1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: From Futuro Media and PRX. It's Latino Usay, I'm Maria 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: Ino Rosan. Today what happens when you're moved out of 3 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: your house for a highway in Los Angeles and then 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: your neighborhood becomes a ghost town. We follow the families 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: who are reclaiming these empty homes. Last year, as the 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: state of California was issuing a statewide mandate to shelter 7 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: in place during the COVID pandemic, about a dozen unhoused 8 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: families began to occupy vacant homes in El Cerno in 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: Northeast Los Angeles. Our producer Julie Rocha is going to 10 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: pick up the story from here. 11 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 2: We found this house and we were so excited. We 12 00:00:53,400 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: were screaming and like just overjoyed. We had coming over 13 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: that came and played music. We had some harocho, we 14 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 2: had rancheas. 15 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 3: That's Martha's gulero. She's remembering the day she moved into 16 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: her new house. It's a two bedroom on Sheffield Avenue 17 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 3: and in Sereno, a residential neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. 18 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 3: Martha's living room is filled with books and on one 19 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 3: of the walls is a banner that reads housing for All. 20 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 2: This is the first room we walked into, and when 21 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: we walked into obviously it was empty and now it's 22 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 2: filled with furniture and. 23 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 4: Entim on my art in my rocks. 24 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 3: That's Messley, Martha's eight year old daughter. Before Martha and 25 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 3: her two daughters got to this house, they'd been CouchSurfing 26 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 3: for a year and a half because of skyrocketing rents 27 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 3: in the city. 28 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 2: It was just really bad for us. I had to 29 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: live in places that were cramped, even though family and 30 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 2: friends tried their best to help us. 31 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 3: Martha struggled to find affordable housing for months, but when 32 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 3: the coronavirus pandemic began, finding her own place to live 33 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 3: became even more urgent. So on March fourteenth of twenty twenty, Martha, 34 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 3: with the help of community organizers, decided to occupy one 35 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 3: of the many vacant homes in Elserno. 36 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: A few neighbors there were really unsupportive. They would call 37 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: the squatters. 38 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: But Martha doesn't consider herself a squatter. She calls herself 39 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 3: a reclaimer because this how she's occupying actually belongs to 40 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 3: the government. Today, the state owns about one hundred and 41 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 3: forty vacant properties in this area alone. 42 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 2: The state is literally hoarding these houses that are empty 43 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: while people are suffering on the streets. How is this 44 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: even possible? 45 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 5: To me? 46 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: That really became important to expose that and to let 47 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 2: other people know, like this is not right and we 48 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: shouldn't let this happen. 49 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: Martha moved into the house on Sheffield Avenue in twenty twenty, 50 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: but the story of these vacant homes goes back many decades. 51 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 6: In this century, America has become a nation on wheels. 52 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 6: We ride on wheels to work, to shop, to play, 53 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 6: to go about any place we want to go. And 54 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 6: therein lies the challenge building highways and roads and streets 55 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 6: fast enough to keep up with a knee. 56 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: Back in nineteen fifty six, the United States undertook the 57 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: largest infrastructure project of its time, building a forty one 58 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: thousand mile system of highways that would unite the entire nation. 59 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 6: These new highways will have a far reaching economic impact 60 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 6: on the entire nation. They open up vast new areas 61 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 6: for suburban living, and they encourage industry to disperse out 62 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 6: of city congestion. 63 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: Historically, in Los Angeles and all over the country, freeway 64 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: construction has had a massive impact on housing. While this 65 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: web of freeways allow allowed the sprawling suburbs of Los 66 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: Angeles to grow, entire neighborhoods were demolished in order to 67 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: construct those roads, and it was usually black and brown 68 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: communities that paid the price. One of those communities was 69 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: in El Cerreno in northeast Los Angeles. Back in the 70 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: nineteen fifties and sixties, the California Department of Transportation bought 71 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: the house that Martha lives in and hundreds of other 72 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: homes in order to construct the seven to ten freeway. 73 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: This is a story of a house in El cer 74 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: Reno and its residents past and present who have fought 75 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: to make it their home. Back to producer Juja. 76 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 3: Rocha, driving on a freeway in Los Angeles will get 77 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 3: you from point A to point B, but if you 78 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 3: take the scenic route, you get to see the personality 79 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 3: of each neighborhood. The east side of La has been 80 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,679 Speaker 3: a historically Imma and LATINX area, intersected by almost every 81 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 3: major freeway in the county. If you drive north, you'll 82 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 3: get to Edgecideno, which sits at a crossroads between two worlds. 83 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: Nestled between the working class neighborhoods of the East Side 84 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 3: and the white picket fences of wealthier suburbs like Pasadena. 85 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 3: Edsno's main street, Huntington Drive, is bustling with restaurants and 86 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 3: stores decked out in bright murals. According to the most 87 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 3: recent census data, Edno is eighty one percent Latino and 88 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 3: mostly lower middle class. The neighborhood's residential streets are lined 89 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 3: with rows of modest, single family homes. 90 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 7: My first impressions were, this is what a neighborhood looks 91 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 7: like on TV. 92 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 3: That's Michelle Chavis. She was thirteen years old in nineteen 93 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 3: eighty six when her family was looking to move into 94 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 3: a bigger home. Michelle's mom was a file clerk and 95 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 3: her dad was a construction worker. At the time, Michelle, 96 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 3: her parents, and her younger brother, Jamie were all living 97 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 3: in a one bedroom apartment in rose Hill, a residential 98 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 3: area just a few miles northwest of Et Serno. 99 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 7: A pretty bad neighborhood and we originally grew up in. 100 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 7: You stayed in your house and made sure your doors 101 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 7: were locked because it was not safe. 102 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 3: A single family home had never been an option until 103 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 3: Michelle's mom heard about an affordable rent program in the 104 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 3: neighborhood of ed Serno. It was run by the California 105 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 3: Department of Transportation, better known as Caltrans. Back in the sixties, 106 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 3: Caltrans purchased hundreds of homes in Etserno, Alhambra, and Pasadena 107 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 3: in order to demolish them and construct the seven ten Freeway. 108 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 3: The freeway began at the port of Long Beach, one 109 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 3: of the nation's busiest sites of international trade, and connected 110 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 3: it to the greater city of Los Angeles. By nineteen 111 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 3: sixty four, Caltrans built twenty three miles of the twenty 112 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 3: seven and a half mile freeway route, demolishing hundreds of 113 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 3: houses on the east side. Before the construction reached a Serno, 114 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 3: the project was halted because of community backlash from the 115 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 3: neighboring suburbs. While the agency waited for construction to be 116 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 3: approved by the legislature, Caltrans began renting the homes it 117 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 3: had purchased. At the point that Michelle's mom was looking 118 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 3: to rent a home, and in Serno, the construction had 119 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 3: been in a legal limbo for over a decade. She 120 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 3: filled out an application for the affordable rent program, and 121 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: when she found out she'd been accepted. A Caltrans employee 122 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 3: gave her a tour of the houses in a serno. 123 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: Michelle still remembers what it was like to walk through 124 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: the neighborhood for the first time. 125 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 7: No bars on the window. That's the first thing I 126 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 7: think my brother and I noticed, just walking through and 127 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 7: seeing grass. There were people sitting on their porches. Nobody 128 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 7: sat on their porches where I grew up. 129 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: After the tour, Michelle's parents picked out the house they 130 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 3: liked best, a two bedroom on Sheffield Avenue. 131 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 7: Moving to the Sheffield House was actually like an amazing 132 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 7: dream because I was getting my own room. We had 133 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 7: a living room, we had a separate dining room, and 134 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 7: then we had a fenced yard. It was like we 135 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 7: hit the jackpot. 136 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 3: Michelle remembers walking through the house with her brother the 137 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 3: day her family moved in. She recalls how a little 138 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 3: narrow area by the kitchen caught their attention. 139 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 7: We were like, oh my gosh, what is this for? 140 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 7: You know? My dad was like, it's for a washer 141 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 7: and dryer, and we're like, oh my god, does that 142 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 7: mean we don't have to go to the laundromat anymore. 143 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 7: I think that was my brother my dream. 144 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 3: But soon their honeymoon phase came to an end. 145 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 7: What we started noticing is when bigger things would break, 146 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 7: something with the electricity, something with the water. My parents 147 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 7: weren't getting the response you're supposed to get when you're 148 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 7: in a rental, and the sentiment was echoed through many houses. 149 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 7: They're like, Oh, don't even bother calling because they'll either 150 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 7: take a month to fix it, or they won't get 151 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,079 Speaker 7: fixed it all, or they're going to tell you they 152 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 7: lost your report. 153 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 3: As the months went on, the family noticed there was 154 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 3: no ventilation in the kitchen, there was a leak in 155 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 3: the plumbing, the garage door didn't open, the phone jacks broke. 156 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 3: Michelle says they tried to file a report. 157 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 7: Each time they were like, oh, well, you have to 158 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 7: call this number, call that number, leave a message, and 159 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 7: that would go on for like a couple of weeks. 160 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 3: Michelle was only a teenager back then, but it was 161 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 3: becoming clear that something was wrong. 162 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 7: I mean, bottom line cal trands. They were slum lords. 163 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 7: They did not know how to be landlords. There were 164 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:42,599 Speaker 7: business people working in a government office. 165 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 3: Then one day, when Michelle was in high school in 166 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 3: the early nineties, she went to debate club, and the 167 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: topic was Caltrans versus the neighborhood in the battle to 168 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 3: build the seven to ten preway. It was that day 169 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 3: that she understood why her landlords were a transportation agency. 170 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 7: I started learning in school about the Caltrans' homes and 171 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 7: about the seven ten Extension freeway debate and the fight 172 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 7: between the neighborhood, and I'm like, wait, that's my neighborhood. 173 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 7: I didn't know that. 174 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: The two sides went something like this. Caltrans wanted to 175 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 3: finish the freeway because the residential areas along the seven 176 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: ten were booming and traffic was worse than ever, but 177 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,439 Speaker 3: residents of Etceerno, South Pasadena, and Pasadena didn't want a 178 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 3: highway running through their neighborhood. For the debate, Michelle took 179 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 3: the side of those against the extension and argued that 180 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 3: destroying people's homes was too high a price for improving 181 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 3: the flow of traffic. What Michelle didn't realize until that 182 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 3: day was that this debate was not only happening in 183 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 3: her classroom. It was also happening in the state government, 184 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 3: because Caltrans was still fighting in court to continue building 185 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 3: the seven ten. 186 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 7: I brought that home to my mom and she wasn't 187 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 7: familiar that we would be evicted maybe soon for this 188 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 7: freeway extension. You know, it was kind of eye opening 189 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 7: to even some of the neighbors are like no, like 190 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 7: this isn't going to happen. 191 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 3: In her neighborhood of mostly low income Mexican American and 192 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 3: immigrant families. Michelle realized that many of her neighbors didn't 193 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 3: know that Caltrans was still planning to move forward with 194 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: the freeway project. 195 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 7: Sadly, a lot of older people that lived in the neighborhood. 196 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 7: It was parents who were not highly educated and couldn't read, 197 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 7: so their kids were the ones reading things. 198 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 3: Because Michelle's mom couldn't read very well, she didn't know 199 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 3: that the housing contract she signed gave Caltrans the legal 200 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 3: power to evict the family if the seven to ten 201 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 3: extension was approved. Michelle wondered if there was a way 202 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 3: to ensure that they would be able to stay in 203 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 3: their home. 204 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 7: So I wrote the assembly member at the time, and 205 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 7: he wrote me back, and he informed me of some 206 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 7: marches and he thanked me too for volunteered my time 207 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 7: to fight against this freeway extension. The first rally we 208 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 7: went to it was in South Pasadena. We started marching 209 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 7: down the streets and people started joining with just signs 210 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 7: that had like the seven to ten and the line 211 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 7: across it. 212 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 8: It was very empowering. 213 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 3: Looking around the rally, Michelle was surprised to see that 214 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 3: she and her friends were some of the only Latinos 215 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 3: and also some of the only Caltrans tendants. 216 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 7: There was a lot of Caucasian people from the more 217 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 7: pricier houses up in South Pass because the homeowners around 218 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 7: there didn't want a freeway, you know, for them, it's 219 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 7: going to bring down their housing prices. 220 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 3: Michelle was beginning to understand one of the biggest reasons 221 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 3: at Cerno hadn't been bulldozed was because the residents in 222 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 3: South Pasadena and Pasadena knew that if construction went through 223 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 3: at Serino, their communities would be next. And even though 224 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 3: at Sereno would be the most impacted by the extension, 225 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 3: it was the interests of wealthier homeowners that carried the 226 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 3: most weight and that really left a mark on Michelle. 227 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 7: I feel it helped me in really deciding what I 228 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 7: wanted to major in in college, because I wanted to 229 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 7: help people like my parents, like my neighbors, and I 230 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 7: do believe that kel Trans know that the people that 231 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 7: they ran into in the eighties nineties, they were low 232 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 7: income families who were looking for a better life for 233 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 7: their kids, and they took advantage of that. 234 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: Coming up on Latino USA, El Serno's battle with kel 235 00:13:48,640 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: Trans continued, Stay with us notes, Hey, we're back, and 236 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: before the break, we were listening to the story of 237 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: Michelle Chavis. Her family was renting a house from the 238 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: California Department of Transportation. Since she was a teenager, Michelle 239 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: had been advocating for her family, protesting the construction of 240 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: a freeway that threatened to demolish her entire street. But 241 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: this was only the beginning of her family's fight to 242 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: stay in their home back now to produce her Julia Rocha. 243 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 3: After seeing the disparities her community faced, Michelle left Etsido 244 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 3: in nineteen ninety one to study political science. She went 245 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 3: on to work in local government, and in two thousand 246 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 3: and seven she moved to Washington State, where she lives today. 247 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 3: Although she no longer lived in Los Angeles, Michelle never 248 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 3: stopped helping her mom fill out the Caltrans paperwork. Then, 249 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 3: in twenty twelve, Michelle got a desperate call. Her mom 250 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 3: had received a notice that she needed to reapply for 251 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 3: the affordable rent program, otherwise her rent would be raised. 252 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 7: She would send in the affordable rent application and then 253 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 7: they would say, we're missing some information. It was denied. 254 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 7: Your rent's going up. And then my mom would send 255 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 7: in again and then they're like, well, never received your paperwork. 256 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 3: Michelle's family wasn't alone in struggling with the bureaucracy of 257 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 3: the application. In twenty thirteen, a collective calling itself United 258 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 3: Caltrans Tenants came together to help residents navigate the agency's 259 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 3: dysfunctional housing program. One of the lead organizers is Roberto Flores. 260 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 3: He runs a community center in Esserno called Eastside Cafe, 261 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 3: and despite its name, it's not a hip coffee shop, 262 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 3: it's actually a Sapatista inspired cultural center, an activist hub. 263 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 9: We set up the east Side Cafe maybe eighteen years ago. 264 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 9: Is a space that developed out of the inspiration from 265 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 9: the Sapatistas to create sustainable structures so that the communities 266 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 9: can be much more involved in constructing their own future. 267 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 3: Roberto himself was a Caltrans tenant who had been forced 268 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 3: out by the rent increases. He and other organizers were 269 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 3: holding workshops at the east Side Cafe to help their 270 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 3: neighbors with the affordable rent applications. Roeto told me that 271 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 3: just a few months before Michelle's mom started receiving these notices, 272 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 3: Caltrans was being audited for possible mismanagement of public money 273 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 3: after a tenant noticed an invoice for a roof repair 274 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 3: that cost one hundred and three thousand dollars. The audit 275 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 3: found that Caltrans was mismanaging the money spent on repairs. 276 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 3: They were spending almost ten million more dollars in maintaining 277 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 3: the homes than they were actually collecting in rent. 278 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 9: There was obvious corruption going on in the Caltrans' maintenance structure. 279 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 3: On top of that, they hadn't verified the income of 280 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 3: the tenants on the affordable rent program in years, but 281 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 3: Caltrans put the burden of the lost revenue on the 282 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 3: tenants by making residents continually reapply for the affordable rent program. 283 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 3: If their application was denied, Caltrans would increase their rent. 284 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 9: They made things so complicated that their own agents didn't 285 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 9: know how to fill out these forums or help people out, 286 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 9: and so there were years of delays where people were 287 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 9: forced to pay market rents when they should be paying 288 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 9: affordable and market rents that were going up at ten 289 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 9: percent every six months. All these things piled up and 290 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 9: led to people leaving and evictions. 291 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 3: It was clear to Roberto that Caltrans was trying to 292 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 3: force people out, But the question was what incentive did 293 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 3: Caltrans have to vacate the properties? When I asked him, 294 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 3: he told me that Caltrans never wanted to be landlords, 295 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 3: and their end goal was to demolish the houses. 296 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 9: They were going to prepare the corridor for a freeway, 297 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,159 Speaker 9: so they preferred to deal with empty houses than with 298 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 9: tenants that were increasingly demanding rights. 299 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 3: Years passed and more and more Caltrans tenants began to 300 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 3: leave their homes because of the rent hikes. At this point, 301 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 3: Caltrans was still fighting to build the extension. Then, in 302 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 3: November of twenty eighteen, after a sixty year legal battle, 303 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 3: the state of California finally ruled that Caltrans couldn't build 304 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 3: the freeway. 305 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 10: It was a major milestone today in the now defunct 306 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,719 Speaker 10: plan to extend the seven to ten freeway. Caltrans just 307 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 10: sold the first of hundreds of homes that were purchased 308 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 10: decades ago in preparation for the project, which is now 309 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 10: never going to see the. 310 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 6: Light of day. 311 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 3: Now the Caltrans wasn't going to build the freeway, the 312 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 3: agency said they would begin to sell the homes. 313 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 7: They still made empty promises. They started making it seem like, 314 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 7: in the next two years, all these houses will be sold, 315 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 7: and you, residents who've been living in them for more 316 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,479 Speaker 7: than two years, you get first dibbs. 317 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 3: The promise that Michelle's family and many others in a 318 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 3: incidenta were given was actually more than a promise. Back 319 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 3: in nineteen seventy nine, the California legislature passed a bill 320 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 3: known as the ROBERTI Law. It found that highway construction 321 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 3: contributed to a shortage of affordable housing, so when a 322 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 3: state agency like Caltrans no longer planned to use the 323 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 3: homes for construction, it legally had to offer the property 324 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 3: to low and moderate income tenants at an affordable price. 325 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 3: In theory, this meant that Michelle's mom could actually purchase 326 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 3: the home that she'd lived in for decades. 327 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 7: My mom's like, Wow, I'm a little nervous, you know, 328 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 7: I hoping I'll be able to purchase this house because 329 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 7: we've never been a homeowner. 330 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 3: The problem was that in order to one day buy 331 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 3: your house, you had to stay in your house, but 332 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 3: residents were being forced out by rent hikes and complicated applications, 333 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 3: and even tenants who could pay their rent weren't receiving 334 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,160 Speaker 3: sale offers from the agency. 335 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 11: There are one hundred and three vacant homes in Elserino, 336 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 11: Pasadena and South Pasadena, as the need for affordable housing 337 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 11: in La is on the rise, a Cowtrans representative said 338 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 11: homes have remained vacant partly because the cost to maintain 339 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 11: and rent them would have cost more than the revenue collected. 340 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 3: When tenants moved out or passed away, the houses were 341 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 3: boarded up. Today, there are dozens of homes on Sheffield 342 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 3: Avenue with signs that read warning state property trespassing, loitering 343 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 3: forbidden by law. 344 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 7: When I would go home every year, I mean you 345 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 7: could go down my mom's block and maybe ten properties 346 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 7: on her block alone are vacant. This is just one 347 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 7: piece of Sheffield. 348 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 3: Michelle's childhood neighborhood was becoming a ghost town. 349 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 7: I didn't realize what my parents went through until I 350 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 7: started fighting for them, until my dad was just getting 351 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 7: too sick and he's like I'm done, you know, I 352 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 7: just I can't. And my mom was busy taking care 353 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 7: of him. 354 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 3: Michelle's dad had been having health complications for years, and 355 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 3: then in twenty eighteen, he passed away. At a moment 356 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 3: when Michelle's mom was grieving the loss of her husband, 357 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 3: she also started receiving notices that she had to once 358 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 3: again reapply for the Affordable rent program. Michelle's mom went 359 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 3: to one of the United Caltrans Tendants workshops at the 360 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 3: east Side Cafe where she met Roberto. 361 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 9: I remember miss Montoya coming in after her husband had 362 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 9: passed and asking us for help. 363 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 3: Roberto helped Michelle's mom properly fill out the application, but 364 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 3: the same scenario played out. 365 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 7: He sent it in and they said they didn't get it, 366 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 7: sent it in again, said they never received it. Months later, 367 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 7: they said that my mom's rent was being raised again 368 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 7: and if she wanted to try and get affordable rent, 369 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 7: that she had to fill out an application. 370 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 3: After decades of fighting to stay in their home, Michelle 371 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,640 Speaker 3: started to convince her mom to move out and live 372 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 3: with her brother Jamie. 373 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 7: We started telling her, I don't think it's safe for 374 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:21,439 Speaker 7: you to stay in this house the way they're treating you, 375 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 7: the way they're always losing the paperwork you know, for 376 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 7: the affordable rent. And my mom it was very difficult 377 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 7: for her because she feels my dad's spirit in that home. 378 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 7: She started crying because she's like, you know, he's not 379 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 7: going to leave this house. And we're like, mom, he's 380 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,360 Speaker 7: going to be wherever you are. 381 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 3: Finally, Michelle's mom agreed, and Michelle went back to her 382 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 3: childhood home to help her mother move out. 383 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:54,679 Speaker 7: So my mom sat in the empty living room and 384 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 7: she started crying, and then we all started crying, you know. 385 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 7: And and my brother, he's a jokester, and he's like, look, mom, 386 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 7: and he opened a fresh apple pie and my dad 387 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 7: loved fresh apple pie, and he's like, okay, Fred, in 388 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 7: order for you to have a piece of this apple pie, 389 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 7: you got to come with us. 390 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 12: You know. 391 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 8: We were just all cried and hugged her. 392 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 3: After thirty four years on Sheffield Avenue, Michelle's mom left 393 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 3: the Caltrans house, giving up her dream of one day 394 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 3: owning a home. 395 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 7: You know, just went through the house when last time, 396 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 7: and we took one last picture on the porch. My 397 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 7: mom used to be a feisty little lady back in 398 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 7: her day. She's like, fuck you, Caltrans, you know, and 399 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 7: like flip the camera. 400 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 3: In February of twenty twenty, the house that Michelle grew 401 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 3: up in was left vacant. When I reached out to 402 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 3: Caltrans for comment about the staggering vacancies in Encerino, they 403 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 3: put me in touch with Eric Menhivad. He's a public 404 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 3: information officer at the agency. I asked him what Caltrans 405 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 3: plans to do with the houses they own. 406 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 12: We are very aware that there is a housing crisis 407 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 12: throughout California. Our goal is to sell these homes and 408 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 12: provide a pathway for first time home ownership for our tenants, 409 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 12: and the Affordable Sales program will very much play a 410 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 12: large role in meeting the school. 411 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 3: Menhivad gave me cal Trans's official statement that they intend 412 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 3: to sell the homes to the families that have been 413 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,440 Speaker 3: living in them. Throughout our interview, I struggled to reconcile 414 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 3: the agency's official statements with their actions which have driven 415 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 3: out hundreds of tenants, making them ineligible to purchase their homes. 416 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 3: And then at the end of our interview, Eric told 417 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:51,920 Speaker 3: me this. 418 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 12: Ultimately, when these homes are ready to be sold, Caltrans 419 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 12: is obligated to make lender required repairs one's selling a 420 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 12: property to a current tenant who participates in the affordable 421 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 12: sales program. So if that home needs a new roof 422 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 12: and the lender requires us to repair it, well, we 423 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 12: will do it. 424 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 3: I was beginning to understand that in order for Caltrans 425 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 3: to sell the homes, the agency would have to reckon 426 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 3: with their decades long neglect. So instead of paying for 427 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 3: costly repairs, Caltrans is holding onto the properties even if 428 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 3: they're falling apart. With the vacancy rate rising in the neighborhood, 429 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 3: tenants wanted to find a way to hold Caltrans accountable 430 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 3: and force them to do something about all these empty homes. 431 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 3: One of those tenants was Angela Flores. She's the daughter 432 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 3: of Roberta Flores, who we heard from earlier. Angela and 433 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 3: her father were Caltrans tenants since nineteen ninety two, and 434 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 3: they've been working with the neighborhood for years, holding workshops 435 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 3: to help tenants fill out affordable housing applications, mobilizing community 436 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 3: members to disrupt evictions, and by twenty nineteen they were 437 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 3: fed up. 438 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 5: Me and my dad thought we're going to do something 439 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:08,959 Speaker 5: about this. We got to shake them up a little, like, 440 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 5: what do we got to do. How do we got 441 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 5: to protest them? 442 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 3: To Angela, it was shocking that you could walk a 443 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,200 Speaker 3: few minutes from a street of empty homes onto Huntington 444 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 3: Drive and Satanto's main street, where dozens of unhoused people 445 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 3: were sleeping in tents that they pitched on the meridian. 446 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 3: Angela wanted to do something to get Caltrans's attention and 447 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 3: force them to negotiate. 448 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 5: We went ahead and started thinking more and more about 449 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 5: the possibility of occupying a few houses. 450 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 3: Then in November of twenty nineteen, Moms for Housing, a 451 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 3: group of unhoused mothers from the Bay Area, made national 452 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 3: headlines and caught Angela's attention. 453 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:52,200 Speaker 13: And men called Moms for Housing are reclaiming vacant homes 454 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 13: so that homeless women can live in them. The group 455 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 13: wants to take back properties owned by investors that are 456 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 13: vacant and neighborhoods were where the mothers grew up but 457 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:03,200 Speaker 13: can't afford to live there. 458 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 3: By occupying vacant homes, Moms for Housing was pointing out 459 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 3: that the housing crisis is not actually about a shortage 460 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:11,479 Speaker 3: of homes. 461 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 2: We have a crisis, come on, it is an epidemic. 462 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 3: People are dying housing is a According to twenty seventeen 463 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 3: census data, there are approximately one hundred thousand vacant homes 464 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 3: in the city of Los Angeles. That's nearly twice the 465 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 3: number needed to house the estimated sixty thousand people that 466 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 3: are homeless in the city. Part of the problem is 467 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 3: real estate speculation. As cities begin to gentrify, developers buy 468 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 3: up properties and keep them vacant until rent prices and 469 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 3: the surrounding area go up. But with six public agencies 470 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 3: such as Caltrans and the Los Angeles School District collectively 471 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 3: owning over fourteen thousand vacant properties in Los Angeles, it's 472 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 3: clear that public institutions are also contributing to the housing crisis. 473 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 3: Angela wanted to bring the strategy that Moms for Housing 474 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 3: was putting in action to ENCIDNO. 475 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 5: I was in my bedroom and I was looking on Facebook, 476 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 5: and then I saw the article on the Moms for 477 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 5: Housing in San Francisco and immediately I thought. 478 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 8: This is it. 479 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 3: Feeling inspired by the movement, Angela shared the Moms for 480 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 3: Housing story on her Facebook page. 481 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 5: I said, I've had it with all of this. Who's 482 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 5: down to do something like this? And I didn't hear 483 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 5: from anyone except Martha. 484 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 3: That Martha is Marta Escuero, who we heard from at 485 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 3: the beginning of the story. At that moment, Martha and 486 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 3: her two daughters didn't have a stable place to live. 487 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 2: When I first heard about moms for housing, we were 488 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 2: at a friend's house. We were sleeping on the floor. 489 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 2: We were living off of our bags pretty much. 490 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 3: Martha lived in the East Side neighborhood of Boyle Heights 491 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 3: until twenty sixteen. She's the primary caretaker of her two 492 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 3: and I was working as a case manager at a 493 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 3: maternal and child wellness clinic at the time. One of 494 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 3: the things she remembers most about her job was a 495 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 3: feeling of helplessness as she saw the way that not 496 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 3: having housing impacted the mental and physical health of mothers 497 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 3: who came into the clinic. 498 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 2: These women were suffering a lot, and I couldn't help them, 499 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 2: And it was like causing me burnout, Like I couldn't 500 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 2: even sleep at night sometimes knowing that these women and 501 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 2: their kids were on the streets or in the cars 502 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 2: or in shelters. 503 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 3: Exhausted from her job, Martha needed a change of pace. 504 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 3: She had always dreamed of showing her daughters a different 505 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 3: way of life away from the stress of the city. 506 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 3: So even though Martha was born and raised in la 507 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 3: she made a big decision and left the US. 508 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 2: We always wanted to get out of the US for 509 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 2: a little bit and sure our daughters what it was 510 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 2: to live somewhere else, and we have friends in Chile. 511 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 2: We figured that'd be the best place. 512 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 3: But when Martha came back to the US just two 513 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 3: years later, she says rents and boil heights had tripled. 514 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 2: Coming back was actually really traumatizing. We couldn't find affordable housing, 515 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 2: we couldn't find jobs. 516 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 3: In just two years, Martha found herself facing those same 517 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 3: struggles that she saw countless mothers at the clinic endoor, 518 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 3: and as a mom, housing was more than just a 519 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 3: roof over Martha's head. It was about the health and 520 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 3: education of her daughters too. 521 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 2: It was really obstructing my daughter's learning. I'm a homeschooling mom. 522 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 2: It's just not adequate with having children. They really do 523 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 2: need their own space. 524 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 3: After eighteen months of living out of a suitcase and 525 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 3: going from sofa to sofa at her friend's apartments, Martha 526 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 3: was ready to take matters into her own hands. 527 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 2: When I saw Mom for Housing and I was like, wow, 528 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 2: these women are badass, their moms, they have kids, and 529 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 2: then they took over these homes like they're really fearless now, like, oh, 530 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 2: you know, if they could do it, I could do it. 531 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 2: And around that same time, Angela Floridas from the Eastside 532 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 2: Cafe put something out that she would like to do 533 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 2: something at that Mom for Housing did, and I reached 534 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 2: out to her and she let me know about these 535 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 2: houses and Acerno that have been abandoned by Caltrans for 536 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 2: so many years. 537 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 3: Marta was immediately on board, but Angela says when she 538 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 3: encouraged her neighbors in a sereno to take up the strategy, 539 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 3: they were reluctant. 540 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:32,959 Speaker 5: Other tenants they weren't saying much, and the kind of 541 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 5: feedback that we got was like, well, I'm not sure 542 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 5: because I don't want to get arrested or I don't 543 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 5: have my papers. 544 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 3: The stakes were high. Even though Moms for Housing had 545 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 3: garnered widespread support, they were also met with brutal force. 546 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 3: When the police were summoned to a victim in January 547 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 3: of twenty twenty. 548 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 4: In a pre dawn raiate. Heavily armed Sheriff's Japanese moved 549 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 4: in on the vacant home, where women and children had 550 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 4: been living illegally. Four people were arrested after a fifty 551 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 4: day standoff. 552 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 10: I'm trying to live. 553 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 3: I'm trying to get my kids. 554 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 8: How you sentimated down? 555 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 3: Martha knew that what she was planning to do was illegal, 556 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 3: but it was a risk she was willing to take. 557 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 2: I had a lot of fears, Okay, what if my 558 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 2: daughters get taken away from me, but also like I 559 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 2: want them to be healthy and have their own homes. 560 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 2: So I needed to take that risk, knowing that I 561 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 2: couldn't do it alone. And that's why it was really 562 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 2: important for me to establish who am I going to 563 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 2: connect with to help. 564 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 3: Me to support people like Martha on the front lines. 565 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 3: A coalition was forming and with the help of two 566 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 3: advocacy organizations, more and more people were joining the movement. 567 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 3: By February of twenty twenty, they were having almost daily 568 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 3: meetings at the East Side. 569 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 2: They were letting us know the history of these houses 570 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 2: and how Caltrans has neglected them and abandoned them. And 571 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 2: to me, it was so mind blowing because I know 572 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 2: there's a housing crisis. 573 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,319 Speaker 3: Marta and the other people who wanted to occupy these 574 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 3: houses declared themselves the reclaimers. Some reclaimers were former Caltrans 575 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 3: tenants who had been living on the street after they'd 576 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 3: been evicted. Others were mothers like Martha, who were urgently 577 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 3: looking to provide housing for their families. They were getting 578 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 3: ready to occupy the houses in March, and then COVID 579 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 3: nineteen hit. 580 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 2: We had already planned to do the take on Friday, 581 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:48,360 Speaker 2: March thirteenth, but then COVID came and people were like, 582 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:51,239 Speaker 2: should we still do it? Is it dangerous to do it? 583 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:53,200 Speaker 2: Around this time, a lot of us were like, no, 584 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 2: this is even more urgent. We need to do it 585 00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 2: now because we wanted to keep our family safe. 586 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,319 Speaker 3: Although Marta had known the other reclaimers for less than 587 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 3: a couple months, she had to trust that they had 588 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 3: her back, that they had her daughter's back. On March thirteenth, 589 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:14,879 Speaker 3: Martha was getting ready to put the strategy in motion 590 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 3: for the first time. She and another reclaimer were able 591 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 3: to open the door to an empty house on Berkshire Avenue, 592 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:24,280 Speaker 3: but only a few hours after they got into the house, 593 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:26,040 Speaker 3: they heard someone at the door. 594 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 2: Kyu Chan still had the keys, and they were able 595 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:33,359 Speaker 2: to unlock it and caltrans with the police were able 596 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 2: to walk in and pull us out, and we just 597 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 2: went voluntarily like there wasn't any resistance. And then the 598 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 2: girls were crying and shaky, and they thought that I 599 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 2: was going to get in trouble. 600 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 3: In that terrifying moment, the other reclaimers immediately came to 601 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 3: comfort the girls. The coalition had organized a team of 602 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:54,400 Speaker 3: legal observers who were able to document the actions of 603 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:58,439 Speaker 3: law enforcement and de escalate the situation. In the end, 604 00:35:58,719 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 3: the officer chose not to arrest Martha. 605 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 2: That's when I was like, oh cool, Like I can 606 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,400 Speaker 2: trust these people, you know, I can do this again. 607 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 3: After getting kicked out by the police, Martha immediately went 608 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 3: back to the East Side cafe and they began to 609 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:13,920 Speaker 3: plan how they could occupy another house. 610 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:18,319 Speaker 2: We you know, talked about what had gone on that night, 611 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:23,240 Speaker 2: and then we just really were urgent to find another home. 612 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 2: We were running out of options. 613 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,759 Speaker 3: But there was still one option left because Angela and 614 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:31,759 Speaker 3: Roberto had a backup plan. 615 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:38,680 Speaker 5: My dad had said, if in the case it doesn't 616 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:42,600 Speaker 5: go down and worse comes to worse, we have a 617 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 5: key to one of the houses. 618 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 3: That key was the key to Michelle's old house on 619 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 3: Sheffield Avenue. The house had been left vacant since February 620 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:53,880 Speaker 3: when Michelle's mom moved out. 621 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 5: I said, hey, Martha, I have the key to this house. 622 00:36:57,280 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 5: Should we do it? 623 00:36:57,920 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 2: She said, yes, let's do it. 624 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 5: Let's do it. 625 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 3: On March fourteenth, just as the sun was beginning to rise, 626 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 3: Martha and Angela were standing outside the house on Sheffield Avenue. 627 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 5: And I didn't even know if the key was going 628 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 5: to work or not, you know, like or if we 629 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:13,359 Speaker 5: were going to get in. 630 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 2: I remember we were both really nervous. 631 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 5: I got out the key and I was like, oh 632 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 5: my god, Like, I mean, all you have to do 633 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:26,799 Speaker 5: is twist and off. 634 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:29,560 Speaker 2: But like we were shaking, so we're like, okay, we 635 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:31,720 Speaker 2: could do this, like take a deep breath. 636 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 5: So Martha was like, it's all right, calm down. She 637 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 5: was the one calming me down. I opened the first door, 638 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 5: and then we opened the wooden door, and once we 639 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:43,719 Speaker 5: were in. 640 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:45,359 Speaker 3: It was a big like. 641 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 5: It was a big relief. 642 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,839 Speaker 2: And then my daughters came in, and I was really 643 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:57,439 Speaker 2: tired and happy and overwhelmed and just like so many 644 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 2: mixed feelings just being able to be inside. 645 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 5: The house, and right away the girls were like, I 646 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:05,560 Speaker 5: love this room. 647 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 2: Oh it's beautiful. 648 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 5: It's so beautiful. 649 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:09,719 Speaker 3: I'll never forget that. 650 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:13,399 Speaker 2: I just remember looking out the window and just saying, 651 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 2: I'm gonna stay here and see what happens. 652 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 3: The reclaimers were all over the news. 653 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 12: Publicly owned houses that have been vacant for years are 654 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 12: now becoming sheltered to the unhoused in Elserno, where they're 655 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:33,400 Speaker 12: reclaiming our homes. 656 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:34,760 Speaker 7: Movement is in full effect. 657 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 3: Eventually, Michelle saw the news too. 658 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:39,960 Speaker 7: I saw the pictures of the little girls like at 659 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,239 Speaker 7: the window, and I'm like, that was me. That was 660 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:45,400 Speaker 7: like thirteen year old me. That's why I think it 661 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 7: was bittersweet. I'm happy for them. You know, I'm sad 662 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:52,759 Speaker 7: that my mom's doesn't have her own place. I'm sad 663 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:54,600 Speaker 7: that my dad is gone. You know, it's just all 664 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:58,360 Speaker 7: these little emotions, but you know, it's time to move on. 665 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:00,759 Speaker 7: It was safer for me moms move on. 666 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 3: It may no longer be Michelle's home, but she's happy 667 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:17,479 Speaker 3: that her old house can be a home to someone else. 668 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 1: Today, Marta and twelve other reclaimers are living in the 669 00:39:33,360 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: once vacant caltrans homes. For now, the reclaimers are allowed 670 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:42,160 Speaker 1: to legally remain in their homes for at least two 671 00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 1: years under a transitional housing program, but their fight continues 672 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,560 Speaker 1: as they push for a more permanent solution. Their hope 673 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:53,080 Speaker 1: is that one day these homes will be given back 674 00:39:53,120 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 1: to the community of Elsino. This episode was produced by 675 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:23,399 Speaker 1: Julia Rocha and edited by Mitra Bonshini with help from 676 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:29,080 Speaker 1: Soviet Palisaka. The Latino USA team includes Mike Sargent, Julieta Martinelli, 677 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:35,840 Speaker 1: Vittoria Strada, Patricia Sulbaran, Gini Montalbo, Alejandra Salasar Rinaldo, Leanos Junior, 678 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:39,720 Speaker 1: and Julia Rocha, with help from Raoul Perez. Fact checking 679 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: by Amy Tardiff. Were edited by Andrea Lopez, Gruzsado and 680 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:47,719 Speaker 1: Marta Martinez. Our editorial director is Jujo Ricardo Barella. Our 681 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:51,400 Speaker 1: engineers are Stephanie Lobo, Julia Caruso, gabriel A Byez and 682 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:51,800 Speaker 1: j J. 683 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:52,440 Speaker 5: Carubin. 684 00:40:52,760 --> 00:40:55,840 Speaker 1: Our digital editor is Louis Luna. Our New York Women's 685 00:40:55,880 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 1: Foundation Ignite fellow is Maries Kinca. Our fellows are Monica 686 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:05,160 Speaker 1: Mooreles and Andrew bgnalis. Our theme music was composed by 687 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:07,560 Speaker 1: Sana Rubinos. If you like the music you heard on 688 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:10,319 Speaker 1: this episode, stop by Latinousa dot org and check out 689 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:13,600 Speaker 1: our weekly Spotify playlist. I'm your host and executive producer 690 00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:16,440 Speaker 1: MARIEO Posa. Join us again on our next episode, and 691 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:18,719 Speaker 1: in the meantime, look for us on all of your 692 00:41:18,719 --> 00:41:21,160 Speaker 1: social media. I'll see you there ii E. 693 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:30,000 Speaker 14: Latino USA is made possible in part by California Endowment, 694 00:41:30,360 --> 00:41:33,680 Speaker 14: building a strong state by improving the health of all Californians, 695 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 14: the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and funding 696 00:41:38,719 --> 00:41:41,720 Speaker 14: for Latino USA is Coverage of a culture of health 697 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 14: is made possible in part by a grant from the 698 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:45,800 Speaker 14: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 699 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:51,400 Speaker 11: And what's your favorite part of the house? 700 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,880 Speaker 1: My playroom in my room because I sleep in it, 701 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 1: and the kitchen because we make food in it. 702 00:41:57,200 --> 00:41:58,640 Speaker 9: But I really like the garden. 703 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:04,600 Speaker 2: It's little ugly go under oh without a joke, Oh 704 00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:06,080 Speaker 2: my gosh.