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This April, our office partnered with OC Animal Care to sponsor our 3rd Annual Family Furst Drive-Thru Pet Pantry event.
Held at the OC Animal Care facility in Tustin, the event assisted nearly 1800 pets and distributed over 31,000 pounds of pet food as well as pet supplies.
On that Saturday, we had over 423 cars come through the line. I was inspired by the Animal Care staff and the shelter volunteers who worked the line, assisting residents. We were also joined by local volunteers from Boeing, Pacific Life, Chase Bank, and UCI. The dedication and passion of the volunteers ensure the success of the event.
 Our event was part of a series of drive-through pet pantry events held on the second Tuesday of each month by OC Animal Care. The goal is to support pet owners in need by providing essential supplies that help keep their animals healthy, cared for, and safely out of shelters.
 Many of our neighbors in Orange County are struggling and sometimes go without food just to be able to feed and take care of their pet companions. In fact, the rising costs for pet food and services are particularly affecting our seniors, many of whom are on fixed incomes.
I am happy to be able to assist them through our support of OC Animal Care, as well as the work our office does throughout the year with local non-profit groups that provide low or no-cost veterinary and spay and neuter services.
It was great meeting the residents and their pet companions at the event. Many residents were there early, and everyone was treated respectfully.
If you or someone you know can use assistance, the pet pantry is open at OC Animal Care on the second Tuesday of each month. For more details or to volunteer, you can find more information on the OC Animal Care website at www.ocpetinfo.com.
Representatives and community leaders from Orange and surrounding counties joined the celebration at this year's Estrella Awards, hosted by the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
I was proud to sponsor, attend and help celebrate the ongoing work of the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, thanking the past leaders and congratulating the newly installed board members.
 I appreciated the opportunity to recognize UCI Health with the Community Impact Award for its partnership and incredible work in the healthcare space. Though recent layoffs by UCI here in the county are a stark reminder of the ongoing need to support workers and patients. Our community deserves nothing less.
 There’s something meaningful about seeing friends and community come together to recognize the economic power of the Latino consumer and small business owners in our County. The Estrella Awards are more than just a celebration, though the atmosphere was most definitely joyous. It was a moment to recognize business and community gains, but also a time to reflect on where we go next.
My staff and I recently met with representatives from the OC Creek Team to discuss concerns surrounding the use of herbicides in our flood control channels, including along the Santa Ana River.
I support the thorough review of herbicide use and the potential impacts on our communities. This is especially important in the Second District, which has historically faced environmental challenges, including groundwater contamination, heat islands from traffic congestion, and consequences from heavy industrial activity adjacent to sensitive receptors.
 I am further committed to protecting the health and well-being of our residents as we maintain a thoughtful approach and the necessary infrastructure required to keep communities safe from flooding.
This April, I had the opportunity to spend a day with Orange County Fire Authority firefighters to better understand the training and daily work they do each day in service to county residents and businesses.
 The day brought into sharp focus the hard work and commitment of our firefighters and the sacrifices they make to always be ready to keep our communities safe.
 Though I will definitely not be changing jobs anytime soon, I am grateful for the experience and bravery of the men and women who heroically run toward danger and show up when it matters most.
I was happy to join the board, staff, and supporters of Child Creativity Lab for the celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony in their newly expanded space in Santa Ana.
Child Creativity Lab is focused on helping kids build creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills through hands-on STEAM learning.
The Santa Ana–based nonprofit has been making a difference in our communities since 2012, when it was created in response to a “creativity gap” among kids who have fewer opportunities for open-ended, imaginative learning. About 85% of the kids they serve are from underserved communities.
A special thank you to their CEO, Tracey Hill, and the board for the invitation to join them in such a special event. And for the work that their staff, volunteers, and supporters do each day for our kids. Their commitment and dedication do not go unnoticed.
 CCL has expanded significantly in both scale and partnerships, becoming a well-recognized local resource for creative education and it is my hope that the new, larger space they’re opening will allow them to serve even more kids, expand school partnerships, and continue growing programs that support creativity, innovation, and future workforce skills.
In just the past year, Child Creativity Lab served over 40,000 youth through 700+ programs, including school workshops, family events, and summer camps, and distributed more than 25,000 creativity kits to students and community partners. The new, larger space they’re opening will allow them to serve even more kids, expand school partnerships, and continue growing programs that support creativity, innovation, and future workforce skills.
To learn more or get involved, please visit their site at www.childcreativitylab.org.
It was a pleasure to speak to a great group of dedicated professionals at the first annual conference for service providers committed to strengthening father engagement and enriching the home environments for our children.
The Inaugural OC Fatherhood Coalition Conference: Include, Engage & Empower Dads engaged professionals seeking to strengthen father-inclusive practices and brought together providers committed to better engaging dads.
 Thank you to all the participating agencies providing resources for the event, and special thanks to First 5 OC and the OC Department of Education for their support.
At times, our office receives correspondence from community members about our county parks. One of the only county parks in our district, Haster Basin, is tucked away in a special neighborhood in Garden Grove. Residents often share updates with us about issues such as needed park cleanups, broken fencing that may pose safety hazards, or storm drains that require proper covering. This neighborhood truly serves as our eyes and ears, taking great pride in keeping the park safe and clean.
Recently, a resident notified us that a section of fencing along Aspenwood Street had been cut near the water channel. Their concern was that if water were flowing, someone could fall through the opening and require rescue. They also reported a significant buildup of graffiti in the area.
 Our office immediately contacted our Public Works team, who went out right away to repair the fence and remove the graffiti. Without residents watching out for suspicious activity and reporting issues as they arise, we wouldn’t always be able to catch important details that impact the park.
For the month of March, the Santa Ana River was the most impacted flood control facility in Orange County. Our Operations and Maintenance team continues to evaluate the vulnerabilities along the trail in pursuit of a long-term solution to mitigate encampments and enhance public safety.
In March, the team completed 376 cleanups across OC Flood Control facilities. Of these, 196 were within District 2, with over half of those in the City of Santa Ana. 141 locations were addressed, with the next highest city, Tustin, recording 118 locations.
I also wanted to share some of the latest before-and-after images of the ongoing work. Thank you to OC Public Works for their great efforts. Click here to request services.
Before After
 Before After
I was honored to be invited by the team at CIELO to serve as a keynote speaker at their first-ever Rumbo al Éxito: Childcare Business Conference.
It was energizing to have the opportunity to meet and speak with the program staff and the entrepreneurs in the program. Speaking with the new graduates and with those already working in the childcare field was inspiring.
I congratulated them on the hard work that went into completing the program, and the commitment and dedication that are required in this field. I reminded them of the essential role childcare providers play in the lives of our communities and the lives of our children.
 Thank you to CIELO for serving as the small business support system for Orange County’s under-resourced communities, immigrants, and people of color. Through individualized entrepreneurial training and coaching, they provide resources where there are none, connections where they are scarce, and support where it’s hard to find.
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