In the News

March 07, 2024

Appointment to California Senate Majority Leader: Gonzalez was appointed to the role of Senate Majority Leader on Feb. 8. Her new responsibilities will include keeping the rest of the democratic caucus abreast of legislative tasks for each day, as well as scheduling business on the senate floor. 

Climate Resilient Schools Act: Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) has put forth Senate Bill 1182, known as the Climate Resilient Schools Act, aiming to fortify California’s schools against climate change impacts, while lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. 

February 17, 2024

Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez introduced a bill this week that would require the state to create a master plan for climate resilient schools. SB 1182, The Climate Resilient Schools Act, would coordinate state-wide action to provide schools with clear information, direction and support to adapt and modernize their facilities and operations in alignment with the state’s climate adaptation, decarbonization, and extreme heat goals, while also ensuring the state is positioned to utilize new federal incentives resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy upgrades.

December 29, 2023

Por Pilar Niño

A partir de este primero de enero del 2024, los trabajadores en California tendrán derecho a más días pagos por enfermedad en California.

Actualmente la ley estatal exige solamente tres días, y en el nuevo año se agregarán dos más.

Alejandra García, trabaja en un restaurante y celebra la noticia.

“Que tenemos billes y por el miedo de quedarnos sin dinero venimos a trabajar”, indicó Alejandra. “Me he enfermado de la gripa y por el miedo de pagar billes, prefiero venir a trabajar que quedarme en casa”.

December 27, 2023

BY SAMEEA KAMAL

California workers will be guaranteed five paid sick days a year starting Jan. 1, up from the three days that employers are currently required to provide, thanks to Senate Bill 616

The bill, authored by Long Beach Democratic Sen. Lena Gonzalez, also extends protections against retaliation to workers who are in a union, but excludes provisions that would have granted railroad employees access to unpaid sick leave.

December 26, 2023

By: 

 Sick days are also going to increase for workers from the three minimum paid sick days to five says the bill’s author, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach).

“A huge victory again for all workers. It’s a really wonderful opportunity to get two extra days to recover, to rest, for mental health, whatever they need,” Lena Gonzalez said.

December 03, 2023
BY THE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
 
State Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), who wrote SB 252, commended CalPERS for taking a step in the right direction, but said the strategy won’t stop the divestment push.
 
While it is encouraging to see CalPERS officials start to take seriously calls to dump fossil fuels and prioritize renewable energy, their solution would only prolong the power and influence of an industry whose reckless and deceitful actions going back decades continue to fuel a worsening climate catastrophe. It seems clear that the only way to ensure that public pension funds move out of this risky business is by forcing them to do so through legislation.
October 18, 2023

By ALFREDO SANTANA 

State Sen. Lena Gonzalez visited Long Beach’s MacArthur Park this week to announce a $2 million allocation to support homelessness services in the city, with $750,000 intended to help recently incarcerated people find housing and avoid recidivism.

Gonzalez made the presentation on Monday, Oct. 16, as volunteers gathered at the park to give those who are homeless clothes, food and water under the city’s bimonthly Monday Matters program.

Gonzalez, who represents the Senate’s 33th District, said California “is taking a proactive approach in mitigating the homeless crisis,” and the money will serve to provide more services for the most vulnerable populations at risk of becoming unhoused, or already experiencing homelessness.

October 17, 2023

LONG BEACH — Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) Oct. 16 presented $2 Million in funds during Monday Matters at MacArthur Park in the City of Long Beach, a bi-monthly resource fair where volunteers help provide essential supplies to unhoused neighbors. Of the funds awarded, $1.25 million will be utilized to enhance the capacity of service providers to assist individuals at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. The remaining sum of $750,000 will be directed towards enhancing the city’s Reentry Services Program.

October 05, 2023

SACRAMENTO.- Los trabajadores de California pronto recibirán un mínimo de cinco días de licencia por enfermedad remunerada al año, en lugar de tres, según una nueva ley firmada el miércoles por el gobernador Gavin Newsom.

“Esta es una oportunidad para brindar dos días más de enfermedad a las personas para que puedan quedarse en casa y recuperarse de una enfermedad y con esperanza sentirse mejor y regresar”, dijo Lena González, senadora por el Distrito 33 y una de las propulsoras del proyecto de ley SB 616.

Según la senadora González, California estaba rezagada con esta legislación ya que doce estados de la nación ya cuentan con leyes similares. La legislación prohibirá, además, represalias por parte de los empleadores.

October 05, 2023

BY MAYA MILLER

Some California workers are in line to earn more sick days starting in January, as Gov. Gavin Newsom handed labor advocates another victory. 
 
The governor on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 616 from state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach. The new law requires employers to allow their workers to accrue five days of sick leave each year, up from the current statewide minimum of three days. Workers can start accruing those extra days beginning Jan. 1, 2024. 
 
Gonzalez said she authored the bill out of concern that workers would not have enough sick days if they or a child fell ill with COVID-19. 
 
“This reinforces our state’s values and commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our workers,” Gonzalez said in a statement Tuesday.