Who We Are
Long Beach for a Just Economy is a progressive policy alliance committed to shifting the balance of power in Long Beach. Through strategic community, labor, and faith-based partnerships, we mobilize working families of color to engage in the political process and fight for social and economic justice. Our vision is to build community power and transform Long Beach into a city where your zip code does not determine your quality of life – a city where workers, renters, and immigrants live with real agency and dignity.
Some of our key coalition partners in Long Beach include: CLUE Justice, Latinos in Action CA, Long Beach Residents Empowered (LiBRE), CFA Long Beach, DSA LB, PSL LA, Filipino Migrant Center, UNITE HERE Local 11, ORALE, UFCW 324 and more.
Long Beach for a Just Economy is an anchor organization of We Are California. Together, our coalition is fighting to make California better for all– regardless of race, class, age, gender, or who we love. We envision a California where everyone belongs, thrives, and contributes.
What We Do
We fight for working families through policy and coalition building.
We organize, educate, and mobilize community leaders to shift the balance of power in Long Beach.
We increase civic engagement and voter participation, specifically in North Long Beach, West Long Beach, and Central Long Beach, to ensure their voices are heard.
Current Areas of Work
Airport/Convention Center Living Wage
We’re working to extend Measure RW to concession workers at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and at the Long Beach Airport, raising their wages to $23 immediately, with increases to $29.50 by the 2028 Olympics.
Immigrant Advocacy
In partnership with the Long Beach Justice Fund, we’re supporting immigrant and undocumented communities facing deportation and other challenges through advocacy and legal aid.
Housing Justice
As a part of the Long Beach Housing Justice Coalition, we are working to maximize our impact to expand tenant programs to keep residents from falling into homelessness.
- LBJE, We Are California, the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, and a coalition of community partners mobilized 468 volunteers and knocked on over 36,000 doors to help secure the passage of Measure A in the November 2024 election. Subsequently, the City of Long Beach is set to receive a baseline of $17 million annually from Measure A. We are working to ensure these funds are allocated toward innovative housing solutions and preventing at-risk tenants from falling into homelessness.
- We’re working to strengthen tenant protections through the city’s Universal Just Cause Ordinance to eliminate unjust evictions and loopholes in the existing ordinance.
- Programs like the Tenants’ Right to Counsel have become a lifeline for families at risk of displacement by providing free legal assistance to renters facing an eviction. We’re working to educate communities about their rights as tenants and expand this critical program.
- The Long Beach Community Land Trust is currently laying the groundwork to acquire land and property, while also equipping residents with the resources needed to establish and sustain a successful Community Land Trust. As Long Beach’s first-ever CLT, we’ve made significant strides toward protecting housing stability and fostering community ownership.
Base Building in Long Beach
Long Beach for a Just Economy is helping to secure the next generation of organizers and leaders in our communities. From educating folks about local ballot initiatives, to helping people exercise their rights, and empowering our neighbors to give public comments at City Hall.
Civic and Voter Engagement
We’ve led field programs in Long Beach through our partnership with We Are California to fight for policies that uplift working families. Our focus is to increase civic engagement and political education for groups historically excluded from the political process. Together, we’re fighting to ensure everyone across our communities has a good life, fair wages, quality education, and affordable housing.
Past Work
Measure A (2024)
Secured much-needed funding for affordable housing and community services in Long Beach such as Right to Counsel and Rental Assistance.
Measure RW (2023)
Long Beach voters approved Measure RW, giving hotel workers the highest minimum wage in the country, raising workers’ wages to $23/hour by July 20, 2024 with an escalator to $29.50/hr by the 2028 Olympics.
Measure WW (2018)
Protects working women in Long Beach hotels from sexual harassment and abuse as well as excessive workloads.
Measure N (2012)
Increased the minimum wage to $13.00 per hour for hotel workers with annual increases and required that hotel workers receive at least five paid sick days per year.
Hero Pay (2021)
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the “hero pay” ordinance required large grocery stores to pay an extra $4 per hour for workers.
Emergency Eviction Moratorium (2020)
Tenant protections from COVID-19 related evictions.
Worker Retention (2013)
The Worker Retention Policy for the Long Beach Convention Center and the Long Beach Airport passed, making Long Beach’s tourism industry more just, stable, and strong. Before the policy, city-contracted tourism workers could lose their jobs overnight when Airport or Convention Center authorities changed contractors; they had no protection.