On this week’s "In Focus SoCal," host Tanya McRae sits down with state Sen. Josh Newman.

Newman represents the 29th District, which encompasses portions of the Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Newman shared about his upbringing in Poughkeepsie, New York. His father was a general surgeon, and his mother became mayor of his town. Newman graduated from Yale University before joining the Army as an artillery officer. His military background and desire for more veteran resources is what first inspired him to run for public office.  

“When I was in the service, or when I got out of the service in 1990, I have no recollection of anybody ever saying to me, 'Thank you for your service,'" said Newman. “And it's not so new now, but it was a phenomenon that, I think, coalesced around 9/11 and the two wars that followed. And I think the gratitude toward people who have served is real. But there is a gap between the rhetoric, especially by the elected people, by politicians, about how wonderful vets are, and the actual programs to help them in the next chapter of their lives. I got frustrated with that."

Newman was elected in 2016 to the Senate, where he immediately started working on a variety of legislative issues, including public safety. An initiative he developed with the help of local law enforcement and community based organizations is the North Orange County Public Safety Collaboration.

Recently, Newman secured $8 million to fund the initiative, which will be spread across 11 cities to tackle homelessness, youth gang violence, post incarceration reentry programs and supporting small businesses.

“Within each city, 40% of the money goes to public safety, goes to law enforcement to hire the people they need to do outreach and liaison work with the homeless community, and others," said Newman. "And then the other 60% goes to local organizations that have either an interest in or experience with working with some of these targeted populations. And so what that's done is, it's created a framework to get much better coordination, and it's been really encouraging.”

Newman also shared about his personal life outside of being a senator. He is a husband, father and community member who resides in Fullerton, Calif., with his family and their three rescue chihuahuas. Although not originally from this state, Newman says he’s grateful to live and serve in a place like Southern California.

“And one of the best things about it is our diversity. California is the world's fifth largest economy. But just importantly, it's like a nation unto itself for other reasons. So we have people from all over the world who have come here to make 'the American dream' theirs, to make the 'California dream' theirs.”

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