New national report on social housing available!
"Building Our Future: Grassroots Reflections on Social Housing" examines a growing movement to create permanently affordable housing that is publicly, collectively or non-profit owned and under community control.
Governor Newsom releases the 2024-2025 state budget proposal revision
Click here to read through PA's analysis on what it gets right and what can be improved in terms of education, housing, and transit equity.
Public Advocates urges CA college leaders to protect the rights of students and engage in dialogue
"Student protests are a part of our country’s rich democratic history and have been integral to advancing social justice—on and off of college campuses. We call on university leaders to protect students’ First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. Regardless of opinion, college administrators owe students an opportunity for expression and dialogue."
CalMatters: Shady business owners can hide behind LLCs. California should make their identities public
Op-ed by Senior Staff Attorney, Suzanne Dershowitz
Public Advocates demands state to end the state’s highly discriminatory system for funding school facilities.
The status quo is an unequal system in which students in low-wealth districts receive an education inferior to that of their peers in higher-wealth districts.
Public Advocates Files Complaint to Address Educator Staffing Concerns in West Contra Costa School District
Attorneys at Public Advocates have uncovered numerous teacher vacancies, and the illegal practice of using rolling substitute teachers instead of filling these vacancies with permanent educators.
A new report exposes how for-profit developers are exploiting a loophole in state law to impose exorbitant rent increases on low-income residents

News

From waging battles for affordable housing throughout the Bay Area to winning increased opportunities for a quality education in the courts, Public Advocates stays in the news. Here’s the latest…

Richmondside: WCCUSD school board gets two-week extension to approve budget

July 2, 2024—Richmondside reporter Natalie Hanson spoke with Law Fellow Karissa Provenza about West Contra Costa School Board’s two week extension to approve their Local Control Accountability plan (LCAP)—which they are legally bound to do—and what will be necessary to address issues uplifted by community members that are impacting vulnerable students.   Read the story […]

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Pasadena Now: California Legislature Makes a Flurry of Big Changes to November Ballot Measures

July 2, 2024—Cal Matters Opinion Columnist Dan Walters spoke with Deputy Managing Attorney Nicole Gon Ochi about the ballot measure gamesmanship allowing legislators to operate behind closed doors and reveal their actions only after deals have been cut leaving advocates and community members behind in the process. Read the story to learn more.     […]

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News From the States: Does a proposed $10 billion bond favor richer California school districts?

July 2, 2024—Journalist Carolyn Jones spoke with Public Advocates client, Lynwood Superintendent, Gudiel Crosthwaite, about the soon to be finalized school facilities bond to be set for the November ballot and how the proposal leaves low-income and small districts with an all-too-familiar feeling: underfunded and overlooked. Read the story which highlights the issue lower wealth […]

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Our Work

We challenge the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, transit equity and climate justice.

Quality Education & Financing

Striving to ensure children receive a quality education that will prepare them for college, careers and the future.

Housing
Justice

Advancing the right of families to live in communities jobs, schools and city services regardless of ethnicity or income.

TransportationJustice

Meeting the needs of low-income communities by fighting for more public transit and reduced or free fares for youth.

Climate
Justice

Targeting the needs of low-income communities; advancing  social equity through investments and opportunities.

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