Catching Up With Cottie - 07/22

Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to President Biden for his lifetime of service and sacrifice. As our president, he led the nation’s pandemic recovery and passed historic bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, combat gun violence, and create millions of new jobs. His decision to pass the torch is another testament to his courage and his character.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I am committed to addressing the issues that are important to you. As always, if there is anything that my team or I can do to assist you with a local or state issue, if you have questions or concerns about what I am working on, or anything in between, please contact my office. My team and I are here to help!

Yours faithfully,

Cottie Petrie-Norris
California State Assemblywoman

I had an amazing time kicking off the 2024 Fair Season! It's a yearly tradition that never disappoints. The OC Fair is one of the biggest and best in California, filled with exciting rides, delicious food, and exciting entertainment. Be sure to stop by and experience the fun, Check it out!

Last week, I joined an Assembly legislative delegation to Spain. We met with national and regional government agencies, leading members of Spanish parliament, and diverse business leaders to discuss a broad set of topics including climate and energy policy, cybersecurity and addiction treatment strategies. Spain is one of California’s closest European partners and we share a mutual commitment to tackling today’s formidable global challenges. Side note…no taxpayer resources were used to fund this trip.

I recently attended an impactful and deeply moving ceremony, celebrating 23 graduates from the UC Irvine Lifted program at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. These graduates are the inaugural class to receive in-person instruction from UC Irvine professors.

Hearing the heartfelt stories about how this program positively impacted these students was incredibly inspiring. I was particularly struck by something a student speaker said as he expressed his gratitude for the UCI professors and staff. “I often find myself wondering what would have happened if I’d had a teacher like you 20 years ago,” said Kelly, “And just how different my life would be.” I am proud to have partnered with UCI to support this program, helping incarcerated students earn their bachelor's degrees and open new windows of opportunity.

In the district, Team Cottie was proud to join the Orange County Fire Authority’s Best and Bravest Awards to honor the firefighters and professional staff of the OCFA who go above and beyond their already courageous, benevolent, and life-saving duties. Congratulations to all the honorees and thank you for all your efforts to protect our community!

The Sustainable Saturday Social was a tremendous success! It was inspiring to see these remarkable businesses going above and beyond to protect our environment.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Tustin-Santa Ana Rotary club who have been great partners throughout our Tustin School Supply Drive. Volunteers helped pack 120 backpacks with supplies for Tustin Elementary School students.

COMMUNITY RECOGNITION

Team Cottie was pleased to join the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Urban Workshop’s 10th anniversary in Costa Mesa! Urban Workshop is a community centered, membership based DIY workshop and makerspace – one of the largest in North America – helping members achieve success in their projects, new business startups, and learning goals.

Team Cottie joined the Tustin Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the grand opening of Prestige Medical Group’s new location in Tustin! Congratulations and wishing you continued success!

Congratulations to Curry Pizza House on the grand opening in Irvine! They offer something for everyone whether you're a fan of classic Margherita, loaded Meat Lovers, or their unique curry-infused creations!

RESOURCES

The Fairview Developmental Center (FDC) property is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create much needed housing and open space. Join the City of Costa Mesa and fellow community members to review three different housing and open space conceptual plans based on community input and results of analyses on traffic impacts, required infrastructure, and financial feasibility of the concept plans. Ask questions, learn about each concept, and share your input on the FDC’s future plan.

The Orange County Public Libraries provide free online tutoring for California K-12 students, available through public libraries. Through HelpNow, live real-time homework assistance is available 24 hours a day by laptop, tablet, or phone from qualified tutors using state curriculum and standards. Anyone using a computer inside of California can benefit from the live "HelpNow" program. Simply visit the HelpNow login page to get started with a live tutoring session now. The average wait time is 23 seconds.

Orange County Youth aged 6 to 18 can ride OC Bus for Free with Youth Pass! OC Bus is a safe and convenient way to get around Orange County. This is a great option for students to ride to school, after-school activities, jobs and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jul 25 - Small Business Resource Webinar

Join me and the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC Network, to discover the wealth of resources available to small businesses in Orange County. Whether you need assistance with operations, hiring, access to capital, marketing, or other business needs, this webinar will provide valuable insights into the support and resources available at local, county, state, and federal levels.

Jul 1 to 31 - Tustin School Supply Drive

I am proud to partner with Orange County United Way, Tustin Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Tustin-Santa Ana, Tustin Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Ana Elks Lodge on our 2nd Annual Tustin School Supply Drive. You can provide essential school supplies for local elementary school students in the Tustin Unified School District to promote early literacy and help them succeed in school.

Aug 6 - Costa Mesa National Night Out

The Costa Mesa Police Department is cordially inviting you and your family to come out and enjoy National Night Out, a FREE fun-filled evening at Lions Park on Tuesday, August 6, from 5PM - 7:30PM.

Aug 6 - Irvine National Night Out

The community is invited to attend the Irvine Police Department's National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Palm Court at Great Park.