The California Legislature must lead

Assemblymember Marie Waldron Special to Valley News COVID-19 has claimed the lives of about 1.8 million people worldwide, approximately 27,000 of which are right here in California. The coronavirus captures our attention, while many other long-standing issues are ignored. We aren’t prepared for the next drought, wildfires pose an ever-increasing threat and our insufficient power grid has led to rolling blackouts as a fire prevention tactic. Violent crime is rising and our already failing education system is in shambles after almost a year of COVID-19. Homelessness is a national disgrace. The exodus of Californians into more livable states is chipping away our tax base and could cost us congressional representation. The opioid epidemic is still devastating families and communiti