Council hears update from Carol Liu

Updating the public on the year’s activities in Sacramento, Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) delivered a presentation on the state of the state at Monday’s City Council meeting. She shared the triumphs and trials of the 2013-14 legislative season, which ended in August, and looked to the year ahead.

Liu mentioned the November passage of the $7.5-billion state water bond, a California-wide ban on plastic bags and the $330-million tax credit to support in-state filming.

“California continues to work its way out of the recession. Unemployment is at its lowest level since July of 2008 [and] we’ve experienced our third year with a budget surplus,” she told the council, adding that poverty, especially among children and working families, remains a substantial challenge.

The senator said she would continue to work on education reform to help the 58% of the state’s students who receive free and reduced lunches. Liu shared her hope the state’s newly passed rainy day fund would help in that endeavor.

“As resources become available, we’re going to do out best to spread the wealth around,” she said.