Frazier and Constituents Talk Politics Over Coffee

Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) realized he can’t be all things to all people, but he sure is heck making himself accessible to all people with his latest “Coffee with Jim” event in Antioch yesterday at Dad’s Café where just over 40-people attended.

Topics discussed included local crime in Antioch, Highway 4 construction, labor concerns, road safety, and some of his current bills.  It was a mixture of many issues as they were discussed over coffee and some delicious breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos.

“One of the things I wanted to do when the campaign was over was be accessible to our constituents and our residents and I think one of my biggest attributes as an elected official is I listen,” said Frazier.

Frazier explained that after meeting with residents, his staff writes down the issue, gets contact information and he or his team will follow up on the causes, concerns or suggestions stating that he wants to represent the people.

“I could have carried up to 40-bills. We are carrying 14-bills. The reason for that is because I want to be hear in the District helping people that I represent and being in there as much as I can and being your advocate, that is what is important me,” Frazier told the attendees.  “A lot of you know that I lost my daughter in a car accident 12-years ago and in doing so, there were some people that helped lift me up and make me a better person and so I admired them so much so this was the quest I wanted to take to help people. I think we are on a good start,”

He shared that his first bill passed 69-2 to help with bicycle lanes and remove some of the red tape.

“When I went up to Sacramento, one of the things I was very adamant about is not so much their ought to be a bill, but there outta not be some laws and we are looking at repealing a law on one of the things we just introduced last year, but in my heart I know it’s the right thing to do to provide safety to families on our highways,” said Frazier.

Frazier also spoke on the fact that he is one of five freshmen to be given a committee chair and how he is the Chair of the Accountability and Administrative Review which oversees all the state agencies. He spoke about how they can pull in the agencies and talk about an issue—even issue corrective action legislation.

“Pulling in DMV, EDD, and the California Air Resource Board who I am hearing is an impediment to business in California. Not that I am against the environment, the environment is priority number one, but when it does impact we need to be cognoscente that it’s our economic engine for economic development and get an equal balance and what I will call an attitude adjustment,” explained Frazier.

If you missed Saturdays event, don’t worry, he is having a District Office Opening on May 17 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on May 17 at the Antioch Community Center.

“It’s the best job I have ever had. I get to help people and I can’t wait to get there every morning,” said Frazier.  “We are here to help, don’t hesitate.”

In attendance included Antioch Mayor Wade Harper and Councilman Tony Tiscareno.