News and Views
July 27, 2009
In Sonoma County court-ordered evictions are up 25 percent over three years.
July 26, 2009
While everyone is talking about the foreclosure crisis and how it affects homeowners, no one seems to be addressing the crisis facing renters. This piece recommends that prospective renters go to the county recorder's office to learn about the status of the mortgage.
July 24, 2009
Larry Gross of CES explains how tenants’ rights advocates were shocked when a bill that would cripple mobile-home rent control laws recently passed the Assembly due to support from a number of Los Angeles area progressive and liberal Democrats.
July 24, 2009
Realty times says that the idea of allowing foreclosed homeowners to remain in their homes as renters is gaining increased attention. Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research says that having foreclosed properties sitting vacant benefits no parties involved.
One of downtown’s biggest developers has won a court case challenging an affordable housing law in Los Angeles.
July 23, 2009
On August 5, the Ridgcrest City Council will make its final decision on an eviction protection ordinance intended to protect tenants from displacement after foreclosure. Local realtors say the passage of this ordinance would discourage construction of new apartment complexes.
July 22, 2009
Hundreds of Valley families are paying their rent on time, and still getting evicted. It's all due to a foreclosure crisis they say they did nothing to create. Tenants Together is featured in this news piece. From KFSN TV in Fresno.
Responding to pattern of banks and real estate agents violating Oakland's Just Cause for Eviction law, Oakland City Attorney John Russo took an important step when he sued JP Morgan Chase and other banks and real estate agents for illegally evicting Oakland tenants after foreclosure. For this he has received a great deal of well-deserved media attention and praise from tenant advocates.
July 17, 2009
The Obama administration is considering a proposal that would allow foreclosed on homeowners to remain in their homes as renters.
This week at Tenants Together we learned of a community meeting soon to be held in East Palo Alto titled "Page Mill Properties and Local Nonprofits: Is Partnering Worth It?" hosted by One East Palo Alto (OEPA). The goal of the meeting is to have a discussion about whether or not community organizations should be accepting money from Page Mill Properties. Page Mill Properties is, of course, the notorious landlord that has bought up more that 50% of the city's rent controlled housing and has been systematically undermining the EPA rent control ordinance.
The Guardian reports on a class action lawsuit filed against San Francisco's CitiApartments for illegally withholding tenants' security deposits.
July 15, 2009
In this Op-Ed piece, Sharon Kinlaw of San Fernando Fair Housing Council and Dean Preston of Tenants Together call for banks to stop evicting tenants after foreclosure.
July 15, 2009
The Ventura County Star reports that it is a 'renter's market' in California.
July 14, 2009
The New York Times looks at the problem of residential buildings bought at the peak of the housing boom. Many owners of these buildings are not making necessary and required repairs.
July 13, 2009
The San Francisco Bay Guardian examines the Mayor's veto of the Renter Relief Package.
July 13, 2009
In some areas, apartment associations are promoting renting by advising potential home buyers about the costs of home ownership.
July 12, 2009
The city of Richmond in Contra Costa county will require multi-unit housing to go smoke-free by Jan. 1, 2011.
July 11, 2009
Tenants of a a Southern California apartment complex are facing eviction because the owner has stopped paying utility bills and maintaining the property.
July 10, 2009
Sarah Shortt of San Francisco's Housing Rights Committee critiques LA Times' and San Francisco's Chronicle's coverage of renter protections passed by SF's supervisors.
July 10, 2009
This wall street journal blog post offers tips on negotiating reduced rental rates.