Save our Seniors rally in Little Tokyo

I participated in the Save our Seniors rally in Little Tokyo this weekend. Seniors in residential care facilities are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the owner of Sakura Gardens Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) here in the South Bay that primarily serves the Japanese American community is threatening to sell the facility and turn it into an apartment complex.

That's why I introduced AB 279, which would prohibit a senior residential care facility from making significant changes to the delivery of residential care services during the COVID-19 state of emergency unless the owner of the facility declares bankruptcy.

We have a moral obligation to do everything we can to protect these seniors from eviction or transfer trauma. At the very least, we should allow these seniors and their loved ones the peace of mind knowing that their current homes will not be taken away from them during a pandemic.