Press Releases

February 16, 2023

Sacramento, Calif. – On February 16, 2023, Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) introduced Senate Bill 674 The Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction Act, to strengthen the state’s refinery fence-line monitoring program. The bill would help protect the health of communities living near refineries by establishing standard fence-line air monitoring requirements, including quarterly emissions reports and root cause analyses of any threshold exceedances. SB 674 would also expand the definition of refineries to include biofuel refineries and auxiliary facilities. 

February 15, 2023

Sacramento, Calif. – Today, February 15, 2023, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) was joined by the California Labor Federation in announcing Senate Bill 616 which would expand California’s landmark paid sick leave law to ensure all working Californians in the public and private sector can use seven days of paid sick leave each year.

 

February 14, 2023

Sacramento, Calif. – On February 14, 2023, Senate Transportation Committee Chair Senator Lena Gonzalez (D - Long Beach) teamed up with the Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator (LACI) to introduce the EVs for All Act, a new bill that would fill a critical transportation gap for residents of public housing throughout California while expanding access to zero emission vehicles to more low-income Californians.

January 10, 2023

Sacramento, Calif. –  Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) released the following statement on the 2023-24 state budget proposal released by Governor Gavin Newsom today:

"I appreciate the Governor's commitment to building a resilient budget that maintains investments in key priorities and I look forward to working together with his administration and my colleagues in the State Legislature on how we can develop a comprehensive and balanced budget that promotes California’s values and goals.

October 22, 2022

Long Beach, Calif. – On October 22, 2022 Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) presented $1.2 million in funds for the revitalization of the Wrigley Greenbelt. The funds will help renovate greenspace to improve air quality and better serve local residents as a place for recreation, exercise and more.

October 18, 2022

Signal Hill, Calif. – On October 18, 2022 Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) presented $5 million in state funds for the renovation and redesign of the Signal Hill outdoor amphitheater. This key infrastructure project will support local artists and provide thousands of local residents with a community hub for art activities, cultural resources, and entertainment.

October 12, 2022

Maywood, Calif. – On October 12, 2022 Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) presented $3 million in state funds for the renovation of Maywood Riverfront Park. The funding will help transform the park to better serve local residents as a place for recreation, exercise, community gatherings, cultural events and more.

September 16, 2022

Sacramento, Calif. – On September 16, 2022, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and community advocates released the following statement following Governor Gavin Newsom signing SB 1137 into law, which creates a minimum setback of 3,200-feet between sensitive receptors, such as a residence, school, childcare facility, playground, hospital, or nursing home and a new or reworked oil and gas production well.

August 31, 2022

Sacramento, Calif. – On August 31, 2022, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and community advocates celebrated the successful passage of SB 1137 in the State Legislature. SB 1137 would require health and safety buffer zones of 3,200 ft between new and reworked oil wells and sensitive receptors such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, and strengthen protections for people living near existing oil wells.

August 25, 2022

Sacramento, Calif. – On August 25, 2022, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) introduced historic legislation to establish health and safety buffer zones and protect the most pollution-burdened communities in the state from the dangers of oil and gas operations. California is the 7th and 14th largest oil and natural gas producer in the nation with about 125,000 oil and gas wells—many of which are located near people’s homes.