Not quite three years have passed since a gathering in the backyard of the Boys & Girls Club in Laguna Beach promised funding for a playground of kids’ dreams.
Local dignitaries and public officials returned to the site on Friday to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the now open Dream Play Yard at the branch located at 1085 Laguna Canyon Road.
Laguna Beach, CA – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach (BGCLB) celebrated the grand opening of the new Dream Play Yard at the Laguna Canyon Enrichment Center—a dynamic space designed to support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of local youth. The project was made possible through $400,000 in state funding secured by the Assemblywoman in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 state budget, as well as local donors.
Sacramento, CA — After 17 years of tireless advocacy, families who have lost loved ones, survivors of drunk driving crashes, and public safety champions are celebrating a significant milestone as the California State Assembly passed AB 366, authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris. This landmark legislation would mandate the use of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for all DUI offenders in California.
Pretend City, the real-life experience museum made just for children, was named 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for the 73rd Assembly District by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris.
“Pretend City is more than a museum — it’s a cornerstone of early childhood development in our community,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine). “Their commitment to nurturing young minds through imaginative play and educational programming has made a lasting impact on countless families. I’m proud to recognize their exceptional work and excited for their future expansion at the Great Park.”
Sacramento, CA — Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris recognized Pretend City Children’s Museum as the 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for the 73rd Assembly District. Each year, CalNonprofits invites California Assemblymembers and State Senators to honor a Nonprofit of the Year for their district during a luncheon celebrated near the State Capitol in Sacramento.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Colin Campbell’s eyes light up when thinking about his two kids, Ruby and Hart, both of whom had magnetic personalities and personified kindness.
“Ruby was an amazing artist, she was a character…I call her a proud lesbian social justice warrior,” Campbell said. “...Hart was this amazing clown, he made everybody laugh…he was an amazing superstar of a performer, who just had a crowd of people in his thrall.”
Sacramento, CA – Today, the Assembly Public Safety Committee passed AB 366, authored by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), to advance California’s fight against the drunk driving epidemic. The bill would establish the state’s first-ever statewide ignition interlock device (IID) program for all DUI offenders, a proven strategy to reduce repeat offenses and save lives.
Every time I hear about another drunk driving death, I ask myself the same question: How could we have prevented it?
California is facing a growing drunk driving crisis — and prevention must be our top priority. Since 2019, drunk driving deaths in our state have surged 53%, killing 1,479 Californians in 2022 alone. These are not accidents. These are mothers, fathers, friends, and children. These are lives stolen in tragedies that could — and should — have been prevented.