Eye-Opening Experience Leads to Refreshing Perspective on Elected Officials

Last month I had the good fortune to attend an event that revitalized my confidence and appreciation for our elected state legislators.

As many of you know, I have been an active member of the AAOC Legislative Committee, as well as the California Rental Housing Association (and its predecessors), for more than a decade. The majority of my interactions with our state legislators during this time has been in their districts and then in Sacramento during our annual Legislative Day.

So being invited to attend the Orange County Legislative Caucus monthly breakfast meeting with our lobbyist, Ron Kingston, and Rae Beam of California Strategic Advisors was truly an honor and privilege. The caucus is comprised of the state senators and assembly members who represent districts in Orange County, plus we had some of AAOC’s representatives from Riverside County also in attendance. This meeting featured a riveting pre- sentation to the caucus by Mr. Kingston and Ms. Beam entitled, “Pending High Profile Housing Bills and Key Credit Availability Issues.”

Professionally, the most poignant takeaway from the meeting was seeing how the legislators were united in their dedication and compassion for their constituents. But, on a more personal level, I was equally—if not more so— pleased to see every one of the legislators wholeheartedly engaged, paying their undivided attention to the information being presented.

Not one of them was distracted by their cell phone, staff, other media, or personal matters.

That may sound underwhelming, lest we forget that no fewer than 2,700 bills awaited them back in their offices and committee rooms—all in the various stages of the legislative process.

Nevertheless, they remained intensely focused and asked thought-provoking questions throughout the entirety of our time together.

For this and much more, I would like to take a moment to thank Senators Tom Umberg, Josh Newman, Janet Nguyen, and Catherine Blakespear; and Assembly Members Bill Essayli, Kate Sanchez, Sharon Quirk-Silva, Diane Dixon, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Laurie Davies, and Sabrina Cervantes. Their undivided attention and unwavering support of the residents of Orange and Riverside Counties is noted and deeply appreciated.

This July, while we all enjoy our favorite fair-weather pastimes, please be sure to remain active and engaged in our industry’s political advocacy. The calls and emails to the highly dedicated officials that tirelessly represent you are heard and do in-fact make tangible differences at the highest levels.

Of this, I was recently reminded. Sincerely,