Implementation of rent control victories…
Richmond voters passed Measure L in November 2016 by 65%. After Judge Craddick rejected the Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction by the California Apartment Association (CAA), Measure L is now law in Richmond. This wouldn’t have been possible without years of work by the many organizations that were part of the Fair and Affordable Richmond Coalition, including: Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), the Richmond Progressive Alliance, SEIU Local 1021, Tenants Together, and Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN). We expect the CAA to continue with their frivolous lawsuit, but don’t expect that it will succeed. If you are a Richmond renter and are looking for more info on your rights go to the Tenants Together Hotline 1-888-495-8020, the monthly tenants rights clinic run by ACCE of every month at 6pm, or to the Richmond Rent Program www.richmondrent.org or 510-620-6576.
In huge news last week in Mountain View Judge William Elfving threw out the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and didn’t grant the preliminary injunction against Measure V (Mountain View’s rent control measure). This means the rent control ordinance and the rent roll-back provision in Measure V are now in effect. While the CAA will continue with their frivolous lawsuit, as they are in Richmond, we don’t expect them to prevail. For more info on the law, your rights, and how the rent roll-back, go to https://mvtenantscoalition.org.
Victories on the way to real tenant protections and ongoing campaigns…
After a long fight in Santa Rosa to pass rent control, voters get to decide on June 6. Voting Yes for Measure C is vote for rent control, just cause, community stability, and vibrant diverse communities! Volunteers and donations are needed if you can help please go to the https://www.fairandaffordablesantarosa.com/. The CAA and their corporate allies have raised over $390,000 to defeat Measure C so every volunteer shift and donation counts!
In Union City, Residents Insisting on Social Equity Coalition (RISE), Filipino Advocates for Justice, and Kid Zone successfully pushed for just cause, which will go into effect this May. While this is a huge leap forward for Union City renters, the coalition won’t stop fighting until they get rent control.
In a recent victory, Pacifica City Council voted for a temporary rent ordinance and willvote to put a permanent ordinance on the ballot at their May 8th meeting for the public to vote on rent control this November.
San Jose City Council will vote to add just cause for eviction policies to their rent ordinance at the meeting on 4-18-2017. Tenants are on hunger strike until just cause is passed! UPDATE! JUST CAUSE PASSED!!!
City of Alameda tenants are gaining traction with the city council to add just cause for eviction to the rent review policy that passed last November.
In Fremont there’s a campaign for rent control and just cause building momentum. If you are renter in Fremont don’t miss the up coming Renters Assembly on Saturday June 18th and register here http://www.risefremont.org/renters-assembly.html. The general website is here http://www.risefremont.org/and email risefremont@gmail.com
In Concord, tenants continue to organize for renters’ rights. On February 3rd, Tenants Together hosted a Tenant Leadership Training at St. Francis de Assisi Catholic Church. Potential tenant leaders got a chance to share their stories and also learned about their rights to organize, how to form a tenant association and other key tenant rights. The training was a success, and we will conduct at least 2 more Tenant Leadership Trainings in Concord by the end of 2017.
… And the action is not just in the Bay Area!
Wednesday April 19th is Renters’ Day Los Angeles for the city of LA, city councils all over LA County with existing rent ordinances have been working to improve them, including the issue being discussed now in Pasadena, tenants are organizing a Long Beach Renters’ Assembly on May 18th, and the Los Angeles Tenants Union is working to organize tenants building by building not just in the city of LA, but also holding trainings in other parts of LA County.
In Sacramento, a new push for rent control and eviction protections kicked off on April 13th with a press conference and legal clinic for renters organized by ACCE.