Analysis following the only gubernatorial debate between Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Sen. Brian Dahle. Lavender Courtyard provides affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors. Remembering Filipino American labor activist Larry Itliong.
Gubernatorial Debate analysis
The one and likely only debate for California governor took place this weekend. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican State Senator Brian Dahle sparred over differing views of moving the state forward. Whether it moved the needle is an entirely different question, given it aired Sunday afternoon competing with the NFL. The gubernatorial debate was moderated by our colleagues at KQED in the Bay Area. CapRadio politics reporter Nicole Nixon was there and joined Insight to provide her analysis of the debate.
Affordable housing for LGBTQ+ older adults
The affordable housing crisis in California is well known / only to be exacerbated by the pandemic, now inflation, the cost to build, regulations, and the list goes on and on. Some of the hardest hit are seniors, especially those on fixed incomes). In the most extreme cases, many are forced onto the street. Some of the hardest hit are seniors, especially those on fixed incomes, as they continue to struggle to keep pace with rising rents and overall cost of living. Many of them are forced onto the street. For LGBTQ+ seniors, the challenge to find affordable housing has been even more difficult as the community has faced historic discrimination along with all of the other issues that come with finding a safe, affordable place to live. Earlier this year, the City of Sacramento opened a new community called Lavendar Courtyard to address the dire need for an affordable place for LGBTQ+ seniors to call home. It was led by an organization called Mutual Housing California. Roberto Jimenez, CEO of Mutual Housing California, and resident Francesca Dixon joined us to share more details about the housing development and the challenges facing LGBTQ+ seniors.
Remembering Filipino American Labor Activist Larry Itliong
Today is Larry Itliong Day, the birthday of the Filipino activist and farm worker who was equally as crucial to the labor rights movement as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. Yet this extraordinary leader is often left out of the history books. The Filipino activist worked diligently to form unions, set strikes, and advocate for senior housing for farm workers. Itliong’s journey is just one part of the Filipino American experience, but an important part of not only Filipino history but American history too. Filipino American scholar and Bulosan Center Affiliate curator Manny DeLeon joined Insight to tell us more about Itliong and the mass migration and work of Filipinos in California.