A Superior Court judge today temporarily blocked sections of
voter-approved Measure M after a coalition of property owners said the
ordinance took away their free--speech rights.
The measure, with backing from Supervisor Chris Daly, passed with
58.8 percent of the vote on Nov. 4. Three weeks later, opponents of the
measure filed a request to block it.
So which sections of the measure have been blocked for now?
Section 37.2, which allows tenants to right to "quiet enjoyment of the premises, without harassment by the landlord."
Section 37.10B(a)(6), which prohibits "attempts to
coerce the tenant to vacate with offer(s) of payments to vacate which
are accompanied with threats or intimidation," and also prohibits
landlords from "threatening the tenant, by words of gesture, with
physical harm."
Section 37.10B(a)(7), which prohibits "continuing
to offer payments to vacate after tenant has notified the landlord in
writing that they no longer wish to receive further offers of payments
to vacate."
Sounds pretty outrageous, but in all fairness, a lot of those things were already illegal.
The Measure M opponents have to file their next brief in court by
Feb. 27. The city has until March 27 to file. A hearing is scheduled
for April 17.
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