Cudahy — Residents, tenant advocates and a Los Angeles Unified School District board member urged the Cudahy City Council on Aug. 5 to declare a state of emergency and adopt a 60‑day moratorium on evictions, saying recent immigration enforcement activity has left families fearful, unable to work and reluctant to send children to school.

Advocates and several residents addressed the council during public comment, describing what they said were repeated immigration enforcement actions in the region and asking the city to take emergency steps to protect renters and small businesses. Jasmine Gonzalez of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice said, “I urge Council to declare a state of emergency and vote on a 60 day emergency moratorium for evictions.”

The request echoed comments from other speakers. Grace Estrella of Communities for a Better Environment told the council that tenants and merchants are avoiding public life because of fear, and Irma Lopez, who identified herself as a Cudahy resident, said families have gone without work and that stress has led some to need hospital care. Email comments submitted for the record made identical requests for an emergency declaration and an eviction moratorium.

Why it matters: Council members said the measures could provide near‑term housing stability and lessen the public‑health and educational effects of displacement. Councilmember Lomeli asked staff to return with options; she said the high share of renters in Cudahy—she noted the city is “about an 85, I think now 88% renter community”—makes the issue urgent. Councilmember Gomez described the raids as a public‑health concern because of the trauma they produce.

School safety and LAUSD support

Carla Griego, a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board, spoke to the council earlier in the meeting in support of a separate back‑to‑school safety resolution before the council. Griego said LAUSD is distributing bilingual family care packets with “know your rights” information, a hotline and a family plan template, and urged families to send children to school. “You are safest at our schools,” Griego told the meeting, and she offered the district’s hotline and bilingual materials for distribution through Cudahy city channels.

Griego also described LAUSD outreach plans: principals will host informational meetings within the first two weeks of school, staff are being trained on safety protocols, and community organizations and partners such as the YMCA will provide local supports and food delivery. School starts Aug. 14, she said.

Residents' other housing concerns

Several public commenters raised additional housing‑related problems. Susie de Santiago, who identified herself as a Cudahy property owner, said she has been unable to complete a required business license and rental‑registry submission because the vendor portal showed an error; she asked the city not to impose late fees while the technical and administrative problem is unresolved. Lopez also raised concerns about high internet costs and asked the city to pursue digital equity steps and school transportation for students in need.

Council response and next steps

Council members expressed sympathy and said they would pursue multiple measures. Councilmember Lomeli and others said they support exploring eviction protections and additional housing safeguards; one councilmember said she will bring back a set of resolutions that could include an emergency declaration, an eviction moratorium for residential and commercial tenants, a rent increase moratorium and other housing protections. Councilmembers did not adopt such a resolution on Aug. 5; several asked staff to draft options and return to a future meeting.

Separately on the agenda, the council tabled the city’s “Public Health for All” initiative for additional edits and additions. The item was formally tabled to the next regular meeting by unanimous voice vote.

What the council did not decide: No emergency declaration or eviction moratorium was approved at the Aug. 5 meeting. Councilmembers committed to return with proposed language and potential implementation steps at a later date.

Context: The comments on Aug. 5 came amid a series of public meetings in Southeast Los Angeles where residents and tenant organizers have urged local governments to take emergency housing steps in response to immigration enforcement actions earlier in the summer.

Outlook: Council members who spoke said they expect staff to return with draft resolutions and implementation options, including potential timelines for a short moratorium and related tenant protections, for council consideration at a future meeting.