We’re grateful! A Thanksgivukkah list of “justice won” in 2013.

What are we thankful for this Thanksgivukkah? Let us count the many things we fought hard for and won in 2013.

Better wages! AB241, a cornerstone of efforts to strengthen labor protections, was signed into law guaranteeing overtime pay for domestic workers! Tipped restaurant workers won an increase in the minimum wage.

Keep kids in school! The L.A. and Long Beach School boards passed resolutions to ban suspensions for non-serious offenses and to implement alternative discipline practices to help keep kids in school.

Licenses for all drivers! Many Liberty Hill funded leaders fought long and hard for the right to have a driver’s license for undocumented immigrants and the new “Trust Act” which prohibits a law enforcement official from detaining an individual on the basis of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold after that person becomes eligible for release from custody.

Juvenile justice! Two big wins! SB 260 will allow young people who were tried as adults and sentenced to more than 10 years to petition to have their sentence reviewed for re-sentencing. SB458 closes a loophole that allowed children as young as 10 years old to be added to the CalGang database with no legal requirement that their parents or guardians be notified of their inclusion. Parents may also appeal the inclusion of their child in the database.

Mutual respect! The L.A.Times, after meeting with transgender advocates, agreed to revise its terminology guide to ensure better coverage of the transgender community.

Housing for low income families! Housing advocates completed financing for affordable housing in Koreatown, while on the Westside, a preservation agreement was reached for the Holiday Venice apartments that will allow current families the first right of ownership.

More green space! $5 million was secured to build a 4 acre park in one of L.A.’s most park-poor areas.

Transgender equality! AB1266 requires public schools to allow access to facilities and activities that match students’ gender activity.

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