4/14/25: Legislative Interview, State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez

State Senate District 25:Greater Los Angeles, Mt. Baldy Area, Pasadena Area, East San Gabriel Valley

What major issues do you think the legislature must deal with in 2025?

▪    The Budget crises caused by the massive fire destruction in Los Angeles County.

Trying to obtain $1.0B in funding - paying for staff overtime, operational services, budgeting requests, how to cover lost property taxes on decreased values in fire zone. Prioritize ADUs in Altadena so homeowners can move back into their properties while their homes are being rebuilt. Also, working to establish mental Health services for those traumatized by the fires, especially the children who are caught up in the aftermath of recovery – the trauma continues.

▪    The Trump administration is making the state, county and local finances more challenging. Senator Perez advocates withholding federal tax dollars that are collected in California to continue to fund state programs – such as education, Medicaid and disaster recovery. Continues to work with the AG to determine legality and practicality of the option to keep taxes collected from government employees. These tax dollars are normally sent directly to the Treasury.

▪    Working with AG to oppose the administration’s attacks on the due process of law, the education system & funding, the immigrant population and trans community.

What more can California do to stand firm in defense of immigrant civil and human rights?

▪    California SB 98, also known as the Sending Alerts to Families in Education (SAFE) Act, requires K-12 and higher education institutions to notify students, staff, and campus community members when immigration enforcement agents are present on campus. This bill aims to ensure transparency and protect the rights of students and staff who may be subject to immigration enforcement actions. Additionally, SB

98 protects media access to closed areas during protests and rallies, prohibiting interference from law enforcement.

Legislative Interview for State Assembly District 41
District 41 extends from Pasadena to Rancho Cucamonga

NAME OF LEGISLATOR: JOHN HARABEDIAN INTERVIEW SCHEDULE: March 14, 2025, 10:00 – 10:30 AM, Pasadena District Office: 600 N. Rosemead Blvd., Suite 117 Pasadena, CA 91107 Phone: (626) 351-1917 Fax: (626) 351-6176
Interview Team: Marcia Yaross (MBA) – lead Jennifer DesCombes (MBA) Joan Riback (PA) Toni Cavanagh Johnson (PA) Kathy Kunysz (PA Fiona Wu (MBA) – by telephone
CA Assemblymember Harabedian District Director Declan Floyd
•••••••••••
Introductions made by all:
Question 1: What major issues do you think the legislature must deal with in 2025?
Answer:
• Statewide balancing budget. State revenues too reliant on stock market and federal funds with fluctuations causing structural deficits that must be solved.
• Fires remediation: Community adjustment bill. Trying to protect residents across the board.
• Protecting immigrants
• Making sure schools are taken care of, especially given risks to federal funding
• Prioritizing budget, including MediCal

Question 2: What are your personal legislative priorities?
Answer:
• 13 bills he’s introduced or co-sponsored.
• Creating a state-led housing task force.
• MINA bill to add demographic modifier for Middle East or North African, based on his Armenian heritage.
• Wildfire related bills

Question 3. Protecting the voting rights of all is a major focus of LWV. How can the legislature help preserve our voting rights and protect poll workers? If post office is privatized, how will mail-in vote be protected?
Answer:
• Fight voter ID laws, preserve what we had. Worried about manipulation of votes; can’t see a world without post office

Question 4: Affordable housing and homelessness prevention and mitigation are chronic problems in our communities, made worse by the January firestorms. What plans do you have to address this concern, both for the Altadena community and for the other communities in your district? How will sustainability factor into this, both in the rebuilding of Altadena and across CA, especially given your role on the Utilities and Energy committee in the legislature?
Answer:
•  Hears stories every day about gouging. Has bill enforcing anti gouging bill, criminal what’s happening. Likes
•  Idea of getting building materials at scale at reasonable price. Want sustainability.
• Need more housing.
Other observations: Assemblymember Harabedian was very welcoming and seems eager to stay in close touch with LWV.

WRAP UP: Assemblymember needed to leave for a parent-teacher conference at 10:30; thanked him for the good discussion and took a photo with him. Additional discussion held with District Director on question of potential impacts of Artificial Intelligence.

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