Catching Up With Rick - December 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I am proud to share that I have introduced my first bill of the new legislative session, the Local Electrification Planning Act. This bill is a key component to meeting California’s ambitious climate goals and empowers cities and counties to be part of the solution in fighting climate change.
I am also ecstatic to share that we've held the inaugural Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Awards, where trailblazers and leaders will be honored for their contributions to the community.
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas or simply cherish the season of giving, December is a time to reflect on what unites us: family, community and hope for a brighter future. From my family to yours, may your holidays be filled with love, peace and happiness.
Yours in Service,
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur
Democratic Caucus Chair
51st Assembly District
First Bill of the New Legislative Session
California State Capitol
On the first day of the new legislative session, I reintroduced the Local Electrification Planning Act (AB 39). This key legislation, reintroduced with changes addressing input from key stakeholders, aims to ensure that local governments play an active role in California's transition to a clean energy future.
California is a global leader in setting ambitious climate goals, including a mandate for all new passenger vehicles sold during or after 2035 to be electric. Achieving these goals requires significant expansion of the state's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and the electrification of residential and commercial buildings.
AB 39 requires cities and counties with populations of 75,000 or more to adopt Climate Action Electrification Plans. These plans will detail strategies to help homeowners and businesses transition to electric appliances, reducing reliance on polluting fossil fuels like gas and oil. The bill's overarching goal is to ensure equitable access to EV charging for all residents, including those living in apartments or parking on the street. Additionally, it prioritizes programs and subsidies to make the switch to electric appliances more affordable and accessible for everyone.
Los Angeles Retail Theft Implementation Meeting
Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur meet at Los Angeles City Hall to discuss implementation of new retail theft laws on Thursday, December 5, 2024.
Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, Mayor Karen Bass and I met with local law enforcement, business and criminal-justice leaders at Los Angeles City Hall to discuss the implementation of new laws passed by the Legislature to combat retail theft.
Public safety remains a top priority for California and for every member the Democratic Caucus in the Assembly. Speaker Rivas showed bold leadership by creating the Select Committee on Retail Theft and I was honored to be selected by him to serve as its Chair. Together, we spent more than a year crafting a targeted, data-driven package of bills that deliver real solutions.
I'm proud to say this effort led to ten new public safety laws, signed by Governor Newsom in August. I'm confident that these laws will give law enforcement new tools to combat retail theft when they go into effect January 1st, while also addressing the root causes of crime with a greater reliance on rehabilitation and diversion programs.
Spectrum News: Legislators meet with public safety officials to discuss new retail theft laws
Inaugural Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Awards
Asm. Zbur hosts awards for inaugural Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Awards in Santa Monica, Sunday, December 15, 2024.
My office and I had the honor of celebrating the extraordinary contributions of 21 individuals and organizations at my first inaugural Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Awards. There we recognized outstanding community leaders from across the 51st Assembly District who have made a major, positive impact in the District including: an Olympic champion, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter, an award-winning actor and director, nonprofit and small business of the year, homelessness advocates, environmental advocates, and man and woman of the year. I also want to thank the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles for their incredible performance.
Representing this district is a great honor – and comes with major responsibilities – to uphold progressive values, safeguard the environment, support small businesses, promote economic growth and opportunity, defend reproductive freedom and civil rights, and address and prevent homelessness.
The next four years will be a challenge, but together, we will continue to advocate for working Californians, build a greener, more resilient California, fight antisemitism and anti-LGBTQ+ hate and defend the rights of workers and their unions. My awardees not only share these values, but live them and actively fight for them every single day. Thank you.
Clockwise from Top Left: Homelessness Advocacy Awardee Kerry Morrison, Asm. Zbur with Neighborhood and National Advocacy Awardees Brian Colker and Susan Sheu, Man of the Year Awardee Tod Hallman, Combating Antisemitism Awardee Jonah Platt, LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Visibility Awardee Dustin Lance Black, 2023 Woman of the Year Awardee Abbe Land with 2024 Woman of the Year Awardee Lillian Raffel, and Distinguised Service in Local Government Awardee Dr. Julian Gold.
To My Constituents
Please know that my office is always here to serve you. Please reach out to my district office for assistance at (323) 436-5184 if we can be of service.