Gomez convenes national summit on housing affordability crisis
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Downtown LA, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock) this week hosted the first-ever National Summit on the Housing Affordability Crisis on Capitol Hill, bringing together lawmakers, advocates, labor, industry, and community leaders to confront America’s growing housing emergency.
Throughout the summit, lawmakers and experts tackled the crisis from every angle, from boosting the supply of affordable homes to protecting renters, preventing evictions, and addressing homelessness head-on.
As part of that effort, Gomez also highlighted his Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act (RDMA), bipartisan legislation that would convert vacant office buildings into housing that is affordable through a new federal tax credit.
The bill would require at least 20% of new units to remain affordable for working families for at least 30 years, helping communities like Los Angeles expand housing supply while revitalizing struggling commercial corridors.
The day-long summit also featured House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and leading voices from across the Democratic Caucus, united in the call for a bold action on housing.
“This isn’t just a housing crisis. It’s a crisis of confidence in the American system itself. When families working full time are still forced to choose between rent, food, or health care, they begin to question if their leaders, institutions, and government truly fight for them,” said Gomez.
“America needs a housing boom: one that prioritizes affordability, fairness, and accessibility,” the Federal lawmaker added.
Kamlager-Dove, Chu huddles with state electeds on community college issues
U.S. Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) and Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Pasadena) today will convene a roundtable discussion to discuss challenges and explore solutions to improve access, affordability, and career pathways for community college students.
Also included in the roundtable are State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Altadena, Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, Upland), Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Temple City), and Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) leadership
The roundtable comes as students across the Los Angeles Community College District have long struggled with affordability issues, including housing insecurity, rising costs of non-tuition basic needs, and access to reliable technology.
These challenges are now compounded by recently passed federal funding cuts to the education and safety net programs that students depend on. This roundtable discussion will examine how these cuts contribute to ongoing challenges in higher education and explore solutions to tackle them.
The event is slated for 9-10:30 am today, Friday, September 5, at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College’s Culinary Arts Building, 400 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles.
Soto Files Lawsuit Against Online Gambling Enterprise, Stake.us
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced yesterday that her office has filed a lawsuit against the owners, operators and aiders and abettors of Stake.us, one of the largest and most profitable illegal gambling enterprises in California. The lawsuit alleges that the entity is unlicensed and is operating in violation of State law.
Although promoted as a “safe and free gaming experience,” or as a “social casino” that does not permit “real money gambling,” Stake.us operates like a traditional casino, offering more than 1,900 games, including slots, table games, and live dealer games that provide prizes that can be redeemed for cryptocurrency or digital gift cards. These activities are in violation of California’s strict anti-gambling laws.
Filed for violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”) and the False Advertising Law (“FAL”), Feldstein Soto’s lawsuit seeks to stop Stake.us and its accomplices from using their illegal gambling scheme to prey on Californians. The suit also aims to recover funds lost by Californians since Stake.us started offering online gambling to California residents, and to impose civil penalties to deter future misconduct.
In 2024, Stake earned approximately $4.7 billion in gross revenue – a large portion coming from the United States, including from California.
“Under the moniker of ‘America’s Social Casino,’ and despite claims that it is just a game, Stake.us is a rogue and real money gambling racket with destructive repercussions for its players,” said Soto. “We are holding Stake.us and its accomplices accountable for violating the law, targeting California for these illegal activities and facilitating addictive gambling behaviors.”
Pérez’s SAFE Act heads to Newsom’s desk
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Altadena, Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, Upland) saw her SAFE Act legislation (SB 98) pass both the State Assembly and Senate this week. It now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his consideration and signature.
The Sending Alerts to Families in Education (SAFE) Act requires K-12 schools and higher education institutions to issue alerts if immigration enforcement authorities are present on campus, similar to early warning systems in place for other campus emergencies.
“With students returning to school, this legislation is more important than ever,” said Pérez, Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “The SAFE Act will inform and protect immigrant students and their families on school campuses. In the face of mass deportations, raids and immigration enforcement authorities showing up at schools, the SAFE Act can help inform and empower school communities to make the best decisions about their safety and their family’s safety.”
“I urge Governor Newsom to sign the SAFE Act. Students and their families have been living in fear. California must ensure our schools and colleges remain places where students can learn, teachers can teach, and classrooms can be safe places for young Californians,” Pérez added.
The legislation includes an urgency clause, which means it would take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature instead of the normal enactment date of January 1.
