| WELCOME |
Greetings Neighbor,
This spring has seen strong momentum for my legislative package as well as active community engagement across our district. I’m proud to report that 10 of my bills recently advanced through the Senate.
In our district, I was excited to celebrate the opening of the Metro D Line expansion, an important investment in improving transportation and connectivity throughout Los Angeles. I was also pleased with our progress meeting with community members to plan the redevelopment of the 5401 Workforce Innovation Hub in the Crenshaw corridor to help advance community investment and workforce training.
In addition, I kicked off the BizFed Advocacy Academy Spring Cohort, connected with residents at the Ladera Community Gathering, and stood with advocates at the California Immigrant Policy Center’s Medi-Cal press conference on protecting healthcare access for immigrant communities.
It was also an honor to recognize Westside Family Health Center as our Nonprofit of the Year for their outstanding service, and to tour the LA Convention Center expansion project alongside Mayor Karen Bass and regional leaders as we continue investing in our city’s future.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve our vibrant 28th District communities. My office remains committed to advocating for policies and investments that strengthen our district and improve lives. Please visit our website to learn how to reach our District and Capitol teams for legislative and constituent services or to submit requests to schedule events or meetings.
Warm Regards,
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Senator, 28th District
Prioritizing Working Families: Legislative Update
This year, I continued prioritizing working families by advancing legislation that creates good jobs, protects workers, and invests in safer, healthier communities. Over the past several weeks, I successfully advanced 10 bills, including:
- SB 1012—Fire Camp to Career Act—Creates pathways for incarcerated fire crews into union careers.
- SB 1203—Strengthens training standards for security officers and ensures they are trained on paid time.
- SB 1284—Increases transparency when large corporations rely on taxpayer-funded healthcare for their workers.
Visit my website to learn more about my legislative package.
I also secured a major budget proposal to provide $30 million annually over five years for the California Worker Outreach Project, a public-funded initiative that connects workers with trusted community organizations to help them understand and exercise their workplace rights.
Metro D Line Extension Opens to Connect Downtown to Miracle Mile
On May 8, I was thrilled to join local leaders, transportation officials, and community members for the grand opening of Metro’s D Line Extension, an important milestone that will strengthen connections between Downtown Los Angeles and the Miracle Mile community in our district.
This major investment in public transportation will improve mobility, expand access to jobs and opportunities, and provide residents and visitors with faster, more reliable transit options. The D Line Extension represents a significant step toward building a more connected, sustainable and accessible Los Angeles for everyone.
Thank you to the Metro team and the many advocates, workers and community partners whose dedication helped bring this project to life. This is what transit equity looks like. I look forward to the lasting benefits this expansion will bring to our district and the entire LA region.
Advancing the Vision for the 5401 Workforce Innovation Hub
I was pleased to further our progress with community members and local stakeholders in planning the redevelopment of the 5401 Workforce Innovation Hub in the Crenshaw corridor.
Through community surveys and engagement, residents shared a clear vision for the project: Creating housing that neighbors can afford to help prevent displacement; providing training for high-quality jobs and career development pathways; offering essential services and access to resources; and welcoming spaces that support youth, families, and intergenerational needs.
This collaborative effort reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that the redevelopment directly benefits the surrounding community while creating long-term economic opportunity and stability for local residents.
I look forward to continuing this important work alongside community partners and stakeholders as the vision for the Workforce Innovation Hub moves forward.
Partnering with BizFed to Support Local Small Businesses
This spring, we kicked off the launch of the BizFed Advocacy Academy’s spring cohort held in Century City. I was proud to partner with the BizFed Institute to support local small business owners and entrepreneurs who are working hard to build stronger businesses and drive our regional economy forward.
Programs like the BizFed Advocacy Academy help equip business leaders with the tools, knowledge and networks they need to effectively engage in public policy and advocate for their communities. When small businesses thrive, our communities thrive—creating more jobs, opportunity and long-term economic resilience for all.
Coffee with the Senator in Ladera Heights
Grateful to everyone who joined us for such a thoughtful and meaningful conversation at our Coffee with the Senator gathering in Ladera Heights in May.
Hearing directly from community members about the issues that matter most helps guide the work we do every day for families in neighborhoods across our district.
Special thanks to Tryone and Alvetia Smith for so graciously opening their home for this engaging discussion. Also, thanks to our Ladera Heights neighbors for your partnership, your voices, and your continued commitment to uplifting our communities.
Protecting Healthcare Access for All Californians
Healthcare is a human right—and we must protect it for all Californians. This month, I stood in solidarity with the California Immigrant Policy Center, state leaders, and community members at a “California for All” press conference highlighting deep concerns around H.R. 1, which threatens to slash more than $600 billion from Medicaid nationally. These cuts would put millions at risk of losing healthcare, including over 3 million working Californians.
This is why I authored SB 1284—to hold large corporations accountable when they rely on Medi-Cal to subsidize low wages. We must ensure that state-funded safety-net programs are not used to offset corporate responsibility at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.
We must remain committed to fighting for a California where everyone has access to quality healthcare—regardless of income, race, or immigration status.
Closer Look: LA Convention Center Expansion Project
Proud to join LA City Mayor Karen Bass and local leaders for a recent tour of the Los Angeles Convention Center Expansion and Modernization Project.
Investments like this strengthen Downtown Los Angeles’s competitiveness while creating good-paying union jobs that support working families across our region. That’s why I co-authored AB 770 (Gonzalez) that was strongly supported by Mayor Bass. The bill, signed into law last year, established this area as a designated sign district—an important step in helping to finance the expansion project.
During the visit, I met with the hardworking construction crews bringing this transformative project to life. Their dedication and craftsmanship are helping move this ambitious expansion project forward to ensure it greatly serves the LA region for generations to come.
Westside Family Health Center Named Nonprofit of the Year
It was an honor to recognize Westside Family Health Center at the State Capitol for being named as our 28th District’s Nonprofit of the Year. They were selected for their outstanding dedication to ensuring local families have access to quality healthcare—no matter their income or background. Their commitment to compassionate, community-based care continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents across our district.