The New Senate District 24
Addressing LA’s Biggest Challenges
Transportation is another major challenge in our region and, as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I support increasing access to alternative modes of transportation that get people out of their cars. Doing so is a win for the environment, the economy, and quality of life. We are making historic investments in new train lines, including the Purple (D) Line extension that will connect the Westside and UCLA students to downtown Los Angeles and beyond. Hundreds of thousands of people rely on our public transit system and we must ensure that it is safe, clean, and reliable. I am concerned about recent reports showing an increase in drug use and deaths on LA Metro, including 21 deaths in the first two months of this year alone. I’m hopeful for the new Metro Ambassador program and looking forward to learning more about its effectiveness.
I have heard firsthand from businesses throughout our district about the struggles of returning to normal as the pandemic subsides. We need to do more to support these cornerstones of our communities, and I’ll be examining the Governor’s revised budget proposal in May to make sure small businesses are not forgotten.
My team recently cohosted a tax preparation webinar with the legal nonprofit Bet Tzedek to make sure you are ready for the upcoming tax filing season. Due to the disastrous winter storms, the federal Internal Revenue Service and the state Franchise Tax Board have extended deadlines to October 16 to file your taxes. And good news for those who received the California middle class tax refund in 2022: it is not subject to federal or state income taxes. To find out if you qualify for free tax preparation assistance, visit the FTB website.
