October 2026 Newsletter

Investing in Our Communities, Delivering Results for the East Bay

As we conclude another legislative session, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to deliver meaningful results for the East Bay. From advancing legislation to improve public safety, support funding for more housing, and strengthening public transportation, to securing critical investments in our communities, we have made great strides in making California safer and more affordable.

I’ve been especially proud to help secure $125 million to transform the former Golden Gate Fields racetrack into a future waterfront park, along with $5 million to support local public safety, emergency response, violence prevention, and wildfire mitigation. These investments reflect years of advocacy and collaboration by local leaders and our communities, and will deliver lasting benefits to the East Bay.

As I approach the completion of my second year as your State Senator, I’m honored for the opportunity to serve you. I look forward to hearing from you as we begin planning our legislative agenda for 2027.
 

Senator Arreguín debates legislation at the Senate Chambers

I am proud to have authored 13 bills this year that have now been signed into law. From advancing public safety to improving transportation, these new laws deliver real results to support California and the East Bay.

Building Housing and Careers

As Chair of the Senate Housing Committee, I’m pushing forward bold, practical solutions to expand our housing supply, while also growing the construction workforce.

• SB 1383 – Fair labor standards in housing construction 
  Protects workers by ensuring critical labor standards like healthcare and apprenticeship programs can’t be waived in exchange for density bonuses.

A Safer, Stronger California

As Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I am advancing policies to keep our communities safe, healthy and clean, and resilient.

• SB 239 - Protecting election workers and local officials 
  Strengthens confidence in our democratic process by increasing criminal penalties against threats of violence against election officials and local elected officials. 
• SB 948 – Firearm safety and training 
  Closes a gap in state law by requiring new residents bringing firearms into California to obtain a firearm safety certification, and adds new training requirements.
• SB 1218 – Cracking down on illegal dumping 
  Holds offenders accountable by allowing vehicle booting for those with unpaid illegal dumping fines.
• SB 1299 - State Fire Marshal Sprinkler Fitter Certification Act 
  Strengthens certification, registration, training, and oversight requirements for installation and maintenance of fire suppression systems.
• SB 1330 – Protecting utility workers 
  Expands enhanced protections for certain public service professionals against assault or battery to include utility workers.

Improving Public Transportation

As someone who relies on public transportation, I am working to ensure that our public transit systems are safe, efficient, and accessible.

• SB 830 - Regional Public Transit Funding 
  Improves transparency and clarification on the regional transit measure to be voted on by Bay Area voters in November 2026.
• SB 1166 – Resolving AC Transit labor disputes 
  Brings AC Transit in line with other major transit agencies by ensuring labor disputes are handled through a consistent, established state process.
• SB 1408 – Investing in Contra Costa transportation 
  Gives Contra Costa County voters the opportunity to vote on renewing a local sales tax to fund critical transportation improvements.

Empowering Local Communities

As a former mayor, I know that local governments are closest to the people and need additional tools to deliver responsive, high-quality services.

• SB 479 - Supporting local outreach teams 
  Allows for the creation of multidisciplinary homeless response teams in local health jurisdictions. 
• SB 692 - Abandoned vehicle abatement 
  Gives cities and counties new tools to remove abandoned vehicles that pose a health and safety hazard.
• SB 762 - Revenue Generation for local services 
  Authorizes local jurisdictions with voter approval to use taxpayer dollars to fund critical local services. 
• SB 1400 – Modernizing Alameda Health System 
  Updates governance to give Alameda County greater flexibility to improve oversight, efficiency, and long-term financial stability of county public hospitals.
   

Senator Arreguín and local leaders tour the former Golden Gate Fields racetrack

I’m proud to have secured $125 million in state funding to help transform the former Golden Gate Fields racetrack into a new regional waterfront park that East Bay residents and all Californians can enjoy for future generations.

Located along the Albany and Berkeley shoreline, the property represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to realize a decades-long dream and return public access to our shoreline so it can be enjoyed by everyone. This funding made available through Proposition 4, brings us a major step closer to realizing that vision.

Next steps include securing remaining funding including from government agencies and philanthropy, and for the Trust for Public Land to exercise the option agreement to acquire the property in December.

The East Bay Regional Park District will initiate a public process to get input from residents and city officials in Albany and Berkeley. Both cities will be involved in developing the project plan and ultimately approving permitting. You can keep up to date with the public process and ways to provide input by signing up for updates here.
 

Senator Arreguín presents a check to support the creation of a new program to combat human trafficking

This month, I was proud to travel throughout the district to present $5 million to the cities of Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond and critical community organizations. As the chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, we are investing in proven community solutions to address crime, improving public safety and resilience.  

$1 Million for New Firetruck and Wildfire Tools for Richmond

With a new wildland fire engine, the City of Richmond can expand efforts to mitigate and respond to fire incidents and build on existing regional partnerships. This will allow West Contra Costa County to better adapt to a changing climate and increased wildfire risk with high-quality public safety services, keeping our communities safe.

$1 Million Supporting Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention

This funding will build on the Oakland Department of Violence Prevention’s successful efforts to bring Oakland’s crime rate to historic lows. As the Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I fully support community-driven efforts to improve safety.

$1 Million to Samuel Merritt University to Combat Human Trafficking

With this funding, Samuel Merritt University is launching the Trauma-Informed Health Education, Research and Innovation on Violence and Exploitation (THRIVE) Institute to expand trauma-informed care to victims of trafficking. Every community must take a zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking while ensuring survivors have access to informed, effective, and compassionate resources.

$1 Million to Modernize Berkeley’s 911 Dispatch Center

This funding will advance the City of Berkeley’s work to modernize its emergency communications center, so fire, police, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) can respond more effectively to emergencies. As the former Mayor of Berkeley, I know of the critical need for a state-of-the-art dispatch center, given the increase in public safety calls in recent years.

$1 Million to Urban Tilth to Expand Food Security

This funding will help Urban Tilth’s mission of access to healthy, locally sourced food through the creation of job opportunities for youth and residents. Doing so strengthens environmental resilience, and advances community-led agriculture, promoting the health of our communities and the environment in North Richmond and West Contra Costa County.
 

Senator Arreguín presents a check for a new firetruck and wildfire preparedness in Richmond

Multiple projects to reduce fire risk and increase wildfire preparedness are underway in our district. This includes vegetation management along Highways 13, 24, and I-580 in Oakland and I-80 in West Contra Costa County, removal of dangerous vegetation at UC Berkeley’s Clark Kerr Campus near Panoramic Hill, shaded fuel breaks in East Richmond Heights, and creating defensible space along San Pablo Creek. These projects are some of the over 500 priority wildfire prevention projects that have been fast-tracked, covering nearly 130,000 acres across California, helping accelerate fuel reduction, forest restoration, and community protection efforts while maintaining environmental safeguards.

As we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Oakland Hills firestorm this month, California has taken action to strengthen wildfire prevention, improve emergency response, and help protect homes and communities from future disasters. The lessons from that fire were on full display last week as a multi-agency response quickly stopped a fire that broke out near the site of the 1991 fire. In the wake of the January 2025 LA Fires, the Legislature passed dozens of wildfire related bills, including a package of 16 bills signed by the Governor last month focusing on reducing fire risk and increasing statewide preparedness.
 

Voters are encouraged to vote early, which you can do between now and 8pm on November 3 at any official ballot drop-off box

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3. To ensure that your ballot is counted, the Secretary of State is encouraging voters to mail their ballots early. If you plan on mailing your ballot, it is best to do so within the next couple of days. Voters are also encouraged to sign up for Where’s My Ballot?, which lets you know where your ballot is, and its status, every step of the way. If you have not yet received your ballot, contact your county Registrar of Voters (Alameda or Contra Costa) immediately.

There are multiple ways to cast your ballot. In addition to voting by mail, there are both polling sites where you can vote in-person (both on Election Day and early voting) and ballot drop off boxes that will be picked up directly by local election officials. For more information on the election, including polling and ballot drop off box locations, voter guides, and key deadlines, visit the November 3, 2026 election pages for Alameda County or Contra Costa County.  

California will be enforcing its election laws to ensure free and fair elections. Know your voter rights. If you are experiencing issues, believe your rights are being violated, or need election-related assistance, you can call the toll-free voter hotline at 800-345-8683 (English), 800-232-8682 (Spanish), 800-339-2857 (Chinese), or email [email protected].