Posted on 11/25/2024
ONE BIG THING: LA *FINALLY* BECOMES A SANCTUARY CITY
What Happened?
This week, in a 13-0 vote, the City Council passed the Sanctuary City Ordinance that we introduced alongside Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Eunisses Hernandez over 18 months ago.
What Exactly Will the Law Do?
This law will prohibit any city resources from being used for immigration enforcement, and it prevents any city staff, including LAPD, from coordinating with federal immigration authorities or turning people over to ICE for deportation.
Why it Matters
This law aims to ensure that all Angelenos can interact with our government without the fear that Trump's deportation squad is around the corner.
I understand this fear firsthand. Growing up, my parents were undocumented. When my dad dropped me off at school, he didn’t worry about ICE showing up. When we were out street vending as a family, we weren’t afraid that we'd be stopped and asked for papers. The peace of mind they had then gave them the stability to save enough money to buy a home, send my siblings and me to college, and now they are both proudly American citizens.
This issue is about basic safety and security in LA. Our family, neighbors, and co-workers – undocumented or not – should be able to report serious crimes like domestic violence, send their children to school, and access other critical services without the fear of deportation.
What’s Next
The law is set to take effect in December, pending a final Council vote on 12/3 and the Mayor's signature to enact the ordinance.
With this victory secured, we’re preparing with immigrant rights organizations for what comes next. We’re working on new legislation to introduce in the coming weeks that will protect our neighbors and make sure our community has the resources we need for the second Trump administration.
We won't stop fighting for the safety and dignity of all Angelenos.
Two More Quick Hits!
1. $200,000 to Expedite Street Light Repairs in District 13!
This week, City Council voted unanimously to approve $200,000 in overtime funding for a dedicated team to expedite street light repairs across District 13.
All of our residents deserve safe, well-lit streets, but it currently takes 6-8 months to repair a broken streetlight in LA because of our city’s misaligned priorities.
With the $200,000 allocation approved, we expect to see significant progress in repairing streetlights that have gone unaddressed for far too long, as 70-75% of broken streetlights are down due to routine maintenance.
All of our residents deserve safe, well-lit streets, but it currently takes 6-8 months to repair a broken streetlight in LA because of our city’s misaligned priorities.
With the $200,000 allocation approved, we expect to see significant progress in repairing streetlights that have gone unaddressed for far too long, as 70-75% of broken streetlights are down due to routine maintenance.
If you have a broken streetlight near you, submit a service request at myla311.lacity.org and reach out to your local Field Deputy so we can get it repaired as soon as possible.
2. Living Wage and Healthcare for Tourism Workers
Workers will have to wait until December 11 for a vote on raising the minimum wage for tourism workers and ensuring they have access to healthcare.
Corporate hotel chains don’t want to provide basic healthcare for their workers, pressuring City Council to water down the measure.
These Big Money delay tactics are a slap in the face to the workers who make their profits possible. Families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and accessing basic healthcare.