Dear Neighbors,
I hope you and your family had a nice Thanksgiving.
This eNewsletter is an opportunity for me and my staff to share some of the happenings at the Capitol and throughout the 1st Senate District. I encourage your input on issues that are important to you.
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November tends to be the time of year we reflect on all our blessings, while December is a combination of focusing on our faith and planning for the new year. I’m blessed to represent the residents of the North State, and while the Legislature has adjourned until January, my time has been spent traveling throughout my district, getting a direct understanding of the issues that face my constituents.
I met with businesses, first responders, industry representatives, educators, and many more in between. I learned a lot about the issues that keep them up at night, and am proud of how they’ve all pivoted when met with challenging situations, especially adapting to ever-changing pandemic constraints. See some of those stories below, and here for more.
Sincerely,
Senator Brian Dahle
In This Issue
1st Senate District Trivia
Sacramento
State Capitol Move
Pride of the District - Bridgeport Covered Bridge
El Dorado and Sacramento Counties
Helping Others
County Highlight
1st Senate District Trivia
Which California county contains the only National Park with all 4 types of volcanoes-Shield, Composite, Cinder Cone and Plug Dome-within park boundaries?
*scroll for answer
Sacramento
Traditionally, many legislators focus their legislative package on the needs and wants of the district they represent. They will add bills that reflect their social or fiscal values, and sometimes take up the cause of an industry important to their ideals. I recently met with my legislative staff to review many intriguing proposed new laws that I believe will make California, and my district, a better place to live. Broadly, those ideas were to address rural water infrastructure to increase reliability and better protect against wildfires, encourage business and economic growth in local communities, provide transparency in California’s education system to better serve our children, and look at best practices to provide privacy of our personal data. More to come next month when we begin to introduce legislation.
State Capitol Move
As I mentioned in the last issue, staff at the Capitol have been boxing-up their offices for a move one block south. Many of those moves have happened, and the entire Legislature will be in their new, temporary offices by the new year. The new Legislative Office Building is on 10th and O Streets in downtown Sacramento, and it is my hope that it increases access for residents wishing to make a difference in California by meeting with their representatives or testifying before committee.
Pride of the District - Bridgeport Covered Bridge
Located near Grass Valley, this historic treasure dates back to the 1860s and was closed over ten years ago due to safety concerns. Residents and history buffs partnered with California State Parks to refurbish this icon in Nevada County, and participating in the ribbon-cutting was an honor.
It's taken many years, help from taxpayers, and a lot of fundraising and community volunteers, but the Bridgeport Covered Bridge re-opened to the excitement of all involved. Now, future generations can enjoy this beautiful site on the South Yuba River for years to come.
El Dorado and Sacramento Counties
Before Thanksgiving, I had an opportunity to meet with leaders in the district, including El Dorado County Fire Chief Tom Cordero. With the recent wildfire season fresh on their mind, the Chief and his staff were proud of their crews. Chief Cordero then joined us at the CalFirebranch in Camino to meet with Chief Mike Blankenheim and his executive staff to discuss the challenges of the Caldor Fire that devastated the community of Grizzly Flats and burned up to South Lake Tahoe. The remainder of the afternoon included a meeting with Siri Nelson, Marshall Hospital's CEO, to overview our healthcare system in Placerville and how they play a pivotal role in keeping our El Dorado County communities healthy. On to El Dorado Hills where I met with Chamber CEO Debbie Manning to get a bird's-eye view of the business community’s challenges during COVID. We wrapped-up the day with a relaxed chat with Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost to connect on what is happening in her communities. With the daily, fast-paced Capitol life, it's nice to slow down and listen to constituents in the district. A good day, for sure.
Helping Others
One of the most critical functions of a California state legislator is helping their constituents navigate the bureaucracies of our government. Here is one such story -
Jackson reached out to my office on behalf of his wife, Mary regarding an issue with the DMV. He let me know they had attempted to file an application with the DMV to secure Mary a much-needed disabled placard for their vehicle. Parking so far away from storefronts and doctor's offices caused Jackson and Mary so much pain and discomfort. They initially submitted Mary's application in July but were told by the DMV office that some pages were misplaced, and they would need to send the documents again. They complied and sent the documents a total of three times and continued to follow up with phone calls to check on the status of the application. After months of getting nowhere on their own, Jackson contacted my office and my staff stepped in to help. After re-submitting Mary's application to the most appropriate contact, my staff received confirmation that Mary's placard had been issued that same day.
My staff works with the DMV on several different issues, and while some cases are easier resolved than others, we will always take the time to try to find a solution. This is just one small way that we can assist our constituents with state-related issues. My offices are ready to step in where we can! Please give us a call if you think we can help.
County Highlight
*Trivia Answer: Lassen County!
The 1st Senate District is made up of 11 counties (all of 9 counties, and 2 partial). In this edition, we explore the unique natural features of Lassen County. Lassen County is located in the northeastern portion of California and has a population of 34,895. Lassen County was formed on April 1, 1864 from parts of Plumas and Shasta Counties following the two-day conflict known as the "Sagebrush War" or the "Roop County War." The county boasts many outdoor attractions. There's ample opportunity for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, boating, and fishing. Come to Lassen and explore the Lassen National Volcanic Park, or Eagle Lake, the second-largest natural lake in California and home to the world-famous Eagle Lake Trout, a species unique to the lake.
Photo: Lassen Volcanic National Park, Heyengel/Getty Images
Only so much can be said in this quick update, please go here for regular updates.
- Brian