On September 18, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 1876, expanding access to the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) to immigrant workers.

The California IAF, including MOC, was instrumental in pushing for this change, providing much-needed relief during the COVID-19 pandemic to immigrants. In April 2020, the California IAF and the California Catholic Conference wrote letters to Governor Newsom, urging him to expand the CalEITC to include ITIN filers, many of whom are undocumented. And on May 5, 2020 over 1,200 California IAF leaders, 10 Bishops, and 7 state legislators converged on Zoom and Facebook Live to demand the Governor and legislature provide immediate relief for essential workers left out of state and federal relief.

Both non-citizen immigrant households, as well as mixed-status families in which one tax filer has a Social Security Number while the other does not, directly benefit from the expansion of California’s anti-poverty tax credits. Governor Newsom’s elimination of the arbitrary exclusion of Californians who file their taxes with a federally-issued Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) from the up to $2,982 CalEITC, and the up to $1,000 Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) is historic. California is only the second state in the country to take action to address this inequity.

Despite community-wide power outages—and a last minute change in venue—700 Marin Organizing Committee leaders assembled at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael on October 27th, 2019 for their 10th Anniversary Convention.

24 hours before the assembly, leaders learned that the planned location for their convention, the Marin Civic Center, would be needed as a local command center to address power outages and host fire evacuees from Sonoma County. Demonstrating flexibility, leaders quickly relocated the assembly to a synagogue down the street. With 99% of the county left without power (in an effort to prevent more fires), MOC demonstrated the power of organized people with the tenacity and resilience to show up against the odds.

Using a generator and portable mic system, leaders from 22 institutions ratified their agenda of issues moving into 2020, reported 75% progress on a $100,000 investment campaign, and celebrated 10 years of citizen power in Marin County. In the midst of anxiety-ridden uncertainty, MOC proved our people can and will show up.

Read more about the 10th Anniversary Convention:

Nonpartisan Marin activist organization gathers to chart future course,  Marin Independent Journal  [ pdf ]
Amid fires, Rodef Sholom pinch hits as host for Marin Organizing Committee's 10-year celebration, J. [pdf]
Marin Voice: MOC Ready to Practice Revolutionary Patience with New Issues Agenda, Marin Independent Journal [pdf]