We’re only halfway through September and we’ve already doubled the number of opportunities for you to learn, take action and build community this election season! Ballots drop October 7th, and there are so many candidates and critical ballot measures to learn about before then. We’re excited to announce that we will be co-hosting an in-person Assembly District 44 Candidate Forum on September 26 to hear from candidates Nick Schultz and Tony Rodriguez on their plans for housing and unarmed crisis response. And don’t miss your chance to meet LA Forward endorsed candidate Jillian Burgos for LA City Council!

Our Housing Justice Group will break down Housing Justice on the Ballot: Measure A + Props 5 and 33. We’re also hosting the campaign kickoff for Angelenos for Fair Maps, YES on Measures DD & LL, and we have a special phonebank to support Measure A, which means more affordable housing!

Do you know what the Department of City Planning has to do with affordable housing and why it’s a critical time to be paying attention? Find out TOMORROW at a special teach-in with ACT-LA, and join us for the Housing Justice Showcase on Sept 21 to explore initiatives for affordable housing from LAFI's Housing Academy cohort.

Meet other community members working for wins in November during our Weekly Election Action Support Zooms starting this Wednesday, and attend the Sawtelle Meetup to connect with your neighbors on the Westside. 

If you missed any of our teach-ins and conversations over the past month, don't worry. We recorded them and you can find our teach-ins on Measure A, Grants Pass, Social Housing Development 101, and Report Forward Live: Social Housing, all at this link.

And if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to Mike Bonin’s podcast What’s Next Los Angeles?, newly in partnership with LA Forward. He covered the history of labor in LA, death of newspapers, and had a conversation with the chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party in recent episodes. New episodes drop every Monday!

LA Forward Institute's Assembly District 44 Candidate Forum - Sept 26

In partnership with Housing Now!, LA Forward Institute is excited to be hosting a non-partisan forum for the two candidates running to replace current Assembly District 44 Assemblymember Laura Friedman: Nick Schultz and Tony Rodriguez. In particular, candidates will be asked to share their commitments and policy proposals to address urgent issues related to housing and unarmed crisis response in the San Fernando Valley and beyond. Food and beverages will be provided. RSVP here.

Meet Jillian Burgos for LA City Council - Sept 19

Come meet LA Forward endorsed candidate Jillian Burgos. She's running to bring a renter’s voice to LA City Council in a district that has never been represented by a renter (City Council District 2, based in the Southeast San Fernando Valley). Join us for an evening of getting to know Jillian! RSVP here.

Housing Justice on the Ballot: Measure A + Props 5 and 33 - Sept 23

In LA County, we as voters have the opportunity to be our OWN legislators for housing justice this November! With ballots dropping in just two weeks, there is much work to be done to ensure LA County Measure A passes, AND there are also two key state ballot measures that could change the game for Californians: Prop 5, which would lower the threshold of voter approval necessary to pass local bond measures (for housing, for example!), and Prop 33, which would enable local governments to finally introduce rent control measures that make a real difference for regular people. Join us to find out more about how you can support these important measures! RSVP here.

Phonebank for Measure A! - Sept 24

After you learn about Measure A on the 23rd, join us on the 24th alongside other organizations to help get the word out about Measure A and how it will create more homes we can afford, more mental health care, and more accountability! There will be a short training on Zoom at 5:00pm to provide you with the tools that you need to reach out to voters using a phone banking system. RSVP here.

Angelenos for Fair Maps Campaign Kick-off - Sept 25

IT'S TIME! We're kicking off the YES on Measures DD and LL campaign! Grassroots organizations have worked with LA City Council to put TWO measures on the upcoming ballot that can establish independent redistricting commissions for the City of Los Angeles (Measure DD) and Los Angeles Unified School District (Measure LL). Angelenos for Fair Maps – Yes on Measures DD & LL! puts important decision-making power about our futures back in the hands of Angelenos, and out of the hands of power-hungry politicians. Celebrate this opportunity for a stronger democracy and learn how you can take action, by RSVPing to this kick-off Zoom! We need to win this! RSVP here.

Upcoming LA City Planning Ordinances: Time to Take Action! - Sept 17th

LA City Planning will have a final hearing soon about ordinances that will either enable or exclude affordable housing in our neighborhoods, and prevent displacement in gentrifying communities -- or not. Find out more about these important draft ordinances and what you can do to help City Planning lean toward housing affordability for all Angelenos. We'll be joined by members and experts at the ACT-LA coalition. RSVP here.

Sawtelle Community Meet-up - Sept 18 

Join members in the Sawtelle area who have been building community through monthly meetings since March. If you're in or around Sawtelle and want to connect with other community members wanting to make your neighborhood more of the neighborhood you know it can be, register to get the meet-up address, hosted in-person by a fellow Sawtelle resident! RSVP here.

Weekly Election Action Support - Sept 18

Join us for our first of many weekly election support zooms! We’ll come together to talk about what each of us is working on, and set goals for the week ahead. Check out our list of election action resources to get started, or bring the work you’re doing that’s not on our list. This will be an interactive and conversational event. RSVP here.

 San Gabriel Valley Housing Justice Showcase - Sept 21

Over the last six months, residents across the SGV have participated in LA Forward Institute’s SGV Community Leadership for Affordable Housing Academy to build policy, advocacy, and organizing skills to support affordable housing production (and more!) in their communities. Now, they’re ready to pitch their initiatives to community members who also want to preserve, protect, and produce affordable housing for their neighborhoods. You’re invited to hear their ideas, decide which ones you would support, and celebrate their leadership over lunch — on us! RSVP here.

If you have any questions about these programs, please reach out to me, Godfrey Plata, at godfrey@laforward.org. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

In solidarity,

Godfrey Plata
Deputy Director
LA Forward