Economy

Federal Workers March to White House, Plead With Trump to End Shutdown

WASHINGTON INFORMER — Outrage mixed with panic for several thousand federal workers who marched Thursday to the White House in an appeal to President Trump.

Published

8 years ago

January 11, 2019

Hamil Harris Washington Informer Contributing Writer

By Hamil Harris

It was evident from their downcast eyes.

Outrage mixed with panic for several thousand federal workers who marched Thursday to the White House in an appeal to President Trump to end a federal shutdown nearing its fourth week.

The demonstrators converged on the AFL-CIO’s northwest D.C. headquarters at noon for the “Stop the Shutdown” rally, as labor union leaders and Democratic lawmakers called for the president to end the political impasse over border wall funding and return about 800,000 people to their jobs.

“I don’t know how I am going to pay my bills,” Mohasi Mohammed, a security guard at the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum, said while holding a sign reading, “Trump, pay my bills or give us our jobs back.”

“Mr. Trump, you want to tell me to be homeless,” Mohammed said. “It makes no sense. I am not going to be homeless, I need my job.”

Busloads of participants from Detroit, Philadelphia and communities along the East Coast filled the intersection of 16th and K streets, as demonstrators with protest signs rallied at the AFL-CIO headquarters before marching to the White House.

While D.C. is a frequent location for mass demonstrations, many of the federal workers on hand clearly were not used to engaging in protest or talking to the media. But their message was unmistakable.

“I want my check. I need my check. I need to get back to work,” said Alison Munger, who works for the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development in Philadelphia. “If I don’t get my check, my mortgage [company] is going to be calling me, asking, ‘Where is our money?’ … My car people will be calling, … my insurance company will be calling and I have two kids in college.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) were among the numerous speakers at the rally, held hours after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) debated a bill to end the shutdown that went nowhere.

“I have never seen a president like this, who holds temper tantrums and holds 800,000 people hostage,” J. David Cox, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told The Informer after addressing the crowd.

Cox said McConnell is simply doing Trump’s bidding.

“We need a simple up-and-down vote and then send the bill to the president,” he said.

Wala Blegay, the lawyer for two D.C.-area nurses’ unions, said she came to Lafayette Square to show solidarity, while Horacio Fenton, 59, a longtime IRS employee from Philadelphia, said he traveled to D.C. because he is fed up with the bureaucratic bickering at workers’ expense.

“I have been through seven shutdowns and I’m tired,” he said.

This article originally appeared in the Washington Informer.

Hamil Harris Washington Informer Contributing Writer

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Business

JPMorganChase Expands San Francisco Housing Investments Under $750 Billion Initiative

OAKLAND POST — In San Francisco, JPMorganChase will provide nearly $200 million in financing for a 342-unit residential building at the Power Station development in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The firm previously financed the Sophie Maxwell Building at the site, which opened in 2025 with 105 permanently affordable apartments for middle-income residents.

Published

2 days ago

August 6, 2026

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JPMorganChase is expanding its housing investments in San Francisco, committing nearly $200 million to a new residential development and millions more to affordable housing projects, research and community organizations working to address the city’s housing shortage.

The San Francisco effort is part of the firm’s American Dream Initiative, through which it plans to deploy more than $750 billion nationwide through 2035 to increase housing supply and support homeownership. The commitment represents a nearly 40% increase over its housing investments during the past decade.

In San Francisco, JPMorganChase will provide nearly $200 million in financing for a 342-unit residential building at the Power Station development in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The firm previously financed the Sophie Maxwell Building at the site, which opened in 2025 with 105 permanently affordable apartments for middle-income residents.

The company also plans to invest up to $15 million in Fifth Space’s new Essential Housing Fund, which will support affordable housing development in San Francisco, including an expected 250 units in Potrero Hill.

“Too many families are struggling to make rent in San Francisco, and our administration is working every day to help them stay here. Building housing is a critical piece of that work, and we’re taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to make that happen,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “JPMorganChase’s investment in housing reflects their commitment to San Francisco’s future, and these projects with hundreds of new homes show what we can do when the private sector and the city come together to tackle the issues that matter to families.”

Another $6 million in grants will go to the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund, Community Vision Capital & Consulting, San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association, the Housing Action Coalition and Housing California. The firm will also support housing research by the Urban Land Institute Foundation, Terner Labs and other institutions to develop local policy recommendations.

Nationally, JPMorganChase aims to finance the construction or preservation of 1 million affordable housing units for households earning less than 120% of area median income. It also plans to help 500,000 customers, including 200,000 first-time buyers, purchase homes by increasing mortgage lending by more than 40% and hiring 850 home lending advisers.

“JPMorganChase has a decades-long history of supporting San Francisco’s housing ecosystem—working with developers, community organizations, and local government to help bring more housing to market,” said Noah Wintroub, global chair of J.P. Morgan. “Through the American Dream Initiative, we’re ready to do even more. With the right public policies in place, the firm can provide more capital for housing, scaling solutions that help expand supply and affordability.”

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Community

Gov. Newsom Signs New Affordable Housing Legislation

LOS ANGELES WAVE — The legislation introduces a new “One-Stop-Shop” financing system designed to reduce duplicative reviews and accelerate affordable housing projects. According to the governor’s office, the reforms are expected to lower construction costs by an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 per affordable housing unit, allowing existing state investments to finance more homes.

Published

5 days ago

August 3, 2026

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California Governor Gavin Newsom stands with public officials after signing Assembly Bill 179 in Oakland, Calif., on July 13 2026. Assembly Bill 179 modernizes how California finances and delivers affordable housing. (Lloyd B Davis/Bay City News)

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation aimed at expanding affordable housing, reducing construction costs and speeding up housing development across California as part of the state’s 2026-27 budget.

Assembly Bill (AB) 179, signed July 17, modernizes California’s affordable housing finance system by streamlining project approvals, expanding funding for housing programs and creating new financing tools for homeowners rebuilding after disasters. State officials said the measure is intended to help increase housing production while strengthening efforts to address the state’s housing affordability and homelessness challenges.

The legislation introduces a new “One-Stop-Shop” financing system designed to reduce duplicative reviews and accelerate affordable housing projects. According to the governor’s office, the reforms are expected to lower construction costs by an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 per affordable housing unit, allowing existing state investments to finance more homes.

“When I took office in 2019, my goal was clear: to reverse decades of inaction on housing and homelessness and ensure there was enough housing and care for people to leave the streets,” Newsom said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the Legislature’s partnership, as together we add to this proven foundation with new laws that cut red tape, expand financing opportunities, and help communities build housing faster.”

The measure also establishes a $100 million Disaster Rebuilding Fund to help homeowners repair or reconstruct homes damaged by disasters. In addition, the budget includes $900 million for another round of Housing, Homelessness Assistance and Prevention grants while adding new accountability requirements for certain cities and counties receiving state funding.

To support affordable housing development, the budget provides $500 million in enhanced state low-income housing tax credits and $200 million for the Multifamily Housing Program to build and preserve affordable rental housing for low-income Californians.

According to the governor’s office, California has made progress in increasing housing production since 2019. Annual residential construction has risen by 59%, from about 70,000 homes in 2018 to approximately 111,000 in 2024. The administration also reported that more than 682,000 homes have been built statewide during that period and that the average time from development application to entitlement has dropped from 160 days to 68 days.

State officials also highlighted recent declines in homelessness, including what they described as the state’s largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in 16 years.

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Business

Starting This Summer, California Car Buyers Can Get an Instant $3500 Off the Cost of Electric Vehicles

OAKLAND POST — Beginning later this summer, eligible Californians can receive a $3,500 rebate on new zero-emission vehicles with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to $50,000. Buyers purchasing qualifying used electric vehicles priced at up to $25,000 can receive a $1,750 rebate. The rebate will be applied directly at participating dealerships, allowing buyers to receive the discount immediately instead of waiting for reimbursement.

Published

2 weeks ago

July 26, 2026

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California residents purchasing their first zero-emission vehicle will soon be eligible for an instant rebate of up to $3,500 under a new state program aimed at making electric vehicles more affordable.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 168 on July 16, creating the MyFirstEV program as part of California’s 2026-27 state budget. The initiative dedicates $135.5 million in state funding for point-of-sale rebates, which participating automakers will match dollar for dollar. State officials said the combined investment will provide $270 million in savings for first-time electric vehicle buyers.

Beginning later this summer, eligible Californians can receive a $3,500 rebate on new zero-emission vehicles with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to $50,000. Buyers purchasing qualifying used electric vehicles priced at up to $25,000 can receive a $1,750 rebate. The rebate will be applied directly at participating dealerships, allowing buyers to receive the discount immediately instead of waiting for reimbursement.

“With our new instant rebate program for electric vehicles, we’re making it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets,” Newsom said in a statement.

The MyFirstEV program is part of a broader $600 million investment in California’s clean transportation economy included in the state budget. The funding package also provides $150 million for the Community Air Protection Program, $19.8 million for the Clean Cars 4 All program for lower-income residents, $35 million for clean off-road equipment through the Air Quality Improvement Program, $135.5 million for the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, and $130 million for the Carl Moyer Program to replace older heavy-duty engines with cleaner alternatives.

According to the governor’s office, the transportation investments are funded through Cap-and-Invest revenue and smog-abatement fees while maintaining a balanced state budget.

California continues to expand its zero-emission transportation network. The state surpassed 2.5 million cumulative zero-emission vehicle sales earlier this year, exceeding its original goal of 1.5 million sales by 2025. Officials also reported that California has more than 200,000 public and shared electric vehicle charging plugs statewide, in addition to an estimated 800,000 home charging stations.