Congratulations goes out to the Mayor, the American Legion JB Clark Post 149 and the Escondido community for saluting Veterans everywhere with the 2nd annual Vet Fest Escondido. The full Vet Fest celebration was highlighted with a parade down Grand Avenue. This whole celebration was a vision of the mayor shard with me over 2+years ago and provides a proper salute to our Veteran’s.
Now that we’re a little more than one-week into daylight savings time and we’re all still trying to adjust I thought it would be a good time to share what I think was an excellent accounting of where we stand on this irritant.
Below in place of my column this week I felt it appropriate to share our Assembly Representative Marie Waldron’s article from last week.
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Time to Fall Back, Again
By Assemblymember Marie Waldron
On November 7th, the annual ritual of “falling back’ will be upon us gain, despite 60% voter approval for Proposition 7 in 2018 that was aimed at eliminating the bi-annual time change. So, what’s going on and why are we still doing this?
Daylight saving time was first imposed as a temporary energy saving measure during World War I and was re-instated during World War II. After World War II ended, states were allowed to decide the issue, and in 1949, voters approved Proposition 12, permanently establishing daylight saving time during spring and summer in our state.
Measures approved by the voters can only be changed by the voters, and under terms of Proposition 7, California voters asked the Legislature to introduce a bill changing the times and dates of daylight saving time, in compliance with federal laws, and should federal law be changed, to allow year-round daylight saving time.
As a result, Assembly Bill 7 was introduced in 2019 by Assemblyman Kansan Chu (D – San Jose), to authorize permanent year-round daylight saving time. AB 7 required a two-thirds vote and passed the Assembly without opposition, but the Legislature adjourned for the year before the Senate could take action. The following year, session was cut short due to the pandemic, and new legislation was introduced but never came up for a vote. Similar legislation is likely to be introduced when we re-convene in January, but there is one more hurdle. Federal law allows states to adopt year-round standard time (as in Arizona), but the law does not permit year-round daylight saving time.
In March, the “Sunshine Protection Act of 2021” was introduced by a bi-partisan group of Senators in Washington D.C. If it passes, 2021 could be the last year we have to ‘spring forward and fall back.’ Only time will tell.
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The Chamber will be monitoring any progress in Washington on this.
Thank You,
James Rowten (JR)
