Western Center on Law & Poverty

We're hiring an Associate Director or Manager for our Individual Giving program! We're looking for an experienced, dynamic fundraising professional with individual giving experience, including building donor relationships, sustaining and increasing donor gifts, conducting research, outreach and events, and securing new annual fund donors. Think it might be you or someone you know? Check it out.... https://wclp.org/career-opportunities/

We have great news! We'll be welcoming three new additions to our legislative staff in Sacramento, starting January 6, 2021: Cynthia Castillo, Kristina "Tina" Rosales, and Christopher Sanchez. Find out more about them here: https://wclp.org/western-center-welcomes-three-new-additio/

This is why we've been fighting to stop driver's license suspensions when people can't afford to pay their traffic tickets or can't get to court. It's counterintuitive and unnecessarily harsh. "40% of those who had their driver’s licenses suspended lost their jobs within six months. That’s not surprising when you consider that driving may be required by an employer, and that 80% of Californians drive to get to work." https://www.latimes.com//gavin-newsom-drivers-license-susp

The income gap has grown faster in California than in the country as a whole. The richest Californians have seen record wealth gains this year. Those that already worked paycheck to paycheck have been hit hardest.... Income and racial inequality are two sides of the same coin. https://calmatters.org//california-budget-depends-on-stag/?

Food for thought as California Governor Gavin Newsom announces his #CABudget today: $600 is a start, but it’s really only a start... Six hundred dollars in California dollars what is that, a week of rent?" -Western Center attorney Madeline Howard.... https://www.kqed.org//newsom-wants-to-send-600-to-low-inco

"Christopher Sanchez, a policy advocate at the Western Center on Law & Poverty, said the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated inequities for California’s undocumented communities, many whom live paycheck-to-paycheck and lost jobs at unequal rates during the pandemic-induced recession. The governor’s proposal is absolutely a great step in the right direction for undocumented families, Sanchez said. However, we know that there are going to be individuals who are left out. https://www.sacbee.com//capitol-alert/article248480525.html

We are so proud of our very own Bob Newman, who received the 2020 Loren Miller Legal Services Award from the California Lawyers Association. The award Honors an attorney who has personally engaged in significant work extending legal services to the poor. Congrats Bob! https://www.youtube.com/watch

Western Center is proud to co-sponsor #AB221 alongside the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the California Association of Food Banks, and Assembly Members Miguel Santiago, Robert Rivas, David Chiu and Senator Susan Rubio to immediately provide emergency food assistance to people who need it most. In the time since a similar bill was vetoed by Governor Newsom last year, hunger in California got worse, but state revenue got unexpectedly better. This is where the rubber meets the road. If our wealthy, progressive state doesn’t ensure that our people have enough to eat, we will create even more instability than the #COVID #pandemic and existing economic inequality has already produced. https://a53.asmdc.org//20210111-santiago-continues-efforts

More of this in 2021! Nice work ALDI USA & Instacart! "This service is now available at nearly 90% of Aldi stores, across 29 states and Washington, D.C., following successful pilots in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas. https://www.supermarketnews.com//aldi-instacart-expand-sna

Here's our analysis of the California Governor's proposed #CABudget. California's rich got richer, so there's more money than expected. Meanwhile, people are struggling more than ever in the midst of the pandemic. The Governor's proposal isn't austere, but it's conservative with its long term outlook and ambition. https://wclp.org/western-center-analysis-of-governor-gavin/

2020 presented many challenges, especially for people experiencing poverty. Western Center will heed the call to continue and deepen our work to advance human rights, economic dignity, and racial justice in California. Protect people now, build a healthier future. https://wclp.org/donate

On January 1st, California made accessing public benefits easier by requiring that health care providers fill out the medical forms necessary for those programs, and to make it easier for patients to get their medical records. Learn more: https://wclp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021//AB_2520_FAQ-1.pdf

We're hiring! Western Center is looking for an experienced attorney, passionate about advancing the rights of people experiencing poverty, to push for statewide tenant protections and just land use policies. Is it you? Someone you know? Check out the description! https://wclp.org/career-opportunities/

Western Center fights to preserve and strengthen economic security, health, housing and basic needs for Californians experiencing poverty. Please give generously. https://wclp.org/donate

Last week we reintroduced the Garment Worker Protection Act on the first day of the legislative session in CA! We’re back! We launched our effort with a virtual... press conference (on our Facebook page) & the release of a new report Labor Violations in the Los Angeles Garment Industry. The bill was introduced last week on the first call for bill submissions for the 2021 legislative season. Its supporters are looking to keep momentum this year and not see a repeat of what happened in August missing the vote before the state Assembly adjourned. ... The businesses that do ensure fair minimum wages and good working conditions find it increasingly difficult to remain competitive. Today, the Made in L.A. label is in jeopardy of being tarnished by bad actors, in the words of Senator Durazo. However, the bill’s supporters remain optimistic and vigilant in hopes of the bill passing in 2021. ... What our report shows is that the piece rate is the primary system of paying garment workers in this industry and that is where workers are only earning according to their output, Nuncio explained. They’re getting paid pennies at a time 2 cents, 3 cents for sewing or other garment operation. WWD Senator María Elena Durazo Office of Lorena Gonzalez State Senator Nancy Skinner Senza Tempo Ash Kalra Reggie Jones-Sawyer California Labor Federation Bet Tzedek - The House of Justice Gavin Newsom Maggie Q Equal Rights Advocates Remake Fashion Revolution USA Western Center on Law & Poverty https://finance.yahoo.com//irony-fashion-nova-era-fervor-0

"During the first six months of this year, 3,790 people in Sacramento County escaped homelessness, but another 3,736 became homeless" https://www.sacbee.com//sacramento-/article246869317.html

"Californians, by their votes, weighed in on the side of justice and equity, and presented a strong argument against the fear-based, and racially discriminatory, practices of our recent past." https://www.latimes.com//2/gascon-justice-reform-victories

The time is long overdue for us to do everything we can to address and work to overcome systemic racism. Yet the truth about Orange County... is that racism is still embedded within our official records, such as deeds on real property and remnants of some prior practices that are discriminatory. https://voiceofoc.org//racist-language-in-old-housing-dee/

For #NationalProBonoWeek, we're giving special thanks to our wonderful #ProBono partners. Earlier this month, we honored Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP for their partnership in advancing important protections for Californians -- including better mental health care for foster youth in Los Angeles. Check them out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js7FxscMhaE

A new report by National Consumer Law Center gives California a ‘B’ grade for its laws to prevent debt collectors from sending people into poverty. That's up from last year’s ‘C', largely due to the enactment of #SB616, a bank levy bill Western Center co-sponsored. Read more: https://wclp.org/report-gives-california-b-grade-for-allow/

It's #NationalProBonoWeek! #ProBono partners are incredibly important in our work, and we are so thankful for every one of them. Earlier this month, we honored Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP's Delilah L. Clay for her work to help pass significant new workplace and consumer protections (including the #CROWNAct) in California and beyond. Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDx6yNf7iAk

"Getting money to buy an individual plan isn’t the same as participating in a large group plan offered by an employer, said Jen Flory, a policy advocate at the Western Center on Law & Poverty, a nonprofit organization that advocates for low-income Californians and opposes Proposition 22. ....The deductible on a Covered California bronze plan for an individual in 2021 will be $6,300 for medical services plus $500 for prescription drugs. Proposition 22 ties the stipend to the ...highest deductible, highest out-of-pocket plans on the market, Flory said. And it’s for workers who aren’t making a whole lot of money. #NoOnProp22 https://californiahealthline.org//fact-check-lyft-ad-ride/

Another reason to #vote #YesOnProp25 to #EndMoneyBail in California. The system only exists to make money off people who already don't have it. That's not justice. #VoteYesOnProp25 #prop25

Good news! As of last month, Californians have a new consumer protection. SB 616 by Senator Bob Wieckowski protects the first $1,788 dollars in your bank account from consumer bank levies. We are proud to have co-sponsored SB 616 with the California Low-Income Consumer Coalition and the East Bay Community Law Center, and thankful for a powerful lobby day hosted by the California Asset Building Coalition. https://wclp.org//new-protections-against-bank-levies-in-/

In LA, people who make clothes (and masks) are being exploited by corporations that won't pay minimum wage or ensure safe work conditions. The #CALeg and California Governor must take this seriously if they're serious about #CaliforniaForAll. SOS Jennifer Siebel Newsom, this is a women's issue.

Western Center's October news: Our Prop Guide; Good News on Food; and our 2020 CA Legislative Roundup. Read more and subscribe: https://wclp.org/epic-news-october-2020/

"Alexander Prieto of the Western Center on Law and Poverty argued that an injunction is needed to ensure that 1 million of the poorest families will receive food aid to avoid going hungry during the "unprecedented pandemic." ..."Congress intended these benefits to be available to all households That includes unambiguously all SNAP households," he said." https://www.law360.com/articles/1321215

Western Center attorney Helen Tran is voting #YesonProp16: "Better health care and better job opportunities are the solutions we need to create a more equitable California. #Prop16 offers one solution in that direction." https://wclp.org/asian-americans-should-vote-yes-on-prop-1/