With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA County Leaders Order Up Plans To Help Ukrainians Who Resettle Here
Hundreds participated in a Stand with Ukraine Rally in Santa Monica on Saturday, March 12, 2022.
(
Daniella Segura
/
LAist
)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is calling on county departments, including the Office of Immigrant Affairs, to draw up plans to provide services for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion and help them resettle here.
That aid would include legal help, medical and mental health care and cash assistance.
Supervisor Hilda Solis said the county could help out local residents with loved ones in Ukraine who need help with paperwork for visa sponsorships.
"The motion here is to really try to provide the best information to our residents and send a message that we are welcoming those refugees that might find solace and a place here in L.A. County," Solis said.
Sponsored message
According to Solis' motion, about 26,000 people of Ukrainian descent live in L.A. County. As part of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, she traveled to the Chernobyl nuclear plant in 2007 and met several Ukrainian representatives.
"Now my heart breaks as the images of Ukrainians, particularly women and children suffering at the hands of a violent dictator," Solis said.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said that L.A. officials have worked to turn around their mixed record on welcoming immigrants.
On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a live video before the United States Congress to ask for more assistance, particularly more military aid to protect its airspace against a Russian onslaught.
Before concluding his address, Zelenskyy showed a video of his war-ravaged country that included chilling images of bloodied civilians and missiles striking Ukrainian buildings. By the end, almost every lawmaker stood and applauded the Ukrainian president.
The Biden administration recently extended Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians already living in the U.S., which will allow them to stay in the country for another 18 months.
Sponsored message
The president also plans to send an additional $800 million in assistance to Ukraine.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
