Today #TeamCarrillo joined @lacountyfd and the Palmdale community in honoring and memorializing Firefighter Andrew Pontious. He lost his life in the line of duty, protecting our community. Our hearts and condolences are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
In my first few years as an Assemblyman I have been blown away by the staff who make our work possible. These incredibly talented and dedicated public servants have almost universally turned down higher paying jobs to work longer hours in an effort to make California a better place to live. My team and I have been through a lot already in our short time together and I could not be more proud and grateful for what we have accomplished. Long weeks in the Legislature are always challenging and often filled with passion and emotion, but this this week has been filled with pain, anger, confusion, words cannot describe the feelings.
On Monday my team and I were devastated to learn that we will never be whole again. We lost Aldo Garcia, a friend, a brother, a mentor and public servant in the truest sense of the term. The son of farm workers from the Central Valley Aldo was the picture of the California dream. Much like me, his parents immigrated to California from Guadalajara to work, and in hopes of giving their family a better life. Aldo did his part, he was focused, driven and disciplined, and despite the odds, he received a scholarship to UC Berkley and then the prestigious Assembly Fellowship. As a member of my Capitol team he has been remarkable. His dedication, talent, and work ethic were clear from day one. But what I will always remember about Aldo is his uncommon kindness and ability to make genuine connections in a place that can often feel devoid of compassion.
Aldo always talked about his hometown of Corcoran and his dream of taking the skills and resources he was developing in the Capitol back home to serve his community. The outpouring of support from friends and the Capitol community has been a reminder of how many lives he touched, and what an impact he has had in such a short amount of time. It is beyond unfair that we won’t get to see the full extent of what he was capable of had he been given more time.
Aldo, I am honored to have been able to spend so much time with you over the past 9 months. My life is better for having you in it – and it will never be the same now that you are gone. Rest in peace my friend.
Yesterday #TeamCarrillo attended the Palmdale Water District’s Pure Water Antelope Valley Demonstration Facility groundbreaking. This unique facility will purify recycled water for potable use, and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Fresh water is a precious resource, and potable water is even more so. We look forward to this facility adding to our capacity and bringing clean drinking water to the community!
Juneteenth is a time for reflection, education, and celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing fight for equality and justice for all. Also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th each year to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The holiday has its roots in Texas, where on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to announce the end of the Civil War and that all enslaved individuals were now free. This news came two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.
We remember this day bittersweetly as it reminds us of the failings of our history while commemorating the hard-fought battle for true freedom. I hold the responsibility of continuing the fight for justice dear, and stand in solidarity as we celebrate Juneteenth.
#TeamCarrillo had a busy weekend celebrating #Juneteenth ! Starting on Saturday, we attended the Jackie Robinson Park Juneteenth Celebration, presenting certificates to the Keynote Speaker, Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, as well as the event's Grand Marshals.
On Sunday, the team spent time with constituents at the 3rd Annual Lancaster Juneteenth Celebration at Sgt. Steve Owen Park.
Thanks to everyone who came out, and thanks to the event organizers for inviting our team!
Veterans are cornerstones of our community, and the welfare of our veterans is the absolute least we can give back for their sacrifices. Legislative advocacy for affordable housing, mental health care services, and other forms of aid is critical in the lives of those who made tremendous sacrifices for our country.
This is why today we recognize California Veterans Awareness Month with HR 104 in the hopes of not only raising awareness of the unique issues veterans face, but to remind our legislators that our veterans are a priority.
One area where our veterans need support is transportation barriers to healthcare. When it comes to accessing health care, many disabled veterans may need specialized care. However, despite the strides California has made, inadequate transportation remains a barrier.
This is made more apparent in historically underserved communities like mine. In the High Desert, though there are distinct concentrations of veterans in the Antelope and Victor Valleys, along with military industry, these folks often lack access to certain specialized medical facilities. In lieu of these facilities, disabled veterans must commute down the hill to the urban cores of Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
This is why I am proud to introduce AJR 19 to ease the gap disabled veterans face when commuting for care. This resolution aims to encourage US Congress to include vehicles registered to disabled veterans to use carpool or high occupancy vehicle lanes when they reauthorize the Clean Air Act. I hope this will be one step of many in not simply recognizing, but relieving the outsized burden carried by our veterans.
Being a father is one of the most important parts of my life, and I am proud to share in this special fraternity with so many others. My team and I wish you all a very happy Father’s Day!
It is with profound sorrow that I share the tragic news from our district: the Los Angeles County Fire Department has lost a brave firefighter in the line of duty, with another seriously injured. The second firefighter is expected to be released from the hospital today. Words cannot fully capture the depth of grief and respect we owe to these heroes. Their sacrifice in serving our community is immeasurable. My heart goes out to the fallen firefighter’s family and all department members during this challenging time. We stand with you in mourning and gratitude for your unwavering courage.
#TeamCarrillo attended the monthly Jolly Seniors meeting this month! My Field Representative, Angelica, joined them at Jackie Robinson park to provide a legislative update and hear the needs of our senior community. Thank you, Jolly Seniors, for all your advocacy and work to bring together our seniors!
I'm proud to congratulate the AD 39 Non-Profit of the Year, Rock'n Our Disabilities Foundation! Based in the Victor Valley, the Rock'n Our Disabilities Foundation provides social, recreational, educational, and mentoring programs for families and individuals with special needs. It is a safe place for children and young adults with special needs to play team sports in a positive, self-esteem-building environment. The foundation's ultimate goal is to build and sustain a camaraderie that can shield participants from the negative effects of being marginalized.
Dana Hernandez is the chief executive officer of Rock'n Our Disabilities Foundation, which she founded in 2018 to present recreational, social and educational programs for special needs individuals and their families. Inspired by personal experiences in assisting family members to manage the challenges of disability, she brings creativity and determination to program development, as well as on- and off-site events planning, serving over 500 registered families.
Thank you to the Rock'n Our Disabilities team for all the work you do to support our community members with disabilities and their families!
Now that it’s summer break, I got to welcome my kids to the Assembly Floor! It was a joy to get to show them what I do and the importance of our work in the Capitol, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to share that with the most important people in my life.
