Political Watch: April 24, 2025

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• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently announced the reintroduction of the Housing for All Act, described as “a comprehensive approach to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises in California and across the nation,” in an April 21 statement from Padilla’s office. The legislation “would invest in proven solutions to address affordable housing shortages,” and provide a historic level of federal funding for both existing programs to reduce homelessness and new solutions to help vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness, according to the statement. “Housing is a basic human right, not a privilege. As the Trump Administration callously cuts essential housing programs and resources that Americans across the country depend on, our Housing for All Act is a blueprint for building upon locally developed solutions and providing necessary federal investments to finally treat the homelessness and affordable housing crises with the seriousness they deserve,” Padilla stated. “For far too long, the lack of affordable housing has hurt Americans nationwide and disproportionately harmed low-income communities and communities of color. Community leaders across California know that we have the tools to end homelessness and lower the cost of housing for Americans, but we need significant federal investments to scale up creative and effective housing solutions.” The National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Rural Housing Coalition, American Library Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, California League of Cities, California State Association of Counties, California Housing Partnership, and California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing (BCSH) Agency are among the organizations that have endorsed the Housing for All Act, according to Padilla’s office. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach 2024 report states that no state or county exists in California where a person working 40 hours a week and earning the state or local minimum wage “can afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment.” According to the report, the average minimum wage earner would need to work 113 hours per week—nearly three full-time jobs—to afford a two-bedroom rental home. “Homes have been too expensive for far too long,” Carbajal said in the statement. “The Housing for All Act will make historic investments in programs addressing housing and homelessness, … to ensure every American has a roof over their head.”

• On April 21, state Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement on Pope Francis’ passing. “I join the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. May we lift up his legacy of compassion, unity, and stewardship through our actions,” Limón said in a post on X. “May he rest in peace.” Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued an April 21 statement. “As we mourn His Holiness, we honor him by choosing to believe that a better world is possible through grace and kindness, and through fellowship with our neighbors, no matter our differences,” Newsom stated. “Pope Francis led with his love of peace and creation and sought to protect and lift up the vulnerable. He championed human dignity, especially that of the poor, called the world to urgent climate action, condemned the death penalty, and confronted painful truths—including the Church’s role in the genocide of Indigenous peoples. His papacy was characterized by moral courage, a profound respect for all creation, and a deep conviction in the transformative power of love to heal and unite.”

This article appears in Apr 24 – May 4, 2025.