Ads that link to here are paid for by the Berkeley Tenants Union PAC, FPPC #1469678. Major funding provided by the Berkeley Tenants Union, Berkeley, CA ($1,600).
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.
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.
What: Come join BTU, DSA, UAW, and SEIU canvassing to protect Berkeley tenants and elect Cecilia Lunaparra to the City Council
When: Saturday, March 16, 2024, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Where: UC Berkeley Unit 3 Courtyard (2400 Durant Avenue)
<< RSVP Here >>
This Saturday at 11AM, we’re holding our second canvass for two major BTU campaigns: Campaigning for Cecilia Lunaparra for Berkeley City Council District 7, plus signature gathering for the Berkeley Tenant Protection and Right to Organize Act, a ballot measure to expand rent control and give tenants a legally enforceable right to unionize and collectively bargain with their landlord.
We’ll meet in the courtyard of UC Berkeley’s Unit 3 dormitory (2400 Durant Avenue) at 11AM before beginning the canvass. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing so that canvassing is as fun as possible!
Can’t make Saturday’s canvass but still want to help collect signatures? Just fill out the RSVP form and indicate in the last question that you can’t make it.
What: Come join BTU, DSA, UAW, and SEIU kicking-off canvassing to protect Berkeley tenants and elect Cecilia Lunaparra to the City Council
When: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Where: UC Berkeley Unit 1 Courtyard (2650 Durant Avenue)
<< RSVP Here >>
This Saturday at 11AM, we’re launching the field campaign for two major BTU campaigns: Canvassing for Cecilia Lunaparra for Berkeley City Council District 7, as well as signature gathering for the Berkeley Tenant Protection and Right to Organize Act, a ballot measure to expand rent control and give tenants a legally enforceable right to unionize and collectively bargain with their landlord.
We’ll meet in the courtyard of UC Berkeley’s Unit 1 dormitory (2650 Durant Avenue) at 11AM before beginning the canvass. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing so that canvassing is as fun as possible!
Can’t make Saturday’s canvass but still want to help collect signatures? Just fill out the RSVP form and indicate in the last question that you can’t make it.
We’re excited to announce that the Berkeley Tenants Unions membership has overwhelmingly voted to make the following endorsements:
Additionally, the BTU membership previously voted to endorse:
A big thank you to everyone who voted on all of our endorsements.
We’re excited to announce that the Berkeley Tenants Unions membership has overwhelmingly voted to make the following endorsements:
Additionally, the BTU membership previously voted to endorse:
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.
The next meeting will be Saturday, February 13 at 5:00 PM on the Zoom platform, online. Members will be sent an email about the meeting. Agenda items will be sent out soon, but the major topic of this meeting will be the status of the local eviction moratorium.
To become a member, contact Berkeley Tenants Union by email. Dues are on a sliding scale and can be paid in a number of different ways. Members are eligible for our monthly counseling sessions as well as a strong say about what issues the organization chooses for action. Ask to see the BTU by-laws for more information.
These days, BTU communicates about actions via emails and Facebook. Be sure to like the Facebook page you see displayed on the sidebar to the right!
Be sure that you are on the mailing list too.
Also, please share this Facebook link to our meeting, or a link to this post – let’s build our numbers and bring more power to the people!
https://fb.me/e/3KLr3BzA5
Berkeley Tenants Are Organizing!
“The current city moratorium has “weak” penalties for property owners who institute late fees, lock out tenants or threaten renters, according to (a Berkeley Tenants Union leader) Lewis. He said crucial parts of the measure, such as amendments to include renters’ rights on eviction notices, were removed Nov. 17. If the stricter moratorium passes, it will not take effect until February 2021 due to restrictions in a statewide moratorium that prevents property owners from taking tenants to court, according to Lewis.”
https://www.dailycal.org/2020/12/08/berkeley-city-council-votes-on-measure-to-strengthen-eviction-moratorium/
Berkeley Landlords Are Organizing Too!
“There are multiple Eviction Moratoriums in effect during this pandemic. Berkeley’s Eviction Moratorium currently prohibits any type of eviction during the local state of emergency and dictates how rent not paid during the pandemic is to be handled. The state’s Eviction Moratorium (AB 3088 effective Sept 1 to Jan 31) is currently being modified at the legislature. We expect the moratorium will be extended through June of 2021, as well as continue to defer the 25% payment of rent until then. BPOA is working to provide guidance as to how the state’s extension will interact with our local Eviction Moratorium.”
https://www.bpoa.org/
City of Berkeley’s COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Factsheet
https://berkeleytenants.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Covid-19-Tenant-Factsheet_4-07-2020-1.pdf
Rent Board Info on Local Protections
https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Can_t_Pay_Rent_Due_to_COVID-19_.aspx
Apartment Owners’ Thoughts on the Moratorium
https://caanet.org/kb/berkeley-eviction-moratorium-caa-summary/
Your Rights Under the State Law
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/consumer-law-economic-justice/projects/consumer-protection-guides-covid-19/issue-i-tenants-rights-covid-19/
Weak Federal Protections Extended by Biden
July 2020 Summary of Local Law
https://patch.com/california/berkeley/berkeley-eviction-protections-renters-struggling-due-coronavirus-1
Other News
The East Bay Community Law Center is working with City of Berkeley leaders to establish a housing policy called the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Learn more about TOPA here:
https://ebclc.org/topa/
Your Berkeley Tenants Union is getting busy this election season!
Members must pay their dues if you want to vote on endorsements. Dues are a sliding scale. Contact “info at berkeleytenants dot org” to learn more.
These days, BTU communicates about actions via emails and Facebook. Be sure to like the Facebook page you see displayed on the sidebar to the right!
Be sure that you are on the mailing list too!
BTU has monthly clinics for free counseling if you are in trouble. We are also working on several ballot measures, and of course we urge you to support the Pro-Tenant Slate for Rent Board. If you want to volunteer to help get activists from BTU and like-minded organizations elected to the Berkeley Rent Board, you can sign up here to assist the Right2Housing Slate:
https://berkeleytenants.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d3053fd94934e92d237a8b9e8&id=c69a08e63a&e=469b9ffc9e
The Berkeley Tenant Convention is a decades-old biennial event in which all Berkeley residents who fully support rent control are invited to nominate the progressive, pro-tenant slate for the Berkeley Rent Board. The sponsors of the 2020 Convention included the Berkeley Tenants Union, Berkeley Citizens Action, the Berkeley Democrats (NOT the Berkeley Democratic Club), the Cal Berkeley Democrats, the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, Friends of Adeline, the Gray Panthers, the Green Party, the NAACP, Our Revolution East Bay, SEIU 1021, UAW 2865 (the UC student-workers union), the Young Democratic Socialists of America – UC Berkeley, and Young Democrats for Justice in Palestine – East Bay.
The candidates chosen at this year’s convention are Dominique Walker, who works at the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment; Mari Mendonca, a lifelong Berkeley resident who was appointed to the Rent Board recently; Xavier Johnson, who is a legal fellow at Centro Legal de la Raza; incumbent attorney Leah Simon-Weisberg, who has worked for San Francisco’s Eviction Defense Collaborative and Tenants Together; and Andy Kelley, Communications Director at the California League of Conservation Voters.
They are calling their campaign the Right2Housing Slate.
You can watch the whole 2020 Tenant Convention on video at BTU’s Facebook page, and keep up with the priorities and activities of our candidates at their website: https://berkeleyrentboard.org
Tenant Convention Slate for Berkeley Rent Board
“About 615 electronic ballots and 95 paper ballots were cast, this is an unprecedented turnout. Because of the pandemic, most efforts were done online.”
http://berkeleycitizensaction.org/?p=1193
About Mari
“She is City Councilmember Ben Bartlett’s appointee on the city’s Housing Advisory Commission. She is a member of Friends of Adeline, a neighborhood group that is working to stop gentrification in south Berkeley and to help shape the area’s future as it undergoes new planning. She has also been involved with unions.”
https://www.berkeleyside.com/2019/10/29/mari-mendonca-community-activist-appointed-to-fill-rent-board-vacancy#:~:text=Mari%20Mendonca%2C%20a%20Berkeley%20native,17%20to%20appoint%20Mendonca.
About Leah
“As current vice chair of the rent board, Simon-Weisberg’s legal and policymaking experience is part of what makes her an important member of the board, according to Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín.”
https://www.dailycal.org/2020/07/05/a-valued-partner-leah-simon-weisberg-runs-for-reelection-on-berkeley-rent-board/
Help Right2Housing Slate in the Election
https://berkeleyrentboard.org
Prop 10 is the most important ballot measure renters in California have voted on in decades!
If y’all want to save what is left of Berkeley, or San Francisco, or Oakland or even LA, y’all better get out there and do something for Yes on 10!
Get Involved:
Yes on 10
https://voteyesonprop10.org/
Learn to Talk About Prop 10
http://www.tenantstogether.org/campaigns/repeal-costa-hawkins-rental-housing-act
PROP 10 is about LOCAL CONTROL
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/election-endorsements/article218278780.html
Comprehensive Research Report from UC Berkeley
https://haasinstitute.berkeley.edu/opening-door-rent-control
The Community Power Slate sponsors a Yes on 10 forum:
SUNDAY OCTOBER 21 – 3 PM
South Berkeley Senior Center
2939 Ellis Street at Ashby
For over a quarter century, Berkeley progressives have come together to choose a consensus slate for the Rent Board. This spring, the Berkeley Tenant Convention chose local leaders John Selawsky (formerly on the School Board) and Paola Laverde, currently the Rent Board’s Vice Chair and an outspoken advocate for Yes on Prop 10. Also on the Community Power Slate for Berkeley Rent Board are James Chang, UCB junior Soli Alpert, and Maria Poblet, a founder of Causa Justa Oakland.
The landlords are running an opposition slate, so pay attention when voting!
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityPowerSlate/
Berkeley City Council
BTU endorsed Kate Harrison (District 4: Downtown) and Igor Tregub (District 1: Fourth Street, North Berkeley BART). Igor used to be on the Rent Board and has always been a solid advocate for tenants. Kate is the wisest leader in Berkeley, with a lot of behind the scenes experience in San Francisco’s crazier days. She has done amazing work for affordable housing on the City Council in her very short term.
Both of these leaders are reasonable people with good hearts who look at facts when making decisions.
Send them money!
http://electkateharrison.com/
https://www.igortregub.com/
BTU also endorsed Rigel Robinson, a newcomer whose website mentions nothing about renters in the housing policy statement. He is currently External Affairs Vice President of the ASUC and will fill the district with the most renters, taking the place of longtime tenant leader Kriss Worthington, who has endorsed Robinson.
“Rigel believes we need to build more housing, for all students, right next to campus, right now. As a City Councilmember, he’ll push for zoning requirements that allow for taller, denser buildings around campus — while fighting for more units that are affordable.”
https://rigelrobinson.com/
Finally, BTU endorsed Mary Kay Lacey for District 8. Lacey will fight for renters in the district which has been represented by Lori Droste, who repeatedly voted to eliminate rent controlled units through demolitions and conversions to Air BnB. Lacey became known for her work on the Task Force to Save Alta Bates hospital.
“Protect against displacement by building targeted affordable housing for students, working families and those facing eviction… I am also fully committed to the Pathways Project and a ‘housing first’ solution to our homelessness crisis.”
https://lacey2018.com/issues/
BTU-Endorsed Candidates:
State Assembly: Jovanka Beckles
Rent Board: Soli Alpert, James Chang, Paola Laverde, Maria Poblet, John Selawsky (Community Power Slate)
Council District 1: Igor Tregub
Council District 4: Kate Harrison
Council District 7: Rigel Robisnon
Council District 8: Mary Kay Lacey
BTU-Endorsed Housing Measures:
Prop 10 (Costa-Hawkins Repeal): YES!
Measure O (Affordable Housing Bond): Yes
Measure P (Transfer Tax for Homeless Services): Yes
Measure Q (Rent Board Amendments): No Endorsement
Prop 1 (Affordable Housing Bond): Yes
Prop 2 (Homeless Prevention Bond): Yes
Prop 5 (Property Tax Break): No
At their 10th anniversary celebration, the statewide renters group Tenants Together chose to honor Berkeley’s own Julia Cato, who has worked hard with several groups – including BTU – to make sure the voices of seniors and tenants are heard by the folks who represent us.
Tenants Together also has a counselor training coming up. I don’t think anyone does counseling for BTU since I left, so someone really should try to get the program up and running again! Tenants could use a peer advocate to help them navigate the bureaucracies that govern, even if California does get some better laws this election day!
The Right to the City Alliance / Homes For All held their second national Renter Power Assembly this summer, with over 100 tenant groups coming together from all over the United States. Start by joining their mailing list to give renters a unified voice on national housing policy!
“If the housing crisis has been slow to register at the level of national politics, it’s not for lack of momentum at the grassroots. There is no major city in the United States today without a multitude of tenants’ rights groups, and “gentrification” has, in the span of a decade, crossed from left-wing academic journals into everyday language. From coast to coast, a loosely organized, intersectional, and bottom-up movement is coalescing around housing justice—the idea that housing is inextricable from a range of other issues like racial justice, poverty, the environment, immigration, and the rights of the formerly incarcerated.”
https://righttothecity.org/
LEARN MORE SUNDAY:
https://www.facebook.com/events/315079089075676/
KEEP UP WITH BTU ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/berkeleytenants/
ELECT RENTERS
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityPowerSlate/
SAVE CALIFORNIA
https://www.facebook.com/yesonprop10/