Assemblymember David Alvarez, a Democrat and a former San Diego City Council member, is running for re-election to his seat representing California’s 80th Assembly District in South County. To help inform voters, the San Diego Union-Tribune asked all the candidates a series of the same questions about their priorities, positions and campaigns. Their emailed answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate? I still can’t think of a better place to raise a family than San Diego’s South Bay, but families are struggling to afford to live here. Since I was elected two years ago, I have authored and passed laws that tackle some of our state’s most pressing issues such as reducing California’s unaffordable cost of living (especially for housing) and providing sufficient resources to public schools so they can educate all students. Education is the key to opportunity, and my top priority as a legislator. As chair of the Budget Committee on Education Finance, I championed historic funding for schools and new initiatives to help students read at grade level. But there is more to be done so our kids are better prepared. I’m running for re-election to continue the fight and make California a better place for our children. What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally? Lack of affordable and middle-income housing: I passed four signature laws in my first legislative session: AB 1287, AB 1449, AB 1886 and AB 2430 that eliminate red tape to support construction of more affordable and middle-income homes. There is more work to do. Education: School test scores have improved slightly since the pandemic but students are still behind in math and reading. I will continue to prioritize investment in schools and expanding learning opportunities in the South Bay. I secured $25 million in state funding for the first new library in Chula Vista in 30 years which will also serve as a launchpad for higher education programming in South County. The Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis: The environmental disaster in the Tijuana River Valley is our state’s most pressing environmental and public health problem. This year we passed a grim milestone of over 1,000 days of beach closures in Imperial Beach. In addition to providing state resources to help address the crisis, we must continue to pressure the federal government to fully fund the long-term solutions it has identified. What are the first 3 things you would do in your next term in the Legislature? In December, I will be hosting a holiday posada at my district office in Chula Vista. We will be encouraging participants to donate adult diapers and pet supplies that will go to local nonprofits. In January, I will be hosting a college fair to help students complete financial aid applications. Last year, we helped over 350 students and I hope to build on that success next term. Once the legislative session resumes in 2025, I will be introducing new laws that address the top issues mentioned above. What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California, including the fact that those effects are often borne disproportionately by communities of color? The single best step the legislature can take in combating climate change is to meaningfully address the housing crisis facing the California. Unaffordable rent has forced many people to live further and further away from where they work, which forces people into longer commutes and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, many of the homes people are moving to for cheaper rent are located in the hotter, more inland areas of the state, increasing emissions even further. Allowing more people to live in the coastal areas of California where they work would not only be a huge win for the climate and environment, but it also would improve the quality of life for people who no longer have to spend large parts of their day driving. Last year, I introduced AB 2560 as a first step to address this problem, but unfortunately, it was essentially killed in the State Senate by hostile amendments. I will continue to introduce legislation that will allow more Californians to be able to afford a home near where they work. Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, allowing cities to criminally penalize homeless people with nowhere else to go for sleeping in public? Do you support the governor’s executive order directing agencies to clear encampments on this basis? Why or why not? I support the Grants Pass v. Johnson decision. Encampments on public streets are unhealthy, unsafe, and undignified for the people residing in and around them. Previous court decisions made it very difficult and costly for cities and counties to remove encampments, and this decision will allow for expeditious removal of encampments that pose risks to public health and safety. What more would you do to combat California’s housing, affordability and homelessness crises? I will continue to introduce proposals that reduce the cost to build homes to both rent and buy. This includes ensuring that every city and county in California does their part in providing housing. We also need to strengthen homebuying incentives, such as down-payment assistance and shared equity programs to give families a chance to buy their first home and build wealth. Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws and background checks? Which, and if you support them, to what extent? I support stricter gun laws, including background checks and the assault rifle ban. How would you evaluate the record of Proposition 47 in the decade since voters enacted it? Should voters scale it back by passing Proposition 36? Why or why not? Voters were promised meaningful reform with the passage of Proposition 47, and results have not materialized because we have lacked the proper tools to deal with repeat offenders. While Prop. 36 is also not perfect, I will vote for it because it creates a treatment-focused court process for drug possession crimes and defines penalties for individuals who commit serial burglaries. Proposition 3 would enshrine same-sex marriage in the California constitution by repealing the state’s 2008 ban, which has been unenforceable since the Supreme Court legalized same still remains on the books. Will you personally vote for or against Prop. 3? I strongly support Proposition 3, and I am looking forward to voting for it. Every person deserves the opportunity to get married to someone they love.