R-9 Correspondence – Gary Hytrek
From: Gary Hytrek [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 8, 2022 3:58 PM
To: Mayor <[email protected]>; Diana Tang <[email protected]>; Council District 1 <[email protected]>; Council District 2 <[email protected]>; Rahul Sen <[email protected]>; Council District 3 <[email protected]>; Jack Cunningham <[email protected]>; Council District 4 <[email protected]>; Council District 5 <[email protected]>; Council District 6 <[email protected]>; Chork Nim <[email protected]>; Council District 7 <[email protected]>; Celina Luna <[email protected]>; Council District 8 <[email protected]>; Lynette Johnson <[email protected]>; Council District 9 <[email protected]>; Matthew Hamlett <[email protected]>; Parker Houston <[email protected]> Cc: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Recall/Retention Ordinances
-EXTERNAL-
Dear Mayor Garcia, Honorable Councilmembers and Staff,
Please find attached my letter, in my capacity as Co-President of our CFA@LB Chapter, in support of making the Right of Recall and Retention ordinances permanent in our city.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Gary Hytrek, PhD
Professor of Geography
Co-President, CFA@LB
Chair, CFA@LB Political Action Committee
1250 Bellflower Boulevard FO4
Room 180, MS 3505 Long Beach, CA
90840 Phone: (562) 985-5165 Fax:
(562) 985-1717
California Faculty Association@Long Beach
February 8, 2022
Honorable Mayor and City Council,
As Co-President of CFA@LB, representing over 2,900 faculty, coaches, counselors, and librarians at CSULB, I urge you to make the Long Beach’s Right of Recall and Retention ordinances permanent policies in our City. We must prioritize the needs of essential workers and ensure that they have these important protections in place for future economic crises. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we are all interconnected, our lives and our livelihoods depend on getting through this public health crisis together with dignity for everyone.
In May of 2020 Long Beach led the nation in putting workers first when they voted unanimously to pass ordinances to protect workers’ right to return to work after massive job loss during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitality and janitorial workers are essential workers, they are key to our ongoing recovery. But they have been the hardest hit during this pandemic. We fought for essential workers’ right to return to work after being laid off. These policies have been critical to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Long Beach workers.
We are concerned that these protections are in danger of repeal, threatening the livelihoods of the essential workers that are still dealing with hardships during the recovery process. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over and we need to make sure everyone recovers, not just the privileged few who can work from the safety of their homes. Our city’s leaders must do everything possible to prevent a deeper social and economic crisis with race and class defining who does well and who does not. You all as our elected officials are well positioned to take the necessary steps needed to address the needs this emergency has heightened.
As parents, educators, and community members, our goal is for all of us to be safe and healthy, and we must center the people most impacted -- this is not a new approach. It’s called equity.
Racial and economic equity is the way forward yesterday, today and tomorrow, and at this moment, more crucial than ever. We urge the Long Beach City Council to make these protections permanent. Recovery means everyone!
Sincerely,
Gary Hytrek, PhD
Professor of Geography
Co-President, CFA@LB
Chair, CFA@LB Political Action and Legislative Committee