State Senator Jesse Aragon tells board he will press for food security, wildfire funding and housing investments

State Senator Jesse Aragon (D‑7) briefed the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on state-level actions and priorities during the board’s Nov. 4 meeting.

Aragon — who represents parts of West Contra Costa County — said his top priorities include food security and human services, and he praised the board for moving to provide emergency county assistance in the wake of the federal SNAP disruption. As chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, Aragon said he is working to expedite $80 million that the state budget had allocated to support food banks and community providers and indicated he would pursue additional funding when the legislature reconvenes.

Aragon highlighted several other items that affect Contra Costa County: $6 million in California Violence Intervention Program (CalVIP) funding for the city of Richmond, ongoing investments for wildfire risk reduction and vegetation management, and state efforts to stabilize transit funding for major operators (including a one‑time $750 million loan to help BART bridge financial shortfalls). He also noted bills he authored addressing AI use in police reports (SB 524), a prohibition on concealment by federal agents (SB 627), and a restriction on the sale of gun barrels used to construct ghost guns (SB 704).

Aragon told the board that he opened a district office in Richmond City Hall in July to be more accessible to West County residents and invited county leaders to bring constituent cases to that office.

Why it matters: Aragon’s update linked state policy and funding priorities to immediate county concerns — especially food security and wildfire mitigation — and underscored a potential state role in backfilling federal shortfalls and expanding regional investments in transit and housing.

Speakers: Senator Jesse Aragon; board members asked questions and thanked Aragon for local engagement and collaboration.