Last week, credit union leaders had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with two key political figures in the greater San Diego region: Colin Parent, a candidate for California’s Assembly District 79, and Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista).
These events, graciously hosted by North Island CU, provided a platform for addressing crucial issues affecting both the credit union industry and the broader community.
Parent, running to succeed Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), shared his aspirations to serve on the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee and the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He outlined his top priorities, which include tackling housing challenges, addressing homelessness, and improving road infrastructure. The dialogue also touched on public safety concerns, particularly how credit union employees handle homelessness-related issues in their branches, emphasizing the need for better state resource allocations.
Parent also acknowledged the unique position of credit unions in the financial landscape, recognizing their role in offering tailored financial products and services, serving as a good alternative to large banks. He expressed his commitment to being attentive to credit union-specific issues and the importance of tailored regulations for different types of financial institutions.
In Alvarez’s discussion, he highlighted education and housing as his primary focus areas. He spoke about the recently passed legislation in Sacramento on mandating personal finance courses for high school students, viewing it as an excellent opportunity for credit unions to contribute their expertise in financial education. As chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, Alvarez has been a strong advocate for financial literacy initiatives.
The conversation with Alvarez also covered the Bank On program, which provides free accounts and traditional banking services to individuals often in need of “second chance” accounts. Additionally, Alvarez expressed interest in organizing a homeownership education event in his district, inviting local credit unions to participate.
Overall, these events underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue between credit union leaders and policymakers, fostering a better understanding of the unique role credit unions play in the financial landscape and the communities they serve.
A big “thank you” goes out to the San Diego Credit Union PAC and Wescom PAC for their support, North Island CU for hosting the event, and to the following credit unions for their leadership and engagement:
For a list of all upcoming events, check out our calendar here.
Interested in hosting or attending a future event? Email California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues Political Advocacy Manager Angelica Pappalardo.
