Author: Edie Lott

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AiQ Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice State

California Roars Back: Governor Newsom Announces Largest State Tax Rebate in American History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Contact: Governor’s Press Office
Monday, May 10, 2021(916) 445-4571

Two-thirds of Californians set to benefit from Golden State Stimulus checks amounting to nearly $12 billion in total – the largest state tax rebate in American history

Billions in funding for rental relief and water and utility assistance

Part of the Governor’s $100 billion California Comeback Plan, a comprehensive recovery plan to tackle five of California’s most persistent challenges

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today previewed his $100 billion California Comeback Plan – the biggest economic recovery package in California’s history – including unprecedented investments to address the state’s most persistent challenges, starting with nearly $12 billion in direct cash payments to Californians hit hardest by the pandemic.

Chief among the new proposals is a major expansion of the Golden State Stimulus, providing additional direct payments to middle-class families that make up to $75,000. Under the plan, two-thirds of Californians will benefit from $600 direct payments. Qualified families with dependents, including undocumented families, will also now be eligible for an additional $500. The plan triples California’s previous investment, reaching more people and giving bigger benefits.

“California’s recovery is well underway, but we can’t be satisfied with simply going back to the way things were,” said Governor Newsom. “We are tripling the Golden State Stimulus to get money in the hands of more middle-class Californians who have been hit hard by this pandemic. Two in three Californians will receive a check from the state and more than $5 billion in aid will be made available to those who need help paying their rent or utility bills.” 

Under Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan, the state would also offer the largest renter assistance package of any state in America, with billions of dollars to help low-income Californians pay back 100 percent of their back-rent, their rent for the months to come and overdue water and utility bills.

Throughout the week, Governor Newsom will highlight other major investments and key initiatives of the California Comeback Plan. 

Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan seizes this once-in-a-lifetime moment to address long-standing challenges by taking on threats to our state’s future and ensuring every California family – regardless of their race or zip code – can thrive.

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Health Care Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice

Bills That Need Attention This Week!

SB 364 (Skinner) – CA Universal School Meals: Sign-on to this budget request by tomorrow at 4pm. The crux of this legislation is its funding, so this is crucial.

AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance: Is in Assembly Appropriations.

SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All: Is in  Senate Appropriations.

Health4All’s campaign to have health care for undocumented seniors in the upcoming budget.  They are having a tweetstorm to the governor and legislators among other actions that start today.  Here is a link to customize tweets from your organization: https://secure.everyaction.com/ATHfHv8PmUmtUbfOD8-Aqw2

Categories
AiQ Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice

Take Action on Food and Farming Bills LOPP-CA is Endorsing.

SB 464- Contact Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Anthony Portantino and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins during this critical moment in the process and tell them why they need to pass SB 464 now. Call: Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair at (916) 651-4025 and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins at (916) 651-4039
Click here to email Senators Portantino and Atkins about taking action for #Food4All. 
Sample Script:
Hello, my name is _______, and I am emailing to urge Senate President pro Tem Atkins or Senator Anthony Portantino  to support SB 464 (Hurtado)—Food4All, a bill that will create a more equitable food assistance system that no longer excludes many immigrant Californians. SB 464 will modernize the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide vital nutrition benefits to households with low-income that are excluded from CalFresh solely due to their immigration status. SB 464 is an overdue solution to this long-standing issue that has only gotten worse during the pandemic. Please support SB 464. Thank you. 
AB 221  –  Emergency food assistance for Undocumented Californians   (Santiago D)in appropriations; no hearing date yet but likely to pass to Assembly floor.
AB 941  –  Farmworker assistance: resource centers.   (Bennett D)Would provide provide farmworkers and their families with information and access to services related to, among other things, education, housing, payroll and wage rights, and health and human services.

Categories
Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice

Undocumented Californians Have Been Excluded from Supports

April 22, 2021
California Families, Federal Exclusions & How the State Can Step in Now: Did you know undocumented and mixed status California families have been excluded from thousands of dollars in federal aid during the pandemic, even though they are deeply integrated into our communities, workplaces, and schools? Undocumented Californians are also shut out of most other supports, including the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and unemployment benefits. This leaves families with fewer resources to pay for food, rent, or other expenses

State policymakers can step in now with support for undocumented Californians. California’s Golden State Stimulus replaced only a portion of the federal aid undocumented and mixed status families were denied. State leaders could provide much more support to these families using federal American Rescue Plan dollars designated for household economic relief, and help undocumented children, families, and communities.👋 Have a question about the labor market or EITC in California? Senior Policy Analyst Alissa Anderson tracks the California labor market, helps create policy to expand the California Earned Income Tax Credit, and focuses on policies that can eliminate poverty for children and undocumented Californians. Follow her and her work and reach out with questions.
Categories
AiQ Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Uncategorized

Action for March 31st from AIQ

Bills to support right now in Food and Farming: 
SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All – Would expand the CalFresh benefits available to undocumented immigrants in California (While these folks are not eligible for the federal SNAP program, California has funding through a parallel program to CalFresh that provides food assistance for people ineligible due to documentation status – this program needs further development, outreach, and funding to meet the needs of Californians. This bill is in committee process. (Long-term relief bill)

AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance during COVID-19 to Undocumented Immigrants and their families. This bill was amended in the Assembly om March 30, 2021 (short term relief bill). 

Quick facts to share: – These bills affect food, labor, agriculture, and public health organizations alike, i.e. our neighbors. Approximately 57% of farmworkers are unauthorized to work in the United States. Undocumented immigrant restaurant workers are 25 percent more likely to experience food insecurity. We know that farmers of color are undercounted and many undocumented. populations are currently ineligible for any food assistance beyond foodbanks.  Access to our state food assistance program (SB 464) and immediate food dollars (AB 221) is a public health benefit.

Categories
Education Gender Justice

Gender Justice Course: United Theological College of the West Indies

Categories
Immigrant Justice Racial Justice

New Kit for Welcoming Migrants Available!

Here is a link to a new Action Toolkit for Welcoming Migrants where you will find helpful links to additional information, organizations, and resources to engage in individual and group action, including:

  • National and local organizations that work with asylum seekers and unaccompanied children
  • Reflection and worship resources
  • Action alerts and advocacy opportunities
  • Background information on asylum and immigration policies
  • Asylum sponsorship information

Together, we can continue to build awareness, pray for justice, connect with and support organizations engaged in this important ministry, and urge our public officials to humanely welcome children and families seeking asylum.

Categories
AiQ Health Care Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Uncategorized

Action and News for March 24th From AIQ

Important: Contact Diane Feinstein by phone or email and strongly urge her to support ending the filibuster! It the only way that meaningful legislation will be passed.

LOPP-CA is following several state bills. The most important are:

Housing: AB1199 creates a corporate landlord registry, AB15 Provides Covid relief eviction limitations

Healthcare: AB1400 Guaranteed Health Care for All AB1132 Health Care Consolidation and Contracting Fairness Act of 2021. Assembly-member Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) introduced a package of bills to address health care affordability, access, equity, quality and cost containment. AB650 Would see health care workers receive up to $10,000 if they worked on the front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Immigrant Justice: AB221 This bill would provide Emergency Food Benefits for immigrants adversely affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and excluded from federal aid.

Categories
Hunger Issues Poverty

Action Needed to Fight College Hunger

Ask your members of Congress to be an original co-sponsor of the EATS Act that will permanently rescind the college student SNAP rule.  

  • The deadline is tomorrow 3/11 to be an original co-sponsor.
    • Members can sign on after tomorrow so please keep that drumbeat going in visits next week – this will be a priority bill. If you need any staff contacts please let me know.
    • Already co-sponsors & do not need contact: Costa, Khanna, Lowenthal, Swalwell, Takano. 29 CA members co-sponsored in the last Congress.
  • Reps. Gomez, Harder, and Panetta will reintroduce next week, so be ready to amplify on social media.
Categories
AiQ Enviroment Racial Justice Uncategorized

Action and News for March 10th From AIQ

Deb Haaland’s confirmation to lead the Department of the Interior could be in jeopardy. If confirmed, Haaland would be the first Indigenous person to manage the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. Both are part of the Department of the Interior. She would also oversee more than 480 million acres of public lands and nearly a dozen federal agencies, including the National Park Service. Both California senators are collecting letters and emails of support for her. Please consider writing a letter of support.

Northern California Kelp Forests: An analysis of satellite imagery has found that the kelp forest that only eight years ago formed a leafy canopy along the Northern California coast has almost disappeared. This is a huge environmental concern. For articles with more information click on these links: USNEWS, CLICK THIS LINK to find out about the State of California Natural Resources Agency Kelp Forest Restoration Project in Mendocino County.