(Sacramento, CA) – Key legislation authored by Assemblyman Jim Wood cleared an important hurdle today.  The powerful Assembly Appropriations committee approved all but one of Dr. Wood’s priority legislation to help the Second Assembly District, including AB 243, the Marijuana Watershed Protection Act.

Assemblyman Wood said, “I am grateful to have the broad support of my colleagues on these bills that we have worked so hard on.  My bills this year focus specifically on issues that will have a direct impact on the Second Assembly District including: increasing accessibility to mental health services, increasing access to broadband, holding state agencies accountable, and addressing the environmental impacts of medical marijuana.  There is still a long way to go, but this is a major milestone in the legislative process, and as a first year member I am grateful to have gathered so much support for issues that are so important to our communities.”

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Jim Wood (D- Healdsburg) issued the following statement today regarding Governor Brown’s May Budget Revise:

“My Assembly Colleagues and I have made it clear to the Governor that California needs to re-establish its commitment to the future of our state.  During California’s fiscal crisis we did a huge disservice to our children and the future of our economy by making big cuts to our education system.  The “May Revise” released by Governor Brown’s office today is a good first step towards correcting those mistakes.  The Governor’s emphasis on education from early childhood through higher-ed. provides a much needed lift for future generations of Californians.” 

As Sonoma County home prices soar to their highest level since 2007, one of Santa Rosa’s affordable housing projects has hit a major speed-bump.  Burbank Housing’s “Catalina Project” is at risk of losing $3.8 million in state funding if a solution is not delivered before June 30th, 2015. 

Burbank Housing recently received word that funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) BEGIN program, a program designed to provide down-payment assistance loans to qualifying first-time low- and moderate-income homebuyers, would be lost if it is not spent by the last day in June of this year.

On Tuesday, April 28th, Assemblymember Jim Wood’s Marijuana Watershed Protection Act (AB 243) was passed by the members of the Assembly Environmental Health and Toxic Waste Committee.

“I am pleased to have the support of my colleagues on this issue.  The environmental impacts of growing marijuana are substantial.  This Bill is a critical first step towards protecting our fragile watersheds.  Northern California, where the vast majority of marijuana is grown, also happens to be the source of a large portion of the State’s water supply.  To have an industry of this size with no rules and guidelines governing operation is irresponsible and unacceptable.” said Wood.

Sacramento, CA - Assemblyman Wood, public health representatives and law enforcement announced new legislation Tuesday to curb prescription drug abuse and deaths. Assembly Bill 623, authored by Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) aims to reduce prescription drug abuse-related deaths by reducing their access to those most prone to abusing them.

Today Assemblyman Wood introduced AB 325.  This bill would expedite the application process for small local governments to receive grant money through the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG).  

The CDBG allocates federal grants to local governments, creating a resource for communities to tackle issues specific to their city, town, or county.  For larger municipal jurisdictions, the federal money goes directly to the municipal government.  For smaller local jurisdictions, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) receives the federal funding and is responsible for dispersing funds to local jurisdictions based on grant applications.