A Monthly Message from Senator Limón
As we continue through the summer months, I have been pleased to be in the district for a couple of weeks attending community events and reconnect with groups while practicing physical distance.
As you may recall, last month Governor Newsom signed the 2021-22 state budget and addressed significant issues in our State while setting a record high of $2.4 Billion in reserves. If you missed my 2021 -2022 video budget recap, you could find it below.
In the rest of the newsletter, you will find budget wins for our communities in Senate District 19, COVID-19 resources, community events, and more highlights from exciting things happening in our district.
As a friendly reminder for your safety and the safety of your loved ones, please continue to follow CDC recommendations and continue to check Ventura County and Santa Barbara County public health departments for developing updates on mask requirements, vaccine distribution, and business guidelines.
My office continues to be of assistance when needed. To reach us, please call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 965-0862 or our Oxnard office at (805)988-1940 or email Senator.Limon@senate.ca.gov.
Below are some of the budget wins for Senate District 19.
- Over $1 million to support the properly decommission of the abandoned Venoco oil and gas pipelines in the City of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara County.
- $1 million to the family justice center in the City of Ventura.
- $10 million to support the implementation of the new access program at Hollister Ranch.
- $300,000 to the City of Goleta for signaled pedestrian crosswalks.
- $50,000 to the Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment for analysis of options for aligning regional sediment management and sea level rise adaptation, on behalf of the California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to present the City of Oxnard a $5 million dollar check for the construction of a South Oxnard Aquatic Center. This seed money will begin the construction and design plans for the city to increase educational opportunities and recreational activities in this community. I look forward to seeing families, youth and teens enjoy the water and learn water safety to later safely enjoy the coastal community we live in. Below are some photos and the video recap of the check presentation alongside the Mayor of Oxnard, John Zaragoza and Councilmembers.
Team Limón partnered with United Way of Santa Barbara County at their Lunch Bunch summer program. They spent lunchtime mentoring students, sharing professional advice, and creating positive relationships and memories. We look forward to the next one. Thank you, United Way of Santa Barbara!
No Kid Hungry
With the COVID-19 pandemic increasing food insecurity for many kids in our area, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) and Santa Barbara Summer Meals Collaborative are working to bridge the gap in food access for all children. No Kid Hungry provided them with a generous grant to continue feeding kids in our area. Thank you for your work!
Clean California Statewide Action Day
Team Limón volunteered with the Caltrans District 5 site in Santa Maria on Clean California Statewide Action Day. The 30 plus bags of trash were collected along two miles of the freeway. Remember, we must continue doing our part and being considerate of our communities and environment. Thank you, Caltrans HQ and volunteers!
Team Limón joined in honoring the memory of Jeffrey "Jeff" Dye. Jeff served as a Ventura County Sheriff's Office Fillmore Search and Rescue Team member and lost his life while rescuing a family involved in a car accident. A portion of the I-5 freeway near Gorman is now in Jeff's honor for his bravery and sacrifice to protect and help others. His bravery will always be remembered and we are forever grateful for his service.
Latino Leaders Roundtable
I met with local leaders at the Latino Leaders Roundtable hosted by Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Hilda Maldonado. We had a productive conversation focusing on the state of education for Latino families. Thank you for the invitation and I look forward to continuing collaborating for students and their families.
ReSource Center
We celebrated the admirable work the ReSource Center in Santa Barbara County has been accomplishing. The ReSource Center converts over 200,000 tons of trash into recyclables, compost, methane, and energy every year. Keep up the great work, and thank you to all the staff involved in keeping our communities clean as we protect the environment with this project!
Tokyo 2021 Olympics
Did you know SD19 has two 2021 Olympians? Congratulations to Paige Hauschild from Santa Barbara and Jamie Neushul from Goleta! They represented Team USA playing water polo at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games and secured a gold medal. Paige graduated from San Marcos High School and Jamie from Dos Pueblos High School. We are so proud of you, Paige and Jamie!
CREDIT: GARY KIM / NOOZHAWK PHOTO
Minerva Scholarship
The Women in California Leadership established The Minerva Scholarship program to support and empower women in California and enhance the lives of women and girls. I had the pleasure of congratulating SD19 recipient Aliya Sabater, who will attend UCLA, and Erica Mendez Ramos, who will attend UC Berkeley! We wish you much success as you begin this new chapter in your life, congratulations!
Latino Legislative Caucus Scholarship
I also had the opportunity to chat and personally congratulate the two SD19 California Latino Legislative Caucus scholarship recipients. We are rooting for them as they continue their education journey! Eduardo will be attending California Lutheran University, and Kristine will be attending Brown University.
Small Business Grants
The Office of the Small Business Advocate has announced new funding rounds for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. There will be three additional rounds for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program.
Round 7: Waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds
Selection Window: Tuesday, August 3 through Thursday, September 16
Eligible applicants: This is a closed round and only available to eligible applicants who were waitlisted in certain previous rounds. Selection does not guarantee approval or an award. If you were waitlisted, you do not need to reapply. New applications will not be accepted in this round.
Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
Details: This is a closed funding round; no new applications will be accepted.
Round 8: Nonprofit cultural institutions only
Application window: Friday, August 27 through Wednesday, September 8
Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit cultural institutions of any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
Details: Approximately $16 million remain under the Nonprofit Cultural Institutions Program. Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1, 2, 5 or 6; nonprofit cultural institutions that applied in Round 4 do not need to reapply. Grants will only be available to nonprofit cultural institutions that did not receive funding in any previous rounds. Grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019.
For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, along with links to application tips and webinars, visit CAReliefGrant.com.
Renter/Landlord Assistance
If you’re a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs – or if you’re a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation – help may be available. State and local programs are distributing billions of dollars in rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic.
Visit the CFPB’s Rental Assistance Finder to find out what this means for you and what you can do. The CFPB’s site also includes resources to help renters and landlords understand other resources to help navigate various financial hardships related to the pandemic.
Senator Limón in the News
Eating Out – Santa Barbara News Press
“I was proud to support Assembly Bill 61, which will provide much-needed regulatory flexibility as our restaurant industry continues to recover,” Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, said in a statement to the News-Press. “This bill temporarily extends the flexibility to provide outdoor dining spaces in local communities while ensuring safe operations. Small neighborhood restaurants are the backbone of communities across California, and I will continue to support legislation to ensure they continue to thrive.”
Oxnard receives $5 million from state to build city's second public pool – Ventura County Star
“An aquatic center for South Oxnard got a kick start Friday with $5 million in state funding promised for its construction. State Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, publicly announced the money to the Oxnard City Council and a crowd of approximately 60 people at the center's future site, an empty field near Oxnard College.”