As the sun sets on a very long day in Sacramento and I'm on a plane back to LA, I wanted to share one final update. (Please also read my other post today).

SB 1090 cleared another hurdle today, passing both the Assembly Housing Committee and the Assembly Government Committee with unanimous votes. That is meaningful progress, and everyone who has written letters, made phone calls, testified, traveled to Sacramento, or simply kept this conversation alive should be incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together.

But let’s also be clear: our work is not done. The bill still includes the 180-day vesting language, and that remains a significant concern. As it is currently written, it could still create a window that benefits speculative development at the very moment many fire survivors are still waiting on insurance, litigation, financing, and the ability to make decisions about their own properties.

That language needs to be fixed. Between now and August, when this bill returns, we have more work to do. We now know exactly where to focus our advocacy, and I remain optimistic that we can continue building the coalition necessary to get this right. We’ve already proven what this community can accomplish when we move together and we aren't finished yet.

Today also reminded me why I continue to believe so deeply in Altadena. Throughout these hearings, our community showed up. Survivors shared painful stories. Neighbors spent weeks advocating for one another. Committee members acknowledged the extraordinary volume of outreach they had received from our community. They heard us. There is real power in that.

A memorable moment today came during that final committee vote. When Senator Sasha Perez cast her “aye” vote, Senator  Stefani (San Francisco, San Mateo) mentioned my name and Beautiful Altadena, gestured for me to stand up, and spoke about spending hours with me at my empty rental in the days after the fire to understand what we were all going through. She talked about seeing the devastation firsthand and witnessing what our community has endured. She said she was voting yes for me and for Altadena, and spoke about the enormous respect she has for our community doing work that no disaster survivor should ever have to do. That moment wasn’t about me.it was about all of us.

It was recognition that our community has carried an impossible burden with extraordinary grace, determination, and resilience. We have become advocates, policy experts, organizers, researchers, and watchdogs. Not because we wanted any of those jobs but because our community needed someone to do them and we have all stepped up.

As I've said before, we won’t always agree. Sometimes we’ll disagree passionately. That’s okay. We’re family. And families keep showing up for each other. Today wasn’t the finish line. It was another mile marker. Soon we get back to work. Because every family that wants to come home deserves that chance.

📷 Senator Stefani and me just after she stepped out of the committee hearing following the vote to ask how I was doing and give me a hug. Sometimes the people fighting hardest for us are the ones we never expected. Today was a reminder that we have allies we don’t even know about, people who have quietly taken the time to listen, learn our story and stand with Altadena. We’ll take every one of them. And now, we keep fighting until we get this right.

P.S.

For anyone wondering how today went…my Oura Ring has opinions 😆

Apparently my stress levels spent the day somewhere between “legislative hearing” and “three alarm fire.”  In all seriousness, this has been an incredibly intense few weeks. I’m going to take a few days off over the long holiday weekend to recharge, spend some time with the people I love, and maybe let my nervous system remember what “safe” feels like.

Thank you to everyone who has organized and shown up and to everyone who has trusted me to help carry this work forward. It's an honor.

Have a safe and restful Fourth of July weekend. Hug your people a little tighter. I’ll see you all on the other side. ❤️