Asian Journal
Miko Santos

Jan, a stately elderly woman of 65, had it good. She had a lucrative income which she invested in a lovely two bedroom apartment in a good neighborhood. She did everything by the book to ensure her retirement.

Now she lives in a group home in a room shared with 8 other women. She subsists on a measly $100 per month. Far from being enough to cover her daily subsistence and even more so for her medical needs. She lost it all in what would be the US’ worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
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Pasadena Star News
By Brenda Gazzar

Assemblyman Mike Eng understands firsthand the importance of addressing financial insecurity and the vulnerability of seniors.

His nearly 90-year-old mother, who resides in a Hawaii nursing home, was recently approached by an individual who convinced her to sign a power of attorney letter.
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San Jose Mercury News
By Dana Hull

Faced with a burgeoning number of Californians struggling to pay their power bills, the Public Utilities Commission voted Thursday to crack down on utilities, making it harder for them to shut off gas and electric service to customers.

On average, nearly 70,000 households in the state have their utility service disconnected every month, while tens of thousands more get warning notices. The number of customers denied service has risen sharply in recent years because of the recession and high unemployment rates.
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Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

Free Information and Advocacy Forum Sponsored by Greenlining Institute and KPCC 89.3 FM’s Crawford Family Forum

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) has joined a distinguished panel that will examine the growing crisis of economic insecurity for seniors of color July 30 in Pasadena. Because people of color often have less wealth than their white counterparts, they may enter retirement in a particularly vulnerable financial situation. The free discussion is sponsored by The Greenlining Institute and KPCC 89.3 FM’s Crawford Family Forum.
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Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

Crisis Last Winter Led to Push For Action

SAN FRANCISCO – The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote Thursday on a proposed decision that would give critical protections for Californians facing shut-off of their electricity and gas service. Last winter, The Greenlining Institute joined with a coalition of consumer advocates to push for such protections as Californians – battered by a weak economy and soaring unemployment – struggled to pay their utility bills and shut-offs spiked during the coldest, rainiest part of the year. The PUC held an emergency hearing on the crisis Dec. 16.
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THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE
A Multi-Ethnic Public Policy, Research and Advocacy Institute
www.greenlining.org

Contact:
Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)
Tunua Thrash, Greenlining Institute Director of Innovation, 310-499-8470

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – The just-released list of 120 finalists for 14 positions on the Citizens Redistricting Commission is far more diverse than the original applicant pool and represents significant progress toward fully representing all of California’s communities, policy experts at The Greenlining Institute said today.
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THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE
A Multi-Ethnic Public Policy, Research and Advocacy Institute
www.greenlining.org

Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

Letter Calls For Treasury’s Share of Settlement to Go to Principal Reduction, Mortgage Counseling, Reclaiming Foreclosed Homes as Affordable Housing

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – In a letter sent Friday to President Obama and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, a coalition of 19 organizations led by the Greenlining Institute call the just-announced settlement between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Goldman Sachs “disappointing,” arguing that it “does nothing for struggling homeowners.” The letter calls for the Treasury Department’s $300 million share of the proceeds to be used for principal reduction for borrowers who are “under water” due to crashing home values, grassroots mortgage counseling for struggling homeowners, and to allow local nonprofits to purchase and repair foreclosed homes for use as affordable housing.
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Santa Cruz Sentinel
Orson Aguilar

The University of California’s home page proudly declares, “The 10 campuses of the University of California open their doors to all who work hard and dream big.” Not anymore.

The doors of opportunity being slammed shut at UC will hurt all of California, but low-income communities will be damaged the most. I grew up in one of those communities, the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, and owe much of what I’ve achieved in life to my UC education. Now, thousands of qualified kids won’t get that chance.
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THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE
A Multi-Ethnic Public Policy, Research and Advocacy Institute
www.greenlining.org

Contact:
Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)
Chris Vaeth, Greenlining Institute Legislative Director, 917-687-0431 (cell)

Greenlining Institute Policy Experts Available For Interviews in Washington and California

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The financial regulatory reform bill now on the verge of final passage will be a huge benefit to low-income Americans and communities of color that were disproportionately the targets of predatory lending, experts at The Greenlining Institute said today. Greenlining legislative director Chris Vaeth and executive director Orson Aguilar will be available for interviews both before and after the Senate vote on the measure, expected shortly.
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THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE
A Multi-Ethnic Public Policy, Research and Advocacy Institute
www.greenlining.org

Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

Greenlining Joins Growing Opposition to Texas Oil Company Measure

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – The Greenlining Institute has joined the swelling ranks of opposition to Texas oil companies’ dirty-energy proposal, now known as Proposition 23 on the November ballot.

“As an organization devoted to economic opportunity for communities of color and low-income Californians, we can state unequivocally that Prop. 23 would be a disaster for our communities,” said Greenlining Institute Executive Director Orson Aguilar. “Texas oil companies are pushing this measure to protect their profits, knowing it will be a job-killer.”
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