Category: Endorsements

By Posted on Posted in Endorsements

UPDATE: The deadline to request a ballot is now Tuesday, June 18; the deadline to cast a ballot is now Friday, June 21

You must request your ballot by Friday, June 14 and then cast your ballot by Tuesday, June 18

Help select the progressive, pro-tenant Berkeley Rent Board slate!

Every election year since 1994, the Rent Board Convention has selected the progressive, pro-tenant slate for the open seats on the Berkeley Rent Board. The Berkeley Tenants Union is once again co-sponsoring this year’s Convention; the other sponsors are Friends of Adeline, Healthy Black Families, the Berkeley NAACP, the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, the Young Democratic Socialists of America – UC Berkeley, Our Revolution East Bay, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the Gray Panthers, UAW 4811, SEIU 1021, and the Cal Berkeley Democrats.

The 2024 Berkeley Rent Board Convention took place on Sunday, June 9 from 11am to 1pm on Zoom. (Additionally, UAW 4811 hosted a watch party at their union hall for anyone in the community who wanted to watch the Convention with other people.) You can watch the Convention recording. You may can also read the candidates’ questionnaire responses and read sponsoring organizations’ evaluations of the candidates.

Any Berkeley resident at least thirteen years old (including non-citizens) who fully supports tenants’ rights and affordable housing may vote in the Convention.  Each Convention, hundreds of Berkeley residents cast ballots and this year is expected to be no different as the housing affordability crisis continues to loom in Berkeley. To vote in the Convention, you must request your ballot by Friday, June 14 and cast your ballot by Tuesday, June 18.

Finally, please consider making a donation to help the Convention organizers cover all the costs. To donate, go to www.berkeleytenants.org and click the yellow “Donate” button in the upper right corner of the website’s homepage (please type “Convention” in the “Add a message to BTU” line to help us distinguish these donations from BTU dues). If you would prefer to donate by cash or check, please email berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com to coordinate.

Important Links

Convention Timeline

  • Sunday, June 9 at 11am-1pm: Convention occurred on Zoom
  • Friday, June 14: Last day to request a ballot
  • Tuesday, June 18: Last day to vote

By Posted on Posted in Electoral Campaigning, Endorsements, Rent Board Convention

Candidate applications for the Berkeley Rent Board Convention are due Sunday, May 19.  For more information about running in the Convention, please review the candidate packet at bit.ly/2024CandidatePacket.

The Convention Planning Committee thanks candidates and community members for their feedback recommending this extension to make the process more equitable and inclusive.

Help select – or even run for – the progressive, pro-tenant Berkeley Rent Board slate!  This year, there are FOUR seats up for election in November on the Rent Board.  (If current Rent Board Commissioner Soli Alpert wins the May 28 special election for City Council District 4, then there will be FIVE at-large seats on the Board up for election in November.)

Every election year since 1994, the Rent Board Convention has selected the progressive, pro-tenant slate for the open seats on the Berkeley Rent Board. The Berkeley Tenants Union is once again co-sponsoring this year’s Convention; other confirmed sponsors include along with Friends of Adeline, the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, the Young Democratic Socialists of America – UC Berkeley, Our Revolution East Bay, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the Gray Panthers, the Green Party, SEIU 1021, and the Cal Berkeley Democrats.

The 2024 Berkeley Rent Board Convention is will take place in early June (likely June 8 or 9).

Persons interested in running for the pro-tenant slate must complete the candidate questionnaire – located at bit.ly/2024CandidatePacket – by SUNDAY, MAY 19.  You do NOT need to be a tenant to run at the Convention.

Any Berkeley resident at least thirteen years old (including non-citizens) who fully supports tenants’ rights and affordable housing may vote in the Convention.  Each Convention, hundreds of Berkeley residents cast ballots and this year is expected to be no different as the housing affordability crisis continues to loom in Berkeley.

More information about the Convention will be announced via email closer over the next few weeks.  If you have any questions, please visit berkeleytenantsconvention.net or email berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com.

Finally, please consider making a donation to help the Convention organizers cover all the costs. To donate, go to www.berkeleytenants.org and click the yellow “Donate” button in the upper right corner of the website’s homepage (please type “Convention” in the “Add a message to BTU” line to help us distinguish these donations from BTU dues). If you would prefer to donate by cash or check, please email berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com to coordinate.

By Posted on Posted in Electoral Campaigning, Endorsements, Rent Board Convention

UPDATE: The deadline to submit a candidate application has been extended to Sunday, May 19. For the updated post, please click here. The Convention Planning Committee thanks candidates and community members for their feedback recommending this extension to make the process more equitable and inclusive.

Candidate applications for the Berkeley Rent Board Convention are due Sunday, May 12.  For more information about running in the Convention, please review the candidate packet at bit.ly/2024CandidatePacket.

Help select – or even run for – the progressive, pro-tenant Berkeley Rent Board slate!  This year, there are FOUR seats up for election in November on the Rent Board.  (If current Rent Board Commissioner Soli Alpert wins the May 28 special election for City Council District 4, then there will be FIVE at-large seats on the Board up for election in November.)

Every election year since 1994, the Rent Board Convention has selected the progressive, pro-tenant slate for the open seats on the Berkeley Rent Board. The Berkeley Tenants Union is once again co-sponsoring this year’s Convention; other confirmed sponsors include along with Friends of Adeline, the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, the Young Democratic Socialists of America – UC Berkeley, Our Revolution East Bay, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the Gray Panthers, the Green Party, SEIU 1021, and the Cal Berkeley Democrats.

The 2024 Berkeley Rent Board Convention is will take place in early June (likely June 8 or 9).

Persons interested in running for the pro-tenant slate must complete the candidate questionnaire – located at bit.ly/2024CandidatePacket – by SUNDAY, MAY 12.  You do NOT need to be a tenant to run at the Convention.

Any Berkeley resident at least thirteen years old (including non-citizens) who fully supports tenants’ rights and affordable housing may vote in the Convention.  Each Convention, hundreds of Berkeley residents cast ballots and this year is expected to be no different as the housing affordability crisis continues to loom in Berkeley.

More information about the Convention will be announced via email closer over the next few weeks.  If you have any questions, please visit berkeleytenantsconvention.net or email berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com.

Finally, please consider making a donation to help the Convention organizers cover all the costs. To donate, go to www.berkeleytenants.org and click the yellow “Donate” button in the upper right corner of the website’s homepage (please type “Convention” in the “Add a message to BTU” line to help us distinguish these donations from BTU dues). If you would prefer to donate by cash or check, please email berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com to coordinate.

By Posted on Posted in Endorsements

We’re excited to announce that the Berkeley Tenants Unions membership has overwhelmingly voted to make the following endorsements:

  • People Powered Progressives Slate (Avery Arbaugh, Alfred Twu, Paola Laverde, Michael Cheng, Carol Coyote Cook, Sadia Khan, and John “Chip” Moore) for Alameda County Democratic Central Committee
  • YES on Berkeley Measure H (parcel tax renewal to fund schools)
  • YES on Alameda County Measure A (civil service)
  • YES on Alameda County Measure B (recalls)
  • OPPOSE recalling District Attorney Pamela Price

Additionally, the BTU membership previously voted to endorse:

  • Cecilia Lunaparra for Berkeley City Council District 7 (special election)
  • Nikki Bas for Alameda County Supervisor District 5
  • Margot Smith for State Assembly District 14
  • Jovanka Beckles for State Senate District 7
  • Barbara Lee for US Senate
  • YES on the Proposed Berkeley Measure to Strengthen the City’s Rent Control Ordinance
  • YES on the ballot measure to repeal Article XXXIV of the California Constitution (November)

A big thank you to everyone who voted on all of our endorsements.

By Posted on Posted in Endorsements

We’re excited to announce that the Berkeley Tenants Unions membership has overwhelmingly voted to make the following endorsements:

  • Cecilia Lunaparra for Berkeley City Council District 7 (special election)
  • Nikki Bas for Alameda County Supervisor District 5
  • Margot Smith for State Assembly District 14
  • YES on the Proposed Berkeley Measure to Strengthen the City’s Rent Control Ordinance

Additionally, the BTU membership previously voted to endorse:

  • Barbara Lee for US Senate
  • Jovanka Beckles for State Senate District 7
  • YES on the ballot measure to repeal Article XXXIV of the California Constitution (November)

A big thank you to everyone who voted in this election. Additionally, members-in-good-standing should be on the look out for another membership ballot that will go out shortly.