Sarah Michelson, Author at Knock LA

Sarah Michelson works as a live-captioner and Spanish interpreter for community events. Previously she worked in legal aid for tenants and asylum seekers. Find her at samiwords.com or peddling used books somewhere unexpected.

Author Sarah Michelson

Across the city and county, workers are fighting for their jobs, their housing — and their lives. Here are six major labor actions happening this summer.

Tenants will get expanded just-cause protections, which limit the number of valid reasons for evictions. But massive increases in evictions are expected to continue as LA revokes emergency protections.

Miembros de la comunidad oaxaqueña de Los Ángeles hablaron al Knock LA sobre varias maneras en las que Los Ángeles puede combatir el racismo anti-indígena.

Members of the LA Oaxacan community told Knock LA about several ways Los Angeles could combat anti-Indigenous racism.

Tenants demand Boston University allow community control over the homes, rather than sell them to developers who would evict the community.

Workers at both locations say Ricky Hernandez hasn’t paid them for weeks, and has failed to pay them consistently for years.

Thousands of academic workers at UCLA are entering their third week on strike, joining 48,000 UC students statewide in the largest public university strike in US history.

Little Tokyo and Cypress Park workers have joined a global action to demand Starbucks stop union-busting and start negotiating a fair contract.

Workers fought for a law giving them a seat at the table. Now they say corporations are trying to trick voters into repealing the law.

Hundreds walked out to demand better working conditions, an end to retaliation, and a $5-an-hour pay increase.

City Council extends COVID-19 state of emergency and temporary renter protections, approves anonymous LAPD donation, and rejects police brutality settlement.

City Council criminalizes bicycling and supports healthcare and hotel workers. Meanwhile, Councilmember Paul Koretz opposes a $2.5 million settlement for a protestor shot by LAPD.

Tenants score a major victory but City Council doubles down on 41.18 restrictions yet again.

After years of negotiations and protests by low-income Hillside Villa tenants facing 300% rent increases, the city agreed to buy their apartment building to keep their homes affordable.

City Council expands a program providing free legal representation to immigrants, but also approves funding for a Business Improvement District that would unfortunately increase police surveillance.

Tenants from Hillside Villa and Chesapeake Apartments fight for their housing while Joe Buscaino helps repeal COVID protections for disabled and elderly community members.

Nithya Raman fights to stop illegal rent increases while the LAPD offers a milquetoast apology for exploding 42 pounds of fireworks in a residential neighborhood last June.

Residents express concerns over gentrification as LA City Council takes more steps to make it illegal to be unhoused.

This week, City Council settled an LAPD lawsuit, reimbursed FEMA for Project Roomkey, and banned flavored tobacco.

City Council nearly unanimously removes vaccine requirements for outdoor events, De Léon brags about his displacing 80 unhoused residents from Toriumi Plaza, and the council accepts $3.8 million more in LAPD funding.

Police state: the LA City Council approved enforcing 41.18 and a $250,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security for an LAPD-run anti-terrorist program.

Sarah Michelson and Zach Gatto

A recap of Los Angeles City Council meetings on March 1, 2, and 4.

Zach Gatto and Sarah Michelson

A recap of Los Angeles City Council meetings on February 14 and 22.

Zach Gatto and Sarah Michelson

A recap of Los Angeles City Council meetings on February 8 and 9.

Zach Gatto and Sarah Michelson

Redistricting updates, LAPD donations, and a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Zach Gatto and Sarah Michelson

An Olympics Update, a new project in Venice, and a Buscaino public meltdown.

Zach Gatto, Maggie Clancy and Sarah Michelson

Un Resumen de las Reuniones de Martes, Miércoles, y Viernes.

Maggie Clancy, Sarah Michelson and Zach Gatto

La Ley SB 62 prohíbe el pago por pieza y amplía la responsabilidad de las empresas por robo de salarios

New California Law Expands Brand Liability for Wage Theft, Abolishes Piece-Rate Pay.