OKAY. AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WE'RE
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET
STARTED. THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
RULES WILL COME TO ORDER. AH WE
ARE HOLDING OUR COMMITTEE
HEARING IN THIS OH STREET
BUILDING IN ROOM 2200. AS WE
CONTINUE TO TAKE SOME
PRECAUTIONS TO MANAGE ONGOING
COVID 19 RISK. THE SENATE
CONTINUES TO WELCOME THE PUBLIC
AND HAS PROVIDED ACCESS TO BOTH
IN PERSON AND TELECONFERENCE
PARTICIPATION FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. FOR INDIVIDUALS WISHING
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT VIA
THE TELECONFERENCE SERVICE. THE
PARTICIPANT. TOLL FREE NUMBER
AND ACCESS CODE IS POSTED ON OUR
COMMITTEE WEBSITE, AND IT WILL
BE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN IN
FRONT OF YOU TODAY ARE
PARTICIPANT NUMBER IS 8772. AND
THE ACCESS CODE IS 864. FOR
SORRY. ALL THESE NUMBERS
86446445. THERE'S A LOT OF FOURS
IN THERE. IT'S GOING TO BE
DISPLAYED A COUPLE MORE TIMES
DURING THE HEARING SO THAT
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO JOIN REMOTELY
WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT NUMBER
IF THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT OUR
COMMITTEE WEBSITE. I AM GOING TO
MAINTAIN DECORUM DURING THE
HEARING, AS IS CUSTOMARY, AND
ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
DISRUPTIVE MAY BE REMOVED FROM
THE REMOTE MEETING SERVICE OR
HAVE THEIR CONNECTIONS MUTED.
AND FOR OUR WONDERFUL COURT
REPORTER CHINA. I WANT TO ASK
ALL SPEAKERS HERE AND
TELECONFERENCE. WHO SPEAKS
SLOWLY AND CLEARLY SO THAT WE
CAN GET YOUR TESTIMONY. AND THAT
INCLUDES MY COLLEAGUES, UM,
DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME WE
HAVE FOUND SOMETIMES IT'S A
LITTLE BIT HARD TO HEAR WHETHER
IN PERSON ON A MIC IF PEOPLE ARE
SPEAKING TOO QUICKLY, OR
CERTAINLY BY REMOTE, SO IF I
HAVE TO INTERRUPT YOU TO ASK YOU
TO START AGAIN OR SLOW DOWN,
PLEASE UNDERSTAND IT'S BECAUSE
WE ACTUALLY WANT TO GET YOUR
TESTIMONY. IN OUR COURT REPORTER
WANTS TO BE ABLE TO RECORD IT AS
WELL. SO WITH THAT BEFORE WE
BEGIN TODAY'S AGENDA, WE'RE
GOING TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM AND
AS A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES,
YOU'LL NEED TO TURN ON YOUR
MICROPHONES FOR THE ROLL CALL,
AND EVERY TIME WE VOTE. AND WITH
THAT, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? GROOVE
HERE, GROVE HERE KAMLAGER HERE.
KAMLAGER HERE, LAIRD HERE HERE.
BATES BATES. HERE. ATKINS HERE.
ATKINS HERE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE
A NUMBER OF MEETINGS GOING ON AT
THE SAME TIME, SO SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE TO GET UP
AND GO AND COME BACK. BUT I WANT
TO ASSURE YOU IT'S THAT THEY'RE
MULTITASKING. AND, UH AND SO
WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP MOVING,
AND IT IS A BUSY DAY. WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES
REQUIRED TO APPEAR, BUT BEFORE
WE GET TO THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK
MY COLLEAGUES IF WE CAN WITHOUT
OBJECTION TAKE UP ON THE AGENDA
TODAY. GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES NOT
REQUIRED TO APPEAR AND THAT
WOULD BE ITEMS TO E. THROUGH G,
BUT I UNDERSTAND. UH MY
COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SPLIT
IT SO I WOULD ASK IF WE COULD
HAVE EMOTION ON ITEM TWO. E AH,
THAT'S THE CHIEF BUREAU OF
HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND SERVICES AND
F THAT IS THE MEMBER OF THE
GAMBLING CONTROL COMMISSION. IF
I COULD HAVE EMOTIONS GREAT.
I'LL SAY SENATOR KAMLAGER MADE
THE MOTION. MADAM SECRETARY. WE
CALL THE ROLL ON ITEMS TO EAT
AND F GROVE. I KAMLAGER AYE,
KAMLAGER. AYE LAIRD. I BATES, I
ATKINS ATKINS. I WOULD ASK FOR A
MOTION ON TO ITEM TWO GOVERNOR'S
APPOINTEES NOT REQUIRED TO
APPEAR ITEM G, AND THAT'S A
MEMBER ALSO OF THE GAMBLING
CONTROL COMMISSION. THANK YOU,
SENATOR LAIRD, MADAM SECRETARY
WE CALL THE ROLL GROVE. GROWTH
NO, KAMLAGER. I AM LONGER. I
LAYERED I BATES BATES. NO ATKINS
ATKINS. I 32 TO 3 TO TWO. THANK
YOU COLLEAGUES. I WOULD ASK FOR
A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE
BILL REFERRALS TO COMMITTEES.
I'LL GIVE THAT TITUS SENATOR
GROVE THIS TIME. MADAM SECRETARY
, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
GROVE? I KAMLAGER KAMLAGER. I
GLARED. I BATES. I CAN I CAN SAY
5 TO 05 TO ZERO. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES AND NOW WE'RE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE
FIRST. GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEE
REQUIRED TO APPEAR THAT WOULD BE
ITEM ONE A AND LET ME WELCOME
AND INTRODUCE MISS AMY SHH. TONG
AS SECRETARY OF GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS AGENCY WELCOME AND,
UM, LET ME INVITE YOU TO THE TO
THE DESK. UM ASK YOU TO GO AHEAD
AND MAKE ANY INTRODUCTIONS OF
FOLKS WITH YOU. YOU WOULD LIKE
TO OPENING COMMENTS I THIS IS
NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO. I'M AWARE
SO ANY OPENING COMMENTS AND
WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE FOR COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS WELCOME. SURE THIS IS
ON THIS ON NOW. GREAT WELL, GOOD
AFTERNOON, UM, CHAIR ATKINS AND
VICE CHAIR BATES AND THANK YOU
FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY
ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR NEWSOME
. I POINTED ME TO THIS POSITION
TO ALLOW ME TO GO THROUGH THIS
PROCESS AND SUPPORTING ME AS I
AM CONTINUE. TO WALK MY PATH IN
PUBLIC SERVICE. THROUGH OUT MY
LIFE. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF EXPERIENCING IMMERSE SUPPORT
FROM MY FAMILY, MY COMMUNITY AND
MY FRIENDS AND MANY OF THEM ARE
HERE. SATELLITE TO JUST TAKE A
MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEM. UM
FIRST RIGHT BEHIND ME AND MY
DAUGHTER, WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HEADING TO
A UC DAVIS IN A FEW MONTHS OR
JOINING ME RIGHT BEHIND. AND MY
HUSBAND AND MY SON AND MY
ELDERLY PARENTS, AS WELL AS MY
BROTHER'S FAMILY ARE WATCHING
LIVE STREAM THE MOMENT AND, UM,
MY PARENTS SPECIFICALLY WE'RE
HERE TO JOIN ME WHEN I WAS GOING
THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION
PROCESS. FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN I
WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR OF THAT
DEPARTMENT AND RIGHT NOW MY MOM
HERSELF IS FIGHTING A. FIGHT
HERSELF FIGHTING CANCER, AND
THAT'S WHY SHE CANNOT BE HERE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
AND LOOK AT THE CAMERA AND THE
THANK THEM FOR BEING ALWAYS
GREAT SUPPORTER FOR ME IN THIS
JOURNEY. ALSO I AM LATER ON. I
BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE
COMMUNITY WHO I REALLY RELIED ON
AND ALL MY FRIENDS. IS THIS A
GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM, HELPING ME
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND
CONTINUE TO PROPEL ME TO DO THE
GREAT THINGS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE?
MY PARENTS TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH
, UM, ON THEMSELVES AND ME BACK
IN 1986 WHEN THEY IMMIGRATED OUR
FAMILY TO THE STATE WE BAGGED
THEN, UM, RELYING ON MANY OF THE
SERVICES CALIFORNIA OFFERED TO
NEW IMMIGRANTS AND I STRIVE
EVERY DAY IN MY WORK TO PAY THAT
FORWARD BY SUPPORTING OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT. IN THE ROAD AS THE
SECRETARY OF GIVE UP AGENCY. AND
THROUGH MY ROSE LEADERSHIP, AND
NOT ONLY DOING THE TIME IN THE
PUBLIC SERVICE THAT I CONTINUE
TO BE REMINDED THAT IN ORDER TO
REALLY BE A GOOD PUBLIC SERVANT
YOU ALWAYS FORGETTING WHAT YOU
DO NOT FORGET WHERE YOU COME
FROM, AND REMEMBER YOUR ROUTE
AND REMEMBER TO GIVE BACK AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, I JUST WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO SURROUNDED ME
THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES
. THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT
SUPPORTIVE VOICE. AND ALWAYS BE
THERE FOR ME. I WOULD NOT BE WHO
I AM TODAY WITHOUT THE PEOPLE
CENTER FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
ECOSYSTEM AS I MENTIONED, AND
THIS IS WHY, AS SECRETARY OF
GAVA UP A TWO WILL FOCUS ON
PEOPLE. CULTIVATING A INNOVATIVE
CULTURE. AS WELL AS A
SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION PATH
FOR STATE GOVERNMENT. IN FACT,
I'VE IF IMPLEMENTED THOSE VALUE
AS THE THREE PILLAR OF MY
STRATEGIC FOCUS FOR THE AGENCY
SINCE I STARTED ON MARCH, 1ST
SOME OF MY GOALS AND FOCUS AT
AGENCY WILL BE CREATING NEW
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS THAT
SUPPORT CONTINUOUS SHARING A
BEST PRACTICE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS
IN ORDER TO TRULY IMPROVED STATE
OPERATIONS. I STRIVE TO HAVE A
HUMAN CENTER APPROACHED
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. FROM
HIRING TO THE GROWTH OF OUR
EMPLOYEE AND UPWARD MOBILITY. I
WAS SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENTS SO
THEY CAN BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA THROUGH MORE
MEANINGFUL AND THOUGHTFUL
ENGAGEMENT OF SERVICES THAT
REQUIRES INTELLIGENT RISK
TAKING. BY ALLOWING OUR
EMPLOYEES TO THINK BIGGER AND
MAKE BIGGER CHANGE. I THANK YOU
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY, AND I HOPE MY
GRATITUDE SHOWS MY WORK ETHIC
AND MY ACHIEVEMENT AS THE
SECRETARY OF GOVERNMENT AGENCY
AND MY COMMITMENT. TO BE HERE BE
A MODEL PUBLIC SERVANT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND START BECAUSE HE HAS
TO GO TO LABOR COMMITTEE WITH
SENATOR LAIRD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. AND WELCOME
TO THE COMMITTEE AT AND
GREETINGS TO YOUR FAMILY, WHO
HER WATCHING AND HERE UM, I
APPRECIATED THE CHANCE. WE HAD
TO HAVE A LONG TALK EARLIER THIS
WEEK AND I WAS GOING TO JUST ASK
A FEW FOLLOW UP. QUESTIONS FROM
THAT TALK AND ONE IS THAT WE
TALKED GLOWINGLY OF THE VERY
FIRST SECRETARY. AND HOW SHE
CHANGED THE CULTURE IN MANY WAYS
OF SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT
EXIST IN THE AGENCY. THE
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES
IN PARTICULAR AND FIGURED OUT A
WAY TO BE USER FRIENDLY. UM HOW
ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE THAT
WORK IN YOUR ROLE AS SECRETARY?
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
SENATOR LAIR? UM YES, UH,
SECRETARY OF MIRABEL. BADGER WAS
THE ONE THAT BROUGHT ME AND GAVE
ME THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO SERVE
AS THE DIRECTOR OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. FIVE
YEARS AGO, AND THE VERY FIRST
CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, UM,
THAT I HAD WITH HER AND STILL,
YOU KNOW, RESONATES WITH ME, AND
THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY
FORWARD THAT LEGACY. IT'S HOW
THE CONTROL AGENCY DGS INCLUDED
ARE REALLY HERE TO SUPPORT AND
CONSULT AND THEN HELPED THE
DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE TO
PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. SO DON'T
LOOK AT IT AS IN CONTROLLING AND
MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS SOME
COMPLIANCE. BUT LOOKING AT WHAT
ARE THE WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP
DEPARTMENT TO DELIVER BASED ON
THEIR MISSION. AND THAT IS THE.
APPROACH THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO
TAKE AS NOW I'M STEPPING INTO
THIS ROLE. BY NO MEANS I CAN
FILL THE BIG SHOES THAT WAS LEFT
BEHIND BY SECRETARY BADGER. BUT
UM THE FACT THAT S AN AGENCY WE
ARE HERE TO HELP REMOVE
BARRIERS. WE ARE HERE TO SEND AN
EXPECTATION WHAT CUSTOMER
SERVICE IT'S ABOUT. AND WE HERE
TO SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT TO
CONTINUE TO BE THAT CONSULTANT
ROLE AND COACHING ROLE SO THAT
AT THE END OF THE DAY AGENCY
ITSELF IS LEAD BY EXAMPLE OF HOW
BEST TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE
TO OTHERS. AND WHEN WE TALKED
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES YOU USED WAS
SHE HAD INITIATED A MASS OF
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. AND YOU
TALKED ABOUT REFORMS YOU WANTED
TO MAKE TO THE RECRUITMENT
PROCESS. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT SOME OF THOSE ARE WHAT YOUR
VISION IS FOR? FOR THAT?
ABSOLUTELY UM, BACK THEN. THIS
IS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. SOME OF
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IS CALLED THE
CIVIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENT. SEE,
ASSIGN INITIATIVE. AND FAST
FORWARD. UH JUST LAST YEAR, UM
SECRETARY YOLANDA RICHARDSON,
MEDIA PREDECESSOR OF ALSO
STARTED AN INITIATIVE CALLED
TRANSFORMING STATE OPERATIONS.
WHICH I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO
FURTHER PARTICIPATED IN. NOW
THAT I'M IN THIS PARTICULAR
ROLE, UM, WHAT WE HAVE CONTINUED
WITH THAT EFFORT IS IDENTIFYING
WHAT IT'S MOST NEEDED TO HELP
THE STATE WORKFORCE TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT STARTS WITH
THE STATE WAR FORCE CALLED THE
PEOPLE FOCUSED. AND I HAVE
ALREADY WORKED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HR COW. HR STATE
PERSONNEL BOARD, COUPLE OF THEM
WITH THE OFFICE OF DIGITAL
INNOVATION. TO START MAPPING OUT
WAYS THAT HIRING I SHOULD START
WITH RECRUITMENT, HIRING EVERY
TENSION PROCESS WHERE NEEDS TO
BE STREAMLINED? WHERE IS A
MATTER OF MYTH THAT NEEDS TO BE
DEBUNKED? THAT PEOPLE YOU KNOW,
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND WE'RE
TRULY AREAS THAT REQUIRES
IMPROVEMENTS SO WE CAN GO RIGHT
AT IT FOR THE VERY SINGLE FOCUS
. HOW DO WE BRING THE BEST
TALENT TO STATE WORKFORCE IN THE
MOST EXPEDITIOUS WAY? I THINK
THIS IS VERY TIMELY GIVEN THAT
OUR LABOR MARKET IS VERY
COMPETITIVE AND ALSO PEOPLE
COMING OUT OF A TWO YEARS OF A
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN
DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC. I
THINK THIS TYPE OF APPROACH
PROVIDE MORE CERTAINTY IN A MORE
STREAMLINED APPROACH. WE'RE
REALLY IT'S A, UM, UPLIFTING
APPROACH. I WOULD HOPE TO
SUPPORT OUR STATE WORKFORCE. ONE
OF THE SPECIFIC REFORMS OR
INNOVATIONS YOU MENTIONED IS, I
GUESS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
OTHER LOCATIONS. AH! BASED ON
YOUR RESUME YOUR REFERRED FOR
CERTAIN JOBS. AND IN AND I KNOW
THIS WHEN I FELT OUT AN
APPLICATION ONCE I HAD TO CHECK
WHAT I WAS INTERESTED IN AND YOU
WERE LOOKING TO MAYBE INNOVATE
THAT IN THE STATE WHERE WOULD
REFER PEOPLE FOR THE JOBS THAT
THEIR RESUME INDICATED THEY WERE
QUALIFIED FOR? HOW WOULD YOU DO
THAT? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THAT UP AND THE FIRST THREE
MONTHS ONE OF THE SELF
EXPERIMENT THAT I DID MYSELF WAS
GOING THROUGH THE ACTUAL
APPLICATION PROCESS, AND IT WAS
VERY NOTICEABLE THAT NOT ONLY
HAVE TO GO THROUGH CLOSE TO 100
QUESTIONNAIRES ON QUALIFIED
THROUGH AN EXAM AND THE BASED
ON THAT I HAVE TO LOOK FOR
DIFFERENT JOBS BASED ON THE
KEYWORD SEARCH TO SEE WHERE MY
SKILL AND EXPERIENCE COULD
MATCH. WHERE IF YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY JOB, YOU
KNOW A SEARCH PLATFORMS SUCH AS
INDEED OR GLASS DOOR TO MASTER.
BASICALLY YOU UPLOAD YOUR
PROFILE AND THEY MATCH FOR YOU.
TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW IT. YOU
WOULD BE A GOOD MATCH FOR AND
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M
ACTIVELY TALKING TO OUR
DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHETHER THIS
IS A PROCESS TO STAKE IN ADOPT,
SO WE'RE BEING A LOT MORE
PROACTIVE IN FINDING CANDIDATE
AND HANDING OPPORTUNITY OR
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY TO THEM AS
OPPOSED TO THEY NEED TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT KEYWORD TO SEARCH
IN ORDER TO FIND OPENINGS IN THE
STATE. AND MAYBE THE LAST
QUESTION. I WAS INTRIGUED BY THE
FACT THAT TWO OR THREE TIMES IN
OUR TALK YOU SAID ONE OF THE
THINGS YOU WANTED TO DO IS
ENCOURAGE. PEOPLE IN THE AGENCY
TO TAKE RISKS. UM SORT OF. WHY
DID YOU GET TO THAT? AND HOW ARE
YOU GOING TO DO THAT? I IF
LOOKING BACK ON MY OWN TRACK
RECORD FOR MY 25, PLUS YEARS OF
SERVICE IN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR,
I DO NOT HAVE A PERFECT RECORD.
AND IN FACT, I AM NOT AFRAID TO
TALK ABOUT THE IMPERFECTION IN
MY RECORD AS A LEARNING
EXPERIENCE AND AS A WAY OF
ENCOURAGING OTHERS THAT EVEN
WITHOUT THE PERFECT RECORD, YOU
CAN STILL MOVE OUT. AND THAT IS
THE TYPE OF INNOVATIVE CULTURE
TO BE HONEST THAT I WANT TO
FOSTER A LOT MORE. BECAUSE
WITHOUT THAT. RECOGNITION THAT
FAILURE IS PART OF THE PATH TO
SUCCESS. PEOPLE WILL BE TOO
AFRAID. TO MAKE CHANGES OR TRY
NEW THINGS AND THEREFORE STALL
AND BEING STATUS QUO. AND THE
ONLY WAY WE CAN BREAK THAT MODE
. IF YOU WOULD, IT'S BY EACH ONE
OF US BEING WILLING TO BE
VULNERABLE. TO TAKE INTELLIGENT
RISKS AND THEN LEARN FROM
MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY AND DO
BETTER NEXT TIME. AND I FEEL
LIKE WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT
IN THE TWO YEARS OF A COVID
RESPONSE WHERE OUR DECISIONS
WERE NOT REQUIRES FIVE YEARS TO
DECIDE WHAT TO DO DECISION WOULD
WOULD MAKE BASED ON THE
INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO
US AND WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE
CONTINUE TO ITERATE IMPROVED
FROM IT. AND AS A PERSON THAT
WITH THE IMPERFECT RECORD ARE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD
OR UP IF YOU WILL. I HAVE
BACKGROUND MUSIC CURING ME ON
RIGHT NOW. IT'S SOMEBODY THAT
PROBABLY DOESN'T MASTER
TECHNOLOGY WHAT YOU DO, UM, JUST
A RUBBER BEST STATEMENT. I WANT
TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO
ENCOURAGE THAT RISK TAKING IS
PART OF THE LEARNING AND
PROBABLY GROWING. AND FOR THE
STATE GOVERNMENT CULTURE. WE
NEED MORE OF THAT, IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM WHAT WE
DO. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE
RESPONSES AND THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR FOR ALLOWING ME TO GO
FIRST, AND I'LL BE BACK.
ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU, SENATOR,
SENATOR GROVE. THANK YOU, MADAM
PRO TIM. UM IT'S DEFINITELY A
PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU BEFORE US A
THINK YOU'RE ONE OF THE MOST
QUALIFIED IF NOT THE MOST
QUALIFIED APPOINTEE WE'VE HAD
SITTING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE,
SO THANK YOU. AND I DO SINCERELY
SINCERELY. I'M SORRY ABOUT WHAT
YOUR MOM IS GOING THROUGH, AND
WE'LL ADD HER TO A PRAYER LIST
AND JUST PRAY THAT SHE GETS A
WHOLE AND COMPLETE HEALING. I UH
I LOVED WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR
OPENING OR WHEN YOU WERE
RESPONDING TO MY COLLEAGUE'S
COMMENTS. UM YOU KNOW THAT TAKE
INTELLIGENT RISK AND DON'T
SETTLE FOR THE STATUS QUO. AND,
UM. IN THAT SOMETIMES RISK
TAKING IS GROWING. AND LEARNING
FROM YOUR MISTAKES IN, UM I
TRULY DO APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT. I
DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
NOTHING REALLY BIG OR ANYTHING.
UM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
WANTED TO ASK YOU WAS IT'S UM
THIS ROLE THAT YOU HAVE NOW IS
KIND OF GOING TO EMERGE INTO
ASSISTING OTHER STATE FACILITIES
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE SO GOOD
AT WHAT YOU DO, AND THE GOVERNOR
IS NOT AFRAID TO THROW YOU INTO
THE DMV AND THE E. D. D. UM
WHICH I'M SURE HOW YOU LOOK AT
CHALLENGES THAT WILL BE ONE OF
THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SUCCESS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR
ENTIRE CAREER TO FIX THOSE TWO
DEPARTMENTS. JUST MY OWN
PERSONAL OPINION. UM SO CAN YOU
GIVE US AN UPDATE? BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT DEVOPS HAS BEEN ASKING
, UM, TO ADDRESS THE OPERATIONAL
CHALLENGES THAT THE DEPARTMENTS
HAVE WITHIN A BOX PERF. YOU HAVE
APPS PURVIEW. WITH THE DMV AND
THE LED AND HOW YOU SEE WHAT'S
YOUR VISION? LIKE TO, UH, I
DON'T REALLY MINCE WORDS
STRAIGHTENED THOSE TWO AGENCIES
OUT. WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR
THAT? THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION, SENATOR GROWTH. LET ME
UM, PERHAPS TALK ABOUT DMV.
PARTICIPATION THAT I WAS ABLE TO
BE PART OF WAS UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF SECRETARY MIRACLE
BASHER. THIS IS CASH. I DON'T
EVEN RECALL HOW MANY YEARS AGO.
I FEEL LIKE ANY NUMBER OF YEARS
BEFORE COVID IS JUST BLOB AT
THIS MOMENT. UM AT THAT TIME I
WAS SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND OBVIOUSLY IT WAS TO DEAL
WITH MORE OF THE LEGACY
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM OVER AND DMV.
THAT TO SOLVE AN OPERATION NEED
FOR DEPARTMENT IS MUCH MORE THAN
TECHNOLOGY IS ABOUT PROCESS
IMPROVEMENT. IT IS ABOUT
TRAINING TO STAFF. BUT BASED ON
THAT IT'S HEARING FROM STAFF
WHAT WOULD MAKE THEIR JOB
EASIER. AND I THINK IT'S THAT
TYPE OF APPROACH THAT WAS GIVEN
OR THAT WAS TAKEN BACK THEN TO
REALLY PROVIDE AN IDEAS THAT
REALLY CHANGING OR IMPROVING THE
MV FROM WITHIN. FAST FORWARD SO
MANY YEARS LATER. GOSH I SORRY,
I SOMEHOW I JUST FORGET HOW MANY
WHETHER THAT WAS THE FOUR YEARS
OR THREE YEARS AGO. THE ENVY
HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT
NOT, YOU KNOW. FIXED BY ANY
MEANS, BUT THE FACT THAT IN THE
PANDEMIC RISK DURING THE TWO
YEARS PANDEMIC A LOT MORE OF
THEIR SERVICES WERE ABLE TO MOVE
ONLINE AS AN E SERVICES TO OUR
RESIDENTS. THAT MADE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE AND NOT ONLY REDUCED
BACKLOG BUT IMPROVED CUSTOMER
SERVICE. APPLYING THAT TYPE OF
APPROACH THAT WAS DEALING WITH
THE ENVY. LOOKING AT HOLISTIC IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE TOOK AS I WAS
PART OF THE STRIKE TEAMS AND BY
GOVERNOR NEWSOM. AND LEFT BY
SECRETARY RICHARDSON AT THE TIME
TO WORK WITH THE DEED. E D,
OBVIOUSLY VERY WELL KNOWN
SITUATION THAT THEY DEALT WITH.
IT WAS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AT
THE BEGINNING WAS ABOUT THE
BACKLOG TOWARDS THE END. IT WAS
ABOUT FRAUD. AND I WAS IN MORE
INVOLVED AT THE BEGINNING
PORTION OF IT, AND THEN I HAVE
KIND OF KEEP WATCHING WHAT'S
GOING ON THE FRONT SIDE. SIMILAR
I SHOULD SAY ALMOST IDENTICAL
BUT VERY, VERY SIMILAR SITUATION
THAT CONVERSATIONS STARTED WITH
TECHNOLOGY. CAN THE TECHNOLOGY
BEING A LEGACY SYSTEM HANDLE THE
DEMAND? BUT THEN VERY, VERY FAST
DISCOVER THE TECHNOLOGY ALONG
DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DO WE
HAVE THE RIGHT PROCESS, TOO? ON
BOTTLENECK SOME OF THE KNOTS IF
YOU WERE THAT WAS CREATED
BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE JUST NOT
WILLING TO TRY NEW PROCESS. DO
WE HAVE THE RIGHT FOLKS THAT
WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING IN
PLACE? BUT EVEN IF YOU HIRE
FOLKS, THEY HAVE THE TOOLS IN
FRONT OF THEM, YOU KNOW TO
PERFORM THEIR WORK. IN ALL OF
THOSE WERE THE RECOMMENDATION
VERY LENGTHY, STRIKING REPORT
THAT WAS PUBLISHED AND THEN
SINCE THEN, I WAS ABLE TO CHECK
IN PERIODICALLY WITH THE NEW
LEADERSHIP OVER AN E, D D AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HUGE
STRIDE HAS BEEN MAKING TOWARDS
THE COMPLETION OF THE STRIKE
TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS. CAN NOW,
UM THERE ARE NEW PROPOSALS I
BELIEVE IS IN FRONT OF THE
MEMBERS TO TAKE A LOOK. HOW DO
YOU ADDRESS THIS ONCE FOR ALL,
SO NOT JUST TEMPORARY FIXES AS
IN PATCHES. BUT ADDRESSING DD
FROM THE GROUND UP SO PROCESS
IMPROVEMENT, SKILL SET TRAINING
POLICY IMPROVEMENT IN ADDITION
TO TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT, BUT
AT THE BASIS OF THAT TAKING INTO
A CUSTOMER, OR I SHOULD SAY
HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN BECAUSE
YOU D D SIMILAR TO DMV THAT
THEY'RE LOOKING TO HAS TO
SATISFY WHAT THE RESIDENTS
EXPECTATION IS. AND THAT'S WHY
WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO MOVE FROM
THE PRIMARY TECHNOLOGY TO OFFICE
OF A DIGITAL INNOVATION, WHICH
IS A INNOVATION HUB ESTABLISHED
BY THE GOVERNOR. I AM STOOD
ACTING DIRECTOR OF THAT AT THE
MOMENT. THAT'S OUR MAIN FOCUS.
IT'S EVERYTHING WE DO HAVE TO
CENTER AROUND. HOW DO WE IMPROVE
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN DEALING
WITH THE STATE SERVICE? IT'S A
THAT WOULD BE THE FOCUS OF MY
CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE D D
M D M B. THANK YOU. I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR WHOLE
APPROACH RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S THE
TECHNOLOGY PORTION. THE PROCESS
LEAN PROCESSES OPERATIONAL,
WHERE THE STAFF IN TRAINING AND
PEOPLE WILLING TO TAKE THAT ON
THAT. LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT YOU
OBVIOUSLY EXUDE MAY JUST POURS
OUT OF YOU IN THE WAY THAT YOU
RESPONSE. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU
BROUGHT UP AND AGAIN. I'M JUST
GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION. I
DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE
ASSOCIATED WITH YOU. BUT YOU
BROUGHT IT THEN. THE DIGITAL THE
DIGITAL USE IT AS THE YOU SAID,
YOU SAID. YOU SAID AT THE AS THE
DIGITAL INNOVATION, THE DIGITAL
INNOVATION AND YOU ARE NOW
CURRENTLY SITTING AS THE ACTING
DIRECTOR, ACTING DIRECTOR. AND
APPOINTED FOR THIS IS THERE. I
MEAN, I GUESS WHEN YOU DEAL WITH
THE D, D AND ALL THE STUFF THAT
YOU DO WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT,
IF YOU DEAL WITH THE D, D AND D
M V, YOU'RE DEALING WITH VERY
SENSITIVE INFORMATION THAT
BELONGS TO ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS, INDIVIDUALS. THAT
EITHER GO ONLINE OR GO INTO THE
BUILDING TO PROCESS THEIR
DRIVER'S LICENSE. I D S
OBVIOUSLY SO SECURITY NUMBERS
WITH UM, WITH THE DEPARTMENT,
BUT THEN ON THE DRIVING SIDE,
YOU KNOW, DATA BIRDS, ALL THE
THINGS THAT YOU WOULD FILL OUT
WHEN YOU GO TO THE DMV. ALL OF
THIS VERY SENSITIVE SINCE
INFORMATION. IS THERE A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING NOW
VERSUS QUANTUM PHYSICS, THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY THAT'S COMING OUT?
AND WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT? WOW. I PROBABLY WOULD NOT
BE THE BEST TO SPEAK TO THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY. QUANTUM FIX IT
BECAUSE I CAN'T BUT I CAN GIVE
YOU A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW ON
WHAT TECHNOLOGYTHAT WE'RE USING
TODAY. OKAY HUESO OF ENSURING
THAT PRIVACY AND SECURITY
PROTECTION OF THE SENSITIVE DATA
OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE VERY MUCH A
TOP PRIORITY. FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION. UM, WHEN I WAS
WITH DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY
AND OBVIOUSLY STILL ONE OF THE
DEPARTMENT IN GAVA, UM AND EVEN
EVERYDAY I'M EMPHASIZING ON
SECURITY AND PRIVACY, PROTECTION
OF THE PUBLIC ASSETS THAT WE
HAVE. IS UTMOST IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC TRUST
IS BUILT UPON. I HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE BACK AT CTT DIRECTOR,
TOO COLD, LEAD A CALIFORNIA
CYBERSECURITY INTEGRATION CENTER
WITH DIRECTOR MARKKULA DUTY OF
RICK KELLY. YES. AND THAT WAS
ESTABLISHED NOW THINKING BACK A
LITTLE BIT OVER FIVE YEARS AGO,
IT HAS BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL
IN TERM OF LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
NOT ONLY PREVENT CYBERSECURITY
OR THESE TYPE OF FRAUD, I SHOULD
SAY CYBERSECURITY BREACHES AND
GATHER INTELLIGENCE SO ACROSS
THE BOARD WORKING WITH FEDERAL
AND LOCAL ENTITY, INCLUDING THE
STATE SO THAT IF INDEED SOME
UNFORTUNATE EVENT OF BREACHES
HAPPENED, THERE'S A QUICK RAPID
RAPID RESPONSE TEAM TO HELP
BUSINESS TO RESTORE AND THE
FOUNDATION TO ALL OF THAT. IS
WITH KING WITH THE DEPARTMENT
TECHNOLOGY CYBER SECURITY TEAM.
TO CONSTANTLY WORK WITH
DEPARTMENTAL REMIND THEM WHAT WE
CALL SECURITY HYGIENE. THEIR
PRIVACY, HYGIENE AND DATA
DEFINITION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A
GOOD DIFFERENTIATION IS WHAT'S
IMPORTANT WAS LESS IMPORTANT SO
YOU CAN PRIORITIZE THIS
RESOURCES AND PROTECTING THOSE
ARE MOST SENSITIVE DATA. UM AND
THAT IS THE PRACTICE THAT HAS
BEEN IN PLACE WITH A LOT OF
TECHNOLOGY AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, GIVING
CALIFORNIA, SILICON VALLEY.
THERE'S CONSTANT CYBER SECURITY
TASK FORCE INVOLVED TO TRY OUT
DIFFERENT NEW TECHNOLOGY TO SEE
WORK WORK REST IN THE STATE
GOVERNMENT. AND WORK MAY NOT,
FOR EXAMPLE, FACIAL RECOGNITION
WHEN I'M GOING TO GO THERE, UM
THINGS LIKE THAT ARE THE
PROACTIVE AS WELL AS VERY
TACTICAL MEASURE THAT WE HAVE IN
PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC DATA.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING YOUR CONFIRMATION. I
DO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY
THE BEST QUALIFIED PERSON. UH
FOR THIS JOB, AND I APPRECIATE
YOU TAKING IT ON. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SENATOR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, SENATOR GROVE. MADAM
VICE CHAIR. YOU WANT TO GO
AHEAD? BUT WELCOME SECRETARY
TONG AND, UM I'M SO VERY
IMPRESSED WITH THEIR YEARS OF
SERVICE AND HOW YOU'VE MOVED UP
THE LINE, AND NOW YOU HAVE A
RATHER HUGE JOB IN GOVERNMENT
JOBS WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT ALL
THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT YOU
ARE OVER, IT'S PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT. SO I PROBABLY HAVE
MAYBE THE SIMPLEST QUESTION
YOU'RE GOING TO GET. I AM VERY
BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
EXCESS STATE PROPERTY FOR
HOUSING DVELOPMENT AND HOMELESS
SHELTER IN WHEN I'M DIRECTOR LAW
. SO WAS HERE IN FEBRUARY ON
TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IDENTIFY THAT
EXCESS STATE PROPERTY SO WE CAN
GET IT OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY
PROVIDE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD THAT
HOUSING THAT IS SO DEFICIT IN
OUR STATE. HAND I THINK AT THAT
TIME THEY MENTIONED ABOUT 92
PROPERTIES WERE AVAILABLE, AND
AT THE MOMENT THERE ARE 73
PROPERTIES THAT ARE STILL LEFT
FOR CONSIDERATION. AND I BELIEVE
THE AUDITOR TOOK A LOOK AT IT
AND SAID, WE HAD MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS SINCE 2019 HOW WAS 73
LEFT, AND IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT
SEVEN YEARS TO MOVE THOSE
FORWARD AND KNOWING YOUR
COMMITMENT TO YOU KNOW, MAKING
THE PROCESS WORK BETTER ON SOME
IDEAS YOU HAVE THAT MIGHT BE
ABLE TO REALLY EXPEDITE THOSE
WOULD BE SO VERY IMPORTANT FOR
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OUR
STATE TO MEET THE GOALS THAT WE
HAVE OUR FOR REGIONAL HOUSING
NEEDS AND THOSE PROPERTIES, IF
THEY'RE AVAILABLE CAN IS THERE A
WAY WE CAN EXPEDITE THEM. AND
HAVE YOU HAD ANY TIME TO EVEN
LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU VICE
CHAIR FOR THAT I WOULD HAVE TO
SAY BEING, YOU KNOW FAIRLY NEW
TO THIS ROLE. UM I PROBABLY
HAVEN'T DEALT THAT INTO THAT AS
MUCH AS I SHOULD BEEN. HOWEVER I
KNOW I HAVE BEEN IN THE
CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTORAL
ALSO, WHO APPEARED IN FRONT OF
YOU ARE JUST NOT TOO LONG AGO,
AND THIS IS ON TOP OF HER
AGENDA. TO WORK THROUGH AS I
BECOME MORE SUBTLE IN MY NEW
ROLE RECENTLY, YOU KNOW THAT THE
CABINET EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION
. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY
COLLEAGUE OVER AT B. C S. H. TO
TAKE A LOOK. ALL THE HOUSING
NEEDS AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS
WITH THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUES IN
CALIFORNIA. AND WHAT CAN WE DO
AS THE MINISTRATIONS TO NOT ONLY
WORK IN A STATE LEVEL, BUT AS
YOU MENTIONED PARTNERING WITH
LOCAL ENTITY A LOT CLOSER. TO
FIND SOLUTION AND FOR THOSE
HOUSING THAT ARE EXCESSES YOU
MENTIONED I READ THE AUDITOR'S
REPORT UNDERSTAND THE BASED ON
THE CURRENT PEACE IS GOING TO
TAKE MUCH, MUCH LONGER TIME.
HOWEVER I DO HAVE THE COMMITMENT
FROM A DIRECTOR LAW SO AS WELL
AS MY SUPPORT FOR HER TO JUST
KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TURN EVERY
ROCK OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT WE
CAN DO TO STREAMLINE THAT. SO I
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITY, PROBABLY
IN THE FUTURE TO COME BACK,
PERHAPS WITH A LOT MORE IDEAS
AND SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS
PRESENTED THE GREAT WE WILL BE
GREAT TO HEAR THAT THE AUDITOR
DID MENTION A NUMBER OF
LEGISLATIVE FIXES THAT MIGHT BE
NECESSARY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
CAN FALL. YOU KNOW, IN OUR
PURVIEW AND SOMETHING I THINK
WE'D ALL BE VERY INTERESTED. IF
THAT WILL HELP. MOVE THIS ALONG
AND MOVE THAT TIMELINE OR
RAPIDLY. IT WILL BE VERY
IMPORTANT SO WELL, HAVE YOU
CHECKING BACK WITH US? OR
PERHAPS ON THIS LAST HOLE
BECAUSE THAT FOR MY PARTICULAR
DISTRICT IS A HUGE ISSUE. WE
HAVE MANY ENCOUNTER MINTS. WE
HAVE A MAJOR PROGRAM THAT WE'RE
HOPING TO IMPLEMENT IT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. SPORT
ADDRESSING HOMELESS, A
CALIFORNIA CARE COURT AND ALL OF
THAT THAT'S BECOMING FORWARD SO
HAVING PROPERTIES LIKE THIS
AVAILABLE VERY FUNDAMENTAL TO
MEETING THOSE GOALS AND MAKING
HOPEFULLY HAVING CALIFORNIA LEAD
THE WAY IN ENDING OUR HOMELESS
PROBLEM, SO JUST LAY THAT ON ON
ALL THE OTHER THINGS ON YOUR TO
DO LIST, BUT YOU SEEM SO VERY,
VERY CONFIDENT. IN THE WAY OF
YOU HAVE ADDRESSED MANY OF THE
OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP
IN AND QUESTIONS SO YOU WILL
HAVE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR YOUR
CONFIRMATION AND AGAIN. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION
OVER ALL THESE YEARS TO PUBLIC
SERVICE. THANK YOU. YOU, MADAM
VICE. THANK YOU, MADAM. VICE
CHAIR, SENATOR KAMLAGER. THANK
YOU, MADAM PRO TEM AND GOOD TO
SEE YOU. UM AND STRUGGLING HERE
WITH THE LIGHTS BECAUSE OF MY
EYES, BUT AND WHAT'S WANNA
APPLAUD YOU AND I TO WAS IT?
WARMING TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT YOU
KNOW, FAILURE IS ALSO PART OF
SUCCESS, AND IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SERVANTS
, PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE
WILLING TO BE VULNERABLE. AND
THAT SEE IT AS PART OF THIS
GREATER LINK TO REALLY ALSO HELP
INFORM CONSTITUENTS HOW
GOVERNMENT CAN BE A PROBLEM
SOLVER RATHER THAN A PROBLEM.
CREATOR AND YOU HAVE THE
LEARNING LESSONS IN THE BUILDING
BLOCKS THAT WE HAVE COME FROM
SNAFUS AND MISTAKES AND
FAILURES. BECAUSE THOSE ARE
THAT'S THE MUSCLE THAT WE NEED
TO HELP US. FIGURE OUT. HOW TO
MAKE THINGS WORK, SO I'M JUST
GRATEFUL THAT YOU SAY THAT
BECAUSE I SAY THAT A LOT. UM YOU
KNOW WHERE I AM AND IN MY HOME
AND IN MY OFFICE, UM, WAS
EXCITED FOR US TO GET A CHANCE
TO TALK AND THIS DEPARTMENT OF
DIGITAL INNOVATION AND WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN UM, HELP DIFFERENT
AGENCIES OPTIMIZE THEIR
PROCESSES. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT, UM THE STATE IS
ON PAR WITH HOW CALIFORNIANS ARE
OPERATING RIGHT HOW THEY'RE
WORKING AND HOW THEY'RE
INNOVATING AND HOW THEIR
ENTREPRENEURIAL IN. CAN I MAKE
THAT A VERB AND ACTIVE VERB? UM
AND ALSO HOW THEY INTERACT WITH
US, AND SO, UM, WOULD LOVE IT.
IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE SHARE A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU
SEE. HAS THE VISION BEHIND THAT
PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT IN WAYS IN
WHICH IT CAN PROPEL SO MANY OF
ITS PARTNERS, YOU KNOW INTO, UM
DEEPER INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU, SENATOR
FOR THAT. SO CURRENTLY THE
OFFICE OF DIGITAL INNOVATION
ACTUALLY IS IT'S LITERALLY IN
THE PROCESS AS PART OF THE MAIN
REVISION WILL BE BECOMING OFFICE
OF DATA AND INNOVATION. AND THAT
WAS PROMPTED BY THE FACT THAT,
UM MAIN LEAD IN THE PAST TWO
YEARS OF A COVID RESPONSE, WHILE
INNOVATION ON THE DIGITAL SIDE
IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SURE
INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED TO
THE FASTEST ROUTE AS POSSIBLE AS
WELL AS YOU KNOW, IN IN IN IN
THE WAY OF SHARING THE DATA THAT
PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT'S TRANSFORMING OR IS
DOING THROUGH DASHBOARDS AND
LOTS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND
THE WEBSITE AND ALL THAT. IT WAS
ALSO VIVID IN TO SEE THAT THERE
IS A POPULATION THAT ARE
AFFECTED BY DIGITAL DIVIDE. AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN I JOINED
THE ORGANIZATION BACK IN JANUARY
, AND I'M CONTINUING TO
CHAMPIONING THAT IS THAT NUMBER
ONE IN ORDER FOR THIS
ORGANIZATION TO HELP OTHER 150.
YOU KNOW, STATE ENTITY TO REALLY
IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TO
RESIDENT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
THAT INNOVATION COMES IN
MULTIPLE FORMS DIGITAL OR NOT.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE OFFICE
NUMBER ONE IS GOING TO BE IN THE
MAIN REVISION, BECOMING A DATA
AND INNOVATION SO THAT THE
INNOVATION BASED ON THE DATA
DRIVEN APPROACH. SO THAT IT
COULD BE A LOT MORE THOUGHTFUL
AT THE SAME TIME USING DATA AS A
CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT TO SEE
WHETHER THOSE IMPROVEMENTS
ACTUALLY MADE AN IMPACT. SECOND
TO THAT I WANT I WANTED TO SHARE
IS THAT AS A, UM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH THE
TEAM OF OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS
IN THIS OFFICE, WE REALIZED THAT
BYE. REACHING OUT THE DEPARTMENT
ALONE TO SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO
IMPROVE YOUR PROCESS IS PROBABLY
NOT GOING TO GO VERY FAR. BUT BY
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND
BRINGING TO SAY AT THE END OF
THE DAY OR GO HERE IS THE BEST
OF SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS OR ARE
RESIDENTS THEN WE NEED TO BRING
THAT FEEDBACK FROM OUR RESIDENTS
BACK TO THE HUMAN CENTERED
DESIGN APPROACH. TO SEE WHAT IS
WORKING. WHAT IS NOT WORKING,
AND FOR THOSE NOT WORKING IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT SO
THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT CRITICISM OF
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. BUT
IT'S PENDING A PICTURE. THAT
WHERE THE AREA OF IMPROVEMENT
THAT ARE LAID IN FRONT OF YOU,
AND THEN WITH THE CONSTANT
FEEDBACK INTERACTION WITH OUR
RESIDENTS, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING
TO DRIVE CHANGE. AND LASTLY, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT THE OFFICE OF
A DIGITAL INNOVATION OR SOON TO
BE OFFICE OF DATA IN INNOVATION,
WE ARE GOING TO TAP INTO THE
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OF
CALIFORNIA. THERE'S SO MANY
BUSINESS SO MANY ENTITIES
LARGER, SMALL THAT JUST WANT TO
GET INVOLVED AND HELP THE
GOVERNMENT TO BE ALL WE CAN BE.
AND AS MANY HAVE SEEN THE LAST
TWO YEARS THAT IT'S BEEN
INCREDIBLE WORK. AND SO MANY OF
THEM ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS TO
SAY, HEY, WE WILL NEED TO COME
AND GIVE YOU IDEA. TRY DIFFERENT
CONCEPTS, PILOT DIFFERENT THINGS
IN THE STATE SO THAT YOU KNOW
THE STATE IS NOT ALWAYS SITTING
ON THE SIDELINE TO SEE. YOU KNOW
WHAT'S BECOMING AVAILABLE TO US,
BUT BEING PART OF THAT SOLUTION
, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I
INTENDED TO DO WITH THIS OFFICE
OF DATA AND INNOVATION, MOVING
FORWARD TO CREATETHOSE
INNOVATION, ROUNDTABLES. SO OUR
INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE A PLATFORM
TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. WELL
GOOD FOR YOU. I SAW IT IN MY
BUDGET COMMITTEE AND HAD SO MANY
QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO THOUGHT IT
WAS REALLY GREAT APPROACH
INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE, SO I'LL
BE ROOTING FOR YOU. MY LAST
QUESTION IS JUST ASKED TO DO
WITH, UM, A THE BLOCKCHAIN
WORKING GROUP AND BE THE
GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON
CRYPTO OR DIGITAL CURRENCY. UM,
YOU TALKED ABOUT. ENTREPRENEURS
AND INNOVATION AND MOVING INTO
THE DIGITAL AGE AND NOTICE THAT
THIS WILL ALSO BE UNDER YOUR
PURVIEW AND JUST WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU CURRENTLY
SEE FOR THE USE OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES BY THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. YES UM, SO COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO IS WHEN THE BLOCKCHAIN
WORK GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED AND
RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF COVID YEAR
2020 REPORT WAS PUBLISHED IN
TERM OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND
THE BOUNDARY IF YOU WOULD ON
TESTING OUT BLOCKCHAIN USE CASE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA NOW
THAT THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
PREDOMINANTLY ON CRYPTOCURRENCY
IS DIGITAL ASSET. BLOCKCHAIN WAS
ALSO MENTIONED IN THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER SPECIFIC TO COVER UPS ROLE
AND WHERE THAT IT WAS SPELLED
OUT THAT GOVERNMENT AGENCY AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE WOULD BE MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE REQUEST FOR
INNOVATIVE IDEA WE CALL RFE
SQUARE. AS A WAY OF ENGAGING
WITH INDUSTRY. TO TAKE A LOOK
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE
THAT IT'S A GOOD PILOT CASE TO
APPLY TO STATE. AND I HAVE HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH MY COLLEAGUES
IN THE CABINET TO SEE WHETHER
YOU KNOW, FOOD SAFETY IS ONE OF
THOSE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY IT OUT
. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING
FORWARD, AND I'M VERY INTERESTED
TO HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY AND
PARTNER AWAY WITH THEM MOVING
FORWARD. WELL ME TOO. AND UM, TO
LIKE MY COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT. I
WANT TO ADD TO YOUR LIST, UM,
WITH DGS. AH A PROPERTY THAT I
HAVE IN MY DISTRICT ON 54TH AND
CRENSHAW. IT WAS NEEDED BUILDING
THAT WAS LITIGATION GOING ON FOR
A NUMBER OF YEARS, WE THE STATE
WAS ABLE TO FINALLY REST LIT
BACK AND IT HAS. I THINK MOVED
FROM THE G S TWO E D D NOW, BUT
NOT IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND IT'S A
PARCEL THAT MY DISTRICT IS
DESPERATELY WANTING TO REOPEN
SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE
KINDS OF SERVICES AND TO BE ABLE
TO CO LOCATE WITH OTHER SERVICES
THAT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE ONE. STATE. UM
FACILITY. IN MY DISTRICT. AH AND
THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS IN SOUTH L
A. AND NOW IT'S GONE, AND SO THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN YEARNING FOR
YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, SO
EVERY TIME I CAN GO ON RECORD TO
TELL PEOPLE THAT I AM STILL
WORKING TO GET THIS FACILITY
REOPENED IN THE WAY THAT THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS I WILL TAKE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO
BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU FOR
YOUR CONFIRMATION AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. AND FOR YOUR
SERVICE. THANK YOU, SENATOR.
THANK YOU, SENATOR KAMLAGER. AND
LET ME JUST CONFIRM THAT IS
TRUE. IN THIS VERY COMMITTEE
ALONE. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR SITE A NUMBER OF
TIMES SO WE WILL BE THRILLED
WHEN OUR COLLEAGUE HAS THAT
OPPORTUNITY. I MEAN THAT, IN ALL
SINCERITY, I KNOW WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY. UM I
WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUES. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
YOU HERE. IT'S GREAT THAT YOUR
DAUGHTER IS HERE TO SEE YOU IN
ACTION, AND I SEND MY BEST TO
YOUR FAMILY WHO ARE WATCHING.
YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND POSITIVITY
THAT YOU BRING IN YOUR OPENING
COMMENTS ARE REALLY EVIDENT AND
YOU KNOW, I FOCUSED ON A COUPLE
OF THINGS YOU SAID YOU MENTIONED
BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT MORE THAN
ONCE IN YOUR OPENING COMMENTS,
WHICH I REALLY APPLAUD BECAUSE I
THINK THAT IS THE HIGHEST
OPPORTUNITY THAT THOSE OF US IN
THIS WORLD HAVE AND BRING IN
YOUR TALENTS TO GOVERNMENT IS
CERTAINLY NEEDED BECAUSE WHEN I
LOOK AT THE LONG LIST OF
DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU OVERSEE
THEIR CRITICAL ON THE GROUND.
SOME MIGHT LOOK AT HIM AND SAY
THERE'S NOT A LOT SEXY ABOUT
THIS LIST. BUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR
THIS LIST, I'M NOT SURE OUR
FOUNDATION WOULD WORK AND THIS
INCREDIBLY LARGE AND COMPLEX
STATE I WANT TO ASK A FIRST
GENERAL QUESTION. I'M JUST
INTRIGUED WITH ALL THAT YOU THE
RESPONSIBILITY YOU HAVE. I'M
JUST CURIOUS OF THE LIST OF
THINGS THAT YOU OVERSEE. WHAT
ARE THE AND WITH NO DISRESPECT
TO ANY TOPIC OR ITEMS. WHAT
KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT? WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THIS LIST OF THINGS THAT
YOU HAVE SUCH RESPONSIBILITY FOR
WOW. UM. THAT IS DEFINITELY A
VERY, UM, HAD INSIGHTFUL
QUESTION TO ASK, GIVING THAT THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO
GROW. AND IF I COULD ALSO ADD TO
THAT CHAIR ATKINS THE FACT THAT
THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND IT'S
FAIRLY UNIQUE IN A WAY THAT IT
OVERSEES THE 12TH DEPARTMENT OF
13 DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE ARE
REPRESENTING DIFFERENT AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY TO THERE'S
RANGING FROM REVENUE TO PENSION
TO THREE CONTROL AGENCY AS WELL
AS VICTIMS CALM AND YOU KNOW YOU
NAME IT. SO THAT WAS THE FIRST
THING WHEN I WALK INTO THIS
ROLE, I MEAN, LIKE, WHERE AM I
GONNA FOCUSING ON? IF I FOCUS ON
EVERYTHING, I'M SIMPLY GOING TO
SPREAD MYSELF, YOU KNOW, WAY TOO
THIN, RIGHT? AND THE NEXT
QUESTION IS WHAT IS IT THAT
KEEPING ME UP AT NIGHT THAT I
NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO SO I
WOULD SAY AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
QUITE FRANKLY, UM, CYBERSECURITY
IS AN AREA THAT I'M GOING TO BE
CONTINUED PAYING A LOT OF
ATTENTION. T ESPECIALLY GIVING
THE GEOPOLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, UM,
THAT AND TWO YEARS OUT OF
TELEWORKERS SETTING THAT WAS
TRANSITIONED VERY, VERY FAST. UM
AND THEN RECENTLY, ALL OF THE
FRAUD THAT'S GOING ON.
UNFORTUNATELY THE BACK ACTOR
TAKING OPPORTUNITY OF THIS I
FEEL LIKE ANYTHING RELATED TO A
DIGITAL SERVICES. THAT WE NEED
TO STEP UP OUR GAME TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DON'T FALL BEHIND. UM
YOU KNOW, IT WENT WHEN COMPARED
TO WHEN COMPETING WITH THESE
BACK ACTORS ON WHAT THEY CAN
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PUBLIC
PUBLIC SERVICES OUT THERE. SO
THAT AREA IS GOING TO CONTINUE
TO BE MY MAJOR FOCUS. THE OTHER
PART THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME OR
KEEPING ME AT NIGHT AS I
MENTIONED WITH A COMPETITIVE JOB
MARKET AND THE HIGH VACANCY RATE
OF THE STATE AT THE MOMENT, AND
A LOT OF PEOPLE FEELING BURNT
OUT AND RETIRE FROM TWO YEARS OF
COVID RESPONSE. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE STATE WORKFORCE FEEL
THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED THAT
THERE IS A ASSUMED TO CALL IT. I
DON'T KNOW IF RESET IS THE RIGHT
WORD. BUT THERE'S HOPE THERE IS
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL,
AND THERE IS A REGENERATION OF
ENERGY ON WHAT WE NEED TO COME
AND FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR NEXT
GENERATION OF WORKFORCE LOOK
LIKE. IT'S NOT SO MUCH IT'S A
VULNERABILITY PER SE, BUT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE IN
ORDER FOR THE STATE TO CONTINUE
TO TRANSFORM AND DELIVER. WE'VE
GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY
, AND THAT IS MY PRIMARY FOCUS
IN GOVERNMENT AGENCY. WELL,
THANK YOU REALLY INSIGHTFUL. I
I'M PRETTY SURE WHEN SOMEONE
ASKED ME WHAT ARE MY TOP
PRIORITIES? I'M LIKE, I DON'T
JUST HAVE ONE OR TWO OR I, BUT
TO YOUR POINT. I THOUGHT THOSE
WERE REALLY CYBER SECURITY WAS
TOP OF MY LIST, AND SO I GIVE
MYSELF AN A FOR HAVING THE RIGHT
ANSWER, AS OPPOSED TO THE
REVERSE. UM YEAH, I, UM I WANTED
TO ASK YOU, UM, GIVEN THE ROLL
OUT OF BROADBAND, UM, JUST HOW
YOU THINK IT'S GOING? I KNOW AT
THIS POINT, I THINK OUR STAFF
TELL US YOU KNOW THE INITIAL
PROJECTS TOTAL MORE THAN 850
MILES. YOU KNOW, JUST AN UPDATE
ON HOW YOU THINK WHAT YOU THINK
THE NEXT STEPS ARE AT THIS
POINT. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT
THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM
QUITE PASSIONATE ABOUT. AND AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, THE VERY
REASON I WAS EVEN SUGGEST
DROPPING TOWARD DIGITAL FROM THE
OFFICE OF THE JOINT NOVATION IS
I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND AND THE
COVER RESPONSE. HOW NEGATIVE
IMPACTED THOSE THAT ARE, YOU
KNOW THAT THAT FACING DIGITAL
DIVIDE? THAT'S WHY. WHEN SB 1 56
WAS PASSED WITH SUPPORT THE
GOVERNOR ENDED AND THE
LEGISLATURE WE WERE SO THRILLED
THAT CALIFORNIA IS MAKING A
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS. $6 BILLION
I'M BUILDING AN OPEN ACCESS
MIDDLE OF MY OWN NETWORK COUPLE
WITH LAST MILE THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FIGHT BY SCP C.
SPECIFICALLY ON THE MIDDLE OF MY
OWN NETWORK. UM THERE HAS BEEN A
MONTHLY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
THAT IN A PUBLIC SETTING. BOTH
SENATOR MCGUIRE AND SENATOR
GONZALEZ ARE ON THE PANEL, ALONG
WITH TWO I SUPPOSE SIMPLY MEMBER
WOODS AND ASSEMBLY QUIRK-SILVA.
THE PROGRESS, I WOULD SAY IS HOW
DO I DESCRIBE IT? WE ARE FLYING
THE PLANE. WHY ARE BUILDING IT?
BECAUSE OF THE TIME PRESSURE
FROM THE FUNDING THE FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN IS EXCITING. IS
SCARY AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY BEHIND THIS, UM
CHAIR. ATKINS. IF YOU HAVE A FEW
MINUTES ONE OF THESE STATES TO
SPEND THE TIME TO WATCH THE
PUBLIC MEETING IT WAS JUST SO
INFECTIOUS ON HOW PEOPLE ARE
DEDICATED TO MAKING THIS WORK.
UM THE PROGRESS THAT ENTIRE
STATEWIDE MAP HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THERE HAS
BEEN INITIAL 18 PROJECT FROM THE
ENTIRE STATE THAT HAVE ALREADY
LAUNCHED AT THE END OF LAST
YEAR. AS A WAY OF TRYING OUT
TAKING THE PILOT APPROACH. WE
CAN LEARN FROM SOMETHING SMALL
AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THERE
IS GOING TO ATTRIBUTE TO WHAT
WE'RE GOING FORWARD. THE
COLLABORATION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF COW TREND, WHICH
HEAR MORE FROM NEXT OF
APPOINTEES AS WELL AS CPUC. AND
THE INDUSTRY TO LOOKING FOR
WASTE. AND NOT, PERHAPS NOT.
EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE BUILT
FROM FROM GROWL. MAYBE WE CAN
PARTNER WITH INDUSTRY TO LEASE
SOME OF THE LINES ARE THOSE
CREATIVE THINKING. TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN STRETCH OUR DOLLAR
FURTHER OUT SO THAT MORE MILEAGE
CAN BE COVERED. MORE MILEAGE CAN
BE EXTENDED, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE
WORLD COMMUNITY. AND ALL OF
THOSE EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THOSE
CONNECTIVITY EVERY HOME POSSIBLE
IN CALIFORNIA. WELL THANK YOU.
THAT WAS THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE
50,000 FT. RESPONSE TO I MEAN, I
THINK OUR BIGGEST FEAR AS WE
WERE DOING. THIS IS THE
IMPLEMENTATION IN A STATE OF OUR
SIZE. WHEN YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS WITH DIFFERENT, UM
MANDATES THE IMPLEMENTATION, SO
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS
ON THAT AND YOUR INTEREST. YOU
KNOW WHEN I THINK OF IT AND LOOK
AT ONE OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
DEPARTMENT OF FISCAL, WHICH HAS
BEEN A LONG ROAD TO TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT SO I APPRECIATE THAT,
AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE
DOING A LOT OF CHECK IN
OVERSIGHT. MOSTLY TO FIND OUT
HOW THINGS ARE GOING. TO GET AS
MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THAT SIX
BILLION YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE
ONE LAST QUESTION. UM I MEAN, IT
MAY BE THE TOUGHEST ONE FOR YOU,
TOO. THREAD THIS NEEDLE. BUT UM
, YOU KNOW, WE, UM DURING THE
PANDEMIC WITH THE RESOURCES WE
HAD IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
TO PROVIDE STIMULUS FOR FOLKS.
UM YOU KNOW, I HEAR AND I THIS
MAY FLOW THROUGH ONE OF YOUR
DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN TERMS OF
CHECKS GETTING TO PEOPLE THAT
THAT'S STILL CHECKS HAVE NOT
GOTTEN TO PEOPLE FROM STIMULUS
FROM A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, SO
OUR SYSTEMS OBVIOUSLY I NEED
WORK. WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE
CRISIS OF THIS SIZE, MUCH LIKE
WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE CRISIS
THAT HIT ENDED IN TERMS OF THE
VOLUME THAT WE COULD CONTROL AND
HANDLE THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS,
ETCETERA, ETCETERA. BUT, UM. I
WONDER IF WE ARE HAVING BROAD
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET
MORE STIMULUS OR OUR REBATE IF
YOU WILL TO PEOPLE AND WE HAVE
DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO HOW WE
THINK THAT COULD BE HANDLED. IF
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, A
PROPOSAL OUT OF ONE ARENA OF
GOVERNMENT FOR THE F T B AND THE
TAX BOARD TO GET REBATES OUT
ANOTHER THROUGH DMV, ANOTHER. I
DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT SYSTEM IT
IS TO GET RESOURCES TO PEOPLE
WHO NEED IT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW
WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT CAN DO IT.
AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A
SYSTEM THAT COULD DO THAT?
SHOULD WE WANT TO GET MONEY TO
RATEPAYERS OR TAXPAYERS OR
CONSTITUENTS. I WOULD SAY IT IS
THE FRANCHISE TEXT BOARD IS WHO
ARE TASKED WITH THE GOLDEN STATE
STATE SIMILAR LIST CHECK AND I
HAD A CONVERSATION WITH
EXECUTIVE OFFICER SALVI
STANISLAW ABOUT THIS. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS
IT'S LIKE MANY THINGS THAT WE DO
AT THE BEGINNING WHEN YOU HAVE
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO OUR
RESIDENTS, CHECKS WERE ABLE TO
GO OUT. BUT THEN YOU HAVE A LONG
TAIL. THAT ARE SMALLER
PERCENTAGE, BUT IT IS BEING
STRETCHED LAW FOR THOSE THAT ARE
PERHAPS HAVING COMPLETE
INFORMATION OR DUPLICATE
INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO
TAKE THE TIME IT TOOK TO SORT
OUT TO CLEAN UP SO THE CHECKS
GOES TO THE RIGHT ACCOUNT AND
THAT WAS GOING ON. THAT WAS
STATE STIMULUS. LEARNING FROM
THAT EXPERIENCE, AND ALL THIS IS
GREAT CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING
ON AT THE MOMENT, LED BY
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ABOUT THE
DON'T KNOW WHERE WE LANDED IN
THE TURN THE GUESTS REBATE OR
THE TAX REBATE AND ONE OF THOSE
AND THE VERY CONSIDERATION THAT
HAD BEEN EXPLORED IS
OPERATIONALLY. HOW DO YOU GET?
YOU KNOW AT THE QUICKEST
POSSIBLE TO THE BIGGEST
POPULATION POSSIBLE OF THIS
REBATE? IF YOU WOULD. ONE OF THE
BEAUTY THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON
NOW IS PERHAPS YOU KNOW, A
SINGLE SYSTEM MAY NOT BE THE
ANSWER. WE WANTED TO COLLABORATE
WITH ALL OF THE BEST OPTION IN
MIND WITHIN THE MINISTRATIONS TO
TAKE A LOOK. HOW DO WE UTILIZE
ALL THE RESOURCES POSSIBLE TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN? AND I THINK
THAT'S WHERE THE ROLE OF BOB IS
PLAYING IS BEING THE FACILITATOR
TO BRING IN THE BEST OPTION TO
COLLABORATE AMONGST DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN
PRESENT THE BEST FOOT FORWARD.
HOW TO REACH THAT GOAL. THANK
YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THAT. I KNOW. WE
TOSS A LOT AT THESE DEPARTMENTS
TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
SO. UM I THINK I AGREE
WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I DON'T THINK I
KNOW I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH
MY COLLEAGUES. YOU HAVE THE
INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE TO DO THIS
AND TO LEAD THIS. AND I THINK
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE
SUCH A PUBLIC SERVANT. UM I
THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO. UM UH,
TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND I
SHOULD HAVE SAID WHILE SENATOR
LAIRD HAS TO GO TO LABOR SENATOR
GROVE ALSO HAS HEALTH COMMITTEE
AND YOU MAY AS WELL OKAY. WE'VE
GOT HARDWORKING SENATORS HERE. I
WILL JUST SAY THAT WITH, UM
HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES
. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
WITNESSES WHO MAY BE HERE IN
SUPPORT. IN ROOM 2200. AND SO
I'M GOING TO SEE IF PEOPLE WOULD
LIKE TO STEP FORWARD AND I WOULD
ASK YOU RESPECTFULLY TO KEEP THE
DISTANCE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW
SOME OF OUR PROTOCOLS AND GIVE
ME YOUR NAME. YOUR ORGANIZATION
, IF ANY, AND VERY BRIEF
COMMENTS WELCOME GOOD AFTERNOON
PRO TIM. HACKEN SENATORS COULD
AFTERNOON MY NAME IS DEAN RAFAEL
Ó. ON BEHALF OF JOHNSON
CONTROLS WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
APPOINTMENT. FOR SECRETARY TOM
AND ASK YOUR I VOTE FOR
CONFIRMATION ON A PERSONAL NOTE.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING
AMY FOR OVER A DECADE FIRST WHEN
SHE WAS A KEY LEADER OF A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. AND THEN
MORE RECENTLY, WHEN I WAS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
SHE DIDN'T HESITATE. SHOW ME THE
ROPES. BEING A NEW DIRECTOR. HE
WAS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY. I MENTIONED THIS TO
UNDERSCORE WHAT MANY OF YOU
ALREADY KNOW ABOUT AMY. AT HER
CORE. SHE IS DRIVEN BY SERVICE
TO THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICE TO
THE PUBLIC VALUES THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO BEST GUIDE HER AS
SECRETARY. AGAIN WE'RE IN FULL
SUPPORT OF HER CONFIRMATION. AND
ASK THAT YOU VOTE I TODAY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM PRO TEM AND
MEMBERS KATE BELL HERE AND
STRONG SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF
GOOGLE CLOUD. I'D ME WALTER
NETWORKS AND VM WARE URGE YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NEXT
WITNESS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR MARTIN NORIEGA WITH
ACCENTURE HERE IN SACRAMENTO. I
TOO AM IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
SECRETARY TONGUES CONFIRMATION
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STATE
FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, AND MANY
OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH AMY AND HER
VARIOUS ROLES. I WORK DIRECTLY
WITH AMY ON THE PANDEMIC AND
RESPONSE TEAM, AND IT WAS HER
LEADERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY DROVE
US THROUGH THAT WALL. IT WAS A
TRYING AND DIFFICULT PROGRESS
PROGRAM TO OPERATE. AND AMY WAS
THERE AT THE FRONT OF THAT
PACKED LEADING US ALL. AND SO I
REALLY AM STRONGLY SUPPORTING
HER CONFIRMATION AND I VOTE FOR
OF ALL OF THE SENATORS ON THE
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS STEVENSON LAWSON AND I'M
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASIAN
PACIFIC STATE EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION OR UPSET. ABSOLUTELY
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT
IS DEDICATED TO EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF
ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS IMPLIED
EMPLOYED BY THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. I'M HERE THIS
AFTERNOON ON BEHALF OF UPSET TO
OFFER OUR SUPPORT. STRONG
SUPPORT FOR SECRETARY AMY
TONGUE. SECURITY TONGS THAT
RECOGNIZED LEADER WITHIN THE
STATE GOVERNMENT WITH MORE THAN
25 YEARS OF STATE SERVICE,
SERVING SIX STATE ORGANIZATIONS
AND PETITIONS OF INCREASING
LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY.
WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD THAT
MISS TANG, BEING A FIRST
GENERATION IMMIGRANT WHO ARRIVED
IN THIS COUNTRY AS A TEENAGER TO
DEDICATE HER LIFE TO PUBLIC
SERVICE BECAUSE OF HER IMMENSE
GRATITUDE TO THE PUBLIC
SERVICES. THAT HELPED HER FAMILY
SURVIVED AND FLOURISHED IN THIS
COUNTRY AS NEW CITIZENS, AMY'S
MURDER SUSPECTED LEADER IN THE
API COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE OF WORK.
SHE VOLUNTEERS THE TIME WITH
UPSET AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS. SHE CONTINUES TO
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND THE
NEXT GENERATION OF CIVIL SERVANT
LEADERS THROUGH HER CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL WORK. HER
LIFE STORY, CAREER SUCCESS AND
DEDICATION REFLECT THE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUES. OF HOW
DIVERSITY ENRICHES THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. CONSIDERING THE
DEPARTURES OF DAVID KIM, FORMER
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND
JULIE SU, FORMER LABOR
SECRETARY. IF CONFIRMED, THIS
TONG WILL BE THE ONLY ASIAN
AMERICANS SERVING AS A MEMBER OF
THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO THE SENATE RULES
COMMITTEE'S UNANIMOUS
CONFIRMATION OF MS TONGUES
APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. NEXT WITNESS WELCOME.
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS YK
CHALLENGE. CHARLA WAKING WAIT.
OKAY, IT'S TECHNOLOGY AND THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FROM CITY
ARE FALSE. UM AND I KNOW AMY
TONG THROUGH THE STATE SERVICE
AND I HAVE SEEN HER GROWING UP
THROUGH HER RANKS THROUGH HER
HARD WORK, DEMONSTRATING WHAT IS
RIGHT FOR POWER TO STATE WHICH
DEPARTMENT EACH DEPARTMENT SO
SHE WILL BE THE GREAT SECRETARY
UNDER TECHNOLOGIES BECOMING
NOWADAYS INTEGRAL PART OF THE.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE. IT IS SUCH A
CRITICAL, YOU KNOW, STATE WE ARE
. WE NEED A TECHNOLOGIST LEADING
TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS. WE SUPPORT BEING A
TECHNOLOGIES AND ANNOYING OUR
LEGACY SYSTEMS AND MISS STRONG
WAS MENTIONING ABOUT THE EDITED
AND, UM ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD
TECHNOLOGIES. THEY WERE BUILT
FOR 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE, BUT
THEY'RE SERVING 14 MILLION
PEOPLE. SO THIS IS WHERE I THINK
THE TECHNOLOGY GO UP. SECRETARY
IS GOING TO PUT THAT VISION. NO
SECRETARY BEFORE I BELIEVE IN
RECENT PAST WAS THAT BACKGROUND
SO I FULLY SUPPORT EVEN THOUGH
I'M A LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS MY
DMV IN CITY OF FALSE, UM, IS
GOING TO BE BETTER SOLD FOR MY
LOCAL CONSTITUENTS THROUGH THE
GO UP SECRETARIES APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ALL THE
SENATORS TWO, PLEASE. BUT YES,
AMY TONGS, CONFORMATION. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WELCOME
MY NAME IS ROBBIE AVALON AND
FORMERLY WAS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF
STATE AND DISTRICT DIRECTOR IN
THE LEGISLATURE. BUT I WANT TO
GO BACK TO 16 YEARS AGO WHEN I
MET AMY AS A STUDENT AT
SACRAMENTO STATE, AND SHE
INVITED ME TO COME JOIN THIS
FORUM WHERE PEOPLE WOULD HEAR
ABOUT CANDIDATES IN ELECTIONS
FROM 2006 ELECTION AND IT
SPARKED SOMETHING IN ME TO I
WANT TO MAKE A CAREER INTO IT IN
FIVE YEARS LATER, WE'RE ABLE TO
CONNECT WITH AMY, AND SHE HELPED
PLACE INTERNS WHO ARE KIND OF
SIMILAR TO WHEN I WAS A STUDENT
. AND FOR FOUR YEARS WE WERE
ABLE TO GET ROUGHLY 10 STUDENTS
TO SEE PUBLIC SERVICE FIRSTHAND
, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE ALSO
MADE THE JUMP INTO PUBLIC
SERVICE. SO ANYONE. THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE
DONE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE
THE CONFIRMATION TODAY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WITNESS.
WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
PRO TEM AND SENATORS. MY NAME IS
ROB GROSS CLOUSER, AND IT'S A
PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY AND
SUPPORTING THE CONFIRMATION OF
SECRETARY TONGUE OFFICIALLY ON
BEHALF OF SPLUNK, GRANT,
THORNTON AND LUMEN WOULD LIKE TO
ENDORSE HER CONFIRMATION AND
THEN ON A PERSONAL NOTE. I LIKE
TO JUST ADD A BIT MORE. I TO GO
BACK YEARS AND KNOWING SECRETARY
TONG BACK TO ELK GROVE AND THE
COMMUNITY THERE AND HER EFFORTS
IN THE LOCAL, UM SORT OF LAND
USE SPACE ONE NOT BUT I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT SHE IS
ABSOLUTELY FAIR, ACCESSIBLE AND
ETHICAL PERSON IN MY YEARS OF
WORKING WITH HER AT CDT AND NOW
GIVE UPS AND THEY'RE JUST GOING
TO BE A BETTER PERSON FOR THE
CITY, CALIFORNIA. SHE IS A MODEL
PUBLIC SERVANT. I DON'T KNOW IF
HER FAMILY ACTUALLY RECOGNIZES
HER BECAUSE SHE SEEMED TO BE
WORKING ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT
DURING COVID, AS I KNOW MANY
FOLKS WERE, BUT SHE'S A MODEL
PUBLIC SERVANT, AND I KNOW THAT
SHE'LL DO CALIFORNIA PROUD. AND
THE GOVERNOR HAD A GREAT CHOICE.
INSPECT DINNER, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY UM,
BEFORE WE GO TO SPEAKERS AND
OPPOSITION, LET ME ASK THE
NUMBER TO GO BACK UP THERE FOR
THE TELECONFERENCE LINE. FOR
THOSE WHO WISH TO CALL IN TOLL
FREE THE NUMBERS 8772268. THE
ACCESS CODE IS 8646445. AND WITH
THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ANYONE
IN THE ROOM THAT MIGHT BE
WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
I'M SORRY. THAT SHOULD BE THE
THANK YOU, SENATOR GROVE. THAT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER FOR
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CALL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COLIN IN
SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE YOU
KEEPING ME ONLINE. UM SO, UM.
MISS MR OR MS MODERATOR, WHOEVER
MIGHT BE THERE, UM CAN I ASK IF
YOU CAN T UP THOSE WHO WISH TO
CALL IN SUPPORT ON THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE BEFORE WE GO
TO OPPOSITION? ABSOLUTELY SO
PLEASE PRESS ONE AND THEN ZERO
AT THIS TIME AGAIN, IT'S 10. AND
WE CAN FIRST GOAL LINE. 44 GO
AHEAD. 44 YEAR LINE IS OPEN. YOU
MAY BE MUTED. FAMOUS LAST WORDS.
MOGUL LINE, 41. GOOD AFTERNOON.
KIM LEWIS SETTING PHOENIX WANTED
TO EXPRESS OUR ENTHUSIASTS
SUPPORT MISSION AND WE SHARE HER
PASSIONATE COMMITMENT. DIGITAL
DIVIDE PHENOMENAL PARTNERS WITH
ON THE PROJECTS AROUND 1, 56
IMPLEMENTATION AND WHEN I SEE
HER LEAVE. THE STATE HAS A GREAT
PUBLIC SERVANTS BEFORE YOU GET
OFF THE LAND. CAN YOU GIVE ME
YOUR NAME AGAIN? I THINK OUR
COURT REPORTER WASN'T ABLE TO
GET YOUR NAME. AND IF YOU IF YOU
REPRESENT ANY ORGANIZATION YES,
OF COURSE HIM. LEWIS, A. I M W I
S. REPRESENTING PHOENIX, E AND I
SEE. THANK YOU. WE HEARD YOUR
TESTIMONY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT. NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. LINE
NUMBER 45. I NEED SOLO ON BEHALF
OF FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS AND
CROWN CASTLE. WE WORK CLOSELY
WITH SECRETARY HONG ON BROADBAND
DEPLOYMENT AT HER TIME OF THE
DEPARTMENT TECHNOLOGY. SHE
DIDN'T HAVE STANDING JOB AND WE
THINK SHE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT
CAME OUTSTANDING JOB. GIVE UP,
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
OTHER WITNESSES. OUR NEXT ONE IN
LINE IS NUMBER 55 0. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THIS IS RICHARD
COSTIGAN. YOU ALL HAVE MY LETTER
OF SUPPORT. I JUST WANTED TO
CALL AND GIVE MY SUPPORT FOR
SECRETARY HONG. I HAVE WORKED
WITH HER IN A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE. AS AFFORDABLE 90
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SHE'S
INCREDIBLE. SHE'S EXACTLY AS YOU
READ MY LETTER EXACTLY WHAT WE
NEED IN THIS STATE EMPLOYEE AND
A STATE LEADER. SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONFIRMATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH OTHER
WITNESSES. AND THEN FURTHER IN Q
AT THIS TIME. OKAY THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW I'LL GET BACK ON
TRACK, AND, UH, SEE IF THERE'S
ANYONE IN ROOM 2200, WHO WISHES
TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION. OKAY
SEEING NO ONE STEPPING FORWARD
TO THE DIESS. UM MODERATOR, I
WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU COULD T
UP THOSE WHO MAY BE WISHING TO
CALL IN VIA TELECONFERENCE FOR
OPPOSITION. CERTAINLY AND IF SO,
PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME
AGAIN. IT'S 10 TO OPPOSE
CURRENTLY NONE IN QUÊ. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. WE'LL BE BACK WITH YOU
A LITTLE WHILE LATER IN THE
HEARING WITH THAT, LET ME BRING
IT BACK TO MY COLLEAGUES HAVING
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
SUPPORT, AND OPPOSITION SENATOR
KAMLAGER. MAKE THE MOTION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM SECRETARY,
WE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. GROVE I
GROVE. I KAMLAGER KAMLAGER. AYE
LAIRD. FAITH I ATKINS ATKINS, I
WE WILL LEAVE THIS ON CALL. SO
SENATOR LAIRD CAN COME BACK AND
ADD ON WITH OUR INCREDIBLE
THANKS TO YOU AND TO YOUR FAMILY
FOR JOINING US TODAY AND FOR
YOUR SERVICE. OKAY. THANK YOU.
LET ME JUST CHECK WITH OUR
SECRETARY. GOOD TO KEEP GOING,
OR WOULD YOU LIKE A FIVE MINUTE
BREAK? FIVE MINUTE BREAK. WE
WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS
AND BE RIGHT BACK.
CONFIRM ME AND SAY, WELCOME TO
OUR SECRETARY OF THE STATE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY. TOKES
ONLY SHAKEN AND I'M PRETTY SURE
I ALWAYS MASSACRE YOUR NAME,
SIR. SO HOPEFULLY YOU WILL
CORRECT ME. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN. LET ME WELCOME YOU AND
OFFER YOU THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
TO INTRODUCE ANYONE THAT MIGHT
BE WITH YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND
OPENING COMMENTS AND WE'LL GO
RIGHT TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
WELCOME. THANK YOU, MADAM PRO
TIM, VICE CHAIR BATES MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU
TODAY ERUPTION. YEAH LET'S MAKE
SURE THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO
FORWARD AGAIN. WE'RE GOOD.
SHOULD BE GOOD. OKAY THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR
BEFORE YOU TODAY AS YOU CONSIDER
MY CONFIRMATION AS
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY. FOR
OUR STATE. IF YOU DON'T MIND,
MADAM PRO TIM. I WANT TO
INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF MY FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE NUMBER ONE
WANT TO START OFF WITH MY WIFE,
JULIA, SHOCKING AND NURSE
PRACTITIONER SHE TAKING TIME OUT
OF HER BUSY SCHEDULE TO BE HERE.
WHEN THE ROCK BEHIND ME FOR
NEARLY 20 YEARS AND HAS BEEN A
PART OF MUCH OF MY SUCCESS. ALSO
HERE PRESENT IN THE ROOM. MY SON
ARISING 11TH GRADER AT JESUIT
HIGH SCHOOL. HE? I'M GLAD HE'S
GETTING A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE
THAT THEY LIKE THEY LIKE TODAY.
AS HE CONTINUES TO LEARN ABOUT
GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL AND NOT
ABLE TO BE HERE IS MY DAUGHTER
AS WELL. JOY ALMOST SHOCKING,
GRADUATING FROM THE EIGHTH
GRADE. IN ANOTHER WEEK OR SO.
AND I KNOW SHE WILL GET A CHANCE
TO WATCH THIS VIRTUALLY LATER IN
YOUR SON'S NAME. I'M SORRY HE
WOULD HE WOULD PICK ON ME ABOUT
THAT LATER. JEREMIAH HERE TO
SAVE YOU, SIR. WELCOME THANK
YOU. PRO TIP. UM ALSO JUST WANT
TO RECOGNIZE HIM. IMPORTANT
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEING A
MAJOR PART OF MAKING A DAYLIGHT
TODAY HAPPEN MY SIBLINGS SHOLA,
WALLY AND JOCKEY, OTHER
IMPORTANT FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILIES, THE 11TH FAMILY ONLY
TOLD YOU FAMILY BUBBLE AH LÀ
KATWE DOG BEALL AALIYAH. AND
FINALLY AH! DR AND MRS OMI
SHOCKING WHO TOOK A LEAP OF
FAITH IN 1970 52 YEARS AGO. TO
IMMIGRATE FROM NIGERIA. TO COME
AND WORK IN THIS COUNTRY AND DO
VARYING POD JOBS. TO GO ON TO
WORK IN UNIVERSITIES AND
INSTITUTIONS ARE AROUND THE
COUNTRY. I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OVER
OVER ALL OF MY LIFE. THE MANY
YEARS OF MY LIFE. AND VERY
IMPORTANTLY, ALSO WANT TO THANK
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM FOR
POINTING ME TO THIS
RESPONSIBILITY. AS SUCH A
PIVOTAL MOMENT. IN OUR INDUSTRY.
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS. AS YOU
KNOW. TRANSPORTATION IS
ESSENTIAL TO CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMIC PROGRESS BECAUSE IT
MOVES ARE NEARLY 40 MILLION
RESIDENTS. AND CONNECTS PEOPLE.
SERVICES AND GOODS. WE'RE AT A
CRITICAL MOMENT IN OUR
TRANSPORTATION FUTURE. THERE IS
POLICY AND FUNDING ALIGNMENT AT
THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL
LEVELS ON CLIMATE, EQUITY AND
SAFETY. AND WE AS A STATE. ARE
LEADING A MASSIVE TRANSFER
TRANSFORMATION IN TRANSPORTATION
POLICY BY PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST
THERE'S SOME MAJOR ISSUES THAT
WE MUST ADDRESS. ALONG THE WAY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE IS A
CRISIS ON OUR ROADWAYS AND MORE
PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM CRASHES.
JUST RECENTLY. NITSA, THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION. ESTIMATED. THAT
42 NEARLY 4200 PEOPLE. DIED ON
OUR ROADWAYS IN CALIFORNIA JUST
LAST YEAR. THAT IS NEARLY 10% OF
ALL TRAFFIC DEATHS IN THIS
COUNTRY. SECOND NEARLY 50% OF
ALL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN
CALIFORNIA. COME FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR. AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN OUR
STATE THE BRUNT OF THAT
POLLUTION. THIRD THIS PAST YEAR
EXPOSED THE NEED FOR LONG TERM
SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCY, WHICH
REQUIRES A GOODS MOVEMENT SYSTEM
CENTERED ON SAFETY. AND
EFFICIENT FREIGHT THAT MINIMIZES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND FINALLY, THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF FORMULA AND DISCRETIONARY
DOLLARS AVAILABLE FROM THE NEW
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.
WITH THAT WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE SAFEST
AND MOST CONNECTED
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE
NATION. THIS WILL REQUIRE BOTH
CHANGE AND THOUGHTFUL
LEADERSHIP. AFTER SERVING AS
CALTRANS DIRECTOR FOR THE LAST
2.5 YEARS, AND WHAT MY DECADES
OF PRIOR TRANSPORTATION
EXPERIENCE I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES HEAD
ON. WE HAVE A VISION FOR
TRANSPORT FOR TRANSPORTATION
FUTURE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE.
SERVICES AND GOODS THROUGH A
SAFE, MULTI MODAL NETWORK THAT
IS CLIMATE FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT
AND EQUITABLE. TRANSPORTATION
NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE
SOLUTION TO HELP MEET THE
STATE'S AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS
SET BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND THIS
LEGISLATURE. THAT MEANS MORE
INVESTMENTS IN ZERO EMISSION,
TRANSIT FREE AND REAL. AS WELL
AS PROJECTS THAT EXPENSIVE
ACCESS TO WALKING AND BIKING.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF
STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE
OUR DEPENDENCE ON DRIVING BY
DELIVERING SAFE, ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. THE
STRATEGIES ARE ALSO THE
FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN LOW
INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR. BUT
OFTEN BEAR THE BRUNT. OF
POLLUTION. AND HAVE LIMITED
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MOBILITY
OPTIONS. BY CONNECTING AND
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CHOICES FOR
PEOPLE AND GOODS TO MOVE ABOUT
OUR STATE. WE WILL HELP IMPROVE
THE RELIABILITY OF THE SYSTEM,
BUT WE WILL ALSO CREATE MORE
JOBS. PROVIDE A BOOST TO THE
ECONOMY AND IMPACT HEALTHY
LIVING. MANY OF THESE STRATEGIES
ALSO VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH
THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL
AND FEDERAL STAKEHOLDERS AND
PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT THIS NEW
LAW. I'M ALSO COMMITTED TO
ADVANCE IN THE NATION'S FIRST
HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT. WHICH
IS A MAJOR EMPLOYER AND
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CENTRAL
VALLEY ECONOMY. AS CONSTRUCTION
CONTINUES ON THE MERCED TO
BAKERSFIELD SEGMENT. MOST MAJOR
INVESTMENT TAKE TIME. AND
REQUIRE PERSEVERANCE. HIGH SPEED
RAIL IS CRITICAL TO OUR STATE'S
TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE GOES
, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH THIS LEGISLATURE. AND I
PLEDGE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
YOU TO DELIVER THIS PROJECT. I
WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE
SAFETY. SB $1 CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT FIX IT. FIRST PROJECTS
INCLUDED BRIDGE REPAIR HIGHWAY
MAINTENANCE PAVEMENT REPAIR.
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS. THESE INVESTMENTS WILL
MAKE OUR ROADWAYS SAFER. WE HAVE
TO CONTINUE OUR MARCH TOWARDS
ZERO DEATHS ON OUR ROADWAYS.
CALIFORNIA IS DOING EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT
COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC SAFETY
MEASURES TO A LIMITED DEBTS AND
SERIOUS INJURIES. ON OUR
RAILWAYS AS A PART OF OUR SAFE
SYSTEM APPROACH. WHEN OUR
DEPARTMENTS PUT PEOPLE FIRST THE
SERVICES WE PROVIDE WILL HAPPEN.
WILL HAPPEN VERY WELL UNDER
SAFER MOBILITY CHOICES AND
CONNECTIONS WE CREATE CONTINUE
TO HELP MAKE CALIFORNIA THE MOST
LIVABLE STATE IN OUR NATION.
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS. THESE
ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES IN FRONT
OF US AND THE TIME TO ADDRESS
CLIMATE. EQUITY AND SAFETY
CHALLENGES THROUGH
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. IS NOW. I WILL
TAKE ON THESE CHALLENGES ON THE
BEHALF ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC
WE SERVE. WITH ENTHUSIASM AND
RESOLVE AS YOUR TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION
TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
VICE CHAIR. YOU WANT TO START US
OFF TODAY? WELL, THANK YOU,
SECRETARY AND WE HAD A VERY IN
DEPTH AND I THINK, CERTAINLY
VERY VALUABLE CONFERENCE
CONVERSATION. YESTERDAY'S FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE. I SHARED WITH
THE SECRETARY THAT THE PRESENT
APPROACH OF MOVING PEOPLE, NOT
CARS. THE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
THE ROAD USER CHARGE. ALL THOSE
ARE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL.
CERTAINLY IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH
IS IF NOT, IT'S NOT RURAL, BUT
IT'S CERTAINLY SUBURBAN. AND
SOME OF THESE IDEAS JUST DON'T
WORK THERE. THE SECRETARY SPENT
THE LOT OF TIME SHARING WITH ME
APPROACH THAT IS GOING TO BE
TAKEN. WITH THE NEW APPROACH, OR
I GUESS WE'LL SAY IF IT'S NOT A
NEW APPROACH HAS BEEN A THEORY
OUT THERE. QUITE A WHILE.
PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT
EMISSIONS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE
MEASURE IN TERMS OF MOVING, YOU
KNOW, CARS WITH LESS ADMISSIONS
. WE HAVE REDUCED THE GREENHOUSE
GASSES IN THE AIR RESOURCES
BOARD TELLS US THAT THOUGHT THAT
IS, WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS
THERE. SO OUR CONVERSATION
REALLY CIRCLED AROUND. UM YOU
KNOW HOW WE WILL IMPLEMENT SOME
OF THESE NEW POLICIES THAT ARE
QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE
HAD IN CALIFORNIA. SO RATHER
THAN ASKING QUESTIONS OF YOU
AGAIN THAT WE SHARED YESTERDAY.
IT WAS MORE OF A CONVERSATION. I
THOUGHT A VERY GOOD ONE TO HELP
UNDERSTAND TIMELINE STAGING
STRATEGY, NO COOKIE CUTTER. HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO APPROACH IT
BECAUSE YOU'RE KIND OF THE LEAD
DOG IN THIS AND IT'S NOT GONNA
BE EASY ONE AND YOU'VE TAKEN IT
ON. AND FIRST OF ALL, I SHOULD
SAY, I COMPLIMENTED THE
SECRETARY. HE WAS CALTRANS
DIRECTOR, AND WE HAD A FEW
LITTLE BUMPS ALONG OUR ROADS IN
SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY, AND HE WAS
EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND HE BRINGS
TO THIS POSITION. RATHER
INCREDIBLE RESUME, BUT THAT
DOESN'T MAKE IT EASY OUT THERE
IN THE DISTRICTS FOR OUR PEOPLE
THAT UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW,
UM, THE CONGESTION ISSUES
CERTAINLY IS A BIG ONE. BUT WHEN
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO MUST HAVE A
CAR. YOU CANNOT DELIVER CHILDREN
TO SCHOOL TO THEIR GAMES TO
ANYTHING CHURCH WHATEVER. AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS WHEN YOU CAN.
YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR, CERTAINLY
WHERE I LIVE, AND CERTAINLY IN
THE RURAL AREAS. WE KNOW THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT. THAT UNITY IN AND
NEAR TERM, SO I THINK THE
STRATEGY THE AGING AND WHAT IF
IT DOESN'T WORK WITH THE
FALLBACK, SO LEAVE IT TO YOU TO
GIVE US YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON
THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE
CHAIR AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE AS WELL ON
TRANSPORTATION AS THE VICE CHAIR
ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL. I
APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU GAVE ME
YESTERDAY TO TALK THROUGH THESE
ISSUES. I THINK MANY OF THEM ARE
PHILOSOPHICAL. THE POSITION THAT
WE HAVE AND THAT I HAVE AND THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION IS VERY MUCH
BACKING IN POLICY AND FUNDING.
IS THAT WE NEED TO INVEST AS YOU
MENTIONED IN MOVING PEOPLE MORE
AND NOT NECESSARILY VEHICLES.
THIS LEGISLATURE. HAS PASSED.
LAWS AND BILLS RECENTLY. SB 7 43
IS PROBABLY 99 YEARS OLD ROUGH
ROUGHLY NOW THAT WE ARE STILL
WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THAT MOVES
OUR STATE FROM THE MEASUREMENT
BEING HOW FAST AND HOW MANY CARS
WE CAN GET THROUGH OUR ROADWAYS.
BUT TO MOVING INTO WHENEVER WE
MAKE A TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT
TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY INCREASE. THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY TO
CLIMATE RESILIENCY, CHALLENGES
THAT WE HAVE AS A STATE. AS I
MENTIONED IN MY REMARKS, NEARLY
50% OF ALL THE BAD AIR QUALITY
IN CALIFORNIA COMES FROM OUR
SECTOR, AND IT'S MORE THAN ANY
OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S
AHEAD OF EVEN WHAT THE WORLD IS
DOING NATIONALLY, THAT NUMBER IS
29. GLOBALLY IT'S 15% AND
CALIFORNIA IS NEARLY 50. SO WE
GOT OUR CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US.
BUT I WOULD ALSO SHARE WITH YOU.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AS A
LEADER.STATE IN THIS IS THAT WE
CAN'T USE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL
APPROACH. BECAUSE WHAT MAY BE
HELPFUL IN YOUR DISTRICT,
ULTIMATELY, MAYBE OCCASIONALLY A
WIDENING PROJECT THAT MOVES CARS
BUT THAT CAN BE APPROACHED. THAT
CAN'T BE OUR PRIMARY FOCUS. OUR
FOCUS HAS TO BE ON HOW DO WE
SAFELY EFFICIENTLY MOVE PEOPLE?
FOREST. BEFORE WE SAY. WHAT THE
DEFAULT OPTION HAS BEEN FOR MANY
YEARS, WHICH HAS BEEN WE HAVE A
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM. LET'S
MAKE IT THE ROAD WIDER AND
BIGGER, AND WE NEED TO MAKE THAT
TRANSITION TO TRANSIT
INVESTMENTS, REAL WALKING,
BIKING JUST AS MUCH AS WE'VE
BEEN MAKING INVESTMENTS FOR THE
AUTOMOBILE IN OUR STATE. THANK
YOU. I THINK WHEN WE ARE MOVING
PEOPLE INTO ELECTRIC CARS,
HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL BACK WITH
THE COUNTRY. THE CONFLICT I HAVE
IS THAT WE DO HAVE WE'RE
LOWERING EMISSIONS JUST BY
REQUIRING ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES
ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES IN THE
NEXT 10 YEARS THE DECADE JUST IN
FRONT OF US. SO IS IT ABOUT? THE
MISSION'S CLIMATE CHANGE, OR IS
IT ABOUT YOU KNOW, JUST FORCING
PEOPLE TO USE A DIFFERENT FORM
OF TRANSPORTATION. WHEN THAT
TRANSPORTATION IS GOING TO BE
DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE
WAY WE GET AROUND NOW WE HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT. WE
HAVE A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT. WE HAVE A
RIDERSHIP ISSUE. WE'RE ALWAYS
SUBSIDIZED ON PUBLIC TRANSIT.
CANCEL THESE ARE THINGS THAT
STILL ESCAPE LOGIC AND SEEM TO
ME TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
THEY JUST DON'T. THEY'RE NOT
CONGRUENCE IN TERMS OF WHERE
WE'RE TRYING TO GET IF WE'RE
TRYING TO REDUCE CONGESTION,
CLEARLY THE CARPOOL LANES OFF
WITH ZEBRAS HAVING SPECIAL USE
OF THOSE HELPED LIKE WE'VE
REDUCED AS HE SAID. THE. THE
AIRPORT. WE'VE IMPROVED THE AIR
QUALITY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
EMISSIONS BY WHAT IS IT 90% SO
IT'S STILL DOESN'T ALL FIT
TOGETHER AND NOT TO BELABOR IT
HERE JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. THAT
I STILL WRESTLE WITH THAT
BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR
ME AND MY DISTRICT AND THE
PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD WITH,
LET'S SAY PUBLIC TRANSIT AND
PROVIDING THAT FOR THE THIRD
PART OF MY DISTRICT AND THE
NORTHERLY NORTHERN PART OF MY
DISTRICT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS, AND WHEN I WAS ON THE
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY IS VERY CRITICAL. WE
HAD TO STOP BUS SERVICE BECAUSE
THE RIDERSHIP WAS SO LIMITED. WE
COULDN'T WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FARE
BOX COVERAGE THAT WAS REQUIRED
TO GET OUR FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS. SO ALL
OF THOSE THINGS ARE INTEGRAL. TO
WHAT THE PLAN. THAT'S ON THE
BOOKS CAN DO VERSUS THE PLAN
THAT WE HAVE AND THE PHASING
INTO WHAT THE NEW PLAN IS. SO I
LEAVE YOU WITH THAT. BUT TODAY I
WILL ABSTAIN. AND YOU KNOW THAT
I HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR
YOU. SO IT IS ABOUT TRYING TO
BRING SOME RESOLUTION BETWEEN
THE PRESENT AND MY WORK WITH MY
DISTRICT AND MY LONG TERM
INVOLVEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
IN HOW WE ACTUALLY FIT THIS
WHOLE THING INTO THE NEAR TERM
OR THE DISTANT TERMS. DISTANT
TRUE MIGHT BE EASIER AS
TECHNOLOGY HELPS US ALONG, BUT
THE CURRENT TIMELINE THAT SEEMS
TO BE PROJECTED IS GOING TO BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO MEET AND IT'S
GOING TO CREATE. I THINK SOME
SIGNIFICANT CONTROVERSIES AND
PERHAPS THE LIMITATION OF
FUNDING WITH PEOPLE NOT BEING
WILLING TO CONTINUE THEIR
SUPPORT OF SOME OF THE MEASURES
THAT WE'VE HAD TO INCREASE
REVENUES LIKE OUR LOCAL TAX
DOLLAR MEASURES. THE SALES TAX
ON ISSUES THAT WERE PUT OUT IT
ACTUALLY SUPPORTED IN MY
DISTRICT, A VERY CONTROVERSIAL
ISSUE TO BEING LEFT. I THINK WE
HAD 60 OR 70% SUPPORT OF ADDING
A SALES TAX SO THAT THEY COULD
GET ADDITIONAL ARTERIALS
COMPLETED, WIDENING A FEW OF THE
FREEWAYS WITH MORE HIV LANES.
THOSE ARE ALL PROMISES MADE AND
USING THE MANTRA FROM ORANGE
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
PROMISES MADE OUR PROMISES KEPT
AND THAT CONTINUES. I THINK THE
TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND THE AND
THE PLANS THAT WE LAY OUT THERE
FOR THEM. SO I WILL PASS THE
MICROPHONE TO MY COLLEAGUES. BUT
WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AND I
KNOW IT'S A ROBUST ONE. AND I
THINK I ACTUALLY THINK YOU
ENJOYED IT BECAUSE IT'S A
CHALLENGE BECAUSE THERE IT IS ON
YOUR TO DO LIST AND ON YOUR WORK
PLAN, AND SO I WILL CERTAINLY BE
A COLLEAGUE AND A SUPPORTER AS
WE GO FORWARD, BUT I NEED TO
UNDERSTAND IT IS YOU'RE LAYING
IT OUT ON A SPECIFIC STAGING AND
TIMELINE, AND I KNOW WE HAVE
PILOT PROJECTS. THAT THE STUDIES
ARE GOING TO COME FROM NORTHERN
HOUSE WORKING, BUT RIGHT NOW TO
SUGGEST A ROAD USED TO USER
CHARGE SALES TAX MEASURES TO BE
ONE GAS TAX. IT'S THE TIMING IS
NOT THE BEST TO TRY TO EXPLAIN
THAT THIS IS A DIRECTION THAT WE
NEED TO GO IN, AND ONE THAT I
COULD SUPPORT, MADAM, ACTUALLY,
IF YOU DON'T MIND IF I COULD
BRIEFLY RESPONDED AND PROTEIN
MAC AND JUST THREE THINGS THAT
YOU MENTIONED JUST JUST BRIEFLY
. NUMBER ONE. I UNDERSTAND WHERE
YOU ARE AND WHERE YOUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE IN YOUR
DISTRICT AND HOW SOME PEOPLE MAY
NOT BE ON BOARD WITH SOME OF THE
DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN,
BUT JUST TO MAKE CLEAR. I DON'T
THINK OUR GOAL IS AT ANY POINT
TO TRY TO FORCE PEOPLE. AND OF
THEIR CARS. THE GOAL THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS TO MAKE
pTO PEOPLE AS WE CREATE A
MULTIMODAL NETWORK. TO OFFER
THOSE CHOICES TO PEOPLE. AS THEY
LOOK TO GET BACK TO WORK TO
PLAY, ETCETERA AND NOT HAVE TO
GET TO THEIR DESTINATION BY ONLY
ONE PARTICULAR MODE WE'VE UNDER
INVESTED IN THOSE OTHER MODES.
AND NOW WE'RE SHIFTING POLICY.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE
GOVERNOR SHIFTING POLICY POLICY
TO SAY OUR INVESTMENTS NEED TO
BE DIVERSE. NOT JUST IN ONE
PARTICULAR MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION. ONLY SO CHOICES
IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. YOU
MENTIONED TVS JUST QUICKLY ON
THAT. ABOUT LETTING VEHICLES ARE
HELPING. WE'RE LEADING THE
NATION WERE MORE THAN 40% OF THE
NATIONAL MARKET. WHEN IT COMES
TO TVS. IT'S MAKING A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN CLIMATE IN OUR
STATE. BUT E. V S WILL MAKE
NECESSARILY CONGESTION GO AWAY.
THEY WON'T SOLVE OR HELP MANAGE
OR CONGESTION CHALLENGES. PEOPLE
WILL STILL END UP SITTING IN
ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC. SO
AGAIN. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS
CONTINUE THOSE INVESTMENTS IN
THE V S, BUT ALSO DIVERSIFY
AGAN. HOW PEOPLE COMMUTE AND
GET ABOUT OUR STATE. AND
FINALLY, ON SB ONE YOU MENTIONED
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LAWS
IN TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE'S
HISTORY. IT'S GENERATING $5
BILLION A YEAR TO MAINTAIN AND
IMPROVE THE SYSTEM OF THE STATE
. THOSE PROMISES WERE MADE AND
WE'RE KEEPING THOSE PROMISES
WERE ABSOLUTELY STICKING TO
MAKING SURE PAVEMENTS ARE
CULVERTS BRIDGES, TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT TOOLS. ARE
WORKING. AND IN PLACE. SO UH,
GET OUR YOU KNOW, PHILOSOPHICAL
DIFFERENCES ON HOW WE GO ABOUT
IMPROVING MOBILITY AND
TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE OF THE
STATE AND I VERY MUCH RESPECT.
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR
PHYSICIAN ON THAT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SECRETARY
. THANK YOU, SENATOR KAMLAGER.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRO TEM AND
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. UM SO I
APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND
RESPONSES THAT JUST HAPPENED AND
WANT. TO DELVE INTO THAT SPACE A
LITTLE BIT MORE AND ALSO TALK
ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU
AND I DISCUSSED EARLIER, UM,
WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO SHARE. UM,
IN YOUR MIND, BASED ON THE
CHARGES THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT
OF YOU AS IT RELATES TO YOU'RE
VERY HEAVY LOAD. AH! WHAT'S THE
NEXUS BETWEEN? BUILDING
INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THEN
OPTIMIZING OUR CURRENT
INFRASTRUCTURE USING TECHNOLOGY
ADVANCEMENT. THANK YOU. FOR THE
QUESTIONS, SENATOR. THE NEXUS
IS, IF WE ARE GOING TO TOUCH
DOWN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT BEFORE
ALREADY IF WE'RE GOING TO GET TO
THE PLACE WHERE MOBILITY IS
IMPROVING. WE'RE CREATING
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES AND
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS SAFER.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SOLELY
INVEST ON MAKING BIGGER OR WIDER
OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
THAT'S BEEN OUR FOCUS FOR YEARS.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED
SEASONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS. THE
MORE WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO
MANAGE AND OPERATE THE SYSTEM
BETTER TO GET THE MOST OUT OF
THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. WE
HAVE THE BETTER OFF, ULTIMATELY
THAT THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS JUST TO
QUICKLY SAY IS OPTIMIZING
SIGNALS USING TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO
PRIORITIZE CERTAIN USES. THE
EASIEST EXAMPLE I CAN GIVE IS
BUSSES ON A HIGHWAY. ON A STATE
HIGHWAY WOULD SIGNAL TRAFFIC
SIGNALS ON IT. WE CAN TÌM AND
PUT TECHNOLOGY IN BUSSES TO
COMMUNICATE WITH OUR SIGNALS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSSES HAVE
PRIORITY TO BE ABLE TO GET
THROUGH. THE HIGHWAY SAFER AND
QUICKER HUESO USING THAT
TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BE HAVE
TO BE AN IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL
PART. OF THE INVESTMENTS WE MAKE
MOVING FORWARD, NOT JUST LOOKING
TO WHAT OR MAKE BIGGER OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE SO
VERY IMPORTANT TO GREAT. THANK
YOU, UM. AND SO WE ALSO TALKED
ABOUT RECONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS
, THE PROGRAM AND SO EVEN THOUGH
THE PRESIDENT, UM SORT OF
UNDERFUNDED THIS, UM YOU KNOW
WHAT? WHAT WAYS CAN YOU UTILIZE
GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S HIGHWAYS TO
BOULEVARDS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT
RACIAL EQUITY WITHIN
NEIGHBORHOODS VERY IMPORTANT.
QUESTION SOONER. KAMLAGER THE
MENTIONED THAT THE PRESIDENT YOU
KNOW? MY WORDS YOU SAID HE UNDER
INVESTED. I THINK HIS INITIAL
PROPOSAL FOR RECONNECTING
COMMUNITIES WAS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 22 $23 BILLION.
WHAT CONGRESS ULTIMATELY PASSED
WAS ONLY A BILLION DOLLARS OVER
FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS NOT A LOT
OF MONEY, BUT I WOULD CONSIDER
THE DOWN PAYMENT AND TO A
COMMITMENT THAT WE CAN TRANSFORM
COMMUNITIES. IF WE RECONNECT
THEM. GOVERNOR NELSON AS YOU AS
YOU MENTIONED AS PROPOSED
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN HIS
BUDGET. FOR HIGHWAYS TO
BOULEVARDS PROGRAM. THAT'S VERY
SIMILAR NATURE. WHAT I CAN SEE
AS FAR AS HOW HE WOULD
REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS BY
THE WAY THAT $1 BILLION THAT'S
IN THE PRESIDENT BILL. FOR NOW,
LAW IT'S DISCRETIONARY MONEY,
MEANING WE WOULD HAVE TO APPLY
AND FIGHT FOR THAT MONEY TO COME
TO CALIFORNIA. IT'S NOT FORMULA
BASED. WE'RE NOT WE DON'T GET IT
AUTOMATICALLY. BUT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL CULT TRANS
ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS UNDER MY
PURVIEW HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED
69 LOCATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.
WHERE WE COULD EXPLORE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT
COMMUNITIES AGAIN AND IN YOUR
PARTICULAR DISTRICT. IT'S
PROBABLY CONSIDERED. FREE WILL,
HOW WE CENTRAL FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THERE WILL BE
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE L. A
REGION. TIME TO EXPLORE. IT MAY
BE ONE OF THOSE 69. I CAN'T SAY
FOR SURE, BUT WE'VE IDENTIFIED
COMMUNITIES ALREADY THAT WE CAN
EXPLORE THOSE CONNECTIONS. THANK
YOU. UM I DID, UM, THE
REPARATIONS TASK FORCE. THAT WAS
WE PASSED A BILL. I THINK A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO ESTABLISH
IT RECENTLY CAME OUT WITH THEIR
PRELIMINARY REPORT. ONE OF THE
SECTIONS DEALS WITH RACISM AND
ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY DO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. THEY TALK ABOUT
POLLUTANTS, THEY TALK ABOUT
HEAVY TRAFFIC USE. IN AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. WE HAD A
DISCUSSION ABOUT REPURPOSING
HIGHWAYS. UM AND AS AS, UM AND
SO VERY HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL
BE A LENS THROUGH WHICH YOU
CONTINUE TO LOOK THROUGH AS YOU
ARE NAVIGATING THIS INCREDIBLY
DIVERSE PORTFOLIO THAT YOU HAVE
IN FRONT OF YOU. UM AND WILL AND
THESE ARE ALSO ISSUES THAT ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK
CAUCUS AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT
YOU CAN LEAN ON US AND BE
WILLING TO PARTNER WITH THIS
PARTICULAR CAUCUS AS IT RELATES
TO THESE ISSUES BECAUSE WE
CERTAINLY WANT FOLKS TO BE ABLE
TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
WE WANT THERE TO BE AN EQUITABLE
SHARE OF INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE WANT
PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE. AND
COMMUTING AND USING
TRANSPORTATION THAT IS PROVIDED
TO THEM. AND I THINK ULTIMATELY
WE'RE HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE
A HOLISTIC, YOU KNOW, APPROACH
TO HOW WE ARE MANAGING CLIMATE
CHANGE HOW WE ARE KEEPING THESE
KINDS OF RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE.
AND ALSO AFFORDABLE AND MAKING
SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE KIND
OF ACCESS THAT WE WOULD EXPECT
AND DESERVE. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO MANAGE THE
WORKLOAD. YOU HAVE UM, BUT I
BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOME TOOLS AT
YOUR DISPOSAL TO HELP YOU DO
THAT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM,
CONFIRMING YOU. IF I COULD JUST
SAY SENATOR KAMLAGER JUST REAL
QUICK. THE YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT
FROM ME. TO SUPPORT THE VISION
AND THE COMMENTS. YOU JUST
OUTLINED. I HAVE LONG BELIEVED,
AND I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU
BEFORE THAT TRANSPORTATION
SHOULD BE A UNITER. NOT A
DIVIDER, AND IN SOME CASES, THE
HISTORY WE'VE HAD WITH THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR HIGHWAY
SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY. AND HAS
CREATED SOME DIVISION AND WHAT
AN OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF
MYSELF AND OUR ENTIRE INDUSTRY
TO TRULY MAKE IT A UNITING PART
OF THE SECTOR. OF THE STATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
SENATOR GROVE. THANK YOU, MADAM
PRO TIM. THANK YOU FOR BEING
BEFORE US HERE TODAY. UM, MY
COMMENTS WILL KIND OF THE LINE.
MY COLLEAGUE MY VICE CHAIR THAT
I SHARE THE COMMITTEE. UM
SOMETIMES THIS IS THE EASIEST
COMMITTEE FOR ME, AND SOMETIMES
IT'S THE HARDEST AND I THINK
IT'S THE HARDEST WHEN I THINK
EACH OF US ARE SHAPED BY OUR
LIFE EXPERIENCES. YOU OBVIOUSLY
HAVE UM, I READ YOUR BACKGROUND
. YOU HAVE AN IMMIGRANT LIFE
EXPERIENCE. YOUR PARENTS CAME
HERE TOOK A REST. I BELIEVE YOU
WERE ALSO BORN IN NIGERIA,
RIGHT? I WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN
AMERICA BUT GREW UP IN NIGERIA
LIVING UP THERE FOR 10 YEARS.
UM, I AND I LOOKED AT YOUR
REWORKED IN TENNESSEE. AND I
LOOKED AT YOUR BACKGROUND AND I
LOOKED AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS
THAT YOU DID THERE WHILE YOU
WERE UNDER THAT SECTOR OF YOUR
LIFE, EVEN READ THE ARTICLE HAVE
BEEN COMING. 40 40 AND INCOMING
PEOPLE TO WATCH, SO I KNOW YOU
ARE VERY INTELLIGENT, QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUAL FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
POSITION. UM AND WE DO WORK FOR
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THIS
GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE. THE MAJORITY
LEGISLATURE, UM, BELIEVES
WHOLEHEARTEDLY FROM THE DEPTHS
OF THEIR SOUL ABOUT GREEN
TECHNOLOGY. AND THE WAY TO COME
TO THAT POSITION FOR ZERO CARBON
EMISSIONS AND LET CALIFORNIA BE
THE LEADING STATE. I, ON THE
OTHER HAND, REPRESENT CURRAN
COUNTY. UM AND THE CENTRAL
VALLEY AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES
WITH A SINGLE MOM WHO RAISED ALL
FIVE OF US KIDS GROWING UP. I
DON'T HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
UM, BUT HAVE STARTED A BUSINESS
FROM THE GROUND DEPTH. BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN THAT BUSINESS,
AND, UM. IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST
WOMAN OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE
AREA THAT I REPRESENT. SO UM,
JUST I THINK OUR LIFE
EXPERIENCES SHAPE WHO WE ARE, UM
, MY, UH, THE DATA OR THE
INFORMATION THAT I HAVE IS WOMEN
GO INTO TRANSPORTATION. IS
CALIFORNIA'S CONSUME ABOUT 1.8
MILLION BARRELS OF OIL EVERY
SINGLE DAY. THEY'RE DOING THAT
RIGHT NOW. UM IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR FOR
BACKLOGS OVER PORTS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. WE TRANSPORT THE
MAJORITY OF THAT OIL FROM
FOREIGN COUNTRIES WE TRANSPORTED
FROM RUSSIA. AH! I BELIEVE THAT
AND NOT TO BE POLITICAL OR
CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I BELIEVE
THAT THE MONEY WE PAID THE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY
FUNDS. IN PART INVASION OF
UKRAINE. UM I ALSO KNOW THAT WE
BRING OIL IN CALIFORNIA
PURCHASES. 53% OF ECUADOR'S OIL,
WHICH HAS BROUGHT HERE BY SHIPS.
ONE SHIP. FROM THAT LOCATION TO
CALIFORNIA EMITS 27.67 METRIC
TONS OF CARBON EMISSION WARMER
TIMES THAT NUMBER 27.67 METRIC
TONS. OF CARBON EMISSION TO
BRING US THAT OIL THAT WE
CONSUME. ALL DAY IN THE CARS,
MOSTLY THAT WE DRIVE, BUT OIL
HAS A LOT OF PETROLEUM, BRIGHT
PRODUCTS, PLASTIC CEMENT ALL
THOSE THINGS, BUT MOSTLY IN THE
CARS THAT WE CONSUME. UM SO WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT CARBON REDUCTIONS
, I THINK FROM TRANSPORTATION
PURPOSES, THERE IS A WE'RE WE'RE
BEATING THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION
AND VEHICLES. UM EVEN ELECTRIC
CARS REQUIRE. YOU KNOW, 35
GALLONS OF OIL TO MAKE A TIRE.
YOU GET FIVE TIRES FOUR AND A
SPARE PLASTIC. YOU KNOW ALL THAT
STUFF? SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE
BEATING THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
WHILE WE'RE LETTING THE ELEPHANT
CONSUMED THE ROOM WITH
TRANSPORTATION FROM OTHER
FOREIGN COUNTRIES ON OIL. SO TWO
PORTS AND ALL OF THAT, AND I'M
JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN MY
BACKGROUND SO THAT I DON'T WANT
TO APPEAR IN ANY WAY HOSTILE.
AND SOMETIMES I HAVE THE HABIT
OF REDMI PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY
AND I DO APOLOGIZE. UP FRONT.
BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THAT
UM YOU SAY MOVING PEOPLE VERSUS
MOVING VEHICLES IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY. TAKE HIGH SPEED RAIL,
FOR EXAMPLE. IT'S GONNA GO FROM
IT, SAYS BAKERSFIELD. BUT IT'S
REALLY SHAFTER, WHICH IS
PROBABLY WHAT 21 MILES OR 18
MILES OUTSIDE OF BAKERSFIELD.
LITTLE TOWN, SHAFTER POPULATION
. NOT VERY MUCH. I WISH I HAD
THE NUMBER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME
TO MERCED. UM WHAT DO WE DO WHEN
WE GET TO MERCED? AFTER WE DRIVE
THE SHAFT OR GET ON THE HIGH
SPEED RAIL ONCE IT'S BUILT, AND
WE GO TO MERCED, AND WE'RE ON
OUR WAY TO SACRAMENTO. DO WE
RENT A CAR TO DRIVE THE REST OF
THE WAY. THERE'S NO AIRFARE.
THERE'S NO ERROR TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S A VERY DIVERSE STATE, AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT PART OF THE
STATE YOU LIVE IN. BUT IN MY
PART OF THE STATE RIGHT HERE IN
SACRAMENTO, SEE SO MY FIRST
DATE. WE NEED A VEHICLE. WE
VEHICLE, UM IN A LOT OF CASES
JUST TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.
UM AND SO, UM, AND TO BE FRANKLY
HONEST, I DRIVE UP AND DOWN 99
OR I FIVE AND I LEAVE
BAKERSFIELD, EITHER ON SUNDAY OR
MONDAY. AND I DRIVE TO
SACRAMENTO AND THEN I LEAVE
SACRAMENTO EITHER ON THURSDAY OR
FRIDAY, AND I DRIVE BACK TO
BAKERSFIELD. AND THE LAST. I
GUESS THE LAST 16 OR 17 WEEKS,
I'VE MET A HABIT TO TAKE A
PICTURE OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL
OVERPASS THAT'S IN FRESNO. YEAH
THERE'S NEVER ANYBODY WORKING.
THERE'S NEVER ANYBODY THERE. UM
AND I JUST I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
FUNDING. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN PURCHASED
AND NOT AVAILABLE THERE. I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF THINGS I REALLY DO
FEEL LIKE BY LISTENING TO AND
READING YOUR BACKGROUND. YOU
HAVE A GRASP OF THESE THINGS. I
JUST, UM. I THINK WE HAVE
DIFFERENT WAY DIFFERENT WAYS OF
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ACCOMPLISH
THAT AND GET THERE. SO UM, WHEN
YOU ANSWERED MY COLLEAGUE'S
QUESTION, THE VICE CHAIR ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, WIDENING ROADS. I KNOW
THAT THERE IS A BIGGER L A TIMES
ARTICLE WHERE EVEN THE UNIONS
ARE OPPOSING THE POSITION ABOUT
NOT WIDENING ROADS AND
ELIMINATING CONGESTION AND LIKE
YOU SAID TVS WOULD STILL BE
WAITING IN LINE BY WIDENING NOT
WIDENING, ROSE. WHY IS IT SUCH A
STAUNCH POSITION NOT TO WIDEN
ROADS AND ALLOW ACCESS FOR
VEHICLES TO TRAVEL MORE FREELY
IN THE STATE. SENATOR. GROWTH
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SMILING. I
KNOW. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A LOT
LOT. THAT LOT IN NO WAY THERE'S
ANY OF THIS IS, DOES IT COME
ACROSS AS CONFRONTATIONAL TO ME
AT ALL? I'LL SAY JUST CLEARLY.
AND BY THE WAY, IT REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR STORY, YOUR
BACKGROUND. NO COLLEGE EDUCATION
OF RAISING THE KIDS. RAISING
FIVE KIDS AND STARTING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. MANY KUDOS
TO YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO DO
THAT. YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS
CLEARLY NOT AN EASY ABOUT
SUCCESS STORY THAT YOU'VE HAD.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL TOUCH ON
JUST BRIEFLY. SEVERAL OTHER
THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED FIRST.
MERCED TO BAKERSFIELD. THE PLAN
ULTIMATELY IS TO HAVE THE FIRST
PHASE IS TO HAVE A 500 MILE
CONNECTION FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
ALL THE WAY FROM SAN JOSE. I
SHOULD SAY EITHER FROM SAN JOSE
DOWN TO L, A 400 MILES OF THEIR
500 MILES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENT FOR THAT HAS BEEN
COMPLETED ALREADY NEARLY 400
MILES. WHEN YOU LEAVE MERCED THE
IDEA IF THE TRAIN OF THE HIGH
SPEED RAIL IS NOT COMPLETE, YET,
THE IDEA OF THAT YOU CAN EITHER
USE ADDITIONAL TRANSIT. SO BUS
IS, UH, CONNECTION TO GET TO
YOUR DESTINATION. OR YOU MAY
ACTUALLY HAVE TO USE YOUR CAR.
TO USE A CAR. AND I THINK SOME
PEOPLE THAT THE NOTION THAT IS
OUT THERE IS THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO COMPLETELY GET RID OF CARS
ARE STOPPED. IT'S NOT AN ANTI
CAR MOVEMENT BY ANY MEANS. THE
IDEA IS TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS IN THE STATE TO HAVE
MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO
BE ABLE TO GET WHERE THEY NEED
TO GET TO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
COMPETITIVE ECONOMICALLY, BUT
BEYOND WHAT IF WE THINK BEYOND
THE MOBILITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH REASONS
WHY WE SHOULD MAKE THIS
INVESTMENT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
COMPETITIVE FOR THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.
CHINA TODAY. CENTER GROUP,
KENNEDY HAS 24,000 MILES OF HIGH
SPEED RAIL. ALL BUILT WITHIN THE
LAST 20 YEARS. SPAIN COUNTRY
ROUGHLY OUR SIZE THE SIZE OF OUR
STATE 45 46 MILLION PEOPLE.
THERE ARE 2000 MILES OF HIGH
SPEED RAIL, ALL BUILT IN RECENT
YEARS, SO THESE ARE ECONOMIC
POWERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. AND SO
THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE REASON
WHY AGAIN BEYOND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PURE MOBILITY
REASONS WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS.
YOU MENTIONED YOUR DRIVE THROUGH
FRESNO AND I WAS JUST RECENTLY
THERE TO GO AND VISIT AND SEE
WHAT THE STANDARDS OF THE
PROJECT IS. AND YOU MENTIONED
SOMETIMES NOT SEEN WORKERS
THERE. I CAN TELL YOU TODAY.
THERE ARE 24 DIFFERENT SITES.
WHERE THE HIGH SPEED RAIL
PROJECT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE 1000
PEOPLE EVERY DAY. COME TO WORK
ON THE HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT
ACROSS THE STATE SINCE WE
STARTED THE PROJECT 7800 NEARLY
8000 TRADE WORKERS HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY. COULD BE A PART OF
THE PROJECTS. PEOPLE ARE WORKING
. IT'S A JOB CREATOR AND
PROVIDER. EVERY DAY IN OUR
STATE. TWO MORE QUICK ISSUES YOU
MENTIONED. THAT UNIONS AND. IN
THE FACT THAT THEY MAY BE
OPPOSED TO OUR CURRENT DIRECTION
FOR TRANSPORTATION. I MENTIONED
TO THE MEDIA AS THEY'VE HAD A
CHANCE TO ENGAGE ME ON THIS
TOPIC AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
AS WELL. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE
TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT. IN TRANSPORTATION
AND LABOR. IT'S THAT'S HOW I SEE
IT IS. IT'S A PARTNERSHIP. BE
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO
THE STATE FOR TRANSPORTATION ARE
GOING TO BE RECORD BREAKING.
MORE THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN IN THE
STATE. CALTRANS THE DEPARTMENT
OF I USED TO OVERSEE THEIR BIT
BUDGET THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE
NEARLY $20 BILLION FOR THE
UPCOMING BEFORE. ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT THROUGH HIS BILL. $40
BILLION WILL COME TO CALIFORNIA
GUARANTEED OVER THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS, THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED
TENT NEARLY $10 BILLION FOR
TRANSPORTATION TO THE SURPLUS
MONEY. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A
TON OF WORK FOR LABOR FOR US TO
PARTNER WITH LABOR TO DELIVER
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AND IF
THERE'S ANY OPPOSITION, IT'S THE
CONCERN THAT LABOR WOULD LOSE
OUT. LABOR WILL ABSOLUTELY GAIN.
IN THIS DIRECTION WE'RE GOING
AND FINALLY YOU SAID WHY SUCH A
STANCH POSITION ON NOT WIDENING
HIGHWAYS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S
THE CASE, NECESSARILY. WHAT
WE'VE BEEN SAYING. AND WHAT I'VE
BEEN SAYING IS THAT THE DEFAULT
OPTION. CAN NO LONGER BE THAT
ANY TIME WE HAVE A
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM, WE
IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO WIDENING.
IN MAKING OUR FREEWAYS AND HOW
HE'S BIGGER. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE
DONE FOR THE LAST 60 TO 70
YEARS. AND LOOK WHAT IT'S
CREATED. THE DEFAULT ACTION HAS
TO BE WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE TOOLS
IN OUR SOLUTION BOX? TECHNOLOGY.
TRANSIT REAL WALKING, BIKING.
ALL THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ON
THE TABLE AND INVESTED IN MORE.
THAT'S HOW I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO GET OUT OF THE
SITUATION THAT WAY AND NOT THE
SOUL. INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN
MAKING FOR SO MANY YEARS IN
CALIFORNIA AND THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THAT. SO I LIKE MY
COLLEAGUE DEVICE HERE WILL
OBSCENE AND I THINK IT'S I THINK
I THINK YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO DO
THE JOB. I REALLY DO. I JUST
HAVE A WAY DIFFERENT OPINION. I
APPRECIATE YOU BEING SO CAN, YOU
KNOW, CONGENIAL AND WILLING TO
WORK ON ISSUES THAT WE HAVE? I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT VERY
MUCH. I DO HAVE A KIND OF
LIGHTER QUESTION TO ASK. UM IT'S
REALLY KIND OF PERSONAL. I GUESS
YOU MARRIED TO JULIE AND YOU
NAMED YOUR KIDS. JEREMIAH ENJOY
. UM THAT'S A J THING. AH I JUST
NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT
YOUR BIO SENATOR, YOU RAISED
FIVE CHILDREN, AND YOU KNOW HOW
CHALLENGING THAT RESPONSIBILITY
IS. SHE ALLOWED ME TO MARRY HER
PARENTS SIGNED OFF ON THAT. SO
SHE GOT TO MAKE THE DECISION ON
THE NAMES OF THE KIDS, SO I CALL
THEM THE JADE. SHE RUNS. THE
HOUSE WAS SOMETHING THERE SO
NAMED AFTER HER AS JULIE. THANK
YOU, SIR. YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL
DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MA'AM. THANK YOU, SENATOR GROVE.
SENATOR LAYERS. YES, WE'RE
MOVING TO THE TO THE J SECTION
ON THE RULES. WE ARE QUICK. YOU
GOT TO GIVE US THAT. THAT'S A
PRETTY QUICK STUDY. UM FIRST
THANK YOU FOR THE MEETING
YESTERDAY. I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
AND IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT
YOUR APPOINTMENT AND I REFLECT
SOMETIMES WE HAD A MEMBER OF THE
BOARD OF REGIONS AND TWO MEMBERS
OF THE CSU FORD A FEW WEEKS AGO
AND REALIZED ALL WERE FROM SORT
OF A DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND TO
FROM THE CENTRAL VALLEY. AND
WHAT A DIFFERENCE. AH IT IS IN
SORT OF WHO WE'RE SEEING. AND
TODAY WE HAVE TWO CABINET
SECRETARIES WITH IMMIGRANT
BACKGROUNDS AND THAT IS JUST
AMAZING. I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT
THAT THAT HAPPENS REGULARLY. AND
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION
. I ASKED YOU IN THE ARE MEETING
AND WHAT YOU REFLECT, AND THAT
IS, IS THAT YES, YOU'VE HAD 2.5
YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG IT HAS
BEEN AT CALTRANS, AND THAT IS A
BAPTISM BY FIRE. BUT PRIOR TO
THAT YOUR YOUR ADULT CAREER WAS
OUT OF STATE. IN SO IT'S SORT OF
COULD BE ONE OF TWO WAYS IT CAN
BE. HERE COMES SOMEBODY FROM THE
OUTSIDE THAT IT IS COMPETENT IN
THE ISSUES AND HAS A REAL VIEW
OF SORT OF WHAT CAN BE DONE OR
IT CAN BE. HERE'S SOMEBODY THAT
DOESN'T HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AND
HASN'T LIVED IN THE STATE
REFLECT ON THAT AND HOW YOU
FEEL. YOU SIT IN THAT WORLD?
YEAH THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SENATOR. LITERATE AND VERY MUCH
AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT SORT OF
HISTORIC NATURE, SOMETIMES
OVERLY, POSSIBLY TODAY THAT
IMMIGRANT BACKGROUNDS YOU
MENTIONED. I THINK THIS COUNTRY
IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST
IMMIGRANT STORY THAT'S EVER BEEN
BEEN TOLD THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT
PROVIDED FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND
FAMILIES. BUT TO YOUR QUESTION
ABOUT COMING TO A STATE AS VAST
AS THIS ONE AND BEING ABLE TO
DIE THEN AND WORK. AND THAT JUST
WORK. BUT TO DRIVE AND BE
SUCCESSFUL AT GETTING THINGS
DONE. I THINK YOUR QUESTION TO
ME YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THE PROS
AND CONS KIND OF BEING. BEING
FROM THE OUTSIDE QUALITY IF YOU
WILL. SO THE CANS CLEARLY ARE
WHAT YOU WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IS
YOU COME INTO AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY.
AND THERE COULD POSSIBLY NEED
MANY LANDMINES THAT YOU'RE ABOUT
TO STEP ON OR THAT YOU'RE ABOUT
TO WALK OVER A LOT OF CLOSE
CALLS. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S THE
BIG CHALLENGE IS YOU HAVE TO BE
PATIENT. AND DEVELOPING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE TO TRY
TO GAIN THE TRUST OF PEOPLE AS
WELL. THEY HAVE TO TRUST YOU.
YOU JUST TRUST THEM. UM AND AS
THAT HAPPENS OVER TIME,
HOPEFULLY THE SUCCESS COMES BUT
THE PRO SIDE IF YOU WILL OF THAT
SAME EQUATION IS THE FACT THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE THE SORT OF, YOU
KNOW. BIASED VIEW ABOUT CERTAIN
POLICY DIRECTIONS OR PEOPLE,
EVERYBODY YOU'RE LOOKING AT FROM
A CLEAN SLATE. THE POLICY ISSUES
YOU'RE LOOKING AT FROM A CLEAN
SLATE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE
BAGGAGE. IF YOU WILL, THAT COMES
ALONG WITH IT, AND YOU'RE ABLE
TO LOOK AT THINGS ARE NEW AND
FRESH. SO IT'S A YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE PROS AND CONSIDER IT BUT
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHALLENGE. UH
ALWAYS LOOK LOOK FORWARD TO
TAKING ON MAJOR MAJOR CHALLENGES
AND SORT OF HUMBLE MYSELF
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND THAT'S
CLEARLY WHAT THIS HAS BEEN, BUT
THE PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY THE
PEOPLE AT CALTRANS. THE TEAM
THAT I WORKED WITH THAT HAD A
CHANCE TO HIRE MOST OF THE
LEADERSHIP TEAM THERE. THEY WERE
INCREDIBLE AT FACING WHAT I
THINK IS THE MOST CHALLENGING
PERIOD THE STATUS EVER FACED IN
ITS HISTORY. WHICH IS THE LAST
THREE YEARS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
FIRES NATURAL DISASTERS ON AND
ON. THE PEOPLE THAT CLEARLY
HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK
YOU. AND YOU, YOU JUST
REFERENCED CALTRANS AND ACTUALLY
AND IT'S SORT OF MY ADULT LIFE.
CALTRANS IS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE
DIRECTORSHIP IS NOT ALWAYS BEEN
THE TICKET TO A PROMOTION. SO
CONGRATULATIONS, BUT I KNOW THAT
THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT OVER THE
LAST SIX OR EIGHT YEARS TO
ADDRESS THE HISTORIC CULTURE OF
CALTRANS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT
THAT YESTERDAY. EVEN THOUGH. A
SORT OF HOW DID YOU CONTINUE
THAT PROCESS AS DIRECTOR AND AS
A CABINET SECRETARY, WHICH WILL
HAVE CALTRANS HOW WILL YOU
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT? I
THINK IT'S HAVING IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT QUESTION. YOU YOU
ASKED YESTERDAY. YOU KNOW IF
WE'RE. EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET TO THE PLACE WHERE THE
DEPARTMENT LIKE CALTRANS, AND
IT'S SOME OF THE CRITICISM,
POSSIBLY FAIR. BUT I KNOW
SEVERAL OF THE PRIOR DIRECTORS
THAT CAME BEFORE ME IN THAT
ROLE. AND MANY VERY SMART, WELL
MEANING LEADERS WHO'VE RUN
ENGINEERS WHO HAVE RUN RUN THE
DEPARTMENT. BUT MY APPROACH
COMING INTO THE DEPARTMENT WAS
THAT AND YOU'VE HEARD THIS TODAY
ALREADY, AND IT CAN BE VERY
CLICHE. BUT MY BELIEF IS THAT
PEOPLE SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF
ANY DECISION THAT WE'RE MAKING.
NOT NECESSARILY THE PROJECT OR
THE BRIDGE OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE
ITSELF. THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM
LINE PHILOSOPHICAL,
PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEF. WITH LEAD
WITH THAT IN MIND IF WE LEAD
WITH THAT IN MIND THEY WOULD
TRANSFORM NOT ONLY HOW THE
DEPARTMENT OPERATES INTERNALLY
LIKE HOW IT FUNCTIONS DAY TODAY.
BUT ALSO THE OUTCOMES THAT WE
WILL SEE FOR PEOPLE IN THE FIELD
. AND SO THAT WAS MY APPROACH
COMING IN, BUILD A TEAM OF
PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST. AND LET'S
FOCUS ON PEOPLE EXTERNALLY.
EXTERNALLY AS WELL. AND THE WAY
TO DO IT. MY BELIEF JUST REAL
QUICKLY IS THREE THINGS HAVE TO
HAPPEN. NUMBER ONE. THE ACTIONS
YOU TAKE THE POLICIES THAT YOU
PUT IN PLACE OR REGULATIONS THAT
YOU PUT IN PLACE. AND FINALLY,
THE RESOURCES. THOSE THREE
THINGS NEED TO BE CENTERED
AROUND THAT PEOPLE BASED
APPROACH THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE
THOSE PEOPLE BASED OUTCOMES THAT
YOU WANT TO HAVE, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE WERE IN MY BRIEF TENURE.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE ABLE TO
TRANSFORM THE DEPARTMENT INTO
FOCUSING ON THAT PROJECT
DEADLINES AND PROJECT OUTCOMES
AND LET'S SAVE THIS AND WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR
PEOPLE. BAD ONE. THANK YOU, AND
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. BUT
IT'S ALSO SOMETHING WE'RE
INTERESTED IN AND SO OVER TIME.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'M SURE WE
WOULD ALL CONTINUE TO WANT TO
TALK ABOUT ABSOUTION. AND THEN
MAYBE. LASTLY JUST ONE OF THE
BIG QUESTIONS. IS. OBVIOUSLY
EVERYBODY IN THE ADMINISTRATION
IS ALL HANDS ON DECK ON CLIMATE
AND. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES
HAS BEEN THE TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR AND. IN IF WE'RE REALLY
GOING TO MEET THE GOALS, WE HAVE
TO MEET TO THE NEXT 10 OR 15
YEARS. IT IS BECAUSE WE WERE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR. SO WHAT DO YOU SEE YOUR
ROLE AS SORT OF PART OF AN
ADMINISTRATION THAT'S WORKING ON
THAT IN SORT OF ACCOMPLISHING
THAT OR MOVING TOWARDS THOSE
SKULLS IN THE TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SENATOR. IT'S THIS IS PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE NEXT TO
THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE FACE
AS A STATE. THIS IS PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGE. IT'S AN
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS THAT WE'RE
GOING THROUGH. I THINK THAT
THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AND FOCUS,
AND SOME OF THEM HAVE MENTIONED
ALREADY NUMBER ONE. THE ZEV
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND NOT ONLY
FOR PEOPLE BUT ALSO IN SINCE
I'VE MADE A NAME FOR MYSELF AND
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, MAKING
EVERYBODY DEFINE AN ACRONYM, UM
, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLES, RIGHT? I'M
SORRY. JUST CHECKING. I'M SORRY,
CORRECT. IS ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLES, THE ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE
MAKING. AND THE GOVERNOR HAS
PROPOSED 10 BILLION OVER THE
NEXT THREE YEARS FOR ZEB. ZEB
DEFINED IT ONCE YOU'RE YOU SOUND
LIKE A PROFESSOR, SENATOR LURK
B. SUGGESTIONS NOT RUNNING IN
BAKERSFIELD. I'M GOOD, OKAY? GET
YOUR, UM THOSE, UM THAT THAT'S A
CRITICAL PART TO THE FUTURE OF
TRANSPORTATION, NOT JUST FOR
CARS THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING.
BUT FOR THE FREIGHT AND GOODS
MOVEMENT IN OUR STATE AS WELL.
WE'VE GOT NEARLY 90% OF ALL THE
FREIGHT THAT MOVES IN CALIFORNIA
MOVES ON RUBBER WHEELS. SO NOT
ONLY CARS FREIGHT MOVEMENT FOR
REAL AND TRUCKS NEEDS NEED TO BE
SERVED AS WELL. BUT THERE ARE
TWO OTHER COMPONENTS TO GET INTO
THIS GETTING US TO REDUCE THIS
CLIMATE CHALLENGE. DIVERSIFYING
CREATING A MORE MULTIMODAL
SYSTEM. HAS TO BE AGAIN A BIG
PART OF THAT INVESTMENT. THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED A BILLION
DOLLARS FOR ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION THROUGH HIS
BUDGET INVESTMENTS OR HIGH
SPEED RAIL ON AND ON AND ON
AGAIN TO CREATE THAT MORE
MULTIMODAL NETWORK. THAT'S THE
DIRECTION THEY WERE HEADED IN
BUT THIRD AND FINAL THAT WE
DON'T TALK ABOUT A LOT IN
TRANSPORTATION. IS LAND USE. AND
THE FACT THAT WE'VE GROWN AND
DEVELOPED AS A STATE AND AS A
COMMUNITY IN A VERY SPARSE WAY.
IN A VERY SPRAWLED WAY. IF WE
CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP IN
THAT SPRAWLED FASHION IN A SORT
OF SPARSE WAY. PEOPLE WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE TO GO LONG
DISTANCES FOR SERVICES AND GOODS
TO GET TO WORK TO GET TO PLAY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE MORE MINDFUL OF
DEVELOPMENT THAT IS SENSITIVE TO
THE TRANSPORTATION CONNECTION.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT AS MUCH NOT
TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO
DEVELOP IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL
AREAS. WE VERY MUCH NEED TO DO
THAT WE HAVE HOUSING NEEDS TO
THE TUNE OF MILLIONS OF UNITS.
THAT WE NEED AS A STATE. BUT
CONSIDERING THE INFILL
OPPORTUNITIES FIRST WILL HAVE TO
BE KEY. IF WE'RE GOING TO GET
THERE FROM REDUCING OUR G H G
FROM THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
IN THE STATE. THANK YOU. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND
YOU'VE BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE IN
A DIVERSE SET OF QUESTIONS. I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU, SENATOR. ALERT. THANK
YOU, SENATOR. WELL I THINK MY
SPOUSE JENNIFER WOULD POINT OUT
THAT HE HAS A MASTERS OF ARTS IN
URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING. SO
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CALTRANS AND
PROJECT BASED AND ENGINEERS, I
THINK YOU'RE GETTING THE OTHER
SIDE OF THAT. WHICH IS WHY YOU
JUST BROUGHT UP LAND USE AND THE
NEXUS TO HOUSING AS WELL AS
TRANSPORTATION. SO, UM YOU KNOW
, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON ON
PROJECTS THAT ARE ABOUT MOVING
PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY WE HAVE
ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY, MY VICE CHAIR
IS QUITE AWARE OF THE LOW SAND.
SITUATION AND THE RAIL LINE
THERE AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS
, IS THE SECOND BUSIEST LINE IN
THE COUNTRY RELATED TO MOVING
PEOPLE AS WELL AS GOOD FROM SAN
DIEGO AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
NORTH SO I THINK YOU KNOW THAT'S
A PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IN
PARTICULAR. ME, SO I APPRECIATE
IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON
THAT. MORE THAN ANYTHING. I AM
GOSH, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER. I'M
LOOKING AT AS MY COLLEAGUES DID
YOUR TIMELINE AND LONG SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 2015 AND 2019. I WAS
ACTUALLY DRIVING FROM MEMPHIS TO
NASHVILLE TO VIRGINIA ALL NIGHT
RADIO. I CAN GIVE YOU A COUNTRY
SONG ABOUT ALL NIGHT RADIOS TO
BUT LISTENING TO THE RADIO
BECAUSE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT
HOW TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION AS
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH YOUR STATE
AS YOU WERE THE DEPUTY
COMMISSIONER, CHIEF OF PLANNING
AND ENVIRONMENT WITH THE YOU
KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. AND LISTENING TO
THE VERY SAME DISCUSSION IN
TENNESSEE. AT NIGHTTIME RADIO
THAT WE WERE HAVING RIGHT HERE
IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT HOW ARE WE
GOING TO PAY FOR OUR ROADS? HOW
ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR? YOU
KNOW, AND I WAS IT WAS LIKE A
LIGHT. WHEN I'M LIKE, GOSH, WE
ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES HAVING
THIS SERIOUS CONVERSATION. UM
RED STATES, BLUE STATES, PURPLE
STATES, THEY'RE ALL HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE, SO WE COME FROM
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. IN TERMS
OF HOW WE SHOULD ADDRESS SOME OF
THESE THINGS, BUT THE ISSUE IS
THE ISSUE. WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO ADDRESS
TRANSPORTATION. AGAIN I'M HAPPY
TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT IT FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF BRINGING IN
THE LAND USE PATTERNS BECAUSE
THAT WAS A NEW CONCEPT A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT. YOU HAVE A BIG JOB. I
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT
OBVIOUSLY YOU COME FROM A BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO
BRING IT TOGETHER. AND I DO
ACTUALLY THINK IT'S A
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE IN
YOUR EDUCATION TO TRY TO COME UP
WITH NEW IDEAS AND WAYS TO DO IT
SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS OF MY COLLEAGUES. AND
CERTAINLY I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE-THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO
COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW
WAYS TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
AND SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OTHER THAN JUST TO SAY
THANK YOU KEEP IN MIND SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. WE WANT TRANSIT AS
WELL. WE WANT MUCH LIKE OUR
WATER PORTFOLIO IS SO DIVERSE IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE NEED OUR
TRANSPORTATION PORTFOLIO TO BE
DIVERSE AND WORK TOGETHER SO I
APPRECIATE THE ROLE THAT YOU'RE
PLAYING TO DO THAT. UM IF I
COULD JUST QUICKLY COMMENT PRO
TEM MADAM PROTON JUST QUICKLY.
LOW SECTION AND DELMAR BLUFF ARE
HIGHLY DEFINITELY ON MY ON MY
RADAR KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
TO TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY.
AND IN, ESPECIALLY IN SAN DIEGO
COUNTY AND IN THE REGION. IT'S
OKAY OUR REGION. AND AS FAR AS
THE GET SUPER MEMORY, A GREAT
MEMORY BECAUSE THAT AREA THAT
PERIOD YOU MENTIONED AT EXACTLY
RIGHT. THE CONVERSATION THAT
CALIFORNIA WAS HAVING. I WAS IN
TENNESSEE AT THE TIME. 2015
THROUGH 2017. I'M TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR
TRANSPORTATION AND SB ONE PAST
YEAR AND THE IMPROVED ACT AS
WHAT IT WAS CALLED, ULTIMATELY
PASSED IN TENNESSEE. SO IT'S A
KEY PART OF OUR FUTURE IS MAKING
THESE INVESTMENT. WELL THANK YOU
. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE
GLEANED AND GOT YOUR EXPERTISE
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. UM, VERY
MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND GO TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO MAY BE HERE TO SPEAK. WE'RE
GOING TO START IN SUPPORT, GOING
TO ASK PEOPLE TO DISTANCE AS
BEST THEY CAN. WE'RE STILL
FOLLOWING SOME GUIDELINES TO
KEEP US ALL SAFE. BUT PLEASE
COME ON FORWARD. WHOEVER WANTS
TO GO FIRST. YOU CAN UM. YOUR
NAME ORGANIZATION, IF ANY, ANY
ANY EXCUSE ME AND BRIEF
COMMENTS. GREAT GOOD AFTERNOON
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE E. ATKINS,
MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE
CHRISLEY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES HERE TODAY IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE NOMINATION OF MR
AMOS SCHOCKEN. AS SECRETARY OF
CALISTA. THERE'S A LOT OF
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT
HIM TO BE THE SECRETARY. BUT I'M
GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO THAT WE
WROTE UP IN OUR LETTER. FIRST
HE'S INCREDIBLY ACCESSIBLE TO
LOCAL AGENCIES IN TRANSPORTATION
IF YOU'RE HAVING ANY SORT OF
COMPLEX PROJECT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A MIX OF FEDERAL, STATE AND
LOCAL FUNDING AND THAT REQUIRES
COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION.
SO WE BROUGHT SUPERVISORS IN. WE
BROUGHT OUR PUBLIC WORKS
DIRECTORS IN AND HE LISTENS. HE
TAKES GREAT NOTES AS YOU'VE SEEN
DURING THIS HEARING, AND WE HAVE
SEEN OUR CONCERNS ELEVATED. WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES
GETTING ENCROACHMENT PERMITS FOR
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ON STATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM, WE SEE THAT
REFLECTED IN ITS DIRECTORS
POLICY ON COMPLETE STREETS, AND
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY NEEDS
, WE SEE DEAL CUT FOR THE IDEA
IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THE
WORKING GROUP PROCESS THAT
MAXIMIZES FUNDING FOR LOCAL
SAFETY GRANTS. THAT'S REALLY THE
SECOND ISSUE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT. THAT SUPPORT FOR
SAFETY AND REALLY EVERYTHING
THAT CAL STONE CALTRANS DOES IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR
COUNTIES. WE HAVE INCREDIBLY
HIGH RATES OF FATALITIES ON OUR
PART OF THE SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH
THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE DRIVING.
AND SO THAT EMPHASIS AND
COMMITMENT TO SAFETY INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY SYSTEM
AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP AND HOPE THAT YOU
WILL CONFIRM HIM AS SECRETARY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARK WATTS
IN MADAME PROTEIN AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY ON
BEHALF OF TRANSPORTATION
CALIFORNIA REPRESENTING OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KONO, VIANA,
VALENTINE AND OUR CHAIR STEVE
CLARK. NAMES THAT YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH. SECRETARY WE ALSO
REPRESENT A MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
, WHICH IS A WIDE RANGE OF
INDUSTRY AND ALLIED LABOR. WE
TOO HAVE SUBMITTED A LETTER
WON'T GO THROUGH THE DETAILS OF
IT, AND I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE
TO SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT AND
CONFIRMATION OF MR AMOS SCHOCKEN
AS SECRETARY. SPEAKING
PERSONALLY AS A FORMER
UNDERSECRETARY IN A PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION AND JOINTLY AS
WELL FROM OUR INDUSTRY GROUP. WE
BELIEVE MR AMOS SCHOCKEN HAS THE
REQUISITE SERVICE AND
TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY.
DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
THAT QUALIFIES HIM TO SERVE AS
SECRETARY. MORE OF A HEAT. AS MR
LEE POINTED OUT, HE HAS A SOLID
DEMONSTRATION OF WORKING WITH
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMATIC
ISSUES THAT ARISE VERY
ACCESSIBLE AND AS A VERY
IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE IN THIS DAY
AND AGE, AND I THINK AT THIS
POINT I WAS CLOSE AND JUST SAY
WE FIND HIM TO BE A BOLD LEADER.
ON SOME VERY DIFFICULT
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AS HE
WORKS HIS WAY THROUGH AND HIS
HIS DEPARTMENT'S WORK THEIR WAY
THROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE IJ
WORKGROUPS VERY IMPORTANT THAT
HE'S BEHIND THE SCENE MAKING
SURE IS GOOD UNFAIRLY. AND WE
ARE PROUD TO RECOMMEND HIM TO
SERVE AS SECRETARY FOR
TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM PRO TEM AND
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE RULES
COMMITTEE DAMON CONKLIN ON
BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES SINCE 2019.
WE'VE ENJOYED A VERY STRONG
PARTNERSHIP. UM WITH THEN
DIRECTOR OF A SHOCK AND UNDER
HIS DIRECTION LEADERSHIP AT
CALTRANS. HE'S IMPLEMENTED
INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES. AND TO
CREATE MORE OF AN EQUITABLE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FOR ALL
USERS WON'T REALLY IMPROVING
SAFETY AND LIVABILITY OF
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE STATE.
MM. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP JUST TO
POINT OUT WITH BREVITY IN MIND
AND WANT TO ECHO THE SAME
SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED
EARLIER. BUT THREE DISTINCT
POINTS HERE. HE'S UNDER HIS
LEADERSHIP. CALTRANS ACCELERATED
100 OVER 100 MAJOR ROADWAY
PROJECTS. DURING THE PANDEMIC,
AND THAT'S MUCH LIKE YOU KNOW,
UM WORKING UNDER THE MOST
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS, SUPPLY
INTERRUPTIONS TO SUPPLY CHAIN
AND ADJUSTING SCHEDULES TO MAKE
THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE ALL THE TRAINS ARE
MOVING ON TIME. BUT ALSO, UM
REALLY SPEARHEADING THE
TRANSFORMATIVE CLEAN CALIFORNIA
INITIATIVE, WHICH IS JUST BEEN
REVITALIZING PUBLIC SPACES
ACROSS THE STATE. CITIES ENJOY
PARTNERSHIP. WE ENJOY OPEN DOOR
ACCESS AND THE COLLABORATION AND
WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER IN THE ACTING SECRETARY
IS NEW NEW ROLE. I AM. WE CAN'T
THINK OF A MORE QUALIFIED AND
MORE DEDICATED PERSON AND
ABSOLUTE TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT. SO
WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION
AND ASK FOR A VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI TYLER,
MUNCHING ON BEHALF OF THE
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING
COMPANIES, CALIFORNIA
REPRESENTING OVER 1000 DESIGN,
ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING FIRMS
IN THE STATE, AS WELL AS OVER
25,000 DESIGN PROFESSIONALS. THE
MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE CERTIFIED
. SPT B D V V AND ARREST AND
JUST WANTED TO EXTEND OUR
SUPPORT FOR SECRETARY MARSH AKAN
AS WELL. WE'VE HAD A VERY
SUCCESSFUL, VERY APPRECIATIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM BOTH IN
THIS CURRENT ROLE AS WELL AS
THAT CALTRANS AND PREVIOUSLY
WITH OUR AFFILIATE IN TENNESSEE
AS WELL. JUST WANTED TO SPEAK
THAT WE SHARE A LOT OF YOUR SAME
VALUES IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY IN
TERMS OF SAFETY IN TERMS OF
INNOVATION, CLIMATE, OBVIOUSLY
THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES,
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES AND THE
LIKE, AND JUST WANT TO EXPRESS
HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE AGAIN
FOR THAT OPEN ACCESS. WE HAVE A
VERY ROBUST LIAISON
RELATIONSHIP, ESPECIALLY. WITH
THE DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU WERE THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT AS
WELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE THAT AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY,
WITH REPLACEMENT AND ENJOY THIS
RELATIONSHIP AND JUST WANT TO
COMMEND THEM TO YOU AND URGE
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS, PLEASE. WELL, MADAM
PROTEST AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE MATT ROMAN HERE
REPRESENTING UNION PACIFIC
RAILROAD, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORT MR MARSHAK INS
APPOINTMENT. WE'VE WORKED THEM
ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES DURING HIS
TIME. CALTRANS. I HAVE ALWAYS
FOUND HIM TO BE FAIR AND VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE GOING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MICHAEL
PIMENTEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION, HERE TODAY ON
BEHALF OF MY 220 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING 85
TRANSIT AND RAIL AGENCIES HERE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE
AND SUPPORT OF MR MARSHAK AND IN
THIS CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR
THE ROLE OF SECRETARY OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION
AGENCY. AND OUR SUPPORT FOR MR
MARSHAK AND HIS PREDICATED ON
HIS LONGTIME LEADERSHIP ON
ISSUES RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY
, MULTI MODALITY AS WELL AS
EQUITY. I'LL SAY THAT AS AN
ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE TAKEN
INCREASING BET TOWARDS ELEVATING
THE VOICES OF COMMUNITIES OF
CONCERN WITHIN THE
TRANSPORTATION LANDSCAPE. WE SEE
THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE
REALLY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RE EVENT OR TRANSIT
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, GIVEN
THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE IDEA, AND
ALSO TO THE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS
THAT YOU ALL ARE HAVING. AND WE
THINK THAT MR AMOS SCHOCKEN IS
EXACTLY THE RIGHT INDIVIDUAL TO
LEAD OUR INVESTMENTS MOVING
FORWARD TO REALLY TRANSFORM OUR
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
ULTIMATELY UPLIFT OUR
COMMUNITIES INCREASED BETTER
CONNECTIONS FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS
WITH THAT. DO YOU WANT TO URGE
YOUR I VOTE TODAY AND THEN VERY
FINALLY TAKING OFF MY CALIFORNIA
TRANSIT ASSOCIATION HAD I WANT
TO VOICE ON BEHALF OF THE
PACIFIC MERCHANT SHIPPING
ASSOCIATION, OR SUPPORT FOR MR
MARSHAK IN AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU,
MADAM PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. TODD BLOOM STEIN ON
BEHALF OF THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION. YES AND ALL UNION
ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCIAL
ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS AND
THEIR AFFILIATES MEMBERS HELPED
CONSTRUCT OUR STATE'S HIGHWAYS,
ROADWAYS, BRIDGES, AIRPORTS AND
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY
REGULARLY CONSTRUCT PROJECTS FOR
CALTRANS THAT LIKELY AMOUNTS IN
THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. SCC IS PROUD
TO SUPPORT MR OMAR SCHALKEN'S
CONFIRMATION TODAY. UNDER HIS
LEADERSHIP, CALTRANS HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARILY ACCESSIBLE A
WORD YOU FREQUENTLY HEARD WITH
THE ADVOCATES TODAY. THROUGH ITS
QUARTERLY INDUSTRY, LIAISON
MEETINGS, TRUCKING PERMIT
MEETINGS AND LEGISLATIVE UNIT.
FCC AND MEMBERS HAVE COMPARED
OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES TO
CALTRANS. AND HAVE STATED TO ME
THE CALTRANS IS A PREMIER PUBLIC
WORKS CUSTOMER. HOWEVER THERE
ARE MANY CHALLENGES THAT FACE
OUR INDUSTRY MATERIAL SUPPLY
COSTS, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE LIMITATIONS, FOR
INSTANCE, SEC S LABOR AGREEMENTS
PRECLUDE UNION CONTRACTORS FROM
CONTRACTING WITH NONUNION DBED
CONTRACTORS. THE DANGERS OF
STRIKING UNMARKED CALTRANS OWNED
UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE OR
ALL CONCERNS WE'VE SHARED WITH
THE DEPARTMENT AND STAFF WOULD
LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH THE
SECRETARY HIMSELF PERSONALLY. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY
AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I
VOTE ON HIS CONFIRMATION. THANK
YOU, MADAM PRO TEM. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH OTHER SPEAKERS. OKAY
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE,
UM TELECONFERENCE, AND I'M GONNA
HAVE THAT NUMBER DISPLAYED
AGAIN. 877. 2268163 THE TOLL
FREE NUMBER. THE ACCESS CODE
8646445 AND MODERATOR WILL COME
BACK TO YOU TO TEACH PEOPLE WHO
MAY WISH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, THE BOMBS IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, HE'S
PRESSED 10 IF YOU'VE NOT ALREADY
DONE SO THEY'RE NOT QUITE 10 OF
A SECOND TIME, BUT THAT WILL
MOVE YOU FROM THE QUÊ. OUR FIRST
COMMENT COMES FROM LINE 46,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. I BELIEVE
THAT'S LINE 46. THAT'S ME, MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS, ANDREW ANTWI ON
BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF AGENCIES
AND SUPPORT OF SECRETARY OF
SCHALKEN'S CONFIRMATION HERE,
RUN THROUGH THE LIST OF COURT.
OF LOS ANGELES. SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL
AUTHORITY, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
METROLINK. UM LOS ANGELES MAYOR
ERIC GARCETTI AND THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. THANK
YOU. NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. OUR
NEXT COMMENT COMES FROM THE
LINES. 54 IS GOING AHEAD. HI MY
NAME IS MARTHA MILLER AND THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO
AUTHORITIES, WHICH CONSISTS OF
THE 11TH PUBLIC COMMERCIAL
SEAPORTS IN CALIFORNIA. AND I'M
HERE JUST TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT
FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF, UM
SECRETARY POPE. HE I THINK
YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY FOLKS
ALREADY, BUT HE ALREADY IN A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY ASSESSABLE AND YOU
KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON
WITH THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN
RIGHT NOW HE'S GOING TO BE A
CRITICAL PARTNER FOR US AND HAS
ALREADY SHOWED THAT HE HAS BEEN
SO ON BEHALF OF THE HEALTH
RESEARCH STATION OF PORT
AUTHORITIES. WE ASKED FOR YOU TO
PLEASE. SO IN SUPPORT OF THIS
CONFIRMATION, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS,
PLEASE. LINE. 56, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. PULL THEM OUT, UM,
PROTEST STEVE BAKER WITH AARON
REGION ASSOCIATES REPRESENTING
THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OF
SECRETARY OF SHOTGUNS
APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH NEXT WITNESS. FLYING
45 IS GOING ON. MADAM PROTON AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS MATE SO LOVE
ON IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
CONFIRMATION ON BEHALF OF
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AGENCIES
, TONY. FRANCISCO WATER
EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY AGAIN IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. NEXT WITNESS. BLIND
52, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS,
KIRK BLACKBURN OF MOST MAPS TO
CITY COHEN AND BEYOND THE CITY
OF INGLEWOOD AND ENGLAND MAYOR
JAMES B. BUT SUPPORTIVE
CONFIRMATION FROM A SHOCKING AS
SECRETARY OF THROUGHOUT HIS
TENURE AS DIRECTOR OF CALTRANS,
MR MARSHAK HAS DEMONSTRATED
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE AND
ACTUAL TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING
THE FORMATION OF THE CALTRANS
OFFICE OF RACE AND EQUITY, AS
WELL AS ONGOING EFFORTS BEFORE
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION,
INCLUDING TRANSIT. TIME IN
CALIFORNIA HAS AN UNPRECEDENTED
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS AND
ITS INFRASTRUCTURE. MR. STOCKTON
IS THE RIGHT LEADER TO HELP
DELIVER THE SUSTAINABLE AND
ACTUAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
THAT CALIFORNIA DESERVES. FOR
THESE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS,
THE CITY OF INGLEWOOD URGES YOUR
SUPPORT FROM HIS CONFIRMATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
NEXT WITNESS. I'M SURE THERE ARE
NO ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS AND
QUÊ THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL
BE BACK WITH YOU IN A MOMENT.
UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO
THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION WILL START IN ROOM
2200. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION. OKAY, SEEING NO. ONE
AH, MODERATOR. WE WILL. MR.
MODERATOR WILL BE BACK WITH YOU
NOW. DO YOU WANT TO T FOLKS UP
WHO MAY WISH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION? THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR, SPEAKING OPPOSITION PRESS
10. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SO FAR
LINE WE HAVE MORE COMING LINE,
39 IS GO AHEAD. AND HAS LEFT THE
QUEUE LINE. 44 GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
ONCE AGAIN TO COMMENT. PRESS 10
DO NOT PRESS 10 2ND TIME FOR YOU
REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE QUÊ.
LINE. 39, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR
YOU. PLEASE GO AHEAD. SENATOR
GOOD AFTERNOON, SENATORS. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS A SANDY, BUT I AM THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. OF THE
SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENT SUNDAY. I WOULD LIKE
TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT
FOR THE NOMINATION OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE CALIFORNIA TEST
DEFICIENT AGENCY. CALIFORNIA HAS
AND THE SEGMENTED CHANGE THE
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION RIGHT NOW.
THE LEVEL OF FUNDING BECOMING
AVAILABLE PHYSICAL THAT WE HAVE
THE RIGHT LEADER. IN PLACE TO
ENSURE OPPORTUNITIES THAT. I
BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT 63. GO OUT
AND I HAVE WITNESSED AND THE
LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT AND
FINANCIAL SECRETARY ON THE
SECOND DRINKS AS WORK. THIS
FOCUS ON EQUITY CLIMATE ACTION.
AND SAFETY. HAS HELPED.
MODERNIZE THE CULTURE OF
TRANSPORTATIONS WHILE THE STATE
AND THE KIDS EXPERIENCE IN THE
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY HAS
DEMONSTRATED HIS ABILITIES TO
SUCCESSFULLY NEED AND SETTLE THE
LARGE AND COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES. THE CORNEA FACING
SUCCESSFUL SECOND PIVOTAL
COORDINATION EFFORTS. SANDBAG
TALK NINES. AND OUR PARTNERS IN
MEXICO TO HELP EVERYONE IRISH,
THE FUTURE ALTAI MEASURE. THIS
FROM A SECOND HAS BEEN PHYSICAL.
OUR COURSE, REALIZED THAT. TO
MAKE SURE THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
AND. THE MINUTE TAKE HIS WORDS
OF THE FACT THAT THIS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY FOR
THE STATEMENT. HIS SUPPORT TO
THE FIVE BIG MORE THAN EFFICIENT
PLAN. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SANDACK
PARTNER IN THE STATE IN WAYS
LIKE NEVER BEFORE. AND SECURITY
LOCATION HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY
TO ENGAGE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION.
THERE'S LIGHTS AND THAT TWO
OUNCES FOR YEARS WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY TO DEVELOP
LASTING PARTNERSHIP AMONG
AGENCIES ACTIVELY LEVEL. WE
THANK THEM FOR THAT LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUED VISION. WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF THOMAS
SECOND FOR SECRETARY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR LOVE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY SO
THAT WAS IN SUPPORT. UM MR
MODERATOR, I THINK WE'RE STILL
ON ANYONE WHO MIGHT WISH TO
SPEAK IN OPPOSITION. DO YOU SEE
FURTHER WITNESSES IN THE QUEUE?
THEY HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL WITNESS
IN THE QUEUE LINE. 44, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON, SPEAKING
A STRATEGY THROUGH STRATEGY
CALLING ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
GOVERNMENT AND ON BEHALF OF THE
COURT OF OAKLAND AND SUPPORTED
MR OMAR SHOPPING CONFIRMATION
AFFECT CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION
AGENCY TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ARE YOU STILL THERE? IF
YOU'RE THERE, WILL YOU GIVE ME
YOUR NAME AGAIN? IT WAS A LITTLE
HARD TO HEAR. YEAH STEPHANIE HAS
STARTED WITH STRATEGIES. GOT IT?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANOTHER
PERSON IN SUPPORT. LET ME UM AND
I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT.
I'M SURE THE SECRETARY DOES AS
WELL. IS MR MODERATOR. IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE? OKAY
ONCE AGAIN, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THE PHONES IF YOU
WANT TO COMMENT IN A POSITION
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. MADAM
SHARE A SHORT POSITIVE HAVE NO
RESPONDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN
HELPING US FACILITATE THE
SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION. WILL
BRING IT BACK HAVING GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION. I'M
GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF EMOTION.
SENATOR LORD THANK YOU. A MOTION
HAS BEEN MADE. MADAM SECRETARY,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
GROVE I DROVE. I KAMLAGER AYE,
KAMLAGER. AYE, THERE'D BATES.
NOT VOTING IS NOT VOTING. ATKINS
ATKINS, I 4 TO 0420.
CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY. AND UH TO YOUR
FAMILY FOR SITTING THROUGH THIS
AND BEING HERE AS WELL. WE THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE. THANK YOU
. LET ME LET ME DO ONE THING
BEFORE I CHECK AND SEE IF WE
NEED ANOTHER BREAK. LET ME ASK
YOU, MADAM SECRETARY TO OPEN THE
ROLL ON ONE A, WHICH WAS THE
APPOINTMENT OF A MI TONG AS THE
SECRETARY OF GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS AGENCY. LAIRD I 5 TO
05 TO ZERO. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT. LET ME SEE IF WE COULD
TAKE A SHORT BREAK A SHORT
BREAK. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK
YOU ALL.
WE NEED SNAPS. I'M GOING TO GIVE
US 62ND WARNING BECAUSE OUR
COURT REPORTER SAID TO SHORT
BREAK AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO
SHORT BREAK. SO 60 SECONDS WE'RE
GOING TO GO BACK INTO RECESSION.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
RESTART THE RULES COMMITTEE
MEETING. I KNOW THAT SENATOR
KAMLAGER WILL REJOIN US IN A
MOMENT. WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO
GO TO ITEM ONE. C AND D AND THAT
IS THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES.
MEMBERS TO THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION. SO LET ME WELCOME DR
JOSE FRANCISCO ESCOBEDO AND DR
CYNTHIA GLOVER WOODS. THANK YOU
BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR
INCREDIBLE PATIENTS TODAY.
WELCOME TO YOU BOTH. AND I WILL
START WITH YOU. DR ESCOBAR ASK
YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF
ACKNOWLEDGE ANYONE YOU WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE OPENING COMMENTS.
THEN DR GLOVER WOOS, WE WILL GO
TO YOU ALLOW YOU THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY AND THEN WE WILLGO
TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO EACH
OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY. HOWEVER
THEY WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS.
THEY WILL DIRECT THE QUESTION OR
COMMENT TO YOU DIRECTLY. THIS
COULD BE A LOT EASIER THAN WE'RE
ONLINE. BECAUSE ALWAYS, WE HAD
TO KIND OF FACILITATE
DIFFERENTLY. IT WAS A LOT
HARDER. SO I'M SO GLAD THAT
YOU'RE HERE TODAY. AND WITH THAT
, THE DOCTOR ESCOBEDO, LET ME
ASK YOU TO GO AHEAD. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY ME
SEE IF THAT'S ON THERE YOU GO. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ATTEND THIS SENATE HEARING TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM YOU TODAY AND WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU, MY LOVELY
WIFE, LATISHA, WHO'S SITTING
BEHIND ME AS WELL AS MY AMAZING
DAUGHTER, SOPHIE, WHO IS JUST
GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND
WILL BE GOING TO FORDHAM
UNIVERSITY. IN A FEW MONTHS.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
SERVING COUNTLESS STUDENTS,
PARENTS AND EDUCATORS DURING MY
30, PLUS YEARS AS A K 12
EDUCATION DURING MY ROLE AS A
TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL AND
SUPERINTENDENT. AND PRESENTLY I
AM SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTER
OF URBAN SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION
BASED IN SAN DIEGO STATE
UNIVERSITY. YOU WILL SEE THAT I
WILL BRING MY PASSION FOR
EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY TO THE
ROLE OF STATE BOARD MEMBER UPON
YOUR CONFIRMATION BEAM BEING A
CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS. I REALIZED
THAT EDUCATION PLAY SUCH A
PIVOTAL ROLE IN TRANSFORMING MY
LIFE, NAMELY, BY GAINING AN IVY
LEAGUE EDUCATION, BUT JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS BEING A EMPATHETIC
AND COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEING,
UM ALTHOUGH BEING AN EDUCATOR
TRULY WASN'T MY GOAL GROWING UP.
IT WAS THROUGH MY BRIEF TIME IN
LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY LEARNED TO
GRAVITY AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE
EFFECT OF ATTAINING A
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION. TO THIS
EXPERIENCE AS A POLICE OFFICER
LED ME TO MAKE HELP ME MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN WHAT I WAS DOING.
SO INSTEAD INSTEAD OF
INCARCERATING PEOPLE YOUTH, I
WAS TEACHING YOUTH. SO IT IS
WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND
CONVICTION THAT I CONTINUE MY
ROLE. AND IT HAS SEEN THE LIVES
OF NOW OVER SIX MILLION STUDENTS
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND
IT IS A ROLE THAT WILL TAKE
VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. AND AGAIN
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, DOCTOR. DR GLOVER
WOODS. WELCOME. THANK YOU SO
VERY MUCH. MADAM PRO TEM AND
ESTEEMED SENATORS OF THE SENATE
RULES COMMITTEE. I AM HONORED TO
BE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR
CONSIDERATION FOR CONFIRMATION.
WHILE NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN
THE ROOM. DUE TO OUR COVID
PROTOCOLS. I DO HAVE JOINING ME
REMOTELY IN SUPPORTING MY MOTHER
, CAROLYN GLOVER FROM OCEAN SIDE
. I HAVE THEM ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY HERE. MY HUSBAND BYRON
WOODS AND EAST VILLAS. WELL AS
MY DAUGHTER, ALINA. AND MY OTHER
DAUGHTER, WHO JUST RECENTLY
GRADUATED ON MOTHER'S DAY AS A
MATTER OF FACT HAILING FROM
VIRGINIA AND HOST OF OTHER
FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SO I'M JUST
SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THEM AS MY
SUPPORT WHO I CONSIDER TO BE THE
WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. AND THE
WORK THAT I DO, UH, I AM PROUD
TO BE A PRODUCT OF THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EDUCATION
SYSTEM. I WAS RAISED IN A
MILITARY FAMILY AND I STARTED MY
12 CAREER IN FRESNO UNIFIED. AND
MY FATHER GOT TRANSFERRED AND WE
MOVED TO OCEANSIDE, AND THAT IS
WHERE I FINISHED GOING FORWARD
FROM THERE. BOTH OF MY PARENTS
WERE BORN IN THE SEGREGATED SELF
AND RAISED DURING THE JIM CROW
ERA. MY FATHER MADE A DECISION
TO GO INTO THE MILITARY. AND HE
RETIRED FROM THE UNITED STATES
MARINE CORPS VERY, VERY PROUD TO
DO SO AND WENT ON TO HIS SECOND
CAREER AT THE SAND AND NOT FOR A
NUCLEAR PLANT FOR SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA EDISON. HE CHOSE THE
CAREER PATH. MY MOTHER, WHO WAS
THE FIRST TO GRADUATE HIGH
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DECIDED TO GO
FORWARD AND BE A HIGH SCHOOL
ENGLISH TEACHER. SHE CHOSE THE
COLLEGE PATH. THE REASON THAT I
SHARE THAT IS THAT WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, WE KNOW THAT
WE WANT POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS
FOR ALL OF THEM, WHETHER IT BE
THROUGH A CAREER PATH OR A
COLLEGE PATH. THANK YOU AS A
WORKING MOM. I BEGAN TO FIND OUT
VERY FIRST HAND THE
PRACTICALITIES OF BRINGING
CHILDREN THROUGH SCHOOL AS I
SURE TO HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND
MY HUSBAND. WHO WORKED FOR 34
YEARS FOR L. A COUNTY SHERIFF
DEPARTMENT HAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER.WE WERE HAD TO WORK
TOGETHER THROUGH HIS VARIOUS
SHIFTS IF YOU WILL TO BRING OUR
CHILDREN THROUGH SCHOOL, AND I
REALIZED FIRST HAND HOW
CHALLENGING IT COULD BE TO WORK
FULL TIME. AND COME HOME AND
HELP WITH HOMEWORK AND DARE I
SAY SCIENCE PROJECTS, MISSION
PROJECTS AND THE LIKE. AND I
STARTED TO REALIZE IF IT WAS
CHALLENGING FOR ME WITH THE
SPOUSE WITH RESOURCES WITH THE
BACKGROND IN EDUCATION AND HOW
TO NAVIGATE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHAT MUST IT BE LIKE FOR
FAMILIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE THAT
LEVEL OF RESOURCE. SO WHEN I
THINK ABOUT MY WIFE WHY AM I SO
EXCITED TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU
THIS AFTERNOON? WHY AM I EXCITED
TO BE CONSIDERED ONCE AGAIN FOR
THE VERY HONORABLE POSITION OF
MEMBER OF THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION? IT'S BECAUSE I KNOW
THE DIFFERENCE THAT THE PUBLIC
EDUCATION CAN MAKE. IN THE LIFE
OF CHILDREN. THEIR FAMILIES AND
THEIR GENERATION. I'M AN EXAMPLE
OF THAT. I ALSO KNOW FROM MY
BACKGROUND, STARTING AS AN
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT, SO
WORKING IN CLASSIFIED POSITIONS
AS WELL AS BEING A TEACHER.
PRINCIPAL AND DISTRICT AND
COUNTY OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR. HOW
IMPORTANT POLICY AND PROGRAMS
ARE FOR SCHOOLS. AND I REALIZED
THAT OUR POLICIES AND STRUCTURES
CAN BE A BRIDGE. OR THEY CAN BE
A BARRIER. AND MY GOAL. IN
SERVING THIS CHILDREN IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS
THE FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS. IS
TO BE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE
POLICIES SERVE SERVE AS BRIDGES.
NOT BARRIERS IN SURELY NOT TO
TEAR THOSE BRIDGES DOWN FOR
STUDENTS, SO I'M JUST VERY
EXCITED TO HAVE HEARD THE
APPOINTEES BEFORE ME. AND JUST
KIND OF REALLY HELPED TO
SOLIDIFY AS I LISTENED TO THE
NEED FOR TECHNOLOGY, THE NEED
FOR ENGINEERS, THE NEED FOR
WORKERS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. HOW
IMPORTANT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM IS AND I AM HAPPY TO
SPEAK WITH YOU AND ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE THIS
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH
SENATOR LAIRD, WHO JUST ALSO
HAPPENS TO BE THE BUDGET SUB FOR
ONE, WHICH IS EDUCATION. WELL,
THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY EASY
BECAUSE I HAD A GREAT MEETING
WITH BOTH OF THEM. I READ WHAT
YOU SUBMITTED AND POOR DR GLOVER
WOODS HAD TO GO THROUGH
CONFIRMATION ROUGHLY A YEAR AGO
. SO SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE
MILL RECENTLY. SO I'M VERY
COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR
APPOINTMENTS, AND I HAVE NO
QUESTION. WOW THAT'S EXCELLENT.
SENATOR LAIRD OBVIOUSLY HAS DONE
HIS HOMEWORK. AND SO BOTH OF THE
DOCTORS WOULD BE VERY VERY
ACCOMMODATING AND COMMENDING OF
YOU. UM WELL, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
WHY DON'T I ASK IF YOU WANT TO
GO NEXT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THANK YOU. HUM PRO TEAM AND
THANK YOU, DR GLOVER, WOODS AND
DR ESCOVEDO FOR YOUR DEDICATION
HERE AND COMING FORWARD TO SERVE
ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
BOARD OF EDUCATION. UM I BELIEVE
WHEN YOU WERE HERE THE LAST TIME
DR GROVER WOODS. WE TALKED ABOUT
THE MATH, CARILLO CURRICULUM AND
MY UH, SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS AT
THAT TIME ABOUT THE CRITICISMS
OR THAT LET'S SAY THE CONCERN
WITH WHAT WAS COMING FORWARD. IT
SEEMS TO BE HEIGHTENED. INFO UM
I REMAIN EVEN MORE CONCERNED,
AND I'D ASK BOTH OF YOU TO
ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT HAS
COME BEFORE US. THERE WERE
SERIOUS FLAWS IDENTIFIED BY UC
AND CSU FACULTY. AS WELL AS
INDUSTRIAL THE INDUSTRY
PROFESSIONALS THAT WE SHOULD HIT
THE RESET BUTTON AND START THE
MATH CURRICULUM FROM SCRATCH AND
A NUMBER OF EDITORIALS TO THAT.
EFFECT AND IT'S TROUBLING
KNOWING THAT THE CURRICULUM IS
VOLUNTARY. YOU KNOW, WE
DISCUSSED THAT LAST TIME THAT
THE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO ADAPT
THAT. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
WHAT THE SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO
DO, AND THAT'S THEIR GUIDANCE IN
ITS HIGHLY CRITICIZED BY, YOU
KNOW, KILLER PULITZER PRIZE
WINNERS LIKE PEOPLE THAT ARE
REALLY SIGNIFICANTLY IN X WAS
SIGNIFICANT EXPERTISE ON WHAT IS
NEEDED IN THE MATH CURRICULUM TO
MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS CAN
ADMIT. COLLEGE. AND ON UP. INTO
YOU KNOW. THE. SOCIETY IN THE IN
THE DECADES AND GENERATIONS TO
COME. IT'S TROUBLING TO KNOW
THAT THESE. SPOKE THESE
SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS ARE SAYING
THIS DOESN'T MAKE IT. SO WHAT
ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON? HOW WE
ADDRESS AND ADJUST GOING FORWARD
. DO WE NEED TO START OVER? DO
YOU NEED TO MEET WITH THESE
INDIVIDUALS SO THAT YOU CAN, YOU
KNOW DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED.
AND WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING
IS LACKING AND IN PARTICULAR,
CALL OUT HOW THIS REALLY HURTS
THE VERY PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING
OUR STUDENTS IN THE LOW INCOME
AREAS. FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE IN
POVERTY, LOW LOW ACHIEVING
SCHOOLS WILL INCOMES THAT
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE MOST
AT RISK WITH WHAT'S BEING
PROPOSED HERE IN TERMS OF THEM
BEING ABLE TO ADVANCE IN THE
FIELD OF MATHEMATICS AND
THEY DON'T HAVE THE BUILDING
BLOCKS TO ACHIEVE AT A COLLEGE
LEVEL, SO SHARE WITH ME YOUR
YOUR THOUGHTS. ABOUT THE
CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED
AND HOW YOU MIGHT ADDRESS THAT
GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT AND LET ME GIVE YOU
A PERFECT EXAMPLE. I WANTED TO
BE GO INTO PSYCHOLOGY. AND
BECAUSE I DIDN'T ADVANCE IN
MATH, I TOOK ALGEBRA. AND I TOOK
, UM, GEOMETRY, AND I TOOK
ALGEBRA TWO. I SKIPPED
TRIGONOMETRY. SO WHEN I GOT TO
COLLEGE, I DID REALLY GREAT ON
THE POLICY ISSUES IN ACADEMIA,
BUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE SCIENCE
AND STATISTICS, STATISTICS,
FUNDAMENTAL HIS PSYCHOLOGY AND
BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE BEHAVIOR
. AND WHY, AND WHY NOT? IT
HAPPENS. I WAS SORELY IN, YOU
KNOW, DEFICIENT. INTACT BY
STATISTICS PROFESSOR GAVE ME A C
BECAUSE I TRIED SO HARD AND HE
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH ME. BUT
THAT LITTLE BUILDING BLOCKS
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE, AND WITH
WHICH PATH I TOOK LEAVING
COLLEGE. SO AND I WAS NOT, YOU
KNOW SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO AFFORD. LET'S SAY OUR
TUTOR AT THE TIME, BUT IT JUST
WASN'T UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT
LITTLE PIECE UNDERSTANDING THAT
LITTLE PIECE PROBABLY CRITICAL
TO ME SUCCEEDING AND GOING
FORWARD ON ON THAT DIFFERENT
PATH. AND SO NOW WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT EXPERTS WHO ARE SAYING
THAT YOU ARE ELIMINATING THE
BUILDING BLOCKS THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL. FOR STUDENTS TO BE
ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN IN THE STEM
WORLD AND IN THE FUTURE OF
TECHNOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS, AND
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY
ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEM BEING ABLE
TO PURSUE CAREERS IN THOSE
FIELDS. SO YOUR THOUGHTS BECAUSE
I KNOW THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE
HAD SOME READING THOSE
CRITICISMS. WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE? T WANT DR GLOVER WOODS TO
GO FIRST GLOVER LIBIDO BECAUSE
GO AHEAD, DOCTOR OVER WITH AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER AND SHARE
THEIR THOUGHTS ON THAT. WELL,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ARTICULATING WHAT WE KNOW TO BE
MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND
MATHEMATICS AND HOW THAT
ACTUALLY OVERLAYS FOR STUDENTS
IN OUR STATE. THE R MATHEMATIC
STANDARDS ARE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT
CHILDREN NEED TO BE ABLE TO KNOW
AND BE ABLE TO DO AS THEY
MATRICULATE THROUGH VARIOUS
GRADES IN MATHEMATICS COURSES.
THE MATHEMATICS FRAMEWORK, WHICH
IS UNDER REVISION RIGHT NOW IS
THAT GUIDANCE DOCUMENT SENATOR
BATES THAT YOU SPOKE TO? AND
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD DID CLOSE
AGAIN FOR THAT ON MAY 16TH, AND
THERE HAS STILL BEEN QUITE A BIT
OF COMMENT AS A STATE BOARD.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS LOOK AT THAT
COMMENT. LOOK AT THOSE
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED REVISIONS
AND WHEN THE FRAMEWORK COMES
FORWARD TO US FOR APPROVAL, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS NEW
LAYER. OF INFORMATION AND MAKE
SOME DECISIONS ON WHAT THE NEXT
STEPS WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS
WITH OUR FRAMEWORK AND I'LL SAY
THIS AND I WILL STOP SO THAT MY
COLLEAGUE CAN ALSO RESPOND. UH
ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT. JOBS
THAT WE HAVE IN THE EDUCATION
COMMUNITY IS HOW TO BEST PROVIDE
GUIDANCE THAT WILL MEET THE
NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS IN
CALIFORNIA. AND WE KNOW WE HAVE
STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN
SOME AREAS OF MATHEMATICS, AND
WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE
TOTAL ROCK STARS IN MATHEMATICS
, SO THE CHALLENGE AND I WOULD
ALSO SAY THE BLESSING. IS HOW TO
HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT PROVIDES
GUIDANCE ON HOW TO ALLOW FOR
STUDENTS TO ACCELERATE. THAT ARE
HAVING THAT MATHEMATICAL ABILITY
AND DESIRE AND ALSO HOW TO
SCAFFOLD OR PROVIDE SOME
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR STUDENTS
THAT MIGHT BE STRUGGLING A
LITTLE BIT, BUT CAN STILL MASTER
THOSE MATHEMATICS, MATHEMATICAL
CONTENT, SO THAT AGAIN IF I CAN
KIND OF HEARKEN BACK TO THE
APPOINTEES THAT WE HEARD JUST
PRIOR TO US, THEY LEAVE OUT WITH
THE SKILLS IF THEY'RE WANTING TO
GO INTO ENGINEERING ORANGE
TECHNOLOGY OR INTO TEACHING OR
ANY OTHER, VERY NOBLE FIELD, SO
I WOULD SAY IN CONCLUSION ONCE
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW
THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
GIVEN UP TO THE MONTH OF MAY
16TH. THAT DATE STAYS IN MY MIND
WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
WHAT NEXT STEPS MAY BE NEEDED AS
IT RELATES TO THE FRAMEWORK.
WOULD LIKE TO ADD. THERE ARE
ALREADY BY THE WAY STUDENTS OF
POVERTY STUDENTS THAT ARE AH!
FROM DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS,
NOT SUCCEEDING IN SCHOOLS.
WHETHER WE USE PREVIOUS
FRAMEWORKS OR WHEN WE HAVE
CURRENTLY. SCHOOLS AREN'T DOING
THE BEST JOB, SO JUST WANNA JUST
SHARE THAT? YES WE MAY BE
HEARING FROM THESE EXPERTS,
HOWEVER. WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS
DEFINITELY NOT SUFFICIENT. BUT
WE ALSO DO KNOW IS THAT
SOMETIMES THIS WORD OF EQUITY
AND EXCELLENCE IS SOMEWHAT
MISCONSTRUED, YOU KNOW, AND I
TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW?
EQUITY WITHOUT EXCELLENT SYSTEM,
MEDIOCRITY AND EXCELLENCE
WITHOUT EQUITY. IT'S AN
OXYMORON. WE HAVE TO HAVE BOTH
RIGHT? THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE
THOSE TEARS, SCAFFOLDING SUPPORT
TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS THAT
PERHAPS DID NOT ATTAIN THOSE
IMPORTANT BUILDING BLOCKS. THAT
THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH
SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS TO BE
ABLE TO SUCCEED BECAUSE TRULY, I
THINK THE SPIRIT IS TO MAXIMIZE
THE ABILITY FOR STUDENTS TO, UM
AND HANDSOME AND MASTERED THE
STANDARDS AND IT'S NOT TOWARD
DOWN TO STANDARDS. I THINK
SOMETIMES. WE HAVE TO DO A
BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING THAT.
NO, WE WANT EXCELLENCE. WE WANT
OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO
OBTAINED THESE HIGHLY TRAINED,
HIGHLY SKILLED STEM JOBS. BUT AT
THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT WAYS OF CREATING BRIDGES,
RIGHT? SO FORTH STUDENTS TO BE
ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE STANDARDS.
EVEN IF MAYBE ENGLISH IS THEIR
SECOND LANGUAGE, OR THEY MAY
HAVE SOME TYPE OF LEARNING
CHALLENGES. SO I KNOW DR WOODS
AND I WILL BE REVIEWING ALL OF
THESE COMMENTS. AND I WAS SURE
YOU THAT THAT THAT PLACE OF
EXCELLENCE AS WELL AS WELL AS
EQUITY OR 22. T THRESHOLDS. WE
WILL REALLY FOCUS ON AND MAKE
ANY ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO OUR
OUR FRAMEWORK. WELL, THANK YOU.
I JUST CLOSE WITH I THINK YOU
HERE ON MY CONSTERNATION AND
CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I FEEL
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE
EXPERTISE OF THIS NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BASICALLY
COMMUNICATED WITH YOU THAT WHAT
YOU'RE PLANNING DOES NOT WORK
AND DOES NOT HELP THE VERY
PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO
HELP WHO COULD ADVANCE INTO STEM
JOBS. SO IT WOULD BE MY HOPE
THAT YOU WILL ENGAGE THESE
INDIVIDUALS THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
I SPOKE TO MY ACTUALLY MY STAFF
SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF THEM TODAY
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING
. AND THE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU
KIND OF START OVER. AND TAKE
SOME OF WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING
. NEEDS TO BE IN THE BUILDING
BLOCKS SO THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T
ACHIEVE THE GOAL THAT YOU SET
FORWARD. SO UM, I'M JUST HOPING
THAT THAT WILL TAKE THAT VERY
SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPERATIVE. IF WE'RE REALLY
GOING TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS
WHERE OUR KIDS ARE NOT ACHIEVING
STARTING THEIR MATH PROGRAMS TOO
LATE TO BE COMPETITIVE OUT
COLLEGE OF THAT'S THAT'S GOING
TO BE ON YOU GUYS AND YOU NEED
TO BE VERY, VERY AWARE OF THAT.
AND I THINK YOU COME TO US WITH
INCREDIBLE CREDENTIALS,
INCREDIBLE COMPASSION AND
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. NO
DOUBT OF THAT. BUT I THINK THAT
WE ALL HAVE TO BE OPEN TO WHEN
WE GET CRITICIZED TO THE LEVEL
THAT THERE'S A CRITIQUE ON WHAT
IS BEING PLANNED. WE HAVE TO
LISTEN TO IT. AND THESE ARE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED AMAZING
THINGS IN THEIR PROFESSIONS. AND
SO WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM.
AND SO THAT I WOULD HOPE YOU TO
DO THAT. BUT TODAY I WON'T BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU UNTIL I KNOW
FOR SURE. THAT THAT'S THE PATH
THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO ON AT THE
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM.
VICE CHAIR, SENATOR KAMLAGER.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRO TIM. UM I
WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE AND WE KNOW THAT, UM MANY
STATES ARE NOW BANNING BOOKS
THAT THEY DEEM INAPPROPRIATE AND
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S ALSO
HAPPENING HERE. UM IN CALIFORNIA
, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ETHNIC STUDIES
CURRICULUM AND WHAT THAT SHOULD
LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT CAN BE MORE
INCLUSIVE AND JUST WANT TO KNOW
YOUR THOUGHTS GENERALLY ON
SCHOOL DISTRICTS. CHOICES TO BAN
OR TO TAKE CERTAIN BOOKS OUT OF
CELL. UM AND FOR BOTH OF YOU SO
THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. I
THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL.
OBVIOUSLY THE AGE DEVELOPMENT IS
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT. HOWEVER HOWEVER, YOU
KNOW WE'RE IN AN AGE WHERE
KNOWLEDGE IS READILY ASSESSABLE.
AH WHETHER YOU OBTAIN IT IN THE
SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK OR IN THE
INTERNET, AND I THINK IS REALLY
CRITICAL FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
TO INTRODUCE THE TRUTH AND TO BE
ABLE TO DISCERN WHAT IS YOU KNOW
, NOT VERIFIABLE TRUTH OR NOT SO
I THINK BANNING BOOKS IS AN
ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY
CAREFUL HOW WE TRIED RIGHT
BECAUSE WE'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE I KNOW MY DAUGHTER. HE
GETS NEWS AND LIKE A MULTITUDE
OF WAYS, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION,
TOO. SHARE THAT TRUTH AND BE
ABLE TO CERN. WHAT IS YOU KNOW,
FACTS. VERSUS FICTION VERSUS
MYTH, SO I THINK I THINK WE NEED
TO EXPOSE IN AN APPROPRIATE AGE
LEVEL. YOU KNOW, INFORMATION
THAT OUR OUR OUR CHILDREN ARE
CONSUMING. AND I WOULD ADD ONTO
THAT TO SAY THAT. WHEN WE HAVE
CONVERSATIONS AROUND BOOKS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE BANNED OR DESIRE
TO BAN BOOKS, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT. FOR THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND ANY OTHERS
THAT MAY BE INVOLVED TO REALLY
GET TO THE ROOT OF THE Y. WHY IS
THIS BOOK UNDER SUCH CONCERNS?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE BOOK THAT
IS BRINGING CONCERNED TO THE
LEVEL OF WANTING TO EXCLUDE IT
FROM STUDENTS. THAT'S THE AREA
TO START IN. AND FROM THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, THEN I THINK
DECISIONS CAN BE MADE TO IS THE
BOOK APPROPRIATE FOR THE AGE?
FOR THE CURRICULUM. FOR THE
LESSONS THAT ARE TO BE TAUGHT,
OR IS IT NOT? I DO AGREE WITH DR
ESCOVEDO AS FAR AS WE ARE IN THE
21ST CENTURY, WHERE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE CAN GET ACCESS TO PRETTY
MUCH ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT. OF
VIA TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER OTHER
MEANS. SO AS EDUCATORS AND THOSE
OF US CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDREN,
WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL THAT
EXCLUDING SOMETHING FROM A
CURRICULUM BANNING A BOOK MAY
NOT NECESSARILY KEEP THAT BOOK
AWAY FROM CHILDREN. IT MIGHT
EVEN HEIGHTENED THEIR DESIRE. TO
FIND AND SEEK THAT BOOK, EVEN IF
THEY DO NOT FIND IT IN THE
SCHOOLHOUSE, SO I DON'T KNOW
THAT THERE IS A ONE BLANKET
ANSWER TO BANNING BOOKS OR NOT
BANNING BOOKS WHAT I WOULD
ENCOURAGE AND MY PERSPECTIVE. IS
TO REALLY DELVE INTO THE
THE CONCERN? WHERE DID THE
CONCERNS LIE? AND THEN TO MAKE
SOME DECISIONS FROM THAT POINT
GOING FORWARD? GREAT. THANK YOU.
THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE
. I MEAN, ONE OF THE MOST
COMPELLING FILMS I'VE EVER SEEN
AS FAHRENHEIT 4 51, AND I
ACTUALLY THINK THAT BOOKS ARE
RATHER SACROSANCT. AND THE THING
THAT MAKES OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
BOTH COMPELLING AND DISTINCT IS
THAT IT OFFERS GUIDED PATH TO
BEING EDUCATED. AND SOMETIMES
TRUTHS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE. BUT IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T
BE EXPOSING THOSE TRUTHS TO OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE, SO THAT THEY HAVE
THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT
THEY NEED. TO GROW UP AND
ACTUALLY BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN
HOW WE MAKE THE KINDS OF CHANGES
THAT MANY OF US AS SPOUSE, SO
I'LL BE SUPPORTING YOU ALL TODAY
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, SENATOR. I THINK I
ONLY HAVE ONE BROADER QUESTION.
BECAUSE I YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE
HOW MUCH GROUND YOU HAVE TO
COVER AND HOW MANY ISSUES AND WE
TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE LAST
BEFORE US. UM WE'VE LIVED
THROUGH A NUMBER OF YEARS OF
THIS PANDEMIC AND NO, NO ONE HAS
BEEN MORE AFFECTED THAN OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. AT EVERY UM AT
EVERY AGE EVEN INTO HIGHER
EDUCATION, THE IMPACT IT'S HAD
ON STUDENTS. LET ME ASK YOU JUST
BROADLY. WHAT HAVE YOU PULLED
OUT OF THIS TIME PERIOD AS IT
RELATES TO YOUR SERVICE ON THE
COMMISSION OR THE BOARD. UM. AS
IT RELATES TO THAT. I MEAN,
YOU'VE HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS,
MAYBE NOT AS LONG BUT IT'S I'M
JUST CURIOUS YOU THE ISSUES WE
HAVE QUESTIONS ON HAVE BEEN THE
LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA
AND THE DASHBOARD AND HOW
PARENTS ACCESS IT AND, YOU KNOW,
IS IT USABLE, FRIENDLY, ALL THE
WAY TO ETHNIC STUDIES AND THE
DISCUSSIONS AROUND THAT? I KNOW
YOU'RE ON THE COMMITTEE THAT
DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES MATH
CURRICULUM. JUST BROADLY
SPEAKING. WHAT DO YOU STAY
FOCUSED ON ISSUE SERVE ON THIS
BOARD. UM AND APPROACH ALL THESE
DIFFERENT ISSUES. WHAT'S YOUR? I
MEAN, I THINK YOU SAID IT IN
YOUR OPENING COMMENTS IN TERMS
OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT BRINGS
YOU TO THIS POSITION, BUT TELL
ME CONNECT ALL THAT AND JUST
GIVE ME JUST A SIMPLE THOUGHTS
ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE KIDS.
YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO CALL
THEM KIDS. KIDS HATE TO BE
CALLED KIDS, YOUNG PEOPLE, UM,
AS IT RELATES TO GETTING THROUGH
THIS TIME PERIOD. AND WHAT
LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED THAT
HELP CENTER YOU MOST AROUND.
KIND OF THE BIGGER PICTURE, BUT
WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE TODAY? I'LL START WITH
YOU, DR GLOVER WOODS AND THEN
YOU DOCTOR ESCOVEDO. THANK YOU,
SENATOR ATKINS. ONE THING THAT
I'VE THAT HAS BECOME CRYSTAL
CLEAR, ESPECIALLY OVER THESE
LAST TWO YEARS. IS THAT OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE? ARE SPONGES.
REGARDING EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENS AROUND THEM. AND THEY
HAVE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
ABLE TO PROCESS WHAT IS
HAPPENING AROUND THEM WHAT THAT
MEANS FOR THEM IN THE PRESENT
AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM IN
THE FUTURE. WE ALSO HAVE SEEN
THAT FOR MANY OF OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE. MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL
WELL BEING HAS BECOME EVEN
LARGER CONCERN. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
A CONCERN, BUT AN EVEN LARGER
CONCERN AS AGAIN THEY HAVE HAD
TO ABSORB THE SHOCK THAT WE'VE
ALL GONE THROUGH. OVER THESE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN GOING
FORWARD. SO WHAT? I BELIEVE IN
WHAT I HAVE SEEN. IN OUR
RESPONSE AND EDUCATION IS THAT
OUR SYSTEM CAN BE A LOT MORE
NIMBLE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT IT
COULD BE. WE WENT FROM AN
IMMEDIATE EVERYBODY IN CLASS
RECEIVING IN PERSON INSTRUCTION.
TO ALMOST A VERY QUICK
TURNAROUND OF HAVING TO PROVIDE
INSTRUCTION TO CHILDREN IN A
REMOTE ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDE
THEM WITH THE DIGITAL DEVICES
AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEEDED NOW.
GRANTED, IT WASN'T 100% PERFECT.
THROUGHOUT OUR STATE. BUT THERE
WAS A VERY QUICK PIVOT THAT HAD
TO HAPPEN. THAT SHOWED ME AGAIN
THAT OUR SYSTEM CAN BE MORE
NIMBLE. IN RESPONDING TO THE
NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND RESPONDING
TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES
, AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE
LESSONS FOR US TO BUILD OFF OF
NOW. MOVING FORWARD WHAT THINGS
HAVE HAPPENED THAT WE NEED TO
KEEP IN PLACE. AND HOW DO WE
BUILD OFF OF THAT? TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE SHOCK OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THIS TIME
FRAME, UH, LESSONS AND ALLOWS
FOR THEM TO REACH THEIR
POTENTIAL AND SUCCESS. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DOCTOR
ESCOVEDO. I THINK PART OF MY JOB
IS PSYCHO TO SCHOOLS AND DO
FOCUS GROUPS WITH STUDENTS AND
PROBABLY THEIR NUMBER ONE
RESPONSE WHEN I ASKED HIM YOU
KNOW WHAT ARE YOU? WHAT'S YOUR
GREATEST NEED, OR WHAT DO YOU
LIKE MOSTLY ABOUT SCHOOLS THAT
THEY LOVE TO BE INTERCONNECTED
WITH THEIR WITH THEIR TEACHER
AND WITH THEIR PEERS. AND I
THINK WHAT I'VE LEARNED DURING
THIS PERIOD IS THAT CONNECTION
THAT OUR STUDENTS LOST WITH
THEIR FRIENDS WITH THEIR WITH
THEIR SCHOOL. HAS HAS. TRULY
CREATED A HOPEFULLY REVERSIBLE
EFFECT, NONETHELESS HAVE
PROFOUND EFFECT NOT ONLY IN
LEARNING LAWS BUT ALSO THEIR
ABILITY TO SOCIALIZE WITH ONE
ANOTHER AND REALLY FEEL
CONNECTED TO THEIR SCHOOL OR TO
THEIR COMMUNITY. SO I THINK.
SERVING ON THIS ROLE AS SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBER. THAT IS SOMETHING
I WILL TAKE WITH ME IS HOW WE'RE
GOING TO MITIGATE ONLY LEARNING
LOSS IN THE ARAB ACADEMICS, BUT
THE LOSS OF NOT CONNECTING WITH
ONE ANOTHER AND I. I HOPE OUR
HOPE PUSH WITH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
WILL CREATE JUST A GREAT IMPETUS
AND MITIGATING THOSE OF FACTS. I
HOPE, UM, OUR ABILITY TO ENHANCE
INSTRUCTION AND ACCELERATE
STUDENT LEARNING, BUT ALSO HELP
MITIGATE THOSE EFFECTS. BUT I DO
KNOW THAT DURING THESE COUPLE OF
YEARS, IT HAS AFFECTED OUR
STUDENTS AND MULTIPLE WAYS. SO
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WILL TAKE
WITH ME. THE NEXT DURING MY
TENURE AND AS A SCHOOL BOARD.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALSO
MENTIONED MENTIONING THE
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. PROJECT I'M
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT, AND
IN THE PROGRAM. THE PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM APPRECIATE THAT. I I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SEE IF WE
CAN HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC NOW AND SO THOSE OF YOU
THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT. WE'RE GOING TO START IN
SUPPORT RIGHT HERE IN ROOM 2200.
AS COME ON UP TO THE DIET, YOUR
NAME ORGANIZATION, IF ANY, THAT
YOU REPRESENT, AND VERY BRIEF
COMMENTS. WELCOME YES. THANK
YOU, MADAM PRO TIM, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. JEFF WALKER,
REPRESENTING THE RIVERSIDE
COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION,
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
OF SCHOOLS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH
NOMINEES TODAY. I'M GOING TO
FOCUS RIGHT? VERY REMARKS ON DR
GLOVER WOODS BECAUSE I'VE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE FOR THE PAST SIX
YEARS OF BEING A COLLEAGUE OF
CYNTHIA'S AND SHE MENTIONED THE
TERM ROCKSTAR A LITTLE EARLIER,
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SHE
IS CLEARLY AND EVIDENTLY A ROCK
STAR AND THE EDUCATION WORLD.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE
THINGS THAT CYNTHIA CARES ABOUT
THAT DR GLOVER WOODS CARES ABOUT
OUR ISSUES CONCERNING STUDENTS.
ALL TOO OFTEN. WE GET CAUGHT UP
IN ADULT ISSUES WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION POLICY.
AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE
WITH DR GLOVER WOODS, CARRYING
OFFICERS OF EDUCATION PLAY A
VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE TERMS
OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
AND DR GLOVER WOODS WAS THE HEAD
OF OUR DIVISION AT R. C O E THAT
WAS LOOKING AT ACCOUNTABILITY
ASSESSMENT AND CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. SO I THINK SHE IS AN
IDEAL PERSON TO BE ON THE STATE
BOARD. DR ESCOBEDO IS
CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANT AND VERY POSITIVE AS
WELL. AND WE'RE PLEASED TO
SUPPORT BOTH NOMINEES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS. GOOD
EVENING, JESSICA SOCKO ON BEHALF
OF CHILDREN NOW HERE IN SUPPORT
OF BOTH NOMINEES DOCTOR ESCOBEDO
AND DR GLOVER WOODS, WITH
RELATIVE TO DR GLOVER WOODS, WE
ARE HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH
HER OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. SHE
SERVED ON THE BOARD,
EXEMPLIFYING HER LEADERSHIP BY
MOVING FROM A NEW MEMBER TO VICE
PRESIDENT IN TWO YEARS. SHE
BRINGS TO THE BOARD A LONG
HISTORY AND A JOURNEY OF
EDUCATION THAT TOOK HER FROM THE
CLASSROOM ALL THE WAY TO THE
COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION. SHE
KNOWS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN
AN EDUCATIONAL CAREER PATH. AND
SHE ALWAYS PUTS KIDS AND EQUITY
AT THE CENTER OF THE DECISIONS
THAT SHE MAKES ON THE BOARD AND
WE ARE PLEASED TO SUPPORT HER
NOMINATION RELATIVE TO DR
ESCOBEDO. HE BRINGS WITH HIM A
WONDERFUL TRACK RECORD OF WHAT
IT REALLY MEANS TO ELEVATE KIDS
IN SCHOOLS. THROUGH HIS WORK AT
THE TULA VISTA ELEMENTARY
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WAS
CALLED OUT AS A POSITIVE OUTLIER
BY THE LEARNING POLICY
INSTITUTE. JUST THE OUTCOMES OF
THOSE KIDS GOING THROUGH THE
ROOF UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, AND
THEN FINALLY HIS WORK AT THE
TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN SCHOOLS
HE BRINGS TO THIS WORK A
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE. THAT WE
CAN LEARN FROM OTHER STATES AND
WHAT THEY DO TO ADVANCE KIDS AND
BRING EQUITY AT THE CENTER OF
ALL OF OUR WORK. AND FOR THOSE
REASONS, CHILDREN NOW IS PROUD
TO SUPPORT BOTH OF THESE
NOMINEES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
NEXT WITNESS. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
LINDSAY TERRITORY ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENTS EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES ASSOCIATION. UM WE
REPRESENT CALIFORNIA'S 58 COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS WHO
SERVED OVER 1000 SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND SIX MILLION
STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
HERE TO SUPPORT BOTH DR ESCOVEDO
AND DR GLOVER WOODS IS
APPOINTMENTS TO STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION AS REFERENCED IN OUR
LETTERS OF SUPPORT WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED. THE
INCREDIBLE CAREERS THAT BOTH
APPOINTEES HAVE WITH EDUCATION.
THEY ARE BOTH EXPERIENCED
VETERANS AND NAVIGATING
CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
GLEANED FROM THEIR OWN HANDS ON
EXPERIENCES OF WORKING DIRECTLY
WITH STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITIES. THEIR STUDENT
CENTERED PHILOSOPHIES, INFORMED
, THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMED
DECISIONS WE HAVEN'T OBSERVED
BOTH OF THEM MAKE DURING
PREVIOUS STATE BOARD MEETINGS,
AND IT IS THERE'S NO DENYING THE
PANDEMIC HAS SHIFTED OUR
EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE AND IT
WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. WE
KNOW THAT WE NEED BRAVE LEADERS
TO HELP WHO WILL LEAD THE WAY
FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO
FOCUS ON LEARNING ACCELERATION,
PANDEMIC RECOVERY AND THE
OVERALL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL WELL
BEING OF OUR KIDS. THE SASSER
HAS FULL CONFIDENCE IN BOTH DR
GLOVER WOODS AND DR EXCAVATORS,
PASSION ABILITY ABILITY TO MAKE
THESE DECISIONS AS OUR STATE
BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH NEXT WITNESS.
MADAM PROTEST AND SENATORS ADAM
KAGAN WITH ACTING ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA TERRORIST SCHOOLS
ASSOCIATION HERE, THE PROUDLY
SUPPORT THE CONFIRMATION ABOUT
DR GLOVER WOODS AND DR ESCOBEDO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
OTHER WITNESSES IN ROOM 2200.
OKAY WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO OUR
TELECONFERENCE LINE FOR THOSE
WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT. UM
THAT TOLL FREE NUMBER IS
87722681. MR MODERATOR, LET ME
WELCOME YOU BACK TO TEE UP THOSE
WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT.
GIVE MADAM SHARE MOVIES AND
GENTLEMEN, PHONES IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO COMMENT AND SUPPORT US
10 AND THE SAME. DO NOT PRESS 10
2ND TIME OR YOU WILL REMOVE
YOURSELF FROM THE QUÊ. ONE
MOMENT WHEN WE GET THOSE LINE
NUMBERS COMING FOR YOU.
WE'LL GO FIRST. SO LIGHT NUMBER
43 IS GOING TO THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ANDREA PAUL ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF SUBURBAN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. SPEAKING IN SUPPORT
OF THE CONFIRMATION OF DR GLOVER
WOODS AND DR ESCOBEDO, AS WE
STATED IN OUR LETTER, WE HAVE
REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING
EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS WHO HAVE
WORKED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IN A
VARIETY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT
SCHOOL SITE. COUNTY OFFICE
POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING
COVID. WE'VE HAD IT THE
BENEFITED FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS
TO REALLY IMPLEMENT POLICY. AND
HOW DID TRANSLATE POLICIES MADE
AT THE BOARD INTO WHAT'S GOING
ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS. THEY'RE
BOTH COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THE
NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATORS AS
WELL. WHICH WE KNOW IS SO
IMPORTANT. SO ON BEHALF OF
SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR CONTINUED
PARTICIPATION ON THE STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH NEXT WITNESS.
FLYING 58, PLEASE GO AHEAD. DINA
VOODOO ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL
MINISTERS AND STRONG
CONFIRMATION OF DR GLOVER WOULD
AND DR ESTIMATORS STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION. UM BOTH MEMBERS,
EFFORTS AND INCLUSION, ACCESS
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE RESULTED IN
EXCEPTIONAL AND A TRACK RECORD
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. THAT WE THAT
WILL BE VALUABLE TO THE BOARD
COMMISSION RANGE STUDENTS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH NEXT
WITNESS. AND I'M SURE THERE ARE
NO OTHER RESPONDENTS AND QUÊ
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL BE
BACK WITH YOU. IN A MOMENT. WE
WILL MOVE TO THOSE WHO WISH TO
SPEAK IN OPPOSITION. LET ME ASK
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN ROOM 2200
THAT WOULD LIKE TO STEP FORWARD
AND SPEAK IN OPPOSITION. OKAY
SEEING NO ONE APPROACH IN THE
DIOCESE. MR MODERATOR, LET ME
COME BACK TO YOU TO TEA AT FOLKS
WHO MAY WISH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION. THE LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THE PHONE JUST
PICKING UP POSITION. PRESS 10 AT
THIS TIME. MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE
NO ONE QUEUING UP PROPOSITION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE. TODAY WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE IT. UM OKAY. UM I AM
GOING TO ASSUME THAT WE CAN TAKE
BOTH APPOINTMENTS TOGETHER. OKAY
MADAM PRO TEM. I JUST LIKE TO
MAKE A COMMENT ON THE RECORD. I
WAS MUCH BETTER WITH ENGLISH AND
I SAID PEEL IT SURPRISE WINNERS
AND I MET NOBEL PRIZE WINNER. SO
PLEASE NOTE THAT BECAUSE THEY
HAVE WEIGHED IN HEAVILY ON
OFFERING THEIR SERVICES ACTUALLY
TO MEET WITH YOU, AND I AM SHARE
THEIR CONCERNS AND HOPEFULLY
WORK OUT SOMETHING THAT THAT'S
BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE. THANK
YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU
. THE RECORD HAS BEEN CORRECTED
. LET ME ASK, UH THANK YOU,
SENATOR KAMLAGER. SO THAT IS FOR
BOTH ITEMS. ONE C AND D MEMBERS
OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THAT
WOULD BE DR ESCOVEDO AND DR
GLOVER WOODS. MADAM SECRETARY,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
GROVE. KAMLAGER KAMLAGER I
LAYERED I BATES VOTING BATES NOT
VOTING. ATKINS ATKINS? AYE. ON
CALL EM NO. OKAY NOT RETURNING,
SO WE'RE GOOD TO CLOSE THAT OUT
3 TO 03 TO ZERO WITH OUR
CONGRATULATIONS AND OUR
INCREDIBLE THANKS FOR THE
SERVICE YOU GIVE TO OUR STUDENTS
IN CALIFORNIA. END TO YOUR
FAMILIES FOR STICKING THROUGH
THIS LONG DAY. CONGRATULATIONS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY THIS
CONCLUDES TODAY'S PUBLIC PORTION
OF THE AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY, ALL OF THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATED IN
PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY IF YOU
WERE NOT ABLE TO TESTIFY, PLEASE
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS OR
SUGGESTIONS IN WRITING TO THE
RULES COMMITTEE. OR VISIT OUR
WEBSITE FOR INSTRUCTIONS. YOUR
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS REALLY
ARE IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INCLUDED
IN THE OFFICIAL TESTIMONY AND
OUR HEARING RECORDS. SO EVERYONE
AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE,
COOPERATION TODAY AND TO THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES WE
WILL NOW MOVE TO EXECUTIVE
SESSION.