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The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis amplified long-standing racial, gender, and income inequities in California and the US and highlighted the critical need for bold investments to strengthen the safety net so that all people can meet basic needs, crisis or not. In particular, the pandemic accelerated a growing movement around Guaranteed Income – the idea that government should provide people with unconditional cash support to ensure that everyone has a minimum level of income to meet basic needs. [...]

COVID-19 has disrupted California Community College (CCC) students’ higher education plans, causing many to reduce their course loads or pause their education altogether. The CCCs serve high percentages of students of color and students with low incomes, and drops in enrollment can further narrow educational opportunities and undermine workforce development priorities statewide. [...]

Workers need paid time off during a pandemic to abide by public health guidelines, stop the spread of illness, and care for family members. California’s temporary COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave - approved by the state Legislature - is an important public health tool that provides workers with up to 80 hours of paid time off to care for their health or family members’ health.¹ Unfortunately, COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave ends September 30, 2021, even though community transmission of the virus remains high in many counties across the state. [...]