In the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, We've Doubled Down on Rapid Response

Since our last newsletter the world has changed in ways we could not have imagined. COVID-19 has laid bare the structural inequities in our current housing, transportation, education and healthcare systems, and it has made clear that our individual health and security depends on the health and security of the entire community. We're working closely with our partners and allies to empower those hit-hardest by this crisis — communities of color and low-income Californians.

Creating protections for renters, homeowners and those facing evictions

Low-income families and people of color are at imminent risk of being evicted by their landlords or foreclosed upon by banks because they cannot pay rent or make mortgage payments. Along with our partners at Housing Now! we have taken multiple actions, including joining with 140 organizations calling for Governor Newsom to end evictions, foreclosures, sheriff’s lockouts and rent increases statewide.



With 45 legal services and housing advocacy groups, we fought to suspend eviction proceedings statewide. On April 6, the Judicial Council took strong action— effectively ceasing most eviction and foreclosure actions until 90 days after the current state of emergency concludes . Nonetheless, work is needed to stop a wave of evictions once the moratorium lifts.

We have also created a series of fact sheets about renter protections both in California and at the federal level. 

Victory in our lawsuit in Anderson v. City of San José!

On March 11, the California Supreme Court denied San José’s request for review, which affirmed that cities must comply with the Surplus Land Act. The victory means that cities will need to prioritize affordable housing development when selling unused public land.

As Managing Attorney Sam Tepperman-Gelfant notes, “The justices recognized that ‘public land for public good’ isn't just a slogan—it's the law of the land in California." 

Calling for state support as parents, students, schools face unprecedented challenges under the COVID-19 crisis

More than six million public school students have been affected by school closures, and their families have had to make an abrupt transition to homeschooling and online learning. In March, Public Advocates joined the California Partnership for the Future of Learning to identify the greatest needs that students and parents face as the COVID-19 crisis unfolds.



Since then, we've led the LCFF Equity Coalition in developing a set of comprehensive recommendations to the California Department of Education to secure technology solutions, better access to distance learning for students and reasonable and effective “virtual” community engagement in budget adoption processes. We also developed a set of 10 questions for local education agencies about what they can do to ensure equity for high-need students.

Digital outreach takes the lead as we help parents and students cope with the crisis

In March and April, we led online trainings for K-12 parents, college students and more. 

We held webinars on new state requirements for distance learning; the funding of critical services for high need students during the crisis ; and a 'Hear the Students' webinar on the impact of COVID-19 on college students . Our most recent webinar introduced a new community engagement tool to help parents participate in school district decision-making.

Protecting public transit, its workers and riders

As ridership plummets, our public transportation systems are struggling to maintain basic levels of service to ensure people can safely get to grocery stores, pharmacies, and hospitals. This could endanger the fiscal well-being of public transportation agencies well beyond the acute phase of the COVID-19 crisis. In mid-March, we joined transit agencies and workers, equity advocates, and rider unions from across the country calling for Congress to provide immediate financial assistance to ensure the continuation of safe and reliable transit service.

In April we joined transit workers, calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to allocate federal emergency funds to protect Bay Area transit workers and riders.

Public Advocates welcomes new staff members to the fight!

We are excited to welcome two new staff members — Staff Attorney Micah Clatterbaugh who will focuse on affirmative litigation to enforce renter rights, and Administrative Associate Emily Wheeler who will support our Administrative and Metropolitan Equity teams.

We also congratulate Shajuti Hossain and Cindy Gerges whose law fellowships have been extended. Shajuti leads key local and regional housing efforts in Concord and other areas. Cindy coordinates our parent engagement and school funding accountability work in the West Contra Costa and Antioch Unified School Districts.

The Voices of Conscience Fund: our civil rights war chest

Support for the Voices of Conscience Fund , now entering its third year, continues to grow. We're grateful to all our sponsors for leading the way and hope you will join us again in 2020. Public Advocates has created the Fund to direct 100% of your financial contribution to building the legal firepower necessary to fight for education, housing and transportation equity. Please click here to explore sponsorship levels. 

Public Advocates in the News

In a Calmatters Commentary , Dan Walters quotes John Affeldt on education challenges under COVID-19….John is also quoted in EdSource on Gov. Newsom’s LCAP executive order….Ruby Acevedo was featured in Telemundo regarding COVID-19 renter protections…Richard Marcantonio is quoted in an StreetsBlog SF article on MTC's decision concerning federal transit aid…. The SF Chronicle's Jill Tucker quotes John Affeldt on the controversy over student grading during this crisis…An LAist story on college students’ message to top education administrators mentions Public Advocates … The Voices: River City podcast interviews Michelle Pariset about who is standing up for renters in the Capitol and what Gov. Newsom could do to help… Michelle is also quoted in an SF Public Press article on fear among tenants and landlords over the impact of COVID-19... Truthout mentions Public Advocates in a story on the financialization of the housing market… Michelle Pariset is quoted in the Washington Post regarding continuing construction of luxury housing in the Bay Area despite the shelter-in-place order… Michelle is also quoted in an SF Business Times article on SF relief efforts to families impacted by COVID-19…. Bisnow quotes Richard Marcantonio on the California Supreme Court decision to let stand an order to San Jose on the Surplus Land Act…. Reports in Impacto Latino , Noticias 62 and Telemundo 52 mention Public Advocates in multiple stories on the release of “Our Right to Resources” report concerning misallocation of LCFF funds on police in schools.