Our Choices for Sheriff, City Attorney, and Controller

Ballots are starting to arrive in mailboxes TODAY across LA County and we're excited to share our first-ever endorsements for Countywide and Citywide office.

Our dues-paying membership has voted overwhelmingly to support:

• Eric Strong for LA County Sheriff

• Faisal Gill for LA City Attorney

• Kenneth Mejia for LA City Controller

Our endorsements are the result of a multi-step process. Our 20 person endorsement taskforce — with representation from our different issue teams, regional groups, and partner organizations — reviewed written questionnaires from each candidate about their approach to governance and conducted interviews before making their recommendations, which are then voted on by our dues-paying membership.

Learn more and support about our endorsed candidates.
 

Eric Strong for LA County Sheriff

The LA County Sheriff's Department is riddled with injustice and Sheriff Alex Villanueva's "leadership" since 2018 has only made things worse. Ultimately, this should not be an elected position. But currently it is and that means voters are faced with a choice about who should run this Department with a budget of $3.6 Billion and 18,000 employees, and control over the jail system and policing across half of the county.

We believe Eric Strong is the best choice by far. Born and raised in L.A. County, Eric is a proud son, husband, father, and youth counselor. After graduating from St. John Bosco High School, Eric attended to the University of California at Los Angeles.

He is the only candidate committed to #ChecktheSheriff charter amendment for civilian oversight, permanently closing the decrepit Men's Central Jail, and reallocating funds from the police to social services. His record of supporting whistleblowers and going after deputy gangs from his position in Internal Affairs also sets him apart. In addition, his personal experience as a victim of crime, as a victim of racial profiling and harassment by police, and as a family member of people who have been incarcerated and killed by law enforcement have uniquely prepared him for service as Sheriff.

We’re proud to be joining LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin and the Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, Stonewall, North Valley, and MLK Democratic Clubs in supporting Strong as the best alternative to Villanueva among all the candidates in the June 7th primary.

http://strong4sheriff.com

Faisal Gill for LA City Attorney

Faisal Gill is an immigrant, civil rights attorney, veteran, husband, and father who's made his home in Los Angeles Originally born in Pakistan, Faisal’s family migrated to America when he was a child, where he was raised in Alexandria, Virginia in a heavily working-class, immigrant community. His father drove a taxi cab in Washington DC and his mother worked in retail.

Throughout his career as an attorney, Faisal has been determined to help those who face discrimination from our government, within our immigration systems, and from their employers.  As a civil rights attorney, Faisal has taken on clients who faced discrimination from the federal government, state governments, immigration enforcement, and police departments. Faisal recently won a settlement with the City of Los Angeles in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by a Black Hollywood music producer who fought in court to have LAPD body camera video footage made public to prove allegations he was racially profiled before his arrest. Faisal hopes to bring his perspective as an immigrant and civil rights attorney to the office of LA City Attorney and restore trust and transparency in local government. 

The Office of the City Attorney has tremendous power and we believe Faisal is the best choice to fight for justice, take on corruption, and tackle our housing and homelessness crises while prioritizing human and civil rights. We believe his Faisal Gill unique combination of progressive vision and practical ability makes him best suited for this critical position in our city’s government. We're proud to be joining with groups like SEIU 2015, California Faculty Association, Black Los Angeles Young Democrats, National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and elected officials like LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan in endorsing him.

https://www.gillforla.com

Kenneth Mejia for LA City Controller

Kenneth is a Certified Public Account (CPA), a community organizer, and the best choice for holding powerful forces accountable at City Hall and beyond. The controller’s authority is limited but the office’s potential to shine a spotlight on waste, wrongdoing, and corruption is vast in the right hand. With his campaign's record of creating brilliant visualizations and interactive tools based on government data, Kenneth has already shown how he could be the most publicly-engaging controller in LA’s history.

We're proud to be joining with the Los Angeles Times, CA Working Families Party, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, former Deputy Mayor Rick Cole, and dozens of progressive community leasders in supporting him

 https://www.mejiaforcontroller.com 

Our Previous Endorsements:

• Eunisses Hernandez for LA City Council District 1

• Erin Darling for LA City Council District 11

• Hugo Soto-Martinez for LA City Council District 13

You can see all of our endorsements and write-ups at our LA Progressive Voter Guide.

Big news -- our first candidate endorsements are here!

I’m so excited to share our first round of candidate endorsements. Because achieving policies that will make Los Angeles a fair, flourishing place for all is going to require a new generation of community-rooted leaders at City Hall. 

Our dues-paying membership has voted overwhelmingly to support:

• Eunisses Hernandez for City Council District 1

• Erin Darling for City Council District 11

• Hugo Soto-Martinez for City Council District 13

Eunisses, Erin, and Hugo are all running on bold, progressive platforms to create affordable housing, push for climate and transportation justice, and prioritize care and community investment over failed policing strategies.

To celebrate these endorsements and kickstart our 2022 primary election action, we invite you to join us for a virtual rally for our endorsed candidates on Tuesday April 19, 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Hear directly from the candidates, learn more about our roadmap to victory, and get involved!

LA Forward Action isn’t finished endorsing for the 2022 primary. If you want your voice to be heard in the next round of endorsements, make sure to  become a sustaining member of LA Forward Action with a monthly contribution of any amount.

Learn more and support about our endorsed candidates.
 

Eunisses Hernandez for City Council District 1

Eunisses Hernandez is a lifelong resident of the Northeast LA community of CD 1, a daughter of Mexican migrants, a survivor, and a relentless fighter for communities that have been devastated by criminalization, the war on drugs, and mass incarceration. She co-founded the La Defense justice advocacy organization and co-created coalitions like A Budget to Save Lives, Care First California, which are shifting policy and resources to better support people harmed by violence. She also co-chaired the winning Measure J campaign in 2020 which  promises to drive hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding and creating access to community-based services, housing, and support for young people in LA County. 

Erin Darling for City Council District 11

Erin Darling is a civil rights attorney, a surfer, and a father. Born and raised in Venice, Darling attended California public schools from kindergarten through law school. He graduated UC Berkeley School of Law and returned to Venice to begin work representing low-income tenants facing eviction and homelessness.  As a lawyer, Darling has successfully won cases for everyday people who have been wronged by powerful interests.

Hugo Soto-Martinez for City Council District 13

Hugo Soto-Martinez was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. After his father became disabled, he started working at a non-union hotel at the age of 16 to support his family. Shortly after becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college, Soto-Martinez joined the labor movement after unionizing his workplace. He has been an organizer with UNITE HERE Local 11 in Los Angeles for the past 15 years and knows how to win real victories for the people in our city who’ve been left out and put down.

And don't miss your opportunity to meet the candidates at a virtual rally.

You can see all of our endorsements and write-ups at our LA Progressive Voter Guide.

March 2022 Newsletter

Our community is gearing up for another action-packed month of learning and acting. Hope you can join us!

Climate Campaign Kickoff & Strategy Session - Tuesday, April 5 @ 8 pm

Join our Climate Team as we set our direction for this year’s advocacy! Over the last two months, we had panel discussions of Building Decarbonization and Pollution at the Port. At this event, we’ll provide a quick summary of what we learned, then we’ll share the campaign we will be focusing on and strategize together.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/4/5/climate-team-meeting

Virtual Rally for Our Endorsed Candidates - Tuesday, April 19 @ 7:30 pm

Join us for a celebration with our endorsed candidates, get to know them, and learn how to can get involved and help them win! 

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/4/19/virtually-rally-for-our-endorsed-candidates

Member Spotlight - March 2022

Meet Shannon!

Cutting pollution at the port, preventing homelessness, and meeting up in person

We're happy to announce a series of picnics to meet and catch up in person now that covid cases are rapidly declining! -- on the Eastside (2/26), San Fernando Valley (3/12), and Westside (3/26).

Plus we hope you'll join us for zoom meetings to strategize about winning a homelessness prevention ballot measure (2/23) and a teach-in about preventing pollution (3/1) at the massive Port of Los Angeles. More details on those below, but before you go any further, we're excited to share the second installment of our member spotlight.

Learn and Take Action

House LA Brainstorm and Strategy Session - Weds, Feb 23 @ 8:00 PM

Join the Housing & Homeless Justice team for a brainstorm and strategy session on how we’ll gather the thousands of signatures needed to put the transformative House LA initiative on the November 2022 ballot.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/house-la-strategy

Teach-In: Preventing Pollution at the Port  - Tues, Mar 1 @ 8:00 PM

LA has the biggest port in country and its a massive source of pollution and greenhouse gases. Ships idling in the port have recently caused record-breaking levels of air pollution. Learn about how we can get involved to fight climate change and improve our air quality while ensuring a just transition for workers and frontline communities.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/3/1/port-pollution

 

Join us at a community picnic!

Eastside @ February 26, 12:30 PM

San Fernando Valley @ March 12, 12:30 PM

Westside @ March 26, 12:30 PM

This is a great chance to build community and gear up for the 2022 elections which are right around the corner. Whether this is your 50th LA Forward event or your first, we'd love to see you there. Kids of all ages welcome.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/picnics

Staying motivated for good in 2022

2022... ooooof. In tough times like these, I'm sustained by the LA Forward community. Being part of planning sessions on Zoom with familiar faces this week has been exactly what I need to keep going. On top of the connections with awesome people, I'm really excited about the events and campaigns we're putting together. We're using teach-ins on key topics to help us decide on policy campaigns to prioritize, launcing our first member-driven process to endorse candidates for city council, mayor, and other key city and county offices, gathering for picnics (post-surge) across the region to have fun and build a broader community that'll power our campaigns.

From a teach-in this Sunday about what the #@*% happened with redistricting to a panel about decarbonizing buildings to a crucial homelessness prevention ballot measure, 2022 is already shaping up to be an important year of learning and action. It's also a time when we're looking to deep and broaden our community. One small step in that direction is a new Member of the Month program to spotlight the amazing people who make up our community. Meet Karin and then keep reading to learn more about all the events over the next couple months!

What the #@*% happened with redistricting? - Sun, Jan 16 @ 3:00 PM  

Join us for a teach-in about the good, the bad, and the ugly of redistricting of LA City, LA County, the State Legislature, and Congress! Featuring Mike Young, the Political Director of California Environmental Voters. The new district lines that were just approved at every level of government (some with gerrymandering, some not) are going to have a huge impact on our local politics, including key 2022 races. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how they were created, what kind of reforms we need to the process, and the implications for progressive election work this year.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/1/16/what-happened-redistricting 

United to House LA Teach In - Weds, Jan 26 @ 8:00 PM

Join us for a teach-in about the United to House LA Ballot Initiative. If we put it on the November 2022 ballot and pass it, this people-powered initiative will Provide immediate support to people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness. Invest in innovative approaches to rapidly developing new affordable housing at low-cost.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/united-to-house-la

What Is Building Decarbonization & Why Is It So Important to the Fight Against Climate Change - Tues, Feb 1 @ 8:00 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/2/1/building-decarb

Housing Justice Book Club Returns - Mon, Feb 7 @ 7:30 PM

Our book club is back and (maybe) better than ever! Our first book will be High-Risers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/high-risers

Gathering in person, setting our course together, and fighting for climate and racial justice

The weather's cooling down and our schedule's heating up -- we have a Membership Assembly this Sunday to discuss candidate endorsements and a Fall Picnic hosted by our westside group on October 9th. Plus a virtual teach in about the Cool Blocks program, a panel discussion about TV's portrayal of criminal justice, and meetings of our housing, climate, and transportation issue groups.

MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY, Sunday, October 3, 2:00 - 4:30 PM

Los Angeles has a huge opportunity in the 2022 elections! LA Forward Action will be on the front lines of supporting progressive causes and candidates. That means we need to create a principled, practical way to choose who we're endorsing.

Open to all sustaining members, this Membership Assembly is an important opportunity to discuss our proposed candidate endorsement process, policy priorities, and organizing budget. Active in our community but haven't become a sustaining member by paying membership dues? We'd be grateful for your support and participation! Once you sign up, reply to this email for an invite.

Sustaining members who are active in our community get to vote on which candidates we endorse and will have a voice in budgeting and strategic deliberations.

BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER

Why do we ask people to pay membership dues? Because this work takes resources and we won't take funding that would compromise our independence. Because building progressive power means building an organization that our community members proudly support. 

We hope you will learn more and contribute to our movement for justice today by becoming a sustaining member today.

---

FALL PICNIC, Saturday, October 9, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

In place of a monthly meeting, we’re hosting a picnic for the entire LA Forward community to meet up and hang out in person! Because we are just as tired of being on zoom as you are :) In July we gathered for a picnic downtown.  This time we’re being hosted by our friends in the Westside group at a beautiful, transit-accessible park. This will be a kid-friendly and pet-friendly picnic to put Zoom faces and names to in-person faces and names. We’ll supply light snacks and beverages. You’re welcome to bring food of your own too! We ask that everyone who attends be vaccinated, unless they are not legally or medically eligible.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/10/9/fall-picnic

---

Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance Teach-In & Collaboration Session, Sunday, October 17, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Join us for a virtual teach-in and collaboration session with the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance. Learn more about who NCSA is and what they do, learn about their Cool Blocks program, and help us brainstorm ways in which our climate team can continue to partner with this awesome organization. Cool Blocks is designed to activate all of us, in our homes and in our neighborhoods, to help us reduce our carbon footprints, reduce our water use, live more sustainably, and prepare for disasters while building community. We're getting ready to launch 200 climate-resilient neighborhoods and keep building from there toward a carbon-neutral LA by 2030. 

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/10/17/ncsa

---

Injustice on the Small Screen: How TV Writers Can Change the Narrative About Our Legal System, Tuesday, October 26, 5:30 - 7:00 PM

Join us for a virtual discussion on how crime and legal TV series impact the public perception of crime, racial injustice and the criminal legal system. We ask the question: How can we, as writers and showrunners, do better? We hope this event will inspire writers who want to be part of telling stories that share a more authentic understanding of the characters, forces and factors that shape the criminal legal system, and in a way that helps viewers reckon responsibly with all the complicated issues bound up in it. Featuring Patrisse Cullors, Jane Dorotik, LaNaisha Edwards, Amity Paye, Nikki Toscano, Alexis Wilkinson. Hosted by Color of Change, ACLU of Southern California, and the District Attorney Accountability Coalition, including LA Forward.

RSVP: https://www.harvardwood.org/crimetv

---

Issue Group Meetings (via Zoom)

Climate Justice - Tuesday, October 5, 8 PM - Get more details & RSVP 

Transportation Justice - Monday, October 18, 8 PM - Get more details & RSVP

Housing Justice  - Wednesday, October 27, 8 PM - Get more details & RSVP

Activism & the Arts

With less than two weeks until a rightwing Republican could become governor of California (for real), we're going all out with contacting voters. Join us Wednesday night for one of the friendliest phonebank opportunities you could imagine. Seriously, it doesn't get much easier than this.

Need something to sweeten the deal? We're excited to host a panel on Arts & Activism this Saturday at 10:30 AM, followed by phonebanking. Join us for a conversation among authors RO Kwon (Kink), Alex Segura (Poe Dameron: Free Fall), Preeti Chhibber (Marvel’s Avengers Assembly series), actor / writer Michele Selene Ang (13 Reasons Why), and podcaster Traci Thomas (The Stacks) about the intersection of art and political activism. Then stick around for an hour or two with the artists as we all let voters know how crucial this election is.

Too anxious to sit back? Join us the following week when we'll more than 15 hours of opportunities to talk and text with voters.

Save the Date:

Event: Beating the Backlash and Resisting Local Recalls - Sunday, September 12 @ 3 PM

Teach-In: What the City Attorney Does, Why It Matters, and How We Can Make Progressive Change, Sunday, September 19 @ 3 PM

A year later, we continue to fight for justice

A year ago, we wrote about the anger and sadness we felt as we faced a deep, broad complex of systems geared toward violence, white supremacy, exploitation, and brutality. Systems that don't value the inherent dignity of all human beings. A year later, we are still fighting for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and tens of thousands more.

Over the past year, we have organized across Los Angeles' regions to build our people-power. We continued to focus on the issues of Climate, Housing, & Transit Justice. We organized phonebanks to help pass Measure J and continue to fight to ensure its promises are kept. Still, many of the same questions from a year ago remain. How do we change the power structures that got us to this point?

This month, we will continue to look at ways to build new institutions that truly serve and protect people, including a Public Bank Community Teach-in and a Criminal Justice focused General Monthly Meeting. We are excited to have you join us.

Public Bank Teach-In — Sunday, June 6, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

We have the opportunity to help lead a financial revolution that will create a new economic system that prioritizes people and the planet.

Come and learn what a public bank is and how it will allow Los Angeles to save money and set priorities with fiscally, socially, and environmentally responsible investments. Join the movement and support a public bank that follows sustainability guidelines and empowers our public policy goals.

This exciting community event is in partnership with Public Bank LA, ACT LA, & Sunrise Movement LA.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/6/a-public-bank-community-teach-in

LA Forward General Monthly Meeting — Sunday, June 13, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

As we commemorate one year since George Floyd's murder and the subsequent uprisings across the nation and world, we will focus on how police brutality and misconduct plague our communities in LA. In particular, we'll focus on what's being surfaced about our LA County Sheriff's Department, including the unchecked activities of deputy gangs, harassment of families of those murdered by sheriff deputies, and obstruction of oversight by the sheriff himself. Join LA Forward's Criminal Justice Group, Check the Sheriff coalition leader Andres Kwon and LA Forward member Godfrey Plata at this teach-in, and learn about how you can stand up for justice in Southern California.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/13/la-forward-monthly-meeting

Housing Justice June Monthly Meeting - Wednesday, June 23, 8:00 - 9:30 PM

Join us to learn about how to get involved in housing justice in Los Angeles. There will be updates from our coalition housing justice groups in LA, and we will discuss how we can build on the work being done. We will also provide an update on the Housing 101 guide and discuss potential ways we can organize and empower people at the neighborhood level.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/23/housing-justice-june-monthly-meeting

June Regional Group Meetings

Join us on Zoom as we debrief and act on recent conversations that LA Forward members have had with City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, the Check the Sheriff coalition, and Public Bank LA. Also, find out more about our first opportunity to gather *in-person* for those who feel safer doing so these days!

Koreatown-DTLA-Boyle Heights — Wednesday, June 16, 8:00 - 9:30 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/16/june-regional-group-meeting-koreatown-dtla-boyle-heights

Mid-Wilshire — Thursday, June 17, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/17/june-regional-group-meeting-mid-wilshire

Greater Silver Lake — Thursday, June 17, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/17/june-regional-group-meeting-greater-silver-lake

Westside — Thursday, June 17, 7:30 - 9;00 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/17/june-regional-group-meeting-westside

Northeast LA — Tuesday, June 22, 8:00 - 9:30 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/22/june-regional-group-meeting-northeast-la

San Fernando Valley — Wednesday, June 23, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/6/23/june-regional-group-meeting-san-fernando-valley

May We Continue Organizing

With the summer swiftly arriving and millions of Angelenos vaccinated, we may be getting back to "normal" soon. Of course, we know that the pandemic's impacts will be felt long after the economy fully opens, which is why we must continue coming together to protect those most vulnerable in our communities. From the looming wave of evictions to the continued mass incarceration of our poor and unhoused, from local oil drilling to the increase in NIMBY-ism across the city, we have a lot of "normal" to fight.

We are excited to have you with us as we keep up the struggle for justice.

Getting Ready for the 2022 Elections - Sunday, May 16, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Local governments have hugely important elections coming up soon! Join us for an expert overview of the critical races on deck and exciting new progressive infrastructure we’re building with partners to overcome the right-wing backlash and win big. Plus a short workshop on campaign finance — the rules, how to find out where candidates are getting their money, and why campaigns cost so much money. We'll also share updates from our climate, housing, transportation, and criminal justice groups!

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/16/getting-ready-for-2022 

Phonebank for Progressive Neighborhood Council Candidates - Monday, May 17, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Elections for Neighborhood Council are happening right now and we have a short window of time to elect principled progressives to these important, official LA City organizations that are the lowest level of government. We need you to let your neighbors know they need to request ballots ASAP! Join us for a fun, virtual phonebank where we’ll call LA Forward Action members to ensure they request ballots and vote by mail for progressive candidates. Never phone-banked before? No problem -- we’ll provide training and support!

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/17/phonebank-for-progressive-nc-candidates

Issue Team Meetings

Housing Justice - Wednesday, May 12, 8:00 - 9:30 PM

Guest Eric Ares, Sr. Manager - Homeless Systems Change at United Way, will be presenting what U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter's Injunction means for those unhoused in Los Angeles.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/12/housing-justice-may-monthly-meeting 

Criminal Justice  - Sunday, May 16, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Join us to hear updates from our volunteers about what criminal justice issues our affiliate groups are tackling, learn what actions you can take, and help us plan for our Spring teach-in.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/16/criminal-justice-team-monthly-meeting

Transportation Justice - Monday, May 17, 8:00 - 9:00 PM

Join us for our monthly meeting! Learn about the latest Metro updates, opportunities to act on transit justice, and our upcoming plans for transit education.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/17/may-transportation-justice-team-meeting

Regional Group Gatherings

Join us for our May regional group meetings, where we will (a) highlight opportunities to influence upcoming teach-ins and campaigns being led by LA Forward's issue groups (criminal justice, transportation justice, housing justice, and climate justice) *AND* (b) follow-up on our "power player" brainstorm from last month by sharing upcoming possibilities for YOU to meet with leaders and organizations in Los Angeles. As always, there will be time to meet and greet with folks in our community and share announcements about other local actions and happenings!

• Koreatown-DTLA-Boyle Heights - Wednesday, May 19, 8:00 - 9:30 PM

  • RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/19/koreatown-dtla-boyle-heights-regional-group-meeting

• Mid-Wilshire & Hollywood Regional Group Meeting - Thursday, May 20, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

  • RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/20/mid-wilshire-may-regional-group-meeting

• Greater Silver Lake - Thursday, May 20, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

  • RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/20/greater-silver-lake-may-regional-group-meeting

• Westside - Thursday, May 20, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

  • RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/20/westside-may-regional-group-meeting

• Northeast LA - Tuesday, May 25, 8:00 - 9:30 PM

  • RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/25/ne-los-angeles-may-regional-group-meeting

• San Fernando Valley - Wednesday, May 26, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

  • RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2021/5/26/sfv-may-regional-group-meeting

The Ideas of March

In addition to all our usual work to fight for progressive policies, we've used the last couple months to come up with better systems to engage the LA Forward Action community. We now have a group of a dozen leaders working to support people who are organizing on specific issues and neighborhoods. And one of our biggest priorities is communicating more effectively with all of you. Our event calendar is packed every week this month and we expect it's going to be pretty busy from here on out. So we'll be sending around a newsletter once or twice a month with a list of all the upcoming trainings, actions, meetings and more. Hope to see you soon!

Voter Outreach Strategies - TONIGHT, MARCH 3 at 7pm

Want to win elections? You need to figure out which voters you should be reaching out to and which tactics are most effective. In this training, we’ll compare your options for voter outreach: canvassing, texting, phone banking, and relational organizing. Running for Neighborhood Council this year? Apply these skills to your own race. Not running this year? This concept will help you understand how campaigns work and build skills for the 2022 election cycle! RSVP

Phone Bank: Elect Progressives to LA Neighborhood Councils - Thurs, March 4, 6 - 8 PM

Help mobilize your neighbors to vote for progressives in their Neighborhood Council district! First Time phone bankers welcome. Training and support provided! RSVP

Climate Justice Team 2021 Kickoff - Sun, March 7, 3 - 4:30 PM

Learn more about our current campaigns. Special Guest Speaker from STAND LA coalition against urban oil drilling. RSVP

Housing Justice Team 2021 Kickoff - Tues, Mar 9, 8 - 9 PM

We'll be discussing groups that are already creating change, our housing 101 guide, and next steps. RSVP

Training: Conversations with Voters 101- Weds, Mar 10, 7 - 8:30 PM

Conversations are at the heart of every effective grassroots campaign - whether you’re running for President or Neighborhood Council, talking to regular people, on the phone and at their door, is how you win. How can you nail that conversation on the phone? How do you avoid launching into a debate, and instead focus on listening and validating? How do you persuade an undecided voter? All this and more in our Effective Conversations training! RSVP

Transportation Justice Team Meeting - Thurs, Mar 11, 8 - 9:30 PM

This month will feature an overview for new members on the work we've done researching the efforts of related groups who are working on issues of mobility and access, as well as examining some upcoming opportunities for action. RSVP

Kicking off 2021 -> opportunities to learn & act

I've been meaning to write for awhile, but it's a struggle. Hard to find the right words to capture my relief and even exhilaration about the victories in Georgia thanks to the grassroots organizers, (including but not limited to Stacey Abrams) and the power that gives us to actually pass meaningful legislation in DC alongside the devastation that covid is producing and the terrible attack yesterday on our democratic institutions by fascist, white supremacist goons. One thing I do know is how grateful I am to be in community with all of you, now as always. After a year of tremendous growth and some growing pains, I am confident we are going to continue to expand our impact and strengthen our community in the months ahead.

** This Sunday you're invited to our 2021 kickoff (3 PM just like our usual Second Sunday monthly meetings).  

* A group of volunteers will share some of the leadership structures we're putting in place to make LA Forward work better.

* Another set of volunteers will talk about a mysterious but important thing called ADEMs. The CA Democratic Party's board is composed of more than 3,000 delegates and one-third of them are elected in January of every odd year. Anyone who's a registered Dem can vote. We’ll go in depth on what ADEMs, how the process works, and why it matters. Usually there's a 3 hour window on a weekend to vote in person. Because of covid, this year you have to pre-register online in order to vote by mail. The DEADLINE is Monday, January 11.

* Plus we'll set aside some time to process the upheaval of this week through our usual "check in" process at the meeting's start.

...Wait, there's more!

** Reminder that TONIGHT at 6 PM is the first session of Organizing School, a 5-week series hosted by Hannah Kessel, LA Forward's talented organizer. It'll cover the nuts and bolts of organizing including structured organizing conversations, theories of change and building your network. Everyone welcome!

** Plus next Monday we're hosting "Running for Neighborhood Council 201." This volunteer-led workshop will go more in depth on how you can run an effective campaign to get elected to LA City's most local branch of government. Whether you've already filed or are still mulling it over, we hope you'll join us to meet and hear from NC members past, present, and future! Whether you’re more interested in organizing in your neighborhood, or around a specific issue, we’re here to connect you to the work, and support you as you do it! 

Here's to hoping and working together for a better 2021 and beyond!

In solidarity, 

David Levitus
Executive Director
LA Forward Action

We can build a better LA in 2021

Even in the midst of a tough year, it’s amazing how much we’ve been able to accomplish — not just as an organization, but as a movement and a region. Together we’ve been mobilizing for policy change, winning historic legislation, electing transformative local leaders, and organizing to build power for the long haul. 

I’m so proud of what our community has accomplished together in 2020: 

• Publishing our Progressive LA Voter Guide and our LA 101 Guide to Local Government.

• Educating and mobilizing Angelenos through civic teach-ins and neighborhood organizing that drove thousands of emails and calls to city and county offices.

• Calling 39,101 voters to win Measure J, one of the nation’s most ambitious efforts to reinvest in communities, not incarceration.

• Helping launch the Healthy LA Coalition and winning over 20 crucial protections during the pandemic for tenants, workers, and other vulnerable Angelenos.

• And so much more.

Now we are asking for your support to expand our community and impact in 2021.

Help us build a better LA

I’ve never been more excited about the promise of a new year. Dozens of LA Forward community leaders are developing a new membership model to build our base and hold elected officials accountable. For the first time in 2021-22, we’ll have an inclusive process to endorse and campaign for candidates for local office. Our goal is to transform local government by supporting principled progressive candidates we can be proud of, and who can win, in all of the major local offices up for election in 2022. 

We’ll also be hosting a series of virtual house parties, organized and led by LA Forward members and partners, to get your input and keep you updated on local movements for justice. And we’ll continue growing our regional and policy teams while delivering the civic teach-ins, panels, and publications you’ve come to know and trust.

Recurring monthly donations are the lifeblood of our work. Your contribution enables us to take on powerful interests, respond rapidly to new challenges, and remain accountable to regular Angelenos. Can you make a monthly recurring gift today?

Thank you for your support! 

In solidarity, 

David Levitus
Executive Director
LA Forward Action

Sign the Housing is Health Pledge Today + Running for Neighborhood Council 101

RUNNING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL 101 - Thursday, December 10th at 7:30 PM 

There are 99 Neighborhood Councils across the City of Los Angeles. They’re a unique way to learn about how local government works and to influence important policy decisions. Historically these official advisory bodies have been conservative and NIMBYish but we're seeing progressives start to win seats and even gain majorities.

Elections are being held March through June of 2021 and the filing deadlines to become a candidate are coming up soon. We’re encouraging all progressive Angelenos to consider running for office in their own neighborhood. To help you decide whether to run and to show you how you can be effective, we’re hosting an info session this Thursday. 

Join Neighborhood Council members — past, present, and future — to learn how YOU can run to represent your neighborhood! No need to have already made up your mind. Anyone curious to learn more is welcome. Please RSVP for the Zoom info.

On Thursday, December 3, over 1500 Los Angeles residents tuned in to Healthy LA's #CancelRent and #CancelMortgages Teach-In via Zoom and Facebook Live. The event was simultaneously translated into Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, and Armenian and offered a space to discuss our policy platform with tenants, landlords, homeowners, advocates, Councilmember Mike Bonin, Councilmember-elect Nithya Raman, and County Supervisor Hilda Solis' Planning Deputy, Guadalupe Duran. The conversation uplifted the difficult queries around what rent and mortgage cancelation would mean and look like in LA County. We introduced our policy platform two-pager and an animation explaining the policy.

The powerful stories from tenants, homeowners and landlords had a visible effect on the legislators and their staff in attendance. We’ve already received feedback that they felt the pressure to urgently take action. It’s critical that we seize this momentum and turn up the pressure on all of our LA Council Members and Supervisors!  

Please take action NOW by sending a message that urges our local elected officials to sign the Housing is Health Pledge: http://healthyla.org/pledge/ 

As we head into a second major shutdown, with over 7,800 Angelinos who have passed, and ICU beds being severely limited, elected officials need to do everything in their power to keep residents safe, housed, and healthy. Lack of eviction protections across the country have led to over 433,000 more COVID cases, and 10,700 deaths. Housing is health! Elected officials need to know that the people they serve urgently need them to take action to protect the most vulnerable Angelinos! It is a matter of life and death.

We also have a Take Action Toolkit with all of the instructions you need to uplift how we can keep Angelinos healthy!

Below are some quick links and instructions! It will take you 5 minutes to do all of them.

1. Submitting Public Comment online and on the phone

2. Spread the Word on Social Media

Yes on Prop 15 - Put Schools & Communities First

Proposition 15 – Close Corporate Tax Loophole to Raise $12 billion for local schools & community services – YES

Proposition 15 would close a corporate property tax loophole created by the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. Specifically, Proposition 15 would require non-residential commercial and industrial property to be reassessed based on its current market value. Currently, non-residential commercial and industrial property taxes are assessed on purchase price, not their market value as is the case in most other states. Proposition 15 is commonly referred to as “split roll” due to the fact that its passage would only impact how property taxes are assessed for non-residential commercial and industrial property, and not how taxes are assessed for residential property. Proposition 15 also includes language that exempts small businesses from the proposed market-based property tax and it would not change how agricultural land is taxed.

Passing Proposition 15 would generate an estimated $12 billion in revenues a year across California. These revenues would be allocated between K-12 schools and community colleges, which will receive 40% of revenues, and local governments, which would receive the remaining 60% of revenues. Funds allocated to local governments could go towards supporting needed services such as housing, fire protection, healthcare, or other local priorities. Prop 15 requires that every school district, community college, city, county, or special district publicly disclose the Proposition 15 funds they receive and how they are spent. 

Prop 15 opponents claim that it would negatively impact California’s economy and businesses. This claim does not hold up to scrutiny. In reality, only 10% of California’s commercial and industrial property will generate 92% of Proposition 15 revenues. Furthermore, Prop 15 maintains the 1% limit on property taxes (annual property taxes can not exceed 1% of their assessed market value), which is a lower rate than many other states. 

Some people have good-faith concerns about the impact of Prop 15 on small businesses. These are mostly misplaced. While many commercial leases are “triple-net” which means taxes are automatically passed along to renters, most leases currently in effect will end and be up for re-negotiation before reassessment begins to increase property taxes in late 2022. In a market where there is an overabundance of commercial real estate (due to the pandemic and other factors), small businesses will have the upper hand in negotiating lower total rents, even with higher taxes factored in. Higher taxes will largely be taken out of the windfall profits currently enjoyed by these long-time property owners, not out of the pocket of small businesses.

There are additional protections for small businesses built into Prop 15. Buildings worth less than $3 million owned by small businesses are exempt from reassessment. Businesses will also no longer have to pay taxes on the first $500,000 of non-real estate property (things like office furnishings and restaurant equipment). This will entirely eliminate a cumbersome tax for 90% of California’s small businesses, saving them thousands each year, and $1 billion statewide. 

It’s also important to note that Prop 15 will not result in higher taxes for any residential properties. In the case of mixed use buildings, which combine housing with retail, only the commercial part of the buildings will be subject to regular reassessment of their taxable value.

Much has changed since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. At that time, home owners and owners of commercial and industrial properties shared a roughly equal property tax burden. However, over the past 40 years, the share of property tax burden for residential property owners has jumped to 72%. Furthermore, when Prop 13 was passed, California was among the top ten states in per pupil education spending. Since then, California has dropped in national ranking and is currently positioned among the lower third of states in per pupil education spending. With revenues decreasing as a result of the covid-created economic recession, local schools and communities need additional sources of funding. Starting in 2022, Prop 15 would deliver those much needed resources by taxing the windfall profits enjoyed by California’s biggest and wealthiest corporations.

Passing Prop 15 is an opportunity for California to generate much needed revenue and support vital services by closing a corporate tax loophole. Now is the time for California to make an investment in our education system and our local communities, and to create a fairer property tax system in which wealthy commercial and industrial land owners pay their fair share. 

We strongly urge you to vote YES on Proposition 15.

Join our campaign to let voters why Prop 15 is so important:

https://www.mobilize.us/laforward/event/338819/

Yes on Measure J - Invest in LA Communities

LA County Measure J – Permanently Allocate Local Funding to Community Services – YES

LA Forward strongly recommends a YES vote on Measure J which would amend the LA County Charter to permanently allocate at least 10% of unrestricted, locally-generated tax revenues to community-serving programs like mental health services, affordable housing, job creation, youth programs, and alternatives to incarceration in Black, brown, and low-income communities across LA.

When discussing Measure J it’s important to have some context about the County budget and what Measure J does and does not do. At $35 billion annually, LA County manages the second largest local budget in the country. Over 85% of the overall budget, or $30 billion annually, is fixed and non-flexible spending that’s difficult to adjust from year to year. The remaining 15% of the budget, about $5 billion in 2020-21, is discretionary and can be shifted around by County officials each year. Measure J targets only this $5 billion of annual discretionary spending, and would require that 10% of that amount — up to about half a billion dollars in the current budget — be spent on community programs and alternatives to incarceration. That would more than double what the County currently spends on such programs. 

Los Angeles County runs the largest jail system in the world, and the county spends more than 40% of its annual discretionary budget on law enforcement. If voters were building a new county budget from scratch, there is no way they would spend such staggering sums on policing, courts, and jails at the expense of everything else. This disproportionate spending on punishment comes at the expense of programs that address the root causes of poverty, inequity, and violence — not just the symptoms. The LA County Sheriff’s Department alone receives over $3 billion dollars annually, while programs focused on economic development, affordable housing, small businesses in Black and brown communities, mental health services, diversion and re-entry, and other alternatives to incarceration receive only a fraction of that. 

Measure J was only added to the ballot in August 2020, after a motion co-authored by County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis (“Re-Imagining L.A. County: Shifting Budget Priorities to Revitalize Under-Resourced and Low-Income Communities”) passed 4-1 among the County Supervisors. Being added to the ballot only three months before the election has meant that many voters have not had the chance to learn about Measure J, which is unfortunate because it is one of the most ambitious efforts to rethink local budget priorities anywhere in the country.

Measure J is alternatively known as Reimagine LA, which is also the name of the broad coalition of local nonprofits, social justice leaders, community groups, labor unions, and progressive politicians supporting it. It is the culmination of years of organizing by Los Angeles community groups and social justice advocates. It shares many of the same organizers and endorsements as other recent community-driven initiatives to address the harm that the criminal legal system has inflicted on Black and brown communities, including Measure R (“Reform L.A. Jails”), which increased civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Department and required the development of a county-wide plan to reduce the jail population and invest in alternatives to incarceration. Despite strong opposition from the Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement, Measure R passed overwhelmingly in March 2020 with the support of nearly 73% of LA County voters. Much of the research, planning, and organizing that Measure R helped set into motion is now represented in Measure J, and voters would be wise to vote for it with similar enthusiasm.

Opponents of Measure J deploy two general arguments. The first, advanced most aggressively by Sheriff Alex Villanueva, is that public safety would be compromised by any decreases in law enforcement budgets. The second, cited by LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (the only County Supervisor against Measure J), is that mandating 10% of the discretionary budget on community programs would tie the hands of local politicians and endanger essential services. Both arguments appeal to voters’ fears — Villanueva literally tweeted an image from Mad Max and said it was what LA County would become if Measure J passes — and both are misleading and factually inaccurate. 

Supervisor Barger’s argument is rebutted by her four colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and by the substance of Measure J, which makes clear that the 10% requirement can be eschewed in the event of budget emergencies that threaten the county’s essential programs. Sheriff Villanueva’s argument relies on a narrow conception of public safety that ignores the impact of poverty, trauma, and generations of disinvestment in communities most impacted by violence. It also ignores the systemic racism and violence inflicted primarily on communities of color by law enforcement, and assumes that crime is something “bad people” do and will always do. Rather than making long-term investments in building healthier, more resilient communities with less violence, it demands massive and never-ending spending on policing and carceral systems that do not actually make us safer. Just compare the violent crime rates in the U.S. to other developed countries with far fewer police and much lower prison populations.

Budgets are statements of our values, and the county’s current budget allocates obscene levels of spending on enforcement and punishment with few resources leftover to invest in building the kind of communities and society we want. Passing Measure J would shift hundreds of millions of dollars each year away from carceral systems and into restorative and rehabilitative ones. It is a modest first step toward a more rational and humane county budget, and we give it our strongest possible recommendation. 

We enthusiastically urge a YES vote on Measure J. 
Join our campaign to let voters know why Measure J is so important: https://www.mobilize.us/laforward/event/338374/

Guides, Guides, Guides

I'm excited to share the LA Forward Voter Guide with you! It's a deep dive into all of the Los Angeles and California propositions, full of the thoughtful kinds of analysis and explanation that you've come to expect from LA Forward. If you've already voted, share with friends!

Get the Guide

Voting is important. Voting for progressive priorities is vital. But do you know what is transformational? Banding together with hundreds of our community members to reach tens of thousands of our neighbors and pull them into the process of making real change. LA Forward's mission is to bring together a community of people who fight for policies that'll make our region a fair, flourishing place for everyone.

Right now, voters have themselves have the power to enact transformative policies that will set local budgets and priorities for a generation to come. If we pass LA County Measure J and California Proposition 15, we can free up billions for jobs, schools, housing, healthcare, and more by taking back resources from the corporate and carceral systems that have unjustly hoarded the wealth.  We need 50% of voters to join with us and things are looking very close right now. Contacting voters is one of the most important things you can do to help win. It might seem intimidating, but we promise it can be easy and actually kind of fun too, even over the phone.

So we're inviting you to join us this Sunday for a Voter Contact 101 Training!

If you've never phonebanked from home or even if you've never contacted voters at all, this the perfect event to learn how it works. No additional commitment required. We encourage you to invite a couple of friends to join you. It'll be a fun community event. I'm Interested

Ready to jump into voter contact right now? Join our virtual phonebanks for Measure J and Prop 15. We'll provide all the training, tips, and support you need. Just bring yourself, an Internet connection, laptop/tablet and a cell phone. Sign up for one tonight or tomorrow! Count Me In

The Feminist City and a Guide to the Criminal Justice System

For our Housing Justice Book Group on October 26, we're discussing FEMINIST CITY by Leslie Kern 

"Taking on fear, motherhood, friendship, activism, and the joys and perils of being alone, Kern maps the city from new vantage points, laying out an intersectional feminist approach to urban histories and proposes that the city is perhaps also our best hope for shaping a new urban future. It is time to dismantle what we take for granted about cities and to ask how we can build more just, sustainable, and women-friendly cities together." 

 RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/10/26/the-feminist-city 

We're excited to share a guide to the criminal justice system and the imperative for transforming it.

We believe that in order to reimagine how we ensure public safety and challenging policing and carceral power, we need to understand their histories and structures. It's not the first or last word on this topic by any means, but we hope it's a useful overview and introduction that opens up the door to many more questions and topics.

You can download it — and check out the new section on our website about these issues at —losangelesforward.org/criminaljustice

Get educated and then take action

Our communities deserve better. We let big corporations evade taxes that should be used to fund our schools and we let policing and prisons take up a huge percentage of our local government budgets. It’s time to turn that round by passing Schools & Communities First (Prop 15) to close corporate property tax loopholes and Reimagine LA (Measure J) to direct local funding into community investment and alternatives to incarceration. September 17 at 8:00 PM, we’re fortunate to be joined by a couple talented speakers, Ben Grieff from Evolve and Mike Dennis from Everyone In, and we’d love for you to join us too. 

Do you want to educate yourself on how policing and criminal justice systems work in Los Angeles? The uprisings around the country have brought unprecedented attention to the institutionalized racism that communities of color face. LA Forward is excited to present a zoom discussion about what it looks like to re-imagine public safety and create a society that prioritizes caring for all of us. Plus the unveiling of informational guide that lays out the history of policing and power in Los Angeles -- created by LA Forward volunteers!

When: Sept. 20, 3 PM

RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/9/20/transformative-justice

We’ll be joined by Tina McKinnor from LA Voice and Brian Kaneda from CURB / Justice LA, for an urgent and important discussion of the criminal justice system and the imperative for transformation. 

Monday, September 21 at 7:30 PM: How to Bring Your Friends into the Campaign for Measure J - RSVP

One major step to transforming our racist, classist criminal justice system is passing the Measure J to prioritize LA County's $35,000,000,000 (that's 35 billion!) budget on alternatives to incarceration and the community care and investment programs that attack the root causes of crime.

To win our campaigns for Measure J, we need to massively multiply the army of people we have who are down to make calls and reach WAY more voters. This training will focus on fun, easy ways to recruit your friends, colleagues, and social networks to get involved. Join us!

RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/9/21/how-to-bring-your-friends-in

Tuesday, September 22 at 8 PM: Tenant Protections Panel Discussion - RSVP

Keeping people housed shouldn’t be controversial. Housing shouldn’t be a privilege. But we have policies and institutions in place that systemically disadvantage people who rent their homes. At this moment of crisis, we need to support renters more than ever. Come learn from a panel of amazing organizers, attorneys, and policy experts about how to keep people housed right now and how to build a system where housing is truly just. Featuring Carla De Paz, the director of Community Power Collective; Katie McKeon, an attorney with Public Counsel; and Francisco Dueñas, the director of Housing Now, California’s leading housing justice coalition.

RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/9/22/tenant-protections-webinar-amp-workshop

Join us Sunday - Election Kickoff

THIS SUNDAY afternoon, we're hosting a General Meeting & Election Assembly for EVERYONE who’s been involved in LA Forward and for anyone who's interested in learning more.

The purpose is to celebrate all we’ve accomplished together these last few months, build relationships across neighborhood and issue areas, discuss how we can act together to win big on Election Day, and plan next steps to make it happen! Plus you'll get to meet a awesome new member of our staff, a talented election organizer. Please RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.

Action is a powerful antidote to anxiety. As we're stuck inside together this weekend, this is a perfect opportunity to connect with people who share your values and are committing to fight for justice and a better world together. Count Me In

Upcoming Events

You're also invited to join us for a series teach-ins on key racial and economic justice issues and ballot initiatives. All planned by LA Forward members.

* Thursday, September 17 at 8 PM: Invest in Communities Kickoff - RSVP

Our communities deserve better. We let corporations evade taxes that should be used to fund our schools and we let policing and prisons take up a huge percentage of our local government’s budgets. It’s time to put a stop to all of that by passing Schools & Communities First (Prop 15) to close corporate property tax loopholes and Reimagine LA (Measure J) to direct local funding into alternatives to incarceration and community care. We’re fortunate to be joined by a two stelllar speakers and we’d love for you to join us too.

RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/9/17/invest-in-communities-kickoff

Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 3PM: Transformative Justice Panel Discussion - RSVP

We’re excited to present a panel discussion about what it looks like to re-imagine public safety and create a society that prioritizes caring for all of us. 

We’ll be joined by Tina McKinnor from LA Voice, Brian Kaneda from CURB / Justice LA, and several other speakers for what promises to be a fascinating and important discussion of the criminal justice system and the imperative for transformation.

RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/9/20/transformative-justice

Tuesday, September 22 at 8 PM: Tenant Protections Panel Discussion - RSVP

Keeping people housed shouldn’t be controversial. Housing shouldn’t be a privilege. But we have policies and institutions in place that systemically disadvantage people who rent their homes. At this moment of crisis, we need to support renters more than ever. Come learn from a panel of amazing organizers, attorneys, and policy experts about how to keep people housed right now and how to build a system where housing is truly just. Featuring Carla De Paz, the director of Community Power Collective; Francisco Duenas, the director of Housing Now, California’s leading housing justice coalition; and Katie McKeon, a social justice movement attorney with Public Counsel.

RSVP: www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/9/22/tenant-protections-webinar-amp-workshop

Keep people safely housed now and for the long-term

It's hard to overstate how big the looming tidal wave of evictions and foreclosures could be. It could dwarf the 2008 financial crisis and it will hit renters far harder, especially in Black, brown, and immigrant communities. 

What can you do?

1. Join our LA Forward general meeting tomorrow, Sunday, August 16 at 3 pm where we'll go over all the different efforts happening now and what we can do in the long-term to make good, affordable housing something every person has access to, no exceptions.

RSVP: https://www.losangelesforward.org/calendar/2020/8/9/august-monthly-meeting

2.  To prevent the approaching tidal wave of evictions, call your State Senator, your Assemblymember, and the Governor every day till you get a firm yes for AB1436 which would ban evictions for unpaid rent due to covid emergency. 

Here is a script and instructions prepared by the statewide Housing Now coalition that we're proud to be part of.

And send a message to your rep in Congress urging them to include rent and mortgage forgiveness for all impacted Americans in the next relief bill.

3. Direct Action / Protest - Friday

The State Judicial Council's Rule is currently preventing evictions by preventing courts from hearing cases BUT they're ending it September 2nd and we still don't have any protections for renters that haven't been able to pay rent due to the COVID-19 crisis. Courts will start eviction processes and it'll be a disaster on an unfathomable scale.

The community, tenant groups, and labor unions are ready to tell the courts and our legislators that we will not let that happen.
 
We are stopping business as usual and protesting this Friday, Aug 21st  to send a clear message that we will not tolerate mass evictions that will lead to homelessness and major health consequences for millions of people.

Sign up to get more info

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Saturday, August 22 at 3 PM:  Climate and the 2020 Election, a panel discussion - RSVP

This panel discussion is for anyone who cares deeply about climate change and climate justice and wants to know how they can best make a difference in the upcoming election. Featuring Loraine Lundquist and Aura Vasquez who ran for office as climate champions; a representative from an environmental justice advocacy group; and Sarah Jakle, the Outreach Director for Field Team 6.

* Thursday, August 27 at 8 PM - Book Discussion: How to Be An Anti-Racist - RSVP

Earlier this summer, we read Ibram X. Kendi's history of white supremacism's embeddedness in U.S. society, Stamped From the Beginning. Now we're doing a follow up discussion of Kendi's How to Be An Antiracist. This one really builds on the history laid out in the first book, so it's nice to have the historical background, but it can also be read completely on its own. It's more personal and less academic than Stamped.

 

Stay tuned for many more events over the next weeks and months.

Our members are planning teach-ins and action workshops on key ballot propositions like Reimagine LA (County Measure J), Schools and Communities First (Prop 15), increased state tenant protections (Prop 21), and many more of the crucial racial justice initiatives on the November ballot.

——-

P.S. Interested in local redistricting? Learn more about the LA County Redistricting Commission by watching the workshop we hosted with Common Cause. Applications due August 31.