Home is Sacred Day of Action

by | Apr 29, 2023 | News

On Thursday, April 20, Faith in Action East Bay leaders and staff gathered with 650 PICO California faith leaders from across the state to tell our elected officials that Home Is Sacred and to keep families housed by passing SB 567, SB 4, SB 225, AB 1418, and ACA 10.

The Faith in Action East Bay contingent had four meetings to convince legislators of the importance of this bill:

~ Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, District 14

~ Josh Wright, Legislative Aide to Nancy Skinner

~ Alicia Lawrence, Communications Director for Senator Aisha Wahab

~ Max Mikalonis, Legislative Director for Assemblymember Mia Banta, District 18

“I was very excited and very proud of the leaders the way they turned out,” said organizer Payton Silket. “This was the first time for many of them of going to the capital with FIAEB and they got to experience their power: sitting down and having the crucial conversations helped them break that silo that exists between us and our politicians. It was powerful in Senator Nancy Skinner’s office: We were literally in the hall knocking on the door. Ruth Hernandez led the action right there with Silvia Guzman translating. Nothing was going to stop us: not language, not access, not the security up front.”

We heard some powerful testimony, uplifting the stories of those personally facing housing troubles. All in all, it was a day of faith and solidarity to show our legislators that the power is with the people. This is only the start of the fight to ensure that all Californians have a fair, safe, equitable place to live.

Organizer Alba Hernandez on the bus.
On the way to Sacto!
Organizer Chris Moreno and Board Co-Chair Pastor Jim Hopkins
Meeting with Max Mikalonis
Meeting with Alicia Lawrence
Pastor Todd Benson, Pastor Jim Hopkins, Rev. Rob Newells-Newton, and Cherie Woods
Bus captain Florence Davis
Rev. Jeremy at a meeting with Legislative Director Max Mikalonis.
Organizer Joselin Barajas
Rev. Rod Lemery and Organizer Payton Silket
Board Member and translator Silvia Guzman
At Senator Nancy Skinner’s Office
Organizer Valeria Ochoa
Board Co-Chair Pastor Michael Wallace
Director of Clergy Organizing Rev. Rob Newells-Newton leading the closing songs.

UPDATE: SB 567 went to a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday April, 25, where PICO network and FIAEB leaders were also present. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary committee with a 9-2 vote. However, an amendment removed one of the key provisions that would have capped annual rent increases at 5%. While it disappointing to see this change, we will not be discouraged by the challenges we face in our pursuit of equity and justice.compromise on rent caps.

You can still stand in power with us by contacting your legislators today and telling them to support Home is Sacred.