Press Releases

Sacramento, CA – A bill to ban dangerous chemicals was signed into law yesterday in California.

Senate Bill 1044 by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, will ban the manufacture, sale and use of firefighting foam that contains chemicals known as per-and poly-fluoralkyl substances, or PFAS. Used in commercial and industrial products like carpet, clothing and non-stick coatings since the 1950s, PFAS resist heat, stains and water. PFAS is used in firefighting foam and commercial products and is linked to health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, birth defects, harm to developing infants and children, and drinking water contamination.

Sacramento, CA – Beverly Hills philanthropist, author and entrepreneur, Lisa Zola Greer, has been recognized by Senator Ben Allen as District 26 Woman of the Year. An active real estate investor, an advisor to many nonprofits, and the co-founder of Tandem Careplanning, a Public-Benefit Corporation that champions both care seekers and caregivers, Lisa Zola Greer is an active and involved member of the Beverly Hills community.

(Sacramento, CA) – President Trump on Thursday, taking another swipe at long-standing national environmental safeguards, signed an executive order asking federal agencies to waive required environmental reviews of infrastructure projects built during the COVID-19 induced economic downturn.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also proposed changes to the way the agency assesses and enacts Clean Air Act regulations--in essence weakening future air pollution rules.

Sacramento, CA – A plan to ban dangerous chemicals took a step forward today in the California Senate.  

Senate Bill 1044 by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, would ban the manufacture, sale and use of firefighting foam that contains chemicals known as per-and poly-fluoralkyl substances, or PFAS, except for where it is federally required. Used in commercial and industrial products like carpet, clothing and non-stick coatings since the 1950s, PFAS resist heat, stains and water. PFAS is used in firefighting foam and commercial products and is linked to health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, birth defects, harm to developing infants and children, and drinking water contamination.

Sacramento, CA -- Today, Senator Ben Allen (D - Santa Monica), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, released the following statement:

"Like many Jewish organizations, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus has supported ethnic studies. While our Caucus and the Jewish Community had serious concerns about certain aspects of the draft model curriculum, we are hopeful that further discussions and modifications will result in a curriculum that everyone can feel good about."

Sacramento, CA – The work of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy preserving open space in the Santa Monica Mountains would be made easier with a bill that just passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

The legislation, proposed by Senator Ben Allen, would save the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) time and resources by cutting red tape and allowing for more direct coordination between Conservancy staff and property owners during land encroachment negotiations.  

Sacramento, CA – Following hours long waits and a slew of complaints from frustrated Los Angeles County voters on Super Tuesday, planned legislation was announced requiring L.A. County to provide voters with more access by increasing the number of vote centers on election day or by providing vote-by-mail ballots for the Fall 2020 election.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), Chair of the California State Senate's Committee on Environmental Quality, released the following statement today: