Coastal Access: Equity in Laguna Beach Hotel Development
Hospitality workers argued that the Pacific Edge’s proposed development would continue to cut-off coastal access for families like theirs — hospitality workers nonetheless — who can’t afford to visit the coast anymore because of the skyrocketing luxury lodging prices that cities like Laguna Beach keep permitting.
The Coastal Commission’s Coastal Act rules, however, are clear that any new hotel development must include a certain percentage of affordable rooms. This time, though, the city agreed to the Pacific Edge proposal of paying an in-lieu fee that would help construct some affordable accommodations – but in Newport Beach, NOT Laguna Beach.
Hotel workers were disappointed in the city’s decision, but intend to continue to fight for affordable coastal access in Laguna Beach and all cities along the coast in Orange County.
For more information, please contact faith-rooted organizer Adam Overton, [email protected]
National United Health Workers (NUHW) Compass Campaign WIN
After ten months of non-stop struggle, we’re so honored to announce that the 800 NUHW members across Fountain Valley Hospital, Los Alamitos Medical Center, and Lakewood Medical Center settled contracts that will dramatically improve their lives!
Two weeks ago, after two days of round-the-clock bargaining, hospital workers at the three facilities reached a tentative agreement with management for a new contract, locking in much-needed living wages and more! The workers then voted overwhelmingly this past weekend to approve and ratify these incredible improvements!
Their new contract is now in effect!
According to these brave healthcare workers, their victory could not have been achieved without the prayers and persistence from so many of you in the CLUE community!
“I’m really so thankful, and proud, and humbled for this incredible win. I support ten family members back in the Philippines with food and money to survive; now I can help them even more, and now I can also start saving money for myself and my family here.
CLUE was with us since the very beginning, and your overflowing support is one of the reasons we won. Without you guys we would not have had such success, and we’re so grateful. God uses people as instruments to do His work, and it was through CLUE and our community that God helped us achieve this great victory. CLUE is a part of our victory.”
Lanelle Anderson
“This new contract will help my family tremendously now that I won’t be struggling from paycheck to paycheck and having to choose between which bill to pay next. Thank you to all the clergy and community for all your hard work and standing with us during this long fight. This scripture sums it all up for me:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)”
Johnenfer Larry
“As clergy I was humbled to pray and walk with these healthcare workers, to be present with them as they fought for a living wage and affordable healthcare. My faith calls me to stand with those searching for Justice, and now that they won, my heart is full.
James 1:27: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
Pastor Jacquie Bethel
For more information, please contact CLUE faith-rooted organizer Adam Overton, [email protected].
CVS Worker Delegation in Newport Beach
On Friday August 20th, CLUE faith community accompanied CVS worker leaders and UFCW 324 members at a CVS in Orange as they delivered a petition to management. They are calling for a living wage, affordable healthcare, and additional safety measures for night-shift workers who too often are left unaccompanied and subject to assault.
For more information, please contact CLUE faith-rooted organizer Adam Overton, [email protected].
[CALL TO ACTION] Rent Control is on Tuesday’s City Council Meeting Agenda
Rent Control and Just Cause is finally on the Santa Ana City Council Agenda! The Santa Ana community has been pushing for REAL renter protections, Rent Stabilization and Just Cause protections, for several years. This Tuesday (9/28), the city council will have the chance to make it a reality. Tenants United Santa Ana is inviting everyone to show up for Rent Control! Please join the city council meeting in person or virtually to show your support! You can also email the Santa Ana Mayor and City Council members to describe in detail why YOU support Rent Stabilization and Just cause protections for Santa Ana. TU Santa Ana has been able to gain majority oral support from council members, which we will hopefully witness on Tuesday! We need to go ALL OUT for rent control!
Additionally, the City Council has asked us to pack the house on Tuesday and make public comments. If you can join in person, we will be meeting at El Centro Cultural de Mexico at 4:30pm for food and art making, then marching over to City Hall by 5:00. We need to fill out the speaker cards before 6pm so if you’re interested in making public comments but won’t be able to join us until later in the evening, please RSVP here and we will fill out a public comment card on your behalf. We will be submitting these cards in a specific order so that families with children and elders are prioritized to speak earlier in the night.
How to support:
1. Show up to support in person at City Hall and make a public comment! If you would like to make a public comment in person, you would have to turn in a comment card to the clerk at the city hall chambers before 6 pm.
2. If you would like to make a public comment virtually, you would have to join the queue before 6 pm. Here are more details about virtual meeting guidelines.
3. You can email City council members directly! We need to add pressure by letting council members that we support rent stabilization and just cause in Santa Ana. We are especially trying to gain support from Mayor Pro Tem Penaloza and Councilwoman Mendoza.
4. You can submit an e-comment via email! Send your public comment for Item 33! This must be submitted before 4 pm on Tuesday 9/21. Here is the agenda for more details about the item.
5. Share this with everyone you can (including the attached flyers)! You can share our Instagram posts and Facebook posts so that we can have as many people show up for rent control! Stay tuned for more details and actions on those platforms!
Once again, please show up for rent control! As we continue to face the pandemic, we have seen how vital housing security is for our communities. Santa Ana is a majority renter city that has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Tenants United Santa Ana believes that housing is a human right; we stand by ensuring that our community has real and permanent renter protections that will allow our community to remain and prosper. Santa Ana no se vende, se ama y se defiende! Thank you!
For more information, please contact [email protected] or Maria Ceja at [email protected]
Santa Ana Listening Circles
Last summer, CLUE helped start a partnership between the SABHC Hub staff and Aliento, the Center for Latina/o Communities. Through this partnership, we have provided listening circles for Santa Ana residents around creating spaces to address whole-person health, emphasize self-care, healing, and restoration.
On Friday, August 20th CLUE, SABHC hub staff, Aliento held the August Listening Session on the topic of How to express different emotions with the family (Depression, Anger Management). A total of 19 residents participated in this month’s listening session for an interactive presentation to learn about the importance of expressing emotions and sharing their experience with processing emotions. During our time together, we had an opportunity to check in, engage in breathing exercises, dialogue about emotions/identifying emotions, and reflect on how we respond and process our emotions.
To find out more information about participating in a listening circle, contact Faith-Rooted Organizer Lucero Garcia, [email protected]
