Right to housing.  There is no legal right to housing in the United States.  Many of us believe that there is a moral right.  However, the growing numbers of individuals and households that are homeless prove that the legal right would be more useful.  There are national and local groups working on this issue, yet the United States has not ratified the UN treaty, which includes the right to housing.  These groups are also working on strategies to influence the UN review of our country and on using UN or international law to positively impact housing conditions in the United States.

California was one of the first states to have laws prohibiting illegal housing discrimination and continues to be ahead of federal law by interpreting federal fair housing law more broadly (for example, our definition of person with a disability is broader than federal law and our guideline for occupancy standards is more generous.  The federal guideline is two people per bedroom and California’s is two per bedroom plus one).  We also have more so-called protected classes, or groups of people who are protected from being singled out and being treated differently.  This includes marital status (whether people living together are married or not), sexual orientation, source of income (though this does not protect person who have Section 8 housing subsidies), or ‘arbitrary reasons’.

Still, there is constant tension between tenant advocates and landlord interests.  California has a strong history of protecting tenants’ rights to fair treatment and a safe and habitable place to live.  Major issues in this area have included tenant’s rights in foreclosed rental properties, landlord obligations with bedbug infestations, mold (or water intrusion), preservation of affordable housing (due to the expiration of federal or state subsidies or tax credits), and treatment of immigrants.  There is a fairly new law that prohibits landlords or their representatives from asking about a renter or prospective renters immigration status.  However, abuse is widespread.  Abuse of immigrants in housing includes threats of calling ICE, substandard living conditions and violation of other legal protections such as providing a receipt for rent payments.

California has some greater protection for victims of predatory lending, but not much.  Widespread predatory lending practices were clearly targeted to communities of color who have also been disproportionately hit by the foreclosure crisis.  California has also attempted to address the rights of homeowners being foreclosed upon, encouraging to ‘stop and think’ and work with the homeowner to stay in their home.  This has not worked.  Neither have the efforts of the federal government.

The founders of CCRC recognized that advocates from different issue areas needed to come together to seek a just and healthy California for all. In the same manner that counties offer mutual aid to each other, civil rights-minded activists, lawyers, scholars, advocates, policy-makers, students and community members must also come to each other’s aid and/or defense. They imagined a California that integrates all people into the folds of society with equal access to opportunity and the pursuit of happiness.

Since then, CCRC has successfully blocked the confirmation of conservative judges such as Judge Robert Bork, and has also fought against the passage of racist and discriminatory ballot initiatives such as Prop 187 in 1994, Prop 209 in 1996 and Prop 8 in 2008. In addition, CCRC held a tribunal at Stanford to investigate the abuse of workers and other unfair labor practices at Webb Ranch. It has regularly facilitated the support of the coalition to our member’s efforts to seek progressive policy for our constituents.

Today, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, CCRC has over 50 organizational members statewide and supports our member’s issues anywhere from disability rights to housing access, from immigrants rights to economic justice. And though we haven’t made it to the promised land yet, we know we can get there if we stand together.

More pointedly, California Civil Codes Sections 54 through 55.2 and Title 24 California Code of Regulations clearly state that “individuals with disabilities or medical conditions have the same right as the general public to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, medical facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices, public facilities, and other public places.” And, similarly, people “with disabilities are entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to all housing accommodations offered for rent, lease, or compensation.”

But while the rights of the disable seem well enough protected, California’s budget crisis presents a new wave of challenges.

Same-sex couples still face serious challenges when seeking to adoption or foster parent, alternative insemination, assisted reproduction, child custody and visitation, and partnership protection; they are denied surviving partner rights and other healthcare issues like living wills, medical power of attorney, senior and assisted-living facilities, sex reassignment surgery, family planning, fertility treatment, a women’s right to choose, and HIV status all need to be addressed. Bi-national couples are still not recognized by immigration law, yet face persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status, which should be a recognized cause for seeking asylum. Our LGBTQ youth still suffer from school harassment and bullying.

Despite Califorinia’s May 2008 victory where the Supreme Court held same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry, in November 2008 California voters passed Proposition 8. This initiative amended the California Constitution to provide recognition of marriages held only between a woman and a man. Though challenges to Proposition 8 were not successful in State court, in August 2010 United States district court Judge Vaughn R. Walker overturned Prop. 8 in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. The case is now on appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Protection of and advocacy for marriage equality and relationship recognition, including civil unions and domestic partnerships, is an important aspect of the full integration of the LGBTQ community because it affects many of the issues listed above with regard to partner and family protections.

CCRC is fighting for all of the protections and more. Our members are engaged in litigation efforts on both the state and federal level as well as offer direct services and take part in advocacy and policy changes to ensure the LGBTQ community’s civil rights are secured and protected.

Prior to Proposition 209’s passage, California was a national leader with respect to inclusive hiring and admissions practices and was making notable progress towards leveling the playing field for women and people of color.  Unfortunately, in the years since 209’s passage this progress has been stymied, and in many cases reversed.  Our public schools and universities have quickly begun to re-segregate, and often do not remotely reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of our state.  Additionally, businesses owned by women and people of color continue to face barriers to full and equal participation in the marketplace, and many have gone out of business due to persistent discrimination and the lack of programs designed to counteract these barriers.  In short, Prop 209 has reversed many of the civil rights accomplishments in California by removing critical and necessary tools designed to ensure equal opportunity for all Californians.

In order to assure that women and people of color are able to compete fairly for jobs, contracts and educational opportunities, CCRC, in partnership with Equality Justice Society and other progressive allies, is exploring the viability of repealing Prop 209.  In the interim, we must continue fighting to preserve and where possible expand the limited equal opportunity programs that do exist in California.

Despite the progress made in recent decades, the experiences of women and communities of color across the state indicate that we are far from “post-racial” or that we have achieved full equality for all Californians.

At CCRC, we believe we are all in this together. We have all been affected by California’s budget crisis whether by our children’s elementary school which can no longer take field trips or libraries closing down or huge potholes endangering the roads or public offices limiting their hours.

California is in a budget crisis and has been for years. But this year, the deficit is almost at 20 billion dollars! State employees have been furloughed every other Friday since February of 2010 with a short break while the policy was challenged in the courts. In July, Oakland laid off 80 police officers. More than 23,000 teachers received pink slips this year.  The UC Board of Regents increased UC tuition by 32% in fall of 2009. The safety net is feeling less and less safe and yet there are still those who claim we need to make more cuts.  This cutting and cutting is what took California from being the Golden State to state of crisis it’s in now. And now is the moment to address the root causes of budget crisis so that we can again reign as the most innovative and progressive state in the union that sets trends to be followed by others.

Root Causes of California budget crisis

California is the only state in the United States that has two super-majority rules. We require a 2/3 vote in the legislature to pass a budget and a 2/3 vote to raise revenues both at the state and local level. These two rules together have wreaked havoc in California for too long and it’s time we, as progressive Californians, change it.

Further, Proposition 13, passed in 1978, created vast property tax loopholes for California’s largest corporate property owners which dramatically reduced California’s revenue. Corporations who have not sold or built up their property since 1978 are essentially paying taxes on their property as if we are still in the year 1975. This HUGE tax loophole is costing the state billions of dollars a year.

What CCRC is doing

The coalition recognizes that California’s budget crisis has a highly negative impact on  our constituencies and the civil rights community in California. People of color, the working class, students, poor people, immigrants, children and the elderly have been most affected by lack of services and benefits and an increase in fees. Thus, we believe solving California’s budget crisis will directly positively affect our communities.

CCRC will collaborate with the Close the Loophole campaign to ensure corporate owners of property pay their fair share of taxes. We seek to close the corporate loophole by passing a ballot initiative requiring corporations to pay current market rate property taxes as most homeowners in California already do.

http://www.closetheloophole.com

CCRC has joined Building Movement, CPENH and CompassPoint to reach 10,000 non-profit employees with a workshop called “Show Me the Money” to help educate Californians about the budget and taxes. We do this in the hopes of creating more discussions about the budget and taxes so that Californians will more comprehensively informed before making policy decisions that affect them and their communities.

CCRC is hoping to create a space to centralize information about the budget and budget process reform. There are numerous organizations doing great work around the budget and its effects on civil rights. We hope that by putting all of that information together, more organizations can collaborate across strategies.

CCRC also supports the passage of Proposition 25 on the November 2010 ballot. Prop 25 will reduce from a super majority (2/3) to a simple majority vote to pass a budget in California. The 2/3 super majority vote to raise revenues will remain untouched.

http://www.endbudgetgridlock.com

PRINT this guide and take it with you to the polls!

March 4 Strike and Day of Action To Defend Public Education

On October 24, 2009 more than 800 students, workers, and teachers converged at UC Berkeley at the Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education. This massive meeting brought together representatives from over 100 different schools, unions, and organizations from all across California and from all sectors of public education – Pre K-12, Adult Education, CC, CSU and UC – to “decide on a statewide action plan capable of winning this struggle, which will define the future of public education in this state, particularly for the working class and communities of color.” After hours of open collective discussion, the conference democratically voted, as its principal decision, to call for a statewide Strike and Day of Action on March 4, 2010. The conference decided that all schools, unions and organizations are free to choose their specific demands and tactics – such as strikes, walkouts, march to Sacramento, rallies, occupations, sit-ins, teach-ins, etc. – for March 4, as well as the duration of such actions.

We refuse to let those in power continue to pit us against each other. If we unite, we have the power to shut down business-as-usual and to force those in power to grant our demands. Building a powerful movement to defend public education will, in turn, advance the struggle in defense of all public-sector workers and services. We call on all students, workers, teachers, parents, and their organizations across the state to endorse this call and massively mobilize and organize for the Strike and Day of Action on March 4. Let’s make this an historic turning point in the struggle against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes, and educational segregation in California. -The California Coordinating Committee

Los Angeles Regional Rally • 3 pm Rally @ Pershing Square (5th & Hill) in downtown L.A. • 4 pm March from Pershing Square to the Governor’s office • 5 pm Rally @ Governor’s office (300 Spring St.)

East Bay/Oakland Regional Rally • 12 pm-4 pm Rally @ Frank Ogawa Plaza (in front of Oakland City Hall, 14th & Broadway) • March to the Ogawa Plaza Rally from: -UC Berkeley: 12 pm Rally @ Bancroft & Telegraph, followed by March -Laney College: 11 am Rally, followed by March -Fruitvale BART: Assemble @ 11 am, March @ 11:30 am •

San Francisco Regional Rally • 1:30 Rally @ San Francisco Civic Center • 5 pm Rally @ San Francisco Civic Center -San Francisco preK-12 educators & families • 3 pm SF preK-12 educators & families and City College of San Francisco – Mission Campus march from 24th St. & Mission to Civic Center • 3:30 pm SF preK-12 educators & families from northeast area schools meet at Van Ness & Broadway • 3:45 pm March from Van Ness & Broadway to the State Building at Van Ness and McAllister • 4:00 pm Rally with UESF at the State Building (505 Van Ness), march to Civic Center -San Francisco Latino Students & Community • 3 pm SF Latino Student & Community Rally @ 24th St. & Mission, then March to 16th St. for Rally, followed by March form 16th St. & Mission to Civic Center

Sacramento/State Capitol Rally • 11 am-1 pm Rally @ State Capitol (North Steps of Capitol) San Diego Regional Rally • 3 pm Rally @ Balboa Park, followed by March to governor’s office • 4 pm Rally @ Governor’s office (downtown)

San Fernando Valley Regional Rally • 3:45 pm gathering @ CSU Northridge Sierra Quad • 4:15 pm March • 5 pm Hands around CSUN • 5:30 pm Rally @ CSU Northridge Sierra Quad Stockton Regional March • 4:30 pm-6:00 pm Funeral Procession North on Pershing Ave., from Harding Way to San Joaquin Delta Community College campus

For more info on events in your area, check out http://defendcapubliceducation.wordpress.com/ or http://www.calfac.org/march4.html or

In 2008, California voters passed Proposition 11, creating California’s first-ever citizens redistricting commission. The 14-member commission is responsible for drawing the state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts. The legislative lines drawn by the commission will determine political representation in California for the next decade.

Online applications are due on February 12, 2010. Please join us to discuss the role of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission and how to apply to serve on it. Learn more at WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov or RedistrictingCA.org.

See details for forums in San Francisco and Sacramento below:

SAN FRANCISCO
Monday, January 25, 2010
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Bingham McCutchen LLP
3 Embarcadero Center Promenade, 28th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
On Facebook

Panelists include:
Thomas A. Saenz, President & General Counsel, MALDEF
Janis Hirohama, President, League of Women Voters of California
Nancy Ramirez, Western Regional Counsel, MALDEF
Sharon Reilly, Chief Legal Counsel, California Bureau of State Audits
Eva Paterson, President, Equal Justice Society (Moderator)

SACRAMENTO
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Auditorium
1500 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
On Facebook

Panelists include:
Thomas A. Saenz, President & General Counsel, MALDEF
Elaine Howle, California State Auditor
Nancy Ramirez, Western Regional Counsel, MALDEF
Trudy Schafer, Senior Program Director, League of Women Voters of CA
Samuel E. Walton, Redistricting Consultant, California NAACP (Moderator)

For more information, please contact Nancy Ramirez
at 213-629-2512 x121 or at nramirez@maldef.org.

Space is limited. Please confirm your attendance for these events to Martin Muñoz at 213-629-2512 x143 or at mmunoz@maldef.org by Friday, January 22, 2010.

• The CaCCR Steering Committee and others have been working hard to take CaCCR to the next level. In particular, we wish to acknowledge Jamie Studley, Malcolm Yeung, Ellen Buchman, Tom Layton and Tim Silard for their support.
• The CaCCR Steering Committee has elected new Co-Chairs! Amy Everitt, State Director of NARAL Pro-Choice California (http://bit.ly/6tFbMU), will serve one year, and Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF (http://bit.ly/6zJzrd), will serve two.
• Expansion of Steering Committee and CaCCR Membership: The Steering Committee will soon be expanded to 15 members. A committee has been tasked with recruitment and is looking to increase in size by five members. CaCCR is also looking to expand its general membership particularly in other geographic areas of the state such as the Central Valley, San Diego/Imperial County, Inland Empire and the Sacramento, North Coast and Los Angeles areas.
• Equal Justice Society as Project Manager: EJS has been contracted as project manager to help build the capacity of CaCCR. This contract was made possible by the Rosenberg Foundation, Public Interest Projects, Gerbode Foundation and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. CaCCR has contracted Mike Allison to facilitate discussions on governance and building infrastructure.
• CaCCR Project Coordinator: EJS has hired Claudia Peña to serve as a full-time CaCCR Project Coordinator.
• CaCCR Letter to UC President Mark Yudoff: CaCCR sent a letter to UC Regents and President Mark Yudoff criticizing the new freshman admission policy. Research conducted by the UC itself showed the policy would very likely have a negative impact on the admission of students of color yet the latest summary from UCOP attempted to diminish this fact. Working in collaboration with Henry Der and Vincent Pan, the letter was sent to Yudoff and copied to the ethnic legislative caucuses with 41 signatories!
• Next Full CaCCR Membership Meeting: To be announced, but coming soon.