Alliance San Diego Newsletter

April 28, 2022

By Erin Tsurumoto Grassi

Immigrants and refugees have enriched our state through their various contributions for over a hundred years. My own family arrived in California from Japan at the turn of the twentieth century, and so each year on Immigrant Day of Action, I am proud to join other advocates at Alliance San Diego and from all across California to fight for immigrant rights because everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of their immigration status. This year's virtual Immigrant Day of Action, hosted by the California Immigrant Policy Center, was an opportunity to share our important lived experiences and guide our lawmakers to make equitable decisions that support all Californians. 

Over the last few decades, California has emerged as a leader in immigrant rights and has redefined what it means to take care of ALL of its residents. California has remained firm in its commitment to all Californians and continues to expand protections for immigrants in our state, even when the federal government and other states actively work to strip away basic rights and protections.  Alliance San Diego will continue to advocate for the policies that can help build an inclusive democracy where all of us can reach our full potential, and with your support, we can accomplish it together! 

All San Diegans should have access to the tools to provide basic needs — housing, food and health care — for themselves and their families. The pandemic taught us that we are only as strong as our most vulnerable communities. Yet, housing costs in our region continue to rise as do the cost of goods, and not everyone can afford medical care. We believe that the City of San Diego budget for fiscal year 2023, released earlier this month, should prioritize communities with the greatest needs because we all benefit when all of us can thrive and succeed. In the coming month, Alliance San Diego together with the Community Budget Alliance will advocate for the People’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2023, including a Housing Stability Fund that provides short-term relief grants, security deposit assistance, and assistance payments to individuals and families in need. We will also advocate to prioritize tenant’s rights, worker justice and more.

Our democracy depends on ensuring that all voices are heard and that people have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in every election. Across the country, we’ve seen hundreds of voter suppression bills that disproportionately impact communities of color be introduced and some have become law. Now, more than ever, we must do everything in our power to ensure voting rights are protected and that the process is easy and reliable for everyone. As a member of the San Diego County Vote Center Strategy and Monitoring Table, Alliance San Diego has been providing feedback on the county’s plan to implement a new Vote Center model, a full-service voting experience where voters get to choose when, where, and how to vote. While the final Election Administration Plan has been released, Alliance San Diego and coalition members have identified three areas that need further clarification including, 1) ensuring education outreach to the community is provided in the primary languages spoken in San Diego 2) ensuring that people who were previously on parole know of their rights to vote 3) ensuring there’s a clear plan for a mobile voting option for voters. Alliance San Diego will continue to work with partners and the County of San Diego to ensure the plan is optimized to best serve all communities, especially historically marginalized communities in San Diego.

Hi, my name is Shirley Castillo, a resident of La Mesa and a volunteer with Alliance San Diego. I was born in Colombia where I studied Business Administration. Six years ago, I moved to the United States to pursue new opportunities and a chance to get involved in the community to make a difference. I decided to volunteer with Alliance San Diego because it gives me the opportunity to listen to community members from diverse backgrounds and learn from their personal stories. I enjoy working with groups because it gives people from different experiences the opportunity to get involved in the civic process and offer new solutions. Through my volunteer experience, I have gained useful knowledge and tools that I can apply to my life and in my own community. I’m thankful for the opportunity I had in delivering the good news of financial aid granted to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that were going through difficult times. It made me see the power of community support. I am excited to continue to work with Alliance San Diego.

Alliance San Diego
P.O. Box 12266
San Diego, CA 92112
United States 

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