Protesters are contesting the sale of Keiro Senior Health Care, a Japanese-American retirement facility in Boyle Heights, and two congresswomen have joined the group. Judy Chu and Maxine Waters are helping activists appeal the sale to Attorney General Kamala Harris, KPCC reports.
The controversy surrounds the non-profit retirement home because it is being sold to for-profit real estate company, Pacifica Companies. Keiro specializes in caring for Japanese elderly people by offering Japanese food, practicing Japanese customs, and celebrating Japanese holidays.
Keiro has facilities in Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and Gardena.
Keiro management tells KPCC that now is the right time to sell because their financial future is uncertain amid healthcare reform and declining application rates. But protestors say they are worried management is taking this opportunity to cash out.
The sale is expected to close escrow in early 2016. The congresswomen say they are pressuring the attorney general to reverse her approval of the sale and protesters say they can seek an injunction to stop the purchase.
Photo above: Congresswoman Judy Chu. Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture from Flickr
