By The Attach Our Companies and products Coalition
The rent went up. Food costs more every month. Gas, child care and utilities stretch already tight paychecks. Families in our communities work longer hours and are still left behind, if they are lucky enough to remain employed.
That’s why the city budget matters so much right now. Mayor Bass’s proposed budget avoids major cuts to the services our community depends on, and that is an important step in the right direction. But while avoiding budget cuts may seem like progress, Latino families have long lived without the level of services and investment they deserve. The parks need repairs. Streets go too long without maintenance. Programs for youth and working families never meet demand. Our communities have been asked to make do with what is for too long.
Stabilizing the budget only sets a starting point that is already too low for many Latino families. And with federal cuts to safety net programs adding even more pressure, the gap between what our communities need and what they receive is only widening.
It’s time to reinvest. That means the City Council must act on real solutions that bring new revenue to Los Angeles without placing additional burdens on working families, because without new revenue, the only alternative is to continue underinvesting in communities that have already been asked to do the most with the least resources.
The Vacation Condo Earnings Idea offers a key pathway for Angelenos and the services they depend on. By capturing tourism revenue through a limited expansion of short-term rentals, the city can generate up to $110 million each year, all without raising taxes on residents.
At a time when leaders say there is not enough funding for community programs, neighborhood services and small business support, turning down that level of revenue would be a disservice to Angelenos and our future. It would mean being forced to accept more cuts, more delays and more disinvestment in the services our families need most.
New revenue means restoring funding for community organizations that families depend on every day. They mean cleaner streets, safer sidewalks, and long-overdue neighborhood investment. They could also help small businesses stay afloat and grow, especially as Los Angeles prepares to host the World Cup, the Enormous Bowl and the Olympic Games.
Those events will bring billions of dollars to the city. Latino communities should benefit from this economic benefit, not be left out. For many families, being able to rent a home during these times could mean a few thousand dollars in additional income. That’s not extra income, it’s a lifesaver.
The reality is simple: stabilization is not restoration. A balanced budget will not completely rebuild what has been lost nor will it close the investment gaps that we have been dragging on for years. Los Angeles can and should do more.
The Latino community is the indecent community of Los Angeles, it should not be left out of the growth and development of the city. We are workers, small business owners, caregivers and public servants. We have sustained Los Angeles through its most difficult times. However, when it comes time to invest, our neighborhoods are too often overlooked or ignored. That has to stop.
The Los Angeles City Council owes Angelenos more than stability. She owes us investment, restoration and the financial security our communities deserve – something that can be realized through approval of the Vacation Rental Income Idea as part of the mayor’s budget.
