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**DISCLAIMER: The following information concerns an undocumented resident of the Central Valley. "Magdalena" is a grandmother and a survivor of domestic violence. There are also three children under the age of 10 who live in Magdalena's home. Given the current climate of intense persecution of immigrants and people of color, Magdalena's attorney has asked that an alias for her client be used.
With the threat of ICE raids and the separation of children from families, we cannot be too careful about protecting Magdalena's identity. This precaution also extends to sharing the name of Magdalena's lawyer, Natalia LS.
In order to ensure we protect the anonymity of her client, we have chosen to include only Natalia's last initials ... She is a civil rights lawyer, as well as an immigrant herself. She is also a graduate of Santa Clara University Law School and resident at an notable Zen Buddhist temple in San Francisco.
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Dear Friends,
It's hard to imagine that Magdalena's tenancy could have gotten more difficult, but then her property manager asked her out. When Magdalena declined, then things got worse. (If this wasn't bad enough, it turns out that the property manager is also the father of the woman who owns the home Magdalena and her family rent.)
Magdalena needs our support right away ... our generosity will help Magdalena protect her home and defend her family!
A grandmother and a migrant field worker, all Magdalena has ever wanted is a safe, habitable place to live for herself and her family. What she's had to deal with instead are deplorable living conditions ... no working heat, years without air conditioning in the sweltering Central Valley summers, holes in the walls and other dilapidated conditions that have led to rodent and pest infestations.
All the while, Magdalena's property manager and landlord have consistently ignored all her requests to repair these atrocious conditions.
And as an undocumented member of the community, Magdalena has been afraid to report these awful habitability issues to the proper authorities.
As was mentioned at the outset of this email, things got much worse for Magdalena last year when the property manager made a romantic advance. Shortly after Magdalena declined, the threats and intimidation escalated.
Magdalena wants to defend herself and her family. She wants to fight these abuses, and she has a lawyer to help her protect her rights. (A San Francisco-based civil rights and immigration lawyer who also happens to be a lay ordained Zen Buddhist who lives at one of the country's most celebrated Zen Buddhist temples.)
While Magdalena and her attorney have documented many violations of building, health and safety codes codes and landlord harassment, it will require considerable resources to take on a well-funded home-owner, her family, and their lawyers.
Furthermore, Magdalena and her family will have to cover the cost of lodging ... The disgraceful habitability issues have made it hard for Magdalena and her family to stay current with their rent. Also, the possibility of a deportation raid and an array of other circumstances make it very difficult for Magdalena and her family to stay in their home while they fight for their rights.
Regarding Magdalena's housing case, a questionable ruling by a substitute judge resulted in a trial date being set THIS TUESDAY, July 24th! (A judge that does not usually hear civil cases denied Magdalena's right to a meaningful discovery process. This outrageous ruling expedited the timeline of Magdalena's case.)
To ensure Magdalena can exercise her rights, protect her home, and stop the abuse she and her family face, please contribute NOW.
The funds you give will help cover the costs of things like home inspections and reports that can be submitted in court or shared with the County building inspectors. There are also an array of fees and costs necessary to mount an effective case. And Magdalena and her family will have to deal with any back rent owed once the dispute over the condition of the property is resolved.
While there are laws on the books to protect Magdalena and her family, those laws won't do her any good if she can't cover basic expenses and have her day in court.
Thank you very much for considering Magdalena's circumstances, and all that you do to help her protect herself and her family.
- Friends of "Magdalena"
PS - please feel free to forward this email to people you know who may be able to help. And if you can think of anyone who can help with a contribution to Magdalena's legal defense and to help keep her and her family in their home, please reply to this email and we will get back to you right away.
With the threat of ICE raids and the separation of children from families, we cannot be too careful about protecting Magdalena's identity. This precaution also extends to sharing the name of Magdalena's lawyer, Natalia LS.
In order to ensure we protect the anonymity of her client, we have chosen to include only Natalia's last initials ... She is a civil rights lawyer, as well as an immigrant herself. She is also a graduate of Santa Clara University Law School and resident at an notable Zen Buddhist temple in San Francisco.
===========================================================================
Dear Friends,
It's hard to imagine that Magdalena's tenancy could have gotten more difficult, but then her property manager asked her out. When Magdalena declined, then things got worse. (If this wasn't bad enough, it turns out that the property manager is also the father of the woman who owns the home Magdalena and her family rent.)
Magdalena needs our support right away ... our generosity will help Magdalena protect her home and defend her family!
A grandmother and a migrant field worker, all Magdalena has ever wanted is a safe, habitable place to live for herself and her family. What she's had to deal with instead are deplorable living conditions ... no working heat, years without air conditioning in the sweltering Central Valley summers, holes in the walls and other dilapidated conditions that have led to rodent and pest infestations.
All the while, Magdalena's property manager and landlord have consistently ignored all her requests to repair these atrocious conditions.
And as an undocumented member of the community, Magdalena has been afraid to report these awful habitability issues to the proper authorities.
As was mentioned at the outset of this email, things got much worse for Magdalena last year when the property manager made a romantic advance. Shortly after Magdalena declined, the threats and intimidation escalated.
Magdalena wants to defend herself and her family. She wants to fight these abuses, and she has a lawyer to help her protect her rights. (A San Francisco-based civil rights and immigration lawyer who also happens to be a lay ordained Zen Buddhist who lives at one of the country's most celebrated Zen Buddhist temples.)
While Magdalena and her attorney have documented many violations of building, health and safety codes codes and landlord harassment, it will require considerable resources to take on a well-funded home-owner, her family, and their lawyers.
Furthermore, Magdalena and her family will have to cover the cost of lodging ... The disgraceful habitability issues have made it hard for Magdalena and her family to stay current with their rent. Also, the possibility of a deportation raid and an array of other circumstances make it very difficult for Magdalena and her family to stay in their home while they fight for their rights.
Regarding Magdalena's housing case, a questionable ruling by a substitute judge resulted in a trial date being set THIS TUESDAY, July 24th! (A judge that does not usually hear civil cases denied Magdalena's right to a meaningful discovery process. This outrageous ruling expedited the timeline of Magdalena's case.)
To ensure Magdalena can exercise her rights, protect her home, and stop the abuse she and her family face, please contribute NOW.
The funds you give will help cover the costs of things like home inspections and reports that can be submitted in court or shared with the County building inspectors. There are also an array of fees and costs necessary to mount an effective case. And Magdalena and her family will have to deal with any back rent owed once the dispute over the condition of the property is resolved.
While there are laws on the books to protect Magdalena and her family, those laws won't do her any good if she can't cover basic expenses and have her day in court.
Thank you very much for considering Magdalena's circumstances, and all that you do to help her protect herself and her family.
- Friends of "Magdalena"
PS - please feel free to forward this email to people you know who may be able to help. And if you can think of anyone who can help with a contribution to Magdalena's legal defense and to help keep her and her family in their home, please reply to this email and we will get back to you right away.
