Unemployment, Financial Shortfalls Plague State

We have now entered the sixth month of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has hugely impacted our society and lives; it also altered our work in the legislature. COVID-19 disrupted the halls of Sacramento when several of my colleagues contracted the illness. In response, the Capitol was shut down for weeks to protect the health of staff and the public. Since returning, we have been working at a breakneck pace to continue to fulfill our duties to the people of our state. We have a lot on our plate, and it is essential we do everything we can to ensure this important work is completed.

The legislature is struggling to address issues with unemployment, help our small businesses, secure resources and protective equipment for first responders and essential workers, and provide our schools and students with the tools they need. State revenues are declining leaving us to hope that the federal government acts by releasing sorely needed stimulus money. Federal funding or internal revenue generation might be our best chance to stave off devastating budget cuts. But we are now waiting for the federal government. We are exploring each and every idea that might help California.

Among my most pressing concerns as a legislator is the looming rent and mortgage crises. On top of record unemployment in the state, a major increase in our population of unhoused residents would be a crippling blow to our economy and a humanitarian disaster. Over 100,000 Californians are already living on our streets. Countless more are only one missed paycheck or unemployment check away from falling into homelessness. The housing crisis started long before COVID-19 and the pandemic has greatly accelerated its impacts.

Every single day I hear from my constituents about their struggles to pay their rent or mortgage and, as eviction moratoriums come to an end, I believe the legislature needs to take swift, bold and decisive action to keep Californians in their homes. Earlier this month, I joined a group of my colleagues to introduce AB 1436, legislation that will allow small landlords, homeowners and tenants in financial distress due to the pandemic to temporarily defer their rent or mortgage payments until the worst of our public health and economic crisis is over. This is an unprecedented measure, but one that I will be fighting for in Sacramento so that my constituents can go to sleep at night knowing they won’t lose their homes due to a crisis that is outside their control. In addition to this measure, I will continue to work on essential housing production legislation to add new units while also providing economic stimulus in the form of community investments and jobs.

The clock is ticking. We have a constitutional deadline to pass legislation by midnight on Aug. 31. While the 2019-20 session will officially end, our work must not. From my perspective, it would be unacceptable for the legislature to adjourn until January and for legislators to return to their districts if critical housing security measures and other COVID-19-related issues have not been resolved. I believe it is crucial that we make sure it is the legislature, not solely the executive branch, that is putting forward solutions to the many challenges we are facing. As legislators, we represent a diversity of districts – collections of communities with unique needs and challenges. While we need to act fast, we must be certain that those actions are effective and beneficial to all the people we were elected to serve. Whether through legislative oversight hearings or a special session called by Governor Newsom, it is imperative that we move forward with our efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 in California and our recovery.

In the meantime, we are continuing to work to connect our constituents with the services they need. Whether it’s helping someone break through the backlog at the Employment Development Department to access their benefits or assisting a small business with navigating the regulations to reopen safely, my office is open and I am happy to help. This is a big job with a lot of responsibility and I am grateful every day to have the opportunity to serve my district.

While we continue this work, I’d love to know what you think about my proposal to save homeowners and renters from the impacts of this crisis. What do you think of my suggestion that the governor prepare to call a special session? As always, if you or someone you know requires help or if you have an idea or question, please reach out to me with any comments, questions or concerns through my District Office at (818) 558-3043 or Assemblymember.Friedman@Assembly.ca.gov.

  laura friedman