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U.S. NEWS Thursday 14 January 2021

Housing advocates call on Biden to extend eviction ban

By MICHAEL CASEY landlords who need those
Associated Press funds,” she continued. “The
BOSTON (AP) — Housing ad- eviction moratorium has
vocates around the coun- to be extended in order to
try staked out courthouses continue to create protec-
and held rallies Wednes- tion for tenants while states
day, calling on the incom- and localities work to get
ing Biden administration emergency rental assis-
to extend and strengthen tance out to tenants who
the current federal ban on need it most.”
evictions. The organizers behind Tues-
President Donald Trump’s day’s protests, Right To
directive, implemented in The City Alliance, also said
September by the U.S. Cen- Congress needs to move
ters for Disease Control and to cancel any rent or mort-
Prevention, was extended gage debt related to the
until the end of January. pandemic. Along with a
Given the pandemic is still rally and march in Boston,
ongoing, advocates argue protesters built a living room
tenants should have pro- in front of the CDC head-
tections for the next sev- quarters in Atlanta and
eral months and that the a mariachi band played
ban should be expanded Tenants’ rights advocates demonstrate in front of the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Wednesday, outside the home of a Los
beyond only tenants who Jan. 13, 2021, in Boston. The protest was part of a national day of action calling on the incoming Angeles County Board of
cannot pay their rent. Biden administration to extend the eviction moratorium initiated in response to the Covid-19 Supervisors member.
pandemic.
“Today, was an opportuni- Associated Press “Millions of families, most
ty to stand in solidarity with of them people of col-
the people,” said Alan Tan- circled the housing court, expired, the federal ban is “We’re calling on Presi- or who are also frontline
ner, a minister at St. Luke’s honking their horns. the only remaining protec- dent-elect Biden on his first workers, are living in fear
Christian AME Zion Church “We need regulation and tion preventing the more day, his first hour to sign a of ending up on the street
who spoke at a rally in Bos- legislation that is going to than 23 million renters from new executive order imple- month to month even as
ton, one of 17 on Wednes- prevent evictions,” he said. being evicted. menting a new extended this pandemic continues
day in 14 states. “We need an extension of Expectations are high that strengthened enforced to kill us,” Kamau Walton,
Several dozen tenants, ad- the moratorium. We need one of the first things Joe eviction moratorium for the senior organizer for com-
vocates and small landlords something more strict and Biden does when taking of- duration of the pandemic,” munications with the Right
gathered outside a hous- stern than even than the fice will be extending that Diane Yentel, president of To The City Alliance, said in
ing court in Boston, chant- eviction ban, something CDC eviction order. Advo- the National Low-Income a statement. “This isn’t just
ing “Housing is the Cure” that is not temporary and cates are also pressing him Housing Coalition, said. about housing, this is about
and holding signs including will last through the dura- to include tens of billions of “When he comes into of- protecting public health.”
“Eviction Free Zone” and tion of the pandemic.” dollars in rental assistance fice, the current federal Biden has repeatedly talk-
“Ban Utility Shutoffs.” They Bans on eviction were used in the next coronavirus relief eviction moratorium is set ed about wanting to ex-
marched to the nearby early on in the pandemic bill. That would be on top of to expire 11 days later. It is tend the moratorium until
John F. Kennedy Federal by states and cities to keep the $25 billion approved in literally impossible for the the end of the pandemic.
Building to call on federal tenants housed and and the $900 billion coronavirus $25 billion of emergency Details from his transition
action to address evictions. avoid a spike in homeless- relief bill passed by Con- rental assistance to get team are expected in the
About a dozen cars also ness. But with most of those gress in December. to the tenants and small days and weeks ahead.q

U.S. Space Command site to be located in Huntsville, Alabama

By KIM CHANDLER providing warning of mis- ly to Wernher von Braun
Associated Press sile launches. That is differ- and his team of fellow Ger-
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — ent from the Space Force, man-born rocketeers who
The U.S. Air Force is expect- which is a distinct military settled there in the 1950s.
ed to announce Huntsville, service like the Army, Navy, The city has long been
Alabama, as the location Air Force, Marine Corps home to the Army’s Red-
for the U.S. Space Com- and Coast Guard. stone Arsenal and NASA’s
mand headquarters, ac- “I couldn’t be more pleased Marshall Space Flight Cen-
cording to Alabama’s gov- to learn that Alabama will ter.
ernor. be the new home to the Ivey’s office said Deputy
Gov. Kay Ivey said that United States Space Com- Assistant Secretary of the
Huntsville’s Redstone Re- mand,” Ivey said in a state- Air Force for Instillations Bob
gion is set to house the ment. Moriarity called Ivey to in-
headquarters. The gover- “Our state has long provid- form her of Secretary Bar-
nor said she was informed ed exceptional support for bara Barrett’s decision over In this Aug. 29, 2019 file photo, President Donald Trump watches
with Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary Mark
of the decision Wednesday our military and their fami- where the headquarters Esper as the flag for U.S. space Command is unfurled as Trump
morning. lies as well as a rich and sto- would be. announces the establishment of the U.S. Space Command in the
The role of the Space Com- ried history when it comes A number of states com- Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.
mand is to conduct opera- to space exploration,” Ivey peted for the site. Associated Press
tions such as enabling satel- said. Other finalists for the site Force Base in Nebraska, Pe- Texas and Patrick Air Force
lite-based navigation and Huntsville’s nickname, were Kirtland Air Force Base terson Air Force Base in Col- Base in Brevard County,
troop communication and Rocket City, is thanks large- in New Mexico, Offutt Air orado, Port San Antonio in Florida.q