• The U.S. Department of Energy conditionally selected Diablo Canyon Power Plant to receive the first round of funding from the Civil Nuclear Credit Program, according to a Nov. 21 statement from U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) office. “In the face of record heat waves and a deepening climate crisis, there is too much at stake for us to move backward in the fight to fully transition California away from polluting fossil fuels. In the pursuit of that goal, our Central Coast community and I have understood the need to explore and support the safe and temporary extension of the lifespan of Diablo Canyon Power Plant,” Carbajal said in the statement. Throughout this year, Congressman Carbajal has repeatedly emphasized that any temporary extension of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant must be made with consistent Central Coast community input, clear communication of the safety concerns associated with extending the power plant’s life, and that any extension would not interfere with the creation of the West Coast’s first offshore wind projects over the next five years. “While there are still remaining safety concerns that need to be addressed, including relicensing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, these funds—when combined with the funds made available by the California Legislature—will help ensure Diablo Canyon can safely continue operations until our first-in-the-West offshore wind projects are ready to take its place at the end of this decade,” Carbajal added.
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and his family joined Union Station Homeless Services at Pasadena’s Dinner in the Park 2022 to distribute prepared Thanksgiving meals to adults and families experiencing homelessness and poverty, senior citizens, and those who are alone at the holidays and unable to afford a meal, according to a Nov. 23 statement from the senator’s office. “As we cherish the times spent around the table with our loved ones this holiday season, it is encouraging to see our communities come together to support those in need,” Padilla said. “My family was grateful for the opportunity to join Union Station Homeless Services and their volunteers today to distribute meals to those in our community who otherwise may not have had a Thanksgiving meal to enjoy.” Padilla has been a strong advocate for addressing food insecurity and supporting community organizations that provide food to those in need, according to the statement. Last Thanksgiving, Padilla volunteered at a grocery giveaway at Santa Monica College. Padilla introduced the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act and the Student Food Security Act of 2021. These bicameral pieces of legislation address food insecurity on college campuses by ensuring that basic needs are being met while students pursue their education through grants and increased access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $47 million in new funding for California tribal nations to support their efforts to prevent and end homelessness and meet the housing and service needs of their communities, according to a Nov. 22 statement from the governor’s office. The awards include $20 million in tribal homeless assistance grants from the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to fund projects in 16 tribal communities across the state, and four Homekey awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development totaling $27 million to fund 75 homes for members of four tribes, including homeless youth. “California is investing in getting people off the streets and into safe housing throughout the state with a particular focus on Native Americans and populations disproportionately impacted by homelessness,” Newsom said in the statement. The tribal grants program was created by Gov. Newsom and the Legislature to provide flexible funding to support the efforts of California tribes to address homelessness in their communities. An additional $20 million in tribal grants will be awarded in 2023.
This article appears in Dec 1-8, 2022.