Assemblymember Jessica Caloza introduced critical legislation to provide relief to individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofits so they can rebuild and recover from LA County’s devastating wildfires.
“The loss, damage, and devastation caused by the wildfires is staggering and what we need now is action. Together, we must begin the long process of rebuilding,” Caloza mentioned on her website.
She joined other California legislators in securing bipartisan support for $2.5 billion in emergency aid for communities impacted by the California wildfires.
The bill was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom saying:
“The funding will immediately help bolster ongoing emergency response efforts as well as jumpstart recovery efforts. The special session legislation … provides funding to expedite firestorm response and recovery efforts, streamline rebuilding efforts, and help rebuild fire-damaged school facilities.”
Assemblymember Caloza conducted a community forum that coincided with her community swearing-in officiated by Speaker Robert Rivas with a resource fair which was held on January 26, 2025, at the Los Angeles River and Garden Center.
The event offered an opportunity for community members to hear about the emergency aid for Californians and her vision for the district and her legislative priorities for the year. The resource fair showcased state agencies, city and county departments, and local nonprofit organizations that provide vital services.
The event was free and open to the public. Residents of the 52nd District and their guests attended the community swearing-in and the resource fair.
Assemblymember Caloza said: “I am honored to represent the incredible communities of Northeast Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and South Glendale. This event is a celebration of our shared history and the strength of our community. It is an opportunity to bring people together, highlight the incredible resources available to our residents, and reaffirm my commitment to elevating all voices in the 52nd District.”
As a neophyte legislator, she already introduced 11 legislative bills in pursuit of her commitment to her constituents to represent them in the Assembly.
Foremost of her bills include AB 265 (Small Business Recovery Fund ACT), an act to add and replace Article B (commencing with Section 12100 80) of Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to economic recovery and making an appropriation therefor.
Other bills include AB262, California Individual Assistance Act; AB239, State- Led County of Los Angeles Disaster Housing Task Force; AB238, Mortgage Forbearance State of Emergency Wildfire; AR8, Relative to the Lunar New Year; ACR14, Positive Parenting Awareness Month; ACR12, Fernando Valenzuela Day; ACR11, Anesthesiologists Week; ACR18, Maternal Health Awareness Day; and ACR9, National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Caloza won in the November 5 General Election, the first Filipino to win a seat in California’s State Assembly (52nd district, a big district), defeating her fellow Democrat Franky Carrillo, after running a well-oiled campaign which catapulted her to winning the Assembly seat.
She now represents a district that encompasses East L.A. and parts of Glendale, as well as several Los Angeles neighborhoods, including El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and Echo Park.
The district, previously represented by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo who didn’t run for re-election, has a population of more than half a million people, 57% Latino, according to 2020 Census data.
Caloza is a proud Fil-Am immigrant and a daughter of working-class Filipino parents.
In an interview, she said: “I was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and I am a proud Filipina-American. I’m the youngest of six and my parents, Gigi and Jesse, moved our family to Eagle Rock when I was a young girl. My mom is from Quezon City and my dad is from Pangasinan, he is Ilocano.”
As a duly elected CA representative, she said that her priorities revolve around public service.
She shared: “I’ve dedicated my entire life to public service because I believe in the power of government and how it can transform lives when it works. As an Assemblymember, my priority will be enacting policies that lower the cost of living and improve the quality of life for all of our working families, including building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, taking bold action on the climate, and ensuring healthcare for all.”
During the exchange of emails, she said:
“I’m deeply honored and grateful for the outpouring of support—thank you to the voters of Assembly District 52 for placing their trust in me to serve in Sacramento. From East L.A. to Northeast L.A. to Glendale, I am committed to serving the needs of all of our diverse communities and more importantly, I am committed to delivering solutions to our most important issues—tackling the cost of living, building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our environment, expanding healthcare for all, and investing in our public schools.”
ELPIDIO ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the Chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream which is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris Publishing. For feedbacks and comments, please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.
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