News

01.7.2021 State bill aimed at helping small businesses, nonprofits gains momentum

Excerpted from ABC 7

By Tony Cabrera

"Our small businesses and their employees need help and they need help now," said Rep. State Sen. Andreas Borgeas of the Central Valley.

State lawmakers spoke about SB 74 Wednesday, a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his own stimulus program that included small businesses. Co-authors say they plan to work with the governor's office for the best and most urgent solutions.

01.06.21 Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris to join state senators to ‘Keep California Working’

Excerpted by Daily Pilot

By Lily Nguyen

01.03.21 Irvine State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris & Her Team Host Holiday Book Drive

Excerpted from Irvine Community News and Views

12.29.20 Memory-care unit for COVID-19 patients with dementia opens at Fairview Developmental Center

Excerpted from Daily Pilot

By Sara Cardine

When local coronavirus cases began to surge and hospitals became overrun with COVID-19 cases, McAleer and his colleagues looked for a way to serve and treat this unique segment of the care population.

12.21.2020 California dropped its guard before it was hit with $2 billion in unemployment fraud

Excerpted from the Los Angeles Times

SACRAMENTO —

As California grapples with staggering levels of unemployment benefit fraud — $2 billion or more by one estimate — lawmakers and security experts say the state let its guard down well before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, failing to keep up with what other states have done to flag bogus claims.

12.17.20 CBS Los Angeles: Unemployed Californians, Lawmakers Beg Bank Of America For More Help In Wake Of Massive Fraud Scheme

Excerpted from CBS Los Angeles.

12.16.20 Fox40: San Joaquin County DA cracking down on EDD fraud

“Our DAs all across the state really have been leading the charge here. They were the first to really raise the alarm about the fraud crisis,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach.

“The more the DAs do their work, the more we see how widespread the fraud was,” said Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno.

Legislation is currently underway that will address the many EDD problems.

“We’ve got to close the obvious loopholes, so we need to stop sending Social Security numbers in the mail,” Petrie-Norris told FOX40.

12.16: State Announces: Tax Credits and Support for Small Businesses

In an effort to continue supporting small businesses through the pandemic, the state has recently increased different channels of support, including:

12.12.20 Column: California’s unemployment payment fiasco makes the DMV look like a well-run agency

Excerpted from The Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) said desperate Californians have “this sense of falling into a black hole” as they continue struggling with a malfunctioning computer system. They can’t get their benefits, spend months in EDD purgatory and can’t get anyone to answer their cries for help.

12.11.20 LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT: Petrie-Norris Sworn-in for Second Term

Excerpted from Laguna Beach Independent:

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) was sworn in Monday for her second term serving the 74th Assembly District, which includes Laguna Beach.