By Oscar de la Torre
When Maria Vivanco visited me at the Pico Youth & Family Center, I was happy to see her home on break from her first year at college. Her revelation that on December 11th her family had received an unfounded 30-day eviction notice provided a real example of the escalating gentrification in Santa Monica's Pico Neighborhood. Maria, her parents and three brothers and sisters are the last family of color left in what had been an all-Latino tenant building.
On January 23rd, SMRR and Mothers for Justice joined the Vivanco family and their pro bono attorney, Dario Navarro (Legal Aid attorney Denise McGranahan is co-counsel), in a press conference that announced a counter suit brought by the Vivancos against their landlord. The case, which was filed in federal court, is expected to go to trial, and, if won, will give hope to low-income tenants in the Pico Neighborhood who seek legal remedies in stopping tenant harassment and housing discrimination.
A fundraiser is being planned to support the Vivanco family and to start a legal support fund to fight discrimination. If you want to help, please call (310) 586-1716.