It's been fun to move about the Central Coast after a busy legislative session. As we enjoy the fall colors and changing season, there is a sense of foreboding as we prepare for what will likely be a winter of strong storms.
October also brings one of my favorite local traditions: Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Art Tour. My spouse, John Flores, is one of the participating artists, which means I spent a good part of two weekends welcoming hundreds of visitors to our studio, showing off his artwork, and keeping track of what's sold. We had people brave the heat, stop by after a downtown rally, and many came by on bicycles. It's been a lot of fun, and a wonderful reminder of just how much artistic talent we have here – as there were 370 artists participating. I know how much our community appreciates it, and I know there were open studios at the same time in other parts of the district.
And, as it turns out, Open Studios wasn't just about art – several visitors asked me about the propositions on the November ballot. I've been giving ballot measure presentations for at least 20 years, and this month I held two town halls to walk local residents through all 14 statewide propositions. I still spend months preparing, partly because I worry someone in the audience will know more about a proposition than I do! My goal is to explain what each measure would do in an evenhanded way, what it might cost, the arguments on both sides, and who has contributed money to each side – so everyone can make up their own mind. If you’re still undecided about the measures, you can watch my ballot measure presentation here. You can even skip ahead to the propositions you're most interested in.
And that brings me to an important reminder: Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, so please make sure you vote. Every active registered voter in California has been mailed a ballot, and there are several ways to return it. You can mail your completed ballot, drop it off at an official ballot drop box, or vote in person at a polling place or vote center. If you're mailing your ballot, it must be postmarked by November 3. In the recent primary election, there were thousands of ballots not counted because they were not postmarked in time – so don't wait until the last minute. You can also return your ballot in person by 8 p.m. on Election Day. To find a voting location or ballot drop box near you, visit the California Secretary of State's website. Please be sure you sign your ballot, so it counts. However you choose to vote, I hope you'll take the time to make your voice heard.
Sincerely,
JOHN LAIRD Senator, 17th District
Capitol Update
17 for 17: A Successful Legislative Year
I'm pleased to report that all 17 bills I sent to Governor Newsom this year were signed into law, bringing our two-year total to 31. These new laws address issues that affect people's everyday lives, from expanding access to HIV prevention medication to improving coastal protections, supporting older adults, and restoring the sea otter tax checkoff program. Each represents an opportunity to make California work a little better for the people we serve.
District Update
Could California Be Holding Money That Belongs to You?
Did you know California could be holding money that belongs to you? The State Controller's Office maintains billions of dollars in unclaimed property, including forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payments. It's free to search, and you might be surprised by what you find. Visit claimit.ca.gov to see if the state is holding anything in your name.
Preparing for El Nino
As we prepare for the possibility of a strong El Niño winter, state and local agencies are taking steps to reduce the risk of flooding, storm damage, and disruptions to roads and essential services. Following the Governor's September 21 emergency proclamation, state agencies have been directed to identify vulnerable highways, bridges, and drainage systems and recommend additional measures to speed up storm preparations. In Santa Cruz County, officials are restocking more than 40,000 sandbags and expanding after-hours emergency response capacity. With the rainy season approaching, I encourage residents to take steps now to prepare their homes, review emergency plans, and sign up for local emergency alerts. For storm preparedness information and resources specific to your community, visit these helpful websites: Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, San Benito County, or San Luis Obispo County. The Central Coast was especially hard hit by the storms of 2023, and we need to be ready in case we have a similar winter this year.
Around the Central Coast
With the legislative session behind us, I've been glad to spend more time traveling throughout the district, meeting with local leaders, visiting community projects, and hearing firsthand about the issues that matter most to residents. Below are a few highlights from my recent visits to all four counties in the 17th District.
In San Benito County, I met with local leaders in Hollister and San Juan Bautista to discuss some of the challenges facing their communities, including infrastructure, water needs, public safety, and the financial difficulties facing the City of Hollister. My office is aware of the issues surrounding the city of Hollister and are monitoring the situation. I also met with CAL FIRE and local partners to learn more about efforts to reduce wildfire risks, from clearing hazardous brush to using controlled burns to protect homes and neighborhoods. And I visited the San Benito County Arts Council to see how it's supporting local artists and bringing more arts opportunities to young people.
Jennifer Laine, Executive Director of the San Benito County Arts Council, and Julian Torres, the Field Engagement Coordinator, took us on a great walking tour of the Hollister mural project featuring works by muralists Joshua Lawyer and MJ Lindo-Lawyer. This is one of five in the series from the Vision Art Fest that took place this summer.
I met with CAL FIRE and local partners in San Benito County to hear about their work clearing brush, using controlled burns, and preparing communities for wildfires. We talked about what's working, what still needs attention, and how we can better protect homes and families. I was surprised that the San Benito Community Foundation board was meeting in the next room, and I stopped by to acknowledge my work on the state budget allocation for a grant-writer to help San Benito County nonprofits bring more money into San Benito County for services helping local residents.
In San Luis Obispo County, I visited Pismo Beach's new public safety center, where improvements help emergency responders better serve the community, and Pacific Wildlife Care's new rehabilitation facility, which received $166,000 in state funding I helped secure. I also learned about research underway at the Morro Bay Estuary, toured Cal Poly's Technology Park, and met with local leaders working on education, health care, and public safety. It's encouraging to see the work being done across the county, and these visits help me better understand where the state can make a difference.
There was also some welcome news for San Luis Obispo County. The county received its first $8.3 million payment from PG&E under an agreement I helped secure in August to protect funding for local services affected by the continued operation of Diablo Canyon Power Plant. When the plant's operations were extended, funding for local governments, schools, and essential services wasn't extended along with it. I introduced legislation to address that gap, and after months of work, we reached a $16.6 million agreement with PG&E. The second payment is expected next year, and I'll continue working to secure funding for the remaining years of the plant's extended operations.
I toured the County of San Luis Obispo Departments of Behavioral Health, Public Health, and Probation and met with Public Health Director Suzanne Jed and Behavioral Health Director Dana McEwen to learn more about changes underway in the county's health services. We discussed how state funding and new behavioral health policies are shaping local programs, and what those changes could mean for residents seeking care. It was a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand about the challenges facing local health providers and their plans to better serve the community. I also toured the new Probation Department, with Chief Probation Officer Tom Milder, and was impressed by that facility. We also had a chance to tour the Mobile Probation Services Center while we were there. Thanks also to Robert Reyes, Assistant Chief Executive Officer for SLO County, and Frank Warren, Deputy Director of the San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Department, for taking time to meet with me.
An impressive coalition has come together among Cal Poly, its College Corps Members, HomeFront EJ, and Ecologistics, to implement and support the Morro Bay Estuary Air Monitoring (MBEAM) program. The MBEAM program establishes baseline carbon dioxide data around the Morro Bay estuary, to support ongoing studies on regional ocean acidification. It was fun and inspiring to have the students show me how they take the samples, and what they have learned by doing this over the past year.
I enjoyed touring the Cold Canyon Landfill and its Materials Recovery Facility serving most of San Luis Obispo County to learn more about how the region manages waste and recovers recyclable materials. Some 20-25% of household waste is recycled.
I joined the Sempervirens Fund and California State Parks at Big Basin Redwoods State Park to help dedicate an old-growth redwood tree in honor of former Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and her more than 30 years of work protecting our natural resources. It was a fitting tribute to someone who has done so much to preserve these special places for future generations. Former Congressman Sam Farr joined current Congressman Jimmy Panetta and me along with my colleague Senator Josh Becker, Assemblymembers Gail Pellerin and Marc Berman, and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller in appreciating Anna’s long environmental history.
I toured the Pajaro River with Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency Executive Director Mark Strudley to get an update on the $400 million flood protection project and preparations for the coming rainy season. The project will strengthen levees and provide protection against a 100-year flood for Watsonville, Pajaro, and nearly 10,000 acres of surrounding farmland. Crews are already clearing vegetation, repairing levees, and making other improvements to reduce flood risks. After the devastating 2023 floods, this work is especially important for protecting homes, businesses, and farms on both sides of the river. I worked hard when I first got to the Senate in successfully shepherding a bill that has the state buy out the local share for this project – and making this project move forward. This year the Governor signed my bill to streamline the contracting for this project.
I joined the Democratic Women's Club of Santa Cruz County at the Colligan Theater to walk through all 14 propositions on November's ballot, explaining what each measure would do, its potential impact, who is funding each proposition, and the arguments on both sides. I have done this each general election cycle for twenty years, and my goal is to help voters get the information they need in an evenhanded way to make their own decisions.
I joined Rachel Goodman in the KSQD studio in Santa Cruz for Talk of the Bay, where we discussed the propositions on the November ballot.
Our annual staff retreat brought Team Laird together in Santa Cruz this year, with staff traveling from Sacramento and across the Central Coast. It's not often we get everyone in one place, so it was a welcome opportunity to spend time together, visit some wonderful local spots, including UCSC's Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve, the Seymour Discovery Center, and Live Earth Farm, and enjoy a different perspective on the district we serve. We also were hosted by O’Neill Sea Odyssey for a trip out on the Monterey Bay.
I joined Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby and local leaders to announce $550,000 in state funding I secured to fully fund the replacement of the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge has connected Lincoln Cunningham Park and Manzanita Stuart Park since 1960, but structural deterioration forced its closure in 2023. With funding now in place, the city can move forward with designing and rebuilding the bridge, restoring an important neighborhood connection and providing a safer, more accessible walking route for families, students, and residents. It was a trip organized by Mayor Ian Oglesby and Seaside city officials over a year ago that brought this issue to my attention.
I also toured the Vistra battery energy storage facility in Moss Landing with Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church to get an update on the aftermath of the recent fire and the ongoing cleanup. While a majority of the batteries involved in the 2025 fire have been removed, the batteries that have not been removed are still energized – resulting in recent fire that is of great concern. We met with facility representatives to discuss the demolition and cleanup work being overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Protecting the health and safety of nearby residents and ensuring the site is properly cleaned up continues to remain a top priority.
I welcomed Cal State Monterey Bay's new interim president, Carlos Vargas, to our Monterey office to get acquainted and talk about the university's future and its important role in expanding educational opportunities for Central Coast students.
I joined The Nature Conservancy's California staff in Pacific Grove for a conversation with Executive Director Chuck Bonham about restoring the Klamath River, working with Tribal communities, and protecting California's forests, coast, and wildlife. We also discussed how better land management and conservation partnerships can help communities prepare for wildfires and a changing climate.
