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The Science of Desert Water

To explain why she authored a bill to protect water in the Mojave Desert, Assemblywoman Laura Friedman goes back to her childhood. Growing up in Plantation, Florida, on the edge of the Everglades, the 50-year-old Glendale Democrat had a “front-row seat” to the destruction of the swamps, sloughs, and mangrove forests that spread across most of South Florida.

Two Awards In One Week for Silverlake Conservatory

Local music education nonprofit Silverlake Conservatory of Music, which moved to Los Feliz from its former Sunset Junction location last October, was named “Nonprofit of the Year” by California State Assemblymember Laura Friedman late last month, just days after receiving an architecture award from the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC).

Op-Ed: Summer Update from Sacramento

BURBANK - It is hard to believe that seven months ago, on January 4th, I convened in the chamber for my first official floor session as your Assemblymember.  What an honor it has been!  As we are now more than halfway through the year, I feel it is important to report back to you some highlights from Sacramento and the legislative successes we have had this session.

Statement on Affordable Housing

The Assemblymembers listed below today issued the following statement on the effort to address California’s housing affordability crisis:

Bill Would Curb Massive Cadiz Desert Water Project

The battle over plans by a Los Angeles company to sell water pumped from aquifers underneath Mojave Desert conservation areas heated up again this week when state legislation was amended to require a new round of state reviews.

The legislation’s new language, by Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, would stop major pumping until state land and wildlife officials determined that groundwater extractions would not harm wildlife or cultural resources.

The legislation is in response to the Cadiz desert water project that has been prioritized by the Trump administration.

California Bill Takes Aim at Mojave Desert Groundwater Project

A new bill in the state Legislature would require California to review the environmental impacts of a company's proposal to pump groundwater from beneath the Mojave Desert and sell it to Southern California cities — a controversial plan that was slowed down by President Obama, but which appears to have the backing of the Trump administration.

Friedman Unveils Bill to Protect the Mojave Desert

SACRAMENTO - California Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) today introduced Assembly Bill 1000, the California Desert Protection Act, in response to growing threats by the Trump Administration and the Cadiz water extraction project to the California desert.