News Stories

Senator Hertzberg Discusses New Gun Reform Bill with NBC LA's Conan Nolan

February 28, 2022

Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) discussed his new bill creating a private right of action for citizens to use against those manufacturing, selling, transporting, etc. illegal assault weapons and ghost guns with Conan Nolan on NBC Los Angeles' NewsConference.

Podcast: "Climate is Global and Personal"

December 1, 2021

The 5-member California State Senate Delegation to the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, joins us to share their experiences on the world stage, representing CA's impressive leadership on climate policy and goals for future climate action.

Listen to the Then There's California podcast episode here.

$10 Million in Funding Available to Support Pets of Californians Experiencing Homelessness

November 23, 2021

This was originally published by the San Fernando Valley Sun.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg and homeless and animal welfare advocates have jointly announced $10 million in funding for pets of those experiencing homelessness.

The funding announced on Nov. 19, is part of the 2021 California state budget signed into law earlier this year.

COP26 Is An Informational Two Way Street For California Senate Delegation

November 10, 2021

This was originally published in the San Fernando Valley Sun.

This week, members of the California Senate delegation held a virtual meeting with the state’s based reporters to discuss their participation at the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.

Leading the discussion was Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), whose district includes the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

California home buyer program would be funded by $25 billion of bonds

November 5, 2021

A complex first-time home buyer program California lawmakers are working on in conjunction with the State Treasurer’s Office may be funded by an up to $25 billion general obligation bond initiative — if voters approve it.

The "Dream for All" program aims to make home ownership more affordable by reducing the cost of ownership for lower and middle-income Californians, and encourages home builders to sell homes at prices that are attainable to a broader range of purchasers.

California delegation goes to climate summit in Scotland without Newsom

November 2, 2021

This story was originally published on KTXL FOX40.

(KTXL) — Some California leaders are taking part in the United Nation’s climate summit in Scotland over the next two weeks.

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis pointed to California as a lead policymaker in the U.S. when it comes to combatting climate change.

JFS SOVA Receives $5.7 Million State Grant

October 21, 2021

This was originally published by the Jewish Journal.

Jewish Family Service LA’s SOVA Community Food & Resource Program (JFS SOVA) was awarded a $5.7 million grant from California’s 2021 budget allocation to purchase and expand the property in Van Nuys that it has been renting since 2005.

California Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys) and State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) announced the grant at a news conference at the Van Nuys JFS SOVA location on Oct. 7.

"A Cloak & A Wheelbarrow"

May 27, 2021

California's Senator Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg uses the movie "The Princess Bride" as a metaphor for explaining how Californians are not always handed the perfect tools for dealing with the state's challenges, including housing, homelessness and drought, but "..we have to use what we got, and figure it out."

California moving closer to a zero-bail system for misdemeanors, low-level felonies

May 26, 2021

Cash bail in California may soon become a thing of the past for misdemeanors and many non-violent felonies. The state senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would require that judges set zero bail for these crimes. Supporters of the move say that the cash bail system is unconstitutional, unfairly penalizing communities of color.

California Senate Approves Taking Badges From Bad Officers, 2 Other Criminal justice Reform Bills

May 26, 2021

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP/CBS13) — The California State Senate on Wednesday advanced three criminal justice reform bills, including one that could end the careers of bad apple police officers, an idea that failed last year despite broad public outrage over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

But even some supporters made it clear the Senate-approved bill needs more work in the Assembly to clear up what they called vague language and rebalance a disciplinary board they said could be biased against law enforcement.