Latino, Asian American areas at high economic risk, according to new report

Neighborhoods with significant Latino and Asian American populations in Los Angeles County are particularly vulnerable to economic uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report sponsored by the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) and Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK) at UCLA Luskin, along with Ong & Associates.

"Entire communities are in a precarious financial situation, weakening the economic base in areas that already have a history of underinvestment and limited opportunities," said Paul Ong, lead author and CNK director. According to the report, almost 60% of Latino-majority neighborhoods and 40% of Asian-majority neighborhoods will be affected; in comparison, 12% of white-majority neighborhoods will face the same level of economic disruption caused by the global pandemic.

The report includes recommendations for state and local officials to support low-wage workers in Los Angeles County. "Latinos and Asian Americans are critical to the continued success of Los Angeles County's economy, and the impact that their families and neighborhoods will see in this crisis requires urgent action," said Sonja Diaz, LPPI executive director. Communities that will see the greatest impacts include neighborhoods in northeast Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, Inglewood and the northeast San Fernando Valley, the report found. The affected neighborhoods also have a high concentration of foreign-born residents. "Now is the time for elected officials to ensure that low-wage workers have a safety net in this time of crisis to ensure the safety and well-being of all communities," Ong said.