Strategic Actions for a Just Economy

Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) is a non-profit economic justice organization based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1996 by Gilda Haas and Kent Wong and is currently led by Executive Director Cynthia Strathmann PhD.

Community Benefits Agreements

As a founding convening organization of the United Neighbors in Defense Against Displacement Coalition (UNIDAD)--formerly known as the Coalition for a Responsible USC and the Figueroa Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice--SAJE has fought for the adoption community benefits agreements (CBA) that ensure new developments benefit existing working-class residents in impacted neighborhoods. These agreements have included provisions for affordable housing funding, local targeted hiring, low-income health clinics, and set asides for low and extremely-low income housing.

Notable projects with CBAs involving SAJE:

• Staples Center/LA Live
• GH Palmer Lorenzo Project
• University of Southern California University Village
• Grand Metropolitan Development

Other projects

• Secured affordable housing and renovations to buildings owned by a slum lord in South Los Angeles
• Developed a pilot program to reduce high check cashing fees for welfare recipients with Washington Mutual Bank.
• Co-organized the Annual South Los Angeles Health and Human Rights Conference to address community health issues.

Housing policy & retracted housing vacancy report

In 2019, researchers working for SAJE published a report claiming that there were more vacant homes in Los Angeles than homeless people. After questions about the report's methodology, the report was removed from the internet.

SAJE co-signed a letter opposing SB 79.

References