Healthy LA Coalition Calls for Clear Plan To Address the Needs of Most Vulnerable Angelenos
By: Natalie Godinez
During this time of the Covid-19 Pandemic, many people feel uncertainty due to loss of income, unsafe work environments and unstable housing, if any at all. That is why a group of over 300 advocacy organizations, worker centers, labor unions, service providers, religious congregations, community groups, affordable housing developers, public interest lawyers, public health and safety organizations formed Healthy LA, a network to propose solutions to the difficulties of living under the Covid-19 crisis. Self Help Graphics, as part of the Eastside LEADS coalition, has joined these efforts by signing on and supporting the demands that Healthy LA is advocating for across Los Angeles. The network has come up with a series of demands, which have then been submitted as proposals to the LA City Council and LA County Board of Supervisors to review and approve as new ordinances or as amendments to current legislation.
The Healthy LA demands are:
A strong moratorium on evictions (and extension of the moratorium)
Rent forgiveness and mortgage suspension
An immediate freeze on all residential and commercial rent and utility bill increases
14 days of paid sick leave to all workers and the prohibition of retaliation
Dumpsters, showers, hand washing stations, and other services at every informal settlement for our unhoused neighbors
The focus of Eastside LEADS is to advocate for renter protections and track developments in the Eastside of Los Angeles; and because of that focus efforts of the coalition have focused on keeping up to date on the renter protections advocated for by the Healthy LA movement. The demands include a true moratorium on all evictions, not just due to direct impact by Covid-19, since the economic effects of the pandemic will be widespread and deeply felt for low income communities. Additionally, Healthy LA hopes that all rent will be forgiven for this period, paired with mortgage suspension for landlords, since many “mom and pop” landlords do not have additional income if tenants cannot pay their rent.
The tenant protections in LA City and County, which covers the Unincorporated areas in East Los Angeles, have become stronger thanks in part to advocacy efforts by members of the Healthy LA Coalition. The Coalition is currently advocating for the extension of the eviction moratorium, as well as a delay in vote about how the $1.2 billion in CARES act, Coronavirus Relief Funding, will be used. Stay connected to our social media for updates. To learn more about Healthy LA updates, visit http://healthyla.org/.
Natalie Godinez is an artist, educator and Self Help Graphics & Art’s Community Engagement Coordinator.