California state Assemblymember Jessica Caloza of District 52 took the oath of office administered by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas during a community swearing-in ceremony at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens on Sunday, January 26. Caloza, an immigrant and lifelong public servant who was elected in November 2024, is the first Filipina American to serve in the California state Legislature. Photo courtesy of the Office of Assemblymember Jessica Caloza
LOS ANGELES — Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, the very first Filipina to serve in the California state Legislature, has filed her first two bills aimed at providing relief amidst the recent fires in Southern California.
In a speech during her recent community swearing-in ceremony held at Los Angeles River Center & Gardens on Sunday, January 26, Caloza said she introduced Assembly Bill 262, the California Individual Assistance Act, which would provide direct cash assistance to individuals and families to cover essential needs during a disaster like food, housing, and transportation.
California state Assemblymember Jessica Caloza receives a recognition from Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis during Caloza’s community
swearing-in ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26. Caloza represents the state’s 52nd District, which is home to South Glendale, East
Los Angeles and Northeast Los Angeles. Photos courtesy of the Office of Assemblymember Jessica Caloza
Another bill she introduced, Assembly Bill 265, the Small Business Recovery Fund Act, would help small businesses and nonprofits receive emergency funding during a disaster.
“Small businesses and non-profits anchor our communities and they too, have been deeply impacted by the wildfires. Now is our time to help them,” Caloza said.
In an interview with the Asian Journal, Caloza said she would want to urge the Filipino American community to remain vigilant and always work together for the common good.
“For the Filipino American community, I hope you know that you are powerful,” the assemblymember said. “Your voice is represented in Sacramento, she assured.
She said all those Filipino Americans affected by the recent wildfires could count on her for help. “We are here to help you. Please reach out to me and my team, we are here at your service,” she said.
While emphasizing the importance of being able to provide fast and efficient public service, especially during difficult times, Caloza likewise expressed great appreciation to all those who dedicated time and effort during the crisis.
“To our first responders — our firefighters, public safety officials, and public works teams —thank you for your service, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting all of us. Thank you also to the countless workers who are uplifting our communities during this difficult time—our teachers, healthcare workers, childcare providers, education workers, custodians, public transportation workers, and so many more,” Caloza said.
“On the second day of the fires, my team and I were fielding calls, emails, and requests from all over the district from residents who needed help. Robert, a resident in Highland Park, was so kind and helped us deliver almost 40 cases of water to seniors who desperately needed it,” she recalled. Those seniors who were able to receive help were present during the swearing-in ceremony. She also commended the college students from UCLA and Occidental College who were helping deliver food to frontline workers.
“I saw small businesses that were already struggling before the fires, continue to dig deep and donate hot meals to shelters even though they were the ones who needed help,” she added.
Addressing hundreds of supporters, dignitaries, community leaders, and special guests who attended the swearing-in ceremony, Caloza said, “These stories…they bind us and they are powerful. These last few weeks, we witnessed so much humanity and kindness that we were all literally willing to give the shirt off our backs to our neighbors and perfect strangers.”
She said, “I’ve dedicated my life to this work and to public service because simply put, I believe in the power of government and how it can transform lives when it works. That’s what it did for my family. I believe it works best when our government is grounded with everyday people, with the community. That’s what my parents, Gigi and, taught me—to care deeply, to fight hard to protect your values, and work even harder to pay it forward to others because it’s the right thing to do. This is the spirit I witnessed during the wildfires.”
She also called for unity in the community. “That’s the Los Angeles I am fighting for and that I believe in. Beyond labels. Beyond political parties. Democrat. Republican. Progressive. Moderate. Conservative. None of that mattered during this crisis because when faced with life or death decisions, we picked life. We picked each other. We picked community. Because we have so much more in common than what divides us.”
According to Caloza, she is grateful that similar efforts to help disaster victims are also being carried out on a larger scale.
“This was not just true in the community but also at the State Capitol. That’s why I’m so excited that my colleagues under the leadership of Speaker Robert Rivas and our Budget Chair Jesse Chair secured bipartisan support to pass a $2.5 billion dollar relief bill to provide emergency aid to help our communities rebuild, especially our neighbors in Altadena, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades,” she noted. Rivas administered Caloza’s ceremonial community oath of office.
Aside from the two new bills she introduced, Caloza said she is also committed to passing more expedient bills in the near term that would address the needs of her constituents. “These (two) bills are just the beginning. In the coming weeks, I will be introducing new legislation to address the ongoing needs of our district,” she added.
“I’ve talked to thousands of residents and people are ready for action and our community deserves solutions. Families want to live in affordable neighborhoods, not just for themselves but for their kids and their grandkids,” she said. “People want more housing—both homeowners and renters alike. Every person I’ve talked to wants us to treat homelessness like the crisis it is and we want our unhoused neighbors to get the help they desperately need.”
Among the issues she aims to focus on are those concerning the youth, the seniors, and the working class. “Young people want more open space, more parks, and clean air and clean water. Our seniors and Veterans want safe streets and better access to government services. Working class people just want to be able to live off of one paycheck, have a safe workplace, and go to sleep at night knowing their job is safe,” she said, noting that
California state Assemblymember Jessica Caloza addresses a packed crowd of elected officials, community leaders and constituents during her community swearing-in on Sunday, January 26
“I’ve listened to your stories. I want you to know that not only do I hear you and see you but I am committed to doing everything in my power to deliver real progress on these issues.”
“What you have is my commitment to representing you in the Assembly as someone who is going to work really hard for you,” said Caloza.
District 52 includes the southern portion of Glendale, Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Lincoln Heights, Loz Feliz, East Hollywood, Cypress Park, Elysian Valley, Monterey Hills, Hermon, Montecito Heights, El Sereno and Unincorporated East Los Angeles. There are more than 13,000 Filipino Americans in this district.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority executive officer Joe Edmiston, who delivered the welcome remarks, commended Caloza for her vigorous efforts to providing assistance to the community during the crisis time.
“Thank you so much to our assemblymember who understands the needs of the community,” Edmiston said.
The ceremony also highlighted special remarks from LA County Board of Supervisors, Ist District Hilda Solis.
“We are witnessing history as Jessica Caloza becomes the first Filipina American to serve in the California State Legislature. And I hope more Filipinas and Filipinos follow her path and of course, not just for herm but for all women of colors… She is an example not just in our Filipino community but for all of us,” Solis said.
Solis encouraged young Filipina Americans to emulate Caloza and see her as an inspiration. “To our young Filipina girls here today, you have to look at Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, you could be like her. Jessica has paved the way for you so it is easier for you this time,” Solis said.
The event also included community testimonials from Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network founder and CEO Marily Mondejar; Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale Chapter chairperson Lucy Petrosian; East Los Tacos owner Erika Armenta; and Environmental Justice Leader Ceci Dominguez.
