Skyrocketing rents and stagnant wages have left California in an unprecedented housing crisis.
There are about 60,000 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles alone, of which 16,500 live out of their vehicles.
On Tuesday, Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) proposed a bill in Sacramento that would prevent cities from impounding cars that have received five or more unpaid parking tickets or registration that is six months out of date.
Supporters of AB-516 argue that those who are forced to live out of their cars miss ticket and registration payments because they cannot afford them, rather than out of neglect.
The City Council, who opposed the bill on a 12-1 vote, made the argument that there are mechanisms for homeless individuals to retrieve their cars if they are towed, like working off their fees.
We hear both sides of the debate and want to hear from you.
Have you had to live out of your car and had it impounded? Or have impounding fees been too expensive for you to afford to retrieve your car?
Call us at 866-893-5722 to weigh in.
Guests:
Chris Roth, community organizer with Ground Game Los Angeles, a not-for-profit organization that builds civic engagement in Los Angeles; he is also running for the California State Assembly in 2020; he tweets
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles City Councilmember representing the 8th District, which encompasses parts of South Los Angeles and spans from Baldwin Hills to the border of Watts; he opposes the bill; he tweets
Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association