16 Western Center Bills Signed by the Governor
16 Western Center bills were signed by Governor Gavin Newsom this year, marking huge wins for California. Of note are two renter protection bills, AB 1482, now one of the nation’s most expansive anti-rent gouging and just cause for eviction laws, and SB 329, which prohibits discrimination against housing voucher holders. For health care, SB 464 will require perinatal health providers to undergo implicit bias training to address the maternal mortality rate for black women in California, which is 4-5 times higher than it is for white women. For financial security, SB 616 outlaws the ability of debt collectors to drain people’s bank accounts, leaving them without funds for necessary day-to-day expenses. Those are only some of our 2019 wins. See the full list here →
These legislative victories are in addition to big wins achieved in the state budget earlier this year.
Western Center Statement on Proposed 2020 Ballot Measure to Address Homelessness
A deeply inhumane initiative to combat homelessness has been presented to the California Attorney General for the 2020 ballot. We believe it’s illegal. Read our statement here →
HUD Proposal to Change Disparate Impact Enforcement
Western Center submitted comments to HUD opposing its proposal to alter how Disparate Impact rules are implemented. If the proposal to gut Disparate Impact in Fair Housing becomes final, it will open the flood gates for housing discrimination at a time when communities across the country are grappling with rising housing insecurity and homelessness.
In this video, Western Center housing attorney Matt Warren explains more about the rule, and why we are fighting to stop it from becoming final. Watch here →
Thank You for Supporting Garden Party
Thank you to everyone who made Garden Party 2019 such a wonderful evening and a great success. We appreciate your support as we honored Cameron Rowland, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Shirley Gibson and Clare Pastore at the Ebell of Los Angeles. View photos of the event here →
In Memoriam – Dean Matsubayashi
Western Center mourns the passing of our board member Dean Hojo Matsubayashi on September 4, 2019. Dean was the Executive Director of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) since 2012 and led the organization through some of its most transformative years. Dean was a passionate and courageous leader, loving and generous family man, warm and compassionate friend, coalition and bridge builder. He passed away at age 49, surrounded by family and friends, after waging a fierce 15-month battle against glioblastoma of the brain stem. Dean dedicated his life to creating safe and affordable housing and thriving communities for all. Under his leadership, LTSC developed over 1,000 units of housing for those in need and provided social services and child development programs to thousands of seniors, children, and families. Dean served on Western Center’s board of directors for seven years.
