Campaign launched to reform the Ellis Act

California's Ellis Act is out of control. When the Ellis Act was adopted, proponents claimed it would rarely be used to evict tenants. For ten years, that was true. But then real estate speculators starting abusing the Ellis Act to turn a quick profit by evicting long-term tenants and selling the units. Ellis Act evictions are now surging. In San Francisco and Los Angeles in particular, thousands of rent-controlled tenants are being displaced by Ellis Act evictions. The stories are heartbreaking, including a recent high-profile case of seniors and a disabled adult daughter who were thrown out of their long-term Chinatown home by a serial evictor. Click here for more information.

Enough is enough. The time for Ellis Act reform is now. Sign our public petition to save homes for low-income renters:

For months, groups in San Francisco have been fighting back against the latest surge of Ellis Act evictions. The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project (AMP), a non-profit collective housed within the San Francisco Tenants Union, just released its newest map of no-fault evictions. The numbers of no-fault evictions in San Francisco from 1997 to 2013 are stunning: 3693 due to Ellis Act, 6952 due to owner move-in, and 1121 due to demolition. Grassroots organizations like Eviction Free San Francisco have been consistently protesting unfair evictions since the summer, and now local politicians have responded positively to the call to address the crisis. The issue has received national attention. Thanks to effective organizing on the issue, the time is now to reform at the state level.

Sign our public petition now!

Fighting bedbugs in Concord

Tenants Together has been working for months with tenants in numerous buildings in Concord where landlords are allowing bed bug infestations to persist.  Tenants are regularly bitten as they try to sleep, resulting in bites, rashes, and sleep deprivation, among other impacts.  Despite requests for abatement, the problem persists.  Carmen LaRosa, a long-term tenant of the Rosemont complex, commented: “We are tired of being ignored.  We have lost thousands of dollars of furniture, and we can’t sleep at night because of these bed bugs.  The landlord needs to do something.” 

We have been hosting monthly clinics in Concord where tenants can come to learn about their rights and get help. Due to ongoing organizing efforts, tenants in Concord are taking leadership and have filed a major habitability lawsuit against their landlord, Rosemont LLC. Attorney Steve McDonald of the tenant law firm Greenstein & McDonald is co-counseling the case with Leah Simon-Weisberg, Legal Director of Tenants Together. A press conference was held a few weeks ago announcing the lawsuit. Photos from the press conference.

We clearly got the attention of The California Apartment Association, who have responded by holding a presentation on bedbugs. We welcome their participation in finding solutions as long as the focus remains on abatement strategies, rather than blaming tenants for the problem.

TV news coverage from CBS SF on the plight of tenants:


You can help support our efforts in Concord by volunteering or donating and becoming a member. Your help keeps core support systems for tenants like our monthly clinic and Tenant Rights Hotline running.

Make a quick phonecall for more housing with fair rents

This year Governor Brown vetoed a bill that would have helped renters in need of affordable housing. AB 1229 (Atkins) would have clarified that cities have the power to adopt and enforce inclusionary housing laws as a means to increase the supply of affordable rental housing.

We're facing the worst housing crisis in generations, and we need leadership from the Governor's office. We need more affordable housing, not less.

Call or send a letter to Governor Brown telling him you're disappointed in his veto of AB 1229 and that we need real solutions to this housing crisis. Tell the Governor to start prioritizing the needs of struggling California renters.

Take action now!

1) Click here to send a letter

2) Call: (916) 445-2841 "I'm disappointed in your veto of AB 1229. What are you doing to help renters suffering from this housing crisis?"

3) Spread the word! Distribute flyers in your community demanding action from the Governor. Click here to download a printable flyer.

California State Senator Ron Calderon Should Resign

by Dean Preston

Assemblymember Christina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) deserves credit for being the first state legislator to call on Senator Ron Calderon (D – Montebello) to resign following the release last week of evidence that Calderon accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from an FBI agent as part of an undercover operation. Senator Calderon would be well advised to heed the call or face an escalating campaign from constituents, activists and colleagues who have lost faith in his ability to govern with any credibility.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D – Sacramento) quickly acted to remove Calderon from the Film Commission on which he sits. Editorial boards have begun urging Steinberg to strip Calderon of committee assignments. This would a sharp rebuke and appropriate blow to a Senator who previously wielded significant power through his committee assignments.

If Senator Rod Wright (D – Inglewood) is any indication, the fact that Calderon should resign does not mean that he will. Three years ago Wright was indicted on voter fraud and perjury charges. He has managed to delay trial repeatedly. Last spring, he actually argued for a continuance of trial because of the busy legislative season, a particular affront to voters who believe Wright has no right to even hold office. Senator Wright’s trial was scheduled for trial this week, but was postponed again just last week.

Even worse than his refusal to resign, Senator Wright has exploited the pending charges to his financial advantage, testing the limits of corruption and conflict of interest laws. He attracts unlimited donations to his legal defense fund, many from the same corporate interests who have business before him in the state legislature.

Fortunately, Al Jazeera published the sealed affidavit that laid out the details of the sting operation on Calderon. The affidavit evidences shameless corruption, enough that Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg said the affidavit made him “sick to my stomach.” Had the affidavit not becoming public, Calderon undoubtedly would have continued in office denying any allegations of misconduct and conducting business as usual.

Calderon has the right to refute the evidence, but it is hard to see how he can show his face in the Capitol. Calderon should resign before further damaging his constituents and the Senate.

Originally posted at BeyondChron