Representing Low-Income Latinx Renters on Oakland’s 28th Avenue

More than twenty residents of a six-unit building in East Oakland have been forced to live in substandard conditions for years. Their homes have been plagued with roach and mice infestations, inadequate hot water and plumbing, broken windows, mold, malfunctioning stoves and refrigerators, and nonfunctioning heating systems. Despite numerous complaints, the building’s owner has refused to maintain the property. He has a history of purchasing small rental properties, evicting the tenants, and then flipping the buildings.  

Public Advocates, the Law Office of David M. Levin, and Staff Attorney Jackie Zaneri at ACCE are providing legal representation to ensure that these unconscionable conditions are remedied. Staff Attorney Ruby Acevedo worked with our co-counsel to submit a demand letter to the landlord on behalf of the tenants, and we are confident our clients will prevail.
$6.6 Billion to Reopen Schools & Address Lost Learning Time 

Our Sacramento team has been busy weighing in on the Governor's $2 billion plan to reopen schools and the legislature’s response. We led the crafting of the Equity Coalition's response letter which, among other things, argues that families must also have the option to continue distance learning if they don’t feel that it’s safe to come back to campus yet. Furthermore, if school districts and unions do not reach an agreement soon, then the State should impose statewide reopening standards and protocols to maximize and equalize reopening opportunities. There must also be extra efforts to roll out vaccines and testing in the most COVID-impacted communities to give all students a fair shot at returning this year.

Additionally, the Governor has proposed $4.6 billion to help students who have fallen behind during this pandemic when they return to in-person instruction. This investment must avoid traditional drill-and-kill summer school remediation and instead provide students with innovative, rich and engaging learning opportunities this summer and into next year. Also, these funds should be used to address the critical social-emotional and mental health needs of students. Learn more in this EdSource story featuring Managing Attorney John Affeldt.
State COVID Housing Deal is an Essential Step Forward, but Stronger Action is Needed

The bill signed by Governor Newsom includes important protections for renters — it extends the state's eviction moratorium for COVID-impacted renters through June 30, and it creates a system for distributing federal rental assistance funding that should result in full forgiveness of rental debt for many tenants. But we have serious concerns. The COVID crisis will last well beyond June, and we need a full eviction moratorium at least through the end of this year. In addition, the rental assistance program allows landlords to choose whether to accept state funding and forgive rental debt, or to take tenants to court later. This leaves our most vulnerable neighbors—people of color, low-income people living in rent-controlled units, and families with children—at the mercy of their landlords. As Managing Attorney Sam Tepperman-Gelfant told the SF Chronicle: the uncertainty "contributes to this climate of terror that renters are already facing." Public Advocates will make sure tenant voices are heard in the halls of power as we keep fighting for policies that will fully protect vulnerable renters both during the pandemic and in the long recovery period that will follow.  
Students of Color are Losing Time and Money in Remedial Classes
 
For too long, community colleges have worsened inequities for students of color— specifically Black students—by offering too many remedial math classes that undermine the likelihood that students ever achieve their transfer and graduation goals.

We released a report that investigates the implementation of Assembly Bill 705, a law that overhauled the practices that were derailing students. We've seen some progress since the law was passed, but much work remains. Too many institutions continue to show a troubling slowness in fully implementing the law. We are proud to co-author this report with the California Acceleration Project!
Making Sure Desegregation is Part of the Bay Area Housing Plan

A powerful housing agency agreed to include an “Equity Adjustment” in its plan for how the Bay Area will grow through 2030. This is a big step toward getting communities with a history of racial and economic exclusion to actively combat segregation by accommodating more affordable housing than they ever have before. This win is a result of our advocacy with the 6 Wins for Social Equity Coalition and other Bay Area housing justice groups. A huge shoutout to Law Fellow Shajuti Hossain who has been leading this project for us!
The Voices of Conscience Fund: our civil rights war chest

Support for the Voices of Conscience Fund continues to grow. We're grateful to all our sponsors for leading the way and hope you will join us again in 2021. Public Advocates has created the Fund to direct 100% of your financial contribution to building the resources necessary to fight for education, housing and transportation equity. Please click here to explore sponsorship levels.
Public Advocates in the News

Managing Attorney John Affeldt is featured in a CalMatters story on a record enrollment drop in public schools.....Managing Attorney Sam Tepperman-Gelfant discusses the COVID eviction protection deal in the San Francisco Chronicle, East Bay Times and Mercury News.....John Affeldt discusses the Governor's K12 and higher education budget in EdSource.....John Affeldt discusses the safe reopening of schools on KCBS, KPBS, the SF Chronicle (second article) and EdSource.....John Affeldt discusses the $4.6 billion for extended learning in EdSource.....Inside Higher Ed.....EdSource features our report on community college remediation reform.....the Long Beach Post mentions Public Advocates in a story about a digital forum being hosted by the school district
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