Clean, accessible water is an urgent matter both in my district and state-wide. I think that it’s important to increase water conservation even though we are currently mostly out of drought, and reduce water use for things like residential lawns. I think also that it’s possible to better educate the public about ways to reduce the water they currently use for landscaping, etc., by using it smarter. We also need water agencies to adhere more closely to the existing regulations and be sure that the drinking water provided for our citizens is safe! Lastly, my district includes desert areas that are passionate about smart water use, and not allowing precious aquifers to be destroyed in order to provide corporations with profits. Maintaining and improving the condition of our ecosystems is crucial for not only health of people and the planet, but also for our economy, much of which relies on tourism.

Enforcement is key. We must make sure that water boards and agencies are fulfilling their obligations, and that any entity responsible for providing water is providing only safe, drinkable water. My own district has areas where residents cannot safely drink from their taps. The state should balance enforcement and compliance opportunities such that smaller entities are able to get financial assistance to achieve compliance if needed, while larger entities that can afford it incur financial penalties if they are lax in correcting problems.

I think California can achieve 100% renewable/zero carbon energy. Increasing mass transit availability (powered by renewables), improving infrastructure for electric vehicles to make them still more attractive to residents, and continuing and improving incentives for residents and utilities to use renewable energy sources will all play a part in achieving this goal.

While there are approximately 90,000 California jobs that are directly in fossil fuels (2019), more than half a million jobs are in the renewables and related sectors. The renewable energy sector and related areas have seen major growth over the past decade, which is expected to continue. California is a leader in the sector. The state can encourage more research, manufacturing, and installation efforts and make sure that job retraining opportunities are available for those in declining industries.