ONE BIG THING: FAST FOOD & IMMIGRATION
What Happened?
Over 630,000 Californians work in fast food. And in LA, fast-food workers lose an average of $3,500/year to wage theft – 16% of their annual income.
For many workers, immigration status makes those risks even greater. A survey from CHIRLA and the California Fast Food Workers Union, which included 405 workers across more than 200 restaurants in 66 California cities, found that fear over immigration status is making workplace exploitation even worse.
➡️82% say workers worried about their immigration status are less likely to report wage theft, harassment, discrimination, or unsafe conditions.
➡️72% say fear keeps pregnant workers from taking paid maternity leave.
➡️67% say these workers are more likely to be cheated out of pay or forced into unsafe jobs.
➡️94% don't know what workplace protections and benefits are available regardless of immigration status.
Why it Matters
Since ICE began tearing families apart at such a large scale, many immigrant families have lost income — whether because a loved one was deported, forced to stop working, or too afraid to leave home.
For fast food workers, that means the stakes of every paycheck are even higher. It means putting food on the table, paying rent, and supporting their families. And when workers fear that speaking up could put their livelihood at risk, employers gain even more power to exploit them.
Fast food workers were already facing a system stacked against them. 1 in 4 fast food workers in Los Angeles is paid below minimum wage — an 8x increase in the last 15 years.
When workers don't know their rights, can't safely report violations, and fear retaliation for speaking up, massive fast food corporations are given even more room to cut corners while workers pay the price.
What’s Next?
In 2024, we introduced legislation to strengthen protections for fast food workers by requiring:
➡️Predictable schedules
➡️Guaranteed time off
➡️”Know Your Rights” Trainings
Fast food corporations fought the proposal with lobbyists and ad campaigns because the status quo is profitable. But despite their opposition, the measure cleared its first major hurdle last year and is expected to return to City Council in the coming weeks.
All workers deserve dignity, safety, and a voice on the job. Stay tuned for ways to get involved and join the fight for a fast food industry where workers (not billion-dollar corporations) have the power to demand better.
Click here to read the full report from CHIRLA
Two More Quick Hits
- Small Lot, Big Housing
18 new apartments of permanent supportive housing are now open in Historic Filipinotown, transforming a vacant single-family lot into a place where Angelenos can find stability and a path home.
The Loma Verde Apartments are an example of the innovative, community-driven solutions we need to address our housing and homelessness crises: building more affordable homes, expanding supportive services, and turning underused spaces into opportunities for people to thrive.
Special thanks to Holos Communities, RNLA, and everyone who made this creative project possible.
- Summer Night Lights
This week marked the end of another Summer Night Lights season—the program founded in 2008 that keeps select parks across LA open until 11 pm, giving young Angelenos a safe place to gather, play, and build community.
According to the Mayor's Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD), gang-related homicides in GRYD zones decreased by 45% between 2023 and 2025 — a reminder that investing in youth, recreation, and community spaces is a critical part of creating a safer city.
At Lemon Grove Recreation Center, we celebrated the season with basketball tournaments, resource fairs, food giveaways, and even a video game tournament. Stay tuned for more community activations across the district as we continue fighting for a city that invests in the programs and spaces that help all Angelenos thrive.