Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
I was honored to join Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho for the 1st Annual California Survivor Advocacy Day. Drunk driving is one of the greatest threats to public safety on our roads, claiming 37 lives every day in the United States—that's one life lost every 39 minutes. In California, the crisis is even more severe: 8 of the 10 U.S. cities with the highest DUI rates are right here in our state, including Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Jose, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, Long Beach, and Oakland. Even more alarming, 43% of DUI arrests in California involve repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence despite prior convictions.
This Advocacy Day was an urgent call to action. With AB 366, we have an opportunity to save lives by requiring anyone convicted of drunk driving to install an ignition interlock device—a breathalyzer—before they can operate a vehicle. I am deeply inspired by the courage of the California Survivors and thankful for their support of this life-saving bill.
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
Protecting our environment means rethinking how we fuel California's future. This week, I co-chaired an informational hearing alongside Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Chair of the Natural Resources, and Assemblymember Lori Wilson, Chair of the Transportation Committee, on the state's Transportation Fuels Transition plan. As two refineries plan to shutter their operations in California, the California Energy Commission (CEC) has been working on a strategy to address the short and long-term impacts of the of the refineries' closure. The hearing focused on the solutions the CEC has put forward as we work toward cleaner, more sustainable options for our communities.
Thank you to the California State Association of Electrical Workers for inviting me to their Annual Conference! I am grateful for their expertise and partnership. These hardworking men and women keep our energy grid safe, reliable, and resilient—often working around the clock in hazardous conditions.
Wildfires are no longer seasonal—they're a year-round challenge for California. At the California Manufacturers & Technology Association's panel on wildfire technology and resilience, we explored innovative ways to safeguard our communities and strengthen our preparedness.
The Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) does great work to support local businesses in our region. I appreciate the opportunnity to catch up and talk about how we can support local entrepreneurs, strengthen small businesses, and move forward key legislative priorities.
The 25th Bi-Partisan Legislative All-Star Softball Game was an evening of teamwork, fun and support for a great cause! Congratulations to Team NorCal on the win! The best part of that evening was that every swing and every run went toward supporting amazing California nonprofits for youths.
Did you know that every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood? Join me, Irvine Councilmember Melinda Liu, and American Red Cross at a blood drive on Wednesday, September 3rd, from 12:00-6:00 pm at Northwood Community Center. To register click here.
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
The Arab American Business Chamber is celebrating their one-year anniversary and Team Cottie was proud to recognize this milestone! Thank you for the work you do to empower entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Orange County!
Congratulations to Arlene Shafer on your well-deserved retirement from the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Board of Directors! Thank you for your decades of dedicated service to the City of Costa Mesa—including your time as mayor—and for your lasting commitment to public health. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter!
Goodwill of Orange County just celebrated the grand opening of their brand-new Store & Donation Center in Costa Mesa! This is their 24th location in the county and second in Costa Mesa. A special shoutout to our intern Tyler Kim for presenting the certificate of recognition as his final act with Team Cottie this summer. What a way to wrap up an internship!
Team Cottie was happy to join the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce for US Bank's grand reopening celebration! Thank you for providing financial services for Costa Mesa residents.
Congratulations to Carrazco Law on your new location and for joining the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce! Wishing you continued success!
RESOURCES
The Franchise Tax Board advises Californians not to reply to suspicious text messages, download attachments, or click on links in texts or emails if they are unsure of their authenticity. Visit FTB's website to learn more about these tax scams.
The University of California, Irvine's Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing will launch a family nurse practitioner residency program in October. The 24-month program pairs a year of immersive, hands-on training with a year of service commitment to CalOptima members. The first year includes interdisciplinary mentorship, observational clinical experiences and a rigorous didactic curriculum. During the next year, FNP residents will provide healthcare to some of Orange County's most vulnerable populations. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to be considered. The program will continue to accept and review applications until an application is picked, but no later than September 4, 2025.
The OC Workforce Solutions Mobile Unit is coming to Irvine. Its first stop will be at University Park Library Tuesday, September 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
OC Workforce Solutions offers a wide range of no-cost services to support job seekers and businesses. The Mobile Unit provides job seekers with personalized tools to explore career interests and grow their skills, including access to:
- Educational and training opportunities
- Customized hiring events for employers
- Career guidance from workforce experts and more
View the flier for more information.
Appointments are available and can be booked online. For questions, please call (866) 500-6587 or email info@ocworkforcesolutions.com.
The community is invited to attend an open house Thursday, September 4, from 6-8 p.m. to view draft updated Suggested Routes to School maps and identified potential improvements for safer travel around schools. Suggested Routes to School aims to create safer conditions around schools and encourages students, parents, and school staff to walk, bike, or roll to school. The City of Irvine, in collaboration with Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), Tustin Unified School District (TUSD), and local public schools, has been working to develop pedestrian and bicycle safety action plans that encourage safer and active travel to school.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 3- Irvine Blood Drive
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, Irvine Councilmember Melinda Liu, and American Red Cross invite you to a blood drive. The need for blood is constant and your donation is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply. Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. You will feel good knowing you've helped change a life.
Sep. 7 to Sep. 17 - OC Memory Lab at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
You are invited to explore the OC Memory Lab! This free, do-it-yourself space lets you digitize photos, documents, audiovisual recordings, and other formats. The mobile version will be at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library from September 7-17, with an introductory program on Wednesday, September 10, at 4:00pm. Patrons must make a reservation in advance at the Donald Dungan service desk on the 2nd floor, as well as submit their waiver, to use the Memory Lab for their projects during this period.
Sep. 14 - Fiesta Latina en Irvine
The City of Irvine invites the community to join the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the fourth annual Fiesta Latina en Irvine, Sunday, September 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Great Park. This free, family-friendly festival brings together the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Latin American culture with live music and dance, authentic cuisine, colorful art displays, and interactive cultural experiences. Guests of all ages can discover the rich traditions, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans while enjoying a lively day in the heart of Irvine.
Sept. 19- Second Harvest Distribution Center Volunteer Event
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County invite you to a Hunger Action Month Volunteer Event at the Second Harvest Distribution Center. Join us this September for Hunger Action Month to help distribute and harvest seasonal produce so that our neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food, creating a foundation for community health and well-being. Volunteers assist in a variety of food processing projects, including sorting and inspecting produce, packaged foods and boxes at the Distribution Center in Irvine. This is an indoor opportunity.
Sept. 20 - Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Event
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County invite you to Harvest Solutions Farm to help harvest seasonal produce. Join us this September for Hunger Action Month to help distribute and harvest seasonal produce so that our neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food, creating a foundation for community health and well-being.
Sept. 20 - Tustin Senior Resource Fair & Community Flea Market
Sept. 25 - Costa Mesa Knowledge & Health Fair Expo
You are invited to the 10th Annual Knowledge & Health Fair Expo on Thursday, September 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, located at 695 W 19th Street.
The Knowledge & Health Fair Expo is an annual event where seniors and their families can learn about valuable resources and services in the community from local community partners. Free health screenings and raffles.
No RSVP required. For more information, contact the Costa Mesa Senior Center at (714) 327-7550.
Sep. 26 - Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival
The City of Irvine, in partnership with South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, will gather the community for the fifth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park on Friday, September 26, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Explore unique cultural displays and discover valuable resources provided by local community organizations. This family-friendly festival will feature educational displays, live entertainment, crafts, specialty food trucks, artistic demonstrations, and more.
Oct. 4 - Irvine Healthy Living Expo
Enrich your health and wellness by accessing educational resources at the City's Healthy Living Expo. This outdoor event will feature a wide variety of exhibitors offering information and services for individuals and families of all ages. Enjoy access to City of Irvine resources, health screenings, fitness demonstrations, educational presentations—including topics like fraud prevention and internet safety—and more. Admission and parking are free.
