Greetings‚
Yesterday I voted “no” on the California state budget. Here’s why:
The latest budget proposal for California is a deeply flawed document that reflects a profound misalignment of priorities at a time when our state faces significant challenges. Public safety should be our top priority‚ yet this budget proposes to drastically reduce our prison capacity‚ cutting thousands of beds and eliminating crucial training programs for correctional officers. It also seeks to slash funding for vital initiatives‚ such as drug addiction programs proven to reduce crime‚ and task forces combating car theft‚ internet crimes against children‚ and retail theft. These cuts‚ totaling $170 million on top of an already proposed 8% reduction‚ will severely undermine the safety and security of our communities. Moreover‚ critical wildfire and forestry management resources are severely underfunded‚ despite the urgent need to prioritize these areas following nearly a decade of devastating wildfires across California’s communities. Governor Newsom and Legislative Democrats have their priorities completely backwards‚ sacrificing the safety of Californians for ill-conceived financial maneuvers.
Equally troubling and misguided are the proposed cuts to education and transportation funding. California’s schools are already in crisis‚ with alarming rates of chronic absenteeism and low graduation rates. Instead of addressing these pressing issues‚ the budget cuts school funding by over $20 billion compared to previous years and diverts $250 million from a preschool program for children with disabilities to fund electric school buses and backfill other cuts. This is an unacceptable compromise that disregards the urgent needs of our students and their future.
In transportation‚ the Governor and Legislative Democrats plan to raid $400 million from the highway fund for bike paths and crosswalks‚ despite our roads ranking 46th in the nation in quality. Even Governor Newsom’s Department of Finance warns that this will negatively impact critical maintenance needed on our deteriorating roads and highway infrastructure.
These misallocated funds‚ along with cuts to job training and economic development programs‚ including a devastating 50% cut to the Women’s Business Center at JEDI right here in our 1st Assembly District‚ show a clear disregard for the pressing needs of our local communities and the people of California. The priorities of the Governor and Legislative Democrats are completely misplaced‚ and it is Californians who will bear the brunt of this misaligned state budget.
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle
Shasta County Superintendent Judy Flores Retires
With 39 years of dedicated service‚ Team Dahle had the opportunity to honor Superintendent Judy Flores with a joint resolution from the California State Senate and Assembly‚ expressing our gratitude for her collaboration with our offices to enhance the lives of students in Shasta County‚ the 1st Assembly District‚ and across California.
Superintendent Flores partnered with our office on AB 516‚ a bill that designates cultural ceremonies as excused absences‚ thus alleviating the burden of unexcused absences for Native American students in Shasta County. This legislation has a broader impact as well‚ benefiting all students whose cultural ceremonies do not align with the school calendar. They can now participate in culturally significant events without the fear of falling behind in their education.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Superintendent Flores for her unwavering commitment to putting students first‚ her dedication to finding solutions to our community’s most pressing problems‚ and her invaluable partnership with our office over the years. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement!
2024 Arts Leadership Roundtable in Nevada County
On June 13th‚ my staff attended the 2024 Arts Leadership Roundtable on behalf of Team Dahle. This event marked the kick-off for Nevada County’s first ever Arts and Culture Master Plan‚ held at the historic Miners Foundry.
The day was a unique opportunity to meet with experts leading this transformative process and to ensure our community’s voices are heard. Arts and culture leaders from across the county gathered to discuss pressing cultural‚ artistic‚ and professional issues‚ all while working towards a shared vision for the future.
With the re-designation of our California Cultural Districts and new insights from the latest Arts & Economic Prosperity study‚ the roundtable set the stage for a year-long planning process. This initiative promises to bring big questions‚ valuable learning experiences‚ and substantial growth for the arts in Nevada County.
Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Correctional Facility in Plumas County
This week‚ Team Dahle attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Plumas County’s new correctional facility and Day Reporting Center‚ located off Abernathy Lane in Quincy.
Plumas County was awarded a state grant of $25 million in 2017 to build this new facility‚ and construction on the facility began just under two years ago.
The new correctional facility is designed to house 60 inmates and will also accommodate the county’s day reporting services. This state-of-the-art justice complex includes a family reunification space‚ two multi-use areas‚ a training facility for the sheriff’s department‚ a medical space‚ a kitchen/laundry‚ and two outdoor recreation areas.
It’s essential that our law enforcement has the necessary tools to perform their duties effectively and maintain the safety of our communities. We extend our gratitude to them for their unwavering dedication and congratulate everyone involved on the completion of this important project.
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Assemblywoman Dahle is Honored to Serve
Alpine County‚ Amador County‚ El Dorado County‚ Lassen County‚ Modoc County‚ Nevada County‚ Placer County‚ Plumas County‚ Shasta County‚ Sierra County‚ & Siskiyou County.
