Catching Up With Cottie - 08/06

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

Thank you to the Orange County Business Council for inviting me to speak at last week’s OCBC 2024 Legislative Day! We discussed a myriad of the most pressing issues facing residents in our community and beyond, from tackling retail theft to strengthening the green-energy job market, addressing the state budget deficit to ensuring energy affordability and reliability.

The meeting was welcome timing, as the State’s Employment Development Department announced that, in the month of June, Orange County jobs grew by a whopping 5,400, for a total of 1.7 million jobs – a new record high! I am proud to represent such a thriving, economically diverse community.

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

Resource fairs, galore! Just as the Legislature is headed back to Session, so too are our students! I had a fantastic time connecting with the community at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District resource fair! More than 60 organizations participated, providing free resources and information about their services.

Team Cottie was also at CalOptima's Second Annual Back-to-School Health and Wellness Fair in Tustin! The community event helped families prepare for the new school year with backpack and school supply giveaways, as well as free vision, dental, and physical exams. Thank you to CalOptima for pulling together such a successful event! Here's to a successful school year for all.

On Thursday, I joined the Association of California Cities, Orange County and several of my colleagues for ACC-OC's roundtable discussion about the importance of city-state partnerships and working across party lines to address key issues, including housing, infrastructure, public safety, and meeting our state's ambitious climate goals.

I had an insightful and productive meeting with the League of California Cities-Orange County Division. We discussed key legislative priorities for the remaining weeks of the Legislative Session and working collaboratively to ensure that Orange County remains a safe, vibrant, and environmentally conscious place for all residents.

I had a great time at the OC Fair's 2024 Motorhome Madness Demolition Derby! At the annual event, our local first responder chiefs and their respective departments battled it out to raise money for the Children's Hospital of Orange County. Such a spectacular show for a great cause! A huge thank you to all of our first responders for putting your lives on the line for our community!

Finally, I wanted to share VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS from last week's very successful IgniteHer Summit, which I co-hosted alongside Girls Inc. of Orange County (read more HERE). It was such an inspiring and unforgettable event!

COMMUNITY RECOGNITION

Team Cottie joined the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce at the Ribbon Cutting for Kohler. Congratulations on the opening of your newest location in Costa Mesa, wishing you continued success!

The team also helped celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Advanced Dental Care, in Costa Mesa! It's great to see businesses thriving. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

UCI Admits Record Number of California Students. More than 19,000 California high school students and 9,000 community college students (increases of 1,500 and 400 from last year, respectively) have the choice to enroll at UCI in the fall. During my time in office, I have fought to ensure that our renowned public education system prioritizes the enrollment of California residents over out-of-state and international applicants.

RESOURCES

When extreme heat arrives in Orange County, stay safe and avoid being outside in the direct heat for a long time. Try to stay in air-conditioned spaces, at home with your A/C set between 75-80, or at your local library, shopping mall, or community center. Also, remember to stay hydrated. If you are outside, find relief from soaring temperatures at a local cooling center from the Orange County Cooling Center directory.

Need to take the written test as part of your driver's license renewal process? Consider NO-FAIL eLearning, also available in Spanish! This alternative to the written/online exam is a fully online, self-directed course & is available 24/7. Choose eLearning at http://spr.ly/6186iCHyr

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Aug 7 - Protecting & Managing Your Online Data Webinar

In our increasingly digital world, your personal information can be scattered across countless websites and apps. In this webinar, learn the importance of data security, discover how you can minimize your digital footprint, find out who data brokers are and how they sell your data, and hear from the California Privacy Protection Agency about your data and privacy rights.

Aug 7 - Scam Chat Wednesdays with AARP: Identify Theft & Data Breaches

Join AARP California, the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, and guest speakers throughout the month of August for Scam Chat Wednesdays – weekly virtual presentations that cover the latest scams and offer guidance on keeping your personal and financial information secure and protected. The will focus on how identity theft and data breaches can impact you.

Aug 14 - Scam Chat Wednesdays with AARP: Imposter & Cryptocurrency Scams

Join AARP California, the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, and guest speakers throughout the month of August for Scam Chat Wednesdays - weekly virtual presentations that cover the latest scams and offer guidance on keeping your personal and financial information secure and protected. The presentation will focus on cryptocurrency-related imposter scams and how they work.