Freshman Assembly member Bonnie Lowenthal who represents the 54th District, which encompasses over half of the City of Long Beach, the San Pedro area of Los Angeles, and the entire Palos Verdes peninsula, is the author of our CSU Board of Trustees sponsored bill, Assembly Bill 1222.

This measure would provide the authority to the CSU and UC to continue their affinity programs until at least 2016. The measure was placed on the Assembly’s consent file and will then be heard in the Senate shortly afterwards.

Ms. Lownenthal, who was married to State Senator Alan Lowenthal, worked as a licensed family counselor and mental health consultant. She worked as a bilingual mental health consultant for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), HeadStart, and the Centro de la Raza.

Prior to her service in the Assembly, Lowenthal was elected to represent the First Council District of the City of Long Beach in 2001, and was selected to serve as Vice Mayor in 2006. Lowenthal also served on the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education for seven years and was a member of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), as well as many community boards and committees.

Assemblymember Lowenthal has indicated that her priorities in the Assembly will include affordable housing, rights for the disabled, and transparency in government. She is also interested in public safety issues, promoting economic development, protecting the environment, creating more parks and green space, and that California’s public infrastructure is well funded and effectively maintained.

Assembly Member Lowenthal belongs to the following Committees:

• Aging and Long-Term Care (chairing)
• Select Committee on Ports (chairing)
• Accountability and Administrative Review (member)
• Health (member)
• Transportation (member)
• Water Parks and Wildlife Committees (member)

Assemblymember Lowenthal received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s of Science in Community and Clinical Psychology from CSU Long Beach.