Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced the Angeleno Card, a program for those who may be experiencing devastation due to the coronavirus outbreak. Those who qualify will receive up to $1,500 in aid on a prepaid debit card. Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu tells Inside the Issues other resources that are available for those who need help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryu said he is working with senior and other vulnerable populations, partnering with nonprofits and food banks to provide food for those who need it. 

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“I'm trying to make it a point to tell all of the seniors in my district, please don’t even go out to the supermarket,” he said. “If you need help and ... friends or family that can't get groceries for you, contact my office because I will find a way.”

Ryu acknowledges many Angelenos are worried about not just rent but other bills like water, power and cell phones. He is calling for a national pause on these bills until residents all over the country are no longer under stay at home orders and the pandemic is under control.

He said the City of Los Angeles has already implemented a moratorium on evictions due to the virus, and says the protections need to go further for renters, landlords and property owners.

“If [renters] don’t pay rent, property owners, especially those smaller mom-and-pop property owners … can't pay their mortgage. And if they don't pay the mortgage, they default on their loan and then go into foreclosure, which is why we're saying let's put the pause button,” he said.

He said he is working to expand the next stimulus bill to have a larger bailout for renters.

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“Whether it’s another month or six months, but these bills are all adding up: the mortgages, the water bills, the cell phone bills, the insurance bills. And if you have all of these bills together, it’s almost going to be impossible for anyone, a renter or a small business owner, to be able to get out of this debt and this is why we’re also pushing for a rent and mortgage forgiveness.”

Ryu knows that’s not something that can be done at a local level.

“This is why we’re begging [the federal government] saying we need relief, because they’re not just Angelenos, they’re Americans.”

Watch the clip above for more.

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