Dear Friends,
The general election is less than two weeks away, on Tuesday, November 5th. This is a vital election on which our democracy hinges; everyone will be impacted — and the rights of women, the LGBTQIA+ community, immigrants, BIPOC communities, and other marginalized groups are particularly on the line. It's also a time to vote for the local and state issues you support, that can have a direct impact on you and fellow Angelenos. You can vote by mail if you haven’t already, or even register to vote at your polling place up until the day of the election. Please see a trusted voter’s guide for detailed information on the issues and candidates, mail in your ballot, or find your polling place and get out and vote!
Our October #ArtForJustice month is highlighting some key issues Bet Tzedek supports (and ones that could be impacted by the election) through powerful works of art. The first piece we featured (also below) is by Shepard Fairey, an American contemporary artist and activist. He is one of this generation's most well-known and influential street artists, having gained international recognition with his "HOPE" poster for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Gearing up for this election season, he launched #ArtistsForDemocracy, a collective of artists from across the country who are using their art to inspire voter participation.
Follow along on our social media pages, found at the bottom of this news digest, to join the conversation. And — we can’t emphasize it enough — get out and vote for democracy!
| |
Advancing Voter Accessibility for Adults Living with Disabilities
| |
Kim Selfon, Bet Tzedek’s IHSS & Medi-Cal Policy Specialist, provided input to the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of our clients and Bet Tzedek on a lawsuit alleging that Los Angeles County violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying voters with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in its voting programs, services, and activities by failing to use accessible polling places.
Kim's input helped the DOJ reach a settlement with the County, pursuant to which the County will be required to work with an independent accessibility expert for three years to ensure that polling locations are accessible or can be made accessible through temporary measures during voting periods. The expert will also provide semiannual reports to both the County and the Justice Department.
Thank you, Kim, for your excellent work! This resolution is a significant achievement and demonstrates our commitment to advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
| |
The Matian Firm’s $200K Donation to Impact Legal Services for L.A. Immigrant Communities!
| |
|  |
Shawn Matian (left), Bet Tzedek President & CEO Diego Cartagena (right)
| |
| | |
Late last month, The Matian Firm established "The Matian Firm, APC Immigrant Support Fund at Bet Tzedek" with a generous $200,000 gift to support Bet Tzedek’s work protecting the legal rights of low-income immigrant Angelenos. The donation was made to celebrate Bet Tzedek’s 50th anniversary, and helped kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran from September 15th to October 15th.
The Matian Firm’s financial support will help Bet Tzedek address legal concerns for thousands of immigrant clients and families so that these Angelenos can thrive. Bet Tzedek also looks forward to working with the legal team at The Matian Firm as pro bono partners in this effort.
Across our practice areas, we are able to help undocumented individuals and families with workplace complaints, housing challenges, benefits claims, and other challenges they face. Additionally, our work providing immigration legal services to unaccompanied children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status ("SIJS") allows us to deploy our decades of experience with Probate Guardianship proceedings to help abused, neglected, and abandoned undocumented children who can neither reunify with their parents nor return to their home countries.
Shawn Matian, the Founder and President of The Matian Firm, has grown the firm into a nationwide presence with over 1,000 employees and 125 associate attorneys. The son of Iranian immigrants, Matian is a passionate supporter of immigrants’ rights and bettering the lives of immigrants through the justice system. His firm offers services in various areas, including immigration law.
| |
VICTORY! The Passage of SB 1103 will Increase Protections for our Beloved Small Businesses
| |
Governor Newsom signed the first-in-the-nation Commercial Tenant Protection Act, SB 1103, into law late last month to protect small businesses and nonprofits from displacement and to help build a more inclusive economy here in California! The bill will provide language justice through translated leases, added transparency to prevent hidden fees, include standards for charges related to building operation costs, and provide longer notice periods for rent increases or termination of tenancies.
Thank you to Senator Caroline Menjivar for your incredible leadership in authoring this bill. We are also so proud of our coalition of sponsors for the bill, which include Bet Tzedek, CAMEO Network, Inclusive Action for the City, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, Public Counsel, and Small Business Majority.
"We are excited to see SB 1103 moving forward! As attorneys, we can only work with the resources provided by the law. Up until now, when the law is not on our side, unfortunately, we cannot help small business owners [with certain issues]," says Nadia Segura, Director of the Small Business Development Project at Bet Tzedek. "This bill gives small business owners the possibility to have a solid start, with leases in their languages and transparency on what they are agreeing to pay. At Bet Tzedek, we fight for equitable access to justice for all, and this is a step in the right direction."
| |
Empowering Aging Adults: Bet Tzedek Helps Lisa Take Control
| |
When 91-year-old Lisa* connected with Bet Tzedek’s Leaving a Legacy Program, she had no planning documents in place. Now widowed and battling a worsening health condition, Lisa was clear on wanting support to handle her own affairs. In her words, Lisa wanted to appoint her “baby daughter” as her agent to assist her in navigating personal and health matters.
Bet Tzedek attorneys helped Lisa with a Financial Power of Attorney and an Advance Health Care Directive, making both documents effective immediately so Lisa could receive the support she requires. The team further reviewed Lisa’s economic security and identified she was struggling with a significant Supplemental Security Income (SSI) overpayment issue that was reducing her limited income to under $500 a month. Our team internally referred Lisa to a Bet Tzedek advocate who specializes in SSI matters, who in turn is now working to obtain a waiver of the overpayment to ensure that Lisa has the resources she needs.
Thanks to the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs' support of the Leaving a Legacy Program, our team is continuing to empower older adults who have lacked access to critical estate planning tools!
*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality
| |
Event Alert: Access to Justice Training on Post-Conservatorship Hearing Opportunities
| |
November 1, from 12-1 p.m., via Zoom
Please join Bet Tzedek for a one-hour, virtual lunchtime training to learn more about our Post-Hearing Clinics and opportunities for pro bono involvement! Through this compelling work, and with just a two-hour commitment of your time at monthly clinics, you can assist a pro per litigant with the necessary paperwork to fulfill post-hearing/post-appointment obligations. The probate conservatorship process is a long, document-intensive process, which can feel overwhelming and confusing to the individuals and families we serve.
Pro per litigants often believe the last step in this process is going to the hearing for a judge to appointment them when, in fact, appointment creates additional paperwork necessary to effectuate their appointment. With just a two-hour investment, you can be guided by a Bet Tzedek team member to help a litigant fulfill their obligations, helping create meaningful, tangible change for individuals and their loved ones.
Our kickoff training on November 1st will provide an overview of this work, the issues, and more details on how to participate at upcoming limited-scope clinics launching later that month.
| |
Join the Bet Tzedek Team!
Have a passion for helping underserved residents in the community? Want to work alongside dedicated staff and volunteers who help up to 100,000 people per year?
Here are some critical positions we need to fill, plus more (see button below):
| |
Have anything you'd like us to add to future newsletters? Respond to this email.
| |
|
|
|
|
