PRESS RELEASE

Company: League of California Cities Latino Caucus

Contact: John E. Arriaga, Executive Director

Phone: (916) 669-1343 Email: LCCLC@cacitieslatinocaucus.org

The League of California Cities Latino Caucus Board of Directors

Priorities Update- June 13, 2020

The League of California Cities Latino Caucus (LCCLC) Board of Directors met this weekend virtually, for its annual Midyear Board Retreat to review and set the Latino Caucus’ priority issues, event programming, and goals. In light of the issues California is faced with the following priorities have been adopted for the remainder of 2020:

Racial Justice

The LCCLC stands in solidarity with the Black community and allies to condemn the centuries of racism, oppression, and systemic injustice imposed upon people of color, including the Latino community. We call for policies which dismantle structural racism and which advance justice, dignity, and equality.

Latino COVID-19 Support

• Housing- Call for rent and mortgage assistance regardless of citizenship status for those affected by Covid-19.

• Education- Support for Latino students struggling with the digital divide, support for Latino students struggling with the learning gap due to Covid-19 school closures, support for Latino college students disproportionately affected by Covid-19 in the areas of student housing displacement, student food insecurity, student job loss, and student retention due to online only course offerings.

• Small Business- Support for Latino small and micro businesses affected by COVID-19 in the area of local state and federal financial assistance. Call for language equity in the areas of financial programming and safety information.

• Essential Workers- Support for equitable safety standards/equipment for all essential works regardless of status.

Immigration and Census 2020

• Call for a full and accurate count of the nation’s second largest population. We believe accurate data of the Latino community is critical for our country’s economic, social and civic well-being.

• Promote policies that provide a timely path to US citizenship for law-abiding, taxpaying newcomers.

• Advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a balanced approach which protects national security, unites families, strengthens borders, provides immigrant youth with educational opportunities, and promotes the civic integration of newcomers.

• Advocate for the reduction of visa backlogs and a path to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) grantees.

• Support the protection of Dream Act legislation that would give young teen and adult students who have grown up in the United States the means to remain in the country without fear of removal.

Housing Affordability and Homelessness

• Advocate for the equitable distribution of state and federal financial support, the reduction of regulatory barriers, and support additional incentives and local financial tools to address housing affordability.

• Advocate for increased funding and resources to prevent homelessness and assist individuals experiencing homelessness.