Morning Brief: Eviction Fears, The NFL, And A Hip-Hop Initiative

Good morning, L.A. It’s March 30.

Many tenants in California have had a hard time paying their rent since the pandemic began. From lost jobs to medical bills, the past two years have brought massive financial pressure.  

State and local officials have tried to abate the stress through rent relief programs and eviction protections, but those are set to expire in the coming months.

The state rent relief window will slam shut tomorrow, March 31. But money has been so slow to reach tenants that many in Sacramento are pushing for that application deadline to be extended.

If that effort goes through, anyone with an open application would be protected from eviction until the end of June, regardless of the status of their application. But, as my colleague David Wagner reports, many eligible renters haven’t filed an application, either because they didn’t know about the rent relief program, didn’t have access to a computer or the internet, or simply didn’t have the time to file.

One such tenant, Lynwood resident Valerie Flores, told David that she’s been unable to work while staying home to take care of her young son, who has special needs. During that time, she fell behind on rent.

“My landlord told me that if I don't pay, I’ll have to leave,” said Flores. “I hope that [nonprofit organization Strategic Actions for a Just Economy] can help me with the problems I’m having.”

That’s also the hope of activists like Patricia Mendoza, an organizer with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. Mendoza is urging tenants who owe back rent to submit their applications as soon as possible.

“I can't stress it enough,” she said. “If you owe rent, if you have that rent debt, then please apply, apply, apply.”

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A., and stay safe out there.

What Else You Need To Know Today

• Richard Williams, the man Will Smith portrayed on screen in his Academy Award-winning role, condemned Smith’s televised burst of violence.
• Justice Patricia Guerrero was sworn in to the state Supreme Court as the first Latina woman in the position. 
• California's largest cities saw a significant population drop in 2021.
• Home prices rose nearly 20% last year, in large part because the U.S. is several million homes short of demand. Builders say the pandemic is partly to blame, but the problem goes deeper than that.
• The National Football League set forth new diversity and inclusion efforts for the 2022 season at its annual owners meeting.
• A subvariant of omicron that's even more contagious than the original is now the most common COVID-19 strain in the U.S.

Before You Go ... UCLA Launches A Center For Hip-Hop Studies

Rapper Chuck D performs on stage during "Midnight At The Oasis" Annual Art For Life Benefit on July 15, 2017 in Water Mill, New York.

(Jason Kempin

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Getty Images North America)

If you’ve ever dreamed of studying under a rap legend, you may get your chance, if you happen to be a UCLA student. The university just unveiled their Hip-Hop Initiative, housed in the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, and their first artist-in-residence is none other than Chuck D, a founding member of the seminal 1980’s socially conscious rap group Public Enemy. Fight the power, bring the noise, and read all about the initiative here.