August 2025 Round-Up

As August comes to a close, I am proud to reflect on a month of connection, celebration, and action across California. We celebrated National Black Business Month, highlighting the incredible contributions of Black entrepreneurs to our communities, and honored Transgender History Month, recognizing the leadership and resilience of transgender Californians who continue to make history.

We also celebrated the strength of California’s workforce and economy, with community colleges leading the way according to a recent report. With the lowest tuition in the nation, California’s community colleges generate $173 billion annually and support 1 in 16 jobs statewide. I am proud of the work they do to expand opportunity, drive workforce development, and make the California Dream a reality for everyone.

As fire season heats up, I urged all Californians to stay prepared for elevated heat and fire weather, sharing resources to help communities stay safe: ReadyForWildfire.org, ListosCalifornia.org, CalHeatScore.CalEPA.ca.gov, and Ready.CA.gov. Alongside Governor Gavin Newsom, we continued to advance California’s climate leadership, working to protect our communities and environment while building a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Through my ongoing county tours, I continued visiting communities across all of California’s 58 counties, meeting local leaders, learning from residents, and seeing firsthand the innovative work being done to strengthen communities, protect our natural treasures, and ensure every Californian thrives.

As we look ahead to the months to come, I remain inspired by the resilience, creativity, and determination of Californians across every corner of our state. Together, we can continue building stronger communities, protecting our environment, and expanding opportunities for all who call our state home.

Eleni Kounalakis
Lieutenant Governor of California

29th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit

I was grateful to join federal, state, and local leaders, along with community members, at the 29th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit to continue the bipartisan, bi-state effort to protect this national treasure. Lake Tahoe is one of California’s most iconic and special places, and preserving its beauty and ecological health requires strong, sustained collaboration at every level. As Chair of the State Lands Commission, I was proud to highlight California’s leadership in advancing conservation and management efforts that safeguard the lake for future generations. From protecting against invasive species to restoring meadows and wetlands, we are committed to ensuring Tahoe remains one of the most pristine alpine lakes in the world. Together, we carry forward the legacy of leaders like Senator Dianne Feinstein, who knew how important it was to come together to protect this extraordinary place.

Climate Partnership Between California & Denmark

I was proud to join Governor Gavin Newsom, Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen as California and Denmark signed a new partnership to strengthen our collaboration on environmental resilience, the green economy, digital safety, and innovative ecosystems. This agreement deepens our transatlantic ties and reaffirms California’s leadership in building a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable future.

Joint Statement on Trump DOJ’s UCLA Political Shakedown

In August, I joined Governor Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Speaker Robert Rivas, and the Co-Chairs of the Legislative Jewish Caucus in condemning the Trump Administration’s unprecedented political attack on the University of California. Demanding more than $1 billion from UCLA in exchange for restoring frozen medical and science research grants is nothing short of a political shakedown that would punish millions of students, devastate life-saving research, and undermine academic freedom. The UC system generates $82 billion annually for America’s economy, supports more than 500,000 jobs, and leads the world in innovation with over 13,800 active patents. California has taken decisive action to ensure our campuses remain safe and inclusive, and I will continue to stand against these dangerous abuses of power. We will not allow political games to dismantle the greatest public university system in the world.

To read the full statement, visit Governor Newsom’s press release.

Assembly Select Committee on Asia/CA Trade and Investment

I was proud to join Madam Chair, Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, for the first hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on Asia/California Trade and Investment and to speak about California’s ties to the Asia-Pacific region. As Governor Newsom’s top representative for international affairs and trade, I highlighted the interagency efforts I co-chair to strengthen California’s economic, environmental, and cultural partnerships abroad. California’s prosperity is deeply connected to Asia, with over 40 percent of our exports going to the region and more than 213,000 California jobs supported by Asian investment. I also emphasized the human connections, with over 7.1 million Asian American Pacific Islanders enriching our state’s economy, culture, and communities. Through ongoing collaboration, California continues to build strong partnerships across the Pacific to advance sustainability, innovation, and shared prosperity.

County Tours Across the Sierra Nevada

As part of my county tours in the Sierra Nevada, I had the pleasure of visiting Calaveras Big Trees State Park. It was inspiring to meet with State Park leaders and see firsthand their work protecting California’s giant sequoias, some towering 250–300 feet tall and advocating for over 1,000 mature trees against the threats of wildfire and climate change. Walking the North Grove Trail and learning about forest management, prescribed burns, and the history of these iconic trees reminded me how vital it is to safeguard our public lands and the wildlife that depend on them.

It was also an honor to visit California’s very own Yosemite National Park as part of this tour through the beautiful Sierra Nevada. I was grateful for an exclusive tour with park officials, hiking the iconic Mist Trail and seeing firsthand how the park maintains its trails to be safe and accessible for all visitors. From the giant sequoias to breathtaking waterfalls, these experiences highlighted the importance of protecting California’s natural treasures, a responsibility we all share.

National Dog Month

Earlier in August, I visited the Sacramento SPCA in honor of National Dog Month and had the chance to tour their shelter, meet with staff, and spend time with some of their adoptable dogs. I was inspired by the incredible work they do to provide compassionate care, affordable services, and community programs that help keep people and pets together. August’s “Clear the Shelters” campaign especially highlighted the need to find loving homes for large dogs and adult cats, animals that often wait longer to be adopted. Together, we can make sure more Californians experience the joy and companionship that comes from giving a shelter pet a forever home.

National Black Business Month

I had a great time visiting Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse in Sacramento in honor of National Black Business Month, celebrating the incredible contributions of Black entrepreneurs to our communities. Meeting with co-owner Rob Archie, I saw firsthand how Urban Roots has become not just a restaurant and brewery, but a gathering place rooted in food, culture, and community. Black-owned businesses are vital to California, contributing not only to our economy but also to our culture and neighborhoods, with over 16,800 Black-owned businesses across the state. Visiting Urban Roots was a reminder of why it’s so important to uplift and support these businesses, not just during National Black Business Month, but every month.