(Los Angeles) – Today, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), elected officials and community leaders held an outdoor, socially-distanced press conference to strongly oppose Exide’s proposed bankruptcy settlement, particularly regarding to the option for Exide to fully abandon its facility in Vernon and all responsibility to clean the environment
(Sacramento, CA) – In response to the millions of unemployed Californians struggling to get ahold of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) joined Assembly Member David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and more than fifty other legislators to urge dramatic reforms to the state’s failing EDD system.
“Thousands of Californians are sick and tired of waiting for their unemployment checks,” said Assembly Member Santiago. “We can no longer accept the fact that, in the world’s fifth largest economy, individuals and families are going months without receiving any income during a pandemic. People are jobless, without savings, and nearing desperation. We must do better, which is why we are demanding that California’s EDD system do more to meet the needs of Californians.”
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Senator Schumer and Representative McCarthy:
Sacramento, CA – On the heels of today’s decision by the United State Supreme Court to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement:
“The DREAM Act is a golden ticket for so many undocumented youth. Seeking family, refuge, or a chance at a better life, our undocumented community has an inseparable part of our society,” said Assembly Member Santiago. “I commend the U.S. Supreme Court for rejecting Trump’s threat to strip away a critical lifeline for millions of young immigrants. We will not cower in the face of bigoted rhetoric and fear mongering. We will continue to fight for every immigrant’s existence in this country because that is what makes this nation great.”
Package of legislation aims reduce homelessness and ensure funds are used efficiently
(Sacramento, CA) – A package of bills proposed by California lawmakers to tackle California’s homelessness crisis passed the California State Assembly this week. The proposals aim to establish aggressive new strategies, ensure accountability, and increase funding to address homelessness.
On any given night, more than 150,000 Californians experience homelessness, and the state has the highest rate of unsheltered homeless individuals in the nation. Even as people are housed, more are falling into homelessness. In Los Angeles County, for every 133 people housed, 150 fall into homelessness. In Oakland, for one person housed, two more become homeless. In San Francisco, for every one person housed, three become homeless.
(Sacramento, CA) – As a joint-author of Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 5, which will reinstate affirmative action and equal opportunity programs in the state of California, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement after the measure passed the Assembly floor today:
"We are in desperate times. Communities of color are in the middle of a depression and income inequality gets worse every day,” said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). “Proposition 209, California's affirmative action ban, has left a catastrophic legacy in California ripe for these tragedies to unfold. Although we are the wealthiest and most diverse state in the nation, communities of color and women remain woefully underrepresented in our public institutions. With the passage of ACA 5, we are a step closer to reversing the racist and neglectful policies of the past. As we move forward through these perilous times, we must stand together to bring our communities equal opportunity by repealing Proposition 209 once and for all."
(Los Angeles) – On Monday, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) will help distribute free groceries to residents in Boyle Heights in partnership with the Weingart East Los Angeles (WELA) YMCA and Chefs to End Hunger.
(Sacramento, CA) – Today, AB 3300 cleared the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on a 6-1 vote. Authored by several legislators representing different regions across the state, and supported by over a hundred local leaders, housing and homelessness advocates, this dual bill and budget proposal would allocate an ongoing investment of $2 billion to local governments to expedite the delivery of much needed housing and critical services.
California’s homelessness crisis will undoubtedly worsen due to the economic hardship brought on by COVID-19. A recent analysis estimates a 40 to 45 percent increase in homelessness by the end of 2020, and evidence of this increase is already being reported in California. The State must prioritize an adequate investment of funds to withstand a surge of homelessness and prevent those housed during COVID-19 from landing back on the streets post-pandemic.
(Sacramento, CA) – Today, Assembly Bill 2218, authored by Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and co-authored by Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) passed out of Assembly Health Committee with a 12-1 vote. Sponsored by a broad coalition of transgender-led organizations, this bill will provide critical medical and direct supportive services for transgender, gender non-conforming and/or intersex people, otherwise known as TGI.
“Everyone should have equal access to health care regardless of their gender identity,” said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago. “California’s TGI community is facing obstacles in receiving safe, non-discriminatory, comprehensive care, and COVID-19 has exacerbated these existing health care disparities. This fund will provide the means to create programs where TGI-identified people can receive safe, competent, and inclusive health care and other social services.”
(Sacramento, CA) – As of today, undocumented Californians are able to apply for the Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants (DRAI), which is a one-time cash assistance for undocumented Californian adults who have been impacted by COVID-19. The DRAI program is entirely state-funded and is not means-tested. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The disaster relief assistance amount is $500 per person, with a maximum of two individuals ($1000) per household.
“It is not news that undocumented immigrants have been hit hard by this pandemic,” said Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). “I’m proud that California stepped up to provide this much needed assistance when the federal government failed to do so. It is important that eligible applicants apply as soon as possible. My team and I are here to help.”
