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As a member of the California State Senate, I often run into folks who are curious about what goes on day-to-day in my Palo Alto and Santa Cruz offices. Many people have never contacted their legislators and aren't sure why they would. To help shed some light on the kind of work that District offices do, I wanted to share some ways that my district office and I can be helpful. Legislation. Have a question or comment about a piece of state legislation? My office can provide you with summaries, analyses, and the status of my bills, or any other bills that come before the Legislature. Your opinion on various bills is important to me, so I hope you'll share your viewpoints by calling, e-mailing, or writing. I also encourage you to contact my office if you have ideas for new legislation. Helping People, Solving Problems. If you're looking for a phone number for a state agency or are having difficulty getting the information you need from a state agency, please contact my office. We can often cut through some of the red tape and find information on your behalf. My staff speak frequently on constituents' behalf with agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Employment Development Department (EDD). Community Connections. Are you part of a community group that is interested in learning more about what's happening in Sacramento related to your interests? My staff can help research current and pending legislation that might affect your group and attend one of your meetings to listen and share information. Understanding the community's concerns helps me be a better representative. My office is also happy to share tips for effective advocacy. State Publications. My office provides free brochures (even coloring books!) on a variety of topics. Please feel free to stop by my office and browse. We can also get you copies of state budget information and other reports issued by the Legislature and state agencies. Celebrations. If you're part of a community organization that is celebrating a milestone, or if you know of an individual who is receiving an honor, please let me know if I can provide a Senate certificate of recognition or congratulatory letter. I also welcome invitations to attend community celebrations and other events. This is just a glimpse of what my office and I do. I encourage you to visit my district office in Palo Alto or Santa Cruz to learn more. If I can assist you with any state government matter, please don't hesitate to contact me at (650) 688-6384 in Palo Alto, or (831) 425-0401 in Santa Cruz, or Senator.Simitian@sen.ca.gov. Stay in touch!
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