Vienna and I had a blast at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Some of us enjoyed the rain delay more than others.

I admit it.

After reading stories about Anthony Rendon Select Committee on Happiness, I watched the documentary Happy (which he credits with the basis of the committee.)

Highly recommend it.

We should focus, talk about and try to - as a society - value joy & happiness.

It was great meeting with Professor Ken Miller and these outstanding students from the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College!

I met with these students earlier this year, and it was wonderful to see them again. I always appreciate their nuanced and questions.

“To be alive is to be part of this whirlpool, to nourish oneself with flames.” - Marjorie Perloff

To say this is devastating is an understatement.

Marjorie wasn’t just an inspiration for me throughout my career- she was a dear friend to me, Annie, and Vienna.

She helped to inspire the thesis of my dissertation, and the name of our daughter. We will miss her terribly.

Thanks to Soumya of the The New York Times for talking with me about the importance of happiness as a policy subject.

As happiness levels sink across the United States, we should be focused on exploring policies that will help.

Read our conversation 👇

nytimes.com/2024/03/25/us/…

Thanks Ryan for your focus on happiness in California!

Thank you to Los Angeles Times for focusing on the goal of the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy outcomes today.

latimes.com/california/new…

On this #WorldHappinessDay , the World Happiness Report has found happiness in the US has declined substantially over the last year. We no longer make the top 20.

The need to explore effective policy solutions on happiness is clearer than ever.

Read the report: worldhappiness.report

Weekend adventures with Vienna:

🎡 Knott's Berry Farm Berry Farm fun
🎥 movie night at home (with great face paint)
🙋🏻‍♀️ socially-distanced visit with sick grandpa
🎂 a birthday party for a friend

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Shannon Grove!

Inspired by the amazing women Anthony Rendon and City of Lynwood Annual Women's Conference! Huge thanks to speakers, organizers & attendees!

#ad62 #embraceyourpower #womenempoweringwomen #LynwoodCA

ICYMI:

“Because if we have everybody clothed, everybody housed, everybody has a job and they’re miserable, then we’ve failed at what we’re trying to do.”

Thanks Sophie Austin and The Associated Press for taking the time to look at happiness with me.

Thank you to LA County CEO, Judith Baca, and our amazing panelists for sharing your stories with us. This was an amazing event, one of my favorites every single year.

Join us at 1:30 for our first hearing of the Select Committee on Happiness.

Experts will share research and data on happiness, as well as possible opportunities for public policy intersection.

Watch here: assembly.ca.gov/schedules-publ…

Thanks POLITICO California for sharing.

I’m very sad to hear this news. Brian Nestande was a good man who cared deeply about his community. My thoughts are with his friends and family today.

If you haven’t voted yet, you still have plenty of time. Drop your mail-in ballot in a mailbox, or stop by a vote center near you!

Check sos.ca.gov/elections/poll… for your nearest polling place. 🗳️

Always great chatting with Rich Ehisen and tim foster!

Tune in to our conversation on how we create, and why we need, meaningful change in California. 👇