Priorities

John asks a simple question: why is there an affordability crisis in our state when California is one of the richest economies in the world? Why are there state perennial budget challenges, leaving families and small businesses struggle to make ends meet? John knows the state can and must do better—especially in light of the Trump Administration’s funding cuts to the very things that have made California special.

As a Councilmember, John has proven that supporting local businesses and families is not mutually exclusive but a win-win that boosts the economy. As our State Senator, John will bring those same ideas to Sacramento to generate more revenue for the state to fund essential services and make California more affordable to all. He believes we can address the perennial budget shortfall by addressing the growing gas tax funding shortages, which burden local cities who rely on those dollars to address local infrastructure issues, and allow for local counties and cities to create congestion pricing guidelines to directly fund needed infrastructure developments. He believes the state must look at job creation as well as job retention. This includes: introducing more competitive tax incentives; cutting red tape and streamlining, industry-specific permitting processes; investing more in future-facing infrastructure and industries, including education and workforce development. He believes these approaches will help bring back tourism, technology, agriculture and the film, television, and music industry to California so both the industries and those who work in them can thrive and the state can better fund affordable housing, public education, public safety and emergency response, and other essential programs.

John’s long history of implementing strong safeguards to protect renters is second to no one. He knows that eviction protections and ensuring that renters can keep up with the cost of living are key to preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place. He believes that the devastation to our affordable housing supply caused by misuse of the Ellis Act and Costa Hawkins must be addressed by the legislature once and for all.

Our state’s homelessness crisis will not be solved merely by outlawing encampments. Expert after expert states that without more affordable housing for different incomes, California will not solve what has become an unconscionable humanitarian crisis—even in the 24th Senate District. John works with other cities in the region to tackle homelessness and has been successful in his own community at reducing the homeless population with streamlined, multi-faceted programs that offer mental health services, job training, and permanent housing opportunities. like WeHo Cares—programs he would like to expand throughout the district. As a State Senator, he will take his expertise from the City Council to implement model programs that work in his city as well as other parts of the country. He will support cities that utilize statewide housing bonuses and incentivize approval for new housing projects, such as community land trusts and projects that provide housing and comprehensive services for the homeless; fund statewide programs to LGBTQ+ organizations working towards building affordable housing, and work on intervention programming to stop the homelessness pipeline.

After the January 7th fires began, John worked with other cities in the region to fine-tune and further streamline the rebuild process for fire-prone districts and communities, ensuring that there are continued and coordinated assistance programs and grants for communities, businesses and residents impacted by the fire. He advocated for a five-year tax relief, as well as mandating the most fire-protective building standards—improving safety and insurability. As our State Senator, John will continue to see these policies through. He will also support a streamlined rebuild permit process that includes adequate soil testing. He believes expanded mental health services should be made available to those impacted by the fires. He will also work with the Insurance Commissioner to ensure homeowners insurance is available and affordable for all residents of our state—no matter where they live. John believes the state must look at better ways to prevent future natural disasters and will work to ensure that our firefighters and paramedics have the resources they need to address the ongoing issues faced by communities in fire, flood, and mudslide-prone areas. He supports state-funded matching grants to help local counties update outdated fire, police, and first responder stations. 

Whether it be protecting neighborhoods, community clinics, victims of domestic violence and rape, or hate crimes, John has a long history of working with first responders and community groups to ensure that that they have the resources they need to keep us safe. He created the Westside Regional Community Safety Working Group, and as mayor and councilmember, he reduced crime in his own city—making it one of the safest anywhere. John is anti Flock, but introduced drones and real time watch centers in his city that prevent crime from happening in the first place. John’s close working relationship with Sheriff Luna, Sheriff’s Deputies, and firefighters will make him an effective voice in Sacramento for introducing 21st century public safety and emergency preparedness policies. He believes the conversation about public safety should not be about who is tough on crime or soft on crime, but who is smart on public safety policies that reflect 21st-century realities. For John, this means investing more in gun control and 21st-century crime prevention tools for first responders that can stop crimes in the first place and better protect people in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, and workplaces.

As a councilmember, John has co-authored a long list of successful ordinances to combat hate crimes, especially to fight antisemitism and transphobia that have worked. He believes that the State must do more to stop the rise in all hate crimes—including but not limited to religious-based, race-based and gender-based, crimes by bringing law enforcement, diverse communities, and stakeholders together to understand “the other.” He supports better curricula in educational institutions that teach respect and tolerance. Now more than ever, John believes California must set an example as a sanctuary for all because when one community is unsafe, everyone is unsafe. Additionally, he will help small businesses get the resources they need to prevent theft and vandalism, but it also means investing in community-based approaches and modern tools that work in partnership with local cities, neighborhoods, and first responders.

There is no reason why California ranked 28th in the nation in per-student funding. John’s commitment to funding public education is evidenced by his leadership on the City Council, where he initiated historic investments in public schools and revamped the Grants in Schools program to fund critical arts, music, and library services.

John believes that investing real dollars in public education is critical to protecting the foundation of our democracy, and as such, will lead efforts in the State Senate to fight back against federal education cuts with state dollars that create greater equity in our schools and in remove barriers to a healthy, safe and equipped environment for 21st century learning. He does not believe school funding should ever be made a partisan issue, nor does he believe that the state budget should be balanced on the back of students or teachers. John will introduce legislation that uplifts students and teachers so they can reach their full potential. He will introduce incentives to recruit more teachers, retain excellent teachers, and support their continued education so both teachers and students are prepared for an ever-changing world.  

John believes that access to quality, affordable healthcare is a fundamental right—and that when families are healthier, communities are stronger. With the federal government threatening to cut Medicare and access to reproductive healthcare, many Californians—even those in the largely affluent 24th District—will struggle to get timely, affordable, and culturally competent care. As a State Senator, John will fight to remove barriers to primary care, mental health services, reproductive healthcare, and preventative treatments like HIV/STI testing and PrEP/PEP. He will continue to develop successful programs that have incentivized people to enter the healthcare field to address the shortage of providers and long wait times, and higher rates. He knows that protecting Medi-Cal access is one more factor that will help prevent future pandemics and homelessness, and supports a Medicare-for-All/Single Payer model of healthcare.

As a Councilmember, John has successfully reduced the city’s footprint and created model programs that significantly reduce reliance on water usage and energy. It is precisely these kinds of programs that he will bring to Sacramento. He will confront climate change—and the Trump administration’s rollbacks and attacks on California’s critical climate policies—with bold action that to ensure California leads with clean energy, sustainable land use, and wildfire recovery plans that center environmental justice and protect our most vulnerable. This includes: accelerating wildfire prevention; expanding urban tree canopies; and investing in resilient infrastructure that protects frontline communities across Los Angeles County; providing communities with the resources to ensure consistent, proactive brush clearance in high-fire-risk areas to protect homes, save lives, and reduce the devastating impact of wildfires; bringing together environmental advocates and local governments to protect our coastline and endangered species, while providing funding for the region to create and restore sandbanks and dunes; bringing together environmentalists and energy producers to work together for cleaner air and water; and creating incentives to create more green jobs, while protecting workers, so that families and communities can thrive.

Guided by advocates like Climate Resolve, Sierra Club, California Environmental Voters, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, John will prioritize equitable access to green spaces and push for stronger heat mitigation policies in neighborhoods hardest hit by extreme weather.