Category: Racial Justice
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!
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.
These are 3 bills LOPP-CA may be supporting during this 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. I’ve attached the support letter template for more details.
- 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.
- Together, AB 2589 would benefit approximately 5 million Californians, including 2 million children.
ELCA Advocacy is urging all of us to contact our senators urging them to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. If you have friends or relatives in states other than California, especially urge them to contact their senators. This is crucial to saving our democracy. Here is a link to an ELCA Advocacy contact form. https://support.elca.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1426
AAMPARO
July 12th:
Title: Stories from the Southern Border
Presenter: Rev. Ray Schellinger, Global Consultant on Immigration and Refugees, International Ministries, American Baptist Churches
Summary: Join us to hear stories of resilience from asylum seekers themselves as well as stories from Rev. Ray Schellinger, Global Consultant on Immigration and Refugees International Ministries of the American Baptist Church. Ray will share about his work at the southern border and share some of the stories he has heard from people there. Participants will learn the types of challenges asylum seekers face and learn about ways they can be involved in providing support and welcome.
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2496147996837632784
July 19th:
Title: Ethical Storytelling – How to tell stories with human dignity
Presenter: Laura Curkendall, Director of Program Communications, CWS and Christopher Plummer, Director of Media, CWS
Summary: It’s natural to want to share the stories of our refugee neighbors with our own friends and family. But how can we ensure that we’re doing it in a way that we feel good about? Members of the CWS Communications team will share their advice to help you tell refugee stories in an ethical, dignified way.
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8658618200429138448
July 26th:
Title: What is Preferred Communities? Intensive Case Management and the Community in Partnership
Presenter: Melissa Berger, Program Specialist, Vulnerable Populations
Summary: Many refugees, asylees, and other new arrivals with complex needs gain access to extended, intensive case management and group services through the Preferred Communities (PC) grant. Learn who is eligible, how the program works, and how PC staff work closely with local communities to ensure that refugees are able to access and navigate the resources they need.
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8898774629702595856
| 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.
| 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. |
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.
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.