Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
September marks Emergency Preparedness Month, making it the perfect time to join Costa Mesa City officials for the groundbreaking of the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Regional Training Center! I'm proud to have secured $2.5 million in state funding for this vital project, which represents a significant step forward in enhancing our community's safety and readiness to respond to fires and emergencies. A heartfelt thank you to our extraordinary firefighters for their unwavering dedication to protecting Costa Mesa and the surrounding communities!
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
It's been an incredibly busy year in the legislature, filled with hard work and dedication to championing key issues. I'm proud to share that 14 of the bills I authored are now on the Governor's desk, awaiting his signature. These bills address some of my top priorities, including lowering energy costs, strengthening the reliability of our electricity grid, preventing gun violence, and expanding access to reproductive health care coverage.
September is Hunger Action Month, and I'm excited to partner with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County for two community volunteer events. Together, we'll distribute and harvest fresh, seasonal produce to ensure our neighbors have reliable access to nutritious food, building a stronger foundation for community health and well-being. To date, our volunteer efforts have collected an incredible 45,000 lbs of produce! And with your help, we can do even more. I invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact-let's make a difference together!
I had an absolute blast at HomeAid's Project Playhouse! It was such an honor to return as a judge and score this year's incredible, one-of-a-kind playhouse creations. The level of creativity was off the charts, but what's even more inspiring is knowing these beautiful playhouses will be auctioned to support HomeAid's powerful mission-ending homelessness and providing shelter to those in need. It's a true testament to the impact we can make together!
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners, the American Red Cross and Tustin Community Foundation, for co-hosting a highly successful Emergency Preparedness event! We were thrilled by the strong community turnout and the valuable discussions on how to prepare for emergencies. Attendees gained essential insights and learned about vital local resources, including city-wide alerts, that will help keep our community safe and informed.
Congratulations to Orange County United Way for being awarded a $195,500 CalMoneySmart Grant from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation! I am proud to have advocated for these funds that will support community-based organizations in delivering free financial education and empowerment programs to California's most vulnerable unbanked and underbanked populations.
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
Congratulations to Caffee Coffee Co. for your grand opening in Tustin! Here's to many years of great coffee and community ahead. Cheers to your journey!
Congratulations to the amazing graduates of the Dragon Kim Foundation Fellowship Program! Your dedication to social entrepreneurship and community service is truly inspiring. I'm incredibly proud of your accomplishments and excited to see the bright future you will create. Keep shining!
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.
Sep. 12 - Tustin Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
Come learn how to protect yourself from common scams related to home improvement, auto repair, insurance, telemarketing, real estate and more.A panel of experts will provide information to seniors and caregivers about scams and how they can protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud. Attendees will get their questions answered and obtain assistance if they have been scammed. Resource agencies and organizations will also provide helpful information about various programs and services.
Sep. 13 - Second Harvest Distribution Center Volunteer Event
Join me and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County at a Hunger Action Month Volunteer Event at the Second Harvest Distribution Center. 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.
Sep. 14 - Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Event
Join me and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County at 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.
Sep. 14 - Tustin Dental Clinic
Join us at the Tustin Area Senior Center's Resource Fair to receive free dental care from the UCI Delta Delta Sigma Dental Clinic. Services provided include dental exams, cleanings, and the opportunity to schedule treatment follow-up with the same team.
Sep. 19 - Irvine Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
Come learn how to protect yourself from common scams related to home improvement, auto repair, insurance, telemarketing, real estate and more. A panel of experts will provide information to seniors and caregivers about scams and how they can protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud. Attendees will get their questions answered and obtain assistance if they have been scammed. Resource agencies and organizations will also provide helpful information about various programs and services.
Sep. 26 - Costa Mesa Small Business Clinic
The OCIE SBDC is excited to host the SBDC Small Business Clinic, a program offered in collaboration with Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, the City of Costa Mesa, and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce for Costa Mesa-based businesses with the goal of bringing into the community business assistance and support to small business owners.
Sep. 27- Hands Only CPR
Join me, American Red Cross and Tustin Community Foundation for a session to learn how to perform life-saving chest compressions to respond during a cardiac emergency.
