LA City Council - Pivot Like the Rest of Us, Our Health & Economy Depends on It
By Lyric Kelkar and Marco Covarrubias
Today, the City of LA canceled its City Council meetings for the next two weeks.
We understand that this is a scary moment for all and we need to be protecting everyone’s health. But there are creative solutions to these issues. Our organization and many others have been able to work from home in the past weeks to ensure we are able to respond to the needs of our clients. Inclusive Action has been using Zoom, and has found that it has polling capabilities and chat functions that could quickly be adapted to meet the needs of a meeting as important as the City Council. By shutting down meetings all together over the coming weeks - meaning slowing down progress on key policies that must be in place immediately - we are putting many people at risk of losing their homes, their livelihoods, and possibly contracting the virus that is ravaging through other cities like New York.
One economist recently predicted that by the time the pandemic is over, we will have a 30% unemployment rate. That is higher than during the Great Depression. In New York State, there are over 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, at least 60% of which are in New York City alone. LA is the next biggest city in the nation, we do not have the testing means necessary to understand exactly the impact it will have on the health of our residents, but we do know that quick, progressive, meaningful legislation is not only a chance for leadership, but absolutely imperative for the physical and economic health of our City.
There are multiple proposals both at the City level and coming out of community-based organizations that, if enacted, will provide the necessary steps for protecting our city - especially the most vulnerable. The HealthyLA Coalition - of which over 150 organizations have signed on to - has a clear, well thought out list of recommendations for the City Council to move forward. They complement the existing proposals at hand and go further by protecting renters, low-income, working class people - from our unhoused neighbors to the undocumented workers who will not be helped by federal assistance.
The asks are clear:
Protect existing renters and owners through rent forgiveness and mortgage freezes, foreclosure protections, eviction moratoriums, and emergency rental assistance;
Protect our unhoused neighbors by opening up city-owned land and properties for repurposing; provide dumpsters, handwashing stations, and basic hygiene needs to these residents; don’t take away any of their property at anytime - they need it more now than ever; create better services for these residents (#ServicesNotSweeps); and increase general relief and SNAP assistance;
Mandate paid sick leave to all workers so that they can stay home when they are sick, preventing further transmission of COVID-19; and,
Create an emergency assistance fund for small businesses - including street vendors - who do not have the means to weather this disaster.
Some of this has already been done, such as the eviction moratorium, but it needs to go further. Take the word of the 150 organizations who hear these stories daily and have been doing this work on the ground for decades. We know what our constituents need.
At last week’s City Council meeting, over 50 motions were introduced to protect people across the City - showing the ability for swift and deep action. Where did that urgency go? We think the City of LA can use this moment to show great leadership in this time of uncertainty, call for an emergency session, and use virtual meeting platforms. If you agree with us, tell your councilmembers. Instead of cancelling the meeting, find an alternative so we can keep working together to protect the people who need it most.