Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
It was great to visit New York for Climate Action Week, where leaders from across the globe came together to share solutions to the climate crisis. Alongside my colleagues in the Legislature, I toured innovative projects and joined important conversations on how we can accelerate progress. One highlight was visiting Near Space Labs, home to the world's largest fleet of zero-emission stratospheric robots, which provide high-resolution imagery to track climate impacts in real-time.
I also spoke on a panel with climate experts about advancing clean tech innovation, strengthening resilient infrastructure, and keeping solutions affordable for families. California has long led with bold legislation and ambitious goals; now we must chart the path to achieving them. Our work is far from over–but together, we can turn climate ambition into climate reality.
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 a champion of innovation, I am proud of California's global leadership in biotechnology—a sector that drives medical breakthroughs, creates high-quality jobs, and strengthens our economy. I was excited to join the California Biotechnology Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, for site tours at Novartis and Pfizer, where we saw firsthand the latest advances in research and development.
A heartfelt congratulations to Captain Jason Chamness on his promotion to Deputy Chief of the Costa Mesa Police Department! With 22 years of dedicated service, he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and compassion to this new leadership role.
OC United Way is a cornerstone of community support across the county, and the incredible turnout at the Rally for Change truly showcased the impact of their work. Congratulations to this year's winners, recognized for their dedication to uplifting and strengthening our community!
Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition that brings families and neighbors together to share mooncakes, lanterns, and joy. This festival represents unity, gratitude, and the hope for prosperity and good fortune. We loved connecting with so many of you and honoring this beautiful celebration of culture and togetherness. Thank you to the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center for organizing this event.
In honor of LGBTQ History Month, we were proud to join the OC Pride Parade to celebrate love, diversity and acceptance. We're grateful to stand with our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and allies as we honor the trailblazers who fought for equality and continue building a more inclusive future for all.
We had a wonderful weekend in Costa Mesa celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, enjoying delicious food, lively music, and the opportunity to connect with our amazing community.
My team attended the Tustin Public Schools Foundation Celebration of Schools in partnership with the Tustin Unified School District. This year's event was hosted at Tustin High School and included an informative tour of T-Tech, Tustin High's immersive three-year high school engineering program that offers hands-on projects, cutting-edge technology, and expert mentorship.
Supporting our senior community is a top priority for my office. My team was glad to join the 10th annual Costa Mesa Senior Center Knowledge & Health Fair Expo, hosted by the City of Costa Mesa. It was a wonderful opportunity for seniors and their families to connect with invaluable resources and services that help keep our community healthy, informed, and supported.
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
We closed out National Suicide Prevention Month in the most meaningful way—joining Irvine Valley College's Walk of Hope. Together, we raised awareness, and shared resources to remind the most vulnerable in our community that they are not alone and that there is always hope. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available: 988.
Welcome to Tustin, Allcare Specialty Pharmacy! With a team of experts in chronic disease care, you're bringing compassionate service and top-quality medication management to our community. We're grateful for the important role you'll play in supporting local families.
RESOURCES
Are you interested in learning more about the construction along the 405 Freeway through Costa Mesa and Irvine? Caltrans has established a website with project updates, activities, closures and contact information to learn more. If you have any questions, you can email info@revivethe405.com, call the Helpline at (714) 868-6998 or visit https://www.revivethe405.com/.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 1 - Costa Mesa Sanitary District Eco Expo
Join the Costa Mesa Sanitary District for the 4th Annual Eco Expo, where you'll discover practical ways to live green and reduce your waste footprint! Chat with environmental industry experts to learn best practices, dig into eco-smart gardening tips, and enjoy interactive booths and demos for every age. It's the perfect gathering for curious minds and sustainability enthusiasts alike!
Oct. 3 - Costa Mesa Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
Come learn how to protect yourself from fraud. A panel of experts will provide information to seniors and caregivers about scams and how they can protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud. Topics will include home improvement, identity theft, email/texting scams, mail fraud, credit monitoring, and much 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.
Oct. 8 - Irvine Senior Scam Stopper
Oct. 9 - Tustin Senior Scam Stopper
Oct. 11 - Irvine Global Village Festival
Make plans to attend the City of Irvine's signature festival on Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Great Park in Irvine. The 2025 Irvine Global Village Festival will celebrate 24 years of community fun. Attendees of all ages will enjoy local and global cuisine, a global marketplace, entertainment, art, and cultural exhibits highlighting traditions from all around the world.
Oct. 16 - Costa Mesa Small Business Clinic
The Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network (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 with the goal of bringing into the community business assistance and support to small business owners.
During the program, business owners will get the opportunity to meet with an SBDC consultant at no cost for a 30-minute one-on-one session to answer their immediate needs pertaining to marketing, operations, or financial assessment. All participants will also be aligned with a primary consultant for follow-up assistance to receive continuous, no-cost support in an effort to help them grow and expand their business.
