News and Views
Legislation sponsored by the California Apartment Association to impede voters from passing local ballot measures on key land use issues is dead for this year, thanks in part to the growing power of California’s tenant rights movement. The bill was tabled yesterday by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Santa Rosa, CA—Last night the campaign to repeal Santa Rosa rent control, which was passed by Santa Rosa City Council in 2016, defeated the grassroots ballot initiative “Measure C” to defend rent control. In the same night, the Alameda City Council approved the addition of a just cause for eviction policy, a major win for tenants. Now landlords in Alameda have to cite a fair reason to evict tenants. The win in Alameda highlights the resilience of tenant activists and will inspire other cities in the midst of rent control campaigns.
Concord, CA—On Tuesday, May 2nd, the city of Concord plans to approve the implementation of a rent mediation program. Mediation is non-binding, so unlimited rent increases will continue to be legal. Tenants and their allies oppose the mediation program because these programs are ineffective at stopping rent gouging.
Richmond, CA—This morning the California Apartment Association moved to file a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against Measure L, the rent control and just cause for eviction ordinance that was passed by 64% of Richmond voters this November, and went into effect on December 30th, 2016. The City Attorney’s Office in Richmond mounted an effective defense against the TRO, and it was rejected at 10:30am this morning by Judge Raddick at the Martinez courthouse.
December 8, 2016
Today Causa Justa :: Just Cause, a community tenants’ rights organization in Oakland and San Francisco, and Tenants Together have released the following joint statement in response to the “Ghost Ship” warehouse fire in Oakland and the current wave of evictions in Oakland and beyond:
It's likely the Governor's developer giveaway to streamline 80-90% market-rate housing construction is
The housing crisis in the Bay Area has reached Concord. Last month tenants at 1127 Virginia Lane organized a rent strike with Tenants Together and refused to pay a 30% rent increase from their property management company, The Pinza Group (run by Steven Pinza). In response, the owner of 1127 Virginia Lane, Bodhi Family Investment, LLC, withdrew the rent increases and Steven Pinza will no longer be managing the property by the end of this month.
Press Conference: 10am, Thursday, April 14 2016
Location: Bay View Apartments - 470 Central Ave. Alameda, CA 94501
July 27, 2015
March 16, 2015