Sacramento – Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) introduced his first bill today, Assembly Bill 204, which allows local governments, like Long Beach and Signal Hill, to continue to control the dissolution and sale of long time properties obtained under the former redevelopment law.

Current law requires, by July 15, 2016, local oversight boards to no longer exist and instead have one single entity for all of Los Angeles County.  Given the large number of local boards in Los Angeles this presents a problem of having only one body review hundreds of transactions miles away from the community that is impacted.

Talks importance of education, ports, job creation, service in laying out priorities

SAN PEDRO - Newly elected Asssemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) was joined by hundreds of community and business leaders, family, friends as well as state and local elected officials this past Saturday aboard the USS Iowa for ceremony celebrating his oath of office.

The ceremony featured an introduction by Los Angeles City Councilmember Joe Buscaino and a tribute from Congressman Alan Lowenthal, who Assemlymember O’Donnell worked for as a Capitol Fellow when the Congressman was first elected to the California State Legislature in 1998. The event also included live music and traditional Irish dancers.

Sacramento – Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s release of Governor Brown’s proposed budget:

“I want to thank the Governor for his thoughtful budget proposal.  As the Governor said, ‘we saw the boom and the bust and I’m trying to avoid that.’  I couldn’t agree more and believe fiscal prudence will be the new norm.

This budget proposes to increase funding for K-12 education, clearly a priority for Californians, while at the same time having $2.8 billion in our rainy day reserve.  Eliminating the payment deferrals to our schools, giving the Local Control Funding formula an additional $4 billion, and investing in career technical and adult education are all positive steps.

Classroom teacher takes gavel of key legislative committee

SACRAMENTO-Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins has appointed freshman Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-70) as Chair of the California State Assembly’s Education Committee.  O’Donnell was sworn into the Assembly on Monday, December 1. 

“As a classroom teacher for over twenty years and the father of two daughters enrolled in the award-winning Long Beach Unified School District, I am honored to have been selected to chair this committee,” said O’Donnell.  “It’s no secret that the future of our economy and our state starts with decisions made by this committee. I look forward to helping move California forward,” O’Donnell continued.

Focused on public safety, job creation, and quality education for all

(SACRAMENTO) – Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) was sworn in as the representative for the 70th Assembly District.

“It is an honor to serve the people in Assembly District 70,” said O’Donnell. “As a longtime classroom teacher and father of two school-age daughters, quality education has always been a priority. I will continue to fight for resources for schools to ensure our students are college and career-ready.”

The 70th Assembly District includes Avalon, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Signal Hill and San Pedro.

The ceremony took place in the Assembly Chamber of the State Capitol and the oath of office was administered by California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin Liu.