In a surprising ruling, the Supreme Court has just prevented the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census — at least, for now. In January, a New York Judge ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the census violated US law by being “arbitrary and capricious,” since the Trump administration’s stated reasoning for adding the question (to help enforce the Voting Rights Act) was shown at trial to be an after-the-fact rationalization. The decision is surprising because the court’s conservative majority was expected to side with the administration and allow the citizenship question to move forward. But it’s not clear what this does to the timing of the 2020 census — whose forms were supposed to be finalized by Monday.
Civic Engagement
KRC organizes a group of 60 Korean American seniors (previously known as Community Health Promoters) who meet monthly to learn about health, community issues, and to take action and bring change to the community. Join us at our next meeting on June 28, 2019.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education began discussions Tuesday morning to increase district revenue via a possible parcel tax, one month after the district reached an expensive contract agreement with striking public school teachers. Hoping to harness popular support for public schools in the strike’s aftermath, district policy professionals proposed that the school board submit a parcel tax measure for local special election ballots as early as June 4th or Nov. 5th of this year.
KRC supports Assembly Bill (AB) 3179, which will require state agencies, bureaus, boards, and commissions to increase bilingual services and language access by modifying the definition of “substantial number of non-English speaking people” from 5% to 3% or more of the people served by the statewide or local office or facility of a state agency.
KRC is hiring a Los Angeles Organizing Director, who will coordinate, supervise and support staff who are organizing youth, immigrant parents, and Community Health Promoter members. Through community organizing, KRC members will 1) become a member of KRC, 2) build trust and relationship with the organization, 3) learn about issues, organizing history and leadership development, and 4) be empowered to participate and lead in campaigns.
At a heated meeting at City Hall, Los Angeles lawmakers pressed forward Friday with a plan to set up emergency shelters for homeless people across the city, voting unanimously to start assessing possible sites in Koreatown, Venice, Hollywood, Harvard Heights and the Westside.
Our May 31st Community Forum and Discussion is an opportunity to collectively learn about specific issues on this year’s ballot and to build clarity around key propositions impacting ours and surrounding communities so that we can make more informed voting choices. While presidential races are usually the most visible aspect of the U.S. election system, statewide and local ballot measures during midterm and general elections will have the most direct and immediate impact on our local communities. This will be our focus for the evening; however, we hope to build this conversation into the movement for social justice beyond the election cycle.
A copy of the application will be sent to your email.
*Please remember ask two people to fill our your recommendation form.
Leaders of the New School (LNS) gathers college-age youth across Orange County and focuses on developing them into effective leaders. LNS is a six month paid internship program that connects young students to various community organizations and civic engagement coordinators in order to develop and expand their understanding and skills in navigating local political spaces. The summer portion is an intensive eight week program which focuses on developing skills that will be utilized in the fall. APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED: APPLY HERE by Tuesday, May 21st, 2019.