For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Anya Svanoe, asvanoe@calorganize.org, 510-423-2452
Duc Luu, dluu@publicadvocates.org, 857-373-9118
August 11, 2020
Tsunami of Evictions Could Begin on Friday; Labor, Technology and Civic Leaders Urge Governor Newsom to Pass AB 1436
Recording of the press conference can be found here.
Tenants facing eviction available for interview upon request.
Sacramento — At a press conference today, an array of state leaders had one message for Governor Newsom: there is less than 72 hours to stop a tsunami of COVID evictions. They warned that four million Californians could lose their homes if the Judicial Council votes to end its eviction moratorium on Friday. They urged Newsom to throw his support behind AB 1436, authored by Assemblymember David Chiu, the last bill alive in the legislature that could prevent this crisis.
The press conference featured Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, Christian Ramirez, Policy Director of SEIU-USWW, Vignesh Ganapathy, head of government relations at Postmates, Daraka Larimore-Hall, vice chair of the California Democratic Party, Councilmember Mike Bonin of the Los Angeles City Council, Councilmember Melvin Willis of the Richmond City Council, Reverend. Dr. Penny Nixon, co-director of the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort of San Mateo County, and James Mumm, campaigns director at Greenpeace USA.
California’s future is on the line. The state cannot exacerbate the fallout of a global pandemic and the worst economic downturn in modern history by allowing a record surge in homelessness and evictions. By passing AB 1436, Governor Newsom can ensure renters are able to shelter-in-place, landlords get relief, and communities are spared from further devastation.
“We have heard over and over from partners on the ground that in this moment the ability to shelter in place and socially distance requires having safe and secure housing. If you are housing insecure or unhoused, your health is in jeopardy,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of San Francisco Foundation, a community foundation focused on racial equity and economic inclusion. “Extending the moratorium on eviction is a moral, ethical, health and economic concern that we need to respond to at the state level. We’ve seen that it is infinitely cheaper and less complicated to keep people in their homes than to try to support and rehouse people once they’ve become housing unstable or lost their homes.”
Christian Ramírez, policy director at SEIU USWW said, “California’s working families, especially immigrant families and people of color working in low-wage jobs, have been battered again and again and again in recent months. This crisis has put a glaring spotlight on the role of racism and discrimination in creating the conditions families are facing now – and the need to surge resources into our communities so we can rebuild equitably. We cannot stand by while a housing crisis of this magnitude unfolds before our eyes. SEIU members support AB 1436 NOW to prevent eviction based on non-payment of rent because families need homes to get through this crisis.”
Reverend Dr. Penny Nixon of the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort said, “I call on Governor Newsom to allow his faith, his humanity and his sense of compassionate justice to lift him up to stand on moral ground, and support AB 1436.”
James Mumm, campaigns director at Greenpeace USA said, “Whether it’s ensuring there’s a 2,500-foot buffer between oil and gas sites and community areas such as homes, schools, and hospitals, or making sure people have a place to sleep, everyone should have access to the basic things they need to survive.”
Vignesh Ganapathy, head of government relations at Postmates, said “Postmates is proud to stand with this diverse cross-section of advocates, lawmakers, and community organizers calling on our state legislature to pass AB 1436, which would protect vulnerable Californians from evictions under COVID-19.”
Daraka Larimore Hall, vice-chair of the California Democratic Party, said “California was already in a housing crisis before COVID. A wave of evictions will make it far worse. Our goal as a society has to be to share the burden of getting through it together. We can’t leave millions of renters behind.”
Richmond Councilmember Melvin Willis said, “I’m scared about the devastation that will happen if AB 1436 does not pass. I do not want see black and brown families on the streets because they were forced not to work by the state. The State has a responsibility to protect families.”
Click here for the recording of the press conference. Here is a link to the facebook livestream.
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