November 27, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León, Senator María Elena Durazo, U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez, and Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo:

Due to your inaction and inadequate responses to our initial request there are now dozens of people who have been traumatized in a variety of ways: violently arrested, injured, and witness to family members being threatened and harmed. As there was no meaningful intervention or long term solutions offered by Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León, Senator María Elena Durazo, U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez, and Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, we are demanding:

• Caltrans allow everyone back in the houses that were being reclaimed.
• Caltrans and the State of California drop all charges, and return all possessions, including what was for many people, the only money that they had.
• These homes be sold to the El Sereno Community Land Trust at their original price in line with the Roberti Bill.
• Governor Gavin Newsom issue an apology for his tacit complicity which caused violence to be inflicted on families and a community to be traumatized.

We will not stop until our demands have been met.

We, people of color, are certainly facing  “The Darkest Winter” not only because COVID-19 is again spiking, but because for us, the economic crisis has worsened and the tsunami of evictions is dwarfing the already miniscule number of available affordable housing statewide.  As you said, we are safer if we have the ability to self-quarantine and safely isolate in a home.  

To reiterate; over the last 30 years, Caltrans has preferred to follow an unwritten policy of depopulating the corridor using various means such as harassment, intimidation, no-cause evictions, neglect and rent raises at the rate of 10% every six months to evict tenants.  Caltrans, under your authority, would rather have good houses rot than to rent or sell them to low-income families. The result of house-hoarding is that there are still over 170 out of 600 original rentals that are empty on the 710 Corridor.  Caltrans has been part of gentrifying our communities and creating the housing crisis that we now find ourselves in.  Even after the first reclaiming, Caltrans has left many good houses empty, despite efforts by United Caltrans Tenants to purchase and utilize these homes.

We, Reclaimers, agree with your policy and directives, and echo your orders that all unused and empty State, County, City and School District buildings and properties be immediately used and repurposed to house the thousands of families and individuals on the verge of eviction and facing housing instability. It appears your actions and inactions are increasingly hypocritical and even conflicting with your stated policies

The Reclaimers and their vast support networks are ready to help rebuild these homes and this community. We have the resources with the aid of the El Sereno Land Trust and our growing support nationwide to restore these homes, thus improving the overall community and the livelihoods of dozens of at-risk families.

In solidarity,

Reclaimers, of Reclaim and Rebuild Our Community

Contact: Iris Lawriterunderground@gmail.com (323) 915-9791

Support this effort via GoFundMe

Twitter: @rroc_la | Instagram @reclaimandrebuildourcommunity 

See press release from Nov 26 here, and press release from Nov 25 here.

Our initial letter to Governor Gavin Newsom here.

“Housing is a Human Right”—El Techo es Un Derecho

All Vacant Public Properties for Affordable Housing