Climate Change, Fire and Water
California has always had diverse and unstable weather patterns, but the data and our instincts show that climate change is real. The state needs to consider both the climate as a whole and the health of ecosystems such as forests and coastlines, as the first priority in economic decisions. Yet some well-intentioned efforts to protect ecosystems backfire; it seems clear that failure to maintain areas with certain kinds of tree growth with strategic cutting has contributed to the wildfire problem. As for the perpetual drought problem, we need a combination of water conservation, and better able to save and redirect the water we have in an equitable way. Farmers, environmentalists, and other stakeholders need to collaboratively come together.
Southern CA currently receives water from 4 main sources: 2 areas from Northern CA, the Colorado River, and well water. This is drying up Northern CA. If Arizona starts using more of its portion of the Colorado river (supposed to be 50/50). And during a hard drought. The well water/percolation basins are getting lower. CA needs to look into investing in Desalinization plants to maximize water.
Abortion
Southern CA currently receives water from 4 main sources: 2 areas from Northern CA, the Colorado River, and well water. This is drying up Northern CA. If Arizona starts using more of its portion of the Colorado river (supposed to be 50/50). And during a hard drought. The well water/percolation basins are getting lower. CA needs to look into investing in Desalinization plants to maximize water.
I support both laws directly outlawing abortion and legislation that will help mothers Choose Life! What are some of the main legislative fights on abortion in California right now? Many are related to funding and regulations of medical providers. I will work to protect and expand pro-life crisis pregnancy centers. I will also veto any budget that funds abortion. The extreme pro-abortion position of the current administration is why even left-leaning pro-life voters in California are alienated from the Democratic Party. Requiring the UC system to provide abortion at their facilities is an example. At the same time, I am committed to whole life economic policies which will reduce abortion, In my view, whole life policies include maintaining and building on social supports for pregnant women and new mothers, including family leave and child care, and making agencies administering state programs more competent. So families can rely on programs mandated by law.
Gig Economy and Freelancer Regulations
Assembly Bill 5 was meant to protect workers from exploitative companies who underpaid them and did not provide them good working conditions, but the bill had the unintended consequence of making it harder for freelance and gig workers to be hired; these jobs truly work well for many people and need to be allowed in a just and competitive economy. Assembly Bill 2257 restored freelance work for some occupations, and Proposition 22 showed voters’ dissatisfaction with California’s direction, though in doing so they protected the largest corporations who needed it least. One tragic result of the debate around both gig economy regulation and the living wage is that labor and small business are at odds more than ever. There has to be a better way than a one-size-fits-all regulation or doing nothing. I would like to put together a commission of workers who are union members, gig economy members, and small business owners, to further study the issue and develop an equitable solution within the first year of my administration.
Emergency Powers
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a real public health crisis, but Gov. Newsom has gone too far. As Governor I would give greater trust to local governments to make decisions about their communities. Restrictions on Church services were especially extreme. I believe houses of worship should not be treated with more severity than businesses and that Churches showed they understood how to balance the obligation to worship God with the safety of worshippers.