By Jon Regardie for The Eastsider
Originally published Feb. 3, 2025
Jessica Caloza was sworn into the California Assembly on Dec. 2, after becoming the first Filipina elected to the state legislature. One month later, she would be part of a different, unprecedented history.
Call it a nearly literal baptism by fire; with the Eaton and Palisades fires raging, Caloza was fielding calls from frightened constituents, drafting recovery legislation, and working with veteran lawmakers.
It was not what the Eagle Rock resident, whose 52nd Assembly District covers south Glendale, Northeast L.A. and East Los Angeles, had in mind. “My first week in office, I really wanted to have a smooth transition, ensure that people knew who their new assemblyperson was,” Caloza told The Eastsider last week, speaking by phone on her birthday.
A former L.A. Public Works commissioner and deputy chief of staff to Attorney General Rob Bonta, Caloza quickly built political ties. Speaker Robert Rivas named her Assistant Majority Whip.
When the Assembly convened on Jan. 6, Caloza planned to focus on the state’s budget crunch. But the next day, the fires broke out, first in the Palisades, and then in Eaton Canyon, abutting her district. Flights to Burbank were grounded. She flew into LAX Wednesday morning, when the situation was already frenetic.
“Seniors were texting me,” she said, adding that, “Thousands of people have my phone number. My phone was blowing up, but that’s what I want. I want to know what’s happening in the community so I can respond accordingly.”
Her team worked nonstop to ensure residents had accurate information. She joined media briefings with Mayor Karen Bass and other leaders. On Jan. 16, she stood with Rivas and Assembly members to announce new legislation. The next day, she introduced two bills: AB 262, offering up to $1,500 in immediate fire aid to households, and AB 265, providing $2,500 to $100,000 in grants to help small businesses and nonprofits recover and rebuild.
Getting bills passed, and the money flowing, means navigating the snakepit that is Sacramento politics. Caloza expressed confidence that her work will pay off for fire victims.
“I ran on my experience, and that I would be ready to lead on day one,” she stated. “I’ll do everything in my power to get these two bills passed because it’s what I promised and what the community tells me they need.”
Jon Regardie is a veteran Los Angeles reporter, editor and columnist. @JonRegardie
