Friends,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy as we move into the final days of summer. The state legislature is working diligently to provide Californians with programs and services to help our state roar back from COVID-19.
In order to stay the course and improve our business and social climate, Californians who have yet to get vaccinated should schedule time to get a vaccine shot to protect themselves and others. The quicker we reach herd immunity the sooner we can gather under more normal conditions. Masks still remain a highly effective means to protect from contracting the virus so please continue to mask up when in public.
On August 12, I convened a delegation of federal, state, and local elected Black leaders to urge Black and Brown communities to get vaccinated. This call-to-action was to report on rise in the rate of infection in Los Angeles County caused by the Delta Variant and the impact on hospitals and medical personnel to treat those with serious conditions.
If you, or someone you know, has not been vaccinated, please visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/ to learn the truth about the vaccines and location sites, your potential eligibility for sick leave, and how your immigration status is not a factor in receiving a free vaccination.
Additionally, my office will begin a series of outreach efforts aimed at bringing development and additional public services directly to the residents of AD59.
As always, I invite you to visit my website for more news and information on my work and the district I serve.
Wishing you the best,
Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Representative, 59th Assembly District
Chair, Public Safety Committee
Around the District
As school begins and students return to learning mode, parents should consider a visit to the 59th Assembly District and the wonderful natural environments available to students to learn about nature, study and enjoy the (free) outdoors. In addition, the 59th Assembly District is home to several world-class museums including the California Science Center and the California African American Museum, which offers free admission.
For those interested in concerts and sporting events, AD59 is also home to the Los Angeles Coliseum and the Los Angele Football Club's Soccer Stadium - all within walking distance from each other. Come out and enjoy what AD59 has to offer.
For more details and things to do in my district, please visit https://a59.asmdc.org/around-59th-assembly-district
EDD - What You Need to Know
Federal unemployment benefit programs under the CARES Act end on September 4, 2021. If you have a claim that has yet to be processed, or have questions about EDD filings, please contact my office at (213) 744-2111.
For more details, visit https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/cares-act.htm
Back-to-School
I was proud to host the 23rd Annual Mothers in Action Back to School Resource Fair on August 7.
Over 1,500 underserved children in the South Los Angeles area received backpacks loaded with school and PPE supplies.
AD59 is home to 170 Los Angeles Unified School District schools. If your child attends a school in AD59, and you want information on COVID-19 precautions taking place to protect students, teachers, and staff, please visit https://achieve.lausd.net/covidresources for details.
Small Business
I will co-host a new round of webinars to help small business operators navigate and apply for the California Relief Grant Program. Learn about the application process, eligibility requirements, and use of funds for grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Dates for the events are below. To register, please visit http://bit.ly/CAReliefGrantWebinarApril24
August 30 at 1 p.m. (Spanish)
September 9 at 5 p.m. (English)
September 13 at 9 a.m. (English)
Non-profits
The Governor's Office has announced new rounds of funding to support non-profits affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Eligible applicants can apply for grants of $5,000 - $25,000 by visiting: https://careliefgrant.com/
Round 8 (non-profit cultural institutions only): Friday, August 27 through Wednesday, September 8.
Rental Assistance Program
The State of California and the City of Los Angeles have partnered to allow Los Angeles City residents to tap into the $5.2 billion in emergency rental relief funds the State has received from the Federal government, ensuring that all renters and landlords who are eligible for the relief will receive it. Under the new framework, the State will be responsible for processing applications and distributing relief funds for Angelenos.
The City and the State will partner to conduct extensive outreach and education on the application opportunities for Angelenos, as well as outreach to individuals who have submitted applications but have not received assistance. Outreach will be conducted in conjunction with community-based organizations that will help address language barriers and reach residents who may have limited access to technology.
City of Los Angeles renters and landlords will be able to apply for assistance through the State program starting at 7am on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 via HousingIsKey.com. Residents can also call the appointment call center at 833-687-0967 if they need help filling out an application. Renters who have already applied to the City's program will be provided with detailed instructions on next steps. More information is available at hcidla.lacity.org.
Legislative Updates
Earlier in the year, my bill AB 331 was signed into law by Governor Newsom and helps fund the California Highway Patrol's property crimes taskforce enabling them to track and recover merchandise stolen by organized retail theft rings in our state. https://a59.asmdc.org/videos
My bill, AB 89, to create a statewide curriculum for college students interested in serving as peace officers, and updating the requirements for new police recruits across all law enforcement departments, known as the P.E.A.C.E. Act has strong support and is moving closer to becoming law. The bill moves the active duty age from 18 to 21 and the attainment of a higher education degree based on curriculum developed by law enforcement, higher learning institutions and community organizations.
For more on my legislative agenda, please visit https://a59.asmdc.org/2021-22-legislative-package
