Dear San Diego,
The press conference held today was sponsored by an individual who is clearly unfamiliar with the legislation. While this individual spends time fraudulently and incorrectly claiming to be involved in the effort to pass this bill, I spend my time voting to protect San Diegans. This bill, as written, does not protect children but it will lead to increased arrests of black, brown, and LGBTQ+ people. The bill functionally requires profiling and is ripe for abuse. Not on my watch. On Thursday I voted to continue moving the bill forward to address some serious concerns. I voted to continue fighting for our community.
I am also working tirelessly with organizations up and down the state to promote public safety, specifically combatting sex trafficking but I do so with real solutions not haphazard press conferences. I am fighting for our kids. My bill AB 1279 stops courts from giving “strikes” to children for juvenile offenses under the three strikes law. Another bill of mine, AB 802 makes sure youth in juvenile halls are fed appropriately given reports that they are going hungry in custody. Finally, my AB 785 invests in programs that help uplift our kids and end the school to prison pipeline. For more information on these bills or anything else I am working on please reach out to my office.
Too much is at stake and we need leaders in this space, not people who don’t even care to fact check their press releases and see that my votes were on Tuesday and Thursday, not Wednesday.
Change of this magnitude is not achieved through headlines or fear. It grows from strategy, compassion, and collective will. I invite you to walk this road with me. Ask questions, share your stories, and stay engaged. Together we will build a California where safety is shared and opportunities are real.
I lead with clarity, purpose, and an unshakable love for our community. The work ahead is demanding, but so is our resolve. Let us meet this moment as one teaching, learning, and rising together.
In service and solidarity,
Dr. LaShae Sharp‑Collins