Oceanside Leaders: Q&A With CA State Senator Patricia Bates

OCEANSIDE, CA — Patch kicks off our new "Local Leaders" series featuring a Q&A with California State Sen. Patricia "Pat" Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) representing the 36th Senate district, which includes Oceanside.

Questions and Answers:

1. What are your major priorities for Oceanside and the 36th District?

I am working on many priorities for our region, but here are three of them:
· Protect Taxpayers: Californians bear one of the highest tax burdens in the nation, paying the highest sales tax, highest gas tax, highest income tax, and high property and business taxes. I will continue to do what I can to defend taxpayers from additional attempts in Sacramento to raise taxes and make California’s cost-of-living even more expensive.
· Improve Education: I am a strong supporter of school choice and charter schools so every child has the opportunity to thrive. I believe that at least 80 percent of the education budget should be required to be spent in the classroom supporting student success instead of a large administrative bureaucracy.
· Protect the Environment: Climate change is real and we must protect our natural environment in a way that protects jobs, economic growth, and energy reliability. For example, I oppose new oil and gas drilling in federal waters offshore California (SR 35, 2017 and SR 73, 2018), authored SJR 23 (2016) urging Congress to move San Onofre’s nuclear waste to a safer location, support efforts to address ocean acidification (AB 2139, 2016), and integrate scientific data concerning the impact of climate change into state infrastructure engineering (AB 2800, 2016).

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2. What is your pandemic recovery plan to assist local schools and businesses?

I co-authored Senate Bill (SB) 87 to provide more than $2 billion in grants to small businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19. This effort began last December when I co-authored the "Keep California Working Act" (SB 74), which ultimately led to the Governor agreeing to include most of the Act in a separate budget bill in SB 87.
For schools, the Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 86 on March 5 that provides $6.6 billion to support schools that offer in-person instruction. I believe California’s public schools should reopen safely. I voted for the bill because it provides vital resources to school districts that want to reopen sooner rather than later. It also protects school districts that are already offering in-person instruction.
However, the bill is not as strong as I would have liked, as it does not actually require schools to reopen for in-person instruction. I supported amendments that would have required schools to reopen within 15 days and provide in-person instruction at least three days per week. Unfortunately, those amendments were rejected on partisan votes.
I will continue to advocate for parents who are rightfully demanding that their children receive the quality in-person education they deserve.

3. What can be done about the increasing problem of beach erosion in Oceanside?

I’ve authored SB 627 this year to mitigate coastal erosion that is a threat to public safety by:
· Requiring the Coastal Commission or a local government with a local coastal program to approve the repair, maintenance, or construction of shoreline protective projects in coastal hazard zones within 30 days. This would apply to existing oceanfront homeowners.
· Allowing the permitting agency to require the property owner to replenish sand.
· Encouraging the use of native plant species in the mitigation effort by requiring the Coastal Commission to designate those species and allowing the homeowner to plant those species without a permit.
My bill is a work in progress and I am working with stakeholders to pass a bill that will protect public safety, beach access, and our environment.

4. What more should the state be doing to address growing homelessness in Oceanside?

I share the frustration that many Oceanside residents have with an issue that seems to be getting worse. The Governor is right when he says it is disgraceful that the state is failing to address homelessness and has noted many contributing factors to the crisis.
On the funding side, the state is providing some assistance to address homelessness. For example, the California Department of Housing and Community Development recently awarded $2 million to the County of San Diego to help prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 cases among individuals who are homeless. The Department also announced more than $12 million in funding for the County of San Diego to fund permanent supportive housing for persons who are in need of mental health services and are experiencing homelessness. As vice chair of the Senate Housing Committee, I was pleased that our region is receiving its share of state housing funding.
However, more funding in itself will not address growing homelessness. We must match resources with results. We need to address the issue with a holistic approach that incorporates shelter, services, public health, and public safety strategies. The homeless must have access to safe shelters and all residents deserve clean and safe streets.
That is why I hope the Legislature and Governor will pass “Brandon’s Law” (SB 434) that I authored this year to ban deceptive marketing in the addiction treatment industry. Bad actors in the industry have played a role in putting more people on the streets and we need to address this problem before more people die or end up in the streets.

5. What is your policy on environmental concerns in Oceanside and do you have any plans for celebrating Earth Day in April?

As vice chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, I want to protect our environment in a way that protects jobs, economic growth, and energy reliability.
I have and will continue to advocate for a balanced approach such as the successful passage of AB 793 last year. This bipartisan law mandates plastic beverage bottles must contain on average 50 percent recycled plastic by 2030. The executive director of Californians Against Waste called AB 793 the “most ambitious, aggressive recycled plastics content law in the world.” It’s rare that you see environmentalists and businesses supporting the same bill.
The benefits of AB 793 will take some time to materialize, but it will ultimately help Oceanside and other communities by increasing environmental sustainability in the long-run.
As for Earth Day, I haven’t finalized my plans yet due to the ongoing pandemic, but in the past I have participated in and promoted events regarding environmental awareness. I hope we can have in-person events again in the not too distant future.

6. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers in Oceanside?

I love Oceanside! I’m honored to represent such a beautiful and diverse city in the California Legislature. In fact, I recently honored Oceanside’s own Vallie Gilley as the 36th Senate District’s Woman of the Year. Vallie’s efforts to serve her community during these challenging times make her a worthy honoree. As a chef, entrepreneur, and non-profit leader, Vallie has uplifted Oceanside by helping to address hunger and improve the environment. I am proud to highlight her work in the Legislature.

Finally, my staff and I are here to serve Oceanside’s residents (and all residents of the 36th Senate District in North San Diego and South Orange Counties) with any issues they may have with state government. Residents can find my contact information and learn more about my work at www.senate.ca.gov/bates.

Thanks, Senator Bates for answering these questions about issues that affect all Oceansider's.
Tune in to the April 7, 2021, City Council Meeting for a virtual appearance from Senator Bates as she honors Vallie Gilley as the 36th Senate District’s Woman of the Year.
Explore Oceanside City Council Meeting agendas, how to join and submit questions.

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