Tag: Berkeley
BTU at the Farmers Market
Berkeley Tenants Union will be at the Center Street Farmers Market on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Drop by to learn about your rights, and our spring campaign to safeguard Security Deposits.
Berkeley Tenants Union Spring Campaign: Security Deposits
BTU is a member of Tenants Together, California’s statewide tenant organization. Our friends there have provided an easy way for you to support SB603 – the great new law about Security Deposits that we keep telling you about. If passed, this law would give California tenants some rights that Berkeley tenants already enjoy – like interest on their security deposits. In addition, Senator Leno’s bill calls for landlords to pay penalties if they improperly withhold a security deposit. SUCH PENALTIES ARE IMPORTANT because many landlords withhold security deposits as a matter of course, because they count on tenants being unwilling or unable to take them to small claims court.
Just last week at the Farmers Market, BTU met a tenant whose landlord was taking improvements like new carpet and cabinets out of a deposit – this a is a real problem in Berkeley and you can help RIGHT NOW by following the link below to send a letter to our state Senator. You can also call her at (510) 286-1333
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5247/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=13246
Rent Board Workshop: Tenants Rights
The Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board hosts a free workshop at the public library on Tuesday April 23 at 6 PM.
If you can’t make that, the East Bay Community Law Center also does tenant workshops on a regular basis. Call (510) 548-4040
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Landlord_and_Tenant_Workshops_for_2013.aspx
Asa Takes On Childcare At The Potluck
Next potluck Wednesday May 8, please RSVP for childcare: info (at) BerkeleyTenants.org.
Berkeley Tenants Union Spring Campaign: Security Deposits
Here at the Berkeley Tenants Union, we know that having good laws doesn’t always mean it will be easy to get your deposit back, or get the interest your Berkeley landlord is supposed to pay you every year. That’s why we want you to sign Tenants Together’s online pledge and join with BTU in supporting SB 603 — a California bill that will strengthen tenants rights related to getting your deposit back.
Pledge here: http://yourdeposit.org/take-action/
If you are moving soon, you may also want to know that the Berkeley Rent Board will host a workshop for landlords and tenants on Security Deposits on Wednesday April 17th.
Workshop Info:
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Landlord_and_Tenant_Seminars_2013.aspx
Preserving Rent-Controlled Units: Acheson Commons Might become Dangerous Precedent
City Council has sent back the Acheson Commons plan to the Zoning Adjustments Board. The 200+ unit development at Shattuck and University has united labor, environmentalists and affordable housing advocates, according to the article below.
One of the big problems with the current plan is that 8 rent controlled units will be eliminated, but NOT REPLACED with below-market rentals — I say this means the Zoning Board isn’t following the current Demo Ordinance, but City staff are saying all EMPTY UNITS ARE NOT RENT CONTROLLED and not protected from destruction.
*BMC23.080 Board shall approve a Use Permit to eliminate a controlled rental unit only when it finds that: *
*2. The replacement dwelling unit shall be available for occupancy to Households for Lower Income or Very Low Income Household*
BTU might be asking you to comment when this gets back to Zoning — but then again, it looks the developer is once again offering the rent controlled houses for sale, which would comply with a different part of the Demo Ordinance:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_22903585/eye-east-bay-richmond-debuts-environmental-disasters-tour
More on the Council decision to remand:
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2013/03/27/acheson-commons-sent-back-to-berkeley-zoning-board/
Berkeley Tenants Union April Potluck — This Wednesday!
You are invited to the Berkeley Tenants Union April Potluck
Come break bread with tenants, smart landlords, activists, and everyone who wants to keep rent control strong and working in Berkeley.
When: April 10, 6:30-8:30 pm
Where: Grassroots House, 2022 Blake, Berkeley between Milvia and Shattuck
RSVP: info (at) berkeleytenants.org (Children are welcome. Please include in RSVP. There will be childcare.)
There will be a 15-minute orientation for folks who want to table at the Saturday Downtown Farmer’s Market.
What’s going on in Alameda?
Alameda has no rent control. In the letter we have linked to below, their “Rent Review Board” warns landlords that increasing rent more than 10% a year could result in a public push for rent control, “which is bad for landlords and tenants alike.” OH MY!
BTU wants to remind you that we have a good system here in Berkeley, but we can’t take it for granted, and must stand together to keep what we have! One reason we have stronger tenant protections than San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose or Alameda is because our Rent Board is elected. But we need more than just a handful of Commissioners looking out for us – we need you! Come to the April 10th potluck, or drop by our table at the Saturday Farmers Market on April 13 and 27 to learn more about how just a few hours of your time each month could make a big change in Berkeley.
http://alamedasun.com/editorial/11642-open-letter-from-rent-review-board
http://thealamedan.org/news/council-members-rising-rents-could-prompt-controls
Berkeley Tenants Union Spring Campaign: Seismic Safety
San Francisco Tenants to Pay for Retrofit of Unsafe Buildings: Don’t Let This Happen in Berkeley!
San Francisco just passed a law requiring unsafe buildings to retrofit — something Berkeley leaders have been “working out” since 2005! However, San Francisco laws currently allow landlords to put 100% of the cost onto the renters! That city says they are working on follow-up rules that would limit the increases on low-income tenants. Here at home, seismic safety is one of BTU’s top priorities, and we don’t want to see tenants pay for something that ought to be a given — living in a building that won’t kill them! Come to our monthly potluck on April 10th to learn how you can help!