Elevate the 28th Newsletter – October 2025

Greetings Neighbor,

As we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history and contributions of our Latino neighbors – families who have shaped our communities and culture for generations.

Last month, I hosted our 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Community Event to bring together neighbors, artists and local organizations to share their stories, music and traditions that reflect the heart of our district. I’m grateful for everyone who joined us and helped make this event a success.

As we celebrate our Latino neighbors, this time is also a call-to-action. I continue to stand firmly with our immigrant communities, advocating for policies that protect families, expand access to legal resources, and ensure dignity and opportunity for all Californians – regardless of immigration status. In the State Legislature, I’m proud to support immigration legislation that protects families, expands access to legal resources, and strengthens workplace rights for immigrant workers.

Through our commitment to solidarity, we’re building a future rooted in inclusion, respect and community.

Warm Regards, 

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Senator, 28th District

I was proud to host a Hispanic Heritage Month Community Event last month for a second consecutive year to unite local residents in celebration of the Latino families, workers and artists whose contributions strengthen the South LA community. Held at the campus of Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School, the free event drew hundreds of local residents of diverse backgrounds for a festive afternoon of family fun.

The celebration featured live performances, food vendors, and over 30 community resource booths. At a time when the Latino community is facing unprecedented challenges, such as ICE raids and the fear they evoke, the event offered a space of safety and belonging.

Special thanks to our event co-hosts – the Offices of LA County Supervisory Holly Mitchell and Assemblymember Sade Elhawary. A huge thanks to our event sponsors – Los Angeles Unified School District, UMMA Health, and CANNDU Neighborhood Council. Also a big thanks to all of those who staffed community resource tables to inform residents about supportive services that are especially needed in this moment of a government shutdown.

As your state representative, I’m proud to stand with our Latino and immigrant communities who contribute so much to the strength, culture, and vitality of California. I am committed to making sure that the values of diversity and inclusion are not just words, but actions.

So I’m working hard at the State Capitol to make a more equitable California. I’m pleased that my bill package better protecting working families were passed by the State Legislature:

• SB 75 – Creates pre-apprenticeship programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, opening doors to union-affiliated skilled trade careers.
• SB 303 – Ensures workers are protected when participating in bias mitigation training – helping to create safer, fairer, and more inclusive workplaces across California.
• SB 464 – This California Legislative Black Caucus priority bill requires public sector employers to report employee pay data – by race, ethnicity and sex – to be made public by the Civil Rights Department.
• SB 578 – Legalizes the California Workplace Outreach Program to guarantees workers statewide get the critical rights information they need to stay safe, protected, and empowered on the job.
• SB 648 – Gives the Labor Commissioner the authority to issue citations to recover an employee’s gratuities taken or withheld in violation of Labor Code Section 351.  
• SB 756 – Requires the California Film Commission to implement a tracking and compliance program to monitor the economic impact of productions receiving film and TV tax credits.

I’ve also supported legislation in response to ICE raids that’s creating fear among our community members. I’m proud to have co-authored both the “No Secret Police Act” (SB 627, Weiner) that bans local and federal law enforcement from wearing masks while policing communities, and “No Vigilantes Act” (SB 805, Pérez) that requires law enforcement to clearly display their ID, and bans bounty hunters from engaging in immigration enforcement.

Other bills that I supported that better protects our immigrant communities include:

• AB 49 (Muratsuchi) – Safe Havens Schools Act – Prohibits immigration enforcement officers from entering a nonpublic area of a school site without providing valid ID, judicial warrant or court order.
• SB 81 (Arreguin) – Ensuring Healthcare Spaces are Safe – Prohibits immigration authorities from accessing a facilities’ nonpublic area without a valid judicial warrant or court order, and expands protections under personal health information.
• SB 98 (Pérez) – Sending Alerts to Families in Education (SAFE) Act – Mandates K-12 schools and colleges to notify their campus communities when immigration enforcement activities are expected or occurring on school grounds

To learn more about my legislation and work in our district, please visit our website.

This month, Governor Gavin Newsom joined leaders from organized labor to sign groundbreaking legislation – AB 1340 (Wicks) – aimed at strengthening labor protections for rideshare drivers across California. The new law ensures that drivers have greater access to benefits, fair pay and workplace protections, recognizing the essential role they play in our economy.

Labor leaders praised the law as a major victory for workers, noting that it sets a precedent for other states to follow in protecting gig workers. With the legislation now in effect, drivers can look forward to stronger rights on pay, scheduling and workplace safety, creating a more equitable and secure environment for all.

This milestone legislation demonstrates the power of collaboration between government and organized labor to ensure that all workers are treated with fairness and dignity.

As your state legislator, I want to make sure every member of our community has access to accurate information about their rights, especially when it comes to immigration.

So we’ve posted a “Know Your Rights” guide on our official website to help you navigate interactions with immigration authorities, understand your legal protections, and access critical community resources.

Resource topics include:

• Your rights during immigration enforcement visits or raids
• How to respond if approached by immigration authorities
• Accessing legal support and community resources

Visit our website’s Immigration Resources page to view this guide. Sharing this information with friends, family and neighbors helps ensure that our communities stay informed and protected.