UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) in partnership with the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge recently released a very powerful report, “Left Behind During a Global Pandemic: An Analysis of Los Angeles County Neighborhoods at Risk of Not Receiving COVID-19 Individual Rebates Under the CARES Act.” It urges state and local leaders to step up for Latino neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. The report illuminates the vulnerability to economic uncertainty of these neighborhoods, and yet they are least likely to receive federal aid.
Some of the findings of this report are listed below:
- Large segments of Los Angeles County’s population are excluded from the CARES Act’s individual rebate because of the requirements set by the act.
- Neighborhoods with the highest risk of not receiving a rebate are overwhelmingly comprised of people of color.
- Immigrants are also relatively more concentrated in higher-risk neighborhoods than native-born populations.
- Many of the riskier neighborhoods are majority renters, whereas the least risk neighborhoods are predominately homeowners.
The report finds that fifty-six percent of Latino neighborhoods in L.A. County are at the highest risk of not receiving needed relief. Overall, the report recommends state and local governments should direct economic relief and social safety net benefits toward these vulnerable communities.
Read the full report HERE.
As an economist and director of the 