Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
I hope everyone enjoyed a restful holiday weekend with family and friends. Labor Day is our opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made together and the work that lies ahead to promote fairness, opportunity, and dignity for all workers. From small business owners to public servants, your hard work, dedication, and resilience keep our neighborhoods strong and thriving. Thank you for all that you do.
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
As conversations continue regarding the importance of clean technology, I had the opportunity to tour the Phillips 66 biofuel complex to see how innovation is shaping California's future. From biofuel conversion and solar power to sustainable aviation fuel, these advancements are influencing policy discussions, market growth, and workforce opportunities. The visit also underscored how collaboration between industry and communities will play a key role in meeting our state's clean energy goals.
Our team was honored to join the groundbreaking of the Avon River Apartments in Costa Mesa last week! This Homekey-funded project will transform a former Travelodge motel into 78 units of permanent supportive housing for Orange County residents who are experiencing or are at risk of losing their housing. I am proud to have helped secured a $29 million Homekey grant to bring much-needed housing and supportive services to some of our community's most vulnerable neighbors.
A heartfelt thank you to our funding and community partners—American Family Housing, Supervisor Katrina Foley, the State of California, the County of Orange, the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, and CalOptima Health—for coming together to make this vision a reality.
Thank you to Community Action Partnership Orange County (CAPOC) for the important work you do to support families in need. I was grateful for the opportunity to help secure state budget funding for the California Association of Diaper Banks, whose efforts make a real difference in our community. In recognition of National Diaper Need Awareness Week, CAPOC will be hosting a Community Distribution Event on Saturday, September 20, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Check out the flyer for details and register here.
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
Happy Sweet 16 to Pretend City Children's Museum—a place where imagination comes to life! For sixteen years, Pretend City has created a world of wonder where children learn, play, and dream big. I was proud to recognize Pretend City as our 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for their unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds through imaginative play and innovative educational programs that have touched countless families.
Congratulations to all the small businesses honored at the 2025 Business Recognition Luncheon by the City of Tustin and Tustin Chamber of Commerce! Your hard work, innovation, and community are the backbone of our local economy. Thank you for everything you do to help Tustin thrive!
Small businesses are the heart of California's economy—when we support them, we strengthen our communities. At the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce business advocacy meeting, my team heard from Dr. Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) about new state initiatives to help entrepreneurs thrive. We also learned about the incredible work the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is doing right here in our district to lift up local businesses.
RESOURCES
September is Hunger Action Month, and IKEA Costa Mesa is stepping up to support our community with a month-long essentials drive!
- In-Store Donation Drop Off open daily, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Donation bins located at the store entrance and exit
In addition, join IKEA for a special Food & Basic Essentials Drive on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the IKEA Costa Mesa parking lot. Please bring items from the donation list to help make a difference!
As fires in California have become more common, they increasingly shape Orange County's landscapes. Students are invited to be part of the 2025-2026 Fire Ecology High School Internship Program with Crystal Cove Conservancy, Crystal Cove State Park, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and UC Irvine.
Interns will work with land managers to study fire impacts on ecosystems and soil, gaining hands-on experience in restoration, ecology, and land management across Orange County.
This unpaid internship runs October 2025–May 2026, with Saturday field days and weekly Wednesday Zoom sessions.
Looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? Become a volunteer driver to help Irvine older adults ages 60 and older stay active, independent, and connected. Every day, older adults in our community need safe and reliable transportation to get to doctor's appointments, the grocery store, or simply to visit friends and family.
Who can volunteer? Anyone ages 21 and older with a valid driver's license and a desire to volunteer.
Join Irvine at an in-person orientation to learn more about the program. Training will be provided so you can feel confident behind the wheel and comfortable assisting riders.
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 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. 7 to Sept. 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.
Sept. 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.
Sept. 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.
