Thank you so much to everyone who submitted questions for the debate between gubernatorial candidates Newsom and Cox. While the interviewer did not ask the candidates about the Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL), I managed to pose the question to Cox’s campaign manager, Tim Rosales.

On the day of the debate, I flew up to KQED station headquarters in San Francisco where it was being held and waited outside hoping that one of the candidates would leave through the front door. Cox and Newsom exited quietly through the back door, but Rosales came to speak to the press. I was able to ask him whether Cox would commit to reforming DTSC and enforcing a cleanup. He told me he’d definitely consider it. And you’ll all be so proud of me, after he was done speaking I rushed to catch him privately. He gave me his email address – success! We’re in the process of scheduling a meeting with Cox or his representative now.

We’re still waiting expectantly for Newsom to sign our statement, but I am hopeful that we will soon have both candidates supporting the DTSC reform and the safe, complete cleanup of the SSFL. We’re making progress, all thanks to your incredible support and momentum, so thank you! I’ll update more soon.

Melissa