety plans required under SB 38 at a public forum to increase transparency and accountability.
It is essential to base future policy decisions regarding battery storage, and green energy as a whole, on clear, evidence-based findings to ensure safety and accountability moving forward.
While the start of the legislative session keeps me in Sacramento much of the time, I deeply cherish every opportunity to connect with so many of you on the issues you care most about. Our Central Coast thrives because of the passion and dedication of the individuals and organizations featured below. I’m honored to work alongside such inspiring community members as we build a brighter future together.
What an incredible turnout at REI in Marina to celebrate the passage of Senate Bill 1280, a landmark step in ensuring that only refillable propane cylinders will be sold in California starting in 2028. A big thank you to the community members who showed up in support, including several Boy Scout troops whose commitment to environmental stewardship truly embodies the spirit of this initiative.
Produced by The Diversity Center, Never the Last Love Letter uncovers the untold stories of resilience, hope, and rebellion during the HIV/AIDS crisis in Santa Cruz, California. It was an honor to be included in their trailer to discuss my time as Co-Founder of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project (SCAP). The documentary will be released in May 2025, alongside the Threads of Love art exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.
It’s not often I meet someone who has served in the state legislature that is older than me! What an absolute privilege it was to host retired State Senator and San Mateo County Supervisor Arlen Gregorio in my district office. Senator Gregorio served two distinguished terms from 1970 to 1978, during Governor Jerry Brown’s first tenure. At 93, his sharp wit and spry energy are something many would be envious to possess.
Congratulations to Golden State Opportunity (GSO) on 10 incredible years of service to Californians! It was such a joy to celebrate a decade of impactful work supporting working families through GSO and the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) with Senate President Pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins and GSO President, Amy Everitt.
The sense of unity was palpable at the 2025 NAACP Santa Cruz County MLK People’s March for the Dream. It was a powerful reminder of the challenges we continue to face and the enduring resilience within our community to stand together and fight for justice and equality.