Lutheran Office of Public Policy - Californiait is with joy that we announce that the last U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract with a California county’s jail has been terminated.
The Yuba County Jail has had a more than three-decade-long contract with ICE for a detention center. On Friday, officials announced that the contract would be ending within in the next 60 days. The news comes after years of public outcry over substandard and dangerous conditions in the facility. This is an answer to prayer!
Following the 2022 midterm elections, our updated 2022 voter guide now includes the results of each California proposition beneath the original recommendations from the Policy Council of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California. Download the PDF document below to see the results and compare them to the council’s recommendations:
Act in support of legislation to safeguard future elections. Go to this link on ELCA Advocacy to take action: https://support.elca.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1562
These recommendations by the Policy Council of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California are made within the framework of the principals, values, and commitments of ELCA Social Statements and Social Messages. Download PDF Document Below.
On August 3rd, farm workers launched a 24-day, 335-mile “March for the Governor’s Signature” from the UFW’s historic Delano CA 40 Acres. They’re arriving on August 26th at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Will you join us for our final steps?
Farm workers are marching to win the right to vote for a union, free from intimidation and threats. This march is to convince Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign AB 2183, the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act (AB 2183-Stone). The bill will give more choices to farm workers so they can vote without fear. Farm workers will be able to vote in secret whenever and wherever they feel safe.
Be a part of history. On August 26, thousands of farm workers and supporters will march the last mile from Sacramento’s Southside park to the big finish at the capitol. Join us!
At AIQ today Andrew shared with us links to several resources related to housing, including a voter guideline for people facing homelessness.
Call the Governor’s Office and urge him to sign the budget! Then enjoy your summer until the first week in August when we meet again!
Please contact Governor Newsom and ask him to sign the revised state budget! This budget includes funding for many of the bills we have been working on.
1. Please send out this announcement to your congregation encouraging everyone to register for Lutheran Lobby Day on Wednesday, May 18th:
Lutheran Lobby Day is Wednesday, May 18th: Advocate with us on Lutheran Lobby Day, Wednesday, May 18th as we respond to our baptismal calling as Lutherans to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. We are grounded in Lutheran theology, and all are welcome regardless of faith or lobbying experience. We will gather virtually on Zoom to pray, learn, and meet with California’s legislators. Go to https://lutheranpublicpolicyca.org/lobby-day-2022 to register.
2. Also: it is not too late to register for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 25th-27th. EAD 2022 is a virtual gathering to be held April 25-27, 2022. Register today! https://advocacydays.org/. Scholarships are available at https://blogs.elca.org/advocacy/ecumenical-advocacy-days-with-scholarships/
3. Immigrant Day of Action April 26th: Are you ready to build an equitable California where everyone—our family, friends, colleagues and neighbors can thrive? Join us Tuesday, April 26, 2022, as we gather our collective power virtually for Immigrant Day of Action! to register go to: https://caimmigrant.org/event/immigrant-day-2022/
Bill Priorities for LOPP-CA 2022 for the 2022 Legislative Session:
SB 854 (Skinner), the HOPE for Children Act. This bill would establish California’s first baby bond program for children who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 and eligible foster youth. The bill also lays the groundwork so one day California can expand the program to all children living in low-income circumstances.
AB 2180 (Wicks), The Children of Incarcerated Parents and Caregivers Taskforce. This bill would establish the Taskforce for Children with incarcerated parents and caregivers as California lacks a statewide entity that focuses on identifying and addressing the needs of system-impacted children. Asm. Wicks will be including this bill in her working class families package of bills as an emphasis to the disproportionate impact mass incarceration has on working class families, especially women, and the destabilization that leads to.
AB 2589 (Santiago) This bill will would provide a 1-time payment of $2000 per child dependent to California residents who made less than $30,000 in 2021 and file their taxes. Increase the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) minimum tax credit to about $255 per eligible tax filer. AB 2589 would benefit approximately 5 million Californians, including 2 million children.
AB 1615 (Ting) Foster Youth Housing: This bill would extend housing assistance for former foster youth to 36 months.