Rent Control for All! - Berkeley Tenants Union

Tuesday the City Council will vote on a proposed ballot measure updating the rent laws to prepare Berkeley for a world without Costa-Hawkins. One of the major changes is that buildings build after 1980 could be rent controlled! Right now, the state law Costa-Hawkins says that cannot happen. The Berkeley City Council will be discussing how old a building should be before rent increases are limited. They seem to favor setting this period to be between 12-15 years. Maybe you would like all buildings under rent control NOW?

BTU member Paola Laverde sent in the information below:

Berkeley Renters We Need You!
The Rent Is Too Damn High!

126 hours at minimum wage will pay for a one bedroom in Berkeley. Source: http://tinyurl.com/yd6y6a96

Come out to Tuesday’s City Council meeting and make sure your voice is heard as the City Council debates whether to expand rent control.
We need you there to ensure that the City Council does not cave in to developers who want to delay new rent control for 20 YEARS OR MORE!
Where: Council Chambers: 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
When: Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 6 P. M.
What: The Council will be debating how long rent control should be delayed on newly constructed rental units. The proposal before them is 12 to 15 years. However, property owners and developers are screaming that nothing less than 20 to 30 years is acceptable.

If tenants do not raise their voices loudly, the City Council may cave in to property owners and developers, leaving renters to suffer as already unaffordable rents sky rocket even higher.

The decision reached by the Council on Tuesday night may be put on the November 6, 2018, ballot for Berkeley voters to decide. It will only go into effect if Proposition 10, the Affordable Housing Act, is approved by California voters.

Now is the time to take a stand against big money and the rental housing industry that is responsible for the affordability crisis impacting Berkeley.

THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!

For More Information:

Berkeley Ordinance Amendments
https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2018/07_Jul/City_Council__07-31-2018_-_Special_Meeting_Agenda.aspx
see Item #6

California Prop 10 Would Allow Berkeley to Expand Coverage
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=10&year=2018

The Statewide Movement
https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/07/rent-control-is-gaining-steam-in-california/565856/