December 2024 Newsletter
I’ve had the pleasure of spending the last few months attending events and connecting with constituents all across the district. You’ve shared with me what you are excited about, what you are anxious about, and what you think my colleagues and I should be focused on going into the new year. There were areas of agreement (bring down the cost of living), and areas of disagreement (do / don’t build more housing and create more jobs). I am sincerely grateful for your honesty and your feedback as I begin planning for the upcoming legislative session.
Last Monday I was sworn in for a fifth term as your representative in the Assembly, and I’d like to take this moment to reiterate my commitment to all of you. At a time when too many of you are struggling to pay rent or put food on the table, I will seek out efforts to lower the cost of living in this terribly expensive region. I will vote to defend reproductive freedom and autonomy, to protect the environment, and to invest in science and education. I will continue to enact policies that have proven to reduce the scourge of gun violence in our communities, and protect consumers from corporate greed. And, as always, I will continue the fight to keep our elections both secure and accessible.
Your feedback plays a critical role in my work and in helping me advocate for you in Sacramento. Have a position you’d like to share or an idea for a new law? Share it here. My team and I are in the midst of putting together my 2025 legislative package which means your feedback is more important than ever.
Scroll down or click one of the links below for an update on my work in Assembly District 23 this fall.
In this newsletter:
- Swearing-in ceremony
- Community events in Mountain View, Los Altos & Atherton
- Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
- Around Town
- New term, new social media: follow me on Bluesky
- Read the full newsletter
I hope your holiday season is filled with peace and joy as we head into the last few weeks of 2024.
Sincerely,
Marc Berman
Assemblymember, 23rd District
| Swearing-in Ceremony |
Last Monday I was sworn into my fifth term in the Assembly, which marks the official start of the legislative year. Click here to read about the first bill I introduced, which is focused on speeding up the counting of ballots after Election Day. It is the honor of a lifetime to represent the roughly 500,000 constituents of the 23rd Assembly District.
Community Events
| Annual Family Health and Wellness Fair |
In late September I held my 6th Annual Health and Wellness Fair in partnership with the Mountain View Whisman School District. Thanks to the participation of dozens of health and community partners, the event served over 400 individuals, providing much needed healthcare and wellness resources to the community. We also gave out booster and flu shots, school supplies, diapers, groceries, and kids’ bikes.
| Connecting Over Coffee with Los Altos / Los Altos Hills and Atherton |
I had the pleasure of co-hosting a community coffee at Coupa Cafe - Colonnade alongside Los Altos Mayor Jonathan Weinberg and Los Altos Hills Mayor Stan Mok a few weeks ago. It was wonderful to hear directly from residents about the issues that matter most to them. These coffees always bring a variety of perspectives, and I appreciate the dynamic of one constituent sharing their views on an issue, followed by someone with a completely different perspective or approach. It’s a great reminder of the diversity of thought in our community and makes these conversations both informative and fun!
*Photo credit to Christabel Soria Mendoza
I also hosted a community coffee at the Atherton library alongside Mayor Diana Hawkins-Manuelian. It was a great morning of engaging conversation with members of the community on a wide array of topics. These community coffees allow me to hear directly from constituents on the concerns they have, which helps to inform the work I do in Sacramento.
| Senior Scam Stopper Seminar |
I held my annual Senior Scam Stopper Seminar in October, where hundreds of constituents heard from an expert panel of speakers on how to identify fraud, best practices to protect yourself against fraud and what you can do if you become a victim of suspected fraud. If you missed this informative and timely webinar, you can find a video recording of it here: Senior Scam Stopper Seminar | Official Website - Assemblymember Marc Berman Representing the 23rd California Assembly District (asmdc.org).
| Out and About Around Town |
A Fantastic Fog Fest in Pacifica
There’s nothing like a foggy day in Pacifica! For the second year in a row, I had the honor of riding in a really cool vintage car for the Fog Fest parade alongside Councilmember Tygarjas Bigstyck and Mayor Sue Vaterlaus. After the parade, I enjoyed exploring the amazing local businesses and vendors that make Fog Fest such a special event. It’s always an incredible time connecting with the Pacifica community—see you next year!
Workforce Housing: Supporting Our Educators!
I was excited to celebrate two incredible and desperately needed workforce housing projects in the district: the ribbon cutting for Mountain View Whisman School District’s housing at The Sevens and the groundbreaking for Pacifica School District’s teacher and staff housing. These projects are a huge step forward in helping teachers and staff live in the communities they serve, reducing commutes and financial strain while strengthening ties with students and families. Congratulations to both districts for leading the way in supporting our educators and our future!
Supporting Youth Health Services
It was great to visit with the staff at Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto to learn more about the breadth and depth of the work they do to support the health and well-being of youth in our communities.
Honoring Those That Have Served
I was honored to attend the 9th Annual San Mateo County Veterans Recognition Luncheon. Thank you to this year’s Veteran of the Year, Bob Hoover, for your commitment and service to East Palo Alto and the broader community. On Veterans Day and every day, let us honor and recognize those that have answered the call to serve.
A Visit to NASA Ames
I had a great time touring Moffett Field. As cool as it was to see Hangar 1, the highlight of the visit was joining other community members in honoring Congresswoman Anna Eshoo for her decades of public service with the unveiling of the Congresswoman Anna Eshoo Airpark.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
I’m so grateful to the many amazing organizations throughout the 23rd Assembly District that are helping their friends and neighbors who are struggling to get by. My team and I volunteered to help distribute food at the ALAS Thanksgiving food drive in Half Moon Bay. It was heartwarming to see so many people stepping up to help out, and it was heartbreaking to see just how many people needed help during this holiday season.
Thank You Interns!
This fall, we welcomed three amazing interns—Sabine, Lauryn, and Lulu—who brought enthusiasm and dedication to our office. They worked on a range of impactful projects, including outreach and execution of the Los Altos/Los Altos Hills community coffee, responding to constituent concerns, and conducting research for potential bill ideas and community issues. Their efforts were instrumental in helping us better serve the district, and I’m so proud of all they accomplished during their time with us. Thank you Sabine, Lauryn, and Lulu, for your hard work and contributions to the community!
| Follow me on BlueSky |
I'm excited to join Bluesky where I'll be sharing breaking updates on what I’m working on in the Assembly. Follow me and join the conversation: bsky.app/profile/asmmarcberman.bsky.social