Sac ACT State Policy Group lobbies for social justice:
A reflection by Sac ACT member Alicia Dienst
Sac ACT met with legislators on the April 20 Lobby Day to get their commitments to support affordable housing and curb immigrant detention. Twelve volunteer leaders from multiple congregations met with six legislators’ offices to advocate for AB 736 (Wicks) and SB 41 (Cabaldon), legislation to a state housing bond to build 135,000 more homes, AB 2243 (Haney, /Kalra), which will authorize a state-owned bank to make financing affordable housing less expensive, AB 2465 (Ortega), which is co-sponsored by PICO and would ensure that state resources do not indirectly subsidize businesses that support dehumanization, illegal detainment and torture of immigrants in California, and AB 1633 (Haney), a tax on for-profit, ICE- contracted immigration detention facilities.
Advocacy success!
An exciting moment came when the group met with Assembly Member Maggie Krell. When asked her position on the notion that housing is a human right, Krell looked directly into a member’s eyes and declared, “Housing is a human right. Is that controversial?” Group leader Meg Gunderson noted that meeting with the Assembly Member in person was already a win, so to hear her give unqualified support for a Sac ACT position was very rewarding.
California Housing Policy Specialist and member of the coalition Linda Wheaton reported that Senator Niello’s staff said the senator supported continuous appropriation for the California Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program. “The uncertainty itself has been a big problem.” She said the need to continually request funding year after year “is an administrative nightmare.”
Volunteer leaders learned from a legislator’s staff that using the Legislature’s email portal is the most effective way to express support for or opposition to legislation. Armed with that information, Jennifer Webb of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento included links to legislators’ office portals in email messages to other congregant activists. Many followed up by registering the group’s positions on the bills with their respective representatives.
In the afternoon, some members attended the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee hearing to support AB 1633 (Haney) and AB 2465 (Ortega). AB 2465 passed with a 5-2 vote and is headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 14. AB 1633 was put on suspense due to the tax levy implications of the bill.
Get involved!
There are two ways to support state efforts. First you can join us at the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 14. Second come with advocates when we return to the Legislature in June to get updates on the status of the bills and to note any changes to them. “We’re going back in June to monitor legislation as it gets refined in the process and to show the power we have,” Webb said.
Contact Meg Gunderson at mego369@gmail.com for more information. If you would like to receive action alerts to contact legislators, contact Jennifer Webb. You’ll get a link to the legislator’s email portal and sample message. It only takes a couple of minutes to make an impact!
