In The News

BY IN FOCUS STAFF EL SEGUNDO

While the climate crisis has many factors that play a role in the exacerbation of the environment, some warrant more attention than others. From plastic pollution to food waste and deforestation, Earth Month brings with it a range of environmentally focused events and campaigns. We are all encouraged to come together to support and amplify environmental advocacy work, and focus on solutions to give our planet a healthier future.

On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” Spectrum News’ Ariel Wesler spoke with California state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, who represents the 33rd District and serves as the state’s Senate majority leader. She authored the Climate Resilient Schools Act — known as SB 118 — which is going to equip schools with the tools to protect students and educators from the impacts of climate change.

“With over 1,000 school districts and over 10,000 school facilities, we know that we need a master plan for climate resiliency across our California schools to keep children and faculty healthy,” said Gonzalez. “And so that means is we want to decarbonize buildings, putting electrical HVAC systems, adding urban yards, ensuring that the building from left to right is all decarbonized.”

SACRAMENTO – Recent reports indicate the projected budget shortfall has grown by an additional $15 billion, resulting in a potential shortfall range from $38 billion to $53 billion. 

The Senate’s early action plan would reduce the shortfall by over $17 billion.

This immediate action takes the shortfall range down to a more manageable $9 billion to $24 billion and enables final budget negotiations later in the year to focus on closing the remaining gap while working to protect the progress to core programs that California has made in recent years.

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. 

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.

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”.

By: Pedro Rivera, Travis Schlepp

 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.

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.

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.

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.