Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Sustainability Summit in September at Orange Coast College Planetarium to explore recommendations for protecting our natural resources, homes, and economy. If you missed the event, the recordings from each panel is OFFICIALLY live, so please tune in and share with your friends and family. 

Congresswoman Katie Porter, Congressman Mike Levin, State Senator Dave Min, and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, climate science experts, leaders in sustainable business practices, and Orange County agency staff spoke at the summit about how climate change impacts Orange County’s coastlines, environment, economy and public health.  

Climate change is a serious global issue that has resonating impacts in our county, and it is our responsibility to implement real change. The conversations had will inform my office’s approach to forming a county climate action plan, ensuring our environment is protected, and building a more environmentally sustainable economy that leaves no worker behind. I am grateful for fellow elected officials and our panelists' participation in important discussions about what must be done to curb the impacts of climate change and transition into a more sustainable county.

Panelists at the Sustainability Summit provided recommendations for the County to consider in the creation of a climate action plan, including generating the political will to act on the climate crisis, investing in sand replenishment programs to protect our coastline across the county, encouraging business practices to be less costly and more sustainable, spearheading plans to transition to a green economy and collaborating with workers to ensure the creation of new jobs.  

Panel 1: Advancing Climate Action and Sustainability

Panel 2: Addressing Climate Impacts, Adaptation, and Resiliency

As of October 28, 2022, there are 286 total cases of Monkeypox and 15 (5%) hospitalizations in Orange County.   

Cases across the state are slowing down. San Francisco announced that it is ending its Monkeypox State of Emergency on October 31st, and we hope that we will see that happen at the state level as cases and the spread decline.    

Testing and vaccines are available across the County. To learn more about monkeypox and vaccinations, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/monkeypox.   

COVID-19 

It is increasingly important to remain safe and healthy and it is a top priority of mine to keep community members updated with the most recent guidelines. To find more information on the latest guidelines issued by the HCA, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.  

As you celebrate summer activities and plan vacations, protect yourself and loved ones from COVID-19 by following safe travel guidelines issued by the CDPH.

See the latest guidance: Here

Many concerned citizens reached out to my office about the state of OC Animal Care’s adoption system. In response, I sent an anonymous staffer unannounced to walk in to the shelter and report back what an everyday resident may experience as a walk in adopter. I’m pleased to report they were accommodated within minutes and were able to view multiple animals (& our office almost got a new fuzzy team member)! 

There are some fundamental truths we must start with: 

• Too many pets are living in our shelters who need a loving home.  

• Our shelters are understaffed and we must vigorously recruit and retain new staff members. 

• The OCAC shelter is open for walk ins. Appointments are recommended for a quicker adoption process, but not necessary. Every customer receives a fully personalized adoption experience.  

To read my official response to frequently asked questions, please click here.

If you missed my Adoption program back in September, don’t worry! Supervisor Lisa Bartlett is waiving fees for the month of November and hosting an Adoption Day as well. Please see below for more details!

Daryl is a 4-year-old German Shepherd who is smart as a whip and loves learning new things! This handsome boy knows how to sit, stay, and lay down on cue, and he loves learning new behaviors since treats are his favorite thing in the entire world! Daryl is an active boy who would make the best personal trainer! He would love to be your walking, running, or hiking buddy as he continues to work on his leash manners! Daryl loves hogging up all of the attention and always lets you know when he wants to be pet, so we think he will do well in a home where he can be the only pet. Daryl is ready to find his furrever family and warm their hearts as much as he’s warmed ours! 

Interested in adopting Daryl? Call (714) 935-6848 to schedule an adoption appointment today! Walk-ins are welcome! * 

Animal ID#: A1761110

*Walk-ins are on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows. 

Please join us for the Veterans Cemetary Flag-Raising Ceremony 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2022  

PROGRAM STARTS AT 10 AM 

Parking is first come, first serve.  

Please come at 9:15 AM for the shuttle service as you will need to be transported to the top of the hill. 

The American flag is a grand 60'x30' to be raised on a 100-foot flag pole to mark the site. 

Directions to the Gypsum Canyon site:  

From East on 91 Freeway: Exit Gypsum Canyon Road, then turn right at the end of the off-ramp. The event entrance is straight ahead. (Do NOT take the exit to Route 241.)  From North on 241 Toll Road: Head west on Route 91, take the Weir Canyon Road exit, turn left at end of off ramp, take Route 91 East on ramp, head east on Route 91. Exit Gypsum Canyon Road, then turn right at the end of the off-ramp. The event entrance is straight ahead. (Do NOT take the exit to Route 241.) 

Student Debt Relief

MARIANGELES SOTO-DIAZ 

GENTLE PROWESS DELIBERATIONS 

through January 12, 2023 

Part of Mariangeles Soto-Diaz’s ongoing artist residency, Gentle Prowess Deliberations is the third project in a series in which the artist incorporate judo principles and elements into art objects, installations, performances and social practice with her judo community. This project focuses on ju, or gentle, one of the core concepts of judo.  The work also grapples with the ongoing reality of violence, including the violence that has led to over six million people leaving the artists native country of Venezuela in recent years. How does one practice ju in a world shaped by oppressive violence? 

While growing up in Venezuela, Soto-Diaz’s judo teachers were intent on transmitting judo’s international sensibility as intertwined with its pacifist ethos, a key principle articulated by judo founder Jigoro Kano. Through these early experiences, Mariangeles was able to begin the philosophical and rhetorical quest into what this might mean as one confronts a powerful opponent, institution, or system. 

For this project the artist approaches ju in several ways. She asked judo colleagues and teachers from two different dojos, Bunasawakai and Sawtelle, to characterize ju in their own words, and then incorporated their answers into aspects of the performance and installation. She weaves into the performance movements from a choreographed judo form that centers around ju, called ju-no-kata, performed here by US National champions Lee Pasteris and Frederick Dagdagan. Soto-Diaz incorporates judo movements performed by two of her sensei, grand master Sensei Nori Bunasawa and Sensei Goya. In addition to these four highly ranked master judokas, the artist is collaborating in the performance with dancer, choreographer and UCI professor Charlotte Griffin and art performer Christina Segovia. The evening will include field recordings from judo competitions at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo as well as the US, with live and processed sound in collaboration with musician Michael Dessen. 

Learn more. 

Bowers Museum will once again welcome international couture powerhouse Guo Pei as she transforms the galleries into a world of fantasy this fall.  

The exhibition Guo Pei: Art of Couture premiers with a fresh take on the artist’s finest and most personal pieces, including gowns hand selected by Guo Pei herself. Hot on the heels of her success at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Bowers’ entirely new exhibition opens to the public on November 12, 2022. 

Guo Pei: Art of Couture will feature over 40 works of couture art curated for exhibit by the world-renowned designer. Among the bespoke selection is Guo Pei’s Chinese Bride collection, which makes its North American debut at the Bowers.