On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” host Tanya McRae sits down with Assemblymember Jessica Caloza. She is the first Filipa elected to the state legislature, representing the 52nd district where she grew up after immigrating to the United States.

Caloza has extensive experience in all levels of government. In the Obama administration, she worked on immigration policy, gender equity issues and higher education policy. Caloza was appointed by former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to the city’s Board of Public Works Commission. She then joined the California Department of Justice and served as Deputy Chief of Staff to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“Really, when I look at where we started, I came here not speaking a word of English. Now I am in the state capitol as an assembly member and really honored and privileged to not just represent my community, but so many immigrant communities as the first Filipina elected in the state legislature,” said Caloza. “I’m in this work because I care about serving all of our communities, and I think that government works best when people that look like you and me get to be at the table to make policy decisions, budget decisions, decisions about legislation.”

Caloza noted that one of her priorities this year is to support families and businesses impacted by the January wildfires in LA. She introduced two bills, AB 262 and AB 265, in the aftermath of the Palisades and Eaton fires. 

“We had some of our residents evacuated. Thankfully, there were no direct fires in my district, but the impacts for northeast LA and South Glendale continue today,” said Caloza.

The assembly member shared that a school in her district has 70 more students enrolled because of the schools in Altadena that burned down.

“So for me, how do we work with my other colleagues in the region to ensure that we respond to all of our constituents because when an emergency happens, it doesn’t matter whose district it is,” she said. “We’re all going to jump in to help just to make sure that everyone has what they need.”

Send us your thoughts to InFocusSoCal@charter.com and watch at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. on Sundays.