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.
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.
Berkeleyside: Short Term Rentals “The conversion of apartments into a short-term rentals, where guests come and go, is part of a trend that is sweeping Berkeley. While renting out apartments to anyone for less than 14 days is prohibited under Berkeley law, hundreds of homeowners are renting out rooms, suites, whole houses, cottages — even a tent and a yurt — according to listings posted on Airbnb, VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), Home Away and other short-term rental websites… Property owners who rent out for short terms often stand to make a substantial amount of money, certainly more than if they rented month to month.” http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/05/26/short-term-rentals-are-squeezing-out-berkeley-renters/
State Won’t Force Airbnb to Share Information for Enforcement “Legislation aimed at forcing Airbnb Inc. and other short-term rental sites to ensure collection of local taxes stalled in the state Senate on Thursday.
SB 593 would have required short-term housing platforms to report quarterly to cities and counties the addresses that were rented out on their sites as well as the number of nights those properties were rented and for what prices. Local governments could have used the information to ensure transient occupancy taxes were paid and to ferret out vacation rentals operating in cities that bar them. The bill had the backing of various cities, hotel lobbies and organized labor. But Airbnb fought back against the proposed regulations, hiring its first contract lobbyist in Sacramento and rallying its users with emails and phone calls. The company, along with its allied tech lobbies and the Santa Monica group Consumer Watchdog, framed the debate as a battle over its customers’ privacy.” http://www.therecorder.com/id=1202728452451/Airbnb-Bill-Halted-By-Lobby-Blitz?slreturn=20150505224830
“Airbnb Will Probably Get You Evicted and Priced Out of the City” “If you look at the economics of it, Airbnb is ruining your life. Or, at least, your chances at a lasting life in the city. In an attempt to make an extra buck, you may be slowly screwing yourself out of the market…Every unit that’s being used for illegal hotel activity is a unit that’s not on the residential housing market.” https://news.vice.com/article/airbnb-will-probably-get-you-evicted-and-priced-out-of-the-city
In Other News
Fun Protest! Saturday June 6 @ 10 AM “…To fly large red, black and white balloons, three feet in diameter, to a height of 194 feet, near the planned site of The Residences at Berkeley Plaza, also known by its street address 2211 Harold Way. The building would be 180 feet high — or 194 feet, with the addition of an elevator housing and other infrastructure on top.” http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_28244224/berkeley-activists-plan-visual-protest-downtown-proposal
Berkeley Rents Too Damn High “The last time rents rose so crazily was 15 years ago during the last technology boom, and history seems to be repeating itself.” In 2000, the dotcom boom market, rents skyrocketed and now we are dealing with some of the same issues,” said Nick Traylor, a manager at the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board. Some landlords are even increasing rents by $400 to $1,000 a month if they have a tenant vacate a unit, said Traylor. He stressed these substantial increases are on top of the already high market rates being charged to the previous tenant. Elaine Perkins, who runs the Cal Rentals office at UC Berkeley, said students are living in cramped conditions to afford decent accommodation.” http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/05/28/berkeley-rental-rates-skyrocket-causing-problems-for-students-and-those-on-middle-incomes/
German Rent Freeze; Berlin Rent Ceilings “Berlin is limiting rent increases to 10 percent of average rents in neighborhoods suffering housing shortages. Landlords often jack up rents by as much as 40 percent to take advantage of well-heeled newcomers who are flocking to the city from the around the world, said Reiner Wild, managing director of the Berlin Tenants Association.
“The rent ceiling is very important for Berlin because the difference between the rent paid in existing contracts and new contracts is so high,” Wild told The Guardian.” https://news.vice.com/article/berlin-imposes-rent-caps-as-worlds-most-desirable-cities-become-gated-communities Law allowing rent controls on Berlin’s inner-city property prevents landlords charging new tenants more than 10 per cent above the local average http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/news/11645625/berlin-rent-control-law-housing-crisis.html
“Berlin is pioneering the rent cap after the national parliament approved the law, aimed at areas with housing shortages, in March… “We don’t want a situation like in London or Paris,” said Wild. “The reality in Paris or London is that people with low income have to live in the further-out districts of the city.” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/01/rent-cap-legislation-in-force-berlin-germany
