California Renters To Converge on the Capitol to Demand Relief

Thursday, February 13, 2014
Tenants Together

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact: Dean Preston

February 13, 2014                                                     415.495.8100 ext. 1001

Renters' Day of Action

March 10AM / Rally 11AM

Tuesday, February 18, 2013

Capitol Building, North Steps

11th & L Streets

Sacramento, CA

Frustrated with surging rents and evictions, California renters will take to Sacramento for a Renters Day of Action on February 18, 2014. The event is being organized by Tenants Together, California's statewide organization for renters' rights. Hundreds of renters are expected to take to the Capitol for the Renters Day of Action.

The Renters' Day of Action will be the first mass mobilization of tenants in Sacramento in decades. Renters seek to shift the dynamic in Sacramento in which politicians of both major parties are heavily funded by landlords and realtors and routinely ignore the needs of tenants.

"The people of California support fair treatment of renters," commented Dean Preston, Executive Director of Tenants Together, the statewide tenant rights group organizing the rally. "Our message to legislators is clear: stop pandering to real estate industry lobbyists, and start addressing the plight of struggling tenants."

There are over 15 million tenants in California, according to Census data. Most are low and middle income and struggling for daily survival. Rents have soared, as have evictions by speculators. Meanwhile, basic safety net programs like the renters' rebate have been slashed to the detriment of tenants statewide.

The Day of Action is organized around three specific demands:

• Stop Ellis Act evictions by real estate speculators

• Pass SB 391 (DeSaulnier) to build desperately needed affordable rental housing

• Reinstate the renters' rebate for low-income, senior and disabled renters

The event will start with a march at 10:00a.m. The march will begin at 11th & L Streets in Sacramento. It will be followed by a rally on the Capitol steps at 11am. Speakers will include community leaders, elected officials and tenants. A list of speakers will be announced the morning of the event.

Tenants and allies are encouraged to join this historic march and rally. For more details, visit http://bit.ly/tenants2014 or email info@tenantstogether.org.

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