Dear Neighbor,

With 2022 nearing an end, I am excited to report on our impact and legislative achievements in Senate District 33. This year, ten of our bills were signed into law and we advocated for over one-hundred measures that were also enacted into law. On the ground, Team Gonzalez helped resolve hundreds of cases for constituents, organized and supported hundreds of events, meetings and much more! Keep reading for more details in our end-of-year recap!

At the Capitol, we are gearing up for the new legislative session and continuing our research for our 2023 legislative package. This month, I had a great opportunity to travel to Canada to participate in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP 15 where governments from around the world came together to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss by at least 30%.

In the District, I connected with local companies building zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and infrastructure for our ports and roads, and celebrated one of their latest ZEV investments. My team participated in holiday events, a community coffee in Florence Firestone, and a health permit workshop for street food vendors in Long Beach.

Lastly, in our resource corner, check out the following updates that may be of interest to you! Metro is reducing the cost of transit for low-income riders with the LIFE Program, and providing a free 90-day pass for those that are new to the program. COVID-19 treatment options are free, widely available, and very effective. Californians who need to provide a signature to renew a Permanent Disabled Person Parking Placard can now do it online. LA County is providing financial relief for small businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19.

End of Year Recap 2022

• I am proud to share, ten of our bills were signed into law this year! We passed bold legislation to end neighborhood oil drilling, support street food vendors, protect access to abortion care, address disparities in access to mental health services and more!
• In addition, we advocated for over one-hundred other successful measures. Among them, the California Climate Crisis Act, to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2045, the Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022 to require renewable energy and zero-carbon resources to supply a greater portion of all retail electricity sales, and SB 1314 to end pollution from nearly depleted oil wells by banning the practice of using carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery.
• My office helped resolve 220 cases for Senate District 33 constituents, including 170 unemployment insurance cases and dozens of cases to answer questions and resolve issues regarding other state programs such as the Middle-Class Tax Refund, the Golden State Stimulus, Medi-Cal, and Housing is Key.
• This fiscal year, I advocated for and secured $267.2 million in funds for seven local projects in Senate District 33, including funds for rebuilding Lynwood High School, improvements to Long Beach’s Multi-Service Center, a Technology Career Incubator Site in Southeast Los Angeles, and improvements to Cudahy’s Clara Park.
   

News from the Capitol

• Next year, starting January 1, new laws will be taking effect. Here’s a snapshot of some of the bills that will take effect in the New Year.
• With the Legislature reconvening on January 4, my team and I are gearing up for the new legislative session and continuing our research for our 2023 legislative package. In addition to working on new legislative ideas, our team will be ready to provide you with top budget highlights after the Governor presents his 2023 budget proposal on January 10.
• I had a great opportunity to participate in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP 15, a conference where governments from around the world came together to agree on goals and investments to guide global climate action through 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss. Some of the subjects I had an opportunity to discuss included:
  • California’s biodiversity, over 30% of all plant and vertebrate species in the U.S. occur in California! We have over 6,500 types of native plants – that’s some of the highest plant diversity in the world! And over 1/3 of those plants are endemic, meaning they only grow here.
  • California’s 30 by 30 plan, a plan to conserve 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.
  • California-Mexico partnership to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
• At COP 15, 195 nations agreed to protect and restore at least 30% of the Earth’s land and water by 2030.  Rich nations committed to pay an estimated $30 billion a year by 2030 to poorer nations through a new biodiversity fund that will be created under the Global Environment Facility, a 30-year-old organization that supports environmental work.
• Recently, California approved an unprecedented $2.9 billion investment plan that accelerates California’s 2025 electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling goals.
• At the federal level, the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law to recognize and protect interracial and same-sex marriage across the country.

In the District

• On December 7, I joined local companies working toward zero-emission infrastructure and vehicles for our ports and roads. We talked about zero-emission trucks and cars and celebrated a collaboration by Forum Mobility and Hight Logistics for five Class 8 electric trucks! I also visited Toyota Auto Body Manufacturing to learn about their work building car parts in Long Beach with union labor.
• On December 13, it was a full house at the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Safety’s first Health Permit Workshop for Mobile Food Vendors and Food Truck operators! This workshop was a significant step in working collaboratively with vendors, giving them critical information and answering questions in person and with different department representatives to help them access health permits in adherence to my bill SB 972.  
• On December 15, my team joined Walnut Park and Florence Firestone’s Coffee with a Cop! Community met with Century Station officers and the California Highway Patrol to discuss public safety concerns and priorities.
• We also participated in holiday events across the District, including the Lakewood Celebrates Holiday reception and gift drive, and the annual Christmas event in Bell supported by the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation and the LA Promise Fund.

Metro LIFE Program

• Metro is reducing the cost of transit for low-income riders with the LIFE Program.  The program offers fare discounts that can be applied toward the purchase of weekly and monthly transit passes on Metro and any LIFE participating transit agencies, or 20 free rides on any one of the participating transit agencies. If you’re new to the program, you will get a free 90-day pass. After your free pass expires, you will be able to load the LIFE discount fare onto your TAP card. Apply for the LIFE Program here. 

COVID-19 Treatment Options

• COVID-19 treatments are free, widely available, and very effective. Treatments work best when taken within 5-7 days of when symptoms begin, so act quickly. Get a COVID-19 test and seek COVID-19 treatment if you think you may have COVID-19.
• Visit how to find COVID-19 treatment for more information.

Permanent Disabled Person Placard Renewal

• Californians who need to provide a signature to renew their Permanent Disabled Person Parking Placard can do it online in the latest expansion of digital services by the Department of Motor Vehicles. This new service, available at dmv.ca.gov/dpp, allows customers to easily fulfill a new requirement for renewing a placard held for six or more years.

Economic Opportunity Grants

• LA County small and microbusinesses (less than $2 million in revenue) and non-profits (less than $5 million in revenue) impacted by COVID-19 may qualify for financial relief to support their post-pandemic recovery. The Economic Opportunity Grants (EOG) program offers $60+ million for grants, technical assistance, and other County services to help businesses stabilize and grow. Grants will be available starting in January 2023.
• Sign up for additional information and upcoming application assistance here.

As always, if you need any other information or assistance, please contact my office at (562) 256-7921 or send us a message here. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Lena Gonzalez
33rd State Senate District